Numair Nejem's page

I also withdraw.

Dotting.

Oh, thanks. Fixed now.

Ok, profile adjusted. Good luck to all.

I'm very interested in playing, bringing back this dervish of Sarenrae for another game. I'll need to bring him back to 5th but you can see an idea of how he plays by the older posts. My son is in the hospital right now or I'd have it done already.

Cheers, LM. I really enjoyed playing Numair. :)

Numair studies the gargoyle for a few minutes, trying to see if this one looks like the gargoyles that he encountered in Gudrun. Since the dieing campfire is providing sufficient illumination to keep the portal open, Numair decides to try and suss out the gargoyle's intentions.

"There's a gargoyle in our camp, Az. I'm going to go see what he wants. If it's a hostile scout, I'd rather not let it report back. Otherwise, maybe it will know something about the caravan."

Numair exits the Haven carefully, waiting until the gargoyle is looking away, and calls out to it, cheerfully.

"Good evening, stony one. I am Numair Nejem. Welcome to my campsite. Who might you be?"

Not drawing my weapons, but have my Potion of Fly handy at my belt in case I need to chase this creature down.

Sorry I must have clicked that X that turns thread updates off. I'll post this evening.

I suppose I should have led with this statement: Numair technically already has a companion by virtue of the Divine Bond paladin class feature. I selected 'cat', which advanced to large at 7th level. It will gain the celestial template at 11th. What I was attempting here was to roleplay how Numair learns to summon his companion forth. By the rules, at 5th, a paladin can suddenly summon a Poke-mount - but I always found that to be somewhat ... hokey. I wanted to roleplay his initial contact with the creature (in dreams) and then slowly develop his ability to send forth a summons (starting with the wizards help, then progressing to solo).

"Like fishing, or like hunting? I think Sharav would appreciate the irony in that - the hunter is being hunted. I certainly do not wish to jeopardize our mission; I am willing to try slowly and carefully. While I do not have much coin, I would not dream of asking you to bear the cost of casting. I can pay for this first casting, at the very least, and we shall see how it goes!"

I am cool with using your ad-hoc rules, LM - they'd certainly add an unexpected twist to things. Perhaps the first attempt is a disaster and only later on does the real companion come. Also, when you say 'familiars table', do you mean 'druid's animal companion table' (cause that's where paladin mounts come from)?

Come on, Mountain Lion!
Will vs Spell: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

EDIT: Yes, staying up for a watch. (not that I'll *notice* anything, mind you)

I do want to rest in the Shadow Haven. I figured we'd be sitting around a campfire waiting for it to get dark enough to cast the spell, hence my post.

"That is the sort of magic I'd need, yes. And I am quite good at negotiating. However, I believe that I already have somewhat of a common ground with this creature. We hunt together in my dreams almost every night."

Numair looks pensive as he ponders the rest of the wizard's description. "His name.. I do not know it, or if he even has one. I can tell you what I know of him, perhaps that will do? He is agile, and quick. He is like the wind. His nature is not of the balmy breezes of verdant pastures, or the frozen bitter blasts of arctic ranges. He is like the desert wind: stinging and blinding in primal fury some times, bringing the fresh scent of an unseen oasis just beyond the next dune at other times. We have a word in the tongue of my people for such a wind - al-Sharav. It is a name that would fit him as well as I can imagine. We could try it and see.."

"Do you have time to research the ritual in our safehold tonight? If so, I would like to attempt it at dawn - an auspicious time for such endeavors in my faith."

"This place is truly deep for days to be shorter. Let's make camp and set off at first light. I'd rather not risk a fall in the dark."

***************
That evening, as the trio sits around the campfire and listens to the sound of the wind whistling through the canyons, Numair broaches a topic that has been on his mind for some time.

"Azaraunt, forgive me for being so forward, but how did you bring Imbukar here? This world, this plane, I mean. Not why, but how? I ask, because for months I have been dreaming of another world. Its not the same dream every night, but a common theme runs through them. Or rather, a common inhabitant - an exotic feline from some celestial realm."

"From the tutelage I had as a youngster, I know conjurations are possible, but are usually severely short in duration. Such conjurations are far beyond my meager arcane skills, but your talents lay quite powerfully in that direction. Do you think you might help me open a pathway from that other world to this one? I do not wish to compel its service, but I feel an unusual bond to this creature. Why else would I dream of it at every turn?"

"East it is."

"If the storms don't reach down here, then there will be tracks for Cal to follow. If there are any survivors, the gargoyles will have them. Remember the gemstone gargoyle - Lem? Gurg? Gorh? - I can't remember his name. Anyways. He said they ransomed some other hostages back in Gudrun. I think these might think to do the same. This is the first hopeful sign we've had."

"Az, did you ever figure out what those clock-wheels in the sky meant? And will your Haven spell still work down here without a direct dawn?"

He's easy on the eyes. The horse will be too distracted by having such an awesome rider to be bothered by the dangerous descent. It's possible the horse still thinks it's in Nerosyan, so potent is the fascination effect.

With sheer charisma, Numair can guide a mount safely down if he is not distracted or rushed.

Handle Animal, Take 10: 10 + 6 = 16 If this isn't possible, or if combat seems imminent, Numair will dismount immediately.

"Whatever you think best, Master Tracker."

Numair tags along, watching the Cal scout with obvious interest.

Numair couldn't notice that on his best day. Perception = 20+10-1 = 29.

"Well if it came to that we could just jump down, one at a time. I've got a spell that would ensure our safe descent. Did they really think they were able to get a wagon train through there? Some masterminds running that caravan, I tell you"

Yes, pressing onward at best speed, then scouting once we reach a plausible area.

I see the map fine. I think the caravan got waylaid at the entrance to the Rifts. We'll just have to find out where.

"We have Lavinia's ample healing magics, and my own more moderate gifts at our disposal. Every delay makes our rescue much more unlikely. It is possible that any survivors have already perished, making haste on our part a foolish risk. I am willing to take such a risk, though, on the chance that they might yet live. I say we press on and fight through the storm under your ward, Az."

Numair looks around, a worried expression on his face.

"Another bone storm? These things must be very common out here. I think we've seen one almost every day. Even the sandstorms in my homeland weren't as frequent as that. Can you protect us while we travel Az?"

"That is an awfully strange sight, Cal. Looks like a spiked wagon wheel, to me. Ominous."

Numair would sleep soundly, and then be ready to protect the opening from the earliest dawn when the first possibility of the doorway opening would exist.

I'm all for using the spell to conserve resources and keep safe from night terrors. We'll just have to deal with whatever the weather throws our way.

I'd vote for either Shadow Haven or Tiny Hut.

Numair flings the wolf to the ground, then flicks his blade to clean it. Sheathing Sandstorm, he grins.

"More dangers vanquished. Good shooting, both of you. Let's set our camp, now that they've been dealt with."

If they ended in melee range, he will take his full attack (otherwise only count the first attack). If they are more than 5' apart, he can only get to one of them (Langash or Az would have to get the second).

Sandstorm #1(Pirahna Strike, Battle Dance, Flagbearer, Smite Evil, Haste); Damage: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 2 + 1 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 12 - 2 + 2 + 1 + 6 + 1 = 291d6 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 14 = 29
Sandstorm #2; Damage: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 221d6 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
Sandstorm #3; Damage: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 191d6 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19

Any strikes that target the second wolf (if any) are at -6 attack & -7 damage (smite evil only applies to first wolf).

AC 26

Also +1 to attack and damage, since Cal is within 30' of Numair.

Numair dances patiently as the wolves close, waiting for a chance to strike.

Ready action to strike a wolf that gets into range, if any survive Cal's machine gun.

With Sandstorm out in front, Numair dances forward and invokes the arcane shield from the wand. He is content to let Calendir destroy the wolves at range, and puts himself in a position to intercept any wolves headed the ranger's way.

UMD: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23

AC 26
Conditions: Flagbearer, Battle Dance, Haste

I think stopping short, perhaps a hundred yards away. That way we can observer the crossroads, but aren't camping right on the road itself.

That was my thinking, also. Make as much progress as we can today, but not risk pushing it in dangerous territory. Better to stop a little early with a better campsite.

We should continue NW towards the canyons the caravan was going to try to use as a shortcut.

"Sarenrae, these men died out here in the unforgiving waste. I do not know what sort of men they were, or whom they believed in. I only ask you guide this prayer where it must go, that their souls may rest in peace."

Numair stands in silence for a moment after his brief prayer, then looks around.

"And shelter us from this place as well, Everlight. Let's go."

Will be busy this weekend. Not likely to post.

Numair will advocate reaching the caravan at best speed, but is willing to investigate events along the way.

"We are fortunate to have defeated our enemies with such alacrity. Calendir has a mighty bow indeed. Let us hope it gets us out of as many bad situations as it gets us into."

Numair grins, unable to resist a bit of friendly heckling now that the danger has past.

"Truly though, we are fortunate to have your aid, Cal. If there is nothing more to be done here, let us give those fallen men a brief burial and move on. Uneasy dead have a way of coming back and I'd like to put them at ease."

Also +1 to attack & damage from Battle Flag.

Unfurling his battle flag, Numair snaps it into place on his shoulder. He then readies his wand of Shield, trusting it to help him fight these creatures. As they close he invokes the power inherent in the wand and sheaths it in its holster.

UMD: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

As long as we are moving in the general direction of the caravan. If they start to veer off for more than a short detour, we will need to reconsider.

Yeah, I have had the same experience Az.

Yeah, Numair would want to head there right away.

Eep. Posted in gameplay before I read discussion. Pardon me while I remove my foot from my mouth.

Numair hasn't really needed to use his healing yet, but he does have quite a bit. 4d6 * 10 uses = 140 HP on average per day.

As much as it bugs me to turn back around and delay further rescuing the survivors, taking on "an army of wraiths" without a cleric is suicide.

Edit: nothing to see here.

Numair keeps focused on the area around them while Azaraunt converses with the undead.

No. Its a real-life game. The GM just records it and transcribes it when he has time.

He's a couple years behind in transcribing, but that doesn't diminish the awesome of what's already been done.

Defenders of Daybreak is the name of the adventuring company in the game run by PirateCat.

The chronicles of that game are incomplete (which is not surprizing considering it's spanned about 2 real-life decasdes so far), but several major story arcs have more-or-less complete journals.

The Journey to the White Kingdom dealt with their efforts to prevent a ghoul from eating the body of the recently-deceased goddess of undeath and becoming a god himself.

You can read them here, if interested: Defenders of Daybreak

Eech. Whenever I think of ghouls, and them as a sentient race, I always think of the White Kingdom from the Defenders of Daybreak.

*shudder*

"I do not think we will get anything worthwhile from them. I hope there are not others that we have not noticed lying in ambush."

Know(Religion): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Numair looks out into the Desolation, looking for the shimmering ghouls.

I totally agree! Well - archers are more stationary, so you're likely to benefit the most from the haste as full-attack ranged attacks are easier to pull off.

We will also need to figure out how we're going to do the watch schedule.

The away-team is actually pretty big, so we can divide it up.
Azaraunt *Imbukar
Calendir *Langash
Lavinia
Numair *Sharav (Sharav hasn't yet made an appearance, but its coming...)

If we have 3 three-hour watches (Imbukar, Calendir & Langash, and Numair & Sharav) then our casters can get their spellcasting-recovering rest, and the rest of us can get enough as well.