Ulretha's page

Yeah, GMing is hard. GMing at these levels is harder. Keeping a game fresh for such a long time is even harder.

Given how long APs take, and how many life changes people can have in that time, it's amazing any of them make it.

It does seem that we have lost our focus, both within the game and about the game.

I'm fine with dropping it here. 2 and a half books is nothing to sneeze at.

"I can cover it and I've got a big lock right here," Ulretha says, brandishing Gorum's Thorn and heading toward the brewery.

"You're going to know all about worms, soon!" Ulretha declares as he calls down a blessing from Gorum for extra destructive power while swinging Gorum's Thorn.

Gorum's Thorn power attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 15 - 3 = 16
Damage power attack, destructive smite, vital strike: 3d6 + 10 + 9 + 2 + 3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5) + 10 + 9 + 2 + (3, 5, 6) = 48

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

The only sounds indicating that Ulretha has agreed to her plan are a faint chuckle, the cracking of metal knuckles and the quiet his of a sword leaving it's sheathe.

Gorum's Thorn (Power Attack): 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 3 = 15
Damage: 3d6 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (3, 5, 3) + 10 + 9 = 30

"Did she get more attractive?" Ulretha says to those that remain after Thyste gets even smaller and head out. The way he looks at one of his pouches then the direction she went in is somewhat dubious.

He does not reveal himself when they try to talk the slaves into leaving. In fact, he has little patience for people who won't put forth even the minor effort of walking out of their slavery.

"If you stay here, you're going to get eaten," he points out, though he doesn't mention who's going to eat them. He'll save that for plan B.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 9

"Come with me if you want to live," Ulretha adds his own encouragement.

Did Ben just lay a magical Thirst Trap?

Ulretha doesn't particularly like this stealthy approach. Better to face your opponents in open combat, but he understands why the weaker members of the party would prefer to do it this way.

Moving invisibly through the camp, he tries to force open the gate.

Stealth (invisible): 1d20 + 13 - 5 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 13 - 5 + 20 = 34
Strength: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Will Save (in case he sees any giants): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Ulretha takes a step back as well. That moment or weakness shames him and he rests his hand on his sword, ready to step into the fray should the dragon try to capitalize on his moment of fear, or simply if the chance to prove his mettle occurs.

He nods. "Yes, we'll finish this camp then deal with the next giants. All will fall before us."

Ulretha grunts and strokes his chin thoughtfully. "That's true. I've heard that sky cities have geese that lay golden eggs, but then you have to keep the goose alive and not eat it so it may be better to have a mine. Of course, we won't have any sla...workers to work the mine...but maybe they'll just have a pile of gold...or we can sell the rights to it to someone else..."

"Why are we even talking about this camp any more? Didn't you hear there's a magic ball somewhere that can control dragons and this bunny dragon is willing to take us to it?

"I can be ready to go to this sky castle in 5 minutes!" he declares.

"Does it still count as slaying and eating a dragon if you slay and eat it while it's in bunny form?" Ulretha asks Thyste without making any effort to not be heard by Naximarra.

"Yes! Give me the horn and I will summon a dragon and the two of us shall ride into the camp and slay every giant that dares to defy us. Only those who bend the knee to the glory of Gorum shall escape our wrath, but those who obey shall be rewarded. Each will get their own personal human slave to do with as they like.

"What were we talking about, again?"

"Gorum will favor me enough that if I'm flying around you won't have to worry about the dragon any longer!" Ulretha declares.

"Then the slaves can feast on dragon flesh and warm themselves on its steaming entrails."

"If we're in no hurry we can just keep setting them off over and over again until no one is paying attention to them," Ulretha says, in a good mood after having had a chance to get some fighting in.

"But I know you're in a hurry to free the slaves."

"That's not why we think you're crazy," Ulretha comments.

"It's a good addition to the plan. The more we know up front, the easier it will be to conquer these giants and free the slaves."

"Let's do it now. The faster we destroy this place, the better," Ulretha says.

"Assuming grandmother can keep making us invisible, freeing the slaves from their compound will be no problem. But we'll have to escort them out of the camp because there are sure to be giants who try to wrangle them. Let's have Blix tell them where the caves are before hand. They can scatter then gather there again. It'll make it harder for the giants to track them down, too. Lidia and Thyste can take that watch tower and that will give them good lines of fire with their bows and, maybe give us a few more minutes before the whole camp knows what's going on. Ben and I can be on the ground, invisible and hit any giants who come to try to stop the escape," Ulretha says.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I'm not going anywhere until there aren't any giants left in that camp. One way or another," Ulretha says, patting Gorum's Thorn.

"If stealing supplies and freeing slaves helps, so much the better."

"Well, that's one more slave we'll be saving," Ulretha comments when Lidia is out of earshot...or did he say it just loud and soon enough for her to faintly hear?

"We're going to walk all the way down the mountain with a bunch of scrawny, underfed former slaves then walk all the way back up to finish off the giants?"

Ulretha shakes his head. "No thanks. I don't mind gathering some supplies from the incoming caravans and passing it out but, as far as I'm concerned once we get them out of the camp, they're on their own. The ones worthy will survive and the rest will feed the wolves."

"It's too bad we can't find out what's going on in that mountain. It's obviously important to them. If we could disrupt it, they might scatter for lack of purpose," Ulretha comments.

Ulretha's eyes narrow into a suspicious glare at Ben's suggestion.

"I didn't come here to be a farmer. And if the giants are wasting time chasing down slaves and aren't farming themselves, they're still going to lose food. But, I'll be happy to ambush some supply wagons. We can keep those supplies hidden somewhere and guide the freed slaves to them. It'll be up to them to get off the mountain after that."

"There's a reason why you're my favorite," Ulretha says as he happily takes some plundered beer. It tastes all the better because it was stolen from their enemies.

When he is again in enough of his right mind to make logical decisions he says: "We should hit the farm, next. We've ruined their food stores, if we destroy what is being produced they'll have nothing to eat and most of them will leave instead of starve. Those fanatics who do stay will be weaker."

"If anyone would have seen me, they wouldn't have lived to tell anyone," Ulretha replied, patting the hilt of Gorum's Thorn.

He laughs, a high, cackling noise that draws the attention of the hyenas.

"We burned down half their camp. I'm sure it's going fine. Ben can turn into a bird if he needs to escape and if anyone caught Thyste, she'd make them her pet while making them think she's theirs."

Ulretha takes a few moments to enjoy the inferno that is their handiwork, then turns and leaves the giant village, heading back to their camp and looking forward to rejoining the other members of his pack.

I'm sorry to see you go but not upset that you've made the choice to stop doing something that's meant to be fun that is no longer fun for you.

It waxes and wanes for me. I'm in for at least this book, though.

Ulretha looks thoughtfully toward the temple of Urgathoa. The giants worshipping such a twisted being when they could be worshipping a deity of power and might makes his lip curl back from his teeth.

He's ready to march up there and cut it all down but with his first step a memory strikes him.

"How dare you question the laws of the Great Mother and my authority?" his sister demanded.

"You're just a boy. But I can fix that." He remembered the cruel sneer on her face just inches from his own, hopeful that he would give her an excuse to hurt him. He remembered wanting to run or grab her wrist or shove her away but the fear that any of those would make her slip. He remembered the feel of the edge of the blade against his genitals and the fear he felt.

But most of all, he remembered the rage filled shame he felt as he promised never to question her again and begged for her forgiveness and admitted his own worthlessness.

"I'll let it pass this time," she said. "Now get down there and finish the job."

He wanted to cling to the anger and finally get his revenge against the goddess that made his sister so cruel but it was the fear that won out and he went the opposite direction toward the silo.

I didn't give Ulretha scent? Poor race planning on my part.

If Lidia tells him what she's doing, Ulretha follows her and assists.

Also, to make things interesting...thanks to wearing Nargym's Steel Hand, if Ulretha sees a giant, he has to make a DC 15 Will save (Will bonus is +8) or attack it.

Stealth (invisibility, Field Plate: 1d20 + 13 + 20 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 20 - 5 = 32

Ulretha finds his work already partially done. Anyone who deals with herd animals knows that you can't let your hay get wet or it will mildew.

The giants have, therefore, essentially piled great mounds and bales of kindling against the barn.

He rearranges it a little and spreads some around to ensure that it all has a chance to catch fire then lights starter blazes in a handful of spots.

If nothing else, they're about to run out of fodder for their herd animals.

Survival: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

Ulretha ignores the disembodied screaming about how stupid it is to split the party.

"If there is enough magic invisibility and flying to go around Lidia and I can cause the distraction with the fire while the rest of you poison the beer. Maybe we'll get lucky and cause 2 disruptions," Ulretha says.

"Can't Granny make you invisible and able to fly? Both of you? You both fly in invisibly, Thyste unlocks any necessary doors and Ben dumps the barrel in. Actually, I can go instead of Ben. Although, I guess a floating barrel might attract attention. But if someone's looking you can just put it down. If there's enough spells, we can all go, but the more people who go, the noisier and easier to spot we're going to be," Ulretha points out.

"If that doesn't work, we can split into 2 teams. 1 team can ambush a patrol in a noisy way then escape while the camp comes looking and lead them away from our camp so it seems like just some random people happened upon them and fled while the other team sneaks in and applies the poison."

"Haha! We need to figure out where we can watch them fighting each other. On the plus side, only the strongest will be left for us to defeat. We don't need to bother with the weaklings," Ulretha says as the plan becomes evident.

He'll lend what aid he can in crafting the poison.

Survival or Craft Alchemy Untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 9 plus 15 is Survival applies plus 2 if it's an Untrained Craft Alchemy check.

"I can also set up some traps around our camp and elsewhere if we can lure the giants into them," Ulretha says his player remembering he has ranks in Craft Traps.

He goes out with Lidia to find some poison.

Survival (Aid): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

Ulretha's ears perk up (literally) at news of temples.

"If we shatter their false faith, it will destroy their morale," he points out.

"Especially if they have no beer to console themselves.

"The question is, how do we get in and out of the camp without having to fight everyone."

Ulretha nods.

"Tomorrow is fine. They're not going anywhere, yet."

"What?" Ulretha says as he becomes the focus of the conversation.

"You've never heard of anyone having the bad luck of being so incompetent that they fell on an oversized greatsword so many times that they died?"

He'll help find a good spot to camp then settle in for the night.

Survival: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

Ulretha sits on his rock, stroking Gorum's Thorn with Nargrym's Steel hand almost the way someone might pet a cat sitting in their lap.

"Sounds like the brewery is relatively exposed. We should begin by sabotaging it. If the army is getting a steady supply of beer, they'll start turning on each other once it's gone."

"Just follow the smell!" Ulretha says, apparently on a roll and completely disregarding the fact that he smells as bad as any of them.

"Don't worry, you've never looked better!" Ulretha declares then guffaws at his own joke.

Ulretha looks at the camp and there is a clear smile on his face. Far from being daunted by the prospect, he seems pleased by the challenge it's going to represent.

Yet, some foreknowledge will be useful so he waits for the others to prepare to scout. He simply sits on a large rock and alternately examines his new hand and his enlarged sword with satisfaction.

Ulretha takes the journey with an uncommon good attitude. He often examines his new metal hand, moving the fingers and even pinching and poking himself and it. At one point, you catch him biting it.

But that is not his only new obsession. Though it usually remains strapped to his back, he takes any excuse he can get to draw Gorum's Thorn, which is now immense, easily as long as an average sized human.

Not a few squirrels are threatened with an violently overkilled death when they make noises in the underbrush at the wrong time.

Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Alrighty...then, as soon as I procure some cold weather gear I'm good to go.

Alright...just to confirm and recap before I make any (more) changes to Ulretha's numbers, during our rest and reorganization I've -

-Consolidated the benefits of Uskroth's Armor into the Dwarven Plate that we found.

-Obtained Nargrym's Steelhand.

-Had Gorum's Thorn reforged to be large (which I believe I can wield due to the Steelhand.)

Ulretha is clearly relieved when he presses the base of the hand against the stump of his wrist. It takes a moment but the pain leaves his face.

"Once I have conquered these giants the hand shall be returned to you. And if I fall, I will find a way to bring it to you," Ulretha tells the two dwarves as he flexes his new, metal fingers.

"You have been fine allies. May you find more glory in your future."

He then goes to find the mistress of the forge. "If it pleases you, can you reforge this sacred blade to be of appropriate size for one of your stature?"

Ulretha's deference is rare but then again, she's a large, powerful, mature female so perhaps it's not all deference.

I'd like to get cold weather gear for Ulretha and the Pack and perhaps a tent if it's available. Depending on how long things take, I think magicing our way out of the upcoming challenges will be cost prohibitive.

Ulretha glares at Lidia. "Strong words from someone who hides behind me and shoots a bow any time there is trouble."

He places the bag of coins on the altar then removes his vambrace.

Given his zealotry, perhaps the onlookers expect him to hack off his hand with Gorum's Thorn. Or, more reasonably to use one of the axes or smaller swords they've picked up along the way.

They likely were not expecting what he actually does, which is to swoop down on his own wrist as though it were a choice cut of meat. He gnaws and jerks his head and arm back and forth, chewing and ripping his own flesh until his hand falls free.

He staggers a bit but picks the bloody appendage up off the floor and tosses it to the Pack, which then tears it apart in a snapping, snarling mass.

"I'm ready," he says, then, holding out his remaining hand for the Steelhand while licking his own blood off his muzzle.

Ulretha scowls at Ben and Lidia. "That's what I was trying to do! But either Blix's god or his faith in it is too weak to cast that spell.

"If Umlo will take the coin to regain a hand in return for the Steelhand then I will gladly part with it."

Player Name: EbonFist
Character Name: Ylosani
PFS ID: 143948-10

Faction: Sovereign Court
Speed: Normal.

I'm good with cutting the dwarves loose. The only reason Ulretha has to keep them around is to find someone with high enough magic to replace Umlo's hand when Ulretha chops off the Steelhand.

But, the point is there. We rarely use them except for Blix's healing magic.

Hey guys, I'm going on vacation starting tomorrow and won't be back until Wednesday. There's very little chance I'll be checking the boards or posting during that time.

Feel free to bot Ulretha and the Pack, as necessary.