You'll end up interacting with the other PCs, it's just the pattern of this game thus far has been that peoples' paths crisscross, and they have certain reasons to get in touch, but everyone's running their own plot. If you want a cohort that is cool, and totally up to you, as long as you can sustain interest playing him/her as well as your character. I've got other players who do that with intelligent mounts, weapons, etc., so it's certainly got precedent.
I'm cool with the build idea, BTW. Go for it! :-D
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His reason for returning to Lanzhu (and also why he's been away for so long) is that he's been hunting something elusive for a few years. But not long after he returns a number of old associates start clamoring for his services as a hunter and slayer.
I'd like to use the alternate Tiefling rules from the Council of Thieves, provided I can pick and choose the abilities I want (nothing too broken, I promise) and his apprentice is a demi-human (a half-elf, I'm thinking).
Thoughts?
Dice Rolls:
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<-11 Not used.
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Well, of course the tension is what makes the game great. Half the fun is wondering how Imuri will pass off a given event.
However, Imuri killed one of the blood reavers, returned the stolen statues, risked his life to find out who wanted Kyras (really to find out if the Black Dragonflight and Plum Blossom wanted him separately or together), and helped Tokine. Even turned Kyras' would-be kidnappers to our team. So from his perspective, not only do accusations have to follow a certain amount of decorum, but he'd wonder why anyone wouldn't trust his help.
Granted, that my ninjas didn't seem to get to Vu before you guys did is unfortunate. : b
Imuri will certainly answer Azami's request in a fashion you'd expect from him. After we finish hearing the NEW gaijin.
And of course, we may never know about Kyras vs Imuri. I certainly hope we never find out. I can hold my own, but Kyras is pretty tough and I might need a couple of levels before this thing explodes. : b
o-o Hellloooo everybody, it's been quite a long time since I've really been on these boards. Does anybody remember me ^_^? I've been reading through the OOC board to get a general gist of what you've all been up to since I left and... wow o-o sound's like the game has only gotten more and more awesome. I was wondering (if there is space) if you might be interested in having me back ^_^
Everybody at once!
Hi Daveth! Good to see you again, man, I hope you're doing well. Unfortunately I'm completely full right now. With PsionicFox coming back on board that takes me up to 7 PCs, which is one over my usual max, so I'm gonna have to decline. Keep reading and watching, though! Feel free to drop by anytime.
And if you think the OOC is good, man you should read the IC thread. ;-)
Half-elf is fine for the apprentice. You gonna stat her out fully using like the "Young Adult" template or something? Might want to. I have no compunction at all about hurting/torturing/killing NPC followers so the more solid her build, the better off she'll be. >:-D
@Kyras: LOL! You need to not remind me about these things. :-p
Holiday-ness Status: I'll be around and checking in regularly. We already did the BIG holiday mess last weekend, so the rest is more laid back. Christmas Day afternoon/evening itself and the day after might be slower.
No way, dude, I'm gonna stand there and force you to post like 928374 times.
No way, dude, I'm gonna stand there and force you to post like 928374 times.
You should know by now that /that/ is not a difficult thing for me. You KNOW I would game through Christmas and New Years.
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Now, looking at Daveth's race for inspiration, he was basically a Tiefling with some extra options, right? Could we look at something like that for me?
And as for the political turmoil, that's perfect. Especially when various groups start competing for his services. People may even try and force his hand, by say.... Kidnapping his apprentice?
I'm also gonna cap your apprentice at half your level, for a variety of reasons. (But none of those reasons is "ease of kidnapping", I promise.)
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And I didn't realise he had that template. Ideally what I'd like to do is use the Oni-born Tiefling, and I'd really love access to the following three abilities (to get the 'feel' right): Enhanced Rest, See in Darkness, and Unusual Anatomy.
This allows rumors about him to include stories of his rapid healing, his sharp senses (and scary, glowing eyes), and his seeming resistance to injury.
And then the last bits I need are a trait that does what a few other traits do (give you skill 'x' as a class skill and a +1 bonus to is), for acrobatics. There is precedence for this.
The last 'tweak-y' bit is adding a few extra effect words to his list that don't belong on the Inquisitor spell list. The Flame Jet (level 0), Friendship (level 1), and Force Bolt (perhaps as a 3rd level?) words would be excellent.
EDIT: I also need a nickname for this fellow. Something that denotes what people think of him. The sort of thing where if someone met him in a dark alleyway, they'd probably soil themselves a little and say "Th-the <insert name>! Oh no, p-p-please! I haven't done anything!"
Thoughts?
EDIT #2: I assume that I use the same creation rules for her, not counting the lower level, yes?
@DRA Ah ok, fair enough. While reading it didn't seem like many others had to drop since my departure so I wasn't sure if I'd get a spot. I suppose I'll just have to stick to reading then xD!
@PsionicFox You could always go with "The Hunter/Huntress)" considering you mentioned that the concept your basing this off of is a pro monster hunter.
@PF: I'm cool with everything, just make sure you balance it appropriately. So for example if you add those power words, take away something else to even it out, etc.
Yeah, apprentice at level 4, same build rules but apply the like "Young Adult" template, or "Young" template. Something to make it a bit more of a master -> student relationship.
The animal nickname thing is cool but your description there strikes me at first read as being twink-y and over-the-top. Frankly it raises a couple red flags for me about how you're conceiving of this guy. I'd prefer something more gritty and grounded and less silver-age superhero, does that make sense?
Anybody else, feel free to weigh in on this, BTW, this is your game, too. :-)
@Daveth: Heh. I'm guessing you haven't read very far in the IC thread, yes? I lost like a half-dozen people, I think? More? It's been crazy. Only Azami, Tokine, and Imuri are left from the original group. Players I've lost are:
Daveth
Kyras 1
San Pen
Chongde
The two Oshigawaras (though granted they both left right at the start)
Yohei
...I think that's it. So yeah. Seven total players I've lost. Yeesh. We've been pretty steady with this group as is for a while now, though, and I'm thankful for that. They've gelled well and have been kicking ass and making awesome posts.
Just thinking in an Asian theme, an Assassin or Ninja would not be "Bob The Killer", the Name should be enough, but it should be evocative too.
Jade Tiger or Silver Rain should be enough if your reputation is out there
The opponents in HERO (for example, by no means the basis for this setting) were Flying Snow, Broken Sword, Moon, and Sky. I kind of liked that simplicity.
Is Dare Mo still with us? <<or is he at this meeting and I haven't realized it yet ;-) >>
Well perhaps some of the others already in play are:
Swift
Plum Blossom
Scarecrow
Spider
I think it really depends on the personality, hunting style, methods used (strength? Dex? sneaky? Bombs away?) and etc for choosing a name.
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He's a strength based character, he has two swords (that he doesn't use simultaneously). And he is extremely persistent. And quick. And he uses magic. He's also a known killer.
And its probably not a name he came up with, but he hasn't discouraged it's use.
His dark reputation is also grossly exaggerated. And he has a pretty strict code of conduct that he follows at the expense of pretty well everything. Including (but not limited to) reneging on a job if he found out it would go against his code.
@DRA I wasn't really thinking about Myself/Kyras1/Oshigawars but wow o-o I do suppose I was wrong xD as for not being far in the IC thread, unfortunately I have not yet begun the momentous task of brushing up on what I have missed xD
@Psionic How about "The Honey Badger" :P? hehe, I'm not particularly good with nicknames but if something cool comes to me I'll post it up and see if you like it unless you manage to find something beforehand.
@Chu: Hey man, I just wanted to say that the kind of aloof direction you've taken Chu in is very interesting. I like it. I thought he was quite insufferable with a couple of those posts in the tea house and it was awesome. Be fun to see if you can keep his attitude but still make him able to work with others. He is a representative of the Emperor, after all, so he's got that to think of.
He's a strength based character, he has two swords (that he doesn't use simultaneously). And he is extremely persistent. And quick. And he uses magic. He's also a known killer.
And its probably not a name he came up with, but he hasn't discouraged it's use.
His dark reputation is also grossly exaggerated. And he has a pretty strict code of conduct that he follows at the expense of pretty well everything. Including (but not limited to) reneging on a job if he found out it would go against his code.
Cool, cool. This I can more readily get behind. :-)
Baslav is my new hero. His nonchalance about the whole situation is delightful.
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So I offer the following compromise: the ASOIAF RPG has rules for children, with human children between 14 and 15 having -1 Str, -1 Con, +1 Stealth, +1 Climb, and +1 Bluff modifiers. This is the last stage before they're considered adults, and lose penalties/bonuses that come with being a child.
I imagine that Lia (being a Half-Elf), is probably around the 17-18 mark (and thus, still an adolescent in the developmental sense).
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@DRA: I was hoping to not be too annoying, but I am still working into a fitting personality with Chu and its hard not playing a fighter type. So i'm falling back on a more patient and long lived approach. =) If it gets to tiresome let me know! lol~
Also everyone is asking the good questions so I saw no need to repeat them, only add to what Chu was doing or thinking.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Davor Akorian, or as he's better known in the Empire, Iron Hawk (best I could come up with).
Davor is a highly skilled mercenary, scholar, monster-slayer, and bounty hunter. He is well known throughout many lands for his skill with a blade, persistence in tracking his prey, and his unusual sense of personal honor - a rare thing in this day and age.
His apprentice will be along soon...
On a side note, he has some extra languages. I chose Thassilonian and Tien, but I'd like to replace them with equivalent languages from your setting. So he knows a really old language that one might find in really old books or tombs, and whatever the native tongue of the Empire is (which he speaks fluently).
And here's Lialda Corlas, Davor's apprentice, better known as Lia - at least by Davor, anyway. This is her first time in Lanzhu, but don't make the mistake of thinking she's a novice. She's been training with one of the most skilled hunters and swordsman of the age for several years, and it shows.
Not his match in size, skill, or strength yet, she makes up for it in finesse and speed. Where Davor is direct, Lia is slippery. Where Davor will face a man with blade in hand, Lia will simply slip a poisoned blade in his back when he isn't looking.
Like her mentor always tells her - "You don't have to be the better fighter if you're the better killer." Advice to live by, in her eyes.
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Wow, her stats a pretty much on-par with Davor's! That's kind of embarrasing.
Ah...Bravo, DRA. Bravo. *appreciative clap* So. Awesome.
@DRA: I was hoping to not be too annoying, but I am still working into a fitting personality with Chu and its hard not playing a fighter type. So i'm falling back on a more patient and long lived approach.
Personally I think that's smart and probably the most accurate way to go about it, though I agree it's going to be difficult. Hopefully it'll also be fun and rewarding. ^_^
One of the reasons I like it is San Pen was so very kind and avuncular and generally universally loved, I know the emperor would also want a more private counselor, one who could move about without people wanting to stop him and ask him to be wise every like 12 steps; a "bad cop" to SP's "good cop". So yeah, I say go with it and if it gets out of hand or whatever I know someone will bring it up here. But I'm not particularly worried.
@PF: Looking over your profiles as I get time, will have feedback later. Thanks for getting them up so quickly!
"You don't have to be the better fighter if you're the better killer."
An important distinction, to be sure. :-)
Is Dare Mo still with us? <<or is he at this meeting and I haven't realized it yet ;-) >>
LOL! He is indeed still with us. Graham and I talked and he's going to lay low until the tea is close to ending because otherwise we run the risk of him getting way too far ahead. He'll be re-joining soon, and is definitely reading everything so he knows what's going on.
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"So." He sips his tea. "Seen him?"
Epic. Truly epic, DRA. THIS is why its one of the best games I have ever played. Damn its good to be back.
@DRA: And don't thank me for the stat blocks, thank Hero Lab. It did all the real work. Plus, I'm as keen as anything, so there was no procrastination on my part. I'll have some backstory up soon.
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"Davor Akorian? Now why would ye be wantin' find a man like that, girlie? You his by-blow or somethin'? A pretty lass like you doesn't want to be associatin' with folk like that. He's a dark one, is Davor. They say his mother is some hell-spawn from the Pits, and that he was fed on virgin blood instead o' mother's milk when he was a babe. He looks all evil too, with that pale skin and those glowin' eyes of his cuttin' into your soul. They say he grew up at the edges of The Despair, and that changed 'im into somethin'... more, if you understand me. You know a man tried to shank 'im in the back once on account of his devilish appearance? Aye, folk say the dagger just snapped clean off, and he didn't do nothin to the man but stare at him all calm like."
"But don't think he's weak for not killin' a man like that, lassie. He's as good a swordsman as the best of them. Trickier too. He's probably not as good as true blademasters, but he makes up the gap by being a cunning bastard. Make no mistake, he is as cold as they come. And once he's got your scent, he never lets you go. He'll follow a target to the ends of the earth and back. I hear he even followed some poor fellow into Iridian once."
"Still want to find him lass? You're asking for trouble, let me tell you. The elves call him Izkrael, 'He with two souls'. And as far as I know, lass, he's the only man to be accepted by both the Enhathlad and Tuatha elves. I hear it told he's spent more than one night in the company of Emraeal, the Witch-Queen of the Tuatha, the most beautiful creature the gods ever made, and his life is still his own. I hear it told that the Dwarves of Van-Monnen and Van-Duriss have a name for him too. They call him Morgrym, 'darkslayer', on account of his saving the chief's son from a darkness deep under the ground."
"He collects names and stories like normal folk collect scars. You still want to meet him? Well you'll get yoour chance lass, I've no doubt. How can I be so sure? He's sitting over in the corner, and he just told me to bring you over. The way I hear it, you've been following him for a while now."
-Niklas, proprietor of the Horned God, a lesser-known inn on the outskirts of Warbane on the topic Davor Akorian.
Shoto---tell me a little more about the spider mon. Is there a post or place with a description?
Also: here's a pencil sketch. Let me know how you feel about it. I can't remember the Japanese actor I used as the model.
That sketch is fantastic! I am very impressed and a little giddy. Thank you! I'll look for my post about the mons.
Hey guys, happy holidays! I want to thank all of you for being such an awesome group of players and for helping to make this one of the best, coolest, most active PBPs on the boards. I'm having a ton of fun running all my games and that's thanks in no small part to all of you. Here's to another year! ^_^
As a gift, all of you (including PF) take 10 points; you can use them for hit points or skill points, whichever you want, and combine them however you want, so for example 5HP and 5SP, or any other combo.
Also, big congrats to Isaac (Kyras) whose first child, a boy, was born just a few hours ago!
Everything looks good, go ahead and finish your builds, and do an IC post describing what Davor and Lia are doing when you're ready. Please note that the weather today in Lanzhu is TERRIBLE! A freezing, soaking, driving rain is hammering down out of the skies like a vengeful swarm, sometimes mixed with snow and sometimes with hail. People are mostly hunkering down in their homes and inns and taverns. No one is gossiping about the last state dinner that is happening tonight, for the last group of gaijin visiting the palace. It is 9:30AM.
As for languages, I just have everyone speaking common, with accents from their various locations. I don't want people to waste language slots on the tongues of men. If you want to be able to read things on tombs and such, Celestial, Infernal, and Draconic are your best options.
If you want to speak a crazy ancient language that typically only scholars of the highest levels of academia can speak, you can choose either Kalarothian, which is sort of proto-draconic, and is the language spoken in the time of Kalaroth, over five millenia ago, before the time of men and elves and such, or Telestari, the language of the first race, and masters of Wild Magic, or Dragonsong, which is the language of dragonsingers, current masters of Wild Magic. If you wish to take one of these, it will cost you three language slots because of the incredible amount of difficulty required to learn any of these, and also because while you won't encounter any of these languages with any frequency, when you DO encounter them it will likely be at game-changing giant-plot-point bits really crucial to the story.
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Also, when they are together, I'll just use the Davor alias to write about both characters. But when Lia has to do other things (like act in combat or be seperate), I'll use her alias.
Unless you want me to keep them split.
Thanks to DRA for the skill points! And congrats to Kyras!
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<-Edited because I added the wrong bonus.
Hey all, I'm starting a Cthulhu Tech PBP if anyone's interested.
Congrats Kyras/Isaac!
DRA: Thank you! Happy Holidays and I'm delighted to be a part of this game. And what...how...another game?