I'm a very non-min/max player as I try to build characters for concept rather than role, per se. The number of games which ban Summoner outright, Unchained or not, is high. The chance to try out a regular Summoner is too hard to pass up if allowed!
Mainly doing this because I already created two nearly identical builds to two of the other submissions without realizing it, one right after another...sigh Completed Submissions (that I could locate):
While I suspect a heated recruitment may erupt, I am dotting as I have a couple of ideas starting to form. We'll see if anything fully coalesces in time.
I'm terribly sorry about the delay. Work has been kicking my ass. Apparently it got the memo I actually wanted to get posts up and decided to crush my dreams. I'm not ready to throw in the towel as long as you guys want to keep going, but I think I'm going to reevaluate what I had planned to do with this game. I have always wanted to run a Kingmaker which incorporated character stories and new ideas into the spaces left by the basic hexploration blurbs, but trying to navigate between the bits I'm wanting to incorporate and the making sure I'm balancing the story between them successfully makes my posting require so much more planning than I feel I'm currently able to contribute time. I think I'm going to have to abandon some of that and just run the AP as written for the most part and only make adjustments as your characters create them. This should enable me to post more frequently...which of course will also be limited to how often you guys post. I know it's my fault we're running slowly right now, and I've set the cadence for this but I'm working to change that. Just be aware that going forward, I hope to be more reliable allowing you to post more often as well.
Holy smokes, I thought I responded to those last gameplay posts. Ugh, must have been sitting on a tab that got closed after getting distracted at work. Sorry for the delay. I'll have it up by tomorrow.
Is the penalty to attack just for melee, or ranged as well? The book's wording leads me to believe yes, which does make sense when you imagine someone using a bow in the traditional style (vertical) or a sling while horizontal-shooting (non-traditional bow & crossbow) would seem less likely to be impeded. We'll add this to the situational rule: "A player can drop to one knee and raise from one knee as a swift action to avoid the penalty to Ranged attacks. Magical ranged attacks are unaffected by the penalty." Thus anyone making ranged attacks that aren't magical only has to give up their Swift action to avoid the penalty.
Honestly, I don't know what Jagger should be doing, so there's a post just to post something.
I'll admit that Jagger is currently working off whatever point in the timeline Rion's last post is based (which technically still has him grasping Braun's hand). Assuming the GM's post moving Braun away from Rion, Jagger enters the scene. I couldn't tell you how far in the future Axel is at this point.
Jagger's 2nd connection: It was discussed in the Discord a bit to perhaps involve Axel without being a connection and Rion for the connection, but since Axel's already RPing not knowing Jagger, I guess will just nix that part. During the 2nd Navy term, Jagger's affair with a female superior officer (Sophia Renstrat, Lieutenant; started in the 1st Navy term) was discovered by his Rival (Jon Rebly, Petty Officer 3rd) who reported it resulting in Jagger's discharge. At some point, maybe Rion met Law Enforcement Agent Jagger during the investigation Rion's ex-partner's death. He said "ex's death" in Discord, but never elaborated what kind of ex. :P
Traveller Skill Package: 1. Jagger - Stealth 1
Comms 1 & Medic 1 should remain if I got the adjusted choices correct.
I don't think you have to have Knowledge (nature) to have suspicions unless you feel Adela would otherwise have no incidental or circumstantial knowledge that things covered by Knowledge (nature) exist at all. Your characters live in a fantasy world. Unless you're playing someone innocent and naive of only the people/creatures/experiences they have personally encountered and no others, I fully anticipate you can say whatever you want about the fantasy world and its environment. Also, consider that Knowledge (nature) is only the factual information. Perhaps Adela has Knowledge (hearsay/rumor/completely fabricated) and has no problem speaking her mind about such things. Characters who have flaws such as believing wholly fictional things about their own world should exist in Golarion just as much as they do in the real world in which we exist. "I'm not saying it's aliens...but it's aliens."
Oh, gosh. I need to get back into character! What is Makander's personality again? Ah, yes! Unmagical anthropomorphic haunted-by-failed-love exiled paladin!
So sorry for being absent. Some family drama. I’ll get caught up by tomorrow night, promise.
I've been lurking for while, and I finally think I've settled on a concept. Thanks to Ridge's Cinderella inspiration, I believe I will riff off that using Red Riding Hood/Boy Who Cried Wolf as my basis: a young female hunter. The twist will be she's a gnome and the Big Bad Wolf she encountered will be an intelligent warped fey creature (how else could the animal have spoken to little red?). Aside from the outcast woodsman recluse who saved her, no one in town believes the story of a smart talking wolf as divination magics did not locate any trace of a beast or lycanthrope as the cause of Grandma's death. Since then she's dedicated her life to learning how to hunt in order to find and eliminate the thing which slaughtered her grandmother. I'll finalize the stats for Scarlette Cowl aka Scowl later today.
Hello! Assuming my invite hasn't been rescinded, I've decided to grab onto the Mallard pregen Makander of Halfbay. :D I'm currently at work, but I will get an alias updated and the character details uploaded at your Character Keeper before the end of the night.
Again sorry for the delay. Internet troubles plaguing my home network. Think I’m sorted, but too tired to get the posting done tonight. I’ll try to get it done early tomorrow, work willing.
Oof, sorry for going quiet; this weekend got a little overwhelming. I'll have the next post up later today.
Sorry about today. Ended up taking a personal day due to lack of sleep, and spent most of the day zonked. I’ll have updates tomorrow and should be able to respond to posts in “real time” as best I can.
I’ve been getting killed with work this week. I’m sorry for the delay. I’m going to try and find some space tomorrow.
I’d love to, but as of yet Paizo has not given me control of the campaign, so I’m unable to edit that. Hopefully soon? I may need to send a second email
@everyone: Thank you for the feedback, and I'm happy to move forward with just the four of you. I've formally requested control of this campaign, and I will have a quick summary of the new position posted soon. I will be sending links to the Roll20 map for exploration (and probably the battlemap) via PM soon. I prefer those remain private and unpublished if you don't mind unless prior permission for a non-party member to lurk is obtained. As I mentioned in the GM Recruitment, any details or interests you (or your PC) would like to see explored during the campaign, I'm all ears.
I appreciate the opportunity, and I look forward to working together for an enjoyable game. :D
Glad to hear it. I saw your lonely post go without a response over the weekend, and I wanted to see what I might be able to do to help. :) I read through Act 1 of Book 1 last night...good luck! You'll definitely need it.
@Players: I have done a quick read (think not every word) of your gameplay so far, but not yet your Discussion thread. I can certainly advise that the previous GM's style may not exactly resemble my own, so I'm curious how you felt about the pacing and whether the answers and acknowledgments the GM gave your characters' actions were sufficient. I like to encourage roleplay, but I've learned I need to curtail it so it doesn't reach the extent that people become bored. Rhiann Sokol:
Tibold Crenshaw here! Pretty sure you have a character that played with mine in another Kingmaker some time ago. Hello! Since it seems your crew transitioned from yet another game, I haven't read through that nor do I yet understand the Recruitment rules with which we're working , but I'll get to it soon enough. As I see this like any other recruitment, you all are evaluating me for your game. I make no assumptions that because I piped up first, you will pick me, and no hard feelings if you don't. @Adele: I appreciate your response greatly. Particularly, your comment related to your PC's motivation: Currently Adela is hoping to bring the word of Pharasma to the Stolen lands, and deal with the undead that must be running free after so long being an uncivilized & lawless place. This is exactly the kind of thing I like to know as a GM, so I can incorporate events and encounters which will interest and help drive your character's excitement to continue and evolve. I encourage any of you who wish to provide such details to do so, and this can be saved for Discussion thread if I'm selected. This may, of course, be PM'd if they are private motivations. I know some PC background information is better discovered through organic roleplay with the other PCs than info dumped up front. Once you have made your decision between me and GM Wulfson (or any other contenders you show up by whatever cutoff you have in mind), please let me know. Again, I'm very happy to answer any questions you may have regarding anything I've discussed or offered. Also, I generally use Roll20 for maps and stuff, so I will create a game there for the combat encounters and a 2nd link for the exploration hex map for ease of use.
Since this game isn’t showing on my campaign tab, i’m gonna need to get used to checking it manually until that is fixed. Apologies! Updated. Just because I'm not the GM anymore doesn't mean I'm bitter. I'm a PM away if you need something mechanical, or anyone wants to know more about hanging bits in the story.
Perivolt smiles wryly as Sable continues the strong stance on social reform he witnessed at his family luncheon. "Watch out, Korvosa. Change is coming and her name is Sable," he chuckles to no one in particular. He watches her with admiration.
Jessica L'Morie the Calamity of Scandal: Jessica's eyes brighten even further as she sees Audria's strawberry blonde head which is now rapidly growing hair and filling the space around her. She turns her gaze back to Dal with another award-winning smile and a little scrunch of her nose making her little spectacles dance.
"Thank you so much for all your help," Jessica says with such gratitude, one would think Dal had just returned from an epic quest producing Audria as proof of completion instead of standing there trying to control his gaze as the woman's bosom practically hits Dal's jaw, the frisky flesh jiggling for no discernible reason. She brushes her fingers lightly across the surface of his tunic as she speaks, and somehow Dal can feel the movement like she ran them over his bare skin.
"And what have I said to embarrass you, dearest Audria?" Jessica blinks innocently. "Are we not in the house of love where all expressions of joy and passion for one another is expressed? Surely, no one here is unaware of how we humanoids most frequently express our love for each other?" She slides around Dal so closely, it may be a dare to him to reach out and stop her. "Oh, look at all of this!" the attractive woman squeals with joy at Audria's overa-blonde-ance of hair. She reaches into her satchel and whispers some words, and, when she removes her hand, there is the slightest of luminescence encasing her fingers. She reaches down and gathers up the mounds which surprisingly do not fade into magic sparkles on contact. As she bends over to retrieve the threads of Audria's golden mane, some gasps are heard from those onlookers who stand in places where such a movement might produce a rather spectacular view. Some stand mouths agape while others look away as Dal had done. Most begin to mirror Audria's own crimson complexion while some—both men and women—get a hungry look in their eyes. Sister Jenelyn shakes her head with her eyes closed and, with no attempt to be surreptitious, clears her throat causing Jessica to straighten up and peer over her shoulder. When she's sees her audience she smiles sweetly and pokes a hand through the hair to wave at them. Could she really be so unaware of why this attention is given? "Away to your room, my sweet innocent darling. If you prefer for all your friends not to know all the wonderful things you need to know for your first time at a noble party. Is that not why I have been summoned? Brother Theolan's missive indicated I am to help prepare everyone for a gala at the castle. I remember when I was first invited to a magnificent evening of passionate dining and delicious dancing." Jessica speaks in such an innocent manner with wide eyes and a sweet tone, it's almost conceivable she doesn't seem to know how her words are coming across. Hmmm... Her eyes turn to Dal once again, and it's almost as if she's speaking directly at him. "It was a student mixer when I started at the Acadamae. Not quite a gala at Castle Korvosa, but I assure you those mages sure have incredible balls, using the magic of their staves, and lasting long into the night. I was indeed up for the challenge and I was determined not to settle for my first dance partner because we must try many dances to determine what we enjoy, no?" As she speaks, her voice seems to get softer, breathier until the last which is almost a whisper only Dal and Audria can hear. If Audria doesn't stop her, Jessica will launch into a rather precise and probably scandalous tale of her first dance. Most anyone who hears it will certainly think "dance" could be replaced with another word entirely... Regardless of Audria's potential interruption, Jessica will favor Dal with another cute smile and reach out a finger to flick any dangling strands of hair he may have showing. Raising her voice but yet still seemingly speaking directly to Dal "If you or anyone else attending the event needs a trim or a new styling for your appearance, I'm available." Again, the words are so innocently spoken...
Jessica L'Morie the Calamity of Scandal:
At the trill, Jessica's head snaps in Dalmano's direction. Whether she sees Audria or not, she immediately approaches the man and favors him with a brilliant smile. The buxom brunette leans forward unnecessarily giving Dal quite the eyeful while daring her dress to finally slip off entirely. Cocking her head, she brushes some stands of her hair behind one ear.
"Hi, there. Would you happen to know where I can find the young Audria? I'm here ." She winks at Dal. "If I don't find her soon, I might have to keep shouting about all the things I need to teach such as so she can hear me."
As evening approaches, there comes a knock at the front door of the Sanctuary of Shelyn. It is the handsome Hellknight maralictor and a contingent of his subordinates who will be escorting the party representing Shelyn. As weapons will not be permitted in Castle Korvosa, the Hellknights are there to see the party to the castle grounds safely. Once everyone is ready in their street wear with packs stuffed full of any fine dress, accessories, and cosmetics, Brother Theolan assists everyone in boarding a horse-drawn cart with simple benches for everyone to sit. Maralictor Georgiy barks an order and the Hellknights form a box around the horse and cart. The driver eyes them nervously but clucks at the horse who moves forward at a steady pace but not so fast the armored soldiers have any problem with keeping up. Korvosa is far from quiet. Ranks of armed soldiers seem to be everywhere with checkpoints at several intersections. The party is only minimally challenged as Maralictor Georgiy's aide is quick to run ahead and present documents with official seals before the group has even reached each them. Soon enough the massive ziggurat the Grand Mustaba is all that stands between the Sanctuary's delegates and the imposing Castle Korvosa itself. Covering the entirety of the flat-topped ziggurat of the Grand Mustaba, The Castle Korvosa is an impressive sight and one visible from nearly all corners of the city. For many this is as close as they will ever get to the monumental structure. Looking at it from here, the castle walls and spires rise high into the sky above and almost straining the neck to see it all. A large contingent of Korvosan Guard stand at the base of the massive ramp flanked by steps leading up the Grand Mustaba to the castle. the Hellknights maralictor and his aide approach them and begin conferring while the Guard cross-reference lists of their own. While waiting, Brother Theolan turns to the group. "I know this can be very overwhelming. I..." He glances up at the structure above. "I am still not used to it myself. Every time it's just as impressive as the time before."
A young woman named Merula who seems to know Audria appears sometime after Shrike departs. She offers to show people some of the basics of aristocratic table manners and how to perform the basics of bows and curtsies as dictated by the style of dress of the individual conveying the respect. While the actions of respect are easily taught, the labyrinth of forks and spoons and the timing of eating but with deference to the queen's actions are like a complex form of martial arts. Merula is convinced by Audria and Brother Theolan to join the group leaving for the castle. A second young woman also enters the Sanctuary sometime during the day. The front door bursts open, and she practically falls into the room taking several steps to catch her balance as if she was thrown into the room from outside. Time seems to stop as everyone in the main atrium turns to look at her in surprise. The woman's appearance is immediately eye-catching as ignoring her curvaceous frame is nigh impossible. Her hour-glass figure is emphasized by a pale yellow dress(?) which looks very much like a long shirt that's been belted around her waist while the bottom portion barely reaches mid thigh leaving perhaps a foot-length expanse of skin before the start of the open cuff of the tan high-heeled boots covering her entire lower leg including the knee. The boots appear fully functional, but the fabric seems thin and made of a material similar to suede. The top of the dress has the two thin straps meant to keep it in place on her shoulders, however they abandon their posts easily slipping down onto her arms leaving the fabric clinging to her ample cleavage with desperation and only the sheer size of her bosom prevents the dress from simply falling off of her. A small half-jacket, which has also fallen loose of her shoulders, covers her arms to the elbows and seems more like a fashion accessory than functional garment. Her long brown hair is cut to curve the ends around her face. That face is astonishing in its appeal: wide brown eyes with artful lining of black kohl, an adorable petite nose adorned with a pair of cute round spectacles almost on the tip, and luscious full lips which have a delicious pink color. She looks around in surprise at all the people staring at her. She bites her lip innocently as she returns their gazes looking from one to another. One of her well-manicured hands holds the straps of a bag packed to the brim with something. With the other she absent-mindedly reaches up to sweep one of her dress's thin straps back onto her shoulder. It promptly slips off again. "Um," she begins. "I was told to come here to assist Audria with " For no reason at all, the woman's voice gets louder before softening again. "My name is Jessica. Jessica L'Morie. I understand Audria " Again her voice increases for absolutely no reason when she says a certain phrase. Dal:
Please go ahead and spoiler any actions/conversations from the past with for any items related to the past going forward to help keep the timeline straight.
Harrowing - The Mute Hag, Part 3: Sabina Merrin sighed heavily as she was handed another report related to the festivities for the rather short notice gala Ileosa Arabasti had decided to have to affirm her control of the throne. The sheer amount of small details required to be overseen by the queen's staff was staggering, and naturally, Sabin's attention was needed on all items of security surrounding the queen's presence. Due, not in any small part, to the speed at which these details must come together.
The suddenness and the size was all a deliberate maneuver to keep any opponents to Ileosa's rule flat-footed and uneasy. If there is any chance members of the Peerage or the noble families did in fact have a hand in the unrest surrounding King Eodred's death, anyone not joining the event would be viewed with heavy suspicion. The agreement with the Order of the Nail had been very carefully worded to include protecting the Crimson Throne from fractious groups identified to be involved in the unlawful displays from the citizens in the past days. The precise wording hadn't been leaked because then clever minds would have figured out ways to argue it within the limits allowed by the Order's charter. Instead, vague and generalized descriptions of the agreement had been circulated to make the Peerage aware the Hellknights would be very problematic for anyone deemed to have a connection with identified insurrectionist activities. Looking at the pile of paperwork requiring her attention, Sabina almost wished she hadn't talked Ileosa down from her insistence on lashing out at that poor artist girl, Trinia Sabor. The banquet idea had become the obsession Ileosa had acquired immediately afterwards, but despite her success in redirecting the queen's fixation, Sabina had a feeling that door wasn't completely shut, and Ileosa would revisit the discussion before long. Sabina glanced at the report related to the list of attendee's attendants and their backgrounds, when there is a shy knock on the queen's study door. One of the servants helping Sabina sift the paperwork looks to Sabina for approval and after her nod, opens the door. "Ms. Merrin?" A young woman with pale hair brightening into a beautiful sea-green color at the ends enters the room. As usual, the slip of a girl's gaze darts around nervously still shell-shocked at finding herself here in Castle Korvosa before finally settling on Sabina's face. Even then a tinge of rose creeps into her features steadily darkening the more she spoke. "I-I'm wondering if I will be able to send word to my friends at the Sanctuary soon or possible go home for a bit. I'm sure they are worried sick about me, especially Audrie..." The girl's eyes widen suddenly as a thought occurs to her. "N-not th-that I-I d-d-don't enjoy H-her M-majesty's h-h-hos-pi-pi-t-tality, I-I-I-I-I m-m-m-m-m-m-mean-ean, I-I-I-I j-j-j-jus-*hic*-jus—" Her quiet voice begins to fade away even as her lips continue to move. Eliana was in the middle of a beautiful flute solo when word had come from the Castle about King Eodred's passing. As Sabina had known things would get rather tumultuous, she'd insisted Queen Ileosa leave and return at once from the party where the performance had been taking place. Ileosa had been rather entranced with Eliana's playing and insisted on bringing the young performer with them back to the castle, so she could hear the rest of the piece. There had not really been time since they returned for such leisure, and the poor thing had been sequestered in her room (mostly by choice) while the Queen's tailors and stylists had been fitting the girl for a variety of clothing and styles to be ready whenever the queen desired her to appear or perform. And now the dear girl was going to be the showcase of the evening's festivities. Sabina could almost feel the fear and trepidation pouring off of her. Rising from behind the desk, she moved across the lustrous rugs and reached out a hand to touch the pretty girl's shoulder. "There, there. You're going to do just fine tomorrow, and yes, I'm certain you will be allowed to speak with your friends. In fact, we've received word that Brother Theolan and a small entourage from the Sanctuary of Shelyn have accepted the queen's invitation, so you will be able to see them soon. Most likely tonight!" Eliana's shoulders sagged as relief seemed to fill her, and Sabina was sure the girl would have fainted entirely had she not been held up by the swordswoman's grip on her shoulder. "Th-that's wonderful to hear," came the faintest of whispers. "Now run along, and make sure Renor has finally finished your performance dress. And, of course, take as much time as you'd like to practice. Sometimes losing yourself in the pattern and the memorization can go a long way to calming nerves before an exhibition." Unbidden, Sabina recalls stepping onto a dueling square to quiet cheers and claps as she drew her saber and saluted her opponent. Eliana swallowed and nodded, as always looking directly into Sabina's eyes. "Thank you, Ms. Merrin." "Now, now. I've told you before. Just call me Sabina. I'm just a bodyguard. I don't have any flowery titles, so Sabina is good enough." "OK, Ms. Sabina, I mean, just Sabina," Eliana corrected herself when Sabina raised an eyebrow. She started to drop a curtsy then arrested the motion as her face heated up once again. Her mouth moved into some kind of apology then she dashed out of the door in embarrassment. Sabina shook her head even as she chuckled. There was just no denying how adorable the girl is, and she can understand why Ileosa has been inviting the young bard to their dinners. Dinner. Ah yes, the banquet. Sabina returned to the desk just in time to be handed another report regarding how to vet the serving staff who had been on leave or caught outside the castle when the riots began and hadn't been able to return. So much to do in such a short time. Sabina Merrin sighed again.
Audria's Dawn of Awakening: Bartholomew watches Audria's tears for a moment in silence, a sadness in his eyes as he knows his young charge has had a piece of her innocence torn away never to return. Kneeling, he gently reaches out and lifts her chin.
"Kiddo, everyone encounters things in their lives for which they feel directly responsible. Good, bad...sometimes that's just a matter of our perspective, and that will change depending on the day of the week, the weather, the sight of a keepsake...we just never know." Bartholomew brushes Audria's strawberry blonde hair our of her eyes. "What I'm not going to do is tell you how you should feel about something powerful enough to make you question yourself. Questioning yourself and your motives is going to be a lifelong journey since you're the one who has to live yourself after any of your own choices." His dark eyes look directly into Audria's. "Taking a life should never be easy, but how we deal with the feelings afterwards...you have to find that peace for yourself. Some folks turn hard, wall their souls off from the pain they know they've brought to the world. Others change it into something else, something they can see as a result which makes it worth it: art, song, teaching the next generation to be better then they think they were themselves." His own expression becomes a tad haunted here. "But let me tell you a trick my beautiful Olga always uses even now. Maybe you'll find something in it that helps." He turns slightly and puts his hands onto the dirt covering the street and begins to smooth it out, pushing it into a pile. "She bakes her pain away. I know you've heard her say it, but really think about it. She pushes her pain, her fears, her sadness right into the dough. She pushes and pushes, kneads and kneads working all of that hurt inside making that dough the holding place for all the darkness she feels and sees and imagines. Then when it's thick and heavy, she shapes it. Pouring it into pans or tins, pinching it, twisting it. Now she's in control of it. Olga owns that pain that sadness, but it's on her terms, it's the shape she made it to be not the hurt that was given to her. And then she bakes it, frosts it, slices it up, whatever she wants. She turns her worry into something delicious and beautiful. And when someone eats it and is happy and filled, she knows she succeeded, turning the sadness and stress into something that sustains instead of breaking us apart. She doesn't let her worry control her because she believes Shelyn has shown her a way she will always be able to master her fears and bake them away. And if the same worries appear tomorrow, well, that's why we need bread every day of the week!" He turns back to Audria and Talanaliel and dusts off his hands. "You are a good soul, Audria. It's not just me that sees this in you. Now you just need to see this in yourself. If you let your heart guide you, then you're going to find the path you should walk and it will be the right one...for you. Perhaps there will be pain and death along that road, but never forget the things that make you happy and smile as those will always be the reasons you make your choices, the people who love you and wish nothing but the best for you without asking you to compromise all the things that make you the you that they love." Bartholomew sweeps Audria up into his arms and hugs her close while standing and bringing her back to her feet. He whispers softly, "It won't always be easy, and sometimes life is going to hurt, but we keep moving forward, and we make the best choices we can. Just remember the times you're happy and pray to the gods they will be greater in number than the darkest days which always come."
So Pip has quit his former job, and no longer has current employment or a home. Got it. MurderHobo title unlocked.
Dalmano: The Cricket: The woman's brows furrow skeptically until the rough-and-tumble Pockets hops over the window railing into the room and approaches her with a small meow stopping about midway between Dal and the artist to sit placidly on a worn rug. It is covered in a now sun-faded floral pattern. She and Pockets regard each other for a moment, and then she looks back towards Dal.
"Well, Mr. Dal, you certainly have your hands full with this one, I'll bet." She cocks her head to the side. "My name is Trinia, and this is my flat." Trinia gives Dal a crooked grin. "Well, obviously." Then she looks thoughtful and glances at the ceiling. "Hmmm, maybe it's not so obvious. I guess this could have been someone else's flat or even just an art studio." Dal can see the one-room flat is filled with several canvases of finished and work-in-progress paintings scattered throughout. Also, many of the flat surfaces have piles of papers covered in sketches and notes. Quite prominently, above the small messy bed against the wall opposite the easel is a painting of two attractive women in simple acolyte robes bearing the symbol of Shelyn. They face one another with their far hands up clasping the other's with their fingers interlaced, but their faces are turned towards the viewer. Perhaps they were dancing. The one on the left has strawberry blonde hair held back in a tail with a length of ribbon. Her eyes are bright blue and and she appears to have been caught in a moment of laughter. The other has a small shy smile, her eyes seem squeezed shut in a moment of pure happiness. Her hair is pale with traces of a light green throughout like the color of sea foam floating on the edge of a retreating wave. It is the only painting actually hanging anywhere in the room, and the skill of the artist is quite evident. The light on the women's faces and the shading of colors prove the painter has talent. While Dal had had been observing the room, Trinia continues speaking. "It probably does seem more like an art studio now that I really look at it. I mean it is, but it's also where I live, so I guess it's more of an art flat? Anyways, I usually just call it a studio. I'm not really sure why I called it a flat when you came in since that's not typically what I say, but I suppose I was just surprised to see you. I wasn't sure if I should I scream or not, but I haven't seen or heard anything about a killer who brings his cat to the crime scene, so it all felt much less threatening once I knew this is your cat—" Trinia directs her attention at Pockets again and without looking reaches for a sketchpad on short table nearby and pulls a charcoal pencil that had been behind her ear the whole time. She begins making marks on the page which Dal cannot see. "—and well, I have a feeling you're not really all that dangerous yourself since you had the decency to be embarrassed and all. I mean, if you were a killer or rapist or some kind of thug, I doubt you would have repeated your name three times only to settle on a nickname in the end. When anyone asks for my name, I just say 'I'm Trinia!' and that's that. My friends are a bit more shy though, and sometimes Audrie cannot even look a body in the face half the time, but she can say her name with a little stammer. Ellie will just freeze up entirely while staring the person down, her eyes getting wider and wider. It's pretty funny, actually, so I like to make sure I introduce them to a lot of people they don't know. They are quite the pair; one looks you in the eye and shuts up while the other looks away and stammers and stumbles over her words but gets it out in the end. Mirror opposites in the ways they are exactly the same. Does that even make sense? Ha ha! Sorry, that's just my artist brain trying to make sense of those two in a way I can explain it to others. Oh, don't get me wrong, they are great. Super great. My bestest-estest friends in all the world. When we're together, they aren't shy with me at all. They like to sing and dance just like I do. That's them right there!" The blonde woman gestures to the painting on the wall above the bed with the charcoal pencil. Trinia continues to make marks on the page of her sketchbook while looking at Pockets and occasionally glancing at Dal. Her continuous chatter is almost without any pause, and she sounds cheerful and affable.
Pre-Hell Night, 11 Desnus: : Silver Sven takes the chicken leg from Pippip, his eyes wide and clutches it to his chest along with the sandwich. "But if I eat it now, I might not have anything for tomorrow!" he gasps when Pip encourages him to eat.
Dalmano: The Cricket: Dal feels what's probably a paw swat the bottom of his shoe and realizes Pockets is giving off the impression of safety. Trusting his familiar, Dal drops onto the compact balcony without much trouble, and does his best not to think about the fact it's barely 2 feet long, providing just enough for him to stand comfortably before the cursory railing dangles over the street a few stories below. Pockets looks at him with big feline eyes, sitting there next to the card calmly. As Dal bends down to retrieve the card, he hears a woman's voice behind him in the room into which the window leads.
"Uh, who are you?" Turning, Dal sees a young woman with very short blonde hair, brown eyes wide with surprise sitting at an easel. She's fairly attractive and dressed in comfortable clothes covered by a smock currently splattered with a great deal of color.
Just as the winds calm before a storm, so to was the odd silence of the preceding days akin to the Hell Night as 11 Desnus would soon be called. The roar of the riots and the activity of the mobs explodes as the moon rises; Korvosa burns with an angst as maligned citizens take to the streets to violently protest the ascension of a ruling queen who openly despises the lower classes. Surprisingly well-coordinated attacks on those guarding The Line (the area considered under control) approaching City Hall, the Acadamae, and Castle Korvosa erupt around the city. And in the face of the mob, the Korvosan Guard and the Sable Company are vastly outnumbered as well as hampered by knowing these are their neighbors, friends, perhaps even family who fight against them hoping for change. Can the natives of Korvosa truly prevail against their own kin or will they fall without the heart to maintain the status quo...? The answer is to remain unknown. Enter the Order of the Nail. As if waiting for these very events of disorderly and savage actions by the citizens (perhaps precisely that), the Hellknights march into Korvosa in astonishing numbers. And where the other law enforcement bodies held back, Hellknights do not even remember how. With brutal efficiency, the mobs are quelled and scattered; their spilled blood and broken bones a testament to the terrible and powerful doctrine maintained by the Order of the Nail. By dawn, the sounds of riots and the mobs and fighting are gone, leaving only the wailing of mourners, the smell of smoke and blood, and the sound of a thousand marching feet. Harrowing: The Bear:
For the first time, the Sanctuary of Shelyn and its makeshift barrier are attacked, but the Hellknights are quickly on the scene. For an additional Harrow point, roll for 3 rounds of combat and use them to describe how you contributed to the defense before a squadron of Hellknights descends and disperses the attack. For Shrike and Gregor who may not be present at the Sanctuary, describe a possible attack either to your home (perhaps some former rioters trying to escape a full rout by the Hellknights) or to which you intervened in the streets prior to the arrival of the Hellknights and their armigers.
This is not required if you do not wish as usual, but since you all seem to enjoy flexing those creative muscles, I figured most of you will do it. :)
Tibold carefully looks around the area. "Didn't we see a similar statue in the Assassin Garden earlier?" He peers carefully at the elf woman figure. He scrunches his nose in thought. "You sure this ain't Iomedae? What race was she before she got godlified? I never really paid attention in Sunday School." Tibols Searches while holding his reloaded crossbow ready to fire if more enemies appear.
Does this mean Audria's Profession (Cook) is really -4? :P
The Mute Hag, part 2: Ileosa's vision was crimson as she snapped the delicate stand for sheet music recently placed in her study. After the filigreed holder crumbled in her hands, she swiveled this way and that before realizing there was no longer anything breakable remaining in the room. Sabina stood by at attention, concern on her face.
"He was going to replace me!" she shouted at Sabina for the hundredth time. "That strumpet artist pet!" "Is that what the paper said?" Sabina asked gently knowing full well it did not. Ileosa growled. "Well, not exactly. But a dress? Eodred commissioned a dress for her?! What else could that mean? He only started giving presents when he thought he was in love." The audacity of that womanizing bastard! Ileosa could feel her blood heating her face and neck. She knew her marriage had never been about love, but about their lusts: his of the flesh and hers for power and wealth. She allowed him to climb on top of her whenever he wanted and to parade her out as the trophy she was while she gained prestige and power. In backwater Korvosa, Ileosa is more than the nobody noble's wife she would have been back home. But what would have happened if he had divorced her? She had never gotten pregnant something a young and nubile female should have been able to do...Ileosa's lip trembled, and she sat down quickly on one of the salon chairs displacing the rubble of a ceremonial tea set previously displayed on a now mangled stand. Tears began streaming down her face. "I-I-I thought I was hic, hic the prettiest w-w-woman in Kor-hic-vosa. Why w-would h-ic replace m-me?" Ileosa blubbers. Sabina looks crestfallen and rushes to her queen's side, perching next to her on the plush chair. "My queen, you truly are the most beautiful woman in the city. There's no one who can compare." She pulled Ileosa to her breast and let the queen sob into her tabard. After several moments, the queen pulled away and took a deep breath. Her eyes were puffy and streaks of her ruined make-up ran down to her chin. Yet even now the glow of her natural (supernatural?) beauty was obvious. "You're much more comfortable when you're not wearing that plate," Iloesa said coyly her eyes containing more smoke than the burning city districts. Sabina knew that look well and leaned in placing her lips to her queen's firmly letting her desire be known. Ileosa let Sabina take the lead, and sometime later, among the wreckage of the queen's sitting room, two naked females lie intertwined sweating and sated with pleasure. Ileosa traces a finger on the scar across Sabina's face given to her in a duel sometime in her past. "Will that always be the consequence of aging? Any other young beautiful girl will steal the hearts of the people away from me?" Ileosa asks in a small voice. "Will you ever want to replace me? Could you ever become bored with me?" "Never, my queen, my love. Never!" Sabina replies instantly, tilting her head to look Ileosa in the eye. "I will do anything you want to prove it." Ileosa resumes tracing the scar. "Anything you say? If only I had even more gorgeous creatures like you Sabina. Scarred yet with a beauty I can see and that I know will love me best." She sighs. "I know that now that Eodred's dead, I don't really have to worry about him replacing me as his queen, but thinking about it just...with all these rumors that I had something to do with his death, that I usurped the throne when it's mine by right, I just can't help but..." Suddenly, another thought occurs to her. A terrible possibility that makes her suddenly suck in air hard threw her gritted teeth. What if that trollop Trinia carries Eodred's heir? "My queen?" Sabina said with concern as she felt the sudden tension in Ileosa. "Anything," Ileosa says softly, "You said you would do anything to prove you won't abandon me." "Yes, whatever I have to do." Sabina's reply only betrays a hint of her nerves. What could Ileosa be thinking? Ileosa slowly traces the scar on Sabina's face yet again. A wicked gleam appears in Ileosa's eyes as a beautiful smile replaces the angsty pout from earlier. Regicide, they claim? Oh, I'll give them a king killer. I'll destroy all their plans to bring me down in one simple move. "We're going to recruit, my dear sweet Sabina. Find other pretty women who understand the value of not bending their necks to these pompous and insufferable self-made patriarchs. They'll be loyal to me and be willing to prove it, just as you have. And one more thing..." Sabina watched her queen while trying to keep the alarm off her face. "Bring me Trinia Sabor."
Here are my answers: 1. I like both dogs & cats, but as an owner, dogs are a more reliable personality as cats can run the gamut; with cats you can end up with a lover or an a!$@~~@, and you'll never know until they stop being kittens. I like my animals to cuddle, so I've only ever owned dogs, but I love to hear/feel the purr of my friend's kitties. Well, the ones who are actually friendly. Usually there's at least one "oh, you'll never see her" in their feline collection.
Sven nods. "Knowledge of their place of isolation is within my vault of information." He taps a thick finger to his temple. The lack of a metallic ting! is almost disconcerting. "I will lead you as the tremors of Earthfall led the dwarves." Audria detects no more Evil inside of Pockets than any other street cat...which may or may not console Talanaliel...
Completely unrelated...
I own this t-shirt.
Since we're not playing around a table, none of you could hear the GM cackle I was making as I wrote Silver Sven's dialogue. IYKYK
Less of a retcon, and more of a "I did this thing before that thing." Though I'd say if you want Pink to live, screaming at your teammates may gather a bit more attention than you desire.
Perivolt smiles as Graykos runs off to find his mother Maka. Quite suddenly, Perivolt looks exhausted and sways slightly as if overcompensating for a heavy weight just now removed. He blinks and seems to remember the rest of the group. "Forgive me, my new friends. I've forgotten my manners as host," he says with a tired smile. He flags down the attention of one of many house servants moving about. "Constance, please notify Roland to have a room readied for these lovely ladies. This stalwart dwarf will stay with me in my room. Please send word to us there once their room is ready." He glances at everyone's appearance. "Please have baths drawn up and then a nice meal prepared for my friends and me. Something hearty and filling."
Perivolt seems about to leave and then pauses as if recalling something. "Oh, Constance. Please keep this fairly quiet, if you will. I'd like to freshen up before the inevitable questions come." Turning to the party, the wizard gestures for them to follow him out of the kitchen and through the ornate halls. Everywhere they walk, the signs of wealth are evident: magnificent tapestries and artwork, furniture with gilded edges, even the working staff have finer clothing for the uniforms than the average Korvosan's entire wardrobe. More confounding sights present in the Ornelos household complex are the obvious signs and applications of arcane magic. Floating arcs of light appear in several places indicating locations of staff or the estate's inhabitants "ringing" for services. Familiars and conjured summons of all kinds move through the hallway with their own tasks or can be seen guarding access to areas of the complex. Part of the journey leads through an elaborate courtyard and garden area also teeming with wholly wasteful use of magic spells and rituals. Perivolt finally arrives at a very lavish wing and leads the group to a surprisingly cozy room which must in fact be his own. Documents and sketches are pinned all over and lying across most surfaces. Glowing arcane magic connects points on a sprawling map of Korvosa which all appear to be places related to Gaedran Lamm. The team is now assembled in the heart of Perivolt's personal search for Graykos and his evident abductor the now deceased Gaedran Lamm.
Tibold isn't certain what shocked him more: the sight of a blinded ogre fumbling around the room, or a blinded ogre almost sliced in half with an electric blade. He begins to wonder if the electricity on the edge actually assisted in the cutting...he shook his head to re-organize his thoughts before he could start planning the experiment. This is no time for that. There are ogres and assassins everywhere! The alchemist gives Edoom a thorough look. "Edoom, dear chap, you look different." He glances at the halfling attached to his waist. "Ah, I'm betting you're what all that hollering was about."
Alright, team. Got up a post waiting for your input which can be hashed out here out-of-character or in-character in the Gameplay. Plus a little bit of fun advancing the little sub-plot-leading-to-the-main-plot I started a while ago. I hope you enjoy!
The Mute Hag, part 1: It took everything in Queen Ileosa Arabasti's power not to drum her fingers on the arm of the throne. Before her stood archlictor/paravector/something -ctor/who really cares? of the Order of the Nail droning on and on reading aloud the terms of the contract the Hellknight order and the Korvosan throne had just completed. When Something -Ctor finally finished, the armored man looked up at her to confirm consent of the terms. She make a swift flick of her fingers and her bodyguard Sabina Merrin produces the royal seal and offers it to Togomor, the bloatmage she has playacting seneschal since Neolandus is missing. The disgustingly puffy and sweaty figure reaches out a cream puff hand practically engulfing Sabina's in his own while taking the seal from her.
Ileosa fought down bile at the notion of the man's touch, and reminded herself to make Sabina wash her hand—no, arm as soon as these proceedings were concluded. For her part, Sabina only barely allowed her lips to compress slightly as the slimy looking butterball removed the seal to stamp the contract offered by the Hellknight. As soon Togomor removed the seal, Something -Ctor produces a long nail, more like a spike, which then turning to one of his subordinates who holds up a square piece of wood, slams the nail piercing the top of the contract into the wood. The man drives the entire length of the nail through in that motion and the force nearly impales the nail through the wood into the armor of his assistant, stopping just short much to Ileosa's disappointment. That would certainly have lent a little bit of fun to these dull proceedings. Even from here, Ileosa can feel the nail radiating with a pure divine power derived from the Lawful planes. Being out of her control, the nail made her skin crawl, but it made the terms immutable and unchangeable except by great and powerful magic. Without a word further, Something -Ctor and his retinue of Hellknights and armigers turned and departed; the assistant handing Togomor the wood containing the contract for Korvosa's record of the agreement. The Order of the Nail had no need to keep it. They knew precisely what is agreed upon and would not deviate from it. All at once, their greatest and most infuriating quality. Ileosa sat stoically until the last Hellknight had left the throne room, and her attendants had shut the doors. Then she allowed herself to droop with an explosive sigh of relief. "Oh, my dear Sabina, this part of being in power is absolutely the worst!" she bursts out with frustration. Her bodyguard lets out her own small sigh and gestures at Togomor to disappear. The man's beady eyes glances at the queen and he shrewdly departs with the contract wood with a simple nod. "My queen, I know you wish it could all be balls and fine parties, but now that both your husband King Eodred has passed and Seneschal Kalepopolis is missing there is no one else capable of performing these duties...unless you wish to turn to the Peerage." Sabina braced herself for the inevitable fury. "By all the Dukes of Hell, no!" the snarl erupting from the extraordinary beauty seems so out of place, one would wonder if the queen was possessed by a demon. "This throne, this city, this power is mine now. Those cretins won't get an inch from me." Ileosa's full lips twist in displeasure and yet still look kissable and worthy of desire. Was it any wonder there are artists aplenty submitting requests to paint and sketch the form and face of Queen Ileosa Arabasti? She abruptly holds out her hand, and Sabina quickly takes it and helps the queen stand gracefully as otherwise getting up from the throne could be a somewhat clumsy experience in her beautiful full-skirted emerald gown. Sabina leads the way eyes checking all the corners of even the most familiar passages until they reach Ileosa's private sitting room. As they enter Sabina sees a sealed scroll tube very conspicuously placed in the center of the Queen's writing desk. "It would seem your special eyes and ears have returned with the answer to your inquiry," Sabina says quietly. Ileosa waits quietly as Sabina approaches the tube and allows Sabina to be the one to open it. A simple slip of paper appearing to be a receipt unfolds from within. To confirm no spell triggered by reading has been cast, Sabina glances through the contents before looking up at Ileosa and giving a nod. The queen approaches and imperiously offers a hand into which Sabina nervously places the receipt. As the she reads the contents, Ileosa's face begins to match the color of her beautiful dark red hair, her beautiful visage twisting into a rage Sabina had anticipated. "" Queen Ileosa screams. She grabs a porcelain vase on an end table and hurls it across the room. Sabina cringes and watches quietly as the powerful fury living in her queen erupts and the room quickly becomes a maelstrom. Sabina swallows a sudden lump in her throat. Something terrible is about to happen...
Most of the group awakens to strange calm in the city of Korvosa. The smell and sight of smoke still hangs in the air over the tops of the buildings in different directions, but something seems quiet for the first time in a few days. As usual, the Sanctuary starts its day early. Small groups of Shelyn's faithful come nearly every day and while not always consisting of the same folk, a smiling priest/ess leads early morning prayers asking for the blessing of their goddess to quell the sudden rage of the city and let love blossom once more. With all the extra mouths and hands, the small kitchen gets an even earlier start on baking bread and making preparations for the mass production of the Korvosan/Varisian breakfasts staples. A new rotation of those manning the makeshift barricades is implemented while those on night duty take their turn in the temple's now cramped sleeping quarters. For those of the party who returned before the morning bells, two surprises await: the Hellknight armigers posted to the barricades have been recalled and are no longer present, and Lina Derexhi, the half-drow sorcerer, has departed. A note she left with Jenelyn Trover details how finally achieving a conclusion with Lamm, she's found a desire to investigate her own origins which she already knows will lead her into a far away place deep into The Darklands. She wishes everyone luck as they seek to defend their home and realize the destiny of which Zellara has spoken. Also absent is the imposing but now familiar figure known simply as Shrike. However, she never returned to the Sanctuary that night, and she had already announced her intention to seek out the remains of Zellara and the fortune teller's son for ceremonial burial. Perhaps she will return soon enough. A contingent of Korvosan Guard appears and stops by the Sanctuary to speak with Brother Theolan and the other citizens essentially in charge of the organized neighborhood. Unlike the Hellknights, they are very impressed with the setup and provide compliments as well as a few pointers regarding the operation. Through them, the group learns the Castle is still on a fairly secure lockdown, but there are chances this will end soon as whispers have surfaced Queen Ileosa has recently reached a decision on how to handle the current unrest and begin to return the city to normal. Group Decision Time:
Everyone minus Merula/Shrike should discuss and vote for one of the following:
Audria:
Brother Theolan and other Shelynite clerics see your wounds and attribute damage healed, but Theolan warns that he will not be able to provide such free services in the future. It's not fair to give preferential treatment to some when other unfortunates may need Shelyn's mercy. Merula in The Gray:
Merula will naturally find a Pharasmin priest fairly easily. With a successful DC18 Diplomacy, she can reduce the cost of 2s for each body to 2s for both to be placed in the Everyman's Ward due to the rather small amount of actual body needing to be interred. If Merula would like to remain in The Gray for the actual interment service, she may. If she chooses so, Merula/Shrike will likely not return from The Gray in time to take part in the daily activity selected by the team unless they choose Charitable Works or possibly Harebrained Scheme (which depending on the scheme could result in the group being at the Sanctuary on Shrike's return). If you return immediately and directly without making any other stops, Merula will make it to join the team for the day by a hair. Also, keep in mind aside from Audria, most of the group would not likely recognize you in your current state of disguise. Prepare to roleplay accordingly if you make contact by arriving in time to join or when they return from daily activity or other encounter. Dal: I'll get to you, no worries. How I introduce you will entirely be based on what the group decides to do.
Minor correction: Shrike went to Zellara's, then spent the night at home, then went to the Gray early on the following morning. For the purposes of indicating where everyone is now, her trip to Zellara's wasn't germane. :P |
