Treasurefox's Rise of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master TreasureFox

WOOHOO! Great Job Janis!

It's so nice getting to do a social encounter that doesn't rely on social rolls. They're going to try to murder me though. Mhmm. No jobs. Just murder.

That worked beautifully. I'm really happy with it.

To be clear, I was talking about paying her way out of the Brothel permanently and keeping her for myself... of course that would be dependent on her agreeing.

What would that look like to you? Would you be paying her a lump sum, and she'd accompany you on your adventures? How long would you want her to travel with you?

I can definitely see her doing it. Money, adventure, good sex, risks and high stakes.

Well from Janis point of view currently, it would look like buying her an apartment where she's always available for him, basic kept persons stuff. After all, he doesn't have the knowledge of this adventure path mostly being in the wilderness. He also doesn't see her as being capable of more than a warm wet hole. Of course, now that you've told me she's a rogue, well, I can see them getting closer and becoming partners in crime, as to the lump sum, Kinda. I assume legal brothel would either be she has a contract there, or she's a slave. In the former, it would be buying her out of her contract, in the former, it would be straight out buying her.

Thankfully, slavery isn't legal in Magnimar.

This would definitely be a long conversation between the two of you, which I wouldn't want to fully run in-game. It would take too much time for the back and forth.

The way it works there is that the women pay a monthly fee to the brothel, and essentially conduct their own business. They get certain amenities, such as access to a Calistrian priestess, regular clientele, food and even lodging, and their sisters's support.
I get that Janis doesn't know what adventure he's going to be going on, so the apartment makes sense. It's like the medieval version of a penthouse pet. I get the feeling that it's kind of like putting a bird in a cage. I'm not sure how long the money would win her over before her spirit needs to break free. I'm sure it would depend on what she does during the day. I'm definitely feeling like the more exciting her lifestyle, the happier she is.

She wouldn't be a rogue in quite the same way as you are. She probably wouldn't have trapfinding, for instance. She would be more of a social butterfly with diplomacy, bluff, and excellent rope tying skills. I'm starting to think about her stats and her upbringing.

Of course of course. We could run over the conversation in PM or just skip it in general. As for not being a rogue in the sense I am, I could see Janis cultivating her skills as a project.

I want to be clear what we're talking about here since you mentioned the knot tying, I was talking about the one designed to seem like an innocent little girl, not the one with the room with all the hooks for tying things people up.

Yeah I'll keep thinking on it. I'm pretty sure we can work something out.

And yes I know we're talking about the cute little Chelish girl. She's capable of being quite the brat.
Working in a brothel is kind of like working on a ship.
You learn how to tie knots.

cool cool.

Some random ideas
Phantom Thief Rogue with an interesting background could fit her personality

Or Geisha bard with the Tea ceremony ability replaced by tantric massage

Thanks for the ideas, Wabbit. I'll think on them. Since its a low level NPC follower, I may play around with the abilities.

So, anybody want to play Xcrawl sunday after next? Xcrawl being a semi modern day america where the most popular sport is a blood sport based on the stories of old adventurers as passed down by a talking sword.

Note to self: need to find a scroll of shrink item to add to my spellbook.

Note to self: need to find a scroll of shrink item to add to my spellbook.

Why's that, Andreste?

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Phantom Thief rogue turned out quite well. I've got all her stats and background figured out. Definitely skills based character. Combat skills are about as strong as a level 1 wizard with a dagger.

I just think I'd be better off not walking around Magnimar with this huge pole-arm strapped to my back. If I could get it shrunk down until I need it, that would be more ideal. I know polearms were popular in Thassilon, but they're a bit obvious for city travel. Mostly an ascetic choice, but also good for clandestine meetings.

Well, most people carry it in their hand, thus not making it nearly as awkward. I don't think you need a 3rd level spell for that.

:)

Was that an attempt to speak in thieves cant or a thought Andreste?

Thought bubble. Andreste has linguistic skills and grew up in a poor part of Korvosa, but doesn't likely know much in the way of the cant.

I'm pretty sure forgery is part of linguistics skill, which means she could make a hell of a fake introduction.

True, but you'd need to make know who to make the letter of introduction from. The one the party has is from my previous character Wilhim. A friend and former client of Janis.

I forgot about your poor upbringing. Tell me about how poor your family was. Were they poor enough that they were just barely paying taxes, or were they essentially homeless, starving, and doing everything possible to survive? How old were you when you applied to the Academae? What things had you already done to prove your incredible intelligence and knowledge?
Depending on the answer, I might give you thieves' cant or hobo symbols. They're going to be very situational, and probably won't see much use after we leave Magnimar. I'm also interested in this because generally the reason why poor people don't make good wizards is because they don't have the time or money to get basic education. I'm not a stickler about this because we can all put a rank in linguistics to read and write a new language, but it's something to think about.

Forgery is part of Linguistics.
A letter of introduction would look different depending on the organization or individual. I think it would be reasonable to have asked the Honour Guard for a letter before arriving, but ultimately I don't think this is a big deal.

So poor that they made books out of rocks!

Hey wabbit, is your ac entirely from classes? I don't see any armor on you and was going to break down what Janis was talking about by talking about your gear.

Hey wabbit, is your ac entirely from classes? I don't see any armor on you and was going to break down what Janis was talking about by talking about your gear.

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Fighting Defensively AC 23, touch 23, flat-footed 10 (+1 Crane Style, +1 acrobatics, +2 fighting defensively)

Fighting Defensively w/MAGE ARMOR27, touch23, FF 14

FD w/MAGE ARMOR and RAGE 29, touch 25, FF 14

So is that a yes and you don't actually carry armor?

no armor. all from classes, fighting defensively etc

I do have a pearl of power 1rst that I lend out to our arcane caster so they can cast mage armor on me

Andreste's mother was a midwife and her father a fisher aboard the Long Haul, a mid-sized fishing vessel. The family paid taxes and put food on the table, although more often than not, that food was a share of whatever got rejected at the market.

Her mother taught her letters and anatomy early on, with the young Andreste aiding her mother in her work from an age as early as five. It was, in fact, in this capacity that Andreste first came to the attention of Professor Lila Sorensen of the Academae. Sorensen sponsored Andreste's testing for magical capacity and submission to the school's application process. The testing took all of the family's scant savings, but proved to be the key to Andreste's future.

While she might have been exposed to some rougher elements early in life, her magical studies certainly took up most of her "memorable" upbringing, as she was essentially housed and fed by the Academae after being inducted. She probably had more exposure to criminal folk during her early adventures breaking up the protection racket in her old neighborhood.

Her parents are still alive, her mother continuing her practice and her father now the bosun of the Long Haul.

You are a scary scary min maxer my friend... at least for your ac.

Thanks, Andreste. That's quite well written. The Academae was a huge turn around for you and your family. I'm musing with this new information, seeing if there's anything I can do with it in game.
I don't think thieves' cant or hobo symbols suits your backstory, but it isn't a big deal.

@Janis, I think Wabbit had it even higher once upon a time, then changed a few things around so he could deal a little more damage. I can say that it's a bit difficult at times, when I've got minions that need to crit just to hit him. I can't foresee an event where Wabbit's life is in danger, until we start considering save or die situations, which is something I try to avoid. "Aha! Your dice rolled badly, your punishment is death!"
His weaknesses from what I can see are: He doesn't have ranged capabilities (beyond just a high dex), movement is standard 30, and no evasion. His weapon of choice is very difficult to fit into a narrative, and it requires a lot of gold to improve. This gives me something to work with.

well anyways, it was all for convincing them in game to alter their looks a little. With his dex I can introduce him as our second story man. I'm the Not sure what I could cast Cleo or Andraste as for our little gang. With her transmutation abilities maybe she could be a scout? Cleo I'm unsure of.

Wabbit and Furnok should be really easy to explain. Bacon not so much, Aggah would be really weird just from her race.
Cleo makes for a decent archer. It's funny to say, but Andreste has the muscles to look like a brawler. That, or she's the illusionist or enchanter.

Weapons of war, such as polearms, are a bit suspicious. Heavy armour would be suspicious. Racially, we have three humans (one Chelish, two Varisians), and two halflings. That's very reasonable. The pig, the goblin, and the flying squirrel (hey that could be a tavern name) are harder to explain.
Janis' nobility might raise an eyebrow, but shouldn't be an issue. The Scarnettis have been involved in crime for decades.

Thieves and other gangs tend to use nicknames, or at least aliases. The Gentleman is a great example. Other names can include: Killer, Shadow, Knuckles, Two-Copper, Jolly Jigs (comical, piratey), Big Marco, Crossbow Cornus.
Feminine names depend on the gang, and whether or not she's property. If she's a gang member in her own right, then names like Killer and Shadow are good, as are powerful but feminine names like Medusa, Spiked Vixen, or even She-Wolf Sorceanna. If she's considered property, then names like Kitten, Hot Lips, or anything that sounds like a courtesan name is more likely.

You may not have to prove that you're criminals. People only investigate when they're suspicious.

Yes, but that's the point of changing their look, to make them less suspicious and less likely to question things.

Cleo is suspicious... of everyone...

nope she not, can't even kid about it.

I meant so the Skinsaw cult isn't suspicious

Yes, sir, I was being silly.

Furnok can use his cutlass and short sword mainly. Cleo just needs a crazed look in her eye and she is the unhinged former slave who wants to be set loose on people.

Mad Dog Cleo!

I am ALL for mad dog cleo.

For Andreste, how about "Ink".

I think it's important that I mention that I'm using Ali, Vandra, Shayliss, and Jeaux as a way to tie loose ends into the story. I'm not trying to... destroy the characters of players now gone. I don't have any plans for Helgarr, or M'ara from ages ago. Plans for Brelin are brief, because this part of the adventure was meant to be her character ark.

I am a bit concerned that I've added so many options and clues that it might be overkill. I hope it's added to the story fairly well, but I'll be cautious to introduce anything new.

I didn't think that at all. Just using characters to tell a story, a gruesome murder story :)

I... was mistaken. Cleo only has 736gp. So can she embarrassing recant the 900 and change it to 700.

Ooo that slightly changes things. They'll have to be buried one overtop of another. So Jeaux would be buried 10ft deep, Ali 8ft deep, and Vandra 6ft deep.

Maybe Furnok could loan her 200gp, she'll be good for it!

I do also allow money-lending in my games from NPCs. There are nobles and other establishments who do loans. That being said, bounty hunters (and even worse things) are a thing.

She will borrow if needed.

Maybe bury them vertically so they take up less space both width and lengthwise?

You do happen to know a noble... just saying.

On top of what was mentioned I'll have picked you up cloaks.

On top of what was mentioned I'll have picked you up cloaks.

Yes consider it a "thief's outfit"

The Legend of Sir Bacon

The Legend of Sir Bacon

I kept considering posting that... was always too lazy.