GM_DBH's Shattered Star

Game Master DBH

How did you collect the book in the chamber you bypassed? It is the Red 'X' in chamber K21.

The door is unlocked and there are no troubles awaiting you in the next room.

K20. ENCHANTMENT LAB
Six stone platforms draped with white sheets stand in this room, with manacles affixed to the four corners of each. What appears to be a metallic bookstand stands at the foot of each platform-one of these stands still holds a large leather tome.
The walls are painted a soft, soothing blue.

This room was used by Sorshen's apprentices to experiment upon willing or (more often) unwilling subjects with various enchantment magics. The subjects were usually bound to the slabs for the duration of the experiment, to prevent unwilling test subjects from disrupting the proceedings.

Treasure:
The book on the stand is an ancient Thassilonian text called Dreams and Desires that explores the mysterious link between dreams and enchantment
magic. The book itself is magically preserved, and if used as an aid in any question involving dreams or enchantment magic, it grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Knowledge (arcana) checks.

The book is worth 400 gp, but the three arcane scrolls slipped in between the pages are worth more-these include a scroll of dream, a scroll of symbol of sleep, and a scroll of mind fog.

Just the two rooms you dodged left to check. And the Torch chamber. What now?

You have the book in K20. I believe Elena was talking about this one:

K21 . CONJURATION LAB
The center of this domed chamber is dominated by a complex design painted on the floor in dozens of colors, which is oddly unsettling. Broken furniture and other debris is scattered across the room and a faint acidic odor tickles the nostrils, while an overturned bookstand with a large black tome sits near the far wall.

You didn't venture into this room.

You didn't venture into this room.

Well, Elathras stepped over the threshold but that was about it :)

Yeah, when nothing happened when Elathras stepped in and thr book didn't detect as magical Elena just took it, unless something stopped her? After that we tried destroying the unstable summoning circle before moving on.

In that case a lot happened. :)

Sadly though it will have to be tomorrow.

No update due to an appointment at Cardiology for a checkup after my Cardioversion.

No problems, looks to be going well, but lots of time having to wait.

Take care of yourself, DBH!

Also, yikes. Sounds like ominous consequences are coming for me :)

When We played this part of the AP my Arcanist tried to use Mage hand on the book from outside the room. The GM smirked and told me it weighed 5.1 pounds.

That's prety devious :)

As an aside, why am I in front of the party in the current map? I walked in behind Elathras when he walked in and only on the assumption nothing happened when he did. Not to be a bad sport and all with the squishy healer about to get presumably wrecked to the GM's no doubt mustache-twirling enjoyment ;) , but reading back Elathras did walk over the threshhold first, and I normally always stay behind the frontline.

Unless us entering the room didn't trigger the trap but it specifically was Elena reaching for the book. In that case that's totally fair!

if it matters any, Elathras walked over the threshold back when we looked in the room with the summoning circle. No one did anything so he walked out and went to the northern room.

If it helps moving things along, if were going back to the room with the circle I don't care if Elathras walks in first or not.

Just wanted to note that I'm not ignoring the game, just waiting for my turn in initiative.

Someday I’ll pass a will save. But not this day.

Sorry, no time to update tonight.

Sorry, no time to update.

Apologies for my silence. The number of pills I'm currently taking has caused my acid reflux to flare up again.

I tried reducing the number of anti-inflammatories I was taking but that left me in a great deal of discomfort.

After consulting with my Doctor the anti-inflammatories have been changed and things seem to be settling down enough for me to be able to sleep properly again.

So hopefully things will settle down and regular posting can resume.

We totally understand, everything gets tedious when you're uncomfortable, especially if you're not sleeping well. Good to hear some of the medical issues have been resolved.

So a little confused about th confusion command,

[dice=will DC 20]1d20+6 [dice=%]1d100 Acts normally

Elthras stabs at Bharak and misses.

Confusion command: As an immediate action, a seugathi can issue a telepathic command to a confused creature within 30 feet. This allows the seugathi to pick a result from the confusion behavior table, rather than the confused creature rolling randomly for its actions that round.
Guess what it picks for you? :)

Elthras, as it attacked you if you fail and roll attack nearest as the result you will attack it!.

Clearly the 'confusion command' superseded Elathras' roll to act normally, but then you said that if Elthras rolls 'attack nearest' will he superseed that roll?

Also, the rules on confusion say "Any confused character who is attacked automatically attacks its attackers on its next turn, as long as it is still confused when its turn comes." So wouldn't Elathras automatically attack the seugathi?

Sorry if it wasn't clearer. The creature used its Confusion command on you to override your 'Act normally' into an 'Attack nearest' that round.

You attacked Bharak. Then it attacked and hit you. So from now on under the rules of the Confusion spell. Any confused character who is attacked automatically attacks its attackers on its next turn, as long as it is still confused when its turn comes.

So actually any result is fine as you will attack it. :)

It is ANZAC day here in New Zealand. No update today.

@Bharak You can roll twice this round, also you have an iterative attack at 6. Might matter!

Right! Sorry. Daughter has a fractured wrist (not too serious) and work is giving me a headache. I’m making a lot of unforced errors here, just not having my head in the game, so to speak. I’ll get the corrections up.

Awwwww, hope she's doing ok.... Don't worry about the mistakes, really we barely noticed :)

All I think about, every moment of every day, is Bharak's many mistakes.

(Hope your daughter heals up quickly!)

So, about this regenerating +1 Tome of Clear Thoughts... I don't think there's any of us that can immediately benefit from a +1 to Intelligence. We all are at an even number INT score, so we'd also have to find another boost to take advantage of it. That said, if there's anyone who plans on getting the level 8 ability score boost for Intelligence (or get it some other way), speak up, and you can have first crack at the book.

Otherwise, I propose we just randomly roll for it every two months. A 1 will be the first candidate in alphabetical order.

I've added the following to the loot sheet.

+1 Keen Longsword
Wand of cure crtical wounds (9 charges)
From the Minds off Monsters (book)
Potion of displacement
Elixir of Love
Stone salve
Wax of defiance

I don't see anything on the loot list before that since before we entered this dungeon. That can't be right, can it?

It is a Tome of Clear thought +2. So those with even Intelligence can happily use it.

Grats on level 7 everyone!

#Bharak np, completely understandable, i hope things go well for you and your daughter.

Afaik there was no loot yet other than what we found on the dhampir, the potions from the alchemy lab, and now the book/demon. But i could recheck that somewhere tonight.

On the tome, in the end i decided that i like base herald caller cleric enough to just stay pure cleric. With the feat, i'm probably going to go into crafting feats, starting with craft woundrous item so i can make stat boosting items for everyone. The int bonus from the tome would help the investment into spellcraft as well as help a bit on making double progress each day (gives -5 penalty to make them twice as fast). Though i'm fine with rolling it to see who uses it.

Oh, if it's +2, that's great.

In that case, I think priority should be given to Elena for the reasons she's stated, and also to Umazara since she is our primary knowledge skills person. So, those two first, then it can move on to the rest of us is what I'm proposing.

Cool, I can live with that, Keeping the book will help with Elathras 'monster knowledge' but that isn't a priority.

What do we want to do with the sword?

(1) Thanks for the understanding
(2) "The book is in fact a minor artifact-it functions as a tome of clear thought +2 that automatically recharges it s power a month after it is used, although a single creature can benefit from the book only once."

That...that is amazing! Depending on downtime, that means the book can be used for the entire party. None of us are Int focused, so I think that the best way to do this is by rolling.

1: Axton
2: Bharak
3: Elathras
4: Elena
5: Umazura

If this is agreeable, then the next person rolls. Whomever gets it this time, naturally, can't roll in the future as the book wouldn't work on them. This way, we all would eventually get the +2 Int.

(3) Level 7....Horizon Walker! All of the dipping finally pays off as the prestige class is entered.

HP: +9
Skills: +6 (unless he wins the roll for the book)
Saves: +1 Fort
Abilities: Favored Terrain Underground (He now has underground and mountain)
Feat: Steel Soul (really tired of failing will saves. +2 all saves vs spells and SLAs is nice to have)

(4) GM Question

GM: Would you mind if I changed Bharak's rage power? I haven't used it once...I keep thinking I will but it just never comes up. Seems like a waste. If this is alright, I'll change it to guarded stance.

(5) Loot

Nothing that Bharak needs. The longsword is really nice, and it would have come in handy given the DR of the monster we just faced. But the hammer just feels right for him.

I'm cool with rolling on the book or whatever. Since Elathras is a 'monster hunter' by trade, he would think it should be kept as a resource.

As for the sword, take it as a backup weapon, if you get to the point where you have a better backup weapon Elathras will buy it from you. But it's too nice just to sell at half price.

When I selected weapons for Elathras I knew he would use a pole arm as a primary weapon and either the coldiron longsword or silvered hammer as backup, (or when he needed the AC increase from the shield.) If he keeps the cold iron ranseur, he wouldn't need for the sword to be cold iron. So he would keep a magical one as a backup.

Feels like a waste for Bharak to have it. He already has his +1 earthbreaker. While a +1 keen longsword might be "better", it does less damage per hit. And as a backup, Bharak has improved unarmed strike. I'll probably buy him a cold iron dwarven waraxe and a silver heavypick as backup weapons, though. Should last him until he gets his hammer up to +3, and it will give him slashing/piercing options. Plus, a hammer, axe and pick feel thematically right.

I think that Umazura would be best to take the longsword. It's a straight upgrade for her, skalds can melee pretty decently, and it increases the chance of her getting a crit. I think that it would see more use in her hands, than with either of us having it hanging by our belts.

That works just as well. When I saw her rapier I assumed she was sticking with light weapons, but it doesn't appear that way based on feats. so the long sword would be a good choice.

HP: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

7th lvl:
+1 BAB,
Challenge @ 3 + 7 damage
+7 Skills: + 1 Acrobatics, intimidate, knowledge (geography), linguistics, perception, sense motive, Survival
Language: Undercommon

HP can't believe I keep forgetting that we roll and only realize when someone else does...: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

A 10. And now I feel guilty.

I'll wait for Uma to weigh in on whether she has an opinion on how to divide the int book before rolling or doing my skills for this level.

Level 7:
hp roll: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Going with average then for a 6.
+1 BAB > +1 attack,CMB,CMD.

Feat: Craft woundrous item.

Skills: depends on if Elena reads the book, either 5 points of spellcraft +1 point in planes or max spellcraft + some knowledge arcana, 1 point planes, heal.

+1 1st level spellslot, +1 4th level spellslot. Domain slot: freedom of movement.

Bharak, yes you can change your Rage power.

Per the Intelligence book: Doesn't matter to me who reads it first.

Per the longsword: I think she'll keep Silverfang. It's just cooler.

I'd like to trade out my Rage powers too if that's cool. The ones I have are pretty pointless. I'd take Beast Totem instead.

All right, I'll use Bharak's scale to roll then:

1: Axton
2: Bharak
3: Elathras
4: Elena
5: Umazura

1d5: 1d5 ⇒ 2

Looks like Bharak gets the book.

Thank you for rolling. Realize I never updated skills, so now is a good time.

Total Skill Points
* Int (14)
* Ranger (18)
* Barbarian (12)
* Horizon Walker (6)
* Total: 50

Social Skills
* Sense Motive 1 SP: +9
* Diplomacy 3 SP: +6
* Intimidate 2 SP: +3

Physical Skills
* Acrobatics with ACP 1 SP: +3
* Climb with ACP 1 SP: +5
* Swim with ACP 1 SP: +5
* Survival: 7 SP +15 (+4 tracking)

Knowledge Skills
* Identify Undead: +3
* Knowledge Dungeoneering 4 SP: +9
* Knowledge Planes: 1 SP: +6
* Heal 1 SP: +7
* Knowledge Nature 7 SP: +12
* Knowledge Geography (BS): +12

Rogue Skills
* Disable Device with tools and ACP: 7 SP +12
* Stealth with tools and ACP: 7 SP +13
* Craft Locks with tools (BS): +14
* Perception: 7 SP +18 (+1 traps, +2 stone)

—-

That book was actually really useful given how many skills he uses.

Also settled on rage power: lesser elemental rage. Because I realized that guards stance is a move action.

No update tonight.

Everyone leveled up and ready to go?

Sorcerer Level 7

HP: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

New spells known:
3 - Dispel Magic (bloodline spell), Stinking Cloud
2 - Ghoul Touch
1 - Charm Person

Bloodline feat: Spell Focus (evocation)

Skills: +1 to Know. (Arcana), Know. (Dungeoneering), Know. (History), Lore (Thassilon), Spellcraft

Everyone leveled up and ready to go?

All set!

I wont have time to update this week, on a training next to the study writing... only relevance of my level for now though is whether we rest to gain the new spell slots/levels before we go down into the next level.

You've cleared this level so can rest safely. You even have all those beds for a comfortable nights sleep. :)

K5 is a portal to the Plane of water. Set up as Sorshen liked waterfalls and wanted some in her dungeon. :)

There is also the body in the sepulcher at K1 that you bypassed. :)

At K13 you need to take the torch off the stone block. Light it in the grey flame and then place it back on the block, which then moves aside. Opening the way to K14, the stairs up to the next level.

I told you this to skip days of "How do we work this?"

I'm running behind today so no update I'm afraid.

Hey Elena, the "base cost" of an item is the same as its "market cost." It is almost redundant to have the simple crafting rule of "half the base cost of an item" and then also list the crafting cost for every item, but I always assumed that listing the crafting cost was some holdover from the 3.5 days.

Also, there's some pretty decent crafting calculators out there for magic items, I'd wager. I'd look for one as an example, but I'm at work right now, so I'm sure they'd all be blocked. I remember that I had an investigator that used the Craft: Alchemy skill frequently, and I found that for anything that took longer than a day to make it was easier to just plug in numbers into a calculator and trust that it was designed correctly.

Yeah, You'd think most people would be able to divide by 2 fairly easily, especially considering this is a fairly math-heavy game :)

Thanks for the response though, that is good to know. I'll have Elena hopefully finish the first woundrous item tomorrow then.

@Axton/Umazura, which spells are we going for from here? At level 7, Elena gets access to blessing of fervor and good hope, which as the divine haste effect and arguably the most powerful buff spell in the game outside of haste effects are both pretty sweet. But haste can be taken by both of you and good hope is a bard/skald signature spell, and they are arguably better at that since being a level 3 spell would make metamagic rods for them like the extend one cheaper. I could have Elena prepare more conditional divine spells instead, though it would depend on what they two of you will take going forward.

I agree with Axton. Base price is the market price. So getting 2000gp work done a day means 2 days for a 4000gp item.

For some reason my post last night about no update didn't go through?

And I'm sorry, but it's again!

Sorry, no update.