Thomdril's page

hey, guys, i realize i've been gone for a good chunk, now. My team (at work) ended up picking up a few extra projects right as one of my producers left... i've been struggling to keep pace with my pbp's... not even having been able to open this thread up in about a week.

So I really apologize for that. It has nothing to do with the caliber of game or players.

But with everything going on right now (and this being a ridiculous kickoff to our usual busy season), Im going to have to bow out of this thing.

If things ever lighten up, and you guys are still rolling, I'll check back in, but I don 'tknow if that will be 1 month or 7.

I apologize for the abruptness of this announcement; I didn't see it coming. I apologize to everyone, but most especially to DM Grey. This game is an excellent concept and it's been fun so far... i just had to slim down my pbp time, and this is one of my more recent additions.

You guys have fun.

Thom sits as quietly through this latest discussion as he had through the previous couple. He does find a lull in the conversation, however, to speak up to the pint-sized pyro.

"Annie," he says, leveling his sincerest look at her, "I generally try to let people's business be their own business. But I gotta say this. I know you're not what you say you are. And moreover, wherever we are – and whatever this whole mess is – you're only gonna make things tougher on everyone if you go spouting on about worldwounds and demons. Most folk don't enjoy that kind of talk." He hikes his thumb in the general direction of the discussion they had with the dark-skinned preacher-man. "That priest certainly didn't seem to like whatever you said to him. I'm not the boss of you, but seeing as how you've carried your weight so far, and I don't have any reason to think you're working against us, please, please, please take Beylinda's advice and be a bit circumspect about slipping details about where we're from or demons or devils or anything like that. At least until we know more about what we're in the middle of here."

Otherwise, he seems surprisingly ambivalent to the talk of figuring out how to get home.

Is that really all? :D
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

I've got 4 remaining Con damage. I don't know about everyone else.

Can we all understand each other? Or is it only that the priest can understand/communicate with each of us individually perfectly?

And 3 hp's, right?

Thom reacted much like the others… surprise becoming suspicion becoming understanding.

He eats the breakfast as he listens to the conversation play out. Different lands. Different customs. Different names for different 'gods'… though this priest seems nice enough.

He smiles encouragingly when the short dark-skinned man looks at him, "Good morning." It's obvious that he's content to let the others deal with this interaction.

Thom was half-dead on his feet. It was only a mercenary's life-time's worth of on-demand doubled-up watch rotations that kept him alert as he was in the impromptu meeting room.

"So cherry, Thom what do you wish to do now?"

Thom tries unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn, forcing a lull in the conversation until his jaws re-hinge and he can speak. "I don't have a clue. Much as I'd love to claim that freedom from the contract means freedom to explore… I can't really chat with these people, and you guys are the only folks who I know around here."

He shrugs, idly scratching at one of the angry circular punctures where the nasty blood-suckers got him. "Hells, I may take the day to just sleep. Research and investigation really aren't my gig, and until we know where we are and how to get back, there's not much for me to do."

Sorry, E-Terah, I meant to write a blurb about how he's trying to keep the rest of you abreast of the conversation. Please assume he has been, sorry for the oversight.

Lol. Your choices are Common, Vishkanyan, or Draconic. I'm guessing any of the three would work fine (given that none of hte locals are likely to speak any of those, and Thom has Comprehend languages running).

Thom shrugs and steps away from the circle-map, struggling to suppress a yawn. It'd been a rough couple of days... the bloodloss wasn't helping.

Not having anything better to do, Thom ambles over to stand between E-Terah and the new guy... River. He quietly makes sure E-Terah, Annie, and Geth are up to speed before turning and smiling encouragingly at River. In the over-pronounced, over-annunciated, and over-gesticulated manner in which everyone speaks to foreigners, Thom addresses River, "It sure would be nice if you had a clue what we were saying." He gives the man an exaggerated smile and thumbs-up, "This completely sucks."

Thom nods regrettably at the middle-aged man's first comment, the nods a second time when the man continues talking…. this time adding a what else would we do shrug.

When the man finishes talking, Thom gives Beylinda a curious half-smile. "Apparently we just walked these girls across an area they call 'devil's homestead'." He barks out a laugh, "Apparently it's a noteworthy feat."

When the townsfolk bring in the circular-map-thing, Thom stoops down to inspect. "Now this is clever… but… this isn't anything I've seen before." He runs his fingers over the ridges of the mountains surrounding the mediterranean part of the map, scowling in confusion at their placement. "This may be the worst map of the Inner Sea I've ever seen. And I'm no cartographer, but nothing on here outside of this Inner Sea area looks any kind of familiar at all."

He stands up, looking over at Beylinda, "What in all the hells did that machine do, boss? And – just a side note – more and more I'm realizing you didn't pay me enough for this gig. Unless something starts making a lot more sense quickly, we're renegotiating our agreement."

River would need to hit a Perception DC 22 to notice Thom's ears. He had used Disguise earlier to hide them.
.
Also, Comprehend Languages is a personal-range spell. So we can't cast it on anyone but ourselves.

As Beylinda has mentioned that she has some castings of Comprehend Languages, Thom would wait until they were in town with a bigger group to cast it for himself… so all he would catch in all of that would be the exchange with the townsfolk under the big metal tower.

And Thom would have insisted on keeping all the girls – even the one accused of witch-craft – together as they came into town. Best to leave things how you found them. Helping her get away now will only make it look like we're on her side… and Thom doesn't want to look like he's taking sides before we even know what's going on.

Thom slyly checks one last time to make sure the tips of his ears are hidden in his unruly hair as he crosses into the town's center… under the strange tower. He wonders for the dozenth time what purpose the tower serves. Tall enough to be a watch tower, but getting into, out of, and around it seems too ungainly… it's gotta be the worst watch tower ever. Though it's certainly tall enough.

He doesn't even seem to realize that the miles spent marching – or, more specifically, the series of strange discoveries of this place – has completely melted his earlier black mood. As they pass over the bridge, he mutters back to Beylinda and the group, "I still don't know where we are. These canals are too developed for such a back-water-looking little town. Maybe we're close to a capitol city? Oppara, maybe? Never been there. Then again… other than the weather, this place could be Taldor or Qadira." He shrugs as if to say, if that makes any sense.

As the group stops in the center of the town, Thom looks at the gathered crowd of locals, somehow sensing that this would be a good time to understand what people are saying. He wipes his forehead, muttering a few sounds that are gibberish even to him, and rubs the sweat between his thumb and forefinger. With the usual mental twisting sensation, the words of everyone present do a supernatural side-step, locking into an "understandable" position to his ears. What was a second before a chorus of alien words is now mirrored in his mind with comprehensible statements and questions from everyone present.

He shakes his head, barely keeping himself from scowling at his group, "Beylinda.. E-Terah… give them back their gear. I don't know how we're going to convince them we didn't kill those boys back at that station, but it's not gonna look good for us if we don't look like we're trying to be helpful. And I don't suppose any of us have a way of getting them to understand what we say? Otherwise, this could be a frustrating conversation for everyone."

He looks over at E-Terah, and the 'witch' that's sheltering behind her, "You want my advice? We should let them handle this. It's their conflict, and we don't have a clue what kind of sh!t we're stepping in." His look to E-Terah clearly says, I have your back, but until I know more, I don't have hers.

I don't have a clue how we're going to communicate here. River, you don't happen to have any tricks up your sleeve that would allow you to play translator for us, do you?

Almost getting drained by a swarm of oversized mosquito creatures while herding noncommunicative teenagers through an unknown landscape was taxing.

Well-said, E-Terah. :)

No apology needed. Crap happens. Good to hear youre doing... okay? Though it sounds like you still have more than enough on your plate.

Hope things calm down for you.

that's fair. I certainly don't mean to be a harassment... just meant to bump the thread as much as anything else.

: pokes thread with stick :

So, at what point do we give up on this bad boy? I havent heard from DM Grey in a while.

Just a little monday morning bump. HOpe all is going well with everyone... hope we get to see some activity soon. :)

Just a heads up, I'm headed out of town this thursday mornig through sunday evening. I may be unable to post in that time (though I'll do what i can). If you guys find yourself waiting on me, feel free to play/NPC Thom.

But, like i said, I'm around until Thursday morning. :)

I actually think it's round 3... you just got a round ahead, Beylinda (unless I"m mistaken).

Thom is too busy trying to squish blood-suckers to give too much attention to the approaching man. He slams his shield back into the injured stirge before trying to skewer the final one on his blade.

All the while, his black rant continues, "… and next they'll just kind of forget to mention that their town unilaterally burns outsiders as some kind of sacrifice to whatever idiot gods they pray to here.."

"Then who's to keep me from killin' em?" Its clear his dark humor is just out of frustration.

"Not us i'm worried about," Thom grunts with a dark look back at the girls.

The shortbow drops as longsword and shield flick into Thom's hands. "Yes, mister Ranger who just saved my life," Thom quips blackly in a mockingly-high voice as he tries to gouge one of the huge blood-sucking bug-things, "you might also want to know that the road we mentioned is infested with big-ass bugs that'll drain you in minutes." He punctuates the sarcastic finish with a back-handed shield bash on a second stirge. "You could have mentioned the stirges, girls!"

Yah, i'm gonna wait to see what unfolds with our initial reactions before posting a set of round 2 actions...

Thom wracks his brain for anything he's heard about fighting stirges. Knowledge (?) 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 <--- unlikely.

"Sh!t!" Thom curses as he yanks his bow from its sheath... drawing on his luck as he draws and nocks an arrow. "Everyone! Clump together and protect the girls! Geth! Annie! If you have anything that can blast groups, get it ready! Hit'em when they close!"

Swift for Luck (3 of 6 used)
Move to begin to form a line for the front-liners... to protect the girls and casters.
Free to draw bow and ready an attack on the first stirge he sees.
.
shortbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
---> Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

or flaming nuke thrower?

Thom listens to E-Terah's comments. When she finishes, he cracks a half-smile, "You coulda just said, 'I agree, Thom'…" He winks to cushion his jab.

Re-settling his pack on his shoulders, Thom waits until the girls aren't watching and then double-checks to make sure his ears are covered by his hair. People are comfortable with what seems familiar, and Thom hadn't seen any indications of elves around.

Disguise (to appear human; applying the "minor details only" and "different race" modifiers)
1d20 + 6 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 5 - 2 = 22

Turning back from the mirror (or, if there isn't one, the reflective surface of the map-thing) Thom nods to the door, "So, we headed out?"

... or Texas Rangers? (the government organization... not the baseball team)

My vote is for whichever is shortest... unless someone uncovers info that shows one to be obviously safer. Thom doesn't have any such information.

I thought you WERE the flame thrower...

Thom hands the trinket back to the girl with an apologetic smile, pausing only to make sure he's not being lied to in some way. Sense motive (to determine if she's holding something back about the locket) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21. I'm not assuming there is, but she seems to be the odd-man-out in this situation. If he doesn't feel like she's hiding anything, she keeps the locket.

"Hmmm," Thom looks over the two bodies before he ambles over to the strange map. "I still don't recognize anything." His shrug adds on a non-verbal 'for what that's worth'. He continues looking over the map, speaking low for the group, "My trick just ran out. But they seemed to have known the younger man… from the same town, sounds like. They seem to think there should be more of these guys here, though they don't know when the others will return. And they talk about these guys as if they have some kind of authority."

He spends a few quiet moments trying to apply the girls' discussion on routes home to what he sees on the map, fingers tracing what he hopes are a few routes. "They're debating whether it's safer to take the Hill Road," his finger traces an area between the lake shore and a ridge. "Or gold-digger pass." His finger traces a second path, between two ridges. "That's all I got before my trick ran out. I'm inclined to save my last use of it until we need it more urgently than we do now… though I guess being able to understand them has been somewhat useful."

Thom's vote (barring the revelation of more information about the two routes) is to go with whichever route to town is shortest.

Thom continues walking around, mostly just poking about in the lodge, when he sees Beylinda eyeballing the dead men's gear. "We should be careful what we take. I'm not against taking what we need, but given that we don't know these girls, this place, or those men, I'm reluctant to take things before we know what's going on."

I guess that all depends on what things are still around and active on Earth.... gots the intrawebz?

Thom scowls at Beylinda, "Sorry to disappoint, boss. I've picked up a thing or two here or there, but knowledge of maps and places was never on my resumé."

He lets others do the pathfinding while he heads back to get the witch-girl's pendant... using charm if possible, force if necessary. If he gets it in-hand, Thom holds it for a few moments, letting his eyes unfocus a bit in an effort to see if there are any mystical energies to it.

Cast Detect Magic on it.

Again, sorry for the delay… crazy busy weekend.

"Thom, can you tell us according to the constellation's position in what part of the world we are?"

Knowledge: Geography (untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Thom looks around and shrugs, "Nope. None of this looks familiar."

He looks at the girls and the town. "And this is some kinda mess we've stepped into." He points to the isolated girl (whom the other girls hate), "That's Veronica. The angry one says she's some kind of witch or devil-worshiper. She picked something up off that body while you all were climbing up here, too… just so ya know." He points to the town, "That's Merrill. Sounds like most of these girls are from there. They don't seem to trust Veronica or her father – not sure fi that was the guy whose head Geth mushified or the skin-suit on the ground. They didn't seem to know she was 'not right'. They think we're some kind of Rangers.. or did when we first got here. They also mentioned Calies – that's apparently the Brotherhood we just did some killing of – and Aryans, Bearkillers, and the Clan… no idea what those groups are."

Feel free to read Thom's spoiler, to make sure I didn't miss anything important, assume Thom did a full debrief.

Thom shrugs, "The angry girl seems to think we'll be rewarded for our help here in Merrill. It's as good a place as any to try to get some information. But if no one else has any way to communicate back to them when we get there, we're gonna be limited to what i can understand… and I only have about ten minutes worth of listening on that particular trick today."

Sorry for the absence. Weekends are always busy, but weekends in June are ridiculous for me and my family.

Thom considers the situation. "I don't know what's going on here, but that girl," he indicates the one who's separated from the others (the one behind E-Terah, I think) "... seeems to have more than a few enemies here."

Thom pauses, then looks over at Beylinda, "Not only that, but I notice something a little... off... about her as well. I'll see if I can get anything out of the other girls as we head to town. Will someone make sure our one outsider doesn't get away?"

As they walk, Thom stays near the four other girls. He nears the one who got violent and, without words, tries to get her talking. He points forward towards the town and shrugs, waiting expectantly for her to say something about the town.

DM Grey, let me know if his 10-minute spell duration runs out before we hit the town. While Thom is curious about the girls, he's going to save a casting of Comprehend Languages for when they get to the town.

Yep. You very well may be right (as I review that post). But yep, let's get confirmation to amke sure we know what's going on.

Oh, i initially thought Thom was understanding her words via Comprehend Languages. DM Grey, were her words understood by all of us? If so, was it Taldsne?

Thom struggles to control the girl, "I don't think they understand us, boss." He wrestles her to the ground, attempting to use his weight to pin her arms and free one of his own. Thin puts his face so close to hers that he's sure he's all she can see... his voice remains soothing. "Come on, girl. I don't want to have to tie you back up." He puts a finger in front if his lips. "Calm down and I'll let you go."

If she seems to relent, he lets go of her wrists and pulls his weight off her, only keeping a hand on her shoulder for restraint as he addresses the group. "Welp, this could get interesting. Can someone hold her while i try to get some information from someone less intent in murder?"

Dang, sorry to hear it. Family first. We'll be here.

"It isn't the Worldwound or Shudderwood either.… I saw what might be a town or something over that way by that big lake"

Thom smiles at the world wound comment, shading his eyes as he follows her pointed finger. "This place seems to have its own share of demons and small surprises so far…"

"Agreed. We can travel to this town. Either the girls will give us a name we can use or we will have to wait until tonight as Thom might be able to gives us indication to where we are.

Thom's smile slips off as he frowns at Beylinda, then looks over to the girls. "I was hoping we could get some information from these girls." He pauses to smile when one of the girls makes eye contact with him, then he continues, "If we can't get that information, I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be in gaining any information." He shrugs to Beylinda, "You're paying me to fight, boss.. I'm afraid my other skills don't include divining."

DM Grey, let me know if Thom can get any of the girls to open up... information is kind of a priority at the moment, and these girls seem to be one of the best sources we have available to us. And I'd like to see what information we can drum up BEFORE we head into that town, if possible.

As the team prepares to move out, Thom stays close to the girls, trusting in his trick to help him understand when they finally decide to open up. (And if the girls don't open up before that initial casting wears off, he'll be ready to cast it when they do decide to begin talking.)

As he clears the lip, his dark eyes take in the sweeping landscape, and he lets out a low, long whistle. "Well, this sure isn't Varisia."

Still waiting for a response from the young woman in front of him, Thom gives a slightly confused scowl up to towards Annie before turning back.

Thom hesitates, "Hey, Geth... if she turns out to be some kind of demon adn kills me, make sure to make me sound like a hero in the re-telling."

He then removes the girl's gag, still smiling, "Now, then, why don't you tell us who you are." Knowing that she probably doesn't understand, Thom once again points at her and makes the hand-talking gesture.

Let's say he (and Geth) went with the girl who looks most Varisian (whichever of 2 or 5 tha may be)... as that's one of Thom's languages, too.

As Geth tries to speak to her, Thom nods encouragingly. If she looks hesitant to talk, he grins his charmingest grin, points to the girl, then makes his hand open in close... the universal gesture for "talk".

Can his body language and projected demeanor allow for a Diplomacy check to make the girl feel more comfortable?
If so, 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

If she still looks uncomfortable or scared, he very carefully points at her bound wrists, then puts his own wrists together like hers are, then emphatically breaks them apart. Then he nods.

Thom follows the Gethric's eyes to the women, then smirks while mouthing 'good call'.

With a flip of his left arm, his shield slides back into its position on his back and he makes his way over to the women, pausing for a moment to nod his thanks for E-Terah's healing.

He cautiously kneels before the first bound woman, far enough away to not seem a threat to her. He makes his voice as calming and warm as he can, holding up his hands to show, palms toward the woman. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

E-Terah, do you want to hash out what we (Beylinda, thom, and Gethric) know of you?

Temporary memory loss could very well be attached to this whole transition. In which case I'd just love to know what little rid-bits I would know of the very short time we've been adventuring together (which i assume would be all of the weeks it would take Beylinda to recruit each of us, then us get to that island thingy, clear it, and Beylinda do whatever mis-step caused us to fall down this particular rabbit hole).

I was also under the impression, E-Terah, that you were a part of our adventuring company before teh summoning circle (as per DM's request)

Thom shrugs, taking the opportunity to clean his blade, sheathe it, then pull out his canteen to rinse his mouth noisily. "You're the boss."

Sorry for the double-post, I just thought it was worth responding to this from Gethric.

"Binding, service, slavery... but no rhyme nor reason. Of demons, devils, asura and all denizens of the plane beyond. He was seeking much, to draw it within, to take on that which he sought... though much of his colour is well bedded. But only the signs of the call that are fresh upon his skin."

In a monumental display of gastrointestinal control, the lean sellsword tries to stand up straighter… succeeding in getting half-way there. "Geth," he croaks, "I'm confused. Did your tattoo'd friend bring us here?" The back of his gloved sword-hand suddenly and momentarily becomes a barrier between Thom's mouth (and the horrid contents there-in) and the rest of the group… then he continues. "Like you said, I always thought these summoning tricks worked to bring demons and stuff. I'm no demon."

This is news to me, but the PRD says "…you can only speak and understand the selected language." Though it should resolve itself as combat is ending… and Thom has Comprehend Languages up.

The dark-clad fighter fights to keep what little remains in his stomach… well… in.

Propping himself up by the tip of his sword – otherwise hunched over – the young man looks over at the little girl. (Perception DC 25 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25) He opens his mouth to say something, then quickly clenches it shut as he tries to suppress another round of his stomach's acrobatics.