Glad to see Cas's attempts at diffusing the situation by bluffing about having verified Pat's credibility and not-so-much bluffing about the crystal really worked out :)
@Cas
Aye, cheers! I realised before I made a sense motive roll that Patenemheb could not match Cas' bluff check. That is not usual for him. ;)
Sorry for the spotty posting, but holiday and such.
Also Bjoern is not the best in that situation.
It appears the night watch shifts (2 hours long) will be as follows:
1st Watch (9.30-11.30pm): Tairin & Patenemheb
2nd Watch (11.30pm-1.30am): Caslav & Samir
3rd Watch (1.30-3.30am): Ala'lhys & Red
4th Watch (3.30-5.30am): Lysander & Lysander's Slave #1
5th Watch (5.30-7.30am): Bjoern & Lysander's Slave #2
Then those sleeping can wake, eat, break camp and we start our ride through the Pass (starting around 8-8.30am). I think that gives everyone 8 hours of rest/sleep (if nothing happens during the course of the night).
Is this okay with everyone?
Tairin, Patenemheb and Red are of noble blood. I’d think it would be obvious, through carriage, words and even stories shared/rp conducted.
No one knows anything about Caslav in game as he’s been bluffing his way in the group for his own story reasons. Since he’s 15-16, he isn’t demonstrating a noble carriage or way of speaking. ;)
Dain- My second last post in game, at the top of the current page, responded to Daniya. You didn't respond to it. Does that mean Red's statements didn't take place because things had moved on a bit, or that you missed it, which is easy to do.
@Dain, I'm not sure that you saw this bit. It was in the "Aid" spoiler in my post at the bottom of page 25 of the gameplay thread. Just trying to clarify this.
Patenemheb is subtly trying to help Tairin wind things down on a more positive note.
The Wise Counsel scholar secret does not explicitly mention verbal components. Would a well-timed, drawn-out change of body language count to give the +4 insight bonus?
Quote:Wise Counsel (Ex): As a full round action, the scholar can aid an ally and grant an insight bonus equal to the scholar’s Wis bonus on the check.
If not, would a diplomacy test to aid Tairin be possible?
Diplomacy to aid Tairin: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
@Dain, I'm not sure that you saw this bit. It was in the "Aid" spoiler in my post at the bottom of page 25 of the gameplay thread. Just trying to clarify this.
No worries; I saw it, I'm just considering things.
For what it’s worth, your Aid Check was successful in that the situation with the caravan people did not get worse but remained the pretty much the same. That is, Sefu is not angry with anyone, he was just annoyed by how things went down, but nothing serious.
You do wonder, though, why it was that he was able to recover his composure with everyone so easily in the morning; almost as if he was used to what had happened during the night... but then again, there ma be something else at play, but you are not sure.
Dain- My second last post in game, at the top of the current page, responded to Daniya. You didn't respond to it. Does that mean Red's statements didn't take place because things had moved on a bit, or that you missed it, which is easy to do.
Sorry about that, Red. I'll include that up in a moment.
I'm glad to hear that. So Wise Counsel can be used non-verbally then?
And that *is* interesting to note.
@Ala'lhys: I find myself taking notably longer than usual to plan out posts for this game. A combination of different genre conventions and some intense roleplaying going on and not wanting to let the standard drop.
@Dain: Could you note if the bonus to perception for stone being involved applies? With three Yar-Ammonites in the party, it does make a difference!
Sorry to hear about the writing issues, Ala'lhys. Hope you work through it soon. Both you and Patenemheb are fine roleplayers.
A courtesy heads-up, this weekend is going to be rather full for me and I have guests coming up and spending the entire day with me and my family. I'm not sure if I will get a chance to post tomorrow (your Saturday). I hope to catch up soon. Thanks for your patience. :)
@Dain: Could you note if the bonus to perception for stone being involved applies? With three Yar-Ammonites in the party, it does make a difference!
Surely if one is located on a planet composed partly of stone that would be sufficient. :)
I'm glad to hear that. So Wise Counsel can be used non-verbally then?
And that *is* interesting to note.
To clarify - in this case I allowed it. I won't be doing that in the future (the non-verbal thing). I misunderstood the non-verbal component element.
Additionally, I believe this is not something that is meant to be used in combat, but specifically for RP purposes.
@Dain: Could you note if the bonus to perception for stone being involved applies? With three Yar-Ammonites in the party, it does make a difference!
The bonus for Yar-Ammonites is meant to deal specifically with discrepancies with stone in general. To clarify; if you attempted to make a false door in the woods and used branches and leaves for it you wouldn't likely recognize it; if you attempted to make a false door on the side of the mountain a Yar-Ammonite, like a Dwarf from Tolkien's world, would likely have an easier time spotting it then most folk would.
In this case I'm not sure specifically how to read the Perception Roll thing as I'm not sure what exactly it is being used on so I'm not sure if it applies - however; at this time it's okay as there doesn't seem to be any threats.
I'd like to bring up a side-point on rolls at this time.
At this time we have a Yar-Ammonite Bard doing a lot of the legwork on searching for danger and breaking camp. Just like we had a Scholar searching for tracks in the mountains after a threat.
Meanwhile we have a barbarian of the highlands who is in the party and a cavalry man of the wilds who are both acting as the vanguard to this party. Hopefully both of them will start to aid the group by getting things on the move or use some skills to ascertain potential dangers while on point.
The reason I'm making that comment is because the CR for this adventure is higher than it might be because of the amount of players. If the CR goes up because of the size/make-up of the party the game (this includes things more than combat when it comes to CR, but certain checks and other nuances) will become much harder if those players don't offer support to the others.
Further, Caslav and Lyssander both speak the Lamuran tongue.
This language was chosen because it made sense regionally for the priest to be speaking in his sleep in that language; however, two separate groups on watch know the language; either of them should be translating the language.
Hopefully we'll hear from both or either of them sometime soon.
@Dain: On a logistics note, shall I mark off food and water for Patenemheb and Mehys myself or is there a group total to work off? And shall I mark off food and water for the day he met the group as well?
@All: Dain has certainly dropped a few hints there methinks. All of our characters have skills, and it behoves us to find uses for those for the caravan's mutual benefit.
@Dain: On a logistics note, shall I mark off food and water for Patenemheb and Mehys myself or is there a group total to work off? And shall I mark off food and water for the day he met the group as well?
Theoretically there should be a flat rate of food and water for the company.
This amount should equate to "days" of each food and water.
Horses take 3 Day of food and water; camels take 1 day of water and 3 day of food.
The reason to tick of "Days" is because not everyone may survive; this includes beasts. A missing horse could free up some much needed water for the team, for example.
Hopefully the party is keeping track of that, but we shall see :)
To All:
Right now via Marching Order I have the following:
1. Bjeorn and Lyssander are on Point side to side (Bjeorn to the left of Cas)
2. Ala and Cas are right behind them side to side (ala to the left of Cas)
3. Then, 50 feet behind them are Red next to Tairin
4. Behind them comes Sefu and Paten
5. Behind them comes Yetara and Daniya
6. Behind them are 2 camels
7. Behind them are 2 camels
8. Behind them are the last 2 camels
9. behind them is the wagon pulling the supplies and the slaves on the wagon by a horse
10. In the rear is Samir.
Please clarify me where I'm incorrect, if at all.
Thanks!
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Dain GM: As to the matter of food, I thought Yetara agreed to provide us with food ... even though we have brought out own rations.Did I get this wrong?
I don't think we agreed on that marching order, Dain (unless I missed a post somewhere)...
I thought people were riding in single file:
Bjoern,
Lysander,
Ala'lhys
Red,
Tairin,
Patenemheb
Yetara and his people
Caslav (in the rear to scout behind us for danger)
Samir (in the rear)
Caslav mentioned having the pack camels and wagon with slaves adjacent to the party (on the right side)
Dain GM: As to the matter of food, I thought Yetara agreed to provide us with food ... even though we have brought out own rations.Did I get this wrong?
I don't think we agreed on that marching order, Dain (unless I missed a post somewhere)...
I thought people were riding in single file:
Bjoern,
Lysander,
Ala'lhys
Red,
Tairin,
Patenemheb
Yetara and his people
Caslav (in the rear to scout behind us for danger)
Samir (in the rear)Caslav mentioned having the pack camels and wagon with slaves adjacent to the party (on the right side)
Sounds good; I misunderstood the marching order.
Ala asked if Cas wanted to ride on point - he never responded, so I assume that means he agreed to riding point.
However, he can definitely remain in the rear.
But I believe that there is a 50 foot gap between you and Ala; is that correct?
Yes, I believe scouting 50ft ahead was discussed and agreed upon.
Theoretically there should be a flat rate of food and water for the company.
This amount should equate to "days" of each food and water.
Horses take 3 Day of food and water; camels take 1 day of water and 3 day of food.
The reason to tick of "Days" is because not everyone may survive; this includes beasts. A missing horse could free up some much needed water for the team, for example.
Hopefully the party is keeping track of that, but we shall see :)
Patenemheb and Mehys the camel began with the following:
Canteen
4 Waterskins
(So 5 days water)
21 days rations
21 days feed
I've posted responses to the conversations from the night before is spoilers to keep page length down. I'm still hoping to hear from Caslav about their watch :-)
I have 'run out of steam' so I'm going to bed, I will post a response ten hours or so to the conversation of the second evening, hopefully by that time, others will have had a chance to read and respond as well; and maybe Ala'Ihys will learn what might be up north...
No worries - and nice work on your RP so far!
Meantime, we'll give everyone a little more time before the second night's watch happens. There may be a unique angle that comes up depending on what things happen during the day via what the others decide to do.
FYI: Crom is a grim and gloomy and unforgiving god, ever watching from atop his mountain in dark clouds and obscuring mists, ready to pass a disapproving judgement on any and all... But even he wants to say "Happy Birthday" to Tairin :)
The temples of Yar-Ammon do likewise. :)
Thank you, Crom, Dain and Patenemheb. :)
Blessing from the Red Sphinx also Tairin.
*Hands out chocolate cake to all, including Crom.*
Thank you, Red and Ala'lhys.
Looks like my b'day cake. I hope your wife enjoys it.
Sorry for the delay. I'm not always able to post on weekends, and I walked into a bit of a mess this at work this morning. Said mess will likely continue all week, so my posts will be later than usual (my night instead of my morning/midday).
Also, happy birthday Tairin!
Thank you, Cas! :)
And, good luck sorting out the mess at work.
Dain- There were some questions in a post of mine in game some way back you seem to have missed. Bad GM. :) They were-
"2 questions about this. First, does contact other plane work normally in Zoth? I take it it does because the spell is provided by an item that we found in a Zoth scenario. Second, I doubt I can use fortune on myself and cackle through using the crstal to cast one a spell. That is right isn't it?"
Dain- There were some questions in a post of mine in game some way back you seem to have missed. Bad GM. :) They were-
"2 questions about this. First, does contact other plane work normally in Zoth? I take it it does because the spell is provided by an item that we found in a Zoth scenario. Second, I doubt I can use fortune on myself and cackle through using the crstal to cast one a spell. That is right isn't it?"
The first part is accurate; it is like the spell from the book, failure to make the Save does gain the degeneracy points, though.
The second question I am not sure what you are asking. Are you asking if you can send a spell through the crystal - and, if so, if Cackle is equal to a spell?
Please clarify that part a bit and I will be happy to answer it; as it is, I'm not entirely sure what you mean.
OK, the texts of the 2 relevent hexes are-
Cackle (Su)
Effect: A witch can cackle madly as a move action. Any creature that is within 30 feet that is under the effects of an agony hex, charm hex, evil eye hex, fortune hex, or misfortune hex caused by the witch has the duration of that hex extended by 1 round.
Fortune (Su)
Effect: The witch can grant a creature within 30 feet a bit of good luck for 1 round. The target can call upon this good luck once per round, allowing him to reroll any ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, taking the better result. He must decide to use this ability before the first roll is made. At 8th level and 16th level, the duration of this hex is extended by 1 round. Once a creature has benefited from the fortune hex, it cannot benefit from it again for 24 hours.
What I want to do is use fortune on myself and [perhaps]cackle. Then I wanted to use the crystal to cast a spell, so I can roll the save twice. This is important as the consequences of taint could be nasty and ongoing.
Fortune lasts one round, so I should be able to go fortune and cast a spell the next round OK. And I can extend it another round by going standard action, fortune, move action, cackle then next round use a spell with a casting time of 1 round or less. If the casting time is more than a standard action I can't keep cackling as I use up the full round casting.
I am 99% sure that it takes the same time to use a spell from an item as it takes to cast it as your own spell.
So that is the question I was raising, not very clearly at all, sorry. And thinking it through now I believe I have the answer and I was wrong, or half right, earlier. I can use fortune on myself, don't need cackle, and next round cast Vision that has a casting time of 1 standard action.
I can't do the same trick with Contact Other Plane which has a casting time of 10 minutes.
So having clarified the question and changed my mind about the answer, the question for you Mr GM is- do you agree?
PS You didn't respond to my perfectly reasonable, if not inarguable, suggestion that Ammonites should get their +2 to perception at any time they are on a rocky planet. :P
I will be in transit home for the next 40 hours. Holiday almost over. Sorry for the spotty posting.
@Dain:
I don't see a response to these checks, within Patenemheb's last large post:
"Irrelevencies and distractions, with other matters at stake. There is a time and a place for such pleasures of the flesh. The matter of divinity is quite another. You had direct revelations you say?"
Bluff to disguise just how keen his interest in the Red Sphinx is, which is great indeed: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 = 14
Knowledge Religion for more specific knowledge of the Red Sphinx and its seers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
What I want to do is use fortune on myself and [perhaps]cackle. Then I wanted to use the crystal to cast a spell, so I can roll the save twice. This is important as the consequences of taint could be nasty and ongoing.
So having clarified the question and changed my mind about the answer, the question for you Mr GM is- do you agree?...
If you want to cast a spell to buff yourself before using the crystal I will allow it. However, remember, using Vision does have limited range and effect; still, I'll be curious to know how it turns out as you are correct; Taint points are definitely ongoing.
And sadly no - the +2 for Rocks will not apply to the planet :)
@Dain:
I don't see a response to these checks, within Patenemheb's last large post:
Bluff to disguise just how keen his interest in the Red Sphinx is, which is great indeed: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 = 14
Knowledge Religion for more specific knowledge of the Red Sphinx and its seers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
1. I'm honestly not sure how I can answer these.
First, since Bluff is opposed I thought that was up to Red who should have rolled a Sense Motive to not notice your interest.
2. As to the Red Sphinx? There is nothing about it in the book, this was something Red created. You would at least know there is nothing you've ever heard of; specifically (regarding the religion of the Yar-Ammonites) - The Yar-Ammonites worship an ancient pantheon of beast-headed man-gods, disturbing fragments of a lost age. Depictions of these gods, said to have brought knowledge and wisdom to the first civilization of Yar-Ammon, include serpent-headed, vulture-headed, hyena-headed, and crocodile-headed humanoids. The priests of Yar-Ammon often wear masks in imitation of these gods. More than that is up to Red to define for you herself, but you'd at least know you've never heard of such a deity.
I'm also double checking, the trap is mid day, the next day? Or did Ala'Ihys find it when he scouted ahead a little when they set up camp?
To clarify; as you were riding down the trail after breakfast on the next day you came to a place where someone had pushed heavy boulders/rocks from the cliffs to block the trail. Staring at the heavy rocks and trying to figure out how to remove them from the pass is when a host of Zorabi Hillmen hiding on the cliffs above were ready to rain arrows down on your party and slaughter you all and then take your loot/gear at leisure.
However, your combined Perception Check negated the Surprise Round when they could have shot you and you wouldn't have all been flat-footed. Instead, you see them ready to fire and you're now able to roll an Initiative Check for the entire party as I do Group Initiative.
Good luck!
I will be in transit home for the next 40 hours. Holiday almost over. Sorry for the spotty posting.
Hurry home - you're about to be needed as battle is coming :)
@Dain: Ah okay. I brought up the bluff check in case a npc overheard the conversation. And fair enough on the Red Sphinx.
@She-Who-Knows: With a 19 on Knowledge Religion, is there anything else that Patenemheb would reasonably know about the Red Sphinx and its followers, beyond what you and Dain have already noted?
Patenemheb and Dain GM-
About this. There is in fact a mention of the Red Sphinx in the Players Guide on p 50, the second paragraph under the heading "Khadis and the People of the Red Sphinx. - Link to Players Guide -
See p45 of the same book, a ruler of Yar-Ammon made everyone abandon the worship of the old beast gods, incl the Red Sphinx, the Hyena God.
I think with a KS Religion roll of 19 you would know what was in the Players Guide.
What happened is when devising my character I expanded on what was in the Players Guide, mostly on the cult, made some rumors true and wrote She Know Knows into it. Then ran it past the GM who not only said yes but thought it was good.
I am going to do the sense motive roll here since this is all out of order for in game now.
Drat! I don't realise how interested Patenemheb is. And more to the point I don't know how he would react to the worship of a god that is forbidden by the authorities.
For what it's worth -
For what it's worth, the archers on the cliffs are 50 Feet above the trail and they're behind a ledge of rock giving them Partial Cover.
Good luck!
@All
Patenemheb does not currently have any ranged weapons. So I'll have to find other ways he can contribute to the combat. Wise Counse, i.e. spotting enemies for our archers, rushing to heal the wounded, that sort of thing.
@Dain:
We'll need that good luck. ;)
@Red
Well, Patenemheb didn't start foaming at the mouth at the mention of magic or of Red receiving revelations from the Red Sphinx. If he follows the Star God, he either has incredible self-control, is being deceptive, or is in a "live and let live" attitude.
For what it's worth, the archers on the cliffs are 50 Feet above the trail and they're behind a ledge of rock giving them Partial Cover.
What it is worth is a whole heap of grief. The archers are out of range of all my hexes and spells aside from Glitterdust.
I can still make a contribution to the fight, I just have to think harder.
We are all working on the assumption out camels are not trained for combat. Is this right?