Tarith is a ranger with the Guide and Skirmisher archetypes from the APG. He'll be going the Weapon and Shield route, something I've never tried before, but looks interesting. I think he would fit best as a Bodyguard or Scout.
Tarith's Interview:
A short stocky dwarf, with sandy hair and an intricately braided beard sits across the table from Larissia Landor. "Tell ye about meself, eh? Well, where does a Dwarf such as meself e'en start?"
"Well, I grew up jest outside o' Janderhoff near the Mindspin Mountains. Me father was a miner and me mother stayed at home to raise me. I don' wanna go into details about me early life, so I'll jest say it was ordinary. Me father died when I was jest 42 and so I decided t' support me mother by taking a job as a guide. Believe it or not, but the Mindspin Mountains are more dangerous than ye might think. I had t' learn how t' defend meself and the folks I took on as a guide. Tha's why I learned t' use this here Dwarven-made waraxe." At this last statement Tarith pats the hilt of his weapon.
"Ye wouldn't believe the types o' people I had t' take care of up in the Mountains. There was this one guy who decided t' wipe his own arse with some poison ivy! I tell ye, he was scratchin' down thar like... OH!" Tarith claps his hand over his mouth dramatically. " I beg ye pardon miss. Anyway, where was I?"
"Me mother wasn't happy much with me taking care o' her. So she got herself a job in a tavern and told me to go follow me own dreams. Unfortunately, I didn' no what me dreams were! So I jest left in search o' some adventure. I met some real interestin' folks and one o' them pointed me to you and this expedition."
"Ye'll find that I have a good eye and a skill fer tracking, but I am also skilled in combat. I think I'll make a good bodyguard or scout fer ye, if'n ye'll have me, that is."
Edit: Stats are in his profile. Note that he is a modified character from a Kingmaker campaign that didn't really take off.
Loud enough for the bandits to hear, Tarith will proclaim "This one here should be put t' death. He obviously has no intention of settling down. And I don't like what he's saying 'bout Svetlana." Tarith lifts his axe menacingly at Happs. "Anyone else care t' show off their bravery?"
Tarith, a bit relieved that he didn't have to do any killing (at least not yet), lowers his axe. He looks to Caelius and nods to him again, to show his respect. I can see myself getting behind this man. But I do believe we'll need to do something to make these men do not return for revenge.
Wow, obviously my post didn't come across as I wanted it to!
Tarith's stance is to kill Happs, simply because it'll put fear in the rest of the bandits. I made sure to put the caveat in my post that you have a chance to stop him (so I'm glad you did, since you disagreed with him). What I wasn't clear about was that Tarith greatly respects Caelius's position (the nod at the end of the post). In fact, at the moment, Tarith is looking at Caelius as the likley future leader of the group.
So, Tarith says kill Happs and let the rest have a chance at repenting (I'm okay with exile too, if that's what's decided).
I hope I didn't strike a nerve, Poor Wandering One. I see these PbPs as writing a story... The dynamic that is happening within our group is the sort of conflict that can come about in a good story. I think in the end it'll work out.
I'll make another post and then I'm back to sporadic posting again, until Tuesday.
Believe me, I have no problem with putting these bandits t' rest for their evil deeds. But I see the logic in Caelius's words. Happs dies hear and now. The rest of ye have a chance t' redeem yerselves. But hear me when I say this. You double-cross us or run back to yer pals and I personally see ya beheaded with this here axe.
With this he raises it up above Happs and unless someone decides to stop him will go for a coup de grace.
Tarith would not agree with letting Happs (the leader) free. He'd have to be killed, probably after interrogating him. The rest of the bandits he would agree with letting free, with the warning that catching them causing trouble again will most likely result in their death. He'd like to give them the chance to redeem themselves, but he doesn't trust them to stick around while everyone is out scouting the area.
Tarith is kind-hearted, yet stern and realistic. He's willing to play the bad guy in order to put fear into the enemy, but he doesn't relish in killing anyone.
I'll be away from home for the next six days or so (Thursday through Tuesday EST) and will have sporadic access to the internet at best. I should be able to check up on the forums in the evening, but if you find things slowing down because of me, feel free to just DMPC my character. I'll be back in action in a week for sure. Sorry about the short notice!
Tarith moves to stand over the sleeping bandit leader ready to strike should he wake up and try to stand. "Do we have enough time t' tie these men up? There's some rope in the chest by the bed I slept in."
If the man stirs and tries to stand, Tarith will growl at him to "lie back down or feel the blade of me axe.
Tarith wakes up with the Sun and for once doesn't grumble as he pulls himself out of bed. Today is an exciting day. Today he and the crew will be helping rid the world of some bandits.
But first, preparations needed to be done and Tarith's stomach was growling. He eats a modest breakfast and helps the others set up for the ambush.
Thank you Oleg and Svetlana for the welcome and the dinner. Now that me belly's full, I believe I'll head in for the night. Everyone should get some rest, we have a big day with big plans t'morrow.
Tarith removes his armor, placing it with his weapons by the side of his bed. He lays his other belongings in the chest at the foot of one of the bunk beds. He will sleep in the bottom bunk.
Do we wish to capture the leader or one of the underlings? I believe the one in charge would be more difficult to draw information from. It may be better to capture one of the grunts. Either way, I am okay with me position inside the barn.
Tarith will station himself at O10, just inside the door and out of sight.
Haha, Caelius, I am not such a fool t' think I could hold stop them all by meself. I figured Davor would be right there with me. I think together we'd stand a much better chance. I have a bag of caltrops with me which we can scatter in front of the door. I can't cover the entire door this way, but it can help to slow down a fleeing bandit, or at least force him into a choke.
The idea is to cover a 5-foot square area in front of the entrance with Davor and myself perhaps covering the rest.
I will gladly volunteer t' block the way out. Nothing will make it past me axe! Tarith pats the handle of his Dwarven Waraxe fondly. I suggest our more arcane companions disable at least one bandit, so that we can question him once all is over.
Tarith's stomach rumbles and he turns to Caelius. You are right. Perhaps we should talk over dinner!
Tarith nods approvingly at Agnatha's suggestion. Agnatha, that is a brilliant idea! If we are able t' capture one, by putting him t' sleep, we can interrogate him t' find out more about their leader and where they are operating from.
Knowledge (Nature) to identify a Tatzlwrym:
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Tarith walks back over to the rest of the group and speaks up. I cannot wait t' see their faces when they realize they've got some competition tomorrow! Perhaps I should sharpen me blade...
Tarith then walks over to Holbrecht in order to help with planning and preparations.
Oh, yes, of course. Tarith steps forward with the charter and hands it to Oleg. While Oleg looks over the charter, Tarith walks over to the handbills, curiosity getting the better of him.
Tell you what. If I join you for some culture, will you join me for some drinking after?
Despite his seeming disdain for the idea, Tarith would actually enjoy a good theatrical performance, and this will come across in his voice and expressions.
Tarith, unsure of who should rightfully receive the scroll for the group, decides that he is just as good as any. He stands up and walks over to the high table, looking rather short next to it. He reaches up and graciously accepts the scroll from the Lord Mayor, bowing humbly as he does so. Tarith returns to the tables and lays the scroll right in the center for everyone to see.
Tarith then sits back and waits to see if the Lord Mayor has anything else to say before discussing the assignment with his companions.
I think what our DM wants to do (could be wrong of course) is to roll everyone's individual initiative (that's six rolls with individual modifiers), and then group the party based on the initiatives. Once in groups, posting is first-come first-serve within that group.
I think that'll work well and will keep the battles running smoothly and relatively quickly.
Tarith responds to Holbrecht before his conversation with Davor, "I've been living alone for a while. My job as a guide is the only interaction I typically get and it is usually with humans and the occasional half-elf."
Tarith then sits back to listen to some of the conversations going on, secretly wishing someone would come by with another tankard of ale.
Tarith, after laughing heartily at Agnatha's joke, looks over at the other dwarf. Holbrecht, eh? Nice to see that I've got another of me kind here. No offense to the rest of ye of course, it's just that I haven't met another dwarf in quite some time.
Tarith attempts to take another swig from his tankard before realizing he'd already emptied it. Disappointed, he pops another piece of meat in his mouth and chews noisily, then looks over to Ragnor and Agnatha.
Magic, eh? No magic runs in me family, so I can't say I know much about it. Me father met a wizard once, or so he always said. He loved to tell stories about how the man could make things vanish into thin air. Wish I could have seen that!
Those paying attention notice that Tarith shows a bit of anguish at the mention of his father, but he quickly steels his demeanor.
Tarith responds to Caelius, "You cannot be any worse than the last man I worked with. Couldn't ride for an hour before complaining he had to take a leak. Ended up brushing against some poison oak on our fourth stop!"
Tarith guffaws loudly, but stops abruptly when he remembers that there is a lady at the table.
A stout Dwarf, with blond hair and beard in a thick braid, immediately gulps down half his tankard of mead, stopping only to stuff some cheese into his mouth. Realizing he is likely being rude by his voraciousness, he sets down his tankard, swallows the cheese in his mouth and speaks up.
I s'pose I should introduce meself. Me name's Tarith and I hail from Southern Brevoy.
Tarith wears a finely made chain shirt and carries a Dwarven-made Waraxe with him. Forgetting his earlier rudeness, Tarith brings his tankard back to his lips for another long gulp.
