Temple of Elemental Evil - Delving the depths of the Abyss on Golarian.

Game Master Tirion Jörðhár

Before you left Kyonin, did you know anyone who had fought in the war against the elementals? What, if any, stories did they tell? (As an elf, you should have been alive when this occurred or born shortly thereafter.)

Why did you leave Kyonin and what did your family think of you leaving?

Regarding your background, where is .Sunset. from? Where did she grow up and where did she train? What caused you to travel to Yanmass? And how did you get there?

Besides aimlessly wandering, how did you end up at the Inn of the Spider Queen?

Did your master have any other family or retainers who might seek to determine what happened to him?

What do your brothers do? Are they also in the military? Or working on the farm? Or something else?

Did your father ever relay any stories of the war against the elementals? He would likely be too young, but would have known senior officers in the army who had been mere rookies when the campaign took place.

You responded to my previous post that you were an “arcane defender”. I am not sure what exact class this is. Earlier you had posted Barbarian(Titan Mauler)-->Monk-->Magus as you leveled. Sorry for the confusion, but I just want to know which class/archetype you are starting with and if you plan on multi-classing, which you are planning on switching to.

There is no actual class of 'Arcane Defender'. I am hoping to create the feel of the tulwar wielding, turban wearing Saracen. So on the one hand you have Clerics and Whirling Dervishes of Sarenrae and here on the other you have the trained mage side of things.

Character class choices by level breakdown.

1stLvl Barbarian(Titan-mauler,1)
2ndlvl Barbadian(Titan-mauler,2)
3rdLvl Magus(Kensai,1)
4thLvl Magus(Kensai,2)
Leveling in Magus(Kensai) for every level there after.

I hope that clears some things up for you. *Bows*

Regarding your background, where is .Sunset. from? Where did she grow up and where did she train? What caused you to travel to Yanmass? And how did you get there?

Might I ask as question in return? Where is Yanmass? Is it upon Golarion and if so where so that i might peruse the Innersea World Guide that I poses.

What did your father and family think of you becoming a caravan guard and militia trainer rather than joining the military and working your way up?

They approve. Think d'Artagnan at the beginning of the book. As I see his family they are ‘landed poor’, a strong history and a good name but little in the way of power or cash. So family honor precludes starting in the ranks but funds do not exist to buy a commission. Here I am assuming an old style military where purchasing ranks is normal and working up through the ranks into the officer class impossible. Hwyel taking his skills on the road as it were is not the best choice, and perhaps he will not be talked about too much around the family table. However if he marries well or gains military/noble rank he will be considered a success.
He has not been cast out but the family cannot fund a career so his choices were to either to be a simple farm worker or to strike out on his own.

What do your brothers do? Are they also in the military? Or working on the farm? Or something else?

A mix, the firstborn gets the land of course. Second born probably entered the clergy of the major faith in the area. Third and forth born are basically insurance in case one of the first two die or are marriage fodder to cement alliances. I have not made any decisions as to who or even what gender the siblings are as I wanted to leave them open to become subplot/plot hooks if you want them. Perhaps Hwyel has a black sheep for an older sibling? Or perhaps they see him in that role?

Did your father ever relay any stories of the war against the elementals? He would likely be too young, but would have known senior officers in the army who had been mere rookies when the campaign took place.

Most definitely, Hwyel was probably raised on them. His father’s exact career I am leaving vague in case you want to use it as a hook. Also I note that the family has a military history so Hwyel’s ancestors could have well played a part in the war.

Ronan would have traveled anywhere the road took him, but he had been to Ustalav briefly, as well as Qadira. It was in Qadira that he saw the precision that a curved blade could hold and since then he has been trying to master the technique. Other than those two main countries, he did not know where he was and he didn't care much. As long as he was alive and still practicing his sword play.

Unfortunately because of his constant travelling and bluntness, he was not able to make any friends or acquaintances during his journey. Which doesn't bother him that much as he has always found it hard to say the right thing, because of this he learnt how to fend for himself. But the idea of having someone to talk to who won't take offence at what he said is something he would very much like to come to pass ... Although the idea of placing his life in anothers hands is a very scary proposition.

Before you left Kyonin, did you know anyone who had fought in the war against the elementals? What, if any, stories did they tell? (As an elf, you should have been alive when this occurred or born shortly thereafter.)

Most of the Elders in Kyonin were in the war, but the only ones who really spoke about it to him were his father, mother and sword master. Unfortunately his uncle (on his mother's side) had died in the war he had been his fathers sparring partner and a renowned warrior.

His sword master would always tell Ronan how he would not have survived the war had he been old enough. Yes he had started training with a blade by the time of the war, but he was only a boy. Whenever the sword master seemed to get annoyed with Ronan's progress he would start fighting like a savage, showing Ronan just what it took to survive the war.

The stories he was told were mainly about a great evil that spread through the land and corrupted much by its mere touch, an Evil that commanded the elements to its bidding. It took armies from all the known races to defeat the evil and many souls were killed during the blood soaked war, turning the surrounding area's red. Which in Kyonin were known as the Crimson Fields. The stories always explained how just one race could not defeat the Evil as it took all talents and ways of thinking to stem its growth. The stories of the Crimson Fields are used by parents to scare their children, saying they will send them to the fields should they not behave and that the Evil may still be alive waiting to devour them.

Ronan knows that the Evil was defeated though, the peace that is throughout the land is proof of that.

Why did you leave Kyonin and what did your family think of you leaving?

Ronans family were starting to get a bit embarrassed about the poor fighting skills their only son had shown so far and the savage weapon that he chose to use. So when he left the note stating he was leaving to train and make them proud as a warrior, like his Uncle he hoped they would be proud and would forgive him.

During his years away he most missed his baby sister who had been born only a few weeks before he left. He decided that they should focus all of their attention on bringing her up into the beautiful woman she will grow to be.

One day he will return to Kyonin, hopefully alive and beg his parents forgiveness for disgracing them, if they held it against him ... he hoped that didn't.

Is your adopted father still alive? If so, what is he doing? Retired? Still performing? Does he live in one place, or move around the nation?

What deity/deities were you raised to revere? Do you still follow them?

How has your low wisdom affected your decision making throughout your life?

Were your parents married? How did your father meet a Jann? Why did she leave? Where was she from/where did she go to?

Did you have any relatives or mentors who fought in the war against the temple?

Ranim's step-father was the leader of a semi-famous entertainment troupe, specializing in plays but branching out in a variety of mediums. Taldor was just one of many places he traveled to. They rarely stopped in any one community for more than a week, so Ranim never experienced a permanent home before.

Is your adopted father still alive? If so, what is he doing? Retired? Still performing? Does he live in one place, or move around the nation?

He is still alive and performing, though at this point it's mostly managing the troupe. He continues to travel throughout the lands with the troupe.

What deity/deities were you raised to revere? Do you still follow them?

The primary deities she revered were Desna and Shelyn, which she feels a slightly stronger connection to Shelyn. She does indeed still practice.

How has your low wisdom affected your decision making throughout your life?

Ranim is a creature prone to acting without thought of consequences. In fact leaving the troupe itself was little more than a whim, feeling it was time to spread her own wings, and for some unknown calling to this area (real or imagined). It has lead her to be more trusting than she probably should be at times. Her father has ground lessons into her, though how much that will hold true remains to be seen.

Were your parents married? How did your father meet a Jann? Why did she leave? Where was she from/where did she go to?

The answers to those questions are actually related. Aldrick’s father, a man by the name of Rierdan, was actually a native Taldan, but he was not from Oppara. Rierdan was from a fairly small town and though I say he wasn’t extremely talented, he was talented enough to travel in his youth. He went to Qadira, Osirion (where he learned of Nethys, whom Aldrick still worships to some extent), and Katapesh, where he met Aldrick’s mother, Saleh. When they first met, Aldrick’s father had no idea that the beautiful woman he was infatuated with was not human, and they traveled together for a time. When Aldrick was about a year old, just barely old enough to wean, Saleh revealed her true nature, and told Rierdan to take their son to be raised amongst other humans. He wanted her to go with him, but she insisted that she could not and she disappeared into the night. After a futile search, Rierdan decided to head back to his native Taldor, and head for a large city in hopes of making enough money to raise his son in relative safety.

Aldrick has no idea where his mother went though his father assumed that she headed back to Katapesh. Aldrick has toyed with the notion that genies may somehow be involved with the ailing elements up north. He doesn’t really know the difference between a janni or a shaitan or an efreeti, and all he knows is that his mother was a genie. Ultimately, he thinks that he might learn something useful there, but it is not his primary concern. The most important thing to Aldrick right now is writing the beginnings of his tale.

How do you plan on working with an elk companion in a dungeon campaign?

Where is the consortium based out of? Taldor or Andoran? Have they continued to track you?

Before the event known now as 'Earth fall' there were groups and races who were, if not ready, at least partially prepared. The Rune Lords of Thassilon vanished, possibly destroyed but more likely in hiding. The Elves stepped away, into another realm, to await the passing troubles.

However not all of the fair folk fled. Some remained, whether steadfast and true or perhaps trapped and unable to join the exodus. One such small band found shelter amongst the dark and troubled forests and hills in a place that is in today's language known as Taldor. Hidden away where the Verduran forest meets the Fog peaks did the group settle. There did they stay and survive and pray fro the cumming of the new dawn.

Today the Elves who live in their secluded settlement continue to worship the Dawnflower. Giving thanks to said Goddess for their safety and survival those few generations ago. However, with the cumming of the Human's of the nation of Taldor and their 'Great crusades' the Elves realized that just Clerics devoted to Sarenrae would not necessarily be enough to protect their enclave.

So, with the studying of the arcane arts and blending said styles with that of sword play they sought to create an arcane defender of the faith to fight along side the holy orders. To whit 'Saracens of Sarenrae'.

Sunset (The name she has taken until such a time as she fells/demonstrates being worthy of her given/proper names) is one such neophyte Saracens. Recently given into the service of a caravan sent to trade goods and such, she has continued East, following the new dawns.

Why she does not yet know, but she feels the pull perhaps of the Goddess. Maybe this is the test she seeks to show and prove her worth. Or perhaps it is just wander lust and she (Not very wisely) has given into such feelings thinking it is the will of her Goddess...

Your stat creation stats and you character sheet stats don’t match. Also, in your background, you say +2 Int, I think you mean +2 Wis.

How do you plan on working with an elk companion in a dungeon campaign?

Where is the consortium based out of? Taldor or Andoran? Have they continued to track you?

Stats have been fixed. Finally. If there's still a problem, I'll bloody well eat my hat.

Actually, that's a really good question: I hadn't fully thought that through. I think a Badger/Wolverine (depending on what part of the country you live in!) would make a lot more sense. They're more aggressive in eliminating threats, and are natural burrowers so wouldn't have a problem with being underground. They're also smaller; so wouldn't pose as much of a problem in cramped tunnels, etc.

An badger companion is at first Small size, and becomes Medium at level 4. Gimpy is/will be Maegge's body guard: his tricks focus on guarding and fighting. Due to Gimpy's bond with Maegge, Gimpy also feels the "wrongness" coming from northern Taldor, and with Gimpy as his pack-mate they will challenge the thread to their herd.

The Lumber Consortium is based out of eastern Andoran. Since fleeing Wispil, Maegge has not come across any more agents of the Consortium - though they may be out there waiting for a "golden opportunity" to capture him. My preference would be for them to be waiting and watching; he is technically guilty of the crimes they're charging him with, after all!

What did your parents think of you leaving the Dwarven lands?

How much experience has Whoric had interacting with other races? Especially elves and other uncommon races (genie blooded, etc.)?

Is Ramos originally from Katapesh? Or was he just there for work?

How did Ramos get to northern Taldor?

Since he lost faith in Sarenrae, what is his opinion of those who worship other deities? Does he still believe in the Dawnflower and other deities? Or just Groetus?

If you are so keen on gaining knowledge, why follow Iomedae? Why not Irori or Nethys or one of the other more knowledge focused deities?

What was your father’s opinion of you following such a martial focused deity instead of following in his footsteps and following a knowledge deity or going into a sage or arcane type profession?

His parents had no issue with him leaving the dwarven lands. They were concerned that he make it into the clergy, and we're happy when he did. They recognize that their son isn't the brightest diamond in the mine, and could see that he wasn't getting the opportunities at home. While moms will always worry, an adventure for legendary treasures is something any dwarven parents can appreciate.

Before leaving, the only real contact Whoric had with elves or humans was through descriptions and first-hand accounts of other dwarves, most of which he coukdn't really remember. As such, he went for quite awhile without speaking, and since gruff, silent dwarves are not uncommon, he got mostly left alone. He's heard stories of the duplicitousness of elves from the conservative elders at home, and the general untrustworthy flightiness of humans, but he knows enough to know that not everything the elders say can be trusted. After all, they didn't think he could make it as a priest of Angradd!

His father always saw the fanciful in him, while he never had to push him to learn to read or to develop an interest in books, the same can't be said for his studies or his chores. Many, many times he found his son lost in some tale rather than completing his studies, finishing inventory or sweeping up shop. Orion's decision was not a surprise, but it was only with heavy resignation that his father accepted his decision to choose a different path than the one that he had so carefully laid out for him. They are still very close, his father still man's the quaint, though worn shoppe. He would always welcome his son back if he ever came.

The funny thing about Orion's quest for adventure is the seeming lack of it. His romance with the adventures of the road have thus far been unrequited. There was the one time in Oppara, one of his first pursuits, he was stopped in a dark lane by a band of thugs. They seemed menacing and all, they asked him what he was up to and where he was going, then all he remembers is having fallen into a brief but deep sleep. But when he woke up he found ... everything, they hadn't taken a thing. He wasn't even roughed up, nothing to show for it. Obviously they weren't interested in his collection of books nor his clothes. Another quest, a reputed den of a hermit sorcerer north of Karakuru, turned out to be equally a benign fate. He finally found his 'hidden' lair only to discover that he was a day too late. It was empty, his scrolls and manuscripts gone. Apparently a group of adventurers raided his location just days before. So now he has continued heading north,word is there is a keep where some unsightly activities have taken place ... next stop Yanmass, surely he will be the first to set upon that quest.

Do you have any family? If so, are they still in Highhelm? Or did some of them also leave the mountains?

What path did you follow to get to Yanmass? Straight across Galt? Or some other way?

Are you planning on focusing on archery? What other roles do you expect to play in the party?

What interest does Desna, a deity with her principle focus and worship in Varisia, have in the Temple far to the south and east in Taldor?

Did your father ever tell you anything about your mother?

Why did Asasha have to leave after her mother was killed? Why was her mother killed?

Did you see your companions fall to the goblins? Or did you flee?

Where was the temple where you grew up? What nation and/or city?

Why have you not sought out a larger temple which could help determine what afflicts you?

If the voice calling you north is not the hag, what is it?

How did you get to Taldor? Why did you go there?

Where did your sorcerer powers arise from?

How have you made your way to the desolate north of Taldor?

What was the source of your destined eldrich heritage?

Why has he decided to leave the comfort of his dusty books for a life of an adventurer?

How did he hear about the resurgence of troubles in northern Taldor? How did he travel to Yanmass?

Where was the temple where you grew up? What nation and/or city?
Some village in Ustalav (sorry I don't have anything that could really let me give you a more specific answer). It was a small one that had only three or four resident clergy, including her.

Why have you not sought out a larger temple which could help determine what afflicts you?
Fear, denial, and shame. She's heard stories of hags bearing children, and has heard half-remembered, superstitious wives' tales about how to spot one, but she believes herself to be a half-elf. She refuses to accept that she could possibly be the daughter of any hag, much less the one that attacked the church. Beyond that, there's the fear of finding out that she is the child of a monster, or that she'd been cursed, or that she's turning into a hag. I know it sounds contrived, and it kinda is, but I had an aunt that didn't go the doctor because she was afraid of what she'd find out and almost died because of it, but that only covers the first two fears. The third is one I've struggled with. I'm not going to go into details, it's something you don't want to hear, er, read, and it's not something that I want to share here. When you experience something horrible done by someone, and you have either a conscious or sub-conscious knowledge that you share some of your traits with that person, there is a very real fear that you will turn out like them. It's something that can cause people to some self-destructive things. For me it was, and still is, keeping my anger bottled to keep from blowing up. For Allysen, it's staying away from people that can counsel her and help her work through this because she's afraid she'll repeat what the hag did to the temple she was serving at. Lastly, there's the shame. She's worked through most of it, but enough remains that she won't seek out help from the larger temples.

If the voice calling you north is not the hag, what is it?
Pharasma, at least that's what I was trying to imply. Often times when a magic is causing things to go screwy, there's a necromancer that's taking advantage of the chaos. Besides that, if these are the same wizards who originally caused the mess, they're probably undead, and Pharasma hates the undead.

You were toiling at the forge at the time of the former war against the Temple. Did you participate at all? Were your weapons an armor used? What stories did those who went bring back with them?

Oleg definitely did not participate in the battle, but there's a good chance that his weapons and armor were used by those who did. Stories of heroism, sacrifice, adventure, glory, gold, death, skill. Stories that, at the time, held little sway with Oleg. It's not that he didn't appreciate those who fought to keep others safe, it's just that, until recently, he felt content to be a smith, viewing that as his best way to contribute, as well as to praise Torag.

Do you have any family? If so, are they still in Highhelm? Or did some of them also leave the mountains?

I'm sure Oleg has distant relatives left in the vicinity, but his parents are dead and he had no siblings to speak of. The fellow priests and devout worshippers of Torag are the only family he's had for a long time.

What path did you follow to get to Yanmass? Straight across Galt? Or some other way?

Straight shot east to Yanmass. I imagine he'd probably travel with a caravan as he's a bit rusty with any combat experience and would want safety in numbers.