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574 posts. Alias of Retech.


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Dotting. I'm thinking of a double arcane gestalt. Will be up tonight!

Question: Are the arcane mana pools separate for each class/each side of the Gestalt?


Ah, I am sorry that I have forgotten to post. My game has unfortunately collapsed from inactivity/lack of momentum. Good luck with everything, and I'm happy to see that this is working out. :)


It's not a problem. Real life always takes precedence, and I've had to go inactive from being busy before. :)


I think it's been drifting this way for a while, and I think limping is not very interesting.


I think most of the other players have drifted off. Thank you for your persistence, but it looks like we can't continue. If you're interested Ethan, I can see if it's possible to integrate you into one of the other games running as part of this project.


It was 20gp for each person plus whatever you had before

The older holds his tongue, but the younger seems friendlier. "Marcus, nice to meet you. I think you decided to come to this city at the wrong time, if you want to avoid knives in the dark."


That sounds good to me. Activity is a bit slow, but we are approximately on the same day as you.


I think we'll do d13, since there are 13 different cards

The older gentleman motions to the younger. "Why don't you play the bet, this time? I know that you like to take charge of things." The younger smirks slightly at the little verbal jab, but then nods. The older gentleman deals the cards and turns to Ethan. "What profit could a landed gentleman extract from the lands around these parts? Excellent sand, I might imagine. Some say that wealth comes from the land, but really, wealth comes from wealth."

1d13 ⇒ 5
1d13 ⇒ 7

The younger decides to double his wager to finish...

1d13 ⇒ 12

...and busts. The pile of coins slide across the table.


Ah, if you prefer to play the game, that would be fine with me as well.


The bartender, if you can use that title for the sharply dressed elderly man behind the counter, walks briskly by and sets a small menu by Eran and Bathus. Everything seems to be an expensive version of a classic food item. Good meals, 5 sp each

Ethan sits himself with two merchants playing a game of blackjack. They barely look up at you, but the younger (and more ostentatiously dressed) of the two says meekly that the wager is 10 gold per hand. "Are you sure that you have the coin to be playing?"

I'll be doing d20+WIS mod for blackjack, incase that impacts your decision to play


Wonderful, let us proceed. :D

Unlike Ethan's last barhopping adventure, the predominant sound in Moosewood was not of fighting or play, but of coin. To the discerning ear, one can hear the distinct clinks of different coinage hitting the mahogany tables: the harsh crack of the sharp-edged imperial coin of Cheliax, the pleasant roll of the local coinage, and the heavy thunk of the asymmetric, crudely hammered coinage of the far north.

Many of the travelers seem to have left, leaving a more-leisurely group loitering while waiting for brunch to be served. The wall behind the bar itself sports the stylish head of a Moose and a small selection of fine drinks. One or two seem to be reading the latest news of the day or a book, and Bathus may have seen some of them occasionally in the neighborhood.

At your arrival, the bar-goers look up briefly and not seeing their lunch contacts, return to the business at hand, the movement of coin.


I think the reason that it's going slowly is that there's plenty of discussion, but no one is leading the group. I encourage someone to take charge. :)

It's a bit difficult because I cannot lead in this type of a game, only drop many hints and leads.


We've hit a bit of a slow spell, but ideally someone will come along with a haste to dispel it soon.

Edit: I like your additions DM Feral


I may have taken off the rails a bit early, but keep at it. Take initiative! :)


I think that would be an interesting dichotomy. Aside from specific control-oriented spells (walls come to mind), many of the most useful spells still give saves.

Maybe we could see more battle sorcerers this way, instead of just leaving the heavily-armored archetype to the clerics.


I would assume that those blood foods are not made from deceased humans though.


No worries, thanks for keeping me posted. :)


The hostess prepares a small breakfast for everyone and sets a small bowl of porridge for people as they sit at the table. "Y'know, I wouldn't be too worried. Politics can be intense. Maybe he's just on the floor of the chambers filibustering a bill or schmoozing a new ally. He comes back late so often that I don't even cook a portion of dinner for him most nights unless he says that he'll be back."


The conversation continues later into the night, first shifting from business to little bits of chatter, until even that tapers off entirely. Once your hosts put out the fire and head to bed, it's pretty clear that Mr. Samuels would not be returning that night.

In the morning, Mr. Samuels has yet to return, and there's isn't time to lose. After all, mysterious forces are racing to unlock the mystery first, the paladins are progressing with their own independent investigation, and Mr. Samuels seems to have disappeared...


Eran Orantul wrote:
what would Eran know, GM?

I think that the forum was rolled back?

Eran:

The Order of Tears are a secret organization that works closely with law enforcement. They wear signature masks to hide their identities and despite their large clout and scores of positive deeds, little is known about them.

You recall that Mr. Samuels had some sort of relationship with the Tears, but you don't know what (you saw before that Mr. Samuels had a frightened reaction to their arrival).


Life is life. But I missed you guys. :)


Eran:

Well, aside from the law enforcement, you would also know of the Order of Tears, other nobility, and possibly all manner of bounty hunters.


I'm still here and will move along once the conversation seems to die down. Mr. Samuel does not show up soon.


I can heal. More specifically, I'll probably be taking the "heal" spell, but ideally the group can pitch in to pick up some CLW wands for out of combat healing, as the heal is more clutch-healing.

Coming up with the avatar in a bit.


Karson:

On the way home, you see some other suspicious looking people investigating the crime scenes.

One by one, the party slowly returns to the safehouse, to a small dinner of clear carrot soup, some bread, and a leg of turkey. By nine o'clock, everyone is back except for Brie and Mr. Samuels, and even the hostess decides to start eating without them.


Team 1:

You begin to canvas a couple of bars, and it seems like trouble is brewing at all of the bars. Eran is quite certain that there has to be something in common between these places for things to go wrong at once. Based on his extensive experience in barhopping, Ethan is definitely certain that regular alcohol can't get people this worked up, without any obvious side-effects. It's starting to get a bit dark. (Late Afternoon)

Karson:

Karson heads down to the docks, near the murder site of the paladin. It's starting to get dark and he can notice a distinct shift in the type of people in the area. At the murder scene, he notices the a few markings indicating the location of the murder, but strangely, no members of lawful authority seem to be around.

The ships where other murders took place are located further down the dock, and there are a few tavern where you recall Eran and Ethan said they would canvass.


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Veiled Illusionist is a nice PRC that I found recently, especially because of the human veil. If you're entering from a divine path, you can get some nice arcane spells onto your list.

Perfect for a super versatile heavens oracle (no longer just a color spray oracle!)


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It does not, and it's about the same as dumping physical stats. Dump away. :P


Still working on items/spells, but the core of the character is done. Just need to put this down.

It seems like many people have companions or whatnot, so that is not a focus of my character. I would like to take Leadership to simulate the networks of people that she's influenced over the years, but they won't necessarily show up often. So ideally they'd be more like her contacts.

For a cohort, I would like some sort of Azata, but I don't need it around with me (since I already have a familiar, and that would be juggling a lot of characters around), but perhaps it could reside on the celestial plane and come when we really need help (so like a free planar ally, for big boss-battles or if we're randomly trapped somewhere and could use some help.)

Mechanically, the concept is an Oracle Illusionist. It dips a bit into the arcane side of things, because it seems we are lacking a full-arcane character, in terms of battle-control, but it also covers the divine bases (healing, buffing, etc). She has many social skills, but it doesn't make sense to me that only she would be a party face, so ideally I could use the rolls to back up other people's talking, so they get plenty of social time as well.

I decided on an oracle, instead of a bard, for both mechanical balance reasons, and because I wanted to emphasize the divinely-inspired nature of the character, rather than the sit-around and play music part.

Background:

There are only two forces in the world. Evil and Music.

In the high halls of the elven kingdoms, beyond the sight of any short-lived race, the weary advancement of time that plagues the rest of the world passes in an instant for the elven inhabitants. Day-long parties and concerts are common-place, and the elven trances are not a respite from a hard day's labor, but rather merely an opportunity to take a short break before re-entering the festivities.

The kings and queens of the Elven realms often call upon the services of the Azatas, a whimsical celestial race. Of these Azatas, the Lyrakien are the most renowned for their musical talent and frequently summoned during the grandest of festivities, to provide heavenly music for their elven hosts. These summoning contracts have existed for generations, and in the modern day, are rarely used; the Lyrakien frequently show up during the festivities without being bound by any magical spell. It was during one of these festivities that an elven woman stumbled across the gaze of a Lyrakien, and Twylla was conceived.

Twylla was an Aasimar, one of the long-lived, and was therefore able to continue living in the elven halls. But even though the Aasimars live for quite a long time, the elves live for even longer. She excelled in her musical studies, because Aasimars develop faster than elves, and was quickly appointed an apprentice to an esteemed elven flautist. However, as the years wore on, she began to grow tired of the perpetual festivities and felt her years begin to catch up with her. Even though she was still culturally an elven teenager, her body had aged into adulthood, a traumatic experience to say the least. So she left her homeland and journeyed into the world, to the city of Magnimar.

The world was not how she expected it to be, despite her knowledge of lore. She had never been expected to work for food, or even have to find her own lodging. Twylla had to borrow money from sordid criminal groups that controlled the slums to survive, and her debts quickly mounted. She had nothing...less than nothing, except, her flute. Soon she was performing in various taverns and on the street corners, and slowly but surely began to repay her debts.

One winter night, while performing in the White Stag Tavern, Twylla was greeted by a menacing large man, a loan enforcer. It had been three months since she had taken out the loan, and it was time to pay. Twylla pleaded with him, offering the money that she had accumulated and asking for more time, but he wasn't someone that accepted excuses. He grabbed her flute, her prized flute, out of her hands and tossed it into the roaring fireplace.

Without thinking, Twylla leaped at the fireplace and plunged her arms elbow-deep into the flames...

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

...It had been many years since the Muses had decided to claim Twylla as their own instrument. The miracle of the muses, as Twylla later called it, was both a blessing and a curse. Her hands, charred and wasted by the flames, were weak and fragile, but remarkably, her flute and her ability to play it survived. What's more, she had gained remarkable magical powers, gifted by Shelyn and the muses to spread their worship and their whims.

Using music, she would inspire the masses to stand up for goodness against their oppressors. In places where she failed, she would leave behind networks of followers, who would preserve the muse and spread it slowly, beneath the notice of the the oppressors, for the benefit of the oppressed.

Called by a few of her friends in the city of Alkenstar, Twylla returns to the city of smog, the wasteland for music, with the hope that her power can help repel the machines that are destroying the last bastions of beauty in the city.

Spoiler:

Twylla the Impetuous Aasimar
Oracle 5 (11 + 32)/Veiled Illusionist 7 (49)
Basic Stats
Str 6, Dex 11, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 30
BAB +6, CMB -2, CMD +8
Init +2; Perception +1
Defense
AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 20 (+10 armor)
hp 92 (5d8 + 7d6 + 36)
SR 0
Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +2
Armour: Agile Mithril Breastplate
Offense
Spd 30 ft/x4
Ranged

Feats
Spell Focus (Illusion)
Skill Focus (Knowledge(Arcana))
Eldritch Heritage (Arcane Bloodline)
Improved Familiar
Leadership (See note)
Eldritch Heritage, Improved

Skills
UMD +22, Perform +21, Knowledge (Arcana) +9, Knowledge (Religion, Planes) +9, Knowledge(Local) +6, Diplomacy +24, Disguise +22, Bluff +22, Perception +1

Traits
Magical Flair (Illusion)
Warrior of Old

Languages

Equipment
Headband of Charisma +6 (36,000 gp), Belt of Constitution +4 (16,000 gp), Cloak of Resistance +4 (16,000 gp), Agile Mithril Breastplate +4 (),

Spells Known (Spells per day)
Cantrips (Infinite): Enhanced Diplomacy, Read Magic, Detect Magic, Create Water, Purify Food and Water, Mending,
Level One (5/day):
Level Two:
Level Three: Loathsome Veil
Level Four:
Level Five:
Level Six:


Eran:

They seem to have legitimate grievances, and it's obvious that their fighting is real...but you feel like they aren't intoxicated enough, based on their speech, to have terribly impaired judgement. You have a small, nagging desire to jump into the brawl and beating them for wasting your time.


We went on break over the holidays, but coming back now.


I will start up slowly, and we can get back into the groove. I am in a similar boat. My schedule is a bit erratic as well, so we can be erratic together. :D


Brie tags along with the paladin, with an innocent smile on her face and malicious intent in her heart.

Team 1:

Eran, you can take a sense motive check with +2 circumstance. Ethan can as well, but without the bonus.

The two brawlers seem to be deaf to your attempts at mediating the conflict. The dwarf appears to be getting the upper hand, using his weight to pin down the human's leg to the ground and flailing at him with his arms.

Team 3:

The paladin clearly looks annoyed. "Those administrators in the Capital District are trying to take over our investigation again? No, not this time. Get out."

Karson:

That sounds good Karson.


Hi guys, quick post. I'm going to be on and off during the holidays. I'll be back to make a big post around the New Year.

Happy Holidays everyone!


Brie:

The paladin's hard face immediately softens. He places his hand protectively on Brie's shoulder. "No...no..." He pats it. "It'll be alright...let's go to headquarters. We'll keep you safe."

Away Team 1:

The dwarf looks you up and down, and decides to answer. "This bumbleroot ova' here stepped on mah foot, liek this!" He steps hard on the human's foot; the human winces in pain, but tries to hide it. "And this stubby dwarf spilled his ale all over my shirt, like this!" He picks up a drink from the counter and splashes it in the dwarf's face.

They charge at each other and start brawling on the floor.


I remember using that to qualify for something before. It's not a problem.

I think that synthesist becomes easier as you wait for later levels, because then you can start dipping, if that's allowed. Consider, pouncing monk/brawler synthesist oracle. The best part of synthesist is that you can get a buncha defenses and dump physical stats...so maybe we would just need to get CHA to hp (undead race anyone?).


Team 1:

An entire hour passes and not one person comes to play, but...it doesn't seem to be because of you. In general, the people in the bar seem not to be talking to each other very much. No friendly slaps on the back...no celebratory cheers...this doesn't feel like much of a bar at all.

At the other side of the bar, you notice that a large pot-bellied dwarf and a short human are starting to get up in each other's business and it looks like they're about to get into a fight, but you don't recall noticing any issue that sparked the conflict.

Team 3:

Perform (Oratory) is wonderful in many social contexts, like telling a compelling tale or convincing a crowd (like a speech), but I don't think it is relevant in the current conversation.

The guard looks up impassively. "Do you have the permission to be here? This area has been locked down."


Team 3: Jerex and Bathus:

The pair arrive at the poor courts, a series of stout but solid buildings sitting huddled among the hovels nearby. Most notably, you notice that there are no windows into the building.

The whole place seems to be swarming with paladins of various orders and none of them are keen to talk, except for the two paladins guarding the entrance, who tell you to leave as soon as you approach them.

Brie:

"Which captain is this? Of the guard? What's your name?" It's quite obvious that he's more interested in this than the silly questions of a small child.

Karson:

Karson immerses himself in the world of the traveling merchant, the world in which he grew up. The talk of the markets are about prices: silks from Katapesh are becoming rarer after stirrings of war from Geb, spices from the Mwangi are flooding the markets, the price of shipping insurance is skyrocketing. When the topic comes to mysterious disappearances or attacks, there doesn't seem to be much of a pattern. Even the earlier murder of the Varisians, suspected to be by the serial killer, is scarcely mentioned.

The markets are large enough that there are plenty of most types of merchants around, which would be impractical for me to describe, so for the most part, you can assume that there are that type of merchant in the course of your investigation.


That sounds fun.


Mr. Samuel clasps his hands together. "Wonderful. Ethan and Eran, the closest murder sites are just down the road along the docklands, where the merchant and the paladin were murdered. It looks like Jerex and Bathus will be heading to the poor courts, and Karson will be heading to the markets. Any market in particular?"

These are spoilers for organization. I am not terribly concerned one way or another about them being opened, if you can separate your knowledge.

Team One: Ethan and Eran:

Ethan and Eran arrive in the Dancing Monkey tavern, located ten feet away from the waterfront. Aside from the bar, the only accommodations in the room are a set of four or five wobbly tables and a back-room without much of a door. Ethan places his coins, but it seems that the people in the bar are not very friendly and no one takes up your offer. Not many bar-goers seem to be talking to each other much at all.

Team Kid and Wolf:

The stone-faced paladin looks down at the child and then around him. He relaxes his grip on the pommel of his sword when he realizes who he's talking to, but then he seems concerned. "Where are your parents? It's not safe to be out and about."

I am assuming Bathus and Jerex are talking; you can indicate when you'd like to move onto the courthouse


Finished with my final exams. I will move things onwards tomorrow morning. :D


You guys have a general idea of where the murders took place, so it isn't a problem to locate them.


No problem. It's finals week for me too, so I am similarly swamped. :p

------

In your post, once you're ready to head out, just post on what you'd like to do or where you'd like to go. The party doesn't seem to be moving together at this point, so I won't have you wait for everyone else if you're going somewhere else.


Time to pick your buddy(-y + ies) and head off. :D


I recall that you were speaking about how during a combatant's turn, they weave and bob around, which is why they could attack diagonally 5ft.

But a five-step is also an abstraction. It doesn't literally mean a 5-ft step, it just means part of the weaving and bobbing happens to including one square over. Of course, I don't mind; it actually gives a concrete mechanical advantage. :p


If it's an arena, then we should actually follow the established RAW, which is 5-foot diagonal steps. If you've seen the spell templates (cone, circle, etc), those do not make much sense either, but at least it's not something that needs to be ruled on because they are already there.

5-foot is just an abstraction.

---

I am here, as is Captain Fremont.


IIRC the five foot step diagonally just goes to the diagonal square, not the cross.


In the morning, the hostess is already awake with some porridge; the coffee and sweet pastries nicely complement them. Mr. Samuel seems quite refreshed after yesterday's assassination attempt. "I'm going down to the Capital District to make sure that we aren't politically out-maneuvered. Best of luck."

-----

Brie wanders around, speaking with assorted slum dwellers. She sees that the town guard and paladins are out in force, and it seems that the residents are afraid and cowed by their presence. According to the residents, this level of police presence is very unusual, especially the presence of the paladins, even after murders in the district.

The residents seem to also be rather anxious and unfriendly, even to you, which you find a bit strange.


I'm going to move things along.

Mr. Samuel nods in approval. "Very good. Will any of you be staying the night? It's quite dangerous out in the streets."

For anyone that decides to stay the night, the hostess leads them into the basement, where there are a variety of rugs and pillows strewn across the floor.

If you decide to stay the night, you can also post to start your next day, and I will run the adventures for each group of you.


Very good luck to you. :D

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