Jasper Jade's page

" Go, read something off the job board. Check the guy from up close" Jasper drinks from his mug.

I've read a variations of this based on the hooded stranger ever since Aragorn found the hobbits in a tavern in a movie.

The books weren't as well known :)

Retired adventurer level 20 as a tavern owner is from AD&D when I started or maybe even 1e (before my time).

I'm not claiming any of this as mine. I've encountered different explanations from DMs, how and why people know things in the tavern :) just years of experience

Tuk, there is a little known fact there is a secret police in fantasy taverns

You think that tavern brawl was random? That surly bartender who barely acknowledged your party's epic entrance is just bad service?
Think again.
Little-known lore reveals that every self-respecting fantasy tavern is monitored by a covert, shadowy organization designed to keep adventurers from completely breaking the local economy and social order. Meet the T.O.P.S. (Tavern Order & Protection Syndicate).
Here is the "funny post" truth about the secret police operating under your table:
1. The Bartender is a Level 20 Divination Wizard
That man wiping the same mug for three hours? He isn’t bored; he’s casting Detect Thoughts to see if your party is going to start a fire-based brawl that ruins the insurance premiums. He knows you didn’t actually kill that dragon; you just found its corpse and took the head.
2. The Mysterious Hooded Stranger
You think that edgy guy in the corner is a plot hook? No, he’s a T.O.P.S. agent monitoring the "Mysterious Stranger" quota. He takes notes whenever someone acts too moody, and if there are more than three in one tavern, he reports it to the authorities for violating the "Tavern Atmosphere Variance."
3. The "Questionable Stew" is Surveillance
That stew has been simmering since 1402. It contains tracking potions. Why do you think the tavern keeper always knows exactly when you’ve stepped out to pull a heist? You're eating tracking potions.
4. The Bar Brawl Insurance Inspectors
If a bar brawl breaks out, the "random patron" who casually slides into a booth, puts on spectacles, and starts taking notes on a clipboard is a T.O.P.S. Claims Adjuster. If you break more than three chairs, you are getting banned from tavern hopping in this kingdom for six months.
5. The Bard is the Chief Information Officer
The minstrel singing "The Tale of the Bold Adventurers" reports on a party's combat skills, magical inventory, and weaknesses to the local king through musical code.
Fast tempo equals high damage.
Minor key equals sad loot.
Next time in a tavern, tipping the bartender well may be wise. Failing to do so might result in a report to the Mage Council for "Inciting Chaos Without a Permit." ‍♂️

Why interrupt? We can get into trouble entirely by ourselves

"That wasn't quick, it was off-hand push, I didn't expect you to avoid it." comes a grumble in response.

This close, you can smell the strong smell of garlic and some sour wine coming off the thug.

"I guess this counts as fighting me, Tuk, help yourself, I'm not about to go chasing you around."

He turns back to Celima and then remembers
"Oh, I'm Jade. Jasper Jade." He pulls a chair with his leg from the neighboring table for Tuk.

The crew on the floor started getting up in the meantime, helping those hit the worst and others judging if the offer for the drink was genuine.

Jasper waits for Tuk to take his drink and rolls the half-empty barrel toward the recovering group.
"You did well. Foolish, but brave. Keep the rest. Enjoy your landing."

That concluded, he turns back to his suddenly full table.
"Ummm...this is not usually what people do when they come into the tavern, bothering other patrons especially couples is frowned upon in various establishments here. It is bad for business. Unless you're itching for a fight. Just so you know for the next tavern."

He looks at Celima and shrugs.

Just a reminder, he was alert for trouble with Perception 32 :)

With Tuk's CMD of 26, he easily avoids Jasper's trip attempt, but being the opportunist he is.... ")

I'm just wondering how did you get 26? I mean, it is great, and I rolled really low (and didn't include size difference which would make it 26)

But your sheet has +4 CMD as base (which is weird because you have defensive combat training 10HD = 10 to CMD)

You have dex + str = 3 for total 23

Is this something from your archetypes?

Jasper we met each other about 1 year ago not years ago. It’s fine though I imagine with how many jobs he has taken, the details of her escort could have been mixed up

As I said, I assigned myself DC 15 for how well do I remember you :) If I rolled very well, I'd go and read your whole history...but I didn't so

Besides, if she wasn't so memorable, he wouldn't remember her at all, just as many others who he protected on the caravans and didn't mix with.

She, at least, had some interactions with him. He is deeply lonely soul. And too lazy to do something about it ;)

With a bounce and a quick hand hold, Tuk bounds up to stand on Jasper's knee, hands on hips, "Since yer offerin', pull one for me, I'm parched!" Tuk declares.

"Ummm..." the big man looks between the halfling and Celima for a moment before twitching his knee aside while pushing away the gnat, careful not to impale it on the spikes, just to brush him off

I'll roll just as I did for Celima, where I assigned DC 15 to myself to see how well he remembers her (not very) :) I'll roll trip, you get opportunity attack if you want, or can do some acrobatic flip or what have you. Not initiating combat, just rolling for easier story-telling

Trip: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

EDIT: what is with the dicebot, where are the middle rolls :)

Sense motive: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Jasper is not accustomed to female attention and his first thought was that there was someone behind him, but it was only a wall. Then a long list of clients, but not too many of them are female at the trading caravans.

Still, after some thought, he managed to recall a waif of a girl, on the run some years ago. It seems the time away from Thay was kind to her, but tattoos were hard to completely hide.

He nods, very slowly and slightly, catching her eyes. Assuming there was a reason she didn't join him, he scans the tavern for dangers, maybe hidden mages. Well. more hidden mages given she's already hiding.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Just go for it, DM may be busy, there might be some extra long intro post or two...no reason for you not to make a cameo.

I tried not to be time bound and the location is fairly inconsequential...I even thought about it being some nameless watering hole, but this is Athkatla canon, so...I'm there/I was there at some point in my life :)

Waukeen’s Promenade is a riot of gold leaf and sun-drenched marble, but Sea's Bounty Tavern exists in the perpetual damp of the docks, away from merchant bustle. The air here is thick with the smell of cheap grog, unwashed wool, and the metallic tang of blood. It is a place for those who carry the merchant lords' crates, not those who sign the ledgers.

At the center of the room stands a mountain of sentient stone. Jasper sat at a reinforced trestle table, his massive, blocky frame dwarfing the human laborers surrounding him. His skin is the color of storm-beaten granite, mapped with deep, jagged cracks. Clumps of matte jade—dull, olive-colored, and tumor-like-cluster where hair should be and erupt from his thick forearms.

Tonight, he is not the bouncer. A half-empty keg of bitter ale sits before him. He is currently the gravity of the room; every eye is on him because he is midway through a contest of strength that has already claimed two splintered chairs and a broken nose. Despite the chaos of the tavern and the rowdy cheers of the crowd, his face remains unsettlingly calm - his wide, stone-set eyes reflecting a strange, quiet wisdom that contradicts the cracked mug in his hand and the trail of sawdust on his armor, and line of sailors groaning in the aftermath of the contest.

He sits back at his table, a boulder in a stream of frantic men, immovable and indifferent to the noise. And unstoppable once started. He draws another tankard from the keg, his unique chemistry adding new layer of smell to the tavern.
"Good effort, lads, come have one on me." He calls out to the crewmen he just dropped on the floor in one mighty charge. "Drink away your pain."

I was waiting for intro post, to know where we are.

Thanks for running the game!

<nail biting intensifies> :)

That's why you teleport in the middle of nowhere, walk some time, teleport again tomorrow, walk some more (caravans and such) so...even if they trace your first, they have to track you or the caravan, find your new teleport origin, divinations to trace again...

It is easier to just scry on you than trace you...I hope you have anti-divination measures so we don't get Szass Tam on our backs :)

. Maybe one of you could have aided in her escape?

That is up to you, Jasper, being a caravan guard can have anyone and everyone at some point as a passenger if nothing else. Maybe you were on one and he hid you somehow?

As always, feel free to develop the connection as you think best. I've put few hooks into my story, but you can add to it no problem.

I'm speaking for Jasper only, obviously.

Jasper Jade wrote:

So, high-level adventurers, I guess we at least heard of each other, maybe worked together once or twice?

Anyone wants deeper connection? Caravan, same irritating 'enemy', maybe simply enchanting of the weapons:)

my character idea is that she has a second lease on life, even if it comes with an observer :P

Perhaps, if people want, they could have been there when she died the first time?

You can be the soldier squished by a bulette leap? :) (see background)

So, high-level adventurers, I guess we at least heard of each other, maybe worked together once or twice?

Anyone wants deeper connection? Caravan, same irritating 'enemy', maybe simply enchanting of the weapons:)

Made out of one of the more soft/fragile stones (obsidian?)

Tellurium (Te) is a rare, brittle, silvery-white metalloid (atomic number 52) that acts as a semiconductor

He stinks and he is brittle :)

I ignored them, but DM said 'roll' . stone man is squishy:)

Gah! Like 60% of the average!

HP: 9d10 ⇒ (9, 2, 1, 1, 6, 3, 4, 2, 3) = 31

I have that book too (Weapon Master's Handbook).

Yes you can.

Thanks! I'll adjust the character details today.

Note that I am on a tournament tomorrow, whole day, so my next post can be on Sunday, GMT+1 time zone

Yes, you may take advanced armor training options.

Feeling a little greedy now, so feel free to just say no :) Can I take advanced WEAPON training too? it would just be bravery bonus to will, nothing fancy

This would actually be a feat, not taken as replacement for weapon training given that I use two different weapons

yes, that's why I said double the price, it is just that they don't give prices in a table like official material

Thank you DM for allowing advanced armor training
Celima and Goldwyn, sorry for causing alarm, I should have checked, not assume

So, I'm trying to discover the savings - but there is no bulette special material :)

There is a price on bulette armor in 3.5, but only pricing given is for studded leather 50gp which is double normal price like dragonhide (which essentially it is). Bulette has +12 natural armor and CR 7 which would make "harvesting" it only 490gp (7 squared x10gp) which makes my estimate above with 1800 waaaay overpriced :)

So, I will go with double the price - if dragons can do it, so can bulettes (with adult dragons having around +15 natural AC)

Bulette 1500/3 (material) +1500/3(plate) = 1000 vs 1650 of mw steel full plate

There is Bulette bulward armor in Dungeons Denizens revisited which is +3 heavy shield costing 9157gp So, essentially no extra cost, just extra cool thingy

Druids can use it.

Is that OK?

That will give me cloak or resistance +1

Crafting in PF doesn't use XP!? Maybe I should stop assuming that stuff was ported from 3.5e if it wasn't broken (polymorph, grappling, etc)

I'll go and read up!

I've never played in a group where you can craft before starting the game. or rather, you can say you crafted it, but you "buy" stuff as everyone else...or pay XP.

The reason I was taught was that starting wealth was just a representation of what is appropriate for level X. Otherwise every wizard starting high level takes Craft wondrous item and gets all the stuff at half price and yet still is at the same level as everybody else.

I never saw it come up because we usually started low, but few one-shotsand one campaign starting at 11th all had the same rule. I never questioned that it isn't official before now.

It was just a question of whether you start with xp deficit or lowe level. Never if you need to spend XP at all. You have to.

DISLAIMER: I started with AD&D, and while I like 3.5 and PF even more, there may be some leftovers from that era.I played 4e up to paragon, Pf2e to 11th, always fell back to 3e/pf. XP rule may be from time my group started and we just never checked, but logically, it makes sense

Spending xp? I’m confused

for magical crafting. you spend xp. thus, if we start at the start of 10th level and you spend xp to craft even a potion or scroll of cantrip, you don't have xpnto be 10th level (or you're in debt, I had a DM that had that rule, you start with everyone else. but half your xp goes to paying crafting debt from the start )

Jasper Jade wrote:

And then this XP spending becomes relevant again. If I do whole armor by myself (third for mundane and half for magic) do I spend XP? I'm not going to drop to level 9, but if I don't have to, I'd take extra +1 AC

If you are creating mundane armor, you don't spend XP.

But advanced armor training has an option where my bab counts as craft magic arms and armor caster level. that was the point of the question. if I have to spend xp, I'll just wait for 11th level rather than start at 9th :)

Master Armorer (Ex): The fighter can use his base attack bonus in place of his ranks in the Craft (armor) skill.
the fighter is treated as having the Craft Magic Arms and Armor and Master Craftsman feat for the purpose of making magic armor. The fighter does not need to meet these feats’ prerequisites.

And then this XP spending becomes relevant again. If I do whole armor by myself (third for mundane and half for magic) do I spend XP? I'm not going to drop to level 9, but if I don't have to, I'd take extra +1 AC

I think those rules work only for magical crafting.

Indeed. Earlier question was if you will allow advanced armor training feat from armor masters book. even if not for taking it instead of advanced armor training, just "sacrificing" a feat.

I too have questions:)

I put a bulette in my background story, faerun(3.5) lore has special material (bulette) and Jasper is an armorer...can I use that as my armor? Reputation and all that...

finally, if I craft something to lower the cost of the item, and I have to pay XP for that (as crafting magic usually does) do i start a level lower?

it would only save about 500gp

bulette 1800/3 (material) +1500/3(plate) +150/3 (masterwork) = 1250 vs 1650 of mw steel full plate

Jasper awaits review.

Story may get added to,won't change in essence.

Do we use Faerun deities or PF? I'd take Crystalle if Faerun. Technically not a god, but he would like to take over from Grumbar

When do we start? I'll have character done by the end of the day

https://paizo.com/people/JasperJade
Work in progress