Artimus strokes his mustache again in consideration as the other two talk, it seeming to be a regular habit for him. He nods slightly in consideration of Chyr's words, balancing his dislike for some of the deeds she hints at with his respect of her directness in saying these things.
"I cannot say that I approve of some of your past actions, Mi'lady. Charity to those in need is a virtue and those who would withhold such offerings when they themselves live in decadence they deserve a lesson of humility. Taking claim of their riches through trickery is an act of greed and a conflict of sins doesn't balance the scales."
"Moving from such a life to challenge yourself and try and prove your worth and test your skill is a path of great honor though. The skills that you have learned in your past life could serve well facing the perils ahead of us, and in truth, having laid your eyes in the darkness of the world could give you a great insight into the darkness we will face soon."
"I welcome you among us and truthfully believe that you will find that the path you now walk along will hold greater rewards, both in trinkets and internal ways which have more worth, than the life you lived before."
"Tell me Dvight...are you good with your sword?"
Dvight might be willing to fight alongside the woman, but he's not interested in being another of her conquests. His features turn suddenly scaled, and his hands shift into cayman-like claws. His voice comes out in deep hisses "It'sss an axe, ssstrumpet. And itsss touch isss corrosssive to flesh. Asss to my ssskillsss with it, you'll find out sssoon enough."
"I cannot say that I approve of some of your past actions, Mi'lady. Charity to those in need is a virtue and those who would withhold such offerings when they themselves live in decadence they deserve a lesson of humility. Taking claim of their riches through trickery is an act of greed and a conflict of sins doesn't balance the scales."
Dvight's features resume their normal demeanor. There's my paladin, he thinks, and a smile forms at the corners of his mouth.
"Artimus, we'll likely need an ally with the cunning skills Chyressa proffers, someone who can open both doors and hearts. And if we decide to wait here, looking for someone to come along with both those skills and such virtues as you so value, I'm going to get to work on building a house in the meanwhile."
He turns to look at Chyressa, all the while talking with the paladin. "I imagine you're right, though. Faced with real evil, our callow beauty is likely to make some hard decisions and wise herself up. Because: all those men and women who have gone off, intending to sack Tsar for her riches, and never returned? She strikes me as smarter than all of them."
Artimus blinks a bit at Dvights comment, raising a hand and giving a slight bow of his head to Chrys. "Oh, my apologies, if my words were taken poorly. I certainly believe that such skills as hers will be of great use ahead. I speak genuinely when I say that I think it is an honorable thing to seek to challenge your own skills and risk yourself in the ways that Tsar will do so. I meant no disrespect. I believe that each day has the ability to shed new light on a life that has been shrouded in darkness. And of course that light needn't be the same for each of us. I do not mean to preach my own ideals, I am no priest."
During camp hours, Tin still wears his thick, steel armor but removes the helm that usually hides his features. His scalp is shaven to the flesh, with the only hair visible being stark white eyebrows over disconcerting eyes. His mouth purses at the invitation, on the verge of an awkward refusal, but he sits and listens. His voice is deep and resonant when he speaks, "I'm not one for the adventuring lifestyle, myself. I think I just have something I need to do in those ruins. I don't know what." He looks up with a feeble, but winning, smile. "Still, I'm glad to have you all along. Thank you."
Chyressa laughs shrilly, and claps her hands at Dvights comments. "ooooh! big bad strong man wants to threaten little girl."
She then gets a serious look on her face (again behind the veil). If you're going to do anything you'd better make sure I'm dead". "I've discovered on more than one occasion, even the strongest and baddest of men must sleep sometime". She then giggles under her breath.
"And you godly man". "You speak of taking from those who don't know...You all do the same with those who have a weak will". "You preach to them of salvation, and soul saving...with promises of everlasting life...when most of you don't even believe what you are preaching". "At least I take from those who can afford to lose what they lose".
With another laugh she continues, "And we are all after riches in the ruins of Tsar, your feelings of revenge, and desire to chase these enemies of yours is your treasure". "You are welcome to them, I'll keep those that fit in my pack, instead of in my soul".
Um, honestly, I don't think Dvight wants to join a party with Chyressa. She's just proclaimed herself untrustworthy.
Sorry.
Chris. Don't take it personal or your character. She is a woman whom has had people take advantage of her, her whole life, and is on the surface very tough, but inside is just scared. I promise I'm not the type of player whose going to kill someone in their sleep, or cause party conflict. Give the character a chance to develop. I'm a big believer in character growth, and am looking forward to seeing her learn to trust and develop a relationship with others for the first time in her life. I was only having fun with the concept and didn't mean to run you off. I was enjoying the banter and thought you would be too...Again, sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way...it wasn't my intention, and I really hope you don't leave this game due to my misconception.
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I'm a big believer in character growth, and am looking forward to seeing her learn to trust and develop a relationship with others for the first time in her life. I was only having fun with the concept and didn't mean to run you off. I was enjoying the banter and thought you would be too...Again, sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way...it wasn't my intention, and I really hope you don't leave this game due to my misconception.
Well, Dvight doesn't have much in the way of Sense Motive, so he's likely to take people at surface level. He doesn't know she's scared inside. His interpretation of the conversation has been:
CHYR: (Double-entendre banter to seduce him.)
DVIGHT: (No. Back off.)
CHYR: (Oblique threats to murder him.)
Right now, there's no powerful patron or commanding officer requiring us to get along and be a party. And right now, Dvight doesn't trust her with his back.
How do you want to play this? What would be Chyressa's reaction if Dvight just leveled with her, and told her that, as things stood, she wasn't "in"?
Artimus frowns at that, returning to stroking his mustache. "I speak nothing of gods, Mi'lady. Each man sees his own visions of the divine and I do not presume to grant you a view of my gods. Our earthly deeds may lead to a final reward or they may simply affect those around them."
"Perhaps our souls will live on, perhaps we will find a new body after this life, but such debates are for men more holy then I. What I do know is that every man's actions send ripples out to those around them here, in this life. We are all stones thrown in a pond, and each act, big or small sends out their own waves. It is easy to feel that among all the stones around us, your own deeds don't matter, that they can be easily overwhelmed by the other ripples. Each one has its importance though, perhaps doing something so small as lessening those nearby, perhaps affecting the stones themselves, maybe even changing the waves of those around them."
"You speak so casually of death, of taking from those who 'can afford it', but do not think that you are only hurting those who can take the pain or who will not miss what has been taken of them. Those with power who lose things will use that power to take from others who are weaker then they are. Granting misfortune to someone simply spreads misfortune to others. This has nothing to do with hope for your soul, but why use what skill and power you have to try and spread pain to others when you could instead make life for all a better place? Helping the world returns the benefits to all of us."
I'm a big believer in character growth, and am looking forward to seeing her learn to trust and develop a relationship with others for the first time in her life. I was only having fun with the concept and didn't mean to run you off. I was enjoying the banter and thought you would be too...Again, sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way...it wasn't my intention, and I really hope you don't leave this game due to my misconception.Well, Dvight doesn't have much in the way of Sense Motive, so he's likely to take people at surface level. He doesn't know she's scared inside. His interpretation of the conversation has been:
CHYR: (Double-entendre banter to seduce him.)
DVIGHT: (No. Back off.)
CHYR: (Oblique threats to murder him.)Right now, there's no powerful patron or commanding officer requiring us to get along and be a party. And right now, Dvight doesn't trust her with his back.
How do you want to play this? What would be Chyressa's reaction if Dvight just leveled with her, and told her that, as things stood, she wasn't "in"?
I guess that would depend on how it was presented. Chyr only responded with her comment after being asked if "demons were challenge enough, or to keep collecting the swords of her swain", which put her on the defensive. She also only promised repercussions not murder. She basically saw the claw and scale routine as a threat, and simply stated that if you hurt her she will retaliate. That's part of the problem with Pbp...sometimes things can be interpreted differently. She thought she was defending herself, and Dvight thought she was attacking...but back to the question. I see three possible outcomes, and am open to more opportunities.
First off she sees no problem with her past and behavior. She has been using the skills and talents she possesses to make her life better, like all other characters. She sees noting morally wrong with redistributing wealth. Maybe that will change, maybe not, but right now she sees nothing wrong with enforcing socialism on society ;-).
While she has little respect for "The church" she has a great deal of respect for some of the priests that were part of her early development, and were some one godly attempt to smooth things over she would probably listen.
If Dvight would come forward and make the first effort to smooth things over she would also probably admit to herself that she had perhaps over-reacted, and apologize, but I doubt she'd ever apologize first...she just is too proud. I can understand Dvight not wanting to do so however, as not being from here he is very naive about the banter and small talk used to express ideas, and Chyr is used to saying things that have several meanings, and using her wits, and tongue to get reactions, and revelations out of people...In a word she is a manipulator, but not a murderer. And for those whom prove to be her friend, she is extremely loyal. Had she not stopped and tried to save her mentor, she probably wouldn't have ended up scarred, but she doesn't hold this against him.
The third option is she is smart enough to know that she needs what the others have to offer in order to succeed...so if they don't invite her along, she may just follow them at a distance, and aid, or call for aid as the situation arises, thus proving herself through her actions.
In short she wants to be accepted, but has such a hard thorny shell she doesn't really know how to be. Her first reaction is always "take care of myself, because nobody else will".
Fell free to discuss.
Artimus frowns at that, returning to stroking his mustache. "I speak nothing of gods, Mi'lady. Each man sees his own visions of the divine and I do not presume to grant you a view of my gods. Our earthly deeds may lead to a final reward or they may simply affect those around them."
"Perhaps our souls will live on, perhaps we will find a new body after this life, but such debates are for men more holy then I. What I do know is that every man's actions send ripples out to those around them here, in this life. We are all stones thrown in a pond, and each act, big or small sends out their own waves. It is easy to feel that among all the stones around us, your own deeds don't matter, that they can be easily overwhelmed by the other ripples. Each one has its importance though, perhaps doing something so small as lessening those nearby, perhaps affecting the stones themselves, maybe even changing the waves of those around them."
"You speak so casually of death, of taking from those who 'can afford it', but do not think that you are only hurting those who can take the pain or who will not miss what has been taken of them. Those with power who lose things will use that power to take from others who are weaker then they are. Granting misfortune to someone simply spreads misfortune to others. This has nothing to do with hope for your soul, but why use what skill and power you have to try and spread pain to others when you could instead make life for all a better place? Helping...
Artimus's speech reminds Chyr of some of the things that father Mirthus used to say, that soothed her savage spirit somewhat, and her body language softens a bit, but she remains silent glaring at Dvight as if waiting for him to attack her.
Ooooh! Big bad strong man wants to threaten little girl.
If you're going to do anything you'd better make sure I'm dead. I've discovered on more than one occasion, even the strongest and baddest of men must sleep sometime.
Dvight replies very quietly, no expression showing on his features. "If I thought you were a little girl, I would send you back to your household until such time as you were safe to be on your own. I've given you credit for skills and abilities, and for some promise to live up to your potential. In return, you've behaved like a spoiled vixen and --"
He stops himself, and thinks for a moment. "I have taken your words as a threat. Perhaps you have taken mine the same way. But I intended mine as warnings. Perhaps you spoke likewise. Is yours a culture that settles these offenses by combat to first blood?"
With that, Dvight stands and readies his axe. He speaks an unfamiliar word and the flickering green lights around the weapon are gone.
Artimus pushes up to his feet when Dvight rises, stepping between the two. "Hold, friends, hold. I believe we have gotten off on the wrong foot. There is a misunderstanding of cultures and outlooks here and we are all on our guard as we learn about each other. There is no need for blood to be spilt from either side."
Remaining between the two until they seem to have settled again he looks towards Chyr and then back to Dvight. "Exploring these ruins will be different then dwelling in the streets of a large city. We must have faith in one another to support ourselves, while we sleep and while we stand. Each of us clearly have our own talents and also bring along our own baggage, but we must shed that now and stand as a group or none of us will walk from the dungeon."
He looks then towards the cleric who has stayed so quiet for the most part. "I apologize for the arguments we all seem to be showing, friend priest. It seems that there is much to air before we will be a cohesive unit and able to function fully within the dungeon. But it is said that steel forged in the hottest fires grows strongest. Please, tell your story. What has given you this feeling that there was something in the dungeon for you? Has your god granted you a vision?" He pauses, trying to genuinely give some heed to the symbol the cleric wears. "Perhaps the passing of the sun has shown you this place? I am afraid I know little of the tenets of your faith."
Ooooh! Big bad strong man wants to threaten little girl.
If you're going to do anything you'd better make sure I'm dead. I've discovered on more than one occasion, even the strongest and baddest of men must sleep sometime.
Dvight replies very quietly, no expression showing on his features. "If I thought you were a little girl, I would send you back to your household until such time as you were safe to be on your own. I've given you credit for skills and abilities, and for some promise to live up to your potential. In return, you've behaved like a spoiled vixen and --"
He stops himself, and thinks for a moment. "I have taken your words as a threat. Perhaps you have taken mine the same way. But I intended mine as warnings. Perhaps you spoke likewise. Is yours a culture that settles these offenses by combat to first blood?"
With that, Dvight stands and readies his axe. He speaks an unfamiliar word and the flickering green lights around the weapon are gone.
"I forget where I am. You are not my enemy" Chyr states after things settle down.
He looks then towards the cleric who has stayed so quiet for the most part. "I apologize for the arguments we all seem to be showing, friend priest. It seems that there is much to air before we will be a cohesive unit and able to function fully within the dungeon. But it is said that steel forged in the hottest fires grows strongest. Please, tell your story. What has given you this feeling that there was something in the dungeon for you? Has your god granted you a vision?" He pauses, trying to genuinely give some heed to the symbol the cleric wears. "Perhaps the passing of the sun has shown you this place? I am afraid I know little of the tenets of your faith."
Tin stays meek and quiet as the conflict erupts around him. He seems troubled and poised to put distance between himself and the others should the argument turn much more severe. As things calm, he hears Artimus speak, and he plasters a smile back onto his face as if he didn't just see the contention. The smile falters as Artimus asks for Tin's 'story', but remains. "I have had dreams of the place, and I feel a great motivation, one that is strange since I have never heard of this place before. Arden is a deity thought long-dead, but still he or an agent representing his divinity has gifted me with the power to heal others, and this quest is to further those powers so that I might heal many others in my community." He stops smiling and rubs his hand along his bald head, firmly rubbing the flesh with a gauntleted hand that contradicts any grace one might normally attribute to an elf. "To be honest, I don't know much about the tenets of my faith either. I hope to educate myself as we go."
It takes Dvight a moment longer to recognize that the tension is past. He turns to Jylan and says, "No tradition of dueling here? It really is a good custom, you know."
Exploring these ruins will be different then dwelling in the streets of a large city. We must have faith in one another to support ourselves, while we sleep and while we stand. Each of us clearly have our own talents and also bring along our own baggage, but we must shed that now and stand as a group or none of us will walk from the dungeon.
"So," Dvight agrees, and attempts to change the subject to tactical problem-solving, as well as furthering the introductions. He tosses a small pebble to everyone around the fire. "Among my people is a saying, 'The midst of the fight against a vampire is the worst time to discuss who should have brought Holy Water.' If we come to fight a giant, who would stand in the forefront?" And he sets a larger rock in the sand before him.
Artimus reaches a hand towards the cleric, trying to judge his response, and if he doesn't withdraw from it he will pat him on the shoulder. "Then we will learn together, my brother."
He smiles some towards Dvight. "You speak very true, Dvight. I trust my blade and my shield nearly as much as my resolve. If there is a threat to any of you, you can count on me to be there with my protection." A hint of the steel in his heart shows through in his eyes as he says this last thing almost as if it were an oath. Then the smile returns as he grins towards the others. "Of course I have never found myself among such powerful company before. Perhaps, I will be the one resolved to unloading our horses among warriors such as you."
Dvight takes the pebble from Artimus and places it next to the larger rock. He places his own a further distance away. "I should state up front that I am a mage; my countenance and axe sometimes confuse people. I would stand back a ways, using spells to blister the giant's skin and harden your resolve in battle. If the giant decided to rush me, my axe is my last line of defense.
"And Jylan, where would you be? Next to Artimus, swinging sword and shield, or at a distance with some missile weapon?"
That is a good question. He hasn't been on in over a week.
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It's premature to say, but I bought the "Slumbering Tsar" PDF (and haven't opened it, for obvious reasons). If it turns out to be the case that Artful Dodger is gone, I'd be willing to take over as GM, and we could contact one of the other players who proposed characters on the Gamers Connection thread.
But, as I say, that's premature.
Maybe we've been artfully dodged. I haven't seen the other player around either. It'd be great if you picked up and DM'd man. I'll stay attentive.
It's premature to say, but I bought the "Slumbering Tsar" PDF (and haven't opened it, for obvious reasons). If it turns out to be the case that Artful Dodger is gone, I'd be willing to take over as GM, and we could contact one of the other players who proposed characters on the Gamers Connection thread.
But, as I say, that's premature.
That would be great Chris. It doesn't look real positive, as he was real active earlier, and seems to have disappeared without warning. Maybe we give him till next Wednesday (2 weeks since his last post) and if nothing move forward. I guess if that happens we should recruit an arcane caster of some sort.
PS: I was looking forward to adventuring with Dvight, a lot of cool opposite side of the tracks, dynamics, so I still hope AD comes back.
I'm still hoping to hear back from the DM as well, but I certainly do appreciate the offer, Chris. I'm glad that the game won't just fall apart if we did lose someone. Is our friendly neighborhood kinslayer around still also?
I think the above mention was a good one, that we should wait a bit so that we can give the DM two weeks before we start working on filling in roles, so hopefully we'll hear from him before that and then we'll all be able to game in together.
Dvight takes the pebble from Artimus and places it next to the larger rock. He places his own a further distance away. "I should state up front that I am a mage; my countenance and axe sometimes confuse people. I would stand back a ways, using spells to blister the giant's skin and harden your resolve in battle. If the giant decided to rush me, my axe is my last line of defense.
"And Jylan, where would you be? Next to Artimus, swinging sword and shield, or at a distance with some missile weapon?"
Jylan smiles at the 'friendly banter'. He has witnessed this so many times before. "My place is obvious I think. Up front where the hurt can be dealt...and received" The last comment is said with sincerity, his eyes downcast.
Dvight makes a kind of grimace.
"All right, let's say we kill the giant but his mother is on the other side of a crevasse, fifteen feet across, and she's throwing rocks at us. There's a narrow rope bridge spanning the gap, but it doesn't look very safe.
"Am I the only one among us who could attack her?"
Artimus touches the throwing axes that sit on his belt. "I could likely get some shots in at her, though I must admit that my talent lies in my sword far more then my throwing arm." He grins slightly and pats the side of his horse. "If the gap were not so wide, however, we may be able to clear it. My friend here makes up for my lack of speed in my armor and lends his strength to my lance."
Chyressa looks at the scenario played out on the ground, then using using a small black pebble, pushes it under the surface of the loose dirt, and makes it pop up to the surface striking the larger stone on the opposite side of the other stones.
"That is how I am most effective" she says under her breath.
"And while with the proper weapons I could strike from a distance at the other enemy, I'd much prefer to convince them to come to me".
Artimus blinks a bit when the stone surfaces from the dirt all on its own, but he nods his head a bit. "You are skilled with your blades then, Mi'lady? You seemed to indicate that you would not stand toe to toe with your foe, but would have them come to you. You would stand before them and strike them down as they approach?"
Artimus blinks a bit when the stone surfaces from the dirt all on its own, but he nods his head a bit. "You are skilled with your blades then, Mi'lady? You seemed to indicate that you would not stand toe to toe with your foe, but would have them come to you. You would stand before them and strike them down as they approach?"
"I don't know if 'stand' is exactly the right word". "I try not to give them a stationary target, which actually would help us both out". "I'll bet you find them easier to hit when they're distracted by me, and it also allows me to find chinks in their armor"... And if I could stay concealed and slip a quick blade to them as they approach, I'm not adverse to that either".
Tin starts warming to the game, and gingerly advances into the conversation. "If a giant's mother was throwing rocks from across a ravine that we couldn't cross, I would have to suggest that we simply go away and let the poor creature deal with her pain. I'd not want to kill her son in the first place, I should add. All creatures have a right to life, and that life should be preserved if at all possible."
Artimus nods his head to the elf. "Fair enough, friend. Where lay your skills on this expedition? You wish to avoid conflict where you can and this is a noble goal. Are the blessings of your god able to offer us such defenses? Should the giantess be hurling rocks at us, could you aid in our protection as we fall back from her? Or perhaps encourage her to end her attacks as well. I have heard of men who are able to change the morale of their foes."
"I can heal you if you prove unable to get out of the way of the giant's rocks and, yes, I can protect us as well. Combat is not anything I excel at, excepting where the forces of the Undead are concerned. The power of the sun is a great weapon to wield against such foes." The words were an echo of what the old scholar in Bard's Gate had told him. Truth be known, Tin had never seen the undead. He hoped his courage would hold if he were to ever encounter one.
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All right, then. Time to crack open my copy of the adventure and read through. Also, time to find an arcane caster to take Dvight's place.
If Artful Dodger comes back around, I'll be happy to relinquish the controls back to him.
A couple of notes on my on-line GMing style and proclivities:
- I would like to post maps somewhere. Cool maps that have little icons on it would be even better. But I'm hapless regarding both mapping softare and on-line hosting services. I'm open to suggestions. (For what it's worth, I have a Macintosh. No Photoshop.)
- I am a fan of the phrase "fortune favors the bold". While Slumbering Tsar describes a very dangerous place, and characters may die by bad luck as well as foolishness, I generally limit the rewards for being overly timid.
- I will try to keep the game moving. That means that, for example, I'll be rolling for you when there aren't any decisions to make (such as everybody's initiative in combat).
- This being a play-by-post game, with the archives permanently available to you, I don't feel shy about planting a clue on page 6 that won't be useful until page 21.
- I expect people to try to check in at least five days a week. If something happens in the game, I'll try to pace things so that everybody has a chance to react for at least 24 hours, but after that the storyline may move on without the people who haven't posted.
Any concerns or questions?
Sounds good to me, Chris. I don't think you'll have too many issues of Artimus cowering from danger.
I tend to normally be on all the time during daytime hours on weekdays, and I'll peek in once or twice a day on weekends, so my posting schedule should be able to keep up with anyones.
As for your rolling, I don't have any issue with you rolling for me on things that either my character wouldn't know about or that are just automatic checks. To make it easier to keep up the flow of things, I'll also put together something of a 'standard practices' list for combat, that way if anything ever does come up and I am unable to be on for a couple days, rather then slowing things down you will have a good idea what my character might do in a few situations.
Good idea. I'll try to keep something like that in my profile as well.
No problems with me either Chris. I concur with what Artimus has sais as well.
Sounds fine. Ready to roll when the party is complete
As the conversation dies, a lone figure that has stayed close to you since you started talking raises and takes a deep breath as if she was hesitant to speak.
I….I am sorry to interrupt but I… I have been listening to your plans and your stories. I am wondering if you have not overlooked one thing. From what I have heard and seen, none of you is very familiar with outdoor life. Maybe if you want, I could join you.”
She pauses briefly looking at the assembled party for signs of outright rejection. As you look at her, you see a tall pale skinned young woman with a dark piercing gaze. As she speaks, her hand goes briefly to her brow where it touches the two small ivory horns that grow through her short dark hair. She wears simple grey or brown clothes designed for practical use rather than look and while she sounds hesitant, her movement are those of a predator. She wears a simple but finely made breastplate and carries a carved composite longbow with the air of one used to the weapon weight.
"I was born far north of here but I have lived around here most of my life and escorted numbers of caravans through the Desolation. I could help you find this lost city you speak of. I have also been told I am pretty good with a bow and could deal with your stone throwing giant." she says pointing to the stones on the sand.
She stops speaking and grins in a strange way, showing her teeth without smiling. This facial expression disappears when a light grey wolf paddles silently to her side and puts his head in her hand.
"Tinthariel, you raise an excellent point. Some of the wisest arriors know when to avoid battles they don't need to win. But let's say that the giantess is a menace to civilians, and that she's beyond negotiation. And really, she's just a model for all the times our opponents stand across terrain that's difficult to traverse. We should have a plan in mind.
"Alia, feel free to join in the tactics discussion."
Alia, the answer to your question requires some major spoilers for the rest of the party, so I'll avoid tempting people and answer you by seperate email.
Hi y'all, it looks like I will be able to participate in this game...
I'll be playing Durnast Kal, a CG Wizard (or "Arcanist" as he would say)
OOC Stuff:
Durnast's background is an orphan 'adopted' by a Mage who knew his mother's family, but whom ended up dying while exploring Rappan Athuk. I'm thinking that given this background, Durnast wants to continue his mentor's work, and given that his mentor was already working in cooperation with the Church of Muir, I convinced them to send me up here once I had re-constructed the info and realized something of what was hidden at Tsar. I see Durnast as more or less working with the Church of Muir, not as a devotee, but because my skills and knowledge are useful to them and I know enough to not scandalize them too much as I enjoy access to their libraries (giving some of the clearer accounts going back to the time of the Great King and before). I would assume my mentor had more-or-less a similar relationship with the Church of Muir: Him and Durnast are mostly motivated by the search of arcane knowledge, secrets of obscure cults and historical artifacts (i.e. I could probably go for the Loremaster PrC if I really wanted to)
Just to get a handle on how everybody has come together on the outskirts of Bard's Gate...
It sounds like Jylan has more or less migrated here from Rappan Athuk, perhaps already working with Artimus / Church of Muir? I think it would work well if Jylan, who was there himself (and/or Artimus), had actually adventured side-by-side with my mentor in Rappan Athuk, and perhaps even saw him meet his fate. But it seems like I would have more or less arrived here simultaneously with, or planning on meeting up with Jylan and Artimus as delvers in employ of/emissaries of the Church. (I'm just trying to get a handle on things, if any of this is wrong, let me know!)
Re: Chyressa, I'm not quite sure how you would join this group, much less be aware of it in the first place... Maybe you 'liberated' an item which happened to be a relic from Tsar and while selling it to the Church of Muir, you drew out information from them that such an expedition was being mounted and you managed to convince them you would be useful as part of it...???
And was I correct that your character was supposed to be an "Egyptian analog" race/ethnicity in the game world? Does that connect with the 'patron Diety' of Tinthariel, who's supposed to be an archaic extra- planar Egyptian-type diety? Do you share a language, even if one Tinthariel only 'irrationally' understands b/c of his Divine connection?
How DID Tinthariel show up?, I only remember he was in a mental hospital or something at one point... Did his Divine "gift" give him unique knowledge about Tsar (i.e. that would help an expedition there, or motivate one to be mounted in the first place) and the Church of Muir thus feels your presence may be needed on the expedition...?
Alia seems like the Feral spirit of the Desolation and very useful member of the party (with wilderness skills, knowledge of area) but I'm not sure how that same background would bring us together... Perhaps we say you came across our group in the Desolation, maybe saving us from an onslaught of mosnters, then learning that we were headed for the very center of the Desolation's demon infestation (Tsar), it would make sense to join us given you hate the undead/monsters and otherwise we don't really have conflicting aims...???
@Neil: Looking at everbody's character to get a better idea of them, I noticed Jylan has Overhand Chop & Backswing Feats, which are no longer in the final edition of PRPG, so you should probably pick 2 other Feats...
Since nothing's happening yet (in game terms), I figured character stuff is more important, but I can work up some stats once I have a solid idea of his background. (His b/g isn't in stone yet, so if it could work better with 'alterations' please let me know)
Tin starts as the woman makes her way into the conversation. He absentmindedly reaches out to his visored helmet and pulls it a bit closer. As she voices her request to join the small party, Tin waits silently for Artimus or Dvight to make the decision. Continuing the dialog on the giantess, he speaks, "It would still be my mission to preserve this creature's life if at all possible. If she left us no choice and if I was thoroughly convinced of her irredeemable state of mind, only then would I accept that her death is necessary for the greater good."
I could probably go for the Loremaster PrC if I really wanted to).
Oh, then you might get along swimmingly with the Camp's de facto leader.
Just to get a handle on how everybody has come together on the outskirts of Bard's Gate... But it seems like I would have more or less arrived here simultaneously with, or planning on meeting up with Jylan and Artimus as delvers in employ of/emissaries of the Church.
I like the way you're pulling things together. I'm starting the campaign in the last afternoon / early evening of your first day at Camp. (Alia is an exception to this, as she's been based in Camp for a couple of weeks, having guided a caravan along the Desolation roads to safety, and then returned.) Your characters may have traveled in a group from Bard's Gate, or you may have met along the road. In any case, it's obvious from your destination, and your lack of trade goods, that you all have designs on the Desolation itself. Only one or two other people are traveling along with you, possibly other player characters, or else the kind of dangerous individual who has business in the Camp itself.
Chris: If you want my relationship to be more codified, to the extent I may know some knowledge but not other, that's fine with me. Artimus as the Church's 'emissary' on the expedition seems pretty appropriate/obvious, but whatever works...
He'll be taking the place of Dvight, who had some of the more esoteric knowledges. On page one of this thread, I listed who in the party had what skills. Of course, Alia will add some to the mix, but given the history of the place, I'd want to make sure that somebody in the party knows something about Arcana, Dungeoneering, Geography, History, Nobility, Planes, and Religion.
The 'cute' solution I thought of for switching out Dvight for me would be that I was teleporting up to Bard's Gate to rendezvous with Jylan+Artimus but somehow a 'glitch' happened, which sucked Dvight in from the portal he had entered, for several weeks until my own self 'caught up' and popped back in, replacing Dvight...? :-)
Don't worry about Dvight; he will find himself involved in the goings-on in Camp. He might be fated for a bad end.
@Neil: Looking at everbody's character to get a better idea of them, I noticed Jylan has Overhand Chop & Backswing Feats, which are no longer in the final edition of PRPG, so you should probably pick 2 other Feats...
Nice catch!
Since nothing's happening yet (in game terms), I figured character stuff is more important, but I can work up some stats once I have a solid idea of his background. (His b/g isn't in stone yet, so if it could work better with 'alterations' please let me know).
Something will be happening very soon.
Questions for character building:
How should I do additional spells in my spell-book beyond the automatic ones you gain for level? Would I have to purchase scrolls of them? Would you just like to choose some spells I 'found' along the way, and I can just choose the 'free' level spells (+buy scrolls if I want)?
Buy them all as scrolls. (See page 491 for the price of scrolls, page 219 for the process of learning and copying a particular spell into your book.) This seems fairest, since the wealth Durnast starts with includes the items he's found along the way, whether those be spellbooks or magic rings.
He might want to obtain the services of friendly wizards who already know the spell he's trying to learn. They might assist him in the learning process, giving Durnast a +2 modifier to the Spellcraft roll. This assistance is generally available in large cities, but not once you reach the Camp. Standard fees equal those for allowing him to copy spells out of their spellbooks. (See page 219.)
Two house rules: there is a -2 penalty to the Spellcraft check to learn spells from your opposed schools. And unlike other skill checks, a natural roll of 20 always succeeds, and a natural roll of 1 always fails.
You'd
Tin starts as the woman makes her way into the conversation. He absentmindedly reaches out to his visored helmet and pulls it a bit closer. As she voices her request to join the small party, Tin waits silently for Artimus or Dvight to make the decision. Continuing the dialog on the giantess, he speaks, "It would still be my mission to preserve this creature's life if at all possible. If she left us no choice and if I was thoroughly convinced of her irredeemable state of mind, only then would I accept that her death is necessary for the greater good."
Alia listen attentively but frowns at his conclusion."I do not understand you. If you do not need to cross the ravine, then you can let her go. But if you need to cross, then you have to fight. This is the way of the Desolation."
She then sits down by the stone and takes a new pebble and the bog stones and moves them avay from the bridge. "I can draw the mother giant away with my bow", she says as she covers the other pebbles in dust and moves them over the bridge, [b]"while you all cross this bidge silently."
Not that time-in-Camp needs to be tightly correlated to familiarity with the locals, but I would prefer having Alia pretty new as well: first arrived only a couple weeks ago, and having spent most of that time leading parties through the Desolation. She may know her way around a little, as in who's the best blacksmith, and where she can find the Camp's pitiful excuse for a marketplace. That puts her to legs up on the rest of the party, but she's still mostly a stranger in town.
The Camp is a dangerous place for strangers.
Not that time-in-Camp needs to be tightly correlated to familiarity with the locals, but I would prefer having Alia pretty new as well: first arrived only a couple weeks ago, and having spent most of that time leading parties through the Desolation. She may know her way around a little, as in who's the best blacksmith, and where she can find the Camp's pitiful excuse for a marketplace. That puts her to legs up on the rest of the party, but she's still mostly a stranger in town.
The Camp is a dangerous place for strangers.
Tell me what level would be acceptable in your eyes. I's always difficult to correlate skill numbers with background, especially with knowledges.
I'm perfectly fine with Alia just knowing her way around and who you could speak to if you want to get hired as a guide. That's how I had seen her, anyway.
Looks good.
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