Anything I can do to save my ally's life outside of healing?

[Protonpack]

I'm new to Pathfinder and am doing a play by post game on another message board. A goblin NPC ally is either newly dead or very near death (I can't tell, as of the last post I'm not near enough to make a heal check). I really like this little dude and don't want him to die.

I was thinking of, before I make my heal check and try to stabilize him (assuming he's alive, GM was unspecific), saying some kind of prayer asking for help, offering to do "whatever you want" in return, to no god in particular, just kind of out there.

Is there some kind of mechanic for this in place or is this at the GM's discretion? I feel like this could be an interesting thing because, one, I get my little buddy back, and two my character is a very naive grippli who may (up to the GM I guess) enter into some kind of pact with some entity it doesn't understand in exchange for his friend's life. I only have +3 to heal along with a healing kit so I can't do much on my own.

At this point I'm not sure if he's barely hanging on by like 1 constitution or if he's actually dead (previous turn a player attempted to heal but rolled a 3 and saw that he's not breathing, but nothing further).

This is kind of just the best thing I can think of, to throw out some kind of attempt to let the GM keep this NPC in the game while adding something that might be interesting from a RP perspective and could (probably would) end up being negative for me.

[Chris P. Bacon]

You could certainly try that, but it's something to discuss with your GM rather than us. Were I your GM, though, I'd certainly consider it; if a player is really getting into an aspect of the game, I'll do what I can to keep it going.

Otherwise, your friend's fate is in the hands of the almighty dice gods. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you guys. ^__^

[Killstring]

I'm with the esteemed Mr. Bacon here: I'd suggest this to the GM before posting, just let them know what you're trying to do ahead of time.

Then do it anyway. Little guy needs to hold on!

Many GM's would bite on that bait. Many would instead let your little buddy die to show the seriousness of the situation, etc.

Either way, I'd say throw the character into it, and roll with whatever comes out.

(But I'm pulling for your little buddy)

[Siliquai]

If none of your checks work, and u have no healing etc. Try just picking him up and running for help.

Run down the streets yelling for a doctor etc, even run into a local good aligned church. And beg them to save his life.

If theyre like its a goblin, say he has proven himself above the rest of his race etc etc.

SAVE THE GOBLIN!!!!

[Xethik]

As a GM, I love getting my PCs to fall inlove with crazy Kobold/Goblin NPCs I come up with... They usually end up dying, though, and a similar scene as above happens. Really depends on the GM. Sometimes, the NPC needs to pass on so the players unhook themselves from the dead character and onto the rest of the game and othertimes keeping the little guy alive makes things easier for the GM.
Other times: It comes down to the dice.

In the rules, there really isn't much you can do here other than try your heart out to stabilize him.

[Hawktitan]

Giving this a few seconds of thought if you were to present this to me I'd say that what you are trying to accomplish would work but your next level would be one of an oracle.

[Azaelas Fayth]

Talk to your GM. Maybe direct them here to read our ideas.

Personally, I would let it work but you would have some sort of Geas/Quest or something in exchange.

Probably from a Deity that you wouldn't want a Geas/Quest from.

What class are you?

[Umbranus]

Quote:

Is there some kind of mechanic for this in place or is this at the GM's discretion?

For the prayer to some unnamed power I don't know any rules.

What kind of PC are you playing? There are several things that could help him if he's still alive. Even if you don't have any cure spells.

Anything that gives him temporary hp (to soak up the dying damage) or that increases his CON to raise his hp and the threshold where he is dead.

Or giving him a potion, someone might have.

And if everything else fails you could still take his corpse with you and have him raised/reincarnated.

[Protonpack]

I'm a grippli ranger, we're only level 1 and this is my first time playing. I really want this dude to live and I figure this provides the GM with the opportunity to be a little creative and doesn't just straight up give me what I want since this could come back to bite me later.

[Azaelas Fayth]

Isn't Heal a class skill for Rangers?

[harmor]

Drag your fellow companion - does not provoke AoO from your target's movement.

[Sinna]

What you can do really depends on what classes are in the party and what level everyone is as to what you can do beyond use a heal check. There are certainly no rules against your desperate prayer; that would be up to your GM to decide, but I will warn you: If it works, you may not like what you have to do in return for this boon. If your GM is bloody-minded, like me, that kind of prayer really does open up the realm of possibilities for "What terrible things can I have befall the party next?" Just be careful about how you phrase your request.

You could try talking with fellow party members. Does anyone have the Healing domain? Do you have a cleric with spells like Stabilize? Potions, scrolls or a wand of healing would also work to keep your little NPC friend from dying. See if you can make it a party effort if it's that important.

[Protonpack]

Nah, we have an alchemist, a monk, and a bard. We're all level 1. We can't really do anything, no potions, no nothing. I think I just gotta hope this guy decides to play along since I feel like this goblin dude is probably already dead.

[Protonpack]

Yeah OK nevermind so the dude just killed the goblin off. Ugh.

[Protonpack]

OK now my question is, aside from reincarnation which takes a week and is obviously out of question for a level 1 ranger to pursue, do I have any other option for bringing this guy back to life? If so this will become the central goal of my character from this point on.

[Protonpack]

OK not to post a ton of times a row or anything, but I see that I can do it with Wish. So I need to find a wizard somehwere in this world who is capable of casting it and then pay him for his services or convince him to do it some other way. How hard is it to get 25k gp in Pathfinder?

[asthyril]

see if you can at least get his body. if so you can use raise dead for 5,000g, or possibly go to a good aligned church and offer to accept a geas/quest in order for them to restore your little buddy back to life in lieu of the 5,000g

[Protonpack]

The problem here becomes convincing the other 3 people in my party to stop what we're doing and go do that instead. Also from an RP perspective my grippli character knows nothing about this sort of thing. I'll have to convince them somehow.

[Azaelas Fayth]

Hmm, maybe hunt down a Good Genie?

The rest of the party can use the other two wishes for the Party's needs.

[Wasum]

Azaelas Fayth wrote:

Hmm, maybe hunt down a Good Genie?

The rest of the party can use the other two wishes for the Party's needs.

And noone ever heard of these brave little adventures again....

:P

[Chris P. Bacon]

Damn, sorry for your loss, Protonpack. Maybe the GM was bent on killing the character off - if you think that's a possibility, maybe it's best to just let it happen. You could give him a proper burial and still have this event shape your character in powerful ways. It can still be a fun way to add to your character's story, without derailing the adventure itself or stepping on the rest of the party's toes by getting them sidetracked on something they might not care about as much as you do.

[Azaelas Fayth]

Wasum wrote:

Azaelas Fayth wrote:

Hmm, maybe hunt down a Good Genie?

The rest of the party can use the other two wishes for the Party's needs.

And noone ever heard of these brave little adventures again....

:P

Depends on the Group and GM.

[Protonpack]

Chris P. Bacon wrote:

Damn, sorry for your loss, Protonpack. Maybe the GM was bent on killing the character off - if you think that's a possibility, maybe it's best to just let it happen. You could give him a proper burial and still have this event shape your character in powerful ways. It can still be a fun way to add to your character's story, without derailing the adventure itself or stepping on the rest of the party's toes by getting them sidetracked on something they might not care about as much as you do.

Nope, this is what my character is doing. We're gonna go find a church anyway to ask about this cultist of Groetus who killed my goblin buddy and his goblin dad, so it won't be hard to convinec the others to let me drag his body along too.

And if not, then I'll just keep quiet about it and 10 levels later I'll pay some super powerful wizard to wish him back from the dead. I'm not letting the GM win this one.

[alientude]

Protonpack wrote:

I'm not letting the GM win this one.

This is not a good attitude to have. It creates out-of-game conflict and resentment.

Regarding your specific idea, however, the GM has an easy way to win against the wish. Assuming this is Golarion, once Pharasma has judged a soul, it can not be resurrected by mortal magic.

[Protonpack]

I was joking about that really. But it wasn't something I was gonna leave alone. The thing is though, he took my idea and went with it further than I really intended. Asmodeus has appeared before me and wants to make a deal. I think he's going easy on me though cause the terms aren't that bad. Here's what he wrote:

"He produces two scrolls.

"The conditions for his revival are simple. You may not tell anyone about the contract, or about meeting with me. This includes the goblin's family. Naturally, him being brought back to life will draw suspicion. He cannot come into contact with anyone aware of his death other than you. As such, he will awaken somewhere far from here. Let's see... Do you know anyone you can trust in the north? If so, I will leave him in their care, and you can speak to them if you want confirmation of his safety.

The second condition is that from here on you must strive to keep all promises you make. Again, I am not fond of deception. I only deal with trustworthy people. I simply ask that you prove yourself to be one of them.

Finally, a time will come when I ask a favour of you. You will not need to harm your friends or yourself, though it is possible that it may be a dangerous request. I do not know what it is yet, so I am afraid I cannot give any specifics beyond promising that it should not offend your morals.

In exchange, your friend will be returned to life. I will also make myself available to give you advice if you should wish it. I don't want you dying before you repay your debt, after all.

Do you have any questions?""

So seems like I get off easy. A dangerous request yet to be decided, but one that won't offend my chaotic good morals. What do you guys think?

[Killstring]

It sounds like you got exactly what you were asking for. I'd bite that plot hook, and bite down hard. Trouble is bound to come, but that's half the fun of these kinds of things.

[Azaelas Fayth]

I wouldn't even hesitate to bite that plot hook.

It can help you get even more immersed in the game.

[ProfPotts]

As long as you realise that granting the 'being brought back to life' clause in no way means the big A has to protect the little guy, bring him back to life if he dies again, or even refrain from killing the little guy himself 2 seconds after he rises from the dead...

... Your GM has seen the Ghost Rider film I assume..? ;)