Alec Ritous's page

My life's become too crazy to start another campaign, so go ahead and count me out. Hope everyone else has fun. :-)

I have a precognitive 'danger sense' like Spider-Man (aka a ridiculously-high Initiative) and fight with a rapier. Personality-wise, I'm excitable and not too bright but have a real heart for the downtrodden. I also have a glowing Clockwork Spy companion. :-)

Build: Diviner (foresight) 1 / Swashbuckler (mysterious avenger) 4 / Champion 1

I'll need to rebuild, but here's the chassis. :-)

"You all know I'm not the one to be asking, either. I'm getting the sense that subtlety will be more useful this time."

"Uh ... sorry about that ... Who's up for an adventure!"

Ah, the trials of Sir Speedy. RL is conspiring to make him late for everything, but I kind of like the irony. ;-) I just need to update gear, and I'll be ready to go.

Alec wakes up from a very refreshing dream about eating a huge marshmallow. that's odd ... I could have sworn I had a pillow earlier ... When he goes downstairs, breakfast is long over, but he's not very hungry, so that doesn't matter. Quickly realizing that he's alone, he rushes to the market, buys a few necessities, and takes off running to catch up. "I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date! No time to say 'hello, goodbye', I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!"

I HAVE INTERNET AGAIN!!! It'll take me some time to update myself on all my campaigns, but I plan to begin meaningful gameplay posts tomorrow. :-)

"A quest? This sounds like a job for ... ... Andoran's Sir Speedy! " There's a *whoosh* as the unassuming Ifrit ducks into a shadowy corner and reappears in Blue-and-White spandex. "FOR FREEEEEDOOOOM!!!!!!!!" He rushes out the door in a blur of motion. Several seconds later, he slowly walks back into the tavern sheepishly. "Um... Where exactly are we supposed to go?"

Moving turned into a massive disaster, but it's been sorted out. If all goes well, I'll have reliable internet again starting Saturday afternoon. Sorry for the silence.

Alec continues to sit quietly and watch. His companions don't seem to need Sir Speedy right now, and it's best for mild-mannered Alec Ritous to maintain his cover.

Sorry about the silence; moving's turned into a huge nightmare, and my wife and I are unexpectedly homeless for the next few days until our lease gets approved. Our "meet Gandalf in Bree" adventure's turned into a "throw the Ring into Mount Doom" epic journey. :-(

Sorry about the silence, everyone. My wife and I are moving to the Orlando/Winter Park area in approximately 36hrs, so we're doing the frenzied last-minute box-packing thing. Expect me to be out for at least a couple more days until I can get partially moved-in/internet set up.

Unrelated question: we currently have a mix of standard, gestalt, psionic, and monstrous races. How are encounters going to be done? I'm a bit worried about the less-complex PCs becoming irrelevant compared to the more powerful builds. For example, while gestalt is technically a +1 level adjustment (approximately), when the classes synergize well, the power level jumps exponentially. I've seen Monk//Druids that can solo APL+5 encounters with ease.

Alec grins slightly and waves at Eoko's entrance. "Sounds like you've been keeping yourself busy." Once his food arrives, he'll move over to his companion's table.

I just noticed that Eoko's gestalt. Were we all supposed to do that? If so, I'd love to add some (probably) Magus levels. :-)

The solitary Ifrit smiles at the waitress. "Evening, fair maiden! I'll have a tankard of ale and some stew, if you please."

Here's my avatar. Still need to assign gear and spells, but the crunchy bits are ready.

Sorry about the reduced posting lately. I'm trying to get more structure in my life and am severely cutting back on my computer time. I have no intention of going away, but I'll usually only be able to post once or twice a day - generally in the evening before bed. Just giving everyone a heads-up so you don't think I'm quitting on you - I'm still in it for the duration. :-)

Survival (aid other): 1d20 ⇒ 8
Survival (aid other): 1d20 ⇒ 4
Survival (aid other): 1d20 ⇒ 6

Quick search before fleeing. Basically taking whatever time Siri used to search her body to check as many people as possible.

Alec assists Alaria in searching the cook but keeps most of his attention on the sounds of approaching guests.

Aid Other (perception): 1d20 ⇒ 13

"We need to get out of here - and fast. Don't worry about hiding the bodies, their presence should delay pursuers momentarily and may cause them to call for backup - giving us more time. I like the sewer play. Beldrek, has anything changed outside?"

Sorry about the delay, everyone. The wife's been super sick, so gaming's had to take a backseat. Hopefully she'll be back in the saddle tomorrow, but until she's better, I won't be on much at all.

Alec moves up to flank with his assassin partner and pokes at the cook's helper with his wand.

Melee Touch: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 17 flanking+haste
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + (1, 2) = 7 electricity+sneak attack

Alec strikes again with his wand at his opponent.

Melee Touch: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 20 (haste + flank)
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + (4, 4) = 9 (electricity + sneak attack)

(Attacking the Duergar - unless Muhoro took her down. In that case, Alec will move to flank with Zayva and attack one of the servants.

Alec growls as the Duergar strikes his assassin partner and lashes out again with his wand.

Melee Touch: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 28 (flanking + haste)
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + (6, 5) = 13 (electric + precision damage)

Initiative: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 LOL!

When his turn comes
Alec draws his sword (and wand) as he moves to flank with Siri. eliminate the biggest threat first....

Wand Touch Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 15 (haste + flank)
Damage: 1d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + (1, 4) = 9 (sneak attack + electricity damage)

Oh. Disregard my post then. It'll take me a little bit to get back into the swing of things. :-)

As the others leave, Alec waits for several minutes to make sure their exit hasn't been noticed. Hearing nothing, he creeps to the door immediately to the right of the storeroom, peers through the keyhole, and is just pressing his ear against the door to listen when an alarm goes off upstairs. Grimacing to himself, he darts back into the storeroom.

Yeah, we're definitely doing the dungeon crawl thing. :-) Gameplay post is coming...

About how much time has everything taken? Just figuring out how much exploring we were able to get done before the alarm went off. :-)

Okay, so lots of gameplay stuff since we've been gone. Looks like there was a combat, and now alarms are going off? Last thing Alaria and I had said was that we were waiting in the storeroom for a little bit, so what do we know? Was the fighting on our floor? I'd been planning to head to the right and check out the four doors and the rightmost hallway.

tl;dr: The post volume's left me a bit confused about what's going on and how it affects the 2-person assassin group. :-)

Back in town and ready to roll! Taking the rest of tonight (and maybe tomorrow) to relax but then will be back in earnest. :-)

FYI: the anxiously-awaited Whack/Katsune wedding is tomorrow. We'll then be honeymooning, so no contact with the outside world for several days. In other words, we'll be AFK until probably the 10th. Feel free to GMPC us as needed. :-)

Happy New Year!

As the others leave the storeroom, Alec waits inside. After several minutes of silence, he'll proceed.

Same here. I'll post something tomorrow.

"I vote for splitting into two groups. One goes the overt route and spreads chaos. This will draw attention away from the second, stealthy group that will do the actual sabotage."

Alec takes a minute to consider some options. "Disguises would come in handy, methinks. If we captured some slaves, we could get information and whatever this House uses for identification. Should make things easier for the less stealthy of us. Since it's essentially the six of us against the entire House, I think we should take this slowly and carefully so we don't get overwhelmed by guards."

Taking advantage of the distraction, Alec again whispers "Chaon" and shoots up to the window.

Alec mumbles a few words under his breath, and a foul odor begins to waft up between him and the sniffing. He quickly begins to retreat back toward the sewer grate.

Casting prestidigitation between me and the guards. Move action to head toward the sewer grate. Hopefully it'll briefly distract the searchers and disrupt the animals' scent ability for a moment to buy me some time. Should I reroll Stealth or use my previous roll?

Can I see the guards?

Alec whispers the command word "Chaon" as Alaria disappears. Then he ducks quickly behind cover.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Not sure if I made it to the upper room or not, but I'm hiding regardless. If guards get too close, I'll cast vanish to turn invisible for one round as I move to a better spot.

Waiting for an opportune moment, Alec whispers "Chaon" to extend the ring and zips to the open window up above.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Damn

Grumbling to himself about his unsubtle partners, Alec prepares to ascend the ladder after Beldrek.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

The greater mission against House Kashi requires "a more subtle approach," so that's what I've been operating with. Plus, I'm a stealthy assassin-type. :-)

Once we get a little breathing space, we should discuss a better plan of attack. Up to now, we've basically been winging it. We have a healer, a few melee beatsticks, a diplomancer, and a couple stealthies. Plus lots of skills amongst us. We can be really versatile, but we're going to need a more formal party plan, in my opinion.

Alec sighs, calculating how to make the best of this unideal situation. "Well, he's giving us a valuable distraction. Who wants to come up the other hatch? With luck, he'll draw off some of the guards and buy us some time. After all, this was supposed to be a subtle job, and a lone Tiefling slave is much easier to excuse. If all of us rush up with him, we'll just make our objective more difficult."

Sorry, Muhoro. True Neutral's a b!!+*, sometimes. ;-)

Alec grimaces as Muhoro rushes out of the sewer. what happened to this being a stealthy, subtle assignment? ... amateurs...

Drawing his sword, he pauses to see what his companions do.
Alaria will most likely be waiting with me.

Alec freezes as the rusty metal squeals and pauses to listen.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Alec gently returns the grate to its original, closed position and drops back to the sewer. "This leads to the main courtyard. It's fairly hidden but within view of the guards. And there are guards - both on the walls and ground-level in the courtyard. We'd have some statues and benches for cover, but that's about it. Let me check the other hatch before you start jumping into action; information-gathering's the most important part of an assignment."

Without waiting for a response, he heads to the second hatch and repeats the open/pop his head out/look around process.

Disable Device Take10 gives me a 26 (28 with Alaria's assist).
Acrobatics (to jump the gap if needed): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Alec quietly sticks his head up and looks around.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Alec carefully checks out the closest hatch - focusing on the hinges.

Take10 gives me a Disable Device 26 (28 with Alaria's assist). If that doesn't work, he'll check out the far hatch.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 if Take10 on the jump isn't allowed

"So, it's basically a magic lock? What if we approached the problem from the other side. Take out the hinges, and the hatch should open, right?"

It looks like the spell increases the open DC, so Disable Device would still work, right?

"Agreed. Subtlety's important for this kind of assignment, so we definitely don't want to walk up and knock on their front door. Sneaking in from underneath is a much better option."

FYI: Alaria's super busy with finals and will be pretty much unavailable for the next two weeks. Feel free to GMPC her as needed.