Celima lets out a soft, “ooh” before she nods and apologises to Durga for the mistake
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Celima is relieved when her detect thoughts spell reveals the woman is being honest about the info she is sharing. She will then pipe up and ask, “ You said we are guarding animals and monsters indoors addition to the other shipment right? What type of monsters are we transporting?”
Before they arrive at the Caravan’s location, Celima will preemptively cast Detect Thoughts as she had suggested earlier. She has also changed her dress using the fabricate spell and some spare cloth to make it longer. The dress now covers her entire body in order to hide any traces of her Thayian tattoos and her amulet of spell mastery. When she meets Durga she will speak as cheerfully and enthusiastically as she can manage while introducing herself, “Hi there, I am Celima, It’s nice to meet you! Don’t worry, while I am not as experienced as Jasper, I am a fast learner so i am sure I will be able to keep up no problem!”. As she listens to Durga’s response to Jasper and the others, she will use the detect thoughts spell to attempt to read her surface thoughts. Just in case there is anything interesting there(DC 21 will)
Ohhh I see alright that sounds fun
Celima looks at Jasper thoughtfully before saying, “Well i don’t actually know much about this city or its politics and my experiences with political factions would not be very applicable here so I suppose I will heed your advice. If you’d like I can cast detect thoughts to probe the minds of the caravan master and its guards. I can cast it before we meet them and simply concentrate of each of them to attempt to see their thoughts. “ She looks a little sheepish as she says, “ I am not particularly good at deception but I can attempt to disguise my abilities.”
She will then turn to Erebechi, “I believe I can help you a little in your personal quest. There is a spell that lets spellcasters spy on others even at great distance. If I can locate a scroll with this scrying spell on it, I could learn it and maybe check up on your children. I would require something that belonged to them and maybe...” she starts muttering to herself about the process of using a scrying spell.
Celima will run over her spellbook mentally for a moment before listing out her options on her fingers, "I have Endure elements in my spellbook, wizards don't have cure spells but i have a wand of cure wounds we can use, I can prepare protection and resist Energy spells. I can also prepare emergency force sphere and i usually prepare wall of force anyway."
Celima turns to Jasper curiously, “So, how does this sort of job go in your experience? How do you usually go about preparing for it? Since I am free to use magic I can alter my prepared spells to better fit the mission. Any advice on what types spell I should prepare?”
“Then I have no objection either.”
Celima turns to Jasper and asks, “ You are the veteran here, does this mission seems like something we should take on?”
Celima looks at the man suspiciously before asking, “Since this is a job for Amn, I presume I will be allowed to use my magic on the join yes? If so I believe it should be a safe enough mission Jasper. Though we do need more information about the complement of other guards, details of potential hazards, terrain information etc.”
Oh I thought this campaign fizzled out after like 2 weeks in inactivity, I am happy to continue
Celima seeing that the stranger intends to offer Jasper a job will walk over and say, “I can assist Jasper if he decides to take your Job offer, stranger.” Dwarven: “Actually one of the reasons I approached you was to ask to accompany your caravan for a short time while I get my bearings in Amn. Offering my skills as payment for this assistance.”
Celima will merely watch and listen for now. Allowing Tuk and Jasper to take the lead on conversation
Celima will mentally judge the distances between Jasper, Tuk and the two strangers. For now she does nothing besides making these calculations, trusting that the both of them will be able to do their tasks well. Celima will continue taking slips of her drink as casually as she can, while attempting to see who the hooded stranger seems to be paying the most attention to, Tuk, Jasper or herself.
I have never actually played in Amn before but just to confirm, I can still use magic right? It’s just illegal to do so? There is nothing preventing me from using magic like an animagic field right?
Celima tilts her head slightly at Jasper’s suggestion before she slips from her mug as well. In between sips she will look at Tuk and speaks softly in Halfing, Halfling:
Perhaps you should do this Tuk. From your earlier performance I can tell you are nimble and no slouch in a brawl. With your display just now, I doubt many would bat an eye if, for instance, you observe and banter with a hooded stranger while you complain about the job options. Jasper could certainly hold his own if confronted but he isn’t exactly the most conspicuous. I am pretty bad acting natural too plus I would lose rather quickly in a physical confrontation. You have both the wit and brawn required for this particular task, Tuk. Though come close if things get too hairy, I can get us out of here As she finishes, she will take another long sip before continuing in Dwarven Dwarven: He lacks the tattoos to be a peer of mine so he likely isn’t after me specifically. Though just in case, stay close to me I can get us out of here if things get out of hand
Celima smiles and nods with understanding as Tuk tells her of the tales of his family. She listen attentively to Tuk and seems to memorise his words before replying, ” Such any impressive ancestor you must have had if he could tangle consistently with Giants and other huge creatures. I am sure he must be very proud that his family has flourished after his passing. Unless it was terribly long ago though, the fact you are the 273rd halfling to be named Tuk must mean your family is very large. With so many of you it’s surprising you weren’t recognised by anyone else here.” Celima follows Tuk’s gaze before looking at Tuk and Jasper with concern as she whispers, ” What do you make of him? If it comes down to a fight, I am afraid I will not be very helpful because of the law. I could easily help us escape though.” Celima will inspect the man, trying to determine if the man bears any recognisable marks of Thay.
Wow Jasper that’s pretty awesome lmao. I can imagine someone frantically and conspiratorially saying this in front of a whiteboard :)
Ah I see no worries Don’t worry, I get it ;)
Celima nods as Jasper explains appropriate tavern behaviour, which she mentally noted down for future use. Celima then turns to Tuk as the tension winds down, “Yes You are quite the bold man aren’t you? Say, you mentioned that you are the 273rd of your name. Is it a common halfling name or is it like a family name, passed from parent to child? If it is the latter, your family’s history must be a storied one to boast such a large family tree. Would you mind sharing it?” She turns to Jasper when she hears him speaking in dwarven. She smiles and shakes her head before replying in kind. dwarven: “No there isn’t any trouble, I just wanted to see if you recognised me before I approached you. Of course let’s talk later
Celima looks at the Halfling and then at Jasper with a bewildered expression. The halfling certainly had some skill to avoid Jasper’s shove cleanly. His demeanour and speech could easily be read as provocative. In Thay, the only red wizards she encountered were either human or undead. She had never met a halfling peer before. However, she had learnt in this past year that the realm was as diverse as it was magical and halflings were a major race on the continent. Perhaps more than she expected if Tuk’s introduction was to be believed. She nods at Tuk and introduces herself, “Charmed, I am Celima. “. She appears to have something else to say but instead she looks at Jasper, wondering what his reaction to Tuk’s provocation would be. Whichever way the coin fell, it would help her understand more about how others typically behaved out here. If necessary, she could restrain them to prevent escalation with magic but that should definitely be a last resort. Celima nods to herself as she completes her thoughts and looks expectantly at Jasper and Tuk wondering how they would react
Celima sees that Jasper indeed recognises her and nods back at him. She turns to the waiter and examines him for an instant before she nods and replies, “Perhaps another drink, something a little lighter than this one. “ She stands up and walks over to gesture, offering a wave before she looks for a seat close to him. She sits down and says, “Hello Jasper. It’s been a while since we last met. Thanks again for help, I am unsure I would have made it to civilisation so smoothly without your caravan. “ She glances at the broken chairs and sailors on the ground and smiles, “I see you are as strong as ever. Are you staying in Amn long or going back on the road soon? “ Her eyes widen in surprise at Tuk when he suddenly stands on Jasper’s knees, intrigued by his brazen behaviour. In Thay, at least amongst the wizards, interactions between peers were cold, to say the least. She looks at the pair for a moment in silence before her curiosity overcomes her shock, “Is he a friend of yours, Jasper? He is certainly quite the… confident one, isn’t he?”
Jasper we met each other about 1 year ago not years ago. It’s fine though I imagine with how many jobs he has taken, the details of her escort could have been mixed up
Celima sits at the bar and slips her ale slowly from the cup. It had been just a year, perhaps slightly under a year , since she left Thay and she was still getting used to the different taste of drinks and food outside Thay. Her drink was not all that pleasant to taste but the other patrons were downing their ale quickly and calling for more. Sitting at the bar without a drink would likely draw more attention to herself. Her days had been relatively quiet so far and her stay at the various inn were safe enough with her abjuration spells. Her main issue was being unable to wield her magic freely, which to someone like her was similar to going about your day with both hands tied behind your back. The pros likely outweighed the cons though, she doubted anyone from home would think to look for her here. Especially with how reliant on magic people from Thay were She looked around the bar curiously. It would likely be best for her to find some people she could rely on for protection while she stayed in the city. More than that, she hadn’t had much social activity since she left Thay out of paranoia. She had resolved to overcome this challenge though and perhaps some social interaction will help with that. She stares at Jasper who was currently the centre of attention in the tavern. She did recognise him but she wondered if she should approach him with so many eyes watching. She employs a half measure for now, taking her ale and repositioning herself to be within his line of sight. Her eyes study him trying to tell if he can recognise her
Is there an intro post or do I just follow jasper’s lead?
So i have to sleep now, i will check the thread when i wake up tomorrow. You can start off with character intros and stuff first. I will catch up
Excited to begin, thanks for the invite GM
For jasper, you might notice she looks very different than when she first met you. When she first escaped she would look like a typical red wizard, minus the robes. When she enters Amn her appearance is as per her description so she is tanner, has hair and removed many of the tattoos red wizards typical have
description:
she is a relatively tall, slender woman with tanned skin and long hair. However it’s pretty obvious that her tanned skin is not her natural skin tone and her hair is unstyled as if she had never visited a barber before. Her eyes are a piercing green and she seems to prefer wearing clothing that hides her hands. She also has some tattoos on her face and body but most appear to be deliberately removed. The only exception is the one on her arm that focuses her conjuration magic. She is still rather young at only 19 years old. Demeanour:
She is clearly much more intelligent than others her age but it is more book smarts than street smart. She is also very curious and eager to learn more about the wider world around her. She is slightly paranoid due to her escape but she is trying to move on from this paranoia. Due to her kind nature, she seems eager to make up for years of being a bystander to the evil that occurs daily in Thay backstory:
The Magocracy of Thay is one of the most feared places in Faerun, ruled by the Szass Tam and his Zulkirs. A place crawling with the undead and where your prowess as a mage determines your station. It was in this kingdom of suffering and terror that Celima was born.
Since her birth, her parents had placed great pressures on her. They were both esteemed red wizards after all and since they had abstained from becoming undead to have a child, if Celima was not gifted in the Art, she would certainly be a disgrace. Luckily, Celima displayed a talent for it and while she wasn’t particularly strong or charming, her natural intelligence and skill in magic made up for it. While it was not forbidden for her Parents to teach her themselves, they decided for her to apprentice under an acquaintance of theirs. Especially since Celima having a different specialisation would be more useful for them. So it was decided that she would be mentored by another Red Wizard, the conjurer Veth. Her training began when she was only 7 years old. Still she managed to keep up with the lessons and progressed far faster than other pupils. She greatly enjoyed the magical aspects of her apprenticeship. Her love and skill for the Art blossomed even under the strict and meticulous instruction of Veth. Sadly that was the only highlight of her lessons. She hated nearly every other aspect of her lessons. She was very different from the other thayan children. She was more kind and hopeful, seeking to use magic to help others. However, she soon saw Thay was not a kind place. Her first confrontation with this fact was when Veth taught her the Thayan way of life. He took her down to see the slaves who kept the city running and the undead who did much of thay’s manual labour. She was disgusted and horrified. Veth chastised her for being sympathetic but the seed of doubt was planted. The seed only grew when she learnt of the history of Thay. Of the Lich Szass Tam and his takeover. The demonic rituals and necromantic vaults in the capital. She was taught that Undeath should be the end goal of all mortal things and how the living were weak. It was not merely an abstract lesson either. Her parents spoke openly of their own desire to strip themselves of their mortality and ascend into undeath. Veth often studied ways to call outsiders to bind them to his will. Sadly for him, he lacked the strength for it. Celima slowly grew to hate thay and all it stood for. However, she couldn’t deny that her apprenticeship was greatly benefiting her magical abilities. So she endured, resolving to grow strong enough to leave thay and survive on her own. She hid her disdain as well as she could and clung to her magical studies as a refuge from the harsh reality of Thay. Eventually, this paid off. When she became an adult, she had begun research on a spell that would take her away from Thay. It was an extension of her specialisation and the staple spell of her chosen school, Teleport. She would finally be able to escape. It didn’t take long for her mentor to realise she had unlocked a new level of spellcasting. Realising her new power would allow her to bind outsiders, Veth recommended her to apprentice under a circle of demon binders. When she was told of this, she made her decision. It was time for her to leave. Just days before she was scheduled to meet her new mentor, she packed her things, destroying any personal items she couldn’t carry with her. Then she left, casting her spell to fully exit the nation. As a relatively sheltered adult, she didn’t really know where she was going, only that she wanted to leave thay. The first cast brought her just beyond the outskirts of Thay and the second brought her to unfamiliar territory. She used dimension door spells for short range teleportation within the area, hoping she would run into some help. Luckily she did, encountering a caravan escorted by a warrior made of stone. Initially mistaking him for a golem, she quickly learned his name, Jasper, and his job as a caravan guard. Using what money she had, she hired him to take her with them and followed their caravan to the nearest city. With her private sanctum guarding against scrying attempts. Upon departing from the caravan, she bounced around from place to place for months. Hardly leaving areas warded by her sanctum spell. She did however decide to make some physical changes to separate herself from her Thayan heritage. She stayed in primarily tropical regions with lots of sun exposure. It was also summer which helped her as she wanted to develop a tan as quickly as possible. It was a slightly painful experience the first few times when she got sunburned but eventually her skin turned from the sickly white of a Thayan wizard to a more tanned appearance. She also grew her hair out to further distance herself from her old homeland. Eventually though, she decided she wanted to explore a city. She learnt of the city of Amn and its laws against the use of arcane magic. Hoping it would be a place out of the reach of any pursuers she might have from Thay, she would travel there in an effort to make a new life for herself. After all, if it didn’t work out she could just leave. You might be wondering why I made her relatively young. It’s because I want her escape experience to be relatively fresh. IE making it happen a year ago for her rather than like 5 years ago. And I am not too sure how long it would take her to develop a tan and grow long hair but I think a few months should be plenty of time since she is actively trying to change her appearance Celima might try to ask the Crowled wizards if she could use her magic for self defense and wards but she likely wouldn’t outright tell them she is escaping from Thay. At most she will say she worries her old mentor could be looking for her.
Actually the only anti divination item within the budget is an amulet of proof against detection and location. But it only requires a DC 19 caster check to beat in pathfinder. So it won’t actually help against characters around our level. Also it’s like 25% of our wbl so I can’t afford it. She has mage’s private sanctum to cast where she is staying so her room can’t be scryed upon and detect scrying in her spell book but that’s about all. But it doesn’t really matter since she can just teleport away and her perception is +15 so she can spot the DC 24 scrying sensor pretty easily. She has dispel magic so it isn’t as big of a problem as you might think. Plus I am pretty sure if you dimension door or otherwise leave and area fast enough, the scrying sensor won’t know in which direction to follow Also she is probably not important enough for anyone high up in the thayan chain of command to look for.
So Eltonj, for my backstory, I am going to have Celima apprentice under a Red Wizard. edit ok so apparently level 1-8 wizards from thay are Aspirant's of the red cloth. Level 9 and above are actual red wizards. To be a Zulkir, the minimum is 11th level wizard So because she is level 10 and still young, I intend for her to apprentice under a 9th level red wizard for most her time in Thay. Upon surpassing her mentor, he would recommend for her to apprentice under a demon binder(conjuration red wizard who can use planar binding). Because she doesn’t want to do that she will use her new 5th level spell teleport to run away from Thay. The spell brings her into the path of Jasper’s caravan and she pay him a small fee to escort her somewhere else. She learns about Amn and then stays there, hoping the city’s reputation and laws will let her lay low for a little while 9th level so her mentor can’t immediately trace teleport and follow her which would make it impossible for her to get away with just teleport.
I am not sure if Celina would be very well known herself. She is left thay because the red wizards emphasised necromancy and demon binding, which she didn’t like. I imagine with would be very unwise for her to put herself out there so to speak. Maybe one of you could have aided in her escape? Or she knows about you because you also hate undead/thay? Godwyn(paladin) and Sseth’s character seem to be the best Candidates for people Celima would know yes she is tanned and has long hair to hide herself since when she was in thay as a red wizard, she was very pale and bald
Ooo, same jasper I lost like 10hp. It’s probably fine I took teleport for a reason ;)
Oh and DM, any backstory restrictions I should keep in mind? I am from thay so my story is mainly about escaping and hiding from them. I came to the city of Amn because of the magic ban in hopes I would meet no red wizards here
Yeah it doesn’t. I think I know where this idea comes from though, AD&D is a lot more brutal than pathfinder in terms of restricting players. Pathfinder is still breakable but its removal of certain interactions makes it less broken then 3.5
Of Course what DM says goes but here’s what I know: There’s no such thing as XP spending in pathfinder, because pathfinder crafting requires only gold, time and the appropriate spells/resources. There’s no level loss mechanic as far as I am aware. In dnd 3.0e and 3.5e there were XP requirements because some spells also had XP requirements. There’s no such spell in pathfinder I believe. And this brings up many issues. For instance, now the dm has to decide new XP costs for every item. Because they don’t exist in pathfinder Also to your point jasper there is a drawback to item crafting. You lose that feat. Item crafting builds are very very feat intensive. If I were to try to build an item crafter, I would use up all of my feats. So you win some(better items) and you lose some(your casting isn’t as good) For instance instead of taking craft wondrous item, I could have taken improved initiative, spell focus or more metamagic. Or my spell book could be more combat oriented because I no longer need to pick spells like fox cunning or secret page for crafting. There is one thing the dm can do to make it fair though. By right crafting magic items requires a skill check(spellcraft). You can take 20/10 if you have enough down time which we should have but the dm can instead have us roll the spellcraft manually. If it fails the item breaks and our gold is entirely wasted or becomes a cursed item. Would that be more fair? I am biased of course because I am a wizard and based on item crafting rules, my spellcraft can’t fail for the items I crafted even if I roll a 1. The DC for this check is 5+ CL of item, adding a five for every prerequisite you don’t meet(besides the crafting feat).
My Wizard celima is done, she is pretty frail because of the low point buy but it should still be fine since she has lots of escape options. Craft wonderous item saved me lots of money since she can craft most of her items, only buying a ring of protection, a wand of cure wounds, 6 5th level scrolls and 1 3rd level scroll to copy into her blessed book. Both yea, her sheet should be done. Her backstory will be done soon hopefully |