Pava / Nips at Heels's page

"Another burning two-hander?" Pava looks on with distaste at Agnar's chosen weapon. "To each as they choose, I suppose."

Sideface on with the tension of one waiting for the handkerchief to drop, Pava professionally sizes up the crusader as though they actually had a rapier at their hip instead of a cut-down klar on one arm. "I'm Pava, Nips at Heels on Quah business, which hopefully will not be the case. Sounds as though you might not be caught up on all the latest gazettes: No I'm not the last descendant of Galstak Sevendeaths; no I'm not here scouting for when I sweep the Plateau of all its warriors and bring them back to claim righteous vengeance. Do you name all your swords? Or just whichever one's biggest?"

"He probably won't mind if we use this in our efforts to find and free him. Heck, we might even have "Blackjack" himself make an appearance. Anyone fancy being a masked vigilante? Well, another masked vigilante in your case, Shrike."

"We could at least see if the man's dead before squeezing into his pants,"Pava complains. "Unless there's some reason to attempt the disguise later, of course."

"Wait - those're Blackjacks real togs? Not just some ratty bits from Ven's boudoir?"

They search their party members' faces for confirmation. "Well don't look at me like that. 'Lina tells me stories from work is all."

"Can't say as I'm certain who the mantis was talking about, though it sounds like The Painter is a man, so no need to trouble ourselves about Mlle. Sabor. May as well take a poke around across the street though, yeah? Give Soldier Boy a chance to see what tracks can be seen."

Knowledge (Local) (Painters): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Well, no worse, but no better

Welcome! I think taking levels away from clericky goodness for a few skill points is probably not worth it - it seems like Agnar's gonna fit in just fine anyways.

Pava's smile is invisible behind their illusory mask, just as their dagger is tucked out of sight. "Good tips mate. I expect that's just what we'll do."

A quick thrust of their dagger puts an end to the interrogation.

"Well, decision time. We've got answers to a few questions, including some I didn't ask out loud: There are more Red Mantises about; he was expecting them to show sometime today. So then, ambush the ambushers and hope that's an end of it? Or get out of here now that we know we weren't the ones being hunted?"

A raspy chuckle slithers out of Pava's mask. "Do you have a plan beyond the Mantis God's favor? Where would you pursue them that would make them vulnerable enough to one who has already failed?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

"Fine, fine. Give us the magic hat instead of the dead one's gear, yeah? I'll bug up, but I'd rather not find out the kind of fleas that live on their kind.."

As they await the assassin's awakening they hop back and forth, shaking the tension out of their long limbs before squatting down in a menacing hunch to loom in the peripheral vision of their target.

A growled whisper flattens the accent from their voice as they ask, "Why do you still live? Has the Mantis God spared you in your failure? Or do you think that success may still lie before you?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

"No harm in leaving one more mantis alive I suppose. Can't imagine they'll be much of a chatterbox without already thinking we're their friend..." Pava trails off with a look to Shane. "Got any tricks for that, Acadamae?"

Pava twists past the Mantis with a spinning backfist, a challenging smirk plastered across their face to hide their own dread. "Red Mantis, eh? You sure you can live up to the name?"

Acrobatics (half speed): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Free Feint
Punch (Risky, Flank, vs. Sneak Attack): 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 1 = 27
Magic Bludgeoning+Precision: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 3d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 6 + (4, 5, 2) = 24 And Sickened for 1 round
Dazzling/Motivating Display: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 Lol.

Pava sighs. "Mates, far as we know someone's just standing around upstairs and left a fire lit. Yeah, it could be someone playing a wicked handgame, but could equally be someone else came here looking for Ven who's worried about us coming to call."

They stop hunching down, unfolding their long limbs as they rise to their full height. "Pull me out if I step in it, yeah?"

Planning to head up and knock on the door where the auras are concentrated if they get that far

"I can yell pretty loud for them to show themselves." They grin wickedly. "With Acadamae's help, shouldn't be too taxing to sneak in though, yeah? Get a look with eyes and all?"

A pit opens in Pava's gut. Conjuration sounds like the worst kind of Acadamae business. "He never ensorcelled anything where I could see. Doesn't mean I couldn't be surprised."

"If a mob came calling, a rapier's not the weapon to chase them off if words failed him." Pava replies grimly. "Can't see as he'd rather drench the steps in blood to protect the building in any case. He might not have put up a fight by his own choice if the ones doing the burning were the right sort."

They sigh. "Stinks of Sabby a bit though, don't it? The house being untouched and all. Most mobs aren't quite so discerning about looting only the one building if the other's unguarded as well. Feels like orders. Smoke in the chimney though..." They scratch at an ear looking puzzled. "Not the choicest way to lie in ambush. Might not be Ven, but let's keep our blades slower than our tongues, yeah?"

"And since Sable Company has been disbanded, I guess I'm officially a civilian as well...although Pava can keep calling me Soldier Boy. They have this thing about names...a Shoanti custom, as I understand it...What moniker would you like to use for our new friend here, Pava?"

"Can't be forcing a sobriquet, Soldier Boy. Bad luck and worse manners. It'll come."

"Rest up Acadamae, yeah?" Pava says with cheer layered thick over top of their urge to move Now. "No reason to go getting in a spot of trouble with your quiver empty, and when we don't know exactly where we need to look, far better to save the quick stuff for when we're legging it."

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"Might be that bringing a few swatches of cloth in different colors could help us traverse matters as well. Old Korvosa's been shut up together in the midst of an awful mess. That binds people together, yeah, but it's even easier to bind them together against someone else."

Pava bristles as always on the grounds of the Citadel. Marshal's not the worst of the worst, but still can't get too cozy...

"What can we do for you Kroft?" they ask as they face her side on, chin up. "I'll tell you for free that bows with slightly more draw weight than Sable Company standard are at a premium for some reason, but if you ask nice, I could keep an eye out?"

Nips at Heels looks off into the distance. "Yeah... Just got to get them first."

Hiya Ethelinda/Jeremy - glad to have you! Sounds like tactical things are mostly sorted (and as a cleric, it's much easier for spell selection to be adjusted over time than for pretty much anyone else!)

Pava's meant to be pretty good at not requiring flanks or other assistance at landing sneak attacks, but I'll never be sad if you make it easy on me :-)

Otherwise, they're certainly not a full tanky-type, but they're quite comfortable on the front lines anyways, and they enjoy tossing on a few extra debuffs in passing (Sickened and Shakened mainly, but when they can't land damage, they're happy to focus on maneuvers instead).

Within the city Pava (or Nips at Heels among the Shoanti) is known as an agitator, organizer, and bladeless bravo; they hang a shingle out in Old Korvosa (when they can get to it) where the hard on their luck know they can find help from those who can spare it, or coin from those who don't need it - both of which Nips at Heels is practiced in securing.

Primary NPCs they deal with are: their fiancee* Natalina (also connected to Jessica and the Dockside Doxies), a whole passel of their relatives in the Shoanti diaspora, Thousand Bones and his deceased grandsons (Gaekhen and Guitonga), and their erstwhile tutor Vencarlo Orsini who got them linked up with the group in the first place.

*it's complicated

If Jeremy's not free, maybe we could reach out to players in other games we are in. Pretty sure that's how we got Shane and Elric.

::cough:: and Pava/Nips at Heels ::cough::

Really sorry it won't work out Kandru, but I'm really glad you're making the right choice for yourself.

As to a new divine caster - it's nice as a story lead-in that now our merry band is starting to get known as a Not Openly opposing force to the Queen just as she's getting more openly... monstrous.

Of course they could just have a tie or ties to the rest of the party, but like El says, it's a good moment in the story

"Hells. That's... Thought she'd have, errm..." Pava trails off, stunned by Zellara's report. "That's dirtier than I'd've expected to see her own hands." Their eyes suddenly snap to Elric. "Call it Soldier Boy, what can be salvaged, who needs hiding?"

Zellara pauses before speaking about the last card, a shudder passing through her ethereal form. "This... has great importance, I feel. The card of the Rakshasa is in direct opposition, as old as you are young, enslaving and dominating where you are free-spirited. Beware those who would seek to control others, or manipulate you to their own ends. Of all the cards revealed tonight, this one carries the greatest weight in your near future."

Can't say as I would have been exactly playful with manipulative tyrants Nips at Heels pointedly does not say to the spirit before them. "Enslaving and dominating isn't quite hard to come by at the moment, but the woman I'm thinking of isn't exactly a crone..." They shrug, trying to play off the awesome dread that Zellara evinces by her simple presence. "Any elves on her majesty's payroll?"

Is Pava/Nips at Heels meant to not be at this meeting?

It's a hectic time for sure, but I can be tersely present at the very least :-)

Okay, Pava's purchases and donatives will be a Holy Amulet of Mighty Fists (+0), upgrading their Cloak and shield part of their klar to a +2. They'll also be playing into the rumors surrounding their klar to use it as masterwork tools for intimidation, getting Shane access and materials to learn Greater Magic Weapon, and snagging a couple Potions of Heroism for when they know Will saves be at even more of a premium.

For a relic... would doing something with their tattoos work? The tattoos from their Quah are usually meant to bestow speed and freedom if that's enough direction?

Pending approval on some gear things (nothing I'm expecting to have to rethink, but always better to avoid assumptions if there's time, and some of it's tied to a particular vignette) - I think I'll be able to get Pava's downtime/rumors up tomorrow, but it's a busy time of year, so it might stretch into the weekend.

Mm. Would it be kosher to pay the copy fee (and inks etc) for GMW out of the Goods and Services budget? e.g. A grateful Wizard agrees to loan their book over to Shane?

Well I'll certainly get Shane the scroll - maybe if Elric (or whoever) wants to keep piling on Enhancement alternates we can split a Pearl of Power to make that slot a twofer.

I went ahead and doffed Pava's disguise back at the Safehouse, so I think I'm just awaiting the cashout to do their shopping

Pardon if I misread and am answering the wrong question or missing something...

Well, Shane doesn't have that spell otherwise he could gladly put it in his book (assuming rolls were made) and cast it as one of his third level spells now and then, on Pava sure. I'm looking at the loot and don't see it on a scroll or anything. Pearl of Power or no (I do have one for 2nd level but that wouldn't affect things here) I don't think I or Shane would object to keeping that in his memory as a rule. Problem with buying a scroll of it is I still MIGHT fail a Spellcraft roll (Have to be low) and the scroll go poof rather than in the spellbook.

But he's surely try.

---
Speaking of which, Shane is very likely to inscribe the Teleport Scroll in his book(Which has the same risk of failure and loss) unless someone else is calling dibs on that scroll.

I think adding spells to your spellbook is less risky than that if I understand it correctly. Firstly, I think the scroll doesn't go poof on a failure

If the spell was from a scroll, a failed Spellcraft check does not cause the spell to vanish.

But in any case, since there would hopefully not be any external risks or distractions, shouldn't you be able to take-10 and guarantee a pass? A risk from failing a test doesn't disallow it, otherwise you wouldn't be able to take-10 on climb checks.

Taking another level in Brawler for some more sneak attack, and also picking up Enforcer - Pava will really start putting some people to flight if they can stick an Intimidate check!

Shane, quick question - it's more cost effective for Pava to get casts of Greater Magic Weapon when they're pursuing Enhancement bonuses - especially as we keep leveling up! I'd gladly grab a Pearl of Power for your use, but that only really helps if you don't mind that slot being tied up in the first place. Dunno if there's someone else in the party who'd benefit.

Wait - Lavender's fake cure was gonna kill **how** many people?!?!?!?

Pava will sit and scribe and complain about hand cramps, sure!

Pava nods seriously. "Sounds a plan then, Acadamae. Remember, if something or someone comes after you, ghost and run, yeah? No heroics."

"It's true!" Pava says, too loudly for how close they are to Kroft. "The Queen's Physicians, maybe even the Gray Maidens themselves were infiltrated by a cult devoted to spreading the Blood Veil! Vampires, worshipers of the Pallid Princess, a Nidalese poxsmith - all lurking beneath their very noses! How fortunate for the Queen that brave heroes rooted out this nest of vermin before they could claim yet more lives!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

"Not as though they don't know what we found, yeah?"

Great, love it, just wanted to make sure we didn't have overly conflicting plans :-)

Pava's basic plan to get out btw is to play up that we're heroic do-gooders who found a foul nexus of corruption that has infiltrated and/or suborned the city's elite.

So... actually mostly telling the truth, but with a built in excuse to take that doesn't leave 'Kill them so no one hears about this' as their best option!

"Oh, oh, burn it. Murder Bird - wait a drip! Don't start the lift now, yeah? We still want to make sure there's nothing left behind for them in the leech's lair? Getting back down after the 'rightful authorities' have shown might be even harder the second time, and for much less reward."

I think that was a good plan Elric, but with Maidens everywhere I think we've gotta take care of the sweep now.

"Hells. I think we can talk our way out of this if we do it right, but if we scarper, they're not going to leave anything behind for us to find. If we're giving the leech's chambers a good once over, it's got to be now."

Fine by me :-)

Pava opens their mouth, considers how keen the leech's hearing seemed and gives Shane a dismissive shrug instead.

CLW: 7d8 + 7 ⇒ (8, 7, 2, 1, 8, 2, 8) + 7 = 43 29 charges remaining

Yeah, I may not be doing more than glancing at threads till Monday - busy weekend

Ah, if it's not like Contagion where the DC drops after initial infection, then we probably just want Kandru to cast it tomorrow

"The leech claimed the coffer wouldn't lead to more bloodshed," Pava says with doubt in their voice. "We could just run for it though, if we didn't want to fight. His minions are dead, and it's a lot of legwork to kill us in our beds. Could threaten to break the coffer if he doesn't do a better job explaining what he'll use it for. Or just one of us could go in and do that..." Their voice is quicker, more uncertain as Pava goes through a list they clearly don't love.

Pava doesn't comment on the news that Shrike isn't infecting them, but their shoulders relax in unspoken relief. "Trusting you on that, Soldier Boy. Maybe we take a mage-bath before dragging any bleeding wounds near the leech as well," Pava adds drily.

Pava gives a ragged smile at Shane's words. "Don't sell yourself short, that veil you put on me worked a trick, and-" They see Shrike sicken. "Hells. Hang on a drip, Murder Bird. We'll get you sorted." Pava shoots a glare at Shane and Kandru. "Acadamae? Mme. Lostling? It got in her through the mask, will ours let us help her?"

Pava lays into the undead horror with a grim smile affixed to their face, bone weariness blunting their fear.

Risky Strike
Unarmed: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 24
Magic Bludgeoning + Precision: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 + (4, 1) = 19 And Sickened 1 round
Unarmed: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 31
Magic Bludgeoning + Precision: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 3d6 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 + (5, 5, 1) = 27
Unarmed: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 11

"Over here," they croak. A cork clatters to the ground next to Kandru and they take an almost impossibly long swig from a vial.

Potion of CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 = 7 Round 6

They sigh wearily and haul themselves to their feat, appearing in the midst of refastening some of the straps of their klar. "A good job that Lady Despair taught her, else she might not have surpassed us in biting off more than she could chew." Round 7 (just in case)