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Alright, actually managed to get the character finished. Here is Phntm888's submission, a wizard with the Arcane Warden archetype. He wants to build magically-reinforced structures and is skilled at working with stone. The character's skills and spell selection can be somewhat malleable, based on the rest of the party's composition.
Harul, rowing the other oar, pulls out his morningstar and looks about the water. "Where is it? Can you tell what it is?"
Harul's smile quickly vanishes as Ramona explains the situation. "Elderbrant" nods at her request and says, "Of course. I would be more than happy to assist with this. We must ensure the safety of the colonists first and foremost." Considering a moment, he says, "It may be wiser to keep the soldiers with you. The other colonists may feel more comfortable. We should be able to handle ourselves."
Harul makes sure to socialize with each of the colonists during the voyage - if they will be living in close quarters, they need to be able to at least try and be civil. Harul studies the distance between them and the shore. Soon, I'll be in the colony, and the exploration can begin. At Ramona's, request, Harul moves over to where she gestures, smiles and says, "Of course. Is something the matter?"
Harul takes care to greet everyone - including Ramona Avandth and the Captain. He puts just enough ego into each introduction to look the son of a noble house, but makes sure they understand he has no intention of trying to take over or bully his way into a position of authority.
Harul strides into the inn and approaches the counter, a smile on his face. "You certainly may. My name is Elderbrant Heirbrine. A fine gentleman by the name of Smedrik bid me come here for lodgings. Have they been arranged?"
GM: "I'd think 200 gold would be sufficient - I can't imagine the crew is that large. How large would the crew be?"
GM, do I know how much capital I've been given by the Society?
According to the Status thread, I think we're getting an update either tonight or tomorrow.
GM: "Well, Smedrik, I traveled to Osirion to spend a year with my father's family there, and in that time we took a journey to the fringes of the Mwangi Expanse, where I learned to identify signs of poisonous wildlife as well as how to organize a proper trip from my uncle - I even arranged a day hike from our base camp in search of a rather rare type of butterfly, although it eluded us. As to skills I possess that would be of use to a fledgling colony, I was quite active in sports as a child, and am in excellent physical shape. I am rather hardy, and thus should not be a burden should some strange disease spread among the colonists. I've had a broad education, and thus may be able to help identify any plants or wildlife we encounter. I also have some skill with weapons, and could help protect the colony from any who wish it violence." Smiling, the Osiriani man adds, "I also have access to a certain amount of capital, which I am willing to use to help finance the expedition and help defer the costs associated with."
GM: "Bribe? I was under the impression I had a scheduled time for my interview, and I was merely asking you be informed I was here. I tipped the page to thank him for his time. If he interpreted my tip in such a way, I assure you it was unintentional. Since I am here, however, we might as well have the interview. After all, there is no sense in waiting. I am Elderbrant Heirbrine, as the page told you. I believe this expedition will be a most rousing success - and, of course, I am willing to help in any way to ensure it is so - physically, clerically, financially. I am most pleased to meet you...sorry, I don't believe I've caught your name." Harul talks quickly, smiling and acting in a friendly manner as he extends his hand to the gentleman.
Busy weekend - might not be able to post a response until tomorrow.
Since the Paizo site went down last night as he went to post, I suspect we'll be seeing updates tonight.
If you check the Shadow's Status thread, he should be updating later today.
I will be traveling to visit family this weekend, and only on mobile. Please bot me if necessary.
Harul, now dressed in the fancy clothes of his cover as well as bald, has the chests associated with his cover unloaded from the ship as he disembarks, then sets about hiring a coach and porter to take him and his belongings to the Citadel for the next round of interviews, making sure to tip nicely. After all, it's not his gold he's spending. Once there, he tells the first person who looks like a staff member he sees that he is Elderbrant Heirbrine, and he is here for his interview for the grand expedition, and that person should go tell whoever's in charge that he's here - and hands that person a nice tip.
Varloo, I’ll trade you Thassilonian, Osiriani, or Ancient Osiriani for Infernal. It would help sell my cover identity.
Picking up the necessary kit to shave his head on the way to the docks, Harul boards the ship and locates his billet. Once that's done, he finds the fancy clothes and money set aside for his cover and sets about shaving his head. His hat and Wayfinder go into the bag of concealment.
Harul looks at the debate between the two before turning to the Masters. "I would also like a bag of concealment. It would be highly useful to be able to conceal certain items - like, for instance, our Wayfinders, since they clearly would mark us out as members of the Society. The additional space will also be quite useful in case."
Decisions, decisions. I'm not sure what I'll want to grab. Need to think about it.
"Seeing as I can't actually sing, it shouldn't be too big of a problem to forget the music. I imagine Elderbrant can't sing well either, based on this description. I'll shave my head before we get to Almas, and stow the hat elsewhere. I don't suppose I could get the names of his father and brothers, could I? He's probably the sort who will name drop his father as a form of influence." The cover was a bit odd for him - especially as he was clearly of Osiriani descent - but he could find a way to make it work.
Harul walks through the throng into the interview room, taking a seat. He finds it interesting that those he sat with the previous day were selected, along with another. What were the odds? Greeting the others, he takes a seat and waits to listen to the answers of questions the others ask.
Phew. It is hard answering job interview-style questions for someone with a background that is completely different than yours.
Interview Questions: 1.What kind of experience do you have studying objects and structures recovered by excavation to identify, date, and authenticate them and to interpret their significance? ”I have investigated and explored several ruins - primarily within Osirion, but also on the fringes of the Mwangi Expanse. The continent of Garund has many such ruins, and one can easily make a career as a scholar there. I have also studied ancient Thassalonian artifacts, which will be of aid in the event that evidence revealing contact between Thassilon and Azlant is discovered.” 2.What skills do you possess that would be an asset to a colony with no readily available resources? ”I am quite physically fit, and have skill in swimming, climbing, and various other abilities allowing me to help others traverse difficult terrain. I am also capable of foraging for food and water as needed, which could be necessary from a supply standpoint. Finally, I have some experience working side-by-side with others, and have studied languages so that I can hopefully facilitate communications between colonists. I’m also capable of protecting both myself and others, should there be any sort of beast lurking on the island that could threaten the colony.” 3.Provide an example of a time when you successfully organized a diverse group of people to accomplish a task. ”In order to explore the Pyramid of Sands, I had to hire and organize a team of laborers, as well as convince others to finance the expedition in order to allow me to uncover and document the pyramid. We were able to successfully do so, and I discovered the reason he was youthful was that he was only 8 years old when he assumed the throne, and died at the age of 14.” 4.What experiences have you had surviving in tropical climates? ”When I joined an expedition heading into the Mwangi Expanse to look for the Lost Temple of the Serpent, the group had to successfully navigate thick jungles with sweltering humidity, quicksand, and wild animals that were not particularly friendly. It was vitally important we maintained sufficient supplies for survival, as well as remain alert to our surroundings and dress appropriately, both to prevent injury and to prevent overheating and dehydration.” 5.Share an experience you had in dealing with a difficult person and how you handled the situation. ”On the aforementioned expedition, one of the coordinators did not take setbacks well, and whenever we were forced to take a detour or halt in order to deal with an obstacle, would loudly and forcefully tell us what we should do, regardless of experience. I would often take him aside and explain what had happened and how we were resolving the issue, but that we had no instantaneous solution and would have to take time to do so. Though he did not stop complaining, he at least stopped trying to run roughshod over us.” Harul shrugs. ”We awoke from camp one morning to find he’d been bitten by a venomous snake and died. I do think he was getting better as we continued.” 6.Tell us how you organize, plan, and prioritize your work. ”When I organize my work - such as an expedition - I start by gathering as much information about the area I can. I consider it vitally important to know the terrain, possible hazards, wildlife, and potential threats in the area. Once I have gathered as much information as I can, I make plans for a short expedition to the area - no more than a month, usually less. This is so I can see the terrain myself, and perhaps learn information I could not glean otherwise. After that, I make plans for a longer expedition, estimating how long I believe we will need in order to be successful, as well as how much assistance I will need to hire, supplies, and securing funding for such. I often prioritize gathering as much knowledge as possible over other considerations, with survival for those journeying being the second priority. Funding comes in third.” 7.Name a time when you identified strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions to problems. What was the impact that your insights had? ”When preparing to investigate the Pyramid of Sands, I took the time to consider several different outcomes and possibilities of what we may encounter in the temple, as well as methods and solutions we could use to bypass or defeat any possible traps or guardians. The end result is that, while tomb exploration can be dangerous in Osirion, we had no fatalities while exploring the pyramid - something of a rarity in Osirion.” 8.In your experience, what is the key to developing a good team? ”There are two keys to developing a good team. The first is the ability to communicate. If the team cannot communicate effectively, they will be plagued by both inefficiency and internal hostility. The second is allowing everyone to bring something to the team. If one person feels they are superfluous, they can grow discontent with their role and that could infect the group, as a wound left to fester infects the body.” 9.How are you affiliated with the Pathfinder Society? ”My uncle, Colm was a member of the Society, and perished while exploring the Ravenous Sphinx. I took a compilation of notes he left and submitted them as my application to the Pathfinder Society. The application was accepted, and here I am.” 10.As you will NOT be able to answer the previous question truthfully in the interview at Almas, explain how and why you are qualified to be accepted on this Expedition for reasons that have nothing to do with your Society Affiliation. ”I am qualified to be accepted on this Expedition due to the fact I have worked with a variety of different people and have survived in several disparate climates - from the deserts of Osirion to the Mwangi Expanse. I know how to work alongside others to achieve success, and I do not place my personal glory ahead of the good of the group. I am in excellent shape, and am quite knowledgeable about history and local environs while also being able to understand and communicate effectively.” 11.Provide a time when you were able to identify a complex problem, evaluate the options, and implement a solution. ”The entry to the Pyramid of Sands looked to be a fairly standard construction - a large stone slab that could be moved through the careful application of rope affixed to an anchored wooden platform and pulled through a pulley. However, due to a problem with the supply train, we did not have sufficient lumber with which to build the platform. Our options were rather limited - we could attempt to break the entry stone, wait the several weeks for more lumber to be acquired, or attempt to find an alternate method of entering the Pyramid. After considering our options, I found a fourth solution. Using water to turn the sand to mud, we were able to use the lumber we had as a lever to roll the slab out of the way of the entrance and allow us access to the Pyramid.” 12.Finally, why do YOU want to be a part of this Expedition? ”I want to be a part of this expedition because of the excitement of venturing into the unknown. The founding of a colony on the islands that make up the remains of Azlant provides an opportunity to learn more of a civilization that has captured the minds and hearts of many, both scholar and not. We could perhaps unlock some of their great discoveries, allowing us to replicate their great feats of knowledge and magic.”
Am working on my response to the questions, probably won't have it up until tomorrow. Bit of a busy day catching up after not posting on Sunday (did not expect that many new posts in my games).
Harul chuckles at Varloo's comment about the tests. "Indeed, Diomedes. We Pathfinders do seem to like our tests. Although I agree with Varloo about the trapped dungeon. Much simpler to deal with than an interview. I can't say as I have a magic item to allow me to breathe underwater, so I don't think I'll be exploring sunken Chelaxian galleons any time soon."
"I do not think the Pathfinder Masters worry about it. I was referring to the Bountiful Venture Company - who are going out of their way to keep the Society out of the expedition to Azlant."
Harul eyes Varloo slightly askance. "I'd be careful not to mention that in your interview with the Bountiful Venture Company, should you make it to that point. They may decide to reject your application on the grounds you're too bloodthirsty. They seem very focused on ensuring those chosen can support a community."
Harul sits back and says, "I prefer smaller hats, or the hood of a cloak, myself. I find that hats like those draw more attention to oneself than may be desired. Fools, mostly, who think themselves skilled duelists, but annoying nonetheless."
Harul raises an eyebrow at Master Kreighton's announcement. "So much for last names. Perhaps they have done this in an attempt to catch us off-guard and see how react to the unexpected."
"Harul Safan. I will likely be interviewing shortly before you - assuming they go by last names, of course."
Noticing the gathering about the man with strange hat, Harul catches a snippet of conversation that causes a double-take. Heading over, he moves up to the group and says to the lady, "Pardon, but did I hear you say you had been to Almas but are turned away when you mentioned the Society? The same thing happened to me, and I stood in the dock watching the ship sail away."
Prologue:
"I am not, Master Shaine. My name is Harul Safan, and I am seeking a place on the Expedition - as are many others, I am sure. My uncle, Colm, perished while exploring the Ravenous Sphinx, and I hope this expedition provides similar discoveries as he unearthed." Harul signs his name, then moves aside to allow others to approach. Once they are dismissed, Harul begins moving towards Skyreach. So, we are to be interviewed in preparation for the Company's interviews. Hopefully it will be different interviewers than when I tried the first time, so as not to know I am part of the Society. They were very unwelcoming of my presence. Once in the Great Hall, he takes a mug of ale and a small assortment of fruits before looking about to see if anyone he knows is there.
Indeed. This should be exciting!
Harul's prologue: Harul had been rather surprised by the sudden and rather abrupt way he'd been rebuffed from joining the expedition. After all, he had quite the resumè of exploration, and he had a decent amount of fighting skill. Still, he supposed the Bountiful Venture Company operated under the assumption that the Pathfinder Society was little more than organized tomb robbers and criminals - not true, but there were those who painted them that way. Looking around the chamber, he's amazed at the number of Pathfinders here. He suspected that they were all here for the same reason he was. He wondered if they would have to go through a test to determine who got to go on the voyage. Looking to the Master of Scrolls, he leaned on his fauchard and stood, waiting.
Hi, Tosen, I'm Harul, and I know a thing or two about picking locks :). I've got Thieves' Tools + Disable Device, so I can handle that aspect of things. If we can pick locks somewhere I can safely remove my armor, I'll be even better at it. If you want, we can even tag team it. You take first crack at stuff, I'll take second crack if you fail by 5 or more. Can you take aid another actions on Disable Device?
Hi, Tosen, I'm Harul, and I know a thing or two about picking locks :). I've got Thieves' Tools + Disable Device, so I can handle that aspect of things. If we can pick locks somewhere I can safely remove my armor, I'll be even better at it. I don't believe I have ever gamed at a table with you, but half the fun of gaming is playing with new people, so I'm looking forward to it.
Tosen, our table is mostly well-rounded, but most of our melee tends towards lightly armored, Dex-based defenses. Survival at low levels may rely on a certain amount of stealth and careful planning. I'm not familiar with the Stalker class of Bann Drarks, though, so that might change.
Awesome! Looking forward to exploring some ruins and dealing with the colony!
Forgot the additional feat you gave us, so here is Anders Orlovsky resubmitted with the extra feat. |
