kikkoman's page

You make your way out of the mansion, the butler still apologizing along the way. As you move past the dogyard Bumbo and the other dogs watch curiously as you pass by with one of their own, Bet'na, in your party. It is about time for your appointment in the keep, but you can see the men in the stocks suffering nearby, a stern punishment for unlawful activity. Also the location of a tunnel hangs in your minds, suggesting perhaps a secret entrance to be exploited. Your wagon is back where you left it along with your horses and everything appears to be in order.

Almir concernedly enters the scene, mumbling to himself incoherently and artisticly gesturing at the weapons. His eyes take a greenish tint.

"Yes...yes...a hasty but effective application. It would appear to be Otukwi root paste, a debilitating contact poison. Its some grace you were spared there, friend. It would seem someone might be on to your party's intentions with the keep..." he speculates. "...its unfortunate and surprising my security was unable to deflect this subterfuge. Who can say what other ways my work has been comprimised...If you'll excuse me, I'll need to investigate this incident fully. I'm sorry this happened...please come again." he seems genuine in his mannerisms and elegantly reverses out of the room.

Paellat, sorry. I feel like people aren't really reacting to stuff...probably my fault not making things cool enough.

Ah right, the holidays will probably present some good opportunities for us.

As far as a chat-based game, for me it would need to start around 9pm central US time (GMT-6) on a night when I don't work the next day. That time is crucial for minimum interruption by my 1 year old son. I know my work schedule 2 weeks in advance. I happen to have a lot of days off next week and Sunday, Monday, Wenesday, or Thursday would be good for me.

Or we can put it off until later in the adventure, either way. I just kind of want to finish this game before my classes start on Jan 10th.

Jervaise is the first to reach for his weapon in the entry hall of the Almir estate. Jervaise, your hand burns slightly and for a moment and the veins on your hand turn black, but you otherwise feel just splendid. It is a surprising sensation considering the weapon appears to be just as you left it. The butler exclaims "Good god! Have you been injured sire...? I assure you this household is not responsible...someone must've entered...no...impossible, we keep the door locked..." He concernedly rushes to summon Almir.

Paellat called it. The init was just to see who touched it first so the rest didn't need to also fall victim.

Seems great for one fighter vs a horde of low level mosters coming up to attack him.

I'm trying to understand combat patrol. It sounds like a fighter can sort of guard an area and as enemies move through the area or cast spells etc he can attack all of them until his movement runs out. Is that for real?

Yeah, no one explicitly said anything except for Paellat who obviously doesn't need to roll. But if you really don't think your character would have left them go ahead and speak up now.

After done talking to Almir, you all proceed to collect your weapons before leaving.

Notice
Roll Fortitude saves and Initiative, all who deposited them with the butler

If people do drop, we'll get creative with their disappearance. As long as there's 3-4 still playing it should be ok though, balance wise. I feel like its my fault things have slowed, I need to be better about closing scenes and presenting something new and exciting.

I've also been toying with the idea of coordinating a chat-based game at some point to sort of accelerate things. If everyone could find a time that works we could play over chat for maybe 4-5 hours some day and make a lot of progress, then come back to PbP if we haven't finished.

Regarding the specials, you would have to identify them. However, he adds...

"The potion is a restorative for use when your physical abilities have been magically drained or damaged. The scroll is hard to understand...but it will allow you to communicate with each other without speaking..." He adds, "These other potions are more...experimental...probably not suited for any practical use."

"Regarding Bumbo, he is Vendikon's brother's son...I believe he is the last surviving family member of Baron Vendikon after the others all died. He is annoying, yes, but through his simple work he at least contributes to civil order, in a way. Though I suppose that could be debated...I've heard he spends a lot of time stalking Madame Viaren, if he's behaving odd perhaps she has finally cursed him, ha."

"Ah...hmm, that could be. The Hall was also a recent addition to the town and it's not a secret at all that Vendikon follows the desperate faith. What could be there that would encourage such a connection...?"

"Good question. Often, sudden excavations like that can be trapped ice pockets melting. Our surveyors saw a new waterfall this spring from down in the pass coming out of the cliffside which might support that theory...to an inexperienced reviewer. My engineers have been doing this kind of thing for years though. Analyses of the sediment content of that water suggest that it was man-made." He seems to you all as a lecturer of sorts, pacing about. "And since we know the soil striations of this area we can also predict a path it takes. So, my strange woman, its less a matter of what I think as opposed to what the data dictates...this new tunnel leads from under the keep near the cliffside to the southeast corner of town. Now, I could offer you some "guess"...when designing a fortress new features are either defensive or offensive, perhaps escape route or weapon delivery are his intentions. It might also suggest he was at least sane enough to suspect Andoran would retaliate against him."

"Yes, yes...perhaps its ok to speak plainly with you. I do have some things which could very well aid your welcome efforts. He withdraws a small coffer with a number of small interesting items inside.

I know I said no critical success/failure on skills, but cant really help myself here, guess its in my blood. Will roll once on MAJOR random treasure tables for potions and once for scrolls in addition to the planned thing...

He hands you a potion and a scroll, and a vial of some odd oil. "I would also see your success as a personal favor to me."

I also feel like the game is seriously stalling after these last two encounters. I was waiting for people to add something because I feel like this could be an important NPC but if theres no interest lets just move on, it doesn't really matter.

"Well, if thats all...thank you for the introduction. Mr Hartleby will see you out." He pauses, giving an amused scholarly look over you all. "But...perhaps one more thing...recent geological surveys, particularly seepage rates, show signs of a large tunnel being formed recently under the keep. If a certain strong group of Andoran sympathizers were interested in taking the keep, that might be a path worth investigation..."

Those that left weapons in the entry hall will need fortitude saves upon picking them up. Then, I believe it will be about time for the appointment. You will pass the stockades on the way into the keep, they are just in front.

Almir is potentially a wealthy ally against the Baron. His family has been in town since ancient times doing mining business.

Sure, party is:

witch (debuffs and healing)
urban ranger (strong archer)
fighter1/rogue4 (two-hander intimidate)
ranger1/sorc4 (social powerhouse)
archivist (this isn't the bard subtype, but a reworked 3.5 archivist with divine and arcane spells. is a crafter type)
bard (has a wand rifle)

The fighter/rogue will likely be the only one front-lining. They are all 20 point buy. The thread is herefor more info.

And yes, he likely will be toast, but I want it to be engaging, still.

Just what it says. Needed for a BBEG, want him to be interesting and moderately threatening to a full party of 5th players. Won't give feedback since my players will probably be looking here. Just brainstorming. Thanks.

The other thing is that its not like there's CR 17 stuff out there hidden away. If you want to get aggressive the module is designed to facilitate you. The priestess for example would be a fun fight, not impossible at all...if thats something you want to do.

Also, to all, don't be afraid of doing something because you think it will make you look stupid/inexperienced as a player. First of all, I don't think any of us care, and second I'd try to make it a good thing somehow. Not saying you're feeling like that, but certainly that's something that kills me sometimes when I play...those image-type concerns or whatever. Just gotta get over it and let the imagination spill unfiltered.

Mags
Through your empathic link with Plague you sense a great anxiety...he might be getting into trouble again. It suddenly turns to a twisted form of delight. Upon his return, and in his own words, he explains that the men in the stockades are somehow hanging on...and that there is a funny old elf disturbing everyone there with his craziness.

Paellat
"Wonderful, Pathfinder. Such an appointment will have to be postponed, however, for right now I'm having trouble with the Andorans blocking my routing efforts...not to mention throwing off our predicted trollish migratory patterns. At least they can not block magical messages, it seems. Now, was there something else?"

Jervaise
Yep...in fact, depending on what you do it looks like it can get pretty overwhelming inside. There's something like 90 guards in a relatively small area, and many other dangers...

Mags
I was very tempted to start a fight in the Dead Well. In fact I typed it up, rolled for enemies and deleted it at the last moment...maybe I should've gone for it after all. Oh, and let me give you Plague's report in the main thread...

Eradarus- I'd be interested to look at a character sheet for that if you happen to have one handy.

Paellat
Dreyxnor turns his attention to you. "Ah, is that so? I have read of the Osirioni thanatopic and threnodic spell preparations...I don't suppose you are a pursuer of those arts? I would be delighted to hear your foreign knowledge... In exchange, indeed I do have many ancient records of this area...we've found many interesting things digging in the deep over the years...the Black Claw kobold tribe...subterranean fey...the expanses of Nar'Voth...yes, it would seem the Aspodell mountains hold passage to the Darklands."

So, its been about a month now, good stuff. I'd like to know what everyone's characters are thinking at the moment.

Paellat
Sorry to break the mood, but this isn't Baron Vendikon's keep, its the Almir estate, home of trade mogul Dreyxnor Almir.

Llyrann
The old man's voice cracks a bit under the weight of your presence, behind him a just-as-old woman scowls menacingly. "Well madame, you can sit in the waiting room or wait in the sitting room." He gives an old man chortle yet the solid black scowl behind continues. "But please, you mustn't bring in those weapons...its a matter of ettiquette." He leads you to a large ornate rack suitable for most arms and armor. The inside of the estate is surprisingly minimalistic and done in good taste despite the obvious wealth. Precious metals form a kind of banister leading to the chamber. After a brief wait in what you would call neither a sitting or waiting room, but rather a library, a middle-aged human softly turns the corner carrying a book and ledger. "Llyrann Stormbrow. You must be either a very foreign merchant or a wild upstart, I've not heard of your party. I would assume the former by your most-startling attire...Thuvian would be a struggling assumption. I believe you gifted Mr. Hartleby with a few more years. I'm Dreyxnor Almir. What is it you came here to talk about?"

An orange cat promptly jumps on the table and snatches the ring. They both retire to the back.

Moving on then...Almir's estate.

A tall estate made of timber, red bricks, and silver-flecked granite, oddly out of place both in its elegance and design, rises into the air like an enormous needle. Narrow stained-glass windows depict mountains and dragons, and leering gargoyles peer down from perches over the eaves. Stone-shingled roofs rise one atop another, tapering to a stark peak surmounted by an iron spike ending in a horizontal crescent moon cradling a nine-pointed star. A shadowy old man patiently opens the cold iron door. "...thank you for your interest in the Almir estate. Unfortunately Master Almir is overtaxed with managerial affairs at the moment, and is expected to be so entwined during the current "siege"... He pauses, producing a fine piece of foreign paper and quill. "Perhaps youd like to offer a message for his perusal...?"

I may be not posting much wednesday and thursday, I have to take my wife/son on an important trip. But our hotel wednesday night is supposed to have free wi-fi so I should be able to do something.

No, hes not requesting a bribe. Hes basically been uninterested in you and simply toying (subtlely hostile) to pass the time until you mentioned maybe doing something to help him (just after the diplo check).

This guy is of note because he possesses a yellow ribbon and an Andoran shortsword which are not his, therefore likely an enemy of yours. He seems to be talking about some warped philosophy of life that he believes is very much higher than the way you think, almost the way a Chelish aristocrat might...*cough hint cough*

There's not much you can do here, and its probably best just to move on to the Almir estate. However, if you wanted to bluff him into a false alliance (as I thought you were suggesting earlier), you would need to think of something to offer that meets his crazy ideas of sacrifice. Alternatively, impress him some other way. How might you impress a Chelish person? Or do something I can't predict.

Sorry for the confusion, I need to give more away I guess. I was just trying to be interesting/mysterious and get your gears turning, in short.

I guess I sort of make a big deal of it but I honestly don't care. I mean it happens to me, too, and I can totally understand. I suppose its just up to me to try and motivate things. Really no need to apologize, life is an ass-hat frequently.

Jervaise
Nothing, but its strange. It starts repetitive and becomes almost superhumanly fast. Then combined with the obsessive way he is watching the other suspicious characters it makes for an odd experience.

The half-elf smoothly jammers "Never altruism, no. You won't get it...even 'hypothetically'... Life is about sacrifice, what within yourself you are willing to destroy to move on. Common trade is so impersonal and burdensome...there's a greater transaction." He adjusts the ribbon. "This one gave up loyalty for the sake of family." He shifts his sheathed shortsword. "Here, noble ambition crumbled under fate." He at last directs more attention to you. "Everything about you can be taken or controlled, except those things which you alone must willingly let go. Thats sacrifice...thats what gods appreciate...desire, even. After all, its not theirs." He pauses. "So what was it again that you are offering me?"

Dead Well
"Are you proposing an outing? But I think your boundaries scribe a smaller area than mine...after all, you all are alone." He seems to be talking about the party. "...or is there a reason I should care about you?" His blue eyes never leave the other two, his quick fingers tap a strange rythym on the underside of the table.

Mags
When the doors opened for the priestess to come out, you noticed a small living quarters in the back. You might consider it possible to break in when no one is around, or fight the priestess when she is alone.
Sense Motive
You didn't get a chance to closely inspect the writing on a scroll, but it was likely some sort of blood pact, and pacts often involve names. His roundabout way of speaking might suggest he is trying hard not say something he wants to say.

Dead Well
The two suspicious characters continue to eye both your party and the half-elf at the table, pretending to be casual drinkers. The signeted half-elf glances from them to you. "Shy people make me angry...so weak." He shifts his seat, his demeanor electric.

*poke*

*crickets chirp*

Dead Well
"Some would argue there...some would say it is exactly the sum total of who you are. Me, I don't see the point in arguing." He takes another long drought. Its hard to gauge this strange man, he is obviously unstable and perhaps insane. He's mentioned killing people; who knows if they were innocent or not. "What is the power of language? Of symbols, like names? The answer is obvious...its like asking why bad taste is ridiculous." He grins and brushes the sweat from his brow. You notice on his middle finger a signet ring. nobility check if any are there/have

Mags/Llyrann
Looking back over things I neglected to prompt you for checks during the ritual. You would have seen an enchantment aura with detect magic, and this time it seems like the scroll itself cast a spell...or perhaps the priestess activated it.

Tavern
Jervaise, successful opposed check.
You get the feeling somethings not right with a certain pair in the crowd...they seem to be watching everyone subtlely from different locations and communicating with each other using signals.

At the half-elfs' table...
He smiles. "You know good things when you see them, as do I. I killed many people to get these nice things...they're mine now." He takes a drink. "Names are a funny thing in this town--dangerous, I mean. When you write one down lots of things can happen. I know yours now." He points at you.

The Dead Well
A 2 story construction of stone and timer towers above the rooftops of nearby buildings and rivals the watchtowers for prominence. A sign near its entrance depicts a stone well surrounded by weeds. Bronze letters affixed to the sign above the picture read "The Dead Well".

Long-railed hitching posts frame a wide stoop and tall, narrow pine doors providing entrance to the inn. Wood smoke wafts from stone to chimneys rising from the steep, wood-shake roof, carrying the promise of warmth and a hot meal within.

Upon entering, the place is packed. Sense Motive checks, both of you. A fit old man wearing an ornate dagger and wearing an apron weaves in and out of the tables, slapping drinks here and there. A quick gaze signals affirmation of your presense. In the back room, you can see some drunkards throwing coppers down a real well and laughing. From the hollars of the regualars, it seems the patrons name is "Lucky Ben".

A half-elf sitting alone in the corner grinning sports a yellow ribbon on his ridiculously fancy suit. Jervaise, you notice he is also wearing a standard issue short sword of the Andoran army.

Regarding Wild Empathy check
Bet'na visibly warms to Ilorian.
Guys, go ahead and play Bet'na yourselves. Just like Mags playing her familiar and Ilorian playing Spurger (except when shot with poison). Its your thing, but like I said she just has combat training. Jervaise you can give her a personality of your own if you want.

Jervasie
opposed roll success
You get the feeling something isn't right with Bumbo...like he's acting. Maybe its just his good looks from his noble heritage that make it odd he is a stone cold retard.

Bet'nas ears fold back tight against her body and she glances at Shenk as your biltong plops in front of her. She refuses to eat from your hand until Shenk gives her a "go on...". Then, "That's right, Bet'na...I'm sure she'll warm up after she knows youre the new owner..." He produces a leash for you. The other dogs are still going wild at the orage cats' presence, Bumbo failing to shoo it away.

Llyrann/Mags
One of the audience offers confusedly "...knowing what to do isn't slavery...", another "yes...the pact gives us at last a solid direction in life...". Obviously convincing them otherwise would take time. The priestess says to you "Its ok, you don't have to answer if you can't. I don't want to rouse you here." Bizarrely, for just a flash of an instant the image of a snarling devil enters your mind. The bell rings.
Nice RP there again, Llyrann. Continue if you wish, after the bell rings people are just standing around chatting with each other and the priestess. You guys might also see Ilorian standing outside eating jerky.

Yeah, happy thanksgiving. And if you dont celebrate it, have a nice day anyways. I'll post tonight after returning from another round of visitations...and stuffing my face.

Also, its been about 20 days now this games been going, so I'm happy that's the case. I'm always looking for feedback so feel free, even the nastiest criticism imaginable can only help.

Paellat
The stocks are located just in front of the keep's main gate, 5 on each side of the rampart leading in. They look terrible, wounds are already turning black and disgusting. They seem resigned and extremely fatigued. A small guard post lazily keep watch over them, in addition to the keeps' watchtowers.

Jervaise
"All but the latest pups been trained by myself. They're 45 gold...mother comes from a Molthune special infantry unit."

Mechanically, you'll still have to make handle animal checks for whatever, but the owner will be considered "the master" and get a -5 to the DC (so it would be DC 5 for commands for you in ideal environment). They are trained as "combat training" only. You would likely be unable to "Push" (DC 20), but would almost certainly get it to do tricks. Statistically they are Riding Dogs, CR 1/2. There are 4 adult dogs, the mother, and a litter of puppies.

Bumbo crawls out of a little shack attached to the dog kennel, apparently his home. He trips over a pile of dog crap stupidly. "What? You're a salesman?" He grins unfathomably. Sense Motive check. Shenk offers, "Eh, don't mind him...baron's nephew, I give him work here so he's not disrupting the baron. Hes a good lad, just dumb. So, how about a new friend? Bet'na! Come!" A muscular mastiff trots over and sits properly at Shenks feet.

You havent seen any other yellow ribbons. The other places you mentioned, the smithy was mostly destroyed except for 3 stone walls. The grocer was only half collapsed. The last was also partially damaged. As mentioned to Ilorian, you might notice some people debating about reconstruction and frustrated about lack of building materials.

Jervaise
Viaren's face lightens at the news. "Great, we really have to do something for them...its so cruel to make them suffer."

At the hostler...
He offers horse tack, stable equipment, riding gear, bridles, horse bits, grooming supply, halters and leads, saddles, boots, and spurs all at fair prices. PHB prices He goes on to sadly explain that all his combat ready horses have been acquired by Baron Vendikon. He also offers to groom and care for your horses and wagon while you stay, if unhappy with the arrangement at the Conquerer's Blade.

At Shenk's...
Crouched in the shadows of the tall northern wall of the keep proper, a humble shack occupies one corner of an open yard surrounded by a crooked iron fence. A row of doghouses lines the western side of the yard, while kennels occupy the space along the fence opposite them. Several mastiffs wearing spiked iron collars roam the yard, masters of their small patch of land, while younger ones pack back and forth within the confines of the kennels. A sign fastened to the gate in the southern portion of the fence reads, "Shenk's Dog Yard". A dark brown cat approaches the fence and sits calmly, cleaning itself while the dogs go crazy, which is the only thing distracting them from you. "Ay...*cough*...don't cross there or they'll getcha..." says a wiry man with a heavy lantern jaw and dark, close cropped hair. Seems he's been resting in a hammock whittling wooden animals. He lumbers over to you"Dog lover?" The dogs are still going mad, its probably quite annoying.

Mags
The door is closed but not locked. Leaving is completely possible but would be of course very awkward in the middle of this kind of conversation.

So you get the size bonus/penalties from changing size AND the bonus/penalties from beast shape description?

If you use Wildshape and change size category, do you apply the size modifier to attacks and AC, or do you leave them as they are?

The Beast Shape spell (which Wildshape tells you to refer to) does not mention altering your attacks or AC based on your size, whereas Enlarge Person does. So that's confusing!

If you look under transmutation (polymorph) it mentions that. I'm still not sure if, like for beast shape 2, you get both the bonuses/penalties listed in the spell AND the ones described in transmutation (polymorph).

I may be a bit MIA today, I work then visit family. I'm going to try to respond midday and also should be able to late this evening.

So, it seems to require plants to function, fair enough. Further question:

-If there's just one plant around, say a tree, does it still affect the whole area or only the space the plant also occupies?

Jervaise
"...secondary forge, yes perhaps so. Janderfut is too valuable to be killed I would think." She looks sad when you decline to assist the others. "Well, let me know if theres anything else I can do...Vendikon doesn't belong here. Good day."

You stroll down the road until meeting a building of brick and wood sitting at the front of a large fenced-off yard full of horses and ponies. A long stable abuts the yard, and a wide gate reads "Terron's Yard". You meet Terron Redgrove, Jr, the hostler. He seems to be selling horses and riding equipment at fair prices. "Hellooooo, there, ace! Don't be supposing you need a mount at a time like this, going nowhere and all, but think about it-a faster target is harder to hit is it not?? What do you say?! Take a look at this mare..."

Ilorian/Paellat
Perhaps on your way back to the tavern you pass near the blast site, where you would over hear engineers lamenting that nothing can be done for rebuilding while the siege goes on...due to lack of materials. Or perhaps you notice each other.

Llyrann
"Calistria?" The priestess and the crowd laugh briefly. "You mean Savored Sting? I'd say lust and revenge are the antithesis of wit and freedom...But come, clearly anyone born of another following will have a difficult time accepting anything from a foreign faith. Perhaps your doubts can be negated. What would make you feel as if you were serving Calistria better? Its obviously important to you. Come, share with the community your humble nature, please." Others chime in "yes, yes, please" and "tell us". It seems they are asking what you envision to be a fulfilling service to your god.

Ilorian
He does so, and even signs his name largely in the corner before handing it back. "Now I've a favor to ask you. In those stables isan old ash horse of mine, responds to the name of Vero...get her back to me and I'd be most grateful."

Keep Map Outside

Keep Map Inside

He adds that the "windows" are little more than arrow slits.

Bah, Asmodeus is so lame, its just like Satan. I should've changed it to something more interesting.