Grey, the Lady's dog's page

I was aware...

Okay, I'm going to go on a bit of a rant here. So I'm going to lead this with an apology.
In fact, after thinking about it, no, I'm not.

My initiating post;

If we can get a player role-call with at least four (obviously not including me) I am willing to at least bring us to a close on this chapter. I absolutely will not be trying to GM beyond that point because I am notoriously bad at GM-ing play-by-post.

Was seven posts and an entire week prior to this one.

Still waiting on an actual call-in from either TheNine or Jesse Heinig, but in the interests of not slowing our momentum any further, I am beginning prep to complete the chapter. Immediately, I am confronted with an issue. The maps. Obviously, I have a Roll20 Account, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make the edits to my placement on the map I have. I have never attempted to manipulate (or even post) a map on there before & from what I have skimmed, maps are going to be important for at least a few more scenes, so I will be figuring that out as well.

Which is all to say; expect at least a week, probably two before I am able to get us moving again. There may very well be some hand-waving in the transition.

If we can get a player role-call with at least four (obviously not including me) I am willing to at least bring us to a close on this chapter. I absolutely will not be trying to GM beyond that point because I am notoriously bad at GM-ing play-by-post.

I don't know if anybody else is having this...

issue, but I swear in combat I have to make damn near a solid brick of text to get everything in. I'm honestly considering saving a notebook file with at least a template just so I can maybe cut down on the time & make certain I don't forget anything...

First world problems, I know.

Huh, the internet seems to have eaten my original post...
Oh well; adapt, improvise, overcome; as they say.

Spurred by Kelden's example, Grey tumbles through the melee his cleric companion initiated to further hary their foe.

Acrobatics (Sickened) to avoid AoE: 1d20 + 22 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 22 - 2 = 27, 20' move to Titan's Bane HFM (Half-Fiend Minotaur) #9 space, rendering HFM #9 flat-footed against Grey & granting him cover against all melee and/or ranged attacks it makes.
(Sickened) Cold Iron Kukri Titan's Bane Sneak Attack!: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 16 - 2 = 28
(Sickened) Cold Iron Titan's Bane Sneak Attack damage: 1d3 + 8 + 4d6 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + (5, 1, 3, 1) - 2 = 19 Slashing damage; in addition, HFM #9 is now Disoriented, taking a -2 penalty to attacks (-4 against Grey) for one round

The damage for the Unholy Blight is only listed once. Both damage is the same, and you get to save for each one.

Okay, so we take 14 damage, twice, got it. Only I take a total of 21, since I made one of the saving throws.

Acrobatics (Sickened) to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 22 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 22 - 2 = 28, 20' move to Titan's Bane HFM (Half-Fiend Minotaur) #6 space, rendering HFM #6 flat-footed against Grey & granting him cover against all melee and/or ranged attacks it makes.
(Sickened) Cold Iron Kukri Titan's Bane sneak attack!: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 16 - 2 = 34,
(Sickened) Cold Iron Kukri crit confirmation!: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 2 = 17, I don't know what it's AC is
(Sickened) Cold Iron Kukri Titan's Bane sneak attack damage!: 1d3 + 8 + 4d6 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + (4, 6, 5, 4) - 2 = 27 Slashing damage; in addition, HFM #6 is now Bewildered, taking a -2 penalty to AC (-4 against Grey) for one round
If the Crit confirmed...
(Sickened) Cold Iron Kukri Titan's Bane crit damage!: 1d3 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 2 = 8 Slashing damage

Okay, I'm confused. You said two of them cast Unholy Blight. Did we only take the damage once, but we have to save twice?
First Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5... at least you can't crit fail a save...
Second Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17; so one failed save, one successful save. Still Sickened for...
Sickened duration: 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds.
I'll make my actual gameplay post once I get home & can figure out how bad off I am from Sickened.

Apropos of absolutely nothing whatsoever have I mentioned recently how absolutely f@~%ing USELESS Archives of Nethys is when you are trying to look something up, PARTICULARLY for 1st edition subjects?..

I do not know exactly HOW their brain works, but it is damn near NOTHING like mine does...

I could navigate the old Paizo SRD, Nethys takes a g*~~%$ned hour just to find something that should take a minute, tops!

For the archive alone I will never play a Nethys worshipper.

Okay, rant over. I will make a gameplay post once I can figure out just how screwed up Sickened leaves me...
So, once I get home & can actually look in my own rulebook.

Ah M$%*@@&##!%!! How did I miss that my attack roll was a nat 20?!

K! So! Given that I only have a 20' move, I can't close with any of these guys. So my plan is to stay where I am, then when one of them comes to me, I will move inside his space & slashy-slash him!
Camris, you want me to make rolls in a hold spoiler?

Stealth re-roll: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29...
Oooo, one point difference!
Something tells me that isn't going to change things...
I mean, at least it wasn't worse.

With, to his mind, a majority of his comrades in accord to press on, Grey nods decisively before quietly scampering back to the farthest corner he had previously spied to cautiously peek around.

Stealth to avoid making noise: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28
Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17...
Wow, those were some bad rolls...

Edit: Camris, I haven't used my daily free re-roll from my Campaign Trait. If it should happen that my Stealth roll would fail, I would like to use it now please.

So, advance warning, we are dangerously close to the point at which the last Wrath Campaign I was in petered-out and died. I am enjoying this one & would like that not to happen here.

This is to say, Grey is a worshiper of Desna, so he's a bit of an agent of chaos, which is to say, expect a lot more 'apologize later, don't bother asking for permission now', kinds of actions on his part.

Starting now.

Eye's widening at the sounds & sights he beholds, Grey quickly scampers quietly to a far corner of the previous chamber gesturing wildly at the others to follow him.
Once there, he whispers "I can hear sounds of activity further in. Also, they defaced part of one of the walls with Dwarven Writing. It looks like the command quarters may be nearby."

Stealth, to avoid being heard from deeper within.: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38

As the others re-gird their loins, Grey makes his way through the doors which had concealed such a bellicose surprise.

Move to just inside the double doors.
Perception to notice anything awry: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

I'm Back! Sorry all, I got about a month's or so worth of brain lock & just couldn't seem to log in. I'm back now. Catching back up with everyone now.

Mouseketeer Role call? Right now, I feel that Camris is just waiting to be certain we are ready before opening the door to the next room.

Who hasn't called off on that?

Hearing Kelden's words, Grey nods, his resolve firming. "We should make certain this chamber has no access to the Keep's donjon then." before pausing at the door to confirm no dissent to the action.

Unless somebody tells him not to, Grey will
Disable Device to unlock the double doors: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

"I'm not sure, but these doors might lead to the same chamber that the rubble blocked elsewhere. The sounds & smells are similar at least. Livestock I think?" He shrugs perplexedly.

We are in the middle of the Fortress, basically, yes?

Turning to the others, Grey relays this impression, again through a combination of facial expressions and posture, before similarly quietly hastily making his way to the Southern doors to assess them.

Perception to listen at doors: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19... At least it's not another nat 1...

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant the Demon forces that are already here.

Basically, Grey's thought process is 'Crap They can Teleport! And Read Minds! If I could teleport & read minds & I was defending a place that was really important & just had a bunch of invaders beat the crap out of all my flunkies I'd go grab all of my buddies so we could jump them (the invaders) en mass.

Now obviously, that idea isn't actually as good as he thinks it is for a lot of reasons even before you add the fact that demons as Chaotic Evil Fiends are damn near the poster children for how Saturday Morning Cartoon Villains actually aren't as unrealistic as sites like Cracked.com would like us to think, but Grey doesn't have honestly any experience with military logistics or personnel, so he doesn't know that.

Eyes widening in panicked realization*, Grey quietly but hastily moves toward the far doors before listening intently at them for signs of occupation.

*See my Discussion post.
Perception to Listen at the door: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

Guys, I just realized that Grey (really me, the player) has been operating under a horribly incorrect strategic/tactical assumption.

He has been trying to clear rooms, assuming that that would a leave a clear avenue of escape for us; except we know Demons can teleport, and have the advantage of prior knowledge of the layout of this fortress.

The only reason we haven't been getting curb-stomped left & right since the succubus teleported away is because the writers didn't want a TPK...

I'm not certain how I feel about that, to be honest...

Swallowing forcefully against the rising bile, Grey all but hurls himself back out into the chamber with the majority of his comrades. After several minutes of dry heaving, he looks up quizzically. "I thought it had been several years since the Bug-lord's forces took this fortress?"

Glancing back at his companions to assess their readiness, Grey nods to himself before throwing open the door.

I've noticed we are incredibly melee-heavy. DM-Camris, assuming we survive to make it to some downtime, what are your rules for retraining things like feats & such?

In the interests of minimizing nasty surprises in our 'wake'...
Perception to listen at the Eastern Door: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

As the companions catch their collective breaths, Grey cautiously checks the door to the East for signs of occupation beyond.

Acrobatics to move through a threatened space w/out provoking AoO: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (12) + 22 = 34

As the fiend before him all but evanesces into non-existence, Grey takes the opportunity to seek new prey. Seeing one final foe almost unscathed, he tumbles 'twixt Knaves paws to slash at this new target.

20' Move to close w Thoxel #6
Cold Iron Kukri strike: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17, if that hits... Damn, nat 1.

Grey, don't you do precision damage as well? They're all flat-footed at the moment.

D'oh!

At Kelden's warning, Grey's normally puckish demeanor drops, revealing a cold implacability as he almost mechanically acts to dispatch the foe 'twixt himself & Taedric.

Cold Iron Kukri strike to #3: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32, if that hits, Cold Iron Kukri damage: 1d3 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 slashing

So, I'm looking over the Loot Tracker and it seems like it hasn't been updated in a while. I'm going to list everything that we have found since I rejoined and try to figure out who took what from these last two loot hauls. If you guys could please respond to this message and let me know what items were taken by your PC, that would make things a lot easier for me. Thanks!

So, pause for irony, I try not to dip into loot, at least not when we are in the middle of a delve. Which is t say, I don't believe I have taken any loot.

So of course now you make me wish I hadn't burned through all my Mythic Power...
I'm assuming from your phrasing I can move or attack, not both?

Heedless of the possible danger, Grey nimbly slips up to the nearest foe.

After listening intently at the door, Grey turns to the others. Gesturing silently, he indicates there seem to be at least two bodies on the other side before waiting expectantly, clearly ready to open the door as soon as all are in agreement.

Once I get the go-ahead from everybody, the action starts!

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Grey is in position!

K, so.

This is my/Grey's mental process right now.

We encountered a Demon, who got away. Logically, the defenders of this place are now alerted to our presence. So there is a time crunch. Before she/it got away, Grey tricked her for just long enough to get some minor intel (the Master of the keep is somewhere to the North).
Yes, by Grey's own logic, this means the demon most likely went directly to the Master to warn him.
This still doesn't mean that moving with all reasonable haste to where we have reason to believe he is isn't our best plan at the moment.

All of this is to say, unless somebody has a better idea, Grey is heading for the double doors at the end of the hallway that has the doors with the red markings in it.

Hey Camris, I'm not saying there isn't anything behind the door, but on the off chance that is the case, would you let us know so I can move on to finding a way North, since right now that is where I think we want to go, at least until I learn otherwise...

Edit: on the map, the doors with red lines/boxes over them, those are doors I know can't be opened quietly?

"Mmmhh... These are quite some valuable items, but might actually hinder us in our exploration, yeah?"

"I don't know, between the arrows & that," he points to the Masterwork bow, "bow, you'd have more long rang options. Just a thought..."

Once he confirms there is nothing remaining within the chamber, Grey returns to the archer's corridor (the one with the arrow slits.) before once more checking the Northern door for indications of habitation or other dangers.
Perception, just to hear what, if anything, is behind the door.: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Perception to check for secret or concealed doors: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
In the event he found one, he did not scarper off to the double doors to listen at them...

"Then let's go!" Grey exclaims as he scurries back to listen at the other set of doors in the chapel.

Perception to listen at the doors: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

My understanding is that, if we are successful at taking Drezen, it will be re-established as a Crusade stronghold. This all but guarantees there will be a forge available later.

If we are grabbing all that gear, we should probably take it back. Unless somebody has a portable hole, I don't see us lugging 4 full suits of armor around...

Honestly, are any of us besides Taedric (maybe) even able to wear any of this? I vote we give Irabeth the Armor of the Pious & donate the rest to the crusade for later 'considerations'...

But that's just me & I have no use for any of 'em.

edit: Okay, Thrall might have a use for them, I guess.

Int plus surge: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (16) + 1 + (4) = 21

"Hún meinar að hún haldi að borðinn sé ekki hinn raunverulegi. Þeir gætu hafa falið það lengra inn..." Grey mutters sotto vocce in answer to Thrall's query. "Nú þegar ég hugsa um það, sagði þessi djöfullega stúlka að „meistarinn“ á þessum stað væri fundinn norðan við þetta herbergi, kannski neðarlega líka...
Gæti verið með honum?"

As the malevolent box begins to putresce & deliquesce beside him, Grey looks up at the focus of their delve. Turning back to face the other others, he mimes pulling it down, rolling it up & slinking off to return back to their basecamp before shrugging as if presenting one of several options & hoping for other opinions.

Acrobatics to avoid provoking AoO: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42... What a waste of a Nat20...

Aghast at this turn of events, Grey dashes past Thrall, nimbly avoiding the creatures tentacles as well. Once he has closed with the aberrant assailant, Grey slashes

Using his Mythic Path Ability: Titan's Bane, Grey does not provoke Attacks of Opportunity when moving through the space of a creature two size categories or more larger than him & may share that creature's space. When sharing that creature's space, Grey has cover against all ranged or melee attacks it makes & it is considered flat-footed for the purposes of any ranged or melee attacks he makes against it.
Cold-iron kukri sneak attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25, if that hits, Cold iron kukri sneak attack damage: 1d3 + 8 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 8 + (3, 4, 5, 2) = 23 Slashing damage
Creature is now Bewildered, with a -2 to AC until Grey's next round.

Sword-readied protected position indicated.

Saw that, thanks.

Could I get everybody (or at least Taedric & Trall) to update their positions on the Tactical map? I'm not moving any closer to that thing without some kind of backup...

Perception plus Surge: 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 14 + (6) = 30
I'm honestly surprised I've been consistently making it, even with blowing Mythic Power for Surge...
I mean, it certainly fits the narrative as the Trickster he is becoming, but dice are rarely that obliging.

As he has found becoming more & more common of late, Grey casts inward, recognizing the 'him' which is more than him. Answering that one's challenge, Grey notes 'what doesn't fit?' here...
Gesturing peremptorily at the others as a whole, he signals that Taedric & Thrall should assume an 'at ready' position in this new chamber.

Perception plus Surge: 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 14 + (4) = 31

Inside the hidden chamber, Grey finds his attention caught, not by the displays of Martial ostentation or looted wealth, but instead by an incongruity of the stonework along the Northwest wall...

His curiosity piqued, he attempts to fiddle along the length.

Gesturing a warning to Taedric, Grey examines the crack for possible surprises...

'I' am assuming there aren't traps since Grey's check to find those is even higher than his base Perception & would have automatically fired off before either he or Taedric pulled the arras aside.
Perception to check for secret doors?: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

Yeah, I know. I make NO damn sense...

After a rather long, meandering, & frequently tangential prayer, mostly directed toward Iomedae (you think); it becomes apparent to the rest of you that Grey is actually warning you that from now on it will likely be dangerous to communicate out loud & that any individuals or groups encountered within should be considered hostile. He also indicates that while he believes the party should investigate rooms to the north from what information he feels he tricked out of the succubus before she caught on. He then cautiously approaches the drapery concealing the south wall of the chapel, his posture & blade at the ready.

Bluff to relay a hidden message DC 20: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Camris, the Bluff check is to make it difficult for any observers (if there are any) to get the information he is trying to relay to the other party members. Also, kind of, to be certain he was able to relay it to the other party members...