As I said in the other Talanor campaign thread, I'll still be knocking about whenever you manage to get back.
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Once the nervous energy of the brief fight comes to an end, the oracle slumps against the rough wall for a moment, feeling a momentary desire to do nothing but sleep. Shaking off the urge, he sighs and trudges along behind the others with a weary step.
Need a ruling here, Valjoen. As per Kayin's Tainted Spirit Drawback, I need to make a fatigue check for this fight. But I'm not sure if just standing around and being twitchy about a hole in a wall constitutes "acting" in a round; it feels Kayin actually has to exert himself, but that's not stated one way or another in the text. And if it doesn't count as "acting," then would the duration of the drawback's effect default to 10 minutes on a failed save?
Yikes. Please take good care of yourself and your family, and hopefully you don't have that nasty crud.
Those are for ethereal essences, remember? Primals get different results, it's why they're listed out in a table of their own and not just "primal/ethereal" in one table.
Valjoen, if I imbue my primal death essence into Kayin's ring--which is a sundry bond, though I'd like to discuss that with you in detail at some point soon--what would I get out of it? Because, of the options presented for other imbues, only the negative energy resistance is (currently) of any real use to me.
Also, sundry items can be imbued and the effect will be thematic, although I don't think anyone has those items yet. Kayin's ring, actually. It's been awhile since it's come up, but that's I went with for my starter item. Have it tied (in some as-yet unexplained manner) to his particular character detail.
Hearing the sounds of battle come to a stop shortly after the distinct *pop* of another corpse bursting, Kayin shifts to the left and peers cautiously down the corridor for a moment. Seeing that there are, for now, no further threats facing them, the oracle tucks away his drawn weapons and squeezes down the passage to where Muraisa and Ysildaë stand. The latter barely has time to finish her question before Kayin's left hand comes to rest on her back, the other going through the little motions required to channel the spirits of mending and aid. The instant that the spell's power takes hold in the monk, knitting her wounded flesh back together, he shifts his hand to rest against the barbarian's back and repeats the process.
After the second spell is finished, the young man casts a critical gaze over the wounded duo, a frown slowly growing as he does so. Then, with a shake of his head and a mutter too low to be made out, he invokes the spirits a third time, his left hand coming back to Ysildaë.
Afterward, he smiles slightly as he addresses the duo. "Right then, that's you two back to something a little further from dead. But do try to avoid letting them beat on you like that again today, because the spirits won't be answering too many more calls for aid like that." With that, he slips back the way he came to retrieve the dropped crossbow.
But it does require a check, which the other campaign doesn't. I'll go ahead and offer a cast of guidance to anyone who wants one for their bonding check, a +1 is a +1 and no roll was ever hurt by even that little of an increase :D.
I'd rather Muraisa didn't retire, myself. I like the blunt, stop-f~@$ing-around-and-let's-chop-some-enemies mentality she displays. The rigged door leading here is a great example. Kayin was annoyed by just opening the door like that, I thought it was perfectly in-character for her. If I have to burn off my daily allotment of curative spells, and spend every "night" cooking anti-plague to keep Muraisa on her feet, until we hit mid-levels and Muraisa can bring more survivability online via class features, essences drops, and the like, I'm game.
Garidan, now that Maria will no longer be with us after we complete this segment, can I recommend that you create antiplague in the future with your cunning alchemy? That +5 to checks is super helpful especially for our frontline fighters. Who is this "Garidan" you speak of? I know nobody by that name :p. But sure. However, I've already got an alchemy creation in progress, so it'll have to wait until after that one's finished up. If I can get a spectacular check, it could be done as early as the next rest period, otherwise it'll probably 2-4 more rests before completion. And you know, now that I think on it, since this campaign has apparently been compacted down to three of us from the Bright Tower campaign plus Muraisa, maybe we should just go ahead and address the Gruskorb thing in that campaign by bringing Muraisa's player in there?
Thank you Valjoen, I'm in the process of updating it as best I can right now. And with that updating in mind, there's that vial of perfume (found at the Second Scribe) listed there that requires a Craft (alchemy) check to identify. Maria managed that check successfully, but you never got around to telling us what she learned about it. @Everyone else: I've noted in the party inventory the potions that our combined group now owns, but that nobody specifically claimed. Good news is, there's some helpful stuff there that at least two of us will be needing after this fight.
Valjoen, could you transfer the inventory sheet from the Table #2 over to this game?
Hands shifting nervously on his weapons, the oracle keeps his eyes trained firmly on the far opening, but his ears bring him the events happening down the corridor at his side and he can't help but shake his head. "Gods, how many more of those disgusting corpses must we deal with," he asks in a tone of complaint shortly before the distinctive sound--and it's one he's grown horribly familiar with by now--of a corpse bursting reaches him and causes him to wince in sympathy for those undoubtedly caught in the shower of tainted gore.
Right, right, forgot that level of fighter.
Assuming Kayin lives to 6th level, I can pretty much guarantee that remove disease is going to be the first 3rd level spell selected.
Very much so, which unfortunately rules out creative use of mage hand in this instance. Because, while the bar and links could probably be managed, taking the slack out of the chain (against the zombies' strength, never mind the "attended item" aspect) wouldn't.
The chain its entirety may certainly weight well over 5 pounds, but depending on how it's mounted, that could be enough strength to move a portion of it. Because I think--from how Valjoen described it--that the chain was previously attached to a hook or something like that in the wall down the corridor. That kept the zombies' movement restricted, like a leash. If that's right, and Kayin can figure it out IC, then perhaps he could mage hand that chain back onto its hook and keep the zombies from moving further into the corridor.
Valjoen, that chain in the wall. Could Kayin see it clearly, past everyone else, if he moved enough to get a look down the corridor? Would he be able to figure anything out about (given any relevant checks, of course) just by looking at it? Most importantly, would the chain be something light enough (and count as unattended) that mage hand could affect it?
Entering the lower level via the secret door, Kayin peers around with a cautious expression, his crossbow carefully raised to keep it from lining up with the backs of his companions. Unfortunately, his readiness isn't nearly enough for a quick reaction on his part as an arrow suddenly rattles off of the wall to land on the ground. He's in no position to see clearly what's going on up ahead, and not terribly eager to rush in either. In any case, however, the matter becomes moot once Ysildaë charges forward. With the narrow confines of the corridor making it impossible for the oracle to contribute meaningfully to the confrontation currently involving Muraisa and Ysildaë, Kayin carefully drops the cocked and loaded crossbow at his feet before drawing his rapier with his left hand and, after a bit of consideration, the small flanged mace hanging off of his harness. Taking a moment to check that cord binding the rapier to his left wrist is firmly in place, the oracle then settles his back against the rough wall behind him and nervously watches the opening at the far side of the chamber.
As the metal crashes down the stairs, the oracle winces and shakes his head. "Well, if there's anyone down there, alive or otherwise, I'd say it's a guarantee that they know we're coming. We might want to keep an eye out for ambushes along with traps once we head down." The oracle's attention then shifts from the opened door to the barbarian. "I know you're in a rush to find these children, but rushing isn't going to help them at all if we end up hurt or dead because you tripped something that those with those with keen senses and deft fingers," and Kayin waves toward Ysildaë and Maria as he say this, indicating whom and what he's referring to. "Could have found and disabled with just a bit of patience. Remember that book, the one that burst into flames," the oracle then asks, reminding Muraisa of the Second Scribe and the trapped ledger only a day or so previously.
With all of the talk of traps and such, Kayin is hanging well back from the others, not eager to be caught in the mess should one be triggered. He can't help but wince as Muraisa impatiently wrenches the door open, and he's half waiting for something unpleasant to happen in response.
Being on the tower's ground floor and waiting is a somewhat nerve-wracking experience for the oracle, and he's glad when the separated members of the group return unhurt. The opportunity to poke around and investigate without the immediate threat of undead (or not-dead) foes is actually rather pleasant for him, as it soothes his persistent need to know things. Finding--by accident, though he'll never admit as much to the others--an interesting secret about their current location brings a happy smile to Kayin's face, and he wastes no time in sharing his discovery.
With the stairs too narrow for more than a body at a time, and very much aware of the hazards of crowding those more suited for any surprises waiting above, Kayin waits nervously on the ground floor, his senses still open to the auras of magic. He answers the hunter's query with a wordless shrug, having little attention to spare for a more detailed (but ultimately identical) reply.
The oracle pads cautiously into the small chamber and looks around, then mutters under his breath and makes a few gestures with his free hand. A look of intense concentration takes hold of his expression as he slowly and carefully looks about the room, and even up towards the ceiling.
No, I just haven't bothered checking, what with the campaign(s) pretty much dropped to a lethargic crawl.
Not even going lie, lol, I was doing three checks a day when we were moving along last year. One morning, one mid-afternoon, and one late night. Nevermind the more frequent checks whenever the insomnia had a hold.
Well, in fairness, the campaign had dropped to a sputtering crawl, even before the whole "stay at home" mess, so they're probably not checking in very often.
Mmm, yeah, the essences we'd harvested from the zombies. Three of them, none identified as yet (though odds are quite good they're necro essences).
Kayin Level 3 (Fighter 1/Oracle 2)
+8 HP Fencing Grace +1 Acrobatics
+1 Knowledge (religion) +1 Appraise
Oracle Caster Level 2nd
Has anyone heard from Toraim at all? Or have we lost him?
Arriving at the clocktower, Kayin positions himself among the group so that everyone is either in arms' reach or no further than a short step away and begins to cycle through his usual round of minor magical reinforcement. After the initial casts are completed, the oracle takes a further moment to cock and load the crossbow, checks that his weapon cord is firmly attached to the rapier at his side, then wordlessly nods his readiness.
Titan's answer to Ysildaë's question prompts the oracle to mention the toy sword that Muraisa had found. "That might have a scent worth using," he remarks as he finishes donning his armor before giving his equipment a quick check to ensure that he's got everything.
I'm still lurking and waiting on more posts here, lol. Been chewing through my Steam library a bit. Finished Shadow of Mordor (though I still have the expansions to hit) and now I'm working through Shadow of War.
As we've consolidated the games, can we mark this one inactive? I'd rather keep it and active if only for reference purposes. Also, we'll need to transfer this party's inventory sheet over at some point.
Has anyone contacted our missing dwarf and told him that we're sputtering back to life over here?
With the hunter's confirmation of his suspicious musing, Kayin groans tiredly and answers his question. "Well, the timing is awfully convenient if it was someone else, so let's go with this priest as being involved." The oracle's attention then shifts to Maria and he nods before pointing to their camp. "Since we're obviously going to be doing something about this, I suggest we get back to camp, ready ourselves, and get our missing member as well." With another groan, the young man rolls his neck--wincing when he gets an audible *pop* from it--and makes his way back to the shared tent. "I don't know if it's too early for this shit, or too late, but someone needs to die for involving me in this sleep-depriving conspiracy business," he mutters (mostly) to himself.
Valjoen, regarding that cyphered journal, can anyone else read once it's been decoded? Or do they have to decode it themselves?
Watching Muraisa checking the ground intently, Kayin eventually realizes what she's looking for and offers what help he can in the task, even calling upon some aid from a handy spirit.
With a sigh, Kayin reluctantly nods his acquiescence with the alchemist's words. "True, and if you feel that you have to offer that help, then I guess I'll follow along for now." He lets the matter drop, though his expression still shows his doubt that Maria herself is up for the task. After hearing the details about the situation on the bridge, the oracle shakes his head slowly. "Okay, this might just be my nasty and suspicious nature at work, but I'm thinking that the fight down there," he says with a twitch of his head in the direction of the exposed lake bed. "Was a great, big, fat distraction for us all. Get people looking that way, then come in and grab the brats." The oracle's expression shifts to one of puzzlement then as he continues. "No idea why anyone'd go to all the trouble though. I doubt anyone here could muster up any kind of ransom payment, money or otherwise."
Also, there's a coded journal with a Linguistics check (DC 18) to decipher the contents of, and you happen to have a pretty good rank in that skill (handy that).Can you remind me where this journal came from? My notes are a mess at this point. LOL Sure, we recovered the journal in the personal chest of one of the (likely zombie'd) apprentices at the Second Scribe, in the upstairs room with the body of the tattooed dwarf.
Well, glad that you're still around and kicking.
Though I haven't eaten them all myself. I sense a "yet" looming behind this sentence, much like a Cookie Monster :D.
What does baked stress even taste like ;p?
So what's everyone else doing to pass the time?
Fortunately, I have games on PC (including a couple of Pathfinder games, lol), so I'm not going nuts from lack of input. It's even given me a few laughs, because one of my few Steam friends is also a GM here in a campaign I'm part of. And the game I'm currently playing, Shadow of Mordor, had a few missions that featured me killing enemies that had killed him the last he played that :D. I'm wondering if I could parley that into a campaign bonus of some sort, rofl.
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