GM supervillan's Jarlsblood Witch Saga [Outpost IV] (Inactive)

Game Master supervillan

I'm sure Kolvi is waiting for us. I hope.

Inga Blücher wrote:

Hmm. I've never considered getting enlarge person for Klaus. That might be something for me to look into.

I'm not sure it would work.

The target of enlarge person is one humanoid creature - and isn't Klaus' type outsider (phantom)?

Spiritualists, in common with other 'pet' classes, have the Share Spells ability (technically it's the Phantom that has the ability).

Share Spells (Su): The spiritualist can cast a spell with a target of “you” on her phantom (as a spell with a range of touch) instead of on herself. A spiritualist can cast spells from the spiritualist spell list on her phantom even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the phantom’s type (outsider). This ability does not allow the phantom to share abilities that aren’t spells, even if they function like spells.

Bolding is mine.

Sounds good... but unfortunately, enlarge person is not on the spiritualist spell list... :-(

@GM supervillan:

Grunjar's buffs last 6 minutes (=60 rounds). As the casting takes some time, let's assume 50 rounds will be left afterwards.
If we think that's enough to descend into the catacombs and fight both the king and the linnorm, Grunjar will start casting right now.

If time is tough (=each round counts) we can also start to descend into the catacombs immediately, because the first spell Grunjar will cast is Expeditious Retreat (on himself). This makes it easy to keep up with the party while still casting other buff spells.

Please advise.

You have no definite information about how the fight with the linnorm will commence, you have only seen its spectral form deep in the catacombs where it battles the ghost of Kolvi.

The Headless King you can expect to find where you left him.

In that case, Grunjar will not cast any buff right now.
I hope we can talk to Kolvi first a bit before we have to face the linnorm.

Ryu can still use the axe (or his own blade, if he prefers) against the Headless King.
The -4 nonproficiency penalty will apply, but enlarge person provides a size bonus to strength which raises his STR to 20 so the additional -2 penalty to attack is avoided.

Anyhow, the Headless King should be way easier to hit now as he does not have his +1 half-plate (armor bonus +9) anymore...
He still has DR 5/piercing, though.

Well, now I was just thinking... The headless King is obsessed with the dragon/linnorm. I wonder if we should have just attempted diplomatic negotiations with him. Wouldn't hurt to try, maybe?

Sounds good... but unfortunately, enlarge person is not on the spiritualist spell list... :-(

It's only a DC 20 UMD check for a wand. I hit 10th level and will likely put another rank or two in UMD and might purchase a wand of enlarge person.

Or, I could just get a few scrolls and have an arcane caster cast it on Klaus.

Sounds fun to try in my next adventure.

Speaking of next adventure, it would be awesome to do another scenario after this one with you all.

Grunjar wrote:

Sounds good... but unfortunately, enlarge person is not on the spiritualist spell list... :-(

It's only a DC 20 UMD check for a wand. I hit 10th level and will likely put another rank or two in UMD and might purchase a wand of enlarge person.

Or, I could just get a few scrolls and have an arcane caster cast it on Klaus.

Sounds fun to try in my next adventure.

That's not what I meant. I read it this way:

Share Spells (Su): The spiritualist can cast a spell with a target of “you” on her phantom (as a spell with a range of touch) instead of on herself. A spiritualist can cast spells from the spiritualist spell list on her phantom even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the phantom’s type (outsider). This ability does not allow the phantom to share abilities that aren’t spells, even if they function like spells.

Speaking of next adventure, it would be awesome to do another scenario after this one with you all.

I would like that very much! :-) Hopefully this time with nobody dying...

@Inga:
If you are going to dispell the fog, Grunjar will give you a bit of luck.
(If that's the case, I strongly suggest everybody else delay behind Inga.)

If not, Grunjar will give bit of luck to someone else...

Please advise.

If the spell is not on the spiritualist spell list, you cannot use it on the phantom using share spells...

And using any other method you'll run into the problem with the wrong type (outsider)...

Grunjar is correct.

I'm enjoying GM'ing for you all (sorry about that axe crit tho'!)

Not sure I'll have capacity to run another table straight after this one, we'll see how it goes.

Aww. It would have been fun enlarging Klaus.

Supervillian, later on down the road would be cool. Or, maybe find another GM's game that we could all jump into.

@Inga: I'll repeat my question (in case you missed my post):

@Inga:

If you are going to dispell the fog, Grunjar will give you a bit of luck.
(If that's the case, I strongly suggest everybody else delay behind Inga.)

If not, Grunjar will give bit of luck to someone else...

Please advise.

Aye, I’m awaiting to see if Inga dispels the fog again before I post Myth’s actions...

I see Inga is bolded in the most recent GM post. Does she get another turn even though she just went or are others waiting for her to dispel the fog?

I was hoping the melee guys were just going to go in, even with the fog, and whale on the headless guy.

I see Inga is bolded in the most recent GM post. Does she get another turn even though she just went or are others waiting for her to dispel the fog?

I was hoping the melee guys were just going to go in, even with the fog, and whale on the headless guy.

I have an explanation:

And this is why some of us are waiting on your decision if Inga will try to dispel or not. :-)

Important note:
If you feel I went into mansplaining, that was not my intention. In that case please ignore my post.
I think it shows that in my real life job I have to explain things quite often... ;-)

Grunjar's explanation is correct.

Grunjar's explanation is correct.

Ah. Makes sense.

I will never ignore your posts, Grunjar. They are always very helpful and informative.

The square immediately below Rallas can be entered, but you'd be Squeezing. The square to the left of the King will fit a Medium or smaller character normally.

Both squares have more than 50% open space. In fact, they both look to have the same amount of open space, at least 75%, so squeezing shouldn't be necessary.

You know, I think you are right Inga. I had to magnify the map another level - my eyes are getting old!

Consider both squares open.

Before going to fight the dragon please note who is wearing the three talismans that you found (if anyone).

Also, those of you carrying Breath of Life scrolls, remember that a scroll cannot be drawn like a weapon and Breath of Life has to be cast within 1 round of death to be effective. Spring-Loaded wrist sheaths are really good for holding Breath of Life scrolls ;)

I have the BoL talisman.

anyone have a list of the loot we found? my eyes are bugging me and too much staring at a screen for a a stretch of time will suck...

Cold-iron axe, ring of fire protection, and boots of ice walking.

Inga has protection from energy spell. The boots should probably go to a front-liner that will be doing a lot of shifting and moving around. Maybe Rallas if he's going in with sword and needs to constantly get into flank.

Klaus could wear the boots, but I'd rather have one of you lower level guys have them.

Klaus can't wield the axe. We discovered phantoms can't wield weapons.

maybe Ryu can take the axe then...as a back up. I have a pair of daredevil softpaws...would allow me to get a bonus on Acrobatics to avoid AoO's for getting close...

Grunjar is proficient in simple weapons only - plus battleaxe, warhammer, heavy pick and starknife.
He already posesses a cold iron battleaxe.
It's not magic, though, so if the cold iron axe is a magical battleaxe, he could use it.

Anyhow, I think it's better if he is not using his standard action to attack but make our melee or ranged damage dealers better at fighting with bit of luck (the other buffing will obviously happen before combat) or for an emergency healing.
So if anyone needs the axe, please take it.

Important question:

Grunjar has one fly spell (domain spell) prepared.
Should he cast it on himself? Or does one of our melee guys want to become - to quote Painlord - a Master of Airborne Pain and Suffering? ;-)

Notes: Whoever is flying has no need for the boots of icewalking. Ryu will have a higher reach while being enlarged - and I think Rallas' daredevil softpaws would still work while flying.)
So if nobody else needs the boots of ice walking maybe Grunjar should wear them - if he is not flying, of course - as he needs to be at the front line to provide bit of luck and healing.

Regarding scrolls of Breath of Life:

1. It's on the cleric spell list.
2. Grunjar can hold the scroll in his hand during the combat.
3. Grunjar will be fast (landspeed: 60 ft, and he's already near the melee guys anyway).
So Grunjar should be able to cast it within one round. It's just a CL check of 1d20+6 (DC 10) which equals a 85% chance to succeed. And he can re-roll once thanks to his Good Fortune domain ability.
Conclusion: Maybe you want Grunjar to have the scroll(s). ;-)

I have Expeditious Retreat so I can try casting it before we go in. (35% ASF) As for Fly, since we had been in the cave before, was it small enough that it gets covered by being enlarged?

As for Fly, since we had been in the cave before, was it small enough that it gets covered by being enlarged?

Linnorms can fly and you won't be facing it in the catacomb, but outdoors.

I think one minute will have easily passed when we will reach the linnorm.

Yes.

Are linnorms evil?

You can all roll Knowledge (arcana) now if you like (assuming you're trained) - and I'll provide further details once you get sight of the creature, since there are varied types of linnorm. But I can tell you if they are generally evil on the basis of arcana rolls now.

anyone have a list of the loot we found

The relevant items are:

lesser talisman of life's breath (=breath of life)
lesser talisman of warrior's courage (=negate fear)
lesser talisman of good fortune (=reroll a nat 1)

boots of the winterlands (=walk easily on ice and snow)
ring of fire resistance (=resist fire 10)
masterwork cold iron battleaxe (Kolvi's)

You already decided to give Ryu the butchering dragon-bane axe; nobody wanted to wear the magic chainmail, and nobody can benefit from the magic horn.

Hm... where is Kolvi's enchanted sword? It was mentioned by the huldra Olisarra here.

Some tomb robber must have made off with it ;)

Or maybe it's part of a story embellished by different tellers over the centuries...

Or it might be an editing error in the scenario :D

Some tomb robber must have made off with it ;)

Or maybe it's part of a story embellished by different tellers over the centuries...

Or it might be an editing error in the scenario :D

Hm... I take answer D - all of the above! :-D

Let's just quickly ask Kolvi what she knows about the linnorm.

I have a fly spell for anyone. Maybe I'll hit Klaus with it along with displacement. And shield & prot. from evil.

I can also haste us. I keep forgetting I'm a spontaneous caster so I basically have 6 shield spells to cast along with magic fang for Klaus.

As soon as we leave the cave entrance, do we have a few rounds to cast buffs? I'd like to cast longest lasting ones first.

Let's just quickly ask Kolvi what she knows about the linnorm.

I have a fly spell for anyone. Maybe I'll hit Klaus with it along with displacement. And shield & prot. from evil.

I can also haste us. I keep forgetting I'm a spontaneous caster so I basically have 6 shield spells to cast along with magic fang for Klaus.

As soon as we leave the cave entrance, do we have a few rounds to cast buffs? I'd like to cast longest lasting ones first.

Unfortunately, shield is a spell with range: personal and target: you. So you can cast it only on yourself and Klaus.

But resist energy: fire 20 with a duration of 90 minutes(!) would be very helpful for our melee guys and Grunjar...

Grunjar, can you wear that ring of fire resistance?

If my last post in gameplay needs to be revised, please anyone, let me know.

Sorry, internet was out/intermittent most of the day...

And yes, Rallas, if you don’t mind, I’ll take a hit from Gravity Bow...

all yours bro...

A few questions regarding some of the items we found:

lesser talisman of life's breath (=breath of life) => Ryu

lesser talisman of warrior's courage (=negate fear) => Myth? (has the lowest will save)
The first time that the wearer would gain the frightened or panicked condition, he gains the shaken condition instead.

lesser talisman of good fortune (=reroll a nat 1) => Ryu or Rallas? (we want our melee guys to hit)

boots of the winterlands (=walk easily on ice and snow) => Grunjar?

ring of fire resistance (=resist fire 10) => Grunjar

masterwork cold iron battleaxe (Kolvi's) => Ryu (backup weapon)

dragon-bane butchering axe => Ryu

magic chainmail => nobody (bag of holding)

magic horn => nobody (bag of holding)

Another important question:
Who has a scroll of breath of life and wants to hand it to Grunjar (just in case)?
If there is anyone (Rallas?), please do so in the gameplay thread.

Inga is wearing that cloak/resistance +2 we found earlier. I just haven't added it to my stats.

Inga is wearing that cloak/resistance +2 we found earlier. I just haven't added it to my stats.

Don't forget bless (you did not add it to your and Klaus's active conditions yet).

When the battle starts and I cast haste, Inga will have 7 rounds left of shield and Klaus will have 8 rounds left. I'll keep a tracker in my posts. I'm not worried about keeping track of the 1 minute or longer spells, but I will if it does go past 10 rounds.

I'll see if I can do a tracker here before the battle starts, and I can copy it over and add it as a spoiler to the combat posts.

Pretty bushed tonight after a long day, will aim to start the confrontation with the linnorm tomorrow.

Pretty bushed tonight after a long day, will aim to start the confrontation with the linnorm tomorrow.

Just wanted to say that I'm ready to start the battle. :-)

Party buffs:

group: haste (9r), bless (6m),

Inga: shield (7r)
Klaus: shield (8r), prot evil (10), resist fire 20, mage armour, magic fang (9m), fly (9m)
Rallas: prot evil (10), ironbeard (6m), resist fire 20, lead blades (10), shield (8), align weapon (good; 6m), aid (8thp; 6m)
Ryu: prot evil (10), fly (6m), resist fire 20, enlarge person (8r), expeditious retreat (9r), bear's endurance (6m), bull's strength (6m), bestow weapon proficiency (6m), virtue (1thp, 9r), guidance (10r), lead blades (10)
Grunjar: expeditious retreat (6m), invisibility purge (6m; 30'r)
Lucifer:
Myth: gravity bow 10r

Inga is planning Greater Invisibility (7r from wand) on Luci

items:

Rallas: talisman of good fortune
Myth: talisman of warrior's courage
Ryu: talisman of life's breath, axes
Grunjar: boots of the winterlands, ring of resist fire 10

Grunjar and Rallas should decide which of Rallas' weapons gets the Align Weapon spell.

Will update gameplay presently :)

Grunjar and Rallas should decide which of Rallas' weapons gets the Align Weapon spell.

It'll be whatever weapon Rallas presents to Grunjar. ;-)

Thanks for the tracker!

Will update gameplay presently :)

*gets excited and a little bit nervous* ^_^ O_o

we'll put the align weapon on the cold iron ECB...makes sense

we'll put the align weapon on the cold iron ECB...makes sense

Not on the adamantine ECB? As you wish...

yeah...hedging my bet because Kolvi gave us his cold iron battleaxe....educated guess

Did you wait for me to get into position so you can flank Rallas? If so, I think you are missing the +2.