Ortik Gutterrat's page

Agreed. I had to do that with my Hell's Rebels game on these boards awhile back. It hurt, since I had a great group of players, and my schedule and energy just couldn't permit me to also update the game.

So, I understand how tough it is to come to the realization that you can't run the ball all the way down the field, like you intended. I thank you for your commitment, your dedication to the art of GMing, your devotion to crafting stories from our wacky hijinks.

If you ever get the urge to run games on the boards, I'll always be down for a Dragoncat game.

Urban Druid 8

HP: +8 (new total: 65)
BAB: +1 (new total: +6)
Fort: +1 (new base total: +6)
Will: +1 (new base total: +6)
Constitution +1 (new total: 16, +8 hp, +1 Fort)
4 Skill Points
Spellcraft (4 new ranks, now 5, new bonus +8)
Spells (+1 3rd, +1 4th)
Wild Shape (as a druid of lvl-4, current 4th)

Since Kerri is out, we need someone to identify magic stuff, so that's my job now.

"When aren't we walking into a trap these days?", Ortik replies.

"More doors," Ortik says, narrowing his eyes and scanning for mystic auras again.

Casting another detect magic. Any auras on the door or floor near it, boss?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Well, not much better, so I'm going to run under the assumption I don't pick anything up that Demitri didn't.

Ortik narrows his eyes at the tiger-man, but given that it seems content to play with its snakes, he ultimately gives it a wide berth. "Through the door, then," he concludes.

"I'm not sensing anything," Ortik says as he ends his spell. "If they've trapped the doors, they've done it exceedingly carefully."

"Do you all see anything?", Ortik asked nervously. His eyes widened, and he suddenly realized he could assist, so he prayed to the Old Dame. Please, grant me the sight to see the magics that dwell beneath your streets.

Casting detect magic to see if there's anything weird on the doors.

"I took a decent cut, but I'll tend to that myself," Ortik says, withdrawing his oaken wand. "I'd hoped we were through facing the undead after dealing with the Cult of Urgothoa. So much for wishful thinking there."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Returning to Nalun's skeleton, Ortik tries to crush the remaining undead horror's skull.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Spying an opportunity, Ortik shifts foes, swinging his hammer at the skeleton between himself and Demitri.

5' step and attack the skellie me and Demitri have flanked!

Attack, flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Sorry. Super busy.

Ortik hisses as the skeleton's blade cuts deep into his flesh, swinging his warhammer at the creature's exposed kneecaps, hoping to drive it back down.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"I'm doing us no good back here," Ortik says, dropping his spear. "These horrors are a cancer upon the city - and we shall cut them away!" He charges at the skeletal warrior facing Nalun, pulling his warhammer as he goes.

Charge the purple skeleton! AC currently 17.

Attack, charge: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 = 25
Damage, bludgeoning: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

"Wonderful," Ortik says, readying his spear. "Whatever those things are, they can go invisible. Maybe I can solve that problem." He prays to the city for assistance, and a warm purple glow begins to illuminate the area where the lead skeleton creature stood.

Casting faerie fire in whatever space the lead skeleton was in before it disappeared.

Ortik is quiet as the group descends beneath Arkona Manor. His hand grips his spear tightly, to the point of causing the tip to quiver. His eyes dart about, scanning for any sort of ambush or deathtrap. Despite the relative chill in the air, beads of sweat trickle down his neck. It's plain for anyone to see - Ortik is rattled by everything that's happened since entering the manor, and the most recent turn of fortune has not helped matters.

"So, here's my dilemma, Your Grace," Ortik says, staring warily into the darkened stairway momentarily before returning his gaze to the head of house Arkona. "If we walk into your labyrinth and meet your sister, she's going to be understandably distrusting that we're in the labyrinth with the good graces of House Arkona. Would you be able to provide us with something that shows we have your blessing to be in your home and negotiate for the release of the two men? That might go a long way to avoid any misunderstandings that might arise between us."

No hard feelings, my left b&**$@$, Ortik thought. Why bring it up otherwise? As to why she took them prisoner - are the Arkonas having a power struggle? She can't be trying to curry favor with the Queen, or she would have given them to her already. Bargaining chip, maybe?

Ortik follows along, the wheels turning in his head all the way.

"Please, Your Grace, surely you can see we're working towards roughly the same goals," Ortik says, his hands outstretched in an attempt to salvage the negotiation before it comes to blows. "If you wanted the seneschal and the duelist dead, then they'd be dead. That means they have value to you, and either the queen isn't willing to pay the price you ask or - and this is what I wager - you're looking for a different seller."

He straightens himself, brushing off his dingy fur coat in a vain attempt to make himself look presentable to nobility. "We would formally request to enter negotiations for them."

"Only a matter of time before they found out we were here," Ortik says, fidgeting with the tip of his beard. "Let's have a palaver with them. Hopefully they'll like what we have to sell."

"Other than their questionable taste in art, I don't see anything out of the ordinary," Ortik says, glancing around the room. "Several magical weapons and armor, but that's to be expected from a noble's ma...hullo, what's that?" Ortik approaches the taxidermy display, peering into the Vudrani's open chest. "His heart's a magic gem. Now that's something you don't see every day." He studies the auras for a few moments, trying to decipher them.

This isn't my strong suit, but Spellcraft?

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Yeah, that's not going to do it. Unless it happens to be a CL -5.

"Charming," Ortik says with a grimace as he regards the Arkona's unusual aesthetics and decor. "Something's off. It's somewhat public knowledge that the Arkonas have their fingers in every shady deal in Korvosa, but this? This is demented, even for crime lords. Maybe they're Kuthonites as well?" Ortik quickly casts an orison to examine the area for magical auras.

Just casting detect magic. I'm not looking to take anything from the Arkonas, but want to make sure we're not missing magical traps or anything.

Agreed. I don't mind the pace, and if there's something I can do to help get things going again, let me know! :)

"That they do," Ortik replies, keeping his hand close to his spear, but still stowed. "In some ways, I feel like we were safer when we were dealing with the Cult of Urgathoa."

"Snakes for arms?", Ortik says with obvious confusion. "Now that is odd. Maybe a bound devil? He could have pulled some strings with the Acadamae. Regardless, let's stick to the plan - negotiate the release of Neolandus and Vencarlo without giving up too much of our souls." He gives a moment's pause to think of his own mystical abilities, and decides against casting anything before entering the Arkona manor.

"I completely agree with Demitri," Ortik replies. "We're dealing with the people that control the thieves' guild in town. This isn't a sunken ship or the bloody 'Emperor's' court, this is the serpent's den. I like our chances more together than separate."

Despite the gravity of the situation, despite the dire straits he and his friends find themselves in, holed up in a rundown tenement in Old Korvosa, Ortik can't help but smirk at Laori's boundless enthusiasm. "You know, Laori, if someone asked me to describe a Kuthite to them a week ago, the description would have been almost completely inapplicable to you. I would have had 'spiked chain', and that's about it."

"And because he'd probably be expecting it. They're the chessmasters of Old Korvosa, and we might as well be playing at checkers." He sighs, stroking his beard. "Sod it, then. If we have nothing, we'll try to get out of it as clean as we can. They're no allies of the Queen, maybe we can work something out for a post-Ileosa future."

"I'm less worried about getting that audience," Ortik replies to Salvador. "And more worried about how we get out of it without owing him our souls."

Ortik rubs his forehead in mounting frustration. "This just gets better and better. OK, so, House Arkona has the seneschal, and might know where Vencarlo is. We just killed the leader of the Cerulean Society, who we believe is at least backed by the House, if not controlled. Now we need to go to Lord Glorio and ask him nicely to release these two to us? I mean, do we have anything we can go into that meeting to bargain with him with?"

Ortik's throat tightens in fear as he hears Salvador namedrop the Arkona family. "Oh, bu**er," he mumbles to himself, trying to think of the best way to handle this, now that the rulers of Old Korvosa have the Queen's seneschal. "Do you think you can grant us an audience with them? If they're keeping him safe, then they're not exactly on Ileosa's side, so at least there's a chance we can get him to safety."

I am leaving for GenCon in a few hours, and will have limited access to the internet during that time. I will probably be back on Monday, August 22, assuming the eclipse does not portend the end of humanity's existence.

"I've got Nalun," Ortik said, rushing towards his fallen friend. He presses some cold moss onto the wound, rubbing it until the flesh knits back together under his stubby fingers.

Casting cure serious wounds on Nalun.

CSW: 4d8 + 7 ⇒ (7, 8, 1, 6) + 7 = 29

"I'll buy you some time, Demitri!", Ortik shouts, fervently praying to the Old Dame on Nalun's behalf. Almost instantly, his bleeding ceases, though his breathing is still labored and shallow.

Casting stabilize on Nalun.

It's...not easy. :)

"Bad call, Boule," Ortik says, stepping into the hall. "Now you leave us no choice." He chants, and the city once again lends her aid to her chosen champions.

Bless from where I'm at, should hit everyone.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Seconds too late, Ortik catches scent of the smoke. "Oh, to Hell with this!", he shouts. "Everyone gather 'round, we're not burning alive today!" He prays to the Old Dame to shield them from the flames.

Casting communal resist energy. I can divide it up into 7 10-minute intervals, so someone's getting left out - Ortik, being the selfless guy that he is, will hit everyone but himself, which includes Laori and Scream.

Ortik begins to scowl as Salvador talks through his confusion. "I may have gravely miscalculated," he says finally. "He might try something stupid on the way out. You might just get a chance to use that chain of yours, Laori."

Happy annual trip around the sun day!!!

"We're not out of here yet, Laori," Ortik whispers to her out through the corner of his mouth. "[smaller]Keep your chain ready."

"You heard Your Lordship," he says, louder this time to the guards. "Take us to Scream, if you don't want to be doing that yourselves."

Ortik chuckles at Boule's words. "I'm sorry, I really thought the Cerulean Society would have been better informed about the people that broke it. If you think us to be the Queen's lickspittles, then I daresay you never knew us. We are loyal to Korvosa, not she that sits upon the Crimson Throne. Release him to us, and we'll make certain that he continues to remain free of the Harlot of Cheliax's jails, and you get to continue ruling your fiefdom."

"Like they said, Boule, you've got yourself a choice," Ortik says as flatly as he can muster. "If we wanted you and your men dead, we wouldn't have asked nicely to meet you. I think we can still work out a deal, but all bets are off the moment you send your men against us. You know who we are, you know who we've fought, and you know who we serve. So what's it going to be? Parlay? Or do you fancy you can finish what the Cult of Urgothoa couldn't?"

"You know who these folk are," Ortik says. "You know what they're capable of. Use your head on how this will go, or you might just find it relieved from your shoulders." He shrugs. "Your decision, mate."

Assist Demitri's Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

"I suggest we split the difference," Ortik says, sending Brother John back to the city. "We enter in the front door, take one or two of these guys alive, and force them to grant us an audience with the Emperor. I don't know a great deal about this man, but if we're going to demand Scream back, we're going to need to show we mean business, and breaking his guards sounds like a good way to do it to me."

"Go for it, Lyla. In fact, let me ask the city for its assistance as well." Ortik withdraws a small tincture of honey from his pocket, and kneels to smear it upon the street. As he chants, a beetle crawls up from between the cracks of the cobblestones to consume the honey. Its carapace is black, shiny, and...oddly marked. Impossibly, the pattern seems to resemble the crest of Korvosa.

"Ah, Brother John!", Ortik says with a smile, addressing the insect. "We're about to enter this place. Can you scuttle about and let me know what we're getting ourselves into?"

Casting insect scouts. It lasts over an hour, so I should have plenty of time for Brother John to head through the place and report back.

"The Emperor is not the sickness that afflicts Old Korvosa, Karri," Ortik replies, shutting the cabinets in disgust as he fails to find anything to help him wake up. "He's just a symptom. Doesn't mean we might not have to cut him out to save the city, but removing him doesn't solve anything to address the root cause."

"I'll say," grumbles a bleary eyed Ortik as he passes by the doorway. "I hope that the prayers were as good for Zon-Kuthon as they were for you by the sound of things." He continues on towards the kitchen, looking for some tea or coffee to help wake him up.

So, I've been running a Runelords game for a local group for about three years now. We're currently scheduled to play the next session this coming Thursday, and it's going to be the last. They just entered the Eye of Avarice, and are as ready as they can be to take on Karzoug the Claimer. One way or the other, that campaign ends in a few days, assuming it doesn't get pushed back for one reason or another.

The point is that after that final battle, I'll be moving on to run Curse of the Crimson Throne, since I want the same players that ran in Runelords to experience that story as well. I can't wait until they discover that there's a whole clan of Vancaskerkins, that they really should have done something about the fungus in The Misgivings, and so much more. The only downside is that I now have to really dive into the Collected Edition, so none of what's coming up will be a surprise to me any longer. I'm kinda bummed about that - I've really enjoyed the twists and turns that have happened in the game, and while I've known the broad strokes, it's been fun to discover the details.

The best part? The changes that Dragoncat's been making have been excellent choices for those people who know the story backwards and forwards, so I feel pretty good about going into the remaining chapters forewarned of the dangers - I can't completely trust what I'm reading!

Ortik watches Lyla and Nalun train for a time, but his attention soon drifts to preparation for the next day. He pulls a parchment from his pack, along with some inks, and begins to pen a prayer to the Old Dame.

Scribing a scroll of communal resist energy.

Is pseudodragon/house drake an option for Improved Familiar? There's a case to make Majenko your new familiar. :)

Decided on my level 7 feat - Spell Penetration. We're hitting the levels where SR becomes more common, and if I'm going to be primarily casting, then I need to make sure my spells aren't nullified. :)

Ooh, nice! Level 4 spells, there's some nice stuff in there.

HP: +8
BAB +1
SP: Heal +1, Know (local) +2, Sense Motive +1.
Spells: +1 1st level/day, +2 4th level.

Going to need to update my spell list, since we're going up against the Emperor! And I don't have a cloak of resistance just yet, so if nobody else needs a +1 version, I'll take it. I also don't have any rings, so while I don't anticipate needing the ring of jumping a lot, I'll take it if nobody wants it.