Female Construct (Clockwork) | Investigator 6 | Hp 26/33 | AC 18, Touch 13, FF 16 | CMD 20 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +6 | Per +15 | Init +6 | Active: See Invisible, Mutagen; 60m. Ablative Barrier 6h/30damage. Magic Circle against Evil 50min
Ophelia is working under the assumption that they will be assigned to investigate the matter further - and as such can acquire a simple search warrant. Otherwise, any legal venture into his lab is probably going to come far too late - and illegal entries are probably going to involve fighting and tons of hard explanations :P
Female I have nothing witty to write. :/ Half Elf The other half's AWESOME! Barbarian (Urban Barbarian) 2/Monk (Kata Master) 4
Status:
HP 34/45 | AC 14 | T 14 | F 13 | CMD 24 | F +9 | R +5 | W +7 | Init +0 | Per +13 | Panache 2/2 | Rage 3/7 | Ki 4/4
Diene plans on investigating the churches of Zarongel nearby. Someone either wants to blame them, or was affiliated with them. Unless the herring is deliciously red.
Female Construct (Clockwork) | Investigator 6 | Hp 26/33 | AC 18, Touch 13, FF 16 | CMD 20 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +6 | Per +15 | Init +6 | Active: See Invisible, Mutagen; 60m. Ablative Barrier 6h/30damage. Magic Circle against Evil 50min
I'll post my thoughts/theory below in a spoiler. On the off-chance that this is actually correct (I think it fits, but I certainly don't have all the pieces of the puzzle!), only look at it if you are okay with that : )
Speculation on the nature of Viktor's 'golems':
Hmm.
We have a berserk construct.
Said construct was made by a crafter, for cheaper then normal.
Said construct also possessed sentience above what is the norm for constructs.
Said crafter worships a godess associated with undead
Imprisoned souls to power the constructs?
Would explain why this one went berserk. A goblin soul would certainly act like it did.
Would explain the 'stench' that the Archon felt.
Would explain why Viktor expects the others to berserk too.
Would explain why he don't want us poking around in his lab.
@Diene: there aren't really many churches of Zarongel. Local goblins should have primitive pantheistic shrines, and certainly offer sacrifice.
That said, there's not that many goblins in Quantium.
Female I have nothing witty to write. :/ Half Elf The other half's AWESOME! Barbarian (Urban Barbarian) 2/Monk (Kata Master) 4
Status:
HP 34/45 | AC 14 | T 14 | F 13 | CMD 24 | F +9 | R +5 | W +7 | Init +0 | Per +13 | Panache 2/2 | Rage 3/7 | Ki 4/4
Well, if someone informed Diene of Ophelia's theory in character, she'd check with the goblins to see if unusual numbers of them haven't been showing up.
I think the conversation turned out fine. Even if it was mostly me and him bantering with Innuendo it seems ^_^
Since no one else felt a need to chime in, I'm all fine with ending it here.
Female Construct (Clockwork) | Investigator 6 | Hp 26/33 | AC 18, Touch 13, FF 16 | CMD 20 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +6 | Per +15 | Init +6 | Active: See Invisible, Mutagen; 60m. Ablative Barrier 6h/30damage. Magic Circle against Evil 50min
That was the plan. And if the Headmaster complains, we can simply refer him to the Archon. 'Seeee it is not our fault, complain with that fiery guy that wants to gut you!'
: )
And as a bonus, it might give Abel something to do for redemption other then charge head-first into the demonic hordes without his powers...
Female I have nothing witty to write. :/ Half Elf The other half's AWESOME! Barbarian (Urban Barbarian) 2/Monk (Kata Master) 4
Status:
HP 34/45 | AC 14 | T 14 | F 13 | CMD 24 | F +9 | R +5 | W +7 | Init +0 | Per +13 | Panache 2/2 | Rage 3/7 | Ki 4/4
Blank and Can Speak Goblin....
The two proposals we came up with I believe were, "Goblin as a language" Which I think we took some variant of but I don't remember, and "something for your quips" which I was all, already got, but everyone is immune to mind-affecting.
Yes, the discussion was about how you gave me the ability to take Goblin feats/traits... yet I would never use that. My trait was effectively just the language. Mia proposed a +1 fort save vs diseases and stuff, which was nifty, but we never agreed.
Human Urban Druid/6 | HP 34/39 | AC 23 T 13 FF 21 | F 6 R 5 W 12 (14) | Per +12 (14) | Init +6 | Special: Owl's wisdom 2 minutes, Barkskin 60 minutes, Long Strider 60 minutes, Spider climb 15 minutes
* Discount on Crossbow Stuff and 1 free +3 bolt(boni choosen when using) per mission.
* BLANK. You suggested something that makes me shine magic and removes penalty for size/race when disguising as human...but most of my feats and boni only work if I pretend to be a human child so that was kind of not really a benefit.
I made a counteroffer of having a completely different-looking "cover identity" as a halfling librarian, meaning one specific other halfling ID with which I can use the same boni as if pretending to be a human child.
Figured I'd do some brainstorming up front this time, rather than just try to come up with finished ideas.
Diene: I'd like a goblin themed one to explain why Zarongel likes you. Potentially that's the trait: bonus fire resistance because favoured by Zarongel.
I'm fine with +1 vs disease and ingested poisons.
Isama: I've been remembering what you said about getting as longstrider wand. I don't see a lot of druidic wand wielders, but I don't know why. Would you be interested in a wand-based trait? I was thinking something like bonus CL, or the ability to use a wand built into your buckler.
I was also seriously thinking about letting you ignore crowds. There's similar stuff in some of the new books, and it makes sense to me that an urban druid could 'be one' with a crowd in the same way that a normal druid can with nature.
Mia: If you've assembled a cover id then I'd give you a bonus anyway. Something about that sounds good though. 'Meticulous groundwork' - a way to mess with people's know:local when trying to see through specific cover ids. I'm riffing here off some of the stuff in the new vigilante book.
Human Urban Druid/6 | HP 34/39 | AC 23 T 13 FF 21 | F 6 R 5 W 12 (14) | Per +12 (14) | Init +6 | Special: Owl's wisdom 2 minutes, Barkskin 60 minutes, Long Strider 60 minutes, Spider climb 15 minutes
Well Longstrider is an amazing first level Druid spell that is useful for everyone and sticking it on a wand just makes sense. Not really looked into any other wand Isama would want.
Would love ignoring crowds in movement as a trait though!
Isama: Okay, sounds like 1 down (crowd movement) and one to go.
I try to do traits that broaden what people can do. If movement is taken care of, Isama is already pretty broad - you've got martial stuff, full caster and decent skills.
How about a trait that let you use wild empathy on urban vermin at -4 (as if they were magical beasts, basically)?
Otherwise I love the optimism and enthusiasm aspect of Isama if you wanted something around that - it sounds like a bonus versus fear.
It sounds like another niche application, but I'm down for it. I do expect it will come in handy at SOME time.
Another option, since we're already working with crowds, would be to be able to disappear in them. That is, take 10 on a stealth check to hide in crowds, and getting concealment from them.
So Isama and Diene can just "run" through them, and I could use them as cover...either getting close to someone and listening in, or escaping.(Because even if they make the Perception check to spot me, they have to get close enough that the Concealment does not allow me to sneakily move to some other part of the crowd and get lost there)
(and just to get ahead of that here: na, no sniping shenanigans or something. If I don't act completely inconspicious, I would draw attention to myself and it doesn't work)
I hope I managed to word this in a way that makes sense.(But again, for example, Diene or Isama, if able to see me, could just rush right to me and tackle me, since they are not held up by crowds...so its definitely counterable).
Human Urban Druid/6 | HP 34/39 | AC 23 T 13 FF 21 | F 6 R 5 W 12 (14) | Per +12 (14) | Init +6 | Special: Owl's wisdom 2 minutes, Barkskin 60 minutes, Long Strider 60 minutes, Spider climb 15 minutes
Can I have both? :). Would like the bonus against fear but being able to speak with vermin is amazing and really make her a creature of the city.
It sounds like another niche application, but I'm down for it. I do expect it will come in handy at SOME time.
Another option, since we're already working with crowds, would be to be able to disappear in them. That is, take 10 on a stealth check to hide in crowds, and getting concealment from them.
So Isama and Diene can just "run" through them, and I could use them as cover...either getting close to someone and listening in, or escaping.(Because even if they make the Perception check to spot me, they have to get close enough that the Concealment does not allow me to sneakily move to some other part of the crowd and get lost there)
(and just to get ahead of that here: na, no sniping shenanigans or something. If I don't act completely inconspicious, I would draw attention to myself and it doesn't work)
I hope I managed to word this in a way that makes sense.(But again, for example, Diene or Isama, if able to see me, could just rush right to me and tackle me, since they are not held up by crowds...so its definitely counterable).
Yeah, I like the ability to hide in crowds. Concealment and Take 10 makes sense.
Human Urban Druid/6 | HP 34/39 | AC 23 T 13 FF 21 | F 6 R 5 W 12 (14) | Per +12 (14) | Init +6 | Special: Owl's wisdom 2 minutes, Barkskin 60 minutes, Long Strider 60 minutes, Spider climb 15 minutes
Ignore crowd and Vermin empathy. (Pretty sure, save against fear is more powerful but vermin empathy is more flavorful).
Aye, I have not transferred it yet to my sheet because I meant to ask: How will the discount on crossbow-stuff work out? Are crossbow-related things simply cheaper, leaving me with some casual spending money for other stuff? Because the dynamic +3 bolt is nice, but if I mess up my attack roll, the only thing I got going for me is whatever else I manage to squeeze out from what little money a slightly cheaper weapon would mean.
hehe, tempting, surely, but even if I pick up ranged combat feats en masse, I still am not a full BaB class, and small with bad strenght, so compared to a human archer fighter or ranger, it will always be neglectable damage output I manage to deliver.
So I'll stay with the more flavorful feats I have. 50% off is decent indeed, especially later on. What I meant is that right now, it's a +1 Weapon, which is slightly more than 1000 GP "extra", and that will probably not be enough to pick up something grand :)
Human Urban Druid/6 | HP 34/39 | AC 23 T 13 FF 21 | F 6 R 5 W 12 (14) | Per +12 (14) | Init +6 | Special: Owl's wisdom 2 minutes, Barkskin 60 minutes, Long Strider 60 minutes, Spider climb 15 minutes
I'm thinking I'll call ignoring crowd trait "Flow of the City" and the vermin empathy "Life in the City". What do you guys think?
Sounds good.
okay, so Mia and Isama are good.
Diene? You were looking at Speak Goblin and Disease Resistant?
I think you felt that speak goblin was a skill point you'd rather spend. Were you okay with the idea of Fire Resistance as 'beloved of Zarongel'?
Sorry about the delays, I'm behind on everything if it makes you feel any better :(
Sick kids, and working weekends.
absolutely no worries here. Definitely prefer "slow and alive" over "hasty and dead". And meanwhile, I've been in a number of games where GM's seemed to try and stick to the schedule they wanted during recruitment, only to suddenly disappear at some point(assuming it got too much for them).
Thanks :)
People spent a lot of time working out stuff with the tower.
Do you actually want to run the full downtime rules?
Seems like no-one is really raising capital.
Hee...us new guys only have 2 days of downtime, and I hoped to get some affiliation with Victor for downtime.
The way I see it:
He could be innocent...in that case, I may be corrupt, but could have a steady income "working there".
He could be guilty...in that case, the more I learn about his methods, the better...because if he ends up arrested or dead, there will be a market for what he created, and I could partner up with someone, running a legit business.
He could operate in a grey area...in that case, I can learn what I can, and try to not get too closely associated, but eventually use that knowledge if one of his numerous enemies offs him.
*shrug* The things he does do seem very profitable. Mia is not beyond morality, and if she learns he really uses goblin souls to power his constructs obviously duplicating his technique is not an option for her. But in that case, anything she learns may either be worth extra payment, or be useful in an investigation against Victor(if relevant).
Human Urban Druid/6 | HP 34/39 | AC 23 T 13 FF 21 | F 6 R 5 W 12 (14) | Per +12 (14) | Init +6 | Special: Owl's wisdom 2 minutes, Barkskin 60 minutes, Long Strider 60 minutes, Spider climb 15 minutes
I guess we can choose to raise capital or influence? Isama is hoping to mollify any hard feelings the Acamedie might have had for the Guard operation even though I think we did pretty well.
Aye. What I meant to say is that you mentioned we will have 2 days of downtime.
It may well be possible to accomplish a whole lot during those, but honestly, I would take a closer look at the full downtime rules if there's a longer break to actually utilize them ;)
Human Urban Druid/6 | HP 34/39 | AC 23 T 13 FF 21 | F 6 R 5 W 12 (14) | Per +12 (14) | Init +6 | Special: Owl's wisdom 2 minutes, Barkskin 60 minutes, Long Strider 60 minutes, Spider climb 15 minutes
Yeah I think if we get 5 days or more downtime then we can take a look at side jobs. Two days is like a weekend :)
And another day machinating her send-away-Hossiter plan as well as gathering some information about the church of Iomedae (As the Gather Information downtime activity). There are three points she is interested in:
1) their thoughts on Souldbound constructs to ensure she isn't sending Hossiter to be destroyed - and to make sure she presents Hossiter in the most positive way.
2) their thoughts and doctrines on redemption, preferably trough non-violent means, so that she can also try and make sure Abel doesn't get himself killed.
3) their knowledge of the church of Urgotha in the city, in case it becomes relevant in the future!
You aren’t exactly welcomed to the church, but you aren’t exactly unwelcomed either. It’s a largel building, once sacred to Aroden, but the Iomedaen clergy inside barely fill it. In addition to services they train and hire out as mercenaries to those going through the waste. A lot of their congregation are in the Guard - though usually the more traditional military side.
It takes you a fair part of the day asking around to get a consensus.
The church does believe in redemption, but it has a very militaristic view of the heavens. There is a chain of command, and breaching that chain is a serious issue. It seems like Abel’s going to need a good lawyer, but the church assures you he’ll be issued with one. That said Abel’s plan to go back and fight in the Worldound directly addresses the punishment issue.
The church regards the creation of a soulbound doll as an abomination - souls are the domain of the gods. Punishment for such a sin would be severe. The doll itself, however, is not to blame for its creation and is, by definition, a souled creature. As such it is entitled to the rights of other ensouled beings.
The Iomedaens are hostile to the Urgathoans. Only the government’s stance on religious violence has stopped outright war. They know of the basics of that church - mainly by collecting information. They’d be prepared to pay you for information, if it was good.
It takes a little time to work through the bureaucracy, but you get the paperwork through to have Hossiter assigned. Abel agrees to take Hossiter with him, and a few of his friends in the church stop by to thank you.
Diene
Influence Downtime: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Influence Downtime: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
That’s enough to get 4 influence, but it will cost 60gp. Alternatively it’ll earn you 4.6gp towards getting the first influence.
You’d known goblins were rare in the city - but not this rare. Most cities have goblins living where others won’t go, like the sewers and the middens. A city that doesn’t discriminate? A city like Qantium? It should be crawling with goblins. You can find site after site where goblins were, years ago. All are abandoned - or more accurately inhabited by other creatures. You manage to find about ten goblin families, all of whom found a place in society years ago. They talk of a period where goblin lairs just started turning up empty. The Guard didn’t care - the city might stop discrimination, but it didn’t do much do to protect those regarded somewhere between rats and hobos.
Isama knowledge:nature:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 knowledge:nature:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 will save:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 3.6gp towards influence
Deprived of their gardener the Academae is all too keen to have some help. They’re as arrogant as ever, but none of them want to be seen to do “commoner’s work”.
You anticipate that regrowing the vines will be trivial - it is not. All your magic manages to grow only sickly, anemic vines. While you couldn’t prove it, you’re sure that either the garden was poisoned or - more likely - blighted in some way.
Mia diplomacy if sales:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 diplomacy if sales:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 alchemy if crafting:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10 alchemy if crafting:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 = 21
3.6gp if sales, 3.1gp if crafting.
Castor, against his better wishes, agrees.
Victor dines with his bodyguards, in a private area of the restaurant. Screened so you can see the other diners, but they can’t see you.
The dinner with Victor is excellent. Course after course is put before you, each more outrageous than the last. Obsequious chefs come out with each course, explaining the dish and begging diners to sample it.
Victor eats nothing like a goblin. He is polite, clean, well mannered and considerate. He is also, however, a bottomless pit when it comes to food.
Stripped of all subtlety his offer is this.
Get him information, and he’ll pay you. Cover up malfunctions and he’ll pay you. Help him get his rivals accused, and he’ll pay you. Help him make sales, and he’ll pay you. Do that for a while, get his trust, and he’ll consider bringing you further in and further up the ladder. In the meantime he’s happy to let you do some of the simpler alchemy, but for one of his suppliers.
He’s also more than happy to flirt with you. Seems that’s a possible avenue - if you really want to follow it.
His expressions are controlled enough you strongly suspect he’s prepared for this with magic.
Still, one thing you’ve learned is that everyone’s secret leaves clues somehow.
Castor You still there man?
Two days in Castor comes back from the sergeant’s briefing with a grim look.
”We’ve got a serial killer. Struck the last six nights - in different parts of the city. Warlock’s Walk area kept it quiet, but when the West Wall found the bodies in a storeroom and reported them they made the connection. No citizens yet, so the brass doesn’t care much." "I’ve volunteered us to take a look. Whatever this is - it isn’t pretty. "
Human Urban Druid/6 | HP 34/39 | AC 23 T 13 FF 21 | F 6 R 5 W 12 (14) | Per +12 (14) | Init +6 | Special: Owl's wisdom 2 minutes, Barkskin 60 minutes, Long Strider 60 minutes, Spider climb 15 minutes
Folks get murdered all the damn time Isama sighs Figure something links these bodies to each other?
Female Construct (Clockwork) | Investigator 6 | Hp 26/33 | AC 18, Touch 13, FF 16 | CMD 20 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +6 | Per +15 | Init +6 | Active: See Invisible, Mutagen; 60m. Ablative Barrier 6h/30damage. Magic Circle against Evil 50min
Castor sorta disappeared a month ago, he mentioned RL issues. Buy the look of it I think it was something non-physical - the 'I'll try and post tomorrow, but I'm not sure if I can' seems to be a strange way to talk about a broken hand or something. So I think it is something that troughoutly sucked up his motivation/peace of mind. I know that can happen to me sometimes, but as I have not (thankfully!) had to deal with any major disasters it usually passes over. But if it is something major, perhaps sickness in the family, it might take a while.
So in summary - I'm not sure if/when he will come back. But I sorta wish he did. And I certainly hope whatever vent down works out as well as possible.
If you read this Castor/Jetty - best of luck with what it is - and if you want, feel free do just drop by and say hi. We are here for you if you need/want it. : )
