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Professor Ahkenaten Unsu Aristedes was a middle-aged, respected professor at the Kitharodian Academy in Oppara; he taught young students about the history of the lower inner sea region; the continent known as Garund. His particular focus was on Osirion and he spoke the language; both modern and ancient. He was also known to be quite a dilettante enchanter; he only had a few spells mastered but there were few among his students who could resist the darkly charismatic professor's tricks. Well liked and making a tidy income in the capital, the Professor sported a proud beard and was known to be a member of a proud and old family; the Aristedes. The fact that the Aristedes had once, long ago, made their fortune in expeditions to Osirion plundering tombs was well concealed and known only to the family and those who pried hard enough into the family's background- usually quietly paid off by Ahkenaten's family.
What was not known, even to those who questioned the family's sudden source of wealth those hundreds of years ago and their rapid acceptance into nobility, was that the whole family still suffered from a mummy's curse; a powerful one that had endured through the centuries, albeit weakening just a little in power every few generations. Always, it was the males of the family that were affected. It was the family's dark secret, and the reason that past middle age, the men of the family were usually seldom seen in public; if at all. They became akin to Spymaster's; acting only through agents or remotely, if not quietly phased out of the family's activities.
The nature of the curse was quite debilitating- and once a male of the family had succumbed to it, it would resurge rapidly, even if magic was used to remove it. It usually started in the late twenties- tiny patches of flesh would necrotize, while not killing the sufferer it would be visually displeasing as it spread. Symptoms varied; as did the speed of the curse's spread. Ahkenaten's great grandfather was said to have lived for over thirty years with the curse; although he had also squandered much of the family's riches on desperate attempts to cure it through magical means. Nothing worked for long. It seemed the bloodline was tainted. The end result was always the same; a full transformation into a foul Ghoul upon a painful death.
Ahkenaten was the first of the bloodline in which the curse had manifested itself in a different way entirely. While his flesh had been left unmarked, the curse seemed to act as some kind of crude defence against magic; any magic at all, in fact. His own body had fought off the undead transformation; but still the curse lingered in the very blood flowing through his veins. It would resist curative magic in the same manner as it would try to resist evocation, transmutation; essentially any school of magic at all.
Ahkenaten's relief as he progressed into his thirties was palpable- the curse showed no signs of ever emerging in him and he sought himself some independence from his overbearing, controlling family. What he earnt as a Professor paled to his brothers and cousins going into the family business (imports and exports of rare antiquities) but he was content and satisfied with the way his life was going as he neared 40.
Like with so many adventurer's, fate suddenly dealt him a cruel hand.
A servant of the family witnessed a foul transformation after Ahkenaten's uncle fell down the stairs in the family home; his demise was sudden compared to the usual process and the family had no time to cover up what the servant saw; a scion of the house of Aristedes transforming into an undead before his very eyes. The servant fled- was followed into a crowded street; and was devoured in plain sight of hundreds of witnesses.
Somewhat detached from his family, Ahkenaten had enough warning upon hearing of the incident to swiftly flee the city; but he did not leave before a messenger from his father found him. This messenger first informed Ahkenaten of what had become of the rest of his family.
The Grand Prince Stavian the 3rd had declared the entire Aristedes family accursed and they were quarantined inside their grand mansion. The family had once been popular and were favored by many before the shocking incident- so the Grand Prince was quietly persuaded to be merciful. Servants were assigned to quietly provide small comforts to the family inside the sealed mansion that was once their favored family home. They had food and drink brought to them through a small delivery hole, as well as newspapers and other small items; but this comfort was clearly meant to simply let them eventually wallow in quarantine until all within had succumbed to the curse; or been slain by one of the family who had. Once they had lived out their natural lifespan, the sealed house would be purged of the Undead and then be reassigned to the state.
The messenger relayed his father's wishes- and warned that more would follow; whether by magical sending or by more mundane means. The Aristedes had no intention of dying quietly in their grand home- and Ahkenaten was obligated, as their only family member not in custody, to attempt to break the ancient curse. His father was convinced the origins of the curse; and thus the key to truly breaking it forever- had its roots in Ancient Osirion. The half-dead city of Wati was the first place that held any promise for tomb exploration and Ahkenaten's notes on his family's past led him to believe that clues might lie there, if not the cure itself.
Ahkenaten has no access to his family's resources, but his family will no doubt continue to make requests of him. He sold his possessions swiftly and garbed himself as an adventurer; armour, shield, a crossbow. Never an especially strong individual, Ahkenaten struggled with the physical weight of his possessions but persevered. His motivation to break the curse stems from his sense of family ties, obligation, guilt that he is the only one to not be sentenced to a horrific death; as well as a latent, grim fascination with the workings of an undead mind that he has only just begun to develop. Very incapable physically, the astute Professor soon realised he would need others to accompany him in these tomb raids; their skills to complement his own. His grasp of enchantment was extremely circumstantial, until he could find a way to apply his magic to the undead somehow. He knew the affinity of his curse had allowed others of his bloodline to do so, decades ago. His father always said that he reminded him of his own grandfather, a powerful enchanter.
Nicely done!
We will have to work out the details of the group's genesis. The obvious choice, as put forth by the player's guide, is the group has come together to form an adventuring company. Seems pretty straight forward. You guys can suggest an alternate idea and/or work out the details.
Any progress on the character Joana? How about the rest of you? :)
Can't wait to get my hands on Half Dead City! :D
Kheled is pretty much finished other than looking over the players guide. I had already taken his trait.
I updated his background some since I didn't like the original cut.
Kheled was born to a wealthy family in Osirion. He had a relatively easy life growing up. His father was a merchant with a pension for ancient digs and finds. Kheled went on several with his father and his guides. When he was 10 he was on a particularly interesting dig. They had found an underground complex and all were excited about the find. An ancient temple to Pharasma as well as a living complex had been discovered. After an initial search brought forth no evil beings or undead the rest of the group moved in to complete their findings.
One of their party, Kheled’s uncle, was also a scholar and had found an interesting set of pictograms. He was working on deciphering them when he accidentally triggered a secret door that released one of the long dead priests. His father moved on the unknowing that the ancient sealed chamber had just opened slightly in an adjacent room. The long dead priest had changed, continued on as a creature he would later find out was called a Hecuva.
Surprised as they were the undead priest slowly made its way through the party, ambushing them as they searched in smaller groups.
When his father and a couple of servants finally encountered the creature with Kheled, it had them trapped in the complex. He ran with his father until his father died in front of him, trying to defend his son. Kheled was the last one left. He fled the Hecuva, blindly running into the temple of Pharasma. He stood there crying and prayed...the Hecuva, close behind and wanting to finish its work, was savoring the fear.
But Pharasma was outraged by the ex-priest refusing to come to its judgment as well as defiling this holy sight. As the boy prayed with his final breath, Kheled felt a divine force enter him. He felt as if he needed to expel something within him. The Hecuva slowly advanced, thinking to stangle the boy.
Suddenly a light flashed from him once…then again…
The ex-priest stood their stunned for a moment as the positive energy tore into it...as it staggered there he ran from the ancient priest, it screamed at him, the priest felt pain, pain like it had felt when it was alive.
How could a mere boy hurt him! He chased the boy into the corridor...Kheled drove the force in him towards it again and again…and finally it fell, in a smoldered heap.
He fell to his hands and knees panting. But somewhere in the back of his mind he could still feel the light…something that Pharasma had given him.
But what Pharasma gives, it also takes away. He looked down to see the ruin of his leg. It was shriveled and weak. He could barely stand on it anymore. Was this the price for her gift?
When he hobbled to the surface only a few servants lived, those that kept the camp above. He returned with them to Wati.
Instead of returning home, he was drawn to the temple of Pharasma there.
In the church he was welcomed. They knew that he was special, not cursed. As he grew it quickly became apparent that he was different than the other acolytes. His abilities seemed to come from Pharasma but in a different way. He was physically weak and had a withered leg but what he lacked in strength he seemed to be able to make up with his endurance and ability to accept high levels of pain and suffering. The part that was missing from him seemed to power his ability to heal others. It soon became apparent that the powers of life were more powerful in him than any other Acolyte in Wati. He grew into his own in Wati until he started to become restless.
He asked the church for more and eventually they agreed to send him out to help root out the restless dead and those that hope to unset the balance between life and death.
Kheled always wear a flowing robe, to hide his deformity and proudly wears a large symbol of Pharasma for all to see. Those who don’t see his cursed leg accept him as a young, charismatic man. His hatred for undead is only marginally less a part of him than his want to help those in need. He sees Pharasmas balance as life vs. death but sees his part to bring as much life forward to counter death.
Isandril is more or less ready in my mind, but I still have to write him up. I should be able to do this within the coming week though.
And just in case, Corven is more or less ready as well, since I made that one for another game.
Once Joana comes up with a definite submission, it should not take me too long to polish either of them up and have him ready. :-)
So Kheled is a native Wati resident and a current priest of the Grand Mausoleum?
As the AP opens in Wati, this opens up so many questions. :)
I'll start with these...
What if any family do you have left in the city? What about friends and other relationships?
What is your function within the temple of Pharasma?
(Until I get my hands on the AP, I have to guess about the possible ramifications or possible conflicts.)
... and we'll see where those answers take us. :)
Kheled's family was not from Wati, it is just where his father had based his explorations out of due to its location near many possible ruins. He would have little family there.
They took him into the temple and provided training, food and shelter but because of the nature of his powers he was never really a true Acolyte of the temple. They knew Pharasma has a purpose for him but since he didn't direclty derive his powrs from praying to their god they were always a little unsure of what they should do with him.
When he asked to leave and seek his own future or path they were fine letting him go his own way.
I would say he has both friends and enemies at the temple. Some could see his actions as what he is destined to do while others may see it as him forsakin everything he learned while he taken in there.
Hopefully this is vague enough that it fits in with the AP and also give possible interesting twists.
Until I know more about the setting I couldn't come up with any names of people there unless I just made them up.
Sorry, I could have sworn your bio indicated Wati. :P
If not Wati, where does your family hail from? The capital? Somewhere else? How many are left? Who are they? Where are they now?
And any idea where the events in your bio played out? Does it matter to you? Or should we figure that out later when I get the AP in hand?
If I go with the sorcerer, she'd be a Wati native ... although the Player's Guide seems to have gone to great lengths to point out that there are no gnomes native to Osirion. :P
The first of your kind! ;)
Sorry, I could have sworn your bio indicated Wati. :P
If not Wati, where does your family hail from? The capital? Somewhere else? How many are left? Who are they? Where are they now?
And any idea where the events in your bio played out? Does it matter to you? Or should we figure that out later when I get the AP in hand?
I kept it purposely vague. They hailed from Osirion but returned to Wati after the failed dig where he landed in the temple. I am sure he has family but they may not have bothered when his father disappeared with him.
He was 10, by this point he remembers very little of his life before the temple.As far as his hook, he is pretending to be interested in tomb raiding when he is really interested in giving the dead their final rest. He wondered looking for fellow adventurers and promised to help them as a healer and protector from the dead things that often inhabit the tombs.
Can see some potential issues down the line with Kheled and the Professor; but only if I take Animate Dead with him eventually.
Happy Birthday Joana! :)
Thanks! :)
Can see some potential issues down the line with Kheled and the Professor; but only if I take Animate Dead with him eventually.
I don't see it being an issue...you create them, I destroy them...lol
Mus'ad will be a recent arrival into Wati, and with his 'hook' being interested in finding out more about the old gods. I'm hoping that the threatened extra information that they'll be coming out with will help round out his backstory.
2 weeks to AP time! :)
Well there's a wee bit of info in a blog post that's helping to round out Mus'ad.
Gist is that his 'Devotee of the Old Gods' will come from a rejection of Magrim, and an interest in the old gods of death (Anubis, Osiris, Nephthys, Selket... and Bastet). That led to his leaving his Pahmet kin and seeking further knowledge in Wati.
Since we need to be an adventuring group - the easiest way to get Mus'ad attached would be the others hiring him on as a guide during a fruitless expedition into the sands in search of a tomb or what not. One thing led to another and he stayed on after returning to Wati.
Also... anyone have any bright ideas for an adventuring group name?
Best I could come up with is googling out a cool sounding ancient egyptian secret society and bastardizing it for our purposes.
How did the job interview go?
Link to blog please. I've never been good at finding them.
Those tricky Paizonians hiding it at the top of the page! ;)
(Although the tabs on the main page aren't working since the site update, so it is harder to navigate to the blog than it generally is.)
Also... anyone have any bright ideas for an adventuring group name?
I've never gotten into group names. They seem pretentious, especially at first level when we haven't actually accomplished anything yet.
In Mark's defence, it is something mentioned in the player's guide. :)
*shrugs*
Not sure how important it is. :P
In Mark's defence, it is something mentioned in the player's guide. :)
Yeah, I know. Not the first time I've disagreed with Paizo's concepts of what's "fun" and "cool."
It's spring break week here, so my routine's been shot all to heck. Shaping up to be a fairly quiet weekend, though, so I'll plan on getting my character done then.
Could take a cue from children's programming and call ourselves The Adventurers Who Don't Do Very Much?
:)
The Professor will be keen to establish a reputation, even if it means a gaudy name. But i'd like to base it off events IC, rather than start with one.
Okay, if I go with the gnome sorcerer, here's a rough build. She's basically a blaster, and if we run into anything resistant to fire, she's not going to have a thing to do. Storywise, she'd be an orphan whose adventurer parents left her behind in Finderplain. When she got old enough, she traveled north to Wati to try to find out what happened to them. Sneaking into the necropolis, she found no traces of the adventuring party her parents were traveling with, but she did discover an ancient holy symbol of an unknown god and has used it to pass herself off as a priestess to the locals, surviving on the alms of the pious. When the Professor arrived in Wati, looking to put together an adventuring party, she seized the opportunity to present herself as an expert on the necropolis and the old gods, thinking that penetrating further into the necropolis with the Pharasmin temple's permission might uncover clues about her parents -- and if it doesn't, her share of the loot will finance a more comfortable lifestyle while she continues to search. While her supposed expertise in ancient Osiriani religion is false, she does know the ins and outs of Wati so ought to prove useful in that, at least.
Female Gnome Sorcerer (Razmiran Priest) 1
CN Small humanoid (gnome)
Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +2
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Defense
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AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 Dex, +1 size)
hp 7 (1d6+1)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +2; +2 trait bonus vs fear effects., +2 bonus vs. fear and despair
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Special Attacks bloodline arcana: elemental
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . 7/day—elemental ray
. . 1/day—flare (DC 14), prestidigitation (DC 14), produce flame
Gnome Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . 1/day—dancing lights
Sorcerer (Razmiran Priest) Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +5):
1st (4/day)—burning hands (DC 16), mage armor
0 (at will)—acid splash, disrupt undead, light, read magic
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 18
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 10
Feats Elemental Focus, False Focus
Traits reckless, wati native
Skills Acrobatics +6 (+2 jump), Bluff +8, Knowledge (local) +9, Knowledge (religion) +6, Perception +2; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
Languages Common, Gnome, Sylvan
SQ bloodlines (elemental), eternal hope, false piety
Other Gear 120 gp
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Special Abilities
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Bloodline Arcana: Elemental (Ex) You may change any energy spell to use Fire energy.
Elemental (Fire) You may change any energy spell to use your bloodline's energy type.
Elemental Focus (Fire) +1 DC to spells that deal damage of the chosen energy.
Elemental Ray (7/day) (Sp) Ranged touch attack deals 1d6+1 Fire damage.
Eternal Hope (1/day) +2 save vs. fear and despair. 1/day, reroll a 1 rolled on 1d20.
False Focus You can use a divine focus to cast arcane spells.
False Piety +0 (Ex) Gain +0 bonus on Use Magic Device checks to activate spell trigger and spell completion items that use divine spells.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in low light, distinguishing color and detail.
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Pathfinder® and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC®, and are used under license.
And if I go frontliner, here's a rough build of a human lore warden. She would have traveled with the Professor from Taldor. The daughter of a former servant in the Aristedes household, the family took a special interest in her as she was growing up, paying for her education (though she wasn't terribly bookish) and military training. Grateful for the kindness that helped her to a position above her station, she swore to do anything that was ever in her power to help the family. When she heard of their misfortune, she immediately volunteered to travel with the Professor to Osirion and help him in his quest.
What she doesn't know is that there was a reason for the family's patronage. She is, in fact, the bastard child of one of the Aristedes men. Not being male, she is not subject to the ill effects of the curse, but it lingers in her blood, giving her the same wards against mummies that the Professor enjoys but also cursing her own sons, should she ever bear them, to the family curse....
Female Human (Taldan) Fighter (Lore Warden) 1
Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +0
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +2; +2 vs. fear, +2 trait bonus on saving throws against curses and curse effects (including mummy rot and spells with the curse descriptor)., +2 trait bonus on saving throws against a mummy's aura of despair.
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee falchion +6 (2d4+6/18-20) and
. . heavy flail +5 (1d10+6/19-20) and
. . longspear +5 (1d8+6/×3)
Ranged longbow +3 (1d8/×3)
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Statistics
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Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +5; CMD 17
Feats Focused Discipline, Iron Will, Weapon Focus (falchion)
Traits mummy-cursed, oathbound
Skills Climb +6, Knowledge (local) +4, Knowledge (nobility) +4, Linguistics +4
Languages Common, Osiriani
SQ heart of the streets
Other Gear chain shirt, falchion, heavy flail, longbow, longspear, 30 gp
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Special Abilities
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Focused Discipline Gain temporary combat bonuses after resisting fear effects
Heart of the Streets +1 AC while adjacent to at least two allies. Crowds do not count as difficult terrain.
Oathbound (1/day) Reroll a saving throw against a Charm or Compulsion effect.
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Pathfinder® and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC®, and are used under license.
Look good. No questions here at the moment.
Any comments from your fellow players?
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I vote for the Lore Warden... purely because I want to see Joana play a frontliner :P
I get the PDF once the issue ships, which would be in the next few days so probably closer to the 10th...unless it sells/ships earlier based on it being the first issue and then being late with this one.
Anything moving on the AP Stephen? :) Just 8 days until it goes full release. Hoping you get it sooner. :D
UPDATED:
Alex - Professor Aristedes, Male, Human (Taldan), Bard (Dirge, Sound Striker)
Mark - Mus'ad, Male, Dwarf (Pahmet), Ranger (Warden)
Stephen - Kheled Hadri, Male, Human , Life Oracle (Lame Curse)
Joana - Unnamed, Female, Gnome, Sorcerer (Razmiran Priest) OR - Unnamed, Female, Human (Taldan), Fighter (Lore Warden)
Castor - Unnamed, Male, Drow, Fighter (Weapon Master, dual-wielding) OR - Unnamed, Male, Human , Wild Blooded (Sage) Tattooed Sorcerer
With the vast majority of you having some, or greater, intimate knowledge and/or previous exposure to Wati.
The drow, Isandril Velahrn, would probably be a friend, or at the very least companion, of Stephen's character. I find his idea of perhaps Isandril lending a helping hand to Kheled and helping him survive some dangerous situation or other after a chance meeting between them a nice enough link between a drow and a group of surface dwellers. And for a drow away from home the adage "beggars cannot be choosers" as far as friends are concerned is pretty darn relevant.
As for the sorcerer, Corven Endronil, he is a traveler and seeker of both knowledge and power, those two concepts being almost one and the same in his mind. It would not be too far-fetched for such an interest combined with a desire to travel to places promising such knowledge to result in his finding his way in Wati.
I wouldn't be opposed to starting this PBP a little early with just some RP on how we meet....just a thought. Subject to people's want and availability and ultimately GM approval.
I have an idea for a mini tomb delve that could work as a team building/origin adventure. There would be a some combat of course. :)
We could start as soon as everyone was ready, if there is interest. Even if it takes a week or two/three to complete, it gives me time to acquire and prepare for the main AP.
What does everyone say?
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I have an idea for a mini tomb delve that could work as a team building/origin adventure. There would be a some combat of course. :)
We could start as soon as everyone was ready, if there is interest. Even if it takes a week or two/three to complete, it gives me time to acquire and prepare for the main AP.
What does everyone say?
I'm ok either way with no particular preference.
My apologies, I was referencing my purchasing of his subscriber hard copies.
UPDATED:
Alex - Professor Aristedes, Male, Human (Taldan), Bard (Dirge, Sound Striker)
Mark - Mus'ad, Male, Dwarf (Pahmet), Ranger (Warden)
Stephen - Kheled Hadri, Male, Human , Life Oracle (Lame Curse)
Joana - Unnamed, Female, Gnome, Sorcerer (Razmiran Priest)
-- OR -- Unnamed, Female, Human (Taldan), Fighter (Lore Warden)
Castor - Isandril Velahrn, Male, Drow, Fighter (Weapon Master, dual-wielding)
-- OR -- Corven Endronil, Male, Human , Wild Blooded (Sage) Tattooed Sorcerer
With the vast majority of you having some, or greater, intimate knowledge and/or previous exposure to Wati.
I am a non hero lab supported individual.
I (obviously) have HeroLab, and I know F. Castor does as well.
As for the intro, even a "mini" delve is going to take six weeks or more by PbP (unless it's Orc and Pie, I guess). AK, you were in a WotR where the DM was going to run a "short" prequel to tide the group over until the first AP issue was available, and it ran several months and ended without ever getting into the actual AP, no?
That said, the initial group "getting to know you" period is generally my favorite part of the game, so I'd prefer not to skip over it. I have a hard time roleplaying when the group dynamics aren't established "onscreen."
I promise to keep it short (the delve) on my end... leaving you plenty of time to RP getting to know one another. :)
I will get all your characters to the same location with a little narrative exposition, let you meet and greet, do a little tomb exploration and then move things quickly into the main AP.
Think of it as an interactive cut/scene background montage. :)
Up to you all though. Whatever you guys decide is fine with me. :)
If we're doing a wee delve, could I humbly suggest that Mus'ad is freshly engaged for that specific job? - meaning it will need to be a bit out in the desert to fit with the Pahmet's skill set.