Marten Lebeda's page

"Does anyone have any translation magic? Otherwise this is going to be charades."

Marten has Diplomacy +20, but language may be a barrier.

"If we can solve this diplomatically, I would prefer to do so."

On foot (or horseback) is fine.

We got some real foot fetishists here!

Not complaining, just ruminating from a design perspective!

On reflection a boat might work. Gorman is a skilled boatman.

Not to bog things down though. If the group would rather go overland, so be it!

Horseshoes of speed please.

(Honestly kind of a trap item. Doesn't improve your party's overland movement speed because it's just the one horse. Mostly lets you be more responsive in melee while running around a battlefield, but how often do you have your horse in a dungeon? I guess kinda useful for outdoor swamp fighting where you have to overcome difficult terrain.)

"Hmm. Water is kinda my bane, given the armor," says Marten ruefully.

"Any precautions we should take? Is it going to be deep enough that I need to worry about drowning? Should I leave Tracer (my steed) behind?"

If you want 'em, take 'em, and we can make the recruit make his own!

If nobody wants those bracers of armor +4, I could stick them on the mage who's going to join my recruits next time we go home. But no biggie.

Marten Lebeda wrote:

The main thing that I need now is time. Marten is sitting on a ton of cash but needs to use it to upgrade his existing gear.

We can justify a pause after we check in at Fort Drelev, if you want. We should update our ruler on what we've been up to. We'll have a ton of things to sell, and we can go shopping. What do you think?

If I must pay full price for something, so be it, but Marten's recruits have some magic item crafting ability as well. At the very least he needs a better AC, and I would someday like to get holy on Falling Leaf.

Marten indeed does not have a cloak of resistance, as I've been relying on his +Cha to saves to help carry him through. Any item that doesn't have a gold piece value next to it is something that he got as treasure. If it has a gp value, it was from his starting gear.

The main thing that I need now is time. Marten is sitting on a ton of cash but needs to use it to upgrade his existing gear.

Or you could find a way to destroy the sword, at the cost of pissing off Gorum. :)

I feel like, we beat the champion, we got the sword fair and square, we get to decide what to do with it, and if Gorum has a tantrum about that, he's a s@@&ty god who doesn't live up to his own principles ("the winner of the fight decides the fate of the loser").

That said, Marten has no idea how one would go about shattering an artifact weapon like this. It is certainly too dangerous to be left just lying around somewhere where anyone with some divination magic could find it and put it to their own sinister uses.

Marten nods. "Yes, thank you, Zelera."

"I'm ready for anything else that awaits us."

Mage hand doesn't work on magic items, or on items weighing more than 5 lbs. (Ovinrbaane weighs 12 lbs.)

Gorman: Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Gorman, in the middle of cleaning and reloading his pistol, idly points with the barrel brush.

"Secret door in the bas relief."

In two more levels I'll get a feat that lets me deflect arrows with my sword, by which time nobody will be using arrows against us any more! :D

Marten takes a moment to catch his breath as he rises out of his battle stance.

"I wonder what this poor man's story is," he says. "Dragged into this conflict? Or willing participant? I suppose it is moot now."

The 1st edition Ovinrbaane

Marten takes the hits with a grunt as the arrows spang hard against his armor, rocking him onto his heels. He barely catches one in time with his shield before it hits an artery. For dead guys, they're really good shots.

He moves to directly engage the nearest skeleton archer (purple), using it for cover against its own ally.

Since I have to move more than 5' to reach the skeleton, using the blessing of fervor for +2 to attack and AC. Makes AC 27.

Falling Leaf power attack, blessing of fervor, divine favor, prayer: 1d20 + 20 - 4 + 2 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 20 - 4 + 2 + 3 + 1 = 37
Falling Leaf power damage, divine favor, prayer, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 8 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 26

From behind, Gorman reloads and takes a pistol shot.

Gorman: Pistol attack, blessing of fervor, prayer: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 25
Gorman: Pistol damage, prayer: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Been forgetting to add Zelera's prayer spell.

Marten lets out a heavy sigh. He remembers what happened last time he faced a bunch of skeletons with bows.

He slides around the pillar to his left and past Dusk so that he can reach a nearby skeleton but use it for cover against its companions further south.

Hopefully, if they shoot through its space, I get the +4 AC bonus for cover.

Falling Leaf attack, divine favor, prayer: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 20 + 3 + 1 = 42
Falling Leaf confirm crit, divine favor, prayer: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 20 + 3 + 1 = 44

Bless weapon makes all threats against evil creatures crits, so that roll might be redundant.

Falling Leaf damage, divine favor, prayer, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 14
Falling Leaf crit damage, divine favor, prayer, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 21

All lumped together in one hit, so the DR isn't as effective.

Not a complaint against you! I'm aware that coming in at a higher level always gives you a better gear selection. I just need to do some catching up. :)

Once we get some cash, really need to get my armor improved somehow. Being 7 points of AC worse than the rogue is just a bad place to be as the tank.

Marten takes the battering as usual and counterswings at the foe with Dusk opposite him (light blue).

1. Falling Leaf attack, divine favor, flanking: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 20 + 3 + 2 = 29
2. Falling Leaf blessing of fervor bonus attack, divine favor, flanking: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 20 + 3 + 2 = 29
3. Falling Leaf attack, divine favor, flanking: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 3 + 2 = 23
4. Falling Leaf attack, divine favor, flanking: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 3 + 2 = 29

1. Falling Leaf damage, divine favor, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 13
2. Falling Leaf damage, divine favor, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 15
3. Falling Leaf damage, divine favor, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 14
4. Falling Leaf damage, divine favor, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 13

Since he's not evil, none of my stuff works.

Marten attempts to smite the foe, which fails, and so his blade is barely useful at all.

1. Falling leaf attack, divine favor: 1d20 + 20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 20 + 3 = 25
2. Falling leaf second iterative attack, divine favor: 1d20 + 15 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 15 + 3 = 28
3. Falling leaf third iterative attack, divine favor: 1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 3 = 26

1. Falling leaf damage, divine favor, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 16
2. Falling leaf damage, divine favor, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 20
3. Falling leaf damage, divine favor, weapon of awe: 1d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 16

I'm hoping that the team can bottle up the skeleton champions before they kill me while I run up and smite on this guy.

Sensing that it's go time, Marten casts bless weapon, communal protection from evil, divine favor, and weapon of awe as soon as the party is ready to go. (No sense wasting short durations while the party stands around hesitating at the door.)

[dice=HP]1d8+1

BAB +1

F/R +1

Skills 2+1+1=+4

Diplomacy +16=+2+11+3
Knowledge (nature) +16=+1+13+3
Knowledge (planes) +17=+1+13+3
Perception +22=+6+13+3
Background Skills
Perform (dance) +19=+2+13+3+1
Sleight of Hand +15=+2+13+0

+1 CL
+1 5th and 6th per day

Summon Fey 1 upgrades to Summon Fey 2

Gunoke is still to come.

Don't forget your feat!

I recommend Favored Prestige Class so that you can squeeze out a few more hit points or skill ranks and then next feat get Prestigious Spellcaster, which removes your one-level casting deficit and puts you back on track to full cleric casting.

Marten eventually recovers his enchanted sword, while Gorman quietly cleans his pistol.

"Any way for us to know in advance what we face beyond? What he was guarding? Anyone have a divinatory spell to see further ahead?"

Sorry to hear that things have been so rough, DBH.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marten, Level 13: Paladin (Mind Sword) 13

+1 BAB
+9 hit points (+2 additional from Con enhancement)

Feat: Power Attack

Skills: +1 each of: Diplomacy, Intimidate, Perception, Ride, Sense Motive; Artistry (Philosophy), Linguistics

New language learned: Halfling

Class feature: +1 smite/day

Recruits also level up.

Marten looks over to Niadroub.

"Can I swing at him while he's in the ice block, or... ?"

Will save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Marten's hand spasms uncontrollably, because despite being a veteran practitioner of the psychic arts, he apparently has no mental defenses whatsoever. He sighs and picks his sword back up.

Marten is about to run headlong into the antilife shell when Niadroub barks out a brief warning about an "enveeeseble death bubble!", so he pivots to telekinetically flinging his sword instead. Falling Leaf lashes out, spinning hypnotically through the air and spinning in loops and whorls reminiscent of its name.

1. Falling Leaf mind arsenal attack, blessing of fervor: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 2 = 33
2. Falling Leaf mind arsenal second iterative attack, blessing of fervor: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 2 = 33
3. Falling Leaf mind arsenal third iterative attack, blessing of fervor: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14

2. Falling Leaf mind arsenal second iterative attack confirm crit, blessing of fervor: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 2 = 16

1. Falling Leaf damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
2. Falling Leaf damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
3. Falling Leaf damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Expends two uses of mind arsenal to make a ranged full attack.

If the dimension door leaves me within 30' of the guy, that means I don't need to use blessing of fervor for speed, so I can switch it to +2 to hit, which bumps up the crit confirmation from 22 to 24.

Ref save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

The blade barrier makes sparks as it clangs on Marten's armor and shield, leaving the paladin sighting heavily as he pulls Falling Leaf and moves to engage.

Using the blessing of fervor to get the extra movement speed to move to engagement range this round.

Falling Leaf attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
Falling Leaf confirm crit: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22

Falling Leaf damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Falling Leaf crit damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Marten rests his hand on the hilt of Falling Leaf. Behind his helm, his eyes narrow slightly.

Detect evil.

"As predicted, another Gorum challenge. He just challenged us to a fight."

"I suspect another challenge of Gorum. Hm. The glow is a bit ostentatious."

"Thank you, everyone, and especially you Zelera," says Marten. The paladin is obviously exhausted and still badly beaten up.

"I certainly agree with hunkering down for a bit. I feel like I was run over by a nightmare. The horse kind, I mean."

All right! Back in action! Glad to see that Zelera is still with us and was just having fun at a con!

(I'm having fun at a con right now)

Marten gasps as air comes suddenly into his lungs. His back arches, and then he rolls on his side, coughing several times, and weakly tries to push himself to his feet.

"I... I can't remember what happened. Is everyone all right?"

We seem to have lost Zelera, which is a bigger problem. :(

Correction

Zelera casts breath of life on the fallen paladin, and nothing happens. He remains dead, a small amount of blood oozing from his neck wound.

More bad news: I read the text of breath of life to see how many hit points Marten comes back with, and it turns out he's still dead.

Breath of life doesn't work on a creature that has a negative hit point total higher than its Con score. Marten hit -19 hit points, with a Con of 12. He's dead-dead.

Marten groans and gets back to his feet. He scoops up Falling Leaf and then quickly does a visual check to make sure that everyone else is alive.

Forgot that Marten had Con damage, so when he took the arrows, he went to -19 hit points and died. Zelera gets to him and finds that he's already a corpse with an arrow sticking out of his neck. (Take back your heal spell, maybe for Dusk.)

I forgot that Marten had reduced HP due to Constitution damage. He went to -19 hit points and is dead.

Marten grabs his shield (standard action) and tries to scramble back to his feet (move action, provoking attacks of opportunity).

One arrow dings off Marten's shield and the second hits him in the neck. He collapses to the ground, dying.

Marten focuses in on Red, trying to clobber it as it finishes standing.

1. Falling Leaf attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26
2. Falling Leaf second iterative attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
3. Falling Leaf third iterative attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

3. Falling Leaf third iterative confirm crit: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Probably not a crit.

1. Falling Leaf damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
2. Falling Leaf damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
3. Falling Leaf damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

3. Falling Leaf crit damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11