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This is a gestalt character I made for another WotR that fell through and she deserves another chance. I'll fix up the build as needed to conform to your reqs and make sure her background is updated/fleshed out (my notes are are buried in a Google Drive file somewhere!) Tarot is a samsaran oracle/fighter driven by three dominate past lives: The General, The Wanderer, and The Seer.
2020. I mean, 2020, right? This year has been really rough on everyone, but the last few months have been especially hard on me personally. I've been cycling between extreme anxiety and depression. Some of the worst of both I've ever had. It's causing major issues in my play-by-post gaming and my life in general, which only feeds back into the cycle! So when I try to update my games I have terrible thoughts regarding pressure, self-worth, imposter syndrome, and so on. As a result I've been in full avoidance mode. I want so badly to finish "Dragon's Demand" and continue my mechwarrior treasure hunt. I want to get back in touch with Khar, a warrior who is unburdened by depression (but who does suffer from serious confusion about his place in Athas as a free mul), and with Drahlneep who does reflect some my emotional state. I miss Tarot's leadership, and I want to see how things shape up in Longacre and the Stolen Lands. I have a chance to join a new Dark Conspiracy game and how can I ignore that? And I want to start a new project. For a while now I've wanted to go back to old school World of Darkness and have sketched out an outline for a Vampire game. I can't launch a new project with unfinished business and after a long period of absence, it's just not right. Besides, I want all my ducks in a neat little row first. I've been having a lot of trouble pushing through the panic. I'm trying to refocus all the time and today I'm going to breathe through it and just try and move forward somewhere. New Year's resolutions will be including finding a decent therapist and somehow forcing more exercise. 2020 is almost over. Normalcy is knocking on the door. Sorry for the long copypasta, going to be passing that around to other games as I push through this effing messed up mental state. Had to do Tarot first. I could use some of her confidence!
"There is no bounty, Master Millorn. We merely wish to pass without incident!" Tarot tried to speak loudly and slowly in an effort to provide some audible interference for Hope and Vala.
With a whisper, Tarot uses a minor magical trick to emulate the sounds of heavy booted feet marching loudly from the tunnel behind her.
"Whoever you are, you're outnumbered. The rest of our unit is coming up from the rear. We are proceeding forward, so you can either get out of our way, or be subdued." Tarot says in a firm, loud, and confident voice.
Tarot holds her position with her weapon gripped tightly in a defensive stance. "So? What do you say? How about you come out into the light so we can see who we are dealing with?"
Tarot bends at her knees then finds a small stone on the ground. She whispers an incantation, keeping her fist closed, then hurls the stone at the far end of the cavern.
Tarot takes a deep breath and searches her soul's past for guidance. "Enough!" she shouts back at the civilians. "Fall back, but not too far!" She moves cautiously towards the south side of the cavern while trying to sniff the air currents.
Location Memories: Location Memories (Su): As a swift action, you may search your past lives for memories of or insight about your current location. This grants you the scent ability, low-light vision, and a +2 insight bonus on Perception and Survival checks for 1 minute. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier. You must take this revelation at 1st level or 3rd level.
"We have no interest in your research, we are merely looking for passage out of these caves, back to the surface." Tarot backs up until she has returned to Vala. She whispers to her "Walk soft."
Tarot takes a step back and tries to stab at the thing based on where she last saw it before he lights went out.
"I'll draw it out!" Tarot shouts out as she rushes into the room and makes herself an obvious target. This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy, she thinks to herself while taking a defensive stance with her weapon.
Tarot adjusts the grip on her weapon and whispers, "Everyone see that...bat-thing? On your toes."
"Arathorne seems confident, let's follow his example. Everyone pitch in how you can. Kid, you're in charge of this task, direct us as needed."
"Please help us, sir," Tarot says to Horgus. "It's just the right thing to do.
"I don't know, I think it make perfect sense. Demons are running loose, we don't know what sort of damage the ward has sustained, or if there are other attacks occurring simultaneously. I can think of no better time to bring a little light back into the world. We need a little time to recuperate anyway. But uh, any chance we can do that in shifts? Does it have to be all one person?"
"Sir? Our chances for making it out of here in one piece are improved when we have as much information as possible. Any help will go a long way right now. I've been in worse situations by far," she can feel many of her past lives attesting to this fact, even though it was untrue for her current incarnation. "I'm going to see us all through, but we need to know everything we can, please."
"Wake me for the morning shift, kid," Tarot says after ensuring the civilians made themselves comfortable in the partly cleaned shrine and unfurls her bedroll. She carefully removes her armor and gently sets her polearm within easy grasp should Vala or Arathorne need her overnight.
Once the corpse has been moved to behind the shrine Tarot sighs and speaks softly. "Sorry, whoever you were. I'm sure you didn't deserve this." She then motions the wounded civilians forward. "We are going to take some time to catch our breath here. It's a small shrine, so be respectful. We don't know what else is down here with us, so be quiet. Please."
"Good idea. Let's clean up the mess first to minimize Lord Fancypants' moaning and make it a little more comfortable for everyone." Tarot moves to try and remove the undead remains, giving Vala a look when she grabs one pair of rotten limbs.
"Someone...wanna...destroy this?" grunts Tarot as she tries to keep it in place.
Grunting with effort as she wrestles the grasping hand, Tarot tries to spin around and pin it against the wall.
"No! Bad hand! Bad hand!" shouts Tarot. She drops her weapon and rushes to Hope trying to grab the hand and pull it away from her throat.
"Nice hand, down boy!" Tarot shouts in vain as she tries her best to hook the thing with her polearm before backing up some. "Come and follow me!"
"Second hostile! Arathorne help Vala while I give Hope a ha..." She rolls her eyes at the idiom's present irony and tries to use her weapon to force the severed undead limb into Hope's angle of attack.
"Hostile! Anyone know what that is? Hold on, Vala!" Tarot leaps forward with her bec-de-corbin, getting behind the tiefling where she tries using the weapon to form a defensive hedge around Vala.
Addressing Hope and Arathorne, Tarot says, "Watch your corners. Don't be focused just on..." She nods towards who or whatever sits ahead of them.
Tarot freezes, weapon at the ready, with Vala's signal. Tell me, Wanderer, what would you look for in this situation?
Location Memories: Location Memories (Su): As a swift action, you may search your past lives for memories of or insight about your current location. This grants you the scent ability, low-light vision, and a +2 insight bonus on Perception and Survival checks for 1 minute. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier. You must take this revelation at 1st level or 3rd level.
"If that were true, why didn't your finger melt away to nothing just now?" Tarot snickers.
Tarot bites at the air behind Vala and grins. "See that one?" She stays close to the tiefling as she enters the building beyond the stuck door. Upon seeing the hammer-carved stone door she remarks, "That hints at dwarves too. A temple of some sort maybe? Anyone got a read on all this?"
If basin has water currently: "Careful, Vala. Check out the basin, seems weird.
Tarot moves to back Vala up, weaving a defensive pattern to protect the gnashing tiefling.
"Whoa! Hey! See? Size of small ponies, I was right! Keep them contained, ladies. Oh, and Arathorne. Arathrone? On your toes, kid!" Seeing the paladin caught somewhat off guard, Tarot gets her weapon up in a defense posture to protect the young human.
Tarot watches Vala put her shoulder to the door again and winces when she hits it hard and bounces off. "Alright, one more good try."
Tarot walks over. "Stuck?" She puts her shoulder into it but it doesn't budge. "Well, let's move on. I'll bring up the rear."
"Is this the dwarf place I was propheting about earlier? I don't recognize anything yet." Tarot shrugs. "Was it on fire, Vala? Hope is correct, sir. We do not want to leave a threat behind us. That threat could creep up and eat one of you three. So stay put and stay quiet while we check this out."
"So long as you have knowledge, wisdom, and life experience that can inform us as we get out of this situation, Aravashniel, you're a significant help. In fact, sir, would you happen to know if dwarves ever built permanent underground structures in or around the city?" Tarot chews on her lower lip and watches Vala until she's out of sight.
Tarot gives one quick nod acknowledging Vala's suggestion to stay put. She looks toward the structure the scout is exploring and tries to recall what she can about the layout of the region.
"That was a disgusting change of pace. Alright, just the one way forward so let's move."
"Okay, bug, okay," Tarot shakes her head and raises her weapon as high as she can to deliver the fatal blow once and for all.
"Oh, for...we're all going to need new boots. Ugh, and these things are filthy. Remind me to check all our wounds and clean them well tonight," Tarot says as she steps back to get some room to squish the nasty roach.
"I've got this, go!" Tarot tells the paladin as she attempts to finish the overgrown bug off once and for all.
"Back her up, Hope!" Tarot shouts as she moves to help Arathorne. "I can tag in on this one kid. Disengage and reload. We have to get the other one away from the wounded."
Just a quick note: I've been distracted by COVID related stuff (no one sick, but RL is fully impacted, heh). I should be back to more normal posting frequency in the next few days and I hope everyone is safe and healthy.
"Yeah, you've got this," Tarot says to Vala and Hope. "Hang on kid!" She rushes around the corner to stand behind Arathorne and thrusts the bec de corbin forward.
"Smush the damned things, Vala, quit playing around!" Tarot says through gritted teeth as she tries to use her polearm to crack one in the head.
Tarot moves to back-up Vala and tries to keep the bugs back from the tiefling.
"Good find, Vala. Let's see what's up ahead. If it is all clear we can have the survivors move up here to the ledge."
I'd say take it all, really.
Tarot watches Vala do what she does so well from the ground, focusing exclusively on the tunnel ahead when Arathorne makes ready to cover her from range.
Tarot snickers. "Ponies, but with wings," she says to the elf. "Good idea with the signals. Let's move, I would like to breathe some fresh air."
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