Presenting Barcos, urban druid, part-time vagrant, and ambitious reformer!
Barcos
Human (Taldan) druid (urban druid) 5 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player's Guide 101)
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +13
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Defense
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AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+5 armor, +2 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 33 (5d8+5)
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +9; +2 bonus vs. divinations and enchantment effects
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee dagger +5 (1d4/19-20)
Ranged mwk light crossbow +6 (1d8/19-20)
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +10)
. . 8/day—dazing touch
Druid (Urban Druid) Spells Prepared (CL 5th; concentration +10)
. . 3rd—cure moderate wounds, mad monkeys[UM], suggestion[D] (DC 19)*
. . 2nd—calm emotions[D] (DC 18)*, euphoric cloud[ACG] (DC 17), lesser restoration, summon nature's ally II
. . 1st—charm person[D] (DC 17)*, entangle (DC 16), heightened awareness[ACG], produce flame, summon nature's ally I (2)
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, enhanced diplomacy, guidance, light
. . D Domain spell; Domain Charm domain
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 14
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 15
Feats Agile Maneuvers, Combat Expertise, Cosmopolitan[APG], Deadly Aim, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Simple Weapon Proficiency - All, Spell Focus (enchantment)
Traits fast-talker, narrows survivor
Skills Bluff +11, Diplomacy +11, Disguise +17, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (history) +11, Knowledge (local) +11, Knowledge (nature) +8, Knowledge (nobility) +11, Perception +13, Sense Motive +12, Survival +12
Languages Common, Druidic, Halfling, Kelish, Skald
SQ finesse weapon attack attribute, lorekeeper, nature bond (Charm domain), nature sense, resist temptation, wild empathy +7
Combat Gear wand of cure light wounds; Other Gear +1 lamellar (leather) armor[UC], mwk light crossbow, amulet of natural armor +1, hat of disguise, headband of inspired wisdom +2, backpack, belt pouch, blanket[APG], flint and steel, holly and mistletoe, mess kit[UE], pot, soap, spell component pouch, trail rations (5), waterskin, 391 gp, 3 sp, 5 cp
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Special Abilities
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Agile Maneuvers Use DEX instead of STR for CMB
Combat Expertise +/-1 Bonus to AC in exchange for an equal penalty to attack.
Dazing Touch (5 HD max, 8/day) (Sp) Melee touch attack dazes foe for 1 rd, Immune if more HD than your level.
Deadly Aim -1/+2 Trade a penalty to ranged attacks for a bonus to ranged damage.
Druid (Urban Druid) Domain (Charm) Granted Powers: You can baffle and befuddle foes with a touch or a smile, and your beauty and grace are divine.
Finesse Weapon Attack Attribute Finesse weapons use Dexterity on attack rolls.
Lorekeeper (Ex) +2 Diplomacy, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility).
Nature Sense (Ex) A druid gains a +2 bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks.
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Precise Shot You don't get -4 to hit when shooting or throwing into melee.
Resist Temptation (Ex) +2 save vs. enchantment and divination
Spell Focus (Enchantment) Spells from one school of magic have +1 to their save DC.
Wild Empathy +7 (Ex) Improve the attitude of an animal, as if using Diplomacy.
Most folk who come to Oppara stay away from the Narrows. Why would anyone go there, really? Rather than gawking at stunning monuments and catching a show at one of Oppara’s theaters, you’re more likely to wade through filthy mud and catch a knife to the gut. Most folk in the Narrows who have a chance to leave take it as soon as they can. Most don’t.
Barcos was one of these unfortunate folks. His mother was a ragpicker, and his father was a part-time beggar and a part-time two bit conman. As with the Taldan love of pedigree, Barcos’ old man claimed descent from the first beggar in all of Taldor…whatever that meant. Whether it was true didn’t matter much at all.
Barcos spent his childhood scrabbling in the streets, working with other children when he could to scrounge for food and other necessities. He found that his wits were quick and his eyes were keen, that the hackles on the back of his neck would rise as if the city itself were speaking to him.
A chance meeting with another beggar changed his life forever. Uncommonly for many residents of the Narrows, it was for the better.
The old man sat on a crate on a corner dressed in the simple rags that most of the old beggar folk wore. As Barcos walked by him, those same hackles on the back of his neck raised. Not risk, not danger…no, this was a feeling of opportunity. He sat down beside the old man and started talking. He had a way with words, one he picked up from his father, and found it was easy to talk to the old man. The conversation flowed naturally through the day, and Barcos learned that the man was not just any old beggar. He was a druid, one that communed with the city and heard its subtle voice. Barcos was entranced.
A few years passed and Barcos practiced with the old man, who Barcos would come to find out was named Odovas. Some of his training involved actually doing things. There was instruction in the secret tongue of the druids, and lessons in the age-old arts of getting into trouble and then talking your way out of it. Mostly though, it was a process of watching, listening, and waiting, searching for the citysong, a nebulous force that embodied the life of Oppara itself.
One day, Odovas told Barcos he was moving on. There was more he had to do in life than just teach Barcos, after all, and he wasn’t getting any younger. Odovas told the young man that his final lesson, his final goal, would be to do some good to the city. To take the care that Odovas had shown him and magnify it. To work to change the system so that the wretched poverty of the Narrows would not need to define anyone again.
Odovas also pointed Barcos towards an old friend of his, an ambitious reformer named Martella Lotheed. His talents, after all, would go a long way to changing Taldor for the better. Barcos just needed a little nudge in the right direction.
Since meeting her, Barcos has found a deep passion for change and reform. His knowledge of the city and how to get around without being noticed in most situations has proven quite useful. Both his connection to the citysong and his talents for infiltration and reconnaissance have benefited greatly.
Most often, Barcos appears as a scruffy and deeply unassuming vagrant. His greyish-brownish-blackish beard is choppily trimmed and his similarly colored hair is roughly cut too. He wears a roughspun tunic and breeches held up by an ill-fittingly large leather belt. His simple appearance belies his keen talent for disguise and infiltration. With a silver tongue and a breadth of experience in seeing how people act, he’s quite proficient at disguising himself as many different stations of society, especially with the help of a hat of disguise from Martella Lotheed. He also carries a crossbow and a dagger for when a rare situation arises that he can’t defuse or escape from.
While life on some of the hardest streets of Oppara have left him a somewhat skittish character, Barcos is a deeply caring man. His heart bleeds for the other residents of the Narrows who lacked his good fortune in acquiring a caring mentor that fostered his talents. His magic and talents, he believes, spring from that. When not working for Martella, he does what he can to make life better in the Narrows using his magic, whether it’s conjuring water, purifying food, or healing illnesses. A life mostly on the streets has given him a few odd quirks. First, he rarely sleeps a whole night through. Rather, he sleeps sitting up, back against a wall, in fits and starts with his dagger always in his hand. It’s a holdover of a childhood that never promised something close to safety. Second, he hides away as much food as he can get his hands on. With no stable source of food growing up, it’s a compulsion now to make sure he has at least a few day’s worth of food that won’t go bad for when times get rough. For those able to look past his quirks and his wariness to trust new folks, Barcos is a kind man with a wide array of useful skills that he has a burning desire to use for the betterment of the people of Taldor.
Hey, best of luck everyone, but don’t wait up for me, I think I’ve got enough irons in the fire.
Just wanted to follow up that I am working on finalizing my Half-Orc Brawler. Will try and have everything done as soon as possible.
I just so happen to have built a level 5 character for another War for the Crown recruitment. She has a ranged focus and would fill a niche for a full BAB character--but while she's built to be combat capable, she is definitely also quite capable of engaging in RP, and indeed would prefer to talk (or sneak) her way through something before fighting. She is a cousin of Martella's who has been some snooping (and perhaps performing the odd poisoning--mostly knockout drugs, mind) on Martella's behalf behind the scenes.
This build includes background skills (a holdover from the previous application), but I can remove them if you don't allow those.
@DeathQuaker - background skills are in use for this campaign, so you're good leaving those in.
Sure, I wouldn't making something to try. How is Hp generated?
HP is half HD +1, plus Con modifier, if any.
I would like to present for consideration, Weathering Cantrell, sailor, brawler, and steward. I apologize for the picture, as I could not find an image that I felt had the right look for him, so I went with what I determined to be as close as possible.
-Brigadoon
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Hey everyone! I had just finished moving and finding a new job, and with more free time comes the urge to go back to PbP. Imagine my surprise when I saw a PbP War for the Crown game, ideally ticking off the intrigue and pathfinder urge at the same time!
I had been a part of a War for the Crown game where my involvement ended at some part previous to the point the team was in.
As per the requirements, I'd mostly be checking with Raesilia regarding my backstory, given that I was playing a Talbot Scion, and based on the story so far, it obviously wouldn't work.
I had been playing a young scion of the Talbot family in a similar position as Raesilia - in the disagreement regarding Taldor as it is. With the current Talbot scion being who they are, namely Raesilia, I was thinking about a not-so-distant cousin who's similarly minded, but quite detached of the inheritant, main branch. I assume that, if that is reasonable, things can be worked out more in detail pre-joining!
As per the questions in the initial post:
A (potentially, depending on current player permission), Bartolo Talbot is a scion of the non-main branch of the Talbots. He is a skilled merchant, sent away to oversee some familiar holdings and trading routes - mostly due to his love of the drink and proneness to engage in political debates with people above his standing.
Bartolo Talbot is an enthusiastic follower of Abadarian principle, as befits a Talbot. Trade, when moral an uncoerced, is what brings prosperity, and with it order, joy and health to the nation. The arcane structure, unfair and entrenched systems of taxation, and quarrels with neighbours most should have forgotten, are a block on the road towards prosperity that Taldor could enjoy. As such, Princess Eutropia's thoughts are sympathetic to Bartolo, and he views her as a change for Taldor to rise from its slumber.
While obviously subject to change/communication, the role that Bartolo would fill in combat would be a melee fighter, potentially more ready than others to fight in a social situation - but still preferring not to.
In social environments, his brashness, boldness and cheek should fit as a counterpoint to the more subtle operators, drawing attention, and enjoying his position as an imposing man not afraid of confrontation to provide cover or inviting himself and the team to places. While Intimidate will be a skill he'd possess and use often, I do see it as mainly the "Do you know who we are?" or "I demand you rescind your statement about X/Y/Z." as opposed to being a brute.
I've not got the mechanical sheet up and running, but the general mechanical side would be leaning into fighting with improvised weapons, and leaning into the Enforcer/Hurtful side of things. Will happily work with the GM regarding what level of optimisation would be reasonable and stay away from some questionable combinations.
In addition, a few feats will be spent towards social sides, such as the ones getting people that might've been intimidated to remain neutral after the fact, and the ones that help with social/intrigue rolls.
Narrative-wise - working to change minds, broker deals, and act in accordance of the Abadarite principles, helping businesses and craftsmen start. Would also like engagement with the Talbot family, but that would require some chats!
As a known, and obvious, sympathiser to the cause, Martella Lotheed could've sent Bartolo a message regarding needing like-minded individuals, there. Alternatively, I'd need to check the way book 1 got resolved here, Bartolo could've decided to offer his assistance on his own accord, having heard rumours of the sort (and potentially been told to be subtler).
Alternatively, if need be - I did have a concept of a Sarenite (or Abadarite, I do love me Abadar) Qadiran, hoping to work towards burying old grudges and hoping to find a new ally to the North, and playing with the Taldan dislike of Qadirans as well as Qadira's own position of being a satrapdom in a much larger Empire and all the complications that come with that.
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Thank you to everyone who has applied, or is thinking of applying (and nice to see some familiar faces, Garvid!).
I would like to reiterate that the vibe of the current party and how the AP has flown so far is *not* combat-focused, so I suggest that your builds should be focused on the intrigue, diplomacy and utility aspects first, and combat second - as otherwise you might find yourself awfully bored. Not saying there is no combat whatsoever, but we have been finding ourselves going months IRL without a fight.
I have made some updates to Weathering regarding his stats, as well as adding a note to this profile on his potential role in this party.
@Critzible A Shelynite priestess sounds fun! One half of my vigilante is also A Shelynite with an... interesting take on her faith.
@The Lion Cleric
Ah, a fellow Talbot! Sure, collaborating a potential backstory sounds fun.
Rose's story is based around an interpretation that strict adherence to ancient customs for a merchant family means the women can have no possessions and essentially work for the family, allowed to live among their wealth but never owning any part of it themselves. That might not be canon but it's what was established for this story. As a result this has led to a theme of female Talbots rebelling against this through time and she is just the latest one - hoping to be the last. Her mother disappearing after such an act of protest triggered her becoming a vigilante (that is nearing being revealed in the near future) and starting a countermovement of which the full scope isn't known yet.
If Bartolo is an established troublemaker and outcast like her then I can see them getting along well despite the above. Maybe he's even involved with this more shady, underground faction she runs. If that interests you we can work out some details by PM.
I feel the need to repeat though that the current players tend to avoid combat when possible and instead usually go for intrigue and non-combat solutions. For instance, looking at Bartolo's statblock, I'd recommend not going 20 str and instead investing more in skills and out of combat utility. Ranger can probably work well there and your social skills are decently good as they are - just be mindful that you'd probably rely on those more than the combat ones. I've heard there is a lot of combat in the near future but that is atypical for this PBP as a whole.
I realize the comments may not have been directed toward my submission, but I do want to assure that when I built Naliah, I wanted her to be fully not just capable of but absolutely ensconced in social interaction and intrigue. And indeed, one of the things I like about the Slayer is that Studied Target applies to many skill checks, including Bluff and Sense Motive. Even the combatty things she can do are often intended to be more actions in surprise and/or in secret, for when things get dire, or to prevent a greater altercation (for example, secretly poisoning someone who is about to start a fight and knocking them out so they can't start the fight).
I even originally envisaged this character as a Velvet Blade archetype and could revert her to that if that was preferable (though I do like her as she is).
@Deathquaker Sorry, I forgot to respond to yours. I like the backstory; it is very meaty and would suit the campaign style well. There's a lot of similarities between Rose and Naliah so lots of possible bonding options as well.
I should mention though that game-mechanically it is a very similar build to mine (an archer 'rogue' with the exact same skillset out of combat) and to a lesser extent to Marius (who has the slayer archetype on his inquisitor). Being a melee primary combatant would be a plus in my book as we lost our tank with the paladin and Marius would like someone to flank with him. We also lack a primary divine caster at present but i'm not sure if that can be aligned with Nailah's backstory.
Ah, I had seen the overall class setups but had not seen the specifics and thought I might have lucked out and had her be able to fit in. I had built Naliah for another WftC recruitment who needed a ranged combatant specifically. I figured since I already had a character for this specific AP who happened to be exactly the right level and using EITR, etc. I'd throw her in for consideration.
But it looks like she just won't work, so I'll withdraw my application. I've got a bit of rebuild fatigue with this character (I had already reworked her from being melee to ranged, and trying to go back now and refigure out how she would work... I just don't have it in me at the moment). So that will be easier for all of us. Good luck and happy gaming.
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Any thoughts on Barcos from the existing players? I’m not seeing any tremendously clear potential background links but I’d love to try to work something out.
Hey Simeon! Nice to see you again.
I like everything mechanically for your Urban Druid. Haven't seen those in action yet and the utility even outside of the spellcasting also seems great.
For a shared backstory of sorts, for a beggar druid there's two things that come to mind immediately that weren't in the backgrounds but did happen in the story.
First, when the party reached the village we're currently gouverning, Stachys, everyone there was described to be living in severe poverty. One of the first thing Rose, as a Major Noble, offered to do there was to buy everyone shoes. That was a huge punt on her part and it generally wasn't received well due to pride of the local populace, but it might be that word of that kind-hearted (if ill-received) gesture spread. Especially with how drasticaly we've been investing in the town since and how much people's lives presumably have improved with its wealth. Also we've been doing a lot of monster hunting and repairing of local landmarks as well. Presumably we have a good reputation by now. Maybe as a champion of the poor you feel drawn to that cause in some way?
Otherwise, we have also recently had dealings with a local druid circle. There was a disease spreading among local cattle, the source of which was a pumping station the party had cleared of undead (and Rose had repaired and improved with dwarven technology - courtesy of a very high lucky engineering roll). Apparently, when the swamp started to dry the unearthing cemetary below had poisoned adjacent grazers. One of their agents came and tried to fix it alone, was caught in the act and accused of spreading said disease. We eventually cleared their name in a trial and Marius as the judge and steward of the town proclaimed them innocent. Afterwards we worked together with that faction to conpletely clear the disease. Maybe you can be a liason or ally from that cooperation?
@Simeon:
There is also a third element that just got resolved, although news of it may travel slowly. Some of the population of several villages in the county have been living as refugees in a place called Beggarwood, loosely led by four Robin Hood-type figures. The issues that had driven them from their homes have been resolved and they are now returning (or resettling, in some cases) to something more resembling civilization.
I've got the sheet going on now! I've changed things so that there's significantly more skills and they're more applicable. I've also leaned more into the, uhm, enjoying life concept of the character - he's definitely not a toned combatant, but the big, burly, bearded Taldane nobleman demanded a high Str score! No need for the Giant's Belt, though.
The key thing is, to avoid potential skill/concept overlap, I've tried to avoid anything that deals with physical subterfuge. Providing a distraction while said subterfuge is happening, however, absolutely.
Rose's story is based around an interpretation that strict adherence to ancient customs for a merchant family means the women can have no possessions and essentially work for the family, allowed to live among their wealth but never owning any part of it themselves. That might not be canon but it's what was established for this story. As a result this has led to a theme of female Talbots rebelling against this through time and she is just the latest one - hoping to be the last. Her mother disappearing after such an act of protest triggered her becoming a vigilante (that is nearing being revealed in the near future) and starting a countermovement of which the full scope isn't known yet.If Bartolo is an established troublemaker and outcast like her then I can see them getting along well despite the above. Maybe he's even involved with this more shady, underground faction she runs. If that interests you we can work out some details by PM.
Sounds pretty accurate. While Bartolo might be very similar to the "young nobleman" at first glance, being loud, proud and direct, he has the wealth of worldview in his experience. He's leaned on his noble reputation to get away with being contrarian, and the skills he learned in the Kitharodian Academy (The most prestigious bardic college in Oppara) have aided in that regard.
and it matters not what people are, but what they can do for their compatriots! His (aunt?) disappearing, might've been the last drop.
I'm also interested about the underground faction in question - part of the skill acquisition was a set of skills (and gear) that make Bartolo an excellent transporter of goods, messages, and potentially people.
Howdy Trevor86!
I could see Barcos being intrigued by Rose's reputation by proxy through Martella Lotheed.
The druid circle could also be a good connection through Barcos' mentor, Odovas.
I think what I'll ultimately settle on is some combination of those connections. With Odovas having known Martella, I was also thinking he could have had contacts with the druid circle.
With the connections between Odovas and both Martella and the druids, Barcos would have his interest in the town piqued. Looking into it more with Martella's aid, he'd have learned about Rose's charity and thought it could be interesting to meet a noble that had people's best interests at heart for a change and maybe try to help them.
I am going to try again on this one. I submitted St. John Smythe the first time and updated him. He has a love interest in one of Martella's cousins though her family would never allow it. He met her through Martella when he came to her attention through his dueling while in the Rondelero school.
I finally finished something, after working on it for a while.
Faenia Jarlbjorn
Female human skald (battle scion, court poet) 5 (Pathfinder Player Companion: Heroes of the High Court 6, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide 49, Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Intrigue 48)
CG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +8
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Defense
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AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 19 (+7 armor, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 36 (5d8+10)
Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +7
Defensive Abilities uncanny dodge
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)
Melee +1 greatsword +6 (2d6+4/19-20) or
. . mwk silver warhammer +6 (1d8+2/×3)
Ranged mwk composite longbow +6 (1d8+2/×3)
Special Attacks battle prowess, rage power (guarded life[APG]), raging song 14 rounds/day (inspired contemplation, song of marching), spell kenning 1/day
Skald (Battle Scion, Court Poet) Spells Known (CL 5th; concentration +8)
. . 2nd (3/day)—blistering invective[UC] (DC 15), heroism, versatile weapon[APG] (DC 15)
. . 1st (5/day)—grease, heightened awareness[ACG], liberating command[UC], moment of greatness[UC], saving finale[APG] (DC 14), timely inspiration[APG] (DC 14)
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, ghost sound (DC 13), grasp, mending, oath of anonymity, prestidigitation
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Statistics
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Str 14, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 16
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 18
Feats Combat Expertise, Deadly Aim, Lingering Performance[APG], Power Attack, Scribe Scroll, Spellsong[UM]
Traits helpful, rising star
Skills Acrobatics +5 (+1 to jump), Bluff +12, Climb +3, Diplomacy +12 (+14 to handle crowds), Disguise +10 (+14 on checks to pass as human), Escape Artist +3, Intimidate +11, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (engineering) +5, Knowledge (geography) +3, Knowledge (history) +7, Knowledge (local) +9, Knowledge (nature) +5, Knowledge (nobility) +7, Knowledge (planes) +5, Knowledge (religion) +7, Linguistics +5, Perception +8, Perform (oratory) +12, Perform (sing) +7, Ride +3, Sense Motive +12, Spellcraft +5, Swim +3, Use Magic Device +8; Racial Modifiers +2 Intimidate, +2 Knowledge (local)
Languages Celestial, Common, Draconic
SQ bardic knowledge +2, courtly presence, finesse weapon attack attribute, handling the crowd, versatile performance (oratory)
Combat Gear durable arrow (5); Other Gear +1 breastplate, mwk heavy steel shield, +1 greatsword, mwk composite longbow (+2 Str), mwk silver warhammer, amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, bedroll, belt pouch, courtier's outfit, flint and steel, masterwork backpack[APG], mess kit[UE], mirror, silk rope (50 ft.), songs of the linnorm kings, with ritual (meditation book, level 5 skald), spell component pouch, tome of epics[ACG], trail rations (5), waterskin, 13 gp, 9 sp
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Special Abilities
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Bardic Knowledge +2 (Ex) Add +2 to all knowledge skill checks.
Battle Prowess (Ex) Selected feats can be shared with inspired allies for 2 rounds of raging song per round shared.
Combat Expertise +/-1 Bonus to AC in exchange for an equal penalty to attack.
Courtly Presence +2 (Ex) Start verbal duels with extra edge for presence tactics
Deadly Aim -1/+2 Trade a penalty to ranged attacks for a bonus to ranged damage.
Finesse Weapon Attack Attribute Finesse weapons use Strength on attack rolls.
Guarded Life (5 hp) (Ex) If reduced below 0 hp, convert some damage to non-lethal and auto-stabilize.
Handling the Crowd +1 (Ex) +1 AC, Perform when adjacent to two creatures, bonus on Diplomacy to influence crowds.
Lingering Performance Bardic Performances last 2 rds after you stop concentrating.
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Raging Song (standard action, 14 rounds/day) (Su) Song can inspire allies in a variety of ways.
Spell Kenning (1/day) (Su) Spend a skald spell to duplicate a bard, cleric, or sorcerer/wizard spell.
Spellsong Combine spellcasting and bardic performance
Uncanny Dodge (Ex) Retain DEX bonus to AC when flat-footed.
Versatile Performance (Oratory) +12 (Ex) You may substitute the final value of your Perform: Oratory skill for Diplomacy or Sense Motive checks
Faenia Jarlborn is the daughter of Landgrave Ogvai Jarlbjorn. Due to the laws of male inheritance, she won't be able to inherit any of his holdings in a real way, but Ogvai was a generous and caring father, and when she was growing up her fervent hope was to become an Ulfen guard, and protect the emperor. For myriad reasons, this was unrealistic, and while Faenia eventually stopped talking about this dream, she grew to enjoy the culture of the court, and how her father was able to influence Taldor towards better outcomes. She asked to learn the ways of the bard, and he paid her way into Kitharodian Academy.
She turned out to be less adept at certain traditional bardic performances. She had good pitch and could sing, but more than anything - her skill was in oratory. She could hold the attention of a room with as well as any bard, but her father's training and her martial background led her to accidentally get into fights - once which she won more often than not, often by virtue of size and strength. In lieu of kicking her out, they developed an alternate path for graduation, bringing in ulfen teachers to give her a traditional skald education.
Finally she had found her calling. She learned about the taletelling of her ancestors, and how the tales could subtly get messages across that took root into the minds of those that listened - allegory, idioms, ideas that took root. The skald had, for time immemorial, tempered the erratic nature of the leaders of the land of the Linnorm kings. She thought such a thing would be useful if she could get close to court. In order to work on the process of reforming society, she begun working on ways to get herself into the good graces of Stavia, though more recently she has begun to see that Eutropia is a much better bet, and can be found in ale halls preaching the virtues of reform.
Faenia is a statuesque woman with blond hair and blue/hazel eyes. Her skin is a little darker than most Ulfen women, which is likely a reflection of her mother's southern heritage. She keeps her hair ably coiffed in traditional ulfen braids. Other than a mild underbite, she is strikingly handsome, and obviously follows a diligent exercise regiment - given that under her loose entertainer or courtier outfit are rippling muscles.
She has beautiful tattoos of blood-red roses on a thorny vine running from halfway up her forearms to very near to her back. The tattoos are almost always covered by clothes, and she is careful to keep them hidden.
She never tries to get into fights, but is opinionated, and certain things push her buttons. She is gregarious, and an excellent storyteller and diplomat, and a competent singer, who knows a great deal of odd information picked up from her training. In a fight, she is brutal, and swings her enormous familial greatsword with skill, which were reinforced over the course of a few dungeon-delves and other fights, though she didn't quite prove as useful to the other adventurers as they had predicted, given her courtly inclinations, she struggled a bit to continue training, and is eager to work with people who would need her.
Recruitment closes on Sunday, August 6th.
So far we seem to have:
- Ouachitonian's wannabe Ulfen Guard
- Brigadoon's brawler/rogue in service of House Erallan, Weathering Cantrell
- Simeon's beggar urban druid, Barcos
- Marik Whiterose's Order of the Lion Daring Champion Cavalier
- Critzible's (Shelynite?) cardinal cleric
- DeathQuaker's Naliah Lotheed - withdrawn
- The Lion Cleric's dandy ranger, Bartolo Talbot
- trawets71's rondelero duelist, St. John Smythe
- Litejedi's skald, Faenia Jarlborn
Let me know if I've missed anyone!
I apologize for the late update, but some changes needed to be made. The final draft for Weathering Cantrell, in service of House Erallan, is submitted
Good luck folks!
Just checking in - I've updated my character sheet with what I believe is the final version as well - Shopping takes a while!
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Hi everyone!
This was a difficult choice, as there were multiple great submissions. With feedback from the rest of the group, and also taking into account playing and posting histories, I would like to invite the following players to the Discussion thread:
- Simeon, with urban druid Barcos
- Litejedi, with skald Faeni Jarlbjorn
Everyone else, thank you for your interest! And a special mention to Brigadoon for the effort you put into Weathering's background, much appreciated!
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Have a great game, everyone! Thank you for the consideration and hopefully see you around!
Congrats folks! Thanks for the consideration and have a great game!