Do you have any thoughts about the build rules you want to use?
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His name was going to be Reepi Sounds fair, I'll have to read some more of the player guide. Taldor is humancentric, they did mention some exotic races such as fetchling and tengu. They were just some off the cuff ideas. I think the swashbuckler might work though. He knows that he is a second class citizen, but plays up Taldorian's image of him that he is a funny animal person with impeccable manners and a suave style. He wants to see change because if the traditions can be shifted to allow women to vote then it is a step towards more respect to non-humans.
Hmmmm. Some ideas. Ratfolk swashbuckler. Super flashy with a big hat and feather. Bucklers would be swashed. Ratfolk ninja rogue. Super sneaky assassin type. Shadows would be snuck through. Human abjuration mage. Stern and judgemental (kind of like Aviel) "You would oppose me? Fools!" Human magus. Merchant with Qadiran background. Deals will be struck. Might have a few more ideas.
That is a tough one. My list pretty much looks like Taah. War
To be clear, there is nothing on that list I absolutely wouldn't want to play, I would be just as happy with Rune again as with War. So, democratically it would be War, but as for a consensus approach Temple is everyone's second choice.
Put down a rebellion that threatens the stability of Chelliax? Aviel would support that move. LN is a common hellknight alignment ;) That being said, of the top 3 options you have listed, I have not played any parts of any of them. I don't think I am actually familiar with War for the Crown at all.
I have played the last 3 mods of this AP, so wouldn't mind continuing to see how the first 3 turned out. That being said,if we were to start something new I wouldn't be opposed to it depending on what you had in mind. Aviel would absolutely be up for Hell's Vengeance.
Aviel nods as she cleans her blade before sheathing it. She opens her visor and kneels down beside the creature.
"I don't recognize this as any type of demon I know of. Lazur, do you have any insight into what this is?"
Aviel kept her shield firmly in her opponent's face. The thing tried to reach around the metal barrier only to be thwarted as its claws scraped across well worn armour. Its attempt to bite her around the shield was almost comedic. As the creature scrabbled helplessly against the shield Aviel took the opportunity to strike back at the reckless opponent.
Although the flurry of claws and teeth managed to get through her defences, the wound was not serious. The sudden rise in anger that threatened to overwhelm her did come as a surprise, but her steadfast training and discipline managed to keep the ire in check. Shaking off the momentary affliction, Aviel pressed her attack.
To be fair, that was the only spot I could take that would allow Lazur to back up and still be able to target the creature. I apologize if that came across as a criticism of the player's action, it was not my intent. I know that from a mechanics point of view the monster had already gone and I was going to move next so you weren't actually in any danger. I will dial Aviel back a bit.
Aviel was a bit taken aback as she found herself at the back of the group when Claudia rushed past. She held her tongue though, there would be time for tactical talk after the twisted thing was put down. She brushed between Claudia and Lazur, drawing her sword the moment she was clear of them. Stepping face to face with the abhorrent creature Aviel felt repulsed by its vile visage. "Back to the pits from which you were spawned." she growled from beneath her helmet.
While the blow wasn't particularly strong, it was exceptionally precise. The cold iron weapon was well crafted and properly balanced.
Aviel looked down the dark passage. "I am curious, Ameiko's father must have known about what was down here when he had the glassworks constructed. He went through the effort of walling them off." She straightened up and readjusted her shield "In any case I agree, this path holds promise. Let's proceed with caution." Aviel carefully stepped over the broken wall and slowly headed down the new passage.
Aviel had no expertise in engineering or mining, but the fact that the tunnel led so far to simply end in a blank wall was suspicious enough. She opened her visor to get a better look at the wall.
"I am convinced that there is something here, one doesn't just build a tunnel that leads nowhere." She stood back and glowered at the wall for a moment "Unless anyone else has an idea how to find this door, if there is one, we can head back and investigate the other passage." Aviel turns around "We can come back later with the appropriate tools and use a little brute force to find out where the tunnel leads if need be." If there are no objections, Aviel lowers her visor and heads back up the tunnel.
Aviel pondered the options and weighed Lazur's advice for a moment. "The purpose of these tunnels likely lies at the end of the main passage and by the same reasoning investigating the branch would leave enemies along the main path behind us." She took another moment to evaluate the options before turning to Claudia. "I would suggest continuing along the main tunnel and investigating ancillary passages later."
Its all good, I haven't really had time to post anything substantial due to the holidays. =) I am checking in occasionally, but will be back online on a regular basis next week.
Since they both go into melee, I would suggest the ring for either Taah or Aviel. Any thoughts on the matter?
Aviel motioned Lazur to an empty chair at the table. "So, as an expert on Thassilonian ruins, can you tell us what to expect? Are their ruins known for being warded with traps, either magical or mundane? Are they often guarded by mystical guardians, animated statues or have a tendency to be haunted by undead? Did they like hiding stuff behind secret passages or esoteric puzzles." Aviel took a quick sip from her mead "I understand that these obstacles can be found in ruins from any culture, but I am interested in knowing if there is anything specific to Thassilon that we should prepare for."
Aviel mulled over Lazur's resume for a moment. With Priscilla's departure it would be useful to have someone skilled with locks, and knowledge of the builders of the ruins may come in handy. "I agree, your skills could potentially be useful on this endeavor. Ultimately, however, it is Claudia's call as the original founder of this team . I defer to her judgement."
Aviel listened to Priscilla express her reservations about going into the ruins below. "I understand. Dealing with goblins is not the same as facing a demon. It is a conflict that should not be approached lightly." She extended her hand "Thank you for accepting me into your group and allowing me to assist you in defending Sandpoint. Be secure in the knowledge that I will press forward and root out the abyssal threat that plagues the city. It was a pleasure working with you. Safe travels back to Magnimar." As she shook Priscilla's hand and bade her farewell, she noticed the man approaching their table. She turned her attention to the newcomer. Straight black shoulder length hair framed her face and her pale complexion marked her Chellaxian heritage. Her stern green eyes sized up the newcomer. "Brodert sent you?" she asked before turning to Claudia "Do you know anything about this?" She turned her attention back to Lazur. His mannerism reminded her of Lord Foxglove. "This is not a scholarly expedition. We are hunting a demon and potentially its summoner. If you want to explore the ruins below it might be best if you wait for us to cleanse it. Then you can examine it at your leisure."
Its all good, Christmas holiday time slows everything down.
Looks good.
I think with an investigator we cover the basic four rolls, divine/healing, blasty/arcane, tanky/tanky and skilly/versitile. I just mean don't feel obligated to pick up levels in another class if you don't want to. I think Taah has enough self loathing without heaping on a dose of uncontrollable orcish rage to top it off ;)
Welcome to the group! At the moment, I think we might be a little weak on ranged attacks. Claudia's spells are the only reliable ranged attacks we have. I can throw a javelin or two, but that is more a secondary thing.
I know the holiday seasons things tend to slow down in general for pbp games. Thanks for running this, I look forward to seeing our newest recruit.
Aviel can take the torch, but she will be dropping it at the start of every combat unless she is allowed to hang it from her belt.
Oh no! I really enjoyed Pris' character. Her bubbly personality was a fun contrast to Aviel =( I'm still good to continue.
Aviel takes the journal notes and shows them to Ameiko. "Did your brother ever talk about or mention anything more than what is in these notes to you? There seems to be something under Sandpoint. We are going to head down the tunnel and investigate tomorrow morning."
Aviel finished her missive and was in the process of rolling it up and sealing it with a bright red wax when Claudia arrived. "How did it go? Our meeting with Father Zantus was productive, though he knew nothing of what lay beneath the town or who the lady in the drawing was, he was able to give us valuable advice on fighting a quasit." Aviel cleans each of the writing instruments as she packs them away. "We should get an early night tonight. Tomorrow I need to take a quick trip to the docks to send my letter, then it is time to find out what is really going on"
Aviel nods"To be clear, if you do purchase the weapon with your own funds you do so with the understanding that any matter of repayment is between you and Pris. That being said, I think it is a good choice." Being from Chelliax it was second nature for Aviel to be careful about clarifying the terms of anything that could potentially be construed as a contract, whether verbal or written. Later, back at the Inn Aviel takes a table and orders a mead. She records the day's events in a journal and then composes a letter to her brothers back home. The journal is written in common while the letter is in the extremely precise and convoluted script of infernal. Goldurim and Tethris I write with mixed news as I am uncertain how to proceed. As per the plan I offered my assistance in a variety of matters and gained good will with prominent members within Sandpoint, however this had two unexpected consequences. The first of which is that I was deputized by the local law enforcement. While I was reluctant to take on such a role, it was obvious that they needed my skills in light of the recent attacks on the city. This eventually led to me taking on the roll of acting Captain of the Guard as the Captain headed to Magnimar to entreat the authorities there to send assistance. The second matter is that while pursuing my duties as deputy and subsequently acting Captain, I garnered much goodwill with Ameiko, the daughter of Lonjiku. However in doing so I also incurred the disdain of Lonjiku himself, the actual owner of the glassorks. As it happened, Ameiko and Lonjiku were on poor terms with one another. Both of these matters came to a head when, during the investigation of the goblin attack it was revealed that Tetsuo, Ameiko's half brother, was behind the attacks on the city. His final act before he was captured was to murder Lonjiku and all the staff of the glassworks. It appears that the attack was part of a longstanding family feud. There is more to this plot though that I will address later. With respect to the plan, here is where I stand with both a setback and opportunity: During the conflict, Ameiko was kidnapped by her brother and subsequently freed by my companions and myself. I believe that should she ever decide to reopen the glassworks, we could secure a very lucrative agreement. The complication to this is that she had express no interest in the family business before the incident and may have even less reason to become involved after this incident. It is my intention to try and convince her that reopening the business is in her best interest. I am concerned that the talent that made the business successful is gone, however that is a matter that can be evaluated at a later date. With that said, there is a new complication that I am now dealing with. During the apprehension of Tetsuo, it was revealed that he himself was part of a larger plot against the city. One that involves some kind of demonic ritual. As such, between my duties as acting Captain and more importantly as a former member of the imperial army, I have little choice but to continue to pursue this matter. I know this missive will be weeks out of date by the time you receive it, but I will strive to keep you apprised of the situation to the best of my ability. Know that despite the complications, I am still committed to the original plan and will strive to see it through. Aviel Firan Taithrosima
I figure that once we are back at the inn we can officially divide the loot now that we know what some of it is and then the next morning just before we head out Pris can purchase the rapier if she wants it.
Aviel looks over the items on display. "Thank you for your offer to bring in more equipment, however our needs are more immediate. I will take the longsword. I don't have enough for the rapier at the moment, however if you could hold it until tomorrow morning I will let my associate know that it is available for purchase if she should choose to do so." She then waits for Taah to make any purchases and then heads back to the inn.
Aviel peruses the stock. "I'll take the long sword and since you don't have any daggers, I'm looking for any light weapon sized for a halfling. Preferably one that doesn't require specialized training to use. Do you see anything that you can use Taah?"
Aviel takes note of the mention that there is a mercantile league in Sandpoint. It may be worth looking into at some point. "Our needs are more pressing, we wouldn't have the time to wait for an item to be crafted. But thank you for the information, I will let the proprietor know that you were the one that referred us to his establishment. Thank you for your time." Aviel heads to Savah's Armory to inquire whether they have a cold iron longsword, daggers and scimitar. While there she mentions that Mr. Korvut referred them.
Aviel creases her brow as she listens to the Blacksmith. "Cold iron to be specific, not regular iron. I would need a long sword and a pair of daggers if you have them."
After leaving the temple, Aviel asks for directions to the blacksmith and heads in that direction. When she arrives at the smithy she greets the individual in charge "Good day sir. I am looking for cold iron weaponry and was told that if you did not have any yourself, you might be able to direct me to someone who does deal in unusual materials."
Aviel nods grimly "Thank you Father, your help has been invaluable. The woman's name was never mentioned in the journal. I don't know who she is, however there are several sketches of her, it appears Tetsuo was infatuated." Aviel shows the priest one of the sketches from the journal. "Before we go, do you know of anyone in town who would sell cold iron weaponry?" If there are no more questions, Aviel stands and shakes Father Zantus' hand. "Thank you again, I will keep you updeated on the situation." As she turns to go, Aviel pauses and asks one more question "Oh, is the name Malfeshnakor mean anything to you? It is the name of the entity she is trying to awaken"
As they waited, Aviel was perplexed by Taah's apparent discomfort. She had chosen Taah to join her specifically because Taah seemed to be the most familiar with dealing with the clergy, but since they arrived the cleric had been silent and appeared uncomfortable. She was about to say something when Father Zantus arrived. Aviel stood and greeted the man "Father Zantus, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Aviel Taithrosima, and this is Taah." She motioned to the cleric. Introductions aside, she got down to business "It is regarding the incident at the glassworks that we needed to talk. We found journal entries written by Tsuto that refer to some kind of structures below the glassworks and we wanted to know if you had any information about them. A woman seems to be involved in attempting to enact some kind of abyssal ritual and this structure figures prominently in her plans." Aviel shows Father Zantus the notes. "This same woman appears to be responsible for the theft of the bones from your graveyard. They were apparently burned at a place called Thistletop as part of a ritual. Do you know any significance of that location? Finally, she seems to have a demonic ally in the form of a quasit. If you have any information on how to deal with one of these creatures, it would be of immense help to us when we delve deeper into whatever lies below the glassworks."
Sorry, it slipped my mind but I was going to suggest that Claudia and Pris take the unidentified items to see if the sage might be willing to identify them for us.
Aviel involuntarily smirked as she put two gold into the tithe box, one for each eye. Was benevolent an appropriate word for a judge that was even handed, showing neither malice nor compassion to any who stood before them? "We have an important matter to discus with Father Zantus. Would he be available to meet with us? It is an issue of some urgency."
Aviel finished up her meal. "Perhaps Taah would like to join me in talking with the priest while Claudia, you and Priss see if Mr. Quink knows anything about what might be going on. We can meet back here and exchange information. Then work out a plan for tomorrow."
Aviel nodded at Priss and Claudia "I hate leaving this unresolved, but you are right. We need to gather our strength before pushing on. The notes make it sound like the woman has not been in contact with anyone for a while, so she might not know that anything has happened up here. That might be to our advantage." As the guard show up, Aviel is still conflicted about what exactly her role and authority is. In the end she just starts giving them orders as if she was in command. If they followed them, excellent. If not then she wouldn't press the issue and just carry on. Back at the inn she changes out of her armour and back into more casual clothing as she joins the others for a meal. She orders mead and some of the roast boar from their hunt. As the server takes the order she asks "How is Ameiko doing? At the risk of sounding callous, we may need her assistance in talking to her brother." As she waits for her order to be served, she tenderly rubbed the sizable bump on the side of her head where an arrow had struck her helmet. When the server returned with her order she watched as Claudia wolfed down her food as if she had been starving for days, Aviel glanced at her. "Ah well, maybe a modicum of decency was to much to expect." "You are right Claudia, we need to know more" She turned and asked the server "We are looking for information on landmarks around the city, do you know who might be able to help us? And are there any sages or scholars about that might be versed on matters of..." she trailed off for a moment as she searched for an alternative to "demonic entities", worried that rumors of such might incite panic among the townsfolk. "...elementals, celestials or other such beings." She was at once worried that the server might jump to their own conclusion about what she was asking about, or simply not understand at all.
Aviel looked over the papers with a practiced eye. She noded her head slightly as she pored over the notes. The decisions were sound, it was a good plan considering their limited numbers, especially taking into account how inadequate the city defences were to begin with. ”These plans are well thought out, there is something much larger going on here.” Her gaze stopped on the last page, lingering there for a second or two before she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, held it for a moment and slowly let it out. Her right hand rested on her sheathed sword, thumb idly rubbing the black cloth bound around the pommel. She stood there for a bit, deep in thought. Finding no reasonable justification for abandoning the city to its fate she finally opened her eyes, mouth drawn in a tight frown. ”By the seventh pact, I was just here for a trade deal.” she rubbed her temple ”And now I’m faced with a demonic ritual of some kind. Even as a discharged member of the Chelliax military, I’m still obligated to put a stop to demonic influences.” She gestured in resignation and sighed before collecting herself and getting back down to business. ”We need to take all this evidence to the authorities....” she stopped for a moment as she contemplated that they were the authorities as far as she could figure. ”We need to take Tutso and secure him in the jail until we have time to interrogate him. Gather up all the evidence we can find for further examination. We need to lock the building so nobody comes in here until we can have the bodies properly tended to.” She picked up the bound man with a grunt and slung him over her shoulder. ”The guard need to be alerted to the gaps in their defences such as the hole in the wall indicated on these plans. They will need to be fortified if this second assault is pending.” As she exited the room, she pointed down the hall to the broken wall ”The notes indicate that there is some kind of secret passage down here, we will need to investigate as it seems linked to the larger problem of whatever this woman’s abyssal plans are. A quasit was mentioned”
”Is anyone familiar with what we can expect from a quasit? Does anyone know where Thistletop shrine is? The priest’s remains were burned there as part of the ritual, perhaps there will be some clues as to what is going on there.”
Man, you should swing for non-lethal all the time, if you're gonna roll like that! I think Aviel really has it in for this guy. I've rolled very well against him =)
Aviel's hand went numb for a moment, almost dropping her sword as Tsuto's elbow struck a solid blow on her fore arm, just above the gauntlet's cuff. It was remarkable how effective he was with nothing but his bare hands. Still, it was just another bruise. Seeing Taah's blow take its toll on Tsuto, Aviel changed tactics "If it is within my ability, I will not give you the satisfaction of an honourable death in combat. I will see you rot in a prison or your head on the block like a contemptible criminal." She twists her blade and attempts to land the flat across the man's body.
Aviel had done all the talking she had intended on doing. Now it was just cool professionalism as she pressed the attack against her foe. She concealed the movement of her sword behind her shield, waiting for an opening. Sensing an opportunity as he continued to threaten Pris, Aviel struck; raising her shield slightly to obscure his sight from below, she struck at his lower body.
Unable to see the blade, he turned into the strike at the last moment. It was only by some miracle that the blade did not eviscerate him as it slid across is abdomen leaving a crimson line nonetheless.
It actually seems to be a thing across all the games I'm in. A party of 6 got torn to pieces by 4 giant rats because we just couldn't hit them A pair of small ice elementals destroyed another group for the same reason, we just couldn't hit them and they seemed more than happy to hit us. The rolling on these boards just seems weird somehow.
As she parries the goblin's attack, Aviel pushes it off balance, hopefully for just long enough that it doesn't follow her into the room before Claudia has a chance to finish it off. The shot against the goblin should be clear once she moved. The fate of the goblin and Aviel's safety was in Claudia's hands now. Aviel strode into the room "It's time to bring this little farce to an end." as she brought her sword down in a practices arc around the side of her shield.
Aviel glances at the wounded goblin. Claudia should be rounding the corner at any moment so she takes a calculated risk and delays until just after the goblin strikes before she makes her move.
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