First off, this book was overall pretty good; definitely one of the best so far. It was really nice to have the smaller cast because NPCs got more development, even if that development was of their bad, crazy sides. Still, takes more than one side to make up a person, so it really brought their personalities out. I'm looking forward to the side-RPs even more after this. What's even better about it is most of them are all too aware of what happened back in the city and it's really getting to them. We'll see if the fallout can be handled nicely. Also, Menetnashte is the Anubite? Whoa. At least we know now what "given up unto Anubis means." Pretty darn cool
The Remy encounter was handled quite nicely thanks to some good rolls and a few nicely-timed utility spells. It still had some urgency in it, especially for me when the NPCs ran off to find MR. I imagine there was a collective sigh of relief when everyone came back safe and mostly in one piece. Without the fortunate presence of stone shape and control water, that would've been a much different encounter.
The obelisk encounter...well it was weird. I suppose the obstacles didn't bother me so much, but the "permanence" of the false void was rather frustrating. I think the biggest issue with me is the whole start of it felt entirely misleading and a little forced. We got a chance to talk to Devereux before the event started and it felt like we were standing right there next to him -- after all, who really holds a conversation with someone 200 feet away? Then the map goes up and suddenly we're at the opposite end of this huge chamber? Like I said, very misleading and seems rather contrived. I understand exactly why we started at the opposite end of the room, but I think it really should've been set up toward that end better. The rest of it, it seemed to go okay, but I admit that it gets frustrating constantly dealing with incapacitating effects. Every time we get a step forward, it seems like something throws us back two steps. I suppose that is part of the point and in the end it worked out fine. And we managed to win, in the end. There were a few strategic things that would've made it a whole different fight (if Lia had been able to cast mass fly at the start of round 1 rather than the end, for example) but ah well.
Also, in regards to the cutscene...Lily "evil" came from a mile away. Kuzan and I have both known for a long time that she and Sam have been engaging in 'activities.' I don't think Guy is "evil," though. I think he's in it for his own reasons and is convinced Sam's Conspiracy is the best way to get to those reasons. Remember, Guy is the one that initially stopped Jervis from killing Harris. Same thing with Michel. He just wants to be with the group he's sure will keep the debt collectors with big sticks away from him. The 'evil' is mostly Sam, Jervis, Fassahd, and Lily. The rest mostly have personal reasons for going along with that group's crimes.
