Female Halfling Paladin (Virtuous Bravo) 6 | AC 24 - Touch 17 - Flatfooted 18 | Fort +13, Reflex +13, Will +11 | HP 45/45 | Init +7
Working for Mr. Althuenant wasn't exactly the stuff of heroic adventures, Briallen could say that much.
The young halfling had gotten the job easily enough. Quick wit and charm and an understanding of how to behave around nobles (with a little advice from Aria and Shadow about local quirks) proved more than enough to secure that. It wasn't very encouraging, however, when on the first day that Briallen began her work she heard from the cook that Motherias cycled through servants because he was in an unhappy marriage, was friendly to his servant girls, and had a wife whose trust in him was non-existent.
Still, Briallen thankfully didn't spend very much time around the building when Mrs. Althuenant was about. She did work a little in the estate, cleaning and making things tidy, and having small talk with Motherias and the other staff. She mostly served as an envoy, delivering letters, ranging from party invitations to scholarly debate to business inquiries. She also found herself delivering letters to a very specific household, one which she suspected housed a paramour of her employer...
And when Briallen did find herself at the apartment, she found Mr. Althuenant was a very polite and gentle man. His wife painted him as some sort of lecher, but he was a devoted fellow, even if his devotions were most likely placed in a different noblewoman. But he was an intelligent and curious fellow, if a naive one, who enjoyed small talk. He shared a little news here and there, and sometimes he asked questions, but the fellow answered far, far more.
Nevertheless, the paladin's position was important for a few reasons:
First, it allowed her freedom of movement, the ability to travel the city while still being employed.
Second, it made her face better known to the servants of the noble households she visited.
Thirdly, she actually had her ear to a fair bit more news than perhaps she should have been.
Most of what Briallen heard was simple gossip, and not all of it concerned the Althuenant estate. People simply felt at ease around Briallen, so it seemed. She was a very honest sort, had an aura that made people feel safe... so of course things were said. And who could deny a harmless, curious question here or there?
Briallen was satisfied with her position. No, it wasn't glamorous. No, it wasn't the stuff that heroic tales were made of. But if this was the method by which she would find answers, then by the Flame she would find them.
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When it was time to give reports, Briallen stepped up to the board and jotted a quick couple of notes, then began speaking in a crisp, clear tone. She paced a little and gesticulated emphatically with her words, looking from one team member to another.
"I have attached myself to one nobleman of middling influence but a fair bit of wealth," she started, underlining the man's name as she did. "His name is Motherias Althuenant. In acting as his courier and housekeeper, I've earned his trust, as well as that of his cook, his butler, and other servants under other nobles in the town. I am working on inserting myself further into the daily affairs of the nobles, and already I have reaped some reward.
"Motherias tells me there is a ship sitting in the harbor which sells no wares and never leaves the pier. Its captain goes from place to place, asking questions, some mundane and others quite curious. Other times he merely sits and drinks in peace at some tavern or another..."
Briallen frowned as she finished that list bit, chewed on her words, and said: "I wonder if, perhaps, the Dark Traders might have a few folk assigned as we are to this town, simply gathering information and waiting for news. This man could well be such a fellow. But if we are to act, we should first know more, confirm or deny what we already know. Frankly, we do not have enough information to use resources on this matter... yet."
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The capers look interesting! I think 'B' is most likely to be fruitful, though 'D' is also very strange and the high difficulty rating intrigues me. However, we probably SHOULD get more information on 'D' before we pursue it; our GM has outright told us so!
As such, I vote for B. I believe a simple plan would be to start arranging watches on Wednesday to try and find whoever is doing the digging, then track them down using Survival. After which we use Stealth to tail them and have the nerds use Knowledge: Arcana to identify whatever weirdness they're doing.
Basically, if we choose 'B,' I think we should treat this as a Sneak mission, and should try to observe. If it turns out we need to intervene, we rush in as we must!
My current big question is: how much of our plan discussions should be OOC, and how much should be IC?
Female Halfling Paladin (Virtuous Bravo) 6 | AC 24 - Touch 17 - Flatfooted 18 | Fort +13, Reflex +13, Will +11 | HP 45/45 | Init +7
Briallen listened to her companions in the woods as they told of the places they'd seen. Briallen, for her part, kept her words short:
"Sigil itself might be the most wondrous place I've seen," she said after a time. "Never in my life did I imagine that so many peoples from such disparate lands and ways of life could coexist, even creatures that would elsewise be sworn enemies. It isn't peace, of course, but it is... strange. It is a marvel, at the least.
"But I dream, too, of the jungles of Xen'drik in my homeland, of the vast and unblemished wilderness... I am more comfortable in the city, but there is beauty in the wilds, I believe."
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While the others were taking up their jobs, Briallen pursued a path of her own. She actually tried to secure a job working as a servant for nobles rather than as a courtier, knowing well that such a position could give her news both about the nobility and about other happenings from their servants...
The halfling woman did not have a very strong grip, but there was a sort of controlled energy to her handshake.
"I feel much the same," she answered Moira. "Perchance we will have an opportunity to discuss strengths and weaknesses better as a group. I suspect we shall all be taking much counsel from Al-eon and Mr. Bevel."
Female Halfling Paladin (Virtuous Bravo) 6 | AC 24 - Touch 17 - Flatfooted 18 | Fort +13, Reflex +13, Will +11 | HP 45/45 | Init +7
Briallen was a tough little halfling, but she had to admit, she really did not like sitting in that chair. The torturous transformation was excruciating, and she frankly didn't like the idea of possibly not having the changes disappear when the mission was done. Briallen frankly took quite a lot of care for her appearance, and didn't want to return home one day looking like a stranger...
Eventually, the pain subsided, and the paladin awoke in a strange, burnt looking wood with only sparse greenery on its trees...
Briallen took a few moments to recover, then tried to go find the others... but they were all close together enough that it wasn't necessary, and Moira and Al-eon had already been of the same mind.
Noticing a few minor changes on her allies, the young paladin pulled a mirror out from her haversack and tried to get a look at herself...
Any important changes that our characters have undergone specifically we should know about? And for reference's sake, what sort of accent does everyone seem to be speaking with now?
"Taverns can make better safehouses than you might think," mused Briallen as Moira spoke. "Suffice it to say that information is brought to you, that it is VERY ordinary place for locals and travelers to meet, and that hiding in plain sight can serve just as well as lurking in any beshadowed place."
The halfling woman bowed her head to the committee. She couldn't help but ponder exactly why the tentacled mystery person, Phireston, wanted her to act as leader. But...
Well, it was hardly up to her if she would be leader or not. That was a decision for a group.
"I CAN use scrolls," the halfling noblewoman answered, nodding and resting her wrist upon her rapier's hilt. "'Tis no specialty of mine, but I succeed more often than I fail, and likewise have similar success with a good wand."
She has a +12 UMD mod. Not amazing, but not terrible!
The young paladin saw that Arlo and Spencer were busy talking. She thought about approaching the Android, but frankly she had always made Briallen just a little uncomfortable as it was hard to read what she was really thinking. And the Lurker, well... She assumed the Lurker would approach whoever the Lurker wished to approach.
So, Briallen went up to Moira, that strange human woman that seemed to answer to a higher power, much as Briallen did...
"I have heard of your exploits," the halfling told Moira as she came up. "You're quite capable, so I've heard, and find little rest, such is your diligence. I respect such ardor for justice."
Briallen held her hand out to Moira, smiling politely.
"I don't believe we've spoken much before," the little paladin told Moira. "But I look forward to working alongside you. Your knowledge and unique talents should prove most useful."
"I will keep my speech short," the halfling paladin said simply. "Others may be more skilled at subterfuge than I. Others here have more cleverness, more talent for misdirection and disguise. That I shan't deny.
"But when evil rears its head, you know well there will be a need for ready blades, and mine is the readiest of all of ours. And with the Silver Flame as my witness, you know I shan't be tempted by the whispers of the wicked. Your goals and mine align.
"Whatever role you would have me take, I shall take it. My duty is to cleanse evil, whether by the sword or by the spoken word, and I shall not shirk my duty."
Just finished my character! ...Well, mostly. I still have some mundane equipment to buy, but I rather like how Briallen has turned out.
(This is Shorticus, by the way.)
Her full history and statblock and other such things is available on her alias page. I may adjust a few things, but she's basically done.
EDIT: Also, just want to say... I REALLY hope I get to go all-out on an undead or evil outsider at some point. Bri here can hit for 1d4+34 damage in the right circumstances against the right enemy. I want to SHANK 'EM GOOD.
EDIT: Removed all mentions of the Muleback Cords item tattoo as I just realized I never removed them. (I wanted to get it, but... no can afford. :/ )
I'll link what I think are important tidbits below.
QUESTIONS:
[/b]1. What was your world of origin like?
__A. Technology-level?
Eberron's technology varies from primitive, tribal communities to a sort of magical version of the early modern era. Imagine post World War 1 societies that built off of magic and the control of elementals instead of utilizing gunpowder and advanced chemistry, but combine it with some Renaissance aesthetics and weaponry choices (minus the firearms), and that very well describes the modern nations of Khorvaire following the Last War.
__B. "Values"? (honorable? Corrupt? Trading oriented?)
Eberron is a varied world, but the nation of Thrane is a Theocracy that could be described as honorable and morally driven, as well as zealous and perhaps militaristic in their fight against evil (see: the Demon Wastes). Peace is valued, but conflict is sometimes seen as a necessity, and zealous behavior has led to such atrocities as the Lycanthropic Inquisition.
__C. What was geography of the world?
There are multiple continents, each supposedly formed from the bones of the progenitor dragons, with vast subterranean complexes. A wide variety of climates can be found, and Khorvaire (the continent Briallen is from) epitomizes that variety, having everything from rolling plains to fetid swamps to cold mountains, wastelands, and jungle. Also, there are dinosaurs. Halflings ride dinosaurs.
__D. What races existed and how did they relate?
Too many to name quickly, but as a halfling in Thrane and a member of a Dragonmarked House, Briallen was at once both a noble among halflings and uncommon in her nation due to the majority species being human.
2. How does your character manage to keep a low profile in a mostly human plane? What would your *cover* occupation be?
If Halflings are common enough, then there should be no difficulty. However, Briallen can at least pretend to be a human child or perhaps a human with dwarfism in a pinch. She knows a little about sailing, singing, and dancing, as well as some basic medicine, and has considerable skill with a rapier. All of these can be useful in providing cover stories. Being handy with animals and a gymnast also is a plus in coming up with an identity. Largely, though, she relies on her natural charm and her knack for diplomacy. Her Sleeves of Many Garments help, too.
3A. If you were in the orgnization for a while, what was the last world you were in like? How did it end?
Briallen has been in the organization for about half a year now, and as such has only really been on one mission so far. Said mission took place on a human world without magic in the early Medieval era being infiltrated by demons and their cults. Briallen disguised herself as a stunted human (though she DID raise a few eyebrows). The mission ended with a good ol' fashioned demon purge. Briallen got to stab some demons good.
3B. If you have NOT been in the organization long, how to you find your way to Sigil or where you were recruited?
Briallen sort of stumbled into Sigil while adventuring on the continent of Xen'drik. Her party wound up in the sewers of Sigil, and she was the sole survivor after combat with cranium rats (among other foes). She eventually adapted to the strange city and even spent a year on a Spelljammer (which is where she learned about sailing, actually!). After building up a reputation as a trustworthy woman and a talented fighter, the halfling paladin was approached by a wizard that was a member of the organization...
MOTIVATIONS/GOALS:
- Prevent evil where it can be prevented.
- Redeem those who can be redeemed.
- Find whatever it is that the Silver Flame told her to find in the Planescape.
- Find a way to return home.
- Return to the Church of the Silver Flame with the unknown artifact.
- Do really cool things and see really cool places. Come on, the Planescape is SO WEIRD AND COOL!
- And try not to fall for cute guys. Interplanar romance is probably not a good idea.
ALLIES, ENEMIES, AFFILIATIONS:
- Briallen has taken quickly to working within the secretive organization, those wizards and mystics who fight to preserve the Planes. She wonders as to their motives at times, but they seem trustworthy, and she knows she works best with a little direction.
- Briallen appreciates the Harmonium for trying to protect Sigil, but believes the Harmonium can sometimes be overly harsh. She has a similar opinion of the Guvners (AKA the Fraternity of Order).
- She also appreciates the Sensates and has a few friends among them, but has not joined (nor does she intend to).
- However, she abhors the Xaosiects.
- She also believes the Bleakers are misguided, but does appreciate their charitable works.
- Rakshasas, Mind Flayers, Demons, and Devils are all creatures that Briallen strongly distrusts. She might abide their presence in Sigil, but she finds it INCREDIBLY hard to do so outside of Sigil, even with her realization that the multiverse allows all sorts of beings to grow and change.
- Given Eberron's history and the struggle of dragonkind against evil there, Briallen generally finds herself to be more willing to trust dragons than most.
