Keliwyn pulls the door open, but can't step through. A stocky woman in red leather with an insect-like helmet blocks the doorway.
Laori
Mantises
"Company," is all Keliywn has time to say.
The Mantis seems nearly as surprised as you, but her reflexes are a little better. She lowers her shoulder and drives into you trying to push you back into the house.
Keliwyn reacts quickly, stepping back and giving way to the bullish mantis, while trying to trip her with his leg.
As the Mantis pushes in, you see two more over her shoulder, their blades out.
Behind you Laori chants some spell, but apparently nothing happens.
The first mantis wriggles past you toward Laori. Her jagged swords flare out to the sides and scythe in toward the half-elf.
The second mantis takes up where the first left off, trying to push you back from the door.
Bullrush:
Mantis three stays outside and tries a spell of her own. You feel your limbs stiffen.
Keliwyn shakes off the stiffeness, pulls his rapier and thrust at the second mantis through the door, leaving the first for the capable Laori.
The wounds from the earlier battle are not forgotten by Keliwyn, as he draws his dagger and continues to press the attack, both blades slicing through the air at the mantis he has chosen as a target.
;
;
Although Keliwyn draws blood as his foe approaches, the Mantis sidesteps the elf's later attacks and glides away. The assassin's own blades slide free of their sheathes.
The mantis outside steps languidly through the door and closes it behind her. Her jagged edged sword also clears its scabbard.
Meanwhile, Laori giggles as she fights her opponent. Someone has drawn blood.
Keliwyn has no desire to face two of the assassins on his own, so as the first steps back, he does likewise, moving into a position to flank Laori's opponent and help finish her.
Laori manages to wrap her chain around the first Mantis' leg and heaves, sending the red assassin tumbling to the floor.
The second Mantis follows Keliwyn slashing with his serrated blades.
Attack .. damage
The third Mantis follows leisurely.
Keliwyn turns to take on the Mantis attacking him, advancing with both blades.
[ooc]Rapier damage [ooc]
[ooc]Dagger damage [ooc]
The first Mantis wriggles on her back trying to free herself from the chain even as she slashes at Laori's ankles.
Keliwyn's foe parries the dagger, but the elf's rapier nicks his shoulder. The Mantis counters with a low sweeping swipe.
Attack .. damage
Laori giggles. She pulls with her left hand to tighten the chain wrapped around the first Mantis' legs while her right hand swings the other end across the woman's chest.
Keliwyn shrugs off the wound, feints for the downed mantis, and then pivots at the last moment, hoping to bring both blades home against the his attacker.
The Mantis buys Kelwyn's feint and steps in to slash while he imagines the elf's blades will be occupied. He steps back in surprise, blood dripping from nicks in his forearm and side. Then his wicked jagged swords snap out at Keliwyn again.
Attack .. damage
There's a gasp from Laori. The downed Mantis has managed to slice open her calf. Blood pools on the floor. The elf flails with her chain in reply. This time the chain lays open the assassin's throat. More blood floods the floor until the red mist rising from the assassin's body obscures it.
Laori retreats toward the back wall.
The third Mantis steps slowly closer.
Keliwyn glances back at Laori, and tumbles back toward her, putting space between him & his opponent. "You okay?" he asks, keeping his eyes on the assassins closing against them, steel brandished in front of him.
The second Mantiss engages Laori.
The third Mantis erupts into a flurry of blows against Keliwyn with the flat of her blade.
Attack .. damage
Attack .. damage
Attack .. damage
Attack .. damage
crit #1 Attack .. damage
crit #2 Attack .. damage
All damage is non lethal.
Keliwyn sinks to the floor, insensible.
A slap to the face wakes him in a gloomy room. A giant red insect looms fuzzily over him. He can't focus his eyes. His head hurts. The questions begin, "Where is Seneschal Kalepopolis?"
The concussion must be bad. It's hard to parse speech. Black out.
Time has no meaning. No glimpse of the sun. Irregular meals, interrogations, little sleep, oft interrupted. Memory is hazy, shrouded in pain. The questions: Kalepopolis, Salvator Scream, Black Jack, Vencarlo Orsini, Glorio Arkona, Marcus Endrin and dozens of others.
The sickness comes. Keliwyn's body betrays him. Trembling shakes his limbs and core. Weakness robs him of purposed motion. The fever adds a red shroud over his memory and clouds his reason.
Waking in a large room full of people lying in beds. A leather-jacketed birdman hovers into view. "He's awake, again. Bring the draught." A grass-bitter liquid is poured into Keliwyn's mouth and sleep comes once more.
Another waking in a smaller room. It must be recent because the memory is slightly sharper. At the edge of hearing, "He's no use like this. Take him off the draught. Watch him. Bind him in the bed if necessary. Call me when he's lucid. We must find Scream before he can get off the island." The voice makes you think of a brewer.
Fade to black one last time.
Finally a waking with some semblance of order to your mind. You cagily play dead checking out your surroundings. The armored guard leaves her post at the door. A chance for escape.
Marhorfeus, Pinvendor,
Welcome. We can talk plainly here. This is an old dead offshoot of this campaign, that I find convenient for long term offline RP.
It's looking very much like the PC are taking the proverbial "left turn at Alburquerque." It may be some time before they find you. Let's talk backgrounds and once we've settled that we can RP your captivity. You are caged with an important NPC.
Howdy! Any answer to my backstory question? Should I switch up for wizard? I like the feel of spontaneous caster for a melee character, but if we need to streamline, I can go wizard for a common background.
Hiya.
I am almost definitely going for wizard for my backstory, but Garridan will most likely have been trained by the Sczarni rather than having attended one of the universities. I somehow doubt that a Varisian, Sczarni or not, could have plausibly gone through one of them, especially while simultaneously living a life of crime.
Here's what I have for my backstory so far. I imagine the details might need some fine tweaking since it assumes a lot about what the Sczarni have been doing.
An accomplished thief who for the first time in his life, faces a moral quandary...
As a full-blooded Varisian that has lived in Korvosa for all his life, Garridan has lost count of the number of times he has been accused of being a Sczarni. As it so happened, his accusers were quite correct, not that they ever had any particularly damning evidence. Despite meeting constant and often severe harassment however, Garridan did enjoy a large degree of comfort and safety among his "family." The Sczarni protected him, as they did all of their family members. Of course, such protection came with a price. Even as a young boy, Garridan was expected to provide for the family by scamming and stealing from the better off citizens of Korvosa. He began as a mere cutpurse, but in time graduated to an outright thief. Naturally, most of the spoils were owed to the family, but Garridan was not above claiming a few prizes for himself. The items that particularly held his interest were the arcane tomes he had "borrowed" from some foppish Academae students that couldn't keep their mouths shut about his heritage. As it so happened, he proved to have a knack for magic; with the help of some of the more “proper” spellcasters among the Sczarni, he was able to refine his talent. His family did not particularly mind, especially since his arcane dabbling only increased his value as a thief.
For years Garridan lived in relative comfort as a criminal. Korvosa was hardly the best place for a man of his profession, especially given the competition with the Cerulean Society. More than once, he had the opportunity to operate in a different city. He always refused, however; he had something of a soft spot for Little Cheliax, as imperfect as it was. It could be barbaric at times, but it was home. Never did he have any sort of conscience about what he did. At least, not until the bloodveil struck. Even their criminal connections could not protect the worse-off members of the Sczarni from the plague. Many of them were people that Garridan had known for his whole life. Acquiring a cure for the plague became a top priority for the criminal family. In the meantime, they settled for selling fake “cures” to the desperate and the gullible. much to to Garridan’s disdain. Their search proved fruitless, but in time, a cure was found nonetheless. The Sczarni decided that taking over the cure’s distribution was their next best option - if they managed to control that, then they would have leverage over the entire city, including the Cerulean Society and perhaps even the throne. It was their most ambitious plans yet, and thus, as one of their best agents, Garridan was expected to deliver. By then however, he had grown disgusted with the outright disregard the family had for its members, and for the city as a whole. Garridan decided to follow through with his orders, but had different plans for the information that the Sczarni sought...
Hey, guys. I was still entertaining my brother's family. Really nice to see them. They seldom come to my house to visit.
Speaking for myself, my character's personality is going to be about doing the right thing. And if that means bucking established authority when needed, no problem. As long as the intentions are pure, he'll go along with it.
As far as the builds, I find myself leaning more towards the EK build unless you think that is just too much arcanery. I think I like the sorcerer build for the impulsiveness of magic casting for a mage knight, but would it make more sense cohesively to have wizard? Mahorfeus and I would be able to say we went to the magic school together and that's how we met, possibly recruited for the same clandestine dogooder group (even if manipulated by someone else).
Let me know, fellow players/GM!
Pinvendor, design the character how you wish. Sorceror or wizard makes no difference to me. If you think wizard gives you a better meshing of backstory with Marhorfeus' PC that's great, but I'd urge you to set up the character as you wish.
Theumanexus College offers an opportunity. I offer it as a suggestion only, don't feel that you need to incorporate it into either of your back stories.
Theumanexus is an arcane school in East Shore, run largely by gnomes. It was formed by idealists who didn't like the politics or anti-sorceror prejudice of the Chel-centric Acadamae following the civil war decades ago. I imagine it as a rather loose chaotic place where students of all stripes gather to discuss the arcane. Sorcerors seeking better control of their powers could easily be drawn there. Class schedules could be informal enough to accomodate Garridan's extracurricular activities.
The East Shore location is also convenient. It's on the far side of the Jeggare River from the main part of Korvosa. The Chel named "Thief Camp" also lies east of the Jeggare and north of East Shore. Thief Camp is a large Varisian and Shoanti shanty town. Only the main roads leading to North Bridge through Thief Camp are patrolled by the Korvosan Guard, so it's a natural base for the Sczarni.
Concentrations of Varisians can also be found in the poorer portions of Old Korvosa, particularly Bridgefront, and to a lesser extent in the mercantile Midlands.
Here's what I have for my backstory so far. I imagine the details might need some fine tweaking since it assumes a lot about what the Sczarni have been doing.
An accomplished thief who for the first time in his life, faces a moral quandary...
As a full-blooded Varisian that has lived in Korvosa for all his life, Garridan has lost count of the number of times he has been accused of being a Sczarni. As it so happened, his accusers were quite correct, not that they ever had any particularly damning evidence. Despite meeting constant and often severe harassment however, Garridan did enjoy a large degree of comfort and safety among his "family." The Sczarni protected him, as they did all of their family members. Of course, such protection came with a price.
Even as a young boy, Garridan was expected to provide for the family by scamming and stealing from the better off citizens of Korvosa. He began as a mere cutpurse, but in time graduated to an outright thief. Naturally, most of the spoils were owed to the family, but Garridan was not above claiming a few prizes for himself. The items that particularly held his interest were the arcane tomes he had "borrowed" from some foppish Academae students that couldn't keep their mouths shut about his heritage. As it so happened, he proved to have a knack for magic; with the help of some of the more “proper” spellcasters among the Sczarni, he was able to refine his talent. His family did not particularly mind, especially since his arcane dabbling only increased his value as a thief.
For years Garridan lived in relative comfort as a criminal. Korvosa was hardly the best place for a man of his profession, especially given the competition with the Cerulean Society. More than once, he had the opportunity to operate in a different city. He always refused, however; he had something of a soft spot for Little Cheliax, as imperfect as it was. It could be barbaric at times, but it was home.
Never did he have any sort of conscience about what he did. At least, not until the bloodveil struck. Even their criminal connections could not protect the worse-off members of the Sczarni from the plague. Many of them were people that Garridan had known for his whole life. Acquiring a cure for the plague became a top priority for the criminal family. In the meantime, they settled for selling fake “cures” to the desperate and the gullible. much to to Garridan’s disdain. Their search proved fruitless, but in time, a cure was found nonetheless. The Sczarni decided that taking over the cure’s distribution was their next best option - if they managed to control that, then they would have leverage over the entire city, including the Cerulean Society and perhaps even the throne. It was their most ambitious plans yet, and thus, as one of their best agents, Garridan was expected to deliver. By then however, he had grown disgusted with the outright disregard the family had for its members, and for the city as a whole. Garridan decided to follow through with his orders, but had different plans for the information that the Sczarni sought...
Theumanexus sounds good. I had considered it before, but I wasn't sure it'd fit; the way you describe makes it sound like a great way to meet pin's character though. The stolen tomes could just be an explanation for his specialization (the idea of a Theumanexus-attending Varisian getting back at an Academae student seems funny to me).
Just wanting to help Korvosa just out of love for his home might be a stretch, but he does have actual friends and family there, that may or may not be involved in crime themselves. I imagine the poorer parts of the city are at higher risk for Blood Veil. So at the very least he'd do it to help them, and at most he'd turn out to be a genuinely good guy.
Good point about getting into the dungeon, though... the last part of my backstory does seem a bit flimsy in hindsight. Just wanting to rob the Arkonas blind would make sense, but that isn't really good for a heroic backstory. Unless he's doing that on top of taking the herbs?
Okay then. I will stick with my sorcerer build despite shorting myself on an extra level of EK by going that route. I guess I should get you a requested gear list and a brief background.
Is there any reason this family whose dungeon we're caught in would have been interested in us? In other words, would they have kidnapped us for some purpose, or is the assumption certain that we would have had to intentionally broke into their compound in order to be incarcerated there?
Hey, guys. Work in Toronto is being work in Toronto. Long days, late flight in.
Mahorfeus, did you edit your last post? I remember the first paragraph, but not the rest.
Family and friends, criminal or not, are a fine motivation. Emerion, a previous PC, was largely motivated by family although he also had social aspirations for Varisians in general. Let me read your backstory again.
Pinvendor, it's possible they might imprison you for some reason or other. The break in idea dovetailed nicely with Garridan's backstory.
Speaking for myself, my character's personality is going to be about doing the right thing. And if that means bucking established authority when needed, no problem. As long as the intentions are pure, he'll go along with it.
As far as the builds, I find myself leaning more towards the EK build unless you think that is just too much arcanery. I think I like the sorcerer build for the impulsiveness of magic casting for a mage knight, but would it make more sense cohesively to have wizard? Mahorfeus and I would be able to say we went to the magic school together and that's how we met, possibly recruited for the same clandestine dogooder group (even if manipulated by someone else).
Let me know, fellow players/GM!
Mahorfeus, did you edit your last post? I remember the first paragraph, but not the rest.
Family and friends, criminal or not, are a fine motivation. Emerion, a previous PC, was largely motivated by family although he also had social aspirations for Varisians in general. Let me read your backstory again.
I do not believe I did. My memory can be a bit hazy at times though.
I think I got some details about the plague and cure backwards. Maybe the Seneschal would be a better hook?
Would the Sczarni know about the Seneschal? I kinda figure they would, being an underground network and all, but I just wanted to make sure.
And if so, would it be in their best interests to rescue him? Garridan probably would either way, but it would affect whether his criminal family has his back.
Treppa gave us a brief rundown on some current events and it was suggested that maybe someone named Arkona had hired a second party to look for a prisoner for whom the current party is searching. Or maybe send some "troublemakers" to their most likely certain doom if we want to play it that he sent some fools on an errand pre-prisoner need.
I can play off of either for sure. I should have my mini-background and "equipment" ready soon.
Recent big events --
King Eodred Arbasti dies. His beautiful wife Ileosa, a child bride he picked up on a visit to Cheliax some years ago, takes over. Ileosa has never been popular among any class of people in Korvosa. Although she can be quite charming, she is stuck-up, extremely self-centered, and a conspicuous drain on the public coffers. The king's halfwit brother is bypassed in the succession. If Ileosa was popular at all most Korvosans would be satisfied to leave him out of leadership. Although the official story is Eodred died of natural causes, rumors of foul play abound. Riots and a period of general discontent follow.
The Bloodveil plague ravages the city. To stem the plague Ileosa brings in a Doctor Davalaus (sp?) from Cheliax. A group of adventures discovers that the Doctor is actually a worshipper of Urgathoa working on perfecting BLoodveil, and has a secret temple to the goddess of disease and undead in the basement of his headquarters. Ileosa denounces him and disbands his organization of physicians, many of whom were implicated in the plot. One of the adventurers, Istas, a priestess of Pharasma, is instrumental in developing a cure.
During the plague Ileosa did several things --
- Setup up her personal army, the Queen's Maidens. Many of the initial Maidens were "drafted" from the ranks of the already overworked Korvosan Guard and Sable Company Marines.
- Cut off Endrin Isle, aka Old Korvosa. All the wooden bridges across the Straight of Alika were torn down. The only stone bridge is guarded by Queen's Maidens.
More later. GOt to work.
Seneschal Neolandis Kakelopolos has been conspicuous by his absence since the death of King Eodred
Still more --
during the plague Ileosa funneled healing resources to the Chelish population, and the better classes of that race. The bridges to the eastern shore of the Jeggare river (primarily Thief Camp, less so the district of East Shore) were also guarded by Maidens.
The Maidens also patrolled the river in galleys.
Except for the Arkonas and other wealthy and middle class citizens in the hill district of Fort Korvosa, Old Korvosa was mostly poor Chelish, Varisians, and a small concentration of dwarves. Without access to their jobs on the mainland, or supplies of food, the island devolved into primitive alliances. Behind the walls of Fort Korvosa, Lord Glorio Arkona kept good order, distributed food and what medical care he could from his own stores, and organized a defense of the walls.
The de Talaveras organized a relatively peaceful zone around the clinic in the west end of the island.
The rest of the island was chaos. The most prominent of the gang leaders who emerged to rule portions of the island was Pilts Swastel, former owner of the theater Exemplary Excrebles. Pilts blend of greasy charm, ruthless vice and pandering to the lowest impulses of the populace soon allowed him to crown himself "Emperor of Old Korvosa".
Before his unfortunate death, Kenan O'Flarna ran a clinic in Thief Camp and had developed a palliative herb-based infusion. Said herbs were rare.
Kalepopolous' absence is conspicuous because the city charter requires that the ascension of a new monarch be approved by the Seneschal of Castle Korvosa, who can not be related to the monarch. Most of the population presumes Neolandis dead, and people who brute the rumors that she killed King Eodred usually accept that she killed the Seneschal too.
The Seneschal also has the power to call out the hippogriff-riding Sable Marines, although actual command of the Marines lies with their Commandant, Marcus Endrin.
Speaking of Endrin, like most Commandants he was very popular with his troops and the citizenry. It didn't hurt that he comes from an historically heroic Korvosan military family. At a public gathering, Endrin tried to assassinate the queen. He put a crossbow quarrel in her head. The attempt ended poorly when Ileosa reputedly tore the quarrel from her brow, grabbed Endrin and drove the bolt into his own forehead, killing him. In any event Endrin is dead, the Sable Company scattered or co-opted into the Grey Maidens and Ileosa still thrives.
Looking for Kenan's herbs, particularly trying to steal some from the Arkonas would land you in their dungeon.
Searching for the Seneschal would also bring you to their attention. And I can easily gin up a situation whereby you would end up in the dungeon.
Criminal activity within the walls of Fort Korvosa also might, but it would have to be spectacular or directly threaten their interests.
Sorry for my absence. Long days at work the last two weeks. It's going to go on for a while.
Another idea. You might have been mistaken for someone else by Arkona agents and are in the dungeon for no good reason.
I think that pin and I are going to go with trying to steal Kenan's herbs from the Arkonas - I'm thinking Garridan learns about the remedy through his Sczarni contacts, but when they show no interest in helping him obtain them, he talks pin's character into helping out instead.
It's the option that sounds the most heroic, while still being blatantly unlawful. I think that once they learn about the Seneschal (my understanding is that we are going to be with the guy), they'd be willing to get him out of there - given their own predicament, they had might as well.
OK. We'll go with that.
I've attached a discussion thread to this "campaign" and we can move ooc discussions there. I will try to come up with an opening post in this thread tomorrow.
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