Fenchurch Marsh's page

Sorry for the extended absence everyone! As I explained to GM, I had a bout of COVID and a few other things that made it hard to find time to sit down and write.

I still feel like that post is a little sloppy, but it gets Fen caught up with events and where I need her to being so, huzzah to that at least! Can't hit creative writing home runs every post.

Fenchurch spends much of the evenings' events in quiet contemplation. She is no genius or strategist, but she's not dumb either. She has nothing at all against the Baroness Devy, Khari assuming control of the Belhaim barony could be advantageous in the long-term maintenance of the balance enabled by the Treaty of the Wildwood. As someone Fenchurch had fought side by side in battle, she felt she could trust Khari to heed the knight's council as an agent of the Verduran and -as a being with a foot in "both worlds", so to speak- Khari could be uniquely well suited to holding a position of power within that delicate political ecosystem.

Speaking of the Treaty, Fenchurch still was not certain why it was being re-ratified. She certainly did not want the Treaty to fail - that would be disastrous beyond measure - but she needs to know what other forces are at play if she is to carry out her duty effectively.

So lost in thought, she didn't realize the group at the temple were departing until they were half out the door. She hurried after them - it appeared Khari had elected to table her decision until the next day. Fenchurch would have to take her opportunity to council her then.

Joining the others in letting of some steam and filling their stomachs at the Wise Piper, Fenchurch remains mostly quiet; though she makes an attempt to appear less taciturn. The large woman isn't much of a drinker, but she elects to enjoy a pint of ale with her food. She smiles appreciatively at Moira and Selja's song, and is almost lulled to sleep by it.

As the night ends, with Liamae, Túrante, and Iagon all indisposed, she takes the opportunity to thank Moira as a representative of the party. She is clearly making great effort to speak more formally than is usual for her.

"I know I sort of... barged in on you all earlier today, but I appreciate you letting me accompany you. I haven't traveled with others in a good long while, but I take my obligations to the Woods seriously and a significant threat to it's balance was eliminated today - one I could not have handled on my own and likely would never have even discovered without your group. For this, I will always be grateful to your band."

She pauses.

"I am a... disadvantageous person to be associated with in a great many places within this region. I won't subject you to my life story when all of us are desperate for a bed, but I'd like to speak to the group tomorrow after the funeral. At which point you can decide for yourselves if you'd like to keep me in your company."

Fenchurch wakes early the next day, and takes breakfast at the earliest opportunity.

Condolences and congrats from me as well. July is a good month for a birthday!

Fenchurch nods an affirmation at Eupephenia's request, and readjusts the weight of Arnholde's cocooned remains on her shoulders as she prepares to depart towards the House of Abadar.

Her anxiety is beginning to give way to a much more primal and straightforward mental concern: she's actually starting to get tired. But she's determined to see the day's tasks through.

For the record, Fenchurch has only executed Lumber Consortium members. Though she’ll protect the woods through non-leathal means (as much as possible) from any illegal logging. (She recognizes the Wildwood Treaty as it currently stands. As for the changes the Marquis wants to make, wellllll…)

Fenchurch level 4 notables:

+1 Charisma
+1 use of Challenge/day
Woodland Stride
ABP: +1 enhancement to one attuned weapon and one attuned armor (My masterwork greataxe and my banded mail)

Plus the attendant increases to BaB, saves, hp, scaling feats/abilities, and skills. Most notable of those is a big bump from Power Attack (hitting for 1d12+11 now! Fenchurch does not mess around!) and a significant bump to Survival as well.

To anyone observing her, Fenchurch appears incredibly tense. Typically she would have remained outside while the party concluded their business, but as the one carrying Arnholde's body she reluctantly joined them in entering the manor.

She finds it difficult to not be at least somewhat visibly relieved when Selja's healing energy revitalizes her somewhat, but otherwise does not speak, and responds quickly and efficiently to any requests regarding what to do with or how to handle the body.

Ok folks, here is where we're probably going to start running into the "fun" parts of the drawback I've decided to take. Fenchurch is a known vigilante in the greater Verduran region, and is actively wanted by the Lumber Consortium. As a result: "She draws attention anywhere within the greater Verduran region and risks imprisonment or worse within the borders of Andoran. Fenchurch and her apparent allies take a -4 penalty on Diplomacy checks to interact with law-abiding citizens (except enemies of the authority that accused you)."

Of course, GM, this falls to you to arbitrate, but I can't see myself getting off easy with this. Also, uh, sorry everyone.

Hi everyone! Sorry, started a new job on Monday and it's long hours + I don't have the luxury of working on a computer, meaning I can't easily sneak in posts like at my last job.

Apologies for the radio silence. Working on striking an equilibrium with the new schedule.

And welcome Selja! I love half-orcs, and a Cleric will be very welcome!

Also an ABP reminder for everyone: 4th level means we get to attune a weapon and armor each to +1.

Just confirming that I'm still here. Just been weighed down by a ton of life stuff in the wake of the holidays. I'll work on getting my plan for Fench's level up as well as jumping back in to the game.

Oh, I completely forgot about the quivers and arrows. I'll take one of the Efficient Quivers too, and half of the Giant Bane arrows if no one objects. I figure the other quiver and five arrows can go to someone else with a bow.

I don't plan to ever be much of an archer, but can't hurt to max out my secondary weapon for the foreseeable future.

Heya! Sorry! Was sidetracked for a little while.

I think our group is pretty solid, but I'm of the opinion that five is the optimal group size. I think we're probably weakest on healing and defensive buffs? Although with Iagon leaving we're loosing a big hitter.

I don't really know anyone else on the boards too well. I know some great players through other channels, but I don't know how interested they'd be in a play by post.

If no one else feels they need it, Fenchurch could take that Adaptive Longbow and probably never have to upgrade for the rest of her career since it will scale as her Strength goes up.

If we're doing that adjusted version of ABP, Fench could definitely use that Amulet of Natural Armor.

The armor is nice, but unless we know we're specifically going up against giants I'm probably better off with my mundane banded mail for now.

When the snake and skeleton fall, Fenchurch lets loose a ragged sigh. She briefly takes a moment to pitch the head of her greataxe to the ground and lean against the haft. Any members of the group observing would notice she's a bit paler than usual.

However when the moment passes she gamely stands straight again, hefting her large axe across her shoulder and resuming her expression of steely determination as though she felt as fresh as she did waking up this morning.

She grins at Nighttail, "I'd say you've more than earned it. Anyone have any objections?"

Once Moira lays the bones to their final rest, Fenchurch inspects the twice-fallen priestess' gleaming chain armor.

Sparing a glance at the coffer, she gestures towards it with a nod. "What do we make of that? Perhaps there's a smaller, bloodier undead lizard in that one?"

I have to say, it's extremely satisfying when a character works out in a -for lack of a better term I suppose- "combat roleplay" sense exactly as you had envisioned in your head. Just trudging along, full of holes, ready to kill the next thing. Fench is my favorite PC I've had in a long time.

Thanks for the Aegis, Liamae! Literally saved my life.

Fenchurch hisses as the cobra pumps it's venom into her veins, but remains undeterred from felling her quarry.

Greataxe smash!: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 23
Greataxe smash!: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 13

Damage: 1d12 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Fenchurch's eyes narrow as the skeleton's bones slowly knit together. "We've got to kill this thing quickly!" she shouts before brining her axe down in a mighty overhead chop.

Greataxe (Power Attack, Furious Focus, Inspired, Challenge: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 25
Greataxe (Power Attack, Furious Focus, Inspired, Challenge: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 24

Damage: 1d12 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Suppose it wouldn't be D&D if the dumb fighter didn't open the sarcophagus before everyone was fully healed. :-/

Despite their poor tactical situation, Fenchurch practically grins as the blood-soaked skeleton climbs it's way up from the sarcophagus.

"Finally, something more my speed! Right here, I'm the one you want you blighted bag of bones!"

The tall warrior unslings her greataxe as she taunts the skeleton, bringing it around in a sideswipe at her undead foe.

Move action draw weapon.
Swift action to Challenge the skeleton.
Standard action to attack.

I'm presuming a few things here. First, that the skeleton does not have the Plant or Animal typing. If it does, my Challenge will not function. Second, that it *does* have the Undead typing. If so, I get to roll twice on my first attack roll against it every round and take the better result.

Challenge effects: +1 morale bonus to attack rolls, +3 untyped bonus to damage. -2 on AC for attacks from any enemy other than the challenge target. Aforementioned reroll effect.

Greataxe (Power Attack, Furious Focus, Inspired, Challenge): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 26
Greataxe (Power Attack, Furious Focus, Inspired, Challenge): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 16

damage: 1d12 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Bah, flubbed it on the damage roll. Was hoping for something high to back up that big flat bonus. Guessing since this is some kind of skeleton that's gonna be a lot less that actually gets through.

As final slime mold falls away form her, Fenchurch inhales greatfully.

She wipes away some of the residual slime from her face and eyes, but seems otherwise unconcerned with post-battle cleanliness.

After hearing Moira identify the involvement of Cyth V'sug, Fenchurch is filled with a minor upswell of confidence. Her instincts had proven correct: despite appearances, this calamity could hardly be considered "natural".

Scanning the battered group, the woodland knight seems pensive. "We're a good bit worse for wear, but I suppose there's no sense in waiting to see if whatever is in there can get itself out. I trust your judgement."

With that, she returns her greataxe to it's sling on her back. She stretches, adopts a braced position suitable for lifting, and attempts to remove the stone lid of the sarcophagus.

Is this a Strength check, or just a "do you have enough Str for the lifting/pulling weight"?

Hi everyone! Sorry for the long silence. Some stuff cropped up and that on top of taking a sabbatical from usual obligations meant things like games were just sort of... far from the front of my mind for a few days.

But I'm back!

Oh! I thought I was just stuck until it moved off of me or the others killed it lol.

Fenchurch musters all of her strength in an attempt to rip the animate pile of goop off of herself.

CMB to break pin: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

As Fenchurch is plunged into the ooze, she offers a mirthful grin and a thumbs-up to the group, as if to communicate "Everything is fine! This was mostly the plan!"

Absolutely certain I can't one-shot this thing, making the Reflex save the tactically superior option... but that's not how Fenchurch does things! If the slime mold is eating her then it's not eating her allies. (And hopefully she can thwack it hard enough that it won't take her pals too long to finish it off!)

As the remaining slime mold bears down on her like a tide of mucous, she meets it with a feral grin and her shining green greataxe.

Pretty sure I got the attack and damage math correct on this, but feel free to check my work!

Mwk Greataxe + Inspire - Power Attack - Size - Fighting Defensively: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 1 - 1 - 4 = 22

damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 4) + 10 = 21

Do I get a "save or AoO" option for each engulf attempt? Like I could choose to AoO one and save from the other, or attempt to save from both?

I'm always willing to play things loose with initiative order. In this case, it may have to play out in post order, as I'm not sure if Fenchurch had room to grow while still in the hallway. I'll resolve things when I get back from lunch.

Ah, good point! Hadn't considered it, and I believe you're correct. Statistically, I don't think it would have effected the damage on this attack much anyways. Maybe a variance of 2-3 points either way? I think my personal GM Brain just got lost in the weeds here lol.

GM, are we going by strict posted initiative order or by post order? Essentially, do you need me to reroll that damage since my damage die goes up one if Liamae's action goes off first? I'm fine one way or the other, just didn't expect a corner case to crop up.

I did a post last night, but looks like it got eaten. Oh well! Looks like we're going in about as strategically as possible. Also: Nice shot, Moira!

Fenchurch quickly strides in front of Khari, hoping her large frame will draw the oozes away from the mourning spider-woman. "I'm going to give these things something they can't ignore for as long as I can manage. The rest of you throw everything you've got at Arnholde, make him think twice about advancing!"

With that, she adopts a defensive posture before bringing down her axe on the ooze directly in front of her.

Gonna try fighting defensively... not something I do often but I sort of hope this is "robot queen rules" and if the rest of the group can volley Arnholde to death I won't have to worry about these two for very long. I'm moving through Khari's space to position, though given their size I assume these blobs have reach so that will provoke an AOO from Slime Mold Red. Let's pray to the ever beneficent God of Barkskin!

Mwk Greataxe Power Attack + Furious Focus + Inspire Courage + Fighting Defensively: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
damage: 1d12 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

AC should be 22 now. Any subsequent AOOs I make before the start of my next round will be at -6 total for fighting defensively + power attack.

Ah! I forgot about size! Curses. In that case, perhaps I can loan out my composite to Túrante? Then Nighttail can take that masterwork and Khari, well... I think she's probably fine being left to her arachnid devices?

Fenchurch has a composite shortbow she's more than happy to lend out for her tactical approach. Perhaps Nighttail can take the composite (if she's melee, perhaps she's got a Str bonus?) and Khari can take the mwk Shortbow (perhaps dextrous enough to mitigate non-proficiency and/or lack of Precise Shot?). Happy to roleplay all of this out, just thought it might be better to get sausage-making out of the way first to avoid going in circles with RP posts.

Fenchurch shakes her head in response to Liamae's statement. "We can't afford to give... whatever Arnholde has become any more time to do... whatever it is he's doing down here. Or to escape somehow. He might know things about these caves that we, and even the kobolds, don't."

She draws in a long breath and exhales it slowly, coughing slightly as itching in her throat lingers from the spores. "We should have a strategy. I don't have a head for the complex stuff, but I've been in plenty of fights. We should keep as many of our group at range as possible. If only two, or even just one of us, are in their faces it makes their spores less effective. The rest of us should stay well back. Use bows...", she gestures Nighttail towards the shortbow she asked after, "...alchemist's fire, whatever."

Her tone and demeanor make it unsubtle that she's nominating herself for the vanguard.

She picks her greataxe up off the ground, dusting off any grime with care. "I got unlucky with that last cloud of junk, but I can handle plenty more. And I've got some insurance against less fungus-y threats." She slips the potion of Barkskin from her belt and holds it up, sloshing the liquid back and forth for emphasis.

Fenchurch is volunteering to be meat shield for the group. Even with the 2 Con damage she's already got, it'll take her a while to go down from it if she fails more saves. And HP damage will take even longer to drop her. I think our best bet is to slap on as many buffs as we can and overwhelm (presumably) Arnholde with ranged attacks while Fenchurch tries to keep him pinned. If the party agrees to proceed, Fen will chug her Barkskin draft for +2 AC for the next 20 minutes.

Fort Save Reroll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

That's showbiz, baby!

I suppose my luck couldn't hold forever!

Fenchurch hacks and sputters, cursing the fungbold as she backs away out of the cloud.

She drops her greataxe on the ground and draws her shortbow, readying an arrow.

Fenchurch move action to exit spore cloud. Free action to drop greataxe. Move action to draw shortbow.

Fenchurch shields her eyes from the light and heat of the fireball, frustrated her allies were under fire before she was able to take the field.

I've actually got a decent initiative bonus, but my initiative rolls seem to think they're being made on a d6 lol.

Axe at the ready, Fenchurch strides past her allies' formation to stand alongside Nighttail in facing down the trapmaster.

Double move.

Fenchurch doesn't love the idea of others going in first, but agrees that she's not best equipped for stealthy tasks. She awaits the ambush anxiously, gripping the haft of her greataxe.

Hi everyone! Sorry I went quiet the last week. Father in law had a moderate medical emergency. He's fine and everything is good now, but it I spent most of my free time that week as an extra pair of hands/gofer to take some of the pressure off the family.

Back now!

Fenchurch muses over Liamae's suggestion.

"It couldn't hurt. Might be one of these poor rotters is hiding down that way - one of them is supposed to be some sort of trap master, right? Doesn't sound like the type to look for a straight fight to me. If nothing else, maybe we'll get lucky and it will take us around behind the infected kobolds and let us get the drop on them?"

At the fungused corpses, Moira says, hopefully consolingly, "We all decompose eventually. Some just get there faster."

”Yeah. Like if you’re eaten.” Fenchurch responds over her shoulder without a trace of humor.

Fenchurch is up early and immediately attends to stowing her bedroll and donning her armor.

When the group heads out she takes point, anxiously gripping her greataxe as she anticipates danger.

Cool! didn’t know that.

It’s cannon that the events of Dragon’s Demand happened 5 years before, so we’ll set the current Golarion year as AR 4718, which hey, aligns with this campaign starting in 2018. Cool how that works out.

According to that calendar, Spring Equinox for 4718 is the 20th of Pharast, which puts the current date after resting in the cavern, as Gozran the 2nd. Cool. This makes me happy :)

Happy to contribute! Didn’t realize it was a full 5 years after Dragon’s Demand (which means, if you’ve mentioned that, I am a dummy who’s bad at keeping track! lol).

Fun Trivia: That means our game is roughly contemporaneous with the War For The Crown Adventure Path.

I’ve finally caught up with the Campaign Journal and Kills list, both found under the Campaign Info tab.

After nearly 4 years of real time play, 13 days have elapsed in game.

My main objective is to implement an in game calendar, which I’ll do using this website.

Now all I gotta do is figure out what Golarion year this is taking place in. I think there’s an established ‘present’ year for Paizo material, but I also think that might have changed since the release of PF2e. Maybe those of you who run published Paizo adventures can help me out. All I know is, this campaign started on the Spring Equinox, five years after the events of the Dragon’s Demand module.

The website defaults to 4712 AR, which I might just as well run with that.

APs/modules/etc are assumed to take place in the Golarion equivalent year of the "real world" year they were released in.

The formula is Earth year + 2700 = Golarion year.

I'll use Dragon's Demand as a reference point, since we're currently dealing with some stuff that assumes that module happened. DD took place in 4713 AR, so depending on how long after DD you want this all to be happening, that would likely put us somewhere in the 4713-4714 range.

Fenchurch is good on potions at the moment, and isn't personally fond of hurling alchemist's fire about. In fact, it probably would have helped during the fight if I'd remembered my potions of Barkskin. Oh well. An oversight like that feels rather in character.

Fenchurch groans a bit a Moira's puns, but they help her let go of the fury built up from the preceding melee and she's appreciative of the magical healing. She grimaces a bit, watching the burn marks on her skin fade to a freshly healed, pink-ish hue. "That bomber had us dead to rights. Sometimes your only chance is to just march straight through the briar."

The forest knight is eager to see this situation with the kobolds through to the end, but agrees that the blasted spores have taken enough of a toll to warrant a strategic retreat.

Assuming someone is translating for Nighttail, Fenchurch is reluctant to take on another charge to look out for, but reasons that having someone along that might know some of what to expect will be valuable.

Fenchurch beds down close to the pathway deeper into the caves, ensuring any fungbolds electing to make an offensive have to go through her first.

I have returned!

I love a good vacation, but lemme tell ya... three planes there and three planes back will take a *lot* out of you.

(Thanks for the lomi lomi rec, GM! Delicious.)

Enjoy Hawaii! We were just there for our honeymoon. It's like a second home for me, my dad was born and raised there and I have lots of family there. Where are you going?

I have never been! I’m honestly desperately under-traveled, though with moving to Oklahoma and vacationing in Hawaii all within about a month of each other I seem to be making up for it, lol.

We’re flying into Lihue, and our hotel is in Lihue as well (I think). I am looking forward to it! (Especially given that, after only a month of being an ex-Californian, I am already desperately missing easy access to fresh seafood.)

Leaving for a vacation tomorrow: Hawaii bound!

I will update from phone when possible, but expect spotty at best. If it is necessary to bot me: Fen has a natural compulsion to do the right thing, though it sometimes runs afoul of her vengeful streak. And her obligation to The Green. In combat... well, "Hulk smash!".

Not gonna lie, feeling pretty hot stuff after that round of rolls lol.

Stone faced, Fenchurch marches inexorably after the bomb-throwing fungbold, dragging her green-hued axe along the ground behind her.

Move 4 spaces to J7.

Over the grinding and clanging of her axe her voice croaks furiously "Just die already!" as she swings her axe upwards towards the creature's midsection.

Power Attack, Furious Focus

Greataxe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

If that misses I might have to retire, lol

"Oh no you don't!" Fenchurch growls as the fungbold attempts to beat a hasty retreat. She appears to have not even noticed the spore cloud expanding out through the area.

She sweeps her axe out in front of her, left to right, at the fleeing fungbold. Attack of opportunity. This is my second attack of the turn, so I have to take the PA hit to accuracy.

Greataxe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Fenchurch lets out a hiss as the fire explodes over her again, leaving burns across her face and singing away some of her dark, red hair.

With a howl, she runs towards the kobold, axe raised high in the air, and brings it down on the creature. Charge attack on the Bomber.

Greataxe Charge: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 13
damage: 1d12 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 = 15

Ah well. That's probably a miss. Sometimes you do the cool/character appropriate thing and the dice just aren't with you. Fen is at -2 AC until her next turn. On the upside, at least I've got the little jerk engaged.

Moira, I've been playing since late 2E days and that hat toss has to be one of the coolest, most inventive and fun stunts I've ever seen someone pull.

Fenchurch curses as some of the fire washes over her, singing the haphazard collection of furs she wears over her armor. She feels some light burns forming along her more sparsely covered forearms.

She is about to move for forward and bear down upon the fungbold responsible for the burning flask when she notices Túrante struggling to free herself. The knight hesitates for a moment, torn between meting out revenge on her assailant and assisting her ally before ultimately reaching out with her right hand to grab Túrante by the armpit and lift - hopefully providing enough additional leverage and pull to free her.

Aid Another (Str): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Unfazed by the gore before her, Fenchurch heaves a sigh of relief as the fungbold falls.

Gathering her wits, she heads around the bend of the cave to assist Túrante, heedless of exposing herself to danger as she does so.

Fenchurch double move past Túrante to come up along side the blue fungbold, provoking an attack of opportunity.