Switched a couple of spells out: picked up Blade of Bright Victory in one of my L3 slots, and swapped Bless Weapon for Veil of Positive Energy.
@Grym. Good choice. I'll take Life Bubble and swap out Control Weather. That spell is more fit overland anyway.
Viridel's UMD allows him to use most items, so he's a good choice to use healing wands. Also, Asniroth shares my skill points, so he can carry the wands and heal if I have other actions I would need to use. Are the wands fully charged?
Anyone else would like a spell for me to prepare? I got the entire wizard spell list, and only necromancy is a barred school.
I'll give you one fully charged wand, up to you whether you want Viridel or Asniroth to hold it. It's for out of combat healing so action economy shouldn't matter.
I'll keep the other fully one on Grym in case he gets separated and needs patching up.
Good call.
@GM As much as it pains me If you approve I'll reduce Grym's Cloak of Resistance from +4 to +3.
And the 7k saving will be converted to Diamond Dust/Diamonds for Restorations etc. It's so easy to forget budgeting for this during higher level character creation, but I can't imagine going through a module where needing Diamond Dust for a spell like Restoration won't be needed
altering previous request...I'd like to use the 7k savings for 6k in Diamonds/dust and 900gp for a Lesser Restoration wand w/10 charges....I may have played in too many campaigns featuring undead as primary villians ;) Not that this is one of those, but the scars are still there.
altering previous request...I'd like to use the 7k savings for 6k in Diamonds/dust and 900gp for a Lesser Restoration wand w/10 charges....I may have played in too many campaigns featuring undead as primary villians ;) Not that this is one of those, but the scars are still there.@GM As much as it pains me If you approve I'll reduce Grym's Cloak of Resistance from +4 to +3.
And the 7k saving will be converted to Diamond Dust/Diamonds for Restorations etc. It's so easy to forget budgeting for this during higher level character creation, but I can't imagine going through a module where needing Diamond Dust for a spell like Restoration won't be needed
Sure. I'll probably be a bit stricter about switching out equipment from here on out, as changes like these reflect in-character information—I don't imagine Grymwold walks around with pockets full of diamond dust when he isn't out adventuring with divine spellcasters. Now is a good moment to readjust, though (since nothing is really stopping Grymwold from literally, in-world, going to the market and trading his cloak for an inferior one + a handful of diamonds + whatever else).
Also, Asniroth shares my skill points, so he can carry the wands and heal if I have other actions I would need to use.
While it can certainly carry a wand, I don't think a hawk familiar is able to activate one, since it can't speak the command word.
Oh, I did not know he has to speak.
Erm...could Speak with Master work? It's technically a word, even if only I can understand it (I guess other aviants too, but that's beyond the point).
This is actually why I put so many ranks into UMD and made so many wands. XD
I missed the familiar thing. I think improved familiar is needed for wand wielding
Oh, I did not know he has to speak.
Erm...could Speak with Master work? It's technically a word, even if only I can understand it (I guess other aviants too, but that's beyond the point).
This is actually why I put so many ranks into UMD and made so many wands. XD
Speak with Master doesn't count, I don't think, since it doesn't actually grant the familiar the ability to speak (but rather, "communicate verbally as if [...] using a common language"). I suppose it's an extension of Empathic Link...?
If you can switch out a feat for Improved Familiar, now is a good moment to do so. Alternatively, you could shuffle your equipment around to buy Asniroth a ring of eloquence (or some other relevant item; I think this is the cheapest option). I believe a hawk could plausibly hold and point a wand, so that's not an issue.
@Everyone: Do let me know when you're ready with your preparations. I'll be renting a cottage with some friends for most of next week (Sunday to Friday), so I might not be able to post much. It would be nice to get the Breaching started before then, but otherwise I'm not in a hurry!
A pseudodragon (or house drake) would make a lot of sense as an improved familiar, if you want to go that route.
Gryms ready for the Breaching
I suppose I'm ready. I wouldn't know otherwise.
Ready. Enjoy what sounds like a lovely vacation!
@Speaking familiars: I think the best way to go about this (without disrupting my wpl or changing Asniroth to a raven, which I dont want to do since thematic) is to give him the Elemental Familiar archetype (air).
That allows him to speak (aurian) and use wands, and gives him 10 extra feet of fly speed (to become 70 and outspeeding most foes).
@Speaking familiars: I think the best way to go about this (without disrupting my wpl or changing Asniroth to a raven, which I dont want to do since thematic) is to give him the Elemental Familiar archetype (air).
That allows him to speak (aurian) and use wands, and gives him 10 extra feet of fly speed (to become 70 and outspeeding most foes).
That's fine by me. Switching out Improved Evasion might be a bit risky, especially since a wand-wielding familiar is more likely to be considered a threat, but good positioning should make up for the deficiency.
If you don't mind, I'd like a list of which Halls you're going to go through and in which order. You can absolutely change your mind on the fly, but having at least a rough idea helps me prep. You need at least one key-light per person, so that's five Halls in total (Elann and Asniroth don't count).
I would think the Hall of Whispers should be earliest or close to it, as we don't want that to be during the night. I'm not sure the others really matter what order we do them in. Perhaps we go alphabetical after that one?
I'm open to any order, but agree with tackling the don't-go-there-at-night place first. Perhaps we should prep some daylight spells for it...
Also: I'm going to finalize my spell list before the trial begins. Just haven't had a chance to review the 7 levels worth of spells again yet.
Question: Planar Ally doesn't seem to specify, but if you summon a glabrezu, can you have it bestow its wish, or are its powers circumscribed by the summoning in some manner?
Oh yeah, it would be nice to have everyone finish their spell choices for the day, as well.
Question: Planar Ally doesn't seem to specify, but if you summon a glabrezu, can you have it bestow its wish, or are its powers circumscribed by the summoning in some manner?
I believe you could bargain with a called creature for its wish, yes, though that would probably be the entirety of its service and cost a pretty penny. However, a glabrezu is a CE demon, and Anethra can't summon it via planar ally in the first place, since it then becomes a chaotic spell.
Hmm. I suppose that's implicit in the ally being chosen by your god? Didn't put that together. Glad my summoning of a glabrezu was for flavor then.
It's also called out explicitly at the bottom of the spell description:
Note: When you use a calling spell that calls an air, chaotic, earth, evil, fire, good, lawful, or water creature, it is a spell of that type.
And excellent flavor it was :)
I'd be pretty reluctant to bargain with any evil creature for a wish, much less a CE
The main benefit of planar ally over planar binding is the fact that the called creature is a servant of your deity, and as such it's at least nominally friendly and has similar goals as you do. Unless you attempt to go against your deity's wishes, it's just a matter of agreeing on a price and paying it, with no need for magic circles and intimidation and whatnot. Of course, a glabrezu would still be motivated to twist the wish in order to cause maximal destruction and suffering, but if your character is a CE demoniac, there's a good chance they wouldn't have to get too creative. :P
The way I interpret the spell description, you could pray, "Asmo-daddy, please give me something that can grant me wishes!" and he might send you an indebted efreet or something (I can't recall any wish-granting devils off the top of my head).
Wait, I can just put a general request? Perfect! My knowledge of devil's is poor in the extreme.
Also, Asmo-daddy is now canon.
Also: I'm going to finalize my spell list before the trial begins. Just haven't had a chance to review the 7 levels worth of spells again yet.
Here's a link that may make your spell selection easier. Constructing a whole spell list can be daunting at higher levels....and remember about leaving a slot open at each level. Easy to underestimate the value of this, but the increase in flexibility is huge.
I'm happy with whatever order.
We only need to go to 5 halls. Is there a preference on what halls we should avoid?
If no one has True Seeing I think it'd be good to skip the Hall of Lies.
And if we're doing the Necromancy Hall we may as well do it first thing.
My vote for a Hall to avoid would be the Hall of Shaping (transmutation) as I think transmutation magic would be more dangerous (Flesh to Stone, Disintegrate etc) than Evocation magic (fireball)
I'd agree, Grymwold.
Viridel would go by this order:
Hall of Whispers (for added guidance)
Hall of Seeing (since Viridel managed to hack it)
Hall of Lies (Anethra and Viridel both have True Seeing)
When darkness begins to fall
Hall of Enchantment (got some dispel magics)
Hall of Shaping
Lastly we can tackle the evocation hall if we have sufficient resources.
Also, I’m out on my very-delayed honeymoon (thanks covid), so my posting might be poor. Assume that Viridel is spouting some zen.
Have fun!
Thanks!
Also, DM, I’ll buy a scroll of nondetection and add it to my spellbook, and cast it (along with paying 50 gp for the spell) before scrying.
Just to give GM an indication of what to prepare for can we agree that the first 3 destinations are ?
1)Hall of Whispers
2)Hall of Seeing
3)Hall of Lies
we can wait til others have a chance to chime in on preference of facing Transmutation vs Evocation.
So far in favor of Evocation over Transmutation= Grym and Laree An
Bayard no opinion
Viridel in favor of Transmutation
Anethra=?
I'm fine with everything suggested thus far. Tbh, I'm up for any room in any order, as long as we tackle the Hall of Whispers first.
Can I run with that Diplo roll for the whole conversation, or do I need to keep rerolling?
You've successfully improved her attitude from unfriendly to indifferent, which is probably the best you can do right now. Unless you want to request something major or really pry into personal stuff (which would require a separate roll), she's now a willing, if reluctant, conversational partner.
The hype is real. I’m starting to get invested here with the colorful NPCs.
That's all I have time for, unfortunately. I might be able to run you through the first challenge in my absence, but don't count on it.
Aside from what I've already revealed, I can tell you that the highest spell you see him practise is mind fog.
I am letting my games know that starting today and until the end of October, I'm going to be on vacation. This shouldn't hinder my ability to post, but it will hinder my ability to post throughout the day (as my 23 cousins will possibly commandeer some of this time). Feel free to bot me or just wait until late night hours and I should have some posts up.
Have a fantastic time!
I'm back!
Hopefully Laree's vacation turns out as relaxing as mine.
It is quite enjoyable. I’m currently staring at the beach
The healing bombs are positive energy, so they certainly work! However, you'll still need more damage to neutralise the haunt.
Short post, but I dropped a haste. I think that can speed up our positive energy output.
Nothing in the text says you can't. You'll still need to make a melee touch attack against the haunt, though.
DM, based on Grym's pointing out the glow, can I say that Anethra realizes where it's coming from, and can move to investigate more closely?
Everyone in the party has good enough Perception to notice the glow once it has been pointed out. The room is not all that large (about 20 × 30 ft.), so you can assume everything (including the exit) is within one move action, especially so with haste. There's not much to investigate: something emits light from within the crate and under the soil. You can plainly see there's enough material to block detect magic and the like, though other spells might still work.
Can Anethra grab the source of the glow and leave the room? One move to reach it, main action to grab, a second move to exit the chamber?
You'll need to get rid of the soil first (dig it out, upend the crate, etc.), which might take one or more actions depending on the method. Regardless, you have only one action on the surprise round.
Aaand just a second Grym was worried about our options against undead…>_>
I hope a haste can help.