Davian Grallus' "Jade Regent Adventure Path"

Game Master DavianGrallus

So then, you've been picked to play! Excellent. Now it is time to get into the meat of my rules that I have as a GM. I hope all those picked find them fair.

Welcome one and all! I am Mitsuko Kaijitsu, it is a privilege and an honor to meet you.

Exalted to be chosen.
Let us tell a story worthy of thousand bards and hundred poets!

Shalewen, the stoic hunter, and her faithful wolf companion, at your service.

"Woof"

I love when people make their companions their own profile. So cute <3

Alright, let's get to the basics of business before the weekend then, hm?

This group of characters was who, at the end of the day, I deemed would have the most chemistry and cooperation between one another. Now we must use your individual motivations to bring you not just to Sandpoint, but to Ameiko's Tavern.

To be more specific;

"... using the Jade Regent Player’s Guide as an aid to get started in this Adventure Path, they’ll start play with established ties not only to Sandpoint, but to each other as well. Since all the PCs should also have ties to Ameiko Kaijitsu and the Rusty Dragon, the old cliché of starting the adventure in a tavern seems strangely apt—..."

So everyone please, provide a sentence long introduction of your tie to Sandpoint. We will use this as a way to at least ensure you all are aware of one another's presence in Sandpoint before opening up to the First Scene, in the Rusty Dragon.

I welcome the chance to work with each of you.

Seriously, thank you for the selection, I'm excited to get a chance to do this.

As for my tie-in: For the past few years, Tree has been frequenting the Rusty Dragon--at first in the company of Sanduru and other members of his caravan, later, on his own--and has become a regular in the town of Sandpoint, though not a native to the area. While he has sought out conversation when there, his straight-forward way of talking and stiff mannerisms have made him few friends. He continues to come nonetheless.

Glad to be part of this game! As far as my tie-in goes: Syeira has lived in Sandpoint her entire life as Koya Mvashti's adoptive daughter. As such, she regards Sandru like a big brother.

Meaning she'd probably have met you, Tree, at least when you visited in Sandru's company. ;)

. . . Sandru . . .

Why is it I always want to add an extra u in his name?

Shalewen has been in Sandpoint for most of her life as well, not really under anyone's care. Both Ameiko and Shalelu have shared the responsibility though she has been mostly independent. Shalelu and her father were good friends and the elf has continued the training her father started while Ameiko has tried to mentor her social ones skills. It hasn't worked out well for the latter.

His recent visit has been to pass on a message from the elders of the tribe to some of the Shoanti who still hold on to the old ways in town, and he usually stays at the Rusty Dragon on his visits. He is looking for something to do as he is a bit restless (he doesn't like staying in one place too long) and since he used up the last of his trade goods to pay for his stay, he needs to earn some money to pay for his keep until Koya tells him why she wanted him to come see her.

Rokkad has been coming to Sandpoint intermittently for the last 40 years, mostly to visit Niska and his "little sister" Koya. He would know Syeira, though it has probably been several years since he has seen her. Maybe she might think of him as sort of an "uncle"? He looks almost the same since the day she met him as a child, though she would probably know that he is as old as Koya.

Thank you so much for inviting me to play!

Mitsuko is Ameiko's younger sister and that is what she is known for. Often coming to visit her sister Mitsuko has a distinct habit of dressing in traditional Tien garb on her outings.

Often refered to as Ameiko's younger sister than her name, they believe she is at best a shadow of her older sister and only a pretty flower with a singing voice.

Little do they realize she has been the one managing the Kaijitsu estate letting Ameiko run the Rusty Dragon with no issues. Her gentle soft spoken ways hides a steadfast personality that desires to be more than her sister's shadow.

It is quite possible any of you have run into her. Also, you may even actually call her by her name!

His recent visit has been to pass on a message from the elders of the tribe to some of the Shoanti who still hold on to the old ways in town, and he usually stays at the Rusty Dragon on his visits. He is looking for something to do as he is a bit restless (he doesn't like staying in one place too long) and since he used up the last of his trade goods to pay for his stay, he needs to earn some money to pay for his keep until Koya tells him why she wanted him to come see her.

Rokkad has been coming to Sandpoint intermittently for the last 40 years, mostly to visit Niska and his "little sister" Koya. He would know Syeira, though it has probably been several years since he has seen her. Maybe she might think of him as sort of an "uncle"? He looks almost the same since the day she met him as a child, though she would probably know that he is as old as Koya.

Thank you so much for inviting me to play!

I like that idea!

Excellent! And we all are accounted for, I believe, so we will begin with actual gameplay posts in just a few hours, most likely 6pm EST for me.

My posts will be much earlier after this, you'll have to excuse me, I've got a Property / Casualty license to obtain today! :P

Syeira sees Rokkad as an Uncle, who is a friend and brother to Koya, who knows Sanduru, who is then also a brother to Syeira, allowing her to know 'Tree', tieing you three in wonderfully. Occassionally you would see Shalewen talking to Ameiko, and even, possibly, Ameiko's sister, though it appears Shalewen would not be talking so much.

We only have Ikoma to tie in as I take my examination, but we now have a basic frame of how you all know each other, so I feel much better moving forward a bit more.

Here's kind of what I see for relationships with Tree:

@Syeira: I could see us being somewhat friends (or as close a friend as Tree has in Sandpoint). Tree would be quietly fascinated by your Harrow reading, and you're character's personality seems strange enough to be able to get past Tree's stiff mannerisms

@Mitsuko Kaijitsu: Tree would definitely call you by name. I'd imagine though that we'd mostly just be acquaintances and unless you'd heavily insisted, Tree would call you by your full name.

@Rokkad: With it being eight years since you've been, I don't see any way Tree'd know you at all. I think we'll probably just be strangers

@Shalewen: Again, I'd probably only be acquainted with you, our combined awkwardness in social skills would probably keep us from coming together before this.

Now this is all just my impression and I'd welcome suggestions for reworking this to also fit your impression of our relationship. I left Ikoma out of this list for now until you can get a chance to post your introduction and tie-in.

Edit: @DavianGrallus I started writing this before yours was posted, but yeah, that sounds about right. Good luck with your license and I'm excited to get going.

This is a small town so Shalewen would at least know of Syeira, Rokkad and Tree but probably not had much dealing with Koya's family. I could actually see Ameiko trying to push her and Mitsuko together as friends. That could go a lot of different directions. Gohei hasn't responded yet but his trait is Childhood Crush. I assume that's Ameiko. If that is the case, their relationship will be tense as Shalewen tries to interfere at any moment she can. That might be the one thing her and Mitsuko bond over, a joint effort to make Gohei's advances very difficult.

Mitsuko and Shalewen would have seen Rokkad whenever he comes to stay at the Dragon, so they would have known him for quite a while. As for Tree, it probably has not been 8 years since his last visit, maybe only 2-3. Rokkad might have taken interest in you as another long-lived being with other-plane heritage, someone who he might be able to relate to.

Shadow is an overly relaxed lap dog most of the time. Happy to sniff just about anyone. He only gets serious when Shalewen needs him to be and that is with a touch to his back from her alone.

@Tregdorult: If you called everyone by their full name she would probably consider it endearing. Though if you ever told her your real name she would call you by that instead of Tree.

@Shalewen: I could see the two of them thrust together for a time neither talking to the other. Eventually the two of them growing a close quiet bond. It could be you were the one that helped secure the leather for the leather armor she wears secretly. We can chat in messages if you wanna discuss all the trouble the girls got into. Also, heh even close enough if you want she could talk for you. (This actually entails you telling me what you want said :P)

@Mitsuko Oh, and he would introduce himself by Tregdorult, but Tree tends to follow him around and he's stopped fighting it. He sometimes even offers it to anyone who has trouble with his real name, though usually someone else around him has offered it first (I could see Sandru doing this a lot and quickly whenever he introduces Tregdorult). Anyone who actually used his actual name would instantly earn his respect.

As for your full name, whenever meeting someone, he'll call them by their full name, until either requested otherwise or have become close friends (which will probably be everyone in this group at first).

@Rokku if it's only been 2 or 3 years, we'd have probably met. I could see Tree also taking an interest in you being both outsider and Shoanti.

@all Mitsuko brings up a good point. Tree would introduce himself as Tregdorult, but the name Tree tends to just follow him around, as it's much easier to say. So some of you, depending on your personality, might end up calling him Tregdorult, though he won't ask anyone to.

Then Mitsuko would have insisted on learning how to say his name no matter how much it took!

Shadow is an overly relaxed lap dog most of the time. Happy to sniff just about anyone. He only gets serious when Shalewen needs him to be and that is with a touch to his back from her alone.

Be aware that Syeira will probably fawn over him, as she's won't to do with any cute animals we'll come across! :D

I couldn't help myself. Tian Xia is the cultural equivalent of Japan and that got me thinking about anime, one of my favorite things. So I have this image of a chibi Ameiko coming up to a young Mitsiko and saying she has a present. From behind her back she brings forth a very bored looking, chibi Shalewen, literally holding her off the ground. Mitsuko is surprised and confused. Then Shalewen says "Mi-tsu-ko" with arms outstretched and they can't help themselves. There is much squealing and hugging. Then Ameiko says she comes with a puppy and brings Shadow from behind her back. He is a lot happier and cuter. Then there is even more squealing and baby talk with Shalewen in the middle, expression never changing.

But seriously, I think they would both be friends and the leather armor could be the beginning point. They both respect something about each other. They are both quietly determined individuals. And around Mitsuko, Shalewen is still quiet but its different. She doesn't avoid or ignore her or look like she is trying to get away like she does with a lot of people. In fact she oddly comfortable just sitting close by and listening to her talk or sing.

Shadow the Wolf wrote:

Shadow is an overly relaxed lap dog most of the time. Happy to sniff just about anyone. He only gets serious when Shalewen needs him to be and that is with a touch to his back from her alone.

Be aware that Syeira will probably fawn over him, as she's won't to do with any cute animals we'll come across! :D

Then that could be their connection. Shadow actively seeks the one that keeps him fat on snacks and Shalewen keeps trying to keep him away. There would be a long period of open distrust for trying to steal her companion, which is how she'd see it, but eventually she'd cave because Shadow is happy.

Names are very important in Shoanti culture, so Rokkad would do his best to pronounce Tregdorult's name correctly and would use it unless he was specifically told to call him Tree.

Now I'm getting this vision of Tregdorult and Rokkad sitting out on the front porch of the Dragon in rocking chairs talking about the "Good Old Days" like two old men in a movie... ;)

When Chibi Shalewen and Chibi Mitsuko playing when along comes Syeira holding bacon to have Shadow run off to get it. Shalewen Syeira and Shadow all running in circles.

ALL THE S'S

Ikoma Gohei does live in sandpoint for almost all his life. As he has a crush on Ameiko he tries to visit the rusty dragon as regulary as possible. When he is not helping his foster-father or working as a tattoo artist, he works as a deputy for the sheriff. He recently bought a horse he named windspirit and he has learned to ride in no time.

When Chibi Shalewen and Chibi Mitsuko playing when along comes Syeira holding bacon to have Shadow run off to get it. Shalewen Syeira and Shadow all running in circles.

ALL THE S'S

While Mitsuko plays Yakety Sax in the background.

Oh this is so perfect! So, alright, forgive me, but for this first scene, because of just how important these first moments are (and even the AP stresses this), I'd like to sort of do a "roll call" list

1) Ikoma would be present with Sheriff Hemlocke

2) The 3 S's will be doing their Ya Ya Sisterhood antics in Ameiko's presence, as all are quite close to her

3) Mitsuko is the difficult one to place- Do you normally lounge around the Tavern, being pestered and doted over by your older sister, or would you require a summons? You are a bard after all, but, I don't intend to ever run over any kind of RP the player themselves would do instead

4) Tree, you have returned to Sandpoint after quitting the Caravan in search of bigger, better things, and I assume often find yourself in the Rusty Dragon based on what you've said so far. A quiet yet amicable hope-to-be adventurer after Sanduru has parked his caravan at Sandpoint for a no doubt well earned rest.

5) Rokkad, you come as big brother to Koya, hoping to fulfill your destiny. This has put you on a similar track to what "Tree" seeks, and with his NPC's counter parted mother.

For this reason is why I picked all of you specifically, and I am glad to see it intertwine so wonderfully and naturally.

With this, in the next day or so, just before the weekend, I will set the scene in the game play thread. We can assume as the scene is set that you all have found yourselves exhausted for one reason or another, and on that night, you all just happen to be in the Rusty Dragon.

Exactly how I imagined myself there. :)

Hee, I can't wait! :D

Also, if I end up sliding into Chaotic Good I will not be surprised or upset. Neutral Good is the closest match to The Sandpoint Pantheon, but I find that my characters tend to shift from how I initially envisioned them when I actually start roleplaying...

Hee, I can't wait! :D

Also, if I end up sliding into Chaotic Good I will not be surprised or upset. Neutral Good is the closest match to The Sandpoint Pantheon, but I find that my characters tend to shift from how I initially envisioned them when I actually start roleplaying...

I know what you mean. There are some characters I have created that just seem to take on a life of their own!

Mitsuko goes to the tavern on her own from time to time. Especially if her friend is there.

We begin with a slow roll :P

For those that have done this before, or know of Shalelu's legendary Ranger-esque character, you should know that I've changed her to a Druid.

I plan on her being about for quite some time, and I literally hate rangers on about 7 / 9 levels of hell, so I changed her to something I feel is a bit better for the scenery, and just something that makes sense, from an RP standpoint, of someone that appears capable of always vanishing from the grasps of goblin hordes.

That is all, carry on!

Btw Ikoma's loayal steed windspirit

And we round out the party with the Mighty Earth Spirit, Kokip!

Yay, gameplay thread's up! Mm, it has that new thread smell!

That's right! I forgot about wind spirit! :P

And happy to see kokip <3

. . . and I literally hate rangers on about 7 / 9 levels of hell, . . .

Hmm. I guess it's good I didn't stick with the ranger build I had for the other game then . . . Lol.

Anyway, yay for gameplay!

No I'll pick a ranger, I only exile it for NPC's like Shalelu who I love, and plan to RP a lot :P

Rokkad, Koya was the one who kissed you.

D'oh! That'll teach me not to post while taking a quick break at work...

Alright everybody, SO-

Just so you all know, I am alive.

You should also know I now work the 9-5 EST, so my posting times will change a little bit. About to post up within the hour, and then onwards we go!

Alright, now we are in the thick of it.

If you have any item changes, inventory changes, parts to add to your relationship with a chosen / trait based NPC, anything I missed in the introductions, or any change to character class / feats / features / stat blocks-

Now is the time to bring it up! Character feelings and attitudes change once you start to play them, which is why I'm open to it.

But after this, there won't really be a chance or time. 24 hours from this post, feel free to message me about anything you'd like, and then we move forward!

I'm not laying it on too thick with the Harrow references, am I? I plan on Harrowing properly once things get going.

I have no changes but weren't you going to even us out a bit on ability scores. I don't think everyone ended up with a nice spread like I did.

Hmmm,

@Syeira I don't think so at all <3

@Shalewen Hmmm hmmm, yes yes, I forgot about that a little bit.

Is anyone uncomfortable with their ability scores, going forward?

I'm good!

I wouldn't say no to a small bump in Dex and/or str, but really I'm fine as well.

I can live with Rokkad's stats. ;)

So can I ;-)