Hi all! Thanks for being interested in this game. CotCT is one of the best, perhaps even the best APs that Paizo put out. That said, there's always room for improvement. We'll be changing the structure of acts I, IV, and V for sure, and the metaplot will be a bit different, so even if you've played this campaign before it should be at least somewhat fresh.
We'll work here in the discussion thread on character creation and once I have a good idea of your PCs I'll start introductions with them in gameplay.
Feel free to ivisi-dot in the gameplay thread so this game shows up in your campaign tab!
So, onto character creation. The next few posts will detail aspects of the character creation. I'm a fan of playing what you want to play. If there's gaps, we can work around that. This is an AP designed for 4 PCs at a 15 point buy, and we've got some house rules intended to make PCs more dynamic, so don't worry about optimizing.
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CRUNCH
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Race: core preferred since everyone would be local to Korvosa. Willing to consider more unusual races with reason.
Classes: any Paizo 1e. CotCT is largely an urban adventure. Books four and five take place outside of the city and I'm not sure I'm going to use them as written yet.
Level: 1st
Point buy: 20 point buy
GP: roll or take average for your class, whatever is better
HP: Standard 1e PFS rules (max at first, 1/2+1 subsequent)
Leveling will be by milestone. No XP tracking, yay!
Traits: 2 traits, one must be a campaign trait. See fluff, below, for more information on campaign traits.
Skills: No background skills, but everyone gets one lore or artistry skill based around some aspect of their background.
Variant and house rules: Automatic bonus progression, variant multiclassing, combat stamina (free for fighters, feat for others), elephant in the room.
Please note most combats I run are theater of the mind, so classes and abilities that are very dependent on map positioning may not see as much use as others.
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FLUFF
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Nothing too elaborate is needed, but there are a few components. This story is largely the story of the PCs and their hometown, and as such I'd like everyone to feel that their PC is grounded in Korvosa. I'll get some information up on the campaign tab about Korvosa soon. Please provide the following:
A couple paragraphs backstory: the who, what, why of your PC. You're first level so you're not very accomplished yet! If you want to go more in depth, I'm a big fan of the 10 minute background process (LOL about it being 10 minutes though, and it is NOT required).
A few NPCs: The NPCs are important - y'all would be locals and know some folks, and this is one way that we'll ground your PCs to the setting. I plan on bringing your NPCs into the story at various points. A name and a sentence or two describing your NPCs' relation to your PC, as well as any quirks, personality, or description you'd like them to have would be enough. I'll build them from there.
Some considerations that you should take into account:
Where is your home (I'll get Korvosa's neighborhoods up in the campaign tab ASAP)? Do you own or rent? Do you live with family or friends? Do you like living there? Pick something that makes sense within the context of your PC's backstory. You get a free place within reason (no castles, please) or a free three month's rent if you rent.
As mentioned above, you'll start out as a local under the thumb of Gaedran Lamm, a fairly significant crime lord in Korvosa. You can still be heroic or have heroic qualities, and I'd personally prefer that your PC has at least the room to grow into a hero. I'll need a reason for why your PC is under Lamm's thumb. The first act in the story is largely the story of how your PCs get out from under Lamm's control. The campaign traits (see below) can help in deciding this.
Please note that the campaign traits are written as if you're relationship with Lamm is in the past. It is not; you may need to change some details of the trait to make it current. Alternatively, the occurrence that the campaign trait speaks to could well be in the past, but for whatever reason, you're still associated with Lamm.
Why do you love Korvosa? Is it the people you know? Is it all you've ever known? Do you have ambitions or a business tied to the city? Your PC should be motivated to fight for Korvosa and its city, even if you are not in the position to do so at the beginning of the AP. In other words, when the bugbears hit the fan, your PC should want to stick around and make things right.
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Campaign Traits
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One of your traits must be a campaign trait. Please note that the campaign traits are written as if you're relationship with Lamm is in the past. It is not; you may need to change some details of the trait to make it current. Alternatively, the occurrence that the campaign trait speaks to could well be in the past, but for whatever reason, you're still associated with Lamm.
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You were hardly a model citizen as a child or young adult. Your reasons for turning to a life of crime may be varied, but what matters is that you eventually fell in with a certain well-connected and notorious crime lord named Gaedren Lamm. His reputation as a snake and a treacherous scoundrel was known to you, but for reasons of your own, you chose not to turn him down when he offered you a chance to work for him. You may have assumed you were an exception, or that you’d be able to handle him, or perhaps even planned to betray him. As it worked out, though, Gaedren got the upper hand and took you down you first. You may have served time in jail, may have been beaten by his thugs and left for dead, or could simply have had your profits stolen out from under you. Whatever the cause, Gaedren wronged you, and you are eager for the chance to get revenge.
Choose one of the following benefits.
Hungry for Revenge: You’ve never forgiven Gaedren for his betrayal, and have vowed to make him pay for what he did. Whether that’s seeing him rot in jail or a shallow grave, you hope to taste vengeance someday. Whenever you deal damage with a melee weapon on a creature that is flat-footed, you gain a +1 trait bonus on the damage roll.
Reformed Criminal: You’ve given up the life of crime, and managed to talk your way out of any repercussions such as jail time or fines. You’ve told yourself that you would rather leave your past behind, yet the concept of seeing Gaedren Lamm pay for his crimes still appeals to you. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy checks, and Diplomacy is a class skill for you.
No crime is too despicable for Gaedren Lamm and his thugs—a gang of lowlife murderers, kidnappers, and drug dealers that operate in Korvosa’s Midland district. You’ve lost someone to Lamm and now you’re out for revenge. While Lamm remains alive and free, you are not slain until your hit point total reaches a negative number equal to your Constitution score + 3. Once Lamm is imprisoned or killed, you lose the former benefit but gain 3 permanent hit points.
Someone you know has become addicted to shiver, a drug distilled from the venom of tropical arachnids known as dream spiders. The drug induces sleep filled with vivid dreams, during which the user’s body shakes and shivers, giving the substance its street name. You’ve always thought of shiver as a problem of the lower class, but then someone you know overdosed on the stuff. You’ve done a bit of investigating and have learned that the villain who got your friend addicted in the first place was a crime lord named Gaedren Lamm. Unfortunately, the guards seem to be focused on the bigger dealers. They don’t have time to devote many resources to what they’ve called “a bit player in a beggar’s problem.” It would seem that if Gaedren’s operation is to be stopped, it falls to you.
Choose one of the following benefits.
Addicted Friend: The addict is a friend or lover who might or might not have survived the overdose. Your research into the drug scene and local politics has given you a respectable education in street knowledge. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (local) checks, and Knowledge (local) is a class skill for you.
Personal Addiction: You were the addict. You blame Gaedren for your brush with death and hate how his drugs are causing similar problems among other youths. Fortunately, your body recovers quickly from toxins, and you gain a +1 trait bonus on Fortitude saving throws.
Someone you know and love was accused of murder. A supposed eyewitness account from a local fisherman seemed to be enough to seal the case, but the accused had enough alibis that sentencing wasn’t immediate. Someone confronted the fisherman and discovered he was intimidated into providing false witness and forced into planting the murder weapon by the actual murderer—a local crime lord named Gaedren Lamm, whose thugs killed the fisherman before he could recant his testimony. Although this removed the key witness and resulted in the accused being set free, the stigma was enough to badly damage the accused’s reputation. If you can find Gaedren, you’re sure you can find evidence that ties him to the murder and can clear the accused’s name.
Choose one of the following benefits.
Dropout: You were the one accused of the murder. Although you were eventually freed when a friend confronted the fisherman and got the truth, the damage had been done. You were forced to leave your school or church. As a result, you were forced to self-train and promised yourself you would become better at your chosen profession despite the spurning of your peers. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Spellcraft checks, and Spellcraft is a class skill for you.
Family Honor: The person who was framed was a family member, perhaps a father or sister. You managed to trick the fisherman into revealing the truth with your skilled tongue. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Bluff checks, and Bluff is a class skill for you.
Someone you loved was knifed to death in a dark alley one night. You were called to the scene by the Korvosan Guard to identify the body, and as rough as that was for you, you also noticed a ring was missing from your loved one’s finger. Whoever murdered your loved one stole that ring— you’re convinced of it. You’ve done some investigation on your own and recently found the ring for sale at a local merchant’s shop. To your great frustration, you can’t yet afford the 500 gp to buy it back, but the merchant did tell you from whom he purchased the ring: a man named Gaedren Lamm. It seems likely this criminal killed your loved one, or at the very least, he knows who did. The only problem is finding him.
Choose one of the following benefits.
All Alone: The murder victim was a lover. With your lover’s death, a part of you died as well, leaving you haunted, grim, and prone to dark musings. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Intimidate checks, and Intimidate is a class skill for you.
Orphaned: The murder victim was your only surviving parent. You had to work hard to make ends meet for yourself and any siblings, and often had to scavenge for food. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Survival checks, and Survival is a class skill for you.
You suspect that a child you know has been abducted by Gaedren Lamm. Whatever the relationship, you’ve heard rumors about “Lamm’s Lambs,” and of how the old man uses children as pickpockets and agents for his crimes. You’ve even heard rumors that the child you’re looking for has been spotted in the marketplaces in the company of known cutpurses and pickpockets. Although the Korvosan Guard has been understanding of your plight, it has its hands full with “more important” matters these days, it seems, and has not yet been able to learn anything more about Gaedren. No one else is interested in bringing Gaedren down and rescuing his victims— that task falls to you. Yet where could the old scoundrel be hiding?
Choose one of the following benefits.
Missing Sibling: The missing child is a brother or sister. Although everyone else has given up hope, you believe your sibling still lives. Your constant search for the missing sibling has developed into great skill at rumormongering and finding out information from others. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Sense Motive checks, and Sense Motive is a class skill for you.
Missing Son or Daughter: The missing child is your own son or daughter, a niece or nephew, or a child you were charged with protecting. The child was abducted during a trip to the market or other daily event. Your stubbornness and long hours spent searching for rumors grant you a +1 trait bonus on Will saves.
You spent a period of time as one of Gaedren Lamm’s enslaved orphans, doing all manner of dirty work for him. Maybe you were abducted from your parent’s home or during a trip to the market. Perhaps the irresponsible matron who ruled your orphanage traded you to him in return for a desperately needed financial loan. Or perhaps you, like most of Gaedren’s slaves, were merely a child of the street who succumbed to his promise of regular meals and a roof in return for what he said would be “a little light work.” Whatever the case, you spent several years of your life as one of “Lamm’s Lambs” before escaping. You’ve nursed a grudge against the old man ever since.
Choose one of the following benefits.
Religious: Today, while on a job for Gaedren, you found a holy symbol of the god you worship, and intrigued by it, you snuck off to attend services. When Gaedren found out, he beat you to within an inch of your life and broke your holy symbol. Your faith let you block out the pain, and you escaped his control and took shelter in the church, where you spent the rest of your youth. You gain a +2 trait bonus on concentration checks and Constitution checks to stabilize at negative hit points.
Tortured: After you made one too many errors, Gaedren tortured you and left you for dead in a garbage heap. Your scars and memories have motivated you to hone your reaction speed and make you rather jumpy. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Reflex saves.
Your family is particularly hearty, and has even passed down tales of a Varisian ancestor who sought to cure (or, some loose-lipped relatives say, create) diseases. You gain a +1 trait bonus on saving throws made to resist diseases. Additionally, you are immune to the diseases Vorel’s phage and blood veil. You do not need to be of the Varisian ethnicity to take this campaign trait, but if you’re not, your background should explain how you have a Varisian ancestor.
Wow. I'm hooked! I have a charcter in mind but I need some time to write her up - ignore wha'ts there at the moment, but the theme of someone in need of eredepemtion willl be a big part of Annelise's journey.
I'll resurrect an old CoTCT character for this one and downgrade him. Unchained Monk with an Unhappy Childhood!
@ Sarah, great! Redemption is a great story arc for this game. I'm excited to see what direction Annelise takes :)
@ Azih, I'm so happy to see Lorick again :) And gods, that is a fantastic backstory. Couple of questions for you: 1) Do Lorick and Sia live together? 2) Could we add this little bit regarding Somelen? Last couple of times you met with Somelen were... different. His breath reeked of shine, and he slurred his words. Not that its any of your business, but the guy didn't even follow up on your last tip either. Cops, man.
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Nice!
I have two character ideas in mind, but haven't decided which one to proceed with - maybe I'll see which one is the best fit to the party...
1) Barbarian (or bloodrager?) / spiritualist: A shoanti woman, trying to find her lost son somewhere in the big city. (Later in game?) she find her child dead (*gasp*), but the kid returns as a phantom (*shock, horror*). So roleplay would be grieving mother / ghost child -pair.
Perfect for the missing child background. But I'm not sure how well it plays mechanics-wise. Early levels big sword and kindness spirit should be enough to keep her working as a frontliner. But later on, I have no idea... VMC could be an option to keep the phantom and spellcasting at max.
2) Arcanist: Loud-mouthed varisian, former streetkid. Spent his youth in "Lamms' Lambs", abused, abandoned. Stumbled across a spellbook, found he could do magic, and more than happy to exact revenge upon his former master.
Full arcane caster, so should find some use in or out of combat. At low-levels tripping anyone with legs with toppling magic missiles. Mid-levels fireballs and haste. High-levels - well, whatever the high-level caster do...
Damn, that is one hell of an intro. Appetite duly whetted. It looks like you've basically merged Gaedren Lamm with Devargo Barsi? Nice move, there were slightly too many 'secondary' villains in the module anyway. Clever - wish I'd thought of it.
@Azih, Karma - hi! I don't think we've met before, so I look forward to gaming with you :)
In terms of character build I have two I'm considering: a wizard (evoker specialist) or an eldritch scoundrel (URogue archetype). Either way, I'm planning for her to be an addict; if that creates issues/triggers for anyone please let me know and I will rethink.
@GM Bellicose Poultry (nice wordplay, btw), I take it archetypes are permitted?
Dot! I don't have an idea just yet, hoping to look into things this weekend.
And hello everyone :)
@ Karma, adventuring mothers are cool and the kindness phantom is awesome. Don't worry too much about optimization. I think with 5 players and a 20 point buy ya'll should have your bases covered. An arcanist is always good of course, and loud-mouthed Varisians are always a plus. I've wanted to play a self-taught from a spellbook wizard concept for quite a while myself.
@ Wandering Wastrel, yes, archetypes are permitted. I agree the merging of Lamm and Barsi is inspired, but I can't take credit for it. It was done by the GM of a game that I and Azih were in, and it worked really well, so I'm stealing it. I've got other twists, turns, and tweaks planned, some of them even mine :)
@ Lessah, great! I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Campaign tab has been updated with a little bit with information about Korvosa. I'll be adding some additional important places, orgs, and NPCs in the next few (several?) days.
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@Sarah, Wandering Waster: Hello! Right, we probably haven't met. Great to be gaming with you!
I just realised I didn't read all the info very carefully... So slight adjustments needed for the background ideas, so that the character is still connected to Lamms'
And +1 awe to the gameplay intro. Man, that was great!
I just realised I didn't read all the info very carefully... So slight adjustments needed for the background ideas, so that the character is still connected to Lamms'
You can use the campaign trait and just come up with a reason why your PC is still tied to Lamm. For example, Lorick for example has the unhappy childhood trait (he fell into Lamm's web early in life) but now is still there because Lamm has his mentor/father figure kidnapped and stowed away somewhere.
@Sarah, Wandering Waster: Hello! Right, we probably haven't met. Great to be gaming with you!
Same here :) always nice to "meet" new peple
Annelise is kinda sorta done, I haven't done her ggear but if we live in a city then I'm assuming we dont' need backpacks, torches and so one, we can jsut buy what we want when we need it? She's a paladin as of about 2 weeks ago and is still figureing a lot of stuff out. I've given her a holy symbol but is it ok for her NOT to have a deitiy, and for her to jsut be devoted to teh cause of Good in general?
@Lorick - since Annelise is (was?) also a leg-breaker for Lamm maybe they know each other? It could even be that Annelise is one of the people Lamm paid to kidnap Miyoto - nothing personal, but it pays well. Or am I overcomplicating thigns?
@Annelise, yeah, gear can be picked up as needed. In general, I'd say you have general household stuff at your disposal as well (a few changes of clothes, kitchenware, etc.), as long as it makes sense with your backstory.
It is absolutely OK to not have a deity. I'm also OK with paladins of other alignments if you don't want to be pigeon-holed into LG. A code that makes sense for your PC and that you can use as a waypoint would be the important thing.
I do worry a little bit about a pally in the early going. You're not free of Lamm yet, and he's going to ask you to do some questionable things.
It should be fine, but you may want to interpret some things creatively.
@ Karma, awesome, I like Varisians and arcanists. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Tahnks for that flexibility :) I'd say Annelise is LN, moving to being LG-curious ;) At the moment she's jsut aware that there's a lot of bad stuff on her side of the ledger and she's not sure what to do about it. In trems of doing "questionable tihngs" I think she'd be more or less ok with doinng bad stuff to bad people. If Lamm asks her to murder innocent people then I do think that would be a problem. But I'm srot of hoping that would be a problem for teh other PCs as well.
Nope nothing like that!
I think Cathy is pretty much ready. With a bit of prep and the right spells she'll be decent in combat, but she'll also be the scout and lockpick of the group. When she's not high, that is.
Here's crunch, sans gear and the story trait.
Still working on the background - got a bit stuck on what kind of language he'd use. Somehow I feel Varisia has a bit latino feel, but Varisians are more slavic (but that's probably in my head). So trying to come up with some sort of hispanic-slavic dialect :P
A question about the traits... So I gather we still work with Lamm, so for example"After you made one too many errors, Gaedren tortured you and left you for dead in a garbage heap" would need some rework? So it should be more like "Gaedren has a habit of kicking you in the nuts, and more than anything you'd just want to escape. If you only had that choice..."?
Hoping to be done in a day or two.
Thanks for the kind words. I think Lorick and Sia are exclusive but aren't living together. Sia's got a nicer pad that Lorick as she's taken to being a criminal better than Lorick, who's an attack dog being kept on a short leash.
Fine with Somelen starting to fall apart as well!
she'll also be the scout and lockpick of the group. When she's not high, that is.
Annelise is a pro - of all of us, she's probly the one who wuould still work for Lamm no problems if she hadn't sugdenly grown a conscience - she could get really *intesnse* if Cathyriel decides to mix work and fun. But drama is good, right? ;)
So it should be more like "Gaedren has a habit of kicking you in the nuts, and more than anything you'd just want to escape. If you only had that choice..."?
tbf he's a busy crime boss - he probly has people to do taht srot of thing for him.
And I've jsut realised - reading fail! - that I get power atack for "free" so i will pick somethig else. I also forgot to write some NPCs so I will get onto that.
Added some background to the profile. Still missing direct link to the background trait. I could pick the Betrayed trait to get Diplomacy as a class skill. Looks like no one had Diplomacy yet, and it could be a useful skill. Ofc Lessah hadn't posted a character yet.
Going to be a busy week for me. Hoping we can get character creation wrapped up to start sometime next week. PCs are coming along nicely. I don't tend to audit mechanics other than a quick once-over, but I do look a lot at backstory.
Campaign page has lots of updates.
@ Cathy - PC looks good. How do you want to handle the mechanics of Cathy's addiction? I <think> there are mechanics but I'm fine with treating it as fluff and working in dice rolls to explain things, but wanted to confirm if that was the route you were envisioning.
Nice NPCs! I appreciate you giving me an antagonist (and a frenemy) to work with. Now, to figure out just what I'm going to do with Yarryn...
Where does Cathy live? What type of place does she have?
Finesse training receives an update in EitR:
At 1st level, a rogue gains Deft Maneuvers as a bonus feat. In addition, starting at 3rd level, she can select any one weapon group listed under the fighter’s Weapon Training class feature. Once this choice is made, it cannot be changed. Whenever she makes a successful melee attack with a finesse weapon or an agile weapon from this group, she adds her Dexterity modifier instead of her Strength modifier to the damage roll. If any effect would prevent the rogue from adding her Strength modifier to the damage roll, she does not add her Dexterity modifier. The rogue can select a second weapon group at 11th level and a third at 19th level.
@ Darius - yes, reflavor the trait so it makes sense for you. Your interpretation is fine to me. As Annalise mentions, it would probably be someone Lamm has assigned to kick you in the nuts, rather than Lamm himself (though he would be metaphorically doing the kicking regardless). Love the description of Darius, btw. I think all I need is NPCs - is Jolas one?
Where does Darius live? At the lab or somewhere else?
@ Lorick, excellent! Where is Lorick's flat?
@ Annalise, tortured crusader is a neat archetype, and one I've never seen at a table - looking forward to seeing Annalise in action.
Yep, PA (and combat expertise, and weapon finesse) are now default combat actions/abilities.
Looking forward to your NPCs! Does Annalise have a family? It could be interesting if she was estranged from them.
Added some background to the profile. Still missing direct link to the background trait. I could pick the Betrayed trait to get Diplomacy as a class skill. Looks like no one had Diplomacy yet, and it could be a useful skill. Ofc Lessah hadn't posted a character yet.
Yes, no one has diplomacy or bluff, which will likely both be useful skills to have coverage for.
Also, @ everyone see this from the build rules:
Skills: No background skills, but everyone gets one lore or artistry skill based around some aspect of their background.
I think it makes sense for Craft to be available for this extra skill point for your PC as well, Darius, since he's a maker of shiver.
Aye aye sorry, have been busy sadly. Throwing up a post though to let you know I'm still on this earth :)
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Pondering if Mesmerist is a fun class to play, might help on the social front. Of course such a character probably aren't the most trustworthy of types, so having someone respectable with Diplomacy would still be handy.
Yay, glad you're still here, Lessah, both in this gamespace and on earth :)
I've never played a mesmerist but they sure look like fun to play to me!
@ Cathy - PC looks good. How do you want to handle the mechanics of Cathy's addiction? I <think> there are mechanics but I'm fine with treating it as fluff and working in dice rolls to explain things, but wanted to confirm if that was the route you were envisioning.
Nice NPCs! I appreciate you giving me an antagonist (and a frenemy) to work with. Now, to figure out just what I'm going to do with Yarryn...
Where does Cathy live? What type of place does she have?
Finesse training receives an update in EitR:
** spoiler omitted **
Yup, I don't see a need for adding more mechanics to this game; the addiction is much more of an RP thing.
In terms of where Cathy lives, she had a reasonably nice place in Midland district but has moved out of there as she was unable to keep up with the rent payments. She now has a flophouse in the slums of Old Korvosa. It's not a nice part of town, but thus far people there know enough not to mess with her. Of course, some of that is due to not wanting to cross Lamm. He'd get a bit upset if someone caused his Cat any trouble.
Thanks for reminding me about the EitR changes to Finesse training.
Yes, I imagined Darius would be pretty much a prisoner in the lab, so he would sleep there. Only rarely Lamm would let him go out, and even then only under guard. Darius is a valuable asset for his skill in cooking shiver, but a liability in his knack of getting into trouble. (not sure if this works in your planned start for the game.)
From the backstory, the following could be used as NPC's:
- * Jolas - the bully among Lamm's gang. Darius' personal nemesis
- * Blaise - the previous owner of Darius' spellbook. Could be enemy, could be a difficult ally, depending how s/he felt about having the spellbook stolen.
- * Mother - very open-ended. Was Darius kidnapped on the street and her mother tried to look for him, or did she sell him for her daily shot of shiver?
And can come up with more, if needed.
@Lessah: I've always found mesmerists very interesting, but never really got around to play one. My only experience was one PFS scenario with a pregen (and that scenario involved pretty much undead and haunts, meh...)
@ Cathy, OK, roleplay it is! Perfect on the house. It spurred a fun idea for an opening post. Barring any tweaks you'd like to make, I think you're done!
@ Darius, sounds good. We'll need to figure a way for you to get out occasionally, as you'll be doing other things than just interacting with Lamm. I'll think on that, but my first thought is that Darius has an assistant/friend that covers the lab while he's gone. Lamm maybe knows of the assistant but doesn't know that Darius has figured a way to leave if he needs to. A cleverly built and hidden secret door? Through the sewers? Out the roof and down?
NPCs sound good. Can we make Jolas not only Darius's personal nemesis, but also Lamm's Head of Shiver Operations? (I'll come up with a better title) That way he can be a bully with direct supervision over Darius :)
@ Annalise, I had a thought for a slight tweak to your backstory, for story reasons. It is nothing major but just a bit of foreshadowing. Do you mind if I build that into the first gameplay post for you?
All, I'm aiming to start next week but everyone will be introduced separately and brought together, which allows me to ground your worlds with some of your NPCs and do some foreshadowing / setting building. So, for those of you finished, I may get a few posts in this week, time permitting.
@GM BP - I'm fien with whatever tweaks you want to make. It's funn you mentioned family because I was thinking in taht direction as well :)
Marcia Thistledown Marcia - Marcy to her few freinds - is a fixer. Need some silver-tiped arrows to take down an imp? A couple flasks of alchemists fire? Need to get rid of a body in a hurry? Or maybe you jsut need some inforamation? Go to Marcy's coffee shop, where the kind halfling will be delighted to see you. In a back room, away from the other customers, you will be plied with fresh cakes and as much coffee as you can absorb, while Marcy will listen carefully as you tell her what problem you have that needs fixing. An hour or two later, some stranger you've never seen before and never will again will stubmle into you and leave you a note telling you where and when to pick up or drop off your delivery. The note will also make a 'suggestion' about how much you should donate to Marcy's newest pet project - last time Annelise used her services, it was an orphanage. For her friends, Marcy is sometimes willing to trade favours rather than cash. She and Annelise have been friends now for a few years and have done each other some favours. Annelise has currently frogotten which of them owes the other a favour, but she's sure that the twinkly-eyed halfling will remind her next time they catch up.
Rhian Annelise is really *annoyed* by Rhian. Her half-sister, a lavender-eyyed half elf, is incredibly talented – art, dance, music, drawing, painting, you name it, Rhian has mastered it – but where Rhian has the talent, Annelise has inherited all the drive. Rhian seems content to drift through the world at her own pace when if she just *applied* herself she could aciheive almost anything, from leading lady of the opera house to an art stuidio of her own. Instead she works at Tenners, offering her services as an escort to anyone with the maens to pay for her. It’s a good lifestyle, but Anneliese grinds her teeht a little when she thinks about how *hard* she has had to apply herself to get where she is since their mohter died, and everthing has just been handed to Rhian on a plate. Of course, Rhian’s version fo the story is probly a bit different!
I've maed a couple more changes: I wated her to be properly scary so I've given Anneslie a differnt trait and different feat. I've also maed it clear that she hasn't talked to Rhian yet about her "converstion" to the path of the paladin.
While reading up on setting info I noticed that the Temple of Aroden bit in Places of Interest seems to have minor plot spoilers
Ah, s***. I thought I edited everything out of those entries when I copypasted them. Sorry about that Lessah.
@Annalise, love the NPCs. So your mum is deceased. Is dad in the picture?
Where does Annalise live?
OK, I think Cathy is about done?
Darius seems about there, curious as to what you think about the ideas I have above?
Lorick had a few tweaks he was going to do. I'm also curious as to where he lives?
Annalise is about there, just have a couple of wrap-up questions in a post above.
Lessah's PC is en route.
I need to get one more bit of preamble up in gameplay (today? tomorrow? who knows!). Then I'll start introductions ASAP.
@Annalise, love the NPCs. So your mum is deceased. Is dad in the picture?
Where does Annalise live?
I'm glad you like them :)
I've added another para to Annelise's backgruoud, repeated below:
Annelise's father, Rafe was a fisherman and occasional smuggler - but far more honest tahn not. He was killed by a devilfish when Annlise was 3. Her mum, Liz, was seeing Rafe's business partner on teh side - a Forlon Elf called Variel. She got pregnant with Annelise's sister very quickly after Rafe's death. Variel was far more dishonest than not, adn was killed 10+ years ago when Lamm started to build up his own crimingal empire. Annelise knows that Lamm prbly had Variel killed, but that's how it goes. He'd probly done something stupid like tried to rip Lamm off. Liz died a shrto while later of illness, leaving Annelise and her younger sister Rhian alone in teh world. Annelise had already done some work for her stepdad, so it was easy enough to work for a new boss. It's not like she has many other life skills.
As for where she lieves, I'm not sure. Somewhere decent, she's paid wlel enough for her work, but she's not part of Lamm's close circle, more of a freelancer who is called on as needed. Where do you thing would fit the bill?
Your suggestions sound good. Jolas can Darius supervisor as well. Maybe newly appointed, so Darius is really worries about his own wellbeing?
And a lab assistant to cover Darius absences sounds good. Let's call her Jakinda. Maybe a bit of and addict herself, all too eager to sample the wares (making her a bit unreliable). Maybe she and Darius invented a way to dilute the merchandise ever so slightly so it's not noticed but Jakinda gets her daily dose?
And yes to the secret way out. A secret door would be most Darius' style.
Here's a nice spoiler-free map of Korvosa that outlines the districts. I put it in the campaign tab as well for future reference.
@Annalise, sounds good on the family. Poor Annalise, that's a lot of parents and surrogate parents to grieve (or not, if they weren't great to her I guess).
As for neighborhoods, let's see. Somewhere decent means no Old Korvosa. The Mindland district has these neighborhoods that may fit the bill:
• High Bridge: The primary inhabitants of this residential district are laborers or the families of those working in the Korvosan Guard or Sable Company.
• Pillar Hill: This is Korvosa’s most demographically diverse neighborhood.
• Slope: This neighborhood features a large number of small and private libraries, museums, and other bastions of culture.
@Darius, OK, excellent. I like Jakinda and have ideas for just where that secret door leads...
I think you're about there then?
OK, I think Cathy is about done?
Agreed! Looking forward to getting the party started.
OK, you're first up. Cathyriel!
Ah, I missed the edit window. Well, Ruslan is Rulso now.
Post up for Darius.
I'm working on my backstory and such, but might as well throw up what I've got for scrutiny rather then try and hammer it perfect :)
2) His father was a gambler, not unlike himself – though he disdains that term. That's for people with more heart then head in the game.
3) Old man Felix went through the ice last winter. Too drunk? Or maybe finally lost enough to give up. Kaio isn't sure – nor it is anything he'd like to think about.
4) Now responsible for his sister Emi, though he loaned enough money to try and give her a less slimy chance at one of the orphanages.
5) Interested in the occult. If one can read a palm; one should be able to read a face. And imagine the games to play …
Goals
1) His sister is now missing, despite everything... Or is it because “everything” was barely anything and he should never had let her out of sight? Regardless; finding her is priority number one (actually quite refreshing for that not to be himself. Quite terrifying as well!)
2) Playing a high stakes game with the movers and shakers of Korvosa. In a beautiful hall, surrounded by glamour and elegance – looking down at the city instead of up on the splendor.
Secrets
1) Kaio can't remember his mother. Nor Emi's, whom his father claimed were the same. But... There's a good ten years between us?
2) Though he doesn't show many genuine emotions – literally his job not to – Kaio wishes he could be a bit more open, a bit more warm. Maybe that'd make it easier to make close friends? For now though; food was more important.
Three people
1) Sammy the Ham – The massive man is certainly not the brightest of Lamm's goons, but probably the kindest. When playing at the tables of Eel's End, he's a handy friend to have around in case things get rowdy. Though he doesn't gamble Sammy loves card tricks and “magic”.
2) Disella Sacer – the orphan keeper entrusted with Emi. Kaio's perception is certainly tainted by the glaring lack of said sister, viewing the woman as a wicked, greedy and selfish creature he'd sew into a sack of rocks and throw into the bay if he only could. Maybe it's that simple. Maybe not.
3) Tris ol'Tree – Medium, grandma-substitute and what passes for healthcare in Old Korvosa. Weather bitten and a bit forgetful, Kaio has known her since he was … three? Something around that; he had a nasty cough and needed more care then the hovel in the Shingles could provide. Finding each other surprisingly agreeable, he spent many more late evenings there waiting for his father to return from his gambling sprees. In the meanwhile, he learned a trick or two in exchange for minor chores and a set of young eyes.
Memories
1) Skating with Emi and his father one cold winter day. A cherished memory of an happy family.
2) The thrill of his first big win. His s*%* eating grin and the adrenaline of fleeing from the older kids seeking to reclaim their losses.
3) The wiff of exotic spices just unloaded in the docks, the dream of one day being the recipient of such wonder.
Emilia Felix – sister
Lil Emi, my sister barely half my age. Our fathers one good deed, a little sunshine in a grimy slimy world. Loves carrots, cats and being an adorable little s+!$.
Disella Sacer – [need to pick one of the orphanages here]'s orphan keeper
I've never been much of a caretaker, just barely a passable brother to Emi. My work, the sleazy taverns and rowdy players, is not a place for a child. My life is not a suitable place for a child. Hells know, not suitable for anyone. So when father drunkenly stumbled down the docks for the last time, I had to figure out something. Taking loans I shouldn't I could just afford Emi a spot at that place Disella runs. So she'd be safe, so she'd be warm. That was the plan at least. Worked for a while too. But I guess that hag of a woman figured out I had no more money, nothing to give or donate. They said Emi just got up and ran away. Liar, cheats – I know my sort – and their cursed hunger for gold!
They're a bit redundant with eachother and the later isn't nearly done, but the first should be a brief glimpse of the idea and the second the main plot hooks asked for right now.
Going for the "missing child/sibling" trait story wise, though it may need minor tweaking? And an orphanage for it, I'll look over the 5 options again. Or see if the GM has a nudge :)
Haven't quite nailed down a place to live yet, but probably somewhere in Old Korvosa. (I'm sure I've read somewhere where Eel's End is actually supposed to be - but I can't seem to find it again?)
Nor the love for the city, other then vague ambitions to rise to the top. I'll elaborate if I can - but the other bits seems more critical right now.
Need to work on a personality and a look, though I tend to try and find the first by rp-ing and the second by looking at available portraits.
I have a sheet I'm filling out, but the crunch should be quite fast once the fluffy bits are nailed down. Doesn't take nearly the effort :D
And please forgive the poor formatting. I copy+pasted it from a .odt. I'll make it a bit more readable with paizo's formatting once it's on a profile I promise :)
No worries, Lessah! I like the idea of a professional gambler, and it fits with the mesmer, if you're still going that route. A couple of questions (and sorry if I missed anything):
1. How old is Emi? I saw a reference to her being 1/2 Kaio's age, so I assume teen or pre-teen?
2. If I understand correctly, Kaio is beholden to Lamm because of gambling debt/loans? What use does he provide Lamm that keeps him alive?
As for orphanages, I think let's put Emi in (or she was in) Scrapper's Hall.
Eel's End is in Old Korvosa.
Ah, I missed the edit window. Well, Ruslan is Rulso now.
Gah, having trouble with this name. Ruslo, not Rulso. So, Ruslan was Ruslan, and never Rulso, and is now Ruslo. Easy-peezy!
Ah, I missed the edit window. Well, Ruslan is Rulso now.Gah, having trouble with this name. Ruslo, not Rulso. So, Ruslan was Ruslan, and never Rulso, and is now Ruslo. Easy-peezy!
I've changed the name in the profile to match. We have always been at war with Eastasia :)
(I love the 'grease-fingered' moniker, btw. Really captures the sleaze of the guy. Ew.)
Yeah, some information would have been more useful if other information was included as well :p
1) 12-13? I figured Kaio to be about 25 but neglected to include that information :p
2) Was thinking he needed to borrow cash to 'donate' to get Emi a bed in the orphanage ahead of the queue. Or it could just be gambling debts. Either way it's hard to pay anything back when dead, so as long as one makes payments on time I figured they'd be good. In addition to protection tax of course! ("pay x% of your winnings and you can play here without losing your kneecaps")
Scrapper's Hall seems reasonable. A place in a nice enough area one *could* convince oneself it's a good deed to place someone there. And, once you scratch the surface, enough red flags to beat yourself up about it :p
Thanks for pointing out where Eel's End were. I spotted it again in the shop section, so I can have a look at the keyed map as well :)
Yeah Mesmerist is the plan still.