Gared Naught's page

Eric, thank you, SO much for running this game all these years. It has truly been a pleasure, and I hope you remember the game fondly, as I certainly will!

Gared smiled and nodded at the gestures from his companions, feeling somewhat relieved.
"Thank ye. It might be silly, but I'll be feelin better about whate'er we might be runnin' into down there fer ye havin' these things and havin' talked through th'er use."
The dwarf clasped his holy symbol and intoned a prayer to Erastil over himself with Horven, and began setting up for his vigil.

Gared noticed the conversation had shifted away from his attempts to arm and educate the group to his school of tactical thinking, and dejectedly, began to pack up the items.

"I can be takin' watch through the night if ye like. Got enough magic to have another with me, o' two of ye if I be usin' me stone."

Alrighty, still waiting on internet, so I'll try and post sooner rather than later and wrap up Gared's part in this camp.

Sorry for the delay, been busy moving into my new place! I'll write up another post soon. Is anyone planning on taking some of Gared's offered equipment?

The dwarf took the vial and compared it to one filled with acid.
It's a couple o' alchemical herbs distilled and such into a liquid that pulls the heat out o' things. Feels like it's burnin' but it'll put out a fire or be coatin' somethin' with a bit o' frost."

Gared showed the halfling how you could throw it, explaining how it might be more effective against some opponents than others due to it's nature and the fact that you only needed to touch a foe with the icy contents, rather than strike into it's flesh.

"I think It's got some abilities to be enhancing some cold magic as well, but Yamyra would be knowin' more about that than meself."

Gared nodded to the druid understandingly. "I'm not fer disagreein' with ye, Carridan. I just want fer ye to be havin' more options should push be comin' to shove. That was smart use o' a smokestick, and I'm sure ye might be havin' just as much luck with a length o' net or a well timed distracting wave o' stab o' a spear when yer spells aren't o' more use in a situation, or if yer magic is runnin' out. If a monster comes chargin' at ye, ye may be wishin' ye were holdin' a spear to prick it along the way, or discourage it all together, and there's no rule about not casting spells an' bein' armed to the teeth at th' same time."

The dwarf paused for a moment thoughtfully, then stepped forward and layed a gentle hand on the druid's arm. "Yer doin' a fine job as a follower of Gozreh, and as a pathfinder. Ye all are." The Erastilian looked to the group, calmness and conviction now in his voice and eyes. "Ye're a fine lot, and ye meanin' all th' world to me. I'm not tryin' to criticize or o'fend, just tryin' to offer ye as much saftey and efficiency as I can be. One extra strike from a spear, or one claw just avoided because o' a net or a smoke stick, can mean th' difference between yer blood stayin' in yer bodies. I know we've healin' a plenty, but it don't be makin any injury any more pleasant o less dangerous."

Though he didn't realize it, the dwarf hadn't ever really spoken with an accent and certainty in his voice at the same time before.

Gared blinked for a moment, then went back to rummaging in his pack, seeming to calm slightly.

After few seconds, the dwarf had retrieved a number of vials, which he handed to Horven. "Disposable weapons, capable of doin' harm with th' elements. I think ye can put these to better use than meself." He handed the halfling a pair of alchemist's fire, a couple vials of liquid ice, and two bottles of acid.

"Ye managed to snare one down with a tanglefoot bag, where it couldn't have done ye much harm if ye'd stayed out o' the thing's reach. If ye're planning on closing with a beastie, a net would be workin' just as well, though it can be a bit unwieldy." The dwarf pulled out four flasks of oil and offered them to the group as well, explaining how they could be rigged to explode like an alchemist's fire in a pinch, and set out two more tanglefoot bags as well.

I'll update my inventory accordingly as items are taken.

Thus far, I seem to be able to find time to post! I'm down to continue as we're able.

Gared shuddered at Carridan's mention of the obelisk, especially after such talk of magic. "By th' gods, let it not be a lich we're dealing with..."

The dwarf's face blanched at the thought, but he quickly shook his head and hopped to his feet. Right! All the more reason to be talkin' tactics!"

The Erastilian set to work with his pack, dragging out nets and spears he hadn't managed to offload on his companions yet and began nervously offering instruction to the group.

"Horven, I've been seeing ye practicing with yer rapier, and I'm thinking with yer keen eyes ye could do some damage if ye can just get an opening. Yamyra, I appreciate ye helping flank th't last beastie, but I canno' be takin' proper advantage o' that with me bow. Horven on the other hand could be doin' some harm if it's to be battle and ye're havin' a partner to distract yer foe!"

The dwarf bumbled forward uncomfortably with his words, not waiting for a response as he demonstrated the usefulness of various strategies with a combination of enthusiasm and worried insecurity.

After encouraging Horven to dive more into the melee should it occur, he argued for the usefulness of nets as almost reusable tanglefoot bags and for the benefits of the defensive reach and flanking capacities of long spears. Hardly pausing for breath, and picking up tempo and aquiring a thicker dwarven brogue ad he went, the Erastilian launched into a lecture about the usefulness of defensive fighting and aiding one another to set up or avoid blows.

As if he suddenly realized what he was doing, Gared stopped, sucked in a deep breath, and gave a wild eyed stare towards his companions with a look much akin to how a horse that had just had a pyrotechnics spell cast in front of it might look, waiting for a response.

Sounds great! I don't supose he could train with Carridan while they keep watch via usage of the spell Keep Watch?

As a heads up, I'm beginning my move across the country via car tomorrow, and will be relegated to mostly using my phone for the next few weeks while traveling. I'm not sure if this means I'll be posting extensively because I have the time or avoiding using my phone because it'll make me car sick. We'll just have to see. Regardless, Gared is about to educate the party on the usefulness of nets, splash weapons, flanking, and aiding another in combat, and making judicious use of resources like magic wands out of combat if he doesn't lose his nerve first. Because there's nothing like a community focused militia minded dwarf to mother an adventuring party on their tactics. =P

Gared shook his head at Carmina's statement. "Not just th' weak willed be fallin' prey to magic n' enchantments lady Carmina. Even the strongest willed be havin' pit falls in their own heads, and sometimes fools have a fortune in their favor. There's always bein' room for luck and the acts o' th' gods,"said Gared, recalling how he fell under Nataylia's spell despite all his years of mental training and dwarven capacity to shrug off magic both arcane and divine.

For hitpoints, I'll take the average+1 and quite while I'm ahead of the curve on the die rolling. After lots of internal debate, I'm going to have Gared take his next level in monk, as I feel he's just not doing much with his inquisitor skills and a lot with his monk skills, especially since we don't have any other martials and plenty of spell casting! So Gared will get:

+8 hit points
+1 Feat (Additional Traits: Honored Fist of the society, Magical Knack)
+6 skill points (FC bonus here):
1 rank into Knowledge Arcana, Dungeoneering, and Planes, 1 perception, and 2 in stealth.
A ki pool of 7 per day, along with Ki Stand instead of slow fall for Qui-Gong Monk.
Increased Unarmed Damage die (1d8)
+1 Wis Bonus to AC
+1 Bab, hitting +4 on a flurry for another -1/+2 on Deadly Aim.

DM Eric, what would I need to do to retrain Comprehend Languages as one of Gared's first level spells known for Cure Light Wounds?

Gared examines Carmina's wound while the group considers Yamyra's question, pointing out that the room filled with dangerous insects is still between them and their supplies. "If I'm tending to yer wounds with me herbs and such, ye should be just fine with a night o' rest."

When it was clear that no further immediate danger threatened the group, Gared nodded his ascent Horven and let his pack fall to the floor. "Seems like as good a place as any to camp."

After a few moments, the dwarf's face adopted a sheepish expression and he stammered out the next sentence with some clear embarrassment, his dwarven accent returning with a vengeance.
"I'm wantin' a word with ye all about tactics. That fight went fine n' all, but I saw ye flounderin' about there and I've some ideas I wanted to be offerin' if ye find yerself in a similar, uh, struggle... in the future..." The dwarf looked to the halflings and druid as he spoke, along with his boots, which shuffled nervously along the ground as he did so.

Gared wasted no time as the magical bolts slammed into the construct, spinning around the thing until it was squarely between him and the yawning dark hole in the earth and hammering a trio of arrows into the creature's torso.

Five foot step to AP 53 and...

Confident that his companions could take care of the severely injured and entangled construct still squaring off with Horven, Gared began a hasted assault on the one still threatening Yamyra. The dwarf felt the scarrabb around his neck thrum with power as he pumped a barrage of magically enhanced arrows towards the statue, and the inquisitor's lips never stopped speaking praise to Erastil as he did so.

I am waiting on hearing about the success of Carmina's bull rush and Fancy's attacks both. Gared prefers his arrows be particularly well placed. Or at least fight with that intention. Let's not tempt fate.

Gared paused for a brief few seconds to survey the scene as his companions sprung into magically accelerated action.
Gared will delay until after Carmina's action.

Ack! I was just thinking Carmina's attack roll for the bull rush should be one higher from the haste spell, and then I realized I think we've been forgetting Yamyra's flagbear bonuses as well! I think that bull rush should be at a plus 8 instead of 6, and Carridan's ought to deal one more damage and Horven ought to be adding more to hit with that tanglefoot bag?

So are we saying it's stayed behind or is it with us? Also I've no idea if it's pertinent, but Gared is wearing the golem bane scarrabb at the moment.

Gared swore as the columns sprung to life, and again as thise behind him cut into his halfling companions. Desperately trying to take back the initiative, the dwarf cried out direction to the group as he began launching a barrage of arrows at the statute now painted with Horven's blood. Horven! Ye can slow 'em down with down with a tanglefoot bag if nothing else! Yamyra, you be gettin' yerself out o' harms way!"

attack 1 and damage
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

attack 2 and damage1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Yeah it should not take more than half a day to enter the Crow via the sewer entrance and backtrack to the storage area where you found the clockwork servant.

As suspected, Gared's key does indeed fit the clockwork servant. Once he winds it up, the creature springs to life after a few shuddering fits and starts, then stands motionless until the person who wound it up moves. At this point, the servant follows that person, never straying farther than 10 feet away and acting as a bodyguard.

Here are its STATS.

Post will be incoming this evening.

We went back for it afterwards and you gave me it's stats though, I believe?

Eric, I've been forgetting about the clock work servant. Is it safe to assume it's been wound up and following me around?

Gared peered down the shaft beside the tiefling. As he turned his ears to the passage as much as his eyes, the dwarf rumaged through his pack to pull out some twine and a fishing hook, muttering an orison as he did so that caused the latter to glow brightly. "Shall we be fishing for some illumination, milady?" He tossed a wink to Carmina as he spoke in a almost playful yet hushed tone.

Gared will ask Horven to use his keen ears to see what he can hear from the pit if 60 darkvision isn't enough to see anything of interest, and lower the lit hook down as much as its 50 foot length to extend the groups vision.

Nice thinking guys! Gared would want to aim for further in the cavers system, attempting to avoid any passages that might lead to the frogs and trogs caves, so maybe a knowledge or perception check to figure that out? If it's not clear, opposite works.

Eric, everything ok? I'm still waiting on an updated map and am hoping all is well!

Gared nods as Carridan speaks then points out across the cavern.
"There's some particularly large ones on the walls there. Might be more. Might decide we look to be a tasty meal, too. The old dwarf stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I'm inclined to put a few arrows in one and see if doesn't scare off the others or make it clear what we're up against."

Despite the monstrosity they had just encountered and the disturbing decor of the groups surroundings, Gared felt right at home underground. The dwarf's unscathed composure was revealed by an easy stance and a lack of any dwarven accent accompanying his words.

What knowledge check would be used for the insects?

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Gared looked torn between a disturbed fascination with the insects and interest in the stone work that only a dwarf could muster.

Gared continued his assault for another turn to see if it would be enough to kill the creature and called out to Horven, "We might have to cut off it's heads, or destroy them, maybe with fire or acid?"

Eric, do you want me to make more attack rolls here?

Should Horven be qualifying for sneak attack because he's attacking from stealth?

Oh yeah, that looks like a nasty crit! Fingers crossed and a giddy grin for 45 damage off a single arrow!

Knowledge arcana(?) to identify
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Gared called down Erastil's judgement on the beast as he launched his assualt against the creature, crying out to his companion's as he did so.
"Hold this line and volley from here! Let it come to meet readied fist and blade!"

Full attack flurry, using judgement for damage as a swift action, popping guidance on first attack, leading with lighted arrow. Arrows are sharpened cold iron. Including Yamyra's flag bonus but not point blank shot here.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Attack 2 roll to confirm 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Additional damage if confirmed:
2d8 + 18 ⇒ (8, 8) + 18 = 34

Ready to move on, Gared indicated questioningly to Fancy to take point, and striding several long paces behind her. Gared whispered to Horven before moving quietly forward,
"You should shadow our flank not further than me, keep to cover, see if you can't find places to be sniping with your crossbow, unseen. If it gets past Fancy and notices you I ought to be able to help flank it in a melee."
The dwarf looked to his companion for a response, putting a hand on his shoulder and giving him an encouraging nod.

Gared will cast a light spell on one of his arrows, keeping it smothered in his quiver but ready to draw. He will also cast guidance on himself as the group begins to move ahead (while taking 10 on stealth checks), recasting the cantrip as its duration runs out (as long as no clear danger has presented itself).

Gared shook his head at Yamyra's offer and moved to take a defensive position besides Horven as he searched, his dwarven eyes piercing the darkness.

Gared nodded to Horven and moved quietly toward the cave.

"Bah! It wasn't that bad!" Exclaimed the dwarf somewhat indignantly.

Gared's expression was sour as he muttered a blessing to Erastil, then went about examining the decapitated remains, hopeful that the mechanism of injury might lend some insight into the gruesome display.

Casting guidance and making a heal check1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Gared quietly asked for a suit of magical armor from his companions before asking Horven if he'd scan the grizzly scene for danger of any kind, keeping a watchful eye and a drawn arrow at the ready all the while.

Ack! Sorry for the messy post! My mind got away from me while I was drafting that post.

Fort Save 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Gared made an effort to put on a face of enjoyment as he slogged through the meal. [b]"I have to be thankin' ye for yer aid n' hospitality, Maroux. I've been known to dabble in cooking a meal o' two meself, and I'd be lovin' an opportunity to share a recipe or two?"[/dice]

Gared will take some time and (10 on any bluff and/or diplomacy checks needed) to ingratiate himself with Maroux in such a way that he can improve her cooking skills without letting on that they are currently rather poor.

Gared nodded as Yamyra brought him up to speed. "I myself would rather try and take the beastie in the middle caves rather than trying to deal with either o' those creatures. I'm not sure how to be feeling about Oriana..." Gared looked somewhat sheepishly to his companions who hadn't spoken on the matter yet. "I'm not wantin' to be makin' our decision on the matter... What are ye thinkin'?"

Knowledge Nobility
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Welp, while Gared is familiar with past events, *I* am not. Anyone want to bring me up to speed on the the basics? Gared also does have the shard of greed at the moment.

Gared leaned back against a wall of the hut and mulled over the Half-orc's tale. "So what should our course of action be from here?," Gared asked of the room.

Gared swam back to shore with a long bit of the aquatic plant left in his belt. He changed into his dry clothes that he'd left behind, with the exception of his magical shirt, which he wrung out lovingly and gently before redonning it.
"Let's be on our way, then!"

Gared swam out across and helped his friend search the ship.
Time we have in plenty, master Horven."

Aiding another for a +4 to Horven's check 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Gared eyed his companions injuries for severity when the movement in the water finally calmed.
"Lady Carmina, would you like some healing or shall we save the magic." The dwarf looked over to Horven. "That was good technique, my friend. I'll try and give you better chances for vital strikes in the future."

Gared stepped to right up to the skeleton that had just made it to shore, trusting his allies to flank and destroy it if he didn't manage to do the deed himself with two point blank shots at the monster's grinning head.

Gared stepped beside Carmina and launched an arrow at each of the skeletons that had made it to shore.

That works for me! That extra to hit and damage is snazzy.

Yamyra, are you currently making use of your new flag bearer feat? If you are, I've been forgetting to add it's bonuses!

Gared called Horven behind him as he launched his assault, a smile tugging on the corner of his stoic mouth as his friends made their way out of harms reach.