Welcome players!
As I've alluded to elsewhere, I have selected each of you on the strength of your individual character submissions. What this means, however, is that the party is not necessarily optimized for balanced play.
At this time, I invite each of you to introduce yourself to your fellow players, and share the character concept that got you accepted into the game. Please discuss whether the current group's composition is acceptable to you, or whether someone may be interested in switching to a different class. If no one wishes to switch, that is fine with me, as any deficiencies may be remedied in future level advancement, via the use of magical items, or through other means. If someone does express interest in making a change, I reserve the right of veto power.
In any case, I believe we have a very strong group of players lined up, and I'm excited to see where this game will go. The details of character creation rules will go up later, after introductions have been made.
Unfortunately, the insidious specter known as 'real life' has me a bit pressed for time today, but I will pop in and out as I am able. I have a lot more free time tomorrow.
Have fun!
Nuveril's player, checking in! I'll be busy for the next several hours, but I wanted to make sure I claimed my spot. Thanks for selecting her!
Standing 2'11" and weighing in at 30 pounds, Nuveril makes up for her lack of physical bulk with a forbidding scowl which warns others not to take her lightly. Her brown hair is roughly and unevenly cut short, and her skin is the sun-browned shade of the nomad. Although only 26, she already bears paler squint-lines around her startlingly green eyes, the mark of long watchful gazing across the savannah. Her clothing is all handmade, of furs and tanned skins with ornaments of tooth and bone. The only piece of her equipment not made by members of her tribe is her scimitar, traded for with skins and dried herbs from a merchant caravan.
Nuveril walks into any situation with the brazen swagger of a person with everything to prove. Her manner is abrasive and dismissive, her straightforwardness brutal. She respects strength and martial ability but responds to the arcane and intellectual with a superstitious mix of fear and disdain. Above all, she seeks glory in battle; it is only by building a mighty reputation as a warrior that she can hope to return to her tribe having dispelled the gnawing questions about her own worth and carved with bloody blade her own earned place among her adopted people. Party members may bristle at her cold shoulder and rude tongue but cannot but appreciate her burning desire to place herself directly in the path of the most danger in combat.
When Nuveril was only a small child, her mother had been taken by gnoll slavers. Judging that such a weak creature could never survive the long trek across Katapesh to the slave markets, the gnolls abandoned the infant on the savannah. Fortuitously for the halfling, a woman from a nomadic tribe soon passed near enough to hear the girl's squalls. Feeling unusually soft-hearted since she had recently given birth to a still-born baby, she investigated. Originally intending only to grant the creature a swift death, she was startled when the seemingly helpless child attacked her vigorously with teeth and nails when she laid hands on it. Charmed, and still feeling the loss of her own baby, she decided that the tiny girl was a gift from her ancestral spirits and determined to raise it in her child's place. Of course, the halfling's difference from those around her was soon felt, as the other children began to tower over her. Her foster mother knew enough of the ways of the gnolls to infer Nuveril's family's fate and imparted all she knew and guessed to the child. This knowledge, accompanied by her adopted tribe's own conflicts with the gnoll tribes, redoubled the halfling's hatred for the race, and the dismissal she received from her peers due to her Small size fueled her need to prove herself as a warrior. When one of the many merchant caravans that cross the savannahs brought word that a man was seeking adventurers to retake the town of Kelmarane, Nuveril accepted the opportunity to strike a blow against the gnolls as a gift, both to avenge her mother's fate and to prove herself to her adopted tribe. Bidding farewell to her foster mother, she immediately set out to find Garavel and persuade him to accept her services. She has no interest in his promised reward, as coins are useless to her tribe, being neither foodstuff nor shelter nor weapon, but values him and his employer only as the means to deliver her to Kelmarane and to battle against the gnolls.
Triple ditto on real-life time constraints. I'm a bit pressed for time myself but I wanted to plant a flag and post my character concept as sent. Open to mushing things around as needed to make it work with the story/party. Looking forward to playing this and meeting all of you.
Aaliyah is an attractive young woman (might take a highish Cha even if paladin isn't in the cards) of slight build (5'8" maybe 135lbs) with brown eyes, black hair, and dark olive skin. Her family was not poor and she tends to dress well, in practical but colorful robes of nice fabrics trimmed in traditional decorations. She wields a scimitar (but I'd have to check this rules-wise to make sure it's practical; a local-styled short sword if not, maybe two) and some other basic equipment but she's not loaded down like some mercenaries with unnecessary kit. Few know it but her right thigh bears a birthmark which possesses more than a passing resemblance to the holy symbol of Sarenrae.
She is friendly and sociable but not terribly tolerant of beliefs that clash with hers and those of her god. Even so, she respects honor and courage enough that those that display it may well earn her lifelong respect and loyalty. Though she is a non-traditionalist in some ways--not many women choose to walk the path she has chosen--she holds the customs and traditions of her culture in the highest respect and does anything she can to defend and honor them.
Aaliyah is pursuing a career as a (wo)man-at-arms--in the footsteps of her grandfather who trained her against her parents' wishes. She has traveled widely in search of work that meets her standards and furthers her experience and, most recently, has been in Katapesh. There she met Garavel, who regaled her with stories of the historied battle market at Kelmarane and its nearby church of Sarenrae. These brought light and civilization to a desolate land for years but have lately fallen under the control of a savage pack of gnolls. He also told of Almah's plans to retake the market. His description of Almah, apparently a woman much like herself, and her brave intentions were all it took to convince Aaliyah to join his expedition.
Guess I need to figure out how to do that alias thingie for posting in-character. She definitely doesn't look like an Illithid. [edit]Halfling barbarian? Awesome. :) [/edit]
M
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Your friendly neighborhood healer, it looks like, although I have to check my stuff, since the last time I (briefly) played this character, I realized that his lack of a decent ranged weapon was brutal.
Added some darts and a sling.
Any house rules of relevance? (bonus weapon prof for humans, he says fishingly...)
Hello, here is the Avatar for Eli, I will post up more later tonight when I have more time. Looking at the list of classes it looks like we are only missing some arcane. While starting rouge I have left some wiggle room in my concept to multi-class into Sorcerer which I can do at second level pretty easily.
Nice. Don't have time for much now, but just wanted to say congratulations to everyone who was selected!
I put the information from my submission on Bosch's page. I'll fatten it up soon.
I'm taking the missionary campaign trait (Sarenae), anyone else? We could know each other already.
When I get some time tonight I'll look at traits...that one might be good for me. Is that in the LoF Players Guide or somewhere else?
M
LoF Players Guide
Missionary: You’ve spent much of the last several years serving your faith, and the conviction and dedication to your church has impressed many. Perhaps you’ve donated much of your personal wealth or time to serving the church, or you’re the child of a powerful or well-loved member of the church, an orphan raised by the church, or a foundling with a strange birthmark that bears more than a passing resemblance to your faith’s holy symbol. The faith has long supported you, and you are eager to repay the church in some way. In Katapesh, the establishment of a new village is always cause for interest to the nation’s churches, as establishing new temples in villages is an excellent way to expand upon the church’s resources and bring in more faithful. If the Pactmasters’ plans to revitalize and rebuild Kelmarane are successful, the village will need a temple, and your faith is keenly interested in being represented there. This campaign trait is particularly suited to worshipers of Sarenrae, as Kelmarane was founded near an old monastery dedicated to the Dawnflower, and reconsecrating that monastery is of great interest to Sarenrae’s church. Furthermore, a temple dedicated to her once stood in Kelmarane itself, but it has long since fallen into ruin; whispers among the religion tell that the church’s old pastor may have fallen from grace and may even have been part of the cause of the hard times that befell the village. You’ve joined Garavel’s band in hopes of helping to establish a new temple in the soon-to-be evitalized village. You’ve been selected for your dedication to the church and your strong social graces—pick one of the following skills: Bluff, Diplomacy,Intimidate, Knowledge (religion), Perform (any), or Sense Motive. You gain a +1 trait bonus on checks using that skill, and it is always considered a class skill for you.
A Halfing barbarian with a chip on her shoulder and a gruff demenor.
A Half-Orc monk on a mission to rise above his brutal past and find peace.
Only non-humans in the party.
[insert Odd Couple theme song]
We are going to have alot of fun with these two.
Here's the info for Sadid, as submitted. The group looks great. I'm really looking forward to starting. Just a word of warning though, I'm running on Tokyo time, so my posts will likely be at night for most others. Not that it matters much for this, but I thought I'd make sure everyone knew.
I would like to use the variant Ranger presented in the Campaign Setting that exchanges Animal Empathy for a better Animal Companion. Though he is unhorsed now I would like for him to acquire a new one at some point and use this as his companion. I’ll probably also go with archery for a combat style but he’ll likely use his falchion just as much. I’m really going Ranger only because that’s what he feels like to me and any other advancement will most likely be influenced by RP
Standing at five foot and ten inches, Sadid is hardly an imposing figure. His black hair hangs short about his face, left to grow but kept close enough to keep out of his eyes and require little maintenance. It frames dark brown eyes and a darkly tanned clean shaven face that has obviously seen many days out in the harsh sun. Most times those dark eye shine with an inner spark that shows in his broad smile and easy laugh. He is dressed in loose, white, linen clothes of an Osirioni style overlaid with well used but well cared for leather armor laced with studs of metal for added strength. Worn leather boots come up his calves, laced tight against the encroaching sand. A falchion is slung over his back, crossed by a quiver of arrows, and his longbow is almost always within easy reach.
Sadid is normally a very easy going and personable young man. He loves to meet new people, learn about new places, and especially try new foods. He has a soft spot in his heart for those who are down on their luck especially orphans and will go out of his way to help those in need. He is quick to laugh as long as the joke is not at someone else’s expense, but when the situation calls for it he is deadly serious. He also has an especial love of poetry and carries a book of it with him nearly everywhere, though he wouldn’t dare to write any of his own. Recent events, however, have left him more sullen and morose than usual. Though in the company of others he does his best to hide it, he is hurting terribly from the death of his adopted father.
While Sadid grew up in Kelmarane he was forced to flee when the town was attacked by gnolls. He managed to escape with a large number of other refugees but in the chaos he lost both his mother and father. Alone, confused, and scared, he was taken in by an Osirioni cavalier who had happened to be passing through. The man, Humam, took him in as his own son and brought him to Osirion. There he was raised in the strictures and values of Sarenrae as well as being trained in the martial arts.
When he was of age he was accepted into the same mercenary company as his father. He served with distinction making his father quite proud, until the day that their company, escorting a merchant caravan through western Katapesh, was ambushed by gnolls. The company was broken and scattered that day, killed nearly to a man, and he barely fled with his life.
Horseless and with barely any supplies, he wandered the rocky deserts of western Katapesh surviving on little but his wits and skill. Eventually he found his way to a Katapeshi trade town where he was able to find work here and there as a guard or hunter as he tries to overcome his grief and get back on his feet. This is where Garavel found him, a shadow of his former self but with obvious skill that came recommended by several townspeople. All it took was the mention of gnolls and Garavel found himself with an eager hand ready to sign on. Sadid has a score to settle with those brutes, and perhaps he can finally find some peace in doing so.
I guess that would be one way to get rid of the gnolls.
Okay I have done up a character sheet still have a few tweeks to do to the Crunch but the Fluff is there for everyone to check out.
Excellent, looks like everyone is present and accounted for!
I'll take a moment to post character creation requirements now. If you already have something statted up, please be sure it's in accordance with these guidelines.
-PFRPG Rules, 1st level characters
-Ability scores generated with 20 pt. buy
-Average starting gold according to class
-Maximum hit points at first level
-2 Traits per character, from different categories. One of the traits may be a Campaign Trait from the LoF player's guide, but it isn't a requirement
As for house rules, nothing really jumps to mind. But, just because I'm so benevolent, I might consider a bonus weapon proficiecy for Shadrach. What did you have in mind, Set?
PS, mearrin69, I see you got Aaliyah's alias up and running. Great!
Looks like we have more than a couple Dawnflower adherents in the party. That's good. We may need to cleanse Kelmarane with fire.
A
An extremely high proportion of submitted characters shared this philosophy. I could have easily formed an entire party motivated solely by devotion to Sarenrae...or gnoll hate, for that matter.
Poor gnolls.
Sadid, one of the great advantages (among many) of PBP games is that players from all over the world can get together for a game. I think that's cool.
I realized I had already explored aliases with my aborted PFS character so no problem. :) Couldn't really find a great avatar pic though :( I guess Sarenrae is kinda natch for this one.
What should we do with our characters when completed: mail to you or post in our profiles?
Also, when do we get started? Any set date or just when we're done with characters? I ask because I'm going to be work-busy for the next week and have jury duty the week after. I'll still be able to participate for sure...but it probably really will be only 1/day.
M
mearrin69, Please complete character sheets under the PC's alias profile. You can just let me know here when it's ready for review. I'm not fussy about any particular format, so long as all the pertinent detail is present.
As for when we start, it certainly depends a lot on the players. We'll need to have all of the character sheets done first, but once they've checked out, I'm ready to roll. Hopefully, we can manage that by the end of this week or early next?
Thanks for letting me know about your schedule. So long as you can pop in with a post once a day (or near that), you'll be fine.
CH, I was going to pick the "Missionary" trait for story purposes. The actual benefit for me (as is) is negligible. Any chance you would amend it so that if you already had your chosen skill as a class skill then the modifier could be higher than +1?
If not, I would take the "Finding Haleen" trait instead. Has anyone taken that one yet?
Bosch, I believe Shadrach is Finding Haleen.
Nuveril is Killing Gnolls, obviously. :)
CH, as Nuveril's tribe doesn't use coins, I had her extra "gold" in trade goods, dried herbs, specifically. Is that all right with you? It'll make things a bit more complicated if she wants to buy something, but she considers coins wasted weight and won't carry them.
Okay I think I have got everything done just waiting DM approval.
I think I've got all the pertinent info up now. Just let me know if you need anything else.
CH, I was going to pick the "Missionary" trait for story purposes. The actual benefit for me (as is) is negligible. Any chance you would amend it so that if you already had your chosen skill as a class skill then the modifier could be higher than +1?
If not, I would take the "Finding Haleen" trait instead. Has anyone taken that one yet?
I think the Missionary trait is a good fit for Bosch, so I'd be okay with approving a +2 modifer to said skill, if it's alread a class skill.
CH, as Nuveril's tribe doesn't use coins, I had her extra "gold" in trade goods, dried herbs, specifically. Is that all right with you? It'll make things a bit more complicated if she wants to buy something, but she considers coins wasted weight and won't carry them.
I think that's a wonderful characterization decision, and I approve of it. We'll just creatively work through any difficulties she has in shopping. No prob.
It looks like many of you are cranking out character sheets at a good clip! I'll start digging into them later today.
MythrilDragon, would it be too much to ask for you to specify in which skills you placed Eli's 10 skill ranks? That would make my life much easier.
EDIT: As a light weapon, Eli's dagger would also benefit from his Weapon Finesse feat.
Sadid looks really good, but I have a couple of discrepancies regarding his skill totals...
I calculated his Handle Animal total at +4, and his Know: Religion at +1 (not a class skill).
What say you, Aluvian?
mearrin69, here are my comments for Aaliyah's sheet...
-Damage with scimitar should be 1d6+2
-I think flat-footed AC should be 15 (No Dodge bonus)
-Does she have any non-combat gear?
Everything else looks good!
Oh, duh, forgot to add dmg bonus. Will fix flat-footed. Didn't have a chance to add in non-combat gear but will do that tonight.
M
Oh, duh, forgot to add dmg bonus. Will fix flat-footed. Didn't have a chance to add in non-combat gear but will do that tonight.
M
Great, thanks!
Joana, it looks to me like Nuveril's Climb totals should be +3/+1 with Madu. Would you agree?
I agree with everything else on her sheet. Well done!
Set,
I think Shadrach's hp total should be 10 (d8 +1 CON +1 Finding Haleen Trait)
Other than that, he looks great. Thanks!
Aluvian,
As an addition to my previous comments, I forgot to mention earlier that I believe Sadid's CMD should be 16.
I'm at work all say today so I will shoot you an email later with how I spent his skills
I'm at work all say today so I will shoot you an email later with how I spent his skills
That would be great. Actually, I decided to stop being lazy and work through the numbers myself, but I was only able to come up with 9 of 10 points spent. So, yes, I'll need some guidance from you. Thanks!
Joana, it looks to me like Nuveril's Climb totals should be +3/+1 with Madu. Would you agree?
Fixed it. Also, I forgot to point out that I gave her Kelish instead of Halfling as a starting language since she wasn't raised by her own people. I assume you're okay with the substitution.
Fixed it. Also, I forgot to point out that I gave her Kelish instead of Halfling as a starting language since she wasn't raised by her own people. I assume you're okay with the substitution.
Sure, the language change is fine. Looks like Nuveril's all set to start!
All fixed, except for misc gear. Not sure 12gp is going to cut it so I might ditch the bow if it comes to that.
M
I'm at work all say today so I will shoot you an email later with how I spent his skillsThat would be great. Actually, I decided to stop being lazy and work through the numbers myself, but I was only able to come up with 9 of 10 points spent. So, yes, I'll need some guidance from you. Thanks!
Found the problem. I accidentally left slight of hand off the list. That is were I spent the last skill point. I fixed the sheet on his page. Sorry about that, just overlooked it i guess.
I think the Missionary trait is a good fit for Bosch, so I'd be okay with approving a +2 modifer to said skill, if it's alread a class skill.
Exactly what I was hoping for CH. Thanks.
Aluvian,
As an addition to my previous comments, I forgot to mention earlier that I believe Sadid's CMD should be 16.
All three items fixed. Thanks for the catches.
Okay I have done up a character sheet still have a few tweeks to do to the Crunch but the Fluff is there for everyone to check out.OMG, if you don't fix the spelling on Rogue, I will go mental! Mental, I tell you! :)
YEAH! SET you win the prize for catching the obvious mistake I planted to see who would notice!! To see what you have won look behind DOOR #1
DOOR #1
Good work, folks! Things are moving right along. At this rate, I think it likely that we'll see an IC thread by late this week.
Woot. Let's roll.
M
N.B. I'll get Aaliyah outfitted with a proper amount of non-combat gear tonight. Hopefully she has a copper to spare when that's done.
I'll have my info updated by tonight.
Is this going to be text only or are we going to be using some kind of map tool for combat?
Good question. I've never played in a PbP game at all. Seems like a good way to really get into character - which I admit I have a hard time doing at a table - but I'm imagining combat is somewhat abstracted? I've got some learning to do on that front.
M
Looks like we are going to have a very intersting group. CH, are we all supposed to know each other at the start of the game or will we be introduced to each other through the opening posts?