paizo.com Recent Posts in What Grows Within (GM Reference)paizo.com Recent Posts in What Grows Within (GM Reference)2023-09-17T18:55:35Z2023-09-17T18:55:35ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: What Grows Within (GM Reference)Yonmanhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ttx0&page=4?What-Grows-Within#1562023-09-17T19:01:12Z2023-09-17T18:55:32Z<p>I have a question for the Undercity sections D2 and D6.</p>
<p>D2. Defaced Gallery (CR 14)
<br />
The passage to the south leads to area D1, the north exit
<br />
leads to the south entrance of area D3, and the <b>eastern
<br />
passage splits into two routes that lead to the west and
<br />
northwest portions of area D6.</b></p>
<p>D6. The Guardian Gat e (CR 14)
<br />
<b>The west and northwest tunnels lead to the eastern
<br />
forked halls of area D2.</b> The northeast tunnel leads to the
<br />
southern entrance in area D4. The southeast hall leads to
<br />
the west entrance of area D7.</p>
<p>I can't post a picture of a map here on the forums but I don't understand in area D2 what two passages they are referring to since the "split" references a "Y" intersection that trails off to the southwest.</p>I have a question for the Undercity sections D2 and D6.
D2. Defaced Gallery (CR 14)
The passage to the south leads to area D1, the north exit
leads to the south entrance of area D3, and the eastern
passage splits into two routes that lead to the west and
northwest portions of area D6.
D6. The Guardian Gat e (CR 14)
The west and northwest tunnels lead to the eastern
forked halls of area D2. The northeast tunnel leads to the
southern entrance in area D4. The southeast hall leads to
the west...Yonman2023-09-17T18:55:32ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: What Grows Within (GM Reference)Anno Nymoushttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ttx0&page=4?What-Grows-Within#1552023-06-01T13:46:16Z2023-06-01T13:46:16Z<p>My group just finished this chapter. I used Spastic Puma's version of the Xhamen-Dor fight, except with some adjusted odds to spawn more heads and Seeded, and without the holes that appeared in the arena. When brought to 0 HP, instead of being defeated, all nodes would spawn a head with 1 HP, this time not disappearing at the end of the turn, and each head able to take attacks of opportunity as normal. Each head that the players damaged would then be defeated permanently, until all heads would be gone. </p>
<p>Since I wanted my players to interact with the setting a bit more, I told them that the Xhamen-Dor infested part of their minds was now cleansed (I started the fight with the description of fungus being expelled from each characters head, clumping together to form the boss). This "cleansed" area would now be filled with residual knowledge that Count Lowls learned of the Necronomicon, that was trapped in the city much like the "flashbacks" the party got while traveling through Neruzavin; the party would now know the 10 chapters present in the Necronomicon, and would be allowed to learn one single chapter without making Linguistic checks or being at risk of Wis/Cha drain.
<br />
This finally made my party check out the Necronomicon as more than just a plot device. One player learned Greater Teleport from it, and one learned how to navigate to the Dreamlands. He is now planning on studying the rest of the Necronomicon in there.
<br />
One other player learned Telepathy and Psychic Asylum (instead of Mind Swap which I wasn't prepared to deal with).</p>
<p>I also changed the final ritual ("Path to the Black Stars") a fair bit. Since it's supposed to open a portal to Carcosa, I figured it would be much more thematic to have the players perform the an act out of "The King in Yellow". This would not only be a nice reference for players that know the original story, but it would also introduce players that don't know about it to the concept. In addition, it would serve as foreshadowing on the party meeting Cassilda and the Pallid Mask.</p>
<p>The skill checks were changed into Knowledge(nobility), Perform(any) and Disguise. These are unconventional skills, so make sure your players can actually make these checks!
<br />
Count Lowls left a crate of stage props, including costumes, curtains and lamps, which would designate what role each player would get (and serve as tools granting a +2 bonus on the ritual).</p>
<p>I had the players perform the parts of Camilla, Cassilda and the Pallid Mask in the last days of Itthyl, before being swallowed by Carcosa. The fourth player took on the role of narrator. With less players, the narrator can be omitted, and with more players, one could take on the role of special effects or communicating the lines. In this case, I would privately tell my players their lines and actions right before they were supposed to perform them, giving everyone the story and twists at the same pace.
<br />
As the chapter literally ended with curtains down, I think this was probably my favorite ending of a chapter yet.</p>
<p>The actual transcript of the play is not in English, so if people want me to post that, let me know, since I'd have to translate it first.</p>My group just finished this chapter. I used Spastic Puma's version of the Xhamen-Dor fight, except with some adjusted odds to spawn more heads and Seeded, and without the holes that appeared in the arena. When brought to 0 HP, instead of being defeated, all nodes would spawn a head with 1 HP, this time not disappearing at the end of the turn, and each head able to take attacks of opportunity as normal. Each head that the players damaged would then be defeated permanently, until all heads...Anno Nymous2023-06-01T13:46:16ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: What Grows Within (GM Reference)Paladronehttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ttx0&page=4?What-Grows-Within#1542022-05-16T17:09:55Z2022-05-14T01:43:52Z<p>As I'm getting close to this book in my campaign, a solution to prevent the party from just Windwalking or Teleporting straight to Neruzavin I might use is two fold:</p>
<p>1) Biting Lash's map only shows where Lowls disembarked, not his planned path. The party will need Kaklatath to find the city. Since the Yithian hasn't been to the city in a very long time, this will require a bit of wandering around.</p>
<p>2) If the party suggests a wind-walk, Kaklatath freaks out and refuses, warning the party that Flying Polyps are masters of the wind and if they've been freed as it fears will surely interfere. If they do it anyway, they get near the city only to suddenly run into unnaturally powerful winds that blow them away, dropping them in Ash Giant territory and forcing them to proceed on foot as intended. If they try to Scry and Teleport the cities alien geometries cause the spell to botch and also drop them in the desert.</p>As I'm getting close to this book in my campaign, a solution to prevent the party from just Windwalking or Teleporting straight to Neruzavin I might use is two fold:
1) Biting Lash's map only shows where Lowls disembarked, not his planned path. The party will need Kaklatath to find the city. Since the Yithian hasn't been to the city in a very long time, this will require a bit of wandering around.
2) If the party suggests a wind-walk, Kaklatath freaks out and refuses, warning the party that...Paladrone2022-05-14T01:43:52ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: What Grows Within (GM Reference)YogoZunohttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ttx0&page=4?What-Grows-Within#1532022-03-09T01:40:12Z2022-03-09T01:40:12Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Junker wrote:</div><blockquote><br />
<br />
I have a question I failed to get an answer to by googling on "Unspeakable Precence" do you get one save on this ability ? and If you failed are there any ways to get rid of the effect !! Also, If you succeed at the save is the effect ongoing and require a new save ? </blockquote><p>Generally, auras do exactly what they say. If an aura or ongoing ability allows immnunity on attempt or pass or fail of the save, it will say so. For example, the <a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/piercing-chant/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Piercing Chant</a> feat says a target can't be affected more than once per 24 hours, regardless of save. Compare this to the Babble effect of the <a href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/undead/allip/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Allip</a>, which will work constantly until a target successfully saves, and then won't work again for another 24 hours.
<p>In the case of Unspeakable Presence, in the absence of either of these sorts of restrictions, it will work on every target every round.</p>Junker wrote:I have a question I failed to get an answer to by googling on "Unspeakable Precence" do you get one save on this ability ? and If you failed are there any ways to get rid of the effect !! Also, If you succeed at the save is the effect ongoing and require a new save ?
Generally, auras do exactly what they say. If an aura or ongoing ability allows immnunity on attempt or pass or fail of the save, it will say so. For example, the Piercing Chant feat says a target can't be affected...YogoZuno2022-03-09T01:40:12ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: What Grows Within (GM Reference)Junkerhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ttx0&page=4?What-Grows-Within#1522022-03-07T23:45:19Z2022-03-07T12:41:41Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">quibblemuch wrote:</div><blockquote><p> The Husk of Xhamen-Dor's unspeakable presence worked awesomely at our table. The players nearly all failed the save. Having half their actions taken up by complying with a Great Old One's horrifying will (i.e., moving towards it) and the other half fighting against it made for a perfect lovecraftian horror RP experience.</p>
<p>"I must destroy this thing! I must move towards this thing!"</p>
<p>Fantastic! </blockquote><p>I have a question I failed to get an answer to by googling on "Unspeakable Precence" do you get one save on this ability ? and If you failed are there any ways to get rid of the effect !! Also, If you succeed at the save is the effect ongoing and require a new save ?quibblemuch wrote:The Husk of Xhamen-Dor's unspeakable presence worked awesomely at our table. The players nearly all failed the save. Having half their actions taken up by complying with a Great Old One's horrifying will (i.e., moving towards it) and the other half fighting against it made for a perfect lovecraftian horror RP experience.
"I must destroy this thing! I must move towards this thing!"
Fantastic!
I have a question I failed to get an answer to by googling on "Unspeakable...Junker2022-03-07T12:41:41ZRe: Forums: Strange Aeons: What Grows Within (GM Reference)Ben Ehretshttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ttx0&page=4?What-Grows-Within#1512021-11-28T04:11:59Z2021-11-27T07:20:59Z<p>I've read the discussion here about why the map of the Parchlands was not included. Okay. I don't need a detailed maps •of• the Parchlands, but I'm struggling to understand how to get •to• the Parchlands. I greatly appreciate rhythmist's homebrew map. That helps me see how one could approach the Parchlands from Okeno.
<br />
But I'm thrown by discussions of going back to Katheer to start the journey because that seems to put a mountain range between journey start and our approximate Parchlands location. Or is the idea that one would go back to Katheer to go to the Mysterium to get teleport help?
<br />
What did Lowls do?</p>I've read the discussion here about why the map of the Parchlands was not included. Okay. I don't need a detailed maps *of* the Parchlands, but I'm struggling to understand how to get *to* the Parchlands. I greatly appreciate rhythmist's homebrew map. That helps me see how one could approach the Parchlands from Okeno.
But I'm thrown by discussions of going back to Katheer to start the journey because that seems to put a mountain range between journey start and our approximate Parchlands...Ben Ehrets2021-11-27T07:20:59Z