Taeo Oneshape's page

Hey Robert, I'll be sad to not get to see where this was going, but I totally respect changing responsibilities and time availability.

Thanks for the run while it lasted, and best of luck with everything!

Looking forward to it, when Robert's ready. I find it very difficult to predict where this campaign will go and I can't wait to find out!

Taeo blinks a few times at the rebuke, but doesn't frown or flinch; one gets the sense from his expression that passionate outbursts have been a common occurrence in his childhood in the First World.

Still, his jaw grates a bit as the Niscani turns away. She doesn't know me! he thinks initially...but after he cools down, he ruminates a bit more.

OK...I could use a bit more focus. But what exactly does she mean, "Put your hands around your life, and make it what you want...You will learn that your perceptions shape everything"?

As they start to shuffle out of Vesix's classroom, Taeo sidles up next to Alyona and whispers, "There are so many secrets here. You see it don't you? You heard Danos’ tone when he said deception isn’t taught here, right? And Hokuto’s given us a stack of sideways answers. Why do you think they really brought us here?"

Robert, once again an awesome entry in RPG Superstar! I'm rooting for you 100% (and glad I get to be in one of your games).

Taeo’s head swims with all the magical sights he’s seen in the First World, ”Oh gosh, I’ve always wanted to fly, and to turn invisible, and to charm people and make illusions. Everyone always teases me for not being able to shapeshift into anything; maybe that would be the one thing?”

He pauses then, his expression shifting in a heartbeat as he looks at all these humans, all of them bound to die. ”Oh except if I could use magic to become a real fey -- not just fey-kin -- so I could live forever in the First World! Can I?”

Yes! Well deserved.

As Hokuto leads them out into the hall and on toward the next teacher, Alanar and Eric are talking about making things. Suddenly startled, Taeo calls out to their guide, ”Hold on, Hokuto! Danos teaches arcane artifice. Does he mean magical deception? Or magical crafting?” It's clear from his tone of voice which one he's excited about and which sounds disappointing.

____________

A complex mix of emotions assault Taeo when he sees Vesix. I've seen one of those before, in the Witchmarket! What are they called again? Despite her cheery tone he knows that these whatchamacallits tend to be violent and untrustworthy. In the First World, he shied away from the more vicious fey as best he was able, though there were so many of them in Thousandbreaths that they couldn’t be avoided completely. Here...well so far from home it was almost like encountering a cousin. She’s likely cruel, but she surely won’t be dreary!

Approaching her with a playful bow he says, Taeo Oneshape, of Thousandbreaths,” he introduces himself. ”Where do you hail from, Nisanci? I see you speak Alanar’s tongue.”

He admits there's some secret purpose! A mystery to solve! I wonder, if I solve it...will the feyfolk bring me back home?

Taeo smiles to Danos and nods. "I'll look forward to learning then. Especially when we get to arcane artiface! And to the journey."

He lets his gaze start to wander around the room, looking for new clues as to this purpose and journey, ready to follow Hokuto to the next Nisanci and then next piece in the puzzle.

Taeo only half-listens to Danos' words, instead attempting to feel his way through the spaces between the words of his teachers. He was waiting for us, wasn’t he? And Hokuto traveled for months to collect the lot of us. What do we mean to them, then? Why do they want us here, really? And if I ask them that, what will they say...and what will they actually mean?

While trying to wrap his head around the mystery, one spoken phrase catches his interest: "Arcane Artifice" sounds very exciting, much more so than "Basic" anything! Taeo finds himself wondering if he can start in on that earlier. Surely I have a headstart on artifice, compared to humans who can’t even laugh at a pratfall in a spooky graveyard!, he muses.

Approaching Danos, Taeo decides to see what the teacher does (and doesn’t) say if he probes a bit into the Niscani's motives. ”I'm Taeo Oneshape," he says, with a flourish of his hand to match the teacher's. "I look forward to learning from your arcane artifice, Niscani. We know a little bit now about what you teach, but I'm curious: Can you tell us why you teach here?”

This link lists the suits as well. Betrayal is Crowns (CHA) so you match suit with Hokuto.

EDIT: Ninja'd by the DM!

Last night, talking outside the wagon

"Point being, now that you're here... there's no leaving. No student of Akrabahadran is permitted to leave the premises for any reason. Failure to adhere to this rule will be met with strict punishment." Turning her mismatched eyes over to Taeo, Hokuto's brows furrow in a wordless that means you too expression.

Taeo makes a show of nodding solemnly...and then winks at Hokuto and smiles a smile that says, Of course you have to say that...and of course I understand that any expeditions off campus should be discrete.

...

Even with an abbreviated evening tour, Taeo’s feet drag and he finds himself thinking only of sleep. When he’s led to the first year boys’ room he falls onto the first bed that hasn’t yet been claimed. He climbs under the soft, heavy blanket, purring with pleasure. Even so, two minutes after he lays his head down he’s wide awake again: my torch!

He reaches down to where he’d dropped it and pulls it under the blankets, making a bit of a tent. Then with some excitement he pulls Hokuto’s handkerchief off of it to see what it looks like in here...but it just looks like a normal extinguished torch. Curious, he tries several ways of rekindling it: snapping his fingers, wiggling his eyebrows at it, tapping it -- all to no avail. Taeo briefly considers going out to find flint and steel...but his exhaustion wins out. I can tell it still has power in it -- more than I’ve seen so far, I suspect -- but maybe it’s as tired as I am. I can always play with it more tomorrow… And with that he drifts off, his hands still wrapped around it under the blanket.

The next morning

Taeo pulls the blanket tighter over his head as the bells start to ring, but reluctantly rises when he hears Eric, Alden, Alanar, and Stands On The Spiral getting dressed. When he gets to the bath, he’s glad he did. Much of his childhood was spent with nixies and nymphs, and once he’s submerged he happily entertains himself diving under, blowing bubbles, and squeezing streams of water into the air through his cupped hands.

When the attendant starts to tap his foot impatiently, Taeo finally climbs out of the bath. He’s happy to try on the new outfit, and admires the high color and wide sash. When he gets upstairs and realizes that everyone is wearing the same outfit...and is expected to wear it everyday, he’s confused. Turning to Alyona he whispers, ”Urff. As if it wasn’t tricky to tell one human from another already, why do something that makes it even harder? How does that make any sense?”

…

As Crowley starts to hand out packages, Taeo looks on with curiosity. Does he have anything for me? Perhaps Grottleburr left some clue for me with Hokuto, some tip as to why they left me here? But to his disappointment, Taeo receives nothing but a purse of coins.

He tries briefly to remember what human coins were worth, but the subject had always seemed dull and irrelevant. Hmmm, what did Cheklitre used to say in our lessons? There's platinum, copper, gold, and...electrum? Or was that a different plane? And just what are these worth anyway? More than a pixie’s sigh, I suspect...and surely less than a changeling’s shadow. But by how much? Are they worth as much as the memory of a summer’s day? I had lots of those back in Thousandbreaths...but I get the feeling they don't work the same way here... Looking around at the other kids, most look pleased at the allowance. Oh bother, I’m sure one of them can explain it, later.

Turning back to their mentor, he abruptly declares, "OK Hokuto, I'm ready. Let's go meet some instructors and have a banquet!"

Hey gang, I'm super excited about the arrival at Akrabahadran. I have a post brewing in my head, but I keep pushing it back down for now because I'm too busy to do it justice. I'm guessing the soonest I'll be able to write a post like I want to is on Thursday. Just didn't want folks to take my silence as lack of interest!

Taeo smiles when he sees the mockingfey fly by. They can be exasperating at times...but right now they're a familiar glimpse of home. He laughs, "Well, if they decided Akrabahadran is worth settling in, I'm sure I'll find something to keep me entertained here as well. And that waterfall could have practically been at home in Thousandbreaths."

Stepping out of the carriage into the courtyard, his gaze is drawn to the houses, barns, smith, and other sights and sounds of the first real human settlement he's seen in his life. His chest tightens a bit. Somehow in just a couple short days he's gotten somewhat used to being in a carriage full of humans -- and they've been less dull than he'd imagined. A whole town full of them though...toiling, mirthless...dressing like each other...living in little wood-and-stone boxes...surrounding me on all sides. What will it be like? How many are there?

Taeo glances nervously over at the other kids. Suddenly -- surrounded by all of these strangers -- he feels new camaraderie with his carriage-mates who are at least a known quantity in a very unfamiliar setting (and admittedly not as wearying as he'd always been told humans would be).

Earlier, outside, when the pendants are passed out

Taeo happily holds Alyona's hair as she puts on the pendant. In response to her question, he replies "I guess I was in my third plane, cool, and to think barely a day ago I'd only ever been to the First World! I've always wanted to go to the Shadow Plane...I think I'm glad we're back in the Material Plane...but it's a shame I didn't even know I was there 'til we were out. Maybe we'll get to go back at some point. At least I got a souvenir!" he adds, taking Hokuto's hankerchief off of and back onto his heatless torch.

"Shadows can be such squirrely things, don't you think? I know mine can be. Do you see how this makes the world out here darker...but it made things brighter down there? It's almost like it wants to take things toward a shadowy half-light everywhere." Swinging it around again, as though they were still fighting the skull, he adds, "I wonder if it can do anything else?"

In the carriage

Unsure whether to say anything, Taeo finds he keeps looking at Ilesea. My joke was what spooked her, maybe I should apologize...but she was the one who was foolish enough to run, SHE should apologize to us...but still it's kind of my fault...but it's not my fault that people in this plane don't know how to take a joke...but... Taeo's thoughts run in circles for a while.

Taeo starts to work up the nerve (and through his rationalizations) to apologize to her, but before he gets there Akrabadahran comes into view, and suddenly his thoughts are to their future.

"Oooh! Oooh!" He bounces up and down with excitement. Speaking to noone in particular, he says "That's spooky and awesome and super impressive. Heck, that'd even be impressive in the First World! What do you think it's going to be like inside? What are we going to learn?"

Cool! I'm afraid that with a kid and a house any my brother and parents all nearby I'm thoroughly settled at this point. Of course the Bay Area's not a bad place to be settled...especially if you work as a software engineer.

It'd be fun to hear more stories from the both of you some day though. Perhaps someday one of those vacations'll take you through California?

Jelani, are you in China for the foreseeable future, or do you have a plan to move elsewhere at some point?

Oh...and I just was looking over Brewer's guide to Shadow Conjuration. While the torch's secondary ability is *very* situational...Shadow Conjuration is a very powerful and flexible 4th level spell.

If it doesn't tip the balance in the game to have it, it's a wonderful ability to fuel the sort of sideways problem-solving Taeo's sign of The Joke is all about...but it seems like it has the potential to be pretty saucy, so if you want to modify it in some way (now or later) just let me know.

BTW, Robert, I have visions of Taeo (and his eidolon) growing into a more stealth/illusion/trickster based character...if that works in the campaign you're building. Shadow Conjuration certainly fits that. I'm open to various ways of doing this, but figured it was worth throwing out there in case it sparks any ideas for you.

Meantime, it's fun to think we'll make it to Akrabahadran soon!

Oooooh, super fun and flavorful!

Not sure if you remember (since it's a small detail of one of many characters) but his appearance section notes: "His shadow occasionally seems to have a life of it’s own, starting to fiddle with things when Taeo’s deeply concentrating on something, or thumbing it’s nose at someone who Taeo is trying to impress."...so this fits elegantly not just with the locale where we got it, but also with Taeo's quirky fey background.

<grin>

Heart still racing, Taeo hugs Crowley and Hokuto as they haul him out. He sits with a stunned look on his face for a minute, blinking at Ilesea, trying to decide whether to kiss her forehead or shake her for fleeing. Then, as Alyona is lifted out, he bows playfully to her and says in a singsong voice: "Valiant Princess - bold and brave, you've knocked our foe back to its grave!"

...at which point a giddy exhaustion sets in and he finds himself giggling uncontrollably and gasping for breath.

...Oh, I strongly suspect you're right...but then Taeo's never been the wisest. ;-)

Thanks! Call me a sucker for the Deck of Many Things...

card: 1d54 ⇒ 52

... is that the Wanderer?

Traveling tonight...and then on and off til New Years. I'll have my laptop with me, but will be intermittently slow to post.

Ouch! (Unless I missed something) of the four of us who attempted to aid Alyona, only one succeeded in beating the 10 DC. That's a +2 from aid and +2 from flanking, anyway...

Not persuaded that his antics are actually distracting the skull but not seeing a better path forward, Taeo makes a feint toward the outsider, yelling "HUZZAH!"

___________

Move: nil
Stnd: aid Alyona "One N" Elvanna

torch: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7 (0 BAB, -2 Str)

Taeo swings the torch wildly at the skull, aiming to distract it and make it easier for Alyonna to hit...but this time failing to distract it.

___________

Move: ?? The map doesn't seem to be up to date. Last turn I moved in position to give Aldon flanking. If the skull hasn't moved, that's still where I am. If it's moved and I can take a 5' step to keep flanking, I'll do so.
Stnd: Aid Alyonna

torch: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4 (0 BAB, -2 Str)

I shoulda known a crazy flying skull wouldn't listen to reason!

Taeo ducks around it's side, trying to use it's focus on Aldon to sneak in a solid hit. The torch is still very awkward in his hands, despite a few lucky swings earlier, and it goes far wide of his target.

___________

Move: 5’ SW, 15’ W, 5’ NW, 5’ NE (staying out of the skull’s “reach” but getting behind it, opposite Aldon.
Stnd: attack with torch

torch: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (5) - 4 = 1 (0 BAB, -2 Str, -4 improvised, +2 flanking)

Ahh well, reasoning with flaming skulls is probably rarely the right answer but it was worth a shot. Interesting to hear the girl behind speak, and declare her independence from the skull.

...Now's the time for Anlessa to post that she takes a swing at it! ;-)

Taeo is startled to hear the flying skull speak the familiar tongue he's used to using with many of the darker fey.

He holds the torch in front of himself in warning and replies, "Κοίτα φίλε, αυτό είναι ο πρωθυπουργός Υλικό είστε επιπλέουν περίπου στο, οπότε δεν είμαι σίγουρος ότι ανήκουν ούτε εδώ, αλλά επιτρέψτε μου να σας κάνουμε μια συμφωνία: Όλοι προσπαθούμε να κάνουμε είναι να σώσει τον φίλο μας που έπεσαν εδώ κάτω . Μόλις την πάρουμε είμαστε όλοι στην ευχάριστη θέση να υψηλή ουρά έξω από εδώ. Αν θα μας βοηθήσει να την βρούμε - ή ακόμα και απλά ας περάσει - θα αφήσει όλο αυτό το τάφο σας, για τα καλά. Πάρτε το δρόμο μας και θα συντρίψει ό, τι έχει απομείνει από το κρανίο σας. Το 'πιασες;"

___________

Move: nil
Stnd: Diplomacy

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Talking quietly, Taeo says, ”Hey Eric, if you come forward, I think those skeletons won’t be able to see us!”, and then to the others, ”I must be crazy for saying this but...I’ll go around his far side. Will someone come opposite me, so we can divide it’s attention and make it easier to hit?”
______________

Delay until Eric advances enough for the light/invisibility to surround the skeleton, and until there’s someone to flank with opposite me. Then,
Move: around the skeleton, to the square between Alanar & the skeleton
Stnd: hit it with torch

Torch: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (18) - 3 = 15 (0 BAB, -2 Str, +2 invis, +2 flanking)
Damage: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Taeo’s relief at seeing Alanar is short lived, when he sees the shambling skeletons. Looking back and forth at the other kids he announces: ”I want you all to know that the world you all live in is very creepy! Very, very creepy!”...and then shrugs and yells ”YAAAUUGH!!” as he runs at one with a wild swing of his torch.

______________

Both are within a 30’ walk, but I’m not sure which to target (based on what happens before me. If one seems more damaged but still up, I’ll head for that one.)
Move: to skeleton
Stnd: swing with torch

torch: 1d20 - 6 ⇒ (20) - 6 = 14 >> Wow, I guess that's actually a hit!
confirm?: 1d20 - 6 ⇒ (15) - 6 = 9 >> presumably no
damage: 1d3 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) - 2 + 1 = 2 (-2 str, +1 fire) >> MAX DAMAGE! ;-)

Robert: Happy to update the wiki myself, btw, if you want players to do so. Let us know.

Rogarth, thanks for getting them onto the wiki. Is there an equivalent of Google Translate for the Dwarven/Dragon language? While I'm not playing any speakers of Dwarven in either of the Ruins campaigns I'm in, I'd hope to only use ones that can be auto-translated.

Russian (or at least the cyrillic alphabet) has been used for Thassilonian

I usually use Gujarati for abyssal because it's all pointy.

To me, infernal should have cyrillic script. Maybe ukrainian?

Edit:That's probably just my American associations of the USSR with hellish bureaucracy talking though :P

In this game I've also used:

In Crusty's Ruins game I've used:
* Polyglot - Swahili
* Druidic - Welsh (haven't used yet, but planning to)

Taeo feels his heart decend back out of his throat as Alyona crushes the final spider...and then he looks around at Alyona's comment and sees that Alanar is missing.

"Ay ay ay, did he run ahead? Alyona's right, we need to catch up with Alanar quickly before we lose of us." Turning to Anelessa, "Can you walk OK with that bite on your leg? Would you like to lean on me? Let's get this over with; I think we need to get you back to Hokuto soon."

Taeo dogdges past Shenhua and Alyonna, running toward the kids fighting the remaining spider. When he gets near, Taeo waves his hand briefly toward the spider -- pulling it back fast when the creature starts moving toward him -- in order to get it into position for the next person to swing at it.

_________

Move: I think I can move to 5' south of SotS's square and still have a Stnd action left, without entering the spider's square. If that's true, Taeo moves to 5' S of SotS. (If I've got that wrong, Taeo moves to 5' S of Aldon's new position.)
Stnd: Aid next attacker
Note: Taeo counts as armed for giving a flanking bonus to others, since he's got the torch.

Aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13

Yes, I'd noticed that a while back. Taeo and Stands at the Spiral are swinging away with our 7 STRs.

"Wow, nice stomp! Are you OK?" Taeo asks Anlessa as he smacks his torch into the unconscious spider watching it's unconscious body twitch and sizzle under the flame. "Gee-yick!"

_____

torch: 2d3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 - 2 = 5

(1d3+1 base torch damage, x2, -2 for Taeo's STR ...let me know if that's not right. I've never done a coup de grâce with a torch which I'm using as an improvised weapon before...)

Taeo has the torch ready to swing at the spider, trying to keep it at bay, assuming it keeps coming closer.

Taeo’s entire body shudders ”Eee-yuuch!!”

Hearing Anlessa call for assistance, he squeezes back to the back so that he can get a good shot at the spider. Can these things be scared off? Maybe?!

As the creepy arachnid scuttles toward them he throws the femur at it, shouting "GO AWAY!"...and overshoots, seeing the femur fly right past the spider and clatter against the stone floor. D#mmit! Well, maybe it helps to scare the thing off?

___________

Throw: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

Move: squeeze to back, beside Anlessa.
Stnd: Wait until the spider is 10' away, then throw femur at it.

Hey Erik, one thought for character image, you might want to find one elsewhere you can link to.

Here's one I used in Jelani's first Synthesist Superhero campaign

And the one I'm planning to use for a new character I'm bringing into his 5th Mendevian crusade campaign.

There's got to be something out there on the internet (or that you can draw) to suit your fancy.

Seeing Alyona's steely expression and understanding that beneath it is fear, Taeo goes over and puts his hand on her shoulder, whispering "It's going to be OK."
____

While others light their torches, Taeo looks around a bit more, still hoping to find a loose stone. Failing that, he picks up a femur from the bone pile and swings it around a bit, trying to get a sense of how it's going to throw.

Taeo holds a torch in his off hand, and a hunk of stone (or the closest thing he can find) in his primary hand.

Hey gang, I'm going to be on vacation (taking my family to Maui, our first time there!) now until 11/7. I'll have internet but expect to be much more sporadic (maybe bursts of activity...but then days of radio silence. We'll see.) Don't hesitate to DMPC Taeo as needed.

At first -- lacking real associations with crypts or the dead -- Taeo is more worried for Ilesea than scared by their surroundings. As the kids venture further in though, watching the shadows grow and lurch as they descend the stairs, Taeo feels his heart beating faster. He finds himself staring up at the spider webs on the ceiling, and ducking reflexively.

As he gets nervous he starts casting about for something he could throw. He’ll look for a loose stone or two if he can find them.

When Stands on the Spiral speaks of desecration Taeo cocks his head curiously, wondering what clues let him know. Before he can ask, the Shoanti boy moves on to more practical matters.

Taeo nods at the suggestion that they avoid the webbed archway. ”Oh yeah, I’d rather not go that way...and I think we’re better off with torches lit at this point, at least a couple. I bet if we do encounter some nasty beast down here it’s not going to wait for us to get them lit.” He glances nervously at the ceiling again, ducking a bit despite it being almost twice his height.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 >> To find a loose stone or other improved projectile. If he doesn't find anything else he'll grab a broken bone that looks throwable...if the other kids don't notice and shoo him away from them.

Taeo -- a step behind and to Stands on the Spiral's left -- will continue to keep a lookout as the group goes down the stairs. While folks gather (and light?) some torches, he'll take a closer look at the gouges in the floor. Is there anything he can tell about what was dragged? Or from where to where?

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Alanar, seems the torches will burn for an hour each which should be plenty of time. OOC I'd think we should light at least a couple. Of course, Taeo knows nothing about torches so won't say this...but it seems anyone else likely knows that a standard torch burns for an hour, and that these look pretty standard.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Taeo is too distraught -- and his eyes too locked on Ilesea's unmoving form -- to cast his gaze broadly.

He lies flat on the ground with his arms and head dangling into the hole
and calls down, "We're here Ilesea. It's going to be OK. We're here." He tries to assess if he could climb down there...but knows he'd almost certainly fall as well. Then he rolls onto his side to look up at the others. "Stands on the Spiral is right, we need to get down there, but how?"

Good luck w studying and thanks for the heads up. One quick suggestion: Alyona suggested that you call to Ilesea in Tien. Might reassure her or draw her out.

Taeo nods at Stands on the Spiral’s suggestion that he look out from the front. ”I don’t see a need to take time cutting up a net right now. If you hear whimpering we should go toward it right away. The question is do we all go as one big group, or do we split in two? I think we might as well all stick together. It shouldn’t be hard to find our way back to the wagon, with your skill in tracking.”

Speaking in a small voice, subdued for the moment, Taeo says, "I can see well in the fog and the dusk. I'll come."