When your hesitation becomes clear, she continues. ”Forgive me, I should have explained myself more clearly. I do not mean to ask you to join the guard, our recruits volunteer their service - but that is beside the point. You need not make any long term commitment, just help us in this dark hour. Agents, I called you, but there are many terms for the type of service I seek. My hope is to subcontract you, much like The Order of the Nail – though hopefully you can conduct yourselves far less forcefully.” She says that last bit with an exhausted smile. ”Mercenaries, if it suits you, though I prefer the term agents. Well paid agents, at that.” She produces a coin pouch and tosses it to the middle of the table. ”If you accept, consider this a down payment.”Inside the pouch are 25 platinum crowns.
A sudden and steely focus settles over the Field Marshall as she delivers the specifics of your quest. You can tell that the past couple days have deeply saddened the embattled leader. “Korvosa’s got enough troubles as it is without my own men losing their way and going rogue. As much as it pains me to admit, though, this has happened several times already. Many guards have deserted their posts, more concerned about friends and family than the city. I can understand this, yet not all of the deserters have family—some of them are simply using the riots as an excuse for personal gain. One such man is Verik Vancaskerkin. Worse than a lone deserter, he’s convinced a small group of fellow guards that Queen Ileosa is going to ruin the city. Whether she does or doesn’t isn’t the point—right now, we’ve got a city-wide crisis on our hands, and I need all of my guards working with me to see us through. A deserter is worse than a lost resource—it’s an infection." She spits out the word deserter like a sour sip of wine. "I can’t afford to pull any of my other patrols off duty to deal with Vancaskerkin, and I’d rather not expose any of them to him anyway, since I neither want Vancaskerkin to infect more guards with his talk of secession, nor do I want some overly patriotic guard killing Vancaskerkin outright and making a martyr of him. I need impartial, skilled talent. Like you.”
“Here’s what we know. Vancaskerkin and his men have holed up in an abandoned butcher’s shop up in Northgate—the place was called All the World’s Meat. I need you to put an end to his insurrection. Try to avoid killing any of the deserters if you can, but if you must, they brought it upon themselves when they threw in their lot with Vancaskerkin. I’d prefer it if you could capture Verik alive and return him to me for interrogation, but if he makes that impossible, I’ll accept his body as well. Finally, see if you can find out why he deserted—if there’s more to it than simple personal politics, I need to know immediately. Bring me Verik alive, and there’s another thousand gold in it for you. Dead, he’s only worth half that.”
”If you help the Guard, you’re welcome to stay in the barracks here. I know it’s not the most comfortable, but it’s safe. If you’d prefer to stay elsewhere, I can’t blame you.” Cressida takes a parchment and slides it across the table to you. ”I have another option, if it suits you. The owner of the Three Rings Tavern in Five Points owes the Guard a considerable debt. Take her this letter to Theandra Darklight, you’ll know her by the earrings, and tell her Field Marshal Kroft intends to collect.” Sensing the group’s discomfort with the idea of becoming the Guard’s debt collectors, that familiar smile returns. ”My goodness, you’re certainly guarded. That’s not a bad trait, I suppose. Don’t worry, there’s no need for a shake down. I’ve just requested she gives you two rooms, access to her cellar for a headquarters, and hot meals and strong drinks. On the house, of course.”
”I know you’re wary. To be honest, I am too. I don’t know you, and have no reason to trust you beyond desperation. But opportunity knocks, and I hope you hear it above the chaos. Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves. I must excuse myself to see the cleric, lest my exhaustion finally catch up with me. If you take the coins and note from the table, I will know you have accepted my offer, and I will expect your safe return with Vancaskerkin. If you leave them behind, well, then this is farewell and good luck.”
She stands, her armor weighing heavily on her body. As she turns to leave, she pauses. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she asks ”Lord Valamyr, a word in private?”
You have been skeptical Von's supposed communications with Zellara's spirit. That is, however, until the card that the bumbling Elf flung at you sticks neatly into the collar of your shirt. As soon as the rigid card makes contact with the skin of your neck, a warm voice speaks silently in your ear much like the thrush that so often sits on your shoulder.
What must I do to make you believe in me? Must I appear before you as the severed head I am, open my eyes, and allow these words to pour fourth from my mouth in place of the maggots? I am real, Lord Valamyr. As real as all your selves.
The soft touch of a woman caresses your left cheek, though none stands before you.
My dear Valamyr, don't be so hard on the man, I beg you. He is a fool, I know... But a kind fool. He cares for this city, and he cares for me. It has been so long since I felt a touch like his... Please don't mistake his detachment as apathy. I see a great destiny before him - before all of you. I brought the five of you together because I could see your true selves, I knew that you had a great potential - greater together. You work for the same goal from different angles. Wear it like a crown, not a weight around your neck.
The card falls softly to the floor, and as soon as it began, the voice stops. When you look down for the Harrow card, it is gone.
Nahzir, you know better than most that there are many and more entrances to the vaults below Korvosa. Sewer grates, cellar doors, sink holes and underwater caverns all lead to your subterranean home. You can't go more than a few blocks in this city without passing over some sort of hidden entrance. You happen to know of an access point at the Hessim, Newby and Sage Paint Manufactory building just a couple blocks to the West.
Male Human Paladin of the Dawnguard 6 | HP 34/53 | Speed 20ft | AC 19 : T 9 : FF 19 | F +10 : R +6 : W +9 | Init -1 | CMB +11 : CMD 19 | Smite Evil 1/2 : Lay on Hands 3/9 | Active Conditions: None
Extra:
Gauntlet (+11-6/1d3+5/*2), Short Sword (+11-6/1d6+5/19-20/*2), Brightfang (+13-8/2d6+7/19-20/*2), Javelin (+6-1/1d6+5/*2/30ft) | Dip +12, Heal +10, HA +12, Per +1, SM +9, Prof (S) +4 | S +5, D -1, C +1, I -2, W +1, Ch +3
GM Fez wrote:
"In the edge of the swamp, surrounded by corpses of lizards and masked men. Will have to use some offal to keep my protective stench. Also surrounded by breathing people.
One dwarf, well on his way to getting a protective stench of his own, should survive. One samsaran, going about and morning the dead in the way old priests do. Not smart, will likely fall if he continues to be distracted. Two humans, helping each other put on armor. The woman moans, barely audible, every time she touches iron, the man seems not to notice and is focused internally, possibly awaiting bloodshed. One Halfling, efficient with a hidden tattoo. Sunny disposition with a chilling aura about her, evidence of negative energy strike on her body. One half-orc, focused, moves precisely, may be too focused on perfection to be able to handle mess. Will most certainly need stench to survive."
Seriously well done, GM Fez. I cracked up at "surrounded by breathing people" and "the woman moans, barely audible, every time she touches iron." Good stuff.
Nahzir, compared to the Kraken's Folly deck, these walkway boards are sturdy as the High Bridge. You have no trouble crossing the small wooden walkway and finish securing the ropes for the others, then find yourself just a few feet from the door of Gaedren's hideout, infamously called below by the Lambs who've never been there.
Now that you are all so close to the monster of a man that inflected so much pain on your lives, memories of the pain he caused you come flooding back.
Nahzir:
The night before Knich went missing you two sat together by a barrel of rubbish your father had set aflame, the smoke rising out through a sewer cap above, and nibbled at the finest aged gouda either of you had tasted in years. That next morning you awoke and she was nowhere to be found. Your confusion quickly turned to panic when you discovered little claw marks and a few droplets of dried blood.
Your mind has been plagued with grim thoughts of your sister’s fate since her abduction, and the more you learn of Gaedren Lamm and his little Lambs, the worse you fear.
What exactly happens to children when they are taken below? Is your dear sister even living? You can hardly bear the thought. Your furry fingertips burn hatred for the monster that took Knich from you, but you know you must remember your training and keep your head. Yasoq always said focus was a ninja’s greatest strength. Then again, Yasoq never crossed paths with Gaedren Lamm.
Garth:
You will never forget that day. It began like any other: the smell of the forge and roar of the bellows, flux on your hands, sweat beading on your brow. Then three men were yelling and cursing about payment and showing the hilts of their daggers in an unspoken threat. They did not take kindly to your master’s refusal, or his insulting their weapons as ”unfit for orc women,” so they killed him with his own hammer.
You’ve since learned that those thugs came at the order of an aging crime kingpin named Gaedren Lamm. Why did they target your master? What if you could have stopped them? The thought has plagued you since that day. You’ve saved a bullet for the man responsible for your master’s death, and now he’s so close you can feel it.
Marius:
Growing up, you were accustomed to solitude and scorn for your hideous looks. Having known no true friends throughout your life, Helen and her beautiful children were like a blessing from Torag. On one of your visits to Korvosa, three strangers showed you, ugly ol’ Marius, compassion. Nobody but Master Hiro had ever shown your compassion before. Pity, maybe, but rarely more. One night they even invited you to dinner at their home. Such a simple act of kindness - bread and oil, looking you in the beady eyes while they spoke – brightened your world.
With Helen dead and gone, the disappearance of Dov and Leena cut deep. You hate to think of what has happened to them, what this lowlife pedophile scum has done with the children you vowed to find, but you will make him answer for his transgressions. Nothing would make your happier than to find Dov and Lena, and to immure Gaedren Lamm in a stone tomb for what he’s done. Finding them has been an obsession of yours – and now you darken the door of the man who is responsible.
Von:
You can scarcely remember what you did wrong to cause Gaedren to snap at you all those years ago, but you cannot ignore the scars, like bookmarks for the darkest chapter of your life.
Gaedren led you to an alley for a “little job”, then before you knew it he’d thrown you to the ground. You don’t remember much, only Gaedren laying on top of you, his rotten grin and foul breath, and a long and thin blade a hair’s width from your eye. ”I told you to shut the f@+@ up, but you wouldn’t f@@!ing listen,” he said as he began stabbing you just below the belly button. For years those scars made you feel weak and afraid, but now, they burn with a hateful strength.
The cards have shown you truths that now are moments away from becoming reality, and you can hardly wait to give Gaedren Lamm one final reading.
Valamyr:
You can still hear the pain and worry in Ness’ voice when one of her orphans went missing. A young boy named Tam, who’d already lived a lifetime of misfortunes in just a few short years, now taken by the notorious criminal Gaedren Lamm. You promised to find him, knowing it could have just as easily been you.
Before you met the man, you’d heard plenty of chilling whispers. Likes ‘em young… Works ‘em to the bone… Sells those who displease him to the highest bidders,” and you know the type of people that would do business with a man like Gaedren - deplorable is too kind a word. You’d heard of this urchin for years, seen the wake of death and pain he left wherever he went. But now that you’re this close, a memory you buried so deep it was nearly forgotten has risen to the surface like a wood casket in a flooded graveyard.
It was a still and foggy night when you met Gaedren Lamm. You went by a different name then, and lived amongst the darkest sorts this city had to offer. Thing is, you weren’t looking for him yet, just following a trail of some new drug that was spreading through the streets like the great fire. Gaedren arrived with one of his Lambs in tow, a skinny boy no older than eleven who had dead eyes like an old soldier scarred by the horrible things he had seen and done. Every fiber of your being wanted to save that boy, but breaking character would ruin years of hard, dirty work – and there would always be another Lamb. The things you had done just to get that far… The perversion in his predatory voice haunted you for months after that night, and the wonder of whatever happened to that poor child. Then one day the memory was gone… Until now.
It's near midnight now, but each of you feels more awake and alive than you have in a long time.
Male Human Paladin of the Dawnguard 6 | HP 34/53 | Speed 20ft | AC 19 : T 9 : FF 19 | F +10 : R +6 : W +9 | Init -1 | CMB +11 : CMD 19 | Smite Evil 1/2 : Lay on Hands 3/9 | Active Conditions: None
Extra:
Gauntlet (+11-6/1d3+5/*2), Short Sword (+11-6/1d6+5/19-20/*2), Brightfang (+13-8/2d6+7/19-20/*2), Javelin (+6-1/1d6+5/*2/30ft) | Dip +12, Heal +10, HA +12, Per +1, SM +9, Prof (S) +4 | S +5, D -1, C +1, I -2, W +1, Ch +3
*Removes a crumpled piece of paper from front pocket.* I want to thank my family for supporting me in my hobby, my GM for rolling my first decent initiative roll and putting me in the position to succeed, all the people who have made this night possible..."
"Dawnguard guide my blade, help me beat back the darkness."
Allister's sword bursts to light like a bright star in the night sky.
Divine bond: greatsword sheds light as a torch and gains a +1 magical bonus for 1 minute.
Please use this thread for character creation and general discussion, and when ready post as your character for DM review. You can also dot in on the gameplay thread with your character of choice once they are finalized.
1) Please try to maintain a posting rate of 1+ post/weekday, and 1+ post/weekend. If you post more frequently I will do my best to keep up.
2) Please list important information about your character in the Classes/Levels section of your stat block. Please also have your full character sheet available in your character's profile. If you're at all unsure what I'm talking about, feel free to take a look at my PFS characters for some examples.
3) I'll roll initiative for combats, perception for potential surprise situations, and some save rolls. I'll also provide information for knowledge checks in spoilers with the DCs listed. Please refrain from reading the spoilers unless you make the DC with the appropriate skill check.
4) Spell casters, please provide the entire description of any spells you cast within your character’s profile, or provide a hyperlink to the Paizo or d20pfsrd.com spell site for quick reference.
5) In pathfinder, tanks and healers don’t really exist. There is no reliable way for a tank to hold aggro, so the best one can do is build a character with high AC and saves. As for healers, in-combat healing is very inefficient. Better to deal big damage and heal after the fight – monsters can almost always out-damage healing. *That doesn’t mean healing potions, spells and wands are useless.
6) Melee classes start and stay strong, full spell casters start weak but are gods at high levels.
*If you’re not enjoying the game, tell me and I will make adjustments.
Character Creation Rules:
•*Every player must read the Curse of the Crimson Throne Player’s Guide*
•Characters start at level 1
•Average starting wealth (page 140 of the Core Rule Book)
•20 point ability buy
•Characters with ability dump stat scores 8 and lower must have:
-Serious RP character flaws based on their low stat score
-Background story explanation for low stat
•Starting HP = max HD (1d8 = 8) + constitution modifier + favored class bonus (if applicable)
•Background skills required
-2 at 1st level, +2 points/level
•Feat taxes system (http://michaeliantorno.com/feat-taxes-in-pathfinder/)
•Select favored class and apply bonus at creation and each level gained
•Characters can select two traits
-1 general trait, one Curse of the Crimson Throne Player’s Guide campaign trait
•Must use Unchained rules for Rogue and Monk classes
•Characters must have background tie to the city of Korvosa and a reason to defend it
•Characters must have a strong reason to work with others – no “lone wolves”
•No evil characters
•Core races preferred
-“Featured” races allowed on case-by-case basis with good reason and background
•Must have 10 minute background
•Must select a character portrait
Gameplay Rules:
•No skill checks during combat (i.e. don’t game the system).
-To make a skill check in combat, make an OoC note in your post and I will roll it.
•No player vs player combat allowed
•Characters can fight and argue, but in the end they must find a way to work together.
•Actively seek ways to work together and build relationships through RP
•No metagaming
-(Ex. You might know a troll is vulnerable to fire, but an 8 intelligence barbarian does not)
•Keep Gameplay thread out-of-character discussion to a minimum
-Use it primarily for specifications, etc.
-Keep general discussion or strategy in the Discussion thread
Male Chett the Tiger | HP 4/22 | Speed 40ft | AC 19 : FF 13: T 13 | F +4 : Ref +7 : Will +2 | Init +4 : Per +2 | CMB +3: CMD +17 | Active Conditions: None
Info:
Bite (+4/1d6+2); 2 Claws (+4/1d6+2) | Acrobatics +8; Stealth +8; Survival +6 | S 14; D 18; C 13; I 2; W 15; C 10
Chett devours his dinner in a matter of seconds while the others take their time to eat. His Dwarf gives him a large fatty cut of boar. He has done a fine job of ignoring the infernal goat and its antics throughout the day - it was bright out and the big cat needed his sleep.
But when the others are distracted by their food, Chett disappears behind the storage building. Just half of one eye and some whiskers protrude around the corner. He hunches down. All his weight is loaded like a spring. His rear end waves back and forth until, for just a moment, he becomes perfectly still.
Then he explodes like an arrow from the string and charges at William. The cat is so fast it takes a mere moment.
Chett rears up, his big right paw in the air shows all its claws. He is upon the goat. His mouth opens wide and closes on the back of Williams neck - softly. He immediately releases and turns away as if nothing happened.
William, unfazed, is terrible at this game. Chett calls it "Attack Something and Decide at the Last Moment if it Lives or Dies."
Disappointed that the goat did not give chase, which often changes the outcome of the game, the tiger gives up. Exhausted from the show of strength, he curls up near the big fire and sleeps.
Male Human Paladin of the Dawnguard 6 | HP 34/53 | Speed 20ft | AC 19 : T 9 : FF 19 | F +10 : R +6 : W +9 | Init -1 | CMB +11 : CMD 19 | Smite Evil 1/2 : Lay on Hands 3/9 | Active Conditions: None
Extra:
Gauntlet (+11-6/1d3+5/*2), Short Sword (+11-6/1d6+5/19-20/*2), Brightfang (+13-8/2d6+7/19-20/*2), Javelin (+6-1/1d6+5/*2/30ft) | Dip +12, Heal +10, HA +12, Per +1, SM +9, Prof (S) +4 | S +5, D -1, C +1, I -2, W +1, Ch +3
Now that our second AP has come to an end, I want to take a moment to extend my deep thanks to GM Fez. You have done an outstanding job thus far and I sincerely appreciate all the work and time you put in to keep this game going.
And to everyone in the group, it's been a blast so far and I can only hope we continue indefinitely. This is a fantastic group of players and I excitedly refresh the page throughout the day looking forward to new posts.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Cheers to all of you.
Male Dwarf Hunter 2 Male Dwarf Hunter 3 | HP 15/26 | Speed 20ft | AC 17 : T 13 : FF 14 | F +6 : R +6 : W +5 | Init +5 : Per +9 | CMB +4 : CMD +17 | Animal Focus 5/3 | Active Conditions: Animal Focus: Tiger (+2 Dex)
Info:
Composite Longbow +2 (+5(6)/1d8+2(3)/*3/100ft/P); Glaive (+4/1d10+2/*3/S/R) | HA +12; Heal +10; Kn(N) +6; Per +10; Ride +8; St +8; Su +10 | S 14; D 16; C 14; I 10; W 18; C 6
As the boars cook:
Another Dream:
Wendell is in Restov, standing outside and looking up at the sign hanging over the door of The Cracked Cauldron. He holds a beautiful bouquet of dried wildflowers in his right hand. The sign is just as he remembers it, but the exact image is a blur no matter how hard he looks.
Through the window he sees Delilah, beautiful as ever. She is harvesting bats for their alchemical properties. The teeth, the wings, the fur, the saliva. Wendell opens the door and slides inside.
"I knew you would come today," she says without looking up. She smiles and her face is rosy.
"These are for you," he says and holds out a handful of wet noodles. His arm is heavy as lead.
She takes the noodles and holds them close to her nose. "They smell wonderful." Delilah grabs him by his collar and pulls him close as she shuts her eyes for a kiss. Wendell leans in, his eyes wide open, but some force keeps them apart.
"I have something for you, too" she whispers in his ear, her lips so close he can feel her breath. She disappears into the back room and returns with a roasted pig. The fat crackles as it smokes and steams. "Over eight hundred pounds," she says.
"Pork, my favorite." Wendell takes a serrated knife and large fork, but when he tries to cut into the soft flesh the metal sparks and bends and everything begins to fade. "But I didn't get to eat it yet" he whimpers.
Wendell smacks his lips lightly. Spittle runs off his chapped lips and down his cheek.
Male Dwarf Hunter 2 Male Dwarf Hunter 3 | HP 15/26 | Speed 20ft | AC 17 : T 13 : FF 14 | F +6 : R +6 : W +5 | Init +5 : Per +9 | CMB +4 : CMD +17 | Animal Focus 5/3 | Active Conditions: Animal Focus: Tiger (+2 Dex)
Info:
Composite Longbow +2 (+5(6)/1d8+2(3)/*3/100ft/P); Glaive (+4/1d10+2/*3/S/R) | HA +12; Heal +10; Kn(N) +6; Per +10; Ride +8; St +8; Su +10 | S 14; D 16; C 14; I 10; W 18; C 6
Wendell's Dream:
Wendell walks alone in a dry and empty field towards a dark expanse of forest that is many miles away. The sky is white and the clouds droop low like rotten apples on the branch.
Just up ahead a thousand crows quork and fly in circles like a cloud, so dense where they land it is a black mass on the landscape. When he draws near they kick up and scatter with a roar. For a moment it sounds like they are calling him "Dead...Dead...Dead."
Curled up on the ground before him is a familiar form, but the color and features are all wrong. Red blood stains the fur that was once orange and white and beautiful. A tangle of thick worm-like intestines have crawled out of the creature's belly to dry now, half-eaten in the sun. The tiger's head is missing. Not eaten by crows, but severed clean and taken for trophy. "Chett..." Wendell whimpers, reaching out but unable to touch his friend.
"Dead" quorks a crow.
Suddenly the mangled form stirs, then stands. Clotted blood runs from the open stump where his proud head once rested. The nest of worms drags on the ground as he begins to shamble towards Wendell. The big cat, his dearest friend, brushes up against the Dwarf as he always did when he was hungry or needing attention, leaving a dark red smear of blood across his midsection. "No...Chett, please...I can't go on without you." Tears roll down his cheeks and he begins to sob.
The beast that was Chett turns from him and begins to run towards the dark forest in the distance, growing smaller and smaller until he is out of sight.
"Dead" quorks a crow. "Dead."
Wendell stirs in his sleep, his feet twitching. He is cold to the touch.
Male Human Paladin of the Dawnguard 6 | HP 34/53 | Speed 20ft | AC 19 : T 9 : FF 19 | F +10 : R +6 : W +9 | Init -1 | CMB +11 : CMD 19 | Smite Evil 1/2 : Lay on Hands 3/9 | Active Conditions: None
Extra:
Gauntlet (+11-6/1d3+5/*2), Short Sword (+11-6/1d6+5/19-20/*2), Brightfang (+13-8/2d6+7/19-20/*2), Javelin (+6-1/1d6+5/*2/30ft) | Dip +12, Heal +10, HA +12, Per +1, SM +9, Prof (S) +4 | S +5, D -1, C +1, I -2, W +1, Ch +3
Sorry all, I often forget to check the discussion page!
Sell the spell book. If anyone needs the +1 longsword or +1 chainmail for an upgrade they should take them, otherwise sell them.
The Bracers of Armor should be given to Qina or Gad'larr, as they both wear no armor (it's ineffective for anyone with an armor bonus to AC). Give Qina a shiny new wand!
I do not think we should remove Kassen's armor, it's disrespectful and this whole quest is meant to show respect.
Allister would want to remove the Capital folk's bodies along with Asar's. I agree with Vivian, burn them outside.
I think we should keep the horn. Magical items are cool, even if we don't have an immediate use them. They add to the "prestige" of the group. Plus that horn could make for a really cool RP piece. Just think of the parties we could have if we blow that horn in a tavern! Allister would be glad to carry it if nobody else wants to.
I think selling unique magic items is short-sighted because we will inevitably "outgrow" the weapon, armor, potions upgrades we buy with the proceeds. But that magic item could be useful/cool regardless of level.
Male Human Paladin of the Dawnguard (2) | HP 24/24 | Speed 20/30 | AC 19 : F +10 : R +4 : W +7 | CMB +7 : CMD 17 | Init +1, Per +1 | Check -7 | Smite Evil 1/1 | Lay on Hands 3/3 | Active Conditions: None
Extra:
Gauntlet (+7/1d3+5/*2), Short Sword (+7/1d6+5/19-20/*2), M. Greatsword (+8/2d6+7/19-20/*2), Javelin (+2/1d6+5/*2/30ft) | Dip +8, Heal +5/7, Ride +5, HA +7, Perf +7 | S +5, D +1, C +3, I +0, W +1, Ch +3
Once his friends are back on their feet, though not yet fully themselves after the encounter, Praetor goes to the corpse and looks for anything of value or intrigue.
