I feel like I've just posted a novel and moved on. I'm really interested in getting in on this so if there's anything else you'd like to know about Gaspar (or how I write), please feel free to let me know. :D
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Still working on getting the crunch appropriately laid out (so if you look at the profile, there may currently be a few discrepancies). Otherwise, I hope you like Gaspar! Physical Description:
Gaspar is a pretty man, no doubt. Particularly for a thirty-something year old half-elf. Standing at 5'10" and weighing in at 178 lbs, he isn't particularly large or small - whether you're judging him as a human, and elf, or a half-elf. When he's the clothing that he's made to wear in the company of nobles, his physique seems fairly unremarkable. His musculature, while very toned and well structured, isn't particularly bulky or noteworthy making it difficult to size him up accurately when he's wearing the baggier and showier courtier's clothing. When he's wearing his standard attire, however, there is a lot more room to move and a bit more skin showing. His shoulders are about as broad as an average human tapering to a thinner waste, but still what might be considered only a little thinner than average for a human. His muscles are very well defined from the endless practice and acrobatics. His biceps, and indeed arms in general, are no larger than average, but every detail can easily be made out throughout his arms which is what can also be said about his chest, back, and torso. Gaspar's skin is a light - almost golden - brown color. While a little lighter than many of the humans that hail from Osirion, no doubt a result of his obvious elven heritage, it is still very clear to any who see him that he is from a sunnier place than Brevoy. His hair and small bit of chin hair are a solid midnight black, but his eyes are strangely an icier blue color that contrasts heavily with his skin and hair. His ears are clearly pointed, but obviously too small to belong to a full blooded elf. His jaw is square and strong, leading to his somewhat larger chin. Though large, his chin manages to not seem bulbous and just accents his long face. He has a somewhat long, but narrow nose that's quite proportional to his face. Background: Osirion. The land of pharaohs. It was a much different place than many other nations. There were men, there were kings, and there were gods, but for the people of Osirion the line between king and god was blurred by the pharaohs. Throughout the vast history of one of the oldest nations, it wasn’t so much that the rulers had fooled their subjects into believing that they had divine power, no. It was that they had convinced them that they were divine. Each ruler down the line had mighty shoes to fill and being the one to receive that kind of power… you had to want it, nay, need it if you expected to get anywhere. You had to cast aside any ideas of traditional morals and you had to put yourself and your people first. Being the pharaoh was a titanic task to be sure, but to live in his shadow was to take on his responsibilities without that kind of divinity. That’s where some people are, standing in the penumbra of his shadow. That’s where Gaspar Khemet, son of the pharaoh, the Ruby Prince Khemet III was born. Not as a potential heir to the divine throne, but as a son cast aside by trivial tradition. Forever beneath the oppressive expectations of the king but just outside the reach of his status. That’s the fate of the bastard son of a pharaoh.
It was about thirty-four years ago when Gaspar was conceived. Things are a bit different in Osirion when it comes to this sort of thing, especially if your name is Prince Khemet III. He not only has a wife, he has wives. He also has an entire harem to suit his more exotic desires and not just any woman gets to be in the Ruby Prince’s harem. It’s a prestigious place for women to be in that society that elevates them to noble status. Not only are bastards not looked down upon, they’re expected. They’re treated as nobles just like any other. Though, of course, they aren’t held to the esteem that the pharaoh’s actual children are. That’s the position Gaspar’s mother Keerla Amaranthian was born into. Glorious or not, that’s how her life was made easier. That’s how Gaspar’s life began. He straddled the fence between the world of royalty and the world of commoners just as he did between elves and men. Being the only child that Keerla had ever came to bear, his infancy was easy. Gaspar was sheltered until he was a child old enough to consider the differences between him and the positions of other children. It was at that time that things changed. He was raised nearly exclusively by his mother, which wasn’t to say that Khemet III had no part on his childhood. Being the man that he was, he was excessively busy. Any of his excess time would go to his actual sons and, even if he did find time to mentor his bastards, he certainly had more than one of those. Gaspar was jealous of other children for having a father in their life, but his mother would always tell him “Even if you never hear him say it, your father is proud of you.” “But mommy, how do you know?”
When Gaspar was old enough to play on the street with the other children, he took every responsibility. He had a number of friends who would constantly get into mischief with him and he loved it. Three friends of his were the only ones that stuck with him into adulthood and understood that he didn’t place himself above them just because of his status or his blood. One such friend was named Ali, a human boy now approaching middle age. He was the biggest and the strongest of the four of them. Gaspar’s fondest memories of him are as a teenager when he would always stand out and try to spin a tale to the guards when they’d inevitable try to chase down the four of them so the other three could escape. “Remember that one time I told the guards that someone had caught my cat on fire and that’s why we needed to make off with the well water?”
Another friend was a fellow half-elf girl named Solana. Back then they had a larger group of friends although these four were the tightest. When they reached the teenage years, Solana was the source of more drama than any of them would like to admit now. Especially Gaspar. More than a couple of times did they fight over who would marry her, though little did they expect that it would end up being none of them. Gaspar isn’t even sure she ever found out how he really felt about her when they were young. Among the four of them, she was the only one who studied magic. She wasn’t very good at it at the time, but she’d always tell them of the daydreams she’d have about being a famous Osirion bard one day. The last friend that Gaspar still has from all those years ago is a Halfling named Valhorn. Gaspar was always the quickest of his friends, but Valhorn was the most cunning. His words were like Gaspar’s feet and wit were like Ali’s sword. Being almost the only Halfling in the city, though, he got into trouble for more stuff than he actually did, which was really saying something. He needed that wit if he expected to make it in Osirion.
That’s what was engraved in elven on the ring that was given to Gaspar when he became of age. When he was finally considered a man. He was held to human standards, so he was a little young still to be held to those sorts of responsibilities. He wanted them though. He was living in the shadow of one of the greatest men in the world and he wanted to go off into the kingdom to show what he could be worth. What his father knew about him wasn’t enough. He became a traveler, leaving his mother and his friends behind. He wasn’t yet ready to leave Osirion, but was ready to explore. Just before leaving, he was given a masterwork scimitar to be his training weapon and to use if he did get into any altercations. He still carries the sword, but it’s so worn that it’s not worth being called masterwork anymore. It’s just worth being called Gaspar’s. It didn’t take him long in his own thoughts to embrace the half of himself that he’d been ignoring; his elven side. He felt rushed like his human heritage, but he finally began to envy elves – envy his mother. He was behind if he wanted to be able to emulate them like he would need to properly. In his few year tour of Osirion, he met many people. Many elves. They taught him how to achieve grace with time to the best of their ability and he grew obsessed. He practiced constantly. Even as a child he was talented at acrobatic pursuits, but from this point forward it was all he cared about to perfect his balance of body and mind. Well, aside from making sure that he could live up to his name.
It was the first time he’d heard anyone in his family speak in almost half of a decade and it was his father. A memory that Gaspar will never forget is the greeting he received after leaving the city to find himself. He knew his father cared, but it was easy to get skeptical. After getting back, he was introduced more and more into noble society. It wasn’t easy for him. He had to do what he could to seem proper for that company, but none of it felt right to him. And it made him no friends. He lost most of his friends during this time, most of whom jus chalked him up to becoming another noble brat. Only his closest stayed. He also made an enemy during this time. Hasib Ahmad was a fellow bastard of Khemet that had been raised in somewhat close proximity to Gaspar. Growing up, Hasib chose to take the name of his human mother over the name of the Ruby Prince. As time went on, Hasib grew to hate the pharaoh and even went out of his way to publicly speak against him. Just a few years before the start of the campaign, Hasib arranged an assassination attempt against Khemet III. The attempt was easily quashed, but Gaspar took it upon himself to hunt down Hasib. They had a short physical altercation before Hasib was able to sneak away leaving Gaspar injured. Hasib swore he’d get revenge on Gaspar for his involvement in the resistance against his assassination attempt, but he’s not been seen or heard from since.
Was the last thing Gaspar heard his father say before he finally left for Brevoy. The first time he set out for anywhere outside of Osirion. His father had heard though the network of nobles that there was an opportunity for rising people of note. Gaspar, likely being his favorite bastard after the incident with Hasib, was chosen to be the Ruby Prince’s representative. Gaspar was happy to oblige. He thanked his mother, easily the most influential person in his life, and bid her farewell. “This certainly isn’t the last you’ll hear of me, mother!” he said with a certain boom in his voice “Next you hear from me, I’ll be a someone. Not just some noble brat or over-hyped acrobat.” “I know that’s true, Gaspar. You know I do.” “It’s just good to hear it, even if I’m a man now.” “'To my son; I love you. From your father; I am proud. If we don't say it, this means it.” The last thing Gaspar did before leaving for Brevoy was smile at his mother and twist the ring on his hand.
Hopping in again to say that Gaspar would be just fine with the former of these options. :P
No way I'm not recycling this almost 5,500 word bad boy anywho. XD I'mma hop off here unless anyone else has questions about the experience or any such and give the discussion over to the players and GM now.
Gaspar is now one of my favorites, but it'll be hard to play him without gestalt and a pretty high point-buy because of how I made him.dude, i'm a str/con kobold, I literally could not have played this character under other character creation rules. XD Yeah, that's perhaps a bit worse. XD Still, monk is MAD as is. Even with this point-buy, Gestalt is the only thing that was keeping the idea running. Without it I'd need strength too. The concept demands a decent charisma and nerfing my con would hurt as a front-line combatant. That's beside the point though, I'm sure there will be other Golarion set gestalt games with decent point-buys. And Gaspar will be there to make his poppa proud. :P
Yeah, it was loads of fun. The cut off was just... I don't know, it was bad. Probably because it WAS so much fun. Gaspar is now one of my favorites, but it'll be hard to play him without gestalt and a pretty high point-buy because of how I made him. I just have to keep a look out. Also makes me really wonder where I went wrong (in the 'what could I do better?' and not the 'wah you didn't pick me' kind of way). I'm not sure how to make that any better on those of us that did devote hours to the recruitment, so it is what it is. Any way you spin it, it was certainly better than submitting a character and waiting (and wondering if the GM will get your concept just by looking at your sheet).
Considering who all is here, I would offer to run the AP with some of you... If I had it. Future thoughts. Future thoughts.
So... much... work... Oh well, I can recycle the story. Have fun, everyone!
Gaspar watches in amazement at the actions of Lord Alystair. Inspiration flowed into him as he quickly got up and made his way over to Jonathan and the half-orc , helping them to their feet and allowing them to use him as a crutch to get them behind Alystair's light. "I will stand with you!" Gaspar called out with renewed vigor in his voice. "We all will stand with you if I have a say in the matter!"
Gaspar looked around after those words at those who begin buckling with pain. 'I just had the ale...' Holding his ground and unsure of if any attacks would be useful, Gaspar prepares to defend himself. "What evil monstrosity..." He waited to see the effects of Cassandra's attacks before making any rash decisions. There are those who know about these sorts of things. Then there's Gaspar.
I know I said otherwise during the RP earlier, but Gaspar is TOTALLY going to worship the crap out of Irori. How did I forget about you, oh perfect deity for my character. mostly @Iawas since we briefly discussed it earlier.
I look away for an hour, and what happens? I'm not even sure at this point. XD
Gaspar turned toward the healer who was helping Jamahzin from before. "Yes, but I'm not certain of where the Lord Alystair is... Giving a few moments to continue looking around, Gaspar continues. "This place is truly a mess. I d--"
Gaspar's head shot around to look at the barmaid now. Until now, he had been all but ignoring the commotion in his search for Lord Alystair. He had heard the shot, but saw no changes. Not even any evidence that the shot had missed. Gaspar quickly made his way over the table and to the location of Jamahzin near the halfling. "Friend, I think there's something more at play here." He readies himself to stop the halfling girl with a trip if necessary, preparing himself just as the dragon-person had. He positioned himself at the greatest vantage point for such a maneuver. "Where's Lord Alystair?" It was clear that Gaspar was trying to draw a connection between the Lord's absence and this strange... creature.
We've got a few hours before the deadline if I'm not mistaken. About to get groceries, then polish my application some. Make it shiny. If you need me to stop at a certain point, GM, so you can look at it and know it's not going to change anymore just lemme know.
Before this incident...
Up to speed... Gaspar, still awkwardly standing on one of the barroom tables in a squatted pose, straightened up and hops down to the floor dusting his maybe less-than-fancy-now clothing off. "Now, now. That's a bit of a conclusion you have jumped to, lady. You seem to know a whole lot more about what has happened here than anyone else. I suggest you yell us what has happened here."
Initiative is normally like this: 1. Party that beat the baddies
Etc... Usually. Not always. Keeps things simple and initiative matter ing without making everyone wait on each individual person.
@Thirrion No, but you will want to show your work in your character sheet. Explain what all of your traits and feats do and give a break down of how your skills have the given bonuses. That sort of thing.on that note, do you think mine are clear enough? I agree with Norvallen. You can't be too careful. I'd make sure the GM can easily figure out precisely from where everything is coming. I'd describe the effects of any feats or traits you have and (I was extra picky myself) exactly from where they come. In my case, for example, I have six feats at level 1. At first that sounds ludacris, but then you read that one is my level 1 feat, another is the bonus feat he gave us, then Skill Focus for being half-elf, then a bonus monk feat, weapon finesse for being a rogue, and finally stunning fist for being a monk. It helps, I think, to point out where I got all of those so that the GM isn't just like "why the heck does this person have six feats?"
"Lord Alystair!" Gaspar twisted, lept, and springed his way onto a table near where he remembered Lord Alystair being, checking the floor all around him. He hoped that being on a table would help keep him out of the reach of the monsters. "We must make sure the Lord is safe. Good thinking, Zartana." Gaspar could feel his opportunity slipping through his fingers if something had happened to Lord Alystair, so he he searched frantically.
@Thirrion No, but you will want to show your work in your character sheet. Explain what all of your traits and feats do and give a break down of how your skills have the given bonuses. That sort of thing.
Gaspar rejoined with Iawas, the human woman that had just healed the bard, and the bard. His scimitar was still out. He did what he could to be sure no creatures interfered while the injured bard was recovering. He spoke, almost stumbling over his Teldane words; "What do we have here? What do we do? Here?" He looks around the tavern and smiles now seeing that the small lizard man was waking up. Gaspar felt accomplished for once.
Yeah, it'd make for an abrupt sad story if Gaspar dies here. I hope it doesn't happen.
Well I'm happy. Finally finished my application. Might still toy with the backstory and add little bits until the GM tells us to stop. Just glad I finally got the backstory out. :P
Round 11 IS after a straight minute of combat. I'd hate to make things too confusing on the GM. I'm starting to think it may be a good idea to see what Aqua Thor has to say about what happens after said combat. I'm having a blast. I'd love to run around and try to help everyone, but I want to make sure that's cool with the GM. This is still the recruitment stage after-all.
I just coup de graced Fennik's If you'd like to join forces, I am now at the beginning of round 8. I just didn't want them waking back up. :P
Gaspar makes his way over to the sleeping creatures and prevents them from waking up any time soon. He strikes each in the back of the head using the heel of his foot.
His first strike doesn't quite do the trick, waking the creature up. It gets up from its prone condition in hopes of attacking Gaspar, but he's able to react by attempting to cut into it with his scimitar.
Slicing into it and putting it out of the fight for good. He goes back to the other creature and is more careful about stomping its spine to put it out for good.
After the strike, the creatures appeared to have stopped moving altogether.
I'd like a teammate too. I'm not nearly as capable without a flanking buddy.
Holy crap, psionics. I thought we were talking about the hex. Carry on then. :P
I have to say, between this combat, my other PbPs, and typing up Gaspar's backstory, this is a very Pathfinder heavy day for me. I'm having loads of fun. @Jonathan That's what I thought. Sleep can affect multiple targets and Slumber says it acts like sleep, but it also says that you designate a creature. That says one to me, not however many creatures happen to be in a 10 ft burst. You know, with the no HD limit.
My rolls have been pretty good. Not super fantastic, but above average. That critical though! :P It's okay, Gaspar's getting a confidence boost. XD
Well here I am thinking Slumber only affects one creature. Have I been doing that wrong my whole Pathfinder career? Edit: Also, I'm thinking I'll help Veronica next. Provided the GM is fine with me continuing to fight.
I'm trying, I'm trying! Gaspar is now at round 6 and still pretty much kicking. Saved Jamahzin I think. :P Edit: Pun not intended. XD
Glancing around the room now, Gaspar notices the lizard creature fall to the ground flanked by the creatures. Gaspar made his way over to the creatures threatening him and maneuvered his way to the more healthy one in hopes of stunning him with a quick punch to the head. He had to perform a roll and a jump to avoid an attack from the weaker creature.
Gaspar applies a quick and forceful punch straight to the beast's cranium. He could feel it crack under the pressure of the perfect strike. He turned his attention to the other creature now who moved to attack him.
Round 5 Gaspar looked down on the injured beast, striking out at it with a short wheel kick to the body.
... Finishing off what the reptile person had started. He drew his scimitar finally and looked around the room for anyone else who needed his help.
If I heard Norvallen, it's likely I'd come to his aid first. Now on round 4. Then I'll see what I can do foe the others. A post to come! Edit: Well, actually running to another's aid would do me better. I'll roll for who and get to work on it.
@Iavas I got it. Put it to 0, it missed me, now it's unconscious. It's now round 4 for Gaspar. Anyone need help at that point or after?
Gaspar lands back on his feet and glances over his shoulder just in time to see his ally put down the creature. He smiled at her. "Vaikuttavaa. Mielestäni meillä on tämä!" Elven:
Impressive. I think we have this! Once again, he spun his body around and placed his arms between his legs and threw his leg out for a sweeping kick.
The creature was more prepared for this repeat maneuver this time around and easily moved out of the way.
In the middle of the first kick, however, Gaspar threw out his second leg and pivoted on one of his arms to use the first, weaker kick as a feint so that the second kick would land. It worked beautifully, dazing the creature.
The beast's turn Now staggered, the creature tried to take one last bite out of Gaspar.
But he was able to casually move aside. With that last bit of effort, the creature fell unconscious and began to bleed out. Now able to take in the scene, Gaspar called out to the tavern. "Wait, no! I can help you!"
SELF! I should have used stunning fist. Where's my head? Next time. There's always next time. @ Iawas The way I'm interpreting this is that you could full attack flank the one I didn't attack. Then I should be able to pick everything left clean.
Gaspar Round 2 Gaspar, just as though he were taking part in some sort of dance he'd choreographed with Iavas, moved into position. Seeing that her attack hadn't quite hit its mark, he struck once again for a vital area on the creature - where he perceived its skull met its spine. He spun his body around, reaching a hand through his leg and swept his foot around just an inch off the ground.
Making contact, he watched as this creature was knocked out like that last. Gaspar was on a roll. Using the momentum from his sweeping kick, he lept into the air and brought his foot down on another one of the creatures. This one was more prepared for him though.
This attack connected, but just barely. There was something small that barely pushed him hard enough to make contact on the stomp. The creature was still up after the attack. 'Damn, couldn't get a good shot on a vital area of this one.'
The beast before Gaspar One of the creatures targeted Gaspar with a bit and a swing of its tail. He effortlessly avoided the bite in the midst of his maneuvers, but the tail just barely caught him off guard and nicked him. Luckily it was but a scratch.
As long as I can 5 ft step to flank with you, that's no issue. I can full attack the other one. It may not be a sneak attack, but flurry of blows is a nice bit of hurt. Edit: I know what you mean. I'm over here trying to draw out possible layouts. :P You can have them flank me too. I put one of them down and if I can get a flurry of sneak attacks, we should be able to put them down no issue.
@Norvallen and Jorn If my combat only takes two rounds, I'd be more than happy to help. I have to play through the two rounds first though.
@ Iawas Okay, if you didn't take it out, I did. Who would you like to control the other three? Edit: Oh, then no problem. My unarmed attack knocked it out. Thanks to sneak attack. :P
@ Iawas Aha! You beat the snot out of my initiative. Either way, we're free to sneak attack. I'll edit it into my post so as to take up fewer posts.
Gaspar’s words were interrupted with a blood curdling scream. He spun his head around just in time to see the beastly creatures claw their way into the barroom, swarming all around it. "Nopea, työskennellä yhdessä!" Elven:
Quickly! We fight together! With that, Gaspar ran toward one of the nearest creatures and lept through the air, doing a half twist over its body as he threw his legs toward his chest, landing a back tuck behind the creature. He hesitated for just a moment to see how his new elven friend was reacting. Edit: She was quicker than he'd expected, she was already there. He used the momentary distraction to stomp the creature's soft spot behind its ribs, knocking it out cold.
Okay. I'll go ahead and roll initiative and react based on whether or not I move before the creatures. Then you can go after that. We can then discuss, once we know the initiative order, compiling the rest of combat into as few posts as possible.
Right, I just want to clear something up really quick before I do my post. We each fight two of them, right? Does that mean if we collaborate with someone, we need to fight four of them?
That's a good plan, though what I would probably do is go ahead and move and use my standard action to ready an attack for when you flank. Just to be sure I'm targeted instead of you depending on how initiative goes.
@Iavas The two of us are right near one another and I too benefit from sneak attack. We could work together!
Gaspar paused for a moment and nodded. "I suppose it's an honor thing for me. Nobles rarely enter the company of other nobles dressed as anything less. At least that's the idea. I've been less than perfect in the past." He nodded and finished his drink before finishing his thought a little more under his breath. "And I need not let my father down here." He puts his drink down on the table and spins his ring around his finger. Elven: Engraving on the ring reads 'To my son; I love you. From your father; I am proud. If we don't say it, this means it.'
Gaspar took in the elves words and gave them just a few moments to sink in. Born a noble though he was, he was just the bastard son of a ruler. He missed the right to rule everything just barely and received to right to rule nothing. 'I think I'd rather not even have to think about it than have been so close.' "Thank you for your words, Iavas. They mean more than you know." Listening in on the conversations going on just around him now, he finally interjects when he overheard what was saying to human. "I wouldn't consider myself a religious person, though the closest thing I do to revering a god is occasionally pray to Abadar. I was raised to believe in his guidance. I do think we should make our own path though, and you seem to understand that better than I do. Rightfully so, being over a century older than I." He shrugged at the idea of being subtly prepared. "And I suppose I prefer surprising people with what I can do than just flaunt it wildly, that is true." he said with a big silly grin on his face. Gaspar, noticing a moment later that the human woman from before . He had been meaning to say a few words to her as well, but she was having some difficulty getting a word in between them. "My apologies miss, I have been rude. From where do you hail? I'm supposing you are here for the same purpose as well?"
"Oh my, yes. You are a full blood elf. You must be very well traveled and experienced. I respect that." Gaspar shakes his head at the offer of tea and raises up his ale, drinking all but the last bit in the glass. "I only ask because the Prince is my father. I'm no prince myself though, my mother was an elf in his personal harem. I hope to show that I can be as worthy as any of his true sons though." He nods. It was clear that he was proud of his heritage, but he didn't want to come off as entitled just because he was noble born.
"You met fa--" He stopped himself for a moment, covering his words by clearing his throat. "Ah, sorry about that. You met the Ruby Prince? How was he? As a ruler, he does very well. I would like to say the people are quite happy with him."
He composed himself after asking the question. There was a good deal of curiosity in his voice. "As a person, I mean. Were you happy with Khemet III?"
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