I'll make it official - sorry, I don't think I have the energy to keep up and haven't really been able to figure out the build or mysterious stranger personality for Nil, so rather than holding anything back, I'll bow out. Happy gaming!
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Nil throws himself into the construction projects, and shows off a vast breadth of experience in troubleshooting just about every problem the crew comes across, offering expert advice in every case, but just as quickly fading back into the crowd when the physical labor and practical applications commence.
Well-Known Expert:
Well-Known Expert (Ex): The vigilante’s social identity is known as an expert in numerous fields, including areas and topics the vigilante hasn’t actually taken the time to study. As a result the vigilante is skilled at encouraging others to discover solutions to difficult problems themselves by asking probing questions, while appearing to give the information himself. In his social identity, the vigilante can take 10 when attempting to aid another on Appraise, Craft, and Knowledge checks. He also gains a bonus equal to half his class level (minimum +1) on Bluff checks to appear knowledgeable in Appraise, Craft (all), and Knowledge (all).
Tagging back in, I've been very busy with the holidays but will post again shortly.
Nil is released and splashes down into the water. "Oof. Thanks for the healing there, I don't know what came over me. That's embarrassing though, I don't feel like I'm pulling my weight. Will do better." He'll follow underwater as well, keeping a keen eye out for dangers.
Nil sniffs around and a waft of brass polish, pitch, resin, and clay, and his mind goes elsewhere. His eyes search the surface of the water, and his thoughts surface in the link, Why is he HERE? Our arrangement in Absalom is safe. He heads in to investigate.
Nil casts Fly on himself and lifts a few inches off the ground. "I have it handled, but thank you. I'm ready to go."
Nil gives Sefina a nod and a curt smile and rounds to convene with the group. "Ha! I can't imagine seaweed would survive long in endless fire. That's a fine option. Perhaps there's something we could use to bait it out? Let's find a vantage and try to observe it first."
Nil waves at the Neried but doesn't move from where he is. He raises his voice and yells out "Greetings! I can hear from here. I'll keep an eye out to make sure no one else barges in on you bathing, Miss."
Nil stays back and looks around trying to find whatever is going to spring the trap baited by the obvious honeypot. Careful, she could be bait.
This is definitely something that Nil would amusedly think you're wasting time and effort on when the simple solution is life with the ent if you can and get rid of him if you can't, but...if you're going to waste time and effort on it, why not get creative?
Nil thinks into the bond, are there other communities of tree-people on nearby islands, could we relocate him? I can't imagine he'd want to ride on a ship, but perhaps there are other ways.
Nil makes himself scarce just in case. I'll be nearby in case he decides he doesn't like you.
Nil freezes and whispers, "Is it just me or did that tree just wiggle its nose?"
Nil gratefully accepts all the healing, retrieves his sword, and helps stack driftwood. "You weren't lying, no. Thank you for the healing. I admit, crabs are not an opponent I have often faced outside of a food cart, but at least now we wont have to struggle with shell! I think I've thr measure of them now, and...yes. better prepared for next time. Onward then?"
"The crabs! The crabs pinch everywhere!"
Sorry for the delay on my part, will endeavor to post more consistently.
Nil gets thoroughly crabhandled, turned into a human water wiggler, and nibbled by dozens of tiny angry crabs, and he briefly wondered how crabs can be so much harder to kill than people. Clearly, he underestimated them. Discretion is perhaps the better part of valor here. He retreats towards his new companions.
Nil darts out of cover and dashes towards the giant crabs while his new companions engage one. He finds that he misjudged the distance slightly on the sand and he'll come up short before the crab inevitably stops him, so he pivots his plan, swiftly drawing the sword from his scabbard as he moves, a cutlass with a brilliantly bejeweled handle, and he lobs it at the nearest crab. In the frenetic throes of battle, it would be difficult to notice that a different, simpler hilt now extends from the same scabbard he drew the cutlass from.
Casting False Life for Nil follows along with the group, mostly staying quiet but engaging in whatever small talk passes amongst the more familiar peers. As they near the beach and see the amorous crab dance, he gets incredibly quiet and murmurs, "If we're to clear out fauna, I am best off engaging them up close but will be more effective if they do not see me coming. I'll be close by, and I'll move on your mark." With that, he tries to slink quietly off into the bushes.
"Fly? I can when the need arises, although I daresay I'm no expert in aerial maneuverability. I'll make sure I'm able tomorrow. Any other requests, or dangers I should be able to overcome?"
"Well, good to be aboard, Captain!" He smiles widely, thinking to himself of the absurdity of this group, skilled as they may be and himself included, charging into the Crimson Citadel, but he doesn't voice that joke aloud. "The mission is beasts, eh? Making the island more habitable, I take it. Very well then. We can go presently, I came only with what I carry and I have all that I need."
I think I had mentioned that I had built Nil with a Raktavarna rakshasha improved familiar, who was disguised as the big bejewled sword. With Dorian dropping, who I was going to use as corroboration on Nil's sob story, I think it makes less sense for him to have any other reason for y'all to reject him like carrying an evil familiar around, so I think if y'all are okay with a minor behind-the-scenes retcon, I'll shell out for a masterwork cutlass as his "decoy" sword, and he'll currently be familiar-less, having recently parted ways with his raktavarna companion. I'd still like to stick with the general backstory that he broke with the red mantis when he discovered upon meeting his last target face-to-face that they were a childhood friend or love, he refused to follow through, and that caused him to rethink his life.
Nil eyes the group for a moment and weighs his options. He could try to fade into the background, let them search him - they likely wouldn't find anything, even a trace of magic. But they might. And Nil wasn't here to make enemies. He was here to beg asylum, help even. So honesty - even if it wasn't total, complete honesty, was probably the best policy here. Nil returns the grin and rests a hand on the bejeweled sword hilt. "Canny you are! I am no captain, no Chelaxian, or even a pirate of any note, but I have made my livelihood by my blade - what soldier of fortune hasn't? I have found myself at loggerheads with a previous employer, one who you'd rather not know, I think. We disagreed over granting mercy to one I made a choice not to kill despite my employer's express command. So I have sought out a crew who is capable, who may stay on the move, and who I estimate will not ask me to make a similar terrible choice again. I do not seek to bring trouble to your doorstep - I have taken steps to cover my tracks, I do not think I was followed, and I believe that my former employer would not seek retribution against any but myself. If they present themselves, I will tell you more of them and what to expect. But unless and until then, I amend my request - grant me a bunk, asylum as it were, and a modicum of trust, and I and my blade will help you as we are capable, with might, spells, or cunning, all of which I estimate I can supply more so than your common sailor."
"Well, nice to meet you all. Esteemed company! I, uh..." he accepts the offered drink and glances around a bit with a hint of paranoia. "Convenient to have your own islands, I'd say. If all goes well? Is it in some dispute? And do you spend much time here, or are you moving around on your ship most of the time? And if the drinks are here, care to show me around?"
Nil seems a bit taken aback and uncomfortable being approached so directly, but the discomfort passes quickly and he greets Veronica with a practiced easy grin. "It's a pleasure, Captain Blackblade. I'm Nil. My friend Arkhan is..." He glances about. "Well, he was right here. We're a couple of able hands looking for work who can help with anything you need assistance with, on a boat or otherwise. And aye, we'll take that drink." Nil is a wiry half-elf with a bit of scruff, dressed in plain work clothes cut for the tropical heat, and he's fairly unadorned except for a bejeweled cutlass in a scabbard strapped to his belt. He looks and smells all the worse for wear from a long and harried journey.
Wow, I am sorry I let this linger for so long. Here's my character! He's a 10th level Cabalist Vigilante with 1 level of Red Mantis Assassin that I do not plan on taking any further - he has left the order and is rethinking his life. I have spells figured out. I had specced him out with a Raktavarna familiar, but that sort of familiar is NOT going to be happy with the new turn that his life has taken, so I can either take that loss and finding a new familiar as a roleplaying moment to come, or figure out a new one and start with it, I don't much mind either way. |