Apologies guys, unexpected trip with very limited internet. Please bot me til the weekend when things should be back to normal.
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Concerned that the invaders may be heading straight for the sanctum stairs, Sebastian allows Eldred some time to get ahead before carefully nudging the nightmare forward. Grumblejack he quietly orders to stay where he is. He stops before the doors to the room though, trusting Eldred to assess the situation but staying close enough to provide support.
If thats the best way to do it sure. I didn't realise one of the pillars was hollow. From the map it looks like its just off 2-21.
Hoping the invisibility will let Eldred confirm this without the metagaming and we can whomp them together. Knowing whether we did get around to shaping the entrance to the sanctum stairs is probably the most important thing. Without that they can't do much beyond killing minions and Sebastian at least will wait for the others.
Sebastian speaks softly. It looks like our invaders are destroying our minions in the temple. They have at least one caster. Care to take a peek? Reaching down from the nightmare, Sebastian places a prayer of invisibility on the archer.
Fairly sure that the undead will do little but slow the dangerous invaders down, Sebastian readies a prayer if any come into sight.
Sebastian relies on the accuser devil (more or less) to alert its master as to the incursion but still sounds the horn with the prepared call. Enemies, 2nd level entrance. He wastes no time reassuring the daemons. --------- At the entrance he grimaces at the dead and bypassed guardians. ... an abjuration ward against undead, divine magic? Calling the undead in reach, Sebastian commands them into the lair proper and spurs the nightmare in behind. Come my beauty, let us show them fear.
Sebastian is busy in the days before the messenger arrives, the priest conducting the lengthy rituals to assume control of the undead guardians as well as working on the Horn's defenses. His first priority is securing the prisoner and several stone shape spells later the only way in and out of the cell is through the narrow bars set into newly formed rock. I can make a new door when its time to bring him out, the priest says with satisfaction. The undead archon is stationed to provide even more security. Second is work on the second level and Sebastian is just about finished on the ooze room when the message arrives and he concentrates on more combat related prayers. He is meditating quietly when the alarm blares at the entrance two the second level. Whispering a protective prayer the priest calls out to the guardian daemons and nightmare and commands them to extend their senses. The priest too tries to perceive any intruders lit by the green glow exuding from the Horn's structure.
Apologies for lack of posting guys, I'll be back up to date by tomorrow.
Yes, I thought I'd merely place the order. Fine to skip past I wasn't sure how you wanted to do it but getting the cog is likely going to be the critical thing in terms of time so wanted to ask. And happy to make alchemy roll whenever. Components are going to take some weeks yet. I'm sure a suitable brain will come along before then...
Round 1
Sebastian focuses on the two struggling figures on the edge of the field of tentacles and chants another quick prayer.
Surprise Round
Keeping his position, Sebastian chants a quick prayer, his spell of confusion sweeping over the knights and their mounts.
I'm moved, Sebastian in cover with line of sight to the square. Johan (or someone) is invisible.
OK with me. Just to confirm buffs before DM sets the scene and it seems like I'm making stuff up restrospectively: - Extended invisibility on Johan.
- Protection from good 10' on the 3 who are back (assuming Johan's last plan)
- Sebastian himself has shield of faith, magic vestment and undetectable alignment cast. Is behind some kind of cover with LOS. The silence duration is round per level so that will need to be cast quite late: presumably a few rounds used before the fight starts. If DM feels like we don't have sufficient forewarning then we go without.
If Johan is going to be the grabber then he needs to be close with anyone creating the disturbance. So say he stands there invisible. Cedric needs to be close but presumably his stealth is bad also. Perhaps he is in front in plain sight but with some innocuous disguise so they walk past and then stop at singing Eldred? Just a slight variation on his hopscotch scheme. Agrippa and I are back hidden in cover? Splitting up like that we'd have limited buffs but Johan and Cedric would be in position to carve through them.
Sebastian nods, Fair enough. The priest seems pleased and somewhat impressed at Johan's tactical savy. So Johan will be our point man, with Cedric standing by to support? Eldred, any chance you have any amunition from your last encounter with the lillend?
Thats why I'm thinking the Horn needs to be just a part of a greater threat, not the threat.
I'm thinking we need to distract the town from whats going on at the horn by making them worry about whats going on at home. The Seventh's murders do that in part but I'm not sure how well that will work longterm. If we're going to grab this guy and presumably kill/disable a bunch of his flunkies then we may as well use the opportunity. Assuming we definately don't want to fly the Asmodean flag, I'm mulling over what else we can achieve with our circlets. We can appear as whatever we want provided it is humanoid, which is quite a lot actually. Perhaps demon-worshipping elves from the forest? The idea that the local population has got feisty has got to discourage people from wandering around near the Horn, while simultaneously pissing the lillend off no end.
Sebastian nods, Lets scout an ambush point and firing position for Eldred. Closer to his destination should limit the number of alternative routes I would think. We can't be sure how big his group will be so we should plan for possible survivors. We'll need a suitable alternative appearance. And if we need him for the ritual then it does need to be capture, not kill. Sebastian then proceeds with a lengthy (although quiet) prayer to Asmodeus.
Dunno what Asmodeus is going to think about your demon summoning :)
OK I missed that part about the Victor. I think kidnapping him could kill two birds with one stone: Sebastian is very interested in diverting attention from the horn by setting up alternatives for the town to get worried about. Fine if we don't have the plan to do that now. I'd also rather the lilend come to us although she may do worth things geeing up the townsfolk: there is an abbey of fighting nuns right? An inquisitor is actually great at dimensional anchoring, better BAB and he can boost his SR piercing. Sebastian also needs to see a metalworking about the golem heart before returning to the Horn.
Between the abjuration masking his true alignment and his disguise, Sebastian feels safe enough but he notes Johan's interactions warily from the other side of the room.
DM:
Interesting.. Sebastian takes the opportunity to lay a seed. Sebastian nods. I must admit. At first I wondered why the Cardinal lent such trust to Elise, given that she owes no allegiance to our Master. I thought that you would be a better leader for the Seventh. But it is clear that she is capable indeed and with you advising her the Seventh operates most efficiently. The Ninth may have received the credit for breaching the Watch Wall but it was your efforts in hindering the Mitran response that has made the difference. Now it is I assigned to the Ninth and I wonder at whether we can succeed. Johan does not seem to have Elise's talent for leadership and it is as if every member serves their own purposes rather than our Cardinal's. Why Thorn had to pull me out of position in the Capital just to bolster their numbers. But if matters go as I fear and the Seventh needs to step in, I will do what I can to aid you. Sebastian reaches for his core of infernal power and lets a trickle infuse his honeyed words.
At the party Sebastian assumes his role, a wealthy merchant fresh from the eastern campaign. He avoids the Baron, mingling with the lesser nobility and drinking just enough to avoid comment.
Fair enough, thats a valid limitation. Sebastian will purchase a costume upgrade as well then. The guise is rich merchant so I'll go with a noble outfit (75gp) designed to be just a shade less fancy so as not to overstep ones status.
It is indeed. When Sebastian has the priest alone he gets to business. The two have had limited contact over the years, their respective positions in Thorn's hierarchy kept (presumably to them both, deliberately) ambiguous by the Cardinal. For Sebastian at least the uncertainty as to whether to lead or defer is a distinct annoyance. I have been instructed by our Master to do everything possible to aid Johan and the rest of the Ninth in their endeavours at the Horn. Might I confirm your own?
Sebastian is apparently content to rely on his circlet for dress. He wears his true face for now, apparently intending to alter himself at some point before the event begins. At the inn, he inclines his head in response to Elise's greeting. Her distaste is so overt it almost makes one think she isn't playing her own game.. almost. Leaving Cedric to his endeavours, he approaches Trick. A word alone Brother?
Re access discussion above, DMs suggestion seems similar to mine: "Assuming that is so Sebastian recommends shaping a hole in 2-21 and moving the glyph that was going to go on the steps from lvl 3 down slightly to lvl 2 in case something sneaks through." This leaves level 3 as a big trap unless invaders can use the teleporters or passwall etc and the later presumably would require them to know in advance where the stairs are. Level 2 becomes more important but thats where we have our quarters, right? Putting the plants at 2-1 would help to guard the entrance. The minions have lvl 1 and we enter/exit from there. The bogards have the cave and it too is a big trap unless invaders find the stairs. If they do we can enter the stairwell directly from lvl 2. Stoneshape wise I was going to start with Johan's plan of sealing of the doorway to the oozes room so theres no way to the main complex. Then improvements to levels 1 and 2. Once done maybe instead some defensive improvements to the sanctum assuming DM means above that walling the whole thing off is impractical. I could build some cover points for Eldred to shoot behind for example.
Sebastian makes his comment as the group leaves the wraith's level. It does no fear us, despite having no obvious method of determining whether I can control undead.. yet it was clearly unwilling to attack and risk disrupting the ritual. It would be interesting to see if it carries through on its threat... I believe it is too dangerous to leave for long but I will let the matter drop for now. ----------------------------------------- Sebastian's followers are a quartet, hooded and cloaked although splashes of blue robes show through. The alchemist is another story, the man well dressed in a finely-cut coat and trousers. A further two men of rather more disreputable appearance bring in a variety of alchemical supplies. Sebastian makes brief introductions before setting the apparent Dr Shreck to work examining the golem. A conference is held between the priests, Sidious and Sebastian with the latter apparently satisfied at the re-ordering of clerical leadership. At its conclusion two of the group of four return to Fairholde with the laborers, seemingly to continue their work there. -------------------------------------------- When the invitation arrives he appears to hold some of the same initial reservations about leaving the Horn, but seems to come around given the potential for useful information gathering. A new identity is in order I think. A wealthy merchant recently arrived from the eastern war zone should provide the attention I will be seeking. I have other plans for Kane.
On the plants I was going to suggest the walkway up to 2-1 given the ref to vines covering the path (cover) or 2-1 itself just past the pit trap so that anything entering melee would fall in. This assumes we use lvl 1 solely for entry and exit. Looking at this seems to indicate we have no quick way to get to the sanctum beyond leaving the horn going into the caverns and climbing the steps? Assuming that is so Sebastian recommends shaping a hole in 2-21 and moving the glyph that was going to go on the steps from lvl 3 down slightly to lvl 2 in case something sneaks through. What do people think?
I'd like to take over ritual duties but can leave the occasional to sidious. Are we up to posting weekly minion actions Dm? If so I'll do as an ic post.
Sebastian appears unruffled, the priest saying nothing further he turns to Johan and nods. Assuming the discussions are terminated he turns to the inquisitor once they have left the floor. I would feel safer if it had of attacked, he says dryly.
I have literally nothing to hurt it with. But if it drains me to death I promise not to restart the cohort discussion with the next character.
Sebastian shows no (evident) fear before the darkness, indeed his lip curls up in disgust for what dwells forsaken in this doomed place. On entering the Horn proper the priest exchanged his Mitran holy symbol for a silver symbol of Asmodeus and the pentagram gleams brightly at his throat. Indeed. I am no slave, dead thing. I am Sebastian Mayer. Servant of Asmodeus, the Archfiend, the First, the Lightbringer and He who drew the Contract of Creation. It is in His name and service I stand before you, broken creature. This agreement shall be properly clarified. That is if you wish to see your Master return to this plane. For it is as a result of my Master's will that this ritual shall be completed, not Vetra-Kali's! But first I would hear you speak. Of your life and death. Of what binds you here. Speak shade! So that I and my Master may judge your words!
That interpretation means that you can't get a hell hound, a CR 3 creature until level 9. At the same point you can have a lvl 7, CR 6, NPC with class levels. The effective cohort level shows when you start adding char levels so at lvl 8 you can have a hell hound fighter 1 at CR 4 compared to your CR 5 NPC (or your CR 4 griffon. If you look the effective cohort lvl 7 monsters are all CR 3 to 4, lvl 8 are 4 to 5 etc. But last word from me on the whole subject.
As above I believe its the character level assuming sufficient leadersip.
They will need to be restrained assuming they are capable of movement in their adult forms. Do we have anything suitable?
OK thanks very much for clarifying DM. I'll confirm one of these options. Even with the skin stealer option we'll go with "Dr Shreck" (Its just he did terrible things to poor Dr Shreck and stole his identity). I'd change its alignment to LE on the basis it too has sworn dread oaths to Asmodeus etc etc.
It seems extremely cool although NE and not particularly Asmodeusy. Maybe I'd be stepping on Agrippa's toes with his scouty devil? All monstrous cohorts for a lvl 7 character are CR 3-4 so he'd be what Alchemist 2 - Alchemist 3? The stat boost is the basic array for adding a character level, that can obviously get pretty nasty quickly when bolted onto something with decent stats already (one of the reasons I initially just went vanilla humanoid). Edit: Basic array is: Creatures with class levels receive +4, +4, +2, +2, +0, and –2 adjustments to their ability scores, assigned in a manner that enhances their class abilities. Not sure if the amended alchemist as per your post above is still on the table. If its fundamentally the buffing via extracts thats the issue I could rebuild as an alchemy witch, that was one of the original possibilities.
I mean to provide good counsel rather than to criticize or second-guess your decisions. It is clear that you have been incredibly successful with limited resources. That said the undead are a particular area of study of mine and we are warned in the teachings of my Master to always take care of those who are unbound to our will. We must have order and control. A betrayal seems inevitable, at the latest when the daemon is called to our plane. He looks to Johan. I would speak with the thing myself if you have no objections?
I think we all know leadership creates problems particularly for the DM. I don't really mind what the requirements are or what gets disallowed. That's the DMs prerogative and we presumably all do exactly the same when its us in that role. I guess I was just a tad sensitive to the claim I made a buff bot when what I was actually trying to do was fill a party niche with something that wouldn't overshadow in combat. I was kinda following Agrippa's example to be honest. Give his devil some rogue class levels and you get a kickass scout which is just another support role. Coming back to Johan's point whatever the rules are is fine. But given the rules I'm going to look to do something that's effective within whatever concept I've come up with its just my nature. And I hope its clear I wasn't trying to min max something with full ranks in profession torturer. Quite possibly a squall in a teacup.
Instead of class levels it could just gain HD.... that's kinda like class levels right? Just less mess with abilities and stuff... Class levels is the approach by RAW although it obviously results in a stronger creature. That is how Grumblejack seems to have been done? I'm applying your cohort changes GM but just wanted to say I originally went for a support based character in lieu of one with a significant impact on combat. If he can't fight or support I'm not left with much options right? :) In terms of personality I was going to tone down the mad scientist vibe and do more simple amoral criminal, sound better?
After leaving the Baron Sebastian excuses himself to meet his contact and rejoins the others at the outskirts of town. He will join us in a few days at this Horn. With suitable equipment to examine this golem you have found. During the journey he listens intently to Johan's summary, asking a few short but pointed questions as to the ritual and the status of the Horn's defenses. He seems to leave much in the way of conclusions until he's had the chance to view things for himself but does venture three comments. If this priestess is to be used for the ritual then it is best her faith remains strong, yes? I think it best that I take over responsibility for this task (the rituals) .. unless there are any objections. Your Father Sidious...such an odd name, there was a powerful sorcerer once... and I will need to come to an accord. But I am confident that one can be reached. And While I can see the reasons for allying with this wraith, the lack of control over it seems a possible matter of concern. What do you know of its motivations?
Sure.
"Abel" just shrugs at the Baron's statement but abandons his stroll around the room. His role is not necessarily just for the Baron.
Nice work with the stats Sebastian. Thanks! That minotaur looked tougher in my head. Do you think its worth investing in some aromor for it? It should pack a wallop but yeah its AC is poor. I'd guess armour would be good idea if we can get it (large obviously). The hound should make a decent roadblock though particularly with its extra hp.
It was me asking for the hellfire supplement but I since gave in and purchased it. It will be featuring a lot, ha ha ha. I suspect the Baron's reaction to Cedric will at least partly answer my questions above but would be helpful to have this clarified. I'm really not sure how Sebastian would be reacting to him. I stat'ed up the undead in my profile. DM, you may wish to transfer to the info tab if you agree with my product.
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