GM Harrow’s Curse of the Crimson Throne - AE

Game Master GM Harrow

GM there's what looks like a throw rug orthogonally adjacent to Audria and our necromantic friend. Is that a passable square? Or passable with an acrobatics check?

I will be sending a strongly worded letter to the dice roller ... very stern!

If that worked, I wouldn't have a poor 5e Cleric of mine having flashbacks to when she was pretty much useless in a fight right now. :P

I will say that Audria calling on the power of her goddess and missing ever single attack right after is going to questioning herself a lot after this.

Welp, you chased the derro into the lab and I forgot to describe the room. That's not a throw rug. :D

I marked on the map the squares that require an Acrobatics check to move through, as that is a high table.

Oh wow, I hope that confirms. It would be Shrike's first critical hit of the campaign, and a great time for one. (Not counting the coup de grace against Barvasi.)

It's to be expected in a Necromancer's spell book, but given that the majority of the spells in the new book are Necromancy and Evocation, Shane's two opposing schools, this is hilarious. :)

But good fodder for trading favors or the like if need be! And there are some nice spells to be learned later (Hello Fly!)

Loot inventory updated.

Huh, the robe of bones is an interesting item. It says that the undead it creates aren't under the control of the wearer by default. They have to be commanded with command undead or I guess placed very tactically if you want to be sure of them attacking the right targets. Are you sure you want it, Abella?

Yep. I was planning on upping my UMD anyways. Those are all mindless undead so they wouldn’t get saves vs command undead, which means it being from a scroll wouldn’t matter. The safety of my comrades is my primary concern (even if Abella is much more selfish) so I will not be cavalier about using it.

I guess that also depends a lot on which undead are left. The ogre plauge zombie had a lot of potential for collateral damage and I’d be very careful about releasing incorporeal undead, but a single ordinary zombie or skeleton is easier to manage.

The ogre zombie is the only patch missing (but there's another one left, as the robe has two of each).

Okay, we have a paladin in the party, and generally paladins and necromancy don't mix. My impression was that the necromancy that involves creating and controlling undead is inherently evil. One of the things that gets specifically called out as being against a paladin's code is cooperating with evil creatures unless it's absolutely necessary. I think that also extends to using spells and items that create or summon evil creatures, like a Robe of Bones.

I'm not trying to tell Abella how to run her character or what loot she can keep. I am trying to point out that there are going to be repercussions for keeping some of those items if and when Audria finds out about them. Personally, I'd rather see if the Church of Pharasma is willing to pay a bounty on the items than keep them, but I'm also the one playing the paladin, even if she's about to have a really rough time of it thanks to missing every single time she tried to hit the Derromancer after declaring a smite on him. (The dice apparently want her to already be a ball of emotional turmoil when certain events happen.)

The creation of undead is evil, but controlling them is not. In fact, Command Undead is one of the best ways to destroy undead, as there’s no save versus mindless undead and they can be told to destroy themselves. I actually played an anti-undead nexian wizard who used that exact strategy in PFS. Only the act of animating the dead is evil. My thinking is that the undead were already created and placed in the robe, so actually using them and controlling them is fine

Fwiw, I was planning on using them more like summons and cannon fodder, making sure they get sent off properly when they have served their purpose

Thank you for correcting me on Command Undead.

Still, I see using undead as being just as problematic as creating them, even if we clean up properly afterward, at least from a paladin's point of view. Even if it's not an issue for her staying a paladin, I imagine that Audria is not going to he too happy about it.

That said, as a player, I'm a-okay with you keeping the evil loot if you want. I may prefer that you didn't, but that's on me, not you. :)

Funnily enough, this exact point in the AP is where my Pharasma-worshipping oracle had issues as well when the party's (good-aligned) arcanist started commanding the derro's summoned undead. This in combination with the ghost of her dead mother showing up regularly (the arcanist PC was Zellara's daughter) caused my character to look at the arcanist very askance for a while, but she learned to deal with it eventually. :)

Not saying Audria should "deal with it", just thinking it's a funny coincidence.

I’ve actually been the paladin in this exact situation! It’s your right to grumble, and I expected as much. If you ever watched Dragonball Z, she’s like early Piccolo and Vegeta, the morally ambiguous foil to the protagonist(s) that subtly moves more and more towards good over time. It’s conflict, but it is meant in good fun, as a way to accentuate both characters as foils do!

Alrighty, I'll just look forward to Audria finding out about the robe. It'll be some fun character development.

It's a pretty difficult Use Magic Device check to activate a scroll for a non-class second-level spell — DC 23, meaning one would need a +12 modifier to still have only a 50-50 chance of making it — and will cost 150 gp a pop if using scrolls. That one line really makes what is a great item for a necromancer with the free Power Over Undead school feature into something annoying and expensive for anyone else to use.

Putting more undead into the world is bad, obviously, and Shrike wouldn't hang around with an actual necromancer.

But my only idea was to shove it off on the Pharasmins and guilt them into giving us something of good value in return for being able to destroy a magic item anathema to their church that we found in a horrific necromancer nest in their own backyard. And Abella definitely hasn't claimed much in the way of magic items so far, besides the wand of spiritual weapon.

So if you really want it, Abella, I'll find a practical reason for Shrike not to object too strongly in character either. I agree that it seems like the flavor of the robe is that the undead are already created and stuck in the robe, basically in Pokéballs, so bringing them out only to briefly use them as tools for good purposes, then destroying them, could be morally fine or neutral. I don't feel strongly about the item as a player either way, but these are definitely the kinds of things that are best to discuss out of character beforehand.

I am aware. I always invest in UMD when I have it as a class skill and just haven’t delved as far into it yet since I try to sprinkle skill points around the first few levels to take advantage of class skills.

I think I would like it, yes. I doubt I’ll even be using it in this dungeon as the last thing we all need is more undead on the field for an enemy necro to take over.

Pava will be creeped out, but that's not a big issue for them.

Shane will probably be of the attitude of 'you introduce undead into the scene, you do the clean up' . He finds it a dangerous thing to tamper with but as he graduated the Acadame, it isn't like he hasn't seen them used before. The Hall of Whisper students probably had skeleton butlers wearing formal neckware

No posts today, I'm a little busy getting ready to join the ranks of the Gainfully Employed again.

But you all did great work! This dungeon was meant for level 4 and that last encounter could have turned really dire.

Welcome to level 4!

Level 4? YAY

+1 to Intelligence
+4+1 for con (five more hitpoints)
Save +1 to Will Save

Skills, added one to Fly (Now at +6), +1 to Kn. Arcana, + Kn Dungeon,+1 Kn. Religion, +1 Sense Motive, +1 Spellcraft/+1 Appraise (Now at +8), +1 Kn. Engineering (Now +8), languages +1 (Shoanti)
2 free Spells: Web, and Magic Mouth. He plans to transcribe Blur and Glitterdust from the scrolls when he can if he doesn't use them by then.

Perfect. Looks like Audria's going to be getting her first level in fighter.

Pava'll pick up their first level in Brawler (Snakebite Striker)

+1 to Dex
+9 hp (6hd, 2 con, 1 fcb)
Saves +2 Fort/+2 Ref
Skill points to Acrobatics, Bluff, Intimidate, Perception, 2x Sleight of Hand, Stealth
Unarmed Combatant Feat (picked up a thing or two grappling that unarmed wizard)
Sneak Attack +d6

Congrats on the new job, GM!

And hurray level 4! I'll try to have Shrike's changes up in her profile by tomorrow.

Big congrats to the GM for the new job and the rest of us for the new level.

Here are Elric's leveling notes. Level 4 is a sweet one for him, as his Vicious Aim ability kicks in, granting him +2 to hit and dmg on all ranged attacks.

+1 Ranger level
+1 to STR
+9 hp (6 HD + 2 CON + 6 FCB)
+1 Fort / +1 Ref
Skill points: Handle animal, perception, ride, stealth (x3), survival
New ability: Vicious Aim (replaces spellcasting)

Congrats, GM! I hope it’s someplace good that appreciates you!

Also a big Abella level as she can finally chant to keep evil eye going and is getting the revelation that will replace her using armor

Level 4 Abella

Shaman level +1

HP +7
Will +1

Wisdom +1 (and all that entails)

BAB +1

New Hex: Chant

New Revelation of the Past: Spirit Shield

2nd level spell per day +1
1st level spell per day +1

Skills
Background (2)
+1 lore (negative energy)
+1 linguistics (learned Shoanti)

Adventuring (5)
+1 survival
+1 perception
+3 knowledge (religion)

Alternate Favored Class Bonus: added Shield of Faith to spell list

Derp, probably should have congratulated the GM on the successful job hunt as well. I'm just a bit of an airhead at times. :P

I'll get Audria leveled up tomorrow. I don't think I'll have the energy to get that and her profile updated tonight.

Shrike's profile and status line are updated. While doing this level-up, I realized I made a mistake in the last combat. I calculated Shrike's attack bonus with the curve blade as though it was masterwork like the composite longbow, although I had bought it as a normal curve blade. There were only two attacks made with it, one a miss and one the crit. So hopefully that extra +1 didn't make the difference on the confirm roll. If you prefer, GM, I can retcon spending the extra 300 gp to have bought it masterwork instead. She had the money and I do want her backup weapon to be masterwork eventually, I just didn't want to push my luck with declaring buying a masterwork weapon offscreen (even a nonmagic one.)

Shrike changes, level 4:
HP +7 (now 33: 5 from half 1d8 round up, 1 Con, 1 favored class bonus)
BAB +1 (now +3)
Will Save +1 (now +5)
Fort Save +0
Ref Save +1 (now +7)
CMB +1 (now +5, or +7 if making a combat maneuver check with a finesse weapon)
CMD +1 (now 19)

+1 Ability Score Increase (choosing Charisma, now 14)

+1 Vigilante Talent (choosing Up Close and Personal)

Skill Upgrades: 8 (6 class, 0 Int, 2 background)
+2 Acrobatics (now +11: 4 rank, 3 class skill, 4 ability score)
+1 Disguise (now +6: 1 rank, 3 CS, 2 AS)
+2 Perception (now +7: 4 rank, 3 CS, 0 AS)
+2 Perform (Dance) (now +9: 4 rank, 3 CS, 2 AS)
+1 Stealth (now +11: 4 rank, 3 CS, 4 AS)

Up Close and Personal (Ex): When the vigilante attempts an Acrobatics check to move through an opponent’s space during a move action, he can attempt a single melee attack against that opponent as a swift action. If the Acrobatics check succeeds, this attack applies the vigilante’s hidden strike damage as if the foe were unaware of the vigilante. Otherwise, the vigilante applies the hidden strike damage he would deal if the target were denied its Dexterity bonus to AC. Only a stalker vigilante of at least 4th level can select this talent.

@Shrike - the crit would have confirmed without the mwk bonus, so you're good. We will have a couple of days of downtime and you can get it made masterwork then if you like.

I didn't want to take the liberty of naming the others of the six in case they already were but Shane might try to keep track of them in the future. He knows what it is like to find your life upended, though not quite in the same way

- the human woman is Tiona; she's a little cagey about her occupation
- the halfling man is a merchant named Wayllon
- the unconscious boy is a messenger named Timmeon
- the half-elf woman with the missing hands is called Ivy

So you can name the dwarf woman if you want. :D

- the human woman is Tiona; she's a little cagey about her occupation

- the halfling man is a merchant named Wayllon
- the unconscious boy is a messenger named Timmeon
- the half-elf woman with the missing hands is called Ivy

So you can name the dwarf woman if you want. :D

Neat, thanks...

@Shane - sounds good!

@everyone - I want to clarify that Dal is not returning to active play (at least as far as I'm aware). I didn't want the character to simply vanish, so I included him with the rescued prisoners.

I’m assuming we will have time to shop shortly, so we should probably negotiate any lingering loot questions and do a divvy, I’m guessing?

Sorry folks for being radio silent the past day or so. Some issues sleeping have wiped me out. I'll try to get a post in and Audria leveled up over the weekend.

Yes, we'll have a bit of downtime for people to sort out loot, purchases, alternate lifestyles and whatnot.

Sorry to hear about your sleep issues, Audria. I hope you get some good rest soon.

Of what we found recently, Shrike wants to claim the handy haversack, masterwork thieves' tools, elixir of vision, and potion of invisibility. Abella claimed the robe of bones and wand of spiritual weapon. Shane wants the spellbook and maybe some of the scrolls. Someone should wear that ring of protection +1, maybe Audria or Elric since Pava has +1 armor already. For the rest, I vote we keep the scrolls and potions/less-expensive consumables, and sell the poisons, mundane weapons and armor, jewelry/art objects, hybridization funnel, Small masterwork dagger, dust of disappearance, sustaining spoon, ring of swimming, and wand of ghoul touch (unless Shane or Abella want to claim it, although it seems like both of them are wisely staying out of melee range so far.)

Thoughts?

It's alright. I did get a good night's sleep last night after going to bed early. The problem is that I also woke up at 1 AM because I went to bed at like 6 PM and couldn't go back to sleep.

As far as loot goes, I'm fine with that. Elric's planning on being at range eventually, so maybe Audria gets the ring? That said, I would really, really love to get my hands on some mithral full plate at some point, so I'm okay if Elric gets it.

Elric is a switch hitter who likes to mix it up, so he’ll happily take the ring. One of us should hold on to the Any-tool too. Other than that, nothing jumped out as particularly desirable.

His next level and feat choice is going to have a lot of impact on his build, so let’s see what role is most useful to the party.

Oh, and didn’t you all find a broken hilt early on that might match the keyshaped dagger blade we found just now?

I'd certainly get good use out of a Ring of Protection, but I'm not fussed about getting the first one :-)

Shane will settle for the scrolls and Spellbook as they are quite the find.

His AC isn't great but he's getting better protective spells and he does fight from range

I would like to clarify that the hostility here is purely in-character, and I assume the same is true for Pava. But 'nipping' is never going to produce a desired result with Shrike.

I figured that was at least part of trading the favorites back and forth :-)

That's why I left the threat in Pava's thoughts actually - I figured an out loud threat would make it even more likely Shrike would respond negatively, and an out loud threat would also make it more likely that an on-tilt Pava would want to make good on that threat if Shrike didn't go along and...

Well that doesn't end anywhere good!

I wouldn't have minded if Shrike went along with Pava's wishes/imagination of Gaekhen's wishes, but I certainly don't hate having a bit of a burr in the relationship of the pair.

Hey folks, I've been working on some personal stuff recently and it's going to take me longer than I thought to get back into the saddle and posting regularly, at least two weeks, I think. GM, please bot me as needed. I will be coming back. I just need some time to change some habits of mine.

@AdamWarnock: Thanks for letting us know. I hope the break does what you need, and you can return refreshed. Take your time, and we'll be here.

@Elric, we found a masterwork dagger shaped like a key with the inscription "For an inspiration of a father" all the way back in Lamm's treasure pile in the Old Fishery. We later realized the shape of the dagger matched the shape of the one supposedly used by the Key-Lock Killer. Now we've found a broken dagger, with "a curious key-shaped blade snapped right beneath the hilt." No hilt found separately to my knowledge. I gave it an entry in with the other loot in case it's an important item, although no value was listed for it. I assume finding first the one with Old Man Lamm, then the second one here are clues that Rolth Lamm is also the Key-Lock Killer. A real peach of a guy.

@GM, I think Shrike and Pava's conversation can be finished in spoilers if needed, so please don't wait on us.

Thanks, and will do.

Heh, I figured after Shrike walked off then that was the end of the conversation anyways.

@Adam take care of yourself.

@ GM Harrow, not sure if you saw Shane's question to the priestess about a discount on speak with dead?

Hope the time off is restorative Adam!

Nips at Heels wants very much to take Gaekhen to Thousand Bones and then go off and get completely legless (possibly in company - Abella, dunno if that's something you'd like/have the time to write, but if not we could just leave it as a source of Noodle* Incidents). They're definitely going to replenish their antiplague, probably pick up an oil of magic weapon, and then probably save money for a belt or amulet.

*Not the six-legged dog
**I guess it could be a six-legged dog