Aehrick just shakes his head, glancing down at his ineffective blade and marveling that the assault has continued this long and he's none the worse for wear. His clothes, even, were intact save for the soaking.
"Time to make a bit of luck." He grunts, touching at his necklace and muttering a swift prayer about doubling his chances. And then there are two Aehricks! A duplicate blinking into being next to the original-- or is that the original and that the double? There's little time to guess as the pair goes running past the monster, side-by-side.
Using domain power "Copycat" to create a single image as per the Mirror Image spell as a move action. Then using a second move action to go 30' further into the tunnel (past the monster and provoking an Attack of Opportunity.
How far down the tunnel is the water creature? Is it in melee with the Cat or myself?
Also, Ziss was moving behind me, I think? So if he's moving up to engage the thing in melee (and there's room) that means I cannot. Am I correct? If this is the case I'll use my racial "Bless" spell.
Take your actions by initiative order. Water thing always acts last.
How far down the tunnel is the water creature? Is it in melee with the Cat or myself?
Also, initiative results are Leaf (27), Ziss (25), Cat (24), Aehrick (21), Al (16), Luff (15), and Arathalia (14). I wrote it down for my benefit and figured I'd share so nobody else has to.
There are walkways on both sides of the wall, little less than 2 feet wide. Please tell me on which side of the sewer channel are you - left or right - and in which order do you walk/fly.
"It was a theory." Aehrick tells Arathalia. He's at the front on the right side of the tunnel, glancing at the Cat occasionally as he helps lead the way. "Considering the extraordinary nature of the tunnels it seems likely that their manufacture wasn't mundane."
Aehrick shouldn't be surprised when the cat speaks-- especially considering all that's happened in recent history-- but he cannot help it. He forgets himself (and how to talk) for just a moment before dismissing the whole thing with another of the many shrugs from his repertoire.
"Anything worth noting?" He wonders of Alderthane, pausing just long enough to make sure the sky won't be falling before he sloshes through the sewers to catch up with Leaf and the Cat.
About 5 minutes after Jack leaves, a small black cat with a white star shaped patch over his breast saunters down the sewers. It steps nimbly but quickly, avoiding as much moisture as it can. When it comes to the end of the line, it begins sniffing the air.
Considering the cat for some time, Aehrick slowly lifts his gaze to offer Zissaren an inquisitive look. "Is this your friend's... 'companion?'" Elsewhere he might feel foolish even considering the notion but all things considered-- it didn't seem so far fetched.
'Do any of you have knowledge of what part of the multiverse or what power reigns here?'
Aehrick just shakes his head, looking away from Alderthane's holy symbol when the floating presence speaks. He takes a few cautious steps further into the tunnel with the tips of his fingers idly tapping against he pommel of his sword. He doesn't seem too concerned by the odd behavior of the muck-flow.
"This place is as alien to me as it is you, Leaf, and it seems to draw its residents from every corner of existence. I don't find it surprising that the architecture follows suit." He glances down at the water to consider it momentarily before adding "I honestly don't know what to expect from a sewer that doesn't smell. Perhaps the whole thing was shaped by wizards."
I could attempt either roll but I'm not betting on two 19+ raw results. So I'll just assume failure. :)
With the rope in place, the new arrival has little problem making it up and into the sewer. He stops just inside the mouth and kneels, facing out into the open air so he can help should anyone have difficulty at the top.
"No sea monster." He observes for Leaf's benefit once the archon floats past him and into the tunnel. "Your luck is holding out for now."
"What is it you know so far of these missing children?"
"He's not quite what I expected." Aehrick states, speaking as much to himself as the other two still standing on the docks. He kneels and tests the water, then braces one hand at the edge of the wood planking and hops down into the water. Still holding onto the edge of the wood, he pushes his dark hair back from his face and looks up to Alderthane and Arathalia. He seems like he might add something but simply shrugs instead and pushes off, swimming out to where the rope hangs down.
Swimming out to the rope, where I'll start a'climbing.
Leaf fires a light beam towards the sewer entrance for emphasis
'I am in no hurry to move towards the sewer. It is likely the earth will open, or Zissaren will engage a giant sea creature before we realize this opening will not do. Still, if Jack is unable to ascend, I could teleport up a rope and grappling iron...'
"Where would you be keeping this rope and grapple?" Aehrick wonders idly, stepping past Leaf and closer to the edge of the docks. He turns and looks back over his shoulder at the growing crowd of onlookers to add "And would you be able to retrieve it before the city's enforcers arrive to extract a fine for the damage done?"
"Are you fit to make the climb?" He asks of Alderthane, no hint of mockery or cruelty in his voice-- just a practical question.
Intrigued, Aehrick quirks an eyebrow. "You don't know why?" He decides to be mildly amused by this revelation after a moment's consideration, even going so far as to crack a brief smile. "Luck is a funny thing."
He looks between Leaf and Arathalia, past Alderthane and lifts a pointed finger to indicate where Zissaren fell. "That would be your companion, then, that destroyed the sewer grating? The large lizard-man? He seems to have 'breached' them already."
"I'm called Aehrick, or the oddskeeper, as you please. I would help you, ar-- Leaf. But it does seem you only need to ascend." He points again, this time indicating the raised entrance to the sewer. "You are a leaf on the wind..."
at the sound of the voice calling 'Archon', Leaf launches into a staccato chant
'Whoa! Now that takes me back to the beach! What do you need, stranger?'
Leaf whisks closer to the human:
'Stranger?'
Aehrick lifts his open palms towards Leaf in a peaceable manner, resisting the urge to take a step back when the archon flies closer. He responds in kind, uttering clumsy words that begin to come easier as the cobwebs fall from that corner of his mind.
Celestial:
"Not a foe... or a friend-- but you are becoming an increasingly familiar sight. If I can ask; why is one such as yourself in this place? This city?"
He glances past the archon to the rest of the group, nodding absently at Alderthane when he notes the older man.
The splash Zissaren made is big enough and noisy enough to be seen and heard from the docks.
Aehrick turns to spot the source of the noise. Noting the assembled group he wonders idly how he managed to miss their arrival on the docks-- then narrows his eyes when Leaf flits into view. He mutters a quiet oath under his breath ("As luck would have it...") and starts across the damp planking.
"Archon," he calls once he's close enough to need not shout.
Now would be a good time for you to join the group.
Er-- I think I missed something. Is the party already at the sewer grate past the docks? I'd thought they were at the original sewer grate deciding to head that way? With Ziss having gone ahead alone? If I missed them passing through the docks I can amend my post.
Aehrick stands on the docks, arms crossed and eyes squinting against the bright sun. He waits for the halfling to arrive, hoping that the little servant's tale about an audience with his master had been more than just hollow promises or a con to get into Aehrick's thinning coin purse. The cleric had taken into account that the pale demihuman was being less-than-honest but in this strange city, so far removed from the people and politics he was more familiar with, Aehrick found himself grasping at straws.
Still, he might be over-thinking things-- the halfling could still show-- but considering the passage of time it seemed doubtful. There was one advantage to the meeting place being the docks, however. If all else failed he could pursue work as a stevedore and earn some money to make sure he doesn't starve to death before he gets back home.
Once the group actually arrives, I'll head over and talk to Leaf-- I didn't want to assume when/how they actually get here.
Figured between human, fighter, and normal feats I'd be up to my ears. I've never actually played a char with an exotic weapon proficiency (beyond what rogues or monks get for free) and this looked like it'd have alot of options (the Combat Expertise chain especially). So it's time for a little experimentation.
I am flexible wrt everything about Leaf, so if you have any plan, grand or otherwise, I can help with then I would be delighted to (help).
I leave the grand plans to the DM! I don't like setting out anything too firmly because I like to see how the character develops within the game. I greatly appreciate the help, though, and I hope it ends up being fun for everyone.
So Aehrick arrived at night, in an alley, and the first thing he sees after chasing off street urchins and beggars is a glowing lantern archon zipping by the mouth of the alley. After a brief moment getting his bearings, he moves towards finding a transient place of residence and, as he enters the inn to make arrangements, notes another lantern archon collecting debris into some kind of wasp-style nest against the side of a building (or whatever).
The next day, after he's left to go about his business, Aehrick notes Leaf at the end of a street some blocks making casual conversation with a dog (whether it's a sentient blink dog or your everyday stray doesn't matter). And so on...
So-- the type of thing to where Aehrick might be under the impression initially that there are just tons of lantern archons flitting about the community but ultimately comes to realization that it's just Leaf and they keep bumping into one another-- seemingly by chance.
When your patron deity is a goddess of Luck you tend to take notice.
If this works for you I'll just pop into scene when it seems appropriate and strike up conversation/introductions. You can be reactionary as you see fit from there. :)
Alright, Smell, let's figure this bad boy out! My fingers is all a'jitter for wont of posting.
I'd like to play out the bulk of the characters interactions and not have that in the background as to avoid generating a need to constantly confirm what would've happened in OOC (and possibly slowing down IC progression). How long would you say Leaf has been in the city? I'd had it in my head that Aehrick had been around for maybe a day or two-- possibly three. Enough that he could stretch his legs and get a decent idea for how things are laid out in a relatively small vicinity but not long enough to become any sort of expert.
Perhaps the two kept bumping into one another with unusual frequency? Passing in the street, catching sight of one or the other on the other side of a crowded market. Something enough that suspicions are aroused but not dramatic enough to warranty any drastic action-- until now.
It looks like the part is going to have to find an alternate means of ingress to the sewers. What if Aehrick was nearby (for whatever reason) and the two just decided that this sort of thing was happening for a reason? Aehrick isn't obviously celestial-blooded to a layman, but mayhaps Leaf gets a sense of it just because he's spent the better part of his 'life' as an archon around them?
I am flexible and open to input. Let us, as they say, 'do this.'
Smell, if you prefer, we can start using the Spoilers to discuss it but I'm not really Captain Sekrits so it doesn't matter to me.
Everything seems fine. You can join the game whenever you like.
Hooray! I'll have something up tonight.
I'd like to come in assuming Aehrick was sitting in the common room during all the poison/near death shenanigans. If he was asked, would the owner explain who the individuals were (generally)? Would the owner then confirm that there would be some reward for the troupe if they were successful in retrieving his grandchild?
Aaalright. It should all be done, pending your approval, Night. I went ahead and revised the background in several places-- expanding here, tweaking there.
If anything looks to be wrong or missing let me know. I worked from pencil-and-paper and then transferred it the character sheet here.
Aehrick, one thing I would change is the part in which you travel to Kaledun. Calistria is not worshiped in my world, so you would have to be traveler from Golarion. That is not a problem per se. Jack Ketch is from Golarion as well. But you should mention that in your background.
If you have an analogous deity I can work with that or I can figure out some plane-hopping explanation. I saw the five deities of your pantheon listed earlier in the thread but there didn't seem to be anything appropriate.
@Smell/Leaf: I'm open to whatever you might want to do. Simple enough to say that it's more than a coincidence that they both arrive at roughly the same time. Maybe the archon wasn't being punished but tasked-- and it looks like we both went with a 'against the grain' type of concept so far as what is expected of them.
Maybe they're to help eachother live up to their potential-- to, say, earn their wings?
So I got caught up in the character and didn't realize I should've been asleep three hours ago. No biggy.
Night, it's not all done but the broad strokes are definitely there. I'd encourage you to have a look at the background portion and give me any feedback or pointers you might have. I'd really appreciate it. If the stats seem different they are (a bit)-- I swapped Dex and Int so that Dexterity had the odd number. I don't see myself putting a point into Intelligence down the road.
Calixy: Thanks! Actually, I'm just a dork and didn't realize that the Profile automatically setup a left-alignment table for the statblock and your "About <Character>" stuff automatically formatted to its right. So it all worked out. I ended up going with a layout similar to what Paizo uses for their NPC entries on the adventure paths.
Sorry to hear you got hurt, Zissaren. I'm nursing a banged-up knee from roller hockey and a gnarly bruise and road rash is bad enough for me. Hope you mend up quickly.
Aehrick is starting to take shape as a concept. Half-Celestial Human Fighter/Cleric of Calistria (or like deity).
Brief, preliminary character sketch:
Spoiler:
Born into the church of a goodly religion (undecided as to specifics, eager for input regarding local theme), he was always uncomfortable with the place of reverence he held and the expectations put upon him. Escaping the confines of the cathedral as soon as he was able, he threw his lot in with a standing militia once he felt he'd traveled far enough to not be easily tracked down.
The fighting was less than frequent and he found himself running games of chance for the other troops (Profession/Gambler, also explains the taken surname) to keep them entertained. It was always easy enough to make friends but worked hard to keep himself at a distance, worried that someone would make some insight into his... touched nature.
I was thinking he'd find himself in Kaledun after the town he'd helped defended (as part of the militia) was wiped out by X monster, Y magical catastrophe or Z plague. Planning on going True Neutral but have subtle hints of his celestial parentage color his cleric abilities (channeling positive energy, for example).
If it's agreeable I'd like to tone down the physical manifestations of his parentage (give up the Wings and related Flying ability, primarily) and mayhaps just say in times of extreme duress his eyes glow, et cetera (as per the avatar)-- but otherwise he rolls incognito.
Any feedback is appreciated!
I'd also like to work something out between Leaf and Aehrick's background (OOC knowledge as to intertwined fates or some such) if Leaf's player is amenable to such a thing. :)
