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Addison replies, "Me too, Uncle." She then says to the others, "Seems there's some kind o' magic on Uncle Henry. Whatever spell he's under's waning... and I don't know what'll happen if it fades completely." As Addy speaks, her fox moves quickly to the dining area. Addy herself moves around to the back of the sofa, expecting that Henry will not rise up to watch. Peering over at him, she says, "Rest yer eyes a bit, Uncle. I'll need to put me mask back on, for the sake o' me little friend."
Addison hears Caledon's advice. But is it truly too dangerous to touch the man?
Regarding the message, she says to Cal via Message spell, Jenny Thatcher... this poor Penny Abble... they're innocents like me Vikki Finn—Henry's actual niece. He calls her Victoria. In fact, he just called Addy 'Victoria,' which is what made it so impossible for her to maintain her Vixen persona—a persona she may soon depend on, given Cal's assessment of the other redhead in the room: I don't know if Wendy could've cursed me uncle if she wanted to. She seems to hate magic. But then, I can't figure her out. Much as I hate to stoop to this level, me friendliness is as strategic as yer insults. Me attempt to befriend her started genuine, but given her attitude toward slavery, I can't be a true friend to her. But I can fake it well.
After thirty seconds, the smoke clears. As the Vixen never once enters the smoke, her comparatively-unspectacular reversion becomes part of the display. The mask in her hand melts into her flesh, which seem to be covered in skin-tight spider silk crawling with thousands-if-not-millions of vermilion red spiders. Whatever the specks are, they reform into grotesque fleshy tendrils until the redhead is unmasked, and clad in something a little less fancy. —for a fashionista, anyway. "It's me, Addison. "I found Vikki, murder by her husband. She was in the company of six other brides, all murdered in the same way. I stuck around to make sure the man'd never take another life. "I took his." Tears stream from her face. "I'm so sorry ye've lost yer memory o' that—sorry to tell ye, but... ye need the truth. Victoria Finn is dead. I loved her since I was nine and she was ten, and she's in me prayers every night, and ye were so good to us... ye treated me like family, took care o' me..." The tear-choked words come off as a blathering of emotion. But Addison does have a point. "...how can I take care o' you, Uncle?" With or without mind-reading magic, it's clear that Addison wants to help Henry—the real Henry, whose personas seem far more different from her own Addy/Vixen selves.
Addy turns to Cashara, eyes lighting up as she gets a good look at the outfit. "Ye look gorgeous!" Addy gives the cowgirl a hug. She then steps back, snaps her fingers, changing her spider silk to an outfit exactly like Cashara's but with vermilion red strips on the skirt. Adjusting her hat, she confesses, "I never dreamt I'd pull off western fashion, but I really do love yer outfit! Still, it's your look, and I won't ruin it by twinsying ye."
The Vixen signals Kitty to assume the position. "I've a more eastern look I've been itching to show ye. I was gonna wait, but seeing how the secret's out..." Addy reaches into her purse and there is a sudden burst of vermilion smoke! Clouds burst in four different directions, and the Vixen's voice seems to be in on couldburst, then another—even though the bursts of inky black, blinding white and fiery vermilion are all at least 100 feet apart, and some are over water or above ground! Her echoing voice calls out, "Ladies and gentlemen... new friends and old... I'd like to present meself as the Extremely Fashionable but O'erprotective Muscle o' the Society..."
Addy is a bit startled by the reaction. Martha...? Is she the nerdy girl in me Huntress lessons that I never noticed, but at some point between then and now, she's blossomed into this eye-catching cutie? Or is she a fashion model? She certainly could be. Addy really doesn't know. So she answers the question of what she's been up to: "Looking wonderful." Addy snaps her fingers, and her spider silk becomes a burst of specks on webs—which snap back in place to form an outfit matching Martha's, except that the color theme is mainly vermilion, with black and white as the only other colors. "Seems ye've been up to the same, Martha." The frog-lipped banjo guy's reply to Kitty is even stranger. I thought for certain no one knew about Hanako's winged form. Even she was surprised to have the look of a Yousei. She says to the banjo-man, "Kitty's a music-lover, hoping to hear ye play when ye've a moment to." Addy doesn't address the strangers' knowledge of her, and their even stranger knowledge of Kitty's secret. She instead tries to get Martha to tell her about herself, without blurring that she really can't remember! "Aside from working on me outfit, ever since, y'know... I've been in seclusion for a while, closed up shop and it's been just Kitty and I until I took a new line o' work."
Martha: Martha understands the implications of Addy's accompanying facial expressions and body language. It's as if Addy said, "Since Vikki died, I tried to make a life in the fashion biz, but couldn't move on. I even avoided people, and I'm afraid that in... trying to forget, I managed to push away more o' me past than intended. Can ye refresh me memory? When was the last time we saw each other? What were we up to?"
Addison looks over the group, noting that each stranger—like herself—favors a particular hue. "What a colorful bunch we are," she says as she strikes Kitty's vermilion fur. She and her pet are just a hint of orange away from the ruby-red-man's theme. But Addy's emerald eyes fix their gaze upon the pink-golden-blonde. She reaches for the woman's hand, intend on kissing the back as a gentleman would. "Pleasure," she says. "Addison Lane's me name, and this is Kitty." Only Cashara and Rorx (and possibly Sonix) might find it odd that the fox has no collar. Noting the woman's change of clothes, Addy adds, "When it's time to change, ye'll know Kitty and I by a different name. I'd've changed us before our arrival, but thought Uncle Henry might like to see the fox as he found her. Minus the collar, o' course."
"Oh..." Addy is pretty sure she knows where this is going. "I can relate. If ye don't think this story's fit for a party, how about we start walking. We all live downhill, assume neither o' ye's a millionaire. Me place's southwest o' here, but I walk the same road leading to Westedge." Given what Addy knows of the fashion world, she's pretty sure Cashara is from Westedge, or likely lives near it.
Addy says, "Well, if ye find ye're able to talk about what's eating ye, I'll lend an ear, and if I'ce the right words I'll offer 'em. "Least I could do. Kitty'd freeze her li'l tail off if not for yer actions."
Kitty slaps Addy across the ankle for her failure to notice Cashara's tears. Cookie crumbs spray from the fox's mouth as she lectures her 'master.'
Addy thinks to herself, The tears ain't about the fight she was in earlier... "Is this about the train?" she asked. Judging by her taste in fashion, Cashara must be from Westedge. There's a train there that leads to the south end of Arcadia, from what Addy's heard. She isn't sure if there's a midnight train, or what it's like to actually ride the train. Addy simply follows Rorx's lead in being supportive to her new teammate.
Seeing the party wrapping up, Addy wishes Cashara, Rorx and Sonix a Merry Crystalhue. She grabs a yak's milk for the road. But seeing how the mug belongs to Baron von Heatmiser's, Addy has to stay longer and finish her drink. She grabs a reindeer cookie while she's at it... Cookie:
Addy's breath feels minty fresh, and the cookie puts a little spring in her step despite the late hour...
"Short version," Addy offers, "Kitty likes yer names as they are, and like me calling her Kitty as a fox. But when I get her out o' the collar, she won't be a fox, and she won't be the child she was when she was captured. She wants a new name." With a shrug, Addy adds, "I guess I'm taking a codename meself for moral support."
"So far, Kitty's only forcing codenames on me and herself." This earns Addy a slap in the race from a harmless fox-paw. Unfazed, Addy goes on, "She's really thought this through quite a bit in the years she couldn't send her words to me. I still gotta hear 'em in the common tongue to be sure o' the codenames." Addison looks up, perhaps distracted by something on the Baron's loft. "Mine I'm sure o'. In fact, ye might've read me name already," she says pensively, following with a brief explanation, "—in me file, I mean. I used the name 'Vermilion Vixen' in me file."
"Yeah," Addy cedes. "She may look like a bare-bottomed animal, but Kitty wears the pants in our relationship."
"Equal partner, I mean," Addy says with a warm smile.
Seeing that the party is starting to wind down, Addy says to her new colleagues, "I look forward to working with the two o' ye, and I've faith in Shelyn that me li'l friend'll join us on our next job as me sidekick."
Addy reluctantly translates, "And I promised her before the day's done, me Crystalhue gift to her is to perform the trick."
Addy replies, "Kitty's short for Kitsune. It the Tien word for 'fox,' but o' course there's the Western meaning—a fey woman who can take the form of a fox. "Kitty's half-fey, daughter of a samurai and a kitsune mum. Seems her childhood was normal enough, until some o' the local men came for the mum. Me guess is the collar was meant for her..." Addy points out the odd, bear-trap-like shape. "It'll take Kitty's head off if she tries to change form. Sadly, the men realized they'd the wrong fox only after the kitsune mother was killed. Kitty was left in a cage held for ransom, but whatever went down, neither her father nor her captors ever returned. "Instead, she had a gaggle o' visitors, the Yousei. Li'l winged lasses about her height." Addy points out Derry, the 6"-tall clockwork cowgirl. "They've a kind o' communal magic. They pass knowledge onto others, and their own magic grows as they teach. The Yousei taught Kitty their way as they kept her fed and cleaned, and even flew in between the bars of her cage to play with her. If her neck got notably thinner or thicker, the collar'd behead her. "Long story relatively shortened: Uncle Henry found Kitty, and she started using the Yousei way to teach me. About a week ago, she said I'm strong enough to try the trick that gets the collar off. I got her to agree to have one last Crystalhue together before I try it."
Addy replies, with notable hesitance, "A bit o' both, maybe? "It's Kitty who's always teaching me me new tricks. I just hold her in my lap, and I feel the strength flow into me, and then I can do things—like—as an example, I can just walk up to that yak right now and lift her o'er me head." Thinking on that, she adds, "Unless o' course the attempt'd piss her off." She instead picks up Kitty (who is much lighter than a yak, and does not get pissed off when Addy picks her up). Addy's emerald eyes are fixed on Kitty's obsidian collar. It has jagged edges on the upper side, with a leather lip coating the zig-zagging metal. There are also several tiny runes, gears, and fine copper wires on the collar. Sighing, she admits, "I know exactly what me new trick is, truth be told..." Her voice trails off. She strokes her pet lovingly, then says, "Oh, but enough about me. What's the story with yerself and Sonix? I take it he ain't no ordinary pet."
"I'm packing big guns meself, hon." Addy grins, patting her thigh. The striped tights reveal the shape of her thigh, which is thick and muscular. "Me Mum's a Huntress," she adds. "I'm a... sort o' just okay shot with a composite bow, but... that weapon o' yers looks complicated. Fascinating, however. How does it... work?"
Addison translates the fox's words. "A mistake on me part. Seems me li'l friend'll be better suited for defending herself, once I can perform me new trick."
Addison is completely unfazed by the very idea that everyone at the entire party saw her girly bits. She replies, "I'm still working on me transformation. Kitty says I've another hidden talent, and she's helping me sort it out. "The short of it's that I'm to be on the field with ye, fighting the good fight." Watching the two animals, she adds, "Looks like Kitty's trying to win o'er yer pet to secure herself a bodyguard."
Addison sees Kitty nudging a bowl of yak's milk (one that was apparently filled earlier, left for a small animal to claim) with her nose. She says to Rorx, "Kitty means to cheer Sonix up. I'm Addison, by the way—one o' Brother Seamus' new hires, like yerself if I ain't mistaken." Noting the gear among her new co-workers, she says, "I feel like if we get in a fix, the two o' ye could take on a small army. I suppose me talent's being fashionable." Addy snaps her fingers—thousands (if not a million) of vermilion specks burst from her body, each bungeeing on a fine silken thread. In that split-second, Addy's shape is exposed, though only a few patches of skin can be glimpsed, as her body is almost entirely wrapped in black and white silk. —in an instant, the specks snap back around the woman. Her outfit is now a vermilion sweater-dress. Her thighs are covered in festive peppermint-striped tights. Her long silk gloves are now white instead of black, and she is wearing a white hat with a vermilion red band. She says of her spider-silk gear, "I can make it black and subtle... for stealth missions."
Addy listens, not daring to move her arm until Kitty finally scampers onto her shoulder. She explains to Cashara, "She's annoyed because I translated her name into western words. Hana means flower; Kojima Hanako means small-island-flower-child. She says she prefers Hanako, but doesn't mind if you shorten it to Hana." Addy looks at the fox, who is apparently quite pleased with herself. "I'm still calling you Kitty." Addy then says to Cashara, "I was originally hired to design costumes for the ladies working for Seamus. Kitty said I got a better talent, and she's been teaching me things. For the best. I like ye're outfit the way it is. If ye need me to touch it up, we can talk about that later."
Addy tells Cashara, "She says her name's Small-Island-Flower-Child, and she's pleased to meet ye. "Don't ask how I know that. I named her Kitty when she was given to me a few years back, collar and all. She started speaking Tien to me maybe a month ago—though I take it ye just heard barks or chirps just now, or whatever ye call a fox sound."
Addy accepts the handshake.
Addison takes a bite of a red-nosed reindeer cookie, then, after washing it down with a swig of yak's milk, she thanks her host. "I'm told the weather's tolerable now, Kitty," she says to the fox. Then to Cashara, she adds, "I hear ye're to thank for that." She introduces herself to Cashara and the other heroes who saved Crystalhue. "Addison Lane's me name, or Addy if ye prefer. I'm one o' Seamus' new hires. Had the day off for religious reasons. Worked me ass off anyway—on this dress," she says of her outfit—a daring vermilion red dress with black buttons and a thigh-high hem, with a black and white checkered silk scarf. The only exposed skin is her freckled face, as her stiletto boots cover what the dress doesn't. Her gloved hand pats the head of her furry little friend.
@WW, in case you're wondering, the derringer effectively fired Color Spray with the same effect as the actual spell. The effect on snowmen has been altered on this in-game night. Happy St. Patty's Day to those who have family gatherings, or watch parades, or steal cereal from leprechauns, or celebrate it in some other way, or don't celebrate it... I think that covers everyone.
No one over-stepped or made any kind of etiquette breach. You understood correctly: I was allowing you a little more creative freedom (before) just to let you ease into the game world. I just mean don't do that going forward, since now I'm at the point where I intend to keep you guessing.
I would think RP would mean something like you meet a barbarian chief and join the clan. How about if you dual-class, make it happen in-game, not an up-front dip? So you need to start with one class?
But here is the default— • Melee Attack: d20+BAB+STR
• Ranged Attack: d20+BAB+DEX
• Throwing a weapon or object is a ranged attack with melee damage. There is a skull called Weapon Focus that adds INT to ranged damage to shooting weapons (bows and crossbows). _____
Same question for the her—dual-classing or pure rogue? Reason I ask, I'm thinking dual-classing (dipping) should not be allowed. I designed two versions of VV, and found that dipping is a nice shortcut to feats, but some classes have abilities that stack (legally)—and it just feels abusive—as in I felt like I'm cheating in my own campaign without having broken a rule! And let's face it, I wouldn't dip if I played from Lv.1. If the Mrs. is dual-classing, I won't make a rule against it. But if none of us are, I'll outlaw it now so it doesn't happen later should we invite more players.
@Johnny, feel free to take a do-over on purchases to get the most spell for your dollar. @Turlin, I'm fine with the post. Funny you should mention "cold" though...
Enjoying the RP so far. I'll give a day or two so you guys can post conversation on horseback, which I imagine will be awkward if there is only one mount available.
Got a holiday party at work, but I plan to interrupt you guys with a call (via Mage's Decree) soon. Question for you both: are you either of you dual-classing or planning to?
It's business. You two are on patrol duty, and you know you can meet him there to start your shift—the night shift. Most of the patrolmen have the night off. Being the newest members to Brother Seamus' funded peace-keepers, you do not. (The in-game reason Addy gets the night off is she is a Shelyn-worshipper.)
Happy with either. Worth mentioning: VV will try to avoid killing. She has the Take 'Em Alive talent, which means she actually fights better with nonlethal attacks. She'll more or less be your typical superhero type, smashing faces through furniture, and somehow knocking people out instead of killing. (She'll understand that not everyone can spare the bad guys.)
I thought skill ranks counted as training and trained only meant you can't use it unless you've invested skill points. Oh... you're right! It appears there isn't a single skill that says you must be a certain class to obtain it—not even spellcraft explicitly requires you to be a caster, unless I missed something.
Correct.
I believe yes for most. Off the top of my head, one exception is Spellcraft, which is only for magic-users. Class skills get +3, so if alchemists don't have stealth (as an example), you could put ranks in the skill every level, but without the +3. EDIT - Speaking of stealth, I just got ninja'd!
Yes to alchemy, firearms, eastern weapons... any PF items.
@Johnny, got your PM! Looking forward to your GM'ing round, if that's a hint of the plan. Best of all, I'll have my diminutive sidekick at Lv.7, in case there's a benefit togoing in places where humans can't fit. Though normal rats are bigger than her, so... @Both, the setting starts off holiday-themed. If you need something more to jump in, let me know. One thing I'll say now: Rooftopolis has been mostly peaceful. The few times patrolmen do get a call (via Send), it's nothing big. I plan to (for the RP-only bit) give you a nothing call or two. You might get something good out of the stops, depending how the RP goes. I'll let you guys RP a bit and get a feel for your characters, but let me know if you want me to adjust the pacing (faster/slower).
Ah, yes... Paizo and it's weird post-eating "back-tracking" error. I've learned to type stuff in a Google Doc or Notes app, or select-all-copy before posting. And I still forget sometimes and end up hating myself.
Gameplay thread is open for player-only RP. You can be on patrol (crowded/festive streets or Snowberry Hills), or in a tea house having a warm beverage before you patrol Snowberry Hills. The crowds in the street are below Snowberry Hills, and it is not snowing there. Only Snowberry is currently experiencing snow, or any form of precipitation.
The back story is done, but written by hand. I won't use my work computer to go on Paizo, but I do have time to type using my Notes App in my phone. Here's part 1, which will be copy-pasted to Addy's profile. Back Story ~ Always the Bridesmaid:
Addison Lane is not your typical vigilante. Sure, she'd like to make the world a better place--but through art, not violence. Her parents were well-to-do merchants--and still are, mind you. Through her parents, Addy learned to deal with people. The way she talked mattered. The way she looked at people with her emerald eyes mattered, as did the way her vermilion curls lit up a room like a blaze, fixing all eyes on her freckley face. That is the very effect Vikki Finn had on her. Addy was nine. Vikki was ten. The two redheads passed as sisters, and were destined to be BFFs for life. Vikki was the prettier one. Her hair didn't frizz up like Addy's. The privilege to braid Vikki's fiery locks more than compensated for envy. As the playmates grew into their teens, Addy found herself craving the touch of her friend's rosy cheek. One day bathing in the river, she gazed into Vikki's deep blue eyes and declared, "Ye're a mermaid, Vikki Finn." Her friend replied, "Addy, you're a fox." How those words made Addy's heart pound! Surely, Vikki saw the beat rippling Addy's bared breast! Alas, Vikki was betrothed to Gill Bluebeard. Such a waste that a previously-married man would have a virgin bride, the very maiden Addy lusted over since her hormones kicked in. But her strongest feeling for Vikki was--and still is, mind you--Love. Thus, Addy was elated to be the bridesmaid on her "sister's" big day! She held her tears until the day ended, and spent the wedding night preparing a work of art that would capture Vikki's beauty--a painting of the veiled bride in her snow-white gown. Certainly, Gill would hang this over his mantle. ...
This is about 30% of the story. The other 70% will go in VV's profile.
@Johnny.
@Turlin,
I'm guessing Sunset will jump back in post-holiday. If he can make it sooner, that's fine.
It is, in the sense that Cal defeated the Froghemoth. Four-Eyed Jack (who Cal knows of but never actually met) might make a cameo, but the bale I had planned should happen later. Yeah, I won't re-do a story. No even one from a past game none of you played. I like to have a fresh new adventure every time. ... As for a Marv-Addy tie, she is a fashion designer. Perhaps she designed his costume? Tea works too, though. She would have reason to talk to local herbalists to try and understand the weird plant she was given. (Her familiar starts as a petrifern.) I'm also thinking we could have one GM step out (setting a post-battle scene before doing so—maybe at a tea house?) and let all characters RP briefly between adventures until the next GM steps in. But for the game-start, I'll keep Addy out of it and set a scene for the patrol duty. (I got an idea for a scenario while reading a classic to my daughters.) Obviously, it should feel like a routine thing, and of course it will not be. ... Do we need to discuss anything more, or shall I just start? I'm also okay with holding off until Dr. Marvin is ready—or starting the game, but keeping it RP-only until Dr. Marvin's stats and such are ready.
I love the avatar! I'm not sure how much damage an alchemist inflicts, but I have a feeling every pairing will be two glass cannons! I suppose high-HP monsters with low damage dice will work, and we should do okay vs. gangs of mooks. RP-wise, I'm hoping for a game in which players talk to each other. I think it helps if the characters have a reason to be together, and here's my thought on a simple premise: Cal is one of the heroes known for bringing Lv.426 down. Marv and Addy want to join Brother Seamus' peace-keeping/crime-fighting team. Each gets to go on patrol, effectively proving their worth. All characters will be equal in level and wealth, but so far only Cal has proven himself to the benefactor who funds our operation. Would you like to start the game as your characters are on-patrol? Perhaps all is peaceful until a Sending Stone message leads you to a crime scene or crime in progress. (I already have an opening scene in mind.) ... As for GM'ing-rotation, how's this order?
I was going to wait until the end of the week, but who am I kidding? It's really not fair to ask anyone to GM a new episode in the midst of a mass exodus. Better to let the characters have their happy ending and thank you all for playing. I mean that sincerely, as I was really into it when that last battle was raging! ...and maybe that's why I got carried away to the point that I was oblivious to the damage done by my barrage of info-dumps. I apologize for the post-battle buzz-kill, especially to those who were willing to forgive my errors and play on. But with a majority of players having moved on to greener pastures, I have decided to deactivate this campaign.
But our heroes pay no mind to mild-mannered fashionista Addison Lane, for they have a job to do, and that job is...
...to discuss the reboot!
Welcome back! And welcome, new guy! Rules and Char-Gen are same as before. I'll copy-paste the rules, but as a reminder, the first two are: #1. PCs don't die.
So aside from trying her voice on, it seems VV needs to wait another episode. We'll try this game as a small, closed group. Promote your characters to Lv.5 and recklessly spend your starting gold: • New guy: you have 10,000g! • Returning hero: you have a choice:
Losing Goddity was tough, not for the game—this is just a game!—but because her disappearance from the site was so abrupt. She was an enthusiastic player, and seemed to be an enthusiastic GM in her own game. I'm >99% sure she left the site for real life reasons, and sadly, I believe there is a valid reason why she did not contact me or any of her players. Fifika and Sunset have real-life stuff going on, so I'm not expecting them to be online this month. I appreciate Anabel letting us know she was leaving this campaign. I take no offense if someone leaves, and would rather know than wonder or take the hint.
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