DM Voomer's Age of Ashes

Game Master Voomer

DM, if I recall correctly, all we really needed to do at Shelyn's Smile is buy scrolls for Caiten. If there's nothing else of importance for us to encounter here, we can probably just skip roleplaying the shopping and move ahead to the funeral?

Also, apologies for this - but I'm going to hijack the discussion just for a moment to say... Kingmaker isn't going to happen. I apologize for stringing folks along for as long as I have. It's taken me some time to say something about it because I am lowkey a little ashamed of how long it's gone on.

I started planning to run the AP before I lit my whole life on fire with a series of horrible decisions and before I took on more responsibilities at work. I'm simply unable to dedicate the time needed to get it started, let alone run it. It is not my priority, and it is not fair to anyone for you all to participate in an AP run by someone who is not willing to make it a priority. If things change in the future, and I get something going, I will be sure to let you guys know first. Send me a DM or message me on Discord if you want to talk about it further.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing about Shelyn's Smile, Catalina.

And thanks for the heads up about Kingmaker. Totally understood. Yes, do let us know if something develops in the future.

And happy birthday to Lisi (or, rather, the player behind him)!

Happy birthday! Where is that old fart, anyway?

And speaking of games, Voomer, I will run a game instead. It will be here on the forums, and I have decided to go balls to the wall with a lot of variant rules. Dual class, free archetype, yadda yadda.

I will use the Golarion setting, but will make the storyline from scratch. Not sure about the premise yet. Once we know who's in, we can sit down and discuss it. Want to join that one?

That old fart is in Southern California! I'm guessing they're out enjoying nature today, just like Lisi would. And I'd love to join the new game. Sounds wild!

Alright. Dot in here. I will make a discussion thread probably later today, and then make a new gameplay once we are past the session zero stage.

Looks like I'm supposed to "dot" in character, so that will just take me a a bit more time to get together...

Looks like I'm supposed to "dot" in character, so that will just take me a a bit more time to get together...

No, you don't have to. You can just submit a post that says "dot", then delete it. It makes sure the campaign shows up on your "My Campaigns" tab so you can see when there are new posts.

Post anything in gameplay. Rojjekqoktjjd is fine as well.

Then delete that post. It's just to have the thread in your campaigns tab, and have notifications when a discussion is happening.

Ok. Done! And I do see it in my campaign tab now. Thanks.

Asking for another dot in gameplay: LINK

I am disconnecting the discussion from the old gameplay thread. If you don't dot in, you might not get notifications after this.

Dotted! I will work on getting my character into shape and tweak the backstory. Thanks for all the info in the discussion thread over there!

The guy that got kicked in the nuts shows up on the ceremony, like "Screw you, buddy!" in a high pitched voice.

Hah hah! I'm not familiar with that incident. I tried to review the gameplay for Dario's interactions, but you can imagine how impossible it is to review search results for "Dario"...

Oh, it was the wingman incident.

But yeah, I understand. Quick rundown:

Dario was sheepish regarding intimacy, so Yasami promised to help him seal the deal. We came to Wizard's Grace, Yasami told him to pick someone he liked. Dario essentially started a bar fight to dodge the situation, and castrated someone with his heel before running away.

Edit: Yasami won't make a public speech, if anyone is waiting for that.

Catalina won't be making speeches either, I just haven't gotten to posting today.

No problem at all with not talking. Sorry if I created a sense of obligation — just wanted to leave space. Perfect that Oren said something and what he said was great. It’s all good. I’ll post tomorrow in case there’s anything else (and because it’s family time)!

By the way, Lisi has a big weekend event coming up and is justifiably very distracted. Anybody mind if I delay wrapping up the funeral until after the weekend? There’s action on the high seas in the meantime!

Next week is fine. I also can't think of anything else to add to the current scene.

I have some RP to post before we go through the portal. But I can fit it in or chronomancy it in if needed.

It's late and I'm tired, so I will organize my thoughts and get it written up tomorrow.

hiiii all. Heh, I've had big and busy weekends regularly for weeks now, and I have another this week...and next week, and the week after that...and the weekend after that I might go to Ren Faire to let off steam...but here I am, posting. :)

Understood! RL does interfere. On my part, I was traveling last week for a conference, and then attended the Silent Film Festival here in San Francisco all weekend (my favorite annual art event), and today is my birthday! I'm ok with periods where things slow down a bit, and I think it is natural for things to slow down a bit in transitional moments -- it is a little easier to get a quick post up during combat...

Ayyy! Happy birthday.

Happy birthday, Voomer!

Happy Birthday Voomer!

So why am I researching rituals?

They're cool, and I feel like they are not utilised enough. Like, at all. I don't think I saw anyone use them in any of the games I'm in on the boards.

Maybe MORTA would know more of them, instead of Jorell. And if not her, I would also try with the Ekujae. Yes, Yasami is desperate enough to talk to Morta about this.

Seriously. Look at this! Walkie-talkies!

Something for Catalina

There's a Ritualist archetype, even.

Voomer - I like the way you went with Alak and Catalina. :) I will have something up later (probably during my planning period), but after, it's really just waiting for the Hooch 'n' Research Crew on my end. No rush. :)

waiting for the Hooch 'n' Research Crew on my end. No rush. :)

I'm not entirely sure where that is at. Don't yet have confirmed that Jorell is there and will let us in the door.

So why am I researching rituals?

They're cool, and I feel like they are not utilised enough. Like, at all. I don't think I saw anyone use them in any of the games I'm in on the boards.

Maybe MORTA would know more of them, instead of Jorell. And if not her, I would also try with the Ekujae. Yes, Yasami is desperate enough to talk to Morta about this.

Seriously. Look at this! Walkie-talkies!

Something for Catalina

Yasami, I'd love for us to use Contact Friends to see where the heck Joran went.

That is the plan. I am very dedicated to keeping my word to Trinil, ie bringing Joran home.

Potentially Cev, if he is still alive.

Hey folks. I was traveling this weekend but I'll have a post up soon. Jorell IS there, so anyone can add anything they want to do in the archives or anything else in this final night. In my next post I'll respond regarding the researches and move you all to Huntergate.

Does anyone have a record of the totems you have cleared? There was a map at some point, but I think all the links have gone dead.

If not, no matter. I think you did the most interesting stuff North of the river and was toying with hand-waving the totems except one remaining to the South.

I will rebuild the campaign info links in time. For the moment, you can now find a map under the "portraits and handouts" tab. I'm not very sophisticated about this stuff so it's just a link to a folder in my Google drive. Please confirm that you can only access that single folder... :-)

Yep, yep. We spoke of this here.

We did actually encounter 4 totems, 3 of which were disabled. The party actually disabled two, the Ekujae destroyed one near the portal to Mwangi (before the party arrived), and we found a fresh one here in the mine. The one with worms around it.

We destroyed the one that was turning workers into stone, and then the one that was guarded by the two drake-things.

I get the impression that the burnt thing near the gate was a totem, at least.

I think that's all of them for now.

-one at the gate (not sure what colour)
-stone totem with the "archaeologist" Pendergrast near it
-green totem with two poison drakes
-purple totem in the gold mine.

Thanks. FYI, the Ekujae managed to stop the Cinderclaws from finishing the totem near Huntergate -- otherwise they would not have been able to approach it.

This:

FYI, the rituals are pretty much all tagged uncommon because they can be problematic to the narrative, and I find this is especially the case with APs (or at least one) that does not presuppose access to extraordinary scrying type magics. But feel free to ask about other specific rituals and I will consider them on a case by case basis (although they will probably always require some effort to find).

Above the table talk here. What I am getting from this is that you consider Contact Friends problematic.

I am plotting my future potential level ups. Say that I would diverge from my original path and invest towards the Ritualist archetype. Suppose I do that, and I have the option. Would you still not allow this ritual in that case?

While we are on that topic. Level up when? It's been literally over a year.

YES to leveling up. You will depart Akrivel as 8th level characters, so you can work on that now and let me know what changes are in store.

Regarding the Contact Friends ritual. It is potentially problematic as the AP proceeds from the perspective of gaining access to information the AP doesn't really contemplate by structural design. It is hard to definitely predict at this point, but once the cat is out of the bag with that type of scrying-type magic... I guess I just kind of feel like access to that type of magic can be a big complication and it's not necessary to a fun game -- at least not as an always available tool.

Also, if what you're seeking is a way to communicate with others remotely, it doesn't seem like the best bet. The ritual only allows one question (and is pretty vague in general as to how it works), it requires a roll to perform, and costs 50 gp to cast. "Dream message" seems more powerful as a tool for sending information, and of course "sending" is even better (but a level 5 spell).

I guess what I'm wondering is, if you're thinking about the ritualist archetype (an "uncommon" archetype) for mostly backstory RP purposes, maybe we can figure out a work around instead of making that kind of investment...?

BTW, I do think the present situation is appropriate for contact friends, which is why I'm making it available through the Ekujae, and it might be similar accommodations can be worked out in the future for rituals (this or others) that are fun/interesting without undermining the structure of the AP too much...

Does any of that seem unreasonable? Are there other aspects you (or others) think I should consider?

I suppose that's fair. I'll look up other options. It's mostly to keep in touch with Brevoy faster.

I'll try a mote detailed post tomorrow.

We'll work something else out for Brevoy...

By the way, I'm thinking about instituting hero points, although it's a bit tricky with PbP. It will probably be a lot less than in offline play, but, starting now, you can each have one until the next significant milestone... And I'd be curious if you have any info about how hero points are implemented in other PbP games...

I use them occasionally for re-rolls as they are flavorful...they aren't always necessary, though.

We follow the RAW in our home game and I think it yields too many hero points, which then end up getting used too casually, especially towards the end of the night, but I kind of do like having them available for really critical rolls related to the story or dire combat moments

Alright, I got this girl updated. HP in triple digits, at last.

Picked up Bleeding Finisher. 3d6 persistent bleed damage? Sign me up for that!

Skills: Swift Sneak, because Yasamina is FAST and now she can be fast while skulking about.

Battle Medicine at long last, for those clutch moments.
And I am now master in Medicine, so I can heal up to 4 people at a time. (Reliable 2d8 + 10 with assurance - this applies to battle medicine too)

Although I realised I am missing a language. Anyone has a suggestion?

From the common list, it seems we are missing these:

Gnomish
Halfling
Jotun
Orcish
Undercommon

Probably all Gnomes, Halflings, and Dromaar speak common. And I doubt we will be stumbling into actual orcs in any time soon. Torn between Jotun and Underecommon here. Thoughts?

Re: Hero points - I think we USED hero points in the game? I specifically recall using one to not choke on a bell pepper. And to stabilise once?

I'd use them. For stabilising and stuff. As a last resort thing.

Yes, we've used occasional hero points. Dang, Lisi's upgrades are boring for Lvl 8!!

Please confirm once you have leveled up. I think Yasami and Lisi have so far.

Oren has leveled up

Dealing with some IRL stuff, nothing serious, just need to delay any posting until tomorrow. Cross-posted to the Caia game. I'll have Catalina updated tomorrow as well.

No problem.

Catalina is updated. Free Archetype for gunslinger picked up running reload, Catalina picked up Know-It-All for class feat, and then did skill training in thievery. The only thing she isn't trained in to some degree is performance, lol.