In character, I think we are all in agreement that the Aestherics are doing good things. If not most of us would have walked away by now.
But the lack of transparency, accountability, and extremely limited communication means that all of our interactions will always be tinged with at least a bit of distrust. Maybe that's just the way things have to be. I don't think anyone has threatened to walk away but the council can't expect us to start trusting them if things don't change.
Yes, I find anything involving messing with people's memories terrifying in a lot of ways worse than simply executing them. If you kill someone you've ended their life. If you start messing with people’s memories you’re fundamentally altering what’s made them who they are. It might be for the better but that’s not a choice someone should be making for you.
They remove knowledge of Aestherics and leave everything else.
In my mind, they support those exact things heavily. Their ends are not classified, they told you they planned on ending slavery, and that's what is happening.
Yes, the more people that know about them the further compromised they are. It's bad enough that Andril knows about them. What happens when two nations come into conflict and they both want the Aestherics to help fight the other? What happens when one nation decides the Aestherics are too big of a threat? They get targeted as enemies.
A bit of mistrust is fine, it's a subterfuge game and that's to be expected. But this is the main good organization that is in charge of all party operations for the entire campaign. Thinking they're out to get you or other nations or are secretly tyrants is just flat out counterproductive. I don't know what else can be said in gameplay to convince you, so here I am in discussion trying to help you help me. They are a good organization that seeks to do good things.
Knowledge of the Aestherics touches everything in Toramin's memories for the last four months and 5 character levels in game.
I offered some solutions in my last post were they all unworkable? Unless they can mindwipe the entire VitS the cat is out of the bag, and if they can their power is so absolute they don't need to worry about any threat.
As for their heavy support for freedom and flourishing, I've not seen much of it in action or in their rhetoric -- besides for Krokar's vagaries. Again my standard is show, don't tell on these things. As the DM, you know a lot more about the background of this world than we do. We only know what we have seen. Even now I want to see their support for freedom and flourish. I would think that they would welcome honest questions because a great threat to freedom is utter unaccountability. They don't need to tell us where they keep the Starstone, they just need to treat us like people -- who have rich inner lives -- and not unthinking pawns who should be grateful that they are being moved. They aren't LN/LE after all. They have to see some value in questioning and free thinking since they are CG.
I really want to help you. I've spilt a lot of digital ink in that pursuit this afternoon. What do you think would work? Imagine that you were in our position and not the DM, how would you want to move forward if you shared these concerns?
But whatever happens, there should be some give, some flexibility, in their response because their heedless rigidity and might-makes-right mentality is part of what got us to this impasse. I cannot comment on Rilka's position, but it seems that 75% of your players have this concern. We want the game to go forward, we obviously really enjoy it, this present circumstance should not be seen as a problem but as an opportunity to deepen the story. I certainly think there is some excellent character work in the game play thread right now.
They're poweful but the Voices are too protected even for them. At least not without years of planning and some serious turn coating. Not that they even want to attack the dwarves.
I've posted in gameplay. Let's see where this goes.
Is Liamsho present during this or did he take off?
Liamsho is not present, but you could ask for him.
It's not super important. I just thought my post would interest him.
Wow this is really good RP. I’m reading it thinking How will these issues between the group and the Aestherics be resolved? How can Rilka add to this scene? I’m working on that as we speak.
Also, I added a bit to an NPC in Rilka’s background.
Who is Nareth? Have we heard of him before?
Correct, you have never heard of him before.
Also, I hope this has alleviated the problem. I think we were actually on the same page, but misunderstanding each other. I was saying they can't tell you the really big secrets, and you understand that. That was the only point I was trying to make.
I think so too.
Honestly, at the moment, Toramin only wants to know the big secrets that he needs to know to do his job. He has enough on his plate to master first. All he wanted is for them to start treating them like people who they respect, and it seems they are. I'm rather hopeful about where this can go.
The only other thing that makes him super uncomfortable is the mindwipe thing, and that's a fight for a different day.
Oh yeah, they don't send their agents into the field blindly. When they put somebody out there and they know their life is at risk, they give them every piece of information possible that can help.
Will any of the NPC's be responding to Ianna?
they give them every piece of information possible that can help.
Heh, about the skeptical stare, Dalton.
Heff is a huge ass from what I have seen, and I notice that he didn't really respond to the bad behavior Toramin pointed out, but I'm choosing to believe that he does not constitute best practices here.
"Heff did not seem to understand words as well as he spoke them."
I literally fell over reading this.
"Heff did not seem to understand words as well as he spoke them."I literally fell over reading this.
Then my RL telekinesis is working as intended :)
I just added that tidbit about Krokar and Drosil to let you know that I'm not forgetting about them, they're just choosing to remain quiet and listen.
As I will be at Gencon this week, my posting ability will be limited.
Suggestions for 2 level-4 spells are welcome.
I will try to post in the evenings when I can.
I'm fond of obsidian flow.
I'm fond of obsidian flow.
Toramin's grandmother was kind enough to give that to us!
You like curses and bad touches. What about Curse of Magic Negation
This spell is just cool: Shadow Projection
What do you guys think of this spell for Ianna. It is from the Occult Adventures Book.
CONTAGIOUS ZEAL
School enchantment (compulsion) [emotion, mind-affecting];
Level bard 2, cleric 3, inquisitor 3, psychic 3, sorcerer/
wizard 3, spiritualist 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one creature
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance
yes (harmless)
The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls and weapon
damage rolls, 1d6 temporary hit points, and a +4 morale
bonus on saving throws against fear effects and to the DC of Intimidate checks attempted against her. Once per round, the
target can select one other creature to gain this bonus as well.
The chosen creature can be no farther from the target than
25 feet + 5 feet for every 2 caster levels you possess, and a
creature can’t be selected more than once in this way. Such
allies gain only the bonuses and temporary hit points; they
don’t continue to spread it to other creatures. The additional
creatures’ bonuses and temporary hit points share the original
spell’s duration, so when that duration ends, all affected
creatures lose their bonuses and any remaining temporary hit
points from this spell.
We were born ready.
That spell's really good.
I've placed you all next to a bed on the map, but that's not mandated or anything. You should be able to edit it, so feel free to move yourselves about anywhere you wish.
Omen, they released some errata on the Cleric Archetype I use and made Divine Protection not very good.
Do you want to go with this Errata? If you do, can I make a different feat choice?
Also, what do you think of this third party class Priest? Is it overpowered for a divine character focused on casting?
I had always thought that feat was very powerful and I'm not sad to see it nerfed. Feel free to choose another feat.
I freaking love that class, I've spent a lot of time looking at it. My local GM made some changes to tone it down a bit and I agree with what he did: Bad fort saves, and the spells per day for each level caps at 4+1 like the cleric instead of 5+2 (however orisons retain the priest cap of 6).
That seems reasonable. Could Ianna be a Priest under those changes?
I'll pick a new feat tonight.
Since that's basically the flavor you've aimed for with Ianna anyways, that's fine. Especially since we're in a "training" phase and there won't be any (life-threatening) combat happening.
I prefer Eccleseurge especially with the buff in the errata.
I picked Quick Channel as my replacement feat.
What was the clarification on ecclesiatheurge?
They got the Blessing of the Faithful ability which was mentioned in the archetype and never explained.
I'm not 100% sure on this, but I'm pretty sure sanctuary (and therefore your improved version) would have no effect on most golems since it requires a will save and they're immune to magic.
Edit: I see you've changed your class to priest already. Did you decide to go standard PFS for HP?
Ymir will be acting in initiative on Toramin's turn. He will be searching through the ground for exits and ways to shut off the water, but his response will not be immediate.
They are immune to magic that allows SR. Sanctuary does not allow SR and it's not mind affecting.
Yep: PFS.
The gods don't mess around when it comes to the basic protection spells.
Ah yes, the golden rule of magic immunity. You are correct.
Also, you all just awoke, so you're prone and need to spend a move action to spend up.
Ianna does not see the source of the water. She cannot hear any splashing or gurgling, so wherever the source is it is already emerged.
Is Bjorkus laying down with Tyrantbreaker in hand?
Is Bjorkus laying down with Tyrantbreaker in hand?
Yes. At least the good part about waking up via electric shock is that you're already armed!
Dalton, the targets of haste can be no more than 30 feet apart.
I’m off to Canada for the weekend (including today), so won’t have time (and likely internet) to post until Sunday night or Monday morning. Feel free to DMPC Rilka as needed. I know a combat encounter just started so please don’t wait on me.
If he casts it on Rilka there are no party members further than thirty feet from her?
Ok Rilka, thanks for letting us know.
That's not how it works Toramin. No two targets of the spell can be more than 30 feet apart. You don't choose a single target and everybody had to be within 30 feet of them, the people farthest away from each other can be no more than 30. With the current layout, Dalton can only haste certain groups of three.
Oh, not to mention it's pitch black and Dalton doesn't have darkvision, so he doesn't have line of sight.
Well, you might need to npc him since he is on vacation at Gen Con like he mentioned.
He should probably spend this turn casting light.
Well, according to a certain knowledge check he may or may not want to actually do that.
I'm down at my girlfriends this weekend so don't expect much posting from me either.