Utnapishtim.'s page

Added my name to Rise of the Runelords.

Checked. Confirmed. Thank you!

Thanks for the game, everybody!

Thanks, Aerondor, for running it. :-)

Name: R Diaz
Character: Utnapishtim
PFS#: 60243 - 21
Faction: Silver Crusade

This is the first scenario for this character.

No day job.

Utnapishtim adds to his notes about the not-mushrooms' behavior. Then he follows Ebonfeather.

I don't mind. Either way works for me.

Well, Utnapishtim failed his previous Knowledge(Dungeoneering) check. So, he doesn't know what the not-mushrooms are. :-( I also removed the rats from the map.

"Micky! Minnie! Jerry!" Utnapishtim exclaims, "No!"

Since the creature did something aggressive, I assume we're now in initiative?

Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Once the rats have been summoned, Utnapishtim will wait and observe if they try to eat the non-mushrooms. Rats are scavengers, after all, and should take advantage of the opportunity to obtain some "found" food in the absence of any enemies/predators.

Just having some RP fun, since we seem to have hit a slow point in the game.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 13

"I'm glad you so eagerly agree!" Utnapishtim replies. "I didn't know that you enjoyed intellectual discovery, too. Do you happen to have anything that might aid our research? Tools? Vials? I'd like to take a sample of these not-mushrooms back to the collection of slimes, molds, and spores in Kreighton Shaine's office at the Grand Lodge." He then goes on about fungi...

I'd wager that my previous Knowledge(Nature) roll of 26 is sufficient to know that this is not, in fact, fungus. Though Utnapishtim doesn't know exactly what it is because he failed the subsequent knowledge check.

Utnapishtim finishes taking meticulous notes about the not-mushrooms.

Since we've been "stuck" here for over a day of real-world time, I'm going to nudge things along...

Utnapishtim has an Int of 20. He's not cruel and would not sacrifice summon creatures casually to set off traps and the like. He is, however, intellectually curious. Since he wasn't able to identify the not-mushrooms, he will use Summon Minor Monster to see if 1d3 rats think that the stuff is edible.

"Colleages," Utnapishtim addresses the group, "shall we conduct an experiment to see if we've discovered a new species of funus?"

Utnapishtim takes a 5-foot step and starts summoning.

Number of Rats: 1d3 ⇒ 3

I've labeled where they will appear on the map, next round. Because of his Varisian tattoo, he casts summons as a 2nd level wizard. Because of Summoner's Charm, his summons lasts an extra round. Therefore, the rats will be in play for three rounds after they appear.

I took the liberty of moving Ebonfeather to 20 feet away from the mushrooms.

We're out of combat, so...

"Mushrooms?" Utnapishtim asks.

Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

"Oh! You're right! The do seem unusual. We should note this in our journals," he adds.

Because, out of character, I know what this is:

Knowledge(Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Ugh! on the Dungeoneering roll. :-\ Though I suppose it might still be usable--depending on whether this is a 5+CR or a 10+CR thing.

You are welcome to be in front, Ebonfeather.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Since at spellcraft checks were high enough to identify the ring and amulet, and we are out of combat, Utnapishtim will move things along by trying to open the concealed exit.

We still have a week. We're likely to finish by then, I think.

No problems with the Aug 14 deadline for me. :-) Thanks for checking, though.

"Colleagues, there seems to be a small concealed exit from this dead end cave. Shall we gather the ring and amulet and proceed?"

Standard Action: Utnapishtim readies an action to aid another if Ebonfeather or Kerastes engage the remaining Zombie in melee.

Aid Another: 1d20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 + 2 = 11

Giving whoever wishes to strike first a +2 bonus to their attack.

The aid another does happen because the -2 Str is offset by the +2 flank--hence the straight up d20 roll. Utnapishtim enjoys the benefits of flanking, too.

I moved you 5 feet.

Utnapishtim moves to provide the flank.

Aid Another: 1d20 ⇒ 10

+4 to Smarmy's next attack. +2 from the flank. +2 from the Aid Another action.

Utnapishtim holds his action.

He's only trying to dodge the zombie. His blow might have taken out the skeleton, and if not then the skeleton has to roll twice and take the lowest to hit him... Due to the hex.

Yup. You're right. I didn't notice that you're using a warhammer. My bad.

Behind the conga line, Untapishtim can barely see the enemy. He passes this turn.

Smarmy, as you requested, I moved your token. However, I believe you have to make 2 acrobatics checks because there are two enemies that can attack you with (once skeleton, one zombie) two (potentially) different CMDs. Their CMDs both have a +2 modifier because there are two enemies. From the official FAQ:

Acrobatics allows you to make checks to move through the threatened area of foes without provoking attacks of opportunity. You must make a check the moment you attempt to leave a square threatened by an enemy, but only once per foe. The DC (which is based of the Combat Maneuver Defense of each foe), increases by +2 for each foe after the first in one round.

—Jason Bulmahn, 11/24/10

Source: the official Pathfinder FAQ

Thanks, Smarmy.

Aerondor, I was counting it as soft cover (+4 bonus to AC) because there are multiple allies in the way. In real life, that would make for a very confusing jumble.

Kerastes wrote:

DC = 1 weakness / defence

Was meant to be read as:

If you match the DC of the knowledge check then you get access to one weakness or defense. ;-)

:-)

It's a moot point. But I think you will run into table variance on that. Just sayin'...

Move Action: Join the conga line, leaving a space for Akvius.

Standard Action: Acid Splash

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 4 - 4 = 8

+2 for Dex, -4 for melee, -4 for cover

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Free Action: Utnapishtim blathers on about zombies and skeletons, their attacks and defenses, and why Saranrae and Pharasma hate them.

First, the GM has already allowed it, so this is a moot point. But:

DC= 1 weakness / defence

For each +5 you remember one extra.

That is incorrect. There's no DC 1. Rather:

In general, the DC of such a check equals 10 + the monster's CR. For common monsters, such as goblins, the DC of this check equals 5 + the monster's CR. For particularly rare monsters, such as the tarrasque, the DC of this check equals 15 + the monster's CR, or more. A successful check allows you to remember a bit of useful information about that monster. For every 5 points by which your check result exceeds the DC, you recall another piece of useful information.

source (emphasis added above for readability)

There will, of course, be table variance in PFS. But, a lot of judges / GMs treat 'a bit of useful information' as the successful identification of the monster. (That is useful.) Defense, Offense, and Special Abilities are often treated as +5 pieces of information. (This was frequently the case at PaizoCon, for example.) Some judges won't even let you pick which bit(s) of extra info you get because memory / recall isn't that specific.

Again, no knock on anyone here--especially for something so trivial. As you put it, this is ultimately the GM's prerogative.

not technically sure he should even know that

However, the fact that he was hesitant exemplifies the point: the assumption of a successful knowledge check was borderline in this case.

GM's prerogative to say that zombies and skellies are very common and therefore DC5+HD ;-)

Perhaps. But you cannot get above a 10 on an untrained Knowledge check. Therefore you could not have exceeded the DC by 5 or more to get to know defenses.

After putting away his notes, Utnapishtim follows Ebonfeather.

Ah! Nothing like the smell of "old death" in the dungeon! :-)

Nice touch with the 'speaking' of the water ripples. I'm going to use that when I run this for my local lodge. :-)

"Pathfinders, shall we investigate those 'creatures' once we're done here? Would you like to go east or west?"

"Uori, thank you for welcoming us here. Please tell us about these unfriendly creatures."

"I have heard tell that this is a model of the City at the Center of the world."

Now you notice it, the model does look a lot like Absalom.

Taking notes about the model and the gillman, Utnapishtim asks, "Uori, may I please approach? I'd like to take a closer look at the city."

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Who's the party face? Who has is the best spoken? Smarmy?

"I, too, am ready."

Knowledge(History): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"Aha!" Utnapishtim says, "Now this work is more to my liking!"

He pulls out several sheets of parchment to:

1) Draw sketches of the petroglyphs.

2) Take rubbings of the carved reliefs.

3) Make careful notes about the weathered inscriptions.

Anyone want to make some aid-another checks for Kes with the swim? A couple of successes there and we can more or less assume he gets out without trouble.

Since we're on another attempt, I'll try to aid another with my staff again.

Utnapishtim reaches out. "Grab hold!" He says.

Aid Another: 1d20 ⇒ 5

But he's distracted by the slipperiness of the pit's edge... :-|

Happy to lie down at the edge of the pit and extend my staff, if the GM will allow that as an Aid Another action for the swim check.

"Kerastes! Grab hold!"

Aid Another: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Ouch! Not so much assistance there...

Jeeze, what time zone are you folks in? Go to bed, get up and head to work, and lots of activity!

US Eastern time zone. Same as New York City. I'm in the Boston area. :-)

I am also trying to play to his (lowish) Charisma, so he is not the most subtle at times.

Cool. :-)

I am not a big fan of water, not the most graceful of swimmers. Any ideas?

"Have you a grappling hook or rope, Ebonfeather?"

"I tire of waiting, action is called for!"

LOL!

"Don't you want to examine this bundle?" Utnapishtim asks with a puzzled expression. "After all, our mission is to 'travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages' and 'learn what the gillmen are up to.'"

"This could be a clue. Those webbed footprints are recent, and they passed this way."

Not wishing Akvius to be on the other side of the pit alone, Utnapishtim also backs up, runs, and jumps. (After all, he could lower his staff to fish for the bundle from either side.)

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

"Someone can toss us a rope if they need help to get across."

Questioning her rulership is not only detrimental to this assignment, but placing oneself above the leadership structure is a dismissal of the Society as a whole. You might want to rethink your application to the Society if you only want to follow your own instincts.

Just RP'ing here. :-)

"I do not claim to be above anyone. But neither will I blindly follow orders."

Whilst traveling down the tunnel, before the party discovers the pit, Utnapishtim cites chronicle after chronicle, where a Venture Captain or a high-ranking Society member or a Society ally turned traitor--and where following orders would have resulted in the death of multiple Agents. I won't actually post specifics here to avoid spoilers; I don't know what you all have played or haven't played. Again, I can tone down his fanaticism if it detracts from the game. :-) I also recognize that Kerastes is Lawfully aligned, so I'd rather avoid an in-character feud.

It looks like there are some old spikes down there too, it could be the bundle is caught on one beneath it.

Utnapishtim pulls out his quarterstaff and pokes at the water.

GM: If he lies on his stomach and stretches out his arms with the staff in his hands, can he reach the bundle? If so, he'll volunteer to have a grappling hook affixed to the end of his staff to grab the bundle.

Next time someone in charge tells you to do something. DO IT.

Utnapishtim capitulates and heads towards the cave. Then he pauses, turns, and says:

"Janira, I am glad you are well. However, you well know that if every Pathfinder agent followed orders blindly, the Society would have fallen long ago." Utnapishtim makes references the chronicles he has read: "The Eyes of the Ten", "The Traitor's Lodge", "The Sealed Gate", "Rivalry's End", and many others.

"If we don't show loyalty to those with whom we serve in the field, then all our exploration and reporting will be for naught. Perhaps that makes me a poor example of a Pathfinder, but I will not stand idly by, nor will I flee in while a comrade faces mortal peril. I would hardly call such behavior cooperation!"

Utnapishtim stalks off to the cave.

Just having a little RP fun here. Utnapishtim is a bit naive and fanatical about the Silver Crusade. I'll tone down that aspect of his personality, if need be. :-)

@Prof, could you pick a profile pic, it will be your avatar on the map, you will be able to move it around.

How's this one? :-)

"Nice shot, Kerastes!"

Ugh, d20 mentions its ok if the GM allows it. http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/mudball

If mudball isn't allowed I will use earpiercing scream on it.

Sadly, D20PFSRD isn't a "PFS legal authority" since they purposefully include 3PP material. The bit you reference is for home games...

You may wish to post the DC for your ear piercing scream.

since it is blind, you could sneak if within 30 ft

It's not blind.

Swift Action: Shift(Su) 5 feet south west (2nd use of shift out of 8 possible uses today)

Standard Action: Grease. (Specifically, on the minotaur's greataxe.) Reflex save: DC 18. Duration: 2 minutes and 1 round.

Free Action: "Run, Janira! Get out of his reach!" Utnapishtim suggests that she does a full withdraw action.

Move Action: Move 30 feet north.

Not trying to stir the pot here, especially after GM Aerondor just told us to chill. But, mudball is not legal for a non-goblins to use in PFS:

Link to additional Resources

To create an dhampir, fetchling, grippli, goblin, ifrit, kitsune, nagaji, oread, suli, sylph, undine, vishkanya or wayang character, you must have a Chronicle sheet that opens the race as a legal option at character creation.

Note: Alternate racial traits, racial archetypes, racial evolutions, racial feats, and racial spells are only available for characters of the associated race.

Mudball is a goblin racial spell, per the Advanced Race Guide, Page 119.

Also, link to the Advanced Race Guide's goblin page on PRD.

So tempting to point you to a technical mistake, but I will let it slide :P.

Please, feel free!

Thus far I've noticed that I cannot flank with Summon Minor Monster, thanks to Smarmy correctly pointing it out via one of his aliases.

I've also noticed that you cannot hex the minotaur with either Evil Eye or Misfortune since you're more than 30 feet away from it.

Sources: Evil Eye, Misfortune

Anything else?

You could have just pointed out you used your shift ability from the wizard line

I did. By using (Su) when I made the original post.

No need to be agitated though.

My language has been very polite. The bold tags were applied for ease and readability.

You can't do a swift 5 ft step if you just moved though

It's not a 5 foot step. It's shift. I specifically called it out in the text of my post. I even used (Su) to differentiate it from a 5-foot-step. It is a supernatural ability. Here is the text:

Shift

Teleportation School

Associated School: Conjuration.

Replacement Power: The following school power replaces the acid dart power of the conjuration school.

Shift (Su): At 1st level, you can teleport to a nearby space as a swift action as if using dimension door. This movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity. You must be able to see the space that you are moving into. You cannot take other creatures with you when you use this ability (except for familiars). You can move 5 feet for every two wizard levels you possess (minimum 5 feet). You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.

You can't do a swift 5 ft step if you just moved though

Delphine. Pardon me, again, but your interpretation of my swift action during Utnapishtim's last turn is incorrect. Since the GM asked us to move rules chat to the discussion tab:

1) See my response there.

and

2) I appreciate that your post was in the spirit of keeping everyone honest and playing by the rules. However, this is the 2nd time you've tried to correct me with erroneous information. Please stop. Let the GM adjudicate.

Thank you.