If I do have to go toe-to-toe with this thing, Norde is not too proud to accept any buffs you guys might propose! Hell, he'll take water breathing if you think it will help.
The demon cannot be damaged through conventional means.
The Lance can be activated using a DC 20 Knowledge: Religion or Spellcraft check, or a DC 15 UMD check. If successful, you will have a window to damage the demon with your normal weapons, otherwise, you will suffer a penalty for failure as the demon's power leaks out of the Magic Circle where you have breached it. It is not practical to wield the Lance as a melee weapon.
While inside the Magic Circle, as you prepare to activate the Lance, the demon will be unable to affect you directly.
Once the demon has been fought in this way, there is another step which you don't understand yet to actually vanquish it forever.
Regarding other features of the demon past what you've already identified, another successful Knowledge: Religion check would have turned up more information.
Well, sounds like one of you will be the lance user!
So our options for using that spear are pretty slim. Gitana has a +5 to knowledge (religion) and I have a +5 to spellcraft, hardly good odds to be rolling. Perhaps we can enlist the good father to wield the spear for us? Presumably he has a hefty knowledge (religion) check?
I have +6 (will be +7 when I level Hedrak, apologies for the delay) to UMD. Will also have +10 to Spellcraft, but is this one needed?
Wait, your headers also say level 4 - you guys haven't leveled yet either? :D
We were told to "be ready" to level. I'm ready, but not yet leveled.
Ah of course, I didn't even check Hedrak. Well +10 spellcraft is by far our best option, but even then it's just a coin toss.
Indeed, GM said ready to be leveled up. I have my post here.
There is a penalty for failure, but you can try again as many times as you want.
You're right that I never formally announced that you leveled up, so here it is. Please level up to level 5.
Father Frances is going to be busy conducting the ceremony.
Color me leveled up!
Gitana will want to start the ritual after she has had time to prepare spells.
Is there anything about the demon that the group research has identified that we should know, that is, the sort of thing we usually get through a monster lore knowledge check? Things such as DR, SR, energy resistances, vulnerabilities?
I realize that what the research has identified may be inaccurate, but what would the expectation be for such defensive abilities?
Also, what is our group fund balance? Gitana would like to buy a scroll of a 3rd level witch spells so she can attempt to use the scroll to add the spell to her spellbook. Alternatively, she could explore finding a source for the spell who will allow her to copy the spell for a fee.
I'm thinking about just one of the following: Iron Stake, Lightning, Perfect Placment, or Trial of Fire and Acid
Was the GM's post that begins "The demon cannot be damaged through conventional means" the response to these questions about the demon's abilities, vulnerabilities, and other special abilities?
If the lance is properly activated, we can harm it with normal weapons. So we don't need cold iron or magic to get past DR? Do we think it will have SR? Someone mentioned it was based in cold, so I'm wondering if it might be vulnerable to fire or at least without resistance to fire.
Any response to the amount of group funds that Gitana could dip into to purchase a scroll for the purpose of adding the spell to her spellbook?
She can use all of the group funds she wants as far as Norde is concerned, dealing with this creature is more important than his buying some new reindeer skin britches!
If the lance is properly activated, we can harm it with normal weapons. So we don't need cold iron or magic to get past DR? Do we think it will have SR? Someone mentioned it was based in cold, so I'm wondering if it might be vulnerable to fire or at least without resistance to fire.
If the lance is properly activated, you don't have to worry about DR or SR or resistances. You don't have more information beyond that, although your speculation that it is based in cold and could be vulnerable to fire is legitimate speculation.
Regarding party funds, story wise I think it could or could not make sense for you to get a lot more money now, but I didn't want to derail things too much by having everyone spend a bunch of time looking for gear. Also, I want there to be a reward that comes at the very end. I'm not sure how much money you have left, but I think you spent all or almost all of it in Burkesville. I will check tomorrow. Like Norde said, you should expect challenges appropriate for your stats.
Hedrak is updated to level 5! Wohoo!
I've got Zordt leveled up. As part of the level up I put a bunch of ranks into knowledge (planes) so that I can make that check.
Gitana is leveled up.
My computer was broken last week, but it's fixed now.
Just waiting on some forward action. Take your time, I'll be here when you're ready. Happy to have some NPC overhear Zordt and Hedrak's conversation and chime in or just leave it to the two of you.
I've been intending to process the information on Gitana's spell search but this was the start of a new teaching term and I've been slammed with new class preparations. Most of my posting will be in the evening during the week now. I'll have something on Friday.
I have just discovered that a witch can only add spells to her spellbook in one of three ways.
1) When gaining a new level (which doesn't apply here)
2) Another witch's familiar can teach it to the familiar of the witch wishing to add the spell.
3) From a scroll.
So if the only source of the spell is a wizard, then Gitana is out of luck, assuming she doesn't have the coin to buy two 3rd level scrolls.
If she could locate a witch who knows either spell, then there is the issue of how an animal familiar can teach the spell to Gitana's Harrow deck, which functions in all ways as a witch's familiar for purposes of spellbook rules. So I assume something could be worked out in that case.
Otherwise, Gitana won't learn the spells and will just start the new day preparing from the spell book she has.
She can do a Harrow spell if Zordt still wants that. (Beware, however, there is the possibility, as Gitana is currently dealing with, that one outcome is a penalty on just about all d-20 rolls. I can figure out the odds of that happening, if you'd like.)
I wouldn't worry about it, just get all your battle magic prepared.
I'm not going to enforce a rule that says you can't learn spells from Wizard NPCs since such a rule seems pretty stupid to me. Happy to reconsider if someone has an objection.
Nothing game breaking, fine with me.
Norde learned his spells from the school of hard knocks, so he is ok with whatever.
Per discord comments from Zordt and Norde that they are ready to go ahead, I will move things forward momentarily.
I'll get Gitana up to date later today. Sorry if I've been a drag on the game this past week.
No apologies needed! We all have lives outside of the game.
No problem Gitana. I've mostly been waiting for some kind of forward action, since I felt like I was driving things too much, even if this section is much more railroady. Maybe I should've announced that this section would be more railroady a long time ago? We never truly recovered from the repeated vacations from all the various people either. Hopefully I can post super consistently for the next month and finish things off strong.
@Norde
The lance was described here.
The primary purpose of the lance is to weaken otherwise impervious outsiders such as Akbelleth. The lance is placed on the edge of the Magic Circle containing the demon. In order to activate it, the user inserts it into the silver barrier of the circle and makes a Spellcraft (DC 20), Knowledge: Religion (DC 20), or UMD (DC 15) skill check to activate it. If successful, you have a window to use normal weapons to damage the demon. If not, some of the demon's power leaks out through the breach you had to create in the Magic Circle and attacks you. You can try this check as many times as you need.
The lance is not practical as a melee weapon, but can cast a few spells. These are: Searing Light, Daylight, and Agonize. It can cast each spell once per day. The caster level for these spells is 8th. The DC for any saving throws required is 18.
Thank you! It confirms my belief that using it isn't Norde's job! Norde will stick to his large slashy thing!
No problem, thanks for asking. Being clear is hard, especially when I can't see you in person or ask follow up questions etc.
Just looking to see everyone ready up (for example by posting in gameplay or discussion saying "I'm ready") since we're about to begin the final encounter.
Ready.
Hedrak I believe we determined you were the best user of the lance since you had a high spellcraft check.
Yep, lets go with that ;)
I may have missed something on Discord or elsewhere, but is there anything those of us not activating the lance need to do or anywhere we need to be at the start of things?
Gitana will instinctively shift to avoid having all allies in a knot that could be hit with an area spell.
No, you can stand anywhere you want. Move your token on the map.
To respond to Norde, Father Francess and his gang of spellcasters have to stay assembled and continue to use collective ritual magic in order to avoid failing an opposed charisma check. Every day, once per day, a creature trapped in a Magic Circle can attempt an opposed Cha check against the caster of the circle spell and if they win, they're free. By DM fiat, collective ritual magic allows the NPCs to win this check, but only when they're all gathered together. If some of them have to use the bathroom or get hungry and need to leave, that could create an opportunity for escape.
Further, there are some massive security problems posed by having a demon in the middle of your city long term. Anyone who wanted to overthrow the government could sneak into the temple, scuff the Magic Circle of silver with their foot, and free the demon. The demon could even promise to grant some magic power or special favor to anyone who did so.
I moved multiple tokens on the map, this is my suggested layout.
It keeps us spread out, but with Norde between Gitana and the demon so we don't leave her exposed. I realize that may leave them vulnerable to some kind of AoE magic, but IMHO I would rather risk than than risk Gitana being completely exposed.
And I hope I'm alright indulging in some banter, not sure if this was only supposed to be "big bad evil guy you kill" kind of situation.
Place me wherever you want guys.
Banter is great.
I didn't ping discord when I posted because I lost my phone yesterday. I lose stuff all the time and find it a day or two later, so I'm not concerned. I can post from my work computer but don't have discord on it, so usually when I post I then pull out my phone and ping discord. Just wanted to let you know that I may not always ping discord but I always want to.
Gitana's spells all require a ranged touch attack, so she can't really have anyone in between her and the demon or it will give the demon +4 AC. She's making touch attacks, so this gives her a decent chance of hitting. and avoiding some risk of the demon making saving throws to negate the effect. She doesn't have anything overpowering, although if her Iron Spike spell hits it has a chance of limiting its use of spells and spell-like abilities.
Do we know what kind of demon this is (or is it a demon lord)? What does it look like?
@Gitana Mindshock works on your cards.
You're almost through with the first portion of killing the demon!
In the spirit of doing better, I'll let you all know that I'm probably going to be busy Monday night. I may not post on Tuesday morning as a result. I will let you know how things are going, however.
People, just to let you all know I am traveling from tonight until Saturday for a small vacation. Should have access to wifi and whatnot, but probably not much time to post. So if you need to press on, feel free to bot me.
Enjoy! Travel safe!
This is a good breaking point, so perhaps we pause until all are back.
I am happy to wait, and indeed, I feel I must wait at least until someone is ready to enter the portal.
Being all healed up, and not fatigued, Norde is ready to go! He'll go first, if the squishies want him to.
Gitana is ready as well.
Post your actions and I will resolve them.
Well, onwards, towards death and destruction.
Hedrak and Norde should still have heroism on them for the duration, unless we spend a LOT of time in here before the fight.
I'm also hoping with a +21 to perception that I'll notice anything before it notices us.
No phone battery = no discord ping :(.
Sorry Gitana, I am not sure what you mean by West :)
Hedrak moved ahead and attacked the pink one.
Now he attacked the pink one again, and shifted to the side to be in front of you.
Sorry Gitana, I am not sure what you mean by West :)
Hedrak moved ahead and attacked the pink one.
Now he attacked the pink one again, and shifted to the side to be in front of you.
I meant west in the sense of a map with north pointing up. Not sure if that is literally which way north is, obviously. It's likely a moot point by now.
Does Hedrak have 10' reach?