Souls of Lost Aridia Group A (Inactive)

Game Master Shanosuke

Even in the age of magic and advanced travel, there are many parts of this desert that can neither be seen nor reached by any power possessed by man. Though dangerous, the outer parts of the desert have indeed been charted and many have been able to travel through parts of it but the deeper areas of the desert.

Though it is widely untraveled, there are no shortage of stories, rumors, and legends of what lies within the deepest parts of the Sarengave and it is these very rumors that drive adventurous explorers, young and old, to throw caution to the wind and venture out into these distant mysterious regions only to never be heard from again.

Another bit of story going on in the area is the presence of an occult following an unknown deity called Daiga. These worshipers of Daiga are a strange lot and the pray to the very sands of the Sarengave. They also seem able to draw divine magic of some form from this Daiga. Because Daiga is a largely unknown god not to mention his alignment is also vastly unknown, many church goers of different faiths see this as heresy. Whoever this Daiga is, he is not a real god and these cultists are raving lunatics that either need to be converted or put down.

These people who have return are delirious however, they come back ranting and raving about the land that they have found in the middle of this great desert. Through their madness, they are clear about two things, first, there is a land of magic, riches, and plenty. The second consistency they have between one another is the name of this land, they all call it Aridia.

The people who returned acted nutty and wildly behaved and even delusional thus leading people to believe these survivors were nothing more than raving lunatics. Though one other thing these crazies had was actual treasure. Strange stones and jewels bearing unrecorded symbols and insignias that have led many to believe this land of Aridia may actually exist.

With the evidence present, a great movement began. Thousands of hopefuls set up caravans and made out for the center of the Sarengave to find what treasures lay in it’s mysterious center and to find this place called Aridia.

Over the next few years, none of these caravan’s ever returned whole and the people that did, spoke not of wealth and riches but of monsters, desolation and horror. With the lack of successful caravans and an enormous death toll, adventurers gave up the pursuit of Aridia as a fools errand or a death wish.

It wasn’t until just a few more years later that one final chance to reach Aridia and return had come to town. An elf named Yalandere had come to the town of Voush looking to put together a caravan to head out to Aridia. At first people thought he was crazy until he revealed that he actually lived in Aridia and with him he brought more wealth and riches to pay for the caravan.

Yalandere’s most distinguishing feature was his right eye socket. The whole eye and socket was replaced with a large red stone the likes of which had never been seen before. As Yalandere described it, it was just one of the many treasures that awaited adventurers in Aridia.

Yalandere sent out a recruitment request for anyone who wanted to at last reach Aridia to aid him in an endeavor. He needed outside help to aid him in finding an ancient treasure so he could save his home. He had stated that without a proper guide to Aridia, all those who would travel there would be doomed. For Aridia itself was inaccessible and only Yalandere could get people inside and out again safely.

With evidence to back up his claim, and a new promise of possible success and great wealth, people flocked to sign up. Among these people are you, the adventurer’s the focus of this story will be centered on. For whatever reason you have, you are now signing up for a journey into the dangerous Sarengave in hopes of acquiring your hopes and goals. Good luck brave adventurer’s

Level: Two

alignment: Any – Evils please play smart and fair. Being evil doesn’t mean murder and screw the party. You can be evil and still find ways to work with the party, I have seen it done and done well too.

Abilities: 20 point buy

Starting wealth: 1000gp

Traits: 3

Classes and Races have their own spoilers as I have a few more important things to say about those.

Gunslinger – though this class is allowed it is early firearms only and there is nowhere to buy guns, you will need to craft your own if you want better weapons.

Mounted styles – If you ever wanted play a mounted warrior or style of some sort, this is the campaign for you. Much of the campaign is open area with plenty of room for horse riders such as cavaliers to make use of their abilities

Summoners This is a funny class GMs tend to complain about and I have had the privilege of seeing why in one of my games. Summoner should be taken for thematic purposes and in your application I want to know what your plans are for your character and eidolon as growth. There is a concept I have seen known as “Cruise Missile” by one of my RL groups. This is where the eidolon is completely optimized in every way possible with no theme other than to get the most out of every evolution. The result was a monstrosity that killed everything in sight by itself and was pretty much unstoppable. The GM had to do a lot of compensating for it’s power and the rest of the players were bored or annoyed by the bland concept. I don’t want to see that ever again. So, if I like the theme I will allow the summoner but it has to be themed please.

Animal Companions: Any class that is awarded animal companions can start with whatever they want but if they lose their companion in the desert, the only companions that will be available from that point are desert dwelling creatures. For example, if you are a druid you can start with a dino companion but once you are in Aridia, if you lose your dino for whatever reason, you can only replace it with something that dwells in the land. I will give you a list when the time comes.

Terrain based characters: The terrains are simple: Desert, Mountain, some plains, few jungles, some urban, some underground. That’s about it. Any ranger should make their first pick for favored terrain desert, I won’t fault anyone for that choice as much of the region is in fact desert.

Advanced Race Guide
I will allow creations from the advanced race guide in this one but I need to approve of the build. I will judge custom races and their backstories a lot harsher than anyone else’s. I like the creativity of the idea of race building but I want a clear story and reason for the race. The story will make all the difference in me approving your design.

There is also no limit on the amount of points you spend but your character will struggle in leveling the more points you use. 12 is the max you can use and still be normal. From 13-20 you have to start at level one and you will level slower than the others. Any points over 20 to a max of 30 and you won’t level very fast at all. Keep that in mind.

Half-Genies: The nature of this campaign utilizes Genies in the story and thus Half-Genies have a special place in the game. I encourage players to experiment with half-genie breeds as I will give those special consideration and some backstory ideas as well. You can use the ARG to chance any racial traits you wish.

Also, I have additional information and concepts special for any players looking to play a genie breed character which will be discussed via PM as it may reveal some plot points.

A good backstory makes all the difference.

I prefer to let my players control the pace of the game and I cannot be expected to constantly push the game forward when people aren’t posting. In order for the game to move I need players to be active and doing things. I am strictly a responsive GM and will only keep a game going as long as you the players keep playing.

So basically what I am saying is, if you want to go somewhere in the game, say it, please. I will not assume anything. If you have a job to travel to a tower to retrieve something, I need someone to say “Okay I pack up and head for the tower” I will not move the game along until a character in the game sets off.

That said, I would like to run a fast pace game. I can post AT LEAST once a day. Many times I can post much more than once a day personally. I have one campaign where the players are awesome active and I have been able to post major segments twice daily so I know it’s possible. This game can go really far and move at a good pace so long as everyone is on board and able to keep up.

If I find players lagging behind I will have to start cutting people. I don’t like doing that but I also have trouble staying with a game that isn’t moving.

If things are becoming stagnant and you don’t know what to do, discuss it in the discussion thread. I will offer recaps, ideas, notes, and what not just to keep the game moving. I do not believe in withholding information from the players as it is a good way to kill a game. I find players are only human and can only think of so much. If you need help or ideas as to what to do in a situation, please ask, I am more than willing to throw hints or suggestions. For advanced aid I may ask players to make knowledge checks or intelligence checks.

With that said I want to run a good long term game with the goal of going all the way to the end. Thank you for your consideration.

Then there are the people who make the Extoic and extravagant lifestyles possible. Tolus has always been one of those slaves who observed luxury so closely, and yet from a distance.

It started when he was young. He and his family were captured and sold into slavery by unknown people. Raiders or monsters most likely. His origin is almost laughably stereotypical in that regard. He was sold as a different lot from his parents presumably to raise the price. He was "malleable". He was also Exotic. Not many Vishkanya have the multi-colored scales and the extreme serpentine eyes possessed by this Vishkanya. He was special.

The bidding was a mad house. His price, egged on by the master auctioneer, soon soared over the normal 50 gp price for a household slave. When the gavel sounded he had nearly tripled that price.

His new master was a Guild Master of slave traders named Riyar al Bohoor who instantly recognized Tolus's potential. Terrified, hungry, and scrawny, Tolus was given a place as an apprentice to the head of servers and entertainers for the Guild Master's personal troupes and harems named simply Ashshram. Tolus's earliest memories are of following Ashshram up and down the servants stairs carrying small loads. Learning never to show his fangs. Learning to never look a Mistress in the eye unless asked. Learning never to speak, how to bow, how to speak without hissing when asked, when to bow, how to walk, what to wear, when to wear it, and all the other myriad rules and expectations of the Guild Masters. He also taught Tolus how to listen for rumors. How to read faces, and how to walk in a crowd unseen.

In all things, Tolus excelled. He rarely had to be told how to do or what to do twice. As he grew he became Ashshram's pride and joy, almost like a son.

Then he was sold. Sold for a record setting amount, he overheard. His new master's Book-Keeper had a habit of speaking under his breath and rarely recognized that the slaves had ears, too. Tolus learned a lot from him about the politics of the nobility. Mostly it was who was courting whom and the stir it was causing with such and such, but occasionally Tolus overheard little tips. Like how to hide a knife in your palm. How to drip poison in your foe's cup just so.

It may not be coincidence that his second master died shortly after Tolus overheard this remark. Myserious blood clotting, or so the whispering said.

Now began what Tolus later came to call the "Parade of Masters". He was bought and sold at a blistering speed, sometimes only spending a few minutes with his new master before a deal was struck and he was ushered the opposite way down a street. All this because he was Exotic. One of a kind. The perfect Serpent-Servant.

Finally, Tolus was deposited in the Menagerie of one of the greatest of Phesh Guild Masters. But here he was not a slave, he was a trophy. Apparently, the Master had out maneuvered several others in the quest to acquire Tolus. Tolus was little more than a head on the wall to him. He was marginally better because of the fact that he could walk and didn't have to be mounted somewhere, and was told this often. He was property. He was no longer Exotic. He was just another in a long line of chess moves amid mountains of gold and goods that moved every day.

And still, his master hung on to him. He was a trophy after all, and it would not do to sell one's trophies. Finally, the Master died, and his son came to power.

Tolus was no longer even a trophy. He was clutter. He was a relic of a game of commerce that had long moved on. He wasted space and (more importantly) food. So he was given none. He and several other of his friends who had also been Exotic in their time were suddenly not even worth the copper needed to feed them. Tolus alone survived the neglect that ensued. He leared to steal, to swoon, to sweet-talk and bribe. He had molted and become the perfect beguiling serpent. He survived at all costs. This is when he learned the power of his own personal poison.

Suddenly, the young Master died. Some say his heart gave out under the grief of loosing his father so young. There was much head shaking as he was in his prime and hearty. Tolus suspected it was a different heart condition: He didn't have one.

The young Master had no heirs, and had not appointed one, so Tolus and the rest of the Old Master's property were transferred to the Pactmaster's service. Tolus had taken enough. When the opportunity came to earn his freedom, he grabbed at the chance. It took several years and a few expensive bribes, but he finally did it.

But where is a serpent to go? 'Midst the rumors of adventuring opportunities floating from around Golarion were whispers of a land filled with riches in the center of an impenetrable desert. Arcadia. Tolus left the next day. Who better to survive the desert sun, than the Serpent?

Of note:
He does not blame his experiences on the institution of slavery. He blames the Young Master, not the system. He holds slavery as a viable and profitable business practice. He even aspires to purchase slaves of my own one day. In the houses of His childhood he wanted for nothing and had the security of food and shelter and constant affection from slaves and Masters alike. If he were not forgotten and neglected, he could be one of the most prized and sought after specimens of any collector of exotic Servant-Slaves, maybe even finding a place in a Pact Master's house one day. His early masters were well meaning and recognized him as valuable. He had value because of his rarity and Exotic nature as highly trained and skilled Vishyanka. He imagines that he would be a benevolent and worthy Master because he has experienced cruelty and brutality and neglect. He would never visit that on an obedient and well mannered slave.

But the elves don't live only in the forests. They can be found in many different lands, including the searing deserts.

Raine's tribe lives on the edges of the Sarengave: a people who have learned how to dwell in harmony with the shifting sands, who know how to shepherd their precious reservoirs of water and shade. Travelers and merchants have told stories of them as spirits or ghosts-- figures the same color as the sand, who vanish into it in the blink of an eye.

The desert elves of Sarengave are fully corporeal, of course, but they don't exactly discourage this superstition from outsiders.

They believe themselves wardens of the sand, and perhaps also guardians against the horrors that live deep in the Sarengave. Their lives are simple, with few of the creature comforts enjoyed by elves dwelling in Kyonin. Children of the tribe are raised to both steel and magic, with arcane magic and the magics of nature being equally respected. Life is hard, on the desert, and the threats are many-- but the desert elves take their responsibility seriously.

Perhaps part of this sacred trust is because the elves believe that the land that is rumored to exist in the middle of the desert is an old elven kingdom, forever lost now to whatever dark force swallows travelers whole. Now, they have no city-- merely campsites they set up from place to place, night to night, only to melt away into the sands the next day.

Raine is one of these wardens of the Sarengave: an elf-woman who rides, not the classically beautiful horse, but a creature better suited to the desert-- a camel she raised from birth.

While she is not a magician herself, she has been raised around magic from her birth on, and has a working theoretical knowledge of it, at least-- she sees no true distinction between 'casters' and everyone else. All are part of the tapestry of nature. She respects magic but does not fear it.

When Yalandere appeared, Raine's people were quite perturbed. They are very suspicious of Yalandere and his claims. They have decided one of their number should be appointed to go join this caravan, in order to travel to Aridia and see the truth of Yalandere's claims-- to see if the elves yet dwell in Aridia, or if something more foul is at work. Raine was chosen for this task, which she has willingly accepted.

It is, however, the first time she has spent any real time around non-elves. It's a bit of a culture shock for her. She can read the desert's weather easily enough-- but has a much harder time reading the faces and motives of the short-lived races she is now among.

Raine is still relatively young as far as elves go. She was deemed competent enough for this task by her small tribe, but she has a lot to learn yet-- about people, about combat, and about life.

After discovering his knack for the arcane arts, Polm left the caravan trade and sought a teacher to better guide him in his studies. Polm apprenticed himself for the next two years to an exiled Varisian wizard. After years of study, Polm was no longer content with remaining hidden from the rest of the world. He ended his apprenticeship and set out to explore the world. On the evening he was to leave, he looked back at some of his oldest notes, and once again came across the name Sarengave. Pressing his master for any information he had on such a place, his master merely informed Polm that he was no longer his apprentice, and such council was not given freely, however there was no better way to learn than through experience.

Once again, he took up the mantel of a caravan aide, this time, as a wizard for hire. As luck would have it, he met up with a former traveling companion Tristam. They regaled each other with stories of their travels. One evening, Polm asked why he had left the trading company. Tristam revealed that the former caravan master had led their group to the outer edges of Sarengave, enticed by the thought of bringing back goods that the world had not seen before. The caravan was beset by troubles ranging from lack of water to giant scorpions. Tristam wandered out of the desert back into town, not even sure how he had gotten there, to find that near a month had passed. The only sign of his troubles was a tattoo that he had somehow acquired during that time. Polm examined the tattoo, and noted it to be an arcane symbol that he had seen only once before, in the book that had led him into the arcane arts. Determined to find any further information on it, he sought any caravan that would bring him closer to Sarengave.

Melee Scimitar +3 (1d6+1/18-20)
Melee Lance +3 (1d8+1/x3)

Ranged Mwk composite longbow +7 (1d8+1/x3)

Combat Options Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat
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STATISTICS
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Str 13, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10

Base Attack Bonus +2; CMB +3; CMD 17

Feats Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery, Boon Companion

Trained/Important Skills
Diplomacy +4, 1 rank
Handle Animal +6, 2 ranks
Knowledge (geography) +5, 1 rank
Knowledge (nature) +4, 1 rank
Perception +7, 2 ranks
Ride +10, 2 ranks [-1 ACP]
Survival +8, 2 ranks

Traits Armor Expert, Born Rider, Nomadic

Languages Common

Equipment
Weapons
Masterwork composite longbow [+1 Str]
--20 arrows
--10 flight arrows
Lance
Scimitar

Armor
Masterwork kikko armor, 25 lb.

Other Gear
Hot weather outfit
Cavalier's kit--animal feed (5 days), a backpack, a bedroll, a belt pouch, a bit and bridle, a flint and steel, an iron pot, a mess kit, a riding saddle, rope, saddlebags, soap, torches (10), trail rations (5 days), and a waterskin [Much of this carried by Azara]
Falconry gauntlet
Harness for Badr
Bird feed, 5 days
4 potions of cure light wounds

Wealth
57 gp, 7 sp, 5 cp

Carrying Capacity
Light: 50
Medium: 100
Heavy: 150
Current Load: ~30 lb.

Now Absalom had a secret, a coven of witches held their annual meeting in a secret basement in Hannah's house. Gravewalkers, witches whom could impose their will upon the undead. Mia as such grew up in the coven, learning from her "mother". Due to her young age at the exchange she had no recollection of her real parents.

To completely be admitted to the coven, the last trial was a pilgrimage of sorts. The witch apprentice must undertake a journey in search of new knowledge that may benefit the coven. Be it on reagents or magics itself. With much these days documented, Mia needed a challenge that would almost certainly provide new insights. Then came along the notice of the expedition to Sarengave from the city hall's notice board. Mia recognized an opportunity and immediately told Hannah. After that, she went to the city hall to ask for directions and came to sign up for the expedition.

This appearance has tricked many into helping this "poor little child".

Now Absalom had a secret, a coven of witches held their annual meeting in a secret basement in Hannah's house. Gravewalkers, witches whom could impose their will upon the undead. Mia as such grew up in the coven, learning from her "mother". Due to her young age at the exchange she had no recollection of her real parents.

To completely be admitted to the coven, the last trial was a pilgrimage of sorts. The witch apprentice must undertake a journey in search of new knowledge that may benefit the coven. Be it on reagents or magics itself. With much these days documented, Mia needed a challenge that would almost certainly provide new insights. Then came along the notice of the expedition to Sarengave from the city hall's notice board. Mia recognized an opportunity and immediately told Hannah. Hannah realized that "a little girl" should not be without guardian when traveling. So after some "pursuasive" talking, she paid a man to take her along. The man, a customer who was shopping for that same journey, would take her along under the pretence that she was his daughter who was skilled in herbal medicine. After that, she met up with the man and together they went to the city hall to ask for directions and came to sign up for the expedition.

My name is Lilith. In that simple statement, my explanation begins. I understand my name. Essentially, it is a group of sounds that can be produced with a person’s mouth to represent me; just as any other word is used to represent some other object or concept. While this is understood, I should know better than any that it is not comprehended. When others refer to me as Lilith, all their minds are capable of doing is linking the word with the very idea of me, and my existence, with the words preceding my name and with the words following my name. However, in order to comprehend the word, their mind must encompass me. My ideals, my actions, my intentions, my hopes, my dreams.

When I was a child, since before I could remember, I’ve been living on my own in the city. I was left with nothing but my name barely in my memory. Only my first name, making any hope of finding out who I am or where I came from shot to the ground with logic and reason. Even logic and reason, however, are difficult to differentiate without the implications of perceptions and viewpoints. While living on the streets, I was forced to do things for my own survival. While most could see this as a viable course of action, it was one man by the name of Cornelius Blackwater, professor Blackwater as he was known, that had a slightly different course for me. He adopted me and, once he understood how intelligent I turned out to be, he put me through college. The people there were no more intelligent than the people on the street, but I was promised more knowledge. None of them comprehended me though.

This is where my concept of perceptions and viewpoints become a huge factor in my explanation. While I understand who I am, I do not comprehend it. My soul, my very being, wants no more than to know who I am. I have no name. I strive so hard to comprehend the world around me, yet my heart is blackened by ignorance. People around me perceive me as a genius just as well as they perceive me as evil, but they only understand what I do. They do not comprehend why I do it. However, telling the poor ignorant souls this information only reinforces their perception that they are correct. While you can explain to them anything you want, for as long as you want, such as the difference between understanding something and comprehending it, people will still maintain that they are the same. Everything in the universe, even coming down to whether you understand it or comprehend it, is a matter of perception. All I want is to comprehend myself, whether you understand that or not.

-------

Lilith has no recollection of where she was born or to whom. She was abandoned on the street at an age no older than a toddler, her parents leaving her as a street rat. Quickly, she took to the streets and easily learned the standard protocol of surviving there. In fact, she proved to be more cunning and quick-thinking than any of the others. She taught herself to read and her genius quickly outran her as she began stealing books more than the food or money she needed to live, often taking them away from the city into the nearby hills to read and learn.

When she became older, about the equivalent of a teenager in human years, she was caught stealing a book from a library by a professor at the local academy. This man's name was Cornelius Blackwater. Finding Lilith's interest in reading despite being a street rat astounding, he decided to take her in. It didn't take long before he realized he had a brilliant thinker on his hands, but Lilith seemed obsessed with knowing everything. Even more so, she seemed dangerously obsessed with one piece of information. Who she was and who her parents were. "I can learn anything there is, but how do I learn something so... Abstract?" she would often say.

In hopes of satisfying her need for knowledge and understanding, Cornelius Blackwater enrolled her in the academy in which he taught. She quickly took to all subjects to a point of absolute boredom for her, but there was one subject that intrigued her more than any other; Alchemy. She would constantly recite her formulas, even coming up with new ones and brewing potions in her off time. Often this included potions she was not supposed make, but she had her ways of hiding her work. While testing components in class, even, she ate the still beating heart of a small rodent giving her the nickname 'Hearteater' among her peers. Considering it was the closest thing to a second name she's ever had, she started using it. It was preferable to Blackwater in her book, even though her adoptive family would claim Blackwater is her last name.

Her cruelty when discussing her heritage and obsession therein led to many problems in school. Eventually a bully within the college made the wrong remark to her about it and she murdered him then and there. She has since left the town in search of what she believes to be the ultimate truth, traveling all around the world. She's with the caravan heading to Sarengave by happenstance, in her hopes that maybe this region will have some answers to her questions.