This will be the OOC discussion thread for Pendrak's The Half-Dead City.
I assume that most of you have at least read through parts of the Player's Guide, so you have an idea of what this campaign will be about. For starters, this adventure assumes that the PCs have already formed an adventuring party. To that end, gameplay will begin at the Tooth and Hookah, a local inn and tavern, rather than at the lottery where your group is assigned a tomb as the adventure normally would.
I would like to start off discussion in this thread about how your characters might be connected or how they might know one another. Feel free to read through the other players' character backgrounds and propose any connections you might have with another character.
Here is a list of the players who have been invited to play, with some very basic info about where they are from etc.:
Irakesh (LN male Keleshite investigator 1)- studied at universities in Katheer, Qadira, parents served at the palace of Satrap Xerbystes II
Aliva Kulthane (CG female human inquisitor of Milani 1)- from Taldor, studied to be a bard
Fitliss Phitzinger (LG male gnome oracle 1)- Iomedaen, fey foundling
Selassie Radwan (NG female Garundi cleric of Pharasma 1)- born in Wati, part Keleshite
Madame Laroisael Chrixmar (LG female elf bard [archaeologist] 1)- born Cheliax, grew up with aunt in Osirion
A'isha (NG female human bard [dervish of dawn] 1)- likely of Ulfen blood, from Qadira
Edit: At a glance, it looks like A'isha and Irakesh could easily be connected. I'm not sure where Fitliss is actually from unless I missed it.
By the way, I don't want every character to necessarily know every other character at the start, but each character should know or have a past with at least one other character.
Fitliss would have asked around for others going into the tombs, he decided it would be a good place to explore, and knows they are too dangerous to wander in alone. He probably kept asking people he had heard were going in if he could tag along until he found someone willing to take on a lame gnome.
Edit: Fitliss could easily have met anyone in the party that way, I'll wait and see if anyone is having trouble connecting themselves to another character.
Good Day all, should be a fun time.
You didn't miss where I was from, I'm not all that familiar with Golarion as a whole, so I didn't specify.
Fitliss would have asked around for others going into the tombs, he decided it would be a good place to explore, and knows they are too dangerous to wander in alone. He probably kept asking people he had heard were going in if he could tag along until he found someone willing to take on a lame gnome.
Is Fitliss from Osirion? If yes, is he from Wati, or elsewhere?
Also, a couple of interesting things I noticed. 5 out of 6 players can use cure light wounds, and the other player could but just didn't choose it. The second thing is that no two players took the same campaign trait, and no one took Trap Finder. That last part might be something you guys would want to remedy before starting. I'm not saying its a necessity, as there are of course other ways of dealing with traps, but just saying.
I say we leave it! We can almost all heal, and it'll be fun to come up with other ways to get around traps.
From quickly looking at Irakesh's background, i suppose one way he and Ai'sha could be related is if they studied togheter. Maybie he picked up his knowledge about religion from visiting temples and studying there, and this way he met Ai'sha. Maybie he taught her about history while she taught him about religion, he would eventually become much more knowledgeable in religion than her, and she wouldn't be very happy about that (she probably hasn't told him about the scarab necklace yet) :p
Both would later travel togheter to Wati and meet the other party members along the way.
I feel it would be weird for a worshiper of the goddess of healing to be unable to heal, so i guees i'm keeping it, if anyone wants to change their selection :)
I feel it would be weird for a worshiper of the goddess of healing to be unable to heal, so i guees i'm keeping it, if anyone wants to change their selection :)
I should point out that the first part was more interesting/funny to me than concerning. Two bards is also an interesting mix but they are different enough that they shouldn't butt heads. You don't really have a focused frontliner either, but it appears that Fitliss is headed into Oradin, so that should be OK. No full arcana caster either.
All of that said, I am glad it turned out this way because it will be much more interesting than the standard, "Ok, I'm playing the rogue and she is playing the cleric, so we need a fighter and a wizard..."
Selassie could have run into Laroisael if she's been living in Wati.
And it seems like trapfinding could fight into Laroisael's archtype if she wants it. Otherwise I guess somebody will have to learn summon monster to set off traps :)
Fitliss has a 10 foot long wooden pole for poking things he can't reach, we could be use it to trigger traps. Also Pendrak did you see that I already answered your question?
Fitliss has a 10 foot long wooden pole for poking things he can't reach, we could be use it to trigger traps. Also Pendrak did you see that I already answered your question?
Okay, well if you aren't that familiar with Golarion, here are some of the closest nations, the ones that might make the most sense for you to be from:
Osirion
Thuvia
Absalom
Qadira
Taldor
Andoran
You can find out more info on each at the Pathfinder Wiki.
Edit: I should add that based on your backstory you are probably not from Katapesh, Cheliax, or Rahadoum, but it is possible.
There was also a god involved in Fitliss's arrival in Osirion, so I think I'll have him be from a bit farther away. I want Osirion to be a place he knows of, but as a distant place, not a neighboring kingdom. I'll do some research and have that up in a bit. Thanks for that list though
Edit: I'm thinking he is from the River Kingdoms, I recall the AP set in that area having a large fey focus, which fits with his backstory.
There was also a god involved in Fitliss's arrival in Osirion, so I think I'll have him be from a bit farther away. I want Osirion to be a place he knows of, but as a distant place, not a neighboring kingdom. I'll do some research and have that up in a bit. Thanks for that list though
Yeah, so am I correct in assuming that when you were resurrected you appeared in Osirion somewhere?
In regard to the Lady of Valor, Iomedae worshippers are found in greatest numbers in far off Mendev. Lastwall, Nirmathas, or Sargava would also be good options for distant places with lots of Iomedae worshippers.
Edit: Yes, the River Kingdoms would also be a perfect choice.
Yes, the idea was that Fitliss was resurrected in Osirion, despite dying in the River Kingdoms. Thanks for those other suggestions too!
Good day to you all. *bows*
In 3.5 there was a chart in Unearthed Arcana I think that said when you resurrect someone you may not always get the right person. That could be how you got from one place to another.
I think the idea was "divine intervention"
It was.
Who Traveled from another country to get to Wati? I could have met them on a Caravan that Aliva took south.
Well, I'm not entirely sure where in Osirion Laroisael lived, but she could be with Aliva during the last part of the journey to Wati.
Who Traveled from another country to get to Wati? I could have met them on a Caravan that Aliva took south.
Irakelesh and A'isha both traveled from Qadira. Selassie is from Wati, and Laroisael has been living somewhere in Osirion for a while, possibly Wati as well.
Aliva, I'm a little confused by your statement that you took a caravan south into Osirion. By the map I'm using for reference, north of Osirion is the sea. Did I misunderstand you, is the map I'm looking at not the same as the one in your head, or am I reading too much into your use of the word "caravan", and you crossed the sea to reach Osirion?
Aliva, I'm a little confused by your statement that you took a caravan south into Osirion. By the map I'm using for reference, north of Osirion is the sea. Did I misunderstand you, is the map I'm looking at not the same as the one in your head, or am I reading too much into your use of the word "caravan", and you crossed the sea to reach Osirion?
Any ship she took bound for Osirion likely brought her to Sothis, and from there Wati is roughly south down the River Sphinx.
Ok that makes sense, thanks. I'll say that Fitliss was resurrected directly in the caravan's path, with just enough time to get his bearings before it came into sight. I think that puts everyone except Selassie in one caravan headed for Wati, and she's a native of Wati from the look of things.
Yeah Selassie is a native.
I think that gives everyone a reason to be in the party now, because Selassie's background mentioned that she is basically supposed to keep an eye on things in the party for the church of Pharasma.
So my plan as of now is to leave this open to be fleshed out, and to allow MindXing to check in with Irakelesh and place any opinions he would have on how the party knows one another. I am thinking I will post the first IC prompt either at midnight or noon tomorrow. If Irakelesh checks in before midnight I will do it then, otherwise I will post it at noon tomorrow.
The game is going to basically start with the six of you at the Tooth and Hookah, a local inn and tavern, debating about the name of your adventuring group, as well as who will be its leader.
Another thing you can discuss is how much of your backstories you would have told to your companions so far.
I like the idea that we all took a Caravan together to get there. Yes sorry when I used the word, I know that from Taldor i could not directly take one there. Aliva is on a journey to meet the Sphinxes of Osirion and play their riddle games.
She doesn't know that they are Evilish. Also she is a Preacher for Milani and spreads the Goddess' word of Protection where ever she goes.
No problem. Looking forward to getting started.
Edit: I noticed that Irakalesh has trap finding as an investigator, so we're covered there. Fitliss is very trusting and told his whole background to anyone curious enough to ask.
Meeting at some point in the same caravan sounds good, i imagine they had to work togheter to solve some problem (bandit attack, maybie?) and that is how they decided to explore the tombs togheter.
Ai'sha will probably kick and scream to be the leader of the group even though she is completely unqualified lol. She probably hasn't told much about her except "i was the best at my temple"
Sorry for the delay in posting. RL is crazy sometimes.
I like the idea of Irakelesh and Ai'sha meeting in Qadira. When Irakelesh saw Ai'sha in the temple he was immediately drawn to the attractive young lady. As he got to know her he discovered a wonderful personality. Soon they discovered that they both shared interesting "parent" stories. Maybe that will come up later...
So it makes sense to me that Ai'sha and Irakelesh became great friends. When they heard about events in Wati they both saw it as an opportunity so they traveled together.
Meeting up with the others on the road is good too.
Irakelesh is not shy or embarrassed about his family heritage. But he is also not arrogant. Instead he considers it just one more thing in his life. If anyone mentions it he will acknowledge it but also try to play it down.
Selassie will say that she's a native to Wati, but she's a little reserved with strangers so isn't going to want to share much personal information right off the bat without quite a bit of prodding.
She's just here to advocate for minimally disrespectful tomb robbing, haha. And to smite any undead abominations that show up with Pharasma's holy wrath.
A bandit attack would be cool. And Laroisael will probably boast of her luck, and will use that as her reason to be leader (even though she has no knowledge of adventuring or leading a group. Like ever)
Aliva is quiet unless she has to be loud and overly vocal, she likes to talk but knows that all words carry weight. She will help with any defense, her bow twanging and her voice helping to maneuver people to where they are most needed.
I also think the bandit attack is a good idea. When the topic of a leader comes up, Fitliss mentions that he has some experience adventuring, but refuses to be leader unless most of the party insists, and even then goes grudgingly. If it comes to anything like a vote, Fitliss votes for Laroisael, preferring to trust in her luck and experience over Ai'sha's aforementioned "kicking and screaming".
Irakelesh was born and raised in a palace. His parents have high hopes for him to be a strong leader but he's not interested. Academic pursuits are much more exciting for him. So he wouldn't volunteer to be a leader.
Okay, I am going to put up the first IC prompt shortly. I never got a totally clear answer about where in Osirion Laroisael was living with her aunt, other than that she did participate in the caravan. I am going to assume she was living in Sothis.
Feel free to start conversing in character. Feel free to describe your characters as well in this scene as I don't believe I've gotten a good picture of you all. Once you have a group name and a leader we can move on to part one of the adventure path.
I should note that I am fully open to any constructive criticism about my style in this adventure, for, as I said, this is my first go-around GMing a PbP.
I should also note that I am super-pumped about this campaign; I dig the party and I think this will be really fun.
While its very early to have a concrete opinion i really like your descriptions so far :)
Also here is a link to a layout of the Tooth and Hookah for reference.
You guys have the suites on the second floor. Technically someone doesn't have a bed, but there is also the lovely open courtyard if someone prefers sleeping under the open sky.
And here is a map of Wati.
And a picture of the sign at the Tooth and Hookah.
So far it is great. I was reading the part about bringing the food to the table while I was waiting at home for my dinner to be finished. So your post just made me hungrier.
So we need to come up with a name eh?
We could be the Divine Seekers or something since we are all fairly religious in our characters.
I think that is a perfectly cromulent suggestion. Here are some suggestions from the Player's Guide, just FYI.
-The Brave Raiders
-The Circle of the Final Rest
-The Crocodile's Teeth
-The Dust Diggers
-The Five Blades Company
-The Golden Devils
-Jesper's Jackals
-The Night Whispers
-The Ring of Daggers
-The Steel Spiders
I'm terrible with names so Divine Seekers sounds ok.
Good enough for me.
Slower day today?
I believe we can move to the next scene unless someone objects to Ai'sha's leadership or the group's name.
Letting you guys know that I may be on the Internet less often later today and tomorrow. I have to go to my dad's for Christmas photos. I'll still try to post when I can.
Hey guys, sorry for the brief slowdown, had a few things come up last night. It seems like you guys are pretty much ready to move on, so I'll get up the next big IC prompt as soon as I can, hopefully this afternoon.