Apologies, all. I’ve been going through a bit of a mental health decline lately, and for some reason it’s a lot harder for me to motivate myself to bot a PC when I’m in this state. I promise I’m still here and I still want to GM; it’s just a lot harder to consolidate my spoons (link for context) throughout the day sometimes.
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Okay, a couple things I want to take care of now that the combat is over:
First, from here on out I’m changing stagnate time into a Fortitude save to bring it in-line with similar spells like slow. I wish I had noticed Jisara had that spell beforehand so I could have brought this up earlier (since she likely only cast it in that combat because it was a Will save), but I’m making a public statement about it now.
Secondly, I am going to implement a couple more things coming in the Remaster to this game to make it feel fair. Specifically with regards to the monster abilities Grab, Push, and Knockdown. The texts for each of these abilities will be replaced with the following:
The monster can instead use Grab and choose one creature it’s grabbing or restraining with an appendage that has Grab and attempt to Grapple that creature. This attempt neither applies nor counts toward the creature’s multiple attack penalty.
These are mostly on the GM’s side of the rules, so this announcement is more of an FYI to y’all.
Also, those of y’all with the Rage of Elements PDF might notice that what’s written here is not QUITE what’s written in that book (specifically, the italicized stuff is my own personal modification). I did this to make it feel more fair—I disagree with maintaining the Grab being automatic, and I don’t like that there’s no specification on what happens on a critical success with Push.
Well, mostly I had cast it cause it was an AoE effect that caused them to be slowed and it was okay if they succeeded once or twice. I did think it being a Will save was odd, though.
Okay, now I have to ask each of you the awkward question that I always forget to ask beforehand: could you be sexually attracted to Natsiel? It actually does matter.
could you be sexually attracted to Natsiel?
Vitalis is a straight male who is attracted to females.
However, as a paladin and a hellknight, he would be revolted at the thought of attraction to a devil.So I'd say, if she was in a purely humanoid form, yes. If her horns and wings are showing, no.
Also, I don't know what kind of charm effects she may attempt to deploy, but I'll note that Vitalis has Haughty Obstinacy, if it applies, since it hasn't come up before.
Same for Chance - he could be. He does have Resolve, assuming whatever’s about to happen is a Will save.
Edrakk is ace, so no.
Yes. So you don't have to ask in the future (since like you said it can be embarrassing), Jisara is bi with a preference for femmes.
Oh, cabal devils! They're so cool. I had a tiefling magus in 1e who was descended from one. She was always seeking out more magical power so the fiendish ancestor was a great hook.
I don't understand the question.
I just wanted to see if I could still get the use of Quick Recognition since I currently can't use reactions.
Ah. Yeah, I’d say so.
There was a spoiler with your name on it at the end of my previous post.
Oops. I missed it. I’ll change my post when I get home.
Work has been a bit frantic lately, I'll try to get a post in today or tomorrow.
FYI: I will be on vacation this Friday through Monday.
If I can post, I will. If you need to bot my turn, go ahead.
Sorry, I misread the map and got Strea and Natsiel confused. Replace the melee attack with a ranged attack, still sneaking.
Edrakk, I don't see a *throwing* dagger on your character sheet that has a striking rune on it. Only your silver (non-throwing) dagger seems to have that. Did I miss something somewhere along the way?
They're in the thrower's bandolier, which is +2 striking returning, so all of those runes are applied when it's removed from it.
Right! Forgot you had that.
Actually...the timing couldn't have been worse. You're restrained. Meaning you can't take any manipulate or attack actions except to Escape. That includes the Interact that's part of Holy Light...
Actually...the timing couldn't have been worse. You're restrained. Meaning you can't take any manipulate or attack actions except to Escape. That includes the Interact that's part of Holy Light...
ah, yes, that would do it. I’ll retcon my turn later this morning. Put too much time into writing the little activation song lyrics, not enough into checking the activation requirements themselves - I checked the traits for the relic gift (Evocation, Good), didn’t drill down far enough.
I'm back. You guys got this!
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Hero Points reset in a week
And because I'm always really bad about remembering to give them out, I'm just gonna give everyone a Hero Point.
@Vitalis: You were always free to attack Natsiel. You’re still under her suggestion, but that only prevents you from Escaping her Embrace (and to be a willing target against Embrace).
Sorry, all. I'm in a weird headspace, so I probably won't be able to get a post out today.
Sorry, all. I'm in a weird headspace, so I probably won't be able to get a post out today.
Take the time you need. I hope things are going a little better than they were.
Sorry, all. I'm in a weird headspace, so I probably won't be able to get a post out today.
I've been there. Take the time you need, I hope you feel better soon.
Me too. I've been having a lot of trouble focusing on things or with executive dysfunction. Like, I think about the game all day and that I need to post, but it's really hard to actually do.
The game isn't the problem, of course, I'm having this difficulty with lots of other stuff. ADHD is a great time.
”Natsiel! She’s not a succubus—she shouldn’t be a succubus…She should be a tiefling. But that was definitely her. Why didn’t you kill her? WHY IS SHE STILL ALIVE?!”
This is the part where I admit as a player that I don’t understand how she’s alive after that last round either. Did someone hit her with a nonlethal attack at the end that I missed?
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Death and dying rules. I did them in a spoiler. She happened to stabilize.
Yup, sorry - I understood the explanation. I was focused on the part of the death and dying rules that says creatures other than PCs die at 0 hit points, and had somehow forgotten the PC rules apply to certain NPCs at the GM’s discretion (and I think exercising that discretion to give us a chance to question and try to redeem Hetamon’s birth mother is absolutely worth exercising that discretion - I didn’t see that coming at all).
Yeah, if the PCs show any kind of want to interrogate, etc. someone, then I retroactively apply that.
Posting this tweet (Xeet? Xit?) from Mark Seifter to remind myself about cast into time when we hit level 11; it may also be of interest to Jisara.
"Unfortunately for Natsiel, I'm not going to lie to my friend, Hetamon and question her behind his back. I'll dispatch this monster. We can get our answers elsewhere."
I mean...Hetamon DID just say "do whatever you have to."
But regardless, any inputs from either Chance or Jisara? Or should I just move things along?
He did say that, but the implied feelings is that is not what he’d want. He seems to want her dead. Vitalis is impartial. I’m just trying to move things along.
Chance has an opinion, drafting the post now.
I’m flying out to east tonight to help my father move to Chicago this weekend. The movers will arrive and get his stuff into new apartment on Wednesday, so he’s staying with us until then. I’m likely to be slow to post until late next week as a result. I’ll do my best but please bot me if I’m holding things up.
I don't have any questions for Natsiel. If anyone else does, go right ahead.
”I prefer ‘intimate.’ And I got this way through confidence and a lot of well-needed beauty sleep. But a lady mustn’t divulge all of her tricks.” Natsiel glances at Strea, Shensen, and Jisara. ”Or else there will be no more lovely gentlemen for myself.”
BTW, if it went over your head, she’s answering as if Chance asked about her beauty rather than the fiendish features. Chance’s question was vague enough that she decided to have a little fun.
I’m just gonna wait to see if anyone interjects before I finalize Vitalis’s actions.
Sure. I don't like to metagame, but if someone wants to stop Vitalis, I'll allow them to without issue. He acted based on the sense motive result that he got.
Is Jisara okay? It's been over 20 days since she last posted.
She got sick in August and has been slowly getting back into the groove of work. I didn’t quite realize it’s been 20 days, though. I’ll see what I can do.
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Hey everyone, I apologize. I've been having a really difficult time. Trying to get back into the swing of things but started feeling anxious about how long I'd been gone. It felt ridiculous, which of course made it harder. Xavier reaching out helped kick me into actually posting, though, so I'd like to come back if you'd all be okay with it.
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Of course. You weren't even gone.
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Hey everyone, I apologize. I've been having a really difficult time. Trying to get back into the swing of things but started feeling anxious about how long I'd been gone. It felt ridiculous, which of course made it harder. Xavier reaching out helped kick me into actually posting, though, so I'd like to come back if you'd all be okay with it.
Glad you’re back!
Hero Points reset in a week
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Hey everyone, I apologize. I've been having a really difficult time. Trying to get back into the swing of things but started feeling anxious about how long I'd been gone. It felt ridiculous, which of course made it harder. Xavier reaching out helped kick me into actually posting, though, so I'd like to come back if you'd all be okay with it.
Yeah, I know the feeling well. Glad you're doing better!
Please don't take this negatively but I have some constructive criticism. This section with Natsiel is dragging so hard. With peoples' posting rates declining, please consider if the posts progress the story at all. For example, the last three posts:
“Great idea, Edrakk! But,um, I’m not gonna be the one to fish it out of her underthings.”
"I doubt it's that simple," Jisara says, eyes still locked on the wannabe succubus.
Edrakk, who evidently didn't fully understand why everyone was so uncomfortable (Hadn't they seen medical diagrams? Well, they likely hadn't, but still. It's just anatomy, why was everyone making such a fuss?) furrowed his brow. "Hm, that... t-that does present more of a problem. I definitely don't think we could just let you go, but I'm not confident we can hold you either..." He taps his foot, evidently not liking the options at hand.
After each of you posted, we're pretty much in the same spot. There hasn't been any forward movement.
I tried to keep things going by killing Natsiel, but I was overruled. If you guys are in a rut and want me to come back in and finish her off, I'd be glad to. Otherwise, its up to you to get the information you want.
Again, I'm not trying to be negative towards anyone. I'm just saying this because I'm still enjoying this game and don't want to see it get stuck and die out.
Yeah, I agree. The group needs to make a decision so we can move the story along. From the sounds of things, y'all don't think it worth it to follow through with the deal, but I'll give it 24 hours for anyone to interject on this. After 24 hours, I'm moving things along.
And in my defense: the past couple days have been really intense for me, so it's been difficult to get back into the swing of things.