Welcome! I'm probably going to make a DM profile for this game, so as to not ruin the immersion with a Starfinder robot profile picture.
Feel free to shuffle a few skill points around based on who else got in. This would be a good place to discuss which teamwork feat you all want to go with as well. I'm going to work on a gameplay post now.
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Hello everyone! I nominate Stealth Synergy as the teamwork feat because having the entire party pile their stealth ranks together with the single highest roll for stealth checks seems on brand for government agents.
I didn’t look over the teamwork feats exhaustively. I spent most of the week figuring out the genealogy/history of the various houses of Welf and nearly missed getting my crunch sorted, so if I am misreading or overlooking something obviously better please mention it!
About Margarett: in combat she’s a moderately efficient gunmage. The plan is a lot of spell combat, not a lot of spellstrike. I didn’t take the maximum murder options, so we’re not intensifying spells. Maybe in the future we’ll try our hand at buffing/debuffing, for now we have daze and shoot someone as our usual action. Outside of combat she’s approximately a bad wizard with better physical scores than the typical bookish elf.
Her skills can move around, but she needs to keep linguistics/know-nobles/spellcraft, and should not pick up sense motive to align with her background as it stands, which is a fair chunk of her skill points accounted for. If someone else has knowledge skills we can specialize, if no one else has knowledge skills I’ll add more to get identification checks.
Languages right now are Aklo, Aquan, Common (English), Draconic, First Speech, Greek, Skald (Scottish).
Excited to read more of each other’s backstories now that we know who the party will be.
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Howdy y'all, excited to putter round with you fine folks! I've no strong opinion on our first Teamwork feat yet, but Cash would strongly prefer not Bonded Mind, out of a fervent mistrust for magic.
I put together a skills sheet for us from one a previous game used to help us compare, hope the colors are alright with everyone. Some interesting things there.
Cash is primarily a front line fighter, he was a boxer in his youth and has kept it up as a hobby in his retirement, in rage he'll be punching folks, tripping people, shooting 'em and smashing them in the face with his own, but he's also an effective face, able to shift attitudes 3 steps rather than 2 thru diplomacy, and especially good at bluffing and bullying folks.
Let me know if anyone thinks their backstory might find space to tie into his, but I think he works well as an outsider, :)
I made the decision to pay for a coterie to follow him (a little less than 5 gold a day), I have no idea how this will pan out in game, if they'll only be there to serve him at base camp and/or in London, but I'd love help coming up with names for his valets and footmen.
"Trooper Ranveer Singh reporting for duty, sah!"
Looking forward to this game folks - very unique concept with some suitably unique characters.
Ranveer is a sapper and a rifleman (Fighter VMC Rogue), but his Sikh culture means he's just as likely to charge and engage in hand-to-hand. Built him to be equally adept at both, and have also played up the cultural valor and credo of the Sikhs with Bravery feat that allows everyone to benefit from the class ability (a bonus Teamwork feat if you will :).
Speaking of Teamwork Feats - currently have Precise Strike which he selected in tandem with Angus (with whom he shares a chequered service history). Open to suggestions though if the group prefer a united way forward.
Ranveer is pretty skilled for a straight up Fighter, and has well balanced saves and bonuses, and does pretty well with what he has. Good all rounder and bloody good chap to have in ones corner!
I'm incredibly tired, but I got a post up in gameplay! A little barebones, but as I said, I'm still new to GMing PbP. Hope to get another few up tomorrow (later today depending on your point of view), but it also depends on how many people dot in.
Thanks for the pick DM.
I had chosen Bonded Mind as my teamwork skill, but fine to switch to Stealth Synergy if we are all agreed.
Can't really coordinate backgrounds with anyone unless you don't mind that my character won't remember you.
On the other hand, I do have room in my backstory for a confidante that is helping me hide the fact that I lost my memory... I think the DM had some ideas along those lines, but not sure.
@Cassius: Great sheet, some very interesting skills results there and its good to have them as a handy reference.
Have dropped Precise Strike as Ranveer's Teamwork Feat. Also not fussed on what we select, but Stealth Synergy does seem damned handy.
Just finishing up spending coin and final outfitting.
Where's everyone situated globally (if you don't mind me asking) - just so we can get an idea of time zones and posting trends etc.
I'm just outside Aberdeen, NE of Scotland, about an hour and a half North of where Angus' ancestral home :) so GMT+1
Okay, switching to Stealth Synergy. I'm in the US (Mountain time zone) as well, but work really early in the morning, so will likely be on at odd hours.
Hey folks, looking forward to getting into things! Stealth synergy seems like a good option for the teamwork feat.
I’m in California myself.
I'm CDT (Central Daylight), UTC-5, GMT-6.
I'm just outside Aberdeen, NE of Scotland, about an hour and a half North of where Angus' ancestral home :) so GMT+1
You're closer to Margarett's ancestral seat than I am then. Keep me honest, please.
Angus and Margarett almost certainly know of each other, and might even know each other directly. Lord's choice how they got along or what they heard of each other as children.
I don't see an easy way to tie backstories together with Cash, but M will appreciate his drive to be known. They'll probably get along (in)famously.
Lionel and Margarett are like two paths diverged in a wood, it's been neat to read over him and see the little mechanical bits and pieces that I thought about.
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I'm on the American East Coast, but work in tourism so my schedule is erratic.
Also idk if or when I'll be able to address this in character, but since it was brought up, Cassius is not a Confederate. As an out and visible lesbian in the American South, I couldn't in good consciousness play one.
After that, he laid out rails and struck oil thru middle America and moved to New York City. New York was a Free state.
Like almost all rich Americans in the time period, he profited either directly or indirectly from slavery, but his was a more recent hand than many. Regardless of him or his children (now grown) not keeping folks hostage as their property, his parents and siblings would likely still be holding people in bondage (Sherman doesn't come to Savannah until November of 1864) and they would be sternly in defense of slavery as an institution. He also owned textile mills on the East Coast, therefore likely relied on Southern cotton, but that's hardly the tip of the iceberg when it comes to human rights abuses in textile mills.
Cash has grown to view the keeping of slaves as an immoral position, not because he views human life as sacrosanct, but because he views himself as above it. In his mind, the practice is for lesser men to engage in, people afraid of the capital risk present when you pay your workers rather than keep them in bondage.
He's also a realist and an English citizen. England abolished slavery in 1807 and from what he can see across the pond (what he might be able to tell from letters sent from family fighting on both sides), the South ain't winning.
He's not a good man, nor a hero, but we're playing colonizers. That's not the point. He's a scumbag, out to better his position no matter what. He thinks certain people deserve to be on the bottom, but unlike his countrymen, he just thinks they deserve to be paid.
Gaelic is all good, and might be more useful than you might originally think! Wardens will provide ammo unless something dramatic changes with England's bullet rationing.
Cash, I really like your description, thank you for writing that up!
Great exposition Cash - thanks for giving us an insight into your creative mindset.
For my own take I'm not a Sikh (although sport a beard worthy of their culture), am trying to avoid too many of the tropes involved in writing Ranveer's voice and drawing inspiration from Captain Nemo in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen mixed with Billy Fish from The Man Who Would Be King. Regardless - have done a bunch of background research into the fascinating Sikh culture, and want to do it justice in my play.
@Margarett: Will do :)
Back to matters crunchy I'll run with Stealth Synergy also.
@GMK: Ranveer purchased ammo, but think it's justified as he as 15 standard rounds and 15 cold iron bullets + 30 metal cartridges. Think it's fair that he could resupply the standard rounds for naught from the Wardens, but makes sense to pay for his unusual ammo if you're happy with that?
As an aside to all, I also make a point of creating a Heroforge version of my PCs, something that helps me visualise them. I've linked Ranveer's version in his profile header. If anyone fancies me having a tilt at their PC let me know (appreciate not everyone has the time or OCD inclination that I do when it comes to Heroforge :)
Angus and Margarett almost certainly know of each other, and might even know each other directly. Lord's choice how they got along or what they heard of each other as children.How old is Margarett? Angus is 25, he has a younger sister that would be 23, and two older brothers, John 30, and Alexander 27, so even if they weren't 'dear' friends, she might have known one of his siblings.
Whatever that relationship was, you can determine, and Angus will have thought well of you because of it :)
She's just out of University, so 22 or maybe just turned 23. Sounds like she and your younger sister were good friends. That works. She has several older siblings, but I didn't stat them out entirely so as to be able to better fit into the historical narrative if needed, but John and Francis are family names at this time so if you need to reference an older brother feel free, John would be the current Earl and John the younger Mar's heir general.
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Yes! That's a good point Ranveer, unusual materials would be normal priced. As an aside, I really appreciate the care and respect that went into all of these characters.
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I'd imagine that both Margarett and Angus attended the Braemar Gathering in their time - it was quite the social event for the Highlands and Scots nobility, particularly as Queen Victoria herself often attended.
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I'd imagine that both Margarett and Angus attended the Braemar Gathering in their time - it was quite the social event for the Highlands and Scots nobility, particularly as Queen Victoria herself often attended.
That's a good point, and as Margarett's courtesy title is Viscountess Braemar she'd absolutely have attended once she was of age if only out of curiosity. (I missed this gathering when doing my research, now I have more amusing reading to do)
I haven't headed down the heroforge path because I don't know if they can do multicolor features (heterochromia/ombre), which is one of the flavor elements I have in my notes but realize I haven't added to the profile yet. (Time to fix that) If it can do color fades, feel free to give it a shot. In terms of equipment, a rifle and spellbook are the more important bits. She has ancillary blades because her older brothers insisted but she's much more likely to shoot someone than try to fence with them.
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On the other hand, I do have room in my backstory for a confidante that is helping me hide the fact that I lost my memory... I think the DM had some ideas along those lines, but not sure.
Now would be a good time to figure out if one of the PC's is going to be the confidant, or if it's going to be an NPC. I think the likely candidate would be the Viscountess, as an already established member f the Wardens, but I could see it being anybody should they want to work it into their backstory!
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Went ahead and made a figure for Cash since it was mentioned, :)
What do you think, Magarett? Are you the type that would hide a sorcerer?
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Went ahead and made a figure for Cash since it was mentioned, :)
Cash is great and I sincerely hope he is literally dropping victorian era capitalist gang signs every time he says money.
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I think Margarett would be fine as a confidant if you want her as such, she'd have likely been worried that you were losing yourself in the project so if past you presented this as a chance to start over or a fresh beginning and asked her for help in the case that something went wrong that would probably resonate. She's a firm believer in redemption, and would not hold current you accountable for any, prior, transgressions. She'd probably be horrified that her friend didn't share the plan ahead of time, but it's happened now, best make the best of it. It's pretty easy to throw together a reasonable history of interaction either at University (Göttingen was my choice for Margarett) or in the Wardens themselves in these last two years.
She wouldn't view helping Median as hiding a sorcerer. After all, the law says a sorcerer must be under observation by a Warden, not that a sorcerer must be publicly declared. Similarly, the law seems to suggest a punishment for the creator of the sorcerer, not the sorcerer themselves. As the creator has vanished into so much smoke, that problem is behind us. Margarett is Lawful Good, not Lawful Stupid. As long as you don't go missing, she has no obligation (as I understand the rules in play) to report you. Should you go missing, she'd probably report you to the Director. She'd also, of course, encourage you to self-report once you feel settled enough in yourself to decide this is the life you want.
That sounds like it will work. I wasn't thinking of a Lawful character as a confidante, but it sounds like it will work, and should put a nice twist on things, having such an upstanding character defending her if it does become known.
As for history, Median won't know any of it, so you can say "you remember, at ____" anytime, and she will just nod along. :) She probably just read your name in the journals... her former self mentioned that you were trustworthy, a good friend, and interested in redemption, so Median felt like she could go to you for help. So, they definitely could have been friends at college and then joined the Wardens together. I mean, honestly, they could have any connection at all and Median would be oblivious, so feel free to invent and drop whatever bombs from the past that you like, since only you will know that. Median will only have a say in who she is *now* ... not who she used to be.
... And I am sure that she will have to out herself as a sorcerer at some point with the group at least, so self-reporting is likely going to be moot.
Shoulda had the local tag, that was me just forgetting :)
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Crosspost with cash, ah well. We need to get into the field so I stop writing a page of dialogue every post. Margarett is long winded. Did my best to give people hooks to hang off of as needed, feel free to retcon.
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@Cash: Just clocked that Ranveer's saves were low - are now correct (and looking far better!): +5F, +3R, +5W (+6 vs Fear)
Should you wish to amend your Skills Sheet Sahib :)
@Angus: Was looking through some Wonderous Items as Ranveer has some coin to spend - came across this if you want a great flavour item for a Scotsman (and even better it'll no break the bankie!): Caber Twig
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Fixed! Thanks, Ranveer (:
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Oh now she has to like the director, tricky, and poor Median getting voluntold that she's in charge. Oof, that DC on knowing anything about the LTC is probably not happening, so I guess Mar's comment about colonel's was prophetic. Neat stuff.
I'll save another post for after we're on our way to avoid crowding the thread. Anything else we need to get done here GM Kaz?
The vampire comment, I am laughing.
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Loving Cash being an opportunistic wheeler and dealer! :) Bravo.
Yeah the ambition is pretty great in this party. It’s easy to imagine we’re all prime vassal material in the eventual grand duchy of the Wyld sandbox however many years from now. Still, first we need to get on a train and into the wyld.
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Margarette helps Median pack, folding each garment with a precise ease, then slotting a tiny flatiron into the case. She chuckles as the places the various tools into their hidden storage.
”To think father thought my time shadowing the valet was useless.”
A moment later she swears. Drat it all Median, she’s going to poke. She didn’t give you anything that day at tea, at least not that you told me. You were irritated all week because she’d said she had something as an excuse to have a companion for the rutgidge folly, and she took you to tea afterwards as an apology. Perhaps she meant to bring your sense of humor. Honestly, this is going to be impossible, you know that.”. She picks up one of the plants and moves it to the balcony. As she returns, she continues.
”The sooner you feel comfortable bringing her into your confidence the easier this will be. She’s one of the best of us, for all she isn’t a warden. Honest, Loyal, True. If you get her word, she will never break it.”. She moves another plant, careful of the thorns, then considers the easel and begins to break it down.
“She simply cannot get along with politicking and so she washed out when she tried for the AD posting, then left for the Order. It’s a better fit, everything in the order is tests and scores. Of course, that’s the downside of telling her. Tests, and an endless series of questions. At least we’ll be outside the empire, soon.”. She places the last of the painting supplies away, and snaps the case closed, before turning to look at Median and the trunk.
”I’ll keep you safe, whatever you decide, but you can’t stop me worrying any more than you can keep this secret forever. It would be good to have more friends. I’ll get this downstairs, and let you say goodbye. You know the maid will tend the plants.”. She leaves Median alone to think amidst her many missing memories, and takes the chest down the stairs with an easy grace that startles the doorman. When he looks at her she smiles brightly.
”Lovely day for an adventure, thank you for holding the door Samuel.”
”Cash, even you must admit that the endless frontiers exist to be ruled, and that rulership involves tending to the long term. You’d never have made a fortune with an eye only on the short profit, something always goes wrong and that type self destructs. We’re surveyors, for our varied interests. I just want us to keep the long term profit in mind while we go looking. Fields and streams might not seem interesting beside gold and magic, but they endure, and grow crop year after year after year. The wealth of nations, is land. All else flows from there, no matter the small achievements along the way. What lands would you seek for the empire? Or any of you? The traditional award for bravery is fief, and sudden, so best to think on it. Our small holding on the other side of the door is just the beginning, and the empire won’t make the mistake we made in the Americas”
I do like the idea of using the Discussion thread for backposting also, but I also like it for discussions, lol, so I'll be putting all RP info in spoilers (which anyone can read but will address in the tag who it's at) and in RP posts all non spoiler info will be in OOC tags so that way it's still legible with the spoilers open.
DM, is Ratcliff still in the room with Samwell and me? The present company changes the tactic.
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At the Wellington Barracks, Ranveer makes his way to the Sergeant’s billet where arrangements had been made for him to be stay while the business with the Wardens was conducted. Stares from those posted within its corridors follow him with a mixture of curio and acrimony.
He catches the eyes of one veteran NCO, whose stare speaks of brave truths witnessed from campaigning in India. Ranveer nods in his direction before adjusting his turban purposefully. Within minutes he arrives at his chamber and enters.
Unpacking he arrays his weaponry, equipment and personal effects upon the simple cot, taking time to inspect each item before once again stowing them in their correct place. Then, with calm reverence, Ranveer folds a worn flag of the Sikh Faith before placing it carefully into his pack.
Rightfully so, the Gurdwara is always with me.
The Sikh soldier smiles wistfully, then performs a final inspection of his rifle and ordinance before donning his breastplate. His chakram positioned handily over his turban.
Hefting pack and rifle, Ranveer strides purposefully out to make his way to the station…
As he passes the gate, the Havildar notices the same haunted eyed veteran lurking nearby.
”Hold Sikhy!”
Ranveer halts turning a hard stare upon the figure, his tongue and action only staved by the three stripes and crown insignia of a Colour Sergeant.
”Yes Colour Sarjant sah!”
The tall, lean NCO leans toward Ranveer and he gruffly whispers;
”I know where you are going lad. Know what you’ll be facing…”
Ranveer continues to hold his eyes front;
”I’m about to get a train sah. Nothing more to say.”
The Colour Sergeant nods, then his eyes flicker to the shadows and back. He presses a cartridge box into the Sikh’s hands;
”A gift. Not to you, but to them you’ll meet. Not on the train Sikhy, but after. You’ll know. When you do, give them faery basterds my regards…”
Then he was gone.
Ranveer looked to the battered box, opening it carefully. Inside were standard .577 Snider cartridges, 15 in all, but with bullets of a dull, cold iron…
In response to Margarett's warning:
"I honestly don't see how you could trust her, especially after she entered the room right after there was talk of spies. No offense of course Margarett, but you trust too easily. I mean, you even trust me too easily. How do you know I won't go crazy like my alter ego did? The best of us? I am not convinced of that."
"So to handle this, let's see..."
She spotted just what she was looking for on the desk. A box, which probably had contained some earrings in the past when they were first purchased. She closed it back up with nothing inside, tied it with the original ribbon, and showed it to Margarett.
"This will do. I'll give it to her, telling her that I am returning what she gave me when we went to tea. Then the ball is in her court. I don't know what she is playing at. Wait... you don't think SHE, well, no of course *you* don't. You think she is the best of us... but what if SHE is the one that gave the original the dark book that drove her mad? That MUST be it! Why else is she picking at things like this?
She finishes packing and follows Margarett out, leaving the house in the care of the servants.
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As Cash is the only one who remains in the room with the Brigadier and Ratcliff, he is the only one who sees the Brigadier's grim little smile. "But of course Mr. Haigh. It would be rather boorish of us to deprive you of your usual accommodations while you are doing this valuable mission for Her Majesty, wouldn't it? Bring as much staff as you'd like." He takes a cigar.
Cash does not correct the Brigadier, nor invite him to use his first name, keeping things formal. He lights his cigar first, then those of the other gentlemen. "Much obliged, Sir."
After a moment of idle chatter and a swig from a flask, he changes tack, directing his attention firmly to the military man. "Brigadier Samwell, if you'll permit me, I've two questions. I'm not one to bandy about the bush or couch things in pretense. No, I climbed to the very top of American industry in just ten years by being earnest, honest and straightforward. Now if we're to be working together, I need to know," he takes three slow puffs on his cigar, "how does a man get where you are? I know there's enough to be said for the power and strength of the masculinity inherently present in a military man, but as a man of ambission myself, I find myself routinely in a world more and more surrounded by those of a more delicate disposition in positions they did nothing to deserve. Dilettantes, dandies, debutantes, flourishing where an honest man suffers. But second," again he pulls on his cigar, letting the smoke drip out of his mouth, "I hope you know you can trust me, and Ratcliff here. Anything you need of us, anything I can do to help further the aims of the military, let me know. We'll be working together after all, and maybe a ambitious man such as myself to help accomplish your directives, for the sake of Queen, Crown and Country, I dearly want to know."
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Yes please! Try and follow Cash and Ranveer's example and spoiler tag things so that the discussion can occur as well as back posting!
"Blue is the colour of warriors Sahib... A good omen. We belong here."Really....
He collects a coat and hat as he leaves, lifting up his eyepatch to wink at Ratcliff. "Thanks again for taking a chance on me, Director."