Katapesh Sailor

Erasmes al-Amin's page

20 posts. Alias of Twigs.


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CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Upon the morrow, Erasmes will cast a stoneskin spell as a contingency.


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

"May the winds speed your path, Shalelu." he says, falling into a deep state of thought. Reaching into his haversack, the wizard draws out a long, ornate glass hookah, packs it methodically with tobacco and aromatic spices. He moves the stem to his mouth, only to have it snatched by the monkey at his shoulder, who takes a deep puff and blows several smoke rings at the ceiling.

Erasmes inhales, mind beginning to race. "I could teleport us to meet the threat head on, but without the proper scrying magic we're just as like to miss our mark and leave the town undefended. I've plenty of firepower, I could summon elementals to our whims, even bind an efreet or a djiin, although I would not do so here and put Sandpoint at risk. Yet I have nothing to ground a dragon bar the elements at my beck and call."

Erasmes has powerful dazing spells, haste, communal protection from arrows to save us from hurled boulders, and resist energy spells to save us from dragonbreath. Planar binding I'd rather save as a trump card for later, although the straits seem dire now things can always get worse.


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Erasmes strokes his thin beard, shaking his head in wonderment. "I have seen many things on this great plane, my friend. But ever are you full of surprises."


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Oh, brilliant!

Rules are here!. Time for the first of what I'm sure will be many spells I've never gotten to see in play. Woohoo!


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

I probably should have specified! I dimly recall Madame mvashti being Sandpoints highest level spellcaster, and probably our only source of divination.


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

"Not so fast, friends. This letter is addressed to their Stone Giant leader. I fear we might be facing more fearsome foes than ogres."

Erasmes frowns, stroking his long thin beard. "I have no skill at divination, but have heard tell of a seer in this town. We have a name. Perhaps we can scry on this army if this woman has power enough?"


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

"Ya nhar eswed! Oh black day!" Erasmes exclaims, ringed hand shooting to his mouth. It takes a sharp slap from his simian familiar to get his mind racing again. "Word will surely reach us off a giant's approach. I can take to the skies, if your rangers can set up a perimeter, fair one." he says to Shalelu, sinking into a chair.

"But a dragon... Sarenrae preserve us."


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Erasmes chuckles at Horp. "Of that at least, I think you are innocent, sadiq. I daresay those cannibals would sooner turn vegetarian than put you in one of their stewpots." he says. The comment is meant in jest, but he gives an involuntary shudder. "Let us not dwell on the horrors we saw in the shadow of Hook Mountain. I am like to lose my appetite. Let us see this friend of yours so we might sooner start the banquet."


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Erasmes steps down from his magic carpet, dusting the dust off the road off of his colourful garb. In unison, both Erasmes and Sajjad drop into a sweeping bow. "Dawnflower greet you, Shareek. I trust business is well?" the Keleshite asks, his twisted grin revealing his several golden teeth. The monkey at his side clambers up onto his shoulder, whispering frantically into his ear. He frowns for a moment and smiles apologetically.

"Ah! Where are my manners? We may talk business while the others are settled, no?"

Kelish:
Partner. (After his run-in with the Skinsaw Cult Erasmes has become one of the Glassworks' chief investors.)


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Oh yeah! A question I asked in my previous game. We essentially decided the command words were some variation of "ook" as there isn't anything stating that one needs to speak a language in the RAW. Essentially I'm grabbing evolved familiar in place of improved familiar as a monkey felt like the more stylistic choice and the feat investment is still a factor. (What with animals class skill list and naturally low charisma scores.) a ruling on that would be super.

We're very arcane caster heavy as is, if anybody has any input on his current spell load out i can adjust accordingly.


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Cuan would you be able to give us the cliff notes of what an occultist does as well? I'll be in the mountains for a few days but should be able to check in to workshop a shared backstory.

I'm pretty familiar with the path, having GMd burnt offerings for more than one table and briefly ran a pbp. Erasmes is intentionally ignorant on all things Varisian to stop me meta gaming too heavily.

My suggestion is that we don't follow the events of the AP bit by bit and feign knowledge of events we haven't played through that we come up with a shared backstory that loosely follows the events of the path and pick up with the events of volume four (which should be enough to get us swept up in the events of the path). Fast and loose.

Something along the lines of linking several monster attacks across the countryside with a lamia death cult, harvesting (greedy) souls for a long dead wizard. We've fought with goblins, ghouls, doppelgängers and ogres along the way. Have I missed any big plot critical reveals in volume 3?

I think if we all post our characters appearance, personality and the like in the discussion that would be a lot of help. As well as a rough idea of their party role. I've also got to finish my gear. I've made note of the expensive purchases but wish to fill my bags of holding with exotic goods and various oddities.

I'll check back in with Erasmes' cliff notes shortly.


Erasmes and Sajjad just have equipment left to polish off. High level wizards are a lot of work!


When the masses talk of Erasmes the Sly, they might tell of the tale of his daring escape from Spellhold, or his making the journey from Calimshan to the Crown of the World in under three days, or of his bluffing past the great wyrm Tuelonth and making off with his prize sapphires. However, there is little truth among this collection of fanciful lies, just good business sense. Murmurs of his coming have echoed through the streets of Waterdeep for weeks, and by the time his enchanted carpet touches down in the trades ward square a throng of onlookers have gathered for a glimpse of his untold (and alas, entirely fictional) riches.

"Calimport silks! Tashalan pomengranates! Spices from the Shining Sea!"

A flash of brightly coloured smoke fills the square, clearing to reveal a small monkey, bow-legged and struggling under the weight of a heavy calishite rug. A second flash, and a dazzling display of brass and golden jewelry, exotic fruits, brightly coloured silks and magical curiosities is laid out before him.

I know you said to not create an alias for this recruitment, but this one existed already. Build in profile, but will need to be leveled up. I've done most of the work in notepad, just need to update it after work.

Crunch Notes/Questions:
A flying carpet is out of that 18k range so I'll likely just rely on overland flight spells and a bit of imagination.

Erasmes has a heavy evocation focus, and may also opt for augment/superior summoning.

I've given my familiar disable device and a decent UMD score (a literal skill monkey. I crack myself up.) I was hoping to have a simple animal rather than a mephit or something, however I'm uncertain of how command words for wands would work with a creature without a language. Would my monkey be able to use a command word to activate a wand?

Strictly speaking said word doesn't have to be in common, but can it be in monkey-speak? I've sunk Erasmes' skill points, ability scores (to qualify for the feat) and one of his feats (evolved familiar) to allow Sajjad to activate wands, and that'll be further gated by my wealth (I'm thinking for now a CL5 magic missile wand and maybe one other, as well as a range of alchemical thrown weapons and some thieves tools. He's useful but not gamebreaking and I dont want to push it any further). As it stands, does that sound okay to you?

Looking forward both for a chance to play some old-school adventures, Forgotten Realms, and a PC concept that never quite got to leave the cradle. I hope you like what you see.


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Erasmes waves away the hookah. "Why, I have visited the City of Brass, sadiq. Now it is time to greet the Dawnflower. Come along, Sajjad."

Erasmes jingles as he walks, bright colours and gaudy silks turning eyes wherever he walks. He makes his way to the Citadel to wash his face, chattering conversationally to his companion. "My purse grows lighter by the day, Sajjad, and with the roads closed, well..." he strokes his beard. "Let us just say it will have to be Okeno all over again. You remember what to do."

He rolls up his silk sleeves, revealing several garish brass bracelets, and begins to fill several glass vials from his haversack before making his way into the temple for his morning prayer. Still shaky from his dream, he lingers briefly in the threshhold of the door, prostrating himself before the goddess three times before hastily making his way back toward the street.


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Perform (poetry): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Erasmes proceeds to record his dream in lilting verse, insisting on total silence as he writes. Closing his eyes in pensive silence, he pens a colorful, if unremarkable piece before entering the smoke-filled common room, seating himself in the middle of the gathering.

He begins to mingle with the patrons, taking a long draw from the ḥuqqah when it is offered his way. He plays a few games of backgammon and swaps tales and riddles, staring expectantly at the door until his familiar rejoins him. He draws from his pack a long, thin, chessboard and begins to set up the pieces as his familiar sits obediently across the table. "I am glad you could make it, dear friend." he says, warmly, as he makes his first move. "A mind must be tempered and kept sharp, Sajjad. Do not forget this thing. An idle mind soon becomes dull, and loses its edge." Erasmes and Sajjad will stay in the den until midday. Without the scruples of Siddig, Erasmes will keep his ears to the ground for somewhere he can acquire raw pesh, alchemical ingredients, or some other way to turn a quick buck until he can replenish his caravan.

Intellegence check for Erasmes: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Intellegence check for Sajjad: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15
Tiebreaker: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Gather Info: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Ibn il-mitnaaka." he mutters, humbled as the monkey makes it's final move, folding it's arms triumphantly. "You have out-maneuvered me. Since when did you grow so cunning?" he sighs, as he packs up the pieces. "What was that? You say I am growing slow? You wound me, old friend. My mind is as sharp as it ever was." he says, suddenly drawing himself to his feet. "Come. We are going for a walk."


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Erasmes dreams. Gone are the bitter taste in his mouth and the sharp pain behind his eyes. Lucid, he finds atop a tall tree in the temple gardens. A thousand faces stare at him imploringly. He is in the slave markets of Okeno, as shades of men cry out for salvation as their bestial masters howl in laughter. He walks through a magnificent city with streets of paved brass. Domed palaces burn brightly in a thousand colours under a sky of flame. Is it not wonderful, Sajjad? he thinks he says, marvelling at brightly garbed ifrit and towering genies, voices all joined in a familiar song.

The hymn grows louder, and Erasmes wishes he knew what they were singing. A thousand and one voices in a thousand one tongues sing out, some in a voices like crackling fire, some in the tongue of the Padishah, others in the echoing harmonies of the heavens, and others in tongues even he cannot recognize. The gathering looks up to the burning sky, filled with the fire of many suns. A towering figure soars above, as the people rejoice. He tries to see its face, but the sunlight is too harsh. A reverent silence fills the City of Brass. Erasmes wonders what they are waiting for. He pushes through the crowd, straining to see the fiery angel up above, but he cannot see it. He wonders if he will ever see again. Blindly, he reaches out into the sky, and suddenly...

The pain behind his eyes rushes back. He does not start upright, but fights the dawn with everything he has, sluggishly trying to shield himself from the light from the eastern window. With a sudden, wrenching terror he opens his eyes to make sure he was not blind before sitting up, cursing his foolishness. "groan... Sajjad, I thought I had told you to close those shutters." he mutters, to his empty room. Sighing, he picks himself up, washing his face in a nearby bowl and calls for the servant to bring papyrus and ink. "... you would not believe the dream I had. I was walking in the City of Brass, among the great genies. No! Be still, tongue! Only poetry can do it justice. Yalla! Yalla! Fetch me ink!"

Playing a bit with Erasmes' empathic link here (as well as all those hallucinogenics), I tried my hand at writing a dream sequence. I don't think I'll make a habit of it. This stuff is hard work!


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Erasmes grimaces at the holy symbol in his palm, and pressing it back into Sajjad's grasp, he pushes his familiar off of the bed, where he lands in an indignant heap. "Utrukni, utrukni! Leave me be. If you wish to go..." he stops, with a lethargic yawn. "... If you wish to go I shall not stop you."

The goddess will not miss me for one mere day, and besides, the priestesses will try to press me into dealing with their little gnoll problem again. Let them fall before the raiders if they will not pay for proper sellswords. Here, the dates are sweet as desert water and the sheets are soft...

Erasmes begins to snore contentedly as his familiar clambers out the window and scurries onto the street.


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Erasmes stirs from his languid slumber to see his familiar awake, prostrating himself in the center of the room, basking in dawn's first light. Erasmes, bitter taste in his mouth, buries his face in a silk pillow and turns his back on the sun's harsh light.

"...close the shutters, Sajjad." he grumbles, giving way to his drowsiness. He opens one eye. "Do not give me that look, old friend."


CN Human Wizard /11 | Init +2 Per +12 | AC 17/13/14 | HP 78/78 | F +5/R + 5/ W +6 | CMB +3 CMD 17 | versatile evocation (8/8), selective spell (3/3) | Contingency: Stoneskin
Spells:
Skills:
Acrobatics +6, Appr +8, Bluff +6, Craft (alch) +10, Diplomacy +6, Dis. Device +4, Escape Artist +4, Know: local +8, planes +8, religion +8, Ling +8, Per +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +4, UMD +6

Siddig if you wanted to leave Disable Device to me, my familiar is more than capable of handling lockpicking duty. Also as a trader there's plenty of room for previous interaction with Erasmes (that goes for Rodrin as well).

I have a mostly complete profile for Erasmes and Sajjad, but I'm possibly going to combine the two after giving it some thought. I'd rather have my inventory in one place, and as convinient as having Sajjad's perception and such on hand, I dont know how organic posting under two alias' will be in the scheme of things.


Sounds good. Twigs here. I feel like my submission was a little rushed considering how much time recruitment was open. I'm looking forward to the questions as an opportunity to polish things up.

The crunch is finished, but not yet set in stone. As it stands, my familiar can use disable device. However if any prospective skill monkeys are really set on lockpicking duty, I won't try to overshadow them with a literal skill monkey, tempting as that may be. I've done everything but his items. I want the time to be extra pedantic about it and cram as much arabian nights flavor as I can into a handy haversack.