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Yeeeeah, that War of Honor campaign didn't exactly culminate in a climactic ending, did it? I DO have to hold myself partly to blame, though. Sometime after you left, life kinda dogpiled me and I had to drop the boards entirely...and the group felt I was too central to continue without. Made a lot of people sad, I think. If you're trying again, then...heh. Why not. I'd be down to give it another shot. After all, I had a destiny to fulfill. That, and I want to get some hands-on time with 5E.
Okay, I am a terrible person. I've completely forgotten to check the boards for updates. I'm way out of practice. I will be rectifying that now. So the final choices will be sunday? Alright. I'll keep up with that.
I have reservations about this, given the history of this character on the boards, but I feel the urge to submit it for this game. The backstory was only slightly tailored to the previous jade regent campaign, which sadly did not progress as far as one would have liked. It was well-received, but in the end, the game fell flat. I would like to try again.
Yes. Sadly, it's not the word one would hope for. I'm letting go of the games for now. I have too much on my plate at present and I can't focus on the boards anymore. It used to be easy juggling school, the boards, and my projects, but three or four new things got tossed into the mix, and they're starting to hit the floor. As difficult as it is, dropping the boards for now is a more prudent choice. Perhaps in the future I'll have the free time and concentration required to PBP again, but for now, I wish everyone the best.
As a counterpoint, Mamoru, I find people on the boards to be no less real than those you meet face to face, and sometimes text, while incapable of conveying precise emotion without exacting detail, can also be therapeutic for that very reason. It may not be for everyone, but it may be just what the doctor ordered, so to speak. In any event, I enjoy new presences on the boards either way, and am eager to give her a taste of REAL roleplaying. Do I hear a second on that?
I wouldn't worry too much about power level, unless something is glaringly out of place. the only one here with a questionable power level is Mamoru. 60 point crit at level one. It was hilariously well timed though, and he plays his character to the hilt, so it's all good. I'm actually a little underpowered myself because my stat spread isn't quite "optimal," but oh well. It's what I wanted for the concept, and the first DM picked it, so here I am, and hopefully, here I stay!
Interesting spread of possibilities there, from sources I've never read too. I think I also like the moonchild idea. Unusual caster classes are always of interest to me, though I tend not to hunt down very many splatbooks or 3PP material. An arcane priestess would be a creative slant to things, and her pets would fit right in.
My pearly whites would like a word with you as I BLIND YOU WITH MY SMILE.
Kinda frustrating to keep meeting characters that seem like they'll mesh well with the story and the party, and then they go AWOL on us. Regardless, we have an empire to liberate.
Also, I'm now unclear as to how many enemies we're facing.
The blood running through the armor curls Seori's lip in disgust, but as her hand instinctively goes to the hilt of her blade, she pauses, realizing she still has something that may be of use. She reaches into her sleeves and produces the unused prayer tag, smirking at Mamoru. "Perhaps this time we can use what we've been given instead of tearing the castle down around our ears. Spread out! Mamoru, divert it's blades while we encircle it so I can place the tag on it in hopes of putting this unnatural thing to rest!" and if it fails? Well, at least we will have it surrounded...we will soon see if this is a shrewd plan or a foolish death...
BACK TO ADVENTURE!
Welcome back. Don't feel bad about your absence; between not noticing I was logged out and not seeing new posts, going to my folks house for a couple days, and elder scrolls online launching... well, I've been neglectful too. but I AM still here.
Agreed on all points. I actually appreciate the slow pace of PBP. It's much less demanding and less stressful than having to come up with content around the table on the fly. furthermore, we've lost too many good characters already, several of which I distinctly wanted to stick around. So...YOU STAY PUT.
"Before we storm in and leave more holes in the castle..." Seori steps beside Takeshi, knowing full well his methods in comparison to the oni, and motions into the room with a hand. "Why don't we let someone with a bit more finesse have a look? We'll stay back a short distance in case there's need for space. Takeshi-san, scout ahead, please. We will be only a few steps behind you." As long as there are no more haunted walls to be shattered...
Is it just me or have we not heard form Hiriko in awhile? also: got my new monitor (I use the term "new" very loosely, but it's stable.) No more missing things on the weekends.
Seori eyes the now-talkative fox curiously, but averts her gaze, considering the potential importance of Takeshi's discovery before following along, motioning for the group to join them. "Let us see what you've found, Takeshi. While Kikonu is our target, I doubt his pride or greed will let him go far while we take what he has left lying about."
Seori glances around at her reassembled group, visibly relieved that all are present and unharmed. "Welcome back, my friends. did you find anything on your short excursions, or shall we continue our hunt?"
By the way, somebody petition Paizo to stop scrambling the layout and fonts on this site! Keep having to relearn the typical update locations and it's increasing my campaign check time by WHOLE SECONDS! travesty!
Seori nods as Takeshi appears to rejoin the party once again. Welcome back, stealthy one... "No matter your reasons, if you stand against Kikonu, then we are allies, at least for the time being. Let us regroup and finish what we have started."
"If you spoke with the same spirits as we, then the truth is as you fear. We face an oni named Kikonu. He has defiled this place and even now hides from his fate. We are here to purge him, by one means or another, and reclaim this castle for the Teikoku Dynasty."
Certainly isn't the most frenetically paced game on the boards, but it tends to be worth the wait, I feel.
Seori smiles, glancing sidelong at Onitora. "Sadly, you are right to fear him. I have seen his strength, and he restrains it for no foe. thankfully he only resorts to violence when he thinks I am threatened, or when his honor is seriously offended. I wonder, though: you say you are from the monastery...I lived there until only recently, and I don't recall having met you. Did you depart before I arrived?"
Hearing new conversation, Seori follows the familiar rumbling speech to see Onitora leveling his weapon at a new face--a human face. motioning for her (visible) companions to join her, she steps out beside her yojimbo and bows courteously. "Greetings, stranger, and welcome to Teikoku Palace. I am Mai Seori. Please excuse my protector, Onitora; he takes his duties quite seriously."
even I have to admit life is chewing up my time (but just as much, my concentration) more than usual lately. I'm hoping next quarter will have less mind-numbing classes so I'm not as drained of inspiration and focus when I get home at night. I guess we should have corresponded with the DM, but I guess we didn't know the new guy from the monastery? Or I would think Onitora and he would have recognized each other. Hard to forget an Oni living in your monastery for years, I would think.
Wait a second...kensai? Hah! You mean I was a magus and didn't even know it?
Good to see more join the fray. And the courage to play a monk in pathfinder no less. I look forward to it.
All good. We're kind of figuring it out as we go anyway. and BTW, hear hear on college. It irks me that I'm seeing things glaringly wrong and unacceptable about it, but when I (you know, the paying student) speak up, all I get is "quit complaining, keep your head down and be grateful." seriously? 43 grand, two years of my life, irrelevant electives, and classes that don't live up to the sales pitch...and -I- am supposed to be the grateful little gopher? WTF. You sell me a car with a huge stereo, LCD screens and hydraulics, that doesn't run, and you're damn right I'll be shoving your head under the hood and saying "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?!"
Aaaaaaaand...DONE. Internet is solid, technician was pro, three customer service agents were FAIL. Specifically described status lights each time I called, and the tech today just goes "That one shouldn't be blinking. Gimme a minute." Seriously. They just don't train people right anymore...this would have been working two weeks ago had any one of them stopped and went "oh THAT one? Nope that should be solid, let's try this." So much for active listening during troubleshooting, eh?
"Well," Seori muses "Perhaps next time I'll make sure no one gets their own ideas about running off before I turn my back..." the empty room into which Seori had spoken left her feeling awkward for but a moment; she expected to find two companions still searching a room and found nothing. With a resigned sigh, she begins checking exits, keeping an eye out for familiar faces. "Remind me, once I take the throne, to have someone keeping an eye on them at all times..."
Internet issues again. Between services; one expired and the other won't cooperate. I'm improvising as best I can, but it's really sucking the creativity inspiration out. I should be back up to speed on tuesday, hopefully a little more permanently this time...
Yikes. Don't get an icicle in the eye. I hear typing while blind is...kinda tedious.
Seori keeps a straight face as she walks, despite her surprise at the relatively lengthy exposition from the usually stone-faced oni. I can't recall hearing more than a full sentence from Onitora in all our time at the monastery. I gathered that his oath was important to him, but never have I heard him actually explain himself before. she folds her arms as she rounds the corner and lays eyes on the group again. "Well, the stoneworkers will enjoy having work to do, but at least we still have a castle. Is everyone prepared to see what Kikonu hides behind his wall?"
Seori glares disapprovingly at Mamoru, releasing a slow exasperated sigh as she tucks away the prayer tag. "Onitora...you really must stop trying to break everything that angers you. If you have your way, there will be no castle left by the time Kikonu is beaten. Now let us regroup before pressing on. I don't want us to be separated when trouble rears it's head." She then returns to gather their comrades.
Seori hears the click of Takeshi's lock work and turns to comment, but too late realizes that her yojimbo has decided to settle a grudge and dashes after him with the prayer tag in hand. "No, Mamoru! You'll bring the whole castle down with your strength!" I really must start watching him more closely... At the second crash, Seori finally reaches the top of the stairs, amazed at how such a large creature can move so swiftly. As the oni prepares to smash the wall directly, she runs past him and once again shoves her hand in his face.
"Stop! You do not need to destroy every obstacle that inconveniences us! Otherwise there will be no castle left! We have an answer for this!" Seori then holds the prayer tag vertically and presses it to the haunted wall.
I second that. This is a story about what happens to these people and how they respond, now how perfect our builds are. Let the winds take us where they may; wherever we land, that's where the party is.
Seori is still examining her own skin when Onitora's body glows and he splits the earth not ten feet from her. She dodges backward, gazing at the shattered floor with a mixture of shock and awe. "Dragon of Earth..." Is this Jyunitchi's blessing? Or is this the gift of a Mamoru? So many mysteries the spirits leave for us... She then follows Mamoru toward the stairs with the prayer tag tucked into her sleeve. "Come friends. Let's put those tortured spirits to rest and put and end to Kikonu's madness."
Well. Funny how this game kinda just died a quiet death and now we're picking up new people left and right. I'm all for bringing in new players though. This hobby sometimes feels like a dying art and it restores a little of my faith in humanity to see someone new pick up the dice and join the story. As for elements? Well, my first reaction was water, for more than just mechanical reasons. I have to confess that many of them are related to me as much as they are to Seori, but in brief, Seori is (attempting to be) fluid, adaptable, graceful, and nurturing, at least insofar as her life has let her be to this point. Charisma isn't necessarily the most powerful attribute for her to boost, but as heir to an empire, and as someone who'll need to convince a whole lot of people to wake up and fight back, water seems to be the best choice overall. Just don't make me do the water temple again...that master quest revision was even more of a headache than the original. NO MORE WATER TEMPLES!! Ahem...sorry. Zelda flashbacks.
"The imperial blade? Protector of the emperor? Then he knew my ancestors..." Seori turns to Onitora with a knowing smile, drawing comparisons in her mind. "If he protected the emperor, then it would seem you are his successor, in a way." She ponders the meaning behind the statues verse, searching through memories of her studies for mention of the warrior or the blade of which his inscription reads.
Seori takes a moment to consider the state of her group and their newfound knowledge. With one less force vying for control or promising interference, it meant one less chance to be surrounded; it also meant less inhabitants to turn against their foe. As she folds her arms to think, a slight rustle reminds her of the prayer tag, given by their now deceased host. Retrieving it and holding it aloft, she smiles. "Perhaps we should settle accounts with a certain noisy wall, and see what Kikonu has hidden behind his atrocities?"
Seori flicks the blood from her blade before sheathing it, spattering fluid across the floor. the sound of another blade clearing its own sheath spins her around, leaving her face to face with her yojimbo, kneeling with a blade in his lap and shame in his eyes. It takes only a moment for her to realize what he intends; it takes a longer moment for her to gather her composure and her thoughts before she crosses her arms in her sleeves. Gods above! Not even for a moment can I forget my heritage now! Not a week ago I could barely start a conversation with this warrior, and now he kneels, ready to kill himself for a danger no one could have possibly predicted! This cannot be all that awaits a samurai; much less an Empress... "Mamoru Onitora. I know the weight of your oath, and the sting of the treachery we have just endured, but you slew our poisoner before I could even order you otherwise. If there was any stain on your honor, it will wash away as surely as the blood on this floor. Unless I lack the breath to say otherwise, I expect you to forgo seppuku, even for the most direct dangers. I am not a helpless child, but I--we will need your strength; it would be the greatest failure to die before your Empress needs you most, would it not?" Years of training are all that keep Seori from recoiling at her own words. Even as she speaks them, a hint of distaste clings to her throat. Birthright or not, I cannot believe I just spoke with such arrogance! As if he were nothing more than...than a... Fighting the urge to compare someone's life to an object, yet struggling to fight the right words, Seori's eyes reflexively look down in thought, stopping on the exposed wakisazhi. Her incomplete thought finishes itself, and the distaste in her throat instantly turns to disgust at her own mind. It's as if he were nothing more than a sword, to be replaced when broken...
Seori sidesteps once again in an effort to secure the ettercap's flank before it can decide to flee, attempting to cut it down once and for all.
Distraught at the breakdown of events and dismayed at the sudden death of another friend, Seori is nonetheless determined to end the battle before losing any more comrades. She weaves around the ettercap's side, trying to maneuver closer to the exit to block any escape, and ends her step with a low stance, cleaving across the ettercap the moment it makes it's move.
Tis the season to be sneezin, I guess. My parent's house got blitzed with all manner of mucus and coughing and all that jazz. Two pneumonias, three flus, three colds, all between five people. Kinda glad I don't live there right now...
Got my (-_0) EYE on this thread; not about to miss an update.
nobody here but us chickens...
Nothing clears me up better then some good vinegar based hot sauce, preferably on some chicken wings or something. Just seems to burn away the runny noses, congestion, and all the other nasties. Not for the faint of heart though, takes a pretty good dose, served hot of course.
Old habits die hard, eh Takeshi?
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