Avrora Vikta's page

Hey guys! Sorry for my silence. We've moved and are unpacking. New job and necessary cleaning/renovations on this old house and its acreage are still taking up nearly all of my free time. Although I was hopeful, We still don't yet have wifi (we're in the country and our options are satellite or paying cable to dig a line out to the property), and I can't really do the PbP thing well from my phone. Posting from work is very difficult. As to PbP in general, I've had to push everything to the back burner, even withdrawing from most of my games.
I've put off withdrawing from this game (it means a lot to me), but it does look like I'm on an indefinite hiatus while I wait to resolve my internet access problem. Perhaps it's best that I leave after all, as it's not fair to keep everyone hanging. I don't need to say how much I've enjoyed playing with you, nor how sad I am to step back, but real life does happen. I wish everyone the best!

No worries, things are still a little nuts for me. I've barely had a chance to read the boards, much less post.

But yeah, you gotta have a cool, comfortable place to write. The future of Kintargo depends on it!

Level 2!

HP +6 (d8, +1 Con)
BAB +1
Fort +1, Will +1

Fervor 1d6 3/day (Su): Standard action, touch channels positive energy to heal or harm. Swift to cast on self.
+1 Blessing/day

+1 0th spell
+1 1st spell

+2 Skills: K(religion) +1, Intimidate +1
+2 Background Skills: K(engineering) +1, Linguistics +1 (Infernal)

"Oh Phineas, I'm so so sorry! I--that's terrible.". She has more to say to him, much more, but she hesitates. Now isn't the time. Now is the time to plan a resistance.

"Security. Right." She scans the ceilings as best she can in the dim light. "This place looks about as secure as a public library. I've seen Calistrian kissing booths with more precautions. Still, it's kept our Tengu friends here safe. But if we're going to base our efforts here, we'll need to be much better defended, with lookouts, and defenses, and supplies to last us for periods of time during which one or more of us may need to disappear. We'll also need guards, trained fighters. Force shouldn't be our modus operandi, of course, but if we're asking people to put their necks on the line, we'll need muscle to protect them."

"And a name, a persona? Something to preserve anonymity...". She considers a moment, then smiles. "It should be something with a bite. Call me the Silvern Thorn."

"Right. We'd be hard pressed to convince anyone to join us if they knew they might be breakfast for some giant lizard. But beyond that, where do we even begin? I'm sure we all understand discretion--we've made it this far--but how should we start searching for allies?"

She casts a sorrowed glance toward Galen. "Don't worry, Darian's right about that, too. Even this place could be a refuge."

"...woah..." Avrora mutters under her breath as Darian's magic takes hold. She smiles, leaning over toward Isabel to whisper softly in her ear. "...I said he was overdressed, didn't I?"

"Splendid!" she says, louder. "You look splendid, Darian."

She stands. "We're really doing it, then? We're going to resurrect the Silver Ravens? We're going to be freedom fighters? We'll take up arms against Barzillai and his stupid thugs and hell hounds? Well, count me in!" She pounds the table with her gauntlet.

"It's well past time that someone showed the authoritarians, the liars, and the bullies of Kintargo that not everyone will sit by nursing their wounds and cradling their woes against the government! And if the Silver Ravens are the vehicle that can make that happen, I'll ride that carriage all the way to Cape Erebus and back!"

And if there were a chance at using this against Boros and Edargo, against Mother and Father, or even finding...

"And I completely agree that our identities should be confidential. My name might draw far too much negative attention in the wrong circles. Circles, I fear, which include certain factions within the government and Dottari. You've all been incredibly kind after I disclosed my story to you, but most in this city did not feel that way. And there are those--"

Rose.

"--who might be held accountable for my actions as well. We must be so, so careful."

She paces behind Isabel as she talks, nodding your head. "Yes, you're certainly right. I'm not bad with a mace or a sword, it's true. I have no experience commanding a force, rebel or otherwise. To hear my brother speak of such things, it's the hardest and most manly thing possible. But why not. If he could do it, I certainly could!"

Just a heads up for everyone. We are moving out of our home this week, then staying with friends for over a week while we wait for the closing on our new home, then moving into that. I'll do my best to keep up. If my posting becomes spotty in the next few weeks, I hope you'll understand why :). Please bot me as needed.

Heck yea! I'll need to sit down and re read those rules, but I'll say I support your approach here, using your own judgment to determine what would be most fun.

"Er, right. Of course.." As the Tengu turn in amongst themselves, Avrora looks to the others with a bewildered shrug. As she does, a sharp pain runs down her shield arm where the Tengu's claws raked her. She runs her hand over the wound, uttering another prayer.

CLW @ self: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

There is an intense prickling as the wound knits itself close, though the crusted blood remains. She raises her shield and steps south toward the large warehouse chamber beyond.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Congrats! Another, baby Raven to add to our group!

Avrora follows Darian's lead and expresses interest in a tour, oohing and aahing at the chambers.

"I'm sorry you've had such troubles. We will do what we can to help you. The fact that you're here at all suggests you understand discretion. Obviously, smuggling people could get everyone in a lot of trouble if the wrong person found out. Can we trust each other? Do you know where you were headed?"

"I--oh!" Avrora visibly jumps when Korva snaps the corby's neck. She holds her breath until she hears the explanation, her expression exceptionally grim. Still, she makes no move against them, for in truth it sounds as though the corbies were an enemy against all of them.

When the "sisters" appear, she glances around at her friends, then stows her weapon, nodding stiffly in recognition of the new arrivals. "H-hello. I'm Avrora. These are my friends, Varian, Isabel, Phineas, Galen, and the overdressed one there, that's Darian.

"Korva..." she continues, "You said you've been waiting, but for what you don't know, and that there have been many mistakes. What do you mean? Do you care to explain what is going on down here? We're looking for Nan. Is--is that him?" She points to the body in the water.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Avrora hesitates a moment, her grip loosening on her weapon, and swallows thickly. The corby is a pathetic sight, it's true. If the tengu speaks the truth, well...

"Alright," she says, trying to sound authoritative. She takes a step backward toward Galen. "Show mercy on your ally. We must tend to our own as well. The price of this small victory hasn't been cheap for us, either. Galen..."

She turns then and hurries over to Galen's side, stowing her shield (but not her weapon). "Oh, Galen--" she looks over the deep gashes on his torso. "--oh, there's so much blood."

The prayer... The prayer... She fumbles for a moment, her brain rattled in more than one direction, as she tries to recall what she knows, what she'd learned from her friends in the commune about the power of prayers. There was something to do with friendship, and love for one's fellows, and a necessary ingredient. Oh, what is it?

Sacri--

"Sacrifice." she whispers the word the moment it dawns on her, and in that moment she knows she has found it. A pain gathers around her heart and a tightness grips her throat. A bittersweet feeling of both sadness and joy, for what reason she cannot readily say. But the power of it is real, for a mote of light appears in her palm, and as her hand draws near to Galen it nearly leaps toward him, flowing into his wounds and cleanly knitting them closed.

CLW @ Galen: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Now," she says, standing and turning back to the corby, "we can see to your friend."

Avrora steps closer and levels the spikes of her weapon toward the Tengu, her eyes just visible behind her shield. They flash quickly between the bird, Darian, and Isabel, waiting for a resolution. Or another ambush.

Hope dog is doing well. Mine recently slipped a disc in his back and required some major tlc, too.

mwk morningstar, bless, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 16
dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
shield bash, bless, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 16
dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Avrora thrusts her shield forward and, reeling back, simultaneously delivers a solid blow with her morningstar from the side. The metallic weapons clash in the unmistakable sound of battle.

Nice! I just roll attack and damage together out of habit, but if you'd like me to separate them I sure can.

Erm, is Avrora hitting at all? I see Varian hit Beak 1 with a 14. I've rolled two 18's but haven't seen any results :P.

"No you don't!" Avrora cries as she tries to bludgeon the bird once again.

Mwk morningstar, bless: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 51d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
shield bash, bless: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 1 = 181d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

A gasp of surprise escapes Avrora's lips as the creature's dirty talon rips into her flesh. For an moment she feels no pain, only the tugging of her skin, but the shock quickly fades and the sting of the wound is accompanied by a spreading warmth as her blood pours freely.

Not quite sure of herself, she grips her mace as best she can and clubs the bird with an overhead swing, topping it off with a thrust of her shield for good measure.

mwk Morningstar, bless: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 1 = 181d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
shield bash, bless: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 61d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Yea, I couldn't say one way or another. I can say that warpriest casting is pretty "selfish" in that there's an incentive to convert what would be group buffs into self only swift casts, so we'll be missing out on some support magic. But as Isabel suggests, healing with wands usually suffices.

Now who will Avrora thump her holy book with???

Sorry to see you go, but I certainly understand.

"Galen!" Avrora races back across the pier toward Galen and Phineas, her pulse racing. She swings hard with her mace toward the creature near Phineas, but it moves too quickly and dodges her attack.

"Over here, you overgrown songbird!
Leave him be!"

Attack, bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 81d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Busy day today, so I may not be able to post until tomorrow. Please bot me as needed.

Confused by the tactics, Avrora doesn't wait for any explanation,
and strikes hard with her morningstar.

Attack, bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 1 = 181d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Varian's blessing sends a soft wind rustling through Avrora's hair. And then a roar, a splash, the sound of snapping jaws, and the thrill of battle ring through the air to take its place. Avrora, already on edge, cries out in fury and triumph as she charges in to aid Darian in the fight against the giant reptile.

Double move.

"Oh no," Avrora whispers mournfully at the mention of the body. "I'd never've noticed it in the dark. Who would've--Darian, careful!" She tuts and creeps forward, turning her back to Darian and looking on to the tunnels beyond, covering him from the rear. She squeezes the hilt of her weapon anxiously. "Not more demonic sludge-creatures, I hope. I daresay Calistria would be aghast if she knew her likeness guarded something so...unsavory."

Avrora steps lightly...well, as lightly as she can in her armor...down the hallway and toward the open chamber beyond. She glances around, making sure the others are nearby.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"Try not to die."

"Right," Avrora whispers as she advances upon the narrow passageway within the wall. She turns her shield this way and that, trying to see in as far as she can before turning back to the others, ensuring that everyone is accounted for. Once the others are ready to go, she steps into the crevice.

Assuming everyone is ready, I've moved on the map.

Any chance I could retcon having claimed the morningstar? If you'd rather not I understand, but as a 3/4 BAB trying to TWF that +1 to hit would be a huge boon :).

If not now, I will definitely be asking for that at the first opportunity.

So about loot. Had we found a masterwork morningstar, or was that just my imagination?

Avrora smiles as she steps down off of the ladder. "Feels familiar," she offers, gliding a hand over her shield and setting it aglow. She frees her morningstar and nudges a nearby sack with her boot. "I'm guessing there's more to it than bags of grain..."

I'll be out all day tomorrow, and won't be able to post until the weekend. Please bot me as needed.

@Avora: I'm not clear if you're wanting me to add some significance to the Harrow draw or not, or leave it to you for pure RP purposes. Let me know.

No Pin, this is just flavor text on my end, thanks :).

Avrora rises early, never really achieving a restful sleep after her nightmare and talk with Galen. She sits upon her bed in the dim light, feet tucked neatly under her, eyes closed as she says her morning prayers. Her invocations to the Everbloom remind her of the roses from her dream, and she cannot rid herself of the image of the Rabbit Prince, his broken blade raised in defense of his tarnished crown. She thinks of the feeling of helpnesses she felt against the hellhound, and shivers.

"...thus having remembrance steadfastly in my heart of Thee." She concludes her prayer, then rises. She tiptoes to the washroom, pleased to find that Laria has provided warm water, a basin, and a brick of sweet-smelling soap. She disrobes from her sleeping clothes and cleanses her body, examining her naked form in the tarnished mirror. Her fingers linger over the scars on her back, where the hellhound would have struck her, wondering which explanation is worse, the reality or the dream. She examines the rose tattoo on her shoulder, fresher and newer than the scars, wondering again if it isn't larger than she remembers. It was hard to tell...

Not long after, she emerges into the common area of the shop, fully clothed and armored, her morningstar secured to her hip. "Why, good morning. You both look well rested." She sips her rosehip tea, noting its popularity throughout the shop, perhaps in response to its nighttime prohibition. "I suppose we should set out as soon as the others are up and arrived."

Thorny, tangled rose vines surround Avrora as she creeps carefully through the maze-like gardens of her youth.

Her mother had taken great pride in these flowers, and she was forever warning her daughter not to trample the plants, and not to set foot off of the walking path or else she'd soil another dress and goodness knows they'd spent enough money on her dresses, even though Avrora insisted on playing in them and costing their father a small fortune in seamstresses, but gracious it was tactless to speak of money, another reason for Avrora not to behave in such a meddlesome fashion...

...But today is different, for Avrora is not the unruly child from years ago, but her adult, unruly self of today. And although she wears a child's garrish, laced frippery, she is quite aware of her tall stature, of her breasts and womanhood, and of her cropped hair.

She is also aware of the game. Phantoms and Finders. Someone else is hidden within the maze, she knows, and she must find them. Yet she feels lost. The simple garden path she had known so well in her youth is now transformed, its turns and corners somehow leading in at impossible angles, bringing her to locations both previously explored and, paradoxically, terrifyingly unfamiliar. And here another hedge, leading to who knows where.

She peers around the tall bush, expecting to find another enclosed walkway, but instead she sees a small open space with a bird bath in its center. A raven stands within its waters, glaring in her direction. With bated breath she takes a step toward it, her hand outstretched. The bird seems very important to her, and she isn't sure why.

The chime of a small handbell floats through the air, coming from multiple directions at once. The raven caws and flutters away, up over the top of the hedges. She turns her head this way and that, suddenly afraid at being alone. A low growl creeps from the rose bushes, and the smell of smoke and burning brush follows. The sound of the bell persists.

When the hellhound emerges from behind the wall, she gasps in terror. He hand reaches instinctively for a weapon, but she is unarmed, unarmored, helpless. She turns to run, but the long hem of her dress catches under her shoe and she is falling, tumbling down toward the earth as the infernal dog snarls and leaps upon her back.

She stirs, gasping softly and tensing her body from the anticipated impact, but simultaneously awash with relief at the realization that she was, in fact, only dreaming. Soft lamplight flickers across the room from the bunk overhead where, she comprehends, Galen must still be awake.

"Galen?" she whispers, crawling to her feet and glancing at his bedspread, whereon a spread of harrow cards has been laid. "What're you doing?"

Avrora frowns, tracing her finger across the cracked pine tabletop in a vague route from Longroads to The Salty Mermaid. The last thing she wanted was trouble with the law, and certainly not with the Chelish Citizens Group. The scoundrels. What was waiting for her in her inn room, anyway? Her belongings would be safe just one night unattended, surely.

"Y-yes. Thank you, Laria. I would like to stay the night here if it's alright with you.."

"What makes you think they've any function at all? What if they were just decorative?" Avrora looks puzzled. "Do you think they have anything to do with that strange music we heard?"

About loot...do we have a current list being maintained anywhere?

Avrora crinkles her nose at Laria's crude joke, but smiles a little anyway. "Calistria? Well, I wasn't expecting that. And you've been using those chambers for decades without any trouble until now? Maybe Nan's just taken off without notifying you. With these new Proclamations, I'd wager there are plenty who'd rather put Korvosa behind them for a time."

Varian's Appearance.

"Oh, Va--Julius, we've been waiting for you. Yes, something about a looted chapel of Calistria, a wet statue, and some missing friends of Laria's. It seems we've decided to rest a while, then investigate. What do you say?"

Okay so secrecy it is. We'll have fun, regardless! Any input on the remaining party roles?

"You poor dear. So many of us were appalled by what happened, and there many heated discussions about the handling of the case over my pastries and coffee. You had a lot more support than you will ever know.

"I, um...thank you." Avrora glances down at the simple pastry in her hand. A simple thing, to give her a donut, but the meaning behind the gesture representing so much more. It had been a long time since she had given voice to the vicious thoughts inside her head. There was no reason. Living on the farm in Harsk, life was simpler and far removed from the horrors she had experienced in Kintargo. There was not much reason to re-visit them other than to drive herself mad. And, of course, she had attempted a great deal of healing within the commune of Milani, and she had learned principles of peace and forgiveness.

Not that such lessons ever got very far with her.

But through simple repetition she had learned not to dwell on her anger and instead to focus on the path forward. It strikes her as funny that her path should bring her right where she started.

Her eyes begin to burn and a spasm grips her throat as the urge to cry threatens to overcome her. Instead, she simply takes a bite of the donut, trying to focus on its delicious sweet and savory layers. "Fank oo. If's Doolifshufsh," she sputters as crumbs fly from her mouth and fall upon the floor.

The Wasp's Nest

"Criminality is relative..." Avrora adds absently, then nods in agreement with Phineas. "Yes, I think at least a good nap's in order before we go diving into another underground layer. And that name, the wasp's nest, what does it mean?" Tag Laria.

Since it's clearly going to lose anyway I'm going to vote for Security!

Thanks for that spearheading this discussion Isabel. While I think Secrecy could make for a fun campaign, our group composition is more suited for Loyalty or Security. While Avrora might prefer to get scrappy with the agents of Thrune, I as a player would support either of those.

As to officer role, I agree that either Partisan or Recruiter makes sense for Avrora.

What do the rest of you think?

"If you're Barzillai's spies then I've already condemned myself, so I don't think it's too much to ask what has brought such fine men and women to the brink of insurrectionist action rather than just bitter rhetoric over their cups. And you'd do well to consider the danger you bring to others. Poor Rex here is certainly a good example of that."

"Many in Kintaro are dissatisfied with their cups, I'd wager," Avrora replies curtly. "And more suffer the caprice of our new lord mayor in silence, for fear of being eaten by fiendish hounds. Not to mention public beatings by this Chelish Citizen's Group."

"And as for me, well, my name is Avrora Vikta, daughter of Ursius and Quinta Vikta, sister to Boros Vikta. A few years ago I--well, I was at the center of a rather heated controversy."

Those present in the city during that time might remember that three years ago, one Avrora Vikta accused a soldier of the Dottari of rape, but was instead adjudicated a perjurer and slanderer and herself imprisoned.

Avrora's face flushes a distressing scarlet, and she fixes her gaze on the floor, clutching the pommel of her morningstar in a ferocious grip.

"I-I was...assaulted by a man that I once cared for deeply. He happened to be a recruit within the Dottari. I pressed charges, but there were forces at work greater than myself. I once believed that the hands of government existed to shield and support its citizens. I was naive."

She glances up at the others, focusing on Rex. "But now I see things clearly. Clearer, anyway. And I do not intend to let the same fate fall upon anyone else. So if there's a chance to make a change for the better in this city, to reclaim some small part of it for its citizens, you don't need to ask me twice."

Avrora grips Varian's arm in anticipation as Darian produces the relics of the Silver Ravens. It was one thing to share this secret among themselves, but here they were, eating pastries and having coffee and...soliciting complicity in their conspiracy.

Avrora eyes Laria keenly to gauge her reaction as the tokens are presented.

I agree Pin is doing a fine job. My own posting rate, across the board, has suffered in recent weeks. I'm taking an important exam at the end of this month and have amped up my study schedule, which means I often have to push my posting aside more often than I'd like to. I hope that come May I'll be back to posting daily again. In the meantime, please bear with me :).

I really don't need or expect daily posts from anyone. Varian, it sounds like if you're checking in every day, or even every other day, there's an opportunity to post, at least to RP with someone (like Avrora, who interacted with Varian in a post six days ago). Varian is a quality character, and I'd hate to see him go, so please reconsider.

Avrora walks across the Bleakbridge with her arm wrapped around Varian's. She would never, ever have anticipated such embarrassment as what she had felt after Isabel's's comment. The young woman had only good intentions, surely, and Avrora knows she shouldn't hold it against her, but that hadn't meant she didn't want to strangle Isabel for the joke.

But then Varian's response broke the tension. It had been the perfect response, really, invoking Milani's name that way, knowing that she couldn't resist. She chuckles as she walks, telling Varian of the first time she helped birth a calf. "You wouldn't believe the size of it!"

_______________

"There, it's the Long Roads Coffeehouse. Remember, we're interested in the devil bell tarts."