Malvoisin's War of the Burning Sky - IC Thread

[Malvoisin]

[SBLOCK=Random Rules Comment]This is more out of academic interest than anything else, but in the module as written, is that supposed to be dragon Frightful Presence and are we really supposed to be affected without seeing it? I don't mind at all, but since we have RW peeking in from time to time--

[/SBLOCK]

[sblock=ooc response]
I suppose that, based on the RAW, such a reaction should have been in response to seeing the thing flying overhead. The module's text doesn't explicitly say that, if I remember correctly, and I was just trying to go with what was presented. If I had thought more carefully about the rules, I would have realized that this was necessary, however, so I'll take the blame. This is really more of an 'interlude' encounter anyway, I think. Probably meant to establish the drama unfolding in the city under attack, that sort of thing. But, I'll let Ryan comment to say for sure.[/sblock]

 

[RangerWickett]

[sblock=ooc response]
I suppose that, based on the RAW, such a reaction should have been in response to seeing the thing flying overhead. The module's text doesn't explicitly say that, if I remember correctly, and I was just trying to go with what was presented. If I had thought more carefully about the rules, I would have realized that this was necessary, however, so I'll take the blame. This is really more of an 'interlude' encounter anyway, I think. Probably meant to establish the drama unfolding in the city under attack, that sort of thing. But, I'll let Ryan comment to say for sure.[/sblock]

[sblock]I totally did not realize you need to actually see a dragon to be affected by dragonfear. I assumed a fear aura hit you as soon as the monster was within range, and I thought it would be nice and ominous for terror to roll across the city in waves, caused by something mysterious and half-seen, but which most gamers would guess is a dragon. Just a wee bit of foreshadowing. *evil grin*[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

Actually guys, dragon fear is a slight bit different.

[sblock=Frightful Presence]

Frightful Presence (Ex)
A young adult or older dragon can unsettle foes with its mere presence. The ability takes effect automatically whenever the dragon attacks, charges, or flies overhead. Creatures within a radius of 30 feet × the dragon’s age category are subject to the effect if they have fewer HD than the dragon. A potentially affected creature that succeeds on a Will save (DC 10 + ½ dragon’s HD + dragon’s Cha modifier) remains immune to that dragon’s frightful presence for 24 hours. On a failure, creatures with 4 or less HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. Dragons ignore the frightful presence of other dragons.

[/sblock]


Looks like I was late in answering.

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=OOC Stuff]@Rhun--the part you bolded just tells what the specified "certain actions" are. It still yields to the general Frightful Presence description in that you have to be aware of it to be affected. In fact, the next sentence that I dropped in my quote after the part I quoted is "Actions required to trigger the ability are given in the creature’s descriptive text. ", which calls out that the specific monster description is going to have a bit of different wording with the indicated actions listed. However, I will admit that it was a poor bit of writing on the part of the MM people to leave it out of the specific Dragon version

@RW/Mal--Ah cool. No harm, no foul, of course, and it could have been a special sort of dragon that causes fear without being seen. I was just curious.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Malvoisin]

From there Taren then looks down upon the chaos and havoc wreaked upon the paniced crowd to try and follow his friends whereabouts. If they are moving collectively in one general direction, he'll head after them and try to drag them out of the throng of people.

Taren spots Torrent's distinctive head of white hair as the party's guide sprints down a side street. Cassandra and Xander have been pinned against the side of a large building, as the throng of people rushes to and fro. There is no sign of Coldan, Aridha, or Markus. The shadowmage resolves to help his companions as best he can, but before he can put a plan into motion, the panic ends. With the great, draconic shape having flown away out of sight, the hysteria dies down and people begin to behave somewhat rationally again.

People begin milling around, some still frightened, some bewildered, many in a state of shock. The ground is littered with injured people, some moving and groaning, other lying distressingly still. Taren steps out into the middle of the street, joining Xander and Cassandra, who look a bit battered for getting caught up in the mob. Aridha emerges from a hiding place behind some barrels, gathering her composure. Coldan slowly rises from the ground, holding his ribs and feeling the pain of being kicked and trampled by dozens of feet. Torrent jogs back to rejoin the others, saying, "By the gods, things are worse than I thought, if the Ragesians have creatures like that in on this attack. Come on, let's...wait, where is Markus?"

OOC: Yep, Markus has disappeared in the panic! Obviously, the metagame reason is obvious, but some well-roleplayed responses would be welcome. Then, I'll move you on (and introduce Portnoy too!)

 

[stonegod]

Get up.

No. He deserved it. The pain. The fear.

Pathetic.

He knew it too.

Couldn't stop a girl from killing in cold blood. Can't stop a mob from scaring you. And now you can't get up. Some knight you are. Ask Xander for a bottle---it's all you're good for.

No.

No. Damnit!

The pain in his ribs gave him something to focus on, something to quell the load voice inside to give up. That one that goaded him to get up as another sign of failure. Pain... pain was now. His demons... they could wait. Gingerly, the battered knight stood.

"...wait, where is Markus?"

Coldan looked around. Torrent, the murderous girl, Cass, Xander, and that strange almost familiar one. But the half-hand was gone.

"I... I didn't see him." A sardonic chuckle. "A bit hard too from my vantage."

Can't even keep your party together. Pathetic.

He hung his head a moment, then looked up. "He knows where we are going. Best we try to meet him there."

 

[Shayuri]

Aridha trotted over, still wary, looking around.

"What happened?" she asked. "A spell? I couldn't think...all I could do was try to escape, even though I saw no enemy."

Her cheeks flushed.

"I am shamed. I will try harder to resist next time."

 

[Rystil Arden]

'Oh ! I need healing...What a time for the fool to get lost!'

"Hmm, we should search for our missing comrade. He has been a great help so far, and I am afraid I may have great need of his healing powers."

*Cassandra looks around for Markus, then turns to Aridha:*

"Ari, can you track him, do you think?"

 

[Shayuri]

Aridha looks at the cobbles, brushes them with a foot, then looks around.

"I can try," she says slowly. "But these streets have been covered with people, all running in all directions...and it's harder tracking over these stones to begin with. I think it will be very difficult."

After a moment, she shakes her head.

"I am sorry."

(hee...just remember, Ari's a scout this level, not a ranger...no track for her yet!)

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Yup, I know that, but Cassandra doesn't She thinks all forest-type people that don't have nature magic and a wolf can track )

"Well, we could scout the nearby area. He couldn't have gotten too far,right?"

'Unless he means to betray us and used this opportunity to slip out...But that doesn't seem right. Still, it could be.'