Oberlin's page

"I can get us there. I will need to find, or piece together with Marcel a better mental picture, perhaps from old stories or songs, but I have the appropriate magic to do so for myself and four others."

"To be more precise my Duke, I may be able to get us there in a few minutes, or it may take a day or two to ensure Marcel and I are able to describe the location well." Oberlin said with firm confidence.

Oberlin thought for a few moments, silent and eyes lost in thought.

knowledge geo, a certain ruin: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
know local: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
know history of a ruin: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

He cleared his throat, turning back to the group, "I think I recall something about a settlement in that region."

"Perhaps, but there is always a period of adjustment. And if the best people for the job are currently leading, then their sub-excellent replacements will be more hesitant in their new positions, seeing how their new elevation became available. That hesitancy and confusion would be exploitable." Oberlin argued.

"Or we eliminate the generals and officers of each army. Send the groups into panic or cause them to dissolve entirely, then deal with the army of Pitax more directly, army against army. There is something to be said for the chaos that can be caused by removing the head of the snake." Oberlin suggested.

That's the problem with these high-level characters...options get almost infinite and its hard to know what the best plan for anything is!

I think I am dumping the ring and getting scrolls on scrolls.

I could also retcon away my ring of spell storing, which I have never used for 50,000 and just grab more spells...

Thoughts?

So can we get a loan? Do we want to pool money?

Oberlin leaned forward. "Is Irovetti leading his troops as they move north or is he remaining behind in Pitax? If he isn't leading them, who is?" he asked.

That went waaaay to well.

Totally down with 2 as the primary focus.

Also, seriously, what wonderous items do you guys need/want?

Oberlin nodded at Marcel. "I plan on flying out invisible to several locations for the purposes of memorizing some key terrain features so we can use them to teleport to in the future. Then I should be able to teleport around between those locations and use my arcane eye to scout and keep tabs on any forces."

"I would like to raid the coffers, with the Duke's blessing, for the purposes of learning greater scry or scry, and for the silver mirror I need for the spell."

prd says 2,275gp for a scroll of greater scry. 700gp for scry. not sure what our budget is...wizards seriously eat gold for breakfast. Also, any wonderous items that anyone wants for their build, please let me know so I can cost and plan.

Are there rules for developing an army? We probably need some sort of fighting force.

There are locations of interest in the kingdom that could be used as teleportation nodes. Oberlin would have to go and study them, but then they could be used to go back and forth, giving greater mobility.

We could let the boggarts know that the dragon was set on them by Irovetti so he could bring his army through, and they can take revenge by spoiling his supplies, killing his horses, and snatching away his scouts and guards in the middle of the night.

If we spend the money on the spell "scry" we would have that additional ability in our pocket, and would allow even more options for teleportation.

"The Tiger Lords would be ideally suited to the type of battles that we will likely face. And more importantly, they are both able to sustain themselves in the wilds through hunting, and able to scout, providing us the most important resource that we require...information." Oberlin agreed with a nod and a smile.

The problem with playing a high level wizard for the first time is that you have no idea what spells are actually useful.

I didn't think to grab scry. I could probably buy it in game. Most of the spells are focused on adventuring and dealing with creatures with spell resistance or high will.

Level 3:
Wind wall
Magic Circle against Evil

Level 4:
Arcane Eye
Hallucinatory Terrain
Remove Curse
Permenancy
Planar Adaptation
Teleport

Level 5:
Truespeak
Analyze Dweomer

Level 6:
Disintegrate
Dispel Magic, Greater
Heroism, Greater
True Seeing

Level 7:
Banishment
Project Image
Reverse Gravity
Teleport, Greater

I have spell penetration and can do the metamagic piercing spell as well as crafting constructs, arms/armor, wonderous items, staves and scrolls.

I would like Oberlin to finish his project into spellcasting wands for 0 level spells that are useable by anyone. Perhaps make enough to outfit a unit of 50-100 soldiers with them?

Oberlin listened carefully to what was said, and what wasn't said at the table.

These are doers, not plotters like Irovetti, as evidenced by the Duke's direct involvement in defeating his enemies on multiple occasions, I expect that Irovetti knows and is counting on this.

"My lord, I don't think that we have enough information to make a simple decision here. To be blunt, if anyone knows you and your exploits, they know that the way that you operate is to simply beat the solution out of the problem. As your nation has been metaphorically and physically hacked out of the wilderness, this is obvious to anyone with any sense."

"If I was Irovetti, and very smart, and full of myself and my own cunning, I would know this, and assume that you would simply attack Pitax in an effort to make the problem shorter by a head."

"So as a cunning bastard, I would set up some sort of trap for you to fall right into."

"So an immediate attack on Pitax would likely be both expected and encouraged, and likely the worst choice. Which leaves us with engaging the attacking army. Irovetti likely has the angles covered and has a force large enough to, by the book, defeat our army. But he isn't a general, and that lack of practical knowledge of what it actually takes to bring any real force across a wilderness in good enough condition to lay siege to a stronghold will be something we can leverage."

"This is what I recommend: a defensive war where we bleed the enemy, cut their supply lines, ruin their communications and make them suffer small loss after small loss, frustrating Irovetti. Meanwhile we take the time to determine what the trap is that Irovetti has set, ensure that we know where he actually is and the location of whatever the three items that the Sczarni are so eager to get their hands on...though it's likely only one or two items, and they are also attempting to throw us off...and then when we have a modicum of actual information on what is going on, we then do exactly what Irovetti wants us to do, but by that time will no longer be expecting, and we go where he does not want us to go."

"Who knows? The most important target may not be Irovetti at all." Oberlin finished, glancing around the table.

Well, after multiple days, several calls and tons of emails, I finally have access back to my account. That sucked. I had the cookie problem and the paizo account had gotten blocked somehow on my browser. I will post today sometime. Sorry all.

"Duke, I have never been engaged in war before. To be honest, I am not certain where to begin, but I will do what I can to research options and use my spells to their best effect."

"What thought to calling on our allies? Perhaps having some sort of council to discuss options?" Oberlin suggested.

Here are my thoughts. Oberlin can possibly create golems, to help fight. He can also do wondrous items. Like earrings of communication and such. He can also make weapons and armor. So any ideas are greatly appreciated. I will look and see what things cost and timelines and make some suggestions.

Oberlin frowns. Inwardly cursing all the lives to be lost if this does come to war.

Tactics are for another time. I don't see any way out of this quandary. I certainly hope that Irovetti hasn't concocted some way of interfering with my teleportation spells. the thought makes him concerned for a moment, before he glances at his companions and feels slightly more at ease.

Forewarned is forearmed. All I need to do is let my companions know about the possibility, and they will be prepared.

"We should leave, ally or not. Remaining here simply places you in further danger Duke."

Oberlin said, uneasy at being in enemy territory.

True Seeing.

Oberlin muttered a few short words, his fingers making circular motions over his eyes, then as he touched his open eyes there was a chime, and his eyes shone with a cool golden radiance.

Oberlin scanned the room, looking for anything out of place, then turned back to the tent flap, waiting for the visitor.

This is what I have so far:

1. Is Irovetti planning to invade our land?
2. (id we get a yes) does he intend to invade this year?
3. Has he put troops in place already?
4. Does he have spies within our circle of advisors?

What was the total number of questions?

Can we easily find information in the largest library in pitax that would lead us to the location of the dragon that we most recently encountered?

Kalsgrim Lodovka wrote:

Malaswyn Tyddewi wrote:

Anyone got any questions for Sarenrae?

I guess I wouldn't know what to ask.

Are you a god?

lolololol

Oberlin pours over the few lines of text, attempting to parse out some modicum of meaning.

not sure which is better for decoding code vs language
lingustics: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21
intelligence: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

not that there was much difference...

"There is something about this phrase here..." Oberlin muttered as his finger traced the line of text, "Its familiar, but I might need a few more lines to make it out. Let me think about this a bit more." Oberlin finished with a sound of resignation.

"Were you able to copy them? Or at the very least could you replicate a section?" Oberlin asks patiently.

"Decoding arcane information might be considered a specialty of mine." Oberlin reminds him.

"That will be difficult, as we still know next to nothing" Oberlin says with a frown.

"Perhaps tomorrow, I would be of more use in town, attempting access to a library, rather than engaging in the festivities?"

"I imagine that I would need some letter or writ to get inside on short notice. We may need to fenagle our host to obtain it however..." Oberlin grimaced.

"Whatever you think is the best here liege, I am at a loss otherwise on how to proceed."

Oberlin stands quietly, not wanting to botch whatever the Duke and Malaswyn are working on.

Oberlin, missing the subtilties entirely, added his two coppers. "As Lord Tyddewi indicated, he is not fully aware of the workings of the arcane arts. Movement through 4th dimensional translocation of those not fully vested in the essence of the arcane workings is a delicate act. You need to be certain of the entirety of mass, spiritual density, rotational elements of the planet based on latitude, gravitational influences of the sundry planets and the phase alignment of the negative and positive planes. That's not even counting in the fine adjustment for distance, elevation and any lingering mystical energies in the structure that you are both leaving and targeting. The slightest permutation that is wrong and ZWOP off to the elemental plane of Fire," he made a popping motion with his hand "or SQUORT a thousand leagues away to the deepest jungles." he motioned his hand zipping suddenly off to the side, narrowly missing Kriger's nose. "Using such methods for seasoned adventurers who can deal with the risk and emerge victorious is reasonable. I am not interested in the slightest in subjecting children to such mortal peril. Overland is stodgy and slow, but less likely to dump you in the Worldwound." Oberlin's lecture ground to a halt.

"Oh and congratulations." he finished, realizing his decorum.

Ah! My eyes!

Oberlin rubbed his eyes as the ghastly pink concoction entered the tent. Some sort of spell induced nausea? he thought briefly before realizing that the person was a living noble, and had dressed that way purposely.

"It looks like she may be happily joining Pitax in opposition to the Duke. I can only hope that there are not machinations within machinations. But we can be happier that at least some of the pieces are exposed on the board now. As to where the dragon fits into all of this...is there an alignment of interests or are they simply coincidental?"

For a few moments Oberlin experienced a novel sensation, pure thoughtlessness. His mind was a blank, his mouth agape as what he was seeing rocked him, his near death experience, replicated in front of an audience.

Then fury. A welling ball of rage at being made fun of in such a way, his near demise, mocked.

Then ice. Calculation took over as his intellect, grasping for anything against the swell of emotion struck against the slick rock of How? How was this possible, this replication withing mere days? And like a person grasping for a lifeline after being cast from a storm lashed boat, Oberlin's mind began to work.

"It is a game. Well, a portion of it at least. He is announcing to us that he is our enemy, and that we are his target. Further, as we have seen with his ruse at the beginning of this event, he thinks himself to be smarter than everyone around him, and thus this layered announcement." Oberlin said, then paused, his voice tight and clinical.

"One can surmise the following: that he is either expending resources and time to either scry us continuously, he knew of the dragon ambush and was able to watch the event as it occurred, that the dragon is an ally in some way, or he has an outrageously good clandestine network inside the capital such that they were able to see and copy me petrified. It may not actually matter the method of the copying, but that he has the resources to expend to see this, copy it and make a statue to match with a precise artistic flair in mere days. The only reason to expend this level of resources is that he has his sights set on some manner of political or military conquest. Further he thinks you are too inept to do anything about it, and thus feels that he should warn us to make the game worth his time."

And with that, Oberlin stood, wine glass in hand and raised it high.

"A toast!" he said into the slowly stilling hubbub.

"A toast to our host, and to the great artisan Grigori for capturing such a noble subject at that precise moment. To King Irovetti: Art, Grace, and Wisdom!" Oberlin toasted, as clearly as he could before drinking from his wine goblet and sitting back down.

"Perhaps he will demonstrate his power by bringing her back to life?" Oberlin whispered to Kriger.

Is the statue recognizable in any way? Equipment, markings, noble regalia, cut of fashion, style of dress, cut of hair, jewelry?

"Even if he were marrying the dragon's master, how would we know?" Oberlin says, leaning back and sipping from his wine. "A wedding announcement is a good reason for this festival however. Do we know if there are any suitable personages among the assembled?"

Oberlin will make awkward but well meaning inquiries to find out what other groups think about who the person is that he is announcing.

knowledge noblity?: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

Oberlin shrugs, "I move at the Duke's behest since I need to be there to teleport our group back."

I could probably set up invisibility on a long duration, but at this level, too many things have true sight. Simple stealth from a master is much better.

Volunteering Marcel with a broomstick?

"So we stay tonight to see what we can discover in the town?" Oberlin muses.

"Careful magical detection is a good idea, we are close enough that I can probe the arcane defenses of the castle."

Oberlin, you need to cast Detect magic, no?

If you feel appropriate, then yes. During the competition, when all eyes should be on the logging. Detect magic will be cast.

Oberlin congratulates Kriger, "A good showing! Remember that these events are likely selected to show Pitax's strengths, not ours."

"Is there any way we can find out what the various competitions are? It seems a bit too much of an advantage to Pitax if they don't even share what other events are possible. He didn't say that the same member of the delegation couldn't try to complete an event, however." Oberlin says then continues sourly, "It will be difficult for mages to participate if we don't have some significant knowledge of what the event is supposed to entail beforehand."

Oberlin narrowed his eyes against the dawn light streaming into the colosseum. What are those? The one with the glowing lights looks something like a Numerian magical item. The other, the staff might be one too.

"Kriger, while I agree with the enthusiasm, I would remind you that the man on the throne across from us, perhaps through different auspices than our Duke, is someone who earned a kingdom through strength and guile. Our Duke made something from nothing, while he, it sounds like, stole a kingdom. Tricks, deception, mind-control, illusions, enchantment and a poisoned knife when least expected, I expect that to be his main weapons.", he whispers quietly to the hot blooded warrior before sitting back up and focusing on the items that Irovetti carried.

whichever is appropriate
knowledge, arcana: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37
spellcraft: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45

Oberlin would recommend as early as possible, to allow time to get in place, deal with early morning visitors and requests for meetings.

"I will have true seeing if necessary, which I can use for several minutes. The remainder of my spells are a mixture spells geared towards combat or dealing with environmental challenges as they arise."

Oberlin can't even make a SM roll of 30!

Blithely unaware of any subcurrents, Oberlin makes light conversation throughout the evening. On returning home, Oberlin joins the others in the council room before retiring for the evening.

"Irovetti is displeased? I am not surprised. Judging by what others say about him, he is exceptionally dangerous. I can't imagine that he would march troops here, but I can see him trying to ensnare the Duke in some sort of political mechanations. Perhaps using one of us as a lever to influence the Duke?"

"I am not certain that I am cut out for this particular battlefield. Reading about politics is much more palatable than sitting at a table with a potential enemy. I felt about as useless as a chicken attempting to utilize a sundial to tell time...I almost wish there had been arcane mechanations afoot at the feast, then I might have provided something."

Oberlin muses quietly, looking over the other arcane artists. Sizing them up is what I am doing if I am honest. He barely notices the frog legs as he tries to see if he recognizes anyone from his time in Nex.

Anyone he recognizes, or any dress/artifacts/weapons that make him remember hearing of any of these people?

Anyone who appears to be a scholar or of the arcane arts?

Oberlin shakes the king's offered hand politely.

"I do not know about that particular title. I think anyone who actually knows anything about the arcane arts realizes how far from mastery they truly are." Oberlin says humbly.

"Now I am less certain if we are to be entertained at the festival or if we are the entertainment." Oberlin says under his breath, then waits to see how the Duke will manage the insanity.

Oberlin scratched at his beard, peering around at the rest of the congregation. Perhaps they are all drunk?

not sure if Oberlin can sense motive...

sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Oberlin stares on, blissfully unaware of anything going on at the moment.

Does the man on the throne...Irovetti...look oddly under the influence?

Oberlin is probably missing that Irovetti is just drunk, but there is enough oddness right now...and this is the way that his brain works, that he will be thinking of arcane spells and or concoctions that would produce that particular look that Irovetti has right now.

knowledge, arcana: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (12) + 24 = 36
knowledge, nature: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27

spellbooks in the bag of holding. It weighs 25lbs, so Oberlin can’t just tie it in his belt. It’s gotta stay behind in social circumstances. He will give it to Kriger for safekeeping.

Where is an extradimensional space when you need one?...sigh. Oberlin will leave his bag of holding and backpack behind. No scrolls either, just rod, rings, righteous indignation.

"I feel ill prepared to just leave these things behind. I feel that I should have prepared some spells to fortify our tent in some way. Tomorrow, it might be better if I simply teleport our equipment back to the duchy." Oberlin muses.

"I feel exposed. he said, looking at the small pile of equipment he was leaving behind. "I do not like heading into this vipers nest with less than full battle raiment."

Oberlin will have the following spell list:

Oberlin needs more money for enchantments in his repertoire.

There are no spells of sufficient duration to have any real usefulness that Oberlin knows. His armor and protection are from items rather than spells.

Wearing his noble attire and with rod in hand, Oberlin cuts a dashing figure of mage.

"Remember. I need mere seconds for us to return to the tent by teleport. If I am unable to extricate us non-violently Sire, either due to the magic being blocked or by interruption (hopefully not turned to stone), the following spells will be clearing a pathway for you, regardless of any other considerations. We are in just as much danger here, as we were when we faced the Tiger Lords, it is simply more subtle."

from archives of nethys: Familiarity: “Very familiar” is a place where you have been very often and where you feel at home. “Studied carefully” is a place you know well, either because you can currently physically see it or you've been there often. “Seen casually” is a place that you have seen more than once but with which you are not very familiar. “Viewed once” is a place that you have seen once, possibly using magic such as scrying.

Oberlin recalls what he knows of the "armored" servants that moved with Nunzio.

arcana: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (10) + 24 = 34

"I am going to focus for a bit and see if I can make sure that I know the magical energies here sufficiently to enable safe teleport from the duchy back to this tent."

Oberlin is going to spend whatever time he can to find a way to increase his familiarity to "studied carefully"