GM Rednal's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Ravenscrag - Cliff Level
Ravenscrag - Prison Level
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I've noticed some interest in having this game run, so... why not? Personal interest can help keep a game going, after all!

Number of Openings: 3

Build Rules: Characters will be built on a 25 point buy, under Gestalt rules. I'd normally tell you more, but I don't want you to actually build your character yet. Just get a general sense of what class combination, party roles (plural, please - try to cover two or more obviously different roles, not one role that you just do really, really well), caravan role(s), and so on you'll be taking.

Note: This is the Eastern-themed adventure. I would like classes to be thematically appropriate - for example, Samurai will be considered before Fighters, Ninjas before Rogues, and so on. All Paizo material is accepted (though you shouldn't expect much success from guns or technology), and third-party content is available on request.

How To Apply: Give me the Ten Minute Background on your character. I may ask questions designed to help you expand on your ideas. In addition, cite your intended classes and party roles at the beginning of your outline. The chosen characters will be asked to expand on their backgrounds later on to give them ties with the other PCs. I'll be encouraging you to come up with these together - many PbP games have characters created entirely separately, and I'd like to see what effect more of a group format will have on the process. I will be judging you on your literacy, your ability to create an interesting character, your creativity, and the thematic appropriateness of your submission.

Caravans: Optional. If you don't know what this is about, check out the Jade Regent Player's Guide. However, I run quite a few tables... and to be blunt, this is a fair bit of work. If one of the participating players is willing to keep track of the caravan's information - and the other two don't mind the rules being used - then we'll do it. This isn't a mandatory part of the AP, so we don't have to use it.

Soul Points: Yes.

Soul Points Primer:

What are Soul Points?

Soul Points are kind of like PFS Boons - they’re one-use points that you can use to give yourself some sort of bonus in Pathfinder games currently being run. Soul Points are generally awarded for completing things (sections of Adventure Paths, individual modules, etc.), encouraging players to stick with the game and keep moving forward. The more points you have, the better the things you can buy - and some of the things you can get are very nice indeed. Do you want to flesh out your character with a trait, have that one added feat to perfect your build, or pocket some extra cash? Now you can.

Unless noted otherwise, each reward may only be purchased once in any given game. However, you may trade in for the rewards at any time - though some rewards may require you to visit a town or other resting area to claim.

Current Rewards

1 Soul Point = 200 Gold (Up to 5 per-game)
3 Soul Points = 1 Bonus Trait (Normal restrictions apply - no duplicates from the same category)
6 Soul Points = 1 Bonus Feat (that you qualify for)

Variable Cost Rewards

Additional Class Feature: Characters may acquire additional class features (from Archetypes they would normally qualify for) by paying 5 + half the level the ability is gained at (minimum: 1). These class abilities are in addition to what a character normally gains at that level. The character must meet the level requirement of that ability before obtaining it. This reward may be selected more than once. Note that this does not allow a character to select multiple options from their normal class features - i.e. Clerics cannot select a third Domain, Wizards can’t choose another School, and so on (unless the ability a character is getting specifically allows such things). In some cases, a specific combination of abilities may be denied due to being too powerful - check with your GM if you're unsure.

Additional Spells Per Day: Casters may prepare/cast an additional spell of a given level each day by paying a number of Soul Points equal to that level. For example, spending 4 Soul Points would allow a caster to cast an additional 4th Level spell each day. This reward may be selected more than once, but only one time for each level of spells.

Additional Spells Known: Casters may also learn new spells by spending Soul Points, with the same pricing as above - the only exception to this is for 0th Level spells, which also cost 1 Soul Point to learn. This reward may be selected more than once.

Note: Both the Additional Spells Per Day and Additional Spells Known rewards require casters to be capable of casting spells of a given level before they can gain a reward for that level - for example, a caster can’t obtain an extra 3rd Level spell each day until they can already cast 3rd Level spells.

Recruitment will be open for a minimum of one week (through the 10th), possibly longer if interest remains strong.


Well, I'm interested. I've been looking for a chance to play a Samsaran Warpriest or Zen Archer; this seems like a good way to play both as a gestalt.

I will start posting the ten minute Background for the character later.


If I do sign up, I would go Fighter/Arcanist. Not specifically the Arcanist class, but something down the lines of wizard/sorcerer/arcanist/magus/witch. But definitely fighter

I would focus on a few things. Knowledge power If I can, as well as hitting things hard and being a tank. He will also have some ranks into the physical skills if we need them. Like if someone has to swim at the bottom of a lake for something, I can help with that, or climb a ledge to get something, I can help with that. As far as spells go, you can see mostly abjuration, enchantment and Illusion spells and transmutation, stuff like fly, haste, and ape walk are all good spells, and that is just transmutation. As far as abjuration, it would be spells that would benefit everyone, not just me, it would be stuff like alarm or protection from chaos instead of shield. I'm not going for attack spells, but buffs, not only attack and defense buffs, but skill buffs, as well as thing that can help out in situations, like illusions to distract an enemy or invisibility so people can sneak by. You might see one attack spell out of about 10, and it would be something that autohits like magic missile or burning hands from the evocation list if we have trouble getting past the enemies ac or has damage reduction to normal hits.

edit: though I would try to fit your eastern theme for classes. get background up later. been wanting to get in JR for a while, never got passed book 1.


I would love for the opportunity to get Yui into play. She is a witch which uses shadow magic as her hexes and her source of magic. No idea what I would gestalt her with, but I am just so much in love with her personality and playstyle, that I am hoping to run Jade Regent with her some day. I will have to think on what other class works with that shadow theme, perhaps a divine casting class or a type of alchemist, not sure yet.

I will work on her 10 min background tomorrow, but I'll leave her description and background here as a taste of what to come.

Yui is a small Wayang girl who met Ameiko during her childhood and became friends with her. She lost contact over a period of time but met her again on her travels. She is a social, knowledgeable and very stealthy person. She has a lot of tricks up her sleeve and has some form of manipulation over the shadows. She likes to joke around and and is an overall happy little person with weird humor. She falls asleep at weird times, especially during hot days and after a nice meal. During their childhood Yui would often crawl up against Ameiko after dinner.

background as Yui would say it:

How Yui would tell her background is using her shadow stencils. With those she creates several shadows on the wall that tell her story.
"10 years ago Amie was very bored and lonely. She didn't have anything fun to do in the dreary town of Sandpoint."
She creates a shadow which look very similar to Ameiko. She is walking around, kicking stones in a town that looks like Sandpoint where tumbleweeds roll through streets.
"Then on one joyous day, a group of traveling Tien merchants arrived in Sandpoint to study western craftsmanships and learn the language and customs to improve their own trade. Among that group was a family of Wayangs, two parents and the most adorably little girl any had ever seen. Me!"
She creates the bored folk of Sandpoint looking on at the horizon where a caravan of Tien merchants arrive in the city bringing much joy to the town. And when she draws her parents and herself there the town is partying even more! There is quite some embellishment of her own persona, as she looks like a little princess.

"I found Amie-chan when she was bored and I brought joy and happiness in her lives. Together we went on many brave adventures fighting dragons, giants and even that nasty old cat Mister Fluffy from oba-chan Niska."
You see Ameiko and Yui hunting lizards, stealing food from markets where adults yell after them and the most fearsome cat you ever saw chasing the trio down the streets.

"But alas, it would not last. After 5 years, my parents and the other Tien merchants missed their own country and wanted to return there. Yui pleaded and begged but they would not allow her to stay with her friends. And so they dragged me back to Tien where I would wait until I was of age before allowed to make my own choices."
Many sunrises pass and you see the merchants packing up. Little Yui is on her knees pleading to her parents, but they will have nothing of it. They dragged her into a wagon and locked it. You see her behind the window screaming and crying at Ameiko while she does the same. As the wagons disappear of the stage the scene zooms in on Yui on one side and Ameiko on the other side. All of them very, very sad. The light darkens and it becomes very dark to indicate the story at an end.

Yui puts down her stencils and the light returns to normal as she says
"That is the story of how we met and lost each other five years ago."

She picks the stencils up again and continues the story "Now as to how I got here. I will show you!"
With the shadows she creates another story of the little princess who finally got old enough to run away from home yelling "I'm going on an adventure!"
She hid aboard a caravan that left Tien for the west, but got found out when she talked with two kids on the caravan and had to earn her keep so to speak. She had to cook and gather food. She even helped with fighting off a big group of bandits (2)! She went through huge cities and because she had no money, had to steal food to keep going. During her travel she made friends with a tiny scorpion which she calls Takei. She puts her hand in one pocket and out comes a tiny scorpion that animatedly clicks and dances in her hands when she presents him. "Takei helped me befriend two little shadow spirits that stuck with me since then." As Yui places the little scorpion on the table, she presents her hands and too little shadowy creatures extend from her shadow and float over her hands. One has one big eye that looks weirdly at everyone. The other has a big grin on his face and snickers a little at everyone. "And that is how I got back here" She says with a big grin on her face.


@Yui: Reasonable Gestalt options might include:

>Ninja: Many shadow-based powers mix well with a ninja's skills. Third-party alternative: Kusa, from Heroes of the Jade Oath.

>Kineticist (Telekinesis): Add some real offense to your character as a way of supporting their debuffs. Telekinesis is probably the best thematically, with fire as a second choice - imagine a witch cackling wildly as she points at a foe and they're swarmed by a bunch of little dolls or something. This is a playtest class, so I would require you to update once the full book is out. (I'll be pretty generous about that)

>Sorcerer (Shadow/Umbral bloodline?): I'd still want to see you spread out (not just have both Sorcerer and Witch focused on debuffing, for example), but having a spontaneous caster would let you focus on taking your most-used spells there, then using your witch spells for more situational powers.


I've had a.concept on mind that can really only happen Gestalt.

A reluctant mild, mild mannered Samurai (black sheep)/Summoner. Where the eidolon is an ancestral female spirit teaching him to be strong.

The spirit also takes care of unseemly tasks not befitting a samurai. Rogue skill set. Stealth, disable device, spying/scouting.

Sound interesting?


as far as caravans go, I'm down for it. It gives my character something to guard and watch over. It adds to challenge of the game keeping the Caravan up and running.


Would you be willing to look at Path of War/Psionics? I have a few ideas about it that I can conjure up with those.


Both of those books are acceptable sources. ^^


I am probably not interested, but would you be willing to allow Deep Magic?


also, it says that we can get PFS credit for this game as if we had played pregenerated characters. Any chance of that happening? You don't have to follow the 20 point buy iether.

Taken from the pfs chronicle and rules for running JR: Alternatively, if you are participating in the Jade Regent
Adventure Path with an ongoing group undertaking the
entire, six-chapter campaign, you may receive credit for
playing the sanctioned portions of the adventure as if you
had played a pregenerated character. In this case, GMs
running the Adventure Path are not bound to the rules
of the Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign (such
as 20-point buy, unavailability of hero points, etc.) when
running the campaign or the sanctioned portion of the
adventure. Pathfinder Society characters and characters
from an ongoing Adventure Path campaign may not play
in the same adventure.


@Nohwear: Yes.

@DoubleGold: I'm not a PFS GM, so no.


Oh MY GOD I am so interested in this. I've applied to a lot of JR games and never gotten to play. I will look into yours and build a character!

Thanks for the opportunity Rednal.


Why only 3? Do you have existing players?

Anyway, I've got this character who I have had planned for JR a while ago. In a gestalt, I'd like to do a Kitsune Bard/Ranger with archery focus.


This is Bane88's character. I like this alias and must change his stats and what not.

He will be a LG Sword Saint Samurai(Order of the Warrior)//Warpriest of Shizuru


Consider this guy interested. Working on my concept now.


@Haru: Because the larger a party is, the slower a game goes, especially online. Three characters is about right for the pace I like to play PbP games.


Mitsu Hatake: Magus(Kensai)/Warpriest(Sacred Fist) my take on a samurai. Mitsu will aid in the arcane and divine roles. He will be wisdom and provide any needed support with survival and tracking as well. He will have good AC and be able to tank on his own. His damage will be bellow average unless aided through the Magus class, but will not be going Nova in all fights. His magic will focus on survival and utility first.

Rednal if selected any chance I can switch out one of my weapon focus's as I will get it twice :) If I can get guided hand instead that would be awesome but maybe too good so I leave it up to you. Hope you like.

1. Rectitude or Justice: The power to decide upon a course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering; to die when to die is right, to strike when to strike is right. When Mistu decides a course of action it is with total conviction.

2. Courage: Perceiving what is right and doing it not reveals a lack of Courage. In short, ‘Courage is doing what is right. Mitsu feels that many lack Courage. The path to do what is right is a lonely one to walk.

3. Honor: Fear of disgrace hung like a sword over the head of every samurai … To take offense at slight provocation was ridiculed as ‘short-tempered.’ As the popular adage put it: ‘True patience means bearing the unbearable.' Mitsu's honor is his sense of self worth, without honor he is worthless.

4. Loyalty: True men remain loyal to those to whom they are indebted. Mitsu has few friends but those that hold his secrets have a true friend in return.

5. Honesty and Sincerity: Mitsu holds truth a close tie to his honor for one who is not honest has not Honor.

Goals:
1. Mitsu's main goal is survival. His ability with a blade is his livelihood. He trains to be the best he can and to have the courage to protect and stand up for those not able to do so themselves.

2. Mitsu is a descendant of a noble line, and would like to see it returned to good standing for his family.

Secrets:
Known: Mitsu is of Noble descent. His family is in exile from Tian Xia. He keeps this private for it is a mark of dishonor on the family.

Not Known: Not only is his family in dishonor but a mark of death has been put on them if they return to Tian Xia.

People:
Ameiko Kaijitsu: while in sandport Mitsu has become fond of the young lady. He always has a drink in her bar and listens to her sing when returning from guarding a caravan.

Taiama Hatake: Mitsu's older brother and head of the family. Mitsu has always supported his brother, but he seeks knowledge from books and avoids the world. Mitsu knows the family can not regain honor without action.

Sandru Vhiski: Mitsu has butted heads with him a few times at the Rusty Dragon. He thinks Sandru has a think for Ameiko. He has always acted with honor and let the man have the last word.

Memories and Quirks:
Mitsu holds honesty to such a high regard he is sometime brutal and literal in what he takes from peoples remarks.

Mitsu remembers his strict training. Nothing come without a price so one must weigh the cost of things heavily.

Mitsu's family is exiled for the worshiping of demons. Visions of these Oni plague his dreams.

Mitsu's father was killed as the family escaped in dishonor. He doesn't know the man that struck him down but he knows the house symbol.


I think I will go half-orc(thinking oni-esque) alchemist(beastmorph/vivisectionist)/barbarian
various skills, healing, buffing and an effective front line fighter


Hola. Me again. Let's see what fun we can create...

Would you allow a Half-Ogre Teppou-Bushi Gunslinger? The loose idea behind the character is to also take some levels in a sneak attack class(Sadly Ninja doesn't really mesh with Teppou-Bushi) and use Savage Critial and vital strike to make things go pop.

If even Teppou Bushi doesn't work for Jade Regent, I'll see what I ca thin up.

Also, are we allowed to trade a class level for a template again?

Shadow Lodge

Hey Redanal, I'm thinking about a monk of the four winds, but I'm not sure about my other side
Maybe warpriest for some healing, maybe kensi magus or sorcerer for some arcane power or ninja to maximize my eastern flavor and Ki powers

Would you allow one of the several 3.5 feats that let you swap the stat used by the monk from wisdom to Intelegince or charisma?


Ten Minute Background:
Step One: Elements
1. Ong’rag is a tall and muscular lean half-orc. He stands at 6’7. His orcish black blue hair is pulled into a Samurai’s top not and he favors heavy armor. His eyes are of a reddish tint and his facial structure favors his human ancestry with the exception of his lower fangs, though even those are symmetrical and not overly pronounced.
2. Ong’rag is a fiercely dedicated friend and teammate. He follows the Way of the Samurai wholeheartedly and attempts to act with honor and courtesy in every aspect of his life. Honor is equal with love in his eyes and he pursues both open mindedly. Honor in battle and relationships and duty. Love in life, trees, tea. Life in every breath, the way of the warrior.
3. Born and raised in the lawless cesspit of Urglin, Ong’rag was an orphan and wandered the streets, scavenging when he could. One day as a child, he met a former adventurer, another Half-Orc called Brolg. Brolg had been far and wide throughout his carreer and though now spent his days in drink, he took a liking to the young and curious Ong’rag allowing him to live in his hovel with him. And this is when Ong’rag found them, scrolls and tomes from Tian Xia, whole manuscripts describing the history of the land and samurai’s sword forms and religious practices. This knowledge consumed Ong’rag for a good five years and into his young adulthood. When Brolg passed away, Ong’rag was already a competent swordsman and practicing worshipper of Shizuru. Leaving behind the gloomy city of his birth, Ong’rag made his way to Sandpoint in search of adventure.
4. Ong’rag is a Ronin, through no fault of his own, as Ronin means Samurai without a master. It’s not his fault that he was born into this honorless land.
5. Ong’rag chooses to believe in the teachings of the philosophers and warrior poets of Tian Xia, he has no first hand experience of them.

Step two: Goals
To become a recognized sword master(has)
To earn glory on the battlefield(has)
To earn the trust of his friends and travelling companions(has)
To see Tian Xia and hopefully spend the rest of his life in a country where if he has enough honor, his heritage may be overlooked.(has)
To find love and get married and have a family(develop)
To learn to balance his lifestyle and not seek out conflict(develop)

Step three: Secrets
Ong’rag’s human mother was actually from Tian Xia(Unknown)
Ong’rag found in Brolg’s collection’s hidden secrets about some of the noble houses of Tian Xia(Known GM discretion)

Step four: People
Ong’rag’s parents are still alive, he hasn’t seen them since he was very small and he doesn’t know where they went. But he is sure that they are.
Brolg: Ong’rag’s mentor and teacher, an old half-orc adventurer who helped Ong’rag learn the sword and interpret the language of Tian Xia.(Deceased)
Shalaleu: An elf who Ong’rag met on his travels, they camped together for a time. He is drawn to her knowledge of the world.

Step Five: Memories
Ong’rag remembers the smell of ale on Brolg’s tongue as the old man told him fantastical tales of faraway lands as a child. The horse demons and nine tailed foxes. Ong’rag loved to listen to them for hours.
The feel of burning in his forearms as he gripped the wooden sword in his hands as night fell across the sky and the sun faded in the west. Another day of training finished, he would be up before dawn to begin again.
Learning the sword forms and the way to think. Training himself to become one with the five elements.


This is Arrathion. Meet Hisoka Izanagi. He is a young human-born Angelkin Aasimar Samurai (Sword Saint) Ronin/Lunar Oracle.

Elements::

Hisoka appears as a human youth. He stands at about 5' 8" and weighs roughly 150 lbs, his build is strong and lithe. Shoulder length black hair is often tied into a knot or ponytail. His bright blue eyes are his most prominent feature from his Aasimar linaege, and often seem to glow, but the truth of it is, they merely reflect light. He favors light clothing with the most freedom of movement, often a black kimono.

Hisoka's childhood was wrought with chaos and death, having lived without knowing any of his family he has come to rely greatly on his training for survival and takes it quite seriously.

Despite his history, Hisoka has a soft side. It shows mostly when he is dealing with women and children, and as such strives for some amount of chivalry.

His honor as a samurai and as an individual is of great value to him, and frequently judges himself with the highest standards. Which may lead sometimes to moments of self-doubt and depression should he fail to meet them.

During his time in Sandpoint, he would look forward to seeing Shalelu Andosana during her visits and would often attempt to impress her in various ways, ranging from flowers, kind words or in one particular case, a poem.

Goals:

Hisoka aims to become a widely renowned Samurai, and a general role model for the youths he encounters on his journey. Seeing his influence on the young, when positive is one of his greatest joys.

He has a fascination with his own lineage, and whenever circumstance provides, he aims to learn as much as possible about who he is and where he comes from.

I myself would like to explore the possibility of discovering a living celestial relative, that secretly has been keeping tabs on Hisoka throughout his life.

Those Juicy Secrets:

When he was young, early in his training he rebelled against his master to pursue known slavers in the area that were at the moment, active. This resulted in the death of his master as he came to save Hisoka, and he has yet to truly come to terms regarding this failure. Though Hisoka managed to save himself and those that were enslaved through luck and rage inspired determination.

Should the possibility of a living celestial relative be workable, this would also be a secret unknown even to Hisoka.

Relevent People:

Master Ryuu Satoshi, Hisoka's master and only father figure. He lived a modest life in a small hut outside the city and was adept at woodcarving, though he was originally from Tian Xia. One such carving, that of a wolf on the run, Hisoka keeps on his person.

Shalelu Andosana, though not very many opportunities to get close to her have presented themselves, Hisoka revels in the chance to earn even a passing glance, or a small smile from the elven woman when they do.

Jiro Masato, a human male youth that Hisoka once bested in training. Since then, Jiro has shown nothing but dislike and often times hostility toward Hisoka though nothing to date has been too over the top. Mostly childish pranks, some may have resulted in minor injury.

Significant Memories:

Hisoka remembers little of his early childhood, before Master Satoshi took him in. All he can remember was that he was lost when the younger Master found him in the rain and brought him home. It is his most cherished memory as that is when he was truly born into the life he now leads.

He can recall perfectly the first time he met Shalelu, and the first time she graced him with a smile. Such a simple thing as this has often given him the determination to push through the troubles of his past and those of every day life.

The discovery of his innate magical talent became apparent on a series of hunting trips, where his unnatural reflexes avoided several traps and other unexpected things that could have resulted in severe injury or even death. His first spell allowed him to start a campfire despite the heavy wind and imminent rain.

Silver Crusade

Oh thank Yog-Sothoth. Hella interested!

*waves at Red*
*waves at Miu*
*waves at Ong'rag*


@JonGarrett: I like the Teppou-Bushi, but I'm afraid I'll have to pass on the Half-Ogre. No templates this time around. Also, I'm not seeing multiple party roles there, just "mixing two classes to do one thing abnormally well"... which I specifically asked people to avoid doing.

@LFII: No. Part of the reason for the high point buy is giving you enough points to be decently high in two ability scores, and you shouldn't need to min-max abilities in order to be effective.

@Ashe: How does Mitsu's desire for survival measure up to his focus on honor? I'm not sure one who's ready to die when dying is right would truly have survival as their main goal. In addition, the nobility of Tian Xia barely see others as existing - people from the lower classes, anyway. The society's beliefs are that nobles have their positions because they deserve them - particularly due to upright actions in previous lifestyles - and so being a servant to anyone (as expected of a Samurai-like person) would be socially considered beneath him. He'd almost have to try and be a leader - what impact would this have on his choices and how he acts?

@Bane88: Would Ong'rag be looking for a master to swear service to? Being a ronin because he hadn't found someone worth swearing loyalty to is understandable, and I suspect most of those who understand the ways of the Samurai wouldn't fault him for it - but if he remains that way after finding someone worth giving service to, he'd break with the traditions he'd studied. Would he ever consider swearing service to one of the NPCs, or perhaps even another PC if suitably worthy? How does he balance the need to seek glory with his desire to follow the tenets of the Samurai? As far as people go, the Ten-Minute Background notes that at least one person should be hostile. Who is this person, and what effect has their hostility had on Ong'rag's life and outlook on things?

@Arrathion: Samurai receive training in armor for a reason - though you noted Hisoka prefers clothes that offer freedom of movement. Does this apply even in battle, and if so, why has he decided to deviate from the traditional style of samurai? How does his goal of seeking glory square with the goals of the samurai - and like Ong'rag, would be be looking for a master to swear service to (and an order to join) once he found one, or is he determinedly independent to the core? Slavery is legal throughout much of Tian Xia - including several non-evil nations - and in many cases would be seen as a justified status that people could earn their way out of in the future by acting righteously. Why is Hisoka opposed to slavery, especially when he was likely taught Tian Xia's view on it? Also, what's his Curse as an Oracle, and why did the gods gift him with magic? Curses can be pretty nasty, too, so what effect has this had on his ability to fight and move as a warrior?


Ong'rag would most definately be looking to swear fealty to a worthy person or lord. As there are no emperors about. An NPC or even better, a PC.

His desire for glory is something born of youth. In essence he wants to prove that as far as martial skill and honor goes, he IS a samurai. This is something he could overcome by gaining self confidence or learning that friendship and loyalty are more important than personal glory.

I figured on Ong'rag's father being hostile, but since he doesn't really know him, it factors in more on a developmental level as fear of abandonment, and a deep seated loneliness. It also subconsciously fuels his search for a master as that could give him a father like figure and family unit even through service.


@Rednal

The preference for freer clothing would most of the time be when he is idle and free to be comfortable. Otherwise, he will be using light or medium armor during combat.

He seeks to be known as more a skilled and honorable swordsman rather than the traditional Samurai. Being Ronin, he seeks no master. This is due to his past and the loss of Master Satoshi. He would be hesitant to take on another master at this point without coming to terms with his tragic failure.

His actions against slavers was more due to his own independance, and belief in freedom. As he was still very young at the time, he's had time to think on this. Master Satoshi I presume would be an individual that left Tian Xia due to some trouble and as such wouldn't talk much of it other than maybe a story of his own youth here and there. (My assumption here is that slavery with Chelaxian influence, which I'm assuming would be present, if maybe rare near Sandpoint, would be quite different from that of Tian Xia.) Nevertheless, it'll be something that he will have to learn on his journey.

As for his Oracle powers and Curse. His powers would possibly have been bestowed due to his close connection with nature, and his experiences hunting for Master Satoshi. Either some god or another, or several has some small interest in his development and how he will use his powers on his journey.

I'm debating between two curses as of now, though it will likely be Legalistic. The reasons for this curse could range widely, from some sort of instinct inherited from his celestial forebear, or even his study under Master Satoshi, where honor and the value of your given word were paramount. Also, making various vows to himself could go hand in hand with the valuable memories that keep up his drive.

Shadow Lodge

I hardly think spending one of my limited number of feats to make a monk/magus require 4 abilities instead of five is min/maxing, but I'll take your word for it


Concerning Hisoka's possible caravan roles.

He will be able to perform as a guard, spellcaster, or depending on his level, fortune-teller.

More on Hisoka's edicts as a Ronin.

Hisoka has three main edicts that he strives to adhere to every day. He may come to add to these, or even change them over time.

-Defend the innocent.

-Nurture the young.

-Live honestly, and with honor.


Very very much interested. Have to rework my char.
I will thank hard about it maybe a Samurai/cleric of Shizuru


Yikes! Samsarans have very little about their life cycle (tons about what spells are best, but past lives are a bit sketchy).

So, heres the deal; I have just finished reading book 3 of the Malazan saga. The character Silverfox seems similar to samsarans (multiple personalities/memories in one person) and was thinking to play something like that; but Samsarans are subtly different.

Firstly, their lives are lived consecutively (not simultaneously as with Silverfox) and (apart from the very first) are all samsaran.

Secondly, they seek to live in harmony and enlightenment; it's a bit unclear what this means (maybe that's 'cos I'm a westerner?) so some kind of clarification will be needed there.

Reading between the lines, they appear to be humans who have lived a life of Harmony and Enlightenment and as a reward are therefore reincarnated as a Samsaran, who is continually reincarnated as long as he/she maintains harmony and Enlightenment, until they maintain it perfectly and are allowed to go to the great beyond to receive their great reward.(This is based on the fact that they can breed with humans, can produce human children and can be reincarnated as humans if they fail to maintain harmony and enlightenment)

The problem is, how does a Warpriest, a class designed for confrontation, seek harmony? Is that his past life? Is it a role he feels constrained to adopt despite hankering for a simpler life? What are the circumstances of adopting such a life? Why would a Samsaran seek such a lifestyle when they desire harmony?

So, the young Samsaran seeks harmony and enlightenment by worshipping his deity, but said deity demands he take up his weapons and join the struggle, granting him some special blessings along the way. So, he takes his bow, whose secrets he has sought hard to unlock, and dedicates himself to the purposes of his deity, despite his desire to remain in harmony and enlightenment.

The question is, what is it that his deity wants that he has to take up arms for? Why the Samsaran, why not another?

I think this must be because of his past lives. One (or more) of those past lives must know a secret; maybe it is one that is not remembered at present, but the knowledge is there ready to be brought forward at the right time and the Deity has sought his service because of it. Perhaps others seek to kill this Samsaran to keep the secret, and he must take uparms to defend himself.

That's my thoughts so far. Is any of this not compatible with Samsaran/the campaign? I can't access the Jade Regent players guide at the moment, will try agaoin later.

Shadow Lodge

@Gavmania: maybe he places the peace and harmony of the world as more important, than his own personal harmony
A greater harmony if you will.
Even still choosing feats that would allow you to deal nonleathal damage would be a good idea,


@Rednal:

Mitsu's focus on survival is to regain the honor his family lost. He must survive so that he can see the mark on the family name cleared and his brother take his true position of head of the family. He would give his life if it meant the restoration of honor for his family name.

As a boy he was given martial training and instruction from a Samurai that served his family. He adopted some of the principles of Bushido for his own. When the family was hunted and forced into exile the Samurai gave his life in defense fo the family the same time his father was killed. To honor his teacher he has adopted his principles. He no longer thinks of himself as a noble, as its been many years spent growing up in Sandpoint. If he is in service to anyone its his brother and family, as he does what he does in hopes to regain the family honor. Though if his brother deny's or fails to lead Mitsu would do so but retain the his priciples of Bushido and Serve the Emporer as a noble house.

Hope that helps and clears things up.

Liberty's Edge

I would like to submit the following character. She was actually part of a Jade Regent game a number of years ago, but it dies out pretty much after the first major encounter. She was made as a single class ninja, but as a gestalt character, I would pair her with a monk (ninja/monk) as I think these two classes would go great together (just like chocolate and peanut butter..lol)

So, without further adieu, I give you Setomi; ninja and cook!

10 minute Background:

10 Minute Background
1. Elements
i. Born of Tian decent, but grew up in Avistan (namely, Sandpoint)
ii. Worked for the Kaijitsu family as retainers.
iii. Works as an assistant cook at the Rusty Dragon Inn.
iv. Both parents are dead, and she has no other relatives.
v. Average height for a Tien woman, with shoulder length dark hair and green eyes.
2. Goals
i. Keep Setomi safe
ii. Recover the lost skills of her ninja forefathers
iii. Possibly create a new ninja clan
3. Secrets
i. Her greatest secret is that she is descended from a ninja family
ii. Her mother told her that Ameiko might be important, though she has no idea how or why.
4. People
i. Ameiko: Old friend and current employer
ii. Bethana: The main cook for the Rusty Dragon, and Setomi’s supervisor in the kitchen.
iii. Garridan Viskalai: The owner of the White Deer. He has lately been trying to hire Setomi away from the Rusty Dragon.
iv. Lila Fairholm: A young woman who works at the Pixie’s Kitten. She and Setomi are friends and can occasionally be seen about town together on their days off.

Setomi is a cheerful cook at the Rusty Dragon Inn. Like the Kaijitsu's, she is a Tian, but was born in Sandpoint. Her father, so the story goes, was a merchant working with the Kaijitsu when they first came to Sandpoint, but he died in the north before Setomi was even born.
Setomi's mother was the cook at the Kaijitsu house for many years. She taught her daughter much about cooking, and when Ameiko opened the Rusty Dragon, she started cooking there. When she passed away, a few years ago, Setomi took over her cooking job, with Ameiko's blessing.
Setomi and Ameiko were best of friends when they were younger, but since she returned to Sandpoint and bought the Inn, the two have become a little more distant. Setomi's mother has always told her daughter to look out for the young girl, but as they grew older, they grew apart. While still friends, they do not share the same intimacy that they use to.
While not physically strong, Setomi is very lithe and dexterous. She has rich black hair down to her shoulders and her slightly tilted eyes are a beautiful colour of sea-green. While not very tall, standing only a hand span over 5 feet, she carries herself with grace and poise. She practices her 'exercises' every day; a set of movements using her hands and feet, that her mother taught her when she was very young. Recently she has been working harder on these exercises, and has added a number of other odd movements to them. She also has a keen interest in mechanical objects, and has, on occasion, opened locked doors in the Inn when patrons had forgotten, or lost their keys.
Her recent change came shortly after her mother died. A great secret was imparted to Setomi on her mother's death bed. One that surprised, shocked and excited her to no end. Her family, humble traders and cooks for the powerful Kaijitsu's were, in fact, ninja. Her mother told a tale of their ancestors working for the Kaijitsu clan in a far off kingdom. They were the secret spies and protectors of the clan Daimyo. Setomi was stunned by this revelation. She had heard stories of these mystical warriors, but always thought they were just stories. And now, to discover she was part of this group…it was almost unbelievable. It was not until her mother showed he a hidden cache of weapons, and gear that she finally began to believe. The final straw was a book that detailed the training of a ninja and recorded the skills and abilities a ninja should have, and how to train to gain these abilities. Her mother's last words to her daughter were to take up her birthright and bring honour back to their clan. She was also told to keep watch on Ameiko, as she was the last of the Kaijitsu and that this could be important.


@Gavmania: Samsaran only kind-of recall the details of their past lives - it's noted they're like "half-remembered dreams". Enough to get a general sense of what happened, but not so much about the specific details. As far as harmony and enlightenment goes, think Gandhi. They're the type who would travel on an adventure not for personal wealth or fame, but to see the wonders of the world. They generally try to stay away from emotional extremes, minimize harm caused to others (even in self-defense), and don't worry too much about failures since they believe (often correctly) that they'll have a chance to try again later.

In general, the only Samsarans who'd truly seek out confrontations are those who have decided to step away from the course they're current on, abandoning the ideals of harmony and enlightenment. Very few would do this, but it's not impossible. It's more common for them to be clerics and priests, with an emphasis on healing and supporting others instead of going into combat themselves. This is particularly true because they're physically weak (-2 Constitution), and so have a much harder time becoming warriors who can survive in battle.

@Daniel Stewart: What party roles would Setomi have? As cited in the first post, I'm looking more for characters who can cover different roles instead of doing one role very well, and ninja/monk just makes me think 'super-high-speed kung-fu'.


Are there any limits on which order a Samurai can join? I am thinking of the Order of the Beast from ACG.


@Nohwear: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/alternate-classes/samurai#TOC-Order-Ex-

Shadow Lodge

Since monk/magus would be waay too MAD, I'm looking at a suli sorcerer(gold dragon bloodline, tattooed archetype) /paladin (Enlightened Paladin) going for dragon shamen later, maxing out his strength and charisma
He's going to be a party face, a secondary melee combattant (focusing on unarmed strikes, which he gets as a monk does) and arcane caster, he also can work as a secondary healer, because more healing is always a good thing.
I really do not like what the class gets in replacement of detect evil, I doubt I'd ever use it, but the charisma to AC and unarmed strike are important
(Inelegance to AC would also have been acceptable)

Grand Lodge

Finally, a Jade Regent game! Been looking forward to one for a while!

I actually have a fairly unique character in mind. A Soul Forger/Forgemaster "human" character that may prestige into the Mystic Theurge. I put human in quotations because he's actually, by flavor, a half-dwarf. Mechanically, he functions like a human, but seeing as I'm spending his bonus feat on giving him the Dwarf Racial Heritage, he qualifies for Dwarf feats and stuff too.

As for character, I'll work on the Ten Minute Background to get it more fleshed out, but he's the son of a dwarf dad and a human mom, and although he wants to study the arcane arts, his spell-resistant blood from his dad makes it exceptionally difficult for him to use himself a magic focus. SO he invents a different way to channel his magic: his blacksmithing. Specifically, after his dad tried to teach him how dwarven clerics channeled divine magic, he gets the idea to do the same with arcane energy.

Also, I might be willing to take on the task of running the caravan. Being so involved with a character who focuses on magic, weaponry and the like, it seems fitting to take over the task of managing the caravan as well.

Silver Crusade

Ikoma is my application [Helikon]
He is a warrior, a scout, a rock to lean on, spiritual aid and a voice of honor. He will be able to engange in melee and ranged combat, he can find tracks and knows his way in the wilderness and he will concentrate on useful party buffs.

Step One: Elements:

1. Gohei body is lean and well muscled due to many hours spend training. His callused hands and arms speak of a life-long dedication to the way of the sword. His hair is cut in a traditional samurais top-knot and a small band of cloth-of-gold holds it back and protects his head under the helm. He is dressed in plain but durable brown clothes, just a vest embroided with the sun and katana symbol of Shizeru in red and gold and his headband encolour his dress.
2.Matsu is a dedicated Swordsman and always there for the team. He lives the way of Bushido and does his utmost to follow the seven virtues.
3Matsu is the younger son of a minor noble house. While his brothers were trained to inherit the fief or enter the court Matsu was given to a minor bushi named Ikoma to be trained in the arts of war. When his father angered another family and their house attacked he killed his first enemy, wielding his mothers naginata. Ikoma, following the wishes of his father spirited him away and trained him in secret.
4.Two years ago he was helping a group of peasants against an evil spirit. Somehow with his dying breath he cursed Gohei and the next moment Gohei woke up in the forest of sandpoint. Quite pennyless.
5. If took Gohei two years to learn common and adapt to the colder weather in varisia. He still is sometimes at loss if he is the target of some prank and the local way of living is a deep mystery to him.

Step two: Goals:

Matsu has 3 goals
*To follow the laws of bushido and the teachings of shizeru.:
To prove his courage in battle and in war.
To learn to give the perfect gift.
To learn to respect his worst enemys and to stay honorably even if losing a fight.
Prove that his word is worth everything.
To show that honor is everything, even if nobody sees it.
To find someone worth his utter loyality
*He wants to return home.
*Deep down he wants to win Ameikos love

Step three: Secrets:

Matsu had an affair with another boy when he was younger. This boy was accused of a crime and ordered to be executed, although he was innocent. Matsu wanted to give testimony, but was forbidden by his father to do so. He was torn between this and when he decided to give testimony, his lover had already commited suicide. Matsu has always a picture of him on his body. Also Matsu aspires to learn Ikebana, as he gets a sense of tranquility watching a beautiful beauquet, but is afraid that it will make him look unmanly.
Last but not least the young man he killed with a lucky blow was the heir of his house and throughan infernal pact they know who is responsible

Step four: People:

As far as he knows Matsus parents and brothers are still alive, living a normal life. His mentor died 3 years ago in his sleep as an old man.
After arriving in Sandpoint he did work for the sheriff and is every night in a special someones tavern,listening to her music and slowly falling for her.

Step Five: Memories:

Gohei oldest memory of happiness is sitting with his father and writing his name for the first time flawlessly, seeing a sliver of respect and pride in his fathers eyes.
Gohei worst nightmare is the night he killed another being for the first time. Just this time no matter what he does, he can not wound his enemy and can not prevent the slaughter of his family
Goheis newest moment of happiness is when he was sitting down with some alcohol deeply in the hold of missing his home when the beautiful voice of Ameiko came like the sound of angels to destroy his bad mood. The moment he fell for the beautiful bard.

Liberty's Edge

GM Rednal - Setomi will not only be a "super high-speed kung-fu" fighter, but will also fill the role of stealth specialist, cook, translator and, depending on what monk path she chose, she can become a backup healer, spellslinger or front-line combatant. I feel that she would have a great number of roles she could takeover and a large number of abilities to draw upon to cover these divergent skills. I hope that this answers your question, and if not I will try and expand on her role better.


How many monks do we have so far?


@Rednal, classes at this point don't have to be set in stone right? I know you care more about the story than what the make up is. I ask so when the three are picked we can work to make a good group. I wan't to stick to the samurai theme but can do this lots of ways. Thanks.


I just don't know what I want to play, perhaps I should create the personality concept and just see what fits it.


@Ashe: Classes don't need to be totally set in stone - I just want to have a general idea of what players are looking at. For example, I don't want to wind up picking three samurai warriors and no casters - there's also room in the campaign for a skillful character, maybe a caster with an eastern theme/archetype (or just spell choice), and so on.


Thinking about playing a Ninja/Cleric


GM Rednal wrote:
@Ashe: Classes don't need to be totally set in stone - I just want to have a general idea of what players are looking at.

Good to know, this.


K got the 10 minute background done:
Shioh (pronouced "Shee-oh") Murasaki

Elements:


  1. She is 21 years old, young and beautiful; She has black hair, wrapped in a short ponytail, her eyes are Hazeled between Blue and Brown; she has a fit figure and usually wears tightly fitting outfits, showing off her lean body (on purpose too).
  2. She is strong-willed and self-sufficient
  3. Her motto is, "If you want it done right, you've got to do it yourself."
  4. She lost her father in a war and has a very strong bond with her mother
  5. She is a bit flirty and likes to get her way, but she won't whine when she doesn't.

Goals:


  1. She is striving to help the war efforts by expanding her knowledge of the healing arts. She wishes to save as many people as she can.
  2. I am hoping to see her use her abilities to help the party strive towards its mutual goal by keeping us healthy and capable, and along the way I would like for her to meet her goals as well. Story-wise I am open to just about anything as long as it challenges my character.

Secrets:

  1. She is lesbian, though it would be hard to tell considering how flirty she is.
  2. Her father was never actually recovered from the battlegrounds, because he hasn't actually died, he was abducted and brainwashed and now is loyal to her nation's enemies.

Memories:


  1. She remembers the day the soldiers came to her door with the aweful news as if it were yesterday.
  2. She also remembers, vaguely, her father's face as he held her for the first time.
  3. When she was a child, she ventured off into the woods and fell into the creek and nearly drowned. She had been saved but she doesn't know who saved her. Though, ever since then she occasionally has a dream about a white fox, she doesn't know anything about it and has never told anybody.


Will you allow the ninja to take rogue archetypes?


Submitting a cleric(Bonelord)/wizard(Illusionist). Mostly fulfilling the arcane roll as cleric channel will not be positive. Built for another gestalt game but not chosen so his crunch is pretty much done too.

STEP 1: ELEMENTS:

1. Jacob Romero is a prodigy. Born to a poor family but with vast intelligence, he ditched work where he could to learn. At the first opportunity, he ran away from home to study at a real mage's college. Within a few years he had passed by most of his peers and even delved into the mysteries of divine magic as well as arcane. He is young but driven to prove himself.

2. Jacob is a disciple of both divine and arcane magic. He worships Nethys, the god of magic and devotes his time to understanding the differences and similarities between the two. He wishes to further the world's understanding of both and make a definite contribution to the world.

3. Jacob Romero is also a necromancer but not the kind you would expect. He doesn't believe undeath is ultimate existence, doesn't want to be undead or immortal himself, or just want to watch the world burn. Necromancy is one of the few areas divine and arcane magic overlap. It seemed a good starting point. That and he finds it odd that necromancy is considered evil. Is it really, or is it the perceptions of others that cloud their judgment? Is there really a soul left in the mindless ones or is it just the negative energy that moves them? Other wizards summon evil outsiders all the time. Why can't he use an evil undead? Undead are a natural phenomenon. Shouldn't they be neutral? With proper control they could be quite the boon to any city.

4. Because of his controversial views, Jacob has been thrown out of or denied access to most schools of magic. None of them want to associate with necromancy beyond its debilitating spells. Questions about raising the dead make them uneasy or outright aggressive. Because of this he has had to resort to self-study or secretly prying into texts normally off limits.

5. Jacob now conducts his experiments in secret. He knows how people would view him if they found out so he has become secretive. He has learned to lie well and has gone over just about every scenario he can think of.


STEP 2: GOALS:

1. Jacob's goal is discover more about necromancy. Is it really evil? Is their a soul in a mindless skeleton? And even if there is, does making a murderer or bandit follow your orders for a few years even matter? Compared to how long they are going to spend in pain in the afterlife, is putting them to use for others in the form of a walking corpse really a bad thing? Would their actions as a mindless creature change the verdict of afterlife if they were put to good use? There are a lot of meta-physical questions to answer.

2. I think it will be an interesting journey, trying to play necromancer among a good aligned party. Trying to keep them and everyone else from finding out or, if they do, trying to convince them that he isn't their enemy. That undead can be used to better a city rather than destroy it.


STEP 3: SECRETS:

1. Known secret: Jacob's guardian, who he calls Gregory, is in fact a skeleton and his first successful creation. It was made using divine magic on the corpse of known evil black orc. Their kind usually worship Orcus, Demon Lord of the Undead. Now he works for Jacob. It seemed ironic. To hide the fact that it is an skeleton, he put it in a diving suit and filled it with a soft putty to give it bulk. He then added, clothes, armor, a mask and a cloak to hide any and all sign of undeath. It doesn't even detect as undead but it does detect as evil.

2. One thing he is not aware of is that he is not an unknown quantity in the world of necromancy. His questions have drawn the eyes of others who see his potential but don't know of his philosophy or goals.


STEP 4: PEOPLE:

1. Felix. He is a rogue and the only one that knows his secret in town. But Jacob also knows something about him. They have an agreement not to rat each other out in case of mutual destruction. Jacob also makes him scrolls every now and then for money. He doesn't ask what they are used for.

2. Gregory. His trusty bodyguard. As described above, Gregory is a Black Orc skeleton and under his full control. He follows Jacob, watches over him as he sleeps, and does simple chores. The perfect little butler.

3. Father Abstalar Zantus. Jacob has replaced Father Ezakien Tobyn as grounds keeper and mortician at the Sandpoint Cathedral. He may not follow Desna but like Zantus, but he has decent skill with preparing the dead. It also allowed him to become familiar with anatomy and helped further his research. Gregory patrols the grounds and does menial chores and seems to be having no affect on the dead nearby. And thankfully, the ground is not consecrated nor has Zantus noticed Gregory's unliving nature.


STEP 5: MEMORIES:

1. The first time wizard came to his small hometown he was ecstatic. The little gnome did all kinds of illusions and then taught the children a bit about magic. Jacob was the only one who seemed to actually understand what he was saying and told him about the school of magic he went to. That is the same school he ran away to as well.

2. His first encounter with a wild undead. One with no master. Jacob has been to Foxglove Manor a few times for it is considered haunted. Where there is ghosts there might be undead. And he was right. He found a zombie trapped at the bottom of a well. He managed to get it out with rope and watched it with fascination. It of course tried to eat him but it was easy to out pace. He eventually trapped it in a shallow pit and used it for experiments for a while. Eventually he learned to bind it to his will to test the connection and its understanding of commands. When he was done he destroyed it to make his own.

3. The creation of Gregory. A long an grueling process, both before and after. Figuring out how to raise the dead on your own was hard enough but eventually Nethys took pity and subtly moved him in the right direction until he succeeded, giving him his own corpse companion. Then came the hard part of making it look alive-ish. But when it was complete, known were any the wiser.

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