Tess Montgomery's page

boiled owls

hahaha!

Thanks for a great game, Jacob! Us trailing off at the end was no reflection on your GMing or the scenario and had everything to do with, well, everything else in the world. I still had fun :)

Hope you all stay well! Maybe Tess will catch you again soon. Let her know if you ever need to get out of a court case. :D

Tess cheers as they vanquish their foe and makes a mental note to research the strange fade when they get back to the city. (And to bring a ranged weapon and train some more with her rapier before her next adventure! :D ) The rogue then makes sure to help Scratch collect all the treasure.

"I'm sad we couldn't save these folks in time, but I'm glad the goblins can now complete their project in peace!"

Tess rushes up to flank with Samar and check on Sandstone. "You all right, friend?!" she shouts as she lunges forward, rapier extended at the cat.

Stride, Strike w/inspire x2

Rapier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Sneak attack/flank damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Rapier: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Sneak attack/flank damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Tess dashes up to help!

Stride x2 + Strike

Rapier: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The continued trauma of the American experience...

w o r d

Thanks, Scratch! I'm not sure if it's the cat's turn or not, but I'm planning on a really innovative "attempt to flank and stab it" maneuver.

I was also hoping to be rested and bright-eyed after the holidays but instead it feels like I'm operating at about 15% functionality these days. I know it's a challenging time for everyone, but still, apologies for the creativity struggles, all! With gestures helplessly at everything aside, I've truly enjoyed these adventures!

Tess, emboldened by Scratch's success, tears off after Samar and Scratch.

Stride x3

Also, my plan was to let the cats come to us, but I can start taking different actions if we'd rather push the action along

Me a few weeks ago: I'll definitely get some rest over the holidays and be ready for a fresh start in January!

Me now, after an overwhelming spike in workload: Huh, turns out a 4-day weekend wasn't enough to recover from 2020... (:

(hi friends, happy to be back!)

Tess would prefer to hang back and let the cats come to us, so she'll hold/stay behind Scratch for now.

Tess huffs out a breath as she follows her companions. "Okay, we can do this," she mutters to her blade.

She steps up near Scratch, alert for danger, availing herself of the light while trying to stay in the shadows.

Hoping that Sandstone's lights are still nearby, because stealth + torch seems like a poor combo. :)

Welcome back and congrats on completing your project, Hmm! That must feel good :)

Tess can pick up the torch and go in with Samar!

Tess moves up to the next skeleton, looking around desperately to see if there's any other situational advantage to help her friends. "Where's a convenient boulder to topple on your foes when you need it?" she mutters hopelessly.

She then batters away with her poor rapier, who did not sign up for this:

Rapier: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Flanking (P) bonus: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Rapier: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6 Orig was 19-1??
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Flanking (P) bonus: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Oh no!! I edited to rewrite because I forgot I had to move, and it changed my dice rolls, which it hasn't done in the past?! The first hit was a 13 and the second was an 18. I don't recall the damage on the first one (I assumed it missed) but the second attack got a 3+3.

Tess perks up at the wind, but doesn't have time to ponder its effects for too long as she too seizes on the opportunity to send the skeletons back to their eternal rest. She ducks around the skeleton to flank with Scratch. "Happy to see you back on your feet, old man!" she teases, incredibly relieved to see the dwarf up and at 'em again.

Let me know if I need to roll my +6 acrobatics or anything to avoid an AOO, if it has one, but I'm guessing I'm OK? Also, if I can't share a square with the flavor torch on the map, I can move into flanking with Sandstone instead.

Stride, Strike, Strike

Rapier, Inspired: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Rapier, Inspired: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Oof. I will try to post more regularly now (for all the good it's doing us in combat, lol). Dragging myself across the finish line of this year. Can't believe it's December!

Tess, about to run to Scratch, sees that Sandstone is on it and turns back to the skeleton, snarling. Dropping her ineffective torch, she draws her rapier and attacks.

Rapier: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

In a shocking turn of events, the rapier is ineffective, too.

Tess will go after Bluebones, muttering about "cursed perceptive skeletons." "Perceive this, you stack of bones!!" she shouts, thrusting the torch at its face.

torch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
B damage +1 fire: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Can I use my torch as a bludgeoning weapon? :)

Totally understandable, and basically same! I'm OK with us taking our time.

I'm assuming my attempt at stealth failed (:

Tess, about to pull out a torch, smiles gratefully at Sandstone and readies her rapier before attempting to move ahead slightly without detection.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Tess sleeps fitfully, shaken badly after seeing her friends so seriously wounded. Eager for a fresh start, she does a round of the camp in the morning, helping some of the goblins with breakfast preparations and other tasks, before joining Sandstone at the gate. "I hope we fare better today," she remarks as she squints out across the sands.

Tess, shaken by the difficulty of the fight and the resulting injuries and losses, makes her way back to Blue as the adrenaline fades. "Grams would be so proud," she whispers to her friend. She sits with Loola while everyone catches their breath and tends their injuries, then begins to investigate the camp, looking for clues or tracks.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

dear gods, useless

Is Tess able to get between the tents? If so, she'll Stride x2 and then Strike from behind the cat. If not, I'd rather wait and stay by Loola in case the cat tries to flee this way.

Spoiler alert: not helpful...

Well, this is brutal!

Fear for her friends and Teki's song fuel Tess's repeated attempts to drive off the cat before her.

First Strike:
Rapier, currently extra +2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Piercing damage, extra +1: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Sneak attack/flanking damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Strike 2:
Rapier, currently extra +2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Piercing damage, extra +1: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Sneak attack/flanking damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Fueled by fear and fury, Tess also roars at the unnatural cat, hoping her frenzy will startle it into leaving:

Intimidation: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Tess runs after the cat, flanking it while it's focused on Loola and wielding her rapier desperately.

Stride, Strike, Strike

Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Rapier: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Edit: yikes. Using hero point to reroll first attack...

Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Edit2: well, it got 1 better! (sob) Also realized I forgot the flanking bonus to hit on these, but it wouldn't have mattered.

"This is probably a bad idea," Tess mutters to herself, but bolstered by Teki's song, she sprints towards the cat entering from the east(?) with her rapier drawn.

Stride, Stride, Strike (with +2 to hit, +1 dmg)!

Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Apologies, same but with freelance projects/day job. October is the busiest month of the year for me, but my last deadline was yesterday, so I should be more available now!

It occurs to me that maybe I should've bought a bow...

Tess walks the perimeter of the camp, searching for good sites to set up a watch — and hopefully an ambush! The hospital or supplies areas look like good options, unless we want to construct something new.

"If these 'cats' aren't expecting us, maybe that will give us an advantage," Tess ponders aloud. "Maybe we can set up a place to observe their approach and ambush them when they arrive? Hopefully Sandstone will be able to tell us whether they're real cats or something else."

Tess is also available to help construct fences or dig pits!

Whew, what a week! I'm heading off-grid for my first backpacking trip in 12 years. I'll be back on Monday. Please feel free to bot me in the meantime should the need arise :)

Tess volunteers to receive some light healing as well!

After catching her breath, Tess examines the area with Scratch:

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Also, mentally reviewing her rather dismal bladework, she resolves to spend some time practicing that evening. :)

I think closing in was Tess's turn, correct? If she gets a chance to attack again:

Tess, frustrated that her friends are getting hurt (as well as herself!) and inspired by Teki, gives her next attacks her all:

Rapier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Rapier: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Rapier: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (1) - 5 = -4
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Well, yikes on that last one...!

I'll try to get slides together tonight.

Did I miss these or another visual? (Sorry if so!)

Tess snarls at the bandit who fended her off. "Why are you doing this?!" she yells, full of adrenaline. "Leave these people alone and run, or your road ends here!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

She presses her attack to prove her point, rapier flashing menacingly (if not very ably):

Rapier: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Rapier: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Tess will go after the nearest bandit, attempting to Strike twice!

Rapier: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Rapier: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Ugh. Hope it clears up soon :(

If we're in a sandy enough area, Tess might try to smother some of the fire with sand? Otherwise, she'll opt for the other tried & true methods of firefighting. (Also damn, this one's a little close to home... Current air quality is "worse than the scale is even built to show" from all this smoke!)

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Tess spends her turn fighting the flames on the wagons, but she's prepared to draw her rapier and defend the goblins should anyone get close.

Late to the party, but...

Tess tries to roll with the new script:

Performance (Oratory): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

She's a big fan of Teki's song!

Hi all, I'm so sorry for going dark with no notice! I had a frantic deadline to meet on Tuesday, the same or a similar windstorm as Sandstone (I did lose power for about 5 hours), and now I'm on the border of the fire evac alert zone in Portland. Please feel free to bot me as needed and I'll try to keep up this week as best as I can!

Do we still have our scripts?

I think Tess's got wet? But she might have salvaged it. I'm super down for this.

Tess's eyes light up and she begins digging through her pack.

I don't want to interrupt the conversation, so this will be Tess's reply once Blue and Teki have gotten better acquainted!

Tess watches the new party member with interest, smiling at Blue's enthusiasm as always. She misses Grams already, especially since this is such a serious and family-oriented mission, but she's excited to have the newcomer aboard.

"Greetings, Teki," Tess says respectfully. "I'm very glad you've joined us. I'm Tess, a ... legal advocate and court monitor. This will be my fourth assignment for the Pathfinders."

The young woman turns to Yigrig with an earnest air, seeming far more confident and sincere than the hapless newbie who showed up at a goblin theater not long ago. "We fully agree that family is of the utmost importance, sir. Rest assured we will do absolutely everything we can to protect yours. And if your son is anything like you, I'm sure the operation is in good hands." Frowning, she adds, "Do you have any ideas as to who might be responsible for these attacks? Is there anyone who would benefit from this deal falling through?"

Edit: Oops, looks like Scratch and Tess had the same questions in mind :)

Yes. The world is exceptionally heavy. I've been battling depression pretty severely the past few days. Today I got out on my bike and I think that helped.

I'm so glad that helped! Fresh air/moving outside does wonders for me, too.

I was visiting family last week for the first time since the pandemic, and it was so good for me!

Yay!!! That's excellent. My family is in WI & MA (I'm in OR) and I'm daydreaming about a 6,200-mile road trip to go see them, but it'll have to wait at minimum til those 15-min self tests are more readily available so I can be certain I don't pick anything up on the road. :( Really glad zoom calls exist in the meantime!

Aha, didn't know that. Thanks :)

Discussion thread is created. Looking forward to getting started Tuesday.

Hey Jacob! Do I need to do anything to show up as a player in this campaign?

Hooray! Will have slight changes after Spirit Road :)

Player: Simone / Virsa
Character Name: Tess Montgomery
OPF Number: 337378-2001
Faction: Grand Archive
Downtime: Lore (Legal): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Current XP: 5
Current Fame: 5
Reputation with Grand Archive: +5
Reputation with Vigilant Seal: +2
Training: Scrolls 2, Swords 1; minor healing potion

Tess, are you planning to join the Lions of Katapesh game I'm doing for Gameday IX? It's here if you're interested.

Oh, yes! Thank you, I'll get my info there shortly :)

If this was our roll from before, I got a 15 for Legal Lore income. :)

Hey Gang -- I had a mini-concussion -- yes, I'm okay and getting better -- but still am not focusing as well as I like. No post tonight.

So glad you're okay!! Take your time.

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Blech!" says Tess, eloquently agreeing with Loola. (Then she groans, though grinning, as she gets the joke.)

As the fearsome arboreal crashes to the forest floor, Tess yells, "We aren't here to disrupt the forest! Go on, leave us alone!" at the remaining spruce.

Intimidation/Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

She doubts that her rapier will do much damage, but prepares to attack if the tree persists, making sure the kitsune is safely behind her and her allies.