Way of the Wicked—Book #2: Call Forth Darkness (PFRPG) PDF

Ilvani wrote:

Patrick Kropp wrote:

I worked out the Dirges of Apollyon. English is not my first language and I have done them in german. This is only the inferior translation to english. I hope it makes sense and is readable.

Can you provide me with your german version?

Ok, here the german version.

Cool danke.

Hello again my fellow dungeonmasters.
We reached the final 5 days and one encounter makes me think.

- First: How do the giant eagles attack? Will they fly into the horn? There they will be sword fodder! Oo (played this already - just wanted to know how the encounter was planned from the author)
Here some art I used for Brastius (gave him a mithral breastplate for more AC) http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/221/0/f/Harpy__s_Decent_by_sleepylie fe.png

- Second: Can Ezra move into the sanctum? I´m not sure anymore - but somewhere in the AP I read that he can´t get into the sanctum. How does he plan to complete the ritual himself? He is incorperal?

If he just lets Hextor and Vextor complete the ritual for him - hm that could have done since many years! Or at least tried. So what has stopped them from it?

Will Hextor and Vextor turn on the players too when Ezra attacks them?

Will Hextor and Vextor turn on the players too when Ezra attacks them?

The other I don't know, but this I know. If they have the control amulets, they can't turn on the PCs.

Ok, then Ezra will focus the amuellet bearer with her wraiths, then when the daemons freed, the will rampage thru the rest of the group. Oh sweet. Finally some carnage. These two daemons nearly killed everything for my players....

Hello again my fellow dungeonmasters.

We reached the final 5 days and one encounter makes me think.

- First: How do the giant eagles attack? Will they fly into the horn? There they will be sword fodder! Oo (played this already - just wanted to know how the encounter was planned from the author)

They fly into the sanctum. The sanctum is high enought to let them maneuver (it's a dome 50' high)

The sanctum is high enought to let them maneuver (it's a dome 50' high)

one of the first things my villains done: install doors. I expect nearly every group to be this smart. Install a door on the balcony in the sanctum that no flying creature simply flies in invisible and snatch the eyes! these damned doors are a really good investion. better even then their glyph of warding traps they laid out on every corner...

Moved to the right thread :)

Why couldn't ezra enter the sanctum?

I plan ** spoiler omitted **

Because the book (Gary) says so.

Ezra will never be able to break the seal for the holy artifact keeps him from
being able to even enter the Sanctum. He needs mortals.

But then... a few lines later he writes:

Once the seal is
broken, he will lead whatever wraith minions he has ac-
cumulated up to the Sanctum. He will slay all the living
creatures he finds there and it will be him who summons
Vetra-Kali back to this mortal plane. He will drain the
life out of the last sacrifice and howl the last prayer to his
banished master. He will beg for forgiveness and finding
it will be restored to once more lead a new order. That is
Ezra’s dream.

So... what is right? I play the final today and it would be nice to know what Gary thought when he wrote that up. Maybe the Seal is not as strong anymore? Why could Ezra not enter the sanctum in first place? I have an skeletal champion antipaladin (the leader of the ninth knot) and the players have a lot of undead minions. So far they had no problems to enter - but was the intention of Gary that the sigil holds out undead? Or just incorperal undead?

I never payed attention to that. I always thought that he could enter, just that he couldnt touch it, or start the ritual (he doesnt know it, to start with). You can always take it as the seal consecrated the sanctum, being impossible to enter for u xeads. But ince the ritual starts, the whole horn is desecrated so this is no longer true.

About the doors: give the avoral a scroll of passwall. :)

So my group is approaching the end of book 2

My group has just killed Argossarian and weathered the storm on the final day before the last ritual. Now only the Sons of Balentyne remain to stop the ritual.

I know in book 5 is the written the reason why the battle nuns (order of Cynthia Celeste) don´t do anything about the horn. But my players fear them since they arrived in Farhold - I told them the story about their founding and one player (a female ninja) even infiltrated them shortly to gain some knowledge. Especially the fact that the "conservated" the body of their founder makes them worry. They fear the ressurect her and she is the final encounter. I know this is not the case but maybe this would make a fine climax too? If Cynthia Celeste accompanies the Sons of Balentyne? What level would you expect her? Would that be too much? What about Abigail (the living leader of the order)?

I have 6 players and with the alchemical golem, the 2 daemons und some undead creations of the necromancer pc they are steamrolling most of the encounters. For the last 5 days (after the earthquake) the gathered all their strength in the Sanctum and the room with the staircase to the sanctum. I think the Sons of Balentyne will be swordfodder.

Forces of Evil in the sanctum:

-Mordren the Witchqueen (PC, witch level 8, mighty debuffer,belongs to the knot)

-Devilslaughter (Improved Familiar of the witch player, an Imp)

-Folnor, the summoner (PC, summoner level 8, belongs to the knot)

-Zerabasus, Eidolon (large humanoid kali build with 4 arms and burn attack)

-Skeletal Champion Antipaladin (PC, level 7 with aforementioned template, "created" by cardinal thorn after dying while breaking Balentyne, leader of the ninth knot)

-Luconarr (PC, Zen Archer Monk 8 - nothing is safe from his arrows)

-Varondil, Son of Vandermir (PC, Fighter 8, deals MASSIVE damage with 2 handed sword)

-Abdominon the necromancer (PC, wizard (necromancer) 8, turned to stone during the victors raid 80 years ago, was saved by the knot and helps them summoning Vetra Kali)

- Hextor (the other daemon was banished by the moondog)

- 2 wraith (controlled by the necromancer after the betrayal of Ezra with his feat command undead)

- 1 apocalyptic zombie hound of tindalos (controlled by the necromancer with the spell command undead)

- the alchemical golem (a powerhouse)

- Titus (ok, not of much use - he is a really bad designed NPC from a powergamers point of view)

So I tought about to gain the Sons some reenforcements! At this point I think about gain every member 1 mythic level or add some npc (maybe both).

What do you suggest?

My Report;

to patrick:

I'd use Abigail, and maybe Cynthia Celeste. Adding mythic might be worth it (specially for the paladin), but I'd use that trump card later. Also, you need *more* people in the group, and *more* actions, not better ones. PC have an overbearing amount of minions in this game.

Maybe make the group assault the horn with an army. Militia, some knights of alerion, and the warrior nuns. That way you can concentrate and play the fight of PC vs NPC, with the minions "busy" somewhere killing warrior nuns and whatnot.

One quick question here: if someone were to do a PDF that expanded on the Evil Organization rules with more actions, more trouble your group could get into, etc, would anyone else be interested in buying it? Because to me it's one of THE best articles that have been included in the entire AP.

Maybe. At the moment most of the actions a evil organization can take are mostly a waste of time.

Catching animals wasn´t that much fun. The players disliked to use simple animals because they aren´t intelligent enough to be used in the horn.
Abduct peasants... ok for what is that good?
assassination: one of the only actions that enhanced gameplay
most other actions were used for making cash $$$

Oh and mostly the DC´s are not listed and sometimes the adventure refers to organization stats that simply don´t exist!

Patrick,

My abduct peasants were used to feed several things that we made allies with thorughout the module. Had to dedicate at least 10 peasants per week to keep everything properly fed.

Hunt Beasts gave us a steady supply of scorpion poison and more food for the beasts, as well as giving us some Hydras and Owlbears for dungeon carnage.

I changed almost everything in the Evil organization rules.

I use 3 main stats: Power, Subterfuge, and loyalty. You can have 0-5 in those stats (PC start with 6 points to spend, every player that gets leadership gives +1)

Every stat has 4 skills:

- Violence, enforcement, labor, survivality*
- Espionage, crime, interrogation, secrecy*
- Competence, Conections, Rituals, conviction*
There is a governor for each area (Warlord, Overlord, taskmaster, etc). NPC add 1/2 of the governing stat (STR for Warlord for example) Rebuilding rooms in the horn also give +1 bonus to those areas (temples give conviction, torture chamber gives interrogation, Ritual Chamber gives Rituals, forge gives labor, etc)

Those marked with * work as saving throws. If you fail a saving throw, you get a -1 to the main stat (power, subterfuge or loyalty), which you can recover with an action.

Every action produce either a 1d6 unrest (unhappiness in the organization), 1d6 alert (Farnholde defenses being more vigilant) or 1d6 damage (minions dying) if succesful, or more if you fail (I let them take 10 to speed things up, so they ussually don't try things that can fail anyways). You substtract power, subterfuge or loyalty from the damage, alert or unrest. You get -1 for every unrest or alert to some (most) rolls. The unspent treasure ignores 1 point of unrest for every 2000 gp. The horn also produce 1d6 alert per week.

Every 10 minions, you have one action. Every 10 prisioners, you have an action of Labor (like rebuilding the horn's rooms, building traps, harvesting acid, or mining -I made the earth pixie room to be Onyx, and you can mine 250gp of onyx per week). Prisioners are also a resource spent in some actions (blood sports remove unrest, sacrifice increase conviction, etc) and can work as corpses for zombies too, and can be used to feed the Will O wisp or chimera.

I changed almost everything in the Evil organization rules.

I use 3 main stats: Power, Subterfuge, and loyalty. You can have 0-5 in those stats (PC start with 6 points to spend, every player that gets leadership gives +1)

Every stat has 4 skills:

- Violence, enforcement, labor, survivality*
- Espionage, crime, interrogation, secrecy*
- Competence, Conections, Rituals, conviction*
There is a governor for each area (Warlord, Overlord, taskmaster, etc). NPC add 1/2 of the governing stat (STR for Warlord for example) Rebuilding rooms in the horn also give +1 bonus to those areas (temples give conviction, torture chamber gives interrogation, Ritual Chamber gives Rituals, forge gives labor, etc)

Those marked with * work as saving throws. If you fail a saving throw, you get a -1 to the main stat (power, subterfuge or loyalty), which you can recover with an action.

Every action produce either a 1d6 unrest (unhappiness in the organization), 1d6 alert (Farnholde defenses being more vigilant) or 1d6 damage (minions dying) if succesful, or more if you fail (I let them take 10 to speed things up, so they ussually don't try things that can fail anyways). You substtract power, subterfuge or loyalty from the damage, alert or unrest. You get -1 for every unrest or alert to some (most) rolls. The unspent treasure ignores 1 point of unrest for every 2000 gp. The horn also produce 1d6 alert per week.

Every 10 minions, you have one action. Every 10 prisioners, you have an action of Labor (like rebuilding the horn's rooms, building traps, harvesting acid, or mining -I made the earth pixie room to be Onyx, and you can mine 250gp of onyx per week). Prisioners are also a resource spent in some actions (blood sports remove unrest, sacrifice increase conviction, etc) and can work as corpses for zombies too, and can be used to feed the Will O wisp or chimera.

Sounds a bit better than the original rules. :)

The gorgimera was killed and raised as an undead. So no food needed. And no questionable loyality! ;)
My players play safe... most of the time. But using the prisoners for feeding the monsters should have been made clearer in the adventure. I didn´t even thought of this until yesterday. My player used them solely for murder sacrifices after two of them succumbed to the meditations room and became mad serial killers.

Yep, the rules are working, although we focus much more in PC action than in guild actions. We leave them as a background that relate tp the story. The PC are using leadership to recruit tax collectors and corrupt wharf workers, and slowly corrupting the city.

The best part imho is that it goves a mechanical reason to spend gold in "villain stuff". Like a Trophy Room, a Treasure Vault or a shrine to evil gods. And also to spend gold in furniture, silver plates and murals: ot keeps the loyalty high and the unrest low :)

gustavo iglesias wrote:

I changed almost everything in the Evil organization rules.

...

Sounds a bit better than the original rules. :)

...

It's interesting. Whether it's better or not I think depends on your particular group. I could be wrong, but it *sounds* like the increased detail would require more time to keep track of things and decide what to do. For some groups, that could be great. If they like managing those kinds of things and really brings to them more of a thrill in terms of running their own evil organization, then it sounds like it's a great thing to implement.

But, there's a balancing act to be done. Other groups or players might enjoy just a little dabbling, making the original rules preferrable, but would find these more developed rules burdensome and a distraction from their own characters.

That said... Gustavo, if you can post your version in more detail, I'd love to take a closer look at them. I'm all in favor of tweaking game systems to suit a group of players and I like the flavor and spin you're putting on some of this.

Cheers.

Oddball question time:

For those who have their PCs use the rituals to summon forth the nightmare Carnitheria and the three hell hounds, what sort of personalities would you give them, if any?

I figure that the hell hounds aren't for much (they have INT 6 each as I recall, I'd give them standard wolf-pack tactics* with flashes of diabolical cunning), but Carnitheria has an INT of 13 and a Wisdom and Charisma to match. For a mere mount, she's pretty clever. What kind of a personality should a summoned nightmare display -- especially if she's as smart as, or smarter, than her rider?

Nightmares aren't "mounts". They are quadrupedal characters that allow some people to ride them (it's pretty much their description in the bestiary I think). Carnitheria should have as much personality as Grumblejack or any other NPC in your game, and his rider should develop a friendship or companionship of somekind, or he will not allow to be rided, IMHO.
In my game, they used the horse of Lord Havelyn. So, being twisted, it hates the knights of Aleryion with a passion. However, my PC aren't very fond of it, I think. They are six, and don't really want to bring much NPC to battle, which sometimes make them to go too much into background mode (Artephius is a very nice roleplaying possibility that my group is bassically dodging)

To Snow hearts:
I try to make it a bit more detailed, but less time consuming. I base everything on set DC, which the PC chan choose, and take 10. This helps to be able to play the turns in weekdays, through email or whatssup, and focus the game session in the RPG part of the campaign.

Bassically, every action is measured in Ranks. Each Rank is worth +5 DC. The players can take 10, always. They can choose how high is the rank they want to try (so bassically they always succeed, not needing to roll any dice. How well they do it, is what changes). If you want to feel the chance to fail, don't allow taking 10.

There are 3 abilities, with 4 skills each. There's a governor for everyone. NPC governors add half their bonus. PC add full bonus (this also helps to avoid some NPC overshadowing PC because of unnatural high stats. Such as Grumblejack STR for example).

Followers have to be paid (even those taken by Leadership), 10g per month (average living cost). Henchmen are paid 100g per month (Grumblejack, 12 knives, Vandermir, etc). The PC have to spend his living cost too (100g unless they want to live like a minion....)

You pay unkeep the once every 4 weeks.
You can execute minions to reduce unrest (killing the rebellious)
Every 2000g unspent in the treasure room, ignore 1 point of unrest. This includes magic items not used and piled there (that's why villains keep treasure they can't use :P )

some creatures have 1 living humanoid as unkeep (the gorgimera, the assassin vines, etc). This can be paid with prissioners or minions.

The abilities are:
Power:
Labor - Taskmaster (Str/con)
Violence- Warlord (Str/cha)
Survivality- beastmaster (str/wis)
Enforcement- Overlord (Str/con)

Subterfuge:
Espionage- Spymaster (dex, Int)
Crime - Crime lord (Dex, Int)
Secrecy- Master Mind(Int/cha)
Interrogation- Master Torturer (Dex/wis)

Loyalty:
Rituals - Warlock (Int/cha)
Conviction- Demagogue (Wis/cha)
Competence- Councilor (Int/wis)
Conections- Covert Man (Int/cha)

Every week, the Horn produces 1d6 alert just by being there. Every week, the minions get 1d6 unrest just because they are minions. Whenever the Horn is attacked, it gets 1d6 damage (in adition to whatever happen in RPG mode), due to desertion, collateral damage, off-screen damage, etc. Some events modify this (for example, ezequiel speech produce +1d6 alert as long as he is alive)

whenever you take damage, alert or unrest, you substract Power, Subterfuge or Loyalty, respectively. Maximum in a stat is 5.

Security reduce damage in attacks by 1 every 10 points of security (but don't reduce damage in actions, only in attacks to the horn)

The actions marked with * get -1 for every point of alert. All actions get -1 for every point of unrest.

You get 1 action every 10 minions. You get the minions given by Leadership feat (or Mastermind or Tyrant feats, which are the same but using INT or STR). You can recruit minions. The DM stablishes which kind of minions are available (for example, you can only take 100 thugs from farnholde. Beyond that, you have to take shopkeepers, bartenders, prostitutes, pickpockets, etc) Some minions can't take some actions (boggards can't do anything but violence and labor. You get 1 labor action every 10 prisioners.

Here are some actions and it's difficulties. Remember, X is the Rank. Multiply by 5 for the real DC.

MURDER*
Violence dc X
Kills a CRX, but easy to notice 1d6 alert 1d6 dmg
If fails 1d6+X alert 1d6 dmg Save Survivality

ASSASINATION*
Crime dc X
Assasinate silently CR X 1d6 alert 1d6 dmg
Fail 1d6+X alert 1d6 dmg ST secrecy

CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE*
Crime dc X
X*50g 1d6 alert
Fail 1d6+X alert 1d6 dmg ST secrecy
LEGAL ENTERPRISE
Competente dc X
X*50g 1d6 unrest
Fail: 1d6+X unrest ST conviccion

PRAYER
Rituals DC 10
Progress Summon Vetra Kali
Fail: End of Ritual (note: normally the PC can do this on their own. This action is to be made when the PC are out of Horn, somebody has to do it.

PILLAGE
Violence dc X
1d6+X*50g 1d8 alert 1d6 dmg
Fail 1d8 daño 1d8+X alert 1d6 unrest ST Survivality
HARVEST
Competente dc 15
HArvest up to 250g (poison, acid, Onyx) Unrest 1d6
Fail unrest 1d6 Dmg 1d6

GRAVE ROBBING*
Rituals dc X
Take 1d6+X corpses (or X recent corpses) 1d6 alert 1d6 unrest
Fail 1d6 dmg 1d6 unrest 1d6 alert TS secrecy

ABDUCTION*
Violence dc X
1d6+X prisioners y 1d6 alert
Fail 1d6 alert; 1d6+X dmg TS survivality
HUNT BEAST
Violence dc X
Capture CR X Beast. 1d6 dmg
Fallo 1d6+X daño TS survivality
RECRUIT*
Conections dc X
1d6+X minions 1d6 alert 1d6 unrest
Fail 1d6+X alert 1d6 Unrest
EVANGELIZE*
Conviction dc X
+X minions, Asmodeus divine casters 1d6 alert
Fail 1d6+X alert
TRAPS
Labor dc X
Builds cr X cost X*200g
Fail +1d6 unrest Cost X*100g

MAGIC TRAP
Ritual dc X
Magic Trap crX cost X*500g
Fail: +1d6 unrest coste X*250g

GUARD
Tipo: enforcer dc 10
Éxito +1 security (plus bonus depending the room, see AP) 1d6 unrest
Fallo +1d6 unrest

TORTURE
Tipo: interrogar dc X
Exito X random answers (rumours, or DM answers about things known)
Fail -1 prisioner

INFILTRATE*
Espionage dc 20+
-1d6 alert +1d6 unrest
Fail +1d6 dmg ST secrecy

GATHER INFO*
Conections dc X
X rumours
Fail TS conviction

DISTRACTION*
Secrecy dc X
–X alert 1d6 unrest
Fail+X alert

SABOTAGE*
Espionage dc X
–X alert 1d6 daño
Fail 1d6 daño y 1d6+X alert

BLOOD SPORTS
Violence dc X
-1d6 prisioners –(1d6+X) unrest
Fail -1d6 prisioners 1d6 dmg

DISCIPLINATE
Enforcer dc X
-X unrest
Fail+1d6+x unrest

LABOR
Labor dc Varies (10 to 20)
Build /rebuild 1 room in the horn Cost 500g 1d6 unrest
Fail 1d6 unrest 1d6 dmg

RECOVERY/TRAIN
Survivality dc 15
+1 Power one week
Fail -1 Power

LOW PROFILE
Secrecy cd 15
+1 Subterfuge 1 week
Fail-1 Subterfuge

ADOCTRINATE
conviction dc 15
+1 Loyalty 1 week
Fail -1 1 Loyalty

Then rooms give bonus to the skills. Temples give conviction, torture chamber give +1 to interrogation, Alchemic Lab gives +1 to rituals, a Throne room gives +1 to competence, etc.

Vis-a-vis my question about Carnitheria:

I also asked about that on the Fire Mountain Games facebook page and was told that it might be best to treat Carnitheria as a being faithful to her rider but also working constantly to bring them over to the Four Horsemen. And it might get even more fun if, when/if the party gets Helbrand, the sword and the nightmare start having the occasional theological debate over service to Asmodeus and the Nine Hells versus Abaddon and the Horsemen...

Well, after my group last attempt to foil Valiant Darian, I'm thinking about a few changes:

Well, after my group last attempt to foil Valiant Darian, I'm thinking about a few changes:

** spoiler omitted **

I brought back Timeon and Sir Balin as revenants. Just took the creature as-is, changed some of the ability scores around as per the bestiary for giving monsters class levels, turned into a fighter and an aristocrat, and will be sending the two loose on the PCs.

Also, as per the suggestion in the book, I've collected my PCs previous characters from other games where they were broken as anything good guys, and will have them fight those groups as well. See how they like it.

Hmm. In my campign that wouldt work, because Timeon and Balin are way beyond hope. But... Lord Havelyn's ghost... that might work :)

Kevin_Video -- that's one great and fiendish idea! Rather fitting too, to let past misdeeds of our budding villains come back to haunt them. And just imagine the looks on their faces as they recognize who they're fighting!

Other bizarre ideas of mine:

Have a NPC adventurer group composed of CN/CE worshippers of the Great Old Ones show up. If successful they hide some sort of medallion within the Horn that eventually allows for not just the Hounds of Tindalos to show up, but for a few allied Denizens of Leng to slip through as well. (If I ever get to use this, I'll probably be doing it for a large group.)

Also, if Callaste and/or the Moon Dogs are still around by the end, they delay their final attack long enough for the paladin and his pals to show up. They manage to hammer out a deal and attack together -- aided by the small tribe of enraged Sasquatch that the azata recruited! (What? I like Mystery Monsters Revisited; and the idea of a small army of Bigfoot attacking devil-worshipping villains in their temple of daemonic pestilence is something I'd love to see happen!)

I've wondered abut other potential complications like more problems with the winter witch and her lot (possibly she and some other Irriseni witches are trying to build up a power base because Baba Yaga's coming back), meaning she has some more support in the form of allies; and/or a feud with a local boggard tribe and its monstrous leader.

Really, there's so much room for things to go wrong for the villains provided you don't overwhelm them; this is such a fun adventure!

Two moondogs is already a tough challenge, with the abiloty to summon 2 elder elemental. Mixing them with the Sons can be quiteca challenge

Kevin_Video -- that's one great and fiendish idea! Rather fitting too, to let past misdeeds of our budding villains come back to haunt them. And just imagine the looks on their faces as they recognize who they're fighting!

Other bizarre ideas of mine:

Have a NPC adventurer group composed of CN/CE worshippers of the Great Old Ones show up. If successful they hide some sort of medallion within the Horn that eventually allows for not just the Hounds of Tindalos to show up, but for a few allied Denizens of Leng to slip through as well. (If I ever get to use this, I'll probably be doing it for a large group.)

Also, if Callaste and/or the Moon Dogs are still around by the end, they delay their final attack long enough for the paladin and his pals to show up. They manage to hammer out a deal and attack together -- aided by the small tribe of enraged Sasquatch that the azata recruited! (What? I like Mystery Monsters Revisited; and the idea of a small army of Bigfoot attacking devil-worshipping villains in their temple of daemonic pestilence is something I'd love to see happen!)

I've wondered abut other potential complications like more problems with the winter witch and her lot (possibly she and some other Irriseni witches are trying to build up a power base because Baba Yaga's coming back), meaning she has some more support in the form of allies; and/or a feud with a local boggard tribe and its monstrous leader.

Really, there's so much room for things to go wrong for the villains provided you don't overwhelm them; this is such a fun adventure!

I actually wrote a bunch of prep notes for when this scenario came up:

Add more encounters during the 31 weeks:
Let the party fight their old broken good-aligned PCs from last game.
When Calliaste attacks the PCs in Event Three, add eight celesti warriors (Realms of Twilight Campaign Setting)
During one of the later weeks, have a Revenent Balin fight the group. (assuming they kill Balin outright). Possibly a Revenant Timeon as well.
Have PCs face off against the Kodar Kneecappers (EL 7) once they've taken the horn. Then proceed as usual.
Have the PCs later come up against a retired holy crusader (CR 8), a wizard extrodinaire (CR 7), a wandering priestess (CR 6), a blackraven scout (CR 5), and a professional mercenary (CR 5).

Using the NPC Codex is going to be a blast.

The other issue with doing this though is you're giving the PCs gobs and gobs of xp, allowing them to level up faster.

Ok, FINAL day of the ritual today. Just checked the math on Sir Richard.
He misses one feat (should have 6).

Has somebody figured out his stats? I believe they are 14,10,14,10,14,16 (Pointbuy 20).

Do you think it would be a nice climax to let the nuns attack as well? The Sons of Balentyne are the strike force, the nuns fight the minions.
Maybe even Abigail raised Celeste (Level 11 cleric)? Would that be too much (consider the strenght of my group - see above)

Ok, FINAL day of the ritual today. Just checked the math on Sir Richard.

He misses one feat (should have 6).

Has somebody figured out his stats? I believe they are 14,10,14,10,14,16 (Pointbuy 20).

Do you think it would be a nice climax to let the nuns attack as well? The Sons of Balentyne are the strike force, the nuns fight the minions.
Maybe even Abigail raised Celeste (Level 11 cleric)? Would that be too much (consider the strenght of my group - see above)

I just counted, and Book 5 is the exact same. He's got 9 feats, but should have 10. I guess give him Improved Initiative from Book 5.

As for the final day, that might be too much.

You have Book 6? Oo
Or just a typo and you liked to write 5? ^^

His Damage seems also wrong! He is stated doing 1d8+28 with smite, but it should be 1d8+24 (+4 Str, +2 luck, +6 Power Attack, + 3 enhancement bonus, +10 smite)

You have Book 6? Oo

Or just a typo and you liked to write 5? ^^

His Damage seems also wrong! He is stated doing 1d8+28 with smite, but it should be 1d8+24 (+4 Str, +2 luck, +6 Power Attack, + 3 enhancement bonus, +10 smite)

Yeah, you replied before I could edit it. XD

I think the damage would be correct if he was using two hands, but he's only using one hand and a shield.

Ok, FINAL day of the ritual today. Just checked the math on Sir Richard.

He misses one feat (should have 6).

Has somebody figured out his stats? I believe they are 14,10,14,10,14,16 (Pointbuy 20).

Do you think it would be a nice climax to let the nuns attack as well? The Sons of Balentyne are the strike force, the nuns fight the minions.
Maybe even Abigail raised Celeste (Level 11 cleric)? Would that be too much (consider the strenght of my group - see above)

I'm going to do exactly that. Use the PC vs the Sons, no minions in the battle, then use the minions vs the nuns in backgroud.

I just looked at Book 5 again, and Sir Richard doesn't have Improved Initiative, but a different Improved feat. Personally, I'll still keep that feat for both this and that book. An extra +4 to init when you've only got a +1 could be important. Especially if you don't want ALL of your PCs taking out the main good guy.

Well I'm slowly gearing up for running Book 2. My group is looking forward to it... maybe not so much to encountering the 'ex-PCs' revamped that I'm going to throw at them. :)

So overall, a fairly heavy melee party (some spells and healing), but with the ability to spawn multiple summoned critters as a standard action, I think they will definitely be a very interesting fight for the players. I'm thinking of bringing in some other gamers to actually run these characters since it will be a lot of work keeping track of all this in the game.

Well, we are almost finished with the Horn. I think one or two more sessions, and it's done.

Oops we had a TPK. 2nd to last day of the ritual.

Ezra the Thrice Dammed and his 3 wraith spawn along with some super high rolls on the Con Damage drain did them in. The party already had spent resources on earlier fights. Including the Druid who did not have a way to damage incorporeal due to not having a magic weapon and having used all his magic fangs earlier in the day. The party wasn’t really set up to fight incorporeal, no ghost touch weapons and the spells casters had split levels in spell casting so they were under spell leveled.

The campaign was really fun up to this point, but so it ended in a blaze of glory.

Oops we had a TPK. 2nd to last day of the ritual.

Ezra the Thrice Dammed and his 3 wraith spawn along with some super high rolls on the Con Damage drain did them in. The party already had spent resources on earlier fights. Including the Druid who did not have a way to damage incorporeal due to not having a magic weapon and having used all his magic fangs earlier in the day. The party wasn’t really set up to fight incorporeal, no ghost touch weapons and the spells casters had split levels in spell casting so they were under spell leveled.

The campaign was really fun up to this point, but so it ended in a blaze of glory.

Now of course the question is, what happens now?

One quick question here: if someone were to do a PDF that expanded on the Evil Organization rules with more actions, more trouble your group could get into, etc, would anyone else be interested in buying it? Because to me it's one of THE best articles that have been included in the entire AP.

Yeees please. The version in the AP is good. But if it can be expanded that's a great add-on !

I'd surely pay for anything that enhances the Evilish feeling (having minions is surely a large chunk of it).

Biobeast wrote:

Oops we had a TPK. 2nd to last day of the ritual.

Ezra the Thrice Dammed and his 3 wraith spawn along with some super high rolls on the Con Damage drain did them in. The party already had spent resources on earlier fights. Including the Druid who did not have a way to damage incorporeal due to not having a magic weapon and having used all his magic fangs earlier in the day. The party wasn’t really set up to fight incorporeal, no ghost touch weapons and the spells casters had split levels in spell casting so they were under spell leveled.

The campaign was really fun up to this point, but so it ended in a blaze of glory.

Now of course the question is, what happens now?

Dunno about their group, but in my group, that often means we start a different campaign with different PC.

Yeah, we're moving onto a different campaign. Another player wants to run a home made city creation.

They were under the impression Ezra wanted to take over the ritual and complete it himself. So, the party decided to kill the only descendent of the victor to try and drive the wraiths off. They figured if they can't do the ritual no one can. So, even if they lived Cardinal Thorn would have been pissed and either fired or destroyed them.

The party should have just ran off after they felt they were outmatched. A couple of players would probably have survived. And the campaign would continue, but with them deliberately betraying the ritual the campaign ends, living or dead. I can see Cardinal Thorn Resurecting them to keep loyal followers, but since they weren't loyal there is no reason for him to do that.

Well, you guys don't have to quit the game altogether. Thorn might not resurrect the party, but you can always get another party together. Thorn always has backups. Maybe you were potential minions of another Knot, but you've now been upgraded to PCs and are now the new Ninth Knot.

My group has built an army. They have learnt, through Intelligence and espionage, that the remaining knights of aleryion, the heir of Darian, Abbess Avigail, the city watch, the warrior nuns, the raised St Cynthia Celeste, are going to assault the horn.

It's going to be a massive battle (using modified Warpath rules).

50 Soldiers.
40 Militia
100 Temple soldiers
20 Veteran Holy Knights
10 Superior Sisters
40 Warrior Priests
20 Battle Monks.
10 Knights of Alerion

vs a huge horde of
60 elite bloody skeleton (heavy armor and shield)
30 Fast Archer Skeleton
100 thugs
90 Mercenary
60 black knights
4 burning skeleton hydra
2 Ceustodaemon
1 golem
10 wights
10 Wraiths
40 dark acolytes
30 Evil Adventurers
20 bandits.
6 hellhounds
1 gorgimera.

Hmm. That sounds about even.

It is, somewhat. But the PC have stronger magic, which is powerful in the Warpath system. Fireballs, lighting bolts, and even Color Spray make a great difference.

However, it will depend greatly about the tactics. Depending what unit faces what, the outcome is very different. The wraith, for example, will destroy militia or knights with ease (being incorporeal, touch attack, and having unnatural aura that make horses run away). But will be crushed by clerics with channel energy (specially by the superior sisters and their Searing Light spells)

The elite Skeletons, having AC 23, Damage Reduction and Fast Healing, can bog down some units for the entire combat. But if they face units armed with maces, or clerical units, they are toast.

The PC have used a lot of actions in intelligence, though. So I'll deploy first to represent that. If the PC do the things right, I expect them to sweep the good guys, but probably will suffer a lot of damage in the lowbie units (like the thugs, which aren't really prepared for mass combat)

There you go, an evening of Warpath.

It went a bit slow, sadly.

That's what happened:

Players should be up to around wealth-by-level standards for this adventure, right?

Players should be up to around wealth-by-level standards for this adventure, right?

Depending on how many PCs you have, yes. The Wealth in this is figured for four PCs, one with crafting abilities to make magic items or upgrade them a bit.

I've got seven PCs so I kind of cheated a bit and gave them all items that'll upgrade themselves as they level up, so I don't have to worry about it all that much.

I think so. I just checked mines, and they are pretty close to it (although I have changed the treasure a bit as they are 6). I also gave them quite more gold, which they spent in minions and stuff not directly related to personal combat (like chaimails for all the skeletons, etc. 100 longbows mean 7500 gp... Building a brothel cost 5000+. Life style cost 100 to 1000 per months (700 to 7000 per player in the whole ritual).

However, the treasure ussually comes in big chunks in this AP. You find the Horn treasure, big bump. Then a plateu with little gold, then a big bump in the end (Tiadora's reward).

Also, take in account that they can (and probably will) gain a decent bunch of gold from the actions of the organization. If you aren't using an "evil guild", then you might need to increase the treasure a bit.

I'm in doubt about this week combat.
I'm going to concentrate the 5 days to Darkensss more into three days to darkness. I feel the PC have a TON of adventages here (including, but not limited to, a huge Dire Tiger, a Gorgimear, a Golem, close to two dozens of powerful undeads (wraiths and wights being the better ones), a half-daemon ogre, and several NPC with average to decent spell like abilities (like Titus).
If they bunker up, it's going to be too easy. Any encounter that opens the door will be instantly destroyed. So I plan to make this as a war of attrition.
They have already faced the Mud Elemental. It's 4pm of day 217. The have to make the ritual at the twilight of 217th day, then they'll have to face:

My doubt is about Argossarian and the Sons of Balantyne. As written, my PC will obliterate them. No doubt, no question. But both encounters at the same time might be a bit too much, specially with the long attrition before (it is possible that the PC find a moment to sleep and recover during day 220, but it is also possible that they can't recover spells in three days). So I'm wondering how to balance that out.

Maybe split both? With the dragon assaulting from the third level, he can divert the PC, while the Sons assault the Sanctum from the hidden stairs?

For those GM who feel the Sons are a little bit weak, specially with spell selection (Erik the Falconer has more evocation spells that he is able to cast, ever, for examle), here are the iugrades to my Sons of Balantyne: