Apologies for the delay. It's been a tiring few days. I'll post shortly.
I hope you get som rest and feel revived soon, Paten. :)
Eh, a little. Cheers.
”Now, let us attend to the rest of the manse. I am certain there is much left to be done, and I would see how much has been accomplished in our absense."
At this point Paten suddenly stiffens and beckons to Farrokh.
”Come; we shall deal with that while the others speak. I know what must be done and I am confident that these others can take care of business while we tend to those matters which the lady has mentioned,” he says and Farrokh nods and follows him to the rear of the room and down the stairs.
Paten and Farrokh leave the room...
I think the time line of events is a little muddied at this point. I’m getting confused now and this is where I believe we’re at.
Samir returned after 9pm we sat down to hear what he’d discovered during his time in the city proper. Paten and Farrokh didn’t join in the meeting, but went below to deal with burning the spider body as we decided night time was best so the smoke wouldn’t be readily detected by those in the city. As you performed the task, the rest of us were around the dining table filling Samir in on what has transpired to Yetara et al and concocting a plan to determine if Talar’s sister, Aisha, is in the Yar-Ammonite Temple District/House of Dead and how to rescue her. The rest of us are not currently putting the manse in order as apparently that’s been done since we arrived back late afternoon/early evening.
It appears to me there may be some fight to get Aisha out of the temple. That means the fighters should try to get back to full strength and vitality before then. Maybe a visit to one of the healing temples in town after the agent’s visit? I will have Tairin play out providing healing to those poisoned before the party retires for the night. At this stage,the healing of ability damage needs to be proactively played out by those who need it. Farrokh said The Keepers could provide healing but the Yadaran priests are probably not the wisest choice since we stole the weapons and items of power from their catacomb tower in Susrah. We can look for other temple healers in Zul-Bazzir.
Absolutely agreed on the idea of making sure we're fighting fit going in.
Any alchemical assistance that we can gather together also.
Acid and fire can be most useful...
Apart from Bjoern, who still has ability damage, please?
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Addendum:
This is for Dain GM:
From the Xoth player's guide: Ability damage is healed at a rate of 1 point per hour of rest for each damaged ability score, except when the ability damage is suffered through a disease, in which case the lost ability points return only after the character has recovered from the disease. If this is the case, after a full night's rest, Bjoern should have all his ability damage (-4 STR and -4 DEX) restored/repaired? Is this correct?
Apart from Bjoern, who still has ability damage, please?
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Addendum:This is for Dain GM:
From the Xoth player's guide: Ability damage is healed at a rate of 1 point per hour of rest for each damaged ability score, except when the ability damage is suffered through a disease, in which case the lost ability points return only after the character has recovered from the disease. If this is the case, after a full night's rest, Bjoern should have all his ability damage (-4 STR and -4 DEX) restored/repaired? Is this correct?
That sounds about right; and if not, he will by the morning.
I didn't know that rule and I should have. On the plus side now that i know that it will be good because it means that the enemies can be a bit more challenging given the ease with which healing is done, so that's good news!
Also, I put links to the new NPC's on the Campaign Page. Thanks so much for converting them for me, I really appreciate that!
:)
Talar Level 5
HP: 6 (base) +2 (con) +1 (FCB) = +9 hp
BaB: +1
Class Features: 2nd Favored Enemy*
Skill Ranks**: 6 (class) +1 (human) = +7 skill points
- - - Perception/Sense Motive/Stealth/Survival kept maxed out
- - - Picked up Heal/Intimidate/Spellcraft
Feat**: Boon Companion (wild card feat available now)
Spells: +1 1st level/day (total of 2/day now)
Ramul Level 5
HP: 5 (base) +4 (con) = +9 hp
Saves: All +1
Skill Ranks**: +1 (base)
- - - Picked up Stealth
Feat**: Combat Reflexes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Favored Enemy: What does everybody think I should pick up for favored enemy? I've got nomads currently because of Talar's vendetta against them, so I want to make sure the next one I pick gets a lot of mileage. Perhaps civilized since it seems to be the broadest category? I suppose it matters where we intend on going.
**Not to be added quite yet.
Since I basically have all of the needed < Level 6 feats for archery, my wild card feat will be Weapon Focus (Khazistani Composite Shortbow) most of the time, but I'll have some tricks for other situations (such as picking up proficiency with the susrahnite longbow if we need a sniper :P). Once I get a BaB of 6 there are a bunch of other feats I can look at.
Level 5:
Gladiator level 5
HP: 7 (base) +2 (con) +1 (FCB) = +9 hp
BaB: +1
Class Features:
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex)
Careful Stance (Ex)
Melee Smash (Ex)
Skill Ranks:
Intimidate +1 (5) Perception +1 (5) Know Engeneering +1 (1)
Feat Barroom Brawler
Bjoern you may want to check that HP math again :)
Tairin Level 5:
Picking up a level in Ranger (Dandy archetype)
HP: 6 (base) +1 (con) = +7 hp
BaB: +1
Fort & Reflex saves: +2
Class Features: 1st Favoured Nation (Khazistan), Track, Rumour Empathy
Skill Ranks: 6 (class) +1 INT +1 (human) = +8 skill points
- - -> +1 to the following: Appraise, Bluff, Diplomacy, Know. Local. Know. Nobility, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth
Feat: Weapon Mastery (Whip)
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Dain GM: You will up levelling Sabra, and sending me the stats, yes?
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Talar, 'Civilised' seems to be a good choice as a Favoured Enemy.
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Dain, do you think you could update/push to the morning and set the scene up there if all we're doing is going to bed now? If anyone has any info to share with the party, then they can do so in the meantime or come morning. Thanks!
I’ll be posting tonight. I’m sorry for the hold up.
It is 10 of course, I had changed it but somehow it was not updated.
Gladiator has to great D12 hitdice
Paten, I didn't have Tairin tell Kara Ben what to address you as, because I thought you'd cover it in your own rp ...
Tairin isn't trying to be bossy with anyone in the party - she's just trying to make sure everyone knows the part they're playing and to give the best impression we can to the agent ...
Having taken first aid and medical expert, I'm actually not sure what other feats to take for Patenemheb. Given his Enlightened background, would breadth of experience be available?
Will post in gameplay tomorrow.
Level 5 Scholar
HP 36 (31+5)
Skill points: 12 (6 class +4 int bonus +1 skilled +1 favoured class)
Skills Raised: Bluff, Craft (alchemy) +2, Diplomacy, Disable Device +4, Heal, Linguistics, Perception, Sense Motive
Languages: Ancient Yar-Ammonite
Lore +2
Trap Sense +2
Decipher Script (Ex)
At 5th level, the scholar gains +2 on Linguistics checks to decipher writing.
Lore Master (Ex)
At 5th level, the scholar becomes a master of lore and can take 10 on any Knowledge check that she has ranks in. A scholar can choose not to take 10 and can instead roll normally. In addition, once per day, the scholar can take 20 on any Knowledge check as a standard action. She can use this ability one additional time per day for every six levels she possesses beyond 5th.
Paten said he'll post in game tomorrow. Bjoern, what about you? Not sure, but I think Dain GM may be waiting for all our opening rp posts upon the arrival of the agent before he responds. Thanks!
Paten said he'll post in game tomorrow. Bjoern, what about you? Not sure, but I think Dain GM may be waiting for all our opening rp posts upon the arrival of the agent before he responds. Thanks!
Well, I was - but I have a 17 hour day in about 5 hours so I figured I'd put something up before heading to bed.
Curious to see what you guys have next!
Had a car accident; car destroyed and am in a lot of pain. Will post when I can soon.
sorry for delay.
Had a car accident; car destroyed and am in a lot of pain. Will post when I can soon.
sorry for delay.
Sorry to hear this. Please rest and recuperate. I hope the pain lessens.
Oh my god. I'm glad you're alive, please take all the time you need.
Dain, I'm glad that you're alive. I hope your pain lessens very soon and your injuries are very temporary.
Thanks for the well-wishes everyone.
I'm still in a lot of pain and taking some pain meds; it's hard to focus very well.
I don't see any updates on the page so far, but I hope to see some soon.
Input from others? Do we become the agents “friend” or just pay the tax/levy/bribe? I’d really like to hear what the group wants to do in this situation so I can have Tairin play it out in game. Thanks kindly.
I have my late MIL’s 3 year memorial service this weekend. I probably won’t be posting much or at all until my Monday/your Sunday.
In character, Talar trusts Tairin's judgement.
Out of character, I think friend is good. He's incredibly inexperienced and his adviser realizes their position of weakness, so we should be able to play them like a lute as we need to.
Friend could be useful and a good source of plot hooks.
Still at work. Friendship it is. Will adjust tonight when I get home.
I will play out the friendship angle with the agent tonight when I’m back in town/home. Thanks for the input, Talar and Paten. :)
As soon as we hear from Tairin then I will move forward.
Sorry again for the delay on further details on my part; I'm on heavy medication and it's helping somewhat.
Take your time, please!
I have posted Tairin's acceptance of "friendship".
GM please don't feel bad, you were just in a terrible accident. Take all the time you need to feel better, we understand.
Um, I’m confused. The offer was either pay the 50 gp bribe or be friends and help him. How is it now we’re being his friend and paying the 50gp? If that was going to be the case then Tairin’s diplomacy could have been used to haggle the price of the bribe down. Tairin wouldn’t have agreed to an exorbitant bribe plus being this guy’s friend.
Um, I’m confused. The offer was either pay the 50 gp bribe or be friends and help him. How is it now we’re being his friend and paying the 50gp? If that was going to be the case then Tairin’s diplomacy could have been used to haggle the price of the bribe down. Tairin wouldn’t have agreed to an exorbitant bribe plus being this guy’s friend.
I understand. Let me clarify a bit -
"Of course you know that the legal fee to transfer ownership of a house is fifty gold pieces; but there are so many things that must get done to finalize that legally that it could take weeks... perhaps longer; generally hiring additional help could move the process forward very quickly..." he says, then pauses to see if you offer a higher amount to gauge you for how much to haggle with.
But before you can respond, the servant coughs and Astir responds.
"However, that sort of, er... trivium... is so tiring between people of our status. Let us say that I shall do what I can to expedite this process directly and see to it that it is formally concluded by tomorrow?"
"Of course, this will take a lot of time for me personally, but I do not mind overmuch - let us consider it a favor between friends," he adds with a knowing smile.
Clearly the guy doesn't mind losing extra bribe money if he can count you as friends. This may mean he might come to you later for help as a friend; it may also mean that you can go to him for aid from time to time. But, typically, as he is opening the bid of "friendship" by doing you the first service it is likely he will prefer you not coming to him with another favor until/unless you show him some token of friendship on your end first.
That said; it's likely such a low-level person would require any special or dangerous token of friendship in the future; but the choice to count this man as a "friend" is entirely up to you.
So in short; the cost is 50 Gold Pieces, base. His subtle point was that the "filing/paperwork process" could take weeks, if not a month or so before you could legally claim the property as your own, instead of the city's.
He was implying that he could speed up the process and formally transfer the property to you right away; however, if he formally transferred ownership of the property to you "at once" that could take a lot of extra "help" in the form of hired clerks, staff to finalize the paperwork.
His hint was that if you wanted to get the property transferred quickly that you'd have to pay "out of pocket" to get things taken care of. In short; it would be 50 GP plus the "processing fee" required to hire the extra staff and help.
This "processing fee" is deliberately left as vague; it was completely up to you to decide how much extra you wanted to pay the guy to speed up the process.
You chose to give him friendship to speed up the process, rather than coin; however, this was completely fine with him and he has formally transferred the property to you - and as you can see with the placement of the official seal/stamp - the process took no time at all and the demand for extra coin to "speed up the process" was a ruse to literally gain extra coin/wealth.
Haggling was meant to decide how fast you could claim the property formally, and how much that would cost to get it done formally.
Right now you paid the flat fee for the property and have ownership of the house legally and no one can simply enter it and take it without legal right or permission from the bey or his agents; it cost nothing else to take possession of the house and this is important as no one can simply enter the house to study its contents without your permission (providing, of course, you do not do something to attract the bey's personal interest, unlikely at this time as he has never even heard of your party).
That fee wasn't inflated, it was simply the legal fee required to transfer property to another party within the city limits with the formal recognition of the bey himself.
The use of the stamp in your presence was meant to demonstrate his formal acceptance of your friendship. He really should have left the house and stamped it privately so it would make it seem that his request for clerical work to get done was reasonable, but the wine and extra diplomacy sped up the process quite a bit and he was happy to show his gratitude by doing it at once.
So far, other than sweets and some wine, he doesn't seem to be taking anything for his friendship now, though that may change in time.
One other bonus to paying the 50 now and the friendship:
Since you have legal ownership at once, the advantage is that if you are absent from the house and anyone tries to enter it, without your permission, you can - legally - go to the authorities for extra aid.
So having the stamp right now instead of, for example - 24 hours, or worse, a month from now - means that if you leave the house as a party to do missions right at this moment and leave your servants behind and anyone tries to mess with the house while you as the PC's are gone, then your servants can inform them of the transfer of property legally and either they can, or you can later (if you return and want to) can actually get the city guards to formally aid you in tracking down people who may try to get into your property.
This may be helpful if your entire party wishes to leave your house in the next 24 hours.
As an aside, I should have noted that the house has been noted formally with a seal near your main gate which citizens who are versed in city law would notice (you would likely notice this if you left the house and looked by the gate, though). But this means anyone spying on your property would realize at once that it's now formally "YOUR" property, and recognized by the law, before they decide to try anything if you guys leave for another task...
Thank you for clarifying.
And honestly 50 plus gold pieces to have a document legalised/recognised in these times does seem exorbitant. It doesn’t take that many people to do so, for the cost to be pushed up. Expediting the process is fine, but Tairin isn’t giving him more than 50gp.
Just a reminder regarding Sabra's stats as she levels. Just didn't want you to forget, Dain GM. Thanks.
Since the meeting with the agent has concluded, does that mean we can upload our level 5 stats to our profile and officially level our characters in game, Dain?
Bjoern and Paten, haven't heard from you on the board... Not sure the reason why, but hoping to see some rp very soon. Thanks!
I suggested one guard as this is a short reconnaissance mission to gather more accurate information than we have on hand. No one posted to the contrary; however if everyone wishes to go to the Temple District then they just need to say so. Or once we get back with more info, the fighters can take their turn. Shrugs.
I suggested one guard as this is a short reconnaissance mission to gather more accurate information than we have on hand. No one posted to the contrary; however if everyone wishes to go to the Temple District then they just need to say so. Or once we get back with more info, the fighters can take their turn. Shrugs.
It's been several days since I've heard from some of the players.
I know you're up for doing the Diplomatic Recon thing and I'm on board with that; as for the others? I have no idea what they're doing at this point, but I didn't expect Bjeorn to be in to a diplomatic mission and while Talar can go either way, I figured that your initial assessment was accurate - the first visit should be a diplomatic style approach rather than how someone like Vorrenus chose to rescue his children from slavery approach...
In any case, I had already expected the party to try different styles of gaming in the meantime and I have no problem in doing separate short quests to maximize the play style of the various players.
That being the case, Samir did make a suggestion, but he's not in charge. If the others want to try something different or if you all want to go as a group - either way can work; it's up to you guys, I was just offering options.
Okay; I need to get going but I'll talk to you all again soon.
Have a good night!
If you want to approach this diplomatically, Talar should likely stay behind. He is very likely to lose his cool if he thinks there's even a slim chance they have his sister.
It looks like things are quietening for me now.
Again, apologies for the delays. I wasn't able to focus much on the forums lately. There might be a few hiccups as I get back to speed, but I *should* be posting daily or close to it for the foreseeable future.
Woohoo, sidequest time!
Hopefully Talar didn't damage any furniture :)
Talar, did you get a chance to level up? Your profile tag still says "ranger 4".
I've got Talar's level up on "standby" since we're not fully leveled up yet. If you scroll down to the bottom of Talar's alias, you will find a separate section that has his level 5 statistics.
Ah, right, got it. Leveling up doesn't effect Patenemheb's knowledges this time around.
The GM mentioned we would fully level up after the meeting with the Bey’s agent. So, technically, we’re now levelled up. So, you can update your sheet and status line, Talar. :)
Awesome. Will be done momentarily.
Excellent. :)
The site is really slow and laggy at the moment for me - so, I will respond to Paten tonight my time. Sorry about the wait.