GD14 - Under the Eye of the Mantis (T3-4)

Game Master Nomadical

Welcome aboard!

Please post your token here on Slide 2 and fill in the table. The slides for this session are also linked at the top of the page and in my GM header.

As per the Organized Play Foundation Community Standards, each player must decide if they will allow their characters to be damaged by friendly fire (usually via splash damage). In keeping with the “Explore, Report, Cooperate” motto of the Pathfinder Society, engaging in non-consensual character-versus-character conflict is prohibited. While accidental friendly fire happens due to missed attack rolls or other factors, players must obtain the consent of other players before deliberately including fellow PCs in damaging effects. This rule does not apply in situations where a character is not acting of their own free will, such as if they’re being mind-controlled by an NPC and forced to attack a fellow Pathfinder.

You may select a consumable item from the Pathfinder Provisions list.

I am currently in the US for the next few months, so my posting hours will be more “normal” than usual. I typically update at least once or twice per day. As this is a Special, we do need to keep the game moving, so please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend.

Please keep all posts and communication in all channels limited to a PG-13 level and be both positive and inclusive.

Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.

If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.

Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.

Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.

And of course, I forgot the RPG Chronicles link.

Please also let me and your teammates know:

How many glyphs you have, if any, or Campaign Coins?

Any "always-on" effects like trap finder, thoughtsense, constant auras, etc.

Are you replaying this and/or have you run it?

No glyphs/campaign coins.
When raging, Mrs. Crinkle has darkvision and scent as an imprecise scent.
I've never encountered this special before.

When raging, I describe Mrs. Crinkle as growing. This is only for flavor; she remains a medium sized creature.

No glyphs or specials
Has darkvision always on.
Not afeart of a little splash.

Have not played this yet.

Note: I have done a remaster/core upgrade to Eltis for 4th level but have not updated the online info. Will do that before the game starts.

Edit: A healing potion is always a good choice for supplies...

I have three Glyphs.

I'll take a scroll of rank 2 heal as my provision.

I'm not averse to splash damage from my allies as long as it wouldn't immediately down me :)

Adelmare has Darkvision and is a centaur, so he's large sized.
As an animist, will typically have some kind of aura active during encounters. Most of his auras are there to inconvenience enemies.

Adelmare will keep his primary spirit set to Imposter in Hidden Places

I'm open to choosing either Monarch of the Fey Courts as my secondary to help nullify mooks or Custodian of Groves and Gardens if we need a more dedicated healer.

I have not run or played this one yet, but I am playing it on an upcoming weekend at a local convention in a different tier so this will be a replay by the time we finish if that makes sense?

Pathfinder Provision: lesser healing potion

Mrs. Crinkle doesn't mind splash damage at all, as long as you make sure she's patched up afterwards. She's not trained in Medicine, so can't heal herself beyond potions.

I want to apologize to everyone. It seems I accidently signed up for two instances of the special. I have removed myself from the sheet for this game. I hope this does not adversely affect this game.

Eltis is motly done online. Need to list a few more items and double check I didn't miss anything else.

Thank you for the reminder, Gameday always gets fussy.

I have 2 GM Glyphs and will offer them to the lowest level PCs so they can get another Hero Point. But it looks like all of us are level 4 right now, so...

Friendly fire is alright as long as it doesn't increase my Dying value.

I mostly play as an alias.

This is Issil's alter ego.

Thanks for the nudge.

Taking a lesser healing potion.

Friendly fire is acceptable, but don’t push it!

Also, never ran or played this.

No glyphs.

FYI: I'll be beach bound this Sunday and returning Thursday. The place promises good wifi so I will be checking in. If i'm too slow, feel free to bot me.

The trip was planned before the announcement on this online con. I hate to possibly slow things down the first week of the games but...

Most likely i'll check in 2 to 3 times a day anyway, except maybe for the travel days.

Enjoy the beach! I always do, and I too will be hitting the beaches later next week, though it shouldn't have any effect on my posting.

We should get moved to Act 1 within the next 24 hours. So can I get Adelmare and Zenari to sign in on RPG Chronicles please.

You may attempt any of the first 3 missions in any order:

The Mantis We Know [Social]

Tales of Woe [Skill Challenge]

Quite the Haul [Skill Challenge]

Dockside Brouhaha [Combat] Will become available later

Shall we get one of the skill challenges out of the way? I am good for either one.

Will check back in before we hit the road in about 2 hours or so and then won't be replying for another 5 or so.

Tales of Woe

Ah, sure. Let's second Tales of Woe.

Sure, let’s Woe

What's next?

The Mantis We Know [Social]

Quite the Haul [Skill Challenge]

Dockside Brouhaha [Combat] Will become available later

Tales of Woe [Skill Challenge] Completed.

Sounds like we're on a Skill Check spree. Let's attempt Quite the Haul.

I see a vote for Quite the Haul and a Favorite by Mitch. I'll take that as a Second, and start that one shortly.

Apologies for the radio silence. My schedule's been unpredictable.

...five undamaged bottles of the minor elixir of life. Another crate holds ten bottles, five of which are holy water and the others are moderate alchemist’s fires.

There are five each of minor elixir of life, holy water, and moderate alchemist's fire. There are six of us. Who wants/doesn't want what?

Mrs. Crinkle will take a minor elixir of life and would prefer an alchemist's fire too.

I will skip the elixir of life.

Eltis can skip the holy water. He has a spell or two that will affect most things holy water harms.

Although I have to say the foreshadowing of these items is ominous...

--Reports indicate that Sotroz has unusual power over undead, and even some of the living. What do you know of the nature of this power and how it manifests?

--What do you know of Khione Thidos: how he was captured, where and how he's being held, how he's been treated? (Pathfinder captured by Red Mantis Dispatch)
--What types of threats (besides the obvious) should we expect on (and approaching) the Island of Claimed Souls?
--What do you know about the "ill wind" that haunts the island and gives Sotroz his powers?
--The reports say undead roam the streets and only attack outsiders. What's the best way to disguise ourselves as locals?
--Feel free to ask your own!

I like questions 1, 3, 4

Adelmare can't use Alchemist Fire, but would like a holy water as he's more limited in specific anti-undead stuff.

I like the idea of asking about Khione and expected threats (especially what kind of undead we might be up against)

1 What do you know of Khione Thidos: how he was captured, where and how he's being held, how he's been treated? (Pathfinder captured by Red Mantis Dispatch)
3 What do you know about the "ill wind" that haunts the island and gives Sotroz his powers?
4 The reports say undead roam the streets and only attack outsiders. What's the best way to disguise ourselves as locals?

These are my top questions.

Looks like there's a consensus, but who's asking? I don't want to just throw answers into the thread. (And you know, you could still ask about Her + Eando...)

I've got 4 glyphs so between Issil and myself, everyone should start with two Hero Points.

Slides and RPG Chronicles updated.

Psst! You didn’t move your mini, Mrs. C

Ooops! Fixed. She's attacking Green.

Thanks everyone for getting us ready for the fight. You are correct, phaeton, everyone should have 2 hero points, and I just hadn't updated my slide. Done.

Also, in case anyone happened to notice, it might appear that I didn't add the correct modifier to Zenari's Initiative roll. I had it in there, and the order reflects the correct result, but somehow it got deleted between previewing and updating for scouting.

Lastly, Mrs. Crinkle, your profile says you have Deny Advantage. How? I don't see that as a Barbarian feat or class feature. It didn't matter in this round so I won't have to retcon anything, but still curious.

Ah! Looks like that's a holdover from Remastering. I've deleted it, as barbarians no longer get that at 3rd level.

That's all there is in Act 1. We're waiting on the House GM to move us to Act 2.

Between Acts 1 and 2, the PCs get the benefit of a 1-hour rest while their ship unloads. Feel free to heal up, Refocus, roleplay, etc.

The dockworkers have given you all the information they have, so no questioning them further.

Once the House opens Act 2, there will be an option to pick 1 of 2 initial encounters. Either Social or Combat.

Combat for Crinkle!

Even is Combat: 1d2 ⇒ 1

The Carnelian Signet votes for a Social encounter.

While Eltis would normally go for a more diplomatic mission, he would not refuse Granny-Wolf her fun. :)

I’m not much for socials, but I abstain.

Adelemare would likely be more of a detriment than an boon in a social encounter, so my vote would be for combat between the two.

3 for Combat, 1 Social, 1 abstaining. 1 yet to vote, but it won't change the outcome.

I'll show you the picture of the "half-elf in the snooty glasses" from the Social encounter after the combat is over for your own edification.

Shalosar wrote:

”What kind of glasses are snooty-looking?”

"The kind that sit at the end of your nose, dearie. I knew a young 'un named Chuck Shoe-mer who wore his glasses like that, then he'd look over them like he was chiding everyone he saw. It sure was a silly look! --Thank you, dearie. That feels much better! Heehee!"

Mrs. Crinkle is back up to full HP.

I don't think we've ever played F2F together, have we Warah? Cause otherwise how did you know that's how I wear my readers? Calling the GM silly looking can't possibly have negative repercussions.... (jk!)

Ooops! Sorry! ;) ... I've recently started playing F2F at my friendly local game store, but no one there wears their glasses like that.

Hey folks, just to keep you in the loop, it doesn't look like Act 2 will start until the 22nd. Just FYI. Based on the current votes, we'll go straight into the combat mission as soon as I can get it posted.

Wahoo!

OOPS! I'm so sorry, Zenari. I didn't mark you bold, but obviously, you know you can act.

We were on our way to a money-lending house to speak to the Curator, someone who opposes the Dispatch. Should we plan to continue there, or go check out this inn (if we have time)?

There are a lot of times in this scenario where missions are alluded to but not available. So for now, we’ll have to go to the money-lending house until the inn missions open.

Also, I keep forgetting the limitation on Treat Wounds. Can I try to heal the signet, or do I need to wait an hour?[/ooc]

You actually have 10 minutes between these two missions, so only 1 Treat Wounds on the Signet for now. This next encounter is a social with no set time, so if The Carnelian Signet has a pearly white aeon stone, we’ll call it good.

Give me a few minutes to prep up the post for “An Old Acquaintance.”

“Wesley Wyndham-Price, rogue finance agent”

No pearly white spindle on me. Hopefully we have some more downtime after talking to The Curator.

Or chug a potion on the way out the door.

Eltis walks up to Mrs. Crinkle, looks at her remaining wounds and offers her a minor potion of healing to get her close to fully healed.

Mrs. Crinkle didn't take any damage, but the Carnelian Signet is down 21 HP.