Welcome to the game! I look forward to a fun campaign.
Some notes:
I will roll passive Perception checks for your characters when the situation calls for them. To speed things along in combat, I will roll initiative for everybody. Those whose initiative scores are higher than the enemies can post their actions, I'll summarize the results and the enemies' actions, then everybody can post for the following round's actions.
I am usually online weekdays between 4:00 AM and noon, and can check in sporadically the rest of the afternoon. I can usually post a few times each day during the week, but my access is limited on the weekends.
As a heads up, my wife and I are expecting the birth of our second child in July. When that happens, I'll likely not be able to post much for a month or so until I return to work, at which point I will be able to resume regular posting in the mornings, though my afternoon posts will likely drop off after that.
The gameplay thread is up. You may begin posting when you are ready.
*pulls her folded whip taut out of habit*
Hello and greetings and thank you!
Wow I am glad and excited to have been chosen! Anyone interested in having backstory ties?
Always! Maria Grayson and I have a connection in that she interviewed me for a case about a year ago while studying with her father. Given your backstory it's entirely possible that Maria was tied in with the investigation that broke up Hare's organization and landed you in jail; conversely as a priestess it's possible that I was peripherally involved as someone Hare defrauded from laying the dead to rest.
I like both of those.
Just having ran through everyone's backstories, other easy options are the bar I'm presently living in is the same one Maria mentions in her backstory (the empty one ran by a guy named Edmund); Zhi and Melodie, Sara likely met at parties, eager to gain the attention of a both noble and a princess.
Hello all.
Zhi has a connection with Maria as well. Zhi hire her to search for her father which was unsuccessful.
I think I'll let any other relationships form organically.
On to the fun ...
Incidentally, @Sara, your stats in your Sheet spoiler (Str 16, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 7, Cha 16) don't match your stats in your main alias (Str 18, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 7, Cha 14).
It might be best if we don't all know each other already - that would be a very weird coincidence - but it's not a big deal.
I guess depending on preferences any PC might also be a former client of Zileska.
Incidentally, @Sara, your stats in your Sheet spoiler (Str 16, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 7, Cha 16) don't match your stats in your main alias (Str 18, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 7, Cha 14).
Fixed, thank you.
I'm happy to do background links with anyone who wants to, but loads of my background is still up in the air until I can pick a campaign trait and tie down exactly what has happened to Melodie - I think she's probably now (and only recently) aware that she is not human, which means meeting her mother but the circumstances... the circumstances!
We'll work it out eventually! :)
In fact, having read other peoples backgrounds - Sara, are you open to us knowing each other, at least by name? I'm thinking Melodie's mother and Hare might have been linked in some way...
@Brainiac: Thanks for the selection, always a pleasure to play in your games and congrats on the forthcoming little-one!
I'm open to any other connections you might want but I'm kind of in the same boat as Melodie - no idea how Maria would've gotten involved or what re-writes the appropriate campaign trait might entail. At the moment, I feel like Taldan Patriot would work but I just don't know.
G!@~*+n flu; why'd you have to hit Paizo so hard this time?
EDIT: And speaking of Traits, I only just realised I hadn't selected any traits for Maria. Just gave her Civilized (+1 on Know Local and Know Nobility, both are always class skills for her) so that's that fixed.
In fact, having read other peoples backgrounds - Sara, are you open to us knowing each other, at least by name? I'm thinking Melodie's mother and Hare might have been linked in some way...
Yes, I'm down. Burke and Hare, unlike their real life counterparts, were less of a team and more of an employer/employee sort of deal, but Sara was still his top man, more out of longevity than any real talent for the trade.
Sara was at this for six years or so, I like the idea of her recognizing her from when "Mel" was like 13 and being shocked at how she'd grown, etc.
In fact, having read other peoples backgrounds - Sara, are you open to us knowing each other, at least by name? I'm thinking Melodie's mother and Hare might have been linked in some way...Sara was at this for six years or so, I like the idea of her recognizing her from when "Mel" was like 13 and being shocked at how she'd grown, etc.
This is going to be fun! :) Sara can protect Melodie right? Fragile might as well be her middle name...
This is going to be fun! :) Sara can protect Melodie right? Fragile might as well be her middle name...In fact, having read other peoples backgrounds - Sara, are you open to us knowing each other, at least by name? I'm thinking Melodie's mother and Hare might have been linked in some way...Sara was at this for six years or so, I like the idea of her recognizing her from when "Mel" was like 13 and being shocked at how she'd grown, etc.
Stop, you're playing at my heart strings, that's cute
Melodie will take cute - her skills are certainly NOT in the realm of hitting people/things :)
Hey DM, before we get much further, do you have a ruling about retraining traits? My trait gives me an ability that you can also get from taking Greater Whip Mastery, which I plan to take, but that's many levels down the road. Ideally I'd like to retrain out of the trait at a future date. If that's not possible (there are technically no retraining rules for traits), then I'd prefer to just swap it now.
I'll let you retrain your trait for a modest price when you get to that point.
Dropping my math here for what Sara grabs. She grabs from the box, twice and at random, 1 getting her Liquid Blade, 2 3 4 a smoke pellet, 5 the soul stim, 6 the dust.
I'll post a link to this map in the campaign tab, along with a growing list of Dramatis Personae to help you keep track of the many NPCs you will meet.
To paraphrase what we need
"senatorial aide to provide a cover for the rest of you and to run communications between allied politicians"
"uncover the true dedication of ... Duke Centimus and Countess Abrielle Pace. Find out what stance ... and why each noble holds that position."
"discredit a few prominent senators backing primogeniture ... to undercut their influence ... identify one of the major opponents ... spread rumors about or manufacturing damning evidence"
"strong impression on Baron Nicolaus Okerra and remind him of certain debts he owes me"
"retribution against my more powerful half-brothers ... petty revenge ... render the wine embarrassingly undrinkable. Be careful not to steal the bottle and to conceal any signs of tampering; it must be drunk at dinner"
"tabs on my political rivals ... most notably High Strategos Maxillar Pythareus. ... stay close ... watching for unusual behavior or listening"
"Earl Calhadion Vernisant ... artifacts ... vanish"
Score comparison (only counting plusses, and not ones, twos, zeros or minuses):
Aide:
CMB: Sara +4.
Escape Artist: Zhi +10, Zileska +6.
Stalking Nobles:
Perception: Melodie +7, Zileska +5, Maria, Zhi +4.
Sense Motive: Melodie +7, Maria, Zhi +4, Sara, Zileska +3.
Rumor Mill:
Sense Motive: Melodie +7, Maria, Zhi +4, Sara, Zileska +3.
Bluff: Melodie +8 or +13, Sara +7, Maria, Zhi, Zileska +6
Linguistics: N/A, trained only.
Racketeering, Arguably:
Diplomacy: Zileska +9, Melodie +7, Maria, Zhi +6, Sara +3
Intimidate: Melodie, Sara +7.
Wine:
Appraise: Zhi +6, Maria +3.
Know (Nobility): Melodie +6, Zhi +3.
Disable Device: Zhi +11, Maria +6.
Stalking Rivals:
Perception: Melodie +7, Zileska +5, Maria, Zhi +4.
Sense Motive: Melodie +7, Maria, Zhi +4, Sara, Zileska +3.
Disguise: Zhi +6.
Stealth: Zhi +10, Maria +6.
Artifacts:
Sleight of Hand: Zhi +11, Maria +6, Sara +3.
All in all, we are all well suited for a variety of tasks.
Melodie is very much a social situations girl, so Stalking and Rumour Mill are probably the best place for me to focus my efforts...
I'd lean toward Aide and Stalking, as mentioned IC.
My next post will be a large one, so it will have to wait until the morning!
By the way, here are the senate rules:
Martella gives you a rundown of the senate rules:
I have a feeling that I'm trying to go at this a little too directly.
It looks like we have to 'soften up' each area to make it easier/possible to accomplish out tasks. It would probably be best to focus on the skills presented for the areas. In which case, Zhi would most definitely not be the best solution for the Servant Area.
Aaaannnnddd everyone else probably realized that already.
Yes, that makes me Captain Obvious.
Nothing to see here - move along.
I've made the map of the senate editable in Google Slides so you can move your icons to the different parts of the building. The grassy area south of the building will stand in for the gallery since it doesn't appear on the map. I'll also put icons for each of the NPCs to show their locations. Have to find some good art for Pythareus and Okerra, since none is provided in the first adventure.
I'd suggest we team up and try to hit one or two areas hard, get ourselves up to the thresh-holds, and then we can move on to doing our specific tasks - no point in missing out the groundwork.
To that end I'll go with Zhi for now, try and help with the kitchen staff first.
Why do I feel like campaign traits would be good right about now?
They would probably help you out. Hopefully it won't be too much longer until the player's guide is released!
When I finally corner this guy can I monologue at him? I got a good one
Sure can! You'll have more opportunities to interact with him later in the evening.
How many rounds do we need to accomplish everything in?
The gala is expected to last 4 hours before the vote takes place, so you'll have a total of 16 social rounds to get stuff done.
I don't know what else I can do. DM, you said I could try alternative means of discovery, but I don't know any other skills that I can use, your big intro post to the scene says it's either Knowledge (nobility) or Sense Motive, both of which I have no ranks in; so as far as I can tell there is no way for me to participate in this scene.
You could try performing one of the other tasks, or work on influencing the different areas. Or just guess at a skill to try to influence an NPC--Diplomacy is a pretty common skill for most of them.
If you want, I can offer you my immediate task, your +11 beats out my +4
Sure, let's switch dance partners.
Oof, actually, I think I wanna handle this first one for Lotheed, but you can help with whatever else she needs. Like we could split the job in half. Also, just an aside, I was wrong in my recollection, you have a +6.
With Centimus done, I'll move on to the Rumour Mill for a while. :)
I just received book 2 of the AP, and with it, official art for Baron Nicolaus Okerra.
Zileska, the DC for the Escape Artist check to deliver a message is only 12, so with a roll of 7, you would succeed in your task.
Very well. Forgive me if I'm not terribly invested at the moment. The incredible streak with the die roller basically has me feeling like I essentially don't get to do anything.
I know. I'm sorry that the dice roller has been hating on you lately. Hopefully your luck will turn around soon--it's still relatively early in the evening! :)
You can come RP with Zhi and get catty about Dame Trant. ;)
Well, I'm an idiot - forgot all about this use of Inspiration: "The investigator can use inspiration on any Knowledge, Linguistics, or Spellcraft skill checks without expending a use of inspiration, provided he’s trained in the skill."
Granted, Maria doesn't have any ranks in Linguistics or Spellcraft and only one Knowledge skill, but I should really remember about that in the future.
We're nowhere near my limits, but just to check, what's the rating on our version of this adventure?
Where are our limits on language, violence, romance, sex?
Do we need to worry about it now?
Probably not, but just thought I'd bring it up.
Obviously I can "fade to black" certain kinds of content, but as a Calistrian temple prostitute there are some inherent elements baked into this character design.
Melodie is pretty sheltered - but she's also a changeling so some things are just going to 'come naturally' to her... As a player I'm not too fussed :)
My limits for such things are pretty high. Feel free to go as detailed as you'd like. :)
*flexes her whip*
10 Things to Know About Taldans
10. Taldans Love Wordplay. As originators of the Taldane language, Taldans understand a considerable breadth and depth of the Common tongue that even their former colonies don’t share, and fast-paced banter and clever linguistic choices are proud parts of their heritage. Even the flintiest of farmers love insightful plays on words, and a cleverly timed, crass pun can delight even the stodgiest of nobles.
9. Taldans Love Board Games. Every Taldan fancies herself a general, and so board games, strategy games, and war games are popular pastimes for everyone from gong farmers to emperors. While gambling can be fun, it leaves victory in the hands of fate—something few Taldans can stomach—and they prefer diversions that offer at least the illusion of control. While many board games—the equivalents on Golarion of agon, backgammon, chess, Parcheesi, and rithmomachy—were either invented or adopted by Taldor, just as popular are war games played out with wooden miniatures using elaborate rules.
8. First Emperor Taldaris Is the Man. Taldans are a people suffused in patriotism and a love of history, but until we published Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Taldor, The First Empire, they lacked yhe sort of founding myth typical of large (and especially old) nations. When we updated their history, we fleshed out their origins as a series of city-states united by a great leader: First Emperor Taldaris, Taldor’s own Romulus or George Washington. Like similar figures, he’s often invoked and exploited by residents: politicians insist they know what his vision for Taldor really was; tutors place him in all sorts of parables for bravery, honesty, and other virtues; and inns and estates advertise that “Taldaris slept here” to impress travelers—even though few, if any, structures in modern Taldor have survived since the First Emperor’s day.
7. Taldan Hair Is a Big Deal. Even poor households invest in quality brushes, sheers, and oils from the tea tree and argan tree to keep themselves looking and smelling good, and every family has its own secret recipe for shiny, healthy hair. Many outsiders consider this yet another example of Taldan vanity, but the truth is more complex. Taldans’ world travels have brought a wide array of parasites home over the centuries; clean hair is a simple comfort that also promotes health.
6. Taldans Will Eat Anything. You can’t be a refugee or a soldier on the march and still be a picky eater. Since the founding of their nation, Taldans have embraced a philosophy of “whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” and that very much extends to their embracing of unusual and exotic foods. For nobles, this translates to eating almost anything that walks, crawls, flies, slithers, or swims, while for commoners it more often means making a meal out of whatever parts the rich won’t eat.
5. Taldans Are Creative. Shelyn began as a Taldan god, and Taldor still reveres the arts in every form. “Anything worth doing is worth doing with a flourish,” the Taldan saying goes, and almost every citizen of the empire pursues an art in her spare time, especially music and dance. Most families have a long tradition associated with a particular skill they may turn into a business—such as painting, weaving, or woodcarving—but just as many are farmers who pluck away at their lyres after work or sing reprises from their favorite operas to make the harvest pass more quickly. Illustrated or illuminated books are especially popular, and many families record their history in books passed down and doodled in over generations.
4. Taldans Love Dogs. Taldor claims it domesticated the first dog, but then again, Taldans claim to be the first to do a lot of things. Realistically, while dogs were rare in Azlanti society, they were common among the Kellid and Garundi societies that early Taldans filtered themselves through, and dogs became companions and workers in a culture hard up for extra hands. In those first unstable centuries, Taldor bred a hundred specialty dog breeds to assist with herding, pest control, physical labor, warfare, and even kitchen work, and as the Taldans’ fortunes rose, they also bred dogs to serve purely as companions.
3. Taldans Love Pie. Since before the first Army of Exploration, Taldans have been sealing their tastiest treasures—and especially leftovers—inside pie shells to help preserve them, and that trend continues to this day. Sweet pies are the traditional breakfast, while farmers and laborers carry a savory hand pie or two with them for a midday snack. Taldans particularly love blending the sweet and the savory into pies, creating treats such as jubilee pie, a rich mix of currants, cherries, and fowl served at almost every major event.
2. Taldans Are Very Polite—Until They’re Not. Taldans live by their politics and succeed through cooperation. Sometimes that means smiling politely and shaking the hand of the man who tried to kill you last week. Rudeness isn’t just unseemly... It’s un-Taldan! They instead couch insults in careful language, usually as unhelpful critiques and backhanded compliments, most notably the cold Taldan “Well, aren’t you a treasure.” Once Taldans decide to stop being polite, they take their outrage and insults up to 11, insulting, scolding, threatening, and yelling in tirades that usually end in duels.
1. Taldans Never Quit. While most of Azlant sank, the ancestors of modern Taldor dragged themselves onto a foreign shore and pulled their lives back together. Orcs attacked and they rebuilt. Kellids plundered them and they rebuilt. They founded a kingdom and ran into one natural barrier after another—from rivers to forests to deserts to more orcs—and every time they pushed forward again. Taldor’s glories stem from bravery and skill, to be sure, but more than anything they come from the fact that Taldans never look at a challenge and say “maybe not this time.”