I hope someone thought to send for Gelati in Torch. Kaska will be needing proper decorations for that throne.
But honestly her tastes are more simple. Not that she won't look around at other options first, but they'll probably end up married.
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"All hail Kaska, the Black Sovereign of Numeria!" WHA....? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Hi everyone! I've been curious to see how things have been going so I popped in to take a look and I found that! Incredible! This is the best, most perfect case of failing upward I've ever seen (Well, outside of politics and business). Anyway, I just wanted to drop a note to say hi, that I'm glad things are still cruising merrily along, and that Kaska now being the Black Sovereign is the most amusing thing that's happened to me all week. Have fun, take care, and I'll see you all around.
Heya everyone. I'm going to be dropping out of the game. It's been a lot of fun, and I've enjoyed playing with you all. But my circumstances have changed and I just don't have the time to keep current with the posts. It's been that way for quite a while, and Kaska hasn't really been a presence in the game for a long time now. Have a great time with the rest of the game, and take care all.
Kaska recites a quick incantation, "kömpelö härkä!" and rushes to touch the Shade.
Kaska doesn't see much reason to go after the bodyguards. They're well screwed by the time she can even twitch. Instead she keeps her sense focused on finding the Shade and hoping Fireday's spell knocks out her magic.
Sounds good.
Kaska grows worried about Molly's tone, and steps in. After all the memory facet, while nice, is not the reason for being in the Black Market. Also the Baron isn't a target but someone they should want to hold neutral, or perhaps impress. He is said to have an item of great power to sell. It would be interesting to find out more about it. He's also someone they need to be near if they want to nab a Technic League captain. "No no, I won't have it." Kaska keeps her tone light as if they are all out on the town enjoying some time shopping. "Haggling over the price of gifts while still just newly married? Where's the romance?" Kaska turns to the Baron. "5,000 is fine. I'll cover the 2,000 difference as an extra, slightly late wedding gift for them."
Kaska winces when Holg drinks the foul liquid. She can only shake her head in amazement. At least nothing ever seems to kill him. "Viv might make good use of the power source, that's true. If we're going to keep parts of this machinery intact, we should separate out the fluids and the things used to refine them. Those things should still be destroyed."
Kaska dismisses the spell she's holding and looks around the lab trying to figure out it's purpose aside from the production of fluids. "Do you really think all this is just for fluids?" she asks aloud, pointing to the metal pillar with the mass of cords.
Kaska weaves into the scrum trying to approach the alchemist from an unexpected direction to land her spell with a touch.
Kaska is beyond appalled Holg, and apparently Mockery, so blithely dismiss from consideration any potential problems that might result from removing the Black Sovereign from the throne. Holg throwing out a notion like 'Gorum's justice' as a blanket solution to anything that might come after his removal makes her shudder. From what she's learned of Gorum's theology from Holg, 'justice' would be something like "There is battle! Good! Mission accomplished! No need to sweat the details!". She says nothing while they're in Mockery's presence. But it's clear to her that she and Holg at least, and probably everyone, must have a long, serious discussion about actions and consequences, and the value of conscientious choice in the very near future. Kaska continues to stew on this as she walks to the Red Reaver, and as she has a few small sips of the 'beer' inside the place. It's only as they make their way to Doc Hellbroth's lair in the back that she puts it aside and prepares mentally to fight. As it begins, Kaska starts up a speech urging her allies to kill the elf quickly so they can stop his tampering with unhealthy fluids. She follows up by casting a spell that sets her hand alight with a yellowish glow.
Kaska is not comfortable walking the streets in Killbox, and looks it. She glances around constantly, pulled in defensively and with a dagger drawn but kept concealed under her cloak. Her feelings about the place they've been escorted to improve as she hears Mockery out though. It does indeed seem the answers to her divination held true. After Mockery has said his piece, Kaska considers his words. One thing more than any other concerns her. "If the Black Sovereign is unfit and we remove him from the throne, who takes his place? The throne won't sit empty. What are those around Kevoth-Kul like? Does one of them clearly step forward in his place, or is there war among all the clans as everyone with ambition fights to be the next sovereign?"
Thanks Holg! It truly is a daunting task, which is exactly the kind of task I don't like. I'll take a close look as soon as I get a chance. Offhand I can say yes, the Ring of Protection +2 is an upgrade so Kaska's old +1 version is available to be taken by someone else or sold. I took the +2 fire resistance chainmail but then realized that while both Barbarian and Skald have medium armor proficiency, both of Kaska's archetypes in those classes limit her to light armor. I just forgot to un-take it when it turned out she couldn't use it. I wasn't expecting to be getting a cut of the loot this time, so Kaska won't need to keep the money fro items sold. I'll get that info to you so you can figure it into the tally. I've never played at his high a level before and I suddenly have so much money I'm not even sure what to do with it! No doubt it will go fast though when I put my mind to it.
"Maybe Fireday, but it might be best if we go ahead and find an inn right away so we don't have to stand around in the street until something good happens for us."
I'll stick with Mighty Swing for the new rage power. Half the party or more already has Darkvision. Kaska can put the spell on a scroll for casting if we really need it. Mighty Swing only works 1 per rage, but it's shared so that's a lot of potential uses. It's better for a Skald than a Barbarian. I don't think Kaska is getting a normal treasure share this time, which is why I suggested keeping the gold for the items she can sell off. There's nothing Kaska is in desperate need of, so that's fine. She just needs some money for scroll creation. I'm not positive but I don't think Holg or Fireday can cast a spell for Kaska to convert to a scroll. I believe she has to be able to cast the spell herself. It's fine since she can use Spell Kenning to cast from the Wizard, Cleric, and Skald/Bard lists. Nothing is lost except a greater number of scrolls since she can only do 1 or 2 per day. If anyone has any suggestions for good spells of levels 1 - 3 (4th level is expensive) to have as a scroll let me know. I almost wonder if it wouldn't be better to take Expanded Spell Kenning as her feat rather than Discordant Voice. She would get access to the Witch and Druid lists as well. With Ill Omen Kaska could cause some serious trouble.
The 'Hen Party' is a pretty weird scene for Kaska. She thinks it must be a Halfling or city thing because she's never heard of any such tradition around the local area before. The club they go to is the sort of place locals work at but don't go to, at least within Kaska's age group. Customers tend to be travelers and such. Being in the place is a little awkward for Kaska because she knows some of the dancers by name. None of them are people she's tight with (that would be super awkward), but they're around her age and grew up in Torch, which is a small place. Kaska does her best to play her part, and the alcohol helps. But Kaska also suffers from the condition of easily being embarrassed for others. When Molly is pulled up onto the stage Kaska cheers on the proceedings, but inwardly she cringes just as Molly does. There is a great blessing though. While Kaska rarely drinks excessively, her toughness extends to handling alcohol. The next morning she wakes up completely fresh and unaffected by the previous night. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Kaska attends the wedding with Gelati as her escort. She wears a simple, loose fitting one piece linen dress colored sky blue. The dress is short sleeved and low cut so her extensive tattooing is maximally visible within the bounds of decency. The skirt is slit up both sides and cinched in at the waist by a woven leather belt. Her hair is up, held by a barrette fashioned from an old gear and polished bone pins. As Kaska had predicted to Viv, tears roll down Gelati's cheeks while Fifteen and Molly exchange vows. Kaska smiles gently, partially for Fifteen and Molly on their day and partially because of Gelati's reaction, and holds his hand. Kaska sneaks some of her friends into the party after the wedding, Smilte, Rasa, and Smilte's boyfriend Nojus. Together they form a young townie contingent among the party attendees, talking among themselves and hanging around within easy distance of the of the free drinks. Even then Kaska mostly spends her time chatting and joking with Gelati. The pair sit or stand leaning in so close to each other their foreheads practically touch. Anyone watching her for a while would notice Kaska seems different on this particular evening, and they might realize it is because she is completely comfortable and at ease. At some point during the party Kaska and Gelati slip away, leaving their friends to ransack the free booze for as long as they're allowed to. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Kaska readily agrees to stow her technology away in Holg's bag. It's easy to do since her stuff amounts to her pistols, her collection of epicks and access cards, and a bunch of batteries. She has never seen such a big settlement with so many people, which is intimidating even before the watchtowers and robot guards are added to the picture. It reinforces her view that the best thing they can do at the moment is lay low, learn their way around, and avoid unneeded conflict while they figure out a plan. Ideally it will be a plan that includes the frigid woman with an extra finger revealed to her. Kaska pays up her 10 gold coins and claims no technology to declare.
Nah, you can keep the laser pistol Fifteen. Kaska already has a few pistols and she can also cast when she's not hitting things.
Kaska pauses as a thought comes to her. "We may not have to remain in the dark on this question. I can seek counsel from my ancestors. It is within my power to contact them. Can we agree to accept their advice should they give it?"
Also oops, I forgot the 2 skill points for the Human Skilled Race Trait. +1 Stealth
A few questions for everyone. 1. Since it's sharable with everyone via Raging Song, I'll ask about the new Rage Power to see what everyone would prefer. My current pick is Mighty Swing, which auto-confirms one critical hit per person per rage. The other one I was looking hard at was Lesser Moon Totem, which gives darkvision 30' or extends darkvision by 30' if you already have it. Which would anybody prefer? 2. I took a look at the loot sheet and there are some items Kaska will claim if it's alright with everyone. Her UMD should be good enough to use the Wand of Fly by now so she'll take it. It seems there's a +2 Laser Pistol unclaimed? She'll take it if so. Same with the +2 Ring of Protection. No other takers? There are a couple of Scrolls of Destroy Robot Kaska should be able to UMD in the future, if not quite yet. Want to keep them for a potential tight spot, or do you want the money from a sale? Last, there are a couple of items Kaska still has that can be sold now that she has a better version. A +1 Chain Shirt at least and maybe more if she's taking all the stuff I've listed above. I'd like to keep part of the sale funds for making some scrolls. Kaska can use Spell Kinning to make scrolls off the Wizard and Cleric lists, as well as spells on the Skald list that are not spells known. There are a few useful ones that might be nice to have on hand. She could probably make about a half dozen for 1000 - 1500 gp. Sound okay?
Alright, here's Skald levels 12 & 13 combined: +1 Strength
New Versatile Performance: Sing Bardic Knowledge +1 Spell Kenning +1/day Feat: Discordant Voice Rage Power: Mighty Swing New Language: Androffan Skills: +1 Acrobatics, Linguistics, Stealth, Spellcraft
Spells: 4th level: Wall of Sound, Dance of a Hundred Cuts Spell Replacement: Drop Comprehend Languages for Touch of Gracelessness Favored Class Bonus Spells: Allegro, Dispel Magic
"If we went in secret yes, we would be just faces in the crowd. I think that is a good thing for us to be. We will find our own way, learn what we must once we are there. Especially when the other choice is to announce ourselves to our worst enemy and ask them to kindly guide us on our way. If you want to kill a dangerous beast, you watch it and learn its ways and habits. You do not offer yourself as bait and hope you are a very fast learner." "Maybe I'm wrong, and it is best to seek out the Technic League. If we go without their knowledge and we fail, if we find no other way forward, it can be undone. We can then seek out Hyrsek Caio and ask for his help." "If we ask for his help and it is a mistake, it cannot be undone. We are known and marked. We have thrown away our alternatives. Since we can't debate among ourselves to a certain answer, which way is wiser if we are uncertain?"
Kaska shakes her head impatiently. "We can already judge him by his acts. We caught him at his disadvantage. He struck a temporary deal with us so he could get what he wanted. And he did get everything he wanted. We received very little in return. When he had what he'd come for, he used our honorable intent to make his exit." "A person doesn't become a friend just because you don't kill them. We know he thinks in terms of what is best for himself. We know his interests lie with his own benefit. He told us so if you read between the lines. No loyalty to the Technic League, just a job. No loyalty to us, just a job." "If we contact him asking for information, where does the advantage lie for him? He benefits most by going straight to the Technic League and telling them everything new about us. Because believe me he's already told them everything he already knows. Why would he not? At worst he gets nothing, more likely he can finagle a bonus for it." "If I were in the Technic League's shoes, this is what I would do. I would have Hyrsek reply to us that he will help, and arrange to meet. That meeting would be an ambush of course. Even if it's not an ambush, he could feed us false information given to him by the Technic League, or simply act as their informant on us. What are we hoping to get out of it anyway? Anything worth giving up our intentions and location? Again we would give up more than we could get from Hyrsek on the hope he thinks kind thoughts about us."
In her typical downer fashion Kaska must disagree. "I understand why we let Hyrsek Caio go but it was a mistake. He's scum and he will sell us out in a heartbeat. Don't think just because you did him a good turn he'll do so in kind. As soon as he was out of our reach we were dead to him."
Kaska offers Meyanda a neutral "hello" when she shows up, and nothing more than the greeting. In Kaska's view people don't really change. Oh sure, trappings and details can change with time and circumstance. But, the real core of the person? Nope. Meyanda is a religious fanatic who cares most about her faith. She'll take her devotion wherever she believes it needs to go to prove how strong it is, no matter what it costs her or other people. Changing gods won't change that about her. Kaska lets it all slide because Holg is pleased he will have someone around to talk about Gorum stuff with. To her mind Holg isn't a fanatic. The fundamental difference being Holg could, under the right circumstances, become pissed off at Gorum. It would take a lot no doubt, but Holg could walk away. But Meyanda's the type who can rationalize anything. In any case it doesn't matter too too much to Kaska if she's around. If Meyanda steps badly, she won't be a problem to put down. They've done it before, and if they have to do it a second time it will be permanent.
Kaska is pleased and grateful, taking Viv's hand and giving it a squeeze. "That's wonderful. Thank you Viv. I think tried and proven is best. I hope it not too much trouble to ask for it so soon. It's just that I'll be bringing Gelati, you met him at the dinner at my house, to the wedding. He gets sentimental and teary at weddings, we've gone to a couple together before." "It's like a reflex with him. He can't help himself I guess. And it makes you want to roll your eyes, but it's also pretty adorable. And so then I... Well, so then I appreciate you going to the trouble is what I mean."
Kaska shifts back and forth on her feet with her hands clasped behind her back. She looks uncomfortable and takes a few seconds to spit out what's on her mind. "No, I'm not sick or anything." Kaska leans in closer to Viv. "I need the kind you can take to not get pregnant. Do you think I could get it in time for the wedding?"
As terrible and dangerous as it was, the time in the Scar of the Spider passed mostly as a poorly remembered blur for Kaksa. During that time she was quietly, but very deeply, involved in a personal crisis. With every day that passed, Kaska became more convinced she was pregnant. If it was true, it would be happening under the worst possible combination of circumstances Kaska could imagine. The timing was bad not only because of her personal preferences at this time in her life, but because Kaska was presently chasing around rogue machines and Technic League agents in all the worst parts of Numeria. It was all completely unsafe and not likely at all to result in anything that would include prosperity and old age. Even worse if it were true, the Scar of the Spider was probably among the worst possible places in all of Avistan for her to be. The valley positively overflowed with bizarre and toxic ichors, fluids, and vapors. If a land could be properly described as having a gangrenous wound, the valley she was in would be exactly that. Kaska’s exposure to the place might cause her to give birth to a monster if it didn’t kill her outright. Then there were the non-physical problems. Kaska had known Gelati for a number of years, and counted him amongst her very few good friends. She knew him to be a good young man. He was reliable, trustworthy, kind, and she enjoyed spending time with him. That said, Kaska certainly did not presently want an intense and durable entanglement with him. Kaksa had no reason to believe Gelati wanted something of that sort either. She didn’t share any of this with anyone else. Holg would celebrate it, and Kaska was in no mood for that. She might have said something to Viv, but androids were so unpredictable in what they would say to people and how they treated information. Nothing seemed sensitive so Kaska was unsure if telling Viv was just a roundabout way of telling Holg. Fortunately for her state of mind, by the time the journey to find Casandalee’s AI core, or whatever her box-thing is exactly, was concluding, Kaska found she was not in fact pregnant. With the great weight lifted, Kaska resolves to have a talk with Viv when she makes it known she will be settling down in Torch to be a healer. She certainly doesn’t intend to stop sleeping with Gelati if Viv can help her take the proper precautions. He has the best pectorals in Torch hands down and she doesn't plan to give them up just yet. Kaska also doesn’t wait for any clinic to get built. As soon as she catches Viv alone, Kaska collars her for a talk. ”So Viv, I need your help getting some herbs, I think it’s herbs I need…”
That War for the Crown game got quite a bit of notice. I read part of it myself and it was a super fun. I didn't get terribly far because I stopped after I got into a WftC game myself. I must say it might be my favorite of all the APs, very much a match for my play style. Some people can't get enough of it. The player who was Sarah Burke in your campaign is replaying it in our campaign.
Thanks guys! I do believe Kaska will be in need of Viv's assistance, yes. I'll try to get leveled within the next couple of days. I have to do 2 of them. Y'all were busy!
Heya folks! Wow! Over the weekend I read through 400+ unread game posts that had stacked up. It was good reading and it looks like y'all have been having a great time. I'm glad to see this campaign is going strong. I'm sorry I disappeared back when. I have a pandemic affected job and the crush of work along with the depressing circumstances of it all has been a lot to handle. It's been very tough to find the motivation to do more than just maintain. I kept up with my slower moving games, this this one (and a couple of others) move very fast. If I couldn't check in for three or four days, I'd always find double digits of unread posts, which was always discouraging. More than I could keep up with. Things are much better now, so I'd like to take another shot at this campaign if you all think it would still be possible to slot Kaska back into it.
Kaska pokes and prods and Fireday and Holg with pointy fingers and boot tips. "It the magic, or whatever it is exactly. It's not real. You'll have to fight against the feeling. Get up and get your asses moving."
Kaska starts to feel a strong need to have a sit-down for a long while, but she shakes off the urge. "Yeah, something is messing with us. This isn't the sort of thing we can let go without a strong reply."
"I think this is worse than just chemicals like oil. We should be careful not to touch it." Although she follows her own advice, Kaska studies the shimmer closely, trying to determine if it is settled on surfaces only, like the water or ground, or if it is dispersed into the air as well.
Kaska takes note of the odd new landscape as well as the strange shimmer and tries to identify what might have caused it.
Kaska adds one of the sonic pistols to her collection. She gestures toward the skeleton. "So do you think that's Benoche or Maura?"
Kaska shouts encouragement to her allies and works her way around the dead man so she can come at him from another direction.
"I'm fine, uninjured." Kaska never warmed to Hyrsek. As far as she's concerned his mercenary status with the Technic League is a distinction without a difference. Whether he advances their cause for money or because he shares their causes makes no difference, he advances their causes. But she won't go against everyone else if they've decided to let him leave.
Kaska is busy minding her own business, studying the odd staff Holg has handed her when the canister begins to scream and yell. She's so startled she almost jumps out of her boots. But when the canister, or brain in the canister, identifies its(?) self, her eyes narrow in interest. "We'll be talking to it."
Kaska renews her shouts of encouragement and works her way forward to Fifteen.
When Kaska sees Fifteens troubles she halts her performance and pushes everything left of it to the android.
Kaska feels the horrid effects of the radiation and waits to see if anyone else is affected along with her.
When Kaska sees the creature's spell casting start to run suspiciously long, she knows something bad is on the way. She casts her own, quicker spell, "niin nopeasti kuin voit!" and touches Molly. Then she yells to everyone. "Shoot it as much as you can! It mustn't finish casting that spell!" She continues to urge her companions on against their new foes.
"Best if we leave. This doesn't go anywhere we want to be." Kaska scurries back up out of the place.
Kaska drops down to take a look as well. "It could be the mi-go is a victim of whatever is causing it. Look at how it's withered. Maybe it was lured in an consumed by something behind it. Like a carnivorous plant, but far worse of course because we're here instead of some place remotely normal."
"Or maybe whatever was using the lab needed an arm real quick to have around for some reason and didn't care about the rest. I mean look around, why not? Who knows? Doesn't have to make any sense." Turning away to look at the sludge, Kaska says a couple of quick words and produces a set of three glowing balls out of thin air. She guides the balls out across the sludge to see if there's anything out across it that would make it worthwhile to try proceeding further.
I'm finally in the clear to get back into the swing of things.
Kaska stands with her falx resting on her shoulder in the aftermath, watching the post-combat routine. They've all gotten so good at it by now there's no reason for her to act if she doesn't feel like it. Everything will be fixed, nothing will be missed. Her eyes rove from the dead gugs to Fifteen stripping the random severed arm, to the lab. She sighs, then states "everything is a nightmare" with resigned dourness.
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