We should probably go to hunt down the Rat King before we march on Sarnath. For narrative purposes it's saving the best for last since we're killing the dead smith god in Sarnath, but more practically the Rat King just seems like a slippery son of a bitch who will run off if given the chance. Knowing our luck he'd go straight to the Bloodstone Emperor via the shadow plane.
I think he's with the main army right now. That makes the most sense to me, anyway, so I would just look for him on the battlefield if you want to stop him from fleeing.
Also, while it is concerning that some people might run away to strengthen an enemy, I'd rather not have that army at my back doing whatever they want. I also want this month to end at some point, even if it means accepting we can't get everyone. We got used to that song and dance with Illyrio--if an enemy is determined enough that they focus 100% of their effort into staying alive even if it means sacrificing everything they own to make it happen, they will probably be more determined than we are to see them dead compared to more obviously important targets.
I'm not saying the Rat King is basically no more important than a Cheesemonger, but I do raise a good point that if Illyrio can elude Viserys "can hunt you down across half the Inner Planes" Targaryen, I think we're not going to be able to catch an archmage who has at least three contingency plans to escape capture even if two of them means pissing off all his allies and one of them means abandoning all of the loot he can't stuff into a Bag of Holding.
I'm not saying the Rat King is basically no more important than a Cheesemonger, but I do raise a good point that if Illyrio can elude Viserys "can hunt you down across half the Inner Planes" Targaryen, I think we're not going to be able to catch an archmage who has at least three contingency plans to escape capture even if two of them means pissing off all his allies and one of them means abandoning all of the loot he can't stuff into a Bag of Holding.
It depends, if you think the Rat King will make targeting us his main priority then capturing/killing him is very important. If you think that he will mostly be doing his own thing and only go after us if a nice opportunity presents itself, then he's just another powerful enemy, and we have so many of those that one more won't change much.
Most soldiers of the legion will never make that much money in the course of their service, even fewer will make that much when taking into account the money they need to actually live. Even taking all that into account PC time is limited, basically all the issues I pointed out before still stand.
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Aug 1, 2020 at 12:49 PM, finished with 35 posts and 14 votes.
[X] Reached Chained True Resurrection cast by Malarys -[X] Soft Strider -[X] 2 Wizards -[X] 1 Adept -[X] 1 Mind Dragon -[X] 2 Fiery Dragonbeasts -[X] 6 Fiery Dragonbeast Riders -[X] 3 Minotaurs --[X] Thank Melisandre for her generous offer, but in this instance we would prefer to see them restored ourselves, as they fell in a battle we instigated.
Chained spells go up by a target per CL right? We should invest in some Candles of Invocation for future buff/res needs. They're pretty powerful, but the time limits on their use make them more useful as CL boosters than as spell access steroids. The crafting requirements are also high enough that we don't need to worry about how they'd effect the setting as a whole.
Chained spells go up by a target per CL right? We should invest in some Candles of Invocation for future buff/res needs. They're pretty powerful, but the time limits on their use make them more useful as CL boosters than as spell access steroids. The crafting requirements are also high enough that we don't need to worry about how they'd effect the setting as a whole.
I don't think these are worth our limited amount of high tier crafting. We're better off getting items of heroism and its greater variety, which won't stack with this.
Adhoc vote count started by Goldfish on Aug 1, 2020 at 1:28 PM, finished with 37 posts and 15 votes.
[X] Reached Chained True Resurrection cast by Malarys -[X] Soft Strider -[X] 2 Wizards -[X] 1 Adept -[X] 1 Mind Dragon -[X] 2 Fiery Dragonbeasts -[X] 6 Fiery Dragonbeast Riders -[X] 3 Minotaurs --[X] Thank Melisandre for her generous offer, but in this instance we would prefer to see them restored ourselves, as they fell in a battle we instigated.
"They fell in battle in my service, my lady. I will see them returned to form if they so wish," you reply by way of Varys. Hopefully all three minotaurs are minded to actually return rather than remaining in the embrace of the Red God.
Melisandre nods once in understanding... then again to the thought you had kept to yourself. How many had she convinced she could read minds even when magic ran too thin to conjure such a thing, you wonder, admiring and a touch amused. She had to be showing off at this point, not that you have any room to object to showmanship.
The local amphitheater which serves the colony for everything from duels like the Circle of Battle to plays has more than enough room to accommodate the two darkenbeasts you hope to return to life today, and Malarys is of course more than skillful enough to preside over the ritual. Though no gods are summoned, no powers called, the magic washes over the sands, a star with sixteen points burns against eternity. Two of the mages and three of the riders it seems had found something worth remaining on the other side of the veil for, though as Melisandre promised all three minotaurs return with only a bit of confusion as they attempt to pummel a foe that is not there.
Being punched by a death-addled minotaur still hurts you discover, especially when they manage it without warning. If there was any doubt as to the newly restored mind dragon's state of mind the bubbling laughter that erupts from above lays them all to rest.
"Pardons, Your Grace," the warrior in question says looking sheepish, or as close to it as a nine foot tall bull-man can manage.
"No need, I am happy indeed to see that your strength of mind has not lessened with your trial," you reply smoothly. The pilots and sorcerer are looking at you a touch oddly now, but really what do they expect standing on principle for lèse-majesté over an honest mistake?
"Not yet for me to dream with the elders and sing the deepest song," Soft Strider noted as she gingerly rose to her feet. "Good, there is too much of the world to see to set down roots."
"Did... did you just make a pun?" Dany asks incredulous.
"A pun?" the Singer asks, genuinely bemused.
You are less confident of her ingeniousness when, upon having the concept explained to her, she claimed to find it 'lyrical'.
Lost 5000 IM
Soft Strider
1 Wizard
1 Mind Dragon
2 Fiery Darkenbeasts
3 Fiery Darkenbeast Riders
3 Minotaurs
***
Your next meeting is a touch more formal, Vargo Alexi is much as you last met him, save for the sword at his side which has not seen any use. "Your Grace, I humbly ask to know your mind in the matter of my fellow citizens' return." No criticism of Ser Gerold for refusing to send him out to fight, but you can practically feel his frustration of a most pernicious sort, tainted with self-loathing.
Meeting Queen Namaaru, a legend in flesh before which armies quail, would more than likely hurt rather than help. Nor does the queen seem the sort to take Vargo under her wing. She respects you for oaths made and oaths kept, for the power both of yourself and of your realm. The question is what can you say to the Governor of Sallosh that might set his mind at ease after his perceived 'failure' to defend the city?
[] Point out that he dealt well with the evacuation once he got over his initial surprise, his position is not one of military responsibility to begin with
[] Note that there was the better part of an entire Legion kept in reserve, that does not mean their service is somehow lesser not his willingness to fight discounted
[] Write in
OOC: Putting the legendary leader of Sarnor's past beside Vargo stewing because he never got a chance to fight would likely not have done good things for his self confidence, not unless the Queen was minded to be gentle and in Viserys' estimation she would not have been.
[X] The Salloshi will remain safely in Sorcerer's Deep until after the final threat in Sarnath is put to rest.
-[X] Vargo did well in leading the evacuation and safeguarding his people. His role was never a military one and we don't expect it of him. Note that there was the better part of an entire legion kept in reserve, that does not mean their service is somehow lesser not his willingness to fight discounted.
-[X] Nonetheless he's invited to observe the rest of the campaign that he may better inform his people of the events upon their return.
-[X] Have a custodian force sent to guard the gates and walls of Sallosh for the duration of the campaign
"They fell in battle in my service, my lady. I will see them returned to form, if they so wish," you reply by way of Varys. Hopefully, all three minotaurs are minded to actually return rather than remaining in the embrace of the Red God.
Melisandre nods once in understanding... then again to the thought you had kept to yourself. How many had she convinced she could read minds even when magic ran too thin to conjure such a thing, you wonder, admiring and a touch amused. She had to be showing off at this point, not that you have any room to object to showmanship.
The local amphitheater which serves the colony for everything from duels like the Circle of Battle to plays and other performances, has more than enough room to accommodate the two Dragonbeasts you hope to return to life today and Malarys is of course more than skillful enough to preside over the ritual. Though no gods are summoned, no powers called, the magic washes over the sands, a star with sixteen points burns against eternity. Two of the mages and three of the riders had, it seems, found something worth remaining on the other side of the veil for, though as Malisandre promised, all three Minotaurs return with only a bit of confusion as they attempt to pummel a foe that is not there.
Being punched by a death-addled minotaur still hurts, you discover, especially when they manage it without warning. If there was any doubt as to the newly restored mind dragon's state of mind, the bubbling laughter that erupts from above lays them all to rest.
"Pardons, your Grace," the warrior in question says, looking sheepish or as close to it as a nine foot tall bull man can manage.
"No need. I am happy indeed to see that your strength of mind has not lessened with your trial," you reply smoothly. The pilots and sorcerer are looking at you a touch oddly now, but really what do they expect standing on principle for lèse-majesté over an honest mistake?
"Not yet for me to dream with the elders and sing the Deepest song," Soft Strider noted as she gingerly rose to her feet. "Good, there is too much of the world to see to set down roots."
"Did... did you just make a pun?" Dany asks incredulous.
"A pun?" the Singer asks, genuinely bemused.
You are less confident of her ingenuiness when, upon having the concept explained to her, she claimed to find it 'lyrical'.
Lost 5000 IM
Soft Strider
1 Wizard
1 Mind Dragon
2 Fiery Dragonbeasts
3 Fiery Dragonbeast Riders
3 Minotaurs
***
Your next meeting is a touch more formal. Vargo Alexi is much as you last met him, save for the sword at his side, which has not seen any use. "Your Grace, I humbly ask to know your mind in the matter of my fellow citizens' return." No criticism of Gerold for refusing to send him out to fight, but you can practically feel his frustration of a most pernicious sort, tainted with self-loathing.
Meeting Queen Namaaru, a legend in flesh before which armies quail, would more than likely hurt rather than help, Nor does the Queen seem the sort to take Vargo under her wing. She respects you for oaths made and oaths kept, for the power both of yourself and of your realm. The question is what can you say to the Gouvernor of Sallosh that might set his mind at ease after his perceived 'failure' to defend the city?
[] Point out that he dealt well with the evacuation once he got over his initial surprise, his position is not one of military responsibility to begin with
[] Note that there was the better part of an entire legion kept in reserve, that does not mean their service is somehow lesser nor his willingness to fight discounted
[] Write in
OOC: Putting the legendary leader of Sarnor's past beside Vargo stewing because he never got a chance to fight would likely not have done good things for his self confidence, not unless the Queen was minded to be gentle and in Viserys' estimation she would not have been. Not yet edited.
Here's an edited version of the chapter, @DragonParadox.
Damn, I hate to see that one of the Wizards chose not to be restored. I hope his afterlife proves rewarding, whatever it might be.
[X] The Salloshi will remain safely in Sorcerer's Deep until after the final threat in Sarnath is put to rest.
-[X] Vargo did well in leading the evacuation and safeguarding his people. His role was never a military one and we don't expect it of him, but nonetheless he's invited to observe the rest of the campaign that he may better inform his people of the events upon their return.
We might want to let them send a custodian force to man the gates and keep watch over the city. That would prevent us from having to leave a garrison force behind to occupy it.
We might want to let them send a custodian force to man the gates and keep watch over the city. That would prevent us from having to leave a garrison force behind to occupy it.
1. Big show of trust in him, hopefully partially smoothing over the fact that he's not allowed to fight
2. Him seeing everything with his own eyes saves us the trouble of having to explain things to the citizens in Sallosh. This way we can rely on him to relay the events truthfully and in detail.
3. Broadening Vargo's understanding if the Imperium and how it operates against foreign threats, and giving him a closeup look at the allied undead who we're planning on turning into Warforged
[X] The Salloshi will remain safely in Sorcerer's Deep until after the final threat in Sarnath is put to rest.
-[X] You believe he did just what was needed and indeed expected of him, and will credit him for that much, you invite him to accompany you on campaign specifically because you want him to be an informed ruler, one who can speak as honestly with his people as you do with him. This isn't war against a peer, set on a level field with the worst consequence being injury, crippling or death. If he honestly believes he has to prove himself, arm and equip him and place him in the company of some of your less powerful champions. They have a lot of common sense and know when to give battle and when to retreat.
[X] The Salloshi will remain safely in Sorcerer's Deep until after the final threat in Sarnath is put to rest.
-[X] You believe he did just what was needed and indeed expected of him, and will credit him for that much, you invite him to accompany you on campaign specifically because you want him to be an informed ruler, one who can speak as honestly with his people as you do with him. This isn't war against a peer, set on a level field with the worst consequence being injury, crippling or death. If he honestly believes he has to prove himself, arm and equip him and place him in the company of some of your less powerful champions. They have a lot of common sense and know when to give battle and when to retreat.
That's a level 7 PC, honestly not too far from the weight class of our minor PCs/arcanums. Give him some basic gear and then buff him with some 10/min and up spells and he'll be able to stay alive against the kinda fights they typically go into.
