Alternate character submission. Teliel, Elf Rogue building into Master Spy.
Teliel:
Teliel
Male Elf Rogue 1
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +4; Senses low-light vision; Perception +6
DEFENSE AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 armor, +4 Dex)
HP 8 (1d8)
Fort +0, Ref +6, Will +1; +2 vs. enchantment
Immune sleep
OFFENSE Speed 30 ft.
Melee rapier +4 (1d6-1/18-20)
Ranged dagger +4 (1d4-1/19-20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Elven Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +4)
1/day––comprehend languages, detect magic, detect poison, read magic TACTICS Before Combat If Teliel knows he's going to be in combat soon, his first action is to draw his rapier, then to drop his backpack to free himself of the weight.
During Combat If in open combat, Teliel prefers to move around, keeping his opponents between himself and his allies, while insulting their honor and parentage to confuse them. Teliel much prefers to attack from Stealth, however, and to finish any combats quickly and as quietly as possible.
Morale Teliel retreats if reduced below 4 HP.
STATISTICS Str 8, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 13
Traits Calistrian Courtesan, Convincing Liar, Into Enemy Territory
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +8, Appraise +7, Bluff +7, Diplomacy +7, Disable Device +8, Disguise +8, Know(local) +7, Perception +6, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +8, Use Magic Device +6; Racial Bonuses +2 Perception
SQ keen senses, elven immunity, envoy
Languages Common, Celestial, Draconic, Elven, Sylvan
Gear leather armor, rapier, daggers (2), secondary weapon, backpack (disguise kit, thieves tools, silk rope [50 ft.]), belt pouch (signet ring, inkpens [2], ink, sewing needle, 7gp)
Background Teliel has long worked for the temple of Calistria, although not as a traditional priest. He had little interest in the devotions and the spells, although he does have some small abilities of his own. Teliel's talents, however, lie in his silver tongue and his ability to ferret information out of those who wish to keep it hidden. As such, he frequently engages in the same information-gathering exercises most Calistrians do, although he is generally sent outside the temple to do so. More than one woman has been sweet-talked into bringing Teliel into her bed, only to wake in the morning and find that she may have spoken slightly too freely.
Teliel's mission in Riddleport is of a similar nature. He is one of several Elves who was sent into Riddleport to try and uncover information about the Blot that has appeared in Riddleport's skies. It is hoped that his famed silver tongue will help him worm his way into the confidences of somebody who knows something about it. To that end, his first stop in town was the temple of Calistria, where he was to meet a contact to help him get settled so he might begin his inquiries.
Appearance Teliel is tall, for an elf, and lean. His 6'5" frame is spare, although his high cheekbones tend to be a hit with ladies of many races, and more than one woman who has brought him into her bed has remarked on his piercing violet eyes. His black hair is worn long, pulled back in a simple tail.
I have experience playing in a number of PBPs, although most of them have petered out or I had to drop out of some time ago due to real-life concerns. I currently am playing in one Reign of Winter campaign that seems to be surviving, despite a hiccup or two.
As far as Second Darkness, I started in one, then had to drop out some time back due to RL. I also started GM-ing it once, but had to drop it at the same time. The Alias I'm posting under is actually the character that I made for that campaign. It's built with 20-pt buy, and I'm adjusting the gear to match the stated requirements as well as adding in a trait. Also, the weapon she's currently listed as using is one that has two modes, either Double or Reach. Under 3.5 rules, it's listed as threatening adjacent and at reach when used in Reach mode. I can switch out for a different weapon if that rule is a no-go.
I don't, at present, have an ability to generate a character sheet. If there's somewhere I can do it online, I'd be glad to do that and give you a link. Otherwise, I have the complete stat block broken down by section in the character profile here.
I'm also pretty open to playing any class, so if DM DoctorEvil would prefer I start a different character to one who has played a little bit of the AP, I'll create something else. I have ideas in place for a Tattooed Sorcerer and a Rogue -> Master Spy build as well. I'll adjust their Stats to fit the AP for practice and post.
Background::
Kaylen has had a hard life from the start. Born to a pillow-girl in the slums of Korvosa, she was on the streets by age 3. She fell in with a street gang to survive. She didn't like it, but it kept her fed and alive. The first lesson she learned was that the streets didn't care who you were, and that if you wanted to survive you had to be tough. She taught herself to fight, and she learned to hide that she was a girl. When the boys in her gang and in others saw that she was a girl, they always treated her differently. She made sure they didn't make that mistake. As she grew, she became the best fighter in her gang, and one of the best fighters among all the street children. Her weapon of choice was something she found on the street when she was 7. It was a length of chain with weights on the end. She taught herself how to use it to smash opponents at range and to wrap the end around them to drag them closer.
When Kaylen was 12 or so, she entered the annual children's street tournament. The tournament was a fighting competition, and the winner earned a spot in the Korvosan Guard Academy. Kaylen entered the tournament in her guise as a boy. She won the tournament, earning the spot in the Academy. She kept her guise as a boy, not wanting to be treated differently because she was a woman. She managed to keep that guise for two years until her womanhood forced itself upon her. She was released from the Academy, pending a hearing, for having lied about who she was. She was permitted to keep her gear, but she was not to join any military or guard corps until after her fate was decided in seven years time.
That event was two years ago. In the interval, Kaylen has made her way as a mercenary. She has been a bodyguard, a caravan guard, and hired muscle. In the two years that she's been waiting for things at the Korvosan Guard Academy to be decided, she has made her way to Riddleport. Now she is looking for a long-term guard position where she might wait out the remainder of her sentence.
Might be suffering a resurgence of the Valley Fever I had a few months back. May have to go back on the anti-fungal stuff to try to clean out my lungs just in case. Depends on if I can get a refill. Other than that, mostly okay. :)
Kaylen keeps a wary eye on the elves, making sure that they don't make any hostile moves toward her. When the light starts flashing on the river, Kaylen squints and tries to get a better look at whatever is causing it.
I tend to come across gamers who are involved in game design or programming in some way, who work in game stores of some sort, or who work in theater. That said, some of the notable exceptions: a masseuse, a pro-domme, an ambassador for Maker's Mark, and an EMT.
-shrug- They'd probably make fairly awesome familiars, but I wouldn't think they'd be overly fantastic as a player race. I was more thinking an Imp/Quasit or some sort of Animated Object/Golem creature.
When it comes to death by DM Fiat, I've always been a fan of the idea of dropping a Dire Cow on people.
You here the faint beginnings of a terrible MOOOO-ing, as if the cow in question were the size of a house. You look around, trying to discern to source of the noise, but nothing is visible. The sound is getting louder all the time, shaking the very ground beneath your feet. Finally, you look up and see the massive udders aiming straight for you. It's the last thing you see before the creature drives you six feet into the dirt.
I'll get back to you re: interesting play elements.
We were rather close to slicing each other up, weren't we?
I'm with Winter, always up for another campaign. Any details yet? And perhaps friend Tom can join this one as a player, should there be time after the move. :)
He may not have a need to, but does he want to? And regarding Alfred, he probably just has terrible arthritis. His hands would be shaking so bad while he tried to carry the tea, he'd have to keep turning around to re-make it after spilling it halfway there.
I have a few friends who are semi-recently in. One in the Marines, one Army. I think the Army one just got back from Afghanistan. The Marine got back from there a while back. They both seemed to enjoy it.
Keeping an ear out, Kaylen waits for the coast to be clear. Then, just to be sure, she waits another five minutes before peeking around the tree at the church, doing her best to stay hidden. She'll also keep one eye on the rest of the area to see if there's something coming at her from another direction.
Assuming the coast is clear in all directions, Kaylen moves back to her former place in the shadow of the church's entrance, trying to keep a view of the river from where she's standing to see who shows up.
Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26, if a second set of rolls is needed.
Seems we got a bit of a sword measuring contest out here. Should Kaylen pop out of nowhere and pull hers out to measure?
And so the Backstabber Chronicles begin. Follow our two epic heroes as they square off in an attempt to see who will be the first, and last, Rogue to stab the other in the kidney.
While trying to maintain her hidden position, Kaylen stoops and picks up a small rock, then chucks it at the window in question. Most of her attention will be on the area around the church, although she'll keep an eye on activity from the church as well, just in case it decides to turn into a fortress.
Kaylen tenses, uncomfortable at the sudden ringing of the bells. She moves away from the entryway of the church, looking for a nearby tree to place herself next to.
Kaylen pulls down her hammer and begins whirling one end in a threatening circle preparatory to striking."You lot get exactly one warning before people start getting hurt. I have no money for you, and whoever tries to take my weapons will find his face turned inside out. You have until I count to six to get out of my sight before I break faces. One."
Advance the count once per round if they retreat. If they continue to paw and try to take things, Kaylen attacks the offender. If they continue to press, she attacks defensively while retreating. 1d20+5 to hit (1d20+1 if defensive), 1d10+6 damage. AC 17, or 19 if defensive.
"How do I get there from here?"Assuming she is forthcoming with the answer,Kaylen parrots the directions back to make sure they're accurate, then stands and steps next to the bed."You best hope that I come back from this meeting alive. If I make it back, I'll arrange your release without harm. If not, well, I'll be leaving instructions on what is to become of you. But just as a taste,"and Kaylen leans over, taking the bloody dagger and very carefully tracing a line along the other woman's throat. She hasn't cleaned the dagger, so a line of Kaylen's blood should end up transferring."You get the idea, I'm sure. Best get some sleep."
After leaving the room, Kaylen checks the directions with one of the employees to make sure they're accurate. Then, after re-tying the eye-patch so it works again and re-settling the hat, Kaylen sets out for St. Casperian's. When she gets there, she'll find a shadowy doorway or alley to hide in, keeping an eye out for a certain somebody to arrive. If no shadowy place is close enough to the meeting place, Kaylen will find a place to hide in or near the main entrance to the church. She'll remove her hammer from her waist and hang it from her shoulder, ready to move into action when necessary.
Preferably, take 10 on both checks, for Perception 16 to find a hiding place and Stealth 11 to actually hide. If not allowed to take 10:
Perception to find hiding place: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Stealth once hiding place found: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
"So there's still some time to make the meeting. Anything else you can tell me about this meeting or the people involved? Secret signals, anything like that? Any more details on the woman, or the man who hired you?"Kaylen's eyes are locked on the woman now, trying to catch her in a lie.
It would offer some very serious roleplay potential. How does a Goblin deal with the conflict of loyalties between his own people and his friends? I'd vote in favor of doing so, and I can toss out a character that's already built if somebody wants it. Gumz Bigtracker, Goblin Rogue.
"I see. What time were you supposed to meet this accomplice of the man who hired you for the job? Perhaps there's still time to make it to the meeting."Kaylen finds a strip of cloth and binds her hand, but doesn't yet clean the dagger.
Kaylen looks at the dagger so as not to reveal what she's thinking to the woman on the bed."I suppose I can respect trying to keep food on the table. What happened with the thieving job? They catch you?"
I should have inspected that pic of the priestess closer...groan...it's the actual Iomedae, not a priestess. But I'll leave it...maybe all my priestesses resemble their deity.
Nicely played, sir.
Kaylen considers the woman for a minute, the dagger seemingly forgotten in her hand for the moment."I'll tell you what. You give me the whole truth, and if any of it turns out false, harm will come to you. If it's all true, you have nothing to fear. By this dagger, and the blood it has shed, you have my word."With that, Kaylen carefully traces a slash into her palm, then squeezes the hand tight, dripping a few drops of blood onto the floor.
"If I do go there, at least I know I'll have your sorry face keeping me company."Standing, Kaylen walks over to the bed, staring down at the bound woman. She re-fastens the ropes to make sure the other woman can't get free again. Making her way back to her chair, Kaylen pulls out a dagger and begins idly playing with it."Since you won't be going anywhere anytime soon, why not tell me about this robed stranger Angvar got you involved with. My apologies on his fate, by the way. I assume he was the robed man with the sickle?"
Kaylen greets the Dwarf, then makes her way to the room where Thuvalia is being kept. She drops her bag on the ground, then grabs a chair and turns it so she can straddle it facing the bed."So no contact with your guy. Seems you sent us to a ship that your group had robbed instead. Fellow by the name of Captain Creesy. Where was the real meeting?"
To put the fear of Calistria into friend Loy, of course. And to do some more questioning of Thuvalia. I can try to make my way to the temple, if the party would prefer.
Hauling the drunk down to the ships, Kaylen considers tossing him into the water and letting him stay there. Ultimately, though, she decides to take him back to his vessel, albeit without a stitch to his name.
Kaylen strips him of everything before she gets him to his ship, then stashes it all in her bag.
When she gets him there, she tells his crew, "Tell him that if he ever lays hands on any of the girls in this city again, Calistria will take a hand in the matter."She cracks her knuckles loudly."Then again, Calistria may be busy, so he'll have to deal with me."
"The Barrelstorm. Thanks, friend. How much for the liquor?"
Assuming it's 1gp or less,Kaylen pulls the requisite coins out of her pouch and tosses it to the man. Then, getting a shoulder under Loy's arm, she'll head for the door. To Sweeney,"I'll see this one back to his bunk. I'll meet you where the Succubi swoon."With a wink, she'll head for the front door, then down to the wharves to find the Barrelstorm.
"You two go on ahead. I'll take this poor sod back to his bunk."To the barkeep,"What ship is friend Loy serving on at the moment? He seems to be rather unable to stagger well enough to get home."
