Green Acres - Out of Character Discussions
5-5
Excellent work so far with your identifying magic items and appraising some of your Treasure.
We start this week on the edge of the swamp. There is no way to get to the stone fisherman without getting wet even if you do get a skiff from somewhere you will likely get wet at some point.
There are no boats at the keep but you might find one if you travel along the edges of the swamp NW or SE for a ways. There is no one living in this area currently.
I would encourage everyone to read the swimming rules especially if you do not have swimming so you know how long you can hold your breath before you drown.
One last encounter to go then your contract is complete!
BOB
4-25
Yes to the fact that no one claims to have seen the fisherman turned to stone. Yes to the fact that it could be just about anything. Yes to planing and being careful.
As to potions you need to be 9th level to brew potions so the likely-hood of the Court Mage being able to help (and definitely at a cost) is low. Lisa is right about the tasting option and of course you can come up with your own testing procedures as well.
Anything that does not require a save or dice roll can be done on the in character section as well for dividing up things, etc.
BOB
4-25
I didn't mean that it might be a practical joke or something. I was leaning more toward - it COULD be a creature, but it could also be a spell cast by an evil mage in the vicinity or an effect from a trap of some kind. Yes, we need to be careful of creatures, but I meant we should also be cautious of the landscape and even other people.
As for testing the potions, I'm very leery of tasting the potions that were locked away with the evil items. They could be good potions that were locked up because they are expensive, OR they could be from wherever the evil stuff came from. Just something to keep in mind.
K
4-25
Defintely frogs and ankheg first! But those might not take that long and so I was just pondering the stone fisherman prospect. There is nothing I would like more than to find out someone was playing a practical joke and dumped a barrel of concrete on this guy's head. I just think we have to assume the worst and that the mere walking into close proximity of that general area could subject us to an attack from which we could not easily recover.
I did some more poking around on the site and pestered Bob about potions. I have alchemy proficiency and so am going to ask our good friend the Court Mage if he has a lab to test the unlabled potions. If he doesn't have a lab, I can still open them and take a small taste and would get only a slight effect. If any one is willing to join me, that would be great, or I'm sure Branwyn can convince Indigo to try the other one. As I was worrying about potential swamp creature, I started thinking perhaps I should identify the potions before we go in that direction in the off chance they could be useful to that end. It would mean that one of my three 1st level spells would be comprehend languages, but it would still leave two for inflicting damage in combats. Thoughts?
Lisa
4-25
Something I'd like to point out, and Bob can correct me if I'm wrong, is that no one actually SAW a swamp creature turn the fisherman to stone. They found him that way and either reported it as done by a swamp creature, or someone assumed it was a swamp creature. And it may very well have been, but I don't think we have proof of that.(Again, I could be wrong.) If it wasn't a swamp creature, what could it have been? And if it was, what could it have been? I definitely think we should hit the frogs next.
K
4-25
Thanks for RP nod for last week. About the gold ring, it would give me a boost in slots for spells and in percentage of success in learning spells. So, yes, I would like it very much! I have no interest in the wooden ring and think it would be much better suited to Foriso, Miranda, or Imari.
I have a Comprehend Languages spell that should work on the two labeled potions. I was thinking of memorizing that spell after we finish taking care of the last creatures on our contract. I'm not sure what to do with the unlabeled ones. Would testing it on an animal work? We could find a rat or something. Or could potions have different reactions on animals than they would on people?
I am a little worried about our upcoming ordeal with the swamp creature that turns people to stone. I'm trying to think about this, because as far I can tell, we have nothing to save any of us if we get turned to stone. So as far as I see it, we have to have a solid plan before we hit that section of the swamp. We could see if we can find mirrors at the farmhouse or the Keep, I guess to start, but at moment I don't have any brilliant ideas. Just something I thought I'd throw out there to think about since I still feel bad about what happened with the ghouls at the graveyard. Just went over to take a peek at the graveyard and suddenly in a full on battle with ghouls that almost turned out very badly. Turning to stone would be even worse.
Lisa
I updated the Party Pack page a bit for you.
There is still the other Treasure to appraise, return, divide, sell, what ever.
As you get some money now there is the case of Tithing for the Priests. Plus paying for Training and any upcoming Taxes etc.
Lots of fun things happening.
BOB
4-24
Well, now that's decided (Lisa for RPer of the night), there is the matter of uber lewts to discuss. If you look at the party pack, you'll see we've managed to identify some of the items.
We have a ring that encases the wearer in wooden splint mail. It will do neither Indigo nor Kristelle any good, so the rest of you can fight over it.
We have a ring of clear thought that gives: +1 INT, protects against mental attacks, grants immunity against sleep, charm, and the like. I'm sure we all find the immunities very attractive, but I swear Lisa started foaming at the mouth when she saw the +1 INT. Since +1 INT would only make Kristelle a tiny bit smarter (and at that, she'd still be pretty stupid), I hereby kiss the attractive immunities goodbye, and will let the rest of you fight over it.
We have a pouch of graveyard dirt (gathered at midnight during a full moon) that can stay in the party pack until one of the priests has need of it.
The two scrolls turned out to be: Protection from Evil and Protection from Good. They are both in the party pack until needed.
The other items have not yet been identified, but I put forth that it might be cheaper to pay a scholar to identify the writing on the two labeled potions than it would to actually have them identified magically. Kristelle still has the crystal mace, which she will attempt to use when next we're in battle.
So really, all you guys are fighting over... erm... trying to lay claim upon... are the two rings, at this point.
K
I second the motion.
john
4-24
Roleplayer of the night, last night, is up for grabs. I suggest Lisa!
K
4-18
I was thinking on Saturday about all these magic items we're carrying. I want to start messing with them when we get back to the Keep. I totally understand if no one else wants to experiment, but I'm willing to take my chances with some of these things and think it's worth the risk if some of them can help us.
Lisa
4-18
I think that the Ghoul encounter was a good one, the danger knob was right on the limit and you as a group overcame the odds again. I do think that John could have talked here about his thought process before hand so that everyone could make their own comments on possibilities or strategies.
I do think that Retaw can be a nice alternative Goddess to have in the group, and I will work on that today.
One thing that is building in the group besides training is the number of magic items and other treasure you have accumulated without doing anything about. You currently have 3 items from Born in Fire, 3 items from Digging Deeper and 10 items from Green Acres. Out of those 16 you gave one scroll to Imari{ XP awarded}, one sword to Foriso Fairhand and one sword to Indigo {no XP awarded yet to either}. You also were awarded the XP for destroying that evil book. So that leaves a full dozen items of treasure or magic that someone could be using or the group could sell for the GP.
After solving the Gremlin issue you have the Ankeheg, swamp monster and the giant frogs to finish off this story arc.
Looking forward to some fun nights ahead.
4/18
One of the reasons for my desire to run a Priest of Fate or possible Retaw was to take the numbers out of the game or at least helping the numbers. Last week was a good example of dealing with the numbers out of the game. I was debating all week and was thinking I should use my spell Invisiblity to Undead. Instead of my character missing and failing to turn I was going to turn Kristlle and anyone else who was being eaten by the Ghouls invisible (no save) The undead would leave them alone. However needing to hit the character to make the spell work seems less likly then and 50/50 chance to turn but even that did not work out. No matter the situation, I try and let the actions give the best chance. I prefer spells that save for half damage then save for no effect, or like my healing, I would rather do Orion with a minimum of 4 pts than roll a d8. Of course now at third level it is a set 6 points so the numbers are even more in our favor.
And to be clear, Mirand has training for 2nd level spells and a few empty slots. I know it may be hard without her for an extended period, which is why I want the henchman, but I am not sure it is worth defining the Priest of Retaw based on the need for healing. I do belive, as an afterthought, BOB will not want a minor Goddes like Retaw to have major access to time, so maybe we will compromise and give her minor in healing.
Please comment if you wish
John
4/16
I would just like to point out that Bob expressed surprise to me that so many of us failed our saves in the last two encounters. He wouldn't expect only 25% of us to make our 1st - 3rd level saves. Our higher than 16 saves... Bad DM.
Mike
4-10
To be clear for John (and Brian) to start the next session.
The group was investigating the church and graveyard and three Ghouls that were hiding in the graveyard were spooked and attacked the group. One was killed, another is seriously wounded (meaning approximately at half hit points) and the other is untouched.
Branwyn is still standing and attacking in the middle of the fight. Imari, Kristelle? and Indigo are all paralyzed.
Lisa, John and Brian will all be ready to go on the start of the next round. Indigo will be the first to shake off the paralysis if he is not eaten first.
Guy is working till late which is the only reason he is not part of the rescue party.
There is the temple right next door to hole up in afterwards.
I look forward to a lot of fun here and on Friday.
BOB
4/10
"out of our capabilities" what a interesting phrase. When dice are involved, it is hard to tell. With BOB's numbers I do not know how many Ghouls you were facing. I think I can make it. It's not every day I get to play DND with Brian. It is kind of funny that it reminds me of a time me and Rob (Brian's brother) had to save the party who were all turned to stone by a Basklis. Talk about memories.
and you were afraid to go to church?
John
4/6
Like I said, we really know nothing about Red Cloak and he may be completely beyond our capabilities right now (and probably is, knowing Bob). I'm all for pursuing him at a later date, and just taking care of what is in our contract right now.
Kaz
Lisa, you mean you didn't put any animation charms on your charsheet? Jeeze, I thought everyone knew that you have to keep a few scarecrow animation charms on you. You never know when you'll be in a field and need to turn that scarecrow into a bloody killer. It's handy in so many situations, you know.
mike
4/5
I read the chat log from last week and I am thinking that we might want to hold off on Red Cloak for a bit and stick to the original plan. We may find out more about him in our travels around the farms that will help us prepare for him better. Also, I found it a little odd that he just happened to be carrying a charm to turn scarecrows into animated vicious killers. And if he had such a thing, why would he give it away so easily unless he had more evil little tricks up his sleeves. Please correct me if this is a common item to carry around and is no big deal, but I think that he could be very dangerous.
Lisa
4/3
From what I read, we were on a one week contract. I did not see the extension after training but assume we are still under contract. The "gremlin" and vermin seem to be directly covered by the contract and while the red cloak is causing issues on the land, he will be hardest to find and deal with, so I sugest we do wait on him. Not that the gremlin will be as easy as the scarecrow. I would hope to be there for part of the night Friday, but it is a long way away from Sat night.
John
4/2
So, we have to make a decision before next session, and that is: which way do we go? Do we continue on our interrupted path, to get rid of the mining vermin, or do we go after Redcloak? He's just brewing up trouble wherever he goes, and there's no telling what else he'll get up to before we either capture him or he moves out of the general vicinity of the Jistille lands. On the other hand, we know nothing about him and he may be beyond our capabilities to rid the world of, unless all or at least most of us are there for the kill.
Kaz
3/26
1. I'm sure he'd be okay with a small, contained cooking fire, but it would probably require constant watching.
2. Extra protection is always nice, especially in a place anyone can get into.
3. It was made with goblins in mind. Perhaps we can stand upright, but is there really that much space above our heads?
4. I think we'd need to work to make this a livable dirt hole. We would need to figure out some kind of flooring, something to do about the walls, to add warmth and comfort. And that's not even mentioning making sure the place is big enough for people to have a little privacy, if they so require it.
Personally, I don't look forward to our characters living in a hole in the ground. However, I do think it would be a good 'secondary hideout' kind of place, if that makes sense. If we can figure out a way to hide the entrance (even if it's just done over time) and make the place secure, we can use it to hide treasures, or ourselves. Perhaps, if Ancien agrees, we could even build an actual building over it (of stone and/or packed earth, and if we need wood beams, get Ancien's permission to cut the necessary wood).
Kaz
3/20
Well, I would say, it is a unique idea. I would love to develop a place of our own, one that would grow with us and be our own. Not many 2nd & 3rd level characters can afford to have their own hide out. Here are some thinking points.
1) We would have to ask the Treant and he may want something. Certainly his restrictions would stand regarding fire and axes.
2) With the Treant's permission, there may be extra protection.
3) Was it made with humans in mind? How big is it so far?
4) Do we want to ask like we are all so comfortable living in a dirt hole? This is not a stone dungeon, this is dirt floors, dirt ceilings and dirt walls. It will be cold and damp, especially in rain and snow.
At least no one is larger than man size currently.
John
3/20 Guy was not in but we did finish the training and left a slot for him also.
No one addressed the idea of taking over the Goblin's Lair, but other's might want to comment on what you think the feasibility of that is after talking with Ancien.
BOB
I mentioned this earlier on the Player Communication threads but wanted to lay things out here for everyone.
The group is mostly 2nd level right now, with some training needed for 3rd level now as well.
Imari needs training in 2nd level Spells
Branwyn needs training in 2nd level Spells
Foriso needs at least one maybe two levels of thief skill training
And Miranda and Kristelle has training coming up etc.
Link to Training requirements.
I am willing to do a one time 'click off' for the training that is needed now. I have story arc plans to handle it, and the roleplaying will be quick and I hope fun. From now on you will need to roleplay out finding teachers, travel to and from etc. so I thought I would make it slightly easier on you this first time.
Guy had an idea at the end of the night of taking over the Goblin tunnels and converting it into a home base for the group. I did not anticipate that happening but if the group should talk about it. I did intentionally put your group in a tower that would be too small for you eventually to encourage you to find your own lodgings in town. I had anticipated you wanting to take over part of the Inn perhaps, or having your own house even.
As always these are not my decisions but the group's choices. I am just starting off the conversation here for everyone.
