Veren would not fall for suggestion that the survivor might not have survived - he'd have to see the body to believe it. If the group wants to proceed to the caravan he'll get himself some liquid courage and begin searching by himself. (I could either make a new character or if Chris is willing he can have a solo thread running for Veren until he rejoins the party or finds an untimely death.)
What I'm not sure of currently is the number of survivors. From the description only Farran and Gorbit's bodies were found with one track of foot prints suggesting one survivor (Valgara) - but the party, from Veren's perspective, also included Zhettiah, a centaur.
Veren would not fall for suggestion that the survivor might not have survivedWhy does everybody jump to ascribing deceptive motives!? Sheesh! Isn't there such a thing as trust in humanity!?!? ;-)
i wasn't mentioning that in the context of deception, given what we can guess about that encounter, that seems a reasonable appraisal from durnast's perspective.... in durnast's expectation, both groups are already dead...
From a meta-gaming pespective, if we do split up, it doesn't actually matter if it is 'equal' groups or not, if each group will encounter APL-appropriate encounters. So no pressure either way, I guess. Though I'm more for keeping a group together, especially if we're supposed to be bringing Veren into the game.
Rasina's whole plan depends on Alia traveling with the group going after Veren's friend. Alia says she will not do it. So, I don't know what to do here. I know Mikka has ranks in survival, but not the track feat, so we are screwed if Alia doesn't go with us.
Don't get me wrong, I hate the idea of splitting the group, its just I see no other alternative. If there are survivors in both places, we need to split up to try to save both groups.
This is where not having a party leader hurts us, here.
I think Rasina would go with Veren, although it would be a close call
I know Mikka has ranks in survival, but not the track feat, so we are screwed if Alia doesn't go with us. ...If there are survivors in both places, we need to split up to try to save both groups. This is where not having a party leader hurts us, here.
What do you mean? I AM the party leader! Do you have a problem with that!? ;-)
FYI, If you're worried about making a tracking roll, you don't need the Tracking Feat in order to track, it's just that Rangers get a bonus to Survival checks (PRPG doesn't HAVE any Track Feat for Rangers to get in the first place). If you can convince Mikka to go, you should do OK with her +14 Survival bonus and everybody else Aiding Another.
And BTW, I don't think anybody, EVER, has discussed rescuing survivors from Gurg's caravan. The only discussion has been giving a proper burial or something, along with investigating clues. If that assuages Rasina's morals :-)
What do you mean? I AM the party leader! Do you have a problem with that!? ;-)
FYI, If you're worried about making a tracking roll, you don't need the Tracking Feat in order to track, it's just that Rangers get a bonus to Survival checks (PRPG doesn't HAVE any Track Feat for Rangers to get in the first place). If you can convince Mikka to go, you should do OK with her +14 Survival bonus and everybody else Aiding Another.
And BTW, I don't think anybody, EVER, has discussed rescuing survivors from Gurg's caravan. The only discussion has been giving a proper burial or something, along with investigating clues. If that assuages Rasina's morals :-)
Well, excuse me party leader, he he. I forgot about the PF change with the track feat. I did get the same impression, about there being no survivors, but Rasina is an optimist, he he.
If Alia won't go with us, then Rasina would ask Nadeq to go with her. It would weaken both groups, balance wise though.
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Is there anything I can help with, to resolve the situation?
While Artimus agrees with Alia, that splitting the party the night before last contributed to Cylan and Chyressa's deaths, there's a difference between two people lulled into a false sense of security, and four people on their guard. "Indeed, after meeting Montegue yesterday morning, we were ready to brave the desert with the strength of four."
We do know that at least some things survived the attack on the caravan: the horses made it back to Camp, with heavy scratches but otherwise fine.
If it helps sort things out, there are several power groups active in the Desolation. Kroma, or something pretending to be the fallen dwarven prince, is one of them, the aranea was another, but there are plenty of other things going on out here. And so far, nothing has suggested that Kroma's activities are new or recently increased. He's a concern out here, but don't go thinking that he's the Red Skull to your Captain America, secretly behind every plot.
Let's try it this way: are either the people who want to find Veren's old companions, or the people intending to press on to the Bard's Gate caravan, willing to set that goal aside for however long it takes to accomplish the other? If so, there you go. If not, then it sounds like splitting the party even reluctantly, is the best of bad options.
The goal with stronger evidence of actual survivors is the one with the ticking clock.
The goal with stronger evidence of actual survivors is the one with the ticking clock.
Yeah, I agree with Mark here, Rasina would do this for that reason only, but she does respect Montague and Alia's wishes, which is why she advised splitting the group to begin with.
Chris, I agree with you it is a bad option, but if there is a chance of finding survivors at either location, we need to take that chance.
We don't know how far away the caravan is, and we don't know where the survivor fled to. Which is why i wanted Alia to come with us.
Alia, it is dangerous, but then again everything in the Desolation is lethal. Not putting you down or anything, we just disagree on our goals.
I checked Alia's profile and it looks like her Survival check for Desert Tracking is only +2 above Mikka's (her +1/2 Ranger Level bonus to Survival for Tracking isn't listed anywhere, but I included it). So if Mikka goes with you, you aren't particularly less able to track down the (hypothetical) survivors.
I don't think we need to worry that much about 'party composition' if we end up splitting up, it looks like either group would have divine casters with healing (about equal between artimus and mikka) and arcane casters (me/ rasina & nadeq).
Durnast would probably go with whatever seemed most connected with our entire reason for coming out to the Desolation here (i.e. Tsar), but on it's own merit, pursuing the King Kroma connection seems more solid than rescuing possible stranded bystanders/adventurers, besides that he would tend to stick with the original group (Artimus, and Mikka was the reason they went to Camp in the first place and is solidly in with "the mission"). Any "rescue squad"ers probably need to convince Artimus AND Alia to go with them, and the only way I see to do that is by emphasizing the importance of the Dome Ruin over messing with King Kroma.
Otherwise, let's split...?
I checked Alia's profile and it looks like her Survival check for Desert Tracking is only +2 above Mikka's (her +1/2 Ranger Level bonus to Survival for Tracking isn't listed anywhere, but I included it). So if Mikka goes with you, you aren't particularly less able to track down the (hypothetical) survivors.
I don't think we need to worry that much about 'party composition' if we end up splitting up, it looks like either group would have divine casters with healing (about equal between artimus and mikka) and arcane casters (me/ rasina & nadeq).
Durnast would probably go with whatever seemed most connected with our entire reason for coming out to the Desolation here (i.e. Tsar), but on it's own merit, pursuing the King Kroma connection seems more solid than rescuing possible stranded bystanders/adventurers, besides that he would tend to stick with the original group (Artimus, and Mikka was the reason they went to Camp in the first place and is solidly in with "the mission"). Any "rescue squad"ers probably need to convince Artimus or Alia to go with them, and the only way I see to do that is by emphasizing the importance of the Dome Ruin over messing with King Kroma.
Otherwise, let's split...?
Quandary,
Right now the group split is 5 to 3, with Rasina, Veren, and Mikka heading off to find the lone survivor. The rest of the group would continue on to the caravan site. Needless to say, we would need someone else to accompany us, Alia, Montague, and Artimus, would not do so, although Artimus might. Nadeq would accompany us, but it affects the balance of the groups, kinda like the 4E roles of striker, controller, etc. thus weakening both groups. Might be able to have Artimus come with us, but then you guys lose healing which is bad.
Also keep in mind Veren said he would abandon us to look for the survivor. so the group is going to be split anyway.
Rasina might be able to appeal to Alia's decency, but i doubt it would work.
The splitting between "old" and "newcommers" seems to be where we are going so let's do it. We all know this is not a good solution but that's where our characters want to go :-)
I suggest lots of stealth and scouting. If one group finds captive survivors or an obstacle too tough for them to handle, I suggest backtracking and waiting at the dome for the rest of the group to come back.
Let's meet at the dome tonight or the night after at worse. The first group to be back will wait for the second until tomorrow night before starting to track them.
i can see i got a little late into the discussion. Is it suggested Nadeq goes with Veren or to the expedition?
Basicly he is just annoyed he has to stay out in this dessert in the first place, but even though he just met Veren he has far more sympathy for him than for the giant and would probably try to find the lone survivor than trying to track what he assumes is a dead caravan "just" because some feel moraly obligated to Gurg.
i can see i got a little late into the discussion. Is it suggested Nadeq goes with Veren or to the expedition?
Basicly he is just annoyed he has to stay out in this dessert in the first place, but even though he just met Veren he has far more sympathy for him than for the giant and would probably try to find the lone survivor than trying to track what he assumes is a dead caravan "just" because some feel moraly obligated to Gurg.
Rasina wanted you to go with the caravan group, but unless Artimus or Alia comes with Veren's group, she would want Nadeq to go with her, if only to balance the groups out.
Any other suggestions, observations, recommendations, ammendations, elucidations, trepedations, lucibrations, or ululations?
Hooooooooooooo
NOTE: I glanced at Veren's profile, why does he have Weapon Finesse when his STR is signifigantly higher than his DEX? If he actually used the feat it would make him hit less, not more...?
Veren doesn't use Weapon Finesse - but he does have it to qualify for Duelist :)
OK, it'd be nice if Monty chimed in, but it looks like we're splitting up, into Newcomers and Old-Timers. The plan to meet-up again sounds good. Let's do it.
Veren doesn't use Weapon Finesse - but he does have it to qualify for Duelist :)
Got it, I was just scratching my head there...
Any other suggestions, observations, recommendations, ammendations, elucidations, trepedations, lucibrations, or ululations?Hooooooooooooo
So, Group 1 is Alia, Montague, Artimus, and Durnast;
Group 2 is Veren, Rasina, Mikka, and Nadeq.
Confirmed?
Works for me.
Desolation, HOOOO!!!!
Sounds good to me
Let's burn the heretics!
...or something :)
Just a question aside: What is the Slumbering Tsar campaign? I've now seen hints that it isn't a published campaign, but might be published, or part 1 exists, or something?
Just a question aside: What is the Slumbering Tsar campaign? I've now seen hints that it isn't a published campaign, but might be published, or part 1 exists, or something?
Ah thanks :)
Houston, I think we have a problem, a TPK problem. I believe it may be time to cut our losses and run away. True it means abandoning the horses and Nadeq's corpse, but unless we have entered the Realms, I don't see a D ex M arriving to save the day.
Before we go any further, I wanted to take responsibility for the decision to split the party. It was a bad move on my part. We all know hindsight is 20/20, but still I did what Rasina would have done at that point. Sometimes you make a bad call, and that was certainly one.
I do want to say missing any divine firepower is unwise. Not having a cleric is really hurting us now. Gee, I wonder what my next character should be.
I wouldn't despair just yet. Two of the ghoul wolves are heavily injured,and three of them are likely to be spending another round or two on the horses.
And as for splitting the party, don't worry about that at all. Slumbering Tsar is set up for four PCs. and, in any case, as you say, it was consistent for Rasina. We're tellin' stories here, not playing perfect people.
The difficulty, as I see it, is that there are treasures and replenishables out in the Desolation, but the party has, for understandable reasons, avoided anything that smacks of a lair or trove. So all you've hit are wandering monsters, and your resources have been dwindling.
But survive this battle, do in some ghoul wolves, and things will likely turn around.
I wouldn't despair just yet. Two of the ghoul wolves are heavily injured,and three of them are likely to be spending another round or two on the horses.
And as for splitting the party, don't worry about that at all. Slumbering Tsar is set up for four PCs. and, in any case, as you say, it was consistent for Rasina. We're tellin' stories here, not playing perfect people.
The difficulty, as I see it, is that there are treasures and replenishables out in the Desolation, but the party has, for understandable reasons, avoided anything that smacks of a lair or trove. So all you've hit are wandering monsters, and your resources have been dwindling.
But survive this battle, do in some ghoul wolves, and things will likely turn around.
Thanks for the encouraging words, Chris.
Come on people, you've just another 24h to go. Then the rest of us will try to get back to you, if we're still alive.
Just making it clear, Mikka has every intention of casting Reincarnate when the sun comes up.
Just making it clear, Mikka has every intention of casting Reincarnate when the sun comes up.
The last time one of my characters was Reincarnated, I ended up as a gnome, he he
Well guys, unless you have a way of pacifying these 2 steroid-pumped tigers, Mikka will need to reincarnate herself in addition to Veren, Nadeq and Rasina.
I would advise retreating at this point. If we can retreat out of the oasis, we should be alright, we might be able to pick it off at range, sonce I don't think it will leave the oasis,
Scranford, next time I suggest splitting the group, please slap me, he he
I've been following the other party as well, and it's a good thing this is Pathfinder instead of 3.5. The 3.5 states that a Dire tiger gets it's rake attack as well as part of a charge!!! (I've used these nasty things a few times)
Just as a side note- I either over-estimated my reading/time abilities for the day or underestimated the amount of posts you have done so far. I'm a little over half-way through the main thread and will put another couple hours in reading tonight which should put me at getting up a good post sometime early tomorrow.
You guys have really blown through posts! Very interesting so far!
You guys have really blown through posts! Very interesting so far!
I'd love to hear what you think, having left for a while and seeing what has happened in your absense! :-)
I'm offically at the point in the posts now where the threads split so I just need to read through the path my character has taken for right now, unless the other group's travels are pertinent. I'll likely read them anyway at some point for the story, but at least this will be enough to let me get a post in.
Its all been very interesting and I'm enjoying the group's dynamic. I think my only point of disappointment at all is that our local drunkard went the opposite way since I was seeing a lot of good RP opportunities for us to play off each other with us being so different.
Also, since I had to read through all the posts again I have been taking really simple notes on locations and characters as well as the general timeline that we have been going through. I was curious if the rest of the group would have interest in me putting it up in a real basic wiki, somewhere we could put the maps we have found so far as well as any information. I can start with all I've noted and anyone who wants to edit it can with their own personal interpretation or memory of the event. So much has happened that it is sometimes good to be able to look back and see just what we know about the usurer in one place, or when we catch a name we recognize but don't know, being able to see who he is.
I'm willing to put up the work for the design and the introductory info if others don't mind chiming in with their own ways of filling in my blanks.
I'm offically at the point in the posts now where the threads split so I just need to read through the path my character has taken for right now, unless the other group's travels are pertinent. I'll likely read them anyway at some point for the story, but at least this will be enough to let me get a post in.
Its all been very interesting and I'm enjoying the group's dynamic. I think my only point of disappointment at all is that our local drunkard went the opposite way since I was seeing a lot of good RP opportunities for us to play off each other with us being so different.
Also, since I had to read through all the posts again I have been taking really simple notes on locations and characters as well as the general timeline that we have been going through. I was curious if the rest of the group would have interest in me putting it up in a real basic wiki, somewhere we could put the maps we have found so far as well as any information. I can start with all I've noted and anyone who wants to edit it can with their own personal interpretation or memory of the event. So much has happened that it is sometimes good to be able to look back and see just what we know about the usurer in one place, or when we catch a name we recognize but don't know, being able to see who he is.
I'm willing to put up the work for the design and the introductory info if others don't mind chiming in with their own ways of filling in my blanks.
Don't worry Tarlane, you will be seeing him real soon, he he. I think a Wiki is a great idea, since this campaign should be around for a long time, knock on wood. Probably should check with Chris and see what input he has as well.
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I'll see if I can get a wave from Vaughn out somewhere before I put up anything public, but I suspect that since we won't be copying from the Tsar books directly(I don't even have them) but more will be on our impressions on what we have done and who we have met. I believe that even the maps we've put up that we would want to keep for potential future use(like the boarding house and such) were done by one of the players just for combat if I'm not mistaken.
From what I have seen in the past Greg is a pretty good guy about his fanbase though and checking in with him on this might give us a better idea if we will want to keep the wiki more public to share our exploits or if it might work better to add personal passwords for each of us and that would give us the ability to upload some of the art of the like to help us visualize things better since the page would be restricted to our gaming group.
Thanks,
-Tarlane
Hey Tarlane,
I can honestly say that I don't have the time to contribute towards a "what we know so far" type of meta-story board, but the maps I did are still on-line at photobucket (where I linked to in-thread) and you can definitely link to them (or include them in-line to your page).
Quick question for everyone, since I wasn't around when all the loot was being distributed earlier. I'm not so concerned about any of the given combat oriented gear, it looks like that went out to the best choices. My only question would be about the cloak.
Monty, do you have any real plans for using that as a weapon of sorts, or is that just something that was joked about? My thoughts for it is that I think I am the last one with a mount left, and I could really use it for mount transport, whether its letting the mount get in a hiding spot with us or just taking it down in the dungeon rather than leaving it to risk the elements at the entrance.
I had the thought earlier when we mentioned needing to press on and thinking about resummoning mounts that realistically we could have put my mount in there and summoned one for me as well, that way my horse could have just rested later and we wouldn't have had to deal with the fatigue.
If there is a real use for it otherwise, I'm all for that and giving items wherever they are best in the group. I'm just being protective of my horse and making sure he gets a voice.
Quick question for everyone, since I wasn't around when all the loot was being distributed earlier. I'm not so concerned about any of the given combat oriented gear, it looks like that went out to the best choices. My only question would be about the cloak.
Monty, do you have any real plans for using that as a weapon of sorts, or is that just something that was joked about? My thoughts for it is that I think I am the last one with a mount left, and I could really use it for mount transport, whether its letting the mount get in a hiding spot with us or just taking it down in the dungeon rather than leaving it to risk the elements at the entrance.
I had the thought earlier when we mentioned needing to press on and thinking about resummoning mounts that realistically we could have put my mount in there and summoned one for me as well, that way my horse could have just rested later and we wouldn't have had to deal with the fatigue.
If there is a real use for it otherwise, I'm all for that and giving items wherever they are best in the group. I'm just being protective of my horse and making sure he gets a voice.
After Monte's experimentation with the cloak, he wants little or nothing to do with it so...you're welcome to it. Might be quite a handle animal roll to get him in there though ;-).
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Setting the cloak on the horse takes no more skill than draping a horse blanket on its back. (It gets a Reflex save to avoid the effects, which a simple Animal Handling roll can convince it to voluntarily fail.)
The difficulty, as you've encountered, is that the recipient doesn't experience time spent as a doll. If you drape the horse once you make camp, and restore it just as you get ready to set out again, the steed will never get any sleep.
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Sounds good to me Chris and Monty, I hadn't expected it to be a shortcut for the mount to sleep safely while shrunk, more thinking that if there is room in a rope-trick for the horse to rest as well it would be an easier way to get it up there than trying to get it up the rope. Good transport system.
Also, just a couple other notes and quick questions. First one was again my fault for not being here and pointing it out to you guys, but when we were having such trouble with some diseases a while back and Richard had been using his lesser restores to keep people up while they fought them off, my lay on hands works as remove disease/fatigue right now.
Secondly, can you confirm how burned I am on abilities right now, Chris? I haven't seen you use much other than smite while you were playing me, but I didn't want to assume I just didn't notice anything. If you aren't totally sure, then I can just go back to where we last rested fully and read through carefully, I just know we didn't finish our last night's sleep.
Thanks again!
-Tarlane
Tarlane, I don't think Artimus has used much of his daily powers at all.
Okay, I think I've got a PLAN TM. It's based on Chamomille and Dimension Door.
I will present it in character, but before that I need a few answers from Chris on situation and rules.
First, is it possible for Durnast to cast dimension door on Chamomille. Then for her to fly through the Oasis under invisibility and after a few rounds to find the Villains Lair and the elf and dimension door both of them out of the Oasis ?
I'm not asking if it will work in game but if mechanically, it is possible to cast a spell on your familiar and then to have it work a few rounds later.
Second, what is the rough diameter of the Oasis ?
I think the diameter was given as about 300ft. But this might be a fudgy memory.
I'm not an expert for magic and spells - but I thought that is wasn't possible to "hold" a Dimension Door. Though you might be able to cast Dimension Door via the familiar link even when the familiar isn't touching you. In which case there wouldn't be any delay.
That aside - although I think this is the best bet to get Vilgara out safely. There is also the question about loot. This entire thing smells of set piece, rather than random encounter - and as such ought to have some good loot.
That aside - although I think this is the best bet to get Vilgara out safely. There is also the question about loot. This entire thing smells of set piece, rather than random encounter - and as such ought to have some good loot.