Welcome to Greg A. Vaughan's 'Bloody Jack' - Dark things, watching from the shadows with a gnawing hunger, await you...
Hello. Checking in.
Havent' spent my 4th level stat boost yet, wanted to see where it might be better to go based on party.
Str 13, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 12
If I put it into str, Amelia will hit more often and harder in melee. If I put it in Dex, she'll be harder to hit. If I put it in Con she'll be buffer with more HP. If I put it in Wis, she'll get an extra spell and a +1 on her spell saves.
You're all fracking morons... go away!
Thanks for the pick.
My tl;dr background- I used to have some connections in the underworld but went straight a while back; now I run an alchemy shop that deals largely in black powder and alchemical ammo (through which I have connections with some nobility and the watch). I'm a tiefling but most people don't know that (I have a hat of disguise that I use to make me look like a fully human version of myself).
If anyone sees I hook in there for a background connection let me know.
edit: Amelia- i don't really know the spiritualist class but it seems like we need a frontliner, so my vote would be Dex or Con...
Hey all! Good looking group--I'm very excited.
Gar is a Str-based, frontline, melee support, though I guess in this group he is "the tank." He'll benefit greatly from having allies adjacent to him in combat (gaining +1 saves per ally) so he'll always try to gain a central position in the battle. Maybe that will help you decide where to put your bonus ability point.
I was just reviewing everyone's background and saw a couple of obvious connections. Gar is an older man (50s) and actually lived through the murders. A watchdog from the church, he was stationed outside an orphanage where Bloody Jack struck. Both Vera and Amelia grew up in orphanages. Amelia's phantom Lilly lived in the same orphanage and was a victim of Bloody Jack. Wouldn't it be fun if we are all tied to the same orphanage, and Lilly was one of the children killed under Gar's watch? Just an idea...
I'm leaning toward Str. Lilly's a dex fighter. Amelia uses a scythe. I'm thinking teamwork feats might be useful, although I'm not sure if we'll be leveling up in order to get them.
@Gar - As to it being the same orphanage, if you wanted to be linked to the Blackheart Orphanage, that would be fine with me.
@Ostarian - Not sure about how Ostarian would be linked to the orphanage, or Amelia, seems like their paths aren't the same.
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@Gar - So you're the s$$+ehead that let me get killed. If I catch you in a dark alley I'm going to rip your stupid guts out and shove them in your eyes, you human pustule!
I think the first thing we should decide is how much we all know about each other. I think the options are :
1) Never met.
2) Heard of each other.
3) Know each other socially, but never adventured together.
4) Know each other professionally, but never adventured together.
5) Have worked together once or twice before, but don't know each other well.
6) Have worked together many times and know each other well.
Note that this could be different for everyone. IE: Amelia could know Gar socially from the orphanage, but they may have never adventured together. She could have heard of Ostarian, but never worked with him.
Amelia is a member of the Bounty Hunter's Guild, in good standing. So that's also a hook. Gar could easily be in the guild now, or have recently applied. Might be fun if he's a new probationary member who's having to work with Amelia who is his Assigned Mentor. :)
I'm good with having a 1 to 6 rating with anyone, so it's mostly what you'd prefer to have. Based on your rating with Amelia, I'll divulge information you'd know about Amelia and Lilly, their personalities, their tactics, etc.
I'd say that Mama Frill probably doesn't know any of the group particularly well. She hasn't been the social sort as she's progressed over the years. Maybe the group has heard rumors of the big ole rat thing, or maybe Mama has met one of the sneakier types in her prowls about town.
But however we progress, thanks for the selection, DM. I'm so fired up to play in The Blight!
Checking in.
Thanks for the pick, Zed!
Just for the sake of transparency: I am also a backer of "The Blight," and I have my own copy of Bloody Jack, which I have casually skimmed exactly once. I promise not to read it thoroughly until this adventure is over.
Question for the GM: What languages are commonly spoken and/or will be useful in Castohage? I haven't chosen all of them yet, and the ones I have chosen are written in pencil rather than ink...
So, the inspiration for Vera is Sherlock Holmes... crossed with the character Kitty Winter from the second season of the CBS TV show Elementary: a woman with a traumatic past that Holmes trained as his assistant.
Vera has a near-eidetic memeory and fancies herself as an expert in almost every subject... which I'm simulating in game mechanics by dropping at least one point in every Knowledge skill. She also has the "Intelligence Inspiration" Investigator talent, which allows her to use Inspiration for free on any Knowledge, Spellcraft, and Linguistics check... meaning that she's at least at a +8 on any of those rolls!
She's also got the Brilliant Planner feat from Ultimate Intrigue, which allows her to retain 250 gp for items that aren't defined at the start of an adventure... until such an item is needed. This works kind of like the "Gadget Pool" advantage in Champions, or how "Adventuring Gear" works in Dungeon World: You just have what you need when you need it!
Another thing about Vera: She has the Poison Use ability, and isn't afraid to use it. I've started her with one dose of blue whinnis and one dose of greenblood oil; she normally uses these on her hand crossbow bolts.
Vera is also an atheist (in the Pathfinder sense): She acknowledges the existence of the gods, but believes that none are worthy of worship. She also thinks that churches exist only to bilk the gullible out of their money and resources.
One of her quirks (which I didn't spell out) is that I see her as somewhat afraid of heights... that's why I didn't drop any skill points into Climb.
As for how we all know each other: I wrote that Vera has quite a bit of professional reputation as someone who can solve crimes better than that actual police... which hasn't made her many friends on the force! Perhaps she has done work for other PCs in the past?
I'm leaning toward Str. Lilly's a dex fighter. Amelia uses a scythe. I'm thinking teamwork feats might be useful, although I'm not sure if we'll be leveling up in order to get them.
Yeah, just to clarify, there won't be any levelling in this adventure... you'll stay at Level 5 for the duration so please don't go building characters with an expectation of hitting level 6 for good times (I don't think anyone has!!!)
Question for the GM: What languages are commonly spoken and/or will be useful in Castohage? I haven't chosen all of them yet, and the ones I have chosen are written in pencil rather than ink...
Good question... and one which Elliomander / Nate Lange also asked during recruitment - truth is without the main Blight book (which is some ways off yet) we can only guess at what the author's intent might be... FWIW, I'd go with some of the standard languages noting that I have placed Castorhage in Taldor... and that there is likely a limited degree of trade between there and other Inner Sea nations. From memory, language isn't a huge feature of this horrible little tale... although I may use it a little to mix things up a bit!!!
Question for the GM: What languages are commonly spoken and/or will be useful in Castohage? I haven't chosen all of them yet, and the ones I have chosen are written in pencil rather than ink...Good question... and one which Elliomander / Nate Lange also asked during recruitment - truth is without the main Blight book (which is some ways off yet) we can only guess at what the author's intent might be... FWIW, I'd go with some of the standard languages noting that I have placed Castorhage in Taldor... and that there is likely a limited degree of trade between there and other Inner Sea nations. From memory, language isn't a huge feature of this horrible little tale... although I may use it a little to mix things up a bit!!!
Thanks! I already chose Aklo, Necril, and Draconic... I think I'll take Elvish and Varisian for good measure.
Thanks! I already chose Aklo, Necril, and Draconic... I think I'll take Elvish and Varisian for good measure.Question for the GM: What languages are commonly spoken and/or will be useful in Castohage? I haven't chosen all of them yet, and the ones I have chosen are written in pencil rather than ink...Good question... and one which Elliomander / Nate Lange also asked during recruitment - truth is without the main Blight book (which is some ways off yet) we can only guess at what the author's intent might be... FWIW, I'd go with some of the standard languages noting that I have placed Castorhage in Taldor... and that there is likely a limited degree of trade between there and other Inner Sea nations. From memory, language isn't a huge feature of this horrible little tale... although I may use it a little to mix things up a bit!!!
....awesome, I'll make sure there are Osiriani Dwarves in the game then!!! ;)
So, my initial thoughts for relationships, based on postings...
Amelia's Relationships with Other PCs :
Vera : 4 - Bounty hunters and Private Eyes tend to run in the same circles, and so they have likely met professionally, but not worked together.
Mama Frill : 2 or 3 - Amelia quite often hires street rats (homeless children) to run messages for her, and she's been known to go after someone abusing them and 'remonstrate' with them (although quite often she usually ends up pulling Lilly off their broken and battered body instead). She also tends to take bounties for people who have reputations for abusing kids, so she and Mama probably have either heard of one another, or even met a few times.
Gar : 3 to 5 - Depending on how tightly Gar wants to tie the two.
Ostarian : 1 or 2 - Can't see how they'd have run across each other.
Amelia is a member of the Bounty Hunter's Guild, in good standing. So that's also a hook. Gar could easily be in the guild now, or have recently applied. Might be fun if he's a new probationary member who's having to work with Amelia who is his Assigned Mentor. :)
The Bounty Hunter's Guild poses a small story obstacle, because Gar (1) has been on probation within the church and essentially under "house arrest" with only limited, supervised travel beyond its grounds and it's doubtful he would have found a way to become a full member, and (2) his loyalties lie with the Brotherhood, its church, and his own conscious, so I struggle to see him joining such a freelance operation.
But, I could totally see him using the Guild as an avenue of investigation. His church has given him a "free pass" to use whatever methods are available to him (of course, if a scorched earth philosophy leads to his ruin, the church will deny any affiliation), and he'd be damned sure to find rumors and leads from others within that group. Plus, it's an easy way to "plug in" to the group. So let's say he's a very recent applicant, working as a free agent, and trying to find a lead, and that Amelia is his assigned mentor. That might put us at a 3-4 on your scale?
He holds his past pretty close to his chest, so I don't think we'd enter the adventure knowing his relationship to Lilly. That will be some fun RP down the road :).
Vera, shall we say you are an alumnus of Blackheart Orphanage? Your atheism could be a fun combo with an inquisitor :P.
Elliomander, it would be easy enough to have heard of your store without a direct relationship having formed.
Mama, the same could hold true. We've heard rumors of the Thing that Lurks, the Dreadrat, or something like that.
__________
I was thinking we'd level, so I reworked my ability scores slightly, lowering my Str to 18 and raising my Con to 14 for increased sturdiness.
Yep, I figured his church might have let him go (officially, unofficially he's still on probation but charged with seeking information for them). The Bounty Hunter's guild would work well for that. So yes, that would put us at a solid 4 I think, if she's his mentor with the guild, but she's only just been assigned to be his mentor at game start.
When I find out you were the guard, I'm going to rip your b#%~'s off and shove them up your A#%~, and then reach down your throat and yank them up and out!
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Don't mind Lilly, she's a bit of a potty mouth.
Kids these days...*smh*...
languages- I chose elven, draconic, gnomish, and Varisian... so if Vera goes her expected route we'll have a fair bit of overlap...
relationships: anyone who's bought alchemical items could well be a client of mine
- Vera: we could know each other some from 'talking shop' if you buy reagents at my store? I also have a questionable past so, depending where you learned your skills, we could know each other from 'the old days'? I'm also open to taking sketchy commissions, so if we're reasonably familiar with each other I could even have made your poison?
- Amelia: I agree there's not much overlap in our backgrounds... my shop does sell items of interest/use to bounty hunters (like tanglefoot bags), so we could have a passing familiarity if you want to have bought supplies there.
- Gar: I agree, you may have heard of me but probably no real relationship.
- Mama Frill: I sneak around town sometimes... my knowledge [local] is high enough that I've probably heard the rumors about you, and if you want to have talked before or even worked together in some way just let me know.
We need to talk about spells.
Amelia has limited spell knowledge, and can only cast the ones she knows. Both of our other casters (both divine) can switch their spells out. Therefore, I think we need to discuss spell selection in general. I had gone with this...
Spells per day :
1st : 4+1
2nd : 2+1
Table: Spiritualist Spells Known
Level Spells Known
0th Stabilize, Detect Magic, Guidance, Mage Hand, Detect psychic significance, Telekinetic Projectile
1st Remove Fear, Shield, Mage Armor, Cause Fear
2nd Invisability, Resist Energy, Lesser Restoration
Primarily because I wasn't sure what other people would have access to. Unless I'm the only one with access to Lesser Restoration and Resist Energy, I might need to switch those out. Shield & Mage Armor I'm going to want for Lilly.
If I switch those out, any spells I should pick up instead that would be useful? Right now I have no touch spells (which loses one of my major class abilities). I could pick up a second level touch spell...
Don't mind Lilly, she's a bit of a potty mouth.
Just checking... before we truly meet Lily that she's not Mrs Doyle proportions of potty mouth!!! Seriously though, I'm definitely down with the idea of her raging about the inequity of it all... I just want to check that a) we're staying in Paizo guidelines and b) it doesn't all go a bit front and centre IYKWIM...
Also, , I anticipate starting this adventure in earnest on Wednesday so you've got tomorrow to do last minute 'fettling' and finish any discussions on how / if you know each other... It all seems to be coming along well - and ultimately, it may be better to have a good range of some folks knowing each other... and some quite unaware of each other previously (it may give a little bit of room to manoeuvre for fun RP)... note that you certainly don't need to all be in the same place when the adventure starts, I'll use some GM toolkit 101 draw it all together.
Can folks make sure key information (AC, Save, Initiative, Perception... anything else you want) is in their character header so it's easier for me to run combats... you know, just in case anything bad happens!!!
Also Elliomander, your combat stats aren't in your profile at all!!!... can you please sort out before we start, thanking you kindly sir...
About spells: Inquisitor, like spiritualist, is actually a spontaneous casting class. I'm on the same spell progression as Amelia. For second-levels spells, I currently have CMW, detect thoughts (read minds), and focused scrutiny (gain +10 on diplo/intimidate/sense motive+ against a target). I'd be willing to drop one of those for lesser restoration, which can be pretty darn important, but I'd appreciate feedback from GM/others as to which I should swap out.
Also, knowledges. I think between Vera and Amelia we're pretty well covered. I might actually drop my points in K(religion) and throw them into something like climb/swim since Gar is not really a bookworm.
Amelia, I think it makes sense the two of us would have met a time or two, since we have basically been running the same circles. Mama probably thinks she has you fooled into thinking she's a gnome, though, as she thinks her disguises are a bit better than they actually are.
And Gar, that's sort of what I was thinking about there being some rumors about the 'dreadrat,' type of thing, and that's a much better term than I was able to come up with. She'd quite like to be sort of infamous.
Re spells, I also have Lesser Restoration memorized. I doubt we need three castings in a day, so probably one of us should change that up. Amelia, if you want to grab that touch spell, and drop Lesser Restoration, I think that would be fine.
Combat stats added. I need to make a GM post in another game and then I'll get my banner set up.
Don't mind Lilly, she's a bit of a potty mouth.Just checking... before we truly meet Lily that she's not Mrs Doyle proportions of potty mouth!!! Seriously though, I'm definitely down with the idea of her raging about the inequity of it all... I just want to check that a) we're staying in Paizo guidelines and b) it doesn't all go a bit front and centre IYKWIM...
Actually, I'm being extremely faithful to the morons that wrote me at Paizo, jerkwad...
HatredFew things draw a spirit toward the Negative Material Plane like the emotion of hatred. Phantoms with this focus often are blinded by—and blind others with—this powerful emotion. These phantoms are frequently darker and more foreboding than all but those phantoms with the fear emotional focus. Many of them manifest as dark and dreadful knights, their armor bristling with spikes and their hands seeming to grasp barbed and terrible weapons. Other times they appear as tall, gaunt figures staring down arrogantly at those who approach.
sometimes poetic. Their auras are pulsating and pitch black, and thrum violently when these horrible phantoms attack.
Hey, I'm not a potty mouth, I'm just written that way by the developers... take it up with those j$#@#*s.
I think I'll drop lesser restoration and pick up Touch of Idiocy, dropping mental stats 1d6 seems very useful.
EDIT : Stat Block added to the profile.
Amelia's HP went up by 5. Since she's going to be melee'ing, I put her five favored classes into HP (had left them unallocated until I knew what we had in the party).
About spells: Inquisitor, like spiritualist, is actually a spontaneous casting class. I'm on the same spell progression as Amelia. For second-levels spells, I currently have CMW, detect thoughts (read minds), and focused scrutiny (gain +10 on diplo/intimidate/sense motive+ against a target). I'd be willing to drop one of those for lesser restoration, which can be pretty darn important, but I'd appreciate feedback from GM/others as to which I should swap out.
In terms of this adventure, there is a goodly amount of investigation and diplomacy... so you might want to keep hold of some spells that are going to aid you with that...
Actually, I'm being extremely faithful to the morons that wrote me at Paizo, jerkwad...
Fair enough, it still needs to be sensibly RP'd though!!!
Just a note that I will be traveling and in court for most of the next two days, so I won't be checking in that often. I'm still here and reading though! Schedule should get back to normal on Thursday. .
Just to note, Lilly's a phantom of hate. She's not nice, she's not sweet, her entire being is consumed with hatred at all times. She's at best, controlled by Amelia. Her and polite don't get along. That's kind of what it means to be a spirit of pure hatred. If anyone has an issue with her being a hateful spiteful thing, let me know now.
It seems as if the GM might have an issue with that, if so, let me know now, I can alter my concept or let someone else play. But to me, I can't play a spirit of pure hatred as anything resembling nice and polite.
...no issues, I think it is - for me at least - being aware of the risk that Lily, who is clearly a strong character, doesn't end up dominating everything... I imagine that, in combat when she is in full flow, the hatred will come flooding out... and I'm okay with that (for exactly the reasons you've stated) - I think all I am asking is that, out of combat / stressful situations, Amelia does maintain that control...
Lilly is normally inside Amelia's head, unless there's a reason for her to be out.
GM, looks like I'll stick with my current spells, then. I'm still playing around with skills and favored class bonus but will finish all that and confirm tonight.
Regarding Lilly:. I love a rich, meaningful roleplay that brings enjoyment to everyone at the table! And I love a dark tale even more! We are, as always, bound by the constraints of good etiquette and maturity. I'm sure mdt will be able to achieve their goal without burdening the table with gratuitous malice.
Still, it's unreasonable to ask that we "let you know now" if we have a problem with the content since we honestly have no idea what you plan on bringing into the game. Issues should be dealt with if/when they arise, rather than gaining carte blanche at the beginning because 'no one objected." But as I said, I'm sure you're a reasonable player who knows what they're doing :).
Wasn't trying to be unreasonable, was putting it out that if you thought you'd have a problem based on her posts already, let me know. IE: I'd rather err on the side of caution. My plan currently is for Lilly to be a foul mouthed, angry little ghost who is politically incorrect, says whatever she thinks of, and generally can't be let out in polite company...
GM, looks like I'll stick with my current spells, then. I'm still playing around with skills and favored class bonus but will finish all that and confirm tonight.
Regarding Lilly:. I love a rich, meaningful roleplay that brings enjoyment to everyone at the table! And I love a dark tale even more! We are, as always, bound by the constraints of good etiquette and maturity. I'm sure mdt will be able to achieve their goal without burdening the table with gratuitous malice.
Still, it's unreasonable to ask that we "let you know now" if we have a problem with the content since we honestly have no idea what you plan on bringing into the game. Issues should be dealt with if/when they arise, rather than gaining carte blanche at the beginning because 'no one objected." But as I said, I'm sure you're a reasonable player who knows what they're doing :).
In my experience, and mdt and I have Wardens of the Reborn Forge (a somewhat forthright unicorn riding tengu monk), Godsmouth Heresy (a small construct communicating in ticks and clicks) and the opening chapters of Legendary Planet (the smartest goblin in the room) to show for it, mdt is certainly going to bring the rich, meaningful RP... like he says though, if anyone does have an issue with the likely outbursts from Lily, now is the time to flag the issue. Otherwise, I trust mdt to abide by Paizo guidelines and to play Lily in a mature and reasonable (even if that does involve vitriol, rage and potty-mouthedness) way...
...this certainly is shaping up to be one hell of an interesting group!!!
A woman - who appears no more than teenage in years - tethered to a rage-filled spirit,
A priest with a hidden past that,
An alchymist who, through his trade, deals with nobility yet has to hide his infernal bloodline,
A ratfolk living at the very fringes of society and
A private detective with a murky past - and possibly a less than ideal relationship with the office of the watch.
...As mentioned previously, I'll kick proceedings off tomorrow... unless I get a chance tonight in which case, maybe I'll have Gameplay up this evening.
Rav's actually not all that smart. He's just got more wisdom than most, and he stops and actually uses what brains he has before leaping in. Makes him look really smart. :)
Rav's actually not all that smart. He's just got more wisdom than most, and he stops and actually uses what brains he has before leaping in. Makes him look really smart. :)
...yeah but he's definitely the smartest goblin in the room!!!
No objections here to Lilly being played as a hateful spirit. As long as we don't violate Paizo's community standards, I'm fine with it.
All her cursing will be @*(#@&^'d out, so that shouldn't be an issue.
Ok muckheads,
I fixed my stat blocks, so stop complaining about them not being there. I also rearranged my skill points because they're my @#$$#*#$&ing skill points, so back off! Oh, and the muckhead who built me forgot I get my HD as a bonus to my Acrobatics and Perception (because he's a moron). I made him fix that too.
So... I just realized that I didn't buy any kind of alchemists lab/kit... that doesn't seem right. I'm gonna tweak my equipment a bit more to fix that- it might change my combat stats slightly (since I'll probably have to drop the bonus on my shield), and I might end up grabbing a couple potions if I have extra gold, but otherwise I'm looking forward to gameplay.
Amelia has some languages to pick as well. I was thinking Celestial, Aklo, Infernal, and Draconic maybe? Seems like a nice swath of occult.
Okay I think I'm all set! Let's get this party started!
I'm fine with a mouthy angry spirit in our midst! Lilly sounds like great fun to me!
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The curtain lifts, accompanied by the screech of un-greased wheels, to reveal a ruined stage strewn with driftwood, bone and rusted metal... here, at the end of all things, let us tell tales of the Blight.
I finished finalizing my gear finally. My AC dropped a little more than I'd hoped but I picked up two potions of shield for if/when I'm getting attacked.
Busy day for me--likely won't be able to post until the evening. Cool intro!