Nodding to the others, Tomasz steps away from the table and walks quickly around the corner. After a moment, a young blue-eyed and brown-haired man wearing an immaculate - even the buttons looked polished - Heer uniform stepped around the opposite corner. He walks up to the Minister's table and begins to speak in German (with a heavy Austrian accent).
"You! I have been looking for you for two hours now! Where have you been?"
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
Although she merely glanced over and then sipped her drink, Katherine was suitably impressed by Tomasz' impression of an Austrian messenger. Still, she stood by in case the little group needed there minds suitably...edited.
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"Hm? Co-"
The man blinks, taking a moment to switch language. His German has a marked Czech accent.
<German>"Well, in my office, and meeting with- I'm sorry, that's not quite your business! Who are you? What do you want with me?"
"Not in your office, I do not think!" Tomasz continues, ignoring the questions outright. "As I was just there, and you were not! You are wanted by the senior staff, to make an accounting. Ten thousand bullets, we were promised for the front, and now, thanks to you we are expected to fight the Russians with cans of beans? Beans!"
Tomasz takes a moment to compose himself, straightening his uniform. "They await you in the Rudolfinum. You are already late."
"Bullets? But I'm in the Agriculture-"
Miroslav goes pale for a second as the Rudolfinum is mentioned, evidently unwilling to face the Hangman's closest entourage. But instead of panicking, he squints inquisitively at Tomasz.
"I believe you may have mistaken me for someone else. Who are you looking for, exactly? And who sent you?"
"I understand you are in agriculture, because you are the ones who sent us the beans!" Tomasz explodes again, nervousness touching his voice. "I serve under Herr von Küchler, who I am now far away from trying to correct for your mistake!"
"Is this the man?" A cool voice asks from behind the ersatz soldier. Another Heer uniform, this one worn by someone a bit more frightening. Where Tomasz was all gleaming youth, this newcomer was lean and wolfish with jet black hair slicked back and a dappling of fine scars along the left side of his face.
"Is this the bean man?" There was an impressive casual menace to his voice. Here was a soul that new violence well and did not relish being away from it to chase down a clerical mistake. "At ease, boy," the newcomer spat the word with disdain, clearly not thinking much of Tomasz's persona, "I'll take care of him."
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
Katherine focused for a moment, planting a rumour in the Minister's mind that there had been an accident due to shortages where a number of beans had been shipped in recycled ammunition crates without proper relabelling. It might be behind this mix-up.
Bluff:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34 DC 21 Will save negates - if he makes a Sense Motive that beats the bluff he believes he has heard the rumour but doesn't think it's true.
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GM Rolls:
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Undersecretary Podlezl's face becomes white as a sheet when a memory that's not his surfaces to his mind. "But- Oh. Oh no. No no no no... You two come with me!" he shouts to his underlings, and the trio rushes to the closest parking bicycles, taking off eastward, towards the river.
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
Rubbing her eyes for a moment, Katherine looked at the others. The calculations involved in this much magic was a strain. But that should keep them busy for a bit. "Alright, then, that should keep them bemused for a time. What next?"
"Thank you for that." Tomasz says, looking at the newly arrived Oberleutnant. "I would suggest that you are the one to take his place, and I and another may follow as the assistants."
Orc thaumaturge 3 | HP 39 | AC 19 | F +8 R +6 W +7 | Perc +7
Once an appropriate amount of time has passed, Richard finishes his coffee and follows after Ada. When they’ve met up and can talk without too much suspicion he says, ”So, how shall we proceed with our distraction?”
Titus landed - in crow form - near Richard, then made some distinctly un-birdlike movements suggestive of... it may have been punching people? Or maybe the bird was just motioning at things. Either way, he seemed very willing to participate in a distraction.
Female Wizard 7 | HP 71(66)/58(53) Lethal 43 Non-lethal 9 neg-lvl 1| PAC 18, BAC 12 | Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +7 | CMB +4, CMD 15 | Perc +13 | Init +1
"We need to follow them." Ada says, hurriedly - and to the crow, for all she answers Richard's question "They're going to eventually get out there and discover there are no ammo-beans. We need to ensure they get a runaround and return, much later, with no desire to learn more about what happened."
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The Rudolfinum is just across the river: on a bike, it will take them just a handful of minutes to be there. However, you guess that it will take at least half an hour to deal with the security checks and discover the mix-up.
Tomasz steps into the alley again and begins taking slow breaths, counting them. When he reaches fifty, his form ripples again and he steps back into the light.
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
Heading outside, Katherine looked at the others. "Then, since we have achieved the first part, let us prepare for infiltrating the castle." They had there 'faces', for lack of a better word. "I think I have a good idea of the documents we need from the gate guards, although when I tried to confirm it with these gentlemen I got mostly potato numbers."
Female Wizard 7 | HP 71(66)/58(53) Lethal 43 Non-lethal 9 neg-lvl 1| PAC 18, BAC 12 | Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +7 | CMB +4, CMD 15 | Perc +13 | Init +1
Ada turns to Titus and Richard. Firmly but quietly she speaks "I doubt I can beat them to the Rudolfinum. Do either of you have a way to transport us there more quickly than they can ride? Titus, Caw twice for Yes."
"Caw." Titus caw'd once. He flapped his wings a bit, able to fly... but beating something people were riding was a much more difficult proposition, especially over long distances. Unless they had a long and winding path, at least, but he couldn't bring others along for that.
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I'm trying to give you a few ways to move forward that I can think of. If you have ideas, don't be afraid to push: your skills are far above those of the average soldier, which means that you will almost certainly have a way out, unless you run into Ahnenerbe agents and your cover is blown.
Note that I wrote mostly mundane solutions: if you have the perfect spell for the situation prepared or ready to cast, go ahead and call upon it.
Those who want to infiltrate the Castle:
- One way across the guards is to make fake documents: a test of Knowledge(local) and one of Linguistics (for forgery) will allow you to type a convincing permit. "Borrowing" a typewriter from one of the surrounding businesses will be easy enough with one of you distracting a clerk. All of that will take you ten to fifteen minutes.
- Another one is to use a distraction and sneak by. The distraction can be made via Bluff, Perform or any other skill you deem appropriate, then it's a matter of Stealth.
- Of course, you can try to use magic and stun, charm, hypnotize the guards, or any similar effect.
Heading to the Rudolfinum:
- You can simply do nothing. There is a good chance that everything will be written up as a bureaucratic hiccup.
- You are in better shape than the Undersecretary and his flunkies. A Strength or Dexterity check (your choice) will allow you to chase them down on bicycles.
- You can follow them into the Rudolfinum. It will mean going into the wolf's den, but you won't get the chance to get there again. With some massive luck on your side, you may manage to stop the Protectorate from discovering your infiltration and get some exclusive intel at the same time.
- Or you may try to create disruption to German communications, cutting telephone cables and sabotaging a radio antenna, so that they can't be alerted easily in case your ruse is discovered. This may earn you twenty to thirty minutes before an alarm is raised, if that should be the case. To do that, Knowledge(engineering) and Disable Device will be your best bets.
"I have no skills with forgery, sadly, but I am capable of making quite the distraction." Tomasz says, tapping a pocket meaningfully. "If our bird can spare a moment, perhaps he can deliver something for me?"
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
Katherine began to hunt around, hoping that she would be able to find and create the materials they would need to get in. She was usually quite skilled at such things.
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Katherine manages to find a typewriter at a nearby pawnshop. Forging standard German papers isn't too hard, and she quickly produces convincing copies, but you are left with the doubt that the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia may be using a different version, one she didn't come across.
If you try to pass by as German officials, those paper will get you through easily: they are a model Katherine has learned to reproduce easily. To pretend you are the Undersecretary, you'll need to beat DC 20 on the Knowledge(local) check or bluff your way in at the gates.
"Hm." Tomasz hums, going over the papers with a watch-maker's eye. "For the Reich, these are good, but this, it is not the Reich. Not yet. And I do not know that I know enough about Bohemia to be able to pretend their legitimacy. Perhaps we may merely appear as Nazis?"
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
Taking a moment to find somewhere secluded enough to get changed, and asking Tomasz to keep an eye out - it would be a pain in the rear to deal with someone trying to chat to her about her public nudity while they were trying to bluff there way into an enemy stronghold, after all.
Disguise:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Surveying the results in her compact, Katherine nodded. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best she was going to do with the limited resource and time they had available.
Stepping out, she was the very model of a young female secretary. She nodded to Tomasz to allow him to make his own change, and once the man was prepared they made there way to the castle gates. She kept one eye out for there aerial asset, as well.
"You saw how the man back there acted, so keep in minbd his stance, his bearing, his voice," she murmured to Tomasz as they approached. "I'll try and do the talking, but they may wish to speak to you, as you're the man. If they do act imperious, snap in annoyance, tell them you have me to deal with these trivialities tonight and do not have the time nor the patience for such minutia.". It was riskier than she would have prefered, as the real Undersecretary might have a reputation for being calm and clearheaded, but without more time to research there wasn't much to be done.
If things went South they'd simply have to do this the other way.
Approaching the gate, she moved up to the gate and spoke in perfect German, but with a Czech accent. "Undersecretary Podlezl and one staff." She held the papers by her side, waiting for them to ask for the things. If they could slip through without the papers being examined at all, all the better.
Tomasz's own disguise was... not like Katherine's. Standing there in the alley, his entire form seemed to blur like watercolors in the rain, washing away to reveal the balding secretary. He did his best to set his face into what he hoped was an imposing frown, and nodded at Katherine.
Female Wizard 7 | HP 71(66)/58(53) Lethal 43 Non-lethal 9 neg-lvl 1| PAC 18, BAC 12 | Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +7 | CMB +4, CMD 15 | Perc +13 | Init +1
Knowledge: Local:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
Ada's preparation:
Ada's little clockwork modifications to the typewriter were mostly hidden inside the shell. Only the multiple page capacity page of the automatic document feeder was at odds with the design, and breakthroughs two decades ago meant the family was prepared to take the risk of technological capture.
Plugged into her amulet, the library of her reports, stored within the very structure of the crystal inside, could be sent to a manual printer.
Ada's notes were remarkably comprehensive. Dozens of files with almost a hundred pages of densely packed typewritten characters. The final few pages held characters faded almost illegibility, as if the typewriter ribbon had been de-inked to the verge of wearing through and Ada had not stopped to replace it.
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The guard looks slightly taken aback at the documents, answering in German himself. "Uhm, Miss, these seem to be alright, but as a Protektorat official, shouldn't the Undersecretary have those documents? These are for Reich personnel..."
Your roll is very good, so no need to reroll. Just some reason to overwhelm this hapless guardsman.
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
"The Undersecretary is a busy man," Katherine replied, smiling apologetically, "And among the many functions I serve, one is his translator. We have found it is simpler for me to carry documents, in case an explanation is needed."
Diplomacy:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
I know I don't need to bluff them more, the diplomacy is to set them at ease.
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GM Rolls:
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
"I-"
The guard gives a careful look at Tomasz, poring over the papers he's holding in his hands. If something is bothering him, he must have classified it as paranoia, because he then writes a line in the registry and motions you to move over to be checked for hidden weaponry.
If anyone is carrying concealed weapons, please roll a Sleight of Hand check with DC 15. Otherwise, I'll advance in 1-2 days.
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"All clear, please proceed."
After the imposing entry, you find yourselves in a 18th-century, large courtyard with a round fountain in the middle. The towers of the Cathedral rise behind the opposite row of building, tall spires of Gothic sandstone. The offices of the Ministry of Agriculture lie to the left, those holding the higher charges to the right. In front of you are several other ministries, communication lines, in few words the beating, bureaucratic heart of the Protektorat.
It may be a good time to send the distraction team to intercept.
Tomasz leans in and whispers to Katherine. "To the right, then? We are to be needing information on travel schedules, and anything involving the Ahnenerbe."
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
Nodding, Amelia is heading in that direction. "That is most likely where we need to be, then. Also, which tongues do you speak, in case we need to converse in something...less obvious. One of the casting languages?"
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
"Neither do I, but there aren't many who speak it. Makes it useful if we need to speak without being overheard." It was astounding how few people actually spoke Latin. Even the average Catholic priest was rarely good enough to do more than repeat carefully memorzed verses.
Titus quietly flew over his assigned spot, keeping an eye on the things going on below. Things were pretty weird as it was, and there hadn't been a great signal yet... but coordination over distances was hard enough. With an abrupt screech, he dive-bombed his first target's bike. Fortunately, he could slap his Chi Gong right into the tires, which ought to be enough.
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--- Titus ---
The front wheel of Undersecretary Podlezl shatters under Titus' onslaught, catapulting the hapless man on the rough road. It's a bad fall and it looks like he's hit his head, knocking him unconscious for the moment. His two aides brake immediately, skidding on the stones. One hurries to his boss to provide aid, the other tries to understand what happened, not remotely considering that the impact with a small bird could cause that sort of damage to a bicycle.
--- Castle Team ---
The set of building you enter pens with a large, relatively sober hall, made precious by twin marble stairways to the upper floor. You follow the indication for the Interior Ministry, to which the SS-Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Main Security Office) is officially subordinate. Information about the mundane operations of the Ahnenerbe contingent in Prague is most likely to be kept here. However, this also means that it's better guarded: the guards that are currently in your way are dressed in SS uniform, and they don't look as hapless and dumb as the ones you just passed.
Tomasz fell back a step, letting Katherine take the lead and hopefully impress the goose-steppers sufficiently to let them pass. If he was forced to open his own mouth, this could perhaps turn ugly, fast.
Female Aasimar Dual-Blooded Sorcerer 1/Incanter 6 |Negative Level 1 | HP 17/26(31)| AC 22, T 18, FF 19, PAC 18, KAC 19 | Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +10 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | Perc +14 | Init +3 | Spell Points 11/13
Well, the SS were going to be rather more difficult to deal with. They were proud men, handpicked for there rather gruesome duties who took their title as the Nazi Party's 'Protection Squadron' seriously. Still, these were more likely the Allgemeine SS, whose job was more akin to a police job (albeit it one with the Nazi's rather unique ideas of right and wrong as there guidelines) than the Waffen SS, the full Paramilitary group, or the Totenkopfverbände, the Death's Head, that was rumoured to guard the camps the Germans had been setting up. The rumours and information on those were...unpleasant.
Katherine observed the uniforms as she approached the men, trying to be certain of which branch they were with. If it was the Allgemeine then this shouldn't be too difficult. The heavier armaments of the Waffen would make things...risky. And if it was the Death's Head something was deeply wrong here.
She held out the documents and explained once more in accented German, "~My apologies for the late disturbance, gentleman. The Undersecretary would like to pass, with myself as interpreter and assistant.~"
Knowledge (Local) - Which SS branch are these guys in?:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 Bluff:1d20 + 17 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 17 + 5 = 42
Pssst...the Allgemeine had there Black uniforms taken for the other branches and were issued with grey ones by 1940.
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As the Reich Main Security Office is one of the offices under the Allgemeine-SS, and Czechoslovakia is not currently hosting a war front, Katherine is very confident that these two grey-uniformed guards are in the Allgemeine. Their insigna mark them as having the rank of Sturmmann, roughly equivalent to Senior Private.
The one Katherine spoke to goes over the papers and consults a ledger. "Herr Podlezl is not expected in the Ministry of Interior, fraulein. What is the reason for this visit?"
Please note that, albeit they are relatively rare, the Ahnenerbe-SS, the occult arm of the Reich and your direct opponent and equivalent, are also a branch of the Allgemeine-SS.
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Hello there, congratulations on getting in! The campaign proper will start either tomorrow or Monday, you can use this time to tweak builds, backstories, plan for any eventuality and get to know each other!
A few things on my playstyle:
- I generally use Rednal's modified group initiative. After rolling initiative, those who scored higher than the monsters' average can go, then it's monster time, then we go with group initiative.
- I roll many things that happen outside of your action. Initiative, Perception checks when you need one, even most saving throws.
- I try to be as active as possible but I have a hard semester in front of me, so some days may pass without posts on my part.
- And of course, you can write me for anything.
Beast:
I've thought about it. How about Draining Casting doesn't apply when you use actions that don't consume spell points and you aren't in immediate danger (sort of like taking 10)? It seems balanced and logical to me.
Mina:
About the refluffing, a stiletto sounds good. In alternative, it could be a larger bayonet or a Langesmesser, a German medieval knife almost as long as a sword.
Thanks for the nod Sappy. I'm really looking forward to this. I'll finish Aedan's equipment this weekend and be ready to go.
FYI, Weekends tend to be a slow posting time for me, I rarely get online during the day (I'm on my phone now, in fact), but during the week I can get in at least a post a day, usually in the evenings, after 10PM EST.
Hey Mina, how long have you been part of the BC? How many missions have Mina and Liliya been on together or how well do you think they know each other?
F Ninjablade 6 [ HP: 38/38 | AC (Phy): 17 / (Bal): 18 | Fort +4 / Ref +12 / Will +6 | Init +3 / Percept +9 (Low Light, Darkvision 90) ]
Thanks for the selection!
GM Sappy wrote:
Langesmesser
Oh that looks awesome, I'll definitely go with that.
Aedan Michael O'Connell wrote:
FYI, Weekends tend to be a slow posting time for me, I rarely get online during the day (I'm on my phone now, in fact), but during the week I can get in at least a post a day, usually in the evenings, after 10PM EST.
I'm in the same boat re: Weekends.
Liliya Vasikova wrote:
Hey Mina, how long have you been part of the BC? How many missions have Mina and Liliya been on together or how well do you think they know each other?
Not very long, less than two years. She could be somewhat green depending on how the game starts, with us being "paired up" since Liliya is more experienced? I'm open to whether this is the first time or whether we've gone on a few missions together, though. It might be good to have a strong connection, since everyone else is with the Laundry.
Beast Shifter 6 HP 55/55 (0) AC 16, T 13, FF 15, BAC 17 , Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +6
Skills:
Disguise +5, Diplomacy +6, Handle Animal +10, Intimidate +8, K (Geo) +5, K (Nature) +12, L: Laundry +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +6, Survival +13
We can "Tweak" you say? Welp, time to utterly rebuild Beast into the most OP thing I can think of. I'm going to have lazor beams for eyes!
...I kidd :p I will go over Beast with a fine toothed comb but I dont think anything will really change.
Draining Casting:
As for the Draining Casting, thats an interesting idea :P I like it but I am not really sure on what would qualify as being in immediate danger. Would in combat but not being threatened count for example? How about rough weather?
Ill look up both taking 10 and concentration checks in a moment.
Done. It looks like the main times you cannot take 10 are in combat and when you are distracted. Were you thinking on having it only activate in combat?
That and we can take it for a test run and see how it plays out :)
Beast Shifter 6 HP 55/55 (0) AC 16, T 13, FF 15, BAC 17 , Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +6
Skills:
Disguise +5, Diplomacy +6, Handle Animal +10, Intimidate +8, K (Geo) +5, K (Nature) +12, L: Laundry +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +6, Survival +13
Oh, everyone.
For armor I just went AC, T, FF, BAC. I didnt include "Physical" in front of AC because it is inferred. I think that this is the simplest way to represent it.
Thoughts?
So, it looks like we have three Laundry agents (two full time and one 'on loan'), and two Chamber agents.
Would it be too much to ask for everyone to repost their backstory here? Or, at least do a summary, so that we all know a little bit about each other.
I dont know how much cross pollination there is between The Black Chamber and The Laundry, but at the very least, those of us in the same agency should have a bit of info on the others, even if it's just 'round the water cooler' rumors.
The short version of Aedan's story is: He is an Irish national who left his homeland due to family problems, and moved to France with his childhood sweetheart. When his wife & unborn child were killed by Nazi spies/sympathizers, he went berserk and killed them with is nascent psionic powers, and was recruited then by the Laundry. He's been with them for about two years, and is one of their most successful new assassins. He is generally cold and standoffish, even around colleagues, though once he gets to know someone he will thaw a bit. On assignment, he tends to blend into the background, playing as a lowly janitor, bus boy, or busking musician hanging out on the corner. Right up until the moment when he gets his target alone, then he's cold, ruthless, and deadly.
To make things somewhat easier, RP wise, I'm cool with him knowing Beast and Tomasz if you guys are. Whether they worked together, trained together, or just met around the office...any of those work for me.
And if there *is* any sort of cross pollination with the BC, same for Mina and Liliya.
The Long Version:
Aedan Michael O'Connell
Engineering Prodigy and Psychic Assassin
Name: Aedan O'Connell
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Appearance: Compared to most, Aedan is smaller than average, standing at just 5'8". However he weighs in at a stocky, muscular 152 lbs. His hands and forearms are moderately scarred from his youth spent bare-knuckled boxing and other 'kids scraps'. His face is pleasantly handsome, in a 'bit o' rough' sort of way and his piercing green eyes miss absolutely nothing. Aedan seems to have an almost preternatural sense of awareness honed over multiple years of dodging bobbies and fellow criminals.
Personality: Aedan is pugnacious and extremely passionate in almost everything he does. He is smart, skilled, and possesses an almost supernatural ability to blend in to the background. He's a born scrapper without an ounce of quit in his entire body.
In his youth he was a much more passionate person, but his time in the Laundry, as well as the various tragedies that befallen him (see History), have left him much colder. Oh, he is able to 'put on the personality', but underneath he is cold, calculating, and merciless.
However, even despite the darker turns in his life, there is still a spark of humanity that remains, mostly stoked and cared for by 'his Jenny', the powerful shard of crystal that resides within him.
Background: Aedan Michael O'Connell was born into a large family of Travelers in North Ireland. From a very early age he displayed a startling intelligence and grasp of the inner workings of machines. He was forever taking things apart, putting them back together, and in the process, making them run better than before. Unlike many of his fellow Rover children, due to a combination of gifts, and a very strong willed mother, Aedan was sent to a proper public school, rather than being home taught as many of his fellows were. While in school he was exposed to the wonderful world of education, studying, and most of all, The Library! It was love at first sight.
Throughout his school 'career' Aedan devoured books on Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Chemistry, Physics, and any other of the hard sciences he could get his hands on. Despite his strong intellectual bent he was also a passionate and physical boy. This led to several scraps and brought him to the attention of the school authorities. It also brought him to the attention of a young girl names Jenny who, despite their relatively young ages, found herself intrigued by and drawn to the wild Rover boy. The two quickly became inseparable.
As an outlet for his 'aggressive tendencies' he was encouraged to play sports...primarily the rough and tumble sport of Rugby. Outside of school his Father encouraged the boy to involve himself in the bare knuckled boxing that his two older brothers and father were so proficient at. To keep up an air of respectability, he also took 'proper boxing' lessons after school. As a lark, he started teaching Jenny the 'gentlemanly art' as well. Both children excelled at the sport and though only Aedan could do it 'officially', their mutual progress was almost identical and they continued all throughout primary and secondary school Between the various activities, Aedan had an outlet for his more aggressive impulses and was also able to earn enough 'pocket money' to fund his tinkering habits...and also take Jenny out for the occasional ice cream or picnic.
The other thing it did was to create and cement stronger emotional bonds with his two older brothers, whom Aedan was already incredibly close to. His only other friend, outside the Family anyway, was Jenny, and as the years progressed the two grew closer and closer. Though they never officially 'courted' in all their time together, neither ever even gave thought to being with anyone else either and they could almost always be found together when they weren't otherwise busy. Aedan was very careful to keep her separate from his Clan life and and illegal activities his Family was involved in, however. Jenny was a 'good girl' from a local working class family, and Aedan didn't want her even peripherally involved in The Life.
While he'd been growing up and going to school, The 'Family' had expanded their criminal enterprises while the two were away at school. Aedan had largely kept out of that side of the family business...his parents wanted him to keep up his 'respectable' status, so as to give them someone legit to front their various enterprises. Aedan, knowing this, but also not actually wanting to be part of that side of Rover life anymore, had gone along while privately vowing to get out of the life altogether after school, with Jenny at his side, of course.
Unfortunately, under the direction of his two older brothers, who had taken things over when their Da 'retired', the Family had begun getting into more, and more serious crime. Now, instead of the odd bit of money laundering, or protection schemes, they were into smuggling, robbery, cons, extortion...all were fair game and Aedan's brothers were hip deep in all of it. The only thing consolation that he had was that they hadn't gotten the Clan involved with the IRA, unlike many of their fellow Irish, domestic terrorism. As far as the Travelers were concerned, while the IRA might have noble goals, many of the methods they espoused were too much for the Families, especially when they ended up hurting innocent civilians...notably children. However, again, Aedan was officially 'kept out of the loop', so, in general, life was good.
Unfortunately, it was not to last. Three months before graduation from Secondary school Aedan got a frantic call from Jenny. She had suspected for years that Aedan's family were involved in shady activities...after all, 'everybody' knew about the Rovers. And now several 'shady characters' were in her Father's pub, busting up the place and hurting people.
Aedan rapidly made his way to Jenny's family pub and got the shock of his life when he found his oldest brother, a couple of cousins, and a few other Clan members breaking up the pub and beating a couple of the patrons. Aedan's brother was, in fact, standing over Jenny about to bring down a chair on the girl, who already had a split lip and torn shirt. Without thinking Aedan practically flew across the room, snatching a chair out of the other boy's hands and dropping him with a quick rabbit punch. In a furious, unbelieving voice Aedan began demanding answers. He was shocked even further when his father came out of the back room, dragging the bloodied form of Jenny's dad and a bag from which wads of cash and bags of white powder were practically spilling out. The man had obviously been severely beaten and was, at best, half conscious.
With an inarticulate cry Jenny sprang at Aedan's dad, only to be brutally smashed aside. Red rage descended and, unthinkingly, Aedan charged his father. Unlike Jenny, Aedan had not only training, but killer instinct on his side. The two traded brutal, punishing blows for several minutes while the rest of the family looked on in mixed anger and confusion. Aedan, feeling betrayed by the evidence that, not only was his family obviously involved in drug dealing, but his Da's brutal assault of his best friend...a girl...now young woman, whom he realized in a blinding moment of insight, that he had far more than 'friendly' feelings for, pushed Aedan far past him limit. He wasn't pulling punches and was using every iota of his hard won skills. Such was his blind fury that he was actually winning against him vastly more experienced, and much more ruthless, father.
Aedan had managed to stun his Da with a brutal blow to the solar plexus. When his father went down, Aedan snatched up a nearby chair, intending to bring it down on the man. He only intended to knock him out, but Aedan's rage and near homicidal state triggered far more than either was prepared for. Where Aedan's hands touched the wooden chair leg, minute bits of crystal 'grew' from the wood and the simple chair became something much more deadly. Unfortunately for all concerned, it was at that point that Fate stepped in. Aedan's oldest brother, a decent fighter in his own right but nowhere near as good as his little brother, darted forward into the fray. Whether he planned to help Aedan, his Da, or just stop the fight would never be known. Aedan caught a glimpse of his charging sibling and tried to pull his blow...unfortunately his momentum was such that it didn't entirely work. The crystal impregnated chair caught Aedan's brother on the side of the head and a soundless, heatless 'micro-explosion' of psychokinetic force enhanced the blow, spinning the boy around with a horrifying crack. The older boy dropped like a stone, blood flying.
Aedan immediately dropped to his knees beside his downed sibling, crying frantic denials and trying to determine if his brother was still alive. Before he could do more than reach out, however, he was snatched back by his shirt collar and a powerful fist slammed into his temple, sending him into black unconsciousness. He woke an indeterminate time later, beaten, bloody, and with several broken bones. Beside him lay the limp form of Jenny. With a weak cry he scrambled to his knees, feeling for a pulse. Thanks be to God it was there...weak, but there! Looking around Aedan discovered he was in a dark building...one of his family's series of safehouses. Being rather familiar with their layout he discovered that they were being guarded by one of his distant cousins but that noone else was there at the time. However, he also found quite a bit of drug paraphernalia, bags of compressed heroin, and other 'tools of the trade'. The profound sense of betrayal broke something deep within the boy. With a heavy heart he incapacitated his cousin, took several weapons, a small bag of necessities, and a large bundle of cash from the safehouse. With Jenny in his arms he fled into the night.
Three weeks later the two young adults...Aedan had just turned eighteen and Jenny was less than a month from her birthday...wearily disembarked off the boat in France. They had lost themselves in the streets of Dublin, but Aedan knew that, so long as they remained in Ireland...hell...anywhere in Great Britain...he and Jenny were vulnerable. So with a few healthy bribes the two were able to acquire false identities and made their way to the Continent. It had taken a fair amount of convincing on Aedan's part, aided, unfortunately, by the death of Jenny's Da at the hands of Aedan's - her Mum had passed when Jenny was a child and it had just been the two of them running the pub, but eventually the girl had agreed. At some point in their running the two had finally plucked up the courage to express their true feelings and were planning to get married once they reached safety. Now, it seemed, they had managed it. They looked to start over...a new life in a new country, and hopefully being able to forget the horrors of the old. Despite the rumblings that were being heard about the rise of facism in Germany, neither could imagine something like actual War breaking out.
Four years later things had improved for the two young people. They'd been married in a quiet ceremony at the local protestant church within a couple months of arrival and found a small apartment to share. Aedan had managed to get Jenny and his real educational accomplishments attached to their false identities, and with the money he'd taken from the Family, he had enough to afford to send them both to college at the Sorbonne. Jenny studied acting and dance while Aedan followed the path of his beloved math and engineering. Both graduated with degrees in their chosen fields, and job offers began to arrive. When they'd arrived in France Aedan had made a vow to his Jenny that he was done with a life of crime and was going to devote his life to her, and he had stuck fast to it. Life was, in general, good for the two young lovers.
While the two had been in the bubble of school, the world had moved on. Hitler had invaded Poland and the rest of Eurpoe responded. However, in school, in the heart of France, the War was far from their thoughts. One of the offers Jenny had gotten was from a small theatre troupe based in Paris, and with Aedan's encouragement, she was quick to accept the offer. Aedan found work with a company that support material for the military, headquartered in Paris. The two were able to continue to afford to live in Paris, and, despite the horrors going on in the world around them, one early Summer night, Jenny announced to Aedan that she was pregnant. They began making plans for a future for small family. Life was, despite the odds, truly beginning to look up.
Unfortunately Fate wasn't quite done making Aedan it's chewtoy. Unbeknownst to them, the owner of the theater group was actually a Nazi sympathizer and spy. One night while waiting to walk Jenny home from a rehearsal, Aedan noticed that something was 'off' about the man. Long buried instincts began to pluck at the young man, and without stopping to think about it, he followed the man. Those same instincts caused his footfalls to be cat quiet, and drove him to keep to the shadows. What he saw, when he got to the man's office, shocked him to the core. Two other men were there, and all three were speaking German!
Aedan listened to the conversation...he'd picked up a fair proficiency in the language as part of his studies...and was appalled by what he heard. The men were planning an attack on several government buildings. Aedan knew he had to get the information to someone and started to back away. It was at just this moment when Jenny came bouncing happily down the hallway. Her rehearsal had gone exceedingly well and she wanted to share her minor triumph with Aedan. Aedan tried to stop her, but before he could do so the door to the office was ripped open, exposing the three men...who had guns drawn. Aedan immediately leapt on the offensive. Despite his vow to leave his former life behind, he'd never stopped boxing, using it as his preferred way to deal with stress and stay in shape while in school and working. He dropped the theater owner like a poleaxed steer, but both of the other men had managed to fire their weapons. One shot his Aedan in the are and the other missed. The young man moved forward and managed to knock out the second man, but the third fled before Aedan could stop him.
The young engineer turned towards his wife...only to stop in horror at the sight of her, collapsed in the hallway, blood staining her dress and pooling underneath her. Aedan leapt to her, cradling her in his arms and begging her to be ok, and trying anything he could to staunch the horrible wound in her chest. Though she lingered for a few moments, even had time to whisper her undying love for him, she died there in his arms. Rage and pain swept through the young man, desperate for an outlet. He found it when he heard stirring behind him. The German, the one who'd 'missed' him was waking up. Aedan slid out from under his Jenny, grabbed a nearby stool, and allowed his rage to explode!
.
.
.
Later, when the authorities arrived, they found him once more sitting on the blood soaked floorboards, Jenny's lifeless body cradled in his arms, and he mindlessly crooning an old Rover lullaby to her. Behind him the room was like a charnel house. Two corpses...only identifiable as two due to the number of limbs scattered about the room...charred, melted, with other incredible, unexplainable wounds on their dismembered bodies. Aedan was arrested and taken away quickly.
Some indeterminate time later...weeks, months, he couldn't recall, he found himself sitting in an interview room in prison, across from a man in a three piece suit...a man with an impeccable Oxford accent. The man explained that the French police were able to find evidence of the man's plans and Aedan was going to be released. However, the man, who identified himself as 'Mr Smythe-Wentworth', had a proposition for Aedan. He said that his 'department' had registered some interesting facts about the crime scene. Notably the levels of sheer destruction, as well as some of the...odder wounds on the corpses. Aedan, not really caring one way or the other, just sat, staring dully at the man, not answering.
With a sympathetic look the man handed Aedan a business card and a small silk bag. Smythe told Aedan that if he 'wanted to put some meaning into the meaningless, and maybe repay some of the bastards who were truly responsible for Jenny's death', that Aedan should call the number on the card, then left. After several minutes Aedan opened the bag and into his trembling hand fell a small gold ring, a glittering diamond set within. When the guards eventually came to escort him from the prison he was still staring at Jenny's ring with tears burning twin tracks down his cheeks.
It was less than five minutes after his release that he dialed the number.
*****
Just two years the man secretly known as Aedan Michael O'Connell sat down at a small cafe in <<CAMPAIGN CITY>>, enjoying a rare sunny day and sipping at a cup of tea. That call had led to a job offer which would 'more properly utilize his unique skillset for the benefit of his native country'. Training, studying, and many hard months had followed. But Aedan had learned to harness the Power within him that he'd only managed to access accidentally before. He'd once more become hard, distant...and infinitely more deadly.
When he first started training, Aedan's instructors had found that his access to his powers was...sporadic, at best. It was frustrating to all concerned. It all came to a head one night when, while in a fast paced sparring lesson designed to force him to bring forth the psychic powers his handlers knew he was capable of, he'd instinctively grasped the ring dangling from a chain around his neck. The weapon grasped in his other hand had suddenly sprouted deep amethyst crystal grains and, when it hit his partner, exploded with power, nearly killing the man.
Continued experiments with the ring...more specifically the diamond within, had proven that Aedan could use the stone to access his powers and apply them to any weapon he was holding, but only with the two were in contact. In an effort to make him more efficient, Aedan decided to have the stone permanently grafted to his flesh...a piece of Jenny, always with him. Laundry healers implanted the stone at the base of his skull, and he had the gold, along with his own band, which he'd never stopped wearing, melted down and merged, then turned into a single ring that he now wore on his right hand. A plain, heavy band to always remind him.
With his control firmly established Aedan quickly advanced through training, then into the field. In no time he became one of their most successful assassins. He was almost universally assigned to German targets, and almost always those who were known to, or suspected of, dabbling in the dark arts of magic. In the months following the implanting of the diamond, Aedan began to once more hear Jenny's 'voice' deep within his mind. Eventually that 'voice' spoke to his conscious thoughts, advising him, bearing him up when he was down, and being a balm to his tortured soul.
During his time working for the Laundry much of Adean's humanity had been stripped away, and probably would have been lost completely if it hadn't been for one thing...or more precisely, one amazing woman...one who'd defied all the laws of Heaven to be with the man she loved more than life itself. At least, that's what Aedan believed.
Back from holidays! Business should resume shortly.
About cross-pollination: up until WWII, the Laundry and the Black Chamber did not see eye-to-eye at all. Their objectives often clashed, and they tried to keep from interfering with each other as much as possible.
However, due to the deteriorating situation in Europe and the US entering the conflict, the REVERSE CHARLEMAGNE project was activated, so that Black Chamber, Laundry and Razvedka could make a united front against the Ahnenerbe-SS. Agents within the same agency will likely know each other at least by name (although precise details would likely be classified under different clearances, unless you acted together), but you would hardly know those from a different agency.
A few notes on some clearances/codewords:
Strong geases placed on every operative make it so that any information regarding a project can be communicated only to those who have the corresponding clearance, in any form. You would be prevented from speaking about REVERSE CHARLEMAGNE to anyone without the REVERSE CHARLEMAGNE clearance, and they would have a compulsion preventing them from reading any such classified dossier. If they tried too hard, results wouldn't be pretty.
- UNDERGROUND STUDENT is the basic clearance level for Magical Enforcement. It means that a person knows about the supernatural world. All Laundry, Black Chamber and Razvedka members have this clearance, as well as a few liaisons in the other agencies and government offices.
- REVERSE CHARLEMAGNE is the broadest keyword that includes the three-agencies cooperation. Most of the field agents, bureaucrats and supporting personnel have this clearance, as well as more specific ones relating to their competences and assignments.
- RUTHLESS WIDOW is your task force. You are cleared to it, as well as your Commanding Officers and the chain of command upwards.
- HIDDEN HARPIST ## ### ##### ########## ### #### #### ###### ### RUTHLESS WIDOW #######. ## #### ##### ### ## ######## ####### ## ####### #### ######.
Draining Casting:
Yes, basically it would activate in combat and other dangerous, time-critical situations (swinging from a rope over a precipice and so on).
Cool! Thanks for the additional info Sappy. It's basically like the various levels of Top Secret stuff in the military, but enforced by magic so you literally can't talk about it, even if you wanted to.
As for fellow agents, like I said, Aedan has been with the Laundry for about 2 years, and the first six months or so were likely training. He's an assassin of high value magic oriented/using/studying targets, mostly in Germany and/or German occupied areas. He's also got a serious mad on for the Nazi's in general, especially other spies, and REALLY especially those who aren't Germans, but who turned traitor to their own countries.
And it's really, really unpleasant if someone forces you to talk about it...
Tomasz is a Polish nationalist; he fights whomever currently has their boot on his homeland. Yesterday that was the Russians, today that's the Germans, tomorrow it will be the Russians again. That said, the tactics the Ahnenerbe-SS used when they took the Saxon Palace, and the documents they may have recovered from it, terrify him - and he survived WWI. The world would be better, so he thinks, if they were wiped from the face of the earth. (It helps that, OOC, I've read The Atrocity Archives and know what the Ahnenerbe-SS' "final solution" was.)
Also, figured I should say that 'Tomasz Szymanski' is pronounced roughly like 'Tomash Shymanski' in English.
Liliya has been with the Black Chamber for 12 and a half years, since she was roughly 14. I would say a lot of that time has been spent honing her magic and marksmanship, especially the first 4-6 years.
Beast Shifter 6 HP 55/55 (0) AC 16, T 13, FF 15, BAC 17 , Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +6
Skills:
Disguise +5, Diplomacy +6, Handle Animal +10, Intimidate +8, K (Geo) +5, K (Nature) +12, L: Laundry +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +6, Survival +13
Sure :)
Beast is an old veteran in the Laundry, he has been around for about 20 years, since just after the first world war. He also has a +10 Lore: Laundry modifier as he knows a thing or to (that I, ooc don't know ^_^).
Beast was initially drafted into an top secret research facility as an experiment (voluntary or not) for cellular regeneration and the creation of super solders. Here Beast gained his Healing Factor but a few years later the facility burnt down. Beast survived, and the government needed to do something about the loose end that they had picked up (it couldn't be known that they were doing human experiments) so they recruited him into the Laundry.
Now, Beast has been around a while and has been on quite a few missions, including some where he was the only one to survive. Beast has lost many people over the years and it has made him quick to make friends but slow to form deeper relations.
Combat wise, Beast fights with 2 claws and the ability to mutate as needed, as well as with a significant regeneration ability.
Utility wise, beast can do a couple of things, including tracking by scent, Enhanced senses, fast movement and disguise capabilities.
Im curious, what was the Ahnenerbe-SS' "final solution?"
As for Draining Casting, sounds good :) Lets go with that.
Back from holidays! Business should resume shortly.
Due to a wild idea, each one of you will also get a free Native-level language tied to magic, as part of your training in the supernatural.
They may be useful from time to time, but they won't have gameplay enefits yet. If you think it clashes with your background drop me a note and we'll work out a solution.
These languages can be picked up as usual with language points (you can change your layout now if you want).
-Aedan knows Irish Gaelic. It is used for some folkloristic rituals tied to spirits and fey.
-Beast knows Sanskrit. As expected from a language tied to Hinduism, it is uniquely suited to transmutation rituals.
-Mina knows Hebrew. Hebrew rituals deal with crafting (think the Golem) as well as illusions.
-Liliya knows Sumerian. A dead language to deal with dead things. Excellent for necromancy.
-Tomasz knows Latin. When you need to fight a demon, Latin is your choice.
Since Sumerian and Sanskrit are not in Google Translate, you can use any language you like to represent them.
F Ninjablade 6 [ HP: 38/38 | AC (Phy): 17 / (Bal): 18 | Fort +4 / Ref +12 / Will +6 | Init +3 / Percept +9 (Low Light, Darkvision 90) ]
Hebrew definitely works with me!
We're getting a killer snowstorm tomorrow so I may lose power / internet, but I'm going to try to get my crunch moved over to my alias otherwise. I wanted to make sure I got a post up first. And let me know if the dialect / accent gets annoying, I can tone it down.
I dont know how many of you follow the weather on a National or International level, but I am one of the 30 million people in the Northeastern US who is currently under a "Severe Blizzard Warning". Where I live, Winter Storm Stella is poised to dump between 12 and 24 inches of the white fluffy stuff, so there's every possibility that I may be sans internet for a bit tomorrow and potentially the next day. I will *try* to get online if I have connectivity, but dont look for me.
If it pans out that I do lose InterWebz, and you want to move things forward Sappy, please feel free to NPC Aedan as needed. He's just the type to sit and be silent/surly in a briefing anyway. :)
All that being said, I will *try* to get a post in tonight. I have a few other things to do and I have to head to bed early, because according to the Weather Channel I'm going to be having to dig my driveway out when I get up tomorrow. :p
Beast Shifter 6 HP 55/55 (0) AC 16, T 13, FF 15, BAC 17 , Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +6
Skills:
Disguise +5, Diplomacy +6, Handle Animal +10, Intimidate +8, K (Geo) +5, K (Nature) +12, L: Laundry +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +6, Survival +13
Oooh! Any chance I could get Irish Gaelic? Beast was basically created by fusing a Fey creature into him, and he gets his Healing Factor by drawing on that Feys power. Heck, he even turns into a psudo-Fey when he gets under extreme stress :p
If not, I could probably free up a few skill points here or there to gain fluency.
Wilhelmina "Mina" Wagner wrote:
And let me know if the dialect / accent gets annoying, I can tone it down.
If you can pull off an accent, go for it, all the power to you. It is something I have tried again and again to do and I can never get it to work :(
However just put a translation in a spoiler underneath in case we are too lazy or unable to read it and you should be good :) A bit more work for you, but eh?
Well, I survived the blizzard. Dealing with the 2+ feet of snow certainly kicked my butt though. :p
I'm must flyby posting to let everyone know I'm ok. Since Beast wants Irish Gaelic as well, I'll move some lang points around and get Sanskrit. I cant exactly give up Gaelic, since Aedan is Irish, and grew up there. :p :D
Speaking of...going to Belfast?!? AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!
EDIT: OK...Removed Spanish: School, and downgraded Russian from Proficient to School, and took Sanskrit: Proficient. If we all survive to level up, and it seems like it's going to be important, I can always put another point into it.
I was just thinking... Since the characters have only a general passing knowledge of other members, perhaps we can come up with 3-5 rumors for our characters based on their backstories. I think 1-3 rumors WITH factual basis behind them, and 1-2 "out-there" rumors. Adds a little bit of flavor to the RP, especially if the others believe the "out-there" false rumors. It would be even better (and entertaining) if our characters were well aware of all these rumors and did nothing to discredit the false rumors.
I'll go first:
Liliya talks to the spirit of her dead brother through her rifle.
Liliya actually fought in WWI as a sniper and
Liliya is actually a member/sleeper agent of a secret Razvedka program sent to spy on and keep tabs on the Black Chamber and/or Laundry.
Liliya is not human, but actually a rare offspring from some monstrous creature called a "hag".
Liliya adopted the moniker Vědma from a childhood name the other orphans called her.
Beast Shifter 6 HP 55/55 (0) AC 16, T 13, FF 15, BAC 17 , Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +6
Skills:
Disguise +5, Diplomacy +6, Handle Animal +10, Intimidate +8, K (Geo) +5, K (Nature) +12, L: Laundry +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +6, Survival +13
I cant believe I forgot about this but I took a few points in linguistics to gain both Irish Gaelic and Sanskrit. He lost a few points in intimidate to do so.
Beast Shifter 6 HP 55/55 (0) AC 16, T 13, FF 15, BAC 17 , Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +6
Skills:
Disguise +5, Diplomacy +6, Handle Animal +10, Intimidate +8, K (Geo) +5, K (Nature) +12, L: Laundry +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +6, Survival +13
• Beast has died at least a half-dozen times.
• Beast was born in the wilds, raised by wolves.
• Beast is well known for his long "vacations" out in the wilderness.
• Beast has walked away from at least a few death traps
• Beast has "gone feral" and ripped a few people limb from limb with his bare hands.
• Beast has some sort of unnatural otherworldly side to him that rarely comes out, but it is not natural.
Paizo had a bug for a few days where new posts weren't showing; it could be they don't realize things have moved on. You may want to send them a PM, just in case.
Back from holidays! Business should resume shortly.
Since it seems that Aedan and Beast are effectively MIA, would you rather continue in a team of three or have me call on two more candidates from the recruitment thread, in case they want to play this table as well?
F Ninjablade 6 [ HP: 38/38 | AC (Phy): 17 / (Bal): 18 | Fort +4 / Ref +12 / Will +6 | Init +3 / Percept +9 (Low Light, Darkvision 90) ]
I'm okay with moving ahead with just the three of us and giving them a bit more time - I've at least been having a ton of problems with the forums this week, even beyond the "not seeing notifications for new posts" thing.
I'm ambivalent; I haven't been playing with either of them nearly long enough to be attached to them or their characters so if we want to switch them out that's fine. At the same time, I'm OK with giving them another week if we'd like to see if they come back. Has someone PM'd them?
Back from holidays! Business should resume shortly.
OK, so let's continue with the three of you for now, if they're not back by debriefing we can look for someone else. I'll adjust the level of the challenge accordingly.
Back from holidays! Business should resume shortly.
Do you want me to advance to the next morning? The investigation will be peppered with clues, alternative approaches and red herrings, so I'm confident you'll find a way whatever you like to do.
Back from holidays! Business should resume shortly.
Ok, at this point I have to ask what to do, because frankly I'm lost.
Is it just an unfortunate series of coincidences, or did I do something wrong? Would you like a different mission, less investigative and more combat-heavy? Should I turn this into one or more solo adventures? Really, anything I can do to get this game back on track?
