Aerrodin Mayweather's page

Hey guys, I've got to withdraw from this game. I apologise to you guys: I realize that my withdrawing might be a death sentence for the game, given how it's been going the last couple weeks. I'm struggling with the issue of being the sort of man I feel I'm called to be and the kind of life I'm living at the moment. At any rate, bottom line is that I'm quitting Pathfinders for now and probably won't be back. Again, I'm sorry for springing this so suddenly, but I've got to take care of this. I wish you a happy Easter, and God bless.

How late into the night is this, or did nothing more happen? Can we assume that it's the next morning, and start preparing for the day?

I finish my business in the hall, and wearily go over to Elijah to lend a hand with the fire, quietly hanging my head in exhaustion.

Take 10, Survival 14

Though I relate well with Thia's sentiment, I can't help but be annoyed at this point. It's late and now isn't the time to go springing issues like this. I get up from where I was crouched over my blanket, taking my morninstar with me, and walk past Thia to the hall to deal with business. As I walk past her, I give her a stern look. Play nice. I don't want to spend an hour tonight putting you two back together, and our wizard's crabby and trying to sleep. Not waiting for a retort, I continue past, turning to Elijah as I go: Sorry, but I've been holding this for about an hour now. I'll lend a hand once I've finished.

Carefully slipping free of my hauberk, I gently set the piece in a rough pile besides my boots, shield, and still glowing Morningstar near the northwest corner of the room, though my emblem I tuck into a small pocket sown to the inside of my shirt.

Looking around over my shoulder, and seeing everyone preparing for bed, I return removing my the lower portions of the armor, still careful not to make too much noise. Elijah, a thought occurs to me. We do have a fire going still. Do you think it would work better to set up watch outside the room, or inside? We can use some of these chairs as fuel.

Along those lines, I recommend that you stay off those stairs. I'm certain their is some spirit guarding them, and I don't know how they might react if you start tearing them up for firewood. We should also both make a point of warning Thia as well.

Turning to Kvina;

I don't suppose you have any experience with haunts, do you? I've got the basic know-how, but it would be good to have someone at my back with some knowledge of such things before tackling one... in case things go south.

I look around, embarrassed at both the implied accusation that any one of us might, and annoyed that she thought a threat was necessary. I don't deign to reply with anything more than a grunt, but merely crossly begin to remove my armor, taking my time as much as I can, eager to make as little noise as possible doing so.

Whoever's got last watch, wake me towards the end of it. I'm going to need about an hour to prepare in the morning before we set out.

I... uhm... what? Uh... thanks for the cover up Elijah, but we both know we just got out of a fight with a death machine of a guard dog because I fumbled my armor after my watch.

I turn back to Kvina, slightly worried. Did I mention the death machine of dire wolf that's trapped in here with us?

I doubt Elijah would have finished his watch. The reason we were attacked was because I was getting out of my armor at the end of my watch, so at best he had been up for 10 minutes.

EDIT: Oh, sorry, missed the last line, I guess.

I ignore the bard's yelp, feeling rather cross with the situation. Well, I suppose that settles the matter for now. Let's get that fire out, and settle in for the night. Orpheus should rest, and Kvina can take his shift, if you're sticking around. We might as well otherwise keep the same order for the watch, with Elijah up for the first. Sound fair?

I smile half heartedly. Brilliant. A paladin. No escaping them, is there? Yet I notice there's no verdict on the fey king claim. Congrats, Elijah. Those are our names: I am Aerrodin, a healer and physician. We fell into together when we all sought refuge from the storm here, but once we figured out that this place was less than pleasant, the house seemed reluctant to let us go. We're hoping to go about convincing it, once we've had some rest.

I gesture to each member in turn This is Vinnick, a wizard and scholar, Elijah, a hunter and woodsmen, Thia the warrioress and Orpheus a student of stagecraft.

Glad to here my smarting off is appreciated. :) BTW, I know it was a low roll, but did I recognize the emblem?

I regard the fire curiously for a moment, wondering how we all managed to walk past it without thinking to put it out.

Suddenly taken aback by Thia's sudden outburst, I hang my head wearily when I hear the click from the door. This place is conspiring against us.

Then I turn my attention back to the swordsman in the door way, slightly irritated. A pleasure ma'am. I'm Aerrodin a peddler of tapestries, this is Vinnick, a professional juggler, Thia over there is a nun, Elijah here is a king of a fey realm, and Orpheus is a minor deity. I'm tired, the Vin's tired, we're mostly all rain-spattered and muddy, yes. But we're not stupid. No 'mere' passing traveller is going to show up in a haunted house during a thunderstorm in full armor. You may not be the owner of this house, but you may be some additional trick this place has up it's sleeve. So perhaps you can offer a better explanation?

At Vinnick's nod, I move forward and throw open the door, then press myself against the wall while trying to see the invader in the dying firelight.

Ah, ok. Thank you.

So, who's still in, and who is just taking a hiatus for spring break/other reasons? Can someone tell me?

Also, how big is the room, and is there anything that looked like a fireplace by chance?

Luck. That's a foreign concept. I unloop my morningstar, and silently beckon the others to ready themselves. I remain where I am, about fifteen feet into the room.

I survey the dusty room, looking for some hint of movement aside from our footfalls in the swirling dust.

I almost prefer the whiplash of the storm outside. At least it didn't feel like climbing into an open crypt... and without a friendly hand holding open the door.

Seized by suspicion, I turn my back to the rest of the room and watch the door, uncertain whether the dread is merely my own, or passed on by something other in the room.

It's so strange that this room hasn't been touched by the storm. You'd expect the dust to be kicked up by some hole in the wall or missing fragment in the window. Perhaps it's warded somehow?

I finish donning my scale mail, giving Thia a small smile and a quiet [smaller] Thank you. Orpheus' nervously whispers as I'm retrieving my morningstar, having stowed my blanket and having given two brief bursts of energy to the party as I worked. I notice that the supplies are neatly set up to go. I feel half guilty for not helping, and half annoyed at the feeling. It's not like I was twiddling my thumbs. I had to get ready too.

Nearly, but perhaps Thia and Elijah should lead. I'm not entirely certain you're back to any kind of full strength just yet.

Once again comfortably grasping my holy symbol in my shield hand, I place right hand on the hilt of my morningstar where it hangs looped into my belt. Lum!

Are we not waiting to see if Vinnick is cool with Maia scouting for us?

I've got one this Friday, then spring break... I'll still be posting, but it will probably be only once a day, probably mid-afternoon, as I won't have internet where I'm going, so I'll have to go out to post.

Best of luck on your exams Thia!

I continue working with various intricacies of my armor, silently thankful for Thia's help. I really ought to look into selling this when this is over. Perhaps that blacksmith was right about the chain shirt.

...Well, my vote may well be both. Perhaps, Vinnick, your raven friend may be able to help us. She could flit down the hall, and keep an eye out while we move our stuff through the east door. Then, we could move that bookshelf and some tables in the way. That would prevent anything from coming that way unannounced, and could by us a minute to prepare if the guard dog comes back.

Elijah, you alive?
Pokes with morningstar.

Hey Lich, sorry to see you go. Hopefully things will work out better in the future.

Agreed. Besides that, I really don't feel like hauling hundreds of pounds of food and water up those stairs anyway. Elijah, Orpheus, what do you think?

Thanks Elijah.

I sit quietly for a second, sure I should say something, then certain I said to much, and finally deciding just to move past it.

Alright. Right. I'm just going to finish getting into this. If anyone's got a few minutes to spare, I'd appreciate the help. But otherwise, I beg you to consider moving elsewhere. I can patch you up, Orpheus, just as soon as I've dealt with this, or sooner if you'd care to come here. As for our path: I mostly want to get somewhere where we can barricade ourselves in, but beyond that, I suspect there is an angry spirit guarding those stairs. I might be up for it now, but I'd rather tackle it at my full strength, if we can go another way for now.

OH! Okay, now things make sense! Thank you!

Yeah, sorry for being so demanding. I'm just use to dealing with relatively concrete maps, so I like having the special relations of the room.

On another note: am I posting too much? I'm worried because I feel like I've had a lot of dialogue recently, and I just want to make sure I'm not stealing anyone else's thunder. I don't have a firm grasp of what's okay on here and what's not... am I doing alright as a whole?

Okay, so the wolf burst from the northwestern door, and then ran back that way, right?

As for the flies we fought earlier, they came from the open north-eastern passage, right? So the only door that's been opened is the one the wolf burst through?

I was thinking: could you provide us two descriptions of the rooms we enter? One with full flavor, and the other giving us the basic specs, such as behind a spoiler?

I know it's a lot, but I feel it's what we needed coming in, in addition to the dread and foreboding.

Convinced I've gotten as close to an apology as I'll ever get from Thia, I round on the wizard, hopping on one foot trying to get my right leather greave on. Why don't these things have buckles!

I'm more surprised that your snoring didn't bring it here sooner. Yes, I brought the monster down on us: yes, I made a blunder that anyone else might have. But we're only resting because you insisted that you needed sleep, and you were spritely enough when you ducked behind Elijah earlier. I'm not saying that we trek half-way across the house and back, but we need a barrier between ourselves and that beast before we sleep. If that door hadn't been there, this conversation would not be taking place. Further... Errrraaah!...friggin' frolickin' elves!... Further, Thia is right. We don't know if it's got friends, or how soon they might attack. We cannot escape, but we must not leave ourselves open.

I sit down suddenly under a wave of crushing exhaustion.

Then, head hung low, I begin again:

I come from a long and proud line: the lords of the Mayweather Chateaux. I left when I realized the doom that we had called upon ourselves. We were all dying, marching to our graves, and yet all we spent our long years doing was protecting our shrinking holdings from those that would someday, eventually, take it all away. I didn't know the purpose of life, I still don't. But I was sure there had to be more. So I left, and took up the only noble cause I could find: protecting life long enough for it to find it's purpose.

I nearly got every one of you killed. I nearly failed entirely. Please, if we wait here, if we stay still, you will all almost certainly die. Please. Do not take this from me.

Just want to clarify: two exits to the west, one of which the wolf came down, smashed the door, and then ran back. There's an exit to the east as well, along with a bookshelf, right? Also, do the stairs lead upwards to a balcony in the room, or just up and into the wall to another room?

Sorry guys, but I hope it's clear I'm not actually angry. I just figured that would be how a prideful character would respond to someone mentioning something obvious as a 'how didn't you notice' sort of comment. Please don't brain Aerrodin with an axe and/or otherwise mutilate him.

I rush over to my armor, and begin working myself back into the hauberk, fuming.

He'll live, assuming we can get somewhere safe for the evening before it get's much later. As for the mutt, let it run. Tchkt! What exactly was your plan for when you caught it? We didn't have it beat by a long shot, and it would have ripped your throat out in seconds if you had actually cornered it. As for keeping our presence a secret, what were you going to do with the body? Were you going to bury a wolf the size of a carthorse? Or perhaps hide it behind the bookshelf? It's not like anyone would notice it there! We've smashed doors, we've gotten into multiple fights and we've collectively made enough other noise to wake up the whole house. We're here, and everyone and everything knows it.

I struggle briefly with the left gauntlet, then realize that it might be easier to get it on without the shield I've got there. I don't even bother trying to keep quiet as I don my armor.

I stand dumbstruck as Thia charges after the beast. What the blazing salamander!?!
Thia, are you insane!?! You're going to get us all killed!

I turn on the spot, and jump down from the staircase in a cold sweat, Nevermind, things are just dead up there. Everyone alright? Orpheus? And where's the beastie going in such a hurry?

Do I realize something is wrong with the stairwell quickly enough to get off of in time? Should I make a save?

I'm sure we'll vehemently let you know if you pull a stunt like what you're talking about. The fact that you didn't let us all die because I fumbled a stealth check makes me think it won't be a problem though.

You asked earlier if we liked the game so far, except all my rolls are either 18, 19, 20, or a 1 :). I would like to ask for one thing though: can you give us more details up front about the environment. The material of everything major should be given: wooden stairs, flagstone floor, golden chandelier dangling in the slowly turning dust in the air. If we are going to roleplay with detail, we should have information up front like if the doors are rotten or not, or if they are made of heavy iron or smoked glass. Also, what kind of barding did the dire wolf have? Was it straight iron, or was it singed black, a crude red eye painted on each plate. It just seems like there is stuff that we shouldn't fail to miss that doesn't get mentioned.

Otherwise, I like the game thus far. There are little details that we are required to take into consideration like I mentioned before, and both the encounters so far have not been what I first expected. Plus I'm a sucker for abandoned and cursed mansions.

Once that is done, I start up the stairs, yelling as I do Grab Orpheus and Run! It's are only chance!

Sorry, I realize that this will be my third question in a row: are we using called shots in this campaign. Just like to know for future reference. Also, I've got an exam tomorrow, so I won't be posting again until 2 at least.

I jump up from where I am, moving quickly to position myself in between Vinnick and Orpheus and slightly behind so that I have a clear shot at the wolf. There, I cup my hand like I'm jostling a rock that I'm about to throw, forming a small ball of fire in my hand that I then hurl at the wolf's eyes.

Sorry, should have posted this with my first question: can we act in whatever order, since we all have a higher Init. than the wolf?

Shouldn't the Eagle get an attack in? I checked: it is suppose to act immediately on Vinnick's turn.

So we can plan accordingly: is the wolf properly through the door, or has it only made a hole big enough to poke its head through, or has it broken the door, but not inside the room yet. Also, assuming it's at least large, can we target it with range attacks in such a way as to avoid accidently hitting an ally/penalties for attacking into melee? Like aiming for its back two spaces when someone attacks it from the front?

I slip a small crystal from a pouch on my neck, and gaze through it with one eye while saying Ialeer, then transfer the crystal back to its pouch while moving quickly over to my pack, removing the a scroll from inside. I don't reply to Elijah's comments on it's size: I'm not in the mood to quip.

K Religion1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

What are you..?

I move to stand just to one side of Thia, and drawing my phoenix emblem, focus briefly on suddenly lighting torch. I yell Tegolux! and cause a barrier of light to form a circle out to about a foot around me.

Vinnick, on your feet! We have company!

I drop to one knee, scrambling to get my shield strapped on, cursing myself under my breath. No no no no this can't happen can't be happening going to get them killed how and why why WHY! Calm! Think. Stop it, slow it, save them. Picking myself up, I start towards Thia.

Once I'm assured that Elijah is on guard, and that he'll take care of the firewood problem, I remove my armor and shield, being as quiet as I can. Then, with my holy symbol stuck into my belt loop, I head to eastern hall that we opened up earlier, stepping just outside of sight from the campfire, and take care of business. I use a scrap of clean bandage to clean myself off, and cover the solids in some of the old bandages to cover the solids, and push them into a the corner. I listen closely for any sort of trouble. Once I finish with business, I go to bed.

I tiptoe over to where Elijah is laying near the fire, and nudge him awake. Elijah, it's time. I'm going to go relieve myself just inside the east hall, but first we need to deal with the fire. If you have any firewood, that would be excellent. Otherwise, I think it best if we use what's come loose off the stairwell.

I try not to let him see the anxiousness I'm feeling. I don't like how this house seems to have a life of its own, with every sort of haunt Ruefern mentioned from his adventures seemed to have at least one stairwell where the banisters turned to serpents, or a demon child would to grab your ankle on the thirteenth step. Sure, most of his stories were probably peppered with crazed imaginings to set our teeth on edge, but of the entire family, he was the only one in four generations to ever step into a dragon's lair or ride out with the king's men against a troll marauders...

Sorry, I was hoping you hadn't seen it... and I didn't want to get pinned for making us all sleep in the dark. I realize it was stupid to delete it: I'll try not to do that sort of thing again.
EDIT: That stairwell is wooden, right? Can we use some of the broken steps to fuel the fire?

As the stench of the bugs gradually worsens, I finally get up, and using the tip of my boot, carefully nudge the carcasses into the eastern corner by the book shelves, then wipe the tip of my boot off in disgust. Disgusting.

I then begin to pace back and forth, hoping to hold it until the end of my watch and try to be reasonable. Aerrodin, last of his noble line and wielder of fire and light, afraid to step down a dark hallway to relieve his bladder. Feh! Uncle Ruefern may be turning over in his grave, but it be a fool thing to do to leave the camp unguarded for even a moment.

I also decide that the eastern door has been open long enough, and go over to close them. While doing so, I stop briefly and pick up a chunk of debris, I peer down the hall, to see what I can in the flickering light.