Father Raphael's page

Well in that case...

Ok, I tried 3 sets of dice roll and got less than a 15 point buy all three times. I will use a 25 point buy, and will make an arcane caster or an alchemist.

Any preferences from the group?

I do not particularly have an opinion either way. Play whichever idea you think is more awesome. :-)

Raphael walks back through the portal.

Assuming everybody sees him reappear without incident, he says the following

Raphael has the dog repeat the act, staying inside for a bit longer before coming back out. This whole thing goes on for a total of 9 rounds. As the dog does so, he moves to look more closely at the crystals, especially the blue one.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27 Raphael is suspicious that perhaps we only want the blue crystal to be glowing when we walk through.

If he doesn't find anything to give weight to his suspicions, then in the interest of not prolonging things, he'll walk through the portal. Worst comes to worst, the group loses both it's healers in under 10 minutes of each other. ;-P

To be fair, I was going to make a comment about that after trying out the torch. :/

Raphael frowns and sends a quick prayer to Sarenrae to guard Suzumaru's soul. And to look after Harvey...whatever it is that happened to him. He then pauses in a moment of respect for their fallen ally.

Shaking his head again, he attempts to continue in a business-like manner. "Well, I guess the remaining question is if this gateway is an entrance, or if it's another false opening." He then summons a celestial dog, ties a rope to it, and has it go through the misty gateway and then immediately come back.

Hey man, don't look at me. I've only taken Con damage, and I've quite clearly updated both my max HP and fort save appropriately in my header line. And I believe I healed everybody else's ability damage. :-P

"It ended the light spell. Perhaps we should try something a bit more low tech? Does anybody have a torch? Between my ioun stone and light spell, I figured I wouldn't need one."

Raphael moves to join Hamish, glancing briefly at the images on the walls as he walks past.

"I can dispel magic, but it would be my casting ability against the caster of the magical darkness. And somehow I get the feeling that the spellcaster in question is significantly more powerful than I am."

Raphael then picks up his own stone and makes a few gestures over it, causing it to glow brightly. He then tosses the stone in to the mouth. Casting light. Also, just assume I walked in the same path as Hamish.

"I don't really like the look of either entrance. If indeed, they truly are entrances. I could summon something and send it through, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be able to give us any intel as my summoning is pretty weak."

I already climbed out of the hole by taking 10...

Wiping the dust off his clothes, Raphael re-dons his armor. "Well, I could continue to walk along staring at the floor. But that seems likely only to result in me getting hit by something from a wall or ceiling." He begins tying the rope around his waist. "If I'm going to continue to go first, how about someone stand behind me holding this rope, so I don't fall into any more pits?"

He then moves forward, casting a cure spell on himself, to look at the next set of paintings.

CLW: 1d8 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 18 Sweet! The perfect roll!
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

I'll try to update when I'm home either tonight or tomorrow depending on how tired I am

After stretching slightly before trying to retrieve his ring from Jean. "I find I didn't do much that battle, so I would be willing to continue. Although if others need rest, so be it."

See! I totally asked for it back! And I assumed since he didn't say he refused to give it back, that I was successful. Otherwise there would have been some kind of a role playing interaction.

Wait, really? I could have sworn I retrieved it! I distinctly remember thinking it at least.

Raphael groans, briefly wondering what was more painful: the spikes or the commentary. He lays briefly on his back, staring up at the ceiling and catching his breath. He then slowly stands up, pulling some rope out of his bag and tossing it to Maxwell.

He then carefully ties his armor tot he bottom of the rope in his backpack if needed and takes his time to climb back up.

It's a DC5 climb check, which Raphael can make by taking 10.

Once up on steady ground, he takes in the paintings around him while catching his breath.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Also, I just remembered, I have a ring of feather fall on. I assume this at least means I wouldn't take the falling damage. I don't suppose it changes anything else though?

I was hoping you'd just roll it for me since I wasn't sure if I was making a separate check for each spike or not. Although if we're counting them as all one poison, it's impossible for me to succeed. Although normally multiple doses of the same poison only increase the DC by 2 rather than 4, so I dunno.

CL check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Fort: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30

Raphael also knows neutralize poison and will cast it immediately if he doesn't die.

It's no more cruel or unusual than continually reading someone's thoughts to make judgmental comments without their permission. It's not like he's forcing her to continue listening to what he's thinking, while she's not exactly giving him an option to opt out of the commentary.

Raphael, I'm going to have to shift your alignment to Lawful Evil for that...

It was self defense! :P

Now that Suzumaru is awake once again, Raphael continues forward, searching the paintings as he comes across them.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Raphael sighs and goes over a mental list of spells. Protection from evil? No, that only prevents mind control; it doesn't stop things from invading your mind to make irritating comments. Silence? Sadly I think that only works on external sounds.

Out loud, he says, "Well, there doesn't seem to be anything obviously wrong. Looks like just a shock to her system." He waves his smelling salts under her nose to revive her.

An idea suddenly strikes him, and a small smile crosses his lips.
99 bottles of holy water on the wall. 99 bottles of holy water. Take one down, pass it around, 98 bottles of holy water on the wall.
98 bottles of holy water on the wall. 98 bottles of holy water. Take one down, pass it around, 97 bottles of holy water on the wall...

Just a heads up, I will be traveling/at a conference from this Monday the 10th to the following Monday, Novemeber 17th. I don't know how much time/internet access I'll have during that period, so feel free to bot me.

Raphael ignores the voice in his head. After all, he basically did that when its owner was right there in front on him, why should he do any differently now?

"Hmmm, well, the painting doesn't appear to be magical..."

Hearing Harvey's bleating, Raphael absently reaches into his jacket to pull out another pamphlet. The thump of Suzumaru collapsing manages to pull his attention away from the painting though.

Frowning, he moves towards the gnome. I hope that duchess person...creature...thing gets bored of knocking us out soon. It really is quite tedious. Raphael then pulls out his bottle of smelling salts again, resolving to keep it in a readily accessible location from now on.

Trying to determine what's wrong/what should be done
Heal Check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Raphael shrugs. "Well, I did manage to undo all the harm they caused. And now we know to ignore that little poem at the beginning of the entry way." He points out the beast gripping the bars. "I don't like the look of this here creature though. Given this place's love of summoning things, it wouldn't surprise me if it's somehow trapped."

Raphael waves his hand to examine the painting. Using up a 1st level spell to cast detect magic on the painting, focusing on the beast in the cage and any indication that it's linked to some kind of summoning trap.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Perception (if it'd help): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Raphael moves towards the next set of paintings and examines them.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Did my perception on the box in the wall find anything?

Also, the problem with splitting the party with half the group sleeping is that then there's an awkward time difference between the two groups, which could be very boring for the group that sleeps depending on how it's handled.

Sadly, no dark vision.

Glad that that strange creature who likes knocking his companions unconscious is now gone, Raphael stands up, a little less tense.

"I still have a number of other spells. Enough that it may not make the most sense to rest just for me. But at the very least, I'd like to see if that lever did anything actually useful."

With that, Raphael walks back to where the lever was, retrieves his string, and attempts to see if pulling it served any other purpose.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

I played a homebrew game that basically had the Joker in it. He was CE. And kept doing bad things to people who stood on X's. Like run in to them with large boats.

Raphael can cast Detect Evil as a first level spell. But to be honest, it seems like a waste since he seems pretty evil to me.

Raphael looks at his companions, trying to grab someone's attention and get them to hold the vial of smelling salts under Maxwell's nose. Unless we get attacked, Raphael will probably only spend a couple of more uses of it before giving up and letting Maxwell sleep it off.

He then continues to silently heal his companions, still not sure what to make of this stranger being who is clearly enjoying toying with them.

So Hamish has taken 2 Con damage, I believe he said. Jean I think was good due to poison immunity. Maxwell has 1. I have 4. Suzumaru was, I think, 3 for failing the first save before she got her barrier up?

Hamish: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Raphael: 1d4 ⇒ 2 *sigh* If only the two had been reversed
Suzumaru: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Maxwell: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Raphael: 1d4 ⇒ 1 ...these dice rolls were in a poorly chosen order
I don't feel like being mocked by the dice, but he casts again for his last Con point. There goes most of my 2nd level spells for today

He follows this all up with a channel energy.

Channel: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 2, 3, 3) = 17 +10 for me and Suzumaru

How are people doing now?

You only need lesser restoration to cure the con damage. No material component required.

Nice. I will be doing that shortly then.

Since I said I was going to heal someone before people fell unconscious, this is for Hamish

Pulling out his wand, Raphael taps Hamish.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 +5 from life link. There will be more healing after some lesser restorations.

Maxwell then falls unconscious. Raphael blinks. Again? He kneels next to to the man, checking that he's still alive.

Heal: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 I'm guessing that's enough to know he's still alive, just unconscious?

He then pulls out some smelling salts and waves them under Maxwell's nose.

Maxwell, you get another save. Also yay! This is the first time I've bought smelling salts and actually gotten to use them.

Raphael has restoration, so he can heal the Con damage. The thing is, the material component is 100g of diamond dust, and I think he only has about 170g left, which is only enough for 1 casting. I didn't notice the cost before learning it, or I would have kept some more spare gold. Otherwise, I think ability damage heals at the rate of 1 point per ability per night's rest.

Raphael used to know about the forgotten realms. But, well, then he forgot.

Raphael hesitates, uncertain of what to do. On the one hand, this Duchess did just help them. On the other, she's a servant of Acererak, who in all likelihood wants them all dead. So instead of talking, he decides to do what he knows how to do: heal. For now he decides to focus on physical wounds rather than the strange weakness caused by that cloud since asking his companions who happens to have 100g worth of diamond dust seems like it would be a bit rude with this stranger here.

Is everybody's HP up to date after Suzumaru's channel? I also have no idea what Hamish's HP is. :/

Sonic 1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Sonic 2: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Cloud: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 2 = 25

Raphael continues to cough and then yells, "Move a bit closer Maxwell!"

Raphael is delaying until Maxwell moves closer, at which point he'll cast Communal Align Weapon, tag Maxwell's bow, move right behind Jean, and tag Jean's shield. Otherwise he won't be able to tag both.

Also, everybody heal 5 HP.

Fort: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 ...really? *sigh*

Coughing, Raphael withdraws into the open as per Jean's suggestion. Withdraw action, so I don't provoke any AoO. Gasping between breaths, he manages to get out what he knows about the creatures. "They're suspiridaemons. Use good aligned or silver weapons. If you don't have them, the come to me, and I will fix that. They're immune to acid, disease, death effects, and poison, resistant to cold, electricity, fire, and especially sonic weapons. They also resist spells, but their will is weak compared to their fortitude or reflexes. That one" he points to the one that summoned the noxious gas "Just cast cloudkill. They can only do it once per day, and it means they can't summon any lacridaemons to aid them. They can also cast stinking cloud, vampiric touch, death knell, ghoul touch, and ray of enfeeblement."

After his long, quickly spoken info session, he begins desperately gasping for air, trying to pull himself together enough to align the weapons of anybody who needs it.

Well... you recognize this thing as a Suspiridaemon. In your mind, you get the feeling that they are not very friendly and... You get three questions about them.

1) Weaknesses

Woo, planes! One of my two good knowledge checks.
Planes: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

"Beware, there may be illusion magic involved!"

Will: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

What kind of knowledge check is applicable?

Seeing that his plan isn't working, Raphael moves to in front of but slightly away from the box and tries to pull the string. So basically, there's 5ft between the lever and his position

Str: 1d20 ⇒ 19

If you want a high str check, prepare for bad things to happen with Raphael's 10 str. :P

"I can summon a few things, like that eagle I created earlier. It's pretty limited though."

Str: 1d20 ⇒ 1 Hahaaaa...

"A lever? That's rather suspicious."

Raphael looks for more traps that will spring out if he reaches in to grasp the lever or if he pulls it.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

If he doesn't find any, he pulls out some twine to tie it around the lever and moves 20 feet away. He'll retrace his steps to move away to avoid any unfound traps.

"Ok, I'm going to pull this lever. Everybody be on the lookout for what it does, either positive or negative."

He'll then pull the lever.

The conclusion I've come to for PBP is that you shouldn't wait for other people to do stuff for you. Which means sometimes being a bit reckless.

Half to himself, "Hmm, looks like this button would release the contents. But it's going to try to prick me if I press it..."

To confirm his suspicions, Raphael will cast Detect Poison. Unless that's following the same rules at Detect Magic and forces him to give up a spell, in which case he won't. Unless he finds something unexpected (like poison coming from something other than the needle), he will do the following.

Raphael pulls out his dagger and attempts to use that to press the button. If that doesn't work, he pulls out a fishhook, bends it, and tries to use that.

Edit: He'll also try the 10ft pole, I guess. Although not from 10 feet away since then it seems like it'd be hard to hit his target.

"Thanks, but I'm not about to put another person in danger for my sake." He replies absent mindedly.

Raphael briefly looks at the cows, wondering if the green grass which is what I assume they're grazing on is in any way related to the 'shun green' mentioned earlier.

"Hmm, there seems to be a box embedded in a little niche here. I'm guessing this is one of the 'two pits along the wall' that will 'lead to a fortuitous fall.' The rhyme suggests that these are important, but should only be retrieved with a steady hand unless we want to get mauled, so they're most likely trapped."

I'm going to assume that up is North.
Raphael steps closer to the painting with the trick chest and attempts to determine if his suspicious is correct and the slot is indeed trapped. Not sure if I need to individually mark which of the two squares since I'm specifying what I'm searching for. If so, just pick the one I'm right in front of.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

As he looks, he murmurs to himself. "Too bad the box is likely too heavy for a mage hand."

Raphael channels energy to heal everybody from that most recent attack.

Channel: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 6, 5, 4) = 21

So life link would trigger, making Raphael take an extra 20 damage. So he's now down 11 and will just pop off a CLW wand charge.

CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 +2, +1

Let's just assume the extra 4 damage doesn't bounce back and forth between me and Suzumaru.

Raphael then moves forward to get a better look at the two images.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

"I have a mirror." Without taking his eyes off of the paintings, Raphael pulls a mirror out of his bag and holds it in Hamish's general direction.

Raphael shrugs. "Acererak seems to think he'll kill us regardless. It's true that the text could be misleading, but I think not; otherwise why not just speak plainly? But you can do as you wish."

I'm a little confused on the will save/damage. Are we all talking damage or was it just Max and Hamish? I'll resolve damage/healing after I find out.

"Hold on a moment! It looks like there's a riddle telling us where to tread here."

Raphael then tries to look at the walls. I think you said there were scenes on them? He looks especially for buildings/archways depicted in the scenes nearby.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

"We might also want a silver ring? I have silver dust, but I don't think I have a ring. Although that may have been something useful for trying to bind demons in a circle."

Will: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28 +2 if vs death effect

"Hmm, a red path. I'm guessing this means following it is either a very good, or a very bad, idea." Raphael moves to the beginning of it and looks at it more closely.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20