GM Doug Henderson |
Notes on my build for GM Doug:
1. Dubious Knowledge: When you fail (but don't critically fail) a Recall Knowledge check using any skill, you learn a bit of true knowledge and a bit of erroneous knowledge, but you don't have any way to differentiate which is which.
So I should always be getting a result from a Recall Knowledge check: 1 wrong for a critical failure, 1 right and 1 wrong for failure, 1 right for a success, and 2 right for a critical success. This is a little more work for the GM. If GM Doug usually pre-prints spoilers for players to open, I can totally add in my own erroneous information to my role-play.
2. Medicine: I have Assurance with Medicine, which gives me a result of 15. That's enough for a routine Treat Wounds check but probably not any other check. With Risky Surgery, using Assurance for a 15, I can reliable *inflict* 1d8 damage and then heal 4d8 HP (and remove the wounded condition).
Cool, thanks for the notes. My question now is how does Dubious Knowledge interact with the Research system, or does it?
I think the skill check to do research is not the same as a recall knowledge check, but I'm not sure.
GM Doug Henderson |
I'm thinking a fellow performer at Chelaxian finishing school sabotaged her with magic that went horribly wrong! She then ran away and joined the Cloven Hooves.
Maybe this person appears as a nemesis of some sorts, or haunts her dreams.
Do we learn about Iospeh before the module starts? She was raised as a minor noble's or merchant's ward, so she probably knew, deep down inside, she might be destined for something like this.
Nice! And yes, everyone will have a chance to do some initial research before you leave Kintargo. Of course, the kind of information you have access to in Kintargo pales in comparison to what you may find in the manor house.
Phaedria |
Great. Updated the profile backstory with some of this, named her nemesis, and added a little more depth and motivation for not only researching but securing the inheritance. I dig it; thanks for the nudge!
I also changed her alignment to LN.
Blake's Tiger |
Pavo Sarini wrote:Notes on my build for GM Doug:
1. Dubious Knowledge: When you fail (but don't critically fail) a Recall Knowledge check using any skill, you learn a bit of true knowledge and a bit of erroneous knowledge, but you don't have any way to differentiate which is which.
So I should always be getting a result from a Recall Knowledge check: 1 wrong for a critical failure, 1 right and 1 wrong for failure, 1 right for a success, and 2 right for a critical success. This is a little more work for the GM. If GM Doug usually pre-prints spoilers for players to open, I can totally add in my own erroneous information to my role-play.
2. Medicine: I have Assurance with Medicine, which gives me a result of 15. That's enough for a routine Treat Wounds check but probably not any other check. With Risky Surgery, using Assurance for a 15, I can reliable *inflict* 1d8 damage and then heal 4d8 HP (and remove the wounded condition).
Cool, thanks for the notes. My question now is how does Dubious Knowledge interact with the Research system, or does it?
I think the skill check to do research is not the same as a recall knowledge check, but I'm not sure.
I don't believe it does.
Dubious Knowledge is tied to the Recall Knowledge 1-action check.
Research is a distinct activity with its own check called a Research check, and a Downtime activity at that. I also understand it to be, conceptually, a PC proactively gaining knowledge through effort of some sort rather than Recall Knowledge's passive(-ish) remembering what you already know.
Pavo Sarini |
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Pavo was born a curious soul, which manifested as mischief that got him into more trouble than his illegitimate, tiefling heritage alone would have landed him. By the time he was a young teen, he was living on the streets. He developed a devil-may-care, optimistic mask to hide his fear of the world. That same fear mixed with his natural curiosity led him to interests in the occult--things more terrifying than the abuses of the mundane (for Golarion) world.
As an older teen, he joined the Society of the Cloven Hoof where he was ultimately learned the skills of and gained employment in Kintargo as a barber for several years. Over time, his mask of optimism has become more of a reality, and though he is still haunted by his fears, they are smaller now than he realizes. When the Society collapsed, he was left to fend for himself again until he rejoined with fellow displaced members of the Cloven Hoof and other tieflings who shared his interests in the occult in one form or another.
He has accrued quite the collection of stories both occult and mundane, and he always has an answer for every question. However, those who have spent time with him know that his answers are wrong as often as they are right.
GM Doug Henderson |
Cool, did Pavo have his own shop or work with other tieflings? How did Pavo come to learn about the Xarwin manor? Did he stumble upon it on his own or did someone (Phaedria?) tell him about it?
Pavo Sarini |
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I envisioned working for someone sympathetic to the Cloven Hoof Society who either disappeared or decided being friendly to tieflings was not a healthy life choice shortly after the Night of Ashes.
His discovery of Xarwin Manor could probably be a mix of both: if it's a famous amongst those who tell ghost stories, he probably had heard more than once over time, but upon learning that Phaedria was the actual heir then he just had to go see it for himself when she went to claim it. "Can we go yet? How about today? What? You're still eating breakfast? Are you ready yet? Tomorrow? Next week!? How can you stand to wait that long!"
GM Doug Henderson |
How’re everyone’s characters coming together? How about we finalize things so we can start next Tuesday/Wednesday?
Pavo Sarini |
I should be all set. I think there was something I considered tweaking, but it appears to have slipped my mind. May have just been a purchase I meant to add.
GM Doug Henderson |
Shade, as he is known by his friends, is a Nidalese man who fled his country to get away from the so-called dream hunters... hunter-killer teams that search Starsong's followers. Though he grew up with a supportive family, he had attracted a little too much attention with his worship, prompting the family patriarch to engineer a fatal accident for his youngest son.
Since then, he has been living in Kintargo, trying to make a new life, and gather new friends. He is cautious now where he was once outgoing, but he is no less fiercely loyal. He does not tell people his surname, for fear that his existence could prove dangerous to his family, who remain in Nidal on their ranches.
Nice! Does Shade use an alias, or just keep his name a secret? How did Shade get involved with the defunct cloven hoof members, of all people, and how did he learn about the Starless Scope?
Shade Atteran |
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Shade is his alias :D
As for how did he get involved with these yahoos? Much like Desnans in Nidal, tielfings are typically shunned in Cheliax. We've all made it to Kintargo to flee our pasts (I assume), and as a follower of The Song of Spheres from Nidal, he has learned amazing tolerance. Likely he signed on with them as a healer (Nidalese healers are known the world over, though most because Kuthite worship sometimes requires being patched up again).
Art this time, I don't know enough about the Starless Scope... what is it actually? (or don't I know yet)?
I assume this device is some sort of telescope, and as a Desnan, the night sky has always been of interest, as this is Desna's sky. However, much like those that live in Nidal do not get to see the sun, neither do they get to see the stars, so Shade, in another life, would probably be an astronomer.
GM Doug Henderson |
Art this time, I don't know enough about the Starless Scope... what is it actually? (or don't I know yet)?
I assume this device is some sort of telescope, and as a Desnan, the night sky has always been of interest, as this is Desna's sky. However, much like those that live in Nidal do not get to see the sun, neither do they get to see the stars, so Shade, in another life, would probably be an astronomer.
You don't know what it is yet, but you'll have a chance to do some initial research before you leave. It does sound exactly like the kind if thing a Desnan would be into.
GM Doug Henderson |
Tuco was an unremarkable Chelixian farmhand, not technically a slave, but deeply indebted and as a tiefling by far a second class citizen. A pact with a devil gave him the speed and power he needed to escape. Through a weird escape clause Tuco's only hope to escape eternal damnation involves recovering an artifact know as the "Void Mirror"...
Surely he will need allies in his journey...
Wow, if Tuco needs the Void Mirror to escape eternal damnation, he may have jumped out of the fire and into the frying pan! I hope he succeeds!
What's it like now for Tuco to mix with minor nobles, like Phaedria?Shade Atteran |
Interesting... was Tuco made into a tiefling after birth, or did his tiefling nature just come out with his infernal pact? Or doesn't he know?
Neat idea!
Tuco_ |
No issue with nobility, his farm wasn't owned by anybody royal, just your typical chelish jerks. Part of his infernal pact allowed him to interact with a variety of people without issue, was necessary for his escape.
Those infernal contracts are tricky, with escape clauses that are practically but not technically impossible.
GM Doug Henderson |
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I'm really enjoying these characters and can't wait for them to come together. In a little bit I'll put up an initial post in the gameplay thread to assemble everyone and start our adventure!
Pavo Sarini |
@ Shade: Do you think Shade should be the one who led Pavo to the worship of Desna? It's a common enough patron for adventurous souls, so it could just as well be coincidence.
GM Doug Henderson |
I wont have time to write up backstory until tonight. Sorry :(
No problem!
Shade Atteran |
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@ Shade: Do you think Shade should be the one who led Pavo to the worship of Desna? It's a common enough patron for adventurous souls, so it could just as well be coincidence.
That sounds like a great piece of back story. In addition, his trust and conversion could be part of why Shade is starting to come out of his shell.
What if while adventuring together, Pavo was impressed by Shade's kind heart, and was able to pull out from Shade who his patron is. Prior to this, he would never volunteer the information, as it would have been his death to admit this to the wrong person!
GM Doug Henderson |
Alrighty! Everything is written up now
Yay!
Does Abella have any idols? Has she ever met anyone as smart (or smarter) than she is? Who does she share her dirty jokes with, and are they always in dead languages?GM Doug Henderson |
Pavo Sarini wrote:@ Shade: Do you think Shade should be the one who led Pavo to the worship of Desna? It's a common enough patron for adventurous souls, so it could just as well be coincidence.That sounds like a great piece of back story. In addition, his trust and conversion could be part of why Shade is starting to come out of his shell.
What if while adventuring together, Pavo was impressed by Shade's kind heart, and was able to pull out from Shade who his patron is. Prior to this, he would never volunteer the information, as it would have been his death to admit this to the wrong person!
I like this idea too. I'm glad that Shade has found someone he can confide in.
Abella Tribastarion |
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Does she have any idols?
Other people will always disappoint, so she has made the determined decision to not idolize anyone.
Has she met anyone smarter than her?
She has definitely met people smarter than her, but she does not make anything of it unless they push her. Competition requires effort. She is the quintessential lazy genius.
Who does she share her dirty jokes with and are they always in dead languages?
She’ll make dirty jokes with anybody. I mean, she named her sword Blood Play. Despite her affect of cool ironic detachment, she is ultimately a big lonely nerd who just likes obscure references. I intend for her to open up more and be more vulnerable as she spends more time with the group
GM Doug Henderson |
Off to a good start!
I'm going to put together some kind of tracking sheet for the research topics.
I've also decided to tease out the info because a successful roll gives one point, and crit gives 2 points, but waiting until you have 4 points to learn something doesn't seem fun. And it also doesn't seem to mimic how research actually works. It seems to me that you should learn a little something with each success.
(On a crit fail you make a false discovery and loose a point. You may also trigger an event!)
Pavo Sarini |
Ah, hadn't realized the Velstrac lineage before with Pavo... that may have made it take a bit longer for Shade to open up, but if Pavo had expressed his pain at being persecuted/stereotyped/etc., this would have helped Shade to open up as well, having a common experience. Is Pavo from Nidal?
Well, nobody did Newborn Screening on him and stamped him shackleborn. :)
It's more of a nod to an old character idea that I had in a home campaign. Pavo would have been from Westcrown in that campaign (and a much different build), so I thought of having Pavo come from Westcrown. However, Westcrown is really far from Kintargo, and Kintargo already has Sarinis. So he's from Kintargo for simplicity.
Persecution as a youth is a core experience for Pavo, yes, as is finding acceptance in the Clove Hoof Society, may the founder rest in peace. :)
Phaedria |
Before we set out Phaedria would have liked to buy a repair kit if that is OK. It looks like we have 2 sets of healers tools and 2 thieves kits, but no crafting gear for repairs. A couple of PCs (Abella and Pavo) are trained so she would give them to whichever PC wants them.
Phaedria |
Also, what's the food situation? Will purchase extra rations too if needed. (The adventurer's pack has 2 week's)
GM Doug Henderson |
Yes, please buy whatever you can afford and need.
You definitely would have known before setting out that Crooked Cove is in a remote, isolated, and abandoned part of Ravounel, so you would expect that once you are there, you are there for awhile. You should expect to eat, sleep, cook, (hold seances) etc. in the manor. It is your new house after all! And presumably it has all the usual amenities one would hope to find.
The nearest settlement is Citadel Enferac, stronghold of the Hellknight Order of the Gate, some 75 miles away.
Phaedria |
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I took the liberty to create some party documents:
• Player Notes
• Loot Spreadsheet.
I have gone ahead and added PCs' leftover gold in case we want to buy anything else. Hope that is OK. Please remove if your PC doesn't want to share leftover GP.
If we don't want to use these (like you got another spreadsheet you like) I'm game. Just trying to get the ball rolling!
Shade Atteran |
It's all good, Paedria. Thank you.
GM Doug Henderson |
I took the liberty to create some party documents:
• Player Notes
• Loot Spreadsheet.I have gone ahead and added PCs' leftover gold in case we want to buy anything else. Hope that is OK. Please remove if your PC doesn't want to share leftover GP.
If we don't want to use these (like you got another spreadsheet you like) I'm game. Just trying to get the ball rolling!
Great! Thanks so much Doug!
Pavo Sarini |
I had meant to ask about food--that's the thing I couldn't remember about my sheet before--so I need to buy food.
Given its remoteness and GM Doug's description that makes me think this is a bottle episode, we should probably spend every last penny because there's no shop.
GM Doug Henderson |
I had meant to ask about food--that's the thing I couldn't remember about my sheet before--so I need to buy food.
Given its remoteness and GM Doug's description that makes me think this is a bottle episode, we should probably spend every last penny because there's no shop.
Yes, I would encourage that.
GM Doug Henderson |
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I've created a Slack channel for our pbp!
https://join.slack.com/share/zt-tryjl7pg-MvZ1YotxP60JuWzUXu~YrA
Phaedria |
Phaedria |
It's all good, Abella! I hope your day gets better.
Maybe we should slow our collective roll here for a day, to give everyone time to get the details sorted out.