Cindy Lu's page

I am sorry that happened. Welcome back to the connected world.

I am going on travel for work tomorrow through Thursday and then directly to Dragon Con for the weekend. I'll have my laptop and will try to keep up through Thursday but after that my time will likely be eaten by the con. Will be home late Monday September 4. Bot me as needed.

Should have said "6" different events. And that was after I had indicated that I wanted to run as few different events as possible on their preference form. In their defense I had offered to run sort of late this year. I do not like how they notify people they are accepting GMing applications (Some board I do not read I think) and I never heard about about it.

I have been a Tier 2 judge for the previous 2 years and do not mind helping but I am slow at prepping and also hate running cold so I do a deep prep. Just no time to prep 6 different things this year.

When you hear they are recruiting judges next year send me a note. :)

Sorry I missed you this year Issa. The Psizo staff wanted me to prep different events, including both specials in order to judge for them. I was pretty busy in life in general and had to decline. And I could not find a decent hotel on my own so I did not make it at all. I am hopeful for next year.

With limited social skills Cindy stands in the background and looks like a guard.

Cindy stays in character, ready to act in the group's defense.

Cindy casts Hex Ward, Mask Dweomer, frostbite, and mage armor before arriving at the docks. She assumes the guise of a man-at-arms / body guard and stays close to Issa.

I am not much good at sneaking. Cindy admits. I am with Issa.

[ooc} I like this approach. Help me understand/recall why we might want to torm Rakinkal's lair.[/b]

But do you like demons better?

We have lost our most social character. Yet we seem to be in a social /intrigue challenge. I predict this will continue to drag on for quite some time and request the DM move us along somehow.

So, what now?

We have already fought demons. If I must choose I will ally with the drow.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Cindy is unsure what a rakshasa is and so asks. I fear you must educate me. I have heard the name whispered in fear but do not really know what a rakshasa is.

And so you are rewarded. Cindy adds with a smile. She goes on to tell what she knows about the murder of the high priest but does not betray any confidences that she is aware of and specifically fails to mention that the group made an ally of a certain reluctant vampire.

So my question for you is why would Rakinkal be involved in the murder of a high priest of Abadar in Coran? Of was he? It might be that a certain drow wishes us to believe he was in order to influence the very decision we discuss.

You can rest assured that I wills side with the one that favors the merchants the most. That is not always evident though and there is also the matter of time frame to consider. Giving the chance I would consult with my superiors before making a decision. And while I expect no true honor among thieves certain, well, races, have a particular reputation for deceit. Without good evidence to do so I doubt I would support such a leader. She leaves some of the details out expecting Sul'tak with fill in the blanks. But you might have such evidence to share with us, no? After all, I must consider who sent us to you.

As Aerin begins to add more information Cindy interrupts Hold my friend. While I would share all the information that is mine to share, some of what we know is for guild ears only. I am sure the tiefling understands the nature of secrets better than most and will understand.

Becoming more comfortable with the exchange Cindy offers the tiefling a chair. Please, me more at ease. I will gladly share what I know with you and trust you will do the same. Members of our guild were being extorted by one rising guild in the city. We could not tolerate such activity against a member in good standing so we acted. Part of our action was to support a rival guild. We used intel from that guild to find our problem group and attacked them with some backup from their rivals. One high level guild member was killed, and one was taken prisoner. The others managed to evade us as the city guard came to investigate. Our allies benefited from the weakened condition of their rivals. They agreed, for a time at least, to exclude our membership from their activities. I felt the exchange a win for our merchants. She goes on to identify the names of the guilds and anything she knew abouther enemies, but not the leadership of her ally guild.

Cindy smiles warmly at the woman before stating I understood you were the broker of information, not I. I do not mind sharing with you what I know but at least we should trade information. Too much one sided giving will make one side feel, well, under appreciated, don't you think?

The underside of Coran raises up many contenders and rival for the prime thieves guild. As a supporter of the Merchants I have found it useful to know about these groups and to sometimes even support one over another. A leader in such a guild entrusted this name to me.

Well met Sul'tak. I am Cindy. My companions and I are in the employ, directly or indirectly of the Merchant's guild. And while we had other business in this place I came here hoping that we would indeed have a chance to talk with you. There may be ways you can assist us that we do not yet know, but for now if you can tell us about an individual named Rakinkal.

Cindy takes note of the woman wondering if the group might need her help. Once in the meeting room with the others she will share the encounter. Perhaps I have found someone who could help us with finding people. she offers. There is a Tiefling woman in the bar who claims to know everyone in the Hold.

I am about to be on another trip. This time I'll be gone from tonight until Sunday June 25 and will not eve have cell signal so I cannot check in. Please bot me as needed.

No, you are correct. Cindy was outside trying to look like a guard on the door while things settled inside. This gave her a chance to glare at [scan) everyone in the big room. After her scanning was completed she went back in. I guess I missed the Tiefling. Let me respond in character below.

Responging to the tiefling woman Cindy says in a gruff voice Only those who might mean trouble for my friends inside. Are you such a person?

I am all ears. Perhaps we can enlist you own behalf of the merchants and then we can share our missions as well. But I do wonder about this place. Here, I can at least make it harder to overhear us. Cindy casts Message on the group.

Cindy shifts her gaze away from the two that were her focus and looks about for the strongest sources of magic. After the food is delivered and the servant departs Cindy will go back in with the others.

Cindy will look into the new room checking it with senses magical and mundane before allowing the others past. She will enter last and close the door. When Solian make his report she confirms The first is Aurelion di Alkanov, son of the merchant Anton. And the other goes by Tunny. He is one of the mages lackeys. She says the latter name with obvious dislike.

After her report she reopens the door, steps out, closes the door again and leans upon it in typical guard position. From that place she continues to survey the room, checking out magical auras, starting first with Aurelion and Tunny.

Cindy keeps her disguise up and casts Detect Magic before entering the establishment. Once inside she studies the place trying to discern the different magics in the room.

Right. Just explaining why Cindy has a back seat in this one.

Same. My understanding was that we were to find out why this woman stopped paying her guild dues and to correct the problem. if we are headed that direction it is a round about path. :) Still we seem to have shown that the enterprise is either talking money or faking it. If they are making money then they should be paying dues. So it seems to me that they may be faking their income.

Cindy stands rigid in the back trying to go unnoticed and wondering how this approach will collect the moneys due the guild from this delinquent.

Cindy wearing the guise of a guard accompanies the group, staying quiet and in the back. She marvels at how easily Aerin spins a false tale, knowing that she could never accomplish such a feat. And she listens, wondering how best to bring up the issue of guild dues that are in arrears.

Hi all. I am finally back from my quite long tour of central Europe. Loved the trip but also glad to be home. Catching up now. Thanks for putting up with my absence. I'll be posting soon!

I wanted to give a heads up that I will be on vacation and traveling through central Europe from May 9-May 25. I'll be able to post some while traveling but will have to do so from my phone or iPad. So please bot me if required and know that I'll post when I can.

I honestly don't recall. Don't think so. I could use a reminder of our total mission I guess. Been a while.

Guild business. Cindy says curtly. But its now complete. If you would like to talk further I suggest we take it elsewhere. She looks around a little uncomfortably.

I can't put my finger on it Mardoni. But he seems uncomfortably familiar.

I always wish I was better at Sense Motive than I am, regardless of the character. :)

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (10) - 2 = 8

Sure that she has seen the dwarf somwhere, but unable to recall where she has little choice to let him pass. Shaking her head to clear it she responds to Aria But of course I have. But I doubt you have learned how to decipher them from my mask.

Cindy moves to get out of the dwarf's way but manages to step when he was trying to step. As she does this her eyes light up with partial recognition and she she says I believe I know you from somewhere good dwarf. Have we met?

Indeed. I still derive income from his success. Cindy notes with some satisfaction. Let me introduce you to the rest of my team. This is Issa, and this is Aerin. We have been working together for some time now.

Cindy's eyes widen in recognition and a smile comes to her face. of course I survived. I am of tough stock. And you, well you look like you are prospering. What brings you to the Hold? I am sill with the Merchants and on their business.

Perhaps you should remind me of your leaving the party.

Right. The curve blade has always been finessable. And Unchained rogue adds Dex Damage to one specific weapon at lower level and another weapon at mid level. Plus you Get Weapon Finesse for free. There is no down side to converting to unchained rogue if you have the chance.

Cindy's wealth is a little skewed due to her crafting on her hex mask. Cool to add enchantments to it at 3/4 cost but the choices are limited and I might be better off just buying good gear. L)

Without her hex mask her total is 16863.

Her mask acts as a hat of disguise (has come in handy some), a helm of comprehending languages (never come up), a Jingasa of the fortunate soldier (need to discuss the errata to this - might not be worth keeping, and most recently added a Cyclops Helm (never used, but should be pretty handy.

The mask total cost is 12700 for a total of 29.6K. I think 8th level is 33K

Hmm. She also seems to be holding a hat of Human Guise and a wand of cure light for the party. She has an item better than the hat and has her own wand of cure light.

It has been so long I had to go back and review to remember your character area. I learned Lightning Bolt from you iirc. :)

Welcome all. I am glad we are breathing new life into one of my all time favorite games. I am ready to get this one rolling again. :)

Mardoni, you will have to convince me that the arcane trickster is viable. I have wanted it to be for many years but am convinced it is under-powered. Consider Counterfeit Mage instead? I have seen it played and it seemed quite fun.

Count me in. I'd like the pace to pick back up but still love this game!

Cindy nods and leaves the building.

Cannot think of anything to add. Perhaps some GM reminders would be a good idea. In real time its been quite some time and I honestly do not even recall why we are here. Sorry, but that is what happens when a week of game time takes a year.

I am headed to a small con in Memphis and will be off line from noon tomorrow until Monday. Please bot me as needed.

Cindy enters the room and looks about. Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13