Variel Duardlon's page

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Cool. I'm looking at the player's guide and trying to get inspired for a concept or two. I'm thinking I may work up a variant on a bard/cavalier I used to play, possibly going toward Battle Herald.

That sounds great! We will await your review! :-)

It's a combination of previous Chaotic Stupid nonsense regarding evil characters, personal reluctance to be evil even in a tabletop game and a major dislike for House Thrune for me.

That's me, as well. I just don't have any interest in exploring the evil mentality, either in my own character or those around me.

So reading through the guides, I think I would set my preference in the order of Tyrant's Grasp, then Strange Aeons, then War for the Crown.

I've avoided Iron Gods, and I typically like to keep my science fiction and fantasy separated. I have no interest in playing an evil campaign. I could probably get into Strange Aeons, War for the Crown, or Tyrants Grasp. I'll download the players' guides for those and see what I think.

Do you think that "Fast forwarding" this section and going straight through to the next would work? If you've previewed the next chapter and it's more of the same, then clearly not, but if it resumes more like previous sections, maybe that would be an option?

I was noticing that this seemed to be a very difficult bit of story. Investigations are rough, and more so when you're having to work around strangely written module text. I was wondering where this was going, and if it would get there any time soon.

I'm currently playing Rise of the Runelords, so I think I wouldn't want to start Return until that is done. I might be interested in another game, though.

Varelle is noticeably uncomfortable around the mounts. "I have never gotten along well with creatures that don't speak..."

Handle Animal (untrained): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

So I was looking at my abilities, and had totally forgotten that my familiar can cast commune once a week and get 6 questions. If we're having difficultly figuring things out, we might try to make use of that. We would pose up to six questions that can be answered yes/no, and the answers would be from Calistria (or a divine servant of hers), so would be from that perspective.

OK ... I'm not sure what we need to do now, in that case. Do you want us to describe how we're handling our mounts, or are there going to be specific challenges we need to address?

Also, I just confirmed ... Giant Spiders have a climb speed of 30', so Lash will be able to stay with us without having to change shape.

Varelle looks down the hole. "I'm no good on a drop and can't fly, so we either walk or get a ride. Given who we are, I believe walking would be conspicuous if we don't have a good reason. Let's find a conveyance. While we're at it, we can see if anyone has seen driders coming and going recently."

Unless there is an objection, I will look around to see how others are making the trip.

I was asking about the driders because if they would have taken the long walk, that is how we should go to see if we see any clues along the way. If the would have dropped down the hole, then we should figure out the best way to do that ourselves.

Question: How would the driders have gotten there? I doubt they can use mounts or fly/levitate, but are they capable of climbing down on their own?

I believe we are going to the duergar bar.

Thaddeus was responding to me, so I was waiting for everyone else. :-)

"I have nothing else here, but we may return."

I could have sworn I posted something ... it's possible I never clicked "submit" and then turned off the PC. :-|

"Driders at a Duergar bar? That seems an odd combination. Perhaps that is worth investigating."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31 Lash has +11 so automatically succeeds at aid another, if allowed here.
Varelle steps up to the female drider and stares her directy in the eyes. Her giant spider steps up behind her, also looking toward the drider.
"You will tell us what we need to know. Our displeasure is nothing compared to what will come after if you do not."

"Tell us everything you do know ... when did you last see them, were they behaving oddly, has anything about your living arrangements changed recently?"

"That doesn't actually answer his question. Do you know where those three are right now? We hope to find out from them what they might know about their missing brethren."

Varelle frowns. "Do we have a way of communicating if any of us run into difficulty? We did not anticipate trouble just coming to speak with this drider, and yet trouble found us nonetheless."

It's probably easier on Spiderbeard if we do one thing at a time, anyway. :-)

"Let us go to the driders' den. If there are any clues to be found that might deteriorate over time, that is where they would be."

"I wonder if it is possible some of these things got into the missing driders? And how we might discover evidence of them in anyone else other than by opening the skulls?"

Turning to the drider on duty, she asks, "Have you had any new foods or items brought in recently? Something that might have carried parasites like this into the house or barracks?"

Understood! People are up and down like whack-a-mole around here with spring colds/allergies/bronchitis ...

Varelle gives an annoyed glance to Fiona. "Of course, cousin. But first, what do you make of this?" She points to the grub crawling from the corpse.

How large is it? Are there any knowledge checks to identify it?

Mutt, how hurt are you? I have a couple of CLW's available to cast as well as a scroll or two and some potions. Has anyone managed to acquire a healing wand?

Varelle goes to where the defeated irnakurse are being cleaned up, and pokes around to see if there might be any visible physical clues on the bodies that might explain the odd behavior. Her man-sized spider companion joins in.

Casting Heightened Awareness, then take 10 for 30 Perception. Lash Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Spellcraft vs First Daughter: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Varelle blinks as the First Daughter says a word and destroys an irnakurse. She doesn't have time to think, though, as there are still more requiring attention.

Maintain Judgment and Bane, accept Inspired Rage, full attack.
Primary attack: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30 damage: 1d3 + 16 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 16 + (4, 5, 2, 4) = 32
Iterative attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35 damage: 1d3 + 16 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 16 + (3, 6, 4, 5) = 35
Spirit Mote: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

With the doorway no longer blocked, Varelle races into the next room, stares at the innakurse for a moment, then cracks her whip.

Swift to activate Bane, move and attack. Accepting Inspired Rage.
Attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20
Well, that was a well-used round of Bane. :-|

Spirit Mote Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Actually, the opposite:

A bloodrager can end his bloodrage as a free action. When the bloodrage ends, he’s fatigued for a number of rounds equal to twice the number of rounds spent in the bloodrage. A bloodrager cannot enter a new bloodrage while fatigued or exhausted, but can otherwise enter bloodrage multiple times during a single encounter or combat. If a bloodrager falls unconscious, his bloodrage immediately ends, placing him in peril of death.

While stunned, you can't end your rage even if you want to, because you can't take actions. I had a barbarian get stunned for a long stretch of combat, and ended up using up all of his remaining rounds before he got free. *That* sucked.

Waiting to see how those two attacks do; if it goes down, I'll be moving into the next room.

I was sick Sunday and Monday, and am doing some catch-up at work. I will post something later today.

Varelle moves to the side of the giant Zov and cracks her whip.

Active Judgment of Destruction (+4 damage) and Justice (+2 attack). Accepting Inspired Rage, move and attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25 damage: 1d3 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Knowledge (Dng) + Monster Lore: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
"It was my understanding that these wretched creatures do not attack drow. Of course, it was also my understanding that driders do not simply disappear, so things are already strange here."

Varelle draws out a whip and mutters a spell. "เหล่าทวยเทพโปรดปรานฉัน"

Move action to draw, cast divine favor, 5' step.

Rather than the scorpion whip, I am now using a standard whip with the deadly enhancement, so it has a 15' reach.

She killed the only witness without finding out what he knew ... either her rage is greater than her intellect, or she is somehow complicit. Either way, useful information.

"Are those other Azinrae driders on duty anywhere now? Or are they at your cave?"

Sorry on my end ... I've been alternately tied up with issues at work, and starting the process of buying a condo. We put in an offer this weekend that was accepted, so now we begin the inspections and paperwork.

I'm jumping back into Monday Morning Madness at work. Hopefully Fiona will be up to thinking about a proper post; if not, I will try to do so later today if I can get some time. :)

Sorry, I came to post yesterday, then got distracted at work; by the time I was done, I had forgotten about it and then my "new message" flag was gone. :-O

Varelle, followed by her giant spider, looks around the ballroom as they enter. As Thaddeus responds to the drider, she simply watches and listens for his response, observing his mannerisms and speech pattern.

I haven't said anything else as that felt like a segue ... was waiting for the next scene to start. ;-) I'm good with going to the ballroom to see what we can see there.

"The ones that disappeared from guard duty -- had they been seen at their post at any point, then were gone, or did they simply never arrive? That will make a difference on where we start investigating."

In the interest of expedience, I'll list several questions. My intent is to let him answer each one, not to rapid-fire them at him like a drill sergeant. :-)

Varelle looks with disdain on the Paingiver as he describes his problem. "I would guess that either your discipline is lacking and they wandered off, or your driders are poorly trained and got themselves killed. We can investigate which is the case. Did they disappear from within the compound, or were they out on some errand and failed to return?"

When the Second Daughter mentions the paingiver "losing driders", Varielle looks closely at her. Activating Discern Lies as an immediate action after she makes the statement, to determine if that is actually true or if she is lying to see what happens when we go to Drovoanis.

That works for me, it sounds a lot more interesting. And if I think of anything to add, I will chime in, though Fiona is doing a great job.

Fiona, nice post. I have to admit, intrigue is not my mind-set, so I'm glad you were able to come up with that. I can't even think of anything useful to say ... :-|

I won't allow the take 20 because the "we're from a far off city" lie is being made up on the spot, even if you've done research in advance.

Just to be sure you are aware: in this case, the Lore Master take 20 is a class feature that is explicitly a standard action to suddenly recall knowledge. That may or may not make a difference, but I wanted to point it out in case you weren't familiar with it.

Umberweb has possibility, especially since I am wandering around with a giant spider myself.

Here is what Variel has figured out:
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Not much, really. ;-)

The same would apply to me for all social skills.

Varelle rises with a look of tired disinterest. She follows behind Yasraena, with her giant spider just behind.

"The information may prove useful as we interact with them in the future. Lash will be able to point them out when she sees them."

Understood! Rest up!

Since I do not have any mental communication with Lash beyond a general knowledge of her emotional state, assume she stays long enough to get an idea of the conversation, then returns to report what she's heard. We can't respond to it until then.