Sylvak Geldhaar's page

Hey all,
Thanks for being so cool about everything, and sorry for taking so long to post anything. As Ladile mentioned, RL has been nuts and I am in one of the areas shutdown by blizzards and dangerous temperatures (the doorknob for my back door is still frosted over, on the inside of the house). I don't want to complicate things for you guys too much, but given how sporadic my posting is likely to be for the next week or two I think I will just bow out. Happy gaming.

I believe (or, at least, want to believe) that you all intended your posts to be helpful, but the pages of explanation about why I was in the wrong felt an awful lot like lecturing me on a point that I had already accepted, apologized for, and offered a way forward from. And I'm certainly not directing that only to you, Zithembe.

I have zero objection to never backstabbing anyone ever again, as I mentioned that may have been the first time (in 28 years of gaming) that I've ever employed that tactic. The thing I do object to is being browbeaten by other players over a simple misunderstanding.

I've asked Lady Ladile if she would mind having Sylvak follow along quietly for a couple days so I can make a decision after the initial frustration has abated, and, I guess, so you all can decide if you're willing to have me in the group (and that way you won't have to pause things in the meantime). Right now my first experience with society play has just left a really sour taste in my mouth.

I think I'm going to bow out.

I understand now why PFS gets a bad rep in some circles. If multiple apologies and repeated offers to change my character aren't sufficient to curb the lengthy lectures on how and why I'm playing the game wrong (all over a single misunderstanding) then this is clearly not the place for me.

I built him with the intention of being more the divine retribution type... but honestly if backstabbing someone who's almost definitely a thief when I have the drop on him is going to be a problem then this is the wrong character.

I have no problem switching. I was trying something new with Sylvak- I've literally never played a rogue before, and I think this is the first time I've ever actually stabbed an unaware person in the back; it has not been an enjoyable experience. Do the people playing murderhobos in TT games not care when everyone gets mad at them or do people just not say anything at RL games?

I mean, if I rebuild after this adventure we can pretend my new guy is a totally different person, right? That way we can finish this mission out and nobody will really have to worry long term about fallout?

I don't want to upset things, and I still have one more opportunity to rebuild... I really had no idea that tactic would be such a problem (like I said, that wasn't the impression I got from some local gamers who have played PFS).

I was acting under the belief that I was stopping a thief (and as it turns out I was, in fact, doing so), but I also had no idea that people were going to have ooc objections to that approach... this is my first experience with PFS but I had heard from some friends who have played in TT PFS games that that sort of thing was pretty common?

So, I am sorry for causing problems, although I did specifically ask everyone how they felt about me playing a worshiper of Achaekek (the god of assassins) and nobody objected... Maybe I’ll rebuild one more time after this adventure?

”Maybe we should use a little discretion with the ‘T’ word...” Sylvak mutters to his companions. ”And, maybe we could move to another location to discuss our new friend’s prank? I really doubt either of them wants to explain to the school what we’re all doing up here...”

Sylvak looks into the room over Rumble’s head. ”Uh... are we sure we want answers to those questions?” he asks looking from the healed student to his bodyguard. ”We’re outsiders here... maybe we should leave it up to our new friends here how to proceed?”

While the bodyguard rushes up the stairs, Sylvak lets go of the window sill and falls the last few feet to the ground, then rushes around the corner and through the door. As he moves, he sheathes his used sword and draws his other.

Catching sight of Rumble’s feet on the staircase, he chases the dwarf to the second floor. ”Is Maria alright,” he calls ahead, ”I heard the shout...”

Thats two rounds of double moves and, if I’ve understood correctly, should put me somewhere in the second floor hallway while Maria is looking out the window?

So, I know sometimes in PbP we have to skip right to the action but how many rounds was your post? It looks like a double move up to the second floor and then breaking down the door in a second round? I only ask because having an extra round before anyone looks down will make a huge difference in my next action...

Sylvak grabs the rolled up paper from the injured man’s pocket then scampers quietly out the window to the ground...
stealth: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 4 = 24
climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Well, at least nobody will see me hanging on the side of the building (or falling)

That's what I was picturing too (based on the cover image for the slideshow for this module).

thief or scribe? a scribe would use a real light... and if I'm wrong I'll blame a thief...

Summoning the stealth of an owl (using animal focus), Sylvak does his best to quietly slip into the room and plant his sword in the other man's back...

stealth: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 = 14
attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14, for: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
well, lets hope his flat-footed AC is low...

Sylvak sighs and readies himself to try again. He quietly mutters, "For the Mantis God," as he leaps up and tries once more to climb onto the roof near the illumined window. using piety for +2 to climb

stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
climb: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 2 = 20

Sylvak jumps and grabs the decorative supports beneath the buildings lower roof, then attempts to quietly climb up unto the ledge to check for open windows...
stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
...but quickly loses his grip and ends up back where he started.

come on, RNG, what did I ever do to you?

Sylvak’s hand instinctively grabs the hilt of his sword as he rushes through the door. ”Rumble, alert whatever guards are nearby,” he calls as he hurried by, ”I’m gonna circle around behind and try to cut off their escape.”

I’m on my phone (so I can’t move my marker) but I’m going to double move towards the alley between the main hall and the classroom next to it.

I saw that but in her post only Rumble noticed...

lol- my plan was to sneak up there and look around too... I was just waiting for anyone to reply to my suggestion. Oh well.

Alright, sounds like Hep's the only one willing to get her hands dirty at all... and at this rate it'll be a miracle if we don't get arrested for conspiracy before we ever even try to steal the blasted thing...

"Umm, perhaps we could all keep it down?" Sylvak asks with a hint of reproach. "I know we're divided on how to proceed, but I think we can all agree that we don't want to attract a lot of unnecessary attention if we can avoid it, right? How about this... those of you who are hoping for a chance to view and copy the original, through some friendly means, get some sleep so you can resume that activity in the morning; anyone who thinks they might be able bribe or seduce, or otherwise sway, a guard to gain access to the map, go get started; I'll do a little scouting and see if I can confirm where the map might be?"

Well, if I interject from here the others will overhear... plus...

Oh good, I'm glad someone else is thinking practically about things... I wonder how practically though... are they ready to kill for the map? I wonder how they are at lying too... I'm terrible at it, and now that everyone here knows we're interested in the map they'll definitely question us if it disappears... I better keep listening and see if they have any kind of plan...

Despite already being fairly certain that there are no spying devices or other dangers around, Sylvak keeps up the pretense of searching so that he can continue to listen to his two more pragmatic companions' conversation.

Sylvak gives a somber nod. ”Better safe than sorry,” he answers as he begins to search as well.

I’ll take 20 also, for a 27. And, if possible, I’ll eavesdrop on Maria and Hep while I work.

I used to work swing shift, it was the worst. Week 1 was 7am-3pm Mon-Wed, and midnight to noon Sat+Sun; week 2 was 3pm-11pm Mon-Fri; week 3 was 7am-3pm Thur+Fri, and noon to midnight Sat+Sun; and week 4 was 11pm-7am Mon-Fri (then back to week 1). My sleep 'schedule' was a total mess and half the time I hardly knew what day it was. Honestly, after that having babies didn't seem that bad, lol.

well, at least now they know who to suspect if the map comes up missing... we should have just snuck in at night, killed anyone we encountered, and taken the map...

Sylvak frowns as the plan to acquire the map nicely seems to flounder.

”Why don’t we look into the lodgings,” Sylvak answers, ”that’d give us more time to, uh, identify pieces of interest for our employer?”

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
if she’s talking about the map she’s right there... I wonder where they’ve got the real one... upstairs, most likely...

Sylvak looks at Rumble and cocks an eyebrow.

Is he warning them we're bringing doom? Or, that we're about to bring doom on ourselves? Neither of those seem real likely to make them helpful towards us...

"Yup," Sylvak responds cracking a smile, "Like the man says... we're here for the doom."

I just finished my second-last semester of grad school (yay!) so that should free up some time in general (for the next 3-4 weeks), but the next 3-4 days are super busy at work and with family. I'll try to keep up.

”I do alright at sneaking,” Sylvak offers when he’s confident they’re out of earshot, ”but I’ve never used that to steal anything before.”

We can try to buy it if you guys want, or those of us with stealth could try to steal it while everyone else makes a distraction or something?

While waiting to leave, Sylvak accompanies anyone he can on whatever shopping trips he can, in the vain hope that something exciting might happen...

Did she pay us anything for the first part of the mission? If not then I don't really have any gold to spend (although, honestly, I'm not sure I would really buy much of anything even if she did). Either way, I'm good with leaving.

That’s what I figured, thanks. I’ll probably just stick with the one society character for now (although, with all these rave reviews it is pretty tempting).

Sylvak nods at Mai’s initial offer and heads to the kitchen, assuming that the dwarf will as well. He looks through what’s available and then, with a tinge of disappointment, settles on a big bowl full of rice covered with some kind of meat in some kind of sauce. Unable to find a fork, he begins eating with a spoon.

He emerges with a smile at the offer of making history and answers, ”Now that sounds worth the trip!”

We can only be in one game at a time, right? So, like, if I wanted to play I would have to make another 1st level character?

"Damm near took my arm clean off," Sylvak confesses. "I wouldn't say it was easy, but it was kind of a small job to come all this way for... maybe you had something else in mind? Like following up on whatever you learn from all those papers you had us look for?"

No worries, Rumble (it seems like that was unclear even after my comment here).

OOC, I totally understand what happened, and why. IC, Sylvak just assumed that of course Maria was going to use the scroll on herself because why carry around scrolls you can't use. He's not really accustomed to being part of a stable party yet (and once he is would probably expect to have the people who can use items carry them).

"I was wondering the same thing," Sylvak adds with a nod, "This was an awfully long trip just to poke around a dusty old manor..."

Sylvak, AFAIK Rumble is the only one who can use the comprehend languages scroll and it is range personal, hence his sadness.

<====Zero ranks in knowledge(arcana)/spellcraft

"Well, we killed a possessed bear, searched a dusty manor, and found a bunch of books and scrolls, and a map," Sylvak reports as he pulls off his boots and heads inside. "Me and Rumble have got our packs full of books, I think Hep's still got the map... oh, and Zee's got the polearm we found."

”Unless you’re a real quick learner, I don’t think there’s gonna be anything here you can read, Rumble.”

Sylvak shrugs. "If you wanna take a little study break before we bring this stuff in, feel free," he offers, "I've got time."

"Let's take all the books and scrolls, and papers; that's the stuff she said she wanted," Sylvak offers, still keeping his sword at the ready.

"I can carry a fair bit if you want to start loading up my pack... does anyone have one of those syphons from the last mission, in case we haven't seen the last of that spirit?"

With his sword at the ready, Sylvak steps into the room and looks for any sign of danger...

single move in, readied action to attack anything that might come at me (except one of my companions, obviously).

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
readied attack (2 hands), if needed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17, for: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Sylvak shrugs and follows along with his companions. "If the spirit of whoever lived here was in that bear," he reasons while peering into the bedroom/den, "then he might have hidden some of his favorite things in here where he slept... maybe even something our employer might be interested in?"

With that, he steps into the room and begins searching...

I don't know if anyone's in a hurry? I'll take 20 (for a 27) a couple times to search the room if I can, if not I'll just take 10 (for 17).

Sylvak eyes the eastern door as his companions begin heading west. "I'm no trap expert..." he offers tentatively, "but don't those things reset sometimes? Maybe we should head that way first, before it does?"

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"It looks like the bear used this room for a den..." Sylvak offers, "but that it stayed away from that eastern door... could be the spirit possessing it wasn't allowed for some reason? Or, maybe the statue gets a little more unruly if you try to open it?"

At the mention of mysterious magic, Sylvak raises his sword and holds it ready to strike, should the statue suddenly lurch at them. "What kind of enchantment?" he asks.

readying an attack if the statue comes in reach

”So, uh, any of those tools possessed?” Sylvak asks half-jokingly as he peers into the shed. Do we have someone checking each room with a quick detect magic as part of our standard procedure?

"If somebody bound the spirit to it there might be a sign... a rune carved into it's hide, or some kind of talisman or something..."

Sylvak shakes the stiffness out of his recently mauled arm. Seeing Zee wander off, he readies his sword and hustles to arrive at the stable with the medium.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

His efforts to look and listen for danger are, however, not his best as part of his attention remains on the bear. "Did anyone check the bear's corpse?" he asks, "maybe there was a clue on it about what's going on..."

I went to move my token on the map but I have no idea where the stable is, sorry.

Well, since I clearly am going to need healing, I'm all for it!

”For a little guy,” Sylvak groans as he slowly opens his eyes, ”that bear had an awfully big bite.”

When Rumble finishes healing him, he stands up looking a little sheepish and says, ”Thanks. That really didn’t go the way I thought it would.”

Con (stabilize): 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 3 = 13
success!