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"This really isn't my area of expertise. I'd think that the quickest way to solve the problem is to take out the leadership if that's doable. Getting there is....trickier than we'd thought. Another day and I could fly us there, fairly quickly. I don't see that that's a better choice than skulking around and through the woods..."
I think we should all go after the command group first - Semenya has, if I've tallied it properly, two third level spells left, plus most of her 2nds and 1sts.
Looks like our choices are Hey Diddle Diddle, Straight Up The Middle, then.
Semenya, glancing up ahead, murmurs through the message cantrip, "Shall I conceal myself and prepare to let loose fire and woe?" She's eyeing the trees looking for one tall enough to conceal herself in. And looking at the leader with the twin axes of the opposition.
I am back in town and catching up on the Paizo forums. Can someone post a very very concise recap here of what I've missed in the last two weeks? I'm afraid I've lost the thread of the plot, other than that we were gathering allies to help the mother of flies.
"Euught Semenya rubs the goop through her clothing, over her body, into her hair... and promptly vomits.
Semenya will cast Message to keep in contact with Maddok and Appario and Derek from her vantage point up in the trees, and use Darkvision to keep people apprised of what's going on.
Semenya watches Yahirma go into the hut from where she's ensconsed in a tree. If there's sufficient distraction, she'll come down when nobody's looking, the better to preserve the air of mystery. Next to Appario, she says ... "Fascinating. I'd say I hope she knows what she's doing. Then again, I think a better prayer may be that I hope she remains ignorant..." "Might we want to see what we can see of the forces arrayed against our madcap band of bloodsoaked murderers? Up for some scouting? Or would you prefer to remain here to rescue Yahirma if it's...necessary."
Semenya simply stands in the fire, lit from below. "You throw your life away so easily. Is it because you're terrified of these Redcaps seeing you run away from the men who challenge the Mother?" "I am Semenya Carbachon, the Unburnt. The Seer In Flames. In these flames, I see two paths for you - one is to be rent limb from limb. The other is to lead the Redcaps to glory against those humans that you hide from in your hovel." "Whichever path you choose, it is yours to take. You do us more good alive than dead, but if it's your death you seek - we can oblige." And with that, she'll throw down a smokestick, cast Vanish, and climb a tree while Stealthed. Intimidate
Semenya comes up to Maddok and casts a spell. "You should be protected for a while."
"As to the Drovenges...please do not let your affections blind you to the possibility that Chammady might be behind this. This organization is somewhat subtle. Please try to take some of the leadership of this group alive; I may need a day to recover my spells, but I'd be remiss if I didn't at least try to find out who they're working for, by persuasion, intimidation, or simply pulling it from their mind while Derek talks them into a stupor."
Semenya looks back towards the way the smoke hides the stars as Maddok wakes the village. She'll cast [Resist Energy - Fire] before entering the village. When an opportunity presents, she will step into the circle of firelight, her jadeite screen and tattoes flickering in the shadows. She'll step step into the largest fire, and speak. "You all live under the benefits of the Mother of Flies. She nurtures you, heals you when you're harmed, protects you." Her voice grows stern, rising over the crackling of the flames that do nothing to her. "And though she tended you when you were sick. mended you when you were hurt, and brokered your disputes...when she needs you, where are you? Snoring deeply in your hovels, trying to avoid the gaze of men with iron and fire." "Your mother expects better of you." Diplomacy (Add 1 to this if Intimidate seems more appropriate.)
"We have others - allies - that are waiting for us to return with news. Have you a way for me to send for them, or should I fly back to them?"
Semenya stands...a bit away from the edge of the platform. Not because she's afraid of falling, but because the thought of spiders falling into her hair is giving her more twitches than casually flicking droplets of molten gold off of her apron. "Vahnwynne in life was a scourge on the vampires. If she is left in her undeath...it will be horrific for many. I pledge you some measure of service for this boon, if that service does not harm the people of Westcrown." She peers out from the platform, looking out at the assembled people. "So many people acting out of desperation and hatred."
Semenya will circle the clearing - after refreshing the Message cantrip, and see if there's a place where there's fewer besiegers. She'll fly below treetop level as she circles. Stealth at full speed
Semenya nods, and awaits the consensus of them all - she's still got a good five or six minutes on the fly spell she cast earlier. "If we're moving, we'd best do so soon."
"That might be doable, Maddok. I can muster the power to fly two - perhaps you can carry Vanwhynne and save resources? Given we're facing large numbers of foes, I'm a bit loathe to trade the ability to call lighting upon them at need. One bolt never seems to be quite enough...
I have a crazy set of deadlines going through the 15th, so may be slow in posting. I'm trying to give broad stroke plans of what I intend in case Are has to NPC Semenya a bit.
Semenya will cast Fly in the surprise round. When the opportunity presents in future actions, she will fly to a point where she can get both Ogres in a line - preferably with a few of the men in line as well - and let loose with a Lightning Bolt.
Semenya will remain hidden on her perch in the trees. If she needs to leap down, she can with the ring of Feather Falling.
During the trip out, Semenya enjoins with the banter. "We'd best not give her Derek - he's likely as not to strive for rave reviews, and we'd never get him back. Perhaps Appario could meet her in her boudoir?" At Yahirma's question, Semenya pauses for a moment. "Let me get to a higher vantage point..." She casts the Message cantrip to include the entire party. Semenya darts up the tallest tree and cranes forward, taking a long look. Perception
While I won't say that the ring Semenya makes is more useful at invisibility than the full ring (It can only be turned on three times per day, and each use is only five rounds), in my experience - it's got about 60% of the utility. Plus the ability to store spells. Semenya can make a full ring of Invisibility for you at cost-to-create.
Keep saying things like this and the GM may create siphons for your money. :)
Insofar as I can tell... Semenya can pre-cast some spells into these rings and when you release them, they'll be as if she'd cast them. The ability for the entire party to unleash a barrage of Semenya pre-cast Flaming Magic Missiles (With 4 missiles each, doing 1d4+1+1+3 fire damage) might be interesting. More interesting still will be Maddok, Derek or Appario being able to uncork a shield spell.
My profile does not show a combined Circlet of Persuasion/Hat of Disguise. I suspect it'd cost 900 GP to combine them. I deducted the 1425 based on what you'd told Maddok. Semenya already has the Hat of Disguise to modify; the 900 is just the surcharge. Is anyone taking Semenya on her offer for those rings? It seemed (to me) to be a remarkably useful thing, plus, hey, lab accidents are fun. :)
My profile does not show a combined Circlet of Persuasion/Hat of Disguise. I suspect it'd cost 900 GP to combine them.
Semenya has her profile updated to 7th level, including upgrading her ring - and buying the Lesser Metamagic Rod of Electrify Spell, and having Yahirma upgrade her cloak. I sold off a number of scrolls (like Magic Weapon) that are unlikely to be used.
"And how much more danger are we in if you don't return safely? And Westcrown? Things are quiet now...but they won't be for long. I'll broach it with Appario and Derek."
"Would you like me to come along? Appario and Derek as well? I think I can ask on your behalf if you're...afraid of imposing on them." She listens to his explanations. "I know that sometimes, when I melt the gold, impurities rise to the top - I've been skimming them out. My problem seems to be a mixture of impurities, and something going on with the alembic coating on the wax..." "When you make steel, you hammer coke and iron together over a high heat - hotter than I use to melt gold - and try to coax the two elements to merge and become something other than they were. I am wondering if I need to add steps to this process and make ingots of prepared metal before pouring...
Semenya is aware of the Hagwood preparations, and on a day where she's frustrated at learning how to handle molten gold in a ring crucible, she will ask the following... Semenya tilts the ewer containing gold, melted in a crucible, into the waiting wax mold, which she's spent two hours enchanting prior to this step. If the temperature is right, the gold will fill the ring-form, and take on aspects of the spell she carefully wound into it. The temperature isn't right. And Maddok, dealing with a customer, hears the Half-Orc sorceress's voice rise in a steady, gutteral spew of invective. In Infernal. A quick double check, and, no, she didn't singe the hair off of his arms with words alone...but...it sounds like she could have. When he ducks his head back into the area she's working on, there's droplets of rapidly cooling gold all over the place, a broken wax mold that looks like a candle had been too near one of her fire spells, and she has scorch marks all the way down the front of her apron, and the end of her braid is smoking. It smells *terrible*. Khazrae's head is sitting on a shelf, and both of its eyebrows are raised, as if impressed. "Speaking as a native of Hell, that's a rather heartfelt and...impressive...curse. If my old body had possessed testicles, I think they'd've risen into my body on hearing that." A beat - it's hard to tell if the severed head is having fun at Semenya's expense, but... "A truly beautiful form of expression. The god you follow might not have been proud of that, but I think it's an art form. You've a natural gift for colorful language when pouring hot metal upon yourself." Semenya is picking bits of congealed metal off of her garment where the mold had cracked and melted and sprayed as Maddok arrives. "I need a break from this, Maddok. Can you tell me more about your plans for the Hagwood expedition?" Maddok notices that Semenya is wearing one of his forge aprons, but isn't wearing protective gloves or a mask - there are a few other ring-molds carved in wax on the table behind her. She's glowering at them like she expects them to fail at the worst possible time.
Appario = would lending money to Maddok for his ring be something Appario would consider?
For 8,500 GP to Semenya, the ring would do both of the following: 1) Cast Vanish 3x day, with each casting giving invisibility lasting for 5 rounds.
For 5,000 GP more, part 2 changes to: 2) Store three spell levels (total) - 1 x 3, or 1x2 and 1x1, or 3x1. Maddok, Semenya will carry the second Wayfinder. Is there something special about the +1 Heavy Crossbow that's making it cost 4,350 rather than 2,350?
I haven't done Semenya's accounting, and I cannot seem to edit the Wealth Table spreadsheet, but can certainly use either of the heavy crossbows - I doubt we'll be fighting enough animals to make Animal Bane worth the extra hit. === Semenya's requests of Yahirma: 1) She'd like her cloak upgraded to +2
Other items Semenya would like to purchase: Lesser Rod of Elemental Spell (3,000 GP) set to electrical damage. If she can still get one item at 20% off, that will be it. === Semenya would like to make the following rings for each person in the party: Component A: A Ring of Spell Storing, Nascent. The formula for the Rings of Spell Storing are: Spell Levels^2 * 2,000. Nascent in this case would be 2nd level spells, so the MSRP would be 8000 GP, creation cost would be 4,000 GP. If people can afford 5,000 GP extra per person, making it a Ring of Spell Storing, Lesser would be within Semenya's abilities. Component B: The ability to cast vanish at caster level 5 (Semenya's maximum level) three times per day. My best guess is that this would have an MSRP of spell level (1) times caster level (5) times 2000 GP, times 0.6, which translates into 1 * 3 * 2000 = 6,000 GP, or a creation cost of 3,000 GP. This is less than the cost of the Ring of Spell Storing effect, and would be multiplied by 1.5, so 4,500 GP This translates into 8,500 GP to create the items, or 13,500 if we can spring for the full 3-level Minor Ring of Spell Storing effect. Semenya would be creating hers as a full Lesser Ring of Spell Storing from the Ring of Feather Falling, rather than the ability to cast vanish. My reasoning on this item: 1) There are times when it's REALLY useful for the entire party to be invisible.
This allows us to bank up spells cast from down time days for a rainy day. The Ring of Spell Storing allows N levels of spells per day rather than a single spell of level N.
When she is not consulting with the severed head of a devil, Semenya is in the yard back of the safehouse, practicing refinements of her magical abilities. The first is a permutation of her armor spell, inspired by Yahirma's attempts to make Khazrae a new body - she envisions a suit of invisible armor that is able to move and carry objects, sort of a "force golem" conjured to do things. It tends to be a little bit more amorphous than that, and she is sorely disappointed in its strength, but it seems to last for as long as her mage armor spell does. At one point, she has it put Khazrae in the helm area and carry her about...and she tries hard to put it under Khazrae's direct command, but it's not...biddable enough. The second, she takes a moment visualizing wings of force coming around her, and flying like a bird. This comes as naturally as being fireproof does to her, though there are a few tense moments where she's glad she has the ring of Feather Falling as she finds out it only lasts for a handful of minutes. For the third, she asks Maddok to cast Haste a few times, so she can study - she is able to replicate the effect handily....and is able to extend it with the use of her knowledge in winding the forces of spells more tightly. For her last, she travels well outside the town, and casts....creating bolts of acid that go well past the range she can hit with a crossbow, and which linger, hissing and boiling, for a considerable period. With experimentation, she is able to make those bolts burn with lambent fire, or to last longer. Her attempts at getting both effects...it's a good thing she's largely fireproof when she casts Resist Energy. Khazrae is somewhat entertained by this, as these are spells that have no real chance of affecting her kind.
Semenya spends her days initially at the temple of Shelyn, meditating on the magical nature of the ring of protection +2 and on her own ring of feather falling, and on the ring of swimming recovered from delve-haven, seeing out an understanding of the patterns of energy imbued within them. She is then seen consulting with Khazrae, in Infernal for long stretches. She is discussing melting temperatures, and how one weaves magic into molten metal, not as a passive thing as is done to an armor or sword, but as an agency imbued in it to make it biddable for the wearer. This conversation shifts between Infernal and Draconic, and involves further examinations of the rings collected. After a while, she comes to Maddok. "I would like to set up three crucibles in your shop, with your permission." To Appario, "I would like a recommendation for a goldsmith, and a procurer of platinum - I have need of several ounces of these metals in highly refined form, melted near to boiling and any impurities skimmed from the top." To both, "The sizes of your ring fingers, as well. And get Derek's as well. Yahirma's, I know."
Updating Character Sheet: 6 HP
Feats:
Spells:
(I'll update the spell list on the character sheet with links when I get home tomorrow night.)
Catching up post convention. Draconic Feat: Improved Initiative
Book: I'll take the Lycanthropic book - recall that the same person cannot benefit from more than one book. Semenya having a +8 initiative certainly won't hurt anything...Semenya already has the ability to speak Draconic, and has resist fire for the most common things she'll need a Reflex save for. Ring of Protection +2: I think that should go to either Appario or Maddok.
Semenya takes the ashes, and the head of the Pathfinder (my memory for his name - the one who turned into the flying terrifying skull) and sets it on the table. She draws the feather of Shelyn, and says "All beings seek beauty. Many seek love. Two here have found it, and in the name of duty, set it aside." "May those who forsook love and beauty for duty find more of the former and less of the latter in their next lives."
"Perhaps a bit of persuasion is in order?" Semenya will look at the toy dragon, and raise her arms - the brass scale tattoos on her arms glinting in the sun. "Little one, we are here on a mission of mercy for two fallen Pathfinders..." She will, if there's time, recount the deeds of the pathfinders we're looking to lay to rest. "It looks as though this courtyard was left to you to watch over and guard. May we proceed with your blessing?" She watches Appario's reaction - using his general inability to keep a poker-face going - especially when he thinks he's invisible - as a guide to just how evil these things might actually be. She sees no real gain in destroying them if they aren't harming anyone here... And besides, the stuffed dragon reminds her of a gift from her mother's husband when she was little...
DM Are - No harm done. :)
Through the Message cantrip, Semenya says to Appario..."There's one directly between you and Yahirma."
Semenya pulls out a scroll and casts from it.
Infernal: I should be able to see them with this... once I've localized them, I can blind them and make them visible.
Semenya will cast Detect magic and hold her gaze long enough to ascertain its aura. "Fascinating enchantment. Khazrae, have you any idea what making metal that behaves like fog is for? I'd assume it was a portal of some sort. Though a portal to where, I know not...nor do I know why it's not locked..." Spellcraft
Appario: Why am I'm getting dinged for not being "proactive" when... A) I'm posting once or twice a day from a convention that involves most of a day of travel on both ends, and will (hopefully) be doing so next weekend?
Neither Yahirma nor I complained when you and Maddok went off to conventions and posted once (each) over an entire weekend.
Semenya climbs the wall, and is on the ceiling over the door. She's ready to cast if anyone comes through the door as it opens.
"I believe either Yahirma or I could turn the doorknob from a distance..."
Semenya peers around as the party moves, attempting to Aid Another on Appario's trapfinding. Perception "Remain cautious. This has all the sensations of us being lulled into a false sense of security. And the Pathfinders weren't always...friendly...to gate-crashers."
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