1. What the heck is your character doing here? How does your character make a living?
Phynn's father is an engineer who travels the countryside, offering his services to those who want them. Phynn accompanies him on his travels as she wishes to learn his trade and follow in his footsteps. The pair have stopped in the village on their way to Zimar, to the south.
3. Describe your physical appearance.
Phynn's skin is dark grey and reflects little light; her hair, the colour of coal, is tied in a braided topknot than runs to her lower back, and like coal, seems to absorb any light that falls upon it.
Her eyes are almond in shape and close-set, reminding those who see her of a predatory bird. Grey, they echo the colour of the rocks from which she comes.
Demeanour: Phynn is a serious girl, especially when it comes to her work, although her sense of humour does come to the surface occasionally, especially when with friends. She's cautious but not a coward. She loves to solve problems of all kinds and takes a great pride in everything she does.
A life underground is a tough one, with all manner of dangers in the shadows, and Phynn never seems to relax; she is constantly moving, constantly on guard.
4. Why help out when the winter comes? Why not leave and flee? Why get involved?
A genuine desire to help. Curiosity.
DM:
A few things:
I'm not sure how the AP starts, and I'd rather not read the Players Guide as I feel they all give too much away, so it's difficult for me to answer question 4. Perhaps we can work it so that Phynn's dad gives her a more-concrete reason to stay (for example, he goes missing.)
The background that I've written gives you an overall view of who Phynn is and where I intend to take her, rather than a specific timeline. It was written for another (higher-level) campaign that never took off.
The combat over, Phynn emerges from her hiding place and, ignoring her wounds, wordlessly falls in behind the gnoll, disappearing into his shadow as he sets off up the trail. The young gnome's tiny form looks insignificant compared to the massive frame of the warrior but, despite the size difference, she has no problems keeping pace and the pair work in tandem to ensure nothing catches the group unawares.
Having seen their opponents ground to dust before her eyes, Phynn relaxes slightly. The threat all but neutralised, she takes the time to swap a few vials around her many pockets and slots on her belt and then to gulp back some water.
As she suspected, Phynn's bombs do little against the stone skins of the terracotta soldiers. Unable to influence the fight in any way, the young gnome withdraws, concealing herself within the remains of the grass monster.
Those around her notice that Phynn's skin has taken on the colours of the surrounding grass.
From her position at the middle of the group, the young gnome starts on a circling run, ending up behind the remains of the shambling mound. Utilising her momentum, she unleashes two of her deadly vials at the mounted soldier, light reflecting off the glass as they arc gracefully through the air.
If they hit (touchAC):
Mounted guy takes full damage.
2x10 damage to those within 5' splash radius (Ref Save vs DC20 for 1/2 dam (for each bomb)).
I've put an icon on the map to show where they were aimed. Remove as and when you've seen it (if you wish).
Additional effect: faerie fire on those hit.
It takes some time for Phynn to recover, having been hammered into the ground in the initial attack. Standing groggily, she urges herself to action and assesses her options, deciding to attack the plant creatures, against which she thinks her munitions will be more effective. Taking a step to the side whilst recovering one of her many glass tubes from its hiding place, the young gnome twists the vial's cork, allowing the two liquids inside to combine and form its lethal payload.
A quick flick of the wrist sends the tube towards its target.
to hit vs touch:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 (std attack)
damage:5d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 2, 5) + 6 = 28
to hit vs touch:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 (hasted attack)
damage:5d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6, 1, 4) + 6 = 20
All damage is fire damage. It's aimed at the top right corner of yellow. Yellow takes full damage. Those in the 6 surrounding squares take 11 damage from each bomb with a ref save (DC20) for 1/2.
Not quite sure what the curious dwarf is saying, Phynn none-the-less understands that something up ahead is causing him some concern. She's just about to request permission to climb onto B'auw's companion - Arau - for a better view, when the landscape to each side suddenly comes to life. Never having witnessed anything like this, all the young gnome can do is stare, wide-eyed, and hope that the grass that surrounds them is tall enough to conceal her or that she can move quickly enough to get out of the way of any attacks. Setting her feet, she makes ready to retreat into the nearby vegetation.
Happy to let her companions discuss tactics, Phynn remains silent but attentive. Once the plan is formed, she, like those around her, makes her last-minute checks. From her pack, she draws and dons several items, the most notable of which is a shirt made of what appear to be, upon close inspection, tiny vertebrae, arranged like the links of mail armour. Around her shoulders she fastens a small black cloak, made from what looks like very fine silk. The loose end gets tucked into her belt. This done, she pulls the pack back on, wriggles it into a comfortable position and tightens the straps.
Her final act, before nodding readiness, is to drink the contents of two small vials. The empty glassware is re-stoppered and placed into a bandolier looping around the young gnome's thigh.
The girl's voice was almost inaudible - getting lost in the echoes of the cavern - and curiously musical, evident even when speaking a language that is obviously not her first tongue.
Still leaning against the cave wall, she'd stopped poking around in her clay pot and had been listening intently to the ideas being proposed.
Her gaze flicks between the individual members of the hastily-formed group as she patiently awaits a response.
Something three feet tall and weighing no more than a sack of grain, standing in a darkened cave amongst burly troops and bulky equipment, is all but invisible.
As the newly-arrived soldiers realise that they have no immediate orders, they disperse throughout the cave, and the 'funny little person', as mentioned by Lieutenant Sarn, is revealed. Whatever-it-is doesn't stand still long enough for observers to get a good look; instead, it moves off to explore the cavern, sticking close to the walls as it goes.
Returning to the area containing the brazier, the creature stops, giving those present a chance to see it more clearly in the light of the fire. The features are feminine; a small mouth and nose sit below the small, almond-shaped dark pools that serve as eyes. Her expression is neutral. Several delicate sleepers of various materials pierce small, gently-pointed ears; her hair - originating solely from the top of her head and tied in a braid that reaches her waist - is the colour of coal. Her skin is the same colour as the surrounding rock and bears the smoothness of youth. The clothing she wears is durable and practical: sturdy boots, dark pants, a dark top, numerous pouches, a well-used dagger at her waist.
She sits in silence, her attention divided between examining the contents of a small clay pot and discreetly scrutinising the people that she's been tasked to work with.
A potion of fly is probably your cheapest one-shot item (750gp) or there's Flying Oinkment that gives a longer duration. It's expensive, but when you need it, it's money well spent. :)
Alternatively, a tree token should prevent fly-by attacks.
In my experience, having a fighter and a paladin in the same party is a luxury. :) I've played tabletop games with no combat characters at all; it simply means that the group needs to look for other ways to overcome obstacles, rather than using brute force. :)
Here's my application. There are a few details missing (feats, spells, etc) that I'll fill in should I be chosen.
Levelling all characters at the same time is a much easier option but I do feel that good/creative RP should be recognised. In my forthcoming tabletop game, I'm looking to use various rewards including skill ranks, rerolls, feats and traits as well as in-game rewards such as minor magic items/gifts, love interests, promotions and followers.
The mechanical benefits wouldn't be used to increase a characters power but to flesh them out a bit. For example, a fighter wouldn't ever get a combat feat but I may, for example, give him Skill Focus: Appraise when assessing armour, depending on the overall character concept and/or the actions performed to gain the reward.
