Ionnia von Sturnidae's page

Random updates for random people:

- Problem player showed up on Wednesday afternoon, I explained that due to previous issues I was going to be an "unrelenting GM", and then made a pointed comment making it clear that I was thinking of him in particular. He took the point, and said that as long as I applied discipline evenly, he'd be OK with it. I considered the conversation a win.

- For CotCT, problem player wants to be nobility (surprise, surprise). I let him be a Jeggare, figuring I'm going to trash the city anyway, and made him take "Rich Parents", "Knowledge: Nobility", "Knowledge: Local", and "Diplomacy" in return. For once, he agreed to pay the points for his nobility. Again, I considered this a win.

- Of course, his next action was to ask, "Where in Korvosa do I live?", I replied, "Pick somewhere," and he seized a good square mile of territory that the Jeggares "own or control" and sent me a list of the relatives between him and the fortune. I responded, "No. In every game you ask to be nobility. In every game you ask to own huge swaths of land and be close to vast amounts of money. No. This is not open to negotiation. I will not spend the time nor the effort to work out or even OK an intricate network of family ties for you so you can plan your inheritance."
We'll see how he responds to that.

This is why I'd spent the last ten years before the adventure started at paladin school, and why my stepdad's fiefdom was in a mostly creepy forest, and why my mother's influence is mostly in another country, and why I left it open how much influence my dad the court-bard has with the queen.

*throws snowball at Kipka*

1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18

Hurricane-strength gust of winds and snow-mixed rain yesterday.

It's certainly better than having them bother the sheep.

It's some Numerian contraption. From what I understand, these days they mostly explode or cause things near them to explode.

Mother tried to import some, but they were too expensive.

Surprised at Willow's noise, Ionnia turns to look at her with a concerned gaze. "I don't like the sound of that. Did you hit your ribs when we fell, Willow?"

I'm a bard stuck in a paladin's armour.

Anyone see something?

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Ionnia returns Willow's nod with a reassuring smile. "Time we got started on getting out of here. Good thinking with the candle, Kipka."

Drawing a deep breath she starts forward into the left tunnel.

"Right, Cernan takes care of Rel." Ionnia draws a sigh of relief, feeling just a little bit silly at having failed so badly at judging what the toddler is capable of. "I suggest me and Hiro takes the lead, with Anevia behind us, then Willow, Kipka and Aravashnial, and Horgus and Cernan to watch our rears."

She wipes some sweat from her forehead. "That just leaves deciding which way to go. Does your nose have any suggestion, Kipka?"

Then, a smile flicks across her face for the first time since they fell into the pit. "And you're quite right, Rel. Lots of rocks."

Ionnia removes her dagger and its sheath from her belt and hands it over to Horgus before turning back to the boy.

"You're right, Cernan made it bright. And don't worry Ker-rel, we'll find your mama, but if we're going to do so you need to help us. That elven wizard can't see anything, so I need you to take his hand and lead him and warn him if there are any loose rocks on the ground he might step on. And if we meet more monsters you need to tell him where they are. Do you think you can do that?"

Intelligence: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Diplomatic aid for Cernan: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Ionnia frowns a little as the elf and the merchant starts handing out instructions, going so far as to even narrow her eyes when the large man makes his offer of money.

Speaking in a firm voice directed at the merchant, "I can't speak for the rest of the group, but as a paladin of Shelyn I don't take money for doing that which is right to do anyway." She lets that hang in the air for a bit, before continuing, "and as the daughter of Lady Katynika von Sturnidae and Court Bard Talathel Sildelaral I wouldn't really need to work for them if I didn't want to." Softening her tone she adds, "It's a very generous offer, however, and once we've beaten back the demon horde from the city, I fear that the priests at the goddess's temple will have good reason t be glad to receive a donation, whether of gold or labour, in thanks for her aid. Now, what kind of blade is it you use? I have a dagger you can borrow for the time being.

Turning to the elf, she continues, "as for how to proceed from here, I don't think splitting up would be a good idea - we don't know what's in either tunnel, and should those in one end fall foul of something beyond their capacity to defeat, those in the other tunnel may well find themselves penned in from two directions. I am sure your knowledge is great, and we will do our best to make sure you get to hear everything we do."

Finally, she turns to the child saved by Horgus Gwerm and smiles at him, "Hello, I'm Ionnia, a paladin of Shelyn. Don't worry, even if it looks a bit dark right now, I'm sure we'll all get out of here. But to do so, we all need to help out, so I have a really important job for you. But first I'd like to know your name."

Any chance Ionnia would know of either of the two loudmouths from her childhood at court?

"I'm not sure to be honest. So far all the practical experience I've had comes from helping Kaseyennia patrol parts of Egede that were considered safe for a novice. All we had to do was follow the sound of the city watch's rattles. But I have a good feeling about going left."

*Quickly moves to help Willow with the swaying gnome* "I think we're mostly fine. Except for the archer lady. And the wizard seems to have lost some or all of his eyesight."

"No, Ionnia, I think it the smell!" Hiro replies as the force of his blow cuts deep into the filthy demon-maggot spraying ichor everywhere in the process!

Ionnia makes a disgusted face as some of the demon-maggot viscera ends up in her hair.

"Ewww. Nice technique, though."

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Having finished off her first target, Ionnia moves in on the maggot menacing Kipka and takes a mighty swing at it.

"The worst thing about fighting demon-things is they're all so blasphemously ugly!"

Ionnia moves (Paladin to upper left corner of G7) up and swings her sword at the maggot nearest to her.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

"Take that you overgrown affront to nature!"

That Inner Se Gods book has some really spiffy boots I'll be keeping an eye out for once we come into some money.

...and out of this hole.

Ionnia moves (to square F6 to engage with the maggots. Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19

Ionnia grunts frustrated as her hands slip on the boulder she's attempting to roll to the side. "Ugliness and spite!"

"Yes. Does anyone have something they can give the poor woman to alleviate her pain in the meantime? This could maybe take a tiny bit longer than I first thought."

Str check #2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Of course, Willow," Ionnia calls out in response to Willow's request for aid with the trapped archer. Moving carefully to avoid knocking down any more stones by accident she grabs hold of one of the rocks trapping the woman. "Try to pull yourself out on the count of three, and we'll have you patched up in no time," she tells the archer. "You pull at the ones from the other side, Cernan. One... Two... Three..."

Strength check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

anything funky about this cave? I got a good roll on perception.

*Ionnia pulls off the upper half of her armour go reveal the Bootsy Collins t-shirt she's got on underneath.* Only this!

Looking around at their surroundings, Ionnia replies, "Below Drezen, it seems. Do you know if thete's a lot to this..." she falters and looks around again, "...cave, Kipka?"

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Researching new internet providers. Haven't been able to go online with the laptop since monday afternoon. Methinks it's time for a modem that's not steam driven.

Ionnia barely has time to teeter on the edge of the sinkhole before it opens up enough to swallow her along with the others.

The sight of the Storm King beheading Terendelev is shocking enough to her that she barely notices her fall into the pit slowing down (resulting in a very minor bump to her head on landing.)

As she hears Willow's voice in the darkness sounding not hurt she rises to her knees to offer up a quick prayer to Shelyn before calling out (blinking as Cernan's daylight ability comes into play) "I'm over here, Willow, Cernan. Anyone else here? Kipka? Hiro?"

Ionnia stands up and shakes her head to clear it.

Adding her voice to that of the half-orc woman, she shouts at the commoners, "To the Cathedral! To holy ground!"

Looking around she sees the demon-centipede thing bite Kipka and moves to help the gnome.

"FOR SHELYN AND THE SISTERS OF THE ROSY DAWN!

Sorry. The standing up was for next round.

In that case.

Attack with longsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Ionnia swings at the demon, although one of the tremors causes her attack to foul up and makes her stumble forward and fall onto her back.

"I really wish I'd remembered to bring a helmet," she mutters as she carefully stands up again.

Ionnia moves to help Willow protect the toddler and the rich looking person.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

"In the name of the Eternal Rose, get away from that child you foul fiend!" she shouts at the three-faced demon-thing.

So apparently not sleeping between noon on Tuesday and late Thursday evening is bad for writing comprehensibly.

Same for Ionnia.

Ionnia moves forward slowly. "Change of plan - we're not heading for the tea-lady that's a dragon. Go to the stage! - And no stepping on the cracks!"

Ionnia lets out a stunned and distraught, "Goddess," as she sees the broken fortress. Drawing her sword and shield she motions for Willow and Kipka to get in behind her.

In a shaky voice she calls out over din of the crowd, "Ce- Cernan, at my side! Hiro, watch our rear! I- I think we should try to make our way to the tea-lady on the other side of the stage."

Lady Shelyn, please aid us and let this be the right course of action, she adds silently in her head, not wishing the others or any crowd-members looking to her to see how horrified and confused she is by this turn of events, instead trying to appear calm and confident.

Ionnia stops as she reaches the stage in front of the Cathedral, not sure if the Iomedaeans would appreciate a follower of a different goddess stepping onto it before the ceremony's over and done with.

"It's not very ni—. Whoa!" Ionnia barely manages to dodge a gnomic pendant and has to do a quick side-step to avoid ramming her shield into an innocent bystander. "Sorry!"

"It's not the nicest aspect of city-life, Willow, but as long as you don't overdo it," she begins, giving a stern look to a young man in a baker apprentice's hat who's barelling his way through the crowd like a stone golem with a purpose, "people expect it and won't think twice about it. Seeing as this isn't so much a queue as a throng."

Noticing the baker apprentice has found his path blocked by the backs of two sturdy blacksmiths, she adds with some relish, "And if you do overdo it, eventually you'll run into someone with better balance or pushing ability."

And this is why I have ranks in Perform (dance)

"It's good enough for me, Ionnia replies. Frowning a bit, she adds, "I just hope the Iomedaeans won't think Hiro's story means he's a witch or something. According to Kaseyennia, the Kenabrans have been much too quick to see demonic influences, and much too keen to burn those influences out without asking questions first." She shakes herself, as if wishing to physically rid herself of the notion. "But I'm sure those tales are exaggerated. Surely the queen wouldn't let a lord remain in power if they were true."

"Oh, of course. And thank you again for the fortune-telling Lady Dere." Ionnia finishes her tea and stands up, grabbing her gear as well as, after a moment's thought, one of the remaining cream buns. Looking at her companions, she adds, "I think that's our cue to stop being layabouts for a while. The Cathedral calls."

Ionnia watches in fascination as Dere does her thing. "That is most graceful of you, good lady. We'll be sure to be there. Um... do you have any idea about what kind of woe it is that you saw? Being prepared never hurts, after all."

Willow leans over to Ionnia and whispers softly; "Do you know whom she is? I hope I haven't offended with the tea comment."

Ionnia leans in and whispers back, "She's not someone I've ever met, and I'd not worry - she doesn't seem offended."

"Fortune reading? I've not had one of them before, have you?"

Ionnia blushes very faintly (almost imperceptible unless someone is very close). "Not a real one, although when I was training at the order's convent in Nerosyan, us girls would sometimes drip molten lead in water and use the shapes as omens for the new-year; and at summer solstice we'd try to find out about our true love by sleeping with seven different flowers picked that night under our pillows. Those are just silly games, of course..." Feeling her blush grow a bit more obvious, she hurriedly buries her face in the teacup she's holding.

Ionnia looks up from the tea-cup she's started sipping from, an excited look in her eyes. "A fortune reading? I'd be very interested to hear what you can tell milady." She then takes a bite of the loaf of bread, letting out a delighted (but somewhat muffled) sound at the taste of it.

Noticing Willow's discomfort, Ionnia hastens to ask the others, "So what were you talking about while we were busy 'keeping the peace?'"

"And yes, it wasn't much to speak of. I don't think they really wanted a fight, so it was enough to speak firmly to them."

Ionnia turns to Hiro. "It means a disturbance. I think it's an Iobarian word to begin with."

Having made sure neither crusaders nor potion-seller is about to start up something again, Ionnia walks back to the others, and seeing the newcomer gives her a quick bow before settling down in her seat again.

"Greetings lady. I'm Ionnia von Sturnidae a paladin-squire of Shelyn."

Ionnia squares her shoulders and steps forward, addressing the crusader with the authority of one raised by nobles and paladins. "Now listen here. Seeing as we're all fighting for the same cause, it'd be a shame if we were to stoop to arguing with each other when there are demons to be fought so close by.

It may be that this young man seeks to earn gold that could be put to better use by some of our other fellows in arms, but that is a matter for the city guard to deal with, and once the Armasse celebrations are over, I certainly intend to talk to them about this incident. In the meantime, however, I suggest you leave him alone for now."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

She then turns to the young potion-peddler. "As for you, may I suggest that you hastily change your inventory into items that will actually aid our brave soldiers in their struggle against our mutual foes rather than continue to take advantage of their more gullible members?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Dice-rolls included in case they'd be called for.

Ionnia studies the faces of angry woman and the young Varisian.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

*clears her throat, but remains quiet while waiting for the crusaders to respond*

For love and beauty - YAY!