The Tale of Solku - and the Nights of Fire (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

Welcome one and all - and thanks for placing some faith in me to come up with something that should hopefully prove both diverting and fun. I'm looking forward to hopefully building an engaging and confronting experience :)

First things first is getting everyone checked in and squared away fully with character choices and details and what not. I'll be drafting up the opening post in the campaign thread as well - and will likely launch soon after everyone has checked in to at least get us started.

Checking in, but it's 1 AM here so I'm no good for character details until I've had some sleep. I'll pop up my preliminary (very) rough mechanics under a spoiler: I just threw together enough numbers and options to see how she might turn out.

Thank you for the invite! I'll finish refining the stats this afternoon. You briefly mentioned 4th level, 20 pt buy, standard WBL... any other guidelines to be aware of?

Only one off the top of my head is HP are to be averaged round up.

Siddig if you wanted to leave Disable Device to me, my familiar is more than capable of handling lockpicking duty. Also as a trader there's plenty of room for previous interaction with Erasmes (that goes for Rodrin as well).

I have a mostly complete profile for Erasmes and Sajjad, but I'm possibly going to combine the two after giving it some thought. I'd rather have my inventory in one place, and as convinient as having Sajjad's perception and such on hand, I dont know how organic posting under two alias' will be in the scheme of things.

Sounds good!

Behold Solku!

As part of your character's introduction - I'd like you to state where they are currently residing / staying. For some of you this is already built in to your character (or you're itinerant) - but I want to have it on record to weave into events as they transpire.

Ok, so.
Apparently "Rodrin" was already in use, so my character has been renamed Brunhin. Thank you for selecting him!

Crunch is done, and equipment is mostly done (I think I'll pick up a few scrolls).

What else do you wish to see? A full background and personality, or is it enough what we put in the recruitment thread?

Stat block posted... Good chance I missed something, so please let me know if anyone notices a glaring error. Also open to suggestions if you see something silly.

Khepri will be using scimitar and shield and going for bull rushes and criticals.

Should be done, but will do a second review to make sure everything is in order.

Brunhin - no need for background and personality, the recruitment thread is enough for now. I'll be using the connections to draw you into the story initially. The background and personality can come out during the PbP proper.

Just a friendly reminder I'd like each of you to state where you're currently residing within Solku.

Khepri has recently returned from Zolurket where he was aiding dwarves in the reclamation of their homeland. Now he is staying at the Lambent Citadel recovering from his time there and training with militia helping out there as he can.

Siddig is laying low at the Breakstride, hoping to find some way to recoup the money from his lost caravan.

Kif is also at the Breakstride, waiting for the fort's supplies to be ready for the return journey. I'll try to get her geared up and profile online later today; shopping is always my least favorite part of character creation. :P

Brunhin is working as a market guard in the New Market, and if feasible, he is sleeping at the local temple of Abadar.
If the Temple is too small or not likely to have a small room for a traveling acolyte, then he'll have a room in a good quality inn as close as possible to both the Temple and the market. Also, the Inn should have a stable for Kooma, his camel.

Roger that - I'm assuming that Kif and Siddig would be in 'basic' rooms as opposed to suites or the like?

Khepri - accommodation for guests at the Lambent would be in the acolytes dorms. Still a private room, but reasonably spartan.

Brunhin - the Temple of Abadar in Solku would probably be small enough that there wouldn't be much room in it for guest quarters... however Abadar being Abadar, I'm sure they've got preferential arrangements at attractive rates in nearby inns.

However stabling for Kooma will be outside of the city walls in the Pens for now. Solku is a relatively densely streeted city, so pack animals and large mounts are kept outside of the walls.

Kif - my read is that Erilene wouldn't allow dogs into the rooms (though would permit them in the common room), and would have an attached kennel to the Breakstride.

Erasmes, after a successful year, has made his way to the Lambent Citadel on pilgramage. However, the patrols have all been rerouted to Fort Longjaw, and unwilling to risk his hide on the return journey, Erasmes has sulkily taken up residence in Solku for the past month. The garish, perfumed merchant is making no effort to be inconspicuous in his weekly visits to the temple, and has otherwise made his residence in the den of Gilded Dreams, occupying himself with books, cards, and backgammon as much as the establishment's other pursuits; an idle mind is a dull mind.

As a side note, I'm pleased to see Khepri has cleave! As an AoE spellcaster, I'm hoping to leave a lot of low hp opponents that need cleaning up, so there is a lot of synergy there. If there's room in his build for cleaving finish, maybe consider that too? We'll see how things play out in the game. I was mixed up on the starting gold for fourth level. Erasmes can actually afford that selective metamagic rod. I can exclude 4 of you from the area of my burning hands 3/day, so now I'm much more of a team player. My gear should be finished shortly, and with it the final touches on my profile. After my rod and haversack there isn't a lot of room for consumables and wands, so I've instead spent the gold on mundane gear, trade goods, and flavourful things.

Ok - so Erasmes is a guest on the outer circle of what goes on in Gilded Dreams. Does he ever partake of pesh?

DM-VoV...I wouldn't expect anything more!

Erasmes, We'll see about Cleaving Finish. I have a couple feats I will be taking and not sure I can fit it in, but we'll see. Now if I was a fighter I would for sure have room!

Siddig would take an average room in an attempt to save money. Nothing too spartan, however... the man has standards!

Right - so it's just SurplusRaine left to check into the Discussion thread (though word was left in the Recruitment thread).

Siddig - just as an FYI, the Temple of Abadar will be immediately East of the New Market on the map.

Roger that - I'm assuming that Kif and Siddig would be in 'basic' rooms as opposed to suites or the like?

Kif's standards are undoubtedly lower than Siddig's. :) She's used to austere accommodations at the fort or camping in the open air; she'd certainly take the cheapest option at the inn.

Kif - my read is that Erilene wouldn't allow dogs into the rooms (though would permit them in the common room), and would have an attached kennel to the Breakstride.

Yeah, I wasn't sure about that. On the one hand, the Breakstride caters to adventurers so ought to be accustomed to animal companions and familiars; on the other, a hound is hardly a lapdog and undoubtedly has fleas to spread (which means Kif likely does as well, but I suppose they wouldn't make her sleep in the kennels. ;) I've actually never run a PC with an animal companion before; I hope I don't get it killed first thing via inexperience.

I'll have the profile up and running tomorrow; got the kit out done. What would you call the terrain Fort Longjaw patrols? Desert, I'm assuming? Because that would be her favored terrain.

Erilene strikes me as the sort of savvy operator that would helpfully suggest a bath and spike it with flea apocalypse shampoo :P

The Breakstride has a few shared common rooms back-packer style if that's more Kif's kettle of tea? Or taking another step down, Fort Longjaw would have arrangements with some flophouses out next to the pens as well.

And yes, desert is the correct category for the ground immediately around both Fort Longjaw and Solku.

durr, I was waiting for a link to pop up. Didn't even occur to me it'd be right here.

Hi.

Still hunting for an avatar...

Farah tends to avoid large crowds of people when at leisure, very rarely staying at inns or public houses. This means she often finds herself staying on the streets, curled up in a tattered blanket while her sleepless Black Blade watches over her. Thankfully, her reputation keeps all but the boldest thieves and ruffians at bay, and a quick display of power usually serves to scare those ones off as well.

At one point she found board with the Serpentine Blades, but she left due to a growing sense of guilt as more and more clients refused to hire her (Though she still tries to get work there when she can).

So in short - she'll be staying wherever you deem most convenient, waking with the morn wrapped in a ragged shawl and caked with dust.

To expand on above:

There are many rumours that have popped up amongst the common folk of the city. Superstitious individuals believed she is cursed, bringing ill luck to those who assosciate with her. Others believe she consorts with dark powers (No doubt due to the sinister appearance of her scimitar), and that in the past she was struck down by the wrath of the Dawnflower, giving her her current appearance. Countless stories with endless variations surround her and her past, none of them positive. At best, people view her with pity. At worst, they actively drive her away.

I should ask now what your thoughts are with using Arcane Mark with the Magus' Spell Combat ability. While perfectly legal, many regard it as cheesy (Though in truth it's actually worse than two-weapon fighting), so I'd like to know your thoughts on it. Either way it doesn't change my build, but it does change how I full attack. I do like the idea that my Black Blade can brand those I strike, though.

A habit? Yes. But it's not a full blown addiction (yet). He also enjoys tobacco. Having not found a price for any kind of hookah or smoking pipe I'm just going to treat it as part of my alchemists lab. I'm pretty sure I can refine pesh myself, with Craft (alchemy), as well as craft poisons and splash weapons. As for breaking into the business, though, Erasmes prefers silk and spices. Less chance of having his throat cut.

Farah - you're probably looking at crashing in the streets of Dustyfoot if you're being itinerant... but I've got a thought for your hook into the story anyhow.

As to Spell Combat with Arcane Mark - it's rules legal, but I'd like to ensure that the Arcane Mark is part of the fluff text when the spell is used.

Twigs - I'd be guessing that you'd likely not be carrying around your own hookah and instead using the house ones (though perhaps you'd keep a decorative hose and mouthpiece?) and happy to handwave the cost of a nondescript pipe.

To give you a bit more of an update on how the game will start - I'm intending to begin on the 1st of Pharast. Everyone will know that in less than a week it will be one of the more sombre celebrations in Solku - the Night of Tears. Held on 7 Pharast, it is a solemn vigil commemorating those lost in the Battle of Red Hail (when the gnoll armies of Noor the Red Sultana attacked Solku and were beaten back at much cost of life).

You are all expecting to be in town until at least past that date, and I'll be starting you off individually within the city essentially waking up in the morning (dawn for some and later for others) and going about your day. The magical contrived coincidence will occur that gives you all a reason to hang out together thereafter (details of which will unfold in thread).

You can assume that you know most of the general history of both Solku, as well as greater Katapesh. It's no secret that thar be gnolls in them thar hills, etc. Where appropriate to the story I'll also give some background 'knowns' via in thread spoiler to make sure that we're all on the same page of what is general knowledge (or at least general knowledge to 4th level characters with a few miles under the hood). Specific knowledge skills will still prove quite useful though.

Those of you whom I've already taken for a few DM'ing laps should have a decent handle on my style - but for Nomad and airon's benefit, feel free to ask questions, get clarifications, etc. I'm fairly free and open and have been known to make pretty fundamental mistakes at times when sleep deprived.

You'll get maps for many major battles, but some of the smaller ones I probably won't be bothered as it doesn't play out on a cost-benefits analysis.

The Breakstride has a few shared common rooms back-packer style if that's more Kif's kettle of tea? Or taking another step down, Fort Longjaw would have arrangements with some flophouses out next to the pens as well.

After giving it some thought, I'm going to stick with the Breakstride; I don't think she's masochistic enough to rough it quite on that level when she doesn't have to. A shared hostel room will be fine, though; she doesn't have anything she won't be carrying around with her, and the accommodations ought to be similar to the barracks at the fort.

Sounds look! =D

EDIT: Err, 'good'!

Oh yeah. Relevent languages? I get a bunch.

Relevant languages? - well... Gnoll could surely come in useful eh? :P

I've been flat out the last couple of days with visitors and even the internet dropping out for a bit so apologies that I haven't yet had the chance to launch the game thread. I plan to do so tomorrow night my time... and am looking forward to the fun :)

Pathfinder Wiki lists human languages of Katapesh as Common, Kelish, Osiriani, Vudrani, and Tien.

EDIT: Also, I believe that the Badawi tribes have their own language, but that could just have been something my Legacy of Fire DM put in; it's not listed in the wiki.

Katapesh City is quite a bit more cosmopolitan than Solku. I'd recommend: Kelish, Osiriani, Common, possibly some Polyglot from Mwangi traders and Celestial for the churchy types. The Badawi are Keleshite.

- Interrupting Insect

Make sure to take gnoll since VoV suggested it!

Will do.

DM VotV, would you like quick-reference stats in our Race and Class spaces under the profile?

Airon - I don't necessarily need them to be there, but feel free to do so if it makes it easier on yourself.

And finally I've got it live! Sorry for the wee delay... but the young'un was up at 10:00 and didn't go back to sleep till post 1AM.

Don't feel a need to railroad yourself into the plot or towards each other... I'll handle that as the appropriate time comes ;)

As a general comment on the side - please feel free to ask me as many or as few questions about the city as come to mind. I'm going to make a conscious effort to at least try and build a functional city... or sorts for this campaign.

Also - I'll be filling out the Campaign Info tab with bits and bobs. Let me know if there is anything you'd like to see in there.

I presume Siddig's conversation with Khaled is going on while Kif's still avoiding Sarenites by pretending to be asleep? Don't want to pollute the timestream. ;)

That would be a safe assumption Joana.

I'll stay out of the way while the conversation resolves, then.

Forum downtime interceded with my update rampage - so in the morning it shall be.

Kif - I'll have an update for you a bit later on after I've narrated the dawn prayers. I hope you don't mind the languid pace?

Meh, I'm the one who decided to stay in bed to avoid the churchgoers. If I get bored, I can always narrate myself a dream sequence. ;)

I've drafted about three posts for Sajjad now, but I fear I've written myself into a corner until the ceremony (or up a tree, as it were). Until I come up with an organic way for him to cross paths with the PCs, my posting will probably be pretty quiet. Can't exactly have an internal monologue for a monkey, even one with an almost human intelligence score.

Exploring Solku will be a hoot, however. I doubt there'll be any shortage of roleplay opportunity once we start play in earnest.

Don't worry about the welding into the other PCs - that's my job :)

Playing a bit with Erasmes' empathic link here (as well as all those hallucinogenics), I tried my hand at writing a dream sequence. I don't think I'll make a habit of it. This stuff is hard work!

I liked it. :)