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The other 70%
Addy entered the mansion, for the massive mahogany door was not locked. She set the gift aside and called out to Vikki. There was no reply. But who could hear a lady in such a labyrinth? Addy snooped about, gently announcing, "Just me, Addy the artsy bridesmaid. I come with a gift," she added to explain the breaking and entering.
What could not be explained was the smell. Mansions smell of fireplaces, flowers, fine wine--yet it was the door to the wine cellar where the stench was especially potent. Instinct told Addy to flee. But Love told her, Vikki needs you.
The sound of a swing brought childhood memories of the subtle emphasis two ropes, a board and a fluttering skirt placed upon feminine beauty. Addy clung to this happy place in her past, until she descended the steps to a reality where her friend now swung, not from the old oak tree, but from a rafter in Gill's cellar.
Tears did their best to mask the horror, but the eyes--faded to a soulless ice-blue--had already imprinted their image on Addison's frontal lobe. The whole of it was overwhelming. Vikki was still clad in her bridal gown. And she was not alone. The rotting corpses of six other Mrs. Bluebeards dangled about the room.
The wooden ladder was still set by Vikki's body. Addy found a blade and cut her friend free. She must have spent the next hour holding her, sobbing.
Then Addy had a thought. You're a fox, she imagined her friend saying. "I love ye," she replied as she took out a comb. It took a very long time for Addy to straighten her curls, and even longer to braid then. "I love ye," she repeated as she stripped her friend. "I love ye," she said again as she dressed Vikki in her own clothes.
Naked Addison carried her friend past the other brides, found a place to lay the body and said, "Goodbye, me love." She embraced her friend for as long as she dared--then sprang into action.
Addy hastily streaked upstairs. Front door closed? Check. Gift? Grab it! Leaving the upstairs as it was prior to her arrival, Addy bolted back down, leaving the unveiled artwork with the fashionably-dressed corpse.
Addy donned the bridal gown and those pointy white shoes. She practiced balancing with both stiletto heel on one step of the ladder. Practiced clutching the broken noose with chin and neck. Only a fool would her for hanging--but at a glance, this would work. A pale redhead is where she should be, Gill would see.
By the time he did, Addy's performance was well-rehearsed.
The unsuspecting husband tromped loudly down the steps. Tromp. Tromp. Tromp. He admired the disheveled frailty of the pale redhead at the end of her rope.
Until his eyes met the Vixen's. Green. Lively. Cunning. Predatory. Addy sprang like a fox, embedding a stiletto heel in the big man's throat! There it remained affixed to Gill's blue goatee. Addy stumbled on her lopsided footwear, grinning at the absurdity until calloused knuckles struck away her snarky satisfaction!
Thick fingers wrenched her neck, but Addy was stronger than most men. Vikki's killer would not be the exception. She broke free, dropped the man with a stomp to the kneecap, and as Gill Bluebeard lay prone, the Vermilion Vixen grabbed the ladder! She proceeded to beat the man until the basement floor was littered with splinters, teeth, blood, and Mr. Bluebeard's last bowel movement.
Addy left him in that undignified state. As for Vikki, she was laid to rest in the master bedroom alongside her portrait.
...
The funeral did not bring closure. Addison wanted closure, wanted love, happiness, a bridal gown and a bride of her own.
But all the Vixen wanted was a pair of stilettos that don't break when you kick a man in the throat.
Thanks. I'll likely take out the improv weapon part at the end. As much as I see benefits in dipping, Addy's good-girl side works best conceptually if only her Vigilante persona learns to fight. Not sure if it was obvious, but in the backstory, VV emerged when Addy said "goodbye."
Oh, you're right. I'll just switch the order so I get Imp Trip with Shield of Blades at Lv.4, then Combat Reflex at Lv.5 and Vicious Stomp with Vigilante Reflexes. (Which I can do, since with this edit, I meet the prequisites at the level I obtain CR.)
Yeah, the talents get free feats, but if I take feats in the wrong order, I'm screwed. Thanks for catching that! My plan is to have Great Trip by Lv.7. Not dipping means I can have Quick Change at Lv.7 and some if the talents are just plain fun.
Glad you liked it. I was trying to come up with an Avenger type origin, and so I figured... avenge somebody. Then I grabbed a pencil and paper and wrote what popped in my head.
If you click into VV's profile, you'll see two changes:
#1. The ladder is not a weapon. I'm gonna commit to not dipping.
#2. The name 'Mrs. Bluebeard' is blue. If you click it, you'll hear the song that inspired the basement scene.
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Okay, I think I'm caught up.
First, I agree with everyone else - excellent backstory!
Second, regarding HP at Lvl 1, yes - you get the max without rolling.
Lastly, if for no other reason than to suit the backstory, the modified stiletto boots have my approval.
Can I ask for one more thing? I read a third trait comes with the backstory, but that was given by the original GM.
Rather than ask you to look for one, I would like to have 3 traits total, but only 2 per persona. The idea is they are physically the same, but personality-wise, Addy and VV are different. So I want to have a different CHA-trait for each, changing Addy's to "Charming" and leave VV as is ("Extremely Fashionable").
The result is a +1 trait bonus to Bluff for Addy, but only by those attracted to her. It fits the backstory—young Addy learning to captivate with her appearance, though not in a sexual way.
VV will have +1 to both Bluff and Intimidate, but only in her 150g VV costume.
I plan to adjust gear so Addy will have several tear-away outfits, tearing it off and dressing during her 1-min transformation. This also plays into the backstory: changing clothes is part of the persona-change. When I get Quick Change (@Lv.7), Addy will have the VV costume underneath.
___
If yes, can I used Addy's artistry skill to craft the throw-away outfits for 2g. That's 1/3 cost of a traveler's outfit (1g) with tear-away (+5g). The fun of it will be Addy always having a different look, which she destroys when changing in a hurry.
"I don't know what that Addy wimp's blathering about, but I'm ready to kick some heads," says the Vixen.
OoC translation: What I'm asking in the Addy post is pretty much a cosmetic change. I'll make a minor adjustment to gear if approved, but aside from that, I'm committed to the crunch in my profiles. Regardless of approval, I'm ready to play!
I drew the Vixen! CLICK HERE to learn about her kicks, her hair, and her plan regarding the bandits.
If you CLICK HERE, you probably won't learn anything.
@GM, please disregard the loooooooong post above. @Everyone, sorry for the quadruple-post.
I'm going to edit my background skill to Addy being a fashionista (as originally planned). Then she can craft her mundane outfits. The backstory edit will be a vermilion qipao as the wedding gift for her friend. (It's the outfit she wears as the Vixen.)
It's a better tie to the origin story, and traits work best as-is. I'll consider boot-approval as my backstory reward. Thanks for that, Vayelan!
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Feel free to say, "No" or go just make an empty promise to Ahto's request.
Ahto can probably (without that much effort) be convinced that there is a need for a legally endorsed wet-works agent, then at that point, how you get the job done is less of an issue.
Ahto's a by the book guy, but he's softening a little in recent days. He's gone from "all heads will roll" to "maybe we can rehab some of these folks" - so there's hope for him to lighten up a little more.
Apologies for vague answers (lack of names). They are intended as truthful, but I don't want to overstep. What I have for GM approval is that VV had a crazy plan that got her much deeper into the gang of bandits than she intended, and that the plan literally is crazy because the Vixen is crazy.
The details of the present are comparatively clear.
Travel safe! Have a fun and joyous holiday!
Ahto can probably (without that much effort) be convinced that there is a need for a legally endorsed wet-works agent, then at that point, how you get the job done is less of an issue.
I may consider that route later.
Right now, being deputized seems to legitimize her insatiable desire to kill men who prey on women. (She'll eventually go from more-chaotic-than-good to more-good-than-chaotic.)
I imagine the holiday season will slow everyone down, but I just want to clarify, I'm well aware that VV talks like an insane person. She's methodical, target-oriented, and states assumptions and her personal opinions no differently than she would state a fact. And then there's the multiple-personality thing.
In case you're having trouble piecing together what she wants to do, here's a TL;DR version:
• Walk into the trap.
• Attack. (...or get attacked.)
@Vayelan, I plan to have VV speak a bit once in the killing field—I mean, if they're buying the ruse, as opposed to just shooting me along with the others.
Are we all within 30'?
My intent is to get within 5-10', then surprise attack. My bluff roll was good, so here's hoping I got close without triggering the baddies.
Assuming I succeeded so far, for my next post, do I make a full attack (5'+TWF) or standard action only, then roll initiative?
After the good bluff and SoH checks, watch my attack(s) whiff! Just waiting for GM confirmation that I'm cleared to start a fight...!
It looks like initiative is GM-rolled, so per the GM PM, I made a standard action only for the surprise round!
Also, I just made a correction on my attack roll before the editing window slammed shut. It's +6, not +7 as it says in VV's profile. I realized Fist of the Avenger adds half my level to damage, not attack and damage. I will correct that later. My oldest daughter just had a sleep-over birthday party, so I'll fix my profile when there aren't girls in pajamas in the room by my office.
I just noticed Sams' HP is down to 28. Was he wounded before the fight started? Not that I have any means of healing anyway, but I'll try paying attention to party HP in the future. I thought he had the full 37 HP before I led the party to battle.
That's probably why I assumed full HP. I read as far back as a beheading scene. (The beheading scene, if that's not a common occurrence.) It seemed like rest and healing happened.
I still vote 28HP Sams to be last man standing in a free-for-all. 37HP Sams would just make me glad his blows are non-lethal.
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I read as far back as a beheading scene. (The beheading scene, if that's not a common occurrence.)Ooo Boy...
For the first time in my life, I made a meme, and I did it for you guys.
The lady next to him is especially glad!
I'm guessing 36 damage to the double-teamed archer, so I need a new opponent.
@DM, Wonky, or anyone who knows how alchemist fire works...
If I charge-kick the burning guy before he can finish his put-out-the-fire dance, will I get burned?
Not sure how safe I feel being next to Baldar, but probably safer than leaving him unmanned. I'll rush him as long as Sams' punch KOs the archer.
I like that Sprocket's already covering the "healer," so if I (can safely) move next round it works out that both casters are covered when they are first able to cast.
Oh, cool... I can move my character on the map! I was able to reach the enemy without a charge, so I figured there's no sense sacrificing AC.
While on the encounter map, Google calls me "Anonymous Fox!"
@Wonky,
What in-game language is that in your recent post? I'm guessing Gnomish, but it that's Sylvan, VV understood it.
If the Hebrew isn't Sylvan, what real-life language are we using for Sylvan? I'll use it as long as I can Google-translate it.
If nothing's picked for Sylvan, how about Gaelic?
In ainneoin na n-aistriúchán corr, is maith liom an teanga seo.
(Google-Translate calls it "Irish"... and Auto-Correct calls it "Garlic.")
I think Baldar is a summoner. He's supposed to have something very dangerous in store if he gets to the camp. I suppose it's the eidolon that makes him dangerous.
The fourth mercenary is perhaps the most dangerous - and the most important to take down. With his arrogant boasting, the Vixen even caught his name: Baldar the Summoner. He never fails to remind others in the rough army of his magical talents, and if left unchecked, he could pose a particular danger to the trading post should the army reach its target.
@DM,
There is an unoccupied square by the caster that I can reach with a 5ft step, except... y'know... those two dogs!
I'm not 100% clear on he rules, and no 100% sure I'll risk his, but—
Can I make an acro check to move there as a 5ft step, then TWF the caster? If yes, would that mean no AoO from the dogs?
If not, can I move there AoO be damned and TWF the caster? (More of a question of legality than a move I'm likely to attempt.) I'm 99% sure making a 5 ft step there, if allowed, would provoke AoO.
Even if one or some or all of those questions is answered "yes," I might just kick the dogs because I likely won't dodge 2 out of 3 of them a second time. Just exploring options while I wait for my turn.
...or am I over thinking this?
If the enemies were all on spaces diagonally from me, I would expect a 5 ft step to a straight square would not provoke AoO.
So isn't this the same thing?—I'm surrounded, but there are 5 ft gaps.
So given that, can I simply make a diagonal 5 ft step to an unoccupied square without provoking AoO?
...
Sorry for annoying questions. Just trying to consider what to do about the dogs and the guy who can make more of them... but it seems he's not out of my reach!
I agree with VV here.
Ditto.
I think it's just basic standard rules. I was confused because I never thought of making such a diagonal move. My last melee PF character had whirlwind, and would have loved a set-up like this! I'd be like, "Only 3? Summon 5 more!"
Reaching the summoner next round means I can make a more fun retort to the harpy comment. Of course, VV is going to be true to my interpretation of the class (comic superhero + insanity), which basically means she'll taunt opponents until she's had the smirk bludgeoned off her face.
I think at Lv.5, I'll be able to demoralize while attacking (via class ability). Now she's just practicing being a "vixen." (Def: 1. a female fox; 2. a quarrelsome woman)
If I don't get her killed, she'll be fun to RP. (She is.)
Just wondering.
Did I just miss those guys? Or at least Paval. There are Paval posts on the page where I entered the game. Looks like he's of the original party.