GM ShadowLord's Jade Regent - Group 1 (Inactive)

Game Master The Rising Phoenix

"What door? There's just the wall th-... ooooh!" Lor-Sinn snaps their fingers enthusiastically as Kajiwara points out the secret door. "A secret passage! I've never seen one before. How did you figure out it was there? It looks like ordinary wall to me! Did you feel a draft? Oooh, was the dust on the ground disturbed? The stones scuffed? Are there more secret doors in this place?"

Eager to explore this new discovery, the tiefling starts running their fingers across the area of the wall where the alleged secret door is, trying to figure out for themselves where it is.

Moving north through the secret door, you find what may have once been a delightful garden, but now it’s a tangle of weeds surrounding a pool of water choked with thick, slimy green algae.

Perception: 5d20 ⇒ (20, 20, 14, 8, 20) = 82 That's a lot of 20's

Everyone but Lor-Sinn takes note that there is something moving inside of the water just below the surface.

Ruka raises her arm to prevent anyone from moving past her. "There's something there, under the water. Make sure you're ready for whatever it is before we move closer."

Once everyone seems to be in position, she holds Murasamemaru in a ready stance and approaches the pond.

"Oh, is there? I hadn't seen it." Trusting Ruka's keen senses, Lor-Sinn readies an arrow, preparing to engage the creature in the water - should it prove hostile.

Readied attack, PBS: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Do you think there's frogs here? I think I heard once that they like stagnant water. Maybe it's a giant frog. If it is, think what huge legs it must have! We could give them to Poppy, she'd make quite a meal out of that, I bet. Shame she didn't come with us, but I can imagine that exploring haunted castles isn't really what she signed up for." Lor-Sinn sighs. "Now I'm hungry."

Can't ready attacks out of combat. Believe me, not being able to ready out of combat benefits us way more than the GM

Asuka holds her sword out in front of her as she glances about. "A giant frog?! Where?"

Kajiwara draws an arrow and nocks it to his bow, then says, "Ready when you are, Ruka. As to whether or not it is a frog, we will have to see. It doesn't have any way out, so it might be something worse."

A bug, a big bug emerges from the water as you approach and it doesn't look at all like a frog. Ten feet in front of Ruka, a twelve foot long creature with six powerful legs, each ending in a hooked claw, jut from the shieldlike body of this massive insect, moves towards you.

R1: Asuka, Kajiwara, Ruka, Lor-Sinn, Samton, Bug

Lor-Sinn wants to say "Ewwwww", but talking and archery don't go very well together, so the tiefling is content to make a disgusted face for now while the arrow sails towards the giant bug.

Hoping I can use the previous roll, but if not...
Attack, PBS: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Ruka stares at the creature in disbelief for a second. "...I would have preferred the frog."

Her disgust makes it difficult for her to focus, and Murasamemaru swings harmlessly over its head.

Murasamemaru, ST, NL, PA: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 1 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 1 - 1 - 1 = 10
S. Damage, ST, PA: 1d10 + 6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 + 3 = 19

Five foot step closer, Study Target, Attack.

"We can agree not to tell Ms Cotton about this one, right?" a thoroughly disturbed Samton asked over the scuttling of the giant insect and the rushing water it was displacing. "'Cause I don't know what this thing is, but I do know I don't fancy eating it tonight."

Actually, this was rather getting ahead of oneself, the young wizard acknowledged. All that mattered for now was making sure the giant pest didn't eat them. And while he was reconsidering his own words, did he know what the beast was?

Know (nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Whatever it was, he was fairly sure it wouldn't much enjoy acid being spattered in its hideous face. So hoping that it could be scared off without causing anyone any harm, Sam aimed his vial and shot a toxic green dart from it. Hm. Come to think on it, he didn't want to sound ungrateful for Poppy's cooking. Sigh. Maybe one of the legs wouldn't be too bad grilled...

Acid Splash, touch: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 4 = 17
Acid damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Asuka spins around the big bug, her practiced skill at acrobatics the only thing saving her from looking an absolute fool.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

I am assuming the bug is flat-footed since it doesn't appear to have acted yet, but she's going to acrobatics around it anyways in case my assumption is wrong. And also cause she wants to look Cool

She stares down the bug as she uses the momentum of her twirling to slash at it.

"Whirlwind Blade Attack!"

Attack with Cold Iron Katana (flank): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 = 17
Damage (painful stare): 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (6) = 12

Still calling out attacks? Well, I guess she won't really change on that.

Kajiwara lifts his bow and fires one arrow, then quickly draws and fires another.

Flurry, PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 26
Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Flurry, PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8

Confirm?: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 = 23
Critical Damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 8) + 2 = 16

Though Ruka and Lor-Sinn both missed the bug that Samton would later explain was a Belostomatid, Kajiwara's excellent shout coupled with Asuka's whirlwind blade attack left the creature barely alive. Samton's acid splash was just enough to knock the creature out and send it falling back into the ill-kept pond.

Nice job! Out of combat.

Nothing of value seems to be in this former garden, so the party backs out and checks the next door to the right from the secret one. The room is unremarkable and likely was once a storeroom of some kind.

5d20 ⇒ (13, 7, 11, 18, 16) = 65

While searching the room, Kajiwara finds a case of 20 masterwork cold iron arrows and Ruka uncovers a single arrow wrapped in red silk.

Skipping the double doors for now, the next door to the southeast is opened and proves to be another storeroom, but this one is bare and contains nothing of interest.

Double doors east or secret door south?

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"Ooh. Neat." Fresh from tussling with the giant insect, Samton evidently found something to pique his interest in the one silk clad arrow the party came across. "Check this out," he said, boyish face carrying every sign of wizardly - or nerdy - amusement. Flicking the arrowhead with one finger, he transferred the minutest amount of magic power into it. The results were almost explosive. The tip of the arrow immediately burst into surprisingly aggressive flames, burning bright and clear. The old adage of the strongest flame burning out the quickest holding true, however, it petered out just as quickly. And yet the arrow looked no worse for wear, its smooth shaft not even marred by soot.

"It's enchanted," Sam explained. "It will burn even stronger when fired. Ms Imass, Mr Shogahiro? Best for either of you to take it, right?" He held out the arrow.

Secret door first? Seems an unwritten rule of these games to leave the double doors for last. Those are always trouble.

"Whoa! That's amazing! Do you need to put magic into it to work?" Lor-Sinn starts at the sudden burst of flame, but then leans in close to examine the arrow.

"Anyway, I missed my last shot, so maybe best for Kajiwara to take it, as he seems to be the better archer." The tiefling grins at Kajiwara, no trace of envy or rancor in their face or voice.

Kajiwara says, "Very well, then. I will endeavor to use it at the right time. Is the oni vulnerable to fire?"

"Let's check the other secret door before we go through the double doors."

"Agreed." Ruka still feels a bit wrong, but she wants to get through this place as quickly as possible. She does smile slightly in response to Samton's amusement at the flaming arrow. It is a wonderful piece of work, and likely to come in very handy. Otherwise she continues scowling and occasionally rubbing at her temples to ward off a headache.

She'll take her normal place at the front of the group as they go through the secret door.

Sliding the stone door aside to the south, the wall opens up to the outside once again. As the light streams in, you take note of a smaller courtyard that contains what may have once been a fine garden, but neglect has seen the death of the flowers that once grew here. Several broken benches complete the sense of loss. An area in the middle of the old cloister has been cleared of debris, and is marred by numerous bloodstains.

Perception: 2d20 ⇒ (2, 10) = 12

Two malformed humanoids are currently wrestling in the circular area they’ve cleared in the middle of this cloister. Each is a towering specimen, a muscular humanlike figure nearly 7 feet tall and riddled with deformities as well as numerous bruises and wounds. Neither appears to have noticed you as the door opens.

They are 25' and 30' away from Ruka.

Do these look like the same creatures we spotted in the courtyard a while back?

Good memory! Yes, the pair has been wrestling around the courtyard while you're eliminating threats inside :)

Ruka pauses, then backs slowly back into the room. Once the door is shut again, she asks, "Anyone have any idea what those things are before we talk to and/or fight them?"

Asuka's expression darkens as she taps along her beak. She speaks with an uncharacteristic gravity. "They are two rivals, brothers-in-arms from hundreds or even thousands of years ago, who have persisted beyond death out of a desire to finally and without question best each other. They have toiled at every hour of every day these long years, losing their weapons and armor piece-by-piece to damage or decay until they have nothing left but to wrestle each other day-in and day-out for all eternity. Their unmended bruises and cuts have warped them over time into something beyond what they once were. None dare to bother them because even the slightest hint of favor or advantage given to one will be met with brutal violence from both, as a victory means nothing if it was not fair. Should one of them finally prove victorious, shall the other fall dead, a smile on his face? Or shall he wander Golarion in search of even greater foes, challenging all within his path. Perhaps it is better for all of us that neither triumphs until the day Groetus swallows us all."

She brightens instantly, the spell cast off. "That's my idea! How'd you like it?"

Lor-Sinn's mouth drops open at Asuka's tale. "Whoaaaa, really? How do you know all this? What are their names? What are they fighting over?" The tiefling takes another peek through the secret door at the wrestling figures, then retreats. "I wouldn't want to interfere in their contest, so let's leave them alone."

Tiptoeing back to the double doors, the only exit left unexplored, they put their ear to the wood, listening.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Asuka laughs and then pats Lor-Sinn on the shoulder. "Oh it's just an idea, Lor-Sinn! That's just my guess as to what they are doing.It may be factual, or it may not. Or it may be true but not factual, I suppose. But regardless, I think it's a pretty good explanation and I'm glad you do, too!"

Leaving the two creatures alone, Lor-Sinn puts her ear on the doors to the east and listens, but doesn't catch anything beyond. Deeming it clear, she pushes the pair of doors open.

It’s impossible to tell what this room may have originally been used for, as the walls and floor are decorated with countless preserved animals and creatures, ranging from small birds and forest creatures to fearsome predators. Several of the displays look uncomfortably fresh or humanoid in shape.

A 2-1/2-foot-tall,dainty elf like creature with long twitching antennae and wearing a brightly colored dress made from butterfly wings and preserved wildflower petals looks up as you enter.

Know (nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

"Uh, don't suppose you two have those cold iron arrows from earlier on hand, do you?" the clearly troubled young man whispered as surreptitiously as he could manage to Lor-Sinn and Kajiwara upon entering the strange room. "Fey," he offered by way of explanation. "Quickling, I think. Very speedy."

While the elf-like creatures were known for mischief at best and slaughter at worst, Samton didn't want to assume too much immediately upon encountering one such. Zaiobe the harpy had turned out to be perfectly civil after all. Still, no harm in being prepared. The wizard was so very careful by nature. And the somewhat macabre room itself didn't exactly reassure him either.

"Hi there," he offered, his flimsy nerves nevertheless not allowing the boy raised by misters Parooh and Gandethus to forget his manners. "This is some nice, uhm, stuffed... stuff you got here."

Asuka sheathes her sword and steps up, waving gregariously. "Wow! Hey, Mister Fey. I've got a bit of fey in me, too. That's pretty wild, huh? I'm pretty fast, too. Though probably not as fast as you, haha."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"Oh, they look a bit like Spivey, don't you think?" Lor-Sinn remarks as the fey comes into view.

"Hi there! Is this is a museum of sorts? Like the local wildlife? Very interesting, what's this bird called? It's pretty."

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Maybe it's something you said or perhaps they aren't very friendly. Either way, the quickling isn't interested in discussion. Unsurprisingly, the quickling moves faster than you expect. In a blur of movement, its shortsword is in its hand and its upon you and burying the blade into Lor-Sinn's right thigh. Damage: 1d10 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + (1) = 10

R1: Quickling, Samton, Lor-Sinn, Kajiwara, Ruka, Asuka

"Ow! That is very rude! Why, you little- nnnngh! I'll show you!"

Pushing through the door to make room for Ruka behind her, Lor-Sinn draws her bow and starts feeling around in her quiver for those cold iron arrows.

5' step, move action to draw bow, standard action to find the arrows.

Kajiwara moved into the room right next to the little quickling and fired a cold iron arrow at it.

I have Point Blank Master, so no AoO.

Attack, PBS: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24
Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Well, that escalated into violence awfully quick! Was this just in a quickling's nature, jumping to extremes at a drop of the proverbial hat? Samton didn't know, but he did know that he didn't fancy shooting at the elusive fey with his allies in the fray. With this in mind he instead reached over to Ruka at his side, gifting the young woman just a bit of the strength she had lost fighting the wight.

Giving Ruka +2 Str for the round, counteracting the negative level and hopefully adding a bit of damage.

Ruka's shoulders relax slightly as Sam's spell makes her muscles feel normal again. "Thank you." She spends a few seconds studying the small creature, trying to get a feel for how they will dodge, then swings.

Murasamemaru, ST, SS, NL, PA: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 1 - 1 = 24
S. Damage, ST, SS, PA: 1d10 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 20

Move action to Study Target, then attack.

Asuka circles around the little jerk with quick fake-out that is too choreographed to fool anyone. Since I doubt that is enough to make it flat footed, she will provoke from moving around it Her stare is as sharp as ever though, and her blade is even sharper as she strikes with powerful precision.

Improved Feint (kitsune's mystique): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Attack with Cold Iron Katana (flank): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25
Damage (painful stare): 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (5) = 9
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Unable to move quite fast enough, Asuka and Ruka end the life of the quickling so quickly, it does not even see its own death coming. The slight elf with the bloodied and drab clothes is splattered all over the floor and quickly taken out of the way. The quickling's bloodied shortsword lay on the ground near its body.

Searching the room, you find vials of poison that accompany rings, necklaces, anklets, and bracelets worth 220 gp in all.

Dead end here. Back into the castle somewhere or south into the courtyard to address the wrestling things?

"Well, alright..." Lor-Sinn, having finally found a cold iron arrow, now stares at the quickling's body with the arrow in hand. "That's what you get if you mess with us. Your own fault."

The tiefling sniffs at one of the vials, then moves to inspect the displays in the room. "I guess this wasn't a museum then? What now, do we search the rest of the castle? Any rooms on this floor that we haven't looked in yet?"

I vote basement, or resting.

Ruka sighs a little as the spell runs out and her muscles start to ache again. "That was nice while it lasted. The spell I mean, not the fight."

She'd feel bad about killing a creature that was so obviously outmatched, but a look around the macabre displays quickly cures that. Did she preserve these things alive?!

Definitely for the best that the creature wasn't around anymore.

"There's the courtyard with the wrestling creatures. Sam, any idea what those were? Not sure it's worth bothering them if we don't have to." Ruka sighs and rubs her forehead again. "This place is way too big, and I keep getting turned around. I don't think we've explored the entire floor, but I'm not sure."

"If everyone's good to keep going, I guess maybe head downstairs? I still think that's the most likely place for Kikonu to have disappeared to."

Looking at the map, I think this floor still has an entire western side we haven't visited. Not sure how to get there though, so for now I'm voting same as Lor-Sinn. Either down or rest.

"There's the courtyard with the wrestling creatures. Sam, any idea what those were?"

Know (nature? local?): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Dunno. Probably not.

"C-couldn't tell you for sure, no. Sorry," the young wizard replied sheepishly, feeling awkward, even ashamed, at not being able to fulfill the one role within the group he usually managed with some consistency, that being furnishing them with some encyclopedic knowledge. "Almost looked like some sort of giants, but I can't say so with any confidence."

Still stewing in his own inferiority, Sam did still nod to the younger Kaijitsu's sentiment about the castle. "The place is a grindstone, yeah. Slowly wearing us down. Ms Imass, are you sure you're alright?" He looked to the tiefling's bloodied thigh with some concern. "That sword, uh, looked like it went in pretty deep."

If everyone's confident we can handle another fight, let's go downstairs, sure. Samton takes the poison vials on the way out; he's curious. How many of them are there?

"Are there any rooms on this floor we haven't searched yet?"

Returning to the ballroom, you take the steps down to the lower level. The corridor ahead turns north and goes down another set of steps to a door. Opening that up reveals a larger room with several doors.

Stone pillars support the ceiling over this large kitchen—although the fire pits, tables, and pantries here look like they haven’t been used in decades. Thick layers of dust cover everything in the room.

The door in the east wall is locked. There is also a double door in the southeast, a double door in the southwest a single door west and a single door north.

"'m alright." Lor-Sinn replies to Sam's query, although they are favouring their wounded leg a bit.

As they descend into the dungeons, the tiefling wiggles their fingers at the expanse of dusty floor before them. "Do the thing with the prints and the -ACHOO- dust."

Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Kajiwara looks for signs the dust has been disturbed.

Searching the ground, Kajiwara determines that this room is a crossroads of activity for three of the doors. The southwest double door, the southeast double door and the northwest door. Little to no tracks lead west or east.

"Shall we pick a direction at random?" Ruka has no idea which way to go. Probably one of the three rooms with regular activity, but which one?

1d3 ⇒ 3

On a whim she points towards the double doors to the northwest. "How does that way sound?"

Opening the single door the northwest reveals a ten foot corridor that dead-ends and turns west after another five feet into another door. Opening that door brings out a tangle of stalactites and stalagmites fills this low-ceilinged cavern, with only a five-foot-wide path running along the southern wall being clear of obstruction.

5d20 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 14, 15) = 44

In the far western wall, Ruka finds another secret passage, but the difficult spot door is locked with an impressive set of multiple locks that you don't possess the key to.

Lor-Sinn runs a finger along a stalagmite and then inspects the moisture on it. "Do you think it leads to the Darklands? I heard that sometimes caves do."

As they come upon the locked door, the paladin sighs. "Alright, so maybe we come back to this one later. Next one..." Southwest?

Retreating back the way you came, you move down through to the southwest doors and push them open. Long benches in various states of disrepair and several battered and filthy wooden tables stand between stone pillars in this room. The air here stinks of reptiles.

Standing at the far end of the room is the red-faced creature you've been searching for, Kikonu. Between you and he are four more troglodytes, all being spoken to by the oni in what looks to be some form of a pep rally. As you push the doors open and everyone looks in your direction, he finishes "Them! KILL them!"

Raising his longbow, he takes aim at Lor-Sinn on the far side of the room and fires. She reacts just in time and the arrow twangs as it embeds itself in the wooden door beside her head.

Coming within 30'of each of the four smelly-lizards requires a DC10 fort save or become sickened for ten rounds.

R1: Kikonu, Lor-Sin, Asuka, Samton, Ruka, Kajiwara, Smelly Lizards

Fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"Still a coward, I see! Hiding behind your... phew, what's that smell? behind your minions!" shouts the tiefling as they step forward into the cover of a pillar as the harpy's bow is readied. Kikonu was too far back in the room, with pillars between himself and Lor-Sinn, so the shot is aimed at the closest troglodyte instead. If the creatures wanted to die protecting this demon, so be it. Whew, but they were stinky! Eyes watering, the paladin looses the arrow at the one against the northwestern wall.

Attack tan, PBS: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Ruka's initial disappointment at having found nothing through the north door is replaced with satisfaction as Lor-Sinn's choice finally leads them to their quarry. (Or so she assumes. It's too dark for her to actually see him, but that voice is hard to mistake.)

Without hesitation she charges at the nearest troglodyte. She's able to push past the stink without losing her lunch, but her watering eyes make it hard to actually see where to hit.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Murasamemaru, NL, PA: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 - 1 - 1 = 9
S. Damage, PA: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 3 = 12

"Y-yeah, Ms Lor-Sinn. You're right. Uh, sure is a s-sad excuse for a fiend, huh?"

Odd as the sudden question was, especially in the face of a demon-led horde of walking lizards, Sam's tone in asking it was even weirder, shaky with an awkwardness and uncertainty unlike that of his more self-deprecating moments. Those who had traveled with him found more to ponder in his stance, it being rank and wide-legged, thin chest thrust out so far you'd think a charging rhino was attached to his nipples. He looked like a parody of some far more daring and confident youth than himself, his obvious discomfort in this role only making it all the more clumsy. What was he playing at? There was really only one conclusion: Sam was acting.

Or trying to anyway.

"Honestly, who ever heard of a t-true-blooded fiend running away from his enemies? And twice too! Now we find him in the basement, hiding in the dark like, uh, like a kid pulling his blanket over his head? With an extra security blanky in the form of a bunch of smelly henchmen? J-just sad!"

Awkward as he felt in the terribly unconvincing pantomime, the wizard would be damned if he'd let the oni run away yet again. So with this in mind he tried the only gambit he could think of in forcing Kikonu to fight them: provoking him. Now he just wish he was a better actor. The stage was clearly not for the self-conscious young man. He'd actually been trying to emulate Asuka's daring conviction, but the tengu was obviously better at this than him. So much so that he wasn't entirely convinced that she was acting in her more boisterous moments.

"Uh, here, Ms Kaijitsu," he went on in twirling his hand through an incantation and then touching it to her. "It's not like you're going to need it in fighting this... poltroon, but have this spell anyway."

Ruka was immediately shielded in a glittering haze, and Samton took heart in that even if his psychological ploy failed, his magic could at least help some.

Casting Protection from Evil on Ruka, given how the initiative wound out (guessing that Asuka will already be in the fray when my turn comes up in the order). +2 to AC and to all saves.

When a decades-old secret is exposed, an unassuming local tavern-owner and a close friend of the PCs discovers her birthright is to rule one of the ancient Dragon Empires of Tian Xia—the empire of Minkai. Yet the current ruler of this empire, the mysterious and increasingly cruel Jade Regent, has no intention of giving up his hold over the throne. In order to save Minkai from a would-be tyrant, the PCs must not only escort their friend from Varisia to Tian Xia, braving the frozen horrors of the Crown of the World, but must aid her in gaining the trust and support of a nation on the edge of anarchy.

Hello potential players! I'm looking for a group to embark upon a journey with me! Please review the information below before submitting an application so that you can understand what I'm looking for. I'm planning on keeping the recruitment open for a maximum 7 days. Recruit closes 8:00 PM EDT, Monday 9/23/19. Good luck to everyone and I hope to see you on the other side!

The recruitment worksheet is available here.

NOTE: This game has two players already confirmed for it, they are a wizard and a paladin. I'm looking to add 2-4 more players to these two to form a party of 5-6 players.

Presuming that the mention of Roslar's Coffer is a misprint, and that the cast will start in Sandpoint?

It would certainly be an interesting Jade Regent game that started in Roslar's Coffer, but I would assume that's just a leftover from ShadowLord's last recruitment for Tyrant's Grasp.

Hmm. Dare I try again? Maybe the third time will be the charm :)

theasl, I was just looking through my aliases and saw us apply to a Shattered Star that never was.

Yup, it happens. As I said in that thread, I'm everywhere (but I'm really not). :)

I’m interested.

I have a Varisian Spiritualist I've been meaning to play for a while now and I love Sandpoint.

Dotting with Sabs. I'm going to workshop her background a little bit because it seems you want a more in depth background than what I have for her currently. She was most recently updated with Jade Reagent in mind but I will have to tweak her stats a bit, but that of course will come later.

Dotting for interest with a LG Tian monk.

This sounds good. I have some ideas, I'll see what I'll submit. I can't change your opinion on Changelings I presume? Have a concept there I've been wanting to play for a while.

Could we get some more information about the Wizard and the Paladin? What races are they, which trait did they pick? It might be nice if we could forge a bit of a connection with them as well.

Also would ask. I love wizards, and have several build ideas that could be used, which would not interfere with another's build. Alternatly, an Arcanist could be interesting.

I'm thinking about a Human Hunter (Forester Archetype), can't really decide on whether he's a ranged or melee character yet. Probably a ranged character though.
An apprentice woodworker named Marek out to see the world, mainly ranged support with teamwork feats. If I do switch to melee build, he'll switch bowmaking to poleturning and take teamwork feats appropriately

Sample post 1 Burahl Narnec
Sample Post 2 Mavor Asku
Mavor is one of my favourite characters I've made.

Hi all, I am the paladin (future oradin). Excited to have another attempt at this AP, which I've been wanting to play for many years.

You know, you try to be sure to check and make sure you don't screw up your super-important top of the feed recruitment post, and then you go and put Roslar's Coffer in it.

Whoops.

Yes, that is a remnant of my Tyrant's Grasp recruitment. We will NOT be starting in Roslar's Coffer. Thanks for catching that! :)

I can't change your opinion on Changelings I presume? Have a concept there I've been wanting to play for a while.

I wouldn't say that I'm hard-set against changelings. I don't have a lot of experience with them, so I'll do some reading on them and get back to you. Consider that a maybe.

Could we get some more information about the Wizard and the Paladin? What races are they, which trait did they pick? It might be nice if we could forge a bit of a connection with them as well.

I'll let the wizard and paladin chime in and speak for themselves.

Also would ask. I love wizards, and have several build ideas that could be used, which would not interfere with another's build. Alternatly, an Arcanist could be interesting.

Who doesn't love a wizard? I didn't say you can't apply as one, but you should know that the likelihood of getting selected as a wizard when we have a wizard is probably less than average.

Question DM, I envision Marek as an apprentice woodworker at this moment, but he's not a seasoned adventurer like the rest. Keeping that in mind, he doesn't really know he can cast magic, to him it feels more like an intuition.

So his initial spells will be more inconspicuous than immediately combat ready. As the journey goes on, he will learn more about his own magical gifts and grow into the life of an adventurer.

Is that okay as a concept?

Actually, the same also goes for his Feats. Along the way he will be more combat-ready than he is now.

Marek - I have no problem with this natural progression approach.

Dotting for interest! Regarding R20: will you be posting maps in this thread/the Discord, or will we be expected to be in there for map visualization? I ask because much of my posting will likely be from work, where Roll 20 is definitely blocked.

Will likely play a Cleric, I think. Maybe an Occultist or Archaeologist Bard... Time to brew a concept.

I am interested.

Cuàn wrote:

Could we get some more information about the Wizard and the Paladin? What races are they, which trait did they pick? It might be nice if we could forge a bit of a connection with them as well.

I'll let the wizard and paladin chime in and speak for themselves.

I'll take that as my cue. Hiya, folks. I'd be the aforementioned wizard. For those curious, Sam's profile should offer just about any information on the character you might be wanting, both mechanical and otherwise. But for those who might appreciate a quick run-down (and because said profile is pretty lengthy):

- Very young human Wizard -
- Transmuter focusing on support, control & save-or-sucks as appropriate -
- Local kid with ties to Gandethus the headmaster and Parooh the cartographer for those reading up on Sandpoint -
- Has a misguided ultimate goal of wooing Shalelu the elven warden -

I can't in good conscience, however, suggest anyone to tie their own submissions to Sam or Lor-Sinn the paladin above in the hope of this raising their chances of being picked. Please submit whatever character you wish to play. I for one just feel uncomfortable at the thought of me in any way dictating what or how you play. I'm sure we can figure out any such relations if appropriate in discussion prior to the game's start.

dotting for now.

Going to dot. Will be back home on Thursday, so I'll try to figure out what I want to submit by then.

Oh hey, I think I played with Samton and Lor-Sinn in a previous Jade Regent game. I was a Wayang unRogue in that game. Any chance you'd take a Wayang? (I'd link the alias, but it's been recycled since then, so there's not much point)

Post as often as is necessary to keep the game moving. This may be once a day or it may be 3 times a day if the action is really moving.

Well, I guess that counts me out.

I have a day-time job where I'm the guy keeping others from playing on their phones during the work day.

Shame.

I am also dotting for interest. Going to take some time to muse on character options

I'm currently thinking of a Varisian Card-reader/Diviner. Used for Battlefield control and the like. Still mulling.

Reworking this one back as a Ranger. Will develop over the coming days.

Oh hey, I think I played with Samton and Lor-Sinn in a previous Jade Regent game. I was a Wayang unRogue in that game. Any chance you'd take a Wayang? (I'd link the alias, but it's been recycled since then, so there's not much point)

I don't have a problem with a Wayang.

Dotting with an idea for a Sylph Samurai with the Foster Child trait.

Definitely interested. I'll have to consider the possibilities.

Interested. Thinking of putting together a Kami Medium.

I’m aware that this archetype eventually gets a familiar. Hopefully that won’t be too much of a problem.

Mind if I use a placeholder alias?

Dotting for now. I plan on submitting a LN alchemist (vivisectionist), probably tomorrow. The point of the character is to contribute with his rogue-like skills and mathematical insights (arcana/engineering).

I still need to research roll20 as I've no idea what it is.

I think my submission is pretty complete. Ruka can be viewed here

The short version: Ruka Kaijitsu is Ameiko's younger sister. They're not particularly close due to bad family history, but Ruka at least wants to be. She's currently trying to reconnect with Ameiko and would like to follow her on a new adventure.

Ruka is a human slayer. In combat she'll be fighting in melee with a reach weapon. Out of combat she's a halfway-decent skill monkey and rogue substitute.

In terms of PBP history I've only been on the boards for about six months, but I've been (and still am) active in several games. One of my favorites was this Strange Aeons game, although sadly our GM disappeared shortly into it. (My character was Saiya. The whole intro sequence is a lot of fun to read.)

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions!

This sounds like a blast. I'll give the player's guide a read through for some inspiration, but I recently started putting together an aerokineticist for funsies and it sounds like it could work out well for this.

Any particular feelings for or against ganzis?

Shadowlord, how do you feel about romance in your games between PCs or PC/NPC?

Alrighty, I'm going with a tengu warrior poet samurai, perhaps with a touch of sorcerer.

She is going to be a gregarious Very Extra worshipper of Shelyn who obsesses over coming up with cool poses, names for attacks, and on how to be A SUPER COOL HERO.

I'll get back to y'all when she's up

Man you guys sure got busy today!

Interested. Thinking of putting together a Kami Medium.

I’m aware that this archetype eventually gets a familiar. Hopefully that won’t be too much of a problem.

Let me explain myself briefly here.

Because finding PbP games for players is soooo hard I tend to try and help everyone out and take more players than the AP is written for, usually six. Usually we lose a player or two eventually and it winds down to about five on a regular basis.

When I do this I exclude classes that further skew the action economy in the favor of the players. To this end, I particularly do not like having more than six members in the party including things like familiars and companions. If I was going to take someone with a pet then I'd be inclined to reduce the total player count of players I was recruiting by one, which I don't want to do.

Mind if I use a placeholder alias?

I do not!

I still need to research roll20 as I've no idea what it is.

Roll20 is a virtual tabletop. Instead of just showing you a static picture of a map and letting you move your picture around, I can create a map with walls to restrict your moment and per-character lighting to show your character what you see rather everyone seeing everything.

Any particular feelings for or against ganzis?

I have to be honest and say I know nothing of ganzis. What source book are they in that I can read more about them?

I think my submission is pretty complete.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions!

Don't forget to add your character to the recruitment worksheet when you are done. This is the list I'm going to use when I review characters. I added a link to the worksheet to the top of the page.

Shadowlord, how do you feel about romance in your games between PCs or PC/NPC?

Oh boy, what a subject! I love this kind of stuff. Maybe I'm a weirdo, but I particularly enjoy this type of interaction in my games. I feel like it creates another layer of depth for the characters that helps fuel their desires and motivations. At least half of my characters that I play have some form of in game relationship at some point during the AP. Even if they don't last, the animosity or feelings caused by it once provide insight for me as a player on how to build their character personality.

Don't forget to add your character to the recruitment worksheet when you are done. This is the list I'm going to use when I review characters. I added a link to the worksheet to the top of the page

FYI, the link in the Application Process section leads to the wrong worksheet, so you should use the link at the top of the page instead. A lesson I have now learned :)

Here is Drogeney's submission. I retooled the character as he didn't get selected in a different campaign. Fortunately the changes were easy to make.

@GM: Understood. I'll think of something else then.

Itzi wrote:

Shadowlord, how do you feel about romance in your games between PCs or PC/NPC?

Oh boy, what a subject! I love this kind of stuff. Maybe I'm a weirdo, but I particularly enjoy this type of interaction in my games. I feel like it creates another layer of depth for the characters that helps fuel their desires and motivations. At least half of my characters that I play have some form of in game relationship at some point during the AP. Even if they don't last, the animosity or feelings caused by it once provide insight for me as a player on how to build their character personality.

Squeee!!!!

A player after my own heart. :) :)

*Races off to solidify a character concept*

GM ShadowLord wrote:

Don't forget to add your character to the recruitment worksheet when you are done. This is the list I'm going to use when I review characters. I added a link to the worksheet to the top of the page

FYI, the link in the Application Process section leads to the wrong worksheet, so you should use the link at the top of the page instead. A lesson I have now learned :)

I updated the incorrect sheet with a link to the correct location. A bit of a patchwork job since I can't edit the post, but at least it will prevent that from happening again! Thank you for letting me know!

Now that I'm thinking about it, I think I'll build a dhampir with Jiang-Shi heritage. I'll see what I can put together.

When I do this I exclude classes that further skew the action economy in the favor of the players. To this end, I particularly do not like having more than six members in the party including things like familiars and companions. If I was going to take someone with a pet then I'd be inclined to reduce the total player count of players I was recruiting by one, which I don't want to do.

Ah I understand. In stead of a Spiritualist, I'll submit a kinetcist. While I'm choosing my element, I'd like to ask how prevalent undead are in the game? I'm thinking of either Aether×2, Void ×2 or Void/Wood for a light/dark dichotomy.

Out of curiosity why not have pets act in block with their owners? I know this is not strictly RAW of course.

Out of curiosity why not have pets act in block with their owners? I know this is not strictly RAW of course.

That's not really the issue. A pet class is more like 2 players in combat power, which can unbalance things, especially with a larger party.

I can't really see that argument for a normal familiar. Eidelons and some druid companions sure.

I can't really see that argument for a normal familiar. Eidelons and some druid companions sure.

Even if not combat oriented, a familiar still represents more actions for the players. Without considering that one could get an improved familiar that can wield wands and cast magic on their own, even a normal monkey could fetch the mage a potion, or a wand, effectively giving him more combat power by not having to 'waste' actions to do these stuff.

Lol I'm trying to imagine a rabbit getting a potion for his wizard, monkeys notwithstanding. Anyway not terribly interested in highjacking this recruitment thread anymore.

This is the alias for Itzi's submission. Her background and appearance are in her profile.