Oniwaban's Strange Aeons

Game Master Oniwaban


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Hello, folks.

As a lifelong fan of HPL and tabletop games, and a person who has been fortunate enough to be included in a few great PbP games here, I'd like to give back, and so I am planning a run-through of the Strange Aeons AP.

A few things I want to get out of the way, up-front:

- I am only planning one run right now, with no more than 5-6 players, not multiple tables. This could change later, but no guarantees there.

- I am currently planning on the following:
feat tax rules, 20 point buy, no 3rd party, core races preferred (but with a sufficiently good character idea, others will be considered), automatic bonus progression (though I am on the fence here and might do some house-ruling), Background Skills, Unchained Classes (except for Summoners, of which I am not a fan), emerging firearms (and I am not flexible about allowing advanced firearms at all, sorry!), and (despite my choice of AP), I am not allowing Occult classes because I don't have the book, and really just can't be arsed to learn them right now.

If any of that makes this sound like not your sort of game, I get it, and I am sure you'll find one to your liking elsewhere.

- Posting - Most of mine will be done during my day (I am in CDT, in the US). I post mainly from work. Sometimes I have more time, sometimes less, but I will always try to post as often as I can. That said, I would like people who can commit to posting something decent at least every other day. Sometimes crap happens, and it will NOT be held against you, but the norm should be no more than 1-2 days between posts. More than that is also fine. I can post on weekends, but it's a bit more sporadic.

- I will not be keeping uber-strict track of XP, and so I will level you when it feels right, or when the AP seems to think you should be. I don't figure that'll matter to anyone, but I mention it up front to avoid any, "Wait, shouldn't we have leveled by now?" posts.

All of that said... still interested? If so, here's what I'd like to see:

- A synopsis of WHO you want to play. Who, not what. I don't mind some discussion of mechanics. I even welcome it. But just seeing, "I'm interested. Drow-blooded/android MoMS Monk 1/Brawler 3/Wizard 5/Arcane Archer X using the variant ruleset that allows me to shoot big boxing-glove tipped arrows which allow me to use my brawler abilites at range since I am technically punching my enemies..." means I will ignore your post. Give me a person, with a story, with feelings, with motivations... even though a good chunk of the story will mean that you can't remember those things about yourself.

- An idea (again, not a detailed 20 level plan) of where you think the character will go as s/he levels.

- A short RP sample. I am seriously big on roleplay, and have no issue with people even engaging in philosophical conversations and the like in game. I don't expect you to write like a pro... I sure as hell don't. But something that shows me that you can put thought into not only who your char is, but what they do and why they do it.

***NOTE***
You'll get bonus points in my head if I can clearly see that you've read the Strange Aeons player's guide and used it to think about your character. Also, I realize that I have to use the Honor System here, but I am giving preference to people who have NOT played this AP before.

I will leave submissions open until Wednesday, 10/31, but I reserve the right to close it earlier if I see a group that I like.

Please do feel free to ask any questions.

Thanks!

P.S. - having thought about it for five seconds, I will allow Catfolk and Ratfolk in addition to core races, simply because cats and rats both seem fittingly Lovecraftian (Cats of Ulthar, Rats in the Walls, Brown Jenkin, etc.)


Dotting this to track. Have a few different ideas I need to decide between (or write up pitches for all of them).

Liberty's Edge

Hello there. I've tried this AP a couple of times, but never got further than a couple of rooms.

I have a few questions:
1) Do I read correctly that we can define our own background, even though we can't remember it? Does that include that we can make up the reason we are locked in the asylum?
2) How would you consider the Elder Mythos Cultist cleric archetype? It seems in tone with the Lovecraftian theme, and it could open interesting interpretation, but I don't know the content of the adventure. On a related note, that archetype would lead to playing a Chaotic Evil alignment: in any case, I'm a team player, I never push it further than some tense words, and I don't plan on being thoughtlessly destructive. As for who to worship, I'm thinking Hastur, Cthulhu or Yog-Sothoth.
3) In case you don't like the above archetype: I have an idea for a drug-using alchemist, but as drugs can be a sensitive subject for personal reasons, I'd like to ask in advance whether you'd prefer keeping them out of the game.


Sapiens wrote:

Hello there. I've tried this AP a couple of times, but never got further than a couple of rooms.

I have a few questions:
1) Do I read correctly that we can define our own background, even though we can't remember it? Does that include that we can make up the reason we are locked in the asylum?
2) How would you consider the Elder Mythos Cultist cleric archetype? It seems in tone with the Lovecraftian theme, and it could open interesting interpretation, but I don't know the content of the adventure. On a related note, that archetype would lead to playing a Chaotic Evil alignment: in any case, I'm a team player, I never push it further than some tense words, and I don't plan on being thoughtlessly destructive. As for who to worship, I'm thinking Hastur, Cthulhu or Yog-Sothoth.
3) In case you don't like the above archetype: I have an idea for a drug-using alchemist, but as drugs can be a sensitive subject for personal reasons, I'd like to ask in advance whether you'd prefer keeping them out of the game.

Hi!

You are free to work out your own background, including how you ended up in the asylum, but I reserve the right to ask you to make changes and work with you on it (though I don't really see that happening).

Unless I misread something with that archetype, it would allow you to play as CN, as well, because all of the Outer Gods and Great Old Ones allow CN worshippers. I'd have to give it some thought, though, because

Spoiler:
part of the plotline of the AP has you working AGAINST them, so why would your cultist do that?

As for the drugs... this is something I would be more inclined to leave to group consensus. I don't have an issue with it, if it is handled maturely (no acting like Shaggy from Scooby-Doo and eating everything in sight, please), but if anyone in the group has an issue with drug use for whatever reason, then I'd ask that that part of the character be excluded.


Dot

Liberty's Edge

Ah, yes, I could be Chaotic Neutral. That can help.

Answer to the spoiler:

I was thinking of three possibilities:
1) He's being used as a pawn in some unspeakable plan, or at least he's convinced of it.
2) He honestly doesn't know/is amnesiac and his patron just doesn't care.
3) He is insane enough that working against them makes sense to his mind.
Or perhaps, once it is revealed who the real foes are, we can work out a solution: I'm thinking either a crisis of faith (changing patron, though that would require some thought about the build) or having me switch sides and fight the party in some way (for instance, becoming an NPC).

As for the drugs, I think that in case I choose to do the alchemist I'll write them clean and then add the addiction problems as a relatively minor aspect if they are chosen and the group agrees.


With that approach, I don't have an issue with the Cultist archetype, or the drug-using alchemist.

Feel free to submit either or both, but no more than two submissions, please.


I have an idea for a Ratfolk Mutation Warrior. I put a post together over the next few days.


Since you're using the Feat Tax rules (which I love!) I had one quick question- classes that are granted bonus feats that no longer have to be taken thanks to said feats being a tax(ex. Unchained Rogues getting Weapon Finesse at first level), are those bonus class feats able to be exchanged for anything else? Weapon Focus maybe? If not, it's not a problem at all, I just wanted total clarification before mocking up a build.


Starting gold?


Chandlore wrote:
Since you're using the Feat Tax rules (which I love!) I had one quick question- classes that are granted bonus feats that no longer have to be taken thanks to said feats being a tax(ex. Unchained Rogues getting Weapon Finesse at first level), are those bonus class feats able to be exchanged for anything else? Weapon Focus maybe? If not, it's not a problem at all, I just wanted total clarification before mocking up a build.

Hm. I am going to say no on this, simply because the first level Unchained Rogue still doesn't have a +1 BAB to qualify for WF. That said, I will allow the other part (+dex to damage w/ one weapon) to begin at first level instead of third to compensate.


DBH wrote:
Starting gold?

Average for class.


Thanks for the response! I was heavily considering going for a build of UnRogue 1/Wizard 3 into Arcane Trickster. I'll have a full submission ready shortly!


Oniwaban wrote:
Chandlore wrote:
Since you're using the Feat Tax rules (which I love!) I had one quick question- classes that are granted bonus feats that no longer have to be taken thanks to said feats being a tax(ex. Unchained Rogues getting Weapon Finesse at first level), are those bonus class feats able to be exchanged for anything else? Weapon Focus maybe? If not, it's not a problem at all, I just wanted total clarification before mocking up a build.
Hm. I am going to say no on this, simply because the first level Unchained Rogue still doesn't have a +1 BAB to qualify for WF. That said, I will allow the other part (+dex to damage w/ one weapon) to begin at first level instead of third to compensate.

The expanded feat tax rules document from the same group of players directs the unchained rogue's finesse bonus be replaced with deft maneuvers, IIRC. Remembering that class feature benefits can be granted without requiring pre-qualification.


hustonj wrote:
Oniwaban wrote:
Chandlore wrote:
Since you're using the Feat Tax rules (which I love!) I had one quick question- classes that are granted bonus feats that no longer have to be taken thanks to said feats being a tax(ex. Unchained Rogues getting Weapon Finesse at first level), are those bonus class feats able to be exchanged for anything else? Weapon Focus maybe? If not, it's not a problem at all, I just wanted total clarification before mocking up a build.
Hm. I am going to say no on this, simply because the first level Unchained Rogue still doesn't have a +1 BAB to qualify for WF. That said, I will allow the other part (+dex to damage w/ one weapon) to begin at first level instead of third to compensate.
The expanded feat tax rules document from the same group of players directs the unchained rogue's finesse bonus be replaced with deft maneuvers, IIRC. Remembering that class feature benefits can be granted without requiring pre-qualification.

Deft Maneuvers would be fine, too. But I am still going to say no on WF.


Chandlore here with my first submission! As I stated before, my plan is to go into the Arcane Trickster PrC, with a focus on spellcasting rather than roguishness. The Arcane Trickster appeals to me as a utility character- you have the skill options of a rogue, with all the niche utility spells of a wizard, allowing you to have a solution to every problem in front of you.

Background:
Cellaich Seocan. Male Human. Age 29. Mixed Varisian and Chelaxian descent.

Born in Nirmathas in the year 4688, Cellaich was raised, like most Nirmathi, in a small unnamed village deep in the southern Fangwood forests of the fledgling nation. The particular village in which he was raised, however, was dealing with Redcaps and other hostile fey more than they were dealing with Molthuni invasions due to their comparative remoteness. This led to the Forest Marshal sending a delegation of Druids from Crystalhurst to help abate these threats. As a child, Cellaich would always try and listen in on the Druids’ discussion of the fey magic, fascinated by the wonderment of it all.

In his teenage years, he was asked by the local hunters to help them deal with some of the redcaps. While tracking them, he became hopelessly lost, eventually finding himself in a glade inhabited by benign fey, a satyr and a dryad, who took pity on the lost lad and helped him return home safely- but not before thoroughly impressing him with a wondrous display of magical ability. This only reaffirmed Cellaich’s desire to take up magic. Alas, he had no ability in his blood, and despite being a sharp wit, had little opportunity for higher education deep in the Fangwoods.

So he, like nearly all Nirmathi lads, spent his youth scraping by, harassing Molthuni patrols at every opportunity. Before he knew it, he was nearing thirty years of age- and he resolved to himself that he would find a way to fulfill his dreams of magical prowess. And so he “borrowed” a small sailboat from a Molthuni fishing village and set off across Lake Encarthan toward Caliphas, Ustalav, hoping to find an academy of wizardry willing to take on a new student.

While inquiring about in Caliphas, he heard rumors of a powerful local Wizard who recently had passed away, and that his spellbook wasn’t included in his will. Said spellbook was rumored to contain exceptional amounts of personal research. Cellaich couldn’t let such an opportunity pass him by, and he swiftly stole into the deceased’s home, grabbed the tome, and left. In his hurry to leave, however, he had failed to swiftly cover his tracks. The very next day, Caliphas guards found him in his inn room, lying naked on the floor and babbling in Aklo, with the spellbook and a puddle of his own blood on the floor with him.

Campaign Ties:

I was planning to use the Polyheira Adherent Wizard archetype, and I thought that its focus on the spellbook would make for a perfect hook into the campaign. I figured that the Wizard Cellaich "acquired" it from had been a powerful Elder Cultist, and that the writings in the spellbook had driven Cellaich (temporarily) mad, giving rise to the events of the campaign and his fugue state. Once he reaches second level (his first wizard level) I was thinking that he would either begin to comprehend it, or simply gain a new book. Whichever one you as the GM would prefer. I'm more than happy to discuss these sorts of plot elements well in advance.

First Level Statblock:

Cellaich Seocan
Male Human Unchained Rogue 1

CG Medium

Init +3; Senses ; Perception +4

DEFENSE
AC 15; Touch 13; Flat-Footed 12
HP 9; Wounds 9; Non-Lethal —

Fort +1 ; Ref +5 ; Will +0
DR —; Immune —; Resist —; SR —

OFFENSE
Speed 30; With Armor 20;
Melee +3 Rapier (1d6+3, 18-20/x2); Piercing; Finesse Training

Melee +3 Dagger (1d4+0, 19-20/x2); Slashing or Piercing; Thrown 10 ft.

Ranged +3 Shortbow (1d6, 20/x3); Piercing;
Spells Known/Prepared

STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 8

Base Atk +0; CMB +0 (+0; +0); CMD 13 (+0; +0)

Feats Weapon Finesse, Precise Shot, Spell Focus (Conjuration)

Skills Acrobatics +7, Appraise +4, Bluff -1, Climb +0, Diplomacy -1, Disable Device +7, Disguise -1, Escape Artist +7, Fly +3, Heal +0, Intimidate -1, Knowledge Arcana +6, Knowledge Nature +6, Knowledge Planes +6, Perception +4, Ride +3, Sense Motive +4, Sleight Of Hand +7, Spellcraft +5, Stealth +7, Survival +0, Swim +0, Use Magic Device +3

Traits Magical Knack (Wizard), Methodical Mind

Languages Common, Varisian, Elven, Aklo, Sylvan, Draconic

Gear Rogue's Kit; Money 26 gp


Dot. I have started this AP, but haven't gone beyond the first few rooms. Will work on coming up with a character.

Are you alright if I leave some holes in my character's memory to reflect the fugue state the player's guide says we start in? I was thinking recent history of three to five years.


Sure, I have no issue with that, at all. It could be quite fun.


I've been wanting to play Strange Aeons for quite a while now, as a huge fan of the horror genre and Lovecraft in particular!

I'm thinking about a Psychic Searcher Oracle with the possessed curse, as that would provide some interesting RP with having a second person in my head, and I'm almost dead set on her being a halfling with the Creepy Doll alternate racial trait, just for the fun of it. Current plan would be for her to be more of a controller, using buffs and debuffs, with less focus on melee.

I know background is kinda up in the air since we'll start in a fugue state, but that sets her up well, as her primary focus would be on finding out who she is and why she is there. As she's not the most hardy character, she'll latch on to anyone who can help protect her physically and then assist them however she can in order to keep figuring things out. I'm thinking of having her take the Dark Tapestry mystery, so she'll get her abilities from an evil deity, but currently she feels like she is a good person. I think that juxtaposition combined with the possessed curse can really cause her to have some moral issues as she progresses. I like the idea of her eventually finding Saranrae if possible throughout the campaign so that she can feel that it's possible to become redeemed as she realizes her past connection to evil and how it does not fit with her new "post-fugue" ideals. As I write this, I wonder if it would be interesting to have her take the Evangelist prestige class if the GM let me go that way with the redemptive spiritual awakening.

Obviously I still have to figure out the crunch, and get this a little more fleshed out. This was intended to be a "dot for interest" post that turned into a bit of me vomiting out a character idea.


Also - based on the start that is mentioned in the Player's Guide, should we completely skip starting gold and equipment? I'm pretty sure that all of our stuff would have been taken away from us when we got put in an asylum.


Mat_H wrote:
Also - based on the start that is mentioned in the Player's Guide, should we completely skip starting gold and equipment? I'm pretty sure that all of our stuff would have been taken away from us when we got put in an asylum.

While other items will be found during the course of the adventure, the guide mentions that gear should be purchased as normal, as you might be able to get it back. Wealth is average for class.


Ah I missed that. Thank you.


Here is Phntm888's submission. I repurposed the character from the aborted attempt at a Strange Aeons PbP I was in - you can see how far I got in the character's posting history, and decide if I got far enough along that you would rather not select me.

Renlo is a secretary and scribe by trade, and his life has mostly been rather ordinary. I feel that, for his character, the Investigator class features, as well as his ability to pick locks, extracts, combat ability, and the Aklo language are part of the five most recent years I'm leaving open for the GM to fill in. He has the knowledge, but he doesn't know why he knows these things or how he learned them. I think it plays nicely with the fugue state we start in, but if you'd prefer I change things, please let me know.

As for advancement, Renlo will most likely be heading Investigator all the way. If we seem to be struggling on the combat front, I may take a dip in Inspired Blade Swashbuckler in order to get the Fencing Grace feat with a rapier faster, but otherwise I'll just let the feats come organically, which would give me Dex to damage around level 5.

RP Sample:

Renlo emptied the cup of water into the orchid he kept on the windowsill of his office in Baron Zevoss’s Caliphas townhouse. One cup, twice a day - that’s what it needs to flourish. That and as much sunshine as it can get. Adjusting its position so the maximum number of leaves could soak in the current patch of sunlight Ustalav was experiencing, he turned back to his desk and took his chair. There were three piles of paper on the desk. The pile furthest to the left was correspondence the baron had received that day, awaiting review and answer if needed. The next over were payment requests from the grocer, the mason he’d hired to fix up the entryway, and from the auction house. The Baron had apparently bought another painting. While he just needed to sign off on those, he always reviewed what they asked for against the recorded expenditures by the other staff. While he didn’t find anyone inherently dishonest, he had never known a merchant who didn’t try to make a few extra coins. Some of the agreements he’d drafted in his previous job had always included little things to gain an extra gold here and a silver there.

The third pile consisted of invitations to parties hosted by various noblemen and merchants. Renlo had already been through them, and thought he knew which ones the Baron would want to attend and would not, but the Baron always wanted to approve all invitations before he had Renlo send a response. Centered in the desk was where Renlo did most of his writing. Arranged just so, at precise measurements to allow for the greatest possible efficiency, were his inkwell, inkpen, blotter, and sand for drying. A candle beneath a spoon for melting wax completed the set. The Baron’s seal was kept locked in a safe, and only taken out when it needed to be used.

For the next hour or so, Renlo went over the invoices and correspondence. There were no problems with the invoices, and most of the correspondence would not require a response. Lady Hilfar had written again, but the baron would want to read and respond to that letter himself. He had just finished everything up when the door to his office opened, and the baron came in. Covering his surprise, Renlo stood, offered the baron a bow and said, ”Good morning, your lordship. To what do I owe the privilege of your visit?”

Baron Zevoss, a man of pale skin, dark hair and dark eyes, with penchant for dressing in deep blues and purples, said, ”I thought I would come see if there was any correspondence of interest. Perhaps a letter from the Lady Hilfar?” It was clear the baron was quite serious about her, although they had not met often. Renlo picked up the letter and said, ”Indeed, sir, she has sent a letter. I have not opened - I thought you would prefer to do so.” Trying to conceal his eagerness, the baron reached out to take the letter. ”Thank you, Renlo. That is precisely what I would like to do. Well, I don’t want to delay your work, so I’ll just be off.”

With a little cough, Renlo said, ”Actually, I’ve finished up with the morning’s work. We have several invitations to go over, as well as some payments. Since you are here, could we perhaps take care of it now?” The baron, though clearly he desired to read Lady Hilfar’s letter, sighed and said, ”Alright, let’s get to it. But quickly, please - I don’t want to take too long with it.” For the next hour he and the baron went over correspondence and invitations, then spent another hour with the baron dictating answers and Renlo writing. Once they were done, the baron left and Renlo saw to sealing and arranging for messengers to deliver the letters. He had just finished up the last one when the Baron’s water clock chimed mid-day. Smiling, he arranged everything on his desk just so and went to take his lunch in the Baron’s garden. After all, a rare sunny day like this shouldn’t be wasted.

I hope the RP Sample gives you what you need.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, PF Special Edition Subscriber

Dotting to submit an idea or two!


Here is Mat_H's submission. All of the crunch is in the profile, I've included the "background" and personality here.

Background:

Lilia doesn't any concrete memories at all from before she awoke in the asylum. She vaguely remembers flashes of her youth in the Palatinates with her peasant family, and of time spent traveling throughout Ustalav with a group of scholars. These disparate parts of her past don't seem to have a connection, and she is unaware of how she transitioned from one to the other. The only common bond between her disjointed memories are a constant feeling of a connection with something greater than herself, and an equally constant whisper in her head which said things that often conflicted with her own remembered beliefs and ideas. She also remembers having once had a good memory, and she often remembers random facts and events as if she had once been an avid reader and researcher. Besides these general concepts, all that she remembers as she awakes is a sense of dread and regret.

Personality:

Lilia is a petite halfling woman with strangely porcelain skin and wide eyes. She is hard to read, as she will at times exude a kind of inner calm, an extreme energy of nervousness, or a mood of overwhelming despair, or a quiet stillness that can't be read at all, with no real pattern of when she switches between them. The one continuous thing is that she is often whispering to herself, almost as if she is having an argument even if there is noone else interacting with her.

She is very perceptive, always watching and listening, trying to be aware of what is going on and what might be coming. She prides herself on her ability to read others' motives and intent. She also is very proud of the speed and quality of her writing, and attempts to keep a journal of her thoughts and impressions, especially of other people.

She tends to shy away from physical confrontations, showing an ability to get people to almost forget that she is there and pay attention to other things. When that does not work with someone who is confronting her, she is quick to step up and get in their face to try and get them to back down, but she will more often than not back down herself if that does not work.

Lilia will attach herself to friendly faces, especially those who seem to have some martial abilities, and attempt to help them in any way possible so that they in turn will hopefully befriend her and protect her. Despite starting off with an almost parasitic desire for protection, once she makes friends she forms strong bonds, showing the loyalty and sense of community that is the only real trait she retains from her halfling upbringing.

Notes for GM:

Lilia's Oracle mystery is the Dark Tapestry, and she recieves her powers from Norgorber, the NE deity of greed, murder, poison, and secrets. This is very much at odds with her generally good personality and ideals, but she is unaware of this (partially because of how Oracles get their powers without requiring worship, and partially because of the loss of memory.) I feel that this fits into her Oracle Curse of Possession, with the second voice in her head pushing her towards Norgorber while she tries to go in a completely opposite direction. This will occasionally create moral issues as she argues with herself and the source of her powers.

If you choose her for this AP and would like to incorporate any of this into her as yet unknown background, it would give her a real opportunity to both come to terms with herself and also maybe to try to find a way to seek redemption, if that fits into the plot in any way at all.

What kind of RP sample would you like? I could do a short story style post, or point you to some of my other character's interactions, or is a well rounded personality write-up sufficient? I have really wanted to play this AP for a while and as such getting you what you want for a submission is pretty important to me.


Lilia Arulo wrote:
What kind of RP sample would you like? I could do a short story style post, or point you to some of my other character's interactions, or is a well rounded personality write-up sufficient? I have really wanted to play this AP for a while and as such getting you what you want for a submission is pretty important to me.

I'm also curious about this- I realized I forgot to include that in my submission and would be happy to provide one if you wanna give some more details!


I'm putting together a character for this. A Lovecraftianesk mythos has been something i've tried to pull into my characters with mixed success in the past, this would be perfect. I have no knowledge of strange aeons beyond the player's guide.

I'll set out my stall now in case I'm well off the mark. I want to write a chosen one paladin of Eritrice. My familiar would be a rat (or some such) found in the asylum. The character was sent too the asylum for the sin of atheism, believing the gods to be the artifice of the ruling classes and priests to be wizards and sorcerors in disguise. Eritrice is drawn to this honesty and search for objective truth and sends an envoy...

I'll flesh out some more backstory and character traits in my final submission but in essence they'll be an disbeleiving everyman who says truth to power. But is otherwise quite normal.


I know you left it up to us as to whether to provide a background or not, but starting in a fugue state as a partial or full amnesiac allows a LOT of leeway so which do you prefer of these three options?
1) I'm happy to leave my background vague and disjointed as it is which leaves it able to be learned/created as we go, but that might put a lot of the work on you as GM to come up with a background for me to learn about.
2) I'm also ok with creating a full background and then separating character knowledge from player knowledge and let her learn things as she goes (I often write loooong backgrounds for my characters so I would have no issue doing this)
3) A mixture of the two, where I would provide an outline of a more complete background but leave it up to you to add details that you can surprise both me and my character with.

A lot of this depends on how involved you want to be in background development as GM, so I'd like your opinion as how you'd prefer to handle it.

Also - I know I posted background/personality/notes to GM in my previous post, but they will be changing a lot until you pick a party, both in terms of detail and grammar (I re-read them and the grammar and formatting was horrible!) so please reference the ones in the profile when it is time to make your selection.


Huh, this one sounds like a very interesting game, indeed!
Never played the AP before - actually I just downloaded the player's guide ^^
And the ruleset is nearly equivalent to my own f2f ruleset, so I very much appreciate that too.
I have to pounder on a concept.
***
Although there is that old, weird dwarf concept lying around deep down in my heap of char concepts.
He is based on one of the most poorly written archetypes ever, but I really love the idea of it ...
@GM: How ... ready ... are you to discuss/make a GM fiat for poor mechanics on flavourful archetypes? If you rather not want to consider it, I'll come up with another character, but I am really interesting to give that old geezer some playtime after all xD

Liberty's Edge

It's a bit of a shame that no 3rd part is being allowed, because there is a class in the Spheres of Power/Spheres of Might system that would work delightfully well with my concept, but anyway here he is: Konrad Schroedersen, former actor. He has a very legitimate reason for being in an asylum, that is a major case of schizophrenia, where real life and tales overlapped. As he is Formerly Mind-Swapped, some visions of his life in Carcosa might actually be real.

Crunch:

Konrad Schroedersen
CN Male Gnome Cleric (Elder Mythos Cultist of Hastur) 1
Init +2; Senses Perception +0 (-2 sight-based) Darkvision 60 ft.

--------------------
Defense
--------------------

AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +4 hide armor, +1 size)
HP 11 (8 + 3)
Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +2 (-2 against mind-affecting, fail on confusion, insanity and nightmare if CL>character level, +2 against death effects, +2 against language- or symbol-based spells and effects, +2 against fear and despair)
--------------------
Offense
--------------------

Speed 20 ft.
Melee +0 BAB, +1 size, +2 Dex
- Touch Attack +3 [1d3-2 Bludgeoning, x2]
- Rapier +3 [1d4-2 Piercing, 18-20/x2]
Ranged
- Ranged Touch Attack +3 [n/a]
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------

Str 6, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 18
Base Atk +0; CMB -1/+1; CMD 11
Favored Class Bonus +1 skill point
Feats
- Feat Taxes
- Selective Channeling
Traits
- Dangerously Curious (UMD as class skill, +1 to UMD)
- Formerly Mind-Swapped (can reroll Knowledge 1/day)
- Planar Savant (Charisma to Knowledge(planes))
- Oblivious (Drawback, -2 Sense Motive, sight-based Perception)
Skills (2 base +1 Int +1 FCB = 3/level)
- Knowledge(arcana) +9 (1 rank, +1 Int, +3 class, +2 profane, +2 racial) [+2 on Elder Mythos]
- Knowledge(planes) +10 (1 rank, +4 Cha, +3 class, +2 profane)
- Spellcraft +5 (1 rank, +1 Int, +3 class)
- Use Magic Device +9 (1 rank, +4 Cha, +3 class, +1 trait)
+1 racial Bluff and Diplomacy, -2 trait Sense Motive and sight-based Perception
Background Skills
- Perform(acting) +8 (1 rank, +4 Cha, +3 class)
- Linguistics +5 (1 rank, +1 Int, +3 class)
Racial Traits
- Academician (+2 Knowledge(arcana))
- Darkvision 60 ft.
- Eternal Hope (A different name for this might be nice) (+2 to saves against fear and despair, 1/day reroll a natural 1)
- Fey Fortitude (+2 to resist death effect)
- Magical Linguist (change racial SLAs, +2 on saves and +1 to DC against language- or symbol-based spells and effects)
SQ Channel the Void (1d6, harm fleshy creatures, Fort DC 14 half, 7/day)
- Racial SLAs: 1/day arcane mark, comprehend languages, message, read magic.
- Domain: Void (Dark Tapestry)
- - It Came From Beyond (1/day, summon advanced creature)
Languages Common, Gnome, Draconic, Aklo
Magic Items --
Scrolls --
Mundane Items Cleric's Kit (a backpack, a bedroll, a belt pouch, candles (10), a cheap holy text, a flint and steel, an iron pot, a mess kit, rope, soap, a spell component pouch, torches (10), trail rations (5 days), a waterskin, and a wooden holy symbol)
Usable Items --
Encumbrance --
Money 19 gp

--------------------
Spells Prepared (3/2+1) CL 1 Save DC 14+level
--------------------

Level 0
- Detect Magic
- Light
- Read Magic
Level 1
- Cure Light Wounds
- Summon Monster I
- Feather Fall (domain)
--------------------


Backstory, Appearance and Personality:

Backstory
Schroedersen's Sensational Spectacles. A few years ago, this thespian troupe was renowned across the Inner Sea. Made up of performers from all around Golarion, they roamed from Varisia to Absalom, and wherever they stopped, it was a carnival. There were acrobats, illusionists, musicians, and the main attraction was in the theatrical acts of Konrad Schroedersen himself and his fellow actors. The troupe's stage plays were exquisite blends of comedy and tragedy, romance and drama, enacted by the talentuous performers. Those who came to hear them kept a lasting memory of the thunderous feelings evoked by the pieces.
Ruin came in the guise of a new addition to the crew, an Osiriani maskmaker and playwright who went by the name of Cassilda. She was charming and delightful, and Konrad found himself more and more drawn to her. Her lore on theatrical acts ran deeper than any, and she had knowledge of obscure, psychedelic works from distant lands. With every performance, the Sensational Spectacles' plays grew more alien, abstract, absurd and delirious. More and more, the actors wore masks, and more and more the audience deserted them. As their popularity waned, the company started to crumble, until it was just Konrad and Cassilda traveling alone, switching characters as well as masks, wearing clothes of a crisp yellow. But what they were playing was no longer a play, and it often felt to them more real than reality itself.
Soon Konrad could no longer distinguish when he was playing a part and when he was living his real life. The masks became his real faces, his true face lost between the masks. What was the point of living the life of a wandering thespian, when there were so many more persons to be? When one could be a king, a hero, or a yithian in distant Carcosa? Lost Carcosa, stranger than the night where black stars rise, and strange moons circle through the skies.
It's uncertain how he came to be closed into that Ustalavian asylum. Some say that, in his folly, he re-enacted a murder mystery by killing a real person, some say that he broke into a library, frantically erasing all names from every play they had and replacing them with "Konrad" and "Cassilda". Whatever the reason, what is certain is the name of the last play that he and the Osiriani woman, who couldn't be found, enacted.
It was called The King in Yellow.

Appearance
Looking unhinged even by gnomish standards is no small feat, but Konrad manages it. Apparently, every part of his clothing has been taken from elaborate, beautiful and decadent stage costumed and fashioned into a patchwork colored in different shades of yellow, from vibrant saffron to washed-out cream. His ash blond hair hasn't seen a comb in weeks, possibly months. He gives the impression of a person of some distinction having gone through a rapid decadence, and his eyes are awake and feverish, ever moving, following thoughts or figments.
Often, he will wear masks, switching according to his mood at the moment.

Personality
Rather than excitable as gnomes often are, Konrad is constantly in a status of intense focus, although his concentration can easily switch to unrelated things. When something catches his attention, it is undivided and total, but if a foreign thought enters his mind, he's likely to just drop what he was doing.
He's not an especially good person, doesn't see the purpose in helping others for the sake of it, but he understands the advantage that comes from working together others and being trusted.
Konrad is prone to manic delusions of grandeur, where he starts speaking in quotes from obscure plays, or even making up verses as he goes, or switching to a complete different character for a short while.
His primary motivator is to create a grandiose story out of his life, one worth recording and re-enacting for posterity. He doesn't necessarily want to be famous himself, but he wants to make his life and adventures into a work of art, being as monumental and dramatic as the great characters are.


Build idea:

I plan on going full Cleric, and grabbing the Bard Variant Multiclass if allowed. He'll be a casting cleric first and foremost, but can work as a meatshield of sorts if needed.

RP Sample:

"Konrad, I'm leaving."
The gnome turned around, a black, feathered raven-like mask on his face, black eyes peeking from behind. His voice was slightly trembling, like he had a fever.
"Are you now, Maryam. Are you going to look for riches. A better-paying gig. A theater that doesn't wander on wagons. Maybe a wealthy patron, who you will entertain in a dance hall during the evening, and in a feathery bed at night? If that is the mask you choose to wear, I won't stop you."
"Why is it always masks with you now, Konrad? And why are you being such a... such a ****? I remember three or four years ago! we were famous! People liked us! And we were playing the best works of the greatest playwright in Golarion! And now we are only doing these absurd, unlikely things about this... Carcosa! Whatever it is! I've played parts in seven different pieces and I still have no idea what it's all about! It feels like a nightmare you can't wake from and- would you take off that mask when I'm talking to you?"
Konrad looked up at the beautiful Varisian woman, clad in the colourful clothing of her land. Not enough yellow. Then he took off the raven mask and immediately replaced it with another, a somber grey owl.
"I'm not wearing a mask, Maryam. You are."
"I'm-"
"Oh, but you are. With your name, your harrow cards, your love for carrots, your kapenia that hides razor blades, and your dancing in many colors! That is your mask, the role you want to show outwards! Who you are is unknown, to you and anyone, and as you see yourself is but a reflection of that mask. But not me. I have seen my nature, I have opened my eyes. I look how I look to show who I am at a time. By putting on a mask, I shed the mask that is Konrad Schroedersen, and become who talks to you."
"You are insane, Konrad!"
"That is how you call it. But that only means that I have seen. This world is naught but a story, and we are but characters, written by an uncertain hand. I have just chosen to be my own character, through layers of dreams. And those who watch us in the light of distant stars may just enjoy my play."
Her eyes filled with bitter, angry tears, Maryam stormed off into the warm evening, never to return.
"Exit stage left." were Konrad's only words, before heading to read Cassilda's new play.


To answer the folks who asked about RP samples, I'd like something simple... could be a snippet of the character's thought process, or an example of them in conversation with someone... doesn't have to be anything big. I would just prefer to know that I can count on you for more than "I stab the guy. *diceroll*"

@sapiens - The reasoning for that is... well, for example, I've never even heard of the products you referenced. And I have neither the time nor the inclination to track them down and learn them before running. Also, I would strongly prefer to avoid VMC, but if you give me an idea of what you're thinking we can talk about it.

@swordwhale - We can talk through your idea, and I'll let you know how I feel about it. Feel free to PM me, or post it here if you'd like.

@lilia - I lean more towards a hybrid of options 2/3. We'll work it out. I always hesitate a bit in situations like this, because I don't want to fill in the holes by saying, "You learned X, Y, and Z, because you are... The Half-Pint Killer, who tormented Carrion Hill and murdered 35 innocent people over a three-year span!" only to have you be all, "But... I don't want to be a serial killer." :D

@louxman - Sounds good. Pitch it and let's see what happens.

@renlo - No issue here, except one that I will point out below...

Concerning the Aklo language (and this is to everyone, whether you've submitted yet, or not): The player's guide mentions it as being useful, but also specifically states that there needs to be strong justification for beginning characters to know the language of aberrations and dark fey. And it seems that the justification I am seeing so far is, "Well, he's got no memories of how he knows it." Going forward, I would prefer that that stop, if only because I think some of the fun of the AP will be lost if we end up with an entire party of Aklo-speakers. So, regardless of what other holes are left in memories, etc. I would like speaking that language to be justified by something in your character's past. Otherwise, there's always 'Comprehend Languages' etc. Thanks!


Oniwaban wrote:
only to have you be all, "But... I don't want to be a serial killer." :D.

But...but...I'd love to find out I was a serial killer, that sounds like so much fun! That would give me so much more reason to have Lilia try to find a way to find redemption :D. If it's OK I'll leave what I have for now and if I'm selected I'll get with you and flesh out a more complete background.

I also had almost taken Aklo originally. Now I'm glad I switched that to abyssal since I felt it worked more with her Oracle mystery lol

For my writing sample, I decided to just go with the short information in the Player's Guide under "Coming Together" that gives a couple sentences about how the AP starts. This would be Lilia's first post if she had to start the gameplay thread with only the little information given there. It also serves as a bit of an introduction to some of her "quirks".

Starting Off:

Slowly coming back to consciousness, Lilia looked around groggily.
Where am I? This isn't ... wait ... where was I? I'm not even sure where this isn't, let alone where it is..
She somehow knew she was far from the Palatinates.
Huh, the Palatinates? I haven't been there since I was a girl. Was that what I was just dreaming about?
As she came more to her senses, she noticed a couple other people also coming to, and pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind, concentrating on what was going on.

"Hello? Does anyone know what's going on? Where are we?"
She felt a strange kind of connection to these people, but she couldn't for the life of her remember who they were. "Are you guys ok?"

She began shaking her head and mumbling. "No! I think they are my friends...I won't do that...Let them wake up and speak before you condemn them...I can't do that!" Shaking her head more vigorously, she staggered into a corner and sat down, waiting for the others to awaken. As she watched, a noise from the other side of the room attracted her attention. She looked over and immediately started to withdraw into herself, becoming completely motionless. Even her eyes seemed to lose their light and just become like glass.


Since you did mention we could do two submissions, I'm also working up a Witch (Ashiftah archetype). She similar to Lilia in terms of group role but this way I can have a battlefield controller/healer and a debuff/damage caster in the running depending on which fits the party's needs more. Both are support but one is more heals and one is more offensive.

I had a question about traits. I like to have some built in flaws when possible, and if they have mechanics it's more fun than just RP. Lilia already has one mechanically with her curse. Are we allowed to take a drawback in exchange for a 3rd trait? That way I could give the witch a mechanical flaw as well.


Lilia Arulo wrote:

Since you did mention we could do two submissions, I'm also working up a Witch (Ashiftah archetype). She similar to Lilia in terms of group role but this way I can have a battlefield controller/healer and a debuff/damage caster in the running depending on which fits the party's needs more. Both are support but one is more heals and one is more offensive.

I had a question about traits. I like to have some built in flaws when possible, and if they have mechanics it's more fun than just RP. Lilia already has one mechanically with her curse. Are we allowed to take a drawback in exchange for a 3rd trait? That way I could give the witch a mechanical flaw as well.

I should have clarified this somewhere other than the discussion tab (oops!): I am allowing three traits. One must be from the campaign, then you can have two others. As such, while you are welcome to choose disadvantages, there will not be additional traits awarded for them.


Oniwaban wrote:
Concerning the Aklo language (and this is to everyone, whether you've submitted yet, or not): The player's guide mentions it as being useful, but also specifically states that there needs to be strong justification for beginning characters to know the language of aberrations and dark fey. And it seems that the justification I am seeing so far is, "Well, he's got no memories of how he knows it." Going forward, I would prefer that that stop, if only because I think some of the fun of the AP will be lost if we end up with an entire party of Aklo-speakers. So, regardless of what other holes are left in memories, etc. I would like speaking that language to be justified by something in your character's...

In my background, I made note of the fact that he was often dealing with the dark fey in the Fangwood; if that's not satisfactory, though, I'll swap out Aklo for another language.


@gm: sent you a PM. Afaik the pm notifier is broken arm, so consider this this as your notifier ;-)

Liberty's Edge

Oh, I didn't mean to whine about the 3rd party content, and I can totally get behind not wanting to learn a large system such as Spheres. It was just that I kept thinking about that class (sort of a vigilante-bard hybrid) and how it would fit with Konrad's masks theme.

For VMC, as he's a performer, I thought it would be fitting for him to learn bardic performances. But it's in no way vital for the build, so I can drop it without a problem (and it allows me to pick some nice feats). I placed Perform down as a background skill anyway.

About the background, there can be a huge gap between his descent into madness and the start of the AP, and I'm totally down for big reveals like the serial killer one (KOTOR, anyone?).

As for Aklo, I basically assumed that it was the language that The King in Yellow would be written in. Again, easy to replace.


This definitely interests me and I'll definitely get a backstory and roleplay sample up when I can.

My plan is a female tian xian catfolk atheist wizard.

Plans for the future:
Really this character is one I've used before. (I, unfortunately, don't have the character sheet anymore). But my idea is that this character is actually already a seasoned adventurer and, as an experiment to try and expand her wizardly knowledge, willingly let herself be subjected to the events that caused her to gain amnesia, unaware that it would cause her to turn into a vegetable. (I've read over the books). Of course, just like the rest of the party, she doesn't remember this. If this isn't acceptable I can come up with something else, of course, or just have this be her first adventure. And any and all feedback is always appreciated.


@GM: Okay, that’s fine. I’ll swap Aklo out for something else a little less obscure, that would make sense - Elven, perhaps.


Here is Mat_H's 2nd submission. All the crunch and info is in the profile, but here is the background/personality/etc for easy reference.

As with Lilia I'll be tweaking this on and off until submission time.

Background:

Amestri al-Naadhira Batgali (Amestri, daughter of Naadhira of the Batgali tribe) was born of merchant stock in Qadira. Her parents hoped to improve their standing and join a merchant house through her, and as such were very interested in increasing her prestige. As all Qadirans are conscripted for military service, they decided that they would have her trained in arcane arts so that she could join the Ashiftah, or "Battle Witches".

The Ashiftah are one of the most feared portions of Qadira's armies, veiled women who drift through the battlefield like phantoms in the mist, calling down curses and misfortune on their enemies while remaining untouched. Having a daughter that joined the Ashiftah would be a great honor for the family and the tribe.

As she came closer to the age of conscription, Amestri had shown no talent for the arcane arts of the Ashiftah, no matter how much training her parents obtained for her. Out of desperation, her mother made a pact with a daemon on her behalf, which resulted in giving her the necessary power and skill, but came with a price.

Amestri's soul is held forfeit, and in order to be able to continue to utilize her powers she not only needs to remain veiled like all Ashiftah, but she must harm herself in a blood sacrifice every morning and use that blood to decorate her veil. Although she successfully joined the Ashiftah and obtained honor for her excellence in battle, the daemon's price was too difficult to hide. A high ranking member of the guard became suspicious of her odd behavior and learned of her pact, which was in opposition to the official religion of Qadira. As the nation follows Saranrae, the goddess of redemption, she was kicked out of the Ashiftah and exiled until such a time as she could be redemption from her pact. Her family was stripped of what status they had and became peasants for their actions in damning their daughter.

Now Amestri awakens in a strange room with people that she feels a vague connection to, with no memory at all of what has transpired in the 9 years since her exile. Her mind is a complete blank when it comes to that time, and the only thing that she can infer is that she must have travelled extensively as for some reason she seems to speak and understand many more languages than just the Taldane and Kelish of her youth.

Personality, Beliefs, and Appearance:

Amestri is greatly embarrassed of the pact that her mother placed her in, and attempts to hide her morning ritual of cutting herself, but is unwilling to stop doing it as she would feel completely lost and useless without her Ashiftah skills. Realizing that the wounds might be able to be hidden but the blood on her veil can not, if confronted she will fake having a compulsive mental issue, as in her mind being insane is less embarrasing than admitting what her mother did to her.

Not knowing what happened to her in the last 9 years, she does realize that her daemonic pact is still intact, and she desires nothing more than finding redemption through Saranrae. This has obsessed her to a point where although she will still fight like a desert demon, she will do her best to convert opponents before fighting, and stabilize fallen opponents so that they have more time available to repent. Only if she is completely sure they are never going to change their ways will she give them redemption through death.

In her day to day interactions, Amestri is almost formally polite. She is friendly and well mannered, and does not try to rock the boat unless absolutely necessary. She relies on her manners, and lets others take the front when it comes to diplomatic situations. When politeness will not fix an issue, she will try intimidation. If even that does not work she will become the "battle witch" she was trained to be.

Her veil is not only her uniform as an Ashiftah, it is the source of her powers as a witch, and she was raised in a culture where seeing the face of an Ashiftah was believed to bring misfortune. She will do anything possible to never bare her face, even to opponents, and if her veil is torn or lost she will manufacture another immediately out of whatever material she can find.

For those of us with two submissions would you like two RP samples? If so I'm happy to do another but might not be able to post it until this weekend.


No, one RP sample per player is fine, but thanks!


I did some background and personality for this one, but I forgot to include your other request of a plan for the future.

I'm planning on adding more to her background during the first 4-5 years after her exile from Qadira, but still leaving the last few years before the asylum completely open and able to be figured out as we go. I just have to figure out a good story where she ended up doing some pretty unpleasant things, some by accident, some to survive. This will lead her to have additional moral issues besides just her daemonic pact. She'll try to get more in touch with Saranrae for redemption as she grows, and I'm about 90% sure she'll take the Evangelist PrC as she levels.

Basically I took the idea I had for Lilia and redemption and built a new character around it where the class fluff works much better with the concept. It kind of felt stapled on to the oracle, so I'm going to probably come up with a new plan for Lilia that works better for her.

I also sent you a DM about them, in case notifications still aren't working.


I'm toying around with an idea inspired by Dark Matter: an anti-paladin wakes up with amnesia and pursues a different path. The problem with the idea is that the mechanics for an ex-anti-paladin are rather harsh. Taking what would essentially be an NPC level equivalent is probably too severe of a drawback. Any thoughts on how to balance that out?


So here's a Brawler submission. It seems much more reasonable than Monk for the setting, but we all want to be the one who punches out Cthulhu in the final scene, right? *TV Tropes humor check failed*

I'm going with Mutagen Mauler/Turfer who intended to be a Turfer (focused on urban when we get to it at level 3,) but has had the Mutagen Mauler thrust upon her. She was supposed to be the lookout for a simple burglary of an estate in Kavapesta, but was instead framed for killing a magistrate (or whatever official might make sense.) After fleeing the crime scene, bounty hunters had tracked her to the Senir river where she dove in to escape them. One of the only things she remembers before waking up in the cell of the asylum is washing up on shore of the river to an unfamiliar, bearded face. I don't know what happened to her after that, but discovering it should be fun!

Catia will have no particular mythos knowledge, though I'm fairly well versed. I envision sticking with brawler for most of the character progression, using either natural attacks or a waveblade with the outslug style for offense. Catia is less certain of her combat abilities than they actually warrant, though she should grow into herself over time unless traumatic experiences in game lead in another direction.

Her role would be mostly front liner, though she'll have some street level criminal knowledge (without any concrete connections,) to draw on. Figuring out how and why she started using mutagens and who she was before she got here will be a major driving force to start the campaign. I'll be happy to discover that she did just about anything during the time after the river, depending on what's best for the story.

Catia wouldn't describe herself as a good person (she doesn't feel she deserves that label,) but she does want to work for the common good when it doesn't get in the way of anything else in her life. She certainly doesn't view herself as a hero, but rather someone that's been thrust into the current situation. When things go down, I expect that she'll find the inner strength to stand up to the challenge, but we'll see how the story unfolds. Lovecraft's genre tending to push in unexpected directions (at least for the characters,) and all.

If you want an RP example beyond the background in the profile, let me know, and if there are any questions or concerns I'm more than happy to address them!

Thanks for consideration!


OK everything is more completely fleshed out. I left an unknown amount of time open for fugue state but everything prior than that is completely set up. I put a hook or two in there as well in case someone wants to play with them.

I agree with Catia, feel free to throw anything you want at me for during the forgotten period. I've built her story so that she can deal with anything from saving nuns to murdering orphans without destroying the character.

Since I submitted two, I'd like to make Amestri here my primary (preferred) submission. Lilia is more there as a backup in case there is not enough healing available from other submissions.


Renlo has been updated to have Elven as his language instead of Aklo. Reposting the rest of the submission.

Renlo is a secretary and scribe by trade, and his life has mostly been rather ordinary. I feel that, for his character, the Investigator class features, as well as his ability to pick locks, extracts, and combat ability are part of the five most recent years I'm leaving open for the GM to fill in. He has the knowledge, but he doesn't know why he knows these things or how he learned them. I think it plays nicely with the fugue state we start in, but if you'd prefer I change things, please let me know.

As for advancement, Renlo will most likely be heading Investigator all the way. If we seem to be struggling on the combat front, I may take a dip in Inspired Blade Swashbuckler in order to get the Fencing Grace feat with a rapier faster, but otherwise I'll just let the feats come organically, which would give me Dex to damage around level 5.

RP Sample:

Renlo emptied the cup of water into the orchid he kept on the windowsill of his office in Baron Zevoss’s Caliphas townhouse. One cup, twice a day - that’s what it needs to flourish. That and as much sunshine as it can get. Adjusting its position so the maximum number of leaves could soak in the current patch of sunlight Ustalav was experiencing, he turned back to his desk and took his chair. There were three piles of paper on the desk. The pile furthest to the left was correspondence the baron had received that day, awaiting review and answer if needed. The next over were payment requests from the grocer, the mason he’d hired to fix up the entryway, and from the auction house. The Baron had apparently bought another painting. While he just needed to sign off on those, he always reviewed what they asked for against the recorded expenditures by the other staff. While he didn’t find anyone inherently dishonest, he had never known a merchant who didn’t try to make a few extra coins. Some of the agreements he’d drafted in his previous job had always included little things to gain an extra gold here and a silver there.

The third pile consisted of invitations to parties hosted by various noblemen and merchants. Renlo had already been through them, and thought he knew which ones the Baron would want to attend and would not, but the Baron always wanted to approve all invitations before he had Renlo send a response. Centered in the desk was where Renlo did most of his writing. Arranged just so, at precise measurements to allow for the greatest possible efficiency, were his inkwell, inkpen, blotter, and sand for drying. A candle beneath a spoon for melting wax completed the set. The Baron’s seal was kept locked in a safe, and only taken out when it needed to be used.

For the next hour or so, Renlo went over the invoices and correspondence. There were no problems with the invoices, and most of the correspondence would not require a response. Lady Hilfar had written again, but the baron would want to read and respond to that letter himself. He had just finished everything up when the door to his office opened, and the baron came in. Covering his surprise, Renlo stood, offered the baron a bow and said, ”Good morning, your lordship. To what do I owe the privilege of your visit?”

Baron Zevoss, a man of pale skin, dark hair and dark eyes, with penchant for dressing in deep blues and purples, said, ”I thought I would come see if there was any correspondence of interest. Perhaps a letter from the Lady Hilfar?” It was clear the baron was quite serious about her, although they had not met often. Renlo picked up the letter and said, ”Indeed, sir, she has sent a letter. I have not opened - I thought you would prefer to do so.” Trying to conceal his eagerness, the baron reached out to take the letter. ”Thank you, Renlo. That is precisely what I would like to do. Well, I don’t want to delay your work, so I’ll just be off.”

With a little cough, Renlo said, ”Actually, I’ve finished up with the morning’s work. We have several invitations to go over, as well as some payments. Since you are here, could we perhaps take care of it now?” The baron, though clearly he desired to read Lady Hilfar’s letter, sighed and said, ”Alright, let’s get to it. But quickly, please - I don’t want to take too long with it.” For the next hour he and the baron went over correspondence and invitations, then spent another hour with the baron dictating answers and Renlo writing. Once they were done, the baron left and Renlo saw to sealing and arranging for messengers to deliver the letters. He had just finished up the last one when the Baron’s water clock chimed mid-day. Smiling, he arranged everything on his desk just so and went to take his lunch in the Baron’s garden. After all, a rare sunny day like this shouldn’t be wasted.


Renlo Tacksa wrote:
If we seem to be struggling on the combat front, I may take a dip in Inspired Blade Swashbuckler in order to get the Fencing Grace feat with a rapier faster, but otherwise I'll just let the feats come organically, which would give me Dex to damage around level 5.

As a heads-up, Amestri starts off as more of a debuffer and backup healer, but to better fit what an Ashiftah would actually be like in combat she'll be going Evangelist after lvl5. That will give her more weapon proficiencies and HP and a better BAB, so she'll be much more useful in combat as she grows as well. I find it odd that they built a "battle witch" archetype that "drifts like a phantom among the enemy armies" with no improvements to actual martial abilities when compared to the vanilla Witch, so Evangelist should fix that a bit as soon as she's eligible for it. It's good both mechanically AND thematically :)

Silver Crusade

Dotting, tempted to play a Ratfolk since I never have. Don't know what class to pick since I usually go Barbarian or Ranger lol


Here is my Rat Folk Fighter Submission, Please let me know if I am missing anything.


Some fun stuff here, so thanks to you all. I will continue to keep an eye out until the close date. If there are any questions, feel free to ask.

@djpika - I am not sure. I'll give it a look and see what I come up with. Anti-paladins aren't something I have a ton of familiarity with.

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