PFS #9-11: The Jarlsblood Witch Saga

[Lindley Court]

So, I'm looking this scenario over so I can prep it later, and noticed something on the chronicle sheet.

Spoiler:

The Rare Weapons boon states you can buy the weapons as they're shown under the available items. But it only shows those weapons as having specific enhancements. The way it appears is that because the items normally aren't legal, you can only buy them with those enhancements. I'm worried that GMs might see that to mean you can't enhance them further, as that would no longer be an allowed item.

So, is there a way someone could clarify that boon?

[Isabelle Lee]

I certainly don't see any reason why you couldn't enhance them further... but I definitely understand your concern. Put me down for "hoping for clarification" as well. ^_^

[Korolan]

As the items in question aren't Named or Unique items, you should be able to enhance them further, as long as you have the fame to do so.

[Lindley Court]

Alright, follow up question. I feel like I know the answer, but I hope I'm wrong. Can I buy one of those items and enhance it differently, or to a lesser degree? I'd assume no, as those are the default enhancements of them on the chronicle, but I'n hoping otherwise.

[Kalindlara]

I think you have to get them as what they are on the Chronicle, but you can enhance them as you like from there.

[Korolan]

Lindley Court wrote:

Alright, follow up question. I feel like I know the answer, but I hope I'm wrong. Can I buy one of those items and enhance it differently, or to a lesser degree? I'd assume no, as those are the default enhancements of them on the chronicle, but I'n hoping otherwise.

That's the part where it gets... Unfortunately Dicey. The wording of the Chronicle Sheet doesn't unlock the items to be purchased in general (as they are not legal according to the Additional Resources) but allow you to buy that item from that chronicle sheet.

Examples!:

So, you couldn't purchase a Masterwork Cold Iron Butchering Axe, or a Darkwood Hornbow.
But, if for example, you wanted a +1 Dragon Bane Keen Butchering axe, and had the 36 fame required, you could purchase the Axe from the Chronicle Sheet and (as normal) upgrade it according to the standard PFS Rules.

[Derwalt]

I’m prepping this now and have some questions... The title of this thread is pretty broad, so I’ll post them in this thread instead of starting a new, hope that’s ok.

On page 5 (Getting started) the scenario is introduced to the PC’s, and the reason for their trip to Frostbreach. But I don’t really see how the info they are given actually merits them being there. Why are they there? What’s in it for the Society? As a GM I know more is at stake, but the PC’s aren’t told that.

Anyone played it where this came up? How did you handle it?

[Derwalt]

Ok - I forgot about the hand-out. That explains it :)

[Ferious Thune]

Is spending the prestige the only way to get EWP: Butchering Axe? Or can you take it as a regular feat once you have access to the item?

[Dragonshade64]

With the exploring Frostbreach section, how do the skill checks work? do the players state what information they are attempting to find and only get the information for it if they succeed.

Or do the players make a skill check and then get the information relevant to the result similar to the knowledge checks at the start of the scenario.

[thistledown]

Ferious Thune wrote:

Is spending the prestige the only way to get EWP: Butchering Axe? Or can you take it as a regular feat once you have access to the item?

Technically don't even need the feat. Just get a Cracked Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun stone for 1500 to have it count as a martial weapon.

[Ferious Thune]

James Anderson wrote:

Ferious Thune wrote:

Is spending the prestige the only way to get EWP: Butchering Axe? Or can you take it as a regular feat once you have access to the item?

Technically don't even need the feat. Just get a Cracked Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun stone for 1500 to have it count as a martial weapon.

I'm a little unclear if that's a legal option to take. Is it legal to buy an ioun stone keyed to an item that isn't legal? Does the boon open up access to buy the ioun stone? Does the boon open up access to take feats like Weapon Focus? (I think that second answer is yes).

If the ioun stone works, that would be great. It would save a feat. Someone actually just suggested that to me on the Advice thread. I was assuming it wasn't legal to purchase, because of the status of the weapon.

[Hulking Hurler]

Can a Mindblade Magus with EWP manifest a Butchering Axe?

[Terminalmancer]

page 12 wrote:

Treasure: By succeeding at a DC 16 Perception check, a PC can find an ancient ivory talisman on the ground near the base of the effigy post. This talisman was Kolvi’s lesser talisman of life’s breath OA that fell from her body when she was turned into an effigy.

Must not have been a very good talisman... perhaps the PCs should try to cash in the money-back guarantee.

[andreww]

I played this today and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am starting to prep it but am confused about one part. More may follow.

The king:

How exactly does the beheaded king croak out anything after he is defeated given he lacks a head...

Linked to this there is a discrepancy between the low and high tier stat blocks. At low tier he has darkvision and blindsight. At high tier he just has darkvision.

Leaving aside the question of how things without eyes have darkvision should the high tier king also have blindsiight?

[andreww]

Ok, another issue with the King. His slam attack is statted up as if he is using it alongside his weapon (as a secondary natural) but it is presented as an or not in addition to his main melee attacks. Worth bearing in mind if he gets greased or something.

Also, the Vestige is missing the bonus to its CMB from grab.

[TriOmegaZero]

#1 Power of Plot

#2 Probably an error of omission

#3 The same way a skeleton has darkvision without eyes

[andreww]

I am likewise confused about the Rare Weapons boon.

I cannot find anywhere in the scenario which explains how the PCs earn this boon. I assume it is based on recovering the items however one of them is contained in an optional encounter which can, in an event, be diplomacised past.

I am also unclear if this is supposed to unlock the regular, non magical versions of these items or if you can only purchase the items specifically listed on the chronicle. I suspect it is the latter and I expect I will be explaining to people for months to come why they cannot purchase regular versions of these weapons but it would be nice to be certain.

[GM Tyrant Princess]

I note that they both appear at their high-tier level of improvement on the Chronicle, even though the bow is only +1 at low tier. That, along with the language about appearing in the available items below, suggests that they must be purchased as presented.

As for the boon, in the absence of in-text explanation (and barring clarification), I'm inclined to give it to PCs who completed the scenario. This includes the hornbow, even if they didn't experience the optional encounter.

[Ferious Thune]

My GM gave us the bow on the chronicle, despite not running the optional.

As far as using diplomacy to skip the encounter, isn't it more or less called out in the guide that that counts as overcoming the encounter, and the group receives the rewards for the encounter?

I haven't read the scenario yet, and as I said, our GM skipped the optional, so I don't know the specifics. If it's a choice the PCs make to pursue one path or another, like in The Confirmation, I understand crossing off items. If they defeat the encounter by using Diplomacy (including rendering the encounter unnecessary), I would think they'd get full rewards, including items.

We almost certainly would have asked to have the optional run if it were going to result in missing out on the opportunity for a boon. I think we were technically pushing for time in the slot, but no one was in a hurry and the shop was open another hour after we finished as we sat around and talked.

[wilder79]

It would be great to get clarification...seems dumb that through the boon you can get proficiency in a weapon but can't commission a weaponsmith to make you another copy of said weapon...its not like the weapon is a one of a kind...orcs in the world are currently using them. I would even accept that you need to purchase the weapon from the scenario first so you have something for the smith to copy. But then thats just logic talking and likely doesn't go with the intent which is to make the PC's purchase a specific weapon with an enchantment that very few people would choose...good way to burn through gold and ensure you don't see any keen versions of the axe until higher levels

[tchrman35]

Am I the only one who thinks the purchase guidelines at Stonefire Supplies border on ludicrous? A town of that size has a base value of 1,000gp. And it has a purchasing power of 5,000gp. It seems silly to imagine that they'd have any magical item up to 3,500gp. I feel I need to roleplay Uda's magic emporium as a place of quiet ostentation. Like, everything is a work of art. That table there, it's solid oak. The tooth under the glass dome? That came from the linnorm killed by the first linnorm King millennia ago. (Certificate of provenance is in the safe in the office.)

Solid wood paneling with beautiful molding work adorns the walls. Exposed support columns have headers that you think might be gold, or at least gilded, hiding their capitals.

Yes. This is a place of wealth that far exceeds what this town could otherwise support.

[andreww]

Yes, that struck me as being faintly ridiculous as well given the placed has a population of 350.

[Kalindlara]

I'm guessing that's sort of a handwave for PFS. I had the same reaction to Venture-Captain Bennary's quartermaster in Out of Anarchy.

[Noam]

It was a really nice boat :3

[pauljathome]

Kalindlara wrote:

I'm guessing that's sort of a handwave for PFS. I had the same reaction to Venture-Captain Bennary's quartermaster in Out of Anarchy.

Well, that boat IS essentially a movable lodge. And there are lots of pathfinders needing to be equipped. So it seemed sort of almost plausible to me.

[Silbeg]

I am a little saddened by the bow and axe... when I read the chronicle at first I had all these plans... but never wanted a thundering bow, or a dragon slaying axe. Otherise, I know exactly who woul,diet this chronicle.

This on items which shouldn’t be legal for all. 5ey are both a little overpowered, IMHO. But perfect for a chronicle reward. Here is to John or Linda posting and updating us on intent.

[TOZ]

Someone is going to run this for Bolt. And it will be glorious.

[Marc Waschle]

I loved it! My Warpriest who happens to be Ulfen got to return to his homeland and help out a town in need. It was fun doing the detective work and he even got to strike the killing blow to the BBEG with the awesome axe! Having the author run it for my table was a special bonus!
I see some feat retraining in his future!

[Ferious Thune]

This chronicle sheet has some of the best boons I've seen in a while. My Bard got to use his hornbow for the first time last night. HUGE step up from shortbow. I went ahead and paid the 2 prestige for the retraining, since I'm still not sure if it's legal to purchase an ioun stone keyed to the hornbow. Plus I don't have martial proficiency anyway, so it would have to be the more expensive stone.

Also, he's decided the Ulfen Guard is his new drinking buddy.

I'm going to try to use both the special armor and the butchering axe on a Goliath Druid, and I enjoyed the scenario so much, I might put off GMing it and burn a replay star instead to play it again when that character reaches 5th level.

All around, just a well done scenario with lots of fun stuff on the chronicle. Season 9 in general has had some really great chronicle rewards.

[MARCIA SCHOONOVER]

The way it was explained when I played it was that the town was a trading center and even if they didn't normally have things that expensive, the merchants passing through or setting up a kiosk would have more stuff. Came in handy, as I got to buy and learn a scroll of Bestow Weapon Proficiency to cast on our Bull's Strength fighter for the final battle.

As for the headless king, as with most undead, I see the physical form as just a conduit for the spirit that inhabited it. Hence, the spirit has darkvision and can 'speak', just as a ghost or spectre or any number of other creepy non-corporal or "faceless" creatures.

[MrBear]

The secondary success condition seems kind of poorly explained. You never really hav a good sense of exactly what you need to do for the second point. When I played this the GM rushed us through the town investigation, and as soon as we got the location he just moved us along, cutting out one of the options. It's pretty much guesswork as to any specifics you might need, especially since your average adventure doesn't require nearly as much info. I'm thinking I'll put some extra emphasis. Instead of telling people to go find out the info I think it might be let the players know they need to get ALL the info, and collect ALL the proof.

[MrBear]

Having just finished, this was pretty brutal on the players, largely because of dice. The headless fellow crit twice, outright killing a player each time. In all, there were two breath of life scrolls and two life talismans spent, plus a pile of single use benefits. They had a blast though, and one player specifically called out that he felt the adventure was tough, but fair.

[Serisan]

I ran this today for a 5-6 subtier table. Quite fun, honestly. It was entertaining to have to remind players to read the handout carefully for clues of how to interact with the Venture-Captain, including making sure that the players were not covering their mouths while talking and paying attention to where I was looking - I wouldn't respond to them unless they made sure to get my attention first.

The players felt a bit worried for a while with the info gathering section due to a general lack of face skills, but managed to get sufficient information through the expanded options. There was a lot of concern, as well, about "picking a side" early on, so the players avoided talking to either family.

The fey scene went extremely well. The existence of fey immediately put the players on edge, but they didn't go aggressive and thus got a lot of info and convinced the huldra to testify.

The frost wights got spotted and wrecked despite the take 10 stealth of 28 in 5-6 subtier. They couldn't hit anything before they were obliterated.

The Beheaded King, though. The players opened with an explosive arrow from the alchemist, which was met by the Obscuring Mist of the century. The remainder of the combat included significant efforts by the players to remove the mist via bombs. The level 5 rogue ate 2 hits from the axe and died, but there were First Aid Gloves available. With 3 negative levels, the rogue sat out the rest of the combats. Ultimately, this combat terrified the players.

The Kolvi scene went well and the players collected all her stuff, then set up to attack the linnorm. There was some difficulty identifying the DR/cold iron, but all was well, even after the brawler was grappled and carried into the sky. The brawler punched the linnorm to death while grappled and nearly went unconscious from the falling damage.

Getting the players to engage with the Dispelling the Legend encounter was tricky - they had a number of successes right out the gate, but getting them to venture ideas for how to talk about what they found. They still crushed it overall, though.

[Ferious Thune]

Has anyone been able to get confirmation of whether owning the Butchering Axe or Orc Hornbow from the boon is sufficient to be able to purchase an Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun Stone keyed to either item, or to take the EWP without retraining? Or is the only way to get proficiency by spending the prestige noted in the boon?

[Serisan]

Nothing about the AR/chronicle changes the fact that you can legally select EWP as a feat and make any selection you want from there. Similarly, if the Ioun Stone is legal, the choices about what it can select are irrelevant. So yes, you can do either of those without spending the prestige as noted on the boon.

[Ferious Thune]

I'm not completely sure that's the case, but if no one here sees an issue with it, I'll go with that assumption. I'm a little uncomfortable giving that advice to another player. I'll have to decide when the time comes if I'm comfortable doing it myself. It would save me a crucial feat and the need to dip a level for a bonus feat on a build I hope eventually ends up with the axe. If I show up at a table and it isn't allowed, it would more or less make the axe a terrible option to use. So I'm just trying to make sure before I either give bad advice or make a bad choice myself.

[Davor Firetusk]

Both items appear directly on the chronicle, the boon specifically gives you the chance to rebuild your character on the fly at a very modest cost to take advantage of being able to purchase both items. In short the I have a hard time seeing how you would be restricted to having to spend prestige. I fully plan to build the GM blob I applied the chronicle to to use one of those items from the beginning.

[Ferious Thune]

By spending prestige, I mean spending the 2 prestige for the rebuild from the boon on the chronicle. I'm more concerned about freeing up a feat than I am spending prestige. And I know others have looked at the Ioun stone as an option. I'll plan to go with it. I've got a few levels before I get there and decide if I want to GM credit it or use a replay. Anyway, thanks for putting my mind at ease. I'm checking with other local GMs to be sure they don't feel different. If not, I'll go ahead with it.

[GM Tyrant Princess]

Yeah, local GMs' opinions are obviously most relevant until (if) there's an actual ruling.

In any case, I think it's perfectly acceptable.

[BigNorseWolf]

A 200 year old murder mystery in the land of the linorm keys?

Its a cold. Cold . case...

[Akeela Valerian, the Wolf]

A player gave me a heads up that he will be playing a mesmerist in the tier 8-9 subtier when I run this tomorrow. I am unfamiliar with the class. He sent me a couple clips with the contents for bold stare and psychic inception. Any thoughts on particular concerns with mesmerists in this scenario? I told him he would be on honor system because I am unfamiliar with the class, but would like to spot any issues ahead of time if possible.

In flipping through the scenario, one of the first things that struck me was that the Beheaded King has no head and, therefore, no ears. Would he be susceptible to language dependent spells or spell likes or supernaturals from any party members if he has no ears?

Thanks in advance!

Akeela

[KingOfAnything]

Good that they have psychic inception. A mesmerist without it would be pretty unhappy against so many undead. I don't think anything particular to the mesmerist class will cause you any headaches.

Most language dependent spells are also mind-affecting and he would be immune already due to undead traits. The mesmerist can get around that with psychic inception, though. I think it would be a neat callback to the briefing to have him be deaf due to lack of head.

[GM Tyrant Princess]

If he doesn't have the penalties associated with deafness, he probably shouldn't gain the benefits.

[nosig]

ok, can a PC who gained access to the Butchering Ax buy a Small or Large version of the weapon?

[Kalindlara]

nosig wrote:

ok, can a PC who gained access to the Butchering Ax buy a Small or Large version of the weapon?

Last I knew, it was standard to be able to buy those versions of items on the Chronicle, even if they weren't that size in the scenario. Since you're asking, there must be something that makes you uncertain about the answer. Could you share more information, please?

[nosig]

Kalindlara wrote:

nosig wrote:

ok, can a PC who gained access to the Butchering Ax buy a Small or Large version of the weapon?

Last I knew, it was standard to be able to buy those versions of items on the Chronicle, even if they weren't that size in the scenario. Since you're asking, there must be something that makes you uncertain about the answer. Could you share more information, please?

A friend of mine that I often game with has a PC that has access from this chronicle (yeah, I ran the game for him) and he asked me... So I went looking for the rule that stated that we could buy Large Weapons to see if it said something like "you can buy Large versions of any weapon you have access to" or if it said "you can buy Large versions of any weapon that is available in Additional Resources"... it seems like we have access to this Ax in the one form (the one listed on the CR), but not to other (non-magical for example) versions, and my Search-Fu failed me. (as it often does).

So I figured I'd toss the question out to the Boards and I'd get two or three different answers, and after all the shouting died down we'd have an answer that sort of made sense and maybe even referenced/linked the rules.

But the Boards seem to have mellowed out in the last couple years, and even I can post things that don't bring out the trolls... Not sure why that is.

[Kalindlara]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you'd still have to buy a Large +1 dragonbane butchering axe. But, you know. See if anyone else cares enough to weigh in. ^_^

[nosig]

Kalindlara wrote:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you'd still have to buy a Large +1 dragonbane butchering axe. But, you know. See if anyone else cares enough to weigh in. ^_^

actually, we're worried that he can only buy it in Medium when he wants to buy the Large version. And knowing my luck, I'll tell him he can buy it, and someone will come along with "ha! Common Rule 14, sub-clause 2, says you can't do that!" and I'll have egg on my face. Or it'll be in a rules section I check all the time, but I just never read "Cause I know what that rule says!" And again, thanks for the input!

[TriShadow]

As all this information is on the chronicle sheet, would this allow a CORE character to gain access to the weapons and the chance to spend PP for the EWP?