Yeah thanks everyone and my apologize I am going to have to archive this game -- in few days -- as I simply cannot at this time move things forward. Life has just gotten even more and I can no longer handle doing this and doing life.
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Yes *sigh* RL and issues continue to sap me but I keep revisiting this trying to push through my current funk to get the next post up. My apologies being without a job has impacted me far more emotionally than I thought it would or even outwardly notice that it does. That and I have been trying to drum up a few more players to move things forward with PCs rather than filling with NPCs thought I had two more but they disappeared.
Critzible if you are still there and still interested how about taking something that will get you a boating skill -- maybe Boating (instead of Riding) and Profession [Mariner] or [Sailor] Tara Ravenheart are you still interested? Ricka PF are you still interested?
Salaha:
Salaha has read quite a bit about a Shub-Niggurath cult and konw that they was a mystical oriented nature, sexual-love, fertility cult of some sort that pre-existed the Old Faith which makes it at least about two elven generations ago, give or take a few centuries. This cult was centered around this area and worshipped a chaos great old one called Shub-Niggurath who was also called the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young or the All-Mother of the Metaphysical Mound. From some of those writings a creature resembling this one but much larger is described as one of those young or was at least believed to be one of those young or at least it was somehow associated with this cult of Shub-Niggurath in some way. The Elven records do not go into to much detail about the religion beyond it being considered truly an-goth (translated literally means "very wrong" but for an Elf that would mean more like "VERY wrong") but not necessarily evil. These cultist were also known to have powerful magicks that they used to change things in an-goth ways which might explain why these human-like humanoids seemed to be able to live as long or perhaps even longer than Elves. These cultist seemed to have a fairly advanced society with a very strange language that is no longer spoken any where that the Elves are aware of. Further, what ultimately happened to these cultists is also unclear as they just seemed to disappear and the an-goth nature of their forests and swamps receded to much smaller pockets in fairly remote regions. Besides some vague records about them the Elven libraries do not contain much detailed information about them. Mainly perhaps because due to the strangeness of their forests and swamps, most Elves did not venture to far into them and it was said that some that did never returned. Although they were not recorded as having passed the veil either. They were just never seen or heard of again, either in this world or the fae realm (aka passing the veil). Dáin:
Dáin has read about these creatures, these Dark Young of Shub-Niggurath, as not only do they appear above ground but they exist below ground as well. These horrifying creatures are chaos outsiders that come from deep within the chaos realms and are seemingly made of ropy tentacles that are quite resilient to both blunt and piercing weapons but can be affected by slashing ones. Some of these creatures stand as tall as large trees upon their eight stumpy, hooved legs which allow them to move twice as fast as a Dwarf. Further while in this current state they are easy to spot but they can assume a state where they are nearly impossible to differentiate between them and an actual tree (and yes there are places underground where certain fungi trees grow). There mass of tentacles which they use to grab and enwrap their victims protrude from their trunks about where a head would normally be, and end in puckered maws that drip green sap-like goo that they use to sap the strength out of even the most virile of Dwarf. Above these tentacles are antler-like branches upon which they often hang still living creatures that have been drained of their strength via those mouths whereupon they continue to torture their minds until they finally perish. The whole mass of these things smells very much like an open old grave full of dead bodies. These creatures have to be summoned to this world by followers of Shub-Niggurath and they often preside over ceremonies to Shub-Niggurath. This summoning usually requires some form of humanoid scarifice upon a stone altar. They are known to have other abilities such the ability to move freely regardless of the impediment magical or otherwise. They can also seemingly walk upon air if they desire and they can control plants getting them to do just about anything they seem to desire. Further they seem to have an ability to travel nearly instantly over great distances when they are amoungst trees. They have been known to drive even the most grounded Dwarf to insanity somehow and they seem highly resistant to acid, electricity, fire and poison as well as other physical and mental effects. However, due to their mass they are not overly nimble. Now while they seem to have the ability to see well within dim lighting they also seem to have a means of noticing things when no light is present. It is believed that these creatures have strange secret knowledge that they impart to their cults to which they often seem to serve as guardians for. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Grün slashes deeply into the tentacle that is currently holding him but is not able to sever it completely. Salaha attempts to get free of the mouth that has a hold of her but fails. Dragon attempts to bite the tentacle attacking Salaha and misses. William fires off a Magic Missile that streaks out and strikes the mass of the creature that is about 10 feet away from the boat. Jazlyn attempts to get free of the mouth that has a hold of her and succeeds. Dáin casts Divine Favor on himself granting him an improved ability in combat against his opponents. Stone struggles but manages to keep the boat from capsizing on the group. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The tentacle attacking Grün attempts to wrap him up and pin him but loses purchase and Grün is no longer Grappled and due to the creatures error Grün has an opening that he can exploit The tentacle attacking Salaha attempts to wrap her up and pin her and does so squeezing her in the process and the mouth seems to just start to draw out her essences
The tentacle attacking Jazlyn switches targets and goes after William giving Jazlyn an opening as it basically ignores her. The tentacle strikes at William but bounces off the magical field protecting him. The final tentacle that is near Dáin continues to try to capsize the boat. Mid Round 2 Status:
Salaha ..... AC 18 .. HP 22/8 ... Pinned
Dragon ... AC 18 .. HP 20/20 Dáin ........ AC 19 .. HP 37/37 Stone ...... AC 24 .. HP 37/37 Grün ....... AC 20 .. HP 34/27 Jazlyn ...... AC 19 .. HP 40/35 William ... AC 17 .. HP 18/18 . . Tentacle-1 .. AC 17 .. HP -8 Tentacle-2 .. AC 17 .. HP 0 Tentacle-3 .. AC 17 .. HP 0 Tentacle-4 .. AC 17 .. HP 0 ------- MainBody .... AC 18 .. HP -5
Note Everyone: I have added the Grapple Guidelines to the Campaign Tab under the Combat Notes. I wanted to be sure everyone was aware of them especially due to the discrepancy issue of breaking a Pin vs a Grapple. I am going with the call that if you successfully break/reverse a Grapple (be it Grappled or Pinned) you break the entire Grapple as Pinned is just a more severe version of Grappled and they do not stack. Also you only get a +2 to CMB to maintain Grappled but you get the +5 to CMB to maintain Pinned. If you have any questions on this please ask otherwise I will assume you fully understand why this is the case.
Jazlyn I am finalizing my post putting together that vast information that Salaha acquired and the information that Dáin obtain took me a bit and is waiting to be posted along with the results of the combat Rnd 1 and the beginning of combat Rnd 2.
Yep Ricka and giving an Animal Companion a +1 Int at level 4 does pay in dividends ;) (aka makes things easier) Oh and hey Critzible what human race are you there are several in Oerth and at least 3 fairly common ones in the area your character is in.
Okay Critzible so a human and I will look up the Ioun Torch if that is an actual item rather than a concept item and no issues I have no problems with making clarifications. Okay Ricka the guidelines state that an Animal Companion (or just a trained animal) can learn a default number of tricks; Int 1 animals can learn 3 tricks while Int 2 animals can learn 6 tricks. These can all be trained ahead of time. Basically I usually ask what tricks a character's pet knows. Int 3 or higher and they stop having a true Animal Intelligence and can learn any number of basic commands and/or be played as an intelligent NPC cohort to a degree.
Well do not feel you have to create those characters in a bubble, for not only am I available to help you tie your character into the world I am running in a collaborative way but perhaps one of the other players might be interested in having some kind of familiarity with your character. The latter helps segue your character into the game more easily. Ricka PF both sound fine with by me. Crizible okay so "sn Ioun torch" was that a typo and was supposed to be "an Ioun torch"? Also is your character human then, as you do not say, or is that "alot done" attached to your current gorilla avatar?
Well Critzible that sounds interesting I mean a Scythe is not a common weapon to use in combat -- not saying it is not viable just not common -- will be interesting to see how your character came about by that unusual weapon of choice.
No Ricka PF there is no order to those Attributes which is why I called them Attributes rather than assigned them to a specific Attribute. Aka you can arrange them in whatever way fits the character you are wanting to build. Again this is about building a character you will have the most fun playing -- which also means if there is something you would like as part of your character that is not part of the current guidelines do please ask and I will see what might be done to accomodate such.
No you as well did not look under the campaign tab (perhaps because you cannot?) wherein it says take to of the rolls and add 6 thus your final numbers would be (assuming you take the best two rolls): Attribute 1: 15
So actually not a single attribute below 13 assuming you want to take the best two numbers and add 6. However you can opt for lower but you would still not get a reroll ;-)
Yes and hopefully getting things restarted here soon (hopefully today) came down with COVID and have been recovering from it.
Okay I got the numbers from your first post so here we go (assuming you want the best scores) you get Attribute 1: 18
Okay sorry belated update -- I got COVID even though I am fully vacinated however it seems I caught the new strain while in Florida prior to the new vaccine becoming available -- I am at 2.5 weeks and still slowly recovering.
As I have stated life changed for me and I have been struggling to post but have not given up -- however I am going to be away from internet from the 26th until after the 29th of this month so definitely nothing during this period.
Sorry to see you go but fully understand
Well I am still here just struggling on my end with the motivation and time needed to put the effort in for the next post -- when I have the motivation I do not have the time when I have the time I have been lacking the motiviation. The motivation is due mostly to currently not working which should be changing within the next week or two.
The group moves deeper into swamp where the sounds of nature slowly become quieter and the fog seems to hang heavier as the light breeze in the marshes gets quelled by the large trees with their maze like root systems that resemble the clustered branches of a tree rather than one one might consider to be roots. The unnerving stillness is only broken by the semi-rhythmic splash of the paddles or by a the sound of a bug as it flies nearby seemingly greatly amplified in volume due to the lack of other sounds. For those accustomed to Nature the stillness is more unnerving as it is definitely not natural. Navigating the maze of trees and their above water root systems takes time with these root systems occasionally looking like tentacled arms in the blur of the fog. Unknowingly this would be a precursor to at least one of the creatures that inhabit this swamp. A relization that comes as the boat is suddenly jarred to the right causing everyone to be slightly knocked off balance as a sort of pseudopodial mouth bites into the left railing and splashing movement can be heard from the right. Glancing to the right at the sounds, the group sees what appears to be the human-sized tree moving towards them. As it breaks the fog they can see it is not a tree but some strange monstrosity. What is propelling its movement cannot be seen but the water churns slightly as if movement were taking place below the waters surface. The base of the creature has numerous alien malicious eyes and just above the eyes long branch like tentacles ending in puckered maws that drip a green goo with the consistancy of sap and the smell of an open grave seems to accompany its presence. Above the tentacles is a multibranch or antler like feature where the corpses of a couple of small animals are skewered upon them for some most likely unpleasant reason. The sight of this creature is quite unnerving Three tentacled maws lash out toward the group. Each one striking home, hitting Jazlyn , Salaha , and Grün .
Shaken Condition: A Shaken (not stirred) ;-) creature takes a –2 Penalty on Attack rolls, Saves, Skill checks, and Ability checks. Shaken is a less severe state of Fear than Frightened or Panicked.
Note this Shaken Condition will last until a Save is made, an affected creature may make an additional Save at the end of each of their turns after their 1st turn. So the creature that fails their Save will spend one full round Shaken and then at the end of their next round, and each round thereafter, they may make another Save. Grappled Condition:
Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all Attack rolls and Combat Maneuver checks, except those made to Grapple or Escape a Grapple. A Grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a Concentration check (DC 22 + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make Attacks of Opportunity.
A Grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature Grappling it, even if a special ability, such as Hide in Plain Sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a Grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being Grappled, but receives no other benefit. If Grappled, one can attempt to break the Grapple as a Standard Action by making a Combat Maneuver check or Escape Artist check (DC 22) this does not provoke an Attack of Opportunit. If successful, the grapple is broken and one can act normally.
No issues I have the post about 2/3rds finished
Waiting on me, my apologies RL been not so friendly for me this last week by the time I can get to it I am too pooped to pop. But I keep formulating the post in my mind and in my dreams so I have not been per se idle this whole time. I have decided on the what just working a bit on the how so as to make it seem organic in nature ;) since it is in nature and it is organic ;)
Yeah nice try but no you have never seen nor heard of them either nor did the Goblins say much about those mushrooms that you can recall.
Hey it did occur to me that considering you are now going to be headed into a swamp that perhaps -- since everyone got at least a days rest -- they some folks might want to adjust their spells taken for the day. Also Grün it appears you are the only one interested in those Goblin Poisoned arrows did you want to take all of them or just 20? There were extra quivers to put the excess in if you want them all. Remember special ammo is tracked by piece, it is only normal ammo that gets the handwave that we are using. That being said Dáin you have replenished your arrow supply. Also did I outline that there were 2 types of mushrooms in that cave, the type that you needed and that Dáin knew what was and another type that no one has ever seen and perhaps never heard even -- would take an very high Knowledge[Underdark] check if anyone wanted to try to identify them.
Just a heads up yes I am working on the next post -- in pieces hoping to get something up soon depending on how my RL ends out working out.
Okay Grün I need to know how you are planning on scouting -- the prow of the boat or by some other means. As soon as I get Grün's reply I will post the next sequence. This is a swamp as you have left the marshes behind. Filled with trees and tangled roots that reach into the waters.
And to let you now the next level is within sight for it will be awared when you all return with the ingredients so that the town. Where you will also be allowed some downtime to do things besides just level up.
To Salaha in Draconic: "Mom what is the purpose of name?"
Shekla says, "You can leave them here with me, I am sure that I, the tree and the Grippli will be able to keep them safe and you can simply pick them up on you way back as you are headed into town."
William Knowledge: William scrutinizes the banners and ponders a bit and he recalls some information he had come across his teachings and these seem to be Bad Moon Banners which are associated with group of Goblins that are exclusively found within the Underdark. However, they sometimes breach the surface world, and are known to be rather crazy from a human perspective and are known to use mushrooms to augment their abilities with a determent to their mental abilities.
Okay sorry for the delay I had to work a bit on my cosmology to make sure I could move forward smoothly with a more solid road map.
With the combat with the Goblins finally over for the time being, the group went about investigating the current area. Other than an unconscious prisoner and pile of human sized clothing and other non-metallic adventuring gear, they find that behind the two banners on either side of the room are small low ceilinged rooms containing mushrooms. One room contains mushrooms that no one has ever seen and the other contains a patch of mushrooms that Dáin recognizes as the Ironbloom Mushrooms that they are looking for. The room also seems to contain lost of metal items like armor, weapons, and other metallic sundries. Jazlyn is able to recover her metallic gear from this room as it was only recently deposited within, the rest of the items are badly damaged by the fungi. With the eventual revival of the Goblin prisoner, Jazlyn the group gained more insights about the Goblins and what they were up to. From her sketchy details that she overheard during her hallucinative state, she explains that the Goblins had come from deep within the Underdark and were planning on returning there once they had fully enslaved the dragon within the egg using the magic associated with some god named Khnum. Knowledge(Religion) Rank 1+: With this information the three spell casters combine their knowledge and abilities to determine that the runes on the walls are radiating transmutational magic which they find by defacing the rune it breaks its magic, however it is unclear how much affect they have had upon the dragon egg. With the runes defaced Salaha senses that issues within the egg have calmed and perhaps she could leave it on the fire for now but she would not want to leave it unprotected.
Khnum the Master of Runes is an ancient primordial god one of the ancient choas gods of the inner planes of Oerth. Still needed to complete what they came here for the group splits up with some going back to help take the body to the top so the ritual can be performed and others staying behind to secure the area and make sure the egg and those watching remain safe. Eventually those heading to the top return and the group settles in for the night. Then with some help from the others they find that the stone covers the initial passage that they found when they were outside. So it appears perhaps the Goblin spell caster may have used this to escape. During the rest of that day Dáin is able to harvest the Ironbloom Mushrooms that they need and that night the egg hatches and Salaha becomes the surrogate mother of a very young green dragon . The next morning has the group return to Shekla and their Grippli antourage to the tree house where most of the Grippli depart along with Shekla who says to return whenever they need her services. Prior to leaving Shekla finds the Rat's Tail that the group needed for the cure. This leaves just the Elderwood Moss which from what she finds within the treehouse can be found deeper within the swamp that the tree house is a part of. She also found information that this swamp contains various predators that might pose a problem with its retrieval.
I know that 2 modifications were made - an upgrade to shields and an upgrade to weapons.
Jazlyn's interaction will be allowed after my update which will include the information that Jazlyn learned during her state of semi-consciousness as well as what has been found by everyone else.
Okay folks should I move things forward -- aka do a short time jump -- or do you all want to work things out in role play.
Okay great -- you Class Skills are simply noted on your character sheet is all so I was not sure.
Salaha Knowledge(Nature): While Salaha knows next to nothing about Green Dragons she does know about large animals, especially animals large enough to lay an egg this big. An animal this large would definitely have an impact upon the local animal population and she would have most likely heard something about it. Even with Hool Marsh being perpetually covered in fog and being as large as it is a single animal that size would have a significant impact and since it takes at least two such animals then she would have definitely heard at least rumors of such a beast and she has not heard any such rumors. So the question becomes where did this egg come from, if it did not come from the Hool Marshes or how are these two huge animals masking their presence so that the animal population is completely unaware of their existence.
Okay just to correct something I had said earlier. One cannot take 20 on a Knowledge check, because it is a "no retries" skill. There is a penalty for failure - you do not know the thing in question. Thus failing a roll means you do not know the information, and you cannot just "try again" (the way you can with, say, searching for a trap with Perception by just looking again). Note, I will be using a form of Take-10 going forward to inform the various characters of that they automatically know based on the Ranks they have in a Knowledge Skill. However, you can also choose to make a roll, to see if you know more about it than your general knowledge would render for you. Hey Dáin I was looking through your skills and noticed something that I may not have noticed before. At 1st-Level everyone gets 6 Background Points to spend in Background Skills and then they get 2 additional Background Points to spend in Background Skills each level thereafter so Dáin should have 6 + 2 + 2 = 10 Background Skill Points. It looks like you only spent 6 Background Skill Points. Salaha I believe I stated under skills that I do not have Artistry as that is just a Craft skill and I do not have Lore as that is basically the Knowledge(Local) skill. To make it easier here are the Background Skills. List of Background Skills
... Knowledge (Engineer)
... Craft (<specific>)
Jazlyn your choice but since we are probably hardly ever going to do any Riding in this campaign due to its nature -- I am willing to let you take Survival in place of the Ride skill as one of your Class Skills. Grün I just noticed this you do not know how to speak you native language Grippli I would suggest you put that in place and swap out either Gnome or Boggard
Dáin's quick glance tells him nothing other than the man is unconscious.
William:
William knows that Green Dragons tend to be evil. However, whether this is an intricate aspect of their nature or something ingrained in them in their upbringing is not specifically known. Still the chances are if you find its mother you might end up being invited for dinner as the appetizer. Stone again calls out, "Dáin overhear we got a living human but he appears to be uh... asleep and I cannot wake him?"
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