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Mystehawk
Looking around
(2/20/03 2:03 pm)
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Re: Andorax's Sunday night PCs
I have been following this thread for some time now. Since my playing group disbanded before I could GM or play in RttToEE, it's been threads like this one that enables me to learn more about the campaign, how it works, and what can happen. I miss GMing and/or playing, but at least I can read about it here. 
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Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(2/24/03 7:41 am)
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Re: Andorax's Sunday night PCs
Thanks for the comments, everyone. And I do have good news...progress to report, and significant at that.
Having three weeks of real time to gather their courage helped...they decided to double back and check on Saatu again, and discovering him unconscious, ended his career as a seer (alas).
From there, it's bash-down-the-wall time (recalling that they blocked the exits from Chymon's room with a Wall of Stone), and off into the western portion of the Outer Fane. They were met by Varachan who, seeing five people in the Purple Robes, directed them to the empty guest room, commanding them to wait for Hedrack (whom they asked to see), and promptly hied back to his room to scry and see if this were they or not.
They got bored quickly, and wandered about. Tossed the Magmins a bag of sugar from the storeroom, looted the Drow's guest quarters, fled from the "pit fiend", terrified the slaves mopping up, and read Dunrat's letter. Varachan caught back up with them again in the great hall, imperiously ordering them back to their room, following them in, and the berating them for not behaving more like who they're pretending to be!
Big long discussion with him about what had come to pass, eventually concluding with the party deciding to grab the Silver Orb and book for Hommlet and the Temple. Lyssa had a Wind Walk still memorized, so that worked out nicely. At the end of their conversation, Varachan stood bolt-upright, and started talking with someone who wasn't there (contact medallion in use), then hustled back to his room so he could "search for the attackers and report where they had vanished to".
Party loots temple (with Varachan's good information), although I've ruled that the Champion-gear is already in Lareth's hands back at the old ToEE. Party flees for earth door, passing the EEE with their purple robes, casts the Wind Walk, and makes great haste north and east.
Session ended with them camping halfway between the CRM and Hommlet. I'm a bit concerned that the 11th level PCs aren't going to be ready to take on the Recovered Temple, but we'll have to wait and see what comes from here.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
Siobharek 
Still here? Wow.
(2/24/03 12:31 pm)
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Re: Andorax's Sunday night PCs
With 11th-level PCs you don't want to make too concerted an effort for the Recovered Temple Doomdreamers, that's for sure. Have you considered adding Ingrith and/or Kella to the mix?
What about Varachan? Did your PCs make any arrangements for him, or his he still a mole? Oh, and do you think they'll go back and finish the Spike if and when atey nail Imix?
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(2/24/03 2:38 pm)
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Re: Andorax's Sunday night PCs
They haven't discussed it much. Not sure. A lot will depend on whether or not, after offing Imix, they get that sense of "we've won" satisfaction.
As for Varachan, he's still "on the inside"...the reasoning is that since Hedrack relies on him to be his main scryer, he can best mislead Hedrack from within.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
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madfox
Still here? Wow.
(2/25/03 12:03 am)
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Re: Andorax's Sunday night PCs
O well, you could always go for a side track. Who knows what the temple forces have been doing to the inhabitants of Hommlet to at least keep them away from the dig site. Besides, even Rufus and B. would have difficulties dealing with a beholder and some stone giants.
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Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(3/3/03 7:37 am)
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Re: Andorax's Sunday night PCs
Progress again! They're moving forward now.
I went ahead and ambushed them with a Hezrou, and they accounted quite well for themselves. Both Spud and Lyssa managed to get crits on the critter, which did a lovely job of saying "gee...half damage? Well then, take THIS!" That, plus Tsindin's magic missile blasting through it's blink, and the Hezrou wasn't in good shape.
Sure, he can blasphemy everyone into a dazed state, but that doesn't help much when he can't do anything other than keep them dazed (yes, he failed in his attempt to bring a horde of dretches to the table).
Had a very scary point in time when everyone had left the Leo's Secure Shelter to fight it save for Tsindin...it Blasphemied, walked past the rest, came through the door, smacked Tsindin down and shut the door behind him. Tsindin and Spud both came out of being Dazed on the same initiative. Spud charged the door to bash it open, just as Tsindin dismissed the Shelter (it's dismissable!). Spud comes barreling through the then-doorway and slams full-on into the back of the Hezrou!
What's worse...Spud fully believes he hit the house so hard it went away!
Anyways, I retreated rather than let them get the kill off (I prefer intelligent foes) and the party makes it the rest of the way to Hommlet on the next morning.
A long Q&A session with named characters, and a near-complete looting of Hommlet's potion and scroll supplies later, and they're off to the Temple. Some discussion of paying Y'Day to scry the four elemental power gems and tell them where they're at.
Well, they scare off the Succubus (all they know is an Evil Halfling was there), find the tunnel (Bryan has an awfully good Tracking check with maxed Wilderness Lore and a Lens of Detection), and are just now rounding the corner into the first guardroom (prepared and warned). End of session, but Lyssa has *just* enough XP to be 12th, Tsindin's within 250, and the rest are between 1000 and 2000 behind (all should be 12th after next session).
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
Blackthorne
Here for a while
(3/3/03 12:40 pm)
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!
"Spud fully believes he hit the house so hard it went away!"
Edited by: Blackthorne at: 3/3/03 12:41:25 pm
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Entropius
Here for a while
(3/3/03 4:04 pm)
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Spud
What are Spud's stats (particularly Int/Wis), if you remember them? He sounds like a fun character.
I want to play an ogre cleric or something sometime... that'd be fun.
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Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(3/4/03 7:41 am)
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Re: Spud
I can't say for certain, but if I recall aright:
Int 6, Wis 8, Cha 3
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(3/10/03 9:23 am)
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Progress
Once again, progress. Not a lot, but a bit. Had some sick players. Also, next week is out (St. Patrick's festivities).
Took on the horde of ogres just inside the entrance to the Recovered Temple. Fought their way through, taking some damage but otherwise doing well enough. Tsindin blasted away mercilessly (boots of speed on a boom-boom sorceror is an ugly combo).
Looted the baddies, moved on. Got to the trap door. Bryan (in Troll form) opened it, and was punched by the Earth Elemental below (I ruled it had a readied action, since Tremorsense told him they were there).
A good initiative roll later, and the Earth Elemental went again. It reached up, grabbed Bryan, and yanked him down into the room (I rule that if you're a size category larger than your target, you can grapple them into your space rather than moving into theirs).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Grappling with an Earth Elemental is just as devistating a tactic as casting Silence on an Air Elemental. Their grapple checks are horrendous, they're immune to nearly every form of attack-back, and especially when you do this:
Having wrestled him into place, the Earth Elemental proceeded to hold him still while the Stone Giant pummeled him with his club! In just a couple of rounds, I had a 100+ hp Druid/Shifter unconscious and thanking his lucky stars for Trollish regeneration.
The giant was eventually forced into retreat from Lyssa, Spud, and Tsindin's relentless "damage dishing". The Elemental remained, pummeling away, and dropped (to -7) Lyssa, who was brought back to stable and safe with a Healing Circle from Tyra. Eventually, they downed the critter (after reeling from the shock of it cleaving through Lyssa and pounding Spud). Tsindin sent a fireball to the end of hte hallway after the retreating Stone Giant, and happened to catch him just inside the doorway and fell him (unconscious).
Well, here we go again...Tsindin, invisible, comes down the hall and looks into the room. Two ogres are "checking out" the downed Giant, others are milling about, or shouting at the Hobgoblins, who are cowering in terror and saying "no way we're going out there, look what they did to HIM!" and pointing at the Stone Giant.
So Tsindin does what she's best at. Haste, Fireball, Fireball. BOOM! One of the Ogres survived the blast, so she follows up with Magic Missile, suddenly horrified to see the Ogre shift into the form of an Elven Druid and hit the floor, unconscious.
So the party heals her and brings her around. Ok..she's just been blasted by multiple fireballs, and comes round to see Spud (an Ogre in blackened Full Plate), Lyssa (a Half-orc), and Bryan (fortunately back in human form and looking properly druidish...she'd have really lost it if he was still a troll). Needless to say, Kella did not take this at all well, and the party lost out on a chance at information. They did let her go free, and she did, as she left, tell them she was sent by Y'Day...so there's a chance to go back and consult with her later on and get her aid then.
Broke session after a looting of the Ogres and releasing the Hobgoblins (who all ran for it in a horde). They haven't found the secret door into the Stone Giant quarters yet, nor investegated any deeper....but in two weeks time, we should have some more good stories.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
 Infiniti2000
Still here? Wow.
(3/10/03 11:01 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: Progress
Too cool! Any chance you can tell us the current character's classes/levels? From the other thread, I realize Bryan is Drd7/Shifter5. Hopefully, he and Lyssa will have a healthier respect for earth elementals. It's not too often a bad guy gets to cleave on the good guys, is it?
An idea just popped into my head. Next time Bryan da Troll goes in alone and gets captured like that, someone (maybe that fiendish stone giant) should haul him to the fire node directly. "Out of the way, coming through with a package! Let's see you regenerate that!"
I can't wait to hear more!
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Siobharek
Still here? Wow.
(3/10/03 12:06 pm)
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Re: Progress
Quote:
"no way we're going out there, look what they did to HIM!"
Now that's just good, old-fashioned, top-notch role-playing...<shakes head in wonder>
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(3/10/03 12:10 pm)
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Re: Progress
Ok...update time on the PCs:
Tsindin: Human Sorceror 12.
Spud: Ogre Fighter 6 (CL 10, ECL 12) revised as per Savage Species. Thoroughly enjoying the "Roll with it" feat he got from his redesign.
Lyssa: Half-Orc Cleric 12 (of Kord).
Bryan: Druid 7/Shifter 5
Tyra: Druid 11 (nights absent from gaming due to a pain in the neck manager at work have cost her XP).
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
ShadowmageIX
Here for a while
(3/10/03 1:05 pm)
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Re: Progress
wow... having had the unpleasant surprise of fighting a pair of greater earth elementals at 9th level two weeks ago, I think it's worth stating they were lucky to survive!
After the game we compared a bit together with our DM (three other players are also DMs I might note) and decided that the earth elementals as written are a LOT more dangerous than their CR would suggest...
We upped the greater earth elemental to CR 11 from this point on.
Anything that can lay 101 points of damage on my barbarian character BEFORE I've struck a blow is definately too strong!
keep the log coming andorax, I can't wait to see what'll happen next!
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Ulthwithian
Looking around
(3/11/03 11:04 am)
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Yo!
Hey Andorax.
Awesome read. Just spent the last four hours reading it from day 1.
Has anyone had any problems with the whole 'death' thing? If you read my log (which I'll start back up in, oh, about 15 minutes), you'll probably know the reason why I ask, but generally my players don't like the idea. Any ways to soften the blow?
Now, on the write my campaign log...
Ulthwithian
Gamer-at-large
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Ulthwithian
Looking around
(3/11/03 11:06 am)
Reply
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Yo!
Hey Andorax.
Awesome read. Just spent the last four hours reading it from day 1.
Has anyone had any problems with the whole 'death' thing? If you read my log (which I'll start back up in, oh, about 15 minutes), you'll probably know the reason why I ask, but generally my players don't like the idea. Any ways to soften the blow?
Now, on to write my campaign log...
Ulthwithian
Gamer-at-large
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Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(3/11/03 12:10 pm)
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Re: Yo!
First of all, thanks for the perseverence. My respect for those who have read the "whole thing" grows as the thread does...four hours now. Sheesh. Hope you've enjoyed the show.
Now, as for the whole "death thing". First and foremost thing that helps is having a group of adult, mature gamers who can handle some mishaps without losing their tempers. Even so, there's been some rocky points along the way (recall back to when Camber left and I nearly had my group bust up).
The next thing that helps is that I was very straight-up with them from day one. This is deadly dangerous, and you're likely to lose PCs one or more times over the course. This got reinforced (entirely by accident) when, on the very first night, Angie's 3rd level fighter, Toran, was bit in half by an Ankheg.
Third thing, be fairly generous with regards to Raise Dead, etc. As long as the PCs put up the funds, and the victim arrives in time, Y'Day will Raise goodly folk (remember, it's 1000 GP...500 for the casting, 500 for the component).
Other than that, just urge them to caution and deliberate gameplay, and try not to get too vindictive. There's a time and a place for "playing it tough", and sometimes you can tell just as good a story while backing off then while putting them to the sword as best you are able (case in point the Ambush with the Naga...I *could* have pursued the fleeing PCs, but I let it go with only two dead).
Not every gaming group handles things the same way. I know some here have used "fate points" to avoid the bad saving throw syndrome or similar measures. I've just stuck to keeping the raising rules as-is and having a group that deals with this sort of thing well.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
sok
Looking around
(3/12/03 1:02 am)
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Earth Elementals and Tremorsense
Hi,
I cant find any reference in the MM about Earth Elementals having tremorsence. Can you tell me where it is stated?
Btw Nice read, my players are pretty much in the same area but probably a level or two lower in average.
Sok
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Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(3/12/03 7:29 am)
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Re: Earth Elementals and Tremorsense
You know, you're absolutely right. I erred. I simply presumed that, with other earth-based critters (such as the Zorn) posessing it, that it was on the Earth Elemental's list of powers.
Truth be told, I'll likely say they have it anyways, and they *were* warned ahead of time by the ogre with the horn.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
The guy from Belgium
Here for a while
(3/12/03 8:26 am)
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Re: Earth Elementals and Tremorsense
Yay, i have the honour of posting the 200th post in this thread!
congrats on the great thread!
luv it!
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