I certainly accept it's part of what can happen in a game. Obviously I don't enjoy it, especially as I tend to put a lot into background and roleplay when I can, and it doesn't always feel good to have that work end with an unlucky roll of the die. But nonetheless it is what it is, and it is part of how the game works. Obviously with those die rolls, Dare is clearly most sincerely dead; orc ferocity can't even help her here.
The question for you is how do you plan to treat this?
If there's options to seek raising even if eventually, cool. I can wait.
If Dare's just dead... honestly I would struggle to shift gears with a new character so unexpectedly, so if the plan is just that Dare's torn to smithereens and there's nothing the party can do because we're nowhere near finding a high level cleric and a fortune in diamonds (which is completely understandable), then I'll just say thanks for having me and farewell. If it were a tabletop game I'd stick around but it takes so long in a PBP to find character voice and rhythm with the other characters it doesn't feel worth it. I was already the newbie to the group and was just stopping feeling that way, and so I don't savor the chance to start over.
Simply conversationally, since you ask me how I feel about it, when I GM, I have a 1-free-resurrect rule. This is to help avoid disaster at very early levels when it would disrupt the party and the story to just lose a PC in the middle of things, especially as it isn't always easy to just introduce a new character right in the middle of things. This free resurrect comes with a cost -- usually the PC gets a battle scar that offers a minor but permanent hindrance (there's a system for that IIRC in Skull and Shackles that I reference). I will as GM also use it to further the plot. Maybe the PC while unconscious has a vision of their deity giving them a mission. Maybe a major NPC shows up to save the character, but that PC or party now owes that NPC a favor. Something like that. It is only once and the next time the party needs to be prepared to seek a resurrect or create a new character, etc.
I don't suggest that you do this, just noting, since you asked, that's what I do to mitigate the inconvenience while making sure there's consequences and the near-death still serves the story.
Earlier
Dare frowns at Yuki. She pulls away at the touch, perhaps startled at the approach, but takes a deep breath and gathers her thoughts before speaking. "Look... I don't see it the way you do, but I'm not gonna tangle with fey unless I'm forced to. It's obvious they're more powerful than us and now that I've had time to think about it, it's plain as day they were showing us how easily they could hurt us if they wanted to. But you seem to get how to talk to them so ... yeah, good, you know what to say to them if we run into them again. I'm not going to hold that against you, of course. Why would I?"
She shrugs. "Anyways, we all agree on one thing, which is the Stag Lord needs bringing down, so that's what I'll focus on doing."
=====
Evil Plant!
"What the- !" Dare somehow through sheer luck was looking at the bushes when she saw the tendrils shoot toward her and just barely manages to dodge out of the way.
Learning her lesson from previous battles, she steps carefully backward (5' step) and brings up her shield spell to defend herself before reaching for more offensive magics.
Trying to post the Spellcraft check but can't seem to be able to. Something weird going with the boards on my phone. But beyond attempting to do that,Dare is ready to move on. She'll be quiet and embarrassed for a bit for making a scene.
Dare continues her imperfect analysis of their co-conversators to Adela. "I reckon the bird's the one who rigged the firepit." She gives a nod, as if to suggest she's the one to keep an eye on. "Faerie dragon's more like to make the fake bag of gold. Old Lady Harkem said one time he swiped all the poker chips under her nose by making illusionary ones on the table."
Adela's calming presence seems to help Dare a great deal, and the air around her begins to cool. As the priestess's gaze draws attention to the little dragon, Dare starts.
"Is that a... faerie dragon? My magic mentor Old Lady Harkem said she used to play Poker with one ..."
Since I could know one more thing, is the magic we've seen so far possibly cast by it?
Oops, sorry didnt realize that was for the thing I didn't see. Nevermind! Don't suppose I could keep the 16 for my next roll? ;)
At Rhiann's retort, Dare almost snarls, but clenches her fists, takes a deep breath, and the sparks fade from her hands, though they are now visibly shaking. "I can control myself. Because I care if I hurt somebody. Unlike these f&!@ers who'd drop an old lady down a hole and laugh."
Adela speaks, and she regards the fighter and then the priest, both of whom she has come to trust. Tears form in her eyes, then splash down her cheeks and sizzle away into tiny wisps of steam. "Do you know what it's like to be a half-orc orphan in the worst part of town? Kick you down the stairs. 'Don't be mad, Dare, just a joke.' Send you on an errand with your friends, only you're the only one that shows up and the alley is full of rats who try to eat you alive?" She pulls up a sleeve to show scars of rat bites, just above the usual burns. She spits, "Just a prank, right? 'Where's your sense of humor, Dare?' You can't fight back, because you depend on'em. You have to laugh, not because it's funny, but because it's the only way you can survive," She pauses for emphasis. "'Pranks' aren't jokes. They're what a bad person calls being cruel when they can get away with it."
Suffice to say, Dare's personal experiences are far from that of a kitsune's. And to be very clear, Dare didn't care what was happening and found it bemusing at worst, until people could risk breaking limbs by falling into real holes and real, temporary-blindness causing fireworks started coming out of the firepit. (Dare might not have been able to name it, but the pyrotechnics spell is not harmless.)
Then a pretty bird starts talking, and Dare is just thrown for an absolute loop. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't this. She's at a loss for words, which is probably a good thing, and fortunately Yuki responds in a far more peaceful manner than she would have.
She glares at the little feathered creature and leans over to whisper in Adela's ear. "What do you think? Shapeshifted demon?"
Dare is NOT pleased about the pit trap and spends the rest of the day in a foul and paranoid mood. It does, however, put her on the alert for more illusions and points out the ghost sound with ease. "I'm starting to think someone wants us to drive us nuts. It's obvious someone's following us. Don't matter if it's a 'harmless prank' or not... these things are gettin' more dangerous and I'm more and more thinkin' someone's followin' us, probably invisible, and trying to shake us up before doing real harm. We need to find whoever's doing this and stop them. If they hurt us, who knows what they could do to others traveling through the area."
That evening, as the fire explodes into fireworks, Dare loses it. No matter how pretty the light show, a sudden burst of sparks violently transports her mind her back to the flames in the orphanage 10 years ago, which still leave her flesh scarred to this day (this also means she isn't calm enough to recognize the spell). Those standing near her see her go ashen, eyes wide in sheer terror... before suddenly she erupts into rage. "Alright, that does it! F&!*ing bullies is what you are, and I HATE bullies. Especially ones who f%+~ around with fire magic like it's nothing." Her eyes literally glowing with anger, she shouts into the forest, pacing around the fire circle, looking in every direction. "You wanna f&#~ing play with fire, do you? Wanna set the forest on fire for a f*%@ing 'prank'? Yeah, who cares if the world burns if you can have a laugh! Come on out, you slimy bastards! I've had ENOUGH! COME OUT!" Sparks form at her fingertips and the air around her ripples with heat. She's using every ounce of willpower she has left to suppress the flame that aches to emerge.
Dare pouts at the piglet hiding under the brush. "Well, he'll just die of starvation or something now. None of us wanted to fight his family. 'S'not fair..." She reaches forward carefully, slowly, and her fingers just brush his soft bristles... and it squeals loudly charges past her. As it displaces the greenery running past, Dare's greatest enemy, pointy shrubbery, snaps forward and whacks her in the eye.
She grabs her face, cursing in several languages. By the time she recovers, the piglet has disappeared into the forest, to survive or not as nature wills. Dare sulks for the rest of the day, but shows no further interest in protecting wild animals. Although she does resolve to learn to understand them better.
Desnus 27th
Dare scowls as Yuki recounts the trapper's identity. "Must've been the one we found some traps laid earlier. Good to know he can't lay any more." She looks around. "But who's hunting the hunter? Any maker's mark on the axe?"
If Dare wants to take care of it. it'll be on her. If it was a puppy, Rhiann would want to rescue it, but in this case, she's largely indifferent, especially after almost being killed by the adults.
Dare doesn't want to take care of it, she just feels bad. I definitely don't want this as an arc for my PC. Hence my suggestion she badly tries to catch it and fails for a story moment. If that sounds fun, I'll post something later, gotta get ready for work
Dare has a strong fight response to anything trying to hurt her, but an equally strong protective streak to anything tiny and helpless. She'd feel bad abandoning it after scorching half its family alive. She however has little capability in trying to catch a baby boar.
If no one wants to deal with it, we could say that Dare tried to catch it, hilarity ensued, and they and the baby left in separate directions.
Erik's player said he was traveling thru Oct 29 and gave permission to bot as needed, so I think we might reasonably assume he shared the information so we can continue on.
Dare looks around for the little piglet. "I think that's why farmers raise them from young. But speaking of young... we shouldn't just abandon the little guy, if he's run off..."
She continues talking as she's looking. "Worst part is I don't think any of these were the really big boar the bounty was out for. I dunno about you but if this is what a regular boar is like, I'm not wanting to go out of my way for a super boar. I think I would've died twice if not for Adela."
BTW re: Google Slides, if your phone does not already have Google Slides installed, it will automatically open in your web browser and you won't be able to edit. GM it could be you have an Android/Google phone with it preinstalled. But it should be available for free; I think you might need a Google account to use it.
Not in a good position to cast anything useful, Dare focuses on remembering some useful swordplay tactics her old gang taught her and swings at the orange boar with her sword.
Move action, activate Martial Flexibility to gain Weapon Focus feat for 1 minute
Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
But unfortunately bounces the blade off the animal's tusk.
Thanks for the assist Adela. A note to the others... can we work together so I can try to get more than one of them in a burning hands blast next round? I don't want to catch folks in the crossfire.
Dare curses, less furious at injury and more that her attempt to actually be strategic rather than just go in with hands blazing didn't work as well as she'd hoped. Oh well, you can't expect a sorcerer to do a wizard's job.
For now, she realizes she needs more protection and steps backward carefully to cast a shield spell.
"If we can get them clustered so I could move into a spot to blast them..." she says to the others.
Thank you for the clarification about the hit points! I'm not used to that format for combat summaries (and/or I forgot). Sorry, brain's a bit stretched thin as of late.
Thanks for checking on 1. Otherwise, I actually realized she would just be dead. Being at -17 would kill her and Orc Ferocity doesn't protect against that. As I am not dead yet, I will indeed delay to go after Adela.
1. As Green was already standing in the grease and has to move through it to get to Dare, it still needs to attempt a DC 10 Acrobatics check to move through grease at half speed (or otherwise jump out), regardless of the fact that it succeeded on its saving throw. The Reflex save at the beginning it only keeps it from falling down when it first appears; subjects still have to make skill checks to move through the area (and attempt new saving throws if they fail).
2. For what it's worth as commentary (I won't argue or ask for a do-over), regarding what I presume the Blue boar did, I am surprised a creature with an Intelligence of 2 would have the capacity to decide to jump over what looks like mucky ground, not something pigs are typically averse to, especially as it so far had caused no harm.
Dare will stay upright due to Orc Ferocity and delay her action until Adela goes, hoping she can heal her.
BTW re: crossbows, I've added light crossbow back to my character sheet. Adela, if you can give me 10 bolts, why don't you take the fire bolts? That way we can both set things on fire. :) (Useful for funeral pyres, anyway!)
"Adela could keep it as a pe- oh, f~@+!" Dare blurts, as movement comes from the underbrush.
She moves toward the fray, pulling out her sword, and casts grease toward the two boars trying to flank them, hoping to slow their approach so they don't get swarmed.
As she starts to walk away, Dare pauses and slaps her forehead. "Wait a minute. Wasn't there a bounty on Oleg's board posted about some big ol' boar? Bit someone's leg off? What if mum is ol' Tuskgutter?"
She keeps moving slowly away but looks at the others to see what they think. "I'm not in a mood for picking a fight with somethin' just trying to protect its baby. But if this thing's taking off people's legs..."
Dare nods along and pops another blackberry in her mouth. "T'be honest, most folks I'd know dig up the grave if there was promise of good loot. That don't make it right. There's an argument to be had if we don't, someone else will, and if it's bandits who find it and use the stuff on us, that's no good. BUT. I've also got an urge to let dead men lie and leave Pharasma and her worthy servants unangered." She nods at Adela, before looking back at Yuki. "Warning's a good idea, Yuki, but what if it call attention to the grave? There's a fairly large number of folk who see 'don't do this' as an invitation to do the thing. The grave's not been molested yet, maybe would be better to let the blackberry prickles grow over it a little more?"
"We've gos some bolts that are just your style too, Dare. Magical fire!" Rhiann adds with a chuckle.
"That's nice you think of me but would it make more sense for someone to use those who can't make their own fire? Never know when we get hit by rat swarms." Dare shudders at the thought.
While we are talking about gear, I also want to note I don't necessarily want the masterwork heavy crossbow. I just want A crossbow, since I'd given mine to Yuki. If someone can make better use of it, I'd rather them have it (and then they can give me their crossbow). I just need something to use as a backup ranged weapon when spells won't do.
I'd also want the fire bolts to go to someone who can't deal elemental damage on their own.
"Enlarge person? Who wants to see 10 foot tall Rhiann take out some bandits?" Dare enthusiastically raises her hand.
She looks at Yuki, pointing at the crossbow. "You wanna keep my crossbow or use this one? Takes longer to load but packs a bigger wallop, and looks in good condition despite being abandoned. If you want mine, is it alright if I take this one--or if someone wants this, can I have theirs?"
Pouting because people got in her way before she could set anything on fire, Dare draws her sword and squeezes past Rhiann to swing her blade at the wolf. Drawing weapon combined with move, and standard to attack
Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
But the worg dodges and she slices off a bit of hair harmlessly.
"Oh, so it's bigger than I thought." Seeing the others approach the cave, she shrugs. "Alright, if you want to walk into it, I guess I won't set it on fire first. But I'm the one who actually can see in the dark, so... at least let me go first."
Dare steps in the entrance to see what her darkvision reveals.
I was planning to NOT go in and chuck the lit oil bottle in to just see what happened--does it light anything on fire? Does it scare the worg and it runs in one direction or another?. She's not going to hurl a Molotov at the party if they walk in however. Would it be okay to assume she chucks in the bottle before they go in?
