So - secret society with a 'mundane' name, that acted as a secret club for exchanging information? Could steal a page from Lovecraft and just do it as a bunch of people that keep exchanging letters with attached 'articles'. A sort of
Dear Dr Beauturne,
thank you again for forwarding me the excerpt on the Star Lions. Thank goodness you noted that the 'tongue' I noted in my disection diagrams was a larval form of the damned Akata. I armed myself and a squad of the surviving villagers with salt water, and we tracked down the damned thing. It was hibernating in the smuggler's cave, trapped by the ocean. The cracked open coffin in which it must have gestated bore crowbar marks.
I surmise that an infected corpse was buried, hatched, hibernated, then dug up by grave robbers. They were presumably expecting to find treasure, but instead were attacked. They stumbled into the surf, and the Akata once again found itself trapped. We dodged a bolt on this one - had the Akata itself gotten free it might have led to a wave of infection over the whole continent.
I have enclosed a jar with some of the cocoon material. I warn you both that it degrades quickly in contact with air and of course that there may be larval young hibernating within.
Yours gratefully,
P Lorrimor
Hahaha... YES! I think the Doctor now has with him (well, safely tucked into his stagecoach) a large suitcase of notes, drawings, and correspondence with the rest of Ustalav's occult community, with perhaps even a few specimens in bottles. Unfortunately, in a fit of pique he torched his manor, so most of his laboratory and manor is up in smoke, but that suitcase should contain plenty of great stuff like what you've put above.
Doc also probably grabbed the most important works out of his library before leaving town. How much would a concise, authoritative library on the subjects of science and the occult cost, Bēl-Ṣullulim? I'm not looking for anything containing mechanical bonuses, just purely fluff.
I'm ready to start whenever is good for you, Bēl-Ṣullulim.
@Bēl-Ṣullulim: How do you want to handle cohorts.
I have decided to name Edward's apprentice Mircalla.
Are you okay if I post 'for' her in most situations?
Do you want to stat her up, or should I?
I would prefer PCs handle their cohorts, and I prefer any player with cohorts put together a separate alias. Twice the Gothic RP goodness for the low-low price of one admission ticket.
Doc also probably grabbed the most important works out of his library before leaving town. How much would a concise, authoritative library on the subjects of science and the occult cost, Bēl-Ṣullulim? I'm not looking for anything containing mechanical bonuses, just purely fluff.
Good question, I'll get back to you on that this evening, when we...
I'm ready to start whenever is good for you, Bēl-Ṣullulim.
...start the game in earnest. Looking forward to seeing you fine people in action.
How do you get a cohort at 3rd level?
...start the game in earnest. Looking forward to seeing you fine people in action.
Woot! I'm looking forward to it!
The title Droht is a Slavic and proto-German word originally meaning chieftain. It grew to later mean warband leader, Lord, and later Count or even King. They have title and control over an area, but are also responsible for the care of their land. Interestingly this in a hereditary tile that still has meaning in Germany, because the rights over the land and the responsibility to care for it are considered somewhat sacred and outside a government system.
A Drothi is "warlord-lord of" right now Ivan is a Droht --- Lord of Vacia. A holding in the Shudderwood remote and unchanged for years. Ivan is an old blood (more to come on that later and a member of the Bounders (a powerful, but decentralized group that protects the wilds of Ustalav in face of the Royal families disinterest.
That is the short short version. I have to run out the door.
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The Royal Bounders
Royalists who guard Ustalav's frontier
Alignment LN
Headquarters Castle Andachi
Leader: First Captain Petra Marelk
The Bounders were founded in 3860, largely in response to orc raids along Ustalav's western frontier. They are fiercely nationalist, drawing on the symbolism of the lost Kingdom of Ustalav. While many of the Bounders' captains are noble, they reject the legitimacy of Prince Aduard III, insisting that an heir to the last King Adurras will eventually be found. They are also fiercely hostile to the democratic sympathies of the Palatinate counties.
While given over to endless debates about ancient historical events and embittered by what they see as the betrayal of Ustalav by the Shining Crusade, the Bounders are also a highly effective irregular military force. They also have the fierce loyalty and respect of the commoners, who see them as nearly saint-like defenders.
Operating largely in secret, the Bounders maintain twelve independent "patrols" in northern and western Ustalav. These patrols -- each with between 50 and 100 rangers and warriors -- shift and move depending on circumstances. They work in concert only when required. The Bounders also spend a significant amount of their time recruiting and training local militias, known as "scythers" because of their primitive weaponry.
Once each year, the captains of the different patrols gather to meet in the ruins of Castle Andachi, which is a symbol of their deperate fight to hold Ustalav in trust until the true King returns.
^ Cool! You're going for the marshall role, I presume?
That or representing the concerns for the peasants. Not necessarily humanitarian by today's standards, but not dissecting live serfs for fun.
I was going to go straight ranger, but I took a level of rogue to get our group some thieving abilities.
How do you get a cohort at 3rd level?
Ah, and therein lies the tale.
Instructor archetype gets a Cohort instead of a Familiar. It also uses Intelligence for Leadership. I've also taken the Feat "Dynasty Founder", which gives me Followers - though they're all back at the Ravenholm settlement hopefully rebuilding the defences but probably just frittering away their time fishing.
I was going to go straight ranger, but I took a level of rogue to get our group some thieving abilities.
I'd suggest take the character you want, rather than what we need. I think Ixxix was a full rogue anyway, wasn't he?
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The title Droht is a Slavic and proto-German word originally meaning chieftain. It grew to later mean warband leader, Lord, and later Count or even King. They have title and control over an area, but are also responsible for the care of their land. Interestingly this in a hereditary tile that still has meaning in Germany, because the rights over the land and the responsibility to care for it are considered somewhat sacred and outside a government system.
A Drothi is "warlord-lord of" right now Ivan is a Droht --- Lord of Vacia. A holding in the Shudderwood remote and unchanged for years. Ivan is an old blood (more to come on that later and a member of the Bounders (a powerful, but decentralized group that protects the wilds of Ustalav in face of the Royal families disinterest.
That is the short short version. I have to run out the door.
Then we should definitely have links, because we have a lot of similarities.
Edward is an Earl - a Germanic title meaning nobleman above thane, but eventually migrating to england as Earl and becoming someone responsible for a division of England - I was looking at an area about 7 miles in diameter: the border of the dipplemere swamp and the shudderwood.Edward is also Old Blood, the Caromarcs being able to trace their heritage back to pre-kellid times.
The Ravenholm people tend towards witchraft and stealth, and keep the exact location of their home as secret as possible.
Operating largely in secret, the Bounders maintain twelve independent "patrols" in northern and western Ustalav. These patrols -- each with between 50 and 100 rangers and warriors -- shift and move depending on circumstances. They work in concert only when required. The Bounders also spend a significant amount of their time recruiting and training local militias, known as "scythers" because of their primitive weaponry.
Hmm, given our esteemed GM has allowed Teams from Ultimate Campaign, you could actually start with a number of these troops.
Hmm - skirmishers cost 360 for 5. A full team of 50 would cost too much. Maybe if some of them were trainees?
I don't have those books. Ivan has what's left of his families holdings. A remote structure with about 40 serfs working the land and serving him. He has a few family members there, defendants of local banners-men, and a cleric of Pharasma.
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@Bēl-Ṣullulim: How do you want to handle cohorts.
I have decided to name Edward's apprentice Mircalla.
Are you okay if I post 'for' her in most situations?
Do you want to stat her up, or should I?I would prefer PCs handle their cohorts, and I prefer any player with cohorts put together a separate alias. Twice the Gothic RP goodness for the low-low price of one admission ticket.
Done.
I don't have those books. Ivan has what's left of his families holdings. A remote structure with about 40 serfs working the land and serving him. He has a few family members there, defendants of local banners-men, and a cleric of Pharasma.
The rules from Ultimate Campaign can be found here. There's a lot of awesome reference material in the PRD.
Where are the rules for cohorts?
Can you link a copy of an approved one? Are they first or second level?
The only way I know to get a Cohort at this level is through an Archetype. There's a Wizard and a Cavalier one. And their first level. Honestly at this point you could do better with just buying a team.
Team members are limited in skill by leadership skill.
Check out the link here
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The only way I know to get a Cohort at this level is through an Archetype. There's a Wizard and a Cavalier one. And their first level. Honestly at this point you could do better with just buying a team.
Team members are limited in skill by leadership skill.
Check out the link here
There's the Squire feat.
There's the Squire feat.The only way I know to get a Cohort at this level is through an Archetype. There's a Wizard and a Cavalier one. And their first level. Honestly at this point you could do better with just buying a team.
Team members are limited in skill by leadership skill.
Check out the link here
Not bad!
Ooh. Nice!
Technically Ivan, you don't start with any holdings unless you bought them. You can still say you own them, even that you steward them, but you can't rightfully tell the commoners their business or collect taxes. Not yet anyway.
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Ivan is from where his mother retreated to. A bunch of people scratching in the dirt and snaring rabbits to survive in a very remote location, his band of squatters too inconsequential to affect the new government in Lozeri, who don't even know of his existence. However, the group is able to survive due to a common threat of the woods, tradition, and some other detail that will come to light.
Ivan is not collecting surplus wheat or taxes from his "holdings" or anything like that.
I guess Hitler claimed he was still the Voice of the German People, Chancelor of Germany and Supreme Military Commander when all he really had left was a few square miles, a handful of young and old conscripts fighting more to not just be killed by the Red Army, some cream cakes and a stuffy bunker to hid in, right?
The King of Afganistan still claims holdings too right?
If you steal my car and drive it around for 37 years, it's still mine!
:)
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Ivan is from where his mother retreated to. A bunch of people scratching in the dirt and snaring rabbits to survive.
I guess Hitler claimed he was still the Voice of the German People, Chancelor of Germany and Supreme Military Commander when all he really had left was a few square miles, a handful of young and old conscripts fighting more to not just be killed by the Red Army, some cream cakes and a stuffy bunker to hid in, right?
The King of Afganistan still claims holdings too right?
If you steal my car and drive it around for 37 years, it's still mine!
:)
Damn Palatines!
Just wanted to be clear. Thanks for indulging me.
I'm interested in getting some feedback.
Previously, I mentioned adding a GMPC the game, but I think the group dynamic is quite robust already and don't feel a pressing need to add anything extra to the group's narrative.
If I included a GMPC, he would add an "Old Cults" dimension to the game.
I leave the decision to group consensus.
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A GMPC can sure help guide things and make things clearer, but if you don't thing it's needed then whatever. The old cults thing sounds pretty cool though.
I like the idea of an old cults dimension. You always have to be careful with a GMPC. On the other hand if you want to introduce someone we'll trust, now is the time to do it. I'd leave it up to you - do what feels right.
Old cults and GMPCs are fine with me. I agree with Edward - do what feels right.
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I'm fine with whatever. I do just want to let everyone know. This is my first play-by-post so if I break some sort of online rule or something it isnt intentional, just let me know.
I am up for whatever.
Amos, is your character a Hell Knight?
Bēl-Ṣullulim: no idea if that story is made up or not. Happy to make a Bluff roll if it is - you can make it for me if you like. The truth of it is largely incidental, it is the moral that is important.
Sorry if I'm being paranoid: I'm not sure how 'hard' our GM wants to play and on the assumption the answer is 'Game of Thrones Hard' I'd like to start as we mean to go on.
Bēl-Ṣullulim: no idea if that story is made up or not. Happy to make a Bluff roll if it is - you can make it for me if you like. The truth of it is largely incidental, it is the moral that is important.
I don't see a need for a roll, if anything I'd have your roll diplomacy, but you're speaking to a PC.
Sorry if I'm being paranoid: I'm not sure how 'hard' our GM wants to play and on the assumption the answer is 'Game of Thrones Hard' I'd like to start as we mean to go on.
If this is game is styled after anything, it's Bram Stoker's Dracula.
@Bēl-Ṣullulim: Not sure if this is something that could have happened (possibly from a biased perspective), or just a lie made up out of whole cloth. It seems sort of reasonable, but if it is a lie then I should probably make a Bluff roll.
If it is styled after Dracula then I probably am being too paranoid - I'll try to tone it down.
@Bēl-Ṣullulim: Not sure if this is something that could have happened (possibly from a biased perspective), or just a lie made up out of whole cloth. It seems sort of reasonable, but if it is a lie then I should probably make a Bluff roll.
I'll leave that up to you.
If it is styled after Dracula then I probably am being too paranoid - I'll try to tone it down.
Gothic. Horror.
If everyone is good to go, I'm going to move the game forward to day two.
Sounds good.
Sounds good to me too.
sure
I've got plenty of coin for passage if anyone needs it.
Just so everyone is clear, Guy Severin is not the GMPC. Welcome to your first encounter! Wahoo!
Okay, thank you for clarifying.
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He seems like such a great guy.
I don't mean you have to fight him, when I say encounter, I mean you have a choice.
For the record, without knowing the schedules I'm guessing Edward's statement is hyperbole.
We might be able to tell something about his motives from his reaction though.
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I don't mean you have to fight him, when I say encounter, I mean you have a choice.
Doc has no intention of fighting him. He just has a real aversion to flowery language that doesn't mean anything (or so Doc interpreted Severin's answer to the question he asked, though Severin did clear that up a little). As Doc's main motivation in life is to uncover and make known information (to himself at least), this Severin seems to operate with his intentions close to the vest - and I figure Doc would be rubbed the wrong way by his combination of flowery language and presumably secret motivations.
I need to buy a sword cane so that Doc can thwack the shins of those he disapproves of.
"One of your tenants is, "Aid is not to be sought, or accepted, lightly". Also, "Contracts and preferred if they heavily favor one party over another". These words of flattery back and forth are fine, but what is it you are actually wanting? I have not usually found slavers fond of going about seeking friendship."
How does your character know this? This does not strike me as information your character would know.
And I wasn't expecting a fight to happen, but now it looks like we're about to have duel on our hands!
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And I wasn't expecting a fight to happen, but now it looks like we're about to have duel on our hands!
Ruh-roh! Our mission might be -
I'll let myself out now...
"One of your tenants is, "Aid is not to be sought, or accepted, lightly". Also, "Contracts and preferred if they heavily favor one party over another". These words of flattery back and forth are fine, but what is it you are actually wanting? I have not usually found slavers fond of going about seeking friendship."How does your character know this? This does not strike me as information your character would know.
Almost all persons in Ustalav worship Pharasma and at least recognize Desna.
Desna is:
"Desna is an ancient goddess of freedom and luck, and is credited with the creation of the heavens.
The opposite of the Heavens is the Hells, they are diametrically opposed. Asmodeous is the Prince of Hell.
Asmodeus does not believe in freedom or free will. He even killed his brother over it. Desna is the goddess of freedom. Asmodeous is diametrically opposed to Desna her and her followers who cherish freedom and wander the world at will on whims or without prior planning at times. Dreams are the product of free thoughts and inspire and give hope, something that even slaves can experience and escape tyrany with. Desna is the Goddess of Dreams. Even Asmodeous can't stop dreams.
Part of the reason the People of Ustalav revere Desna is because for over 600 years the country was ruled by a Tyrant whom enslaved and killed the entire populace. The people prayed for freedom from Tyranny and enslavement. Hope and Luck are what helped the people to survive, dreams sustained them.
Desna opposes tyranny and slavery. Asmodeous is the God of Tyrants and slavers.
Ustalavians are distrustful of foriegners, but they were saved by outsiders who formed the Shining Crusade. The Crusaders were led by a General who was shielded by "The Shield of Aroden." Ustalav in return for being saved gave the crusade part of their lands. Chelix used to revere Aroden, but when he died, Chelix has tried to destroy any reference to him in history when the Empire began to purge everyone and anything that does not please House Thrune who reveres Asmodeus. Noble families out of favor are killed or flee.
I don't think that it is a stretch at all for Ivan to know that, Aid is not to be sought, or accepted from Asmodeans or to avoid their contract.
The Devil has been around a looong time
That's why we were told the tale of Faust as kids. The Devil went down to Georgia, The pick of Destiny, both good examples of "Don't make deals with the Devil" tales. Case in point, Amos makes it clear he serves the most powerful Devil in here and wanted to come up with a contract, its what they do.
Jewish people know what the Nazis were about. If you follow the Goddess of Freedom, I don't think it is far off to know about your enemies. Especially because the guy basically threw down. "Hail, I serve Emporer Palpatine and the Darkside of the Force. Have you Jedis ever heard of the Empire?"
Knowing the masked guy did not answer the Doctor's question directly Ivan was trying to ask.
"Okay you are offering to help us, why? And I am not so stupid as to think Asmodeans are just doing it because they wanted to be kind to travelors on the road---Because that is what my goddess does!"
Also the famous Ustalavian saying is, "Beware of friends who come in the mists." The guy is wearing a Phantom of the Opera half mask, we've never seen him before and he starts calling out to Amos calling him a son of Asmodeus and offering to pay our way. People don't do that without a reason.
=)
That being said, it is your game if you tell me my character has a different take on it that's cool.
Hopefully I laid out why my character was responding the way he was.
If you have other questions I am at work and will try to respond ASAP.
Good points, really, but that knowledge, in-game, would require these competencies:
Knowledge: History
Knowledge: Religion
Your character is neither a historian, nor a theologian.
That being said:
Also the famous Ustalavian saying is, "Beware of friends who come in the mists." The guy is wearing a Phantom of the Opera half mask, we've never seen him before and he starts calling out to Amos calling him a son of Asmodeus and offering to pay our way. People don't do that without a reason.
That's exactly the sort of knowledge your character should be acting on, and with.
You should still be able to edit your last in-game post, you're welcome to modify it.