GM Snowheart's page

Vaelor: Unfortunately not. The save is just against being knocked prone.

Doc, I believe the Sotto Voce shaken condition only lasts for 1 round, but let me know if that's wrong. If it is still in effect, then the beasty failed his save against the confusion effect.

Ingrid: Mace and miss
Brogol: Successful save vs Prone; climb and attack, miss
Karik: Guidance
Vaelor: Successful save vs Prone; attack with 22, hit
Franz: Combat Advice

Ingrid throws her mace at the beast and Asmodeus's fickle affinity for His mortal worshippers seems to have passed as the mace goes wildly off target. Brogol charges up the crates, taking a nasty slash from the beast's claws as he moves up, and misses with his own strike with the bladed scarf. Clambering up in Brogol's wake and aided by the doctor's wisdom, the eidolon lands a devastating strike, eliciting a yowl of pain from the tiny cat-man. Eris herself channels the mad energy of her god and, while it inflicts further wounds on the beast, it manages to shrug off the madness.

"Aaaaah! You bad bad bad! This not your home! Go go go! No no no!" While Vaelor hurt it, Brogol is more injured and it tries to take out one of its foes by swiping both claws at the man. Though tiny, it's claws are sharp and shred leather and skin alike.

Brogol takes 6 damage from the AoO, plus 4 and another 4 from two claw attacks. I have him now with 22 damage, so still up. But I'm seeing a different value on Brogol's status with only 5 hp remaining before the attacks. So, if the 6 from the AoO drops him, then the two claw attacks in its regular round will be versus Vaelor, with a 26 and 24 on the attack rolls.

Cute Kitty Person: -27 hp
Brogol: -22
Vaelor: -8

Just checking in. I'll try to post an update in the next hour and have Alyczandra hold if she hasn't been able to update before then.

Need a Reflex Save DC 15 for Vaelor to prevent falling prone from the falling crate.

Brogol, the cat is using a spell and is not carrying anything that could be disarmed (though it does have claws as natural weapons). Do you want to change that action?

Will save: 1d20 ⇒ 6 Math is hard... adding... vs DC 13, that is a successful save, so no confusion.

Will update after giving Brogol and Vaelor a chance to update.

I hate the beginning of a month. Billing is the worst. :P

The trip attempt DID work (I'm surprised, actually, but I guess tiny size is no beuno.

Jerax's attack also hit, so it has another 6 points of damage. It looks wounded.

K/V: Move, Guidance, Attack (miss); Stack
Brogol: Stack.
Eris: Light xbow (miss)
Ingrid: Mace (hit)

Karik and Eris continue to try to attack the cat-like creature but the beast's agility combined with the cover from the trap door make it difficult to hit. However, Ingrid's luck proves somewhat better, landing another strike with her mace. Below, Brogol and Vaelor finish stacking crates and now have a serviceable way up.

"Ah! You bad bad people! You leave now or Snivvi burn you all!" With that, it briefly disappears from view before a giant chest comes tumbling through the hole.

It manages to crash into Brogol and Vaelor, heavy metal objects inside it clanking and banging.

8 points of damage, and Reflex DC 15 or knocked prone

Your turn. Kitty is at top of hole; I'll say difficult terrain to move up the 10' but no climb check required; so just 20' of movement, but risking an AoO

Cute Kitty Person: -11 hp; Shaken
Brogol: -8
Vaelor: -8

Jerax: Chain (miss)
Slenk: Cackle; saved
Alyczandra: move/attack w/ flank (hit)
Alixus: Delay

The feline beasty proves a quick and agile foe, dodging Jerax's spiked chain with ease as Alyczandra slips by. However, with Jerax's attack forcing the creature to divide it's attention, the demibaroness is able to land a fearsome blow with her sabre, slicing open the flesh of the creature's back.

"YEAAAAAAOOOOOOOW!" it screams.

Slenk bewitches the creature with ill fortune, and it begins to retreat, slipping up the side of the gatehouse wall and in through a window.

Withdraw action to avoid AOO from the first square, so no flank, but Jerax and Alyczandra will still get an AoO from the second square it moves out of as it begins to climb the wall.

Kitty Cat: -15 hp; misfortune hex (roll twice, take worse result); Edit: Reduced damage due to DR
Jerax: -18 hp
Party: Bless

All,

I'm very sorry but now in addition to my in-laws having health problems my mother is as well: shingles in (or behind?) the eye which is proving very debilitating. It's eating up a ton of emotional energy and time. I'm going to ask for a break for this week while I get stuff taken care of for her while she's recovering.

I'm sorry for the slow updates recently and aim to be back on March 1.

Snow

Going to be a partial update today (apologies) but I'll have a full update for you by tomorrow morning.

Franz: Knowledge Check + Combat Advice

@ Franz:

This is an Ovinnik, a type of fey house spirit. They are a sometimes helpful creature that tends to bind itself to rural families or places. It has DR 2/cold iron and fire resistance 5. It can enhance or penalize a person's luck with a touch, and case produce flame at will.

K/V: Move, Guidance, Attack (miss); Climb == No ladder. This is why Brogol is moving a crate. See note below.
Brogol: See note below.
Eris: Light xbox (miss)
Ingrid: Mace (hit)

As there is no ladder, Brogol was moving a create to help climb up. Once in position, because it is a crate and not a ladder, I'll say climbing is a DC 10 check that will require 40' of movement (at 1/4 speed to move up 10'), and may incur an AoO from the beasty. In light of that clarification, while I need time to get a proper post up, I'll let Vaelor and Brogol reconsider their actions.

Jerax: Attack, Miss
Alyczandra: Double move (updated poz on map)
Alixus: Cast bless (includes all party members)
Slenk: Ear piercing Scream; successful save, half damage

As Alyczandra comes running to confront the new threat, Jerax swipes his spiked chain to take out the little beastie but misses. Alixus calls upon the favor of Asmodeus, while Slenk unleashes a sharp burst of sound.

"Snivvi say you go go go! This not your gate. No no no!" It begins slashing furiously at Jerax's legs, its claws proving surprisingly sharp and adept at rending even the tiefling's flesh. With Alyczandra approaching, the humanoid-shaped cat then steps closer to the stone wall of the gatehouse.

Jerax takes 4 points and 5 points of lethal damage from two claw attacks. Followed by 5' step.

==Top of Round 2; Party, Go!==

Kitty Cat: -3 hp
Jerax: -18 hp
Party: Bless

Franz: Sotto Voce, DC 14 or shaken Natty 1 on Save; Shaken
Eris: Lesser Confusion, DC 16 Resisted
Brogol: "We got to move these refrigerators..."
Vaelor: Readied Attack, roll 20 = miss
Ingrid: Readied attack, non-crit hit, 8 dmg

Franz and Eris weave their magic to reduce the little beast's defenses and crack its mind. While it seems unnerved by Franz's intonations, Eris spell proves less effective. "Heh heh, trickery tricksters not be tricking tricky Snivvi!"

As Brogol begins moving crates to get a better reach into the upper floor, Vaelor and Ingrid prepare to attack the beast. Indeed, it refuses to surrender, preparing to toss another ball of flame into the room below. Vaelor's attack is easily dodged by the tiny creature, though Ingrid's has the eye of Asmodeus behind it. Still, the strike does not seem to injure the little feline as much as expected.

"No no no, big nosed man with ugly hat not come up! Only beautiful furry chapeaus!" It then tosses a ball of flame at Brogol.

Confirmed crit v touch. Brogol takes 12 fire

The ball could not have been more perfectly aim, landing on the back of Brogol's neck and scorching hair and skin alike.

"Evil trickery no tricking Snivvi! Go go go!" It dances happily as another ball of flame alights in its palm.

Cute Kitty Person: -6 hp; Shaken

I'll get an update up tomorrow if we haven't heard from Slenk and will assume spell cast as described.

Is it within 10ft?

Verticality always messes with my head, but yes, I think it is within 10' reach, but has cover from the trapdoor.

Brogol, there are some crates you can move, yes, so we'll have you do that.

Thanks for the reminder, doc. No magic detected. And sorry about getting the age wrong... though I like the idea of an elder doctor! :D

Eris, a good wooden door has a break DC of... 18. You broke it! (And maybe you're shoulder, too. We'll see.)

Eris seems imbued with remarkable strength as she lowers her shoulder and plows into the guardhouse door. The wood gives way with a cannon-like crack, splinters flying through the door, as she collapses to the stone ground on the other side with a wet, sickly slurp.

"Slurp?"

She finds she has landed in a small puddle of partly congealed blood. In the corner is the body of a man in the livery of the archbaron's personal guard.

Brogol sees a couple of small windows on the second floor, not big enough for a human to pass through, though the roof might be climbable.

As the others watch Eris's bullish display, there is a sudden shriek from inside the tower and a ball of fire can be seen through the doorway as coming down from the ceiling and towards Eris.

The flames hit Eris squarely in her back and their a faint whiff of singed flesh. Eris takes 6 points of fire damage.

Beasty won stealth versus perception so went alone during surprise round, but party wins Initiative.

==Round 1; Party, go!==

Updated the map to include a token for the beasty, but it's in the same square as Jerax (it's tiny with 0' reach). Not sure how to catch it but not Jerax. Slenk, in light of the new info, do you want to reconsider the spell?

Jerax: Attack, Miss
Alyczandra: Double move (updated poz on map)
Alixus: Cast bless (includes all party members)
Slenk: Glitterdust subject to confirmation[/ooc]

Did Paizo somehow force every browser to logout and reset, or is technology just being weird to me today? Had to re-login on my phone and desktop.

Yeah, not mine. =D

I didn’t announce/launch it until the demo was ready. Getting a good number of followers on itch.io and already have one person pledged at $50/month on Patreon. I was gobsmacked by that given the lack of a track record.

As for the theme, I have to keep this PG for Paizo forums, but it’s horror with an erotic component. I won’t be winning any literary prizes but not really the point; I’m having fun with it, it’s pushing me to write in ways I’ve never had to think about before, and seems like it’s finding an audience.

———

Update on the gameplay thread coming shortly.

Using the tip of a saber, the dhampir slips the covers back to get a look at what lies beneath. There, just on the edge of rotting, with blood soaked and dried into the mattress, is one of the archbaron's guards. It's not hard to determine the cause of death: multiple stab wounds.

As Alyczandra and Slenk take in the scene before them (and you do have a few seconds to make the above check and react; just write your next post sequentially), there is a sudden scuffle outside.

Focused as he is on the perimeter and threats approaching from the town or country, Jerax is less aware of the threat approaching him from the gatehouse.

Surprise Round; Attacker's Stealth exceeds Perception checks

Jerax feels a ripping and tearing sensation along the back of his left thigh, quickly followed by the slick flow of blood. "Snivvi know you! Snivvi say 'go!'" Through the pain, Jerax sees at his feet a tiny, vaguely feline humanoid covered in black fur. It wears a tiny hat and a pair of buckled leather shoes. However 'cute' it might be, the blood dripping from its claws -- Jerax's blood -- convey it's far from harmless.

Jerax takes 9 points of lethal damage.

Round 1; Party wins initiative; go!

2d20 ⇒ (18, 16) = 34

And this is where I realize the update I had tried to post on Jan 29 was eaten by the evil server gobbos, just compounding my absence last week. Sorry all. Here we go.

Franz goes to close the gate. While heavy and the hinges are rusty from disuse, he's feeling unusually spry, filled with vim and vigor, and manages to close the gate without much trouble at all. What a fit and strapping octogenarian! (Or however old he is.)

The rest of the party heads towards the guardhouse, leaving the quiet and dark abode of the Gramels for later. Eris reaches out to open the door and finds it won't budge. It seems to be blocked from the other side.

HEY (and argh)! For the argh, I realize an update I posted before my unannounced break was eaten by the website. #$%*!!!

Also, sorry for the unannounced break. I have not disappeared and owe you guys an update.

Last week I was pouring all of my creative juices into a visual novel I'm working on. I wanted to the first build/demo out and any second I wasn't doing my salaried work (which was also pretty busy) or family time was spent on that. But, I got it done, received positive feedback and already have my first few patrons. Sorry for the lack of an update here or "back in one week" post.

That said... back. :) Update coming today.

HEY! Sorry. I have not disappeared and owe you guys an update.

Last week I was pouring all of my creative juices into a visual novel I'm working on. I wanted to the first build/demo out and any second I wasn't doing my salaried work (which was also pretty busy) or family time was spent on that. But, I got it done, received positive feedback and already have my first few patrons. Sorry for the lack of an update here or "back in one week" post.

That said... back. :) Update coming today.

Just to clarify, on the map we have the actual gate house, and then "off map" is the Gramel's home.

Jerax takes position at the gatehouse. While he tries to watch for signs of danger or clues as to what happened, he is distracted by the crud on his boot.

Slenk joins Alyczandra at the house, where she announces her intent to enter and then tries to do so as silently as possible. Silver-sheened eyes slip over the contents of the one-room house. The source of the smell is not immediately identifiable but she does see the outline of something the approximate size of a human beneath the covers of the double bed in the corner.

2d20 ⇒ (3, 15) = 18

Map updated.

As Razelago indicated, the weathered doors of the Castle Gate are unbarred. Further, one is wide open, squeaking quietly as the wind whistles through the opening. There is no immediate sign of the Gramels, the husband and wife who tended to the gate, and the windows of their nearby house are dark and silent.

Jerax tries to swing the gate closed -- what ought to not be a difficult task for the tiefling -- but finds his feet slip on a small slick of mud. As there hasn't been any rain, it's rather surprising and, with a closer look, he think sit might be... blood?

Meanwhile, the Demibaroness deftly pops the old lock on the house. Popping the door open just enough to peek inside and listen, she doesn't see anything immediately out of the ordinary, though there is an odd stench to the hovel, like something just on the edge of starting to rot.

1d20 ⇒ 10
1d20 ⇒ 19

Brogol, no problem. Same here, actually. Internet died or went shitty on the whole east coast affecting us and a lot of clients, and we've been digging out from the backlog of work it all day. I'll have an update up tonight or tomorrow.

Slenk: I had to clear all my cache and cookies going back to the beginning of time before I could get on...

All: And that was until the internet died on the East Coast. A lot of our clients were affected and we just finished digging our way out. I'll have an update up tomorrow if not tonight.

Got your very own Harley Quinn! :-D

Cimri rolled her eyes slightly at the doctor's admonition. "That weren't my fault, doc. Nobody knew he was a werepig, 'less you got secret knowledge you're keeping from us. Riley is just Riley. A gag and maybe a couple broken fingers on each hand ought to be fine, right?"

As for Eris's mental health and ability to function in society, Cimri chuckled softly at Ingrid's comment but otherwise kept her thoughts to herself.

To the gate?

Maps updated. Includes first and second floor.

Despite its heft, the open gate door swings slightly on its hinges, just enough to emit a quiet screech as the rusty hinges grind against themselves in the wind. Jerax "sneaks" towards the old doors and peers through to the other side where he sees nothing but the dirt road, rolling hills and darkness of night.

At the humble house, Alyczandra raps on the door and is greeted with silence.

Alixus and Slenk hold back while the warriors clear the perimeter.

For no reason: 4d20 ⇒ (5, 1, 12, 2) = 20

Thanks for the heads up.

I just looked up a picture of an accuser devil to remind myself... that's quite the tongue...

Razelago doesn't seem particularly surprised nor offended by Eris's exuberant display of appreciation. His obscenely long tongue flicks about the woman's neck as if licking nectar from a flower, then says, "Oh, I don't think I'll share you with him. He's a bit stuffy, though that can be fun, too."

With everyone seeming satisfied by the archbaron's largess, Razelago disappears once more though those familiar with magic likely realize he teleported rather than turned invisible.

Cimri simply takes her sack of items and deposits them unceremoniously in a corner, then says, "Well, if you're keen on it, why don't you head over to the gate and see what's what. I'll get the bard squared away in a cell and ready for your return."

No worries, Karik. Have a safe trip.

Thanks for patience. Glad it looks like folks are back online. With the holiday followed by a paralyzing anxiety around events here in DC, I think I'm back online.

Cimri decides to stay behind and help get the former church converted into something more of a temporary base. "You, wrap the body in something. You, find a cart or wagon. You two, clear the pews and set up the bedrolls..." she continues barking orders and the guardsmen set about their tasks.

You head to the castle gate. Indeed, as Alyczandra had heard, the weathered doors are unbarred. One is wide open. There is no immediate sign of the Gramels, the husband and wife who tended to the gate, and the windows of their nearby house are dark and silent.

I'm having a lot of weird s*** with the forums the last 48 hours, maybe others are too.

I'm finally able to log back in, but I've got a doctor's appointment this afternoon so probably won't have any updates up this afternoon. I'll try to update as I'm able though and answer pending questions here.

I'm having a lot of weird s*** with the forums the last 48 hours, maybe others are too. When able, please update in the Gameplay thread.

I've got a doctor's appointment this afternoon so probably won't have any updates up this afternoon.

Razelago half-purrs, half-hisses as Brogol and Eris's exchange, then says, "Coin it shall be for you, then... hire your own guards."

The devil then begins to pull various items from a small bag behind him. While the size of the bag suggests a limited volume, the amount of gear he pulls out of it suggests the bag has a magical nature to it.

Ya get your new stuff per Discussion thread.

"Now then..." Razelago sits back on the desk, wiping his chubby hands as if they had been dirtied by the common task of delivering things. "You've earned a rest, but you should also know the Castle Gate at the edge of town is open. I spent most of my time observing you and today's events in the square, and now I have to return to the archbaron, but you may wish to investigate."

It looks like he is about to teleport away, then his gaze rests on Riley and he pauses. "Hmm. What's your plan with him? Skinning? Quartering? Or worse... talking him to death?" He cackles at his own joke.

Catching up on posts and a tad mortified on the wealth situation. Not sure what it is with APs and wealth often being a bit short. I feel like sometime I should do an audit of a couple books and added things up just to see if it actually is on track as they claim.

Anyway, let's do this... Give yourself a budget of however much your actual wealth is short of 3,000 gp (i.e., target for 3rd level). Pick what you want, no single item worth more than 1,500gp, and Razelago will give it to you (no strings attached... mostly). >:-)

Add to that Riley's only significant gear: potion of CLW; potion of invisibility; mwk rapier

Alyczandra isn't able to learn too much, it seems the day's events have driven everyone into their homes and into hushed conversations. What she did hear, though, was that the Castle Gate, previously ordered to be kept shut, was seen open and unattended.

All, let me know if you're short on wealth by level. I'm going to try to do a true up shortly.

DING!

All leveled up now.

Also, if this is like a typical AP, I suspect y'all are short on wealth by level. If you can let me know what your PC's total wealth is (gear and unspent coinage), I'll have Razelago pull out some "gifts" for you.

Razelago flickered into view as he crawled his way out of the sheriff's chair and onto the top of the desk, his oversized insectoid-wings idly flicking behind him. A lecherous grin with a flick of its tongue was cast towards Eris, then he turned to Franz. "Ah, doctor, you know me well indeed, don't you?" There was a trilling buzz to his voice, almost a laugh, before he continued, "But perhaps I don't want every random clod wandering in off the street see me meeting with you? And maybe you don't either, hmm?"

The diminutive devil stretched its limbs, then settled back on the desk and continued, "I just wanted to say the archbaron is quite pleased with your work today. It was messy, but... suitable. As such, Fex wishes to reward you. I expect things will be heating up soon, and you'll likely need his generosity."

DING! Switching over to Discussion.

After a couple of hours, Cimri returns with Candro and a couple more of the archbaron's guards. A servant had been dragooned into pulling a cart laden with straw mattresses and a few other necessities. "Where do you think things should be setup? Think any of those back rooms could be converted into a cell? Lotta doors," she added with a frown, then, "Course, we could also drive some hooks into the walls and chain people to 'em." She shrugs, fetches a bottle of wine from her pack and settles in a corner.

When Alexisu returned, the sun had set and he came without having found much useful information. If there were any noises about rebellion, they'd become very quiet indeed.

Call it 8pm

The remnants of the crowd-turned-mob-turned-observers mostly disperse after Brogol advises them to head home. Their expressions are mostly shocked with the most steadfast resisters having been quite thoroughly put down.

Riley's unconscious form is bound and carted off to the jail. As you arrive, the guards who remained on watch appear particularly alert and on edge. It doesn't take long to figure out why, as a familiar, rasping laugh emanates from the direction of the old sheriff's desk. "Seal that door behind you, won't you dearies?"

The voice is clearly that of Razelago's, though he would seem to be invisible as there is nothing to be seen.

Hey guys. Just checking in to see if you're waiting on something for me or if we're just dealing with after effects of the holidays.

Slenk, sure thing. No need to RP that; you could get them from the mage you met earlier.

The doctor believes it was an illusion of Disguise Self, a spell readily available to most bards.

Cimri watched Eris "dance" her way from the site of the execution, one hand instinctively returning to the hilt of her kukri.

"I spent the better part of a year tied up and gagged, so I'm pretty familiar with how it works."

"Huh, amazing anyone would want to keep you quiet and out of the way..." she observed drolly. Then she sighed and leaned in to help. "He's proved a coward and a liar, but tricky and foolish. Let me help tighten those..."

Cimri will Aid Another on the binding, increasing the DC on any escape artist check by 2.

"Into the jail, or should we toss 'im on the back of the horse and take 'im someplace else?"

@GM: what time of day is it?

That's a great question. I had to go back a couple pages and found this snippet...

... When the time for the speech arrives, probably half the town is in attendance.

I don't think a precise time for the speech was decided. Just "next day". So, let's call it mid-afternoon. Sun is still up for a bit longer.

The guards nod as Brogol barks, "Finish the execution. NOW!" The barkeep is centered once more with his neck on the chopping block and, with a brief prayer to Asmodeus and the Infernal Crown, a halberd's blade is brought down.

2d10 + 4 ⇒ (3, 7) + 4 = 14 Not a great CdG roll
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 And an even worse Fort Save... guess he wanted to die?

The strike is not the cleanest you've ever seen. Perhaps the guard was rattled by the explosion of violence and chaos. Nonetheless, the deed is done, and the last of Caggan's life spills out on the scaffolding, mixing with that of the rioters.

In the square, Cimri glances at the doctor as he comes over to inspect Riley. "Aye, doc. He's fine, 'less you want to make 'em not fine... which would be... fine." She continued to pat the side of the horse's head, as if she had just finished a ride in the country and there was nothing unusual happening.

Spellcraft? Heal? Feel free to make whatever check(s) you're thinking of.

Alrighty. So, jail is burned down, Caggan is loose with the twins, momma-priestess is dead, Kels was taken out of the public square and killed here at the church. Party is contemplating next steps...

When Kels' demise seems to have taken the life out of the conversation, Cimri just laughs a little. "Figure out what you want to do with the body... Placing him in a box in the square with a sign of his crime wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, I'm going to find Candro, let him know we're here, and see about having some mattresses or something sent over."

Gather Information is a legitimate course of action. So is waiting to see what happens. Not sure if, now that you're 3rd level, there are any spells that might open new opportunities."

I feel like I'm saying this a lot lately but sorry for my absence. My mother came here for Christmas and daycare was closed, so I wound doing a lot of entertaining. Things are getting back to normal now and I am aiming to get back to daily updates on weekdays.

Also, I expect you guys will be leveling up soon, so feel free to be brainstorming about that if you haven't already.

I feel like I'm saying this a lot lately but sorry for my absence. My mother came here for Christmas and daycare was closed, so I wound doing a lot of entertaining. Things are getting back to normal now and I am aiming to get back to daily updates on weekdays.

Let me know if any other questions on the leveling up.

Yup! Happy holidays to everyone.