Ships from a variety of nations sail across the Arcadian Ocean in order to establish new settlements and colonies in unknown lands. What threats and dangers await them, far from civilized eyes?
1. Victor (prone) <--- You are up!
2. Arven
3. Murob <--- You are up!
4. Jim
5. Scraghound Red (17 damage)
6. Scraghound Green
7. Ogre Huntmaster
8. Scraghound Blue (grappled)
9. Ehiz
10. Fa'Zakar
11. Gwen
12. Sulan (bull's strength)
Murob can't do much more about the Sorala situation, as diplomacy has failed and a more aggressive approach would be against her values, so hopefully Yosiah will deliver the news about the solitary Blade and then Murob and Yosiah can join Ehiz and Sulan. *hint hint*
Alright, let's go for that angle. I was waiting for some feedback
but then slipped into complacency.
"Let us find Murob and see if we, with the four of us, can help Breddaric and his Blades out of whatever hole they find themselves in. Gather your gear." What more needed to be said? The road ahead is clear: venture forth, use whatever clues can be found and either find Breddaric's remains or help the man back to First Landing.
And for that, they'd first need to re-assemble their party. With First Landing being anything but a grand settlement, Ehiz hopes it won't take long to find Murob.
Ehiz finds Murob in a state of agitation, pacing back and forth near the ship. "Ehiz! Thank the gods you're here! They took Sorala! They beat her and dragged her on the ship! Perhaps you can talk some sense into them, I have failed."
Hearing his news, alarm and concern replace her frustration. As much as she hated leaving the squire in the hands of the brutish Blades, the new development demanded their immediate attention. She follows Ehiz to where the others are gathered.
By the time Mogwai gets back from his multi-day excursion of trying to get a better lay of the land, searching for the drowned child's parents (and any other survivors), and attempting to find a sustainable food source, a whole lot of trouble has already occurred.
As Murob fills him in on what's happened, his ears (once heightened with interest) droop further and further, the ends curling in on themselves as they slip lower. "Mogwai not understand. Blades kill druid? Capture Sorala?" He shakes his head with a heavy sigh. "They learning nothing. Perhaps best mngwa end them."
"What is best might not be right, and for me, it definitely isn't right to leave them to their own in the forest without offering any help. We will see if Breddaric is still alive and if so, rescue him and then we can make sure Sorala gets released. It seems the Blades are merely a symptom of a collapsing society that is lacking divine guidance.."
Human Warpriest 3/Expert 1 | AC 18 T 13 FF 15 | CMD 15 | hp 34/34 | F +5 R +4 W +7 | Spd 30' | Init +3 | Dip +7, Bluff +5, SM +9, Perc +7, Kn(Rel)+3, Survival +6, Prof (Woodsman) +8 | SA: Travel/Luck 4/4, Fervor 3/3
Yosiah sits with Mogwai, listening to Murob relaying information about Sorala. He clenches his fist, staring into the distant horizon, watching the waves of the sea crash upon the shore. "There is nothing we can do for Sorala. These Blades, they have their own justice. We cannot fight them. For now, we must save Breddaric. Perhaps he can owe us a favor."
Mogwai, who spent two days out in the wilderness, learns a few things:
For one, the jungle stretches beyond sight in every direction from where you are. Even climbing the highest tree does not see beyond it, for the deeper in the forest you get, the higher and thicker and more verdant the trees get.
For two, he manages to find three people sheltering in a cave near teh sea a few miles to the south, and when he returns to First Landing, he escorts them with him.
For three, he learns that the forest is not only full of regular animals and plants, but also many living plant creatures, gargantuan megafauna and fae. In fact, the jungle positively teems with life the deeper you get inside. It would not be difficult to live here, what with being able to hunt and forage, though clearing out the jungle for farmland may be difficult the soil is good and will support crops well.
"He ought to be just outside the settlement in the nearby forest, where they sought out the druidess to do battle with her. We should be able to find him and his crew" says the farmer-priest in a resolute manner. Surely their combined talents at tracking would suffice?
It was very disappointing to hear that the druidess had been killed, after all of Murob's efforts for a more peaceful solution. But what was done was done. Now they only needed to deal with the consequences; surely this deed would boost Breddaric's power in the colony.
The group heads out towards the farm, following the tracks of the half-dozen Blades that had ventured out there the previous day. It doesn't take long - maybe 20 minutes - and the tracks lead right to the farm. It appears that it has been the site of a significant battle, and the group finds several bodies around the farmland. Several dead wolves, their hides peppered with crossbow bolts, lie around the outside of the farm. Next to the farmhouse, draped with cloths, are the bodies of two Blades.
On a pike in front of the farmhouse is the head of the druidess that the party had met several days prior.
The farmhouse itself is splattered with blood, and inside are the bodies of two more Blades plus the body of Breddaric Valethorn. Braddaric is barely recognizable, as he's been shredded by deep and dire claw wounds, but it is surely him.
Murob shakes her head at the barbaric display of the head-on-spike. Even if a peaceful solution could not be worked out, she deemed the druidess worthy of respect as an enemy, and finds the Blades' practice very distatestful. She moves to remove the head from the pike and searches around for the body, intending to give the druidess proper funeral rites later.
Then, she examines the two bodies outside the farm, checking their wounds.
Heal:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Inside the farmhouse, Breddaric's body is certainly a shock, and she examines that as well as the other two dead Blades. It would seem that between the stray Blade running for help and their actual arrival the Blades' party had suffered another attack. But by whom? Was it the mngwa?
The druidess' headless body is found nearby, at the edge of the farm's grain field.
One of the two Blades lying outside the farmhouse suffers a bite-mark on his ankle, and his throat has been ripped out. Clearly killed by wolves. The other has a gaping hole in his chest, killed by some kind of serrated spear. They've been dead for half a day.
The two Blades and Breddaric, inside the farmhouse, were all killed by fiercely-bleeding claw-marks. They're all pale from exsanguination. Beyond that, the area inside the house shows signs of wreckage and damage - the front door has cracked from something large squeezing itself in, and something heavy has slammed into several walls.
Those three have been dead for probably about an hour - they were killed shortly before daybreak.
The farmer priest quietly mourns the loss of the druidess and the blades as tears start flowing down his cheeks, each one quickly disappearing into the man's thick bushy beard. It all seemed so senseless. As if the only way to influence the world around you was through violence and force. In a way, Breddaric and the druidess were two sides of the same coin: using the same tool, violence, no matter the situation.
"This pains me too, Murob. So much potential, all gone to waste. We ought to give every single one of them a proper burial and make sure their spirits find their way to the afterlife."
If this had been Andoran, Ehiz would've cut off a lock of hair from every person present so he could wrap them around a seed or acorn. Everyone deserves to be remembered.
Breddaric used the druidess' own spear to pike her head - it radiates as magical, as does the wolf pelt that she wore draped around her shoulder and a ring carved of wood on her left hand.
Breddaric carried four magic items - his darkwood gastraphetes, his backpack, and two potions in a belt pouch.
Other than that, Breddaric wears a mwk chain shirt, carries two daggers and a mwk machete, a set of manacles with a Superior lock and a moneybag containing 367gp.
Each of his Blades carries a machete, a handaxe, they wear studded leather, they each carry a light crossbow, a backpack, some rope, a grappling hook, and a shovel. Between everyone there are 72 crossbow bolts.
Half-Orc Goliath Druid 3/Warrior 1 | HP 32/39, 5 nonlethal | AC 20 : T 10 : FF 20 : CMD 17 | F +9 : R +4 : W +8 | Init +0 Perc +11 S.M. +2 | Greataxe +8, 1d12+9 Current Buffs: bull's strength
"We could bury the druidess here. But Breddaric and the others... we should probably bring those bodies back with us. The people will want to know what happened, and his men may not believe us if we do not bring proof."
Sulan looks over the items with curiosity.
In case Murob didn't make the rolls...
"I suppose so. Instinct tells me that it is best we ..." and Ehiz shuts up, wondering why he let such heretical thoughts into his head. But, with those first words uttered, there is no going back. "Perhaps the land demands the taste of his blood. Perhaps I'm just going crazy."
The spear and gastraphetes have just basic enchantments on them - they are merely +1 weapons. The backpack is a handy haversack, the first potion is of invisibility and the second is of cure moderate wounds.
The druidess carried a magic ring and a magic cloak as well (a wolf pelt). However, she was otherwise naked.
Half-Orc Goliath Druid 3/Warrior 1 | HP 32/39, 5 nonlethal | AC 20 : T 10 : FF 20 : CMD 17 | F +9 : R +4 : W +8 | Init +0 Perc +11 S.M. +2 | Greataxe +8, 1d12+9 Current Buffs: bull's strength
Ehiz Bor'Dari wrote:
"Perhaps the land demands the taste of his blood. Perhaps I'm just going crazy."
"Well, something wanted his blood, that's for sure. The land, or some resident of it."
Sulan looks around the blood-soaked clearing.
"But whatever it was, it got what it wanted. There's enough blood here to satisfy a pack of vampires. Already the ants and other little critters are starting to lap it up."
"Let's hope this episode is finished then. Or do you think there's some kind of ceremony we need to do to satisfy this Mngwa?"
"Let us hope that you are right, and the mngwa is satisfied. What should we do with the body of the druidess, Sulan? Do druids have special rituals for the dead, or do they prefer to return to nature, err... naturally?" asks Murob.
Half-Orc Goliath Druid 3/Warrior 1 | HP 32/39, 5 nonlethal | AC 20 : T 10 : FF 20 : CMD 17 | F +9 : R +4 : W +8 | Init +0 Perc +11 S.M. +2 | Greataxe +8, 1d12+9 Current Buffs: bull's strength
"There is no rule that covers all druids."
"Among my people the custom was to burn the body. Who knows what hers were? The main thing is to keep larger animals from gaining a taste for human flesh, otherwise animals lose their natural fear of people and may begin hunting them. Burying the corpse or piling large stones would do that if we don't care to burn her."
The ring is a ring of sacred mistletoe, although neither Sulan nor Murob can discern the enchantment on the woman's wolf pelt.
If you want something, say so and add it to your character sheet. Otherwise it will be left behind when you leave.
As far as you know, there is no ceremony or ritual left to satisfy the mngwa. As long as it has killed its subject of hatred, it will dissipate forever.
Murob picks a likely spot at the edge of the clearing, under a large tree, and starts digging. It is hard, sweaty work, and by the end of it her arms tremble with exertion. Once that task is done, she sets to gathering the equipment that the druidess and the Blades had left behind.
"Breddaric's men might want some of this, or we might use it to arm the others. What the druidess had they shall not touch, though."
She spreads out the wolf pelt, setting the spear and ring on them, looking questioningly at Sulan. Amongst them, he was the most likely to make use of these items.
The link to the loot sheet is in Murob's stat bar, claim what you want."
Half-Orc Goliath Druid 3/Warrior 1 | HP 32/39, 5 nonlethal | AC 20 : T 10 : FF 20 : CMD 17 | F +9 : R +4 : W +8 | Init +0 Perc +11 S.M. +2 | Greataxe +8, 1d12+9 Current Buffs: bull's strength
I suppose I can use the ring, though it doesn't do anything especially amazing. The biggest thing I can see is that it would allow me to cast entangle (or a variation on that) and then walk through the entangle zone safely.
We'll keep trying to identify the wolf pelt later.
Sulan begins looking around for large rocks with which to cover the grave.
Murob takes the magical sack and the two backpacks and begins to stuff items into them. She wasn't going to leave behind anything that could be used, and while this was not the place and the time to divide spoils, she was sure that back at the settlement there would be people who would make good use of these things. Well, perhaps not the manacles, although those might also come in handy.
Now that the two most immediate problems had been resolved, it was time to turn their thoughts again to saving the captive colonists and searching for those who were missing.
Half-Orc Goliath Druid 3/Warrior 1 | HP 32/39, 5 nonlethal | AC 20 : T 10 : FF 20 : CMD 17 | F +9 : R +4 : W +8 | Init +0 Perc +11 S.M. +2 | Greataxe +8, 1d12+9 Current Buffs: bull's strength
leinathan wrote:
5 shovels for the taking at the scene of the crime.
Oh, right.
Sulan takes one of the shovels, and helps carry what remains.
Once the druidess is buried, he constructs a travois out of a couple of saplings, his bedroll, and some rope. He piles the bodies on until he doesn't think he can carry more, and he begins trudging back to the settlement dragging the travois behind him.
"At least we're not dragging them along the ground this way," he remarks, to no one in particular.
Even though he'd never dare admit it, let alone think it, Ehiz is a sucker for the dramatic. As such, the priest stoically steps forward and then drops on one knee to pick up the spear. In a hushed voice that slithers past his lips under his breathe Ehiz promises he will wield it to defend these lands and its people. Your memory will entwine with flowers of positivity. With no name to tie to the druidess, Ehiz decides that 'wild flower' will have to do.
Ehiz claims the +1 spear.
The farmer priest gives Sulan a nod of approval when his make-shift contraption is completed. "Dignity can be found in doing what you can, not in what you cannot. This will have to do. My heart weeps when I look at these young men and think of that young woman, knowing how much we could've done if only they had embraced Erastil's wisdom."
With that said, this place was best left behind as soon as possible.
The invis potion is probably best for either a sneaky character or someone who needs a mode of escape.
Murob takes everything except for the +1 spear, and puts it into the handy haversack to carry.
The group loads up the corpses onto a few makeshift pallets and decides to head back to town. With their load, it's slow and tiring going, and it takes them about an hour to make it, but when they do, people start to come running once the loggers on the outskirts of the village notice them. One of the young women that you rescued from the wreckage of the ship yells, "What happened?" while a farmer that Ehiz talked to barks, "It's Breddaric and the Blades! They're dead!"
Two of the remaining Blades are in the crowd, and they go boggle-eyed at the sight of their dead leader. Their hands go to axes at their belts, but they don't pull just yet. "Explain yourself," says one of them, a man in the prime of adulthood with a brown beard, short brown hair, and worn leather armor.
The man takes his hand off his axe when he sees Sulan's much larger stone one. "Fine," he says. "But it looks f#+%ing bad that you go out to find him and you come back with corpses and then won't explain."
Ehiz draws in a deep breath and feels how the air, along the way down, has troubles avoiding all the worries and fears that reside within him. Please, no more bloodshed. Erastil, Father, be my witness in this moment. He then slowly raises a hand, palm facing the crowd, as his lips part and the tip of his tongue flicks over them. Words are soon to follow, but catching their attention before speaking was oh so important. Or so an elderly farmer-priest had once told him.
"Calm down everyone, calm down. Don't ride those wild horses called emotions into an obviously difficult situation. Yes, yes Breddaric and many of his Blades have fallen in the fight against the druidess and her wolves." Ehiz gives the crowd a moment to let this sink in before continuing on, riding the gasps and outcries into the latter part of his statement. "Those who survived the fight were then beset by the Mngwa. This otherworldly spirit has, to our knowledge, bested Breddaric and his companions. We know it was of a singular mind to spill blood and take lives, returning to life whenever it was slain to finish what it had started."
Once again, the farmer-priest stops to both take a breath and sort out his thoughts, and give the crowd a couple of seconds to process all this. Now for the most dangerous part. "This, we fear, has been the curse that plagued us all: the Mngwa was out for the blood. Particularly, the blood of some among us for a crime or transgression we still do not fully understand. However, it is our belief that the Mngwa's thirst for revenge has been sated. So while Breddaric has fallen, his valor in venturing forth to meet those who endanger our community, has brought us safety, albeit at a terrible, terrible price."
A terrible price indeed. He did not mention the gruesome wounds inflicted on both the Blades and the druidess and her wolves, and how their ends must have been truly horrible. And how, after all that, Breddaric must not have stood a chance against the Mngwa. Death. Despair. Misery. Erastil fend, please Father avert the gaze of those wicked Gods who would use this moment for their own deviant gains.
"I assume many of you will have burning questions that ache to be answered. Please, we will try and answer any we can, but in this moment, we - the people of First Landing - need to stand as one, as a community, more than ever. Violence will not be tolerated, for that wicked vehicle has brought us where we are right now. No more of that. No more. Let us not bring shame to the memory of those we have lost today."
Is a diplomacy check needed? Just in case, I'll a roll one using his Inspiredtrait: Diplomacy:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 Diplomacy:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 That 26 will become a 28 if they're hostile or unfriendly.
The people sigh, and talk among themselves, and mutter and babble, but ultimately accept what had happened. Breddaric had not been a particularly inspiring leader, and his death at the hands of a forest monster had been all but guaranteed when he had come here to fight forest monsters for them. The older Blade scoffs, waves a hand dismissively, and walks away.
The other one approaches Ehiz. "What... What do we do now? No violence, so... what, we just farm?"
"Grow food. Build defenses for the town. Help finding missing people. Choose a council to run the colony. Oh, and does anyone know this young woman?" Murob displays the locket they had found earlier; it is time to deliver the bad news.
She turns to her companions. "Speaking of missing people, I think we have done all that we can here. We should set out and try to free those colonists kept captive by the gillmen." She eyes the Blade walking away. "We need to persuade them to give up their captives - Sorala and our gillman guide. Perhaps returning their leader's and comrades' possession will make them better disposed towards us."
"What we do now is to sow the seeds through which this community can grow. Build houses, plant crops, establish workshops for trades and settle into healthy routines. And as much as I might hate violence, I am sure that skill at arms will be needed again in the future. The slave-taking Gillmen are still around, after all, and any success our small society will achieve will draw attention to us. That is why we ought to stand together, as one, no matter our differences."
No matter what, a priest of Erastil must always keep the cup half full. Even if what little resides in the cup consists of hastily distilled hope and dreams.
Ehiz agrees with Murob. The Gillmen are both a threat and are holding colonists captive/as slaves. How we do that, though, is up to to the group. A diplomatic effort would most likely be a persistent effort: troubles will come and go, and continual tribute and signs of friendship will have to be made. Kicking their asses might cause them to move away, or worse, give them a reason to put everything they have into plotting our demise.
"Well," says the younger Blade, "I bet some of the others will try to stop you, but as far as I'm concerned you can take the Point Man. Really, they're all good guys and I bet that they'd come with if you asked them really nicely though."
"You said the other colonists are enlsaved by... gill-men? We thought they were all dead." He turns and begins to walk back to town, and indicates that the rest of the party does so as well. The group dissipates to go back to their families and friends and plan what to do next.
So, at this point, the farmers will farm, the loggers will log, the builders will build, to make sure that the ~90 people you have can survive. I assume you want to go on the small ship you have and follow your captive gillman's lead back to his home island? You'll need to Diplomacy or Intimidate the remaining Blades to let you use the ship, and then have someone who can sail it.
Murob nods at the Blade's words. "I am sure that they are good people. I shall speak to them."
Carrying the haversack with Breddaric's belongings and the gear of the fallen Blades, she heads to the ship once more, hailing any guards on the dock or on deck.
"You probably have heard the news by now. I am sorry that they bear sorrow and hardship to you and this place." She stops, pondering whether to point out that this situation could have been avoided, but decides to instead try and put the past behind them. Perhaps the remaining Blades will see wisdom now. "It is very regrettable what has happened to your leaders and comrades. We have buried them where they fell and brought back their possessions. You can do with them as you wish." As she speaks, she pulls out the items one by one and lays them on the ground - everything that had been in the possession of Breddaric and the dead Blades.
She then straightens up and looks the Blades in the eyes, one by one. "We have lost people, and they should be mourned, but we are not defeated and we still have work to do. Many colonists are still enslaved by the gillmen. We can join forces and free them, and end the menace of the raiders and slavers. Even if you do not care for the colonists they keep captive, you must realize the danger they pose to this fledgling colony. They have ships, and they can attack us at any time. Best that we strike first and defeat them."
Half-Orc Goliath Druid 3/Warrior 1 | HP 32/39, 5 nonlethal | AC 20 : T 10 : FF 20 : CMD 17 | F +9 : R +4 : W +8 | Init +0 Perc +11 S.M. +2 | Greataxe +8, 1d12+9 Current Buffs: bull's strength
Murob Dura Gash wrote:
"...We have buried them where they fell ..."
Ah, this part isn't true. We buried the druidess, but Sulan built a travois and we brought the bodies of Breddaric and the other blades back here to be buried.
My bad, thanks for the correction. The above should then read "We buried the druidess where she fell, but for the others we brought back their bodies and their possessions."
I'm looking to GM another game on these here forums, and the one I've chosen is, in a nutshell, Kingmaker. I actually (despite the many problems with it) really like the Kingmaker Adventure Path, and have been trying for a long time to revise it into something a little bit smoother, something which makes a little bit more sense, something which is more fun to play.
What I've come up with will, in many ways, resemble the Kingmaker Adventure Path as-written. Many of the same NPCs will be present. Some of the same quests will need to be undertaken. However, many things will be different... most notably, the campaign will take place on the far-off continent of Arcadia, on the other side of the Arcadian Ocean and the Lost Continent of Atlantis Azlant. Many years ago, Cheliax sent some ships over yonder to establish a colony, and establish a colony they did! Despite some setbacks, some contact with the local natives and the monsters extant on the new continent, the colony is reasonably successful. The rest of the Inner Sea Region's nations, thus, want in on that hot colony-on-undiscovered-continent action. Sponsored by Absalom, a consortium of Inner Sea Region nations (take your pick, your character could be from anywhere) all throw money into the pot and raise a fleet of a few ships, and send them with the best of well-wishes across the sea.
Your player characters will be among the hopeful colonists sailing across the Arcadian Ocean in search of a new life, though not all will go according to plan on the journey, nor is all hunky-dory when you reach your destination. Though they will start off as inexperienced novices with little ethos and few allies, in order to survive your PCs must take charge, leap into the breach of situations far above your pay grade, and establish the new colony as something with clout. There will hopefully be a small village waiting for you when you arrive, if you arrive in the correct spot. One with some resource-gathering tools already, and some housing to take in the new colonists.
What I'm looking for are three to six players for whom roleplaying is the goal. Without intercharacter dialogue, no game this sandboxy will survive for long, and without consistent momentum any game would fail. I'm sure you have all experienced this.
I'm also looking for skilled writers. Not only in the technical sense but also in the creative sense. I want to be able to imagine that your character is a whole and complete human. I want to be able to imagine that your character has their own life, their own friends, goals, desires, and more. They won't start off exceptional, but they will get there, so feel free to write in some extraordinary circumstances if the urge takes you. Be aware, however, that I prize believability over many things when it comes to TTRPG. Please be reasonable.
Another thing: Feel free to make characters of any stripe. Please consort with one another when making your characters. I will want to be choosing characters as a whole party, to ensure that they all will work together and that everyone has the same goals in mind.
I'm gonna hold off a bit on posting the character-creation guidelines, just wanna see the level of interest first. However, if anyone has any questions about the situation, the world, the character parameters, and more, please feel free to ask. Much will be allowed, so long as it isn't ridiculous.
I've hugely enjoyed playing in your games in the past and think this is an incredibly interesting approach. I've largely steered clear of Kingmaker in the past but I think this is very much in line with how I'd want to play it, so, count me in as interested!
I'm currently running Kingmaker, would that be a problem?
Assuming no, I'm very interested. Kingmaker is perhaps my favorite AP and I'm very happy to be running it. However, I admittedly also really want to play it. My big question is... how different will it be? Just in grand sweeping gestures, are you running the metaplot as written just in a different location or would I expect to see significant differences that follow the larger overall plot ideas? I'm just curious. All of this might affect the character I would hypothetically build. You can be as vague as you like about answering this question (I'd even prefer that, I think), but I just want to know how much it might change.
Also, we're obviously sailing there... but will there be a lot of sailing later? I had a character idea that was once for Skulls & Shackles but could easily be re-purposed if we were doing even any small amount of sailing around.
PS: DM_aka_Dudemeister has a series of threads where he talks about some of the extensive changes he made to Kingmaker for his own game. Don't know if you've seen them, but I figured I'd link it.
This sounds like a fantastic idea. I've got an idea for a minor Taldan nobleman sent to colonize in the name of his country and, more importantly in his eyes, to ensure he'll be something more than the second son of a second son.
I've definitely got some interest in this. Got a few ideas bubbling around, both with Paizo content and some third party supplements as well. A Hellgunner of sorts, using a Fiend-Pact Avowed, channeling unholy energies through a dragon pistol or two, is the first that came to mind.
Edit: Assuming post-Aroden Cheliax, of course. The House of Thrune shall extend their reach beyond the seas!
Interested, I have a half-orc cavalier that participated in a heavy RP and very well run Kingmaker campaign, but unfortunately the GM wasn't able to finish even the first book.
Would love to re-visit that character and campaign possibly, lots of really good story set up.
@JDPhipps - In broad strokes, the fey-themed metaplot, what with Nyrissa and all, is completely removed. I am planning to use plot points from books 2-4. As for sailing... Its a great way to traverse the coasts and rivers, if you have the boats and the crew.
I have seen and absorbed inspiration from Dudemeister. Expect monster kingdoms.
@Joseph Soltz - there is already a pre-existing Chelaxian colony in Arcadia. In fact, this new settlement is in competition with that one. That doesn't preclude Chelish origins and loyalty, but I thought I would let you know.
Cool stuff. My idea was to perhaps pitch a Chelish pirate hunter who, tired of being discriminated again for his tiefling heritage, has left the Navy and instead decided to set sail for Arcadia. He's not really... made (?) for Skulls & Shackles but the build has a lot of thematic elements for a sea-faring character. He's an axe-and-pistol build and his axe is a boarding axe, for instance. Would such a character be a potential good fit for this game, or would I be better suited going with something else? I'm fine with either, but if he's not a good fit I'll come up with a new idea and save that one for later.
Excellent stuff on the monster kingdoms. That's my favorite part.
If your character is brave, curious, or stupid, they'll fit in great. If they're unafraid to step up, great. If they have sailing, farming, construction or wilderness survival skills, they're invited!
If they're willing to throw themselves into unknown danger just to start over, they'll fit in great.
Boundball is a popular sport played in Arcadia (true). There is a small league founded by immigrants and returned colonials in the Inner Sea, but it has never really taken off (made up by me as far as I know). My character would be a 'professional' boundball player who wants to journey to the country of his favourite game's origin and make his name at it. Arcadia isn't exactly an easy place to get to though, so he jumped at the chance to be one of these new colonials.
If your character is brave, curious, or stupid, they'll fit in great. If they're unafraid to step up, great. If they have sailing, farming, construction or wilderness survival skills, they're invited!
If they're willing to throw themselves into unknown danger just to start over, they'll fit in great.
Cool stuff. I will probably end up submitting that character, then.
I think it's interesting! I'd like to join. Could I, perhaps, play a ship captain hired to get the group to the far side (and decides to stay and help)?
@Joseph Soltz - there is already a pre-existing Chelaxian colony in Arcadia. In fact, this new settlement is in competition with that one. That doesn't preclude Chelish origins and loyalty, but I thought I would let you know.
If anything, that almost might make it better, honestly. I suppose I'd have to find out in-world if the pre-existing colony is in line with current Chelish goals and such, and they can be an invaluable ally, or a potential pawn, to be used until I've no need for them, perhaps an outright enemy depending on their attitude towards others.
The more I think about it, a Tiefling bastard of the House of Thrune, out to prove his salt in the new colony, could be a heck of a lot of fun,though I'm not sure, quite, how willing you are to deal with an Evil, or Very Nearly Evil, PC.
I'm already in some Kingmaker elsewhere, but it's an AP I like, and this one might be different enough not to get boring. Just need to make sure my character is something different. Shouldn't be hard to do. I'll look at options.
I have an Ulfen Half-Elven Bloodrager who left the Linnorm Kingdoms to put distance between herself and her quite unpleasant witch mother. She's quite up to the tasks, looking for somewhere to go, and would have heard stories about Arcadia.
Just her kind of destination for a new start. An ocean's worth of distance sounds like about the right amount.
Very interested. I'm thinking an idealistic, intellectual wizard who wants to make the colony a progressive democratic utopia (and will of course be forced towards pragmatism as he finds accomplishing this goal much more difficult than he was prepared for).
My character would be a Kitsune Swashbuckler who would be captaining one of the ships heading to the new colony lands. A long since climatized to the inner sea region, he has traveled by sea most his life.
He conceals his kitsune nature, instead portraying himself as a human ship captain. He would have chosen to take part in transporting colonists because it was either that or get caught committing privateering against Chelliax. A quick coat of paint and new crew helped divert suspicion, but put him on a course he was not expecting.
1) Half-Orc Ranger, who wants to both hunt/explore the new land. Thinking of a Trophy Hunter, who wants to hunt the possible exotic/rare/never before seen beasts of Arcadia.
I forgot to respond to Boundball Guy! Yeah, I'd totally accept a professional athlete character, even if it's a little silly, as long as it's plausible that they have adventuring skills too and you're okay with the sports not coming up for a little while.
Ok, I'm back in front of a keyboard. I was going to wait till tomorrow to post these, but all y'all are posting class concepts anyway, so I figured I'd do it now. Let's see if I can get everything without forgetting anything. If I forget anything, please let me know.
Character Generation Guidelines
So, I'll start off with a quick description of what I'm looking for. I'm looking for characters whose crunch and fluff weave together to tell one story. I'm looking for mechanical decisions which tell me something about the character. I'm looking for optimized (as in, useful and powerful) but not min-maxed (as in, well-rounded at least a little bit) characters. I'll be auditing people to make sure their crunches are correct, and going over clarifying questions with people once they're done. If you want, we can also have back-and-forth about your character, if I have time, so that we can make it together.
I'll spoiler the next bits so this post isn't too meaty at first glance:
Narrative Questions:
Whether in list format or as part of your narrative backstory, I'd like a few things about your character. Remember that I'd like to be able to envision them as an actual person. Ideally, no caricatures.
Kay, here goes with some questions:
1. First, I'd like some kind of narrative backstory. Doesn't have to be very long or involved, or really special or dramatic (although it completely can be if you like). I would, however, like it to touch on a few key points: What was your character's upbringing like? What was their social status? Do they have any sort of profession, and how did they get into it? How old are they?
2. Second, everyone (well, most people) have people in their lives. It's okay if your answers to this are "no people", but that has to be a conscious choice. I'd like you to include in your submission two characters: One NPC that your character is leaving behind in their previous life, and one NPC or PC that your character meets on their months at sea. What do these people mean to you? What do you think of them?
3. I want to know why your PCs are leaving behind everything they've ever known. Could be lots of reasons, but nobody does that sort of thing for s#%#s and giggles. Unless they do! Feel free to write a character like that, but it should be explicit.
4. They have a class. Presumably, those abilities didn't manifest out of nowhere. Why are they whatever class they are? Did they get training? Did their grandmother f!!* a demon?
5. What does your character look and act like? How do they come off?
How do they dress? What equipment do they use?
6. If your character has any self-awareness of their own alignment, what do they think of themselves? Why are they whatever alignment they are?
Hopefully answering those questions gets you a fairly in-depth character. We'll see!
Mechanical Requirements:
Alright, so your characters are gonna be relative novices. They're definitely a little more special than your average commoner, being PCs and all, but I want them to have to earn whatever it is that makes them special rather than having been born with it.
This bit is gonna be fairly intensive. Confusion should be directed right at me.
Most Paizo material is available. There are a few things that I am banning, mostly because they replace something else, but in a better way. Alternately, because they're powerful enough that they overshadow their other options. The following things are banned: the sanctified slayer archetype for the inquisitor. The primalist archetype for the bloodrager. The inspired blade archetype for the swashbuckler. The archaeologist archetype for the bard. The exploiter wizard archetype for the wizard, and the school savant archetype for the arcanist. The vigilante class won't be allowed. You are obligated to use the Unchained variants for the monk, the barbarian, the rogue and the summoner.
I also allow Dreamscarred Press' psionics classes and other accompanying material, but I do not allow Path of War. I allow third-party classes published by Rogue Genius Games.
We'll be starting at level 3. However, one of your starting levels must be in an NPC class. You will get the opportunity to re-train this level into a different level later on (I am considering making special 3-level classes for the different leadership positions...)
Generate ability scores using low-fantasy 15-point buy. Nothing special to see here.
Starting wealth will be set at 750gp. However, we are also using Automatic Bonus Progression sans the weapon-attunement rules, so you will all begin with a +1 resistance bonus to saves. If you have a Craft skill and can make the item in question by rolling a 10, you may pay 1/3rd price for crafted goods. If you have a Craft feat and can make the Spellcraft check to make an item on a 10, you may pay 1/2 price for crafted magic items of the appropriate type.
Starting allowed races will be Core races plus the dhampir, goblin, hobgoblin, kobold, tengu, changeling, gillman, kitsune, android, aquatic elf and ratfolk. A large list, but not everything. I do have some bias for the Core races, but I wanted to allow just about everything I would find acceptable.
Take two traits. Any traits, as long as they aren't in the same category as normal.
No alignment restriction, but you have to pass the basic test: do you make everyone around you uncomfortable? If you do, probably being in a team-based adventure isn't for you.
HP is generated with the PFS rule: Maximize your NPC class HD, and then do 1/2max +1 for each other HD.
Optional Rules
From Unchained, we'll be using fractional advancement,
automatic bonus progression, background skills.
I plan to track encumbrance and food/water in as basic and non-obtrusive way as I can for as long as it's relevant. Basic survival will be a worry for awhile, but I'll just keep it as "You have X days of food/water". Try not to carry a ridiculous amount of equipment.
This is a link to Avowed, the class I mentioned earlier. While it's certainly not necessary, it is the first concept that came to mind for me,like I said.
This is a link to Avowed, the class I mentioned earlier. While it's certainly not necessary, it is the first concept that came to mind for me,like I said.
Leads me to an error 404. Who is the publisher? Is there a public space that I can find it?
What is the idea of the class? Perhaps I can think of a set of allowed material which does the same thing.
As a student of history IRL with a major love for all things Age of Discovery (or Exploration, depending on who you ask) I can't help but love the idea of this. I've DM'd a campaign that took the players to Arcadia for a chapter, so I've read up on it a bit, but I got no troubles making my mind a tabula rasa.
If anything, you can always poke me in a PM on anything about the Age of Discovery. I don't know everything, but I do know a lot AND can refer you to sources.
What is your take on firearms? Early or commonplace? The feat "gunsmithing" allows cost of 1/2 materials. You are allowing crafting at 1/3. Would it cost me 1/3 or 1/2 to craft it myself? Since I only have 750gp, and the cheapest firearm is 750, I would consume half of my gp to even have one.
Gilthanis - I think the rules for 'emerging firearms' fits best what I'm going for. You're unlikely to find any advanced firearm users in Arcadia, and will most likely have to craft your own firearms and upgrades anytime you want any.
Specific rules trump general rules though - since the text in the Gunsmithing feat says that you craft at 1/2 cost, that is what the crafting cost is.
As for the cost... one of the great things about the gunslinger class is that there's a whole class feature that you get where you get a gun that's free!
I wasn't planning on mitigating the high cost of firearms at the start, if that is what you were asking.
This is a link to Avowed, the class I mentioned earlier. While it's certainly not necessary, it is the first concept that came to mind for me,like I said.
Leads me to an error 404. Who is the publisher? Is there a public space that I can find it?
What is the idea of the class? Perhaps I can think of a set of allowed material which does the same thing.
Whoops! Cut off a bit of the url. This should work a little bit better. It's made by Forrestfire, who does a lot of work with Dreamscarred Press, and is basically a revamped, updated warlock from 3.5e.
Also could with more then 1 role and a couple of sessions can my character make the 1st advanced firearm btw hes gool would be ether adventure or making firearms or both
Kingmaker is an AP I've wanted to play for a long time now, so I am very interested.
I have two initial concepts, I can develop either or both depending on GM preferences and other potential party members.
1) Semuta al'Seyefa is a Keleshite bard (archivist) from Osirion. Her family was powerful during the Keleshite sultanate, but they have been struggling for the past century since Osirion regained its independence. As the youngest of five sisters, Semuta elected to stay away from political intrigues and pursue an academic career instead. She is currently an assistant professor in Absalom, where in her spare time she is attempting to put together an Azlanti lexicon. Her family has selected her for this expedition as the most expendable of the family's women, in a desperate bid to claw back some power and prestige. This meshes nicely with her own interest in Azlanti history, so she is not too brokenhearted to leave behind her family and work.
2) Murob Dura Gash is a half-orc herb witch who was born in Lastwall, but has been living most of her life travelling from nation to nation. Her parentage is rare in that it was a willing union, and she learned much of her craft from her orc mother, a shaman of the Cleft Head tribe. She has a twin brother, Durzum, who is studying to become a scholar and an alchemist. Their family has been struggling to survive among conflict, suspicion and intolerance, which has prompted Murob to seek new shores and new beginnings. The plan is to establish herself in the new colony before bringing the rest of the family over.
An Andoran cleric of Erastil who, by going against the ruling orthodoxy, has found himself branded a heretic by his peers. Women, so he believes, should be equal to men. The right to bear arms and defend the community ought not to be a male priviledge and duty. The same goes for nurturing family: a father plays just as an important role as the mother.
The more firebrand amongst his peers have not only called for him to step down as a priest of Erastil, but have wished for him to be excommunicated - something that's neigh impossible under Andoran law.
Not wanting to let his presence fragment the community so, he has signed up to move across the vast ocean, hoping to find a more welcoming and open-minded community in Arcadia.
tl;dr a neutral good human cleric of Erastil, most likely going down the bow route, with profession farmer, knowledge nature and the heal skill.
Presenting Marda, a Kellid shaman with ties to the spirits of her ancestors, which may or may not include some evil fey. She will focus mostly on buffs and debuffs. Will update her stats and provide a more thorough background a little later.
Ooohohoho this sounds like so much fun. I have several ideas and don't know which one to pick. Straight-up Ranger in the spirit of the Forgotten Realms, protecting these colonists from wild animals and the things that go bump in the night. A Paladin, here to establish the rule of law and protect the colonists. Even a Barbarian, albeit one who acts more like a more social and more wild ranger. Mostly I just want to be a good guy, Lawful or Neutral Good all the way.
@Joseph Soltz - I wanna say no to the Avowed, considering it's the side project of a 3rd-party publisher that's not on the PFSRD. The kineticist, as I'm sure you know, does many of the same things albeit with an elemental theme.
@Ameraaaaaa - background skills is pretty simple, it's just gaining 2 extra skill ranks/level, except you can only put them in certain skills.
NPC classes are simpler, less powerful classes than those available to PCs. I'm not gonna tell you which to pick, so go ahead and look through them.
As for advanced firearms. That's not something I'm going to decide right now, because that's something that would occur in-game, a pretty good amount into the game's progression.
If characters can believably do things, though, I usually let them.
@Kittenmancer - Ooh, both of those concepts are pretty sweet. If you're asking me to pick one, the half-orc witch seems pretty interesting, if only because she has family who are coming over, and that kind of storyline is my jam.
@solicitor - I like it! Literally a farmer, pretty good.
@everyone else - thanks for your interest! I'm liking the concepts so far!
Darn, what a shame. I don't really like the kinetics, class, so it looks like I'm moving on to another concept. I'll figure something out,and hopefully, it shall be neat.
Edit: When you say "and associated materials" in regards to Dreamscarred Psionics, does that include the Psionics Augmented supplements?
So since you allow Rogue Genius classes... A professional athelete who is a Time Thief, which is what gives him his edge at the sport and also lets him keep up a lifestyle above that which a pro at a nearly unknown sport should have (by stealing from the rich and giving to himself and his teammates). I am leaning towards giving him a secondary reason for leaving for Arcadia in that he stole from someone he shouldn't have and will likely be killed if he stays in the Inner Sea. So outwardly he will tell people it is all about the sport, but keep secret that he is on the run.
Not just a farmer, but a man blessed by Erastil for his devotion to family and community! Expert 1 / Cleric 2 it is. I'll try and get the crunch done by tomorrow. Hopefully I can squeeze the fluff in as well :)
Ouch! A 15 point buy Bloodrager isn't particularly viable. I guess I'll sit this one out.
Bloodrager isn't really that MAD, you don't need a high casting stat because you aren't ever going to be building for save or suck and you don't start with spells either:
STR 16 (14+2 from floating bonus) DEX 12 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 13
I have not included the NPC met on the way, as I would like to make that connection with another PC if at all possible. Marda or Solicitor's character would be top choices, if their players agree.
Murob is built around healing and buffing at the moment, but I can easily rebuild her for a different role if needed.
I'd love to submit for this - I have a question, though.
Would you allow one person to play a native? Like an Arcadian skinwalker or human, sent by a local tribe to investigate these newcomers, and guide them through the wilderness/keep them away from the tribe?
I'd definitely not want to have a huge amount of foreknowledge of geography or anything, just a lay of the very close local area, near the landing point. I think it'd be a fun character, if you're willing to entertain the idea.
