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Checking in :) Salonius is pretty much complete, save for me umming an aging over his reason for attending the protest. Probably Protesting the Government. or Tagging along with one of his sisters, Niera. I lean towards the later if it is not problematic?
Niera Barradin is a poet (low level expert?) with a talent for forgery that actually supplies most of her livelihood. She is a great flirt, but rarely ever more than that, and enjoys living on the edge. Having associates in both of Kintargo's gangs, and with several of the less government approved religious groups.
Niera is 25, 4 years older than Salonius, she loves playing with his silky hair - to such an extent that Salonius has a habit of checking himself for surreptitiously applied hair bows. She bonded a female thrush familiar (Iron Will, Familiar Bond) because of her adoration and appreciation of Peeko and just how useful a talking super stealthy accomplice could be to a forger. Her thrush is named Sesha, and Niera had them, Sesha and Peeko, married by a bemused Priestess of Erastil - much to Salonius's exasperation, Peeko is fine with it.
Niera is an attractive tall woman, with a head of, to her mind, coarse red hair - hence her love of Salonius's wasted silky blond lockes. She has piercing green eyes and tends to look like she is about to hit someone with a rolling pin, a combination of a perennially vexed expression and her assertive walk.
She does not get along with her sister Helena, mostly because Helena has gorgeous blond hair and is very smug about her idyllic married life. Also when she was seven Helena tied her favourite doll to a street dog so it could ride it and Lady Lucibell was lost forever. Helena has been regularly eviscerated in prose ever since, though Niera likes to think she has been subtle enough that her dull witted sister will never notice + she has noticed.
Do you by chance experiment with mint in your garden? Because once it is forbidden for drinks, candy and confection, your professor could suggest to rip that now useless stuff out. Or you could see that rule vs. a innocent plant as an outrage, which is enough to motivate you. It was the first thing that came to mind, but you could check the proclamations in the Players Guide to see if you find something else that would get Salonious to protest the government.
It is a positive thing, that your relatives are more than cardboards. But bringing them to the protest might lead to complications, as the group of "heroes to be" meets there for the first time. What would you do with your sister, if it gets rough? Leave her alone? Bring her with you into the trouble? That doesn't need to be a bad thing. You just need to think it through before, because grabbing her to get her out of there (and with that you're out of there too) would be one logical reaction.
Hi there. Just checking in. You didn't need me to do anything else, right?
I did wonder about it, seems like a potential problem for a GM, but its one of the options I wondered if there was some provision for it built into the AP. Generally having one player essentially interacting with themselves rather than the rest of the group is not ideal.
If he did come with Niera he would probably try to ensure she did not start chanting catchy abusive poems at the guards - or at least make her whisper them to Sesha, and Peeko to start off so they could not be traced to her. If violence kicked off he would make use of ghost sound, silent image, and color spray as no lethal options while having Peeko hide and cry out revolutionary slogans from round a corner, essentially trying to focus any guards on imaginary foes so he and Niera could escape. Only in a real pinch would he start hurling splintered spears.
Peeko would likely be positioned behind any guards, etc., hidden with his +18 stealth and ready for a flare of pain through the empathic link - yanking out a nose hair, etc.
Maybe I can get the best of both worlds by saying he was told to come to the protest by Niera, but she never showed up?
He's a planner and a pessimist so he would prepare Peeko similarly even if alone, but if he went with Niera he would be far less relaxed given that he regards all of his female relatives as volcanically inclined troublemakers, and especially given Niera's love of scathingly insulting poems about those in power.
Boils down to I will have him invited/ordered to show up by his sister Neira who did not show up. So sort of there to Protest the Government since he already came.
Healing does seem like a bit of a problem for the group. The best option I can come up with is for Salonius to scribe scrolls of Infernal Healing, though its not one I am particularly fond of given it is a spell with the evil descriptor, though I suppose it is appropriateish for Cheliax. Unlikely to sit well with a Paladin though.
NPC Clerics can certainly help, but you generally do not want one as a tag along which can leave a group in the lurch. Thoughts?
Hi! I'm here. I jumped into the game since I saw you had a first post up already. Hope that is ok.
It is ok in principle, but we start before the Night of Ashes, which means the Thrashing Badger is still standing. Please hurry to correct this.
If you're clear about who your character is you can introduce yourself in gameplay, at this beautiful Moonday. A day like every other in your life in Kintargo. Lord-mayor of the town is still Jilia Bainilus and everything is going it's way as always.
So you describe how your day starts. You meet some people to get a feeling for context. Either some NPCs, that I will provide, or other players if you have places in your background where you could meet.
And once everyone is back home and sound asleep, the drama will start.
As I expalined to Alamara in PM:
The AP has the encounters stretched out over weeks to have time for rebellion building. Leading to mostly one encounter/day. Therefore with the bard and the pally being able to heal a bit and NPC support to get off combat healing, I guess you should be fine.
Hi there. Just checking in. You didn't need me to do anything else, right?
I think you're fine. You just get a GM bonus spell known: CLW
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Hi! I'm here. I jumped into the game since I saw you had a first post up already. Hope that is ok.It is ok in principle, but we start before the Night of Ashes, which means the Thrashing Badger is still standing. Please hurry to correct this.
Well shoot, the post just flipped to an hour as I was typing this and now it is stuck.
Stupid players guide-- way too inaccurate. It doesn't say anything about the Thrashing Badger burning down during the night of ashes. It just says it burned down. Figured it happened a long time ago.
Could you adjust the story a teeny bit by burning down a new tavern? We can just have burned down taverns everywhere!
Can't GMs delete posts in their campaigns? If that is the case you could copy the post adjust and repost while FoxyQ deletes.
I don't think that works, but you could just ret-con it in a new post that's fixed.
I can't. Safest way to do such an edit if you're short on time is copy to editor and delete.
I'll just look the other way and ignore that, and once the tavern burns down you act angry and surprised.
I'm a bit at a disadvantage here to prepare you for all that stuff, because I got the complete story in the AP book and two thirds of it in the Players Guide, so I assumed you know stuff, that is actually not spelled out in the PG.
And in addition I do an early start two weeks before the AP which complicates stuff.
But I'll just add a ooc note to gameplay in my reply to ignore that part, that it is clear for everyone who reads it later. It's no biggy.
After some PM discussion with GM Foxy, I will reskin Alamara as a paladin of Sarenrae instead of Iomedae. She will have fallen in with the neophyte cult of the Dawnflower started by the bard Shensen, who has since disappeared. Sounds like the Sarenrites have also been outlawed and now meet in the temple of Shelyn on the sly.
Alamara will be looking for Shensen and revenge on those who have wrecked her religious community.
Don't have time to get the rebuild done and questions answered tonight, but will do so tomorrow as time permits.
@Alamara
Please delete your post in Gameplay while there is time and rewrite it.
From the book The majority of the priests of Sarenrae perished in the fire that destroyed the Silver Star, so there are none there to recruit. The building’s owner, Shensen, ...
Which has not happened yet. We are still before the night of ashes and you can do your prayers with Shensen at the Silver Star.
@Alamara
Please delete your post in Gameplay while there is time and rewrite it.From the book The majority of the priests of Sarenrae perished in the fire that destroyed the Silver Star, so there are none there to recruit. The building’s owner, Shensen, ...
Which has not happened yet. We are still before the night of ashes and you can do your prayers with Shensen at the Silver Star.
Sorry, no way to delete the post at this point.
How would a player no this? The Player's Guide is pretty explicit saying that the Silver Star was burned and Shensen is missing, all in the past tense. There is no mention of the Night of Ashes you refer to and nothing in the PG that ties the burning of the inn mentioned to this Silver Star fire or the end of Sarenrite priests. The PG also explicitly states the survivors of the Sarenrae faith are being sheltered in the temple of Shelyn. Even the notes you make to Saul above don't tell me that those items haven't happened yet.
I read through the whole thing again, and couldn't find anything contradicting what is stated above.
Not sure how we are supposed to know that hasn't happened yet. Or when we are in the timeline then. Has none of the history described in the PG happened? I am personally quite confused, but will do the best I can to limp along until it becomes clear, making a retcon post as you suggest above.
A player wouldn't know this from the players guide, as it assumes you start after the night of ashes.
But I mentioned it several times know that I want to start before this, and latest after Saul stepped into this problem, with no longer being able to edit it, with the corrections in gameplay and the half dozen posts about it in discussion I thought it was clear by know ;)
We are at the day before the Night of Ashes. It is a regular day in Kintargo, and once you're through your daily routine, I will throw the events of the hostile takeover of town at you.
The posts with Saul's situation reference the Badger burning down but there's no way to tie that action with the Silver Star from what I, as a player, know. If they burned down at the same time or for the same reason, I don't know that or what the Night of Ashes is. They seem like separate events from what I can tell (until now). Sorry if its the same mistake, but had no way of knowing that.
Anyway, ready to move on...
Hope the next post is more in line with the point in the story where we start. Normal day, no issues. Not sure how to characterize Shensen, but assume they have more of a role to play somewhere along the line.
Will get crunch on Alamara done and posted by tomorrow evening.
It is a complicated situation, and I notice now, that I should have called a STOP after Saul's mistake and give a complete summary about the adventure start with all the bits I gave here and there in recruitment and what I expect and what not.
But afterwards you're always wiser.
So, ONWARDS!
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Well the night of ashes has certainly happened now! Pretty crazy stuff. Saul plans on continuing to look for the cat, but his priorities have shifted very suddenly and his bigger goal is to pick up information on what happened and why. Gonna look for a couple of my stool pigeons and informants. :)
Also, Foxy you remind me very much of Emma Watson with that picture.
@Foxy Quickpaw I probably should have been, but I really was not expecting that! At least not so soon. I was kinda angling to meet Meliandri at the after party or some such. Hope it is alright for me to take a little license with saves, etc., there, Color Spray was the only realistic option I could think of for Salonius stopping his ursine mother.
Wasting spells for roleplay is encouraged. And feigning saves or leaving them out is fine.
What I would appreciate though if you help me a bit with who is talking in your posts. As there are a lot of characters I sometimes have to read it twice or more to be sure who said what.
I was originally planning on having a little longer until everything happens, but I was playing two games with two players and none with the others, so I wanted to get it synchronized faster.
That Meliandri left, before you two met outside is indeed an opportunity lost, but I guess it would help to ask for such interaction in discussion to give the other player a hint, not to run away, or come up with places to meet accidentally. This helps also me, to know when to press on, and when to wait.
I'll answer all posts in gameplay, but will move on to the new Lord Mayor handing out the proclamations, so the town is fully aware of what to come and you can settle into that.
Sure, works for me. Maybe we can do a little meeting up during the proclamations.
@Foxy: I'll probably toss all my potential NPCs to you for you to use as you see fit. My last GM...
So I'm pretty okay with whatever nefarious situations you put them in. That's what they're for, after all.
I hope I covered all posts. If not, just gimme a hint and I'll provide.
As for putting your NPCs in peril: You bet! Muhahaha.
For clarification before something unexpected happens. I assume the rebellion forms in the dark. That really starts after the first protests.
The AP is written like anybody knows who the rebels are, and where they live and have their headquarters. Not explicitly, but once the third person comes to knock at the door of your secret lair asking for you for help, you get the idea. This I deem stupid. Because why wouldn't the guard come to that place too, to arrest you.
So before anyone decides to beat up, or kill guards or do something else in public please be aware that the goal here would be to do rebellious stuff under covers. Of course a vigilante identity would allow for public actions. Just don't act openly vs. Thrune showing your face.
I think he's using Student of Philosophy to get +Int Modifier to Diplomacy, which gives him +4. Then he's got a feat giving him Diplomacy and Perception as class skill for +3 more, 1 rank for 8 total, and the thrush familiar for +3 more, for 11 total.
Overall, it's not insanely abusive. Next level, Mels should have +12 in Bluff and Diplomacy (14 in Diplomacy if she can use her Parade Armor bonus on a Versatile Performance (String) check in place of Diplomacy).
Edit: @Salonius: Bad luck!
That is exactly it :) I love Student of Philosophy, I personally see it as being persuasive in the manner of say a Debate Team Captain who is not charismatic. I do view it as one of the more powerful traits, and one I would, and did, always check with the GM on.
Its actually even better than it seems it gives Int instead of Cha to bluff when lying. Int to diplomacy excludes gather information though.
Not quite Finding Haleen, but a heck of a trait.
I think I slowly get some people together. But if you'd help a bit it would be easier. The church service would have been a good possibility too.
And please leave moving on to a new day to me. If you think I should, because you're done for tat one, tell in discussion, so others could object if they still have plans for the day.
I'm trying to tie you all in, but for some it is easier than with others. Gibson is really easy with his backstory, and Salonius offered a great opportunity by getting himself arrested. I'm struggling a bit to get something to fit Alamara. With Meliandri, the NPCs given are mostly friends and romantic associates. I don't want to throw guards at them for no reason. So for now she has to play her fun herself until I come up with the mint proclamation. Or maybe I get her at the fancy clothes proclamation.
If you have ideas for me to get you more involved, please tell me.
That's fine. I'll just keep solo-RPing and trying to make it work.
EDIT: I'll probably go ahead and have a fight with Meliandri's foster parents in the next in-game day or so. That'll get things moving for her.
LOL, great fun for me so far :) Did Salonius get told he was going to be held for 4 days? Was his spell component pouch removed? I imagine that was pretty much all he had on him given he was intending to be out only for a brief time.
I really wanted him to peer through the slot, but it seems a bit imprudent and he is all about risk assessment.
Tempted to send Peeko out to let people know of his capture, but hard to see anyone having the power to get him released, and easy to see them getting in trouble trying.
So in the end everyone will be doing business with Gibson sooner or later ;) It is one way to get the party together.
Of course they didn't tell Salonious anything. But now that you remind me: Of course they have taken everything from you, but your underwear. Like that one picture of Merisiel in one of the rule books, where she reaches out of the cell bars to reach the keys of the sleeping guard. Can't find it at the moment.
You didn't take a look at the torturer?
Maybe this was obvious, but the posters were an excuse for Alamara to find me since I knew the church thing wouldn't work out.
This!
That's what I saw as soon as read about the posters, a broken-hearted Alamara going to Saul to find her missing Shensen. Tehn perhaps joining in a few investigations as the new odd couple...
Sorry my posting frequency is limited during the workday (US Central time), so I think I am out of phase with most of you. Will try to keep up.
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Hey, you insulted my apartment.
"Sorry, dame. I just don't like your style." lol
I am US eastern time, but I have a desk job and work independently, gives me lots of chances to post here and there. :)
Saul will plan on coming back to the office after the cat business wraps up, but I'm guessing Foxy is sleeping by now.
Hey, weren't we supposed to have 5 players in this?
Hey, weren't we supposed to have 5 players in this?
Yes, but the fifth didn't join and didn't react to PM, and now the time for him/her is up. I passed the offer on to Raltus, but he is out of town til Sunday, and I have to go through character background creation with him. Which isn't too bad, as he can join, once it is already a group, instead of having another loose strand to weave in now.
No, heard the dialogue and was to freaked out to peek. I would have loved to, but after seeing the eyes I do not think he would have the nerve, or see much of a potential gain vs the possibility of attracting the torturer's attention.
That is reasonable. Though it robs me the fun of seeing the shit scared out of you ;)
LOL, well he is there already, just trying to delude himself that he is playing a role.
And now I see if he gets murdered...
Also any chance that blanket is fleece? For some reason fleece is the component for Silent Image.
I cannot figure out how to recreate three coloured powder or sand though, probably get dust, then blood for red, yellow is possible, but would require some drying time (yuck), but blue.... Well maybe for the best.
I guess you're forgetting something else here. You don't have your spell book at the moment. I'd assume your prepared spells don't go away in the morning, so it is fine for you to cast them, but you can't memorise new ones at the moment.
No I was aware of that. Cantrips are endless (prestidigitation, ghost sound and daze currently), prepared spells are as listed in alias, Silent Image, and Color Spray. The Color Spray he used on his mother was on a previous day.
Created an alias for Peeko in case the guard taking him out is a go - not a great choice of birdy avatars.
I like having avatar's for familiars, but I would sue the artist you got for painting your THRUSH :D