As Res passed through the countryside near Breden, he struck up a conversation with some local farmers. They told him about recent strange disappearances and warned Res to give Lord Gilbraith's tower a wide berth. In fact, they heard that a young woman from the nearby village of Breden was abducted in broad daylight early today.
Res thanked the farmers for their warning and inquired which direction is the village of Breden, as he was in need of some supplies to continue his journey. They point in him in the right direction and off he went.
As he arrived in town, the village is abuzz about Lenna's disappearance. It does not take long before he is pointed in the direction of Father Sanville. Smelling an opportunity for adventure, Res seeks out the village elder and offers his assistance.
"Good afternoon, Father Sanville, I am Res Thannq of Lastwall. I've heard a young woman has disappeared. As a fellow priest, may I be of assistance?"
|
I am in favor of the notion that the druids have declared Gilbraith to be a demon and a blight upon the land and that Erfan has been either tasked or inspired to do something about it.
Mothman: Maybe Erfan and Nathaniel have something of a long-term "friendship" established and, when Nathaniel mentions his sister's abduction, Erfan decides (in true Chaotic Neutral fashion) that he is going to join the ranger on his quest to be rid of a mutual enemy.
Sounds good to me.
|
|
Can someone very kindly cast an eye over this lass?
I'll be spending some money on a masterwork dagger I think as otherwise she looks more than a bit rubbish as a combatant.
Hi Rev, it looks like Jess has done a good review of your character. It looks as though you’ve already incorporated some of her comments and suggestions.
I’ve cast my eye over too; not sure if you’ve had a chance to review the skills yet, but some of them still don’t look quite right, especially some of your untrained dexterity based skills which I think should be higher. I find it quite useful to list all the modifiers (ie, where all the numbers are coming from) for skills on my character sheet, so I can keep track of everything.
As Jess said, you should have 11 skill points at first level, or 12 if you choose to spend your favoured class bonus on skill points (and it looks like that’s what you’ve gone for).
Here is how I see your skills (based on what you’ve got currently):
Acrobatics - +4 (dex) = +4
Appraise - +2 (int) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +6*
Bluff - +2 (cha) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +6*
Climb - +0 (str) = +0
Craft (Traps) - +2 (int) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +6*
Diplomacy - +2 (cha) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +6*
Disable Device - +4 (dex) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +8*
Disguise - +2 (cha) = +2
Escape Artist - +4 (dex) = +4
Fly - +4 (dex) = +4
Heal - +0 (wis) = +0
Intimidate - +2 (cha) = +2
Knowledge (Engineering) - +2 (int) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +6*
Perception - +0 (wis) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +4* (+5 to identify traps – trap sense)
Profession (Engineer) - +0 (wis) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +4*
Ride - +4 (dex) = +4
Sense Motive - +0 (wis) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +4*
Sleight of Hand - +4 (dex) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +8*
Stealth - +4 (dex) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +8*
Survival - +0 (wis) = +0
Swim - +0 (str) = +0
Use Magic Device - +2 (cha) +3 (trained class skill) +1 (ranks) = +6*
Now, you haven’t yet added the benefit of your Deft Hands feat to Disable Device and Sleight of Hand (nor have I) – this would add a +2 bonus to the totals for both.
You already have a decent Disable Device score, your weakness will be in actually finding traps with only a +5 to perception. As such, you might consider taking Skill Focus (Perception) as a feat, either now instead of Deft Hands or at a later stage (on the other hand, various members of the party can probably use Aid Another to help you search for traps, they will not be able to do so as easily for Disable Device).
|
Sounds good, Rosey.
Fatespinner, perhaps some of the wizened elders of your people sent you to support the mission. They consider Gilbraith to be a blight on the land and call him a demon. ("After all, many of the vilest demons are homegrown.") How they came to know what Fr Sanville was planning is a bit of a mystery.
Jess, Fr Sanville could be a cleric of Erastil if we want him to be - I left that open. Maybe he sent you?
Moorluck, is your dreamspun sorceress prone to prophetic dreams? Could she be? I see a lot of potential there.
It strikes me that CrimJ and Tordek's characters both have a crusaderish bent and need little motivation to bring down someone lik Gilbraith. And Niel, I don't know that much about your character's motivations.
Anyway, those are some initial thoughts. Feel free to modify - this is about collaboration.
I do have strange dreams, often before I learned that I could hurl "spellfire", I had horrible dreams about being.... in fire...., sort of ON fire, but it was within me.... and sometimes things that happen are much like the dreams I had on recent nights past.
Good, good. So you may have had a dream, then, that encourages you to accompany the others. There was probably a lot of blood :)
Hi Rev, it looks like Jess has done a good review of your character. It looks as though you’ve already incorporated some of her comments and suggestions . . .
I'll be sorting out the skills today I hope. There's been a bad outbreak of manflu chez Rev and both husband and son have been smitten.
I was concerned about Angalia's low perception score and had considered upping her Wisdom to compensate a bit, but skill focus is a good option too. I quite like the idea of her being very short-sighted, but piece of flavour that endangers the party probably isn't a good thing to keep.
Very many thanks to everyone for all their help building her.
"Nat, nobody is going to hurt Lenna. But you have to stop shouting and start thinking. You and I alone isn't going to be enough. Who else do we know?"
Moorluck, Tiffana is a dancer and a Gypsy.
I'm a preformer/storyteller who has been working with traveling entertainers.
Maybe we know each other and when you had your dream, I decided to follow you?
I think I'm done, but I'm at work.
Anyone see anything I screwed up?
|
Moorluck, Tiffana is a dancer and a Gypsy.
I'm a preformer/storyteller who has been working with traveling entertainers.
Maybe we know each other and when you had your dream, I decided to follow you?
I like that. I was trying to figure out the best way to tie in with the others. Sorry I've been a little slow on this, rough weeeeeeeeeek. :P
Good, good. So you may have had a dream, then, that encourages you to accompany the others. There was probably a lot of blood :)Sounds good, Rosey.
Fatespinner, perhaps some of the wizened elders of your people sent you to support the mission. They consider Gilbraith to be a blight on the land and call him a demon. ("After all, many of the vilest demons are homegrown.") How they came to know what Fr Sanville was planning is a bit of a mystery.
Jess, Fr Sanville could be a cleric of Erastil if we want him to be - I left that open. Maybe he sent you?
Moorluck, is your dreamspun sorceress prone to prophetic dreams? Could she be? I see a lot of potential there.
It strikes me that CrimJ and Tordek's characters both have a crusaderish bent and need little motivation to bring down someone lik Gilbraith. And Niel, I don't know that much about your character's motivations.
Anyway, those are some initial thoughts. Feel free to modify - this is about collaboration.
I do have strange dreams, often before I learned that I could hurl "spellfire", I had horrible dreams about being.... in fire...., sort of ON fire, but it was within me.... and sometimes things that happen are much like the dreams I had on recent nights past.
Rocks in the corner of the tavern, knees pulled to her chest.
"Redrumredrumredrumredrum....."
Swapped out Throw Anything for Skill Focus (Perception).
Updated skills - think they're now correct, but tell me if I'm wrong.
Res is ready to go. Can't wait to start.
|
|
I have a houserule I'd like to run by all of you...
In 4e, there is a rule for "passive perception". You figure out your perception roll as if you had "taken 10" on it, and that is noted as your passive perception. If something is sneaking up on you, or anything similar, their skill check is made against your passive perception. That way the GM does not have to ask for a roll and give away that there is something you could be perceiving if you only rolled high enough. How do people feel about using something like that?
|
I have a houserule I'd like to run by all of you...
In 4e, there is a rule for "passive perception". You figure out your perception roll as if you had "taken 10" on it, and that is noted as your passive perception. If something is sneaking up on you, or anything similar, their skill check is made against your passive perception. That way the GM does not have to ask for a roll and give away that there is something you could be perceiving if you only rolled high enough. How do people feel about using something like that?
It makes sense if a player doesn't say they're watching for something. But I think if a player says something like "while they're searching the room I'm watching our backs", then either they should get a roll or you could make it for them (we've all posted our sheets, right?)
Do you need more of a hook for Eliva? More background? Let me know if you need anything.
|
|
Yes, if the character is actively using perception ("I search for traps", "I listen at the door", "I look for any tracks", etc) that will be the player's roll. It's only for the checks they shouldn't know about that I'd like to use the passive score.
Eliva seems to have a pretty good hook since we will connect her to Fr Sanville. She also strikes me as the type of character who can help keep the party together when things become a bit frayed, as, reading between the lines, she seems rather goal-oriented. Does that sound about right?
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
|
I am fine for the use of passive perception rules so long as it applies to bad guys too. As someone who tends to play "sneaky" characters, it would be very aggravating for lucky rolls to beat your stealth check in a scenario which you expect passive perception rolls to be in use.
|
|
Eliva generally works to foster community and cooperation. She was raised in a small rural village, and while her conception was a difficult thing for her mother, her mother and her mother's husband, who she considers her real father, raised her kindly and well, as was their duty. The village and the priest of Erastil in her small village didn't treat her any differently than the fully human children, though she was aware this wouldn't always be the case on visits to larger towns on market day - there she was introduced to the general distrust and sometimes even open hatred that half orcs can receive.
She is a worshipper of Erastil because the close-knit nature of the community where she was raised is fostered by Erastil's teachings, and she realized as she traveled what a special and blessed little place it was.
Her goal in general is encourage that people work together and treat each other well - because neighbors need to stand together against tribulations as simple as a pest infestation or as fearful as invasion by otherworldly creatures. She is distrustful of city folk and nobility - she prefers a village council type of rulership, where all can have their say, and those trusted by the majority to make wise decisions will decide when community agreement can't be reached.
When a community is in trouble, her first desire is to take care of the immediate need - cure an illness, clean a poisoned well, hold off the band of raiders harassing the town - and then she tries to help the community find within itself a way to deal with such troubles in the future.
In this case, a call by a fellow worshipper of Erastil will bring her quickly, but her desire to protect the villagers from the ravages of an evil lord - and help them learn to protect themselves from such mistreatment in the future by standing together - will make her strive to her utmost to do the task set before her.
In a group of people working together, she will generally do what she can to help everyone get along and appreciate each others' contributions.
|
|
I am fine for the use of passive perception rules so long as it applies to bad guys too. As someone who tends to play "sneaky" characters, it would be very aggravating for lucky rolls to beat your stealth check in a scenario which you expect passive perception rolls to be in use.
+1.
I just need to get the buying done, and then fill in her backsrtory, so I should be ready to go when you are.
I'm fine with passive perception.
Angalia is probably as done as she'll ever be.
Erfan really is just a fey in gnome's clothing. Or, well, skin anyway. He actually doesn't wear clothing. He's practically feral, though he adorns himself in natural body paints and carries a spear covered in tribal charms.
He's a trickster and a mischief-maker, but he has a heightened sense for the natural world and what is "right" and "wrong." While he is not good or evil, he opposes the blatantly wicked and unnatural simply because it disrupts balance and harmony. Undead and aberrations are positively revolting to him, as are people who consort with them.
|
|
I have a houserule I'd like to run by all of you...
In 4e, there is a rule for "passive perception". You figure out your perception roll as if you had "taken 10" on it, and that is noted as your passive perception. If something is sneaking up on you, or anything similar, their skill check is made against your passive perception. That way the GM does not have to ask for a roll and give away that there is something you could be perceiving if you only rolled high enough. How do people feel about using something like that?
Good with me.
|
|
Mechanically I’m done (except I think I will change favoured enemy back to 'human', it seems to fit better - he's unlilely to have encountered any undead at this stage). Have had a busy few days and not had the time I had hoped to write up a proper physical description, personality notes and background. Essentially ready to go, but I will try to have these done to some extent before we kick off.
Established a few links with other characters (friends with Angalia, tentative friends with Erfan, probably knows Eliva through the church).
|
|
Mechanically I’m done (except I think I will change favoured enemy back to 'human', it seems to fit better - he's unlilely to have encountered any undead at this stage). Have had a busy few days and not had the time I had hoped to write up a proper physical description, personality notes and background. Essentially ready to go, but I will try to have these done to some extent before we kick off.
Established a few links with other characters (friends with Angalia, tentative friends with Erfan, probably knows Eliva through the church).
Well...even if you haven't encountered any undead, you could create a reason for your character to have disliked them and studied them - even just an interest in local legends of undead could explain the +2 mechanical benefits of favored enemy. :)
|
|
I agree in principle, but I was having a long rambling internal dialogue last night, trying to formulate and pin down Nathaniel’s background and personality, and stuff that came out of that made ‘human’ fit a lot better. The undead enemy fit better with a background story that I have now completely scrapped!
It’s just a pity I haven’t actually managed to get any of these things down on paper ...
Alright, think I'm done.
If anyone wants to review the stats for any glaring errors or omissions, go for it.
|
|
I agree in principle, but I was having a long rambling internal dialogue last night, trying to formulate and pin down Nathaniel’s background and personality, and stuff that came out of that made ‘human’ fit a lot better. The undead enemy fit better with a background story that I have now completely scrapped!
It’s just a pity I haven’t actually managed to get any of these things down on paper ...
There will be plenty of humans to fight, so mechanically it's about equal. If you had wanted to pick dragons or something, then you would be in trouble.
With your permission, I would like to choose one of the alternative racial traits from the APG. Specifically the "Warden of Nature" trait as it fits very nicely with my concept.
Warden of Nature: Gnomes must often protect their homes against unnatural or pestilential infestations. Gnomes with this racial trait get a +2 dodge bonus to AC against aberrations, oozes, and vermin, and a +1 bonus on attack rolls against them because of their special training. This racial trait replaces the defensive training and hatred racial traits.
It would replace the +4 AC vs. giants and the +1 attack vs. reptilians and goblinoids. Since Erfan was not raised in a gnomish community but rather by a coven of druids, I feel that it makes more sense than the "traditional" stereotypes of his race.
|
|
With your permission, I would like to choose one of the alternative racial traits from the APG. Specifically the "Warden of Nature" trait as it fits very nicely with my concept.
Warden of Nature: Gnomes must often protect their homes against unnatural or pestilential infestations. Gnomes with this racial trait get a +2 dodge bonus to AC against aberrations, oozes, and vermin, and a +1 bonus on attack rolls against them because of their special training. This racial trait replaces the defensive training and hatred racial traits.It would replace the +4 AC vs. giants and the +1 attack vs. reptilians and goblinoids. Since Erfan was not raised in a gnomish community but rather by a coven of druids, I feel that it makes more sense than the "traditional" stereotypes of his race.
Sure.
Sure.
Updated.
Passive perception is fine. I'm also OK with you rolling for us as necessary.
I'm following Moorluck's character for a link to the story, so I'm waiting on spending my favored class bonus until I see if there's a skill I need.
Otherwise, I think I'm good to go.
And we're on...
Cool!
And we're on...Cool!
Naked gnome!
|
|
Naked gnome!And we're on...Cool!
The peasants and townsfolk of Ravenloft won't know what to make of you.
It's going to be awesome.
Excellent.
I thought I'd push the dreamer stuff for Tifa, hope you don't mind, Moorluck.
Either entrance is fine, but I've got a Flare Burst to lead off against the goons, if it can be arranged to use it.
hey CH while I have as of yet to have the character up I do have the basics for the background if you could throw in a couple of copper on it and let me know.
|
|
hey CH while I have as of yet to have the character up I do have the basics for the background if you could throw in a couple of copper on it and let me know.
I like what I see. I've got a few questions/ideas I'll ask you offline.
In terms of the immediate plot, do you suppose Thailon encountered Father Sanville in the course of his travels, and agreed to help with the present trouble?
Also, feel free to post in the main thread in character. Right now, they're just planning and roleplaying, and you don't need your stats for that. Obviously, depending on what you encounter, you may need them later.
|
|
I thought I'd push the dreamer stuff for Tifa, hope you don't mind, Moorluck.
Either entrance is fine, but I've got a Flare Burst to lead off against the goons, if it can be arranged to use it.
I don't mind at all.
Tiffa would like to see if the two of them could sweet talk their way in the doors and then take the door for the rest to follow, if you're of a mind.
That was roughly Angalia's idea. She's not averse to violence if it's called for, but she knows she's better at being a little cunning.
|
|
I'm cool to go with this option. But it does potentially put the initial brunt of any retaliation from inside the tower (if the plan doesn't go 100%) on the 'face' group. So did my plan in a way, so I guess no real change there.
To clarify Nathaniel's earlier plan, he did not advocate heading into the tower by seperate entrances, just that each group try one entrance, and each try to gain entry there as they may (knocking, picking the lock, bashing the door down or whatever). Whichever group mananged to open their door first signal the other group, and everyone heads in that way.
My impression of the tower is that it does not have a massive footprint, so there should not be a long delay in getting from one door to another.
But yeah, splitting the party inside? Bad idea.
Hmm, just noticed I put a point in Diplomacy even though I get to use Peform in its place with Versatile Performance starting at 2nd level. If it isn't a problem, I'll switch the point to Bluff.
edit: Also noticed I forgot to spend the human skill point. Corrected by learning Climb, so I can hide in a tree.