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I'd be grateful if you made a list. Ellie can get a 22 perform with take 10, and 23 on profession: architect to make sure that things don't fall down. In character we should make the list as well, because this is 14,400 man-hours of work every day. 100,800 for a week. The Great Pyramid of Giza would take me a year, plus a long weekend.
She ponders a bit, "If it is unclear if they are going against Cardinal Thorn, I suspect that they have plans either way. If they end up in a powerful position they will rebel. If they aren't, they follow along." "Striking pre-emptively risks us looking like the rebellious party. I suspect that we will need evidence of betrayal. I doubt a simple divination will be enough." "Let's gather all that we know about the 7th knot. Known capabilities, rumored capabilities, weaknesses, known spells, items, and anything else."
TheBracelet looks to be good when it is time to go shopping. Should we use it for party treasure?
Elli is also in favor of fortifying first. "Our enemies will come for us. While we are formidable, they will send the strongest forces they have available. We need to use all of resources to ensure that this ritual goes off." She smiles like she's thinking of flaying babies. "By being prepared, not only are we protecting the ritual, we are culling the forces they will be able to call on in the coming war. There is no kill like overkill." Once we have a good start on the defenses then we can work on both at once. Elli doesn't need sleep, so we can get a lot of lyre-building done quickly.
Elliaria will look at him, "You have been transformed. Ketra-Vel has invested daemonic power into you. It's sort of like puberty, your skin starts changing and you get very horny."
for a moment, Elliaria was afraid that this was some curse or trap. But as the transformation began, she stepped back just enough to keep safe and observed the changes. "Congratulations on your apotheosis."
Elliaria continues to flank and to charge her weapon.
Using the flank provided by Grumble and Mal, she studies it and charges her weapon to fight elementals.
Can an elemental BE impaled? I've seen it both ways. Personally, I tend to split the difference and say that they can be impaled/moved/grabbed, but that semi-fluid creatures can end it automatically when they move or use a move action to get free. *warning - rule theory geekery below* The rulesist approach is that unless they specifically gives that creature immunity to such effects, it is vulnerable to them. This works better in a game with a highly controlled rules set like PF2e, where they were much better at this. But PF1e does have some creatures that specifically say these kinds of things. Further, you can stab an elemental with a spear and it takes hit point damage. That means that there is something there that is "solid" enough to be penetrated. The logical approach is that "You can't stick a fork in lightning!", therefore you can't impale a lightning elemental. On the other hand, lightning doesn't act like a lightning elemental does. (okay, ball lightning does sometimes, but when it touches a ground it goes away) What's more, the game specifically does not act like the real world in many regards. In the real world if you get hit in the torso with an arrow, you have a good chance of dying. This wound also impars your ability to fight back. In the game anybody beyond first level is likely to survive one arrow and it doesn't hamper other actions. The metaphysical approach asks "What is an elemental?" Sometimes on political blogs, but I definitely don't want to get into that. I'm going to start with air elementals to make the thought experiment easier. The air of an air elemental is separate from the air around it. Because it is one creature, then that air must stay contiguous. Otherwise it could spread out through the room and attack us all as we breathed it in (at least the PC's who breathe). If it has to stay contiguous, then anything that could act on the material could theoretically move/grab/impale it. Otherwise it would break off a chunk. Would this chunk become normal air? Or would it split into a new air elemental?
"So, are you here on behalf of Mitra or Vetra-Kali?" she asks as she unlimbers her mace and slides around in hopes to flank it with Grumble.
I posted in the other thread about being willing to wear the other amulet. I think it's fitting as the counterpoint to Grumblejack. Yin and Yang. As for the commune, perhaps we could get some information on Sir Valin Darian to help us get him alone and take him.
"Oh, don't be so hasty. I'll admit that a good disemboweling is fun. But it would be over so soon and then you'd be back to merely waiting and guarding. Decidedly not fun." She twirls the other amulet with a wicked grin. "But you know what would be extremely fun? Unlocking the true purpose of the Horn and using it's dark power to wreak havoc on all of the people who believe that Mitra will save them. Oh, there will be so many bodies to play with! And the souls! People who spent their whole life trying to be oh so good, only to die with the painful realization that cruelty is the ultimate power in the universe. Nothing sweeter than a pure soul turned to despair." She turns to them. "Isn't that possibility worth waiting just a little while longer?"
Elliaria nods, "I can assist with the ritual, and I can wear an amulet. Whatever it takes to ensure our triumph. After all, our patron does look kindly upon failure."
She will talk about the ritual they need to unlock the true power of the horn. [spoiler = ritual]Behold our shame that we, the Sons of the Pale Horseman, failed in our darkest hour to defend our prince the undying and ever malevolent Vetra-Kali Eats-the-Eyes. But I have seen it! I have seen the road to repentenance! 666 prayers. Three per day will break the hated Seal. With each prayer bathe the seal in unholy water and intone the dirge. At the stroke of midnight each day call forth the Supplication to Darkness. Pray to the darkness so that we shall be forgiven. Upon the first midnight make the first sacrifice -- one of our own blood -- so that Vetra-Kali will know we are repentant. At the first light of each dawn call forth the Cursing of the Light. Answer the spread of the shining lord’s light with our unyielding defiance. Upon the 111th Curse make the second sacrifice -- a true believer of Mitra -- so that the cursed god of the invaders will know that we fear him not and that his power to hold our master at bay is ending. At dusk as darkness returns each day cry forth the Call Across the Void. Recite the name of Vetra-Kali so that he may hear us and return. With the final Call offer the third sacrifice -- one of the Victor’s own blood. By the same blood that caged him so shall our master be freed. Let ye with wisdom understand. Once the final prayer is uttered upon the 222nd dusk, Vetra-Kali will begin his long traverse across the great wheel. At the stroke of midnight on that day he will emerge into his Sanctum and the Seal shall shatter. Blessed day! Be ready, my brothers. His eyes have been stolen from him. Return them and the Prince will honor ye with one task for each. For the Eye of Vigilance ask only for his mercy upon we mortals and plead that he do ye and yours no harm. For his wroth will be great. For the Eye of Hatred ask for his greatest gift -- the Tears of Achlys so that once more every corner of the world may know his mercy. For the Eye of Withering ask what ye will for in his gratitude he must answer your charge. And then behold, the Prince restored. All shall know his blessings of pestilence and despair. [/spoiler] "We have three sacrifices to make, and we have two of them already. The last living member of the original cult, and a devout Mitran. Of course this does mean that we can't break the puppy without replacing her. Sorry to spoil anybody's fun." She looks over the room. "For the last sacrifice, blood of the victor, we have Sir Valin Darian, the commander of the local Hammerhall. I think that it would be best to have him leave town on a personal mission and ambush him there. If he disappears in transit, then it won't lead to us. We could fake a letter from his family in Glastenhall."
Can I do profession: architect for knowledge: engineering?
She muses for a while "Perhaps we could fake a letter from his family in Ghastenhall. They ask for him to come home and then we take him in transit. We'll get him alone and he won't be expected back for a while."
She will start going through the family trees, sketching them out in one of the chambers we have yet to sweep the dust out. "It looks like we have somebody local. Valin Darian. We will need to figure out how to snatch him away. He will be noticed, so anything without an explanation would be bad." She paces as she thinks.
"Mal ain't gonna like this," Grumble said after Elliaria had explained the ritual a bit more. "Think we can find a different Mitran? They gotta be pretty common, yeah?" "We need to perform the ritual. While I appreciate Mal's intent, This is more important at the moment. If we find another Mitran before the ritual, then He can keep this one. If not, he'll need to find another one after." She smiles faintly, "I suspect that eventually we'll have a plethora of Mitrans throwing themselves at our doors, but hopefully we will have performed the ritual first. [b]"Finding the Blood of the Victor is also going to be important. I'd prefer to find somebody besides Havelyn. But the Horn is more important than any one of us." "Perhaps he has a bastard child out there..."
It looks like the 2180 becomes the "Fix a Golem Fund". We have 1180 for the lens and reservoir and can buy everything else. Hmmm... Perhaps Morana or Soro will figure out how to make wands.
Okay, the final totals are: Clyde 9821.08 gp
Elliaria 9326.08 gp
Grumblejack 7728.58 gp
Malleck 16978.58 gp
Mephistopheles 6728.58 gp
Allies 1780.29 gp
Jack Leadership 9489.29 gp Party Treasure 9489.29 gp Rebuilding 18978.58 gp I've put a tab for us to list what we want the city team to buy for us.
"You did save the emerald, which somewhat offsets that you were defeated. As you can se, we are a new force dedicated to rebuilding the horn and using it as a base to wreak unholy vengeance on all that oppose us." She pauses, "All of us are here for a common goal. Prove your worth and you will be rewarded. Failure is not permitted."
Elliaria stares at Halthus, as if looking into his soul.
Elliara, where on the sheet did you put the consumables? Potions and whatnot? On the "party treasure" tab.
It's not the size, it's the weight. 600 lbs of gold items and 2,000 lbs of silver. Plus all of the items. It's about 12 trips using just one bag. With the three handy haversacks in the party, it's still 5 trips. I doubt Raaven can carry that much being tiny. If we just do the gold, then with Aurex and all of the bags, we could do one trip. We can then move the silver when we have a bigger bag or a portable hole. I'll list this with just the gold for now. Elliaria is also airdroppable.
I was counting all of the bags from everybody. If we're only suing yours we'll have less room for gold.
Okay, it looks like everybody is on board with shopping. Last chance to claim items in the loot sheet before it all gets finalized. I'll clear it out tomorrow and list the final split. With the various bags and haversacks, I estimate we can move about 300 lbs, half of the bulk gold items. I've added that into the split. We'll need more capacity to move more in the future. Party bag of holding?
Do we know that the extradimensional space doesn't have an air supply?Let's assume it does to make things easy! An endless soundtrack of cheesy 1980's soft rock? That's diabolic!
I'll go with Tih for the Farholde crew when Elliaria isn't available. I agree with Jack that jumping might be an issue. Perhaps splitting this off to another game? -----
* Make it difficult to escape.
Here's my suggestion: Torture device description: We start out with stocks - harnesses to keep the head and hands locked in position. Height-adjustible so that we can handle prisoners of different sizes. They will be set facing away from the door so that they can't see people coming in, but with enough room that we can stand in front of them to face them. Locks on the side out of reach of their hands. Spellcasters get gags and their fingers bound to keep them from casting. We can blindfold them and plug their ears when needed. There will be a groove so that their bodily waste will collect under their head, so they can smell it. When they've been good, we will adjust it to a height that they can stand comfortably. We can adjust it up or down for punishment. For extra punishment, we have chains for the waist and ankles to suspend them. We can set a brazier underneath to keep things uncomfortably warm. We can have a tank of water to drip on them. The water can be replaced with other fluids when needed. In addition to the maddening effect of the dripping, they can suck water from their gags to stay alive. If we substitute it for broth, it can keep them from completely starving as well. When they have been good enough to get real food, we can hold plates up under their faces. Or a little lower to show them what they get for cooperating. We'll have the usual tools, whips, branding irons, scalpels, needles, clamps, etc.
I've got an example of hand me downs on the notes page, and I've listed the recon gloves. I put it twice, negative for Grumblejack, and positive for whoever takes it in the end. Jack gets compensated, and the total party treasure doesn't change. I've changed it to allies now. I had to bump it up to 0.55 to cover this. I've listed things from above as a default. Change them if you want to do it differently. If we can shift a little skill points, I can add profession: architect and perform: strings. That way we won't need a headband (Elliaria will be going with wisdom or charisma eventually) With the tools she will be +12 architecture (22 with take 10) and +17 perform. We would need to temporarily bump up the rebuilding pool share from half to full, but that and party treasure will cover what we need. With the lyre, we can probably cut it to 1/4 share after this or simply use party treasure. I don't think we need the tool for perform, as the lyre has to be a masterwork instrument to be able to be enchanted. (subject to confirmation) Lyre of building 13,000
"An extradimensional prison would be nice. We still need to keep her from casting, but this should keep her from escaping." She then smiled with a cute little dimple. "And if we decide that she won't be corrupted, it makes for an amazing Oubliette. No water, no food, no fresh air."
I did start stacking the +1 weapons, as they are likely to go to minions. The consumables are on the party treasure page. ----- Elliaria would like the menacing mace. Flanking is a big part of the cake she builds, and this would help. I don't think that there's a big demand for it.
Do we need the eyes to get into either room? If so, I think it's time to move on.
"Let's search the fake vault first," she says brightly, "That way we save the best for last."
Yeah, as somebody who relies on crits and precision damage, I wasn't going to be too much help in this fight. I'd probably end up having to mostly do heal spells. My roll was average, but I've built the character to be a social monster. A little less useful in the dungeocrawl part of this, but it has it's moments.
Elliaria calls out, "Then we are not enemies. We have come here to restore the Horn to greatness. Once more it will be a bastion of unholy might! From here we will cleanse the world of the followers of Mitra and any who stand in our way. Join us and you shall consume so many souls in our crusade."
"Well, if nobody else has any ideas, I'll come up and examine everything very closely." She'll put a rope around her and hand this to grumble. "If I become incapacitated, pull me out." Then she will go up and take 20 on perception.
"Do we have such magic available? If not we may need to do it the old fashioned way." She cocks her head, "I don't think those lyres would help this particular case. They build, btu don't clear. In any case, I do recall that they need a skilled musician. Anybody here with such talent? I'm more about vocals than strings."
"We could offer a discount for clergy." she snickers.
Elliaria examines the mural. "Oh my, this is interesting. I never imagined anybody shaping their horn that way."
I think Malleck is the slow one of the party so it makes sense for him to get it. Anybody else below 30'?
So what did the cleric have?
"Perhaps 'nen' is one of the command words for the throne?" she remarks once the word is translated. Obviously she was going to have to learn abyssal.
"Then lets move on and save this for later." she says, preparing to face new and different challenges.
"I feel the effect here. Rather strong. They did not want people coming up here." She will read off the common inscription and take note of the abyssal runes for people that know them.
Looks like we never got the cleric's loot. (look around oct 28) I've put everything else into the sheet.
Elliaria will approach cautiously.
Elliaria looks around, "Who else is skilled at looking for traps? I'm not, but fear is no longer a threat to me."
Thank you. I tried to make it as easy as possible to handle. People can feel free to copy this for other games.
Okay, here's the loot sheet for review and testing. How does it look? What questions do you have?
Should it be needed, she will go by "Doll". |
