Iron Gods for PF2E by DM Doctor Evil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

I've added a section for wealth on Anri's profile

I'll add the section for backstory and appearance soon, I just have a few things to do.

Ah, that's the problem, thought that a Heavy crossbow was 1 bulk... bayonet it is then! (It's from GnG, but considering it is just sticking a knife on a crossbow, it seems reasonable) There's also the fact that the Baba Yaga patron in specific describes the familiar as an "object", which is why I thought it might work RAW. Do know it doesn't benefit from Hardness, or that'd make the familiar far, far more hardy.

As for Luther, I see them as certainly alive -- akin to an intelligent item. They could be viewed as non-alive, given that it's a necromancy effect (really surprisingly) and skeletons (non-ancestry) aren't exactly alive but... for me, Luther is 100% alive just like a normal familiar, except it's a floating lute instead of a fox, cat, or mink. Unlike a normal familiar though, they presumably wouldn't have had a past as a normal animal.

1. I removed the heavy crossbow, and you are fine.

In looking at Ba'hahk's profile, it took a little detective work since Ancestry and Background are not specified, but think I got it pieced together. It appears all your things are in order, but it seems you do not have any weapons purchased (maybe that's intentional). I show you with 9.5 gp left to make such purchases if you choose to.

Please let me know what you select.

A word of advice - Pathbuilder is a free app that allows you to build and maintain your PF2 characters. you might think about checking it out and then upload or link that version for your profile. Not required, just suggested.

In looking at Ba'hahk's profile, it took a little detective work since Ancestry and Background are not specified, but think I got it pieced together. It appears all your things are in order, but it seems you do not have any weapons purchased (maybe that's intentional). I show you with 9.5 gp left to make such purchases if you choose to.

Please let me know what you select.

A word of advice - Pathbuilder is a free app that allows you to build and maintain your PF2 characters. you might think about checking it out and then upload or link that version for your profile. Not required, just suggested.

The no weapon is intended. His cantrips are all he needs for offense at the moment.

One is ranged (electric arc) and the other transforms his free hand into a claw attack

I did use PB2e. I'll give the link

Alpha-47's build is also approved. I don't see any significant issues outstanding. He does have 2gp remaining per my review, though I believe he may have given one at the Copper Coin.

It also appears Zaria is good to go. I show you with 6.6 gp, which is slightly off what you show. Close enough for me.

No worries about the familiar, got an instrument for precisely the case where I'm denied. Smnacking people with instruments is still in vogue. Used PB here as well, just add and remove stuff without using it.

Think that 1 gold has turned into a down payment toward his bar tab

It is a good time to assert that I will follow the "Rule of 2" when the party is making decisions about where to go, which door to open etc. That is, if any two characters agree on an action, then the party will move that direction or make that choice. In tabletop, you might be able to dialogue out some of those things, but in PBP it's just not time-efficient to allow for full consensus. Anyone who objects is, I suppose, capable of setting out on their own a different direction.

Alpha-47 has made a motion, it needs a second to be effected.

Just a heads-up, tried looking at the map on my phone and it did not like it and I think I may have accidentally moved it :/ I am sorry if that's the case. I normally am on my laptop

It is easy enough to restore. Thanks for the head up. I moved Anri up 50' per your instruction after resetting.

Okay, glad it was an easy fix. Thank you for the movement!

I moved but my post was eaten.

He simply double moved to get to the window

I moved but my post was eaten.

He simply double moved to get to the window

yes, but that was round 2 action. Now need Round 3 action. Did you see the spoilered text for you? without a response this evening, I will share what Ba'hahk sees with the others, and skip your turn.

I will be traveling Sunday to Friday next week. I plan to take my DMing gear along, and should be able to post, though don't be surprised if I miss a day or two along the way. Might even be able to squeeze in more than one post per day, if you are up for it.

Ran out of time tonight. I will get you moved to the temple tomorrow most likely.

Please excuse my mistake, but Joram Kyte will cast water breathing at a heightened level, and then use a magical rod in his possession to heighten it further, which gives you 24hrs of ability to breath underwater. It still cannot solve for bringing others out of the cave however.

I wonder if we have lost Anri? Haven't seen a post from him for some time now. I had been kind of waiting for everyone to make their Swim checks, but will bot for him for the time being to see if he rejoins us

Yeah not sure, looks like it has been 8 days since their last post. And they don't have any other characters or post more recently. Hopefully everything is okay. Maybe they were affected by the Hurricane and just don't have power?

I'm thinking of going otter and just double move to get to them. Not sure how far they are?

Otter has a swim speed of 30ft

It appears it would be something like 60' (or two move actions) to get up to where the others are. The position of Ba'hahk on the map is relatively accurate, so he would have to spend time casting, but then could get 30' closer. Would still need the Fortitude save when exiting the water but can forego the Swim checks in that form.

Ba'hahk, I think it is a two-round action to cast animal form so I moved you one move action towards the others.

The Recall Knowledge rules are slightly changed for Player Core, and they allow for one question to be asked (and answered) per check. So, if you make a specific knowledge check, you might as well ask the question at the same time. I understand some of what you might want to know is meta-data like saves, AC, etc, but try to phrase it as in-game terms if you can, and we will get used to it together.

I will run Anri if his player absence holds up the action.

I'll ask now: would a second instrument be able to be animated by Spirit Object? I figure I should actually use that hex eventually.

I miss read the entry. And thank you. I'll keep it in mind!

I'll ask now: would a second instrument be able to be animated by Spirit Object? I figure I should actually use that hex eventually.

I don't see why not, provided they are an object and not a living being like (ahem) some things we know.

Entry Cavern - Post-Combat Summary

Injuries/Conditions
Zaria 4/17hp
Anri 18/20 hp

Resources Used
Ba'hahk - 1 focus point (untamed form)
Zaria - 2 crossbow bolts (37 remaining)

Treasure Gained
none, though glowing glands might be of value

Experience Earned
90xp earned for this encounter. 130 out of 1000 earned towards level 2

Weird just saw that my post double posted. I don’t think I’ve ever had that happen before. Not sure what would or could have caused that

I forgot to put Alpha-47's sickened condition on the summary above, it lasts 10 minutes after getting out of the water.

I am going to leave Anri behind at the entry cave for now. If his player returns, he can catch up with the others, but you should be fine to proceed with four -- that's what this adventure was written for after all.

Karina - just a point of clarification so we can be on the same page. When you cast the hex spirit object, the frostrime familiar feature means When you Cast or Sustain a hex, you can cause ice to form in a 5-foot burst centered on a square of your familiar's space. Those squares are difficult terrain until the start of your next turn.

The spirit hex says Using a sliver of Baba Yaga’s power, you briefly bring an object to life. The object gains a means of locomotion, such as sprouting chicken legs, and Strides up to 25 feet to a space you decide within range. If you spent 2 actions Casting the Spell, the object then attacks one creature of your choice adjacent to its new space

In my reading of this, the hex, which allows the locomotion, is cast where the familiar STARTS thus where the ice effect is not where it ENDS. After the animated object moves, if you hex again (or sustain), it would ice from that location.

Let me know your thoughts about this

The viol is not the familiar, is the thing. The lute is the familiar, and we both agreed that Luther can't have Spirit Object cast on it. The Viol is primarily just, admittedly, an instrument to whack people with with Spirit Object and Telekinetic Projectile.

Luther has been in Karina's square the whole time, as she plays the thing, so the 5-foot burst is around Karina's square.

Does this make sense? I might have described it badly, hence the confusion. The intent was a 5-foot burst around Karina.

Sorry for the confusion then but the end result is the same.

My damage rolls suck

I have a potential group composition concern that I want to bring up.

If we have lost Anri, then we do not have a real front-line character.

Karina and Alpha we should want to keep back.

Zaria was designed as a ranged support sniper.

Druid is an amazing class, but expecting one to play front-line tank, even if that is what Ba'hahk wants to do, would be asking a lot.

While so far it hasn't hurt us, the Blinded status has made this fight hard, not the gap in a real front-liner, it is something that concerns me going forward, so I wanted to bring it up and see what others thought.

If we need I can change to a more proper frontliner? As that was the plan

I could always re tool as a warpriest instead of a cloistered cleric. Shield and hammer android

I could always re tool as a warpriest instead of a cloistered cleric. Shield and hammer android

Again, that would be similar to what Bahahk is. like a off-tank build

I'll let you work it out. It's hard to see how we add a character while you are in the caves, but we could always recruit a townsfolk to join you if want to add another. I was still hoping Anri returns, but it gets less likely every day.

We can resolve if you leave the caves or at level up if you wish, but for now, let's stick with what we have.

yeah, we would really just be having two off tanks at that point, which admittedly is better than 1 off tank, but doesn't totally solve our problems.

Not sure what best scenario is, was also hoping Anri would come back. Feel bad, I think I voted for them as a newbie to the boards, I remember how hard it is to get a foot in the door with pbp so I'm always trying to get new folks in.

In my own game I'm running I'd selected a brand new person for their first pbp and they flaked after like a week or so.

could also change Alpha to being a Hammer/Shield champion of Brigh. would require some slight tweaking but, gets us a front liner back. we lose some healing, but I can still be trained in Medicine as a champion.

I'd like to request a spell change if you guys change classes, to change out one of the spells known (at least) for Soothe. It isn't proper healing, but it works in a pinch.

I think we can see where things are after the caves. I just wanted to bring it up, just in case, so that we could give it thought.

Without changing who's there. We can change change class.

I'm happy to try and change my orc to a champion or a fighter

Not sure we are changing anything, but you can think about adding classes etc the next time you level up. If you really struggle we can talk about limited rebuild options, but mostly I prefer it to be go-forward changes, not go-backward.

I think this would only be a one-time event, thanks to Anri flaking.

I could swap, if we find it's needed, into a more melee-focused setup, with just a feat change and some flips of stat modifiers. As Dr. Evil said, we can make decisions down the road and see how things play out in the rescue.

Yeah, Karina only really needs changing if we lose a Cleric.

Dark River Cavern - Post-Combat Summary

Injuries/Conditions
Zaria 10/21hp
Ba'hahk 11/23 hp
Alpha-47 sickened (2 mins remaining)

Resources Used
Ba'hahk - Heal spell (zero remaining)
Zaria - 2 crossbow bolts (35 remaining)

Treasure Gained
none,

Experience Earned
60xp earned for this encounter. 190 out of 1000 earned towards level 2

I have 1 more heal spell.

I could heal myself but then there won't be any more if we get into combat

I have 1 more heal spell.

I could heal myself but then there won't be any more if we get into combat

How many did you start with? Your profiles says 2,and that's what I have also. You used one after the fire beetle fight, also to heal Zaria who was at 4hp then. And then you used one now. I think you may be out of them...