1209 replies and 41 files omitted.
>>184063Kira: "So, it's like...hunting instincts for you?"
>>184065Silver: "No, not quite like they are on drugs. This Traveler seems to be dominating their minds, controlling them like puppets, forcing them to do its bidding. These ponies seem to lack any agency of their own. This one might even have been commanded to retreat just to lure some of us into trap."
>>184061>>184065Cavaliere sits crossed-legged and cups the tea in his talons. He sips it, appreciating its dark, bitter flavor.
"Ms. Ring suggested it was a type of magical entity that has total control of these ponies and can see and hear through them. I think they have no control over themselves, yet I can't say whether this one fled because of command or out of overpowering fear.""I have no sympathy for these communists, but they are still ponies who are not responsible for their actions.
We should avoid killing them unless if we have no choice.">>18406415/29
>>184068Brie does a think
[1d20+2 = (12+2) = 14]So it's one,... pony we'll assume. If theyre looking through the eyes of these ponies, leaving aside how that even works, then the element of surprise is long gone. That certainly agrees with Silver's suggestion that this was a trap.
Fuck, this means theyve seen my technique. Well, perhaps my reputation precedes me?
I sure hope "They" felt it when I stabbed that one pony in the face. I wonder if they feel all the sensations of their thralls.
Eh, commies were thralls to begin with. Its less satisfying killing them for the wrong reason.
"If we're to avoid killing, what are our options? I only have the one pair of hoofcuffs, can we risk collecting mind-controllable ponies to maybe turn on us when theres an overwhelming mass? Do we tie their hoofs and make a daisy chain? Can anything be done to stop the mind control we can be confident of?"
>>184070Brie is going to spend the rest of the dialogue from here on out more or less listening, and taking a 10 on his listen check specifically listening to hear if there may be lurkers or shenanigens watching then right now.
So thats a modified 20
>>184070"You can have mine," Cavaliere replies, retrieving from his bag a two-pound set of manacles and giving them to Brie.
"If we come across any more, we have rope to tie them with, and yes a daisy chain would be helpful. We simply need to incapacitate them until we get to the source controlling them. It is easier said than done, but maybe the communists on the hill will have something on their hooves to help us with it." >>184069>>184070Silver: "There is one plan, simple as it is. When we meet with what communists have survived and escaped, we join forces and make assault upon Kostroma. That Traveler is on board, and if we kill or at least banish it from this realm, then he will not be able to summon more monsters or control minds of these ponies anymore. I imagine it will be far more satisfying for you, anyhow, to stab extradimensional being than it will be its puppets."
>>184050Forgot to mention, Silver's at 41/55, and Kira's at 32/34 >>184072These creatures and their unnecessarily heavy equipment....
>>184075Silver: "Well, if we kill Traveler fast enough, we will not need to deal with so many of its thralls."
"From whats been said so far, if I were some sort of cartoon villain, I would use 'our reticence to kill' against us, forcing us to fight through every bystander along the way. Classic attrition and demoralization. I can sleep with blood on my hooves, I'm not sure about some of you."
>>184075>>184078"If we can help it," Cavaliere stresses, with visible displeasure at Brie's bloodlust.
"There have been many times when I have been forced to take the life of a pony or griffon, today being no exception. We must find those airponies and we must stop this 'Traveler' even if more Stalliongraders will die in the process. Nevertheless, if you have one of his thralls pinned, refrain from any sort of coup de grace. There is no glory in slaughter." >>184077>>184078Kira scrunches.
Silver: "There is not much better plan. If we do not go after this thing, it will pose great risk to ponies we are meant to save. And if that thing manages to escape this island, then I fear for what would happen when it arrives in Equus."
Still listening,... he thinks theres spoop literally waiting to jump out at them, and he keeps one hoof hooked to one of his throwing knives, just in case.
>>184082Silver: "As long as we stick together, I think we will be able to dissuade Traveler from conjuring any more monsters until we return to others."
And of course packs up his tea set
I'm only sparingly free today.
I will be away for nine hours so just assume that Cavaliere has dusted himself off, is receptive to any healing that might be provided, and will provide support whenever it's needed.
GM Pone, have you made a map of the Kostroma yet? Now is the time to do it before we go there.
>>184087In that event, I would suggest Dust's initial healing check (a 30 something) go to Garv. Up to GM how effective a healer's kit is, and they o ly have 10 uses (but we have 4)
>>184051How are you alive.
Okay so
Bat cheese: 16/30 (53.3%)
Grif: 15/29 (51.7%)
why is your max so low, what class are you?Fluff: 41/55 (74.5%)
Snej: 32/34 (94.1%)
Posey: Will probably rape me again if I attempt to heal
Zoob: 34/42 (80.9%)
Priority is the two squishers over there at half, and then floof cause we REALLY need him to be tank. I can pop a cantrip (I know they aren't cantrips on clerics sue me) on Kira because Dust would feel bad for her if this is her first real battle. Dust will make due without healing for now.
The rest of the party finds Dust poking at one of his medical kits, laying open on the ground to take assessment of what he has. Seriously, what do these things do? Heal check bonus? Can I heal HP with 'em?
>>184089Cheonic insomnia
Healker's kits can be said to affect fresh qounds, though how effective depends on the healing check and the determination of GM.
I prefer to allow them to 1-time heal half the sustained damage with a decent skill check, but its not my rodeo
>>>184090And u can do 10 checks per kit
>>184089Posey didn't take any damage these past two encounters.
She can heal herself. Save your resources for the rest of the party.
>>184089>why is your max so low, what class are you?Ranger/monk, but I also have only average constitution (10) and had unlucky HD rolls.
40 healing kit uses looks like a lot but don't forget the ponies we injured along the way, and the ones we will injure in the future. Party comes first as always, and then the airponies whose state is unknown.
With limited player availability, one assumes that any play would be in the evening. I'll be around to banter/converse, but I've gotten Brie to figure out enough of what he should know that I do 't NEED anything else to compel his behavior in 'the right' direction. Last night was a fucking blast
Okay, so until I learn what healing kits do, the current plan is
>Cure Moderate Wounds x2 on Bat and Grif
>Cure Light Wounds on Fluff
>Cure Minor Wounds on Snej
That exhausts all my level two spells, leaves me with on level 1 slot, and all my level 3 slots.
Remember we still have a few healing potions. Dusty should save his spell slots.
>>184098You have all day to find out. Healing kits will probably take more time to use than using a spell or potion, and we're not in combat. Spells will be invaluable in combat and what we've faced has only been a prelude.
>>184098Before you commit to that, we may want to consider resting to recover spells and abilities.
>>184100Also this
>>184099We have potions? WE HAVE POTIONS?
>>184101I'm in favor of resting, if only to change spells
>>184101>>184102How long does resting last?
>>184102An 8 hour rest restores 1hp/character level (so 6) without any healing or healing check
>>184103 >>184102We have a few potions of Cure Moderate Wounds
Now would be a good time to use them. Spell slots are precious.
>>184104I don't think we have one hour to rest, let alone 8.
>>184107Probably not, but if we're facing a small army,....
>>184102I'm against it because it's very late in the day, in January, in a northerly altitude. GM Pone hasn't told us what the light level is or how fast it's changing, but we can assume that night is coming quickly. The only thing worse than fighting eldritch abominations is fighting eldritch abominations at night, so we need to move. We were in a hurry in the first place because the cold weather could be lethal for the ponies we have to rescue.
Let's apply first aid for all who need it, meet with the commissar quickly (and leave the captured possessed ponies with that camp), and either clear the Kostroma or find the airponies first. By the time we finish either it will be nightfall (at GM Pone's discretion of course).
>>1841091 hour is the prayer time to reset cleric spells, though I agree 8 hours is foolish
>>184102 >>184109I recommend taking out the Traveler first. The possessed ponies and summoned monsters will continue to be a threat as long as it remains. There's also the risk that some of the Navy ponies have become or will end up possessed if the Traveler isn't dealt with.
>>184101>we may want to consider resting to recover spells and abilitiesAs the party Sorceress who benefits from this most, I still firmly disagree.
We are on a time-sensitive quest, and the captain told us we need to locate the Marines before they freeze, heck, before all of us freeze
(except Posey, lol). Even if nobody freezes, delaying the mission by a day could compromise our extraction.
This is only our third party-level encounter today: we are supposed to be able to handle 1-3 more encounters of this strength or more before resting.
Then again, nobody else seems to have proper equipment for this level, so idk, maybe we're out of resources... Wealth By Level is really, really, reall important in 3.5e, especially for martials.
Then again, if we could confirm that the Marines are cozy in the light house, we may be able to afford to rest.
Hey, did Kira prepare Animal Messenger? If we send a bird to the lighthouse with a message to fire a flare if the Marines are there, we could know that they are okay.
>>184113Also, this will give Brie an opportunity to finish the appraisals, but this is what Im thinking/hoping, that the lighthouse pans out. Brie's suit is insulated, but hes not immune to cold environs
Admitting, I dont know whats 'best', Brie wants to approach this Traveller like a chess opponent, so hes a little more wont to.be cautious/methodical, even if now isnt the time
For HP roll call, reminder that the second cone of fire is not to be applied. That is retconned as actually the Hell Hound should have been dead prior to doing that
>>184113>Then again, nobody else seems to have proper equipment for this level, so idk, maybe we're out of resources... Wealth By Level is really, really, reall important in 3.5e, especially for martials.I don't know what you expect. I brought everything I thought Cavaliere would need. If anything I overprepared him, because he's at the upper end of medium encumbrance and he will need to shed that weight if it becomes a burden.
>>184114>Brie's suit is insulated, but hes not immune to cold environsAll furred, warmblooded creatures are better suited to dealing with the cold than an equivalent human character. On top of that Cavaliere is fully clothed and has a leather jacket on to better insulate him. Nevertheless, have you ever been to Newfoundland in January? Night would not be easily survivable. We don't even know if the Gulf Stream is a thing in this setting and place.
>>184114Appraisal only takes 1 minute per item. You could finish it in the time Dust is healing.
>>184115The Traveller is guaranteed to be more intelligent than anyone in this party, and considering that he's already aware of us, I don't know what kind of tactics could surprise him, but if you can think of something that would be good.
He seems to be attacking us with summons instead of his actual powers, so he may be unable/unwilling to attack us directly: in that case, guns-blazing brute force might be the best tactic.
Conversely, he may be attacking us with summons to expend our resources and soften us up to make us easier to kill later. Resting could be tactical, but if he can summon this many entities, what is to stop him from Summoning more to interrupt our rest 4 hours in and prevent us from recovering our rest resources?
>>184117Technically, the manacles puts Brie into the low-medium encumbrance, limiting some of his skill checks. He will want to be not carrying the rope and manacles soon, especially if we're to incorporate the camera into the context
>>184118His obvious weakness then will be pride/hubris. How we exploit it will likely depend on details we dont have yet
That goat was creepy as shit, btw
>>184113I mentioned giving the party at least four potions of cure moderate wounds. No one seemed to want to even take note of it
>>184122Good.
>>184121Posey's weakness is pride/hubris. I already tried taunting him in a contest of hubris. He might be too smart for that.
>>184124I mentioned those earlier. I thought other players took them.
I think we should use them now, and save spell slots.
>>184125Hubris in the form that as a powerful magic user, Posey and Dust are probably the only two he considers a real threat to be concerned about, specifically Posey for her apparent familiarity, and Dust for his anti ebil dispositon.
>>184118IC yes but OOC said tactics are limited by the GM Pone's abilities. Hopefully his two million hours into HOI4 make this interesting"These have had the hallmarks of probing attacks. He's sent just enough forces to test us and force us to show our capabilities. Now that he knows our strengths…and some of our weaknesses…" he stretches his left foreleg painfully
"He will not hold back next time.">>184125I think drinking potions takes less time in combat than using a healing kit. Let's save them for when we need some sort of healing and are out of spells.
"Much better. Yes, I wager it was watching us through that foul goat."
>>184110Wait, it's only an hour? I hate DnD, why can't things be consistent. But I can life with that if we can spare an hour. I can pop the rest of my spells to heal, we spend an hour to rest, and then we pop off. Cause I'm down heavily on slots to begin with.
>>184124How do I use my kits, someone else took the potions. I didn't take them cause in a party split it'd be better for the other group to have them
>>184132Sorry Dust but I don't think we have even an hour to spare. It has to be after four o'clock at this point, if not later (didn't the party set off at noon, on a propeller airplane, and with a transfer?) and the sun will have fully set in an hour. You are still viable without those slots, and do you really want to fighting those things at night?
>>184132You can only prepare once per day, but it takes you one hour to prepare.
As a Divine spellcaster, you don't actually need rest to recover spells, but you pray at a specific time each day, and cannot do so again until the same time the next day.
Also, when you prepare spells, consider leaving some slots open, to prepare them later in 10 minutes. Clerics who leave slots open can save all of life's problems in 10 minutes flat.
Okay, I have to be honest. I am extremely lost. I don't even know what's up with the lighthouse. I just know we're looking for lost ponies and there appears to be a griffon cult. Also do I heal on heal checks with a med kit? Help.
>>184136Wouldn't really help at this point. I'm pretty much done on slots after healing. I can pop some level 3s and 0s and that's it.
>>184135I can cast light, but I'm basically a worse Silver if I don't have slots.
>>184138You still do more damage in combat than me. You'll be fine, probably.
GM
How far are we from the village?
>>184138The griffons and that cursed crown seems like it's unrelated to what's going on with the Traveler. Originally we were going to check the lighthouse to see if the Navy ponies we're looking for a holed up there, but we heard the spooky broadcast from the Stalliongraders and it sounded like they were under attack, so we changed direction to see what's what with them. As it turns out they brought some kind of interdimensional entity with them on that boat and it's taken over the minds of most everyone on that ship, save for a few survivors who made it off. Said entity is also responsible for summoning the demons we're fighting.
>>184138Our MISSION is 10 marines tescued and some equipment destruction. Our increasingly obvious moral imperitive is to kill Zuul before it gets free.
We are on our way to a larger village, and theres something to do with a lighthouse. Not sure if thats "our best vantage to see the Kostromo" or what. Take heart that other characters know and will.guide us along cuz Im missing details too. ^_^
>>184144W-who's the traveler?
But I think I know what's going on now? Maybe.
Do I need to move forward with
>>184098 or do we have other means?
>>184138>>184144Also, we don't know where the navy ponies are at. It looks like the crash site may have been towards the center of the island, but the ponies could be at the lighthouse, at the old village (unlikely since the surviving communists are there) or at the new village on the east coast. They might be still be at the crash site but they would be sitting ducks there.
>>184146If you've read through Amber's last dream sequence, he seems to be the entity that was revealed at the very end.
It would mean that the events in that dream are canonized which makes me very sad.>Do I need to move forward with >>184098 or do we have other means?Hold your horses (heh) because I will be leaving soon and won't be back for the next leg of the adventure. The consensus seems to be that you should save your spell slots, and it's my personal opinion that we need to quickly talk with the surviving communists before starting the next leg of the adventure before night comes.
>>184146>>>184144>W-who's the traveler?Some Cthulhu-like Aberrant entity from another realm that is controlling the communists.
It claims to be a friend, but its brutal mind control is decidedly hostile.
>>184149Meta, but I almost suspect that the crown belonged to the Traveler, and we may be returning the precious,....
(Not that we have any choice, being unable to leave it anywhere)
>>184150He can't have it. It's mine.
>>184154Zero. Rosey's mentor is a Dread Necromancer from the league.
Also, she spoke to the traveller, and it didn't seem to recognize her.
Also, it apparently isn't sure what Death is yet, so it cannot be a Necromancer.
Are we doing stuff today?
>>183676^^ <3
>>183671Vir moves in front of the cowering filly and lays down. She waits for the filly to calm down.
Cute noses almost touching when Vir whispers, "Hey, aren't you gonna pet me?"
Vir smiles and wiggles her body like a worm.
>>184156No idea. Last night was intense, so Im okay with not getting into combat, but that doesnt exclude exploration and investigation. Garv said he wont be available for another 5 hours, and others have indicated limited availability, but I'm going to plan to be ready to play regardless of any assurances/expectations (meaning not shitfaced)
>>184158Flowercup's fur is blown back by the force of the cuteness.
"Oh-okay..."
She raises a hoof, places it on the back of Vir's head, and
pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet>>184156Probably? I don't want to have combat without Garv and Dust being here, and they are out at the moment.
It looks like there's some dispute over what to do in the down time, especially regarding HP and healing
>>184162>Probably?Good.
>It looks like there's some dispute over what to do in the down time, especially regarding HP and healingWe should all be at serviceable HP is everyone gets a d4 Treat Wounds, and the most wounded PCs each take one of the healing potions.
>>184162I should be able to play for a few hours after 7-8ish tonight.
>>184164Should I start up the healing kit wagon then to at least start us off?
>>184167>Should I start up the healing kit wagon then to at least start us off?You could take 10 on it to avoid unnecessary dice rolls and wasted kits. We're out of combat, and there's no reward for rolling high.
>>184169That's what I was planning. But I still gotta roll for the heals. Besides, Dust would actually have to get a 1 to fail.
>>184170This isn't relevant to Posey, so I can't be unbiased, but I think we should save our spell resources.
What spells do you have left?
Well, I guess there's no reason not to. It's not like I don't have 40 damn uses of healing kits.
Welcome to Dust's Clinic. Unfortunately he doesn't have any lolipops to give out after the checkup. Brie is excluded, only because he already healed himself with a use. Only works once a day. So Dust makes his way along the injured party, looking over their wounds and treating what he can. Dust will take 10 on all the heal checks.
Silver [1d4 = 2]
Cavaliere [1d4 = 4]
Kira [1d4 = 1]
Uh... I guess that's really it. Dust will also tend to himself. I'm gonna roll for it too cause I'm quirky
[1d20+13 = (6+13) = 19]
[1d4 = 4]
3 full healing kits, 1 with 5/10 uses
>>184171Jack shit.
0 lvl: Guidance, Detect Magic, Light, Resistance, Virtue, Cure Minor Wounds
1st lvl: Nimbus of Light +(Magic Stone/Magic Weapon)
2nd lvl: Aid, Shield Other
3rd lvl: Haboob, Searing Light, Flame of Faith +(Stone Shape/Magic Vestment)
>>184162That high amount of pets on her back cause a strange sensation to occur in Vir's body. She moves into the hoof and petting. Then... She rolls over on her back and the small hoof pets her belly. It's tickilish.
She kicks her backleg and brings up a front hoof in an attempt to contain her giggles.
>>184173You don't need to prepare Cure Minor Wounds. You can turn any orison into cure minor wounds.
These spells will be useful in combat. You should keep them.
Stone Shape is the only one I don't think will be helpful in combat, but that could be useful in unforseen ways, so you should keep the slot.
>>184172Silver: "Thank you, my friend. You truly are reliable creature."
Kira elects to show her appreciation to the zeeb by giving him a great big hug.
>>184176I'm aware, it's just the other level 0s suck.
>>184177Dust nods to Silver, and returns Kira's hug
>>184187^^
>>184185^^
Vir flicks her tail one way and then the next. She kinda gives Flowercuo that smile Palpatine gives Anakin in The Revenge of The Sith.
>>184192Cautiously - ever cautious - she rubs the belly of the much larger pony
>>184194And y'all were crying at me for cursing everything,...
>>184194>is jelly"Let us finish this mission swiftly so I can go home and have my belly rubbed."
>>183717"We were both in culinary school. That's what we did. Well, what we tried to do, or wanted to do. Was to be chefs, or food preparation professionals. I would hope we could, because that's we're good at."
Sorrell:
"I do love waffles, even if my area of specialty involves more, well, vegetables. But waffles are very easy to make, and to add flourishes to."
>>184196Flowercup got blown the fuck out of the water by Vir's cuteness roll. She has no choice but to obey Vir.
>>184199Oh Posey,
No one wants to rub your belly
>>184207Beware the tempting poni belli
It seems innocent