Varkos Duran's page

Society: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40
“If this ain't a Gray Maiden, I don't know what is.” Varkos says to his group.
Then he addresses the woman. "Your armor has seen better times, hasn't it? You maidens used to be especially proud of your plate. What happend?"

I'm currently on vacation. Will be back in a week. And I'd like to update my Magus to Remaster, if that's okay with you

Gather Info using Society: 1d20 + 20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 20 + 1 = 22 Underground Network
Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

While taking in the scene, Varkos also notices the Shoanti that Hanako already spotted. He decides to approach him from the rear. Now what would that fellow be so interested in us. I shall corner him and ask politelyl, he miumbles.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37

Varkos uses the crowd as cover and removes himself from the party. Sneaking through the crowd, he sneaks up on the Shoanti and grabs him gently yet with a firm grip. "Do you want to talk to us?" he whipsers to him.

"I'd say the bridge is a little closer. And while we walk through the docks, we can show around the drawing. Only to our trusted contacts, of course."

@GM, can I reroll the check using Korvosa Lore?

Society: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32

As Earl shows the drawing around, most seem to recognize the man, but can't point a name to him.
"Well, I call this a good solid lead. It doesn't matter that we can't identify this man. It's a matter of time, until one of our contacts will. I say we show this image around in the appropriate channels. Once we find him, he'll have to explain himself."

Perception, Investigation Bonus: 1d20 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 17 + 1 = 19
Varkos stumbles through the room, not able to decide, what he's looking for.

Varkos studies the sign for a long time. Much longer than makes sense. It's just a sign. He lets out a grumpy snort and gives the locked door's handle a hard shake.

Anyone watching might think the orc is about to kick the door down.

Then Varkos suddenly speaks. "I'll be right back."

He turns and quickly walks back the way they came.

The same skinny, bored clerk is still sitting at the reception desk. Varkos marches straight up to him. He slams both hands onto the counter and says in a firm voice, "The key!"

Then he starts a staring contest... and clearly wins.
Intimidation: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

Varkos listens to the suggestions and nods at each of them. Then he decides. "I'm with, aehm, the centaur...Earl? Let's canvas the grounds and ask some folks about this guy. Students are always drunk and always ready to spill gossip about their kin. We should also find his appartement and check if he left in a hurry. Maybe he left some clues behind."
He pauses and rubs his chin. "But, yes, we might also need to inform the local authorities of our endavour. Don't want to be marked as intruders, do we?"

What lvl 10-11 item are you looking to order?

I will want to upgrade my Ring of Wizardry eventually

Gather Info using Society: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24 Underground Network
On their way to the Acadamae, Varkos meets one of his low-life contacts. He discretly asks him to ask around about Caelios Inivorum. An hour later his "friend" comes back empty handed.

Iryani Kalyeer wrote:

after all these years it's still funny that everybody has a 5% chance to crit fail even the simplest task

That's not quite right, is it?

=)

Critical Failure You fall. If you began the climb on stable ground, you fall and land prone.

example: Climb DC 5, 1d20+3 = 1+3 =4 = crit failure

how do we handle shopping items? We're all level 11, but Korvosa is only level 9.

In a given settlement, a character can usually purchase any common item (including formulas, alchemical items, and magic items) that's of the same or lower level than the settlement's. Usually, fewer of the highest-level items are available—you can use the Party Treasure by Level table on page 59 as a guideline for how many of the highest-level items might be available, using the Permanent Items and Consumables entries for a level one lower than the settlement's actual level. Inhabitants of a settlement can usually purchase items from PCs as long as those items are the same or lower level than the settlement, with limitations on higher-level items similar to those available for sale. If a settlement's population is significantly smaller than its level would suggest, its ability to provide and purchase items might be more limited.

If a character's level is higher than the settlement's, that character can usually use their own influence and leverage to acquire higher-level items, as they convince shops to place specialty orders or artisans to craft custom goods, though it might take a bit of time for such orders to be fulfilled.

Spellcasting services are available in many settlements. Barring a powerful spellcasting NPC in the city with whom the party could negotiate for services, a character can find someone to cast common spells up to a level that could be cast by an NPC of the settlement's level. For example, a character in a 9th-level city can typically find and pay someone to cast a 5th-rank common spell—the highest spell available to a 9th-level spellcaster.

Some settlements have access to uncommon items, formulas, and spells. If a settlement could reasonably be considered to meet the Access entry for an item or spell, that item or spell is available just like any common item. For example, the dwarven settlement of Kraggodan has plenty of dwarf weapons available.

So, in order to aquire a level 10 or 11 item, I need to place an order and wait for how long?

Varkos listened with one ear to Jinu's history lesson. Most of this he knew already. Common tavern tales and stories include several versions of this part of the city's past.

"Does anyone need to make a stop for a snack while we're heading over?" I could certainly eat something...

"Or spend some of the queen's generous retainer?" he added

"Yes, hopefully, a more fruitful location."

Varkos sighs. "This is all very interesting, but also not very useful." he says to his comrades.

"Unless, of course, Miss Bika does indeed have a description of the apparition that will offer some substantial clues..."

it's only DC 15 to Aid you for another +1-3. I'm sure someone would have come to your assitance had youf failed the check, Jinu

The half-orc in his battered coat, the big gun hanging along his back, only nods friendly towards the guards and grunts. "What he said."
At the look of Hanako, he joins in looking the place by taking out his spellbook and prominently showing it to the guards.

what does it take to accelerate this game to a reasonable 1/day posting?

Pharasma Lore: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

Varkos was no religious person, but he knew enough about the church to understand what was happening.
He didn't care. Instead, he wondered once again about the unsual coincidence between the timing of the bishop's death and the ghost sightings.

Respecting the priests' vow and honoring the bishop, he stays silent as well, and places himself next to the also almost mute Hem. "You think anyone in the crowd knows more? Or is it all just jibber jabber?" He whispers towards the dark helmet.

Varkos murmurs his thoughts, debating with himself.
"Not much more to find here... Unless we want to wait for the ghost to come back... I say we follow the lead to Longacre. The contract, the contract... Oh and do we want to make a detour to invest the generous down payment?"

"He's not from here." Varkos explains Hem to the queen with a loud, deep laugh.

Towards Jinu, he answers. "Thanks for the history lesson. I'm not from here, too. So this makes all sense. With a bit of creativity the bloody words are actually written in Infernal and they seem to describe passages of said contract."

Society DC 25: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38

Varkos glares at the wall, seemingly staring into the nothingness. Yet he murmurs something softly. He appears to be reading something invisible.

"Ok. So, there are indeed residual auras of the text. I can't decipher it fully, but these are the remains of some sort of contract I believe."

@GM, my languages are Common (Taldane), Diabolic/Infernal, Orcish, if it was a matter of language

With half an ear, he noticed the conversation of Jinu and the queen. "Did I hear the word contract?"

"Faded quickly you say? Hmm, too bad, I happen to know the Devils's tongue. We are very close to Cheliax after all." Varkos murmurs while taking in the scene and listening to the queen.
"I wonder if there's some residual magic left. Potent events such as this often leave lingering auras and such..." He talks mostly to himself, speaking from experience as an investigator of the occult, but slightly shifts his head towards Hanako.

After admiring the mundane craftsmanship in the throne room for a brief moment, he switches to his other senses.

Casting rank 6th Read Aura, taking in all magical auras in the room.

A thousand gold is quite generous. She must be pretty nervous about this...

"I cannot - yet - speak for the others, but looking around the room, I see a lot of confidence and competence. For myself, I promise you to get to the bottom of this." Varkos explains, while trying to sound reassuring.

Pursue a Lead 1: Discover the source of the manifestations of Ileosa's ghost.

He addresses the room. "May I suggest to start with the warmest lead? If the throne chamber had been avoided since, we might still find some clues. The writing in blood in particular intrigues me..."

So, what do people find from the reports?

I, too, wonder when the GM will get this table roling...

He nods, noting the importance he places on the name. "Drallin Battlehungry, hammer of Trudd. Shorten however you see fit."

I'm restraining myself from making a Dwarf joke ingame, when he uses the word 'shorten'. I. e., What'd be left, if you shorten a Dwarf?

hmpf, what a show-off... Varkos thinks to himself after Jinu's performance and flattery.
But she is the queen...so, hm, some courtesy is probably required. Well, too late now.

He continues to look around the room, eyeing all invitees. Two guys in heavy armor. Hmhm. Hopefully, we won't need those.
His turning head halts a while longer at Hem. He's not saying anything. - wait is that this foreign priest? Someone mentioned something about a black armored priest visiting. What's his god again An-something? He knows something about ghosts at least.

At the sight of the wizard, Varkos' mood lightens a little.Now this guy looks like he knows stuff. Maybe he's been sent or requested from the Acadamae? He'll be useful...

Among the summoned group is a young half-orc wearing a run-down leather coat. He has been very silent since the adventurers have been starting to arrive.
Now he inclines his head, taking in the map and the piles of reports before answering. His Taldane is almost without accent, except for a clear Orcish influence.

"Your Majesty." He pauses, choosing his words with care. "I don’t put much stock in tavern stories, but when the same ghost starts turning up in multiple places—" he taps one thick finger lightly on the edge of the map, "—that’s a pattern. Patterns can be tracked."
He straightens slightly.
"I’ll take the case. Payment in coin is fine; I’m more interested in the truth than the trophy."

His eyes move to the documents.
"If I may, I’ll need access to any witness accounts you already have. Time, location, and description of each appearance of Ileosa, as precisely as your scribes recorded. Also…" He hesitates just a moment at the mention of the dead bishop.
"…any notes Bishop Keppira left on restless spirits, unfinished business, or prior hauntings tied to the castle or the queen’s name. If these sightings started just as the high priestess passed on, that timing is either a cruel coincidence… or a connection."
He looks back to Cressida. "I suggest we start with the last manifestation here in the castle, then work our way outward. Until I -we- can prove otherwise, I’ll assume this is something wearing Ileosa’s face for its own reasons."

May I reserve the right to switch from Magus to Spellshot Gunslinger if I don't like Magus? (I've never played Magus before)

regarding the Cleric's spell list: I personally prefer Bless over Benediction. Maybe prepare one each?

Speaking of Ghosts being in the blurglb... Might I reccomend any of our fellows who plan to fight in melee (or ranged physical) pick up a Ghost Touch/Astral rune or similar? Incorporeal can be annoying to deal with outside of spells otherwise, and we are well past the point Shadows and Ghosts can appear.

my damage is mostly spells. But I picked up Runic Impression. It includes Ghost Touch.

Eventually settling into Korvosa and becoming a bit of a local celebrity.. At least in some of the bars, as while the enjoyment of arts is much greater in Varisia, so too is the competition...

He started to gain local notoriety though, gaining wealth and some patrons. Then the events of the Curse of the Crimson Throne occurred. He survived, but his patrons did not, and the events had forced him to resume his thieving ways to not perish.
He decided to stay though, and now that things have calmed again, perhaps he will finally gain the fame and respect he always deserved, and then settle into a nice comfortable, early, retirement. Afterall, what else could go wrong?

As a thorough and renown Investigator, I have an Underground Network, thus I have probably heard of you ;)

Seems, we're almost good to go?! I'm excited.

one or two of the casters should make sure to have Dispel Magic in their daily allotment. It's the best spell.

Ok -- are your PCs newcomers to Korvosa or do you have a history there? I've never played Curse of the Crimson Throne so everything I know will just be from the Module's text... )

I haven't played CotCT either.

Varkos grez up in Belkzen, but has been in Korvosa since three years ago, when he had opened his cramped P.I. office V. Duran – Discreet Inquiries & Special Cases

Maybe our gun magus, Varkos, can swap Fleet for it. Since he is ranged he won't need speed as much, and he's trained in stealth with solid dex. It would mean the party as a whole can stealth with a bonus on-par with a dex-based character with Expert training, off a single dice roll. For the cost of 5 movement speed. (Which is given back as long as he is within 30 ft of me.) And anyone else who doesn't need stealth in combat wouldn't even need to be trained and can put that skill point elsewhere.

ok, done. I'm a keen follower now.

For clarity, what is the limitation I've missed?

Dedication Details

Each archetype’s dedication feat represents your character’s dedicated effort learning a new set of abilities, making it impossible to split your focus and pursue another archetype at the same time. Once you take a dedication feat, you can’t select a different dedication feat until you complete your dedication by taking two other feats from your current archetype

people using Pathbuilder to build their characters never forget this ruling, because the program includes this restriction unless you deactivate it manually in the options.

ok, this is Ellioti's character. I switch from Witch to Magus, because we have so many full casters already. I also swapped from dwarf to half-orc.

I have a Spellstriker Staff, which I's like to have (permanently) shifted into an attached Reinforced Stock. If this is too much of a stretch, I'll shift it into a Gauntlet.