Tagolan Xeris |
Tall Tale Teller wrote:Thanks, I enjoyed writing it. Can't wait for the election, looks like it'll be a fierce debate.Rodia Verban wrote:Heard someone was looking for soldiers?Always. Also enjoyed reading your backstory. Good job.
First off, awesome character. Second off, if you were running my vote would go to you. Mainly because you have the Intelligence and Wisdom to actually run a town or whatever it turns into.
if I could bring up a point here, Why are we trying to find leaders off Charisma. i get it means people will like the ideas more, but if we have a leader who has a high charisma but not good Int and Wisdom, we will die from an idiot lord, no offense to anyone who builds a character like that. I am just saying that we should have a leader who knows exactly what they are doing, I'm not saying that's charisma is a bad thing, I'm saying I would rather have a duke who doesn't have to ask what a word means because all they have is charisma.
Rodia Verban |
Rodia Verban wrote:Tall Tale Teller wrote:Thanks, I enjoyed writing it. Can't wait for the election, looks like it'll be a fierce debate.Rodia Verban wrote:Heard someone was looking for soldiers?Always. Also enjoyed reading your backstory. Good job.First off, awesome character. Second off, if you were running my vote would go to you. Mainly because you have the Intelligence and Wisdom to actually run a town or whatever it turns into.
if I could bring up a point here, Why are we trying to find leaders off Charisma. i get it means people will like the ideas more, but if we have a leader who has a high charisma but not good Int and Wisdom, we will die from an idiot lord, no offense to anyone who builds a character like that. I am just saying that we should have a leader who knows exactly what they are doing, I'm not saying that's charisma is a bad thing, I'm saying I would rather have a duke who doesn't have to ask what a word means because all they have is charisma.
I think it would work well if we all strategise and run the town together as a council, and the duke is just a figure-head that says speeches and attends event and stuff, but is otherwise just another councillor.
Also, thanks, but I don't think I'll be running, I'd much prefer an advisory role.
Jalel "Quip" Medin |
First off, awesome character. Second off, if you were running my vote would go to you. Mainly because you have the Intelligence and Wisdom to actually run a town or whatever it turns into.
if I could bring up a point here, Why are we trying to find leaders off Charisma. i get it means people will like the ideas more, but if we have a leader who has a high charisma but not good Int and Wisdom, we will die from an idiot lord, no offense to anyone who builds a character like that. I am just saying that we should have a leader who knows exactly what they are doing, I'm not saying that's charisma is a bad thing, I'm saying I would rather have a duke who doesn't have to ask what a word means because all they have is charisma.
Hmm, all good points. Of course, having a wise and intelligent leader, is certainly beneficial. But having a charismatic leader can benefit you in the long run. If we think about it in terms of logic, the group of people we have is initially sustainable as we all agree what we need to do is work together to survive, it also helps that we know each other to some extent. But when you run into other people, things start to get complicated.
It's partly about convincing the other group of people that they want to work with you. You could come to someone with a great plan, with all the details worked out, but if you aren't convincing or they just aren't willing to listen to you and your attempts fall onto deaf ears, then all is for naught.
I also agree that most leaders should have some form of intelligence. A lack thereof makes others more likely to be able to take advantage of other if their leadership is incompetent.
Talirin |
Hi Tall Tale, just an FYI I will be out of town Thursday until Sunday evening. Just wanted to let you know if you don't see any posts from me in a few days it's due to that not any lack of interest.
I thought I might share this with you...a little example of what I bring to the PBP's I am in. It is a story from a Kingmaker campaign I am in about a Kobold we encountered whose tribe became allied with our Kingdom and the Kobold became part of our story so I created a little story of my own for him around an adventure he had at a kingdom celebration around the creation of the Kingdom called Foundersfeast. I hope you enjoy.
I had followed the two smelly humans for over four hours without being detected. No one ever seemed to notice me, Mikmek, I am too small, unimportant to the big people. This was the year though that I would prove my worth to the Guardians! The Guildhall was empty, all of the merchants were off to witness the celebration except for these two and whatever they were up too.
I was worried about SootScales though. The two years with the humans was weighing on him, literally. I remembered the days that watching your back for the next rising chieftain would keep you sharp, he was the biggest and the strongest in the tribe, it had made him Chieftain. Now SootScales was “Shadowfang”, the silent enforcer of the Kingdom. Things had been too easy, too little had occurred to keep SootScales sharp. There were no hidden cults, no secret plots to kill the Council members. One man had made a lazy attempt to kill SootScales himself, but it been out of revenge, not a plot. With each passing month SootScales has given more and more responsibility to Mikmek.
Now it was Mikmek’s turn. I had been SootScales apprentice from the early days, learning the way of stealth and the blade. I had learned well. A new figure talking to the two humans drew me back to the job at hand. I saw the face of the newcomer and was genuinely surprised by who I saw.
Jaleb’ Ta was with the league of merchants from Mivon, he couldn’t be mistaken for anyone else. He was here to talk with Ilya Shukov about trade relations with their country. It could be worth much to the Kingdom. So why had Casimir asked me to follow these two men? Did he believe something else was afoot? I snuck up under the table so I could hear the humans better.
Are you sure SootScales and Casimir are busy at the festival? asked Jaleb, [/i] Yes master, we confirmed it with our source. SootScales has already donned his festival gear and is with the other council members, including Bodevski.[/i] the human named Kodar answered. It is time to go then the time is drawing near. [b]
I followed the men out of the hall and then headed east to the edge of town and then south to the just north of the waterfront. It was Founderfeast again and the streets were crammed with visitors as well as all of the new people that had moved to the city in the last year. It wasn’t hard to trail them, by now I had found that humans looked at their level for threats and often didn’t even bother to look down, especially in crowded streets. By this time the main festival was over and the after festivities were well underway. They eventually came to a larger house, only built a month or so ago and entered. I didn’t like what they were up to so I snuck up to the back window and peered in. It was a kitchen so likely unguarded. I quietly jimmied the latch and slipped in.
As if under a silence spell I moved through the kitchen into the hallway. I could hear Jaleb’ Ta talking to the two men in the sitting room. [b] Excellent Kodar, she is taking the bait then. Stick to the plan, Vaysh will be here in a few minutes. When she drops into slumber from my spell you will take out her bodyguard quickly. If he doesn’t have a chance to wake her we will be out of the city before anyone knows the better. You will be paid very well, Vaysh is the favored of this new Baron and the ransom will be steep. I have heard the fool is a follower of Iomedae so it will be like taking candy from a baby, his honor will demand he pay whatever we ask!
I knew I had little time to act, no time to get SootScales or any of the other Guardians before whatever plan they had hatched would happen. I slipped back to the kitchen and under the table. There I pulled out my most powerful weapon, the one that SootScales warned me to use only in the direst of circumstances, my one dose of Deathblade poison. I liberally applied it to my long dagger, careful not to nick myself, the result would likely be very bad from SootScales description of the horrible after effects of this deadly poison. I waited at the edge of the kitchen as I heard the humans taking their places. Someone was walking down the hallway towards the kitchen, drat! I snuck back under the table and saw the lower part of Jaleb’s robes as well as the other man getting themselves cups of water. I decided it was time to gamble so I waited until I saw the two men leaving the kitchen and followed them out. Jaleb was in the back and I used him as cover to follow the two of them into the study. Kodar watched the road intently from the hallway window and didn’t even bother to look back as I hid behind the couch. The other waited sat down in the study while Jaleb stood intently in the corner.
Kodar spoke after a long few minutes, She is coming. I heard Jaleb start to softly chant words of power and I took a chance and poked my head out from behind the couch, one second Jaleb was standing in the corner, the next he was gone. I kept watching the area of the corner, wondering if my guess might be right. The soft rug in that corner moved just a little as I heard the scuff of a foot moving.
A knock came to the door, I could hear Vaysh’s musical voice in a friendly greeting, Hello again, Kodar is it? Well where is citizen Ablin with this important request for me, I hope he is not going to issue more demands after we were able to get his people situated in the city into this newly built district!
He will be here momentarily Milady, his man waits in the study for you. I heard her walk into the study and address the other man, I am Vaysh and this is Lady Kressle, a friend from the country who came in for the festival.
The man in the study finally spoke in a hoarse voice, My ladies, Citizen Ablin was delayed, but should be here momentarily, I am his assistant Telis.
Taking another chance I slipped along the wall from the couch to under the end table, near the corner where I hoped the wizard still to be.
I hope he hurries, I have events to oversee this day Telis and I cannot wait much….she suddenly stopped talking and I heard her slump over, Jaleb’ Ta appeared where he had taken his original position, in the corner of the study, frowning, kill the other women now!
Things started happening quickly, the two men drew hidden weapons, kressle stood and drew her handaxes in a fluid motion, parrying Telis' wicked Aldori dueling blade that was aimed at her heart. Luck was with us already this day, for Kressle to be with Vaysh gave us a fighting chance, to be honest her other body guard wasn’t half the warrior Kressle was.
The wizard started up another magic of some sort while the two men kept Kressle occupied. The wizard was too busy to notice a little Kobold sneaking up behind him. I never like this approach but SootScales had said it was the surest way to take one of the big humans down. I slipped the blade between his soft buttocks and into him. I am not sure that Jaleb’ Ta even really knew what had happened to him at that moment. One second he was one his way to completing his next spell, the next he was trying to stay standing while he wretched from the sudden pain.
He screamed when turned and saw me standing there, You little wretch, I will blast you from existence! . I waited patiently for what SootScales had taught me, a wizard who underestimated our kind and my training. He stepped back a few feet and started to cast again. I darted forward, expecting this move and slashed again at the wizard’s tender opening. When I encountered no magical defenses, I knew I had a chance, he grimaced in pain as he lost his train of thought and he was wracked again by the deadly poison.
Kressle had already taken Kodar down, probably choosing that it would be better to fight the more skilled opponent one on one than try to defeat him with another at his back, but I could see that she had already taken a good blade wound from the maneuver.
I readied for Jaleb’ Ta again, but this time he slipped to the side in a fluid motion and cast a thick bolt of flame at me that nearly sundered me right there, right then, had I not rolled with the blast. I lay still, feigning death, knowing I was a short breath from it. He turned back to the duel in front of him, doubled over in pain by this point. I stood silently and padded up behind him again. He began another labored casting, I drove the blade into his stomach, it was too much, the poison had already stolen most of the life from him and as he turned to me, trying to keep his concentration, he collapsed on the floor, dead. Kressle fought for her life against the professional swordsmen. I had enough energy left though to draw and toss 1 of my two tanglefoot bags at the villain. Not expecting another attacker the goo took him by surprise and cemented the killer to the ground.
Within a minute it was all over, he couldn’t overcome the two of us, not fixed in place as he was.
Mikmek, what are you doing here, though I am very happy to see you? I wearily walked over to Vaysh and woke her. I should probably tell this story only once grimacing in pain.
So I proceeded to tell my story of Casimir asking me to follow Kodar based upon some hunch he had on the man’s activities to this point.
Vaysh looked concerned after I told her all of the details I had overheard, Mikmek, you will not tell the Baron of this, ever, do you understand? I want your word on it, now! But why Lady Vaysh, I don’t understand, shouldn’t the Baron know about this right away?
Sometimes being a loyal subject means knowing when not to tell your lord something. In this case what do you think Malthir would do if he found out that someone from Mivon tried to kidnap me, someone probably tied to their ruling house I would bet? With his sense of honor and justice it would mean war, one we cannot fight or win right now. Do you think that would matter to him? No, for me he would make it his personal mission to make them pay. So for now, no one is going to know of what occurred here today. But I will not forget your bravery Mikmek, nor will Casimir, I assure you. I think we have all underestimated you my little friend, indeed I now know we have.
Tall Tale Teller |
Hi Tall Tale, just an FYI I will be out of town Thursday until Sunday evening. Just wanted to let you know if you don't see any posts from me in a few days it's due to that not any lack of interest.
I thought I might share this with you...a little example of what I bring to the PBP's I am in. It is a story from a Kingmaker campaign I am in about a Kobold we encountered whose tribe became allied with our Kingdom and the Kobold became part of our story so I created a little story of my own for him around an adventure he had at a kingdom celebration around the creation of the Kingdom called Foundersfeast. I hope you enjoy.
** spoiler omitted **...
Yes, I could tell much effort was put into that good job. Thanks for letting me know what's up. The game won't truly start till after the candidate speeches Q&As and the debates. Which you should be back in time to vote.
Talirin |
I wouldn't expect a good reception from my character to a half crazed goblin...he is CG/NG and is generally a positive, free willed character, though we have all had it rough. He may still see eye to eye with Benny since they are both a bit of an outsider to the humans if he is not trying to light people of fire or act like a nutjob.
Of course I may not get chosen so my opinion may be mute. But just in case...
It may help to know your audience for the Dukal candidates. For those of us that are not likely to be a Duke, maybe we can supply a quick high level bio or personality of our characters?
Talirin:
Quiet, fun loving, and good hearted you know him as a quick witted hunter of your main source of food, rats. You can tell he usually sees the best in others and is often known to go out on extra hunting expeditions when times are tough for the cave clan and can push himself to his limits.
He appears to be loyal to those who treat others well but shuns though who are gruff or mean. You have seen him face down bully's and he doesn't appear to be afraid to kill if abosolutely necessary.
A wise leader will guess that Talirin would follow someone who is generally good, charismatic, and willing to risk his life for others. A leader who is also a doer and not afraid to get his hands dirty would also attract him.
Benny the Goblin |
Benny, I haven't seen your speech, but try to pull back on the goblin a bit, you were raised by and among humans. Just saying.
I'm going with the parts that are just genetically goblin. a short attention span, love of fire, no sense of taste, etc. I'm working on a speech that is influenced by humans but still feels like a goblin did it.
Tall Tale Teller |
Alright, I'm officially desperate, character concepts and backstories usually come so easy to me but I can't do this one. Is there anybody willing to have it farmed out to them?
You might be struggling more because you are thinking to hard about it. What I sometimes do is just start writing the character out (even if the characters is lame) and then often come up with something interesting along the way.
Brennus is looking for a communal backstory try playing off him.
Korak The Boisterous |
He'd kept his word. The next seven years were hard ones. To eat she had to sneak past him. To sleep she had to strike him. He taught her everything she knew, but there always seemed to be more that he kept from her. He'd raised several swarms of rats that followed him everywhere, and given her one to raise as well. Then one night he'd told her, If you wish to eat. You will slay it and eat it. 4 days later she struck the killing blow. It was only when she was seventeen, 6 years into her training that she'd gained enough skill to sneak away from him consistently that she began to see the plight of her fellow survivors. Small groups were starving, among which was her family. The food was running out, many of the adults had died. Rats consistently were killed and used to supplement the dwindling supplies. Halvera would occassionally sneak into the supply rooms on her own to gather something of more taste than what she'd lived off of with her mentor... A man that still refused to tell her his name.
It was on one of these forays that she saw the almost-man that ran the supply depot sneak several jars of preserves into his pack and sneak off that clued her in that the situation might not be quite so bad. She followed him and found the cave he'd hidden his stolen treasures in. She came up behind him and slit his throat. She hid the body but not before drawing a rose in the room with his blood.
She made sure the supplies were found by those most in need (minus a few choice items.) Her training intensified her sword skills sharpened, her body became a weapon at the behest of her master until one day he was gone. She gathered her few belongings, sought out her family, and befriended them.
She decided it was better they not know this hardened killer was their sister and since her training had taken the fattened child they remembered into a not unpleasing woman, she succeeded. Halvera, now going by the name Rose more than once had to fend off the unwanted attentions of her brother. Her sister often rebukes him. Rose suspects her identity is not nearly as secure as she had hoped and has felt a yearning towards him she does her best to ignore. As she insinuated herself among the bulk of the inhabitants she (among others) often took leadership positions helping to organize the groups when work needed done and lending her back when it was needed. Recently calls have been made to select a leader from among the survivors and she appears as one of the prime candidates.
I'm back!
I said f*!* it and just started writing, I presume you'll see how rough the beginning is. The crunch needs to be done because without the story it means nothing, but I hope this is enough for submission at this time.
Lershoth Sholme |
Here we go: DinosaursonIce character submission
Tiefling Investigator (Empiricist)
Lershoth does not remember much from his childhood; he remembers the many books he spent time studying, the tales they held were his family, and the knowledge his friends. He also remembers the day that everything changed. Lershoth, at age 8, was in his usual location in the basement of the orphanage. The other children feared the darkness below, and with supplies strained from the battles with the Giants, even basic things such as candles were in short supply. So the young Tiefling naturally took to a place where the darkness protected him from the insults of the children and the uneasy looks from the adults. He had been rereading a favorite tail of his, a story of a war that was waged between 5 kingdoms, where political turmoil marked the stories as much as brave knights, and powerful wizards.
As he was reading he heard a cacophony of noise above him, several thudding footsteps could be heard, which were much too blunt sounding for the small children or even the adults. Naturally curious, Lershoth rose up the stairs to investigate. As he poked his head out into the hallway he saw several men in armor instructing the children to gather what belongings they had and then ushering them out the door. Lershoth at first did not know what to do until a soldier with a sharp face grabbed him, and told him to hurry with the rest of the children. Lershoth gathered what few things he had, and a favorite book, and then hurried out with the rest of the children. As the approached the entrance to the caverns, the last thing he remembered hearing before going underground was a mighty screech which pierced the air.
During the first several weeks Lershoth did not know what to do with himself, the caves were packed and he was stuck among people who he could not escape from. The rest of the orphanage had little interest in him and he was left on his own. Eventually a young girl and her father, the soldier he had seen before, approached him and asked if he would like to stay with them, seeing no other choice the Tiefling agreed. He later learned their names, Charlotte and Garrot.
After a few weeks, as order took over the place and children were instructed to begin studies, Lershoth found himself happy for the first time in his life. He had a family, of sorts, and was being offered teachers of various subjects to learn more than he ever he could have at the orphanage.
After some initial distrust, Charlotte and Lershoth became friends, with Charlot being the first child who showed curiosity at Lershoth's "unique" features, and found his lack of knowledge over basic social etiquette to be amusing. The first few years of his life in the caverns, despite the conditions were truly some of Lershoth's happiest.
The world is a cruel place, and this happiness was only fleeting. Garrot became sick and eventually passed, devastating both Lershoth and Charlotte. Charlotte, with the loss of her father closed herself off from Lershoth, and focus on her studies, training to become a doctor. Lershoth decided that she was right and the time was to focus, and he too dedicated himself completely to learning as much as possible.
Between his natural talents and his obsession, Lershoth become knowledgeable and adept at many subjects and skills. One of the teachers, a lady named Felicia, the area's resident alchemist, took interest in Lershoths almost obsessive nature, taking him under to learn the secrets of Alchemy. Felicia was a tough instructor, focusing on their relationship as master and student, and taught Lershoth the basics of philosophy and logic, allowing him to use his natural cunning rather than charisma to rule the day with debates. But, as it is said, the world is a cruel place, and she too eventually passed.
During the remaining years, and up until the present, Lershoth has continued to hone his talents. He obsessives over knowledge, constantly seeking out answers in the forms of pre-recorded knowledge (books+instructors) when applicable, running his own experiments, and digging around the extents of the caverns to find answers.
15 years have passed since they had been stuck in the caves, no answer had been found yet to the problems of the mist, it is to this that Lershoth has his mind currently set on, puzzling over a way to safely leave their prison.
This is not to say the Lershoth does not appreciate the company of others, when they are not distracting him from his studies/projects, it is only natural that after spending 15 years and losing so many that even a quiet Tiefling like himself eventually grows bonds with others. He does keep others at a distance, the loss of Garrot and the distancing of Charlotte have left a certain hesitancy in his mind. Why grow close to others when that closeness will only bring pain and sorrow eventually?
Lershoth is insatiably curious though, and if one can see past his cold exterior they will find a young man who wants nothing more to learn and to use that knowledge to solve problems. A man who might be able to learn to trust others as more than just acquaintances and possibly even make friends. Deep down, even if he will not admit to it, he wants nothing more than to make amends with Charlotte, and resume the bond they had forged many years ago.
When it comes to decision making Lershoth is not above doing what it takes to make ends meet. One does not have the luxury of always following the high road if they hope to survive, sometimes less than tasteful actions have to be taken in order to insure that success is met. If the ends justify the means, then so be it.
Clothing wise he wears a somewhat modified Artisan Outfit, with many pockets and loops to attach equipment to. It is very much an item of efficiency and not style. He also carries a cloak which he uses to conceal his tail when engaging in social occasions along with a wide brimmed hat to hide his "mini-horns". He also has a set of studded leather armor that he wears on top for protection.
Str=12
Dex=17
Con=14
Int=18
Wis=10
Cha=5
AC=17, Touch=13, Flat-Footed=14
CMD=16
Fort=+3, Reflex=+6, Will=+3
Resistances= Fire:5
2 Shortsword= +5 for 1d6+1 or +3/+3 for 1d6+1/1d6+0 (crit= 19-20/x2)
Shortbow= +5 for 1d6
Acrobatics= +7
Bluff= +10
Climb= +4
Diplomacy= +10
Disable Device= +9 (+10 vs Traps)
Heal= +4
KN Arcana= +9
KN Dungeoneering= +8
KN Local= +9
KN Nature= +8
KN Planes= +8
KN Religion= +8
Perception= +10 (+11 vs Traps)
Sense Motive= +10
Spellcraft= +9
Stealth= +10
Use Magic Device= +9
Craft Alchemy= +11
KN Engineering= +8
KN Geography= +8
KN History= +8
KN Nobility= +8
Linguistics= +8
1) Alchemy
1) Inspiration (5/Day)
1) Trapfinding (+1)
2) Ceaseless Observation
3) Infusion Discovery
3) Keen Recollection
3) Trap Sense (+1)
Tiefling
Scaled Skin (+1 Natural Armor, Fire Resistance 5)
Skilled (+2 Stealth, +2 Bluff)
Spell-Like Ability (Darkness 1/Day)
Darkvision (60 feet)
Prehensile Tail
1) Weapon Finesse
3) Two-Weapon Fighting
Reactionary: +2 Initiative (Bullied as a kid)
Student of Philosophy: Can use your Intelligence modifier in place of your Charisma modifier on Diplomacy checks to persuade others and on Bluff checks to convince others that a lie is true. (Was trained in a philosophical tradition and learned to use logic and reason to persuade others.)
Extracts Known
1st Level: Cure Light Wounds, Comprehend Languages, Detect Secret Doors, Reduce Person, Enlarge Person, Monkey Fish, Shield, Heightened Awareness
Extracts Prepared
Tentative:
Investigator Kit (Fluffed for Lack of Normal Food)
Formula Book
Artisans Outfit (w/cloak+hat)
Shortswords x2
Shortbow (or Sling) w/ 20 Arrows or 20 sling stones
Studded Leather Armor
If this seems like too much I'm happy to drop whatever you want to get within what seems reasonable to you