Meliandri Chastain-Aulamaxa's page

I think it’s time for me to admit that this just isn’t a priority right now. I’ve been on the forums for nearly four years, and the oldest game I’ve GMed is 3 years, 2 months old. I’ve played a lot of cool characters, but my heart just isn’t in it at this point in my life, and it’s unfair to everyone to wait for me to not post, so I’m going to drop my games for the time being.

The games I’m in right now are really cool, and it’s got nothing to do with them, or with their pacing. I’ve enjoyed the different characters and the different players. I’m currently working on dealing with depression, and as I come out of that, with moving into a new career path that’s more fulfilling than what I’m doing right now. I’ve also reconnected with some old friends, and am spending more free time doing things with them.

There may come a time when I’m back on the forums, and when I am, if you’re interested in having me back, I’d love to rejoin. It’s been fun, and I’ll see you all around.

Thanks for the games.

I haven't disappeared. I'm just going through a rough spot. I'm going to take a bit and decide whether I can keep up the pace on this and my other games, especially with a few long trips planned over the summer. I'll keep you updated, but might not be posting today, either.

Mels pulls her hand away from Saul's, putting both it and her other hand on her hip and looking at him severely. "In most circles, it is customary to ask a lady before removing 'er jewelry." She holds the severe look for a moment before her glare cracks into a laugh. "I am just playing. Give it another go."

She offers her hand once again.

Sorry, busy weekend.

Meliandri fidgets with the ring her mother gave her. It spins on her finger just fine, but when she tries to get it over her knuckle, seems to stick there. She gives up and shrugs. "Jewelry often gets stuck. A little soap and water usually works, but I 'ave not 'ad a reason to take it off." She shrugs and grins.

Meliandri shudders. "Do we really want that thing 'anging around our 'ideout? 'E probably does not 'ave the spells prepared for convincing it to be our friend and learning its language, and we cannot trust that it will be secure if we do not 'ave it with us."

Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Meliandri finds her self drifting off, but manages to fight it for a couple of hours. After perhaps nine, however, her eyelids start...just...sort of...drooping...

Sounds fine to me.

I've sort of lost track of where everyone is, and I don't really have any ideas on what to do with Mels. I'm good to move on if everyone else is.

I have a similar situation. I'm going away for the weekend as well. Feel free to bot if you need rolls.

"Watch your tone, Mr. Gibson." Meliandri puts her hands on her hips and glares, then looks at Jhen again. "'Ow about tomorrow at the 'ideout for that swordplay lesson?"

Meliandri looks at Zea incredulously as she offers to let them use her flat. She opens her mouth, fully intending to decline rather than slum it for a night, but changes her mind when she glances at Salonius. "That would be...appreciated. It could save us time and 'elp solve this faster."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

As the party continues to discuss, she takes an opportunity to sidle up to Jhen. "I am so 'appy that you decided to do this. I do not think I 'ave the ability to keep myself safe long enough against whatever it is. Do you give swordplay lessons, by chance?"

Oracle is a spontaneous caster, similarly to a Sorcerer. They learn a limited number of spells, but don't have to prepare a list of spells each day. So with your current list, you could cast Bless 4 times, or each spell 1 time and CLW a second. You trade flexibility with the spells you can cast for less overall selection.

"So they do not patrol 'ere? I wonder if we could find a way to get 'ere through the underground..." Meliandri looks desperately uncomfortable at the thought of calling them sewers. She leans against a wall, thinking, only to be pulled out of her thoughts by Salonius's talking.

"You want me to look like that?" She points at Zea. "Oh no, not for all the gold in my mother's bank." Shaking her head, she backs away.

This might be a good time for that Charm you needed to cast for that professor, if you wanted to.

Meliandri, in spite of her suggestion that they visit, is less-than-comfortable around the teifling, only making eye contact for the briefest of times. When the story is over, she lets Salonius and Fhingle ask a few questions before clearing her throat.

"I 'ave a concern. What were your people doing out with the curfew in place to begin with? Do the dotteri not come 'ere, or do you just not care about them?"

Meliandri's going to have a respectable Use Magical Device score soonish. She could be an alternative carrier, if we wanted that to be a thing.

I always figure that class names describe what your character does to players, but they don't apply to in-character unless you want them to. Like, Salonius is a wizard in both player terms and character terms, but Meliandri is a bard to players but a spoiled noble interested in the opera to characters.

It's a lot like that OOTS strip talking about being a samurai but using levels of monk and paladin to get there, no levels of samurai.

Meliandri taps her fingers on the floor and leans back. "I would carry one of the 'ealing potions, but other than that, the other stuff 'as more value for the party."

Meliandri went into that other game with an on-again/off-again boyfriend, played by my then-girlfriend. The game died before our relationship did. She was more vocal and in charge as a result of the game's pace being a bit slower. But yeah, that group had 5 botanists who were also sleuths!

For reference, this is about where my last Hell's Rebels game stopped, so it's all new territory for me from here on out.

"With no clues, we may 'ave to do some thinking." Meliandri puts a hand on her chin and kneads it, similarly to how a wise man might stroke his beard, as she sits on the stone floor of the basement hideout. "Which groups might Thrune come down 'ard on?"

After a bit, she looks up. "The teiflings 'ave always 'ad a 'ard time in Cheliax. Maybe we should ask them if they need 'elp."

What time of day are we at.

"Ashana, I need you to bring some suitable bedding 'ere from 'ome. I do not think I will be moving back in for a while."

@Salonius: I don't really have any ideas on scrolls yet. Let's hold on to that favor for now.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Survival: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

"I just cannot understand." Meliandri half pay attention to the rubble she's sorting through. "I did not insult the tengus' mothers or something, I only asked a question." She pulls on a few half-scorched beams, trying to see what was below them. "Only dirt and ash."

After a few moments of checking the beams, she moves over to the Victocora Manor's fireplace, or what's left of it. "It is strange that there is nothing 'ere, is it not?"

"What? Was it something I said?" Meliandri watches the tengu leave, then when she's gone, she nods at Rexus's request. "I could go back, as long as I am not going 'ome. Mother will not be 'appy that I brought Ashana 'ere instead of bringing 'er back 'ome."

As she gathers her equipment and straps herself into her armor, she ponders Saul's question. "Maybe you should keep the ring and give 'er false information. Tell 'er I am spending most of my time in Old Kintargo with friends, or something to that effect. The ring seems useful for if we separate." She pauses. "But...'ow does it work?"

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

"I 'ave no idea." Mels responds to Maggie, shrugging her shoulders. "Do you even 'ave sexes?" She turns back toward Rexus and Saul's conversation, then looks back with wide, apologetic eyes. "No, seriously, I thought you laid eggs, so you don not 'ave as much to 'ide from prying eyes." As she talks, she half-listens to Rexus.

Sure I can explain it. Meliandri doesn't consider them ladies in the same way she is. They're more like...when you look at a crow, can you tell the difference? Korva Fushi doesn't display any sort of sexual dimorphism from the art. There's also no need for breasts, since Tengu lay eggs. The description of the race also says "Their skin, talons, beaks, and eyes are similarly colored, and most non-tengus have great difficulty telling individuals apart."

That's without mentioning that Meliandri is a flawed character in that she considers herself human. She's never really had to deal with any sort of racism for being half-elf in part because of her status as a noble. She's also grown up considering herself superior to most other people, and certainly to people who don't look like her. In other words, she's chaotic-neutral and is playing that as someone who's used to having everything she asks for and has a superiority complex because of it.

Besides, I don't care one way or another if Mels gets the little room offset from the bunkroom. I'm just doing what she'd do. She can't go home for very long because she's too busy for responsibility, and she can't stay with Lucca because it's not very comfortable, so she's staking her claim in the hideout.

EDIT: There's also no indication from the map that those rooms are latrines. There's also no evidence that they are from the thread, which means I can only go off of what I can see on the map.

Meliandri wakes up in the basement hideout quite the worse for wear. She hadn't introduced Ashana to Laria the night before, and she'd elected to sleep in the hideout. Of course, she hadn't ever experienced a night without some sort of bedding, and had slept restlessly.

She looks around, then joins Saul and Rexus's conversation. "Well, we could start by trying to find out 'ow different groups are dealing with the new mayor, and then figure out 'ow to ally ourselves with them. Or we could just start causing problems for Thrune. 'Unting 'is followers, trying to disrupt Kintargo's economy. Things like that." She shrugs and pushes hair out of her face. "The back bedroom is mine, since I am the only lady 'ere."

Meliandri wants the little room in the far north of C3, unless that's got some other purpose. I'll move her icon there.

Sounds reasonable.

It should be noted that Charm isn't Mind Control. You can make suggestions, and those suggestions will be viewed as favorably as possible, but you can't make someone do something they'd never do if not charmed.

Feel free to charm me if you'd like. I won't mind.

Meliandri ponders the pile of things. "I think we will 'ave to leave most of it. Maybe we could get the tegu to 'elp tomorrow. In the meantime, we should 'eat back to the Long Roads before curfew." She takes Ashana's hand and starts walking toward the door.

It's not a bad idea. I'm good with doing it.

EDIT: I'm not exactly sure how we're going to get this junk back to the secret lair.

Yeah, it'd be a conflict for sure. She's already planning on dragging Ashana to the hideout (and probably leaving her there, though Laria might object), but people she doesn't know and trust would be a different story.

You can second guess Mels and get more, but right now the challenge is going to be getting all this stuff back to the Long Roads Coffeehouse. If you want to ask for more and make it "masterwork", be my guest.

Meliandri nods and lets Ashana lead her to someone who can help. Once she's found someone, she starts talking. "We need painting equipment. A bucket, several brushes, and a stepladder. Actually, maybe a taller ladder would be useful. And if you 'ave cleaning supplies for paints, that would be useful too."

"It is not about...No one is trying to make you a...She is not the same as you." Meliandri sputters, planting her hands on her hips and glowering at Salonius. "You know what? I would like to see Ashana free, but Cheliax is not the place to make that 'appen. Especially not right now. She is safer like this."

"We should get this over with so we can get the paint to Fhingle and clean up our secret 'hideout." Mels turns on her heel, sashaying back over and taking Ashana's hand. "Show us where to go."

It should be noted that I, personally, disagree with slavery/treating people poorly in general. However, Meliandri grew up with it.

"We may 'ave time for introductions later, when we 'ave arrived at our eventual destination. Right now, though..." Meliandri stops just outside the entrance to the Greens. "You 'ave to take us to wherever it is you buy paint and painting supplies. Now, wait 'ere for a moment, I 'ave to talk to Salonius for a moment."

She pulls Salonius aside, out of easy earshot from Ashana. "Ashana is not Fhingle. Feel free to treat 'er kindly, but remember she is probably going back 'ome tonight or tomorrow. She is not an equal."

"'Salonius can make things taste like other things. For example, 'e is a way for me to keep 'aving my mint drinks." Meliandri interrupts. "Now, if you will excuse us, we 'ave to get on with our jobs so we can 'ave Ashana back before the curfew. It 'as been nice to see you, mother."

Meliandri heads for the door, though she stops if Eldonna insists.

"No, but you might not be 'ome by the end. You can stay with us; we 'ave a place that is safe." Meliandri grabs Ashana's hand and pulls her down the hall. "Now we need to go. And do not say anything to mother."

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

"Aaand I will leave you 'ere while I collect Ashana." Meliandri beats a hasty retreat in the face of her foster mother's look, heading back to her quarters and beginning her search for the halfling.

Once she's found her, she quickly assembles a few additional outfits while whispering to Ashana. "You are coming with my friend Salonius and me. Mother expects you back by curfew. We will 'ave to see if we 'ave finished everything we must do. Now, we 'ave to shop for painting supplies for one of our colleagues, then so some work for a friend. Busy day, much to do, and so on."

"I need 'er to 'elp me with shopping, cleaning up for some friends, and things like that." Meliandri looks at her foster mother. "She was my halfling, and she should still be mine to do with what I want."

"No, I am not going to give 'er 'impressions'. She will 'ave enough without giving 'er more." Mels grins at Salonius. "'Ere we go."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 2 = 21 Asking a favor. The +2 is from Parade Armor.

"As a matter of fact, yes I did. I was out with Lucca for a couple of nights. Then I ran into Salonius Barradin, and 'e kindly offered to escort me 'ome." She gulps, sets her chin, and continues talking to her mother. "I need to borrow Ashana for a while. It could be a few days, or as long as a week or two."

"Maybe you should make Saul younger instead." Meliandri laughs, then pulls herself together. "Listen, I know someone 'o can make this paint stuff 'appen for Fhingle. The problem is that we 'ave to face something more ferocious than grimples, demons, or maybe even Thrune..."

"See, my slave Ashana knows 'o to talk to to get things done, and she is very loyal to me. If we can talk to 'er, she will 'elp us. But we may 'ave to get past my...mother." She steers Salonius toward the Aulamaxa manor.

"Very well." Meliandri thinks for a bit about where to buy the requested painting equipment.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Good luck guys, swarms at low level are FUN.

"One of the artisans did not like what you 'ad to say about Kintargo's policy. You should be careful. In the operas, the villain often learns from informants 'o is out to betray them." Meliandri lets Salonius's arm go. "In a lot of the stories, people use false names. Yes, Fhingle said something about needing...what again?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

"Why yes, I would love a new sword." Meliandri pulls hers out of its sheath. "The filigree on the quillons is a bit chipped in places, and the seal on the pommel is scratched quite badly. 'Owever, unless you 'ave a policy of loans for nobles, I 'ave not enough coins to pay right now. At least, not for anything better than mine."

As she looks around, Mels spots one of the workmen in the back staring. She steps on Salonius's foot and jerks her head toward the door. Grabbing his arm, she presses her body into his. "Aerodus, we 'ave to go. We will be late meeting, uh, Ileyna and Rojir as is. Let us go."

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

"Mels, please, if you 'ave to shorten it." Meliandri looks around for a chair. If she's going to be there for hours, she's going to be comfortable.

Meliandri shrugs as Fhingle ignores her offer of employment. Other opportunities will come around, or maybe other halflings more interested in keeping their lifestyles without being proper slaves. Instead, she stands, slipping her arm into Salonius's and steering him toward the exit. "I could go for some shopping now. Shall we?"

I'd rather take Half+1. Will adjust. Thanks.