Lloyd Jackson's Untitled Campaign

Game Master Lloyd Jackson

Alrighty people. First thing I'd like is for everyone to look over each other's character sheets, and finalize your own if you haven't. If you notice something odd, pm the person about it. It may be an oversight, or I may have given permission for it.

It was suggested that there be two groups to start that are brought together by what brought you here. What do people think? I'd prefer everyone to start together, but if a majority prefer another option, we'll do that. I am a very democratic tyrannical overlord. ^_^

You're point of departure will be from an Azlanti ruin in the River Kingdoms. This won't have much affect on the game, but just so you know where you're coming from.

Dotting in. I definitely have some purchasing to do and I may flesh out his background a bit more. Let me know when you decide upon what we discussed through pm. Glad to be aboard!

Just as a quick run-down to help everyone get acquainted (and also a minor recommendation of how we could all start together in the River Kingdoms, if we so desire):
EDIT:
...
... lower to even it all out...

* Staveon Takehiko (NOTE: made Bey-Rystar by appointment of a noble who "couldn't pay [my] fee", but could pay a visit to a Calistrian temple; click my name for my details; ah well, he was a nice guy after that visit, and I got a fancy title and everything!)

* Therin Baldaril (NOTE: you be from the River Kingdoms! We can be ex-Bloodstone Swords together! Brothers in arms!)
EDIT: Sorry, my linkage was incomplete. Fluff part 1 Fluff part 2 and Final crunch

* Athene (NOTE: you could easily have headed north into the River Kingdoms, almost adjacent to Kyonin as they are, and the River Kingdoms hold both oppression and freedom simultaneously, is an abolitionist region as a whole ("slavers are an abomination"), as well as half-elven communities, something that might appeal to your character's curiosity)

* Saranie, (NOTE: especially being in a Halfling village, would fit perfectly in the River Kingdoms (a well-known land to which Halflings fleeing Cheliax end up, meaning many non-slaves also go there to congregate with other Halflings); there, she would naturally have dealt with bandits (which thrive in the River Kingdoms, especially in certain regions) and would have had plenty of opportunity for the kinds of adventures you describe)

* Pavo Dent (noted up above; you might have headed to the River Kingdoms to escape your past - much like ex-Halfling slaves, many are those leaving their old life behind that end up here through various routes)

So, here's hoping we all get to know each other! I'll read more thoroughly and comment on character sheets soon. As Therin has all the farming we might need, I'll probably drop that from my sheet (if that's okay with you, Therin).

EDIT: two paladins, two rangers (there is some overlap between those), a dexterity fighter and a knife rogue. Nice... but really low on healing and arcane stuff. Hm.

Saranie is from a family of traveling traders, and was born on the road, so she could pretty much have ended up anywhere. I don't have an objection about meeting in the River Kingdoms. I could see her having traveled there over the process of escorting some escaped slaves. (I will, however, need to read up on them.)

I'll spruce up my crunch into a full-on statblock and do my shopping tonight, then take a look at my fellow players' profiles.

I also need to add a physical description block to my profile.

Oh, by the way, DM, question: How particular are you about keeping track of food and ammunition? I've seen some DMs abstract it almost entirely, some just have us spend a little gold now and then, and some having players track it to the individual day of rations.

I'm not a big fan of arrow accountancy myself, I'll confess.

What I mean is that the River Kingdoms are a common place for Halflings to... well... wander. They generally settle because they are attempting to avoid enslavement at the hands of Chelaxians or similar groups, or they just want to settle. And being prone to banditry as well as having villages makes it a natural fit to me - lots of reasons why she could wander across the River Kingdoms (and Galt and Kyonin, actually) and be a traveler while having ties there.

Map of Golarion
Notice: the River Kingdoms touches Galt, Kyonin, Brevoy, Numaria, and Ustalov, as well as Casmeron (the unnamed area to the East). It is the only access to Brevoy (aside from Numeria), and the only country anywhere nearby to border so many places without water (Taldor equals it, and Varisia exceeds it; it even exceeds Cheliax' four). That's a lot of area and reason to be in the River Kingdoms region.

River Kingdoms - there's a lot of information there... really too much to be expected to know. But the short version is that the River Kingdoms are basically a chaotic hodge-podge of differing minor nation states that more or less hold the following tenets to be self-evident and inviolable [and a short explanation of the idea]:

* Say What you Will, I Live Free [freedom of speech]
* Oathbreakers Die [oaths are supreme]
* Walk Any Road, Float Any River [freedom of travel]
* Courts Are for Kings [the common folk aren't adjudicated]
* Slavery Is an Abomination [slavery is never allowed]
* You Have What You Hold [might makes right]

These are slightly bent at times (the Black Marquis actually dares charge for river passage, while Touvette's leader General Cabol Voran is oppressive enough to get the unhappy natives to shut up about their oppression), but over-all these hold true across the various nations.

The power-house of the region is Daggermark - a city wealthy enough to mint its own coin, as well as hold the most influential sway across the board with its twin Assassins Guild and Poisoners Guild (really two halves of the same).

All officially recognized governments are invited to a meeting of the Outlaw Council. Some places are more awesome than others, but the one thing they have in common is that almost every River Kingdom is, effectively, due to outcasts from another society or the failure of an older one it inherited/replaced.

(It's also, to my understanding, where Pathfinder Online is centered.)

EDIT:
I highly recommend Sevenarches, Artume, and Lambreth as potential "home" locales for the less "born into adventure" types (though the last doesn't fit with Saranie's back story at all). Mivon if you want to be all rough-and-tumble, but civilized. Pitax if you want to come from bandits. Galton if you want to be a scion of ex-nobility somewhere back in your family. But mostly Sevenarches and Artume.

EDIT: and I'm probably done here until tonight... if not until tomorrow...

Yes , wondering into the River kingdoms would make perfect sense. It would probably be one of the first places to travel , so it would mean I had only just started travelling.
I will probably add a wand of cure light wounds to my gear and then its done.
I;ll also look at other characters tommorrow as it is nearly time for bed here

By the way, Athene, I've been wondering, why the one level of Divine Hunter? Wouldn't three levels of Ranger be more efficient? It doesn't seem to me like that level of Paladin is doing much for you, outside of giving you Precise Shot, and it doesn't seem to come up in your background at all.

It makes me wonder: When did she develop her religion conviction, which Empyreal Lord does she follow (considering your trait), why did she become a ranger after becoming a paladin (or why did she become a paladin after being a ranger). This facet of your character feels completely unexplored, and as a fellow paladin, I would like to know more about it.

Right now, it's giving me a twinge of the "mechanics at the price of character" the DM warned us about in the character creation guidelines, so I was wondering.

Edit: How are we handling hit points, by the way? The common "Max at first level, roll afterwards, minimum average"?

@Bey-Rystar It makes sense that our characters would gravitate towards each other....soldiers do hang out. Other than that, my character is a young man kinda wandering through the world trying to live up to his mentor's reputation as an adventurer and make his family proud. If he happens to get rich on the way....so be it.

As for character progression, I don't really have a plan set in stone, but would like to keep the frontline fighter with some skills idea. I am also up for suggestions/feedback too....

Full statblock is up with the exception of the HP rolling. Will take a look at everyone's sheets now.

Edit: Oh wait, I need to shop me some arrows before it's officially done; outside of my ammunition and how much gold I have left, everything should be final.

So, I've checked the profiles:

Athene: See my post above with my concerns about your level of Paladin.
Therin: The statblock you've posted to the recruitment thread looks very unpolished; I would encourage you to clean up the formatting, because it's difficult to read and to find specific information in.
Staveon and Pavo: Looks good to me, no complaints here.

Since Saranie mentioned it, everyone please use 1/2hd + 1 for hit points, first level gets full hp as per usual. Would everyone feel comfortable if I put up the first gameplay post sometime tomorrow evening?

K will do tonight....is there a template around?

Doomed Hero and Advanced Doomed Hero I recommend everyone taking a look at these if you haven't before, very useful guides in making the PbP format awesome.

Yeah, DH's guides are very good; I also strongly recommend them.

Bah! Therin, there's no need for fancy titles between brothers in arms! I didn't out-rank you then, and is sure as Abyss don't outrank you now! Well... okay, I might've outranked you a tad, but that's mostly due to seniority privileges! Besides, you didn't stay long enough to earn your promotion! So call me Stavion, not "Lord-Knight" (or, if you prefer in the original language, "Bey-Rystar"). It doesn't mean anything anyway; it was just a fool Breven noble's method of getting out of a debt he owed me for saving his worthless hide from a guild of fairly good fellas from Daggermark. He was an okay guy after he awarded me the title, though he still didn't pay too well.

So "Staveon" it is! And a skilled warrior sounds just like what we need: someone who - pardon me for sounding like a pinch-pants noble - can relate to the "common folk." (I'm too odd, I must say.) I always said you'd leadership potential, son, and I meant it!

And Saranie, I personally liked the dynamic of having (paladin), (paladin/ranger), (ranger) in the party. To me her background justifies most things mechanically, as - being a paladin, unlike a cleric - she doesn't need a patron. That said, the Empyreal thing does require it, so it might behoove us to give the lass a bit-few ideas!

Also, unless otherwise noted, I just added max first level plus average thereafter for my own hp. I'll be glad to change it, I just didn't know how to make it fair! Still need time to update my character, though; changing my skills around, finalizing my story and background. Toddlers - well, I guess, at "two", he's not a "toddler anymore... and wasn't since about twelve months... - take a LOT of time and energy! And iPads aren't conducive to editing anything. :D

EDIT: but I did it anyway! EDIT: Double-edit all the way acroos this thread! Oooooh-yeah, so intense! It... it's starting to look like a triple quintuple ninja!

Oh, I don't mind the dynamics of it at all, sorry if I came off that way. Quite the opposite; I'm quite happy to have a fellow paladin along for the ride. I'd just like to see more about Athene's paladin side.

Looking back at my posts from a bit earlier tonight, I realise that I may have come off as harsher and more abrasive than I intended to with towards Athene and Therin.

Please accept my apologies; it is a tendency I know I have and try to reel in, but which sometimes slips away from me.

Again, I say "bah"! What's a person without a few rough edges! It's what makes us people! :D

Hah! I just read your fine recommendations, "DM Grey" (whatever kind of name is that for a - gah! it's an eyeball... and staring at me? Ah, well, I guess it takes all types...), and they were quite excellent! I shall seek to put those kinds of things into practice at once!

I suspect the biggest hurdle for me will be Walls of Text! I am an expert at casting that spell, regardless of being a martial...

(Also, in case it wasn't clear, Saranie, my above post is just a way of saying, "you're cool".)

EDIT: Also, I realized I have an extra skill point from favored class bonus to consider... and it's added! Will retool the hp now... and maybe use my non-extant ranks of Knowledge (religion) to offer a few suggestions to Athene! :D

EDIT 2: I updated my Crunch category to be more similar to the template, and my hp to be accurate (1/2 HD+1/lvl); suggested Empyreal Lords are going to be later, though, in all likelihood.

So, I ended up with time to look at Empyreal Lords.

Arshea is neutral good (works with a paladin's lawful good) and is explicitly of "Freedom", which would fit with abolitionist tendencies, and just so happens to be one of my own (though, a look at his history should note that it's been pretty exclusively a "with-a-Calistrian" thing, and that's on-purpose in his case).

Andoletta is about security and respect, both of which could be taken as an indictment of slavery.

Little is known of Asteria (and lots of different myths), Cocidius (or related), Duellona (though her myth isn't related), Falayna (no associate myth I can find, either), Radigost (and conflicting real-world basis), Lugus (vaguely associated Greco-Roman real world chaotic/freedom deity), or Tahmineh (no idea why she's the wounded mother; could have something to do with slavery?).

Shei (or Shei Five-Dawns) makes a good, though missing patron (self-actualization is strongly opposed to slavery)

Lythertida could make for a tragic choice.

Eritrice could make for an unconventional choice in how abolitionism is approached.

Though stretching (alignment wise) it's possible (as proven by the River Kingdoms' own Liberthane and Milani!) that a paladin hold a chaotic good deity.
Forgotten ("free, even from memory"), Ogma ("Champion" as in "of the oppressed" maybe?), and Lalaci (pretty antithetical to slavery) are all solid choices for abolitionists.

Khepri (part of the Osirian Pantheon I've never heard of until now) might be strange but good.

I gar-well hope that helps!

Here he is, all formatted up nice-like

Oh, one minor change, I switched gnomish for Varisian for languages....

Hi not respond to any posts as they came in about midnight, I'll try and get a proper reply at lunchtime or if not this evening. I'll try and put something up more about the paladin side. It will not be a Paladin level moving forward it it will be more Paladin levels overall roughly even, at the moment it does look just like a cheap way to pick up precise shot, but honestly that has nothing to do with the design.
I will also look over the suggestions.
Also no offence taken from anyone so no need for any apologies

I've finished purchasing gear and updated my skills a bit. I've also changed to mithral chain shirt and hidden my daggers, so I have updated his description accordingly. Please feel free to look over Pavo, as I believe he is finished.

And someone please take away Staveon's keyboard, :P

Nah. I'm pretty good at not having my Weapon Focus taken away from me.
Of course, if you do succeed, that'll just mean that I'm relegated to the iPad, which does not mean that I'll post less, but that it'll be ugly, often unformatted, and entirely subject to the whims of autocorrect. And nobody wants that! ;D

Looks good, Pavo; you too, Therrin. I forgot to say earlier, Athene, but beyond what I mentioned, your sheet looks good too. Staveon, sheet is still good.

You guys see any issues on my sheet?

Thanks!

Looks good for the most part! I love the way you've organized your uses/day abilities. That's pretty great!

EDIT: This group's theme song? (I've no idea if actual dragons are involved - it just feels right.) :D

You should see what I do when my characters have more abilities.

Once Saranie has spellcasting and Divine Bond, I'll probably make her one of those too. I generally put a link to it in the profile and the mini statblock over posts.

Grr... forum interference again. Let's try this again.

1) spent some money on a sickle
2) nice sheet Saranie; very cool! Also I sent you a PM!
3) and, sorry for skipping it above Pavo, but your sheet looks good!
4) Athene, that's cool: I hope you enjoy/it helps!

EDIT: temporarily fixed persona. :/

Also, I think of Staveon as having a very specific set of skills, for the curious. Adventurers in general, really. :D

EDIT: Okay, at least today, I think the problem was on my end. I think I fixed it. :)

Thanks for pointing out that error, Stavy. I appreciate it. ^^

Hey, it's like my Ma always said, "Let he who is without error cast the first +2 icy burst ghost touch throwing distance returning Animated net - oh, yeah, I've got one, why?" (Ma was always a bit of an odd duck, really).

EDIT: Not that I'm complaining. I got fed alright, I got to see the River Kingdoms, and I was raised with a sword in my hand and dreams in my head. She did alright by me.

Apologies for relative silence lately. First exam of spring today. I'll getting things rolling once I'm finished tonight.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-at?! Real life dare happen?!

(We're just fine; strange, large eyeball-thing!)

By the way, Athane, I've been thinking, and I'd pair down some of the suggestions (dropping nine of them to make it easier) to choose from:

1) Arshea (freedom)
2) Andoletta (respect; the idea of birds works with "soaring sprinter")
3) Cocidius (as with Andoletta, "Hawk Keeper" works with "soaring sprinter")
4) Lugus (a deity of travel and wind - Murcury - is associated with Lugus; this is one of the weaker ones, though)
5) Shei (a deity who is, herself, imprisoned, generating a desire for freedom)
6) Eritrice (works with your diplomacy)
7) Lalaci (again, antithetical to slavery... it could be the basis of your character's idea and the source of her driving need for equity and freedom)

EDIT: Look, I used a library, okay? *grumble* ... the local Calistrian temple has a surprisingly large one... it's not like I'm a nerd or anything... *grumble*

Thanks for the suggestions of the Empyreal lords. I have had a look at all of them and overall for elven culture I think Arshea fits best.
I have expanded the background a bit drawing more attention to religious aspects. Also adjusted gear a bit , apparently I had nothing but weapons and armour that's now changed.
I can't see any issues with any of the other characters.

I am off to visit my brother and his kids tomorrow but should be around at some point in the day

Looks good, Athene.

Glad I could help! Also, except for Therin, we're relatively low on strength in this group on-the-whole - regardless, we're much higher in dexterity. Neat!

It looks good, Athene, though I also PM'd you! Feel free to ignore - it's a friendly suggestion, not a criticism, rebuke, or other negative reaction. And enjoy your family! :D

Also, Pavo, my young friend, you're probably going to have the only Cold Iron in the world, soon.

(That said, this party has enough mithril to... well, uh, I guess we actually only have just enough mithril to give most of us mithril chain, except, of course, for Therin.)

EDIT: for clarity

By the way, I would encourage you meleers to make sure you grab a ranged weapon of some sort, just to be safe. You never know when we'll get attacked by something that flies, and as a divine hunter, I've got an aura that makes people better at shooting.

Indeed! We all have the dexterity for it!

Sic erat scriptum, "Sic transit gloria mundi"!

...

...

... heck, more like "Sic transit mundi!" amirite?!
I'm kind of really excited about this second one happening. Considering that's the plot, depending on how you take it. :D

EDIT: And remember what we were taught in the 'Swords, Therin: Semper ubi sub ubi. It's important to be prepared in case of sic transit mundi, because otherwise that would just be embarrassing, you know? Oh, and I suppose they taught us both semper fi (or, for the completionists 'round here, I suppose "semper fidelis") and sic semper tyrannis (depending, of course, on what you mean by "sic"), but for my money! I'm pretty sure the first one is the most important! considering both Ma and the Bloodstone Swords taught it.

EDIT 2: old Bloodstone Sword chant...

Semper Fi, Do-Or-Die!
Gung-ho, gung-ho, gung-ho! What makes the grass grow?
Ab aeterno: blood, blood, blood! What do we do for a living? Abhinc: kill, kill, kill!
Veni, vidi, vixi, vici^; a mari usque ad mare, et a pedibus usque ad caput!
A posse ad esse! A posse ad esse! A priori et a posteriori! *snicker* - what?! Yes, I'm seven!

^ You religious types might want "Veni, vidi, vixi, deus vicit!" instead, a bene placito.

more old Bloodstone Sword chants...
Though the Freedoms are oft abusu, we cry, "Ab abusu ad usum non valet consequentia, ab antiquo!"
To those we face, we say, "Ab imo pectore accipe hoc!"
To those we fight, we say, "Ad mortem!"
To those who pay, we say, "A bene placido ad multos annos!"
To those who speak, we say, "Acta non verba!"
To those who oppress, we say, "Actus me invito factus non est meus actus, sic ad hominem sic semper tyrannis!"
To those we defeat, we say, "Ad acta!"
To those we honor, we say, "Ad astra acta sanctorum!"
To those who persevere, we say, "Ad augusta per angusta!"
Who will persevere? We will persevere!
Why do we know? A priori et a posteriori! We have heard an we have seen!
Who will persevere? We will persevere!
Those who we face shall fade!

I.... have no idea what you're talking about, Stavy.

You'd think they'd teach us what most of that means considering we repeat it all the time.
EDIT: It's a busillis, really.
I think it means we hit things with a sword* for money.
* Or other weapons. I don't want to be "the prejudiced", you know.
Linguistics isn't a class skill. I do wish I could still edit the above though, for clarity.
Oh Latin puns, you are the best.

All this latin is getting me lost... and now I'm tempted to use slangish canadian french when Saranie is speaking in halfling.

"M'a t'dire, j'vas être ben amusée si quelqu'un ici comprend un mot de c'que j'dis icitte."

Though many say, "Carpe diem!" I say, "Carpe vinem!" (though sometimes I might say "Carpe noctem!")

However, cave casus beli! Quod est in causa mori (No duh, really.)

EDIT: Uh, I certainly didn't accidentally reply to my own thing while trying to edit it or anything due to playing around in the Calistrian library. Nope. That's for sure. This isn't an accidental post at all.
Also, check the link busillis, if you're curious - you can ctl+F to find snippets. If you want, I can translate it all for you guys. :)

I got my shortbow ready to ventilate some flying interlopers and the Dex to use it.

I know some of the Latin Staveon is saying..the rest are escaping my brain right now....weekends really get my brainwaves going haywire....

"M'a t'dire, j'vas être ben amusée si quelqu'un ici comprend un mot de c'que j'dis icitte."

Je ne comprends pas un mot, personellement.

My French is not what it used to be(took it all the way through high school). But I think Saranie is trying to say that she would think it is funny if someone understands what she said .....

My French is not what it used to be(took it all the way through high school). But I think Saranie is trying to say that she would think it is funny if someone understands what she said .....

Google asked me if I meant "M'a te dire, je vais être bien amusée si quelqu'un ici comprend un mot de c'que j'dis icitte", so I said, "yes", and then it told me, "Me tell you, I'll be a lot of fun if anyone here understand a word of what I say around here", so I suspect you're correct. :D EDIT: also, stepping out for a little while... feel free to continue. :D

I said, essentially, "I'll be very amused if someone understands what I said here."

Google couldn't translate it all too well becauseit was written somewhat phonetically, in a thick quebecois accent.

It's what I got out of it, so it worked well enough. Now, of course, I'm suspicious that I'll be required to take ranks of linguistics just to talk to everyone. Oh my aching skill points! :D

Languages are not my thing despite taking 5 years of french and 2 of Latin at school I can communicate in neither.(Some would argue about my skill in English). My talents lie in other fields