Karek Kogan's page

Thank you for this guide. I've long been entranced with this archetype, and this refuels my drive to create one. They make great villains - that Mysterious Stranger ability is made for an NPC. This article makes me want to play one as a PC as well.

What do you think about Assassin as a prestige class? It's easy to qualify for, and the party will be freaked out continually being death-attacked by random animals.

Edit: I see now that Grey Gardener allows the same ability but based on Wisdom. Only once per day, but no 3 round charge-up, so that could be better.

Thalia was a former player who was the first to drop out a couple months into the campaign. Pact took her on as a DM PC, until she majestically betrayed the party. When the party walked into the throne room of the Exemplar Khymrasa and started going about diplomatically asking if we could do some excavating, Thalia loudly declared all of us spies, resulting in a total mess that really annoyed Karek. This resulted in a big party split, with Donkor evacuating some of us to the elemental plane of water.

So, I looked back in the gameplay thread, looking for the scene I mentioned where he was suspicious of the elves. I found the scene when Xerissa fireballed the party on escaping from the coin room. Turns out, while I was clueless, but Karek was totally onto her. When he got fireballed, he couldn't help but identify Thalia as the culprit.

Beetle, perhaps you may have made something of that offhanded accusation if you wanted the party to figure it out. Off-screen sense motive rolls on both Thalia (unlikely) and Donkor (very likely), perhaps?

Unsolved mysteries from a player perspective:

What was Bunky going to use his hero point on?

Was Karek's outstanding plot point, his mother, somewhere in Osirion?

Just which of these dwarves was actually the youngest? Both Hal and I seemed to insist on it.

I'm going to have to change my default posting alias. *Sigh*. It's been a good run.

That's quite some deep cover, and a very brave confession. I don't hold it against you. It would have taken a lot of effort indeed to make Karek accept Thalia again. Though indeed, by my thorough understanding of Thalia's original character sheet, that is, definitively, absolutely, completely, the only thing that character was good at.

If I would have taken notice of your out of character hints, that would have tipped me off. (Her descriptor really said Druid/Rogue for the last year or so? /blind.) I don't think I could have in good faith acted on anything like that. The closest I came to being suspicious of anything was the Keen Eyes moment you mentioned. If I recall correctly, I reaffirmed that I hated elves and things that looked like them, and was suspicious of both Xerissa and, collaterally, the (harmless?) Mithral Scarab. Not suspicious enough to think about a Perception check to see through a disguise, or a Sense Motive check to see through a bluff, though.

Don't worry. I'll remember you, Dalia. As a strange PC, a natural traitor and enemy for me, and the catalyst for one of the strangest roleplaying experiences of my life, an impromptu adventure on the elemental plane of water.

I posted a list of my favorite roleplaying moments to Facebook targeted at all of my real-life gaming buddies, and that trip got a mention, even though nobody knew what I was talking about.

I can concede the point. This game has been a fantastic resource for me in watching a masterful DM at work, and it has helped me improve both my roleplaying and creative writing. I very much enjoyed playing Karek, and Bunky was a great companion. Thank you guys very much for the last three years, and I wish you all good roleplaying!

I will be watching further developments on this thread with interest. Hit me up for future games if you want. You know we're a faithful bunch! I promise I'll play an opinionated go-getter!

Kenneth

Well, yeah. Dere was someding in de ceiling. Was id word findin' out? Karek shrugs and crosses the firefly chamber.

Karek points out the different stonework. Whad does id mean?

Karek keeps step with the hapless halfling.

Onward!

Karek examines the pinhole and says I dink dis is bard of de same song dubes we already used. After a lingering glance around, Karek starts back the way the party came.

De halfling's a survivor, Hal. Karek says as he slows to a stop. I dink we'll see 'im again.

Do they have any Gaseous Form potions that we know of?

Dey fled. Grumbles Karek. Ged'em iv ye wand 'em.

Karek moves as far as he can, running if possible, to see if they escaped down a hall the party could not see.

The wall of fire isn't a hard stop, merely a suggestion. I'm sure they're bolting through it on their turn. Hurgah can get them, yes, but he doesn't seem to be doing that. Karek doesn't personally have any way to get them back, and he really can't outdistance them. He is concerned that Xaven will carry through on his threat. I do know somebody who isn't all that concerned with death, though...

Initiative for Donkor Sooron: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18

Donkor draws his wand of Command, and waits for an opportunity to use it to compel the halfling to approach (if he has left the ring of fire) or compel the halfling to drop his weapon.

For his part, Karek moves towards them, intent on finishing this as fast as possible.

Sorry, I should say that Karek will double move out into the hallway, so he can at least see what's going on, maybe chew Hal out from there.

I really haven't been ignoring you guys. Instead, I've been looking at the thread and sighing into my computer screen. Their unchecked flight completely knocked the wind out of my sails. Karek is really upset at everybody and might very well shout at the party anyway, but I'm not sure he can do much to get them back, especially knowing that Xaven is probably insane and liable to kill himself if threatened. He was beginning to like the guy, too. Hurgah at least could easily pursue, but both groups running headlong into whatever the pyramid can throw at us is somewhat less than ideal. So I can't make up my mind either. We've damn well proven that diplomacy and intimidation just won't work for us. The only real recourse to keep them with us is to chase them down, tie them up, and drag them along, which is a liability (or perhaps eliminate Hrokon, which Karek's not really okay with). Or we let them wander around, to either bother us later or get killed by some pyramid thing, which isn't good either. I think altogether I'm inclined to let them go, reasoning that at this point we're probably all safer apart.

Karek looks just about on the verge of action (to Gandel anyway, who might be the only one who can see him). As Xaven quickly outdistances him, though, Karek sags and spits the word Vools to no one in particular. Jes leab me in charge of the talkin' nex dime, why dond ye?

If Donkor has some GMPC actions appropriate to his history with them, that's fine. Otherwise, he just takes Karek's opinion.

Initiative!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13, and I guess I hope I outroll Xaven. If I don't, my plan is pretty well shot.

While Xaven is still standing next to him, Karek reacts, lightning fast and without warning.

Free action to Rage. Disarm attempt vs. Xaven, assisted by a hero point. 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (3) + 23 = 26

Karek roars at the Dune Squad in anger and frustration. The normally silent Karek is a slobbering mess right now.

Karek, ignoring the growing kerfluffle around him, takes one of the sets of boots and sticks it on his feet to see if anything might happen in the short term. He clanks down the hall to the Pactstone and stands on it for a few moments. If nothing happens, he shrugs, takes them off, and continues down the hall, following the bend left. (At least until his allies provoke another fight.)

Karek checks for traps. Do the halflings see anything? If no alarms are raised, Karek will enter.

Oof. This is taking another turn.

Anyway, sorry, Karek will start investigating the opening immediately to the right, checking for any irregularities in the stonework and investigating what may lie inside.

Karek bravely forges ahead.

We should all dake a deeb bread and relax. Da byramid wands to kill us as much as we do. Karek takes a doubtful glance down the hallway he started traversing.

Karek makes a Sense Motive check to try to determine whether Xaven would lay down his life for his friend - or perhaps whether he has resurrection insurance stashed somewhere.

Nice! Looks pretty cool!

Karek is given to understand he's next to the rogue halfling. Er, halfling rogue. Anyway, he's going to ready an action to attempt to grab him should he start dashing about or stabbing other people or something like that.

Don't forget Karek! Whether he's delaying depends on what Neversword does, I suppose.

Donkor delays, not wanting to upset the delicate balance in the room right at this moment.

Karek sighs and begins to turn back to the main room. Hal, iv I crush dis floor for ye, where will ye end ub?

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Hal, condrol yerselv. Karek intones. Ye'll nodice I'm nod breaking dings.

Dere's more direcshun's dan dis. Karek points at the east and west exits from the "Pactstone" chamber. Whad do you make of dem?

Karek pauses for an answer, but then proceeds down the north hallway, reasoning that one direction is as good as another.

Karek groans. I'm sure ids vine, Drabsbringer. He steps through the portal.

Karek will put his precious potion back in his bag, then motion to Gandel to resume the front line. He's going back to the room we were about to examine - the northern arch.

Nice, Moonpate. Both the roll and the flavor.

Karek, for his part, is keeping close to Hrokon and Xaven. With a glance at Hrokon, Karek deliberately puts his weapon away.

Oh, I guess I should actually roll that perception check.1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Keeb off the whide blade undil he is dead. Karek reminds the party. Don'd link our vade do 'is doo.

I believe Donkor's choice of action is now legitimized?

It's 10 PM. Do you know where your weasel is?

This Public Service Announcement was brought to you on behalf of the Save Bunky Society.

Why, yes, I have my weasel right...

What have you done!?

Moon, I hope you're summoning something that can find an invisible foe, or that you can narrow down where he is somehow. We need Gandel to throw a Glitterdust, if he has any left(?). If we can't get the demon, we'll get the damned assassin.

Did Donkor see where Sceptre was to target him? If so...

Donkor retrieves his wand with a flourish, nearly dropping it in the process. You. Come here. He roars, pointing his wand where he last saw the assassin's outline. Command to Approach. Will Save DC 11 for Sceptre.

Karek is done, pending a map and "pointing" clarifications. Suekahn can go.

I don't have a (practical) ranged weapon handy. Who wants?

So, downstairs would be the room that Gandel and I were salivating over? I guess we're not sure if he's flying or levitating or what.

Karek will once again ask if there is anything small-sized to throw at a range. That might include Gandel or Xaven.

The above sounds like a move action, so I still have a standard.

De assassin? Can anybody ged'im vrom'ere? Karek glances up the tube as he goes and takes his potion of See Invisibility out of his pack.

To the half-orc and halfling: Don'd be voolish. Where will you go? Now would be a good dime ver yer demonslaying blan. He adds to Xaven.

So it's to be gang up on the extra-planar then, is it?

Only if you let it! Happy new year!

The dragon can attack and not kill the PCs. For example, a silver dragon could use her paralyzing breath rather than dealing damage. When all the PCs fail their saves, she can take trophies (the paralysis lasts 1d6 + age category rounds) then taunt them and leave. It's hard to build up a reputation if there aren't any survivors to spread tales of your magnificence.

My favorite example of that is the Half-Fiend Dragon with Blasphemy.

Karek gets next to Xaven.

Karek double moves so that he's in the epicenter of the action. If possible, he moves to be able to threaten Xaven and Hrokon with his freshly-drawn Earthbreaker.

Merry Christmas to the faithful Dune Squad-teers!

Ah. Sorry. I plum forgot I was controlling that guy.

Our actions are totally going to allow Suekahn to hit 56, aren't they.

Breach is up next! Then somebody fun goes.

I'm fun too.