Sonechka Alkaeva's page

Are there any (other) reasons (RP or mechanics wise) you guys envision that would make the group want/accept/trust/invite you into their fold - why would your character be good to have around, so to speak?

Not sure I am explaining this well, but... I am not asking why your characters are interesting to play - that was clear to me from the lines you wrote down about them - but why are they interesting to play 'with' ?

While I hadn't made Sonechka to play in Iobaria, the fact that the current mod traveled there makes for a great hook for her. I'm thinking that her people have long opposed Baba Yaga's foothold in Artrosa, as well as the Kostchtchie-worshipping giants in the region. So while she was until recently in the Stolen Lands on her dajemma, Sonechka came back when word reached her on the other side of the mountains when Vsevolod and his followers gathered to attack Artrosa. Her people were afraid the giants were gathering to attack human settlements, not Baba Yaga's fortress-memorials, and when the adventurers defeated the frost giants Sonechka and a force of other locals (barbarians and witches in my imagination, since I'm still working with the Rashemen idea) went to investigate.

Sonechka would be interesting to have in the group because her people know about Baba Yaga and consider her a threat, possibly the only people outside of Irrisen who think much about the Mother of Witches. On the other hand, Elvanna is potentially worse than Baba Yaga since at least Baba Yaga is focused on other worlds while Elvanna wants to rule Golarion. So there will be the fun push and pull of Sonechka not wanting to help BY but doing so for the greater good.

I think she'd be fun to play with because she's sort of a pseudo-Vulcan- practical, cool, cerebral, and ruthless. Personally, I think she's fun because of her ruthlessness. She's not opposed to doing terrible things in the cause of the greater good, and she can be very scary when she starts talking about doing heinous things in order to save lives. The group she was with before used to bring her out just to chat with prisoners because she was a scary lady.

She's also from the leadsership caste of a matriarchal society that isn't run by an evil immortal demigoddess, so will make an interesting contrast to the jadwiga and winter witches we come up against.

Personally what I would dig to hear would be how you imagine the character in the group - what could be his 'spot' (both mechanically and RP wise)? Or maybe he refuses to take a spot at all? Dunno, stuff like that :D This can be an interesting perspective, both from a crunch as from a fluff point of view.

Just my two cents :D

Sonechka is a calm, cool, calculating person. She'd be a fun contrast to Cynehelm if he's the fiery, passionate cleric and she's the cold, cerebral witch. She's very pragmatic and practical, preferring to think before she acts. Also re: Cynehelm- I'm not sure of his 'of Orlov' means he's from an Issian/Kingmaker background, but her background has her spending some time in the Stolen Lands from the Kingmaker AP so she'd be familiar with the Issian/Rostlander conflict.

She's not a face or a leader type. She likes to be a counselor, someone who gives advice or whispers information in the diplomat's ear. Her profile has a few hundred posts if you want to look and see how I play her.

In spite of her being a Winter Witch, Sonechka isn't from Irrisen, she's from Iobaria. Granted, I wrote her background before the Iobaria sourcebook came out so she's mostly based on the Forgotten Realms's Witches of Rashemen (and Minsc's background from the PC game Baldur's Gate). I think her different Winter Witch background will be really interesting to see up against jadwiga and Baba Yaga's daughters.

In combat she hangs back or flies above the melee, throwing hexes and spells. She uses her familiar to scout or flies herself to scout, and is kind of a know-it-all, with at least a rank in every Knowledge skill and a few maxed out.

She's also a crafter, in case we have downtime and spare gold. Alchemy isn't particularly potent at this level, but she can also make Wondrous Items and scrolls and rods.

I have a Winter Witch here I'd love to submit. She was in a Kingmaker game that got to level 5 but I can quickly level her up. You can also see her personality and my posting for her in her associated posts.

Seeing that her spells and hexes are having little effect, Sonechka reaches into her pouch and pulls out a small vial, which she throws at the tree.

Alchemist's Fire toss: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Ranged touch attack.
AF damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3 Plus another 1d6 next round.

Wow. I guess that's what happens when Sonya tries a direct attack. Geez.

Sonechka frowns and stabs a finger at the tree, sending a beam of sickening green energy lancing at the monstrous plant.

Cast Ray of Exhaustion, DC 18 Ref

Sonechka follows in Green's wake, sending out a wave of baleful energy at the tree as she tries to stay away from the deadly branches.

Move to F-13, use Evil Eye vs. tree's Saving Throws. DC 17. If she goes before Dolgrym the tree will take a penalty to save against his Slow even if it saves against her EE.

Ha, fire. She can load up on ice damage spells, but I doubt the tree is weak against cold.

Kn: Nature to ID tree abilities: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 Ugh...

"Hold a moment, my lord. Give we casters a few seconds to prepare."

Sonechka nods, ready to give the loggers directions if they seem amenable to the compromise.

Sonechka gives the fey a deeper bow than Green had but does not address the woman directly. Instead she quietly murmurs to Green and anyone close enough to hear "Those two are clearly enchanted. Beware she does not ensnare you as well."

Sonechka nods and responds quietly to the man after she dismounts. "My suggestion would be that you and your men leave the grove for the moment. Not leave entirely, but far enough to be out of the creature's sight. She may be more amenable to our suggestions if she is not constantly reminded of what started this encounter."

Diplo Aid Another: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Spellcraft to ID whether the 2 guys have been Charmed: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Sonechka nods. "It took time for the message to get to us in the first place; we have no time to waste if we are to meet the fey's deadline."

Sure. One question- does our jail have solid doors or bars?

"I think she may be eager to share her viewpoint with me. She was suspiciously eager to draw us into battle. I want to know why. But I will be wary, of course, my lord."

Sonechka nods at Green. "I would not wish to remove it, my lord." She looks at the sleeping cult leader. "I will stay with her at the jail to speak with her when she wakes. She may be more willing to speak with a woman."

Dang, she beat my EE. Oh, well. She'll try Slumber now anyway. DC 17 or Sleep for 5 rounds.

Sonechka gestures, hidden in the dark, and leeches the heat from the cult leader's body, trying to force the woman to sleep.

Feeling secure in the shroud of darkness, Sonechka takes a few leisurely steps closer to the cultist leader, sending baleful energies at the other woman.

5' step to H-11, use Evil Eye on cult leader (DC 17 or -2 Saving Throws for 8 rounds).

So... this lady seems really happy to have us wailing on her cult. I'm going to try to put her to sleep so we can take her prisoner; I'm not sure we want to try to kill her.

Sonechka reaches out and grabs the shadows in the corner near her and literally pulls them around her like a shroud. The darkness expands and covers the entire corner of the room where she stood. No impediment to her eyes, she takes a few prudent steps away from the cultist in the dark.

Use Darkness SLA, centered at H/I 11/12. That should cover the whole corner and stop adjacent to Green. Then she'll move to I 10.

That works for me, DM.

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

As soon as the woman declares she will not grant parlay, Sonechka begins murmuring the words to a spell. Moments later motes of golden dust rain down from the ceiling above the largest group of cultists.

Cast Glitterdust at B-10, DC 17 Will save. Should hit main caster and 3 cultists at A-10 and 11 and B-12.

Sonechka carefully walks back up the steps. She whispers from a few steps below Green. "There are 2 groups, in each of the far corners of the room. I counted at least 8 women; one of them is casting spells on herself. I will go back into the room and to the near right corner from the stairs. Count to twenty then follow me inside. You may want to announce yourself before you make yourselves visible; I cannot say whether they will parlay or not. I will leave that decision to you, my lord"

"This time it may be wise for me to go first, my lords." Sonechka murmurs a few words under her breath and she disappears in a spray of quickly-disappearing snow.

She'll cast Invisibility on herself and go down the stairs slowly, looking for traps and ambushes. Glaza will fly from perch to perch since there probably isn't room for him to fly overhead and do overwatch.

Sonya Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 She can See in Darkness.
Glaza Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Sonechka nods at Green. "We should hurry, then, my lord, to prevent them preparing an ambush." She goes over to stand near the hatch but doesn't open it herself.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Sonechka points at the hatch and speaks quietly. "There is a hatch in the floor there."

Sonechka nods at Green. "I am with you, my lord." She whispers something to her ever-present raven and the bird flies up into the sky to circle overhead.

She'll have Glaza fly overhead with instructions to warn her if he spots anything. Perception +9

Sonechka will use Detect Magic to try to spot magical traps they may have left for us.

Sonechka was at the meeting location first. It seemed likely the woman didn't sleep. She nodded at the others as they arrived. "There are 10 women inside. Ten women who very likely harbor dislike or even hatred- possibly well earned hatred, if the stories we've heard are true- for men. Tread carefully. This has the potential to go very badly even if it does not fall to a general melee, my lords."

Are there any open windows in the barn or is there enough space for a bird to get in under the roof? She could send Glaza to spy.

"Possibly, my lord. This is a large, unclaimed territory. There are certainly communities we have not yet met. If we are successful and develop a reputation as fair minded rulers, more people may come to us and ask to join with our kingdom. As for further pioneers, they will eventually stop coming in great volume, but I am sure there will always be a few who wish to start a new life in a new land."

For the first time, Green saw Sonechka look surprised. She schooled her expression quickly, but whatever she had been expecting him to say, it was not that. "My lord, ah... You are... Who told you that you are incapable of passing on your lineage?" This conversation took a weird turn. ;)

Sounds like fun.

Sonechka lets Green muse aloud to himself for the most part, not sullenly silent but simply patient. She does respond a few times, indicating she is listening, but she is not the type of person who likes to share her thoughts in public.

"Some of the people have taken to calling me "king", but I'm not sure a ruler of a simple city-state can be claim that title.

Establishing a second town will go a long way towards legitimize us in the eyes of other states..."

"Once we have connected Stagfall by road to Oleg's place, that might become our third town.
As it is a border town it might become important to trade, so it's probably going to expand fast..."

She nods. "Had Tatzlford not volunteered themselves I would have recommended expanding the trading post into a town first. Closest to Restov and the rest of Brevoy and on the South Rostland Road, it is the place visitors see first and where the majority of imports come into the... country."

"But we would not want to discourage people from establishing communities as they naturally spring up, and if people voluntarily wish to associate with us we would be foolish to refuse them."

"As for your title, where I am from the Wychlaran rule, but that is not a title to which you would wish to aspire. Those with talent and training rule, rather than passing rulership through bloodlines. Perhaps fyrra? Though that is what we call the ruler of an individual settlement, somewhat akin to a mayor."

"If you do not wish to be king, perhaps Prince or Duke? We could be a Principality, such as they have in Ustalav, or a Duchy rather than a kingdom. Though those are largely similar institutions. Do you wish to establish hereditary rulership here?"

"The magpies have proven themselves very competent, and they've been around for some time...

What are the odds that the former leader, and the ones before that have some hidden knowledge that we have yet to discover?
If they had a previous headquarters, there might be hidden knowledge there..."

Sonechka nodded. "Perhaps, my lord. They are a tight-lipped group. Very competent, and in their business discretion is a hallmark of competence. Learning about their former leaders would be a sensible precaution."

Sonechka nods. "Of course, my lord. I am sure the dwarves would be happy to craft armor for you; you should ask Master Broadhammer. Outfitting you would be a coup for them, as a warrior of renown and the ruler of their city, both."

Sonechka nods in agreement. "I have the Magpies monitoring them, my lord. Give them a few days to make sure we have identified all of them, then we will do just as you suggest."

Sonechka seeks out Green to give him the information they'd discovered from the prisoners. Finding him out and about, she sidles up to him and murmurs "We have a location, my lord, and a name."

Sonya has a few spells that could be helpful in interrogation- Detect Thoughts, Suggestion, and Charm Person come to mind. They're not in her usual load-out but she'd prep them if they were going to be questioning prisoners.

Would Furiel have discussed that with the others before doing it? Because Akiros just warned us to not make this into a witch hunt and Green and Sonya seem to be on board with doing this quietly. I'm fine with him just doing this on his own without talking to anybody about it, but if he would discuss it then it seems like somebody should get a chance to say something before Furiel takes the troops out.

"Let's go into town tomorrow and look around, see if we can find any clues as to how big this cult is, and where it might be found."

Sonechka nods. "As you will, my lord. I will do my best to prepare us beforehand."

Akiros adds.. "With caution as well, however. Any overreach or missteps could be viewed unfavorably by our citizens. Many would protest against what could be considered a witch hunt. No offense My Lady." He smiles and bows his head to Sonechka.

Sonechka gives Akiros an amused smile. "I am not offended by the mere word. In my land, witches lead rather than hereditary nobles. There, power is earned by deeds, not blood." She shakes her head. "I hope I make no secret that I hope to influence our nation in such an egalitarian direction."

The amusement leaves her face as she continues. "But woe to the man who tries to hunt me or mine." She looks back at Green. "I have no respect for these cultists, my lord, but any woman who comes to me with news her husband has been beating her will have my support, however she cares to use it."

Sonechka can hit Kn: Local DC 15 with a Take 10. Or if you need a roll, DM:

Kn:Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Sonechka nods and tucks the pendant into a pocket hidden under her voluminous cloak. "I will confer with Rojeune and compile a list for you, my lord."

Take 10 on a Kn: Religion check, success.

Sonechka murmurs her response back to Rojeune.

Sonechka takes the bloodshot eye pendant and lets it dangle from her hand as she turns to Green. "We may have a problem, my lord. This pendant was found among the belongings of a woman who fell afoul of the Magpies while we were gone. It is the symbol of Gyronna, patron goddess of spurned women. The same symbol was found at the site of a murder, and the dead man's wife- rumored to be the frequent victim of his fists- is missing."

She gave Green, Norton, Furiel, and the other men present her chill smile. "While I, personally, have little to fear from them, a cult of Gyronna festering in our town could foment a great deal of unrest."

Saving up for walls makes sense to me.

Starting a second city is a fine investment at this point in the kingdom. I'm good with it.

That's really funny. I love the idea that Green thinks Sonechka is going to go brew potions and cast curses on people in a cave somewhere while she really goes and plays folk music at a vegan coffee shop she runs with her life partner. :)

Sonechka took everything useful from the stump, even- especially- the books. She nods at Green. "Call and I will be there, my lord. You know where I will be."

Looking forward to banging out some more kingdom and downtime, uh, time.

Yeah, using mods really helps me stay sane as a DM. I'm a big fan of Paizo's APs.

Sonechka murmurs the words to a spell and throws a handful of dust at the chaneque on the stump.

Cast Glitterdust centered on the chaneque at G-10. That should get the thawn and both chaneques. DC 17 Will save.