Here is a thread for any out of character questions or discussions, as well as opinions regarding the adventure in general (particular like, dislikes... etc).

first of all, i vote that Steelight plays the summoner as an NPC.

Ok, now that's out of the way, should we prepare, or are we as ready as we'll ever be? On the one hand, this adventure appears to be sort of "Cloak and Dagger" so if we go about making preparations for a trip we may draw attention to ourselves, something we don't want.

On the other hand, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

So, should we travel as light as we can or load up? I know time is an issue so I figured Id ask the other players. I'll go with the consensus. Though I am excited to be a part of this I'll let someone have the honor of the first game post to set the tone.

i second that vote. i'd like to see how the summoner works but i don't want anything that complicated to start out when learning a new rule set.

um, were exactly is the rest of the party when this is going on with the cleric. are we all starting at the temple, are we all meeting up with the cleric somewhere else, or are we starting scattered and all meeting up at the same location?

since the empire is funding this are they supplying us with traveling supplies such as horses, wagon, etc. or are we on our own to get supplies for the journey? i ask because if this is a longer trip than 5 days almost all of us will need to pick up trail rations and/or other supplies.

That's basically what I asked above, do we or don't we need to prepare?

Otherwise, I gather from the wording that we are together as a group on the breach of the start of the adventure. Lauran just had to pick up the "weapon" box thingy (lol) and we could be off now, or make further preps.

I guess i just repeated most of what you asked just differently.

I'm pretty sure the half-orc being the quiet deadly type pretending not to be as smart as he really is would be the first one to chime in so i'll let someone else get things rolling in the actual game thread.

then nothing will get done. All I need to start is the answer to where we all meet. I'll make up the rest for my char.

Monk's name will be Kitara Tigereyes she had golden eyes

I didn't realize so much was going on in this thread.

To answer most of your questions:

1) The group is together, and meeting in some location. It could be a tavern, or one of the character's houses since you all live there. The exactl location doesn't realy matter, though it is still in the city of Illuria.

2) The Empire is NOT supplying any goods or supplies for your journey. You are compensated as well as you have been partially because you are independant. They don't want you to have anything that could be traced back to government involvement (except the box of course).

Also, I did have a person show some interest in the summoner. I made an inquiry to them and if I don't hear back I have another interested person. So it seems the summoner will be accompanying the party in one form or another. Until the player is resolved I will be playing him as an NPC.

Also, character names I have been given have been updated.

I looked over everyone's equipment and it seems as if we probably have most of the things we will need. I do think we may need more trail rations.
We are on a time sensitive mission so I guess my advice is to purchase more rations and anything else you think you may need.
I am also open for input as to what some of us should purchase if anyone has any ideas. We are supposed to work as a well knit team.
I have been told the trip should take about one and a half weeks if we don't stop too much.
I am going to assume that all the members of the group are present at my home and Sorgoth was the last one to arrive.
My first post is going to be somewhat short to answer the questions already posed and to allow others to jump in.

Here are a few tidbits you all would likely know.

1) The wastelands are an area created by ancient and powerful magic that drained the land of all life. (Legend)

They are frequented by savage halflings known as Nightlings, who have a fondness for poison, and are feared by even full Illurian patrolls due to their hunting/stalking prowess and thie efficiency in killing. It is also rumored to be frequnted by various undead creatures, though since your experiences with the wastelands would have only been via the roads you would not have any first hand knowledge of them.

2) Horses are almost impossible to purchasse in the capital city. The reason being that there is simply no room to raise/feed them. Several noble houses maintain their own stables, and there is a stable just outside the city for travelers. Purchasing a horse would cost 3x (or more) the normal price.

3) There is a wall outside of the city, roughly 200 yards beyond the crystal pyramid. Beyond that wall is the wasteland. So meeting up 1/2 mile beyond the gates may not be the best idea survival-wise, but I leave that decision to you.

Any questions?

Because I started the game 2 days late I will refrain from an official game update until next Sunday. (unless we get all questions answered, supplies dealt with and are ready to leave the city prior to that).

We won't have enough funds, at minimum 3x cost, even if all the money is pooled together to buy horses for everyone. Should we try to just get 1 horse and a cart or small wagon or should we just go by foot?

Are there any caravans or such leaving town we could blend in with till we get far enough away not to look suspicious? We could also steal the horses from them if we have to right? I'm thinking Gosk wouldn't have a problem with the strong taking from the weak because that's the way things work. The strong survive by taking from the weak. I think that's in character for him but I'm not completely sure.

I vote to use our funds for anti-toxin and remove poison items. Those Nightling Halflings sound nasty. And/or something that could affect the possible undead. I'm thinking Gosk wouldn't like undead because its against the natural progression of life. When he kills things they should stay dead.

You could steal the horses, but then you would be pursued by the Illurian law (and stealing from nobles is anything by subtle as far as drawing attention to yourselves).

Magic items (subject to my approval) are easily available in the Empire. Potions and scrolls can be purchased (again subject to my approval) for 10% less than the value found in the Pathfinder Core Rulebook.

Also, a wagon would likely not do well going overland through the wastelands. The terrain is generally rough (hills, dead trees, burrowed caves, the occasional large crack int he ground, etc.) So you could easily by a wagon, but there is a chance that it will actually slow you down due to the rough terrain. If you got it through the wastelands and managed to meet up with the road once beyond them, it would allow for more carrying capacity, but it wouldn't affect your travel time all that much (I don't believe... but I will look up the movement stuff to verify).

Looks like the tone and circumstances are set for us to go on foot, and against us riding, unless dakarta or I can use our natural persuasiveness as Valshari to sweet talk the nobles into selling us horses at the normal price cause we're buying in bulk. lol

Too bad there is no such spell as "Greater Tenser's Floating Disk". We could buy one horse and have the horse pull the disk as we ride on it. The bumps and rough terrain wouldn't be effective then. All Im saying is that magic may be the answer to our travel woes but the answer hasn't presented itself to me yet.

With the crystal pyramid and outer wall and all, I edited my last post to reflect the knowledge we would have of the layout. You were right, it would not be the safest or wisest idea to gather and meet 1/2 a mile outside of that wall seeing how the wastes start just outside of it. "sitting ducks" mean anything to you all? lol

So, let us gather at that wall. I for one can walk and not ride without much undue strain, just so long I don't have to tun all the way.

The estimated week and a half travel time is assuming normal travel (8 hours a day) with no forced marches, no excessive rest periods and no interferences or delays.

And it is just that, an estimation. Your missions and travles haven't taken you to Bevaris before so you don't know exactly how long the journey will take.