Jan Carpenter's page

I got used to the fact that this game had a slow pace from the start.

That doesn't bother me... but it means that I check this thread less often. It also means that I often forget what our goals are, so I appreciate the reminders you've given.

I do find the dungeon itself very interesting as a concept. I'd be interested in seeing your notes when the game is over.

I also like my character overall, though it sounds like basically there will not be any development of him and the adventure is designed to be completed by characters at our level. That's too bad.

I am happy to continue if you guys want.

"Indeed. And to discuss other things also. We continue to have many errands."

I'm fine with bringing Hozela along just to help diplomatically with the dragonborn, but I'm happy with it just being the three of us exploring any new territory.

Are we talking about the light blue area northeast of the entry room?

"Well, I am fit to continue," says Jan.

If any of you guys are in Canada, Happy Thanksgiving!

Those of you in the US, Happy Columbus Day (or Happy "Guy Who Was Looking For China and Ended Up In Puerto Rico" Day).

Hello folks.

I'm afraid I've been bedridden for several days. My stomach is still in knots but I'm starting to feel better and I hope to catch up soon.

Bot me in the meantime if necessary.

Jan, I think we can all do great with it.

Sure... but you don't have sneak attack. Greater invisibility and a short range teleport are both great ways for me to get sneak attacks.

I suspect Krezen is the best fit for the belt of +2 CON and STR. Jan doesn't need the STR and has a belt already.

From now on, whoever is holding the Head of Vyrellis gains the following benefits:

--You gain a +4 on Knowledge (Arcana, History, or Religion) and can make these checks untrained.
--Once every five minutes, you can teleport up to 35 feet as a move action which functions as a (Su) ability
--You gain a +2 to Will saves
--Once per day, you may cast Greater Invisibility as a spell-like ability.
You do not need to be holding the Head of Vyrellis in your hands or in any particular slot, you just need to be carrying her in some capacity.

A couple Questions:

Overall, Jan would do great with this as an item if it doesn't occupy a hand.

Aaaaaah sorry didn't notice it :D

Yeah, I missed it at first. If Krezen wants the new Bardiche, he could give his old +1 one to Gemheart.

Jan finds, upon searching:

--A quarterstaff with infernal carvings on the side
** spoiler omitted **

Jan scans the staff while his eyes glow with detect magic.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"Oh, darling," he says, stroking the staff. "Come to daddy!"

The staff is nice but the funny thing is, since I can't use shillelagh on a magical staff it only gives me a +1 to hit and damage over what I usually do now. Still, It means I don't have to use up spell slots on shillelagh any more.

And some art objects worth a total of 4382 gold pieces.

Is there anyone in the pyramid we have met who would give us anything useful for this?

Ouch! Down 26! Good thing I'm a healer.

Jan concentrates and lays his hands on his wounds. A greenish-blue light glows from his fingertips.

Cure Serious Wounds: 3d8 + 6 ⇒ (6, 7, 4) + 6 = 23

"Nice work, you two. I was worried there."

Jan joins in the search, carefully looking the room over.

Perception take 20: 20 + 8 = 28

Should have a post tonight.

Jan hefts his quarterstaff and prepares to charge the enemy.

Gemheart is in my charge line I think so I will wait until I have a charge line and then charge. When I do get to charge:

Attack: Shillelagh +2 Charge +2 Inspire -1 Power Attack -2 Fighting Defensively: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 1 = 21
Damage: Shillelagh +2 Inspire +3 Power Attack +3d6 sneak attack: 2d6 + 8 + 2 + 3 + 3d6 ⇒ (5, 4) + 8 + 2 + 3 + (4, 4, 5) = 35

Jan runs his hand over his staff and it begins to hum with power. "Okay, Shadow. Let's see what you've got."

GM: Do I still have shillelagh running?

You haven't answered this so I'll keep things simple: If shillelagh is still running (it lasts 6 minutes and I cast it to fight the shadow bats) then I will cast divine favor. If not I will cast shillelagh again.

I'll take AO10.

GM: Do I still have shillelagh running?

"You know the Splinters have their own personas,"

Actually I didn't realize that at all. Thought "Arat" was just Karavakos' first name.

Guys... do you want to fight this guy?.

"Pffft, I am not a Splinter, I am The Shadow of Karavakos. The only splinter left is Kravik the necromancer, and he is on the west side of this floor. Now, I must ask you to leave my home, or I will destroy you."

Jan frowns. "Shadow of Karavakos... what does that even mean? Is it a title? Oviously you aren't his real shadow. But wait... the splinter's name is Kravik? I thought they were just fragments of Karavakos. How can he be named Kravik? Wouldn't he also call himself Karavakos?"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Jan eyes the statues warily.

"Watch the statues," Jan whispers to the others. "Holes in the mouths."

He turns back to the room. "What? Another one? Will the real splinter of Karavakos please stand up!"

"Is this a portal that is built into the pyramid? Or did this person intend to create one?"

"If it is an existing portal, we might be able to repurpose it for our own use. But I think actually creating one is beyond us."

Jan turns back to the others. "What do you guys think?" Jan asks quietly.

How about rolling sense motive, guys?

"Suspicious, perhaps, but we had little recourse other than to do so or resign ourselves to live out our existence in some pocket of the pyramid as the others have."

"Vyrelis was Karavakos' sister?" Jan looks at the others. "That is a surprise. One is an Eladrin while the other is a Tiefling. Are they half-siblings then? And are they actually not enemies as they claim?"

"I do not know how to lure Karavakos out of his lair. He seems to have no need to leave. If he can leave, why does he not come here and destroy you himself?"

"Frankly, I am not sure we should trust you. You say that Vyrelis is lying. How do we know that it is not you that is lying? That destroying you would not free us?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Yup, I guess he's on the level! :)

FYI I'm going out to the country for the weekend (for my brother's wedding) and probably won't have net access. I should be back on track Monday.

If the map is correct, B1 could make an AoO at Gemheart, but not at Jan since Jan has cover from B1. Hopefully I can blind B1 before he gets the chance.

Jan flings another bolt of light at the Shadows again before falling back.

Another burst of radiance aimed at intersection between H19 & I18 which should get both shadows.

Burst of Radiance Damage (no save): 5d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 1, 1) = 11 ... x 0.5 because incorporeal.
Reflex DC 15 or Blinded for this many rounds (dazzled otherwise): 1d4 ⇒ 2

Afterwards Jan moves three squares south.

"We're almost there, guys. Let me clear the way!"

Guys, why don't you delay until after I go?

Casting burst of radiance again, aiming for B2.

Damage (no save): 5d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 3, 3) = 15 ...x 0.5 because incorporeal.
Reflex DC 15 or Blinded for this many rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 4

If it looks like B2 is now blind, Move to I21. Otherwise wait where I am.

Jan rushes to the doors to the south.

I plan on double-moving to E18 on my turn.

"Here we go!"

Jan darts forward, jogging through the maze-like corridors before stopping in a side tunnel.

Double-move to C16. I am no longer adjacent to one of the deadly walls.

I am last out of the three of us but I am planning on making a double-move to C16.

Jan darts into the maze. When he gets to the corner he flings another bolt of light, this time at the bat that is close to Gemheart.

Move forward to B7. I take 4 damage from the walls. Then casting burst of radiance again.

Damage (no save): 5d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 1, 3) = 11 ...x 0.5 because incorporeal.
Reflex DC 15 or Blinded for this many rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"Perhaps now's our chance. While they are blind we can try and make a run for the far doors."

Jan steps forward until he is in view of the bats, and hurls another bolt of light.

Move forward to F4... I can see B1 from there (but not B2 I think). Then casting burst of radiance again.

Damage (no save): 5d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 4, 1, 2) = 12 ...x 0.5 because incorporeal.
Reflex DC 15 or Blinded for this many rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 3 ...If they fail the save I'm hoping the duration adds to the original, but if not it replaces it which is still okay.

Jan hurls a bolt of light at the bats. It bursts between them. He then retreats back up the hall.

Throwing a burst of radiance at the intersection between E7 & F8. It has a 10' radius. Then I'll move back to F2 to stay out of Krezen's shot.

Burst of Radiance Damage (no save if evil): 5d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 2, 2) = 14
Reflex DC 15 or blinded for this many rounds (dazzled otherwise): 1d4 ⇒ 2

Jan, his hand still glowing with energy, reaches out for the rat, trying to touch it again.

Still holding the charge from last round.

Touch -2 fighting defensively: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 2 = 24
Cure serious wounds: 3d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 7, 2) + 6 = 17

Channel damage is not reduced by 50% against incorporeal but I'm not sure about other positive energy stuff.

Jan then takes a step back.

5' north, to E4.

so I have a readied attack with a reach weapon, which went off. However, I have claws to attack those next to me, so when it moved from my reach to my adjacent, I should get an AoO as well right?

Unless it has some ability to avoid AoOs, yes you should.

Actually, Krezen can use Arcane Strike on his bow to make it magical and grant +2 to damage. And judging by the damage shown there I think that he must have meant that since his STR is 18. So bardic performance adds +2 and then arcane strike adds +2 for 1d8+8 total.

None of you made knowledge checks to know about shadows' immunities....

Actually we all did.

Jan steps back and readies a spell.

5' step back to E5 and then casting cure serious wounds. It allows a touch attack as a free action so I will ready that attack for when any of the shadows come into range. If I miss I will be holding the charge.

Touch Attack Fighting Defensively: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Cure Serious Wounds Damage: 3d8 + 6 ⇒ (3, 8, 8) + 6 = 25

This is positive energy so it may do full damage against shadows (I know that channel energy does full damage).

"Only if they're magical," says Jan.

"If they can attack us from behind walls, I'm not sure how we can hurt them. But perhaps we should fall back and see if they follow out into the hall as the other shadows did?"

Okay, I guess I will be in E5 then. I will want to aim the spell at either the intersection between C7 and D8 or between G7 and H8 so as not to hit Krezen and Gemheart.

"I don't speak shadowbat myself," Jan remarks drily.

"Can they attack through these walls, do you think?"

Jan prepares a spell and waits for the shadows to get closer.

Ready action to cast burst of radiance when I have a clean line of sight to any enemy.

Burst of radiance damage (no save if evil but probably 1/2 damage for incorporeal): 5d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 1, 3) = 13
Burst of radiance Reflex DC 15 or blind for this many rounds (dazzled otherwise): 1d4 ⇒ 3

"Perhaps we should hurl effects at them that will drive them off or force them to come to us? Probably better than engaging them in the maze."

Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

I think we identified the shadows last time though, didn't we?

"We need to make sure we are not trapped close to the wall by some shadows. But I think we can get through to the alcove and then to the door."

Jan murmurs a few words and presses his hand to his chest. A glimmer of light washes over his body.

Casting shield of faith on myself before we go.

I think I'm ready.

Do either of you guys have a move speed of 40'? If so a double move will get you into the first alcove on the west side without any damage.

Knowledge: Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"Stay away from the purple walls. They will slowly drain the life from you if you stand next to them."

GM: Does the damage from the walls include if we are only adjacent diagonally?

"I think I can see few spots where there are passages leading out. If we move fast we could take refuge in one of those."

Jan pulls out one of his unfinished staves and murmurs a few words, running his hands over it. The staff begins to glow faintly.

Casting shillelagh on the staff.

At the mention of 'preying on those descended from outsiders,' Jan swallows and looks around uncomfortably.

"You were unable to prevent this 'theft of power?' How did she do this to you? Is there no defense against it?"

"Perhaps this Tala simply wants an edge to use against the others in the Pyramid. You say she consorts with the Shadow of Karavakos, but does she have any other allies in the pyramid?"

"Who--"

the ifrit starts to speak before interrupting herself
"Ah, it is you, the ones many have been talking about recently. Why have you come to our home here?"

"I suppose we have made an impact. It has been interesting so far. I am called Jan."

Jan smiles, and bows.

"We were hoping to speak to the one called Harumon. We are in need of his services, and hope to broker some sort of trade. Perhaps an exchange of favors. We mean no harm if you mean us none."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

"Yes, but let's take as many of these books with us as we can. I hate the idea that those lizards will show up and eat them all."

I originally thought this would be a good spot for our camp, but if the room periodically spawns monsters then that's not so great.

"Perhaps we should try to transfer these books out of here. I hated to see those lizard-things eating them, and now that this place has no guardian... what do you think?"

I actually have a handy haversack, so I can take a fair number of them.

"But first, let's have a look at that statue, shall we?"

Jan takes the head of Vyrelis out to the statue of an Eliadrin.

"What do you think?" Jan asks the head as he looks over the statue.

Not sure what I am looking for, but here goes:

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Jan can cast barkskin, so he doesn't need the amulet of natural armor.

I'll take the bracelet of second chances though if no one else wants it.

...investigate the home plane of the arboreans...

By this I'm guessing you mean their area of the pyramid, yes?

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 :)

Actually, since we just destroyed a major enemy, it would make sense that we would take 20 and search the place thoroughly.

Hidden amongst the rubble is a tough-looking hide-like armor. Spellcraft 24: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
a metal headband Spellcraft, 28: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
a magic amulet of some sort Spellcraft, 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
and a coral bracelet Spellcraft 24: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
There's also a book with a symbol of Vecna on the cover and a strong Universal aura. Spellcraft, 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Only made the first check.

"This armor is known as rhino hide. It grants you extra momentum in a charge. Can any of you use it? Otherwise we might be able to trade it."

Jan looks over the book with the Vecna Symbol.

"I'm not sure what this is, but do you think this could be the Tome of Vecna's Breath? You told me that Galash Vren wanted it, and would release a pair of your friends if it was returned to him."