Ardoinel Oreflame's page

Level 5 Oracle (Cursebound Warrior)

3rd-Rank Spells
Granted Spell: Fireball

Attribute Boosts: STR, DEX, CON, CHA
Ancestry Feat: Elven Instincts
Skill Increase: Diplomacy to Expert

I'm a little confused on how heightened spell selection works for Spell Repertoire classes (this is the first caster of that type I've played this far): I know that I have to take the heightened version of the spell in my repertoire to cast it at that rank, but when I do that, do I have to keep the lower-rank version to cast it at a lower level should I care to? Or am I free to replace it with some other spell at that rank? Or do I want to just always cast a spell at its highest rank?

Ardoinel's eyes widen at Netkin's discovery, and he looks down for a moment, scratching his chin and stroking his beard considering Ellaeeanda's question.

"If properly assembled and directed..." he says, taking another look at the collapsed stairs and thinking back to the other collapsed ones above, "it would be the work of at least a week for this one here...more to repair the connections from there to the Citadel above."

Then he shakes his head.

"But we are getting ahead of ourselves: We have found a document we can use to claim ownership of the Citadel, but only if Breachill and the Citadel's current residents choose to abide by it. The Bugwumps, Pib and Zarf, Yolechta, they were here first."

He flinches for a moment as the voice intrudes in his mind again.

BREAK THEM. DRIVE THEM BEFORE YOU. CLAIM WHAT IS YOURS.

He coughs and takes a few deep breaths to steady himself. No, he thinks. That was all the response that thing needed. No.

Also, Cranky is adorable! :D

Ardoinel strides forth and draws the silver medallion from his pack, holding it before him reverently as he approaches the door.

"Siaradwch, Gyfaill, a Dewch i Mewn," he intones.

I don't think we established whoever carrying said holy symbol, but as one of the more religious party members I could volunteer to have Gad it in my inventory.

Ardoinel seizes a bit as the vision takes him, letting himself experience the moment and take it in. Then he's back to normal and looking back up at the gate, the tips of his fingers just pressed against its stone.

"Thank you Yuelral," he says softly. It was some small comfort to have a vision from a god he actually worshiped, and if this vision was any indication, truly cared for him.

Elven Lore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"Not just any aiudara, Netkin," Ardoinel adds. "These...these may be some of the FIRST aiudara...they're certainly older than any of the ones currently in use, except maybe the Sovyrian Stone itself."

He reverently strides into the chamber, eyes fixed on the crystalline Jewelgate, recognizing its iconography immediately. He bows his head and raises his amulet.

"Yuelral, Mother of Magic, Gardener of Elysium, Wisest of the Conclave, I stand here within one of the greatest works of magic our people, your children, have ever conjured. Smile on me as I endeavor to stoke the embers of its power and ensure the wise use of it. So let it be."

He then goes to each of the other gates, offering similar prayers to each god in turn, until all here are honored.

10 minutes to Refocus, of course.

With that finished, he returns to the Jewelgate and looks up at it, gently touching the arch in reverence.

I'll let YOU decide what oracular visions this triggers, GM! ;)

Ardoinel follows Resa as she peeks into the other room and his eyes widen in awe.

Society: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Will Elven Lore be a suitable substitute for Society in this instance?

“Idle boasts of vengeance from claws of cinder,” Ellaeaanda calmly translates the cultist’s final words for the others, “for the false glory of Dahak.” She vaguely gestures at the religious symbol on the charau-ka’s body, then takes his gauntlet and charm. Unperturbed by the recent violence, she sits cross-legged and holds the two items in her lap, one at a time. With cloudy, glowing eyes she enters a long trance to identify their magic.

She remains seemingly oblivious while their various wounds are bandaged and tended too. After over twenty minutes she rouses from her reverie. Without any prelude, she immediately turns to Ardoinel and offers him the gauntlet.

“For you this is fated. The Endless Destruction seeks to destroy all, and so its own fangs shall bite itself.” For herself, she gently drapes the arrowhead charm around her neck. “The Hunter joins the Savored Sting,” she announces, lightly touching the wasp embroidered on the handle of her whip.

Ardoinel takes the unholy symbol from the dead leader and then his hammer. He regards it a bit before smashing the icon to pieces while Ellaeaanda meditates on the other gear. When she returns and offers it to him, he takes it from her and holds it up, turning it over in his hands and examining it before nodding.

"Yes. I will relish the irony as I grab at his throat with his own power."

Markus relaxes as the fight ends. He says "I'm glad I didn't hurt anyone from our side this time. I was careful with that. Anyway, I knew there was a language I was still meaning to learn. Good thing that you learned it."

He asks somewhat stupidly "I have no idea what the Endless Destruction is. Can anyone please fill me in?"

Ardoinel turns to Markus, his eyes growing wide and his expression grave.

"The dragon god Dahak. Sorrowmaker. The False Wyrm. He is chaos and destruction. He is the rage and greed that lurks in the hearts of all dragons. He is the one who lit the fires in Hell, the fires that still burn. And he is the shadow who has haunted my dreams since I was a child."

"ছাই আর হাড়!" Ardoinel roars as he tries to strike the cultist down with his sword ablaze, his shield raised for the inevitable counterattack should he survive!

◆◆ Cast A Spell (ignition)

Spell Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Fire Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6) = 11

◆ Raise a Shield

Netkin, I think we're waiting for your action now!

Ardoinel marches up to join in the gang-up against the leader.

◆ Step

He raises his sword and more fire curls up the blade before he brings it down on them!

◆◆ Cast A Spell (ignition)

Spell Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Fire Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 6) = 13

Ardoinel cries out as the fireball strikes them and his mind roars. Weak. Mewling and foul and WEAK. And it was true. Here he was, thinking he could oppose the will of the god who gave him power, could defeat his faithful. But even Dahak could be weak. He had been so before, and he would be again. And Ardoinel was no different, as Netkin proves by salving his burns.

"Thank you," he croaks before advancing to the front of the battle.

◆ Stride

He focuses his power and flame rises from him before sparking off and barreling towards the charau-ka!

"We shall see whose flame burns hotter!"

◆◆ Cast A Spell (blazing bolt) on Blue and Red.

Spell Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Spell Attack 2: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 5 = 6
Fire Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 4, 1) = 12

"The Sorrowmaker," Ardoinel echoes grimly, knowing full well who that title belonged to.

DC 23 Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Sorry my posting's been slow this week. Since I'm in Minnesota (and my workplace is right on the outskirts of Minneapolis itself) you can imagine what's been occupying most of my energy and focus. Getting caught up now that I have a day off to rest and recover.

Wow, my rolls have SUCKED lately!

Nature (to identify the fungi): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Society: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Elven Lore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Ardoinel, finally reaching the bottom and seeing Ellaeeanda under attack, draws his sword.

"What is he saying?!"

Ardoinel joins the others going down the rope.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Natural 1, huh? That's no fun. Spending a hero point!

Hero Point!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Dangit.

Ardoinel gets pelted by spores as he descends, causing him to curl up and grip the rope tighter as he begins coughing again.

EDIT: Gonna hold off on making Nature and Society checks to see what the spores do...

Ardoinel shrugs as Ellaeaanda dons her new armor.

"You could at least let me clean it up first. Maybe resize it to fit you better."

Ardoinel seizes up a bit as the battle ends.

WEAK, WORMLING. WEAK. YOU LET THEM TAKE YOUR PREY FROM YOU.

"Be SILENT!" he cries, striking himself lightly and coughing again before regaining his composure.

"I'm alright. Thank you."

Then he lifts his head to the others.

"And thank you, gentlemen. You made a potentially fatal battle much less so."

He joins Markus in examining what they've found. He takes and examines the craftsmanship of the armor, looking over it with magic as well.

Casting detect magic.

Crafting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"CURSE YOU!" Ardoinel roars in a voice not quite his own. "BLEED AS I HAVE BLED!"

↺ Cast A Spell (blood vendetta, DC 20 Will Save) on Red

Persistent Bleed Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

Then he coughs and regains his composure again and tries to determine the nature of the dweomer his enemy hast cast.

Recognize Spell (Arcana)?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Unable to recognize it, he hesitates and his body seizes for a moment.

IT MATTERS NOT WHAT SPELL IT IS, WORMLING. ALL SPELLS CAN BREAK WITH ENOUGH POWER. USE IT.

He steels himself and focuses his power upon the flickering barghest, trying to seize the magic, not to unravel it gracefully like most mages would, but tear it asunder with power, sharp and terrible as a dragon's claws.

◆◆ Cast A Spell (dispel magic)

Counteract: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Ardoinel raises his shield up and blasts the barghest with metal shards.

◆ Raise a Shield

◆◆ Cast a Spell (Needle Darts)

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Damage (Piercing): 4d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 4) = 12

You folks aren't waiting for me, are you? I'm not sure if we're on round 4 (in which case I have stuff to do) or 5 (in which case I gotta wait to do that stuff).

Ardoinel, now with a firmer grip on himself and his power, hacks at the barghest while keeping his shield raised.

◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Raise a Shield

Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 131d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Attack 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 81d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"EVeN StONe CaN bURn iF ThE FlAMe Is hOt EnOuGH!" Ardoinel roars in a voice not entirely his own. Then he shakes his head as the moment passes.

Ardoinel coughs a bit, takes a deep breath and exhales a gout of roiling fire at the barghest, blackening the wall behind it!

◆◆ Cast A Spell: Breathe FIRE! (DC 20 Reflex Save)

Fire Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

Then he raises his shield to protect himself from the retaliation as another coughing fit strikes him.

◆ Raise a Shield

My sincere condolences, Vitus. Take all the time you need.

"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!

◆ Stride, ◆◆ Cast A Spell (Ignition)

Spell Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Fire Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2) = 7

Only doing the spell's damage since Ardoinel is no longer a magus and can't combine a spell and weapon attack together

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."

Intimidation: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

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.

To clarify, can this barghest see us? Or are we "in the shadows" before the encounter?"

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...

Would you go for Flame Oracle?

I think the martial and medium armor could just replace the feat usually granted by your mystery.

The parts of the archetype that I think are a little over-tuned are the focus spell, which it looks like you won't be taking, and Malevolent
Strike.

Some of the others just need very slight tweaks. Spiritual Pressure (needs a save), Animate Primal Forces (needs a 1-day frequency), Stone from Blood (should be two-actions), Meddling of the Divine (needs a frequency and a save), and Cleansing Curse (needs a once-per-hour frequency).

Is that giving you all the tools you feel like you need?

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.

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.