| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This thread is for the players who have been pre-selected from my RL tabletop group. As the game develops, we may be recruiting other players from the forums, but until that time, please do NOT dot the thread just yet. Thanks in advance!
Aegen, Cog, and Evo: Welcome to Sharn...
Sharn, 998 YK.
Curtains of water fall from the night sky in the City of Towers and the balmy, hot air turns rainwater into vapor only seconds after it hits the ground. Gargoyle statues, perched high up in the parapets of Sharn’s towers, empty their gutters between the labyrinthine walkways of the city. The rain falls hard, running off higher balconies and bridges in drenching waves. The distant glow of everbright lanterns, barely visible in the soaking gloom, does little to light the paths on this warm, wet evening.
It’s been a quiet night at The Reverse Mermaid, the brothel at which Aegen Aeron make his living as a bouncer. Well, for now at least. The Cyran sorcerer has been discreetly taking swigs of Zil brandy from his boot-flask all evening, but a little more than a half-hour ago, the brothel’s proprietor, __________, sent him home for the night. There were hardly any customers that evening and even if there had been, Aegen was in no condition to take care of business, the “good-for-nothin’ Mourner trash” that he was.
It’s easy for some like Cog to lose track of time.
She doesn’t have those daily little impulses that break up the hours of typical human life into smaller portions. Thirst, hunger, the need for sleep; Cog doesn’t have any of those. So, when she sat down earlier this morning in the library of Morgrave University with two stacks of books that nearly equaled her height when combined, she lost track of things pretty quickly. She had only been there a couple of hours when a tiny gnome with a long, hooked nose asked her in a low, clipped voice if she would kindly leave. The warforged was about to object when she saw that a bright, crisp morning had turned into a dark, rainy night.
Well, it had only seemed like a couple of hours, at any rate.
Evo struggles to catch her breath, as she races among the rain-slicked streets of Sharn. The city watch had pursued her all the way into the University District, but after a quick shift into an old man in scholarly robes, she threw them off her trail. She was after a rare gem called the Sphinx’s Eye Diamond and though she broke into the exhibition hall undetected, Evo missed the magic alarm that had been placed on the jewel itself. After a few minutes, tucked away in the shadows of a dark alley, Evo regains her composure. She looks both ways before returning to the winding walkways of the open city air.
oy, a Uni. Full of sobs and snobs. I ain't got no need being here, but the girl and the kid need me home safe . She'll be out all night. He'll need food fixens and the like. Still got to get this fetched by the cheapskate, I know he gets a bigger cut but I need to get this off my hand before I get pinched by watchers
You see a faint flicker of light, perhaps better described as a sparkle, in the fog, not too far off from where you're standing.
Evo, you recognize enough of the surrounding area to orient yourself. You'll have to take a nearby skybridge in order to make it home as quickly as possible.
Aegen Aeron trudges along the rain slick streets, trying to keep his bearings through the fog, and drink induced haze. He wiped a fingerless gloved hand across his scruffy face. He couldn't stand walking the confusing, often dizzying streets of Sharn while well into his cups, but at least the memories weren't walking home with him tonight. He shook his head, trying unsuccessfully to clear it, his messy brown hair spraying droplets.
It's...so black outside? Dark. Yes, that's the right word. No one is around, dammit. Is it cold? Oh well.
Cog's head cocks as she notices the sparkle in the distance. With no hesitation, she walks toward it.
Evo orients herself and walks around, surprised by the amount of faces acknowledging her.
Oh bugger, am I still the old shift? they think I be one of em scholaries, or proficients. I better shift back to my second skin.
Evo shifts back into her second skin. Being a 'ling has its advantages, but mostly it means people immediately distrust you, so most 'lings take on a second skin. A normal humanoid form so that they can easily pass off as more "normal". Lings carrying on their entire lives in their second skin, their employers, friends and even lovers never knowing what they truly look like.
Evo shifts quickly to a slight woman, no more then 5 feet, with tattoos up and down her arms in patterns that if you look long enough at them, you swear they move.
She had large eyes, too large for her small heart shaped face, and shock of short red/orange hair sticking out from under her hood, her face naturally had a mischievous look about, as if there was some secret only she was in on . One might take her for a co-ed studying magic, maybe bardic studies,but no one of serious concern. She knew that her "second skin" would fit in well in these halls, and there was no need for extra effort at this time.
As you approach a narrow skybridge ahead, the fog parts with your steps and the twinkling lights begin to take form. A stunning woman lies on the rain-slicked ground, dressed in the finest garments available. A white sequin gown clings to the dangerous curves of her body and a white fur shawl makes a bed for her ample blonde hair. She’s got the kind of looks that makes other women clinically ill, but it looks like those days a past.
She’s dead.
Your vision is clouded and little hazy. The world seems to be gently rocking before your eyes, but something has caught your interest. A glittering pool of sparkles in the fog.
Aegen pauses, blinking his brown eyes repeatedly in a still futile attempt to clear them. His hand unconsciously drifts to the hilt of the expertly crafted Cyran issue longsword at his hip as he cautiously, curiously approaches the sparkles.
Evo hides, peering out from behind a nearby wall, looking at the warforged in front of her.
What is she eyeballing? Does she even have those? Oy, Evo, hear yourself. Who are you to gavel? You ain't a natural kind either, you can just hide it easy.
Evo comes out of the darkness and approaches the warforged, she asks
Ev'rything alright miss? You need something? I just was leaving my class and i saw you walkabouting, can I help?
Cog kneels down to inspect the body. The fact that the woman is dead doesn't affect her, having seen this thousands of times before on the battle field. Granted...None of those dead soldiers looked this pretty or peaceful.
I thought I was done with this.
Hello?
Cog looks around, worried.
She doesn't belong to me, someone must want to claim her.
Evo approaches the confused looking warforged with the charisma of a snake-oil salesman. The young woman's words catch the living construct off-guard.
Evo, your words trail off at the end of your question as you see what the warforged was inspecting.
Aegen, as you approach the sparkles, they begin to take form and you see two silhouetted forms just behind the twinkling source.
She’s dead.
Aegen quickens his pace and moves to f-6, his grip tightening on his still sheathed longsword and his bleary eyes darting between the woman's body and the two figures just behind.
Evo and Cog, your conversation is interrupted as a scruffy, drunk man approaches from the mist, menacingly brandishing a longsword that's still in its sheathe. As the scabbard is still attached to his belt, he's only able to hold it up at limp angle a couple of feet above the ground.
Aegen, as you move forward the mist parts slightly and the two figures are revealed to be a young woman and a warforged.
Aegen stops short as his eyes fall upon the warforged. He supresses the memories and old impulses, deliberately speaking to the young woman.
He bellows over the constant downpour of the rain. What happened here?
The rain begins to fall slightly harder now and an inky red darkness creeps into the pool of water surrounding the dead young woman. As her gown gets soaked through, its brilliant white shimmerweave fabric begins to turn a pale crimson as well.
The body belongs to none other than the famous Moxie, a sort of celebrity courtesan here in Sharn. In addition to her scandalous rags-to-riches story that has since become part of her popular image, she's regarded as the crown jewel of a nightclub called Savia's in the Firelight district. You also know that Savia's is also considered the finest bordello in Sharn, catering to only the most expensive tastes for those seeking companionship.
Aegen's eyes briefly leave the two in front of him as he awaits a reply, scanning the rain and fog for any sign of who or what may have done this.
Evo recognizes the man. However it has never been in this skin that he's seen her. She tries desperately to hide the fact that she recognizes him from the reverse mermaid
oy! Put away you twisty, we know only what we've seen! Ain't got no business here! I just scholarly! Studying bards, I've got a way with me words
Evo says calmly. She takes a step towards the war forged, realizing that this man may want a fight, and two is always better then one.
Aegen blearily eyes the two for a moment longer before letting his hand fall away from his sword hilt. Despite this, he still remains an imposing figure, standing 5'10" and weighing 210 lbs of thick muscle, as evidenced by the dense and defined bare shoulders and upper arms exposed by the leather padded chainshirt he wears.
He points to the body, Either of you know her?
Cog remains still, with the exception of her head scanning the streets.
Most of the experience she's had with others had involved them running away. Treading carefully, she speaks.
This woman doesn't belong to me. I don't know what happened any more than you two. Who are you?
Cog's words come out harsher than she had intended, but none the less she waits to see the reactions of her new acquaintances.
This is not how I wanted to start my stay here...
Aegen's eyes narrow at the harshness in the warforged's voice, but he replies, Aegen. I was just heading home. Where in the Khyber is the watch?
Looking about for the absentee city guard, he approaches the body, bending a bit to examine the poor woman closer.
A warforged and a dead body, just like the old days
As the three of you make your guarded verbal exchanges and Aegen kneels to inspect the body, you all hear a scraping sound approach you from the dense thicket of rain and fog. The cacophony of metal-against-stone grows steadily louder as a figure approaches from the shroud of mist. The silhouette is distinctly a man in a long, dark coat with a wide-brimmed hat and a finely wrought plague doctor's mask. A scythe hangs loosely in his hand, its blade coming to silent rest on the stoney street as its bearer calmly stops in his tracks. He cranes his face up, as if to inspect you through the dark lenses of his false visage.
You remember what he said boys: 'No loose ends.'
An instant later, four more men in dark clothes, climb up from the sides of the skybridge. No doubt that had been hanging on the ledge the whole time listening in. Their dark, almost featureless clothes are somewhat patchwork and a few display their musculature in sleeveless shirts not unlike Aegen's. They wear similar plague doctor masks, though these are poorly made and are partly concealed by dark hoods. The sight of these masks may bring back memories for Aegen and Cog, either good or bad, but more likely the latter.
"Sorta Enhanced" Bloorot Gang Thug CR 2
XP 400
Human fighter 1/rogue 1
NE Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses Perception +5
Defense
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 24
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +0
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee dagger +4/+4 (1d4+3/19–20) PLUS bloodroot poison (Fort DC 12, 1/rd for 4 rds.: 1 Con and 1 Wis damage; save ends)
-Each dagger has one use
Ranged dagger +5 (1d4+3/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 12
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Skill Focus (Intimidate), Toughness, Two-Weapon Fighting
Skills Climb +8, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (local) +4, Perception +5 (+6 to find traps), Stealth +7
Languages Common
SQ trapfinding +1
Gear masterwork studded leather, daggers (2), quarterstaff, sap, manacles (2)
Bloodrot Gang Leader
XP 2,400
Human fighter 4/rogue 3
CN Medium humanoid
Init +4; Senses Perception +7
Defense
AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +4 Dex)
hp 58
Fort +8, Ref +9, Will +2; +1 vs. fear
Defensive Abilities bravery +1, evasion, trap sense +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 scythe +12 (2d4+4) PLUS bloodroot poison (Fort DC 12, 1/rd for 4 rds.: 1 Con and 1 Wis damage; save ends)[/b]
-The scythe has only one dose
Ranged mwk composite longbow +11/+6 (1d8+1/×3)
Special Attacks sneak attack +2d6
Statistics
Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 10
Base Atk +6; CMB +10 (+14 when tripping); CMD 21 (23 vs. trip)
Feats Agile Maneuvers, Combat Expertise, Deceitful, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), Improved Feint, Improved Trip, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (scythe), Weapon Specialization (scythe)
Skills Acrobatics +14, Appraise +5, Bluff +12, Climb +5, Disable Device +11, Disguise +14, Escape Artist +10, Intimidate +4, Perception +7 (+8 to find traps), Ride +9, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +14, Swim +5
Languages Common, Halfling
SQ armor training 1, rogue talent (finesse rogue), trapfinding +1
Combat Gear potion of invisibility; Other Gear +1 chain shirt, +1 spiked chain, masterwork composite longbow (+1 Str) with 20 arrows, sap, cloak of resistance +1, disguise kit, light horse (combat trained) with saddle, silk rope, smokestick, thieves' tools
Aegen draws his blade, the ring of Cyran steel lost in the cascade of the rain, and gripping it in both hands strikes at the nearest enemy
Evo looks around scared and unsure, she motions to the hot fighter and the hot war-forged, it was hot. She nods to them as if to say, "lets do this".
A frustrated cog grips her greatsword. She wasn't afraid, but more frustrated.
Here I was thinking this war was over. "So much for making your 'normal' acquaintance, Aegen and...that girl."
Move to K6
Cog moves with alarming, second-nature swiftness as she engages the enemy band's dark leader. Her large greatsword sends up a shower of sparks, briefly reflected in the plague doctor's lenses, as she swipes at the villain, nearly bisecting him from the groin up. The masked man, however, sidesteps the attack with surprising ease, releasing a slight "Heh" as he moves.
The third goonie moves in behind Aegen, flanking the Cyran and attacking with two daggers.
Miraculously, the thug is unable to land a blow as Aegen's drunken body swings wildly from side to side.
The man in the wide brimmed hat, stands perfectly motionless after dodging Cog's greatsword, watching in stillness as the battle unfolds.
Aegen is caught by surprise at the attacks coming at his back and as he wheels to avoid the daggers, his longsword swings wide.
Evo swiftly pulls out both daggers and gets the drop on the thug nearest her. He's clearly surprised that she's armed, let alone that she moves with such swiftness.
The changeling's hungry blades dig into the hoodlum's chest simultaneously. In one swift action, she pulls them up and out, carving a deep V-shape into her opponent's torso.
Thugs have 20 hp, not 24.
The thug closest to Evo barks at his ally, "Take care of the drunkard, the little girl is mine!"
The mouthy bandit moves to his left as he pulls his own daggers out and tries to stab down into Evo's shoulders, the changeling girl still recoiling from her last attack.
Evo quickly jerks her back knee, turning her body completely sideways as both daggers come down on either side of her, narrowly missing. As the thug recovers, she twists back and faces him once more.
The last of the gang to act moves to fill the vacant space where his ally was in moments ago. He is now flanking the sorcerer and has drawn two daggers of his own.
The thug's dagger digs deep between Aegen's ribs and a hot surge of pain runs up and down the Cyran's body. Aegen, as the bandit rips his dagger out from you, you can see that the blade is awash with some sort of black, shiny ichor.
AOO
I can't believe I'm doing this!
Agen swore he would only use the small wand he produces from a catch on his belt under extreme circumstances. Considering the blood seeping heavily from his body and pooling under his boot, this qualifies. Meeting the command and pointing it at his slippery enemy he discharges a single glowing blue/white orb of poor magical force.
Aegen, your longsword barely misses the thug as it cuts a long gash into the side of his hood. You stumble as the dagger is ripped from your ribs, but the unnatural burning sensation dies a moment later.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
F*ck. I'm rusty. Heh... No seriously though, come on Cog.
Cog tries again to attack the gang leader. She raises her great sword and aims to strike.
Aegen quickly repositions himself
The gang leader, now grievously wounded, maintains his composure and silently retaliates.
The menacingly quiet plague doctor strikes true with the first swipe of his scythe. The second attack runs along your metal plated arm, sending up a shower of sparks, but it doesn't quite land. His gaze lands on a tangled wound in Cog's abdomen: a mess of wires, wood, and brass.
"Very nice," he cooly remarks, admiring his own handiwork.
[dice=Fortitude Save]1d20+3
Evo is scared and alarmed, this sort of direct confrontation... is not something she is normally faced with, she makes a move to turn and run. However, looking at the fighter and the war forged she is faced with guilt she makes another move to stab thug
attack 1
attack 2
damage 1
damage 2
all on thug 2
Unfortunately, Evo's crisis of conscious momentarily throws her off her game as she struggles to land a blow.
That being said, her new found resilience reinforces her constitution and she is able to stave off the draining effects of the enemy's tainted daggers.
Aegen quickly steps back from his opponent. He extracts a small stoppered vial from his belt pouch and downs the milky blue fluid, feeling a slight rush of renewed vitality.
Evo steps forward towards her new attackers more grounded and resilient then ever.
attack 1- thug 2
Damage ( if passes
Attack 2 - thug 4
Damage ( if passes)
(out of character, would Cog be able to remember who created her? Or is she sort of hazy like Wolverine?)
After hearing what the gang leader said as he cruelly dug his scythe into her abdomen, Cog feelings of annoyance turn instead to a flood of anger. Unsure of why she is unable to control herself, she continues to attack. Violently.