Children of Wrath [RotRL]

Game Master nate lange

Welcome!

Please take a moment to introduce yourself and offer whatever brief insights you'd like about your characters.

I'm Nate. I've been gaming for about 25 years now (which makes me feel old to say). I've been playing PbPs for a little over two years now and enjoying that quite a bit, especially because I moved a few months before I started and rarely get to sit down for TT games anymore.

I don't have a character (obviously), but I do have a few thoughts on potential relationships between your characters and with some of the folks around Sandpoint that I may sure as we prepare.

Also, I opened the gameplay tab... feel free to dot it and then delete your post so that it shows up in your campaign tabs, if you'd like. Please don't make any actual posts there yet.

Arachnofiend/Ellen Turan reporting in. My name is Shelly, and Nate has been gaming longer than I've been alive (though not by TOO much). I've been playing Pathfinder for a couple years now at the encouragement of some of my friends and quickly got hooked. I'm the type to enjoy the role-playing and the game portions of an RPG about equally so with a fun build and interesting character I'm excited for this one.

If Nate doesn't mind, I've reworked my build a bit to include the Dual-Cursed archetype; I had somehow completely forgotten how excellent it is for a full caster oracle, plus it serves the fluff purpose of giving me the very suitable Possessed curse and halting the progression of Tongues before Ellen learns anything other than Aklo.

Speaking of which, I notice that (unsurprisingly) no one in the party already speaks Aklo. The denizen of the Dark Beyond that resides within Ellen's mind has a tendency to take over her speech when she's feeling distressed, so I intend on posting spoilered translations with each post; you're free to not look at them if you're the type to have difficulty separating player knowledge from character knowledge but I personally have a deep fondness for dramatic irony.

As for potential relationships, I notice that Josie and Ellen's histories mostly align with one another's; it'd be possible for us to be longtime friends, pushed together by the circumstances of being the oft-picked on weirdos. I'm also glad to see we have someone who specifically honors Desna in the party in Axel, I suspect there could be some interesting conflicts there.

Hi there, Axel/Fangdragon here. I'm an oldschool gamer, started back with 2nd Edition D&D. These days I've got two young kids and a long commute to work. PbP is the chance I get to do any gaming these days, no time for MMOs anymore! I'm mostly a player but I am GMing a Strange Aeons game on these boards.

Re Dark Tapestry stuff, yeah Desna is not keen on those pesky elder and outer gods! (Some folks think she's playing a really long con btw) Will have to see where that goes.

So I wonder how Inspired Rage is going to interact with this party. Ellen has Mad Magic but I suspect by RAW that doesn't actually work with Inspired Rage. Kejak is an archer so not super useful there although it'll be handy if he needs to melee or if he later can afford an adaptive enchantment. Josie's summons should get full benefit, assuming they can understand Axel.

As I mentioned in the recruitment thread, I was thinking of playing Axel a bit like a reach cleric. Where he'll use standard actions for buffs/debuffs and hope to get AOOs for damage. That does need a bit of help to pull off, need to get monsters to move about. If it doesn't pan out, its no big deal, can just have him stick to a two hand weapon.

Re potential relationships, Axel having lost his parents to bandits would likely feel an affinity for Kejak who had a similarly traumatic experience.

Hello, this is Josie/Lady Ladile checking in! I'm Kristin and I've been gaming in general for 18 years and doing PbP for nearly 3 now; PbP has rapidly become my favorite way to play systems like Pathfinder since it allows people to really get into the RP aspect of a game.

As I mentioned in the recruitment thread my general idea for Josie is mounted combat shenanigans, including a dip into the Dragoon fighter archetype when the party reaches 2nd level. But don't worry, she'll also be picking up some buffing and utility spells so she'll have things to do in combat when charging isn't possible! Unlike the other summoner I play on the forums, I don't really plan on having Inc (her eidolon) be much of a combat monster in his own right unless that's something the party decides it needs on down the line. He'll largely be her mount/bodyguard and maybe some help with certain skills.

For potential relationships I'll need to reread everyone's background again but I do like the idea of Ellen and Josie being friends in weirdness, hehe. (And on that note although my general character concept for Josie is meant to be kinda ridiculous, she'll have her dramatic moments in addition to her humorous ones.)

Hi, I'm Jer and I'm from Spain. I've been doing this roleplay thing since I was 14, and started PbPing about a year and a half ago.

I try to improve my English as much as I can, and playing here has done a lot towards it. I want to apologise in advance in case any misunderstanding occurs, though I really hope it doesn't.

Gamewise, I like to blend roleplaying and mechanics (I love to build, though dice without fluff are just empty plastic).

Kejak's background is an idea I had for my first RotR character, and I have tried to use it once and again. Sadly, this AP seems to be cursed for me, since I've never finished book 1. In the original, RL game Kejak was older when he fled his clan, carried the tribe's sacred bow (through a trait) and was a Zen Archer. Since I'm playing a Zen Archer already in another Ap and there was this Wrath Taint thing, I made some changes. He's going to take feats and options related to archery, and hopefully an adaptive longbow to profit from the bloodrage.

I'm really looking forward to this, I've played a bit with Nate in the past and enjoyed a lot.

As for relatiosn between PCs, well, we're all attending the Academy, so we can work a lot of things out.

I need to leave now, will be adding any ideas later today.

Well, that didn't take long :)

I also saw Josie/Ellen and Axel/Kejak as natural friendships. I even thought that Josie (as surprisingly strong as she is) may have been something of a protector for Ellen. The orphanage is not huge (maybe 20-30 orphans, plus the kids who just come during the days for schooling), so you definitely all know each other pretty well... as you read through each other's backgrounds you'll have to decide how you related to each other in the past and how things have grown/changed: Did Axel and/or Kejak tease/bully either of the girls? have you apologized? Did any of you have crushes on anyone in the party? Do you still?

Obviously you all shared the experience of 'the incident' which should have formed a bit of a bond between you... feel free to work with each other to come up with one or two other things that some or all did together.

Mechanically, feel free to look over each other's builds and talk about any gaps you'd like to fill... we don't have any trapfinding but I don't think that'll be too detrimental... we have a couple people with some face skills, plenty of scouting skills, a skald for knowledges... one thing you might want to address is that you currently have no healing. Getting the inflict spells free is part of Ellen's concept and I don't want to change that but it might be wise for Axel and/or her to trade out a spell known for cure light wounds.

edit: no objections to dual cursed, Ellen.

Yeah I think Axel can pick up Cure Light Wounds. Skalds get scribe scroll which I definitely think will see some use here. Down the line I'm thinking of getting lesser celestial totem for use with inspired rage. That plus path of glory should help with the sustain. Spell Kenning can help with status cures to some extent too.

He may have had a crush on Ellen but after the incident he was scared by what happened to the other fella and backed way off. Of course this is years later now, and maybe he hasn't spoken to her or Josie since leaving the orphanage. It'll make for an interesting reunion. Or maybe I'm getting ahead of things here, not quite sure how Nate wants this one to start :)

Hey Nate, do you mind me doing a last minute shopping? I think it would be wise to have a nice melee weapon, just in case (apart from the gauntlet).

Likewise I should probably get a ranged option for Axel.

Although summoners don't get healing spells naturally I can have Josie invest ranks into UMD so she can help out with wands and such too!

Changing purchases is fine. Josie, you can move skill ranks too (but there's already a couple people with UMD, iirc).

Axel, you weren't getting ahead of anything- that's exactly the kind of relationship discussion I'm looking for.

Once we can keep a fund of healing wands and scrolls Ellen will be able to carry around and use those no problem, so CLW is only really gonna be an issue at first level (though having someone else who can cast the spell in the party if she happens to drop is certainly helpful).

For relationships, I should note that I and all of the characters I play are gay; Alex could certainly have developed a crush on Ellen but he can expect any proposals to be rebuffed (though probably not in a language he understands). I doubt that Ellen is one to think of romance all that often, but she may have a faint hint of a hero-crush on Josie.

Re skills, I noticed we're doubling up on Kn: History should one of us get pick up Planes/ Religion / Dungeoneering instead?

I took it on Axel because I imagine Skalds retelling the Sagas, but could easily switch. I was planning on putting at least 1 point in every knowledge skill eventually.

Oh I dropped charm person for cure light wounds. Can always pick it back up later.

Josie can swap out History for Dungeoneering; as a skald it would make a little more sense for Axel anyway :)

Re: Ellen - That's funny you mention the potential for a small hero-crush on Josie, because I was actually thinking that Josie may or may not have a little bit of a crush on Axel! Or at the very least, have much appreciation for his inspiring words :)

I think Josie herself would probably see Ellen as a friend/'little' sister of sorts, though her view might certainly change with time...

(As far as orientation goes, I'm pretty sure she likes guys but the jury is still out on girls. I suppose we'll see how things unfold!)

Barring any teasing or the like, she'd probably think that Kejak is a nice guy if a little too quiet at times.

*edit* Whoops, forgot that History is a Background skill whereas Dungeoneering is an Adventuring skill. I could swap out History for Geography.

Hmmm human-halfling I'm not sure Axel would go through with that (quite a height difference) although he'd be flattered I'm sure.

Mind you it could be interesting for RP, people often desire what they can't have.

Yep! And it could just as easily be something she largely keeps to herself, or tries to. After all, there's not much time for love when you've got knightly duties to attend to! :3

Ok, exchanged a greatsword for my potion. If we find something really tough or immune to piercing, 2d6+6 of slashing damage should do the trick (and if it doesn't, it's time to run).

I guess Kejak sees Axel as a friend with a parallel life, having lost their parents in a kind of similar way, etc. He might find Josie a powerful girl who walks everywhere she wants, with this 'errand knight' posse, and Ellen (who reminds me of River from Firefly save from the autistic part, of course, don't ask me why) as his younger sister, the one he protects but doesn't really need protection.

Starting to seem like we were already the little party of outcasts/weirdos even before the 'incident'...I like it :)

And it finally occurred to me last night that I've basically made Don Quixote except a bit less delusional. Unintentional, but amusing to me just the same.

Lol, I saw the don quixote connection right away.

I hope you've all at least skimmed each other's backgrounds, but to finalize current relations could you all please post: where you're currently staying; how long ago you left Turandarock's (if you have); and what you've done between then and now (did you leave Sandpoint? For where? For how long? Or, if you stayed in Sandpoint what have you been doing? With whom? Have you continued to socialize with your friends at the academy?)

Ellen's still at the Academy; she doesn't feel ready to leave, but will likely never feel ready to leave and she does have to leave within the next year or so.

Hmm...I think the big question is whether or not the good folks at the Cathedral would've been willing to let Josie come stay and do any work there (or even just work there) or not. If so, then that's what she's been doing. If not, she's probably been renting a room somewhere in Sandpoint and doing whatever odd jobs people decide to pity/humor her with...lost cats, lost items, delivering messages, etc. When push comes to shove, I see her as being quite persistent when given a task.

As far as how long ago Josie would've left Turandarock...probably not long, maybe 6 months to a year ago at the most. And of course she still goes to see Ellen every day (after having failed to convince her to come with when she herself left).

Kejak left Turandarok only recently and, during his last year there, he'd been acting as a senior student or tutor to other younger children. Now he's staying somewhere affordable for him, as he doesn't really have a lot of coin. Most probably, he pays for some lodging at The Rusty Dragon, reduced thanks to helping Ameiko with some menial tasks.

Kejak wants to dedicate his life to help the people of Sandpoint. He's good with the bow and a decent scout, and has even pressed Ilsoari to help him study the goblin's language. He most probably helps Sheriff Hemlock in his daily tasks, having an affinity for a fellow ex-Shoanti and finding this a good way to return the favour to the town. Who knows, he might even be the Sheriff himself in the future...

@Josie- The temple will let you live there if you take orders (not in the generic sense of obeying, but in the technical sense of joining a religious order). Becoming a novice (or Initiate) is fairly simple (you just vow to submit to church leadership) but is also a temporary order while you decide which (if any) full-time order to join. That may be the best place for you to start?

Okay, sounds like a plan to me! :)

@Kejak- the sheriff has been a little apprehensive about letting you join the watch... he won't come out and say it but you're pretty sure it has to do with the incident (he was one of the watchman on the scene when that happened). He has, however, appointed you to the City Watch Auxiliary and two or three times a week you get to fill in for people or supplement patrols on busy nights. You don't have the authority of a real watchman but it's been enough to pay your room and board and, hopefully, will be enough to show the sheriff you deserve a chance at the real thing. Also, have you been keeping in contact with anyone at the orphanage?

^ On that note, it just occurred to me that Josie becoming an initiate also gives the good folks at the cathedral a legitimate means of keeping an eye on her now that Ilsoari is no longer responsible for her - especially considering the incident.

Being an Auxiliary is ok for now - after all, I am just beginning.

I keep seeing Axel, probably for a drink at the taverns (who's better than him for a good party?) with some others. Anyone that frequents The Rusty Dragon can probably find me. Josie... I probably see her around town doing things (that's what she does, she goes around places and does things, right?) xD

I still go to the Academy regularly. After all, I grew fond of Ilsoari, and he might need something, who knows (herbs? news from town?). It is also a good opportunity to talk to Ellen and ask how's it going (and if there's someone molesting her). And of course, there's that girl, Keeanna, the one with the beautiful long lashes... but that's another story, isn't it? ;)

Yes, Josie does all the things for great justice! Just as any proud knight would ;)

*double-checks to make sure she dumped Wisdom*

Yes, yes I did :3

Axel will have left the Academe several years ago and has been struggling to make ends meet ever since. He's a strong lad so he'll have tried various jobs involving manual labor. Maybe he was even good at some, but his head was too full of dreams to stick to anything for long.

On a good day, he'll have coin for a hot meal at one of the Inns and will be the life and soul of the party. Other days he'll be busking, and when times are bad he'll hike a ways out of town and camp under the stars. He'll know Kejak from the Academy of course although these days he mostly thinks of him as part of the The Rusty Dragon crowd.

Alright... we're getting close now!

Gameplay will open the morning of the Swallowtail Festival (an annual Desnan celebration of the Autumnal Equinox), but this year is extra special because after 5 years of work the new Cathedral (built to replace the wooden church that burned down during the 'Late Unpleasantness') is being dedicated. There's going to be a ton of people- celebrating, selling, busking...

All of you (along with just about everyone else in the swollen town) will be there for the dedication, does anyone want to have plans for the day? Have you made plans to meet up with each other? Or do you plan to busk (Axel) or pick up watch work (Kejak)? Are you going to be looking for anyone else in particular?

@Josie- do you typically have your eidolon 'out' all the time? Will she be out with you walking through the crowded streets tomorrow?

Sounds like the social event of the year. Axel wouldn't miss it for anything. He'll definitely be busking to begin with but he will probably seek out his friends after a few hours.

I have asked Ameiko to give me the day free, so I can enjoy the festival and probably go party with Axel. Also a good chance to see Ellen and others. Now is up to Ameiko if she gives it or not - I know there'll be a lot of work to do today.

If I get to work, I'll use my lunch time break to go and see the new Cathedral and have a glass of wine.

Ellen would likely get dragged along to the Festival by Josie, her player willing. It's not that she doesn't WANT to go, only that she is very anxious about doing so.

@Kejak- you're getting enough paid work from the watch that you aren't actually employed at the Rusty Dragon. It's not a comfortable living right now but it is (barely) paying your bills. You may help out some at the Rusty Dragon as a volunteer, if you wish, and Ameiko may occasionally pay you for odd jobs that she needs done (or if you run up a bar tab you need to work off), but you don't need to ask her for the day off.

Hmmm...Josie would probably have Inc out; I'd imagine she probably does most of the time excepting occasional moments of 'Hey we know he/she is okay but strangers don't so please don't surprise/scare them with your firecat' from people...

...but she might be convinced to let Inc hang out out of sight somewhere nearby, since there'll be lots of strangers at the festival :)

you don't need to ask her for the day off.

Then let's go partyyyyyyyy!!!!

Seems like we're mostly set?

Yup. Wednesdays are busy for me but I'm going to try to get the first (real) gameplay post up tonight or tomorrow morning. So, if there's anything you want to sort out or set up before we start say so soon!

Oh, yes.

In the RotR PG, there's a map of Sandpoint. Where in there would be the Academy situated?

This question just made me realize that I got so busy at work that I never finished the document about Sandpoint that I started... sorry about that (I'll get back to work on that).

Turandarok Academy is the large stone structure at the south end of Main Street (on the East side of the street).

I unexpectedly have to take my car to the mechanic this morning, which is going to delay our initial gameplay post. Sorry for that too- I'll get it up as soon as I can.

I'm terribly sorry but my wife's grandfather just passed away and my ability to post is going to be severely limited for the next few days. It may be as late as Tuesday or Wednesday of next week before I'm able to get things going. Thank you for your patience.

Sorry to hear that and no worries, we'll be here once you're ready.

I'm sorry for your loss and no worries, we'll be here when you're ready and able to start. I'll keep your family in my prayers.

Deeply sorry for your loss; take whatever time you need, we'll still be here when you're ready.

Hey everyone,
Thanks for your patience and understanding (and for your thoughts and prayers). My schedule will be part way back to normal this week and I plan to get the game moving. I was hoping to do it tonight but I'm just too burnt out... expect the opening post to come tomorrow morning. I might not be able to post at all on Thursday but hopefully we can get some momentum going before then!

Don't worry, Nate, take your time.

On the positive side (just to cheer spirits up a bit), I got a new laptop which I can carry to work (means I'll be able to check and post from there, weeee) :)

Ok, sorry that took so long (it ended up being longer than I anticipated, and it was tough to make/find enough time). Hopefully we can get going now though. The games (if anyone wants to play them) will be either be opposed checks (for the friendly competitions), or checks vs a DC (for the games with prizes). The checks will either be ability checks, skill checks, or attack rolls. If you want to look for a game that relies on a specific stat/skill/attack let me know and I'll tell you what you find...

Just checking in; work's been a booger the past day or two and I'm pulling some OT tomorrow so I'll try to jump into Gameplay and catch up when I get home in the afternoon. For now, I need to get some sleep!

Dang- that farmer rolled a natural 20 in every single round! Sorry, Kejak, you made a valiant effort.