Izkrael Caladrel's page

Well, I guess it's time to give Izkrael another try. Last time, I was forced to abandon the Second Darkness campaign he was in due to lack of posts on both the GM and the players' side.

As I'm used to clarify, I'm not a native speaker. Any spelling error in my character's sheet and background is mainly due to this.

A few notes on the character: As you can read in his backstory (please use the linked PDF as my submission), Izkrael is supposed to have some drow blood flowing in his veins, although it is only a minor influence. I left that as a hook to be developed by the GM at his own will during the course of the campaign. Also, since I'm not a big fan of tying my GM's hands, I've not reflected his partial drow heritage in Izkrael's sheet too much, although I had several options available in order to do so. I've limited myself to selecting a few flavor racial traits here and there, but nothing more. I'd rather wait and see if I get selected before confirming this optional hook, where appropriate for the GM. Otherwise, Izkrael can easily function as a standard elf.

A few notes on the crunch: I have a strong personal preference for simple characters, especially in PbP where the GM needs to have things under control without the assistance of real life contact. This means that, in my experience, is usually difficult for the GM to keep track of the PCs' abilities if they are not simple enough. Well, I tried to make Izkrael as simple as possible when I created him precisely in order to accomplish this goal. I can work on various degrees of complexity as we play, if I get selected.

Hey Eschie, if you could mark Izkrael as inactive it would be great! Thank you :)

Hey everyone, I'm very sorry but I have to bow out of this one. You're great players and it's been a pleasure to start my PbP career with you as my companions. Unfortunately, I feel like Izkrael is not part of this adventure at all. Also, I feel like we're playing an homebrew Riddleport campaign instead of the Second Darkness AP, which is not that bad, but it suddenly turns bad when you consider that Izkrael has been conceived to play the Adventure Path, to fight drows and explore elven cities and so on. He's not the right material for a urban-themed adventure with the characters staying in Riddleport for so long. I've been waiting for a fight to pop up until now, but now that I've got the chance to finally take Izkrael into combat, I've found out I'm not motivated at all: I don't know how the GM handles initiative, the combat moves on very slowly, and so on. Let's simply say that I found that I prefer fast-paced games instead. They help me to stay in-character and not to lose momentum.

A big thank you to you all and to Eschie too: I appreciate the trust you gave me recruiting Izkrael and I will always be grateful for letting me join my first PbP. But it's now time for me to move on: I do not want to become a deadweight for the party only because I'm not motivated enough to post. I heard that the GM was considering the idea of recruiting a 7th party member: well, there you go, there's one more spot open now.

Eschie, if you could sign Izkrael as inactive in the campign info it would be great :)

I would have liked to test my skills in combat before Christmast, but it's ok :) Newcomers could help me to integrate better.

So he's that Zilcher guy they've been talking about, thinks Izkrael as he looks at the man with a sense of superiority. I'd expected more than...that.

<Knock> I'm here, I just don't think Izkrael would care about these events nor examine the hole from a mechanical point of view.

Izkrael cannot hold back a sense of dissatisfaction for the negative outcome of their ambush. The elf is even more silent than usual, his head frowned in discontentness. «This city is too quiet of late», he whispers to himself.

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If we're going to repeat the setup, Izkrael will follow his companions as usual, jumping from one roof to another and keeping his eyes opened as he ensure that nothing back happens to Alayna and Nessa.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Izkrael will follow the plan, carefully watching the bait from a rooftop, ensuring he's concealed behind a chimney.

---------------- Before ----------------

Izkrael listens to Cameron with interest. Without looking directly into his eyes, the elf says: "You know, I used to know a Varisian harrower who said she could read my future in the cards. Her name is Cordeliza. The last time I saw her she told me that bot my origin and fate are tied to the Blot, and that I would have found some answers about it if I came here in Riddleport. Until now, her reading has been a complete failure. Nonetheless, I still respect her readings...Even though my faith in them is starting to crumble down".

---------------- After ----------------

When the group arrives to the location Drexell wants to show them, Izkrael begins searching the area using his keen elven senses to try and catch some details that might have eluded human examination*.
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* If possible, Izkrael would take 20 on both the checks, given enough time.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Let's go, Sergeant. Show us the crime scene. Nessa and Alayna can Always discuss while we get moving". Izkrael wears his hood again and lets Drexell to guide the group.

---

While we walk...

Izkrael looks at Cameron with curiosity. Then he approaches the man and asks: "I had no idea that you could read cards...Are you an harrower?".

"A trap? Now you're starting to say something interesting, Sergeant...Go on". Izkrael crosses his arm and listens to Nessa and Drexell proposals with a much more interested attitude.

Izkrael looks at Drexell with a bored and at the sime time disappointed expression: "I was hoping you could give us a lead, Sergent. You have many questions and no real answers". Izkrael shooks his head looking at Nessa. "Seem like we're not going anywhere. We're not investigators, after all. I would have liked to help with this matter, but no one seems to know where should we begin to search. No clues, no witnesses. And we don't even get paid for this. Perhaps we should stop here and get back to work. Seems to me that if not even a Sergent knows something which truly matters about these murders, we cannot hope to discover more". Finally, Izkrael stretches his neck and says to Drexell: "And you...You'd better relax. We're not here to harm you, nor to harm anyone else. We're not that kind of people. Your hand is too close to the hilt of your sword for my own taste, but I can understand: this city is dangerous...".

Tsk, he doesn't know anything we didn't already. I hoped he could give us a trail.

Izkrael listens to Drexell's report without betraying any emotion. He nods when Cameron and Nessa speak.

Izkrael grins hearing Drexell's words: "Tsk. Suspicion. I should have expected it", but at least this proves him to be a wise man, "So here's what I know, Sergent Drexell: some streetwalkers were killed in the last few days. One of them was known as Lula".

Izkrael looks deeply into Drexell's eyes: "I won't give you my weapons. You're free to follow me outside, and I will work out first as you demand. But my weapons belong to me and I won't be giving them to anyone, not even you Sergent Drexell.".

If Drexell is willing to follow Izkrael outside, the helf would lead him where his companions are. Otherwise, he will just walk away from the tavern, coming back to his companions.

So this is Drexell. Half-elf, uniform...that's got to be him, thinks Izkrael while silently approaching* the half-elf. He tries to overhear the subject of Drexell's questioning**: Maybe I can hear something interesting before revealing myself. Then, when he will have a clear idea about the subject of Drexell's interrogations, Izkrael will reveal himself to the half-elf removing his hood. "Mister Drexell, I suppose", says the elf trying as hard as possible to be friendly, "Name's Izkrael. I've been looking for you. Can I have a word with you, in private?". Aware that Drexell could possibly misunderstand his intentions, Izkrael is ready to clarify his motives in a whisper, trying to keep this phrase private between him and Drexell: "I'm investigating on the working girls' murders, and I know you're too. We could help each other, for the sake of Riddleport***".

If Drexell agrees to follow Izkrael, the elf leads the half-elf in uniform outside the Blushing Mermaid, where his companions currently are.

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* Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

** Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

*** Izkrael will add this only if he has heard Drexell asking around about the walking girls' murders. Otherwise, he will just say: "I've got some useful information that I could share with you if you will collaborate. They concerns the same subject of your latest investigations."

I'm fine with ditching XP too. And I'm cool with ABP, and I like Alayna's explanation.

Also, for what it's worth, I've had a lot of fun thus far and you all are the most talented, creative Role-players I've had the pleasure to game with for a while. Please stick around, Iz.

Hey, thank you Krucina. If Eschie tells me he doesn't have problems to move things along a bit, I'll stick around for sure :)

Izkrael stopts watching the scene involving the half-orc when Cameron and the other begin discussing about what to do with the brute. Oh, they have such a short time in front of them, and still they waste time with useless creatures...I won't never understand their ways.

Silently and without informing his companions, Izkrael sneaks into the Blushing Mermaid* and without lowering his hood starts looking around for someone matching Drexell's description**.

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* Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
** Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

I wouldn't mind at all about ditching XP!

I understand your point Eschie, but we didn't get not even a single XP in the last three months. However, if you plan on moving things along in the future, I'll be more than happy to continue.

DM, I would like to know if we're going to actually progress in the adventure's plotline anytime soon. Almost three months have passed since I've joined this game, and apart from not having had a single combat (I personally don't mind it), I've got a feeling that we have followed a completely different path from that of the adventure. Not that I don't like homebrew campaigns, but when I created Izkrael I've done so accordingly to the idea that he would be joining an actual Second Darkness game. Seems to me that we've been following personal plot-lines since the day I joined, and for a new recruit such as Izkrael it's proving particularly hard to get involved in the story if the events just does not happen.

I'm currently considering bowing out of this game: I don't feel involved, and I feel like all this focus on personal side-quests and sub-plots exclude Izkrael from every single scene. As Cameron said several times, if the events would have overwhelmed us, maybe I would have been much more involved. But I don't want to change the way you're currently running the game: I admit that it's an interesting way to play, but only when you have a character from the beginning. If you need to get into a group and nothing happens in three months except for personal quests, it's very hard to get involved. Just let me know what your future plans are and I'll make my decision accordingly.

Izkrael stands motionless, staring at the scene before him. Why is he helping them?, he thinks while observing Cameron aiding the sailors.

Izkrael looks at Alayna, and seeing her shaken immediately steps before her to give her some cover. I understand her perfectly...Vile creatures like these shouldn't even exist. The elf tries to smile reassuringly to the girl, but the resulting expression is more like a grin than an actual smile.

Izkrael then extracts his bow and notches an arrow, but still does not aim to anyone.

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Izkrael is taking the following prepared action: he's going to fire with his bow against anyone who physically threatens one of his companions.

Izkrael nods to Alayna before following Cameron. He puts his hand on his bow, ready to react to danger.

Maybe Drexell is punching someone?

---

When he sees the scene in front of him, Ikzrael cannot hold back a grin. Half-orc...That's where that stench was coming from.

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Izkrael does not intervene, leaving instead this task to his more talkative companions while he keeps ready should danger arise.

The Blushing Mermaid, uhm? I remember being there...Oh, yes, it was three years ago, in that job for Avery Slyeg.

Izkrael waves to his companions with a confident expression: "Follow me. I know where it is that place". A good place where to find information...I wonder if Drexell is there for that reason.

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GM, does Izkrael know a little more about The Blushing Mermaid according to his Knowledge (local) check?

Izkrael's intention is to guide his companions to the tavern avoiding dangerous streets, choosing the shorter path to The Blushing Mermaid.

Knowledge (local) check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

While Nessa asks around seeking interesting rumors and Cameron is intent on keeping his eyes open for more people to question, Izkrael does his bit trying to focus on his knowledge of Riddleport to gain some useful insight on where to search for Drexell. He also keeps his eyes open for anything that could point him to the person he's currently searching for. The elf walks the city streets with a grim expression hidden behind his cap, his pointed ears always on alert for any danger.

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Izkrael is attempting a Knowledge (local) check to determine a good place where to search for someone like Drexell. He's also attempting several Perception checks every ten or so seconds to ensure that nothing gets past his keen senses.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Izkrael is satisfied with the streetwalker's report and nods as he listens the story attentively.

"That's all you can tell us? Everything, even the apparently most insignificant information, can make the difference."

If the women have nothing to add, Izkrael will try to decipher their expression to ensure they're not hiding anything, and then will say to his companions: "I think they said everything they know about this matter. We shall go and find that Drexell", before greeting the streetwalkers with a "Thank you" accompanied by a small donation consisting of some silver coins. Right after, he will begin walking away from the streetwalkers in search of Drexell.

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Izkral is attempting two Sense Motive checks to make sure the women are not hiding or overlooking something important. Then, he gives 5 sp to the older woman and encourages his companions to go on by leading them ahead himself.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Izkrael, who remained silent until now, now catches his chance to speak: "Perhaps you can start with telling us what you heard about Lula's death".

In the meantime, now that he's sure the women are not to be feared, Izkrael keeps his eyes opened to ensure that no one is listening their conversation with the street-walkers with too much attention.

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Izkrael will look around focusing on the bystanders to ensure that no one is listening to their conversation with the street-walkers with a suspicious attitude.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Izkrael nods in agreement while Cameron speaks, showing his support to the man's words. Once he notices the two street-walkers are armed, he focuses his attention the women's faces to try to catch even the slightest glimpse of aggression. He stands ready to intervene if the women act aggressively, moving next to Cameron to ensure to be able to act before it's too late and other blood is spilled.

I can't blame them for carrying weapons with them. Their is a dangerous job, and this is a dangerous city. Especially after the news about the prostitutes' murders.

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Assuming that Cameron is facing the prostitutes, Izkrael moves so at to be at his side and adjacent to the women. If he spots a sign of aggression in the women's expressions, he will attempt a disarm combat maneuver against the first of the prostitutes to extract her weapon. I'm considering this as a prepared action.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Disarm Combat Maneuver: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

After he gets the description, Izkrael starts looking around him in search of someone matching Drexell's appearance.

Seems like everyone has a holy symbol...

Izkrael moves closer to Nessa: "Hey, I've never noticed that symbol you have there...Is it the holy symbol of Calistria? I like it.".

Reminder: I need to get me a holy symbol when I'll have time.

Izkrael keep his eyes open looking for any potential threat while he travels along with Cameron and Nessa.

"What this Drexell looks like?", he asks his companions.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Izkrael too nods in agreement: "Alright. While we walk, would you mind telling me what this Drexell has done to you in the past, precisely? I wasn't there at that moment, and that could maybe prove...useful".

Before going out, Izkrael puts his right hand to his chest and performs a slight bow: "Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, Lady Caithlin".

Izkrael is fine with asking Drexell's help.

"I don't know this Drexell you're talking about. Who is he? How do you know him? And why do you think he wouldn't help us?", asks Izkrael addressing Cameron.

Hey no worries, real life is more important.

I have to second Cameron again :)

I'm enjoying the game, just wish it would move a little faster ;)

I have to second this. I would happy to post much more often myself if given the chance.

Izkrael ponders all the available options for a moment, then answers: "We've got nothing to start with except for the fact that we know the victims were calistrians. We can start with gathering information asking around, but I feat that would draw too many undesired attentions. So maybe we could set up a trap, trying to lure the murderers into acting. I was thinking of using Nessa as a bait while we follow her from a distance, ready to spring into action if something bad occurs. But this would put her into risk".

Izkrael shooks his head, dissatisfied. Either of my plans are not good enough. We should have asked for more information to Mistress Pamodae....

Izkrael had witnessed the agitated argument between Nessa and Alayn with his usual indifference: that little thing’s future didn’t concern him. In the past, when he was the one to be left alone, no one had taken care of him. He had to learn to get along in the wilds without any companion except for his bow. That child, Sylee, that everyone kept to call unlucky, in the eyes of Izkrael was instead very lucky: Tsk, she’s got not one but two people worrying about her future. Not unlucky at all.

---

The discussion continued, and Izrael couldn’t hold a yawn. Actually, he wasn’t paying attention at all. Arguments between humans bored him: he deemed them so childish, foolish and unnecessary. When will this agony come to an end? I thought we were here mainly to solve the matter of the murdered calistrian faithful…

---

When the half-orc came into the room, Izkrael looked at him with interest, finally drawn to something different from the empty blathering of the two mortal women. There’s room for everyone in this city, thought the elf with a bit of prejudice, but after all, if that wasn’t the case, even I wouldn’t be here.

---

Izkrael suddenly heard his name (or rather a distortion thereof) being pronounced by Alayna. The girl had just got through saying that Izkrael had come out of nowhere, and that she was sure that the elf hated that place. Then, she mentioned the stain in the sky. Tsk, this mortal girl. “Comes from nowhere”. Humans are never going to change…Is it possible that she regard everything out of her visual field as “nowhere”? How can one’s mind be limited to what is part of his life, excluding all the rest?

Irritated, Izkrael decided to finally take the floor: “The wildlands outside of Riddleport are not nothing, my naïve human. If it wasn’t for that lands, you city inhabitants would never eat the fruits from the fields. I wouldn’t say I came out of nowhere. Until now, I’ve simply lived in a different place from yours. This still doesn’t place me in nowhere”. Izkrael’s voice was not harsh, but quiet and calm. “I think, rather, that there’s something which truly came out of nowhere, but that’s not me. I’m speaking about the shadow in the sky. The Blot, as you call it here in the city. Lady Caithlin, do you know something about this…Blot?”, asked Izkrael using the hook provided by Alayna. He had used the girl’s words to get to the point he was interested in, although he was trying to conceal his interest in the Blot behind an indifferent expression.

Yes, I can certainly do it, even if I hate when there's no pushing at all and my character cannot leave any hooks without interrupting a conversation. I'll post something ASAP.

Please do not read my absence from the gameplay thread as a sign of lose of interest. I just cannot find a way to make Izkrael fit in the discussion about Sylee. He's not concerned at all by the little girl's fate, neither is he interested in the argument between Nessa and Alayna. He just stays silent because he doesn't have nothing to say about the current topic.

Izkrael had listened attentively to Cameron's and Alayna's stories: he didn't know their stories himself, because never had the chance to ask. But now Lady Caithlin was directly questioning him. He had hoped to stay silent with no one noticing it, but was now forced to speak by Lady Caithlin's question: "Well, I'm somehow a mistery to myself too, my Lady. I don't even know if we truly share the same ancestors, since I've never known mine".

Before going on, Izkrael tries to sense if Caithlin is looking down on him for his black eyes (a clear sign of drow ancestry for an elf); until now, elves have always avoided him due to that feature. Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17. If Izkrael doesn't feel like the woman is looking at him with contempt, he will go on with his story; otherwise, he will stop talking.

"All I remember is a house near the haunted forest, where my adoptive parents brought me up. They were human farmers, nothing more and nothing less. Then, as humans tend to do, they died. I was very young for elven standards, but I learned how to survive alone. I worked as a monster hunter for some time, helping varisian caravans to scare off monsters and bandits, and spent the rest of my time hunting and trying to get along in the wilds. Then I began to accept some works in Riddleport, but I was coming here the less I could; I never loved cities. Finally, some months ago, I had a dream. I consulted a varisian harrower who I has seen growing up from a child to a woman, and now I'm here, trying to find some answers to the many questions filling my mind." He looked at the elf in front of him, hoping she had some of the answers he was looking for.

I'm just waiting because would make no sense for Izkrael to speak first.

I'm fine with contact rules too!

Izkrael nods to Cameron. The last thing we need is an inner fight. Izkrael then puts his hand on Nessa's arm, trying to calm her down. He usually tends to avoid physical contact, but this time he makes an exception. "Calm down, Nessa. Everything will be just fine", he whispers.

"A glass of water will do for me too, Ma'am", says Izkrael before sitting near Cameron.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

He seems worried about Alayna and Nessa, but he won't speak to not further complicate this thing. He's a wise man, I shall do the same", thinks Izkrael to himself.

Sadly, I couldn't provide any hooks in my post. I'm waiting for Nessa to post before properly acting.

Izkrael slowly entered Lady Caithlin's home. Once in, he removed his hood and before sitting down he said: "Pleased to meet you, Lady Caithlin ". He took an attentive look at the elf woman: she seemed very young despite being introduced as "old". As always, elven and human labels were pretty different.

Assisting to Nessa’s emotional break off, Izkrael couldn’t do anything but stay frozen, unable to comprehend that sentimental momentum. The truth was that he was used to attend to such scenes and he could understand that they were part of short-lived mortals’ nature; he simply never experienced anything similar first-handedly, and couldn’t comprehend how to properly react to such a situation.

I know one thing, and that is that in such moments mortals love to defuse the situation.

“Well, I suppose that this makes me a sort of great-uncle to this child. Great-uncle Izy sounds too bad?”, said the elf trying to broaden his mouth in a smile.

***

When the group is ready to depart, Izkrael nods towards Cameron. I wish I could tell the difference between right and wrong too, but about one thing the human is right: we need to stay wary. With slow and calculated movements, refined from practice, Izkrael fastens his bow behind his back, fixes its cloak and finally wears his hood. “Let’s do it”.

Sorry folks, had a hectic day. I"ll surely post tomorrow morning :)

Izkrael warped his lips in a faint smile: "I've been fine, Nessa. Thank you for asking", Is this how they say, isn't it?, "I've been doing the same things as always. Hunt here, kill the monster for that caravan there, get along in the wilds...And I was fine that way. My last job in Riddleport was a nightmare, so I was content with not coming in the city anymore. Too much blood flows through the cobblestones of these streets, Nessa. Human blood. I can't understand why they seem to be so eager to spill their own kind's blood instead on focusing on something else".

After a short pause, Izkrael looked at the little thing in Nessa's lap: "But look at you...You're the one who has changed. The Nessa I met long ago, well...She won't never...". For a moment, it seemed like Izkrael wasn't able to find the right words, "...Let's just say that I never imagined you as a mother. This...little thing...Is your daughter?".

I won't call my motives "standing up for what's right", but this man is braver then I'd expected. And if he's blessed with the Lady's luck...

"It would be good to have you on our side, Cameron. Maybe while we walk you can answer some question regarding Desna for me. I never found anyone who was willing to tell me about her, apart from saying that she's the goddes of luck, dreams, stars, travels and so on. I had a dream, recently. And a friend of mine told me that dream was a message from Desna. Well, I would like to get your opinion on the matter. In a quieter situation, of course".

Buon compleanno a tua figlia, DM!

Happy birthday to your daughter, DM!