Viorec Rulasti's page

So, it looks like the first possible GM has bowed out.

There is another possible GM, but he's completely new to PbP, and doesn't have all that much GM experience.

I can pony up the $12 to buy the PDF of Souls For Smuggler's Shiv, and would be willing to GM this party, if you would have me.

I'd keep Viorec around as an NPC, at least until I could find a good place for him to go.

If it's a "yes," let me know who's still interested in continuing. I'll also need a couple of days to read the module and familiarize myself with it.

Looks like we have one person possibly interested in taking the reins of our group!

BTW, still no response to PMs or new posts from Arie. Hope he's OK.

It looks like your game isn't that much farther than we were before our GM went MIA.

I'd be honored I'd you wanted to take the reins of our game, but I understand if running two different groups of the same AP would be difficult.

I just posted a notice that we're looking for a GM.

I'm having so much fun roleplaying with this group, that I'm considering volunteering to take over as GM!

The main thing that's stopping me is that I don't own Serpent's Skull and have already blown through my September gaming budget.

Still no response from the PM I sent him...

While working on the Garundi prisoner's chains, Viorec looks around to see if there are any coconuts on the ground at the edge of the jungle.

I hope his flu isn't still laying him low... Has anyone PM'ed him?

I just sent one.

I noticed that Arie hasn't posted anything under any aliases since 8/29.

I also just noticed that he and I are playing in a different PbP together.

I was starting to wonder that too...

Looking around to his fellow castaways, Viorec calls out, "Hey-- has anyone found any fresh water yet?"

I'm pretty sure what I had was a bad potato salad at a picnic last weekend. A few others at the picnic were likewise affected. Symptoms seemed consistent with norovirus. It really wasn't much fun.

While helping the chained Garundi prisoner into the shade at the jungle's edge, Viorec overhears Chimsali's and Iomestria's discussion about tribalism.

He adds, "Well, I can tell you that I've seen plenty of tribalism in the streets and alleys of Underbridge in Magnimar. The Tower Girls and the Night Scales are always at each others' throats, and everyone's afraid of the Gallowed!" He lowers his voice and gestures with a nod toward the mysterious red-haired woman: "And around here, I'd be cautious about the Red Mantis. She bears the mark of an assassin."

Raising his voice and adopting a cheerier disposition, Viorec takes out his lockpicks again. To the prisoner, he says, "Ni sawa rafiki yangu. Mimi kujaribu kuondoa minyororo yako. Jina langu ni Viorec. Jina lako ni nani?"

Seeing that we seem to have plenty of time, Viorec takes 20 on removing the chains. Disable Device: 20+8=28

While working on the chains, Viorec answers Chimsali's earlier question about what each of us can contribute: "Honestly, I'm a little out of my element out here. I'm more of a city boy, and I rely on my hands and my wits rather than on magic. That said, if indeed we're not alone on this rock, I have a pretty good eye at spotting danger-- like snares, deadfalls, or other traps that any cannibals might have places." He smiles and adds, "Those are tricks I've picked up from the more savage tribes back home!"

I'm back, and will resume posting later today.

I've been fighting a bad case of flu since Sunday. I'll start posting again when I feel better. Feel free to run my character as an NPC until I'm back.

Looking at the warrior woman's tattoo, A tattoo like tha t... Where have I seen it...?

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

To Desiona's question, Viorec replies, "Living off the land isn't really in my skill set. Especially in an environment so different from far Varisia. As for those, what, 'sea scorpions,'? Well, I hope they taste as good as reefclaws! Of course, we're probably short on garlic butter."

To the prisoner, "Easy, friend. My name's Viorec. What's yours? Our ship the Jenivere appears to have wrecked and we're all castaways on this island. We're off the coast of Sargava, on an isle called Smuggler's Shiv. If you can stand, let's get over to the shade. I should be able to get those irons off you given enough time. So tell me, why are you in irons, anyway?"

Looking over at the dead crustaceans, Viorec adds, "We should cook those reefclaws quicky! They will spoil shortly just sitting in the sun. And who knows where our next meal will come from?"

Moving over to the Garundi prisoner, Viorec checks to make sure he's alive.

"This man was probably a slave. Even if he was a prisoner, I say we need all the help we can get, and give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm going to remove his irons."

Viroec takes out a slim leather case from a pocket in his vest. He unbuttons the flap, and turns it upside-down to let the seawater drip out. He then opens it up, setting on the sand in the sun to let it dry out. Inside the case are a number of odd-looking tools of metal and wood. Viorec examines the unconscious man's irons, selects a tool, and then goes to work undoing them.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Viorec breathes a sigh of relief after the last weird-looking "reefclaw" is slain. As his fight-or-flight reflexes calm, and he recognized the danger of being marooned, fear sets in, although his face does not betray this.

"Is everyone all right?" he calls out. Looking around the beach, he sees Iomestria, Desonia, Davy, Smythe, and Chimalsi all up, and then he notices unconscius forms of Gelik, Ishoru, the two strange women, and the Garundi prisoner.

As the adrenaline ebbs, he too feels the aftereffects of the knockout poison. He then makes a quick check of his person to see what belongings he has on him...

Let's see... I have my three daggers... my slim case of lockpicks are still in my belt pouch... as is my box of tindertwigs, though they'll be soggy and useless for a while... and my money, fat lot of good it'll do me on a godsforsaken island... and thank the gods, my hip flask! Not that whiskey would be welcome just yet. I hope the rest of my stuff shows up...

He then walks over to the unconscious forms of the two unfamiliar women. I think I've seen them on the ship...

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

He does his best to try to revive them... which pretty much consists of shaking their shoulders and saying, "Hey! Wake up!"

Seeing Desiona threatened by another "reefclaw," Viorec runs over to it, getting behind it, such that the crustacean is between himself and his Varisian friend. He then plunges his dagger into its shell...

Attack with dagger, flanking: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

...but the chitinous shell of the creature's back deflects the blade.

"Voi face tocană de pește din tine!"

Hungarian, is it? *meaningful look at Viorec*

Romanian, actually, courtesy of Google Translate. My languages are limted to English (my native language), French (which is pretty bad), and German (which is even worse.) I occasionally get to practice my French when business takes me to Montreal, but no so much with the German.

Varisians are based on the Roma and/or the Travelers of Ireland. Google Translate doesn't list Roma as a language, so I figured that Romanian was the best stand-in.

St. John would not be so gauche as to wear armor and weapon to a dinner on board.

Viorec would never be so naive as to go anywhere unarmed.

While he wouldn't have worn his armor or rapier to dinner, he certainly would have his knives-- one dagger at his side, one in a sheath strapped to his forearm under his loose-sleeved shirt, and one in his boot. Updated stat block to reflect being unarmored.

"Ugh." *Cough!* "Pthhhlugh!" *Gurgle* *Gasp! *Cough! Cough!* "Ceea ce în groapă?!"

A small wave washes over Viorec as he wakes up face-down in the sand of an unfamiliar beach. He feels the oppressive tropical sun beat on the back of his exposed neck and upper arms. Spitting fine sand from his mouth, he looks around and is startled by the bizarre crustacean waving its pincers just before his face.

"Prin zei!! Reefclaws!" He fumbles for the dagger he keeps strapped to his left forearm, pulls it, and strikes at the oversized lobster in front of him.

Rolling away from the giant crab-thing, and keeping it at bay with his dagger, he stands up.

Defensive attack with dagger, while prone: 1d20 + 2 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 2 - 1 - 4 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Uses Combat Expertise for +1 Dodge bonus to AC.
Standing up provokes an AOO. AC is currently 14.

Once on his feet he glances around to take in the scene.

"Curvă lui Calistria! Ce sa întâmplat?"

If there are any more/last questions, feel free to ask them now. After that I'll move on to the next scene!

Arie, I think we're ready for that next scene!

Viorec smiles, realizing that Sargava sounds like an excellent opportunity for a man of his skills. As long as he can stay a step or two away from direct conflict between sides.

"As my family says, 'Fortuna favorizează îndrăzneț!' Eleder sounds like a place of promising opportunity."

His interest piqued by the change of subject, Viorec adds to the chorus. "Yes, Captain, please tell us tales of Sargava!"

I would imagine that most people aren't that familiar with most Empyreal Lords. However, Sinashakti does have a decent following in Viorec's hometown of Magnimar, so I would imagine that he would have at least heard of the Immaculate Joy. If not, he'll Bluff a reaction of familiarity.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 To know about Sinashakti worship in Magnimar.

Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 If the above roll is poor.

"And to Sinashakti!" Viorec takes another slug of rum.

Viorec raises his glass of rum for another toast. "Well, then to the end of this journey, and to the start of the next journey to come!"

"Please, join us, Mr. Aberwhinge! Sorry you never got your sea legs."

Viorec's theme.

Viorc grins at Arasti's appeal to Asmodeus, but his eyes aren't smiling. "Were you turned about at the crossroads? With all due respect to the Prince of Darkness, I'll place my faith in Lady Luck, thank you. My employer is having me scout a promising lead in Eleder, but once I've sent my report, I just might follow the butterflies on my own. New roads beckon, after all!"

Viorec takes another swig of rum, realizing he's drained his glass. His eyes now smiling as well, he gestures with his empty glass to the captain, hoping for a refill.

To Arasti, Viorec snorts. "There's nothing divine about slavery. It's not practiced at all in Varisia: slavery goes against the fundamental freedom of the soul. We are all wanderers, after all. And you Chelish call us backward!" He pauses. "But enough of politics!"

At the captain's toast, Viorec raises his tankard. "To the Wind and the Waves!" He takes a long drink. He then raises his glass again, "And to the Starsong! May Lady Luck be with us to the end of our journey!"

He also gladly accepts the captain's offer of some rum.

Hey-- I always ask this for every PbP I join...

Where are all the players physically located in the real world?

I'm in central New York State, USA, south of Syracuse. (Eastern Time, UTC-4)

While I'd think you were entirely persuasive enough on your own to gain passage on the ship, my recognition of you as a friend, and a very trustworthy man may have helped, just a little bit. (~_^)

Of that there is no doubt!

As it says in the Eight Scrolls, "We are all wanderers. Our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls full of dreams."

(BTW everyone-- Gameplay thread is up!)

Four months ago...

After having jumped aboard the Jenivere to escape a severe beating (or worse) by a rival Magnimaran gang, Viorec finds himself in the cargo hold of a merchant ship. He straightens out his clothes, making himself appear to be as respectable as possible, and sneaks past any sailors to the top deck. There, he assumes the bearing of an entitled merchant, convincing the Second Mate that his employer, the Magmimar Merchants' Guild, "had certainly paid my passage to...um..." he fumbles a moment, gesticulating with his hand in apparent frustration, as if he can't quite remember the name of his destination...

"Eleder?" offers Jamesby.

Viorec snaps his fingers, "Yes! Eleder! Please check your records again. I'm sure the Merchants' Guild would not be pleased if their payment went missing..."

. . .

Upon meeting Desiona aboard, he looks pleased. "Salutări, străin, de la un străin!"

Viorec tells her that he's an agent from the Merchant's Guild, scouting out new prospects in Sargava. Guessing that she'll trust him, it isn't the same story he told her when they'd met two days earlier in the Bazaar of Sails.

. . .

A day after leaving Westcrown...

"...and THAT, my dear Iomestria, is how the Shoanti convinced the giants to build a HUGE bridge for their mastadon-mounted army! Unfortunately, the giants tricked them, and it collapsed under the weight of all of those beasts. Today, we call what's left of that bridge the Irespan..."

. . .

Two nights after leaving Ilizmagorti, on the deck...

"I'll see your five and raise you ten." After a moment, the last remaining player called. "Tower of Crowns. So sorry to take more of your silver, Davy. Another hand?"

. . .

Viorec enters the captain's cabin with a flourish, shaking everyone's hand in greeting. "Captain! Thank you so much for the invitation! I will say that the Magnimar Merchants' Guild has been receiving glowing reports of your skill and your ship's hospitality!" He pours himself a taknard of beer and raises his glass to Davy's toast.

Thanks, Arie.

I'm going to say that Viorec successfully Bluffed his way into a regular berth by convincing Jamesby that he is indeed a paying passenger-- and that payment was supposed to have been handled by his employer, "Mr. Igersen, of the Magnimar Merchants' Guild." He's going to try to convince people that he's a scout for a Magnimaran merchant who's looking for possible new business dealings in Sargava. (Which is sort of true...) Having lived at Magnimar's Dockway district for most of his life, he has more than a passing familiarity with merchants and trading ships. Well, at least enough familiarity to spin a convincing lie.

Desiona: I like that! Let's say we've met a few times in or around the Bazaar of Sails in Magnimar-- perhaps Viorec steered you away from a non-Sczarni conman who had no qualms against ripping off a Varisian. At the same time, I'm sure that you'd know a Sczarni when you see one...

Re: Establishing relationships...

Viorec stowed away. I'm not sure how that's going to affect relationships with other passengers.

Arie-- What is Viorec's perception of how the crew would react if he's discovered? That will inform how secretive he would have been during the voyage. If he thinks they'll throw him overboard or in the brig, he'll always hide. If he thinks he'll just be forced to join the crew, he might try to befriend someone. If he thinks that they'll only demand that he pay for a ticket, then he just might do that.
If he does have to hide for the voyage, was envisioning that he would have spent most of the trip using Stealth to avoid the crew. If possible, he would have built himself a hidden "cabin" somewhere in the cargo hold, but he also would have been sneaking around topside, stealing food, and possibly even sneaking ashore a couple if times when the ship put into port.

If he thinks it's safe to do so, he will approach other passengers, in secret if need be

Another Varisian! Excellent!

Equipment updated. I'm ready to roll!

Thanks for the pick! I'll re-work equipment later today: I originally built the character for a different Serpent's Skull game with average starting wealth.

I would love to apply to join your game!

Submitting Viorec Rulasti, Sczarni con artist from Magnimar who stowed away to escape some, um... unhappy customers.

I built the character for a different Serpent's Skull PbP (and was, sadly, not selected.) That game had a 15-point buy and average starting wealth, so I will need to slightly re-tool according to your guidelines.

I see Viorec's story-arc as being someone who grows past his criminal past to become a true hero, eventually going through a voluntary alignment change to Chaotic Good.

Wow! This is some heavy competition! I hope I make the cut!

I submit Viorec Rulasti, Varisian con artist, and stowaway aboard the Jenivere.

A note about Viorec's character-- I'm seeing him as a loveable scoundrel, someone who is mostly good-hearted. I listed him as CN, because you really can't be good and still be actively running cons. As the character develops, I see him transitioning to becoming chaotic good, depending on the nature of the rest of the party.

I submit Viorec Rulasti, Varisian con artist, and stowaway aboard the Jenivere.