Harakani DM's page

Sorry guys,
Saw this had gone inactive, and I guess I'm calling it. I kept thinking I'd be able to get this to work, but circumstances have conspired so it's not. Hopefully if I can get a permanent job in a few months things might get better - but I thought that months ago as well. :(

Mechanically: alliance means you'll get a diplomat, an exchange of students, probably some undead tourists and citizens, some extra economy, and probably a bad reputation in the region

Just now... don't feel bad.

There's a couple of small between scenes I had. I figured they'd be a good way to get back in to things.

Alright guys, I'm sorry it is not better, but I really wanted to get something started this week.

Beautiful view off the back porch: I'm tempted to post it. Unfortunately the house is starting to fall apart, so I think we'll have to knock it down and rebuild.
We expected that, but then the real estate agent didn't tell the tenants who were there that we were happy for them to stay another year... so we have an empty house we're paying a mortage on, and either need to move in or get the entire planning process done in record time.

Thanks guys.
I was thinking a Mythic Tier, but was worrying about Monte Haul.

On the other hand, it's for Christmas :)
Mythic Tier as well.

Hey guys,
I bought a house just before Christmas, and stuff has gone a bit wrong. Currently trying to sort it out, but it is eating into my time.
I still have bits and pieces of time, so I think I'm still good, but I don't seem to be able to get the block of time I need for a run up at the Kingdom Turn.

Would people be okay if we put the Kingdom on hold? We can retroactively do it when things settle down.

Otherwise I might need to put the game on pause till things settle down.

As for Christmas: well, belated it might be, but a SHINY NEW LEVEL for all of you!

So: Who is still here?

Indeed! Merry Christmas/Wednesday to all!

Ironically I seem to have stalled on working out how not to stall.
I'd like to 5-10 turns, at a year a turn.

Yeah, you could use a Janni to get things brought across. That gets round Planar Binding's one task restriction.
In general creatures much more powerful than a human are going to want a better pay scale.
I'd be prepared to accept that they could also give a better reward.
An Azer is pretty much going to be the same as a human smith.
An Axiomite (with +18 craft) would cost more to get, but produce more/better items. Theoretically they'd cost more to run, as well, but as that's offset by the selling prices of items it wouldn't impact you.
Therefore a Smith defined as Axiomites would cost more to buy, but produce more per turn (probably a 'double smithy') I would think.

A deal with a Mercane is very clever, and would let you set up a much better trade route, albeit one only interested in magical items. Which, given all of you can craft, could payoff big-time.

Yeah, Lyres and stuff are pretty good.
I've said before though that a building comprises (in my head, at least) 4 types of costs:
* Furnishings & tools
* Raw Materials
* Labor to build it
* People to run it
There are some 'buildings' with different breakdowns: walls and roads, for example.

I'm happy for Lyre & summoned temporary labour to wipe off labour cost entirely, even with one 'forever lyre'.
It could also be used to get raw materials if they're there (so, for instance, getting wood in a forest... till the trees are gone... and sod is forever.)
You could summon/create raw material as well, I bet.
That'll still leave operation and furnishing categories to go.
Could you build a pyramid (near a quarry?) Sure: there is no operation cost and no furnishing, so go crazy. Hundred foot statue? You'd probably need someone with some craft and engineering to make it stand up and look okay, but yeah.
Library? No: you could build a building for the library. Maybe even make an argument for shelves. But the major cost component of a Library is the books. In Pathfinder Books seem to start at about 5sp/page.

Sure, there are probably spells or items that'd get you around some of this. I'm happy to adjudicate it on a case by case basis. If you can find/build a gem of thought-storing and all the Runelords empty their heads into it I would probably ignore the furnishings & operation cost of a Library.

I like the idea of monuments and stuff being free, by the way. If this is the new Thassilon why shouldn't you do cheap stuff like carve the heads of the Runelords into some nearby mountain? But you still need commoners to run the farm, and the smithy, and the...

I find myself feeling dread at what is to come.
We're up to 4715AR. Kingdom Turns have been stumbling blocks for us so far, but I really need a couple of years to pass; we're fast reaching points where this should be a young country, rather than a foothold colony. I'd like to do 10 turns AT LEAST.[1]
Does anyone have any ideas how to do this more quickly, or at least to avoid stumbling blocks happening?

[1] We're about midway through book 2. I was planning to use about half of it. There is still exploration to do, though. Minions?

Okay: Treasure
Dancing Lady's Herb Collection (for Tiressia)
Gloves of Arcane Striking
Origami Swarm
Iron Rope
There's also 2 CP in miscellaneous 'treasure': axes, swords (1 masterwork longsword, 1 cold iron longsword), bows, arrows, armour, clothing, loose coins, simple jewellery, backpacks, minor potions, camping gear etc.

Nothing to write home about; looks like she was ransacking her victims. Also looks like she didn't know she had magical items in her horde.

Quick note: The herbal collection is in a box hidden inside a small extradimensional space in a mirror that is built into the wall. Sadly there is no way to get into it without breaking the enchantment. Will take you a while to find it and confirm that, but given you've driven the Fey off that's not a problem.

That is disgusting!

In all seriousness though, is everyone okay with the plan I outlined? I've got one aye so far.

Sounds like a 60s sitcom: "Thanksgiving with the Runelords!"

"Wait Grey, did your servants prepare this?" (Laugh track)

"Forsten, do you want to carve the turkey?" "Great. Now we need a new turkey... and a new table..."

"Denat: Can you conjure something up?" "Damnit man, that's not a turkey!"

"Let us Pray..." "NO ANGLON! STOP HEALING THE DINNER!"

"This desert is great Ronald, are you sure it's fat free?" "I'm pretty sure illusory desert is EVERYTHING free..."

:P

So...
Give herbs -> Check on Farm -> Back to Stronghold -> Eat Turkey -> Enhance Statue -> Kingdom turn?
;P

Happy thanksgiving guys!

Happy that you'll get the treasure, including the "quest item" (the herbs for reincarnate).
I'm assuming the plan is
Give herbs -> Check on Farm -> Back to Stronghold -> Enhance Statue -> Kingdom turn?

Sorry about the delay, guys. Still not sure this is right, but we need an answer.

Hmmm - the defining thing for this group is their wanting to kill humans.
If you're banning that, and not giving them something similar, I'm afraid I don't think many are going to fall in line - you'd get the borderline cases like Melianse I think.
You would get the option you were actually after though, #3: these guys are going to bolt every which way and they (or at least the enemy kingdom) will become someone else's problem.

Holding off posting in case I'm missing something.

I don't often use this phrase, but LOL!
I showed this to some people here - wow! Really well done.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32

Checking to see if you're offering to let them keep killing people, or are going to offer to make the Forest a national park or something...

Damnit Anglon, I'm going to get you levelled just so you cast some other damn spell!

Ronald: Nice! Perhaps some entrance music as well? ;P

wow that was fast...
typo in original instructions! Please refresh!

Given this check is realistically probably going to represent marching through a bunch of other Fey, how about we assume "The Author" takes some liberties...
Go ahead and cast spells/make aids/make checks guys.
I've left some instructions for this bit.
Feel free to go a bit overboard, but remember the special effects need to be doable in a play...

The only other Fae 'here' is Melianse.
Her 'army' is waiting in and around the nearby keep.
That's still a little distance off.
The Fey are in that.

Sounds like you've got it Grey.
Ride Horror and I'll let you use it's size.
I'll give you a bonus for the head/body, and a bonus for special effects.
You are going to get a penalty because these Fey don't take humans seriously.

So who is going to be making the primary intimidate check?

And yeah, she was overconfident about being able to go home. With an init that can hit forty, decent perceptions and an SU teleport power and a great AC (thanks to mythic dodge), it seemed like she would be.
Grey soaked the mythic dodge and then flat footed and #$%^*ing Prayer meant she got hit.

Forsten's would suggest giving the fey the following choice/ultimatum (after subduing them and securing the shinies) "We can help you to leave the surrounding lands peacefully (as they will soon be part of our kingdom) and go be someone else's problem, or you can hang around here until you inevitably break some law, and we hunt you down and kill you like your mistress."

They're a bit less dangerous when not augmented by a 7th tier mythic marshal, that's for sure.

I got to tell you I got pretty excited about the possibility when you first did it :)

Should I post Melianse repeating what I said IC, or can I leave that for the resolution post?

Happy to talk to Melianse (she's basically still there, just hiding).
Remember this Fey group is basiscally an ideological group founded on
(A) be evil (B) hate humanoids
If Melianse takes control she's not going to be able to change either of those without being killed and replaced UNLESS you guys somehow have a way to brainwash Fey.
You could try addressing their underlying issues on a case by case basis, but some of their issues will be "humanoids are delicious".
Deprived of leadership their chaotic natures will eventually shatter this 'kingdom', with the Fey splitting up and going elsewhere (depending on what travel powers they have for how far).
At the moment the plan is to nick the treasure (shiny, shiny treasure) and come back later, right?

So: you guys can follow the map through the keep, presumably fighting as you go.
Or - impress me. You guys are all pretty switched on, I'm sure someone has an idea. Happy with that being discussed here OOC if people want to make suggestions they don't have the IC knowledge to make.
I'm keen not to have too much time on more planning, so how's this: can everyone put forward at least one idea on what to do. If you really don't have anything then put 'Kick down the door'
Once everyone has posted we can do one more round for which plan to go with.

Sound fair?

Share Spells: The wizard may cast a spell with a target of “You” on his familiar (as a touch spell) instead of on himself. A wizard may cast spells on his familiar even if the spells do not normally affect creatures of the familiar's type (magical beast).

@Grey: Do you have wording or something for the Familiar->Wizard spell casting?

Between the three maps it is possible to determine that her greatest treasure is in her room in the ruined keep. Second floor. But the widest ranging map shows another treasure man, many miles away

ie another hex not near this one, not in your territory
While a path is mapped to this location, it does not appear an easy trek.
ie, not at your CR

A surge of wild, fey Evil sweeps over Anglon. Any lesser man, any mere mortal, might have been struck down by such raw hatred.
But Anglon's faith and prayers sustain him, and though his stone glows brightly for a moment, he is unaffected.

Moments later Grey acts, and a few moments later holds a map and a gem shining brightly

knowledge:religion dc 17: 1d6d6d6d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 2, 5, 1, 5, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 4, 5, 2, 6, 5, 3, 6, 3, 4, 2, 2, 6, 5, 6, 1, 5, 5, 1, 3, 5, 2, 5) = 112

Remember that you weren't here to kill her, but rob her.

fort save: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 = 21
Anglon lashes out, severing the Dancing Lady's head.
It rolls towards him, slows and stops, looking at him.
The eyes blink, once, and the lips move.
Anglon; will save please...

Sorry about the anticlimactic. Like I said, once you got her out here away from all her minions this was going to be about whether she got away before you killed her. She was overconfident about her crazy high initiative and at-will SLA plane shift.
If she'd gotten to Forsten it might have been a different story. F%^&ing mythic prayer. I've lost track of the number of times a fight has been turned by that +/-2.

I'm using Arcane Surge, not Wild Arcana.

Arcane Surge is specifically listed as a swift action. I can't find any errata changing that. Would you like to house rule it?

Yeah - wording as per FAQ (so standard action).

Also: You were going to have your familiar cast true strike on you, right? Presumably using "Share Spells" to get around the "you" target? I think Share Spells is one way, but am happy to listen to arguments to the contrary.

Now: Clever use of the Soul Gem: stops her getting reincarnated! Has a Will save if she's dying though. Were you waiting for someone to kill her first? Otherwise is the DC > 20?

will save vs soul gem: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

stupid mythic prayer!!@!!
ref: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 2 = 18
will: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 2 = 19
will: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 2 = 14

save your true strikes, Grey - see discussion. Plus, you'd hit a grappled, tripped and entangled target anyway.
Forsten's blows both hit - though it is a close thing. The Dancing Lady is obviously shocked when her call for help is thrown off by Forsten (augmented with the divine power of Lissala)
She steps backwards just as the spear of ice thrusts into the sky, cutting through her leg and sending her sprawling ungracefully at Forsten's feet.
Terror grips her.
Horror holds her down.
Her vision fades to Grey, both hands glowing with necromantic energy

She's at negative. Do you kill her? How? Remember that mythic critters take a loooooot of killing.

The Fey sidesteps the enervate ray, moving with an unearthly dexterity that no human could hope to duplicate
Mythic Dodge
Grey's glare has no effect, her back turned at the time to deal with
will save: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 2 = 24
the two enormous monsters that suddenly entangle her as she shimmers with emerald light.

I'm going to assume the plan was to give Ronald a clear line of fire and so he goes before the Grey Terror and Horror grant cover bonuses? In which case Ronald's Ray just hit.

Mythic Potent Surge
escape artist: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 1 + 12 = 44
The woman - or woman shaped - creature writhes and escapes the grappling monstrosities

Grey: I'll allow it, but pleas see FAQ
Mythic FAQ
Should be a standard action to use the power.

I play a mythic wizard in another campaign and that ability is the single most powerful thing I can do without giving it a free quicken!

There\not there as in Plane Shift.
I was trying to make it sound mysterious and Fey... sounds like it might be confusing.
I believe it's legal with the combination of feats & powers she's got. She can appear exactly where she wishes on a plane. So she can plane shift to the First World (yeah, yeah, I know) then plane shift back to the Material Plane.
The worry, of course, is if she uses that power to get away.

Perhaps thirty seconds pass after the Mite vanishes. Tiressia becomes increasingly nervous
"She's coming" she whispers.

The world seems to warp, and suddenly she is there, dancing towards Forsten.

Can I get a 'go' from everyone when they are happy with the prep I've got written up?
In fact, let's cut out the middleman. Can everyone roll init when they're happy to go.
Also happy for prep spells to be cast. You've gone the smart way, there should be some advantage for that. You should be able to win this fight IF you can make her stick around long enough to lose.

remembering the trick is going to be stopping her getting away, I think we're good to go.
So:
Round 1: Ronald casts Invisibility Sphere. Forsten is left out. Tiressia starts summoning
Round 2: Mite appears. Forsten starts attacking Tiressia
Round 3: Tiressia orders Forsten to flee. Forsten flees
Round 4: Tiressia orders the Mite to tell the Dancing Lady there is an injured human male fleeing combat with her and she cannot follow.
---
Rounds of waiting
Gm rolls for chance of success based on Forsten's acting and the Mite's explanation (metamagic extend rod or similar would increase chance)
---
Roll for initiative.
Round X: Dancing Lady appears. Chance of surprise on her. Ronald casts dimensional anchor?

somehwere in here there are those of you (like Anglon) casting other spells. Who is casting what, and when, before we roll for initiative?

Ah - thanks Grey, that makes a lot of sense. I hadn't thought of them as a post-scarcity society before.

Is anyone casting anything?

Just wondering, why does Grey like the Fey?

Okay, list spells and targets please.
Is Forsten still bait? Is he being disguised? He did ask for defensive magics...
Assuming the rest of you are hiding, stealth checks (invisibility type spells might be VERY useful)
You can do this now, or in the morning after changing spells.
Going to say Simon is taking news of what you've found out back to the capital, I think.

Ah. I see.
Should we just cut to the attempted ambush then?
Can you see a way to talk amongst yourself?

I guess my issue is that if I was playing my fun would be in coming up with creative ways to use spells and abilities, which can take a bit of talking.
I've seen you guys do creative things, so I thought that is what you wanted as well.
If there is an element you don't like, I'm happy to streamline or skip it... even to the point of turning this into a wargame if it turns out people aren't interested in the encounters.

Anyone want to suggest a modification to the plan? A way to stop her getting away?