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Trisane has been practicing his Varisian. I could send Rom to let him know what we have found. Rom might be able to help him find the exact window. Nik turns back to Rom as he roosts on the nearby banister. Bine Rom, e timpul să mergi la muncă. Du-te afară și găsește Trisane. Spune-i că credem că am găsit camera potrivită. Numără porțile aici și îl conduce la fereastra din fața acestei uși. Am înţeles. Varisian:
Alright Rom, time to go to work. Go out and find Trisane. Tell him we think we have found the right room. Count the doors here and lead him to the window opposite this door. Got it. Nik then sends Rom out to look for Trisane.
Nik looks at the person who mentioned the Shoanti and war. The Shoanti are cousins to my people, and it seems they share more with us here than I imagined. It is no wonder both peoples avoid cities such as this, all they face is pain and anger here. Nik looks around for any Hellknights or other guards and continues. Perhaps our people should prepare for war and bring this place down to its foundations?
Nik kneels down in front of the mother and daughter, smiling warmly. He lays his staff on the ground and addresses the young girl but is careful not to approach further. Sora soră, prietenul meu vorbește adevărul. Poate că mi-ai văzut fratele. Ar arăta probabil bolnav și avea un câine mare urmând în spatele lui. Varisian:
Pardon sister, my friend speaks the truth. Perhaps you have seen my brother. He would look sickly perhaps and have a large dog following behind him. Knowledge (local):
Well, so much for a quiet entrance. Nik whispers to the companion on his shoulder. Rom, uită-te la spate pentru noi. Vezi dacă e în siguranță. Varisian:
Rom, check out the back for us. See if it's safe. Nic lets Rom go and turns back to his friends. He looks around trying to see if he recognizes anyone. Knowledge (local):
Nik takes the deck out of his pouch and stares at it for a second. He quietly speaks to himself. It seems you, great spirit, wish me to help this city as well. Why should I when all I have seen is that this city destroys the soul of almost all that come here. It is even corrupting me. Then he returns the deck to his pouch and continues outside to await his friends.
This is madness! Nik looks up with a blank face. Commander, I know this is important to the city but I came here for a reason and rescuing young girls who may or may not have killed a king and set off a wave of chaos in the city was no where near what I figured I would be getting into. So, yes, once again I will assist you because it is the right thing to do and my friends need me as much as I need them. With that said, has the guard made any attempt to locate my brother, Tobar? Has their been any leads? Did the two men we brought in provide any information? I need to find my brother, or at least what has happened to him. Then I can decide if I want to stay in this city that seems to be falling down around you, or return with my brother to my people. Nik then lowers his head as if he is defeated and turns to Trisane. I will follow you as always, but this can't continue much longer.
As we discussed I was going to have it consecrated to a combination of both Desna and Erastil, two gods worshiped by Varisians and the cause of the duality in Nik's thinking. Shaman's do not need to specifically worship a god but I am required to have a divine focus for channels. Hence the desire to make my main weapon a holy symbol to avoid those types of issues, and it is cool flavor in my opinion. As for who, why can I not do it. The description of Channel Foci does not specifically call out how it is done, nor does it mention the need for spell casting. This is a GMs call, but I figured I would mention it.
Nik would like to sit with Ophelia and ask her to make 3 sketches of Tobar, if she is able to. In addition I would like to look into purchasing a darkwood quarterstaff (cost is 640g). Also, look into how to get it consecrated (cost 150g). And finally I would like to craft four scrolls. Scroll of Alter Self (CL 3) - DC 8 (cost 71.25)
Spellcraft:
Scroll of Lesser Restoration (CL 3) - DC 8 (cost 71.25)
Spellcraft:
Scroll of Charm Animal (CL 3) - DC 8 (cost 35.625)
Spellcraft:
Scroll of Monkey Fish (CL 3) - DC 8 (cost 35.625)
Spellcraft:
In order to make the scrolls I would need get 167 gold for supplies. In addition I would like to gain a scroll box for 5 gold. One last thing... Ophelia, can you give Nik the wand of acid splash? Rom would like to play with it.
As you said, it was not just Trisane you were replying to... The point I was trying to make is not only the challenge of the encounter, but the timing of it and others like it. This was a simple trip to sell some treasure and buy some gear, something some of us greatly need. The early volumes of any AP have limited options for gear, even more so specifically for casters. Being able to purchase lower level wands and scrolls, maybe some potions greatly expands the options casters have, and allows parties to continue further without resting so the casters can get their spells back. It was great that the guard offered MW options of gear for the party, this eliminated some of the issue with this while the city was in ruins but it left limited options for the casters. Ophelia can't really wear armor and Nik is limited due to a low strength. Neither of them rely much on weapons so Nik could have gotten a masterwork quarterstaff and Ophelia a masterwork whip, neither would do much to make them better in adventuring. Being able to purchase upgraded gear and consumables is a basic concept in the Pathfinder game, yet we are currently 3rd level and have had little opportunity to do so. Specifically when we have tried we were told to come back another time (when selling to the gnome), we went back and stopped a robbery in progress, and now we have been ambushed by a serious threat. As a party we are sitting on 4k of gold and treasure but unless we want to make a dragon's nest of it in the Citadel what good does it do us if we can never use it. The CR system may be busted, and the lethality of the situation can be debated, but it is the statistical level of the challenge and the timing. I applaud the attempt to give Elden a chance to stretch his muscles, but a lesser challenge would have served just as well, it even would have left it less to chance. Yes the CR system doesn't work in isolated encounters like this, but it isn't meant to either. Statistically we were superior... We have higher to hits, but not by much. They didn't have superior weapons, but we're not swinging vorpals yet. They didn't have as many hit points, well that is debatable depending on who you compare it to. This is all true, but then add in the fact there were 8 of them and they had us in a position that was very limiting to our tactical options. Luck prevented them from being hit by our heavy damage, but the only reason they weren't smashing Trisane was he gave up his attacks to be a shield for everyone else. Yes, Elden was not taking more damage than Nik could heal but the only reason Nik was able to heal so well was he got lucky on the rolls and since we weren't damaging them there was no need to worry about selective channel. So, from our view we had an encounter that lasted 5+ rounds before a single opponent of 8 was dropped. We made one run away for a moment and we held another for a moment. Nik burned most of his spells already, though he could keep the fighters going and Ophelia had also burned most of her spells by then. And at this point we were still looking at facing 4+ of them 3+ of which were completely undamaged at that point. Yes, we probably would have survived but it would have been a bigger challenge than anything we have faced (and knowing the AP, anything we were likely to face) and ran the risk of killing one or possibly all of the party. And this was a random encounter meant to let the fighter be a fighter while the party is unprepared for such an attack while they are out getting some groceries. I understand the AP is supposed to leave us feeling that Korvosa is a war zone. I know this is intentional, but if we cannot leave the Citadel without facing life or death situations then other options need to be made available to us. Either that or we soldier on and Nik becomes part dragon sleeping on a bed of gold and silver coins.
Great Dreamer I am not cut out for this hero business! Nik clasps his holy symbols again and prays. May the starlight ease us in our time of need. With the wave of positive energy the parties wounds are healed. Then Nik begins to follow Ophelia and Trisane. Channel Energy:
Excluding the two melee combatants on Elden and the sniper above Trisane.
Can't we just head out for a relaxing day without being attacked? Rom! Alerta prietenii noștri înapoi la barăci. Varisian:
Rom! Alert our friends back at the barracks. Nik steps forward, drawing forth some eldritch materials from his pouch. He speaks some sharp tones and fans his hands out as fire pours out from his finger tips. Burning Hands:
Reflex DC 13 for half
On his way out Nik looks for a familiar face among the guard. Maybe now that I have worked along side some of these guards, they will be more willing to help with finding Tobar. Please guardsman, may I ask you a favor? Now that the city is under some sort of control again, would be good and spread the word amongst your companions about my brother? Tobar is his name and he has been missing for some time in the city. I came here looking for him and was caught up in the turmoil of our recent problems. And leads would be a great help. Thank you, and the rest of the guard for the help. Then Nik turns back to his own companions. Shall we see about finishing our errands and then seeing what we can find for leads after Tobar and those other troubled children?
Nik slumps against the wall but smiles. How do you keep this pace? Nik rises again and continues to follow the group. I mean on the road we ride, or walk, most of the dead but that's a different kind of tired. Keeping this level of tension for days on end is exhausting. I say we take a night's rest and then we can look for Tobar. Maybe some of these guards could assist in the search while they are out keeping the peace?
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