City of Strangers: The Godsmouth Heresy

Game Master James Keegan

not really all that much I can do. staggered and non-strenuous only doesn't leave a lvl 1 mage much ...

Detressa’s course of action is quite dependant on what others do, so I will wait till a few others have posted their actions for this round.

Round Three:
With a quick prayer to Sarenrae, Mara reloads her crossbow and fires at the flying rune of wrath.

Move action to load light crossbow. Standard action to fire.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Initiative- round 4
Wrath: 22 (Burning Hands- Kua and Waya)
Badang: 21 (Cure Light Wounds- self 7 hp, )
Sister Mara: 19 (reload, fire crossbow- hit 2 hp)
Yang: 18 (stable at 0)
Uwais: 17 (pending)
Kua and Waya: 16 (saves and actions pending)
Detressa: 15 (pending for other actions)

You all have a cure light wounds potion from your employer, by the way, in case Yang wants to use it. Or he could step back into a corner to catch his breath.

Uwais reloads and fires again at the low-flying rune. "Almost..." The sound of stone connecting with stone brings a savage grin to his face.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Waya's reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Waya gives an angry howl as the flames smoulder on her coat, but leaps again at the rune. Her teeth snap uselessly as she misses.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Initiative- round 4

Wrath: 22 (Burning Hands- Kua and Waya)
Badang: 21 (Cure Light Wounds- self 7 hp, )
Sister Mara: 19 (reload, fire crossbow- hit 2 hp)
Yang: 18 (stable at 0)
Uwais: 17 (pending)
Kua and Waya: 16 (saves and actions pending)
Detressa: 15 (pending for other actions)

You all have a cure light wounds potion from your employer, by the way, in case Yang wants to use it. Or he could step back into a corner to catch his breath.

d'oh ... forgot about that.

Yang digs out the potion of clw he received earlier, getting ready to drink it ...

because I'm staggered, I think I can only retrieve the potion this round, and drink it next.

I'm a little divided on whether I'm going to act for Kua this round or not. I'll give him a little more time to post, since I know he's busy.

Warden of Doors wrote:

Initiative- round 4

Wrath: 22 (Burning Hands- Kua and Waya)
Badang: 21 (Cure Light Wounds- self 7 hp, )
Sister Mara: 19 (reload, fire crossbow- hit 2 hp)
Yang: 18 (stable at 0)
Uwais: 17 (pending)
Kua and Waya: 16 (saves and actions pending)
Detressa: 15 (pending for other actions)

You all have a cure light wounds potion from your employer, by the way, in case Yang wants to use it. Or he could step back into a corner to catch his breath.

d'oh ... forgot about that.

Yang digs out the potion of clw he received earlier, getting ready to drink it ...

because I'm staggered, I think I can only retrieve the potion this round, and drink it next.

Ehh. I think it's a little silly to tack that on. It makes sense that you would put it somewhere safe for an emergency rather than at the bottom of your backpack. You can drink it this round... or just hold it to see if your comrades kill the rune if you want to hold onto it as long as possible.

Kua reflex save vs. burning hands: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Kua greataxe w/power attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d12 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Kua takes 4 hp damage from the burning hands, but his wild and powerful attack misses the tricky rune.

Just waiting on Detressa's action. The rune looks like it could break apart with a little "encouragement".

Right then ...

Detressa pulls out her sling and lobs a stone at the flying rune. Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4, Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Round Five Action

Kua grunts as the flames singe his skin but the half orc grits his teeth and takes another swing at the rune. This time a little more carefully..

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Damage 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Apologies for the hold up everyone.

Round Five Action

Kua grunts as the flames singe his skin but the half orc grits his teeth and takes another swing at the rune. This time a little more carefully..

Attack 1d20+4

Damage 1d12+4

Apologies for the hold up everyone.

No problem. Since you rolled soon after I rolled for your PC I think I'll take your roll instead of mine just to finish the fight, unless everyone else objects.

Waya is seared by the sheet of flame while Kua escapes with a few burns. Badang's hands glow with light as he mends his own burns. Both Mara's crossbow bolt and Uwais' sling stone find their mark on the flying rune. While Yang pulls out his healing potion I'll leave it to your discretion if you use it Kua swings his greataxe with peerless accuracy, breaking the murderous rune on the stones.
Combat is over, good work! That's 135 XP each.

I'll hold for a minute and see if Detressa decides to use a few channels or not ...

*peels off bits of burnt skin*
Anybody else needs assistance with their wounds? I know I did, heh.
*motions Yang to sit still while he pinches his chin and delivers a burst of healing energy* Casts CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Kua lifts up a chunk of the broken rune to take a closer look. What manner of creature do you think this was? Kua asks nobody in particular.

“I don’t think it was a creature at all,” answers Detressa. “I suspect it is part of some sort of magical ward set up by the agents of the ancient Rune Lords to protect this repository. Now ... is anyone in need of further healing? I have limited ability to channel Pharasma’s gift, and I would prefer to keep as much as possible in reserve to combat the undead creatures we have been told about ... but if people are in dire need ...”

As her companions tend their wounds, Sister Mara points out the interesting things she found before the group was attacked.

"See that symbol on the wall there? It seems different from the rest."

"And here," she adds as she picks up three stone tablets. "These do not bear the strange ancient language, but rather the universal language of magic."

At Mara's observation, Uwais instinctively steps back. "So did these trigger the trap, or are these more traps?" he asks.

"Hmm.. I'm fairly certain the door contained no traps. Perhaps the.." Kua stops for a moment to remember Detressa's words "..runelord's wards were able to sense us magically? Either way, I don't think there is much to this room other than incomprehensible scribbling. If you all want to continue investigating it, I will guard our rear."

Kua hefts his ax over his shoulder and steps back into the hallway to keep watch.

Magic writing you say? Let me see what it means. Badang approaches the three tablets Sister Mara was holding.
*cast Read Magic*

The first tablet contains arcane magic: hold portal and identify. The other two are carved with divine spells: cure disease on one and shatter on the other. Each weighs about five pounds.

Should ask the wizard if he is interested in the first tablet. I could carry these tablets until we need it.
If anyone else wants to hold on to the tablets, Badang would relent.

Should ask the wizard if he is interested in the first tablet. I could carry these tablets until we need it.

If anyone else wants to hold on to the tablets, Badang would relent.

Badang's spell heals the burned flesh on Yang; the smell of burned mage slowly wafting away. With the offer of the tablet, he speaks up. "I thank youfor your healing and the tablet; yes, to hold onto it would be good for me. Help me place into my pack."

“Those tablets are too bulky and heavy for me to easily carry around,” says Detressa. “Mara and Badang, your magic is of the divine, can you use them?”

Was anyone in dire need of healing – I can cast a CLW or channel energy if required.

Several patches of Waya's fur are scorched away, blisters forming in patches of exposed skin. She begins licking her wounds, seated next to her halfling companion.
The wolf has 12 hp left out of 20.

Uwais pets his wounded friend. "Waya is wounded," he says quietly. "The flame-rune surprised her."

Detressa nods. Looking for Uwais’ permission (and to be sure that he is soothing the animal), she then lays her cold hand on the wolf’s flank and calls on the power of her goddess to soothe the beast’s wounds.

Burn bless to spontaneously cast cure light wounds for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 healing.

At the very least moisture would not degrade their letterings. Badang packs the tablet into Yang's pack. Is there anything else of interest here, or could we move on?

Oh, since I'm acting as look out, I should probably have rolled perception, duh. :-P

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Beyond the oddly shaped (seemingly removable) carving in the wall, Kua notices nothing odd. The Ossuary seems as silent as a tomb in the halls outside.

Detressa nods. Looking for Uwais’ permission (and to be sure that he is soothing the animal), she then lays her cold hand on the wolf’s flank and calls on the power of her goddess to soothe the beast’s wounds.

Uwais nods gratefully, and Waya licks Detressa's hand in a friendly manner. "Our thanks," Uwais says simply.

Ready to move on? Just let me know which direction.

Our sojourn here to the archives here was interesting. It would serve a useful place to rest should we need it. Let us proceed on to the pit the snake mentioned earlier

"Agreed. I think it matters not which we go to." what's the weight of the tablets?

Following Yrix the Great's proper directions, you take a left out of the archive heading north for about thirty feet until it hits a T intersection going left and right. On the left side is an alcove with a heavy door emblazoned with a strange seven pointed star symbol. To the right, the hallway continues about 40 feet to end in another door.

"Agreed. I think it matters not which we go to." what's the weight of the tablets?

Five pounds each.

As they walk, Detressa speaks quietly to Chen. “Do you know much about alchemy? Could one animate the dead through alchemical rather than magical means? I am thinking back to Yrix’s description of the necromancer ... ‘leather clothes and always has potions’; of course that could be a wizard or a priest, but it strikes me as an apt description for some of the alchemists I have seen in the city.”

As they walk, Detressa speaks quietly to Chen. “Do you know much about alchemy? Could one animate the dead through alchemical rather than magical means? I am thinking back to Yrix’s description of the necromancer ... ‘leather clothes and always has potions’; of course that could be a wizard or a priest, but it strikes me as an apt description for some of the alchemists I have seen in the city.”

Sorry, wrong avatar.

Slight bit of retcon while I catch up...

“Those tablets are too bulky and heavy for me to easily carry around,” says Detressa. “Mara and Badang, your magic is of the divine, can you use them?”

"Yes, my magic is granted to me by the Dawnflower, but I'm afraid those are not spells that I am blessed to be able to cast," Sister Mara replies to Detressa's question.

Beyond the oddly shaped (seemingly removable) carving in the wall, Kua notices nothing odd. The Ossuary seems as silent as a tomb in the halls outside.

"Perhaps we should take this with us?" Sister Mara comments as she takes the oddly shaped carving down from wall. "Who knows, maybe it will come in handy."

Following Yrix the Great's proper directions, you take a left out of the archive heading north for about thirty feet until it hits a T intersection going left and right. On the left side is an alcove with a heavy door emblazoned with a strange seven pointed star symbol. To the right, the hallway continues about 40 feet to end in another door.

Sister Mara thinks back to the descriptions provided by Yrix the Great. "I think this door corresponds to the one Yrix said descend lower into the plateau where small rag-clothed bipeds dwell in the darkness," Mara says, pointing to the door inscribed with the seven-pointed star. "If that's the case, then that other door should lead to the great pit," she adds, pointing to the door at the eastern end of the hallway.

Praying to the Everlight for illumination, Mara carefully inspects both doors. (Cast Guidance before inspecting each door)

Perception check (West Door): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13
Perception check (East Door): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11

DM Mothman wrote:

As they walk, Detressa speaks quietly to Chen. “Do you know much about alchemy? Could one animate the dead through alchemical rather than magical means? I am thinking back to Yrix’s description of the necromancer ... ‘leather clothes and always has potions’; of course that could be a wizard or a priest, but it strikes me as an apt description for some of the alchemists I have seen in the city.”

Sorry, wrong avatar.

"I do. And yes, that was something I thought, also. But can it be used to animate the dead? Let me think ..."

knowledge arcana 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
craft alchemy 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Slight bit of retcon while I catch up...

Warden of Doors wrote:

Beyond the oddly shaped (seemingly removable) carving in the wall, Kua notices nothing odd. The Ossuary seems as silent as a tomb in the halls outside.

"Perhaps we should take this with us?" Sister Mara comments as she takes the oddly shaped carving down from wall. "Who knows, maybe it will come in handy."

"Yes, agreed, but in the future, you may want to let me check things like that for traps.

On the left side is an alcove with a heavy door emblazoned with a strange seven pointed star symbol.

Kua goes to work checking around the door frame and on the door itself for any hidden mechanisms.

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

(Back in the Archives...)
Mara grasps the strange carving and pulls it out with ease.

(In the hall...)
Both doors appear devoid of any mechanical trap or trigger. The door with the seven-pointed star has a very sturdy lock, however.

Yang:

Continuing his discussion with Detressa, Yang switches to Infernal since he speaks it more fluently

Infernal

Warden

Continuing his discussion with Detressa, Yang switches to Infernal since he speaks it more fluently

Infernal
** spoiler omitted **

Warden
** spoiler omitted **

Yang

"The star is another symbol of Thasilon. It is 'Sihedron' and means the seven virtues of rule. They came to be the seven sins and are meant to represent seven schools of magic. Not divination, though."

Updated Godsmouth Ossuary Catacombs Map

Satisfied with her inspection of both doors, Sister Mara grasps the handle of the door at the eastern end of the hallway and glances back at her companions. "Shall we continue onward?" she asks.

Mara shoulders open the heavy door to reveal a circular room, filled by a thirty foot diameter pit, its bottom lost in darkness. The ceiling arches twenty feet above the pit, which is encircled by a narrow, five-foot wide walkway. A door stands in the opposite wall of the room, across the pit.

DM Screen:

"Does anyone have magical light that we could send into the pit? Maybe we can see how deep it is or where it leads."

“Yrix said this pit was deep – presumably it leads to a deeper level of the undercity,” says Detressa, glancing down. “I could cast a spell of light on something and throw it down, but if it is as deep as he implies we may not see much. He also mentioned that undead sometimes emerge from this pit. If we throw something down there we may risk disturbing something that we’ll wish we hadn’t; I’d rather deal with what horrors lurk here in the ossuary before inviting other dangers in.”

The Half Orc's eyebrows go up at the mention of drawing more enemies.

"Ah, yes. Perhaps we should move on then.. erm... quietly."

Kua begins to carefully move forward along the walkway.

Stealth 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Here is the character generation/ooc discussion thread for the game. I'll give you all a choice for ability scores: either 20 point buy or we roll 4d6 through the die roller and discard the lowest six times. If we roll, you must use your rolls unless you get all 5s, 3s, etc. Everyone uses the same method, so we need to vote on it.

Hook: all of you have been asked/forced to work with the clergy of Pharasma in the Bottoms district to discretely look into some disturbances in the ossuary below the cathedral. Perhaps you are a member of the congregation, but you need not be affiliated with the church: the faction you belong to may have loaned you out as a favor, perhaps the Pharasmins provided much needed healing in exchange for future services, etc.

I can offer more info on the neighborhoods and factions of Kaer Maga if you need it as well as help with backgrounds as you like.

I think I'm going to go with the aspiring bloat mage here. My personal preference would be for the 20 point buy, but will go as the group votes.

I'm also happy with point buy but it isn't a big deal to me. I'll go either way. I've been wanting to play a ranger archer recently if that fits in with everyone else.

It will be 95% dungeon starting out, if things go well and we expand to a full campaign then urban and subterranean sections will come in too. So a ranger or druid focused for those environments will do well. I would say only halflings or gnomes could really be mounted combatants since it will mostly take place in confined spaces.

For rangers, a Duskwarden would be a good fit or one of the Freemen of the Bottoms district. Or of course a complete independent.

Sounds good. I'll probably take a look at some of the APG variants if that's okay. Also, I own City of Strangers, but haven't read it yet. Should I check it out or would there be too many spoilers?

I own it also, and have read it. Fantastic book; one of the best of the Campaign Setting line, IMO. James would know for sure, since he has the adventure, but I don't get the impression there's all that much spoiler-type material in it; in fact, I'd probably say it gives a great idea and flavor of what the city's like.

James - Are we allowed the standard books here - Core & APG? Any of the Campaign Setting or Companion books?

Well, I'm not sure yet how much will be worked in. If you want to preserve the surprise and sense of discovery, maybe hold off on delving into the history and dungeons and such. But it is a great book, so it's up to you how much you want to read it.

Point buy sounds good to me. I was also thinking of a mounted archer ranger, but I'm pretty flexible, so I'll see what other people are thinking before I start creation. Definitely some kind of ride-oriented halfling, though...

I own it also, and have read it. Fantastic book; one of the best of the Campaign Setting line, IMO. James would know for sure, since he has the adventure, but I don't get the impression there's all that much spoiler-type material in it; in fact, I'd probably say it gives a great idea and flavor of what the city's like.

James - Are we allowed the standard books here - Core & APG? Any of the Campaign Setting or Companion books?

Only the premise of the adventure is in the sourcebook, so no worries on immediate spoilage. Stuff outside of core and APG is on a case by case basis; tell what you're looking at and I'll think about it.

Don't really have anything in mind, other than the Bloatmage Initiate feat (from City of Strangers). Just was curious what we could use.

Point buy sounds good to me. I was also thinking of a mounted archer ranger, but I'm pretty flexible, so I'll see what other people are thinking before I start creation. Definitely some kind of ride-oriented halfling, though...

Great minds think alike I suppose. I was also thinking about a ranger/archer (not mounted). I'd still like to do a ranger, but I could go Melee.

I was going to suggest a cavalier, but they're pretty melée/charge focused. I guess ranger, fighter or even druid are the best options depending on your priorities. Or a paladin, but that's a rough choice in Kaer Maga.

Good luck with this, James. The City of Strangers is a fun place to adventure from what I have read.

Cheers

So, my initial thoughts are a half orc ranger with the skirmisher and urban ranger archetypes, if that's cool.

Point buy or dice rolling are ok with me. Happy to go with point buy if that is the trend (particularly as the dice roller here has not been that good to me lately!).

Character-wise I will probably either go for a cleric of Pharasma or a melee based fighter (re-hashing Mal from the Explorers of the Inner Sea campaign as it looks like that one is probably dead in the water at this stage). I will think on it and see what others are playing.

James, I don’t have the City of Strangers book, have been seriously thinking of getting it ... if it’s recommended reading I’ll do so.

Okay, can't resist, I'm reading bits of City of Strangers. Duskwardens look really cool.

I highly recommend City of Strangers; I really think it's a perfect city book as well as an awesome location in the setting. There are so many cool ideas waiting to be fleshed out, great locations and strange neighborhoods and people that you wouldn't find in other books.

Jam412- no problem with that at all, though if you want to be a Duskwarden I would hesitate on taking urban ranger just because the favored terrain (dungeon) and (urban) seems like a handy thing for that type of character. Though, honestly, the favored community is just a more narrow version of favored terrain. So if you want urban ranger, we can just reskin it "Duskwarden" and re-introduce favored terrain as is, just limiting it to underground or urban areas.

Bryan- Yeah, you can certainly take Bloatmage Initiate and I'll seriously consider anything else you like. That goes for everyone.

It looks like 20 point buy has won out, so we can use that. I would like you to roll for starting gp along the equipment guidelines.

starting gold 2d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 x10 = 70gp

law of averages wins out

Probably a silly question, but are we starting at first level for this game?

Alright, you’ve pretty well convinced me on City of Strangers. Unfortunately this month’s AP subscription just shipped yesterday, so if I want to combine shipping it will probably be late February before I can get this in my hot little hands (I prefer hard copies to PDFs).

Yes indeed, first level it is.

Thanks for including me in this! I'll get cracking on my inquisitor.

Starting gold: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 1, 5) = 15 x10 = 150 gp

Yay. Thanks for including me. On-call today, I'll get an oracle up soon.

Dice! 5d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 1, 4) = 13X10 =130

I had a hard time getting this post to stick.

Yeah, I had problems in our other game. Whole update devoured by Yog-Sothoth!

Take as long as you need guys, we have a couple of weeks before I'm ready to get the actual game rolling.

Hey, sorry about the unexpected absence - it's been a really crazy couple of days here (evidently now I'm a sleepwalker!) and now I have friends from out of town visiting.

When things quiet down, I think I'm going to make a Wolf Shaman druid, focusing on riding the wolf animal companion. So in terms of party make-up...

Jam412's Half-orc ranger
Max's Inquisitor
Randall's Oracle
Mothman's Cleric or Fighter
Bryan's bloatmage? What class is this going to be?
and one halfling druid.

Hey, sorry about the unexpected absence - it's been a really crazy couple of days here (evidently now I'm a sleepwalker!) and now I have friends from out of town visiting.

When things quiet down, I think I'm going to make a Wolf Shaman druid, focusing on riding the wolf animal companion. So in terms of party make-up...

Jam412's Half-orc ranger
Max's Inquisitor
Randall's Oracle
Mothman's Cleric or Fighter
Bryan's bloatmage? What class is this going to be?
and one halfling druid.

My bloatmage will be a wizard, most likely. I was tossing around the idea of a witch or sorcerer, but in the end I decided to basically re-purpose a character from a defunct PbP who was an evoker ...

Gold-roll=3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) = 7 x 10 = 70gp
Ach!

We aren't using traits, right?

That's right, no traits.

We aren't using traits, right?

Jam, is your ranger likley to be melee based?

It looks as though we might have a fair few divine casters, some decent combat ability and an arcane caster.

I am happy to consider switching to a rogue type character if the general consensus is that the group could benefit from one. Chances are I would concentrate on trap finding / springing rather than a combat rogue in this case.

EDIT: I'm really not sure at this stage, haven't really settled on a solid concept for this game yet ... am not completely discarding the ideas of cleric or fighter yet.

Also, how, if at all, were people thinking their characters might be associated with the Church of Pharasma (or ... what’s your hook)?

Jam412 wrote:

We aren't using traits, right?

Jam, is your ranger likley to be melee based?

Yup! I'm considering going for the two handed style and using a great axe. Also, I'm doing the urban ranger archetype so I'll have access to trap finding at 3rd level and disable device is a class skill for me.

Also, how, if at all, were people thinking their characters might be associated with the Church of Pharasma (or ... what’s your hook)?

Not entirely sure yet, but I was heading towards the "on loan" route. I wasn't looking at him as a worshipper of Pharasma.

I'm picturing my character as someone that the clergy of Pharasma has called in to look into the disturbances in the ossuary below the cathedral. While not a worshipper of Pharasma, my inquisitor of Sarenrae is something of a hunter of undead, and agrees with the Pharasmin view that it is a holy duty to put undead to rest (I'm assuming that the 'disturbances in the ossuary below the cathedral' involve undead).

Yes, bodies are going missing in the Ossuary and they need some discrete help
lest anyone find out. Naturally, they suspect the undead and they can't trust their own people.

Also, how, if at all, were people thinking their characters might be associated with the Church of Pharasma (or ... what’s your hook)?

Well, my ranger is going to be a Duskwarden. They are a faction that hunts down beasties in the tunnels below Kaer Magga. I'm assuming the Pharasman church will have petitioned them for aid in this matter.

The Duskwardens have made it their ongoing duty to map out the levels below Kaer Maga. The Church of Pharasma has long resisted opening the Ossuary to them for this, but now that they need help they've made an exchange- send someone in to help and while they're there they are allowed to make maps for the Duskwarden's records.

James,

Would this work for my wizard? Summary:

Alright, having given it some further thought last night, I am tending strongly towards going with my original idea of playing a cleric of Pharasma.

As such ... 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 5, 3) = 12 x 10 = 120gp.

James,

Would this work for my wizard? Summary: ** spoiler omitted **

Bryan:

Hmmm.. I was going to have my favored enemy be undead. Should I switch it and if so, do you have any suggestions?

Well, it looks like many of you are geared against undead. So it's up to you if you want to continue with that. Humans and aberrations are good alternatives for a Duskwarden, as are vermin.

Bryan wrote:

James,

Would this work for my wizard? Summary: ** spoiler omitted **

Bryan: ** spoiler omitted **

Works for me!

Okay, cool. I'll probably go human but I'm gonna think it over a bit.

I think that will change my background flavor a bit, but not in a bad way. Well, bad for humans, I suppose... ;-)

Jeez are the rules for animal companions a hassle.

Just bumping this to let y'all know that I'm still alive and working.

Are we doing full hit points for the first HD? Does that apply to animal companions too? They get 2 HD at first level, so it would be either 2d8+4 or 1d8+12.

And starting gold: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7 equals 70 gp to start.

Max hp at first level, which extends to the animal companion- so 1d8+12 including first HD and Con bonus.

And what were you thinking about for a background? An escaped slave gone feral might work; you could have ties to the Freemen in the Bottoms. There are also halfling communities clustered around the city, some even inter-marrying with humans.

Considering an escaped slave from a Chelaxian performing troupe, come to the city for it's famous anarchy and freedoms. Joined up with the Freemen once in the city, for protection from any that may seek to reclaim him or the wolf that he stole.

Loose plan, clearly, but it's coming.

Wolf HP - 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

I've started putting together my cleric of Pharasma, this is probably the avatar I will use.