Conquest of the Vale (Inactive)

Game Master leinathan

Hi DM, it's Archlich here with the character. Synthesist Summoner is not compatible with Unchained Summoner, so I had to adapt. Let me know your thoughts.

I do not see an avian base form in the unchained eidolon page. Please select a different base form.

What subtype did you select?

I see you have a 30ft fly speed and a 5ft fly speed. That confuses me, can you explain it?

Under what circumstances does Lettu make use of his eidolon?

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@Shedinn -- If you purchase an exotic saddle, I'd say yes. What sort of creature rides atop a viper?

@Shedinn -- If you purchase an exotic saddle, I'd say yes. What sort of creature rides atop a viper?

a very deceitful and insidious one?

I do not see an avian base form in the unchained eidolon page. Please select a different base form.

What subtype did you select?

I see you have a 30ft fly speed and a 5ft fly speed. That confuses me, can you explain it?

Under what circumstances does Lettu make use of his eidolon?

Avian is one of the base forms from the Standard summoner. Like I said, synthesists are not compatible with the unchained summoner, so I was trying to adapt it the best I could. I can try to manually change it using the shadow eidolon itself, maybe with a biped or even serpentine subtype. In any way, it seems I won’t be able to keep his sheet much automated (I’m using Hero Lab right now).

Hero Lab sometimes adds these two flight speeds on the characters - I believe it’s a bug, but maybe the intention was to say he’s worse flying when he’s trying to hover (which is true, unless you have the feat or similar.

Lettu and his shadowy eidolon grew to respect it each other and know the potential of their fused nature. Their unlikely friendship grew to the point that the eidolon is almost like a second akin to him, since he lives mostly in the wild since his retirement. He’d probably not use it much while having a calm dinner in a tavern, though.

Please use the rules for the Unchained eidolon in their entirety. If you could point me at which abilities make them incompatible, I'd be happy to make a ruling.

If you want to start on Sunday, what's the submission deadline?

I updated now - it's a fight since Hero Lab doesn't really like it at all! The new unchained eidolons are stronger than the ones from before, so it feels a little off. I lost my flight, but gained a bunch of other toys. Hopefully now the numbers match - I updated the sheet! I made him serpentine/shadow and gave him arms and the shadow-related evolutions.

CYLA... hm.. she both would and wouldn't join a mercenary group.

I could see her as acting like a mercenary for a mercenary group. If that makes sense.

She also may have simply come to the area on her own, and joined up when she came across them sense they were heading their anyway.

As for cyla and stayven, it would certainly be interesting dynamic. I would want to note, it's not entirely a disregard of others beliefs, more along the lines of I have mine, and I'm going to believe mine. That said, to reuse my earlier example of the bandit scenario, if the village were adamantly against her using the poison, then she likely would not. That is their decision for their lives. The main question would be if she would even mention it, it is highly likely she would have simply said nothing about it, and then returned with a "problem solved" only going into detail if asked. She also wouldn't just murder someone that seemed remorseful, unless it was fairly heinous crimes. But as you said, what those would be is entirely up to her own morale compass, which would rub some the wrong way.

CYLA... hm.. she both would and wouldn't join a mercenary group.

I could see her as acting like a mercenary for a mercenary group. If that makes sense.

So she would join, and then tell herself, "I'm not really a part of this group, I'm just pretending harrumph"?

I updated now - it's a fight since Hero Lab doesn't really like it at all! The new unchained eidolons are stronger than the ones from before, so it feels a little off. I lost my flight, but gained a bunch of other toys. Hopefully now the numbers match - I updated the sheet! I made him serpentine/shadow and gave him arms and the shadow-related evolutions.

This is the list of evolutions available to unchained eidolons. You've selected two things that aren't on that list -- the shadow evolutions. If HeroLab is causing problems, I might suggest doing the sheet by hand.

If you want to start on Sunday, what's the submission deadline?

Hopefully before that?

mmm sure. She would join, and if she doesn't get any real connections in the group, would have no qualms about just up and leaving if some large issue comes up. If she did form meaningful connections, it would at least cause her to hesitate, at most make her suck it up, once or twice. That is if she couldn't convince them to leave with her.

Well, as an elf her idea of "some time" might well be very different from that of a human. In pathfinder, a human is considered an adult at 15 years of age. An elf? 110. An elf isn't venerable until 350 years old, and can live up to the very maximum possible of 750 years.

I could well see an elf having trouble seeing any humans (or dwarves for that matter) as being a meaningful connection simply because they don't live very long in comparison. And for the purposes of being in a border fort? Spending 1, 5, even 10 years there before moving on...that may well not be seen as being that big of a deal.

True, though elves that were raised among humans actually reach maturity alot sooner than the listed age IIRC. Elves age physically at the same rate as humans. So both would be "grown" by 21. The difference is elves don't place a level of experience on maturity as well. I think I also remember reading they develop slower emotionally, but that those raised by humans develop that quicker. You would have too, given that 60 years in you likely have seen more family die than an elf does after 200.

Also. Drow don't strike me as folk patient enough to parent for 100 years.

But, another way to sum her up-

"I realize the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid ass decision I've elected to ignore it." Hah

I can’t really get the synthesist to work with unchained summoner, so I will withdraw. I don’t want to cause any issues. Thanks for the consideration anyway, leinathan.

Also, elves form meaningful relationships with lesser lived races often. Just because a flower is pretty for only half a year doesn't mean it is less pretty to look at. I mean, look at all the half elves running around haha.

Also, elves form meaningful relationships with lesser lived races often. Just because a flower is pretty for only half a year doesn't mean it is less pretty to look at. I mean, look at all the half elves running around haha.

Bestiality is no laughing matter!

Well, it looks like we've got the four of you! I'll make a Discussion and Gameplay thread posthaste, and the four of you can move into the thread! We've got a fighter, a rogue, a wizard and a fifth person. If someone else wants to bring a divine-type, I'd be happy to accept you. But we're gonna start this weekend.

Is Stayven among the four?

I'd be happy enough to whip up a divine, give me a few hours, and I'll get something cool up and running. Do you have any elaborations other than divine-type?
Anyway, that sounds exciting, and I'll get to work!

Is Stayven among the four?

Yes!

Do you have any elaborations other than divine-type?

Nope!

I will admit, to being quite tired, and so my background isn't quite up to par. However, hopefully this snake cleric healer will pique your interest!

Calling Gov good or not really depends on who you are.

In the world of Pathfinder, morality is an objective physical force. In this way, calling someone Good does not depend on who you are. Someone is Good, or they are not.

Is Gov Good? The way that you have described him does not make him appear Good. Good characters are defined by their willingness and desire to sacrifice for the good of others. Characters are not Good because they help their friends -- everyone helps their friends, even Evil characters.

- - -

Can you tell me about Gov's family? Did he come from a tribe of orcs that had settled in the Vale, or were his parents independent? Why did he leave? Why is he coming back?

Gov has learned much in his time living amongst civilization, and considers them to truly be his people, even if Gov hopes to be able to broker a peace between the current residents of the vale and the new colonizers, but a job is a job, and if he needs to get his hands bloody, so be it.

This sentence is a bit confusing.

What does he want to happen in the Vale, without "but" or "even if"?

If he considers himself a city-person, why does he dress like a tribe member?

All excellent questions and points! I'll take your DM judgement and drop the good aspect of his alignment, we may have slightly different opinions on alignment, but who doesn't have their own opinion on it? Would you say that he's more TN then?

Hopefully that's better? If not, I'll keep at it! :)

Much better-proofread :)

I wasn't making a judgment, I was asking a question. I read, "does not harm others, is willing to maim and kill, but loyal to allies". That sounds like N or LN to me, but your second description of "wants to blend cultures to promote peace" appears NG. Your alignment is up to you and has no bearing on your eligibility, I just wanted to make sure I knew what sort of character you're creating.

How do you imagine this character being introduced?

Hmmm! Well, potentially as a local guide, someone who can survive in the wilderness, and potentially provide food and support to a group. I see that people have already made it to the fort, so he could be waiting there? I'm also not opposed to having met them on the road, whatever is easiest for everyone! Should I assume that I have been approved? :)

Here's the crunch on Mairen Roäc, a Holy Guide paladin of Erastil. I think it's a particularly apt combination for this module:

A holy guide believes that it's her sacred calling to clear the roads of bandits between towns as well as to escort travelers to safety. She must enforce the rule of law in the wilderness and help those that cannot defend themselves against the many dangers of the area.

Focus that around a devotion to Old Deadeye:

Erastil is an elder deity, his worship hearkening back to the time when mankind first set about harnessing the wilderness and mastering nature.

I'm envisioning her having been led to join this mercenary company by her faith, either directly by omens sent by Erastil, or by simply recognizing the opportunity to work good through its activities. Background, appearance, and crunch are in the profile.

Here's the crunch on Mairen Roäc, a Holy Guide paladin of Erastil. I think it's a particularly apt combination for this module:

A holy guide believes that it's her sacred calling to clear the roads of bandits between towns as well as to escort travelers to safety. She must enforce the rule of law in the wilderness and help those that cannot defend themselves against the many dangers of the area.

Focus that around a devotion to Old Deadeye:

Erastil is an elder deity, his worship hearkening back to the time when mankind first set about harnessing the wilderness and mastering nature.

I'm envisioning her having been led to join this mercenary company by her faith, either directly by omens sent by Erastil, or by simply recognizing the opportunity to work good through its activities. Background, appearance, and crunch are in the profile.

Does Mairen have any life-goals, things that she hopes to one day accomplish?

Where did she get her beautiful sword?

I also have a couple of minor mechanical notes:

We are using Automatic Bonus Progression, so Mairen's equipment could use some work.

I see that her Traits don't make much sense for the backstory given.

I also believe that she should have only 5 trained skills (2 class, 2 background, 1 human) and that 2 of them should be background skills.

Hmmm! Well, potentially as a local guide, someone who can survive in the wilderness, and potentially provide food and support to a group. I see that people have already made it to the fort, so he could be waiting there? I'm also not opposed to having met them on the road, whatever is easiest for everyone! Should I assume that I have been approved? :)

One more question for Gov, and then I need a bit of time to choose between him and this new paladin.

Where did he receive his training as a cleric and as a wizard?

Think I missed the bonus progression stuff, never played in a game with it before, but it should be a pretty quick fix.

In regards to his training: the way I see it, he would have wanted to learn more about the Golarian pantheon, and would have purchased the holy texts of the god that spoke the most to him, (Teshallas) and from there looking to find another true follower of his faith, and learning from them. Looking at the actual benefits of VMC wizard, and the fact that I chose a viper familiar on top of a domain that gives a constrictor animal companion, I feel like the VMC could be explained as having received additional favor from his deity, as opposed to classical wizard training. (An ecclesiathurge gets a bonded object anyway, and no armor, they're already pretty close to divine wizard.)

If you are a VMC wizard, you are a wizard (albeit a bit of a novice wizard). Especially since you will be gaining a level during the game and acquiring wizard school abilities, it would make the most sense if Gov had received wizard training from somebody.

Your explanation is a great reason for being a cleric, though.

Let me know when you finish adjusting your statblock, and post it again. Also, looking at Gov's ability scores... they are 10/13/10/14/16/9? Please use the totals when posting statblocks.

I just looked -- Mairen is built with 20-point buy. For this game, it is 15 point buy.

Apologies for the mistakes. I came across the recruitment thread last minute and hastened to get my toe in the door.

Mairen's life goals are simple and general both: to be true to Erastil, and enjoy the adventures her faith leads her to. To live with honor, to help those in need, and always be able to look herself in the eyes without shame whenever she comes across a mirror.

Her blade was a parting gift from the druid who healed her and restored her spirit.

I'll work on the crunch asap.

When Gov left the Vale, he brought with him many trophies of his time there, after all there were many creature of great power that Gov had managed to outsmart, escape from, or prove that he was more trouble than it was worth to eat. Learning of the process of enchanting items, he became excited, wanting to increase the effect of his various trinkets so that he could fully tap into the power that he believed was contained in them. He sought out a wizard then and got his belts and pelts enchanted. During that time, he was very interested in learning more about the enchantment process, and hoped to learn how to do it himself. He watched the wizard closely, but to no avail. The wizard's notes were all encoded, and he guarded his secrets well. Noticing that Gov had an interest in learning his magics though, he became intrigued, performing a number of tests to see if Gov might prove to be a worthwhile apprentice. He found that Gov had some latent arcane potential, but nothing worth the wizards time as far as training would go; certainly he was no natural. The wizard gave Gov a few tips on how to channel the arcane energy that Gov had, and sent him on his way, not realizing that through Gov's oink-headed stubbornness, Gov would eventually make the most out of the few pitiful tricks he was shown, hoping to master them to tap them of all their potential, the way that a powerful wizard might.

How's that for VMC wizard?

Looks fine to me.

It would seem that your next task is to import everything into the profile, and synthesize the changes we've discussed into one cohesive submission. I would like it if you put a bit of effort into the formatting as well, to encourage readability -- I suggest selective usage of bolding.

Note: We will shortly move on. Characters who are not ready for immediate play will be left behind.

Hey sorry about the delay! My profile should now be up to date, if it's not too late. If it is, no worries and happy playing! (Link here!)

You did it! Drop into Discussion, then.

Currently, the PCs are arguing about fey in the middle of the Fort. Up to you how and where you're introduced, but you must introduce yourself.

Hello, Paizo-World!

We seem to have lost a player, taking us down to four. I would like to plumb the depths of the available player-base and see if I can't find someone willing to play a mercenary seeking land, gold, and titles in the Bloodsworn Vale.

The King of Korvosa has hired adventurers to clear the deadly wilderness that is the Vale of threats before the royal surveyor shows up to open the new trade road.

Currently, the players are in battle with local fey. Once they wrap that up, I suspect they will want to report back at base camp, where they will meet any new characters that wish to join. The character-creation guidelines are listed on the first page of this thread (link).

I am looking for one or two additional players.

The current party consists of a Korvosan human cartographer, an orcish priest of Teshallas, a half-drow arcane archer, and a dwarven crafter/warrior. We would most benefit from a knowledgeable mage or a support character (or both).

Overwhelmingly hopeful for this one!

I build PCs that are Mega Knowledge Skills & Mega Bluff (& Diplomacy). It's a nice coincidence that you're looking maybe for a Knowledge based PC.

I've DMed and Played, I dunno, billions of sessions in and around Korvosa -- including Conquest of Bloodsworn Vale -- but my knowledge of the module is so far removed from published text and into the home-game evolutions as to not matter too much.

Looking at your first Recruitment post I will build a LE, Pro-Korvosa (even pro-Cheliax/Devils) Wizard for application. Maybe just out of The Academae. Maybe with an Imp (Improved) Familiar -- though I usually don't do Familiars.

I'm the kind of Player that often askes the DM during Gameplay if I can make a Knowledge check for more background and setting information. I love games where I can really dive in to the campaign material. I like trying out-of-the-box gambits and roleplay guile -- from time to time -- over constant, typical hack-and-slash. The big part of my style of play is the Bluff. I love to Bluff evil NPCs -- all in order to gather information. If my PC can *occasionally* shine by attempting to Bluff the (whatever) evil monster, tricking it into giving the party its secrets or whatever, I'm happy. And the cool thing is that, when I fail a Bluff and it doesn't work, hey, we were just gonna kill the monster anyway.

Regarding my LE Alignment for this PC: Outside of game, firstly and most importantly, I Abhor PvP situations. I do not play in games where PCs don't work as a team, share information, share treasure, etc. I think it's good to say that before any game, but certainly in a game with strangers where I'm proposing an Evil PC.

LE to my character means I serve The Nine Hells and support the LE status quo in Korvosa. It doesn't mean I'm a liar or a betrayer or selfish. (If it's my LE character who finds a $10,000 GP diamond I will split it with the other PCs -- Hell, I NEED those front line fighters to be able to upgrade their weapons and armor to protect me!) I respect Iomedae; I even admit that I like her. But she's wrong: Asmodeus is right. I'm not interested in cold-blooded slaughter or murdering innocent people. Murdering innocent people is STUPID. First you have to convince them the beauty of LE. Then, after they've lived a long, influential for LE life, they can die and go to the Hells where the Good work [i]really[i] begins. If you kill the poor old barkeep today his Soul goes to the Upper Planes and he can become a REAL problem as some kind of Archon. No. I'm not some Chaotic Stupid Alignment.

I can of course go much further into answering Alignment (for me) questions, style of play questions, and adventure-spoiler questions, if asked.

Here is the very beginnings of my PC proposal.
Heavy Knowledge Skills, Bluff (& Diplomacy) / LE Wizard

Portia Porphyria-Jeggare is a young Wizard from Cheliax whose House Porphyria patron married her to a young girl of House Jeggare -- the niece of Lord Merciaval Jeggare in Korvosa. Portia Porphyria-Jeggare has moved to Korvosa and attended The Academae. Now graduated she wanted to join The Darklight Sisterhood but is willing to go to Bloodsworn Vale to support Sir Jasper Tolgrith at Fort Thorn.

Edit:
I just jotted down the backstory in her profile based on my faulty assumption that this adventure was taking place before the events of Curse of the Crimson Throne rather than after. When I went back to reread the first Recruitment post and realized it was after CotCT and that King Eodred Arabasti (and Ileosa) is dead, I started rewriting that last paragraph. But I was going to write that Neolandus Kalepopolis is in charge of Korvosa, that he's sent Sir Tolgrith to Bloodsworn Vale, but that's also not the case. So,... just drop me a line of who is in charge of Korvosa now, and I'll adjust that last little bit on my PC background accordingly.

Are there Traits?

I typically spend my two Traits to make a couple Skills into 'Class' Skills: Get Bluff and Perception each another +1 and another three for being a Class Skill

Hi there! I really appreciate your explanation of your playstyle. I think that'll fit in really well with what our party needs and is looking for. Additionally, I think a wizard with social skills is exactly the right sort of character we need, as long as you're prepared to prepare utility and support spells.

Yes, it looks like the other characters have traits -- two, as normal. Just remember that they have to be from different trait categories.

I also see a headband of intellect in your inventory, and want to remind you that Automated Bonus Progression is in play. Those items don't exist.

Neolandus is a perfectly reasonable assumption for the current ruler of the city, but I suppose my previous expectation was that it was some former CotCT PC. I haven't defined it as anyone in particular in canon, anyway.

Can you tell me about the Darklight Sisterhood?

Tolgrith is not a paladin -- he is a ranger. He's much more practical and military than he is holy, although he certainly is LG.

I probably could have guessed about the Traits -- I think it's pretty standard now rather than optional -- but since in my home-group we have a Player who doesn't allow Traits when it's his turn to DM I guess I'm still thinking of it as optional in character creation.

I'll not be making for proposal a Wizard with support spells. Grease and Web and other battlefield control, yes -- Haste, Bull's STR, etc., no. It'll be Grease and Fireball, Create Pit and Magic Missile. Hope that's okay. (I will have Dispel Magic and I like Minor Image -- plus with Scribe Scroll I'll be making lots o' Scrolls -- so there's variety there.)

*Grabs ye old Unchained to look up Automatic Progression....
Ah, cool. We use Background Skills and combined the Knowledge Skills in our various Home Games -- I hadn't seen Auto Progression before but I really like it. I think I may propose it for our various Homegames!

I'll go ahead and tinker my backstory for Neolandus Kalepopolis. Thanks! And LOL about Sir Tolgrith being a Ranger not a Paladin -- I mentioned my homegame campaigns over the years have done so much on the Korvosa area that the published canon is now pretty removed from my experience (thus being able to enjoy Conquest of Bloodsworn Vale with no real Spoilers.) In my head I was certain he was a Paladin. I think I got his name right, though, "Jasper" Tolgrith. I didn't want to look it up in the old Module -- may see something there I shouldn't.
....But I think it's a cool roleplay opportunity: Portia Porphyria-Jeggare can meet Sir Tolgrith at Fort Thorn and be like, "You're not dressed like other Paladins of Iomedae; heck you look more like a Ranger." But we'll see.

If it's possible, gimme another day or so to work out the Crunch of my character. I've got a good handle on the personality and background (For me that's paramount to Crunch and always gets done first.). Then I build it mechanically; I got started Sunday afternoon and the character is more than halfway done. But it may be Tuesday sometime before I can really have her finished. Certainly by Wednesday late morning if not earlier.

. . . .

The canon Darklight Sisterhood is Cheliax's version of The Pathfinder Society. Obviously they're not nearly as cool as PFS, but not if you ask Portia Porphyria-Jeggare. In Korvosa there is a tavern called the Three Rings Inn where the proprietor, Theandra Darklight, was a rather influential mover (maybe equivalent to a Venture Cpt). But she maybe isn't even a Darklight anymore; the canon leaves it ambiguous as far as I know. (Obviously in my home game I've made The Darklight Sisterhood, and Theandra, quite more developed, but my home canon of course has no bearing here.)
Darklight Sisterhood
And the paragraph on the Three Rings Tavern & Theandra Darklight, re-published in the various Korvosa gazetteers (RotRL, CotCT, Guide to Korvosa), are all better than the one nothing-sentence in the Pathfinder Wiki.

I think Tolgrith's first name is Jyrad. But anyway, take your time. Let me know when you have something comprehensive for me to look at. The party is likely to be in combat for several more rounds yet.

Looks like you have things covered. If you are interested in a halfling bard I can have him knocked out by this evening. Thanks.

If you can give me some more details, I can tell you whether or not I am interested :O

Kevan Nimblefingers is a halfling bard with wanderlust. He joined the mercenary troop to see the world and find his fortune. The idea of taming the vale appeals to him for the payoff. He has no intention of settling down. He is happy go lucky most all of the time and a constant optimist. Stretching the truth is a habit for the little guy but it is done to have fun, not to harm. He constantly tells stories, recites ballads, or sings of the marvels of the world. He gets along with most everyone. He can be drawn to playing jokes on those he finds rude or offensive. Characteristics he just finds unromantic.

From a game play perspective he would be almost all support. Straight up bard so bardic music and bard spells (pretty much all support). The for combat he will focus on fighting defensively and boosting his AC. Then he will move to flank opponents while reciting for a distraction giving flanking bonuses to others and perhaps sticking them for a little damage periodically.

The payout for this adventure is explicitly land and the money that taxes on trade routes across that land earn. There is no huge lump-sum payment awaiting characters who finish this adventure.

Also, where is Kevan from? Why did he become an adventurer? What has he done to earn 6th level?

I'd like to see a full workup.

@Portia -- Is there some narrative reason why your character hasn't yet succeeded at joining the Darklight Sisterhood? Would you like to see that organization represented in any way?

-- Why did your character study magic?

-- What's Portia's motivation for mucking around in the mud in the Vale?

Let's try this

Kevan Nimblefingers Male Halfling
Bard 1