OK, here's the discussion thread. Post your characters here, talk about what you want to do, etc.

FYI, the campaign will be starting in the port city of Muiu Thral, the City of a Thousand Streets.

Feel free to tie your backgrounds together, or you can start not knowing each other. It's up to you.

French Wolf: Bedu looks good. Hopefully we'll get some friends for him soon. :)

Thanks I have tried to make him fit whatever kind of adventure we do.

But I was very tempted by playing a hobgoblin outcast. But not knowing how seriously the others play or your style I erred on the side of caution. If anything happens to Bedu...

I was thinking hobgoblin expert in ziggurats, the only survivor of a jungle expedition taken out by elves. He gets the blame, branded and thrown out by the Legion. Knowing full well what the populace think of hobgoblins.

Cheers

I'm heading out of town for the night, and will post up a character tomorrow.

I'm finished. Backgroud and description are sketchy... I'll work on them later.
He'll be multiclassing into fighter (or ranger) next level.

"Haircut Sir. A little off the back? Perhaps a small drink or a smoke?" asks the friendly barber to Jaku.

I'm finished. Backgroud and description are sketchy... I'll work on them later.

He'll be multiclassing into fighter (or ranger) next level.

Looks good! :)

Couple of minor things to fix:

Leather scale has an armor check penalty of -2.
It looks like you applied it to all of the proper skills except Move Silently. So Move Silently should be +4 with the armor check penalty.

Off-hand weapons only get half the Str bonus to damage, so your dagger should have +1 damage when using it with TWF.

Billzabub here. My gnome ranger is up and ready to go. I have to finish picking a feat and equipping him, and I need to figure out what looks like a quirk with PCGen, but otherwise, he's good to go.

From his profile -

Description:
Skittle is young by Gnome standards, and morose by anyone's. His fiery red hair, sharp eyes and grim expression all reveal something of the inner turmoil and rage that fills him. He is also slightly unbalanced, often jumping into combat without thinking to the point of being almost suicidal, and prone to 'speaking' with his dead family. He is obsessed with killing monkey goblins and the other 'savage' races that prey upon innocents.

Background:
Skittle recently lost his parents and sister when they were killed in an ambush by monkey-goblins (shocking!), while on their way to Muiu Thral to trade & sell furs in the market. Not knowing what else to do, Skittle made his way to the city, and being trained as a hunter by his father, he now prepares himself for a personal war against monkey-goblins and the darker things that lurk in the jungles.

Billzabub here. My gnome ranger is up and ready to go. I have to finish picking a feat and equipping him, and I need to figure out what looks like a quirk with PCGen, but otherwise, he's good to go.

Looks good! I like the background. :)

Three things: HD should be 1d8+2, not 1d10.
You're a Small creature, so your weapon damage should be Small as well (1d4 for short sword, etc.)
And can you list the breakdowns for your skills, just so I can see how they add up? Something like Balance +7 (2r+3+2) is fine.

Let me know when you've picked your feat.

Well that's 3 characters done. Bedu, Jaku, and Skittle, feel free to roleplay a little bit while we wait for the others. Bedu's barbershop is the perfect venue to get to know one another.

I've been in touch with ancientsensei by email - he should be joining us soon.

Zoomackulas - I know you haven't been feeling well. Are you feeling better, and if so, still interested in playing?

I'll give Tio until Wednesday (one week) to claim his spot. If not, we'll take the first alternate. FabesMini, are you still interested? Post your character if you are!

Let's get this thing started! :)

Looks good! I like the background. :)

Three things: HD should be 1d8+2, not 1d10.
You're a Small creature, so your weapon damage should be Small as well (1d4 for short sword, etc.)
And can you list the breakdowns for your skills, just so I can see how they add up? Something like Balance +7 (2r+3+2) is fine.

Let me know when you've picked your feat.

Ah, good catches - I completely forgot about the small weapon damage. I'll add the skill info and pick a feat later today.

- Bill

Bedu's Parlour of Delights

Bedu's Parlour nestles in a dark corner of the Bazaar. Inside Bedu looks after the needs of many strangers and regulars alike.

The smoke pipe is lit at dawn, with irreverent prayers to the Rani by his sometime servant, Gobiah. Then the water is set to boil and the morning sherberts and other sweetmeats laid out.

The old all hangings of the desert, a flying snake and the walled city of the dwarves, Uttar Keferet are beaten for flies and dust.

A large low chair allows the dwarf easy access to his clients and he intersperses the occasioanl bout of work with rumours and gossip from around the Bazaar. In Muiu Thrall news travels fast and the barber shop is one place it speeds through.

Every day, several of the cheaper merchants come in to catch up on the news. They often stay to do business or meet with other contacts. One or two of these are better left in peace with their unsavoury reputations.

Bedu meets and greets everyone, offering a small drink and a little food in return for a morsel of information.

The regulars tend to occupy the darker recesses at the back of the parlour. This is where the taller tales and stories from the jungles and desert can be heard, often by Bedu himself. This conversation often gets so involved that a client can be left untended and leave in a huff.

But this is a harmless business, and Bedu shrugs at the mention of profits and pouches of coin. His wealth is in information and stories.

Come in and join the gossip.

Looks like these chaps need a wizard.. of the "rebel scum" variety ;)

The 1000 Ziggurats crew are;

1) Frenchwolf - Bedu the dwarven bard
2) Billzabub - Skittle the Gnome ranger
3) Stunty the dwarf - Jaku the human rogue
4) Ancientsensei - wizard/fighter combo
5) Fabesmini - wizard
6) Tio - ?

As usual the party are low on healing with Skittle the heaviest hitter at the moment.

Oh, well in I didn't see we already had a wizard... hmm well I'll examine the healing options.

That would be good, however ancientsensei has been in private discussions with the DM so his PC may have radically changed. Who knows?

Tio or the alternate could also supply the healer. If you want to have access to all the spell lists, have a look at the generic spellcaster variant in the d20srd site. It may interest you?

Cheers

That's an idea, if Sargon will allow it. I quite like that - arcane healing ahoy! Being an unlicensed spellcaster masquerading as a humble potter...

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to nix that particular idea. The generic classes aren't really designed to be played alongside normal classes. And it would also be hard to figure out how they fit into Iskandria's control of certain spellcasting classes.

So any other ideas?

That's cool; well, I suppose cleric of the god-kings; unless someone else really wants to be healer-tron?

That's cool; well, I suppose cleric of the god-kings; unless someone else really wants to be healer-tron?

No one else has expressed interest in a cleric, although I still haven't heard back from Zoomackulas. And if he drops out, Radavel might want to go that route.

But here are some cleric ideas that you might do something with:

• Don't forget that you can be a cleric of one of the Golarion gods as well, if you'd rather have different domain choices.
  
• You can always multi-class as a wizard. I'm also allowing the 3e rules for apprentice-level characters (multiclass at 1st level, 0-level in both classes). If you're interested in that, I can give you more info.
  
• The variant cloistered cleric is also particularly well-suited for Iskandria, though you wouldn't be as good in combat.

UPDATE: Zoomackulas is out, so FabesMini, you're in!

Radavel, looks like you're in as well!

Wow. I'm also thinking of making a cleric of the god-kings.

But a barbarian is also an option.

Wow. I'm also thinking of making a cleric of the god-kings.

But a barbarian is also an option.

Rad - go for it - I was only going to do so as a last resort. I'd rather play an arcane spellcaster.

The 1000 Ziggurats crew are now;

1) Frenchwolf - Bedu the dwarven bard
2) Billzabub - Skittle the Gnome ranger
3) Stunty the dwarf - Jaku the human rogue
4) Ancientsensei - wizard/fighter combo
5) Fabesmini - arcane spellcaster
6) Radavel - cleric of the god-kings
---
7) Tio - ?

However I ain't sure where we stand with Tio, DM. Otherwise I like the party make-up.

Cheers

Just started work on Pidara, illegal spellcaster and possible ally of Bedu in the resistance (if that's agreeable).

This is Liet Kynes, bureaucrat, missionary and would-be messiah.

Still working on the stats and background.

"May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk."

Don't give up on me, gang! I'll have that character in right soon.

Who's for playing this thing quickly,and all the way to 20?

Just curious. : }

I'm happy either way.

Fast or slow.

And Pindara can visit the barber shop any time. Liet too, sounds a bit Dune-esque, Radavel.

Cheers

I don't know about Tio either - I figured I'd give him a week, and that's up, so the group we have is THE GROUP.

I'll look at the new characters when they're finished, but one thing immediately jumped out at me:

The bonus feats I posted are just that. With the exception of just a few (Relic Hunter and Jungle Veteran), you can only get one of these, and only as a bonus feat. Your other normal feats should be chosen from the PHB/SRD.

So, that means:
Pindara: As a female Iskandrian sorcerer, Unregistered Spellcaster must be your bonus feat (although you could choose Cerulean Novice instead, if you wanted). I'd like to see in your background how you avoided registration and forced induction into the Sisterhood as well. Unfortunately, this means you can't choose City Born. Please choose another feat from the PHB/SRD.

Liet: Same thing applies. Choose one of those feats as your bonus feat, but your other two feats must be standard PHB/SRD. And Missionary was really designed for clerics of the new deities now entering Iskandria, not clerics of the god-kings.

Sorry for the confusion.

And ancientsensei, get that character posted, stat! Let's go! :)

Gotcha!

Oh OK, sorry, I had chosen it as a bonus feat; I just didn't realise we couldn't take the other ones with normal feats. My mistake. I'll change it to something else.

with regards to background, I meant to ask: how does the Sisterhood *know* if someone is a sorcerer? Do they have a means of identifying such? If there is a method or means, then I can try to write a way of circumnavigating it. If they just do it by informants and witnesses then she will have only recently discovered her abilities and desperately tried not to use them. She lives alone and has no close friends.

Oh OK, sorry, I had chosen it as a bonus feat; I just didn't realise we couldn't take the other ones with normal feats. My mistake. I'll change it to something else.

No need to apologize. I didn't make it clear from the start. And I did provide an overwhelming choice of bonus feats (compared to the what, five? in the RotR Players Guide!) :)

I meant to ask: how does the Sisterhood *know* if someone is a sorcerer? Do they have a means of identifying such? If there is a method or means, then I can try to write a way of circumnavigating it. If they just do it by informants and witnesses then she will have only recently discovered her abilities and desperately tried not to use them. She lives alone and has no close friends.

It is unclear to the populace at large exactly how all the spellcasters were tracked down when Rani Sephrilara first took power. These days, to catch new ones, the Sisterhood (accompanied by the Crimson Legion) regularly patrol the countryside, investigating new births and questioning witnesses for any sign of children entering puberty that display some kind of power (I think of it kind of like how Tibetan monks go about finding the child who is the reincarnated Dalai Lama).

Sorcerous powers usually develop around puberty, and frequently involve uncontrolled manifestations of that power (see the Background section on sorcerers in the PHB). So if you're 28, you've got a lot of years to cover, but your parents could have hidden you away and kept you cloistered or something. But I suppose you could be a "late bloomer" as well, and were fortunate to have kept your powers under control when in public.

It's up to you, just come up with some explanation for it. :)

I hope this works - she's a pretty ordinary person in everyday life, but in the company of fellow rebels is a bit of a zealot.

Bedu will keep the hair nice, Pindara, whatever happens. Don't worry you'll always look good.

I have sweetmeats too. Come on in...

Thanks Bedu, it's good to be in the company of friends.

Liet opens the door to Bedu's shop. "Greetings. Is the line long? I need a shave, you see?" Liet rubs the stubble of his beard.

I think I missed the start of this, but I'd love to play. Tell me what character class/type is needed and I'll have it up in a jiffy. With Rob posting that the group is set, I'm available as an alternate. I knew I should have kept reading the Iskandria thread...

You can email me through eltjo at wanadoo dot nl or my msn eltjo_veentjer at hotmail dot com.

A pudgy dwarf waddles over with a large grin on his face.

"Of Course. Please take the large seat and tell me would you like a small drink while you wait. A lemon tea or even a desert milk? I have a little cheery cherry brandy too if you wish."

The dwarf continues talking away as he moves about the shop.

"Been in Muiu Thrall long sir? Or have you just arrived in the morning caravan? I hear there was a bad sandstorm across the desert a month or so back. Was that any where near you?"

"Me, I am Bedu bin Bakandar and this is my humble parlour. What do they call you?"

I think I missed the start of this, but I'd love to play. Tell me what character class/type is needed and I'll have it up in a jiffy. With Rob posting that the group is set, I'm available as an alternate. I knew I should have kept reading the Iskandria thread...

You can email me through eltjo at wanadoo dot nl or my msn eltjo_veentjer at hotmail dot com.

Tio! There you are! I reserved you a spot from the beginning, but when I didn't hear from you, I told the alternates waiting to play that I would give you a week...

..which was yesterday. :(

By all means, you can be an alternate. Pbps tend to lose players occasionally, so you might be able to slide in later.

I hope this works - she's a pretty ordinary person in everyday life, but in the company of fellow rebels is a bit of a zealot.

Pindara: Looks good! But you still need the following:

Gather Information should be +3 (1 rank +2 Cha)
You get 2 languages from your Int bonus
How 'bout some hit points? You get max at 1st level.
Perhaps Pindara would like some equipment? You get average gold (75 gp for sorcerers). Feel free to buy some and update your stats with AC, weapon attack bonuses, damage, etc.

EDIT: Are you planning on taking a familiar later? If you do, you'll get Alertness automatically. So feel free to change your feat to something else if you want. If not, then feel free to keep it! :)

This is Liet Kynes, bureaucrat, missionary and would-be messiah.

Still working on the stats and background.

"May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk."

Liet looks good too.

One correction needed: Knowledge (religion) should be +6 (4 ranks, +2 Int).
Also, can you please show the breakdown for your other skills? Something like (4r, +2 Int) is fine.

Thanks.

EDIT: Oops! Liet needs hit points too. Max at 1st level, d6 HD for cloistered cleric.

I know I need to flesh out a few things yet, but how about opening a game thread to keep the in character posting separate? Skittle is walking around, trying to find his way to this barber shop he's heard about. It's supposed to be a great place to find out what's going on, and to meet the right sort of people.

Billzabub/Skittle: Did you pick a feat yet? Chime in to let us know you're here.

Stunty_the_Dwarf/Jaku: Are you still here? Chime in as well!

I know I need to flesh out a few things yet, but how about opening a game thread to keep the in character posting separate? Skittle is walking around, trying to find his way to this barber shop he's heard about. It's supposed to be a great place to find out what's going on, and to meet the right sort of people.

There you are! Good to see you still with us. I'll try to open the game thread tomorrow or Saturday. I want to write up an intro for it. The in-character stuff here is just to pass the time until everyone's character is ready.

So here's where we are, true believers:

Everyone has a character, there's just a few issues to be cleared up before play.

Here's the group:

French Wolf - Bedu bin Bakandar, dwarf bard (Aqubayyid Loyalist)
ancientsensei - Indo Ninzarbi, human ranger/wizard (Unregistered Spellcaster)
Billzabub - Skittle Beck, gnome ranger
Stunty the Dwarf - Jaku Budhanaskar, human rogue (Aqubayyid Loyalist)
FabesMini - Pindara, human sorcerer (Unregistered Spellcaster)
Radavel - Liet Kynes, human cloistered cleric of the god-kings

That's right, 2 Aqubayyid loyalists and 2 unregistered spellcasters. You guys are just a hotbed of sedition! If the Cerulean Sisterhood ever gets a hold of you...

Anyways, if everyone gets their characters finished up in time, I'll be ready to start the game this weekend.

Onward...TO ADVENTURE! :)

Tio! There you are! I reserved you a spot from the beginning, but when I didn't hear from you, I told the alternates waiting to play that I would give you a week...

..which was yesterday. :(

By all means, you can be an alternate. Pbps tend to lose players occasionally, so you might be able to slide in later.

Yeah, my mistake for tuning out of the Iskandria thread. Like I said, I really appreciate that you kept a reserve for a week and I'll be very happy to be an alternate. I'm available to play any type of character depending on what spot falls free, if any.

Good luck everyone!

Having a familiar doesn't really jive with her: much too likely to attract attention.

On the other hand... maybe a cat would do...

Liet looks good too.

One correction needed: Knowledge (religion) should be +6 (4 ranks, +2 Int).
Also, can you please show the breakdown for your other skills? Something like (4r, +2 Int) is fine.

Thanks.

EDIT: Oops! Liet needs hit points too. Max at 1st level, d6 HD for cloistered cleric.

Corrected the skills. Made of mistake of not removing the +2 from the Theorcrat feat. HP is 7.

Just to be clear as far as the other PC's are concerned Bedu may be a sympathiser to the cause against the Rani, but NO ONE even knows that for sure.

He is first and foremost, a weird barber who is keen on tomb stories etc.
His friends do tend to be a bit shady though, like Pindara and Liet perhaps?

Cheers

DM - what does being a registered spellcaster entail?