Folks. I am SO SORRY for not posting sooner. Life has gotten a bit hectic for me and the fam. We're all healthy, just having to double down at work (to include building a side-hustle now...**sigh**) with the current economy and have had little time for Pathfinder. :(
I think I will have to bow out of this game (and others) for the time being, but will keep this thread bookmarked for the future.
Nigel alters the gravity around the ratmen to sow more chaos.
Not exactly sure how'd this mechanically work witht he troop, but ◆◆◆ three action Gravitational Pull allows me to affect 5 creatures. My goal is to knock over more of the greay ratmen and make them easier to kill and less capable of attacking. Happy to adjust if GM fiat determines this wouldn't work.
"Rally around me! The magic will help turn their blades and fangs." Nigel shouts as an aura from his staff begins to grow and expand outward.
In his next breath, two rays of fire shoot from his pointed finger toward the front two ratmen.
Uncommon Abjuration Wizard
somatic
Area 5-foot-radius emanation centered on you
Duration sustained up to 1 minute
You emanate a shimmering aura of protective magic. You and any allies in the area gain a +1 status bonus to AC. Each time you Sustain the Spell, the emanation's radius increases by 5 feet, to a maximum of 30 feet.
Scorching Ray ◆◆:
Attack Evocation Fire
somatic, verbal
Range 60 feet; Targets 1 or more creatures
You fire a ray of heat and flame. Make a spell attack roll against a single creature. On a hit, the target takes 2d6 fire damage, and on a critical hit, the target takes double damage.
For each additional action you use when Casting the Spell, you can fire an additional ray at a different target, to a maximum of three rays targeting three different targets for 3 actions. These attacks each increase your multiple attack penalty, but you don't increase your multiple attack penalty until after you make all the spell attack rolls for scorching ray. If you spend 2 or more actions Casting the Spell, the damage increases to 4d6 fire damage on a hit, and it still deals double damage on a critical hit.
Heightened (+1) The damage to each target increases by 1d6 for the 1-action version, or by 2d6 for the 2-action and 3-action versions.
Nigel begins to detect magic and starts to circle the perimeter of the room counter-clockwise.
"Seems like someone tidied up in here while we were away. They'll likely expect out return." he comments as he walks.
Nigel finishes reading the page in the book he was reading and claps it together, tucks it away in his bag and follows the group.
"Excellent job, Dain." He says with a curt nod.
Folks. I am busy IRL this weekend and next week. Please bot me. Nigel has lots of defensive spells to augment the party, as well as some utility spells. He uses a 4th and 3rd level spell slot to charge his staff with additional charges.
"No use wasting a good spell slot on a loon. We shall leave him to his fate here." Nigel comments. "Shall we reconvene in the morning? My mind is fatigued from the days work."
"Hmmmm. These scroll will only work on myself. However, a Hat of Disguise could work for you, Tilver. Although it would be a bit more expensive." Nigel comments.
Illusory Disguise is cast on oneself. A potion of disguise could work, or a hat of disguise. Unless helping with gold expediture, Nigel will probably pick up a Lvl1 and Lvl2 Scroll while there.
"Hmmmm. I do not have a spell for that currently, but let me send a runner to the Pyramid for a possible scroll. For now, I can attempt a simple Charm spell on him once I'm able to rest."
I have Charm and Befuddle. I can cast Befuddle first before trying to Charm him but it'll have to be afterwards.
We have captured a Chaos cultist alive. I formally request arcane assistance in gathering information and knowledge from the detainee. We are jailing the detainee at Blade Chapel with the assistance from the Knights of the Pale.
Our investigation has proved to be fraught with hostility. This aligns with Isabel's previous reports. If there are resources available, respectfully request several scrolls of Mage Armor, and any offensive arcana we can afford.
Very respectfully,
Nigel Van Wagnen
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Nigel raises an eyebrow at the litorian and says "Your brutish physique is complimented by quite the intellect. Good idea. I am not the best at diplomacy, but I've studied a bit."
Happy to good cop for the bad cop. Also "ordering" supplies as a means to procuring things moving forward. Not necessarily to get items immediately. Although, I'll take what the GM allows. :)
"I agree with my colleagues. We do not need to debase our morales. There are magical means of extracting information. Perhaps one of your clerics here could enchant him with a Zone of Truth."
"If you'll permit up a respite, we can interrogate this man and recover before we head back to deal with that cursed apartment."
Rest here and try to get some information? I could use some spell slots back.
"Well met, knight." Nigel says as he steps forward and addresses the guardian.
"We have captured a priest of Chaos and this place was our closest haven. If Lady Dierna would allow us, we'd like to keep him here while we question him. Any assistance would be reciprocated in kind with information sharing and the like."
"Well. I see no reason we cannot interrogate this man here if we so desire. But the pending swarm is still concerning so let's take him somewhere more secure." Nigel suggests. "The Blade Chapel is nearby, do we have any alliance there? That we might use their accommodations for a time."
I say get this guy away from here, question him (ideally with a Cleric casting Zone of Truth!).
Nigel straightens and dusts himself off before saying.
"Those ratmen have guns and I am out of useful spells. What say we take this priest somewhere more amicable for interrogation and warn some guards about the swarming rats below?"
Nigels sighs at the hurried nature of the ordeal and makes his way invisible and free along with the group.
"We must be certain to revisit this locale. Who knows what sort of clues or treasures are behind another illusion." He says.
"Before we leave, let's do a cursory check of this room." Nigel says as he looks around the room for any clues or things of value.
"You all can start moving, I'll be just a moment." With that, Nigel vanishes after uttering a string of arcane word.
Freedom of Movement @ Level 4 and Invisibility @ Level 2 (both 10Min). Detect Magic while he looks around the room. This way I can sort out the room and catch up later.
Back to the apartment to question him and sort the loot?
Nigel enters the room and does as asked. He uses his staff to turn the bodies over and searches about their persons. He studies any items found for magical properties.
"Mmmhmmm... Troops. I'm sure there's a horde on it's way." He muses as he sorts through the items.
Nigel sees the unholy charge in Theral's body and focuses on it. He channels nullification from his staff toward the chaotic priest.
Dispel Magic (H+1) vs Vital Beacon:
Vital Beacon is a 4th level spell so the [ulr=https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=554]DC to counteract would be 23[/url]. Dispel Magic at 3rd Level would Counteract with a Success.
Counteract (INT+Expert+Level):1d20 + 4 + 4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 4 + 8 = 18 Ugh...
But the chaos magic is too strong, seemingly thriving on the chaos in this room.
"You will succumb to order in this world! I shall see to it." Nigel shouts at the priest.
Intimidation (U):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 At least that may have worked!
◆◆ Dispel Magic (3rd from Staff)
◆ Demoralize
Correct. I cannot Counterspell non-Arcane spells unless I become a Master in some other tradition (which is my plan) since Recognizing non-Arcane spells eats up my Reaction. At least that's my understanding. :)
I took Counterspell at Level1. I also took Recognize Spell which leads into Quick Recognition. As Master of the Arcane, anything on that list I can identify as Free Action, otherwise identification consumes my Reaction. My staff has Dispel Magic. I sort of built Nigel around Counterspelling so apologies for any complexities it may cause, but if there's a spell coming his way, I'll almost assuredly Counterspell it with Dispel Magic (provided I have the charges) if it's on the Arcane list.
Nigel blasts Theral (RED) with two of his three rays, burning the Chaos Priest. In return, Theral hurls a ray of pure darkness back at the Inverted Pyramid wizard. Then he slaps his own chest, healing up some damage!
[dice=Theral's spell v. Nigel]1d20+18;5d6
[dice=Vital Beacon]4d8
Correct, my hope is to Dispel this "ray of pure darkness".
Nigel tries to compose himself as the chaos muddles his brain, but the nauseousness is too much and he vomits.
Fort:1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 1 = 22
Unable to maintain his composure as the chaos continues to wreak havok in his logical brain, Nigel straightens for a moment for casting a hand out toward Silas.
"Celeranter!" He shouts, spittle and bile flying from his lips. Silas's metabolism heightens and his reflexes sharpen with magical speed.
◆ Wretch, ◆◆ Haste on Silas
Haste:
Magic empowers the target to act faster. It gains the quickened condition and can use the extra action each round only for Strike and Stride actions.
Nigel raises both arms, staff in one hand, and slowly brings them together. He then lowers them sharply and utters something sinister sounding. An inky blackness bursts forth from the tip of his staff and swirls forward and around the four people inside.
He watches his magic take hold and studies the caster with the staff, waiting for a spell to be cast.
◆ Recall Knowledge on the caster, please. Arcana +18, Nature +10, Occultism +14, Religion +14, Society +14
Counterspell (R):
TLDR; I can auto identify anything on the Arcane list level 6 or lower. I get a secret check to determine if I Crit and get save/AC bonuses. I can use my reaction to counter the spell, if I don't have it prepared, I will use Dispel Magic from my staff to Counteract (+16).
Trigger A creature Casts a Spell that you have prepared.
When a foe Casts a Spell and you can see its manifestations, you can use your own magic to disrupt it. You expend a prepared spell to counter the triggering creature’s casting of that same spell. You lose your spell slot as if you had cast the triggering spell. You then attempt to counteract the triggering spell (page 458).
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Quick Recognition
Prerequisites master in Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion; Recognize Spell
You Recognize Spells swiftly. Once per round, you can Recognize a Spell using a skill in which you’re a master as a free action.
------------------------------
Recognize Spell
Prerequisites trained in Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion
Trigger A creature within line of sight casts a spell that you don’t have prepared or in your spell repertoire, or a trap or similar object casts such a spell. You must be aware of the casting.
If you are trained in the appropriate skill for the spell’s tradition and it’s a common spell of 2nd level or lower, you automatically identify it (you still roll to attempt to get a critical success, but can’t get a worse result than success). The highest level of spell you automatically identify increases to 4 if you’re an expert, 6 if you’re a master, and 10 if you’re legendary. The GM rolls a secret Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion check, whichever corresponds to the tradition of the spell being cast. If you’re not trained in the skill, you can’t get a result better than failure.
Critical Success You correctly recognize the spell and gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your saving throw or your AC against it.
Success You correctly recognize the spell.
Failure You fail to recognize the spell.
Critical Failure You misidentify the spell as another spell entirely, of the GM’s choice.
Nigel tries to zero in on the magica aura.
"Excuse me, but I believe there is some magic present here. I am trying to triangulate the source. Would someone mind check over there?" Nigel points to the northwest and asks the group as he moves about to reckon where the source is coming from.
