Hell's Rebels (Sacramento, CA) (Inactive)

Game Master Nefreet



GM GM GM ∞ | Slides | Chronicles

Welcome to Kintargo!

North of the Devil’s Perch region in Northwestern Cheliax lies the Ravounel Forest, the North Plains, and Kintargo, a cosmopolitan city known for being prone to outside influence. It sits on Nisroch Bay at the mouth of the Yolubilis River, unprotected by mountains or other natural barriers. Kintargo’s people are less insular and more open to the outside world, and the Asmodean religion’s influence is far less keenly felt among them.

This is not to suggest that the Church has no say in the city. The city is a major port, after all, and many ships of the Chelish Navy put in here; their commanders are largely ardent advocates of the regime in Egorian, and they enforce the desires of the Church hierarchy. The now-missing Lord-Mayor of Kintargo, Jilia Bainulus, acceded to their wishes when the navy’s warships were in the harbor, and removed the restrictions when the ships sailed out — there was no point, she said, in depressing the area’s economy with “all that nonsense”. After her disappearance she was quickly replaced with someone more… obedient.

The towns of the North Plains, bordering Nidal, are low and face east, away from the wind that blows cold from the Arcadian Ocean. The rains that sweep in across the prairie turn to ice and sleet in the winter, transforming the plains into vast and pitiless tundra. Halflings live among the rolling hills and vales, hiding their settlements from the scouts and merchants who travel between Kintargo and the Uskwood — for who knows what evils these travelers bear back and forth?

In addition to the power struggle brewing in the region the Asmodean keepers of Ravounel Forest have begun reporting strange creatures in the wood. The worshipers of Erastil, most especially the ranger-priest Triadan Freedman, have kept quiet, saying they don’t know a thing. And on top of it all rumors of a new cult of Rovagug have begun to surface.

This is the setting for Hell’s Rebels.

Character Creation:

We will mostly utilize the rules for character creation as outlined in the Pathfinder Society Guide to Organized Play, with the following exceptions, modifications and additions:
  • Core Rulebook races, plus Tengu and Tiefling (no variant heritages)
  • Aquatic Elf PCs are not allowed, but Half-elves with the Water Child alternate racial trait are encouraged instead
  • Strix PCs are not allowed, but players may instead use the stats and rules for creating a Tengu with the following changes:

    1) you gain the Strix subtype instead of the Tengu subtype and are by all appearances and mannerisms considered to be a Strix instead of a Tengu,
    2) starting languages use the Strix rules, which means either investing a rank in Linguistics for Common or beginning with an Int of 12+,
    3) the Tengu Wings feat (should you select it) works a number of minutes per day equal to your character level, in one minute increments,
    4) you gain access to Strix-specific spells, favored class bonuses, archetypes and equipment,
    5) lose access to Tengu-specific spells, feats, favored class bonuses, archetypes and equipment, and
    6) still use the Alternate Racial Traits for Tengu (not Strix)

  • 15 point buy
  • No adjusted ability score below a 7 or above an 18
  • Max of 1 mental ability and 1 physical ability below a 10
  • Must not be Evil- or Lawful-aligned (only CG, NG, CN and N allowed)
  • The recent Advanced Race Guide errata changing many Favored Class Bonuses to 1/6 from 1/2 is instead changed to 1/4
  • Choose one Craft, Perform or Profession skill to represent a hobby, career or interest of your character. Beginning at 1st level, and as you level up, you may put ranks into that skill for free. As this is meant to be flavorful background, your selection should not provide a mechanical benefit to your class (such as Craft Alchemy for Alchemists or Perform for Bards). Pick something fun, and I promise you'll get to see use out of it =)

Rules for Traits:
  • Characters begin with two Traits as normal
  • You may choose an extra Trait at character creation by rolling at random for a Drawback
  • Fate's Favored and Adopted are not legal for this campaign
  • All bonuses granted by Traits are considered to be Trait bonuses
  • If you choose both Wayang Spellhunter and Magical Lineage, you must choose a different spell for each

Class Options:
  • The Separatist Cleric archetype may choose Animal or Terrain domains as their Forbidden Rite
  • Other classes with access to domains (such as Inquisitors) may consult with the GM to determine which Animal or Terrain domains may be appropriate (if any) for their deity
  • A Bolt Ace may use Deadly Aim when targeting touch AC with a crossbow
  • A Ninja may use Craft (Alchemy) to create poisons (in addition to Poisoner Rogues, Alchemists, and Investigators)
  • A Myrmidarch may use Spell Combat with one-handed ranged weapons (such as pistols, most thrown weapons, and crossbows wielded in one hand). This ability modifies Spell Combat for purposes of combining archetypes
  • Only the list of Animal Companions, Familiars and Improved Familiars listed on page 5 of the Player's Guide will be allowed for this campaign

Variant Rules:

We will largely be using the Pathfinder Society ruleset (one combat companion, no Permanency, no Magic Item crafting, and those sorts of things). Consult the Additional Resources for legal character options. Exceptions are as follows:
  • No experience points. Characters level up at predetermined points in the Adventure Path
  • No prestige points. Retraining requires time, money and the use of a trainer as outlined in Ultimate Campaign
  • Familiars and Animal Companions are attainable only via class features (I.E. Eldritch Heritage [Arcane] could only get you a Bonded Object, and the feat Animal Ally is not allowed)
  • Weapon prices: Tiny and smaller (x1/2), Large (x2), Huge (x4), Gargantuan (x8), Colossal (x16)
  • Special material modifiers are applied after multipliers have been calculated (I.E. Mithral Chain Shirt Barding costs 1400gp rather than 4400gp)
  • Summon Minor Monster may summon any tiny-sized animal
  • Strength damage decreases your carrying capacity
  • The feat Thunder and Fang only works when wielding both an Earthbreaker and Klar

Skills:
  • Mundane crafting is allowed, using the rules as outlined in the Core Rulebook
  • You may identify Spell-Like Abilities as they are cast by making a Spellcraft check at –5
  • You may identify spells by verbal components alone (such as those of an invisible caster) by making a Spellcraft check at –5
  • You may "Accelerated Swim" at 1/2 speed (rather than 1/4 speed) by making a Swim check at –5

This list is subject to change as this thread and the campaign progresses.


Soliloquy (usually) takes no time:
The fast-paced nature and timing of combat in Pathfinder often means that dialogue gets passed over in favor of the most effective tactics. In this campaign soliloquy will prelude combat on many occasions. In order to best tell the story, and to give players opportunities to learn more about what's going on, the time spent conversing with enemies does not mean non-speakers have extra time to prepare for combat. Think of these interactions like the exchange of dialogue boxes in a video game: what needs to be said is said, and then initiative is rolled. Some exceptions may occur, such as using Bluff to distract an NPC and "buy time" while the rest of the party prepares for combat in hiding. In those cases the situation will be clearly explained to the players that this use of soliloquy does take time.

Because death is rarely fun:

One thing that absolutely sucks is when the character you've been playing for months (or years) dies to some random crit or other bad circumstance and cannot be revived. If you wish, instead of dying from massive hit point damage (such as from a critical hit, coup de grace, or just a bad roll of the Fireball dice) you may automatically stabilize at –1 hp and gain one of the following permanent conditions:

1. Lose an eye: can no longer Take 10 on Perception checks. –2 penalty on Disguise checks.
2. Lamed: reduce base speed by 5ft. –2 penalty on Acrobatics checks.
3. Punctured Lung: can only hold breath for 1 round per point of Constitution. –2 penalty on Con checks.
4. Maimed: can no longer Take 10 on Sleight of Hand checks. –2 penalty on ranged attack rolls.
5. Skullbash: can no longer act during Surprise rounds. –2 penalty on Concentration checks.
6. Mutilated: treat nonlethal damage as lethal damage for purposes of determining hp healed by magic.

These conditions may eventually be repaired by a casting of Regenerate (one casting per injury). You may not acquire the same debilitating injury more than once. If you have no more options left, your character name permanently changes to "Lucky". Death effects and other non-damaging means of death are generally not subject to this option, and neither is failing to stabilize while dying (you hopefully have party members to help you with that).
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What I'm going to ask of each of you is to make a new Paizo Alias for your character to post in this thread. Come up with a short description and backstory (1-3 paragraphs) that I and the other players can reference down the road. What do you look like? What are your wearing? Are you different from other humans/elves/tieflings/etc? What do you love or hate? Do you have any phobias or worries? What is your most treasured possession? If you have secrets or other details that you don't want to be outwardly known, just let me know those privately.

Out-of-character, let's use this thread for questions and comments regarding the campaign itself.

In-character, let's use this thread to post side discussions, off-topic happenings, journal entries, and other flavorful tidbits that we might not otherwise have time for during gameplay.

The aim is to complete this campaign in about 12 months. Hopefully by then I'll be serving in the Peace Corps overseas. This means we'll probably have to get through each book in no more than 1-2 months each, which means only 4-8 play sessions per book. It'll be ambitious. That being said, in case we can't finish in time, we'll use this thread to convert the campaign to a play-by-post.

Who wants to go first?


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Male Tiefling Brawler 1

So Hell's GM. I was working on the idea of a changeling brawler. I think it would tie in to the noble scion feat and help explain why I don't "work" with my family. The changeling has darkvision and +1 natural armor. The natural attacks would be secondary attacks with the unarmed strike of the brawler so not terribly useful or powerful.

These things are all available with creative swapping on a tiefling, and the tiefling gets a spell like ability too.

So what do you say?

For the strix, wouldn't it just be easier to require the wing-clipped alternate racial?


GM GM GM ∞ | Slides | Chronicles

Hello, "New name required"! For this campaign we won't be doing Changelings. Just the races suggested in the Player's Guide, so we can keep it in theme. Strix and Aquatic Elves were on that list pending GM approval. In order to keep those options balanced with the other races I decided to make the modifications as described above.

The wing-clipped alternate racial trait still gives Strix a constant Fly ability, which can be overpowering at low levels. Gaining a limited ability to Fly at 5th level (via the Tengu Wings feat) is more in balance with other options available to other characters at that level, such as the spell Fly.

Perhaps for Hell's Vengeance?


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Chelaxian Inquisitor (infiltrator) of Milani - 1

From the diary of Daryth Benefrax:

Fireday, 14 Arodus 4715

Godsdamned dottari stopped me again this afternoon as I was on my way to work and made me late for my shift. I suppose I was in a hurry and 'had a suspicious look to me,' whatever the Hells that means. I was dressed as I pretty much always dress - my black trousers, my nice shirt, and my jerkin.

This one dottari kept me there questioning me over and over...

"Now then boy," he kept saying that as if to punctuate my youth like my age was the problem. "You ain't got tha look offa true Chelaxian. Prolly one a them Andorens spy, he is."

I responded "What gave it away, sir? Was it the jet-black hair? Oh wait, no; because that's the same color as Her Infernal Majestrix, Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune's hair. Is it that Alabaster skin tone that I have? No, sir, that can't be it because that is again the same coloring as Herself - Her Infernal Majestrix, Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune's skin. Is it my Ulfen blue eyes? I realized then and there that I may have push this a little too far. Well, that and the fact that he knocked me to the ground and pushed my face down into the dirt. So yeah, I could see he was about to charge me with 'Breaking the Peace' so I played nice and explained to him that I was having a bad day and it was totally unfair of me to take it out on him - a true loyal and honorable dotarri of Infernal Cheliax. He seemed to calm down a bit. I say a bit because in the end I paid him off. It was probably a shakedown the entire time. Praises be unto the Asmodean Disciplines for teaching me the correct way to pass a bribe to the dottari.

Well I made it to work, albeit a tad late. I have to say I love working at the Long Roads Coffeehouse. There are so many great people that come here to sit and talk for hours. So many great minds with a ton of ideas. I have to continually tell Jaryth that it isn't because it's close to Lady Docur's School for Girls. He thinks I took this job just to be close to the finishing school. No, I took this job to learn. I swear, one day I saw someone reading On Government - well, they were trying to hide the fact they were reading Jubannich's book, but I know what I saw. To have access to Jubannich or Hosetter, oh if only!!!

Anyway, Jaryth's gonna make fun of me for my path - tease me about girls and the like no matter what. I wish I was as easy around girls as he is - he just is easy. (In more ways that one, but that's a story for another time.) I get tongue-twisted around the fairer sex and, argh - just... learning is so much easier.

Crap - I've just admitted a whole bunch that I don't want read by the anyone - here, let me just damn myself.

My name is Daryth Benefrax and I am a member of the church of Milani. I server you coffee, wander the streets listening to you talk, I bow and scrape and I secretly pray for the day that a cleansing wind blows in from Nisroch Bay and brings with it the scent of roses and a fresh start to Kintargo. I'll lie to your face and supplicate to the Thrune's and the Asmodeans and play the good boy, but in the end I want all those loyal to the oppressors known as the Betrayers of Cheliax - aka House Thrune - gone. While I am at it...I'll just confess everthing. I can talk to women only in a professional manner, but if it ever changes to an intimate conversation I get nervous. I couldn't survive in this world without my brother Jaryth, even though he's a gigantic pain in the arse. I love talking to people and learning about them, which is why I took the coffeeshop job in the first place. I fear sharing anything about myself because Mom and Dad warned us about our faith getting in the way. F&%* it - I'm out.

*Note to self - burn this whole book tonight and start a new one ASAP. No evidence. The catharsis was fun but back to the real world, boy!*


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Male Tiefling Brawler 1

Drawback List
Attached
Avarice
Dependent
Doubt
Family Ties
Headstrong
Hedonistic
Lovesick
Meticulous
Paranoid
Power-Hungry
Pride
Provincial
Sentimental
Vain
Xenophobic
Zealous

1d20 ⇒ 4

Looks like I rolled Doubt.


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♂ Deceased Ex-Halfling Troglodyte Spirit Guide Oracle 2

Composition still in progress, but thought I'd get what I have out so's y'all see what I'm working toward. Once I'm finished, I'll throw an introductory text up

Liberty's Edge

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Male Human Slayer Lv.1

Artemis at a glance looks like a human street person, just another peasant on road. He wears a dingy brown cloak, which covers some of his face and shields his eyes from the bright sun or eyes that happen to be overly curious. Not an stunningly attractive or even very noticeable man he keeps to himself most of the time while on the open streets.
Artemis rarely ever laughs or smiles. In closed quarters or around those he trusts, Artemis is a professional and always has an air of control about him. Every move he makes or word he speaks is calculated to achieve a desired effect. He strives to never allow emotions or the circumstances, no matter how dire, master him.
It is true Artemis's can sometimes be paranoid, but his hatred and disgust is reserved for those who are willing to abandon or betray those in their community for their own gain. This is because of the events during his earlier years, something that was done to him by adults who he should have been able to trust as a child. He doesn't speak much more on the subject.
Too many people have moved into a influential place where they exploit everyone else...


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Male Tiefling Brawler 1

As this is a city/urban based campaign some things work a little different than adventuring in the wilds

How are we handling Cost of Living?
This is what the CRB has to say.

The Cost of Living table needs a custom one added between Average and Wealthy, something like Comfortable or Noble slumming it. 25 gp/month with nonmagical item up to 2g and meals/taxes up to 4g. What say you Hell's GM?

Is there any other mundane record keeping stuff we are going to hand wave or ignore?


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Male Tiefling Brawler 1

Arkapallus Aulamaxa
Born Moonday, 14 Sarenith 4693

A young man who is very well dressed in the latest fashions. He carries himself with a noble’s aloofness but easily loses this attitude when distracted. Lady Docur’s is quite the distraction. He is known to read at the Long Roads Coffee House, but unlike most of its patrons, he generally reads pulp adventure novels with carefully bland but expensive bindings to disguise their nature. 5’9” in his heeled boots, his pale skin looks slightly pebbly and rough if you examine it closely, though he takes pains to disguise and cover the worst of the scales. He wears his long golden hair in such away that it covers his very slight horns which poke out right above his ears.

Mentioned family members:

Father - Elgin Aulamaxa - Patron of the Kintargo Opera
Mother - Calseinica Jhaltero - Very minor branch of the family
Aunt - Visbaronetess Delour Aulamaxa renowned Diva in Westcrown, suddenly turned cold towards my mother about the time of the unpleasantness down in Westcrown and their tiefling problem.

Other mentioned people:

Jhalston - Son of the Majordomo
Marliak - Daughter of Cook
Vercel - Stablemaster/Disciplinarian
Dame Professer Erlinia Leroung - Music teacher at the Alabaster Academy and sometime lover

Excerpts from Arkapallus' Journal

Fireday, 31 Kuthona 4699
We are party for end year, Ant Delr broke the glases. She is very mad. thnk she hetes me

OOC:
The last time Visbaronetess Delour Aulamaxa visited, she stormed off in a rage after using her high note to shatter most of the glassware. This is when she found out Arkapallus was a tiefling.Around this time a few of Arkapallus tiefling features start to manifest. The Visbaronetess is a famous Opera singer and played a minor part in Council of Thieves - she hates tieflings.

Oathday, 22 Gozran 4704
So I have to go to the party. I don’t want to wear the suit, it itches and is to stiff. Jhalston and Marliak are going to the river to catch turtles. Its not fair. Stupid Thrune.

OOC:
A minor member of the Thrune government visited Kintargo, and it was Elgin’s turn to host a grand society ball to honor the Thrune family. Arkapallus at 11 would have much prefered hunting turtles with the servant children in the evening.

Sunday, 21 Rova 4708
Asmodeus is our savior. Aurochshit.

Spoiler:
After church services, rebellious early teen bored out of his mind in the long and boring ceremonies of the official Church of Asmodeus

Toilday, 17 Erastus 4710
Father has forbidden me to see her again. He sent her away!! I hate him! She is everything that matters to me. Marliak has the sweetest kisses, the way her whole body blushes as we remove our clothes in the hay loft! To die for.

OOC:
Arkapallus has been having trysts with the Cook’s daughter in the stables hayloft for a while, this time they were caught in the act by Elgrin himself. He sent the Cook and her daughter away for beguiling his heir and son.

Wealday, 1 Arodus 4710
Jhalston is the one who told on us. Father is very upset with me. I punished Jhalston by punching him until he stopped moving. Father says that beating one’s servants is beneath me and that if a servant betrays you, it is Vercel’s job to mete out the punishment. He also said it is about time I started acting the noble.

OOC:
As Jhalston and Arkapallus were rough housing after dueling practice, Jhalston blames Arkapallus for Marliak being sent away. Jhalston had a crush on Marliak and his jealousy led to him telling Arkapallus’ father about the sneaking off to the stables. In a rage Arkapallus beat Jhalston nearly to death with his fists in a rage.

Oathday, 7 Sarenith 4712
Graduated Alabaster Academy, finally. Who cares about all that stuff. Money is what matters in Kintargo and we have that. Those lecturers don’t understand what its all about. Well Dame Professer Erlinia Leroung was worth my time, best grades from her.
Shensen is performing again tonight, I wonder if Father’s connections can arrange a meeting?

OOC:
Arkapallus is not terribly bright, and while school educated him he couldn’t be bothered to care much. Erlinia Leroung a young noblewoman teacher of music at the Alabaster Academy was his favorite class for the learning to play the wooden flute(annoys his parents-they wanted an actor) and the after class “activities”

Starday, 11 Lamashan 4714

1st RULE: You do not talk about FIGHT CLUB.
2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about FIGHT CLUB.
3rd RULE: If someone says "stop" or goes limp, taps out the fight is over.
4th RULE: Only two guys to a fight.
5th RULE: One fight at a time.
6th RULE: No shirts, no shoes.
7th RULE: Fights will go on as long as they have to.
8th RULE: If this is your first night at FIGHT CLUB, you HAVE to fight.

ooc:
Finding that he enjoyed using his fist on Jhalston he has secretly been meeting and creating underground fighting clubs in Kintargo.

Oathday 5 Calistril 4715
Finally my own place. There is a lovely coffee shop just around the corner. The staff is nice and there is a great view of Lady Docur's School for Girls. If you sit in the one corner by the mantle there is an unobstructed view of the swimming pool where they ladies must wear the school's swimming uniforms. Though there seems to be a lot of the intellectual types that frequent the shop. At least I don’t have to explain the bruises and bloodshot eyes to my father anymore.

ooc:
Moved out to a small noble’s apartment and spends his late afternoons girl watching and being seen as a “Noble” should, he then makes his way to a fighting club to try and release his devils…

Fireday, 14 Arodus 4715
It looks like that young man, Daryth got into it again with the Dottari. I wonder if he would like to work some of his aggressions out with his fists? He doesn’t look very strong, but he seems to be quite the scrapper. I should perhaps leave him an invitation...

Grand Lodge

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Male Sylph Monk 1/Cleric 1| HP 8/15 | AC15 T15 FF13| F5 R3 W7 elecrical resist 5| Init +1 | Per +7 | Darkvision 60ft Monk 1 / Cleric 1

I am incredibly jealous, this looks awesome! Real life responsibilities suck!

will save to turn down great job: 1d20 - 20 ⇒ (20) - 20 = 0


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Male Tiefling Brawler 1

Lol. You totally crit! That's an autosuccess! You have to stay now!


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Male Human Hooded Champion 1

Drawback: 1d20 ⇒ 1 Attached - oof

A young man carrying himself with an air of establishment stands behind the stove at the kitchen of The Pierced Pike. He swivels the frying pan around, trying to even out the heat from the cooking fire. Adding some spices and garnish, he sets it back down and waits. He tells jokes to the kitchen staff, all of whom laugh and seem to enjoy his company, even if he is a little bossy in the kitchen.

He looks over the stove, smiling as the giggles he caused from others begin to die down, and stares into the dining area of the restaurant. Two men in officials garb are there, exchanging pleasantries while waiting for the meal VJ was preparing. He could hear their conversation somewhat, just enough to listen to hear one of them joke to the other about the shakedown he had just caused on some unsuspecting citizen, he had scared him just enough to get him to pay. The Shrike will find you, you oppressive bas... but his thought was cut off by a coworker's elbow ribbing him with some new kitchen humor. He laughed along, and turned his attention back to the meal at hand.

After leaving his shift at the kitchen, VJ went to his apartment to change. A, not so quite nice but adequate, room you'd never know that if he hadn't had a become scornful of his parent's politics he likely could have purchased the whole building with his allowance. The place worked though, and allowed him to hide among the common folk and operate his own agenda.

Putting on his cloak and a wide-brimmed hat, he went to tonight's meeting place. Behind some coffee-house, he meets with a few other like dressed fellows and together they move stealthily into the night.

When the sun rises, a body is found, stripped of its possessions except for three items: The remnants of a tattered Dotarri uniform, an arrow through his chest, and a note that reads:

Quote:

Corrupt.

-The Shrike


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Male Human Hooded Champion 1

So I do want to play... but I should openly admit out the gate that there will be a Sunday every two months that I cannot play. Those are the days that my brother and I play in the Twin-Linked 40k games at GEG.

If you guys are cool with that (and the first one being the end of this month) then I will join in.

Do you think VJ will fit, or will changes need to be made?


GM GM GM ∞ | Slides | Chronicles

I love everything I'm seeing so far!! If I "liked" your post it means I've read it.

Love the 8 Constitution, Darren.


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Male Human Hooded Champion 1

I'm sure you do.... it'll be fine.... *whimper*


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♂ Deceased Ex-Halfling Troglodyte Spirit Guide Oracle 2

Eight years ago
Wearily, a young halfling stumbled through the streets of Kintargo, his unsteady gait reminiscent of that of a drunkard's. The falling rain had drenched him, his meager woolen cloak proving quite ineffective in warding off the fat droplets that even now pelted him. He sneezed, then looked about blearily for some inn or other place of lodging, and found naught save a quiet, darkened residential street and a man approaching him. He had little time to study the torch bearing armored hulk before it towered over him, and even less time to comprehend what the uniform meant before the human spoke to him.
"What's this then? A drunken slip out on the streets after dusk?" the towering guard sneered, a scowl quickly etching across his face.
"Ah, no... not quite-" He'd barely gotten the last word out of his mouth before being interrupted.
"No? Did you just say 'no' to me? You'd gainsay one of Kintargo's proud dottari? You? A slip?" The dottari leaned down to forcefully jab a finger against the weary halfling's chest.
That'll bruise in the morning... he thought, even as his mouth formed the perhaps ill advised response of "Well, sir, I merely thought you'd mistaken-"
"Aha!" the dottari interjected, again cutting off the halfling mid-sentence. "Mistaken am I?! You infer that I am, then, inept in my task, that I'd not be able to tell if a drunken slip were so. Listen to the drunken slur of your own words! I say that you are guilty of public drunkenness, being out past slaves' curfew, and that you approach blasphemy! How say you, little slip?"
"Sir, please, I am very weary from travel and seek only-" the officer's gauntleted fist caught the halfling in the jaw, sending him sprawling to the street's hard cobbles.
"Who owns you, you piece of gutter s&*!e? Your mouth has cost him coin, and I mean to collect it. Pray he's merciful, or the coin I take will be measured by the lash against your hide!" The dottari stomped on the halfling's ankle with his heavy boot, pinning him in place and sending spikes of pain radiating up his leg.
"Pardon me, dottari." the halfling and his assailant froze, each turning their head to look at this interloper, an elderly woman dressed in nightgown, her shoulders sagging beneath a heavy canvas cloak. "It appears my unruly slave has caused you no small amount of trouble. Pray let him up that he may attend me while I pay what fines he's earned?" A small purse clanked as the withered hand that carried it extended toward the frozen tableau."
"Yours, then, Lady Wintrish? Hmph. His crimes are severe, but given the rain and cold, I'd hate to inconvenience you with a trip to the station for a full recollection." the dottari eased off the downed halfling before gently accepting the small pouch. A quick motion lent the guard an idea of the number of coins contained therein, and he pivoted as if to leave before looking at the old woman appraisingly. "If this carries gold, not silver..." at the woman's nod, the dottari continued, "Then this shall cover tonight's transgressions. See that your slip gets proper training." Another nod saw the dottari off in the direction of Jarvis End. The halfling, for his part, scrambled to his weary feet, wincing as the swelling in his injured leg made it uncomfortable.
"You've my gratitude, milady." He sketched a quick bow.
"Let's get us out of this rain, that we might discuss your future in Kintargo." Lady Wintrish gestured to the open portal of her estate, which bled a warm light into the courtyard the halfling's troubles began outside of.

Today
Jamir sighed as his fingers plunked at the worn lute and his thoughts turned away from the events of eight years past that had lead to his current predicament. A city under martial law. No chance of my absconding now. Damn this lord mayor and his entire damnable country. At least I have friends to complain at. Jamir snorted at his thoughts as he began detuning the instrument, the pattering of the rain on the windows the only other audible sound. With. Friends to complain with. They're almost as poorly served as you, Sir Not-a-slave, by the current political climate. Well, tension is brewing in the city with each new proclamation that rolls out. Maybe a new opportunity will arise. Or this could all be a prelude to worse things to come. He carefully enclosed the lute in its padded case before slinging it on over his cloak and briskly stepping out of the empty solar, reverently closing the door behind him.
"Thank you, Lady Wintrish, for all you've ever done. Rest easy in Pharasma's embrace." he murmured, resting his forehead against the disused solar's wooden door. Didn't even get to attend her services. Damn Cheliax. Damn the Thrunes. He turned on his heel and marched down the corridor, a mask of cheerfulness covering the rage and grief he struggled with.
Rest easy, Lady. I'm going to make our sacrifices mean something, even if I have to join you.

Grand Lodge

100 meter GM/∞

Nice post Jamir!

So we are figuring out how we know each other before the protest.

Arkapallus and Daryth
Arkapallus frequents the Long Roads Coffeehouse, so has regular interactions with Daryth. Mostly service related, though occasionally on the nature of Lady Docur's "ladies". Would know of Daryth's twin, but not really having much interaction with him.

Arkapallus and VJ
Sounds like both of us are of noble birth and grew up in Kintargo. We most likely attended the same school the Alabaster Academy and with Arkapallus being 6 years younger would only really know each other by reputation and probably on sight, but wouldn't have an active relationship.

Jamir and Arkapallus
As Lady Wintrish's Lutist, Arkapallus would surely have been at a society function in which Jamir had performed, though Arkapallus wouldn't know Jamir's name. As a sneaky slip, Jamir has probably come across Arkapallus practicing his flute in odd places such as in allies and near fountains, in the noble areas.

Dez Rattath and Arkapallus
Arkapallus probably threw some silvers your way once, as you pretended to be a beggar?


♂ Deceased Ex-Halfling Troglodyte Spirit Guide Oracle 2

Alrighty! One halfling sorcerer statted up.
Now to factor out the full progression beyond vague ideas of "Metamagic" and "Spontaneous Metafocus"


Chelaxian Warpriest - 1

Journal excerpt of Jaryth Benefrax:

...can't believe the poor girl had triplets. I'm just glad I could be there help. It seems a shame to bring in new life knowing what life will be like over the next few months but people must be free to live as they want or life is meaningless.
Daryth had another altercation today. His mouth is either going to get him caught or get our secrets revealed. I love him but he just has no idea how to deal with people which is odd because he's so personable. How can someone so smart be so oblivious to the motives of others. I feel sorry for that poor girl he works with. She wants him so much and he can't even tell she has breasts. She asked him to look at a "spider bite" on her thigh and tell her if he though she should see a priest or if it maybe just needed to be rubbed down. He told her to see the apothecary down the street. Poor girl.
That odd thug has been hanging around Daryth quite a bit recently. I'll have to keep an eye on him. He seems fine but you can't be to careful right now.
Hopefully we can find more...


♂ Deceased Ex-Halfling Troglodyte Spirit Guide Oracle 2

*reads a journal entry, sighs. Reads another journal entry, swears under his breath. Reads another journal entry...*

Stop keeping journals! You're only creating more evidence for the dottari to find!
Worst revolutionaries ever.


Chelaxian Inquisitor (infiltrator) of Milani - 1

Hell's Rebels Rebellion Sheet


♂ Deceased Ex-Halfling Troglodyte Spirit Guide Oracle 2

Jamir sank deeper into the shallows of his pool as he contemplated recent events. The partition between his clean waters and the filth of the sewer wasn't perfect, small amounts of foul water crept past the planks of wood he'd scavenged from a few barrels, but liberal castings of the purification orison ensured it was reasonably safe to swim here. Not that he prefered to swim much in the past. He'd much rather have curled up with a nice book and a bottle of strong spirits after a lavish meal before... before I had my throat ripped out. Before I died, and came back as... this. He raised a scaled claw and regarded his scales with a mixture of emotions.

It had been a stroke of ill luck, he'd decided, that led to his death at the hands of those... things. They'd been exploring the sewers to find a secondary route out of their hidden base and had been set upon by the creatures. Jamir had stepped in to provide healing to his embattled comrades to ensure they did not falter in the fight. One of the creatures swept across the ceiling to attack him from above, cutting off all escape and presenting no option for Jamir but to open himself up to attack. He had taken the creature's bait, wound up his sling, and trusted his armor to save his life. His armor failed. he died.

After the battle, his comrades had spirited his corpse away to a druid in the wood, who accepted goods and gold to work a minor miracle: the reincarnation of one deceased halfling. Fate, it seemed, had not finished being unkind to the halfling, and so he returned to life in the form of a troglodyte. What's more, his curse had not lifted. Now he sat in the waters of his new home and ruminated.

Dark Archive

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♂ Human Chaokineticist 5

As dusk crept across the yard in front of the holding house, a pair of dottari escorted a young Asmodean priest to the scene of the earlier jailbreak and massacre. The Asmodean glanced at the closer of the two dottari in a silent command to open the doors, a command that the dottari hastened to obey. As the heavy wooden door creaked open, a wash of foul intermingled scents swept out, causing the guards to curse beneath their breath and the priest to cover his nose with a finely embroidered handkerchief. The last rays of sunlight flooded into the room beyond, illuminating the edges of pooled blood and a dead man in dottari mail.

"Light." the priest quietly intoned, clutching the unholy symbol of his deity closer in a silent prayer for fortitude to resist the terrible smells within. The dottari not encumbered with opening the heavy door raised the shield of a lit lantern he carried before stepping forward to shine its light into the room. The priest swept in closely behind his guard, reaching for a keyring tucked into his robes. His questing hand froze in place, however, as the lantern light revealed the unexpected occupant within the room ahead. As the dottari drew their weapons, the intruding man stood from the crouch he had been in, straightened with a sigh, and stretched slightly to alleviate cramped muscles. Gathering his wits swiftly, the priest barked out, "Halt! Identify yourself, or face the wrath of Thrune!"

The unknown man turned to face the three men before responding, and as he turned his outfit blurred and shifted to conceal his face in a deep cowl and mask. His gaze swept over the three men, noting brandished weaponry and the priest's unholy symbol. The priest opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted as an otherworldly hollow sounding baritone voice echoed into the silence.

"Thrune? You stand in Kintargo and claim the auspices of House Thrune? Either you speak for Her Infernal Majestrix, Queen Abrogail II, according to orders sent directly from her court in Egorian, or you speak for the petty tyrant who inhabits this city and feeds upon it as would a tick, Barzillai Thrune." At this, the dottari stepped forward menacingly and the priest wrenched a mace from his belt. "Ah. You speak for Barzillai, False Thrune and future dead man. How unfortunate. Take solace in the fact that your deaths will free you from his damning rule, and know that your loyalty will no doubt be rewarded in the depths of Hell." As the last word echoed across the room, both dottari charged, but only one made it to the mysterious figure. The first was struck dead by a beam of coruscating energies that lanced out from a point above the figure's left shoulder. The surviving dottari brought his mace down in a powerful swing that stopped dead against the intruder's shrouded left arm with a dull thud of metal impacting wood. Before the surprised dottari could ready another swing, another beam of strange energies manifested from the intruder's right hand, forming a blade that the dottari was unable to defend against.

"On behalf of the church of Asmodeus and Lord Mayor Barzillai Thrune, I hereby sentence you to death for the crimes of blasphemy, murder, tresspassing..." the priest began shrieking, stepping involuntarily backward as the body of the second dead dottari fell to the floor at the stranger's feet.

"Oh, do shut up." The hollow voice again interjected. Fear was swiftly replaced by rage and the priest raised his unholy symbol to channel the unholy energies of his deity in a burst of negative energy. That rage swiftly gave way to fear once again as the stranger calmly chuckled, utterly ignoring the deadly aura. "You priests toy with powers you do not truly comprehend. You channel energies from the void as a child would throw a tantrum, without focus or control, and you claim to be powerful based on your limited ability to bring such energies into the material realm. Leave, child. Take your broken toys," he nudged a dead dottari with his boot, "and go home. I haven't time to dispense your lesson today. Go, and tell your brethren that their time of ignorance is at an end. From the void, I come, and I shall instruct you on Void's true power in due time."

As the cleric fled the holding house, the shadowed man turned to closely examine a particular pool of blood, reached down, and retrieved a bloody chunk of scales and feathers. His clothing shifted to resemble local garb, revealing a darkwood buckler and fine mithril chain as a smile stretched across his face. "They were here."


GM GM GM ∞ | Slides | Chronicles

^ that gave me chills.

Dark Archive

♂ Human Chaokineticist 5

Just as planned...

This guy is challenging but fun to write for. It's kind of a fine line, making him sound appropriately scary and menacing without sounding like he'd be a perfect fit with the bad guys. Do check out his character details in the profile of this alias, while it's a work in progress, it should give ideas of how he is intended to operate.

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