My sincere condolences, Vitus. Take all the time you need.
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"Let them break upon our shields," Ardoinel says with a nod.
Ardoinel marches up and his blade ignites with fire, swinging it at the barghest to burn it!
Ardoinel straightens up and raises his shield up. "It seems our new friend has made the decision, Ralldar: There will be no sacrifice, of Netkin or anyone else." He looks the barghest in the eye and glares. "You have a choice: stand aside and let us pass, or test your mettle against the Heroes of Breachill. We outnumber you. Choose wisely."
Gear purchased and Ardoinel's stuff entered into the macro!
Good news, BTW: I got some assistance with assembling Pathbuilder stuff for Cursebound Warrior and got Ardoinel built up to 4th level. I'll just get his gear set up tomorrow morning and be good to go!
Ardoinel shifts and looks the new arrivals up and down.
Ardoinel is not a Breachill native, no. But he does care enough to come there to try and prevent the dark vision of the future he saw of the town burning in his dreams from becoming a reality.
Not going to lie, I'm finding it increasingly frustrating to try and rebuild Ardoinel with this new Class Archetype on Pathbuilder, because it has to be rewritten as a completely new class and I'm struggling to figure out how to do that with a class that has such deeply-nested class features as an Oracle's selection of Mysteries and Curses. Do you folks think it might be simpler to just hash out Ardoinel's sheet in text form on his profile? I'm worried that it may end up taking just as long and make the math harder to keep right in the long run, as if I'm typing everything out it becomes that much easier to miss a number that needs to be updated.
Good news, I can rebuild Ardoinel with Cursebound Warrior in Pathbuilder. Bad news, I'm pretty much gonna have to copypaste the entire Oracle class and the stuff I copypasted in this thread to share, as a Custom Class to do it. I'll get it done as fast as I can, but would it be okay to use Ardoinel's current sheet in the meantime so I'm not holding the rest of the party up? Also, Bradon Chang on Bluesky/Reddit was doing free sketches of Pathfinder characters based on descriptions and created this lovely portrait of Ardoinel!
I'm okay with Discord personally. As for being up and running by tomorrow, I'll see what I can do. I may have to write up Ardoinel's new sheet up from scratch, since Cursebound Warrior doesn't have Pathbuilder support, I think...
I concur! Especially since with Ardoinel potentially final rebuild we could use an arcane caster. :D
I do have some ideas in that regard, yes. Stalwart Defender, maybe...a dwarven archetype to complement Crystal Keeper (which I know features late in Age of Ashes), you know? Bastion's always a good idea too...
I would indeed be selecting Flame Oracle. I'll admit as far as the Feats go, their inclusion was more for the sake of completeness, as the focus was more on the Archetype itself. Battered by Elements IS very on-theme for Ardoinel, though. These seem like quite reasonable adjustments! To clarify something in case we do go forward with this, I'm not sure how Free Archetype interfaces with Class Archetypes: Do you have to select an archetype different from your Class Archetype if you have FA? I feel like if I selected the Class Archetype as my Free Archetype it'd essentially be getting free bonus class feats, which I imagine isn't Rules As Intended.
If Thaumaturge is the easiest path to get the mechanics you desire for Ardoinel, I'm certainly good with that. Aw shucks, thank you for your potential generosity! :D
Mainly it's a way for Ardoinel to gish as an Oracle without having to specifically be Battle Mystery. The other divine gishing options like Warpriest and Champion require you to worship the deity giving you power while Oracle allows you to be the possibly unwilling recipient of divine power from a patron you oppose (in Ardoinel's case, Dahak). That's why at the moment Ardoinel is a Magus Free Archetyping into Oracle instead of just an Oracle. (Another vanilla option that presents itself now is Thaumaturge: the only reason I didn't take it was because Cerrus already was one, but if he does make the switch to a different class, that leaves me open to be a Thaumaturge Oracle. That's actually how Ardoinel got to be a Magus in the first place, his original setup was as an Oracle with a Swashbuckler Free Archetype, as we had a Magus named Zeldones in the group, but Zeldones' player left the game so Delta Arena let me rework Ardoinel into a Magus instead.)
Here is the relevant Archetype from Three Rook Books: Coven of Combat. Cursebound Warrior:
CURSEBOUND WARRIOR
(CLASS ARCHETYPE) The divine curse thrust upon oracles is often a check upon the mysterious powers they receive. However, just as there are those who turn other weaknesses into strength, there are those who learn to use, their curse like the rest of their magic. Training themselves with arms and armor, Cursebound Warriors rely less on divine spellcraft, and instead focus on using their curse to sharpen their weapons and bring misfortune upon their enemies. Cursebound Warrior (1st) You’ve gone through intense physical training in an attempt to strengthen your body against your curse’s debilitating nature. You must select Cursebound Warrior Dedication as your 2nd-level class feat. Prerequisites: You must be an oracle.
Prerequisites: Cursebound Warrior Your training has honed your curse into a wicked edge against your foes. You gain the Biting Curse Stance action. Biting Curse Stance ◆ (concentrate, stance) Requirements you have the cursebound condition Effect You bring the misfortune of your curse to bear against enemies. You gain a status bonus to the damage of your Strikes equal to double your cursebound value. In addition, whenever you make a successful Strike, you can ignore the penalties granted by your curse until the end of your next turn.
Prerequisites: Cursebound Warrior You are able to use your curse as a shield as well as a weapon. Whenever you are in Biting Curse Stance, you gain resistance to physical damage equal to half your level.
Prerequisites: Cursebound Warrior
The pain of your curse’s advancement spurs you into motion. Stride up to half your speed. This movement does not trigger reactions.
Prerequisites: Cursebound Warrior You channel your curse into a mass of spiritual energy. Make a melee Strike against a creature within your reach. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your attack roll and deal an additional 2d6 spirit damage to the target.
Prerequisites: Cursebound Warrior
Your mystery and curse feed into each other. You enter Biting Curse Stance.
Prerequisites: Cursebound Warrior As your curse increases in strength, it begins to bleed out and affect those around you. If you are at least Cursebound 2, all creatures other than you within a 10-foot emanation take a -1 status penalty to saving throws. If you are Cursebound 4, the emanation increases to 20 feet, and the penalty increases to -2.
Mystery: battle
The spirits of your mystery guide your movements and hone your attacks. You gain a +1 status bonus to attack and damage rolls made with weapons or unarmed attacks. When you Sustain the spell, you can either Step or Strike. The spirit’s guidance focuses your mind towards battle, making spellcasting difficult. For the duration of the spell, you take a -2 status penalty to your spell attack modifier and spell DC, except for actions with the Cursebound trait. Heightened (4th) The status bonus to attack and damage rolls granted by this spell is increased to +2.
Oracle Feats:
Burden: Feats with the Burden trait grant a benefit whenever you have the Cursebound condition, in exchange for an additional penalty from the condition. An oracle can only ever have one feat with the Burden trait, as the additional curse is difficult to bear more than one of.
Characters with the Oracle Multiclass Dedication can never take feats with the Burden trait. If you have the Extreme Curse class feature, you can select a second feat with the Burden trait. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HAUNTING HANDS - FEAT 2 BURDEN-ORACLE You are constantly plagued by malevolent spirits that interfere with you in your more dire moments. Whenever you Interact to draw a stored item, draw a weapon, or swap a held item for another, roll a DC 5 Flat Check. On a failure, the object slips from your grasp, falling in an adjacent square.
Your body has sustained heavy damage from elemental powers, leaving visible injuries that persist to this day. However, you have learned to channel the very powers that caused you harm. You take a penalty to Strikes equal to your Cursebound value.
Your curse has made you a magnet for bad luck and misfortune, to the point that it spreads to those around you. You gain the Curse Maelstrom Dedication feat. You can choose to enter a curse maelstrom state as a single action with the concentrate and cursebound traits.
Your touch makes things brittle and weak, causing everything you touch to become easily broken. You reduce the hardness of any objects you wield, as well as any equipment you wear, by half.
Prerequisites mystery that has the air, fire, earth, metal, water, or wood related domain
You use the divine power within you to animate the raw elements around you. You cast summon elemental of a rank equal to your highest rank spell. You can Sustain this effect as a Free Action by increasing your Cursebound value by 1.
Prerequisite mystery that has the death, dust, earth, or soul related domain You draw forth a creature’s vital essence to harden their body, and hasten their death. Choose one creature within 30 feet to make a Fortitude save against your Spell DC. On a failure, the target takes 1d6 persistent bleed damage. As long as the bleed damage persists, the target gains physical resistance equal to half your level. The bleed damage from this ability is not affected by this resistance. A creature can choose to fail their save.
Your form is partially drawn into the realm of spirits, making you lighter than air but easier to knock around. You take a -2 penalty to saves and DCs against Grapple, Shove, and other forms of forced movement.
You force the overwhelming power of your divine mystery to flare up, twisting the effects of opposing magic. Choose one creature within 30 feet. Until the end of your next turn, whenever you or the target Casts a Spell, roll a DC 5 flat check. On a failure, the spell triggers a Wellspring Surge. On a critical failure, the triggering spell is also lost.
Growing accustomed to your mystery’s power, you have gained the power to cloak yourself in it. Choose one polymorph spell that grants a battle form from the divine tradition, or one closely associated with your mystery at your GM’s discretion. For example, an oracle with the fire mystery may select elemental form. The selected spell is added to your repertoire as a signature spell. When you are under the effects of the selected spell, you can use Cursebound actions and cast your revelation spells, even ifthe battle form would not normally allow you to.
Your curse is able to purge other foul debilitations from your body. Attempt a counteract check against one magical effect currently afflicting you, with a status bonus equal to your cursebound value. You can use this ability even if you would normally be unable to take actions, such as if you were paralyzed, confused, controlled, etc.
Frequency once per hour Already cursed by divinity, your divine nature has reached the point that you can call down the wrath of gods. However, this power is directed at you and anything in your vicinity. You and all creatures within a 10 foot emanation take 20d6 spirit damage (Basic Will Save). You gain a status bonus on this save equal to your Cursebound value. As long as you do not critically fail your save, all enemies who can see you become Frightened 1 by this display of godly power. I chose to post it here instead of using PMs in the interest of full transparency. I've done my best to reproduce the formatting from the PDF. Also, I don't necessarily intend to take all these feats, but felt I should provide them here for context. Whadaya think, folks?
Huzzah! Thanksgiving may have passed, but I sure am thankful you've stepped up to adopt us! Ardoinel is an aiuvarin dwarf tormented by visions of fire and destruction since childhood, educated in dwarven and elven ways by his loving parents to control the conflagrations that followed him from his nightmares into the waking world. Most recently, Breachill has appeared in his dreams, and he's made the journey here to see if he can prevent the horrible future he's seen from becoming reality. Ardoinel's gone through a couple of iterations as the AP's gone on, initially a Magus with an Oracle Dedication, then dabbling in the playtest Runesmith, then back to Magus/Oracle (because Flame Mystery can't really gish on its own). I have found some some third-party material that'd be arguably closer to my original vision of him (you can only really gish as an Oracle with Battle Mystery, and I had my heart set on Flames for obvious reasons). I'd be happy to reproduce the relevant information for evaluation; DeltaArena was reluctant to allow truly third-party material as a matter of transparency (the only way to verify I'm being honest about what's in it would be for it to have Pathbuilder support this specific supplement currently doesn't have, or everyone else to purchase the supplement personally, which they didn't want to impose on everyone, which is fair, the playtest version of Runesmith was allowed because that's freely available on Demiplane for all to see). I'm happy to keep Ardoinel as-is if you'd prefer to follow DA's ruling.
Website's back up! How's everyone doing?
Did we find a way to get in touch with them outside the forums?
See you on the other side of the store update taking the forums down!
Fingers crossed!
I think the link's messed up. Try going to the recruitment board and entering it from there.
One of the other players here, seconding Netkin's sentiments!
I'd be up for it, absolutely. I've waited a LONG time to get Ardoinel created and played, and I ain't gonna give up on him or this party now (though I also wouldn't say no to an opportunity to revise his class with the third party Cursebound Warrior oracle archetype, I'd asked Delta Arena about it and they declined, feeling it would necessitate asking everyone else to buy the supplement in question for the sake of transparency)! In other news, I have RETURNED from the fairy-tale kingdom of the southern lands (i.e. Florida)!
Just an announcement in case our GM returns while I'm gone, I'll be joining my family on a trip to Florida from the 11th to the 20th.
Seconded!
Ardoinel's eyes widen at the sight of this creature on its "throne." His mind races for what it might be before stepping out and challenging it.
"That's too big a bone collection for it to be friendly," he whispers back to Resa.
Ardoinel nods at Cerrus' assessment. "I'd be happy to take the lead if Resa wishes for a break. It may be slower going, though. I'm no scout, so I instead would proceed with caution."
"A pirate's weapon," Ardoinel muses. "One must wonder how it wandered so far from the sea, to arrive at a cave in landlocked Isger..." He sheathes his own sword and gives the blade a few test swings. "I should be able to use this...for now...I may seek to repurpose its powers into a blade of my own making when this task is done."
Thank you, completely blanked on that. I realized I get TWO spells in the spellbook per level but I'd only put Blur down last level, so I added Blazing Armory, and for my actual spells THIS level, I picked Invisibility and Loose Time's Arrow.
Once he's Refocused, Ardoinel joins the group in exhuming the victims of the spiders and his eyes are immediately drawn to the sword. He gingerly lifts it from its resting place and begins examining, assessing its quality (presumably high given its ability to hold the power of runes) and provenance.
Ardoinel: HP: 50
AC: 19 Class DC: 19 All Saves +1
Class Feat: Emergency Targe (Reaction): You immediately Raise a Shield or cast shield. The circumstance bonus applies to your defenses when determining the outcome of the triggering attack or spell. Free Archetype: Basic Oracle Spellcasting: You gain the basic spellcasting benefits. When you gain a spell slot of a new rank from the oracle archetype, add a common divine spell or another divine spell you have learned or discovered (including the granted spells associated with your mystery) to your repertoire, of that spell rank. Skill Feat: Natural Medicine: You can apply natural cures to heal your allies. You can use Nature instead of Medicine to Treat Wounds, including higher Nature proficiency letting you attempt more difficult checks. It doesn't replace Medicine for uses of the skill other than Treat Wounds or for feat prerequisites. If you're in the wilderness, you might have easier access to fresh ingredients, allowing you to gain a +2 circumstance bonus to your check to Treat Wounds using Nature, subject to the GM's determination.
"Thank you, Ellaeeanda," Ardoinel replies as he closes his eyes and tries to recenter himself and calm his internal fire.
"Thank the Wise," Ardoinel replies. "Now I suppose you have stronger reasons to hate spiders...Sorry, bad joke." He tries to ignore the dark chuckle in the back of his mind and the pit of his stomach.
Ardoinel breathes a sigh of relief and repeats the prayer to Yuelral.
Ardoinel holds on to Resa's shoulders to keep her steady as the others tend to her. "It's alright, Resa," he says gently. "We're all here for you. It's alright."
Ardoinel closes his eyes and begins muttering in Elven. "Yuelral, guide your distant daughter's recovery with a gentle hand," he chants over and over.
"Netkin, Ellaeaanda, Resa was bit! She needs antivenin immediately," Ardoinel barks. "I can help administer it!" He moves to help Resa steady herself.
Now I want some poutine with extra cheese curds! There was poutine there...as well as dill pickle poutine, apparently. Pickle slices and a ranch dressing drizzle. ( ">﹏< ) But was there fried butter?!?!!? I hear you northern people have that. It offends my southern heart we didn't do it first. I didn't see it, but I don't doubt it was there.
Ardoinel steps into the gap left by the spider he's just killed, and focuses his energy again to strike at the spider before Resa, trying to get her some breathing space while his shield rises to block the spider's counterattack. Then he begins gathering magical power back into himself again, to strike anew later.
I'm back from the State Fair! I had no less than THREE different kinds of cheese curds!
Ardoinel grunts with annoyance as he's bitten, trusting his natural doughtiness to shrug off any venom, and then shuts his eyes, just for a moment. He visualizes the fire within, eager to surge forth and destroy, and mentally takes hold of it. It sparks and struggles, but his focus holds firm as he draws it out in a controlled, measured fashion.
Then he lets it surge through his sword as he raises it up and gives a mighty cry, seemingly echoed by a distant roar. He brings the flaming sword bearing down on the spider before him!
I do too! I'm going to the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday! :D
Ardoinel, after recovering from the dodging the web slung by the spider, strikes at the beast while his shield rises to keep it at bay.
Then he raises the blade and ignites it, striking again!
"It might appreciate an offering of roasted spider," Ardoinel comments. "I imagine it doesn't have the resources or inclination to enjoy a cooked meal often." His eyes flicker with a fiery glow, and Ardoinel himself can feel a rumbling chuckle within.
"I've been there, but my apprenticeship was more with my parents than any master. Our family homestead was...somewhat remote."
"If there's one thing we dwarfkin know, it's how to listen to the stone and understand what it needs. That's how we've made things to last, whether that was our own family home or the great city of Highhelm itself." He breaks into a brief coughing fit and he hears a growl in his mind, half-annoyed, half-mocking. "No accounting for divinely-induced dream-fires, though," he mutters upon recovering.
Thanks for the clarification! It doesn't look like the spell was needed anyways. :P
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