Chalkou's page

Alright, here's Ouachitonian's submission: Chalkou, the Gnoll brawler with a clockwork arm, and his similarly augmented hyena companion, Giggles.

Mechanically, he's a Brawler (Constructed Pugilist, Wild Child). His hyena companion uses the Augmented Companion animal archetype. They're not the smartest characters I've ever built, and they can't do magic. But do you need frontliners? They know how to be frontliners. Chalkou does also carry a gun, but he's not very good with it.

Could I build a more effective character and animal combo with a Mad Dog Barbarian, or maybe Druid or Hunter? Maybe. But the Brawler and companion who both have construct parts felt like it really fits with the steampunk feel of Alkenstar to me. It also neatly ties into the Ratted-Out Gunrunner campaign trait; they got their wounds that necessitated rebuilding when the shieldmarshals ambushed their gunrunning operation. And who doesn't love a gnoll+hyena combo? They can even talk to each other, thanks to the Beastkin trait!

Go ahead and drop me.

Sorry, busy weekend. Wasn't expecting the IC thread to blow up all of a sudden.

Chalkou rolls his eyes within his helm. "I hope that by the time we get there, we've got something more concrete than 'the force provides a way.' The force didn't provide a way last time. I'll make sure and get some practice with the new guns before we get there."

If we have to get on board, the “empty ship” trick the Falcon pulled against the first Death Star seems like a good option, except that there’s apparently a force user who knows all of you, so unless we can find a ysalamiri that’s probably not an option. That kind of thing is part of why I haven’t said much: near as I can tell it’s all dead ends, and the adventure wants us to take on a vastly superior ship and…hope for the best? I was hoping the people who didn’t just get here might know something I don’t.

Has no skills that are useful in this situation. There’s enough arguing in here, y’all don’t need me doing it too.

It's been a while since I looked at the construction rules, but I'm pretty sure that refitting a fighter designed to be run by a droid brain to house an entire cockpit would require a pretty major redesign.

Does the wiki have anything on the planet?

Yes: Terminus

I’m here, I’m just a brand new character that walked into…this, and is useless for repairing a starship or navigating. Nothing to do besides wait. I’m still not clear enough on what happened earlier in the campaign to try and offer alternative solutions. This whole thing seems like a dead end to me.

No mechanics skill here. I'll do what the group wants, I guess. Don't really know what else I'd do.

I just got here, I'm totally lost.

Chalkou rolls his shoulders and flexes his hands. "Just give me the green light." he says, ready with the gunnery systems, but not yet attempting a target lock.

Chalkou quietly moves to one of the ship's gunnery stations.

Chalkou was checking out the ship. Especially weapons and defensive systems.

I don’t think there’s any such thing as being forced to use the Dark Side, ultimately. Even if you did so to save your skin, you still chose to do it. You still valued self-preservation above doing the Right Thing, no matter the consequences. Keep on that “I had to do it to survive” track long, and pretty soon you won’t *want* to go back.

Chalkou will wander around the ship, familiarizing himself with it. Especially weapons systems.

Is he one of the Mando Mandalorians or the ones that can take off their mask?

He *can*, but he also realizes the mystique of the masked Mandalorian, so he usually doesn’t in public. Around comrades he will, but still usually only for meals or other times when it’s impractical to wear a helmet. If it’s necessary to take a meal in public he just gets a shake or something; the helmet has an extendable straw.

In a war, the human retorts, [/b] only the carrion eaters gain [/b]

The Mandalorian faith teaches of Akaanati'kar'oya, The War of Life and Death, and how the Destroyer God Kad Ha'rangir forces change and growth upon a stagnant universe through conflict." The young Codru-Ji says, crossing both pairs of his arms as his eyes narrow behind his mask. "So I hope you will forgive me if I do not agree." Without waiting for a response, he turns and departs the conversation.

Chalkou nods. ”That is true. But our suffering pales in comparison to that of the Jedi.” Who would have thought I would sympathize with Jetiise? he thinks to himself. Strange bedfellows, indeed.

Where you raised on Mandalore? I was there briefly in the last days of the war.

Chalkou turns to look at the human, then shakes his head. "I was adopted by Mandalorians after my parents were murdered. I have been to Manda'yaim, but my clan were not the farming sort, so we largely stayed away on business."

Chalkou slides into the periphery of the conversation, not trying to interrupt, but figuring he should be on hand if new guys are being introduced.

Chalkou shifts nervously. His contact had said that the crew he was to meet would be at the cantina, but he'd been here waiting for the last few minutes and seen no one. Maybe they arrived early? he thinks to himself. With one last glance around the street, he emerges from the shadows, crosses from the alley, and ducks into the cantina. No sooner has he entered than he sees what he believes to be the group, and starts over toward them.

I'm here. Just wasn't sure if I got picked or not. I take I'm in, then?

So...am I in?

Ok, this is Ouachitonian. I think I'm ready. There's a sad (though entirely understandable) lack of armored sci-fi warrior images in the profile pic selection, but this one works well enough for me. It's not like there's a lot of four-armed humanoids in the selection either.

All the details of stats and background are in the alias, of course. I focused him on the Armor Specialist Talent Tree for now, seemed appropriate given his background. I definitely plan on going into Elite Trooper once I qualify, so I went ahead and took the necessary feats. he's definitely going to want to loot some heavier armor the first chance we get. Or maybe track down a cache of surplus clone trooper armor, since we've got a clone in the unit as well. A bigger gun would be great too.

This is Ouachitonian's centaur. I'd say champing at the bit, but centaurs don't wear bridles. The very idea!

Here's Ouachitonian's centaur. Fear his charging lance! (Well, once he gets out of this damned prison and acquires a lance...) I couldn't resist using the centaur-specific archetype for cavalier. Where else would I get to? Charging whenever possible will pretty much be his whole thing; already has Ride-By Atack, I'll be taking Spirited Charge, probably Trample and Improved Overrun (though PC-race centaurs don't get a hoof attack, so maybe not), etc. I had a hard time finding an Order I felt really fit, ended up going with Black aimyo more for the mechanics than the fluff, I doubt he's ever heard of Susumu. He's actually a Green Faith worshipper, though a particularly militant and disagreeable one (if you're human, anyway).

Here's my Tauress.

** spoiler omitted **

Okay, this is Ouachitonian's submission. All the details are in the alias, but the upshot is that Chalkou is technically a half-orc, but with the Necromantic Affinity feat for that Dhampir flavor. He's a Pharasmin warpriest who focuses heavily on being anti-undead. The background and whatnot is...maybe a little less detailed than it could be, I always struggle a bit with making relatively high-level characters sound as experienced and badass as they should be. But anyway, he should be basically finished, pending the answer to my question a few posts up from this one. And maybe retouching the background somewhat if you don't think it cuts the mustard.

Ok, here's Ouachitonian's concept. He's still built for the previous campaign and will need to be ratcheted down to 1st level, but this is the alias I'll be using, and you can get an idea of where I'm headed:

Name: Chalkou

Race: Half-orc

Class: Fighter (Armiger)

Campaign Trait: Hellknight Armiger

Motivation: Chalkou is an aspirant to the Order of the Nail. Whatever wild and monstous beings call the Spire home are a threat to the stability of the region, and therefore to be abhorred and destroyed to bring law to this wild region. Also, he had studied some under Signifer DeViri, who led a party to the Spire and has not returned. The higher-ups therefore chose to attach him to the party forming to explore the Spire to find out what happened to here (and to report back about what can be found in the Spire).

Alright folks, I’m going to bow out as well. It’s been on my mind for a while that this game moves a lot faster than any other I’ve been in, PBP-wise. I’d been trying to hang on until we clear this level, but it’s become clear to me that I’m not holding up my end of the bargain, and rushing and missing things when I do post. The rest of y’all don’t deserve that. I wish it could be otherwise, apologies for letting y’all down. Happy gaming, and perhaps we’ll meet again in a slower-paced game. Best of luck.

Hold up. I'm showing my AC as 19. Did I forget a -2 somewhere?

Chalkou steps back to get room, then stabs at the mudlord with his spear.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

CMB: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Chalkou tries to fight his way free of the animate mud’s embrace.

Still not quite sure what's going on, Chalkou tentatively stabs at the muddy wall.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

I'll be leaving town in a little bit to head to a funeral. Won't be back until tomorrow. Won't be back until late tomorrow night. I'll have my phone on me, but posting will be limited for the next ~48 hours.

My bad. I moved myself double on the map but didn't say in the post I was taking a double move instead of single. Sorry.

At the sound of the commotion, Chalkou rushes around the corner, just in time to see Uriel disappear into the mud.

Knowledge(Planes): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Chalkou brings up the rear, ensuring nothing sneaks up behind them.

Chalkou stands by silently. Magic is beyond him, and aside from perhaps defending the casters from intruding monsters, he has little role to play right now.

"Closing the portals is a good idea." Chalkou says, before thinking on the studies of the Planes that his Order had put him through.

Knowledge(Planes): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

I probably won’t get a post up today. As soon as I get off work I head home, change clothes, then head to a live game that’ll keep me out ‘til past midnight. Will catch up Tuesday.

Chalkou makes his way around the ledge, then stabs down past Uriel at the Bunyip.

He gets cover, I take it.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 11 - 4 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23

Chalkou stabs the water elemental again.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Takin quick stock of the situation, Chalkou stabs out at the water elemental.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

I’ve used Roll20 for other games. It’s fine. Perfectly serviceable. Also, today’s been busy, I’ll try to get a post up in the morning.

Chalkou can take whatever watch, he doesn't have a preference.

”I can stand a watch as well. I have need of rest, to be sure, but no concern for spells.”

"I was paying attention to the things trying to kill us, I don't have any idea if the lever did anything at all." the big half-orc says gruffly.

Yes, let's do that.

Chalkou wrote:

... Someone move me, ...

Move you to ... ??? Where do you want to be moved to? Through the open doorway to next room to the west? Or back out to the submerged hallway? Or what? COMMUNICATION PLEASE FOLKS!

I thought it was pretty clear. "If we hit any open doorways, let’s stop there and clear the room before we go any farther." So I'm moving west until we hit a doorway.

”Very well.” the Hellknight Armiger says, before leading the way that direction.

Someone move me, I’m posting from my phone. If we hit any open doorways, let’s stop there and clear the room before we go any farther.

"Which way from here?" Chalkou asks, needing to know which way is forward in order to take point.