Quick escape option for an oracle

[Douglas Muir 406]

I have a 6th level NPC oracle who's walking into the middle of a group of enemies (in this case, the PCs) for a negotiation. In case things go bad, she would want an emergency escape option.

Option #1: she takes the Time Hop revelation, allowing her to blip up to 60' as a move action with no AoO. Strictly speaking you have to be 7th level for this, but she's an elf, and elf oracles have that alternate favored class thing where they add 1/2 to their level for purposes of one revelation. (Strictly speaking, it's for determining the *effects* of one revelation, not eligibility for it. But it's such a weaksauce favored class thing that I'm inclined to handwave it.)

The problem with this, now that I've stopped and looked at it, is that it's *too* good; it means that, if she plays half competently, the PCs can never catch her.

So I'm looking for something that is a plausible getaway spell or tactic (if negotations go bad, which knowing my PCs they probably will) but that still gives the PCs a shot. Note that she can take that archetype that gives her access to wizard spells, and I'm not averse to a one-shot magic item either.

Thoughts?

Doug M.

[blackbloodtroll]

Scroll.

Teleport or similar.

[Rory]

Douglas Muir 406 wrote:

So I'm looking for something that is a plausible getaway spell or tactic (if negotations go bad, which knowing my PCs they probably will) but that still gives the PCs a shot.

How about the spell Sanctuary?

She can cast it and bugger out. The PCs will have a chance to make a saving throw to attack her. That gives the PCs a chance that you were wanting.

[strayshift]

Some kind of spell contingency.

[blackbloodtroll]

Also, keep that Scroll in a Spring-loaded Wrist Sheathe.

[strayshift]

The other thing may be to get a NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY to oversee the negotiations. That way if trouble kicks of the pcs are offending someone they may not want to.

[Cult of Vorg]

Words of power give clerics/oracles Soar (Fly) at 3rd. Or obscuring mist is a traditional method for covering an escape. Wind oracle can go invisible with a 3rd level revelation, i believe..

[Claxon]

Yeah...either a scroll of teleport or something similar to GTFO when SHTF. Also, I agree that she would probably enlist another 3 entity to arbitrate the proceedings. Maybe meeting insdie of a building and only allowing the witch and 1 member of the party inside with several guards (from the 3rd entity) inside the building. Basically set it up so that no one can get the jump on the others.

[Douglas Muir 406]

Neutral third party isn't an option, for in-campaign reasons. Scroll of teleport seems a bit much for a 6th level character to have.

Both Words of Power and Sanctuary are interesting options. Sanctuary is only a DC 16 Will save, though, meaning 1-2 PCs would likely make it.

Doug M.

[Imbicatus]

Douglas Muir 406 wrote:

Neutral third party isn't an option, for in-campaign reasons. Scroll of teleport seems a bit much for a 6th level character to have.

Both Words of Power and Sanctuary are interesting options. Sanctuary is only a DC 16 Will save, though, meaning 1-2 PCs would likely make it.

Doug M.

Heighten it then. Spell Focus (Abjuration) also works.

[Rory]

Douglas Muir 406 wrote:

Neutral third party isn't an option, for in-campaign reasons. Scroll of teleport seems a bit much for a 6th level character to have.

Both Words of Power and Sanctuary are interesting options. Sanctuary is only a DC 16 Will save, though, meaning 1-2 PCs would likely make it.

You mentioned you wanted to give the PCs a shot. So, if 1-2 PCs make their save, is that a bad thing?

A cheap Potion of Gaseous Form should work very well and is affordable by a level 6 character.

[blackbloodtroll]

Scroll of Word of Recall actually sounds better.

Slip it in to a Spring-Loaded Wrist Sheathe, and be done.

[Blave]

Give her the run feat, cast grace and just run away?

[Blootsvoets]

If this is a Time Mystery Oracle, and you feel Time Hop's a bit much, why not go for Time Flicker? The Blur/Blink effect should give the Oracle a decent chance of getting away whilst simultaneously giving your PC's a fair chance at stopping her. And Obscuring Mist's quite handy to cover a retreat as well, obviously.

If the NPC was one level higher I would probably recommend an invisible improved familiar such as an imp skulking about, with an appropriate wand or scroll. (The familiar being obtainable via the Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) feat.) A scroll of Slow might work well for that. Or, depending how you set up the terrain, a pit or wall spell at an appropriate choke point.

Or you could always set the meeting inside some sort of guarded sacred place which doesn't suffer violence gladly. Instill in your players the idea that the numerous "temple guards" will do more than frown upon any hostility inside the premises.

There's loads of roads you could go down, honestly.