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My PCs are traveling up a 1000 ft+ cliff next session. Only one party member can fly so they'll be carrying the rest of the party up one at a time, with some difficulty due to her lowish strength. There are harpies, wyverns and other flying monsters in the area that might be interested in a slowly flying dire bat carrying something heavy. What would be a good way to run this?
One of my players is playing an evil alchemist, and wants to use people as test subjects for his poisons. I offered to come up with a mechanical benefit to doing so, so he's not just poisoning people for the hell of it. I like the suggestion offered in this thread, allowing people to improve the DC of their poisons to a point dependent on their ranks in Craft. I'm thinking of adding the requirement of one "test subject" per DC (but you only need to do this once for each type of poison). What do you guys think? Has anyone else done something like this?
Thanks everyone for your answers! And thank you Alexander for clearing up the intent of the trait, even if it's unofficial it's good to know for a home game. I love the trait by the way, it's really fun and flavourful.
Could a brawler use Martial Flexibility to get an extra tail?
Would a ranger's combat style work? What about a rogue taking Combat Trick?
Can a monk exchange her bonus feats (not stunning fist but the list of combat feats that includes stuff like Catch Off-guard) for tails? If not, are fighters the only ones who qualify for the combat feat exchange, or are there other classes that get bonus combat feats?
That's great, thanks!
I'm a level 7 mind blade who just got the dual weapons ability: When using two-weapon fighting with two psychic weapons or a psychic double weapon, the mindblade can use her spell combat ability as though she had a hand free. Can I use two weapon fighting at the same time as spell combat? How many attacks can I make? 1 main hand, 1 offhand, 1 spell combat delivered through main hand or 1 main hand, 1 spell combat Do I take -4 to all my attacks for using both at the same time (supposing my offhand is light)?
... in case one is sundered? Or do I have to keep them in my bag and pull them out as a move action when I lose the one I'm wearing?
This is the covering fire feat:
Are you attacking the opponent's AC or AC 10? If the opponent's AC, does it deal damage when you connect?
"Could've used that kind of security yesterday," Elsdon mutters. "Think they'll just let us in? I don't suppose they let you keep your Wojek badge, did they?" he says to Daren.
Elsdon laughed and downed his ale. "No thanks to you, Daren! We've been here an hour and you're already soiling my reputation with our new friends! 'sides, I'd never trust a man with a spotless reputation. You never know what he's had to do to keep it that way. Least you know where you stand with me." "Now I've done my share of running away but I like to know what I'm running from. That's called prudence, not cowardice," he grinned. "So just you remember that when you see me go running past." Elsdon holds up the bottle of ink. "Mind if I take this with me? My inkpot seems to have fled."
Elsdon glanced at the others. "Thanks for the offer, but two days is a long time to leave the case if they're planning to strike again. And it might look like we're running away. I got a reputation to consider, you know? We'll take you up on it if nothing else turns up. Think he'll mind if you give us his name? If we're in the area we'll look him up. "Speaking of time, we should be on our way. Thanks for the meal; it's been a while since I've had one this good."
"Simic cultist ale, huh? Feel any extra heads coming on, Daren? Hey - if you're going to turn into a horrific mutant try for some wings." Elsdon turns back to Gery. "What's the name of the cult? Think your friend can tell us more about it? Seems this symbol was tattooed on one of the attackers. Could be nothing but it's worth looking into, all the same. If we don't find anything at the crime scene this'll be all we've got."
"An ale would hit the spot. Just the normal stuff, thanks. I've tested my luck enough lately." "As for the attack.... happened just yesterday. Right now we know as little as anyone else. We were on our way to the scene to look for clues. Although - we do have one lead. Daren, you got those drawings? Ever seen these symbols before?"
"That's considered polite in the Wilds. Probably. So I hear. I barely know him, really," Elsdon added hastily. "But I'll have a drink too, if you're offering."
Elsdon recognized what the man was using to light the fire just in time to close his eyes, though it still left a spot in his vision. He chatted with the man while the food was cooking. "No doubt they're good chefs," he said as the conversation turned to the Izzet mages, "but I'd look very hard at what a wizard was serving me before eating it. A little prestidigitation goes a long way," he remarked, snapping his fingers so that the aroma of coffee briefly fills the room, "and you won't realize what you've eaten until you're in the privy an hour or two later. Sorry, not the best lunchtime conversation, is it?" As they sat down to lunch, the man inquired about their business. An innocent enough question, but Elsdon had a lie ready before he was even finished. He held himself back. They weren't doing anything illegal, after all, and it might help to know how far news of the crime had spread. "We're looking into the recent massacre at a church of Erastil," he said. "Have you heard the news? A lot of people died. Some of our friends were there." He carefully omitted any mention of Engor. It was bad manners to implicate an employer and throwing around names carelessly had gotten him in trouble before.
Elsdon decided to jump in with some more explanation before Wikvaya's intimidating demeanor frightened away their lunch. "Elsdon Blackburn at your service. These are my companions, Wikvaya and Daren. We found your father in need of assistance and decided to stop and help." He hoped the elder Ralphye had forgotten by now that Elsdon was dragged into it against his will. "Seems your pixie friend - Elyen, was it? - was nabbed by a pair of tengu thieves. Well, if you've ever raced a tengu you'll know chasing one down isn't easy, but we were able to do it and rescue your friend. Your father has graciously offered us lunch and a little compensation, so here we are." "As for the tengus, Wikvaya scared enough sense into the two that your father offered them a job with your company. I can't vouch for their honesty but I can attest to their speed."
They'll be back to snatching and stealing as soon as they're out of sight, Elsdon thought. Still, he wasn't about to volunteer to accompany them. He just hoped they wouldn't bear any grudges or remember his face too clearly. "On your way then, you heard the man. Don't let us catch you again or next time, my friend's sword might slip." He left it at that. Normally he would have a lot more to say but he was starting to feel feel like a damn schoolteacher giving a lecture and he didn't like that, even if he used more death threats than the average teacher. Or fewer death threats, if the teacher in question was Preceptor Augustine from the Sorcerer's Academy of his youth, whom it was rumored had the souls of several unruly students bound to her service and was always looking for opportunities to obtain more.
"My father was a great man," Elsdon chuckled. Great at abandoning his family, he added silently. "He was full of odd stories and tales from his adventuring days. I'll see if I can't remember a few. As for lunch..." Elsdon thought for a brief moment of their assignment, though his mind was already made up. "What the hell, that crime scene isn't going anywhere and I haven't had a decent meal in weeks. Let's eat!"
"I wouldn't know anything about that," Elsdon said innocently. "Like my father always said, 'never steal anything that can run away. Or turn you into a frog.'"
"I'd like to know why they're kidnapping pixies in the first place," Elsdon added. "Good money in it? A favour for a mage? I don't suppose YOU'RE a mage, are you?" he mused, sizing up the blind dwarf.
Elsdon nodded. "Thanks. Haven't been arrested enough to figure that one out. You'll have to go over Boros operating procedure with me sometime, 'fore I make a fool out of myself." Daren had paid him very little for his help when they had first met, but to Elsdon this type of insider knowledge was worth more than gold.
"See if they have anything valuable," Elsdon said to Wikvaya in a low voice. "Least we'll get SOMETHING for our trouble besides an apology and a thank you. Aw, s%~+, what does HE want?" The last comment was in reaction to the shopkeeper, who had approached and was now talking to Daren, looking for the form. Damn. Elsdon felt inside his pocket. He had the notes he took in Engor's office as well as a "borrowed" inkpen but no ink. Well, it'd have to do. It wasn't enough for a form but it was enough for something. He tore a small slip of paper off and knelt down near Wikvaya's tengu, glancing up to make sure the storeowner wasn't watching. "Hold still and be quiet," he muttered, and dipped the pen into the blood pooling in one of the tengu's wounds. He quickly scribbled the words "Case Number" and a series of digits that he hoped looked convincing, then mumbled a prestidigitation spell to dry the "ink" and turn the letters black. And a little more magic to clean up some of the splotches and stains. Close enough. He stood up and walked over to storeowner hovering by Daren, who by now had his tengu in some sort of submission hold. Elsdon cleared his throat. "Sir, these are dangerous criminals. I must ask you to stand back while we take them into custody. I've sent word to the district office and the lawmages will be here shortly to take care of the paperwork. This" - Elsdon thrust the scrap of paper at him - "is your case number. Give it to them when they arrive. I expect they'll want you to testify as well."
"Might have to take these guys with us to make it look official," he whispered to Daren.
Elsdon dashes to the window and draws his bow but the tengus plummet out of sight. He leans out just in time to see Daren nearly collide with a falling tengu, then wrestle him to the ground. "There he is! About damn time," he grumbles, trying not to sound too relieved. He rushes back down the stairs, running into Wikvaya confronting an angry storeowner. "Wikvaya! Daren's got 'em! We got the thieves who messed up your store," he adds to the storekeeper, while frantically gesturing at Wikvaya to go help Daren. "You can take up any damages with them. Just file a criminal damages claim. The, uh, Boros Legion thanks you for your assistance, citizen." He points to the red-and-white clad Daren still wrestling with the tengu.
He darts out of the shop after Wikvaya.
Elsdon is starting to feel decidedly uneasy about the whole thing. He hasn't seen his companions in some time, and he has no idea where the birds are headed. The fact that they seem to know doesn't bode well either. "Daren! Wikvaya!" he shouts as he runs. "Where the hell are you?"
Won't I look like a fool when I catch them and there's no one to back me up, he thought. Still, the tengus were right in front of him. Maybe he'd grab the bag and keep running.
Elsdon's spell turns his surroundings into a blur of speed. It's been some time since he's had to do any running and he stumbles, unused to the sudden boost. By the end of the alleyway he's hit his stride, and runs halfway up the wall before scrambling up the rest of the way.
Elsdon spots the tengus, then sees Wikvaya dash past him and makes a quick decision.
"No one seems interested in being robbed, you mean," Elsdon muttered under his breath. He wasn't sure whether Wikvaya knew about grifters but he had a feeling he'd be learning soon.
"No funny business, all right?" he declares aloud to the dwarf. "My friend here's carrying a sword twice as tall as you and his temper is twice as short."
Elsdon snapped his fingers. "Izzet and Gruul," he said, pointing at the ones he recognized. "Old symbols. Centuries old. Last seen around 6050 or 6100." "What? Don't look so surprised, I've read a book too."
He paused as a blind man walked directly into their path, begging for help. Elsdon considered himself a better person than the common thieves and pickpockets in the slums, though the law often didn't. He only took things that were freely given, or at least taken forcefully and freely given afterwards. Still, he wasn't enough of a better person to be doing charity work. He sighed. "Move aside, friend, unless you want to lose something else. I'd love to help but I don't stick my nose where it don't belong unless I'm getting paid."
Elsdon studied Daren's sketch as they walked. "Not bad. Better than whoever did their tattoos," he laughed. "They teach you to draw at Fancypants Academy?" He paused a little, trying to recall whether he'd seen the symbols before:
Spoiler:
"And here I thought you were just looking for an excuse to steal her boots," says Elsdon, inspecting the tattoo with interest. "Well found. Looks like we'll have to pay the Golgari a visit, eh? Any of the others have decorated feet?" He starts pulling the boots off the other four.
Probably unnecessary perception roll:
-- "Well, if there's nothing else, I'd say it's time we got a move on." He rubs his filth-covered hands as if washing them and the dirt disappears. "I've seen what I've come to see and that crime scene's getting colder by the minute. We'll be in touch," he says to Engor.
Elsdon stepped back as his companions pushed past to pore over the body. "Hey, be my guest. 'Slong as you're not planning to eat her."
Elsdon had kept his face carefully blank since the mention of goblins. It didn't sound much like Krenko's boys, but you never knew. Now he followed the officer into the crematorium. A drow. "This your work, Daren? Doesn't seem like Wikvaya's on account of not being split in half." He chuckled and immediately regretted it as the stench threatened to overwhelm him. Okay, banter could wait. He turned to their employer. "Were they all drow? Any idea of her identity or guild allegiance?" He tried to recall what he knew of the dark elves:
Elsdon nodded as he wrote. The man was right, of course. Two weeks was a long time and he had a feeling they would be delivering the girl as a corpse, if they found her at all. By this time, she might even be beyond the reach of the Orzhov. The only fresh trail they had was the massacre at the party and he hoped the officer was right and the two events were linked, as that would allow him to settle a score or two of his own. Elsdon Blackburn was not a vengeful person but he never forgot a debt (though he often forget to pay them) and right now he owed someone several arrows, delivered directly to the throat.
"Come now, no need to be rude to our employer," Elsdon said with an easy grin. "Like my father always said - be polite, be professional, and always get paid in advance." Truth be told, Elsdon had no idea what sort of things his father said or whether he was even alive but he liked to put words in the old man's mouth. Plus, people tended to trust you more if they thought you had family ties they could take advantage of. "Let me make sure we've got everything." He fumbled around in his pockets, then remembered he hadn't been able to afford paper or ink for weeks. "May I borrow this? Thanks," he said, helping himself to the pen and paper on the officer's desk and starting to write in a florid script. "My friend's questions, if you please, and also the names of your daughter and your friend's husband and the dates they went missing. Did you find the bodies of any of those hooded bastards at the party? Might help us track down who did it. Tell me we got at least one." "No doubt the investigators have been all over the crime scene but I'd like a look myself before anyone else disturbs it," he added.
"A second chance at life? Hell of a lot better payment than that last job." Elsdon shook his head, still trying to clear the cobwebs of recent death but he kept talking. "We'll get her back. She'll be by your side before you know it." He tried to offer his usual confident smile and settled for a wince as the cobwebs gave way to pain. "Got many enemies? Anyone you owe money to?" "While we're here, maybe you can shed some light on what happened at that party. Any idea who was responsible?" Elsdon thought back to the battle. He had been lurking on one of the balconies, letting his eyes adapt to the dark and was shot first for his trouble. As he'd gurgled his way to death, he had heard the assailants speaking a strange tongue:
test |
