[Hourglass of Zihaja D&D 4e] Heroes on a Sea of Swords OOC II

[Grey_Wolf_c]

As usual, I'm not going to post just to relay other people's words, so everyone can assume Amirah relayed Alvah's words without me having to post it. I'll still do some relaying occasionally (when I'm posting for other reasons), but posting just to restate what someone else said would be boring for everyone involved.

Thus, you guys can just say "With Amirah's help, I silently tell the others..." and that should cover our bases.

Unless the DM objects, of course.

I do wonder what we look like as a group when standing around, everyone looking at Amirah and completely silent :D Somehow is always the magic object I least expect that turns out to be the most useful.

Grey Wolf

[Dekkah]

I expected as such Grey.... If I thought you'D not do it, I'd sent you a PM and would not have put it so everyone could see it.

[Shadow_Elf]

Alright, the IC post is up, complete with some nifty skill DCs. And no, I did not make a mistake with the spoilers, in case any were wondering; there is a potential History check in there, but you've gotta personally get the Nature 20 check to even be allowed to roll the History.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

Alright, the IC post is up, complete with some nifty skill DCs. And no, I did not make a mistake with the spoilers, in case any were wondering; there is a potential History check in there, but you've gotta personally get the Nature 20 check to even be allowed to roll the History.

I better roll the history check too, then, just in case. Good thing you told us.

So, does Figment get her own checks? I'll roll just in case. Perception, at least, is explicitly mentioned, so that one at the very least she does have. And technically, she should have the others (modifiers are low enough it is unlikely to make a difference, specially in history. Int 2 is not conductive to knowledge, it seems)

Amirah
Nature - (1d20+18)[32]
Perception - (1d20+18)[19]
History - (1d20+9)[22]

Figment
Nature - (1d20+10)[28]
Perception - (1d20+20)[28]
History - (1d20+3)[5]

Grey Wolf

[Shadow_Elf]

Figment can make checks, but she can't really convey the information to Amirah, can she? On this particular perception check, the knowledge is not really something Figment would process (you're not being ambushed or something, she could notice that, the check is to notice a visual detail).

EDIT: Also, going to rule that in addition to not being able to use Religion, History or Arcana at all, Figment cannot use Nature or Dungeoneering for monster knowledge checks, unless it is a Natural Beast (dragons are Natural Magical Beasts).

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

Figment can make checks, but she can't really convey the information to Amirah, can she? On this particular perception check, the knowledge is not really something Figment would process (you're not being ambushed or something, she could notice that, the check is to notice a visual detail).

She and Amirah can talk to one another perfectly: Amirah can speak her particular fey language (that's the level 10 feature of the feywild pet: Level 10 Feature: You can communicate normally with your fey beast companion and other creatures of the same kind.), so if she notices something is off, she could at least communicate it effectively. Whether she notices whatever it is in that spoiler or not is, of course, up to you. But communication isn't the limiting factor.

By the way, I did copy-paste all the rules of the feywild pets into the description field at the bottom of Figment's char sheet, in case you want to check them out.

Grey Wolf

[Shadow_Elf]

Eh, I'll say that Figment notes it, and Amirah can interpret. If you've got a common language and the telepathy, you've got free transfer of knowledge. Go ahead and read the Perception spoiler.

[Chambers]

Nature (1d20+9)[15]
History (1d20+10)[16]
Perception (1d20+9)[15]

Nice.

[Scylfing]

Theyres not her strong suits, but may as well roll:

Nature: (1d20+7)[8]
History: (1d20+13)[28]
Perception: (1d20+7)[22]

[Grey_Wolf_c]

By the way, you can all assume that Amirah passes along Figment's perception of the ring-and-chain.

Hopefully that massive wall of text of mine is not too boring to read, and it is worthy of the 38 diplomacy roll.

GW

[Scylfing]

Well I enjoyed it.

I'm debating whether or not Medinah would consent to revealing their purpose here. Rimefang would likely support our pirate-hunting, but I'm not sure how she feels about the Admajai or people exploring their ruins in search of powerful magic.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Scylfing

I'm debating whether or not Medinah would consent to revealing their purpose here. Rimefang would likely support our pirate-hunting, but I'm not sure how she feels about the Admajai or people exploring their ruins in search of powerful magic.

I'd say wait until we see her offer. If we are really searching for the magical equivalent of the atomic bomb, it would be morally suspect enough that a Good dragon might prefer not to let some random humans humanoids get their greedy little hands on it. Not to mention that we are not a threat to her now, but we would be with that ritual.

Edit: damn it, I keep forgetting that there is less than 50% actual human blood in this party.

Grey Wolf

[Scylfing]

Yeah that was my thought as well. If it comes to it, maybe we can make up a story about how we're looking for evidence of Medinah's creator, which seems as reasonable an explanation as any for why we'd want to explore an Admajai ruin.

And I think we're actually even slightly below 50 percent native Siraaji humanoid--two half-djinn, a sabi, a living swarm and a living machine, and even Rahman isn't fully organic.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Scylfing

Yeah that was my thought as well. If it comes to it, maybe we can make up a story about how we're looking for evidence of Medinah's creator, which seems as reasonable an explanation as any for why we'd want to explore an Admajai ruin.

Or given Amirah's rather warped perception of reality, she can blabber about having been sent on a quest by her captain!queen without going into the details. No falsehood will be detected because to Amirah the important thing is not the objective, but the fact she is obeying the command to collect stuff.

GW

[Shadow_Elf]

By the way, Rimefang is not "good" persay (though she may be good-leaning). Instead, she is closer to a very strict Lawful Neutral. Too often, honour and honesty are associated with "goodness", when they're really more signs of "lawfulness". Also, no one has even wondered what her "Garden" might be; the irons and Rimefang both mentioned it without even the slightest bit of curiosity being sparked .

Oh, and I don't want you guys to think she's about to nom you over not getting your names. Jalil's diplo check was really high, and she still trusts you, but the name thing is a matter of properness for her, and she'll react negatively if she hasn't got it.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

Oh, and I don't want you guys to think she's about to nom you over not getting your names. Jalil's diplo check was really high, and she still trusts you, but the name thing is a matter of properness for her, and she'll react negatively if she hasn't got it.

On the other hand, names are something of an enigma to a creature made up of a thousand individuals, so hopefully that parry was good enough.

As to the Garden, I missed it, sorry. Capitalizing it makes it sound more like a name of a place and less a description of what her hunting grounds look like.

In any case, I'm done for the day, and the actual diplomats can take over, hopefully.

Grey Wolf

[Scylfing]

I assumed the "garden" was likely made up of petrified people (or frozen, now that we see she's a silver dragon) who crossed her in some way.

[Dekkah]

Nature : (1D20+14)[30]
Perception (1D20+11)[15]

[Chambers]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

By the way, Rimefang is not "good" persay (though she may be good-leaning). Instead, she is closer to a very strict Lawful Neutral. Too often, honour and honesty are associated with "goodness", when they're really more signs of "lawfulness".

That's pretty much Jalil's alignment as well.

[ninja_penguin]

Busy catching up reading right now. I apologize for not posting something yesterday, but my oven's heating element decided to break in a manner that made it set my glove on fire. I'm fine, but I was all crazy paranoid and running around for the rest of the day trying to figure out what just happened and is anything else going to try and explode.

[ninja_penguin]

Oh, also:

"Nature" - (1d20+9)[23]
"Perception" - (1d20+9)[17]

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

EDIT: Also, going to rule that in addition to not being able to use Religion, History or Arcana at all, Figment cannot use Nature or Dungeoneering for monster knowledge checks, unless it is a Natural Beast (dragons are Natural Magical Beasts).

Just saw this.

Can you instead rule that she can only run checks for Fey History and Fey Beasts? Those make far more sense to be in her knowledge base. Admittedly, that requires feywild to exist in Zihaja... if it doesn't, I'm fine with the above rules.

Not sure what check is required for fey beasts, though.

Grey Wolf

[Chambers]

I don't see Jalil as being in charge of the negotiation but rather acting as a spokeswoman. She knows she has the lowest seniority within the Hunters, so she'll go with what the group decides. In her view the rest of you have higher standing with the Captain, and while she feels she has higher standing in society as a whole, she understands that in this group she's not in charge.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Chambers

I don't see Jalil as being in charge of the negotiation but rather acting as a spokeswoman. She knows she has the lowest seniority within the Hunters, so she'll go with what the group decides. In her view the rest of you have higher standing with the Captain, and while she feels she has higher standing in society as a whole, she understands that in this group she's not in charge.

Ah, but since thanks to Amirah we have a quasi-mind group, she can always consult, and then coax the agreed conclusion into polite diplomatic terms.

GW

[Dekkah]

Well I dont say you are in charge per say, but you are the one that run this discussion from the begining...
My post also serve as a way to see if everyone is ok with this outcome or not, instead of having me say yes without regards to other opinion.

EDIT : I might take more control later on dicussion, but right now I am a new member of this group.... I dont know its dynamic yet :).

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Dekkah

My post also serve as a way to see if everyone is ok with this outcome or not, instead of having me say yes without regards to other opinion. :smallsmile

Is there no way to ask for loot? My attempt at getting the dragon to name her price didn't produce any results, and as it is we are walking out of this weakened without anything to show for it except a writ of passage.

Maybe we could at least ask for a tour of the Garden? Sounds like a neat place to visit.

Grey Wolf

[Dekkah]

Well I wouldnt mind some loot myself, but Alvah isnt that kind of person, so he wont pressure for it. You'll still get his support if you ask for some though.

Sadly, my request for her knowledge of the area did pay out, but since she is more a fighter than a sage, I guess that answer my question.

[ninja_penguin]

Well, uh, we may end up running and screaming anyway. Just starting it right now, next to three dragons, seemed like a pretty bad idea.

mumble mumble

[Scylfing]

I'm in agreement that we don't need to risk any unnecessary petrifications. And for my part I think it's okay to part without any treasure as long as her guarantee of safe passage means she'll police the area so there won't be any encounters until we get to the ruin (or until we leave her territory if the ruin's not part of it.)

[Shadow_Elf]

Originally Posted by Grey_Wolf_c

Just saw this.

Can you instead rule that she can only run checks for Fey History and Fey Beasts? Those make far more sense to be in her knowledge base. Admittedly, that requires feywild to exist in Zihaja... if it doesn't, I'm fine with the above rules.

Not sure what check is required for fey beasts, though.

Grey Wolf

The Kamala has but two planes, Siraaj and Najmah. There is no Feywild; fey are instead just creatures affected by magic, such as Displacer beasts, Owlbears, Peri, Sprites, Forest Spirits, etc. Even if there were a Feywild, I wouldn't allow fey history, since there is no reason for a Displacer beast to know, say, why a certain city was founded.

Monster knowledge for fey is Arcana. There's no real reason for Figment to know about other fey beasts, when most of her prey and predators would be natural.

As for the negotiations, she wasn't lying when she said she had no loot to give. Her hoard is not one of treasures.

Additionally, while until now nearly every encounter had some degree of treasure, that is not necessarily the norm. Not every fight that costs the party resources will result in loot.