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Was just catching up with things in these parts and saw there's been almost 1400 game posts since I left. TreasureFox, you are indeed a treasure of a DM. Each of you still holds a place in my heart and I WILL be spending some time catching up with these old friends, reading about their adventures after my departure.
I've been struggling with these questions over the last few months myself, and I'm sure it's been evident. I really like the things you do as a gm, putting your own touches on everything. I enjoy the other players. I like Andreste as a character. And yet, I seem to have more and more trouble getting myself motivated to log into the gameplay thread and do something. Looking over my past histories with play-by-posts games, I know the holidays can be struggling time for me- I always get busier with work and family during this time and that certainly plays into it a bit. But that's not really what's keeping me from posting (slowing it down, maybe), and I'm honestly not sure what is. Although I've moved away from first edition for the most part, I don't think this is it either. You guys are worth playing in any system with, and it's not like I dislike PF1, I just like PF2 more. I used to have more stamina and energy for play-by posts, but I don't think it's in me any more to participate in a long-term pbp game. It would be fairer to you all for me to withdraw from the game. I believe there is a potential route wherein if cured of the disease Andreste is suffering from, she reflects on her path and decides that she should take the two babies and raise them on her own. There is a definite appeal towards that end for her and the rescue of the other orphans seems to place an unwieldy burden on the church folk and lessen the odds of the kids seeing a decent home. In any case, I want to thank you all for inviting me in and letting me get to know your stories and be a part of them. And I especially want to thank you TreasureFox for the original invitation and for being an understanding and stand-up gm. Next few rounds of coffee are on me.
"Meanwhile, I'll see what I can find out about what all that was and if we can find an effective way to deal with it." Andreste offers, mostly out of the habit of seeking the splice of books whenever she was at a loss to do. Arcana
"As good a cause as any," Andreste says, her brow furrowing. She shapes her hands in front of her, tugging at the fabric of the curse as she intones words simultaneously lilting and fervent.
Andreste agree, and sees it's going to be a running fight. She defensively casts haste to give everyone some exra speed on the retreat, then backs off. Concentration
Acrobatics Andreste stands and then moves carefully out of the blood. In front of Furnok's southern Square, leaving room for Wabbit.
"I\m afraid not." Andreste says, her voice crackling like extremely dry wood thrown on a fire. "But I'll see what I can do to make keep him from being as dangerous." Andreste cast slow (DC 20) on the vampire. She tries a bit more into the room afterwars, but slips and falls prone. Acrobatics
Andreste bursts into flames, growing smaller as she does so, then moves forward with amazing speed.
"Energy will take them down, especially holy and fire energy." Andreste offers. "I have only a bit of that to spare, unfortunately." She lets loose her controlled fireball, aiming it so it only envelops the back of the room, the mummies, and unfortunately, Wabbit to some degree. Fortunately, it does minimal damage, if any to Wabbit. fire damage to the mummies DC 20 Reflex half
Andreste launches a bolt at the leftmost creature. for piercing damage. She tries to recall any weaknesses of these creatures she or her fellows could exploit. Arcane
+1 dwarven giant-sticker but misses badly.
"Focus your attacks on the healer." She suggests. She casts telekinetic volley and misses with the first bolt.
Andreste finishes off making Furnok bigger, then moves forward and lets fly with some arcane bolts. Magic Missile split between the skeletons.
Andreste says "We should be prepared for anything. I'm going to improve my agility now. Let's proceed with caution."
Arcana
She examines the statue. "While I may not be able to re-consecrate this statue, I believe my stone shaping magic may be able to repair some of these deformities."
Will save "Right, Illusions, conjured to confuse us and waist our resources." nevertheless, she draws her giant-sticker in case a real enemy appears.
I'll try to sort through and fix my list of prepared spells for the next day tomorrow.
"Yes... better preparations against these magics are warranted." Andreste agrees, sharing what she knows about the curses and dangers she see from the doorway.
Arcana
"Someone has gone to great lengths to turn this place from the light it once represented." Andreste observes.
"Sounds good to me." Andreste says. She is suitably impressed with her companions' generosity and thinks on ways she can make sure to match it.
"Agreed. This place seems to hold more dangers than merely gangsters. I say we concentrate on getting them through the rest of the night safely and then depart. We can return after getting proper rest ourselves, if need be. "
If I can seal the Derro away from us, I'll do that. Furnok can always bust through if needed. Andreste doesn't see much point to this fight.
Andreste touches the floor and speaks arcane words while shaping a bit of clay to cast a stone shape spell, making a 30 ft by 6 ft by 2 inch semi-circle wall around the party to separate the Derro from the party and provide shelter.
Andreste casts telekinetic volley, lifting nearly a dozen bolts from he quiver and sending one of them hurling at the derro who attacked her. Telekinetic Volley for piercing damage.
Andreste moves forward to get a better view and then unleashes a controlled fireball to engulf as many of the creatures as she can. If she would get more than one extra enemy in the blast by including an ally (at least a two-to -one ratio), she will reluctantly and apologetically do so; if she can get a bunch without including an ally in the blast, so much the better. 20ft Radius burst (40 ft diameter)
K Eng Andreste examines the trap, but doesn't have a better guess than a spring loaded contraption with a pressure plate or trip wire. She offers these suggestions, but feels its better to leave it to the designated trap expert. "If you need me to, I can manipulate small objects from this range with magic." she offers to Janis.
Perception
Andreste lights several flammable items like torches on fire, motioning to suggest spreading out. Her motions aren't incredibly useful, apparently.
Andreste moves to the one near Janis, hoping they are vulnerable to her firey form ans she slams an appendage toward the shadow. Slam for fire plus burn (DC 12 1d4 fire/round for 1d4 rounds)
"Right" Andreste says, bursting into a pillar of flame.
Andreste studies the braziers and adjusts the temperature to a bit warmer. She then spends a good ten minutes or so studying the functionality to make sure she has a good understanding of its origin and inner workings. Use Magic Device
"The Thassilonians were really clever in their designs." she remarks, mostly to herself. Andreste opts to get some rest over providing watch, finding herself more in need of a full night's sleep since surrendering her ring to the devil.
I'm tempted to go with architecture since there are still so many living examples of it to study, but I think magical traditions are much more in keeping with her studies, so I'll go with that.
Andreste ponders briefly. Knowledge (engineering)
"Unfortunately, my studies did not include this General Azarya. I would suppose the talisman you pressed to the door may have once belonged to the general, however. Keep it close in case there are any magic guardians that may submit to its presence."
"The mark is the Sihedron, a symbol of rule in ancient Thassilon. It is commonly found in the ruins of that ancient civilization." Andreste explains. "Based on the seven principle virtues of wise rule, the Sihedron symbolized the union of the Seven Kingdoms of the Empire of Thassilon. When Thassilon's founder, Xin, dies, the kingdoms became fractured and warred with each other, and the Sihedron symbol was likewise corrupted into a symbol of the seven deadly sins by which the Kingdoms's masters and mistresses both ruled and became ruled by." Andreste notes the sizes. "While the neclace may indeed serve as a key, what lies beyond such doors is often monstrous and ancient, so be on your guard if we are to open any such portal."
"Remind me to help you identify those once we're out of danger." speaking quietly, Andreste tries the door handle.
"Yes, we should."Andreste agrees. She re-grips her weapon and heads south.
Andreste leans on the door, keeping her voice soft and steady, trying to be a calming influence. Through the door, she says "We're not here to hurt you kids. I can tell you're older and wiser than the ones downstairs, so you're wary of strangers. All in all, that's not a bad thing. I don't have to tell you, life can be rough." She places a hand on the door handle "But what you should know is, we came to help you out of this place, to escape what you've had to do, and to help you become who you can become. I grew up on the streets of Old Korvosa, in a place not unlike this Irespan's Shadow. Only difference, really, was my sun was blocked by smoke and river fog, rather than a giant bridge straight out of the past. I'm going to open the door, now, and I want you to see we mean you no harm, so I'm putting down my weapon, ok?" And she tries the handle.
Andreste Listens at the door, to see if she can hear any hushed conversations or movement beyond. Perception
Andreste continues up the stairs.
Andreste decides to take advantage of the big man's accidental self-poisoning, moves closer, and attempts to hit him again with a telekinetic fist assault. touch attack for bludgeoning damage
Andreste casts blink on herself and moves into the room.
Andreste says ""Gentlemen, take some time to consider your next actions carefully. They could mean the difference between life and death." She casts slow (DC 20 Will) on the Varisian and the old man and draws her giant-sticker.
Andreste looks about, trying to determine the best stealthy form to explore such a space with, holding off on a ny decisions while Cleo talks to the kinds.
Woot! Glad he failed that save.
Andreste moves closer and cast a spell in the hopes of keeping the guard from sounding an alert.
"Pretty sure I'd rather pull my teeth out with my bare hands than willingly involve the Hellknights in any part of my life." Andreste frowns at Janis' suggestion.
Andreste is happy to share her spells; looks like she'll get 4 "free" 3rd level spells for trading her 2nd and 3rd level spells and 3 "free" 4th level spells for trading her 4th level spells. In addition to this, in the name of goodwill and friendship, she will allow all her cantrips and 1st level spells to be copied over (and the leftover 2nd level spell as well.) Out of the spells she wanted, they have 6/8 3rd level spells and 4/5 4th level spells, leaving her to pay the cost on 2 3rd level and 1 4th level. Wishes and Rolls:
She is seeking 3rd
She can automatically learn spells of 3rd level, and any 4th level transmutation spells. She need to roll for DC 19 on 3 of the 4th level spells. Remove Curse Spellcraft vs DC 19
She spends 1455gp of the reward including 15 gp for a new spellbook since her starting spellbook is full and also being used to copy from.
Andreste ponders briefly. "I apologize for mistaking the price you charge, and of course will pay you the full worth of your services. I would... appreciate you doing your best to track where they end up, as well as indicating my desire to those who eventually take them in." She hands over 100 gp. "The additional 20 is for any expenses you may incur with this extra work, and to pay for a letter to be sent to the Academae in Korvosa to my care with the information you have on their eventual destination." Andreste spends a last few minutes with the kids before handing them off to the priest and his wife. After this, she heads to join the others at the courthouse and discovers the nature of the trial and its duration. While she might be tempted to stick around as an academic exercise, she has needs to update her spell book, and begs off after an hour or two.
Likewise, I appreciate your sensitivity in this area. While I don't anticipate any "triggers", I will let you know if anything causes trouble for me.
A watchmaker, I think :P
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