Greek- Faces Trial

[Stephanous]

Hi KK,

I was wondering what you were thinking for the line-up for the next Greek Trial? Do you want any suggestions from players? I know the last one was stressful, even though it wasn't supposed to be. So I thought I would ask if I could help.

Paul

[David]

The Greeks have elected to go first for the Faces trial. Although all adventures are happening simultaneously, this means the Greeks have dibs on their target and will be played first.

The way the Second Panthiad, the Trial for the Faces, will work is like this: Each team leader will select his/her group of heroes. Those heroes will then, suddenly and mysteriously, find fate and the gods conspiring to unite them in the correct location. Mages will have perfect visions/dreams of the teleport-rendez-vous. Clerics will have divine messengers escort them. Fighters and thieves will find life guiding them toward mages and clerics. In short, the gods will "arrange" things. Unfortunately, the heroes will have NO clue what's going on until they arrive (no prep time). Instead, they will have three days to rack up as high a frost giant body count as they can, starting the moment they're all together (note, this is the exact opposite of the last game).

Each team may have up to 11 members with a total limit of 100 levels. The restrictions on this Trial are not as strict as the previous one -- anyone who worships a Greek god (not necesarily exclusively) may go as can anyone quested by a Greek cleric. Naturally, PCs can refuse. This game will happen roughly 10 days after the first Panthiad Trial, although that information is NOT known in advance.

Each team will, in order, choose a frost giant lair/base, play ONE DAY of the attack, and then it will be the next team's turn. The order will be the Greeks, the Egyptians, and then the Oerdians/Suloise. The goal is the highest FROST GIANT body count, as they are mobilizing a military assault on humanity (hence why the Faces, a relic of overwhelming military power) is involved. Body counts for other allies will be fractional, IF THEY COUNT AT ALL (gods' option, depending on the ally).

The six targets are, in order of frost giants (but not necesarily allies) within:

* A fortress with a vasty army of frost giants plus their numerous allies. The fortress is a frozen rift in the heart of a glacier.

* The raiding base of the frost giant heroes and elite warriors. The base is within a floating iceberg.

* The palace of the frost giant rulers, the motivators and architects of this invasion. The palace is on top of a frozen mountain.

* A frost giant homestead with children, monstrosities, abominations, and the next generation of invaders. The homestead is in the heart of a mountain.

* A relatively peaceful frost giant village, well behind enemy lines. The village is on top of a glacier, divided by a chasm.

* A small forward keep, used for raids and holding captured loot. The keep is within striking range of Eastfair (the capitol of the North Province)

Teams will be given credit not just for raw number of giants, but also for the percentage of giants in a given location killed (so don't hog the highest body count if you can't take 'em, cuz it WON'T work to your advantage!).

Questions? Let me know...! First game (Greeks) is April 23rd.

[David]

Howdy Kari,

My PCs I'd like to offer for the Greek's Second Panthiad are (in order):

Mandar -- 8th lvl fighter (Prometheus)
Brand -- 7th/9th fighter / mage (Zeus)
Raitan -- 9th/7th mariner / mage (Tyche -- he would act as a MAGE)
Vladimir -- 5th/9th fighter / mage (Athena)
Jasmine -- 7th lvl houri (Aphrodite)
Erik -- 5th/1st assassin / witch of Hecate
Azoreus -- 5th lvl cleric of Zeus
Shellique -- 5th lvl druid of Poseidon
Miitikeenya -- 6th lvl bard (Apollo)
(I would say 5th lvl is ABSOLUTE minimum level to play -- preferably 7th or higher)

[Andy]

I think I know how we could melt that iceberg and drown all the giants. However, since frost is frost giant's natual habitat, I think it will be harder to catch them in incidental artifically induced natural disasters and kill them all. The keep at the top of the mountain sounds cool though.

IAC, I offer

- Kephalonia
- Arod, Son of Elfus (Someone tell me if he's not appropriate, he has a lot of greek history) at only 6th or 7th though, he's not very tough.

Do the characters know at all that giants are the target? I'm quite intrigued by the fact that we are allowed to quest others to help us.

[Andy]

Oh...and where exactly is the faces right now?

[Andy]

And remind us what the minimum damage for an AVERAGE frost giant is - 4d8+10?

[David]

When the PCs who are tapped for this adventure are first "contacted", they learn they will be going up against frost giants, but not before.

Only people who were previously quested for some service can be employed on this Panthiad (in other words, you can't go out and charm or quest some poor schlub for this specificially!)

Only heroes who have SOME valid, religious connection to the Greeks should go. I believe Arod worships Corellon, therefore he's not qualified for the Second Panthiad.

The Faces is in Treblo SkyMage's possession. It cannot be scried and there is no further info at this time...

The average frost giant does 4d6+9 (23 hps) with a weapon such as a giant-sized bullova, long-spear, or bastard sword and 2d8+9 (18 hps) with a boulder. Frost giants do NOT use hammers and seldom use maces. They generally look like over-sized (sometimes-frozen-colored) Norsemen and generally act the part (including testosterone-poisoning and a "different" view of magic). I believe frost giants have a THAC0 of 10.

In my opinion, a TOUGH 5th lvl character is the absolute minimum for this game. I believe 7th lvl characters will have much more fun (and not require a baby-sitter to protect them).

[charbidge]

Andorallan, fighter level six going on seven, is an experienced and very skilled cold-weather mountaineer. He makes noises about leaning toward folloing Hades(but... wel, it's only to impress a gal).

[Artec]

Here is my list of people
Tony 8th level ranger Pan
Rufus 9th level mariner Posinden
Adama 8th level cleric of Esclipius
Well thats it for high level greek for me.
Question do the Giant Allies count for credit in the persentage part of the Giant killing?

[David]

Howdy Ray,

CERTAIN giant allies will count as "partial kills" while other kinds of giants are "rewardless". I know that's vague, but without giving away any plot or surprises, that'll have to be my answer. It should make sense when the situations in quest come up. Given the number of levels involved, I think choosing Rufus is a no brainer. Heck, here's my "quick and dirty" list for who I'd bring:

Xena -- 9th/4th cleric of Athena/fighter (Kari)
Bronwyn -- with Xena
Rufus -- 9th lvl mariner (Ray -- and Champion of Oerth!)
Vaughn -- 10th lvl ranger (Paul)
Kephalonia -- 9th lvl witch of Hecate (Elf)
Thera -- 6th lvl cleric of Hades (Jenn)
Andorallan -- 6th lvl fighter (Craig)
Brand -- 7th/9th fighter/mage (DC)

and that still gives 37 more levels to go...

Mandar -- 8th lvl fighter (DC)
Stephanos -- 8th/4th cleric of Apollo/archer (Paul) -or-
Allyrion -- 9th/8th cleric of Zeus/mage (Paul)
Clara -- 9th lvl cleric of Apollo (Kari)
Tony -- 8th lvl ranger of Pan (Ray)

which would still lead (worst case) to a couple of levels left...! And that's with FOUR clerics, EIGHT fighters, TWO mages (if you choose Allyrion), and a witch. True, no sneaky types, but there aren't loads of options there (Erik is too short for this ride and Cassandra is busy being a Shadow Knight)

[Jenn G]

Thera says" Andorallen, I heard that"

I think that last game put Thera up into 7th
and Andonia is still 5th.

jenn

[Andy]

Hmm...Kephalonia would certainly charm/suggest/quest or otherwise procure help if that were an option, but it looks like not possible this time. It looks like general things (penning scrolls we normally carry but used up, etc.) is okay, but nothing specific - makes sense to me.

As for the Faces, if it were an option Kephalonia would offer to use it, accepting the appropriate curses for doing so. These missions are direct acts from our gods, and if dying or becoming cursed is requred to make them successful, then each character should completely accept that. I'll point out for the record, her familiar's urging to the contrary Kephalonia does NOT want to use the faces. She would though to ensure our success.

However, this point seems moot too, as I don't imagine Treblo will be found skipping through the streets of Klarr sprinkling the path with Prisons of Zagyg.

Rangers are obviously a Very Good thing here...the more the better, agreed. Allyrion would be very valuable, and especially good to have so he doesn't keep appearing every time Brand gets beat up. Even an average archer would be helpful and even better a cleric... can Paul play 3 characters?

Definitely add the rest too...I think we'll be okay, but healing is always tight around giants.

There's got to be more Greek charactes out there...Say, can I roll up a 1st level Centaur ranger to get turned into a mural in the first room?

[David]

Howdy Elf and Everyone,

Unfortunately, the quest to acquire the Faces does not allow its use. Sorry. 8-(

I would point out, BTW, that Elf has actually played the various giants games I've run -- his experience and feedback should be QUITE valuable. As he mentioned, healing is always an issue when you're fighting giants.

There are additional Greek PCs out there (Vladimir, Adama [Ray's], Pandora, Gwen, Jasmine, Theseus, Damelia, etc). My list was just some suggestions to get the dialog started. I actually think Stephanos might be a better person for the game, but Allyrion would become an issue if combat got tight, so why not address it up front? I would take Vaughn over Stephanos, though, cuz, like Elf implied, bringing a ranger-lord to fight giants is a no-brainer.

As for "prep" time, figure you only have six or seven days TOPS (you all had to get to a good place, procure ingredients, chat with the locals and exchange news, don't know when you'll be called on, etc).

[Stephanous]

Here is an update for my characters:

Stephanous 9th/4th (he leveled on the last game)
Allyrion 9th/8th (mage/cleric)
Vaughn 10th Ranger
Theseus 8th Paladin

These are my toughest Greeks. Now, although Vaughn does a lot of damage in one hit, Theseus gets multiple strikes per round so they will probably do about the same amount of damage each round. However, Vaughn bought his spellcasting early and has access to 3rd level Druid spells from Persephone which includes the death sphere.

Stephanous is a better healer than Allyrion and can also fight as well. They both have about the same AC, Allyrion being 1 point better, Stephanous has 20 more hit points, but Allyrion is a 9th level Mage and even has damaging spells as a cleric.

If I were to pick my two best suited Greeks it would be Vaughn and Stephanous.

Paul

[charbidge]

Oops. Busted..! But, hey, he's just a kid...
Andorallen is within 5K opf 7th. I have no idea where Alexis is, but I THINK she's got the same eeps as Andonia does. They were both at all of the evenings, as I recall.