Renvil is now up. I hope I didn't miss the cutoff!
A couple of notes:
. . Renvil's background is written from the perspective of the Player's Guide. I don't know what's happened since then, but--if selected--I'm sure we can flesh out what he's been doing since the protest.
. . Renvil has a custom magic item created with the rules here: muleback cords of resistance. This costs 2,500: 1,000 for the cloak of resistance +1 and 1,500 (instead of 1,000) for the muleback cords, as they occupy the same body slot.
Magic Item Creation wrote:
Multiple Different Abilities: Abilities such as an attack roll bonus or saving throw bonus and a spell-like function are not similar, and their values are simply added together to determine the cost. For items that take up a space on a character's body, each additional power not only has no discount but instead has a 50% increase in price.Emphasis mine
. . I've selected too many spells; I'll pare down the list if selected. I wanted you to see the options that Renvil brings. I suspect that he might be duplicating something someone else can already do, or you already have a need that he should fill, but that I didn't anticipate.
. . He has a little more than 2000 gp to spend yet. His weapons aren't bought yet, but they can be mundane; he's not at all built to be dealing damage. I could easily pick up that wand of clw the party needs, and some scrolls, alchemical items, and still have some room to play based on party needs.
. . I eventually intend to level him into Evangelist (Shelyn), perhaps with a level or two more of bard first.
I completed Renvil's rebuild over the weekend, but forgot to upload the changes to his profile before bed last night. I will upload the update after work!
Okay, I will work on a rebuild/level-up tonight. Do you have a deadline?
Also, are there any character creation rules from the beginning we need to know about? (point-buy, background skills, drawbacks for extra traits, etc.)
Renvil is a character that I created for a Hell's Rebels recruitment many years ago. He seems to fit the profile of a party face that you're looking for. I'd like to submit him for consideration.
I'd be happy to level him up to 5 with a focus on the status removal and buffing capabilities that you're seeking.
Just a heads up that I'm going on vacation starting on Wed AM, returning next Mon AM. I will be camping at a music festival, and will do my best to check in at least once a day so that Renvil doesn't hold up the game. There are cell towers around, but there will be a lot of people using the towers, so there just might be times where I can't load the website. If that happens, please feel free to bot Renvil as necessary.
Long term, what is your intended posting schedule for this game? It seems like we've been going really slow. If that's the plan, that's okay, but I'd like to know when we're keeping up or not.
Unless someone else gets Renvil's attention as to there being a different plan, he continues to Withdraw to escape more damage and capture. He will keep an eye on Chak to make sure he's following.
Perception vs Liselle Stealth:1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13(includes Tagging Along bonus)
Renvil didn't notice Liselle's action, so isn't paying attention to be sure she can follow him.
Renvil lets out a deep grunt on getting hit in the ribcage by the thug. "See, even when they hit you, it doesn't hurt." He continues his abasement of the thuggish crew, but decides the retreat needs to become hasty, and starts picking his way out of the park.
Free action to continue the Satire Performance, Full Round action to Withdraw (2x movement speed). Renvil is moving towards the most efficient exit from the park.
Hearing Chak's cry coming from nearby in the crowded park, Renvil turns and locates him. Ren identifies the thugs starting to surround the Tengu. He makes eye contact with his fellow resistor, then begins speaking loudly enough to ensure that all of their assailants can hear.
"Eh, we don't need an escape plan. These jerks are simpletons; they'd never catch us if we turned our backs and walked straight out. Look, that one can't hold a weapon, and this one wears his armor like it's performance art. When this is done today, Thrune's going to be adding citizen vigilantes to his squarmshandering edict."
Starting Bardic Performance: Satire; thugs receive -1 to attacks, damage, and saves vs. fear/charm (language-dependant, mind-affecting)
While saying this, Renvil is using his eyes and slight head-nods to Chak to indicate a good direction to get started on to retreat.
(Renvil, having spent the last few years working out of the Opera House, took plenty of lunches/dinners in this very park, and likely knows a good route out of the park that might offer protection or be hard to follow.)
Was the person I approached among the protesters who revealed themselves to be among the Chelish Citizen Group?
Renvil draws his rapier, keeping it low and unnoticed yet at-hand should it be needed. He then casts Charm Person on a nearby Chelish Citizen's Group member (his original "friend" if possible). Will DC 16
Wait, that's just... ridiculous. He answers protests about leadership with a ban on sailors? Not only is he simply dangerous, he might just be insane!
Renvil starts moving towards one of the people that looked to be inciting the crowd. When he gets there, he nudges the person. "Do you know what this squarmishing is? And why sailors?"
Even though Renvil recognized the term, he's playing it slow.
Since it seems like someone is organizing the mood of the crowd, Renvil will try to focus on that and see if he can identify any individuals that seem to be influencing this. He's interested to know if this orchestration is coming from the common people, or if it could be orchestrated by Barzillai in some way.
If I could still get inside, I could outfit most of this crowd in "fine embroidered fabric."
Renvil tries to stay alert, making sure that the jostling of the closely-packed crowd doesn't result in the loss of any of his personal possessions, but also paying attention to the Opera House, to see if anyone peeks out or emerges. He mostly watches and listens, but can easily be drawn into an enthusiastic support of the noble herb, mint.
Renvil is definitely wearing his armor and carrying his rapier, along with the rest of his gear. He does make special care to grab his scroll case with paper and his ink and pen; inspiration hasn't struck in a week now, and he intends to be ready when it does!
As he's throwing his gear together, he sees his bow and a quiver of arrows. Wondering if that's too much, he looks to his friends; how are they equipped? Does he feel like having a bow strapped over his shoulder would make him stand out, or does it seem like people are heading out armed like that?
Renvil is pretty lightly equipped as-is; I equipped him with the fact that he's a local resident in mind. It didn't make sense that he'd wander around with most of the typical adventuring gear (tent, flint & steel, rope, etc.) when he's got an apartment in town. Obviously, that means he might need to go shopping at some point if he needs any of that.
As soon as he sees the faces of his friends, Renvil understands. I can't just sit here and wallow over this. It does neither me nor... well, it doesn't do anybody any good. I really do need to get out of this room. He protests a little at the start--mostly because he know's it's more dramatic to give in after a struggle than to have no struggle at all--and quickly straightens himself up to go out.
Disquise to appear non-disheveled in a rush to get out the door:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Feeling presentable (enough), he follows the group to Aria Park. The city is so tense. It's like everybody has the same secret, but nobody will talk about it. Once there, he tries to stay on the outskirts of the crowd, at least at the start.
I found a great trait that's perfect. Very in-character and works well with Renvil's background: Ear for Music. I need to be a worshipper of Shelyn, but that seems to work well, as it's one of the few non-Asmodean religions still allowed in Kintargo under Thrune. I'll update my character sheet with that shortly.
Alyksandrei:
Update is done. I also read that worshipers of Shelyn have been required to register with the government since the Night of Ashes. I think that Renvil has not done this.
Sorry for my weekend absence; I got a last-minute invite to go camping, and the weekend was so nice!
I made the requested changes to my character sheet; please review when you get a chance and let me know if that works for this game. I will need to add an additional trait; I already had the "Diva in Training" campaign trait, so I will find another "normal" trait. I should be able to do that tonight or tomorrow.
I just reread and saw that you requested this in-character. Here's that:
Feeling like daggers, the sun refused to stop assaulting Renvil’s early-afternoon-but-still-groggy eyes, forcing him to face yet another day. He draped a blanket around his shoulders and begrudgingly got up and started moving. Barely going through the motions, he cleaned himself up just a little bit, running a birch swatch across his teeth just long enough to get the morning (afternoon) funk out of his mouth. He wiped out the least dirty mug and fixed a cup of tea, sitting down at his writing desk. It took 20 minutes or so to finish the tea; it apparently also took an equal amount of time to stare down the half-finished manuscript on the desk. What’s the point? That damn Thrune’s taken over the Opera House, and private commissions have dried up too. I’ve got no business writing anymore.
He stared at the manuscript for a few more minutes, trying to convince himself that the stack of papers couldn’t be judging him, that this must be an internal feeling, but ended unable to really believe even that. He dragged himself to the door, hoping against hope that there might be some message from Aernallie today. He opened the door and glanced at the outside face. Nothing. Please be okay. Please just let it be too dangerous to send a message yet.
He grabbed last night’s jug of grog on his way back to the desk. Not bothering to rinse the cup, he poured his first draught of the day. I need to make this jug last; I’m not ready for the outside world again yet.
Renvil Ratarion is a young playwright. Native to Kintargo, he has spent his whole life here, and loves his vibrant, creative hometown. Nurtured in this cultural incubator, Renvil grew up amongst street buskers and musicians, and showed a flair for the dramatic early on. He'd only recently started to achieve success theatrically; his first musical play to get produced in the Opera House (well, not on the main stage, but there's a smaller theatre in there too) was in previews on the Night of Ashes; Renvil was lucky to escape the Opera House before Barzillai Thrune's agents took complete control of the building.
Renvil's song-writing partner, Aernallie, was a devout follower of Sarenrae, and was said to be at the Silver Star music shop when that was raided by Thrune's soldiers. He has not seen her since, and has heard nothing specific as to her whereabouts. Despondent, he has mostly remained at home in his small apartment since. He claims it's so that she can find him, as he hopes that she escaped the raid and is in hiding, but his friends know better: he's depressed and he's moping.
Renvil has met the young magus at the library, where he's conducted research for his plays, but if pressed could probably not recall her name; a writer needs focus, and focus doesn't always allow one to remember names. As he's been living mostly in seclusion since the Night of Ashes, he likely has not met any recent arrivals to the city.
Alyksandrei:
Aernallie is a background hook for you to use as you will. If you don't see a place for that hook to fit into this campaign, that's perfectly fine; don't feel like you have to shoehorn her in just because I wrote about her.
Also, I had planned to use the "Tagging Along" adventure hook from the Player's Guide. The idea being that Renvil's friends, fed up with him living like a hermit, are dragging him out to the protest as something to do to get him out of the apartment for once.
Ratarion Going Too Far? by Beren Moonglow, Arts Editor, Kintargo Beacon
"Another tour de force from our upcoming local playwright, this weekend's opening of 'A Devil's Lark' kept the audience entertained, all right. Ever the sharp wit, Ratarion (who once again fills the dual roles of playwright and director) presented a fast-moving and endlessly funny farce. No doubt the seats will be full for the whole run. The gorgeous Eroda Heatherspan shines as our heroine Elisa, and Aernallie Millass (who both scored the work and took the soprano role yet again) proves once again why she and only she can fill the Opera House like no other. Devon Shure kept the audience in stitches with his role as the unlikely hero Murt, displaying a comic timing that this author hasn't seen on that stage in 3 seasons at least.
"But we are not here to discuss the actors, nor the elegant staging, props or design. With unrest throughout Cheliax, and rumors of martial law in other cities, one has to wonder if thinly-veiled jokes at the expense of what can only be understood as stand-ins for the Thrunes is truly a good policy. And those passages in the middle that you didn't understand? While this author doesn't understand Infernal, it has been said (on good authority) that *those* jokes are a little to pointed at one Baron in particular. This paper will not reprint the context as we understand it, out of respect for our national leaders.
"If we see any closer attention to our fair city in this tumultuous time, our young playwright might find it a good time for a vacation."
I am Renvil Ratarion, a native of Kintargo. Renvil is a local playwright who was just starting to get significant attention in the arts community when martial law was imposed and his main venue (the Opera House) was closed. Renvil's plays tend to be satirical and poke fun at the ruling class, though he's been pretty good about not drawing too much negative attention. Renvil is also a passable songwriter, with another local songwriting partner who writes the music.
DM:
Details are written in his background write-up. She's been conceived as someone Renvil hopes will become a romantic partner, but that hasn't happened yet. I saw a hook in the Player's Guide in the form of a Music store that was raided, so I connected her to that with the idea that she's been missing since that raid. If you don't have a way to play up that hook, it won't bother me, so don't feel committed.
I'm not certain if Renvil knows any other characters yet. Being very active in the local arts community, he may be recognized if other characters have attended plays at the Opera House. He had a good busking career--primarily as a songwriter--before that; he could also be recognized from that. I see a possible connection to Alina: Renvil may have frequented her parent's library; playwriting requires research. Renvil definitely taught himself Infernal to include that in his plays, and also researched much of the ruling families (Thrunes, etc.) to poke fun at them. We could have met in the library. Also, a possible connection to Oskar: Renvil frequented a music store (The Silver Star, if I recall from the Player's Guide) before it got raided; if memory serves, it was raided for being a Milani hideout, so that connection is possible as well.
Renvil is typically fun-loving, and has a sharp, sarcastic wit. He has an average appearance that leans into good-looking. He dresses as well as his budget allows, and that fluctuates greatly. As the Opera House has been closed recently, his personal style is starting to look a little out of date. I don't think he realizes this yet, as his life has been going pretty well up until now, but he harbors a great distrust for the rulers of Cheliax. He loves his city, and would never want to leave, but often imagines what it would be like if this exceptional arts community were in a free nation instead of where it is.
2) I picked ... because it was recommended in the Player's Guide .... Is that too much meta-gaming?
I'm not the DM, so this is in no way a ruling; it's just an opinion. My thought is that this is the very purpose of the Player's Guide, to direct and encourage this sort of (flavorful) metagaming.
I know I made choices making my PC based on what I read in the Player's Guide.
This campaign seems to be losing a little momentum, but I'd just like to go on record to say that I'm really excited to play in it, so I hope it comes about.
I've created a char using PCGen v6.04.01 and can export to pdf, but I can't seem to attach the file for your perusal.
I've never used PCGen myself, but other people have talked about an export feature that gives you something in plain text, that's nicely formatted for pasting into your character profile here in the forums. If you poke around enough, I'm sure you can find it, or maybe someone else here knows better the specific steps to do that in the software.
Renvil Ratarion, the soon-to-be-famous Kintargo playwright, would love to be a part of this game!
I have to get some of the character details updated in the profile here (skills, equipment, etc.); I'll get that updated soon.
Full disclosure: I've played TTRPG, including Pathfinder before, but tabletop only. I'm new to the Humble Bundle and I've never done PBP like this before. I hope you'll consider me in light of that!
