I say we keep going.Our cleric only has 1 channel left and our warpriest only has 1 spell left.
That seems like a big risk if we run into another threat similar to the wraith we just faced.
Not to worry, death is only the beginning of this game....
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Well. at least he does bleed rather than giving negative levels. That really would be a killer. I would have adjusted that s++#, that's absurd at low levels. --- Sergei is correct, the other fights are tough too not to mention the ones I homebrewed..... Key Take Away, feel free to leave and come back if you need to! Ravengro is right there.
My work cup runneth over, plus the wife wanted some attention tonight and my update to my Vamp game ran longer than I expected it to. I will be hitting the update to move us forward tomorrow night, will spend the last bit of awake time I have taking a look at what's next though as I believe this is the first spot of significant modification from the AP...
OK, so, it seems that I have been able to replace our Tiefling with... another Tiefling! If this proves to be the case, well for ease of brining our new PC in we're going to just assume that new PC was always the same old PC from inception. Pick your trope I suppose from Suspiciously Similar Substitute to Replacement Scrappy OR Rescued From the Scrappy Heap any way you look at it, I think that's the easiest introduction of this potential new PC. We can just have them walk back in having seen the Kobold head in and decide that, just in case the little guy is a threat they had to warn the group etc etc and decide to stay instead of go back to town after all. This Tiefling has prehensile tail too! Our prior Tiefling didn't post too much, or fight, so I think this is a fine way to make the switch. This is the last person that expressed interest at the time of recruitment. Anyone else that drops (hopefully none of you!) will not be replaced unless we have some serious attrition.
For anyone who speaks Varisian, the Vistani language has significant similarities. It's kinda like the difference between English and Scots. The grammar and sentence structure are the same, and there's a lot of overlapping words, but the dialectic and usage differences are broad enough that it's basically a distinct language. Anyone with points in linguistics can tell that at one point they were probably the same language. Per your query re language Aisling.
I may bring in one more character to fill the original ranks. If this one does not work out, I have no plans to recruit further as there is no one else that expressed interest in the original Recruitment thread.
FYI, I added the House Rules for Hero Points to the Campaign Tab for ease of reference.
Why are we going down the hole before we've finished clearing the top level? I say why question it! :-)
With Vaneza AND Alain both having not posted in some time, I will bring in a new PC, probably next week. Considering a second PC as well, but have yet to reach out as of yet.
I'll be posting up more through the day.
OK, the journals will be heavy duty posting and writing, I'll get to them on a rolling basis over the next few days!
Alain is the silent type anyway so moved along we have!
Ok Rags, good luck!
At Grimburrow's comment about 'Violence begets violence', Sterling turns his head towards Cole and Teofila, so that his eyeroll will not be seen by the Father.
I like most of the ideas, over the weekend I'll formalize something and post. Last weekend was super busy, I will have some time tomorrow night and get to this. Just wanted to let you know I did not forget.
Everyone but the potential Swashbuckler appears to be 99 to 100% completed. I will start Gameplay this Friday evening! Let me know if you have any questions about backgrounds I posted above.
I passed out early last night, will be doing some reviews tonight. One last PC I am waiting for to be completed.
Considering the delayed opening on this movie, it had better be good... As of right now we have: 1) _Bastian 'Ogre' Zorovich - Aasimar(angelblooded) Bloodrager.
In the works: 5) Rags Pharasman Cleric almost done.
Still Outstanding: 7) Mystery Player 2 (Still Contemplating the Invite). I am going to open this up to Recruitment as Private Recruitment has been much more difficult than I expected it to be. I'll take 8, if we get a drop, so be it.
Kartakass - the Gorge - the Ziggurat The group heads to the Ziggurat and they do indeed see what Twang described. With the lack of ability to hide as well as Twang did, the Raven headed statue begins to turn towards the group watching your approach!
OK, there is enough interest to continue and so we shall.
I know we have been slow for a while so I wanted to gauge interest in continuing here. Only 4 PCs and still a bit slow. We all still up for this?
All the group knows is that this is where the Crown was rumored to be. Who has it and what they are doing with it was never revealed only that the place was dangerous. And it is clearly a horrific place though it not become dangerous, yet.
Kartakass - the Gorge Twang nearly disappears in the shadows of the Gorge allowing Vasilios to conserve his arcane energies. To the right Twang enters the end of this box canyon, and sees a huge rib cage embedded into the clay canyon floor. The ribs stick some 15' out of the ground and they all arch up to a large bone plate. It looks as if the creature that these bones had come from had some sort of shell covering it. Within the rib cage is a pile of men and women in various stages of decay and rot. Although even a large man could walk between the ribs, none of them are doing so. Around the rib cage are several decayed stumps that seem to be dangled in nets crafted from thick vines. It is hard to tell if any of these souls are alive or whether all are undead, the only thing he knows for sure is that it is a scene of horror. To the left Twang sees a four story ziggurat of adobe topped with a large raven statue rises some 50' upwards. The raven's head is even with the tops of the canyon walls. It is currently facing in his direction. Upon each of the landings below the raven are skeletal guards standing at motionless, silent attention. You can hear the wind moan as it blows through their bleached bones. Each is holding a spear tipped with a slender bone blade. Black raven feathers fluttering in the breeze adorn the spear shafts and head bands of these deadly guards. Twang returns to the group, scouting complete but with only grim tidings...
Map finally up!
Kartakass - the Gorge Nadima shivers, "Do any of you have a spell to scout ahead or do any of you have skills to scout unseen?"
Kartakass - the Gorge It occurs to all of you that the moment you were in sight of this area, the drumming ceased. It became such a background drone that its disappearance took a moment to register. Odd...
Kartakass - the Gorge The heroes proceed forward once more. The stake and skull marked path you have been following leads ahead and opens up to surround a large dark oak tree. You have a distinct feeling that something dark and sinister is watching you. Looking up, you can see the dark forms of giant crows circling high above you. Their haunting cries echo through the canyon like the spiteful laughter of a ghost. To your right, is an opening in the Gorge which thereafter forks left and right once more. To your left is situated the tree, what is past it is hard to see in the gloom. Perception DC 19: Atop the cliffs from this vantage you see large skeletons looming above, they do not seem to be looking at your group directly, just staring ahead. The passing cloud cover reveals them in its grey's as the skeletons are all painted black as night. There are several spread at 100' intervals atop the walls above the gorge.
Kartakass - the Gorge As you continue to walk deeper into the Gorge, you hear a distant booming sound. Perhaps thunder? Ravens feast on the carcasses of what appear to be relatively fresh bodies hanging from the butte's. They eye you with a stare that you mistake for hatred but can an animal foster such feelings for the living it has never seen before? Still you press on, the last 100' of the cavern becomes darker still and more macabre. Here the walls are lined with countless dead hanging upon wooden stakes. The Gorge narrows as you near what is perhaps the end but to what will it lead? The booming is louder still as you approach.
Kartakass - the Gorge The lower road would appear to be the safest bet if being effected by storms is the group concern and so it is the lower road taken by the heroes. Dark Powers ONLY:
Perception Over a 10 is a success. Entering the maw of this forsaken region, you notice hard nodes of rust red dirt. In fact, not a rock can be seen in this area of the gorge. Everything is made of sun baked, wind swept, brick-like mud. The canyons are quite square with sheer vertical walls of hardened adobe. Most are between 15' and 40' deep. The ridges between the canyons are only lightly rounded while the canyon floors are very square. At the bottom of the canyons are small, dried up streams that trace white patterns in the baked earth. The very feeling of death seems to seep from the ground in this place. Even the hottest desert would seem more alive than these desolate canyons. High up in the sky you can see a great crow riding the wind currents in lazy, graceful circles. It seems to be the only other living thing in sight. As you get deeper into the gorge along a beaut is a wooden post you assume somehow hammered into the earth. Hanging from it is a set of manacles that you from afar mistook as wretched vegetation but as you get closer you realize is a corpse with its tattared clothes buffeted by the winds making it look like wretched vegetation. For at least a quarter of a mile these posts are placed at every beaut. A not so subtle warning that to enter this place is to die. Nadima stares up in horror, "What is this place and who would do such a thing to these people? The Chelaxians are kinder to their foes..."
I know that Nezter and Carella are active in other games I run, let's see when they check in over here. After how bad the boards were in the fall I'm never sure if games are updating for people or not these days.
For the short sword, I'd like a sword of wounding, if you approve. I was looking into all kinds of serious until I noticed that I was in the homebrew section of the wiki. Approved.
Kartakass - the Gorge Out here, there are not many options, perhaps in the Gorge there may be. The storm is unlike anything Twang has ever seen, or heard of, literally it appears to be raining lightning bolts! It dances ever closer to your position as you watch it comes quite swiftly, giving the group the urge to rush somewhere anywhere. Then as suddenly as it charged towards the Gorge it dissipates leaving the horizon bleak one more. Whatever it is, it is not natural, at least not where any of you hail from. Vanifirous did mention that different Realms produce oddities such as this though. It seems that it is lucky that the Gorge is as far as your group needs to go...
Kartakass - the Gorge Khalid sighs and looks at the group, "I have lost too many already, my people, the Vistani are here somewhere. I am going to seek them out and find my own way out. I bid you all good luck but I will not go forward to a dark place for a stranger". --- Two days after leaving Khalid behind in Harmonia and taking a boat to close in on the place where they have been asked to go the small crew, including Nadima, arrive in the area that seems to be the location of the Gorge. To the east is the land of Bluetspur, the change form one land to another is quite striking. As much as the stone of this area in Kartakass is bereft of vegetation, the next land over seems almost scoured of life as opposed to bereft. It is dark here in Kartakass but this land of Bluetspur it seems even darker though it is less than 100' away from you! In the distance are lighting strikes and a low rumbling thunder. The gorge slants downward into a dark space. It appears that you can head into a valley within the gorge or take a high road in the upper cliffs. Nadmia shivers, "Ahead I see a gorge. I am not sure what we will face but we may wish to enter this place prepared or is it too soon?"
Kartakass - Vanifirous nods, "I do indeed have some travel supplies I can spare. I will wait here in Harmonia unless you need to return north? I assume you came from Skald as they are really the only two cities within Kartakass to speak of".
Kartakass - Vanifirous frowns, "You seem to know little of what you get yourself into. I do not seek to offend as I find myself in the same predicament with great frequency. Dark forces lurk in the shadows and in the light, what little light there is, in these realms. I seek to sell you nothing but I am well provisioned from my latest journey and may have resources I can share with those who seek to right wrongs and fight the good fight. I am loathe to do so if you are unsure what if any dangers you may be facing". He slings his backpack over his shoulder and draws two items, a wand and a short sword. "I am not entirely sure what these do but you may have them, especially if you will agree to journey one day to meet with the Doctor".
Kartakass - He nods, "To where will this adventure take you? Are you sure your group is well equipped for such a quest?"
Kartakass - "I fear I have gievn you the wrong impression, the good Doctor is in Darkon, my homeland. I was simply reaching out to ascertain whether we could work together at some point. If you've no purpose here and are merely wandering I can certainly lead you through to Darkon to meet with him now".
Kartakass - "Yes, Doctor Rudolph van Richten".
Kartakass - The man responds, "No, I was born in Darkon. Most peoples were either born in these lands or were "brought" here by some calamitous when these lands formed. It's... complicated. So few can see such patterns as if there is some force at work that makes the appearance of new locations seamless. Some sort of normalizing hypnotic trance is what the Doctor believes it to be. Those from the outside are more readily able to identify the oddities experienced in this place. Yes, we know of some who found their way home though we know of more who died trying. Where are you currently heading?"
Kartakass - The shadowy figure laughs at Nezter, "That's a funny one, I'll have to remember it". He pauses for a moment at Vasilios and Twang's suspicions, "I understand your trepidation. Strangers arriving in a strange land, though by far not the strangest lands on this continent I can assure you, and a cloaked figure asks you to step into a dark alley with but a gesture. A reason to be suspicious is not outright hostile. Your manner of dress and selection of weaponry gives your presence as strangers away, especially in Harmonia. I am Vanifirous Gortndam. I hail from a nearby land, to the north named Darkon. I work with a man who has spent many years trying to understand the very questions you are likely asking yourselves. How did I come here? Why did I come here? How do I return? We have few answers but we are always seeking out those who would be willing to aid us. Perhaps in helping us, we can help you?"
Slow going as we have been I've got a number of interesting Ravenloft adventures to run so we'll be the tortoise and not the hare...
Kartakass - As you enter the dusty alleyway the shadowy figure, who is half-way towards the other side of this open alley, raises a hand as if you have come close enough, "You are strangers in this land. Some of you I have seen before, others I have not. How have you come here and why do you return to Harmonia?"
Kartakass - The cloaked figure pulls back into the alleyway slowly and ever so slightly beckons your group to follow.
Kartakass - The group rests for the evening at Maria's home and over the next day makes their way back to Harmonia. Horseback speeds the ride back this time! As the group once more enters Harmonia Vasilios and Twang find the reception form the locals non-existent. The trip to the general store is a bland interaction with the merchant grunting at questions though the store does have in stock your needs.
As you exit the building the afternoon grows dark with ominous clouds overhead. Perception DC 20: You see a cloaked figure standing at the corner of a nearby building paying the group more attention than you have seen from any other local.
I will get the group to Harmonia tomorrow.
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