Urlok's page

Hi everybody. I thought I'd be able to keep up with my pbp despite recent changes in my workload, but it's apparent that isn't the case. Regretfully I'm going to withdraw myself from this game as I'm unable to reliably participate :(

My sincere apologies, and best of luck to everyone!

Urlok studies the tooth Rillka shows to him.

"Hmmmm..."

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"I concur."

Exploring along the river sounds like a good idea. While Urlok is interested in hunting bandits, he's not obsessed - he'll investigate anything interesting or unusual we come across, so long as the overall goal is the bandits. Basically he's not going to purposely avoid finding bandits IC just because OOC he might be better off leveling up first.

Urlok has a mount, and in trackless forest terrain can use nature's path to maintain party speed while making Survival checks to forage for food and water for himself and up to 4 other people if allowed to Take 10 on the check.

I say we continue exploring down the river. It feels like a good way to focus our path - and we can expand from there.

"A most prudent course of action, my new porcine partner. The river is an excellent place to begin searching for signs of the movements and lairs of those who prey upon these Stolen Lands. Indeed bandits, kidnappers, and thieves have such an affinity for moving water that one wonders whether they are part duck; no doubt one of the many causes of the River Kingdoms' reputation for scofflawery."

Urlok bows deeply, drawing his right leg back and sweeping his arm out to the side as his long hair sweeps the floor. "M'lords and lady, this wretch is called Urlok, and has heard of your intent to bring harm to those who harm the harmless in the Stolen Lands. In this endeavor I humbly offer to provide what meager assistance I can to so fine a gathering of worthies. I am indeed a druid, as the wise sir says, though I can't speak to any difficulties I might engender to prognostication."

Waddling up to Oleg he flourishes a palm full of coppers. "Lest you think me a beggar, cadger, or other hanger-on, I assure you I require no upkeep or compensation save the knowledge of a just cause justly effected." He pays Oleg for a night's room and board for himself and his mount before sitting himself on an empty stool.

"How, then, do we proceed?"

Urlok sits upon his horse and watches Oleg's Trading Post from a distance. "What think you, Kabayo? A home for bandit hunters?" The horse snorts in response. "Now now, not so hasty. Would you judge me by my looks?" He nudges the horse forward and together they enter the small bastion of civilization. After stabling his horse he enters the dining hall: a strange gangly, bow-legged figure leaning on a gnarled staff, armored in leaves and wooden mask.

"I've come to join a pack that hunts outlaws; would this be their den?"

I'll have an intro post up tonight Eastern Time.

I'm ready.

Checking in to let everyone know Urlok here is all set and ready to go.

Corsario, I hope you don't mind, but I made his leaf armor masterwork. The extra 150 gp puts the item price at more than half his total wealth, but the masterwork quality doesn't actually add a mechanical advantage as the base armor already has an ACP of 0. I just had the money left over and figured it would be nice down the road if I wanted to get it enchanted.

Here's the spriggan-blooded feyspeaker druid! (I'm re-using an old alias.) I'll finish up his fluff today/tonight, and maybe buy some more general equipment, but otherwise he's pretty good to go.

Corsario, let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Urlok sits, giving a nod to both men. He repays the Yar-Ammonite's courtesy and speaks in a mutually shared language, though he leaves the man to his conversation with the serving girl and addresses Arrak. Lamuran: "I am no dog, and conversation will be payment enough for me. I come to see the world and to learn the truth of it for myself; who lives where, and how, and what they have to offer."

Urlok shrugs, the situation apparently defused. He ignores the beer he's been given along with the wench who brought it, then seems struck by a thought. Picking up the tankard he approaches Arrak's table.

Tharag Thulan "May I share your table? I am new to these southern lands, and you obviously are not. I would hear what I can of them," he sets down the full tankard within Arrak's reach, "and I have no taste for alcohol."

Urlok watches the events unfolding on the stair with intense interest. I was warned that the laws of these southern lands were used to keep their people enslaved and to trap unwary foreigners; certainly that has been the case in my attempts to leave this cursed city. It seems within these walls one cannot leave, however, men have free reign to do as they will. Perhaps they only apply these laws to outsiders?

This erstwhile northman seems well-traveled in these lands - I shall look to him for example.

Though he doesn't understand their speech, the men's yapping is clear enough. Of what value can a man who employs such servants really be? 'Wolves do not play with dogs,' as my mother says.

Urlok watches as the men pass him by with little more than a look they intend to be threatening as they surround the three's table. He can't quite make out what his distant kinsman says to the woman, nor her response, but she remains calm and composed - it seems that the need for violence may have been averted. I will not seek battle with these foreigners - it may be their leader can help me escape the city - but nor shall I avoid it!

He calls out to Arrak in a deep, resonant timbre. Tharag Thulan "I like not the looks these fools give me - what is their complaint?"

Zul-Bazzir? He watches as Arrak walks off at the hail of the small, bronzed-skinned man and woman. A wolf long away from his pack, it would seem. Urlok watches the trio for a few moments. There looks to be more in him of these civilized lands than of the cold north; with a common tongue, he may be a good source of information. Urlok then notices the unsubtle shift in the crowd’s demeanor. The rats circle at the gull’s call, over the woman no doubt. Such are the concerns of lesser men.

Urlok remains still, wrapped in his furs, gazing unconcerned at the men moving towards him.

Lamuran: "The wise practice hospitality; it affords protection against the stranger, whose true nature is unknown."

Urlok will ready an action to equip his shield if someone actually attacks him; he’ll stay adjacent to the bar with the thought of using it as a buffer against getting surrounded on all sides.

Apologies for the delay; have a fairly harsh cold and the medicine I took last night pretty much knocked me out.

Urlok stands outside the Laughing Gull, making a short study of the dubious looking building. By reputation this place may hold the answers I seek. It squats upon the waters - perhaps it has heard them whispered in their ebb and flow. The tall Tharagian walks through the entrance without sparing a glance at the disreputable toughs loitering about the exterior, men of such obvious inferiority not worthy of his attention. He steps inside the main room and pauses for a few long moments to let his eyes adjust to the dim, smoky interior and to survey the scene, including the nefarious hole.

A den of rats playing at being sharks, and above them a gull posing as an eagle in it's eyrie. Yet there is a wolf amongst them. Urlok walks up to the bar alongside his fellow northman, studying him a moment before speaking in their native tongue.

Tharag Thulan:"Greetings, cousin; it is unexpected to see another of our land caught within the trap of these filth-filled walls. How fare thee?"

I admit I am hesitant to post in Gameplay, as I am unsure if it's meant to be a continuation of the RP from this Discussion thread or a "fresh start."

I don't know how y'all feel about using real-world analogues for different languages, like my "Tharag Thulan" (Norwegian) above. It seems we all speak Lamuran, so we could use that as the default to English, or I could take Khazistani and we could use that as the default.

English:"Or we could skip the whole thing and just use ooc tags to note what language we're speaking in, like so."

Me drink now, no like magic.

"Frykt ikke, fetter; de har nok for deg å drikke."

As a general FYI I'm in the EST and generally check the boards several times a day. Usually I have the opportunity to post during the morning/afternoon from work, but if I don't I will post later in the evening.

My plan for Urlok is to mostly use subtle magic effects, such as to self-buff (ant haul, stone fist), enchant objects (magic stone), or produce effects that could be explained away as mere coincidence or strangeness (call animal). He'll use more "flashy" spells, flavored as commanding the elements, only when in dire need (hydraulic push). I imagine his stone fist spell and metal fist ability to be a more subtle hardening and strengthening of his hands, very noticeable to the touch but not so obvious to sight, rather than full-on Thing/Colossus-type transformations. His method of spellcasting will be a sort of eyes-rolled-back meditation, chanting, and controlled breathing, possibly combined with some mudra/qigong/yoga type somatic components, and with higher level spells exhibiting more ostentatious casting.

I went ahead and picked a number of 1st level spells known equal to 2 + my Wis modifier, plus my domain spell. Let me know if you think any of them are inappropriate - I was interested in burning disarm as well, but it's not from the CRB or APG.

If all this sounds good to folks, I'll keep Urlok; if there are objections, I can switch concepts.

Checking in.