Seconds after asking the question, the answer strikes Radag. What blocks the path isn't a scarecrow, but a corpse. The man's body is little more than skin and bones covered by faded and tatted clothing. It's likely been exposed to the elements for months.
The hairs on the back of Esta's neck stand on end and she shivers, her nerves beginning to fray in the midst of the literal ghost town surrounding them. "Can we jus' keep movin', please?" She skirts around the scarecrow corpse, keeping an eye on it in case it's not as dead as it looks.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
"A reasonable request, Ms Vyrelian. I susggest a compromise. When we approach within fifty feet or so I'll fill it with positive energy. In the meantime Irefist can keep his arrows and concentration focused elsewhere - animate or not, this makes for an excellent distraction."
Aduard's words are light, but his true mood is betrayed by his eyes - wide, and darting from side to side through the rustling crops.
As the party approaches the body, the eerie singing returns, this time as a low susurus.
Little Marten loved to run, until he ran to Brother Swarm
Shooting bow's was Garad's fun, until he was no longer warm
Allen wanted t' be a knight, now he takes another form
Rachel's pranks were filled with fright, now she fears a differ'nt storm
Elsa and her glitter-staff, more to keep the keeper warm
Karin he did save for last, now they all buzz as his swarm
Behind where the body lays, the form of a gray and emaciated child steps from out of the corn. Its clothes seem to be a swirling amalgam of dried husks and leaves, and its head has been replaced by a small bee hive.
In a skeletal hand, it clutches a cherub-sized bow and arrow.
"Have you come to play with us?" it asks, its voice a disturbing combination of buzzing bees and boylike innocence.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Even while Aduard's eyes bulge in shock his mind - long inured to the abomination of undeath - struggles to comprehend what he is seeing.
knowledge: all:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Esta stumbles away with a choked sound of alarm, unable to take her eyes off of the... thing in front of them. "Wha' is that?" she manages to squeak out loud.
The creature is similar in many ways to an attic whisperer, a type of undead that manifest from the tragic death of a child, usually from neglect or abuse. Rather than animating the bodies of the dead youth, attic whisperers are comprised of objects associated with the departed: strong memories, nostalgic memories, and the like. The widely-varying materials that fuse together to form these creatures lead to a vast array of appearances.
Attic whisperers are lonely, cursed creatures that seek the company of living children. Such contact is often fatal, as attic whisperers feed upon the literal breath of their victims, a process that also steals the voice of the afflicted. With these new voices, attic whisperers can lure more victims towards their lairs, combined with sung nursery rhymes and trails of old toys.
The creature draws an arrow and knocks it to its bow, its boyish giggles distorted by the sound of the hive. "I'm a real good shot, you'll see!
Global Combat Condition:
Party Buffs:
Aduard HP: 21/21 - AC 15/11/14 Status:
Esta HP: 25/25 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Karras HP: 31/31 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Radag HP: 39/39 - AC 21/12/17 Status:
Global Combat Condition:
Party Buffs:
Aduard HP: 21/21 - AC 15/11/14 Status:
Esta HP: 25/25 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Karras HP: 31/31 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Radag HP: 39/39 - AC 21/12/17 Status:
Combat Log:
Radag misses with first shot but hits with second for 11 damage.
Karras fires gun for 7 damage.
Marten fires bow and misses.
Radag’s first arrow is too low, sticking the laid out corpse with a sound like stabbing rotten wood. The second arrow tears away a chunk of the attic whisperer’s hive-head, honey slowly flowing from the wound like pale yellow blood. Karras draws his pepperbox and fires it, the sound causing a flock of crows to flap away from someplace nearby in the cornfields.
The shot strikes the creature right in the chest, spinning the diminutive monster around, its own drawn arrow loosed harmlessly into the corn.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
The incantation that has been echoing in Aduard's head since they first walked into this wisp- blighted cornfield finally finds release. He mutters a few words, desperately swinging his hand to target the small, agile foe.
Disrupt Undeadtouch attack:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23confirm:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6damage:1d6 ⇒ 2extra damage if critical:1d6 ⇒ 1 "Attic whisperer." he confirms as the ray strikes home "Variant. Don't let it steal your breath."
Combat Log:
Radag misses with first shot but hits with second for 11 damage.
Karras fires gun for 7 damage.
Marten fires bow and misses.
Radag misses Rapid Shot vs. Garad.
Esta misses vs. Garad.
Aduard casts Disrupt Undead and deals 2 damage to Garad.
Karras moves and fires gun for 4 damage vs. Garad.
Garad fires bow vs. Karras for 4 damage.
Karras succeeds Fort save vs. Steal Breath.
The attic whisperer ducks beneath Radag's next two arrows. Aduard's cantrip does a little better, shredding some of the creature's corn husk clothing.
Karras rotates the barrel housing of his pistol, finding the next barrel with loaded shot. Striding forward in an effort to improve his aim, the doctor fires the gun. A loud clap sounds with a bright flash of burning powder as a bullet slams into the small monster.
The whisperer barely reacts to the damage though, drawing another arrow and loosing towards Karras. The tiny arrow catches the doctor in the thigh, drawing a curse of pain from him.
Someplace nearby in the corn, the singing picks up again, getting louder as it draws closer.
Little Marten loved to run, until he ran to Brother Swarm
Shooting bows was Garad's fun, until he was no longer warm
Allen wanted t' be a knight, now he takes another form
Rachel's pranks were filled with fright, now she fears a differ'nt storm
Elsa and her glitter-staff, more to keep the keeper warm
Karin he did save for last, now they all buzz as his swarm
Karras takes 2 damage. The map has been updated and the party can now act!
Esta looks around confused as she hears more singing from elsewhere in the corn, but turns back to focus on the visible threat before them, cringing as she spots the arrow protruding from the doctor's leg.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Aduard spits a curse older than Ustalav. "More than one."
mistakes and mechanics:
Sorry, missed the map somehow. I thought it was much closer. I didn't realise he was 15 squares away. Disrupt Undead only has 7 squares. Aduard can move forward 6 as a move action, but it means he shouldn't have been able to do disrupt undead last round. That being the case, he probably would've used magic missile. How about he moves forward last round and this round (to within 7 squares) and I cast the MM this round, and we just invert which spell was in which round? Would that be okay? Otherwise move forward and disrupt undead this round (which would be last round's attack, I think). damage:2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 2 = 7
Moving forward cautiously, Aduard casts once more.
Global Combat Condition:
Party Buffs:
Aduard HP: 21/21 - AC 15/11/14 Status:
Esta HP: 25/25 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Karras HP: 29/31 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Radag HP: 39/39 - AC 21/12/17 Status:
Garad HP: 3/45 - 19/16/14 Status:
Marten HP: 58/58 - 21/18/14 Status
————————————————————————
Initiative Order: Karras (21), Radag (15), Garad (13), Marten (12), Esta (4), Aduard (3)
Combat Log:
Radag misses with first shot but hits with second for 11 damage.
Karras fires gun for 7 damage.
Marten fires bow and misses.
Radag misses Rapid Shot vs. Garad.
Esta misses vs. Garad.
Aduard casts Disrupt Undead and deals 2 damage to Garad.
Karras moves and fires gun for 4 damage vs. Garad.
Garad fires bow vs. Karras for 4 damage.
Karras succeeds Fort save vs. Steal Breath.
Esta fires crossbow vs. Garad for 3 damage.
Aduard casts magic missile vs. Garad for 7 damage.
Radag fires bow for 14 damage vs. Garad.
Garad fires bow and misses Aduard.
Marten crits Radag for 1 damage.
Radag passes Will Save vs. steal breath.
The singing becomes louder—almost a chant now—as though carried by a chorus of childish voices raised in disturbing song. The attic whisperer near the dead man, nearly torn to pieces by spell and missile raises its bow and looses an arrow towards Aduard, although the arrow falls well short.
A second attic whisperer, its head a rotting jack-o-lantern and clothed in corn husks and oversized boots, leaps from the rows of corn towards Radag. Its bony claws scratch him, before the thing springs back into the corn on the opposite side. The ranger feels momentarily dizzy and weak, as though the wind was knocked from his body, but shrugs the creature’s influence off.
Karras continues to walk forward despite the injury and fires a third shot from his pistol, although the lead bullet only grazes the damaged whisperer.
No worries, Aduard. We can reverse those actions. Radag takes 1 damage. A quick note on the corn fields: The corn rows themselves can be traversed at normal speed if moving left or right but cost double movement going up or down. They also provide partial concealment to someone in an adjacent row and total concealment beyond that. The extra cost of movement does not affect anyone of size Small or smaller.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
"Together!" Aduard calls, turning too late to see more than a flick of motion. "Before they mob someone and drag them into the corn!"
Taking his own advice he closes with Karras, and unleashes another ray towards the damaged child-thing.
touch attack:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7damage:1d6 ⇒ 1
Global Combat Condition:
Party Buffs:
Aduard HP: 21/21 - AC 15/11/14 Status:
Esta HP: 25/25 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Karras HP: 29/31 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Radag HP: 39/39 - AC 21/12/17 Status:
Garad HP: 3/45 - 19/16/14 Status:
Marten HP: 58/58 - 21/18/14 Status
————————————————————————
Initiative Order: Karras (21), Radag (15), Garad (13), Marten (12), Esta (4), Aduard (3)
Combat Log:
Radag misses with first shot but hits with second for 11 damage.
Karras fires gun for 7 damage.
Marten fires bow and misses.
Radag misses Rapid Shot vs. Garad.
Esta misses vs. Garad.
Aduard casts Disrupt Undead and deals 2 damage to Garad.
Karras moves and fires gun for 4 damage vs. Garad.
Garad fires bow vs. Karras for 4 damage.
Karras succeeds Fort save vs. Steal Breath.
Esta fires crossbow vs. Garad for 3 damage.
Aduard casts magic missile vs. Garad for 7 damage.
Radag fires bow for 14 damage vs. Garad.
Garad fires bow and misses Aduard.
Marten crits Radag for 1 damage.
Radag passes Will Save vs. steal breath.
Aduard misses Garad with disrupt undead.
Esta misses Garad.
Radag hits Garad twice for 14 damage. Garad dies.
Marten double moves.
Aduard’s ray flies wide of the whisperer, its arcane energies fizzling uselessly somewhere in the corn; likewise for Esta’s bolt.
A pair of Radag’s arrows finish the creature off, knocking its beehive head from its shoulders. With the destruction of the hive, whatever energy held the whisperer together dissipates; its gray skin sloughing away into dust and mud, its clothing breaking apart into shreds of corn husk that blow away in an unfelt wind.
The second whisperer doesn’t reappear immediately, although the sound of booted feet sprinting along the corn rows to the north reveal his general position.
Karras spins the chambers on his pepperbox and nods to Radag. "Well shot, sir," he calls back. "I’m afraid we haven’t seen the last of that other one."
After a tense few moments, the sound of rustling corn fades and it’s clear that the second whisperer has moved on or is lying in wait.
Global Combat Condition:
Party Buffs:
Aduard HP: 21/21 - AC 15/11/14 Status:
Esta HP: 25/25 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Karras HP: 29/31 - AC 16/12/14 Status:
Radag HP: 39/39 - AC 21/12/17 Status:
Garad HP: 3/45 - 19/16/14 Status:
Marten HP: 58/58 - 21/18/14 Status
————————————————————————
Initiative Order: Karras (21), Radag (15), Garad (13), Marten (12), Esta (4), Aduard (3)
Combat Log:
Radag misses with first shot but hits with second for 11 damage.
Karras fires gun for 7 damage.
Marten fires bow and misses.
Radag misses Rapid Shot vs. Garad.
Esta misses vs. Garad.
Aduard casts Disrupt Undead and deals 2 damage to Garad.
Karras moves and fires gun for 4 damage vs. Garad.
Garad fires bow vs. Karras for 4 damage.
Karras succeeds Fort save vs. Steal Breath.
Esta fires crossbow vs. Garad for 3 damage.
Aduard casts magic missile vs. Garad for 7 damage.
Radag fires bow for 14 damage vs. Garad.
Garad fires bow and misses Aduard.
Marten crits Radag for 1 damage.
Radag passes Will Save vs. steal breath.
Aduard misses Garad with disrupt undead.
Esta misses Garad.
Radag hits Garad twice for 14 damage. Garad dies.
Marten double moves.
Aduard’s ray flies wide of the whisperer, its arcane energies fizzling uselessly somewhere in the corn; likewise for Esta’s bolt.
A pair of Radag’s arrows finish the creature off, knocking its beehive head from its shoulders. With the destruction of the hive, whatever energy held the whisperer together dissipates; its gray skin sloughing away into dust and mud, its clothing breaking apart into shreds of corn husk that blow away in an unfelt wind.
The second whisperer doesn’t reappear immediately, although the sound of booted feet sprinting along the corn rows to the north reveal his general position.
Karras spins the chambers on his pepperbox and nods to Radag. "Well shot, sir," he calls back. "I’m afraid we haven’t seen the last of that other one."
After a tense few moments, the sound of rustling corn fades and it’s clear that the second whisperer has moved on or is lying in wait.
Noting the creature's lack of reappearance, Esta kneels next to the corpse and begins her examination, handling the body with a practiced gentleness as she searches for information.
Radag stands close by to Esta as she performs her corpse handling, readying a blow against anything that could be hostile toward the party. Careful now, he cautions, The dead are known for carrying diseases unfit for the living.
The dead man is dressed in tattered rags, bleached by the elements. One of his withered legs is clenched in a sprung bear trap, the ankle broken just below the trap's teeth. Based on his lack of other apparent wounds, Esta guesses that it took the man a while to die, either from exposure, thirst, or the breath-stealing attic whisperers that haunt Hergstag.
A large turquoise hangs around his neck on a leather thong. Nearby his body lies a mostly eroded leather sack. Its contents mark the dead man as a petty thief: a scattering of gold and silver coins, a small silver pocket knife, and a set of thieves' tools.
"Well, he doesn't seem t' have any wounds, 'cept for the leg," Esta says as she stands, wiping nervous hands on her skirts. "So it coulda been exposure, or maybe thirst tha' did 'im in." Her eyes dart to the cornfield. "Or, y'know. One of those things."
"I think he was a thief," she says offhandedly. "He's got some loose coins, lock pickin' tools, things like that. An' a real pretty stone 'round his neck."
Let's put his efforts to good use. Radag says while eagerly gathering the ill gotten and hopefully forgotten gains. However, Radag doesn't stop at gathering the goods, he continues on to gathering the corpse into a large sack finishing with a cinched knot at the opening and giving a nod to let the others know he is ready to go.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
"Interesting." Aduard observes "So, left dead, and not turned. It seems these whisperers have stopped recruiting - or at least stopped recruiting adults." "If we are not doing the sensible thing and leaving, we should head to the house where the child was taken from. I believe the bedroom was on the second floor. There is little chance the Beast would not have left damage somewhere."
Taking the corpse to burn it. Not right leaving his body here without proper rights or for some sinister magic to make undead. Radag sasys giving the sack a tug to test the weight of it.
After some insistent tugging, the thief's body comes free from the bear trap with a dry snapping sound. One leathery leg, bloodlessly chopped free from its body, falls to the ground with a thud.
The Doctor tugs at his beard, adding dryly, "Well, I suppose he won't be complaining." He pulls the whisperer's arrow from his leg with a wince, and clamps a handkerchief over the wound. Although it wasn't much larger than a dart, the missile seems cruelly barbed. "I agree with Bookman. Let's head to this Karin's house."
The road through the cornfields takes the party past Hergstag's chapel—a small, whitewashed building standing in the center of the village, its faded paint and dusty windows a testament to months of neglect. A small graveyard lies beside the once holy place. A cluster of six burial lots, distinct from the others by a scattering of nearby shovels.
As the party passes near the graveyard, a sudden rush of noise from swells from the otherwise silent tableau. Shovels strike the ground while a gentle rain falls. Women sobbing desperately as men grunt with the strain of lowering something into the earth. Only Radag and Esta have time to react before a wave of psychic anguish washes over the party.
A haunt! Esta and Radag may act before it goes off.
Radag's mouth slacks as he drops the corpse-bag, a moment to react, What is happening?
mechanics:
K.Religion:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
A long shot to detemine whaat's actually about to happen. I'm thinking it's best to just leap out of the way to safety because Radag doesn't have magic to counter haunts.
Without thinking, Esta immediately leaps in front of the others and throws both hands in front of her, palms out. As she chants quickly, a bright white light flares at her palms and she spreads her arms, the shimmering glow creating a barrier before them.
The psychic wave crashes and breaks against the barrier of white light created by Esta. It ebbs back towards the graves before vanishing entirely, leaving the chapel as silent as the rest of Hergstag.
Radag's suspicion is correct. The source of the attack is a haunt, similar to the wells of anguish the party found in Harrowstone, patches of unquiet spirits that lash out at anything nearby. Although the witch's magic dispersed the haunt, it will likely return soon without setting right whatever causes it to linger.
Beyond the chapel lies Karen's family's house, which appears much like the other homes of Hergstag, except in slightly better condition. The shutters and doors are nailed shut.
N Male Human Alchemist (Grenadier) 5 | HP: 27/38 | AC:16 (12Tch, 14Ff) | CMB: +3, CMD: 17 | F:+6, R:+6, W:+3 | Init: +2 | Perc: +8, SM: +1 | Speed 30 ft | Spells (1) 4/5 (2) 2/3 | Bombs 6/8 | Ammo 5/6 | hero points: 3 | Active conditions:
"Hmmm," Karras says in way of agreement, pulling the brim of his hat low. "We shall have to return at some point to do just that. One moment, please."
Kneeling in the roadway, the Doctor removes his haversack and withdraws some regents, tapping a little of this and a little of that into a vial. Giving it a vigorous shake, Karras downs the concoction, grimacing slightly as he does so.
"A tonic to sharpen my senses. Ok, shall we take a quick look around the house to see if there is any easy way of egress?"
"If there is no way in, I have some tools with me that can help remove some nails."
Lifting his pepperbox, the Doctor makes his way slowly around the house, looking for entrances and threats speaking quickly and quietly as he goes.
"I doubt if there is anything in there that it is alive, or that it is unaware of our visit."
Using Doc's open extract slot to fix up an extract of heighten awareness (+2 to perception and knowledges for 40 minutes).
The Doctor steps around the abandoned house, finding no entrances not nailed shut. Based on the construction of the home, it's likely that bedrooms are on the second floor.
The slatted timber walls seem difficult to climb and show no signs of bearing the weight of a creature as large as the Beast.
N Male Human Alchemist (Grenadier) 5 | HP: 27/38 | AC:16 (12Tch, 14Ff) | CMB: +3, CMD: 17 | F:+6, R:+6, W:+3 | Init: +2 | Perc: +8, SM: +1 | Speed 30 ft | Spells (1) 4/5 (2) 2/3 | Bombs 6/8 | Ammo 5/6 | hero points: 3 | Active conditions:
The Doctor winds his way around the house, reappearing on the other side, countenance a frown of contemplation. "The entire building has been nailed shut. Something interesting occurs to me however. Look at the walls: They are slatted timber and difficult to climb. And the construction of the house makes it unlikely that they could bear the weight of a creature as large as Adam."
Dipping again into his satchel, Karras removes a worn leather pouch, tied with an equally worn leather band. Opening the pouch, the Doctor pulls forth a long, thin hacksaw and a small prybar.
"Shall we go through the front door, then?"
Barring any better ideas, Doc will use his thieves' tools to file through nails/pry them out or pry the wood off the frames.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Aduard comments to Esta as they walk "You picked an excellent time to uncover your abilities, Ms Vyrelian. For all its physiological sins, prolonged stress can have a strengthening effect on the mind, much as exercise can strengthen the body - up to a point."
When Karras makes his suggestion, Aduard nods. "Quickly then, doctor. Can any of us assist? A pity we don't have Radag with us. The boy had a talent for such tasks, I recall."
Continuing "Your point about the construction is well made. I wonder if there is anything we can take back with us to show this point to the judges?"
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Aduard blinks for a second "Pardon. I meant young Stockl." Aduard shakes his head "Not good when a caster of spells starts to slip like that. A word or two wrong can be disastrous." He feels his head carefully "Doesn't seem to be damaged, and I don't believe I'm suffering from a curse. Probably it is simply exhaustion - I feel as if I haven't stopped travelling since we left Harrowstone, and that was hardly a vacation."
He dons a grim grin and turns to Radag "My apologies Irefist. Rest assured no-one would mistake you for a young man."
N Male Human Alchemist (Grenadier) 5 | HP: 27/38 | AC:16 (12Tch, 14Ff) | CMB: +3, CMD: 17 | F:+6, R:+6, W:+3 | Init: +2 | Perc: +8, SM: +1 | Speed 30 ft | Spells (1) 4/5 (2) 2/3 | Bombs 6/8 | Ammo 5/6 | hero points: 3 | Active conditions:
The Doctor snorts, a sharp laugh, as he works the nails and boards. "Stockl learned everything from me, Master Bookman. I'll have this entryway open in a bit."
"Though I admit to not loving this part of the job. It is why I took on an apprentice, after all. Perhaps Ms. Vyrelian has some magics that will speed the process?"
Cursing quietly as his knuckle wraps against a wooden board, Karras continues. "Damn these aging fingers! Don't worry about your head, Bookwman that is likely all that is happening to you - age. It does the mind in as surely as it does the reflexes."
Shaking his hand, Karras sets again about the task, stooping and taking his hacksaw to another nail. "And the back."
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
"Age? Perhaps." Aduard turns his attention to the horizon, looking for trouble, and broods. 'Age? Perhaps. Perhaps this time I let too long lapse. No chance to rectify that until I have avenged Lorrimor, though.'
If you guys want to build a little momentum before the game starts, I'd suggest discussing everybody's roles in the party, as well as plans for character progression.
Finally, if any of you share campaign traits, it might be interesting to integrate a bit of shared backstory. It's up to you! I'll be checking in online every so often over the weekend to try and answer any questions.
Dmitri's going to be start off as mostly a martial character, but as he levels he'll start focusing on his spellcasting more. The idea is to be a support caster, using buffs and Sermonic Performance to help everyone out. :)
He has the Chance Survivor trait, I don't know if anyone else took it, as well.
Male N Ustalev Half-orc Investigator 3 | HP 10/24 | AC 15 (17 currently) (Tch 12; Fl 13; traps 16) | CMD: 17 | F: +5 R: +6 (traps +7) W: +5 | Init +2 | Perc: +8 (+9 traps); SM: +6 | Active conditions: Inspiration 4/6; Extracts: (1) 3/4; AC 13; STR 18; Reach 10'
Hi, everyone! I know nothing about CC, other than it is the horror AP, so I'm pretty excited for this game.
Brogol will be a skill monkey/utility guy. Hopefully, he'll have a trick up his sleeve when it is needed by the party. His skills are currently fairly rogue-oriented, and will get more knowledge-oriented as the game goes on. He'll be able to step into melee for awhile, but I don't think will have a ton of staying power. He also may make a decent face at some point, or at least an intimidator.
As for character development, right now Brogol is definitely a subservient type. He'll probably latch onto a character with authority. He's aware of his monstrous appearance and pretty ashamed of it. I hope that he grows to accept who he is. He's also lacking a moral compass. He's not evil per se, just someone who has never known anyone with ethics. He is pretty young and still very impressionable. As such, he could become something of a mad scientist, or go a lighter path, depending on how things shape up, including party dynamics. I see there are a couple of good PCs here, so out of character I will certainly be taking that into account.
I took the teacher's pet trait, but don't know that Brogol would know anyone else off the bat - he's been pretty secluded from most everything for the past few years.
@Dmitri - I love the evangelist archetype, and look forward to the Sermonic Performances to come!
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
At 1st level Bookman is more of a mobile grenade with attached wikipedia. He can only cast three spells per day, but one of them is very (encounter ending) powerful. Sadly outside that he's not going to be a lot of use in combat; he's got poor hp, ac, and is not great at attacking. He does have all the knowledges, and some pretty decent rolls, so he'll be useful when something needs to be known.
As we level he'll have more spells per day (so will be useful more often) but does not get more 'novas'. He does have the ability at later levels to 1/day burn spells for a druid/cleric/bard spell so he should be able to help with utility.
With some gold he can do scrolls of various utility spells that should help out.
Bookman is going to want to turn back as soon as he's gone nova even more than standard wizards. OOC I suggest we avoid doing this as otherwise we risk becoming the "Bookman and Friends show". That does mean there's going to be encounters where you might as well be literally carrying him though!
Aduard is dedicated to preserving the Bookman persona. This means he's convinced he's upper (or at least upper middle) class and should be respected. The Bookman Persona is a "good" man, but no paragon of virtue.
Bookman has 'inspired by greatness'. The Professor's life is a model Bookman envies. I see the Bookman persona as being modeled on the late professor in many ways - the person Aduard really wants to be, but isn't.
Of course this is all to keep secret what he really is. At least for a while that shouldn't be showing up.
Dashil will do ok at combat - she's not full BAB, but has Strength 16 and crits on an 18-20; plus she has some decent judgements to assist her.
In terms of character, she's not a goody-two-shoes paladin any more, but she's definitely looking to try and stay on the path of righteousness rather than stray any further; not sure she's exactly a moral compass, though!
She has the confidence that comes partly from age, but mostly from not giving a damn any more. She's not going to win prizes for niceness, but she is good at intimidating (+7) and reading people (+10 Sense Motive - Aduard, she's likely to clock reasonably quickly that you aren't all you seem; just a thought) so will provide direction if she thinks the group needs it.
Dashil has known the professor for more than 20 years; she has the Chance Saviour trait - as detailed in her background, back in his youth he was a bit more reckless and set off to explore some ruins without waiting for his escort. Dashil was there on a separate matter but reacted quickly enough to save his hide. Since then she's accompanied him a lot; she likes the fact that he never tried to judge her for her past and just accepted her for who she was (she gets very tired of people staring at her looks...).
It's entirely possible that she has already met some of you, if you worked for him.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Dashil: good point. I guess I could try to rejig the character in order to try to hold it off, but I'm okay with her having a 'hunch' that he's an impostor, or possibly not trustworthy. Makes for some interparty tension but hopefully she's not so far fallen that she'll not act too hastily on a hunch - and possibly angst about the days she could just 'detect evil'.
Other than that she'll have no issue working out when he's trying to bluff her, but almost all of that is just the impostor angle and in fact most of the time he's going to be telling the truth anyway.
If you start interrogating him and asking him point blank something like "have you taken a life" he's likely to (reasonably) react angrily.
His motives are actually relatively pure for coming; he wants to pay his respects to the professor, and he sent the professor a manuscript for editing and fact checking that he wants back. The manuscript is the only copy and he doesn't want anyone to read it.
Bookman is a relatively well known author, incidentally (looking at his profession score, anyway). People might potentially have heard of him or even read something he wrote. His niche is dark supernatural/horror fiction that is actually well researched.
How well known are the other characters? I can see Brogol probably isn't, thought the doctor might be. If people judge Dashil it suggests a bit of a legend might have grown up around her.
Male N Ustalev Half-orc Investigator 3 | HP 10/24 | AC 15 (17 currently) (Tch 12; Fl 13; traps 16) | CMD: 17 | F: +5 R: +6 (traps +7) W: +5 | Init +2 | Perc: +8 (+9 traps); SM: +6 | Active conditions: Inspiration 4/6; Extracts: (1) 3/4; AC 13; STR 18; Reach 10'
I think that the Doctor D. was a pretty well-known figure in certain Ustaleven circles: occultists, criminals, academics and monster hunters all might know the doctor personally or know of him by reputation. Thus, I think it is probable that Aduard knows the doctor and may have met Brogol - though he probably didn't pay the young half-orc much mind, as most of the doctor's guests saw Brogol as little more than the doctor's valet and manservant, and few would have known that Brogol had grown into the role of the doctor's trusted assistant - which would suit Brogol just fine.
Looking at everyone's crunch, I think with a Aduard and Wakati both being knowledge-based, I may shy away from that aspect of Brogol's future development and go more for the rogue and (eventually) face roles, which will be needed - except intimidate - Dashil is/will be scary ;).
But right now, I can't see Brogol having the confidence to even try to be diplomatic - as such I moved a skill point from Diplomacy to Disable Device, if that is OK with you, GM Olmek?
Aduard: wow, detailed response to a throwaway remark! Lots of food for thought - but don't rejig your character. As I've told many of my players, Sense Motive doesn't equal telepathy, and detect evil isn't a substitute for actual thought (in any event, isn't Aduard CN?)...
It's likely, as you say, that Dashil will have no issue working out when Aduard's trying to bluff her, but she's no moral compass herself (that's Sarenrae's job, in her view) and is unlikely to pry too closely into anyone's background, as they might return the 'favour'. She'll probably have a hunch that something isn't quite right, but how she reacts will depend on how obvious you make it.
As for fame, hmmm - hadn't thought about that. I'm reluctant to make a level 1 character too famous, but maybe within Ustalav (where it happened) the story of the Paladin who fell after the village she guarded was destroyed is well-known - I'll leave that for the DM. The full truth is known to very, very few people - all of whom have been sworn to silence. If you don't learn it from Dashil, you probably won't learn it (DM intervention aside).
I'm pretty certain that Dashil doesn't read Bookman's sort of writings: too close to what she has endured, I suspect. Could be wrong; my characters tend to surprise me, along the way.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Detect Evil doesn't actually detect a character's alignment. It detects evil auras like a cleric or an evil outsider or an undead.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
@ GM Olmek: There is, however, a particular nasty form of "skeet shooting" sabotage. Misdirection can make anything radiate as anything else. So you can make that old lady resonate as evil (from, say, a skeleton) then subtly point the Paladin at her. If the Paladin detects evil and kills the old woman without evidence, they probably fall. All this takes is a 3rd level wizard with a grudge.
I'm not saying Aduard ever would have tried this in his bad old days...
@GM Olmek: Aduard writes in a journal (as he is afraid of losing his memories) but obviously can't make this too obvious. If possible I would like this to be his spellbook, and for him to use Linguistics to write in a code. This does mean his writing is likely to be slower and briefer than otherwise. I figure someone can use Linguistics to decipher it if they get the book, but at least they can't just cast Comprehend Languages. If possible Code would look like arcane spell instructions & theory.
Also, is there any problem if I occasionally post excerpts from the journal? I figure it means people know what he's doing OOC, but I don't think we're playing a PvP game and I'm happy to trust people to use the OOC knowledge to create a better story.
Skeet Shooting: Casting Detect Evil and then killing anything that radiates as evil
@Brogol: That means that it would have been a different 'edition' of Bookman visiting the doctor, probably an older one. No offence, but the doctor sounds pretty dodgy - is it possible some elementary disguises were used?
@Brogol: was not my intention to push you out of a niche. Which knowledges were you looking at? Some overlap can be fine.
@Dashil: Thanks, and No problem! And yes, Bookman's CN (at the moment anyway). Just thinking it must be nice for paladins when they can go "that guy seems dodgy... hang on a sec... DETECT EVIL... yep. Dodgy." And therefore something Dashil might miss.
I want to be hiding from someone, so sounds like Dashil might be the person to hide from :)
Male N Ustalev Half-orc Investigator 3 | HP 10/24 | AC 15 (17 currently) (Tch 12; Fl 13; traps 16) | CMD: 17 | F: +5 R: +6 (traps +7) W: +5 | Init +2 | Perc: +8 (+9 traps); SM: +6 | Active conditions: Inspiration 4/6; Extracts: (1) 3/4; AC 13; STR 18; Reach 10'
I'm sorry Aduard - I think I misread your backstory. I was under the impression that Aduard's current incarnation is living in Ustalev. Certainly, Aduard and the doctor could have met under an earlier incarnation as well, as the doctor is an older man - probably in his 60s by now. Obviously, Brogol never would have met Aduard in that case.
And yes, most people would probably describe the doctor as dodgy, though the doctor would say that he has made himself unconstrained from rigid societal constructs in order to do the things for Ustalev's people that must be done ;)
As for the niche thing, don't worry about it! I'm actually happy to not have to fill that role, as it would be spreading Brogol pretty thin. He'll probably take a rank in a knowledge here and there to denote the continued filling out of his education, and with the inspiration mechanic he can still probably pitch in from time to time and should be able to aid another quite often - which makes a lot of sense, seeing as how he's basically a play on the "assistant to the mad scientist" trope.
Brogol probably will continue to up knowledge (local) every level, as it fits with his rogue-ish background.
@ GM Olmek: There is, however, a particular nasty form of "skeet shooting" sabotage. Misdirection can make anything radiate as anything else. So you can make that old lady resonate as evil (from, say, a skeleton) then subtly point the Paladin at her. If the Paladin detects evil and kills the old woman without evidence, they probably fall. All this takes is a 3rd level wizard with a grudge.
Just saying, I think the vast majority of Paladins have more sense than to murder somebody in cold blood, even if they detect as evil.
So long as he ain't pulling this kind of stuff, Dmitri probably is willing to let Aduard do his thing with minimal, if any, interference. Not that he's particularly perceptive about this kind of thing, but he's got a very definite definition of what "doing good" is, and stuff outside that is going to get a damn good scolding.
Agree with that, Dmitri - detect evil is not a substitute for thought (see: Miko Miyazaki)! Besides, people who aren't evil can kill you, too... Dashil's fall was in part because of disgust with the supposedly good (or at least neutral) folk she had to protect who did awful things to one another. Not that it excuses what she did, of course.
@Aduard: would be great to have your journal extracts! I'm not interested in PvP so please don't let that be a factor. And if you want to be hiding from someone, by all means it can be Dashil. What are your plans for Aduard? I'd like Dashil to seek redemption at some stage; hopefully we can accommodate both our characters into the larger story without too much conflict!
@Brogol: not ignoring you, just no particular thoughts on how we'd interact. Suspect it could be fairly uncomplicated and reasonably good-natured (to the extent she has a good nature, of course).
Male N Ustalev Half-orc Investigator 3 | HP 10/24 | AC 15 (17 currently) (Tch 12; Fl 13; traps 16) | CMD: 17 | F: +5 R: +6 (traps +7) W: +5 | Init +2 | Perc: +8 (+9 traps); SM: +6 | Active conditions: Inspiration 4/6; Extracts: (1) 3/4; AC 13; STR 18; Reach 10'
Dashil Masozi wrote:
@Brogol: not ignoring you, just no particular thoughts on how we'd interact. Suspect it could be fairly uncomplicated and reasonably good-natured (to the extent she has a good nature, of course).
Yeah, there's no reason for Brogol and Dashil to know each other. Since Brogol is a pretty submissive sort, I'm sure he won't have problems with anyone. He'll just be happy to have a group to hang around with :)
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Brogol Stockl wrote:
I'm sorry Aduard - I think I misread your backstory. I was under the impression that Aduard's current incarnation is living in Ustalev. Certainly, Aduard and the doctor could have met under an earlier incarnation as well, as the doctor is an older man - probably in his 60s by now. Obviously, Brogol never would have met Aduard in that case.
And yes, most people would probably describe the doctor as dodgy, though the doctor would say that he has made himself unconstrained from rigid societal constructs in order to do the things for Ustalev's people that must be done ;)
As for the niche thing, don't worry about it! I'm actually happy to not have to fill that role, as it would be spreading Brogol pretty thin. He'll probably take a rank in a knowledge here and there to denote the continued filling out of his education, and with the inspiration mechanic he can still probably pitch in from time to time and should be able to aid another quite often - which makes a lot of sense, seeing as how he's basically a play on the "assistant to the mad scientist" trope.
Brogol probably will continue to up knowledge (local) every level, as it fits with his rogue-ish background.
Ah. My bad, it's a very confusing story.
Let's put some names to these faces.
Original mind = Sim.
This Body = Caseron Diovich
Last Body = Vladimir Tollivich.
Up until a few days ago Sim's mind was in Vladimir's body pretending to be Bookman. He then took over Caseron's body and is still Sim pretending to be Bookman.
Does that help clear things up?
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Dmitri Zorya wrote:
Aduard Bookman wrote:
@ GM Olmek: There is, however, a particular nasty form of "skeet shooting" sabotage. Misdirection can make anything radiate as anything else. So you can make that old lady resonate as evil (from, say, a skeleton) then subtly point the Paladin at her. If the Paladin detects evil and kills the old woman without evidence, they probably fall. All this takes is a 3rd level wizard with a grudge.
Just saying, I think the vast majority of Paladins have more sense than to murder somebody in cold blood, even if they detect as evil.
So long as he ain't pulling this kind of stuff, Dmitri probably is willing to let Aduard do his thing with minimal, if any, interference. Not that he's particularly perceptive about this kind of thing, but he's got a very definite definition of what "doing good" is, and stuff outside that is going to get a damn good scolding.
The vast majority of NPC paladins do... my experience with PC paladins is a little more mixed.
Not thinking Aduard would do anything like that now, but I want him to have been dodgy in the past.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Dashil Masozi wrote:
@Aduard: would be great to have your journal extracts! I'm not interested in PvP so please don't let that be a factor. And if you want to be hiding from someone, by all means it can be Dashil. What are your plans for Aduard? I'd like Dashil to seek redemption at some stage; hopefully we can accommodate both our characters into the larger story without too much conflict!
I'm hoping so. Actually I think the stories could work really well for a Paladin of "Second chance" Sarenrae.
I think Aduard is going to slowly move over to the side of good; his 'happy ending' is basically becoming the professor and using the dark knowledge he has acquired over the centuries to help educate people to fight evils.
The important thing here is that a lot of the 'evil drives' that pushed Sim into being evil in the first place are gone. Normally very long lived characters are portrayed as "falling to evil", but in this case I'm looking at a sort of "falling to good".
What Sim hasn't had in a very long time are close friends. People he can like and actually trust. Hopefully the group becomes that.
Radag is solidly and seriously going to be a martial horror slaying creature, I hope.
I like to be more fluid with character development so usually dont have plans with where Radag will be later on.
If there isnt much issue with the AP (adventure path) I am a fan of having a history with other pcs. For inspiration I like to draw on the bond system. Basically you come up with a general one sentence statement with a fill in the name blank space and then fill it in with a characters name and add a little blurb explaining it.
Here are a few for example:
______ is prepared to hurt me.
I have seen how ______ handles themselves in a fight
I have seen ______ wounded and weak.
I saved ______’s life.
A PC would just have to enter another character's name to instanyly have an interesting history with another character. Everyone could have as many or as little of these as they like but the statements should be unique/different from everyone elses.
If anyone is interested in this idea I gladly volunteer Radag to your bond/history development.
As a disclaimer the bond system was developed for use in apocolypse world originally and is not my own creation, although I am a fan.
Yeah, Radag's a full on martial, he's going to be handy to have around! Maybe he and Dashil were the muscle in previous expeditions with the Professor? Looks like they complement each other's skills: he has the edge in combat, but she can intimidate and cut through deceptions (oh, and heal!). My guess is that they've saved each other's lives, but Radag probably has the lead, which would annoy Dashil. They probably bicker a lot...
BTW, Aduard: how are you getting retainers at first level? Or are they made of pure narrativium? :)
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
BWAHAHA! They are secretly "Laborer Team" from Ultimate Equipment.
"But Aduard" you say "Laborers can't have profession skills. They'd be the worst servants imaginable! You yourself have much better profession skills in everything they do and would be better off just doing it yourself!"
AHAHAHAHAHA Now you see the genius... wait...
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
If someone was coming from Caliphas (or Virlych I guess) they might have run into Aduard's party.
Obviously anyone who had physically met Aduard in a previous body and knew who he was (Aduard) would be a problem.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Sorry guys, I just sort of see Bookman as very up tight about formal occasions like funerals.
@Brogol: Hmmm. Bookman ran a forbidden tomes type thing for a while. Perhaps he, the doctor and Brogol knew each other through correspondence? That would mean they could be on a first name basis without either knowing what the other looks like.
Possibly Brogol was actually used as a courier once or twice?
Male N Ustalev Half-orc Investigator 3 | HP 10/24 | AC 15 (17 currently) (Tch 12; Fl 13; traps 16) | CMD: 17 | F: +5 R: +6 (traps +7) W: +5 | Init +2 | Perc: +8 (+9 traps); SM: +6 | Active conditions: Inspiration 4/6; Extracts: (1) 3/4; AC 13; STR 18; Reach 10'
@Aduard - The Doctor would certainly have an interest in forbidden tomes, so it is likely that he and Aduard knew each other in some capacity then. If Doc bought a book in the last four years from Bookman, then it is also likely that Brogol acted as courier, unless Doc would have wanted to meet Aduard personally. Otherwise, errands were beneath the man.
AC 11(15) Touch 11 Flat Footed 10(14) CMD 12 Fort +1 Reflex +2(+1) Will +5 +2 vs fear/death
Brogl: I like where you're going. Do I take it you interacted mostly with the servants but overheard Aduard talking on occasion?
Are you okay if, when Aduard works out who you are, he remembers you from letters the doctor has sent then? "Oh, you're the Doctor's new assistant - he speaks very highly of you" type thing?
Wakati: we're trying to set up previous links. Between characters. Difficult with Aduard, I'm afraid.
I was planning to have Bookman go by and use last names (Irefirst, Stockl, etc).
Given Bookman is a family name, and you are from a long lived elven family, are you interested in "family ties"?
Stockl and Bookman used to be part of a rare/forbidden book trading network. Seems like something you or your parents might be interested in.
Also possible your new addition (via the puzzlebox) might have memories of Sim (old bookman)
I notice you were in Caliphas, so we could have met up.
Where was your carriage coming from?
Male Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 1; HP 10; AC 18 (T 12, FF 16); Init +2* (roll twice, choose); Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +2; Per +2
@Aduard: Previous links to Wakati are going to be hard, considering he's led a rather sheltered life to date. The most likely route is through his family. His parents may know of the rare/forbidden book market, but would lose interest quickly in any works of "fiction". One of his siblings, though, could be active in the trading network for fictional works. That seems like a good 'rebellious child' type activity.
Regarding the "hitchhiker" in Wakati's head, he dates from the time of the Whispering Tyrant, so 1000 to 1500 years ago. If Sim dates back that far, it's possible they crossed paths. At this point, Wakati has no real control over the memories he receives from Hilen, and can't actively access them. So any realization of a past link will be a drawn out affair over the course of the campaign.
As for Caliphas, he was only there briefly, searching for transportation to Ravengro. He's originally from near Iadara in Kyonin, and traveled by boat across Lake Encarthan. If they met there, it would have been a brief chance encounter.
Male N Ustalev Half-orc Investigator 3 | HP 10/24 | AC 15 (17 currently) (Tch 12; Fl 13; traps 16) | CMD: 17 | F: +5 R: +6 (traps +7) W: +5 | Init +2 | Perc: +8 (+9 traps); SM: +6 | Active conditions: Inspiration 4/6; Extracts: (1) 3/4; AC 13; STR 18; Reach 10'
Aduard Bookman wrote:
Brogl: I like where you're going. Do I take it you interacted mostly with the servants but overheard Aduard talking on occasion?
Are you okay if, when Aduard works out who you are, he remembers you from letters the doctor has sent then? "Oh, you're the Doctor's new assistant - he speaks very highly of you" type thing?
I think so, Aduard. I think Brogol would have spoken with the servants more often, and even if he interacted with Aduard, he probably would have avoided staring or perhaps even looking at the Bookman, as he would have been extremely self-conscious and aware of his lot.
Although I think the doctor was quite fond of Brogol, he wasn't the type to show it - to Brogol at least. The assistant would be very surprised (and secretly very pleased) to know that he was spoken of so highly by the doctor.
Also, Brogol's formula book, a gift from the doctor before his disappearance, is bound in human skin. This seems to be exactly the type of book that the Bookman could deal in, yes? If so, Aduard may notice the book the first time that he sees it, and Brogol, years back, could have actually picked up his future forumla book from Aduard without knowing what it was. Just a thought, anyways...
