Sorry for my long absence. Left my job of 20+ years for a new gig in another state, and have been getting ready for relocation, and staring that new thing. It's taking a lot of time now, but when I start on Monday, it will be solo in temp housing, so I will have more game time for a while. Thanks for your patience
Otyugh Uprising - Round 1 - continued Billi commands Shadow to move along the buildings, hoping to keep on the fringes of sight. The doughty dwarf lifts up his shield and advances himself, albeit slowly. Lenrelle moves forward, taking out her sling and readying it for missile combat on the way. The otyugh stuffs a screaming bystander into its terribly foul mouth, shouts "GOOD!" and moves slightly towards the party, looking for others to munch on. In my imagination, the otyugh has a voice like the old Kool-Aid man -- I guess some of you might not know what that is...The rest of the party may act now before Round 1 draws to a close.
F Half-Elf Ranger 1 AC:18| HP: 15/20 |Perception +7|Exploration Action: Scout
"We will likely need to be off the road, so perhaps the mule with saddlebags is the right choice for now. What about feed for the animal?" Provided everyone agrees, she forks over 2.4gp for the beast and two saddlebags. She would also like to buy a 4-person tent (5gp) and provisions for a week or two for everyone including the mule. An extra week at 4sp times 5 people is 2gp additional. Is it the time of year where we need cold-weather gear? Anything else before we go out? Do we need map-making tools or a compass or anything else?
Please continue to interact if you wish in the opening scene, but only 2 posts since Monday means the group is slowing down. You can actually do both with a lead in like "LATER" or "During the week". Up to you. Instead, you can post what your PC does during the intervening week, including their interaction at Thread Rare, and what your outfit looks like etc. you can handwave all that if you wish, or attempt some checks for investigation or other background information as you deem appropriate. FYI, this AP is pretty sandbox in places, so you are going to have to make your own way without me leading you to it. So think that way.
I think you also have to understand, if you are a lore nerd, that PF2 setting takes place after ALL the PF1 content has taken place, so you may have to suspend disbelief for a bit and understand that Grand Prince Stavian III is still the ruler of what remains of the Taldan empire in this time and place. So reading settings books or lore for PF2 won't help you much. There are some good sourcebooks for PF1 for Taldor, if you are so inclined. We can discuss that more if you have questions.
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Aria Half-Elven wrote:
I have these updates in, and Aria is good to go.
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Yep, I have been on vacation the last week and away from my computer. but returned earlier today. I expect to be able to kick off the game this week. Need a bit to get opening post ready, and finalize character review. I meant to tell you all about the trip, but simply overloooked it until after I was gone. My apologies
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Uraisa Ellsworth wrote:
sure did, I started on Uraisa, but did nto complete yet. Will see if I get it tonight.
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As Taldor's entire capital city gathers to celebrate, few realize that conspiracy and royal rivalries are about to shake the empire to its core! When a high-minded cabal of senators and nobles tries to steer the nation away from disaster, Emperor Stavian III orders a bloodbath in the senate halls, trapping neophyte spies inside layer upon layer of magical security. As tensions rise and the emperor falls, can the heroes escape the forgotten halls beneath the senate and save the heir of Taldor from an assassin's blade? And even then, can anyone prevent a civil war that will tear of the Inner Sea's oldest nations apart at its rotting seams? The game is reserved for a pre-selected group of players, so please do not apply unless invited!
The group has just settled into the opulence of the estate, and the wonders of Perivolt's quarters when there is mild knock on the door. When answered, a tall Shoanti woman of indeterminate age stands there silently. Tears fill her eyes, but she does not betray emotion when she speaks. "Master Perivolt, I am sorry to disturb you and your guests, but I thought i must come in person to say thank you for the return of my boy. Graykos has returned, and only thanks to you!" Her pride and joy in the lad's return are quite evident, but she tries to remain composed. Her skin is ruddy and her head is shaved bald. A long ornate tattoo cover most of her bald pate, and continues down the back of her neck and under the simple house-servant tunic she wears. "Your father may not even notice his return, but I certainly do! The ancestors lift up your name this day! My heart has returned!" She makes a simple bow, and turns to leave -- unless you stop her.
This is looking really bleak for your group, and it seems to me its headed towards a TPK. I gave some grace this round from killing off unconscious characters, but these guys will not pull those punches from now on, and that gets to Dying 4 in a hurry. I have run this opening scene of this AP probably more than half-a-dozen times and not lost a single PC, let alone the whole group. But I think the lethality of PF2 is evident, as is the fact the die-roller is really out to get you. Not sure what I could've done differently to soft-play it. If you agree this going to be a wipe, and want to throw in the towel now, I understand. There are options which I will discuss below. If you want to try to fight on, then we can but we will clearly lose 1-2 of you, if not more. I will play it till the bitter end if you want. If you want to call it, I propose to run a different game keeping the same players (but new PCs) or just to let you all go your separate ways. Feel free to respond here or via DM, but am offering keep some form of game going, if you want. Nothing I hate worse than character death, and can count them on both hands in many, many years of running games. Only had one TPK before, in a PFS module but that was clearly at the feet of bad decisions by players. If you have some critique of what I could do differently, I will of course accept feedback. Sorry, hope there is a ultra heroic recovery in the works, but I don't see it at this point.
Thanks for the invitation to play. I will get a character (probably a ranger) up soon, certainly over the weekend. Is there any role lacking in the group you need filled particularly? Seems pretty balanced w/o me, so thought Ranger might provide a little martial, a little outdoors/survival, and maybe enough skill stuff to get by. Looking forward to it!
Just FYI, while I am fairly comfortable translating the NPCs/monsters from PF to PF2, I am mortified by my inability to think about the treasure/exchange rate differences, and wealth by level. The items detailed in Lamm's lockbox are from the text, but i have to modify the values considerably. If it's not enough, or too much, will try to balance out later on. I think you are fine to level up now. I'll even allow you to have the spell slots available since you seem to need the healing benefit. Remember you have a Hero Point available if you really critical fail on a super-important roll, and you also have Harrow Points if its a Dex-based check.
"Suit yourself," says the man aboard the flat-bottomed boat. "What news to share then, friend?" Another man answers Khejyi's query. "We are not Kellid people, and not of any following. We are merely traders trying to make a few coins. Come aboard, if you want, and take a look at our wares. Some fine items, and you could have first rights" The man sweeps a welcoming arm to motion you aboard.
Front Room - Post Combat Summary Enemies Killed; 2 dogs (Redd and Bloo), Yargin (human man), and Hookshanks Gruller(gnome) Nox: 11/16hp remain, used elixir of life, cast 1st lvl spell (2 remain)
No Hero or Harrow points used. No items recovered (so far). Congratulations on your first fight!!!
The flavor of Glimpse of Redemption says that the foe sees their sin and regrets it, but its hard to see how a mindless eating machine like a shark thinks about such things. Typically, I will take the resistance/enfeeblement version of this reaction for mindless creatures, but may choose differently (as I did before) for those who have a sentience about them and depending on the circumstance. It was a good save of an ally! Earns a Hero Point!!!
Looking around, Kheyji's eye is drawn towards where Tharskh is looking at the copse of nettle-bushes. Even though the hunter has not found anything, Kheyji goes to look as well. She does see, hidden by the bushes and the lake's surface, a cave opening just at the waterline. It appears to burrow beneath the bank a bit. But its clear that she would have to get wet to investigate further, and the water appears deeper here. Just FYI, Searching with Perception is a secret check. I am disregarding your roll and hiding the actual result. It was a good one! Secret Check: K P: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Daesra Darkshield wrote:
Daesra, your pre-written action should still be fine, unless something strange happens between now and then.
All Seek checks are Secret, you shouldn't know that you don't see something with a bad roll. Recall that perception is a skill, but Seek is an Action. Typically, but not always, you make skill checks to perform actions. I'll allow your roll this time, but I will roll it from now on, just provide your modifier. Daesra scans the outside of fishery as much as the moonlight allows, but she she does not spy any watchpoints or guard posts. Since you can only see in dim light about 30', it's impossible to say for sure, but she sure doesn't see anything obvious right away. The visible windows appear to be boarded up so looking in will not be possible. The roof is a tin shambles, and while it could be tried, it looks rickety, like the entire structure.
"I mean no offense," says Zellara quickly, raising her hands. "The goings-on at Castle Korvosa are very much on my mind, and in the cards, of late. I fear there are portents there that bode less well for the city, than even a scoundrel like Gaedren Lamm can achieve. But perhpas that is just in the cards, no?" When it appears the group is ready to continue, she goes to the middle column, which stands for the present. The top card, which would be in the Neutral Good position, turns out to be The Idiot. "This card is misaligned for it is evil in nature. The idiot means grave foolhardiness and greed, but here it is the opposite. Some clever is feigning idiocy to trick or fool you. Be on your guard, yes?" The next card is in the direct middle of the Spread. It appears to be The Locksmith. Zellara says, "This card means the unlocking of a new fate, or a finding of a consequential object. Maybe this means us finding Lamm in his hideout, maybe in means something yet to be revealed. Either way it is a partial match, so important. " This card is also from the suit of Keys, so another Harrow Point is awarded to the group. The last card in the middle column is turned next. It is revealed as The Big Sky.
We will do the reading of the last bit of the Spread tomorrow night, and then see what happens next. Make sure your character is ready to enter combat having all the gear, spells prepped, etc needed while we are still in downtime.
The Spread of the harrow is keyed to the 9 alignments, Lawful Good at the top and Chaotic Evil in the last spot. All the cards of the Harrow are also keyed to an alignment, so if a card ends up in space equal to its alignment, it is considered extremely important. if it is partially aligned (a LE card in a LN space, for example) it is considered of increased importance. If it shows up in an opposite space (CG card in LE place) either true or partial opposite, it has the opposite meaning. Also, if the card you drew in the Choosing comes up, that card has a special meaning just for that player. You can earn Harrow Points, described above, if any of the cards in your suit, Keys, show up in the Spread. You get 1 Harrow Point each in that case; you also get a Harrow Point if your particular Choosing card shows up in the spread. Also, each player who participated in the Choosing (everyone) gets 1 Harrow Point, just for playing. Anyway, I will draw at least the first column tonight from top to bottom, and see what comes up. Hope you enjoy this feature. If we play to next chapter, there will be another harrowing at that point.
Fishery Floor - Round 3 - continued The attack Giggles meant to be telling blow against Billi actually never gets going. Shelyn's power visits the half-orc, and he has second thoughts about his own fate if he makes that attack, and in a moment of redemption, he just flees instead. Billi turns his axe again on the withdrawing Giggles, and this time, the blade splits the foe's skull, killing the thug without question. Actually its another Critical Hit (+10 over his AC) so the damage would be doubled as well. Giggles would've died on the last hit, but his Orc Ferocity trait kept him at 1hp after taking a killing blow, until now. Billi is back at 17/23 hp thanks to Tal's reaction.
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