I'm not really sure what we're supposed to be doing to be honest. I'm just going with the flow at this point. Hopefully this dragon guy doesn't kill us.
That's what I'm going with, maybe it's my lack of sleep, so I will just see how things play out and go from there
He is not going to kill you, as long as you dont try to fight him that is. He is going to do his job, you get a trial and all. Just all that back talking, threating, and disrespect got him in a foul mood. The disappearances lately dont help that etheir much less mentioning it. ;)
He is a lawman so just follow the laws and your good.
Aldon is also a "lawman" in his own sense, which is why when he realised his fault, he tried to take the whole blame
The biggest issue was attacking the other group without provocation...so far they had not broken any laws, they were just acting suspiscious and you attacked them killing one. As far as they are concerned, if they are even the same group that kidnapped Bungo, they can possibly get you out of the way by just having you put in prison at this point.
To Kal's point a random man appears and says he is arresting 3 of his group based upon his namesake....he can expect some backtalk :)
Just playing the character, he's a rash hasty individual with his own sense of justice. And this is his first "adventure" outside of being a Pathfinder, so he's not quite used to it.
He still has not show us any badges, and by my character's logic if he can find us that quickly he should be able to find those other guys. Damien thinks he is in on the deal.
edit:It is kind of like the corrupt sheriff trope.
Badges, he don't need no stinking badges...sorry I couldn't resist...
Dont worry guys I am not out to make it a uphill battle. I just dont like to play a setting without backlash for stuff. You attack and kill someone unprovoked in a city, expect to be considered criminals.
The Varlokkur dont need badges or proof, no one pretends to be them because they have a bad habit of ending up in prison at best. They are magical judges, invistagators, and guards. I guess they are more like a secret police or government spy organization. If you have the ability to keep some of the worlds most powerful magical organizations in line then criminals dont really stand a chance. Absalom is filled with powerful magic users and the Varlokkur keep them in check, sorry if I did not get the whole scope of that across. Being the city at the center of the world is not a light title. >.<
Aldon is Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin a name you just made up or a NPC. If so could you PM me some info about him to see how he should be played.
If anyone else wants to have a council let me know. But even if you dont someone will come to defend your group regardless of who else comes. Also Bungo may be making an appearance sooner then expected. ;)
I'm guessing you haven't played Pathfinder Society Sanctioned play? He's a major NPC in PFS, Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin is the guy who gives every Pathfinder their mission. Outside of the Decemvirate, he runs the grand lodge.
Also, this raises up a point that I've always wondered. In a fantasy world such as this, is murder as serious as it is in our own world? Think about it, you kill someone, with intent or without. They get raised back to life, isn't it just assault by that point with you having to pay off the debt of the raising?
In Absalom more so then in other places it is easy to bring people back to life. Murder is never a light crime, otherwise what is to stop a rich people from murdering anyone who annoys him when all they have to do is pay a fine. In short yes murder is still serious crime for a number of reasons, it is just not as permanent sometimes.
I will look that guy up, thanks for the link. I have not played PSS at all. xP
May take a bit, its lunch time.
we going to time skip to the trial or have the whole prison thing as well?
Also remember to be careful around this type of storyline. I've had experience with the "trial for reprecussions" type deal, and some players really don't seem to like it. Once had a whole RL campaign die because of it.
Oh and I guessed your Dragon dude was a dragon cause I remember you talking about your dragon npc during Epiphany
Its up to you guys. If you want to time skip or play things out let me know.
Btw he is not a dragon guy, he is a unique tiefling. My dragon guy I told you about is far to powerful for non epic gameplay, he would never be so easy to spot too. Strangely enough he is called Irthos the Sage ;)
Your the GM, so go with what you had planned, my only concern is poor Bungo who doesn't get to play right now
My plans went out the window about one page in. So its no problem for me etheir way. ;)
As for Bungo, I am already working on that. You guys helped without knowing it. I am currently waiting on his PM.
I prefer to time skip. I have pretty good social skill modifiers, but my character's is the type to not go along quietly which could draw things out. At a table it is not so bad, but in PbP it could turn into days or weeks, and I want others to get to play.
I also vote for time skip, I could see the prison/interrogation thing lasting for weeks and weeks in RL time
And here Kal had a fool-proof way of getting you out...it starts with Kal building a large wooden Badger...they will never see what hit them...
Vote for skip ahead, Kal is going to be beside himself that you guys are in trouble and he can't protect you, he may end up doing something foolish..
the suspense is killing me!
I say skip most of it and only roleplay the most important parts (if necessary). It's not very heroic being captured and put in jail as soon as we start adventuring by someone so powerful we have no options. It just feels like we went off your railroad tracks so you're slamming us back onto them. Not trying to be insulting, I just want to be honest. Maybe a little more information from our rolls or from helpful NPCs to keep us on the path you had in mind is in order?
I mean, the guy who hired us knew nothing, the people on the streets/taverns/whatever know nothing (with a really really high gather information check, almost twice the base DC). The only people who might know anything follow us, and capture our friend (which admittedly we didn't know), but generally if someone was following me around in real life and running away when they saw me look at them I would confront them. It's the natural reaction. Either that or call the police who are apparently useless in Absalom.
I understand we're not the top dogs in town and we can't do whatever we want. But we need more useful information if we're going to do anything besides start attacking shady people who are following us around.
You have to keep in mind, players are used to essentially A) dungeon crawls or B) mystery adventures where skill rolls and planned thug encounters give them the information they need to proceed. Especially PFS players (which a lot of people are). So if neither of those things are working....KILL EVERYONE UNTIL SOMETHING MAKES SENSE! :P
I mean whatever happens, happens. I plan on sticking around to play it out, I just wanted to say my piece. No disrespect intended, I know from experience it's a lot of difficult work running a homebrew game.
As a PFS GM, I can agree with Elbennon that PFS players are all kick in the door style people. But pbp can work a little differently, there is more emphasis on roleplaying then combat.
But we shall see how this plays out.
First off welcome back Bungo.
Now to keep things short. This adventure is being shaped by your choices and actions. Your in a city not a ruin in the middle of nowhere, very different settings that have their own advantages and disadvanatages. You cant treat a city setting like a dungeon crawl.
You have to be a little more thoughtful in your actions. Something I notice is that you do not take advantage of being a high lvl with some things. Your in a city full of spellcasters and churches, some of you are spellcasters yourselves. Yet not a single divination spell or visit to another church for some divine info. Every city has factions, just cause one does not know does not mean another is as blind. Options a plenty, you just have to use them. ;)
Ambrus is an ass and takes no nonsesne, he's the friend of all GM's with rowdy groups. Not that we are rowdy
lol I would not go so far as to say he is an ass. Your just mad he has hooked for a job now. xD
Trust me, he's an ass, if you get the oppertunity to play some PFS, just listen to what he says in the flavour text
First off welcome back Bungo.
Now to keep things short. This adventure is being shaped by your choices and actions. Your in a city not a ruin in the middle of nowhere, very different settings that have their own advantages and disadvanatages. You cant treat a city setting like a dungeon crawl.
You have to be a little more thoughtful in your actions. Something I notice is that you do not take advantage of being a high lvl with some things. Your in a city full of spellcasters and churches, some of you are spellcasters yourselves. Yet not a single divination spell or visit to another church for some divine info. Every city has factions, just cause one does not know does not mean another is as blind. Options a plenty, you just have to use them. ;)
This is GM specific. Not all GM's have factions, and Golarion is not known for having high level NPC's. It has some, but not many. We at level 13 are among the most powerful in the world by canon and James Jacobs. If your version of Golarion is different that is ok, but we should know as players so we know if we are on our own, or if other assistance is available. I was about to use divination spells, but our buddy showed up. Divination spells also cost money so I was trying to use mundane methods first.
My internet is being spotty so if I don't post for the next 24 to 48 hours that is why. I do hope it is on when I get home from work. Yeah, I have to work on the 4th.
Its easier if you assume Absalom has everything and then some, sense it kinda does, sorta their thing. I have not created any factions so far, those I have said have always been there. You were hired by a faction after all.
<(^.^<) Happy 4th everyone (>^.^)>
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Argh. I live in China at the moment, so yesterday was the 4th for me. Nobody cared of course, it was kinda lame. I would shank a b*tch for some hotdogs and fireworks right about now. I even kinda miss red, white and blue.
What part of China?
About the Legend Lore thats going to take weeks as it stands, unless you at least learn something about the group involved with the kidnappings. At this point in time you do not, but that very well may change soon.
Also fact comes before opinion, just because someone thinks an organization is corrupt or evil does not mean they are or effects anything involved such as spells. Feel free to be bitter about it, good RP ;)
I know it is just my character's opinion, but those guys are taking questionable actions from the outside looking in. Doing what they want without explaining anything, and seemingly blocking our efforts. I am still going for the investigation angle. At least if they are innocent we will have taken one suspect out of the loop. :)
I have a large post to do when I get home from work, stay tuned
Oh I know and its fine. Lets face it sense when does any government explain itself, much less its more secretive arms. Just letting you know so you dont overly waste stuff on it.
I understand, but it has to make sense from a story perspective for me also.
So far I think we made two initial mistakes:
1. We split up.
2. We attacked first without letting them make the first move. If we are going down the investigation angle, we need to make sure we can try to put some things on our terms. We don't have a cleric and we don't have a lot of extra money for those kinds of spells so we may be stuck going down the mundane angle at the moment. I thought of Commune or divination, but Kal isn't smart enough for that so don't expect him to suddenly think of that type of stuff :].
We know two things by now. They think us a threat. Bungo may be able to tell us some useful facts or clues.
We could force them to act against us by possibly setting up some kind of ruse...
Knowledge (Local) will cover most known organizations in the city. Secret organizations are just that secret and will need to be accessed thru members or those involved in their activities. Like only thieves would know about the cities thieves guilds etc etc.
I have the possible spells listed. I will present them later though.
I am not worried about any secret organizations. I don't expect to join any organization, simply to work with them.
Are our jailers known gov't enforcement or more like secret police?
People know about the Varlokkur but no one knows who is in it and they have no way to be ID'ed.
@ Bungo - Dalian in Liaoning provence.
I was in China once almost ten years ago. My parents are going to be there again in a week or so for the sixth time. The first three times they were getting my sister. I got to go the third time.
Yeah, this is my third time. Been here almost a year now. Plan on staying another one or two. It's cool but it definitely aint home :P It'll be good to get back whenever that happens.
Do you think we visit the crime scene first?
Elbennon is going to rest for the night to change his spells, in the morning he's willing to take a quick look at the crime scene and then maybe talk to some of these groups see if any can/will help. I agree that the paladins would be a good place to start.
If any of you have suggestions for utility spells that I don't already have I'm happy to hear them. I don't have money for more scrolls at the moment, but I'll start saving.
You might want Wind Wall considering your low HP. If an archer decides you are being too useful you might end up with a new character.
Gust of Wind is useful also. That gets rid of the fog spells and pushes them back to the caster. :)
Ray of enfeeblement is a good debuff.
Enervation.
Telekinesis is good for utility also.
I also have wind wall memorized
Happy Friday the 13th everyone ^.^
and you crashed the servers! j/k
Will save