Anafa, Yamyra's page

At Loc's mention of dead bodies & the use of same, Yamyra's gaze sharpens almost explosively. When Godwyn agrees to this compact, her expression assumes such astonished incredulity that the others present take some concern that she might perhaps explode or in some other way render herself insensate.

"I most assuredly did not agree to any such thing!" She hisses, only caution & a desire not to alert the enemy keeping her words less than an outraged bellow.

"Clearly, I cannot stop you, but do not expect me to aid you in this perversion either."

Okay, before this degrades into name-calling & hurt feelings, a) please read my Discussion post.

b) Back now? Alright. While yes, I make my position pretty clear. I have no objection, as a player to Loc being a naughty necromancer, Yamyra, as a character does & she isn't going to be silent about it.

Godwyn, don't worry about Life-linking Yamyra. She stays out of direct combat. That is what her summons & Fancy are for. My recommendation would probably be Ametist.

Okay...

So, yes, I realize that this conversation (the one between the Players, not the one between the characters) has already happened, and that it took place since I joined the game, so I should have put my two coppers in at that time. Unfortunately, I had a number of RL issues going on & my ability to focus on OOC activities was not what I would have liked...

Sorry folks, Necromancy is evil. It is the deliberate harnessing of the cosmological forces of absolute entropy, decay, consumption, and rendering-into-base-matter for the purposes of either manipulating, warping or consuming souls; arguably the last bastion of self, even more profoundly than consciousness...
Or used for the purpose of animating, manipulating, warping or consuming dead flesh. Historically & culturally it is difficult to find any people who consider there to be higher or more heinous crimes than desecration of the dead. The one good thing that can be said for death is that it grants peace from the cares of the living. Necromancy takes that hope & yes, I will go there, rapes it over a tombstone.

What is my point? Necromancy is evil. Loc wants to play a Necromancer, an evil character. I am not saying this to chastise, belittle, or 'wrong-think' him. This Campaign is about nascent Gods creating... living what will one day become their worshipers creation myths, including the evil ones.
If you actually read some mythology, real mythology, not modern Fantasy, it is repleat with Hero-gods transgressing & then paying the price for it. Practically half of la Mort du Artur, arguably one of the core source material for the Paladin as a concept, is tales of Knights doing something bad enough to require atonement & then going off on a quest to do just that. Song of Roland? Just as bad.

Don't cheapen it.

There will be tart words later on when it becomes apparent that Yamyra is the only PC with measurable training in handling animals (Sorry Zorakir, but your curse pretty much nullifies both the Class skill benefit and the skill point you put in.)
Damnit! Nobody seems to have 'Profession: Drover', which means unless our GM's are kind enough to allow Ride checks to handle driving a Carriage, Yamyra is going to have to do it.
Although I suppose we could hire an NPC Drover... How many Carriages are there?

At the sound of the small herd of oncoming ungulates with accompanying carriage, Yamyra clicks her tongue peremptorily. A stolid but well-groomed pony & riding dog make their way from the same stall she appeared in some time before. Nodding to 'Stable Boy' to aid her, she re-seats the assorted saddles, saddlebags, and travelling gear.

"Gods exist. These events are not 'Divine Retribution'." Yamyra interjects into her recent companions theological discourse. Oddly, her tone implies not the unthinking didactic parroting of some yokel moralist, rather the studied certainty of a scholar asked to share knowledge of a subject they have devoted years of focused, soul-shaping effort to.
The effect is somewhat lost as she shakes herself, as if from a dream, with a quizzical expression suffusing her features.

GM's: Yamyra's statement is based on an unconscious use of 'The Unveiled Truth' & my awareness that none of the AP's had 'Divine punishment' as direct causative events. Right now I'm playing Yamyra as not really consciously aware that she has been 'gifted' with nascent diefic power. That will change with time, I'm sure.
Que impending melt-down.

Sorry, I meant as an explanation for picking it up later.

Ametist, don't worry if you don't find a text for learning Terran, both Yamyra & Fancy speak it. Fancy as a native.

Still here. Will try to post this weekend because work is likely to last past four a.m. tonight. Unfortunately, this weekend is when I and other friends will be building a wheelchair ramp for a friend of ours, so it may not be until Sunday.

Oh dear, I think that kicks my Intelligence and Charisma up again then. I won't be able to confirm until tonight though so I'm not going to worry about it until then.
What do you guys think, should I go with Infernal or Necril as bonus language?

Is that in addition to the +2 at levels 4 and 8, or instead of?

Just letting you know I'm still here. Holding off on posting until the active group rejoins the conversation group, or the conversation group talks more.

"Given the events of which I am aware leading up to my own 'demise'," Yamyra adds, "the regions broadly surrounding the Inner Sea have suffered rather noticeable tumult over the last decade or so."
"The precipitating event seems to be the re-awaking of an immensely potent wizard from the age of Azlant, though that could simply be what has afflicted Varisia & points north. Observationally, we all seem to have been occupied in some way or another with thwarting these cataclysms. None of us were successful." She adds bleakly.

Sorry I've been out the last few days. Work was murder the last half of the week. Fortunately I have a week of stay-cation coming up, so I should be keeping current for that long at least.

"Powerful? Yamra contemplates Ametist's words. 'hmm"

"Wait, Sandpoint?! You were there?!" Yamyra's focus on Ametist's words becomes almost avaricious, "Lady Heidmarch & I had suspected that the destruction of that town might well have been the first, un-proclaimed, action in Overlord Karzaug's campaign to conquer Varisia."
"Tell me everything you can about it, please." She quickly rummages through her pack for quill, ink & paper.
Further contemplating his words, she adds. "I'm afraid it might not have been the best first choice for an attempt at alliance. Even in Magnimar, Sandpoint had a bit of a reputation for...
let's just say narrow-mindedness..."

Rubbing her chin in obvious contemplation of Ametist's words, Yamyra sighs. "How best might I put this...
One of the first field assignments my team & I received in our efforts to counter the forces of Karzoug involved an encounter with a small gang of Goblins who had taken up residence within the sewers of Magnimar. They were...
...not atypical of others I have studied in the region. Perhaps your clan or tribe observe different customs? I must conclude so, how else to explain your becoming a Paladin as your comrade stated," nodding toward Godwyn.

Yes, I know Godwyn was referring to Sir Drystan, but I was playing it that he must have been referring to the only other person besides herself & 'Stable Boy' that had made a comment yet. If you haven't noticed, Yamyra's low Wisdom comes out most commonly as a tendency to make incorrect snap judgments.

Are the words the stable boy used essentially 'stable Boy' in other languages and if so, what other Golarion languages were they? Or at least were they in one of the languages Yamyra speaks?

At the crusader's words her eyes widen. Turning to Ametist with fresh surmise, "I apologise, though I have encountered few Paladins, I have never met one who was of your stripe. I fear from where I hail, your kind are considered just another Goblin pest."
"Agustana? In Taldor? What word have you of Varisia?" She flicks her attention back to the departing backside of the stable boy before attending once more to the crusader's tale. At his query she replies, "Yamyra, field research, Magnimar chapter house."

"'THE STABLE BOY', is a title, or a job description," the Halfling woman rebuts tartly, "not a name-"
The sudden presence of this new... being pre-empts further retort as her eyes widen in startled concern.

Clearly somewhat annoyed by her 'pet's' commentary, she rolls her eyes before rather pointedly directing her attention at her assailant. Ticking each point off with a finger as she makes it, "Who are you?"
"Where are we?"
"Why am I here?"

The form the Stable boy pokes at lies fetal & even smaller than him. Draped in voluminous robes, a dusky-toned arm swats at the prodding appendage as an indecipherable mutter spills forth.

"wat?"

Straightening to an almost painfully upright seated posture she directs a doleful yet bleary glare towards him. "wie?"
"waar?" She continues as she casts her gaze about herself, taking in her surroundings.

Alright, it's official. I have updated to the current whosits. Broken Monkeygod, please audit me, Underskud af fanden givet, and Fancy to be certain we meet requirements.

So, I'm almost done updating...

...and then I started taking a look at Godbound...

So let me give all of you a glimpse into my initial concept for Yamyra.
In the first Campaign, she was an attempt on my part to both add some much needed muscle (via her Eidolon) to the party, and provide some much needed arcane casting & thinkifying.
Clearly, the muscle isn't lacking here & with Loc we seem to have Arcane taken care of as well. So I'm edging towards 'person who knows & cares' as Yamyra's particular niche, which as a side-note is part of why I had her pick up her familiar (not to mention the fact that I just love that the Sage & Figment familiar archetypes stack & the idea that she has an almost literal imaginary friend who helps her remember things & makes smart-arse commentary on everything just tickles me).

Right now, I'm looking at Passion definitely, and either Knowledge or Sorcery. It's just that all three of them seem really powerful.

Yes, I'm asking for opinions/suggestions on where she should go.

I missed that I had been selected back in February. Is there still an opening?

If so, I will get Fancy & myself properly updated, but it probably won't be complete until this weekend.

Has anyone seen Anafa?

Here!

Is this still going? Sorry I have had some personal issues & didn't realize I had made the cut.

I haven't updated yet, but this is a character I played in a PbP Shattered Star AP that fizzled out just getting into the second adventure. I will switch her over to Unchained when I update her.

Test.
I had what may be a really bad idea & this post is primarily a test to determine if it is mechanically possible.
Well, the website seems to be allowing it. If any of the rest of you are following this, don't be surprised if you receive a PM from me soon...

I want to second Gared's statement, thank you DMEric, for making this one of the longest-running, most enjoyable campaigns, pbp or tabletop, that it has been my pleasure to participate in.
For all that I would have wished it could continue in perpetuity, or at least through the rest of the AP, I hope that you were able to end it with more positive memories than negative.
For all the rest of you, thank you for taking part & helping me to feel a part of something more, even if it was a 'game of make believe'.

"That would go a ways toward explaining the odd behaviour Maroux described." Yamyra mused reflectively.

Knolwedge (History): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Mood clearly perking slightly at an opportunity to wax didactic, Yamyra pipes up. "We know that what we now call 'the Lady's Light' was once a monument & probable laboratory or civic edifice of the Thassilonian nation-state of Eurythnia, also called the 'Kingdom of Lust'," she blushes slightly at the last, "the School of Magic most associated was Enchantment, just as the school most associated with Wrath was Evocation."
"Of course," she adds, "we didn't see much in the way of Evocation magics under the Crow. At least not in any greater quantity than any other...
Honestly, it seemed more a place of Conjuring more than any other..." Clearly perplexed, she trails off as she contemplates further.

Halting as Gared reminds her of the verminous obstacle between her & their gear, the rest of your see a visible shudder crest up & down Yamyra's form. "That's...
unfortunate. I apologize, had I recalled that at the time I would have argued more forcefully that we should eliminate them..."

DM Eric, with up to eight uses of her Summon Monster SLA, each up to four minutes long, can Yamyra just send small fire elements into the chamber until they are all burned out? I'm not asking for xp, we've already bypassed the threat, she just wants to be able to set up a safe camp for us...

"A moment," Yamyra replies to Gared's opening, "if we are going to make camp here, Fancy & I should bring in the supplies. Perhaps if you reflect upon what you wish to suggest to us all until we get back?"

As DM Eric did say Yamyra managed to bring her pack pony along I am going to say we left it just beyond the scene of the carnage outside. It is combat trained, so it shouldn't have wandered off...

Hey, you're the first of us to reach third level spells, don't knock it.

Having done what she could to aid her companions magically, Yamyra Maneuvers herself & her spear to complement them martially. Stepping over the crumbled remains of the fallen statue, she swings about the column to place herself opposite Gared in flanking the least damaged of the remaining constructs.

Double move to 'I3'. placing herself to threaten the Caryatid Column fighting Gared.

Crap.
Sorry, I forgot I needed to post an action for Fancy. I will when I get home tonight.

Quickly taking advantage of the opportunity provided by her companion's wild swing, Yamyra ducks behind Fancy before desperately casting a now-familiar spell.

5' step to behind Fancy
Cast Haste, affecting Carmina, Carridan, Gared, Fancy & Horven.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

"Everyone stay back!"
"They are constructs & your weapons will shatter if you use them!" Yamyra yells as she instinctively tosses a gobbet of acid at the closest attacker.

Acid Splash attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14, Acid Splash damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1 acid

If we survive this we'll go back & get it.

"While I am loathe to present violence as a first choice, we do have another option." Yamyra opines.

Ugh. Sorry I haven't posted for several days. First I had internet issues late last week & then we had a major storm blow through that knocked out power until only this morning. Of course, I wound up working late as well.
I will read through everything & post later, I promise.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31, both to recognize the rune & it's significance/potential danger.

"Oh! Well done!" Yamyra cries as her companions cause the beast to fall.

Standard/Free action, cheer for her friends.

I just realized earlier today that everyone was waiting on me. I will post later tonight, I promise. Thanks to the first big summer heatwave, I got slammed with several after-hours/weekend service calls in a row.

Given that they have worked together before, Yamyra would know how long Horven would take to check the bodies.
Can we start the clock on Fancy's Enlarge Person after he finished?

"A moment, if you would." Yamyra interjects before they proceed too far into the cavern. Calling upon her arcane faculties, she places an enchantment of growth upon Fancy, her brows raised inquiringly at Gared as well.

Cast Enlarge Person on Fancy, offering to cast it on Gared also.

: : That Morning : :

Recognizing the likelihood of combat over diplomacy, Yamyra calls Fancy forth not long after waking. At Gared's request, she enshrouds him in a shell of protective enchantment, as she does Fancy also.

Cast Mage Armor on both Gared & Fancy, four hour duration.

: : Now : :

"Either it was the Boggards, likely with the assistance of Orianna's soldiers, which seems most likely," Yamyra mutters to herself, "Maroux, although why she would do it and not tell us is beyond me," she flicks a brief glare at Horven, "or some third party of whome we know naught. Possibly the mysterious 'central cavern' inhabitant."

The skulls around Maroux' home were of several different species, correct, DM Eric?

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Clearly suffering from gustatory distress, Yamyra says little more for the rest of the night.

Nodding in acknowledgment of Horven's clarification, Yamyra's expression clears. "There is also the possibility that the...
xulgaths," she stumbles a bit with the pronunciation, obviously attempting to commit it to memory, "may still be too weakened by the Boggard's assault to pose a threat to us."

"I would point out," Yamyra interjects, "whatever is in between, is dangerous enough to provide a barrier between two highly inimical peoples. Enough so that they were willing to remain essentially 'at-arm's-length' rather than risk their entire communities trying to confront it."
"Politics may be a foul word in your vocabulary, but it exists primarily as a means for people to avoid conflict. For myself, while I am afraid I don't speak a language in common with either, I can call aid which does..."

DM Eric, need a DM adjudication. While I recognize it really isn't what the class ability was originally intended for, do you have any objections to my expending my daily uses of my Summon Monster SLA to instead maintain a summoned monster's presence? Lantern Archons have Draconic as a Known Language & I was figuring Yamyra would call one up to act as an interpreter for her/us if she can talk the rest of the party into pursuing a diplomatic option.

"That would be my preference, yes." Yamyra replies.
Turning to Gared, she continues, "As you may recall, Varisia isn't like several of the Southern Avistani nations. We aren't so much a nation as a contiguous region with common cultural bonds. Of course," her smile grows lopsided, "the actual common cultural bonds are of the two indigenous cultures, the Varisians & the Shoanti, who have this side of no genuine say in the daily or long-term direction of the three chief trade powers of the region."
"Korvosa, the oldest of the three trade cities was founded several centuries ago by Chelish explorers. Something of a monarchy by default, Korvosa suffered a significant blow a few years ago when the last surviving member of the Royal line died. Events surrounding his death are a bit...
well, as I stated just a moment ago, Magnimar & Korvosa have been rivals aver since Magnimar was founded, nearly a century ago. So I'm not at all certain I would place too much credence on tales of Diabolical rituals, mass murders, or Undead Dragons using relics crafted from their own flesh to control others from beyond the grave..." Trailing off, she shakes her self, refocusing upon the matter at hand. "The...
confirmed facts are that not long after the last king by blood of the royal line died, there was an outbreak of a particularly virulent plague. The new queen, widow of the previous king is believed to have panicked, enacting a number of very harsh laws in an effort to curb the spread of the disease. Related to that, she caused to be formed a new military order within the city, beholden to herself alone, composed entirely of women. Now, according to rumour, all the members of this order were noted not only for their martial prowess, but also their beauty."
"Unfortunately, as the stresses of the situation bore down upon her, Queen Ileosa supposedly went a bit...
mad. One symptom of her erratic emotional state was an obsessively heightened vanity. Supposedly, all the members of the Grey Maidens, the military order Queen Ileosa founded, were subjected to facial scarring so that their beauty would not outshine her own. As time continued, she became more & more unbalanced, until finally she was unseated. How accurate the details of what I have just shared are, are a significant factor in my personal interest in questioning this Oriana."

I knew I forgot something!
I will post tonight.

You do know I can make that DC without even rolling right? ;P
You can't crit fail a skill check...

"Yes, but there were a lot of rumours coming out about the going's-on in Korvosa surrounding the time of the Old King's death." Yamyra chides Carridan gently. "It doesn't help that Korvosa & Magnimar have been rivals practically since Magnimar was founded." She clarifies for those companions who did not grow up in Varisia.
"If anything, I for one would like the chance to make inquiries of someone who was actually present." She muses to herself.

I am presently at a loss to recall, who is holding on to the Shard of Greed? Is it Horven or Gared, or someone else entirely?

Expression growing more and more pensive with each breath Maroux takes to tell her tale, Yamyra turns what is meant to be a quelling glance to the rest of you. "There have been tales..." She trails off musing as she looks to the rest of you. "Actually," she adds, "investigating those very tales is part of why we are here. You said Oriana and the others hailed originally from Korvosa and they all wore heavy armor? What kind of facial scars did she bear?"

DM Eric, what skill checks do I need to make to have heard about what happened in Korvosa during the events of CotCT?

"Yes please," Yamyra replies, "we understand you are well acquainted with the area about the Lady's Light. We were hoping you might share some of that knowledge with us."