Anastasia waits for Ophelia and Laznist to get up the stairs so they all don't get burnt. She will then follow.
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Anastasia waits near Ophelia at the edge of the staircase. If this was a home of thieves it probably didn't have great things, "Anything interesting?" None of the items mentioned intrigued her, so she kept her position near Ophelia.
Anastasia like the others picks up a body and drags it inside. "Well we should get to it. Are you all ready?"
Anastasia was fine loot wise, "I'm as prepared as I can be. We should take their belongings before thieves take everything. We'll make better use of it than them." Dara unlocked the door, "Time to kill some Jack, I guess."
Anastasia saw shortsword trying to bolt. She quickly reacted and tried to hit him.
Anastasia wasn't surprised about the Shingle's people reactions. No respect for the dead. Ruthless, as long as they got their gold. Anastasia was glad Ophelia scared off the townsfolk. After they had dealt with the beast, she was determined to resolve the issue involving the bodies. At least what was left of them. The others quickly approached the door, only for the door to be locked. Dara was trying to pick the lock. Anastasia was worried about the Jack. She felt useless against him. If anything Anastasia could always help by drawing it's attention from her friends. In the meanwhile she patiently waited, hearing dreadful cackles from the inside of the abandoned building.
Anastasia readied her shortswords and kept an eye on Jack.
Anastasia is disgusted by the creature's actions. Still hearing it's wicked cackles through the night.
Anastasia stops instantly after hearing the screams. This creature is demented she thought to herself. Anastasia quickly unsheated her shortswords and warily made her way towards the chaos of the night.
Well, we know of at least one case where it attacked an armed group. So perhaps just going into its hunting area while being obviously looking for a fight will cause it to come for us. And if it doesn't, we may be able to find its lair; even fairies have to sleep somewhere. Anastasia nods she didn't have a better idea and no one seemed to object, "So I think this is our plan. Any objections? If not let us go."
Anastasia stood next to Walther while he recapped their encounter. She had nothing else to add. Once Walther's summary was over, she turned to the others, "What have you all learned?"
"I can't give you anything more specific than just 'The Shingles'. I rarely went up there myself, and they simply led the way. It was four days ago. I'm sorry I can't help you more, but after I saw his face, everything about my surroundings just stopped existing." Anastasia smiled and thanked the man, "Thank you for helping us out. I know that must have been tough for you." Anastasia hands the man 2gp, "It's not a whole lot but every little bit helps."
The ranger listened intently to the man's story, nodding here and there so he was assured that he had their attention. When it seemed he had finished his account Anastasia curiously asked, "This creature, where exactly did you say you encountered it? Also how long ago did this happen?" Anastasia needed to put together the details of this man's meeting with the beast, if they wanted a chance to actually find it.
Anastasia nods, "Stakeout is a good plan. Much more excitement to be found" Anastasia always loved a good adventure. Anastasia then addresses Walther, "Okay, sounds good by me." she says with a smile.
Anastasia chimes into the speculations, first taking up the offer on the brandy. "I believe the best way to find out what this thing is, is to see it for our selves. Otherwise we might futilely be asking around, and gathering more and more rumors." Anastasia then took a sip of the brandy appreciating its strong sweet taste.
I'll look into the professor's study location and details tomorrow afternoon.
Anastasia said goodbye to those she had just meet and made her way to the study. On her way she kept muttering to herself, and tried to remember anything odd in the shingles.
When she finally got to the study Anastasia pulled out her studded leather armor. She carefully slipped it on, and foldded her other clothes then lying them on her dresser. Anastasia then made her way to her books and took a couple minutes to search up anything that might be useful. Anastasia then departed on her way towards the workshop described by Ophelia. On her way Anastasia realized she was starving. She quickly stopped by a food stand and purchased an apple. While she was talking to the man running the stand she asked him if he by any chance heard anything odd about the shingles, and if he hadn't if he knew someone who might have.
Anastasia thanked the man either way, and continued her way down the streets munching on her apple. When all has arrived and she have given everyone a cup of tea she takes a seat herself, still polishing the last cup. Anastasia smiled, "Thank you for the tea. It's very good, maybe even better from the one we had earlier today."
"I have my equipment - But I still like to obtain some small trinkets from the city market before we depart. Anyone knows a good meeting spot in the Shingles? If we want to meet somewhere else first and go in force we could meet in Polonius' workshop. It is in the Midlands, so it is far from our destination for the night." Anastasia responds to the offer, "I need to run by my place and get my armor. Maybe even do a quick search and see if I can find anything that vaguely sounds like what we'll be hunting tonight. But as for the meeting point I have no problem meeting up at your workshop."
Anastasia was eager to sign. She took the paper and quickly skimmed it. Nothing odd she concluded. Anastasia signed the document and returned it to Valiel, "Here you go."
The remark about their quarries being citizens makes both men uneasy as they share share a glance. "That is a rather hopeful assumption to make, and unfortunately it is not a very good one. There are many secrets to this city, and I can't promise that you won't discover things about even your neighbors that you wished not to know. That said, you are not in any terms members of the Guard. It's more like Guard adjacency. You will answer to myself, primarily, until such a time as I can free up funds for more clerical staff than currently in place. As a result, we don't have the resources for you to check in and claim items, and may do with them as you wish, though I would implore you to consider turning in destructive or cursed items to us, for safety reasons." Anastasia nodded in agreement, she understood the perils of cursed items. "Such things are better left alone." she added. The professor obviously hadn't thought the same way, for his library had an array of these items lying about. Anastasia sometimes considered getting rid of the cursed items, but she mostly kept the study how it had been left.
Anastasia had just finished reading another volume from the professor's library; how much information was hidden within each one, she wondered? She would have more than enough time to find out. Anastasia made her way to her desk, she started looking through her letters; Anastasia never got anything interesting anymore. As she was flipping through to find something of actual importance; she came upon a nicely sealed envelope it seemed official compared to what she usually received. Anastasia decided to open it up, inside it read,
Anastasia smiled to herself. This was her chance, the chance to avenge the professor. Anastasia would soon be destroying these creatures again. Anastasia woke up excitedly. She put on her black plants and a white blouse. Anastasia grabbed her belt with pouches and tied it on her waist. She then grabbed her stake and two shortswords, "You can never be too safe." she muttered to herself. Anastasia was too anxious to grab a meal before she left, so she made her way to where she was supposed to meet those who gave her the letter. When she got to the door she stopped and straightened out her blouse and fixed up her hair a bit. Anastasia then knocked, she was greeted by a servant. He welcomed her in and offered her some tea; Anastasia was thirsty so she graciously accepted. The servant then motioned her toward a group of people and some empty chairs. Anastasia came near and introduced herself, "Hello I am Anastasia Botnick, and you all are?"
Anastasia was surprised by the offer, "I can not speak for the others, but as for me I would be honored to help. These plagues need to be dealt with. They are threats to everyone and should be destroyed. I don't have many questions, only one." Anastsaisa grinned, "When do we start?
26 hitpoints total.
Hey, I'm here Eastern time zone as well. Got to go to school. I'll check in when I get back.
Thank you! Looking forward to the game.
I finished the crunch (skills and equipment). Let me know if you need anything else. Thanks for considering me for the game! Looking forward to your decision tomorrow.
Well, my concern is more just the really low damage output of them. In a party where there may only be one character particularly focused on combat, two attacks of 1d4+whatever as the main damage output isn't all that great, y'know? Okay, point taken. I'll switch to shortswords. 1d6 + whatever is a little better.
@Anastasia Botnick: Looks solid, but I'm a little surprised by the decision to go two-weapon fighting with only daggers. I am well aware of the advantages of using shortswords instead of daggers from a mechanical point of view. However, I selected daggers from a fluff point of view; it seems like something Anastasia would use (they're easily hidden and more common in the city). If you want me to I can change to shortswords. I'll be finishing up the crunch later today (skills and equipment). Thanks for the comments.
Anastasia Botnick is an Urban Ranger. Crunch is almost done; see the alias. So here's the fluff. Appearance:
Anastasia is a tall blonde with beautiful long hair. She has mesmerizing blue eyes and a somewhat pale complexion. She always has two daggers and a wooden stake on her, just in case. She keeps a belt with pouches, a couple with money and another for notes or paper. In another pocket, she keeps her Fetish that was given to her by the professor. Then around her neck, she keeps a beautiful gold necklace with an ember in the middle, given to her by her brother; she treasures her necklace very much since her brother is the only family she really has left. Backround:
Anastasia was born in Korvosa to a family of petty thieves. Anastasia’s parents didn’t care about their three kids, and so Anastasia, Gregory, and Samantha were raised every child for themselves. Gregory was Anastasia’s older brother, the eldest of the three. Anastasia was the middle child; the most resented one by her parents because she wouldn’t give in to thievery. Even though she didn’t give in to her parent’s ways, she still acquired reflexes that would be needed to live in the back streets of Korvosa. Samantha was younger than Anastasia; she, unlike her siblings, decided to become part of the thieves in the town, which brought great happiness to their parents.
As the years went by, Anastasia tried finding her passion or what she was meant to do before pressure got the best of her, which could lead into turning Anastasia into something she didn’t want to be. Gregory joined the Korvosan Guard because since a young age he opposed his parents’ doing. Samantha, on the other hand, remained a thief. Anastasia was torn between her siblings. Anastasia couldn’t take it anymore so one day, she just walked out and left. Anastasia decided to walk off in a new direction toward the side of town she knew the crazy professors and obsessed scholars worked. She was running out of options, until something finally caught her eye. Before her was one of the oddest shops she had ever seen. It was a small brick building with wreaths of garlic hanging across the door. The place had a large sign on it that said, “Dr. Edmond’s study of supernatural beings”. Underneath it there was a smaller sign that read, “Apprentices are welcome.” What compelled her to enter that odd place changed her life’s purpose for the better. Anastasia went inside Dr. Edmond’s office; as soon as she walked in, the smell of herbs inundated her nose. She looked around the room; the walls were painted a shade of crimson and the floor was made of dark wood. Papers were clipped all over the walls, some ripped and burned or just slightly crumbled, all depicting a strange creature; one of fairytales that were meant to scare children into good doing. Crumpled pieces of paper were scattered across the floor and towards the back of the relatively small room was a short man with brown hair with streaks of gray racing across his head. He didn’t notice Anastasia come in, he kept writing and talking to himself, and he kept babbling something about the lair’s location. He kept throwing paper out, Anastasia decided to intervene, “Umm, hello are you Dr. Edmond?” The old man quickly turned and let out a gasp in surprise, “Oh sorry, you startled me. Yes, I am Dr. Edmond and you are?” Anastasia quickly responded, “Anastasia, Anastasia Botnick; I was interested in the position of apprentice. “ The professor smiled, “Great, I would be more than happy to teach you all I know.” Anastasia was glad she stumbled onto this place; this is what she was looking for. After a couple days, the professor told Anastasia what he was really doing, “You see child, there is a threat nearby, one of vampires. Yes, child they are real despite what you have been taught to believe. This threat must be dealt with. Are you ready to undertake such a task?”
Dr. Edmonds grabbed his chin and slowly nodded in approval, “Yes, this will be great. I will teach you everything I know. From the prior knowledge from the top of my head to my hardcover references in my private library. I believe it’s time you meet my other apprentices. Meet me here tomorrow for lunch and I’ll introduce you to the rest of us.” Anastasia nodded and bid goodbye, only then did she think ‘What did I get myself into?’ She could have run, just never showed up but something made her come back the very next day. Anastasia knocked on the door a short brown haired man with piercing green eyes opened the door and welcomed her, “Hello, I’m Nicholas and you must be Anastasia. Come in the professor is waiting for you.” Before she could say anything he started walking off toward a door in the back. Anastasia obviously followed. Once he reached the door he opened it and motioned for her to follow. Inside was a beautiful room with picture frames hanging all around; all had golden frames and depicted drawings of the creatures of the dark. Along the back wall were bookshelves that went from the roof to the floor multiple volumes of what she assumed had to do with the dreaded vampires. In the middle, she saw a beautiful dining room table with the professor and two others, a girl with raven black hair and crystal blue eyes next to her was a relatively tall man with red locks of hair and hypnotizing brown eyes. Anastasia entered the room and sat next to the professor, being cautious of the others who were gathered there. Dr. Edmond welcomed her, “Hello dear, how nice of you to join us here. I assume you’ve already met Nicholas.” Nicholas nodded his head in acknowledgement as the professor continues, “The only other girl here, is Rebecca.” The one known as Rebecca smiled at Anastasia and Dr. Edmonds continued, “And over there is Alexander.” The red head waved at Anastasia to be interrupted yet again by the professor. “Now that we all know each other I have a task for my apprentices not including you Anastasia. You all must teach her everything you know as I will too, the more help the better this operation will need the upmost caution.” Anastasia curiously asked, “What operation? You keep talking about it but I don’t know the details.” The professor nonchalantly answered, “Do not worry in time you will know.” After months of practice and training the professor called Anastasia over, “Child, remember when you asked about the operation?” Anastasia eagerly nodded, “Well you see the apprentices and I have been tracking a group of vampires outside Korvosa. Many murders and disappearings have happened here and no one knows why, but we do. No one believes us so we must put a stop to this group. I believe you and the other apprentices have come far and it is time to strike. Tomorrow at mid-day we will infiltrate their lair. Ready yourself for they are very powerful.” Anastasia was very surprised at first, but she then nodded determined that this is what she was fighting for. The three apprentices met up at the study the next day; they all looked at each other and had a silent determined agreement that this is what they would do. The professor came in with a grin on his face, “This is what you have all been training for. Today is the day we get rid of these undead pests.” They all smiled at each other, today was the day. They all exited the town and discussed strategies on their way there. Once they exited the city, they went on horseback through the woods to the vampire’s hideout. Once they were there, Dr. Edmonds instructed as such, “Anastasia you will keep look out while we infiltrate inside you must warn us in case of danger, understand?” Anastasia nodded, “I won’t let you down.” Dr. Edmonds and the others carefully went in, Anastasia was glad she didn’t have to go in. She knew her position was important but most likely away from danger. As she kept rambling thoughts in her mind, a vampire suddenly appeared. The vampire she had learned to fear, the one that was supposed to be inside. She could have yelled but she was frozen in fear; the vampire laughed at her pathetic behavior. Before she knew it; the vampire slaughtered her friends right before her eyes. The vampire turned to Anastasia, blood dripping down her chin, “I would kill you, but I think leaving you alive would be more punishment. Beware; the next time we meet, if there is a next time, it won’t end like this.” With that the vampire dissapeared. Anastasia still stood shocked but quickly regained control realizing that her friends were dead, all dead. Anastasia rode back to the city sobbing and thinking how she could be so stupid. Anastasia took up home in the professor’s study, moving out of the apartment she shared with her brother. A couple days after the incident, she went back to the site and buried her dead friends, bidding each a farewell and apologizing to them. In those moments, she promised herself that she would hunt down this vampire. She would be dead with Anastasia’s stake through her cold blooded heart. For months Anastasia trained and trained, read book after book. She studied all she could on vampires, her motivation being her friends. All she knew about the vampire that had killed her friends was that she was still near Korvosa causing mayhem in the city.
Personality:
Anastasia is very interesting person; she can go from being sarcastic and daring to a fearless determined warrior. Even though she never really found it useful, Anastasia can be very sneaky. Anastasia gets very easily frustrated but is determined to get things done. Even though she doesn’t seem like it, Anastasia has a deathly fear; a fear of letting people down again. She hides this behind her smiles and wears a façade. Please take a look and let me know what you think. Thank you for considering her in your upcoming game! |