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Post by reefwood on Mar 7, 2013 16:53:57 GMT -5
Just a general update of this and that...
My mind has been less and less focused on gaming over the past month, but my geek brain is ramping up again, so I'll be posting a few things between now and game time. It'll be a lot of info, but don't worry about having to know everything. I can always pull things up at the table as needed.
Safe House: There will be a post later today going over the various motivations of the Hand members and probably a post tomorrow presenting some general aims.
Chapter 1: There will be one last post -probly tomorrow- covering what happens in the city after the last session along with some more XP doled out. Not enough to level anyone up but don't forget to mark it down.
Chapter 2: I may post something opening this thread before the session, but if not, I'll just read it at the table.
Woot! ;D
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Post by icnivad on Mar 7, 2013 17:22:07 GMT -5
Awesome. I was just about to ask where we were going to pick up, but now I don't have to :-)
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Post by reefwood on Apr 21, 2013 15:24:16 GMT -5
Raise Dead & Restoration
Gendrew and Calseinica will be taken to the big church of Asmodeus in Westcrown in the Priest Sector to be raised from the dead. This will probably happen at midnight. The surviving cast and crew will be escorted home in the evening after the play, and the raised ones will be escorted home the next morning.
The spell raise dead requires a 9th-level cleric, which the church of Asmodeus does have, any the mayor will pay for that. Also, I remembered that negative levels work a bit differently and streamlined in Pathfinder:
The spell restoration requires a 7th-level caster, and each casting to dispel a negative level costs:
spell level 4 x caster level 7 x 10 = 280 +1000 diamond dust = 1,280 gp
Additionally, only one negative level can be dispelled per week, so it'll be a couple weeks before Gendrew is back to top form. This almost could work a little funny since he will also level up upon coming back to life...he was Level 5 (Ftr4/War1) before dying but Level 6 (with 2 negative levels - so sorta like Level 4) upon coming back...but dispelling one negative level will essentially leave him right where he was before dying back to Level 5, so when the second negative level is dispelled, he can then level up to Level 6.
EDIT: You can go ahead and level up Gendrew, and the 2 negative levels will simply impose penalties on his stats. That will be kind of neat if you do take a level in Oracle or Inquisitor or something magic cos it'll be like he came back from the dead with new powers.
Also, it would normally take some time to track down a 7th-level character, but Sion can actually take care of the restoration. Sion won't charge for the castings, but you will still need to pay for the 1,000 gp of diamond dust for each casting, so a total of 2,000 gp to dispel the 2 negative levels over 2 weeks.
One final note...greater restoration would be a lot more expensive, and you wouldn't be able to find a 13th-level cleric right now anyway.
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 28, 2013 12:52:09 GMT -5
This is my take on what Gendrew experienced right after his death. Maybe is was all a hallucination (like seeing a tunnel of light) or maybe there are deeper meanings in there... I'm thinking for Gendrew it doesn't matter. It was real to him.
He'll be taking levels in Barbarian from now on and this whole resurrected by the devil is going to effect his outlook. Exactly how, I'm not sure yet.
Reefwood, your running the show so if any of this doesn't work or you want me to tweek anything just let me know.
**************************************************
Larazod stands before his accuser Haanderthan. Five trials passed, but there is more pain to endure. Larazod is ready to prove his innocence… no, that’s not right…
“…your vile benefactors have thus far warded off justice’s dark hand, but let us see if you hold steadfast before the promise of oblivion.” Haanderthan says to Larazod and his companions. Drovalid, the torturer looks different. He has grown long fangs, his hair and beard are crazed and unkempt. Tybain, the holy fool, is dressed in mocking garb of a priest of Asmodeus. Both dwarves look at Larazod with dark glee.
“We do not know this Larazod.” They say in unison. “He is not known to us.”
“Betrayers!” Larazod shouts at his onetime companions. He raises his hammer and chargers Tybain but the jester is too fast. He ducks out of the way as Larazod swings past him and trips into the curtains. As the curtains tumble down onto Larazod the audience bursts into laughter. But there is something dark and unkind in the way they laugh. Looking out into the shadowy seats Larazod sees the faces of devils glaring back at him. One is holding an effigy that looks to be bleeding real blood. The horned and red faces are those of the tieflings Larazod killed in the Blood District weeks ago. No, it wasn’t Larazod. It was…
…Gendrew sits up in his bed covered in a cold sweet. His bed sheets, not curtains, are tangled about him. Such a strange dream. He is safe in his barracks back at Highhelm. There is no time to ponder this as Gendrew sees the other dwarven guardsmen are up and quickly donning their armor.
“What is it uncle, what’s wrong.” Gendrew asks. His young face is practically hairless, only his upper lip is covered by his budding mustache.
“Nothing to concern yourself with pup.” His uncle says barely looking Gendrew’s way. “Just some orc thieves…” Gendrew hops out of bed and begins getting dressed, but by now the other dwarves are already leaving the barrocks and he can’t get ready fast enough.
“Uncle, wait.” Gendrew pleads, “I know what happens here.” Why do I know what happens here? I’ll find the orc thief first and kill it. This is my first kill. Once he is finally dressed in his militia uniform Gendrew rushes to the door and steps through…
…Stepping through the door Gendrew enters the dressing room of the Nightshade Theater. Calseinica is sitting in front of a mirror getting ready for another rehersal. These rehersals seemed never ending to Gendrew, a purgatory. The young actress is beautiful, for a human, and Gendrew never understood her use of so much makeup. Gendrew always thought it was too thick, but she insisted it was so the audience in the back could see it. Bloody cuts crisscross her face and strips of her pale skin dangle from her chin. The theater’s Illusionist was very good with disguises, but Gendrew knew this was real.
“Gendrew, what are you doing here?” Calseinica asks. She stiffens looks away embarressed, as if Gendrew just interrupted something very private. A ceremony. A ritual. “Do you need something? Do you want me to help you get ready?” she asks, but that’s not she wants. She wants Gendrew to leave.
“No, this is not my place. I should be somewhere else…” Gendrew says and backs out of the room. Calseinica is looking back into the mirror and restarting her makeup before the door even closes.
Leaving the dressing room Gendrew’s steps into the foul water that puddles through out this damp stone passageway. The smell hits his nose, and he remembers this place. Gendrew has only been in the sewers of Westcrown twice, but the smell is unforgettable. Back on the trail of orcs Gendrew draws his hammer from his belt. The orc mercenary leaps from the shadows and Gendrew ducks its blade and swings up his hammer. The blow slams into the orcs chest and Gendrew hears the familiar sounds of ribs breaking and breath weezing out of his opponent. The orc slumps over and if it isn’t dead it will be soon.
Gendrew…
Gendrew hears footsteps from farther down the tunnels and almost backs into the shadows. No, not footsteps… a rythmic stomping of feet. Gendrew follows the thumming around a corner to a large door. The double door is fine oak painted a brilliant red and polished brass. Pushing open the doors Gendrew sees what he knew he would. Seven large tables fill the hall each surrounded by dozens of dwarves. The dwarves are banging their fist and mugs and stomping their feet in unision. With each clang
the mugs splash ale on the tables.
His grandfathers, his uncles, old comrades and clansmen are spread throughout the hall. Even dwarves he does not recognize seem to know his name. “Gendrew! Gendrew!” they call out.
Gendrew Hopcrusher…
There is another voice. One that does not belong. Dark, distant, and powerful.
Gendrew Hopcrusher…I call your name…
The Red and brass doors burst open and a living shadow fills the door way. It slivers and whispers the way it did in the sewers of Westcrown.
“Gendrew, what foul betrayal is this?” his great grandfather is now standing. The other dwarves have stopped their clammer and stare at Gendrew without expression, as if paused in time. “What darkness do you bring to our doorstep?”
Gendrew Hopcrusher…I call your name…come back to Golarion.Your time has not yet expired.
Drawing his hammer Gendrew steps in front of the writhing shadow. “Leave here spirit, my people have no quall with you!”
Gendrew Hopcrusher…I call your name…come back to Golarion.Your time has not yet expired.
Looking back into the room Gendrew sees that all the dwarves are slunched over in their chairs. Their eyes and cheeks sunken and pale. Long dead. “You are the beast! The darkness!” Gendrew shouts, spit sprays from his mouth his eyes wet with tears.
The dark shadow moves forward. Behind it the door’s paint is now old and pealing, its brass now green and corroded. “What hell is this? Do you taunt me devil?” Gendrew shouts, now near hysterical. “No, it is a warning. To leave this undone is to leave the world on Hell’s doorstep!”
Gendrew Hopcrusher…I call your name…come back to Golarion.Your time has not yet expired.
“Know this! If I return it will be hammer in hand and fire in my heart.” Gendrew warns, his knockles bone white as he grips his hammer. “I make no truce with you!”
Gendrew Hopcrusher…I call your name…come back to Golarion.Your time has not yet expired.
Gendrew lifts his hammer and charges into the writhing darkness. “I make no truce with you!”
…Gendrew opens his eyes squinting despite the darkness of the temple. As his eyes focus he sees the face of a human male approaching middle-age grinning down at him. “Welcome back to Golarion, Gendrew Hopcrusher,” He says. His voice matches that of the shadow but different now. Closer, more human, but Gendrew takes no comfort in this. “I am Vestus Savaska and by the power of Asmodeus, praise his name, you are risen.”
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Post by reefwood on Apr 28, 2013 14:12:52 GMT -5
This is my take on what Gendrew experienced right after his death. Maybe is was all a hallucination (like seeing a tunnel of light) or maybe there are deeper meanings in there... I'm thinking for Gendrew it doesn't matter. It was real to him. He'll be taking levels in Barbarian from now on and this whole resurrected by the devil is going to effect his outlook. Exactly how, I'm not sure yet. Reefwood, your running the show so if any of this doesn't work or you want me to tweek anything just let me know. Whoa...this is awesome! I'm going to mull it over a bit but think that it probably totally works. The only thing I have to add is a few notes on possible corrections...or maybe with all the shifting around, these things are intentionally mixed up, which totally works too: Gettul played Drovalid the torturer. Renold played Tybain the paladin of Aroden. Calseinica is the name of the leading lady The Hopcrushers were in the Westcrown sewers twice (1st briefly while saving the halflings from orcs and shadow; 2nd after meeting Falcon to escape the Hellknights and go to the Safe House)/ |
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 28, 2013 14:37:13 GMT -5
Whoa...this is awesome! I'm going to mull it over a bit but think that it probably totally works. The only thing I have to add is a few notes on possible corrections...or maybe with all the shifting around, these things are intentionally mixed up, which totally works too: Gettul played Drovalid the torturer. Renold played Tybain the paladin of Aroden. Calseinica is the name of the leading lady The Hopcrushers were in the Westcrown sewers twice (1st briefly while saving the halflings from orcs and shadow; 2nd after meeting Falcon to escape the Hellknights and go to the Safe House)/ Oops, I got Gettul's and Renold's roles mixed up, but I meant to mix Aroden with Asmodeus. And got Calseinica mixed up too. I also forgot about that whole fleeing from the Hellknights in the sewer! |
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Post by reefwood on Apr 29, 2013 14:24:45 GMT -5
For this evening's session, unless anyone has something major to do before the Cornucopia, we can probably sum up the days leading to it pretty quickly and dive into that. Also, there will be a lot of NPCs there (40+), and it'll be up to you guys to keep notes about anything you want to remember about them.
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Post by reefwood on May 12, 2013 13:45:05 GMT -5
Vaneo Arvanxi (mayoral manor)
I left out some details of the rooms explored so far (including MORE doors). It was sometimes a bit tricky to see everything on the super-detailed map in the book while also looking up descriptions and other info. Therefore, I made my own hand-drawn map that focuses on the more notable details (doors, windows, standout furniture), which I can also use to trace your map as you explore the house. I did remake your map so it looks a lot better and will present some more details of the rooms in the recap. One thing to note is that the BIG door in the banquet hall on which Renold used doorsight - I was inaccurate on the description of what is on the other side, but that is okay because it turns out the door is too thick for Renold to see through, so that use of doorsight failed.
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Post by reefwood on May 19, 2013 9:44:13 GMT -5
Gala Guests
I might do a brief recap of the last session, but you may want to post notes about what you all learned. Or at least the stuff you want to remember/find applicable for the current mission.
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Post by Rabbit on May 20, 2013 11:12:25 GMT -5
some Gala notes...
-pit fiend in the basement (behind the black iron door?)
-female cleric of Asmodeus is a tiefling? (fire eyes)
-mayor has hidden son in attic with 'deformities from a childhood disease'
-head of the Dutari has mentioned rumors of vampires/vampire hunters on the docks
-mojodoma has something to hide, there is a stolen bust
-room with paintings from major plays might hold a key to finding the 'knot'vault
-mojodoma and young daughter of the cities 'first house' shared a glance. young daughter of first house also implied that she knew much about the dwarves, the whipserer, and other city affairs...
-the information broker wants to recruit the dwarves to find the vault and report back to him
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Post by reefwood on May 23, 2013 13:39:54 GMT -5
Detect Magic
This may not come up again, but when Renold used detect magic in the banquet hall, it got me thinking about how much someone could actually see and learn in just a few seconds. If someone casts it in a place with dozens of auras, or perhaps hundreds, it makes sense to see/sense all the auras (unless perhaps there are many close together or overlapping...as the rules state: Magical areas, multiple types of magic, or strong local magical emanations may distort or conceal weaker auras.), but it might be impossible to determine the school of many auras in 1 round. If someone told you 1 quality about 10 different items in a few seconds, it seems like it would be very difficult to remember all 10 qualities, let alone which quality belonged to which item.
Therefore, in the 3rd round of detect magic, you still know the strength and location of each aura, but for attempting to identify the school of each aura, the number that can be tried in 1 round will be based on caster level +Int mod. If there are more untried auras, they can be tried in the next round.
Also, I've been having people make Spellcraft checks to learn the school, but it is supposed to be Know(arcana) checks. Spellcraft is for identifying the properties of a magic item.
Purify Food and Drink
I'm going to reverse me decision at the table. This would not affect alcohol or any kind of intended effects of food or drink. It would only affect food or drink that changes through some sort of contamination (spoiling, adding poison, etc).
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Post by reefwood on Jun 13, 2013 14:42:12 GMT -5
Greater Sunder (feat) This feat is pretty sweet. If you take an item down to half hit points or less, it gains the broken condition. If you take an item down to 0 hit points, you can *choose* to destroy it, or you can choose to leave it broken with only 1 hp. If you destroy the item, then you can pass remaining damage onto the wielder, and this goes for any item, not just armor... so if you destroy a sword, you get to hit their hand too! Also, the quoted rules make it seem like an item might still be not destroyed at 0 hp, but in the Additional Rules chapter where it discusses items and smashing them, it says an item is ruined at 0 hp, and that makes sense, so I'm going with that.
Tower ShieldI noticed today that this rule is worded different than 3.5, which says you must give up attacks to gain total cover. Pathfinder says you need to take a standard action to gain total cover, so it seems like attacks of opportunity still apply, as do any other attacks you may get (perhaps a special ability with a swift action?). Of course, all attack rolls still take the -2 penalty for encumbrance (or -10 armor check penalty if you are not proficient, or -9 armor check penalty if it is masterwork). Here is a link on the Paizo messageboard that goes into it some: paizo.com/threads/rzs2n5sq?Tower-Shields-and-Cover#1Also, I reviewed the Cover rules, and one thing to remember is that cover works different for melee vs ranged as well as Medium/smaller vs Large/bigger. Therefore, when Renold is using tower shield total cover on one side, the rules I laid out for how partial cover applies to squares adjacent-to-the-total-cover-side may not apply for those using ranged weapons or bigger creatures. Additionally, he cannot make attacks of opportunity against those squares at an angle if he has cover from them because cover negates attacks of opportunity. This may be hard to explain in words but can demonstrate on the grid. More importantly, however, I tried finding the rule that says Gendrew standing behind Renold (taking total cover) can attack through Renold's square without penalty by using a reach weapon. I couldn't find this rule in Pathfinder or 3.5 because it doesn't exist. I extrapolated this rule from the Soft Cover rule, but it turns out I did it wrong. Soft Cover says, "Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. ", and since Soft Cover didn't address melee attacks, I mistakenly thought it meant that soft cover didn't apply to melee attacks. However, Cover says "When making a melee attack against a target that isn't adjacent to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for determining cover from ranged attacks." Therefore, reach attacks and reach weapons are treated as ranged weapons for soft cover, so Gendrew and the opponent on the other side of Renold would both receive +4 AC bonus for soft cover (which totally makes sense), and this is regardless of whether the person in between is using tower shield total cover or not. Generally, it seems like this will even out since creatures on both sides receive the bonus, but it could raise ACs so high that one or both will only ever hit by rolling a natural 20. Also, if one creature is Large or bigger, it could be partly at an angle and only have to deal with partial cover, so it could be at an advantage. In the last combat, the howling beast did not have reach, so it could not reach Gendrew on the other side of Renold, but it should have received +4 bonus to AC from Gendrew's attacks passing through Renold's square.
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