The year is 4700. The village of Biston has suffered much in the past, and survived, but now there are many powerful forces coming down on this place, and somebody needs to rise against them.
Our adventure begins in the Stomping Squat’s afternoon crowd -- the townsfolk are celebrating the first day of the new year, the turning of the century, and another year of opportunity for the growing town. The sun is hovering just barely over the treeline, but Danny has been giving discounts on drinks all day. Sounds of cheering and merriment can be heard at the Stomping Squat from across town.
You have only just arrived and the scene is a drunken spectacle. Selyna Duntherhall, the town’s youngest and most respected blacksmith, has been arm wrestling some of the fishermen in one corner of the room for some time, as evident by the heap of empty glasses forming a makeshift arena. Even a group of elder Farristil widows, who rarely get seen smiling since the rebellion, are loudly chatting and laughing about the good old days, while one of the few Farristil men left, Syran, is ordering another round for the family.
You can decide if you've come alone, in pairs, or even as a group if you'd like. Instead of forcing this, I'm hoping it will just come naturally as we begin :). Welcome to the game thread, by the way!
HP 13 | AC 13 | T 11 | FF 12 | CMD 14 | F +5 | R +1 | W +1 | Init +1 | Per +7
What time of day is it?
If it is morning, anyone who has been in town already will know that Rouqas has been here for a couple hours. If it is evening he will have been in and out of town randomly throughout the day.
Rouqas can be found in the squatting stomp having an ale and cheering on Selyna on as she arm wrestles the fishermen.
Jannet has just arrived after making her way in from her hut in the fields. Despite the festive occasion, she is wearing rather somber gray, as she has for the few months since old Marisol died. She makes her way to the bar for some ale, and greets Danny as she does so.
"A happy new year to you! Good to see everyone in such a merry mood." She smiles shyly at the older man, and offers him a bundle of dried herbs. "Thought maybe you could use some new supplies for the brewing."
Garris had arrived back in Biston early that morning. While heading back to his home with tow wolf carcasses, and three hares, he heard the news of the discounted drinks that would served at the Stomping Squat. As soon as he got home, he cleaned himself up and went to sleep, asking his mother to wake him for lunch.
After lunch, he assisted her with cleaning of the hares. His father was already out selling the wolf pelts. Shortly before sunset, he heads to the Stomping Squat. He sees the arm wrestling in the corner, and smiles at the celebration. He sees Jannet at the bar ordering a drink. Looks like she just arrived as well.
He approaches the bar. "Good evening Jannet. Happy new year. Danny, I'll have me one of the ales as well. By the way, I caught some hare last night. It was just prepped, so if you want to pick it up in the morning, feel free."
"As expected for the time of year. I've been getting a lot of grief lately for being out too long, but I'd rather not make the trek back into town if I have no kills. Seen any omens or signs lately as to how the crops might be turn out this year?"
Selyna has been winning some and losing some, but often staying on the table on account of "being the lady." She grimaces as she braces herself against the force of her new opponent, "Always have, Rouqas my boy, always will!"
@Jannet
"Happy new year, miss. Yep, the party's gotten started alright," he says, laughing. "Thanks so much, you know I trust your judgment on these things," he adds, stuffing the herbs into a pouch hanging at his side. "Here, I've got plenty enough of this to go around," he says, winking, as he passes you a tall mug of ale.
@Garris
Danny whips out another glass and fills it under the counter. "Nothing beats some fresh game on the New Year, thanks Garris. This one's on the house."
Calon gracefully enters the Squat and stops near the door, scanning the crowd. His huge sky-blue eyes fix on Jannet across the room at the bar. As he moves towards her, he seems to flow through the groups of drinking humans, never touching any of them. She easily picks him out as he approaches, his skinny frame towering over almost everyone else.
He smiles shyly as he comes to the bar, "Greetings and Happy New Century, Miss Jannet! I was hoping you might be of aid to me. I injured myself collecting a new specimen of Caenophidia Colubridae and I had to use the last of my healing. Could I possibly trade you a spell for some of your most effective balms?"
He gives a short nod to Garris, keeping the smile plastered on his face. It is rather obvious to everyone that he is a little uncomfortable in such a crowded place.
"Nothing that shows they'll be bad, that's for certain," Jannet says in answer to Garris's question. "And for that we can all be thankful!" She raises her glass of ale to both him and Danny before taking a sip.
As Calon comes over and asks for healing, Jannet grins, a bit impishly. "What, the great wizard can't tend to himself? Come now, let me take a look at what's ailing you. I'm sure we can find something that will set you right." She leans over to look at the injury. "Ah, that's nothing a bit of comfrey won't take care of." She rummages briefly in her bag. "Here. Add a bit of water to these and bind them over the wound with a bit of cloth and you'll be right as rain in no time." She hands Calon a small packet of dried leaves. "And I suspect Danny here could give you something that'll help you forget whatever pain it's causing you." She grins at Danny and Garris as she talks.
"Ah, thank you, I actually took some herbs to numb the pain a while ago. I'm sorry, I guess I really wasn't clear. I was hoping you might have one of your Magical brews you might want to trade? For the next time, of course, this would hardly be worth it, I really just hate to wait for the natural healing process to run its course, I guess I got a little spoiled, first with my mother (she was a Druid, you know) able to heal almost any injury, then at the academy they had a professional healer on staff to take care of any, uhm, 'accidents' any of the students might have..." Calon trails off as he finally runs out of breath.
Embarrassed, he turns to Danny, "I don't suppose you have gotten any Efflewermead in, have you? Oh, well, I guess I will have whatever mead you do have, then. Thank you."
As he turns and his eyes scan the room, he catches Rouqas' eye. At his nod, he replies in kind with a quick nervous smile.
Jannet quirks an eyebrow as Calon goes on about other healers. "I fear we've no academies here, so you may need to learn to bear it. I didn't bring anything with me this afternoon, but you're welcome to come by the hut and I can brew up something for you."
She gets the impish smile again. "But, if you really can't wait..." She reaches out and touches the wound lightly with her fingers, and the flesh begins to close.
Healing Hex: heal 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
She sits back down with her ale, smiling, perhaps looking just a little bit smug. "That better?"
"No, sir, no Effler' Mead in this joint, but I've got my homebrew, and it'll suffice I'm sure." Danny's eyes widen at Jannet's open display of magic across the the bar, and after giving Calon a mug of ale he hurries down the bar to tend to some waiting customers. "I bid yeh good evening. I'll be here if you need me, haha!" he says as he leaves.
Selyna, who has been fighting through a particularly difficult match, slams her opponent's hand down on the table triumphantly just as the merriment and discussion is suddenly pierced by an unearthly, desperate scream from the doorway.
As everyone turns to look, a woman stumbles through the doorway and collapses in a heap on the floor, sobbing fitfully. ”That’s the ol’ Bencey lady, Caroline Bencey,” somebody says, and people all around are straining their necks to get a better glimpse, while a few rush to her side.
Calon smiles his thanks to Jannet and takes off the bandage. He is just taking his first taste of the 'mead' when the woman stumbles in. Curious, he moves forward just behind the crowd gathered around her, his keen ears trying to pick out what she has to say over the noises of those asking questions of her.
Any trace of smugness disappears at Danny's reaction, and Jannet seems to deflate. I knew I shouldn't do that, not here where people are watching. Why did I let him bait me like that? She sighs, and turns to her drink, only to be distracted by Caroline Bencey's sudden entrance.
She joins those hurrying to the distraught woman's side. She puts her hand on Caroline's shoulder and gently tries to calm her enough that she can speak, brushing her hair back out of her face. "Someone bring a drink of water," she says, looking around for help.
Caroline continues to lie squirming on the floor as the crowd gathers around her. Danny rushes forward with a glass of water at Jannet's request, and everybody quiets down as Caroline begins to speak. ”Stanley... save the children, Stanley...” she mumbles, almost incoherently. Her head lolls back and she pants for breath -- you can tell that she’s surely been running as fast as possible for some time now, and she is acting very delirious.
Knowledge Local DC 10:
Stanley Bencey is her husband, they have two children: a son and a daughter. They live on a farmhouse about two miles outside of town, directly from the Stomping Squat.
I'm going to allow Knowledge (local) checks, unless otherwise stated, to be made untrained.
As soon as he hears her mention the name, Calon hurries off to see if there is anything he can do to help, knowing that there is little he could do for her that Jannet couldn't do much better.
He moves swiftly and surely, knowing the terrain well as the farm is only a short distance from where he is staying.
"Breathe, now. Drink some of this." Jannet holds the cup of water up to the panting woman's lips. "That's right. Nice slow breaths. Now can you tell us what happened?" She dips the edge of her sleeve in the water and gently wipes Caroline's forehead.
She looks up. "Someone had best go see to Stanley and the children out at their farm. She must have run all the way here from there. If anyone can ride there instead of going afoot, that might be wise."
HP 13 | AC 13 | T 11 | FF 12 | CMD 14 | F +5 | R +1 | W +1 | Init +1 | Per +7
As soon as Calon begins leaving Rouqas will follow him out.
"Calon. I will come with you since you know the way." he says as he comes up beside him.
Knowledge: Local:1d20 ⇒ 9
Just for everyone, you can make untrained knowledge checks. Just not for a DC higher than 10.
Core Rule Book, pg 100 wrote:
Untrained: You cannot make an untrained Knowledge check with a DC higher than 10. If you have access to an extensive library that covers a specific skill, this limit is removed. The time to make checks using a library, however, increases to 1d4 hours. Particularly complete libraries might even grant a bonus on Knowledge checks in the fields that they cover.
Caroline's terrified face turns up to look at you, Jannet, but your words seem lost on her. "Monsters... nightmares..." she shudders and moves away from the damp rag.
People standing around begin to get very uneasy, and frightened murmurs begin spreading through the small crowd. "This doesn't sound good... somebody needs to go out there and make sure the old man and his kids are safe," Danny says just as Calon and Rouqas make for the door.
Any other takers? ;)
Also, it'll take a serious Diplomacy check to get Caroline to disclose any more information, she's too worked up to even hold a conversation right now.
Garris had just taken his first sip of ale as Caroline had stumbled into the room. He gathered with the crowd as close as he could.
knowledge local1d20 ⇒ 9
He didn;t really know her all that well, and so had no clue what she was going on about, but as Jannet and the others ran out the door, he had a strong urge to follow.
Good thing I brought my sword and scythe with me. I probably shouldn't have left my bow at home.
Jannet frowns. "She's not making much sense. Here, someone get her to a comfortable chair, and make sure she keeps sipping on that water. If she starts to come round, have her sniff this lavender, it'll help calm her." She hands Danny a little packet of herbs. "I think I'd best go see what's wrong with Stanley and the children. Garris, I'll come with you -- I know where the farm is." Jannet helps whoever volunteers to get Caroline to a chair, then leaves with Garris.
The four of you meet up on the road to the Bencey farm as the sun is setting. Dusk sets in around you as you hustle down the road, and in your haste the journey passes quickly. The farmhouse is surrounded by its fields, which are dead, barren, and just starting to frost over in the winter climate.
As you separate from the main road you see several figures in the dusk’s fading light trudging around between the buildings. There are no visible lights coming from the house or its buildings.
Perception DC 15:
You can hear the frantic barks of a dog coming from the farmhouse property. It is high-pitched and sounds frightened.
Perception DC 20:
With a squint and some concentration, you focus carefully on one of the figures and notice that you can see at the barn and fields behind it -- right through it. The figures walking around must be skeletal in nature.
Perception (assuming her familiar is with her, which I would expect it to be; it rarely leaves her shoulder) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Jannet squints uselessly into the shadows, seeing nothing but the ill-defined shapes moving between the buildings. "Can any of you see anything?" she whispers to the others.
Calon gazes at the figures, the dim light as bright as day to him.
"The figures... skeletons, I think." He whispers. He cocks his head to one side, listening intently, "and a dog, frightened."
He draws his rapier, and with a flourish and a murmur "મેજિક આર્મર" a soft green glow flows from the weapon and surrounds him for a moment before fading into invisibility.
"I agree, there appear to be skeleton like figures at the farm. I will approach them as quietly as possible and see if I can take them by surprise. Anyone with me?"
The dark figures go out of sight as you enter a patch of trees that lines the final stretch of trail into the Bencey property. During the walk through the trees, everybody begins to hear the dog barking, which is still frantically yapping its head off somewhere on the farm's property.
When you emerge from the trees, one of the skeletal figures is finally fully revealed. One of them walks around the corner of the house and opens its mouth in a raspy, numbing cry. The skeleton’s bones begin to rattle as it takes steps toward you, a cruel-looking scimitar raised against you.
Initiative!
Also, since my internet access is wonky and whatnot, I haven't got any battle mats made up and most likely won't for a while -- if ever. I'll do my best to clarify everything and everyone's position through detailed description, and please ask me if you're confused.
The group is approaching the front of the farmhouse from the south. To the west, on the corner of the house, is 1 skeleton, it is 30 feet away in a straight diagonal line.
Garris, if you would like to roll stealth and approach from a different angle, you can do that since you mentioned possibly coming up quietly.
As soon as he sees the figure, Calon's free hand whips up in a throwing motion. While the others see nothing, a ball of invisible force streaks towards the skeletal figure...
And slams into the side of the house, causing a low thud.
Rolling initiative for Rouqas:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Initiative Order:
Calon 20
Skeletons 12
Garris 9
Rouqas 7
Jannet 2
Round 1 Skeletons
The skeleton in front moves towards the group, its bones rattling softly and the scimitar swinging in front of it. It brings it down in a brutal slash toward the frontliners (whom I presume to be Garris and Rouqas. As I get more used to this, I'll remember to ask you what your marching order/how the group is composed before we start combat :P)
Attack 1d20 ⇒ 1
...but the swing goes very wide, swishing through the air and missing its target completely and harmlessly.
Two more skeletons appear at the corner of the house, their rusty chain shirts clinking with each step.
Garris swings once at the skeleton but the blow glances off the undead's chain armor. The skeleton then slashes at Garris, but he ducks underneath the blade with ease and sweep's its bony legs out from underneath it. It collapses on the ground in front of the group in a heap of shaking bones.
Jannet appears to scream, but no sound comes out. At least none that any of the party can hear, but one of the remaining skeletons' bones start to vibrate.
Cast Ear Piercing Scream, DC 15. Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 and dazed for one round. Fort save negates the daze and halves damage.
Jannet's spell's power fizzles against the brainless, bodyless skeleton: its bones rattle a bit, but no damage appears to be done.
Round 2
Calon's attack this time strikes home, and a powerful telekinetic blast removes the top half of one of the skeletons by the corner of the house, sending the bones flying across the grass behind it. One destroyed, one prone, and one advancing...)
The skeleton standing next to the group stands up to continue its attack AOO for Garris and Rouqas.
If it survives, it takes another swing at Garris, the one who tripped him.
Attack 1d20 ⇒ 20
Critical Confirmation 1d20 ⇒ 7
Damage 1d6 ⇒ 5
The other skeleton advances and swings its scimitar viciously at Rouqas.
As the skeleton attempts to stand, Rouqas smites it back down with a powerful blow from his greatsword. It crumbles into a pile of inanimate bones at his feet.
Garris does not get hit, then. One skeleton remaining, and Jannet will have no problem moving behind Garris, but it is first Garris' and then Rouqas' turns.
@LostSoul: I don't see much of a difference between Gray Elves and normal Elves, tbh. Why not just be an Elf with pale skin and a haughty demeanor? :P
@Garris: Write up as much as you want!
@G.M.V.: Looks good to me, I like how it's tied in to the village much more solidly now.
@wolfman: Revisions are almost always a good idea, as you can tell. I like the backstory, but I still have to read up on the Nagaji race.
And in answer to tangmcgame's question, I am looking for 4-5 players from this thread. I also have a good friend who is also going to be playing with us, haven't heard from him what he's looking at playing, yet, but I have warned him of how many arcane casters we have.
Okay so how many people do you have now and how many are Arcane spell casters (I counted about 8 people and 4 arcane spell casters with 3 divine and 1 non spell caster(me) the 4 arcane Wizard, Witch, Summoner, Sorc. The 3 divine Cleric, Paladin, Ranger. The 1 non Samurai.)
With your good friend that makes 9 people and you have already told him about the staggering amount of Arcane we have.
Ciarn was born to a Vampire Clan. Her mother was human named Camella, father was a vampire by the name of Aufel. Mother fed Ciarn her own blood. Camella was killed in a raid by the Son's Of Iomedae, an order of Paladins. The Paladins took her in and taught her the ways of the Paladin. She seeks revenge on all vampire kind for what they did to her mother.
She is a Paladin of Iomedae and is a member of the Son's of Iomedae.
She is charismatic and wise and confident; she knows when to speak and when to listen.
She seeks revenge on her father for what he did to her mother. The Son's of Iomedae descended on the Clan and slew all the vampires they could find but her mother was killed by a vampire during the raid, and her father escaped.
Most of the Dhamphir were taken in by the Son's of Iomedae but a few were taken by the vampire lords that escaped, her younger half-brother, Iorstone escaped with her father.
She is willing to adventure if it could possibly lead to her father or her Iorstone, or if asked to by her temple.
Maybe she has come to Biston to search for her Iorstone and Aufel, after hearing a rumor of Vampires in Biston perhaps.
She is a tank, she wields a longsword in her right hand and a heavy shield in her left.
Her feat is Saving Shield,and her traits are Deft Dodger, and Divine Warrior.
Hey guys, just wanted to let garabbott and everyone else know that I'm withdrawing my app (Anton) for this game. It looks fun, but I think I've found one that fits me a bit better. Thanks and you guys have a blast!
In case it makes any difference in the final selection, I am going to make an alternate. He will be a barbarian or fighter. In the event of needing more martial I will have a backup ready to go.
yeah we are going top need more martial because at the moment we have 3 sorc, 1 wizard,1 witch, 1 ranger, 1 paladin, and 1 samurai and a random... if you go barbarian then we have 2 sorc, 1 wizard, 1 witch, 1 ranger, 1 paladin, 1 samurai, 1 barbarian/fighter and a random we have no idea who he will play.
5 full casters(4 if Grand Moff Tarkin errrrr Vixen goes Fighter/Barbarian)
2 tanks (3 if Grand Moff Vixen goes Fighter/Barbarian and that is circumstantial it is all up to her)
1 glass cannon in the melee combat I'm guessing that he is doing trentmonks' switch hitter ranger. Pretty much range until melee combat ensues then get into the fray with a heavy weapon mainly a 2h sword)
and a random PC we know nothing about.
If we're losing the alchemist, I'd consider swapping one of my Hexes for the Cauldron hex and picking up potion brewing, if that ends up making sense (it would certainly make sense for the character, would have to see if it makes sense for the game).
I understand that Summoners aren't full casters but they can't get into melee combat without their edilon with them/on them (there is a archetype for the Summoner that allows you to use the Edilons physical stats and you use your mental ones). What I'm trying to get at is that you will not be in the fray you will be a little bit out of it summoning creatures to fight for you...
Sorry I forgot about you in my calculations. But we are still missing a healer in the group (unless the witch wants to) and we don't have enough melee people to protect you guys in the back...
Just look at our team comp.
5 full casters with one semi caster that can't do much in melee combat
2 tanks
1 glass cannon
That is 3 melee, and 6 in the back casting... I think that it is a little unbalanced there and we still don't know about the GM's friend what class he is going to be... I hope that is it something that can fight in melee combat without getting killed semi-easy something like a monk/caviler.
After much deliberation I have decided to make a couple changes to Narcelia and my concept barbarian.
Because we have no healing I am going to rework Narcelia into an oracle. It would even still stay within my vision of what I want her to be and give us some needed healing.
I am still in the process of making a barbarian so that will still be completed by sometime tomorrow.
We have a possible healer in the Witch... I would go with the Barbarian just so that we have 4 guys in melee and 5 in the back casting... it would make it a little bit more balanced that way because like I said before 3 melee wont be able to protect the casters in the back all that efficiently. At least a 4/5 split is a little more balanced...
Scimitar swashbuckling spellcasting healer bard Thordan Silentail the Neverfail!!
Long live all furry creatures!! Well....except for those that eat my friends up...
I will tweat the character again but see if a bard fits in. Focus on melee and healing support magic for the group.
Personality and appearance:
--------------------
Character Portrait
--------------------
Character Portrait of Thordan Silentail
--------------------
Appearance
--------------------
He has inquisitive dark eyes that are like two pebbles on the snowing plain. He is small and has an athletic build. His fur is pure white. He has small quick hands and a long white furry tail. He has well groomed whiskers. He wears a tight fitted leather armor with a flowing purple cloak. he carries a ornamented scimitar.
--------------------
Personality
--------------------
Thordan like all ratfolks love shiny objects. He loves gold silver and anything that reflect lights. He polished his scimitar every day so that it catches the sunlight with his every stroke. Thordan has a very outgoing personality and loves to meet new people. Usually he goes into a complete chitter chatter frenzy and starts telling complete strangers his dreams and where he came from. When he is excited he twitches his whiskers and his tail moves around. He always love a good adventure and cannot help but literally poke his nose into matters that intrigue him, like why is the baker missing 2 loaves of bread 2 nights ago or why is there strange noises coming from the sewers at night? More than all these, Thordan loves to sing though to the untrained ear it may just sound like 2 rats squeaking in harmony at certain high notes of the song. His favorite phase? I will Never Fail!.
Background:
In the beginning...there was MICE!!
Somewhere far far away in the Verduran Forest lies a warren of ratfolks living together harmoniously. The nearest human settlement was the sleepy town of Falcon Hollow which lumberjacks mostly lived in. It is in one of the many barrows in the warren, Thordan Silentail was born. He was born as a stillborn in a litter of 5 rats. His mother Mrs Silentail was sad that one of them is a stillborn
Well at least i have 4 of them... she thought.
Just when Mrs Silentil was about to ask the nursing mother to dispose of him, Thordan Silentail started wailing..thus the runt of the of household Silentail was born.
Growing up, Thordan accompanys his father Mr Silentail in tending their carrot fields while his older brothers and sisters learnt and studied in schools about crafts and merchantship. While Thordan loves carrot, he definitely do not love them so much that he will spend everyday with them!!
Why can't I attend school like my brothers and sisters Dad? Well that's because you are so small Thordan, it's better you stay beside me... replied Mr Silentail.
You see, his siblings all grew tall and strong like normal Ratfolk children and they always bully Thordan due to his smaller size.
Someday i will grow to be the biggest Rat in this village...no in this world!! Wait till you see!! I will never fail!! Thordan shrieks after the other children in the village as they laughed and pounced away leaving him sitting in the mud.
One day, while Thordan was carrying carrots to the warren market to sell for the he came across a merchant stall selling books. Like all good old curious ratfolk, he cant helped but be drawn towards the shiny object located in the piles of trinkets. He dug into the pile and pulled out a needle like object.
Ahhh...I see you found something intresting. Got it off a training fighting school instructor for children in the city of Almas. He mentioned that he wanted to be a baker instead that's why he is selling away all his gear the white furred ratfolk merchant chattered.
Thordan pull out the blade from the brown scabbard and it is a plain dull steel rapier designed for a young human child. He touched the pointed end of the rapier and it was sharp
I can sell trade you for it...those huge carrots of yours look mighty fine...so what say you my furry lad?
Thordan hesitated but he can feel the furs on his back tingling with excitement.
I tell you what, since we are fated together on this fine day. I shall throw in a book that teaches you how to fence. No use trying to use that ting without proper training aye?
Thordan left the stall a happy Ratboy carrying the blade and a book titiled "In Out, In Out, the basic steps for the aspiring rapier-ist.". Of course he was canned by Mr Silenthil that evening for losing the carrots but Thordan took it all with a smile knowing his trusty sword which of no surprise he named it "Needle" was safely hidden under one the the loose floorboards in the barn...
Seasons passed, and Thordan has grown considerably much from the last time we met him. By now he has memorized and mastered every move in the book, thanks to his late night trainings alone in the barn. One day, Thordan had a crazy idea to start an adventure of his own. Packing his gear and trusty Needle, he venture out into the woods..
On his journey, he heard a loud scream in the woods. Curious, he dashed towards the scream. In the foliage he saw a young human girl cornered by a snarling timber wolf. Instinctively, Thordan screamed and dashed out of the bush towards the wolf.
The girl screamed when she saw a screaming ratfolk burst out of a bush.
Oh furry paws, I do not know if this was a good idea.. thought Thordan before turning his focus back on the wolf.
The wolf turned around and pounced towards the charging ratboy. Upon closer inspection, Thordan realized that the timber wolf is at least 2 times his size. His training took over and he thrust his rapier towards the wolf, the wolf landed unto Thordan with a yelp burying him under a mass of bones and fur. His rapier has found it's mark and it has pierced the heart of the wolf. Thordan rolled over the wolf over his body as he faced the young human girl. He never noticed before but she seems well dressed with a nice silk dress with golden braided hair set in a complicated intertwining pattern.
Must be a lady thought Thordan as he bowed before the girl and said Thordan Silentail at your service My Lady"
Just at that moment a steed burst out from the green foliage.
Back off fiend!! spoke the rider on the steed. He was dressed in a suit of dark leather armor as he readied his sword.
Ricardo stop it! He just saved my life! shouted the girl.
But My Lady...he is a monster. replied the knight. Thordan frowned at that remark.
It is a command! Ricardo snorted in disbelief before sheathing his sword.
The girl then introduced herself as Fiona Evenheart the daughter of a local rich merchant. She introduced Ricardo as her father's captain and they are out today for a hunting trip. She then invited Thordan to accompany her at her castle despite Ricardo's protest.
Sir Mouse Guard?
Fiona was thrilled with Thordan's tail as she keeps touching it and asking him to do tricks with it. When they arrived at the castle courtyard, her father Merchant Lord Tharkin stepped out to greet her. He was amused at her daughter's furry companion. Fiona then moved on to explain how Thordan rushed to her rescue when the wolf threatened her. Lord Tharkin thanked Thordan and asked him what can he do in return? Before Thordan could reply, Fiona stepped in and requested Thordan to be her personal bodyguard. Lord Tharkin was flabbergasted but he gave in to her daughter whom he loves very much.
Sir Thordan Silentail will you take the honor and oath to serve my house to protect at all cost the life of Fiona Evenheart all the days of your life?
i will never fail, My Lord. replied Thordan.
So it was at this place Thordan Silentail received his training for the next 6 years under the tutelage of renowned Dervish Bard Prancelin Parques in the ways of the scimitar and dance. Whenever he is not training under Prancelin Parques he would be accompanying Fiona to hunting trips, town visits, dancing balls in his customized armor and scimitar.
However all good things eventually comes to an end as Fiona fell very sick. Thordan stood beside her bedside for weeks never leaving even for food. When Fiona passed away, Lord Tharkin released him from his oath and state that he is free to go. So picking up his gear, Thordan Silentail sniffed the air and it smells of adventure as he walked out of the castle gates.
Leading with the fluff, which I'm more interested in anyways. Spent a good couple hours on all this. There's a big 'ol chunk of "secret stuff" to her past and parents that I would be happy to send to you in a PM if you are interested, Garabbott.
Description&Personality:
Elspeth Luren is a tall half-elven woman of 25. While her expression is often dour, she possesses a dry sense of humor and amongst her few friends she often shows affection with sarcastic but good-natured jabs.
If her olive skin and thick, straight dark hair were not enough to indicate her Shoanti heritage, then the distinct Shoanti facial tattoo serves to make it unmistakable. Despite her obvious ancestry, she has had little interaction with the Shoanti in her life, in fact going to great lengths to avoid them or hide her face in their presence. If asked about her tattoo she often becomes uncomfortable, if someone aware of its nature and significance inquires she becomes angry and defensive.
Backstory:
Elspeth was raised in Biston by Old Lady Luren, a widow and retired priestess of Abadar in her eighth decade.
25 years ago Elspeth’s father appeared at Old Lady Luren’s door. An elven man with an ashen face and hollow eyes, he held a squealing baby not a day old and by its size clearly born premature. Despite this, they baby was a healthy pink and full of vigor. After a moment’s hesitation, she invited them in. The elven man offered little information and would not give his name, but when he requested the child be given a home neither Luren’s heart or faith could refuse. The man stayed with them for three days, instructing Luren on what to tell the child of her parents:
Her mother was a Shoanti warrior, her father an elven mage. Both had died shortly after her birth. That was all. On the third day, before he left, he inscribed a tattoo on the babe’s face. Years later Lurue learned it was the tribal tattoo of the Shiikirri quah. The Hawk tribe.
Elspeth’s childhood was troubled. She suffered terrible, inexplicable fits of anger and often claimed she saw ghosts or was being haunted. The skeleton of information Luren had to offer Elspeth of her parents was a constant thorny spot between them and the progenitor of many fights in Elspeth’s adolescence but, despite this, the two loved each other as true mother and child.
Luren passed when Elspeth was 17. In her will she left Elspeth her small home in the Lakeside district and bequeathed her name to Elspeth as a surname. She also used her connections in the local church of Abadar to get Elspeth accepted into the small but growing militia, hoping that martial training would help her control her anger problems as well as provide an occasional outlet for her violent urges. This proved mostly successful. While she is not a particularly devout follower of Abadar, she finds the church and the militia provides a certain element of purpose and control that has eluded her most of her life.
Under the surface though, she remains deeply troubled. Elspeth is known to visit the Stomping Squat roughly once a month and drink to excess, desperately chasing what she once described to a curious patron as “the sweet oblivion of that fifteenth ale”. During these monthly indulgences it is not uncommon for Elspeth, near to incoherent with drink, to begin ranting of the spirits that have harried her since childhood…
I understand that Summoners aren't full casters but they can't get into melee combat without their edilon with them/on them (there is a archetype for the Summoner that allows you to use the Edilons physical stats and you use your mental ones). What I'm trying to get at is that you will not be in the fray you will be a little bit out of it summoning creatures to fight for you...
Sorry I forgot about you in my calculations. But we are still missing a healer in the group (unless the witch wants to) and we don't have enough melee people to protect you guys in the back...
Just look at our team comp.
5 full casters with one semi caster that can't do much in melee combat
2 tanks
1 glass cannon
That is 3 melee, and 6 in the back casting... I think that it is a little unbalanced there and we still don't know about the GM's friend what class he is going to be... I hope that is it something that can fight in melee combat without getting killed semi-easy something like a monk/caviler.
Actually, in the brief (only lasted a few sessions) game that I created Calon for, he was outclassing all of the front line fighters. He had 2 of the 3 kills in the first battle, and 1 out of 3 in the second. (Might have just been good rolls, though...)
I also added some details to her background and personality. Most of it is the material I already posted earlier but I added a bit about why she uses a scythe that got accidentally left out. Also changed "militia" to "town guard" as that was the flavor I was more leaning towards.
Her background *does* involve her owning a (*very* modest) two-room home in Biston. I realize this is a somewhat significant (if not often consequential to crunch) holding, but it just sort of flowed with the back story I was building and connecting her strongly to the town. If you have a problem with me owning a house, then I can work in something about selling it off, getting it repossessed, burning down, etc.
Um, I don't think everyone will be in the final party; garabbott said it would be 4-5 people.
Speaking of who'll make it into the party, I just read your background and it turns out you and I had some similar thoughts going on when writing up our PCs, haha. Given similar-ish backgrounds, perhaps Jannet and Elspeth could be pals? I mean, she's not exactly fun to be around, but Elspeth has to have at least a *couple* friends...
(Assuming, of course, that I get selected to join. Being the most recent submission, I'd understand if grabbott already had his heart set on 4 or 5 of you.)
Starting money: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7 x 10 = 70gp (well, so much for starting with any scrolls...)
I have changed his Spell Focus (Transmutation) (since he started as a PFS character) back to the normal Scribe Scroll, if that is all right. I see him able to be more effective in coming up with a solution to the townsfolk's problems if he has a few scrolls with spells he hasn't memorized that day.
I figure Calon has been in Biston for about 6-8 months, and is becoming pretty well known as the one to go to for questions or help with unusual problems, as well as minor magic. He can mend small delicate objects, was able to figure out what was causing Henric's cattle to keep getting sick (using detect poison) even after the local healer cured them, got little Anka out of the tree where she got stuck up so high on a small branch that no one else could reach her by becoming a 13-foot giant. (He didn't get paid for this, but he got a free dinner out of it.)
He has also offered to pay a (small) reward to anyone that can find unusual creatures that he has not seen before.
Anyone who has been in town for a while would know of him, and might have sought his aid at some point.
Um, I don't think everyone will be in the final party; garabbott said it would be 4-5 people.
Speaking of who'll make it into the party, I just read your background and it turns out you and I had some similar thoughts going on when writing up our PCs, haha. Given similar-ish backgrounds, perhaps Jannet and Elspeth could be pals? I mean, she's not exactly fun to be around, but Elspeth has to have at least a *couple* friends...
(Assuming, of course, that I get selected to join. Being the most recent submission, I'd understand if grabbott already had his heart set on 4 or 5 of you.)
Sure, I could see that. Elspeth would be a little older, but I could see them having bonded over being adoptees of the older women in town. :)
Sorry for taking so long, but here is Sahat's full sheet. He will plan on using his spear from range while Sezaren wails on the enemy from the other side.
Basics:
Full Name: Sahat Yawar
Race: Nagaji
Class: Summoner 1
Gender: male
Size: 6'10” 257lbs
Age: 22
Alignment: Neutral Good
Deity: Erostil
Location: Biston
Languages: Common, Draconic
Occupation: town watch
Sahat Yawar knows nothing of Naga, he's never even heard of them, much less does he know that, as a Nagaji, he is in some way related to them. He was raised by Humans, though he doesn't know why his 'parents' took him in, or how they happened upon him. His parents were devotees of Shelyn, and apparently found him abandoned, though they have never said where. What little research Sahat has done on his origins has led him to believe that he was in some way descended from dragons, bronze dragons in particular, because the pictures of them that he's seen depict them with yellow-green scales, just like the ones covering him. While his neighbors might be inclined to regard Sahat with fear or disdain, his mother's influence in town, combined with his decent nature, has resulted in his acceptance, more or less. There will always be people that judge a book by its cover, and will react to his fearsome appearance rather than how he acts, but he tries to ignore those people.
Sahat has always lived in the Lakeside district where his father works as a fisherman and his mother is a cleric of Shelyn. He tried to learn his fathers trade, but the only thing he really got out of it was the ability to use a longspear without making a fool of himself.
It should be mentioned, that Sahat hates Korvosa with a passion. Sahat was nearly a prisoner in his own home during the martial law, for fear that the Korvosans would mistake him for a tiefling, and do any number of horrible things to him as a result. He did sneak out from time to time, for mostly innocious reasons, but he never got caught, a few close calls aside. It was during this period that he sensed the presence. He spoke to it often, and tried for many years to bring it out before he finally got it right. The creature looked something like a dragon, though bulkier and without wings, and the size of a horse. He found that the creature could speak every language that he knew, and that it seemed to have the same mindset as he did. It told him that he had called it into being, and thus, it would serve him for as long as he wished. He doesn't remember if he named it, or it told him its name, but since then it has been called Sezaren.
Once he realized that he would never be a fisherman, he remembered the time that Biston was held in martial law, and resolved that he would do his part to ensure that his home would never be held in bondage like that again. He marched into the city guard barracks with his 'pet' in tow, and requested admittance into the watch. He and Sezaren put on a show for them, Sahat giving the beast orders in Draconic, hoping that noone would recognize it as a real language, and Sezaran doing his part to play the trained pet. The ruse worked, or at the very least it was tolerated, and so Sahat and his pet monster were allowed to serve in the city guard.
Sahat hates that he has to pretend that his best friend is a simple animal when others are around, but he feels that people would be more likely to believe that the dragon looking creature was unintelligent, than to have it speaking to them as an equal. Perhaps that goes back to Sahat's own past, in which people have been surprised to learn that he could speak.
Unlike his parents, Sahat doesn't put his faith in one particular deity. Instead he venerates a number of them, including Shelyn, Apsis, and Erostil, though if he had to choose, he would likely say that Erostil fits his views the best.
Combat stats:
Perception +4 (Eidolon)
Initiative +2
Saves
-Fortitude +2
-Reflex +2
-Will +2
AC/Flatfoot AC 14/12
Touch AC 12
CMB +1
CMD 13
Hit Points: 9
BAB +0
To hit +1
Speed: 30
Skills:
2 skill points per level
Spellcraft +4 (1 rank)
Use Magic Device +8 (1 rank)
Feats and Traits:
Traits:
Dangerously Curious: +1 to UMD and it becomes a class skill
Resilient: +1 to Fortitude saves
Race Abilities:
Low Light Vision
Armored Scales: +1 natural armor bonus
Resistant: +2 saving throws against mind affecting and poison
Serpent's Sense: +2 to handle animal checks on reptiles, +2 to perception
Class Abilities:
Cantrips
Eidolon
Life Link: Summoner can sacrifice hit points to keep Eidolon manifested
Summon Monster I: cast Summon Monster I as a spell like ability 6 times a day, only if Eidolon is not called
Feats:
Spell Focus (Conjuration): +1 to difficulty class for all saves against spells from this school
Spells:
Level 0
Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mage Hand, Guidence
Level 1: 2 per day
Mage Armor, Enlarge Person
Weapons:
Longspear 5gp 1d8 X3 9lbs P brace, reach
Armor:
Leather 10gp +2 +6dex 0ACP 10%(n/a) 30ft 15lbs
Equipment:
10 Gold
Total Weight 26lbs
Encumbrance: Medium 59-116lbs Heavy: 117-175lbs
Spell component pouch 5gp 2lbs
Sezaran:
Str 14
Dex 14
Con 13
Int 7
Wis 10
Cha 11
Medium Quadruped
Speed 40
Initiative +2
Armor Class/Flat Footed 14/12
Touch AC 14
Saves
-Fort +2
-Ref +2
-Will +0
CMB +3
CMD 15
BAB +1
To Hit: +3 (+2 with Power Attack)
Bite 1d6 +3 (+5 with Power Attack)
Claw (2) 1d4 +2 (+4 with Power Attack)
Feats:
Power Attack
Evolutions:
Claws: 2 claw attacks that deal 1d4 points of damage
Bite: use 1-1/2 times strength modifier for bite attacks
Tail: +2 racial bonus to acrobatics checks to balance
In class skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (History) (Int), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Knowledge (Planes) (Int), Perception (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Stealth (Dex)
4 skill points per level
Class features:
Darkvision 60ft
Link: summoner and Eidolon can communicate over any distance on the same plane, also, they share magic item slots
Share Spells: summoner can use spells on his eidolon that could only target himself, even if they would not normally affect the eidolon's type (outsider)
Alright people, I'm beginning to review everyone's sheet before I make the choice, and let me just say that there are way too many characters that I want to choose--this is going to be tough. I am still waiting to hear back from my friend about his character plans, but I think we have a good enough variety of characters here that whatever he chooses it'll be alright.
Goodluck to everyone, and if you have any last minute changes now is the time!
Alright, I have chosen 4 players, and it was not easy. I would have liked to choose 5 or even 6, but I don't trust myself as a GM yet to be able to handle so much responsibility... so I'll work my way up to it with these four. These characters were chosen for how I think they will cooperate together, they fit the campaign setting and direction I have planned well, and they intrigued me more than others with opportunities for interesting stories. It was not an easy decision, but here are my selections:
Anoirtrou - Calon - Elven Transmuter
Saxikath - Jannet Breveyn - Human Witch
Grand Moff Vixen - Rouqas - Catfolk Barbarian
LilB - Garris Bresnik - Human Ranger
Congratulations, and a very sincere thank you to everyone who applied -- keep your eye out for bumps on the recruitment thread, if you're still interested: I've found that PbPs often drop people inexplicably. I wish I could offer all of you a spot, and I wish everyone best of luck in their Pathfinder pursuits!
(Players, please report to the Discussion thread).
Hello everybody, after a slow start this campaign has recently ground to a stop due to two players dropping out and myself disappearing from internet access for a few weeks. I'm hoping to get it started up again, now that I'm back in semi-regular internet access, and I hope we can find 2 or 3 replacements! My posting rate is a little sporadic at best right now so it could be a few days before I respond, maybe even a few more before we get started again, and the game itself is not always a 1-post-a-day type game (usually more like 2-4 a week).
The best characters (and players) will find opportunities to develop themselves during lots of in-game down time -- I plan on having stretches of several weeks at a time (in game) with little development from myself, so crafting and sandbox-style adventuring is encouraged.
Right now the party is an Elven Wizard Transmuter and a Catfolk Barbarian with a Greatsword. The campaign is still very short despite being around for a few months, so if you could read through the game thread that'd be great. Check it out and see if you're interested in picking up where we've left off, when replacements have been figured out I'll introduce you to the game thread and everyone can rush off together to investigate the new problem facing Biston.
