Trekos's page

@Nylissa - is the workload lightening up any? I'm very much hoping this will keep going.

Yeah, even in my occasional dabblings in metal (my college room-mate ran heavy metal programming at the college radio station, so I was exposed to a lot), I never took to Dio.

But to each his own. At least it's a nicely relevant song.

Anyone into heavy metal... circa 1980?

Only tangentially. Though I did buy Blizzard of Ozz right around then. If I had to guess, I'd say you made a Slayer reference - but it'd be a guess.

Ah well, real life happens. I mostly wanted to express appreciation for this campaign. It's a cool idea for a setting and I'm looking forward to where it goes.

Yeah, I don't usually like to dump any stat, preferring a more well-rounded character, and I pondered the 8 Cha for a while before doing it. But Trekos will get some Intimidate boost as I level up - and perhaps he'll learn to be intimidating as well...

This has been a lot of fun so far, ready to get moving again after the long weekend slow-down in all my PbPs.

@Trekos - Yes, presumably why Ali split you up... Superior vision at point and rear. But, Variel is a ranger/archer... And there may be reason to snipe.

Understood. Wasn't trying to second-guess, just making sure we get to know each others' abilities as we face terrible dangers together.

Trekos moves along with the group, several times having to visibly restrain himself from moving much faster. He carries his caduceus in his right hand, and his sling in his left.

Note, Trekos is also a half-elf, and happy to lend his eyes where needed.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Indeed, well fought against an unpleasant foe, though if we make another plan, let's try to see if we can't all follow it." says Trekos as he surveys the scattered bones and rusted weapons of the skeletons.

"Unfortunately, friend Ali, were we in Athens or Alexandria, I could find a quieter path quite easily, but here in Thebes, all the advice I can offer is to try to keep that gate in sight and reach it as quickly as we can. I say we move straight for it. And Variel, you might want to pick up something to use as a club, should we run across more of those boney horrors. I've no doubt your arrows would nicely put an end to the orcs we've seen, but they'll just whistle through the ribs of the skeletons."

Before I read your post, I had concluded that Aurora had channeled energy and destroyed the remaining skeletons. All of us were focused on the skeletons and she was behind us, so we didn't see her action. I decided that your cryptic statement that the skeletons were no longer undead was meant to create some mystery around what had happened, and heighten the sense of chaos and uncertainty in the embattled city. And that the darkness and smoke made it difficult for her to see, so she failed to include Trekos in her channeling, so his minor wounds were not healed by the power of Athena.

So that's what I'm going with.

What happened to the skeletons?

On the last map, there were four of them. Trekos attacked and missed, Ali hit and did 1 damage, Alekto hit for 4 damage. Did we kill them somehow, or did something else happen?

Hate to say it, but since you're still hiding the dang coin, you have to roll that miss chance.

Your move sounds like a good plan. And while you're at it, maybe let that coin drop so we get rid of the miss chance?

Oops, sorry. I just took a quick look over the posts and counted you as having done your action. Was trying to offer a creative solution to your situation, just did it too late...but at least now you've got an open square to step into, with a flanked skeleton to fight.

Variel - I bet you could find a piece of debris that would work as a club, would be much more effective than your sword.

Ali - sorry not to get out of your way last round, mean to but forgot when I posted.

Trekos realizes that Ali is still stuck in the second rank, unable to contribute to destroying the skeletons. He darts forward and to his right and, pushing off hard on the wall next to him, he spins past the skeleton he's fighting. He then strikes at the skeleton he is suddenly facing, but his blow fails to connect.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Caduceus attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Caduceus damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Acrobatics to move through C6 to C7, then attack skeleton in B7.

Trekos calls out "Ali, the light! This darkness is only helping the skeletons!", as he swings his caduceus at the skeleton in front of him.

Light mace attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Light mace damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Miss Chance (1-20 misses): 1d100 ⇒ 72

Attacking skeleton in C6 - thanks for the grid, very helpful! And thanks for moving me right where I wanted to be.

So I'm pretty uncertain where everyone is right now - any chance the next iteration of the map could have grid coordinates along the sides? I don't know what you're using to make it or if that's asking a lot, but it would be helpful. That said, Trekos will try to get into close to a skeleton, ideally into flanking position, and attack.

Seeing that his companions have chosen to take the ambush to the skeletons, Trekos leaps around the corner and joins the fight. Running with nigh-impossible balance and speed over the debris that chokes much of the street, Trekos joins the fray and brings his caduceus crashing down on a skeleton.

Agile Feet domain ability, ignore difficult terrain, used 1 of 5 rds/day.

Light mace attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Light mace damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Miss Chance (1-20 misses): 1d100 ⇒ 80

A point of clarification: it's not entirely clear to me if our destination is south of us (bottom of map) or east, or some other direction. Has Aurora made it clear to us, and I just missed it?

As Ali begins to move down the street, Trekos looks up to the heavens, briefly touches his forehead with the four fingers of one hand, and reaches out and touches Alekto on the shoulder, whispering "odigia". Cast Guidance. +1 on a single attack roll, save or skill check of your choice in the next minute.

Trekos then ducks low and darts across the street to hide in the mouth of the alley, his mace in his right hand, his sling held ready in his left.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

I think the map looks good, Nylissa, and it's certainly helpful in understanding what's where.

Now that I see our positions, it makes more sense to me to head for the alley, hopefully doing so undetected. It's very close, and we don't really have a good spot where we can hide and leap out on the skeletons in our current position. If we're going to make for the alley, let's do so quickly, so we don't get bottled up in there.

If no one objects, perhaps we go in this order: Ali, Trekos, Aurora, Variel, Alekto? Trekos will happily go first also.

Alekto - I kind of agree with your idea of avoiding combat right now if we can, and I started a post saying so, but then I remembered: we're heroes! Luring the bad guys in and smashing them, then making our daring escape, seemed like the heroic option to me.

Hope it works!

Trekos dips a hand quickly into his belt pouch and pulls out a coin, commenting "Ach, a gold piece! Well, if it works, I'm buying our lives cheaply."

The coin in one hand, Trekos raises the other hand and rubs the tips of two fingers briefly together. Tapping the coin with his index finger, he quietly says "fos" and a light shines brightly from the coin for an instant before he closes his fist around it.

He passes the coin to Ali, keeping its light hidden as he does so, and says "Draw them in if you can, and we will strike. If they are too many, throw the coin where we can see its light and we'll all make a run for the alley Variel saw. At least a fight in a smaller street will keep us from being surrounded. May Hermes grant you speed and cunning."

"I could cause a coin to glow with divine light, we could use it to draw the skeletons near without using you as bait, Ali. I will not be able to heal you again until I have time to rest and ask Hermes for his favor again."

Cast Light on a copper piece and throw it into the street, to attract the skeletons? The heroic option of Ali as bait works too, just offering an alternative.

+2 flavor bonus to Trekos for using a caduceus instead of a light mace. (this bonus has no in-game effect of any sort)

Excellent! Perhaps the bonus will add some flavor to the damage it does!

Trekos considers the path ahead, and the value of destroying a foe before the foe can reach him. He then gets out his sling and holds it in his off hand, so he can switch quickly between sling and mace.

On hearing the advice of Priestess Aurora, Trekos sheathes his blade and reaches for a smaller weapon hooked on to the back of his belt. It is a smallish mace, its smooth metal shaft broken by the stylized forms of two snakes twining around it, their shining backs and rearing heads forming rough knobs at the business end of the weapon.

"If the creatures can only be destroyed by battering them, then let us batter them, and we'll see how they enjoy meeting the caduceus of Hermes. And if we can take them by surprise, all the better."

I thought you'd want to stick with Expeditious Retreat once you noticed it on the list.

Yeah, I compared it to Longstrider, and it seemed much more Hermean (and Trekosian?) to move really fast for a short period than pretty fast for a longer period.

On hearing Ali's question, Trekos looks slightly shamefaced and says "My teachers at the temple have always scolded me for not studying enough, I'm afraid I have no knowledge of such things. I fear I will be learning through experience - but such lessons always stick better, eh?"

Haven't picked up any knowledge skills yet, so Monster Lore doesn't help me. Next level! Variel?

Trekos is built, please play per my post above to heal Ali and Alekto. Thanks for waiting.

Pleased that he has been able to help his companions through the power of Hermes, Trekos draws his long, slender blade over his shoulder and looks out the door, moving as unobtrusively as possible.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Trekos is crunched! I'd welcome comments, advice, suggestions, backhanded compliments or damning with faint praise, but he's pretty much done. I may tweak spell selection or something else a tiny bit based on feedback, but unless someone tells me that I forgot to include his half-elf breath weapon, fly speed or something else significant, no major changes are coming.

Time to heal some heroes!

Was considering a rogue dip also - lots of Dex-based skills, sneak attack, and fits with Hermes as god of thieves, and we might want some disable device and UMD at some point. Doesn't help with BAB, though. Would welcome thoughts on the matter.

For 1st level feat, Weapon Finesse seems like the way to go, but am open to suggestions there too.

Again, until your character is built, you are not in the scene. Either you need to update your profile so your build is in it, or not post in the gameplay thread.

Understood. Working on build in bits and pieces, will post as soon as I can. Will plan to do healing once I'm in, and expect I'll just keep those rolls, ok?

Thinking about a trait that makes acrobatics a class skill - like a re-skinning of Rice Runner - sound okay to you? Not set on it, but it fits with my mental image of Trekos zipping about in very dexterous fashion.

Trekos will have Cure Light Wounds, and can cast 2x/day at lvl 1, so can heal wounded companions.

Damage to Trekos: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Trekos pauses in his exultation, the damage of the day settling into his spirit. He looks at his companions and realizes for the first time how badly some of them are injured.

"My friends, forgive my focus on my own fortune. Allow me to give you the blessing of Hermes, and restore some of your strength before we go further."

CLW on Alekto: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW on Ali: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Dotting, playing soon!

Yes, I expected I'd pay for my goodies somehow, injury seems fair. Do we get the MW items free, or is it just the MW add-on that we don't have to pay for? My curve blade is expensive for lvl 1!

Edit - funny, we were both editing our posts simultaneously. Frozen in terror it is, hoping that will be brief.

Hi all - very happy to be here.

The house rules sound great to me, similiar to other PbPs I've been in that moved pretty well.

I will work on Trekos crunch, but have a couple of unusually busy days and evenings coming up.

A question: it looks like I'm the only one of us who was not a Theban soldier (not sure about Variel, though), and thus I don't benefit from the MW items. The Theban soldier past doesn't fit Trekos' character - is it possible that my temple outfitted me with MW gear before I left Athens? We would begin with more evenly balanced equipment that way.

Great news! Thanks very much for the selection, looking forward to getting into it.

Fun RP'ing with everyone, must have made some very hard choices indeed.

Trekos looks back over his shoulder, eager to hear what the priestess has to say next, wondering where this adventure might take him...

@Trekos - If Elven Curved Blade is your thing... as is speed... I'd pump DEX for AC and to Hit Ranged (Weapon Finesse - works with Elven Curved Blade, melee... have secondary weapons Light Weapons). If STR can stay 14, that would be good... cause you'd get +3 to melee damage 2-handed. I'd focus, lower STR & CON and pump DEX. We've got enough of a team, that the need to be too well rounded or much of a switch hitter is alleviated.

Thanks for the thoughts on this - I had been thinking about taking this approach, and decided it wasn't worth having to pick up Weapon Finesse. But in thinking about it, it would be nice to have the ranged ability as well (I almost went with an archer inquisitor), so I'll tweak stats a bit.

Thanks again!

By the way, Trekos, will you be using an inquisitor archetype that get Solo Tactics?

Yes, and am excited about the teamwork aspect you described.

Okay, got some crunch up, but it's limited. Some stats, and personality and tactics description, so you can evaluate his hero potential. Possible for more crunch to get up before tonight, but it will be tricky.

Could we decide who gets in the campaign with a footrace?

(And distracting him from the Hermean Hamstringer...)

This, I like the sound of.

@Ali - Sure wish I hadn't lost my crunch on Trekos - I haven't built an inquisitor before and input would be welcome. If we all end up in this campaign, I'll pick any brains I can for ideas.

At this point I'm planning for him to be a very fast skirmisher, using a two-handed weapon and providing help where it's needed on the field of battle, whether that's through doing damage or healing/buffing allies.

Nysilla - one thought I had, since Trekos represents Hermes in the world, was about having Longstrider on his spell list, and you could cut one other spell from his list in exchange. I don't know how often I'd use it, but to have a 50' move when he needs it would be awesome, and would fit really well with the character concept.

And whatever happens, this has been fun so far!

Wow, glad we don't have to have crunch done by then, as my computer just ate Trekos' crunchy bits all up. Shouldn't take me too long to reproduce it, however.

He turns out to be a half-elven speedster with an elven curve blade, who will dart about and skirmish, casting as needed, and spreading the joy of Hermes. More crunch to follow.

This seems like a really fun, creative group - looking forward to where it all goes!

"Yes, yes, let us debate who will stand behind and face an ugly fate! I will run ahead, to know what is to come! I will be honored, Priestess, to share a bottle, no, an amphora of Iberian red with you, and to lift a glass to Athena and Hermes alike, should we both still live when this madness ends. In the meantime, I will trust in the Messenger and scout our way!"

With this, Trekos sprints ahead, moving faster than should be possible for mortal feet, a great grin breaking out on his face as the pleasure of speed overcomes the horror around him.