Druiffic's page

Yeah, sorry for the delay. The continued trauma of the American experience layered atop the new semester starting to make me completely forget about fun games and creativity. :/

shambles, blinking at the sudden light, from Betwixtmas cave

Sandstone gasps as Scratch falls to the cave floor. He immediately clutches his sagebrush and pinyon, thrusts it defiantly over his head, and shouts in a voice that sounds like the wind. As he does so, he remembers seeing desiccated, disjointed skeletons in his beloved desert, and projects this memory into his totem.

A warm wind suddenly blows from nowhere, smelling of sun-baked stone and sagebrush. Glowing sands, carried on the wind, blast the skeletons and settle gently on everyone's wounds.

Heal: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

◈◈◈ Heal

Some rules-lawyering here: I've drawn a circle on the map under the assumptions that "30-foot emanation" means 30-foot radius and that each grid square is 5 feet. If either of those is incorrect, please feel free to resize the circle appropriately. I'm pretty sure also that the circle has to be centered on me.

Secondly, I've attached the inspire bonus to the Heal roll on the theory that it is a damage roll to the skellingtons. Maybe the +1 bonus shouldn't apply to how much hp the living party regenerates. Either way, I think we all (except Scratch) are back to full hp, with this roll.

Finally, I think this removes Scratch's dying condition since he is now at nonzero hp.

If I have low-light vision, do I need lights of some sort?

Sandstone cups his hands in front of his mouth and blows into them. Like dandelion seeds, four small lights emerge and waft gently across the cavern.

◈◈ Dancing Lights

What are the mechanics for healing around a long rest? Do I just keep rolling medicine checks each hour? I spent my hero point during the fight, btw.

Sandstone sighs and settles down by the fire. "That could have gone a lot better," he grumbles, only mollified slightly by Loola's small yet mighty hug. He busies himself by making a few more herbal poultices and applying them to the various clawmarks amongst the scars littering his lean frame.

natural medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

The poultices don't seem to have their usual effect, though. Maybe the herbs in this desert just have different potencies, he thinks to himself miserably.

ayfkm these jerks are AC 18???

I'd also like to restore focus. And whoever else needs hp can feel free to roll me for it.

Sandstone rushes to Loola's side, heedless of his own wounds, fumbling in his bandoliers for his healing herbs.

Natural Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

I think that's a critical success! Roll 4d8!

Breathing a sigh of relief, Sandstone settles back and treats his own wounds.

Natural Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Or not.

"I really, really want to know where that cat took that goblin," Sandstone growls. He starts casting about for traces of goblin blood or cat prints.

Track: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

seriously with these rolls

Sandstone takes several rapid, deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart, trying to still his blood, trying to hear the voice of the wind. In a sudden gust, the memory of Basuro Village drenches his senses: the scent of pine, the sound of children laughing, the brightness of snow, the sharp cold of a snowball hitting his fa--

Sandstone opens his eyes and smiles wickedly.

Breathing his thanks to the wind, he cups his hands around empty space, then blows between his thumbs. From the other side of his hands, paradoxical in the desert heat, his breath emerges as fog, then becomes a crystalline sparkle, then becomes powdery snow. He opens his hands to reveal a perfectly spherical, perfectly frozen snowball. Asking once more for the wind's guidance, he throws it with all his strength at the remaining cat.

◈ Guidance
◈◈ Snowball

spell attack (snowball), inspired, guidance: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 17

thank the wind!! that better be a hit.

snowball damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

Yellow cat also takes a -5-foot speed penalty for 1 round.

Ok, I'm going to assume that Bloo is stabilized by that action and do another thing.

Watching the orange cat escape into the darkness, Sandstone howls in frustration. He steps toward the yellow cat and channels his rage into two clawed punches.

claw attack, inspired: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11
claw damage (slashing), inspired: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

claw attack, iterative, inspired: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 12
claw damage (slashing), inspired: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

This is not going great, pals

Sandstone, growling, dashes in the wake of the goblin-dragging orange cat and launches a furious assault with his claws.

claw attack, inspired: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
claw damage (slashing), inspired: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

claw attack, inspired, iterative: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 11
Yikes, hero point reroll.
claw attack, inspired, iterative: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 16
claw damage (slashing): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

◈ Stride
◈ Strike
◈ Strike

first of all, "crunch orc" is genuinely hilarious; secondly, aw hell, I didn't realize they could climb over fences

"Cat in the tents!!!!" Sandstone yells in a panic. He rushes to the orange cat, growing claws and trailing sand that evaporates before it hits the ground. He delivers a fierce blow as he arrives.

claw attack, inspired: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 17
claw damage (slashing), inspired: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

◈ Stride
◈ Cast wild morph
◈ Strike

Sorry for delays in posting. I caught some real-life aggro over the weekend.

Breathing heavily, Sandstone turns to Muckmuck. "Do they always target the wagons like this? Do they ever take things from the wagons, or do they just --" he gestures expansively "-- ruin them?"

Hi people, and thanks for your patience! In case you're curious: (a) Since I'm back to teaching in earnest, this slipped my mind until Bloo messaged me, and then (b) yesterday we had a large windstorm that knocked out power / internet for lots of people across the city. Fortunately my power never went out (for more than about five seconds, anyway), but my internet was down until just this morning.

Anyway, I'm excited to continue our adventures together!

Sandstone limps along behind the others, quietly nursing his sprained dignity, cursing his acting luck. Next time there is any sort of performance, he thinks, I'm staying well out of it.

-- oasis time!

The oasis is an intriguing biome. From his background in the desert he fiercely loves, Sandstone knows the importance of water, and the curious truce between predator and prey that usually prevails around watering holes. A gentle breeze blows over the water, and Sandstone turns into it, opening his senses to any information it carries.

Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Sandstone bows deeply to Dorobu, honored by his kind gift.

Later, after some clandestine and rather unsuccessful sword practice, he casually mentions to the rest of the party, "Would anyone find this sword usefu -- Bloo I don't think that's a good idea --"

Dorobu grabs at Sandstone. "Oh crap. I am hearing the trees. What's happened to me? I'm a wizard, not a druid!" He looks pleadingly at Sandstone. "Aren't I?"

Sandstone smiles again. "Well," he replies, "it's clear you have a deep connection with nature. A jade relic called to you; you animated the snowmen; your roots are deep in the Forest of Spirits. What you do with that connection, though, is up to you."

He pauses, breathing deeply, listening to the wind in the trees, feeling the gentle hum of spring, watching Dorobu struggle with conflicting emotions.

"I can't tell you what to choose," Sandstone says after a long while. "The best advice I can give is: Be true to yourself, and care about others."

"Oh," he says, as a new thought strikes him, "and when someone tells you that you must choose between two things, consider that another answer might be neither -- or both."

He winks, and perhaps due to the lingering influence of the kami, it's the best wink he's ever done.

◈ Strike
◈◈ produce flame (S,V)

Claw attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 = 26 Heyo!
Slashing damage (crit): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10
Produce Flame attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Dang.
Fire damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Sandstone grits his teeth and swipes at BIG GREEN with his claws, sinking deeply into the bark. He then conjures up a ball of flame, but his fingers are a little stiff from the cold and the snow and the ball goes out like a blown-out match.

Sandstone catches Tess's flanking maneuver out of the corner of his eye. Through his connection with the kami, he gently suggests to the trees that they might attempt to aid her.

Nature: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13

Sandstone bows to Ti Lan and Lin Po and heads off after Scratch. Thinking of something, he stops and points out a particular tree. "The leaves of that tree are good for helping bruises fade." He attempts to wink but it's not great as he's out of practice. "I call it bruiseleaf."

omg grams "shoo bad dog" looolllll

Sandstone grows claws and runs toward the nearest stone dog. While running, he calls on the memories granted to him by the kami to see if he can learn anything about the natural forces that might be animating the stone dogs.

Nature: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18

◈ wild morph
◈ Stride
◈ Nature check

I should have noted the replenishment of my focus point when we slept at the village but forgot, so now I'm just back down to 0/1.

Sandstone lies on his back, panting, staring wide-eyed into the clouds. "That was amazing," he says, "and I know where the relic is."

He explains the spirit's tale to the rest of the party, then frowns thoughtfully. "I wonder if the fox boy animated those dogs like he animated the snowmen."

Sandstone nods to the spirit inside. It's not right, is it? he thinks. He tries to picture the energy of spring, but sped up, jerky, too much.

He imagines a small creek, and he imagines himself walking upstream, tracing the flow back and back as the creek shrinks until he comes upon the spring. Sending this picture to the kami, he asks, Do you know where the source is?

Thanks to the villagers' inspiration, I made congee

Hello! This may need to be updated after Spirit Road but here's details for now.

Player Druiffic
Character Name Sandstone
OPF Number 2389507-2001
Faction Verdant Wheel
Downtime Earn Income (Herbalism Lore)
Current XP 5
Current Fame 3
Reputation with Verdant Wheel 3
Reputation with Vigilant Seal 2
Training Swords 2 Spells 1
Training items minor healing potion

omg now i'm fully craving congee and it's all ur fault

To approximate his native warmth, Sandstone swaddles himself in furs until he is fully round. Tramping gamely through the snow, he remarks to his companions, "What the villagers said makes sense. When I touched one of the trees here, there was too much energy. Maybe it is the relics?"

I'm back!

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Sandstone's strike is quick enough that he manages not to be enstickened by Red's sap! He steps forward, bares his fangs, and takes two more swipes at the Blue Spruce.

claw attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23
slashing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
claw attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 - 4 = 14
slashing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

◈ Stride
◈ Strike
◈ Strike

I'm back and about to post in gameplay! The Fox, this was actually to Colorado -- we picked up some stuff we bought at my husband's cousin's auction and said hi to his mom, whose birthday is today.

Scratch, I'm so sorry. Thinking about you and yours. <3

GM Hmm, I think I've done the session tracker thing. You should be able to find me as Sandstone (2389507).

I have no strong preferences about scenarios to run, so Lions sounds as legit as anything. :)

Hey pals, I'ma be traveling (as safely and masked and socially-distanced as possible!) tomorrow through Monday evening. I will probably be able to check in in the evenings, but please feel free to bot me without compunction. :)

@Sandstone: Add another die to your crit. Also, add your Strength bonus to your damage (twice for the crit). Also, also, you are adjacent to the Red pine (and flanking with Tess), not the Blue pine.

Thanks for the catches, and thanks for your patience with me learning the Pathfinder mechanics! Okay, so here's the 1 that I previously rolled, plus the strength bonus, plus the new damage dice, plus 1 more strength bonus.

crit damage (slashing): 1 + 1 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ 1 + 1 + (4) + 1 = 7

So as Loola pointed out this should be 7 slashing to Red Pine.

Sandstone gasps as the shock of Yanu's injury hits him, cold and sharp as an icy snowball to the face. He runs immediately to the child's side and begins pulling healing herbs from various pockets of his bandolier. He makes as soothing of noises as he possibly can as he quickly works to splint the child's leg.

Natural Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Diplomacy (untrained): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

He breathes a sigh of relief as he finds that it's just a simple fracture that will probably knit well together.

Just at this moment, Sandstone is plastered by a sudden barrage of snowballs from Bloo's new gang of friends. He falls over as comically as he can, doing a big flail of his arms and implanting himself headfirst into the nearest snowbank.

Performance (untrained): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19

As the party travels through the forest, Sandstone, like Tess, is lost in wonder at the natural surroundings. A child of the desert, he's never seen anything so lush, so thickly covered with such immense trees. He often pauses to place a reverent hand on a particularly venerable pine, gazing rapt up into its branches, then rushing to catch up with his friends.

-----

Sandstone bows deeply to the woman, coming back up just in time to catch an errant snowball directly in the face. He laughs and shakes his head like a dog, sending slush flying in all directions.

Keeping an ear toward Grams's conversation -- as he's fascinated by the prospect of meeting the forest spirits -- he peers more closely at the animated snow men. Recalling the many wonders he's carefully observed in the forest during their travel, he wonders if they're a natural phenomenon or something more arcane.

Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Calling a three day break. I have a freelance deadline on the 24th, and I need to push everything into it.

Sandstone casts guidance to assist with GM Hmm's Earn Income (Freelance Writing Lore) roll. <3

haven't had sushi since March for Obvious Reasons and now feeling a certain way about it

Sandstone was delighted to find a kimono in precisely the color of the red rocks he calls home, simply but beautifully embroidered in gold thread. He leans back in his chair, deeply relaxed by the delicious food, the calming tea, and Tess's conviviality.

Despite his relaxed posture, though, he listens to Venture Captain Li's report with hawklike focus. "The kami sound like the desert spirits. Particular, devoted, intensely and incomprehensibly wild. They will not go out of their way to start trouble -- they seem to have other concerns that they find more important. But if they are provoked, or if trouble is started, they will not hesitate to finish it. Iqu is right: we would do well to seek out those who know best how to honor these spirits."

Realizing that this is perhaps the most words he has spoken in one go in perhaps his entire life, and feeling the surprised eyes of his friends on him, Sandstone flushes a little and busies himself with another rice ball.

The idea of a tiny goblin with +7 to Intimidate is genuinely hilarious to me.

I'm going to take a crack at Area 4.

Sandstone draws himself up to his considerable full height and bares his considerable teeth. Summoning every memory of desolate wilderness to make himself look as considerably wild as possible, he growls at those in the immediate area: "This does not concern you."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

haha beans. I'm gonna take a hero point on that one.

Intimidate (reroll): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Sandstone raises his glass of rum. "To the wind," he says, blows gently over the top, and drinks. He clanks his glass back on the table and says, "Oh, I definitely like rum."

Following Captain Fane's lead, he slurps an oyster out of its shell. His eyes widen in surprise as he chews. "It tastes like when we jumped out of the boat!" He swallows, pauses, considers, then reaches for another. "Oysters are good."

Next, he picks up his beer and essays a swig. A panoply of expressions cross his face. "Hmm," he says, and carefully places his beer back on the table.

I'm no good at lying and no good at games, so I think I'll sit back on High Tide and let people with any CHA go. :)

Sandstone pours Hmm a congratulatory shot of Very Good Turtle Rum.

Sandstone sniffs the rum dubiously. His eyes widen. Casting prestidigitation, he produces a very small cup made of mystical sand from nowhere and pours himself a small amount. "Wow," he coughs. "I think I like rum."

As the others head off toward the Crow's Nest, Sandstone pours another shot into the cup. He hands the cup to Kreidoros and winks. It's slightly more natural this time.

Sandstone, made deeply uncomfortable by the emotional conversation, busies himself by taking his own crack at the crate which he definitely noticed GM Hmm posting about before everyone else started posting about trying to force it open.

Athletics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Enstrengthened by his embarrassment, he manages to wrest the lid free to reveal several bottles. He runs his fingers over the turtle embossed in the wax seal on the bottle of rum. "It's beautiful!"

Sandstone stands bedraggled on the sandbar. He raises one arm to shoulder height and watches the water drip off. "Wet," he observes grimly.

Player: Druiffic
Character Name: Sandstone
OPF Number: 2389507-2001
Faction: Verdant Wheel
Downtime (usually earn income): earn income (herbalism lore)
Current XP: 4
Current Fame: 4
Reputation with current faction: 4 (spending 2 to buy a wayfinder)
Reputation with Vigilant Seal: 2

Boons: I'm buying a wayfinder and thanks for the suggestion!

earlier:

Sandstone ponders Tess's question. "I haven't met him, but I may know him. He is nameless in his current crew --" he shakes his head angrily "-- Dog is no name for a man -- and it is hard for him to be who he is."

He pauses, staring at the stage, seeing nothing from the present moment. "Yes, I think I know him well." He smiles grimly, still lost in memories.

Coming back to the present moment, he turns back to Tess. "He could do well with the Pathfinders." His smile becomes more genuine. "That's why I left directions to the Grand Lodge along with the maps." He winks, clumsily, as if he's still learning how to do it.

on the ship:

Sandstone is awestruck by Venture Captain Calisro. It's his first time meeting a half-orc in a position of any power.

During one particularly-raucous storytelling session, he sidles up to Tess. Pointing unobtrusively at Calisro, he says, "Dog could do very well with the Pathfinders." He smiles, and thinks to himself, So can I.

genuinely hilarious that not a one of us thought of using the hat of disguise that GM Hmm went to great lengths to deliver to us, sticking it to my back with a crocodile tooth, for probably exactly this purpose

Sandstone produces bouquets of various plants and herbs from his collection and from whatever he can scrounge up from outdoors. He places them in various locations in the theater to bring a link to the natural world.

craft, untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 15

He stands back and casts a critical eye over his work. "Not bad."

"The ghoul is for his truth, and for sunlight." Sandstone grins. "The bunny suit is for fun."

Sandstone nudges Loola, who he knows will make a better performance of this than he will. "Tell them about... the dragon dogs!"

Sandstone nods in agreement with the others. "Secrets serve no one. If Goodman Hugen is truly good, then he can he can weather this wind. Let the sun reveal what is true."

"A rib, you say, Grams? I have just the thing!" Sandstone produces another herb from his bandolier. "I call it ribweed."

Natural Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Sandstone is decidedly creeped out by the watery voice inside the wall, but equally curious, surrounded and emboldened by his new friends. He peers into the darkness over Tess's shoulder to see if he can get a better glimpse of what fresh horror this might be.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

I hope me healing Grams didn't infect her with my bad dice luck!! I'm happy to wait and do another Medicine.

Sandstone feels at a loss. Carefully crafted chambers and mosaics and statues of demon lords are well out of his element. He holds his sagebrush and pinyon to his heart and thinks about wind and stone.

I started writing this whole long post in the gameplay thread but I think it belongs better over here.

One reason I've appreciated occasional botting and weapons primers is that I'm also just figuring out the basics of PF2 -- especially how the three actions can work. It's been very instructive to see lots of different people with different action sets do different stuff.

In general I'd just like to say thank you to everyone for their patience and generosity with a beginner (TT)RPGer! <3

I'm not in GenCon Online so no worries for me on that front.

I'm down for anything -- this is in fact my first PF2 experience!

Relatedly, I have a mechanics question: When, in general, do spell slots and focus points reset? I used one of each in the dragon dogs fight and I'm not sure if I'd have them back by now.

Survival DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Sandstone casts a practiced eye across the rocky beach looking for tracks, finding absolutely nothing. "The stones are quiet. Nobody has stepped here for a long time."

He peers at the pale green rocks, delighted by the color so different from his native red. A thought strikes him and he holds one of the rocks next to his skin. "Not quite!" he laughs.