Khalid's stat block is now updated in his page. I went for the Arcane Duelist, and bashing people with a large shield.
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Hello all! I'll definitely be interested in picking up a game of Mummy's Mask - I love a grand adventure as much as the next person! With this, I humbly bow to you and present a small story of who, what, and why Khalid Abd al-Qadir al-Shihab is. And how he may on occasion, shut up.
Backstory:
The tall and broad-shouldered Quadiran man leaps up from the pillow on the ground, letting go of the hookah and bowing at his conversation partner. A grin spreads under his curled waxed moustache as the newcomers walk in the Tooth and Hookah. He spreads his arms with the expression of joy, as if he was seeing an old friend, fingers covered in numerous rings waving cheerfully.
His loose clothes, immaculate, if slightly worn, betray fine craftsmanship, as does the faint shimmer of metal under them. A large curved-point sword hangs on his finely-threaded belt, seemingly the sister of a bronzed shield, leaning on the wall next to him. "A-ha!", he exclaims. "Forgive me for the boldness, my friends, but your walk is the walk of men who have seen things few do.", he smiles, bowing once more. "I am Khalid Abd al-Qadir al-Shihab, faithful subject of the great Satrap Xerbystes II." Pointing towards the small table and the plethora of pillows on the ground, he gestures enthusiastically towards the newcomers. "I follow the ancient Qadiran tradition of the warrior-poet, celebi, and it would be my utmost pleasure to purchase your dinner for tonight, if only in between the feast of the body you share with me the smallest crumbs of your tale." His smile is unwavering, as he ceremoniously ushers the newcomers on the table, letting them sit down before offering them tea. Sitting down with a sigh of pleasure, he takes a long swig of the shisha. Exhaling a large cloud of white fumes, he nods. "Ah, Osirion! It's cities and stories age with grace to rival the Queen of Mendev, do they not?", he says, slurping his tea loudly, then letting out another sigh of content. "Yet, despite the thousands stories told on these streets over thousands of years.", his eyes flash with a mischievous blaze. "Not every story of adventure, bravado and wealth to turn emperors jealous has been told? Or perhaps the stories themselves are re-told endlessly, with different heroes..."
Stats: I've not actually updated the crunch yet - but I'm rather flexible on that end. I'm mostly tending towards a Str-based Arcane Duelist Bard, with a focus on Aid Another to shield others, a Daring Champion Cavalier, or even a Magus. My most likely concept would be of the Str Based Bard, even though the party already has one - the Archeologist Bard and the Arcane Duelist will not only not overlap, but build onto each other. But like I said, I'm flexible.
Alright, I'll go ahead and assume direct control of this game. A post will be coming tonight!
That works better, actually. So, any objections to me making the post on Thursday? I'd be busy at the start of the week anyway, and I seriously would need to practice my GM-style manically diabolical laughter.
Gents! Ladies! Genderless Fungal Sentients! Radavel hasn't posted on the website since he last posted in this thread. I'm worried about him, actually, since he's quite active. However, I have the book and the adventure in question, and I've been itching to run a game for quite a while. So, what I propose is that I continue running whatever we have now, fairly closely to the book, so that if he shows back up, I'd be able to hand him in the reins with no problem. If he doesn't show up in, say, a month (29th November) I could try picking it up. I think that I'm quite comfortable with running it, and while I can't promise a post per day, I will promise at least a post a week day, or one every two days, at the worst. Unless someone objects to that, I'll do my first GM post on Monday. I've no intentions to hijack the game, as I like Khalid as a character, and I was looking forward to play him, but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. For the Emperor!
Khalid smiles at the table, continuing to eat his soup loudly. "What I remember being said on the streets, centuries ago, mind you, is that thrones aren't as valuable as they are to the witches...", he says in between bites. "But thrones have value to others, and that's how commerce has worked for the past millenia and will continue until there are no humans left." He chuckles. "And maybe even afterwards, our two friends are proof of that."
"Oh, the oracles!", he chuckles, sipping something exotic smelling from a small cup as he slowly sits down on the couch. "You know, get anybody off the street, and they'll tell you they're a myth, but rarely does an urban legend live that long. Same goes for babbling old fools, mind you!", he laughs, and goes on to share everything he knows of the oracles. "Oh. That spicy stuff gives me indigestion... Oh, how I almost embarassed your great-great-great uncle on an event with the Lee dynasty about two-hundred years back...", he says, rubbing his spotted hand on his raisin-like complexed face, food staying almost untouched in front of him. "So, for that tribute, masters. I'm afraid are coffers aren't as full as they once were, though our military might is significant.", he shares his thoughts as he crumbles bread in his soup. "What do they ask for, in a tribute?", he asks, vacuuming a spoonful with the sound of an emptying sink.
"All the docking procedures are in order, young master.", Khalid nods. "I can't believe this... is this how you fill in a IDP-9948-Sigma-AFG... Barbarians...", he mutters scornfully at the seemingly arcane and inconceivable document on top of the stack. "What's next, give me a THS-7394a-Ypsilon-17f for a cargo of Fortress World grain?", he adds, sarcastically. Khalid nods at Iota. "You are correct, Magos. Though, our dynasty never had a friendly relationship with statistical analyses.", he sends a toothless grin at the Mechanicus. "I'd at least give it 3.3%, myself"
Hm. I don't think Orks radiate spores unless they're severely wounded/bleeding or dead. Even then, I doubt that'd be a problem on a space station, as most of the problems with the spores are on Feral Worlds, Frontier Worlds, and generally places where they can amass huge numbers without anyone seeing them. Here, you got vermin and whatnots everywhere, who would be a challenge to a... young? ork.
"Oh, finally on, hm, solid ground.", remarks Khalid. He makes his way to the vox-hailer, contacting Port Authority. "...Yes, Senior Adept Cain... Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, he was a good man... When was that? Oh, how time flies. So his successor, this young lady, I believe Rohana was her name? She knows of the captain..." "...Oh, she retired... Hmmm... I'll make my way there, then." He raises his head, covering the headphone with his hand. "Uh, young master, most of our connections seem to have dried out. I'm afraid we might have some visitations from the esteemed meeting party... For shame. And I had such a nice gift basket prepared for the good man.", he shakes his head, closing the connection. "Might I join you?", he asks Artorius, approaching in a hasty tempo.
Khalid's sitting on his chair, with a group of young men around him. He's got a small, low desk in front of him, and is penning various letters. "This one would go to Magistrate Borse... Do ask him how his grandfather is doing, and whether or not he'd also be willing do deal with ourselves...", he says, handing off a letter to one of the men, before calling one of the others over. "This one is very important, try not to lose it. And if you were to start losing it, try your best to destroy it. Ask the recipient on the current situation with the... extralegal means of goods transportation, and what their fees are." He calls the next runner, handing off another letter from the pile.
Ready to move on as well! @Iota, just putting this out, Khalid wasn't showing off, and the offer was genuine. The Mechanicus-approved action was the one you took, of course, though! If you're feeling like it, we might have a bit of a adversarial approach to one another? Everyone getting together like a heretic on fire is fine and all, but it might get a bit boring. Plus, decent interaction opportunities. @GM, would it be possible to change the Forbidden Lores I have? I like the Archeotech, and I can't change it anyway, but I might change the Warp and the Xenos to something else, considering the huge-ish overlap I got with Iota at the moment. And he's a Xenologis, after all. Was thinking Demonology and Psykers?
A good-quality Cortex Implant is an Extremely Rare thing. It's not Near Unique, at least not in Rogue Trader. Might want to change things around!
Khalid returns from his usual trip up the Navigator's quarters and down memory lane to see the Tech-priest carrying out replacements on the console. "Oh. That's unfortunate... Magos, might I offer my services in the matter, whenever you need help with something you don't have the time to deal with? I'm not a member of the Cult, of course, but I nevertheless know the Rites better than most." tech-priests on this ship., he adds to himself.
Khalid shows his toothless grin once more. "Oh, everyone in your family is young to me, Master Artorius!" He takes another long sip of the tea, then stands up slowly, but surely. He pretends to just have seen Numina. "Hello, dear. Looking well today.", he mentions to the young lady, then slowly thuds with his staff towards the vox-console. He reaches behind his ear, protracting a cable and plugging it into the console. "This is the Victus Rex. Congratulations on the safe journey, young Master Gaius. The Emperor Protects.", a familiar voice sounds on the Indomitable Will "We're matching your speed and heading towards Footfall. Victus Rex out." He steps away from the console, slowly making his way towards his small chair. "So, karim, do you have any suspicious as to why we're asked to go there?" He takes another sip from his tea. "That reminds me... The second time I was there, with your great-great-great-grandfather... I don't think you remember him, with a hold full of alien beasts.", he shares with a smile, before stopping himself. "I've told you this one already, haven't I..."
Khalid would most likely be suited towards the role of a High Factotum, though if we're not doing Achievement Points, there might be something else that could be done.
The bridge door of the Victus Rex slides open. A bent in half figure, dressed in a wide black robe stands there, leaning heavily on a staff of ancient, warped wood. The figure makes its way towards the captain's chair, raising its head half-way to nod at a console operator. A face resembling a raisin appears from under the keffiyeh, with a small flicker of metal on the right side, and a toothless smile greets the Rogue Trader as Khalid pulls an unassuming and horrendously plain wooden seat from behind the captain's throne and sits on it, pulling out a small thermos and two cups. "Oh-ho-ho.", he says, grinning toothlessly once again at Artorius. "I haven't been to Footfall since before your uncle was born!", he giggles. "Tea, waladi"?, he asks, offering a small clay cup to Artorius, ancient writing barely visible from the obvious wear and tear. "How is young master Gaius these days? Kept telling his parents, he's full of hidden strengths, that one." He sips from the cup with the sound of an old vacuum pump, putting the thermos back in the inscrutable contents of his worn black robe. As he does so, a pistol is seen for a brief moment, the barrel warped from the intense heat of melta fuel.
Right. The retinue of Lord-Captain Gaius Valerius Metallus Tenebrae: The Lord-Captain Himself.
The retunue of Lord-Captain Artorius Von Castmirre The Lord-Captain Himself.
If I missed someone, let me know, and I'll rectify that in the future.
The Meritech raider is an excellent ship, I agree. Do remember you can always buy more ships later. It takes an excellent roll and we might have to burn some PF, but if we have it, it's a good option. A raider and a frigate are terrifying for anything we might encounter, especially if we get the Void-Master goes for Master of Gunnery, and combine that with the RT nagging him constantly. The RT in my RL game shouts to people, "I ORDER you to succeed!", as he gives the bonus.
A merchant and an escort, whether a raider or a light cruiser is one good option, which provides flexibility. Rogue Traders are quite flexible, as you might imagine. Maybe a pioneered deal of a Rogue Traders working together for the benefits of both houses? The poorer one with the heavy ship providing support to the other one, for a return of thrones? Another one might be two raiders, which is a great deal for exploration, since both are fast and quick, and together they can overcome anything short of a grand cruiser or a battlecruiser. Which they can outrun. If piracy is more up the alley, a cruiser/raider combo allows for absolute shenanigans, and flexible firepower. Don't expect to be able to buy much, however. If you want to do something different, we can always grab two traders and literally try and buy the Koronus Expanse.
Hello once more. I was preparing a set of ships for another game, and I had some recommendations. Below, behold three different options, and a small reasoning behind them, The Moderate Solution:
35 - ship - Havoc Class Merchant Raider (CRB) Speed 9, +25 Maneuvre, Detection +10, Armour 16, TR 1, HI 30, Space 40 Jovian Pattern Class 2 Drive , Space Remaining 29, Power Given 40 Single Void Shield Array - S: 28, P: 35, Strelov 1 Warp Engine - S:18, P: 25 Combat Bridge - S: 17, P: 24, M-1.r Life Sustainer - S:16, P:21, Voidsmen Quarters: S:13, P:20, R-50 Auspex Multi-band - S:13, P:16, Starbreaker Lance Weapon: Dorsal: S:9, P:10, SP: 36 Mars Pattern Macrocannons: Prow: S: 7, P:6, SP: 38 Compartmentalised Cargo Hold: S:2, P:4, SP: 39 Optional - Librarium Vault:
Final Ship, No Extras: SP 39, PF 51.
Optional - Veteran of the Angevin Crusade - SP: 45 (excellent combat and reputation bonuses, can't stealth to save it's life.) The ship is a small and fast vessel, packing a decent punch. Perhaps a little too small for all the things crammed in it, but can perform nearly any role, excelling at exploring and general shindiggery. The Cheap Solution:
Cheap Ship:
Modified Lathe Pattern Drive: 8 space, +40 power
Energistic Conversion Matrix: Power 3, Space 8, SP: 30
Final Ship, No extras, SP 29, PF 61
This ship is a fairly good one for a Rogue Trader putting an emphasis on the latter. In a hurry, it could reach speeds rivaled only by raiders in order to run away, and is able to make a terrifying strike on an unwary opponent. Main weakness would be it's inefficiency in direct combat, which is, of course, to be expected.
The Expensive solution:
Dauntless Class Light Cruiser Veteran of the Angevin Crusade 58 SP, Space 60 Jovian Pattern 4 Drive 12 Space, 60 power Provided Strelov 2 Warp Engine Space 38, Power 48 Geller Field Space 38, Power 47 Command Bridge, Space 35, Power 45, SP 59 M-1.r Life Sustainer, Space 33, Power 41 Voidsmen Quarters Space 29, Power 39 X-470 Ultimo Array, Space 29, Power 33, Titanforge Lance Battery (Prow), Space 23, Power 20, SP 61 Hecutor Pattern Plasma Battery(Starboard, Port), Space 14, Power 4, SP 65 Auxiliary Plasma Banks, Space 8, Power 14, SP 66 Repulsor Shield, Space 8, Power 8, SP 66 Optional -
Final Ship, No extras, SP 66, PF 24
This ship is destruction, through and through. Carrying an intense amount of firepower, and with immense bonuses to fire it, little short of a battlecruiser or a grand cruiser can stand in a toe to toe combat against it. The main weakness that can be identified would be the low-ish turret rating and void shields, letting the ship be relatively vulnerable to lances and heavy fire.
I'd recommend for either the cheap or the moderate one. The cheap one is a fairly finnicky ship, but has loads of aces in his sleeves and lots of cash in its pockets. The moderate one, is a ship nobody can possibly complain about being the captain of, since it's fast, reliable, has firepower, etc. We can't do lots of direct trading with this one, but that's to be expected. Regarding role, Khadir will be as non-combat focused as possible. His fighting days were over before any of you were born! That does mean he'll have lots of ways to contribute in other ways, however, mainly knowledges, security, scrutiny/awareness, etc.
Oh, hello, young ones! Khalid has no strong preferences which Rogue Trader he'd like to work with, but I'm wanting to work together with them for the dynasty.
Story: The old man put down his walking cane, exhausted from the long climb. Despite the elevator being fixed three hundred seventy four years ago, he still made the climb every time he had the chance. The Navigator was always so welcoming to let him sit and drink in peace, whenever no work was being done there. Such a nice young noble. He pulled out a worn thermos, the icon of the Omnissiah still visible, but the words under it worn. They rarely made such quality stuff these days. He pulled a cup from somewhere in his baggy robes, sniffed the cocktail of herbs, then drank a small sip, revealing the few loose teeth in his mouth. Whenever someone stared at the stars, they saw futures. Khalid usually saw history, especially nowadays. That one, over there. RSP.440.5.16-a, and the jungle planet under it. He closed his eyes. He remembered the grin on the Captain's face as he posed for the painting. Foot on the head of a terrifying cat-like beast the size of a horse, a hole between the six eyes. And the young one does have his eyes. He opened his eyes, taking another sip, eyes turning towards the Maw. He smiled, remembering his first time through the storm. The thunderous shaking and the writhing cries outside. The bridge, different that it is now. His fingers gripping the Lord-Captain's chair, muttering prayers to the Omnissiah, the Emperor and Sanguinius. The Lord-Captain grinning like a madwoman, telling him that Dusk Heartwood doesn't come cheap. He sat back further on the bench. Scintilla. Chasing a cat-thief on the spires, grapnel in hand. Iocanthus. Pulling out a thirty-kilogram libram to quote an ancient law, and the crimson face of the Magistrate. The Pass. Three scars from ork blastas. He smiled, finishing his tea. It was time to finally head back to Koronus, and knowledge is only good when it's fresh. You learn while you live, and he wasn't dead yet. He nodded at the kind three-eyed host. This one, surely has his parent's eye!, the old man though, grinning a gap-toothed grin to nobody but himself, as he began the 9734 steps heading down.
Hello, everyone! The Lion Cleric checking in with the Seneschal submission. Statistics:
Weapon Skill: 28 Ballistic Skill: 36 Strength: 36 Toughness: 33 Agility: 37 Intelligence: 52 (x2) Perception: 33 Willpower: 36 Fellowship: 43 Wounds: 10
Movement:
Armor: 0 Head, 4 Body , 4 Arms, 4 Legs
Skills:
Trained Skills: Barter 43 Commerce 43 Common Lore(Underworld) 52 Deceive 53 Evaluate 52 Forbidden Lore (Archeotech, The Warp, Xenos) 52 Inquiry 43 Literacy 52 Medicae 52 Scholastic Lore (Imperial Warrants) 52 Scrutiny 33 Speak Language (Trader's Cant, Low Gothic) 52 Tech-Use 52 Traits:
Stranger to the Cult: -5 Fel to Ecc people. Seeker of Lore: Spend a Fate Point to succeed at Lore, Cyphers, Logic tests. 1 additional DoS to Commerce, Inquiry, Evaluate tests. Technical Knock: Unjam any weapon as a Half Action
Talents:
Basic Training(Universal) Pistol Training(Universal) Class and Alt. Rank Abilities:
Seeker of Lore Career Path:
Some bullet points before I write the actual history. - Khalid's name literally means 'Eternal servant of the powerful one of the stars' in old dialect, and he bears it with a reason. He's over four centuries old, and has served the dynasty ever since he was a lowly guide in a factorum. - He is fiercely devoted to the family, and has been a councillor and a guide, the current scion being the thirteenth in a row. He's seen them fall, he's seen them retire, and he's always there with advice. - He's not as infirm, both mentally or physically, as he appears to be. The rejuvenat treatments the family provides, while quite expensive, have left him in a decent physical shape. While not as physically active as he was two centuries ago, he might start training again, especially for such a promising young (they're ALL young) scion. - He's a personal friend with many Disciples of Thule, though most of them have passed away with time. Still with a friend or two kicking, they're responsible for the archeotech upgrade in his skull, which lets him function, compartmentalising information, and letting him keep old memories without going insane. The 'mainstream' Mechanicus might take interest in him, and/or the headgear. - He's slowly reaching the end of his (un)natural life, building significant resistance to rejuvenat treatments. While still in decent shape, he doesn't have more than two or three decades left, if that. While he's quite acceptant of the fact, he has a desire to see the stars, feel the thrills once more, and do at least one great act for the dynasty. Part to prove his worth, and part to put his mind at ease, that it wouldn't go to the Abyss without him there. ----------------------------------------------------------- EDIT: Something I'd like to explore with the character is the effects of downtime and lack of practice. In game terms, he might once have been the story-wise equivalent of ranks 5 and above, but he's way past his prime. He's by no means as good as he once was, and possibly would never be. He'll be telling stories of the old days, of stealing untold riches and performing masterful feats of deception, combat prowess, and cunning. As any old man, however, he might be a bit prone to overselling it a bit, and the truth might not be the same as the legend. I'd also like to work with the Rogue Trader and their dynasty, so I can tell amusing anecdotes about how their great-great-great-grandmother accidentally dropped an archeotech power sword in a trash compactor, or something like that. |