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"Yes, but we found things even more surprising than robots down there," Khamul explains. "There was a salamander from the Plane of Fire. These records and this memory disk should explain all the details, but in short he was trapped in the Redoubt and trying to find a way back to the Plane of the Fire. His plan would have caused the explosive destruction of the place though, so we put an end to it." Khamul then clears his throat before continuing, "There are two other things. We made allies with some avers. If the Society can provide them a means back home, they may prove good friends in the future. And the last is a personal request: we became quite attached to a maintenance robot named Tig-O but unfortunately he started to malfunction and it became necessary to disable him. If there is any way he could be restored, we would all be grateful. I would gladly put forth some of my own earnings to fund the effort."
The necromancer breathes a sigh of relief as the lava ceases flowing and the portal to the plane of fire is prevented from opening too wide. He rests his pale bejeweled hands on the console and leans upon it for a few seconds breathing deeply before straightening back up and retrieving his scythe. "Well done. We have averted a great disaster and possibly gained some great knowledge of this place for the Society's records. Let's hope that the azers are still willing to work with us and we may even have found some allies in the Plane of Fire." After double-checking that the portals are secure, Khamul starts heading for the exit. "Perhaps we should also put in a word about fixing Tig-O as well. He was quite the friendly and helpful chap and I do miss him."
Seeing Turk burned by the active portal, Khamul decides not to risk replacing the dampener while the lava is still flowing. "Did you find anything?" he calls out to Vrald as he rushes across the room to the console where the knight is working. After hearing what Vrald has discovered, Khamul adds any insight he might have.
"That's the memory? So if we take the memory out, will it stop? If this machine works like a living being, I imagine it would. Maybe we should remove it for, if all else fails, we might at least have some record of what has gone on here. But let's hope we can shut this thing down."
Khamul carefully stashes his potion away and looks about. "Is everyone well? Quick! Whatever that salamander was trying to do with this flowing lava, I think we need to stop it before it causes this place to explode." He rushes back to the final portal and tries to put the last dampener in place.
I'm fine with that but having played PbP as much as I have and for as long as I have, I actually don't agree that "PbP combat takes longer and it's something one has to accept or go mad". But maybe that's just because I have a very different play style and I am one of those people that doesn't think players should be taking about each other's actions before taking them. When I GM IRL, I consider this metagaming and cut it off before it gets out of hand. A combat round is supposed to represent six seconds and I can't really imagine there is a lot of tactical discussion that can happen in that time beyond shouting out "flank with me!" or "get that one!" I even struggle justifying the amount of knowledge that can be thrown out by a character in a round, but I've come to live with that. Maybe it's just because I find combat a bit tedious if it gets bogged down in a lot of ooc tactical talk so I prefer fast-paced cinematic combats both in real life and over PbP, even if a mistake gets made now and then. Mistakes happen, after all. But some people really enjoy the mechanics of combat, so if that's your play-style then I'm not going to force my preferences upon you, especially because I'm not the GM of this game. But I just wanted to note that it is possible for PbP combats to progress at essentially the same speed as the rest of the game, depending on the group. No complaints about your method if that's how you want to play, though. This is PFS after all and we're here to cooperate.
Khamul frowns to himself as his spell proves ineffective. I have stronger spells that will certainly do more... I should not let my feelings for the robot intrude upon my judgement. Moving to the side to get a better view, Khamul raises his hand and lets out a streak of lightning at Tig-O without hitting any of his allies. lightning bolt!
Khamul shrugs again. "Well, Tig-O seems to know what needs to be done. I'm apt to listen to him, he hasn't led us astray yet." Khamul sets to work looking for replacement power dampeners for each of the portals. "Confirmed!" he calls out to Tig-O as he sets about his task. "Power dampeners being replaced!"
Khamul again looks over the interesting items that have been found. He has nothing to say about the disk but the larger brick-like device he explains, "This is quite interesting. A recharging device that draws energy from heat. Unfortunately this also means anyone carrying it can become uncomfortably cold and if it becomes damaged from an excess of flame, it can explode. I don't know about all of you, but I do not like the risk of carrying that about, especially if this Jethzerai fellow came from the City of Brass on the Plane of Fire."
Khamul stands back up and shrugs. "Sounded close enough to me. But I don't speak robot." As Tig-O pushes forward though and the mist blocks the party's way forward, Khamul holds his arm out to block everyone's way. "Hold on. They warned us about this mist but I think I can save us from its effects, at least for a while." Khamul holds up his scythe and speaks a few words of arcane power. Suddenly the air begins to most faster through the passage and the mist is blown clear. "Quickly, the magic will not last long." Khamul then leads the way after Tig-O.
"My friends, we have found some visitors from the plane of fire. Of course fire will be useless and cold will work best against them, although I fear they may resist weaker spells." Khamul looks a bit troubled by this last statement, although still willing to test his magical prowess against the invaders.
As the azers close in, Khamul tries to steal the sight from the nearest and most threatening one.
1. Oh! That's easy enough. I just double-checked HeroLab and realized I still had bless active from the last game Khamul played in. Fixed now! 2. Level five wizard gets 3/2/1, Int of 17 gives an extra 1/1/1 and his Thassilonian Specialist training (yes, I've got the boon for that!) essentially gives him 2 school slots instead of 1 (except they have to be the same spell, hence his prepared duplicates), for a total of 6/5/4.
Simon swiftly draws the hidden blade from inside his cane. "I'm all for trying the diplomatic solution yet again. However, if we don't share a common language that may be impossible. Either way, I'm ready when you are." Khamul thinks for a moment, tapping one of his rings against the wooden haft of his scythe. "Well, if what Tig-O told us is correct, any other robots we encounter will probably be malfunctioning anyways. And if there are other things down here, they probably shouldn't be down here and won't be willing to talk. At least that is my guess." As the others try to force open the door, Khamul leans his scythe against the wall and also lends his hand. "I was trained in the ancient Thassilonian vice of gluttony, though you might not have guessed so to look at me now." The necromancer looks down at his tall and somewhat thin frame. "But since leaving Geb and foregoing those ways, I have tried for the opposite approach to bodily maintenance." Khamul chuckles to himself again, quite the unsettling sound coming from beneath his dark hood.
"See anything interesting, Kujo? You have been quieter than some of the corpses I reanimated back in Geb." Beneath his hood Khamul smiles to himself and lets out a pair of chuckles. He then addresses Tig-O, trying to match the robot's style. "Efficiency required. Vandalism provides shortcut and greater efficiency. Shortcut should be used until repaired. This in only logical."
While he is thinking about it, Khamul sets an ioun torch orbiting about his head just in case the extra illumination is needed. "Well, let's be going, one way or another." Khamul is hoping that Tig-O can be convinced to use the shortcuts but is willing to take the long way if the robot's
"Yes, yes, designation confirmed," Khamul repeats to appease the robot. We will get you to your station."[/b] After helping clear the debris, Khamul takes a curious look over some of the things that have been found. He to Contessa's question, "Yes, I think I recognize some of them." Khamul raises his eyebrows and lifts out the cylinders with care. "These are explosives. They might be useful as weapons but be careful with them." Next he removes the lensed cylinder. "This seems to function much like our wayfinders, giving off light in a particular direction." Khamul is unwilling to touch the bracelet without knowing what it is. The former necromancer stands up and dusts off his black robes. "So, Tig-O, I assume your station lies down this hallway? Are there any defenses to prevent us?" To his companions he nods in agreement with Simon. "Still we should be careful. Tig-O might not realize that the defenses will let him past but not us. And who know who or what else is down here...." Khamul takes a moment to cast mage armor on himself and then follows Tig-O and the others down the hallway, leaving the explosives to the others in the party.
Infernal healing can be used by a wizard though and Khamul will cast it on you as needed. --- And I hope that didn't come off as aggressive or in a fighting tone. I've just been around PFS for several years now and just wanted to give my advice and offer my veteran insight on how things like that are usually dealt with and perceived at tables. Unless you're a new player, if you show up without your own healing wand many players will sort of sigh and offer to share theirs with you reluctantly because it's such an expectation in the community at this point. I'm not sure of Kujo's experience with PFS but I've seen several players over the years start out with a similar philosophy to his and I don't think I've ever seen anyone stick with it for very long.
Its 2 PA. We have no real healer. Get a wand. @Kujo: I understand your reasoning, but at the same time a wand of cure light wounds only costs 2 prestige points and I'm not sure what else a fighter is going to need those for. For better or worse, in PFS it is pretty much expected that every character should provide their own out-of-combat healing. Most players will be happy to use their spells or even their own purchased wands on you but I am warning you that eventually you are going to run into a player who does not feel that you are entitled to use their wand just because they can cast healing spells and you can not. I don't generally agree with that sort of selfishness, but I'm warning you that it could happen and you wouldn't want Kujo to end up in a scenario with no wand and the healer unwilling to use his own wand on you. I'm also going to point out the flip-side to your argument that fighters, etc have better things to spend their resources on than wands they can't use: think about the issue from the point of view of a character who can cast healing spells. If they are the only one at the table with a wand and over the course of a scenario use up the entire wand (which is not unheard of at higher levels), is it fair for them to spend all of their resources on healing items for other players? A bard would never be able to upgrade his headband, belt, cloak, or weapon because he would quickly go bankrupt trying to buy enough healing to cover the rest of the table. I know it's not a perfect system, but in PFS you have to remember that you will be playing with many different players with varied playstyles. It's generally considered common courtesy to provide your own healing wand(s) so as not to burden the healing classes with buying enough wands for everyone. And really, as Scorn pointed out, 2 PP is not a huge investment. Even buying a few potions as backup during combat is not a huge investment but is generally considered a wise move. But that's just my advice, take it or leave it.
Khamul furiously jots down notes in his journal as Contessa weaves him a tale. "Yes, this is all very fascinating. Thank you!" --- In the Forge standing before the robot, Khamul hesitates. He lets Simon speak with the robot as he announces, "I will see if magic will help open them," more to keep the robot from being alarmed than to let his companions know what he is doing. detect magic
Where did you get research specialist from Khamul? It was a GenCon boon from... 2014? Sure, let's go with that. I only play Khamul once in a while so he's been slow to leveling up. I can only write down one "tale" per scenario he plays but for every three I write down, Khamul gets a permanent +1 to a knowledge skill. After a certain number (basically when he's level 12 I think), he gets a permanent +1 to his intelligence. It's pretty neat, especially for wizards.
"I do not have the funds for an adamantine weapon so hopefully my magic will serve some use. Yes, I am ready. Lead us there, Marw." Along the way, Khamul begins to ask his new companions about their previous experiences. "I am compiling my own volume of Pathfinder Chronicles but I do not wish every chapter to feature myself. Tell me of your own adventures and accomplishments!"
games Khamul has played in and heard about already: Khamul has played: 04-18 The Veteran's Vault 00-01 Silent Tide 00-24 Decline of Glory 05-01 The Glass River Rescue 00-23 Tide of Morning 05-12 Destiny of the Sands Part I 05-15 Destiny of the Sands Part II 05-16 Destiny of the Sands Part III 05-22 Scars of the Third Crusade And he has already heard about: 03-01 The Frostfur Captives 00-14 The Many Fortunes of Grandmaster Torch 05-08 The Confirmation 04-SP The Ruins of Bonekeep: The Silent Grave 05-SP The Ruins of Bonekeep: Maze to the Mind Slave 04-15 The Cyphermage Deilemma
"A choker... but I have never seen one mutated so, to have such capacity of speech and distinction to strike a deal with our agents. Something strange is going on there, surely, and if the machines are running again it could mean any number of terrible things. Yes, we will look into it immediately."
A tall thin man in dark black robes stands in the corner of the room, his hood drawing his pale face into shadows. He holds a scythe which towers over his head, the hand holding it revealing several large and expensive rings fit for one of noble stature, and yet the robes show signs of wear. "Khamul Unquale, at your service," he says with a slight bow. "Sent over from the lodge in Sothis. I must admit that I did not grow up in this area of the world and hence have never studied the Red Redoubt or Karamoss, whatever and whoever they may be."
Player name: Mike Tuholski aka EndlessForms
Khamul hit level 6 with this one although I just realized that the GM from one of his games a couple months ago never sent out chronicles (whoops!) and since he was our friend who just got married off two weeks ago I think I'll give him a buffer before I remind him to send them out, haha. I have the PDF so I'll just have to print my own out as a temporary until he can get to it I suppose.
Everything looks good, GM! Thanks for running! Khamul's spells flopped a lot more than usual but hopefully the friendly necromancer was a decent companion nonetheless. Edit: Oh, and thanks to Eadie for help with my Research Specialist boon! I forgot to write it down earlier but this is partly serving as a reminder to myself to go back and mark it. Thanks!
"Yes, it is quite well written. Let us hope that we can find this monk. Dhiara seems a noble person to earn the title of Jeweled Sage." The friendly necromancer nods in thanks to the group as he takes his leave, lifting his scythe rather than waving and using it as a walking stick as he pulls his hood back up over his head to put his face in shadows.
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