I'm still not completely aware of my PC's appearance. Her backstory and personality and ambitions and character are all complete in my head. I'm just wrestling with her appearance. The avatar I've chosen, Iggwilv, is really good for what she will 'one day' look like -- when she's older, like when she's Retired at 14th or 16th Level or something, long after this adventure. But at her young age: 19, and little experience: just book learning and classroom magic, well, I'm not quite ready to really give her description. ....By the time Portia Porphyria-Jeggare meets the other PCs and roleplaying introductions are called for, however, I will be ready.
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One never is 100% sure if one's post is conveying the intent one really intends, but I left Gameplay open for the last few miles heading up to Fort Thorn just in case the DM wants Portia to encounter anything, or wants her trek-in to go a certain way. Also, separate Spoiler tags for the immediate past and the near past make it easier if the DM wants to add anything to one or the other retroactively.
You got it, Portia. I will respond later.
Gov, please submit a different action. The action you have taken is based on information that Gov does not have, since you did not roll Heal.
She's unconscious. Stabilization is essential in these circumstances, and moving would provoke an attack of opportunity, as well as casting the spell, something that channeled energy does not do. I'm standing by my action.
I think he was referring to the point about the king waking up, which I can see as a valid point because Gov wouldn’t necessarily have known that he would. That said, I think it can be resolved because I got a good enough heal check to tell that the king’ll wake up and I communicated that to the party.
For the other check, I agree with Gov, though, that a cleric who’s tactic is to support his allies would heal them regardless of skill check, especially someone who’s both visibly badly injured as you stated before and unconscious.
No, I am referring to the information underneath the Heal spoilers. Gov does not know that the King is alive, nor does he know that Reilarri is still alive. You are meant to roll Heal to know the status of downed creatures, and you did not.
With Stayven's roll, you would know that the King still lives but you would not know whether Reilarri does, which means you know you will heal your enemy but not know whether you will heal your ally. I don't believe that to be a reasonable action to take.
I also want to strongly discourage metagaming, especially regarding information under spoilers. I want to be able to use them to give y'all information. If the metagaming continues, I won't feel motivated to write information-containing spoilers, and I will feel motivated to randomly change the abilities of creatures. For example, a character using acid on a troll without previous Knowledge checks might find that this particular troll is immune to acid.
Do they breathe? If so they are alive. Sounds like I can substitute a perception check to see if someone's alive. Even shallow breathing would be enough of an indicator. Are we to assume that we don't have a general idea of what other character's HP is? If so, I'd like to remake my character pretty substantially, probably some sort of Oradin instead for healing.
If that doesn't work, I will now set the precedent. If you are unconscious, Gov will assume that you are 1 hp from death, and all enemies are 1hp from conscious. Precedent set.
Does your character know how to accurately check for breathing? Heal check. If you feel the need to make a new character or retrain Gov aftee this adventure, I guess that's alright. I really don't feel it's unreasonable to aso you to use Heal for one of its intended purposes, and I don't understand why you're so adamantly arguing with me.
I think that it would be fair here to say that untrained heal checks should be allowed to see if someone is dead. And for Gov, 1 skill point gives +8. That’s solid right there. A masterwork tool would make it +10 (something to listen for a heartbeat?). That should be all that’s needed going forward.
And for when failed, I think that defaulting to “if I can’t tell if someone is dead I will heal them” is a legitimate tactic. It could save a life and it could waste resources. So there is a give and take.
Sven is right that Heal is not a trained-only skill.
Hey Sven, I thought it was clear but apparently not. The King did not rise, and you do not get an attack of opportunity. It doesn't mean you can't attack, of course, I just figured the clarification I wrote said that. I also feel that the implications of attacking a defeated enemy lying on the ground proactively are different from those of taking an opportunity against an enemy trying to get to their feet.
I also asked you to roll initiative, since you are starting battle.
I’m confused. The king was at my feet. He killed Rei, right? Which means that he’d need to get up, move to her and attack. Thus I thought that I’d get an AOO for that...
If I’m wrong in this and just got confused then Sven won’t attack. He’s only attacking if it is clear that the king is alive and that hostilities have commenced. If both conditions aren’t meant then he won’t attack the king. But if both are met then he is killing the guy.
It was the king's bodyguard who killed Rei.
Ah, my mistake! My apologies. In that case we are back in initiative then? Because Sven would certainly go pure hostile/kill them all at that point. Starting with the king if Sven knows he is alive, as the king is a spellcaster/is evil/is in charge. Is a check needed for that? I mean, if a channel hits him and he opens his eyes/gasps/etc, it should be pretty clear?
You should go back and read the post more carefully. The King spoke.
If you would like to attack him as he lies there, I'd like a post describing that and also an initiative roll.
I can see how Gov would be frustrated.
At least from my perspective, it seems like you just blocked him from doing a reasonable action, given the circumstances.
If your teammate was downed, even if there was a very slim chance of them not being dead, a healer would want to heal them regardless, because if it comes down to wasting healing on a corpse or saving your teammate, it seems like it'd be almost instinctual to make sure that they don't die.
If we're going off of info that's not in the spoilers, the last mention of Relarri was that she collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Gov saw that, and when he wasn't endangered by the fey surrounding him, he healed her. I can't see how that's an action anyone could object to.
Just my two cents on the matter.
Howdy folks! I'm the new new guy :D. This is Tanu, a martial-based battle herald focused mostly on aid another. He is a former military commander from a place way out east called Vudra. He is here largely for the camaraderie (which I actually spelled correctly this time before double checking on google, which has never happened before) rather than the reward. Looking forward to getting started!
I think it works best for you to have already arrived at Fort Thorn within the last day, when Portia appears. The two of you will shortly be introduced and will have the opportunity for some RP while the other party members fight and make their way back to the Fort afterwards (assuming they survive ;))
I realize now that Sven should have went in the other direction. But I rushed, and it makes sense for mistakes to be made. If need be he can go +30ft as a swift action so no big deal.
Also, welcome to the new victims!
I added a couple more purchases to my equipment list (trail rations, tent, saddlebags, ioun torch), figured since I hadn't started yet that would be OK but push comes to shove I could probably buy those things at the store at the fort. Let me know if you object. Most GMs I've played with in the past haven't tracked the mundanes, but I got all caught up on the game thread and discovered that to not be the case here, so wanted to be prepared for that.
Also, when I was adding that, I noticed that some info was still missing on my animal companion stats. I hadn't listed known tricks, special abilities, or the Bodyguard archetype. Updated that as well.
Equipment is just fine! You will certainly be able to buy camping supplies, but not any magical items sans 1st-level potions, so no ioun torch, in the fort store.
As for mundane items -- I will prompt you to deduct trail rations from your character sheet, but I will not be extremely strict about keeping track of it. There may be inclement weather, and characters not appropriately protected will suffer damage as per the rules. I will not track horse feed. Horses can just graze. There is a certain survival element to the adventure, and my intent is to balance staying in the wilderness vs. resting in the fort vs. the time limit of the adventure.
So Gov!
Reroll or reincarnation sidequest?
Time to bounce! Once Sven has Gov he will be withdrawing with 50ft movement speed due to sudden speed.
Are you sure? ;)
I don’t think that Sven can lift both due to weight. Even with Str20, carrying 2 adults and wearing plate? Can’t see him moving like that. Sadly, with both comrades down I think that the only logical thing to do is get Gov out. It’s better to get out with one than to have everyone die going for 2. While Gov is dead, Sven doesn’t know it. It’s the worst outcome besides TPK, but I don’t see any other way out.
Anyone else have an insight?
Sven could roll Heal. He could also take fingers or hair for reincarnation, assuming that he has anything with a blade.
Alright, so that's two deaths, then.
Gov has the option to be returned to life, although it will require some short delay before he is able to resume play. Stayven's body was not required.
Since we're trying to maintain a balanced party with the four classic roles, the character archetype that Stayven is able to make depends on whether Gov would prefer to reroll or resurrect.
If Gov would prefer to resurrect, then Stayven should create another 'skilled'-type character.
If Gov would prefer to re-roll, the pair can keep their roles or they can swap.
Either way, the one or two new characters will be introduced along with Tanu when ready.
Deadly! Will get a post up when I can. Been awhile since had the feeling of a party that had a pyrrhic victory and is beaten down so much.
Am I just flat out dead? No potential for escape or resurrection like Gov? They didn't outright kill me, at least with the initial damage.
Maybe Cyla could've grabbed some bit of Stayven on the way out.
Would a sidequest to retrieve Stayven's body and deal with the fey once and for all be too much?
If I really have to die, so be it, but I figured I'd ask about any other possibilities.
The fey coup de grace you immediately, although if you'd prefer resurrection, we can certainly fiat that Cyla has retrieved a small piece of your body.
The other party members can also certainly return to the glade for Stayven's body, if it still remains.
I'd love to keep playing Stayven, so thanks a ton for being flexible on that.
Either is fine with me. If folks are willing to go back in once they've gotten reinforcements that'd be great, but a double resurrection for me and Gov might be a simpler option.
I like the idea of having us ride out and finding Stayven being hung out with Rei’s body. With him being on the cusp of death, as the Fey weren’t willing to give him a quick one. It feels darker, and given our level is much cheaper than resurrection.
That’s a wicked but cool idea!
I think that it's a pleasant fantasy :) I have an idea as to the source of the resurrections already, you all just need to pursue it in-character.
So when should I come in? I’m still supposed to wait on an intro, yes?
I think that Gov would be happy enough in whatever afterlife he managed to achieve. He failed to achieve a peaceful solution with the fey. Perhaps an Oradin will have more efficacy in keeping the party on its feet :)
That’s a combination I’ve always meant to try out. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
So when should I come in? I’m still supposed to wait on an intro, yes?
You can choose, or you can let me choose.
If it’s okay, Portia will listen to Gyles’ reply to her, either with another line of conversation, a grunt and point to Sir Tolgrith, or a ’What the heck, are they dead’ exclamation interrupting our introduction — or some combination of those three — and the post her response.
Went ahead and butted in. So it begins!
Question - would anybody be interested in joining a Discord server for ooc chat / rules questions / general merriment? I’ve done that with other games in the past and found that it greatly helps the flow of the game to have that dynamic chat available. If there is interest, I could set us up a server.
I've never had much luck with discord, and I check all of my campaigns on this forum. I'm afraid that adding a discord server wouldn't do much for me.
Not a problem, understand completely, we can stick with only here then!
Gov here! Finished the mechanics of my oracle, just need to write up some backstory and explanatory fluff, and make a profile, and I'll be all set!
Is that a placeholder name?
That's actually just my main alias these days
Super busy now, posting later today
Alright, Capt. Generica!
Just let me know when you've got a character put together, and how you'd like to be introduced.
I have an idea as to the source of the resurrections already, you all just need to pursue it in-character.
With the goal of trying to get Stayven back in the action ASAP, can you give us any hints as to what you are thinking? From an in character perspective, the resurrection spell is an option for a very long time, so there is no particular rush other than personal guilt, but OOCly we don't want Stayven sitting around while we traipse through a whole bunch of unrelated activity. Is going after the owlbears part of your plan for the resurrection?
No, but the adventure is on a schedule and Tolgrith alerts you of certain events that go on in the Vale on certain days. It's simply the continuance of the adventure. If you want to get access to a resurrection, you will need to pursue it yourselves, which means at least mentioning it out loud to someone who might know something.
Here’s my issue. Resurrection costs 10,000 gold. So Gov, Rein and Stayven is 30k and a lvl13+ Cleric. That’s a lot of money for some mercenaries in a border fort. Is resurrection common here? Because seeking for a way to bring them back just doesn’t seem like something he’d think of. I don’t think that Sven even has any reason to believe that there are any sufficiently high level clerics around who could do it given how rare lvl10+ people there are. So from an IC point of view, I don’t see why Sven would go looking for a way to raise the money and find a person capable of bringing the three back, especially as he just met them a few days ago and the Fort has so much more work to be done. IC he’d be much more likely to either give them proper burials or arrange for their bodies to be sent to their hometown, as he’d do with Rei (they’re from the same city).
I know that you keep saying OOC to ask IC, but I feel that something is needed IC for that to be reached.
If you the living PCs don't want to try to bring Stayven back, then he's just going to stay dead, and Simeon will have to make a new character. If that's true, you should just say that so that he can get started.
I promise you that a way exists, but you must pursue it. It will take time, effort, and some money.