Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
All In Good Time:
"Marriage?" Ginetta replies, raising her glass and throwing Adolina a playful smirk. "But we haven't even had dessert yet, much less kissed." Her eyes lower to the other woman's lips, lingering there for a moment as her own lips part and her tongue traces over her teeth.
Her playfulness fades somewhat.
"Is that something that you see in your future?" she questions after a moment. "Marriage I mean. I've never really thought about it. My mother isn't a proponent and maybe that's colored my view on the subject. I'm not directly opposed, though."
She picks up a crisp breadstick from the basket at the center of the table and places it between her lips for a quick bite.
"I imagine if the right woman came along ..." she adds with a shrug and then a smile.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Privacy At Last:
"I have a hard time believing that you were ever rude, much less to my mother," Ginetta replies with a grin. "But if in some strange universe, you were, her reaction doesn't surprise me. She absolutely despises sycophants."
When questioned regarding whispered words, the singer's face fills with color again. "She ... uh ... just mentioned that we should have fun tonight." Ginetta's eyes shift away.
"I don't think she knows that you're my patron, but I don't imagine that she would care."
The young woman is saved further embarrassment by the return of the server to take their order. Once the forms have been followed and the man has taken his leave to play his role, Ginetta refills her own wineglass and offers the same to Adolina.
"I am glad she likes you, though. She's never really cared for my friends." A shadow of sadness crosses her face, but then quickly vanishes. "She made some inane comment about songbirds among blackbirds, but most of it was in elvish, so ..." She shrugs and then her lips curl into a mischievous grin. "It pisses her off to no end that I don't speak much elvish. She considers it a failing."
Taking another sip of wine, she decides to shift the conversation.
"So, you've met my father and you've met the crashing wave that is my mother. What's your family like and when do I get to meet them?"
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
And Two There Shall Be:
Nym's hugely expressive eyes narrow just the tiniest of bits and she meets Adolina's gaze with a penetrating stare.
"Ce n'est clairement pas une souris timide, je vois." she finally says as her full lips curl up into a slight smile. Clearly not a timid mouse, I see.
"Tu dois me pardonner, mon ami. Je suis très protecteur envers ma fée, et nombreux sont ceux qui tenteraient de profiter de sa renommée grandissante pour servir leurs propres intérêts. Ma fille n'a pas toujours fait les meilleurs choix en choisissant ses… amis."You must forgive me, my friend. I'm very protective of my fairy and there are many that would attempt to take advantage of her rising fame to further their own ends. My daughter has not always made the best choice in choosing her ... friends.
Ginetta's eyes move from Adoline to Nym and while it's obvious she's not understanding the details of the conversation, she understands that there's an exchange of some importance taking place.
The elf raises a delicate hand only slightly and the server is there almost instantly.
"What can I do for you, Mademoiselle?" he questions obsequiously.
"I have decided that I would like my usual table, mon ami," she replies, rising to her feet and collecting her stole. "Ma fée and her amour would like to dine privately this evening. Please see that their needs are met on ma dépense."
"Absolutely, Mademoiselle. Their wish is my command," the gentleman replies, pressing a quick kiss to Nym's outstretched hand.
The elf turns back to Adolina and leans down to give a quick kiss that barely touches her cheek.
"Ton accent est incroyablement excitant. Si ma fée ne t'avait pas déjà à l'œil…" she whispers in the girl's ear. Your accent is incredibly arousing. If my fairy didn't already have eyes on you ... She pulls away and repeats the kiss with Ginetta, albeit with more motherly affection. Whatever she whispers in the singer's ear causes the woman to blush intensely. "Maman!" Ginetta protests.
The elf laughs and after turning to throw a suggestive wink towards Adolina, saunters away with the server in tow.
"I am so sorry about that," Ginetta manages after a moment spent regaining her composure. "She really is a force of nature. I love her more than I could ever express, but there are times ..." She shakes her head. She takes another sip of her wine. "What did she say to you? Please tell me it was nothing rude." With a quick glance over her shoulder to be sure the woman is truly gone, she continues in a quieter voice. "If she was rude to you then I'll be having words with her."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Yes, A Dinner Date + One:
"Thank you," Ginetta replies, her smile widening. "I like your jacket. And the way you've arranged your hair really enhances your amazing cheekbones." She gives Adolina's hand another squeeze. "If you enjoy the dinner and are interested, there's a small place just around the corner that always has the most wonderful little evening performances." She gives a conspiratorial wink. "It's not exactly endorsed or entirely legal for that matter, but you can see some incredible talent. They take old favorites and ... play with them. A little gender-bending. A little improvisation. A little naughtiness. All in good fun, of course."
The gentleman that seated them returns and presents a bottle of wine that Ginetta approves with a quick nod. He pours two glasses of the rich red wine and then, like all good servers, vanishes entirely.
"I would love to take you there," Ginetta declares with a smile as she takes a savoring sip of her wine. Keeping her eyes locked with Adolina's over the top of her glass.
"Oh, Mademoiselle Nymellara, I am overjoyed to see you tonight."
Ginetta's eyes shift to something over Adolina's shoulder and widen.
"It's been too long, mon ami. How is your sister?"
She slowly returns her glass to the table and Adolina can feel her hand tense up.
"Doing much better. Thank you for asking. Your usual table?"
Ginetta takes a deep breath. "I'm so sorry for what's about to happen. This is not how tonight was supposed to go," she whispers.
"Non, non. I am having dinner with my daughter this evening and I see her right there."
The perfectly dressed man appears at the tableside and with him is an elegantly dressed elven woman. A fur stole partially covers a pale pink evening dress. Her nearly white hair trails loosely down her back and she looks Adolina up and down with her emerald eyes before leaning down to place a kiss on Ginetta's cheek which the singer returns out of habit.
The elf turns to the server who quickly produces a chair and holds it out for her to take a seat.
"I did not know that your ... friend ... would be joining us this evening, ma fée," she questions, her eyes turning back to Adolina.
"Why are you ...?" Ginetta begins and then replays her last conversation with her mother in her mind. She didn't invite her, did she? No, no she didn't. But then she didn't exactly not invite her. She closes her eyes, but grasps Adolina's hand a little tighter.
"Adolina, this is my mother, Nymellara. Maman, this is Adolina d'Jhaltera and we are on a date," she says, putting particular emphasis on the last word.
The elf's face lights up with intrigue and she looks the girl up and down again. "Call me Nym, mon ami, everyone does." Her eyes narrow slightly. "Jhaltera?" she repeats. "Où ai-je déjà entendu ce nom?" She considers for a moment before her large eyes widen slightly. "Ah, oui. Candlelight At Dawn; I was moving from still-lifes to more evocative pieces. Does your father still have it?" She then shakes her head and her lips curl up into a smile. "I seem to remember doing some custom pieces of your father and mother. Très risqué."
"Maman!" Ginetta snaps, her face a crimson, bringing the faint freckles on her face into sharp relief.
The elf turns to Ginetta. "Qu'y a-t-il, ma fille? Avec un visage aussi simple que le sien, elle doit avoir une personnalité incroyable pour t'attirer autant. Peut-elle tenir tête à la compagnie que tu fréquentes?"
What is it, my daughter? With a face as plain as hers, she must have an incredible personality to attract you so much. Can she hold her own with the company you keep?
At Ginetta's look of utter confusion, Nymellara rolls her eyes. "You should really spend time to learn elvish, ma fée. The breadth of music available to you in your mother's tongue is unmatched."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Days Later
A Dinner Perhaps?:
"Back again, ma fée?" her mother comments, finally turning from that blank canvas she'd been gazing at for over an hour. Well, blank except for the bold splash of crimson in one corner that she'd only placed there a moment ago. Ginetta looks up from the thin book she'd been perusing with crimson cheeks and hastily shoves it into the stack next to the cot where she'd been sitting for all that time. Her mother was never want to carry on conversation if she'd been disturbed, so Ginetta had long ago learned the art of waiting.
"Encore des problèmes de filles?" the pale woman asks, a knowing smile curling her lush lips.
"What?" Ginetta questions, confused, before a few words filter through her primitive knowledge of her mother's native language. "No! No ... not really."
"As well as you do on la scène, I would expect you to sound more convaincante." The woman sets aside the brush she'd been holding and comes to sit next to her daughter, her luminous eyes returning to the unfinished work.
"Well, it's mostly about ... I'm planning on moving out of papa's flat and into one of my own."
"C'est bon," her mother replies with a nod and a smile, her eyes still fixed on the canvas. "A young woman should have her own space for when she intends to invite over her amant" She turns to smile with affection at her hugely blushing daughter. Giving a quick kiss to the girl's forehead, she rises to her feet and returns to the work in progress.
"She's not my lover," Ginetta protests. "We haven't even really ... I am going to ask her to dinner, though, at Tuvine's."
"Dinner at Tuvine's would be lovely, ma fée. It has been too long since I've tasted his Sole Meunière."
"I just hope I don't scare her away again. She seems so nervous at times." Ginetta frowns in thought.
"Quand, ma fée?" questions distractedly as she picks up a brush and a palette covered with a myriad of colors.
"Oh, probably tomorrow night," the half-elf replies. With just the faintest of murmurs in response, Ginetta knows her mother has settled into her creative fugue again and will stay that way for a while. With nervous hands, she retrieves the hastily-hidden tome from the stack nearby and opens it again to the page filled with prose that caused such flutters in her stomach.
~~~~~
"Miss Cicerdos! It's such a pleasure to have you with us tonight," the perfectly dressed man gushes as he leads Ginetta and Adolina past the archway and into the restaurant proper. "And how is your beautiful mother doing? She has not graced us with her presence in many months."
"She is doing well, Matei, thank you for asking," Ginetta replies as she nervously reaches down to take Adolina's hand, perhaps sensing the young woman's desire to flee already. Giving it a reassuring squeeze, she follows the gentleman as he leads them to a small table among others on a slightly raised floor along one side of the central room. The lighting is subdued and candles provide the majority of the warm illumination with the exception of a few hooded lanterns near the entrance.
Removing her fur-lined cloak, Ginetta is wearing a low-cut shimmering green dress this evening. The sleeves are full, but the shoulders are open to expose her faintly freckled skin. Her auburn hair is styled up this evening and her makeup is designed to enhance and emphasize her green eyes.
Pulling back the chairs for the ladies, the man quickly vanishes into the shadows with a promise to return with an excellent wine.
"I was worried that you might back out tonight," Ginetta says with a shy smile. "I have a feeling that I scared you away last time." She gestures at the room with its low-keyed lighting. "This way we can have a little more privacy." She places one hand on the table, hoping her companion will reciprocate. "I'd really like to get to know you better outside of ... you know." She shrugs. "And you're free to ask me anything. To you, I'm an open book." She winks.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Ginetta nods at Celi's suggestion. "Thank you," she replies, her attention on the woman at her side.
Ginetta doesn't really know anything about poison and isn't taking any chances. She'll ask around to find anything treat the damage. Once she finds out how much a casting of lesser restoration will cost she'll admit defeat in frustration because she doesn't have that much coin.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Ginetta oh-so-desires to question the imp ... and then squeeze her until her tiny little eyes pop, but she leaves the subtleties of interrogation to Ghorza. Instead, she slips Adolina's rapier into the wide sash around her waist and joins Rexus at the noblewoman's side.
"It's going to be okay," she says, taking Adolina's hand in her own and wrapping her other arm around the woman's waist. "We'll get you taken care of right away."
Ginetta looks over at Ghorza and Celi. "We're going to get help for her. We'll be back." She then attempts to lead the young woman to the ladder up to to the tavern above.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Ginetta's eyes narrow and she grits her teeth in rage as she races forward to attack the imp, flanking with Ghorza.
"Foul evil-doer!" she cries out in a voice unlike her own. "Face the wrath of those that carry the vengeance of righteousness!" She stabs with her borrowed weapon.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Ginetta moves to Adolina's side and gestures towards the woman's blade. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, Lady d'Jhaltera?" she questions before take the noblewoman's blade in her own hand. She gives it a few test swings and eyes the imp, her expression hardening. "Thank you, my dear."
Hoping that Adolina's unused Move action and Ginetta's entire round is enough for that exchange.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Knowledge (local) vs DC 25:1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 2 = 15
Ginetta curses under her breath in the only elvish she knows as she moves across the stone floor to retrieve her silver dagger. With it back in her hand, she eyes the devil.
"Won't someone shut her up?" she snaps, her patience with the outsider having long run out.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
"Malicious idiot it is then," the singer mutters under her breath. She moves back across the room and slashes ineffectively at the hovering troublemaker with her dagger.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Ginetta's readied attack is melee. For future reference, I'll always label attacks as thrown if intended.
Ginetta's eyes sweep the area looking for any tell-tale signs of the intruder. She considers Laria's words and comes to a conclusion.
"If you were looking to turn us in, you would have already fled and done that," she calls out into the empty air. "That tells me that you're either simply a malicious idiot, or you have other goals. Why don't we talk about what those goals might be? Do we have something you want? Or is there something you want us to do? This doesn't have to end with more bloodshed."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Leaving the handling of the fiendish gorilla in Ghorza's capable hands, Ginetta carefully advances on the imp's last known location. Her dagger is readied in her hand to slash at the trouble-maker the moment she appears.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Ginetta mutters a very un-ladylike curse under her breath before pivoting to engage the summoned creature.
"I'm sure the question was rhetorical," she responds through gritted teeth as she slashes her dagger through the space the ape-thing was just a half-second prior.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
I'm assuming we're down in the hideout for this combat.
Ginetta leaps from the couch she was sitting on and slips the dagger from the thigh sheath it was secreted in. Silently cursing herself for not talking to Ghorza when they first arrived about the re-constructed rapier, she resigns herself to less than a perfect situation.
"Who was that woman?" she questions. "Is she a devil of some sort?"
Readied Action: Thrown Dagger if/when she reappears:
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Adolina d'Jhaltera wrote:
I propose we have the Fushi sisters gather info - hopefully about the Salt Works so we can plan our 'raid' and if we can do a second action - recruit supporters.
Then after turn 1 we can time back in and do the salt works.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Knowledge (local) vs DC 15:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
'She wanted you to kiss her.'
Her mother's words still echo in her head as Ginetta listens to the discussion. Various strategies are bandied about, but her eyes keep returning to Adolina's pale lips. She finally shuts her eyes and shakes her head.
Focus, girl! There's a time and a place and this is certainly not it!
Then those same lips speak.
Gods, her stutter is adorable.
Then the words sink in.
"Yes, the salt works, she says, perhaps with a little too much enthusiasm. "We should pay it a visit to free more like-minded individuals. Well ... I mean that you three and Rose, of course."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
With her mother's words still echoing in her head, Ginetta lounges on one of the couches, watching silently as Adolina offers to translate some of the found papers.
Gods, she's adorable when she blushes.
"I know someone that can translate elvish," she offers. "Mine's ... barely passable? Hers is flawless."
Once the arrangements have been made and the group is leaving ...
As Ginetta's heading out of the hidden base, she pauses next to Adonlina.
"You'll have to tell me why you learned strix. I'm sure there's an interesting story there," she comments with a grin.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Adolina/Ginetta Dinner Date / Aftermath:
"No, you don't have to ..." Ginetta begins to protest, but the young woman is already slipping out the doorway, " ... go."
I knew this was stupid. She's not interested in me. She's only interested in Rose. But ... wait ... she knows that I'm Rose. Why would she ...?
"Gah!" Ginetta exclaims in frustration causing nearby patrons to look up in surprise. She throws some coins on the table and grabs her bag and cloak before making her way out into the cold.
----
Slipping into the warm but dusty second floor flat that smelled strongly of paint and turpentine, Ginetta moved quietly around standing canvases and crates to the open space in the center of the area. A tiny woodstove off to one side provided the warmth that filled the air and the fading sunlight that streamed through the clouded skylight illuminated a large canvas on the opposite side of the space and the elf that stood in contemplation before it.
The elf was dressed in simple, paint-stained shift and chewed on the end of a worn brush as she gazed at the partially finished abstract in front of her. Her hands, arms, and bare feet were splattered with various colors of paint that matched the scheme of the work in progress.
Ginetta knew better then to interrupt the woman while she was working, so she busied herself searching through a nearby chest retrieving some slightly stale bread and cheese. A little wine from one of the scattered bottles made for simple fare and she arranged it on a box and waited. Surprisingly, it was only another half-hour or so before the woman broke from her reverie and noticed her presence.
"Depuis combien de temps es-tu ici, ma fée?" she questioned before noticing the arrayed food. "Merci, mon amour." Slipping a piece of cheese into her mouth, she raised an eyebrow at Ginetta.
"Not long, maman," Ginetta replied with a shrug. As her mother continued to nibble on pieces of bread and stare at her with her huge elvish eyes, Ginetta squirmed. "Yes, okay? I need advice. It's ... it's about a girl."
The elf nodded knowingly and smiled. "Est-ce à propos de ... It is Mademoiselle Izbasa, n'est-ce pas?"
Ginetta frowned and looked away. "No." Before her mother could question further, Ginetta explained her most recent encounter with Adolina in a big rush of words - glossing over the rebellion aspects. "... and then she ran out," she concludes.
Her mother laughed. Light and merry with not a care in the world, she draw her daughter into her arms. "Ma belle, talentueuse et rebelle fille. Comment peux-tu être si stupide en amour?"
"Wait, did you just call me stupid?" Ginetta questioned, her mother's elvish coming faster than she could parse.
Her mother kissed the top of her head and leaned back enough to meet her gaze. "Elle voulait que tu l'embrasses." At Ginetta's frown of incomprehension, the woman repeated in Taldane, "She wanted you to kiss her."
"No, that's not ... she didn't ... really?"
"You missed your moment, ma fée. If you get another chance, do not be so hésitante. Only the bold claim the prizes of this world." With the light coming through the ceiling fading, the elf moved away from Ginetta to light two lanterns on a bench and returned to gaze at the partially finished painting.
Understanding her mother's moods more than most and recognizing that she wouldn't make it back to her father's home without being accosted by overly enthusiastic patrols, Ginetta made her way to the cot in the corner and after straightening the rough blankets, curled herself up for the night. Thoughts of expressive brown eyes and long dark hair filling her thoughts as sleep eluded her.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Adolina/Ginetta Dinner Date:
"Ah" Ginetta replies, taking another sip of her cider. "Unfortunately there's nothing I can do about that barring magic." She looks away thoughtfully.
After another few moments of silence, she turns back to Adolina and leans in even closer. "So what do you think of her? Rose, I mean. I worry that she comes across a little over the top at times, but I needed someone very different than me. She's sort of a cross between Isolde from A Storm Comes To Magnimar, Jennica Marsk from Three Stories, Two Nights, and little dash of Timone the Younger from Something Different, Something Special - without the insanity, of course.
She takes another sip from her mug and eyes Adolina up and down.
"So you know my biggest secret. You'll have to tell me one of yours. It's only fair."
Her lip curls up into a smile and she scoot her stool around so she's sitting right next to the young woman. "Don't worry," she whispers. "I'm good at keeping secrets."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Adolina/Ginetta Dinner Date:
Ginetta leans closer. "What did you notice?" she asks, her voice low, but intense. "I can't have anything that ties me to her. Please don't leave me in suspense." Keeping her eyes locked on Adolina, she raises the mug to her lips to take a small sip. An eyebrow raises in question.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Adolina/Ginetta Dinner Date:
To Ginetta's credit, she doesn't even stiffen at Adolina's address.
She takes a seat, making herself comfortable, sets her bag near her seat, and then adjusts her cloak. Straightening her dress, she raises a hand in a comfortable gesture to bring one of the besieged girls over to order a warm mug of cider. Only when the girl heads back into the fray to retrieve her order does Ginetta meet Adolina's eyes.
"So how long have you known?" she asks after a long analytical silence. Adolina's answer is interrupted by the serving girl returning with a simple ceramic mug. Wrapping her hands around the warm material, Ginetta takes strength from the heat that seeps into her bones. "I must apologize. That water was colder than I would have liked and I still haven't warmed up. Rose would never complain, but ... brrr.." She shudders as emphasis.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Ginetta looks up to meet Adolina's eyes "If you're intending to descend as soon as possible, at least give me an hour to contact Rose. I would feel better if she was accompanying you."
She rises from her chair, grabs a pastry, and shoulders her bag onto her shoulder.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
As Ginetta processes Laria's introduction and request, she frowns.
"I'm sure we'd be happy to ensure the safety of your friend Nam, but my friends here have just managed a fair ordeal. I'm sure it would behoove them to rest first before tackling another spelunking effort into the cellars and sewers of the city." She glances at the others seeking confirmation. "While they're taking care of that, I'll seek out and inform Miss Nightfall of the impending expedition."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
"While Rose may be somewhat showy and have a tendency toward the dramatic, I believe she can be trusted as much as any one of us here," Ginetta offers. "She's always fought for the downtrodden in the Silver City. She just prefers to avoid public appearances."
She glances around at the others. "And while I may not have her flair for showmanship, I feel that the city has reached a point where the people must rise up to reclaim what's rightfully theirs - the soul of the city."
She looks down at the cup warming her hands.
"The diabolists would claim that the city's soul is alive and well in the temples to the Dark Prince, I believe that its proper place is on every stage in this city, expounding upon and reveling in the struggles we all face. Not just the heroic deeds, but in the daily victories we all achieve against the trials that life places before us. That's something that we need to share and the stage is the ideal place for that. By denying us that, Thrune has denied us an irreplaceable means to connect with each other. If for no other reason than this, he must be deposed and replaced with someone that holds the people's needs above their own."
She looks up to meet Laria's eyes.
"I also have a selfish motivation," she adds. "I'm looking for Vivia Covan. She claimed to have joined the Silver Ravens, but I haven't heard from her in some time."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
As the halfla arrives with pastries, Ginetta bustles through the door in a swirl of her cloak. Slightly out of breath, she sees the group and quickly joins them.
"I was hoping that I found the right place and that I wasn't too late," she says. Her cheeks are flushed as she lowers the hood of her winter cloak and her auburn hair spills down loose upon her shoulders. Adjusting the long bag she carries, she attempts to calm her breathing.
"Rose gave me an abridged version of what you discovered, but I hope you can relay the story with more details later," her question is directed at the group, but her green eyes seek out Adolina's. "It sounds like it would make an epic tale."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Yeah, it's an interesting rules ... quirk/choice/decision? ... that pretty much all magical items will all resize to be of a useful size for their owner - with the exception of armor.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
Ginetta still has about 50g and two potions of CLW. She'll donate 45g of that coinage towards a wand of the same.
Rather than try to convince Rexus, she might take the ring under the guise of selling it and then just hold on to it to return it to him at a later time.
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
The conversation moves on around her, but the idea that Vivia might be dead drowns it all in a swirl of emotions and confusion. She closes her eyes and concentrates on what really matters - breathing.
Air in. Air out. Air in. Air out. Steady. Slowly. Feel the filling of her lungs, the rise and fall of her diaphragm. The pounding of her heart fades into a reassuring rhythm. Just as when she would take the stage, everything else falls away except for the role in front of her.
"I'll fight!" she declares in a loud voice. All eyes turn to her and the conversation stops. Her spotlight, but this would be a different role. Not one she hadn't assumed before, but still ...
"I mean ... I can help and I know ... someone ..." She meets Ghorza's eyes. "... that can fight. Her name is Rose."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
The idea that Vivia may be dead isn't something that Ginetta has allowed into the realm of possibilities. To have it laid in front of her so matter-of-factly causes her to go silent.
Her breath comes in short gasps and the room swims.
"She ... she can't be dead," she whispers with a small shake of her head. "She can't be."
Female Half-elf Vigilante 2 | HP 13 | AC 18 Touch 14 FF 13 | Fort +1 Ref +7 Will +5 | Init +3 | Perc +8 - Low-light vision | Speed 30'
It takes a surprising amount of willpower to avoid simply blurting out, 'Where is Vivia?', but Ginetta manages restrain herself to a simple, "Ginetta Cicerdos of the Kintargo Moonlight Players. Glad we could help."
'Patience,' she repeats to herself as she waits for the others to move through their introductions.
Full Name
Captain Chumtooth of the Kiss of Vengeance, Pirate Lord
Race
Kuru
Classes/Levels
Ftr 5 / Rg 5 (pirate) l AC 19 T 14 FF 16 l HP 102/111 l F +10 R +10 W +5/+7* l Init +3 l Perc +14 (+13*)
Gender
Male
Size
Medium (6' 3" 215 lbs.)
Age
17
Alignment
Neutral
Location
The Shackles
Languages
Kuru, Common
Occupation
Pirate Captain
Strength
18
Dexterity
16
Constitution
16
Intelligence
10
Wisdom
12
Charisma
8
About Chumtooth
AC: 19 (14 touch, 16 flat-footed)
HP: 102/111 (10 base, 71 HD roll 30 con)
Perception: +13 (+12 if sight-based check in bright sunlight)
Initiative: +3 (+3 dex, +0 trait)
Speed: 30 ft.
BAB: +8/+3 Attack: +13 morningstar or Composite Longbow (+12 in bright sunlight)/+8 (+7 in sunlight)//+12 bite or kukri (+11 in bright sunlight)//+15/16* Harpoon ranged (+14/+13* in bright sunlight)/+10/9* second attack +4d6* Sneak Attack, if opponent is flat-footed or flanked.
CMB: +12
CMD: 22
Fort: +10 Ref: +10 Will: +5 (+7 vs fear, plus blood courage trait*)
*(Fear effects - see Blood Courage below)*
Chumtooth is tall, with a lean, but powerful build. He moves with the animalistic grace of a predatory cat. His teeth are rows of pointed canines, and his breath reeks of blood and raw meat, newly rotting. His skin is a dark, sun-baked brown and his eyes are deep brown, with large black pupils. His black hair hangs in tight, twisted braids.
Background:
The life of the Kuru is one of constant peril. A kuru child learns quickly that his mother will only protect him for a long as it takes him to learn to walk, and only for that long if there is ample food.
A young boy, the one the Others eventually called Chumtooth, managed to survive the perils of the jungle, the occasional hunger of his kin, and the insatiable hunger of the Blood Queen.
The boy listened to the elders tell of how all of the islands once belonged to the Kuru, how their ancestors were peaceful and welcoming to the strange men of the Unending Island. He also listened to them tell of how that welcome was repaid with the theft of their food, mothers and daughters, the murder of their fathers and brothers and the burning of their villages.
Pushed farther and farther West, towards the edge of the Empty Waters, the Kuru were forced to settle on the Forbidden Islands, and there the Blood Queen claimed them as her own. She demanded service and sacrifice, and repaid the Kuru by remaking them. No longer peaceful, but savage, no longer welcoming, but instead merciless to the children of those who slaughtered their ancestors. They were meat, and the Kuru were sharks.
The boy wanted to see the lands of his ancestors. He wanted to see how the other men lived. What made them so powerful? What could he learn from them? He decided to leave when the opportunity presented itself.
Foolish and ignorant men often brought their ships too close to the Islands. The waters of the coves are deep, the jungle is lush and full of game and fruit trees. It calls to such men, and they come ashore, and end up spitted over a Kuru cook fire.
The boy, one day, found such foolish men. Instead of leading them to his village, he warned them of their peril, helped them re-stock, and convinced them to take him with them when they left. The grateful men agreed, and the boy was on his way. He worked hard to learn the skills necessary to be a valued member of the ship's crew.
The men were whalers, and it did not take them long to see the boy's potential as a harpooner. His tall, muscular build seemed made for throwing the barbed spear. He practiced every evening, and eventually, was put at the prow of a longboat, ready to make the kill that would fill the coin purses of every man aboard.
His first kill was bloody, and the smell of the raw whale flesh beneath the crew's flensing knives awoke something in his nature that had been lying dormat. He grabbed a large slab of bloody whale blubber and tore into it with his pointed teeth. The men were both amused and disgusted by this display. They began calling the boy, Chumtooth.
For three years, he plied his trade. And as he grew from boy to man, it became more and more apparent to his shipmates that a cannibal outside of the Cannibal Isles is still a cannibal. Chumtooth began to worry them. Would he kill and eat of them in the middle of the night? How far could he really be trusted?
The captain found a simple solution. When the ship arrived in Port Peril, he declared a day and a night of shore leave. Unbeknownst to Chumtooth, the captain had the first mate and boatswain quietly make it known to the rest of the crew that the ship would sail within the next two hours, and that the cannibal was to hear none of it.
None the wiser, Chumtooth made his to the Formidably Maid, eager to hear the stories of other sailors and the opportunity to boast of his many kills to the weak people of this large village.
RACIAL ABILITIES: (Kuru appear in the Isles of the Shackles campaign sourcebook.)
Racial adjustments:-2 int, +2 dex, +2 con
Low-light Vision: Chumtooth can see twice as far as a normal human in dim light.
Light Sensitivity (ex): Chumtooth is dazzled (-1 attack and sight-based perception checks) in areas of bright sunlight, or in the effect of a daylight spell.
Blood Courage (ex): Once per day, when Chumtooth makes a saving throw vs a fear effect, he can roll the saving throw twice and take the better result. He must decide to use the ability before the saving throw is attempted.
Cannibalistic Vitality (ex): When Chumtooth hits a living creature with his bite attack, he gains one temporary hit point by ingesting the target's blood. This ability does not work on creatures that do not have blood.
Natural Weapon: Chumtooth possesses a natural bite attack that deals 1d8+6 (1.5 str) points of damage. If biting while wielding a weapon, the damage drops to 1d8+3 (double slice feat)
CLASS ABILITIES:
Bonus Feats: At 1st level, and at every even level thereafter, a fighter gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement (meaning that the fighter gains a feat at every level). These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as combat feats, sometimes also called “fighter bonus feats.”
Upon reaching 4th level, and every four levels thereafter (8th, 12th, and so on), a fighter can choose to learn a new bonus feat in place of a bonus feat he has already learned. In effect, the fighter loses the bonus feat in exchange for the new one. The old feat cannot be one that was used as a prerequisite for another feat, prestige class, or other ability. A fighter can only change one feat at any given level and must choose whether or not to swap the feat at the time he gains a new bonus feat for the level.
Bravery (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a fighter gains a +1 bonus on Will saves against fear. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels beyond 2nd.
Armor Training (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, a fighter learns to be more maneuverable while wearing armor. Whenever he is wearing armor, he reduces the armor check penalty by 1 (to a minimum of 0) and increases the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by his armor by 1. Every four levels thereafter (7th, 11th, and 15th), these bonuses increase by +1 each time, to a maximum –4 reduction of the armor check penalty and a +4 increase of the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed.
In addition, a fighter can also move at his normal speed while wearing medium armor. At 7th level, a fighter can move at his normal speed while wearing heavy armor.
Weapon Training (ex): Starting at 5th level, a fighter can select one group of weapons, as noted below. Whenever he attacks with a weapon from this group, he gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Spears: amentum, boar spear, chain spear, double spear, elven branched spear, harpoon, javelin, lance, longspear, orc skull ram, pilum, planson, shortspear, sibat, spear, stormshaft javelin, tiger fork, trident, and weighted spear.
Sneak Attack: If a rogue can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage.
The rogue's attack deals extra damage anytime her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the rogue flanks her target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and increases by 1d6 every two rogue levels thereafter. Should the rogue score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.
With a weapon that deals nonlethal damage (like a sap, whip, or an unarmed strike), a rogue can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. She cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual –4 penalty.
The rogue must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment.
Sea Legs (Ex): At 1st level, a pirate becomes adept at moving on ships, boats, and similar vessels. She gains the Sea Legs feat as a bonus feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. This ability replaces trapfinding.
Swinging Reposition (Ex): At 2nd level, a pirate incorporates a ship's masts, rigging, ropes, sails, and other such structures into her combat style. Provided she is wearing light armor or no armor, when fighting in an environment where such structures exist, the rogue incorporates them into her movement, and does not have to move in a straight line when making either a charge attack or a bull rush combat maneuver. Once she completes her attack or maneuver, she can reposition herself. Immediately after making the charge or bull rush, she can move 5 feet as a free action, even if the charge ends her turn. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. This ability replaces the 2nd-level rogue talent.
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a rogue can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the rogue is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless rogue does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Uncanny Dodge: Starting at 4th level, a rogue can react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He cannot be caught flat-footed, nor does he lose his Dex bonus to AC if the attacker is invisible. He still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. A rogue with this ability can still lose his Dexterity bonus to AC if an opponent successfully uses the feint action (see Combat) against him.
If a rogue already has uncanny dodge from a different class, he automatically gains improved uncanny dodge (see below) instead.
Unflinching (Ex): Pirates are a salty and steadfast lot. At 3rd level, a pirate gains a +1 bonus on saving throws against fear and mind-affecting effects. This bonus increases by +1 for every three levels, to a maximum of +6 at 18th level.
This ability replaces trap sense.
SKILLS:
(40 + 6 favored class bonus, 14 background skills)
Accomplished Sneak Attacker: Chumtooth adds an additional +1d6 to his sneak attack damage, as long as the total dice don't exceed half his character level (rounded up).
Intimidating Prowess: Chumtooth adds both his Strength and Charisma modifiers to Intimidation checks.
Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Chumtooth is proficient with the harpoon.
*Two-weapon Fighting*: Chumtooth has no penalty for biting while wielding a weapon.
Double Slice: Chumtooth adds his full strength bonus to the damage roll of his secondary attack.
Point-blank Shot: Chumtooth adds +1 to both hit and damage rolls on ranged attacks at 30' or less
Sea Legs: You gain a +2 bonus on Acrobatics, Climb, and Swim checks.
Improved Natural Attack: Bite damage increases from 1d6 to 1d8.
Power Attack: -2 Attack +4 damage (+6 on bite attack)
Fast Stealth (Ex): Benefit: This ability allows a rogue to move at full speed using the Stealth skill without penalty.
TRAIT(s):
Besmara's Blessing: +1 trait bonus to Perception and Profession (sailor). Once per week, Chumtooth may re-roll a Profession (sailor) check and take the higher result. He must announce he is using the ability before the results of the check are made known.
Harvester: Chumtooth was trained to harvest all parts of an animal with care and precision. He gains a +1 trait bonus on Profession (tanner) or Profession (trapper) checks, and he may make these checks as if you were trained in the skill even if you have no ranks. Additionally, he does not risk poisoning himsself whenever he handles or applies poison taken from a venomous creature.
+1 Morning Star (1d8+5 x2, Type: B and P) 6 lbs. 8 gp
EQUIPMENT:
Gloves of Swimming and Climbing +2 Cloak of Resistance +1 Ring of Protection Belt of Giant Strength +2 (effective Strength of 18) potion of water breathing Shackles of Compliance
Potions of Cure Serious Wounds (2)
Deed to Island
Silver Wrist Shackle (Pirate Lord badge)
Poisoning sheath (for blowgun darts)1 lb., 50 gp
Loincloth
Sandals
Belt pouch, .5 lb. 1 gp
Whetstone, 1 lb. 1 cp
Bedroll, 5 lbs. 1 sp
