‘Eκάτη's Endless Night

Game Master ‘Eκάτη

Discussion Thread

I'm going with some friends to watch the Cubs (hopefully) slaughter the Yankees but when the game is over I'll be back here reading the profiles of the other PCs. Then I'll post Soryan Dirge and his initial interactions with you all.

Arr!

Well hello everybody!

Much appreciated for the selection, GM ‘Eκάτη!

I am a huge fan of The Underdark novels set in Forgotten Realms, so this was a no brainer (hehe) for me!

I am looking forward for the drow!

I can one-up that, Mr. Dorian Grey:

Not only am I a big fan of the Driz'zt novels from back in the 90s, but moreover....

In my Friday night Homegame our most recent campaign is set in Varisia. I started the PCs in Korvosa, chased them through a secret Gate to a Cenobite temple/town in The Abyss (first Session, 1st Level -- straight to The Abyss), and when they made it back to the Prime Material, took quests to Kaer Maga, Ilsurian, and Sandpoint.

All of the various quests leading finally to CELWYNVIAN where the PCs were intended to fight the Drow in the ancient Elven ruins (with some help from Lantern Bearers from Crying Leaf if needed) and then, from Celwynvian, adventure deep into The Darklands of Drow underneath Celwynvian, from Levels 6 through 9. We reached Celwynvian, I wanna say, about November of 2022.

And just before our *first session* in Celwynvian, the Player running the Half-Drow PC (a Summoner) went through a personal life-crisis and left the gaming group. The only reason I designed the 'Let's-go-to-the-Darklands-and-fight-Drow' stretch of the campaign was for her. It was only for her Summoner's character-arc.

We, the rest of the group, voted, and it went 3-1 (with one Player abstaining) in favor of leaving Celwynvian after one session, and not going to the Darklands to fight Drow at all. So the group went to Sandpoint and, in fact, we're wrapping up our Sandpoint-Adventures story arc in another session or two.

So a few months of my DM-prep for 'Drow of the Darklands' adventuring went down the toilet. And I have been thirstily itching to play me some 'Underdark-Drow-Fighting' since.

For the record, I am SOOO happy to be here.
(and so is Soryan Dirge)

Thank you for allowing me along to enjoy this merry foray to deaths dark doorway deep within the depths of the Darklands to dance with the Drow .

Hehe how's my alliteration?

To attempt to one up my compatriats...

I've been itching for a game like this ever since my gaming group from my army days didn't get to finish exploring

Vault of The Drow.

Welcome back, Dread! I am excited to be at another Table with you.

I feel like our two characters philosophy on life will probably make for good rping!

Absolutely Dorian. It's good to join you in a game again.

Oh and everyone note +4 to saves vs fear and charm within 10' of Verath.

Absolutely Dorian. It's good to join you in a game again.

Oh and everyone note +4 to saves vs fear and charm within 10' of Verath.

I seriously doubt those will even come up....

I think our group composition is excellent for this type of quest, mission, thingy.

Aye. Maybe I can out sneak the rogue ;) this Paladin will be quite different than most of my Paladins ever have been. Don't expect him to tank. He's not that way.

Yeah, this is a great group of PCs -- I've been looking through everyone's statblocks. There's a Wand of Lesser Restoration in the party that made me so relieved and it looks like we have three Happy Sticks (though we could always use a couple more since we don't have a dedicated healer).

Looking forward to gaming with everyone!

To death and being too drunk to care about it!

We are still expecting one player in gameplay thread, which is absolutely according to plan. Feel free to roleplay! I think that in +/- 24 hours from now we will move on. By the way, quite often posts from me will be at night at any American time, since I am on another part of the planet. This is not so important for the PbP, but still you should know, I think.

W E Ray, amazing story! Well, I think I can assuage your sadness for the Drow and Dakrland .)

Yes, your group is well balanced. For everything... For almost everything (ominous laughter).

Over time, we will most likely have additional rules on the sanity. They will be based on what is offered in Horror Adventures, but with my small reworkings. I have both played and GMed some games with these rules, it is a little overloaded on the one hand and the consequences are too easily removed in the presence of powerful magic and material resources on the other. I will try to fix both elements (another ominous laughter).

ps
> "Thank you for allowing me along to enjoy this merry foray to deaths dark doorway deep within the depths of the Darklands to dance with the Drow".

Sounds like the beginning of a good ballad .)

By the way, this is a really nice sentiment. I plan on using it for Good-Guy Races in my game with long life-spans.
.

The elves have a long memory, (and) this same long memory teaches them to treat everything easier, to enjoy the moment, to live in the now. Because if you lose consciousness in hundreds of years of memories (which means losses and suffering too), if you allow memory to take power over reality.... this is the end.

'No' -- The Elf must live Now; it is necessary to Live, laughing and dancing.

Perhaps I can get some math help for my +1 Furious Longhammer. It has different bonuses depending if I am power attacking or raging. If I rage, I get +2 due to the furious enchantment. So things can bounce up and down. Plus Recklass Abandon if I use that feat.

Colgrim is capable of fighting up front but his reach is best used for second row.bif something gets up close, he uses his spiked gauntlet.

Colgrim is using Barbarian, yes, and not 'Unchained' Barbarian?

Regardless, it looks as though you will just add another +2 to Attack and Damage (+6 Damage on your x3 Crit), when you're Raging. Whether you're using Power Attack or not. Just make sure you have your STR bonus with & without Raging, your P.A. (& Furious Focus) bonus, and your regular +1 bonus added correctly -- then add the extra +2 for "Furious" when you Rage.

Your Reckless Abandon would modify -- when you want it to -- your Attack and AC while Raging: +3 to Attack (not damage) and -3 to AC. You just have to decide before your roll. (And those numbers won't change until 12th Level.)

Edit:
This is what I calculated (hopefully I didn't miss anything):

Attack:
BAB +8
STR +4
Weapon +1
Power Attack -3 (Furious Focus will eliminate that on your first attack, when you next get a Feat, if you want.)

Damage:
STR +6
Weapon +1
Power Attack +9

.

Rage Attack:
BAB +8
STR +6
Weapon +3
Power Attack -3

Rage Damage:
STR +9
Weapon +3
Power Attack +9

.

And just use your Reckless Abandon modifier when you want to.

(I started looking at your Profile but my eyes started blurring so I stopped. I have to do this on paper, then try to type it on Paizo.)

Thanks for the help

[ Threadjack ]

WooHoo -- I just finished my April-May-June Quarterly financials & taxes. It feels SOOO good, especially since this Quarter the numbers just all fell magically into place and I finished a few days early. That never happens!

[/ Threadjack ]

If Kaerishiel allows us, I may trade one of my Potions of Lesser Restoration for another Potion of Delay Poison -- once I see that the group has a Wand of Lesser Restoration (Velath Tel'Quessir for the win).

Looking at everyone's character sheets (a few days ago) I I counted three Happy Sticks, so those 150 charges of Cure Light ought to be a good start. I also saw someone still has $1900 GP, either saving up for something specific or just hadn't got to buying Potions (or a Wand) of "Oh Crap, I gotta Escape or get Healing!"

IF Kaerishiel has anything available for purchase or trade -- and IF anyone wants to -- and IF we have the time.
.

Soryan Dirge answers, "Alas, I can only trade, not borrow -- I actually owe Lord Villastir 52 Gold pieces."

sorry, our erstwhile Paladin only has 9 gold and pennies.

I'm sorry, but no. You will go with the resources that you have. I think you didn't have the time (and judging by the game thread, big desire too) so rummage through each other's bags, as you did on the forum. For example, yes, there is a wand of LR in the party - but Soryan kept LR potion for himself just a day ago because he needed it for a critical situation. Let the money not spent also remain unspent*. Kaerishiel does not trade, he simply does not have wands and other things with him. They (who they?) had another urgent job there, you'll soon find out which one ;)

*The only thing is, I will accept a request for additional purchase from Cuthalian on the wands of celestial healing, if you want them.

Soryan Dirge has no reason to consider the motive or emotion behind what Kaerishiel says. ....Ray will go ahead and roll, for Metagame reasons out of curiosity to see what's behind that DC 18 Sense Motive check.

Ray, not for Soryan Dirge, Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

.
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Also, I couldn't figure out, during descriptions, how to describe Soryan Dirge better. But now I can. I starting getting the feel for this character while introducing the Star Trek movie, 'Generations' to lady-friend, and the Malcolm McDowell character, Dr. "Soran" really stuck out to me. And moreover, reminded me of Malcolm McDowell's performance as 'Alec' in 'A Clockwork Orange.'

I tried to have an Artificial Intelligence come up with a "Malcolm McDowell / Clockwork Orange / ELF" image, but it was really, really stupid. So just picture an Elf version (with scarlet hair & bright-violet eyes) of McDowell-as-Alec. 'Soryan' is a modification of 'Dr. Soran' from Star Trek Generations. .... And I wanted his last name to be "Lamentations" or something like that, but just couldn't find how it would sound good, so I'm "Soryan Dirge."

Shades of Gray (Ex) (Ultimate Intrigue pg. 44): A rogue with this talent uses mental and emotional tricks to protect herself from attempts to discern her alignment. This offers her the benefits of undetectable alignment whenever she chooses, though she must be conscious to maintain the effect.

One of Those Faces (Sp) (Spymaster's Handbook pg. 21): Each day, you can use disguise self as a spell-like ability for up to 10 minutes per character level. This duration need not be continuous, but it must be used in 10-minute increments. Additionally, once you have used this ability, whenever you use it for the next 24 hours you must take the same alternate appearance.

Cirok is an elfscout!

I totally missed this. I didn't look at everyone's inventory so I don't know how much money is out there. I Have 194 gold to put toward at least one wand of celestial healing* which would be more effective out of combat than the CLW wands. Anyone have the other 556?

Perfect, I just wanted to suggest moving the conversations about purchases to the discussion thread .)

I can pitch in

Sorry, Soryan Dirge owes Lord Villastir 52 gold.

Soryan Dirge has nothing in his experience witnessing the old joke where an on-stage Hypnotist brings a member of the audience up to hypnotize him into thinking he's a chicken, succeeding in hypnotizing the audience-member, then dying of a sudden heart attack. So the poor audience member thinks he's a chicken for the rest of his life.

I can just see it: this Giseil Voslil Curses us to be Drow, assuring us he can Remove the Curse, then drinks some bad milk, gets cholera and dies. We get back from the Darklands having saved the world, and Dude is dead. We're stuck thinking we're chickens!

Cirok can still be an elf 10 minutes per level per day...lol.

If I can stay a mohawked chicken, I will be fine.

When I saw full-attack from Colgrim, I was scared. Caught me! .)

I also really liked Soryan's reaction, this a leap from bravado to fear (at least small) and trading... Very realistic.

Here is the link to our game slides. Right now, please choose your avatars on this forum for your characters in the form of drow. May those who have spent a lot of time choosing their current avatar forgive me .) At the live table, by the way, I distributed miniatures of drow to all players - they changed their usual ones for the previous three books to new ones. Here we will do the same with avatars. Pay attention to the last slide, I added avatars there that are NOT worth using.

Now for your transformation. You are a drow, your facial features are different. Colgrim has undergone the most changes. You have become a little taller (taller than you was but still shorter and slightly broader in the shoulders than drow usually look), muuuch slimmer, your beard and mohawk have disappeared (however, no one prevents you from doing anything with a new hairstyle). Yes, if there were gnomes among you, they would also become medium-sized ))

The following details are coming soon. You will have to dress in drow clothes, put on old proven equipment over it and ask new questions. And roleplay of course. You perfectly understand who you are, your consciousness does not seem to have changed. Or you don't see the difference yet.

It would be a short adventure if I splatted the wizard

Will the Real Soryan Dirge please stand up, Please. Stand. Up?

No beard?! This means an erxtra strong grudging

@Colgrim, on the other hand, there may already be a Contingency at his level and the others are unlikely to support you... "Remove the body and call an elf in his place" ))

@Everybody, the hardest part of this adventure is accepting that your characters don't know anything about drow at the begining. At the moment, you don't know their hierarchy, their history, or anything like that. Only that they are evil, chaotic, hate surface elves, associated with demons and worship them (clearly giving preference to Abraxas, the demon lord of forbidden magic). There was no intelligence in the ranks of the drow. You will be the first such intelligence.

UPD. By the way, Golarion's drow differ from Faerun's drow in about the same way as the elves of these two settings. The local drow have absolutely white eyes, as if without a pupil (but in fact the white pupil occupies the entire eye). The very structure of the face, like their relatives from the surface, is a little alien. The skin varies from black to purple, but the most common is dark blue (and sometimes just blue). White hair and disgusting temper match.

I really hope you don't bleed from your eyes when you read my posts. I try to do everything possible to make it good, but still I first write in my native language and then translate. It's a different order of words in sentences, different meanings and shades of some words, and so on. Oh .)) Let me know if it gets bad somewhere, especially systemically.

Apol about my references. Sometimes I tend to break the 4th wall with my posts.

You are doing absolutely marvelous! Thank you for your efforts.

@Colgrim, on the other hand, there may already be a Contingency at his level and the others are unlikely to support you... "Remove the body and call an elf in his place" ))

@Everybody, the hardest part of this adventure is accepting that your characters don't know anything about drow at the begining. At the moment, you don't know their hierarchy, their history, or anything like that. Only that they are evil, chaotic, hate surface elves, associated with demons and worship them (clearly giving preference to Abraxas, the demon lord of forbidden magic). There was no intelligence in the ranks of the drow. You will be the first such intelligence.

UPD. By the way, Golarion's drow differ from Faerun's drow in about the same way as the elves of these two settings. The local drow have absolutely white eyes, as if without a pupil (but in fact the white pupil occupies the entire eye). The very structure of the face, like their relatives from the surface, is a little alien. The skin varies from black to purple, but the most common is dark blue (and sometimes just blue). White hair and disgusting temper match.

I can take them.

Ok. Oops posted in the discussion thread instead of game thread.

Ok I'm sure some of this will be roleplayed...but in case.

Do we need drow names?
What house
The brooch we have...what slot does that take?
What racial things do we gain and or lose?
What mundane items do we have to divest ourselves of?

Oh and I secondly and, thirdly agree....you're doing a great job despite any language difficulties. Any miscommunication has hardly been noticable...I'm totally immersed. Thank you

Thank you for your support, friends. Well, let's go over your new racial characteristics.

• Darkvision: The character gains darkvision out to 120 feet.
• Immunity: The character gains immunity to sleep effects.
• Weapon proficiency: The character becomes proficient with the hand crossbow, the rapier, and the short sword.
• Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds the character for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area.
• Spell Resistance: The character gains spell resistance equal to 6 + class levels.
• SLA: You may cast each of the following spells once per day as spell-like abilities: dancing lights, darkness, and faerie fire.
• You can speak and understand Drow* language.
• Your alignment registers as chaotic evil for the purposes of spells like detect chaos and detect evil.

*A small home rule that I intentionally didn't report. The Drow language consists of three languages: Elvish, Abyssal, and Undercommon. Only knowledge of all three languages (I saw that some of you have it) allows you to communicate in Drow as a chaotic mix of these three languages. But after your transformation, it doesn't matter yet .)

> Do we need drow names?

Up to you .)

> The brooch we have...what slot does that take?

No slot.

> What mundane items do we have to divest ourselves of?

Everything what can betray in you are not drow. It is unlikely that a drow would even wear the clothes of light elves as a trophy. If you want to keep a medallion with a portrait of mom, let me know too! .)

Colgrim won't give up his hammer. A bridge too far

Thank you for those answers.

One more comes to mind...do we keep our elvish (or dwarvish ) racial abilities in addition to the drow? There are some slight differences.

If not apparent, Cirok is extremely confident in his abilities. He is also confident that the correct elves and dwarf were selected for this mode of mission.

Besides, he absolutely enjoys a challenge!

Cirok will stick with his name, unless proven to different from drow.

Also, I can't tell you how excited I am for this particular adventure. I have been fascinated with Drow since I initially met Jaraxle. Cirok is my Jaraxle and I get to play him as a drow in the Underdark!

Thanks!

> One more comes to mind...do we keep our elvish (or dwarvish ) racial abilities in addition to the drow? There are some slight differences.

All your abilities remain

My character sheet is updated with the new Racial features, and Soryan Dirge is ready to go!

All set

Perfectly! And so we set off on our descent into darkness!
By the way, you have never met with driders and other flashwarps before.

Requests:

Fill out the saves, AC, CMD and HP in the sidebar (I will ask you also to keep it up to date). Plus an up-to-date alignment (yours, not the one that the magic disguise shows). From the casters, I will also ask that somewhere in the charsheet there is always a clear list of prepared spells and which of them have already been spent.

Cirok's Alignment will need a DC 23 Will to view...lol.

Shades of Grey is always active. He has trust issues.

GM always rolls nat20 on his personal (non-NPC) checks! .)