Dark Arioch's page

I got back 7AM Tuesday morning after driving all night getting back from Indianapolis. It was perfect timing to catch the full eclipse on the way! It was beyond words to witness in person. There will be another in Texas in 2024, I highly recommend it. It's been a whirlwind since then getting things going for school. We'll see if I have any spare time around my homework this weekend - still catching up with other things also.

Is it the badguys turns again?

The following is said in a helpful way and addresses some of Ferez's concerns, but also some of yours as well...

Are you thinking you are going to get to the end of this chapter without resting? I figured you were just making use of your buff spells while they lasted and then would return and rest...which you were offered and was even suggested to do. The help you are given by the NPC's is a safe place to rest and they are casting an epic spell to keep the entire city dimensionally locked and gave you the piece of the rod back. Did you expect more from them? As far as the death wards go...yeah, I figured the town was somewhat tapped because of everything going on behind the scenes (these are desperate times and everyone is pulling out all the stops) and if you really wanted it you could use one of those aforementioned wish scrolls to give it to the entire party as a mass version. It is wish. Wishes give you the choice of anything in the book just about. Or rest, rememorize and cast it yourselves. You can retreat to a safe distance, possibly luring the badguys away from the horrible font of healing. You could use you knowledge(Religion) to determine what just happened to Alie. Your upset about Dragotha? You basically almost one shotted him each round so after a couple of attempts to do something, failing, and barely staying alive he fled (which it says he does if that happens). So, no I don't think you wasted anything, it enabled you to get his hoard without suffering any loss yourselves and put the fear into him. Have you looked at how tough you are, and how much damage you dish out? Lol, just think about that a second, you were specators and basically walked through everything. Though, sunbursting the heck out of all the liches wasn't a sideline action and quite effective - kudos. I left Valgrim with his crazy mythic damage (and made all of you mythic) because I believe you all should be epic at this point, your going to fight a god (and if a few critters get completely mulched along the way because of it...than awesome!). You have Bublaka to negate the ghosts suggestion ability and they are close to being out of vampiric touches. The two nightwings that are left are not doing a whole heck of alot useful. This adventure path is notoriously one of the most deadly and crazy. In my opinion you have all done exceptionally well so far, I admire your chutzpah in trying to take the whole chapter on in one shot, but that is an incredibly tall order (I don't think any of the later chapters are possible in one shot without resting). Manzorian said his epic spell would last for a week and thought you had a little leeway timewise before Kyuss had enough strength to enter the world. Running when you get ambushed is always an option if things get too far gone, Valgrim has at least taken care of one of the ghosts for now and coming back better prepared could be good.

Valgrim, always great for a good idea. Thanks.

Alie, you have been doing fantastic and more than a few things have turned to dust because of you. I know it is tough, but you can see that we all make mistakes and are supporting each other through it.

Okay, I have more suggestions, but this is enough for one post. Good to see you all here :)

EDIT: Valgrim: One suggestion I was thinking of, and you are clearly on the same track, is...Exousia's aura acts like a protection from evil circle, which suppresses mental control. Doesn't expel the ghost but gives Alie control again. All you need is Ferez or, more likely, Bublaka to tell Exousia what happened to her. They both can easily make the Knowledge(Regilion) rolls and Bublaka had a front row seat to what just happened to her. Exousia is well aware of what her aura is capable of.

I am back from the beautiful frozen geothermal supervolcano that is Yellowstone. Survived -29 degree temperatures and driving through a windstorm in Wyoming and Colorado that litearally flipped and wrecked 18 semi-big-rigs :) I will post a little bit later today as soon as I get all my ducks in a row.

Whoohoo! My finals are done and my posting rate should now return to normal levels. Hopefully, Bub is nearing completion also.

"Yes, that won't be a problem. However, keep in mind that it will take me a few hours to start the incantation to seal Maskholm from planar travel. So, be careful of attracting too much attention too quickly while they still can get around or summon allies."

Ok, is everyone ready to head out and are there any other spells or preperations you wish to make before you go or as you arrive?

Alie: Got it and done :) Furthest you can be is 40' feet behind Valgrim. I will however mention that the spell stops you from taking further actions this round after you cast it. I am assuming you intend to do something more, so may want to do it before you cast that. Little Venk the derro was a special Dimension Door case and could take actions during the spell.

Yeah, could have made it the shortest fight ever. ::sigh:: sorry :/

Welcome, welcome, indeed you are bringing back the memories. For a blast from the past you might look up when Roylenna, Ka'kara, and Sandros made an appearance in this very Age of Worms campaign when we all went to Mida's party. Good to have you join us again :)

I've never had a moments doubt. Still going strong. The great art and them constantly pushing the envelope will keep me around for a long time yet.

That all works fine except you run into a crawler pushing it's way through the destroyed grate. It blocks your way momentarily. Luckily, it seems that Wilmot has no immediate desire to give chase.

As Valgrim flies off he could swear that Wilmot gives him an obscene gesture suggesting his mother fornicated with goblins to produce him.

Annnnnnnd that is what happens when two dwarves with abysmal charisma try and "negotiate", lol :)

Didja take a close look at Wilmot's token in Roll20? I think it captures him quite nicely :)

Valgrim takes: 3d6 + 42 - 30 ⇒ (6, 5, 4) + 42 - 30 = 27 acid from sticky splash as he leaves.

I am a slave to good art and your planetar was defined by some of the coolest art I could find. Here are a couple of pics of her:
Exousia
Exousia again

Hope you like her. Yeah, I know...no green skin, but hey sacrifices must be made...

Ferez: hint hint, you can redirect your Spiritual Weapon with a move action ;)

I'm guessing the "obvious target" for Boneshatter is the thing made from thousands of bones...the Boneyard. That's my interpretation, so going with that.

Initiative rolls:
Jalagar and Sabir Sinfire: 27
Malhazar and Blackfire: 19
Bublaka: 17
Nalhazzarath: 16
Darl Quethos: 15
Valgrim: 9
Friar Ferez: 5

Vulcan: ???
Vug Vang: ???

Placed a link on the discussion thread for a campaign map link. See if you can join.

Valgrim: Where are you keeping Krathanos' belt?

Friar Ferez: Vug drank her See Invisibility potion this morning as an edit to your list.

"I've got Vug," Vulcan says as he takes flight with a sudden gust of wind that makes everyone except the dwarf almost stumble with it's intensity. Meanwhile Bublaka's song fights back the mournful dirge of the tree uninterrupted. The Friar pauses mid-step as if finally taking note of the soothing melody...

Ok, Vulcan takes off after Vug. She has a 120' foot head start and is double moving also. So, since you mentioned Gust of Wind I would say that you can use it as a speed boost for yourself to catch up (same as haste). It'll take two castings of it to catch her and a third if you truly wish to be ahead of her. So on round 4 Vug needs to make a DC 15 strength check to move forward against your wind.

Distance from tree at end of these actions is:
Valgrim, Bublaka, and Ferez: 580' from tree
Vug Vang: 340' feet from tree before strength check (220' if check is made)
Vulcan: 280' feet from tree (220' if following Vug when/if she makes her strength check and if he makes his fly check)
(If Vug fails the strength check than she will stay at 340' and Vulcan at 280')

Friar Ferez: Please make a DC 28 will save to break the enchantment.

Vulcan: Please roll a DC 25 Reflex save (anything that helps you against strong winds will help you on the save). I think your Stormchild ability gives you a great advantage here but am not sure exactly how it interacts with magical winds. Since it says it reduces the wind by two categories (down to severe winds) perhaps it gives you a +8 to your reflex roll? Does that sound fair? Anyone's insight is welcome here.

Immediately after the sorcerer stops and sends a blast of air to stop the advancing alchemist, he finds the air around him speeds up and swirls with sudden tornado like force. At first he wonders if his spell has gone awry, but no it is some eldritch magic from the blasphemous tree...

If you fail you are caught in a Whirlwind spell and take: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 6) = 14
You must then make a second DC 25 reflex save or be picked up by the whirlwind and pulled toward the tree.

EDIT: After further research, unless it says somewhere that Stormchild doesn't effect magical winds than I will say that it automatically downgrades the whirlwind to severe winds. This means that Vulcan laughs in the face of the tornado and only has to make a DC 20 Fly check with a -8 penalty if he wants to move anywhere. His concentration check for casting spells is automatic (5+DC of spell). Ignore previously requested reflex saves Vulcan as your literally...in your element! :)

"That would be...most pleasant and welcome. Perhaps we can return your kindness with some stories or songs of our own. The Ra....Mah'ysa has a beautiful singing voice in her own right. There is a wish I have Princess Shazathared but it is not one that you can grant." The paladin turns toward Mah'ysa, "I...reached out to the Dawnflower after we fell off the ship and fell through the blackness. I have never been more frightened in all my life but having you in my arms changed that for the first time. You gave me strength....resolve....and you lit my way through the darkness. I made a promise to myself and The Dawnflower right then and there if we should survive to see the light..." The paladin drops to one knee in his long white chasuble and tunic, with several of the depicted sun images in red and gold thread partly burned away by the recent fiery battle, "Mah'ysa Alandir, the flowering flame in my heart, in this oasis in front of our friends and Princess of the Watery Realms Shazathared I pledge myself to you and ask for your pledge in return." The paladin pulls out a ring...

Name: King Nicholaedes Orlovsky
Race: Human
Classes/levels: Cavalier 16
Name: High Executioner Turin Naldiir
Race: Elf
Classes/levels: Ranger 16
Adventure: Sound of a Thousand Screams
Location: The High Folly
Catalyst: Absolutely brutal ambush by Ilthuliak the Wyrm

Just an observation but it wasn't until I read through the adventure that I came to realize that it wasn't a spine-whip wielding evil knight with the head of a dragon on the cover. I tested it out on my wife and she also thought the "headless" guy had a draconic head initially. One of those things you probably don't notice until everything has been put together for the final printing. The cover art itself is as always, awesome! Thank you Wayne Reynolds.

Since it seems this PBP is not going anywhere I just wanted to take the opportunity to say how much I have enjoyed playing with this incredible group throughout our adventures. I have many many fond memories and feel like I had a fantastic run with Sykala. Hopefully, you all are still periodically checking and will see this.

Tarren: A straight up fantastic DM. Raises a glass in toast.

Ixius: you have been there since the beginning and we had some incredible times floating down the jungle rivers on Esteban's pleasure cruise.

Korian and Jinx: I can't tell you how much fun it has been watching Korian try and stem the Chelaxian tide while discussing (and laughing) about his antics with Jinx behind his back (Thank the gods you had the little animal to set you straight so often!).

Ovirid: You always made me laugh with your matter-a-fact observations and the dwarven accent was done perfectly. The unassuming dwarf will always remain a truly fond memory always getting himself in over his head (with this group how could you avoid it?!) but coming out of it through sheer dwarven toughness in the end.

Refina: I felt our religious similarities and differences had a lot of mileage left in them and am just sorry we didn't have more time to explore them. You, however, seemed often to be a sole voice of reason reining in some of the more hot-headed members of our lil party (I am not counting myself out of that group).

I feel I must give an honorable mention to Asim. ::moment of silence::

and to Esteban, that snake would have outlived us all...

::Her hair being tussled by an unfelt breeze the druidess gives you all big hugs before slowly dissolving into little cloudy wisps of wind that slowly disappear into up the sky and sunset...::

P.S. don't worry she got you all out of the pyramid with her burrow spells ;)

But due to how things played out, Dovan and a majority were sent off by the "stag lord." I'm working in them running into the lagging PC, capturing him, connecting dots, and assaulting the PCs.

LOL, I like the way you think. The capturing of the PC (assuming they can pull it off) is a great twist. You might even have them set up an ambush instead of assaulting with the captured PC as bait. Things get tricky when the enemy gets to set up the place of battle and knows your coming, especially if the prisoner is in some sort of danger at the same time.

At first I thought 'Meh, what do I need population numbers for? I have general information in that area at that should be enough'. However, I am finding the information extrapolated from the populations very interesting and can really see this adding to the overall 'feel' of the world. Making it a more dynamic place instead of a more static one. So when I throw a marauding orc army into the mix I can get a real feel for it's impact.

A question regarding Varisia (spoilers from first 3 adventure paths):