Rufous Redfire's page

Rufous lances the prone skeleton with another volley of disrupting light.

disrupt undead: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Basic Fort DC 17

◈◈ Cast disrupt undead

I think it is kind of amazing that we are all performers. My head cannon is that we went on a tour afterwards showing a dramatic reenactment of what went down in this mission.

The Ungrateful Undead.

Rufous lances the prone skeleton with another volley of disrupting light.

disrupt undead: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Basic Fort DC 17

The ruddy goblin priest then falls back to the foot of the spiral staircase. Ascending a few steps gives him a better view of the skirmish.

◈◈ Cast disrupt undead
◈ Stride

Rufous sings for his supper

Performance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
I think 8 days, and he is Trained in Performance.

Rufous casts another disrupt undead, and a bright lance of positive energy strikes the zombie.

disrupt undead: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Basic Fort DC 17

Rufous casts another disrupt undead, and a bright lance of positive energy strikes the zombie.

disrupt undead: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Basic Fort DC 17

What just happened? Why did he cast disrupt undead on his own minion?

And why did Cervantes get skipped? He rolled the highest.

"Ho! We are ambushed! By the light of the Dawnflower we shall return these abominations to their graves!" Rufous quickly makes the sign of Sarenrae before casting an orison. A bright lance of light strikes the skeleton in the chest.

◈◈ Cast disrupt undead.
disrupt undead damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Basic Fortitude DC 17

He then draws his dogslicer.

◈ Interact to draw weapon.

Rufous returns to the entrance and examines the notebook.

Society: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Thanks, Aldonza!" Rufous smiles at his companion, before heading out to help Cervantes calm the frightened half-orc.

Diplomacy to calm the half-orc.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Do not fear. We are here to help. What can we do for you?" he asks with genuine and sincere concern.

"Can anyone help me reinforce this ceiling in here?" Rufous calls out to his companions.

Rufous winds through the college, arriving in the Dean's Quarters. He examines the marble statue of the flaming wheel.

Religion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

I think we need to bring the bodies with us as well.

"Anyone able to get this cart fixed up in better shape?" Rufous asks his friends. "We can use it to transport the remains of these poor souls back with us." He makes the sign of the Dawnflower with his right hand as he says this.

I don't think Rufous has anything to add.

Rufous enters the tavern and examines the holy symbol.

Religion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

He then wanders through, examining the other rooms (rummaging).

Hey Everyone, I'm really sorry that I've been so absent so far. I will get caught up this weekend. Again, my apologies.

Rufous continues into the records room, searching for information.

First 10 minutes.

Rufous is able to determine, even with the heavy disfigurement, he recognizes the symbol of Sarenrae.

Does looking at the holy symbol take his full 10 minutes, or was Rufous able to investigate the records?

Rufous casts a healing spell on his companions (while his angelic halo is still up).

◈◈◈ Cast heal on everyone
heal, angelic halo: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Everyone recovers 6 hp

The ruddy goblin novice wanders into Goldenflame Chapel. Seeing the scorched body on the floor, he inspects the holy symbol, muttering a quiet prayer to The Dawnflower while bringing his own holy symbol up to his lips.

Religion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

He then moves to investigate the town records.

Seeing his friends wounded by the undead, Rufous sings out a hymn to Sarenrae:

♫ ♬
Heal them, with fire from above
Kneeling, my god is the Sun
♫ ♬

With a couple of words in Celestial — "הילה מלאכית" — he casts a spell and an angelic halo begins to shed a divine aura around the goblin's head.

◈ Cast angelic halo (1 minute)

He then reads the scroll in his hand, "לְרַפֵּא לְרַפֵּא," and a bright ray of positive energy shines between Rufous and Ulena.

◈◈ Cast heal on Ulena
heal, angelic halo: 1d8 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11

Also, both of these spells are bloodline spells for Rufous, so he will get a +1 status bonus to saving throws for one round from casting angelic halo, and @Ulena will likewise get a +1 status bonus to saving throws for one round from receiving heal. (Unfortunately, I don't think you can use it for the save you needed to make from before he cast the spell, but if you need to make another save before Rufous's next turn, you get the bonus.)

Rufous commands the undead horse, "By the might of The Dawnflower, we shall smite thee!" He casts a spell with a short orison to Sarenrae, "לְשַׁבֵּשׁ".

◈◈ disrupt undead
disrupt undead damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Basic Fort DC 17

The goblin Novice of Light then draws a scroll of healing out of his belt.

◈ Interact

@Jak: I don't think you need to make an attack roll with disrupt undead.

"May the Dawnflower guide your weapon, Cervantes!" Rufous offers a short prayer to Sarenrae asking her to bless the warrior poet.

"הַדְרָכָה"
◈ guidance on Cervantes

The ruddy-skinned goblin then turns his attention to the zombie approaching from the north.

"לְשַׁבֵּשׁ"
◈◈ disrupt undead at YELLOW

disrupt undead damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Basic Fortitude DC 17

"Back into the earth with you, abomination!"

Rufous follows Cervantes through the thicket, hacking away at the thistles and nettles with a tasseled dogslicer in time with the rhythmic drum, singing along with the beat.

♫ ♬
Oh, the storm and its fury broke today
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear
Clouds and storms will in time pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear
♫ ♬

♫ ♬
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life
♫ ♬

Dogslicer attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15

With Aldonza's distraction, Rufous sneaks around the undead column.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 2 = 23. This time I feel pretty confident that Aldonza's distraction was successful, and my roll includes the +2 bonus. :)

Edit: critical success?

I think we should leave Aldonza do the set-up check. This check looks like it will be tough for most of us as well, so it might be a good one to hustle in. I'm seriously considering it for Cervantes, at least.

We probably only need a couple people to hustle, right?

For any given round obstacle, you will need to succeed on 3 checks.

On the previous round only Cervantes made the athletics check. Jak did not make the set up check, so could not provide the bonus.

Thanks! :)

@GM: How many successes do we need for each challenge?

How many did we get for the first challenge?

Rufous follows closely behind Jak and Aldonza up the steep terrain, quietly humming a tune to keep everyone's spirits up.

Athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10. I did not include a bonus from Jak, if there is one.

Hero Point!
Athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14. I did not include a bonus from Jak, if there is one.

Rufous smiles at Aldonza and whispers back, "بإرادة زهرة الفجر."

Rufous has Society +3. Roll away.

Sorry I'm late to the party. :/

Singing can be heard from elsewhere in the lodge, but it grows nearer. The voice has a distinct Kelish accent, and it is diminutive yet bold and confident. The tone is quite clear, and the song is happy and lilting and in a major key.

♫ ♬
Well, there's a dark and a troubled side of life
There's a bright and a sunny side too
But if you meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view
♫ ♬

The song gets louder as the singer approaches the briefing room. The door opens to reveal a small, ruddy goblin dressed in traditional Qadiran robes — blue and white with gold suns embroidered in silk thread.

♫ ♬
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way
If we keep on the sunny side of life
♫ ♬

"I am terribly sorry for my tardiness," the goblin apologizes. "Your missive did not find me where I expected to be found, Captain Zangnoss, but I made haste to arrive as quickly as I could. Rufous Redfire, Novice of Light, at your service," He takes a deep bow. "No need to recap what I missed; I'm sure my companions will fill me in."

Rufous takes his place at the table with the others.

Player The Fox
Character Name Rufous Redfire
Faction Radiant Oath
Default Exploration Search

Thanks GM.

Good luck everyone. Have fun. :)

@GM: I am not trying to criticize you. That is not my goal. I am trying to understand how this scenario is supposed to work.

When I said that Rufous wanted to Sneak, I expected a Stealth check, not an Athletics check. I still don't know why that is. It has not been explained to me.

When I said that Rufous wanted to take the road instead of the bushes, I asked that he go back to Search, but instead was made to Hustle (and roll Fortitude). I still don't know why that is. It has not been explained to me.

Now, when I ask what my options are, and without choosing an activity yet, it seems that Hustle has been again chosen for me (with another Fortitude save). I don't know why.

And then we are suddenly in an encounter, and the last I checked, Rufous was still by the side of the road, and I was trying to decide what he should do.

So this is what it feels like to me: I feel like it doesn't matter what I say or do with my character, he is going to be played however you want him to.

I don't want to participate in such a game. So please withdraw me from this scenario.

Thanks.

I am so confused! Why am I rolling a Fortitude save?

Before the rest of us act, does anyone want guidance from Sarenrae for a +1 bonus on whatever skill check you need to roll? I will go across the road after everyone who wants guidance so that I can cast it on all of you that want it. And Rufous will cast it on himself also. Keep in mind that if I cast it on you, I can't target you with it again for an hour. But it is probably worth it here.

Here's where some of my confusion lies.

We have told you our actions and our exploration activities, but none of that seemed to matter.

When I said Rufous wanted to Search, you put him on Scout.

When I said Rufous would Sneak and I rolled Stealth, you changed the roll to Athletics (which I guess is fine, since his Stealth roll probably would have failed).

When I said Rufous wanted to move onto the road, you made him Hustle. I don't even know what other options he had available to him, but I don't know that Hustle would have been his first choice.

When Nenyath said he wanted to Hustle, and he made an Athletics check (and at 20, probably would be high enough for any checks made at this level), you changed it to Stealth and he failed.

So I don't know what our options are, or if we even have any options.

I understand wanting to keep things suspenseful, but players sometimes need to know what their options are, other than just "what would your characters do?"

Yeah, I'm confused too.

What are our options?

Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

I have a very busy week this week. I will continue to try to post 1/day, but I may not always make it. I'm not sure I'll be able to get something up tonight. Things should ease up considerably after Sunday.

I just realized that we are currently in two scenarios together! :)

(I'm playing Reev Ranzack in Watery Soup's game.)

"That short cut up and over the hill has bought us some time. Well done, Darg, in spotting that!" Rufous smiles at the man. "But now, friends, we must decide what we shall do with that extra time."

"These trees and bushes are good at keeping unwanted eyes off us, for sure, but have you noticed how slow our going has become?"

"I know that if we return to the roads, we risk running into an entire legion of those undead abominations, but time is of the essence. We must make haste if we are to rescue our missing Pathfinders."

"I vote in favor of returning to the roads and moving swiftly through these cursed lands. But my vote is but one among five. What say the rest of you, my friends?"

I just realized that we can't use Follow the Expert, because Darg is not an Expert in Stealth. :/

Rufous will just do Stealth untrained.

Rufous creeps along behind Darg up the rocky slope, trying to walk softly while also crouching.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

"I think we should stick together, Brayka. Upwards for all of us." Rufous smiles at his fellow goblin and pats him on the shoulder. "Darg, would you like to lead the way?"

Now is a good time for us to use Follow the Expert to allow Darg to guide us to the top using Stealth. What does everyone else think?

Ok, agreed, sounds like the stealth is not worth the effort on the way in. Don’t think we need two people scouting, so Brayka can take that. His Investigate/Nature is probably not too handy and Gather Info is better done by Ryiah or Red if we want that. Thanks for the discussion :)

You are probably right that we don't need two scouts. Brayka and Plum make an obviously better choice because of mobility.

@GM: I will switch Rufous over to Search with the others.

(I don't think we need Investigate until we actually find something, but I might be misunderstanding the activity.)

Rufous turns to his companions as they approach the gate. "Once we are on the other side and into the Gravelands, we should make sure we are effectively working together for the success of this mission."

"Ryiah, my friend, you and Darg will by our eyes on the ground. Keep a look out, in particular for any signs of missing Pathfinders or other clues."

"Brakya and I will scout ahead and behind to make sure we aren't ambushed. Our darkvision should prove useful in that respect."

"Nenyath, can you cover our tracks to make certain we are not easily followed? It is best to keep our secret mission... secret."

It looks like Cover Tracks kind of requires you to be trained in Survival (or at least have a decent Wis score) to even matter. Nenyath is our best for that, at +5.

Rufous is not any good at any of these, including Perception, and Scouting doesn't require a check, so he should do that. It looks like Brakya enjoys Scouting, so those two should scout for the party.

That leaves Darg and Ryiah as our Search team.

I will have Rufous make those suggestions in the Gameplay thread, but I wanted to share my reasoning here first.

I don't think we even bother with Stealth. None of our party are going to be great at it.

Scout, Cover our Tracks, and Search are probably all good ideas.

Is there a template for a text character sheet? I use Herolab online, which only spits out PDFs I think. Would the stat block work from that program?

Yes. Make sure to select BBCode.

See: Slide 23 from this Org Play PbP Intro.

"Hello, good sirs," Rufous hollers to the guards and raises a hand in greeting. "We have been given writs of passage into the Gravelands," with his other hand he pulls his travel documents from his belt to display to the watchmen, "and with your kind permission, we would approach to show you our passports."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16