Poki Blackfern's page

I'm very sorry for how flaky I've been. It's been a strange August -- and September doesn't look like it will be any better. I also underestimated how difficult it would be to try and pick up a game as a replacement -- I've never quite caught the rhythm of this one.

I agree that you'd be better served with a new divine caster. You've got a great-looking group and I hate to be dragging you down.

Again, my sincerest apologies -- I hope to hit a game with y'all in the future, when I'm hitting on all cylinders.

Yay, 17 guards? Well, if we can defeat them we have less people to worry about later. But we may want to get out of here.

That's what I thought at first, too. On further review, I believe that's their initiative roll, and that there are only 3 of them.

Poki accepts food from the sly big one. "Thank you," she whispers back. "No sign of any guards. They're stupider and lazier than usual.

Yeah...a hungry Poki is not a good thing. But I'm sure she'd eat you last. :)

After the rest of the group returns with their civilized food from the kitchen, Poki falls into step beside them, and they go through the door she had been patiently starting at.

Seeing that the big folk seem to have everything in the kitchen well in hand, Poki settles into the shadows under one of the tables in the dining hall, so that she can watch the door they came from as well as the door to the north for any intruders.

"Poki can find food on the journey for all of us. Or if big folk are hungry now, Poki can start butchering the kills."

Seeing the wrinkled noses of disgust, Poki thought back to the times she had scouted for the Red Feather gang, and remembered the silly big people were squeamish and had delicate stomachs. They wouldn't eat worms, beetles, mold, or humans.

Poki sighs. "Whatever shadow lady wants."

Holding the oversized club in both hands, Poki follows close behind Iacobus and Lucetta, staying as much in the shadows as possible.

Ever since escaping the cell, Poki has stayed quiet, perfectly content to let the big ones do the talking and the fighting while she skulks along beside them. But with escape getting so close, the cherub-cheeked gnome can no longer contain her excitement.

"Out! We go out the door they were guarding." She puts her hands on her hips in exasperation. "Poki not care about what's in other rooms. Stupid things for stupid guards. She just wants to go home. Or..." The gnome pauses, as she remembers something Iocabus said earlier. "Or go see tricky one's friend. But we get out of here."

Hey there!

Just got the invite, and spent the last little bit skimming the gameplay.

I'd definitely be interested in joining y'all. I was in a Way of the Wicked game that died this time last year at almost exactly the same place y'all are now. In other words, perfect timing.

Poki is a Dread Gnome Blight Druid. She isn't really specced for healing (especially with the default spells from her capture), but I can certainly bend her more that way if need be. Personality-wise, she's essentially a feral fey, or the sm**f version of Gollum.

Let me know what you want me to do regarding creation. Stat's were originally rolled under Focus/Foible (Focus: Wisdom, Foible: Intelligence) but I'm happy to reroll if you like.

I'm generally a reliable poster, but I'm accountant, so I tend to get a little flakey for a week or so around quarter-end -- and some years January can be brutal. I'll give you a heads up if that looks likely.

I missed seeing the personality types first time through; my apologies for leaving that off.

Of the four choices, I would describe Poki as Phlegmatic.

I'd like to apply with Poki Blackfern, a Gnome Blight Druid. She was created for an earlier WotW campaign which died very early (we never made it out of the prison).

I'm happy to redo any parts of it you like, but the character creation guidelines look essentially the same.

Focus: Wisdom
Foible: Intelligence
Two Word Description: Smurf Gollum

But fear not -- Poki is not a humor character. She appears cute, harmless, and adorable, but she will cut out your liver and devour it without a second thought.

Poki will delay until any of the doors open in the room that she's in.

My apologies. I came back from vacation to a real mess at work. Long hours and no breaks. I finally slept this weekend, so I should finally be able to post reliably again.

Arash,

I'm sorry this didn't work out, but take care of yourself. You'll be missed.

Eveyone else,

Sorry, I literally fell asleep in the middle of a post last night.

Poki is under the table in Room 10 (NW corner) ready to ambush potential reinforcements. As far as the actual plan goes, it was to ambush the approaching guards, but it doesn't much matter who starts the ambush, as long as they are in between the two groups.

I'll get Poki leveled up sometime tonight. Thank you!

Here!

I'm traveling this week, but it's possible that will mean I'm *more* available. Strange, but true.

And no worries -- taking care of you and yours should always come first.

Libby, are you okay with that plan? I wasn't trying to step on your toes...I thought you were soliciting other plans for discussion. Now I'm dying of curiosity as to what you had up your sleeve.

"Poki thinks ambush," the gnome pipes up. "Half in that office, and half to the south. The ones in the office attack just as they pass. And as for those --" she points to the door Libby just checked " -- Poki will hide under the table nearest that door, and surprise them."

"Yes? No?"

Poki took a coil of rope from the storeroom for her very own. At the approach of the guards to the main door, her first thought was to duck into the mess hall and hide under one of the tables, but she won't abandon the rest of the party to do so.

"If it is night outside, then we should go, yes? But stupid big ones want to look at papers, look at things. I'm sure they are fine wonderful things that will decorate all our bones when the guards come and kill us. Come daylight we will never get off this island."

Poki complains, but follows the others where they go, ready for any trouble they stir up.

Oops, sorry. There was a post I thought I made, but hadn't. It wouldn't have advanced things much though.

I think we should be fine with the five we've got left.

"Desks, papers, tables. Poki doesn't care about these," the gnome whines impatiently. "We should go outside now. Wherever that is."

She pats Grumblejack's knee. "I'll just stick by you, big guy."

Sorry, I failed my perception check and didn't see any of the side doors. So I was just waiting for us to go forwards.

Poki just wants out of this stupid building, but she is content to just skulk along behind the rest of the party wherever they go.

And speaking of Poki - very nice nasty touch with her eating the guard. I believe you have set down your marker for mostest evilest.

Not evil...just hungry. Now what would have been *really* evil is wasting food.

Poki butchers the guard quickly and efficiently. She takes only the liver for herself, offering everything else to her companions.

Now covered in blood and gore, Poki removes her rags and does her best to clean herself off with them, before putting on the new clean clothes from the veil.

As hungry as she was, she only ate half the guard's liver, wrapping the rest up in her cast off rags to make it easier to carry. She looks wistfully at the other bodies. "Is a shame we can't carry them with us -- we wouldn't have to hunt for again for another week."

Poki sniffs the lizardy one curiously. "He does not smell like he looks," she mused, "or look like he smells. Odd." She smiles at him, showing all of her teeth. "Poki's name is Poki. And Poki is sorry she put you to sleep -- lizardy man should try to stay farther away from Poki's spells."

The gnome barely even glances at all the oversized equipment, being content with the club she already had. But she does look longingly at the fattest of the dead guards. "Can Poki borrow the dagger while big ones put on armor and things? She's had nothing but porridge for weeks. Poki calls dibs on the liver, but there's plenty of meat for everyone."

Well, I can't avoid Ferrin, unfortunately. I thought Grumblejack was outside the area -- but you're right, he's got a corner in it.

Grumblejack is *probably* ok, but just to make sure, why don't I target the actual corner where the walls meet at the bottom of the stairs. That changes the grid up and would exclude Grumblejack and the northmost guard, and might even exclude Ferrin.

Poki takes the spell component pouch with trembling hands. "Thank you thank you thank you," she tells the generous girl. Then she bounds back into the room with the fighting.

Poki puts both index fingers to her lips. "Shhhhhhhhh!" she admonishes, and tosses rose petals at the guards. The force of her magic drifts towards her foes along with the petals.

The lastest map doesn't have coordinates on the side, but I'll do my best to describe.

Move action: Move to square just south of Arash
Standard action: Cast Sleep centered on the hindmost guard. Affects up to 4HD of creatures in a 10' burst from that spot. Will save at DC 15.

Poki had intended to try and keep the really big one from bleeding to death, but then the laughing man healed him, so she didn't need to. But at the not-so-quiet girl's words, Poki leaped with joy, and bounded over to her.

"Spell components? Yes, Poki would like a spell component pouch. Please?" Poki's smile practically beamed at her."Or at least something she can use to put them to sleep."

Move to J12.

Hey, welcome aboard Khelreddin, glad to see you here!

Inquisitor's, a fine choice.

"Too many people in too tight a space," Poki grumbles. "Poki doesn't like this at all."

Poki brandishes the frozen guard's club in both hands and moves to the center of the room. She crouches down as though ready to spring, and then slowly blends into the shadows, disappearing from view.

Poki moves to M11 and uses her Night Hunter power to become invisible for a round (except to creatures with Darkvision). Just on the off chance that a guard tries to move into the room. My assumption is that even if I were at M10 that I could not attack the guard on the stairs at M9, correct?

As more enemies begin to enter, Poki turns from dousing torches to picking up a weapon for the fight ahead.

Does the guard near me have a club or a dagger? If not, I think the nearest, best weapon is the club on the other guard that Gideon is undressing, so I'll go get that.

Did I end up making any difference on the light level?

Poki listens to the no-longer-quiet girl as she suggests tactics. Her advice seemed sound, so Poki decided to make sure everyone knew what Poki needed to perform best.

"Poki has ranged magic," she said, "But needs sand, rose petals, sweat, or a cricket for them to work. Otherwise she is a night hunter and fights best in darkness or dim light.

Until another enemy appears, Poki is going to continue extinguishing torches, trying to reduce the light level to dim light at least in a square or two, starting in the corner at N10, then moving along the N row. She would also like to take note of where any spare daggers or clubs are located.

Kinda depends on what Libby does, but I don't think she's joining in on the fight.

Poki drops the banter, and concentrates on actually touching the guard this time.

Chill Touch attack: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 1 = 11
Chill Touch damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

I added modifiers assuming Libby was keeping up Inspire Courage.

If the guard falls, Poki will use her remaining Move action to remove a torch from the wall beside her and extinguish it.

So Calvin...what's your familiar. Poki votes for a scorpion. :)

Welcome Calvin!

3 quick concepts for an evil Hedge Witch (if you need them):

Researcher - interested in how people heal or in specific diseases/poisons or their interactions, can inflict, heal, and reinflict

Torturer - healing victims means they last longer

Hedonist/Masochist - this works particularly well if 'poisons' includes other drugs; the patient can be the one to get the initial effects, and then the doctor takes on later effects which might be more enjoyable (for some definition of 'enjoyable')

"Nicely poked," Poki tells the hunter, "But remember to dodge." Poki swats again with her glowing hand, since the charge hasn't yet dissipated.

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Chill Touch Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"Poki should spend less time talking, and more time watching her prey,", she complains. "Big stupid guard is still good at dodging."

After her miss, Poki advances slightly, to allow for future flanking. She also listens intently for any sound of approach from the stairs.

5' step to M10, assuming that doesn't give the guard cover.

Also, what is the lighting like in this room? Is it dim enough for Poki to use her Night Hunter ability? (requires dim light or darkness)

Perception (listening for approach): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Poki stamps her foot in exasperation at the sound of the horn.

"You are a big stupid guard and Poki hates you." she shrieks at the guard as he takes a breath. "Poki will feed you that horn before you die." Then she leaps forward and swats at the guard with a hand that has begun to glow mystically blue.

Move to L10.

Use Chill Touch as a SLA (doesn't provoke)

Touch attack for 1d6 and a DC15 Fortitude save or lose 1 ST

Chill Touch attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Chill Touch damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

One of the guards is going to try and get away and bring help, but not if Poki can help it. She considers casting a spell.

"That's no good. I don't have rose petals. Or even a cricket."

So Poki considers another spell. "But I don't have any sweat. How do I not have sweat?"

Finally, with a grunt of exasperation, Poki just moves as far as she can, while avoiding being struck by the wounded guard.

Double move: First to G10, then tumbling to I10 to avoid an AoO.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Sorry for the inelegance of going into combat and the low-quality map - you guys did far less planning than I anticipated!

You and me both. (Although Poki just isn't smart enough to be the planning type.)

No worries; looks great.

"Poki prefers ambushes." Poki answers the tailed hunter. "But the really big one may have already made that decision for us."

Poki pushes forward, eager to leave, but always staying behind her armed companions. As much as possible she stays in the shadows.

"Thank you, shiny man. It's good to be free."

Poki stretches and moves towards the door to the cell, keeping an eye on the hallway.

I'm leaving on an impromptu road trip. I may be able to check in nightly, or I may not be able to check in again until Tuesday night. Please run Poki as appropriate.

Poki can't help but giggle when the shiny one drops the lockpick. Big people are so clumsy.

Unable to move, she nonchalantly watches the guard approach from the hall.

"Poki's friends are bugs, so she doesn't worry about betrayal. Or about finding a place to live, though she will miss her gully." A wistful look passes over the gnome's face as she remembers her favorite wallow, which is probably too infested with Mitrans to return to.

"But if this person will help Poki torment those who have imprisoned her, then she would be very happy to meet them."

"Besides," Poki smiled, "Poki has already promised to make sure you all get safely away."

Poki loses interest in the quiet girl very quickly, as she now has a scorpion to play with! She cradles Kermit between her cheek and shoulder, and clicks to him very intently. Every time she feels his tiny feet on her flesh she smiles and wiggles.

"Poki's afraid she doesn't have anything to feed you. They bathed her and took all her bugs. Even the lice! But we can still cuddle. Now, show me your claws. That's right, show me your claws. Such a good boy. So fearsome!"

She's distracted from her new friend by the large piece of gauzy fabric the quiet girl unfolds. Poki glances over at it and sneers, "Very pretty. And therefore worthless." And returns to playing with Kermit.

But a moment later she frowns and turns back to looking at the veil. "Is that a rope? And a sword? Why would someone have snipped those out of cloth? And are those lockpicks? You are a strange, strange girl."

Poki watches as the guards bring the silent girl back. Her hackles rise again, but this time she silences the instinctive growl.

"I wonder," Poki says, once the guards have disappeared from the cells, [b]"How the quiet girl fared? She doesn't look like she has much fight in her, does she, but perhaps if they pushed her she might have struck back. Does the Blackerly have any claw marks on him, I wonder?"

Poki studies the girl, trying to tell what may have changed about her. Bruises perhaps, or blood (either her own or others), or maybe she's trying to hide an object given to her.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Yes indeed, Happy Easter!!

And very Happy Buckeyes losing. :)

As the guards enter the cell, Poki bares her teeth and emits the low growl of a cornered wolf. She makes no threatening moves, to the point of backing away slightly from the guard unshackling Libby to give him space.

When they leave the cell she slumps again into her chains. Then she softly tests a word on her tongue. "Blackerly."

Ugh, moving. Good luck with that. Do you still have snow in Wichita, or is it mostly gone by now?

As much as she tried to ignore the boring words of the big ones, Poki couldn't help but listen. As the meaning sunk in, she gasped in amazement.

"Wait a minute! You, you think we're going to die. You all do." She sniffed deeply, letting the scent of her companions linger in her nostrils. "You all stink of fear -- the quiet girl most of all. You think -- you think--"[b]

[b]"You--you--you're afraid of them. That's the funniest thing Poki's heard this spring. The only reason we are chained is because we terrify them. They are no match for us. We are predators. They are silly sheep and bunnies who will scatter before us or feel our teeth. If Poki weren't chained she would already be free."

Poki panted for a few moments and her color returned to normal.

"It makes Poki happy to laugh at funny big people. So don't be afraid. Poki will take all of you with her."

"I don't understand this obsession the big ones have with burning. Fire is fun, but it's not the only fun, or even the most fun," the gnome says. "Poison is better."

Then she marvels at the scorpion that wriggled out of the dark woman's arm, her eyes growing wide. "Do that again," she says. "Poki wants one too. Poki likes scorpion lady."

Poki looks thoughtful and then continues, answering her new friend's questions very earnestly.

"Poki can talk to bugs and even rats. Well, not talk exactly. Herd. Wrangle. Poki thought if she could find some, maybe she could set them on the big ones guarding us, or have them steal keys or something. Poki is vengeful forest spirit, so she also has lots of magic tricks she mostly can't use while chained."

"And yes, tailed hunter, Poki got careless after making the stupid church collapse and they caught her. And bathed her." Poki shudders.

"Now if the big ones would only hush for a moment," she said, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had been doing most of the talking, "I might be able to figure out what the thing in the next cell is."

Poki will try and figure out from the breathing (and any other noises she might hear) what is in the next cell. Maybe Knowledge Nature?

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Know: Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7