Ceelie slips along the edge of the bar (to C10), ducking low so the wood structure might shield her from at least some of the blaze roaring up the wall behind it. Once she reaches Aelwyn, calls out, "Get behind me!" She then draws another dagger from yet another hidden sheath upon her leather armor. Sliding just past the slender elf, she spots an opening in the remaining hobgoblin's defenses and thrusts her blade up and under his chin.
Looks like we've gone through the initiative order. We're back around to the patrons, hobgoblin(s), and goblin, aren't we? Or are we waiting on Dravos?
...(no need to prolong this battle, eh, NSpicer? *Harumph!*).
Hey now! I never implied I dislike battles. They're part of the story. And often they're the best parts! So, I'm perfectly fine with continuing the fight to its natural conclusion.
Question about the whole Sly Flourish thing. It confers no additional attack bonus, just additional damage, correct? Just want to make sure I'm reading this correctly and don't have the PHB in front of me.
Correct. It just lets you add on your Cha modifier to the damage, presumably as a nod towards the "showmanship" of the flourish. And, although I can certainly enjoy the occasionaly use of that ability as a story enhancer, it's just not something I'd ever imagine as an every round thing. That's why, if you've noticed so far, I've made every attempt to mix it up for Ceelie in this prolonged battle, switching back and forth so nothing gets stale or overused.
Curious as to why just a basic attack. Sly flourish can be used with ranged light blades as well...
Explanation:
Spoiler:
Because for me, it's not just about the mechanics. It's about the story and the flavor...
Personally, I think it's a little ridiculous to invent another explanation for Ceelie's Sly Flourish to somehow distract a guy at range so he won't notice the dagger she throws at him. It's just not believable to keep doing that round-after-round...or fight-after-fight. I'm not even sure it's believable to do it with a ranged weapon in the first place. If you noticed, last time I tried to have her do some kind of physical act (i.e., the twirl and cloak spin) to cover her attack. But I feel compelled to live up to the definition of a Sly Flourish if I'm going to use it. And I just don't want every attack to come off that way. It's just too campy.
Now, mechanically, it's certainly more advantageous if she does use Sly Flourish. But, from a metagame point of view, we're clearly fighting minions here. So, it isn't necessary to look for the highest possible damage output. One hit and they go down. It doesn't buy her anything to keep invoking her at-will abilities just because they're there.
And, on the whole, this is another element of 4e that I find lacking. These abilities and progressions for the various character classes almost feel like building the perfect deck in a game of Magic: the Gathering. And with each new release (or, in RPG terms, level-up) some new set of cards become available for you to purchase and add to your deck in order to increase its effectiveness. The powers and abilities in 3.5e had some of that going on, but I kind of like the slower progression in terms of the power-scale.
Basically, I detest the kind of arms race that results in optimizing character builds. That gets back to my preferred play-style. For me, it's about the story...not the numbers. I can min-max and optimize with the best of them. But I find it far more interesting to take sub-optimal choices and roleplay them well. In that respect, my heroes (or characters) always have flaws...and not just the ones resulting from lower derived attributes (like Will saves) because of their chosen class (such as Fighter).
Rather, I enjoy crafting characters like Zieke...who won't be as optimal as a straight-class Fighter...but who gains far more interesting abilities and skills as a result of multi-classing as a Rogue and Monk. Branching out like that enables me to play Zieke in ways that contribute to many more parts of the story in a given adventure than he'd otherwise be able to do. That's what's more important to me. Not a perfect BAB...not the quickest path to Weapon Specialization...and so on.
So, the same logic applies to how I prefer to play Ceelie. I don't want to feel pressured into using a special ability on every action. What's wrong with just guiding the story and forgetting about the numbers?
With hobgoblins writhing in pain and falling to the onslaught of Kriv's arcane spell, Ceelie turns and sees another attacker (at D12) rising behind Aelwyn.
"Look out!" she cries, instinctively drawing another throwing dagger and hurrying to help the elven archer. She skirts around Dravos, then between Ben and Hess before finding a clear shot. Then her blade flashes through the air, a twirling blur as she hurls it at the enemy.
...His partner seems positioned in such a way that your target doesn't seem particularly fazed to be between two enemies--your attack bounces harmlessly off of your target's shield.
Uh-oh. That can't be good. Does this mean Ceelie is denied combat advantage as well?
I guess this means damage could range from 12 to 31, depending on the success of the attacks.
::jaw drops::
What's the 4e ruling on firing into melee? Is Ceelie in any danger?
4e Rules Observations:
Spoiler:
A number of things are starting to stand out for me in this encounter. One, I didn't realize longbows were so much more powered up in 4e. They do 1d10 damage now? And, in addition to that, you get to add your Dex modifier as a bonus to the damage. Layer on an ability like Hunter's Quarry and a Ranger can pretty much deal an extra 1d6 damage to his target of choice every round...at range or melee. Somehow, that makes the Rogue seem more underpowered to me. An extra 1d6 damage from Hunter's Quarry is equivalent to a Rogue's sneak attack...only it doesn't have to be a sneak attack. I thought the classes were balanced in relation to one another? Am I missing something in this assessment? I'm sure Fabes or JSL can clear me up...
Secondly, these close blast attacks are certainly useful against minions, but anything stronger than that and they don't seem to have a lot of value at low level.
Thirdly, in the first combat, I find myself always using one of Ceelie's "special" attacks (i.e, the at-wills, encounter, etc.) on every turn. They're always more advantageous (mechanics-wise) than any other option. I noticed this same thing in the playtest I ran for D&D Game Day a couple of months ago. The Wizard and Cleric pretty much used their at-will abilities all the time in lieu of any other attack option. That's because they were simply more reliable in a metagame sense.
Fourthly, it feels like you do a lot more in one turn now than you could before. Move...then charge-attack in order to move even further and still get an attack off. Shift, draw weapon, attack, then move. Seems like a lot to pull off before the other side reacts or counters you. But I don't know. It's still early. These observations are only half-formed right now anyway. But I thought I'd share them before they slipped away.
The Goblin ducks, but his cloak and back are singed. He screams a curse in Goblin.
Ceelie starts to add a curse of her own as the blazing hot flames flash before her eyes. At first, she fears maybe the alcohol behind the bar has finally caught fire, but she understands the Goblin tongue well enough to realize the flames came from the dragonkin instead. 'Careful! Or this whole place will go up...' she mentally chides Kriv.
SJ@ wrote:
The remaining Hobgoblin (D7) puts up his shield which effectively blocks the brunt of Kriv's breath. He is missed and, therefore, still up and still ugly.
Squinting her eyes against the heat, Ceelie immediately recognizes the advantage granted by the hobgoblin's raised shield. She uses her shortsword to bat aside her opponent's weapon. Then Ceelie draws another dagger from her belt and drives it through a small chink in the hobgoblin's armor.
Minor action to arm herself with another dagger. But I'm not having Ceelie fight two-handed. She just happens to have two weapons in her hands. This is a single attack action with the dagger. The shortsword parrying is just for color. ;-)
If this hobgoblin goes down, Ceelie will step forward with her move action to engage the goblin so he can't get away or retaliate against Kriv.
The hobgoblin yanks his sword out of Ellice's belly and looks up as Kriv takes his shot. He raises his shield...too late. The bolt just clears the top of the shield and sinks deeply into the monster's eye. The hobgoblin's head jerks back violently, and he slumps to the floor.
Ceelie follows close behind Kriv's dart and nearly as quickly. She slips past Ben with the agility of a cat, building up speed for a long-distance throw of her knife. Racing along the edge of the bar, she then spins in a tight circle so her cloak will billow outward and attract the attention of the hobgoblin at D14. The maneuver also clips a couple of bottles along the bar, sending them crashing to the floor for extra effect.
As soon as Ceelie completes her full turn, however, she lines up with the hobgoblin and launches her dagger. A glint of light is the only indication of the spinning blade as it hurtles towards him. At the same time, she draws her shortsword and raises it in readiness for any would-be attacker who wants to close with her.
I have no idea how far Ceelie can move towards the hobgoblins. Her movement rate is 6 squares. If that's her "move"-equivalent action in 4e and her ranged attack with the dagger is her "standard"-equivalent action, I'm unsure what remaining minor or swift or whatever additional action components are available to her. If she can only move 6 squares, I'll put her at D8. That means a long-distance throw with her knife (which has a range of 5/10?)...so adjust her attack with whatever modifiers are necessary. If she can move closer than D8 to get a more accurate throw, she'll close to within a square or two of him instead, though.
Ranged attack w/ sly flourish is also a good option as the charge limits you to a basic melee attack (which is strength-based). However, the charge does grant +1 to hit and put you in position to flank next round. You do not take an AC penalty for charging as you did in 3e.
Ceelie would actually be +1 better to hit from range vs. melee (due to Ceelie's Dex) so that would make up for the charge bonus. And she'd get better damage with the Sly Flourish...even moreso if her ranged attack were a sneak attack. Along those lines, I was kind of envisioning moving up (because Ceelie is furtherest away from the hobgoblins right now), but throwing a dagger as she closes. Then, she'd draw her shortsword and prepare to move in for a flank on the next round after any remaining hobgoblin(s) focused on Dravos.
JSL wrote:
The reason I suggest the charge is that the hobs are soldier monsters and have high AC. If you have to attack AC, go with the option that gives you the highest attack bonus. Damage won't be a problem in this fight, but hitting might be.
In that case, a Sly Flourish ranged attack vs. AC is probably Ceelie's best opportunity to hit. And, although damage might not be a problem in this fight, she'd definitely do more with it than the charge. On subsequent rounds, I can switch Ceelie over to Piercing Strike once she's in melee. That way, she'll be going against the hobgoblins' Reflex instead of AC.
JSL wrote:
Also, I think we need to base at least one of these guys so they don't run all around and base Ben, Kriv, and Aelwyn. We also need to try to prevent them from all clumping together, which gives them an AC boost.
It looks like most of us are targeting the same guy. So hopefully, at least one or two of us punch through and eliminate him. Aelwyn's got another attack coming up. Her first one was a surprise attack as they came through the door. The same guy Dravos and Ceelie are targeting is closest to her anyway. So he seems like the one to eliminate.
After Kriv goes, I'll have Ceelie move into range and use a Sly Flourish to try and hit him with a dagger. Then Aelwyn can put an arrow in him, if necessary. And Dravos can follow up with a melee attack when we cycle back around. If necessary, Ben and Kriv can huddle behind the fireplace and work out a plan for the rest of the hobgoblins. Then, you and me can form our own phalanx while Aelwyn keeps using the table as a firing platform.
JSL wrote:
You don't get any advantage from the mark. The only way you are getting combat advantage in this fight is if you run and hide, flank, or by way of imposed condition.
That makes me wonder then. If Ceelie is effectively at the very back door, doesn't that mean she already ran-and-hid? So, as I take her turn and come out with her throwing knife, wouldn't that be combat advantage? I would assume none of the hobgoblins will see her coming...
Regardless, I don't think it changes her action. And after the ranged attack plays out with the thrown dagger, I'll be looking to close and flank for combat advantage anyway.
[/metagaming] ;)
Anybody heard from Fabes? We're still waiting on Kriv, right?
...Ceelie can attack the hob in D14 by moving to D8 and charging to D13. She would get a +1 to the attack. Additionally, since Dravos marked that hob, if he counterattacks Ceelie, he gets a -2 to his attack. If he moves to attack Dravos, he puts himself in a position where we can flank him next round.
I was planning on having Ceelie use her Sly Flourish either from range (with a throwing dagger) or by running up for melee (with the same dagger), while possibly drawing her shortsword along the way. I'm not sure how 4e handles quickdraw situations, but with minor actions as part of the game, that seems do-able. Can she still use Sly Flourish after a charge? Or is the charge itself her action? And with the hobgoblin in D14 being marked by Dravos (or otherwise focusing his attention on the dwarf now) does that grant any kind of combat advantage to Ceelie for a ranged sneak attack with a thrown dagger or as part of the charge?
Hearing the commotion on the other side of the room, Ceelie nudges the backdoor closed and flips down latch to slow down any more attackers who might try and enter that way. Following that, she bites her tongue to keep from attracting attention to herself. 'Hopefully, one of these hobgoblins will leave himself wide open to a surprise attack,' she mentally tells herself.
I don't know if the door latch thing would qualify as a standard action. If it's anything more than a free or swift action (or whatever 4e's equivalent might be), then skip it. Ceelie intends to close and perform a ranged attack with a hurled dagger to announce her participation in the fight. But I'll wait until we see the initiative order to post.
Giving long looks at one another, the thought of removing to a livelier bar passes wordlessly around your table when the back door opens suddenly. A man stumbles in, down the hall, and collapses in a heap on the floor. Though his face is bloody and his apron slashed and tattered, you recognize him. It is Hess, the alchemist’s apprentice.
Recognizing Hess as quickly as anyone, including his injured state, Ceelie rises with Dravos. While the dwarf looks to the boy's wounds, she slips past the fallen apprentice and heads for the door, a short-bladed dagger already drawn and held tightly along her forearm. She nudges the door open just enough to peer outside.
Unfortunately, the light of the tavern and the noise of its concerned patrons leaves little opportunity for Ceelie to see who might have wounded Hess or followed after him.
*If your passive perception is higher than 20, read the following spoiler.
Rules Question:
Spoiler:
Can any of us actually have a passive perception higher than 20? We'd need a +11 or better, right? And if the DC is 20, does it have to be higher than 20? I also notice Rags has Ben listed with a +11 passive perception, but I think that's a miscalculation, right? He just went ahead and added the "take 10" value. Normally, Perception is +5 for being trained, and then add your relevant ability modifier (Wis) and any special modifiers for feats, etc. So, for Ceelie, it's +6...add 10...passive Perception is 16 total. Is that correct? I'm not trying to be nitpicky or anything. I just want to better understand this aspect of 4e correctly...
SJ@ wrote:
Ellice returns to the end of your table with five mugs of foamy ale despite the fact that no one ordered any.
"Thanks," Ceelie murmurs. 'More free ale!' she thinks, taking another sip.
SJ@ wrote:
If left untended, she quickly clears your trencher whether you were done with it or not.
Ceelie instinctively defends her bowl of stew by shielding it with one arm propped under her chin. Once Ellice moves away, she goes back to picking through it, half-listening to Aelwyn and half-keeping an eye on the half-elven warlock at the bar. (How's that for enough 'half's?)
SJ@ wrote:
...the exotic Half-Elf leans over the bar and has a whispered* conversation with Earod.
'Well now, there's a bit of business taking place,' Ceelie mentally notes, 'I wonder what the sell-sword's discussing...?' She slips out of her chair and heads toward the bar with her mug of ale as if to have a word with the bartender about it. She even makes a sour face to suggest she hasn't found it to her liking in order to cover her approach.
Unfortunately, it seems the conversation is over as quickly as it began and Ceelie can't make out enough words to even get a sense of what passed between them. She takes another swig of ale and relaxes her expression of dissatisfaction. Then, she shrugs her shoulders and retreats to the table again as if no longer finding it so unpalatable after a second taste. When she arrives, she frowns as she notices her bowl of stew was liberated during her absence.
'Great!' she chides herself, 'Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say...'
"The Farstriders are in town -- Edgar Sommerfield's merry band of sell-swords. That, over there," she indicates the crimson-clad half-elf with a slight tilt of her head, "is Jen, Sommerfield's half-elf Warlock."
Ceelie glances over her shoulder at the half-elven warlock, coolly appraising the girl's get-up. "Seems a bit...showy," she comments, then adds a verbal barb just to needle Ben, "Ought to be your type, don't you think?"
She looks back to Aelwyn after that. "But...the Farstriders?" Ceelie draws out the pompous title with a palpable sense of disdain, "Okay. So they're potential rivals in the sell-sword market. But just how far have they managed to 'stride,' exactly?"
"Yeah...what's the problem?" Ceelie murmurs, polishing off her mug of pilfered ale and then hiding the cup next to Dravos' while everyone's attention is diverted by the new arriver.
"...So, what 'angle' did you have in mind?" he asks softly, leaning in a little closer.
"Councilor Troyas," Ceelie states, letting Ben soak in the name and conjure up whatever impression he might have of the man and his intentions.
"He's making a lot of talk about organizing the militia," she continues, "Starting patrols and investigating these rumors of goblin activity. We're thinking a well-connected man like that might have a bit of coin to fund a small scouting party such as ourselves. With caravans held up for fear of the roads, we'd be doing a service to Brindol, too. And if we can bring back proof of Troyas' claims, it'll make it that much easier to sell his claims to the rest of the Council and the townsfolk. Business is gonna be kind of slow around here unless somebody looks into this stuff. Might as well get paid for our efforts while doing it, don't you think?"
"Mm. I can always spare time for a chat." Ben replies out loud. "I think I'll call it quits while I still have some coins left Adron. I'll come by after the weekend, we can set up a schedule for Hess that won't interfere with yours. Thanks again for dinner. I'll see you boys next week!" He says, parting company with the alchemists.
"Sorry to steal him away from you, Adron," Ceelie gives the dwarf a semi-sultry wink, leaving him to wonder about what she whispered in the wizard's ear that got him to leave so suddenly...and purposefully misleading Adronsius so he will assume she and Ben are involved somehow rather than let him learn the truth. Ceelie's smile can't help but widen as she relishes the thought of pulling off her own bluff against the gambler.
Ben Blackstone wrote:
He takes his mug and starts to follow Ceelie, then stops. "Oh, Hang on a 'tic Ceelie." He turns back to the table, holds out his hand, beckons with his forefinger and whispers, 'Forzare.' Obediently, his staff bumps once, then floats to his waiting hand. He turns back to Ceelie and winks. "Now, lead on m'lady!" He smirks, motioning for Ceelie to precede him with a small flourish.
"Show-off..." Ceelie responds, her eyes matching the wizard's smirk, "Always the showman. You so love being the center of attention." She takes his arm rather than precede him. After all, it's better to have a fire-mage beside her rather than follwing behind. "Maybe that's why you lose to Adron more often than you beat him?" she suggests, "You show too much. When a little would suffice."
She pauses and looks up at him on their way back to Dravos and the others. "But of course, where's the fun in that, right?" she continues, "Life is short. And when you have power, it can become magnified in the eyes of others as long as you show it off from time to time."
Once they reach the table, Ceelie lets go of the wizard's arm and pats his shoulder as if showing off a prize she's brought everyone. "Lady and gents, I give you Ben Blackstone," she announces, "Rescued from a penniless future and delivered intact as promised. Normally, I'd ask for a finder's fee...but seeing as how he was just on the other side of the room..." She stops and smiles.
"I'll consider him, but he had better be showing more control of his spells than he has o'er his ale! No place'll be safe ere long if the Hand is on the march. Goblins make for far more danger than a parlor, ye ken?"
"I'll vouch for him," Ceelie offers with a grin, "Besides, we can't all drink ale with as much ease as a dwarf, can we? And if he doesn't pan out, well...he'll be my responsibility, I guess."
Dravos Stonebrow wrote:
After considering the matter for a moment more, Dravos turns to squarely face Ceelie. "Very well. Where can we find this Troyas?"
"I'm pretty sure I know where to find him," she answers, then she smiles as she ponders her ale again, "This should be fun. Lots better than hanging around in Brindol with people either too dumb or too frightened to take action."
Not even waiting for agreement from the other two, she pats Dravos on the shoulder, takes another swig of ale and then rises from the table. "I'll go check on Ben's availability while you three talk it over," she says, then offers one more comment to Dravos.
In Dwarven:
Spoiler:
"It's good to see you again, friend. This place wasn't the same without you around."
Ceelie then crosses the distance between their table and the card players on the other side of the room. The pommels and handles of the many knives and blades sheathed across her body glint in the light as she moves. Adronsius is the first to spot her coming.
"Howdy, boys..." she greets them, coming up behind Ben and casually reading his cards over the wizard's shoulder. She lifts her chin in Adronsius' direction. "You taking these fools for all their coin, Adron?"
Then, in all seriousness, she leans down and speaks in a low voice for Ben's ears only. "A few of us are talking about a job for one of the councilors," she offers, "Would you be interested?"
"No, By the Hammer, I am not busy," Dravos grumbles with a barely disguised hint of irritation. "I was to head north the day before yesterday with a caravan bound for Red Rock and across the Giant's Shield. However, the wagon master was ill prepared and had to beg off for a day. I have since heard he has disbanded the caravan altogether and fled south with his hirelings abandoning his cargo. Afraid of the Red Hand, no doubt."
The dwarf sighs before taking another bite of stew and continuing in a hushed voice. "There is another job, down the Dawn's Way to Drellin's, but it won't leave for a fortnight - if it leaves at all. The pay is meager, but at least it will keep the ale flowing."
Ceelie laughs with genuine amusement at her dour friend.
In Dwarven:
Spoiler:
"No worries," she suggests, "There are other ways to keep the ale flowing."
She raises her stolen mug as if to toast a possible future of fending for themselves on the streets even if the caravan masters are too afraid to travel. She takes a drink and wipes her mouth, then mellows a bit when she senses the seriousness of Dravos' mood.
"So who's to say we couldn't look into these Red Hand rumors?" she decides to change tactics, "If Troyas really wants proof so he can raise the militia and protect Brindol, maybe he'd be willing to finance a little scouting party? Me, you, your friends here...and maybe we could convince Ben over there if we make it worth his while. Like I said, he's a wizard-for-hire. And if there are goblins on the march again, it'd be nice to have someone that can burn the lot of 'em while we pick off the stragglers. At the very least, our efforts might get the caravans rolling again..."
OOC: I have no idea how we're supposed to initiate the actual adventure, so if Ceelie is going down the wrong track, someone please feel free to set her straight.
P.S. I settled on Dwarven as Ceelie's extra language. It just made sense so she can talk to Dravos in his native tongue on occasion. Also, Ceelie's more of an urban rogue, so I'm sure she's had ample opportunties to deal with Dwarven merchants, employers, etc. over the years.
"Be that as it may," Kriv says like a patient school-master, "I merely report what the vox populi has muttered. I myself am indifferent to any squabbles here."
"Suit yourself," Ceelie shrugs. "I'm indifferent to your indifference," she adds with a grin, then elbows Dravos, "So what are you on about these days? Keeping busy?"
"This Troyas you mentioned earlier....There seems to be some tension between the various groups in the town regarding him. Some view him as an excitable 'upstart' (not my words), others as a visionary leader. Not an uncommon split of opinion where authority figures are concerned."
"Troyas? The councilman?" Ceelie perks an eyebrow as she studies her stew bowl for another morsel of tasty meat, "Those who think of him as an 'upstart' are too dense to know trouble when they hear it. Though I don't think he's any more 'visionary' than the average citizen. Doesn't take a genius to know goblins are about these days. And even less to know you should look after you and your own when they are..."
"I should seek news of the Clanhold. Does anyone know that fellow there? Where his loyalties lie?" He gestures towards the card-playing dwarf.
"That's Adronsius," Ceelie says through another spoonful of stew, her voice low enough not to carry, "An alchemist by trade. Makes potions. Good ones, too. I've used a few. He's a businessman and also a cardsharp. You don't want to gamble with him or you'll lose your money right quick. I have no idea what clan he's from..."
She glances sidelong at the other table, only her eyes moving and not her head so as not to give away her interest in them.
"The young man is Hess. Adronsius' apprentice. Loyal and a hard worker. Not a very good card player, though. The other one is Ben. Hess follows him around like a lost puppy sometimes. That's because Ben's a real wizard-for-hire. I've done some work for him before...picking up knick-knacks he finds useful for spells and such. He's probably the smartest one at the table. And he'll give Adronsius a run for his money. Not because he's all that good at cards, mind you. He's just good at playing the odds. You don't want to cross him either. Ben's got a tendency to burn things...with magic fire...if you get my drift. The guy's friendly enough though. Soft-hearted. Always willing to lend a hand to people in need. Gets him in trouble sometimes."
Aelwyn wrote:
"So, you got a name, girl?" asks Aelwyn, trying to discern which half of her -- if any -- really contains the elf part. "I might know some of your people."
At this question, Ceelie pauses in mid-bite. She puts her spoon down and reaches for her knife, freeing it from the center of the table. She coolly examines the blade for a moment before tucking it away in one of the myriad sheathes tied about her arms, legs, and waist.
"The name's Ceelie...Merveaux..." she finally answers, "My mother's name. Can't say as I ever knew my father all that well. I hear he went by Ivellios, though. Common enough among elves. But I don't think of them as 'my people.' I don't really have a 'people.' And that's fine by me. I make my own way. That's all I've ever needed."
"Amongst my people, it is deemed an auspicious sign. I myself have found it to be no especial help or hindrance."
Ceelie conjures another half-amused smile at Kriv's response. "In the mountain snow, I imagine it could be quite an advantage," she replies, "Elsewhere...well, maybe more of an attention-getter than one might wish at times..."
SJ@ wrote:
"If you'll excuse me sayin' so, Sir, but I've rarely seen a Dragonkind up close. Your scales are very...pretty. So shiny an' all." Her hand absently falls forward as if she is going to touch Kriv, and then she catches herself, blushes again, and returns to work.
"Point in case..." Ceelie mumbles as she waits until Ellice departs to take another sip of ale, "But it matters not to me. You could be rosy-hued pink and I wouldn't mind."
She shrugs and then dives into helping herself to the bread and stew placed before her...slightly unsure of who's paying for the meal, but not above taking advantage of the offering anyway.
"So, have you folks heard the rumors? All the trouble that's going on...?" she mumbles around a mouthful of food.
Kriv grunts at his story being interupted by the girl's knife antics. "No business, merely tale-spinning," he says by way of reply to her question, with a wave of his hand to indicate the ephemeral nature of their conversation.
"Hmmmm...tales weren't what I imagined when I heard you were back in town," Ceelie says, glancing toward Dravos as she takes another drink from her pilfered mug, "I figured you'd found a way to make more coin and thought of sharing the opportunity with your friend...just like old times."
"So by what means did you make the acquaintance of a full-blooded elf and a dragonborn?" she asks and then nods at Kriv, "Assuredly this one attracts a bit of attention. White scales and blue eyes? Can't say as I've seen one of your heritage among the dragon-folk before."
Unbeknownst to those gathered at the table, Ceelie quietly enters the tavern through the back door. With a nod and a wink to the serving staff, she slips into the room in time to hear an old friend's voice rising to nearly a half-shout.
'Dravos,' she grins.
Dravos wrote:
"...and known to consort with a rough crowd."
Ceelie's roguish grin widens with that description as she crosses the room, trailing in the wake of the serving wench. The larger woman's form eclipses the slender half-elf almost entirely, making it easy to sneak up on those gathered at the table.
Aelwyn wrote:
"Rough for an elf, or rough for a dwarf?" she asks, her eyebrow raised.
Ceelie draws one of her numerous throwing knives and casually spins it straight into the table from only a couple of steps away. It lands point down with a muffled thunk, quivering slightly as Ceelie puts a hand on her hip and regards the wood elf.
"Rough enough for anyone," she answers.
As the serving wench starts to pass her again, Ceelie reaches out to snag one of the ale mugs from the girl's tray. Before anyone notices, the half-elf then sits down next to Dravos and takes a sip. After swallowing, she leans over to peer into the dwarf's cup.
"Water again?" she notes, "You're still not living up to all those expectations people have of dwarves and their brewing skills, you know?" Then she nods at the others. "I'm Ceelie. You're friends of Dravos? What kind of business are we looking at...?"
For Rags/Ben:
Spoiler:
At this point, Ceelie is aware of Ben at the next table...and I'll say they've done business in the past (with her "procuring" various items for him...at a price) so she can serve as the catalyst for wrangling him into the group. But give her a moment to take stock of what Dravos and his friends are organizing first. Then she can suggest they include the wizard-for-hire at the next table...
For everyone:
Spoiler:
Also, I didn't have time last night to craft Ceelie's background. For the time being, her physical description matches her avatar. She looks mostly human rather than elven. That means she can more easily hide her half-elven nature most of the time. She's bigger and stronger than your average elf or half-elf as a result. A rough-and-tumble gal. School of hard knocks and all that. Has a fixation with lots of pointy bladed weapons...likes to wield them and throw them...with flair. The rest of her background is probably unknown to you...but I'll write it up eventually. In the interests of meeting Santinj's timetable, I figured I'd go ahead and post something in the game forum.
I've begun preparing a new profile for my 4e Rogue. Decided to play a female character. Her nickname of "Ceelie" is both a nod to her given name of Celia as well as her half-elven heritage (i.e., the Seelie Court). ;-)
For the moment, I've copied and pasted Aelwyn's game information, but it's really only placeholders until JSL tells me what Ceelie will have in terms of powers, abilities, skills, etc.
