OOC Chat II

[Breila]

Frankly, I'm disappointed.

I would have accepted a TPK after our stupidity at the last pit. But here, we were careful and still had no chance, grace of the DM. I know there are different views about this out there, but when I learned to play AD&D, it was kind of a consensus that a TPK would happen only as consequences of party mistakes, or when it was time to finish a campaign and move on to something new. Accepting new players doesn't fit with the idea "it's time to end this campaign", and there was no other hint of someone being tired of it, either.

While it would be a honor for Babushka to be rescued by the phoenix of Habbakuk, it would make sense only when most of the party can be saved as well. Otherwise, she would just become a mourning old gnome in a cave somewhere...

[Jenara]

There are no words to describe how I feel right now....

[JadedDM]

Uh, okay. I don't know if I'd call the party 'careful,' though. More careful than normal, I suppose, but still...at least Fikod had the sense to see there was something very, very wrong about Dara's story. Frankly, Babushka should have, too. Remember the tracks?

When Malika and the animals vanished, they left behind tracks--tracks leading toward the west. Babushka and the party were following those tracks until they met Dara, who claimed Malika was captured by centaurs 'to the south.' So...if Malika was taken to the south, why were her tracks leading west? The party immediately abandoned the tracks to follow Dara, never once asking about the clear contradiction there. Thus, in my opinion, the party walked right into this one. It's not like I forced you onto this path.

Had the party listened to Fikod and just refused to go with Dara, none of this would have happened. But then again, that would have made a much more boring story, too. So I'm not laying any blame here. That's the fun of the story, after all. If the party were really smart, they'd not adventure at all. They'd get normal jobs in safe villages; the odds of dying would be very remote, but the game would be immensely boring, too. Sometimes you take risks, and sometimes they pay off. And sometimes, they don't. Do not act like Babushka is dead because I decided it had to happen or that I am somehow being unfair. Her actions, and the actions of the others, led to this moment. There were so many warnings that Dara was leading you into a trap, it's pretty silly to act like you didn't see this coming.

In any case, this isn't something I planned. I just took advantage of the situation, as the Unnameable (whom I am roleplaying) would have. I didn't expect Locky to walk right up to the pit and fail her saving throw, but she did. I didn't expect the party to let her carry all of the potions, but they did. I didn't expect the party to crowd around her after she drank the Potion of Fire-Breathing, but they did. None of this was planned, but it all fell together, a perfect storm of bad choices and bad rolls, and as I was roleplaying an immense evil power, I'd have been foolish to ignore that opportunity.

And then, despite everything that happened, I was willing to bend the rules slightly for the sake of the narrative and allow Babushka not only to be raised, but give her the opportunity to save what's left of the party. Because I thought it would make for a great story, as well as an awesome roleplaying opportunity, not to mention a possible way to finally help Babushka become more effective in combat--something she is sorely lacking, I'm sure you'll agree!

And as I'm sure Horizon can tell you, as someone who has gamed with me for many years and has had more than her share of characters killed off, the idea of me even offering such an opportunity in the first place is quite rare.

Well, I mean, except this isn't the first time I've 'saved' Babushka, is it? She should have died of poison before, but I made a mistake (miscalculating her saving throw bonus) and she survived. Then she foolishly walked off from the camp and nearly got eaten by a wyndlass, but I again chose to save her for the sake of the narrative--I wanted to give the party a reason to trust Dara, and hey--it worked!

So Babushka was living on borrowed time anyway. That's why I thought the Blue Phoenix class would be a good fit for her, ironically. She's nearly died so many times now, it's almost become a running gag. Someone can check for me, if they like, but I'm almost certain that of all the PCs, she has fallen into negative HP more than anyone else. And I've been hinting throughout this whole adventure that Babushka and Habbakuk would make a pretty good match, and was hoping to work this into the narrative in the next chapter, anyway.

Well...it's your choice then. You can save her or let her stay dead. I'm not going to force you either way. Although I will say this now--if you can't stand the idea of your characters dying, and if every time it happens it's going to cause such a ruckus, you may be better off just leaving the game. All of my games. Because they all carry that risk: The three I am running here and now, and any games I may run in the future, as well.

I don't mean that as some kind of threat, just a big ol' disclaimer. The whole point of these games is to have fun. In my opinion, a game where the threat of death isn't real takes the fun out of it. If you aren't having fun, then I can't blame you for wanting to leave.

If the party TPK's, then that's the end of the game. If you take my offer, you can try and save the party. Or you can choose to leave Babushka dead, and either walk away or roll up a new character to replace her should Imani somehow pull this off.

As always, the choice is yours.

[NoTrammeling]

Looking back on it, I completely missed the fact that Locky had consumed a potion at all ;_; But I guess Fikod wouldn't have noticed IC what with the undead elves and all.

[Jenara]

I could discuss how Lockys actions were fitting with her character, and the same would be true for Jerrard.... but really, what's the point? we roleplayed our characters in the way we wanted to and it didn't work out.

It truly makes me wonder why I spent the last three years investing in Locky....

Anyway, what's done is done.

[Breila]

... what to say...

I knew most of what Jaded was going to say, after all, this is not the first time in the nearly three years that our different "philosophies" clash. But I find it important to say what I'm feeling and try to explain it, though by now I'm beginning to see that there is a gap of understanding that will probably never be bridged.

It's not Babushka's death that's a problem for me. I was prepared to accept she was going to die from the wyndlass attack. Because they were so much in need of food and water, Jeremy and she risked to go separately. It's like getting run over by a car when you're out grocery shopping, as it happens in real life every day.

It was more that just now when we players started to show they've learned their lesson - Fikod didn't go in at all, and Babushka voiced her doubts a few times (she even cursed herself for not having checked for tracks all the time, but it was slowing them down so much) that the enemy forces were so strong and cunning they are likely to ALL get killed.

But despite all my frustration here and there, I'm still having fun with the game(s) most of the time, and I appreciate the amount of work you put into them. So if divine intervention gives a chance to raise Babushka and let her help the others, I'm willing to take the chance.

[Jerrard]

Jerrard just wanted to find Malika, he is desperate and wants to find her at all costs, once again that thought overrode his rational mind. He is very clever, but lacks any common sense.

[JadedDM]

The main point I was trying to make in that rant (and I admit, I did go off there for a second; after I posted it, I wanted to go back and edit it to soften it a bit, but the internet decided that was a really good time to die for 12 hours), is that the 'blame' for this doesn't really fall on anyone's shoulders squarely. This was the result of many choices over a long period of time.

And sometimes, even when you do everything right, things can still go south. Remember the end of Three Relics? When the gnomes opened fire on the party, everyone just stood out in the open--except for Horizon's character, who cleverly took cover behind the columns. But due to a critical hit, she was the first to die. Sometimes the dice just damn you, no matter what.

It truly makes me wonder why I spent the last three years investing in Locky....

Hopefully because you enjoy the game. I mean, why else would you invest three years in a game?

Anyway...what's done is done. This is my plan for Babushka.

There's a prestige class in the Holy Order of the Stars sourcebook known as the Blue Phoenix of Habbakuk. Naturally, 2E doesn't have prestige classes, but I found the class really intriguing and immediately thought of Babushka when I read it. So I converted it into a kit. Her sudden death here, while unexpected, was the perfect opportunity to bring it up.

My idea is that Habbakuk approaches Babushka's spirit and offers her a choice. She can pass through the Gate of Souls and seek out her much deserved rest on the other side--or she can return to Krynn as his champion; to fight evil and protect nature in his name. She would be reborn as a Blue Phoenix of Habbakuk.

=============

Blue Phoenix kit

Requirements: To obtain this kit, the character must be Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good or True Neutral. They must have a base THAC0 of 15. They must possess the Tracking, Survival and Religion proficiencies. And they must worship Habbakuk as their patron deity.

Description: The phoenices of Habbakuk take their name from their patron deity’s symbol, the blue-feathered bird of rebirth and renewal. Like this legendary creature, the phoenices of Habbakuk have been reborn, either literally or figuratively, brought back from the brink of oblivion or darkness by another. They live on borrowed time, doing what they can to bring swift action against the forces of evil, knowing that they have had another chance given to them. Because of their natures, however, they are loners and drifters, bearing the blue pinion as they travel resolutely onwards against the winds of fate.

Role: The best candidate for a phoenix is a ranger, a class that forms the foundation of Habbakuk’s deathless hunters. Clerics and druids are also relatively common, while fighters, barbarians, and thieves are more rare albeit appropriate choices.

Weapon Proficiencies: None required.

Nonweapon Proficiencies: A character is required to have Tracking, Survival and Religion to take this kit.

Equipment: Standard.

Abilities: At each level a character gains in their original class, the Blue Phoenix acquires additional abilities, as well.

1st Level - Melancholy: The phoenix of Habbakuk knows that he was brought back from the brink, and living at the grace of his god. He no longer suffers the effects of aging (including magical effects which age the character), but his existence swiftly takes its toll on him. His melancholic nature causes him to suffer a -1 penalty to all Charisma-based ability or skill checks for each level of phoenix of Habbakuk that he gains, including the first, as he loses his ability to summon his self-worth.

1st Level - Revenant’s Courage: The phoenix of Habbakuk has already seen some of the worst the world can offer and has extraordinary resilience in the face of danger. Every time he levels up, he adds +1 to his saving throws vs. fear effects.

2nd Level - Fast Movement: The phoenix’s land speed is faster than the norm for his race by 1 point (thus a 6 becomes a 7 or a 12 becomes a 13). This benefit applies only when he is wearing studded leather or less. Apply this bonus before modifying the phoenix’s speed because of any load carried or armor worn.

3rd Level - Relentless Tracker: The single-minded drive of the phoenix of Habbakuk to find his quarry grants him a +10 bonus to a Tracking check used to track a specific individual. Each day, the phoenix of Habbakuk may change the target of this ability in order to gain the bonus when tracking another, but 24 hours must have elapsed since the last time the phoenix used this skill to do so.

4th Level - Flames of Renewal: Once a day at 4th level, the phoenix of Habbakuk may channel the power of his divine patron and remove all exhaustion, fatigue, fear, nausea, paralysis, or sickened conditions from a single target touched (or himself). If the cause of those conditions is still present, he is subjected to the effects on the following round, but may make a new saving throw (if possible) with a +4 bonus. This effect creates a visible aura of blue flames around the phoenix which do not generate heat, but which give off as much light as a torch for one full round before subsiding.

5th Level - Revenant’s Strength: Beginning at 5th level, the phoenix of Habbakuk may focus his god-granted dedication in order to gain a +4 bonus to his Strength score for a number of rounds equal to 3 plus his Magical Defense Adjustment. He may use this ability once per day at 5th level, which increases to twice a day at 7th level and three times a day at 9th level.

6th Level - Flames of Redemption: Once a day at 6th level, the phoenix of Habbakuk may draw upon the power of his divine patron and remove all compulsion, charm, or curse effects from a single target touched (or himself). This effect works like a dispel magic and remove curse spell with a caster level equal to the phoenix of Habbakuk’s character level. This ability gives off blue light in the same manner as the flames of renewal ability does (see above).

8th Level - Flames of Restoration: Once a day at 8th level, the phoenix of Habbakuk may call upon the restorative gifts of his divine patron and grant the effects of a restoration spell upon a single target touched (or himself). This includes eliminating negative energy levels, restoring temporary ability damage, and other conditions. As with other related class features, using this ability creates a blue light effect (see flames of renewal, above).

10th Level - Flames of Rebirth: Once a week at 10th level, the phoenix of Habbakuk is granted the power to raise dead, as the spell. Much like related abilities, this ability generates blue light for a full round (see flames of renewal, above). If the phoenix himself is slain, this ability functions automatically upon him, regardless of whether he has already used it that week. The phoenix of Habbakuk is consumed by blue flames, which destroy any and all non-magical combustible items he might be carrying and reducing his body to ashes. 1d4 minutes later, his body reforms naked from the ashes, fully healed, but his CON score drops by one as described in the text of the raise dead spell.

Wealth Options: Standard for their class.

Abandoning Kit: A phoenix of Habbakuk is the servant of his deity and the responsibility remains with him until he passes the blue pinion onto another. If he changes his alignment to evil or otherwise forsakes his duty, he loses all supernatural or spell-like class features and may no longer advance as a phoenix of Habbakuk until he atones (see the atonement spell description in the Player’s Handbook). Habbakuk makes every effort to have any wayward phoenices brought back into the flock, however, and most do not remain so afflicted for long. Phoenices of Habbakuk who abandon the class in this manner are still afflicted with the effects of melancholy.

If a phoenix of Habbakuk hands over the blue pinion to another candidate, he may never again advance as a phoenix of Habbakuk and cannot draw upon the flame-related abilities of the class, but is otherwise not penalized. Abandoning the kit in this manner also eliminates the phoenix’s melancholy penalty, but he once again feels the ravages of age.

=============

Now keep in mind when reading this, the 'level' refers to the levels she's gained as a Phoenix, not as a ranger. So she'd get the 1st level abilities (Melancholy and Revenant’s Courage) at 6th level, Fast Movement at 7th level, Relentless Tracker at 8th level, and so on, finally obtaining the ultimate ability, Flames of Rebirth, at 15th level.

As you can see, there are a couple of issues here, though. First, Babushka does not possess the Religion proficiency. But I'm willing to waive that if she agrees to devote her next NWP slot to it.

And second, she is not a follower of Habbakuk. Only if she were to agree to become his follower could she obtain the class. Of course, she can always go back on her word after the fact, give up the pinion and just move on with her life. There isn't any particular penalty to this. But as she needs to declare a deity by 8th level anyway if she wants her spellcasting abilities...

However, by agreeing to this, there are two significant downsides. I never offer anything for free, after all.

First, because this is a resurrection, she'd lose a single point of CON permanently. Mechanically speaking, though, this wouldn't impact her much. Her HP and saving throws would not be affected at all. But this is the standard penalty for being brought back to life.

Secondly, the flames of resurrection would destroy all of the possessions she has on her body at the time that are non-magical. This leaves her only with her Fungus Staff and her Longtooth Dagger. However, the rest of her mundane possessions could easily be replaced over time. (For the sake of her modesty, I'd allow her to be reborn wearing simple blue robes instead of completely naked, though. Just this once.)

There are some good sides, though. Aside from being resurrected on the spot with full HP and no death fatigue, Habbakuk also offers to cast Protection from Evil on her (which will only last a few rounds) and give her a hint on how to defeat the Unnameable One without killing anyone, so she can save her friends.

If that all works for you, I'll PM you the necessary information and have her brought back at the end of the next round.

I see a great deal of roleplaying potential in all of this. How will Babushka feel about dying and returning to life? How will she feel about the fact that, technically speaking, it was her best friend who killed her? How will Locky feel about her actions while possessed by the Unnameable? Jerrard's single-minded pursuit of Malika nearly got himself and his friends killed--how will he feel about that? Might the taunts "Locky" used on him have an impact on him, as well? Imani was the leader when all of this went down--will this shaken their trust in her abilities, or her trust in her own abilities? Fikod tried to warn them something wasn't right--will this lead to a greater trust in him as a result? And will he have to live with shame until his beard grows back?

Really, the whole situation is just ripe with roleplaying possibilities, depending on what direction each of you takes after this.

[Breila]

Babushka was drifting towards Habbakuk anyway. I had planned to ask any kirath we met about him and devote any downtime in a place where information could be obtained to learn more. After all, Babushka was born at a time when the Gods were not present in the world, and she had learned to live without them.

Somehow, it seems we've forgotten about roleplaying a little in the past weeks and months, just hasting to find Malika and Dekker and slashing everything out of the way, without much thinking. One good thing about all these discussions is that they give us a chance to a new start.

So yes, I am willing to let Babushka become a Phoenix of Habbakuk. I want this game to go on. I guess we will never resolve the fundamental difference, which is that I (and for all I know, Jenara and Jerrard, too) think that planned encounters should be survivable as a rule (gross party mistakes and bad luck with the dice can still interfere), and you don't. But this - and the discussion that ensue - is something we have to live with. Overall, the enjoyment makes going on worth it, at least for me.

[JadedDM]

Alright then. I'll PM you the necessary information, and try to get the game updated today. (My internet has been really awful lately; so it may take awhile. Hopefully I can do it soon, though.)

[Jerrard]

Interesting idea, its good to see that the 3e books are actually useful for something!

It will fit Babuskha well, there is already an element of the sadness in her, in some respects Jerrard and Locky are the reason she keeps going, otherwise she'd end up in a cave somewhere, like Brelia described.

Imagine the stories from Locky now!

[Jenara]

Just so we are on the same page here, Locky prayed to get her spells back yeah?
And she has used 2 cure moderates and a cure light? Or does she have to rest to get the rest back?

[Jenara]

Sorry two cure lights

[JadedDM]

She still has her 'free' CLW. She prayed for an hour to get 2 CLWs and 2 CLMs, which she used.

So that leaves her with three empty 1st level slots and one empty 2nd level slot remaining. She could spend another 50 minutes of praying to fill them, with cure spells or whatever else.

Jerrard, however, had his mind wiped and can't memorize any new spells until he's rested.

[Jenara]

Thanks, just making sure we were both on the same page!

And Jerrard is understood, one of those things...