(5.24 PBP) Vault Redux (OOC) Fitz's Refresher

[TaranTheWanderer]

We have eleven people (12 counting Loklafd). Maybe go with three groups of four each? If not, two groups of six each.

Post in thread '(5.24 PBP) Vault Redux (OOC) Fitz's Refresher'

Jun 16, 2025

So let me see if I am recounting this correctly?

Posted on RG:
Urgan Magall ( @Kobold Stew ) Orc Wizard (Illusionist) Spellcaster Ranged
Aywin (@Steve Gorak ) Genasi Paladock... Warladin... Warlock 2 / Paladin 1. Martial Melee (?)
Shamal (me) Human Paladin (Noble Genie) Martial Melee
Copper ( @Leatherhead ) Goliath Rogue (Thief) Martial Melee (?)
Darius Braidon ( @VLAD the Destroyer ) Human Psion (Psi Warper) Spellcaster Ranged
Merrick ( @TaranTheWanderer ) Human...

• Snarf Zagyg

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(List of characters)

Ideas- think we should send one in the water and one in the caves as the main groups to fight, and one group to try and bluff.
Here's my first take based on a quick perusal. Face to bluff, caves for gloomstalkers and earth people. Remainder to water. If ANYONE HAS PARTICULAR RELEVANT SKILLS, please speak up. If we want two groups instead of three, that's easy to re-arrange.
Water: Loklafd (NPC), Urgan Magall (knows Loklafd, Ranged), Darius Braidon (Ranged), Bjorn Ursal (Martial Melee)
Caves: Shamal (Desert/Dao), Torhak Sonevil (Gloomstalker), Shade-9 (Gloomstalker, Ranged), Merrick (Martial Melee)
Bluff: Aywin (face), Copper (didn't want kobolds), Neurotic (face, ranged), Terrin (life cleric)

That's just an initial, not-very-well informed pass at it. Ideas???????

This works for me. Merrick can double as a 'Face' against the Kobolds as he has high Intimidate. He may be able to cow them or give some advantage to anything we offer them. If the kobolds had a relationship with the green dragon, they may not have one anymore with the dracolich.

I'd split the gloomstalkers to the two caves so that each group has a scout? Although the ranged one will want to be at the back of the group, likely. But sending more ranged in the water area seems like a better idea because they might have to fight from a boat? IDK...

I liked the idea of one group pretending to be part of the expected caravan? (Did I misread that?)that was coming to meet the cultists and bluffing the way in.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I'm fine with those, though Loklafd doesn't have any plans to go with you past getting the boats in the water and showing you how to use them. You could drag him along if you need to, he's not unwilling (just old and injured).

Imani has other NPCs (mostly runners, scouts, and camp guards) including Corrah that could also fill out a fourth for that group, if need be. I made up these NPCs (Imani is the only one from the Adventure itself) with an eye to the old oft-asked question, "Why don't the NPCs do the Adventure themselves?"

They are competent, but they ALL have reasons not to go.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I'd split the gloomstalkers to the two caves so that each group has a scout? Although the ranged one will want to be at the back of the group, likely. But sending more ranged in the water area seems like a better idea because they might have to fight from a boat? IDK...

I was thinking that Bjorn (moon druid) would be best for the water because he can shapeshift to either a water form (on boat, if needed) or a scout form (after the boat part).

The biggest issue (?) is that I'm not familiar with the pison class, so we might want to split up the psion and illusionist into separate groups.


... just saw the post from @FitzTheRuke ... Boat group will need another warrior, whether NPC or not. Otherwise, we need to do two groups, not three.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I was thinking that Bjorn (moon druid) would be best for the water because he can shapeshift to either a water form (on boat, if needed) or a scout form (after the boat part).

Oh, good call.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

@Hriston, how about this guy? I like his enthusiasm.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

... just saw the post from @FitzTheRuke ... Boat group will need another warrior, whether NPC or not. Otherwise, we need to do two groups, not three.

The previous time I ran this here in PBP, one group only had 3 PCs, and I sent along two junior NPCs named Torbin and Kelley. You could recruit them again, if need be. I'm okay with three groups, but I... well, frankly, I love Loklafd too much to want to see him get killed. He had enough trouble with that Snowy Owlbear. I can live with it, though, if people want him to come along. Who knows, he might survive?

The kayaks are two-man, BTW, so it's best to keep that group to four people, if that group winds up existing at all. I like the Lake, but then I like all of the ways into the place. I don't have a preference for you.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Okay, here's a slightly more advanced idea.


Water
Loklafd (NPC) (not involved in combat)
Urgan Magall (knows Loklafd, Spellcaster Ranged) Illusionist
Bjorn Ursal (Martial Melee) Moon Druid
ONE NPC TO BE NAMED LATER (martial melee)
Darius Braidon (Spellcaster Ranged) Psion

Bjorn to swim in animal form until land reached, other four in kayaks with Loklafd as guide.


Caves
Shamal (Desert/Dao Martial Melee no ranged) Paladin
Shade-9 (Martial Ranged) Gloomstalker
Merrick (Martial Melee) Barbarian Zealot
Torhak Sonevil (Martial Melee) Gloomstalker

Shamal can also face if needed in the caves (Cha 16, persuasion +5) and Merrick can intimidate.

Bluff
Cha16 Aywin (Melee) Warlock/Paladin
Copper (didn't want kobolds, Martial, skills) Thief
Cha 16 Lorent Aelmoran (face, ranged spellcaster) Warlock,
Terrin (martial melee, spellcaster) Life Cleric

This looks good, and has two faces (just in case).


Here's the main issues that I see in particular order.

1. We need an NPC that is a martial melee for the water group.
2. The water group doesn't have a face, but .. and this might be a first, I only see three good faces in the group. If this is a serious concern, might want to re-think this, but I'd prefer to have at least two high-end face PC for the bluff mission.
3. The caves group has some spellcasting (two rangers, one paladin) but no true spellcaster. I think it should be fine, but pointing that out.
4. Urgan should go with Loklafd because of prior story, but maybe switch Darius into the bluff group (psion would be helpful with bluff? maybe? don't know class well) and put either Aywin (melee and face) or Terrin (life cleric) in water group? If we want to move Darius into bluff, I'd suggest a swap with Terrin just to keep two faces in bluff group.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Here's the main issues that I see in particular order.

1. We need an NPC that is a martial melee for the water group.
2. The water group doesn't have a face, but .. and this might be a first, I only see three good faces in the group. If this is a serious concern, might want to re-think this, but I'd prefer to have at least two high-end face PC for the bluff mission.
3. The caves group has some spellcasting (two rangers, one paladin) but no true spellcaster. I think it should be fine, but pointing that out.
4. Urgan should go with Loklafd because of prior story, but maybe switch Darius into the bluff group (psion would be helpful with bluff? maybe? don't know class well) and put either Aywin (melee and face) or Terrin (life cleric) in water group? If we want to move Darius into bluff, I'd suggest a swap with Terrin just to keep two faces in bluff group.

If Darius is @Steve Gorak 's character, I think having him in the bluff group is a good idea because he has Jump at will. If things go bad, he can easily get into the watch-tower and occupy the forces up there.

There may be other characters with similar abilities: jump, fly, misty step.

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

No Darius is my Psion. He has no bluff capabilities and I did not go telepath as that is the face build. He is a teleporter with battlefield control.

 

[Lidgar]

Snarf’s plan sounds good. A reminder that druids are more restricted now in terms of the number of forms they can take. Bjorn’s only animal form with a swim speed is a venomous snake, which is also useful for scouting. The other forms are for battle or overland travel (brown bear, dire wolf and giant goat).