Apologies, but I'm going to have to step out of this game. At work I switched to a team that is based out of offices in schools (I work of the Oregon Department of Human Services) instead of at a branch office. With the start of the new school year coming fast, I just didn't expect the amount of time I'd have to be putting in. Things will settle down eventually, but probably not until at least the end of September when the year's routine is in place.
I just don't have the time for a fairly fast game where I'm trying to figure out a new ruleset. Savage Worlds may be a simpler game than Pathfinder all things considered, but I'm not finding it at all easier so far.
Best wishes for the game and I hope you all have plenty of fun with it.
Same answer as before: The 'Whys' of the raid IS the plot hook for a while. It is an unprecedented event.
Besides goblins aren't utter maniacs. They're more likely to slice your achilles tendon while hiding under a wagon, then pile on top of you for a group stabfest than to try to straight up eat your face off. In other words they're not so dumb they don't understand it's better to play to their strengths: quick, agile, sneaky, devious. They're ankle biters who are dangerous in groups, or by surprise.
I may not have much of an idea of how things work in SW, but I'm not really worried about it. First time around for me after all, and I don't have extra time to spend on a thorough reading of the rule books. I'm sure I'll pick it up with time and repetition.
Lucien: The 'Whys' of the raid IS the plot hook for a while. It is an unprecedented event.
Rhodel looks out on what she thinks is a rapidly deteriorating situation. Some maniac has rushed the gang of goblins coming from the south. The man who was standing beside her has also gone forward. She figures he thinks he can help.
She might consider doing the same except for a few facts. The first is that she has left her sword back at the inn, and without it Rhodel really likes her current position much more than anything out in front of it. The goblins at least have to slow down and climb where she's at.
The second, and much bigger issue is the one she can see from where she's standing. A second mob, at least as large as the first, is coming fast from the southwest. If she and the others still out on the street and fighting decide to close in on the first group, there's nothing at all to keep the second group from breaking to the left, swinging around, and coming right in on their backs.
It's a right mess, and she wishes the maniac who charged would have had the good sense to save himself (probably literally) for a better positioned and coordinated defense. Rhodel sighs as she decides she'll have to leave the first man, and probably that second one, to their fates.
But, that doesn't mean she can't try to help them out a little from where she's at. Rhodel fishes out her mirror and holds it up. She catches the sun and starts angling the mirror until it is reflecting the sun right into the one with the whip doing the "singing". That one seems to be exciting the others, making them more frenzied. If she can stop throw that one off it's game, it will affect all of them.
Keeping the reflected sunlight square in its face, Rhodel raises her voice and begins to shout at it.
"Oooh! Follow the light and look at the ugly faced screeching one with the mouth bleeding all over the place! Looking at if makes me want to vomit! What a pathetic scene that thing is! Does it sing or is that barking?! How humiliated it must feel to put on that kind of display for everyone to see!"
Using a taunt on the warchanter goblin menacing Velrek. It's performance based and Rhodel is going for a distraction effect.
Taunt: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 2
I guess that what I roll. Honestly I have very little idea how to do much of anything.
Rhodel won't be advancing toward any goblins; she'll hold her position and wait for them to come. She doesn't have a quiver full of daggers, so taking very long distance chance shots isn't very appealing. She'll want to make sure her throws are as likely as possible to hit given her limited supply. She'll basically be on hold and waiting until the fight comes to her.
Rhodel waves to the man who helps her get her knife back by throwing it over in her direction.
Seems friendly enough, I guess.
With the sounds of new little green dudes approaching the square, Rhodel takes a moment to think in terms of safety and strategy. The guy who threw her the knife is now on top of stage she's by, and so is the gnome.
It seems like a pretty good idea to her as well. Obviously they've demonstrated they can climb well, but as things stand at the moment, Rhodel is all alone more or less. Them climbing up seems less worrisome than a whole bunch of them rushing straight at her.
Rhodel climbs up too. She says "hi, thanks" to the man as she passes him to stand a little behind the gnome. She draws a second knife for her other hand to save herself the trouble later.
She has to ask someone.
"What the hell is all this? What are those things?"
Thanks! It was that 1 square = 1 that I was needing.
When she's topped the stairs, Rhodel looks around again to see what's up. She notices that her more elevated position gives her better sight on the little green creature up on the near building compared to what she had before. She already has a knife in her hand, so she decides why not take the shot? Who knows? It might work out well again.
Rhodel takes her dagger, keeping it in hand. She ignores the other stuff, the goblin's possessions, as insignificant.
A look around leads her to think she's probably quite exposed if there's more trouble. She takes off for the cathedral steps with all haste.
Doesn't seem like a moment in time where looting bodies would be any sort of priority. Gotta admit I don't understand movement/distance/rounds and how they relate in the least. Rhodel will jog over to the steps, whatever amount of rounds that takes.
This *is* Pathfinder, right? I mean, with so much magic around it can't be that odd to see a floating person?
But IS there so much magic around in the average person's life? A person might see some small, cantrip-type spells here and there very occasionally, but magical flight? I can say with confidence that I've never had a character in any game, of which there have been many, who has witnessed anything without wings flying before mid-levels.
Under less stressful circumstances Rhodel might be weirded out and intrigued and ask about it, but under the current circumstances? F@!# that extra noise. I have too much on my plate already.
Rhodel is both surprised and a little dismayed at her efficient killing of the little green... whatever it is. On one hand it's gratifying to know that after all that time spent practicing to miss a body by the smallest possible margin she's not stuck in that mode if she needs to do otherwise. On the other hand, ew, she's pretty sure it's dead, which is a somewhat conflicting.
The arrow plinking on the cobblestones by her prompts Rhodel to look around. She sees the arrow, and also some woman floating almost right beside her. She has enough to chew on at the moment without considering what that might be all about too. When something is too weird, sometimes it's best to pretend it isn't happening and just walk away.
Rhodel does, though at more of a hasty jog than a walk. She doesn't want to lose her knife anyway so she hustles to the downed goblin. She pulls her knife out of it, which is very gross, and looks around trying to decide what comes next.
Rhodel takes a few steps sideways to get a better look at the thing chasing the dog. She's never seen anything like it.
Is it a baby troll?
Whatever it is, she's pretty sure it's causing the problems. The dog is running from it, its body language is aggressive and it's chasing the dog, and there are a couple others of the same type doing similar stuff. They're probably what cut those injured people because they have weapons. It seems to Rhodel enough to act on.
She hikes up her sash to uncover her belt and draws a dagger from it. Taking aim, she throws the dagger at the creepy little bugger. Then she prepares to run like crazy if needed.
When the crowd starts to stir during the priest's prayer, Rhodel doesn't know what is happening at first. The screams start to clue her in that something not so great is happening, but not the nature of the problem. As the crowd moves on to panic, she still not sure, being too close to the stage to be able to see what's happening out at the edges.
Then people begin to scatter in all directions and maybe there's something odd in amongst them in the crowd. Rhodel finds herself paying attention to the dog for some reason, maybe because upset crowds of people can happen for all kinds of dumb reasons, while dogs are more basic and better indicators of a real problem.
By the time Rhodel sees a couple of people who are injured, and notices smoke, she's being invited by various organizers and quick reactors to flee for safety in several different directions. She looks around again trying to see what's harassing the dog, and otherwise takes a few tentative steps toward the cathedral.
After leaving Rhynshinn's stall Rhodel continues on up toward the cathedral without paying much attention to any other vendors. The cape she's paying for tomorrow will set her back more than she should really be spending, so she feels it's best not to tempt herself and further.
Near the top of High Street Rhodel notices an open space has been used for the contests that involve sharp things moving through the air. The side of the small bluff the cathedral sits on makes a natural backstop to catch errant sharp flying things. Aside from archery, a couple of roundels have been sliced from a large log. Painted as targets, they are propped up for axe throwing.
Although the crowd for the contest is a decidedly woodsier lot than Rhodel normally mingles with, she decides to give it a try. She doesn't expect to win, but she should keep her practice up.
Axe Throwing::
Bearded Dude #1: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3) = 13
Bearded Dude #2: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 6) = 13
Bearded Dude #3: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6) = 10
Bearded Dude #4: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) = 6
Rhodel: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 2) = 6
She finishes her turn at throwing with enough points to make it into the top 5 just barely, which satisfies her. At least I still remember how she thinks.
By noonish Rhodel springs for some lunch. She goes with Ameiko's salmon, which is a little redundant since she's staying at the Rusty Dragon. But the food there is very good so she knows she won't be disappointed. Besides Rhodel completely adores Ameiko, so Rhodel wants to say hello to her.
Of the various speeches that come a little later, the only one Rhodel gives hawklike attention to is Cyrdak's. She studies him intently, sucking up everything she can glean about the theater owner in her memory for later reference. He is her pathway forward here, the puzzle she will have to unlock. The timing of the Harpy's Curse opening is inconvenient. If Rhodel and arrived in Sandpoint a little earlier, she might have nabbed a part in it. As it stands she will have to wait out it's run and the time it takes for the next production to begin ramping up before anything will be available for her to audition for.
But, Rhodel is definitely a 'glass half-full' kind of person. With the extra time she can learn what she can of Cyrdak as a person and producer/director. Of course she will be seeing The Harpy's Curse more than once. It's also the reason for her morning goodwill campaign ritual. Talent alone doesn't win parts. Good word of mouth is a form of currency as well. Given a few weeks to work with, Rhodel can build a friendly audience for herself. The bit of spending here and there at shops each day isn't frivolity, it's an investment. She knows that Cyrdak will know she can fill seats with people who are coming to see and root for her. Between her winning friends and making sure she's there every time Cracktooth's open stage night comes along, she can build some solid buzz about her going into auditions.
Thanks everyone for the affirmations on the trappings ideas. I'll keep refining it. Yeah Jzero, I think emotion is a good distillation of what I'm thinking about in general.
I Probably won't have a gameplay post up until this evening. Quite a few topics to cover in it.
I think I'm getting the general idea. It might be that Bards are a bit weird regarding magic compared to other casters in Pathfinder. Arcane casters either devote themselves to arcane study (wizards), inherit it by blood (sorcerers), or have a patron that grants or teaches it (witches). Divine casters are granted magic through a divine source of course.
Bards just have magic for 'reasons'. How and why they learn it so reliably given they are entertainers, etc.? Where would Rhodel have learned this? That's part of it.
The other part is finding some feel for her psychology regarding magic. Given the couple of Rhodel posts in gameplay so far, some of her major predilections are probably coming into focus. As far as what her magic might look like, I could see aesthetics being at the forefront.
For example, if she casts a boost on someone, they take on theatrically inspired physical characteristics that make the kind of boost obvious to those who view the target. A strength boost makes the person look bronzed and oiled, with well defined, bulging muscles. A smarts boost makes the target look sharp-eyed, with a face full of gravitas. those kinds of things. Powers have an aspect of drama about them, or the power shouldn't just work well, it must look good too.
Maybe Rhodel isn't a confident enough caster at this point to really believe in her vision yet. As she gains confidence perhaps molding powers in ways that deliver mechanical results will be something she becomes capable of.
I've thought about it some, but I'm finding it hard to come up with anything when I've never played the game or cast a spell.
I don't want to come up with something that will end up having unintended complications or consequences.
Poor Wandering GM wrote:
"Doing it for the fans: Ignore raise effects unless another person is present" would net you some mechanical benefit. A drop in power cost at least unless a better idea can be found.
This is better than anything I can think of so sure, I'll go with it.
EDIT: Are trappings meant to be customized for each spell, or are they meant to be a consistent theme that apply across all the spells a character knows?
After her catnap Rhodel hurriedly washes and changes from her sleeveless short jacket in favor of her leather tunic. She then throws on a slightly oversized sky blue linen shirt over the tunic. Leaving the shirt untucked, she adds a belt holding several daggers and a small axe. The Varisian scarf then goes back around her waist as a sash covering the belt. A quick application of some light cosmetics finishes the picture and Rhodel is ready to go.
As she makes her way up Festival street toward the new cathedral, Rhodel generally avoids shopping or spending much time browsing the stalls. She's already spent some money today, and she should stick to something resembling a budget since she doesn't currently have any money coming in.
She does stop to look through the clothing Rhynshinn Povalli has brought out for sale. Rhynshinn's shop, Vernah's Fine Clothing is right close by the Rusty Dragon, and Rhodel considers the clothier and seamstress to be a genius. Everything Rhodel has seen in her shop is immaculately constructed. Further, Rhynshinn not only makes items of conventional design, but her own designs as well.
The piece that grabs her attention this time is a short boiled wool cloak in scarlet. It is much like any cloak of its kind overall, but the details set it apart as great. Instead of the typical hood, it has a rounded, fold over collar. It has a petal wave edge rather than the usual straight hem along the bottom. It also has a clasp unlike any Rhodel has ever seen before. The two connectors don't latch into each other to hold it on the wearer's shoulders. Instead there is a loop of fine chain with a pendant at the bottom threaded through the clasps. If the pendant is pulled fully down it brings the clasps completely together, holding the collar snugly around the neck for warmth. At the other extreme the chain will hold the cloak stretched to its maximum width by leaving the clasps open. This allows for such a loose neck that the cape could be worn jauntily to the side over just one shoulder. Any length in between is possible by pulling the little flower blossom pendant down to the desired fit and pressing each clasp to grip the chain.
Rhodel is immediately in love. The chain clasp is fantastic, but the scalloped hem is what wins her heart. But with that love comes anxiety. She carries the cape over to speak with Rynshinn.
"Hi Rhyn! This cape is gorgeous! Could you please please hold it for me until tomorrow morning? I swear I will buy it then. I would now, but I didn't bring any money out with me."
Looking slightly to her left and right dramatically, Rhodel leans in slightly and says "pickpockets, you know?" in a low voice.
Rhynshinn, agrees to put the garment aside for her until tomorrow, and Rhodel thanks her profusely, adding "You now Rhyn, you really are brilliant. If you were doing what you do in a city like Magnimar, you would make a fortune!"
Rhynshinn smiles rather shyly and thanks Rhodel, while demurring with reasons like 'having never lived anywhere except Sandpoint', and 'owning her own building here rather than paying rent'.
Rhodel shrugs offhandedly and replies "Oh I'm not suggesting you pack up and run off to the city. I just want to to know how good you really are" before waving and taking a step on her way. With her second step Rhodel adds "See you tomorrow morning" before turning fully around and walking on toward the cathedral.
Rhodel has her armor, daggers and hand ax, but she's leaving her sword at home. All her carried weapons are out of sight under the scarf/sash around her waist.
You're right Jzero. Specifically James Jacobs based it in part on his hometown, Point Arena on California's north coast. Point Arena's older name had been Punta Arena, which is Spanish for "Sandy Point". The town also has a lighthouse.
I live in Portland OR so I know the NW Coast pretty well.
As the bird comes to perch on top of the great rusted iron dragon statue that sits atop the inn named for it, a young woman comes out of the inn's front door and turns right, walking up Market Street.
She is dressed casually. Her gray trousers are baggy and bloused at the bottom, drawn tight with ties at her ankles. She wears a short, waist length, buttoned jacket without sleeves, and apparently without a shirt underneath. The jacket is a bright green color with piping and embroidery in black and yellow. A scarf is tired around her waist as a sash, and a second scarf is tied kerchief-like atop her head to keep her long dark brown hair in check. Below her trousers are light, short boots barely coming to her ankles. She also wears plenty of jewelry. There are a couple of necklaces around her throat, one tight and the other looser with a pendant. She wears earrings, several bracelets, and four rings. Two of the rings are on fingers of her left hand, one on a finder of her right hand, and one intricate ring is in her pierced septum. The overall of her outfit is Varisian, but decidedly not traditional Varisian.
As she walks, the young woman raises a hand and greets a couple of people as she passes them, with the passersby reciprocating. She stops for a few moments to say hello and chat with another woman in the street for a minute. If the bird's hearing is very keen, it would hear the older woman address the young one as "Rhodel".
Passing a couple more buildings, the woman named Rhodel comes to Sandpoint's open market, located in the open area where Market Street, Water Street, and Festival Street converge. The market isn't empty though as vendors, both local and from out of town, set of stalls and unpack all sorts of goods for sale. It's not yet even mid-morning however, so customers have yet to start arriving in any number.
She doesn't stop for the market, or turn right onto Festival Street, but continues straight on across to water street. Water Street takes Rhodel by the docks for a short stretch until she reaches Main Street. Taking that right, the real purpose for her walk begins. She stops in at all the opening shops, which slows her progress.
In each place she spends some time chatting with the proprietor and the employees if there are any. She tries to buy some small thing if she can. She get a pastry from the bakery, a few pieces of candy from the sweets shop, a nail file from the general store, an old, thin booklet of short plays at the bookstore, and so forth. When she doesn't buy, she at least browses some.
Walking and shopping trip around the town is Rhodel's daily morning ritual, one she began on her first full day in town almost three weeks ago. It is part of an aggressive campaign on her part to meet people, make some friends, and become well-recognized and known around town. It's worked about as well as possible for her given the short length of time she's been trying. She has all the tools to succeed. Rhodel is quite pretty, but not in a haughty, "great beauty" kind of way. She's about average in height and full figured with curves. Her face is open and friendly, with a warm smile. She is gregarious, good at making small talk, and finds people interesting. She feels approachable and trustworthy to most others.
Down the street a ways by the town hall, her route takes a right onto Raven Street and right again to the opposite end of Festival Street. The walk in it's entirety is a loop around the core of Sandpoint. Again Rhodel doesn't stop in the market. She goes on back to the Rusty Dragon, has a cup of tea, and grabs a quick little nap up in her room. She doesn't know much about the details of the Swallowtail Festival, but it seems a big deal and she expects in to last until late. Rhodel will be staying as long as there's something to do, so she wants to be well rested.
I've got a Sandpoint regional map from the AP I'll post when I can.
Hm, the link works for me, but I'll try a different source link. This one doesn't have the buildings numbered, so really it's more a picture of Sandpoint than a map. It's still quite nice though.
I think I found a mistake. I took Darksight but now looking again it seems that isn't a Bard option. I guess I'll need to switch that one out for something else. I'll think about it, but Confusion looks good.
"Paying close attention" isn't a reason to automatically get a Smarts roll. The rules say "a viewer only gets a Smarts roll if they "contact an illusion or doubt it’s real". Since magic can do many different things, it's not unreasonable that things pop up out of thin air whenever a caster is around.
It seems to me this cuts both ways. If given person is aware enough of magic to know a wall can be summoned out of nothing, they'd presumably also be aware that magic can create illusions. To me it seems a little selective about what people in general might know about magic to say one piece of knowledge is more likely to be known than another.
A Smarts roll seems like the perfect solution. A wolf won't know magic is a thing, so a wall is a wall. Middling, say average person, may be aware of magic and a few things it does, could go either way. Highly intelligent whatevers would know it's magic and wonder "what kind?", then probably test to see.
@PWGM: Hmm, I'd say somewhere on the rich commoner to minor nobility spectrum. Richer than average for that, but keeps a lower profile than he could actually afford. Lots of culty books to read and rituals to perform eats into one's time for a social life don't you know. Also who knows? Maybe he comes off to people as eccentric or possibly not completely sane.
His resources aren't unlimited, but he can afford to have his own people on retainer, maybe a half-dozen of so, and put a bounty out that would attract attention outside Korvosa. Bounty hunters would be willing to travel for it.
What he does not have is the huge network of spies and informants spread out everywhere. His real sphere of influence is limited to Korvosa itself, and as the location moves farther away from there, the blinder he is. He's only a minor hinderance after all.
There are also certain rules, and a certain logic to the kind of robbery it was. Choose a residence too low down the food chain and the risk isn't hardly worth the reward. Dare to go too high up the food chain and you're forgetting you can only take an amount not exceeding what you can carry away concealing in your clothing. Plus there are extra servants about to notice what one is doing. And they my have more influence with law enforcement or other means to really look hard for you. Rhodel chose Molnar incorrectly because he appeared to be within the proper window, but looks were deceiving.
I tend to think the Suspicious hinderance wouldn't go away. There are other reasons involved, and it is the kind of thing that can become more habitual and reflexive than reason based.
I haven't looked at or thought about limitations or trappings until you mentioned them. I'll think about it and see what I can come up with.
Her family lives in Aiudeen, but I'm not familiar enough with the world to name a specific area or clan name.
I know my way around the Golarion setting pretty well so maybe I can help you with this. Ciri is Half-Elven? You'd need to make a couple of decisions about how far away from the starting location of Sandpoint you want to be from originally, but with that done, I'm sure we can find your home. :)
First, "Aiudeen" isn't a place, but a type of elf:
Aiudeen: This is the most common elven ethnicity in the Inner Sea region. When people around the Inner Sea think of "elven culture," they are typically thinking of Aiudeen culture. Aiudeen are the descendants of the elves who returned to Golarion in the 27th century using the Sovyrian Stone. They are sometimes called "returners".
So, just in case you don't know, elves are treated quite differently than the usual for Golarion in terms of their origins. They are actually aliens to the planet. For the term "Aiudeen" to make sense, you can read about elves here to clear up the whole leaving and returning thing.
We will be in a particular region called Varisia. Since you mentioned belonging to a clan or particular large family, the most logical place Ciri would be from if she's from the region would be the the Mierani Forest, which is the largest territory held by elves anywhere in the area. It's north of Sandpoint, maybe a week or 10 days travel. Mierani is an organized and recognized political entity.
If you're looking for something smaller, maybe more clannish or tribal, it would need to be created. But of course you can do that. Good candidates would be the Sanos Forest in the middle of Varisia if you like the idea of lots of Gnome neighbors. The Churlwood, some distance northeast of Sandpoint could work if you want a more wild and dangerous homeland.
I mentioned those options first because it sounds like you're talking about some kind of established elven settlement. But many elves live in other places, mixed with humans. The major cities of Varisia are Korvosa, Magimar (closest to Sandpoint), Riddleport, and Kaer Maga. Plenty of smaller towns and villages around, so you could make one up if you like. But humans are in the vast majority in Varisia. If you want to go this route, we can find you a place on the map.
One thing you might want to keep in mind, half-elves typically don't get lots of love in Varisia:
The half-elves of Varisia face a lot of prejudices from both parental races, so they often prefer the harsh life in anarchic Riddleport or even a nomadic existence with the native Varisians and even the Shoanti to the life in the towns of southern Varisia. Life is especially depressive in Korvosa where they tend to be the most pitied offspring of lustful Mierani ambassador Perishial Kalissreavil and a lot of bored young noble women from the Korvosan upper class.
Of course you're not bound by any of this, in making your backstory. Also, if you're from farther away, outside Varisia, almost anything is true somewhere out there. If you want a particular kind of home and give me the specifics, I can probably find a match for you.
One thing I forgot to mention in my PM is why Rhodel has Azlanti as a language. High Chelaxian Opera, the old classics, are written and still performed in Azlanti. Of course Rhodel would want to read them, and possibly perform them some day.
