Talindra Ravenheart's page

I have always favored mechanically simple but narratively complex characters. You can certainly do both, to be clear, no Stormwind fallacy here, but that’s not been my focus. The options in the Core RulebookPlayer Core books provide so many possibilities that you’ll never exhaust them in a lifetime of gaming, even if you play a different game every day.

My observation is that folks who do PbP by choice—who care about the medium per se rather than as their only choice for a game—do tend to lean into the narrative. There are some stickied threads on the general PbP forums extolling the virtue of the format and I wholeheartedly agree with them on that point.

I don’t think I need to convince people here of those merits. Not being able to play a character is certainly frustrating, but I try to look at that kind of situation positively: in developing those characters, planning their arcs (best done with an AP or other long campaign rather than a module or organized play scenarios), watching them grow, you become a better writer, a better artist. That’s what matters most to me, the creativity and the artistry.

Indeed, I’ve been working on the bard I plan to make for my application. I also strongly favor building the character around the AP I’m applying for and using that to provide the essential structure for the character—see what I did with Talindra and Halanestra—but this time I set myself a challenge and am building without that. This means I’ve needed to be a bit more generic and may need to change some details depending on the game in applying to, but that’s the challenge and right now it’s been interesting :) Fine arts practitioners, especially painters, do what’s called studies, which are really just practice works meant to explore a medium or technique. I think writers can benefit from exactly the same kind of practice, and that’s what this has been.

I'm almost certainly going to actually make a bard for whatever game I apply for instead of playing characters that stare with yearning at thespians and musicians :D

pinvendor wrote:

Hey there, DM DoctorEvil! I haven't played 2E since the last game of yours I took part in before my early departure.

Happy to help you learn the system. Glad to see you back again.

Got your votes recorded.

Heyyyyy pinvendor! It's so lovely to see everyone coming back together :D

Talindra Ravenheart wrote:

It is such an incredible relief to see you're around, DM DoctorEvil! My votes mirror Lia's just because I had a ton of fun with her in your old CoCT game and I want those picks to win :D

I owe a few of you, Talindra and Lia included, an apology for bailing on their last game last year. No plans for that to happen this time.

Life happens--similar things have happened to me, even. The best way I can think of to say "apology accepted" is to enthusiastically apply to your future games. :)

It is such an incredible relief to see you're around, DM DoctorEvil! My votes mirror Lia's just because I had a ton of fun with her in your old CoCT game and I want those picks to win :D

Looks like we're done here; the campaign is now marked inactive and the map for the last encounter was moved to the Google Drive trash. I hope DM DoctorEvil is well, and I want to say that I had a lovely time with all of you. This was my introduction to PF2 and I don't think it could have went better, short-lived though it was. I have been considering putting together a PbP for the remastered Beginner Box once that's available (should be soon?) with some... interesting twists. Please send me a message if you're interested :)

Has anyone heard from DM DoctorEvil? I'm beginning to worry, hope everything is okay.

Happy solstice :)

Thank you, you too :) Not really one to observe myself, but I am taking some much needed time off to rest, and putting my proverbial spoons in the dishwasher. Can recommend!

Really not looking forward to burrowing my way out of an otyugh's stomach, but the dice seem to think that'd be hilarious. :<

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Got two hero points, saving one for if I go down, going to use one now .

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 ... well fine then, be that way. :( Is that a crit fail?

Dodging the first tentacle, the second she's not so lucky and Talindra finds herself in quite a difficult position. A string of elven obscenities that would make the priestess she saw earlier today blush escapes her mouth as she tries to break free.

My understanding is that I need a DC22 Athletics check to Escape, correct?

Athletics to Escape: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Almost... not quite there! What is it with things trying to eat me the past two days‽ Get it together, Tali!

Athletics to Escape: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Athletics to Escape: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Still she struggles in vain, unable to break free and hoping one of her companions has a trick she doesn't know yet.

We also started 100' away; that's a lot of distance for anyone to cover at this level. I'm only in range because I have reach and spent my entire turn moving.

Fortitude Against Icky Yucky Nasty: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Ha! Does this make me immune now? :D

Apologies for the double post, but I wanted to mention part of my strategy so we can discuss how to rule it beforehand to keep things moving quickly: If the otyugh has anyone in its tentacles, I'd like to try to sever those tentacles with my glaive. What kind of roll would I need for that?

Talindra watches in abject terror as the creature before her eats people the way she just ate her stew, and knows it needs to be stopped. It seems to have some ability to speak but even if she wanted to, she's not going to be able to convince it to stop from where she is right now. So she dashes up to it (Stride >>>, 90' straight line from where she started) and places it within range of her glaive.

Life gets in the way, and you let us know about it beforehand so everything's fine, IMO. I hope everything goes well! There's so much involved and it's super stressful, so if you need some time away to relax and just destress, that's totally understandable. An hour here or there is basically DST (which I'd like to be rid of, but I digress), so no big deal. Thank you for the consistent updates!

I thought the critical specialization effect only applied to the kind of weapon before it shifts? It says that any properties that runes can't apply are suppressed during the shifting.

Oh, and out of character you can call me Luna if you prefer :)

Something else I've realized that I prefer about PF2: I've wanted to build a martial battlefield control character for a while. It's punishingly expensive to do that well in PF1: you need to go down several different feat trees to get Improved Foo so you don't provoke, Greater Foo so the maneuvers are actually useful, and so on, and you basically need to pick Fighter to actually get all the feats you need to do that. With PF2, you can do it right from level 1 with any weapon. Training athletics and weapon traits make it more reliable, but still, it's a lot more feasible in PF2.

I have the same question Sable does re: preparations. There are some weapons on the list with the Parry trait which seems like it'd be more useful here than, say, disarm or trip.

Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Thank you! Here's hoping it actually works the way I intend :D

I have updated my profile. Here's an overview of what I did:

• Increased HP
  
• Increased proficiency bonus on AC, attack rolls, Perception, saving throws, skill modifiers, spell attack (as if)
  
• Took the divine ally (blade ally) class feature
  
• Trained Athletics for the skill increase, bringing my Athletics to +8 (!)
  
• Took the Incredible Initiative feat, because both frontliners and battlefield controllers want to go first, frontline battlefield controllers doubly so
  

The blade ally feature provides me with the ability to use a single action to transmute my weapon into something else that requires the same number of hands to wield. This gives me convenient access to weapons like the ranseur, the bec de corbin, and the fauchard. These are all reach weapons with useful properties like trip, disarm, shove, and sweep. Combined with the large increase to my Athletics skill (also taken as proof against critical failures for trip/disarm/shove), this grants me some fantastic versatility and utility.

Talindra nods to Grau, relieved that the man is back home safely. As the door shuts, she appraises the group and tries to hide a yawn with a hand over her mouth.

"I don't know about you, but I could use some rest, too. Rarely have I felt so spent. Could be the stew in my belly talking, of course, but either way I'd like some rest. What's everyone's thoughts on some sleep?" There's a pleading look in her eyes. She notes the chicory coffee isn't giving her any energy like the stuff she's used to does, and she yawns a second time, again hiding it behind her hand.

I'll have my updates settled tomorrow morning, sorry for the delay there. Shadowe is starting to look pretty scary! Genuinely excited to see how everyone's changes play out :D

Thank you for providing us with an update! I've done similar things so I understand the effort involved. If it's feasible, I'd definitely suggest asking to work from home to make the transition easier :)

Talindra offers to help keep Grau stable as they walk. She's probably about the right height and has the physical strength to hold a man up. She doesn't press the matter, though, but simply makes the offer as he seems to be struggling. Usually leading the way, this time she takes things slowly, her goal more to get Grau home. Hopefully nothing awful happens along the way...

Recovering from her emotional breakdown, Talindra wipes her eyes, looks up at Grau. "You say your tale is less tragic, but we wouldn't be crying into our drinks if they were not. My goddess teaches not to compare sorrows as we can never know what's in another's heart." Hearing about Sabina's skill with the blade, her head tilts in a slightly surprised acknowledgement--she can certainly appreciate martial skill. A small smile of recognition on the comment of undying love. She rests her hand on Grau's for a moment. "We'll find her if we can."

Recomposing herself with some food and drink, to the others, she poses a question of what to do next. "Probably best to get everyone home for the night, yeah?"

Talindra borrows a chair from a nearby empty table, as with Grau they were suddenly short one, and re-joins the group, returning Sable's smile before sitting in the borrowed chair. She partly slumps into it, grateful to be able to sit with new friends and share a meal, partly still jumpy. Following Grau's advice she does request another drink, though something not too strong.

Several times she opens her mouth to speak, having trouble finding the words. She finds her vision clouding as her eyes water--though not at all from the spicy stew. Finishing her drink, she tries again. "I met a girl. We were building a life together, you know, like young folks do. We were going to be married. Then she, Elora, my love, the very breath of the song in my heart, was called here to help with the temple. Every day I wish I could have gone with her, to keep her safe. But I had to stay back home, all the way in Absalom. Then I received that blasted let..." Her words fail, her voice breaks, and she collapses into her arms on the table, making a small mess of stew and drink as her sobs fill the room.

Phew, lucky roll! I was pretty worried there!

Her shoulders breaking orbit from her ears, Talindra gives out a sigh that lets all the air back into the room. She nods to Grau, then gives a glance to her as-yet untouched stew which might be getting cold by now. "I think we'd both be better off with some food in our bellies before heading home. What're you having? I'm buying, as a sign of good will. Gonna be honest, heartbreak brought me here, so you're not suffering alone. Happy to walk and talk, though." She gets started with her food, finding the spice quite refreshing and comforting. Almost, almost, like back home. It serves as a distraction from the remnants of anxiety still leaving her body, and she uses the heat to ground her.

Sorry for the delay, got my hair dyed for the first time today (purple purple!) and it took rather longer (and more spoons) than I expected, came home and needed to recharge.

Talindra stares, mouth agape, at Billi. We were doing such a good job... practically had him home and asleep... She raises her hands, palms open and facing Grau. Dropping the vocal fry, "No more games. You're right, I'm not Neffi, I was just trying to get you home to get some rest. We heard you're not doing well so I wanted to help out. I don't want any trouble. Any responsibility for what happened here is mine alone."

Damnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnit

If I get a diplomacy check to make an impression or request, feel free to roll for me (+6, trained).

It's okay! Totally understandable and reasonable, IMO. Talindra being okay with an act like this plays into her background in the arts, and sometimes you need to bend the rules a little for love to win. She may have gotten up to some mischief with Elora that the senior clergy wouldn't have approved of ;) Nothing actually harmful, of course!

Seeing an emergency quickly brewing, Talindra takes a breath. She makes sure the staff are ignoring Grau, then turns back to him. "Hey, hey, this is my mate, Billi. He's gotten me out of some tight spots with some o' the local riffraff. He's a good man, you've got my word, sir. Hey, Billi, how 'bout you tell 'im 'bout the scrape ya got me outta today?" She glances to Billi, giving him a pleading, wide-eyed look.

None of this is false, so I shouldn't need a Deception check, right? :D

No worries, welcome back! Hope everything is good on your end.

Nodding at Grau, Talindra slides the water over to him. "Oh, yes, of course, yerright. Been a long day out in th'sun, addled me wits, it has. Look, the city may've sank but you and me? You and me? We're gonna bring it back up again. But only after we drink!" She keeps up the vocal fry, then takes a sip of the chicory coffee to ease her throat. The bite is a bit different to the coffee she's used to back home, but it does the job. Hopefully this won't keep me up all night... In between breaths, she focuses on her meal and listens to Grau.

I'm a bit (okay, more than a bit) of a coffee nerd; was the chicory a deliberate choice because the real stuff isn't available? That's how chicory got its start as a coffee replacement, after all, so I'm curious :) And, of course, it's not got the caffeine, but Talindra probably doesn't know that :)

A bit taken aback by Grau mistaking her for someone else, Talindra decides to play into it as much as she can. She pats him on the back and smiles. "Er, um, yes!"--with as much vocal fry as she can muster--"You sure you want another? We're on duty tomorrow, gotta supervise down the docks, you know how long those days are. Buncha, um, kids causin' trouble, ne'er mind the adults. How's about we get you home and cleaned up? Sergeant isn't gonna be happy if we show up sloshed!"

She shakes her head at the barmaid, mouths "water" very clearly, pointing at someone else's glass while she does so.

Feel free to roll a diplomacy or something for me if necessary; no need to wait for me.

Talindra's gaze falls to her lap for a moment as she hears Lenrelle speak. Terrible idea, should've kept it to myself...

But her sharp ears perk as she's addressed, as her hearing doesn't even allow her the respite of wallowing in self-loathing. "Yes, I think I will." Then, in an attempt to make amends with Sable, "I'm sorry. You're right, of course." She slowly brings herself to her feet, makes her way to the bar. She takes a seat to Grau's right, not attempting to wake him yet. She waits for Lenrelle, so she's not doing this alone. Then she gives him a gentle nudge. Even if he doesn't wake up, she tries to empathize: "Sleeping like that'll only make your neck ache like a dragon chewed on it all night. Getting up is awful, but trust me, I've been in that position and you don't want to spend the night that way." Her voice takes on a somber tone as she recalls some very recent, very rough nights spent in her cups after learning of Elora's death.

Looking over at the slumped figure at the bar, Talindra's face darkens in much the same way as the barmaid's. After she leaves, in a voice for just those at the table, "Poor fellow looks like he's got the weight of all Golarion on his shoulders. Everyone's tempers are short right now." She looks up at Sable, her face solemn with maybe a very slight hint of a smile. "How about a song for the people? It'd do well to ease people's nerves, maybe Grau will wake up and we can try to help him out. Way I see it, it's the right thing to do, and if he's doing better then he'll be better able to keep folks safe. I know you've got a nightingale's voice, and I'm not so bad myself."

You've got a hero point if you want to use it, Sable. Your choice, of course, this is just a reminder :)

Talindra nods at Sable's order. "Make that two stews, make mine extra spicy please! And some tea, if you've got some that won't keep me up all night." Turning to the group, "You'd probably not know it by looking at me, but I'm quite a fan of spicy foods. Takes some getting used to, but there are so many delightful flavors you can't get any other way." Then, in a voice only for the folks at the table, "I've not managed to find anything in Korvosa that really has the kick I'm used to from back home... let's see how we do here."

The elf sighs, the excitement fades from her features as she listens to Sable. A sigh, not of anger, but rather of acceptance. "You're right." She resumes her position leaning against the wall. "I think checking the tavern might be helpful, just so we can get a sense of what people are saying about the situation in general. May not help us find the girl, but should prove helpful. And--"she frowns down at her stomach"--I'm hungry! Almost lost my lunch with that fight earlier, and I could use a drink."

Turning to everyone else, with a gentle smile, "What does everyone think? I've made my case but I want your input, too!"

Listening carefully to Nara, Talindra's brow furrows as she describes not an artist but a guard, but as she listens, her face softens and lights up. Then, with the quickened pace of clear excitement, "It sounds like he may be just the person we need to speak to. Thank you!" Talindra bids Nara farewell, and leaves the temple to relay Nara's suggestions to the group.

[b]"I just spoke with Nara and she was--" a frustrated sigh--[b]"far more helpful than the Mistress Lyddia. She gave us several leads for people who may know the artist we're looking for. There's one in particular, a city guard, who has some contacts in the castle. He spends his off hours at the Three Rings Tavern which Nara said isn't far from here." The excitement in her voice is present still, and she starts scanning the streets for signs indicating where to go.

Fully agree with Sable on both points. Not having an arcane caster is going make things harder, but we can manage. That said, Paizo adventures are written for for characters, so it should be easier to run things with that in mind.

You're not missing anything. Talindra is assuming that the artists Nara told us about aren't the artist we're looking for, but they may have info on where to find her. Seems we're going to have to go fishing for this plot, and given that I'm fine if folks want to postpone it so we can focus on other things.

Talindra nods to Nara. "Thank thee kindly for the information! I will take note of the names you have provided me. Hopefully they'll be able to at least tell us something more definitive."

Then, after the addition: "Just so I don't have to disturb you again, can you provide this last lead? That way we can exhaust all of them at once."

Agreed, you will be missed! I completely empathize with having trouble focusing due to life drama, gesturing broadly at the past few years. I can't speak for anyone else, but I would happily welcome you back if things change. Be well!

Talindra nods to Nara. "The Mistress Lyddia has asked us to find a certain portrait artist who she believes is in danger. I was hoping to find some leads here." She gestures to the advertising board. "I'm a long way from home, and these listings may as well be on another plane for all the sense they make to me." She frowns at Nara, but gives her a hopeful glance. "Do you think you could help me make sense of them?"

Talindra furrows her brow at the unfamiliar listings, but a bit of relief graces her features as Nara comes over. She gives her a slight smile. "Yes, indeed. We're trying to make some contacts with artists in the city. Specifically, those talented in portraiture. Would you know where the best place to seek such people would be?"

While Billi is trying to get some information from people he knows in the city, Talindra meanwhile goes back into the Sanctuary to look for posters advertising for artists or performances. thinking of the kind of thing you'd see posted in a small, indie bookstore / coffeeshop She tries to synthesize this with what she can remember about artists in the city.

I'd like to use my Craft (specialized in Artistry), Lore: Arts, or Performance skills; the former are +4 and the latter is +6. Performance isn't listed under Recall Knowledge, but it seems a reasonable application of the skill to me.

Everything here makes a good amount of sense and does help put things into context, thank you! Talindra is still quite annoyed at Lyddia not having the kind of gumption which she believes is core to the faith, but indeed it's possible that there's something else happening here! Eager to find out what, if anything, that is :)

The first thing Talindra sees as the sun greets her again is Sable's haphazard haircut. "Sable, your hair... are you okay? I have to apologize for Lyddia... I wasn't expecting her to be so... resistant to helping. Back home the church takes a more proactive role in the city." That said, she listens, then looks around the area a bit nervously.

Her voice low, "Frankly, I'm not sure how we're going to find this girl, if she even exists. I made that much clear to Lyddia but she didn't tell us anything we can actually use. Lenrelle is right that she doesn't trust the Queen, and is clearly afraid of reprisal from acting too boldly." Here, she stabs the butt of her glaive into the ground. Back to normal volume, "Reprisal and long term goals be damned! People need help now!" She takes a position adjacent to Sable leaning against the wall. "You said you'll help with the task if I find it worthy. Right now, with how little information we have... I'm not sure if I do. We could be doing so much more good making sure people have food and roofs over their heads. Kind of ironic, then, but I come to you for help: this is your home. How can we help the citizens best? An hour ago I was certain my temple would help, but..." She dismissively, dejectedly, kicks a small stone across the street.

In character, completely happy to go along, of course. OOC, I have the same concerns stated here. It does make sense (both in a game sense as a questgiver NPC and as a ranking member of a political faction) for her to send someone else to do this work for her, but I am hoping for some more information in response to Lenrelle's questions. Talindra's more than a little disappointed at her reticence to get involved helping people, though! I'm hoping to get more information on that, maybe if we rescue this artist?