What are you talking about now? (OOC)

[Doombot]

Power came back on sometime last night; discovered that when I shut the generator off before bed and flipped the main back on. So for now, all is well. I just need to get the house cleaned up so it stops stinking of wet dog. Humidity sucks.

[LightBringer]

Glad to hear that things are well. :)

Humidity!? What is this humidity you speak of? :D

[LadyGlutter]

Yeah, I don't know what dry air feels like myself.

I'm very glad you're doing okay. Power being off that long is a pain. I hope you didn't lose too much food.

Relatedly, I went to lunch today with a girl who is still homeless from April's storms, because there is nothing for rent. Her apartments were condemned a week after everything happened, and too many people beat her to the house search. Absolutely sucks.

[Chris Chandler]

It's really good to know that you are safe and sound, Doom.

[Doombot]

I appreciate everyone's well wishes. We didn't lose any food thanks to our awesome generator, nor did our basement get the least bit soupy. So overall, it was really more of an inconvenience than anything else. I shouldn't complain too much, given the plight of those who are really suffering from storms, like the girl LG mentioned.

[LadyGlutter]

Alright, silly question time. We haven't rested any, have we? I'm still trying to keep track of spells and abilities I've expended from back in the desert, right? I think I'm fresh out of protection from evil, for example, but I want to make sure that I'm not forgetting a rest break that was long enough to recharge.

[Chris Chandler]

That's right. You haven't given yourselves the opportunity to take a rest since you arrived in town, much less since you went into the house.

[LadyGlutter]

((For someone who can track a hawk on a cloudy day etc., etc., snark snark...))

You never said this was a Princess Bride roleplaying game. Also, Malak is not frilly enough to be Humperdink. Just sayin'.

[Chris Chandler]

Totally seeing Malak in a maroon doublet now, with extra long sleeves.

[MadDogMaddux]

I would not say such things if I were you!!!!!!

[LightBringer]

Sorry about the delay guys. One of our servers went down at work and it's been pretty crazy since last Monday.

[Doombot]

Whereabouts do you want the AMF? Since it's only 20 ft in diameter (and I'm assuming the chamber is fairly large), I can probably be a little selective.

[MadDogMaddux]

Either the coals or the cypress cone, maybe? I dunno this is more curiosity than a cogent idea

[Doombot]

Coals sounds good. I dunno if it'll do anything either, but on the offhand chance the tree is helpful, I don't want to pull a Charlie Brown and ruin it.

[MadDogMaddux]

Yeah, that's the question, isn't it? We know that both magic and evil are very present, and we know that it's unnatural for the tree to grow that quickly....but that's all we know.

[Doombot]

Vet School classes start Aug. 29th this year. I will be attending.

[LadyGlutter]

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris Chandler]

Oh, thank goodness! That is great news! Where?

[Doombot]

Michigan State University. I remain a loyal Spartan!

[MadDogMaddux]

Wooo! Congrats man!

[Chris Chandler]

That's awesome!

[LightBringer]

Cool beans. I'm glad all that worked out.

[Doombot]

Thanks everyone!

[MadDogMaddux]

Checking in from Gen Con. Any of you guys gonna be here?

[LadyGlutter]

Not us. Might make it to DragonCon in Atlanta, though.

[Chris Chandler]

Man, I've always wanted to go to Gen Con. Ah well. I hope that you have fun!

[Doombot]

Will try to post up this afternoon after work.

[MadDogMaddux]

Definitely had a good time. Maybe next year, Chris.

[Doombot]

Well, the first week of vet school is done, and just in time! Tonight was the first game of the season for the ole' Green and White! And although we won (28-6), we played poorly, and Coach D is disappointed. We've got a tough, tough schedule ahead, and we're going to need to buckle down if we want anything like a repeat of last year (hopefully without getting disemboweled by The Tide). Go Green!

[LightBringer]

Sounds like a busy week. Congrats on the 'W'. It's only the first week I'm sure they'll pull it together.

[Chris Chandler]

Yeah, good job Spartans!. Sorry I've been slacking this past bit. Lemme post right now.

[LadyGlutter]

I apologize for not posting sooner. I was waiting for C to answer exactly about Scratch and saw MDM's post as the last one. I didn't realize it was a new one. Oops. I'll do better, too.

As far as Scratch goes, Mizuki heard her react mentally, but she didn't relay it at the time. The reason was not really to keep anyone from knowing - Mizuki wasn't trying to be secretive - but because we were mid-battle. Pretty much, the rest of you were hurt so I figured it stood to reason so was Scratch and that announcing "my dragon is crying" would be a distraction.

[LadyGlutter]

So - my hard drive crashed on my computer, and I lost my bookmarks and my reminder to check ORP. Turns out I was relying on those pretty heavily. Bonus, I had forgotten my password. I'm back now.

[Doombot]

Don't feel bad -- I haven't been posting that much either. Granted, I've been trying to keep up with an exam schedule that hates me, but still. Also, Go Green!

[Chris Chandler]

Hey, the Spartans are doing great!

Also, I must say sorry that LG and I have been not around as much. On top of her HD crashing, we also put our hats into National Novel Writing Month. I finished an hour ago, and AND WON. One novel in one month!!!

[MadDogMaddux]

What exactly is the criteria for winning? I've got another buddy who did as well.


And congrats!

[MadDogMaddux]

Ok, Dale, THAT is funny. Somehow I missed Omni curbing her usual behaviour, but was ready and willing to roll with what we expected.

I imagine LG and Doom were primarily interpreting your post through my response. So solly!

[Doombot]

Yeah, MDM has the right of it: I pretty mu interpreted Omni's actions through his. I blame my inability to focus on stuff this close to the end of the semester.

And hell yeah! Spartans are doing awesome! I'm stoked to take a football study break tomorrow night and cheer the Spartans on, hopefully to victory. I doubt it will equal the last time we played Wisco -- that game was just too epic. Probably the best football I've ever seen. Ever. Go Green!

[Chris Chandler]

You have to have 50k words within the 30 days. You can't have started prior, but you can outline and whatnot to prepare. I went cold, and managed start, middle, end, and characters that actually made sense. It needs a lot of fixing, though.

[LightBringer]

Lol, no problem. I figured I'd just give y'all the ol' shake and bake. Glad to see it still works. :P

I'm good to go with having Omni just go ahead and go in though. She's not really buying that there's a dragon in here, but we'll find out I guess.

[MadDogMaddux]

I'm gearing up to run our gaming group through Red Hand of Doom while our current GM takes a break from running our current campaign.

We've got 3 players and me, and since it's an out-of-the-box campaign, I'm bringing a PC as well - the original Malak I wrote for the Red Hand of Doom but never got to play.


Party makeup is as follows.

Malak - Ranger/Scout
Dirk - Focused Necromancer Wizard
Rip - Swashbuckler/Rogue
Triana - Noble1/Barbarian 4, posessor of a Cursed Axe (see below)

Notice anything missing? A healer maybe? So far the party's total healing includes Malak's belt of healing, and Rip's ability to use Cure wands via UMD.

Red Hand adds a really nice healing item after the end of the initial leg (Vraath Keep if you're familiar) - but I'm wondering if I need to create a means to help keep the party alive in addition.

Of note, due to the Axe of Tordag, no cleric would survive in the party.



The Axe of Tordag: 9800 GP
+1 Large Greataxe
INT: 14 WIS: 10 CHA: 14
Empathy, no Speech (I only want you RPing Tordag when he's in full posession)
Special Powers: Cast Burning Rage 3/day (PHB II 105); Cast Blade of Blood (PHB II 103) - both at Character HD Caster Level
EGO: 17
Curse:

One Step Alignment Shift towards CN
Dominance: +10 to Item Ego
As an Immediate Action applies Polymorph (per PHB)* on the wielder, polymorphing the wielder into the image of Tordag - a Male Desert Orc (UA p13). This effect takes place whenever the wielder enters a Barbarian Rage, or any time Tordag takes posession of the wielder per Ego contest.
Anytime the wielder enters a Rage, Tordag benefits from the WILL save bonus, not the wielder. If Tordag is not in posession, the wielder gains no WILL Bonus.
Tordag will attempt to take over the Wielder's body equal to a number of times per day that the wielder has the capacity to Rage.
The wielder must constantly in physical contact with the weapon, suffering 1 point of Constitution Damage for every day of separation - until death. Once the wielder and the axe are reunited, the Constitution Damage can be healed with a Remove Curse and Restoration Spell. Tordag bonds with one user until that user's death. Only a Miracle spell can safely break the hold Tordag holds over its wielder.
While a thrall of the axe, the wielder can only progress in levels as a Barbarian.
Over the centuries, Tordag has become embittered at the gods for allowing him to be entrapped within this axe for so long. As a result he hates the gods, and seeks to exact his vengeance on any servant of any deity. Upon encountering a cleric of ANY deity, Tordag will attempt to posess the axe's wielder specifically to attack the cleric.






Thoughts on the Axe? I took the player's idea and changed it up a bit - initially it was a +2 Elfbane axe that gave +2 to STR, +1 to CON, an extra daily rage, had an ego of 8, and had similar addiction/binding properties.


Thoughts on the Axe's price? I noticed that most cursed items cost LESS than their non-cursed opposite, and felt that the curses were enough to knock it down below 10K, which is Starting Gold for this campaign.


Also, note on the Polymorph - in this instance I'm treating it as simply applying the Desert Orc (Unearthed Arcana) race as a template over the existing character.

[LightBringer]

The axe sounds fine, as far as abilities and price.

As far as the healing goes, that's the players responsibility. It's my belief that if you're in a group with no natural healer don't do stupid crap. If they don't bring extra potions, and you don't feel like keeping them supplied with potions they had best use caution. It is possible to go through a dungeon in a manner other than hack and slash. Just be fair about, but also tough about it.

[MadDogMaddux]

Well, the hobgoblins they're fighting are all pretty well equipped. So far they've scored enough CLW potions for everyone in the party to carry 5 - that should hold them in good stead.

[LightBringer]

Sounds good. What's going to be fun is if they run low, who shares? Nothing like limited resources to get the juices flowing. lol

[MadDogMaddux]

This is a pretty greater-good oriented group of players, and the most selfish alignment we have is LN. So I'm nottoo worried about that. :P

But they WILL bitch about it. ;)

[Doombot]

If you haven't yet, take a look at the RHoD game that Mercutio was/is running. We don't have much of a healer in that group, although to be fair, we do have a larger than average party with pretty stacked stats.

[MadDogMaddux]

Yeah, our parth are all 28 build point, but pretty well optimized. We have the original version of Malak (non-werebear), a swash-rogue, a barbarian who turns into an orc while raging, and a necromancer. Longterm, I'm counting on having plenty of undead to soak up damage.

[MadDogMaddux]

WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Oklahoma State!!!!!! National Champions!!!!!!!!

[MadDogMaddux]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/ap/

Well, I was hoping. Alas! :P

[Doombot]

There's always next year. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a Big 12 Team take the Title game away from the SEC (I really want the Big Ten to take it, but that dream is still a ways away).

Speaking of Big Ten vs. SEC - season opener for 'Bama next year is against U-M. I'm still torn between supporting my conference and cheering for Michigan, or laughing with profound glee as The Tide dismembers that other school from down the road. You know what, they stole our BCS bid. Roll Tide!

[Chris Chandler]

I was wondering about that. There are certain SEC teams that I'm fine with and will usually root for over an out-of-conference team, but then there's teams like Tennessee, and I just don't have time for them. I've never known a Spartan to actually cheer for the Wolverines. It will be a good game though.

[Doombot]

I was on the fence for the Sugar Bowl, until I saw some Wolverines with a sign that said "Spartan Tears Taste Like Sugar." I became an instant VT fan when I saw that. Their new coach is turning the program around in a hurry, but I'm optimistic that we still have a few more years of calling them "Little Sister" without cringing.

[LightBringer]

Does anyone else get chills thinking about an obviously ancient dragon calling a demi-lich young man? :worry:

[MadDogMaddux]

Hehe. I was wondering about that, too.

Or more to the point, I was wondering who she was talking about. I can't even remember if we faced a lich or not, much less a young man. :P

[LadyGlutter]

Yeah... this little exchange just reminded me why we haven't slept. I've been wondering about that, as our group could certainly do with the recharge, but talking to this lovely lady reminded me that we've got a phylactery (or something like that) to destroy.

[Doombot]

Sorry about the weak and infrequent posts, folks. My exam schedule is pretty punishing (1-2 per week, every week), and I usually forget to check in as often as I should. I'll do my best to drop in at least once every few days.

[Chris Chandler]

Thanks for checking in, Doom! I am sure that things are busy for you. Thanks for sticking to it.

[LadyGlutter]

Do we need to take a hiatus?

[MadDogMaddux]

Whyzat?

[Chris Chandler]

Actually , I was wondering the same thing. The pace has really slowed down, and I'm still not seeing a lot of engagement from everyone. I know that all our our schedules are very tight right now. If there's something that needs to be done, please let me know.

[MadDogMaddux]

Myself, I'm fine - it's a bit of work for me to REMEMBER what all has happened in the past - gamewise - but I still pretty much check in daily.

[Chris Chandler]

That's good! I'm glad that you are checking daily for updates. I try to update as often as I can, depending on how the group's reacting to the events in the active thread. However, I have to wonder why folks haven't posted right now, because there's a dragon looking over two characters (called out in the post) asking for a response, and that was established over a week ago. I've gotten that Doom is hip deep in Vet school, so he understandably shows up when he can. In fact, I'll send him a note to check up on him.

This current action isn't something that I'd just finesse, for a number of reasons, least of which is that this group hasn't shown itself to be particularly cohesive, and certainly not close to the realm where one member can speak for other members. It's like an all-star team, where, sure, you're all playing together right now, but there isn't any history between the group, and so the team-play aspect is a bit skewed (in an interesting way). There's still a lot of (understandable) distrust. Second, usually when a dragon asks a character a question, they expect an answer, not a deferment.

[MadDogMaddux]

Ah! Yes, I have felt that of late Malak has taken the lead over Aros a fair bit, so I thought I'd wait until Doom had a chance to post before I did. Shoulda mentioned that here, I suppose. :S My appologies.

Would you like me to just go ahead?

[Chris Chandler]

I think it's fine to post now. Thanks!

[LadyGlutter]

Yeah, that's essentially why I was wondering if we needed to take a hiatus.

[MadDogMaddux]

Y'know - despite ALL this time I've had to form Malak's personality...he still ends up a lot more guarded and suspicious than I had originally envisioned him. :P

[Doombot]

FYI: Cardio exam today? NAILED IT. Possibly the best I've done to date.

[Doombot]

Just checked: best I've done on an exam (not a quiz or a project) all semester. Maybe last semester too; I don't have that data saved.

[MadDogMaddux]

Make sure you delete all your records before next semester, so you can say the same thing sometime around December. ;)

[Doombot]

I'll have to: I got a 97% on my last parasitology exam. Kinda makes up for the anatomy exam that I failed.

Eight more days...

[MadDogMaddux]

Pity the anatomy exam you failed was pertaining to your lady....

[Doombot]

Hey-O!

When I tell her you said she was a cow, she's going to be pissssed...

My pharm exam on friday went ok; I passed it by one question (which was worse than I expected), but I was carrying a 4.0 in that class until then, so I'm still in good shape. Parasitology is monday, Physiology is tuesday, Anatomy lab and lecture exams are thursday, and Diagnostic Imaging is Friday (with the option to take it wednesday).

Right now, though, it's Fuck This Shit o'clock. I'm off to bed.

[LightBringer]

Lol. Well I don't think you'll get a chance to read this with that schedule, but Good Luck! Give em hell.

[Doombot]

So just FYI, as of about 30 hours ago, I am now married. It's pretty rad, although to be honest it's not much different than it was before (except that at all the wine-tasting events we go to, people are giving us free champagne). Just thought you guys might like to know.

[MadDogMaddux]

Congratulations, bub!!!


Why are we not all on facebook?

[Chris Chandler]

That is AWESOME!