I have one issue with Erix... After all he's been through, how is he only 2nd level? There's enough Black Ops stuff in the history to take him way past that. But it does make a hell of a story... How'd you like for Erix to have some injury that never quite healed right? It would have no game term effect, but it'd help explain why someone of his experience only had the output of a lowly 2nd level character. You could RP it out when the mood struck you, and cound be much of anything from loss of function in some part of his body to dizzy spells to... whatever.
Sounds good. Hmmm - the Mutagen lowers int. How about it long term messes with the mind?
The other option is to say that this is Old Erix, and young Erix was much more competent... but not sure about that one.
Daen
- Extraordinary Artisan... since this is supposed to be a low-funds, low-magic campaign (for the players, not the whole world), I'm not too keen on you guys doing lots of magical item crafting... making the occasional single use/limited use item is OK, particularly if you are making something you'll need for a particular case but no-one has the spell on their lists, I don't think it's a good idea to invest in crafting feats... I'd suggest you switch this to something more suitable, even though it does make sense background-wise
- Favored Class bonuses... in PF, a character chooses a favored class on the 1st level, and whenever he takes another level of said class, he gets a bonus of one extra HP or SP, his choice, made every time he takes such a level... some races gain extra options for favoring certain classes, and a human Artificer can also add 1/2 points to his Ingenuity Pool.
- Crossbow damage 1d4... a typo, I assume. Medium-size crossbow deals 1d6 damage.
- Hit points... I believe the usual we have been using in various games is max on 1st level, half+1 on the following ones. At least, I kind of remember it being so, so might as well roll like that here. So that'd mean you have exactly the right amount of HP. Well done, Sir!
Just got back in town. I'll get started on this tonight! I'll also try to get caught up on all the other posts!
Sounds good. Hmmm - the Mutagen lowers int. How about it long term messes with the mind?
The other option is to say that this is Old Erix, and young Erix was much more competent... but not sure about that one.
Doh! Was in the shower and I suddenly realised - Permanent Negative Levels.
I see a couple of mechanisms for this;
1. Permanent Negative Levels as part of becoming a part of the death squad
2. Actually died at the end and was sent off to be raised - meaning the Sisters missed taking revenge on him on the basis he was (temporarily) dead.
3. Tangled with a Shadow Collector, and has permanently lost his shadow. Take 2 neg levels and the drawback that makes you shadowless. https://www.aonprd.com/MonsterDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Shadow%20Collector
4. tangled with a https://www.aonprd.com/MonsterDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Demilich
The shadow collector is probably the best bet - it explicitly states the negative levels cannot be restored. There might well have been one in Droaam (Eberron Fey apparently love nature, and these guys like the edges of forests and foothills) that scored a hit and ran. That would mean the army would have to be okay with him being shadowless, and the fact would need to be on his papers. Could be the reason he was removed from the squad (if they were worried he might turn, but were just doing checks) rather than being killed. Might also make him a bit... conspicuous. On the other hand it might make him a better sneaker.
"I got hit in the Soul during the War, and my Shadow was amputated" is a unique war wound.
Also gives him a very strong motivator; he has no ability to hunt this thing down, but his only real chance is if he does, and makes it give him his shadow back.
The raise dead/resurrection/clone thing works for me. Means he would have lost 'memories' of the most stressful time of his life, which might be a sort of fantasy PTSD.
Demilich is a long shot.
#4 sounds crazy, but back when I was first started playing and was 12, we had a group of mid level PCs who had to take out a demilich in 1st ed. We did this by liquidating most of the items we owned for holy water and hirelings. Demilich could only really drain about 1-4 a round. We kept it busy, they dropped enough barrels of holy water in its tomb room to basically keep it immersed. The mechanics have changed, but a bunch of expendable soldiers flinging large amounts of holy water is a huge boon to anyone who has to kill a demilich.
In this edition you would need people who can survive the telekinetic storm and wail of the banshee - both saves. Even mid level spells will get saves up against these quite a bit. If you get people who already have good saves, you can probably assume only half of them die a round.
There is a question as to whether holy water will damage a demilich due to DR, but I believe the damage of holy water does bypass most defences, being untyped and not weapon damage. The counterpart to this is the limited targets who take damage.
A vial of holy water does 2d4 damage on a hit, 1 on a miss. A demilich has 142 hp and can basically regenerate.
With its crazy high AC, most attacks are going to miss. You really need it grappled, or helpless or something.
One of the demilich weaknesses is that it only has an excellent CMD of 30. Given it is Tony, that CMD is really lower for most effects (not sure if already taken into account, but I do not think it is)
The likely problems are (A) curse (B) soul drain (C) wail of the Banshee and (D) telekinetic storm.
A golem is immune to almost all of these, and it would be relatively easy with most golem types to heal it as fast as the storm does damage. A lot of other constructs would also be resistant. Use of a spell like cushioning bands to provide bludgeoning protection would be advised.
Golems have very high CMB, and can be boosted higher with spells. There's a good chance a stone golem (or clay, or coral) could grab a slumbering demilich. What it can't do is injure it.
Cue the people. Forget vials of holy water, use a holy water hose. The telekinetic storm means it will have concealment, so just hit it with enough holy water that the splash damage will kill it.
Lol... that Lich-slaying story reminded me of our ye ol' group's antics with a Wall of Stone/Stone to Mud/Mud to Stone/Harden Earth antics to create instant fossil of something too nasty for us to kill by conventional means who happened to live underground... can't recall what it was anymore ;^)
Anyway, that option number 3 sounds intriguing. I'd prefer to go with that - the critter sounds damn interesting too!
Status update... everyone else is about done (with perhaps some minor tweaking and editing), but I have yet to receive a character from Tom to look through.
Totally off topic - Jussi - is your name pronounced with a "J" or a "Y" sound? Just realized I might have been mispronouncing it for a decade!
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Ugh... that's a tough one and might include some googling on my part, since you barbarians don't even pronounce the alphabet correctly :-)
*edit* Did some googling and actually found some Youtube vids where people say Finnish names out loud. One name per vid... Wild what some people think worth sharing... particularly since all the ones I found did a terrible job at it.
This wasn't too far off the mark, expect you should extend the "ss" part generously.
Ugh... that's a tough one and might include some googling on my part, since you barbarians don't even pronounce the alphabet correctly :-)
*edit* Did some googling and actually found some Youtube vids where people say Finnish names out loud. One name per vid... Wild what some people think worth sharing... particularly since all the ones I found did a terrible job at it.
This wasn't too far off the mark, expect you should extend the "ss" part generously.
You're both wrong!
My language comes from a time when its speakers were the only civilized nation in all of western Europe. The rest of you were all barbarians!
Latin makes sure that all the vowels (and other letters) are pronounced exactly the same way regardless of what letters precede or follow it.
BTW, I had always pronounced it 'Jussi' with the 'j' sounding as in 'job' 'just', etc. :)
When are we starting????
I'm not sure there even is an English word where the "j" is pronounced Finnish-style... can't think of one at least. For example, the "j" in "job" or "just" sounds pretty similar to "z" in Finnish alphabet.
As to when we start... still missing one character.
Angie sent me a friendly reminder. I'm EXTREMELY inexperienced at character making and have been bouncing between the PDFs I've downloaded, three websites, and two Excel sheets that calculate things for me. Sorry to hold everything up. I've sent Jussi (Yussi?) a partial draft. I'll have time tomorrow to (hopefully) fully finish the character and post some background stuff.
I would call that a Y sound. I've been doing it wrong! Strange that the video sounded like a robot talking. You should make a video of you saying your own name. It would get fives of views. :)
I very much love Spanish for its reliable pronunciation rules.
Any other languages in the group? I know a bit of Spanish, and learned German in high school, but have forgotten most of it. Like a typical English speaker, we didn't prioritize learning other languages, to my chagrin.
Hmm - how is this.
End of the war, victory celebration in Sharn. Shadow Collector turns up, nods and says "Erix Thorn. The war is over. Now is the day to pay what was promised."
He - drunk - is confused "I never promised anything..."
She takes his Shadow.
Basically, tie it into what was done to him during that period. Leave him with vague memories of everyone going on the mission pledging to the cause with some extravagant oath that mentioned death and spirit - something like Jordan's
“Til shade is gone,
til water is gone
Into the shadow with teeth bared
Screaming defiance with the last breath
To spit in Sightblinder’s eye on the Last Day.”
So now he wants to track her down and buy his shade back, or at least find out who onsold it.
Suffused with worry that he didn't lose his shadow - he lost his soul.
Hmm. If he is missing memories he could also be missing the memory of selling his shade in the first place, of course. ;p
Alua will be happy to debate the substance of shadows and souls, and their relationship to ghosts.
Tom's crunch is pretty close there. Now to only get that and the background fluff over here behind a character alias, we are close to done.
I have figured out what I think is a functional character. I'm waiting on a couple of answers from Jussi before I decide fully on my spells. As I said before, I used a couple of spreadsheets that calculate everything for me and both of them said the character gets +3 skill points in a couple of knowledge skills (labled as "Misc") and I don't know why. If someone could enlighten me (or tell me that the sheets are wrong), that would be great. I've got to get some work done right now but I'll put up some fluff on the character this weekend.
Sorry for the delay.
Key Demographics
Daryl the Appraiser
2nd level Warforged Magus
Slight build for a Warforged (5’9”, 225)
Str 13; Dex 14; Con 14; Int 18; Wis 10; Cha 8 (20 point buy; Con/Int +2, Cha -2)
Base Atk +1; CMB +2 (+1 BAB + 1 STR); CMD 14 (10 + 2 CMB + 2 DEX)
Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12
HP 19 (8 1st level class + 5 2nd level rolled d8 + 2 fav class +4 con (+2x2))
Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +3
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee (Rapier): +3 = +1(base) +2(Dex (Weapon Finesse feat)
Melee Damage (dagger): 1d6+1, 18-20, x2
Ranged (Shortbow, Composite): +3 = +1(base) +2(Dex)
Ranged Damage (Shortbow): 1d6, 20, x3
Natural (Slam): +3 = +1(base) +2(Dex (Weapon Finesse feat)
Natural Damage (Slam): 1d4+1, 20, x2
Traits/Drawbacks
Aberrant Bloodline - There is a taint in your blood, one that is alien and bizarre. You tend to think in odd ways, approaching problems from an angle that most would not expect. Over time, this taint manifests itself in your physical form.
*Starting at 1st level, you can fire an acidic ray as a standard action, targeting any foe within 30 feet as a ranged touch attack. The acidic ray deals 1d6 points of acid damage + 1 for every two levels you possess. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
Feats:
Weapon Finesse
Skills:
Acrobatics +2 (0 R + 2 DEX)
Appraise +8 (4 R + 4 INT)
Bluff -1 (0 R -1 CHA)
Climb +1 (0 R + 1 STR)
Diplomacy 11 (0 R + -1 CHA)
Disguise -1 (0 R -1 CHA)
Escape Artist +2 (0 R + 2 DEX)
Fly +2 (0 R + 2 DEX)
Heal +0 (0 R + 0 WIS)
Intimidate -1 (0 R -1 CHA)
Knowledge - Arcana +9 (2 R + 4 INT +3 Misc)
Knowledge - Dungeoneering +8 (1 R + 4 INT +3 Misc)
Knowledge - Local +5 (1 R + 4 INT)
Knowledge - Planes +8 (1 R + 4 INT +3 Misc)
Perception +1 (1 R + 0 WIS)
Ride +2 (0 R + 2 DEX)
Sense Motive +0 (0 R + 0 WIS)
Spellcraft +9 (2 R + 4 INT +3 Misc)
Stealth +4 (2 R + 2 DEX)
Survival +2 (0 R + 0 WIS)
Swim +1 (0 R + 1 STR)
Use Magic Device +4 (2 R -1 CHA +3 Misc)
Abilities
A magus can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any weapon he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute.
A magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast.
Whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack.
Construction Metabolism: Warforged have the following alterations to a normal humanoid's natural processes
1) Warforged do not need to eat, breathe or sleep, but do need to rest for 8 hours to regain spells or similar abilities.
2) Warforged do not heal hit points or attribute damage naturally, but can be repaired with use of the Craft skill or with effects that repair constructs. Repairs made with the Craft skill take 8 hours and a warforged repair kit. The amount of hit point damage repaired per check is the result of the Craft check -15. Repairing a point of attribute damage requires 8 hours and a Craft check, DC 25. Repairing both hit point damage and one point of ability damage can done during the same 8 hour period, but still requires two different checks. Appropriate Craft skills include armorsmithing, blacksmithing, gemcutting and sculpting. A conscious warforged can repair itself.
3) All applications of the Heal skill while used on a warforged are replaced with an appropriate Craft skill.
4) Spells from the conjuration (healing) subschool or supernatural abilities that duplicate them are only half as effective, rounded down.
5) Warforged are not capable of procreation, having to rely on a Lifeforge to create new warforged.
6) Warforged do not change size or appearance naturally over time.
7) Construct Mind: Warforged get a +2 racial bonus to resist mind-affecting and stunning effects and are immune to paralysis and sleep effects.
Construct Resistance: Warforged get a +2 racial bonus to resist disease, death effects, energy drain, exhaustion, fatigue, nausea, poison and sicken effects as well as stabilization checks and checks to remove negative levels.
Natural Plating: Warforged have a metal plating that provides them with a +2 natural armor bonus to AC. Warforged can still wear normal armor as can other races, however this plating also counts as metal for the purposes of a druid's armor limitation. Warforged can be targeted by spells, powers and effects that affect objects made from metal, stone and wood.
Resources
Starting gold – 240
Spent – 203GP 2SP 5CP
Rapier - 20gp
Composite Shortbow 75gp
25 arrows .05gp x 25
Backpack - 2gp
Artisan's Tools, Masterwork (Scale) 55gp
Masterwork Tool (Jewelry Loupe) 50gp
Cloak (reversable) 2sp
Spells
Coming soon
Class skill bonuses, I presume. Those +3's, that is. Though you should get a lot more than just a couple knowledge skills...
Class skills
The magus’s class skills are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
And
Class Skills
In addition, each class has a number of favored skills, called class skills. It is easier for your character to become more proficient in these skills, as they represent part of his professional training and constant practice. You gain a +3 bonus on all class skills that you put ranks into. If you have more than one class and both grant you a class skill bonus, these bonuses do not stack.
Ah, that makes sense. I'm open to suggestions if anyone sees something I might want to change.
Ah, that makes sense. I'm open to suggestions if anyone sees something I might want to change.
Jussi will take care of the crunch (that's why he's the GM). :)
I'm more interested in the fluff.
Can you post some bullet items as to what you were thinking?
It may be helpful to get input from the other players before you get to write out the entire fluff.
Thanks!
Some background notes:
1) Daryl doesn't remember much of his past. He's not sure what happened to him but his first clear memory is of him, sitting in an alley, looking up, and seeing the sign for the Agency. He walked inside and met the resident artificer. Took that as a sign that he was where he belonged. His past is very much a mystery to him, one that he is very curious to uncover.
2) For a "job", I propose that he is sort of a mediator. He uses his appraisal skill to value items and settle disputes. I thought he could work out of the Agency and basically be the 24/7 front desk attendant. If that doesn't work, I suppose he could work out of another office or at one of the Exchanges.
3) Since he doesn't need to eat or sleep, and he can't wear armor, I don't have a bunch to spend his money on. I thought I'd up what I spent on the cloak to get a nicer one and may purchace some additional tools, but the rest could be put toward the debt. I remember Jussi saying something about buying IDs but I can't find the post and I'm not seeing anything on the sites I'm using. Can someone point me in the right direction or did I imagine that?
Some background notes:
1) Daryl doesn't remember much of his past. He's not sure what happened to him but his first clear memory is of him, sitting in an alley, looking up, and seeing the sign for the Agency. He walked inside and met the resident artificer. Took that as a sign that he was where he belonged. His past is very much a mystery to him, one that he is very curious to uncover.
2) For a "job", I propose that he is sort of a mediator. He uses his appraisal skill to value items and settle disputes. I thought he could work out of the Agency and basically be the 24/7 front desk attendant. If that doesn't work, I suppose he could work out of another office or at one of the Exchanges.
3) Since he doesn't need to eat or sleep, and he can't wear armor, I don't have a bunch to spend his money on. I thought I'd up what I spent on the cloak to get a nicer one and may purchace some additional tools, but the rest could be put toward the debt. I remember Jussi saying something about buying IDs but I can't find the post and I'm not seeing anything on the sites I'm using. Can someone point me in the right direction or did I imagine that?
Tom, here's some feedback:
1) I think you will need some sort of tie-in with the artificer (or someone else). Maybe the artificer has repaired you in the past. Maybe you performed some service for him (offered to pay something for him with your 'extra' money, helped him out with some bullies, etc.). The artificer, seeing as you were wandering without aim, could have then asked you to join him in this "great investment".
2) The idea of the job of an appraiser working for the agency is fine. The front desk position is taken though so you'll have to talk to Alua (Angie) about that. :)
However, Jussi wanted each one of us 'outside' jobs because we have no clients at our agency so think of something he could do while we wait for some clients.
3) Here's the link to the conversion site (equipment page); scroll below for ID papers. Explore for other items that may interest you.
@Jussi: did you figure out whether we are all partners or just a few of us had any money to put forth. The loan is under my name but did anyone else put money forth?
Questions?
Game on!
1) I think you will need some sort of tie-in with the artificer (or someone else). Maybe the artificer has repaired you in the past. Maybe you performed some service for him (offered to pay something for him with your 'extra' money, helped him out with some bullies, etc.). The artificer, seeing as you were wandering without aim, could have then asked you to join him in this "great investment".
I can make that work. Maybe the artificer found him and helped him regain his faculties.
2) The idea of the job of an appraiser working for the agency is fine. The front desk position is taken though so you'll have to talk to Alua (Angie) about that. :)
That's fine too. I just don't see any reason for him to "rent" a room when he can pretty much power down anywhere.
However, Jussi wanted each one of us 'outside' jobs because we have no clients at our agency so think of something he could do while we wait for some clients..
Yep, he doesn't have to work through the agency, Jussi will have to let me know how much such a profession might earn him. I can't really find anything online to tell me that. I could also put a few more skill points toward appraise (or into Profession skill) if he thinks that is necessary.
1) I think you will need some sort of tie-in with the artificer (or someone else). Maybe the artificer has repaired you in the past. Maybe you performed some service for him (offered to pay something for him with your 'extra' money, helped him out with some bullies, etc.). The artificer, seeing as you were wandering without aim, could have then asked you to join him in this "great investment".
Actually, I like this a lot. I've been going back and forth about Kirsdrake's required change. As small as it was, it changed a few things about the character to me. Maybe my Daen seemed familiar to him? Perhaps Daen left him in the hallway to wake up?
I don't know, but I think it helped me solidify my mods.
@Daryl: Hmmm. I think your spreadsheets are letting you down. You can only have a max of 2 ranks per skill. Appraise has 4 ranks.
Have you got an Archetype? Warforged can wear armor, and Magus can wear light armour and still cast, and they don't get a Bloodline.
You can also have 2 Traits. If you like Appraise and Stealth, maybe https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=For%20the%20Money https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Eye%20for%20Quality
https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Slippery
@Daryl: Hmmm. I think your spreadsheets are letting you down. You can only have a max of 2 ranks per skill. Appraise has 4 ranks.
Ha! You're right, but the other way around. The sheet had that cell red and I didn't know why. Now I do! I changed that to two ranks and added 2 ranks to Profession...Mediator. Thanks for the catch.
Have you got an Archetype?
Yes, I looked at them but decided to play a straight Magus with a few (DM approved) modifications. A custom Archetype if you will.
Warforged can wear armor, and Magus can wear light armour and still cast,
Currently shopping for armor
and they don't get a Bloodline.
Jussi gave me that in exchange for fewer spells because it made sense with the character's background.
You can also have 2 Traits. If you like Appraise and Stealth, maybe https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=For%20the%20Money https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Eye%20for%20Quality
https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Slippery
I'll be taking the first two, thank you very much!
@Jussi: did you figure out whether we are all partners or just a few of us had any money to put forth. The loan is under my name but did anyone else put money forth?
That is up to you guys, and in any case one of you lucky sods (points at Sebastian) is the one the loan shark will actually hunt down because the loan and agency are his on paper. I think it'd be easier if everyone had a share and helped with the loan, but it's up to you.
I thought I'd up what I spent on the cloak to get a nicer one and may purchase some additional tools, but the rest could be put toward the debt.
Buy the tools - when the game starts, I only want you folks to have a couple gold, max, at hand. If you can't figure out what to buy, just donate the money to get rid of it and bask in the warm, fuzzy feeling of having helped ;^)
And speaking about starting... I think we are close enough to get things rolling. I'll try and see if I can get the first post out tomorrow, so start thinking about your character introductions.
And just for the record, to repeat, I'm NOT aiming at Fabian-levels of game progression. I can't promise a turn post every two days, and trying would only lead to grief sooner rather than later, so I'm not going to. I think two new turn -type posts a week and semi-daily smaller posts to provide new information and dialogue will be where this game's gonna be at.
Buy the tools - when the game starts, I only want you folks to have a couple gold, max, at hand. If you can't figure out what to buy, just donate the money to get rid of it and bask in the warm, fuzzy feeling of having helped ;^)
I've updated Daryl's profile with all his stats and equipment. I bought identification papers (1gp) and Miscellaneous Appraisal Tools (non-masterwork) (5gp). That puts me just under 5gp left. If you need an actual character sheet or more info, happy to send it. Otherwise, I think I'm set. Thanks for the help everyone.
I'll be taking the first two, thank you very much!You can also have 2 Traits. If you like Appraise and Stealth, maybe https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=For%20the%20Money https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Eye%20for%20Quality
https://aonprd.com/TraitDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Slippery
Nono! Bonuses of the same type do not stack; no point in having two "+1 trait bonus".
if you really want to double down there were other traits that did strange things with appraise.
Otherwise I suggest either pick up a trait to give you another skill as a class skill or take the Combat Trait "Armor Expert" and pick up a chainmail shirt.
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And speaking about starting... I think we are close enough to get things rolling. I'll try and see if I can get the first post out tomorrow, so start thinking about your character introductions.
And just for the record, to repeat, I'm NOT aiming at Fabian-levels of game progression. I can't promise a turn post every two days, and trying would only lead to grief sooner rather than later, so I'm not going to. I think two new turn -type posts a week and semi-daily smaller posts to provide new information and dialogue will be where this game's gonna be at.
I think we all know this but 'for the record': the 'right' pace for the game is that one which keeps both players and GM interested and engaged and that is, of course, very subjective.
I'm looking forward to this game starting!
Game on!
I concur. Look forwarding to playing with some old colleagues and new acquaintances.
Nono! Bonuses of the same type do not stack; no point in having two "+1 trait bonus"
Oops. Thanks for the catch. I've switched it to Bruising Intellect.
Kirsdrake, the crunch change ended up being really minor - I took out the feat you indicated and replaced it with Precise shot. Should I post the crunch here again?
No need, just keep the numbers under your character alias up to date.
"So. Hear your looking for Profiles?"
Turn 000 - ir'Brock Inquisitive Agency
Ok, here we go, sink or swim! Hope you can at least open the shared file ;^)
It was early evening and his duties for the day were coming to an end. Thankfully. Sebastian adjusted his cloak with a flourish he did not really feel and swallowed. He hated, really hated this part. ”I hope you all enjoyed getting to know my beautiful city. As promised, the tour ends in Skyway so you can all enjoy an evening of the finest that Sharn has to offer.”
He swallowed again and… extended his hand out, ”It was pleasure being your guide and if you feel that you received service above and beyond your expectation, a small gratuity is greatly appreciated.” A hat. I need to tell Alua to buy some sort of hat!
The Karrnathi delegation passed in front of him and sped towards the high-end restaurant. Many of them without giving him a second look. All of them with their characteristic dour look on their faces. A few of them murmured something akin to a ‘thank you’.
Sebastian added, ”And don’t forget to sign up for our signature ‘Haunted Sharn’ tour, rated No.1 in the best value category according to the Sharn Inquisitive for the past three years…” Sebastian could hardly stifle a chuckle, Look at these people. They could probably be the stars of my haunted tour. Maybe it was his front-line duty against the Karrnathi, but it was hard for Sebastian to not be prejudiced against these people.
He shook his head as he counted a couple silver pieces in his hand. He mumbled to himself as he flagged down a skycoach, there were no bridges that connected to Skyway, ”You a*#$+#$s are supposed to be on vacation! Smile!”
Sebastian was trying to figure out a way to ask the Ghallanda Matron for more money for the tours that ended in Skyway. Sure, the halflings arranged for the delegation to get there with an extra-large skycoach but then Sebastian was on his own to get back to Tavick’s Landing. And skycoaches were expensive for the likes of him. He was also going to ask for some sort of compensation for guiding Karrnathi, those dour-faced a@%!#!+s were also cheap!
He came into the office, well his home, just as the Orien Courier left. He looked at Alua and once again wondered what was wrong with the girl, why was she always smiling? He always joked that he wanted whatever she was smoking, but the girl just didn’t seem to get the joke.
He cocked his head to Alua, ”Was that for us? Was that a job?” He knew it wasn’t a debt collector; they tended to be more direct in their communications.
He smiled, ”Well, open it! That is why we pay you the big bucks here.”
Tag? (Alua and/or others)
OOC: I’m assuming the gang usually checks in at the end of the day just in case something shows up or just to catch up. Maybe some of you are already here (Daen?)
Indeed - sorry for the confusion.
OOC: (Rising from the Last War, pg 170)"
LOWER MENTHISProviding cheap entertainment for the masses, Lower Menthis is crowded. The Firelight district is filled with sketchy taverns and theaters ranging from the innocent to the risque, as well as gambling halls, brothels, and spontaneous performances in the streets.
Lower Menthis is also home to the Burning Ring, a fight club where spectators bet on amateur gladiators.
Technically illegal, the Burning Ring moves around the ward. Competitors are armed but unarmored; matches continue until a contestant yields, but fatalities do happen.
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Not the nicest place to live but I'm sure there are places to live there.
GETTING AROUND (pg 161) is a good guide to 'getting around' and of the general wards/districts.
Game on!
Well, some of the upper-level districts would not welcome rabble, but if you have the money... Some of the districts were quite low on residential buildings (this being Sharn, using the word "building" rather loosely), though.
“How do you know it’s a he?”
“Uh…kinda looks like a he. I don’t think they like to be called ‘it’.”
“Whatever. What should I do?”
“I don’t know. Knock on the desk? He’s probably just asleep.”
“They don’t sleep.”
“How would you know?”
“My uncle told me.”
“Pffft. What does your uncle know?”
“He was in the war. Said he served with one.”
“Huh. Didn’t know that.”
“He doesn’t talk about it much.”
“Well, we can’t just stand here.”
“Fine, I’ll shake him.”
“Better you than me.”
“Wait, is he saying something?”
“I don’t think so.”
“No, seriously, come over here. It like he’s whispering.”
“What is it saying.”
“He.”
“Whatever.”
“Sound like…Daryl?”
“Isn that his name?”
“How would I know? Everyone just calls him The Appraiser.”
“Weird. We should go. This is a terrible plan.”
“How can I help you?”
The two humans jumped back at my question. They were small. Children. Dirty. Tattered clothes. It was late. It is unusual for children to visit so late.
One had a sack. He was clutching it to his chest. He spoke.
“My…uncle sent us. He got an offer for a gem. He wanted to get your appraisal.”
I extended my hand. Armored and dark, it creaked as my fingers extended. The boy’s eyes followed it.
“Allow me to see the merchandise.”
The boy put the sack in my hand. He pulled his hand back as if he were afraid that my hand might close like a bear-trap. I slowly closed my fingers around the contents of the sack. The boys watched, transfixed.
I couldn’t blame them. I sometimes did the same.
The gem was small and well hidden inside the sack of rice. Even a cursory examination revealed that it was of decent quality. The rice was fresh as well.
“Do you have my fee?”
The boys looked at each other for a moment. The boy spoke again, “Um…no. He just sent us with…that.” He nodded at the gem.
I set the gem down on the desk in front of me, “Tell your uncle to come in with either my fee or his buyer.”
“What? Why?”
I turned to the second boy. He was larger than the first, likely along to reassure the first. Between their company and the rice hiding place, the boys must have felt safe.
That was about to change.
“Either he pays the appraisal fee, or he can give me a percentage of the sale. It is my way.”
"What if we sold the gem to you?" the smaller boy. Sweat trickled down his brow, "How much would you give us for it?"
I shook my head, the dark armor plates on the back of my neck scraped against the smokey crystalline structure underneath. ”"That would be unethical. I could pay you coppers for something worth a fortune. How would you know? More importantly, I appraise, I do not buy.”
“Fine, give the gem back,” the boy held the sack of rice open.
“I will not.”
The blood drained from the face of the first boy. The second stepped forward, “You can’t do that.”
“I can and I have. You will not leave this room with this in your possession.”
The large boy dove forward. I caught him by the wrist half a foot from the gem. He squeaked.
The smaller boy took another step back.
“It is unsafe for boys as young as you to be traveling with something so valuable. There are those that will notice that you came here and left quickly. They will assume you either left something with me, or are returning home with it. They might decide it is worth the risk to check.”
“But…but…that stealing!” the smaller boy.
“Untrue.”
The larger boy yanked his arm. I released him before he could damage himself. The two boys moved near each other. They began to speak in hushed tones. I pulled on my cloak.
“What are you doing?” The small boy’s face had regained its color. It was now very red.
“We are leaving.”
“We?!” The larger boy.
“Yes. I will accompany you home. That way you will not be molested.”
“You are coming with us?”
“Of course.””
The boys swallowed in unison.
“That’s okay. We will be fine. Just give us back the gem and we’ll be on our way.”
“No. It is too dangerous. I will accompany you. It is my way.”
“Please, Mr. Just give us back the gem and we’ll be back tomorrow. My uncle will kill me…”
“Quite impossible.”
The boys traded looks. The smaller one, “What if we leave it with you. We can come back tomorrow…”
“With the fee.”
The larger one, “Yes. The fee.” He was sweating.
“As you wish.”
The boys bumped into each other as they rushed out the door. I sat back down.
“Who was that,” Daen’s voice cracked as he stretched, walking into the room.
“Some young thieves.”
He yawned, “Yeah? And you let them leave?”
I picked up the gem, examining the deep, green color, “I have no concrete proof. They may well be back tomorrow with their uncle to collect this.”
Daen glanced at the gem, “Pretty. How do you know it was stolen?”
“Correction, I do not know. I suspect.”
“Fine, why do you suspect?”
“The rice.”
“What?”
I opened the sack, “Not a broken grain in sight. This rice is some of the finest in the city. No chance those boys have access to such high-quality rice.”
“Looks like rice to me.”
“If they do not return tomorrow, I shall reach out to the authorities.”
“They’ll just keep it for themselves.”
“Perhaps. That is not my concern. It is my way.”
The voices swirled through Alua's dreams; pleas for help, commands from her officers, memories of her childhood. The voices were constant. Sometimes they faded enough to allow her actual restful sleep, other times they rose to a crescendo that would spark nightmares or wake her up.
This time it was a friendly had shaking her shoulder that woke Alua up. Opening her eyes, she found herself staring into Sister Malley's worried face. The elderly dwarf kept her voice low. "There's been an accident. The lower lift failed again. We need you."
Alua jumped up, her shoulder-length blond hair matted and sticking up like a messy halo. She wore a pale grey peasant-style top underneath dark blue overalls; the clothes mostly clean but threadbare in places. Slipping on her heavy army boots, she grabbed her healer's kit and followed the Sister out to the lift.
There was a lot of blood. The lift had fallen at least twelve stories. Injured people lay on the lift platform, and on the ground all around. Overwhelmed by the need and pain, Alua froze, staring, trying to decide where to start.
Coming into focus in her peripheral vision, a translucent spectre with pointed ears and waist-length hair floated quickly through the injured. She hovered over a changeling, grey skin and white eyes and red blood. Taking her cue from the silent spectre she named Nurse, Alua ran towards the changeling, knowing she had mere moments to repair the damage before he passed on from this life.
It was hours later before she sat back on her heels, exhausted, depleted. She'd used every spell and blessing available to her, and her kit was empty, and it hadn't been enough. Cries for help echoed in her skull...Alua! Save us! No! She had to focus on the positive. People were alive that would have died if she hadn't been there. That would have to be enough.
In any event, it was time to head off to the Agency. Alua accepted a magical cleaning from one of the choir-boys who was developing a talent for wizardry. After all, Sebastian didn't like it when she showed up to work with blood under her nails, never mind in her hair.
Changing into her one "nice" dress (it had flowers that reminded her of home), she began the hour-long trek from Fallen to Tavick's Landing. It took a little longer this time because she had to find another lift to use.
***
Staring at the official envelope with the agency's name in big, looping letters, Alua wondered what it could be. An invitation? A case? A personal letter? A summons? So many possibilities contained in one little letter.
He smiled, ”Well, open it! That is why we pay you the big bucks here.”
Her boss's words startled her into action, but in her haste she dropped the envelope. An unfelt breeze whisked it under her desk, and she jumped down to grab it. Somehow, her probing fingers managed to push it further away, and she had to lever her desk away from the wall to find it. Heavier than it looked, the desk only moved a few inches, but it was enough to get her hand in. She groped around until she closed her fingers on the letter, and something....squishy.
Grimacing, she pulled out the letter, along with half a dead rat. Peeling the carcass off the envelope, she ignored the ghostly laughter and apologized, "Sorry, boss."
Finding a rag, she wiped off her hand and the envelope, then carefully opened it. Reading it, her grimace turned into a broad grin. "Great news! Somebody's been murdered!"
Action 1:
Phin appeared to be lost in the music she was playing for the tavern but really she was scoping out the clientele. Not that anyone was paying attention to her which she was completely fine with. As she played, she made note of how the patrons were dressed and their various states of sobriety, the drunker the better.
The Forlorn Elk did not attract the richest of the lower class but it was a respectable establishment and one of the cleaner of those she had played in. This is why she had negotiated an arrangement with the proprietor, Clayton, to play a couple times a week. It kept the people in the tavern longer and the longer they were there, the more they drank.
Having grown up in Sharn and never left the city, Phin had never seen much of the natural world. She had occasionally wondered what an elk actually looked like. All she could ever picture was a huge horse with horns.
Her set was finished and so she began to pack up her lute. She made her way over to Clayton to collect her fee for the night. She tucked a piece of white-blonde hair behind her ear, revealing an exaggerated point. Not that anyone could mistake her for anything but an elf from her natural grace and obvious elven features. Her pale blue eyes were heavily outlined by charcoal which some acquaintances assumed was where she got her nickname. For those who knew her well, they knew it was because she had a talent for burglary.
Clayton smiled as she reached the bar. ”Am I mistaken or did you play a new song tonight?” Surprise colored Phin’s face at his question, ”I didn’t think anyone actually listened when I played. But yes, I tried out something new tonight. When you get to be as old as I am, you need to mix it up every so often.” The man chuckled as he regarded her youthful appearance, ”Old, right.” He pressed a small coin purse into her hand. ”See you next week.”
Phin made her way into the back room to change. She always dressed a little nicer when she performed so that she would be taken seriously as an entertainer. But she did not want to be wearing those clothes on her way home because it would paint a huge target on her back. Not that she couldn’t take care of herself. Years of living on the streets of Sharn and then working for Mamma Ellie had taught her how to get the jump of others and how to be unexpectedly deadly. She didn’t look like a threat and she often used that to her advantage.
She looked down at the identification papers she had lifted off of one of the drunk patrons. It’s not something she did very often because she respected Clayton but she was a little short on money this week and she knew a guy that would pay some decent money for legitimate ID papers. What he did with them, she never asked.
Action 2:
As Phin made her way to the Agency, she was wondering why she bothered. Her share of nothing would always be nothing and nothing didn't pay her rent or for food. Maybe she had made a mistake in passing up taking over when Mamma Ellie had died...was killed...it was all the same. She had lost the only parental figure she had had. She could have been that parent to other orphans while making a more regular income. Her thigh tingled bringing her back to reality. That was why.
Her lifestyle under Mamma Ellie had been dangerous at times and would have been doubly so had she taken over. She couldn't risk anyone finding out about the dragonmark that now resided on her upper thigh. Not only that, it was difficult to be a parental figure when you looked younger than most of your so-called children.
And then there was Erix and Sebastian. If she was honest with herself then they were the reasons that she kept going back to the Agency, Sebastian's agency. If the agency failed then Sebastian would die. He may be gruff and infuriating at times but he had been good to her. That and she liked that he wasn't sentimental at all. He did ask a lot of questions but he also respected her right not to answer. And then there was Erix . Now that Mamma Ellie was dead, he was her oldest friend and the closest thing to family she had. The fact that the three of them had run into each other independently of the others made Phin believe that the universe wanted them together for some reason. She had lived enough years to know that you had to pay close attention to anything that appeared to be an interesting coincidence because it often wasn't.
As was her custom, Phin entered the agency quietly and sat herself down in one of the upholstered chairs expecting nothing interesting to happen which seemed to be the usual of late.
She perked up and sat forward at the mention of the message and waited for Alua to open it.
Great news! Somebody's been murdered!"
Phin held up her hands and said, "It wasn't me." Then she gives a small smile, "That is good news. It could be even better news depending on who was murdered. Does the note say who was killed?"
OOC: I’m assuming the gang usually checks in at the end of the day just in case something shows up or just to catch up. Maybe some of you are already here (Daen?)
Carefully Erix picked his way through the streets, moving from shadow to shadow, prisoner in hand - much easier this close to sunset. 'I like this time of year. The shadows of the buildings are nice and long, but people haven't yet lit torches.'
He sauntered through the doors, saw everyone already here, and instinctively tensed; decades in the military had left him with a hatred of tardiness. For a moment adrenaline flooded his stomach. 'Am I late? Are they early? Am I losing time again? I have to get a watch - as if I had the money for that.'
"Evening 'Boss'" he called to Sebastian, a callback to a joke so long running time had long since worn the the humour away and exposed the uncomfortable truth beneath. "Evening all. Don't tell me we actually have a job?"
Traces of the conversation he heard as he walked in surfaced in his mind, and he jumped in "Me neither." he held up the chicken, sqwaking, in his left hand. "I am planning to do murder most fowl in a moment though, then consume the evidence. I bought dinner! Figured I'd do a chicken pot pie, like the old days. Plus, for desert..." he smiled broadly and lifted the sack in his right hand in victory "Coffee! I knew there was a way to steep it properly in these stupid alembics." He nodded to the room.
1lb Beans 2cp
1lb Turnips 2cp
1lb Flour 2cp
1lb Potatoes 2cp
1lb Coffee 5cp
total: 1sp 5cp
Hoping maybe this defrays someone's cost of living, but okay if not.
Two decades in the military had left Erix with a lot of things - a dedication to punctuality, a habit of eating and sleeping whenever and wherever the opportunity arose, and enough nightmares to fill every night 'till he died. It had also utterly killed his appreciation for flavors, and while his food would keep you alive, no sane person wanted him in the kitchen.
Daen was worried. He was exhausted. And he was dirty. All of his old business as an appraiser was now going to the warforged out front. Well, technically the money both Daen and Darryl brought in mostly went to the loan and keeping this place operational, but he had liked the appraisal work. It was honest work. But he had to admit that Darryl was better at it and faster at it. With a sigh, he bent back down over his small table and returned to work.
The sculptures weren’t to Daen’s taste, but he wasn’t working on them for himself. But even carved out of the ivory, the creatures looked dark and alien to him. He imagined the beasts stalking Khyber would look something like these creatures with overly long limbs. As he brought his knife around to highlight its torso, he acknowledged that he was pleased with the work. He had done an excellent job replicating the pieces that had been brought to him. He would have preferred to work from the originals rather than the sketches he had been forced to make, but again, no choice with this job. Now, packing the two objects carefully into a box, he infused them with an aura of conjuration and summoning. For the next two days the aura would fool anyone inspecting them. Sadly, the money coming in from these had already been spent, but that seemed to be how it was going lately.
Standing, Daen wiped his hands on the padded shirt he wore, straightened the black curl that kept wanting to fall onto his forehead, and brought the box out of the workroom/bedroom that he shared with Darryl. Strolling out into the office, he laid the box down on the counter. His Brelish accent was clear as he greeted the others.
“Commissioned work for Lady Carlyassa is ready. I should have charged twice what I did, but we still owed her for last week,” Daen said, looking around. His glasses he used for carving were were spotted and dirty, but more importantly, they were still perched on his nose. Which explained why he was looking around like he couldn't quite see.
He smiled, ”Well, open it! That is why we pay you the big bucks here.”
Daen nearly choked on Sebastian’s quip. He hoped something changed soon and Sebastian could pay them all. Or perhaps he could cut back on his third job and focus on what was really important. Daen found his gaze being pulled to Darryl at the desk. There was still something about that warforged...
****
“Great news! Somebody's been murdered!"
Daen blushed and nearly choked again. They weren’t talking about him. He hadn’t murdered anyone. He was sure of that. Having convinced himself, he glanced at Phin, where the elf was sitting on the chair watching.
[thinking second part of Phin’s post here]
***