"I, Thone, son of Gruun, general of the Hooked Claw give my oath to leave these lands in peace, and return to the Hold of Belkzen. I will not seek vengeance for my defeat here."
Thone drops his hand, snarls, and turns to stalk off, calling his troops with him. Defeated and shamed, he vanishes around the corner of the impenetrable Chateau wall. "Good luck with that box," are his last, smirking words.
Fingers starts to sort through the loot. The diamond ring looks pricey, but hard to tell. Hundreds, maybe over a thousand. If the clothes were cleaned up they'd be worth around 300 gold.
Fingers settles in to the puzzle box, which is covered in interlocking wooden plates that he cam shift slightly or click a bit when squeezed. However, after a good few minutes he remains confounded by the box.
The group, a smiling Trestleblade in tow, make their way back to Douleurs. The news of the success spreads through the already jubilant town. The threat seems well and truly gone. You are all treated at the Inn free of charge, and are effectively given the run of the town. The mayor begs you stay a week, the Countess should have received word by now of the hobgoblin invasion and give news of her return soon.
You are now in a week or so of downtime. Let me know about any side projects, crafting, or mischief you want to get up to. As a note, I'm at a conference so posting rate may be weird. Also Wayfinder won't let me post as Spiderbeard.
Nilan steps up and sends out a burst of holy energy, which partially heals the hobgoblin grenadier who had only taken some minor damage. This nicely positions him to ditsract a hobgoblin long enough for Fingers to brutally skewer it. It remains upright, but barely.
Zoresk sends his fauchard out and catches a hobgoblin in the throat, who collapses to the earth. Koriko then chases, and sweeps out with her magically-enhanced katana. Blood sprays on the ground as the hobgoblin's head comes clean off.
Kuroyoho's target died before he could attack him, so you can take another standard action on superkitty. Irina is up!
Here's the fluff for an arcanist application, although he could just as easily be a wizard, sorc, or even a bard archetype. The core concept is a colonial Chelaxian who is driven to reclaim his house's glory and holdings Sargava.
Background:
Darius Mezinas II comes from the old money; not that anyone would know it. His breeding, his mannerisms, his blood is better than the others, but it is all for nought. His family languishes in Westcrown, playing political intrigues, inbreeding, and slowly decaying into insanity and poverty. Even in the pathetic shell of a great city that is Westcrown, his family is the lowest. Pathetic.
So Darius withdrew. Smarter than his immediate family, as a teen darius knew that the answers lay not in the present, but in the past. He refused to marry and carry on the family name and instead dove into books, learning about the family past before Aroden's death. There, he learned about the vast holdings in Sargava, the glory of the name Mezinas, and its status as one of the richest Houses in the Empire. During his studies, Darius began to recognize latent magical power in himself, and immediately applied to get out of Cheliax.
Pawning a few old pieces of jewelery netted him the name of a contact in Sargava, an aged wizard named Setho. Without waiting for permission, Darius informed his family he was going to University, and vanished. There, his pride suffered greatly as he was forced into servitude for the old man, who nonetheless gave him a solid foundation in magic. While there, Darius fell in love with the heat, the rainforest, the chaos, and the opportunity to regain lost glories he saw in the strange, chaotic nation. Particularly, he heard continual rumours of ruins, lost magic, and great power that awaited one who could find it.
A messenger spell found him, summoning him back to Cheliax near the end of his tutelage to the funeral of his mother. Respecting his duty to family, Darius returned home to pay his respects. There, he remained for a year as he set affairs in order and ensured the house would not suffer for his loss. For there, he informed his father that the family's death lay in Cheliax, and that their only hope was in recovering their holdings in Sargava. He was decried as insane by his family, but cared not. Darius boarded the first boat he could find, and set off back towards the nation he now considered his home.
Appearance:
Darius and trim and handsome, possessed of classically Chelish features. His hair is black and short, exposing a severe widow's peak. Arched eyebrows sit over his roman nose and he keeps a short beard to hide his cleft chin. He carries himself with excellent posture and speaks methodically and clearly with the manners of the educated elite, although his temper shows readily and quickly.
Personality:
Darius is haughty, entitled, and ruthlessly ambitious. His time in Sargava only helped to reinforce his sense of entitlement, as he sees everything there as rightfully his. He treats others as servants and has little regard for demihumans or non-Chelaxian humans. He can be ruthless but is not cruel, and considers evil acts at beneath him. However, he is capable of acts of heroism, and is always seeking a cause greater than himself.
Since it's an old school module I'll bring in an old school style character. So I'll create a treasure-hunting Kellid barbarian. Backstory and crunch coming soon.
I only know Tomb of Horrors by reputation, and read the original module many years ago. So I'd be going in blind.
Snedley Silversleeves
Male Halfling Rogue 1/Wizard 3
LE Small humanoid (halfling)
Init +6; Senses Perception +8
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Defense
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AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 size)
hp 24
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +4; +2 vs. fear
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Offense
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Speed 15 ft.
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +6):
2nd—detect thoughts (DC 15), invisibility [S], web (DC 15)
1st—charm person (DC 14), color spray (DC 14), mage armor, silent image [S] (DC 14)
0 (at will)—detect magic, ghost sound (DC 13), mage hand, prestidigitation (DC 13)
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Statistics
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Str 8, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 14
Base Atk +1; CMB -1; CMD 11
Feats Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Scribe Scroll
Skills Acrobatics +1 (-7 jump), Appraise +8, Bluff +9, Climb -2, Diplomacy +9, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Knowledge (local) +10, Perception +8 (+9 to locate traps), Sense Motive +5, Spellcraft +10; Racial Modifiers +2 Acrobatics, +2 Climb, +2 Perception
Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling
SQ arcane bonds (arcane bond [object]), blinding ray, extended illusions, opposition schools (abjuration, evocation), specialized schools (illusion), trapfinding +1
Other Gear 1,500 gp
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Special Abilities
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Abjuration You must spend 2 slots to cast spells from the Abjuration school.
Arcane Bond Use object to cast any spell in your spellbook 1/day. Without it, Concentration required to cast spells (DC20 + spell level).
Blinding Ray (6/day) (Sp) 30' ranged touch attack, blinds / dazzles for 1 round.
Combat Casting +4 to Concentration checks to cast while on the defensive.
Necromancy You must spend 2 slots to cast spells from the Evocation school.
Extended Illusions (+1 rds) (Su) Increase duration of illusion spells by 1/2 level (permanent at 20).
Fearless +2 racial bonus vs Fear saves.
Illusion Illusionists use magic to weave confounding images, figments, and phantoms to baffle and vex their foes.
Sneak Attack +1d6 +1d6 damage if you flank your target or your target is flat-footed.
Trapfinding +1 Gain a bonus to find or disable traps.
All right I'll throw my hat in. :D Apologies for the long background, I know you have a bunch of these to read.
Snedley Silversleeves:
The worst man in Talingarde is not a man at all, but a halfling.
Now having settled gracefully into middle age, Snedley was born to an impoverished halfling prostitute in Talingarde. His childhood was bleak, traumatic, and characterized by neglect and abuse. He grew into a wild, dangerous teenager noted for incredible aggression and ruthlessness. However, as a halfling in a city of humans he was physically dominated by all who met him and very quickly began to realize he had to use other tools to succeed.
His interest in magic came about while he was robbing a merchant's house and was almost killed by a magic missile the butler knew how to cast. While recovering, he became obsessed with the idea of casting spells. With a goal more established than just hurting people, he began to steal purposefully and dedicated himself to getting enough money to attend a wizard's college. After joining in with others on an incredibly dangerous heist of a wealthy family's vault, he murdered his co-conspirators in their sleep and boarded a ship to Korvosa.
There, enrolling in a school of wizardry, Snedley immediately ran into an environment of rules, learning, and patience. He hated it and only managed to avoid expulsion by blackmailing an instructor, having uncovered a flayleaf addiction. After his near-expulsion, he adjusted to the environment of the school and began to do quite well at his studies. Although he was a passable student, his real skill came in manipulating others. Through spying and carefully writing down all he saw, he managed to apply just the right pressure to others to ensure his own success at the school.
Upon graduating, Snedley returned to his home town to find his mother missing and the hovel he was raised in gone. Immediately he set to work, using illusions and enchantments to manipulate people towards his own ends. A blast from a color spray spell was enough to take out, and kill a small-time mafioso who controlled a poor neighborhood. Snedley put himself in charge, and involved himself in the drug trade. From there, things became easier.
For twenty years Snedley built his criminal empire, using his magic to unearth every dark secret in the town. He held nobility, knights, and others at his mercy - always careful to never push too far. Just enough to line his pockets a little more and to stay away from politics. Just a few months ago, he had a staff of twenty, thousands of gold in the bank, and a major plan under way to unearth a dark secret about King Markadian V himself.
Unfortunately, the affair he was convinced the King was having was a fabrication. After cruelly threatening a member of Lord Vastenus' family, the commander himself set a trap the halfling walked in to. Where he expected to find a royal tryst, he instead found a ring of guardsmen. In seconds, Snedley's empire turned to dust as he was tried, convicted, and sent to Branderscar to be transferred to the salt mines.
Stripped of everything, he was left to rot in the prison. However, his one saving grace were the spells left in his mind; invisibility and disguise. It was a simple enough manner to call for a guard, vanish, and wait for the door to open. Leaving the guard in a pool of her own blood, Snedley took the form of a dwarf he had seen patrolling the hallways. Always patient, he made a very slow exit of the prison and has now escaped.
Since then, Snedley is at large and has been busy searching out his scattered equipment and gold. His only goal now is to return to his power, and to destroy those who he feel wronged him.
Personality:
Snedley is smooth as silk, pleasant, charming, and utterly vile. He prefers to work within the structure of deals, rules, and formal etiquette which he feels he can manipulate to the best of his ability. He has a sharp tongue, quick wit, and when in a good mood has a light-hearted, if nasty sense of humour. However, his temper is quick to emerge and deadly once stoked. He is best when working with others, as he is well aware of his own physical limitations and happiest when somebody else is up front with a sword.
Crunch:
I am still working on Snedley's crunch and will use 25 point buy. LE alignment. I think he will be a rogue 1, wizard 3 to show how he's moved from one world to another and give him a wide, but shallow depth of different skills he can use. His wizard speciality will likely be illusion.
In a fight, I see him manipulating the battlefield through illusion spells and targeting and debilitating key opponents through various debuffs. Some battlefield control and utility. Snedley is less likely to use big blast spells.
Okay, decided to bite the bullet and get hero lab after I spent god knows how long putting together a level 13 cleric on pcgen last night. I'll play a bard of some kind.
Hi guys, sorry about this but I'm looking at less free time than I had first envisioned. I'm going to have to bow out of this game before I commit any further. GL in finding the PCs you need!
Right. What are the rules on builds, archetypes, races, classes, point buy, traits,books you will/will not use... that kinda stuff? I'm probably going with a pretty vanilla evoker, but it'll be good to know anyways. :D
I'd absolutely be interested in a homebrew. I have a wizard I could fiddle with to fit your requirements but will play anything you like. Do you have an idea of how many posts per day you'd like?
I live in a small village in northern Canada where the woods are cold and the mooses do roam. Mountain time. I've been playing roleplaying games on and off for over twenty years now, largely as a game master. Pathfinder for the last two years. RL I'm currently running Rise of the Runelords and I also do Carrion Crown over roll20. I work in project management at University.
I recently joined the PBP forums here in late June and am now involved in one adventure path and a PFS game. I believe you're playing in a game with me right now as Herman Halfshanks - I'm Storn the noisy cleric. My job allows for posting from work and I can certainly manage posts at night.
About my character:
Ignoring the Empyreal Lord thing and just choosing Iomedae. No need to complicate. I wanted to play a kind of detective Inquisitor and tend to enjoy playing naive characters with a lesson to learn. I also love religious types because it gives clear motivation and structure for the character. Reva is mean to be introverted, kind of a jerk, and extremely efficient. Think a slightly nicer Angela from The Office with a sword.
Background:
Reva was born to a travelling Varisian tinker, result of a chance tryst with an elf of the Meirani forest. Growing up as a half-elven, half-Varsiain Reva found herself an outcast from her youth, never remaining in one place long enough to form relationships, and always on the outside. Despite a gregarious and outgoing mother, Reva became severely introverted and spent most of her time hiding from her mother’s customers. Her first love was books, channeling her loneliness into a powerful obsession with knowledge.
As a teenager she spent all of her time reading, scraping together money to buy books only to sell them at the next town over. Her mother repeatedly failed to get Reva interested in picking up the trade; she had no interest in talking to customers and was useless with tools. Her life changed drastically when during a long trek from Riddleport to Korvosa, her mother travelled with a group of young men intent on joining the Mendevian crusade.
Their bravado, tales of heroism, and love for their God spoke immediately to Reva, who engaged enthusiastically. She had met the first people who seemed not to care about her life as a Varisian half-elf, and had memorized the 11 Acts of Iomedae. By the time their long journey was over, Reva made the decision to leave her mother to join the crusade.
Reva was brought to Nerosyan, where the teenager swore her service to Iomedae, and began her training. Years passed as she was moved from training for priesthood, to martial training, to finally find her home in the Inquisitors of Iomedae. Her flexible mind and deviousness were a good fit for the group. Eager to join in on the crusade, Reva was crushed when she received her first orders: a return to Varisia to investigate rumors of demonic activity at Riddleport.
Reva is a quiet, intense half-elven woman. Her force of personality can be powerful when focused, but she is closed-mouthed and does not keep friends well. She mistrusts most everybody and has an inflexible definition of good and evil which can be difficult to deal with. However, she is fanatically loyal friends she does make, and will never let herself give up in her duty to her Goddess.
Character Sheet:
Reva Meirani
Female Half-Elf Inquisitor of Iomedae
NG Medium Humanoid
Init +5; Senses Perception+11, low-light vision
Favored Class Inquisitor, Rogue. Bonuses: 1, skill point.
DEFENSE AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor)
HP 8 (1d8)
Saves Fort +3, Refl +1, Will +4
OFFENSE Speed 30 ft.
Melee two-handed longsword +1 (1d8+3/19-20)
Ranged crossbow +1 (1d8/19-20)
Special Abilities Judgments, Monster Lore, Orisons, Stern Gaze, Low-light Vision
Spells Known (CL 1st, concentration +2)
1st—Cure Light Wounds, Divine Favour
0 (at will)—Guidance, Light, Detect Magic, Daze
Special Abilities
Judgement (1/day), Monster Lore (+2), Stern Gaze (+1), Illuminating Touch (+1, 5/day)
Deity Iomedae, Illumination Inquisition
STATISTICS
Str 14, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 13
Base Atk +0; CMB +2; CMD 13
Feats Weapon Focus: Longsword
Traits Elven Reflexes (+2 Initiative), Scouting for Fiends (+1 vs evil outsiders), Resilient (+1 fort saves)
Skills (-1 Armor Check) Acrobatics +1, Bluff +5, Climb +2, Diplomacy +5, Disguise +1, Escape Artist +1, Fly +1, Heal +6, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (Religion) +7, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +7, Knowledge (Planes) +7, Perception +11, Ride +1, Sense Motive +6, Spellcraft +7, Stealth +1, Survival +2, Swim +2
Languages Common, Elven, Varisian, Celestial, Abyssal, Infernal
Gear Bastard sword, studded leather, light crossbow, 20 bolts, two candles, chalk, hammer, four pitons, 50’ hemp rope, hooded lantern, 5 flasks oil, two sacks, 4 tindertwigs, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, 10 candles, holy text, iron pot, mess kit, soap, spell component pouch, 5 days trail rations, waterskin, holy symbol.
Money 23 gold
Still toying with my character concept. But I thought I'd play record-keeper since I'd always intended to do that. Plus it's fun reading applications. :D
EDIT: Considering an Inquisitor. What are you thoughts on the Empyreal Lords from Chronicle of the Righteous?
Divine
Deth Tobrin, Urban Druid
Hybrid Divine
Martial, Melee
Draven, Human Fighter
Zack, Human Monk
Martial, Ranged
Zilenna Iorana, Human Ranger (Skirmisher)
I'm interested but have questions. I'm still new-ish to PFS and need some clarification on levels. I have one free PFS character who is level one - too low for this I think. Can I make a new character at a higher level, or does PFS require a character be brought up from level one through PFS scenarios?
Hey there, it looks like you're happily with the number of players you need. 7 is a crowd and since I'm already doing this scenario it's no skin off of my back. I'll withdraw. :) Have fun!
Goals: Cervin is driven by a love for his homeland, although he cares little for the history and politics of Taldor. He wants to see the sights, learn the land, help people, and revere his God.
Fears: Being a paladin Cervin is near-fearless in the face of danger. However he has a deep-seated anxiety about being trapped, caged, or separated from his beloved homeland.
12, 13, 9, 8, 9, 10 is a total of ONE point buy. I think I'll play a divine archer paladin to Erastil. So using a 20 point buy I come up with:
14, 16, 12, 10, 8, 14 in order.
Background:
Name: Cervin Kelinson of Kurgess
Race: Human (Taldan)
Alignment: LG
Background:
Cervin was to a Taldan hunting family and grew up with a bow and arrow in his hands. The Verduran Forest is his original home, and he was raised within earshot of the gnomish settlement Wispil where his family conducted trade with the small folk.
However, although a skilled archer and brave in battle against the dangerous creatures of the wood, Cervin was headstrong, reckless, and a mediocre woodsman at best. His wanderlust and curiosity were also problematic as he would disappear for days at at time with no warning. After a dangerous tangle with an ettercap that almost lead to his sister's death, he bid his family farewell, promising to return.
It has been a year since Cervin left home to explore Taldor. During his travels, he met a priestess of Erastil in a small village, helping to rebuild it after a vicious bandit attack. He stayed with the village for months, befriending the priestess and slowly learning the ways of Old Deadeye.
Since then he has followed the calling of his God, travelling from place to place to help communities rebuild, give small sermons, and fight off dangerous foes. He has a deep, abiding love for Taldor and would happily wander just this ancient nation for the rest of his life. Most recently, he has found himself in the town of Heldren, and has been assisting the local priest of Erastil.
Personality:
Cervin is utterly dedicated to his God, having attuned himself to an entire faith which seems to fit his desire to wander and help others. He is headstrong, brave, kind, and can be appallingly foolish at times.
Appearance
Cervin is a small, nimble human man standing around 5'5 with shaggy brown hair and sharp, angular features.
Concept Cervin's concept is very rangery but I really want the personality and religious nature of a paladin. As well, I think the fish out of water feel of Reign of Winter will apply well to him because he knows and loves Taldor and has no interest in leaving.
Kenner was born and raised in Magnimar to a wealthy mercantile family. A bookish, reclusive child he was at constant odds with his family, having no interest in taking up the family trade. This came to a head when Kenner made the choice to cut himself from inheritance, and enrol in the mage's college. He has since graduated and left Magnimar to enjoy a newfound sense of wanderlust.
After some misadventures he found himself in Sandpoint, drawn to the history and character of the town. There, he was delighted to encounter an old family friend in Koya, whose family had a long history with Kenner's own. Months passed with Kenner doing odd jobs around the town, and forming a close friendship with Koya, both of them speaking of their wish to travel.
One day, Koya broached the subject of Kenner's father, and a broken promise. One of her mother Niska's last wishes before her death was that Kenner's father accompany Koya on her travels. It was clear that promise would not be kept. Kenner shouldered the sins of his father, and has pledged to follow Koya wherever she may go.
2. I can post minimum once a day, often much more.
3. I've read the player's guide. That's it.
4. Kenner will be a conjuration specialist wizard. So as such his battle skills will largely be about utility, buffing, and battlefield control. Maybe a few big boom spells 'cause I love him. But his job is mostly going to be setting things up so the frontliners can mow down the baddies with ease.
Scenario Response:
Kenner's knuckles go white as he looks over the scene.
This could get bad... I... I think I can intervene. Everyone is scared of wizards. Koya said that ill fortune comes to those who sit idly by.
He swallows a large gulp of ale, slaps his hands on the bar, and stands.
"You..." his voice comes out as a squeak as he approaches the thug, a hand his component pouch. He quickly whispers a prestidigitation and his eyes glow red.
"Put him down and resolve this peacefully! I require concentration for my magical studies and my temper will not handle this sort of interruption! Behave yourself unless you want to live out the rest of your days as a turnip."
"Okay, if he charges me, color spray. Pleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillmepleasedon'tkillme..."
Can you elaborate on the game type a little? Are we talking PbP with combat coordinated as you've indicated or a weekly event like over roll20? If PbP I'd be interested.
Resource shortage? Conspiracy? Political lies? Caverns? Sounds fun. I'll keep tabs on the thread. I'm thinking of a member of a society of conspirators with really weird ideas about the government who intentionally got himself sent to the prison in order to 'reveal the truth'.
Thanks for the advice, it shall be followed. My intent was to lurk and wait for a good post to come up but thought I'd go fishin' first.
And thanks for the offer Oneidros, I think I'll wait for something more vanilla for my first shot at PbP although the game does sound awesome. Good luck!
I've been playing Pathfinder and its d20 predecessor for a while now, but have been a GM-only for the last decade or so. I'd really like to get back into playing, and PbP seems to fit my model of how much free time I have. I've never done PbP but can promise regular updates, enthusiasm, and cooperation. I also have no preference for race/class - it's all fun to me. So you need a role filled and I will fill it.
Oh yeah, I should mention I am currently running ROTR and Carrion Crown so those have obviously been spoiled all to hell for me. :D
Can I run Shattered Star and ROTR at the same time with a player in each? I don't want to spoil things for her. Roll20 looks good, I'm assuming since its web-based it doesn't give a crap about if a player is a mac user?
I'm seriously considering maptool, but will play around and see how things go. Kingmaker intrigues me, but I'd like to save that for a veteran group. Carrion Crown doing well online is certainly a vote in its favour though. After the haunted house in ROTR my wife demands horror all the time. :D
Might as well chime in with the eighty million 'recommend an adventure path' threads. I'm currently running ROTR anniversary in person and my group loves every second of it. However, I'm going to start running a game over a chat client, or perhaps a VTT and I'm curious if any adventure path is best suited for that environment. I've done many games over IRC before, though not with this particular group.
Is there an adventure path which lends itself best to this medium? One player is really keen on trying Carrion Crown for the horror theme. I'm leaning towards Curse of the Crimson Throne due to its near-universal praise but am open to suggestions.
I have one very experienced player, one who is experienced with non-Pathfinder games, one moderately experienced, and one utter total noob.
