Alright, here's thunderbeard's literal armchair general. He's a bit of a legacy character, but he started out as an old guy, and I guess is now just a few years older. (He's had an animated lounge chair mount carry him around for quite a few years, but it's not really useful in combat, so I think it should work with the crippled legs thing)
Fame and Fortune:
A few years ago, Lord Rook managed to stop an international conspiracy by successfully impersonating the Princess of Taldor (as a decoy/bodyguard) for a day. Still, he's been mostly put out to pasture for decades. His exploits over the last half of his life have been subtle and wide-reaching, making and losing fortunes through trade, working to help other noble families rise and fall, and training his children and grandchildren to be adventures in their own right. He's come to power as a member of a number of influential organizations, including the Pathfinder Society, and seen that power mostly evaporate as younger and more ambitious faces force him out. Before he was made a Baron, though, Sir Marion had plenty of adventures, though perhaps not quite the "storybook hero" kind. As an inquisitor of Irori, he's traveled across half the world, recovering ancient texts from numerous ruined cities and dungeons; as a former leader of the Summer Crows, he's fought in skirmishes and raids in countries many of his countrymen have never heard of, as well as building up a fine collection of international curiosities and magic items. Through the Pathfinder Society, he's also in correspondence with some of the world's surviving retired heroes, though many of them he's never actually met.
Bio:
Born to one of Taldor’s ancient noble families, Marion Rook was the second son of a second son, destined to inherit none of the wealth or land of a family spread too thin to support yet another nobleman. Along with a few cousins and squires, he was sent off at a young age to fight and die in glorious battle at the Mendevian Crusades—but this failed to produce the desired effect, and so the young knight was enlisted in a variety of unusual mercenary companies, journeying from Garund to Vudra as he learned to fight with any weapons available. While he was not especially strong or tough, the young Marion was a quick learner, skilled at patience and self-perception, and possessed a remarkable ability to dodge, block, or shrug off nearly any attack. Eventually, his talents brought him to religion—and Marion joined a company of holy warriors of Irori, the god of self-perfection and pursuit of knowledge.
That was, of course, over fifty years ago. As the Empire continued to crumble, House Rook found itself surrounded by enemies, and one by one, the young Sir Marion’s family were killed off in duels, plagues, assassinations and wars, until the holy warrior received a letter asking him to return home immediately before his estates were forfeit. Reluctant to go, he found himself convinced by an older, wiser priest—something was rotten in the State of Taldor, and though the fighting and religious practices he had learned would be strange at home, his native land needed all the valiant truth-seekers and champions of law and order it could get. And so at the age of thirty-five he returned, as the new Lord Rook, to his family home and lands in ruin.
Over the next decades, the oft-nicknamed Lord “Inkwell” Rook became known for his steadfast refusal to become involved in wars or feuds, using persuasion, forgery and spycraft to always remain on the side of the royal family. Eventually, he was even made Spymaster to Stavian II for a brief time, though upon the Prince’s death he spent most of his time at home, gathering relics, building up his estates, and raising a family. There was much truth and knowledge in Taldor for a dedicated inquisitor to find, and while Lord Rook made plenty of enemies, the seasoned adventurer had little to fear from courtly squabbles. Still Lord Rook acquired a reputation for foiling and humiliating dozens of would-be assassins in creative ways.
Now, after over forty years in Oppara, his children are all grown, with children of their own. After decades of family vacations to cursed tombs and forgotten ruins, the more adventurous members of the family have gone on to their own success; and despite the countless relics, tomes, and maps he's donated, the Pathfinder Society recently passed him over for venture captain of its Oppara lodge, a snub that the old lord is still bitter about. Too old to hunt and ride like he used to, and no longer needed by his family for much of anything, the octogenarian Lord Rook, commonly rumored to be immune to death, has bought a small manor in Oppara and set his sights on finding new ways to keep from getting bored—which, at the moment, mostly involve games of Sending chess played out against other retired adventurers across Golarion.
Description (Lord Rook):
A crippled man in his seventies, barely able to walk under his own strength, usually carried around by an animated chair he paid a great deal to have enchanted. A survivor of many wars and assassins attempts, he walks when he must, limping, on a wooden leg, and his left hand has been replaced by an ornately-carved clawed prosthetic of solid Mithral.
"Lord Inkwell" dresses somewhat plainly—with his many heirs seeing to the actual maintenance of his estate and ventures (and, these days, keeping most of the profits), he's got little need to show wealth of extravagance, and he's never had much taste for finery except when it helps to make a point. Spending most of his time away from his family lands, with only a single servant at his small family villa in Oppara, he's begun to enjoy the role of "uncomfortable old truthsayer." Popular with some of his nation's wilder nobility, and fiercely unpopular with the rest, the venerable Lord Rook nevertheless carries enough clout from a lifetime of service to impose on any social setting he sets an eye on—and in the stuffy anterooms and chambers of the ancient, wealthy city, he can be quite imposing indeed. Perhaps frustratingly, though, nobody's tried to assassinate him in over a decade, and he's beginning to wonder if this means nobody takes the old inquisitor seriously anymore.
Description ("Atticus" Rook):
While the old remaining leg isn't what it used to, Lord Rook has been practicing the same monastic exercises for half a century, and can move with enough grace to hide his limp pretty effectively—as long as nobody expects him to walking too quickly, this is quite useful in selling any of his many disguises. Chief among these is Atticus Rook, Lord Inkwell's youngest son and the black sheep of the family; "exiled" to live with his father in the city villa for slights against decorum and propriety, Atticus Rook is a convenient fiction, allowing his "father" to ride the streets of Taldor as a young, easily-overlooked man of little fame, listening in forums and gathering rumors to aid in the constant search for truth, illumination, and hidden relics.
Role:
Literal armchair commander. Lord Rook is decent in a fight, provided he can actually reach his enemies—which he often can, standing on his own two feet for quick bursts of surprising agility to land nasty surprise punches. But his strengths lie more in disabling his enemies, communicating their weaknesses, and coordinating the men around him, like in his old mercenary days; and, of course, in surviving just about anything that gets thrown at him. (Specializing in buff spells, melee debuffs, and anti-magic tactics)
Years of observing human strengths and failures also means that Lord Rook usually has a pretty good idea of what everyone around him is thinking, letting him communicate almost wordlessly with his allies and get the drop on almost any situation. (Bonded Mind+Solo Tactics+Signature Skill=approximate telepathy?)
Oh, and for a slight example of what a mental-based melee character can do, here's the guy thunderbeard mentioned. The game had a slight bit of gestalt (into a specific PrC), but basically: at level 12, with greater bane, kirin style, guided weapons, and betraying blow, he hit for something like 50 damage per attack.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Alright, traded out some feats to replace Divine Protection and the Sacred Huntsman errata.
Long story short, the lion is now just a regular lion, as Lord Rook is now a regular inquisitor who collects lions.
Also, saves are a bit lower, but because of Signature Skill: Sense Motive + Bonded Mind + Solo Tactics, Lord Rook can now telepathically communicate with all friendly characters through knowing glances (as an extraordinary, not magical, ability)
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Coffee man: With Immortality discovery, you lose all age penalties but keep getting bonuses. If you're an elf over 350 years old, that means +3 to your base Int, Cha, and Wis scores. (Lord Rook, being not Immortal, gets these at the expense of -6 to Str and Dex).
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Still here (TBH I wasn't sure if this was coming back and submitted a different version of this character to a higher level game, but I think I can keep them separate, because that one has him ten levels higher, a hundred years older, and also mythic riftwarden who flies around the outer planes punching dream hags).
This game is still marked as inactive, though, which could be problematic. (We might need a new thread)
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Right, so—what are y'all truckin'? Do we have a mythic archmage, or a spell caster on the druid list?
(Lord Rook has limited wizard spells and most of the divine ones. His defenses seem a little higher than anyone else, but his offenses are lower—though his offense revolves around taking tons of swift actions per round to deal massive damage to a single called target. He also gives everyone within 30' an untyped +14 to Initiative, so that's fun.)
Is there a reason we all know each other? (Maybe one organization that connects us all, or various interpersonal connections? E.g. Lord Rook has probably spent more time in Vudra than Qadira and is more likely to have met the monkey than the Elan)
Also, Lord Rook literally speaks too many languages to fit in the profile spot, but they're Common, Undercommon, Aklo, Draconic, Giant, Necril, Sylvan, Abyssal, Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Ignan, Infernal, Protean, Terran, Hallit, Kelish, Osiriani, Polyglot, Shoanti, Skald, Tien, Varisian, Vudrani, Elven, Ancient Osiriani, Azlanti, Thassilonian, Jistka, and Cyclops.
* * *
And my cohort is a crafter, but I assume that applies only to his gear. Gotta finish starting the bugger up, he's a standard-build burst healing alchemist with immortality and master craftsman.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Well... that's 4/6, at least.
Meanwhile:
-Constantine's player appears to be taking some time off from PbPs (in all of his games) starting about a month ago due to heavy classes, a new semester, and a baby on the way.
-Nev checked in a month ago, and probably just hasn't seen her yet, but I'm assuming the GM is in touch with her IRL etc.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
A note to all my active games: I'm in the process of preparing for my candidacy exam for the next few weeks, and I've decided to make a commitment to check my PbPs at most 1/day. I'll probably still be somewhat active, just, not as manic about it as usual.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
So: ACG errata 2 just came out, and a lot of things changed. Here's a short list of what's relevant to Lord Rook, if our GM wants to move in the direction of newer feat descriptions:
-Divine Protection stopped being a thing (mostly; it's now 1/day). There's a new feat called Steadfast Personality that uses Cha instead of Wisdom for Will saves (and anyone can take it), and another one (Stoic, from a splatbook not on the PRD, and a local feat not for a region he's from) which uses Cha instead of Con for Fort saves. I might have an interest in shuffling some of that around...
-Sacred Huntmaster changed such that I now need to either get rid of my companion (i.e. turn it into a normal lion), get rid of Betraying Blow (use bluff to add to damage each round), or swap the Tactics inquisition out for Chivalry (lose the ability to grant +7 to everyone's initiative). Not sure yet which is the most suitable for the character, but I'll think about it.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
But... gnomes are amazing! In Pathfinder, they live forever, and are powered by charisma... in D&D, the gnomish patron deity, Garl Glittergold, compels his followers to commit daily practical jokes against each other, yet is still considered LG because gnomish morality is just that wacky.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Like, no offense, Val, but Lord Rook's combat role (if that ever happens) mostly involves beating the heck out of spellcasters with stats like you and your cohort. Mid-ranged summoned devils get mostly "that's cute" and "A for effort" and crazy exaggerated war stories about tearing apart outsiders with his bare hands back at the Worldwound 50 years ago.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Rook watches Kyra at work. "That'll work for a few hours; if you're not back by then, we can try mundane disguises," he points out.
And, after a few seconds of thought, "Atticus Rook" coughs and, in an instant, becomes a perfect copy of the Princess. "This should help the gambit a bit more," he adds, taking off his hat, eyepatch, and coat, revealing the non-lead-lined clothing he wears underneath to have been replaced by a royal gown.
Disguise:1d20 + 21 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 21 - 2 - 2 = 18 (eh, good enough to confuse someone for a round or two, at least)
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
My bad, Constantine—I thought you said you were one of the people who wanted to go to the Palace, because you didn't care too much about the anti-magic there.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
"A knight of what, exactly? But once again, you've just made the point that you haven't sworn your life and career towards protecting the royal family above all else, like the Captain over there who'd probably wish we stop talking like this. Let's move on—I believe you had somewhere to be."
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
"No... but they have the law on their side, and that is still worth something in Taldor. But if they wish to keep their position and health in such a profession, they should have the wisdom to seek the advice and counsel of those who can offer it well."
And then, after a second, he adds, "But I trust the Princess—and everyone else here—has more reason to trust the allegiance of a sworn, lifelong guardsman than some mercenary captain whose history is full of unknowns. And you should not begrudge them that."
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
If you had a decent bankroll? Any of a number of offensive spells cast over an area, followed immediately by a blanket antimagic field to prevent magical healing in the aftermath—which is the sort of thing that gets people to panic. Then a few mid-level assassins, with a lot of mid-range poison.
All things considered you could probably pull it off with three 10th-level characters and a 100k-200k gp budget.
Also, Nev: Do you have a mount? Do you need to borrow one?
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Rook tips his hat up, and a tufted gray monkey runs out from under it, carrying a monkey-sized satchel of potions. "You should take Solomon with you; if something comes up, hand him a message scroll, tap him on the head three times, and he'll know to bring it back to the last place he saw me."
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Well, this changes some things. Lord Rook can't do jack in an antimagic field. Maybe Nev should go with that group?
Meanwhile, anyone who wants to can borrow my "horse"—but he's only trained to respond to battle commands in Ancient Osiriani, because Lord Rook thought that would be funny.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
"ALL the Lion Blades killed?" "Atticus" rook asks incredulously. "Is it safe now? My cousin-in-law, Doctor Janus, is likely headed there now, and I should warn him and my father if any present danger remains in the city."
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Hmm. My cohort would've been sent to the palace. If we're splitting the party in half, Lord Rook could stay behind (especially because a lot of people don't seem to know who Atticus is), although he might be the best at perception and tracking, so if the party wants to send him to the palace they can.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
"We'll need someone to let us in," Rook points out, looking at the Detective and his sidekick. "If someone associated with the palace guard is able to call us in as emergency aides, that would make such things easier."
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Rook has no issue with staying here, since it is a pretty defensible spot.
My cohort, though, as a very successful doctor, might be rushed to the palace.... that might also be the case for the one or two other cohorts not in this location, but we could conceivably split the party that way if it becomes necessary.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
If there's a bit of waiting, Rook will offer Magic Vestment/Greater Magic Weapon to anyone who could benefit from it (lasts 12 hours, gives +3 enhancement bonus to an armor/weapon/shield, only useful on things with a bonus lower than that of course)
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
No worries. My character for the other game was someone with no ties to Oppara or any nobility, which is why I didn't think he'd be relevant to this game to begin with.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Remember that there's just been an assassination attempt... so anyone blinking in via teleportation (or just running into the palace) probably triggers a "shoot first and ask questions later" panic option.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Hmm, Dimension Door would get us 2/3 of the way, but I only have a +19 to follow tracks, which is probably not enough to be useful.
My mount is strong and dextrous enough to overrun or vault over any carriages that get in the way, and I can boost its speed to ~80' (320'/round running), but this is the kind of thing that gets you shot at by palace guards.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher wrote:
It's OK. 12th-level PCs can get really jumpy! I know Lady Gabrielle would rather not be identified at this point, so I figure she'll casually slip out before she can get spotted.
About this... anyone I designate gets +8 Initiative at the start of combat, so, a LOT jumpy.
Of course, Lord Rook is going to recognize exactly just who barged in, and may use his peace-enforcement spells to make sure nobody gets too jumpy.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Knowledge (local) to identify Blackheart:10 + 32 = 42
Redoubling his disguise as the doors burst open, Atticus Rook subtly shifts his weight into a Kirin stance... and relaxes as soon as he realizes who he's staring at.
"Our apologies, Inspector, but the Princess called us here—she wanted a place where she could not easily be spied upon. And this foreigner's villa may be the easiest-to-defend, least-infiltrated of any major house in this city right now, if what you say is true. But I defer to her judgment."
Diplomacy (to try and diffuse tensions in the room with his speech):20 + 27 = 47
And Rook prepares to cast Peacebond against anyone who draws their weapon against either the Princess or the Inspector, though mentally chides himself for not giving the monkey an easier way to check them for disguises, as the familiar under his hat prepares to hit him with Displacement if necessary.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
@Val: The problem with casting Forbiddance against anyone not LN is that it doesn't tend to do much against the law.
Lord Rook could probably disarm at least half the guns in this room—but I don't think it's worth it, since he's probably got the least reason to worry of anyone here.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
Huh... I wonder how hard it would be for Lord Rook to get/bribe for his "son" Atticus a job as a guardsman on night watch somewhere on the palace grounds. This may be worth looking into.
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
"Simmer down, everyone," Rook growls, "We've ALL seen Stavian's hedonism firsthand. But there are enough people of importance here that perhaps we should try to re-establish some decorum."
"Choose whatever battles you wish, then. I know what I'll be spending the next two months preparing for."
M Human (Taldan) Inquisitor 12 (Urban Infiltrator, Tactics) / Monk 2 (Unchained) / Fighter 1 (Lore Warden)
"And, of course, the manner of 'betrothal.'" Lord Rook adds as an afterthought. "I have a few sons I could badger into such a task, but the only ones I have left unmarried are ignominious enough to be more scandalous a match than even Constantine here—and besides, your father would probably block anything involving my family."
