“When authorities believe their own citizens will become dangerous, they begin to focus on controlling the public, rather than on addressing the disaster.”
"Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac. In our time political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.
Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidarity to pure wind. War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it. Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception.
We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act."
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
Yildiri Carakeju wrote:
I don't have a problem with how things are but I think we're concentrating on the job in hand rather than getting to know one another at present...
Very good point.
As for me, I'm in the habit of revealing my character via the process of adventuring, and as I've said, I've been suffering an exceptional case of mental decay for years now.
I used to be a FANTASTIC role-player. For one thing, I'm a natural actor (at least, I used to be - I worry I've lost that, too, and I fear for my future and everything I've ever wanted to be and do in life). Ironically, getting involved with actual people is what dragged me down, since for far too long I was stuck in supposed 'gaming' environments that turned out to be actively hostile to anything beyond bean-counting. MMOs were a terrible mistake - good for a couple years, but quickly turning to s++! circa 2007, and taking everything else with it. It dragged me down, and down, and down, and I've been fighting a losing battle as gaming in general has not only formed an organized culture (bad), but one that is actively tilted toward the new wave of LCD types (vastly worse).
I could say much, much more on the topic, but I HAVE been trying to say it for so long (you'll find plenty of it in my primary avatar's post history if you go back a few years), and with so little payoff and so much punishment for my efforts, that by this point I'm just about exhausted.
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
It wasn't clear what you wanted us to do. I'd rather it not end like this, I like my character, and I love playing in a world that ISN'T Golarion and ISN'T just Pathfinder Society with all its strictures.
It was very good for a while, I don't see why it can't continue. We came into this temple for a purpose, but we haven't been able to DO or FIND anything. You're right, it shouldn't just be hack-and-slash, I've had quite enough of that. Nobody's asking for that. I think we've been having a miscommunication problem.
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
"Really, who's to say which is the better option? Either or both could belong here...or neither. Same with such questions as 'friend or foe' or 'intelligent or bestial'."
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
Sasithorn continues to stare in the direction the creature fled, an expression of combined bewilderment and disappointment on his face. "That all...does stand to reason. Excellent point about the alcoves. But what if I were to pose you a counterpoint: That perhaps, rather than our no longer being in the temple, we are...MORE in the temple than we were before. Not merely an inner sanctum in the architectural sense, but, perhaps, the TRUE temple, where place of veneration meets object? I've already felt it...the darkness here is VAST. My magic will be at the height of its puissance here."
Any pertinent Knowledge checks I and others could try?
"Funny things, curses; one can never be too sure what might provoke them. Sometimes they are a form of Justice...or just a sort of aggressive defense. These being Tanri Shar's halls, who can say which way such a wind might blow? I say give it a moment. Leave it with none but itself to blame should it pick a fight with us."
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
A couple minutes at most (the use of a notoriously vague term being deliberate) sounds reasonable. Either it will finish its meal and move on, or it will engage us - and if it chooses to do so violently, that will be on it.
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
I, for one, am sincerely still engaged, or at least I want to be; it's just the psychological deterioration I've been suffering for years - of course, I say *I've* been suffering from it, but I honestly can't tell where MY problems begin and other people's problems end anymore. I certainly didn't used to be this way. I used to be nothing short of a creative genius until I started getting punished for it in precisely the venues where it should have been most welcomed...but one thing you're never allowed to do is say there's some kind of hivemind effect dragging everybody down, whether it's true or not. You always have to blame yourself for anything bad you observe, continually taking on more responsibility while giving up more power...which means that if it IS a sort of mass psychological blight, you're basically force-fed it when you try to snap people out of it.
On a more concrete, discrete, immediate in-game level, my biggest problem is that I'm literally not sure where we're going in this temple; it's very spartan in here as you've described it, and our present quest is also a bit vague, so I don't think we don't know what to do.
While there's no shortage of darkness in this place to direct against these things, and the absence of light is precious little obstacle to Sasithorn, the presence of bulky warrior flesh is a bit more of a problem.
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
Sasithorn once again sends his dark magic against the automaton....
I move however appropriate to stay just out of melee and with a clear line of sight; the figurines on your map don't appear to be where you say they are.
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
"If I were to hazard a guess, it sounds like more alien science. From what I've seen of it, it does tend to hum. Amazing it's managed to remain concealed all these years. You'd think at least a few of history's great adventurers would have...of course, maybe there's some great and terrible secret...." Sasithorn shrugs, ambivalent about the implications of what he's saying.
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
@DM: I'm having a bit of difficulty deciding who fits Sasithorn better: Moloween or Tanri Shar. I've had my patron down as Moloween for some time since that's who you told me about at the start, but aside from the "Justice" angle you mentioned, it seems like Tanri Shar might be a better fit for me in other ways.
male Wayang Eysterlun Shadowcaster 4 | AC 21*, T 15, FF 19* |HP: 23/23 | F +3, R +3, W +3? | Init +2, P +4 |CMB 0 CMD 12| 1/4 Void Points
Sasithorn carefully studies the knickknacks with his esoteric sight.
"Ah! A restorative wand - power has mostly faded, but definitely some still there - and a bona fide Ring of Protection! Better than your typical specimen, too! Anyone object if I take it?"
female elven (seer) (cultist) | HP 19/21 THP 0/0 | AC 17 (18) | F +4, R +8 W +8 | Class DC 19 | Spell DC 19 | lowlight vision; Perception +6; Perception DC 16 | Hero Pts 2 |
About Elyana
Vital Stats:
Age: 24
Speed: 30
HP: 21 (6 Race + 18 Class -3 Con)
Eye Color: Violet
Hair Color: Blonde
Skin Color:pale
Languages common, elven, sylvan:
Background: cultist
Heritage: Seer Elf
Traits: Marked Soul, humanoid, elf
Ability ScoresStr 10, Dex 16, Con 8, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 18
Saves:
Fort (Prof T): +4 | Ref (Prof T): +8 | Will (Prof E): +8
voluntary -1 vs disease/poison
Trained Skills:
Acrobatics: +8 ( 3 Dex + 5 Prof T + Item - Armor)
Arcana: +7 ( 2 Int +5 Prof T + Item)
Athletics: +0 ( 0 Str 0 + Prof + Item - Armor)
Crafting: +2 ( 2 Int +0 Prof + Item)
Deception: +4 ( 4 Cha +0 Prof + Item)
Diplomacy: +9 ( 4 Cha + 5 Prof T + Item)
Intimidation: +4 ( 4 Cha +0 Prof + Item)
Lore: Cult of the Green +9 ( 2 Int + 7 Prof E + Item)
Lore: +2 ( 2 Int +0 Prof + Item)
Medicine: +6 ( 1 Wis +5 Prof T + Item)
Nature: +6 ( 1 Wis +5 T Prof T + Item)
Occultism: +7 (2 Int +5 T Prof T + Item)
Performance (dance): +9 ( 4 Cha + 5 Prof T + Item)
Religion: +1 ( 1 Wis + 0 Prof + Item)
Society: +2 ( 2 Int +0 Prof + Item)
Stealth: +8 ( 3 Dex + 5 Prof T + Item - Armor)
Survival: +6 ( 1 Wis + 5 Prof T + Item)
Thievery: +3 ( 3 Dex +0 Prof + Item - Armor)
Languages common, elven, sylvan, celestial
Feat:
Ancestry Heritage (Seer Elf) You have an inborn ability to detect and understand magical phenomena. You can cast the detect magic cantrip as an arcane innate spell at will. A cantrip is heightened to a spell level equal to half your level rounded up.
Wildborn Magic You have learned to access the old magic of wild places. Choose one cantrip from the primal spell list. You can cast this cantrip as an innate primal spell at will. A cantrip is heightened to a spell level equal to half your level rounded up.
Class Reach Spell ◆ You can extend the range of your spells. If the next action you use is to Cast a Spell that has a range, increase that spell’s range by 30 feet. As is standard for increasing spell ranges, if the spell normally has a range of touch, you extend its range to 30 feet.
Skill Fascinating Performance GeneralWhen you Perform, compare your result to the Will DC of one observer. If you succeed, the target is fascinated by you for 1 round. If the observer is in a situation that demands immediate attention, such as combat, you must critically succeed to fascinate it and the Perform action gains the incapacitation trait. You must choose which creature you’re trying to fascinate before you roll your check, and the target is then temporarily immune for 1 hour. If you’re an expert in Performance, you can fascinate up to four observers; if you’re a master, you can fascinate up to 10 observers; and if you’re legendary, you can fascinate any number of observers at the same time.
General Weapon Proficiency (martial)
Bonus Celebrity Dedication
The more people you have looking at you, the more content you are, and you take every opportunity to show up others when their performances are less than perfect. You gain the Upstage reaction. In addition, when you Earn Income, if the level of the task is higher than your level, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your check to Earn Income.
Activate Reaction Upstage; Trigger A foe attempts a skill check and doesn't get a critical success; Effect After your foe has tried their best, you show everyone how it's really done. Attempt a check using the same skill that triggered this reaction.
Critical Success You gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, Perception checks, saving throws, and skill checks until the end of your next turn.
Success As critical success, except you gain the benefits only if the triggering creature failed their skill check.
Special You can't select another dedication feat until you have gained two other feats from the celebrity archetype.
Special Abilities:
Schooled in Secrets You notice the signs and symbols that members of mystery cults and other secret societies use to declare their affiliation to fellow members. You can use Occultism in place of Diplomacy to Gather Information about such groups. If you belong to a secret cult, lodge, sect, or similar organization, you automatically recognize members of your group unless they are specifically attempting to conceal their presence from you.
Healing Wave Activate ◆ ◆ envision; Frequency once per hour; Effect You release a wave of positive energy in a 15-foot cone. You and each living target in the area regain 1d4 HP per level of the relic.
Nymph Bloodline Spell List primal
Bloodline Skills Diplomacy, Nature
Granted Spells cantrip: tanglefoot, 1st: charm, 2nd: calm emotions, 3rd: animal vision, 4th: vital beacon, 5th: crushing despair, 6th: repulsion, 7th: unfettered pack, 8th: moment of renewal, 9th: overwhelming presence
Bloodline Spells initial: nymph's token, advanced: blinding beauty, greater: establish ward
[Blood Magic Nymph grace accentuates your movements and distracts your foes, either granting you a +1 status bonus to Diplomacy checks for 1 round or imposing a –1 status penalty on one target's Will saves for 1 round.
Signature Spells 1st heal, 2nd acid arrow
Special Actions:
Proficiencies:
Weapons:
Simple T
Martial T
Advanced U
Unarmed T
Other
Armor:
Unarmored T
Light U
Medium U
Heavy U
Bulk Limit: 5
Encumbered: 5+
backpack, a bedroll, 10 pieces of chalk, flint and steel, 50 feet of rope, 2 weeks’ rations, soap, waterskin, 2 sets of caltrops 20 sling bullets, dagger, sling, explorer’s clothing, minor healing potion 3, light wooden shield, elven curve blade, Pendant of The Green (relic lvl 3: healing wave) A pendant of round amber wrapped in living wood on a spidersilk cord.
Total Bulk: 1 B 6 L
Money: 9 gp, 6 sp, 3 cp
Description:
Elyana is a blonde young elven woman only a few years short of adulthood. She stands around five foot four with sharply pointed ears, violet colored eyes, and long blonde hair reaching her lower back. She wears a short blouse that leaves her shoulders and midriff bare with a high collar, a knee length skirt, and fingerless gloves that reach just above her elbow. She is quickly beginning to develop physically into an adult and promises to be a great beauty when she is finished.
Personality:
Elyana is a dutiful young woman she has always applied herself to meet the expectations of her mother and the duties she is to inherit. At the same time she is inflicted with a desire for a bit of freedom, to not have so much of a burden placed on her young shoulders. She wants to have time to herself, time to make friends, and is more than pleased that she now has that opportunity.
Despite her interest in some freedom Elyana takes her responsibilities seriously and can be a bit of a mother hen to those younger than her. She keeps an eye out for those she cares for and is always willing to help them and she has a tendency to ignore the rules to do so when she needs to.
Background:
Elyana was born around sixteen years ago, the first generation of her family born on the Isle of Cadranite, to her elven parents Mirethiel and Sandowyn Faervald. Her mother’s clan was a matriarchal one and due to their distant fey heritage have a long standing role as seers and keepers of harvest and fertility rites for the elven peoples when they came to this island. For the first several years of her life Elyana only really spent times with her parents, her mother in particular, as she was indoctrinated into the rites of the Cult of the Green.
When Elyana turned fifteen her family decided to settle down in the town of Swampwood. There were very few elves in the area but there were rumors that a new settlement would begin in the area within the next few years. Elyana’s mother wanted to prepare the area and finish her daughter’s training in an area where they wouldn’t harm the territory of the coming elves and to try and build bridges with the humans in the area. As a part of this she had gone with her mother to meet two prominent businessmen in the town, the elven weaponsmith and his daughter Zaranna who Elyana thought was gorgeous. She didn't see Zaranna again after that because her father kept the girl isolated most of the time. She also met Alric, the son of the local woodcarver but didn't have a lot of time to speak with him either.
Elyana was excited to have a chance to settle down for a while and make some friends. While she didn’t complain it had been very hard on her growing up as they moved from place to place every few months Not long after arriving Elyana met two human children, a girl of around fourteen named Kara and her older brother Tomlin who was sixteen and quickly became fast friends with them. Naturally, of course, one of the first things she heard about was the story of the piper. She thought the whole thing was simply a ghost story, too bad that such stories are often grounded in just a little bit of fact.
When she was sixteen Elyana was kidnapped along with a number of the other children by The Piper and, while they managed to escape, they did not do so unharmed. One of the children, Shei was possessed by some shadowy thing that erupted from The Piper’s remains and disappeared and they were all marked in some manner on their right wrists. Even worse, after their rescue, Elyana came down very ill after nearly having been killed by a large rat. The illness came on her suddenly and left her susceptible to illness and poison ever after that.
A few years later she and her family moved to the sight of the new elven village of Symeshara in the nearby forest of Symestra when the first of the colonists arrived to settle. While there was distance between Symeshara and Swampwood it was not so far that Elyana didn’t return to visit her friends. Sadly her duties as a Cultist of the Green began to take up most of her time and during that she had grown into a fey beauty as the nymph ancestry of her family showed up in her. She honed her magic and practiced the rites she was raised in as well as began to learn the elven curve blade from her father. All of this kept Elyana very busy and she had been unable to return to Swampwood for the last several years. On the eve of the eighth year after the events of that horrible two days though Elyana made the time to go back and see her old friends once again.
Elyana considered what the dwarf said carefully, he was a thief and she didn't trust him, but she decided that he got the point. "You want compensation? How about you get to keep your life, your bear, your freedom, and I don't take you back to face punishment at the hands, or should I say gaze, of it's rightful owner?"
Despite the harshness of her words Elyana knew the dwarf would face the wrath of the wizard if he didn't manage to get away and that might expose her and Naomi to the wizard as well. That thought struck Elyana as she realized that the wizard might well be the one who cursed Naomi in the first place.
Suspicious Elyana asked, "Did the wizard commission you to steal the mask? What is his name?" She hesitated and then said, "What compensation would you require for this information and the mask."
