Tora no Senaka - The Back of the Tiger (Inactive)

Game Master Dreaming Warforged

"Yes, I heard tell that there was a dark temple discovered underneath Sandpoint some years back, with these sorts of creatures wandering the halls. These must be refugees." Izumi's voice is still a little rough, but he able to smile as he says: "After seeing what they've done to my blade, I wouldn't say they have any intelligence whatsoever!" A wide grin settles on Izumi's face after chuckling at his joke. Clearly he is now in high spirits.

How late in the day is it?

"That temple caused a lot of trouble. Many good people died.", Raith grimaces as bad memories wash through his mind, "I hope these are the last two from that trouble. Don't want the evil from that dark place returning."

Raith, Knowledge (local) please.

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Raith has a blank look on his face. He isn't much for thinking after battle.

How late in the day is it?

Though it is hard to see anything through the canopy, you manage to tell it is about an hour before zenith.

I used Pavel's previous survival roll.

Pavel prepares a bonfire (or failing that, a nice hole in the ground) for the grisly trophies, then dusts his hands.
"Okay. Luh'let's go handle these sk'skeletons the goblins were so s'scared of."

You make your way back quite easily. Bear-spirit grumbles somewhat as you reach the river...

Sorin will take his own advice and duck into the hut while still using Detect Magic and see if he can find anything before the group moves on. (Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16) On completion of his foray, he will cast Prestidigitation on himself to clean up.

"Well my friends. Since we don't have those creatures lying in wait for us, I think I may remove my armour for this crossing. It should make it much easier, and it won't take too long if I have some assistance." Izumi waits tentatively to see what the others think, his hand resting on the katana hilt.

Raith helps Pavel lay the dead to rest. He searches the lair for any objects that might be used to tell who the dead were. He moves on with the others.

"I don't know much about putting armor on or taking it off. So you tell me what you need done and I'll do it.", says Raith.

Sorin comes out empty-handed from the hut. You put together the trophies of the eleven victims that were on the wall. Izumi pauses a moment, realizing that he could have been on that wall, and in that heap of skulls...

...

The river flows smoothly, its sounds breaking the heavy silence of the marsh...

Swim checks please, DC 5 if you set a rope like last time. Handle Animal for Bear-spirit.

Izumi shudders at the thought of being included in that grisly collection. An ignoble end for sure. Izumi realizes no one would have ever known what had happenned to him.

"If you could unbuckle here, and here, and here. Thank you Raith." Izumi guides Raith to all the pieces he cannot undo himself, ensuring the pile is neat as he take the armor off. After he is unarmored, Izumi will pack the pieces carefully into his pack and secure the whole thing. It would not do to have pieces of this borrowed set fall into the river. His companions see the clothes under his armor. A plan tunic of white linen and pants to match.

Swim: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Sorin watches Izumi make his way across the river as he packs away his spellbook and scrolls in the waterproof bag. Seeing him safely across, Sorin steps into the cold water and fords it carefully, trying to keep his footing as he works his way along the riverbed.

Swim 1d20 ⇒ 8

His footing slips in the mud along the bed once or twice, but he makes it across without taking a dunking. Once on the other side, Sorin snaps off Prestidigitation on himself and Izumi, causing the dirt and water to shed from their clothes into puddles at their feet. He then continues casting the spell as Pavel, Raith and Garund emerge dripping from the river.

Pavel's crossing manages to be even less graceful than Sorin's, but he manages even while burdened with his armor.
Swim check: 1d20 ⇒ 7

From the opposite bank, he gently beckons the bear cub over- reinforcing Garand's commands to ease the skittish animal across.
Aid Another (Handle Animal): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Garand calls upon the spirits to center himself, and then attempts to coax bear-spirit to cross.

Guidance-assisted Handle Animal check, w/ +2 for Pavel's help. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Edit: Wow, that probably didn't happen...

Guidance-assisted Swim check for bear-spirit 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

He then attempts to Swim across himself, a third time calling upon the spirits for their favor.

Guidance-assisted Swim check for Garand 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

He also casts guidance before each of his companions crosses, to give them a +1 to their Swim check, as well.

Raith asks Izumi if he needs any help carrying his armor across. Helps if he can. Then wades across the river.

Swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Izumi smiles warmly at Raith: "Thank you Raith, but I should manage. All those years in the forge makes this an easy burden."

This time, it seems the companions got the knack of it, and the crossing, though filled with close-call moments, is done safely and efficiently.

You pass the goblin camp and head into the swamp, following the now old tracks left by the goblins' assailants and the transcribed map.

The marsh gets darker and quieter as you move further in. A sense of being observed crawls behind your back and grabs you by the throat.

Pavel, roll survival please (Aid another those who can). Everyone please roll perception.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Survival (+2 vs. getting lost w/compass- not factored in): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Survivial 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Sorry Pavel, no help from Sorin...he is too busy trying to stay out of the mud.

After crossing the river once again, Izumi takes five to put his armor back into place before the group sets out again. While Izumi is in a remarkably good mood, he isn't being terribly attentive.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Aid Another Survival (untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 4
I assume we are no longer fatigued from the first river incident?

With the compass, we have a 13 survival- just 2 short to avoid being lost. Only one person needs to make the aid another check. If it's okay with everyone, I'll make a roll for Garand; it's in the spoiler just in case I'm stepping on toes.

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Survival (or Pavel's roll, whichever) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Perception 1d20+3

Survival (or Pavel's roll, whichever) 1d20+9

We got the exact same roll! Fate! Extremely mundane fate!

To quote Sheldon: This is one of those examples those unfamiliar with the Law of Large Numbers would call a coincidence! xD

You make good speed considering the difficulty of the trail. You meander through highs and lows, going from wet to very wet. Finally, the trail reaches a structure of great size. At first, you mistake it for the skeleton of a giant elephant, the realize it is instead the remnants of the hull of a great ship. Its rib-like structure rising from the earth in front of you.

Everything is quiet...

As you approach, you have to fight a few rats, but your valour proves too much for the rodents and they make their escape. The hull is singed; the result of a recent fire. As you explore it, you notice empty casks framed by goblin trails. Finally, as you go around the ship, you see a brass plate with characters of Varisian and Minkai origin. It reads:

Kaijutsu Star

Raith stares at the plate, "I imagine this ship ain't where it's suppposed to be."

Izumi examines the wreck and tries to remember anything his father might have mentioned about this.

Knowledge: History: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"R'Reckon so."
Pavel kneels, looking for tracks that might confirm what the captured goblin had told us about.
Survival w/ranger tracking bonus: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
And that's +2 if undead related tracks are around.

"The wreck is probably too recent...it hasn't been swallowed by the forest, so perhaps only a year or two...but it may point back to the origin..." Sorin mutters to himself as he looks at the brass plate on the side of the crushed hull. He rubs his chin in thought as he takes in the line of the craft and its position on the shore.

Knowledge:History 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Not much is left here, and the map should lead you to a second marked location (of three).

"Gettin' cl'close. Luh'let's press on."

Raith nods agreement with Pavel.

"Agreed." says Izumi, his face twisted up in momentary confusion.

"Or if this is Lonjiku Kaijutsu's vessel, then I am severely mistaken as to what the rate of decay of an structure is in the wilderness..."

Survival roll: Do the natural signs indicate that this vessel has been here for 25 years? 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Garand lends his eye to searching for tracks as they approach, to see if any wildlife haunts the area, or if the local wildlife strictly avoids the area (a clue, perhaps, to the presence of undead, or more of these 'sinspawn').

Survival check 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Sorin takes a few moments to re-evaluate his assumption. He notices that most of the planking has all but disappeared, while the bigger logs -the ribs, still stand but were covered with dense moss and foliage, prior to the fire. Now that he takes in the more recent impact of the fire set by the goblins, the timeline seems to make more sense.

Garand only sees animal footprints, though it seems that much bigger ones move around these parts of Brinestump Marsh...

"Hmph. Lead on Pavel."

Sorin turns away from the wreck and follows the group along the trail. Every so often he consults his map or shows Pavel some landmark correlation. Mostly Sorin keeps quiet as they squelch further into the swamp.

"Strange my father never mentioned this to me Sorin. Though, he said he never was much of a sailor." Izumi says, his hand still resting naturally on the hilt of his katana, as though it were the norm.

"I think that we will see what we can find. I think that we may have to ask some pointed questions of Sandpoint's elders and see what turns up. I know that Lonjuku Kaijutsu arrived at Sandpoint as one of the very few, or only...I don't remeber which, survivor of some sort of catastrophy at sea. It does appear that the ship we just left is from that time period, and may be related to the same disaster...or the ship could just have a similar sounding name. Further investigation is certainly warranted."

Pavel takes point again, focusing on orienteering and keeping an eye out for any more threats from the Marsh.
Survival w/compass to stay on course: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"I'll have something other than the weather and her pretty face to talk with Ameiko about when we get back.", says Raith. "Knowing her she'll want to come out with us and take a look about."

Pavel responds without looking up from his compass or Sorin's map.
"J'Just get to her before Izumi does. The way his s'stories go, he'll have fuh'found it single-handedly while fuh'fending off a horde of Bruh'Brinestump Horrors. Wuh'with his weak hand."

The marsh grows darker and quieter as you make your way. You are often stopped by the raising of Pavel's hand, or a brief rustle around you, but it seems the marsh is not interested in you, yet...

You approach what appears at first to be a strange tangle of branches. You realize it is in fact the moss-covered ribs of a wrecked ship. The ruined ship lies on its side, split down the middle and mostly sunken into the mud and murky water.

"Two of th'three. Just a luh'little further. Stay sh'sharp.", Pavel says as he pulls the boggard cudgel from his belt.
Survival w/compass- staying on course: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"Glad you know where we're going because I sure as hell don't", says Raith.

As they pass by the second wrecked ship, Izumi ponders the local area.

Is the marsh below sea-level? Izumi's wondering how these ships got so far inland. No Knowledge (Geography) ranks though.

"Pavel, yet again I am glad to see that my faith in your navigational skills is borne out. How are we doing on sunlight? Do I have enough time to poke my head inside the wreck for a moment? I want to see if I can find the nameplate. If you think that we should press on, I am fine with that...I imagine that the wreck is not going anywhere quickly.", Sorin grins at his little jest.

Congratulations to the players who've made it. I must say that you're writing truly humbled me. I feel a great privilege to work with you in creating this epic tale.

First, some of you didn't pick a craft or profession linked with your described occupation in Sandpoint. Please adjust your sheet accordingly.

We'll also make sure that most knowledges are covered. Same goes for language, but mostly, I'd like to make sure Ulfen and Goblinoid are covered. If that's not possible, there will be ways around it. I personally don't like Common as a concept and, if all are on board, we'll dump it, allowing you an extra language, but also removing the possibility to always have a language in common.

I'll edit the post as my final selection is made.

I added Profession (Stable Master) to his skills, dropping swim, in case Handle Animal doesn't cover that well enough.

I believe Izumi's character sheet is complete, but please let me know if there's anything I missed, if something needs to be updated, or any other problems.

I look forward to playing this with you guys.

As far as the common thing goes: The reason why common is what it is is largely due to the Taldan empire (as Common is Taldan). If we are to drop the 'common' tongue, I assume Taldan would replace it, and simply be far less widespread (being spoken mostly by folks right along the inner sea)?

I added Profession (Stable Master) to his skills, dropping swim, in case Handle Animal doesn't cover that well enough.

That's perfect.

Woo, made it in! Thanks!

I tried so hard to make Garand work as a Nature Oracle, but, wow, the reduced saves, different ability focus (more Cha, less Wis) and loss of the bow kinda slew me. So, Druid he is and always shall be.

I really loved the flavor of the Natural Divination revelation, so I might just make Garand into haruspicy as a flavor thing, even if it gives him no bonus.

From a meta-perspective, it's probably for the best that he didn't go Nature Oracle, since having a high-Cha character in a party of average-Cha characters could mess with the relationship mechanics.

.

Sorin as an Abjurer is neat. I bet that ability to swap Fire Resistance to Cold Resistance is gonna come in handy, at some point!

Campaign Trait-wise, we've got;
Maddigan - Raith (H hungry ghost Monk, Childhood Crush (Ameiko))

ZetaGilgamesh - Sorin Salward (1/2E abjurer Wizard, Caravan Guard (Sandru))

FireclawDrake - Izumi Chosokate (H Cavalier, Childhood Crush (Ameiko))

James Keegan - Pavel (H Ranger, Caravan Guard (Sandru))

Set - Garand Stone-of-the-Moon (H bear shaman Druid, TBA)

Ameiko's milkshake has all the boys coming to her yard, it seems, and we've also got a pair of Caravan Guards whose primary relationship tie will be to Sandru.

My three preferred options were; Childhood Crush (Sandru), Rescued (Kora) and Student Survivalist (Shalelu). Sandru's already gonna have two people with relationship ties to him, through Caravan Guard, and I was a little uncertain as to whether I was up for role-playing a same-sex attraction anyway. Plus it could get a bit yakkety-sax if three of the five of us had Childhood Crushes... We've got no other healer, so Rescued (Kora), which gives a smidge of extra healing, probably makes the most sense, party-wise. Poor Shalelu. She's the NPC that nobody invites to the prom!

Yeah, true. I could switch to a Shalelu trait that makes sense, too so that we have everyone covered- it's weird, but she seemed popular with everyone else that applied, so I thought I'd go for Sandru.

Nice. I made it. Thanks for the chance.

I'll have everything complete and ready with a new alias with the proper name ready to go shortly. I don't like to create an alias unless I'm sure I'll use it because the board doesn't allow you to erase them. I'm so glad you picked a reasonable number of characters. Another good sign.

So I'm going to assume our version of common is the local language common to Sandpoint. I think it is Varisian? I get to take one other language even though I lack an intelligence bonus. Think I might go with goblin. Sort of fits he would learn the language of the enemy he hates the most. And they're local, since he hasn't traveled much. Even though common does make life easy, I do like the feel of not having a common language. English is the real world's common, but everyone does not speak it everywhere you go.

Here is Raith for you to look over. I think everything is done. His Handyman Toolbox I purchased for the same price as Artisan's Tools. Figure they are the standard items you would find in a toolbox for making minor repairs.

Raith speaks Varisian as his base language. Gave him goblin as the language for losing common. Figured he learned some from the locals so he would know when he was fighting them. He has a real hatred of goblins, even if they're friendly.

The shurikens he carries are a real basic design he asked the local blacksmith to make. Not the shuriken of the east, but they do the job.

Raith: sheet looks good.

One thing about language (I wasn't clear enough) is that I meant you could replace Common with a native language, like Varisian. I meant you don't have to know Taldan/Common.

That way, you can have an extra language if you already had to take a native language, but if you had only Common (you had no extra), it doesn't help.

That means Raith, for example, could have Taldan or Varisian instead of Common, but that doesn't give him an extra language.

Set: I think the link with Koya makes more sense, for all the reasons you've mentioned.

Let me know when you've updated your background to reflect this. When I read it, it was harder for me to get a sense of how Garand is related to the town and its people on a daily basis.

My three preferred options were; Childhood Crush (Sandru), Rescued (Kora) and Student Survivalist (Shalelu). Sandru's already gonna have two people with relationship ties to him, through Caravan Guard, and I was a little uncertain as to whether I was up for role-playing a same-sex attraction anyway. Plus it could get a bit yakkety-sax if three of the five of us had Childhood Crushes... We've got no other healer, so Rescued (Kora), which gives a smidge of extra healing, probably makes the most sense, party-wise. Poor Shalelu. She's the NPC that nobody invites to the prom!

Posted about this before, but it seems that it got eaten. If we want to have ties to each friendly character, I can switch from a Sandru trait to a Shalelu trait without much alteration.

Set: I think the link with Koya makes more sense, for all the reasons you've mentioned.

Let me know when you've updated your background to reflect this. When I read it, it was harder for me to get a sense of how Garand is related to the town and its people on a daily basis.

Here's the updated final bit of backstory, working Koya and 'Rescued' into it.

After a time in Kaer Maga, which he found a spiritually toxic place, where the people with their many babbling tongues and perverted notions of right and wrong hide their shame from the sky above beneath vast ceilings of stone, he found his way south, serving as guard and guide to a caravan led by a Varisian man, Sandru, that he felt laughed too much to be trusted (an overreaction from his previous experiences in Kaer Maga, where there was a knife behind every smile).

Just as the caravan reached Sandpoint, Goblins attacked, and he found himself caught up in the battle, separated from bear-spirit and confused. He slew one, but another cut his leg with a rusty bit of metal, and he fell to be trampled by a panicking horse. He woke to Koya's chanting, which he clung to like a rope, dragging him from the dark waters of the underworld. Bear-spirit was there, having fared much better, and he recognized Koya as a shaman like his companion, and allowed her to perform her healing magics upon Garand, although he allowed no one else to approach. Garand feels that he owes Koya a life-debt, that will not be easily repaid.

Recovering in Sandpoint, allowed to stay in the then-empty lodgings of Shalelu, he found several people whose stories intrigued him and spoke to his own struggles with family and finding one's place in the world, such as Ameiko, exotic woman from an exotic land, not only without kin, but separated from her own people and their ways by uncounted miles, and wise Koya, who seems to have blossomed at an age where most would wither, excited by the prospect of no longer living the life that had been set down for her, and travelling far, to see instead the wonders of the world. Bold Sandru increasingly turns away from the plans his family have for the future, wishing to chart his own path, and the elf Shalelu has turned away not only from a different culture, but a different people entirely, to live among a race that must, at times, seem alien to her.

He respects and admires Koya, with her youthful soul and hard-won wisdom, and Sandru, whose cheerful demeanor he has come to see is a mask that hides a heart heavy with the weight of his family's expectations, and Shalelu, who takes the world on her own terms, like a proud hunting cat, coming and going as she pleases.

Ameiko remains a mystery to him, and one that has not yet piqued his interest.

Raith: sheet looks good.

One thing about language (I wasn't clear enough) is that I meant you could replace Common with a native language, like Varisian. I meant you don't have to know Taldan/Common.

That way, you can have an extra language if you already had to take a native language, but if you had only Common (you had no extra), it doesn't help.

That means Raith, for example, could have Taldan or Varisian instead of Common, but that doesn't give him an extra language.

As a Varisian human, I received Common and Varisian as my starting tongues. I assumed that you wanted me to replace Common with only Varisian and were allowing me to choose a second language since I lost one language by giving up Common. So do you want me to only have Varisan and simply give up Common? Or is taking Goblin ok as a replacement for the extra language I would have had?

Thanks Set.

Raith: Oops, I wasn't aware of this. I'm from the old way I guess...

So then it's like you said. Your area language replaces Common, you can still take it/Taldan, as it is spoken in many areas (but not so much where you're heading), or pick another, for instance Goblin in Raith's case.

I hope I'm clearer than I think I am...

Please take a look at your different knowledges, in case some fine tuning can be done to cover more obscure ones (it looked pretty good so far, maybe too much geography, but that was expected).

Waiting on Sorin to show up.

Got it. I'll keep Goblin.

I have only Knowledge (Local). Fits with his background. He hasn't been many places. So he mostly knows his own area. He's the kind of guy that likes to know whatever area he goes to, so I'll be building it up as he learns about more areas.

Hopefully Sorin is the high intel sagely geek that knows tons about everything.

Since it makes sense for Garand (as the guide) to have geography, I can swap that for dungeoneering or stick it into swim. Should I switch to a Shalelu trait, DW?

I am here...just a few hours behind ya'll. I am trying to figure out the same language issue. If Taldan=Common, then I covered the regional languages for Cheliax with that and Infernal. I switched undercommon to Varisian, and I plan for Sorin to learn Minkai as soon as it becomes reasonable.

I dumped Perception(ouch) and picked up Profession (scribe) per your request CB.

@the guys: Sorin has Arcana, History, and Geo as his knowledges. Expect to grab Engineering, Planes and religion as time passes.

@Garand, do you want to go high d20 for who keeps the profile pic?

Looks like everyone is in the house. Nice.

Since it makes sense for Garand (as the guide) to have geography, I can swap that for dungeoneering or stick it into swim.

As long as you have at least one knowledge.

Should I switch to a Shalelu trait, DW?

If you feel it works, then by all means.

I will try to post the opening tonight (within twelve hours). I tend to group combat, so be careful out there. Also, I'm getting you right at the edge of the marsh, and summarize how you got there. This is to get us quickly in the thick of it.

So who knows who from where?

Garand, Izumi, Raith and Pavel are from around here, right? How do you know each other? What's the link with Sorin?

Raith knows Pavel, they might even be friends. I think they are about the same age and probably occasionally run into each other about town. Raith does repair work at the stables or for caravans when they need it. He's somewhat impressed by Pavel's stories and work as a caravan guard. Makes him think about doing as much himself.

Raith knows Izumi from his association with Ameiko. Probably doesn't care for Izumi's relationshiop with Ameiko and considers him a competitor. Though he feels Izumi's got one up on him being a well-traveled man with some fighting skill. Probably a bit envious of Izumi. Given Izumi's charisma, he probably wins a smile or some kind words from Ameiko more often than Raith. Raith probably resents that, though I imagine he fears Izumi a bit.

Raith's probably seen Garand in passing, but doesn't know the man well seeing as they don't speak the same language. Probably gets a polite nod on the occasions they do see each other.

Probably only met Sorin in passing while doing work for people in the caravan or when Sorin might have visited The Rusty Dragon.

Izumi's left Sandpoint behind, so I doubt he had any real friends there. He may be acquainted with the other party members, but I doubt he knows them anymore than having seen them around town.

Celestial,

I made a minor character change. Reduced his charisma to 8 and boosted his intelligence to 12. Added Swim skill. I had to drop Swim for a profession and knowledge skill, so I added it back. Hate having characters without swim. Seems like such a common skill to learn, especially during older times.

Added Tian which which learned from Tsuto during his training and Ameiko while being at the bar with her.

I lowered the charisma to show more of the gruff, quiet personality. Iboosted his intelligence because I picture him being a fairly smart person, even if not particularly educated.

I thought with Pavel and Sorin both being carvan guards for Sandru, Sorin for nearly two years, that they would be well established comrades. Caravans are large, but after a few weeks of traveling on the road, you get to know everyone pretty well...especially after sitting up long nights on watch with nothing to do but talk in an attempt to stay awake.

Between caravan trips Sorin has been acting as an unofficial Sandpoint scribe for whoever needs assistance. Additionally, he spends a lot of time with Brodert Quink, digging through the man's collection of books. He rents a room from Brodert when in Sandpoint. Evenings are spent in the Rusty Dragon, talking to travelers, reading one of Quink's books or doing some writing.

It makes sense that Raith and Sorin are aquianted but not friends/companions.

Izumi's left Sandpoint behind, so I doubt he had any real friends there. He may be acquainted with the other party members, but I doubt he knows them anymore than having seen them around town.

For sure though he knows Raith very well, if only as a rival! If one accepts a mandate to impress Ameiko, the other wouldn't want to be left behind...

I thought with Pavel and Sorin both being carvan guards for Sandru, Sorin for nearly two years, that they would be well established comrades. Caravans are large, but after a few weeks of traveling on the road, you get to know everyone pretty well...especially after sitting up long nights on watch with nothing to do but talk in an attempt to stay awake.

Between caravan trips Sorin has been acting as an unofficial Sandpoint scribe for whoever needs assistance. Additionally, he spends a lot of time with Brodert Quink, digging through the man's collection of books. He rents a room from Brodert when in Sandpoint. Evenings are spent in the Rusty Dragon, talking to travelers, reading one of Quink's books or doing some writing.

It makes sense that Raith and Sorin are aquianted but not friends/companions.

Good points, so Pavel should stay with Sandru. This would be the link for Sorin.

@Garand, do you want to go high d20 for who keeps the profile pic?

I'm not married to this one. Let me rifle through the options and see if I can find another that works for me.

Edit: Found one! And I like this one even better! I must have gotten bored trying to find a suitable one last time...

For sure though he knows Raith very well, if only as a rival! If one accepts a mandate to impress Ameiko, the other wouldn't want to be left behind...

I doubt Izumi thinks too highly of the scholarly Raith. Ameiko is obviously a woman who likes a man of action! Izumi doesn't see Raith as real competition (though that may change).

Switched geography to dungeoneering. I'm good with connections Raith and Sorin have written up. I can take Ulfen in lieu of Common if no one else speaks it- we can say my dad was from the Land of the Linnorm Kings.

Garand speaks Shoanti, Druidic, Elven and Varisian, for now.

He's got Kno-Geography and Kno-Nature covered, but also intends to pick up some ranks in Kno-Religion, eventually.

Sorin speaks Taldan, Infernal, Draconic, Elven and Varisian.

@Garand: Nice profile pic. Its like it was made for your character.

We're on!

I just noticed. Our only source of healing is a druid. That will be a first for me.

Let's do this.

Rangers get some healing - and, more importantly, can use spell completion healing items (such as healing wands).

We're going to have to chip in as a group for a wand or two and be careful. I know Celestial said he likes to run fewer, meaner encounters. That could be rough on us without channel energy. We'll see how we do.

I wanted to start as soon as possible. Don't worry, you can work on your sheet at your own pace.

Regarding taking 10, I don't always like the rules for them. If you're not sure, mention you take 10 if possible, then please roll anyway, if only to save time and a discussion.

Let me know if you're uncomfortable with this.

The dynamics so far are interesting, to say the least. I hope we can harness them into a compelling tale.

I just noticed. Our only source of healing is a druid. That will be a first for me.

Let's do this.

I'm in a Carrion Crown (with James) with no cleric and no druid, only an oracle. It's tough! But it's fun!

I use take 10 because of the number of rolls it takes for climbing if you do otherwise. Normally a climb roll is made for each round of movement. Which could be a lot of rolls on a road. I'll assume because of the nature of PbP, you'll be condensing the number of rolls to speed the process. I'm ok with that.

Just remembering a situation where the climb couldn't even be made with a take 10 for some, took them about 50 rolls to get out of the pit because we had no rope. It got ridiculous. I hope we're better equipped.

I'm thinking marching order:

Pavel (Tracker)
Izumi (Frontline fighter)
Garand and Bear
Sorin
Raith (Rear Guard)

Nope...no rope. We will have to see how this plays out. I think that if we play smartly, we will be ok with only a druid. I think it will be interesting as instead of spontaneous heals, he gets the spontaneous summons, thus he will always have offensive options no matter the underlying spell loadout that he takes.

And I think that you are right on the marching order Raith.

@Celestial. I think that this story will take a while to develop. I think it will get interesting story-wise once we are interacting with the NPCs more. That will allow the Raith/Izumi competition to really get interesting.

Raith Shadar wrote:

I just noticed. Our only source of healing is a druid. That will be a first for me.

Let's do this.

I'm in a Carrion Crown (with James) with no cleric and no druid, only an oracle. It's tough! But it's fun!

Carrion Crown with no Cleric? Madness! :)

Anywho, bear (ha, I slay me) in mind that, unlike an Oracle, with their fancy-schmancy three spells a day at 1st level, a Druid only has the one. Adding in the Wisdom bonus, that's *two* cure light wounds a day. Until we can afford a Healer's Kit (too pricy at 1st level with average wealth), Treat Deadly Wounds via the Heal skill is also not much of an option (DC 24, to get 1 hp back. DC 29 to get 4 hp back.).

So, keep an eye on those hit points fellas! And let's try not to take too much falling damage on our way to the encounter, 'cause I'd hate to enter combat having already used up our healing for the day!

As sole healer, Garand is probably not going to get to prepare an actual druid spell (like entangle or charm animals) for a few levels, until we can get the wand of cure light wounds, etc. going, but I'm used to that from previous experiences playing a druid as sole healer.

Fortunately, Garand has a bear and a bow, so he's functional even without spellcasting. :)

We're also not sure how much access Celestial will allow us to purchase magic items. So we might even be stuck shelling out coin for Sorin to make a bunch of scrolls for Garand. Or buying a bunch of potions. I guess we'll see how he handles that.

I keep picturing one of us screaming chupacabra and running back up the trail the way Celestial has set it up.

Arrrg it's a dead deer RUNNNN

Arrrg it's a dead deer RUNNNN

Haha. Be like the movie Almost Heroes when they saw the squirrel and started blasting away as if their life depended on it. Or Monty Python and the Holy Grail when the rabbit comes out. Though that rabbit was terrifying.

I think Python is more appropriate. In our case we won't even know that it is a "bad thing" until it starts munching on us...just like the Knights of the Round Table.

Raith Shadar wrote:

I just noticed. Our only source of healing is a druid. That will be a first for me.

Let's do this.

I'm in a Carrion Crown (with James) with no cleric and no druid, only an oracle. It's tough! But it's fun!

Well, you know, it's a horror game. How can it be scary if you can just spam out healing or positive energy?

It's working. My "fearless" paladin is not in a good place. He's about to call for his mommy.

Sorin is with Pavel in being oblivious to the rivalry between Izumi and Raith. He just wasn't around to see enough to pick up that something is going on between them.

Not sure Izumi made it too far into the swamp to have useful enough info... Celestial?