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Tarphrex has been leveled up. There were so many errors on his character sheet! Things I forgot to update from previous levels. Took Dimension Door - two allies, 720'. If you have time to review what we've found, please post it here and I will add it to the spreadsheet. The link is still at the top of this page.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!
Ah, I forgot Sherman is an oracle, I was thinking him to be a cleric. I cannot fault those spell choices.
I need more reason than that. Spells for a sorcerer are a limited resource and duplicating someone else’s schtick for RP feels like a wasted opportunity when I could pick up something that we don’t have (such as teleportation via dimension door) or that enhances Tarphrex himself (greater invisibility would almost guarantee a bonus to his spell save DCs).
Telekinetic Charge is a personal favorite. Fastball special, D&D magic style! I'm leaning toward letting Ceven own the telekinetic repertoire but I don't know if Telekinetic Charge is in his toolbox. Ceven? As an aside, I've been thinking that my obsession with and very slow transformation into black dragon would require me to keep my energy damage to that of the black dragon's breath weapon, but I see that as a kobold sorcerer, that doesn't appear to be a thing. Dragon's Breath with the ability to switch up the damage type and the breath shape is going to be very cool if I can live that long. Getting my AC correct will help with that.
Freedom of Movement is an amazing "get out of jail free" card that is hard to replicate. Hard to turn that down. Blessing of Fervor is more broadly useful to the party (I cannot cast more spells by being hasted, for example, but BoF has something useful for me) but you have to prepare your spells, so you could prepare BoF once a day and we could coordinate whether you are using it or one of us that can spam haste all day will use our buff instead.
In reviewing Tarphrex in my character builder, I realized that he had gear in that document that he didn't have in the forums here. In particular, an enchanted mithral buckler that would have raised his armor class enough in the fight with the chieftain to survive the initial hit that had his life flashing before my eyes. When we allocated gear after the lamia in Magnimar, we started talking about cooking and I never completed the updates to his gear. You might check yours in case you made the same mistake. It appears this was the final allocation: Treasure distribution I also need to update that spreadsheet - I haven't touched it in over a year.
I've taken a look at next level for Tarphrex. He doesn't get a great deal, but he does get a spell at a new level - Fourth. And while Dragon's Breath is thematic and very tempting, I get it automatically in a level. I really like Greater Invisibility and Charm Monster could be fun, but believe Dimension Door will be a better choice for the party. (I love the idea of Telekinetic Maneuver combined with a pit, but our kineticist can do it better at less cost, so I shan't go that route.) Anyone have a specific vote for a particular fourth-level sorcerer spell? I only get one and I want it to be something with some utility, but I do expect to use a fourth-level slot for casting Haste extended with my metamagic feat.
”Tarphrex think maybe we know where voice in hallway go with not-here magic.”
Tarphrex nods at Estella’s remark. ”Like clock tower,” he practically whispers, pain coming back to mind. He adds before Shalelu leaves, ”Tarphrex magic to fix books possible but very slow thing to do. Maybe some books more important, Black Arrows want saved?”
It's pretty relaxed. Christmas sweaters are common. This year there was actually a costume contest - the Grinch and Wendy Lou Who (spelling?) won one prize and a couple from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation won the other. There are people that show up very casual and just drink themselves under the table. But I'm old-school - sober as a judge all night, dress shirt and tie. We dress 'nice' and hustle from car to venue. Not much reason to complain, but I do it anyway to stay in practice. And if they question it to much, you can bring up the story about JRR Tolkien and C.S. Lewis going to a party in matching polar bear costumes. It isn't related, but it is funny. I had never heard of this! Fantastic! And regarding cookies - I'm alternatively jealous I don't live closer and relieved that I don't have the temptation of being around so many baked goods. Sounds delightful! I'm sure the recipients are most appreciative!
Tarphrex looks at the ruined books in the library. He uses his spear to pry a book from the unwholesome mass of paper and ... bio-matter. Then he casts a simple cantrip to see how effective it is in cleaning the tome. Tarphrex' eyes narrow at the luxurious room below. A vague thought hovers on the edge of memory, but he struggles to put a talon on it precisely.
My company Christmas party always manages to fall on the first really cold night of winter. After all this time, I still don’t know how to dress ‘nice’ and remain warm… Hope you had some fun during your sledding!
”Tarphrex think maybe try ask Shalelu about shiny with hair, try make friends with Black Arrows. Not like one, not mean need enemy make. And this their home…”
It’s been a great trip and we are on our way back. He has a long road ahead of him, but they actually accepted him earlier in his recovery than normal* because of his attitude and he is all in on regaining whatever he can and learning how to work around any disabilities that remain. I can only pray his optimism carries him through. If I ever experience this, I hope I handle it with half as much grace. * This is a rehab hospital. As he said, they don’t have “sick people” there. That they took him on while he was still healing from the accident and surgeries that followed is atypical. Thank you for the well-wishes - I shared them with him and it just made him smile more.
I love this group. Thanks, folks.
All prayers and well-wishes are gratefully accepted and relayed to him. Folks from work sent cards for me to hand-deliver. He has a long road ahead, but today he was crazy appreciative that he could be outside for the first time since he arrived. He just has the best possible attitude, celebrating every little victory. I can absolutely see him turning this into one of those careers as an inspirational speaker. I jest, but only a little. Apologies for all the chatter about someone you don’t know. This part of how I work through these things, sharing them with friends and acquaintances. Talking helps me think them through. Interestingly, typing it in a forum like this has the same effect even when I end up deleting the post or most of it. I’ll try to stop now.
Wow, it's a small world sometimes! Best of wishes to your friend, and I hope you have safe travels. Isn't it? And thanks for the well wishes - if optimism powers healing, he's going to be back to his normal self in no time. Hope springs eternal.
Curry and authentic Indian restaurants are pretty rare where I'm from. I'm unlikely to have time, but I am literally going to be in Denver this weekend visiting a friend who's going through rehab at Craig in Englewood. I'm only saying this because the coincidence of you making that offer to a notorious non-traveler a few days before they go to the city named is shocking. Thank you for the offer, though!
Tarphrex tilts his head to the side, casting a cantrip to examine the discovered items.
Curry and authentic Indian restaurants are pretty rare where I'm from.
Tarphrex moves over to peer at the puzzle Elisani has identified. "Maybe Tarphrex help. Some acid here and here, weaken wood, maybe make easier Estella break free?"
We had good gatherings for both sides of the family and the weather held out until we got home. We got some snow, but not a lot.
Tarphrex looks over the items, but most are beyond him at the moment. He does hold up a short shaft of gnarled wood with a rune engraved on its base. "Magic stick makes small breath like Tarphrex. Tarphrex keep?" He holds up a ring almost large enough for him to wear as a bracelet. Having examined it, he sticks out a tiny clawed digit and hangs the ring on it, causing the magical bauble to shrink up to fit. "Make you harder to hit. Tarphrex like, but fighting friend should wear this."
Tarphrex points out where his magical pit was located. "Lady-voice with not-here spell not in room, voice come from hall."
I’m fine with the interactions. Very sorry if I mistakenly triggered it. Good callback, Estella. I think you’re on track.
Tarphrex offers, ”Tarphrex not know Kaven, know all fight very well, make good plan. We still alive. Tarphrex see Kaven hide a thing, but Tarphrex think maybe he just collect from kill, yes? Like keep tooth from big bear or wolf. More think voice of spellcaster a problem than Kaven. Big magic, know Tarphrex and friends, but friends not know spellcaster.” He pauses, then looks around the room. ”When goblin tribe push lounge of Tarphrex out of nest, they want nest and they stay. Why stone giants help ogres push Black Arrows out of nest, but then leave? What did giants get? Happy ogres?” He looks thoughtful, turning over one of the spellcasting ogre’s baubles in his hands while he thinks.
Tarphrex sniffs, ”What Tarphrex do to ogre when already near-dead? I make friends fight better. Even you.” He looks at Elisani, ”When Tarphrex see tattoo before, was magic. Magic put on greedy people so when greedy people die, soul not go Boneyard, we think. Go be harvested for power. Sandpoint killer mostly kill people with tattoo. Harvest, like picking best chickens for big feast.” He looks at the Black Arrows in turn, ”If you have tattoo or friend have tattoo, bad thing. Make target. We not find out who make tattoo, only find on dead people.”
Yessss!
The manic kobold gets very solemn after looking at the patch of skin, "Is mark for greedy people. Tattoo means when dead, soul feeds Zoog, makes him stronger. Tarphrex saw this before. What Kaven know about this? Why you hide it from us?"
Checking things when excitement has died down: Tarphrex recognizes the Wand of Acid Arrow and the Ring of Protection +2.
Tarphrex waits for the outcome of the second wave of ogre attackers before saying, intentionally loud enough for everyone to hear. "What Kaven find on spellcaster? Interesting thing?"
Tarphrex moves to the spellcaster’s body and starts searching for tools or trinkets of potential use.
Tarphrex sighs in relief as some of his bruises and burns are healed by Sherman's holy presence.
A tiny disembodied voice speaks up after a pause. "Sound like lady-voice cast not-here spell. Unknowing which." Then he speaks again, in his native tongue: Draconic to Elisani, at least: "Teleport. The spellcaster just used a spell to jump somewhere else, but I cannot tell where or even how far. She might have jumped a hundred miles or just downstairs to warn the other ogres."
Very good, thank you.
GM Sphen: Shaken for two rounds - Tarphrex had a round to vanish and move, another to cast haste - the (mechanical) shaken condition should be gone now, correct?
Still invisible, Tarphrex casts haste on everyone in the party other than Ceven and himself. He makes himself very small and hides behind Sherman and Jakardros as much as possible.
phew
She only needs to hold on until Cev can fly down, scoop her up, and kinetic heal her; it's only 4d6 +9 but it should help The problem is that if those strikes go through as they are currently written, she’s at -28 hp and you will need to resurrect her, not heal her.
No! Estella! One more round, she’s hasted again!
A shrill voice calls out from the wall away from the ogre, "Tarphrex says friends be ready! Tarphrex help friends!"
I think the precariousness might be referring to being adjacent to the ogre chieftain. Do your powers provoke attacks of opportunity?
Good news! I will update the map now that I know he can move.
The kobold screams out something incomprehensible as he is struck by lightning and then by a meaty ogre's thigh in quick succession and he is shoved much of the way across the room. What's clear in his voice is pain and panic. He instinctively attempts a spell, rushing through the words and gestures as he watches the newcomer.
Eyes wide, he disappears from view. Sherman feels a presence push between he and Shalelu as the tiny dragon retreats invisibly.
I will try to be more precise in my wording in the future. By ‘under’, I was referring to timing, not location - but I see that I did not indicate where at all and your interpretation was very reasonable. Your benevolence is greatly appreciated.
The mascot is in danger! Are we still hasted? Tarphrex would have had a +1 to his AC from Haste. One round of combat, a round or two of searching the first room, slipping into the hallway and the next room, it might be too late for that spell. However, my intention was for the pit to be placed immediately in front of the door so it would form some degree of barrier for both directions of the hall. With that, the attacker would not have a place to land (unless he leaps and bull rushes us in mid-air as he lands, of course, which I presume he's capable of, but it uses his standard action and prevents his attack, I believe).
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