The Journey of a Thousand Miles (Jade Regent AP)

Game Master Sensen

It's a good policy - in this case, I felt I should be transparent about that particular roll.

It would be a good act to go bury the body - of the sort that would turn our two neutral characters' alignments more towards good (in a minor way, because they didn't take initiative to suggest it - not a bad thing, but it's a greater good act to take initiative to do it than to follow one's friends in doing it).

Which brings me to how I'll handle PC alignments and the changing thereof in game. I think that I'll end up doing it sort of on the fly - performing good, self-sacrificing, charitable actions of one's own volition will gradually take one towards good alignment, while merciless and cruel actions may sway your alignment towards evil. I'll be sure to warn you when your character's moving in any direction, though.

Mind you, in this case, "good" might also mean "time-wasting and exhausting" or outright "dangerous." Always something to keep in mind.

Everyone alright? It's a bit unusual for us to go a day without posts.

I'm doing alright.

I'm alright, just had a busy day and couldn't think of anything to post.

I'm good. Just go distracted by IRL stuff that had my attention for a bit.

It's been a bit, so I wanted to ask about how people feel about how the game's going. Pacing, combat, characters, etc.

Any constructive criticism is welcome, and I just wanted to say I'm having fun.

Having fun as well, loving the dreams and omens that others are getting. Very spoopy.

The writing of the campaign is pretty good. I would highlight the GM vivid descriptions and Teruko's lively and well guided speech. I am really looking forward to know more about Seishin's personality and goals, I need to find a way to approach him more.

I appreciate we are not just jumping from combat to combat but instead there are opportunities to interact with the party and immerse in the world around. Sometimes, though, I would personally like some scenes develop a bit faster, with posts bringing new information that call for more clear actions or character interactions. But the number of posts a day feel right to me for a healthy campaign.

About Yuto, I am really struggling to portray a melee character which is shy and more scared than reckless. I wanted to demonstrate myself I can play against my own personality, but I find it tough, I sometimes feel it does not help me contribute enough to move the campaign forward smooth enough, other times I feel I cannot contribute to the encounters in the way I tactically feel I should to.

GM, my flat-footed AC is 16. I formatted my AC on my statline as Base/Touch/Flat-Footed. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Oh, oops! You know, I should've realized that, but I didn't even think. Thanks for pointing it out.

Honestly, I'm not even sure what I was thinking, 'cause that's the standard way of doing it...

Ouch, well, I am happy Yuto stole that critical instead of ending at Hana! hehe

Sorry for the lose of the light. Fortunately Torra has darkvision, and Seishin does not need to see to strike the skeletons with channel.

Yeah, Hana would be in rather deep trouble. Though that said, she'd only be at... 12 damage, so that's a total of -6 hp. She's not his challenge target.

But yes, Yuto handled that admirably.

Much appreciated, Yuto!

Now I just gotta figure how to get that skelly off your tail...

You sure you want it on yours, Hana? :P

Like many intelligent undead, Tsutamu isn't really all there. He clings to his beliefs in life, in part because if he didn't, his death would be pointless, but mostly because he literally cannot conceive of reality differentiating from his perceptions.

He's also somewhat mono-focused on Yuto because he knows Yuto is his son, a samurai (inasmuch as he thinks that Yuto is worthy of such a title), and the focus of his challenge. He's not quite able to give (his nonexistent) ear to whatever the rest of the party says - or at least, pay them any mind that would be able to be changed.

This side-track has been brought to you to explain why the skeletal champion's not willing to back down, despite a legitimate Kaijitsu literally telling him to.

Wow, this is probably one of the more climatic moments I have ever had in roleplaying a character. I never thought I would have one of those and I can guess it is going to be one of most defining moments for Yuto's evolution :)

This is one reason that I really wanted Yuto in the game. The climactic encounter of the first part of the Brinewall Legacy is with Tsutamu.

Sorry Teruko isn't being helpful; she's in a really tough spot.

Mmm... in fact I think it was beneficial for Hana to take that square behind the wall. I guess her idea was to step there after attacking, so she is in a better position to step again next round into a position where she can flank.

Moving her back now she has to spend a move action to go into a flank instead of a 5 step, giving an AoO and not being able to full attack.

What I imagined Yuto's training with a club to be like.

If she wanted to move there after the attacks, she wouldn't have had flanking - that said, if Hana would like to do that, I'm okay with it - it doesn't change anything other than making it possible for her to knock down the wall next turn, and attack with flanking the next (assuming Teruko stands up).

Mind you, that... may not be relevant.

I am a bit split up about Whispering Shrike. Story-wise I feel much compelled to take the blade as the perfect side weapon to complement Yuto's father's katana.

From a player's perspective though it feels wrong because Yuto is not going to use it much while Hana is using a wakizashi from day 1. Taking the blade seems like silly stealing from her a good weapon.

It also does cast shield other at touch range, which is pretty perfect for his yojimbo archetype. That said, I hear you - both things make sense. I can't really offer more input than that - it'll be up to you two and the rest of the party to hash it out.

As cool as I would be to have the Whispering Strike it does thematically work better for Yuto plus he would probably get more out of its defensive abilities. So I'm all in favor of him getting the blade if he wants it. Besides, I can take other masterwork wakizashi blade for the purposes of twf next level anyway.

chain shirt
I thought it was a chain mail, but it is actually a chain shirt, a totally different thing. Being a light armor, I think that armor is better given for Hana to use.

shield other
The shield other is fitting in narrative but is a very dangerous tactic. I have pulled it before with a cleric focused on casting and channel healing. It worked because it split the damage on the frontliner barbarian while the cleric was away from most dangers. He suffered with fireballs and he was too close to die to a dragon breath, but fortunately he could always heal himself without reach problems, and the damage splitting on the barbarian (who, deservedly, was receiving most of the enemy attention) meant each channel healed more hit points overall, helping the party survival and making the adventuring day longer.

Now, for a melee character, although this is something you wish would work 'be the bodyguard', the way the game works actually screws it. The one in the head is the one taking the damage most usually, so the shield other helps less often, but when it helps, it risks to put that character in great danger as he is the one taking the more damage, and in addition it can take extra damage from attacks on the rear. It could work on certain situations, but because the way it is activated, it is hard to chose to use it only when you need it. You need to move to the guarded one, sheath the katana, then draw the wakizashi, then use a standard to activate the power and touch the warded one. And by then the damage could had been done already.

On paper it could be a boon for a character focused on AC like Yuto, because of the high armor enemies would avoid him, so the shield other is a way to warrant a degree of protection. But attending to the reality of our two last adventures (the goblins and the skeleton cave), he was hit and hit often despite his high AC, he only remained on foot thanks to having 2 characters devoting actions to heal him. If he was using 'shield other' on Teruko or Hana, which in narrative has sense, he would be dead right now due to the extra damage. Once we start to level up and go into the two digit levels, armor becomes more difficult to stand up against attack bonuses even with a shield and heavy armor, making the shield other a death promise waiting to trigger in at one combat or another.

Put all in, I am not saying I will not use it, as all the narrative seems to build towards that, but it feels like sentencing Yuto to eventual death protecting the guarded character. Ah, s*~#, I guess that is what Yuto is all about xD

A few characters would have focused more on him were he not so heavily armored - mind you, one of them was the ratling, so...

But yes, I see your point.

With regards to Yuto's suggestion:

This will take quite awhile - there're basically two options here. First, you can pull the raft to the branch of the Soggy River across from Megus' shack, then row back and forth to shuttle everyone across, and continue dragging it from there.

The second is to drag it all the way around the islands to get back to the hut, then carry the chest back. The first is quicker by a long shot, but might end up with the chest falling into the water if you're not lucky. The second will take most of the day, but is rather safer in that you won't end up having to swim for the chest.

Finally, remember that Megus is dead, the ratling tried to kill you, and no one is likely to use the boat again.

That said, suggesting this does take him a (tiny) step closer to being Lawful Good.

Yes, I was suggesting mainly because Yuto tends to follow the rules.

That said, I am fine with either option or any other that puts us closer to Sandpoint.

The party now has an additional 540 gp to divvy up, thanks to the return of the goblin ears and head to the Sandpoint government.

Let me know if you guys feel like I'm having the NPCs talk too much to one another.

Personally I think it adds to the world. Of course NPCs will talk to each other; for the most part they've known each other much longer than any of us. Having them not talk to each other would feel strange.

It is fine with me, it is just some scenes afterall. I agree it enriches the game, but do not press yourself to it if you sometimes do not have the extra amount of time required. When you can, it is welcomed :)

Amaya has a bunch of interesting stories that some might tell with her, so I felt obliged to include her in a Jade Regent AP. I'm gonna have fun with portraying her.

It seems Lonjiku has been quite busy sprawling :)

Does she come from another adventure? If you like adding NPCs, they made a rooster of NPCs for adding to previous campaigns in "A Song of Silver".

She debuted, such as it is, in Council of Thieves, though it was only by implication she was related to the Kaijitsus. She does get statted up in A Song of Silver, which is where her connection is made explicit, as well. I may or may not have modified those stats, of course.

*makes grabby hands at Cyrus*

Hana identified the potions using Perception, so I've put their info into the sheet. Teruko will be able to attempt to identify the other items again tomorrow.

I will be moving us on to the 22nd of Arodus some time tomorrow.

Quick question for both GM and other players: Since Seishin and Teruko are having a long conversation, would you prefer that be moved to PMs? (With a summary provided to the GM afterward.) I know it can be intimidating to log on and see a ton of new posts, even if it turns out you don't need to reply to any of them.

I have no preference, Teruko.

Yuto: Repairing Whispering Shrike costs 600 gp plus 2 sp for the service. We'll want to talk about what's being sold, etc, before we get too far into that.

Hey guys we both have a mwk chain shirt and potions of lesser resotration and healing in the treasure, so it is hitting our wealth to not use them and instead buy new ones. I strongly suggest you give a look to what is available in the sheet.

Also, please record there your purchases or it will soon become a nightmare to remember who bought what, what wealth is available for purchases and who is using stuff we found or if we can sell them.

@GM it seems a bit out of current capacity (twice the value of a masterwork weapon), specially for a weapon I am not going to be using. So perhaps I will leave it for now until I actually have the funds to spare on it.

As for Gameplay, I am kind of rushed today and tomorrow, so I might not post there as I have really no great projects to do at town other than prepare for the caravan, and as a player I am really ready to move on.

I marked a few extra things as 'Selling,' (basically everything except the potions, the masterwork chain shirt, and stuff that had already been claimed). If anyone particularly wants the small masterwork composite longbow, animal bane arrows, or the ring of climbing, speak now or forever hold your peace.

In addition to the wand of CLW, I'd recommend the party as a whole purchase a Traveler's Any-Tool. For only 250gp you can ditch the heavy crowbars, shovels, hammers, and any other mundane tools you've been carrying around with you! (Seriously, I love that thing.)

Finally, there are two items (a chest and hairpin) that Teruko failed to successfully appraise if anyone else wants to give it a go. Otherwise I guess we just sell them anyway and get fleeced due to not knowing how much they're worth :P

Ha. I assumed we only had one Potion of Lesser Restoration on hand. You can consider the Potion of Lesser Restoration purchase nixed but I'm also willing to shallow the cost of the one I brought if we still want to keep the three we have on hand. As for the rest, I'd take the Ring of Climbing if if no one else wants it and I support getting the Traveler's Any-Tool. Also the chest and hairpin should probably be sold.

There're a few things you haven't appraised yet, I think - the first chest you found in Gutwad's treasury, for instance... though looking more closely, that seems to be the only thing?

Cool Hana, I noted that on the sheet.

GM, I believe the chest and the hairpin are the only things left that need appraising. Unfortunately Teruko already tried and failed, (and unlike Spellcraft, Appraise can't be retried the next day.) Up to you how you want to handle selling unappraised items, unless someone else succeeds rendering the point moot.

Good call, Yuto! Torra will claim the mwk chain shirt. I have almost 350 gp remaining, so I'm happy to get the Any-Tool for the party.

I think Torra already tried an appraise on the pin and failed, but I can look at the chest.

Appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21