The Closed Eye (DM: Halford, Judge: garyh)

[covaithe]

[sblock=retraining]Retraining powers, feats and skills works as specified in the PHB p.28, I think. I don't think we've gotten around to actually proposing and voting on any more permissive retraining options for new content; only discussing them. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong...[/sblock]

[sblock=Palindrome, Arcana DC 15]The necklace's magical aura seems noticeably weaker than it was yesterday. Now that you think about it, no one seems to have had any trouble seeing and recognizing you today.[/sblock]

[sblock=screamer puzzle]Give me a day or two to stew over this again. Naturally, neither Graf nor Halford left me any more clues than you as to what the answer to the puzzle was. I have some ideas, but I need to sort them out.[/sblock]

 

[Atriden]

Atreus looks at the elf fall with somewhat disappointment since he was hoping it would listen to reason. When Palindrome is about to cut the elfs thumbs he almost stops him but shrugs instead. It suddenly seems appropriate to punish the elf, for he did not listen to his warnings. He joins Woe to fetch items and valuables from the fallen. without a word he gives Woe the loot he collected and runs back to the elf and picks him up with some difficulty and carries him into the bushes, where the rest of the group is hiding.
" Yes, this was indeed a worthy battle " say's Atreus while hauling the elf into the bushes " We have still alot to accomplish here and I am ready for more action " and then Atreus notices his wounds and ripped clothing " After a short rest that is, we need our full strength if we are going in that mansion "
[sblock=Recovery and some other nasty stuff]Before resting, Atreus binds the elfs hands behind his back and his feet together. When he is done resting, he uses one healing surge to regain 6hp

[FONT=&quot][sblock=The Elf] When Atreus is done resting, he places himself over the elf with a dagger in his hand and wakes up the elf by pouring water over his face and slapping his face gently afterwards. " Now listen well and listen close for these are perhaps thou last moments and time has come for thy redemption. First thou should know, I am a reasonable man but they are not " and Atreus points at the others, specifically Palindrome and Woe " Now, tell us what thou know about the mansion, its occupants and what to expect. Then I might reconsider thy unvoidable fate and thou might yet live another day. Be quick or I will be true to my previous threats and help the others mutilate every inch of thy frail elvish body, starting with thy pointy unsightly ears " Atreus removes the gag and awaits the elfs response.
[/sblock][/FONT][sblock=The Elf]
[FONT=&quot]Intimidate and Insight roll. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]If the elf resists, screams for help or doesn't comply to his request, then Atreus gags him again and coldly cuts his ear of and continues to interrogate him.
[/FONT][/sblock]
[sblock=Atreus Stats] Atreus D’torian - Human Rogue 1
Passive Perception 15, Passive Insight 16
AC 16, Fort 12, Reflex 17, Will 14
HP 23/24, Bloodied 12, Surge Value 6, Surges 4/7
Speed 6, Initiative +6
Action Points: 0 Second Wind: Not Used Yet
Powers: Deft Strike, Piercing Strike, Sly Flourish,
Positioning Strike, Blinding Barrage, [/sblock] [/sblock]
[FONT=&quot]
[sblock=OCC] I am not sure if I am allowed to roll another intimidate check, since I dont think I made it, but you could help me by using "aid another" to ensure that he complies to our wishes [/sblock][/FONT]

 

[Dunamin]

“Did you hear that, fellows?” Woe peers around suspiciously, keeping his spear ready for more carnage.

“I could swear, it sounded like some sort of… bell, I think. Just… ding?”

[sblock=Choices]ALRIGHT! Thanks for putting up with us Cov!

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Definitely going to retrain my useless Sure Strike At-Will for Crushing Surge. Dunno whether to pick up Action Surge for my feat or Toughness...

I’m also torn between two utility powers: Boundless Endurance or Pass Forward? I used to be heavily leaning towards the former, but now I’m more in the other camp.
Boundless Endurance is a stance that grants regeneration equal to Con mod when I’m bloodied, but it’s a Daily and recovering 2 hp once in a while doesn’t seem that much – especially since bloodied is the point that calls for serious healing.
Pass Forward lets me move without provoking OA from an adjacent foe as long as I still end up adjacent, and it’s an At-Will so that’s unlimited use – perfect for frequently gaining that all-important Combat Advantage.

What do you guys think?[/sblock]

 

[Dunamin]

[FONT=&quot]When Atreus is done resting, he places himself over the elf with a dagger in his hand and wakes up the elf by pouring water over his face and slapping his face gently afterwards. " Now listen well and listen close for these are perhaps thou last moments and time has come for thy redemption. First thou should know, I am a reasonable man but they are not " and Atreus points at the others, specifically Palindrome and Woe " Now, tell us what thou know about the mansion, its occupants and what to expect. Then I might reconsider thy unvoidable fate and thou might yet live another day. Be quick or I will be true to my previous threats and help the others mutilate every inch of thy frail elvish body, starting with thy pointy unsightly ears " Atreus removes the gag and awaits the elfs response.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Intimidate and Insight roll. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]If the elf resists, screams for help or doesn't comply to his request, then Atreus gags him again and coldly cuts his ear of and continues to interrogate him.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
I am not sure if I am allowed to roll another intimidate check, since I dont think I made it, but you could help me by using "aid another" to ensure that he complies to our wishes[/FONT]

Woe leans in on the elf with a pitiless grin, poking in the recently delivered spear wounds – that is, where the elf’s nipples used to be.

“There’s a few realization you need to make here, Miss Boob-less.”

“First, we’re capable and willing to elevate your pain to more excruciating levels than you can imagine. For every one of your pointy sticks you’ve stuck into me and my buddies, we’ll return the favor. Except the deliveries will come from my “quiver”.” Woe pats his newly expanded collection of javelins.

“Second, we have the remedies to ensure you won’t bleed out – once your face has been mangled beyond recognition, we’ll heal it up and start over. Once you start suffering critical organ failure, we’ll drag you back in.”

“Finally, you may think you have nothing left to lose at this point. You’ve been beaten, crippled, humiliated, and your manhood is a bloody pulp. I bet all that’s left is your passion for archery – the feel of a bowstring and an arrow between your fingers.”

The warrior takes a crushing grip around the fingers of the elf’s shooting hand. “We can take that away, too.”

Woe has a strange distant look in his eyes, and adds with a barely discernable mumbling:

“Just like you treated Byruck before you took him away.”

Succesful Aid Another on Atreus’ Intimidate, increases the result by 2.

 

[garyh]

[sblock=XP]After a bit of reading, I decided that life was too short to be picky about unravelling the xp from all the skill use and roleplaying bits. I'm just going to call it a minor quest, put a number on it, and move on. If, that is, our judge approves.

Palindrome, Tander, and Woe each get:

• 415 xp for 5 months of play at level 1 (26 Sept 2008 - 26 Feb 2009)
• 138 xp for a quarter share of the elf archers encounter (total 550)
• 200 xp for completing a "minor quest".

Together with the 133 each for the bugbears and the 150 each for roleplaying from Halford (here), that totals 1036 each, so you guys can advance to level 2. Congratulations.

Atreus only gets the 138 for the archers encounter. I'll hold onto his time XP for now.

Thanks for your continued patience, everybody. Having 2 DMs disappear has not been good for the pace of the game, and it's a testament to your skill and forbearance that we still have momentum and flavor in this game. Also, I sincerely hope you will forever hold the record for most DMs in a single adventure.
[/sblock]

[Sblock=XP Guesstimates and Fighter Utilities]Given the way the game's gone, I have no problem with estimated XP. Reverse engineering an adventure is tough.

Dunamin, I heartily recommend Pass Forward. I play with a fighter in another game who has it, and it's awesome. It's even better with a rogue in the group, like you have now.[/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

[sblock=XP, powers, (cross)bows]
Woot. DING! (heh)

Are we going to pause here to do leveling stuff, or continue?

I second pass-forward as an awesome power. While the daily regen is tempting, pass-forward is much more likely to be useful in practice, I'm guessing.

Oh, and Tander will take whatever bow (cross or otherwise) he can get for right now. If Neera will come back quickly, crossbow is better, but I assume we're pressing on, so no time for that.
[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

[sblock=Level Up!]*DING!*

As far as retraining, I thought the last word was you get to train 2-fer (two new powers for one level).

Let's go ahead and level up. I'd reeeeealllly like to try out some of those illusionist powers.[/sblock]

Palindrome shakes his amulet, but the mystical aura does not increase. He whimpers and puts in back in his pocket.

"Hey," he yells at Atreus, "It doesn't do any good to point. He can't see because he's got no eyeballs. And save me enough skin to make a pair of boots!"

He turns to Tander. "Do you think goblin hide would make a good jacket?"

 

[nerdytenor]

Tander grunts at Palindrome, too tired to deal with his antics. "I need... I need a minute to rest and recover." Tander takes sits cross-legged under the cover of the trees and tries to regain some of his usual composure.

[sblock=Loot!!!]
Say, I haven't been keeping track of any of our loot, except for the amulet of health +1. Anybody know how much gold we should each have? Thought I'd update that too with my level-up.
[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

[sblock=No Dinero]We spend all our cash on the potions. But this is a BIG house, and at worst, we can have a yard sale.[/sblock]

"Hey!" yells Palindrome to Woe and Atreus, "Do you need any help torturing that elf? I've got some glass rods that we can shove in his ***** and snap off. Or maybe we can pour this can of lye in his *****?"

OOC: Bluff (1d20+7=12) and Intimidate. Aid Another for Atreus. (1d20+3=18)​

 

[nerdytenor]

[sblock=In Tander's Head]
Tander tries to focus, but his head is spinning with images of the battle just ended, his dream of the night before, and his latest vision. Try as he might, his head continues spinning, spinning with competing thoughts.

Suddenly, an enormous voice punctures his mind.

TANDER.

Everything stops again. There is no time.

TANDER. HEAR ME, MORTAL.

There is a voice, but no voice. Sound, and yet no sound. It is unlike anything Tander has experienced.

Who... Who are you?

Tander hears the sound (or, rather, the idea of the sound) of laughter.

I AM YOUR GOD. WHO ELSE WOULD I BE?

Tander's pulse quickens, in part from the divine visitation, but largely in anticipation of answers. Answers!

But which god are you?

More laughter.

AH, TANDER. I WILL REVEAL MYSELF TO YOU FULLY WHEN I DEEM YOU ARE READY. YOU BETRAYED ME ONCE, AND I WILL NOT WELCOME YOU BACK UNTIL YOU HAVE FULLY REDEEMED YOURSELF.

Betrayed you?

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, TANDER. I TOOK YOUR MEMORY FROM YOU FOR A TIME TO TEST YOU. I NEARLY DESTROYED YOU INSTEAD, BUT ANOTHER GOD CONVINCED ME IT WAS A BAD IDEA. YOU HAVE PROVEN YOUR SOUL IS STILL PURE, NOW YOU MUST ACCEPT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND RETURN FULLY TO MY SERVICE.

But, I don't remember...

IF YOU DO NOT REMEMBER NOW, IT IS BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE NOT TO, TANDER. I HAVE LIFTED THE BLOCK FROM MOST OF YOUR MIND. PERHAPS I CAN JOG YOUR MEMORY...

Tander's mind is filled with visions. A group of warlocks, chanting together. A pair of hands, Tander's hands, pulsating with dark energy. Tander begins to sweat.

YOU MUST COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND MASTER THE DARKER PART OF YOUR SOUL, TANDER. WHEN YOU HAVE DONE THIS, YOU WILL KNOW MY TRUE FACE. I WILL GIVE YOU THIS MARK AS A REMINDER THAT YOUR JOURNEY IS NOT YET COMPLETE. NOW GO!

Tander's eyes open. A mark? And then he sees it. He turns over his hands - each palm has three wavy black lines running parallel to his fingers, each line about an inch long.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Multiclass, baby! DM Question]
Tander is going multi-warlock. Question for DM: is it safe to go with Dark Pact? I know that the FR proposal is nearing approval, but Fey Pact is fine too if not. Dark Pact fits a bit better with the whole light/dark thing is all. Guess I can always flavor it how I like, anyway.
[/sblock]