Shadowborn's page

Abram, brow furrowed, gives a nervous cough.

"Er, I suppose I should go down with you. After all, it is my job to help you find what you're looking for. Also, I'm not supposed to let anyone into the stacks unsupervised. I'll try not to get in the way while you...exercise any specialties that may be required."

That said, he grabs up a candle lamp from his writing desk and moves in behind the party as they descend the stairs.

Marching Order

• Master Parisos
• Broderick
• Kon-Tao
• Amon
• Archivist Abram

Unless there are any changes wanted?

Wanton chips, eh? *waggles eyebrows* Tell me more.

You know why I don't use the weapon size rules as written?

Small longspears, that's why. 'Nuff said.

I want to enchant improvised weapons. Holy Avenger mannequin legs and stuff.

Ah, ah, ah, hold on there, loose cannon. Is that a leg from a masterwork mannequin?

I think my main problem was that my OpenOffice broke whatever math calculators you had set into the templates, or just ignored them entirely.

eventually a Simmons + Mikelok relationship

More likely a Simmons/Tripplett relationship, assuming he becomes enough of a recurring character for it to happen, since Deathlok's busy doing the Clairvoyant's bidding.

A couple things:

First, you should have three odd stats and three even stats as that's the standard.

Second, this thing's stats and general abilities are a lot higher than I remember the original gauth's being. This is actually on par with an actual beholder. A quick glance at the ability DCs, hp, and damage output puts this thing firmly in CR 11 territory, with some things edging into CR 12. Gauths weren't nearly that powerful.

I'd check out this 3.5 version and work from there. Be sure to check the monster creation rules to get things where you want them for its CR.

Now why there weren't passive things like security cameras aimed at the landing pad I have no idea. But it is good writing that they wouldn't see a plane coming or hear it land.

With as deep underground as that bunker is, there's plenty of reason they wouldn't see or hear it land. (The front doors lead into an elevator that goes down, presumably, a long distance.) That they don't have the landing pad wired with sensors or cameras to alert them is just terrible planning.

What got me is that despite not expecting anyone for some time, those guys weren't playing cards, or checkers, or an XBox. What do they do down there all day?

The stairway descends into darkness, though there is a lantern hanging from a hook on the left wall about halfway down the flight of steps.

Abram shakes his head at Kon-Tao's suggestion. "No, no. We Archivists work diligently to ensure that the records and books in our keeping are kept intact. We watch for water leakage, mold, bookworms and other vermin, and take immediate measures."

At Broderick's suggestion, Abram looks rather alarmed. "Cavians? Do you think so? Sanguine Lord protect us!" You can almost see the wheels turning in his mind as he processes this, his eyes wandering to Amon's uniform. "A Section Omega operative... Oh, no! Are they in my mind? There...there won't be any permanent damage will there?" The poor fellow seems prepared to bolt at this point.

As for the entrance to the archives, there is a staircase at the back of the building that leads down below the floor level, readily visible without direction from the Archivist.

Go ahead and liquidate what you want and get whatever supplies you need.

Actually that episode convinced me that either Quinn or one of the other SHIELD team people has one of the occular implants. Why else would the clairvoyant set this all up? The clairvoyant can clearly track his own implants so he was counting on using this to get someone with an implant to the secret location and revealing it.

Well, going off this theory, if we make the assumption that none of the core team has them, then that leaves Bill Paxton's character.

The reason I'm going with the assumption that none of the team is carrying an implant is that the Clairvoyant's modus operandi is to use the implants to give orders as well as observe, and kill anyone that threatens to expose him. We haven't seen any of the team act in such a way, and we know Coulson doesn't have one or the Clairvoyant would already know what he wants to know.

Shadowborn wrote:

Trying something new tonight with dinner: Hasselback potatoes, with bacon and cheese.

These might be of interest to you.

Nice! Interesting twist on twice-baked. Looks like something I'd save for a party though. That's a lot of work for a day-of-the-week dinner.

Trying something new tonight with dinner: Hasselback potatoes, with bacon and cheese.

As it happens, yes I do. There's a lot of stuff in there that can be incorporated into almost any campaign. It starts off explaining the "degree of success" mechanics that are used throughout the book. Rather than just relying on a "fail or make, one die roll" system, it gives you degrees of success and failure to prolong the games and contests presented later.

There's quite a bit on alcohol and its effects, including five different stages of intoxication (well, six if you include "unconscious") and strengths of various alcoholic beverages, as well as rules for hangovers and recovery.

The gambling section goes into alternate uses of skills for games of chance.

All the new rules lead to the biggest section of the book, which covers all the different sorts of games, contests, and martial events you'd expect to find in, well, tournaments, taverns, and fairs. There are drinking games, games of skill and chance, races, archery contests, jousting, bear "wrasslin'" and numerous others.

The latter portion of the book has locations you can drop into existing campaigns, including possible encounters and interesting NPCs.

Finally, there's a short appendix with some random tables for vendor stall goods & quality, tavern fare, and drinks.

If this is the sort of thing you want to throw into a campaign, then it's well worth the price.

Oh, right. Michael Bay is still churning out this offal.

Abram casts an odd look at Broderick when he asks the last two questions, shakes his head, and attempts to explain. "I'm not losing my mind, if that is what you're implying. This persistent chill is part of it. It's been cold in here before, but this isn't normal. Also, I see movement out of the corners of my eye, like something creeping in the shadows. It's worse downstairs. There will be noises. Things will move. Books topple off shelves, scrolls fall out of their holders. Nothing has been damaged, yet, but certain pieces have gone missing. At times I get the peculiar feeling that I'm being watched."

Just what I wanted: a field of great selections and a difficult decision ahead of me. Congratulations, Top 4, you did not disappoint.

Jeff Lee wrote:

As John Travolta would say: "Thanks, Roan Stewaeert! And special thanks to our host, Struan Kzing!"

Abadar help us, is this going to be the meme for the year?

Perhaps, Troy Edjans, perhaps.

As John Travolta would say: "Thanks, Roan Stewaeert! And special thanks to our host, Struan Kzing!"

*quick bump*

Unruly wrote:

Mark Sweetman wrote:

Traditional fantasy is such a subjective term nowadays though.

Consider Dragonlance - it's 30 years old now, and you'd consider that to be old hat nowadays... and here it is with flying citadels.

Similarly Ravenloft - it's mere mention conjures reams of nostalgia among many gamers... and it's got Masque of the Red Death circa 1994 which blurs lines with 1890s Earth.

So in two of the marquee 'old-ish-er-school' settings you've got the flying x's and crossovers to Earth.

That's not to mention S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks. Crashed alien spaceship, robots, lasers, you name it. Pretty much all the stuff that people are complaining about with Iron Gods. And, if the wiki is to be believed, that was first played in 1976 with actual publication in 1980.

Plus the 1980s BECMI D&D Mystara setting, which had:

** spoiler omitted **

The Spelljammer setting is 25 years old this year.

The Planescape setting is 20 years old this year.

How many decades does it take for "unconventional" fantasy to become conventional?

I wonder if they'll go with the standard red outfit, or the classic yellow Daredevil costume? Personally, I'd like to see classic.

Hey,

There was a post on the Pathfinder RPG page on Facebook that I think deserves consideration and wanted to make sure word got back to Paizo promptly, so I'm reposting here. Also, since this community is usually friendly and often pro-active, someone here might already have something that could help in this situation.

hey all!! I am trying to help out a friend. I am trying to find a history of the world of pathfinder. I know it little by little in a lot of books but here is the catch...my friend is blind. So any know of one that maybe out there or is there anyone that may want to make one up on youtube? I think it would be a great idea and my even be fun. I would do it myself but I dont know how to do it. Any help would be great thanks!!

If you don't want spoilers for the Darkmoon Vale modules, then stop reading now.

You'll want Stilgar to do that. Dunshale is only a hamlet, but the dwarven fortress nearby can handle larger quantities and more expensive goods.

Abram bites his lip. "There are normally two Apprentice Archivists serving under me. One asked to be transferred out after recent incidents. The other...left. At least, I hope he left. He was the last one here the other night and never showed up again since."

The inn will put you up if you wish to rest--free of charge with Stilgar there--if you stop. I'll take Diplomacy checks for gathering information once you've reached Dunshale.

Michael Clarke Duncan was a good pick. Acting ability aside (which he had in abundance) I can't think of many white actors with the size and presence to pull off playing the Kingpin without some serious camera tricks and/or CGI. Makes me wonder how they'll handle it in the new Daredevil series.

Seeing the group traveling with a dwarf, the militia ask no questions as they set out into the night after a short rest and a meal at the Huntsman's Rest. The direct path leads you west along the road towards Dunshale.

The sky begins to lighten as the group approaches the roadside inn midway between the two settlements. The sun will rise in a couple of hours.

I'll roll a series of Fort saves for each of you to check for fatigue a bit later. In the meantime, would you like to press on, or stop here for some rest. It will take you another half a day to reach Dunshale and an unknown amount of time to reach the site. You may find information along the way that will orient you.

But yeah. I don't disagree, it's a pretty grim show.

It's set in a world after an apocalypse. Grim is pretty much going to be a set standard for such a world.

I'm aware, I was just pointing out the possible Reverend Tuttle connection.

If you don't have any books referencing Cheliax, JiCi, you could also brush up here.(Also provides a solid reference section at the bottom.)

Call me crazy, but I don't think they were arguing about the lawn there...might be some subtext or something I may have to ponder later.

So don't call this a spoiler, because I'm not revealing anything from the show itself, but I picked up August Derleth's Mask of Cthulhu the other day and was reading the story "The Return of Hastur." The family involved has the surname Tuttle, which is the same as the bigwig reverend in the show who pushed for the new task force.

At this point, you see a bit of Abram's bravado fade. "In a moment, once the rest of your bunch is here."

When the rest of the group is present and the guards have sheepishly withdrawn, Abrams clears his throat and continues.

"Well, you see, I am duty-bound to help you procure the titles you seek. However, I will not venture down below to the archives at present because...well, I'm fairly certain it's haunted. No one else believes me, because when the Men-at-Arms investigated they found nothing." Abrams pauses and gives a visible shudder. "When I'm the only one present, though, I hear things and see things. There's something down there, I'm certain of it."

Shadowborn wrote:

See, this is why I have a problem with the idea of Spider-Man being cast as black. It wouldn't fit the story at all. The idea of a black kid growing up poor in New York as part of a non-traditional family is completely outside the realm of reality. Who would actually buy into something so fantastical?

As for Spider-Man, I wouldn't have real problem with Parker being cast as black, as long as they kept him the basically the same nerdy kid he was and didn't try to make a racial thing out of it.

I'm not fond of making someone else Spider-Man, as in the Ultimates, because I like Parker and am not really interested in someone else who happens to have the same set of powers. Whatever race that other person is.

You've chipped through all the irony in my statement and uncovered what I was actually saying. Well done.

Luckily, Pathfinder doesn't have DMs.

Also, flagged for wrong forum.

Sure it does. I'm a DM. It's those poor PFS people that have to make do with GMs, because them's the rules.

I've got stories, but I'll need to see which ones I've already posted in numerous other threads. Don't want to repeat myself.

See, this is why I have a problem with the idea of Spider-Man being cast as black. It wouldn't fit the story at all. The idea of a black kid growing up poor in New York as part of a non-traditional family is completely outside the realm of reality. Who would actually buy into something so fantastical?

If you explain it, then it must be important to the story or it shouldn't be in the story!

For some reason, that reminded me of almost every Jean-Claude Van Dam movie where they have to take time at the beginning to explain his accent. (Yes, he's an American martial arts and yoga instructor [see! he can do the splits!] but he was raised in the Netherlands which is why he talks like that.)

They didn't even try to explain it in Bloodsport, where he's playing Frank Dux, who was born in Toronto and raised in California. In the flashbacks to when he's a teenager, they just made the kid playing him fake his accent. *facepalm*

[/derail]

Broderick takes a moment to check his analyzer, finding no signs of any toxins or magical energies that might explain the man's odd behavior.

Abram, meanwhile, recovers quickly, looking a bit embarrassed as he picks himself up off the floor and adjusts his robes. At that point, the two guards rush into the room, halberds at the ready. Seeing Broderick and Parisos there, the female guard scowls.

"Are you alright Archivist? Have these two assaulted you?" she asks. "We'll have them arrested immediately."

At this Abram bristles, puffing himself up and stepping in front of the guards.

"Arrested? Are you mad? I've been beside myself waiting for these people to arrive and pick up some important documents to be presented to a committee today. If those documents don't get there in time my job is at stake! And you want to arrest them? Why, they've told me that you refused them entrance despite displaying their credentials. Is that so?"

By this time the scowl has faded from the female guard's face and her partner looks ready to back out of the room.

"Er...yes, but they did not have the proper papers to--" she starts to reply before Abram gruffly cuts her off.

"Oh, I see! So despite being duly appointed members of the Senatorial workforce, you assumed they were enemy spies, no doubt. In doing so, you've put my livelihood in jeopardy for the sake of rote bureaucracy. Thank the Sanguine Lord that the Imperial Men-at-Arms are recruiting such sharp minds as yours to protect us from improper acquisition of archived documents. Yes, thank you so much for the extra strain on my sanity and well-being! Now let the rest of them in here immediately before I report your ineptitude to your watch commander! Now!!! If I have to explain the tardiness of these documents to come before the proper people, I will not be kind when explaining your involvement, rest assured!"

This tirade sends the two guards outside to quickly collect the rest of your party and escort them in.

Meanwhile, Abram turns back to Broderick and Parisos, all traces of anger gone from his face and a sly grin on his face.

"Well, it seems I've solved a little problem of yours. Now, perhaps you and your companions can help me with mine," he says with a wink.

Shadowborn wrote:

Orthos wrote:

Yeah, Doom is defined a lot by the methods and the mindset. Lawful Evil to a T. And the mask, in a sense. Anybody can wear the mask and the green cloak, and it's iconic.

And Doom is a megalomaniac genius, not a businessman accidentally endowed with electromagnetic powers and a bad case of metallic eczema.

And don't forget he is also a mother f-ing sorcerer...people often for this...

I am well aware. Genius does not preclude sorcery. Iron-fisted autocrat is also on his C.V.

Yeah, Doom is defined a lot by the methods and the mindset. Lawful Evil to a T. And the mask, in a sense. Anybody can wear the mask and the green cloak, and it's iconic.

And Doom is a megalomaniac genius, not a businessman accidentally endowed with electromagnetic powers and a bad case of metallic eczema.

Much as I liked the character of Hiro, I can only hope this mini-series has no time travel in it.

I suppose its a matter of expectation vs. end result. I hear "Another Fantastic Four movie in the works!" and I think classic Fantastic Four. I don't think Ultimate series because I stopped collecting comics way before they were released. My exposure to new/alternate storylines, origins, etc. comes mainly from animated releases. Had the initial reports mentioned the storyline before showing me all these babyfaces, my initial reaction might have been different. That might be the same for others as well.

As for changing the ethnicity of established characters, how about instead we see more of the heroes already out there? Falcon shows up in Winter Soldier, which is cool. Luke Cage is getting his own series on Netflix, also cool. Now where's my Black Panther movie? I'd love to see T'Challa get to the silver screen and join the Avengers.

Hey, Amazing Spider Man was pretty good. Better than the other Spider-man 1, actually (it...hasn't aged very well).

Sure, if you completely ignore the fact that Peter Parker isn't really Peter Parker; he's a cool skater dude who also happens to be brilliant and gets bitten by a radioactive spider.

The townsfolk spend some time milling around outside, watching the glow with trepidation and chattering with their neighbors about this strange development. Gossip runs rampant, proclaiming everything from demons to the end of the world. Eventually, the local militia suggests that everyone go indoors, saying that they will keep a watch posted through the night and warn folk should any danger come their way.

You gain a -20 temporary penalty to your effective Charisma modifier.

Except, of course, where Intimidate checks are concerned.

If the party decides to set out immediately, let me know so I can start rolling forced march checks.