Greis Rashire's page

Not sure how far we are....When we set up camp we were what, about a day out? Then we walked for another day or so to get here? So yeah. Greis knows and will tell you.

The young sorcerer has seemed ill at ease during this entire encounter, neither interrogating the elf nor suggesting a course of action. Finally, when Anarath talks directly to him, it seems to rouse him from his stupor.

"Right. The Manor. Well first we...insert directions here...and we're there. Shall we? It is about time we actually see the interior of this place. Perhaps once our new associate sees us kill a score or two of those he considers our confederates it may warm him up to us. Or not. He is, after all, more insane than a gibbering mouther rolling uphill..."

"Someone grab him!" Greis calls out, trying to wheel around him to form part of a circle and block off a possible escape. He stops attacking for the present, and just snakes his spearpoint around menacingly to forbid passage. Basically holding my attack actions to take in case he tries to bolt.

It isn't a critical. How much damage?

4 HP

Eyes sparking with fury Greis raises his shortspear high above his head, teeth clenched and drives the weapon down with all his might...and botches.

My turn again already? Sweet!

The blades whizzing past his face cause Greis to lurch backward. He reaches behind him and pulls at the handle of his shortspear, twisting it from its tether and bringing it up into both hands and thrusting it awkwardly at the elf that had so nearly killed him, face puckered up in frustration and anger at the elf--not so much for having tried to kill him, but rather for failing to fall under his charm spell like he was supposed to, and forcing Greis to fight him. The stab is wobbly and off target [3 to hit] which further infuriates and humiliates the sorcerer, now flushed red with his spear out in front of him.

Finishing the Charm Person spell posted above.

...It's right above Corvin's last post if you have trouble finding it.

Greis stumbles through the edge of the wood, pulling the leaves and branches from his hair when his eyes snap up to see a figure who must be Segwin. He lurches back as the blades come swinging around. Suddenly his eyes narrow and his fingers arch upward. He waves the his fingers towards himself in a complicated motion that is almost beckoning and forms magic words of enchantment on his lips--words designed to sap will and to transform hostile feelings to benign. As they spill forth Greis can feel the warmth and the power of them, accompanied by a giddy rush of accomplishment.

Casting Charm Person when my turn comes up again.

Oh, quick reminder, Greis has Spell Focus: Enchantment too.

Thanks! Crud well then I just sprint my full speed--which in a perfect world would make me harder to hit too, but ah well. At least I'll get there without taking too much fire.

Seeing Anarath go down under an arrow, and Corvin go mad from fear and pain, he hugs up his crossbow and levels a cool look at the necromancer.

"The time has come to end this. I have a plan."

The courage in his voice, the still and quiet of it, was entirely new. He steels himself a moment, as if watching for a clear spot to open for him, and then ducks down and runs his way toward the edge of the forest where Dohrlok has reported sighting one of their attackers. He moves as nimbly and quickly as possible--focusing on making himself a hard target to the exclusion of all else until he joins the dwarf in amidst the trees.

In other words, Full Defense--assuming it's an attack action and I'm still allowed a move, otherwise I'll just move my full maximum bolting distance.

Things are going great. I'm really liking it. Don't worry too much. I'm looking forward to seeing what all you have ready to ambush us with! Heh.

Rifles through the bedding, picks up one of the books and begins flipping through it, skimming its contents.

"Clues, my thick associate...clues. If we can, we hope to find the plans we'd heard the Architect keeps here, and perhaps even some indication of his whereabouts. But keep a stout heart, the time will soon come for you to lodge your sword in the gullet of some creature or another. If you wouldn't mind keeping a lookout for us? Thank you so much."

"Oh that's so very nice...thank you Corvin."

He shakes his head and splashes his way through the ankle deep water toward the cave, making his way inside in nondramatic fashion. He glances about the interior looking for any promising hiding places wherein the architect may have hidden his plans. Search (untrained) 7

"There is, of course, the hitherto undiscussed alternative: that we have actually found the abode of the man we seek. Witness; dead kobolds with the unsavory possibility of predation, the funeral markers of the family he felt guilt at abandoning just here nearby, frequent passage in and out--perhaps he lives in this cave we are menacing? I think that is worth consideration. Who knows, perhaps the plans we desire are there amongst his possessions..."

Greis seems less affected by the creepy aura of the place, though whether it is through some special knowledge on his part or simply that he fails to notice it remains unclear.

Greis quickly crosses over to the far side, away from the edge of the pool to a spot on the far side of the waterfall to try and get a clear line into the cave, to cover his associates as they mass at the enterance. He traces his fingers through the air, leaving faint lines of fog, like breath on a cold morning, preparing to send an icy ray at anything that comes charging out of the unknown depths.

The DM is without access for a bit and has put the game on hold for a bit. He'll be back though, so we're just lurking around waiting for things to start up again. It's at a place where we really can't go anywhere else on our own power--so it's pretty much just a wait.

Rolls a 5 on his untrained "ookie" skill, whatever that would be--basically raw Wis for him

Not himself unnerved, but wary because of how obviously destraught the adventurer he hired is acting--who's job is to be nervous for him really.

He drops toward the middle of the group as they make their way into the clearing. The standing stones are interesting--certainly a sign of someone around--someone or a group with enough strength and desire to heft all those rocks into position at the very least, and that's something.

"Might I suggest we tread carefully anywhere around the water..." a slight tinge of fear to his voice "I've heard a great deal of stories about the things that dwell in pleasant looking springs in clearings just like thisone--all sorts of fey creatures and the like that lurk within refreshing-looking pools waiting to pull in unwary souls for the sheer pleasure of drowning them."

He sets down his pack and undoes a few buttons on his outer travelling gear to let the breeze in, but doesn't stop talking "Particularly watch out for attractive young women. Steer clear of any creepy attractive young women. That's always how it goes..."

"Agreed." he replies, not breaking stride "Not to mention the embarrassment of it. I would prefer not to spend overmuch time just wandering aimlessly down backcountry roads like the village idiot." He blanches unpleasantly at the thought. "Another day will prove to my satisfaction one way or the other. Either we'll find this man by then or we won't."

Stops for a moment and looks to Anarath. "Actually if I read the terrain right, we're not headed toward the Manor per se."

He turns again and continues to speak as he walks, doing both in a slow measured way, "For now we're out looking for the architect to find us--since it would appear to be futile looking for him. You are right though, heading back toward the Manor would surely find us falling into a variety of nasty traps--not that there is any guarantee that there won't be trouble out this way either."

"We're bound to have kobolds at our heels until we find some way to ellude them or until we kill them all. Not much to be done about that. The hope, as you put it back in town, is to find this Segwin so we can gain 'some edge over previous explorers'. While I certainly have done my share of poking around while I've been here, and while I certainly think we could head straight in, I still think our chances of success are best if we can first obtain the plans to the structure. Perhaps then we can find some less direct means of getting past the kobold sentries and whatever other dangers await."

Flinches, more from the unexpectedness of the noise from Anarath, than from any fear that it would call unnecessary attention to them.

"Well he's supposed to haunt the road. It's not pleasant, but I suppose our best chance of discovering him is to follow along the road looking well--adverturely. Hopefully he will see us and initiate contact. I imagine his passage won't be obvious to untrained eyes or the kobolds would have discovered him by now. Oh and we should be on the watch for more attacks, probably bigger bands and better equipt--we did after all kill one of their patrols." He turns, readjusts his gear and begins the long directionless saunter down the trail hoping to catch the attention of Segwin. If his eyes are open to ambush groups of kobolds they should likewise be open to a group of obvious adventurers...

Hears the sound of the knife going in and tenses. It was different when the creatures posed them a direct and deadly threat. Killing them when they were helpless made him feel sick inside. He'd felt sick from the moment he'd asked the necromancer to do it--but better that it were he, someone who would have some compassion and make the passing as quick and painless as it could be than some swaggering sellsword who would do it laughing. His head swum and he didn't want to think about it anymore.

"We are best off following the roads. The kobold mentioned that the architect patrolled them and would often beset them from ambush. The more likely it is that he sees us, the more likely it is we may speak with him. Their may also be signs of his passing if we are lucky. Do any of you know how to track? If so then I suggest we search out those places where he has been spending his nights out here. He must sleep somewhere after all..."

Decipher Script I don't think that I will allow you to use untrained in the future. I am going to rule that Knowledge checks (except for arcana and the planes) can be used untrained at a -2 penalty becuas even a common person might pick up stray bits of pertinent information.

I think that certainly makes sense. With Decipher Script I agree also, though I would say that in that case there should be a deliniation between reading small worn print in a language that's known (which seems closer to a search check and which most people should be able to do) and trying to peice together an unknown language from familiar elements from other languages--which yeah, you'd need the skill to be able to do or you just wouldn't have a prayer.

Greis nods gravely. "Maybe it's best. If it hasn't awoken by now, it's likely in a bad way. There is also the practical matter that we cannot allow the creature to inform its masters. I say we continue our search for the architect. We need him if we are to have any chance to unlock the secrets of the manor alive."

He picks a small twig from the ground and breaks it apart cumpulsively. He turns away from the hurt kobald. "I think Anarath should be the one to do it. Then we move on." He drops the stick and quickly shoulders his pack and weapons--wincing under the pain but quickly steadying himself. He moves a few steps away, not looking back.

As an aside, I don't think either Knowledge skills nor Decipher Script can be used untrained.

Not sure offhand what can or can't--though I've personally hated those rules since I tend to think you can at least try to do most things. I just roll the dice and let the DM make of it what he will. I do tend to mention if a skill is untrained or not for just that eventuality. *shrug*

Greis sits up suddenly from his scrutiny of the pendant, a look of realization on his face. "It's Kuljin. An ancient kobald ruling family--worshippers of Tiamat and known for powerful kings and clerics. This was not made through the rough craft of tribal kobalds, smelted out of some mud cast, but rather it looks like the work of a genuine jeweler. Look here at the fine detail and engravings. How good was the equipment of the ones that attacked us? Did you get a chance to see? I would very much hope that the Kulji are extinct by now or we may have troubles. The last thing I would want to see are Spawn of Tiamat skulking around these woods..." He blows out a measured breath, shaking his head solemnly.

The kobold is still asleep. Greis, on close inspection of the amulet you find tiny draconic characters that are hard to read (Decipher Script check).

Decypher Script 17 (untrained)

Greis groans, reaches up a hand and palms the amulet, turning it around to get a good look at it. He checks the quality of the mold and workmanship to see if it's of kobald make, melted slag poured into a mud mold or the like--or if it's something found or taken from human hands. Appraisal 14 (untrained)

Greis blinks his gummy eyes and smacks his lips, scooting up with his back fully against the tree. "Well, it's a dragon, for one--which would catch the eye of a kobald. From my understanding of them they have a fixation with dragons, as honored distant ancestors or some such. As for whether it's a symbol of any other organization..." He takes a second, closer look at it. Knowledge(Heraldry) 20 (untrained)

Greis begins to drool a little. His familiar, Alabaster, dines on some fresh caught rodents up in a tree.

Feeling significantly better, but still wired from his manner suggests was a near death trauma, he sits in front of the tree he had been hiding behind, hands clasped in front of him. One one side of him is his pack, at the other his spear, between his legs his crossbow, unstrung but with the bolt still laid across the top of it. He reaches far over and gathers up the fallen bolts, slapping them against the side of one soft boot and packing them carefully into their leather case. He doesn't watch his mindless work. His eyes are on the still unconscious kobald. He's sure with all he's been through he won't be able to sleep, but it's no sooner than he makes the conscious effort to stay awake that he ends up drifting to sleep, back against the tree trunk, until someone wakes him for his shift.

I'm up to 3 out of 4 hit points, up from half dead. Wow it's amazing what a hit point means when your a wimpy little sorcerer. Heh.

As for the "out of bounds" thing, I'd hate to think that characters aren't able to do stuff that's in character for them. Personally I wouldn't even mind PK if it was done tastefully and for reasons that make sense in character. I guess I've just never been a fan of the "you just can't do it" school. Nonetheless, so long as I know where the lines are drawn I'm pretty agreeable.

Thanks! I've always really liked you too. Your comments are always so well thought out and imaginative. Gosh, I don't even understand why people even play that tired old RAW stuff anymore anyway since you instated the wonder that is the Grimcleaver System!

Good! I'm glad! You're old avatar freaked me out anyway.

Not me. No formal declarations here. If people don't know who I really am it's their own lookout. Heh!

Wow...can't say that I guess...*laughs* That wasn't bad I promise!

Cocks his head to the side as after long moments there's no answer, then looks to the elven necromancer sideways. Then he looks back to the kobald, slumped over awkwardly into a painful heap.

"Ermm. No. Apparently it isn't. What happened?"

Blinking awake the sorcerer looks up at the dwarf whose divine encantations have roused him. He winces and rises, rubbing his side where the arrow was--still tender.

"Thank you. I don't know what happened. I think once the excitement of the battle was over, I just..." he looks sheepish "Thank you."

He stands, picking the foliage from his hair and clothes, then begins again in draconic to the now hurt little creature.

"You must tell us about the ruin ahead, and your king. Speak."

Greis comes staggering out from behind the tree, securing the crossbow and letting it fall limply from his fingers. He's pale and his hands move numbly. There's a bloody spot under his armpit where the miniature arrow jammed into his back muscle. Forehead dabbled with sweat he looks as though he might vomit. He staggers forward and joins the others interrogating the kobald, catching it's words as the big dwarf begins to bend him into unnatural shapes. He continues in groggy draconic.

"Where is this king of yours? And what is he? A description...will do if you don't know his race."

He turns to the others, smiling weakly. "I really hadn't meant you to have to fight on your own...I just..." he gestures vaguely to the arrow in his side and collapses.

A while ago there was a poll on what board games were our favorites or least favorites. I felt a little bad because the information I gave wasn't very clear or complete. I think it's because I'd put my bean in the bucket and didn't really give it too much thought. Looking back on it, I figure someone asked the question because they wanted some insight for some important project--and darn it I'm opinionated and verbose!

What I hate in a boardgame
I hate an ugly board that wastes a lot of space--the kind that only have like 10 squares on the whole thing and are in clashing primary colors. I hate ugly generic peices that look like pawns or whatever and gameplay that's vague and purposeless--roll a die and move that many spaces. I hate games that feel like you got cheated because it's just the ugly board, a bag of little pawns, and an ugly die.

What I love in a boardgame
I love a pretty board that actually represents something. I love Clue and Risk for that reason. The boards are lavish and mean something. Even more I love when a normal game I'm used to is tied into a product line I love. For example normal Clue was okay...D&D Clue is AWESOME! Star Wars Life was great! Lord of the Rings Risk was the coolest thing ever! You take the basic game and kick it up a level by tying it in cleverly with something else I like a lot. Much better even if it comes with lots of little minis that I could use for something completely different. I've been much tempted in the past to buy the Doom boardgame just for the minis. I'd buy Lord of the Rings Risk just for the map and the minis. That's a good thing. Good dice are another bonus to any game. I love good dice, and might buy an otherwise bleh boardgame if it promised truly unique dice in decent numbers (at least 4). I love games that incorporate cards as a randomizing element, particularly if said cards are pretty. I love little counters and things, like you get as mana in Magic. Any little toys and cards and bits make a game tremendously more fun and valuable. Also any game that has different ways to play it--optional rules, sidequests, or at least enough complexity that it lends itself to creating those sorts of things will get played over and over.

One of my favorite games was the Jurassic Park game. It was great! You had a map that was pretty much the island from the movie divided into a grid. Each character starts somewhere on the map and has to get to the main foyer building. Every time a character moves, they roll a big ten sided die. There are various dinosaurs--mostly velociraptors and one big awesome T-rex. At the end of your turn you get to move whatever dinosaurs come up on the die. The raptors move more often, but not as far. The T-rex moves less often, but when it does it can clear the entire park. If a dinosaur lands base to base with another figure, that figure has to "hide" until someone moves the dinosaur away. It's basically a race to get to the compound first. It's a really simple premise, but really fun in gameplay and its a nice looking game. It's also full of fun concepts that could translate into a cool fantasy monsters vs. adventurers or armies versus armies kind of game.

Made somewhat braver by the sounds of the battle thinning, the fighting less intense and more dying on the side of the attackers, he crouches low next to the tree and then bolts out into the open to where he left his pack. Once there he grabs it up in a big bundle in his arms, spear, crossbow and all and runs back to his position behind the tree. (is a possible target here)

Immediately he pulls out the bolts and dumps a half dozen or so of them on the dirt in front of him. With shaky fingers he works one into the crossbow and pulls it back against the string until it locks, ready to fire.

I thought of a better one: Profession (Deity).

No no no. That's a PRESTIGE CLASS...

You know what works for me? Disdain. Not anger or threats. Just disdain. Have really great roleplays with the characters who are rich and deep. Focus on awesome stories that center around them. Give him the scraps. Put him in fights he's not meant to walk away from, and when he kills them all just give him a lukewarm meh. When another character takes out the named kobald who killed his son, make him a hero's feast. That'd be my recommendation. I would say your father is the kind of gamer I would love to know. If you take those principles and make awesome stories about the good characters you have then the players won't mind Mr. Shrimpy Sluggerboy so much. Mr. Shrimpy, on the other hand, will start to learn that stats don't mean nothin' to you--that what warms your heart is character and complexity. When you get there--then life will be good.

Greis calls out from behind the tree, his voice strained injury, fear and the oppressive darkness.

"Anyone have any light? Could cast some spells if there were some light! Might help!"

He falls flat against the tree, breathing heavily. He takes a moment to try and steady himself, willing his hands to obey and be steady, his voice to be sure and even when he needs it. Out in the dark he can hear creatures scrabbling through the brush and the whip of crossbow bolts through the air.

I've just developed the panacea to solve all the problems of every character ever.

Quite simply, Profession (Adventurer)!

Are you looking for traps? Listening for monsters? Trying to appraise treasure? Guessing at the special attacks of a certain shade of jelly? Look no further!

They are all rolls made off the shiny new skill Profession (Adventurer). You need never put points in any other skill. Profession (Adventurer) does it all. It can even give synergistic bonuses to BAB and saves!

Yes folks, the skill for the 21st century (Dalereckoning or otherwise) I give you

Profession (Adventurer)!

So now that the battle is joined, are the kobalds clearly visable? If so then I'll huck a little lovin' at one of 'em!

Greis falls back behind the tree under the barrage of fire, periodically popping his head out partially to see if he can see any of the attackers (probably only giving him 3/4 rather than full cover if someone holds an action to shoot him). He tries hard to listen and hear if he can make out anything they might say to each other or call out in battle. He closes his eyes and begins to compose a spell to charm them just in case, his fingers absently stroking the air for effective gestures to aid the casting. He figures a spell like this won't require components, just the adequate addresses and conditionals in the magic speech with the right smooth motions of the hand. Still his side hurts tremendously, pulling his mind away...

Greis' eyes shoot open and his mouth carps open in pain. He rolls himself over the root of the tree, using the trunk to himself as much cover as possible (Init 19). Hate is in his eyes as he scans around in the direction of the assault (Spot 13). He brings up a hand and carefully touches the bolt, intending to pull it out--but the thrill of pain just causes him to spasm and gasp. He decides against it. Feeling around the opposite side of the tree for his pack he suddenly remembers casually dropping it in the middle of camp--with his crossbow, spear, and every other weapon he might have with the exception of the spellpouches around his waist...

Tech: Down to half hp, 2 out of 4. Owww...

Greis dines upon a little hard bread, in a suprizingly good mood as he sits around the fire. The meal is unfortunately a somewhat more grave and silent affair than he was hoping, and so respectful and a little intimidated, he keeps his own council. What little conversation there is seems to be mostly who will stand guard for what parts of the night--a topic which holds little interest for the young sorcerer. He waits for the two scouts to tromp out a ways and scoots back to a position in the V-shaped nook where the branches spread from a large tree and lays down, hands clasped behind the back of his head. The ground is harder than he'd expected, and full of little harrassing bits of sharp debris. Nevertheless he listens intently (8) for any sign of contact as he waits for fatigue to overcome excitement and discomfort. He hadn't thought to bring blankets--next adventure he thought to himself.

With the fall of night approaching, Greis looks off to the side of the road for a relatively soft place to spend the night. As soon as something passable appears he sets down his pack and begins to set things up for the night. He sees to getting the materials together for a fire, though no master of the outdoors he figures between them all they should be able to manage through the night.

"So perhaps something to eat, and a bit to drink once we get the fire going and then we'll split up?"

Technical: Got a 7 for Survival (untrained). So his attempts at setting camp up are really pretty gosh-awful.

"There're all sorts about, and many I wouldn't want to meet alone in the woods at night, if you catch what I'm sayin'."

He smiles broadly. "Then stay in hearing range of the camp. If you run into anything untoward, just call out and we'll lend assistance. One of the reasons I suggested the most military of us reconotier, so we can respond appropriately to any...unforseen complications."

Yeah, my schedule has been pretty hectic, and I am never here in time to post, so bear with me for a few days.

Don't sweat it. Here's the update. We've gotten our gear and left town headed for the woods. The plan so far is to set up camp and have you and the monk search around looking adventurely. The rest of us sit around camp looking adventurely too and hopefully one of us will draw the attention of the crazy guy. This plan is still subject to change, but so far, that's what we got.

Really, a hammer each? What did you have in mind? Anarath won't want to take one.

Well the idea won't be Greis'. He wouldn't know what to do with one hammer.

My theory was this. Horrible thing mauls us all to near death, The last survivors run to a sturdy door and throw ourselves into the room to escape the horror following us. We have pitons to hammer the door shut. Wait--who had the hammer! AAAAHHHHH!

TPK.

If everyone has a hammer, we can each drive a piton in a single round. That has real benefits.

Just my rationale.

Despite his backpack of new supplies, Greis felt and looked spritely and careless, making his way down the farm roads with a gallant stride that challenged others to keep up with him. Even Corvin's comments rolled off of him.

"Do not let it worry you. Your advice was good. We did need supplies, and it did give us an opportunity to work over our plans. With luck we should find the architect, just in there..."

He gestures off toward the pleasant wood they had travelled through on their way to Greenhollow, presumably the wood wherein they would find the mad half-elf.

"I thoroughly agree with our dwarven friend. We should travel into the woods a ways and set up a camp. A nice visible camp. Then perhaps Corvin and Dohrlok might survey a bit, cast the net a bit wider to see if they can draw the wandering half-elf's eye and peak his curiousity?"