GM Losonti's page

Hey everyone,

I'd been leaving this active in case you still needed a place to coordinate/discuss your next move, but it looks like you've gotten someone to take you as far as Drezen, so I will be marking it inactive (and thereby removing it from your active campaigns list) later on today. Thanks for letting me be a part of your journey up to this point and I hope to see you all get across the finish line!

Thank you all, I really appreciate it. I'm disappointed in how it turned out, but I wish all of you the best.

Thank you, everyone, I really appreciate your kind words. For what it's worth, you've been a fantastic group of players and characters, and I hope you can find a GM able to help you to the finish line.

Hey everyone, I apologize for being MIA again. I've been having a really hard time with IRL stuff, which is nothing new, though these last couple weeks were especially difficult.

It's made me realize that, as much as I don't want it to be true, I don't think I can continue running this game. That's been clear for a while, since the game's pace has slowed to a crawl (my fault, not yours) and the amount of work I've been able to put into fewer and fewer posts has also become less and less. Trying to force it to limp along has just made me feel guilty for stringing you along on something that will, if I'm being generous, probably take another 10 years to finish at our current rate.

I feel terrible and dumb, especially to Marvin, who literally just joined us, but we're all frustrated with how things are currently and I can't honestly see the situation improving.

Hey everyone, I apologize for being MIA again. I've been having a really hard time with IRL stuff, which is nothing new, though these last couple weeks were especially difficult.

It's made me realize that, as much as I don't want it to be true, I don't think I can continue running this game. That's been clear for a while, since the game's pace has slowed to a crawl (my fault, not yours) and the amount of work I've been able to put into fewer and fewer posts has also become less and less. Trying to force it to limp along has just made me feel guilty for stringing you along on something that will, if I'm being generous, probably take another 10 years to finish at our current rate.

I feel terrible and dumb, because the whole reason we wound up playing together was because your previous GM did the same thing, but we're all frustrated with how things are currently and I can't honestly see the situation improving.

Just posting to let you know I'm still around! I'm enjoying the introduction and don't want to seem like I'm pushing you or anything like that.

Thank you for your service, Greta! I didn't see anyone else say that they moved you, so I have done that. Let me know if you're in the right spot.

"My, aren't you a clever one," the human-seeming demon sneers, then sends his honor guard forward with a dismissive wave. "I hate it when they're clever. Kill him first."

The three spread out a bit as they advance cautiously, spears held out and in a defensive grip. Whatever they are, they're not quite as stupid as the dretches you killed only seconds ago. Their commander, for his part, begins casting a lengthy spell.

Everyone is up!

Hopping back in time just a bit...

As the party returns to the Weeping Pond for another venture down into the caverns, you find a sight that's unusual even for Torch: a lone dwarf, turning his head this way and that, having what appears to be an argument...with himself.

Greta+Junior: Because you can't see more than 5 feet away in the cloud, they'd have total concealment from you while moving up. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.
Tristian, you only save while in the cloud, so you don't need to make more saves after leaving. Therefore, give yourself back your mythic power point.
Tristian Nauseated Duration in Rounds: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 So you'll be clear of it in at the end of round 3, which is also when the clouds all dissipate.

Caliban Nauseated Duration in Rounds: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Oof. The save vs Nauseated would take place immediately upon entering the cloud, so no attack after that unfortunately.

Selann Nauseated Duration in Rounds: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

While some of the party find themselves in an unfortunate battle with nausea, those of you who manage to overcome the stinking cloud make short work of the remaining dretches. Those not struck down by your weapons are knocked to the ground, lifeless, by another surge of channeled power from Benedic. The cloud likewise evaporates within seconds.

Greta, however, is the only one positioned to see another wave of demons teleporting in to the east: a trio of monsters that resemble a flayed man holding a spear led by a demon who almost looks remarkably human, save for the horns sticking out from his forehead. Pointing directly at Greta, he snarls a command to his retinue.

Everyone is up for round 4!

Awesome! How do we want to handle it? Just drop Marvin in on y'all?

thank you

I forgot my own reminder about concealment...
Miss Chance #1, 20%: 1d100 ⇒ 51
Miss Chance #2, 20%: 1d100 ⇒ 13 That one misses, so Junior only takes 4 damage instead of 10.
Selann, if you could please roll one for yourself there, I'd appreciate it.

None of the dretches are able to succeed twice, so they are all stunned for a round (and take 16 damage)! Everyone can proceed to their 3rd round of actions, though please remember to keep making Fort saves against the clouds if you stay in it.

Greta and Selann make quick work of the schir, smashing it to bloody ribbons before it can even take hold of its weapon.

The dretches, by contrast, fair much better. After Caliban's spell goes wide, they rush in screeching, but not before two of them blanket the area in a foul, stinking cloud of yellowish gas. They swarm around Junior and Tristan, biting and scratching.

Please excuse the very poorly drawn cloud areas. DC 15 Fort saves from everyone except Benedic and Caliban, failure means you are nauseated. Remember that you can't see further than 5 feet through the cloud, and things within 5 feet have 20% concealment.

Blue vs Junior: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
B+P+S: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Yellow vs Junior: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
B+P+S: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Everyone is up!

No worries, folks. And thanks for the correction about Tristan's initiative reroll, I had forgotten about the change. Junior, would you be comfortable playing Tristan until he gets back this weekend?

You cannot currently see an incubus, no. You do see another demon that seems to be be overseeing the dretches, with the head of a goat and wielding a polearm.

As you cross the final stretch of open ground to what remains of the fortifications, one of the dretches on guard also finally takes notice of you. He leaps to his feet and points, apparently shouting in alarm. You're unable to hear it, however, as it's at almost the same moment that the encampment down the hill erupts into shouting chaos: your army's attack has begun.

You see silhouettes of other figures moving about above you, but their actions are sluggish and purposeless. You have a clear advantage.

Greta, feel free to still roll your initiative, but unless you roll terribly you'll still go before any of the demons. Everyone is up first!

Yesterday was kind of a nightmare, and I wound up pulling at 13 hour day, so I mostly just fell asleep when I got home. I'll get a map up and stuff later tonight!

Okay, since CW and Dorian will be out until next weekend, let's officially just pause for now (on purpose, for once!). We can resume on Sunday the 18th to introduce Marvin.

Thanks!

Would everyone prefer to do a bit of retconning to before you re-enter the caves, so we can introduce Marvin to the group?

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 2

There's the briefest of pauses, and then the voice calls back.

There's not a map up just yet, but this will let you get within 60 feet before they're able to actually see Benedic. Those of you who are either invisible or named Selann can get closer if they want. Feel free to roll initiative. You'll also get a surprise round.

Marvin's crunch looks good!

A few questions that came to mind: What form does his devotion to Torag take? What drew him to the Technic League in the first place? Why does he want to join up with the party?

Those first two don't necessarily need answers, but I think the motivation is an important one.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Some truly incredible rolls, everyone. What's the signal for your army to attack?
Re: Stealth Synergy: That feat's wording is, uh, something. They couldn't have possibly intended for the party to stack all of their Stealth modifiers together, and yet that is what they wrote.

Aided by the cover of darkness and invisibility both, your party is able to creep within nearly a hundred feet of the ruined fortifications without raising the alarm. It's at that point, however, that the metallic clinking of your armor becomes audible to even the most inattentive of guards. From out of the darkness, you hear a voice shouting a question in your direction.

"एह? त्यो के हो? तपाईंले खानेकुरा फेला पार्नुभयो?

Their tone is bored, but they clearly expect an answer of some kind.

If someone has anything they're uncomfortable with, either in advance or when it comes up during play in the future, send me a PM.

Reread this and wanted to clarify: if you send me a PM regarding something you're uncomfortable with or are triggered by, you don't need to explain why it bothers you. Just telling me is enough, and I won't reveal that it was you unless you specifically ask me to. It's important to me that everyone feels comfortable with what's going on at the table, and that folks feel like they can express concerns to me without worrying about embarrassment, retaliation, or anything of the sort.

Sounds like a plan! Can I get some stealth checks from everyone, please?

There sure are!

Apologies, but IRL chaos had to get sorted out. Back in action.

Sorry folks, had some IRL chaos between work and school that I had to get sorted out. I'll reach out to Dorian/Grumbaki before I bump the recruitment thread to see if we can scare someone up to step into Shesik's role.

Yup!

Your trip back down to the science deck is uneventful, with the various dangers along the way either dealt with or too afraid to confront you. Still, there's quite a bit of space in here that remains unexplored to you.

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

It looks that way. Would someone like to reach out?

I appreciate you asking, Junior. Sexual assault is definitely not something I was planning on depicting in our game. Same with violence against children. There might be kids who are injured or in a bad way, but we're not going to have it actually happening at the table (so to speak). If someone has anything they're uncomfortable with, either in advance or when it comes up during play in the future, send me a PM.

That's up to you, but in the absence of any changes I'll assume things are continuing on as they have before.

The army is ready to move again that morning, and so you spend much of the next two days on the march once again. The cliffs on your left grow higher and steeper, and off to the north loom ominous, purplish clouds that seem to be growing into a storm. Many of your soldiers seem to unconsciously turn their bodies away from it. Others, studying the storm in an attempt to determine its path, report feelings of nausea or being watched.

[spoiler=Selann and anyone else with the scouts]You catch sight of the remains of the town that once stood at the mouth of the Ahari River, now only a collection of ruined stone houses and rotting piers extending out above a dry riverbed. To the south of the ruins, a small camp has been erected out, made up of a number of small tents and lean-tos. Smoke from a number of cookfires obscures your observations of the ruins, but there is clearly some level of activity taking place there as well.[/ooc]

Tyn manages to turn up an unopened bottle of Black Butterfly Brew that had rolled behind a bookcase. While the empyreal lord herself isn't considered particularly lucky, perhaps her close association with Desna is close enough?

Val bites her lip and nods. "I'm sorry to drop this on you guys. You'd think things might be starting to calm down after rescuing our father, but it's always one thing after another, isn't it?"

"We saw the dust kicked up by their marching, sure enough, but coming from the southwest as it was, we thought it was reinforcements, not a bloody cultist army." Kamilo grimaces. "An expensive lesson."

The request to make camp is met with an eager nod. "Naturally. We'd be poor hosts to kick out our rescuers. Take as long as you need."

The next day, Irabeth and Anevia join you at the morning briefing to give a review of the next phase of the march on Drezen.

"Our next stop is Keeper's Canyon, formerly known as the Ahari River. It presents us with the only reliable overland route for any large force toward Drezen. It's another forty-five or forty-six miles to the mouth of the canyon, and we can likely expect more resistance, better organized than the roving bands of cultists we've encountered thus far."

I know Caliban is still around as well, so I think we're good to go.

Makes sense to me!

My plan is to get us rolling again this weekend, and with no other huge interruptions on my immediate schedule, to keep up a steadier pace.

My plan is to get us rolling again this weekend, and with no other huge interruptions on my immediate schedule, to keep up a steadier pace.

Oh no!

Hey everybody! Still, ironically, recovering from my vacation. It was a lot faster paced than I was really expecting and just didn't have very much downtime to sit and post. Whenever I did, of course, it was in places with no signal.

Hey everybody! Still, ironically, recovering from my vacation. It was a lot faster paced than I was really expecting and just didn't have very much downtime to sit and post. Whenever I did, of course, it was in places with no signal.

In the immediate aftermath of the battle, Anevia and Aron continue on to scout ahead on your projected path, while Irabeth, Sosiel, and Nurah busy themselves with healing the survivors.

You're met in the town square by the leader of the garrison, a human woman who snaps off a smart salute before introducing herself as Kamilo Dann.

"Damned glad to see you," she says. "I don't know how much longer we could have held them off on our own."

"Well, he was pale, and had long black hair, but it was up in like a pony tail," she says, somewhat flustered by her poor description. "He acted like he knew you, but I haven't seen him before."

There is about a week's gap between when you think the skulks met with this group and when the torch went out. The torch has been out for around 11 days.

Val has bowls of steaming vegetable stew ready for the lot of you when you return to the Foundry, and Khonnir seems to be feeling well enough to join you at the dining table.

Later, she pulls Hekau and Zelvin aside for a hushed conversation.

"While you were out, there was some guy who came in asking about you. Nothing too weird, just where your friends were from, but I had a bad feeling and turned him out, saying we were closed. Thought you should know."

The rest of your evening is spent on various other entertainments, but Ulreth doesn't seem to emerge from the backrooms again.

What would you like to do next? The town's big purple sky beam is still out of commission, plus the mystery cave delvers.

Heads up for everyone: I'm going to traveling from the 23rd through August 6th. A lot of that is going to be me very bored while I ride in a car, so I'll probably still get some posts in.

For sure! I think I just forgot how easy it is for a single enemy (or essentially single enemy, after the troops got murked) encounter to go sideways, especially if the "boss" has a big glaring weakness like his Will saves, especially especially if I forgot about the party's multiple save or dies. :P

So I wasn't upset, I just felt bad and worried it was underwhelming. But getting to clown on bad guys is fun too.

Well, that'll teach me!

Just a heads up for everyone: I'm going to traveling from the 23rd through August 6th. A lot of that is going to be me very bored while I ride in a car, so I'll probably still get some posts in.

Note to self: don't...forget...the will save...

Selann and Greta work together to lift her, however awkwardly, high enough into the air for her to work her hammer magic, ending the demon before he even started. However undignified it might look, the sight clearly strikes terror into the remaining cultists, and your soldiers give chase with a hearty cheer. Vilareth's Ford is spared the fate of Vilas's Gift, thanks to your heroism.

Well, that was a bit of an underwhelming fight, I apologize! Next time I'll be meaner. :P

Caliban, yes, that's the demon. Also, I'm happy to be wrong here, but I believe that hexes, being supernatural abilities and not spells or spell-like abilities, are not affected by spell resistance at all. Hate to waste your nat 20, though.

Will save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10 welp

The brimorak, fearsome as it might be in any other context, is rendered unconscious by Caliban's hex. The fire of its flaming longsword winks out as it falls to the ground, while its wielder simply hangs in the air, suspended by his magic.

I think that, due to the effect of air walk, he'd just essentially fall prone in his current square, but not fall all the way to the ground.

Benedic and Caliban, you'll need to be significantly closer due to its elevation, but you can still get it with the edge of your abilities' range.
Caliban: Yes, but that was a different day, so you're good to go here.

Will vs Channel: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Will vs Evil Eye: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

The demon, clearly preparing for some new assault on the heroes, is halted in its (aerial) tracks by Benedic's channel. It stands there, dazed. It offers no mental resistance to Caliban's jinx. Poor guy.

Since our friend won't get to act on his turn, everyone is up again! Greta, you can take two turns if you like.