Is everyone still alive and or okay?
I hope you made a speedy recovery, Dak. I hear it can be a gruesome journey back up if the virus got you good :(
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Sheet, that's truly awful news. I hope he makes a speedy recovery.
All that Matiscio can do in reply to Evander's words is blink.
"I'd say 'don't go out of sight from each other' as there is still a time limit to how long we can breathe underwater for ... but if you make us invisible, yeah ...", Matiscio says as he scratches the back of his head. "How about all of you stay together and I move up ahead after you worked your magic, Celia?"
"Brghlrbrbr!", Matiscio yells at Evander as the man refuses to snap out of the hold of the wicked enchantment.
As kindly as he can Matiscio puts a hand on Evander and attempts to stop him from swimming on down to his doom.
Without a warning, Matiscio jumps after Evander and tries to outpace the man underwater. "Evander, come back here!!!"
I hope we get to congratulate you real soon, Celia! :)
Matiscio will simply dive after him and try to keep Evander from swimming on down to his demise.
Uncertain of the unwanted compulsion that just washed over him, Matiscio shoots a panicked look at his companions. "What was that[?" It only then dawns on him that perhaps he ought to be more concerned about the possibility of one of the others actually jumping overboard.
Knowing that it won't do him any good with where they're going, Matiscio stows away his exotic shield. The brawler then takes his time to secure the straps of his armor. "Perhaps this is a foolish question, but what are these 'draugurs' you speak of?"
This morning my mother passed away after a furious month of rapid decline fighting what turned out to be cancer. It all happened so fast and so sudden that I most likely cannot fully comprehend it yet, but those closest to her got to say goodbye in a way that truly warms my heart and gives me hope for the days to come. So yes, I'm still coming to grips with what happened, but next to that, I am also tired in a way that words cannot describe. My body, mind, and soul are squeezed dry and it will take weeks before I can return to a more normal state. Until then, I will occasionally have a glance at the game and what's going on, but what energy I have must go to other things. Hopefully, I can rejoin you all soon, and continue to do something that gives me joy: roleplaying, playing Pathfinder, and weaving stories with others. I'll pre-emptively thank you for your understanding and your compassion. I know we do not 'know' each other, but we've been playing together for so long that, with what's going on, you deserve to know what's going on beyond the veil. Maarten / Matiscio
Due to real-life circumstances, I may not be very responsive on the forums for the coming week. My mother is not doing well, and the hospital carousel is about to start. If I feel like I cannot continue to post, I will try to let you know. But, fortune willing, perhaps the tests won't turn up the worst possible result and if so, I might be back to posting rather sooner than later. Again, I hope everyone is safe and sound in these trying times.
Unlike Gregor, Matiscio is less annoyed by the Lady's request. Sure, it seems odd to ask for such a display from every Silver Raven present, but if this is her particular peculiarity, so be it. Matiscio takes the Lady, if she's willing, through a couple of basic Vudrani mindfulness exercises. In these poses reside the core of his strength, and perhaps the Lady sees this, but regardless of what she might think, Matiscio is convinced the Vudrani teachings can help anyone no matter what they want to achieve in life.
Acting more like a bodyguard would, Matiscio remains in Celia's shadow and spends more time paying attention to the passing by sounds and keeping tabs on their surroundings than to the conversation. Still, half an ear is enough to have words prod on through and into your subconscious when the words are important and heavy enough. "If our courage can be the cornerstone of your resolve, pray tell us what we must do. We have defeated the supernatural and the otherworldly on our way towards a free Kintargo, but not even the Gods can chase away the fear and doubt that linger in the hearts of mortals. Tell us what fills your heart with that which can withstand fear, and we will."
Knowing that for some the dust must first settle in their minds before they're willing to accept the reality of things - that is, that Lady Docur's backing is an absolute necessity - Matiscio manages to stay calm and relaxed while his companions get a little more heated. "My uncle used to say that power is like sand, slowly trickling through your fingers. Figures like Lady Docur and the Thrune family are starting to convince me that you need to be like a persistent garden weed, wrapping yourself inch by inch around a construct of power until no matter how much they might cut you, there will always be part of you clinging on. Anyway, I share Gregor's sentiments, but I am of the conviction that ignoring Docur or, even more foolishly, trying to cut her out would definitely be the wrong decision here."
The brawler has little to add to the conversation for now. With all that's being said and has been said, he might only muddy the waters even further. Still ... Tentatively, like a newborn trying to get to grips with its new surroundings, Matiscio stirs in his seat and continues to listen. None of the words coming to him are in the right tone. This isn't the occasion for his ham-fisted bluntness nor his Jalpur-inspired esoteric take on life. Lady Docur definitely does not strike him as the type of woman who would bother with Master Jalpur's teachings.
Not used to the trappings of the academic life, Matiscio grows quiet and soaks in all the new impressions the school has to offer when the half-elf leads them in. Docur's establishment makes his former school look like a rickety thing indeed and it is in that realization that Matiscio finds a warning for what's to come: this woman is much, much smarter than you so watch your tongue. After he gets seated in a rather uncomfortable chair - why does furniture always assume we got some plump padding so that sitting on is actually enjoyable?! - he wiggles about until he finds a somewhat comfortable position. Blessedly so, Gilda opened the talks so he doesn't have to.
"There's power to be found in wealth, yes. Gold casts its own shadow. Perhaps the order in which we contact people will matter, so, I suggest we pick those most likely to react favorably first. That way, we can use their agreement to meet as a way to entice the others to join in as well. Sometimes it isn't so much about what you want, but what your peers and competitors are doing. I doubt any person or institution of power and relevance would want to miss out when they know most of the others are partaking. Eh ..." Matiscio scratches the back of his head. "My apologies, I started to ramble there, but I hope I got my point across?"
Thank you. The symptoms have died down, but the sniffles persist and the pressure on my chest is less noticeable yet still present. So yeah, I'm still in self-quarantine. Luckily my energy levels *are* going up :) And again, stay safe all. I got a friend in Italy and the hell they're going through has made it clear to me that this really is no joke. With that said, I think we should take note of the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) principle and try to keep whatever we cook up somewhat modular. A basic 'x councilors, y needed to vote through a motion/action' should suffice for now. We can even add two extra rules to accommodate for expanding the council and for calling an emergency meeting. I suggest we either agree upon a unanimous yes vote for adding new groups/members or a 66% majority. As for the emergency meeting, I say every group/council member gets to call one emergency meeting. At the end of the meeting, the members can vote whether the meeting was necessary or not. If not, they'll have to convince another member in the future to call an emergency meeting if they feel it is necessary. Bureaucratic overkill? Probably, but it can prevent possible sabotage later down the road. And it is easier to put in some simple provisions and rules *now* than once this car gets rolling. I personally think that a rule for assigning two consuls/leaders might be a good thing if the organization keeps on growing. Said leaders can use their position to decide a tiebreaker and, if things escalate, we can even grant them the ability to take charge. Once the emergency is over or has been dealt with, their position will then be up for a vote. Very Rome-esque, but with a twist.
Matiscio feels like the theoretical now has to be translated into something more practical. "We do have the silver raven figurines to get messages across, so let's make use of them? There's no need to physically show up at the captain. Yes, heh, I feel like we have been missing lessons our predecessors left behind for us to learn, and these silver ravens are one lesson we really ought to learn as soon as possible."
I might be slow to post and or reply the coming days. I picked up a cold last week and, yup, started showing all the other symptoms as well over the last couple of days. As such, I've been sticking to my bed as much as I can, but even when I'm out of it I can tell my energy levels are low. It might just be a seasonal bug, who knows \._./
Matiscio visibly agrees with what Celia says going by his posture and the way he purses his lips. "I like that idea, Celia." It's not until everyone has had their say that Matiscio adds his. "We will surely make mistakes in how we set up this council, so perhaps we ought to think of some rules that let the council correct itself. Like, say, a rule of sponsorship which would give council members the ability to introduce potential new members, who would then be vetted and put up for a vote. Maybe ... maybe we should raid a local library and see if we can find a book on how the Andorans do this sort of stuff?"
I had a rollercoaster of a weekend thanks to a funeral, a family meeting and Corona spreading like wildfire. I will catch up and post now.
Time flies by when you aren't under constant pressure. For once, Matiscio gets to relax and kickback. This period of relative leisure does come at the cost of decreased physical activity and so, the brawler finds himself challenged in lowering the number of Laria's treats and delights he consumes. Eventually, the day comes where Hetamon comes to meet them and shares his thoughts on where to take it from here. Matiscio has troubles with the idea of bringing all the important pieces in the rebellion together in one place, but if the leaders do not convene, can there truly be a unified organized effort? "So, anyone got any experience with running a council or running any sort of important meetings? Because I sure don't and I am completely clueless as to how we should organize this ... well, other than the fact we should try to keep the number of people on the council to an absolute minimum."
I'm in favor of spending the 1000 gold. Also, I take it the items Matiscio wants can be created? If so, I'll update his sheet to reflect that. I'll sit down and think about what we ought to do tomorrow. Had a rocky day that seemed hell-bent on giving me the finger over and over again.
Items:
Celia's moment of reacquaintance causes Matiscio to fall into a hole of thoughts and regrets called Jaya. He excuses himself and roams the halls of the hideout to find some solitude, but with how crowded it is he manages to find none. A long-forgotten lesson returns to him as he slides an arm into his jacket: that what you can't find outside, might be found inside. Ah, why couldn't be half as wise as Master Jalpur?!
Matiscio scoffs at the woman's parting words. "Heh, thanks for the advice. We'll be sure to try and avoid just that." A deal, fine, sure, but the thought of having to rely on her to get one of their own out of trouble? Real trouble? She'll be asking for the entire treasury if that day ever comes.
6 to 7: Level 6 to 7
+1 BAB HP: +9 Class Skills: 5 +1 Perception +1 Acrobatics +1 Stealth +1 Sense Motive +1 Knowledge Local Background Skills: +2 Appraise Feat: Lunge Maneuver Training 2 (+2 grapple, +1 trip)
Matiscio can't wait for this to be done with. With no judicial system to back them, their only option is to compromise ... or murder. And the latter definitely isn't an option for him.
"We all do what we can to stay afloat in this mad world. Yes, the path we choose is our decision, but where we start and what paths are available to us often are beyond our choice. Without knowing who, what and why we're merely giving voice to our frustration." Matiscio swallows down Gregor's name as he was about to utter it. Staying hidden is easy enough, but when you need to do it with words? "I'm sure we can come to an agreement that works for both parties here."
I doubt I will have time to level up Matiscio tomorrow, but I should be able to do so this Thursday. My apologies. This week has been awful so far.
Having spent many hours on unity and what it is made of, Matiscio realizes that unity when under duress comes from within unless the threat is so big that it enforces unity. Clearly, he's the one in the group with a different opinion on the woman's threat level, but as to not undermine unity, the brawler goes along. And he won't say 'I told you so' if it doesn't work out. Which, it seems, it doesn't. All he does offer to his companions is a sad stare aimed at the horizon. He can't help but feel deflated by the outcome. "I agree."
Unfamiliar with the exact details of 'how', Matiscio is neither hot nor cold about unleashing magic upon the woman. "We're already taking such a long time that no matter what we end up doing, she knows we were caught off-guard. I say we keep it simple so that we run the least amount of chance to have things get messy. We tell her to stay out of our affairs or risk a bruising - and not necessarily from us - and that if she respects our boundaries, we can condone her."
The brawler is visibly uncomfortable. "The one thing I would advise against is to escalate the situation. Locking her up might lead to her employer hiring a more forceful group of thugs instead. Giving her some basic, albeit false, information and treating her right might cause the benefactor to either approach us him- or herself or back off, knowing there's nothing to worry about. Don't forget, the only leverage she has right now is to make us feel scared as if our backs are against the wall. They aren't, but we aren't in the position to just lock her up."
Not wanting to sow further discord into an already disorderly conversation of sorts, Matiscio steps back and finds a wall to lean against. He keeps his ears open but focuses on studying the woman's body language. If the investigator's words won't give away who she is and who she works for, maybe her outfit or an item might unwittingly do so.
Feeling like a leaf adrift an autumn storm, mercilessly being blown from left to right whether he wants to or not, Matiscio submits to the woman's notion that they have no alternative but to play nice. "I say fine, let's take this someplace more civil and continue the conversation there."
The brawler sighs. Is she really cruising for a bruising or is she that naive to think that not talking is an option right now? "You're either the most loyal servant I've ever come across or you're being paid an amount worth losing your life over", he says while shaking his head.
Going by Jalpur's lessons on self-defense - grab a hold of the sleeve and the arm must follow, this is how the body works - Matiscio uses the woman's clothing against her. He takes whatever he can do on the spot in an impromptu fashion, like tying her sleeves together, so he can move her to an alley and reconvene with the others. Tying the woman up comes first. Taking away any obvious weapons comes second.
Matiscio pushes the limits of how fast he can fly and launches himself at the woman, fist first, hoping that he can catch up to her and use his momentum to deliver a telling blow.
Matiscio tries to follow along the foot of the building, but keeping the woman in sight and moving to a position from which he can keep on following her might become a problem.
From stumbling and bumbling into a wall because the woman's state of invisibility makes it hard to guess where she is, to fumbling the basic techniques of grappling whilst having a solid idea of where she might be: Matiscio is having no luck apprehending the woman.
Matiscio does as Gregor asks, but no matter where his hands go, they find nothing but thin air. "You've got to be kidding me!", the brawler mutters as he unintentionally connects with Gregor.
Matiscio visibly relaxes when Celia reappears. "Good! Now we can cast one more doubt and worry away. Wait, what, really? How did you manage to get that much for it? Color me impressed. We should head back and start working on casting yet another doubt and worry into the sea, but not until I've had something to eat."
I'm not planning on taking the Leadership feat, but the campaign seems to lend itself really well to a cohorts that don't tag along for the adventuring parts of the campaign :) Aliases
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