[Collective Game] WRATH OF THE RAIN MAKER

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Avoraciopoctules
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Post by Avoraciopoctules »

{Yeah, I've half-written a special snowflake Blood domain that most of Mictlan's gods get, and Blood Money is on its spell list. Unfortunately, not all clerics take it, and some of those can't take 11 points of strength damage. Of course, this problem would be much reduced if you were willing to circumvent the current restrictions on sacrifice. Some Mictlan clerics can cast way above their weight class if they have animals or people to drain.}

"We subdued a woman in the armor of a paladin of Marignon when we assaulted the upper levels. She was wearing a crown of glowing blue ice, but it melted when you broke Baviere's hold on the temple. Currently, she's unconscious in a cell. The crown left a ring of wounds in her head when it melted, but one of the guards stabilized her.

There were a handful of other humanoids among the army of ice monsters. None fought as well as her, but a couple managed to escape when the fight turned against them. The ones we subdued are also imprisoned, but the knight was the only one who conjured flames around her weapon as she attacked."
radthemad4
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Post by radthemad4 »

(It's pretty cool as a domain spell. Heck even if it wasn't, I can imagine non adventuring NPC clerics dipping Wizard (Empyreal sorcerer has better synergy, but most NPCs don't get to choose their bloodlines) for it. Though yeah, they'd need decent strength, 11 int and it'd probably be pretty painful though that might be mitigated with other spells)

"Would sacrificing animals help with the raising effort? I'd rather not cause a livestock shortage or ecological crisis if I can help it, but we need to at least consider all options. Same question regarding incarcerated criminals. The serious kind, not the petty misdemeanor kind.

Did any of the prisoners have anything useful to say? If not, their thoughts might shed some light. I can only detect surface thoughts though. If anybody else here can do more than that, tell them to put their abilities to use. I'll have to pay the dungeons a visit."

Scan and try to identify the vials of blood, the bag of bloody drake teeth and whatever was on Hrati.
Last edited by radthemad4 on Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:58 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Avoraciopoctules
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Post by Avoraciopoctules »

"You could certainly talk to the Priest Kings about special permits or loosened restrictions on blood sacrifice until the crisis has been completely repaired. Tlaloc's temple currently has permission to make one human sacrifice and about two hundred animal sacrifices this year. Other priests have different permits, and there probably criminals that could be persuaded offer themselves in exchange for concessions to their families."

After studying the bag of teeth and bottled blood, you conclude that they were definitely used as a focus for ritual magic. There were two rituals performed. The first focused Tlaloc's power so Hrati could more easily conjure ice-minions. The second actually called real frost drakes over from distant mountains, and infused them with hatred for humans. Hrati had a few other ritual components and notes, perhaps some people trained in Spellcraft could replicate one of the rituals if you studied this stuff in a lab. It might be possible to adapt to another kind of drake, give a different kind of command, or create minions out of a different magical element.

The prisoners have not been interrogated yet. Your priests weren't sure whether you wanted to talk to them first yourself, and whether you wanted the authorities to know about them. Tenoc could attempt to probe someone's memories with magic, but he'd need to refresh his spells first. You could also try asking the independent fey in the illusory jungle to charm them, or see if the pool guardians can do anything with somebody chucked into their water.
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Post by radthemad4 »

"That sounds like a good idea. Get some rest. I might need you to examine the prisoners' memories, but I'll check on them first. Incidentally, is there a lab around here? There are some magic items I need to examine."

Check on the prisoners who're likely to be lower in the organizational hierarchy first. If any priests know Zone of Truth, ask them to use it. Keep Detect Thoughts on and use Charm Monster (use Swift Concentration to keep Detect Thoughts going while using charm monster. Wait a minute between uses for the skill trick to refresh) on them and ask them basic stuff like who they are, who they're working for, what their plans were, etc. Use Charm Monster on the paladin before waking her up so her Aura of Resolve doesn't help her.
Last edited by radthemad4 on Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:55 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Avoraciopoctules
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Post by Avoraciopoctules »

None of the prisoners can mount an effective defense against your magic while held in the dungeon, and you're pretty confident the information you got out of them is accurate.

Everyone but the paladin is a mercenary from Marignon, hired by Baviere to be his faux acolytes and help in a terrorist strike on Mictlan. They were promised fabulous riches and forgiveness for all their sins. Many now think he's a madman who acted without church sanction, and they mainly kept obeying him because he killed anyone who questioned him or tried to escape.

The paladin, on the other hand, seems to have partial amnesia. She was a champion of the House of Just Fires, and she challenged Baviere after he started acting odd. It all started when he was the lone survivor of a bandit attack near the Marignon-Mictlan border. Several independent kingdoms have sprung up between the formerly-bigger empires, and Baviere was acting as a missionary before the incident.

Baviere claimed that the attack on his mission was actually state-sponsored terrorism from Mictlan, and was trying to rally support for preemptive raids. But the authorities in Marignon actually get along pretty well with Mictlan right now, and the cardinals crushed Baviere's movement. She tried to stop Baviere when she heard he was privately hiring mercenaries, but he knocked her out with a blast of icy magic and everything goes hazy after that. She remembers pain in her head as she was compelled to fight for him, but cannot recall the details of what she did.
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Post by radthemad4 »

Offer the mercenaries freedom, a good word to Tlaloc, coupons for spells without significantly expensive material components and the promise of money later on when it can be spared, in exchange for disaster relief work.

To the Paladin, " 'Baviere' is...er... was actually Hrati, a Niefel Giant. He's dead now and his army of ice minions has melted. I don't know if he was working alone or if any of his brethren was involved. I understand if you have pressing business, but a helping hand around here would be really appreciated in these times. One of my priests is skilled in memory magic. He may be able to help you recall what Baviere made you do."

Make arrangements to meet with the Priest Kings.

(Is Hrati's golden circlet still intact? What were the attribute boosting accessories and unsued potions?)
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Avoraciopoctules
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Post by Avoraciopoctules »

Your incentives, combined with their racist nightmares about what happens to Mictlan prisoners of war, are quite sufficient to earn you some enthusiastic new minions. The priests will keep an eye on them for now.

The paladin is grateful for your help, and promises to give your side of the story to the Marignon embassy and do all she can to avert a war. She will stick around and do what she can to avert the damage she feels Marignon bears partial responsibility for, and hopes that you'll keep her in the loop as more information about the Niefel terrorists emerges.

The Speaker of the Sky will be able to gather other priest kings for a formal audience tomorrow, and/or set up an informal meeting tonight.

(Cloak of Charisma +4, Ring of Bluff +5, Belt of Strength +2, Boots of Constitution +2, Gorget of Resistance +2, Ring of Protection +1, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Bracers of Armor +3

Potions of Infernal Healing, Jump, Resist Energy, Magic Fang)
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Avoraciopoctules
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Post by Avoraciopoctules »

(Oh, and the circlet is a Greater Hat of Disguise)
radthemad4
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Post by radthemad4 »

(Sweet! Wonder if it's possible to get the boots remade into shoulder pads or a vest or something. Or perhaps they could be donated. Also got one or two rings of protection to spare as well I think.)

Assure her that she'll be informed of any news.

Cast Echoing Heroics: Martial Training 1 for Encouraging Roar and Pride Movement from the Golden Lion Discipline for a +3 bonus to Diplomacy by making it a Class Skill. Ready Encouraging Roar.

Go for a formal audience next morning. Probably better to have lots of people there. Ask around about Church Politics, Pool Guardians and about the nature of the temple. Check up on all the people met earlier, Metzli, Acatl, Huetzal, that priest who activated the intakes, Cualli, Zuma, etc. ask them what happened after getting separated.
Last edited by radthemad4 on Mon Dec 08, 2014 4:23 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Avoraciopoctules
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Post by Avoraciopoctules »

You have a few priests with crafting feats, they might be able to modify your magical gear with a bit of time.

Church Politics: The church of the Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, is currently ascendant. They are primarily responsible for the recent wave of reforms as well as the increasing restrictions upon and marginalization of blood magic. However, this terrorist attack on the capital has been a major blow to their credibility. Both the Rain Priests and Sky Priests have rivals looking to profit from this setback. Perhaps they'd be receptive to a carefully worded proposal to work more closely together. Or maybe they just want to pin all the blame for this on Tlaloc, so they don't look bad.

Pool Guardians: Some of the people sacrificed to the Teotls live on in a new form, bound to defend the temples and aid the priests. Generally, these guardians have limited ability to actually leave the temples, except when accompanying pilgrims into divine realms. Tlaloc's Rain Maidens are generally friendly and hospitable, but known to place horrific cursed diseases upon those who offend them.

Nature of the Temple: The House of Tlaloc, like many major temples to the Teotls, has been built upon a point metaphysically close to the divine realm of the Rain Teotls. When the stars are right, it can be used for incredibly powerful ritual magic, though these rituals can't affect much beyond a couple days travel from the capital. Mictlan's temples are a strategic asset, and most of the territory the empire holds onto is covered by one or more of their ranges.

What happened to the others: Most of your priests holed up in the secret vault or the sacred pools, but Tenoc led the best fighters in an assault on the second floor as you confronted the frost giant behind it all. Metzli, Acatl, and Huetzal led the attack that broke through the ice monsters once you weakened the magic sustaining them, but Huetzal took a severe injury to his leg and the other two are tending to him. Acatl's apparent concern has taken some by surprise. Nobody with a name died off-camera, but a lot of your priests are hoping to get some serious rest.

The audience with the priest kings is quite a spectacle. A massive theatre is needed to hold all the spectators, the baked-mud bricks painted in green and black. You, along with a few other notable heroes of the storm, are escorted onto an arena floored in tiles of black volcanic stone embedded with flecks of quartz and mica. It almost looks like you stand upon a starry night sky, especially in the blazing noon heat. A colorful assemblage of rulers awaits you, each wearing jewelry, feathers and shells. The Speaker of the Sky is a middle-aged human man, but his feathered cloak and jade serpent mask cover most of his features.

Each of the kings takes a few minutes to orate about the terrible thing that has been unleashed upon the people of Mictlan, and great valor and resilience the people have displayed throughout the resolution of the crisis. One by one, your companions in the arena are called forward to receive medals, and some take the opportunity to give short speeches of their own. Troublingly, one prosperous farmer who opened up his granaries to feed and house victims of the storm says that his faith in Rain Maker has been shaken. A Sun Knight says that she feels the Rain Priests bear some of the blame for this disaster, and that Mictlan cries out for justice.

You are the last person called forward.
radthemad4
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Post by radthemad4 »

(Would they be able to make into a skirt that somehow uses the Boots slot?)

"What happened was a tragedy, but it had nothing to do with anyone here or in Marignon. It was the work of a rogue Frost Giant. It was Tlaloc who gave me the strength to strike down him down. He can guide through these difficult times onto much greater ones. If we pool our resources together and lift the restrictions on blood magic, we can bring all the people we lost back. Yes, you heard right, ALL of them. It was these people that made Mictlan as great and prosperous as it is, and it will be these people who will make it better than it has ever been before."
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Avoraciopoctules
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Post by Avoraciopoctules »

(Sure)

[Diplomacy] The assemblage of priest-kings is taken aback by your suggestion. They were expecting to grant a boon to the hero who saved Mictlan, but this comes as a surprise to all but your own priests. Then the cheering starts in the stands, as the majority of Mictlan's population begins to vocally support your plan. They're politicians, they can see the way the wind is blowing.

After a quick discussion, the Speaker raises his hand and projects his voice across the stadium, pledging that all of Mictlan's temples will contribute to the revival of the fallen. He is lifting the ban on animal sacrifice for the purposes of healing, repair, and regrowth, and will appoint a committee to review the codes on human sacrifice. Currently, even willing sacrifices and capital criminals are tightly controlled.

You get an important position in the reconstruction committee, and a minor one in the sacrificial code review board. The priest-kings confirm you as the new High Priest of Rain, and award you half a dozen different medals. With your new position of influence, you stand an excellent chance of making good on your vision and garnering even more acclaim as the fallen are revived. Things are looking pretty good!

... Far to the south, a malevolent presence fumes in its glacial palace. So many useful pawns wasted! The plots of the Niefel exposed! This is a terrible setback. But it can be patient. When the time is right, it will try a new gambit to plunge the world into bloody war. And then it will be time for revenge.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Congratulations, you win WRATH OF THE RAIN MAKER! Thanks for a fun game, and also for putting up with my irregular update schedule.

What did you think of the scenario? Anything you particularly did or didn't like? If I did a future or follow-up game, what would you like to see?

Personally, I think I ought to prep more maps and NPCs in advance, I think it was pretty noticeable when I outpaced my notes. Characterizing the later NPCs less vaguely would probably enhance things.
radthemad4
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Post by radthemad4 »

I'm kinda disappointed that it ended right after a level up, but it's been a lot of fun. I didn't mind the update schedule as I occasionally took a while to respond too. It was a good mix of talking, exploration and combat.

You were pretty generous with the capabilities of Major Image, which made those parts a lot of fun. Your narration and interpretation of my actions were also a hoot. I appreciated that the Protection from Evil cast on Hrati acted as a Debuff rather than just a wasted action and slot. Enlarge person doesn't work by RAW on Lamia Matriarchs due to them being 'monstrous humanoids' instead of 'humanoids' but I appreciated that you allowed it, as it came in handy quite frequently. Being allowed to swap out feats on level up was pretty cool too.

I think there were more terrain variations early in the game, which didn't come up much later on. The set pieces (protect the flame), (get into the intake while Bavierre monologues) were a lot of fun.

The priests were a bit boring and could have used some more personality, but I think you nailed the mooks, frost drakes, the Rusalka, the pool guardian that asked the questions three, Bavrati, etc. quite well.

Gaining two levels at once was a lot of fun as it meant a new spell at each level. It being accompanied by an in story power surge was interesting.

The pool guardian warning against Tenoc, followed by him apparently being totally loyal was a bit jarring (unless I failed a sense motive check or he changed his mind or something).

Yeah, maps would definitely help as I often lost track of where I was.

In a future follow-up game, I suppose I'd like to see more varied terrain, more interesting recurring friendly NPCs. There was some fun loot like the fan and the high priest's staff, but I suppose more horizontal power magic items could make things interesting. One of my favorite parts of this game was looking through my sheet and wondering which ability to use to deal with a situation. I suppose if I were to put an item on my magic item wishlist, it would be something that makes changing weapons and/or magic items a free action (perhaps asking the priests to craft something like that).

Overall, it's been a great seven months and I'd gladly play a sequel. :D
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