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Fair enough, Skadu will pass unless someone needs an assist. 

Mar 11, 2013 -- 9:00PM, whatami wrote:

Fair enough, Skadu will pass unless someone needs an assist. 

We can't pass here! This is bat country!

Hmmm.  whatami, can you add flavor text to your passing?  Thx.

Still waiting for Loki. 

Where are we with the skill successes?

Fairbanks has a +5 to Thievery, so that's a 25% chance.

35% with an Aid Another. 

If fairbanks aids me with a thievery, I'd have a 45% chance of a 20, otherwise I'll go play with the bats 

If I'm not mistaken, we have 2 successes, 1 failure, and an Athletics check with what I think is a DC 9 (with Fairbanks' +11).

If we continue the Dungeoneering/Perception/Athletics route, John has a 75% chance of passing a Dungeoneering check (+4 vs DC 9), Zyna has a 65% chance of passing a Perception check (+6 vs DC 13).  And then Fairbanks' +11 vs either DC 9 or DC 13 (since 2 failures is moot).  Been a while since I fiddled with Statistics, but I think that's over 80%, all told....

So I should go with Athletics?

Mar 13, 2013 -- 11:25AM, Loki5654 wrote:

So I should go with Athletics?

Astro, could you provide some flavor as well, so it's clear from the narrative when it's appropriate for Athletics, or other skills?

Mar 13, 2013 -- 12:25PM, Centauri wrote:

Mar 13, 2013 -- 11:25AM, Loki5654 wrote:

So I should go with Athletics?

Astro, could you provide some flavor as well, so it's clear from the narrative when it's appropriate for Athletics, or other skills?

Good advice.  Will do.

I had pretty much forgotten that Exile has a tail.

Astromath, what do we see when we look up? Darkness?

Yes.  The chasm extends beyound your light source, but it may or may not break the surface far above.  You are not sure.

Exile will be casting Mage Hand next turn to try to roll the dead body over, or rifle it for interesting clues. Does it weigh more than 20 pounds at this point?

Mar 18, 2013 -- 10:38AM, Centauri wrote:

Exile will be casting Mage Hand next turn to try to roll the dead body over, or rifle it for interesting clues. Does it weigh more than 20 pounds at this point?

Your question will be answered shortly.

As far as Skadu's statement about being the "sum of our actions", what happens if you get somebody that can't add.

I would probably just call him irrational 

But that would only divide us.

Is this discussion really integral to this situation?

Not really, just pandering to the lowest common denominator.  It is getting rather derivative, admittedly, but that's only because doing so is easy as pi.

Pi??  Are you squared???  I think we need to limit this discussion before it gets factored into somebody else's conversation fractionally.

Fumble grumble.

Did you mean to provoke from W4?

Yes.

Shifting doesn't provoke an OA, but I will use his Righteous Radiance power for 4 radiant damage.

If this drops the creature, I'd like to trigger the Aecris power to regain a surge. 

Remember OA also means Opportunity Action, which Righteous Radiance is.

BTW, please continue your turn.  Thx. 

W1 should be free of the effects of Exile's earlier spell by now.

Mar 29, 2013 -- 6:15PM, Centauri wrote:

W1 should be free of the effects of Exile's earlier spell by now.

You're right.  Fixed.

Mechanics in place. Flavor text pending on whether or not W1 drops.

@Loki:  W1 drops.  You now know that the undead has 62 hp each.

@swmabie:  Your IR activates.  Then it is your turn. 

Big John and Skadu can shift 2, and have a +2 bonus to defenses until the end of Exile's next turn. This is from Noble Presence.

Too bad that the power bonus to Skadu's defenses is wasted (sort of) due to the power bonus from Fairbanks.  I say sort of because the bonus now extends to the end of Exile's turn instead of Fairbanks' turn.

Sorry that my power slows things up. Is there any other way we could handle it?

Not really.  Skadu probably won't move, but I could be wrong.  I want to at least give him the option.  I suppose I could go ahead and take my turn because W3 cannot get to Skadu without giving BJ an OA.  These creatures are of average intelligence, but they are not stupid.

I'll wait a little while longer, then take my turn. 

Apr 2, 2013 -- 2:46PM, Astromath wrote:

Not really.  Skadu probably won't move, but I could be wrong.  I want to at least give him the option.  I suppose I could go ahead and take my turn because W3 cannot get to Skadu without giving BJ an OA.  These creatures are of average intelligence, but they are not stupid.

Though of course provoking an opportunity attack isn't necessarily a stupid thing to do. After all, the attack might miss, and damaging a nice, squishy controller might serve the monster's ultimate purpose better. In out-of-game terms, it ends the fight more quickly.

In future, I will not offer the free shift unless someone asks for it, or unless I've arranged to use it on them upfront. The defense bonus was an adequate reason to use the power in this case. Offering the choice to move or not just requires another exchange of posts and deliberation over two mostly similar choices.

Is anyone able to cast the "Commrade's Succor" ritual?

Not yet.  Bad thing about Warpriests, need to spend the feat slot to get Rituals.  :P  I'll get that 6th level, and start buying some useful ones then.

I do have the Belt of Sacrifice, but I'm saving that to heal Fairbanks when he needs it.

I'm sorry for not responding the past few days.  Wife just had gall bladder surgery and I've been fighting bronchitis.  I just went to the ER last night and was diagnosed with pneumonia.  I'm only on here long enough to post this message.  Please be aware that I have not given up on the game.  Thx for your patience.

No problem, take your time, do what you need to do.  RL is more important.

Hey all, I will be on vacation from April 12-26. Feel free to have skadu hang back and fire off at-wills or just hang out and cheer the party one 

Good luck Astro.  Pneumonia is no joking matter.

Please take good care of yourself 

As a fellow ex-gallbladderist, your wife has my direct sympathies.

You can have empathy, as I've never had that particular illness but I do hope you get better soon!

Let's try to restart the game.  I think I'm well enough for that now.  I went back to work yesterday, but it was rather grueling.  I'm still not eating anything solid yet.  Thx for your patience.

Will post later today.

EDIT: I know, I know. I got very busy last night and forgot. Sometime later today, for sure! 

Emergency Notification:

I'll be posting this to as many games as I can but in case I miss any, please mention it if it comes up.

Our home internet service is having an outage of the intermittant variety (it was down for 2 hours, up for 15 minutes, and then another hour down; we're at McD's now to use the wifi).  Due to outdated equipment (our cable modem doesn't interact with their system properly), the Company won't admit that it's an outage, instead blaming our modem.  Long story short, we won't get a tech until Monday noonish.  If we're lucky, the situation will have resolved by then, or shortly thereafter.  Anyway, point being, we may be out of touch for a day or two.  Might be on briefly, might not.

Hopefully this won't take too long.  In the meantime, if you're in a game of mine, get what you can done.  And if I'm in a game of yours, NPC me if you can't wait.

Thanks, and have a much better day than I've had.

Steph (swmabie) & Jewels (jrmabie)

Exile can do 8 damage with Magic Missile. Shall we call this?

Sounds good to me.  Let's say everybody delayed until Exile's turn.

Cool, thanks for wrapping that up.

Mechanically the party needs an extended rest. However, it seems somewhat strange to be able to clear out two areas of an enemy stronghold and not have them searching for us. I'm open to reasons why they don't find us though. Maybe they don't expect us to enter the room of undead, or maybe they're afraid to look in there themselves?

Before resting, Exile will examine the bodies, taking scrapings of flesh and even cutting off one of their hands. Those knowledge skills won't improve themselves.

Well, this room was closed off before we got here.  They may never have enve been inside.

If we wipe out trace of our entrance in they may assume we left before our intrusion was realized by the whole lot. 

We can close the door and keep it shut with some of the rubble? 

You find out that these creatures were wights.  A type of undead that sucks the life out of other creatures.

As far as the door you came through, it looks like it was opened once recently, if you count a few years a go recent.  Now that you had time to decipher the dwarven hen-scratchings outside the door, it is in the duergar dialect that says something along the line of "DO NOT ENTER" and "UNDEAD INSIDE". 

Apr 18, 2013 -- 10:51AM, Astromath wrote:

You find out that these creatures were wights.  A type of undead that sucks the life out of other creatures.

As far as the door you came through, it looks like it was opened once recently, if you count a few years a go recent.  Now that you had time to decipher the dwarven hen-scratchings outside the door, it is in the duergar dialect that says something along the line of "DO NOT ENTER" and "UNDEAD INSIDE". 

Ok, Exile will prestidigitate the dust to make it appear that no one has passed this way or opened the door. He'll take primary watch, as he needs rest the least.

Shall I fast forward to the end of the extended rest?  Or do you wish to rp a little before that happens?

Exile is curious what this room was for, and about the statue. He is for going through the other door, rather than back the way the group came.

The room is an old chapel to the minotaur "deity" Baphomet.

I am super busy this weekend.  John will go along with the group.

Apr 19, 2013 -- 12:13PM, CALEBROBERTS wrote:

I am super busy this weekend.  John will go along with the group.

Same here. Driving a moving truck to Oregon for my parents.

Since everybody seems to be busy this weekend, and swmabie is having intermittant internet problems, how about we restart Monday?  Everybody ok with that?

Fine with me. I don't check here as much on the weekends anyway.

Having not gotten much mileage out of his spells yesterday, Exile will replace Blissful Ignorance with Shock Sphere, and Tasha's Forcible Conscription with Fireball. He'd appreciate help setting up Fireball. It's an area burst 3.

His prepared spells are then as follows:

Illusory Obstacles
Sleep
Shock Sphere
Fireball
Shield.

It seems to me that based on Loki's & Cale's opinions and Centauri wanting to go through the iron door, that's the way to go.  I was hoping for a little more RP in the IC discussion.

The iron door is both locked & jammed.  It'll first take a DC 20 thievery check followed by a DC 20 strength check.  Up to 2 aid anothers allowed.  Use the IC thread to post the results. 

Apr 23, 2013 -- 8:29AM, Astromath wrote:

It seems to me that based on Loki's & Cale's opinions and Centauri wanting to go through the iron door, that's the way to go.  I was hoping for a little more RP in the IC discussion.

Choice of doors (or really of "back for forward") isn't really an evocative subject for roleplaying. Rest assured that Exile is still worried about the slaves and about Bosco. He didn't really want to rest, but was talked down by his friends.

Apr 23, 2013 -- 8:29AM, Astromath wrote:

The iron door is both locked & jammed.  It'll first take a DC 20 thievery check followed by a DC 20 strength check.  Up to 2 aid anothers allowed.  Use the IC thread to post the results.

I see little point in bothering with the rolls. Exile spent most of his watch pondering this obstacle. Assuming there are no gaps to see through, how long would it take it melt a hole through it or the jamb with lightning or a magic sword so that someone could teleport through and unlock it? Or can we assume that we keep rolling until we get it? Is there any downside for just taking our time and getting it done?

True.  If you take your time, you can get through the door.  I guess it would be similar to "take 20" even though there is no take 20s anymore.  If that is the case, I won't worry about it too much and say you get through.  You can RP it out in the IC thread if you wish.

Any more RPing or should I go on as if you got the door open?

Apr 25, 2013 -- 4:24AM, Astromath wrote:

Any more RPing or should I go on as if you got the door open?

For my part, I will never ask that the game held up for the roleplaying of a decision that's already been made. At least, to my understanding this one has been made.

Was the information about the state of the door provided before we said we'd go through it?

I think so.  You examined the door and found it locked.  Once you got it unlocked you still found it stuck closed.  Both the unlocking and the unsticking took a couple of hours (not necessarily consecutively, but concurrently.  I.e. the reason for the "take 20s").

Given sufficient enough time and enough help and a long enough lever, even the earth could be moved.

Sorry for stepping on people's toes.  I was hoping to see how the group solved the problem through RP.  But I can live with it if you want me to continue on to the next section of the lair.   

lets just move on through.

Apr 25, 2013 -- 11:03AM, Astromath wrote:

Sorry for stepping on people's toes.  I was hoping to see how the group solved the problem through RP.  But I can live with it if you want me to continue on to the next section of the lair.   

We've already shown that we're capable of opening stuck doors. It's not really an engaging problem at this point.

Ok.  I'll handwave the opening of the door and continue.

Next encounter up and ready.  Even though I've included the duergar theurge's stats (you've fought one before) I did not include hit points.  This one is a named elite.  The theurge also has an extra power.  To get the hp & the new power you need to roll Streetwise vs Hard DC.

You need to either unlock the door or force it open before you go in.  This time you don't have time on your hands or the space because as you work you do hear the word slave once or twice.  Skadu has the best chance at Thievery with a +7 and that would preserve your stealth.  The Strength checks are tougher and would not preserve your stealth. 

Hey gang,

Sorry I haven't been responsive lately. Big stuff going on, but not much I can talk about.

One of the things I *can* talk about is that I'm heading to Disneyland with my family! I leave Saturday morning.

I hereby cede control of Fairbanks to Centauri or Astro, whoever thinks they are best.

I'll pop in tomorrow and make any necessary rolls, but I'll be incommunicado after that.

Cheers! 

Darn.  I wish I could go with you.  I've never been to Disneyland or Disney World, or any theme park of that size for that matter.

Take care and don't let any earthquakes ruin your trip. 

Apr 25, 2013 -- 2:47PM, Astromath wrote:

You need to either unlock the door or force it open before you go in.  This time you don't have time on your hands or the space because as you work you do hear the word slave once or twice.  Skadu has the best chance at Thievery with a +7 and that would preserve your stealth.  The Strength checks are tougher and would not preserve your stealth. 

This is somewhat more interesting than just a door with time on our hands. What happens if we fail both checks? Do we have to go around?

I'll run Fairbanks.

Failure would mean that you would have to go back around.  Also, you didn't see any recent traffic by how the dust has accumulated.  Some things to keep in mind.  First:  This area is unexplored by the duergar.  They think this area is infested with undead.  That may help you keep your presence unknown.  Second:  The duergar should have discovered battle remains in the workshop and would be on alert for the next several hours.  Third:  The duergar will inspect the bridge you crossed and make sure that the door to the ruined chapel is untouched.  Exile's prestidigitation helps disguise that fact.  They will assume you have retreated back outside the castle.

To help bolster that premise, I'm moving one of the encounters back to the portcullis room (H1).  Otherwise than that I'll be playing the rest of the encounters as set by the module.

These modules are not great on dynamics of time passing.  I'll try to make allowances here and there such as above. 

If you're going to try thievery, Skadu will need to be up front.  If the check is successful, I'll allow you to rearrange yourselves for optimum effect.  If it fails, you can either try the strength check (remember it is DC 22) and whoever tries must be near the door.

Finally back ! Glad the undead encounter was a success

Ok.  The door is unlocked.  You have surprise on your side.  Go ahead and place your selves in the hallway on the IC map.  I'll add the creatures to the encounter map as if you creaked open the door and looked.  No stealth roll needed for that.  For those who have not yet rolled initiative, go ahead and do that now and post in the IC thread.

hey all, i am still around, just didn't get any update emails.

There might be some confusion about the map in the IC thread.  The door at A3 is the iron door to the encounter in the encounter thread.  So A3 is position 1, to E3 being position 5.  Things would have been easier had I added the corridor to the encounter thread.  This means that A3 in the IC thread is next to N3 in the Encounter thread.

I changed John's position to A3.  Still not getting update emails from any of my games.

I've got initiatives for Exile & Fairbanks.  I now need their positions.  I still need initiative & position for Skadu.

Exile in E3, Fairbanks in B3 or C3.

Lets try and kill G2 if we can during the surprise round.

or maybe John takes G2, Fairbanks and the other focus on D2?

Remember, monster knowledge checks can be made at any time, even in the surprise round, since they are "no action" actions.  If you can, use it to check D1 & D2.  They are the ones that seem to be speaking in the universal tongue that Exile identifies as Supernal.  Since you hear them speak in your native language, they must also have the immortal keyword.  Those are all the clues I'll give you.

Can Exile see D5 from where he is?

Sorry but no.  The ceiling height where you are is 10 feet.  You are at the top landing of the stairway while Skadu & Fairbanks is on the stairway.  At best you can see BJ's legs.

We should switch order then.  Have our firepower up front.  Then John and Fainbanks can run out and protect everyone.

May 1, 2013 -- 10:14AM, CALEBROBERTS wrote:

We should switch order then.  Have our firepower up front.  Then John and Fainbanks can run out and protect everyone.

Nah, let's just keep moving forward. We'll be fine.

If Zyna doesn't go by tomorrow, she'll delay and Skadu will be next.

Aren't Religion checks used for Immortal Knowledge?  I almost rolled Religion without checking, but then saw the list in the Encounter thread and corrected it before I hit the button.  *shrug*

You're right.  It is religion.  I just made the correction in the encounter thread.

it sounds like I can't really see any monsters from the stairs? Can I see any targets?

May 3, 2013 -- 4:21PM, whatami wrote:

it sounds like I can't really see any monsters from the stairs? Can I see any targets?

Sorry, but no.  You can either delay your turn or move into the room so you can be in a good position for the next turn.

For those who don't know Servitude in Death's effect:
Spoiler: Show

I've also made a small correction.  Big John is marked by G1.  The marking effect happens whether a hit or a miss.

One other thing:  the number below D1 or D2 will be the devil's altitude. 

Hi Folks!

I'm back. I'll pick up Fairbanks on his next turn. 

Sorry for the delay. Flavor text pending hit confirmation.

I've added a condition to the status chart and made a correction.  The condition is the altitude of the devils.  The correction is moving the infernal anger condition from D1 to G2.  D1 cannot use infernal anger.

Sorry,  been busy with my daughter's dance recital this weekend.  Turn coming up shortly.

With all the bad things happening to us (me & my wife), I just want to report a happy thing.  My son's high school graduation ceremony is tonight.

May 21, 2013 -- 4:14AM, Astromath wrote:

With all the bad things happening to us (me & my wife), I just want to report a happy thing.  My son's high school graduation ceremony is tonight.

Congratulations.

grats! Enjoy it

Well done, young man!

Good luck in the future. 

He's summa cum laude and got 5 scholarships.  Get this, he got a scholarship to a school he's not even going to.

The scholarships will pay mostly his tuition and most of his room & board.  He has a college tuition fund (529 plan) from his grandpa and an inheritance from my father that we put into a Roth IRA.  Between the scholarships and the 529 plan & IRA, he has no need for loans (at least for now).