Astrianna lets her elven eyesight adjust to the dark room and she concentrates on the corpse for a moment.
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Astrianna finds a point of leverage, puts her shoulder into it and with a grunt gives the door a push with her entire body weight.
Astrianna feels uneasy, despite not feeling the presence of any evil, but steels herself as she was trained to do. "Aelerie, you sense no magic, and I sense no evil. Perhaps it's best if you simply announce our arrival then, being more familiar. I am at the ready should evil choose to reveal itself to us after all." She steps forward, longsword drawn.
Astrianna draws her longsword and walks closer. "Fear not, little one. I won't let anything get you." she says tenderly to the fox. She focuses her attention toward the house and the fetishes and concentrates.
"Albus, I can carry some more of the gear." Astrianna responds. "But I too agree we should leave behind the weapons for now." "And we may as well bring the rations. We may have need of them." She quickly kneels down and says a quiet prayer for the victims of the taztylwyrm. "May Her light have illuminated your passage into the beyond. And know that the foul creature shall harm no one else.
"Draconic monstrosity! This armor was a gift!" Astrianna yells in outrage as she recoils from the beast. She draws her longsword and in one smooth motion takes a swing at the creature.
"I thank you for your blessing, Virdel. Iomedae smiles upon us!"
"I can carry some of the additional gear if anyone wishes to take it, and I'll take the dagger if nobody wants it. It might be useful if we encounter any more of those foul stirges." Astrianna crouches down and smiles at the fox.
Astrianna bows her head and whispers a quick prayer of thanks. Then brings Albus his backpack and pulls out the healing kit. "I'll go check on that fox. It's probably best to let someone more skilled remove that arrow. I imagine you've had enough pain for one day already."
Astrianna is shocked to see Aldus nearly go down and quickly mutters a prayer to Iomedae, "Inheritor guide my blade." She swings at the razorcrow with all her might!
Astrianna lets out a loud battle cry as she swings at the razorcrow with her longsword.
Astrianna draws her longsword and runs toward Albus to shield him from further attacks.
Astrianna remains back with Albus with some reservation and observes the situation. "So, I take it you've gotten yourself into some trouble with these men?" she asks Albus, trying to maintain some light conversation. "I'm still learning the ways of things around here, but it seems like we don't need a plague to have troubles with this group, do we?" When she sees Aelerie wave them over, she nods and walks forward to greet them with an assured smile, though keeping her hand close to her blade.
"Thank you Albus, I too have only lost some blood. And a bit of pride. I'll live to fight another day." "Since darkness is nearly upon us, and I believe I'm the only one who may be able to see in it, I suggest we camp down soon and rest. I'll take the first watch."
Astrianna draws her dagger and stabs the creature as hard as she can.
"What manner of foul creatures are these things?" she calls out.
Astrianna fumbles to draw her dagger, hoping to stab the creature if it won't disengage.
Astrianna attempts to grapple the creature and stop it feeding on her.
"It's as I suspected. No evil to be found here." Astrianna smiles at Aelerie. "All I see is a young woman concerned with her mother's well-being, and the well-being of her neighbors." She clutches the hilt of her longsword, still sheathed. "The light in our world manifests itself in many different ways. That you attune yourself to that light for the benefit of others is not something to be ashamed of. Should anyone have a quarrel with you, then they will find they also have a quarrel with me."
"It is a bold admission, but certainly not one which I find unsettling." Astrianna says to Aelerie. "My father is a high-ranking Cleric in the Church of Iomedae. He can do things that are described by some as miracles. My mother is elven, her long lineage descended from magical beings of legend. Where I come from in Absalom, we have institutions dedicated to the study of magic." "I myself have been blessed by the Inheritor to sense the presence of evil and cast Her Divine Light in times of need." Astrianna closes her eyes, grasps her holy symbol and concentrates for a moment, while muttering a quiet prayer. She casts Detect Evil toward Aelerie. "Forgive my forwardness, but I suspect you'll have nothing to fear from this." she says.
So far in all the PbP games I've played (including my own), the GM rolls for initiative, so that's just a thing as far as I'm concerned. I'm sold on doing block initiative for PbP games, because I've had to do too many adjustments/retcons by having players go in a specific turn order. My policy has been that players post as they can, then the GM sorts everything at the end of the round by init. But that's become cumbersome, so I'm only doing block init now.
Astrianna gives Albus an assuring smile. "Thank you, Albus. I hope our Lady sees fit to bless us all on this journey. And I believe she will." "I can carry additional gear if need be. While I feel it imperative to be on the front line, I see that your knowledge and keen eye make it best for you to guide us. I will defend our group with all my might and be ever vigilant for the presence of evil in our path." "Once I have secured some additional rations I too will be ready to depart."
GM:
Astrianna bows her head, "Lady Chritiana, I believe our Lady has put forth a true test for me. There is the possibility of a cure with the correct ingredients, none of which will be simple to acquire." "A small group of locals are undertaking the quest to retrieve these ingredients, and I shall accompany them. As Iomedae may guide and protect me, so too shall I shine her light upon these brave souls and support them in their journey." She bows and then pauses in thought for a moment, "If I may be completely honest, as an outsider I must admit I feel a bit overwhelmed by the goings on in this town to which I have not been privy. Perhaps going forth and performing such an act of valor may help me endear myself to those I serve here."
Joining the others at the shop, Astrianna looks around. "I am mostly prepared, but I carry only five days rations, and it seems best to fortify my own supplies should our quest take longer. I will of course share should others require additional sustenance as well."
Astrianna gives Albus a reassuring smile, "Albus, is it? Yes, of course I will accompany you and help as I can. I am ready to depart immediately."
Astrianna listens intently to the conversation. She asks Laurel, "You say the sickness came from a fungus. Has anyone been to this location to investigate? Might it be worth taking a look there? I would happily go to begin my investigation there if it will help, I only need directions." She pauses again, thoughtfully. "I apologize. I'm forgetting my manners again. I'm Astrianna, paladin of Iomedae, and newly arrived to Falcon's Hollow. I am at your service in the cause of fighting this malady." She extends her hand to Laurel with a smile.
"Yes, I am investigating on behalf of the church. I was told to seek out the proprietor of this shop as she could likely supply the information I need to get started." Astrianna pauses for a second, then extends her hand to the guard. "I am called Astrianna. It's my pleasure to make your acquaintance and be of service to this fine community. If you could assist with that I would greatly appreciate it."
Astrianna interjects between the halfling and the guard. "Excuse me, I hate to interrupt, but I'm with the Church of Iomedae. It's imperative I see the proprietor of this shop at once. I'm investigating the cause of this affliction upon the town. I understand these good people are waiting, but time is of the essence!"
Astrianna nods to Albus, "And likewise to you, good sir." She turns toward the door of Roots and Remedies. "I suppose I need to have some words with those guards as my business is urgent." She walks up to the entrance to find a halfling with an ear trumpet already ahead of her and talking with the guards.
Astrianna makes her way to the shop, concerned about the large line of people waiting. She makes note of a young man she's seen before at the church, figuring she might talk with him if she can't get into the shop. As her mind is wandering over her concerns, a woman suddenly bumps into Astrianna and apologizes profusely. "Please, it was an honest mistake, and at least equally my fault. I have let my thoughts be distracted by the sight of these people." Astrianna says. She catches herself and stands at attention, one hand extended, "Sorry, I forgot my manners. I am Astrianna, holy paladin of Iomedae and newly arrived in Falcon's Hollow. I'm here to help." "I'm trying to get into Roots and Remedies to speak with the proprietor in hopes that I may learn more of the malaise that has come upon this town. Are you also going there by chance?"
GM Stargin: "Thank you My Lady. I will seek out this proprietress immediately, and I won't rest until the cause of this pestilence is found." "I will go to gather my gear and leave for town within the hour, if not sooner. I will not let you or our goddess down!" And with that, Astrianna takes her leave to gather her adventuring gear and set out into town, pausing only to quickly pray to Iomedae for guidance.
GM Stargin: Astrianna stands up at attention at Lady Cirthana's question. "My Lady, I shall take up the charge. I am a humble servant of our goddess and a mortal instrument of Her divine will. If She calls upon me to dispense swift justice, then that is what I shall do. Likewise, if She calls for a hand of mercy extended to those who suffer, then let it be my hand She guides!" She bows her head, "Ask only what you would require of me, and it shall be done with honor, courage and precision!"
Astrianna probably won't know much of the local goings on if she's just arriving. All she'll know is whatever the Church of Iomedae has told her when they asked her to come here to the temple. And she was warned that strange things are going on without any specific information. DC15 Knowledge: Astrianna's father is a powerful cleric in the church of Iomedae. Though she's half-eleven, she was raised among humans and only her ears really give away her mixed heritage. She's young, and as physically strong as she is headstrong, but also very charming and sincere, perhaps a touch naive. Rumor has it she could have used her family connections to get a more comfortable assignment, but she's very eager to prove herself as a worthy soldier of her deity. This is her first remote assignment and she's not seen much of the Inner Sea outside her home in Absalom.
Thanks for selecting me as well. This should be fun.
Here is TPJ's submission, Astrianna, half-elf paladin. Spoiler: Astrianna Female Half-Elf (Human-Raised) paladin 1 LG Medium humanoid (elf, human) Init +0, Senses low-light vision; Perception +0 Aura aura of good, =================================================
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Aura of Good (Ex) You project a faint good aura. Aura of Good Chosen of lomedae At your birth, your parents dedicated your soul to Iomedae to mold into a sword of her light. The goddess blessed you, granting you a gift of light to brighten your path through darkness and a fine sword with which to spread her will. You may cast light once per day as a spell-like ability (caster level 1st), and you begin play with a masterwork longsword. In addition, whenever light is cast upon this sword, the radius of light and its duration is doubled. Detect Evil (Sp) At will, you can use Detect Evil, as the Spell. You can, as a move action, concentrate on a single individual or item within 60 feet and determine if it is evil, learning the strength of its aura as if having studied it for 3 rounds. While focusing on one individual or object, you do not detect evil in any other object or individual within range. Elf Blood (Ex) Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race. Elven Immunities (Ex) Half-elves are immune to magic sleep effects and get a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects. Human-Raised These half-elves were born and raised into accepting human communities, often raised by generations of a single family, or through the charity of churches and temples. These half-elves have the integrated and wary racial traits. Integrated Many half-elves are skilled in the art of ingratiating themselves into a community as if they were natives. Half-elves with this racial trait gain a +1 bonus on Bluff, Disguise, and Knowledge (local) checks. This racial trait replaces the adaptability racial trait. Low-Light Vision (Ex) You can see x2 as far as humans in low illumination. Characters with low-light vision have eyes that are so sensitive to light that they can see twice as far as normal in dim light. Low-Light Vision is color vision. A spellcaster with low-light vision can read a scroll as long as even the tiniest candle flame is next to her as a source of light. Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day. Multitalented (Ex) Half-elves choose two favored classes at first level and gain +1 hit point or +1 skill point whenever they take a level in either one of those classes. Smite Evil (Su) You can call out to the powers of good to aid you in your struggle against evil 1 times per day. As a swift action, you choose one target within sight to smite. If this target is evil, you add +3 to your attack rolls and +1 to all damage rolls made against the target of your smite. If the target of Smite Evil is an outsider with the evil subtype, an evil-aligned dragon, or an undead creature, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to +2. Regardless of the target, Smite Evil attacks automatically bypass any DR the creature might possess. In addition, while smite evil is in effect, you gain a +3 deflection bonus to your AC against attacks made by the target of the smite. If you target a creature that is not evil, the smite is wasted with no effect. The Smite Evil effect remains until the target of the smite is dead or the next time you rest and regain your uses of this ability. Wary Many half-elves have spent their long lives moving from place to place, often driven out by the hostility of others. Such experiences have made them wary of others' motivations. Half-elves with this trait gain a +1 racial bonus on Sense Motive and Bluff checks. Background
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