Tazo's page

"Oh, I got hit by my own trick?" responds Vera, as Aru reveals that he noticed an attempt to read his thoughts. "That's embarrassing." Perhaps she had been too trusting of the man bearing gifts. But it didn't seem like they were enemies, at any rate.

She frowns as Yazi discusses collecting bodies. "No need to be so grim, Yazi. If the labyrinth is really that terrible, we can just run away." Vera was not fond of thinking about her own mortality.

Yep, you're in range because you're 30' away.

Vera continues snacking on the food--the olives seems endless! "I think Lord Arkona wanted to give us a chance to talk it over. But it seems pretty obvious to me that we're doing this, right? Not our fault if we break his fancy labyrinth."

Before Kali returns, Vera observes Aru Wandering-Hand and his spirit hand Goro with genuine curiosity. As Aru offers Marcus a book, Vera interjects. "Mind if I take a look?"

Vera then begins flipping through the pages. The writings were odd . . . but not random, not by any means. She tries to understand them.
Linguistics DC20: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19. She felt so close, close enough to feel confident about them, even if she couldn't divine their meaning. "You shouldn't doubt your friend. I've dabbled in such things before, and these writings are the echoes of the spirit world. If Goro can live on in your hand, he's surely capable of accessing these spirits!"

------------------

As Kali reveals her secret, Vera is completely baffled. "Wait, wait. You are the Gray Maiden? But also not? Like, you're two separate people?"

Her jaw is still hanging, even as she sees everyone else around her taking this in stride. "Are you okay? Are you--POSSESSED?" She starts pulling on her hair as is her habit when she's anxious and searching for a solution. "Oh, it makes sense now. All the Gray Maidens we captured were so distant and senseless. It's okay, Kali--we can do an exorcism! I mean, I haven't done one before, but I've read a lot about it. I can do it." She hurries over to Kali and takes Kali's hands into her own. "WE can do it!"

Great gaming with you all. Farewell and good luck!

The first and most important point is you should play what you want! I think we'll be fine with anything.

I would probably be an Option 3 adherent. My take is that Hadda is our party arcane trickster--skill monkey and caster rolled up into one! We really need that role, as Crasius leans martial. Hadda contributes amazingly with her spells and is our fearless leader of lore!

If you're looking to deal damage, one option would be to add a more damage-focused bard archetype. One idea would be Sound Striker--you literally talk an enemy to death! (I kind of think that fits Hadda.) Functionally, the Weird Words power is like Scorching Ray with bonus damage. And spending Bardic Performance rounds is less problematic when the party has 2 bards. I think you'd have to give up the Studious Librarian archetype, but you would keep the more crucial Chronicler of Worlds archetype that is the foundation of your character.

If you're looking for something more martial, I think there are many other archetypes, and you might consider that alone or in combination with one of the 1-level dips you mention. My concern is that just a single-level dip is not quite enough to make Hadda a martial character, because Hadda's feats are heavily invested in being awesome at skills.

"Ach, so much fer keepin' a low profile," concludes Muziel as the Fatman's Barkeeper delivers a grand speech. Did the bastard now have Talienda as leverage too? Wouldn't be that surprising. He chases after Wayilant, as fast as his old dwarven legs could manage. "Don't you get yerself in trouble chasin' after them women alone. Ya need a wingman!"

Unable to easily speak to the poor man, Vera draws a spare Harrow card.
Harrow: 1d54 ⇒ 8. The Beating. That seemed accurate but not hopeful. More appropriate in describing the past.

Harrow: 1d54 ⇒ 39. The Publican. Representing fellowship and refuge. That was more like it.

She writes the name of Yazi's community center and a sketch of how to get there, then hands it to Salvatore.

She takes a peek at the next card, though.
Harrow: 1d54 ⇒ 28. The Hidden Truth. Perhaps they would learn a greater truth from this rescue--something they had not understood before.

Muziel wakes up, sees that the line to have some breakfast is very long, and beelines for his table of companions. "Top o' the mornin' ta ya." He quickly waves down a server. "Bacon. Lots o' bacon! And one scrambled egg," he concludes, wanting to balance his meal a bit.

As he waits for his food, he looks to Gravi and Govrina. "So, did ye manage ta chat with the sheriff? What's the story?"

"Oi, alright alright.". Muziel opens the door at Alina's persistent knocking. "Trouble, lass? The Flagon Slayers seems ta 'ave a nose fer it!"

The old dwarf blows out his candles, grabs his quarterstaff, and starts clacking his way down the stairs. He's shocked to find all his companions around a single woman with much of the crowd scattered.

He peers at the woman with curiosity.
K. Planes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
And seems to relax as he decides he understands what he's looking at. "Ah, demon-blooded, by the look o' ya? Gettin' outta town's a common theme fer some o' us 'ere! Folks are always 'fraid o' things they don't understand. 'Specially powerful things they don't understand. Speakin' o' which, did ya get more n' just yer good looks from yer demon parent?"

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12.

Muziel is busy poring over a History of Varisia by faint candlelight as he vaguely attempts to learn some useful bit of history but mostly absorbs the stories and chronologies of this land from.a human perspective. If there was some commotion downstairs, he hardly noticed. Let the others party. His time was better spent amongst books than people.

"Well, seems like the Lady and her servant will 'ave ta choose between orcs n' bounty 'unters!" Muziel chuckles as he pencils in the orc camp and jots a few more notes on the map. He steps back and seems content that the others will understand the plan now.

"Well, 'ow's about you and me get our folks passage ta Sandpoint aboard a ship?"

That's at least my thought on how we'd get to Sandpoint, though maybe there's some other clever way about it?

Bryndís looks the map offered by the gnome over carefully to see if it has the kinds of details she wants, like natural and manmade features with their names, roads, settlements, ruins, and such. Satisfied it will do, she nods her approval and lets the gnome package it to go.

Bryndís lets Muziel pay for the map.

On the way back to the White Deer, she mentions what she noticed regarding the area outlined in red to Muziel.

"The map shows one of the places might be near an orc town. That might be dangerous. When do you think we should tell everyone about that, now or later when we've gone there?"

K Local: 1d20+6

K Geography: 1d20+3

K. Local DC15+: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

"Orcs! Nasty buggers, we'll take out any we run across. Best tell the others--don't want the Lady crowin' 'bout 'ow much danger we got 'er in."

Muziel exchanges notes about the region with Bryndis. Though it didn't seem like she needed Muziel to explain much of anything.

Dom becomes more and more concern at Hadda's failed strategies. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

Wayilant's flirting seems to go completely over Muziel's head. Which wasn't that hard given his height.

The old dwarf walks up slowly, tapping the ground with his quarterstaff as he ends up next to Wayilant. He has a sense that Bryndis might want them to be acting in self defense. Which was all and good, but he didn't want those words to be TOO effective.

So, he tries a few words in Orcish, looking squarely at the towering green half-orc. "Bob? Bob? Jaký orkský válečník by měl takové jméno? Jste nějaký klínový pes, který přijde, když váš pán zavolá?"

Hello! I am on the other side of my busy period a month sooner than I expected! I am going to catch up on life and get back into things. Thanks for keeping me botted during my time away.

Ok, I am going to bot Tal here. She can DD for +20

[dice=disable]d20+20
retry
[dice=disable]d20+20

Did that take down the wall of fire?

"I don't know if I should admire or despise the designer of this place," complains Tal, as she works through another trap.

Was in Tokyo, now Shanghai. It's mostly a family trip so my son can meet his great-grandfather!

Ditto. I mean, you can't roll worse than what we're already doing. :)

Aid Diplomacy (via Perform (oratory)): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10.

"To put it another way, make sure they're breaking the law before your men break their bodies. We want the peasants following the rules and paying their taxes. That means following the rules ourselves, so they know that obedience is better than rebellion."

As Chrysa and the Bandit have their special moment together, Sootscale just watches. They seemed to understand each other well. Maybe a little too well. Who knew what death she had wrought for the sake of love, power, and vengeance?

It was fortunate that the kobold was on her good list.

She adds, saying to Vera "okay, the Varisians, whatever you do, tell the Varisians who experienced this to hide, got it? The musician? Hide. They're witnesses. If someone important is responsible... they're targets. That... thing, you did for that girl, remember?" She gives Vera a knowing glance, "whatever it was, it made people mad. I mean, the Field Marshall - I'll talk to her, and see if there's anything we can do, okay?"

Having been ushered to a more private space to whisper conspiratorially, Vera forces restraint on her voice. "I don't know. Each hiding Varisian might help themselves, but that's one less voice to prove that they are the victims here. To make sure the blame is planted squarely where it belongs. There may come a time to hide. But they will only truly be safe when all know the truth, and it will be impossible to silence that truth with a sword!"

Talking through it, Vera seems more determined than ever. "I'm going to let Ruan know of the dangers, so he can decide for himself. He's the least anonymous, and therefore the most at risk."

Coming back to 39 posts is very intimidating! Hoping I am not going totally off-base here with how I see the situation.

When Zellara's form disappears, Vera quickly explains. "That was my mother's spirit. She still watches over me. And the city. Her blessings helped us in today's trials."

She seems to follow Magda quietly through this evil space, still not trusting it. And completely at a loss of what to do next.

Vera is puzzled as the vampire offers a mere coin. A token, perhaps? A mark of a debt owed? Spellcraft DC22: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18. Vera wasn't at all sure what Ramoska Arkminos had just done, but she was sure he had departed with his prize.

Regardless, Vera finds her thoughts going to a place she didn't expect, as she wonders what is happening with Ishani. He'd been working so closely with the Queen's physicians. Was he under threat? It seemed like a stupid thing to be thinking about, when there was so much death and destruction right where they were, and people were hurting right in front of her.

* * *

Vera seems utterly confused as Olenna and Sonya go into the intricacies of the Guard, and the discussions of the plans, and what they could and could not do based on the Queen's decrees. Was that really the priority right now? When Olenna asks her to work with Caldwell, Vera finds herself pulling her hair--a habit of hers when stressed. She starts to speak in the loudest, most aggravated whisper she could muster.

"Wait, wait, wait! Why aren't we talking about the heart of the problem here? The Queen! The Queen! The Queen invited her physicians to this city--these spreaders of death, manufacturers of giant vats of plague! The Queen sent her own Grey Maidens to guard these places! Not the Guard, not the clear and obvious choice. Instead, the Korvosan Guard gets more and more marginalized, and now Miss Cressida is suddenly gone? And that's a coincidence? Of course not! Not when the Priestess of Urgathoa herself proclaimed that she was acting with the Queen's blessing!" At this point, Vera is waving her arms around in the air like a madwoman.

"There are dozens of Varisians who can speak to to the horrors committed by these so-called physicians in their so-called hospice. A famous Varisian musician who was kidnapped by these same physicians! Do you not see the problem here? Or are we just too afraid to challenge her?" She looks to Sonya and Olenna for their response as she says this. But it's not clear that she cares.

She speaks more loudly as she continues. "Look, the Guard can do its duty and all of that. Maybe you have to follow the rules and the Queen's edicts. But I'm not a member of the Guard. Not really. I am a Varisian, and my people have a story that needs to be told. A story that will shake the foundations of this city and cleanse the rot within. I'm going to find the Varisians and organize them. Only the truth will set us free!"

Vera explains that she will go find Ruan and figure out how to spread the word of what has happened among the populace, before the purveyors of propaganda come up with some false narrative to cover up what had happened this day.

Survival DC15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"Remember what the Council of Lords explained? If the Council was gone from Horath, they would rally in north-west Burgundia, home of New Atlantis. We should get anything useful from here and then set our new course. Hopefully the missing Council ships are a sign they escaped."

Vera watches as the horrible, evil cleric shrinks and her body falls lifelessly back to the ground. Her gaze turns back naturally to Magda. "I'll be okay. How about you? Are you okay? Do you think the City will heal now?" She moves closer to offer Magda a hand.

Majenko zips through the air energized from the deadly encounter and his reckless charge at the enemy. "We win! We win! Priestess is dead. Plague is beaten!"

Vera smiles back at her companion. Normally, she'd be just as cheery, yet something still bothered her. "But the Queen! The priestess said she was doing the bidding of the Queen! How? Why? it explains so much--the Queen's physicians, the Grey Maidens, the way the Korvosa Guard was getting pushed aside, the sham execution, what Blackjack said! But it also makes no sense. Why would a Queen inflict such horror on her own queendom? I thought she was so beautiful and good and pure, how is it possible?"

Dom attacks as the hag continues to flee!
AOO, Rage, IC, Haste: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 29; Damage, Rage, IC: 1d8 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 18

Dom continues the chase!
Perception DC15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
"There's another enemy on the rack!" he announces. Though he keeps his focus on Caigreal!
Falcata, Rage, IC, Haste: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 40; Damage, Rage, IC: 1d8 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 15
Crit?: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42; Crit Damage: 2d8 + 28 ⇒ (4, 1) + 28 = 33
Boom--48 crit damage!

As the strange statue challenges her goodness, the half-elf feels compelled to shout. "I only steal from people who deserve it! Mostly." She looks about nervously.

"And I've had more than enough with these Set bastards, so there's that!"

* * *

As they head downstairs, she is very confused by the fog. "Don't trust this place at all," she whispers.
Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 +1 vs traps.

"Maybe we go to the door where the ogre is pointing?"

I don’t need Myrandya to translate unless she prefers to do so.

If Rik'tik had ears, they might have flinched when Eser seemed to squawk with excitement. His face, however, betrays little emotion, remaining calm, calculating, watchful.

At Surla's suggestion, Rik'tik crouches and assumes the position of an ambush predator. Conveniently, he was already at the top of the stairs by Tamily's side, having known her for long enough. "Yes, wissse woman. I ssshall track thisss prey."

He then looks toward Grasz and utters a series of low, guttural sounds from the bottom of his throat. Grasz growls back and, if one could believe it, seems to nod.

Rik'tik turns to the sprite, a surprise guest. "Do you make light, Pfil? Floating light be helpful down there." He says this in the same unemotional manner as the rest of his speech--it's a little hard to know whether or not he's being condescending.

Nope, I ran out of the building the turn Ciri casted Haste.

Rikshimitik, the blue-scaled Iruxi, had not expected Tamily to have such an exotic array of friends. Friends of other races were considered unusual among his people. Rik'tik, as he preferred to be called, was an outlier. His blue scales were unusual among his green-scaled bretheren, and so he managed to explore beyond his native swamplands and encounter its neighboring communities, including the humans of Otari and the tengu of the Kalpavendi-Kuruoo. He counted some amongst these foreign folk as acquaintances. Yet having all of them together, in one place, was disquieting.

Otari Lore, untrained: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

"Tamily, I ssstill think you could've saved your money by trusssting in me and Grazsss. But we're here now and will sssolve your problem."

The lizardman draws a trident in one hand and a hatchet in the other. The trident looks useful for fishing. The hatchet used like a small axe. Grasz the crocodile wears some barding. The sea animal is young, but plenty deadly.

Boros rolls his eyes at the suggestion that Vilmos should be tied up. He cheks with Oona. "Oona, you okay holdin' things together here? I'll go once Valkor's ready ta go." He looks to Elry. "Wanna come with us, Elry, or stay back with the wagon?"

Convenient excuse to leave Elry behind if you don't want to bot her in battle--she could still heal us when we walk back.

Tal has a handy haversack also. We can at least keep all the weapons and the amulet. I like the idea of separately locking up the armor from the prisoners.

I had looked at the original post on character creation. Thanks for posting the changes/clarifications since then.

Do I need to do something now that I’ve expressed interest?

Hello! The usual thing is to put together a character with a background/appearance/personality type section and a character sheet type section. You can then post it here under a spoiler or stick it in an alias and link to it. If you look earlier in this thread, you can see how other folks did it last time. Next week, the GM will choose who to add from the interested parties. In this particular case, he's allowing the players to weigh in also.

Hey folks, I'm one of the players and figured I'd chime in with a few things.

Character Creation:
Almost everything in the original recruitment post still holds. Here are some notes that might help.

We ARE using the Class Defense Bonus rules which means attacking Touch AC is not a big advantage.

We are NOT using Wounds and Vigor.

As explained in this post, from 0 to -9 HP you are Disabled (and have to make stabilization checks below 0), -10 HP to -(Con+HD) you are unconscious and dying. Past that dead. In the spirit of Westerns, you can go down fighting.

As explained in this post, Max HP at first level, thereafter you get half your hit die + half of a roll. So a d8 hit die gives you 4+1d4, d6 hit die gives you 3+1d3, d10 is 5+1d5 (or half 1d10). So you get better than average HP.

Current party membership:
Myrandya, LN Tiefling Gnome Legendary Alchemist (Urban Adept) 3, creation of a mad scientist, serious German(?) accent.
Nempura Babblebrook, NG Aquatic Elf Legendary Gunpowder Mage Wizard 3, smart and seductive elf recently employed as "Bella Blue" at Creekside, who's seizing the opportunity to become something more.
Wes Higgins, NG Human Hunter (Colluding Scoundrel, Urban Hunter) 3, straight-shooting bounty hunter / law man, and his trusty black stallion Midnight.

Story so far:

"A vampire!" says Vera in surprise. That would explain the fangs. And perhaps the research, if he were to be believed. Weren't vampires inherently evil? This one, though, has been quite calm. "Well, vampires are a lot more polite than I expected. We ran into some vampire spawn in a dark alleyway a while back. It was a pretty draining experience. Would you know about that?"

She pauses, then adds. "I think there's a lot we wish to know. If you're here to serve Lady Andaisin, why do you not care about the fate of this cult?"

Seems like we all have some gestalt plans. Max can just gestalt bard and cavalier rather than having one level of each.

And I support having Jerax gestalt as a godling!

Understanding was finally coming. Rolth. The necromancer. The only surviving son of Gaedren Lamm. The man Mother had warned her must be brought to account.

"Rolth! You're evil and pathetic, just like your father!" She fires Glitterdust over the group of cultists that have now clustered together. Arcane point spent, Will DC19 or usual Glitterdust effects.

Gregor looks to be more indifferent than caring about Horace and his inventions. He is troubled by the chained, half-starved man, though. "What was his crime that he's now bound to await being frozen to death?"

If it's not too late, I'll add a Scroll of Mount so I can learn that spell and help supply horses.

I believe the math for Iz-dubar is 1d8+9 default (+6 Str, +2 Weapon Specialization, +1 magical weapon), +6 for Power Attack, and +3 for Divine Favor boosted by Fate's Favor.

As none of the party's attacks continue on to the dwarves, Muziel feels somewhat heartened, and responds to his fellow dwarves. "Okay, lads. Ye may be roigh'."

He looks a little confused at both the ascending and descending folks, but keeps his attention to those below, particularly the cleric, who seems quite charming. "Bro'ers o' the stein? Well, guess ye can say that. So ye be the advent'rers tha' Kendra Deverin sent? Good!" He looks to his fellow dwarves. "Tha' one's Digg, the o'er one's Dugg, and me name's Muziel. We'n 'old our own against rats, but down 'round 'ere, there be more 'n rats. In fact, there be walkin' trees. Walkin' trees!" He emphasizes the horror. "Ya cannae trust them trees."

He looks down the stairs behind him. "Three o' us were campin' down near tha ci'adel, but turns out Digg n' Dugg 'ere need ta go back ta home base and were just 'bout ta do so when we saw you folk. Where were ye lookin' ta go?"

Are you a lawyer? You have my condolences.

Okay, for over a minute, Miranda's alias portrait wasn't loading on this thread, and I was like, Miranda is really taking her attempt to Hide seriously!

Just put a link in my stat line FWIW.

Varian "The Stirge" wrote:

Varian glares back at Niculaie as he questions him. "That man had nothing more to offer us except insults! And this backwater town is poorly equipped to imprison him. Death was his fate--it was only a question of when!"

"True enough. Of course, the same could be said for each of us - it's only a question of when. Whether he had anything else to tell us -- or any other path to redemption -- it's too late now." Niculaie shrugs. "In any event, let me know if you want to borrow my shovel once you decide where to bury the body."

Varian rolls his eyes, and finishes saddling up one of the pale horses. "Leave him to the wolves, Niculaie," he replies back. "It seems your methods and mine may differ!"

Varian then hops aboard the pale horse as she looks to Vivian. "You've found yourself soft company, dear Vivian. Pharasma would not be so forgiving of the Whispering Way. It was a pleasure, truly. Perhaps we shall cross paths again as we battle our common foe! Come on horsey, let's hope you remember where you're supposed to go."

And just like that, Varian kicks the horse he's on, and it sets off in the general direction of Illmarsh.

And so Varian exits stage left--Gregor will hopefully miraculously appear soon enough.

"That . . . kind of makes sense, Magda," says Vera. "We don't want to kill, and that has to count for something, right?"

As Yazi moves to stabilize the surviving Gray Maidens, Vera takes an unusually active role in disarming them, wanting to make sure they wouldn't also take their lives.

As they consider the path forward, Vera begins searching for signs of evil outsiders. Casting Detect Fiendish Presence, just in case that finds something.

Tinker the blue smurf gnome grumbles unintelligibly in annoyance as Chrysa hands over the bribe for entering. Definitely a downside to being a band of adventurers. He follows along as the party wanders through the town, trying to get their bearings.

"No--don't!" cries Vera as the last Grey Maiden kills herself. She pulls hard on her hair in frustration. "Why don't they just surrender? We're not--" she pauses. "--not killers," she finishes, quietly and uncertainly. She looks around, as if seeking affirmation of what she just said.

Sebastien and Tazo’s halfling, would you like the halflings to have some prior acquaintance?

Yes! I think that would be very logical for my basic character concept, since he likes halflings and is suspicious of others.