Rising Shadows: Moonshae Isles (5e)

Game Master Donnell "The Fox"

I'd like to play the goblin cleric, but I think I'll have to rebuild him from scratch using the Remastered stuff. (None of our local shops carry the Remaster books -- I've ordered the Player Core online but we're in the middle of a postal strike, so who know when it will arrive.)

Anyway, depending when you want to start, I'll either rebuild him with the resources online or I'll play the Thief character, which will be easier to revise, I think.

Paizo does have the pdf and Neyths also has the rules.

yeah
Mostly, I'm having a hard time figuring out if it's better to just start over. I can't really tell what's changed in the Remaster.

tbh, I just haven't had time to look through it. Work's been a lot and I've just been assigned extra projects that are going to chew up all of my free time between now and the New Year (I might just send them back -- I lost most of my summer to these people and I told them I wasn't doing it again)

clerics now get 4 heal or harm spells, based on their font, not based on their charisma. Gods now can offer the ability to become sanctified which means that your spells might deal more damage to fiends or other extra planar things. I do not recall is Cayden does offer that.

If you get a chance, check Pathbuilder, at least to put the character together. You put it together step-by-step and has general explanations. It is free to try and could help you to see how different builds work. They are already updated with the remastered and even the Tian Xia Players Guide!

(I have made a Peachboy Leshy Monk and love him so much!)

Oh right -- cool
I have used Pathbuilder before, but I wasn't sure if they'd updated it with the Remastered content.

Their updating schedule is on point! Usually within a week or two, they are up and running!

I think that there is an option in Pathbuilder to do Remastered options. I have never really used it so they might not tell you what options are PFS legal or at what level you can take something.

If anyone is interested in the Knights of Last Wall organization

https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Knights_of_Lastwall

I'm definitely thinking Gunslinger or Fighter, or maybe even a Bard depending on how difficult. I've read through the brief description of each following the links you posted earlier, but haven't tried to build anything yet because too busy (December is supposed to be the relaxing month!!?). Would we be inviting in others? When are you thinking of starting?

I was hoping to begin in about a week or two, at least with the preliminary stuff. I have another player or 2 from another game I am in that have expressed interest.

Gunslingers can be really fun, I have a pistolero based off Billy the Kid, you know, being from New Mexico and all/

Healing in PF2E can also be done with medicine checks that can help healing in and out of combat so people with the medicine skill and a healer's kit can help to heal people.

I may rebuild Ebiten before I play him at 2nd level the first time. He is currently a human magus, but I am looking to reconfigure him to a peachboy leshy monk... He will be a Field Medic, so will have access to Battle Medicine for combat and Treat Wounds for out of combat.

It will not be guaranteed, so hopefully we have a backup. Clerics are a good pool of healing, but also have a good bit of everything else too, depending on the build.

Clerics are very good healers. I have a 1st level oracle that I have to try out, but I do not think that even a life oracle is as good. I think that an angelic blooded sorcerer might be a good healer as well with their focus spells.

Okay, I had a bit of time tonight and it looks like Long-Leg Greg (Versatile Human, Thief) is exactly the same in Remaster (aside from removing alignment and a couple of wording changes).

I'll have to relearn how to play PF2, but at least I have a character!

Hooray!

Also, I think I've finally figured out what's going on with the PFS Chronicle Sheets. Since Greg has played in two low-tier games, he gained 8 XP and 28 gp. There's also 8 reputation with Envoy's Alliance, though I'm not sure how that's used / applied just yet.

Anyway, I think that means he's just 4 XP away from level 2!

Were those 2 games reported? Rwputation help you get different things IIRC

Were those 2 games reported? Rwputation help you get different things IIRC

I'm not sure how "reported" works -- I have chronicle sheets for them both and they are both in RPG Chronicles, but it looks like only one of them shows up in Paizo. I've spoken with the GM to see if the other can be pushed through, so we'll see.

I'm happy to just ignore all this until it gets sorted, or to just create a new character if you think this is going to be too messy.

We may have a magus and a wizard joining from another group I play with.

Jacka-Lope wrote:

Were those 2 games reported? Rwputation help you get different things IIRC

I'm not sure how "reported" works -- I have chronicle sheets for them both and they are both in RPG Chronicles, but it looks like only one of them shows up in Paizo. I've spoken with the GM to see if the other can be pushed through, so we'll see.

I'm happy to just ignore all this until it gets sorted, or to just create a new character if you think this is going to be too messy.

That is up to you.

Is Jaylen interested in playing?

Does it show on your Organized Play at Paizo.com? It might just not have been marked reported on Chronicles...

Yeah, I think that's the issue -- I have two sheets on Chronicles but only one in Paizo. I've contacted the GM, but I know he's busy (he was running a local PFS group until about 3 months ago, when he had to take a step back). Anyway, hopefully he can fix that, and if not I guess I'll knock Greg to 4XP.

I haven't played with them a lot, but I think the local PFS group isn't as concerned about proper reporting, as long as you have your chronicle sheets with you. Or, at least, they were less so in the past -- I think they've become more diligent lately.

Hope you get it straightened out!

Jaylen said to me at least he's out for the new one. I have had unusually busy days lately, normally work is slow now, so I've had no time to make a new character. If you need to start without me, apologies, but I don't think I'll have time until at least the weekend, as you said you're close to starting. Just, I think with each new day okay, back to the normal slow, and it just. gets. BUSIER. Gah!

However, I'm still thankful for my job :-D

I am okay if we wait for Braith and Jaylen to catch up with life.

Sorry, this is very long, but I wasn't sure if people were keeping track as we went along, and I needed to compile this for my own notes anyway.

Moonshae Treasure Hunt (BMG-MOON-1-1)

Loot
Magic
Warhammer +1 named “Spellbook” (from Witwulf’s grave in Blodvahrer)
Amulet of Health (19 CON) (silver locket from a goblin near Highrock)
Blunderbuss +1 (from the pirate, Boris Blutovich)
Rod of the Pact Keeper +1 (from Bulak, hobgoblin lieutenant)
Gem of Wrath: As a Bonus Action, enter into a wrathful state, 2/day. Grants advantage on attacks and WIS saves for 1 minute (transformed Goblinwrath, from Bulak)

My plan here was to have these items gradually increase in power/abilities as the campaign continued, but I didn’t have a clear path for that.

6 1 potion of healing
1 potion of climbing
1 potion water breathing
1 potion of advantage

Spellbook (from Ferdeth, 1st mate of pirate ship): (C) Fire Bolt, Mending, Prestidigitation; (1) Burning Hands, Detect Magic, Shield

Mundane Gear
Breastplate

Cash and Gems
2,100 cp
1,400 sp
280 gp
7 gems worth 50 gp each (total: 350 gp)
Bag of small gems (100 gp value)
Silver picture frame (5sp)

Important NPCs Encountered
Sister Barley, prophetess and druid of the Earthmother
Poppie Logan, Captain of the Shantu
Gulli Gormsson and Yrsa Gormsdottir, 15yo twins, probably sorcerers; and Gorm, their father, Initiate of the Flame (Olafstaad)
Winnow, clan Rustfire (Highrock)
Boris Blutovich, pirate captain of the Devil’s Regret (secret pirate island)
Antola Pilark, Great Druid of Alaron (Lehigh)

Plot Hooks
- Clan Rustfire in Highrock is making plans to drive the orcs and goblins out of the Fairheight mountains, and plan to eventually clear their way through the Tunnels of Dwarvenholm and reclaim the isle of Gwynneth.

- A silver-framed drawing of a Ffolk woman with the inscription “Dearest Sandra Taggard, Lily of Moray.” Found aboard the pirate ship.

- There’s a war against evil fey in Dernall Forest. Where did Goblinwrath come from? Did someone give it to Bulak?

Story Awards
- Witwulf’s “Spellbook”: You have retrieved the spellbook of Bronal Witwulf. The spellbook turned out to be an iron warhammer with an inscription that reads, “My Spellbook.” From the archives in Blodvahrer, you have learned that Bronal Witwulf was an adventurer infamous for acts of extreme strength and equally extreme lack of judgement. For a short time, his name featured prominently in the cautionary tales off Gnarhelm, but his fame has completely faded.

- Twin Destinies: While visiting the town of Bloodvahrer you came across a pair of twins, Yrsa and Gulli, who have arcane abilities. Blodvahrer is not a hospitable place for arcane casters at this time, and when the twins approached you for help in leaving town, you gave it. Traveling with the twins, even if for a short while has shown you that their powers are quickly growing in strength, but that unfortunately their control of them is not growing at an equal speed. It did however give you the chance to witness an actual rain of frogs. The twins left your company in Olafstaad to be reunited with their father who has joined a group called the Initiates of Flame. What the future holds for these two is anyone’s guess.

- Friends of Rustfire Clan: Friend of the Rustfire Clan. You have assisted Winnow Rustfire on her mission to attain a red pearl. She now considers you a trusted friend. This story award may come into play in future Moonshae adventures from Baldman Games, particularly CCC-BMG-MOON3-1, 3-2, and 3-3.

- A Debt Owed in Silver: You defeated Captain Bluto, and now he and the pirates of Silver’s Blade seek you out for revenge.

- A Dark Gem: You have recovered a mysterious gem named Goblinwrath for the Great Druid Antola Pilark. This gem carried with it an enchantment that caused goblins to become ferocious and feral while being biddable by the bearer. The origins of the gem are unknown, but Antola intends to find out and may call upon you to help her.

Going forward
I don’t have time to continue with this right now, but for anyone who’s willing, I purchased a bunch of the subsequent modules that I can send to you. We’ve just played Moon 1-1, and I also have 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3.
Unfortunately, I bought them in numbered order without knowing that they don’t necessarily connect that way. More information about this campaign and how the various modules connect can be found at Moonshae Rising Shadows Story Paths.

Toki would be up for it... Do we level to 3? ^_^

Oh yes!
I forgot about that -- yes, you definitely gain a level after all that :)

Yay! Shall we upgrade to 2024 rules?

Uhh... good question.

The change to the rules is one reason why I don't think that I'll be able to carry on with this campaign (in addition to just being completely buried by work and life stuff) -- I haven't been able to keep up with the rule changes, and I don't have it in me to buy another book from WotC. I mean, I haven't in a while, which is why I wanted to keep this game to the "PHB + 1" rule from AL (which I thought was a good compromise), but that didn't really work out in this game either.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that if someone else wants to run with this, that would be great. I might be able to pull my head out long enough to even make a PC, but I don't think I can keep going as a DM -- it's just a bit too overwhelming for me at the moment.

Ah, yeah, I was luck and a friend from Twitter (before I left) invited a bunch of his followers to his D&D Beyond Campaign, so it was shared with us...

However, I would be going in as a Champion, which means most of my stuff would be in the Free Rules. ^_^

But I totally understand. I refuse to purchase the new book, and I would rather play PF2e or Draw Steel...

I could totally build Toki in PF2e...

Oh, RE: the treasure, I guess I should mention that this was not an AL adventure, so this is meant to be split among the 4 or 5 of you (depending whether you plan to give Gideon a share).

(I mention bc in AL, if your party gets, say a +1 dagger, then everyone gets a +1 dagger -- hopefully there's at least one magic item that appeals to each of you)

Toki is happy to take the spellbook! ^_^

Well, another crazy busy week. Had electricians install stuff in the house (I work from home), lotsa work, life, ugh. Whew.

So, huzzah, we leveled and defeated one bad guy and didn't all die and that was a very comprehensive and awesome summary.

I think Braith would benefit from the Amulet or the Gem. How DO we want to split the treasure?

And...heading into another busy weekend. At least I'm finally caught up to what I needed to have done last weekend X-p

So what do you all think about starting the PFS game? How does the week after Christmas sound? New Years? Which would sound more likely for everyone to have time free up?

So the people in the group have created a barbarian, let me double check the totem, a dwarven warpriest and another player is waiting to hear what the party might need.

As is stands, I am just checking, the party is made up of
Long Leg Greg, human thief
Ebiten, leshy monk
Dwarven warpriest
Human barbarian

Possible gunslinger
no word from Jayln, as far as I can tell of what character concept, or interest.

I will be on Christmas holiday starting next Friday for about 2 weeks so I would like to start during that time, at least with initial stuff before the craziness of the new semester starts.

The barbarian is a spirit totem.

Also, I'm happy to pivot to my cleric character, if that's going to be a better fit for the group. I haven't played him before, but I think I've managed to update to Remaster rules.

No problem for me to start any time. I'll be on holiday for two weeks starting next week, but we aren't going anywhere and have few plans this year for the holidays.

I think Braith would benefit from the Amulet or the Gem. How DO we want to split the treasure?

My recommendation is that you each take one magic item and one potion, then divide the cash by 4.

We have a dwarven warpriest of Torag

I believe that Braith mentioned that Jaylen was out for now, due to being extremely busy during the holiday season.