I can definitely relate, feel like I am getting beat up at work right now.
Wish you all the best Varrick.
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With his attention focused on keeping the door silent as his companions pass, Gavin is unable to lend his aid in the initial confrontation with the lone goblin in the hallway beyond.
Gavin moves up across the battlefield, a big smile on his face given the success of his archery. Approaching the rickety door, he looks up at Saronis. "You see those shots!? Bam! Anyway, let me take a look, I bet they got some kind of trap on the door." He leans down, carefully examining the door and its strange workings.
Phone posting is a total pain in the butt, have been through that before, glad to hear you have a new laptop on the way.
Gavin had held back as he had been directed by his liege, but as the others moved in to support Saronis and Urdrsk against the goblins, something went of inside him. 'It is my duty...' he thought to himself as he drew his bow. Round 2
Round 3
damn, anyone not getting post updates? sorry, seems like i missed a bit.
Gavin double checks the straps and buckles on his new armor, then hoists his longbow in preparation for the coming battle. "I am ready to face this foe, my liege. Lead on!"
In the few hours they have to help prepare, Gavin goes about collecting cast aside bits of gear and cobbles together a few traps to add before the carnivorous plants. Knowing how dangerous the impending battle could be, Gavin trusts in that spark of luck that is growing in his heart that the traps will be effective.
At Saronis' question of abilities, Gavin dusts off his hands and hustles over. "Umm, well, I'm a hunter an' a trapper. Good at bein' quiet an' gettin' around targets, an' course I'm pretty good wit a sling, or dis here bow! Oh, an' my lucky streak just seems teh be gettin' better..." Gavin smiles to himself as his fingers trace the length of his newfound bow.
Gavin listens and watches intently, following along. He is surprised by how small the goblins are here, especially compared to Cook-Cook. 'Then again, he is a Cook, so he probably eats better than these goblins. Ma always said I needed to eat well if I wanted to grow tall!' Hearing the catperson and the goblin king both speak of the betrayal by the others, Gavin feels a strong sense of duty welling up inside him. "If there's two things I hate, it's traitors and bullies. We should help them!" He declares to his comrades while looking at Sir Saronis expectantly.
Quick question, mainly for bookkeeping. Are the increases to skills extra ranks in those skills or miscellaneous bonuses?
Gavin listens intently to all the details Cook-Cook shares. When the goblin apologizes, Gavin shakes his head. "No, that was GREAT! I mean, it was a lot, but that's what I asked. Umm, I don't think we have any dead dogs or horses with us, but perhaps some other gift might help. And we rescued, well, you rescued their ally, so that should help. Right?"
Gavin watches in awe as the magical light moves from Cook-Cook into the catfolk. As she rises and begins speaking, Gavin listens intently. "Wow, I have heard fights with siblings can get bad, but... say, why was your father indebted to this tribe? Oh, and Cook-Cook, you're the only goblin I know. Anything we should know so we don't offend?"
GM Wolf: The young free spirited explorer barely old enough to ride a horse proper. +2 Str (Any ability score) Good RP +2 Dex (Any ability score, must be different than others) Connecting to other characters. +2 Wis (Any ability score, must be different than others) Leaving openings for quests: items found, places to see (ruins), wagon of stuff +2 Cha (Any ability score, must be different than others) Ability score below 8: increase ability by one level - Archaeologist's Luck from Bard archetype is perfect, so I can avoid multiclassing. Daily Regime: +1 handle animal, +2 Con, +1 Str, +1 survival, +2 profession hunter Favored Enemy: Given that my vision included hordes of orcs, sounds like orcs makes sense. Tomb Items: the masterwork composite longbow and black leather sounds great. Glowing weapon from pool: I was thinking a small fencing blade. Mechanically a rapier, but visually more akin to the 'cut-and-thrust' swords that predated the rapier's rise.
Gavin looks on in amazement as the 'local goblin noodle cook' suddenly has the knowledge to treat and mend seemingly mortal wounds. "Wow, Cook-Cook, that was amazing. You've really learned something special!" As Saronis moves to heft the catperson, Gavin moves to his side to lend his aid. "Sire, if you are carrying the fallen cat...person, shall I take your pack for you?" Helping the elven warrior drop his pack and heft the catfolk up, it seems the young halfling's energetic nature and desire to be of service is less 'little kid annoying' and more of an earnest apprentice. To his word, he does heft the pack and seems a bit more robust as well. ---------- Standing at the intersection of the two tunnels, Gavin listens to Urdrsk's words. Frowning, he looks in each directions, then back to the others. "Ummm, does the catperson have a mark on its armor? And does anyone remember which marking had more dead back at the battle? Might be a thought..."
Gavin listens with fascination as Zenli describes each of the items recovered from the bottom of the pool. "Wow, thank you for your insight!" Gathering up the items he had found, Gavin dons the set of leather armor that the strange woman offered them, tucking his hunting jack into his pack. After that, he falls in line, his sling in one hand ready to engage a foe. -----
As Saronis, Urdrsk, and Cook-Cook examine the battle scene, Gavin glances past them at the scene, but then turns his attention to the tunnel and wall beyond. [b]"Best to keep at least one eye out for foes, especially in the aftermath of a battle. Never know when someone might come back." 'Must be serious - got to watch my sire's back.' he reiterates to himself as he checks back and forth. But when Cook-Cook announces one is still alive, Gavin takes another moment to glance over as the goblin utilizes a high level of skill to treat the wounds.
GM Wolf: Thank you for the boons. I have a few questions, about the boons and other character topics. Boon - ability score below 8: increase ability by one level? I assume this means my base charisma of 7 goes up to a 9?
Maqan, Urdrsk, and Cook-Cook all got some gear at their tombs. Were Varrick and I supposed to get something as well, or did the glowing javelin I found in the pool replace that for me? For Favored Enemy, is there a creature type that would fit thematically for the 'Powers of the Mountain' to impart to me? Finally, I had intended to go straight ranger, but with the reoccurring 'Luck' theme that has developed around my character, would it be okay to multiclass into bard (archaeologist)? It's luck ability would be a fitting mechanic, and my treasure-hunting teenage nature seems apprpriate for it? I know you were opposed to multiclassing at the onset, so if you don't like it, no worries at all.
Seeing all the things that Saronis has shared, Gavin gets excited and, rummaging through his pack, pulls out the many items he found at the bottom of the pool. "OH YEAH! I also found some really amazing stuff. Like this robe that is made of twine, and this silvery cape that looks like it has a breeze of its own, and these tubes, they are cloth, but you can see through them? Then there's this big metal spike, and some simple gloves, OH, and this potion. Yup! Say, miss Lenzi, can you tell me what do they all do as well?"
My apologies, the other players received an interactive response to their tomb/vision posts, I was awaiting something similar before progressing onward. Sorry for the confusion and delay. Gavin is now back with the group and has offered his vote of direction. With the rolling of the below hit die, I will have Gavin updated to level 2.
As Gavin comes back to his senses, he finds himself standing atop Calkirn's tomb, in a crouched position. He can just see the strange woman's shadow departing back through the doorway, and hurrying to catch up, he hops down, instinctively taking his guardian's effects from their hangers as he goes. Hustling back across the graveyard, he can hear the angry dwarf barking at the others. 'Geeze, he is seeming really foul today. Like, a lot more than usual...' the thought trails away as he makes it back to the others. "Hey guys, sorry, the tombs of halfling champions were waaayy back in that far corner over there. But wow, the names I found there... it was amazing! Oh, and I leaned against the tomb of the Black Archer himself, and *whooosh*, I had this vision. And I was jumping off cliffs, and shooting orcs, and swinging through trees, and dodging their blades. It was awesome! Afterwards, I felt rather different and was kind of dizzy, so it took me a couple minutes to get back. But I could hear you all as I hustled over, so no worries. I agree with Urdrsk that we need to get back to Sanctuary safely and quickly. But, I mean, if we are to become heroes of the mountain, I think it is pretty obvious that we are destined to take the third path now. So, the third path is where I cast my vote!"
My apologies, but I guess I am not really sure what you are waiting on from Gavin. I have written two 'tomb' posts but have not received a response from you regarding either - am I missing something?
Gavin suddenly finds himself standing upon a small outcropping partway up the cliff-face of a valley wall. The passage below him is narrow and small trees and scrub offer substantial cover. In the distance, the distinct sound of battle can be heard. Then, Gavin notices the feel of fletchings between his right fingers as his left hand grasps a leather-wrapped yew and horn haft. Looking down, he sees he is wearing well-oiled black leathers even as he surveys the passage below. The sound of battle draws closer. Faster than he can anticipate, he draws the arrow back and spins up, firing into the face of a giant, raging orc as it descends from the cliff overhead. The arrow punctures its eye and it lets out a painful howl before plummeting past him to shatter on the valley floor below. Then the tide come, and a horde of orcs come surging down the valley corridor. There are others there, like him. No, not like him. Valiant defenders all, but they are not the primal hunter he is. One, two, three arrows leap from his bow, downing a trio of the hulking brutes. Two more arrows take a fourth in the heart. As another cluster crash over the cliff face, Gavin leaps off into the branches beyond, slinging his bow across his back with one hand even as another swings him from the branch toward the ground. Still airborn, a long, thin blade appears in his hand and he slices out the throat of another orc as it lunges at him sailing past. His feet have not even found stillness when the bow leaps back to his hands and three more arrows are impaled into the throat of a skull-clad champion with a brutal axe. Then a deafening shriek echoes through the valley as a dark shadow blacks out the sun. It is time...
Apologies for the delayed tomb post. I wrote it out last night after I got home from work (on notepad) then my computer decided to freeze. Hoping it would be recoverable on reboot it wasn't, so I went to bed and rewrote this morning. Once again, my apologies to all for slowing things down.
Gavin moves excitedly through the tombstones and mausoleums. He offers reverence before the strongly-built, angular dwarven monuments. He marvels at the artistic perfection of the memorials to elves long past. He passes through row after row of tribute to heroes of men, new and old. And seeing it all, he grows a little sad. 'Was there not a single halfling of noble duty to be regarded in these halls?' he solemnly wonders. Then, a smell catches his nose. It's familiar - the scent of wet leaves on a forest floor, on an autumn day. Turning, Gavin sees a pathway that matches the scent leading up to a simple round stone door set into the side of a small mound toward the back of the chamber. His toes feel the cool touch of the leaves beneath as he steps forward. With his fingers finding the doorknob, he takes a deep breath, then steps within. A few stairs descend into a long earthen corridor, with several alcoves on either side. Within each lies a stone sarcophagus, upon which the names and deeds of each hero are carved. On the wall behind hang the effects that each legend was known to carry. His eyes wide and his jaw dropped low, Gavin takes in each name. - Antroth Almarron, the Shade, Acrobat Extraordinaire, Hero of the Ethring Oracles, who defeated the Tyrant Ilbreth Blackclaw - - Kaylen Thistledown, Protector of the Emerald Springs, Shepherd of the Eternal Merigold, who stopped the Feiry Horde of Nethermore - - Renlidorn Tagglefoot, Knight of the Great Crusade, Champion of the Battle of Sundered Hells, who clove the wings from an Abyssal Lord - - Gidlee Greenbutton, Fatetouched Fool, Master Trickster, Prophet of the Misadventured One, who conned an evil emperor out of his crown - - Calkirn Persoval, the Errant Wanderer, Defender of the Wainwood Copse, who's last arrow slew the fell drake Taerenok - Gavin stood, staring at the fifth tomb he came to. 'The others were all heroes of my people, to be sure. Names I know, have heard tales told of. But this, this is-' his lips parted and his thoughts became manifest, uttered barely a whisper, "-Calkirn... Persoval. The Black Archer." Hearing the faintest of footsteps behind him, Gavin turns to find the strange woman Zenli standing upon the steps into the tomb. "You say this is really him? And I have been called here to take up his mantle, as a hero of this mountain?" Before she can fully respond, Gavin leans back, overcome by the gravity of the situation, and without even realizing it, places his hand's back onto the tomb of the Black Archer, Calkirn Persoval.
Maqan, Saronis, & Gavin:
Having stowed his findings from the bottom of the water, Gavin walks over to the wall and pulls loose a dark green crystal with flecks of silver and black within that was about the size of a chicken's egg. Entering into the large tomb chamber, Gavin's eyes go wide as the strange woman explains the nature of the place. He is about to run off exploring when Urdrsk goes off on his tirade. "Umm, Urdrsk, I don't recall anyone naming you king of this adventure! We said we heard someone and we were goin' back - you are the one who cowardly ran away, dragging them all along with you. Now you got a big axe and are yelling at everyone. Well I don't think it's very nice. So be a grump, that's fine." And he turns away from the angry dwarf back toward the chamber beyond. As the goblin speaks to him quite eloquently, Gavin chuckles, "Wow, Cook-Cook, seems like yer talking a bit diff'rent now. Did that nice lady give you some speaking lessons? Cause she did a good job if so! And goblin heroes you say? Wow, I bet their were some noble and heroic halfling heroes too - Oh, Lady Zenli, am I right?" Before she can reply Gavin darts off among the tombs, reading each one carefully before moving to the next.
Maqan, Saronis, & Gavin: Right before he plunges into the water, Saronis asks Gavin if he had learned anything. Smiling, he looked back, "Yup, fear is for fools. Trust your gut, and don't let your imagination run wild!" He deftly dives in, ready to recover some of the treasures from the bottom of the pool. After collecting a good selection, including some of the glowing items, he turns back toward the surface and is surprised by the strength of the current.
He grits his teeth and works hard, remembering his father's lessons out in the river nearby. Though a quick surge of water momentarily slows his progress, he drives onward. Just as Saronis turns back to come offer aid to the young lad, he is surprised to see the halfling surface, grabbing a burst of air with a big smile on his face. "Look what I found!"
Saronis, Gavin, and Maqan: As Saronis overrules him and begins banging on the cage, Gavin gets visibly nervous. "I hope you are right..." He recoils as the fey creature starts to change and shriek at him, then relaxes as it too calms with Saronis' words. When the freed creature leads them out of the cavern and seems quite happy and friendly, like the fey beings Gavin heard stories of growing up, he starts to relax. As Saronis tells him to trust his gut, Gavin looks up, both hopeful yet frowning. "I... I thought I was. Back at the cage. I mean, there were so many bones, and it said it wouldn't kill us... but... I... I got scared. I am sorry I let you down." He trudges along in silence for a time, before turning to Kit. She seems nice, and doesn't seem to want to hurt anyone. I was a jerk, I need to apologize. Walking up to her, he reaches into his pack. "Umm, excuse me. My name is Gavin. I am sorry for what I said back there. Just, with all the bones, and bloody hair, and you started talking about not killing us, and my mine starting getting away on me. I am sorry. Will you have this? My ma makes it, its a spicy deer salami." And he extends the food to her in earnest. ---- As they reach the underground lake, Gavin looks round truly fascinated. "Wow, this place is amazing! Only one thing you say? Hmm... say, what do you think that is down there at the bottom of the pool? Maqqy, can you hold my torch?" Handing her the torch, he takes of his hunting jack and lays his pack on the ground. Then, he skillfully dives into the water and swims down.
"Mighty" attached to composite longbows is an old notation applied to identify what strength score the composite longbow was rated for. It dates back to 3.0 and 3.5, and was used in some earlier material for Pathfinder, but looks like it has been phased out over time. My apologies for the archaic reference. To clarify, I was looking to get a bow that will match my hopefully improved future strength. Could be fun for a bit to 'practice with a bow that I am just not big enough yet to use'. I had originally considered using the halfling sling-staff as my intended ranged weapon. But that got nerfed when I saw that, at some point, they 'FAQed' the warslinger alternate racial ability (reload sling as free action) to only apply to normal slings, not the sling-staff. Lame.
Gavin excitedly looks down at the tiny creature in chains. "Oh wow, we live fey! I'm sorry you're trapped of course I'll-" Gavin's words come to a halt as he looks past the creature to the pile of bones and bloody clubs of hair below. "Wait a minute, what did you say? You wouldn't kill us if we freed you or fed you?! so that's what you do to anyone else? We all live here! Our families live here! No! You are horrible! Resolutely, Gavin looks up to Saronis with a righteous anger that is rather surprisingly from the young lad in his eyes. [B]"Sire, I say we leave this evil being to it's prison!"
Having heard the whispering voice and focusing on it, Gavin turns back toward the center of the room. "One second, I think I know where it is. We can't leave someone, or something behind...." He searches the center of the room for the source of the whisper, from the floor to the ceiling.
Not entirely sure how his little frame managed to trip up and knock over a hardy dwarf, he looks up at Urdrsk apologetically. "Not sure how that happened, sorry." Seeing the dwarf pull a mighty waraxe out of the pile, Gavin spends a moment rummaging through looking for anything useful.
Falling into line with the others, he is about to follow the dwarf when the merchant mentions the strange woman's voice. "Oh, I heard it! She said 'Help Me.' Sounds like someone is trapped, but where?"
This seems like a really interesting ability. Okay, just want to confirm this is the mechanic: If I fail a save, 3/day I can reroll. If I then succeed on the reroll, I can pick another target to suffer the failure of the save. Correct?
Dangnabbit! Seems like I hit Preview but never Post on Sunday and lost my response to this. TorT: Trick Under 200: Trapmaster's Tools Under 500: masterwork mighty(+1) composite longbow Under 1000: darkleaf leather lamellar Ability/Power: Given my last name of Fickletoe, I feel like being able to pass off bad luck onto another seems strangely appropriate...
Gavin looks excitedly back and forth from Saronis to the crest of the unicorn. "Wow, so I really am going to become a great hunter and be able to help people, like a hero in the tales?! And this unicorn is the crest of my family... the Proudfoot family? I wonder why we are called the Fickletoes now... hmm... but yes, I am definitely going down my family's path! Here we gooooooo!" With a spin, Gavin turns back toward the unicorn's path, and heads excitedly down the tunnel, a torch in his left hand and his sickle in his right. ---- Going down the tunnel alone, he feels the gloom settling in heavy even though he carries a torch with him. With every noise and creek he spins about, checking for any unknown threats. Gavin's mind races through many thoughts as he ventures further. 'What is this place? What horrors lie within? No, wait a minute, the spirit voice in the elf just said I will be a great hero sometime, and a hero isn't scared. I must be a hero - onward!' Steeling his resolve, Gavin commits to get to the end of the tunnel and find the other end of things. Suddenly, a dark, shadowy figure emerges from a crack on the side. Rearing up, it lunges toward Gavin.
Undaunted by this umbral horror, Gavin brandishes the torch forward. "I am Gavin Fickletoe, of the Proudfoot clan, you foul demon will not stand against me. Go back to the darkness!" Swinging the torch as one would a sword, Gavin leaps at the unknown creature and tumbles past it, the flickering flames causing it to disperse even as the nimble fellow escapes its reaching grasp. ---- Coming out of the tunnel with brave smile on his face, he is just in time to see his lord's sister throw the bag over the stone and disappear. As the chamber fades into darkness, lit only by his meager torch, Gavin instinctively utters a warning, "Oh, by my tingling toes, this can't be good..."
Gavin had just started down the path marked by the unicorn when everyone started yelling at the elf woman to stay with the others. Sheepishly, he turns back, only to watch Saronis become possessed by the strange energy and speak in his otherworldly voice. Confused, he looks to the others, "Wait, so I was going down this path, and you said to come back. But now we must choose each our own path? Umm, I get a question? Oh dear, what do I ask?" Scratching his head and more than a bit offguard from the situation, Gavin sits down and runs his fingers through his hair. Suddenly he jumps up, a look of excitement in his eyes. "Spirit of the Ward Stone, will I someday become a great hunter like my pa, and defend people from monsters and other foul evils?"
Gavin happily assisted his companions gather the supplies back in town and strapped them to the horses. He even swung by his family's home and gathered a clutch of cured sausages that would last them a while. Having crossed the river, Gavin stares in awe as Saronis uses the medallion to summon forth the hidden gateway. At the merchant's concerned inquiry, Gavin pipes up. "No one gave it to me, I found it in the ruined castle north of town! There was a broken stone chest, down in one of the tunnels, neat, ha? There are all sorts of treasures up there! Maybe after this I will go back there again..." His words trail off as Maqan's bloody touch causes the door to swing open.
Gavin takes his time examining in awe all they encounter as they assend the slope. At the five pathways, he looks to each symbol before ultimately descending via the path marked by the unicorn. Hearing Maqan's words, "Oh, that makes sense, like, these are the crests of the noble warriors who first colonized the area. Wow, do you think this is their tomb?" He starts inching closer to the wardstone, but heads the warning uttered prior. "Nope, no touching the wardstone. Got it. But really, what does this all mean?!"
As the dwarf and elf discuss a dutiful task for him, Gavin gets excited. He looks up at the striking elven woman, " You are Sir Saronis' sister, so that makes me your squire too, right? Oh yes, m'lady, most definitely, I can take the horse back to carry the supplies. I am good at tending to and working with animals, though admittedly never something so large as a horse. Anything you wish, m'lady!" Gavin excitedly takes the horse and works to lead it back to town, though as Cook-Cook offers up his newest creation, Gavin graciously accepts one. [b]"Thank you, Cook-Cook, I bet it's tasty!" And he pops it in his mouth as he turns the horse back down the path from whence they came.
Hustling with the horse to catch up with his lord and Maqan, Gavin calls out to the pair, "Sir Saronis, Sir Saronis! Your sister said it was my duty to accompany you and collect the goods then transport them back on your steed! I will be most helpful! Yup!" he continues as he catches up to them, now an unwitting chaperone sent to interrupt the blissful pair.
Yeah, most of our stats are pretty rough right now. But from what GM wolf said, it sounds like we're going to get some boosts to our stats pretty soon.
At the elf's directions, Gavin snaps to attention. "Of course sire, I will do my best to prove my worth to you! I am a skilled hunter and trapper, and I'm capable at tending to animals, including your steed. And yes, I am ready for the dangers ahead. I'm wearing my hunting jack, have my sling and cudgel, and this-!" the young handling abruptly draws an unexpected blade, a straight-set shallow curved reaping hook. Though older and of simple design, it has been meticulously sharpened and polished, and the handle has fresh leather cordage for a grip. The lad slashes with it a couple times, and surprisingly seems to move it with a bit of skill and grace. "Oh, and I've trained with my pa's bow, but, I couldn't take that, he needs it for the business."
Looking down at the rapids at the falls, "Yup, we definitely don't want to try and cross that carelessly lest we want to meet the spirits trapped down under!"
The End of the Night:
As he continues to celebrate his self-professed title as the elf's squire, Gavin downs the rest of the mug of mead. It is quite a bit of alcohol for the young lad, and though it initially adds to his excitement, it eventually starts to catch up to him and slow him down. Upon realizing how late it is getting, he turns to Master Greigore and hands him the 12 copper for the four hares waiting outside. Before leaving, he turns to his new employer, "I will report early tomorrow, after my morning duties are complete, ready to serve you dutifully as your squire and charge. My blade is yours!" And with a haphazard bow, Gavin darts out the door. When Gavin burst through the front door of the house and began rapidly recounting the evening's events, his new role as a knight's squire, and the impending adventure of the next day, and strange expression grew across his father's face. It was a combination of shock, frustration, amusement, and concern... all at the same time. "Well, I don't like ye running off with strangers, an' I doubt this elf made ye his squire, but if he'll let ye go, and ye say that Gryusha and the Stoneward lad are both going? Alright then, ye can go. Might do ye good to get out an' see a bit more. But be careful, or yer ma will have yer head!"
Day to Day posted.
Gavin's Day to Day: Gavin's day starts earlier than he'd like most days, as his ma and pa rise him out of bed to start his duties. He heads out the back of their house and spends a while tending to their livestock, mostly chickens and sheep (kept for eggs and milk). He brings them feed, clears out their pens, and collects any eggs that were laid overnight. Next Gavin sits for a simple, hearty meal with his family. The four always start their day together, telling stories, laughing and joking. The Fickletoes are a lighthearted family. After breakfast he is off to the nearby woods to collect, cut, and haul firewood. Given that the family produces meats in a range of varieties (cured, boiled, smoked), cooking happens for hours on end and a great deal of fuel is needed. He usually makes several trips back and forth to the house with a full handcart of lumber, and pushes himself to go as fast and hard as possible, so as to get to "the best part" of his day. Once his wood harvesting is finished, Gavin's next task is part of his training as his father's apprentice - to track down and locate his pa. Godrick heads out into the woods right after breakfast each morning to check his traps for anything caught over night. Along the way, he will intentionally leave a few clues or markings for his son to try and track him. Almost approaching his tweens, Gavin has gotten rather adept at noticing the little details and can usually find his pa within an hour. This is good, as he is also bringing his pa his lunch. After he and his father eat, the two go off, sometimes together, but in the last year more often separate, to track game. As much as he is tasked with helping to provide meat for the family business, Gavin is also expected to practice and study his woodscraft. It was while following tracks that he discovered the ruins outside town, which he now tries to escape to at least twice a week during his duties. This most often happens when he makes a good catch early in the afternoon, and thus has time left to go exploring. Returning home, Gavin dines with his family and helps tidy up afterward. He then spends his evening learning his pa's skill at building and setting traps. During this time, Godrick will also question what he saw and learned during his hunting that day. On occasion, he is also tasked with making any last deliveries to the townsfolk in Sanctuary. At the end of the day, he plays with his little sister, whom he cares for very much.
Gavin looks up at the old woodsman leaning in toward him. "Master Greigore, I'm sure my folks will take the hares from you. I don't have any other meats or sausages on me, but me ma has something else to trade, I can bring it to ye tomorrow morn. Or, I know me pa's paid three copper a hare before, an' I got some coin on me." Before waiting for a response from the woodsman, Gavin excitedly turns back to the elven warrior holding his medallion. Noting the elf's words about perhaps the most unique townsfolk, Gavin quips up. "Dontcha worry 'bout Cook-Cook. Sure, he's a gobbo, but he's friendly an' he's a part of Sanctuary. Not a bad sort..." As the elf turns back to the medallion and manipulates it, Gavin's words drift away. When the map starts to glow and the medallion clicks open, revealing the golden stone, Gavin's jaw drops open and his eyes go wide. "BY THE TEN GODS, I KNEW IT WAS A TREASURE! Wow, do you really mean it!? You'll talk to me pa so I can go?! I mean, I found it, right - so I get to go with it?! An' you can hold it, fer now. I mean, yer an elf, you know magic! Wait, does that mean I am your squire!? Oh wow, I am an elven knight's squire!" Gavin, totally lost in his own monologue, begins dancing and jumping in excitement.
In trying to figure out my feat, I have to ask, where do you stand on the "Elephant in the Room" Feat Tax rules?
Even as he awaits the half-orc midwife's response, Gavin cannot help but overhear the conversation between the human merchant and the elven warrior who both are clearly not from around here. As the half-orc takes another gulp, Gavin smiles, "'xcuse me, be right back!" Darting down the bar to the merchant and the elf, Gavin smiles a wide, toothy grin. "Did you say you have a treasure map!? That's exciting! Wait, Oh, up in the hills? Yea, I know those cliffs - that's where the ruins of Blackstone Castle are! Well, I call it Blackstone Castle, cause the stones are dark. And, not really sure it was a castle, maybe a fort... or a tower... or a barn. Who knows, but it's ruins. It's exciting up there, lots of treasure to be found fer sure! Oh, yea, just yesterday I found this!" He pulls an old, leather necklace with an iron medallion from his pocket. Gavin spits on it and polishes it on his pant leg before handing it to the elf. dm:
As he waits for the elf to examine the medallion excitedly, he swipes up one of the cups of mead. Smelling it, he grins in anticipation of tasting the good stuff. "Thanks Maqqy! Thanks mister! Say, what's your name mister elf?" He takes a gentle, long sip of the mead and smiles.
Maqan's post from Recruitment:
"Go ahead and take it to the kitchen Gavin! Oh! And there is a fairly sized parchment for you to take back to your ma okay Gavin? Make sure she gets it. It is wrapped in wax paper so it won't get wet." Maqan said. Often she sent bread home with Gavin, knowing his mom liked it and today she got three long rolls wrapped up for her. "My ma should get you the coin as well." Gavin excitedly nods and darts past into the kitchen, his quest almost complete. Passing the end of the bar, he catches the half-orc's gaze and waves. In the kitchen he calls out to the lady hard at work, "Mam Sarkany, I've got your delivery - smoked duck sausage, spicy rabbit salami, and one side of dry-cloved venison. It's been a good hall as of late!" He gratefully takes the package that he is to take back to his mom, placing it in his sack before throwing it over his shoulder. He then accepts the pouch of coin, carefully tucking it away within the folds of his coat. Coming back out front, he looks up to Gryusha with a big smile, "Heya! You look tired, did you deliver any more babies today?!"
The young free spirited explorer barely old enough to ride a horse proper. I thought this would be a fun trope to play on where not only is Gavin a 'little kid', he's also a 'little' kid. Gamewise, I figure he is actually the halfling equivalent of about 14, pushing toward 15 (so maybe 21-22?). The son of a hunter and trapper, I am building Gavin as an expert who will eventually go ranger. I like the straight skill system you propose, and will work with that. Below are my skills, with craft-trap and survival being the most appropriate for a hunter/trapper to be my expert focus skills. Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft-trap* (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Stealth (Dex), Survival* (Wis), and Swim (Str) For stats, as both an 'adventurous' halfling lad and a hunter, I see him as highly agile and dextrous; I selected 16 to start. He is young, and not very learned, so I went with an 8 for intelligence. I also envision him as the excitable kid brother type, and with the halfling's bonus to charisma still wanted his awkward-excitement to manifest mechanically, so I started him with a 7 charisma. Strength, constitution, and wisdom all started at 10. Str 10 -2 = 8
Despite being overly excited, Iavin is actually good at helping with a lot of things, so I picked the Race Trait 'Helpful', which allows me to give a +4 on an Aid Another action instead of a +2. Working on a feat now, as well as fleshing out his life.
at the Fickletoe residence:
Gavin Fickletoe stumbles into his family's shop, out of breath and soggy from the rain, hoisting a clutch of rabbits with a big smile across face as he hangs his cloak by the door. "Pa, I got four today!" Though Gavin's dad was nowhere in sight, his mother Gala enters from the kitchen, "Gav, it is well past dusk. You should have been back a hour ago!" Stepping forward, a half frown on her face, she reaches up and straightens his messy hair before taking the rabbits. Looking down at his bare feet she sees a wealth of mud and leaves on them. "No doubt you were getting in to some shenanigans... I hope you weren't off playing in those ruins. I don't like when you go there, and your father gets a bad feeling in his toes." Gavin sighs and looks down before perking up with excitement. "I know... but, look what I found!? Treasure!" He holds up a few copper pieces, tarnished and bent with age, along with the broken hilt of a dagger, and a rusty iron goblet. His mother only chuckles, "Oh, Gavin. I need to get these conies in the stew or we'll never eat tonight. Get cleaned up and find your father, I think he needs you to run something over to the Dragon before dinner."
Sure enough, Gavin's father Godrick had a bundle of cured meats for him to deliver to the Drunken Dragon, the only inn and tavern in their quiet village. It was wrapped up tight in waxed leather, and he hustled through the rain, jumping over puddles when he could, on his grand mission. Bursting through the taproom door with a big smile on his face and a gasp for breath. "Hey Maqan, I got your delivery from Fickletoe's Fine Meats! You want it up here, or should I take it to the kitchen?" |