Leinathan's Second Darkness (Inactive)

Game Master leinathan

The elves' oldest shame has resurfaced again and is looking to destroy all that elvendom ever was. Will be PCs be able to stop them in time, or will Kyonin be doomed?

The Gold Goblin Gambling Hall


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Shadow Lodge

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Dotting for interest.

I'm strongly conidering a Gnome (Vivisectionist/Sabateur) Alchemist or an Inquisitor of Calistria.


Hey, I'm just dropping in to answer a couple of quick questions and confirm a few things. I'll be back later with a roster and a few wider questions.

First of all, no, no hard alignment restrictions.

Second, Dervish Dance is completely allowed, it's just that a first-level character can't take it due to the lack of ranks in perform: dance.

Anyway, I'm liking the amount of interest so far. I'll be back when I have more energy.


Alright, my background has been redone and modified. Far better in my opinion and it also outlines how she came to become a faithful of Shelyn, why she feels somewhat Forlorn, and her reason being in the city.


Tia'Malavel wrote:
Oh, and once I get back home, I'll be fleshing out her backstory more to clarify things, and reword a few things that are just a little buggy. And the 'friend' I mention in my backstory, the way I see it, it should be another player. Better reason to be part of the group, yes? n_n

*Waves* (^_^)

I can be all kinds of friendly.

Um... I dun't think that come across tha' right way a'tall... (>_>)

Much cheers ta' all!


Feuerrabe here.

I've created an alias for the character. The original background is complete in English now. I still have to write a little bridge to get her to Riddleport.

Unfortunately the name was already taken, so I had to squeeze in a "Last Name", even though "Lluvia" is supposed to be a synonym under which she goes, so she would actually not have a last name.

@Tia - I just notice our attribute selection is identical (apart from both being CG Female Elves). :) I think I'd very much enjoy teaming up with you. How did you manage Hero Labs to give you "Varisian" as language? It seems I can't even take it for the point I invested in linguistics...


leinathan wrote:

Second, Dervish Dance is completely allowed, it's just that a first-level character can't take it due to the lack of ranks in perform: dance.

Thanks do the clarity. Dervish dance and the use of the scimitar is the direction of travel. For now I'll amend my traits over the week-end and adjust the back-story accordingly.


Thinking about joining in as a goblin gunslinger. I always enjoy playing characters who are just a leeeeeettle bit crazy.

The Exchange

Things like Dervish Dance are why I support starting PbPs at a higher level (such as 2 or 3). It's rough to have to play up to your build for a level or two in PbP, as it can take over a year. Even just starting at level 2 can get you:
Finesse Rogue, Lay on Hands, Oracle/Witch theme spells, Ranger combat style feats, Alchemist discovery, Cavalier order ability, Ninja Ki pool, and that +1 BAB for every class.
Yeah, second level is a sweet spot. And you're strikingly less likely to die than at first.


I've written a little bridge story for the character to extend the actual character story. It takes place in Riddleport and illuminates what she's doing there and what she has done in the meantime.

Now I just need to do some fine tuning with skills and equipment and I am done.

Spoiler:
Lluvia slipped out of the shadown in the gambling den. She had arrived in Riddleport on this very day and had to admit - the cloud above it was oppressive. She was in this den for more than an hour - even though that was hard to tell in a city where no bells were rang regularly. And for that time no one had seen or taken notice of her. The wandering priest of Desna had entered briefly after her; she had been looking for him for a while. For now he was alone at his table, an opportunity to catch.

"Jurik Waysign? I believe we have a common interest in this city." Back in her youth in the Mierani Forest Riddleport had always filled her with shock awe for its enormous size, its dirt and depravity. The decades she spent in Absalom had changed her perspective. It was a little sleazy pirate hole, hardly worth mentioning and she wouldn't have normally called it 'city', if it wasn't for the people she was talking to. The gloomy elf maiden pulled a chair without creating a sound and took place besides the priest who looked at her in estrangement. "Don't worry, I am on your side. You may call me Lluvia." She directed his attention to the brooch which held together her cloak. It resembled the holy symbol of Desna, though the colours were wrong. A jet black butterfly with little pieces of glas that sparkled like stars across its wings on a deep indigo field.

"Lluvia, hm? Well, if that is so what can I do for you, ..." she could almost hear how he was swallowing the "fancygirl" - a colloquial expression cypher mages and elves.

"I was pulling a few strings, here and there, in Numeria for people who needed a light in the darkness until recently, however, I've come to hear of the strange dark veil that clouds the sky and there were many hushed words about a darkness growing deeper. I came to see whether I can do something about it... I am familiar with darkness. And I am more familiar with this country than may be apparent." She whispered softly, yet melodically - the sound that many humans associate with elves trying to mock them, but it truly was their normal voice. She had a 150 years of time to refine her language, it was only natural that the way she spoke was more sophisticated.

The priest became more serious as she spoke and put his drink aside. He didn't quite trust her yet, but he couldn't neglect the possibility that she was indeed an ally any longer. "I don't really know anything about it, I wish I did. There are many signs, most of which are unclear, but recently a brother called Milon Cath has wondered to investigate caverns in the Calphiak Mountains but disappeared."

"That's bad. Do you think it's related to the veil?" She looked at him only briefly while she, keeping an eye out for the environment, talked but then intensely out of her green eyes.

"I don't know but he did have a lead related to it. Said something about a vision in a dream... about worse things than this that were hiding there."

"Hm. I'll need to investigate more." She looked at the priest a little closer this time and could see the signs of stress and exhaustion. The stars being clouded and this bad omen strained him more than he was willing to show and his concern was deep. "If you ever need help of someone who is familiar with the darkness but believes in Desna... pass an envelope for 'Lluvia' to the priests in the House of Silken Veil. Don't bother sealing it, they will read it, but I will get it", she said in a somewhat warmer tone, though so quiet that she had to move closer to his ear to make sure she was heard.

"Lass", the priest looked at her in concern. "Do you know what this house is?"

A fine melodic laughter escaped her lips. Those humans. Thought they had invented everything, but the truth was, that elves first started considering lust as something more than procreation and instant satisfaction. But the humans never got it right. The left out people of their society and wondered how people got desperate and did desperate things. They made it a business. They never had the patience, never the balance between cultivating ones desire and be a beast at the same time. Never understood that lust was supposed to be beautiful, not oppressive. She felt a little sorry for them. Yes, Calistria wasn't one of the good girls, but she had her charming sides. With a smirk she returned: "I'll tell you a little secret: Calistria is a fancygirl."

That set him off for a moment, but by the time he caught himself, Lluvia was already gone.


I am in the process of writing a back story for my character now, I'll post with the character once I am done.


I pretty much hated Dashuun the way I had him, so I scrapped half of him, rewrote his mechanics and background, changed his avatar, etc. So basically, whole new submission! Still drow-blooded and Dex-based.


Slowly getting around to working out the kinks for this little guy. This should be most of what you'll need for the app.

Crunch:
Trig Gurrfinger
Male Chaotic Neutral Goblin Gunslinger (Musket Master), Level 1, Init +7, HP 11/11, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 16, Flat-footed 13, CMD 14, Fort +1, Ref +7, Will +3, CMB -1, Base Attack Bonus 1
Misfire 1-2 (5 ft.) Musket (30 Bullets) +7 (1d10, x4)
Leather (+2 Armor, +5 Dex, +1 Size)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Condition None
Skills Perception +11 Acrobatics +9 Knowledge (Engineering) +4 Survival +7

Background:
Trig is a loner from his tribe, an underappreciated hunter and tinkerer who'd finally had enough of being called a "stupid-head" and left to strike out on his own; perhaps even start his own tribe. However, his inability to keep focus on anything for terribly long got the better of him, and he ended up settling comfortably into the Boneyard of Riddleport, where there was plenty of trash and hiding spots to keep him safe and busy.
At some point, Trig realized that the people in Riddleport paid good money to have things killed. Excited by the prospect of both hunting things down and collecting "shinies" for his collection, Trig took up the Hunter's trade, at least as best as he could. He'd become exceptionally good at the "finding and shooting" part of it, anyways.
Trig is hardly what one would call a welcome sight in Riddleport, but his lack of violence towards the general populace, his contributions to the local market for meat and fur, and his odd humorous behavior means that he's tolerated by and large, though he typically keeps to himself in his little scrapyard hideout. Local children make it a pastime to lean over railings and watch him fidget in the junk below, occasionally tossing him shiny objects and "Triggy Treats" to watch his reactions.

Personality:
Trig is typically loud, obnoxious, and easily excitable, like most goblins, at least when in a social setting. He has an obsession with shiny objects, and typically collects them for his own; the shinier, the better. When talking with others, he's typically rather callous, though typically out of lack of understanding at how a social exchange is supposed to work, rather than any ill will towards the recipient. However, when on the hunt or trying to avoid attention, he becomes quiet and focused- a very disturbing transition. Even when he makes a kill, rather than celebrate it, he makes sure to check his surroundings for anything that might threaten to take it from him. When certain he's secure in his victory, then he celebrates with whoops and hollering.


Alright, I'm back.

Ze Roster:

Kezia - Female CG tiefling witch (optimistic gambler)

Dashuun - Male LN half-drow unarmed fighter (into enemy territory)

Tyroll Radanavich - Male CN human oracle of Groetus (looking for work)

Calondrel Aural - Male CG elf magus (researching the blot)

Lluvia - Female CG elf rogue (scouting for fiends)

Piouza - Female CG Varisian human rogue (scouting for fiends)

Rilamon Onondor - Male CG elf two-handed fighter (looking for work)

Kaars Arden - Male CN ratfolk beastmorph/vivisectionist alchemist (scouting for fiends)

Suny - ??? I'm still confused.

Tia'malavel - Female CG elf spell dancer magus (into enemy territory)

Trig Gurrfinger - Male CN goblin musket master gunslinger (unknown trait)

Unbeugsam - Male NG dwarf foehammer fighter (looking for work)

Hotrek Shieldson - LN dwarf tower shield specialist fighter (no trait)

Okay, that's the roster! Wow, that's a lot more characters than I thought there'd be. I'll be back with another post with some questions and such.


Hey Leinathan, is there a need for a cleric? Considering that instead. Aasimar Shelynite.


For Unbeugsam - Still waiting on a backstory from you.

For Hotrek Shieldson - Still waiting on a campaign trait choice from you. Also his backstory isn't written for this campaign.

For Piouza - Have her encounters with men in the past influenced how she sees men in general? That is to say, does she hate men? I got the impression that she does. If so, what would she do in the presence of a male party member?

For Kezia - whoops, I messed up your race on the roster. I see that you're a tiefling, yep. Moving on, is she only motivated by money? If not, what other things might get her going?

For Dashuun - in what ways does Dashuun look different than your standard half-elf? Is it obvious he's not a regular half-elf?

For Rilamon - What is it that placed Rilamon in his spiral of self-destruction? Was it laziness or tragedy or something else?

For Trig - I still need a campaign trait and a tie-in to the campaign for this character.

Alright and one thing for everybody. Pick either one or two of the other characters, and then write a little blurb about how your character knows their character. Basically, I want you to choose who your campaign trait links you to and why.

Axolotl - there very well may be a need for a cleric. Clerics and other such healers certainly reduce danger in a very nice way.


leinathan wrote:
For Dashuun - in what ways does Dashuun look different than your standard half-elf? Is it obvious he's not a regular half-elf?

He doesn't necessarily *look* different, perhaps a slightly darker pigmentation, but most notable is his sensitivity to light as well as his spell-like abilities. Even then, most common folk probably wouldn't get it, I would think. But as long as he stays in the shade and keeps his magic to himself, he shouldn't be readily identifiable by anyone.

leinathan wrote:
Alright and one thing for everybody. Pick either one or two of the other characters, and then write a little blurb about how your character knows their character. Basically, I want you to choose who your campaign trait links you to and why.

So I assume if we tie ourselves to someone who isn't picked (and we are), we just change that tie appropriately after selection?


I would like to run a rough concept past you - a naga necromancer. If you are okay with it, I may keep her an Oracle or make her a Summoner, but she will be the same character. I have a Cthulhu version and a naga version, the naga version is more Darklands where the other is Outer Planes. I will also need to change her alignment as she is currently Neutral Evil.

If you don't like this concept, I have other characters available to run - a bleached gnome from the Court of Ether or a young oni-possessed half-elf.

All three of these characters are just concepts. As they take a lot of time to make and I am currently studying for my State Medical Boards, I will modify them to fit your guidelines if you are interested in them.


Knew I forgot something. Put me down for the Looking for Work trait. What's more fitting than having a goblin at the Gold Goblin?


Any questions on my character?

The researching the blot trait has a weaker connection to other characters it looks like, but he'd most likely seek out Tia'malavel, another elf, also interested in magic. She;d be a reminder of home and the familiar in this crazy human dominated land. Of course two Magi in one party might be interesting... though Tia is going spell-dancer and I'll be going armored so we'd fill different roles While Calondrel keeps his magic secret, or at least tries too; his choice of weapon would probably indicate much to Tia'malavel.

Lluvia, as another full-blood elf would be his next contact, would be hopeful that since she's been in the city longer she might have made more connections and know where he should continue to look for information about this blot. Calondrel knows he's not the best at finding information out from humans, and would appreciate any pointers.


Hilde Alfborne wrote:

I would like to run a rough concept past you - a naga necromancer. If you are okay with it, I may keep her an Oracle or make her a Summoner, but she will be the same character. I have a Cthulhu version and a naga version, the naga version is more Darklands where the other is Outer Planes. I will also need to change her alignment as she is currently Neutral Evil.

If you don't like this concept, I have other characters available to run - a bleached gnome from the Court of Ether or a young oni-possessed half-elf.

All three of these characters are just concepts. As they take a lot of time to make and I am currently studying for my State Medical Boards, I will modify them to fit your guidelines if you are interested in them.

Alright, unfortunately, your naga necromancer character won't work for this campaign. Naga and drow are both distrusted to the point of violence in this campaign, and this is an elf-centered, against the drow, campaign.

On the other hand, I'm very much intrigued by both of the other characters, and would like to see a rewrite of either of them to match the campaign.

Well, the pairings are mostly to help me pick. Not to say that I'd pick in pairs, but I like to see which applications you guys like, too :)


@Kaars - With your permission, I'll tie Dashuun to you. Being somewhat of an outcast himself, Dashuun would be more likely to have contacts of the Ratfolk and Kobold nature more than the usual Elves and Humans and such.

Kaars Arden: When Dashuun was very young and still living on the streets of Riddleport, he made many contacts with the less savory folk in the dirtier back alleys. One such contact, a very clever Ratfolk, remains a friend to this day. Though sometimes he seems a bit mad, Kaars has always been a loyal companion.


leinathan wrote:

For Rilamon - What is it that placed Rilamon in his spiral of self-destruction? Was it laziness or tragedy or something else?

I'm not certain actually. I figured it works equally well if he's just suffering the effects of a Forlorn Elf growing up among short-lived humans (and thus having the opportunity to rise above his self-destruction and become a hero) or if he did something to get himself expelled from proper elven society decades ago (and thus getting an opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of his people).

leinathan wrote:

Alright and one thing for everybody. Pick either one or two of the other characters, and then write a little blurb about how your character knows their character. Basically, I want you to choose who your campaign trait links you to and why.

Calondrel Aural The presence of other elves in town is a sort of mixed blessing for Rilamon. While it is nice to have someone with a similar perspective of time, he finds he's much more embarrassed about his alcoholism around fellow elves. In the long run, elves like Calondrel could be a good influence on Rilamon.

BTW, the researching the blot trait is a bad thing to take. The AP was written for 3.5, when identifying items with a Spellcraft roll wasn't the standard way to do things. But the DC given by the trait is actually higher than the standard DC to do so in Pathfinder. At best, the trait does nothing. At worst, it makes characters worse at identifying magic items than they would be otherwise. It either needs to be avoided entirely or re-written by the GM.


Yeah I'm aware of it being either a do nothing or a strictly detrimental trait, but its the only one that I feel fits the character concept... I'd hope the GM rules its a no-op, or replaces it with something.


I'll spend some time at some point thinking of a different effect for the trait to have.

How about this - in order to tell whether something is magical or to determine its effects, you no longer need to cast detect magic. Instead, all you need to do is a Spellcraft roll.

This essentially gives you another cantrip slot, no?


I'll whip up the cleric tonight!


In the little story I wrote to connect to Second Darkness I said she had arrived in Riddleport on the very same day. That might have been a while back, though, she might have been in Riddleport for two weeks or so. She would definitely want to go look for Milon Cath though. She is faithful to Desna and the aspect of Desna which is most important to her is to help and guide those who are about to be lost in the darkness.

I would prefer to team with another elf as well... It's really late where I am right now and I need to sleep, but I can drop a few hooks and see whether anyone might connect to them. Lluvia does prefer the company of elves as well, but she has little prejudices about other species. She generally likes the company of halflings, too. She might have reservations regarding half-orcs and tieflings.

• Lluvia keeps regular contact with the wandering priests of Desna and is faithful to Desna - she seems to have made a very personal experience that connects her to Desna somehow. She is more open to them than to anyone else.

• Lluvia can also sometimes be found in the House of Silken Veil. Not for lust, but because it seems in a way pleasant refuge as a temple of an elven goddess. She has enough of a history as diplomat to not only be good at, but enjoy court games and she chats with the temple prostitutes in order to gain information without giving any away. That's her way of gambling... She's really good at veiled innuendos and producing misleading half-information without lying. She tries to hide the fact that she had been a diplomat and her past, but in order to gain information she might have to use some of hers. If she doesn't say anything she won't get anything.

• A detail that she might disclose relatively easily is that she's a widow and she will talk about her late husband (or bond mate as she calls it). She will try to avoid details that will disclose too much of her own identiy, though.

• She is interested in politics, art, philosophy, history - particularly the history of the cataclismic event that lead to the creation of the inner sea - and religion, particularly Shelyn, Desna, Zon-Kuthon and Sarenrae. She would probably be interested in the Empyreal Lords, but she doesn't know about them.

• Of the rumors in she is most interested in "Lost Below" - the disappeareance of Milon Cath. She tries to find out where exactly he went, who was in his company, why he went and what he hoped to find. She considers it her duty to help him if she can.

• She is also interested in the veil that clouds the sky. As a faithful of Desna she finds anything that clouds the stars highly disturbing. She would like to get to the bottom of this, but has no idea where to start.

• Sometimes, when the night is darkest, she just slips through the streets to get a feeling for the it. She does not interfere with any illegal operations, but she is curious about the true power structure of the city.


leinathan wrote:
Suny - ??? I'm still confused.

I'm not sure if being able to cast 'Confusion' on the DM is a good thing or a bad thing. (>_>)

Um...what is it that's passing strange to yourself about Sunny, Master DM Sir?

I've stripped this avatar back to pretty much 'blank page' and am in the process of working back up with my 'Pugilist' build.

So...who wants to be friends? (^_^)

Very much cheers to all.


Sounds interesting. I'll try to work on something tomorrow.


Character page up fer perusalin'! (^_^)

*Sproings around happily* (^_^)

Possible link to Lluvia:

Sunny, while new to the town and it's peoples, is a gregarious, inquisitive and happy soul. She's found space fro the moment at the Temple to her Goddess where she is energetically learning all sort s of new things about the locals and their customs.

While flitting about the place she has crossed paths with another Elf. A lass who's background could not be more different than her own.

Fascinated by the tales of trees which blot out the sky (Sunny's island palms, while majestic, certainly don;t sound as sky reaching as those of Lluvia's home forests.) Sunny tends to now follow the other Elf around. Learning, watching and generally helping where she can.

(^_^)


Oopsie!

Okeys, got tha' character worked up RIGHT this time. (No, it' weren't tha' wrong hat. I take a size forty-seven and a half!)

This time, for SURE! (^_^)


D-Kal wrote:
I did not miss the original post, but rather was seeking verification since it mentioned a campaign of elves and drow, but did not list drow as playable. I suppose this means they take a dedicatedly antagonistic role, but wanted to be sure.

A big part of Second Darkness' premise is that, at the start of the campaign, drow are considered to be an old wives' tale, which nobody has ever encountered in living memory, which is one of the many reasons the forward to the first book of the AP has a page long rant about why it's the one campaign you just plain can't have the "but I'm a good (half) drow!" thing going.

Anyway, tossing my hat into the ring because I've got this bard I need to get out of my system and it's an AP my main group doesn't seem much interested in. So let's go with...

Shayliss Vinder, Human Bard

Backstory/More detailed pitch:

Spoiler:
Having grown up with an overprotective father, losing her sister under unnerving circumstances, her would-be lover to a life of adventure, and coming to believe her sleepy little home town just isn't safe a after a number of nasty incidents over the past year, Shayliss has decided she's had quite enough of Sandpoint. Gathering as much as she could could carry in practical supplies and loose cash from her father's store, she snuck out, hitched a ride from a traveling caravan, and decided to try and make a life for herself in what she believes to be a big glamourous city rife with opportunity.

Eventually planning for a very support-oriented bard, taking the whip mastery feat line to keep enemies on the ground where others can easily deal with them rather than really getting her hands dirty.

Appearance

Grand Lodge

This bard was made for another pbp

Borden Read..

He's a brawler rough and tumble bard.

Campaign trait I'll update as well with some minor updates in background so I can be attached to others.

Borden is a man's man. He is honest about his dishonesty and unapologetically open about his faults: Ale swiller, b&&*%#*~ artist, whore monger and brawler. Oh, and add to that, 'failed Pathfinder', 'treasure hunter' and 'tomb robber'. He'll drink with any man that will buy a round in return and fight any man that gives him cause.
A native of Absolom Borden ended up here about 2 years ago, not long after washing out of the Pathfinder Society. One too many failed examinations (caused by whatever carousing he could manage to cram into that dreary existence) had led to the Society washing its hands of him but he still had the skills and it wasn't long before he ended up in Varisa looking for Thassilionian relics.

While in Varisia Borden has applied himself with a rigor that would have surprised his old teachers. He has become knowledgeable in the history of the region and has a keen instinct for its artifacts. He is exactly the sort of foreign expat that seems to end up in Riddleport - loud, disrespectful of the local Shoanti (though he is unfailingly polite to anyone who can help him) and with no regard at all for historical claims of ownership when it comes to antiquities.

After scraping through the last few months on the back of a lucky score and paying for drinks at his preferred watering hole by being a colourful story teller, Borden is hoping that with the Gambling tournament he can make his fortune.


Here is Relverest Danarin, Cleric of Shelyn. Someone has to heal the sick and look pretty besides.

Relverest:

Relverest Danarin
Male Aasimar Cleric of Shelyn 1
NG Medium outsider (native)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +6
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 9 (1d8+1)
Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +6
Resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee cestus +1 (1d4+1/19-20) and
. . glaive +1 (1d10+1/×3)
Special Attacks channel positive energy 6/day (DC 13, 1d6)
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +7)
. . 7/day—lightning arc (1d6 electricity), touch of good
Aasimar Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +6)
. . 1/day—daylight
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +7):
1st—bless, bless water (DC 15), shield of faith [D]
0 (at will)—detect magic, light, read magic
[D] Domain spell; Domains Agathion (Good), Air, Good
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 13, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 16
Base Atk +0; CMB +1; CMD 12
Feats Selective Channeling
Traits focused mind, looking for work
Skills Diplomacy +9, Perception +6, Perform (string instruments) +4, Spellcraft +4; Racial Modifiers +2 Diplomacy, +2 Perception
Languages Celestial, Common
SQ aura, domains (agathion [good], air)
Other Gear lamellar (leather) armor, cestus, glaive, Violin, 72 gp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Aura (Ex) The Cleric has an aura corresponding to his deity's alignment.
Cleric Channel Positive Energy 1d6 (6/day) (DC 13) (Su) Positive energy heals the living and harms the undead; negative has the reverse effect.
Cleric Domain (Agathion (Good)) Associated Domain: Good.
Cleric Domain (Air) Granted Powers: You can manipulate lightning, mist, and wind, traffic with air creatures, and are resistant to electricity damage.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Energy Resistance, Acid (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Acid attacks.
Energy Resistance, Cold (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Electricity (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Electricity attacks.
Focused Mind +2 to Concentration checks
Lightning Arc (1d6 electricity) (7/day) (Sp) 30' Ranged touch attack deals 1d6+0 Electricity damage.
Selective Channeling Exclude targets from the area of your Channel Energy.
Touch of Good (7/day) (Sp) Grant +1 to skill checks, ability checks and saving throws for 1r.
--------------------
The crowd parts like a crashing wave at the raised platform, where a youth whose mere presence seems to brighten the air stands sprightly with a fiddle tucked under his chin. "Good Lords and Ladies, I greet you and wish you excellent fortune! The Tournament shall begin in due course, so, if you would, please refrain from pushing, shoving, and stabbing! All will get their turn to try their skill and luck at The Gold Goblin! In due course, please have your vouchers ready--that's it, kind sir, that one you're waving at me--and do remember, our troubadours are here to help you hone your luck, so tip us often and tip us well! Enjoy a beer or five!" He plays a merry tune on the fiddle, bows, and returns to the darkness of the preparing tournament, his green eyes merrily flashing in the shadows of the gambling house. ...at least, that's how I imagine the job will go, thinks Rel, smiling at the thought.

Relverest is from Korvosa, and by all the gods, he is rather pleased to be gone from there! Life was not particularly easy for an angelic boy born to commoners; too many Asmodeans and Hellknights made his childhood a series of rough scrapes. Throughout these misadventures, he remained a smiling cherub, to the frustration of his tormentors. His parents were of little help; they had no idea where his celestial heritage had come from, resented it, and when he didn't agree to the idea of using his skills for robbery or other exploitation, kicked him out to the streets.

As he trotted through the streets, attempting to be unobtrusive, he heard the sweet sound of music, and was drawn to the Temple of Shelyn. There, the clerics took him in, and in time he took the vows of a Shelynite; a devotion to music, practice with the glaive, and honoring love, art, and beauty. All was not well in temple life either, though, and Rel found that the human acolytes resented his eternally youthful, optimistic aura; the constant political squabbling wasn't to his liking either. Leaving the city at last after his acolyteship in the Temple, he sought to worship Shelyn in his own way; bringing art, music, and kind words to villages throughout Varisia, especially to those others found to be unworthy due to poverty or vice. After a year or two in Riddleport, he has had some setbacks; clerics of Cayden Callean resemble drunken louts at times, and resent a healer in their territory, so he has been trying his hand at troubadour and crier, with some success.

Description: Relverest is strikingly handsome, with long blonde hair and green eyes that glint like emeralds. He is a tremendous optimist and art afficionado, and enjoys the company of other musicians and artists. After the rough treatment by Hellknights he received in Korvosa, the jibes he gets for being a "pretty boy" in Riddleport roll off his back with a laugh and a wave. He is will not back down from a fight, however, and his glaive is sharp. Very little will make him angry or hurt, save for insult or potential injury to his violin.

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I daresay he and Lluvia would have plenty to talk about.


@Axolotl Yes, that might work indeed.

Maybe she heard Relverest play somewhere - maybe on the streets at dawn, that would be up to you. Since he'd play considerably more sophisticated tunes than you'd usually get to hear in Riddleport, maybe a sonata, maybe a tragic instrumental sequence from an opera, that would definitely caught Lluvia's attention. She would have listened to him with a - for Riddleport - unusual patience and displayed her appreciation.

They might have come to talk about his problems; the little attention people pay to beauty and art and the little patience and short attention spans they may have. About wedding ceremonies*, discuss the cypher gate from an aesthetic point of view. She loves discussing art. She pretty much shares his views on the Clergy of Cayden Ceilean, but she's willing to create bridges to the the clergy of Desna if she can.

Lluvia would admit that once was faithful to Shelyn, but lost her faith and drifted in the darkness for while after her husband died. During that time everything beautiful she witnessed would only cause her pain. She has come to terms with her past by now, but she did so by putting her faith in Desna. She is particularly fond of tragic, but hopeful music and she likes motives in art that deal with rain. She's very concerned about the dark veil in the sky and tries to find out what he thinks about it. She would also ask whether he knows Milon Cath and what happened to him, sharing what she learned in turn.

She carefully probes for the rumors she heard about the tournament and a possible involvement of devils, but her interest in gambling, per se, is very limited.

----
* While people may not hold Shelyn in high esteem, a cleric of Shelyn sounds like a better choice for a wedding than one of
• Desna "... in good times as in bad times until death di... Oh, look! A butterfly!",
• of Cayden Ceilean "Now, get the kissing done, so we can celebrate"
• of Calistria - that would be like an invitation for the spouse to sleep around with the party guests.


@Calondrel Aural

You might meet Lluvia in the House of the Silken Veil should you be there. She has a room in Gold Goblin but spends little time there - she's building a network around the city, not just the Goblin.

Lluvia might approach you, primarily out of longing to be with her own kind. She'd insist on talking elven with you, being stuck in a country with a language she doesn't speak it will feel like a relief to her to use her own language. She will carefully try to flirt with you but not follow through if you respond all to well to it, while encouraging you to keep at it. If you don't respond at all to it, she won't push it but instead display a friendly attitude. She originally comes from the Mierani Forest, but doesn't seem to have ties there anymore.

She is very interested in how you combine magic and combat into a single art - even though that might connect her closer to Tia, since there is a certain similarity between Spell Dancer and a (would-be) Shadow Dancer.

When she hears about the tournament and that you've been invited to join she urges you to great caution and seems very concerned. She hasn't been in Cheliax directly but long enough in Numeria to know how bold the devils have become and heard whispers of their involvement in the tournament. She may even ask you to join as your company - she would very much like to get into it to keep an eye out and gather information, but not as a participant herself.


I'm still a little confused about Sunny. Where did you find the "island elf" race? Also, why is Sunny built at 5th level without a campaign trait?

You know, I really like using Shayliss Vinder as a PC. It probably appeals to me because of the many hilarious encounters I've had with her and my players in the past... I'm guessing you're envisioning this after the events of the RotRL adventure path? How did she come to be a bard, and learn how to use magic and weapons and such?

Borden Read...why did he choose Riddleport? There's nothing particularly treasure-hunt-y about the pirate and smuggler town.

I like Relverest and the potential connection between him and Lluvia, but I have a couple of questions - does it actually matter where his celestial ancestry came from? If so, where did it come from? Also, why did he choose Riddleport, over all places, when he escaped from Korvosa?

Getting close to what, I suppose, is decision time for me. Ideas are forming in my head of party dynamics. I want to pose another question for everyone to answer but I want to, A. Wait for everyone to answer the last one first and B. think of a really good one.


Oh hey! I figured I missed the cutoff when I saw the character connections bit above my post. So yeah, going into a bit more detail there...

Spoiler:
Personal backstory timeline (avoiding as many Runelords spoilers as I can):
Rise of the Runelords happened. She fed someone her whole rat hunting line, one thing lead to another, and her lucky target ended up having his unconcious body tossed out in the street by her father (followed by his pants). He didn't want to deal with the most dangerous man in Sandpoint again any time soon despite her attempts to find a safer rendezvous point, and eventually he and his friends got distracted with all that Runelord Rising business.

She's frustrated over the whole thing, goes and talks to Ameiko looking for some advice on how to win him over, picks up some general bardy tricks while she's at it. Unfortunately, the next time they head back to town, he's gotten himself into a relationship with Tillia, the teacher from over in Turtleback who's just plain less of a risk, plus she's still a bit rattled from the whole Skinsaw thing, so, things just don't work out there.

So then when the next big event to hit the town, that's it, final straw. She raids the general store for whatever she can find that seems like it'll help on the road or starting a new life (I'm still tweaking her inventory a bit as I type this), sneaks out when her father isn't looking, charms her way onto a passing caravan, and shows up in Riddleport. After asking around and realizing her only real job skills are the dancing lessons she picked up from Ameiko, hey look, here's a new casino opening where she can probably find work.

And honestly, I'm planning to start off unarmed and unarmored. Should be enough to get through the first encounter or two with some panicky shoving, distractions, and words of encouragement to others, and I'm saving enough cash to pick up the essentials when the need arises. Going with a whip works nicely for being a civilian because wow the things really are near useless without a lot of feat investment.

And... let's see. Now that I'm still in the running I need to double check over backstories for a better handle on who's a good match-up specifically (need a little sleep first), but I could see coming in knowing just about anyone by way of:

A- Coming into town on the same caravan.
B- Hearing about potential job openings at the same time and conspiring to make each other look good.
C- Trying to charm free room and board off someone while she works on getting properly situated.

I suppose there's also D- Some responsible type trying to talk me out of the whole runaway thing, if anyone's backstory meshes with hailing from further down the coast.


leinathan wrote:


I like Relverest and the potential connection between him and Lluvia, but I have a couple of questions - does it actually matter where his celestial ancestry came from?

Well, it does matter that he has a spark of celestial blood; that inspires great confidence in Lluvia and Aasimar are more similar than humans to elves in regards of life expectation and consequently life experience. Where it came from is of less consequence. She would be curious to learn of it, but celestial is celestial. And since she reservations giving away too much of her own identity she won't be hearing him out on it. And, as it is with Aasimar, the divine spark may very well skip several generations or come from the very presence of a Solar on a battlefield. There is a fair chance he simply doesn't know.


leinathan wrote:

I'm still a little confused about Sunny. Where did you find the "island elf" race? Also, why is Sunny built at 5th level without a campaign trait?

Getting close to what, I suppose, is decision time for me. Ideas are forming in my head of party dynamics. I want to pose another question for everyone to answer but I want to, A. Wait for everyone to answer the last one first and B. think of a really good one.

Sorry, sorry, sorry for the confusion.

This is the Sunny I'm offering for your game.

'Island Elf' Has been built using the 10 Point Character race builder in 'Hero Lab'. Also sorry if this is too far out for your game.

Admittedly, the other Sunny built to 5th level is the way this Sunny will develop.

Hope the idea of a hand to hand combat style fighter finds favor with the DM.

Is there anything else I can post to help quell any confusion?

Much cheers to all.


Googleshng wrote:
A big part of Second Darkness' premise is that, at the start of the campaign, drow are considered to be an old wives' tale, which nobody has ever encountered in living memory, which is one of the many reasons the forward to the first book of the AP has a page long rant about why it's the one campaign you just plain can't have the "but I'm a good (half) drow!" thing going.

No kidding? Good to know. Perhaps I'll change the concept then. Nightmare fist (half-)drow might just have to wait for another campaign.


Connection:Dashuun.
Kaars had met a half elf once. When things had been slightly better off for himself. Friends were a rarity, in a place like riddleport but for some reason he had helped him get on his feet and survive the harshness of the city. He was one of the lucky ones that had been able to leave the city. Kaars didn't envy him that. He wished Dashuun luck that day and never expected to see him again...

Connection:Kezia.
It had been Kaars searching for the evil otherworldly influences that had caused him to meet the tiefling. The first contact he had had had had quite the effect on him. The outsiders eere indeed cunning, even their blood ran through the city. Though perhaps they did not control all of their half spawn. He kept up the contact and when he heard she was going to the tournament he offered to go with her. Perhaps she could unknowingly uncover some connections for him.


This is Wolfgang's character, I hope the recruitment is still open.

Fulko, to be honest when I started thinking of him I thought he'd turn out to be Neutral Evil, but somehow he ended up as Chaotic Neutral and honestly I think I like him better this way. While he won't trust the party straight up, he won't give them a hard time either and honestly who would trust a group a strangers so readily? No one, its just that Fulko is even more mistrusting.

In battle Fulko will switch between weapons whenever the need arises, but he will favor the battle axe, his go to maneuver will be tripping the opponent, his other abilities will include decent mid ranged attacks with thrown weapons, as he will get point blank-shot and precise shot later on, along with a few ranged focused rage powers. Last but not least I plan to get him Dazzling Display, which will really utilize his intimidate, and with a few choice rage powers like terrifying howl he'll be pretty annoying to fight against.

Skill wise Fulko can easily become a face for the party(strange role for a barbarian I know), and his sense motive and perception aren't too shabby either.

One more thing before I leave I'd like to vouch for Birch33, he's both a frequent and great poster, I am currently in a RotRL game he's running and I am really enjoying myself.


Hrm. I wouldn't usually speak into a competitor's application in a PBP application, but Sunny is a quite intriguing case. I was considering how one could make a character as close to the somewhat ... deliberate concept that would work with the rules and be more or less conclusive.

However, I just don't see any room for making the character a fist fighter, she fights with a whip. I renamed the suggestion to "Solari" because "Sunny" makes me think of "Sonny Crocket" in Miami Vice rather than an elf.

This is just a quick and dirty build. In many ways bard would be more suited, sorcerer might be an option as well and a witch or druid would not be completely impossible either.

Obviously the feat Calistrian Prostitute would make sense as well, but it doesn't fit there anymore and I think being a cleric of Calistria puts enough emphasize on the circumstance.

This is but one of many possibilities to represent the character. Bard would be perfect, too, especially considering that it automatically gets a whip proficiency. Rogue, sorcerer, witch and druid (especially with a boa constrictor as animal companion) to a certain degree, too.

I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes with the input.

Solari:
Solari
Female Elf Cleric of Calistria 1
CN Medium humanoid (elf)
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +5
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 8 (1d8)
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +6; +2 vs. enchantments
Immune sleep
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 20 ft.
Melee dagger +0 (1d4/19-20) and
. . scorpion whip +0 (1d4)
Special Attacks channel positive energy 5/day (DC 12, 1d6)
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +4)
. . 6/day—dazing touch
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +4):
1st—charm person [D] (DC 14), divine favor, magic weapon
0 (at will)—detect magic, enhanced diplomacy, light
[D] Domain spell; Domains Charm, Lust, Vengeance Inquisition
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 12
Feats Combat Expertise
Traits into enemy territory, prehensile whip
Skills Bluff +3, Diplomacy +6, Perception +5, Sense Motive +7, Spellcraft +5 (+7 to determine the properties of a magic item); Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
Languages Celestial, Common, Elven, Sylvan
SQ aura, divine retribution, domains (lust, vengeance inquisition), elven magic, weapon familiarity
Other Gear scale mail, dagger, scorpion whip, 93 gp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Aura (Ex) The Cleric has an aura corresponding to his deity's alignment.
Cleric Channel Positive Energy 1d6 (5/day) (DC 12) (Su) Positive energy heals the living and harms the undead; negative has the reverse effect.
Cleric Domain (Lust) Associated Domain: Charm
Cleric Domain (Vengeance Inquisition) Deities: Calistria, Lamashtu, Norgorber, Rovagug, Urgathoa.

Granted Powers: Vengeance is justice naked of pretense. On your oath, you will deliver justice so unbounded.
Combat Expertise +/-1 Bonus to AC in exchange for an equal penalty to attack.
Dazing Touch (6/day) (Sp) Melee touch attack dazes target.
Divine Retribution (1d6+1) (6/day) (DC 13) (Sp) Standard, foe in 30 ft takes damage from nonmagical accident (Ref half).
Elven Immunities - Sleep You are immune to magic sleep effects.
Elven Magic +2 to spellcraft checks to determine the properties of a magic item.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in low light, distinguishing color and detail.
--------------------
Solari grew up on an idyllic island in the Varisian gulf. Life was idle there, hedonism implied in the beautiful land and turning towards Calistria when her womanhood first awakened the only viable choice, making the island a bit more idyllic.

Tradesmen and pirates usually ignored the island. There were hardly any natural resources to be harvested and the elven tribe which lived on it lived a wonderful, yet simple life.

But one night a storm came and a large vessel crashed on the beach, cramped with pirates. After a long and quite successful raid through the seas the pirates where only looking to go home to spent their newly conquered riches. They didn't even know about the elves. But when a lightly dressed and unsuspicious elf maiden made the mistake to approach the sailors, who hadn't even seen a woman in weeks, they abused her - and not just one of them, even her death didn't make them stop.

The elves weren't warriors, but with their considerable and arcane and divine powers and the advantage of knowing the terrain they did put up a considerable fight in order to save their sister. However, the pirates were stranded, experienced warriors and driven by an obscene desire to acquire the naive elves as slaves and to feed their own desires. Hardly any of the elf tribe on the island had a combat spell prepared and their skills with the traditional elven weapons, longbow and longsword were rudimentry.

The fight lasted over more than two weeks. Most elves and pirates were dead. Many elves maidens taken prisoner. Non of them made it to the mainland alive however.

Solari had left for dead with a bleeding wound at her head, but she awaken, just to find her little paradise torn apart and the covered with bodies of the dead swarmed by flies.

She swore revenge and with merely a makeshift draft she made it from island to island until a merchant ship, which gladly accepted the services of the priestess, took her on board and she she finally made it to the base of the pirates in Riddleport.

But what she found there shocked her almost as much as the raid on island. The stench, the disgusting ways of her human sisters in faith, the crowd and the drugs were hard to bear at all for her.

Without any knowledge of human society she asked around and was eventually directed to the House of the Silken Veil. The priests there were amused about her elven sister in faith and the naivity she displayed. Yet they recognized the common faith and were curious what a creature of such beauty and undesputed devotion might teach them, so they gave her a place to stay, clothes and work to do, while they fed her with enough information that she could remain hopeful to have her revenge.

With time some of the priests actually befriended Solari however and the elf began to realize how from the true path of Calistria the humans had strayed. With her knowledge and experience she gained enough influence to become at least par with her human brothers and sisters.

No one really cared if one pirate every now and then died a horrible death from poison, and no one ever thought of the elven priestess with the cheerful disposition when that happened. Except a few sworn friends in the church of Calistria who celebrated each little victory with her in the ways of the faithful.


Leinathan: Relverest, like many an aasimar, has heritage that skipped a few generations. His Korvosan parents, being somewhat Chelaxian in viewpoint, failed to appreciate it. :)

Here's a possible Lluvia-Rel link in the form of a letter, and a motivation to head to Riddleport.

Letter:

"Honored Relverest,

I write to you from beneath a spreading darkness in the sky. I am not certain if the news has spread to Sandpoint or whatever small town you find yourself in at the moment--I've sent out several messengers--but I assure you, the region of starless sky, something coal-black and not natural, truly requires further attention. As you follow Shelyn, I felt that a manifestation that could be related to her estranged brother, whose name I shall not mention here, could warrant your visit.

I shall be frank, dear Rel. I know that you pine for a larger city. Please stop your wasting away in the wee hamlets and come to a place where you can spread art and light. Riddleport is...a jumble...but there is great opportunity to build something here, in this freewheeling bustle. You know far better than I how much song comes out of chaos and discarded things. Heed my letter; I know several places of lodging, and there is a tournament that requires troubadours...and they pay better than Sandpoint, my friend. Come, help me solve a few mysteries and play your violin for these wild folk.

Send messages to the Savored Sting--they will be received warmly.

--Lluvia


"Sunny" wrote:
leinathan wrote:

I'm still a little confused about Sunny. Where did you find the "island elf" race? Also, why is Sunny built at 5th level without a campaign trait?

Getting close to what, I suppose, is decision time for me. Ideas are forming in my head of party dynamics. I want to pose another question for everyone to answer but I want to, A. Wait for everyone to answer the last one first and B. think of a really good one.

Sorry, sorry, sorry for the confusion.

This is the Sunny I'm offering for your game.

'Island Elf' Has been built using the 10 Point Character race builder in 'Hero Lab'. Also sorry if this is too far out for your game.

Admittedly, the other Sunny built to 5th level is the way this Sunny will develop.

Hope the idea of a hand to hand combat style fighter finds favor with the DM.

Is there anything else I can post to help quell any confusion?

Much cheers to all.

Well, the thing is, it's not on my list of allowed races and I didn't mention the race builder, so I would have preferred that you ah...asked me first. Not that I'm not fine with it, I am. If you could do a few things in order to be better considered:

-Re-build her at level 1, as she would be at the beginning of the campaign, with a campaign trait.

-Make me a list of the racial traits that you've built for her.

As for everyone else... I'm reading these backstories. Some of them are pretty long!


Axolotl wrote:

Leinathan: Relverest, like many an aasimar, has heritage that skipped a few generations. His Korvosan parents, being somewhat Chelaxian in viewpoint, failed to appreciate it. :)

Here's a possible Lluvia-Rel link in the form of a letter, and a motivation to head to Riddleport.

** spoiler omitted **

I hadn't considered the possibility that you might be there on my request - that would imply we knew each other before we met in Riddleport, but I could live with the wording.


Perhaps Rel came down from Sandpoint with Shayliss? He is wise enough to know he isn't a real bard, but he does love to make music. Come on, Shayliss, they pay better, and no goblins! Oh, and there's also this blot of darkness...


This is starting to sound like a musical group, seeing as you also have dancers of various varieties to choose from, Leinathan. :)


She might have come over Sandpoint... she came by ship, but maybe she didn't find one straight to Riddleport, so she traveled to Sandpoint instead and found you there while looking around in the harbor. (I would have preferred not being your reason for being there, but it works alright.)

Then we don't need the letter, we just meet and I tell you what I heard from travelling clerics of Desna.


I have a friend (who is coincidentally going to play in this game, I think) who wanted to start up a bard/paladin game. Everyone would be bards, in a battle of the bands, but then would swear revenge and become paladins upon their defeat at the hands of succubi.

Okay, so I like the two new applications quite a bit, actually. First of all, get on looking through the other applicants to have a connection with one of the other PCs.

Second, Fulko, are there any lasting repercusssions of his relationship with his "uncle" that could show themselves in future personal relationships?

Third, Solari, how focused is she on her pirate-hating venture? Does she know what pirates she's looking for or is she just looking for "pirates"?

And my final thing that I'm saying is that with those two new applicants, I'm closing recruitment. I'm not looking for further applicants, as I'm sure that I can craft exactly the party I want from the current pool. Decisions will be coming in a couple more days, when everyone's gotten caught up.

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