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"Amenopheus, when you find Cutie Pie," Xûll doesn't bother to explain their nickname for Torch, he figures someone as powerful and all-knowing as a Jeweled Sage would figure it out eventually, "Please let me know. I have made some alliances in Eto using his contacts on behalf of my faction, but I made no promises that I would spare him. "I would dearly love to be on the mission where we have our revenge." Xûll shrugs, as though knowing such an eventuality would be unlikely at best. Still, he would hate himself if he never put himself out there for such a mission. As the power leaves his body, he gives his muscles one last mournful flex before turning to Pooka. "So, until we meet again? Perhaps in the Napolis of India? Will you be coming to witness Jen's Con?"
Thanks for running, GM! I agree regarding the published materials, and when you sum it up like that, we did get a lot of info on Torch. With the other trilogy I ran over PFS (which was a good one) there were things that didn't wrap up between them. That was a direct consequence of PFS, the deadlines involved and the authors differing between scenarios. There were loose threads from the first one that Mikko admitted he heard about only a week or so before his final draft was due. I thought (perhaps mistakenly) that this was one of those times. I've also been burned (heh) by a Torch scenario before, where by publisher fiat, he gets away and reveals nothing of the background to players. Back to PFS, the sheer fact that players need to be able to dive into a scenario with no idea of previous scenarios means that the various plot-threads are hard to follow at best, or (more commonly) completely unconnected. In an AP (published material) for example, there is a total level of involvement. Same goes for the lengthier modules. For both of those, the plot generally wraps up. PFS is an ongoing campaign, and unless you play every scenario - you may never see your plot unfold. Chances are that, even if you do, you'll see it with a different character.
"Korasu, did you want to speak to me about joining the Scarab Sages?" asks Xûll, seeming to remember back to an old campfire discussion, "Do you think if I voted for the dragon, it would go against my chances for joining?" The Shoanti looks uneasily at the tengu, and mutters, "I really want to vote for the dragon..."
"Well, the other two sages we've had something to do with are the Emerald Sage and the Diamond Sage," Xûll notes, "Let's put lanterns on those two and see what happens." If no-one else does so, Xûll pushes through his post-rage fatigue and reaches up with his much smaller (but still by no means spindly) arms and does it himself.
Xûll rushes over to attack the Golem. He taps into the mythic well within himself to attack the thing twice, wanting to end it as quickly as possible before Amenopheus runs out of breath. "Guardian of Nethys, apologies for what I must do," Xûll says solemnly as he smashes it repeatedly with his amazingly hard weapon.
Warpac, that's utter rubbish. The fee is for a paid spell caster at a random city for a random spell, not for NPCs you have befriended or otherwise defeated. The lower cost is for materials when you have access to the spellbook, and the 50% extra is the fee charged by a stranger for the privilege of you peeking at their spells. It is not a compulsory fee that all NPCs have to charge. Add to that, in PFS, if you defeat the encounter, you get the loot. It's under 'creative solutions'. If, for example, your players manage to roleplay their way through a combat and successfully accomplish the goal of that encounter without killing the antagonist, give the PCs the same reward they would have gained had they defeated their opponent in combat. Bold mine. 100% sure that would include spellbooks. I'm not sure why some players insist upon bringing up rules that negatively affect their fellow players instead of trusting the GM to be a fair arbiter of such things. I find it poor form. It's even poorer form when they get it wrong.
Xûll pulls out his deity's holy... damn it, got the water, forgot the symbol... adamantine nodachi and lets the rage overtake him again. "Nethys forgive me for assaulting your creations," Xûll mutters, "And nice work on the puzzle solving, there, Toorin. I'll see if I can keep these things off you!" Xûll steps up to his companions' backs and has at one of the glass statues.
"Guardian, my name is Xûll," says the big Shoanti, moving forwards and bowing deeply, "I am here to help the Sapphire Sage and the now dead Ruby Sage, also seeking the Diamond Sage. The Ruby Sage's power is within me and I am one of her representatives in this quest." Xûll turns to the two potential recruits, "It would be best if you stayed out here. The crystal does not want you inside just yet. We will conduct our business and collect when we are done. Is that okay?" Xûll passes them a skin of water to help with their thirst.
Xûll pats Kafar on the back, "Well said, new friend. I am sure Venture-Captain Balentiir would be more than happy to talk at length about this. He was most impressed with your abilities." Nodachi drawn, Xûll heads down towards the Sanctum of the Sages without another word. He is ready to see this over with. He just wishes he could remember if he was supposed to talk to, subdue or kill the Diamond Sage. It's too embarrassing to ask Amenopheus now. No doubt the demands of the situation would make themselves clear in the end.
"They had a contract to fulfill, nothing worth killing them over," Xûll notes, "Best to get them back to Eto while they can still walk and let the authorities there either heal them or arrest them if they've broken any laws." The big Shoanti sits down and ponders the situation and re-reads the letter, passing it around to his friends so they may read also. Loyal Pathfinders, The Sapphire Sage has requested our help once more as his hunt for the lost order of the Jeweled Sages and their iconic gemstones continues. Amenopheus tells us that Kafar and his pupil Nefti have snatched two of the gems: an emerald and a yellow topaz. It goes without saying that the Aspis Consortium’s involvement in this matter troubles me deeply; I will not have them outwit us as they did my colleague, Hestia. It saddens me that such a pair of brilliant operatives may die before your mission is over, but I would sleep better knowing that they were no longer a threat to the Society. Were that they had chosen to become Pathfinders rather than pawns of the Aspis Consortium! I hereby deputize the Sapphire Sage Amenopheus to lead this expedition, and you shall assist him in his quest. Remember our tenets: explore, report, and cooperate. I look forward to receiving word of your success. Godspeed, Venture-‐Captain Norden Balentiir "It seems that killing you is well within our remit," Xûll looks over at the ex-Aspis agents, "But you have not offended me with your actions or your answers. Ah well. I guess we go to the sanctum with the gem in hand and meet this Diamond Sage. It is, after all, what our 'employer' wants. We can visit Cutie Pie after that, if Amenopheus wants. Personally, I'd be happy to never see his ruined-leather face ever again. You'd think someone as powerful as he would be able to afford a regenerate spell... at least to restore his lips." Finally, Xûll kneels beside his former quarry. "Now, while our instructions pretty clearly say that our venture captain would sleep better if you died, it also says you are quite brilliant and he wishes you had joined the Pathfinders. I think you can see now which is the better organization. Perhaps you would be willing to defect? There will be all kinds of lie detections to pass to determine if this is the case, but I for one would rather welcome a new brother than kill an enemy. Sorry, that sounded like a threat. I will not kill you, but neither can I guarantee your safety - or that we will be able to find a cure for those parasites infecting you. I will try, though, whether you accept our offer or not."
"Excellent!" Xûll claps his massive hands together as he becomes more human again , "You have no idea how many of your former comrades, and many of the other foes we face, refuse to accept the inevitability of our victory and go noisily - and messily - to their deaths. You have shown profound acumen in your surrender." Xûll strolls over and begins riffling through their packs. "So, I'm sure you have a lot to tell us. Why don't you begin at the start. Why were you after this?"
"Amarok... with all those arrows you fire, I think you'd be best suited to pop a few of those!" Xûll smiles at the monk an instant before his expression turns to one of joyous anger . Xûll stalks forwards, not in any particular hurry as his arms turn gorilla-like, stretching the tattoos that cover them in strange ways. The Shoanti taps into the legendary power that was granted to him and the others, hacking twice at the bearded man in the turban. Racial profiling was never his thing, but with four extra images of Nefti, Kafar was definitely the minority presence here.
Xûll rushes free of the wall, appreciating that the power coursing through his veins helped him to see the illusion for what it was. "Ha! Little thieves, caught at last!" he cries out, "Give up now and we won't hurt you, promise. Otherwise, we'll chase you to the ends of the world if need be." Knowing exactly how this will go, Xûll grins savagely and reaches for his nodachi... a gift from the merchants of Tian Xia.
Xûll allows a foul, black, tar-like substance to pour forth from his wand and cover his body. It exudes an infernal sulfurous smell, but his wounds begin to knit up.
"Anyone else want a go of my Chelaxian happy stick?" Xûll asks, his friendly smile belying the pure evil crawling over his body.
Xûll calls out, "Stop!" knowing full well that they won't. With a hoot and a holler, he trundles off down the path as fast as he can.
Running with my best friends:
Okay, got a few questions based on the regular chase rules. +2 for each 10ft movement above 30ft, yeah? -2 for below, too, I'm assuming. Can we attempt to challenge both obstacles on the card we're facing to move forwards 3 cards? Moving through cards is a move, action, right... if we don't want to face the card, can we use a full-round action to automatically get past (instead of spending a mythic point to pass it as a free action)? If we attempt the card and fail, do we roll again (because we're 'mired' in it) or keep moving? Or is this a simplified chase about gaining points? Can we take 10?
First, for those of you that don't know, Xull is the best GM I have gamed with... You only say that because one of your characters is 1 round of bleeding away from death. ...even though he likes to kill my characters a lot. You only say that because one of your characters is 1 round of bleeding away from death. Man, that first chase seen was a hoot! Found the thread! The game board is here. Glad you like my chases. I think they're fun and translated well to PbP in the end. Looking forward to this one!
Xûll takes the electrical blow with a smile on his lips. He wants the creature to know just how ineffectual its last effort was. The massive man moves around the edge of where he thinks the thing's spindly legs and hacks into the beast it with all his might.
Calling upon the reservoir of power bestowed upon him by the jeweled sages, Xûll manages to strike again!
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"Actually, with my long arms, I'm the only one who can reach it if enlarged!" yells Xûll, hoping that Toorin sees the sense in that with the thing 20ft up, just out of range of an enlarged Warpac, but well within the reach of a raging giant Xûll. He tries to remember what he can of his training with Aram Zey and moves nearer to the creature, staying within thirty feet of Toorin.
Xûll readies himself for whatever may come. When an enemy is within reach: Xûll hacks out at the serpentine creature with all his might.
I assumed that thing was the ramp. The red star was the rally point where I intended to pull you all up. Since it'll take 2-3 rounds minimum for one of us (other than Korasu) to ascend the cliff - all the time without hands free, I figure we should just back up and make ready for a s+~* storm (or a sand storm, whatever comes first).
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