I LOVED Liar's Blade and the story behind it, personally. More stories like this that simply explore the idiosyncrasy and rumors of the world is awesome. Nightglass was a hit with both the hubby and I - loved the exploration of Nidal. I must also second the "Don't let Dave Gross away from his keyboard" sentiment. Love you books and look forward to possibly seeing the ladies come to print.
What I'd love to see more of:
More stories like Lair's Blade. Makes for awesome campaign ideas.
Historical stuff - like Cailean before the test of the Starstone? Or any of the other two mortals-turned-Gods?
Also, a fiction superstar idea that was thrown out up there? AWESOME. +1
I'm female on the other side of the computer. I was introduced to 3.5 by my husband by being handed a 12th level cleric built on a character sheet marking the combat section of the PHB saying "You might want to read up on this..." I've loved it ever since!
All makes sense! :) I will prep an alias tonight/tomorrow. Just FYI for all: Friday/Saturday are my RL gaming nights, thus posting from me might be scarce then.
Thea shakes her head at Manny offering another ale, but realizes quickly that the gnome was already oblivious. She offers the dwarf a smile of thanks for the drink at which she stops, her milky blue eyes seeming far away and lost in the fermented, malted barley. Her hand takes the tankard for the longest moment at which time she considers a drink but stops herself and stands from the bar. Stepping across the floor her eyes find the growing party at the table that more seem to step to and curiosity takes control as he feet step closer.
"Lamm?" She sounds surprised. "What's your trouble with him?"
More information is in the final parts of the Character sheet in the Contacts/Friends section. A question for you: should the character be selected (and we make as far as the end of the campaign), would you be amenable to switching out the 18th level bonus spell for the Heavens Oracle form Meteor Swarm to Scintillating Pattern? Seems to me to fit the flavor of the Archetype much better.
Thea grabs for the bar at the bumbling gnome's entrance, then reaching for her tankard as it spills all over her dress. She curses under her breath, quite unladylike for such a petite girl. "Oaf," she condemns before she's able to stop herself. "Not all of us are so plastered that we're incoherent," she manages to the gnome, forgetting her tipped tankard now. "Another really a good idea?"
I offer Theanna Lyonsbold, CG Human Oracle of the Heavens, for consideration.
Interpretation of your alignment:
Thea is just as likely to buck the trend as she is to fight for it - she sees value in both the law and how it keeps society intact and yet understands that not everything is as black and white as it's advertised. She's a just and good person, willing to help others and strive for justice, yet she's just as likely to do it within or outside of what society calls "normal".
Theanna Lyonsbold was born the second daughter of an Abadarian Lawyer and his secretary. Despite most stories that start this way, the couple was married and has been since the birth of their first son. When Theanna was young, she was given quite a few luxuries and allotted the ability to be taught the ways of the world and to explore. When she was about 13, Theanna got herself involved in the drug ring of Korvosa and purchased some shiver from a man by the name of Gaedren Lamm. The addictive drug brought her back for more and more for the next two years - that is until Thea lost her sight.
While completely high on the drug, her brother happened along her and having kept her secret from their parents of her addiction (knowing they'd feel obligated to prosecute for breaking the law), Nicholas thought it funny to give his baby sister another dose, not knowing how much she had taken herself. Now, overdosed, Theanna spiraled and the shiver reacted poorly and rendered her with clouded eyes and a reduced sense of sight. She could have been dead, and for that little fact that she wasn't she's thankful, and yet she hates herself for her addiction and what it did to her.
With no other option or way to hide the change in her eyes, she told her parents of her overdose, not knowing her bother's involvement. Her parents took her to every healer imaginable and yet the curse was not able to be lifted. That was when Thea started seeing the stars for the first time as she dreamed; the heavens seemed to open to her. Thea manifested raw, untaught divine magic by her 17th year of age and has devoted herself to the study of the heavens since.
Answers to the following questions
1. What does your character look like?:
A short girl by many means, Thea stands a mere five feet from the ground and sport a thin, wiry frame. She looks as if a good, stiff wind might knock her over and yet the lithe frame packs a punch if ever angered. Her blond hair is a mess, naturally curly and worn up and out of her face. The most distinguishable feature of Thea are her eyes: blue as the Jeggare river itself yet clouded over and pale in their color. It's a miracle she can see at all, and how she lost her sight... not that's a story in and of itself.
A firebrand is the best way to describe Thea: she speaks her mind, makes her opinion heard and has a short fuse to set her off. She's a caring creature that has her own ideals and yet holds herself to a higher standard then one might expect. She loves a good time, and understands the limits of her own body.
3. How bitter is your character toward Lamm?:
Bitter is a good way to put her feelings. She wishes he understood what his actions did to others, though of her understanding of the man he simply does not care. She wishes to put him and his drug cartel under, and yet does not wish herself to be caught up in it either.
4. How would your character react to having Lamm tied up in front of them this instant. :
Interestingly, like justice has been serviced. She'd turn him over to the guard and be done with it so that she can simply watch him be convicted and be marche doff to rot in prison. It'd be a chapter of her life done and over with and something else she can put behind her.
5. How does your character feel about Korvosa as a whole?:
Thea loves Korvosa on a whole, especially around the pseudodragon festival time. She's lived in the city the entirety of her life and has been privileged enough to not live in the slums of the city. Just like any city, there's always room for improvement but Thea enjoys the city on a whole and would not consider moving.
6. How does your character feel about the King? The Queen?:
Not that she's met either, but she believes the king is fair enough, and with his old age expects another to take his place soon - though who begs an interesting question. As for the Queen, Thea admires her youthfulness and status, thinking the young queen an idol of sorts.
7. Does your character have any strange quirks?:
She does not drink alcohol of any sort, only water.
What is the highest level Pathfinder game you have played in?:
Level 20 as a wizard in the Rise of the Runelords campaign.
What did you like about that game?:
Loved the inter-connectivity of the PCs, the abilities they brought to the table and the group working together as a team and needing on another, despite being rather powerful in each of their own rights.
What did you not like about it?:
It was hard to keep track of the spells. :P
Does your character have immediate family?:
No - she's an only child whose parents died in the epidemic that scourged Korvosa some few years back (Seven Days to the Grave).
Is your character a noble?:
At least not true-blue born into the title - natives of Korvosa may plea her as such but she does not accept the title.
What are you able to bring to the game?:
A player with a even head and a load of creativity. I will play just about anything, be it a fighter, a Battle Herald, a cleric, an arcanist... Anything. I believe in party cohesion and play as to not cause waves or to upset the group. I believe the story you tell together is the best part of the game, even beside power, magical items and rules.
How old is your character? If very young or old, why did you select that age?:
I was planning on middle aged - most likely using Curse of the Crimson Throne for a background. Having come back to Korvosa after liberating the city from its tyrannical leader, Alivyre declined the option to sit with one of her compatriots on the throne. Instead she opted to leave the city staying long enough to endorse a new king and quell the riots, unable to reside in her hometown after watching it burn (figuratively) and having lost her family there. She feels, being still fairly young in life, that her remaining years can still be put to use elsewhere.
What do you think is the most unbalancing aspect of your character concept for group play?:
Depends on the build I decide on: as a Battle Herald I can see the immediate actions in combat being long and arduous in this setting, which makes me want to play something more classic. And yet with the classical fighter you have the high AC, the high damage potential and the like that always comes with it. I love me some casters, but I feel the pain some go through with the higher level spells giving near divine rights to the casters. All things I'm considering while building my character.
Where do you see your character going in 10 levels?:
I see Alivyre continuing to gain her 'levels' to continue her commitment to gaining a complete, holistic understanding of herself and her abilities. I'm a purist as a player and playing 20 levels of a straight class for me is common, and almost a necessity. The presence of level dips and the like is hard for me to justify, but will do so for a concept to work.
