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Post by Wolfgar on Oct 23, 2006 18:56:49 GMT -5
So Kay-Tarn is getting pretty close and I hate to say this but... do we have a plan? I realize there is some chance that Dell will be able to control him using the Circlet but assuming that fails we should figure out how best to defeat him. And if Dell does control him, what then?
Liches have 11 or more hit dice which on average (as if there was ever an average lich) is at least 50 hp. They are resistant to electrical and cold damage and can only be hit by +1 or better weapons. So we will either need to hit him with a lot of fireballs and magic missiles or attempt to melee. He will have the spells of an 18th level magic user so fireballs and magic missiles could easily be negated by him if he is prepared for us. Hopefully the Circlet lets him know only the direction and not the distance. One suggestion might be to send Dell ahead with the lower level characters and then everyone else could attempt to ambush Kay-Tarn as he hunts after Dell. Liches it seems can be held and slowed so our best bet if we can surprise him might be to stop him from doing anything and giving our fighters time to move in. I don't know if liches have to make channeling rolls but with an AC 0, Otto, Raven and Al (does Al have any magic weapons?) should hit him a couple times a round. And hopefully the priests can ward off the some of the other undead with Kay-Tarn while Winthrop and Oaklock take care of the rest.
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Post by Ginger on Oct 23, 2006 20:28:36 GMT -5
To start with, Hugh has a 10% chance to turn a lich. Not great odds, but not nothing. Otto, Raven, Al, Adrienne and Diego can all surround him and start wailing away. If we're buffed up with Prayer, Bless, Negative Plane Protection, and Protection from Evil we should be in pretty good shape. I'd suggest we get close enough either through Fly spells, a few Dimension Doors, or a combination of the two.
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Post by Dell on Oct 23, 2006 20:42:18 GMT -5
Why would we kill him? We're taking him on tour!
If Sterich is being colonized by the Orcs, Ogres, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Bugbears, Kobolds, Giants, and all that... I think leading him on a chase through there will provide endless amusement to us, and pain to our enemies.
If he is a lich, and he's compelled to chase after me for this fancy trinket, there's a good chance that the circlet is his Horcru... Phylactery. His Phylactery. I don't know what that other thing is.
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Post by venger on Oct 23, 2006 21:45:39 GMT -5
He was walking under the Javan River. Little undignified for a powerful lich spellcaster. I was thinking he was one of these, maybe a little worse: (very unpleasant creatures these guys) Skeleton, Warrior Climate/Terrain: Any Frequency: Very rare Organization: Solitary Activity Cycle: Any Diet: Nil ... Damage/Attack: By weapon (+3 to attack roll) Special Attacks: See below Special Defenses: See below Magic Resistance: 90% Size: M (6'-7' tall) Formerly powerful fighters, skeleton warriors are undead lords forced into their states by powerful wizards or evil demigods who trapped their souls in golden circlets. The sole reason that skeleton warriors remain on the Prime Material plane is to search for and recover the circlets that contain their souls. A skeletal warrior appears as a cracked and yellowing skeleton covered with shards of decaying flesh. Its eyes are black holes containing pinpoints of reddish light. It is clad in the blackened armor and rotted trappings it wore in its former life. Skeleton warriors usually fight with two-handed swords, but they can use other weapons as well. Skeleton warriors make all weapon attacks with a +3 bonus to their attack roll; this is an innate ability, the weapon itself is not magical. Only magical weapons affect skeleton warriors. They have a 90% magical resistance. The mere sight of a skeleton warrior causes any creature with fewer than 5 Hit Dice to flee in panic. Skeleton warriors cannot be turned by priests. Habitat/Society: Skeleton warriors are usually found near the areas where they died in their former lives, or where they were buried. A skeleton warrior usually has a sizeable collection of treasure, the remnants of a lifetime of adventure. Since a skeleton warrior is preoccupied with recovering its circlet, protecting its treasure is not a priority.
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Post by Wolfgar on Oct 24, 2006 7:46:21 GMT -5
Dell and Raven seem to be under the impression he is a lich. They are only releasing information on him on a need to know basis. I think the fact that it is a mithril instead of gold circlet indicates his extra power.
I think letting him follow after us at some unknown distance is a bad plan. He is currently only a couple of days away and in the general direction that we are heading so he will be able to make up some extra time. I don't want to be surprised by him or his undead army in the middle of the night. I think taking the fight to him is our best chance.
We can use Run to get close to him and Otto still has a potion of speed if needed.
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Post by Ginger on Oct 24, 2006 9:10:40 GMT -5
There are a lot of assumptions involved in this. First, we believe that the creature following us is a lich. It could be a powerful skeleton warrior, but we just don't know. It's hard for Dell to tell when wearing the circlet, but when he used Clairvoyance to see the area he saw when looking through the creature's eyes, it looked like a lich. But then, since we've seen neither a lich nor a skeleton warrior this is all just speculation.
Next, we're assuming that Kay Tarn is the powerful creature that's linked to the circlet. I don't necessarily believe that's the case. Dell could see stars when viewing from the creature's perspective, which would not be the case if the creature were travelling with the huge undead horde. I'd think that Kay Tarn would be with the horde, but we just don't know.
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Post by Ginger on Oct 24, 2006 9:11:20 GMT -5
We also have the gem which summons an air elemental. He probably wouldn't be expecting that.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 9:25:02 GMT -5
I say we leave him alone. I think we're beginning to develop an understanding. Last time I saw, he was killing Ghouls - Al's got to appreciate that, at least. I think he's starting to like us.
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Post by Ginger on Oct 24, 2006 10:21:11 GMT -5
I think more scrying is needed to figure out what's going on. It's possible that the thing following us has either picked up or lost followers when it passed through Flen. We'll need to check that out.
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Post by venger on Oct 24, 2006 10:30:49 GMT -5
Why is it that you haven't taken this evil circlet to some lawful/good-aligned high priest again?
Scrying and planning and sitting in the rope trick spell is awesome fun...
But how many towns/principalities must fall to the "self-replicating undead hordes" before we actually do something about it?
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Eig
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Post by Eig on Oct 24, 2006 11:22:01 GMT -5
Why is it that you haven't taken this evil circlet to some lawful/good-aligned high priest again? They don't know what it does other than give the beatie knowledge of our location. I see three options: 1) It's a skeleton warrior. In this case, the circlet is useless except to control this guy, and hopefully therefore his horde. I find this situation unlikely, given that: Since skeleton warriors are obsessed with their circlets and are therefore undependable, evil creatures and other undead seldom associate with them. 2) It's a lich. In this case, the circlet probably contains/is its phylactery. Since the Lich will reform while its phylactery is intact, killing the thing would be useless. Given that lichs are at least 18th level spellcasters when they transform into lichs, I find it very unlikely that it can't catch us and eat us all. This also means that the circlet is probably not particularly powerful without the phylactery inside it. 3) It's something else. Given that 1) it has a horde and 2) it hasn't killed us yet, I believe that our so-called friend is actually something else. I really have no idea what this could be but I believe that this thing would probably die if alone, but with his buddies, would probably be a tough fight. I believe that #3 is the most likely, however #1 and #2 are still quite possible. But how many towns/principalities must fall to the "self-replicating undead hordes" before we actually do something about it? [\quote] This even was not caused by our "friends" forces, it was a different force. I don't think they are allied, given that our "friend" was eating ghouls in Flen at the last check-up. Personally, I am 100% for destroying the circlet. However, its evil presence does balance the party's overall good nature. That said, I still beleive that the circlet needs to be destroyed, for our own and everyone else's survival. If you think about it, this means that we can't camp in un-walled towns anymore, as they would be destroyed by our rampaging "friend." We probably can't even camp in walled towns, as our "friends" seem to be able to pass through walls.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 11:37:01 GMT -5
Why is it that you haven't taken this evil circlet to some lawful/good-aligned high priest again? I HAVE HELD THE POWER OF A GOD IN MY HANDS!Do not question my decisions.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 12:00:00 GMT -5
3) It's something else. Given that 1) it has a horde and 2) it hasn't killed us yet, I believe that our so-called friend is actually something else. It could be a Death Knight.
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Post by Ginger on Oct 24, 2006 12:13:09 GMT -5
Some of you weren't around the last time we tried to give a powerful artifact over to a priest of Pelor for disposal. We won't be doing that again. We want to keep the circlet so we can defeat the undead creature attached to it. We want to do that because we are good and seek to destroy evil. Also, it'll have some potent magical items. I think that we can attack it during the day and destroy it. That's the plan.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 12:17:46 GMT -5
Yeah, that doesn't work for me. He just wants the circlet back, so his spirit can be at rest. I want to use him and his horde as a weapon against the evil armies that are working to invade Keoland. You had no problem working with Devils, why is working with undead such a hassle?
Also, do you think we could bring him back to life with the rod?
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Post by venger on Oct 24, 2006 12:19:41 GMT -5
Liches spend their eternities pursuing arcane research far beyond our ken, usually in darkly enchanted castles and long-forgotten crypts - they do not, as a rule, traipse mindlessly over hill and dale, through rivers, searching for ornamental headbands. At the least it would fly or something. Come on now, if it looks like a duck... Who knows why it killed some ghouls with its big unlich-like twohanded sword; maybe it was frustrated that the circlet was gone, maybe they were just in its way. Maybe it coincidentally walked across the path of some unfortunate ghouls who were slain in the taking of the city. This isn't a horde of halflings. They aren't all chummy, eating crumpets and having tea. They're ravening undead monsters. Sigh... You don't think that the evil undead skeleton king is allied in some way with the evil undead army? Completely unrelated evils stalking the Oerth... Maybe they are trying to resurrect competing dead gods Who Cannot Be Named and we can just sit back and watch the fireworks. What team do you think this guy will be on when it gets its circlet back? I HAVE HELD THE POWER OF A GOD IN MY HANDS!Do not question my decisions. Where is the Circle of Eight when you need them? How is it that the artifact of evil power rests in the hands of the dangerously unstable mage/thief? Why is it we don't have a competent cleric?? It could be a Death Knight. Yeah, it could... that would be bad for us.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 13:01:53 GMT -5
It is your incomplete knowledge - also known as "ignorance" - which leads you to these conclusions.
There are a number of reasons why I am entrusted with some of the evil items the party accumulates. First, my moral viewpoint is such that it doesn't disturb me to do so - power is power, regardless of whether it's positive or negative. Many times evil items have helped us do good things, letting us put down those that might uproot the existing order.
Secondly, with my superior intellect and strength of will, I am strongest against mental attacks.
Third, I have experience with mind-altering magics.
Fourth, if I were subverted by some item (as Raven was) I would be easier to subdue than most of the other members.
In particular, the circlet was sought by a nerullite priest, who felt that he would be able to use the powerful undead that the circlet controlled (and it did say control - we still have his papers if you care to review them) to fight against the god that had usurped Nerull.
If the Nerullite felt he could use this evil to fight a greater evil, then why shouldn't we?
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Post by venger on Oct 24, 2006 14:08:29 GMT -5
It is your incomplete knowledge - also known as "ignorance" - which leads you to these conclusions. It is my incomplete knowledge - also known as "ignorance" - which leads me to ask these questions.I have drawn very few conclusions thus far. There are a number of reasons why I am entrusted with some of the evil items the party accumulates. First, my moral viewpoint is such that it doesn't disturb me to do so - power is power, regardless of whether it's positive or negative. Many times evil items have helped us do good things, letting us put down those that might uproot the existing order. That's a reasonable, if megalomaniacal answer. Honestly, I wasn't complaining about the situation, just asking. Though whenever a player sounds as defensive as you just did about retaining possession of their slowly-corrupting-highly-evil magical items I do tend to get worried. Third, I have experience with mind-altering magics. Experience in that your mind was forcibly altered by magics... Fourth, if I were subverted by some item (as Raven was) I would be easier to subdue than most of the other members. I'm not sure how easy it would be to subdue your stealthy, flying, invisible character who possesses superior intelligence, strength of will and all of those potent magic items. In particular, the circlet was sought by a nerullite priest, who felt that he would be able to use the powerful undead that the circlet controlled (and it did say control - we still have his papers if you care to review them) to fight against the god that had usurped Nerull. I wonder if that scroll of forbiddance could have helped save the town... If the Nerullite felt he could use this evil to fight a greater evil, then why shouldn't we? I will let the foolishness of that statement speak for itself. Sort of along the lines of "if the Nerullite priest jumps off a bridge..." *edit- I suggest in the future people who decide to put on potentially mind-altering magical helmets, circlets and the like should only do so while properly supervised by a minimum # of other party members and maybe even be physically restrained, for safety sake.
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Eig
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Post by Eig on Oct 24, 2006 14:25:52 GMT -5
It could be a Death Knight. Probably not at Death Knight. Also: Liches spend their eternities pursuing arcane research far beyond our ken, usually in darkly enchanted castles and long-forgotten crypts - they do not, as a rule, traipse mindlessly over hill and dale, through rivers, searching for ornamental headbands. At the least it would fly or something. You don't think that the evil undead skeleton king is allied in some way with the evil undead army? Completely unrelated evils stalking the Oerth... Maybe they are trying to resurrect competing dead gods Who Cannot Be Named and we can just sit back and watch the fireworks. I totally agree with the first paragraph. As for the second: No, I don't. I think that if the two were allied the big scary thing that was chasing us would be under the big cloud because it would be at full strength all the time and we would have a whole lot more guys to hack through to get to him. Given that both groups of undead each have a clear reason to be there, one to conquer and one to retrive a powerful artifact, I don't think its a strech at all to consider that they may not be allied. Frankly, I think that the continued use of said circlet is idiotic and endagers all members of the party. If it is a lich, and for some reason cannot catch up to us, we will all be very dead LONG before it gets within the 240 yards range of the circlet. In this case the best plan is to run far and fast. If it isn't a lich, it's probably just as bad, nevermind the fact that his minions aren't under the control of the circlet. This whole "attack him" thing is just a bad idea.
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Post by Ginger on Oct 24, 2006 14:32:06 GMT -5
As an example of our perspective of the use of evil items, we have a painting of Nerull. When activated, it acts as a map which locates centers of Nerull worship. We did not turn it over to the temple of Pelor because then they would have destroyed it. We used it to track down a huge temple and destroy a great and evil power.
As an aside, our actions against that temple have taken on new meaning. Until now, I hadn't made the connection between an evil god trying to return and a huge, evil gate. Alternatively, the death of a high-preist of Nerul and the destruction of the temple and its gate of death might have weakened the Nerulites enough for the Dead God to make his move.
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Eig
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Post by Eig on Oct 24, 2006 14:42:08 GMT -5
Granted, evil items have been used by the party. However, the persistence of these items has not been a direct threat to the safety of the party. This one is. This beatie is a direct threat to the party and everyone we meet. Honestly, it will only be a matter of time before he cathes us and eats us. If you really want to keep it, I suggest putting it in an extra-dimensional space so that big baddie can't track us.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 14:47:10 GMT -5
So to sum up:
We know that it is undead. It wields a big sword. It is compelled to follow this circlet. It wants the circlet back. I still feel that it is in our best interest to lead it into the lands that have already been overrun, so it can lay waste to the humanoid colonists.
Clearly the best thing to do is continue with our existing plan until we get to Karmuk's tower. Once there, we will have a fortified location to defend against the Skeleton Death Lich Warrior Knight.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 14:49:16 GMT -5
If you really want to keep it, I suggest putting it in an extra-dimensional space so that big baddie can't track us. A reasonable suggestion, although it's not nearly as much fun for me if I can't mock him every evening.
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Eig
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Post by Eig on Oct 24, 2006 15:01:23 GMT -5
So to sum up: We know that it is undead. It wields a big sword. It is compelled to follow this circlet. It wants the circlet back. I still feel that it is in our best interest to lead it into the lands that have already been overrun, so it can lay waste to the humanoid colonists. Clearly the best thing to do is continue with our existing plan until we get to Karmuk's tower. Once there, we will have a fortified location to defend against the Skeleton Death Lich Warrior Knight. IIRC Karmuk's tower is occupied. This means we have a fight to gain control of it. This is quite risky, as the dude may attack us while we are recovering. I totally agree we shouldn't lead the Skeleton Death Lich Warrior Kinght into lands that are human/demi-human occupied. I also don't know what extra-dimensional spaces the party currently has with them, but I really think that's a good idea. If we really want to stand and fight against him, I suggest severing contact until we occupy a fortified position, and then waiting for him to come to us. Also, IIRC correctly, you don't really mock him very much, he just gets angry, and you get a headache. Perhaps this is because you aren't higher level than him and therefore are feelings the ill effects of being unable to control him? Proposed plan: 1) Put the circlet away, in another dimension. This way, baddie has to use normal tracking skills to find us. 2) Take over Karmuk's Tower. This gives us a little loot, and a fortified position. 3) Get circlet out of storage, and "lead" him to our position. 4) Fight for our lives. 5) Steal baddies stuff, if we survive. If we don't, roll up new charachters. Edit: Theory added.
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Post by venger on Oct 24, 2006 15:18:49 GMT -5
blah blah blah In this case the best plan is to run far and fast. If it isn't a lich, it's probably just as bad, nevermind the fact that his minions aren't under the control of the circlet. This whole "attack him" thing is just a bad idea. The use of evil items by the group for the purposes of good isn't entirely objectionable. As long as the proper safeguards are taken. You guys don't appear to be of the soak it in holy water, bind it in silver chains school.. but still. And moral relativism in a fantasy setting doesn't always entirely work. Things are actually Good and Evil here. It's not like equivocating over the use of an atomic bomb, with some artifacts of evil you can literally find yourself d**ned to the Nine Hells forever. It took us six days to regroup in the Good Hills. Lord knows how many more it took to round up the disparate bands of refugee survivors from the massacred town and send them on to Longspear. In that time neither the perpetual black cloud of evil nor the undead skeleton king have made any further progress. To what do you attribute the delay? Do you suppose our friend is systematically hacking his way through the opposing army of the dead to reach us? I'm thinking no. Assuming he does continue the pursuit, we are obliged to either capture or destroy him. We certainly cannot lead him on a path of destruction through civilized lands. I do not believe any singular undead creature is truly a threat to the combined might of the Company of the Blue Sun. If it is Kay-Tarn, according to that note you found, he has some history with Stalman Klim. Also Turrosh Mak is a priest of the Earth Dragon, like Klim, who rules in the Pomarj. I found it in one of the .pdf files I was given on the various religions of the area. (lol i just remembered Raven asking if the miners had "seen any of these 'dragon eggs'" and dana just staring at him) Legible Letter Thaag Caladon,
Mind these words well. The undead ride towards you under the command of Kay-Tarn. Klim has demanded Kay-Tarn assist him rather than you, and it seems likely that the Great Lord will accede. Klim has a long history that I do not understand, nor would I place in such a note as this. Suffice it to say, you must plan to take Longspear without additional aid from the Great Lord.
We have pacified Sterich and plans, as my priest informs me, go ahead apace in the south, north, and east. The forces of weal are too disorganized to meet us and we continue to grow in strength. Oytkeep still resists, but access to Geoff is complete. Once I hear back from Grugnir, we, and our ally to the north, will close off Geoff from all aid.
As promised to the tribes, land in Sterich is being given freely and already the human lands are being colonized. Only a few years are necessary for our hold to be so strong that noone will be able to break us free.
I hear Turrosh Mak contemplates joining us, influenced by his shamen and witch-doctors. The lands west of the Nyr Dyv may be ours sooner than expected.
I have detailed the Spriggan with this letter, knowing full well they can gain access to the city more easily than others. Use them well brother and may the Lord of All suck the light from your eyes.
Impale! Krukshankedit~ hmm, I meant "darned" to the Nine Hells.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 15:25:51 GMT -5
Also, IIRC correctly, you don't really mock him very much, he just gets angry, and you get a headache. Perhaps this is because you aren't higher level than him and therefore are feelings the ill effects of being unable to control him? I am one of the highest level members of the group - if level is a factor there is no one else more qualified. It does seem that he can hear and respond to my thoughts, even while I'm blocking his. Proposed plan: 1) Put the circlet away, in another dimension. This way, baddie has to use normal tracking skills to find us. 2) Take over Karmuk's Tower. This gives us a little loot, and a fortified position. 3) Get circlet out of storage, and "lead" him to our position. 4) Fight for our lives. 5) Steal baddies stuff, if we survive. If we don't, roll up new charachters. Not quite, but close.
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Post by venger on Oct 24, 2006 15:33:03 GMT -5
I am one of the highest level members of the group - if level is a factor there is no one else more qualified. It does seem that he can hear and respond to my thoughts, even while I'm blocking his. I do love the arrogance- 8-) We feel our band of 1st-11th level characters are the only ones in the entire southern Flanaess qualified to handle this apocalypse.
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Post by Ginger on Oct 24, 2006 15:42:42 GMT -5
Well, the Great Druid has skipped town, and the Silent One is MIA, so that leaves us. We know all about Turrosh Mak, since he lives in a stockade we vacated.
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Post by Dell on Oct 24, 2006 15:46:56 GMT -5
Let's go find the Druid. I owe someone a knot potion, and I can't think of any other way to repay that debt.
Besides, he might write me some scrolls. That I would against all odds fail to read. Raven, which pocket did you used to keep your luckstone in?
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Post by venger on Oct 24, 2006 15:51:22 GMT -5
Well, the Great Druid has skipped town, and the Silent One is MIA, so that leaves us. We know all about Turrosh Mak, since he lives in a stockade we vacated. Finding either the Silent One or The Great Druid would probably be a good thing. As for Turrosh Mak, I can find little reference made in the Company logs other than a few cursory notes about him and his "accursed dragonnels." Please enlighten me. He is similarly named to the fellow with the spiderhounds, correct?
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