Chapter 12: Q&A / Discussions

[Jeff]

And here we are.

[Dave W.]

no, no, I'm over there....

[Brian]

Okay, I've got an idea. We kill Kal, send him to Shadowfell, have him find the sphinx's mate, then have Histra bring him back as a zombie so he can give us the answer and, afterwards, carry all our luggage. Voila! Problem solved!

Seriously, though. This plan may have merit. If one of us can 'die' and thereby find the location of the sphinx mate, then have Histra or one of her family members safely bring that person back to life with the knowledge intact, we might have our answer.

What do you guys think?

[Dave W.]

That's a devilishly (see the pun) clever plan Brian. I don't think Adamant will like it. Messing with people's souls would be too great a risk. Plus, you wouldn't want to send just one person, they'd have no backup. I'm assuming you can be attacked and "die" in these other planes. Does Adamant know anything about the Shadowfell (religion check?). I'm assuming he only knows about the Feywild from stories (see my post in the main thread).

And I don't think Zombie Kal solves your encumbrance problem which is clearly the main benefit... at his shambling pace we'd move too slow.

[Jeff]

Actually, everyone knows about Dolurrh. It's where you go when you die, a grim and memory-draining place. That's just about the only thing everyone agrees with. Then it depends on your faith or church doctrine as to how it deviates from there. In most art, it's depicted a gray, muted place filled with lost souls. Some faiths believe eventually your god comes and collects you from there, while many other think there's nothing beyond it.

Whereas Thelanis, the Faerie Court, less is known about simply because it's the realm of fairy tales. Of storybook monsters and ideas. A place where imagination takes form. So the beliefs about it are far more diverse.

[Dave B.]

Shorak doesn't have an opinion either way. He's fine with either path. Both have their own unique dangers and challenges. They both sound like fun to him.

[Jeff]

To Darren's earlier point:

Jun 1, 2014 14:17:51 GMT -4 Darren said:

Jeff's thrown a TON of options at us, and there's no way we can follow everything. I'd say finding the sphinx is probably the most straightforward and best option we can take.

Absolutely. D&D is a choose-your-own-adventure book with limitless page numbers to turn to. Never feel like you have to pursue specific things. If you guys all chose to totally abandon the Eye of Azalar quest and hop a boat back to Khorvaire, I'd roll it. There could be consequences, absolutely, and they'll pan out...but I'll still go with it. I want you guys to drive the plot as much as me."

[Jeff]

A gentle reminder that splitting the party will slow the game down by a fair amount. Doesn't mean you can't, just want you to always understand that. Just the nature of the beast. Also, things will become more dangerous as you go. I don't intend to halve the difficulty of any given battle because you've chosen to split.

[Brian]

Geez, I was just asking. LOL

It was an in-game question, really. I personally have no desire to split up again.

[Brian]

Jeff wrote: If anyone has anything else they wish to do at the Cornerstone, now's the time to say so. And if there's something you want to leave behind, say so now.

Condign is leaving behind his bedroll. And if Streko agrees, he'll place the food and rope in the halfling's haversack. If not, I'll have to do some thinking before we leave the Inn.

As to positions, Condign would rather be in the vanguard or the rear guard. He and Adamant have the most hit points and the highest AC, so I think one should be up front and the other protecting the rear. What say you all?

[Ken]

Sounds good to me. Belarin will be one or two people behind the leader. He'll take his dagger and usual stuff, now that he's again wearing his normal clothes! It's been a while.

I'll remove the fake IDs from his sheet.

[Dave W.]

Adamant would be happy to take point with Condign. He'll take his backpack, weapons, and shield and not be encumbered either!

[Dave W.]

btw, I edited the DE Stats to remove the bedroll and rations. I'll keep the waterskin for now in case we need to wash out wounds or stuff. I just blanked out the data, I wasn't sure if deleting the row would cause #REF! problems.

[Dave B.]

Shorak will just collect his backpack which has the majority of his equipment in it. I assume he will need to be up front to scout and lead the party through Stormreach. Though he could also guide from the middle just as easily. Either way is fine by me.

[Darren]

Kal will hold on to his stuff. He'll take a spot in the middle, as befitting his noble status. He should be surrounded by an entourage, after all.

[Joe]

Streko will stay behind Kal. Also, he has no problem holding food. Rope on the other hand....well...ok...rope is fine too.

[Jeff]

Sept 8, 2014 12:20:01 GMT -4 Brian said:

Condign describes Major Krez.

As in superficially (basic appearance, etc.) or more thoroughly (fangs, undead identity, etc.)?

[Brian]

More thoroughly. Particularly the fangs and other undead markings. I'm trying to 1) find out if it was Krez, or course, or another vampire, and 2) to let this guy know that others have been in the same situation, to try and set him at ease some. If that requires a Diplomacy check, let me know.

[Brian]

Dave B wrote: Shorak, having already opened the shop door, smiles at Condign. "Already got it."

Oops. Sorry, Dave. I missed that one.

[Dave B.]

Sept 18, 2014 7:36:21 GMT -4 Brian said:

Dave B wrote: Shorak, having already opened the shop door, smiles at Condign. "Already got it."

Oops. Sorry, Dave. I missed that one.

No worries, Brian. It gave a bit more to post.

[Jeff]

At this point I need to wait for Mike, as Belarin has engaged him directly.

Mike, your last post was a week ago. Are you all right? Are you still with us?

[Mike]

Yes, I'm still here. I don't check in every single day, but I'm reading every few days.

I've been working on a response to Ken, it'll be up later.

If not being able to post every day is a problem, let me know.

[Jeff]

Sept 19, 2014 0:35:44 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin barks a laugh. "Oh, well, there were the mysterious people whom Shorak, Adamant, and I battled!" he says with wry amusement. "Now, THAT was a fun fight, not all like that messy business last night. And as for our 'necromancer friends' - Ha! - I've no idea what Thestra is offering to bring to the discussion. Let's find out!" He leads the way toward the indicated entrance to Delera's Watch.

Sept 20, 2014 23:35:27 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Sept 18, 2014 23:04:13 GMT -4 Joe said:

[Streko] turns to Condign, then to Adamant. "Seeing my fellow Halflings here in this strange place has allowed me to feel some of you must feel. The aloneness separating you. I shall attempt to never take such separateness for granted again, my friends."

"Ah, you shouldn't worry on my account," Adamant bends down to gently place a hand on Streko's shoulder, "as long as my strange friends are about I am content to also be strange and in strange places."

When Streko mentions his sister, Adamant adds, "I would like to speak to Varna again. I feel I let her down back in Sharn. I may not have trusted her friends but I should have trusted her. "

As the figure approaches the group Adamant notices his friends reactions. "Friends, let us not assume this creature is hostile. We are looking for help, we should appear friendly."

Guys, I really like and appreciate your occasional links like this. I'm glad it's been helpful when I've done that, and I find it gives greater gravity to your words when you do, as well. It's also super-help for memory-inducing, especially for folks like Darren.

[Darren]

Amen.

Also, who are you people?

[Jeff]

Although, Dave, I'm not sure where that latest link of yours is meant to lead.

[Ken]

It's true - the rest of us don't have access to the private thread with Adamant & Varna's torrid, unspeakable romance.

[Dave B.]

Adamant, you naughty boy.

[Dave W.]

Sept 21, 2014 14:03:45 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Although, Dave, I'm not sure where that latest link of yours is meant to lead.

I think I fixed the link. Let me know if it still leads nowhere...

[Dave W.]

Sept 21, 2014 19:30:13 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Adamant, you naughty boy.

Well a warforged doesn't kiss and tell... Though it would make a juicy letter in that famous warforged porn magazine Big Bolts....

[Mike]

I wrote my post last night and this morning, before Jeff posted the map. I didn't have a chance to post it until a little while ago.

Sigh. Let me try and edit accordingly.

EDIT: Updated.