Celestine8's page

Most of the APs are awesome if you're a straight male PC XD

And this ^^^^ What CalebTGordon said. Include strong examples, not just thrown together ones.

I'm also about to run Skull and Shackles and already like that there are plenty people of all genders (and possible orientations) that may not want to attack you right away or otherwise make you not like them. It's setups like this that I prefer and setups like Reign of Winter that I dislike. I feel like you're more or less an extra body in the campaign if you're not a straight male or a lesbian simply because I can only set up friendships with the NPCs that don't want to kill you. You know, if my GM didn't take one of the possible lesbian couples and make the character into a male.

Okay, this thread is probably going to go so very wrong, but it's based on my own observations. To start, I'm bisexual and pretty much always play bisexual characters, another of our players is trans and plays lesbians with a soft spot for trans girls (when they occur). I love romance and always involve my characters in it. Without exception. I GM more often than any in our group, so I often have bisexual or gay NPCs that aren't written into the AP along with those that are. I decided to challenge myself, after playing and GMing through several Pathfinder APs. I was playing a heterosexual woman in Reign of Winter. My GM, after reading the AP, told me that there were next to no available, straight males that didn't want to do horrible things to my character and took one of the NPC romance options, Solveig, and made him male. Which was awesome, but then.... I took a look at all the in game couples and available NPC romance options and noticed that almost all of them were gay, a huge portion being lesbian. Which is awesome in many respects; Pathfinder has been one of the only companies or even written mediums that I've seen take lesbianism seriously and not having it be something that the poor girl recovers from once she is met with sufficient beefcake. I love Anevia and Irabeth, Sosiel and Arin, the paladin and the playwright in Sandpoint, Ileosa and her gf on the sly and may have even shipped Ameiko and Shalelu just a touch. Thank you, guys at Pathfinder for creating such enchanting couples. Buuut, then I look at the sheer amount of them vs straight couples and the fates of most of the straight couples. Natasha in Reign is a single mom (which was a bold move on Paizo's part) whose husband was murdered, Ameiko's love was murdered by hillbilly ogres, Vencarlo Orisini lost fingers to his ex ( I think?), the family of three in Sandpoint had the husband get devoured alive by a goblin in front of his young son, Ameiko's parents had a serious falling out (ha), Shalelu's mom was eaten by a green dragon, the witch and apprentice couple in Reign are killed by PCs one by one, Jadrenka's bf was turned into a girl and locked into a room to be tormented by her ex lover. I honestly cannot think of a straight couple that didn't meet a horrible end, some way or another, in Pathfinder. Don't get me wrong, nobody really has it easy in the APs and I haven't played 'em all, just lots of 'em. It couldn't hurt to include more non-evil, single men or non-dead straight couples, is all.

I like this update.

I'm especially looking forward to seeing, and trying out, the revised arcanist.

OMG, goblins have litters?

Mogrim shrugs, "Two of our females survive. One is likely ready to birth over the next while. No whelps survived. They were too close to the gate and some of the first that the deadbones got."

Belor nods,"Our church takes in orphans. The good Father might take in goblin young."

Sienna?

Belor scowls,"I remember Shalelu mentioning them when she came to tell us of the 'goblin army'. The Licktoads seem to always be on board whenever there's a chance to hurt the people that live here. It may just be the chief, but from what I'd guess about goblins, if they didn't like it, they'd kill him or leave. Also, let's say we let 'em live nearby. How are they going to get the things they need to get by without stealing it or raiding? I've never known goblins to live off of the land. I doubt many would hire a goblin. And can you blame them? People wouldn't eat the food a goblin served, wouldn't trust something a goblin made, wouldn't trust their safety to one... This is a stretch beyond a long shot. I'm not sure how this'd work even if the goblins were all paragons of the redeemed and civilized goblin. I don't have the manpower to watch the goblins all of the time, to make sure they don't hurt people or are used towards criminal purposes."

Mogrim shifts uneasily, seeming unsure of a few of the concepts that Belor introduced.

Balthazar clears his throat,"Maybe we work up to integration, if they want it. Maybe we can try education, if it's wanted, fair trade and just a fair deal altogether. Make it so that it's better for them to throw in with us and not cause trouble than to throw in with other goblins?"

The Licktoads jabber amongst each other in hushed tones for a moment before nodding and following Hijiro, Balthazar and Irnk back. The goblins entertain themselves by collecting insects along the way and telling off-colour jokes about former Chief Rendwattle Gutwad and his majordomo, Slorb, which turns into the goblins singing songs about one another, vividly describing their supposed perversions, strange habits and failings. Balthazar watches them closely, glad that he can't understand a word of what the goblins are jabbering at one another as they collapse into giggles.

The goblin nods,"The old witch's a longshanks, like the old man, here, but even older. An old woojie. Her house used to be lit up with weird lights at night and strange sounds. Now she's gotten pretty quiet. No more fun scraps laying around her home. The boat is on the beach, right there," he jabs a sharp little finger at one of the marks on the map,"The boat was the home of Vorka. A goblin-eating goblin woojie. She was... weird. Kept mean dogs and a horse. The Licktoad heros killed her and her pets and took the box with the treasure and the firesticks. Gutwad sent Poog, Mogmurt and others to check out the cave and they came back with more stuff. More treasures and-and even MORE fireworks." The other goblins behind him begin to fidget, clearly tiring of the conversation, scanning the home for something to busy themselves with...

The goblin spits onto the floor,"Dead walkers come for the stuff we took from the witch on the beach. They killed lots of us, including Slorb," he says with a satisfied grin,"Gutwad pushed most of the treasure back out of his home and they took it back with them. They let us keep the cheap stuff. That map shows this house, old witches' home, boat where the bright fire sticks came from and... ummm... a cave. I've never been inside, but that one over there is a cave."

The goblin scrunches up his face, "We want to stay here because we've always been here. We can stay away. If they send us away or kill us, it's... ummm... bad luck. And we won't let them do that without a fight.

I'm running Carrion Crown and my players decided to play up some popular horror tropes with their PCs. One of them was 'the regular person inflicted with a curse'. He had dreams of terrible things beyond time and space, worlds burning at the barely conceived whims of the Elder Races, etc. It was a lot of fun and he wanted the opporitunity to 'fall' and become a wild-eyed cult leader, touched by Yog-Shothoth. He awoke from his dreams, writing in foreign languages, drawing terrifying pictures in a journal that locked as soon as he closed it. His waking self didn't know the languages (until recently), doesn't know how to open the book/where the key is or anything that occurred while he was asleep. I spent a lot of time writing and driving his side plot with these dreams. Aaaand he bought a ring of sustenance and no longer sleeps. The dreams were narrative in nature and he's wanting to continue with his plot, but I'm stumped as to how to do it now. He's hinted at me giving him creepy, second-long hallucinations, but that doesn't help me write a story for him and get him to where we need to be. Help?

Alright, you're awake to meet them and yes, same one

The lead goblin narrows his eyes,"The Mushfens are far away and we are few. What else is there for the Licktoads?"

Ameiko grabs Sienna and Hijiro their food and drink. As she moves around them,it becomes more apparent that she is more worried about the situation with the goblins and perhaps the rumours of the undead have reached her ears. She returns to work, needing something to keep busy with.

No goblins in the night. Irnk gets his rest before the Licktoads show up

At dawn, a group of eight goblins shows up around Walthus' house, armed to the teeth and decorated with an assortment of strange, repurposed ornaments and clothing. One goblin seems to be leading the bunch. He approaches the door and seems to not know what to do with it for a second before slamming his foot into it, not kicking it down, but with enough force to make a very loud sound.

Belor looks at the little goblin incredulously,"Writing on the wall, hmm? Are all goblins faithful to that foul goddess? I've heard something about them worshippping barghests, too. If there's a difference in belief, it might not matter so much. Things weren't even so civilly done with the Shoanti. You killed or challenged a group more powerful that you, you ended up dead. But it sure wasn't perfect out there. So, after he's written all over the wall, assuming he can write, then what?

The goblin lets out a blood curdling shriek of what can only be curses.

Belor glares at the goblin,"I can't understand a word of that and yet, I think I get the gist of what he just said. Killing them's always been the best way to deal with them. They understand shows of force and strength and it assures people that the problem is gone. Wouldn't the remaining goblins think that we were afraid of them or too weak to kill them and just keep on attacking us, once they'd met some like-minded friends? What guarantee could we possibly get from a tribe of goblins that lick swamp toads to get a rush that could matter those of us in town?"

He raises his eyebrows,"I can't speak for Miss Andosana's goblin hunting habits. I can see what I can do to keep the Licktoads and Sandpoint from clashing again, but I'm under the impression that they've been driven off."
Gutwad wriggles, turning himself as best as he can to watch Irnk and the Sheriff.

Shalelu shakes her head, an amused expression flitting across her face,"He's all yours, Sheriff. Irnk is a... holy warrior serving Erastil. I've known him for a short while and he's different enough from most goblins for me to be able to put up with him. In doses." The elf steps outside, walking out to speak with the watchmen and nodding in greeting to Koya. Koya walks in after the sheriff, looking Irnk up and down, her eyes resting on his injuries. Belor Hemlock, a massive man with dark tan skin, dark eyes, a shaved scalp and a few geometrically shaped tattoos winding down his neck nods in greeting, wiping sweat from his brow"I'm pleased to meet you, Irnk," he says, unsteadily,"I've heard a bit about you in such a short time and am a bit surprised by what's happened here, today. Perhaps you'd like to tell me what you had in mind for the Licktoads."

Shalelu shifts a bit uncomfortably, and speaks with obvious unease"Ogres are...nasty creatures. I'm sorry for your loss. But... do you actually believe that goblins can be something...else? They seem happy to do things the way they do them and it's been that way forever. And do you want me to heal him or not? If he's just going to die tomorrow and going to be suspended in the half-consciousness between life and death, I'd rather just have him die right now, if it's all the same. Do you intend to just sit there, bleeding all over Walthus' furniture, as well?"

At this point, Koya and Sienna are walking up the road and can be easily spotted from the windows of Walthus' home. Belor, Hijiro and Balthazar are just a few moments behind.

Shalelu rolls her eyes,"You're improvising this whole thing, aren't you, Irnk? I have a wand with me, that with a few jabs, should restore him as good as new. We can't have the people of Sandpoint hurt by the goblins when we bring them in or it's going to get very messy. But he can't have his trial when he's unconscious or dying. That and it's... cruel to leave him like that. There is no justice without mercy. Do you have any idea what the leadership of the Licktoads will be like now that Gutwad is gonna die in a few days? Do you think they're going to be pushy about keeping their old stomping grounds and vision-granting toads or do you think they'll be good with moving farther away?'

Sheriff Hemlock takes a moment, absorbing the information before speaking,"There's no reason for this to get out of hand. So, he's a goblin and can more or less relate to them, I guess. I've never heard of anything besides a wicked, black-hearted bastard of a goblin, but if Shalelu's willing to trust 'em. And she hates goblins, like nothing or no one I've ever seen... I should hear this out. We can get a trial for this 'Gutwad. Won't be anything fancy and keeping order will be damned hard. But, it's what everyone deserves, right? A chance. What about the rest of his tribe, if any still live? Do they share his fate? Get seperate trials? What? I can't spend the remainder of the season trying all of these, uhm, people."

Shalelu sighs," If I wanted them all dead, there would be no more goblins in this swamp, Irnk. I want the ones that attack and kill people who have done nothing besides try make a living or go home. If you want to bring them into town for 'trial' and hope that the people of Sandpoint are merciful in their dealings with the goblins, that's your prerogative. I kill those that are on the warpath. They die fighting and singing those terrible songs of theirs. These goblins weren't riled up by mistreatment or hatred against humans, they found fireworks or discovered how to make them and thought it'd be fun to use them to kill or maim travellers. Goblins raise their babies in cages, goblins kill each other for next to no reason. You know this! You want to arrest them? Fine. But if you're expecting what happens in town to be clean and perfect, think again. The only way you're going to get something besides a witch hunt would be to-"

A group of around ten goblins comes walking through the open gates of their village, all of them bristling with spears and the cleaver-like dogslicers they favour. Irnk recognizes the goblin at the head, they turn, sizing up the crowd, glowering at Shalelu, who immediately readies her bow, but doesn't draw or change her relaxed stance.

"Irnk, these are the Licktoad survivors? I think you're the only one who can talk to them about what happens next. Maybe I should go and let you... settle this."

Growled across the courtyard in

The Chieftan screeches out string of obscenities before the tube bursts and a colourful, blinding conflagration leaps out, impacting against Irnk and exploding in a beautifully lethal floral pattern.

Reflex saves for Hijiro, Balthazar, Irnk and Gutwad!

Gutwad tries to get out of the way

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Saves, but takes 1/2 of

2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

and is either blinded or deafened. First 50% is blinded, the last half is deafened

1d100 ⇒ 57

Rendwattle Gutwad just barely dodges the worst of the flames, but his ears ring painfully and is body bears a deep cut and burns. He snarls and steps back, drawing his spear. Miraculously, the building is merely singed, with a few small flames dancing along the floors, ceilings and walls.

Kravo moves up and slashes at the goblin and misses.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Sienna!

A familiar hissing sound comes from the hut of the Chief moments before a flabby, squat goblin flings open the door. His flat face is stretched in a murderous rictus grin,he wears 'finery' crafted from bits of scrap metal, paper, and brightly coloured cloth and in his arms, he holds a foot-long wooden tube that sprays a shower of white sparks behind him. He hangs back in the doorway, daring you to step forward.

Kravo moves up to burned out house in front of the Chief's hut and takes cover upon seeing the sparking tube.

The remaining goblin stares up at Balthazar in surprise and terror for a second before fleeing the village.

Sienna

{ooc] Sure, you've called them out and are scary. One target is demoralized, but I'll RP the rest[/ooc]

The grinning goblin's eyes widen in fear seconds before a stone slams into his skull with a sickening crunch and he's sent sprawling, dropping the firework onto the walkway. Kravo moves up and swings his falchion at one of the goblins

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

The other two goblins scramble for the pyrotechnic candle. One goblin wins the candle and aims it at the hut that the goblins were calling their Chief from. The thatch roof begins burning merrily. The goblin without the firework draws his doglicer. The last two goblins snarl, but are shaking and pale, believing this to be their last moments of life.

Sienna

Now that you're within the confines of the little village, you not only see the cremated remains of the goblins in the muddy pit, but the remains of four skeletal undead at the bottom of the deep pool . The undead appear to be humans and the bones are yellowed with age. They clutch strange single-edged weapons with many notches and cracks and are draped in rotten armour made from wood and steel, made in a style not used in the Inner Sea. Knowledge (local)can help with that.

Perception checks?

Yeah, I'm not exactly the greatest goblin bard ever. It's like reciting 'See Spot Run' from Hell

Goblin

A far off titter echoes across the village

Goblin

So, we're Walthus, Hijiro, Kravo, Wanwa'lasse. Sienna, Balthazar for initiative

Walthus moves and attacks Kravo and succeeds

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (5, 2) = 12

The monstrosity lunges forward and slams s a deformed, mottled limb into his head, knocking him unconscious. The thing gurgles with sadistic glee and looks for its next target.

Hijiro, go!

Can't see through it, Kravo. It's also time to get combat rolling. Initiative time!

The halfling snarls as he transforms into a small, wrinkled, hunchbacked creature with mottled mud-coloured flesh. Its lump of a head has no eyes or nose, only a crooked slit with a long barbed tongue that lashes and flicks from the bizarre orifice. He explodes into motion...

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22