Chapter 13: Q&A / Discussions

[Darren]

Ummm....dumb question. Is there a mechanism for opening the door on our side? I don't recall you saying and I couldn't find it.

[Darren]

Jun 6, 2017 16:57:11 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Jun 6, 2017 16:43:09 GMT -4 Darren said:

Good for a one hour rest. Jeff, remind me how the whole hit dice thing works? Kal can basically roll to heal as many dice as his hit dice total, right?

Right. And you guys, I'm pretty sure, have full hit dice available.

A character can spend one or more Hit Dice at the end of a short rest, up to the character’s maximum number of Hit Dice, which is equal to the character’s level. For each Hit Die spent in this way, the player rolls the die and adds the character’s Constitution modifier to it. The character regains hit points equal  to the total. The player can decide to spend an additional Hit Die after each roll.

You just just roll a die at a time, if you want, and then stop when you've expended enough. Just cite the result of your rolls and tell me how many hit dice you spent, and I'll process it.

You guys can go ahead and do your rolls—you won't get interrupted in one hour's time, but the umber hulk will return before it's up (basic interaction doesn't spoil the short rest) and possibly other developments you can consider before deciding whether you do more than this. You'll see.

Thanks. Kal uses 5 Hit Dice. Rolls are 6, 5, 6, 6, 6. Holy crap! What's up with the dice roller suddenly being so generous? Kal should be up to 49 HP.

EDIT: I see Brian added his Constitution modifier to the rolls. Was I supposed to do that? If so, Kal would get another 5 HP, putting him at 53 (his max).

[Brian]

Yes, you add the CON modifier to the rolls.

Even though he burned through his hit die, Condign is five shy of full hit points and has all his superiority die back.

[Dave B.]

As usual, the Rogue is practically unscathed.

[Jeff]

Jun 6, 2017 17:40:02 GMT -4 Darren said:

Ummm....dumb question. Is there a mechanism for opening the door on our side? I don't recall you saying and I couldn't find it.

There was no mechanism, or even a handle. Placing that medal ion into the slot was all that triggered the opening.

[Darren]

Jun 7, 2017 9:24:03 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Jun 6, 2017 17:40:02 GMT -4 Darren said:

Ummm....dumb question. Is there a mechanism for opening the door on our side? I don't recall you saying and I couldn't find it.

There was no mechanism, or even a handle. Placing that medal ion into the slot was all that triggered the opening.

Right. Sorry. What I meant was is there a spot for the medallion on OUR side of the door, or only on the other side?

[Jeff]

Ahh. The answer to that is here. The Search menu option at the top left is a lifesaver.

[Darren]

Jun 7, 2017 10:07:37 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Ahh. The answer to that is here. The Search menu option at the top left is a lifesaver.

Thanks. I did look, but for some reason I couldn't find it. Even when I re-read that post, I had to read it twice before I saw it. Stupid brain.

[Brian]

Jun 8, 2017 10:48:07 GMT -4 Jeff said:

The cap on one end comes off easily. Inside the case, Belarin finds two things: a scroll (the enchantment aura he detected) and a small blue gemstone (divination aura) the size of his thumb. No, it's red. No, purple. Apparently it keeps changing hues every few seconds, though it does not glow. He also finds the gem to be strangely adhesive without being sticky. It clings to his finger like a magnet but with effort he can pull it free.

The scroll itself resembles a spell scroll, but it's going to take some serious examination to make sense of it. He can see an arcane phrase at the bottom that's much more readable—in fact, the pronunciation is so clear he thinks anyone could read it, and the phrase seems like the trigger for whatever the spell itself is. Learning more about the gemstone would take much more time—an hour or so, for those magic-sensitive, to even guess. But Belarin's first impression is that it's meant to be adhered to something on your person.

A successful Arcana check is needed to try to assess or identify the spell—so go for it!

This scroll will work like a Scroll of Protection in that anyone—even non-spellcasters—can use it, even if they don't understand what it can do.

Jeff, can any character make that Arcana check?

[Jeff]

If someone takes it out of Belarin's hand or he gives it over to be looked at by someone else, sure. But not from him standing there and looking at it by himself. I targeted Belarin because Kal specifically didn't look at it and handed it over to him alone.

[Brian]

I understood why you singled out Belarin.

I just wanted to know if anyone else could try if Belarin's check fails.

I will wait and see....

[Jeff]

Almost always, yes. No matter the result of anyone's roll with such things, I generally filter according to any given character's experience and background—so if both Condign and Belarin got a 20 on an Arcana check, I will sometimes give Belarin a bit more info than Condign just because he's a magic-user, but if the result pertained, for example, to devils or fiendish things, then I'd probably give Condign more info.

[Ken]

Can Belarin sense whether the gem needs to be linked to the person who reads the scroll, or does it appear to have a discrete function?

[Dave W.]

Jun 8, 2017 10:59:50 GMT -4 Brian said:

"Our friend, Adamant, is in dire need. For me, this need exceeds my desire to free the sphinx. When we move, I hope we act in an effort to save our friend, more so than anything else. We have become more than friends: we have become family. I would guess that we are all dear to one another. That dearness will give us the drive to succeed, as it did by allowing us to continue on when the only thing we desire is more rest. What we are about to do, we do for Adamant. He may not be able to perceive what we do, but I feel, in his more human aspect, he understands we will not abandon him. May we take strength and determination from our friend."

Condign gets a warm feeling inside that let's him know that wherever Adamant is, he does not feel abandoned...

We've come a long way since this.

[Brian]

Yeah, I felt Condign needed a serious character flaw to work through, and Adamant's appearance fit perfectly. It's been great having Condign's prejudice proven baseless and...well...ignoble.

[Jeff]

Jun 8, 2017 12:50:10 GMT -4 Ken said:

Can Belarin sense whether the gem needs to be linked to the person who reads the scroll, or does it appear to have a discrete function?

Nothing in the scroll suggests a link but to guess a connection from the gem's side of things, he'd need to take some time. The fact that it has its own school of magic, at least, means they're probably not a pair. It's not impossible, though.

[Jeff]

Jun 8, 2017 10:59:50 GMT -4 Brian said:

"If you have a place to conceal him," Condign says to Aven, "then we would be open to your idea. However, it cannot be in this chamber. Once we leave, we will not return. And we also need to get Adamant into the other chamber quickly. Let us know your thoughts." The tiefling turns his attention to Kal. "It is a good plan, though if possible, I will not kill. Any confusion we can inflict on the situation will help. I will not be of help there: I am still too fatigued to gather enough energy to summon darkness. But we must decide soon, and we must act quickly." His expression grows somber. "Our friend, Adamant, is in dire need. For me, this need exceeds my desire to free the sphinx. When we move, I hope we act in an effort to save our friend, more so than anything else. We have become more than friends: we have become family. I would guess that we are all dear to one another. That dearness will give us the drive to succeed, as it did by allowing us to continue on when the only thing we desire is more rest. What we are about to do, we do for Adamant. He may not be able to perceive what we do, but I feel, in his more human aspect, he understands we will not abandon him. May we take strength and determination from our friend."

_________________________________________________

Condign uses his Inspiring Leader feat. Belarin, Kalarian, Streko, Shorak, Aven, and Condign each gain 12 temporary hit points.

EDIT: I removed a comment to Belarin because Ken had posted while I was writing, and it ended up redundant.

I'll process the temp hit points momentarily.

So technically, Condign's speech above is more of a summary, the focal point for his whole pep talk. He'll be saying more than this (but you don't have to write it all up), because this feat actually requires that you spend a full 10 minutes inspiring your companions.

[Brian]

It took me ten minutes to write, edit, rewrite, reedit, and finalize that post. Shouldn't that count.

[Jeff]

No!

Jun 8, 2017 10:48:07 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Learning more about the gemstone would take much more time—an hour or so, for those magic-sensitive, to even guess. But Belarin's first impression is that it's meant to be adhered to something on your person.

Jun 9, 2017 9:41:27 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal will also study the gem and see if he can learn anything.

Arcana check is a 17.

Nothing more than what Belarin has guessed. As above, you have to take a short rest to try to learn more about a magic item. So, another hour.

[Darren]

Sorry. I misunderstood your response to Brian above, I guess.

[Jeff]

Jun 12, 2017 10:02:28 GMT -4 Brian said:

Condign moves one square northwest. He readies an attack should one of the Stormguards comes in reach.

Since I don't think there was a party consensus on this, when any of you do make an attack against any guards, do state whether it's a lethal attack or not.

[Jeff]

Jun 12, 2017 11:44:06 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal will use Prestidigitation to create as much sparks and noise as he can between Condign and the guards in an effort to startle and confuse them.

Just remember this cantrip has a range of 10 feet, so you're pretty much making things like sparks happen at ten feet from Kal at the furthest. And that although you can make them snapping sparks with some sound, they're not going to be of the same volume as the audio produced by Minor Illusion.

[Darren]

A) Totally fine.
B) Can be use both at the same time?

[Jeff]

Yes, but each has to be cast in turn (a separate action). So while we're not in rounds yet, we're about to be, I'm still accounting for basic amount of time passing.

[Darren]

Okay. The priority is Prestidigitation. If he can do both, great. If not, just that will be fine. Thanks!

[Jeff]

Jun 14, 2017 15:22:47 GMT -4 Joe said:

Cloak of Shadows is under CHANNEL DIVINITY. Is that correct? So, Streko was going to "do his best to remain cloaked in shadows until the channeling" was complete. Nothing about that comment implies a new action...at least, not from my standpoint. It tells me that, until such time as his channeling of Olladra's gift to cloak him in shadows is done, he will to continue to do his best to remain in the shadows and make it more difficult for him to be noticed. At no time was the idea of taking another action, at least until his next turn, considered, nor mentioned. I'm not clear on the confusion. Perhaps my post was muddled? Obviously, it was not as clear as it could have been. Hope this helps.

This might seem like semantics, but it's just about clarity. If in your in-character text, you say...

Streko readies himself to attack with Therendor as the guards get close.

...but don't provide some out-of-character mechanical clarification (the text in pink), you're giving me extra work to either interpret, guess, or go back and ask for clarity. Which means more waiting. Because the above could mean nothing more than Streko will take the Dodge action, meaning he's going on the defense as he waits for the guards to come close. OR it could mean he's literally taking the Ready action (i.e. holding a specific action set against a triggering action), but that also requires you to state what the readied action will be (Attack?) and what the trigger is (when the first soldier comes within his reach?).

Probably the next best example is if Ken posted something similar:

Belarin moves into the shadows, refraining from any attacks that might give him away, hoping to go unseen.

That could mean nothing more than he'll move through an area that has shadows, or it could—maybe?—be referring to his actual ability called One with Shadows, which I would expect him to specify in the out-of-character text. This is an economy of action matter.

Obviously, in-character Streko wouldn't call it "Channel Divinity: Cloak of Shadows" so I don't expect those words in the main text, but saying what it is in the out-of-character text dissolves any ambiguity, and that's all I'm asking for. This all goes back to my asking for some help.

[Joe]

Copy. I'm just in a real pissy mood and feel like I'm being called out all the time. Just ignore me. I DO get what you're saying Jeff. No worries.

[Jeff]

I try to nip these things in the bud (and usually fail), but I keep trying. I have to call it out or it continues, or gets worse. This game's been going for years, obviously, and trends happen. And by the way, I don't call anyone out on this sort of thing more than Darren. Yup, even my old college bud is gonna hear it from me, because he's a lazy bastard. And you can quote me on that.

[Darren]

Jun 15, 2017 8:53:43 GMT -4 Jeff said:

I try to nip these things in the bud (and usually fail), but I keep trying. I have to call it out or it continues, or gets worse. This game's been going for years, obviously, and trends happen. And by the way, I don't call anyone out on this sort of thing more than Darren. Yup, even my old college bud is gonna hear it from me, because he's a lazy bastard. And you can quote me on that.

I'd respond to this, but it requires so much effort....

[Dave B.]

Hey Jeff, I'm not seeing Shorak on the map. Is he sharing the same space as Streko?