Out of the Abyss

Game Master Angie H

Right, there isn't a thing called 'SLA' in 5e. For stuff resembling SLA, they are pretty explicit in the wording. For example my gith psionics:

You know the mage hand cantrip, and the hand is invisible when you cast the cantrip with this trait.

When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the shield spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the detect thoughts spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.

Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells. When you cast them with this trait, they don’t require components.

...also is it just me or does Jimjar look like a micro-Vin Diesel? XD

Enjoying the game.

...also is it just me or does Jimjar look like a micro-Vin Diesel? XD

Enjoying the game.

LOL - I can't unsee that now. :)

Yes, that sounds reasonable. I propose to assume that in 10 days Kalanzar really somehow came into contact with all the slaves. It was just unsuccessful with someone (Sarith, Stool), but he managed to have a normal conversation with someone. We can use this to simplify some game interactions.

Ksenia and Maddy what were your reactions when a drow prisoner starts talking to you in common and tells you in conversation that he is from the surface? Will you communicate with him or will you stay away from him as he is a drow?

Admittedly, Maddy is very overwhelmed at the moment because she has never been far away from her small village. However, she has a kind heart and won't shun away from any of the prisoners. She isn't familiar with Drow but she knows that there are bad humans and good humans so she would assume this is true for any race.

Maddy, thank you! Well, then she also received a friendly reaction from Kalanzar and the words that we definitely need to get out of here and we will definitely see the light of the stars and our loved ones.

Alex meanwhile is steadily considering that it would be more attractive the worship Nocticula as the stealthy murder assassin, and not as the queen of exiles, art and redemption :).

Yep, but Redeemed Nocticula relates to murder a little less than nothing. It's no longer in her portfolio or in her area of interest. And for me it is also important because I have included her in the pantheon of those gods whom my Druid of the Stars worships (as symbol of Darkness Between the Stars).

I guess the question is "when" we are, if it is pre Nocticulas full ascension, then Nocticula is both at the same time.

Continuing to worship redeemed Nocticula for her murder portfolio because you believe that redemption is just a phase and you truly believe despite all evidence that she can return to what's really important - assassination - well, that's just a matter of having faith :-)

Or she is like all of us, and when she is godess of murder she just has her bad hair day :).

Things to keep in mind - if you're with Stool, he will always be happy to facilitate telepathic communication with whoever you want to include.

Keep trying things! There is more information to be had, and tricks to try. There were a few unfortunate early low rolls, but that doesn't mean you can't retry. There is an opportunity for something with every work shift.

PS: OMG did you catch the D&D direct announcement? SO...MUCH...COOLNESS!!

Yep, just discussed in another thread )) This is exciting news!

What do you suppose the chances of the movie being any good?

I'm stoked for the Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel - it looks beautiful. I love short one-offs that can be plopped in anywhere. And I've never played Spelljammer, but it looks amazing!

I'd better start saving up (especially since I just lost Xanathar's...I left it on the bus!! Idiot!!)

Yes, I (as a subscriber and a fan of Starfinder) am mainly interested in the Spelljammer. I haven't played yet, but it's always been interesting to me.

Very excited about Spelljammer, will definitely be running a game here at some point.

Movie will be as cringey horrible as the other 4 I suspect.

Sorry all -- had some unexpected surgery late last week and haven't been able to do much as a result. I'm catching up now though, and will do better posting going forward!

Hope recovery goes smoothly and that your health is restored. Glad to see that you’re well enough to be able to catch up with things :) Well wishes for a speedy recovery.

And then aims to open up communications, in Elfish.

persuasion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
You are as stuck here as I am, and I believe I have demonstrated a degree of above average utility. Perhaps we both stand to profit from a degree of cooperation?

@Alex - who are you speaking to?

Also, Jimjar made you a bet - are you going to take him up on it?

@Kalanzar - Nature roll for spider egg info, please.

@Ksenia - I hope you're feeling better!

Will respond to the bet in character.

** spoiler omitted **

Will respond to the bet in character.

I meant, who are you speaking to in the cave, in Elven?

Elven? Elvish? Dwarven? Dwarvish? Every book is different and I can't keep them straight.

Nature: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Meanwhile, my diplomancy to summon allies against Ronc continues apace! Totally underrated spell school for a warlock! The allies are much cheaper, and far less likely to stab you in the back then what you would get from summons spells, and "diplomantic immunity" is extremely valuable in the situatons where you can make it stick!

Totally not plotting to reduce NPC number by 1 here no no :):

Alexandra will likely go straight warlock, at least for the first 5 levels. The eldritch invocations are actually all pretty cool, and multiclassing in pathfinder actually doesnt work the way I thought it does.

Its like
Warlock class "Hej, I heard you want to run a Bard! Takes this one level dip for CHA to everything?"
Me: "Sounds good!"
Warlock class "Your in the underdark as a non darkvision race! You sure you dont want to get level 2 for 120 feet darkvision?"
Me: "Sounds good too!"
Warlock class:"Hej, look at the really cool features of pact of the blade! Imagine what you could do with it on a probably equipment starved survival campaign! Also, level 2 spells! And look, so many are useful!"
Me:"Hmm tasty!"
Warlock class:"Are you really going to dip out when there is an Ability score improvement at level 4?"
Me:"Nah that would be dumb.
Warlock class:"Look how many awesome invocations require level 5, also level 3 spells!"
Me."Cannot resist!"
Warlock class: "Have I mentioned that you can pretend to be Nocticula and use crossbow expert to shot fools in the face with a hand crossbow and still have cha to damage via improved pact weapon?"
Me:"But it says light crossbow, heavy crossbow, longbow or shortbow?"
Warlock class:"You can totally cast it on an existing magic weapon, and I bet you Jinjars pre Tax income that there will be magic hand cross bows in this module!"
Me:"I am confused, send halp."
Warlock class:"Bwhahahaha another mortal snared!"

Although, truth to be told, one handed improved pact weapon (which counts as a focus, so no juggling needed to cast spells) and shield is probably the way to go. Hand crossbow requires kind of involved shenangians and a feat to compete with eldricth blasts, which is one invocation.

@Maddison, if you feel not having darkvision (I will get it at level 2 via incarnation) heavily restricting, Alex, in character, can probably get you the "get one invocation" feat, although a feat is a sizeable cost.

She is not averse to proselytizing.

@GM Szarith seems fun, lets see if I can keep him alive and convert him to either Nocticulas :).

@Alex - your discussion with the warlock class gave me a good chuckle. I have the same discussion with most classes when I consider multi-classing. I don't think I've ever actually done it.

I multiclass all the damn time in patfhinder, but then I actually know what I am doing there buildwise :).

I think the only uninteracted NPC is Buppido, Alex is really friendly with Stool, topsy and turvy, thinks Szarith is interesting, Jimjar is fun, and we can probably work with the pacifist Kuo Toa and the QUaggoth thinking he is an Elf.

Ronc can be profitted off because Alex always has a plan even if it isnt a great one.

I talked briefly with Buppido, but not much. Just enough to tell that he seems friendly.

GM, can we move on to the spider eggs scene with me then? Indeed, we will figure out on the go what I can and what I can't .)) Too much theory on my part.

Alex plan is to motivate the scarred drow into volunteering for scout duty, which would send several Drow towards Menzoberranzan (north I believe), which gives us, hopefully, an opening (less manpower is clearly good for us, and my guess is that either of the named drow could probably solo the PC party).

We escape, perhaps troll or B+!~&$@% Ronc into also going there and bugger off another way.

His benefit is that his competitor would be humiliated, or perhaps dead, in a way that cannot be traced to him.

GM, can we move on to the spider eggs scene with me then? Indeed, we will figure out on the go what I can and what I can't .)) Too much theory on my part.

Absolutely, whenever you're ready. Take the lead as far as you feel comfortable going, and I'll roll my NPCs when necessary.

Kalanzar is still standing, bent low in a bow and ready to carry out this order of the priestess. No interference with the plan (to contradict the priestess in front of her servants? bad idea). And then I'll improvise ;)

Anyone up for joining the great "lets learn some undercommon group?" It will take 250 days by RAW.

In particular, Alexandra absolutely needs to know undercommon insults.

It looks like Kalanzar is afk for a bit, probably busy, so go ahead and read the undercommon and assume he told you what happened.

250 days

Hopefully can find a Comprehend Languages spell before then. ;D

I do have it as a selected level 1 spell, thats only understanding not talking though.
We are officially on more of a timer now.

Oh, I should have written about this a little earlier! I'm on a weird schedule until about May 12th. There will be days (today) when I can be very active on the PbP, but there will be days when I won't be able to write here. I'm fine, just real life. From May 11-12, I return to my usual daily routine. I should have written about it a week ago, but I hoped that I could come here every day - but no )) Sorry for any delays. Feel free to bot me btw.

@Alexandra, Kalanzar necessarily retold everything he heard to you and the rest of the more or less sociable prisoners.

@Alexandra, who are you including on the Stool Collective?

I think by this point its Topsy, Turvy, the NPC Dwarf and all PCs.

I will ask Stool to include anyone but Ronc.

OK.

I'll wait for most of you to post a reaction before I make any NPC rolls. They are certainly here to help, but they will not drive the action.

How much time has passed between Shift 4 and the current situation? It seems that the events ran ahead, but I'm not sure, I got confused in the chronology. Did I have time to rest and change the spell? Adjusted for the fact that I am an elf and I need to rest less.

Then I changed the spells and found a piece of food. Thanks!

Yes, time is hard to track, and that's deliberate. You got back from shift 4, then there was shifts 5a and 5b, and then a short shift 6. You can assume at least 6 hours occurred during shifts 5 and 6.

I am actually also concerned about some NPCs demanding leadership (I believe I can convince "Price Derendil" to not do that) and more importantly Ront just Leeroy Jenkinsing our plan.

I hope I/Alex does not come across as too pushy.

You're not coming across as pushy at all to me!

You can reroll your Nat 1 if you want Ksenia :).

Maddy, the investigation roll is just good enough to give you advantage in your str check to break the chain

You can reroll your Nat 1 if you want Ksenia :).

LOL, natural 2! Should have stuck to rolls about cooking.