Ok, I'm re-recruiting for a game that has been going on for about 9 months now. We've gone through a lot of shakeups, and one previous recruitment. The group is down to 3 again.
Original recruitment thread is HERE. Use the character creation guidelines in the first 10 posts (note the issue with the stat arrays!).
Your character should be 4th level though, not 2nd. Again, NPC classes (Sans Adept). Modern world, with appropriate skills (including custom).
Your class will be determined in game. Once your character submission is approved, you should immediately begin RP'ing here in the recruitment thread. The existing players will be monitoring (and may drop by to play NPCs) to get a feel for you. They will make the final decision on who to take. We'll take 1-3 characters, as determined by them.
The bar is 'The Flying Dutchman', and is in New York. It is a cold blustery night with a storm going on, in mid March. All rain, no snow. Unseasonably heavy rain and lightning. You can be from anywhere, you were just in NY for some reason. The bar is one of those at the bottom of a stairway off the street (Think Cheers Bar from the Cheers tv show).
This is not, to my knowledge, a real place in NY. If it is, it's an unbelievable coincidence.
The link to original recruitment seems to have been overwritten.
What I remember, for people interested:
-The game is mythic gestalt, in an interesting homebrew world
-The catch: Characters start with (4th level) NPC classes. PC classes are assigned/chosen through story interactions — everyone will get a first PC class gestalt at the start of the game, with each PC classes being a rather powerful and mystical source power within the game world. We're in the process of acquiring second PC classes, but our characters are not sure yet just how possible this is.
-Because of the way the game has worked, retraining rules have been used. It would be unusual for a character from the "regular world" to start out with a feat like Weapon Focus (Greataxe), but characters have generally retrained feats once they learn how to use proper old-timey weapons.
-Class selections have been a little chancy, so I'd recommend focusing on a character's personality, strengths, and any skills or backstory that might help them survive in a tough environment, rather than building something that relies entirely on a single class feature.
Current Party (if I remember backstories correctly):
-Lina Passgard (mounted police officer-turned fighter/cavalier)
-Neri Voler (circus acrobat-turned magus)
-Luna Rook (criminal scout-turned rogue/alchemist)
Currently, the party has nobody especially wise or charismatic, and off the top of my head characters with skills in survivalism, medicine, cartography or investigation would all be interesting.
The starting arrays we had to choose from were
16, 16, 14, 14, 11, 8
16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 8
16, 15, 14, 11, 10, 10
Stat 1: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 5) = 18 ⇒ 16
Stat 2: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 6) = 15 ⇒ 14
Stat 3: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 5) = 18 ⇒ 16
Stat 4: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 2) = 16 ⇒ 14
Stat 5: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 2) = 9 ⇒ 8
Stat 6: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 1) = 12 ⇒ 11
Stat Array 2 :
Stat 1: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 1) = 9 ⇒ 8
Stat 2: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 5) = 15 ⇒ 12
Stat 3: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 5, 5) = 17 ⇒ 14
Stat 4: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 5, 5) = 19 ⇒ 15
Stat 5: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 1, 1) = 14 ⇒ 13
Stat 6: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 2, 6) = 18 ⇒ 16
Stat Array 3 :
Stat 1: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 4) = 11 ⇒ 10
Stat 2: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 2, 2) = 12 ⇒ 10
Stat 3: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 4, 2) = 12 ⇒ 11
Stat 4: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 3, 6) = 18 ⇒ 15
Stat 5: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 4) = 17 ⇒ 14
Stat 6: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 5, 3) = 19 ⇒ 16
Here's the link to the start of the old recruitment. :)
The above stat arrays appear correct after getting 'fixed' later in the recruitment. Also, I am -also- an Expert, thank you very much!
Since it isn't super clear, you start off as a person. From the real world. You'll be treated as a 4th level combination of warrior/expert/aristocrat.
When you get in world, you'll get the class you gestalt with. :)
Sometimes I hate how Paizo does links. Oh well, thanks Lina and Neri.
Bump! Nobody interested? I thought gestalt was super popular. :)
Well, I know -I- am, but I don't think you want two of me. :)
Don't have time to wrap my head around this, but I think it might be due to 2 big factors :
1) gestalting with an NPC class
2) not knowing which class you're going to be gestalting that NPC class with.
Just my 2 cents.
Hope you find someone :)
Dot & question - would you care to elaborate a bit on the plot and tone itself?
The characters, without giving away too much, will find themselves in a world they have never heard of, and will be the only ones that have Elder Souls. Those souls allow them to do things no regular mortal of that world can do. The world is in danger, though it doesn't know it. The characters will find this out in game, so please play them at the start as having no idea where they are or why they are there.
Is this going to be/is it a fairytale like world and story along the lines of Narnia or perhaps something darker like the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant? Perhaps even an eldritch horror story (Elder Souls =~ Elder Gods? :P).
I am sure I would find out by going trough the gameplay thread, but a brief glance told me it was 2000+ and that will take a while : )
Now, as an idea, I'd think some sort of real world 'magician' would be fun to play - you know the type that believes in voodoo and cards and star signs and what not. Add in a dash of con-man and I should have something that will be fun !
I'm not sure how apt the Narnia comparison is. I remember it as mostly sunshine and rainbows... but that was decades ago. I think probably a bit darker than Narnia. Our current goal is a little up in the air. Mostly, each character is following their own aspirations. I think your aspirations are a major part. (Neri seeks acknowledgement. Right now, he has a hero complex and is trying to fix everything :p)
As for random classes, I opted in -for- the idea of random, but it wasn't random at all (although Neri made it so.) There were strong hints of what you were signing up for when we arrived, so it is definitely gamable to get something not completely obscure. I also believe playing a 10 charisma sorcerer is so close to unlucky as to be virtually impossible. I don't -know- that that is the case, though.
Finally, what has happened is daunting to read over, but it's by no means necessary to reread. Neri likes to share what he knows, so once you're here, I'll definitely give you a synopsis and cliff notes. But bear in mind, what I 'know' may not be super accurate, as I tend to infer (often incorrectly!)
Yeah, Narnia was my sunshine and rainbows 'fairytale' setting (ignoring that the fairytales really tends to be ... gory). So a bit bleaker then : )
And I believe there was some ability to switch which class characters chose, but I may be misremembering.
I always have big trouble with presenting my idea of the character and their background with a backstory - either it just doesn't feel enough or I just can't think of way to showcase/express a character trait the way I'd like. This time I tried one of those character questionnaires, we'll see how that works :P
Now, I'll add some more.
Liisa is a talented street artist - or more accurately con artist. You know the sort that runs shell games or 'helps' tourists while emptying their pockets.
Her choice of profession isn't from malice, but convenience. She didn't exactly do stellar in school, so it was either crappy low-paid jobs or relieving strangers of their money trough guile.
She has a burning interest for the occult - faeries or wiccans or norse mythology or whatever. She doesn't really believe in the stuff, but at a subconscious level she really hopes (except those damn tarot cards, always freakishly accurate!). Fixing everything with magic would be so much easier ...
Eagerly taking in question or suggestions, if anyone has any = )
Otherwise, pending a nod, I'll hit up a mock IC post at 'The Flying Dutchman'
Okay, I'm trying to wrap my head around this because it sounds interesting. So, let me get this straight:
1. You can choose among any of the arrays, correct?
2. Now you have these listed as the NPC classes in the OR:
Classes: Aristocrat, Commoner, Expert, Warrior
These are the only ones you choose from, correct? Where would the "cop"(Lina) fit in that? Warrior maybe?
And since Lina started out as a cop, how did Lina become this class: ...turned fighter/cavalier? Was it chosen specifically or randomly chosen?
And what happens if you choose warrior - and say you build your NPC as you would a typical warrior - but then when you make it to PC class you get hit with a wizard class? Now you're stuck being a wizard with a 10 in intelligence because you built him more warrior type. Would this be correct?
Also, you say you're down to three. Seeing how thunderbeard(What's up, thunder? Long time no see, bud. Glad to see Victoriana get picked up again. Even I was saying they had to pick her up. She's a good character) :) and Hotaru are still around, who's the third? Which one out of Eldon and Zoey dropped?
Okay, I'm trying to wrap my head around this because it sounds interesting. So, let me get this straight:
1. You can choose among any of the arrays, correct?
2. Now you have these listed as the NPC classes in the OR:
Classes: Aristocrat, Commoner, Expert, WarriorThese are the only ones you choose from, correct? Where would the "cop"(Lina) fit in that? Warrior maybe?
And since Lina started out as a cop, how did Lina become this class: ...turned fighter/cavalier? Was it chosen specifically or randomly chosen?
And what happens if you choose warrior - and say you build your NPC as you would a typical warrior - but then when you make it to PC class you get hit with a wizard class? Now you're stuck being a wizard with a 10 in intelligence because you built him more warrior type. Would this be correct?
1. Any of the listed arrays were allowed
2. Lina was originally a warrior IIRC
I'll leave the class questions up to MDT as I don't know what he wants kept secret but out of everyone that played no one got a class that just completely screwed you over, pretty sure he has some mercy on that.
Eldon was the one that dropped
Okay, cool. Thanks.
Edit: Are traits allowed?
2. Lina started as an expert/warrior, but I took over the character when someone joined the game. As someone with an interest in horses, she chose a class described as "knight" and wound up with cavalier levels—the fighter class was gained later, through the character making some foolish choices.
Our characters also have a pretty good idea of how new recruits would become a witch, wizard, or bard, but beyond that might have a bit of trouble differentiating between oracle and cleric or sorcerer and summoner. There is also possibly some in-game way to exchange classes, but we were pretty happy with ours.
Also, traits are allowed, and one drawback. (And I wound up taking Additional Traits as a feat)
Sorry for not responding all day, I was buried in work, and then flew back from Calgary (I'm making a trip to calgary every week for the next 2-3 months).
Traits are allowed, but refluff them so they make sense for the real world.
The only way to end up a wizard with a 10 INT is to force the situation (much like Neri did). The game will not trick you into something, but, if you get stubborn and try to force things, you might end up with a bad situation.
Even then, you're not completely trapped, as there's ways to overcome it, but it'll be some in character grief to do so.
Liisa's good to go to start doing 'mock posts' in the Bar.
doting.
There you have it. 18 dex, and 16 int was enough for MDT to try to stop Magus from happening, based on -other- things that were tied to that particular class. So there you have it, you're mostly safe. :)
Cursing like a seaman, Liisa stumbled trough the rain towards the door with the inviting 'open' sign. The thin jacket she wore was woefully under-equipped to deal with the weather and she felt soaked to the bone, despite having only wandered a handful of meters from the taxi. Her connecting flight from NY to San Francisco had been cancelled due to 'bad weather' and her travel agency couldn't book her on another flight until the day after tomorrow. And they couldn't be arsed to fix a hotel room for her either. Last freakin' time I fly on a budget airline! she though, despite that her drained wallet wouldn't let her fly anything bigger then a kite anymore. Not until she got to San Francisco and her new job. I bet it's sunny down there. she sighed and cursed the weather again.
With a slam she flung the door open and slipped in. Catching her breath and wiping away the water from her face, she looked around. The cab driver was right - it looked like a nice bar. And, more importantly, it was supposed to stay open until the morning. Perhaps she could try her luck then and scrape together enough money for a room somewhere. Ugh, that's a problem for then.
With another glance round the room, this time at the locals, she walked over and took a seat at the bar. With singing but fully understandable english she called out the barkeep, after getting his attention by slamming a wet crumpled 10$ bill on the desk. "A beer. And vodka. I need to forget your crappy weather for a few hours." In her current state, she could hardly go for pretty. Perhaps sympathy? With a miserable smile she added "I don't suppose you serve towels here too?"
The bartender, a blonde woman in her middle ages, with some tats showing at the wrists of her long sleeved white shirt smiles. "Sorry, no. But there's a hot air hand dryer in the ladies room that can be turned to hit your face." She reaches for a bottle of vodka. "You want that beer and vodka as a vodka and chaser, or as a boilermaker?" She looks at the ten on the counter. "And sorry sweetie, you sound foreign. Money's not worth as much in the states as it is elsewhere, especially here in the big apple. The vodka itself is twelve dollars, the beer is six. So you need $18."
Perkele! That's even worse then back home... Her sharp inhalation turns into a cough as she fights down the urge to yell curses and flail her arms around. Typically, it didn't improve the situation anyhow... Patting down her almost liquid jacket, she managed to fish up another 10$ in the same shape as the first and add it to the other.
"Sorry, heard that the drinks where supposed to be cheap up here in the States." With an apologetic smile she adds "Probably didn't mean NY with that. Wasn't even supposed to stay here, but my connection got cancelled thanks to the weather." She swivels around in her chair looking for the ladies room. That hot air dryer sounded very inviting about now. "This way? Make them drinks separate, I'll be back in five." Maybe ten. Maybe I ought to fetch my drinks and just sit in there instead ...
After confirming the route and her drinks, Liisa heads over to the ladies room. The dryer was every bit as pleasant as she had imagined, and she lingered a bit longer then she said to the barkeep. Surely she wouldn't mind. With a combination of privacy and warmth, something she hadn't really experienced since she stepped inside the airport in Helsinki she took the time to check her pockets. Her packet of smokes was wet, but the foil inside it had protected the contents somewhat - still usable. Worse was the gooey white mess inside the back-pocket of her jeans. It had probably been a note or a recite of some sort. With a quick look around to make sure she was still alone she scraped the mess off on a nearby wall. Luckily, both her phone and her deck of cards seemed to have survived the ordeal. The deck was some sort of laminated plastic anyhow, but she had been a bit worried - yet when she shuffled trough it quickly all the painted symbols looked back at her sharp as the day when she bought it.
When she came back outside and gluped down her shot of vodka, she finally felt like a real person for the first time in many hours. The liquid spread its embracing warmth trough her body and she shivered in pleasure. "That felt good. Ain't going to lie, probably the best drink I've had in a while!" She glanced at the barkeep and sipped her beer. The blonde woman looked slightly like her mother, only cooler. Heh... The thoughts of mum with tatoos and serving in a bar evoked a chuckle from her. "So, anything fun going down here in the city? I've got tomorrow to kill..."
The lack of control over what class you get sounds interesting (but also, as I discovered, difficult to pick feats/traits for).
Question: What about archetypes for classes? Are they just not being used, also decided upon, or player choice?
Anyway, here's the crunch and background for my submission. I can start RPing some stuff when I get approval, and I can make an alias if selected. The background mostly focuses on fluff for traits, but I can add stuff if desired. Like his goals/motivations (which covers his drawback). I just didn't want to make it too long.
Human expert 4
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +7; Senses Perception +10
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+2 Dex)
hp 34 (4d8+12)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +7 (-2 vs. Charm or Compulsion effects if there's a promise of wealth or power)
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 12, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 18
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats
- Improved Initiative: +4 Init
- Persuasive: +2 Diplomacy and Intimidate
- Voice Of The Sibyl[UM]: +1 Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform (oratory)
Traits
- bloody-minded (combat): +1 Init and Intimidate
- charming (social): +1 Bluff, Diplomacy, language based spell DC for characters who could be attracted to you
- wary (regional): +1 opposed Perception and Sense Motive
Skills (* class skill)
Acrobatics +2
Appraise -1
*Bluff +12 (+13 vs. characters who could be attracted to you) [4 Cha ranks]
Climb +1
*Diplomacy +14 (+15 vs. characters who could be attracted to you) [4 ranks]
*Disable Device +6 [1 rank]
*Disguise +8 [1 rank]
*Escape Artist +9 [4 ranks]
Fly +2
Heal +3
*Intimidate +14 [4 ranks]
*Perception +10 (+11 on opposed checks.) [4 ranks]
Ride +2
*Sense Motive +10 (+11 on opposed checks.) [1 rank + 3 Wis ranks]
*Sleight of Hand +6 [1 rank]
*Stealth +7 [2 Dex ranks]
*Survival +10 [4 ranks]
Swim +1
Total: 24 ranks + 4 Cha + 3 Wis + 2 Dex
Languages Common
SQ power-hungry
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Charming +1 Bluff/Diplomacy/save DC for a language-dependent spell vs. targets who could be sexually attracted to you.
Power-Hungry -2 vs. Will saves if the effect's creator promises wealth or power
Voice of the Sibyl Gain bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Perform (oratory) checks
Wary (Daggermark, Sense Motive) +1 to Perception and Sense Motive checks, Sense Motive is always a class skill for you.
How Johnny had managed to get on the bad side of the local mob was anybody's guess; all the man in question would say about it himself was that it was all a misunderstanding, and he'd flash you that disarming smile of his. A few people speculated that he cheated the mob out of some money, but those were mostly the folks that didn't know him. Johnny was a bit too dim to pull that off but not dim enough to try. Others thought it was a family thing: his drunk of a dad getting in too deep with the wrong people or some such. But in the end, it didn't really matter. It was just one more thing to make Johnny's life all the more difficult.
Fortunately, most of the time the mob had better things to do than send men after some two-bit PI. But that first close call meant he had to always be on the lookout for the next man ready to punch his ticket up to the big pearly gates in the sky. Despite all his indifference to them, someone up there must've liked him that day. Or maybe they simply weren't paying attention. Either way, he doubted he'd get another second chance, so he always had to keep one eye open for one of Maloney's thugs. .
Luckily, they generally weren't that hard to spot, so when he saw them, he was often able to slink away. That or talk his way out of the situation, a handy skill he picked up as a child (his dad liked to claim credit for that one. And his ability to take a punch. "Don' say I never gave yer nuthin'."). It was one of those skills necessary for survival, both then and now. Although now he preferred to use it to sweet talk intel out of attractive ladies rather than calm down angry brutes, but then, who wouldn't? It helped that ladies often found him easy on the eyes. He wasn't glamorous, like some movie star, but once he started talking and flashed his smile a few times, women often found that he had some je ne sais quoi about him.
Question: What about archetypes for classes? Are they just not being used, also decided upon, or player choice?
We were allowed to pick our archetypes
A woman in her mid twenties with brown hair enters the bar she seems scared at first glancing slightly above everyone's head, maybe she had time to enjoy her old life for a moment before it happened.
What happens if I die here again or if I get all these people out of here?
On Archetypes: MDT also seems to be pretty friendly with doing interesting things to make stuff work. Like, I believe Jacob took an Undine Bard archetype, and there was never anything said of it in discussion or the like. :)
Of further interest, I've retrained Neri pretty much from the acrobat up. He's not been willing to let go of who he was up to this point (which Lina will probably say holds him back, in character and out :P), but he's actually probably made the most extensive use of retraining of anyone in the party. (As he's repeatedly tried to make things fit as best he can, but his 'daddy's clothes' are a little big for him. :P)
Your drawback might seriously come back to bite you at some point, though. :P
If you get them out, they get a few more days, or a week or two. Then something else happens, and maybe drags in other people. Those extra days and weeks have to come from somewhere... or someone. I'm not the one to ask about death though, I just steal enough of it's power to keep myself from feeling it's grip. Amused wry voice. You can't die here again, you're already dead. Your borrowed body can be destroyed. You'd have to find another one quickly, before the creatures find you. There are those who live such a life here, going from one stolen body to another, avoiding the creatures who harvest souls. But no mortal can escape death, it comes to all eventually.
Reminder for Skills : Background : Your background is up to you, and it's the background that will get you in the game, if I run it. You can make any person that would reasonably exist in the real world right now. You will get a one time bonus to Skill Points based on your stat bonuses at character cration. For every positive point of each stat you have, you gain one skill point that must be spent on a skill associated with that stat. For example, if you have an 18 str, you can spend 4 skill points on Str based skills (for example, 2 climb and 2 swim). If you have more points for a stat than you can spend at 2nd level, you may 'bank' those points to spend them when you level up.
Please put skills in your submissions as this :
Skill Name +(Bonus) : # Ranks + # Stat Ranks + # Stat Bonus + # Trait/Feat/Trained/Etc
Example : Acrobatics +12 : 2 Ranks + 2 Stat Ranks + 4 Stat Bonus + 3 Trained + 1 Trait
Mouse is approved for RP, fix skills when able. Liisa, note the skill ranks above and apply them as desired. Note that max ranks is still 4.
The bartender shakes her head. "Not really, there was supposed to be a community fair a block over tonight, but the storm cancelled it. There was going to be a concert in central park too, but again, cancelled." She chuckles. Then there's a strange banging sound from the wall behind the bar, and several pipes that come out of the wall begin to vibrate.
With a groan, the woman turns around and slams her fist into a large brass thermostat on the wall that looks like it was installed in the 50's. "Damn piece of junk, landlord keeps swearing he's going to replace it with a modern system. Sorry." She turns the thermostat up, and the pipes stop banging. "Circulated heat, hot water in the pipes, keeps the place toasty, but it's a b*&!* to keep working."
Your drawback might seriously come back to bite you at some point, though. :P
Acrobatics +2: 0 ranks + 2 Dex
Appraise -1: 0 ranks - 1 Int
Bluff +12 (+13 vs. characters who could be attracted to you): 4 Cha ranks + 4 Cha + 3 trained + 1 Voice of Sibyl (+1 Charming trait)
Climb +1: 0 ranks + 1 Str
Diplomacy +14 (+15 vs. characters who could be attracted to you): 4 ranks + 4 Cha + 3 trained + 2 Persuasive + 1 Voice of Sibyl (+ 1 Charming trait)
Disable Device +6: 1 rank + 2 Dex + 3 trained
Disguise +8: 1 rank + 4 Cha + 3 trained
Escape Artist +9: 4 ranks + 2 Dex + 3 trained
Fly +2: 0 ranks + 2 Dex
Heal +3: 0 ranks + 3 Wis
Intimidate +14: 4 ranks + 4 Cha + 3 trained + 2 Persuasive + 1 Bloody-Minded
Perception +10 (+11 on opposed checks.): 4 ranks + 3 Wis + 3 trained (+1 Wary trait)
Ride +2: 0 ranks + 2 Dex
Sense Motive +10 (+11 on opposed checks.): 1 rank + 3 Wis ranks + 3 Wis + 3 trained (+1 Wary trait)
Sleight of Hand +6: 1 rank + 2 Dex + 3 trained
Stealth +7: 2 Dex ranks + 2 Dex + 3 trained
Survival +10: 4 ranks + 3 Wis + 3 trained
Swim +1: 0 ranks + 1 Str
It was a cold, hard rain. Just the kind Johnny Slade liked. Except when he was forced to go out in it. He tried to turn up the collar to his trench coat even further to ward against the frigid water baptizing the world. He looked around for The Flying Dutchman: the bar his client's husband had been known to favor. It was another one of those cheating spouse's cases. After the last one he had sworn to himself he wouldn't take any more, but how could he say no to a dame like that? Besides, her money was pretty good. A little too good. Which probably meant it was a set up. But still. Business had been slow lately.
Finally spotting the place, he walks in, squinting a little in the suddenly bright light. His trench coat, now a dark tan, had managed to keep his clothes beneath remarkably dry. He looked kind of like he thought it was still the 40's, clean shaven with a white shirt, suspenders, brown pleated slacks, and brown oxfords. He briefly lifted his fedora to quickly finger comb his damp, short brown hair. All his clothes were clean and in good condition but clearly well used.
He spends a moment shaking off the spare water from his coat and taking note of the entrances, exits, and potential threats present. Satisfied, he strides confidently towards the bar, taking a seat. Slapping a twenty down, he calls to the bar keep. "Whiskey. Neat." When it arrives, he takes a large gulp before turning back to the woman seving alcohol. "Say doll, you haven't seen this man around here lately, have you?" He pulls out a picture of a mousey-looking man with narrow features and a thin mustache.
The blonde bartender makes the whiskey as requested, and takes the $20 and returns $8 bucks. "I'm not your doll, bud." She says, archly, but looks over the picture. "Nah, looks like the type who'd do something stupid like call me babe or doll or honey, and I'd remember that. I always remember that."
Also... will saves have been pretty important in this campaign so far. I'd recommend the traits Carefully Hidden or Principled for anyone looking to choose one, if anyone thinks the personality fits. Principled specifically gives +2 vs. charm and compulsion (but -2 on bluff), which would hilariously cancel out all of Johnny Slade's other traits under certain circumstances.
Johnny raises his hands in surrender, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "No offense intended do-- miss. From what I hear, he would be the type you'd remember. Or at least, them's the rumors. I've been tryin' ta find the truth-- or lack thereof-- in them. When's your shift?" He quickly continues with an explanation before the woman misunderstands. "I heard he's a reg'lar here, and if you haven't seen him perhaps someone on a diff'rent shift has."
The woman snorts. "I own the place. I don't have an off shift." She seems to have been mollified by the apology though. "I don't recognize him, so he's not a regular." She looks thoughtful. "You sure you weren't told the Raining Duchess? It's a bar about 8 blocks south of here, and 3 blocks east. Down by the docks. I wouldn't bother going down there right now though, the police raided it yesterday, it'll be at least a week before it's open again."
"Ugh, don't even mention raining." Came a voice from the door as a girl walked into the bar, shaking off some rain from an actual rain coat, before leaving it at a table near the the entrance, dangling over a chair. She then proceeded to stand by said chair as she flicked her hands back and forth over her shock of pick hair, causing what little wetness was actually afflicting her, after the coat had been removed, to distribute more evenly. She seemed not to even really notice the brunette, currently caught up in her own first-world problems.
With the raincoat off, everyone could make out a girl of probably half-asian and half caucasian descent, though obviously American, given the young-adult accent. She was wearing a black baby-doll tee with something japanese written along the rib cage in pink. On her left wrist was a spiked bracelet, while her right arm was covered in a multi-colored flower tattoo. Tight jeans, a good belt, and combat boots, a silver chain, and a pair of piercings - also silver - one in her ear, and one in her nose completed the ensemble.
"Concert's canceled, and a bus flipped over, so I can't even get back home." she said as she sighed heavily. "Even better, I forgot to charge my phone! I didn't expect them to cancel the concert for -this-." she motioned back outside, as she made her way towards the bar, pulling a handful of cash out of her pocket.
She pulls a pair of twenties out of the handful, and places them on the bar. She looks at the bartender for a moment, then seems to decide it's probably best to not push her already-stretched-thin luck, looking a slightly disappointed. She very much didn't look twenty-one, after all. "What do you have that's non-alcoholic?"
Then she looked to the other patrons. She grins at Johnny. "Nice kit. Very classy! I'm digging it! Noir party get canceled?" then looks to Liisa who looked to be having a rough night. "And... go ahead and get her another of whatever she wanted. Allowance isn't gonna spend itself."
@Skills - I have reformatted the skills now and added the attribute bonuses.
@Will Saves - Lucky me : )
@Lina - I looked over some of the posts at the start of the game, and Lina's google translate 'sweedish' was a fun touch. But just before I intrude, am I correct in assuming you are not the original Lina so to say? =)
_______________________________________
Liisa sighs when the barkeep informs her about the cancelled events. Just my luck ... But then, she hadn't really expected much to be up in this trice cursed weather! With a thank-you nod to the barkeep, Liisa stared down in her glass. Eh, no use to mope around... With a hearty mouthful of beer she looked up and around again, retrieving her set of cards from her pocket and shuffling them. She had to make the beer last, and this always killed some time!
First she wiped the bardisk clean with the sleeve of her jacket, when the barkeep was distracted by the heating system. "Mmm, know what you mean" She had had the same arrangement in her apartment, probably with a similar dating. At least we don't have to freeze! she thought merrily to herself and dealt herself three cards. The fool, the hermit and death. Ain't that accurate! Quickly, before someone noticed, she scooped the cards back into the deck.
To find alternative ways of passing the time, she instead turned to watch the other customers. The local colour at the bar wasn't that exciting and the first of the new arrivals seemed pretty nondescript. A bit lost maybe, but nothing major. The second one to come on the other hand looked like someone straight out of a detective flick. And sure enough! Looking back at her drink, she turned her attention to eavesdropping on the conversation between the barkeep and the detective. The doll exchange gave her a small chuckle which she quickly drowned in beer. She continued to listen with half a mind after that, but the exchange wasn't terribly exciting after that.
But the third one trough the door was certainly a sight. She reminded her of something she would see in the clubs she frequented back home - or possibly the bathroom mirror say five-ten years ago. As the black/pink girl unloaded on the barkeep, the wheels in the back of Liisas mind started turning. Maybe if she played her cards right, she wouldn't have to find a hotel room for tomorrow. One night in a couch? Wouldn't mind! To the barkeep she ordered "Just a beer please." With these prices, I don't want to poison the well...
With a thankful smile she nodded at the pink girl. "Thanks." she said with a singing foreign accent. "I might be able to give you a hand actually ..." With a single smooth move she retrieved her phone from her pocket, unlocked it and slid it along the bardesk to her benefactor. "Got f%~&ed over by the weather too, cancelled my flight." With the brief comment, she hoped to sow a little seed. "I'm Liisa by the way, nice to meet you. What show where you going too ?"
Hmm. I am fairly sure I noticed a post here from Phoebe that I managed to hit reply to, but it is gone now.
I'll just put my reply in a spoiler instead and cross my fingers :P
"Mmmm" Liisa mumbles as Phoebe fiddles with her phone, absent-mindedly wondering if the girl was old enough to actually having seen a floppy disk. Maybe? Once or twice perhaps she speculated and sipped on her beer. When it became apparent that the girl didn't actually knew her number (at the moment) she had to take another quick sip to hide her disappointment. So much for the couch ... As she put the glass down again she shrugged. Eh, could be worse. She does seem like a bit of fun. With an understanding nod, she accepted her phone back and it disappeared once more with a flick of her wrist.
"Well, I doubt they would play Mozart at this hour so I don't think you missed any 'culture' Ph- *ehm* Feebers." she commented with a friendly laugh. Yep, sounds like a younger me. Not that father ever neglected us, but the divide in taste at least... "But please, indulge me, what's hot on the scene over this side of the Atlantic?" she asked, a bit curious. Her hands where playing with her cards again, but that didn't seem to distract her.
Johnny grimaces slightly upon hearing he didn't need to come all the way out here in this weather. However, not wanting to seem ungrateful, he smiles at the bartender anyway. "Maybe I got my info wrong. I'll be sure to look into it though." He raises his glass to her in a salute, this time taking a smaller sip as he committed the name of the other bar, and the directions, to memory.
I'm sure Mrs. Haverford said he went to 'The Flying Dutchman'. Maybe she was lyin'? Didn't look like it though. Coulda been he gave her the slip, comin' to a nice place like this only ta slip out the back for a shadier joint all quiet-like. I'll have ta look into it.
His thoughts are interrupted by the pink-haired girl. He raises an eyebrow slightly at her appearance but says nothing, merely returning her smile. "Seemed appropriate with the weather." Switching to his best movie star voice, he continues. "It was hard rain. Hard enough to wash the slime off the street." He decided to leave out the part where most of his clothes looked like this. Or his VHS player at home with its piles of tapes next to it. Because yes, he had a VHS player. It was one of his few, thankfully cheap, escapes.
As Liisa passes her phone over to the new girl, Johnny catches sight of the foreign language. He looks briefly surprised to see gibberish, but then his face lights up. "Great security idea there! I never would have thought of it. Would try it meself, but I'm afraid I don't have the head for languages. Plus my phone is dumb enough I wouldn't be surprised iff'n it didn't have a languages setting. Works great as a doorstop though." His eyes sparkle in amusement as he takes another sip of his drink.
"Sweet!" Came the reply from the maybe-twenty-something teenager as she took the phone, beaming. "It's a lot better than looking for a payphone, and the taxi driver was going full-on-extortion. Wanted to get home, so either wanted me to pay double the fair, or get out. Out seemed better... I have no idea what any of this does. I'm gonna assume the phone one will do the phone numbers thing." she nodded as it did in fact bring up a touch-tone interface. "Just call and get them to send something out." she said as she's punching in the numbers. "Don't you just love how smart phones still use those old-timey ear-and-mouth-piece phones for symbols? It's like how they use floppy disk icons for saving." she grins as she continues to share her lack of brain-to-mouth filter, and her apparently-sunny disposition. She puts the phone to her ear. "And how our phones memorize all of our numbers for us, so we don't have to worry about actually being sure we have the right number until an emergency? Ugggh." she said as she handed the phone back, with the three-tone 'not a real phone number' response still coming out of it. "Maybe I'll get it later."
She slid in beside Liisa, given that she seemed friendly, "I honestly don't know. Momzilla thinks I could use some culture. So it could have been anything from Classical, to a blue-grass thing, to even more folky... all the way up to 'classic' rock. She's not really a fan of my tastes." she shrugs, "And dad obliges her, because dad does the working thing, not the kid thing." She holds out her hand, "Phoebe, though my friends call me Feebers, and yes, I know that is not at all an abbreviation."
"Scene? Iunno. I'm more into alternative stuff and stuff from dad's country. Techno's cool, too. I think I'd die without Dub." She instinctively reaches to pull out her phone, and has already swiped before remembering it's dead. She frowns for a moment, then shrugs.
"What about you guys, what kind of music do you listen to?"
The bartender eyes the underage girl, and just then the lightning strikes outside, and the front door rattles in it's frame. "Right, I got soda." She pours the girl a coke, and gets the beer for Liisa. "Due to the storm, you can order soda. No drink sharing. And the beer is on the house, you're not paying for it. And it's the last beer on the house." She tells Phoebe sternly.
The bartender and phoebe's hourglasses aren't actually running out, they've got about the same amount of sand in them, much more than the others in the bar. There are a couple of others in the bar with various degrees of timers, now that you're looking. The guy in the trenchcoat, and the girl at the bar, along with several others, all have counters measuring in minutes.
Luna and everyone here was running out of time she had to find the ones she needed and get out, she spots the group of three talking and heads to them in a rush. Hopefully she can get rid of the girl with time and only take those without.
"Sorry to intrude but I don't have much time." She focused on the two with the lowest timers."I'm in need of help and quickly long story short can you handle yourselves in the wilderness?She glances at Phoebe."You should leave, now if possible."
What do I do when I've found the ones we need?
Mark them. And the knowledge of how to tie them comes to her mind. Along with a memory, a woman who had touched her arm only a few minutes before the vehicle came at her. Then you just leave, you'll pull them with you by the ties that you bind.
"Right..." Liisa grins at the man in trench-coat. She hadn't thought of that. Just one more thing to get used to here in the states. "It's easier if you grow up with the language."
Putting Phoebe's looks and the stereotype of 'Japanese dad' together, Liisa feels she has a pretty good guess at what country that would be! Thanks internet. Truly brings us all together... Conjuring her cellphone once again, she puts on a happy tune. Everyone could appreciate that - or am I completely out of tune with the youth these days? Shuddering at the thought of growing old, Liisa lowers the volume a bit just to be sure. "A bit of this and that. Not as much techno I admit, but a fair bit of industrial and synth.-"
When the nondescript brunette animates and comes at them, Liisa almost bites her tongue. It reminded her of a junkie needing a fix and she instinctively scooted a bit away from her. "Err - define 'help'?" There was certainly something wrong with that woman! Or maybe people are just more outgoing in this part of the world? She glanced briefly at her original companions to judge how they reacted. I could just play along a little... "I have hiked once and twice ..."
Johnny smiles slightly. "As you might expect, I like blues and the occasional jazz song. I'm Johnny, by the by. Johnny Slade."
When the new girl comes over, he raises both eyebrows at her. "I'm more'n urban type myself. What kinda help were you lookin' fer?" If she needs help with th' wilderness, this seems an odd type place ta come. Ain't much wild here 'bouts. 'Cept maybe some of the people.
Phoebe actually put a bit of distance between herself and the girl. Combining being in a less-friendly part of town than where she lived (not that that was hard), with the way she acted... and she was fairly certain she didn't want to have too much to do with her. "I... don't think it'd be a good idea for me to leave right now. I think I'll finish my drink, and wait for my ride..." she trailed off.
Merp. Just dropping by to say that I'll probably switch my Cha and Int.
(Int 16 Cha 14 -> Int 14 Cha 16)
While I really like splashing skillpoints and such around, I think I may have a copy of every pathfinder Int-based character already running at the moment : )