"Yes, Kara. We did not know each other well before this quest began. If you will tell your story, I will tell mine."
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Greene finished his drink in a single practiced swallow. "In my heart, I never deserted your cause. And it seems the gods would see it so. I will follow and help where I can, but not to pay for past misdeeds. I am done with penance. I have seen the cruelty of archons and I am no longer certain goodness can be detected by magic alone. It is actions that make a man, and the things that walk these streets are not men."
No accidental planeshift for me. I entered Sigil with the rest of the group. Just got sidetracked slightly and teamed up with the Sons of Mercy for a few days. Who was it that touched something and ended up fighting a spiker in the alley? Or am I confusing games again(it does tend to happen)?
Well, shoot again. I already slipped Greene in at the Smoldering Corpse. But I did leave it pretty vague how he got there, so I think it's possible for you to still fill in the blanks and who traveled along with him. I'd like to avoid accidental planar shift though, if I can. I think Corvax already took that one and meeting the group again in the pub is more than enough coincidence for me.
Greene Tanache sipped his drink. He couldn't pronounce the name of the drink, which tasted like an odd mix of honeywine and despair, but the pub was called the Smoldering Corpse. Something about the general theme set Greene at ease about his infernal heritage. He'd tolerated some nasty slurs of late, including an almost-altercation with a pair of surly archons that were only appeased when they realized he represented Lathander. Even then, he sensed it was more his stealthy exit than his holy symbol that kept things from going to blows. The devils and demons he'd encountered were equally unkind, but strangely less violent. Sigil. City of Doors. As far away from the world he'd known as possible. Away from past misdeeds, away from the Ironwood Company, and away from... Sir Basil. Greene nearly choked on drink when he saw the paladin enter the pub. In his mind, he could hear Sir Andress' voice, All things happen for a reason. Do you think you and I met by chance? "Perhaps Lathander is trying to tell me something..." Greene said. He downed the rest of his drink and signaled for another. DM: I don't know that the Sons of Mercy would be an appropriate affiliation for Greene, given the path he's on, but I definitely like the investigator angle and his large Diplomacy bonus would be well-suited for that. He'll definitely progress along the Grey Guard path and straddle the line between rogue and champion of good.
Yes, I've been following along and I think Sigil is just the place for a wayward tiefling paladin to find himself.
Blast, you need a full rogue. I guess that rules out tiefling paladin/rogues...
Greene bowed his head, disgusted with himself for holding out hope. In all the world, that which appeared to be a monster always was. Knowing the slaughter that awaited the vile drow at the hands of Tyr's faithful guardian, Greene Tanache stepped backward into the magical darkness and slipped away.
Basil: Spoiler:
Greene watched the other paladin offer a peaceful surrender by attacking and prayed his rash actions did not sour the drow against peace altogether. "De Fermer!" Greene shouted. "Whether or not you strike with the hilt of your blade, could you not have waited for the drow to answer us first?" DM: Spoiler: Maybe I'm just having a hard time with Lawful Good, but not giving an enemy a chance to surrender first when others have actually offered it(and threatening to kill someone even if they do surrender), seems off somehow. Given that I had to take a special feat to be both a rogue and a paladin, am I completely off base here or is De Fermer's interpretation of Lawful Good skirting the edges a little bit?
Greene heard Onyx call for mercy and felt conflicted. He wanted to show enemies the mercy and kindness that Sir Andress had shown him, but he'd seen firsthand what came of giving evil its quarter. Greene twirled the enchanted rapier in his hand, heart hardening even as he summoned its divine bond, imbuing the weapon with the merciful power of its divine spirit. He would look into the creature's heart and see the truth of it. Some could be redeemed, but a heart of evil intent might as well be stone, just as his heart felt. Greene reached out with his innate sense of evil and focused it upon the distant outline of the drow Onyx wanted spared. DM: Spoiler:
"If you are an enemy of Lolth, we need not be enemies!" Greene shouted at the drow. "We have seen the evils inflicted on your comrades by worshipers of that hateful god! We know the cruelties inflicted on them! Surrender yourself that we might help each other put an end to Lolth's cruelty!" He knew too well how hate could twist a heart, and if the evils of these drow were a natural evolution from the cruelties visited upon them by their Lolth-worshiping brethren, perhaps he did feel some pity toward them. But for an overwhelming desire to live as Sir Andress lived and to fill the hole his death left in the world, Greene's rage and hatred could have driven him down a much darker path, one where righteous fury was replaced by bloody vengeance. It was not so very difficult to find that dark path. Even now, he could see it on his horizon, just to the left of Sir Andress' light.
Greene, heedless of the risk, tumbles back into the darkness to move into flank with Huergar against the last drow and attacks. Spoiler:
DM: Spoiler: Looking back, you meant that drow 5 struck me and not Finrod, right? I really hope I was close enough to get some of that channel energy.
Greene takes a 5-foot-step to the right and continues his attack hopefully clear of the darkness effect. Attacks rolls against Drow 5: Nat 1, 16, 22, 19
Greene resists the evil with a Will Save of 26. Round 2: Surrounded by Drow, the tiefling paladin abandons his plan to flank the ogre, who are now little more than smoking bones, and turns his attention to the Drow who attacked him. Seeing little cause for mercy or kindness, he attacks Drow 5 and lets his holy weapons slash and pierce the enemy's flesh. First attacks hit AC 31(threatening a critical) for 6 damage and AC 13 for 11 damage. Critical hit possibly confirms if AC 30 hits and does an additional 7 damage. Secondary attacks hit AC 19 for 7 damage and AC 25(threatening another critical) for 11 damage. If AC 14 confirms, 2 additional damage from the second crit.
Round 1: Rather than trying to hide, Greene makes a double move to 17, 17 to assist Huergar with the big shambling "1," drawing his weapons along the way. When round 2 begins, Greene will move into flank with Huergar and attack Big White 1 with his holy rapier.
Green drew his swords and slipped into the nearest area of concealment. Stealth:
"I will as well."
Greene sheathed his weapons and scanned the treeline for evil hearts or evil intent. DM: Spoiler:
Concentrating long enough to do a full 360 and detect evil at my maximum range. Assuming I detect none(and I realize it wouldn't pinpoint foes for several rounds or detect anyone hiding behind a thick enough tree)... "Kara, if you want to conserve your healing energies, I can spare a little of my own to help them. Onyx, are you all right?" He noticed the dwarf seemed preoccupied.
Greene drew his weapons and said a prayer to Sir Andress' god, "Lathander, give me eyes to see into the heart of evil. If what comes deserves no pity or mercy, it shall have none." Spoiler:
The tiefling cast a glare at de Fermer. "We know nothing of these men and women, except that they were branded heretics. Unless our work is wanton slaughter of dark elves whose hearts will now and forever be unknown to us, then no one's work has been done here." Greene walked past the paladin to kneel before the body of an open-eyed Drow woman. He closed the eyes and looked around for something to cover her violated flesh. "Try and remember which of us is more capable of mercy. "
DM: Spoiler: I only just realized that rapiers don't count as light weapons for the purpose of two-weapon fighting...would it be possible to swap out the rapiers for short swords or maybe just the offhand one? All my stats are figured for only -2/-2 penalty. I'm sorry I didn't catch it.
"If this is to be the plan, it would be better for those who risk the least to be the diversion. Those who are heavily armored will be tempting targets only if they appear to be alone, and without the aid of magic would likely compromise a stealthy assault in any case."
DM: Spoiler:
"Ms. Dundragon," Greene said quietly, "I thank you now for your kindness. Even the most jaded of my companions has a good heart. You may trust that we will help you, when all is said and done."
Kane hops down off the stool he has perched himself on, and looks around at the big people around him. "I have heard of these drow, although I have not crossed paths with them. I once new a man who had...never the same again...changed his whole personality. He used to be a wild one...last I saw, he'd turned to religion...bastard still owes me money too..." Greene raised an eyebrow. "You know more than one scoundrel who turned to religion? Perhaps the gods are trying to tell you something."
Greene arched an eyebrow and turned to the Dwarven woman. "Mistress Umil, my companion jests. As the Dell is on the other side of these attacks, we would not think of asking that you or anyone else endanger themselves for our benefit. If you'll kindly provide us with a map, my learned associate will have no trouble reading it." The Tiefling stepped closer to Finrod and hoped that his presence and the presence of so many allies would ease the ranger's mind. "I understand your fear," he said, softly, so that only Finrod could hear. "I know the power of darkness. It was my province once, and I used it well. The enemy of dark is light. Take heart." He smiled. "Fellhand is an excellent tactician...though not, it would seem, a practiced listener. He intends to travel through the Dell to the victims of the attacks, exposing himself to the very same threat he intends to evaluate. A dangerous oversight or a cunning plan, who can say which?" Greene addressed the Half-Orc. "Since it would appear my duty and your discretion both pass through the Shadow Gap, we need not quarrel or expose ourselves to the same danger separately. If we travel to the Dell together, we reduce our risk when we pass through the endangered territory. While you're tending to the sick, I'll double back and learn what I can at the Shadow Gap in the hopes that the plight of the wounded will better balance your conscience against your reason."
Greene felt a momentary flutter when the woman touched his hand, meeting her eyes just long enough to convey the unexpected feeling, then he nodded brusquely and stowed the purse. Since entering the service of Lathander, many things he once feared too much to acknowledge had become a part of him. His red eyes and animal-like incisors were mild manifestations of his true heritage, but they were sufficient to keep him from seeking or acknowledging the attentions of women. He no longer feared such reactions, but pride and remorse would not allow him to stare too long at Kerri's face. She was as lovely as the day he'd spied her riding through the High Forest, but he couldn't look on her now without seeing himself as she saw him then: a bandit, a highwayman, a rogue. Umil, watching gravely, says "Yes, I understand the fairytale aspect of Drow to you. I assure you, there is no mistaking those damnable dark things from below. No fiendish kin of theirs would be mistaken for a tiefling, that much is ceratain." "If they are drow," Greene said, casting a glance at Sunaj, "then their aggression must be answered. Our friend knows their ways. Perhaps some accommodation may be reached, if some among them feel differently than their kin and oppose these attacks." Even without Sunaj's answer, he had his doubts. He did know their kind, if not their race. Greene would freely extend one hand in friendship, so long as his other was on the hilt of a blade. The tiefling turned to Sir Basil. "You are a more honorable man than me, Sir Basil, and you have fought in Tyr's name far longer than I have known Lathander's. I will follow your lead, but I think it's foolish to delay if the drow are on the move. If they're given time to spread, they could rule the Dell and Shadow Gap as the Thorn once ruled High Forest." Spoiler:
Greene Tanache, arrayed with mithril armor and twin rapiers, the Andress family coat of arms painted across his breastplate, bent one knee when Kerri Dundragon entered the room. "My lady," he said, quietly. They'd met twice before, once at the point of his sword. Greene recognized the fear in her eyes because he'd put it there himself so many years ago and it shamed him. "Well met, friends, Greene." Kerri says, with a worried look on her face. "I fear that your assistance may be required with some... problems along the Northride, as well as along the Tethyamar Trail. It seems that things best kept underground are coming up to the surface." Greene rose to his feet and brushed his long, charcoal hair out of his eyes. "What do you mean? "Damn right we've run across a problem Kerri! We've run across the darkest of the dark. The Drow are on the surface! Not only that, they're raiding anything going through the Shadow Gap. What's worse is that it may be some form of territory war, as we've been attacked as much as we have found drow bodies, killed by their own murderous bretheren. This is horrible, and, I believe, a sign of things to come. The Dell is currently safe, as we're about two days' ride north of the "problem" in the Shadow Gap, but who knows if one side wins if they will start scouring the lands north and south of the Gap." The tiefling listened to the dwarf with a dark expression, growing ever darker. Impossible. The Drow are nothing more than an elvish fairy tale. "You're certain these creatures are dark elves and not merely bands of tieflings? There are places in Faerun where fiend-blooded gather in great numbers."
"Shrewd as ever, Mister Fellhand," Greene said, folding his arms. "These people don't have the luxury of choosing their battles." "Please do not mistake my caution for refusal to help. But we would be compounding the seriousness of the situation if we are ill-equipped to deal with these drow. You see I am familiar with their methods. Don't ask how I know. Tis best you don't know how I know." Greene softened his expression. "Your caution is understood, but I cannot share it." He looked at Kerri. "I owe you a debt, far more than a few paltry coins. Whatever my comrades decide, I will fight and die to repay the forgiveness you've shown me. I know something about darkness. It breeds where wills are weak and men are selfish." The tiefling removed his coin purse and held it out for Kerri to take, unable to meet her eyes. "Take it. 130 gold pieces, all that I have. If I die, I'd rather you spent it."
Thank you. I like it when a character is more invested in the plight of a quest-giver. Rounds Greene out a little more.
DM: Spoiler: Would it be possible for this merchant in Tilverton to be one of Greene's former victims, a traveler he robbed in the High Forest during his days as a bandit for the Thorn? As part of his personal penance, he could have looked him up later and pledged to return as much as he could pay him(your call whether Greene has already returned the money or is planning to do so in person). Whether the group is already an adventuring company or not, Green would have a personal connection to the merchant and a reason to help him. But it's up to you. :)
Well, since we don't yet know we're going up against the Drow as characters(correct me if I'm wrong, DM), I nominate the Paladin of Tyr for his unimpeachable moral character and dedication to the values of Law and Goodness.
Greene is here, ready to smite in Sir Andress' name.
Spoiler: Similar situations? Kane wasn't as cutthroat as the rest of the group, or perhaps he was and lost the stomach for it? I'm trying to decide if Greene would be suspicious of him or trying to help him make the transition to a more legitimate line of work.
Interesting. Since Kane would have been involved with them until very recently, he might have known Greene while he was still a rogue... I'll have to see where the Dalelands are in relation to the High Forest, but Greene spent years driving them out of that territory...Dalelands might be where the rest of them relocated? I wonder what sort of relationship will emerge between Greene and Kane. It could run the gamut between seething hatred and lasting friendship, given their intersecting backgrounds.
Hmmm...do these well-known thieves have a name that might be familiar to a certain paladin? :)
For DM_Darkmeer, submitted for your approval:
Spoiler: Greene Tanache began his life as a blight on his family, marked at birth by his mother's indiscretion with a man she refused to name. That Greene's father was very likely a devil in mortal guise did little to endear him to his adoptive father. For most of his childhood, he learned to answer to "Bastard" and "Devil-Child" as frequently as his own name, and at the age of eight, Greene abandoned his family and fled to the High Forest, where he was found and accepted into a group of highwaymen calling themselves the Thorn Guild.
Greene became a brigand and a highwaymen for the Thorns, although he lacked the cruelty of his fellow thieves and was frequently berated for allowing victims to escape with their lives. Knowledge of the Thorn was often enough to earn their enmity. Greene learned quickly to assuage his guildmates with reason, else they send men to find and murder those he allowed to leave the High Forest alive. As a highwayman, he regularly attacked travelers and took their valuables, but that changed when he mistook a single rider in the night for a noble and was soundly defeated by a paladin of Lathander called Sir Andress. Green awoke to find himself bound and healed after the combat, with Andress making breakfast over a fire. He was humane and even affable to Greene, who grew to like the paladin in spite of the beating he'd taken at his hands the night before. Andress planned to take him to the Silver Marches to be properly tried, but the paladin seemed to take his time, walking his horse instead of subjecting it to the strain of two riders. He spoke to Greene as they journeyed, asking about his life and what had led him to such dire ends as taking advantage of travelers. At first, Greene gave only short answers and outright lies that Andress easily saw through, but eventually he told the paladin of his youth and the cruelty that led him to run away. Andress confessed that he'd known for some time that Greene was a Tiefling, but he made it a point never to judge a man without knowing his life. Among the paladin's remarkable gifts was the ability to detect evil, and he candidly told Greene that there was no evil in him, whatever the outward signs of his infernal heritage. He promised Greene that he would seek leniency from the magistrate if he would mend his life, and Greene was so overwhelmed by the offer of mercy that he agreed, though he had no idea how to mend his life. Near the edge of the High Forest, after traveling with Sir Andress for over a week, they were attacked by members of the Thorn. Andress had stopped binding Greene days before, a show of trust that Greene never betrayed. Seeing Greene unbound in the company of a paladin, they drew their own conclusions and marked them both for death. The Thorn caught them unaware, and Andress lost valuable time drawing Greene's weapons and returning them before mounting a counterattack. He was much stronger than Greene, but against so many opponents, the paladin's strength waned. He took no time for himself, constantly weakening his position to defend Greene and heal his many injuries, spending his last divine gift to keep Greene alive and fighting. He fell, and Greene slew the last of his former guildmates alone. Andress lay bleeding and Greene could do nothing but watch, his heart wrenching. He knew nothing of medicine or magic. The paladin died and something within Greene broke. He'd known kindness for the first time in his life and all he could do to repay was spill useless tears over a noble man's body. With great effort, he returned Andress to his saddle and continued the journey to the Silver Marches with the dead paladin by his side. He gave himself over to the guards without resistance, asking only that they show the body of Sir Andress the respect he deserved. When questioned by the magistrate, he answered honestly and was grimly surprised when the magistrate believed his account of the paladin's death. Out of respect for Sir Andress, the magistrate remanded Greene to the Church of Lathander, where he was sentenced to serve them as they saw fit. His service took the form of simple chores and ministering to the sick, but his sentence was not long. Greene pledged himself to Lathander, though in his heart it was Andress to whom he gave his fealty. He returned to the High Forest and hunted the Thorn Guild without mercy, using all he knew of their ways and all he'd learned from the church. If they did not surrender to the law, he fought them with righteous fury. It took years, during which he drifted further and further from the Church of Lathander, but he drove the Thorn out of the High Forest.
Yes, the plant-loving construct and the holy Tiefling warrior are one in the same. = ) I'm not sure about a one-level dip in rogue. The thing that used to be popular was the two-level dip, so you could get evasion. I went with the rogue levels largely for character reasons and I'm still deciding if I want to take any more later. The choice is between a paladin who has reformed from a criminal life and is conflicted about using what he learned, even in the service of good, and a paladin who continues to hone his less-than-honorable skills and sees it as fighting villainy with its own tricks.
I don't know about Dr. Dark!, but I put four of my rogue ranks in Disable Device. I'm not exceptional, but I think I'm in a good position to aid a real rogue on any checks we really don't want them to fail(although I'm not sure anyone can help a rogue disable traps, even if they have trapfinding as well).
I suspect with so many combat-heavy characters, we were already stretching the challenge rating boundaries a bit. I'm reading up on Forgotten Realms right now so I can have my background up tonight.
Can someone explain to me the PFS 1/2 HD+1 method for HP? d6=4 hp d8=5 hpd10=6 hp d12=7 hp Once you see it like that, it's easy to figure out. Instead of rolling for hit points, you just take a standard amount each level(except, presumably, first level).
Not a problem. I just didn't have time to type it up yet. The meat and potatoes is done, I should have my profile finished tomorrow.
Are hit points rolled or are they a set number(1/2+1 looks like what Pathfinder Society uses)? Probably should have asked that before.
Greene Tanache, devoted inquisitor, is done except for background. Let me know if he's acceptable so far. Once he's done, I'll add all of his information to the alias profile. |