Happy thanksgiving, and thank ye for the honor! ;^)
Happy thanksgiving!
@corey, are they perception rolls/choices for Zahra only, or all of us?
all of you
Come to think of it, never realized Thanksgiving was a thing outside of the US of A. Today I learned something new.
Ours is in October, which is much more sensible. :)
@Corey, are the Servants of the Red Dragon connected to the Fida Hura (that we know of)?
Kamzar seemed to know of the Fida Huras but they didn’t seem connected. He did want to know why the FH were interested in Zahra - so much so that he sent some of his people to break into her house. You fought the three servants when you first visited Zahra’s home
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Here is Zahra's death vision as written by the two of us. I've woven them together where appropriate. I thought it was quite a lovely bit of cooperative writing. My part is italicized.
In a flash the environment changed.
Where the arena once enveloped her, with its' sticky warmth and threatening looming shadows watching from the stands, there was now a snow-capped mountain scape.
Zahra stood on a peak and there were others about her. Humans and elves, a mountain giant with half a dozen gnomes riding on his shoulders, a woman in the most elaborate robes wearing a veil of thin black cloth under fine chain links (the veil seemed to be writhing?!), a massive black horse with short backward facing horns and a hide of iridescent scales, and a few others of strange origin.
Zahra took a deep, steadying breath and exhaled slowly. She watched her breath come out like smoke in the cold. Then she blinked a few times as if trying to clear her vision. Last time she had transported out of the challenge, she had found out she almost died. Had the same thing happened? Why did everyone want to hurt her all of a sudden? She was a good person, wasn't she?
Not knowing what to do, the sorceress kept walking along with the others. They all seemed to know where they were going. Maybe she'd find answers when they got to their destination.
They all walked a winding stone way that was sometimes a meagre path and sometimes a staircase that followed the mountain ridge and led to a higher peak. A woman of about Zahra's age was standing on the side of the path. She seemed perhaps part-elven and wore warm-looking robes of black with dark blue embroidery. She carried a staff and was speaking to the procession of creatures but none of them were responding. Her hair was long and full-on white despite her age.
Colliope, "I'm sorry but I don't understand how I got here. Can someone tell me where we are? I need to get back to my friends, you see. They were in trouble and it's very bad that I've left them. Hello?? Won't one of you talk to me???" She looked like her anxiety is increasing.
The procession passed her by as if she were invisible.
When she came upon the woman, Zahra looked back and forth at the others around her. Surely they were more qualified to speak with this lost soul than she. But when no one paid the woman any attention, Zahra couldn't help but step out of line to join her.
Zahra gave the woman a gentle smile, "I don't know either but maybe we can figure it out together. My name is Zahra. What can I call you? I totally understand your concern because I need to get back to my friends too as we were also in trouble." She leaned in and said quieter, "I bet no one else is talking because no one knows where we are."
Zahra noticed no one seemed to be paying attention to her either.
Calliope. "Please, I'm Calliope. I'm a little anxious. The way people are ignoring me, I don't think I'm altogether 'here'. But you're right let's follow."
Zahra gave Calliope's arm a reassuring squeeze, "Now we have each other so hopefully you won't feel so anxious. It's amazing how comforting it is when someone sees you and how unnerving it is when they don't."
The two continued along the path together and picked up three other people, the only people that seemed to notice and interact with them. There was a very elderly halfling named Grayleg Goldvaser, who said he was in bed and his family were about him before he arrived suddenly here. There was a middle-aged scholar named Ceilig Cooper. She was in hospital after contracting filth-fever during her time tending the sick. Finally, there was a fit dark-elven man, with swords belted to his side, who called himself Thix.
All of them seemed lost.
As they collected more people and heard their stories, Zahra was pretty certain that Calliope had been right. All of them seemed to have memory of being close to death before arriving here.
As they all followed the trail it came to the next peak where wooden platforms allowed people to stop and rest. Once Zahra and the others found their way there they could see nestled in the snow and curled around the highest peak was a massive dragon. The dragon appeared to be sleeping and its' breathing was laboured. The snow pushed away from its' nostrils with every exhale. Its' scales looked a grey-silver.
The others Zahra traveled with stopped and were, in one way or another, transfixed.
Kneeling before the dragon with their backs to Zahra were four men of different statures but all wearing the same long black leather coats. Their weapons were laid before them. Their heads were bowed.
To the dragon's left stood three high-elven figures that Zahra might have taken for priests. Two stood behind one who read off a scroll.
To the dragon's right sat cross-legged a monk. His head was also bowed and he droned out a prayer in a low voice, "mmmmmthequietwayisthepathtommmmmlettinggoisthepathtommmmmpeaceisthepathtom mmmmunderstandingisthepathtommmmmstrengthisthepathtommmmmthequietwayis..."
Wait a minute. Was that monk the priest they found in the desert? Was that Ldanfoat???
Zahra's eyes widened when the dragon came into view but she didn't stop like the others. Her heart went out to the ancient wonder when she saw their laboured breathing but she was comforted that he wasn't alone.
She gasped loudly when she recognized Ldanfoat, or at least thought she recognized him.
The high-elven cleric read aloud, "The time is nearing. Our great friend Silimiel will soon be crossing over to the endless palace. He has here writ that he requests you four to be the front line in the defence of the world against the rise of the Servants of the Great Red Dragon. Do you take this sacred bequest?"
Without even realizing, tears began to streak down Zahra's face. She knew that Silimiel had died but there was something about witnessing it first hand that broke her heart. She wished that she had known Silimiel because she could see the devotion he garnered from those gathered. It gave her greater confidence that the stories she had heard were not exaggerated or made up, but truth. And she was related to him! How humbling was that?
The four men, "We do Great One!" As they replied it was not to the elf they vowed but the dragon.
Cleric, "To forsake your own safety?"
The four men, "We do Great One!"
Cleric, "To think only of your duty and push away all worldly desire?"
The four men, "We do Great One!"
Cleric, "To act in all things as he would have acted, without malice, without fear, without ego?"
One man, "I will to the last of my breath!"
Second man, "I will as I abandon my old selfish life!"
Third man, "I will to this purpose alone and none other!"
Fourth man, "I, in humility and with all this body may do, will!" The fourth man's voice sounded familiar.
Cleric, "Then go all of you. You shall be the Great One's 'Cardinal Directions'. From here you abandon your names and shall only be called North, South, East, and West. You shall guard wherever the Master is to be found. If he should act with malevolence or reveal himself you shall face him."
The Cardinal Directions, "Yes Great One!"
Silimiel raised his head and spoke in a tired voice, "Except for you, East. You shall by your name be known but your purpose hidden. You shall find the woman Samreen. She is a force for good. You will find a way into her household and, if necessary, trade your life for hers. Please child. It is with heaviest of hearts that I ask this of you."
The fourth man bowed until his forehead touched the ground, "I, in humility and with all this body may do, will!"
When Zahra recognized the voice of the fourth man, she needed to see his face. Fairly certain that they weren't aware of her and that she was somehow witnessing the past, she moved up to stand beside Silimiel so that she could see the faces of the Cardinal Directions. She studied each of their faces and couldn't help but gasp again, especially when Samreen's name was mentioned. That's why his voice had sounded familiar!
Zahra passed through the smattering of attendees and looked back at the four men. North, South, and West looked unfamiliar to her. But East. Kehydius?! The man she knew as Samreen's bodyguard. He looked serious. Rigid. Not the friendly man she had met first at the opera house. There was something else about his face that was strange to her, something perhaps naive.
Zahra's jaw dropped as East's face came into view.
Kehydius! When this was all over, she definitely needed to find him and Samreen again.
With the vows given, Zahra took a moment to crouch beside Silimiel and placed a hand lovingly on his neck. She knew he didn't know she was there but as he neared the end, she wanted him to know that he was loved and not just revered
As she came to Silimiel himself. His eyes were closed and his breathing laboured. His scales just like the one they found in King Kubara'sigi's burial place. She touched his neck and he stirred. His eye opened. With the last of his strength he raised his head and stared at her. His breathing changed to short rapid ins and outs.
His eyes searched the crowd. Calliope, Greyleg, Ceilig, and Thix had all moved to the front.
The elven cleric, "Great One, please calm yourself. You are safe and amongst friends."
Silimiel, "Thank you, Lord Sagina! You have answered my ... dying wish and granted me a vision of my descendants! Forgive me ... my distant grandchildren. For you to be here ... you must be close ... to the veil between life and afterlife ... I would ... not have you endangered but so ... wanted to see."
"Ceilig ... Has the plague colony illness finally overthrown ... your constitution? Greyleg ... Have you ... finally made it home? ... Calliope ... What ... threat have you and your friends ... been vanquishing? ... Thix ... have ... the assassins ... found you? And ... Zahra ..."
"Sweet Zahra ... your trial is about to begin ... you are headed to ... the grande bazaar ... don't worry. They will take you but ... it will only lead you ... to friends."
"Thank you for answering my one ... last ... selfish ... wish. Sagina. I am ready."
Elven cleric, "He is growing delusional. Everyone step back."
Ldanfoat stopped his chant, "No, Caryana'padi, this dosen't feel like a delusion. Have patience. He is at the end." He began chanting again. Others joined in.
The sorceress almost collapsed from surprise when Silimiel stirred at her touch. He could see her! And he said grandchildren, not grandchild. She had more family!
Her brow furrowed a bit when Silimiel mentioned the Grande Bazaar. Was he referring to what had already happened or something that was to come?
Greyleg the halfling, "I think I'm going with him. I'm coming Great Gaffer." The others touch Greyleg's shoulders and he walked forward and faded away.
Silimiel's head droops to the ground. He let out one last long breath and was gone. Over his body the clouds dissolved save one directly overhead. It took the form of dragon and slowly sailed away from the mountains, out over the distant desert and towards the sea.
As the great Silimiel breathed his last, tears freely flowed down Zahra's face. She mourned for the great dragon she knew him to be and for not being able to spend more time with him. She gave his neck a hug and kissed him above his eye. "Farewell, Silimiel. May you find open skies and cool winds. May you rest in peace knowing the world is better because you were in it."
Zahra stared at the cloud that formed upon Silimiel's passing. She cocked her head as she studied it. It looked familiar somehow. Then the pieces began falling into place and her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. She had seen this cloud before on the day she had been taken. And of course, Silimiel had been correct, she would never had met her friends if she hadn't been kidnapped. "Thank you," she whispered before tearing herself away from her ancestor's side.
With Greyleg disappearing before she could say goodbye, Zahra ran over to the others. "I've always wanted siblings. Where do you guys live? I would love to find you someday. Remember, I'm in Zhayalammar."
Zahra stood up suddenly and looked around. She had thought she had heard Cairee yelling at her but she couldn't see her friend. She moved over to Calliope and the others, "Part of me feels like I'm being pulled away from here. I can hear my friend and I suddenly feel a lot of pain. In case I suddenly leave, I wanted to say goodbye and good luck. I'm glad to have met you and that we weren't alone in this place. If you make it back and are ever in Zhayalammar, find me at the Lesser Bazaar."
Zahra briefly joined the others and one-by-one they faded as mourners prayed on the mountain top.
Zahra mumbled a word that sounded like Cairee's name but without vowels. Her fingers twitched and it looked like her eyelids were trying to open but couldn't because they were so heavy.
Zahra's face was wet from tears as she began to stir. Although she quickly realized that not all of them were sad tears. She desperately wanted to share what had happened with her friends but was painfully aware of the danger they were in. It would have to wait. She finally opened her eyes and when Cairee's face came into focus she whispered, "Did we win? Did you get your voice back?"
@Corey: Thanks so much for putting that together. I had been favouriting the posts so I had easy access to them but this is much better :)
Sweet, a level-up!
Fighter 2 (second and final Fighter level, to get the second Spear Dancing style feat unlocked...)
Ability score bonus: +1 Dex
+1 BAB
+1 Fort save
+8 HP
Bravery +1 (bonus to Will saves vs fear)
Bonus feat: Spear Dancing Spiral (Combat) (can consider the Usriev a finesse weapon)
Skills: +2 class, +1 race, +1 int, +2 hobby
Acrobatics +1
Climb +1
Intimidate +1
Perception +1
Perform skill (dancing) +1
Survival +1
Is it ok if we react again to the extra dream bit or do you want them done and we move on with reactions after the fact?
Sorry, Zahra is now ‘awake’ and no longer dreaming
Tymythy - check your Fighter archetype
Skirmishers get 4skill ranks per level
Hooray for level up! It'll be confusing after the party when we're suddenly more powerful and don't remember why. :)
+7 HP
+1BAB
+1 will save
ABI - dex from 18 to 19
background skills - perform dance and SoH
11 skills
acrobatics, climb, disable device, k dung, k local, percep, sense motive, stealth, survival, swim, umd
debilitating injury
rogue talent -resiliancy
uncanny dodge
Sorry, Zahra is now ‘awake’ and no longer dreaming
Reaction it is, then :)
+6 HP (includes favoured class bonus)
+1 BAB
+1 Will Save
Spells per Day: +1 1st, 3 +1 (high Cha) = 4 2nd level
Spells Known: +1 0 level, 1 2nd level
Ability Increase = Int
Skills
+1 diplomacy
+1 K.arcana
2nd level spell = Flurry of snowballs
0 level spell = Mage Hand
BTW, started playing Feb 2021
Gained level 2: March 2021
Gained level 3: May 2022
Gained level 4: Nov 2024
Expected level 5: Oct 2029 ;-P
Also added 1 skill point to Spellcraft. Initially forgot I got an extra skill point for being human
BTW, started playing Feb 2021
Gained level 2: March 2021
Gained level 3: May 2022
Gained level 4: Nov 2024
Expected level 5: Oct 2029 ;-P
Have we really been playing that long? I feel Zahra should know what she’s doing by now if that was the case :)
Tymythy - check your Fighter archetype
Skirmishers get 4skill ranks per level
I had a fighter archetype?
Oh crap. Two years ago, from the time I was planning on getting a longspear for spear dancing and never expected to need another fighter level ever (until I got given a sweet, sweet weapon that was exotic). A problem - that archetype doesn't get a bonus feat on the second level. The whole reason I took a fighter level.
So, two options... the archetype gave me 2 extra skill ranks at the previous level. I could take 2 less skill points this level (only 1 from human, 1 from Int and the 2 hobby ranks) and make the fighter archetype go away, pretend Tymythy never had it.
Or if you don't like that kind of retconning, I'll have to wait one more level to get everything out of the usriev, in which case I can take a ranger level instead.
Tymythy - the choice is yours. Recon'ing is ok, especially as you haven't been using any of the bonuses of Fighter (skirmisher)
Thank ye, retcon it is - don't wanna wait for that prophesied Oct 2029 for the missing feat ;^)
I'll drop the Acrobatics and Survival skill-up.
You all certainly earned level 4. Retrieved the scale from the burial ground of Bar Kubara'sigi; made it back home, met many people (the gnome shop keeper, the old mystic woman, the people at Isoult's, Cole the underworld contact, the Hlewmylani leatherworker and weapon smith ... even an accidental meeting with the monk Ldanfoat [which I rolled randomly]) Then three days at Hallwn's Arena solving the trap maze, fighting the manticore, and a brilliant but hard fought win in the fight arena!
But, mostly, lots of great writing and character building!
Thank you and congratulations!
Corey when you list it like that, are you sure we're not level 5 by now ;-P
Yo'ya raised two thousand and fifty crowns. What can we buy to help us in the next challenge? We're doing the mirror I think? So stuff to help keep our minds clear and stay together?
Cairee could prepare/cast Trail of The Rose - that may help. https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/t/trail-of-the-rose/
overnight healing - I think Dounia's con damage was healed by the healers when we came out, and the other damage healed over night, so her abilities are back to normal?
When our HP went up, I assume the damage stayed the same. I was at 16/24 HP, so I upped that to 23/31 HP - is that correct? Remind me what we heal overnight naturally?
Oh and Cairee was gonna try the gloves on you! She also has one more 1st level healing spell she could have cast the previous night, if anyone needs it and Corey will allow it.
Dounia would heal 4hps naturally overnight (as would you all)
Cairee - by all means, cast away
We also got cured after our return:
Zahra - cure light wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Cairee - cure moderate wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 7) + 3 = 18
Dounia - cure moderate wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 1) + 3 = 12
Tymythy - cure serious wounds: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 1, 4) + 5 = 12
Dounia - lesser restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 4 Dounia's constitution is back to normal, her wisdom damage should heal naturally
E'gama - cure light wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
judge first aid on Cyn: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
So who still had damage as of last night?
I count Tymythy down 2 HP, so pretty much in good order.
Anybody have a good knowledge of magic items? I'm not sure what to recommend. Maybe something to help see through illusions? Presumably we'll be "seeing things" in the hall of mirrors. Or something to help with saves. I think we have the equivalent of 500 gp to spend (because everything is 5x price), so that'll get eaten up pretty quickly.
Something to buff a will save would probably be a good choice. But I don't know if we can afford anything that will buff a group.
HP: 27
BAB +3
Fort +4
Ref +1
Will +4
Ability: Wisdom
Spells: 1st lvl 4+1 domain / 2nd lvl 3+1 domain
Skills:
Background - K. Planes, K. Religion
K. Arcana, Sense Motive, Handle Animal, K. Local, Perception, Survival
Special: Animal Companion!
Angie, maybe some potions? Remove Fear, Resilience, Owl's Wisdom? They're all spells Cairee can learn too, so maybe healing potions?
What do you think of the trail of roses spell I mentioned above? Potentially useful for the mirror challenge?
As a reminder we all have 1 healing potion from the gnomes, and Zahra has a second that we purchase. Not sure if any were used during the last challenge.
Cairee has the delay poison potion they bought.
Also, going through my character sheet I see a few things from early on I totally forgot about.
- A "milky potion with a pin prick in the stopper" that we got from the bag of the other gal in the caravan with us
- this (Tymythy, did you hang onto it?) strange copper rod twisted into a large horseshoe shape large enough to be warn around the neck. It was simple but nicely made and had runic letters on the inside bend. From Tymythy: ”The runes are in the language of my tribe. A name: Ludter, of tribe Varyag. A protective ward, against ill luck and the evil eye. I believe,”
Zahra will have a cure moderate potion courtesy of Prem and his winnings :)
Thanks for the reminder about the healing potion from the gnomes. Zahra used the other potion during the last challenge - or rather Cairee poured it into her mouth
Trail of Rose spell could help us from getting separated during the mirror challenge. I think it could be useful. Nice choice.
Cairee: Tymythy actually used that token when we escaped the collapsing tomb... I'm usually eternally hoarding single-use items for the rainy day so made a effort to use it ;^)
Also, that Trail of Roses sounds damn cool. Could be great. But it didn't indicate direction traveled, so if we end up doing a ton of backtracking we'd have to leave behind some mundane markings anyway, and since we don't need to care for anyone following us... might just get a few pieces of charcoal to draw arrows on the ground as we go.
Owl's Wisdom for the one taking a lead sounds just what the doctor ordered, but it might not last the whole ordeal.
Tymythy, I thought the token you used was what you won in Al'ufra, a do-over roll? This was something we got at the very beginning in the caravan.
Oh... hmm... I had forgot it. But I don't think it had any magical effects.
Tymythy gave it to some nice people we met at the Moon Scarab Hotel in that prison-town, for them to take back to his birthland as they wandered that way (late december 2021 posts). And was given that single-use reroll save amulet afterwards, by those people. And that one, he used to save himself from potentially being crushed when the tomb collapsed on us.
Ah right, good memory!
Horrible memory, but my search-fu was equal to the task ;^)
Anyway, some Divine spell suggestions that might be useful in the mirror challenge, considering some type of mental tomfoolery is likely to happen:
Oooh, interesting, thanks! I'd found a few good ones too.
I'm thinking this is a challenge where Cairee takes the lead? She can cast owls wisdom and rite of the centred mind on herself (will need to spend 500 gp on incense for that spell), and try to lead the others through. She also has some spells to help others.
My suggestion for our purchases:
- Incense (100 regular = 500 here)
- 5 Potions of Resistance (one for each of you and our new teammate - Cairee can cast it on herself) (25 regular = 125 here X 5 = 625)
- 3 Cure light wounds (50 regular = 250 here X 3 = 750)
= 1875 (175 left to spend)
- If we have 75 gp in our own coffers we could get 1 more healing potion
Should we try to put everyone's weapons in the bag of holding for Cairee to hang on to, in case anyone is compelled to harm themselves or another member of the team?
Also, last call for anyone who wanted to be healed more last night!
Dunno about those Resistance potions, 1 minute is rather short a time, and thus the items is easily wasted. I'm fine with the other spendings.
Didn't one team tie themselves into a line with ropes to keep from being separated in the mirror maze? That sounds easy and mundane enough, and something we have the means to replicate.
A minute could make a difference and it's what we can afford. Do you have a suggestion on how to spend the money differently?
I think we can try to replicate the rope, though I doubt our GM will let us get away with the same strategy :)
Oh, I'm confident there will be some rope-cutting complication since we're doing this 4th.
Oh, I'm confident there will be some rope-cutting complication since we're doing this 4th.
Good point... still, it's cheap thing to try, just as long as we don't rely on it working with our lives on the line.
Let me know when you're ready to start the fourth challenge and I'll get the ball rolling. Please feel to keep planning and acting IC.
I'm ready to hit the 4th challenge. Assuming Cairee has given our list and we got the goods.
I'm ready to hit the 4th challenge. Assuming Cairee has given our list and we got the goods.
Agreed. If we have our supplies for the challenge then I’m good to go too
Natural 20 for Cairee. Woot!
Yeah, Cairee's been rolling great this morning... before the challenge...that she's leading...
Yeah, Cairee's been rolling great this morning... before the challenge...that she's leading...
This is the Way ;^)
On a side note, love that little blackbird interaction. It "seems" to be responding to Tymythy's bow. Confirmation that some spirit rides it and looks through its eyes? Or just a thing that birds tend to do? Tymythy, being quite superstitious, will naturally jump to one conclusion. But what is the answer? Perhaps better if none is ever provided and he is left to his own delusions ;^)