Chapter 12: Q&A / Discussions

[Jeff]

A stable creature that isn't healed regains 1 hit point after 1d4 hours.

[Darren]

Okay. And about how long did it take to get from the castle to where we are now?

[Brian]

Let's not forget that Branash's emissary is coming. We don't need to run into that problem right now.

[Jeff]

10 minutes or so, I'd say.

[Jeff]

10 minutes or so, I'd say.

[Darren]

Jun 6, 2015 6:48:29 GMT -4 Brian said:

Let's not forget that Branash's emissary is coming. We don't need to run into that problem right now.

One more reason why I think Histra needs to be up and active.

I'm sure we'll get into this in-game, but quickly meta-gaming, our options are find a place inside of the labyrinth that we think is defensible and rest until we can fight again, or risk going to the castle and hopefully rest until we can fight again, or try to find a way out of the labyrinth while we're half-dead. The last one seems unlikely, and the first one seems guaranteed to end up with us in a fight. The second one, maybe, has a chance of success without a fight (although that's probably also not going to happen).

[Dave B.]

I think the safest option is to return to the keep. With or without Adamant is our biggest decision. Either way we need to get back there right away. If Streko has some way to get Histra and Adamant back on their feet, more the better. I think our survival now is very much dependent on Histra.

[Ken]

I don't want to meta-game, so I'll simply raise two questions: Who is essential to us getting out of here, and who is much harder to transport if unconscious?

[Jeff]

Most of this can be tackled in-character and not telepathically meta-game style, you know.

[Jeff]

Everyone gets 4,000 story/quest XP for finding/saving Histra. Yes, even these out of commission. Everyone played a part.

And more is coming. You're all within 1 or 2 thousand away from leveling up. Not too soon to start thinking of class options. I'll let you know what's coming.

[Dave W.]

I'm going to meta game here once... My character is either dead or unconscious so I can't really play it out. But I think the smart guys in the group might realize that we just don't know enough about this place to make a wise choice. So far, the only place that seems even remotely safe is the keep.

Both of those things point to one person... Histra. Histra has the knowledge and the family connections to be useful.

Belarin would seem the second choice cuz he's clever.

Adamant, assuming he can be found and he's not dead, even if revived won't have the hp to be a meaningful fighter for any length of time. Adamant's going to need either a ton of healing or a lot of rest... And again, no one standing has more than a vague idea where he is... Nor if it's safe...

IMHO...

[Dave W.]

Oh, never mind... Should have read the main thread first... Still, good job.

[Dave W.]

Jun 8, 2015 10:42:03 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Belarin is healed 5 hit points and is conscious again. He's also in a great deal of bite-based pain.

Hey, I think (other than, sadly, Syrdan) we're all conscious and in the same place! Wow. Seems like forever since that was true.

Anyway, nicely done all (players and GM)!

[Jeff]

Everyone gains 1,500 XP for reuniting in the Shadowfell!

DING! Kal levels up! The rest of you are right behind.

Darren, we can roll hit points for Kal but he won't get any other benefits from leveling until he gets in a long rest.

[Darren]

Okay. Do you want to let me know what my options are for anything else he gets?

[Brian]

Congrats, Darren! I have to say, you've played Kalarian masterfully during this encounter. That Wall of Flame spell, stacking spell slots, was terrific. Way to go.

[Darren]

Thanks! Sometimes it's helpful, in an encounter like that, to have a guy who can hurt lots of people at once.

Now, when we get into those fights where you guys are surrounding an enemy, that's when I'll have a problem.

[Darren]

Jun 8, 2015 17:30:46 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Histra lets out a sigh. "Yes...the yugoloth. He nearly killed me. I don't know how he was freed. Lord Vessar bound him in this labyrinth years ago. I cannot fathom how Branash would have managed to release him, or why. It would be madness to displease Vessar so directly."

Uh oh....

[Brian]

Jun 8, 2015 18:15:11 GMT -4 Darren said:

Jun 8, 2015 17:30:46 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Histra lets out a sigh. "Yes...the yugoloth. He nearly killed me. I don't know how he was freed. Lord Vessar bound him in this labyrinth years ago. I cannot fathom how Branash would have managed to release him, or why. It would be madness to displease Vessar so directly."

Uh oh....

Hah! I was thinking exactly the same thing. Looks like Belarin is sleeping in a cold bed tonight.

[Dave W.]

I'm wondering how much of Belarin/Histra Adamant can hear...

[Ken]

Right now, only three beings know what happened: Belarin, Adamant, and the yugoloth. He's fine with that. ;-)

And it was for the DAMN DOG.

[Dave B.]

I wonder what Histra will do to Belarin if she ever finds out? Could be very interesting.

[Darren]

Don't blame the dog! It wasn't his fault!

[Dave W.]

Jun 8, 2015 19:02:12 GMT -4 Ken said:

Right now, only three beings know what happened: Belarin, Adamant, and the yugoloth. He's fine with that. ;-)

And it was for the DAMN DOG.

And Syrdan... for completeness...

[Jeff]

It's fun watching a lawful good paladin corroborating a lie....

[Ken]

That's uncalled for. No one has lied. ;-)

[Dave W.]

And so far no one has spoken to him directly about it or related matters... There's too much going on right now... I think Streko giving birth is more interesting to Addy right now

[Darren]

Hey, y'all. Kal is leveling up, and Jeff said it would be okay to seek some opinions on what to do with him. I figured some of you know the options a lot better than I do, so I'm looking for advice.

Currently, Kal can either raise an ability score 2 points, raise two scores 1 point, or take a new feat. I was considering one of the following two feats:

Spell Sniper
Prerequisite: The ability to cast at least one spell
You have learned techniques to enhance your attacks with certain kinds of spells, gaining the following benefits:
• When you cast a spell that requires you to make an attack roll, the spell’s range is doubled.
• Your ranged spell attacks ignore half cover and three-quarters cover.
• You learn one cantrip that requires an attack roll. Choose the cantrip from the bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer,
warlock, or wizard spell list. Your spellcasting ability for this cantrip depends on the spell list you chose from: Charisma for bard, sorcerer, or warlock; Wisdom for cleric or druid; or Intelligence for wizard.

Observant
Quick to notice details of your environment, you gain the following benefits:
• Increase your Intelligence or W isdom score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• If you can see a creature’s mouth while it is speaking a language you understand, you can interpret what it’s
saying by reading its lips.
• You have a +5 bonus to your passive Wisdom (Perception) and passive Intelligence (Investigation) scores.


My inclination was towards Spell Sniper, but the reality is that Kal only has two spells that require ranged attack rolls. Everything else is based off of (primarily) Dexterity saving throws. That said, Kal would get a new cantrip, and there are several good options that do require ranged attack rolls, such as Fire Bolt and Eldritch Blast (sorry, Ken). Something like Fire Bolt would allow Kal to do 2d10 damage to a single creature, something that he's sorely lacking right now, and with Spell Sniper he could cast it up to 240 feet away and wouldn't have to worry about hitting allies.


Kal also gets a new spell, and I'm trying to decide between the following five:

I like the idea of Blight because Kal really doesn't have many spells that can just affect a single creature, and this one does A LOT of damage.

Dimension Door would be cool because I've seen how useful Lightning Shift has been for Kal, and being able to actually teleport would come in handy.

Polymorph is just cool.

Stoneskin could be useful for all of those times when Kal ends up getting surrounded.

Storm Sphere seems to fit in well with Kal's ouvre.


I can put up descriptions of the spells, if needed.

Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated!

[Dave W.]

Yeah, I'm thinking ahead to level 8 (congrats again man!) and as awesome as ability score increases are, feats are just so hard to pass up...

I went back and forth on this a bit. I think Spell Sniper. You get an extra spell and ingoring cover is amazing though it only affects two spells.

Observant is excellent too and has an increase to an attribute. But Charisma is your primary, right? If it bumped your primary I might have gone that way. I could see where Kal might want lip reading though...

The spell is also a hard choice. I guess first, if you do take Spell Sniper, you might look for something that does an attack roll. I don't have access to the book right now so I don't know which ones that might be.

Always been a fan of Polymorph. Dimension Door seems very Kal-ish though.

5e's concentration keyword is another thing to keep in mind. You can't have two spells running that require concentration, I think Stoneskin does for example. So bringing up Stoneskin may limit your casting choices.

Does looking at it from Kal's persepctive help? Does it seem to you he might shy away from Blight (it sounds messy)? Or is he more likely to want to collect all the lightning spells?

Not sure if that actually helps.

[Dave W.]

btw, I'm pretty certain Adamant will pick up Sentinel for his 8th level feat.

Sentinel
You have mastered techniques to take advantage of every drop in any enemy’s guard, gaining the following benefits:
• When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature’s speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn.
• Creatures within 5 feet of you provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach.
• When a creature within 5 feet of you makes an attack against a target other than you (and that target doesn’t have this feat), you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against the attacking creature.

I'm hoping to be a better tank with that... making it harder for bad people to get past me to the good people... or at least make them pay for attacking my friends...