Eliah Daring's page

Bards are extremely versatile (which is part of why I have trouble playing them, so many options). I've seen some very interesting bard ideas here. I'll second the whip master/archaeologist bard. The trait "Fate's Favored" works really well with the archetype. I also went with greater trip on her since she didn't do much damage. She has spells to back her up, but I like to flavor them as mundane 'tricks' instead of spells (for example: a projector for Silent Image, vial of oil for Grease, a 'Thuvian massage' for Heroism, etc.).

Sorry for the long delay everyone. The summer is a pretty busy time for me so it's easy to forget to check!

"Loathe as I am to agree with my companion, I don't think we'll be finding our way out of here in your cottage." Eliah gathers her belongings, though she leaves her bedroll gathered in the corner. The poor woman deserved a decent place to sleep, but Eliah never felt comfortable accepting thanks. 'I can probably scrounge up some brush on the trail... Hells, I've slept on worse.'

"Thank you again, Free, for the chance to rest. Before we go, is there anything you know about this place that might help us? Perhaps pointing us in the right direction."

A foot shoots out of the bedroll, catching Salty in the shin before retreating to the warmth of her furs. From underneath, Eliah's voice, raspy with morning weariness, can be heard. "Keep it in your pants, there, lover boy."

Eliah squirms under her furs, poking a bedraggled looking head out. "Eh.. ten more minutes mate, This is more comfort than I've had in weeks...and I want to enjoy it." She smiles and yawns widely, then pauses to sniff. "Can't say much for the odor though." A cringe quickly passes over Eliah's face before she buries herself back in her bedroll.

Shortly, a soft snoring can be heard, muffled by the thick fabric.

I've been checking every so often. Not as frequently though

Would this be a situation that would call for communal protection from evil?

Probably wouldn't hurt! And it's only a 2nd level spell, so you should have plenty :)

Sorry for the long delay, I've been on vacation

Eliah helps prepare the meal as best she can, supplementing the dish with a few bits of dried sausage from her rations.

"A story? Hm, can't say a blame ya," she responds to the woman's request.

She scratches her chin a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I once set up an expedition in Sargava. I'd heard rumors of a lost halfling settlement deep in the Laughing Forest. After a long sea voyage, I set up a crew in Port Freedom for two weeks. We secured a small barge, and set out up the Korir River. A few days later, we landed on the northern shore and shifted to the overland portion of our journey. The jungle was thick, the going rough. I lost a third of my men to disease and hostile halflings alone. But finally, after a week of slogging, we reached our destination. It appeared as a tiny stone structure, covered in moss and lichens, but the real structure laid underground."

Eliah's voice lowers, and her tone becomes more serious. "A few chosen hands and myself entered the complex, leaving the rest as guards for our supplies. The ruins were, to say the least, well-guarded. We braved pits, arrow traps, animated constructs, hidden blades, poison darts, cave-ins, and I'm pretty sure there was a least one ghost involved... I barely made it out alive, and I lost all the men I brought with me. Despite all that, I managed to find the hidden treasure within: a circlet of golden leaves made for the halfling kings of old. It was priceless...!" She wrings her hands for a moment, clearly uncomfortable reliving some coming memory.

"But of course, it wasn't finished. I emerged from the temple to find one of my men had betrayed me. A full squad of Aspis Consortium agents (they're a ruthless organization that steals artifacts for profit) had killed all my other hands, and stole the circlet I'd recovered. I barely managed to escape with my life..."

"I wasn't able to recover the artifact-- not for lack of trying." The disappointment is plain in her voice. "I tracked the Aspis squad once I recovered, but I was too late, they had escaped the forest and sailed away... I heard that the circlet turned up in Cheliax a few years later, but I was never able to track it down."

"That also happened to be the start of one of my chief rivalries." Her tone shifts to one more of a begrudging rival. "The leader of that squad was a cunning Mwangi agent called Aziman." An angry look crosses Eliah's face. "That was the first time we crossed paths, but it wouldn't be the last. He hampered a number of my expeditions for years later, including the one that somehow brought me here..."

After a few moments silence, she turns her attention back to the meal before them. "Anyway, that's all I have for now."

That took me longer than expected xD

Pretty elusive, that one.

Nifty!

On another note, anyone seen TET?

Bah! You're all a bunch of waffles. Make a choice! :P

What the smurf?

Congrats on killing your birds! It's a lot easier with clothes eh??

And obviously, the locket stands for Verbal, Somatic components of a spell! :P

I hope their not poisonous?
Knowledge nature = (10) + 12 = 22

Eliah helps prepare dinner if needed, taking time to write down her experiences so far in her journal when an opportunity arises.

With a kind yet amused smile, Eliah responds, "Heh, a nice name indeed. You picked it yourself, I'd wager." With that, she turns to go collect rocks, and maybe some berrries if they're lucky.

survivals, for rocks(1) and then foraging(2): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 131d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Sorry for the delay all, I've caught a nasty cold and forgot to check this weekend. xp

Soooo, is it ironic that the Calistran is being taken by the gryph? :P

edit: Fajra, that sounds brilliant. Or foolish. Or both!

"I suppose 'battle' is a bit of an understatement... I was referring to the war that resulted in the fall of ancient Thassilon. There aren't many records left, but the destruction of such a powerful empire mustn't have been pretty."

"Ah, I see. Probably a smart move on your part, who knows what could've happened in that battle. It's become an epic legend back in our world." Eliah takes a moment to contemplate their situation. "Is there anything else you can tell us about this place, like perhaps where this river leads? It's quite foreign to me, at least. As for our deal, it's a bit late to go hunting today, but I think we can at least gather some rocks, and maybe some veggies. What do you say, Salty?"

Turning away to get to work, Eliah has one more though and turns back towards the scarred woman. "By the way, do you have a name?"

So, I'm pretty sure Max is just a guy with a lot of ranks in bluff, the way he wields that bow...

Or maybe not so many ranks :P

What time of day is it, Madame Fish?

"Not Golarion--?! Desna's backside!!" Eliah curses, tossing her arms up in frustration and turning away from the stone. After a moment's consideration, however, she decides that she's slightly more curious than frustrated, 'Though it would've been nice to be snagged from a comfortable Korvosan inn than the middle of the jungle... ah well.'

"Never die from the damage, you say? Do you mean damage from the wildlife around here? Sounds nifty, I can already tell this place is dangerous."

She waits for the woman to continue writing. "Krune! Of course! I thought that it sounded familiar, how could I have forgotten." She waits for the woman to finish writing. "Dead realm... so was this after the fall of Thassilon? If you were trying to escape it, what happened to everyone else? How did you end up here?"

Once the woman describes the work she wants done, Eliah smirks. "Well, I might not know anything about herbs, but hunting game is something I can handle." She reaches her hand back, making sure her bow is still on her pack. "It might be too late to head out today, though. What kind of stones do you need, and what for? As for stories, I'm sure we can come up with some between the two of us." She glances at Salty, being sure to share her words.

knowledge history: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Eliah seems a bit disappointed about her lost statue... 'But maybe there's something even bigger to be found here.'

"Hmmm... the Thassilonian Sin Mages used the Seven Sins for their specializations, but who is Krune? And these boundsman? I think we encountered some of these altered animals already," says Eliah, alluding to the golden deer from before. "If this place was found by the Thassilonians... that's over 10,000 years ago! Just how long have you been here? Are we still on Golarion?"

Turning to Salty, "Sounds like we won't be getting to the see anytime soon." She actually seems a bit sorry for the half-orc. "I don't know about you, but if she's offering us shelter, I don't mind working a few days to recover some strength. We might be able to learn something about this place."

Speaking once again to the scarred woman, "What sort of work would you have us do? I don't know anything about gardening, but we'd be extremely grateful for a few days to recuperate. What kind of herbs are they, anyway?" Eliah taps her chin, thinking. "One more question: do you know what the research centers were originally for?"

Hey, you never know :P

Oops! That's what I get fit losing so late :P

Knowledge = (10)+12 = 22 yay bards! :D
spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Eliah relaxes after seeing the modest apartment. She watches over the scarred woman's shoulder, recognizing her incantations, if not the runes left by them. "Clever, clever..." she mumbles to herself as the Aquan script appears. She listens carefully to Salty's translation, startled slightly by his guffaw. She takes time to think during Salty's response to form her own.

(I believe she understood Draconic? Eliah will answer in that to save time, or just have Salty translate)

"Why?" She chuckles softly. "Would that I could tell you. Some cosmic joke, perhaps?" Eliah shifts her weight, somewhat torn between a chance to relax her guard a moment in a real shelter and the constant wariness born of countless archaeological expeditions. "I was by myself before, and haven't seen anyone besides this one since I arrived. Excepting you, of course." She gestures to their new host. "Last I knew I was being chased by a hail of Aspis arrows, carrying their new prize... somehow the damn thing teleported me here and has since gone missing... Say, ask her if she's seen it Salty! A ruby statue of a jackal-man, about yay high..." She indicates a statue about 2 feet in height. Without waiting, she continues, "Hell, maybe that's my sin, temptation or messing with fate, what have you-- wait..." She taps her finger on her chin, pondering. "The ancient Thassilonians practiced a specialized form a wizardry I've heard called Sin magic... I'm sorry, ma'me, but I am no wizard if that's what you mean. But please tell me, we can't be in Thassilon, can we??"

(The italics are where she's referring to Salty, rather than the woman)

"Hmph. I hope you're right, but it pays to be prepared. Especially with all of... this." She gestures minutely at their surroundings, indicating her annoyance at not fully grasping their situation.

Oh. Well, I didn't think I was actually accurate :P I've had a few run-ins with turkeys. Nothing like that, but as I rule I'm always cautious around wildlife.

sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 nice!

If she doesn't sense anything amiss, Eliah will follow the woman, taking a glace at her scratchings in the dirt as she passes. (Was she writing anything or just havin' fun?)

She falls into step with the half-orc, whispering discreetly, "Keep your guard up, just in case. With everything we've seen the past two days, I don't know what to expect."

bluff to pass the message, if ya like: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 (Enough to get it across at least! If not hide it too well :P)

Hmm, perhaps! As long as it doesn't glow green =/

Trout, what did birds do to you when you where young anyway? xD

spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Since she identifies the spell, Eliah elects to fail her will save.

"Don't do anything rash, Salty, she's just trying to get a feel for our intentions." Eliah raises her hands in a conciliatory gesture, though she's not sure what good it will do if the old woman is blind. "Hey, hey, no worries. We're not a threat, we're just lost and need some help. Can you help us?"
diplomacy, with LUCK: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
She says that in common, since she doesn't like Thassilonian. If she still doesn't respond, she'll try Draconic next. Eliah is thinking similar thoughts, she just wants to get some help figuring out where she is and how to get back to civilization.

Hey, now you guys have your own poultry swarm to fight! Not as tasty as those chickens though :)

Eliah continues to approach, smiling in earnest at seeing someone without tusks. When the wind shows the woman's face, however, Eliah's grin fades a bit and her steps slow. "Huh. That's peculiar." Unable to detect anything nefarious about the gardener, Eliah approaches to about 20 feet before pausing for another greeting in common.

Salty, you following or hanging back?

Damn Tuich! Those are some serious Paladins.

wis: 1d20 ⇒ 5

"Oh thanks the gods!" Eliah rushes out of the forest towards the cabin, waving her hand in the air. "Hello! Hello there!" She shouts. "We've been lost in the forest for two days. Please, can you tell me where we are??" She continues to hustle in the direction of the woman unless something else happens.

Wow you guys have been busy! Sorry I missed some, I got busy the last few days, and my PbPs have been slow so I forgot to check. I just finished catching up on the 42 posts I missed :P

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Eliah climbs up a large boulder, taking a perch near the top to scout their surroundings as best she can. Peering into the distance, a thin line of smoke stands out against the streaks of sky visible between the trees. "Is that what I think it is..?" She shades her eyes with one hand, squinting and learning forward slightly in an effort to see more clearly.

Suddenly, a triumphant shout breaks the calm forest air. "Salty!" She yells, still looking to the horizon for a moment before breaking away and hopping down to the ground. "There's smoke! And a cabin!! Not a half-mile off!" Her arms reach towards the sky in excitement before dropping back to her sides. "Finally, we can get a clue to where we are! Maybe even find a way back to civilization!" She punches the sky, doing a short spin in her excitement. "Come on!" She scoops up her pack and gestures for him to follow, hurriedly continuing towards the structure.

Eliah shakes her head in disbelief. "This place is getting weirder by the hour... I wasn't hearing things, right?" She takes a few more moments to examine the only clue remaining, concentration evident on her face. Anything I can pick out from the pattern, TET?

She shrugs. "I suppose we should continue on."

Good luck! I know how tricky managing your time can be.

Can I deduce anything from the circle? All my knowledges are the same bonus.

Eliah shrugs at Salty and stands up, grabbing removing the whip from her belt just in case. In a loud, clear voice, "Is someone there?" She looks around cautiously, not sure what to expect.

Eliah cocks her head, surprised. "Wait, what..?" She takes a moment to look around and listen before examining the scene more closely.

And using a round of luck, cause why not? Actually, I'll use loremaster on this too.

perc: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Knowledge = 20 + 15 = 35

bluff, secret message DC 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
bluff to 'not hear' it?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Eliah hears the bush giggling, but keeps on their discussion about the river without much of a halt. She weaves in a few hand signals and words under her breath to Salty.

(I'll loop around the other side, let's try to corner whatever that is.)

"Well, I think I'm going to take a quick dip before we head out!" She says, slinging her pack over her shoulder. "Just give me a minute."

Eliah walks around the bush until she can hopefully cut off any escape route of... whatever is in there.

Not any harder than shark-boy over here!

Through the magic of storytelling, I'm we'll run into each other right when we need to! :D

"Heh, I suppose you would. Didn't think of that." She chuckles.

Eliah chews thoughtfully for a moment before answering. "Hard to say. The river's still pretty small though, so I'd reckon we're closer to the source than the mouth. Still, it's better than wandering the mountains."

Eliah finally wakes, groping for her hat and overshirt before pulling off the covers. After a big yawn and a stretch, she spots her chance companion in a field a little ways off. 'What..? Oh.' Eliah realizes what the cook is actually doing, and can't help but grin. 'Yesterday he was biting off chicken heads, now he's chasing butterflies... heh. What's next?'

Eliah stands up from her bedroll, wobbling a bit before steadying herself. The ache from the cockatrice bites is still there, but she feels a bit better at least. She heads to the river to collect a bit of water for boiling, using it to rehydrate and refill her waterskin. Her stomach growls loudly as she works on starting the fire though. Digging out some salted beef from her pack, she takes a strip in her teeth then calls out to the Salty, who seems to be trying to dig up some tubers in a field of grass? 'Heh, he really is a sailor.' "Salty! Want some breakfast?" She waves one of the beef strips as she calls, the other still hanging from her mouth. "Boiling some water too, if ya need it." 'Not sure he does with that stomach though...' She thinks, chuckling to herself.

Using one of my trail rations. I don't feel like hunting this morning!

not looking! *covers eyes*

Eliah somehow doesn't seem to notice either the butterfly to the looming half-orc. She stirs gently, murmuring softly (maybe something about chicken pies? It's hard to hear). Her eyes almost flutter open as she turns before thumping back down onto her bedroll and snoring loudly.

Sadly, the butterfly is probably scared off.

Nice story tuich!

Hell, and I thought the chickens were bad xD

I still need to find time to read that sort, Tuich, but I will soon!

Uuuuhhhhhh high!

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Eliah works with Salty to set up camp. She's wary of his sanity, wondering how much influence those chemicals have had on him. Though she couldn't argue that he was useful, and the following the river still seemed like the best course of action.

I think Salty would like to follow the river down :P

What time of day is it? Eliah will stash the skins when they're ready for travel.