Pádraig Henry's page

Folks, I'm taking a few days off from gaming to consider whether or not to continue to support this company and its platform.

Paizo has poisoned the well with empty political virtue-signalling, and I'm deeply disappointed.

All lives matter, including black ones. To me that's not a banal slogan or a conviction that ought to be the sole purview of any one political ideology.

Not looking for an argument. Just... done.

"I've got a good idea what the bracelets and the scissors might fetch on the market." Pádraig Henry hands the +1 flaming greatsword to Geoffrey and Lucian Thrune's other eclectic possessions to Issil. "Any idea what the rest of these things are worth?"

The bard moves over to the bodies of Thrune's minions, checking their gear as well. "Hmm... What have we here?"

"Let's explore and clear the rest of the keep, before we check out the stairs past the secret door," Pádraig Henry suggests. "Once we find and activate the Anvil, we might not have another opportunity to do so."

"Just once, I'd like to question someone who might actually have some answers to important questions." Pádraig Henry sighs, looking down at Lucian Thrune's corpse.

"Sheesh." He turns to the summoned spiritual ally, before it returns to its plane of origin. "Did the gods bestow you with a brain or just a weapon, buddy?"

The bard casts detect magic and examines the gear Thrune and his henchmen were carrying.
Taking 10 nets PH a 25 Spellcraft check to identify any of the lesser items.

"Death to tyranny!" Continuing his inspiring song, Pádraig Henry thrusts his rapier at Lucian Thrune, flanking the man with the spiritual ally. *Stab! Stab! Stab!*
Mithral rapier +1, good hope, haste, Inspire Courage, Flank; Damage: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 2 = 231d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Mithral rapier +1, good hope, haste, Inspire Courage, Flank; Damage: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 2 = 171d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Mithral rapier +1, good hope, haste, Inspire Courage, Flank; Damage: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 = 261d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Continuing his inspiring song, Pádraig Henry thrusts his rapier at Lucian Thrune. *Stab! Stab! Stab!*
Mithral rapier +1, good hope, haste, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 311d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Mithral rapier +1, good hope, haste, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 251d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Mithral rapier +1, good hope, haste, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 121d4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Just curious: What feat/ability enabled the wyvern to avoid an attack at 40 with a Ride check of 26?

Knowledge (arcana) DC21: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
"Yep, it's a wyvern, all right." Pádraig Henry's mouth goes a little dry facing these odds. "Its resistances and immunities include ____________."

He casts good hope and starts singing to inspire his friends.

Good Hope: Allies gain a +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.
Inspire Courage: +2 competence bonus on attack and damage rolls, and +2 morale bonus on saves vs charm and fear effects.

"Good idea, Morvena," Pádraig Henry whispers.

At least three more men-at-arms and a janni. Let's hope there aren't too many more potential adversaries here serving Thrune. The halfling keeps his head on a swivel, mindful of the threats.

"Good idea, Geoffrey." Pádraig Henry stuffs two flasks of alchemist's fire and a tanglefoot bag into his handy haversack. He takes a look through the secret door Rosebud found and listens, trying to sense what might be there. "A narrow stone staircase."
Take 10 Perception for 28

Do they go up or down?

"We've slain two snake-like oozes and perhaps half a dozen of Thrune's men-at-arms. We haven't seen the keep's Thrune commander yet."

"Any information you can tell us about the keep and its Thrune contingent would help us clear this place out. Numbers, locations, anything?" Pádraig Henry asks the freed halflings.

While Issil postures and heals the halflings, Pádraig Henry tries the guard's keys in the prisoners' manacles.

"You're free now, friends. Any prisoner of Thrune is a friend of ours. You look hungry." He offers them some some of his dry rations. "I'm Pádraig Henry. And you're Perren, Crandy, and ...?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

"The halfling prisoners?" Hearing the pleading voice, Pádraig Henry rifles through the gear of the men-at-arms, looking for keys to the locked and barred door.
Detect magic, Take 10 Perception for 25.

Pádraig Henry races up to the yellow-bellied man-at-arms and stabs him with his rapier.
+1 mithral rapier, haste, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 321d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Critt!? Additional Damage, if confirmed: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 191d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Whoops! Missed the call for the Will saves.
Pádraig Henry Will DC14: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Rosebud Will DC14: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

"Die, worm!" Pádraig Henry thrusts his rapier into the orange slithering tracker.
+1 mithral rapier, haste, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 191d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
+1 mithral rapier, haste, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 311d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
+1 mithral rapier, haste, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 171d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

If the orange one dies, the bard will take a 5ft-step and attack the purple ooze.

"I'll save you, Morvena!" Pádraig Henry steps toward the orange slithering tracker, thrusting his rapier at the menacing ooze.
+1 mithral rapier, haste, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 151d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
+1 mithral rapier, haste, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 281d4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
+1 mithral rapier, haste, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 251d4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Knowledge (dungeoneering) DC19 re snakes: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Pádraig Henry thrusts his rapier twice more through the door at the sallow-skinned man-at-arms, his aim significantly more precise this time.
+1 mithral rapier, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 201d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
+1 mithral rapier, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 191d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

thrusts his rapier twice through the door at the sallow-skinned man-at-arms, missing twice in the crowded foyer of the common room.
+1 mithral rapier, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 141d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
+1 mithral rapier, good hope, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Oh, s+!%! Pádraig Henry starts singing and casts good hope on the team.

Inspire Courage +2 competence bonus on attack/damage rolls, +2 morale bonus on saves vs fear and charm effects.
Good Hope +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.

While Issil persuades the soldiers to take the team to their commander - some relative of Lord-Mayor Thrune, he recalls - Pádraig Henry looks up toward the stone arch that hangs above the pass, trying to spot the hidden chamber above the keep, where the ancient dwarves built their engine of self-destruction called the Anvil of Unmaking.

He sees Rosebud circling high over the keep, gliding on the updraft of a thermal. Maybe Rosebud will see it.

"Would Mistress Signet like to have a word with the Keep Commander now?" Pádraig Henry asks/suggests. "These gentlemen clearly have duties they need to perform."

Maybe we ought to let the Signet take the lead here. Wouldn't be appropriate for PH, a halfling himself.

Might be smarter to get a look around before we get crazy stupid.

If they attack us first, then go ahead and unleash the crazy!

Pádraig Henry thinks back to what Octavio had told them about the Menador Mountains, the pass and the keep.

The mountains are almost impassably rugged, and there’s only one navigable pass through the mountains as far as troop movements and trade with the rest of Cheliax are concerned: the Menador Gap. If this pass were to close, Cheliax would be unable to send additional ground troops directly to Kintargo, and would have to move around the mountains through Nidal or up through Pezzack—both significant detours through areas fraught with their own political troubles.

Geographically, Menador Gap is quite wide, yet at one point, the rugged mountains close in and constrict the pass, transforming it into a section of narrow, winding roads that cling precariously to the mountainsides. Menador Gap's all but closed to traffic.

At the point at which the mountain roads grow the most narrow, there's a small, but defensible gatehouse, known as Menador Keep. The Keep is how the pass remains controlled. One of Thrune's distant relatives is overseeing the closure. Worse, they are only allowing Thrune loyalists through the pass.

"Perhaps, Mistress Signet, we should inspect the fortress, its defenses and provisions, as well as its garrison of troops," the halfling suggests. "Then we can deliver our findings and assessment to the commander of the keep."

While he waits for instructions from his mistress, Pádraig Henry casts a wary eye over the keep and its men-at-arms.
[Take 10 Knowledge (engineering) for 24, Knowledge (local) for 25]

Who might the Thrune-in-Charge be? And where is he or she? Hmmm.
[Take 10 Knowledge (nobility) for 24 and Perception for 25]

And how are we going to close this keep and block the pass. I'll wager, we'll have to do more than bluff our way to achieving that goal. He frowns, considering the challenge. But at least we didn't have to fight our way inside.

If no one else wants Issil's used headband of alluring charisma +2, Rosebud would like to use it.

Spotting the sentries in the distance, Pádraig Henry casts heroism on himself and Rosebud.

Then he approaches the guards with Issil, adopting a proper slip's obsequiousness. "Shall we begin the inspection immediately, Mistress?" he inquires of the Carneglian Signet.

Bluff to Aid: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38

Why swap the headband? They're identical, aren't they, except that Throne gave you the one you're currently wearing? Or did I miss something?

"Rosebud and I each have a handy haversack. That should be enough for the coin, and a bit more perhaps."

Rosebud's CON is only a 12, so she'd appreciate the belt, but I thought the folks who get up close and personal in melee ought to have first dibs. Issil maybe?

If Victor doesn't want the boots, doesn't it make sense to give them to Geoffrey? The free action to activate them and the extra attack from haste would be a big boon for him and the team, I think.

PH could use them, but he's not a major factor in melee. The extra speed would make it easier for him to get into a position to flank enemies for Victor and Geoffrey.

Thoughts:

Boots of Speed - Victor or Geoffrey?
Falchion +1 - sell
Amulet of Natural Armor +1 - Victor or Geoffrey?
Belt of Mighty Constitution +2 - Victor or Geoffrey?
Headband of Alluring Charisma +2 - ??
Ring of Protection +1 (x3) - Rosebud claims 1, Issil claims 1
Greataxe +1 (x2) - sell
Large Masterwork Full Plate - sell

Seriously, Rosebud doesn't expect to get any of the loot, but if there's something no one wants, what's girl gonna do, right?

Take 10 Spellcraft for 25 on each enchanted item.

"Jackpot, boys and girls!" Pádraig Henry helps Issil identify the magic items and starts stuffing some the coins and other valuables in his handy haversack. "Most of these items would better benefit someone else."

"If we're going to rest here, I can cast two more spells of cure light wounds," Pádraig Henry offers. "Probably as safe a place as anywhere else."

He looks around to see if there are signs that more ogres used this camp.
(Take 20 Perception for 35)

"Nice job, Victor." Pádraig Henry congratulates the rogue. "Shocking crotch-grab. Is that a monk fighting style?"

He casts a cantrip, seeking anything with a magical aura among the ogres' loot.

Round 4
Still singing and invisible, Pádraig Henry steps beneath the spiritual weapon, and casts cure light wounds on Geoffrey.
CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Round 5
Then the halfling moves around trying to flank the ogre boss with Issil, hoping he'll find a way to penetrate its defenses. But first he heals some of Victor's wounds.
CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

And if it hits, his invisibility ends.

I might have made PH's icon too transparent, so much so that you couldn't see him either.\

I think he'd get an OoO when the ogre chief casts its spell.

Round 3

Spellcraft DC24: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16 (AoO?)

Pádraig Henry isn't sure what the ogre chieftain is casting, but it can't be good. Hoping to break its concentration and disrupt the spell, the halfling thrusts his blade at the giant.
AoO? +1 mithral rapier, heroism, good hope, haste, invisible, Inspire Courage vs FF AC; Damage: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 2 = 261d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

"I'll try to get behind the big guy," Pádraig Henry whispers, and still singing, casts vanish on himself, then moves toward the ogre chieftain, hard to spot - if not hard to hear.

(Movement might provoke an AoO from the blinded green ogre)

PH and Rosebud are ready to act in Round 3, after observing the effects wrought by everyone else in Round 2.

Spellcraft DC26: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
"Uh-oh. Their leader just cast mass bull's strength on all of them!" Pádraig Henry warns his friends, wondering what he can do to help.

Sorry, it was the yellow one. And Victor just killed him.

My oversight.

PH's Round 1 glitterdust blinded the white ogre, I think.

Although, '[e]ach round at the end of their turn blinded creatures may attempt new saving throws (Will DC16) to end the blindness effect.'

Keeping his friends inspired, Pádraig Henry advances toward the red ogre, thrusting his rapier at the blinded monster.
+1 mithral rapier, heroism, good hope, haste, Inspire Courage; Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 181d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

If it's too taxing at present and ever again in the future, GM, don't hesitate to forego this aspect of the campaign.

We all experience the ebb and flow of enthusiasm. We enjoy play most when our GM is having a good time, too.

Just before Rosebud fires her bow, Pádraig Henry inspires the team with an ode to their previous victory over a ogre.

Then the bard steps forward a few feet and casts glitterdust, dropping the sparkly particles over the pink, white, and yellow ogres.
(Will DC16 or blinded)

Inspire Courage: +2 competence bonus to attack/damage rolls and +2 morale bonus to saves vs fear and charm effects.

With only enough time to do one of his planned actions, Pádraig Henry casts good hope.

Good Hope: +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.

"I'll start singing and cast good hope as soon as your spell goes off, Issil." Pádraig Henry says, actions readied.

Inspire Courage: +2 competence bonus on attack/damage rolls; +2 morale bonus on saves vs fear and charm effects.
Good Hope: +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.

Thanks. Too many windows/tabs open at once. ;-)

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Hearing the noises that caught the ogres' attention, Pádraig Henry grabs a lump of wax from his spell component pouch and casts ghost sound.

The faint sound of clinking coins can be heard from the pouches the ogres carry on their hide belts. Might fool some of them, and cause doubt among the rest.
(Will DC14 to disbelieve)