Isham Tabouri's page

ALLCON -

First - rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated. I'm not dead - simply being eaten alive by new job and new commute. Please accept my sincerest apologies for the dead air, I really hadn't anticipated the impact of the changes on my free time.

The good news is... I believe once the initial shock and awe have subsided, I'll be able to achieve a better balance, and get back up to my prior posting rate. I currently plan to do initial catch up to all my groups this Sunday (2/9). Thereafter, I'll be back up to speed.

cheers!
utopia27

Just finished catching up... and leveling Isham to 6. I settled on the fifth level feat - Inspirational Commander (You or any army that is under your command gains a +2 bonus on Morale checks. Additionally, you gain two additional boons of your choice.)

Note also that Isham now has access to some 2nd level spells - specifically tactical acument and suppress charms and compulsions - which I think may be relevant...

lacking a ready map reference... is the tower Jediah's tasked with near the southern flank Isham is to defend?
Also.. does this all make sense? or is it plugging holes in a broken barrel? profession(soldier): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28. Assuming this makes some sense...

"Excellent Bron, I'll connect with the Second Company. Who's quartermastering that flank? I'll want to check supply and support lines as I make my way to them."

Checking details, time, and distance on the maps and documents, "Second Company should be able to hold, but if Jediah and his company can secure that tower, can we deploy them forward to make a decisive move on that Southern flank?"

"So Bron, we have brought burdens and complications. For making your duties all the harder, our regrets. Tell us what we may do to lighten your load. I see you have wounded - some of us have talents in that direction. I can certainly assist in ordering the camp, and ensuring that the men are prepared and well ordered."

"These things are certainly needful, though I'm certain that some of us would strongly desire some opportunity to strike down some of the enemy, if you have some use for strong arms and keen eyes."

ah - back in the saddle, after a kinda rough long weekend (and Big Snow). And now Arc has outstripped my planning for Isham.. :)

More bard is almost certainly the right thing. I'm a bit torn between a leadership-style feat, or basic lingering performance...

"Rutilux, Noeva is coming of an age - perhaps we might want to set about determining an appropriate dowery, and vetting some of your 'mashers'. This is also a time of war. People grow up early in such times. If there's serious risk of inappropriate goings-on, we can relocate her back to the town, where she might find some things in common with the orphans we left there. And with your blood, she'll fend off the night boogey-men with relish."

@ARC - break a leg :)

Hey! who appointed Isham 'adult-in-the-room'??

Oh wait. I think that was me. <doh!>

Having stood somewhat quiet to this point, Isham steps forward, clapping Bron on the shoulder. "As you can see old friend, we have had some exciting times ourselves. There are stories to be told by all of us. "

Detecting continuing concern from the veteran, Isham continues, "We are a stronger group than before, with greater trust among ourselves - despite appearances. What concerns us is not out bonds with each other, but interference and influences from the enemies of the Savol - from the Witches, and from a warlord south of here styling himself 'the Margrave'. Each have used divination and enchanting magics to turn our hands for a moment against our fellows. We are now very conscious of these risks. Being here in Savol's command camp makes us even more cautious."

Responding to Julianda, Isham says, "Step aside with me for a brief moment Julianda, and I'll tell you what has transpired. I'm sure there's a deeper struggle Ana has been waging, but Ana will have to tell you herself." And Isham takes Julianda aside for a briefing of the events at the Keep, and the Witchs' stealing the book of prophecies, and also of the incident on the road, in which Ana struggled so hard with the influences of the Witches. "So you see there is some connection between the Witches and Ana - whether kin-bond, or something established in her younger years."

A bit more loudly, for everyone, "Julian's cautions are well founded, and his urgency a rebuke to the rest of us for not considering the issues earlier. Thank you, Julian."

Again to a broader group, but specifically to Bron and Julianda, "We also have... guests... with us, with afflictions similar to Ana's, but traceable to the Margrave and his lieutenants, and embodied in tattooes. We have concern that the Margrave would do mischief to the Savol. We should find some accomodation for them as well."

"Rutilux, before we head out, perhaps Herals can convey a note forward? I think we should give Savol's camp an opportunity to prepare for our guests."

Settling the children, preparing the gear and horses, establishing an appropriate route occupy Isham for a long day. On the third day following their arrival, Isham brings everyone together for a hearty breakfast, and a business-like departure.

"To the Kodiak!"

To Skallangbiorn, "Skallangbiorn, I have not seen any embassy to Savol from the Blackravens. If your current mission is discharged, as a Thane of Savol, I would ask you to accompany us to meet the Kodiakborn and ensure there is some Blackraven representation to his camp. Once we are there, together, we can clear up the niceties. For surely ravens have claws as much as Kodiaks, and I feel you belong among these Claws."

OK, gettin' my bard on...
~~~~~

With Jennis and Stenly,"We will seek your mother's cousin at the Camp of the Kodiakborn - you have my word. If we can find your people, we will ensure they know of you. We will bring word back to you when we know more."

~~~~~

On the topic of Rose and Rolf... "I am concerned that Margrave, or his sorcerers, may scry through these accursed tattoos. If such is to happen, I'd rather the view was of a massed host, than of a thinly defended village. I also don't think the two are likely to gain any help here, but Savol will have gathered wise heads around him at the line of battle. Let us take them with us, but be prepared for mischief."

Good news ARC - very glad to hear all went well, if somewhat slowly.

"Thorvald - axe throwing isn't something we practice much in the Southlands. Would you mind some company? Perhaps share some of your expertise? I think there's a language to the north, and the bite of an axe striking home is an important part of that vocabulary." Isham accompanies Thorvald, to companionably settle the horses, gather some firewood, and vent some frustrations on unsuspecting wooden targets.

sending good vibes your way. best hopes for best results and quickest recovery. :)

"Well, now we know for certain that Thorvald can make the young ladies swoon. Come, let's lie her down somewhere comfortable until she can recover. She'll be wanting some water when she comes aware again."
healing: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Turning to Stenly, "Good sir, your courage in protecting your sister is admirable. Our dear Thorvald here is direct, as I understand is the custom of your people. It is probably as well, for Jennis would have had to confront her experiences at some point. Perhaps you can help us to help her, if you tell us what you know about 'Smokie Joe'. If Jennis reacted that way, I'm sure you've heard tales as well."
diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Skallingborn, I'd recommend rather than doing away with those arms, they might well be this family's best legacy. If we bring them to Savol's camp, they can turn their hand as squire and lady-in-waiting, even as Rutilux's cousins do. Such quality and storied arms would go far to persuade a Thane or one of the other nobles to make a place for them. Also in that way, we could give some oversight to their well being."
knowledge(nobility): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 do we know anyone that might fit the bill?

<pokes hand in air> Cousin. that's me. yep!

...and they're a matched set. no splitting up the litter. :)

Who's up for heavy shield?

Isham responds to Ana, "I think you are better with people than you credit yourself. And if we are to lead in these lands, we must nurture our ability to connect with them - particularly those that need our help most. Simply be present, it will mean much to her." and more softly, "and to yourself, if you let it."

Isham passes the wine, undrunk.
'We're not back to barracks yet... I'd gladly lift a bottle with comrades, once we're less exposed.'

Settling the girl into the sleigh (along with the loot), Isham takes a moment to clean, treat, and salve her wounds.
heal, take 10: 10 + 5 = 15

"Ana, if you'll ride with the girl, I'll lead your horse. As we discussed before, mine is perhaps not the most comforting visage for her to wake to. And no, Julien, I doubt she'd be more comforted if she were to wake in her arms." Isham drops Julien a wink to signal some gentle teasing, and to hint that the Outlanders might still share some humor less dour than standard Ulfen fare.

Perhaps I'll hire a bard to write about this story. Hmm.. Stout brothers Jediah and Zethyris and brave men-at-arms Thorvald and Skallangbiron. The wise adviser Isham and the clownish Julian along with haughty Ana. Hmm..that sounds good!

oy! oy! we can see your thought bubbles, you know. And i am standing right here, all kinds of bard-y.

the indignity! do I have to demonstrate bard-y-ness by pitching a diva fit?

"What a strage old soul. Perhaps next time we meet him - as he promised - we'll be able to have a discussion."

"Are there many of these spirits in the north, ones which weapons seem to pass through? Ana's magic seemed to reach him, where our steel did not. Ana, do you think it's possible, and worthwhile, to enchant some weapons with the potency of your bolts? Many things to consider about this, once we return the young lady to her home."

"And a song, a tale. Something to add to the legends of this Smokie Joe, and memorialize the legendary heroics of Skallangbiorn, Thorvald, Zethyris, and Ana. Truly the claws of the Kodiak today, with a little help from the rest of us Claws."

Isham works with Thorvald to restore the sleigh, ensure the young lady is safely ensconced, and move the entire phalanx back to the farmhouse.

Competing visions with Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe's Santa visit, Grinch, and Futurama's Xmas. Cognitive dissonance is rife.

Isham takes a moment to survey the sledge, and determine if it appears to be usable. He uses detect magic to determine if the sledge might be exceptional.

If the sledge might be put to rights, Isham looks for reindeer tracks. "Perhaps we can retrieve those animals, and bring the young lady back in the front seat, rather than a sack."
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
survival(tracking): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Isham continues a methodical assault. His advice and inspiration to his colleagues is direct, practical, and avoids the soaring rhetoric and ringing challenges echoing around him. Instead, Isham provides the bass line that drives the improvisational song of battle.

Round 3
free: maintain bardic performance
standard: Battleaxe: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 28, damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 9

NOTE: all still have +2/+2 (1 each for inspire courage and freebooter's bane) against smokey joe, +1/+1 against all others

Smoothly and with coordinated precision, Isham steps immediately into the space vacated by Zethyris. He maintains a steady litany of tactical advice and direction, inspiring his compatriots to greater effort.

Round 2
free: 5' step to engage
free: maintain bardic performance
move: freebooter's bane
standard: Battleaxe: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 18, damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 9

NOTE: all gain +2/+2 (1 each for inspire courage and freebooter's bane) against smokey joe, +1/+1 against all others

"That was exceptionally rude. Though we regret the necessity, this is the course you've chosen."

Round 1
move: dismount
free: draw axe
move: advance to engage (defensive)

But if I can hold his attention for a few rounds... someone sneaky might wander around behind him and pop open some of those sacks.

sacks full of rum. lots and lots of rum.

...turtles tied to his feet. with human hair.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

"As my friend here says, we believe you have a young lady that was in our charge. We take such a responsibility very seriously, and very personally. If you have the girl and return her to us unharmed, we will thank you for your time, and help you gather your team. We will both go on our way. If you demonstrate that you do not have the girl, we will offer our humblest apologies. In both instances, we will help you gather your team and put your sledge to rights."

With a nod to Skallangbiorn, "If, on the other hand, you have the girl and do not return her to us freely, we will... insist. Again, not an outcome we are seeking. We would regret any conflict."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
sense motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"The young lady we're looking for has had a very difficult day..." Isham winds into an oratory performance, detailing the young lady's day, the party's encounter with the trolls, and the party's intention to settle the children with relatives.
perform(oratory): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
bardic performance, fascinate DC12 Will save

Santa - smoking! Busted!

@Ana - I think that's the opposite of 'aid another'. If you successfully intimidate the dude I'm trying to diplomacy upon, does it take 2 off my roll? :)

initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

In Ulfen
"Hold there, please. We have no wish to cross blades. Will you talk with us, that we may all grow wiser?"

I stand corrected. :)

Isham reminds Rutilux to disable the wagon, and give us a chance to catch up. Then Isham concentrates on not falling off his horse - with less epic failure than usual.

ride: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

C'mon, this is ARC. Kid would toddle off into the night, never to be seen again. We come back this way to deal with Margraive, and discover Kid and Sis have taken over the joint - Kid with the troll's head on his belt, Sis has Margrave's head on her belt, and 'permanent flame' on his hands, nailed to her shield (she didn't like where he put his hands..).

Oh, then the remind us what @#$#s we are...

fortune favors the swift. and non-band-parents. My oldest daughter has now completed her four high school years of marching band. <sniff>

Fort DC10: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
aid another(survival/track) DC10: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

'Why can we never try tracking during the day?'

conversely... let's all go charging off into the woods after a folktale, leaving 2 prisoners and a young boy alone in the farmstead just attacked by ice trolls. What me, worry?

"Young girls out of their beds, check. Trollish sort of monster, check. Drinks, smokes, chases lustful virgins, check. Dragged away for subjugated servitude, check."

"No stories about Smokie Joe's house or lair?"

"In my country it is not just socially unacceptable for a man to enter a woman or girls room unannounced and unsupervised, its grounds for a duel. Its a stain upon their honour."

"Montulo, you'll have to excuse us, but that's a particularly unfruitful line of discussion this evening. Please trust that we're doing our best to benefit everyone's interests here. We'll sort out unintended slights or faux pas after we've resolved the immediate crisis."

Laying a gentling hand on Zethyris's shoulder, Isham draws Rose's eyes to his own. His expression carefully reassuring, Isham says to Rose, "Zethyris is right. We need you to tell us what you know of this 'Smokie Joe' - not the full tale, though it mangles the storytelling, please tell us the short version." Isham exercises his best demeanor for steadying shaken marines on a battlefield, eliciting a concise report from someone startled awake, shaken, and obviously afrighted.

Best of luck ARC!

Isham returns to the room with Rose. "You shouldn't worry about our.. internal discussions. We are people of strong opinions. The abrupt stop is because something immediate drew our attention. I have a strange question, and I can't take time to explain everything at the moment. Do cigars and spiced bear hold any special meaning to you? Is here someone that works for the Margrave for whom that is a signature?"

It would be bad for a lot of reasons, entirely independent of who gets hurt or not. That's why Isham's trying hard to deflate it currently, and make clear that this isn't acceptable behavior - so we don't have to do this over and over.

"So. Something more substantial to grapple with. Let's go check it out." Looking at Ana, "And thank you for checking on her now - she won't have been missed more than an hour now."

And back to the girl's room.
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

That kinda depends on Julian and Isham not challenging Skallangbiorn and Thorvald to a duel on the spot.

Sharply, to Thorvald - with a healthy inclusion of Skallangbiorn,
"Tunna skinn och avvisande uppträdande är inte ett tecken på klokt ledarskap. Det är barn som hör svåra sanningar och tror teller har förolämpat dem. Några av oss har gjort en ansträngning för att lära sig hur och kultur i detta land, och ser verkligen när någon reagerar med retlighet och mobbning. Att försöka tömma denna onödiga och barnsliga tvisten, har jag krävt inte att du ber om ursäkt för att ta anstöt och hotar Julian, men av hans tänder, och mitt, är du trampar farligt nära att säga saker som inte kan vara osagt. För att skapa klorna på Kodiak, vänligen i framtiden överväga om du har förolämpat, eller om du helt enkelt hitta ett uttryck för en svår sanning grov och ouppfostrad. Det finns en skillnad, och jag tror att du har glömt bort det här i kväll."

"Many of my people would take grave insult at this simple statement of the truth about Rahadoumi beliefs and customs. And they are in the wrong. We must be better than that - wiser and more able to bear hard truths. But tonight is not the time to repair the ills of each of our lands' cultures, or to learn hard lessons of honesty and tolerance. Tonight we need the balm of restful sleep."

"We need to put this contention behind us. But we must also address this issue some other day, with less weary heads. And perhaps some ale. Come - to bed and to rest."

I think Julian was splintered into at least three separate parallel universes...

"Thorvald, you mistake plain words and speaking for personal insult. You are being disrespectful and threatening. Among ourselves, none of us should have concerns for speaking out honestly. You are right, it has been a long and raw day - for all of us. Go and rest, and consider that bullying and threats are a reaction to a long and raw day that reflect poorly on one's character."

"As I said to Ana, I'll say to all of us. We must choose places to set our faith and trust. I place my faith and trust in each of you," addressing specifically Ana and Skollingbiorn, "Every one of you. These are bonds forged in battle, and confirmed by affection."

"Rose and Rolf are of a different category. They have helped us, but also present an immediate, persistent, and continuous threat. Rose herself told us that as long as Margrave was alive, we were in danger - though she did not say as much, I believe that sentence included, 'from Rose and Rolf, among others'. We know them to be ensorcelled, we have seen the sorcery at work, and we have seen its mark on their flesh. Rose at least seems good of heart, and I would like to know her better - perhaps offer her the opportunity to ride with us if she would - but not until that persistent danger is dealt with."

"So for now, we have clear objectives to accomplish - news to Savol, children to relatives, Rose and Rolf to the Seers at the Keep. Let us not bind our own hands in pursuing these objectives."

"So for now - everyone get some rest. We travel early tomorrow to accomplish each of these objectives in turn."

Gently to Ana, "We don't always know who we can trust, but we have to choose some things to believe in and trust - at least until we have other proof. The Ulfen are more forthright than the Irrisen. Let us trust in Zethyris's experiences for now."

'Ana is having a difficult patch. I need to help some of the others understand that she might need some support to keep her from spinning harmful/hurtful fantasies to herself.'

@Skallangbiorn - the keep of 'i can't remember it's blinking name at the moment and it's buried about 1200 posts back somewhere'. that keep. with the dwarves. where we killed the baby white dragon.

"We might well keep in mind that Margrave knew of Savol, but thought him slain. Now that he knows otherwise, and one of his lieutenants has cause to hunt Savol, this upstart Margrave may present himself as a problem."

woot! good times with young 'uns. Folks get all gushy about young kids at christmas... but I'm a big fan of young kids at the beach and at halloween. christmas is just happy. the other two poke 'em in the 'think'.