I am patient. Especially given he just rogered up, heh. We could chalk his initial non-talkativeness to just not wanting to attract attention to himself or some such.
Definitely not out of character for him. :)
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SORRY IM STILL HERE AND FRANTICALLY TRYING TO FINISH DHOM!!!
Oh don't worry about him being hook-less. Arguably, things will get even more complicated if/once he's revealed. His big-bad would be a duo of monster hunters who, if they catch wind of the Halcyon pack, will basically pull a Kraven and start hunting the wolves down remorselessly. Plus, I have a whole back-log of pack politics crap that could be used before or after exposure. (I've had this guy in reserve for a while.) Hm, duly noted. I don't think he'll diverge too much, but I'll make sure to read and think that through.
Well, since we are in an explicitly super school, I had the fun thought that, instead of a mundane/super dichotomy, we could play around with a super/fantastical dynamic. My idea hinges on the fact that Joe has powers when he looks like a, well, average-Joe human, but that's not the full extent of his abilities. The trick though is that that full extent would out him as a werewolf, and subsequently expose the entire werewolf pack secretly living in Halcyon. Idk, I need to think things fully through yet, but that's the general gist.
So if I’m looking at this line-up correctly, the slot of Janus is not taken yes? If so, I have a character in my back pocket that should work: Joe Hatathli, aka WATCHDOG. I think he might be a good fit here. Anybody mind if I take that spot?
I hadn't realised that @Blue Symbiote was one of the confirmed players. Nice! Was really bummed your raging fashion designer wasn't picked on that stolen lands recruitment. nEWS TO ME TO WHA-? Chapel! Thank you so much! 8D Yeah that character is definitely getting used again. She was way too weird to let go unused.
Dotting in! Think I'm gonna re-purpose my Ratfolk hunter (and his kitty companion) I submitted for SA. Little busy today, expect something tomorrow afternoon. Time Zone: Eastern Seaboard (EST/New York Time)
I see him as a transformed with the extra mutation advancement, then take alternate form from soldier and some stuff from nova and blam. Good show, loved it as a kid but never really got into superheros until recently and idk why. Perhaps in power-set he's a Transformed, but in personality he is a near-perfect Bull. Rushes headlong into danger without thinking, is pursued by a shadowy organization (well, a singular alien with a buttload of robots, but close enough), causes excessive collateral damage, etc. He even has a Rival in Gwen and a Heart in Grandpa Max. I only added Nova because later-on in the original series and especially Alien Force his power level is stupid high. Just...just Alien X man. He can literally turn into alien God. 8T I will say however that the transformation sequences would definitely not be out of place for a transformed. The Stinkfly and Four-Arms ones especially have some serious body-horror elements going on. In reference to the "how are we a group" question, I actually had the thought of maybe the school intentionally made us a team? Like they have a team placement program, and we all signed up for it and now were all jammed together and doing team drills. Idk, just an idea.
It started when an alien device did what it did and stuck itself upon his wrist with secrets that it hid now he's got super powers he's no ordinary kid he's ben ten. By the way, thanks for making me want to play ben ten... “So if you see him you might be in for a big surprise, he’ll turn into an alien before your very eyes, he’s slimy creepy fast and strong he’s every shape and size he’s Ben 10~!” I watched that show nearly religiously as a child. It, along with a collection of old Spider-Man comics, is what got me into superheroes. Thanks for the nostalgia. :3 Side note, depending on how you look at things, Ben is either a Nova or a Bull. Just in case you do decide to play him.
Good luck everybody!
I’ve got an idea for literally every playbook, and I’m willing to play any of them, but I will say the Scion, the Brain, and the Janus are my faves. I by no means call dibs, if y’all have a good idea for one of those three don’t let me stop you from trying it! But I will defer to one of them if it isn’t taken. Anybody want to hear my pitches? If we are locking in the school (which is very interesting to me since I haven’t really played around with the pre-made settings yet), might I suggest on top of our hero and villain submissions, we also create some NPCs for the school? Like teachers, clubs, pre-establishes friends, etc.? I think that would really help flesh things out.
@spacefurry: Not really, but all Playbooks have the ability to gain other Playbook’s moves through a particular advancement. Something I feel I should help clear up here though is that the Playbooks are not designed to define your mechanical identity. They do that yes, but they are meant to give a rough outline of your character’s narrative identity; what trope they most closely resemble, what role in the team dynamic they fill, what their likely arcs will be, etc. If you have a particular character in mind, try to pick the best narrative fit instead of mechanical one. :)
This is almost exactly what we have going on in my current Masks squad, and it works really well. If we're doing something like this I am even more in than I was before. :)
I’m down! I’m in another Masks game right now, but I’m definitely down for more. We’ve even got a clever roundtable-ish GM system going on in which everybody is in charge of scenes they invent or that are relevant to their character. It’s pretty fun!
I've got the stats (mostly) ready to go. I can post them here if you'd like me to, but from the sounds of things I'm figuring you're more interested in fluff than crunch. Without further ado... Malsheer Blacktusk
2. “Why does your character want to be an adventurer?”
3. “What does you character contribute to the party in and out of battle?”
Writing Sample/Backstory:: “My story? Eh, well, it’s a little long, so, y’sure?...okay then. HEY BARKEEP! Two more rounds for my new friend here!...nah nah nah! I insist! I can...okay that is a lot of coin. The drinks were how much?...s+@+. Okay yeah, you’re paying. “Now then, from the top! I was raised in an orphanage in Elidir, didn’t know any family other than the other kids and the pricks running the place. Figured out pretty damn quick that I did not like that ‘priest’ and his little lessons on Asmodeus. (Side note, Old Azzy sounds like a douche, no matter how they try to spin things, I swear!) I started telling the other kids not to listen to him, worked a bit better than I expected. Turns out I’m kinda handsome and people like to listen to me, so the priest was pretty surprised when I got everybody to pelt him with their shoes during lessons. Being totally honest here, still pretty proud of that one. “Bad news is, we were all like 5 or 6 at the time, so all it took was some wrist slaps to get the others to talk. I didn’t blame ‘em though, the b*@@@ who monitored us was a nightmare. I swear she had some kind of archfiend in her family tree. So she got her clutches on me, and decided a few lashes would be a good punishment. (Side note, WHAT THE HELLS I’M SIX!?) But I’m kinda happy she did, because it fast tracked me into finding out about my grandad. See, while that whip hurt like fire, it did split my skin enough to reveal a few growing dragon scales...I’m not lying man! Look, right here! You can even see the scars! “So anyway, this started a little bit of a war between me, my brothers and sisters who were still loyal, and the priest and his mooks. We’d cause trouble, they’d try to stop it, they’d punish us, we cause more trouble because they dealt out d%@@~ead punishments, on and on and on till I turned I wanna say 12-ish. Little reminder here that half-orcs grow a bit faster than you humans do, so me and the handful of other greens were roughly mid-teen in development at this point. Aka, finally old enough to stage a break-out. “Skipping over the details here, we not only got everybody who wanted out out, but we also convinced the guard that the priest was a Sarenrae worshipper! How great is that!? Oh the look on his face was pure gold! But, during our little escape, I got the chance to look at my records and hey! I’ve got not only my last name, but my mom’s name to! So the others start going their separate ways (most of them left town, few of them stuck around to form a gang, thankfully nobody went back), and I get the bright idea to go find my mom and try to start a normal life. Problem is, that’s kinda hard to do when you’re twelve and everybody’s gonna ask what the hells you’re doing in a public records building. “It’s right about then, thank the Dawnflower, that I figure out that having dragon blood in you gives you more than some shiny lizard bits; it comes with some magic too. “Again cutting things down here, casting spells when you don’t know what you’re doing is really hard and messy, I can spit acid, archivists apparently don’t give a crap about spontaneously appearing bookcases. It was a wild few months, but a successful one. Turned out my mom was still living in Elidir! So I went to see her and found...I found somebody who wanted nothing to do with me...no, no, don’t apologize. I was just a stupid kid who wanted a regular life. It was just a mistake. “But, heartbreak notwithstanding, I am happy I did go see her at the very least. She helped clear some stuff up for me, like how my grandad’s a full-blown copper dragon, and how my dad was an adventurer who was just passing through and wanted some company. Specifically, a half-orc from Breachill. That didn’t seem too important at the time, hell, nothing she told me did, I was just furious that she’d, and I can’t believe I actually said this, ‘stole my normal life away from me.’ Seriously. Like, hey, Young Me? You’re one-quarter dragon, a half-orc, and a fugitive at 12. Life was never going to be normal for you. “So after that emotional axe to the face, I decided to do something with my life. I went and started learning how to survive. I figured out how to pickpocket, how to beg, how to earn some coin as a handyman, and all the while I kept practicing my magic. Of course, old habits die hard, and I started figuring out pretty quick that A, I don’t like pricks in power, and B, I can’t let pricks in power stay in power. Thus began an ever-growing list of me getting hired for a job, finding out my employer was in some way abusing their power, and me either personally undercutting them or riling up my fellow workers to give me a hand. All of this to say that, over time, Elidir got to be a pretty, eh, unwelcoming place for yours truly. “After a few years of that, I decided to pack up what little I had and head out of town. Thankfully at this point I had a cooler head, and remembered what my mom had said about your little town of Breachill here. No before you start getting ideas, I did not come here looking for my dad...no, seriously! I’ve got no interest in finding the guy! But if he finds me...eh, let’s not talk about that right now. Point is I came here because I’d heard that adventurers could actually make some decent coin and not be run out of town ASAP. And hey, it turns out I actually have a half-brother! Y’know Jorell, the archivist? He and I got the same dad! Still don’t know if he knows that or, hell, if he wants to know that, but being upfront here, it’s nice to have a legit brother to call brother, y’know? “...hah! Thanks man. Say, I don’t think I caught your name?...heh, nice to meet you too. Say, when’s that Call for Heroes thing happening again? I think it’s about time I used this magic of mine for more than infiltrating archives.”
Have fun guys! And thanks for the consideration Ash!
Alright here's what I've got. Since another Draconic sorcerer is already in here, I decided to switch to a Animal Instinct barbarian. Feedback is greatly appreciated! :) Urziah Zahl
Stats:
Ancestry: Half-Orc (Orc Heritage)
Background: Reputation Seeker Class: Barbarian (Animal Instinct) Deity: Erastil Alignment: CN - - - - - - - - - - Stats: STR 18 DEX 14 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 12 CHA 10 - - - - - - - - - - HP 22 AC 17 (16 while raging) Class DC 17 (T) Saves
Perception: +6 (E)
*-1 from armor Proficiencies:
Gear
Backstory:
In Breachill, every child at some point dreams of being an adventurer. For Urziah Zahl, he was practically born one. The child of two wanders, the abandoned babe was unofficially adopted by the many adventurers of the small settlement. It is of little surprise then that he aspired to be like his immense adopted family. He trained endlessly, and on his 16th birthday he finally gathered his gear and set out for the jungles of Garund. And for a time, he found some success. Nothing notable, but well-done work.
Then, one fateful night, his life would change for the worse. Unbeknownst to the still-naive adventurer, his most recent client was a werewolf. When another band of adventurers came for the client’s lupine hide, the resulting melee resulted in Urziah’s eye being torn from his skull and his chest being savaged by the beast’s claws. Luckily, the monster was ultimately killed, and one of the other adventurers was a cleric capable of stemming the spread of lycanthropy into the half-orc’s system. Stemming. Not stopping. In addition to his lost eye and brutal scars, Urziah left that encounter with the “Taint of the Wolf” in his veins. While not true lycanthropy, the young man’s condition still stirs within him primal, predatory urges, and he can now transform into a wolf-like form. The problem is, he doesn’t have full control of this new power. Sometimes, as he and a wandering merchant tragically learned on his way back to Breachill, the Taint takes over, and he is driven to acts of horrific violence. Now returned to his home, Urziah has not forgotten his dream of adventure. He still attends the Call for Heroes, but he now silently prays that he can use his curse for some good, rather than pure bloodshed… I'll probably add appearance and personality sections later, but I felt these were the two most important chunks to get in.
I’m down for this! I’m also in the running in another AoA recruitment, but somebody already made a character that was too similar to the one I was initially going to make, so I might as well move my first guy here and make something new for the other one. Hope that’s okay! I’m gonna do a half-orc sorcerer, Draconic bloodline. Will post details later, but the rough idea is that he’s the bastard of an orc, grandson of a dragon, and a burgeoning “champion of the people” type.
Can't say I'm surprised I didn't make this one. Lot of great concepts beat me out. Hope y'all have fun!
Dotting in! I’m new to Pathfinder overall, and I’m still figuring out 2e off the Archives since I don’t have the book. However I’m a long-time TTRPG player, mostly D&D 5e and the Masks system, and I’m currently pretty PbP light. I’m still brewing over what I’m gonna make, but my default character for new systems is a half-orc sorcerer (or system equivalent). I’ll look things over and get back to you.
Oh well. Have fun everybody! And good luck!
“May the odds be ever in your favor...”
...aw man...alright. Have fun guys.
I’m so nervous...!
Okay, so I went ahead and decided to experiment a little bit with these vignettes, showing off a few different sides to Shen along with his relationships with the Kaijitsus. Once again, feedback is much-appreciated. :) (Reminder that I know nothing about the usual Jade Regent storyline, so if I inserted too much self-made history, just let me know.) Repetition (Lonijinku):
Thwack, clack, clack-clack!
”<Good. Now, low stance.>” Tap-clack, thwack! ”<Mind your left hand.>” Whack, clack-clack, ker-THWACK! With an unceremonious clatter of wood on stone, the bokken is knocked from Shen’s hands. Lonijinku’s shoulders sagged as he relaxed from his stance. Despite the protective face sheild, Shen could immediately read his mentor’s disappointment. ”<Pick up your sword and being again.>” ”<Yes teacher.>” Sparring sessions were nothing new, but Lonijinku was progressively becoming more stringent on form and stance. Today in particular, he had decided to reserve the entire day for practice. It was only 9 in the morning, and already he had more than a few bruises. Whack, click, THWACK!
Shen reached for the wooden katana, then stopped, and dropped to his knees. ”<...Shenzuka. Pick up your sword and begin again.>” The half-orc did not move for a moment, then twitched slightly as a shuddering sob escaped from behind the face mask. Lonijinku sighed lightly and stepped around his student, kneeling down to his eye level as he removed his own mesh head covering. ”<...why are you weeping?>” ”<...it hurts…>” ”<Pain is a lesson. An education to never make the same mistake twice. Learn from it, and begin ag->” ”NO!” The old retainer does not outwardly flinch, but his grip upon the wooden weapon tightens for a split-second at his charge’s outburst. ”...Shenzuka, remove your mask.” With somewhat unnecessary roughness, the teenaged boy tosses his helmet to the floor of the sparring yard. A fair portion of his neck is dyed purple with long bruises, along with one slightly-impacted lash across his cheek. Of course, tears also leak from the corners of his eyes, which are currently pointed towards the floor in despair. Lonijiku seats himself properly in the ground and cups a hand over the bruised cheek. ”...I forget sometimes that your have not seen what I have seen. Battle...war...bloodshed...these are things that are distant to you, unknown to you.” With a surprisingly tender touch, he wipes back a line of tears. ”But I have seen these things, Shenzuka. I have seen blood upon blades, tragedy, death...and I have found myself unable to do anything. Simply left to watch, as those I cared for were taken from me. “And I have made it my task that you never know that helplessness. That when the time comes, you do not stand by. You fight. You fight, and you keep those you love safe. You fight, and the darkness that comes for them is beaten back. You fight, even if it hurts.” He slowly withdrew his hand, Shen’s eyes wide and affixed upon him. ”<A true samurai fights for this above all else: to defend that which he loves from that which hates. That which hates will bring pain as its ally, and it is the samurai’s task to stand and fight. No matter how much it hurts, no matter how many times this evil comes, he must fight. So…>” The retainer stood and re-donned his mask. ”<Ready yourself.>” His crying ceased, Shen takes a deep breath and rises to his feet. He moves to replace the face guard, then pauses. ”<...teacher, i-if you would allow it, may I try something...different?>” ”<...perhaps. What do you have in mind?>” ”<Well, Instructor Atsuii and I were going over some old etiquette rules for duels, and there was this image that, well, it had a warrior like this.>” With sore movements, the half-orc shifts into a one-handed stance, his free left arm tucked into the small of his back. ”<I-I think this might work better in a fight, s-since I’m learning to cast spells with my left side. Would this be acceptable?>” Lonijinku smiled under the face shield. ”<...perhaps. Let us see if it improves your form.>” He shifted into a ready stance. [b”<Now...begin again.>”[/b] The First Lesson (Atsuii):
The task had begun two weeks ago, when, after reading the account of a heroic sorceress, Shen had asked Atsuii a question he believed to be simple: ”Could I use magic?”
It had been an innocent question, without much thought behind it. But it sparked an idea in the woman’s mind. When the time came for finances, she asked Lonijiku if they could spare a bit of gold for something special for Shen’s education. He acquiesced, and after six days of scouring the strange shops that only the brave or the arcane ever perused, she awoke the young half-orc early in the day. ”<Awaken my pupil. We have a special lesson today.>” She guided him into the study as she did most-every day he had lessons, but instead of the usual tomes and parchments upon the low desk, there instead sat two books. The first was a dull yellow color, weathered and discolored with age and obvious use. The second was a very strange book, more of a bundle of wooden planks than a proper paper binding. It was covered in Minkaian kanji, but not the kind Shen was familiar with. A soft smile playing on her lips, Atsuii took her usual position opposite the desk as Shen kneels at the books. ”<You asked me if you could use magic. This shall test that. On your right, there is an artifact of Tien, a tome of spellcraft. It details how to perform simple spells, but more importantly how to read the language of magic. The yellow book is a spellbook. By the end of today, we will know if you can use magic.>” That day was long and grueling. The spellcraft was written in a heavy dialect, and the book of spells was most certainly not made with a beginner in mind. In fact, Shen wondered if it had been intended to be read by any sane person at all. It rambled endlessly, was full of useless tangents about the past owner’s life, and was very poorly organized. Nonetheless, the moment finally came. ”<Are you ready my pupil?>” Shen took a steadying breath. ”<...no, but…>” A gentle hand fell upon his shoulder as Atsuii smiled kindly. ”<Magic is like anything else we have practiced. Tea ceremonies, proper forms of address, navigation, they all use this.>” She tapped his temple to emphasize the statement. ”<Your mind. You are more clever than you think my pupil. And the spirits of magic love the clever ones.>” She didn’t know what she was talking about. All she knew of magic was what the rather rude mage running the market stall had told her, explaining what the books were and the absolute basics of the arcane. Still, Shen believed her and smiled. ”<Right, right...I’m ready.>” She squeezed his arm reassuringly, and stepped back to her position by the stack of simple plates. ”<Point your fingers forward, and...three...two...one…!>” Atsuii gave a soft toss, throwing the clay dishware into the air. Shen spoke words with no meaning but to himself. His hand thrust forward and… A bolt of ice-blue energy shot forth and sailed past the plate. The platter smashed to pieces on the ground as the arcane mote flew beyond the confines of the yard. Moments later, the shattering of glass could be heard in the distance, along with a yelp of alarm. Shen’s face was twisted into surprise. ”<I...I did it! I think, was that right!?>” Atsuii smiled stiffly. ”Yes, you did wonderfully, however…” ”WHO THREW A SNOWBALL THROUGH MY WINDOW?! HOW DID SOMEONE THROW A SNOWBALL?! IT’S THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER!” The half-orc youth paled slightly. ”Oh no...ah…” The old retainer quickly kneeled down to face Shen directly. ”Don’t worry, I will handle things but...I am so proud of you!” She briefly embraces him, then stands back up and hustles towards the door, hoping that the man was not as angry as he sounded. In the courtyard behind her, Shen sighed. ”<Thank you...mother…>” A Helping Hand (Ameiko): The clear night’s sky was filled with countless stars. Beneath it, sitting cross-legged on the roof of the Rusty Dragon Inn, Shenzuka gazes up in wonder, a paintbrush in one hand. The other holds his canvas, which as of yet consists of little more than a navy-blue field populated by a blocky city skyline. The world is quiet, meditative…
...which is rudely interrupted as the hatch to the roof slams open. Shen jumps slightly and nearly drops the canvas off the edge of the roof, only barely catching it with the tips of his fingers. He sighs and rights himself as he checks the work in progress for damage (finding none). ”Must you open that so violently Ami?” Ameiko claps the half-orc on the back as she sits next to him. ”You’re the one strong enough to forget that damn thing is nearly rusted shut.” She gives him a good natured smile as she looks at the painting in progress. ”Still feeling this one out?” Shen returns her grin. ”Yes, still debating on the colors, and how much I want to focus on the city…” She nods. ”Mm-hm, yeah. You know what might help with that?” He rolls his eyes as he gingerly sets the art supplies aside. ”What do you need?” ”Who said I needed anything?” ”You when you came up here and starting trying to get my mind off my art.” In truth, he didn’t mind being asked for help. He simply couldn’t understand why Ami insisted on making “a game” of the asking. She begins to retort, but rolls her eyes dramatically. ”Okay fine. Customer just came in, has way too much luggage for me to handle. I could use a little muscle~!” She playfully jabs his upper arm and waggles her eyebrows. He chuckles and swats her away. ”Stop that! And I’ll be down in a moment, just let me get ready.” She taps him on the back affectionately as she clambers back down the hatch. Shen sighs and takes a minute to affix his scarf, covering his tusks and still-growing beard, before following Ami down the ladder. The customer in question was a human woman, dressed in a fine and (in Shen’s opinion, needlessly revealing) satin dress. She did have a lot of luggage, cases and trunks of all sizes. When he arrives, Shen sees Ameiko speaking with the elegant woman. ”-and here is your room key! You’re all set for the week, aaaaand here is our porter, Rauld!’ Shen represses a tired groan at the alias as he bows slightly to the woman. ”A pleasure to serve you, Miss…?” The woman’s darkly-colored eyes peer at Shen as a hint of a smile plays at her glossed lips. ”Lady Marri. I’m charmed to meet you, Rauld.” Shen nods, his confusion showing in his brow as he hefts two armloads of Lady Marri’s luggage. ”And you *grunt* as well…” Ami’s eyebrow slowly climbed up as she looked back and forth between the young man and the guest. ”...okay! Aha, allow me to take you to your room, just right this way…” A few minutes later, and “Rauld” had finally finished moving the two-dozen parcels up to Lady Marri’s rom. Thankfully nothing had been particularly heavy, but the sheer number of items was staggering. He righted himself and clapped the dust off of his hands. ”Alright, I think that was the last of them. Is there anything else you need m’lady?” From her seat upon the guest room bed, she tilted her head gracefully. ”Hm...well, that depends Rauld. On you.” Shen glanced at the open doorway, then back at the guest. ”Ah, I’m afraid I don’t quite know what you mean…” She chuckled and slowly stood and strode to the door. ”Now now, there’s no need to be shy with me. Someone with your...physique, deserves a bit more kindness then I think you find otherwise.” Slowly bending, she reaches for the door and closes it, using a single finger to slide the latch to locked. The half-orc’s brow furrows as he peers from behind the thick scarf. ”...w-what? What are you doing?” A rose-red colored nail taps her lip as she strides to him, stopping mere inches from his chest. ”Or...perhaps...are you still innocent? If so, that’s quite the feat…” The nail lifts from her face and hooks over the lip of the scarf. ”But you’ve certainly wondered…?” Shen, eyes wide and face flushing, suddenly realizes what she’s alluding to. ”N-No!” He yanks her hand away, perhaps a little forcefully, as he adjusts his scarf back into position. ”No, I’m sorry. I’m not-” ”Rauld?” Both Shen and Lady Marri’s eyes snap to the closed door as Ameiko’s voice speaks muffled from behind it. ”Are you up here? Wanted to give you your part of the tip…” The young man fumbles slightly with the latch as he hurriedly pulls it open. ”Yes, yes I’m here!” Ami is slightly surprised as Shen stumbles his way through, taking the coin out of her hand. ”A-Ah, I’m going to go back to my canvas…!” He rushes past her towards the roof, unaware of his freind’s knowing glare at Lady Marri, of the lady’s slightly indignant reaffixing of her dress’ strap. An hour or so later, Ami journeyed to the roof again to find Shen, now ferferently painting upon the cloth. ”Hey big guy...you alright?” He is quiet for a long moment, his eyes notably sticking to his work as she sits next to him. ”...yes. Now I am. That was…” ”Exceptionally forward and more than a little creepy?” He nodded. ”It...it made me feel warm. Like the summer sun. But inside…” She smiled sympathetically and hung an arm over his broad shoulders. ”Don’t worry, she’s not gonna bother you again. One of her “clients” showed up a few minutes ago, reeked of piss and ale. He made a mess of things, so now dad’s telling her to pack her stuff and get out.” The half-orc finally broke his gaze from the artwork to shoot Ami a skeptical look, his slightly paint-stained hand coming up to scratch his chin. ”That seems a bit...excessive. We’ve had worse customers.” ”But they didn’t try to do anything to you.” She winks slyly. ”You and your safety are more important than her gold. Worth a lot more too.” Shen groans slightly as his hand moves back to the canvas, unknowingly leaving a colored stain in his chin fluff. ”You didn’t have to do that…” ”Yeah, we did.” Her gaze gets distant for a moment before resuming its usual warmth. ”Shen, we’re here for you. No matter what, okay? Doesn’t matter how small or stupid it is, you have an issue, you talk to me or my folks.” She playfully jostles him. ”Got it lover-boy?” ”Please don’t call me that…” She chuckles good-naturedly. ”Fine, fine, I won’t.” She stands and stretches, sparing a glance at Shen’s work-in-progress. ”Well, I’m going to bed. Be sure to lock the hatch on your way down. And...that’s an interesting shade of red there…” ”...what?” the young man inquires, but Ami is already headed down the ladder, quietly laughing to herself about the familiar rose-red shade that had mixed into Shen’s painted stars and beard hair.
GM Helix, should I write up/do you want some more on Shen? I tried to get him done as fast as I could since I didn’t know when this was closing, but I can write some more up if you’d like me to. :)
Warning heard and accepted. Like I said, I'm new to Pathfinder, but definitely not RPGs. I accept that I'm gonna need to learn fair bit, but I'm eager to do so, and thankfully I am a little familiar with another RPG that was based off of D&D3.5 (Star Wars d20 System) so not everything is alien. I simply ask that you have a little patience with me if I stumble a bit. If you want to change the parental circumstances that's fine, but I do ask that their ethnicities stay the same so I can still keep the "Child of Two Peoples" trait reasonable. I will say I do prefer the lost at sea angle, because I'm a sucker for the surprise living parent reveal. I tried to seed that with Shen's half-orc father, but if you wanna do it with both parents I am not complaining. More drama potential = more story fun in my book. As for the Kaijitsus, I figured they'd be more than a little paranoid after the whole "fleeing the country because holy s&%! assassins" thing, so I combined that with some of my IRL freind's stories about growing up with his super-strict Korean parents. Glad you liked it! :3 *deep sigh of relief* That you for saying that. That story bit took so long and I kept feeling it was way to short, but I didn't want it to be too bloated either.
Super cool, thank you! I’m planning more of a whirlwind tour of all the big spots, but Tokyo is going to be like an entire week of sightseeing. Definitely want to check out some temple gardens and kami shrines in person though. ...if I did get a tatami house, I feel like I’d be obligated to do it in Todoroki cosplay. CX Unfortunately, it’s not gonna be anytime soon. I’m still taking flight from the college nest right now. Goal currently is just to get a stable enough income to find my own place to live. Also a dog. I need a dog.
To anticipate some comments/thoughts here, I intentionally didn’t go into any archetypes because I’m still a little green to Pathfinder and I’m still feeling out these classes, so it seems unwise to mix them up too much for the sake of my own sanity. Also yes, let’s address the 10 in Wisdom. This is 100% a characterization choice, as I’m leaning hard into the idea that he was largely isolated to the inn growing up, so he really has little-to-no broader world experience. I’ll get more into it in a second, but the general idea is that, as he levels up, I’ll start putting points into Wisdom to reflect his growing list of experiences (both good and bad). Okay, enough stalling. Without further ado... (alias, Rauld Yarrow) PART I - THE CHARACTER
(Rough) Background:
Shen’s birth was both a blessing and a curse. His mother, the lone survivor of the flight from Minkai, fell in love with a Varisian half-orc when she and her remaining retainers went into hiding in Sandpoint. Before he was born, Shen’s father left for parts unknown, and his mother would tragically die in childbirth. His mixed heritage may be a stain on his bloodline, but has been invaluable in disguising his true birthright. Thankfully though, he seems to take much more after his mother than his father. He has a passion for the beauty of nature, a fact often reflected in his artworks, and he finds some strange comfort in navigation. Most notably however, he is exceptionally adept with the katana.
Shen, however, does not know much about his mother, nor indeed anything about his true inheritance. He suspects there is some importance to his well-being, given the lengths the Kaijitsus have gone to keep him both protected and educated. He has been allowed to leave the grounds of the Rusty Dragon perhaps six or seven times in his entire life, being largely restricted to the interior of the building or its immediate surroundings. That is not to say that he has ben bored however. As he has grown he has received a rigorous education from both Lonjiku and Atsuii. Lonjiku has acted as his sensei, teaching him the ways of the samurai and the art of the katana. Atsuii meanwhile acts as his teacher, educating him on numerous topics and even on arcane magics. Ameiko, however, is the one Shen holds the closest bond too. Unlike her parents, Ami (as he calls her) occasionally lets Shen get away from the endless sparring and lectures. She brings him paints and inks for his hobbies, listens to him recite poetry and play the flute (badly in the latter case), and has even on rare occasions let him help out around the inn. In short, she treats him much more like a younger brother, much more like family, than her parents ever have. This is not to say that the elder Kaijitsus have been entirely strict with the young man however. They have also encouraged and fostered within him a love for the arts, especially traditional Tien techniques like haiku and calligraphy. He has shown great interest and piety towards the Minkaian religions, a fact that encourages hope that, despite his appearance, he may still be able to return to Minkai someday… Personality:
Shen is an innocent soul, though more than a bit naive. The most he knows of the outside world is what he has read in books and seen on maps. While he has a passion for the beauty of nature, the most he’s personally seen of it is the few miles of countryside he’s managed to see when allowed to explore. As such, he can come off as incredibly thick-headed and inept to those who do not understand that his mental abilities lie more in study than application.
That being said, he is still incredibly pure-hearted, willing to aid just about anyone with anything, even if he’s sometimes more of a hindrance than a help. As per his samurai edicts, he refuses to take a thinking life unless absolutely necessary, and while he has never had to kill , his prose proficiency will more than fulfill his sworn duty to memorialize. He is optimistic, and tries to see the best in everyone he meets. However, he is not openly friendly. The Kaijitsus have taught him to stay quiet and out of the way so as to not attract attention to himself, but on more than one occasion his overwhelming gregarious urge has caused him to have excited dialogues with assorted inn patrons. The fact that they tell Shen to constantly stay hidden is a common conflict point between him and the Kaijitsus. Shen personally sees no point in hiding away, preferring much more to be open and friendly with everyone. He will lie about himself if asked to, but unless he sees a clear detriment to it, he will be honest to a fault. That being said, he respects his adoptive family and their ways enough to not bring this matter up often. It does still linger in his mind, as does his perpetual curiosity about the wider world… Extra Bits:
A Few Thematically Appropriate Songs:
> “Ain’t it Fun” by Paramore . . . Theme music for whichever ne’er-do-well ruins Shen’s perfect world view first. > “Birthday Party” by AJR . . . Roughly Shen’s mindset in a nutshell. > “Go the Distance” by Roger Bart . . . This would absolutely be playing in the background as Shen left home for Tien. > ”I’m Not Famous” by AJR . . . No specific thing for this one, but as a general theme song for Shen, I think this is a fair fit. > “When Will My Life Begin?” by Mandy Moore . . . An approximation of Shen’s daily thought process. Some Interesting Art: > The picture that partially inspired Shen. > The kind of art Shen loves. > Something like what I think Shen’s katana looks like. Example Writing: “First Meeting”:
The day began as every day began: in reverence.
Shen bowed to the shrine set in his bedroom wall, the candlelight causing the brass statuettes to shimmer in the early morning light. Reciting the verses as he always had, the young half-orc took a deep breath of sweet incense. ”<Honorable ancestors, please hear my prayer,>” he whispered in Tien. ”<It is my 14th birthday today, and my caretakers have promised me a great gift. They warn, however, that it is also a great responsibility. I...I have never been responsible for a gift before. The thought makes me anxious, it causes my hand to shake during practice. They will not say what my responsibility is, but Ami-uh, sorry, Ameiko, has whispered to me that it will be something that I must look after for the rest of my life. As much as I would deny it, I am...I am fearful. I do not know if I am ready for this task. Please, honorable ancestors, watch over me today. Guide me as I take this step in my journey. Let this day be one to celebrate, not to fear.>” It was still another hour of meditation before he joined the Kaijitsus bellow, his favorite dishes arrayed on the simple wooden table and the seat of honor waiting for him. He managed a bashful smile as the three people who had watched over him welcome him. The meal was delicious, but marred by his persistent worry. As usual, Ameiko was the first to notice his mood. ”Shen, are you alright? You’ve been playing with your rice for ten minutes now.” The half-orc grunted in a non-committal fashion as he gently set the chopsticks aside. ”Yes, I am well. Simply...simply wondering. About my gift.” All three of the innkeepers shared a knowing glance as Atsuii took his hand. ”Shen, do you remember our lessons from yesterday?” He nodded with a puzzled expression. ”Yes, of course.” ”What was our etiquette lesson about?” ”How to properly ride a h-” His eyes went wide as it finally clicked for him. The past two weeks, he had noticed a trend towards equestrian topics; combat from horseback, proper grooming and care, etc. Suddenly it seemed so obvious. Ameiko stifled a laugh at the young man’s dumbstruck expression. ”A-A horse!?” ”Nothing too expensive mind,” Lonijiku interjected, ”and you will be responsible for it. Feeding, training, and you’ll have to care for its saddle too.” Shen was grinning from ear to ear. ”Yes! Yes, I will! When are we going to get it?! Did we already choose one!? Can I name it!?” Atsuii and Ameiko chuckled as Lonijiku tried to hide a smile. The matron of the house gently pushed him back into his seat. ”We are going to pick one out today, after sparring, alright?” He rapidly nodded as he began shoveling food into his mouth. In seconds he had wolfed down everything in front of him and had leapt to his feet. ”I’llbewaintinginthetraningyard!” he excitedly babbled as he rushed out of the room. ”Shenzuka!” the old retainer called after his pupil. ”<Stupid child! You were not excused!>” - - - The market square was like nothing Shen had ever seen before. Nor indeed smelled before. He had on occasion helped a traveler board their steed in the inn’s stables, but the marketplace stables were far more vast and populated with many creatures, some of which he had never seen before. Lonijinku had threatened to take away his sketchbook after he’d stopped (without telling the others) to draw a beautiful creature with yellow fur and black spots all over his body. The woman who was selling it had called it a “leopard.” As soon as he was reunited with the Kaijitsus, he asked Atsuii if his next lesson could be about that large cat. After two similar distractions, the group finally arrived at the horse stables proper. To any other purveyor of the marketplace, the equestrian offerings may have seemed unremarkable at best. To Shen, it was a marvel. It’s like our stables, but so much bigger! And look at all the different colors the horses are! As he bounced on the balls of his feet, Atsuii tightened the plain brown scarf concealing the bottom half of his face. ”Now, what is your name, and why are we here?” Shen rolled his eyes as he swallowed a sigh. ”My name is Rauld Yarrow, and we are here to buy a work horse for the inn.” He sputtered slightly as a bit of cotton caught on his tusk. ”...instructor, do we have to-?” ”YES, we must lie. You know the rules. So long as we are speaking in public, you are Rauld, understood?” He nodded in resignation. ”Yes instructor...” The stablemaster was kind enough, even if he did smell rather unpleasant. Shen had learned on his first trip out of the house that it was not, as it was with the Kaijitsus, a daily practice to bathe. Strangely, that did help him with keeping his scarf on while in public, as it thankfully took the edge off of more...pungent smells. After some brief pleasantries between Lonijinku and the middle-aged human, it was finally time. There he stood, stalls lining each side of the long hall. Horses of all sorts and sizes peeked out, some bolder than others. In his hands, Shen tightly gripped his sketchbook. ”<Ancestors, guide me.>” He stepped forward and took in each mount as he passed it. The first stood at the back of its pen, wheezing in anger as it dared Shen to approach. Well, it’s certainly not that one. The next was a dappled red mare who bucked as a stable hand touched her flank. Not that one either… The third nearly broke the door to its pen as he passed. And not that one…! And so it went for what felt like an hour. Horse after horse, none fitting quite what he wanted. That is until he came to the very end of the stables. In the back corner, separated from the others by a few empty stalls, was a black-and-white stallion with chocolate-brown eyes. He lay resting against the back wall of his pen, eyes following Shen curiously as the half-orc looked over the barrier at the majestic animal. ”Well...at least there’s nothing odd about you...visibly anyway...” The stallion snorted indignantly. Sighing and beginning to think that he wouldn’t be getting a horse today, Shen pulled out his sketchbook and took a moment to polish up his leopard sketch. He looked back up to find the horse not three inches away, peering over the young man’s shoulder to look at the sketch. ”...huh. Are...do you like my drawing?” To his great surprise, the hose leaned father forward and gently put its head on Shen’s shoulder, eyes locked on the sketchbook. ”...you do, don’t you!?” Curious, he flipped a page back to a rough draft of the vista outside his window. The stallion nickered appreciatively. Gently, Shen shifted the sketchpad out of his hands and cradled the horse’s massive head. ”I think...no, I know you’re the one.” Checking briefly to see if the stablemaster or his aides were in earshot, he leaned in and whispered: ”<Thank you kind ancestors...how do you like the name ‘Umaru?’>” Umaru whinnied in approval. PART II - MECHANICS
Shenzuka:
Male half-orc gestalt (*samurai*/magus) 3
LG Medium humanoid (human, orc) Init +1; Senses darkvision 60ft, Perception +0 - - - - - - - - - - DEFENSE - - - - - - - - - - AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +1 Dex) hp 36 (3d10+6) Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +4 (+6 vs. charm/compulsion effects) - - - - - - - - - - OFFENSE - - - - - - - - - - Speed 30ft Melee masterwork katana +9 (1d8+4) or . . naginata +7 (1d8+4) or . . dagger +7 (1d4+4) Ranged composite longbow +4 (1d8), range 110ft or . . dagger +7 (1d4), range 10ft Special Attacks challenge (1/day), resolve (2/day), spell combat, spellstrike Magus Spells Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +5 (reroll at +9 1/day)) . . 0th (4 per prep) - detect magic, mage hand, ray of frost, spark . . 1st (4 per day) - celestial healing, color spray, frostbite, sheild - - - - - - - - - - STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - Str 18, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 14 Base Atk +3; CMB +7; CMD 18 (16 vs. dirty tricks) Feats Athletic, Pass for Human, Weapon Focus (katana) Traits Amatatsu scion, charming, child of two peoples, theoretical magician Drawback naive Skills Artistry (poetry) +8, Bluff +6 (+7 with sexual attraction), Climb +8*, Craft (calligraphy) +7, Craft (paintings) +7, Diplomacy +6 (+7 with sexual attraction), Handle Animal +6, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (arcana) +7, Knowledge (geography) +7, Knowledge (religion) +8, Perform (oratory) +6, Profession (innkeeper) +4, Ride +3*, Spellcraft +9, Survival +5, Swim +8* *(-2 from armor) Languages Common, Draconic, Giant, Minkaian, Orc, Tien, Varisian SQ Amatatsu scion, arcane pool (3 points), athletic, challenge, charming, child of two peoples, concentrate, order (order of the songbird), pass for human, theoretical magician, versatile performance (Perform (oratory)), weapon expertise (katana), weapon focus (katana) Combat Gear masterwork katana; Other Gear chain shirt, spell component pouch, spellbook (26/100 pages), composite longbow (40 arrows), dagger, artisan’s outfit, scarf, masterwork backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, book lariat, canteen, compass, field survival guide, ink (3 vials), inkpen, journal, paper (10 sheets), windup music box, trail rations (3 days), eyeglasses (reading glasses), common wind instrument (flute), 8cp, 17gp Load: 71 / 116 lbs - - - - - - - - - - SPECIAL ABILITIES - - - - - - - - - - Arcane Pool (Su) here (3 points) Challenge (Ex) here (1/day) Concentrate (Ex) here Mount (Ex) here (Umaru) Order (Ex) here (Order of the Songbird) Resolve (Ex) here (2/day) Spell Combat (Ex) here Spellstrike (Su) here Versatile Performance (Ex) here (Perform (oratory)) Weapon Expertise (Ex) here (katana) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ SPELLBOOK ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Pages: 26 / 100 0th acid splash, arcane mark, dancing lights, daze, detect fiendish presence, detect magic, disrupt undead, flare, ghost sound, grasp, light, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation, ray of frost, read magic, spark 1st blade lash, burning hands, celestial healing, clarion call, color spray, frostbite, shield, shocking grasp, true strike Umaru:
Male horse companion 3
N Large animal Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +5 - - - - - - - - - - DEFENSE - - - - - - - - - - AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+6 natural armor, +2 Dex, -1 size) hp 30 (3d8+6) Fort +5, Ref +4 (evasion), Will +4 (+2 feat bonus) - - - - - - - - - - OFFENSE - - - - - - - - - - Speed 50ft Melee bite +4 (1d4+3) and/or . . hooves -2 (1d6+1) - - - - - - - - - - STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - Str 17, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 Base Atk +2; CMB +6; CMD 18 Feats Iron Will, Light Armor Proficiency Skills Perception +5, Survival +2, Swim, +7 SQ evasion, scent, tricks (come, work) Combat Gear none; Other Gear bit and bridel, feed (10 days), riding saddle, saddlebags; Carried Gear naginata, silk kimono, efficient tent, grooming kit, hooded lantern, oil (3 flasks), silk rope (50ft), scroll box, trail rations (10 day), whetstone, tea ceremony set, artisan’s tools (calligraphy), artisan’s tools (paintings), climber’s kit, mapmaker’s kit, portrait book, tome of epics Load: 215 / 516 lbs - - - - - - - - - - SPECIAL ABILITIES - - - - - - - - - - Evasion (Ex) here Link (Ex) here Share Spells (Ex) here (If you catch any errors in my numbers crunch, please let me know and I’ll get things fixed right away.) PART III - PERSONAL TOUCHES
About Me:
I have been an RPG player for 10+ years, but I’m relatively new to Pathfinder. I have played before, but that was a number of years ago, and that was back when it was just the first two books. That being said, I’m a quick learner and eager to get into a game.
As for this adventure path specifically, I have never played Jade Regent, but I am actually fairly well versed with Japanese and Asianic culture in general. I do not claim to be an expert, but I have had a long-standing dream vacation to Japan that I’ve been researching for forever, and I’ve actually taken a class on Eastern religions (which is what I was basing the ancestor prayers on [correct me if Minkai is different in that regard please]). I try to post every day, but I’m currently just out of college, so I make no promises that my “promising career” won’t get in the way. Sorry. :/ Plans for the Future:
As I mentioned earlier, as he grows/levels up, I’m planning on putting points into Shen’s Wisdom pretty regularly. At the same time, I’m planning on building up his knowledge (geography) and survival to reflect him coming more and more into his ancestry. Also, I have a side-goal of getting him at least one rank in every knowledge skill to reflect his broad studies. Beyond that, I’m keeping things flexible so that I can adapt him to whatever comes up. I’ve learned from experience that sticking hard to a build plan is a good way to get your character killed. :T Any feedback is wanted and appreciated. :)
Okay, here's my girl. Do please note that I'm still a little fresh to Pathfinder, so I may have messed up some crunch or stat arrangements. Please do call me out if you spot some. Esseli the Gifted
Stats:
Female Garundi *summoner (unchained)* 1
LN Medium humanoid (human) Init +2; Senses Perception +4 (+1 trait bonus) - - - - - - - - - - DEFENSE - - - - - - - - - - AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 armor, +2 Dex) hp 10 (1d8+2) Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +2 - - - - - - - - - - OFFENSE - - - - - - - - - - Speed 30ft Melee gladius +2 (1d6-2) . . dagger +2 (1d4-2) or . . gladius -1 (1d6-2) and gladius -5 (1d6-2) Ranged dagger +2 (1d4-2), range 10ft Special Attacks acid splash (+2 to hit, 1d3), summon monster I (7 per day, 1 min.) Summoner Spells (CL 1st; concentration +6 (+2 trait)) . . 0th - acid splash, detect magic, mending, message* . . 1st (3 per day) - lesser rejuvenate eidolon, shield *(requires a material component that she does not have) - - - - - - - - - - STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - Str 7, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 20 Base Atk +0; CMB -2; CMD 10 Feats Extra Evolution, Martial Weapon Proficiency (gladius) Traits diamachaerus style, Quantium university graduate, seeker, the fixer Drawback oppressive expectations Skills Craft (jewelry) +6, Diplomacy +5 (+6 to influence lower-class citizens), Perception +4, Perform (act) +5, Ride +6, Sleight of Hand +3, Spellcraft +6, Use Magic Device +8 Languages Common, Osiriani, Primordial, Terran SQ Diamachaerus Style (+1 trait to dual-wield), Quantium University Graduate (+2 trait to arcane spell concentration), Seeker (+1 trait to Perception), The Fixer (+1 trait to Diplomacy to influence lower-class citizens) Gear gladius (2), dagger, gladiator’s belt - - - - - - - - - - SPECIAL ABILITIES - - - - - - - - - - Life Link (Su) here Summon Monster I (Sp) here Background:
(Do please note that this background is intentionally lose so as to be more malleable and allow for background overlap with other characters.)
From an early age Esseli expressed great magical talent. Before she could even walk, the infant girl would conjure toy-sized elemental to play with, much to the joy of her mage parents and extended family. As she grew, one of these “toys” grew alongside her, an earth elemental by she dubbed Ehmet. Ehmet became more sophisticated in thought and form as Esseli developed into a stunningly gorgeous young woman. Funnily enough, this seems to have given the elemental a jealous streak, as he has not been very kind to the many suitors she has attracted over the years. Esseli’s clan has been a fixture of Nex for centuries. Skilled in the arcane arts, her family tree boasts numerous stand-out scholars, diviners, and mages of all kinds. With that pedigree, and her skill in conjuration evident in her earthen “bodyguard,” she found no issue in entering one of Nex’s prestigious magic institutions. There she learned the finer points of spellcraft and summoning, though she never did find any interest in the more traditional forms of study. She was far more interested in maintaining her family’s image of her as a up-and-coming prodigy, and her full-honors graduation did little to shake that image. For six years after her graduation, Esseli joined expeditions into the wastes of Nex, trying to help solve the nation’s persistent food shortage. Her thought was that, since Ehmet was an earth elemental, he might be able to give some insight into how the land was damaged. Her family was skeptical of this idea, but approved nonetheless. On one of these expeditions however, her life would be thrown entirely off-course. In the dead of the night, as Esseli and her caravan were camping near the mouth of a cavern, something happened. Something beneath the sands collapsed, and in moments the campsite began to seemingly drain into the cavern, the sounds of shattering stone and thousands of pounds of sand echoing from it like an unholy creature. Despite her best efforts, Esseli was dragged into the cave’s maw. She would awake in the Darklands, her hands bound as she was transported by the drow to Zirnakaynin. Now, after being forcibly trained in the ways of the gladius and actively refusing magical teachings from her captors, Esseli stands upon the threshold of her first gladiatorial match. She is more than a little fearful, but rests somewhat assured knowing that, if nothing else, she can count on Ehmet. "Let's hope you're enough big-guy..." Ehmet: ”Male” elemental eidolon 1
N Medium earth elemental Init +1; Senses darkvision 60ft, Perception +4 - - - - - - - - - - DEFENSE - - - - - - - - - - AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+4 natural armor, +1 Dex) hp 14 (1d10+4) Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +2 - - - - - - - - - - OFFENSE - - - - - - - - - - Speed 30ft Melee 2 slam +4 (1d10+3) - - - - - - - - - - STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - Str 16, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 11 Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 15 Feats Toughness Skills Intimidate +4, Perception +4, Perform (act) +4, Sense Motive +4 (Fly and Survival are class skills) Languages Terran SQ eidolon evolutions (0/2 points, immunity (paralysis, sleep), limbs (arms, legs)) Gear none - - - - - - - - - - SPECIAL ABILITIES - - - - - - - - - - Darkvision (Ex) here Immunity (acid, Su) here Improved Damage (slam, Ex) here Improved Natural Armor (Ex) here Link (Ex) here Share Spells (Ex) here
Y'know, I'm usually intimidated by solo-games, but this just too damn cool of an idea for me to turn down. Consider this my dotting. I'm currently thinking either ninja+sorcerer or magus+samurai, but I definitely want to do a half-orc. As for my preferred tone, probably a 50/50 split of shonen and samurai romance.
Yep. I listed them in the opening recruitment post. Whoops, missed that, sorry. :/
Are we doing background skills? I doubt any of them will be useful in a campaign like this, but I figured I'd ask just in case.
Thank you kind kitty-master.
...can I take that 25-point option please?
> 13
That’ll work just fine. I’m down for this. Additional question: how bad of an idea is a straight spellcaster character for this? I’m guessing we should all be thinking of more martial classes, or at least classes with some durability?
Hm. I might be down for this. What range of levels were you thinking?
Yeah, I think I got it now. I apologize for the rules run-around, my head's still slightly in D&D 5e mode. Here's an updated stat block, mostly just changed the attacks, but I also swapped my feat for Weapon Focus (rapiers). Since I do want to be dual-wielding rapiers at some point, I figured I'd grab the "base" feat now. Nel's New Statblock: Female gnome *barbarian (unchained)* 1
CN Small humanoid (gnome) Init +5 (+2 trait); Senses low-light vision, Perception +6 (+2 racial) - - - - - - - - - - DEFENSE - - - - - - - - - - AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+2 armor, +3 Dex, +1 size; +4 dodge vs. giants) hp 17 (1d12+5) Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +0; +2 racial bonus vs. illusions spells or effects - - - - - - - - - - OFFENSE - - - - - - - - - - Speed 30ft Melee rapier +6 (1d4-1) or . . dagger +5 (1d3-1) or . . rapier +2 (1d4-1) and dagger -3 (1d3-1) Ranged dagger +3 (1d3-1), range 10ft Special Attacks rage (8 rounds per day) - - - - - - - - - - STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - Str 8, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 14 Base Atk +1; CMB +0; CMD 13 Feats Weapon Focus (rapiers) Traits artisan (Craft (clothing)), excitable, extremely fashionable (Diplomacy) Drawback righteous indignation Skills Acrobatics +7, Craft (clothing) +5, Intimidate +6 (+7 if well dressed), Perception +6, Profession (seamstress) +3, Sleight of Hand +4 Languages Common, Gnome, Sylvan SQ artisan (+2 trait Craft (clothing)), defensive training (+4 dodge AC vs. giants), excitable (+2 trait Initiative), extremely fashionable (+1 trait Bluff/Diplomacy/Intimidate), fast movement (+10ft base speed), hatred (+1 attacks vs. reptilians/goblinoids), illusion resistance (+2 racial saving throws vs. illusions spells or effects), keen senses (+2 racial Perception), obsessive (+2 racial Profession (seamstress)), rage (8 rounds per day, +2 bonus melee attack/damage, +2 thrown weapon damage, +2 Will saving throws, -2 penalty AC, +2 temporary hit points) Gear rapier (2), dagger (5), leather armor, artisan’s outfit [1gp], reversible cloak [100gp], backpack, belt pouch, fishhook, grooming kit, lamp, common perfume (3 doses), sewing needle (5), string (2 spools), 8cp, 2sp, 10gp - - - - - - - - - - SPECIAL ABILITIES - - - - - - - - - - Fast Movement (Ex) here Gnome Magic (Sp) here Rage (Ex) here
Ah-ha...okay then. I just double-checked things in the Feat Tax link, and yeah, it's only for attack rolls, not damage. That...kinda sucks for my dagger attacks, Oh, thank you! Honestly I put her crunch together when I was super-duper tired, then filled the fluff out after I woke up the next day. Spent 15min staring at the stats like "wtf was I on last night?" X) Your boy's pretty interesting too. Very humorously tragic in a way, like a Shakespearean comedy. Good job. Nvm, I'm an idiot who can't read. Looks like I'm gonna be needing that Slashing Grace feat too...
You’re right I forgot, it’s been a long couple days. Disregard everything I said about the crunch.You may want to take a look at your crunch again, you don’t have the weapon finesse feat to add your dex to attacks; so you’re to hits seem off as you’d be at +0, and your damage would key off your strength, which is +1....uh, aren’t we using the Feat Tax rules? That eliminates Weapon Finesse and just makes it a weapon quality, doesn’t it? That's alright. I just thought maybe I misunderstood something. I appreciate the stats advice regardless. :)
You may want to take a look at your crunch again, you don’t have the weapon finesse feat to add your dex to attacks; so you’re to hits seem off as you’d be at +0, and your damage would key off your strength, which is +1. ...uh, aren’t we using the Feat Tax rules? That eliminates Weapon Finesse and just makes it a weapon quality, doesn’t it?
This...this may just be the craziest/stupidest/weirdest character I’ve ever whipped up. I’m not certain if I should apologize for this, or cackle maniacally. Please fear me/have mercy. (Side note: I'm still a touch fresh to Pathfinder, so if I did something wrong, please let me know.) Nel the Crimson Needle
Statblock:
Female gnome *barbarian (unchained)* 1
CN Small humanoid (gnome) Init +5 (+2 trait); Senses low-light vision, Perception +6 (+2 racial) - - - - - - - - - - DEFENSE - - - - - - - - - - AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+2 armor, +3 Dex, +1 size; +4 dodge vs. giants) hp 17 (1d12+5) Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +0; +2 racial bonus vs. illusions spells or effects - - - - - - - - - - OFFENSE - - - - - - - - - - Speed 30ft Melee rapier +5 (1d4+3) or . . dagger +5 (1d3+3) or . . 2 rapier +1 (1d4+3) or . . 2 dagger +3 (1d3+3) or . . rapier +3 (1d4+3) and dagger +3 (1d3+3) Ranged dagger +3 (1d3+3), range 10ft Special Attacks rage (8 rounds per day) - - - - - - - - - - STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - Str 8, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 14 Base Atk +1; CMB +0; CMD 13 Feats Two-Weapon Fighting Traits artisan (Craft (clothing)), excitable, extremely fashionable (Diplomacy) Drawback righteous indignation Skills Acrobatics +7, Craft (clothing) +5, Intimidate +6 (+7 if well dressed), Perception +6, Profession (seamstress) +3, Sleight of Hand +4 Languages Common, Gnome, Sylvan SQ artisan (+2 trait Craft (clothing)), defensive training (+4 dodge AC vs. giants), excitable (+2 trait Initiative), extremely fashionable (+1 trait Bluff/Diplomacy/Intimidate), fast movement (+10ft base speed), hatred (+1 attacks vs. reptilians/goblinoids), illusion resistance (+2 racial saving throws vs. illusions spells or effects), keen senses (+2 racial Perception), obsessive (+2 racial Profession (seamstress)), rage (8 rounds per day, +2 bonus melee attack/damage, +2 thrown weapon damage, +2 Will saving throws, -2 penalty AC, +2 temporary hit points) Gear rapier (2), dagger (5), leather armor, artisan’s outfit [1gp], reversible cloak [100gp], backpack, belt pouch, fishhook, grooming kit, lamp, common perfume (3 doses), sewing needle (5), string (2 spools), 8cp, 2sp, 10gp - - - - - - - - - - SPECIAL ABILITIES - - - - - - - - - - Fast Movement (Ex) here Gnome Magic (Sp) here Rage (Ex) here Background:
Nel has never had an easy life. Born to a servant family in Cheliax, she would have spent her formative years working as a maid for some minor, devil-worshipping noble if not for her staged kidnapping. Her parents, a pair of former Brastlewark merchant lords who had been disgraced, arranged for her to be “stolen away” by one Nimral Url, a former client of theirs who commanded a sizable street gang that could easily hide their young daughter. Furthermore, Url used the front of a tailor shop to launder his gang’s illegal earnings, allowing young Nel to experience at least some luxury.
The following years saw two very different sides of Nel develop. There was her public side, a seamstress working for Url who earned a small acclaim for her vibrant and innovative fashions. Then there was her hidden side, a skilled-but-brutal warrior trained by Url who would collect from those who didn’t pay the gang’s extortions. Nel herself did not much care for the less-savory side of her work, but she was positively enthralled by the noble lords and ladies who would come to the shop for finery. More than anything, she wanted to be like them, living care-free lives in opulent courts, attending parties and feasts, all while dressed in only the finest lace and satin. She knew however that the Cheliax courts were not for her. She had no interest in the infernal, nor indeed in the politics of House Thune. So when she caught wind of fledgingling kingdoms forming in the Stolen Lands, she knew what she had to do. Packing what supplies she could, she left in the night to find her own place in the burgeoning courts of the River Kingdom. The journey was...difficult, to say the least, and she has struggled to keep her vicious side hidden, but she is confident that there is a proper paradise waiting for her. tl;dr, I made a gnome fashion designer who occasional looses her s#*$ and kills people. This is gonna be a trip to RP...
Or an adept who discovers, *gulp*, H.P. Lovecraft was NOT making stuff up. :P ...may God have mercy on us all...
Well the Luchadore is a great funny idea, but I think I'll leave that for you to use. :) Well, at least the lesson was learned. I've thankfully never had to deal with something that explicit while GM-ing. Worst I've ever let it get was when one of my players wanted to get experimental cybernetic implants for...ahem, "performance enhancement." Long story short, don't trust the crazy alien with lots of knives to do anything right. *cough* gnome paladin *cough* (I'm assuming this is aimed towards me.) Nah, sorry. I'm pretty dead set on a barbarian.
Okay, so I did a bit of The problem is I'm caught between making this character a Gnome or a Half-Orc. I think Gnome would be funnier and it might be interesting to try building a Dex-based Barbarian, but I love Half-Orcs and I kind of love the idea of everybody expecting him to be a rage monster but then he's all mild-mannered and polite. Idk, anybody have thoughts? Also, in reference to the Lamashtu wolf, WHAT. THE. DUCK. Who let that happen? No one should let that happen.
...huh. I'm intrigued. Also the potential to quote Harry Potter at actual wizards is not lost on me. I'm in.
Well foowie...oh well. Have "fun" guys.
Just realized there’s a spreadsheet. A big thanks to whoever added me to it. :)
Sticking with Naiyla, eh? Noice. Yeah, but I worked Tymerran into the backstory as a pseudo-cameo. Figured things might be more interesting if Dhom had been part of a snake cult(?).
Well, this guy didn’t make it at the other Strange Aeons game, and it’s late in recruitment here, but screw it. Let’s see if he can make it at this "table." (Fair warning, I’m still new-ish to Pathfinder, so please correct me if I put something in the wrong place or what-not.) Dhomirren Tailbitter
The Crunch:
Male ratfolk gestalt (*hunter*/alchemist) 1
NG Small humanoid (ratfolk) Init +3; Senses darkvision 60ft, Perception +8 - - - - - - - - - - DEFENSE - - - - - - - - - - AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+1 armor, +3 Dex, +1 size) hp 9 (1d8+1) Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +2; +2 trait bonus vs. fear and emotion effects or spells - - - - - - - - - - OFFENSE - - - - - - - - - - Speed 20ft Melee dagger +0, (1d3-1) Ranged light crossbow +4 (1d6), range 80ft or . . bomb +5 (1d6+3), range 20ft or . . dagger +0 (1d3-1), range 10ft Special Attacks bomb (4 per day) Hunter Spells (CL 1st; concentration +3) . . 0th - detect magic, guidance, mending, purify food and drink . . 1st (2 per day) - abundant ammunition, summon nature’s ally I, wartrain mount Alchemist Extracts Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +4) . . 1st - cure light wounds, shield - - - - - - - - - - STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - Str 8, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 17, Wis 15, Cha 8 Base Atk +0; CMB -2; CMD 11 Feats Brew Potion, Point-Blank Shot, Throw Anything Traits enduring stoicism, frontier-forged, worldly Skills Craft (alchemy) +9 (+10 to craft an alchemical item), Disable Device +7, Handle Animals +3 (+7 for rodents), Heal +6, Knowledge (nature) +7, Perception +8, Profession (apothecary) +6, Ride +7, Sleight of Hand +7, Stealth +11, Survival +6 (+7 to get along in the wild), Use Magic Device +3 Languages Aklo, Common, Gnoll, Orc SQ alchemy (alchemy crafting +1), animal focus, mutagen (+4/-2), rodent empathy (+4 racial to handle rodents), tinker (+2 racial on Craft (alchemy), Perception, and Use Magic Device) Combat Gear mutagen, bomb (4 per day); Other Gear light crossbow (10 bolts), padded armor, holly sprig, spell component pouch, dagger, alchemist’s fire flask, antitoxin vial, smokestick (3), tindertwig (5), explorer’s outfit, backpack, candle (10), chalk (10 pieces), fishhook, flint and steel, belt pouch, trail rations (3 days), sack, sewing needle, vial (20), waterskin, 1sp, 34gp - - - - - - - - - - SPECIAL ABILITIES - - - - - - - - - - Alchemy (Su) click here Animal Companion (Ex) click here Animal Focus (Su) click here Bomb (Su) click here Brew Potion (Ex) click here Mutagen (Su) click here Nature Training (Ex) click here Throw Anything (Ex) click here Wild Empathy (Ex) click here (I reeeeeaaaally didn’t want to make this stat block obnoxiously long, so here’s some links to the Archives instead.) The Fluff:
Given the nature of this AP, I think It’d be best to present Dhomirren’s pre-established fluff as a series of memories he retains. If you want more specifics Mr. GM Yellow, just let me know.
> His mother, a druid, and his father, an alchemist, explaining to him how their warren accepts new members as he is given a very painful tattoo and is presented with a hatching viper egg. The snake is meant to be his companion for life. He names it Tymerran. > Running through the dense forests as he hunts down some unknown prey. He feels at home here as he cocks his crossbow and takes a shot. The bolt goes wide and hits...something else. A very angry gnoll with an arrow in its leg bursts from the underbrush and attacks him. > Walking with his mother and father towards a temple built into a cloven boulder. There is a large crowd gathered around the building, all of them trying to enter for some reason. They, and Dhomirren, are dressed in their finest clothes. A carved snake looks down upon the gathering with gleeful eyes. Tymerran squirms on his shoulders with happiness. > Standing on the crest of a hill, looking down into a crevasse that was his home. He has returned from gathering something to find his home in flames, the countryside burning as gnolls cackle gleefully in the distance. At his feet, Tymerran is cut in half, dead. The knife is his. As he looks out, all he can think is one thing: ”This is my doing…” > He is writing in his father’s formula book. It has a black cover, decorated with serpentine shapes. He steadies himself as the waves disturb his writing. He is in the hold of a ship, traveling to a land he does not know. > An elephant trumpets as he walks past its cage. He is at a circus in some phenomenally wealthy city. He cannot speak the native tongue, but it does not stop him from enjoying the performances. As he walks, he sees an emaciated panther cub chained and staked to the earth near the ringmaster’s tent. The tiny creature looks at him with sad, hungry eyes. He reaches into his pocket, producing a freshly salted sardine. Checking to make sure he isn’t seen, he creeps forward and feeds the ebony-black cub. She purrs. > He is running from town guards, running towards the sea as arrows nick his heels. He is holding the panther cub in his arms. She clings to him with desperate fear. He clutches her tight as he sharply turns around a sand dune and hold his breath, using his tail to obscure his tracks. He is determined to keep her safe. > He is in a small tavern, talking with a heavily-scarred orc as the brute points a sword at his chest. The orc is a mercenary, who has taken an unknown dislike to him. Behind the orc, he sees the panther, now grown and healthy, creep around a corner. Betraying not even the slightest smile, he draws an explosive shell from his belt, and the skirmish begins. The 20 Questions:
1. Contemplative.
2. A range from befuddlement to worry, depending on the circumstances. 3. A place to call home, a place where he can live in peace. 4. To keep Naiyla safe and (after he awakes in the asylum) to discover what his life was before. 5. The former by his own skill and competence, the latter remains to be seen. - - - 6. Tailbitter Warren, a ratfolk community that lived in the wilds. His father was an alchemist and his mother was a druid, and they both taught him their crafts. He is uncertain of what exactly the warren’s purpose was, but he knows it involved snakes extensively. 7. He had been expected to be self-sufficient when he received his viper, Tymerran. He was exceptionally adept in the wilder fringes of the warren’s territory, hunting and brewing potions from assorted natural components. 8. He values self-sufficiency, the balance of nature, and the want to learn more. He opposes needless cruelty (especially to animals or the natural world), ignorance, and words that cannot be backed by ability. 9. In dark greens and blacks, with a (relatively) small cloak. All of his clothes have numerous pockets that he stuffs full of spell components and alchemical reagents. His fur is coarse and short, and he generally eschews footware. 10. Due to his survivalist bent, he could easily be mistaken for being poor. However, he has occasionally sold some alchemical items for a bit of coin. Overall though, his income is generally varied at best, and spares at worst. - - - 11. He enjoys the taste of pomegranates, the smell of fresh rain, and fields of fireflies coming to life at sunset. He abhors the feeling of metal armor on the fur, the taste of cheese, and hyenas. 12. He has a particular distaste for gods and religions, and believes that submitting yourself to a being so powerful is equivalent to an ant worshipping the anteater. Perhaps it is paranoia, but whenever a serpent of any kind is near, he can feel its gaze upon him. He believes that discrimination due to another’s race is both a useless notion and a mark of ignorance. 13. A well-maintained greenhouse, full of green plants and the smells of flowers. Ideals he would be at rest, curled up on an earthen floor with Naiyla wrapped around him, purring softly. 14. Hard to say given the memory loss, but most likely his father, given his greater skill with alchemical mixtures than his mother’s druidic powers. Though, she also most certain granted him his love of wild places and animals. 15. Despite being so young, he is largely stoic in most circumstances, even if he is presented with something he detests. Usually only his words will give away his true thoughts on matters. He can be surprisingly tender and kind, even if his countenance does not shift. He sees Naiyla as something like his child, and will defend her as such without hesitation. - - - 16. I see two paths for Dhomirren. One like a classical hero’s story, where he strives and works constantly to be the best he can be so that those he loves can be safe. The other I can describe in two words: break him. Take away everything he loves, make him suffer, make it his fault. 17. He is the straight-man. He keeps the group honest, is the one people play their jokes on/off of, and is also the one who more than likely can be considered either the group “head,” so to speak. Not to say he’s necessarily in charge of everyone, more like the group wrangler. (The deadpan mom-friend.) 18. Uh, this one is hard given the circumstances...depending on if the group had been together before the asylum, you all might have the vague impression Dhomirren has given you a disapproving look on more than one occasion for something you did wrong. 19. I’ve got a poet’s hands and an actor’s heart. I will keep playing in character even to self-detriment (I once had a character go insane willingly because he would 100% touch the dangerous shiny thing), but not to the detriment of the party. I don’t ruin the campaign to stay in character, but I will ruin my own story to do so. 20. I would want him to die knowing that those he cares for are safe, and that what he did for them made all the difference. Naiyla the Panther:
Female black panther companion 1
N Small beast (small cat) Init +5; Senses low-light vision, Perception +4 - - - - - - - - - - DEFENSE - - - - - - - - - - AC 17, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+1 natural armor, +5 Dex, +1 size) hp 18 (2d8+2) Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +3 (+2 feat bonus) - - - - - - - - - - OFFENSE - - - - - - - - - - Speed 50ft Melee bite +3 (1d4+1) and . . 2 claws +3 (1d2+1) Special Attacks trip (bite) - - - - - - - - - - STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - Str 12, Dex 21, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 15 Feats Iron Will Skills Stealth +13, Survival +2 SQ animal focus, scent Combat Gear none; Other Gear none - - - - - - - - - - SPECIAL ABILITIES - - - - - - - - - - Link (Ex) click here Share Spells (Ex) click here If anybody has observations/questions/comments, I am all ears. :)
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