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"Half-orc, I don't wish to disrespect you. What is your name so that I can address you properly."
I am Calendir - apologies, I have gotten wrap up in your recount and did not put my name forth. In recent months I have scouted the region and am intent in knowing as much as I can regarding what lies ahead...
"Half-orc, I don't wish to disrespect you. What is your name so that I can address you properly."
Looking embarrased for the social gafe, Gronk introduces himself with an awkward bow.
Profuseness appologies, be knowing me as Gronk de'Morcaine humble servant and message bringer of Groteus.
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After hearing Gronk stepping forward also, Calendir realizes the confusion, looks momentarily at Gronk, and breaks a laugh.
I think I have apologized more times today than in the last 10 years - he adds extending his hand to Gronk - Again, I am Calendir - he cannot help but grin again - A pleasure to meet you Gronk.
Fulanke retracted his hand when he noticed the elf who was previously talking to him was distracted with another's statement. He had jumped in on a conversation without knowing. He nodded at the pale lady who already was talking of pleasant conversation which he was interested in. The man looked up at the Tauran, and spoke up that he might hear. "I believe we have met before. But I am at a loss to remember. It might have been some event or party. When was it you became a member?"
To Calendir,
Pleasure be momentary but shared. Meeting others be task mine. Be you hear good news of juyous event? All is ending!
To Alliriyallin,
Ending be soon. That be known. But Groteus soon not same as people soon. Mine own skill be not yet enough (if ever) to have knowing of when. But signs be clear.
Have you not noticed? Maple tree top be turn red and lower branch still green as is summer. Not past natural.
On way here, five days in row, village of Gelisman self saw portent. Fisher bird flew down for fish meal and was itself eaten by bigger fish. Time 1, yes. Time 2, mayhap. Time 5, not happen. See fisher bird no more in bay.
Look you in creek. Much moss be dying yet water is flow high.
Time self know not, but question no. End times be coming. Joyness to all!
Is good you be understanding of signs and portents. belike will know time to prepare. Graciousness to you and yours.
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ooc]Easy to miss things in this forum. [/ooc]
Speaking the the bull-man the wizard notes Indeed, I have studied long in the Crimson tower to achieve my "expertise" good Ruul, but I am sure you have achieved your own level of prowess or you would not be sitting here with me today. And I believe we have something in common. Is that a symbol of the All Seeing Eye I see adorning your person? If so I believe we both agree that Magic should be revered. Magic is power. Magic is life.
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Hearing the strange words, Fulanke sighed a bit and smiled weakly, scratching the back of his head with embarrassment.
"I never learned the mother tongue.
But I still know when it is sung.
A poet and a scribe am I,
with not much else to know me by.
Sumisu Fulanke is how I'm addressed
Fu to some and Sumis to the rest."He reaches out his hand in greeting, with an expectant look of receiving an introduction.
The elven wizard accepts the hand in a firm grasp, at least for a wizard. Whaterver circumstance deprived you of the chance to learn the language of your birth was a crime. I am sorry you never had the chance to learn it and would gladly teach it to you if we have the pleasure of traveling together. I am sure I would have much to learn from a well traveled scribe such as yourself as well. He pauses for a moment as if remembering something. ah, my social graces are somewhat rusty. A byproduct of many months locked away with little but dusty tombs and faded scrolls. I should have already introduced to my new friend. Sumisu, this is Ruul, and Ruul, Sumisu.
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To Calendir,
Pleasure be momentary but shared. Meeting others be task mine. Be you hear good news of juyous event? All is ending!To Alliriyallin,
Ending be soon. That be known. But Groteus soon not same as people soon. Mine own skill be not yet enough (if ever) to have knowing of when. But signs be clear.
Have you not noticed? Maple tree top be turn red and lower branch still green as is summer. Not past natural.
On way here, five days in row, village of Gelisman self saw portent. Fisher bird flew down for fish meal and was itself eaten by bigger fish. Time 1, yes. Time 2, mayhap. Time 5, not happen. See fisher bird no more in bay.
Look you in creek. Much moss be dying yet water is flow high.
Time self know not, but question no. End times be coming. Joyness to all!
Is good you be understanding of signs and portents. belike will know time to prepare. Graciousness to you and yours.
You know what Groteus, I used to see things from.. let's call it a diametrically opposed perspective from what you have just said. However, for the past months that I have inhabited this region, there is clearly a foreboding feeling that cannot be denied... But it can be shaken away.
...
You know what Groteus, I used to see things from.. let's call it a diametrically opposed perspective from what you have just said. However, for the past months that I have inhabited this region, there is clearly a foreboding feeling that cannot be denied... But it can be shaken away.
Gronk shakes his head. No, no, self be not Groteus. Sorrowful if give error thought. Self be humble Groteus servant.
Yes, can shake feeling. Belike danger to think change what is and what coming. One must remember, to heed portents as possible.
Raelc comes around to the table(s) and sees all the people sitting around Pat. Before he can say anything, the drow lieutenant says "Another round of the reserves for everyone here, Domson. Make it snappy, it's going to be a long night." She says this with a sly grin, as if she were expecting something.
Without a hint of sarcasm (on his voice anyway), he speaks up. "Alright, what'll it be for the rest of you then?"
Before he could fully retract his hand, the wizard caught it and offered mutual education. Fulanke nodded his assent to perhaps learning Chelaxian if they would travel to the same place.
When Ruul came uncomfortably close, Fulanke did not seem to be bothered by it in the slightest and sniffed noticably like a dog when it would meet something new. As he did so, a viper slipped out of his robe around the neck and flicked it's tongue at the beast, tasting his scent as well. When he had backed off and said his piece, the aged man took his turn as the viper returned to his hidden place.
"I spent most of my time with Master Shaine,
But I am no stranger to the studies of war.
Most days I was downstairs with no sun or rain.
But some I was upside putting minds on the floor."
With that he touched his chain, elegantly wrapped around his middle and it was immediately obvious it was not merely decorative but some exotic weapon from the east.
Ever else you getting. Want be trouble no.
Elen has been listening to the conversation between Ally and the Groetian, and finally summons her courage to speak. "Umm... Sir Gronk, if you'll excuse me... I, err, that is, my name is Elen, and as my companion says, we follow Desna, and while those things you mention may indeed ne portentous, I --" she bites her lip nervously, knowing that she can offend with her knowitall attitude at times, "-- I have seen the same things you describe at various times in the past. When I lived for a few decades with a family of Periannath -- halflings in the common tongue -- oh, at least 50 years ago it was, we saw the same thing with the fisher birds, being eaten by fish, not five but six days in a row! We thought it a portent, and I tried to read the stars to know what to do, but before we could decide, the village was attacked by Chelish slave-takers." At this, she gives a poisonous glare at the back of the diabolist's head, then turns back to Gronk. "So it was a portent, but of a small-scale disaster. In my youth, close to a century ago, I recall all the trees on a hillside turning red -- on the northern side only! There were those who thought that this would surely foretell something, and one said it was the coming release of the Rough Beast, and others the return of an age of darkness, and the first never happened, while the second was thwarted by heroes, and took place only very recently."
She pauses, as if having briefly exhausted her social reserves. Ally takes up the thread of conversation. "I believe that we can agree to disagree about how soon the end is coming, but still work together to make everyone's life better now. You seem a very noble soul."
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Ruul digs his wayfinder/holy symbol out of his dense chest fur and shows it to the wizard proudly.
"You are correct, I am a servant and student of Nethys. He saved me from a life of pain and servitude and helped elevate me to where you see me today."
"I am not without my strengths", the minotaur says while clenching one meaty fist, "but I have longed to be closer to the All-Seeing. I have struggled with the Art for some time."
Struggled? How so? Magic comes as easy to me as any man. Perhaps it is the elven blood. Some say elves are meant to be wizards, but few enough choose that calling. What are the bull-men called to be?
Fulanke took a sip of his wine and contemplated things for a moment.
"I have been a member for twenty year.
I don't spend time with recruits I fear.
If we don't recall just how we met,
The answer will come to us in time, I bet.
Does it seem odd to you that we all came to the inn?
Is there something I missed before I walked in?"
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A cup of Kaffe, please, as hot as you can make it.
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As the drink orders are being filled, he speaks over Elen's shoulder to Gronk.
So, tell me: does your faith dictate pre-determination? Is a man able to make real choices in life, or is his life written before his birth, with choice but an illusion? If the world's end is eminent, most would choose hedonism and debauchery to pass their final days. It interests me that you choose to spend yours striving for a better future.
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Nodding at Ruul's comment, he chimes his agreement.
It would be exciting to see your style, Sumisu. The flowing Tien styles I have seen remind me of rushing water, as my own dance draws upon the swirling wind.
The minotaur's bovine eyes go wide in recognition.
"Yes, I have seen you in Master Shaine's study. I have spent a great deal of time plumbing the depths of his tomes as well. He has a lexicon detailing Thasillonion magic that I've sought to borrow for some time."
The bull ponders for a moment.
"The pretty human, Numair, was suggesting some friendly sparring later in the day - to help us get accustomed to each other's techniques. Perhaps you'd care to join us", Ruul offers.
Overhearing the Minotaur's words, Elen giggles, and whispers to Numair, "Sounds like you have another admirer, oh favored blade of the Dawnflower, though this one is much more imposing than the lovesick girls and boys who pine after a hope of catching your eye in the streets of Katheer!"
Then she turns back to Gronk, curious as well as to his answer to her friend's question.
Ally, meanwhile, darts through the crowd to the server, ordering a bottle of mead with a normal glass and a shotglass for her companion and herself.
Fulanke waves off the waiter as he already has his wine which he intends to sip slowly as to not impair his mind.
As Numair makes a comment to him without introduction, the aged man replies in kind.
"As water falls down
and returns back to the cloud
The poet must too."
Rolling his eyes at the haiku slam about to begin, he says to the well-coifed one, "I'm afraid were out of Kaffe at the moment, some sad sack of a sergeant just took our last bag of beans and we won't get a new load until tomorrow. I might have a small amount of brew from Nex, but I'll have to look. If I do, it's a bit stronger and thicker than you might be used to, but it does the same job."
To the pale beauty, Raelc looks at her in the back and says "We'll have some sweet breads coming out of the oven in about 5 minutes. I'll make sure you get the best of the lot."
"I've got everyone else's order here, I'll be back in a few."
Sumisu raised his goblet in salute at the response of the dancing man and took a sip to his health. His interest in what the waiter says increases quite a bit when he talks about sweet breads. So for fear of upsetting the purveyor of sweet breads he waits until he is out of earshot and he softly says with a smile in his eyes.
"The swordplay of words
is best left to older men
And blades to the young."
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Calendir has stopped drinking by now - never much of a barfly, he has had enough for the time being, instead taking his time observing the ones around him.
With a look at Ripley he ponders how long this drow has lived and how amazing, or terrifying, it may have been to actually live what others have only heard about in distant memory - for that he silently raises his mug at her, drinking his last gulp of the night.
Let me go ahead and drop a few beats down on this track. I like to call them the House Rules :p
- [1]All rolls will be out in the open, even mine. Occasionally, you'll see me post just a die roll. These will be the "secret DM roll to determine who gets screwed next...I mean, who gets all that fancy loot!! :)
- Non-Spontaneous Casters - A character that casts spells may utilize their spellbooks (or prayers) during combat in the following manner:
[+]Should the caster have an available spell slot for the spells' level, the caster may use the book as a full-round action to cast the spell needed. It is assumed that the caster, as part of their prayers or memorization from the previous rest period, knows where the spell is located and can read the spell immediately. The spell take effect at the end of the character's turn. This requires no skill checks.
[+]Should the caster NOT have an available spell slot for that spell's level, but has at least 1 spell slot of any level, then the caster may continue as above, but must make a Spellcraft (or Knowledge(religion)) check, with a DC of 20, plus the difference in spell levels, to cast the spell. For example, if a character wishes to cast black tentacles, a 4th level spell, but only has a second level spell slot, the DC to cast the spell would be 22. Should the spell slot used be higher than the spell cast, there is no additional effect. However, if the spell slot used is less than the level of the spell, the caster becomes immediately fatigued. Should the caster already be fatigued, then the caster becomes exhausted. The caster can make a CON check (DC=15, +1 per attempt past the first) to avoid this condition.
[+]Should the caster have NO available spell slots, the above can still be accomplished. However, the the caster must make a Spellcraft (or Knowledge (religion)) check, with a DC of 25 plus the level of the spell, in order to cast. Once the spell is cast, the character is immediately fatigued (or exhausted if already fatigued). The caster can make a CON check (DC=18+1 per attempt after the first) to avoid the condition.
[+]Should the caster fail their skill check to cast a spell from prayer or a spellbook, then the caster will have spent ALL actions for that round. They may attempt the action again the next round, should they desire to do so.
- Spontaneous Casters - Those who do not require a spellbook or prayer to gain spells may perform the above actions, as described previously. The difference is that, instead of prayer or reading, the spontaneous caster must make an stat check (spontaneous casters typically have CHA as their stat, but this is tied to the classes' requirement for determining extra spells for the character), with a DC equal to 20, plus the level of the spell, to remember it again. Spontaneous casters will proceed as determined above for casting the spell.
[2]Shuriken - It is not an oversized tack as PF and 3.0/3.5 treated it, it is more like a dagger with lots of pointy bits. I have used this rule in my real life campaign for about a year and it works fine. For anyone who uses the weapons, here are the following changes: dmg=1d4+Str; range increment=20'.
[3]Spellcasting - Here is the big one: Casters cast all the time in various ways. But the one thing that I have noticed over the last several years is that, spellbooks in game are useless. They are nothing more than a prop at best and something for cats to drool on at the worst. So here is my diabolical plot to make those books in the UE useful again: Getting to use them in battle! So here is my rules on using spellbooks. I'd like some feedback over the weekend on this one, but I think it will work:
I think this is a very good alternative for casting spells (especially in an emergency, not everyone can cast CLW off the top of their heads :P)
The first two rules are set in stone, but I am willing to tweak #3 based off of feedback. Let me know what everyone thinks over the weekend.
I'll be out of town tomorrow, but I will be back Sunday. Between tonight and Sunday, I will drop a few more rumors before the start of the campaign.
M
[2]Shuriken - It is not an oversized tack as PF and 3.0/3.5 treated it, it is more like a dagger with lots of pointy bits. I have used this rule in my real life campaign for about a year and it works fine. For anyone who uses the weapons, here are the following changes: dmg=1d4+Str; range increment=20'.
It would only Elen's. Ally would be on a separate track in that case.
DOT :) I'm okay with keeping this going.
He just needs a flanking partner to be good in combat, too. One downside is that he can't disable magical traps, so we'll need a magic detector with Dispel Magic for those.
cheers
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Dot
Hello all. Very glad to be part of the group. I'll be providing at least some of your arcane support. I understand we also will have the company of a witch with us. This will be nice as Enchantment is an opposition school for me. Should not be hard for us to complement each other in spell selection Necromancy is also opposition for me. Conjuration specialist.
I can Craft Wondrous Item. So as time allows, and resources become available, I can upgrade cloak, belts, headbands, etc.
I am more than willing to take requests for specific buff spells. please let me know what you need to be even more kick ass.
I see lots of synergies already. Simple things like the Flame Arrow spell which will let me create 50 flaming projectiles that are good for 70 minutes (mix and match arrows, bolts, and the new deadly shurikens, etc.) Also my Imp companion (not a familiar) has the potential to be a great scout and perfect scouting companion to Macavity.
As to my thoughts on House Rule 3, I am torn. On the one hand it makes my bonded item choice less valuable and I might have looked harder at that choice if I had known about the house rule in advance. And then I would not have had to go Diabolist to gain a companion, which might have led me to another faction, and totally different kind of character. I do not want to go down that road at this point. Also having the bonded item means I don't need Rule 3 as much as I might have. And if its out there I expect it will be used against us. On the other hand it could mean always having the right spell for any occasion and could both keep us alive longer and make us not have to rest as often. In general I think it favors the player, and will be happy to take advantage of it as written, but I would be fine playing without it.
Noticing a lull in the conversation, Ally hums a soft spell and summons a tiny lyre to her arms. With a strum of her fingers, she begins an energetic melody accompanied by her chiming voice. The lyrics are in Celestial, but even those who do not know the words find their spirits buoyed by the music.
Because he's got no faloorum, faliddle aye oorum
He's got no faloorum, faliddle aye ay
He's got no faloorum, he's lost his ding-doorum
So maids when you're young never wed an old man
An old man came courting me, hey ding-doorum down
An old man came courting me, me being young
An old man came courting me, fain he would marry me
Maids when you're young never wed an old man
Because he's got no faloorum, faliddle aye oorum
He's got no faloorum, faliddle aye ay
He's got no faloorum, he's lost his ding-doorum
So maids when you're young never wed an old man
When we went to church, hey ding-doorum down
When we went to church, me being young
When we went to church, he left me in the lurch
Maids when you're young never wed an old man
Because he's got no faloorum, faliddle aye oorum
He's got no faloorum, faliddle aye ay
He's got no faloorum, he's lost his ding-doorum
So maids when you're young never wed an old man
When we went to bed, hey ding-doorum down
When we went to bed, me being young
When we went to bed, he lay like he was dead
Maids when you're young never wed an old man
Because he's got no faloorum, faliddle aye oorum
He's got no faloorum, faliddle aye ay
He's got no faloorum, he's lost his ding-doorum
So maids when you're young never wed an old man
When he went to sleep, hey ding-doorum down
When he went to sleep, me being young
When he went to sleep, out of bed I did creep
Into the arms of a handsome young man
And I found his faloorum, faliddle aye oorum
I found his faloorum, faliddle aye ay
I found his faloorum, he's got my ding-doorum
So maids when you're young never wed an old man
Those who look carefully at Elen may notice a hint of a blush, mostly hidden behind the sun-kissed skin of her cheeks, as her companion sings.
@Alliriyallin Thanks! I looked at dipping 1 level of Ranger (Trapper). Macavity would lose 1d6 of sneak damage and 2 skill ranks to gain the ability to disable magical traps. He would also gain a pile of other things including Favored Enemy, which he would select Human based on background.
It looks worth it, but I don't want to get too close to Calendir, because he has a Favored Enemy Human.
OR? Macavity could dip two levels of Rogue. He would lose Light Steps and 1 on his BAB, Fort, Will, and Ki Pool. In exchange, he would gain Evasion, trapfinding, +2 Ref.
Any comments?