PF-erized Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[LisztesFerenc]

  Okay, so this game got its own thread. I will be hopefully be running an Expedition to Castle Ravenloft game converted to the PF system with a party of 4-6 players, I think I have 3 so far.

  Useful information you probably already know/guessed: this module is undead heavy, though by no means will they be your only opponent. This game draws elements of horror, but it’s still a D&D/PF game. No effort is made to split the party, no fucking with divination spells or the like.
  Side note for people coming over from 3.5 – In PF, undead are not immune to precision damage, and clerics deal damage to undead instead of turning them. There’s other changes but these are the most relevant.

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  Character generation:
Starting level: 6
For HP: Maximum at first level, then roll with the following -
                   d6 - reroll all 1s
                   d8 - reroll all 1s and 2s
                   d10 - reroll all 1s, 2s and 3s
                   d12 - reroll all 1s, 2s, 3s and 4s
Point buy: Standard fantasy (15)
Standard wealth.
Two Traits and one Drawback (So east character will have at least 1 drawback). You may take one additional drawback for a third trait.
Sources permitted: PF. I will consider on request third part, 3.5 stuff and homebrew.
This game will use Taint rules from Heroes of Horror, but unless you wish other you’re character will start taint free, so there’s plenty of time to worry about that later.
This game will use the Background Skills optional rules, which can be found here: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/background-skills
The short version is you get 10 extra skill points that can only be used on the following skills (including 2 new ones):

Appraise
Artistry (int) - Creating something artistic not covered by craft or perform, such as writing a song or play or criticism of another's work.
Craft
Handle Animal
Knowledge (engineering)
Knowledge (geography)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (nobility)
Linguistics
Lore (int, trained only) - A more specific knowledge. Possible categories include a specific monastery, a single, small settlement, the spice trade, tea or frost griant.
Perform
Profession
Sleight of Hand

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  What starts it all off:
  You receive a letter from a rather unhelpful messenger who was paid to deliver it and not to care, which asked you to head to the town of Barovia. The module acknowledges this is a rather thread bare motivations and offers alternatives: breaking a smuggling ring that operates through Barovia (it’s also the name of the realm), finding a missing person, rumours of a powerful undead slaying artifact being hidden there or the Lighbringingers (an undead hunting organizations) requesting assistance.
  You will need to know each other as a party and I’d like most of you to have adventured together before. One or two new arrivals is fine though.

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  So, module specific stuff (or at least, the ones that are available to you from the get go):

Enduring Life
Benefit: Whenever you would gain a negative energy level, you can ignore the penalty and other associated ill effects for a number of minutes equal to your constitution modifier (minimum 1).
Furthermore, you gain +4 bonus on fortitude saves to remove negative energy levels.

Lasting Life
Prerequisites: Endurance, Enduring Life
Benefit: Once per round as a standard action, you can attempt to remove each negative energy level from yourself with a will save (DC 10 + 1/2 attacker's HD + attacker's Cha mod). Roll separately for each negative energy level you have. If you fail to remove some or all of your negative energy levels, you may try again next round.

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Alchemical Flare Bolt - The function as silver crossbow bolts against any foe save for corporeal undead, against which the silver tip, blended with phosferus and garlic, deals an additional 1d6 points of fire damage.
Cost: 150gp for 10, Craft DC: 20

Alchemical Flare Stakes - These function as daggers that are consumed after one attack against any opponent save for corporeal undead, against which the weapon is left embedded, dealing 1d6 fire damage on the initial attack and subsequent rounds until it is pulled free, a standard action that provokes an AoO.
Cost: 150gp for 10, Craft DC: 20

Alchemical Sun Flash – Alchemist fire that in the moment of use also glows with the light of a true sun. Creatures with light sensitivity or blindness are dazzled for 1 round, and creatures with daylight powerlessness are staggered. Neither effect offers a save.
Cost: 50gp, Craft DC: 25

Alchemical Vampire Repellant –Garlic perfume applied as a standard action, this keeps vampires and their spawn at bay as if a holy symbol were presented for 10 rounds.
Cost: 125g, Craft DC: 25

Ghost Touch Oil – Give a medium (or smaller) sized weapon ghost touch for 1 minute. Apply as a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Larger than medium weapons require more than 1 dose.
Cost: 500g, Craft DC: 25

Ipecac – Induces vomiting, nauseating you for 1d4 rounds unless you can succeed on a DC: 11 fortitude save (which you can voluntary fail when taking it yourself). Using ipecac gives you a +5 bonus to fortitude saves against ingested poisons for 1 minute. One vial contains 10 doses.
Cost: 125g, Craft DC: 25

Lichbane – An injury poison that effects only undead, lichbane deals 1 point of Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma damage/round, DC: 17 fortitude save, cure 2 saves. In addition, the first (and only) point of damage inflicted by a dose of lichbane becomes permanent drain instead. A single dose of lichbane can coast a weapon of medium size or smaller, larger weapons will require multiple doses.
Cost: 650g, Craft DC: 25

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  Rulings so far:
A spiked shield's damage type
Path of War is approved as a source, though I may tweek indevidual maneuvres (like Steel Furry Strike)

[Chulanowa]

Totally down  ;D

Allowing all races / classes? I would imagine that with the themes of Ravenloft you're looking for "neutral nd above' on the alignment chart?

[LisztesFerenc]

  I'm actually not too fussed. As noted before, this isn't the demiplane of Ravenloft, so the "evil is punished, this is a prison for the sinful" is at the very least played down if not outright dropped. As long as the party will stick together and follow the basic assumption of the plot I don't mind what aliment everyone is.

[PhantomPistoleer]

Again, I present the lawful good cleric.

Hector, Priest of Melani
Character Sheet


Brief Character Description: Hector is a good man from a good family.  He has distinguished himself as a competent battle healer in hostile environments during various foreign wars.  He suffers from depression due to his past failures on the healing bench and often struggles to keep composure.

Function:  Hector is a healing specialist with a high AC.  He works best against undead.  At a +5 to attack, Hector might be the least competent warrior on the battlefield.

[Blinkin]

As mentioned, I'll have a character up sometime tomorrow. A LN Swashbuckler/bard.

[TheGlyphstone]

You mean this "isn't" the demiplane of Ravenloft, right? Those two letters make all the difference here.

Anyways, I've got a LG Tiefling Warder mechanically crunched out, I just need to fill in his backstory and give him a name.

[PhantomPistoleer]

You mean this "isn't" the demiplane of Ravenloft, right? Those two letters make all the difference here.

Anyways, I've got a LG Tiefling Warder mechanically crunched out, I just need to fill in his backstory and give him a name.

The Warder class is -sick-!  I'm so pleased that you're the first in line to get chopped up and not me.

[Muse]

If you still have openings, perhaps I could bring an Alchemist concept to the table? 

S/he would make use of some of those alchemical artifacts you mention above to hunt the things that go bump in the night.  S/he will also make use of a crossbow. 

Are you still going for 15 point buy?  *Sweat drop* 

i think I can work with that for an alchemist... 

Do we have a gender spread yet? 

Do you think there'll be any eroticism involved? 

[LisztesFerenc]

You mean this "isn't" the demiplane of Ravenloft, right? Those two letters make all the difference here.

  Oops. Yeah, that what I meant.

  There still room in this game yes, I'm not quite sure what the gender spread is though. There should be some chances for eroticism.

[Chulanowa]

Are you still going for 15 point buy?  *Sweat drop* 

The trick to 15 point-buy is to go for a race that already has the stats your class wants. I recently tried to make a Gnome investigator on 15 point-buy. Talk about pain.

[Blinkin]

Name: Lydia Lovelady
Age: 26
Sex: Female
Race: Half-Elf
Class: Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/Bard (Archeologist)
Level: 5/1

Physical Description:

Lydia is a striking woman with deep, fiery red hair  that falls in waves to just below her shoulders around an oval face dominated by bright, intelligent emerald green eyes and full, kissable lips. Straight, red eyebrows and a narrow, slightly upturned nose in a lightly tanned complexion complete the visage of a truly attractive young woman.

A long, slender neck, feminine shoulders and perky, well formed breasts flow into a taunt waistline before flaring out again into well rounded hips and a lovely, tight rear. Lean, long legs and rounded arms competes the image. Most often dressed in a loose tunic that’s tucked into well fitted trousers that hugs her hips, a well worn pair of turned down boots with a sash about her waist, the rapier at her right side seems almost like an afterthought… but clearly has been well used. When she strikes that defiant pose, hip cocked to one side and arms crossed under her breasts… only a smile that lights up a room gives away the flirt that resides inside.

Personality:

Lydia is a complicated and sometimes conflicted woman. In her heart, she’s a fiercely loyal and passionate woman. On the other side, she ranges from an almost girlish quality in humor and flirting to a no-non-sense, sometimes ruthless fighter. When you’re a friend, you’re a friend for life… When you’re an enemy… well, enjoy what time you may have left.

When Lydia loves, she loves with everything; but has been taught to take life as it comes and live it with equal passion. Prone to occasional bad puns, off color jokes and snippy remarks at the most inopportune moments gives her a charm that is hard to resist. She would rather talk her way out of trouble than fight it when possible, but is more than willing to use force when necessary.

Background:

What Lydia will admit about her past is little and vague, making it plain that she has something to hide. What exactly that may be could be just about anything. But, below is what might be generally known about her by anyone who might have reason to know her.

Born the youngest and only daughter of 3, Lydia’s parents were prosperous merchants with strong ties to the sea. Even at a young age, the admitted apple of her father’s eye had a will that should of gotten her punished far more than she was. Spoiled, yes, but not a brat, she often had her way when she really wanted it… and she quickly decided that she wanted the water; the one thing that was denied her when her oldest brother died at sea when she was only 7 years old.

A native of a port city, Lydia is quite familiar with shipyards and docks due to her family’s business interest and she has often snuck out to explore these locations on her own little adventures with her remaining brother. While the death of their older brother was a difficult blow for them to overcome, they found solace with each other and the relationship became quite strong between brother and sister.

At around the time of her 10th birthday, Lydia was betrothed to a boy 3 years older than she in what should have proven to be a beneficual marriage for both families. Lydia, of course, threw all of her not inconsiderable will into resisting the entire idea and actively worked to break the engagement. Even though she wouldn’t have to deal with the engagement for several years yet, she had other plans in mind... including avenging the death of her brother.

When Lydia turned 15, she met a young officer who worked on one of the family ships. Lydia was immediately smitten by the handsome rogue and a scandal was born. When her parents denied her to see her love interest again, naturally, she ran off and got married! That solved 3 problems rather neatly, she thought, and she couldn’t be happier! True, she was a bit young to marry, but the breaking of the betrothal contract, the ability to spend all of the time that she desired with her new husband and refusing her parent’s decrees all had their place in her bold decision. On the other side of the scale, the young officer was fired and her inheritance (minus the already established dowry) was cut off. But, the not inconsiderable dowry provided them with a small, but sturdy ship and a small residence in a reasonable part of the city. The romance continued for nearly 3 years as her husband plied the waters between the ports of the Inner Sea and they started to build a reputation as reliable cargo haulers. Lydia spent her time at sea, and to pass the hours, began to learn the art of sword-play from her heart’s-love and as a result, became a reasonably talented fencer in her own right.

It came as both a surprise, and not unexpectedly, just after Lydia turned 16, that she was with child… After all, all of those lonely nights on board a ship led to a lot of love-making. It was agreed, reluctantly, that Lydia would remain at home during her pregnancy and the first couple of years of the baby’s growth, and then the family would reunite on a new ship being planned for the following year. Ironically, Lydia lost both her husband and baby on the same day a few months later. Her husband, Captain Lovelady, died at the hands of pirate’s intent on taking his cargo… the baby to simple accident. Lydia was never quite the same after that.

With little left to her, as soon as Lydia was recovered, she took up her husband’s sword, which had been recovered, and set out to sink the pirate ship via any means necessary… by the time that she was 18, she had achieved her goal, but had nothing left to keep her going on an emotional level; the vengeance had burned her out emotionally.

For a short while, she worked as a barmaid in a dock-side tavern and over the next few months, rebuilt herself and began to enjoy life again… but she still had an itch to see the world and a determination to do so. It was during this time that she fell into a relationship with an old rogue who showed her some of the tricks of his own trade in exchange for her companionship. While not the man she had once loved, she morned the day that he was hanged for robbing a merchant family involved in shipping.

It was only a short time later that she fell into a group of adventurers with a decidedly leaning toward the dangerous and exciting… she was once again finding her joy for life.

Mechanics

Name: Lydia Lovelady   Player: Blinkin
Race: Half-Elf            Sex: Female
Class: Swashbuckler-Inspired Blade/Bard-archeologist
Favored Class: Swashbuckler/bard
Level: 5/1            EXP: 000
Alignment: LN         Next Level: 2,000

Age: 26            height: 5’10
Measurements: 34C-27-35            Weight: 165 lbs

Ability Scores:
STR:   11 (+1) Carry: L: 38, M: 76, H: 115
DEX:16    (+3)
CON:12    (+1)
INT:   10 (+0)
WIS:   10 +0)
CHA:16    (+3)

Saving Throws:         Combat:
Fort:   +2      HP: 52/52
Reflex:   +9   Init: +7
Will:   +5      Speed: 40’

Offense:            Defense:
BAB:   +5         AC:      21
TAB:   +11         AC (Touch):    15
Range:   +9         AC (Flatfoot):   16
CMB:+5         CMD: +21

Class Skills: (4 per level)
Total   Skill (CS+Ability+Modif.+SR)

14   Acrobatics (DEX (3+3+2+6)
9      Bluff (CHR) (3+4+0+2)
9   Diplomacy(CHA) (3+4+0+2)
12   Disable Device (DEX) (3+3+3+3)
5   Knowledge; Engineering (INT) (3+0+1+1)
5   Knowledge (INT) (3+0+1+1)
5   knowledge; Geography (INT) (3+0+1+1)
5   Knowledge; History (INT) (3+0+1+1)
5   Knowledge; Local (INT) (3+0+1+1)
5   Knowledge; Nobility (INT) (3+0+1+1)
5   Linguistics (INT) (3+0+0+2)
11      Perception(WIS) (3+0+2+6)
4   Profession; Sailor (WIS) (3+0+0+1)
9   Sense Motive (CHA) (3+4+0+2)
8   Sleight of Hand (DEX) (3+3+0+2)
10   Stealth) (DEX) (3+3+0+4)

Languages: Common, Elven, Draconic, Goblin, Undercommon, Giant, Sylvan

Feats:
(RF=Racial Feature, CF=Class Feature)

   1st Level
Fencer’s Grace: Add  Dex mod to damage instead of STR, +2 to CMD vs disarm
CF -   Deeds: Daring Do, Dodging Panache, Opportune parry & repost
CF -   Inspired Finesse: Weapon Finesse & Weapon focus; Rapiers bonus Feat
CF -   Weapon Focus; Rapier: +1 to Attacks with rapier. (From Inspired Finesse)
CF -   Inspired Panache (7): Points to perform deeds equal to CHA+INT mods
   Level 2 (Bard 1st)
CF -   Archaeologist Luck: +1 to att, dam &saves and skill checks 7 rds/days as sft act.
CF -   Bardic Knowledge:+1 to knowledge checks and may use untrained.
CF -   Cantrips:  0th level spells
   Level 3: (Swashbuckler 2)
Combat Reflexes: 3 additional AOO’s per round
CF -   Charmed Life 3xday: Add Charisma Mod to Saving Throws.
   Level 4 (Swashbuckler 3):
CF -   Deeds: Kip-Up, Menacing Swordplay, Precise Strike, Swashbucklers Init
CF -   Nimble +1: +1 Dodge Bonus
   Level 5 (Swashbuckler 4):
   Mobility: +4 to AC vs AOO’s.
CF -   Dodge: +1 to AC dodge bonus
Level 6 (Swashbuckler 5):
CF -   Rapier Weapon Training +1: +1 Attack & +2Damage+ Improved Crit w/ rapier

Traits/racial traits:
Ability Racial Modification: +2 to any one ability score.
Dual Minded: +2 to Will saves. Replaces Adaptable.
Elf Blood: Counts as both elves and humans for racial effects.
Elven Immunities: Immune to sleep, +2 vs enchantments.
Keen Senses: +2 to perception checks.
Multitalented: Gains 2 favored classes.
Racial Senses; Low-light vision: Sees twice as far as humans in dim light.
   Favored Class: ¼ Panache point per level. (1)
Favored Class; Bard:
Bard; Cantrips (4): Light, Mage Hand, Message, Spark
Bard: 1st level spells (2x day): Charm Person or Cure Light Wound
Drawback
   Overprotective: -2 to attack and skill checks if 10+’ from a fallen ally.
Traits:
Vagabon Child: +1 to disable device and is a class skill
   Elven Reflexes: +2 Initiative.

Spells per day:
0th Level: 4
1st Level: 2

Coin:         wt:
   PP:   8   .40
GP:   1   .05
SP:    8   .40
CP:    0   0
Total GP:81.8      .85 lbs
Other Valuables:

Equipment:
+1 Rapier: 2,320 GP
Dam: 1D6+11   Crit: 15-20 X2   Wt: 3
Mithral Dagger (x2): 1,004 gp
Dam:1d4+9   Crit: 19-20(x2)   Wt: 1   rng: 10’
Prehensile Whip: 2501 gp (Non-lethal, range, +3 trip, disarm)
Dam: 1D3+12   Crit: x2   Wt: 2   Rng: 20’
   +1 Darkwood Buckler: 1,205 GP
AC: +2   DEX --:   Skill: -0   Spell: 5%   wt: 2.5
+1 Darkleaf Studded Leather: 1,775 gp
AC: +4   DEX +7:   Skill: -0   Spell: 5%   wt: 120
Weapon/Armor Weight: 18.5

Item            Cost   Weight   Notes:
Boots of Striding:      2,500   1 (+10’ base speed, +5 jump)
Handy Haversack:      2,000   5
Ioun Torch:      75   1
Ring of Tumbling:      2,500   neg (+5 to tumbling)
Bedroll:         .2   5
Canteen:         2   1
Clothing, Travelers outfit:   0   1
Gloves, sharkskin:      6   1 (+2 Acrobatics/climb, -2 CMD vs disarm)
Grappling Hook:   5   1
Pouch, belt:         1   .5
Rations (x8):         4   4
Rope, Silk (50’)      10   5
Wrist Sheath (Spring)(2):   10   2 (2 daggers)
   Total Weight: 29.85 lbs (Light)

[Veinexes]

I've actually gone through this one a bit at least to the point of being chased through town a bunch by hordes of zombie, anyways I'll get my sheet up soon. working on it right now.

[Chulanowa]

Well, with our Cleric throwing positive energy out like he's a new age self-help program, I guess paladin would just b overkill. so... i'm going to be looking at something... oddball. Like a goblin kinecticist. Or a dwarf necromancer. something you don't see a lot of. or any of, as the case may be.

[Muse]

Oh!  Liztech, I don't suppose you'd let us use background skill rules? 

[Muse]

  Trying to choose an image.  Which one I  use will have a lot of influence on the history I build--maybe the capablities too. 

  Can anyone help? 

  Blinkin, both are busty elf girls--big surprise there, right?  The concept is basicly an undead hunting alchemist.  They boht have purple eyes. 



  This first one is a little bit anime in it's art style.  She has a pink complexion and honey gold hair with a purple forelock.  She wears a golden starburst pendant--might be a holy symbol--on a collar wide enoguh to complicate drinking blood from her throat.  She wears big saphire earings and a scoop necked turquioise top. 


  This second one has a more bronzed complexion intriciate golden facial tatoos.  Her hair is platinum blond, and her eyes more clearly purple than the first girl.  She has golden earrings with chains, and wears a little ciruclar pendant on a fine chain around her throat.  Her top is also skimpy and scoop-necked.  It's white. 

   If I use hte first girl, she'll have a more cheerful personaltiy--with a somewhat manic apreciation of science and daredevil attitude.  The seocnd girl--with that tatoos--will probably be more quite and introspective, with more sadness in her life.  (Not emo though!) 

[PhantomPistoleer]

If we're voting:  I like the first image, but the second image's personality.

[TheGlyphstone]

Likewise.

[Blinkin]

*chuckles* I was going to say.... wait... reverse that...

I like the sound of the second girl, more period to me, but the first story nugget.

I figure that at least one person in the party should keep an upbeat and irreverent attitude in the face of horrors... at least until it overwhelms her. I shot for a woman who had tradegy in her life, but didn't let it keep her down in the end; a zest for life that simply refused to die.

And some life experience too

On a side note, if background skills were employed, it would go quite a ways to making the characters more interesting and adding to the story, IMHO. It'll also give Lydia a little broader skill base for all of those potential knowledge opportunities. ;) 12 background points can buy a fair amount of knowledge and language skills.

[Pockets]

Places a marker for my Paladin (Can't go wrong with more holy characters in anything remotely Ravenloft). But I'll be using the Multiclass Variant rules from Unchained and take Oracle as my second class.

[PhantomPistoleer]

On a side note, if background skills were employed, it would go quite a ways to making the characters more interesting and adding to the story, IMHO. It'll also give Lydia a little broader skill base for all of those potential knowledge opportunities. ;) 12 background points can buy a fair amount of knowledge and language skills.

What are background skills, anyways?

[Pockets]

Background Skills are a rule variant introduced in Pathfinder Unchained where you can get skill points to apply to Appraise, Craft, Handle Animal, Linguistics, Perform,
Profession, and some Knowledge specialties. This is supposed to help flush out the character and make them something more than the basics of their class.

For example, a paladin seminary might require a cadet to learn a useful profession aside from wielding a sword and acting in the best interests in the faith. This is done to give the cadet a means of staying in touch with the very people he is meant to protect and convert. (Character then earns Background skill points for a profession.)

Usually the GM limits the number of background skills a character can get. For home games, I usually allow two (three if the player can REALLY sell me on it).

[PhantomPistoleer]

Background Skills are a rule variant introduced in Pathfinder Unchained where you can get skill points to apply to Appraise, Craft, Handle Animal, Linguistics, Perform,
Profession, and some Knowledge specialties. This is supposed to help flush out the character and make them something more than the basics of their class.

For example, a paladin seminary might require a cadet to learn a useful profession aside from wielding a sword and acting in the best interests in the faith. This is done to give the cadet a means of staying in touch with the very people he is meant to protect and convert. (Character then earns Background skill points for a profession.)

Usually the GM limits the number of background skills a character can get. For home games, I usually allow two (three if the player can REALLY sell me on it).

Oh.  I think there was something similar in Mutants & Masterminds 2E where characters were given background skills based on their occupation.  I really liked the concept.  I would always play high-school heroes a la Spider-Man who had +4 ranks in Knowledge (Mathematics).  My girlfriend at the time would always do something fun like Knowledge (Fashion Trends).

[Chulanowa]

I'm a big fan of background skills, 'cause you know, i always want a character with ranks in craft, or 'fluff" knowledges, but the points are just never there to go around.

Also a fan of the fractional advancement rules. The "Variant multiclassing" just seems like a waste to me, but i guess some people like it  :-) Works best with classes that either get a lot of feats or feat analogues (Fighter, rogue) or that just don't need many feats (All a Witch ever needs is extra hex and maybe Extend Spell)

[Pockets]

Fractional Advancement is just too confusing. The Variant Multiclassing is simple and straightforward.

[Pockets]

Kiera Felldrake

Warrior of the Light Archetype

Power of Faith (Su)

At 4th level, a warrior of the holy light learns to use the power of her faith to bolster her defenses and aid her allies. This class feature replaces the paladin’s spells class feature. A warrior of the holy light does not gain any spells or spellcasting abilities, does not have a caster level, and cannot use spell trigger or spell completion magic items.

At 4th level, the warrior of the holy light gains one additional use of her lay on hands ability per day. She gains one additional use of lay on hands per day for every four levels she attains beyond 4th. She can spend a use of her lay on hands ability to call upon the power of her faith as a standard action. This causes a nimbus of light to emanate from the warrior of the holy light in a 30-foot radius. All allies in this area (including the warrior of the holy light) receive a +1 morale bonus to AC and on attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws against fear as long as they remain in the area of light. This power lasts for 1 minute.

At 8th level, the nimbus of light heals the paladin and her allies, curing of them of 1d4 points of ability damage, as per the spell lesser restoration. A creature can only be healed in this way once per day.

At 12th level, the nimbus of light is treated as daylight for the purposes of affecting creatures with sensitivity to light. In addition, the nimbus grants allies in the area resistance 10 to one type of energy, selected by the warrior of the holy light when this power is activated.

At 16th level, the nimbus of light grants the warrior of the holy light and her allies protection from critical hits. There is a 25% chance that critical hits made against the warrior of the holy light and her allies in the area are instead treated as normal hits. This does not stack with other abilities that grant similar protection (such as light fortification).

At 20th level, the nimbus of light increases in size out to a range of 60 feet. In addition, all of its bonuses increase. The morale bonus to AC and on attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws against fear increases to +2. The amount of ability damage healed increases to 2d4. The energy resistance increases to 20 against one energy type. Finally, protection against critical hits increases to 50%.
Shining Light (Su)

At 14th level, a warrior of the holy light can unleash a 30-foot burst of pure, white light as a standard action. evil creatures within this burst take 1d6 points of damage for every two paladin levels and are blinded for 1 round. Evil dragons, evil outsiders, and evil undead are blinded for 1d4 rounds on a failed save. A Reflex save halves this damage and negates the blindness. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the warrior of the holy light’s level + the warrior of the holy light’s Charisma modifier. good creatures within this burst are healed 1d6 points of damage per two paladin levels and receive a +2 sacred bonus on ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks for 1 round. A warrior of the holy light can use this ability once per day at 14th level plus one additional time per day at 17th and 20th levels.

This ability replaces aura of faith.

Grayflame Weapon Enhancement

Grayflame


Price +1 bonus
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 6th; Weight —
DESCRIPTION

This weapon responds to channeled positive and negative energy.

When the wielder spends a swift action to channel energy through the weapon, it ignites with a strange gray flame that sheds light as a torch, increases the weapon's enhancement bonus by +1, and deals +1d6 damage (as the divine power from flame strike) to creatures struck by the weapon. This flame lasts for 1 round for every d6 of damage or healing the channeling normally provides. When charged with positive energy, the flame is a silvery gray, good creatures are immune to the weapon's extra damage, and the weapon counts as a good and silver weapon for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction. When charged with negative energy, the flame is an ashen gray, evil creatures are immune to the weapon's extra damage, and the weapon counts as an evil and cold iron weapon for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction. This special ability can only be placed on melee weapons.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Channel Smite, align weapon; Cost +1 bonus

[TheGlyphstone]

Ebron Stavros, Lawful Good Warder 6

At first glance, Ebron looks to have stepped straight from the verses of a bardic epic. He is tall, muscular, and handsome, blue of eye and gold of hair. Clad in shining steel plate and sporting a beautifully embossed spiked shield alongside his sword, he seems every inch the epitome of a devoted holy warrior. But it's the second glance that most people remember, when they look behind him and see the shadow he casts; a hulking, misshapen brute laden with horns and spines and wicked claws. Nor does it passively copy his movements, instead putting a malicious twist into them wherever it can - an open hand becomes a brandished claw or obscene gesture, and a concerned lean turns into a menacing loom. Only in shadows, and darkness, is he free of its presence, for it is the only betraying sign of his true heritage. Ebron is not the human he appears, but a tiefling, with ancestry tracing back to some very powerful fiend - believed, in fact, to be Asmodeus himself.

That, at least, was the belief of his parents, themselves tieflings and members of an infernal cult worshiping the Lord of Hell. They were, all of them, wicked to the core and willing to stop at nothing to serve the interests of their devilish masters (and to earn their favor). When their child was born a seemingly normal human baby, devoid of any sign of his infernal heritage, it was taken as a great loss and dire omen. Only by offering up the child in death could the cult restore their status, and so Ebron's own mother had readied a sacrificial knife over him on the altar. His salvation came in the nick of time, in the form of a aasimar warrior sworn to follow the Empyreal Guardians. A cult of holy warriors, they held to the teachings of a renegade Solar, Al'asadriel, and his doctrine to protect the weak and innocent from those who would harm them at any cost. In search of their missing idol, this warrior - Samothar Stavros - had been tracking the cult to their lair, interrupting the ceremony and rescuing the baby he found. Taking the child as his own, the aging warrior taught the boy everything he knew about defending and protecting others, including the secret mystic arts of the Silver Crane passed down from Al'asadriel himself to his disciples. In the process, he instilled young Ebron with a belief in the power of redemption that went to the core of his soul; a tainted and fiendish soul only expressed in his shadow, but as he had been shown mercy in darkness, so could he bring light and justice to the world in spite of all he was meant to become.

[Blinkin]

Gack! A bunch of whiter than white goody-too-shoes who wouldn't know what to do with a woman. *sighs*

lol Just being silly.

[TheGlyphstone]

Bah, that's nonsense. What better way to celebrate life and light than to do it through love?

As long as the lights are off, that is. :D

[Chulanowa]

well y'know, lawful good doesn't mean chaste and naive  ;D Nothing more fun than playing the Noble playboy paladin. "Ma'am, do you need me to lay hands?"

[TheGlyphstone]

Coming Soon: Holy Warriors Gone Wild.

[Blinkin]

Wow, for the first time in memory, it's a group that's not 90

[TheGlyphstone]

90 what?

[Veinexes]

Greeck, LG, Goblin Gunslinger

Greeck was born a simple goblin, as all of his brethren he knew only the the basics of their simple life.  In oe of the older groups raids they returned with a strange cap that they all seemed to fear.  Putting the cap on caused them to shift forms to appear as a a small human child or gnome, either way most of the goblins were scared of the item, fearing the magic it possessed.  Greeck saw it as an opportunity, waiting until the others were not paying attention he snuck off with the item and donned it, fully intending to use the guise to plunder from the nearby human settlement.

He was caught almost immediately by the guard when entering.  Taken to the town's church which was being used to house children without homes the clerics thanked the  guard and hurried him inside.  He fought with them at first but soon gave up on escape as he was given a warm bed and some fantastic tasting gruel.  He was discovered as a goblin days later and was about to be cast out before reciting some of the lines he heard the priests say nights before.  The clergy, impressed with him and thinking highly that they were such good teachers, kept him on though in secret.

He learned much of the church while they kept him in happy, warm, and well fed surrondings.  This led to him gaining a love of the hedonistic lifestyle, until they themselves were raided by the guard.  Apparently Greeck was not as well kept a secret as they thought.  Taken before the Inquisitors Greeck faced execution before offering his services to the guard, they found him very skilled with firearms after being trained and with a carrot and stick method of training soon had a loyal goblin gunner.  Greeck was branded when he left the town, the brand said to punish him if he would ever preform an evil deed.  Though a bluff he believed it and has since dedicated himself to lawfullness and good deeds, hopeful that the brand remains benign .

[Zaer Darkwail]

I take bite :P

Name: Iorthir Icesong the Half-Born
Race: Half-Elf
Class: Figther (Viking archtype) 6
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Backstory:

Wall of text warning

Iorthir was born twenty five years ago to a elven warrioress Elestra Icesong, Elestra had been raped by human soldiers whom she had fought in battle in a border dispute. She had been captured and raped over and over again but she remained unbroken, then she was rescued by her comrades from the slave camp and brought back home to the north but she was deeply in pregnancy and there was no way safely stop the pregnancy so she had to carry through it. However her harsh treatment along with pregancy made her body weak and she caught sickness which weakened her body further with fever and she died while giving birth to Iorthir.

Now, Elestra's family saw the half-breed nothing more than disgusting reminder of Elestra's treatment and not part of their tribe. So following customs of their people how they treat infants which are born with defects is just carry child into wilds and placed there to die during the winter and devoured by whatever happens come across the newborn child. However quirk of fate pack of wolves moved into area and heard cries of newborn baby, in the pack there was female wolf which had lost all pups recently on disease which had infested on their earlier den and mother instincts kicked in and the female wolf then started take care of the half-elf baby and nurse it.

Ten years later a local aged elf ranger Jalik 'Strider' Frostbranch heard rumors about a 'wolfman' in the woods, spotted by some local herders running with pack of wolves. Suspecting a werewolf Jalik started track the wolf pack and seek slay the werewolf before further trouble arises from such. However he was surprised as he tracked the pack and got closer look on the wolfman to see it was a half-elf child....living and communing with wolves like one pack members and hunting alongside with them! Jalik had to make hard decision and decided he has to capture the wolfman, as a half-elf child's natural place is not in the wolfpack. Albeit it's weird miracle itself but he knows this is not natural as child was different species than the wolves around it.

So, Jalik hunted the child but now different purpose, he manages lure child onto trap after a day and then drag child on his cabin and start a very long process taming the child. He himself dislike the term but that very much was it; as child was feral and completely like a wolf. So it took good two years of patience and daily interaction before child was anyway presentable shape to talk, use tools, wear clothes and understand most concepts like other humanoids do than animals. Jalik named child as Iorthir, which is for elven 'wolf born'. However he also asked around had anyone lost half-elven children around the community and so far none came up.....expect until he came across Icesong tribe who told one their own had given birth of one but they had thrown the child into forest....which to Jalik was monstrous deed for innocent child but tribe was adamant on their judgement. Also tribe elders were shocked to learn the child which they had thought dead long gone along with mother had actually survived!

This caused uproar especially amongst Eleste's close family, especially on her brother who swore to kill the bastard but elders forbid it; as laws are clear if child survived on it's own without aid of the tribe in the woods as newborn (even if taken care by wolves), the child is considered part of the tribe by sheer act of preservence and sign of nature spirits to accept the child in. So Jalik introduced Iorthir to his relatives....and overall things did not go very well at all as he lived amongst them. As Iorthir was bullied, mistreated and called 'half-born' daily basis. Iorthir was unhappy and wanted live with Jalik than with his people (or back in wolf pack). However Jalik was firm in keeping Iorthir on the tribe where he truly belonged but he promised visit Iorthir regularly to check up on him and take him on hunting trips.

Thanks being bullied Iorthir made no friends from the tribe, only elders were neutral but even they viewed him as 'lesser' than pureblood members of the tribe. So not much was expected from him. Iorthir listened and heard about tribal warriors and he sought mentor for himself but all potential candidates laughed on him and dismissed him. However warriors gained recogniction in the culture despite what their race or origin were, naturally tribe's own warriors were highly praised but they gave praises for select few non-elven warriors as well and given honorifics.....so Iorthir saw becoming a warrior only way to gain acceptance!

So, without mentor he started to train and work hard, just himself. He stole wooden toy sword and started hammer in the forest, recall how he had hunt with the pack and started adopt their tactics and methods for his movements and attacks which carry a ferocious power. This lasted for several years until he reached age of seventeen, a age where he could undertake rites of adulthood and considered as adult by tribes standards. However his request was denied, as he had no parents then only his closest male relative, his uncle, would be able vouch for him to get approval. But as uncle still hated the half-breed, hated what humans had done to his precious sister, he spitefully denied Iorthir no chance to get recognized adult and planned him always considered as a child. A worthless child at that.

This angered Iorthir and he ran off, stealing armor and weapons from tribe's armory he then set out from the tribe and started travel in the world. To prove he is something worth to talk about and recognized fully as adult by tribe's standards! Since then he has recklesly ran into conflicts as a hired sword, learning along way from more experienced warriors the tricks of the trade, short brush up and update his skills. He grew into a fearsome warrior in battle and although he got little to no acceptance from his own people he found more than plenty acceptance from other races who appreciated his skills with the blade and shield. Along his travels he rescued a dwarven priest of Moradin who was also gifted smith, as reward saving his life he forged Skyfire, a excellent bastard sword which steely surface shines like northern skyfires during coldest of nights in his homeland. A blade worthy of a legend or good story.

One most peculiar case during his years was that he fell in love for a jeweler, a half-elf called Janessa. Iorthir and Janessa came different backgrounds, Janessa was born to half-elf parents and had lived cities most of her life while Iorthir came from a fearsome northern elf raider tribes from middle of frozen wilderness and raised by wolves. But despite differences they connected and she helped him great deal to get accept that him to try become part of a tribe which hates him is not a good idea or that tribe was not worthy of him. She was also one who tempted Iorthir to settle down, live in city with her and become a weaponsmith. Iorthir at first dismissed this thought but over three years dating her, sharing nights of passion and her charm started gnaw the heart of the warrior to consider put down his sword Skyfire on fireplace decoration and become a weaponsmith. As he after all knew what good weapon and blade feels in his arms after all.

But seems fate will not have his road go that way, instead after coming from tavern meeting local friends he gets to home where Janessa was living in...her shop broken in and her lay bloodied in floor as whatever broke in had slaugthered her like a sheep with a clawed hands! Iorthir went mad with sadness and mourning and he attended her funeral along with her family, even if not married to her yet he was counted already part of the family by her side. He investigated the crime scene and only thing stolen was peculiar bracelet which she had purchased from shady traveler and he tracked down where traveler had went to; he had got clues where the seller of the bracer had went to and he is tracking him down to beat some answers out from him.....what hell exact for Janessa died!

[PaleEnchantress]

I don't suppose the denizens of castle Ravenloft are recruiting? I thought I might at least ask. . . .

[TheGlyphstone]

I don't suppose the denizens of castle Ravenloft are recruiting? I thought I might at least ask. . . .

You and your Lichloved prerequisites can just skedaddle right on out of here, yo.

[PaleEnchantress]

You and your Lichloved prerequisites can just skedaddle right on out of here, yo.

But I'm soo good with them. . .

[LisztesFerenc]

  Okay, some very interesting character concepts, I'll take a closer look at them all later today hopefully.

  For now, background skills are allowed, you will have 10 points for them. Also, you will be unlikely to get more during this adventure, as there will be little to no down time until the module is complete.

  Background skills can be found here: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/background-skills


The short version is you get 10 extra skill points that can only be used on the following skills (including 2 new ones):

Appraise
Artistry (int) - Creating something artistic not covered by craft or perform, such as writing a song or play or criticism of another's work.
Craft
Handle Animal
Knowledge (engineering)
Knowledge (geography)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (nobility)
Linguistics
Lore (int, trained only) - A more specific knowledge. Possible categories include a specific monastery, a single, small settlement, the spice trade, tea or frost griant.
Perform
Profession
Sleight of Hand

[Muse]

Melisandre Whitethorn

Alignment:      Chaotic Good
Class:      Alchemist 6
EXP:         15,000
Next Level:   21,000
Faith:         Mystra and Gond
Race:         Sun Elf
   
Age:         115
Birthday:      11th of Tarsahk
Gender:      Female
height:      5’11”
Weight:      101 lbs
Measures:       
Skin:         Bronze complexion with intricate golden facial tattoos.  Her hair is platinum blond, and her eyes more clearly purple than the first girl. 
Hair:         Platinum blond with golden highlights. 
Eyes:      Vibrant purple. 
Style:      Melisandre has golden earrings with chains, and wears a little ciruclar pendant on a fine chain around her throat.  Her top is also skimpy and scoop-necked.  It's white. 

[Chulanowa]

I've got a Gnome hydrokineticist in the works. Which was a Dwarven geokineticist. Which was a goblin pyrokineticist. I must resist the temptation to make a gnoll phytokineticist! get my own damn Team Avatar going here.

[TheGlyphstone]

Wouldn't that be a gnoll aerokineticist?

[Chulanowa]

Wouldn't that be a gnoll aerokineticist?

She'd be one of those hillbilly plant-benders.  ;D

[Chulanowa]

Name: Keely Truffwhizzit
Class: Kineticist 6 (Sheet)
Race: Gnome

Background

   Life as a merchant's daughter would have been
lovely. Just  normal young gnome, enjoying the fruits of
discovery and trade like any other. Sadly that isn't what
the world had in store for Keely, even if her story starts
that way. A child of privilege, she rarely wanted for anything,
except perhaps more leeway in her behavior. She enjoyed
the fine parties thrown by her parents, the company of
well-heeled nobles of all stripes, and the finest education
that could be bought. Lesson in illusion and magic were
tiresome, but the long dance practices and recitals were
pure joy.

   But her parents weren't the type to just let their child
eat off the fruits of their own labor, no sir! Melzimikar
Furtwumble lai ddown an ultimatum to his daughter when
she was of age; she could either seek schooling in a prestigious
arcane academy, or learn the family trade aboard
one of his ships. It wasn't really a choice; Keely had little
interest in magic, and the promise of seeing the world
unfurl before her between the waves was too much to
pass up.
   
   For several years, she worked aboard a coastal ship,
serving on deck as well as in book-keeping. It wasn't her
greatest set of talents, maybe, but she enjoyed it! Well,
most of it. During the spring, terrible storms wracked the
coast, and most captains kept their ships in port when a
squall came up. Not captain Largren, through. Oh no. That
orc-brained, well, half-orc was dedicated to his schedule and,
to his credit probably the luckiest captain plying the coast. He
sailed through the storms like they weren't even there, and
Melsmikar trusted the man perfectly.

   But everyone's luck runs out eventually. A savage storm
took the ship quickly at dusk, and no amount of fighting could
stop it. Keely was with the rest of the crew pulling the lines
and securing hatches. Five sailors swear in their mothers' good
names that the storm just picked the little gnome up, and hurled
her away into the rain. when it was over, the Cloud Chaser
was lifeless in the water, its mast snapped, several others of the
crew washed away into the depths, and a belly full of gems ripe
for the taking. Pirates were not long in noticing, and as the black-flagged
Iron Promise came closer, captain Largren resigned himself
to a last battle.

   It never came. The pirate ship lurched and leaned, shuddered
as if taking blows. As the crew of Cloud chaser watched, the
pirates turned and changed course, even as a flame broke out on
deck. As surprising as that was, nothing prepared them for the sight
of Keely, scudding over the waves on a cushion of cloud, her eyes
crackling with energy. The little gnome slept for three days straight,
and though she had no memory of hte assault on the pirates, she
clearly remembered being tossed in the storm until she couldn't bear
it. Like he was being torn apart and re-built.

   After that, her parents called her hope. for a few months she
was pampered and doted on, a cover for all the academics and mages
that came to talk to Keely and examine her to figure out how she
could do hat she did. Only one seemed to have any idea, a wizened
old elf named Valdomor. The night after he consulted with Keely, she
slipped out from her parents' estate, leaving a note on her father's desk,
promising to write them about her adventures.

   She's since moved away from the coast. Exploring her powers has
taken her to several unlikely places, from a great lake where lightning
never stops, to an elvish city above the mountain clouds. The gnomish
drive of curiosity and interest in weird things has brought her here, to
the seemingly pastoral landscape of Borovia, for the secrets hiding in
the hills.

Personality

   Keely is an explorer. Just as the
wind is always moving, so is she always traveling,
looking to find something new and interesting to
keep her busy for a while. Curiosity and mystery
propel her down the next road, over the next hill.
She's an optimist at heart, and always has an inner
reserve of hope even when things are grim. The
schooled, trained daughter of a prosperous merchant,
she's gregarious and talkative, though a long time
among the rougher elements of society, and plumbing
elemental mysteries have left her a little out of
practice on some things. Dancing is a great joy of
hers, and she'll take almost any opportunity to
indulge. When she sets her mind on something, it's
generally set for good... or at least until something
else captures her attention. She carries a number of
half-started collections with her, and often piddles
away money to add bits and pieces to them.

   In a fight, Keely is fully aware of her physical
shortcomings. Though her natural gnome wiriness, paired
with the rigors of sea and road have left her surprisingly
durable, she's not much use with a weapon in he hands.
Thankfully, her elemental skills more than make up for
this; She'd rather be in the air raining strikes down on
does, than facing an enemy in one-on-one combat.

   When it comes to faith, Keely regards the
goddess Shelyn as paramount, though she recognizes
the value and contributions of other deities and
faiths. Shelyn's love of beauty and the arts is
inspiring, and the goddesses' connection to the power
of air and wind is just another layer of fascination.

   Sexually, Keely is still an explorer. She's
open about her body and her interests. Though she has
a slight preference for larger men and women (something
about being surrounded by a lover) she's had times with
other gnomes and halflings, as well. When it comes to
it, though, her primary interest isn't gender or race,
so much as mind and personality. After all, even if she
were blind, she'd still want to make love now and then,
so what difference appearance? She has little interest
in long-term monogamous romances; being 'tied down" is
the last thing she wants.

Appearance

NSFW

You might expect an aeromancer to be slender, maybe even skinny.
Apparently not; For her three feet of height, she's
surprisingly well-rounded. Thick crimson hair of a shade
only a gnome could be born with drapes in smooth waves
around a plump-cheeked face set with enormous bright blue
eyes and a pert, shallow-bridged nose. Her wide mouth
seems to naturally curl into a smile no matter what; even her
scowl resembles more of a pout. She's clearly had a healthy
diet, leading to a pair of breasts which would be a good
handful for a human's palm, a softly-curved belly,amply-rounded
hips, and shapely rump. She favors skirts and blouses over
trousers and tunics, when unarmored, trending towards blues,
greens, and cream shades that set off her hair. She has a special
fondness for fringed and flowing clothing that can move and shift
while she's dancing or working her element. Even when armored,
she's often clad in scarves and light fabrics over the armor.

[LisztesFerenc]

  Okay, some minor points for character sheet:
TheGlyphstone – Unless I am missing something, Pass For Human requires you to be elf, half-elf or in special circumstances Halfling, so I don’t think a tiefling could take it.
PhantomPistoleer – Nitpick, but beacon of faith increases CL, not DC.
Zaer Darkwail – Celestial Mithral say – “Weapons made from this special material have an increased market price of 2,000 gp. In addition, adding any magical enhancements to a celestial mithral weapon increases its price by 3,000 gp, and they can only be added by a divine caster of a dwarven deity.”
   I’m not sure how to apply that. I think a +1 weapon would cost 7,000gp. 2k for the material, 2k for enchanting and then +3k for the mithril thing. However I can see how it could be read as the 3k being inclusive of the base enchantment cost (basically making the additional costs 1k), so I would be interested in hearing what you and the other players think of this.
Pockets – I don’t have access to the Shattered Psyche oracle curse. What does it do exactly?

Making cuts will be hard. So far, party composition-wise we have:

Pure frontline melee: Warder (TheGlyphstone), Fighter (Zaer Darkwail)
   Frontline melee + healing: Paladin/Oracle (Pockets)
Agile fighter/Skill money: Swashbuckler/Bard (Blinkin)
Ranged martial: Gunslinger (Veinexes)

Divine Caster: Cleric (PhantomPistoleer)
Other Support: Alchemist (Muse), + Is a Kineticist (Chulanowa) one too?

  Did I miss anyone?

[TheGlyphstone]

It's a Tiefling Alternate Racial Trait:

Pass for Human: Discrimination against tieflings with horrifically fiendish features is so intense that even tieflings look up to those precious few of their kind who can pass as human. These tieflings have otherworldly features that are so subtle, they aren't often noticed unless the tiefling points them out (for example, eyes that flash red in the throes of passion, or fingernails that are naturally hard and pointed). Such a tiefling doesn't need to succeed at a Disguise check to appear to be human and count as humanoid (human) as well as outsider (native) for all purposes (such as humanoid-affecting spells like charm person or enlarge person). The tiefling does not automatically gain his associated outsider language (but may select it as a bonus language if his Intelligence score is high enough), and he may not select other racial traits that would grant him obviously fiendish features (such as the fiendish sprinter, maw or claw, prehensile tail, scaled skin, or vestigial wings alternate racial traits). This ability alters the tiefling's type, subtype, and languages. Source PCS:ISR

Entirely different than the Pass For Human feat.

It's worth noting that I am both a frontline melee and healing, since I have 2 maneuvers from the Silver Crane discipline that restore health to myself or a nearby ally.

Oh, and since it's worth asking, one of the other maneuvers I was going to take allows me to strike at a possessing fiend or spirit without harming the person it's possessing. Is an ability like that going to utterly derail anything in the upcoming module, and thus I should swap it out?

[Zaer Darkwail]

Ack, my bad on the pricing of my sword. But indeed good question is is 3K + 2K enchant + 3K extra tax for the enchanting it first time or is it 3K + 3K price wise.

[Chulanowa]

Kineticist is primarily a ranged damage class, actually, with the elements adding variation on the theme.

game blather

Aether - Adds "skillmonkey" abilities to the class, with mage hand, ranged disable device / sleight of hand, etc
Air - "Mobile" and long-range damage. Basically the one that's flying above the battlefield, raining acceptable damage down on everyone's head an evading hits.
Earth - In-your-face damage. Kind of tanky.
Fire - Blastomancer; does the AoE stuff, but kinda crap if anything has decent fire or spell resistance.
Water - Little bit of everything; does moderate damage like air, has good utility, and okay defenses.
Void - Self-buffs, other-guy-debuffs and... undead healing, I guess?
Wood - For all your Colonial Williamsburg craft needs! Seriously wood is silly. One of its abilities is literally "you can garden in a 30-foot range"

it took me forever to "get" this class because it has like a billion abilities. I think the gist of it is that i can hurt myself to hurt hte bad guys. At crazy range, because air has that going for it.

I notice we have a lack of actual arcane casters (1 level of bard doesn't count!) so, I can put up a "plan B" character - a Witch, pr maybe a psychic or occultist (Occult classes + Ravenloft = mi gusta) since, eh, we kinda need it, and I'll be first to admit that Keely's a bit light-hearted for the scenario   :D

[TheGlyphstone]

There's no reason we have to adhere to the class band, really. The lack of a trap specialist will probably hurt us worse than the lack of an arcane caster, if anything.

[Chulanowa]

There's no reason we have to adhere to the class band, really. The lack of a trap specialist will probably hurt us worse than the lack of an arcane caster, if anything.

Your dude has 76 hit points. We'll just have him walk in front.  ;D

[Muse]

  My AC is coming out a lot lower than I wanted.  :) 

  Trap specialist: Yo!  Got you covered.  (Or do you need trap finding to disarm any trap of a normal DC as you do in 3.5?) 

  While I try to bring some utility to the table, I think my theme is probably ranged combat--mostly short range.  ^_^;; 

  If we're short on supernatural combat I can buff my bomb use a little bit.  Otherwise I should probably use my remaining discoveries to become more defensive. (Like the one for self healing.) 

  Gah.  What can I do to get better at overcoming negative levels? 

[Blinkin]

Just some tidbits on Lyd8ia.

She has thieving skills. Not as good as an actual thief, but she can find and disarm traps and open doors.

She can also do some minor healing by CLW. She's not a magical heavy weight by any means... She has charm person and cure light as her spells and can cast twice a day... plus some useful cantrips.

But, she is a skills monkey with some impressive options, if not great modifiers. It was either con or Int and I went with con... if everyone thinks that the int mod would be better in this case, I can switch them, But she can make any skill roll untrained as if she were trained, so nothing to sneeze at.

On the price question, I'm thinking that the prices were in addition to, Otherwise, it would just be the first enchantment that is difficult and it read like every inchantment would be more difficult. At 3K, +1 is only 1K more, but at +2, it's a non-existant extra for having the better armor. That wouldn't make sense to me.

So, 5K for the first enchantment, 11K for the second, ect... plus the initial material cost of the weapon, as indicated by our illustrious GM.

[Zaer Darkwail]

However in celestial mithril it specifically says the additional enchant cost does not apply after first time it's enchanted. So it's one time deal. But I think 3,000gp base + 2,000gp for regular enchant cost and then + 3,000gp the tax sounds legit (as weapon after all counts as both silver and good aligned to bypass DR or regeneration abilities). So need shuffle some items around.

[Veinexes]

I think everything on Greeck should be okay, I didn't roll hp for him yet since I didn't know f you wanted me to use the site roller or some other place like invisible castle, or something else.

[Zaer Darkwail]

I used E's diceroller for my char HP. Anycase edited my sheet; dropped lenses of eagle sight and took a simple flavor magic item (animated portrait of his spouse in large medallion).

[Blinkin]

I realized that I made a boo-boo on my sheet. I can't take improvisation as Lydia's INT isn't high enough. So, I'll be looking for another feat.

I'm open to suggestions.

[Pockets]

Pockets – I don’t have access to the Shattered Psyche oracle curse. What does it do exactly?

Making cuts will be hard. So far, party composition-wise we have:

   Frontline melee + healing: Paladin/Oracle (Pockets)

Shattered Psyche: Your mind is crowded with dozens of voices, fragmented snippets of your past lives. You take a -2 penalty on all Intelligence-based skill checks, Wisdom based skill checks, and concentration checks. You gain a +4 competence bonus on saving throws made against mind affecting effects. At 5th level, you're immune to charm effects. At 10th level, you're immune to compul-sion effects. At 15th level, you're immune to all mind-affecting effects. Pg. 57 of Valley of the Brain Collectors of the Iron Gods AP.

It's also worth noting that I also have a fairly decent diplomacy (+12)

[TheGlyphstone]

Your dude has 76 hit points. We'll just have him walk in front.  ;D

Disarm Traps, Barbarian style? ;D

[PhantomPistoleer]

  Okay, some minor points for character sheet:
TheGlyphstone – Unless I am missing something, Pass For Human requires you to be elf, half-elf or in special circumstances Halfling, so I don’t think a tiefling could take it.
PhantomPistoleer – Nitpick, but beacon of faith increases CL, not DC.
Zaer Darkwail – Celestial Mithral say – “Weapons made from this special material have an increased market price of 2,000 gp. In addition, adding any magical enhancements to a celestial mithral weapon increases its price by 3,000 gp, and they can only be added by a divine caster of a dwarven deity.”
   I’m not sure how to apply that. I think a +1 weapon would cost 7,000gp. 2k for the material, 2k for enchanting and then +3k for the mithril thing. However I can see how it could be read as the 3k being inclusive of the base enchantment cost (basically making the additional costs 1k), so I would be interested in hearing what you and the other players think of this.
Pockets – I don’t have access to the Shattered Psyche oracle curse. What does it do exactly?

Daaaaang -- that is a really good catch.  I'm actually impressed that you combed over the character sheet like that, GM.

I will amend my sheet to reflect that change, and I've also added background skills.

[Blinkin]

Have a couple of questions before I'll call Lydia fully complete.

1. I'm leaning heavily toward Acrobatics as her 5th level feat; this will improve her battlefield movement and make her more swashbucklily in how she acts in a fight.

2. I currently have Boots of Striding and Leaping on the equipment list for 5,500 GP. This grants a +10' base movement and a +5 to jumping. What I would like to do is remove the leaping part and just have the striding aspect. Acording to the magical item creation rules, I think that would make the boots 3,000 gp, based upon other skill based items with a +5 bonus that cost 2,500 gp.

2. I would like to include a "Ring of Tumbling" for 2,500 gp. This works just like other rings and items that grant skill bonuses of +5, expect that it is specifically for tumbling.

The net difference is that I trade the jumping for the tumbling skill aspects in Acrobatics and it'll make her fun to watch roll all over the place.

If any of this is a "no" I'm fine with it, but wanted GM approval or refusal on the ideas.

Thanks.

[TheGlyphstone]

Acrobatics? Ew. Get Mobility or something instead. Better protection if you flub a Tumble roll, and there's some nice stuff later on that use it as a prerequisite (Spring Attack and Canny Dodge most prominently).

[PaleEnchantress]

Oh Dahlings, Can't wait till the DM has a bit more time to communicate with me. We've got a couple characters being talked about. Depends on who he feels fits in best.

I'm trying to work it so I'm indirectly working against the party, likely trying to get them to achieve some goal I can't achieve directly. For me to just jump it at some point and try to start killing people is no fun for anyone. We accept the danger level but no one really wants someone gunning hard to kill them off, and it works both ways. Obvious person trying to kill you all is obvious person that needs to be killed.

[TheGlyphstone]

Cause being a genuine cooperative party member just violates every RP bone in your body. Why does this not surprise me? ;D :D

[Zaer Darkwail]

Well, he can be cooperative but he now plays sort as assisting GM who runs NPC's who try manipulate our party :P. Or try subtle/clever manner get us killed (instead play a direct party monster killing fodder). It was experimented on in one 5th edition DnD game where one half players played female party members and other side played as monsters (with keen interest raping said party members). Sort arranged PvP scenario with arranged monster teams by GM :P.

[TheGlyphstone]

Ah, as a co-GM that makes sense.

[Ixy]

Rravenloft as a setting would be so much fun, especially all sexed -up.  I have tried to make a rogue that would be of benefit to the missions, linked below. I will add traits and background tonight.  I also have an urge to play a monk in this type of game, if that is an option that suits better.

Mostly I would love to play with interesting characters and horror elements in this setting.  If mechanics arguments will become the main focus then please let me know. On the other hand, I'll gladly cooperate for any mechanics necessary for balance so long as the story is active and moves at a reasonable pace.
Proposed character:http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=688997

[Blinkin]

I was waffling between Mobility and acrobatics. I accept the point about mobility though.

I don't want to piss on anyone cornflakes, but I might as well say it here and hope that the GM and other potential players understand.

I will not play in a game that contains a companion with designs on manipulating or harming his/her companions. Doesn't matter if it's a Co-GM or a simple player. It kills games and disrupts the entire feel of the game to me. It's ok to have characters who disagree and argue... even come to blows, but manipulation or scheming death of companions is just outside what I'm willing to play after creating a character and investing time and creativity for a game.

Just about everyone has seen my 2 inviolable rules.

1. A PC will not harm or cause the death of a companion.
2. A character will never steal from a companion.

I've seen this kill games more times than I care to count and if this is a serious consideration for the game, I would rather know and withdraw before things get started.

[TheGlyphstone]

A co-GM who's just running certain NPCs that already exist in the module is okay...they are there and their job is to presumably be antagonistic. Putting an actual player behind their dialogue and tactical decisions is alright, since it's no different than the actual GM running them. Characters whose concept is to be the Mole within a PC group, not so much (again unless that is an explicitly pre-written NPC of the module, because we are all paranoids SOBs and would never trust them anyways).

[Zaer Darkwail]

Aye, it's likely Pale just plays NPC's which are part of the module already or other established Ravenloft NPC which could make appearance as GM discretion. So point being is that Pale is not joining up with PC of own but rather run a NPC which would be run by GM anyways. Pale has certain desire to play dark (and some cases gothic/creepy) characthers and many Ravenloft villains or anti-heroes (established NPC's) fit on said role.

[TheGlyphstone]

Remember that this isn't Ravenloft proper, as in the demiplane. The only characters who'd be showing up are the ones in Barovia, and/or related to Strahd's story.

[Blinkin]

someone playing an established NPC in the module is, I agree, one thing. That not a PC who has established a position among supposed friends and companions who both trust and support them.

I was speaking of a PC within the party, perhaps I wasn't wholey specific about that and I will apologize for the misunderstanding, if there has been one.

Speaking from a fairly fond memory, I once played with someone who simply loved playing evil characters and causing conflicts within the game. Usually, it was taken well as part of the character's interaction. Things boiled over and split the game up when said player set his character to sell out the party to a group of slavers for gold. After the fact, the character freed the party, but because of the fact that it happened, it pissed off one of the players, who decided that the thief had to die because of the betrayal lost his character in the fight. Overall, the players thought that the event was creative and added to the session, but still lost two players over it. A cautionary tale.

[PaleEnchantress]

Cause being a genuine cooperative party member just violates every RP bone in your body. Why does this not surprise me? ;D :D

I'm totally working with my party, Dahling. It's just not the same party you're in. I wouldn't be in your group at all.

[Zaer Darkwail]

This changed my mind about offering a character concept for this group. I have no desire to not only have the GM controlled MOBs against us but also another PC that might 'jump in and start killing people' have fun.

Phaia

Matter is that Pale is not having a PC but a NPC in use (think him as co-GM who runs few NPC's for us).

[PaleEnchantress]

This changed my mind about offering a character concept for this group. I have no desire to not only have the GM controlled MOBs against us but also another PC that might 'jump in and start killing people' have fun.

Phaia

I'm so glad people pay absolutely no attention to a damn thing I say. My first post about my potential characters was explaining all these great ideas I have about I can play an antagonist without actually confronting the party, especially with violence. I had just got through explaining how well everything meshes happily together. But a lack of reading comprehension is probably a good indicator that Play by post isn't for you.

Matter is that Pale is not having a PC but a NPC in use (think him as co-GM who runs few NPC's for us).

That or close to it. Thank you Zaer.  Though now with so many people arguing about problems that don't even exist I wouldn't be surprised if the DM just asks me to stay out.

PS: Zaer watch the pronouns. Im a woman "Think of her". I play gay males, but that doesnt mean i am one. Love you <3

[Blinkin]

I'm so glad people pay absolutely no attention to a damn thing I say. My first post about my potential characters was explaining all these great ideas I have about I can play an antagonist without actually confronting the party, especially with violence. I had just got through explaining how well everything meshes happily together. But a lack of reading comprehension is probably a good indicator that Play by post isn't for you.

I'm so sorry that some of us don't measure up to your high standards of mind-reading and comprehension of the unstated fore I also read your initial post as a suggestion of a PC working from within the party as acharacter working at odds with the PC's and potentially jumping in at some later time to off the characters. The part about being obvious just read to me that it wouldn't be an obvious effort to do so.

If you must be nasty, perhaps you should take more care with your own post so that it's more clear.

[LisztesFerenc]

  After giving the matter some consideration, whilst the status of a Co-DM would certainly be a better description of what PaleEnchantress is angling for, I feel potentials problems could arise from them having only one character, which would oblige the party to not try and kill the conniving chessmaster as soon as they finish giving their spiel as that would not be fun for them, which I feel should be an equally viable option for the PCs as playing along would be. There may be some "enemy of my enemy" style NPCs in the module, I feel it is import that one course of action with them not be more obvious narrative speaking than another, and the best way to insure this is to have them all controlled by me.

  Me and PaleEnchantress had a game concept a while back, and I think it would be best if we resumed that instead of trying to incorporate them here, especially since the Master of Ravenloft doesn't really give his minions too much agency to betray him.

[PaleEnchantress]

  After giving the matter some consideration, whilst the status of a Co-DM would certainly be a better description of what PaleEnchantress is angling for, I feel potentials problems could arise from them having only one character, which would oblige the party to not try and kill the conniving chessmaster as soon as they finish giving their spiel as that would not be fun for them, which I feel should be an equally viable option for the PCs as playing along would be. There may be some "enemy of my enemy" style NPCs in the module, I feel it is import that one course of action with them not be more obvious narrative speaking than another, and the best way to insure this is to have them all controlled by me.

  Me and PaleEnchantress had a game concept a while back, and I think it would be best if we resumed that instead of trying to incorporate them here, especially since the Master of Ravenloft doesn't really give his minions too much agency to betray him.

I was beginning to see that as the most likely outcome. No big deal several individuals here have proven to be beneath my standards for recreational associations. We will continue our talks in PM.

Good luck everyone. <3

[TheGlyphstone]

So GM, when were you going to make a final-cut decision?

[Ixy]

Um... yeah, I guess I'd love to know what the vision of the game is overall, and if I would even be considered.  Thanks...

[LisztesFerenc]

  This game will be the standard Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, save that some encounters will be cut/merged/made more easily by passable by non-combat means to prevent the game bogging down. You get called to Barovia, and decide to stay to rid the land of the evil that so obviously blights it.

  I will likely be adding characters on Friday or Saturday.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Meanwhile, just a couple more notes on mechanics/characters:

Potion, Cure Light (3):   150   neg (1D8+6)
Potion, Cure Moderate (3):   900   Neg (2D8+5)

  How are your healing potions so strong? Should they be 1d8+1 and 2d8+3?

The net difference is that I trade the jumping for the tumbling skill aspects in Acrobatics and it'll make her fun to watch roll all over the place.

  Sure, that’s a reasonable swap.

Rravenloft as a setting would be so much fun, especially all sexed -up.  I have tried to make a rogue that would be of benefit to the missions, linked below. I will add traits and background tonight.  I also have an urge to play a monk in this type of game, if that is an option that suits better.

Mostly I would love to play with interesting characters and horror elements in this setting.  If mechanics arguments will become the main focus then please let me know. On the other hand, I'll gladly cooperate for any mechanics necessary for balance so long as the story is active and moves at a reasonable pace.
Proposed character:http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=688997

  Looks good. Pathfinder unchained can be mixed with Pathfinder normal (chained?) right?

  Does Combat Trick allow you to bypass the preqs for the bonus feat? You don’t have +5 BAB for Defensive Weapon Training (you also need to choose which weapon group this applies to).

Shattered Psyche: Your mind is crowded with dozens of voices, fragmented snippets of your past lives. You take a -2 penalty on all Intelligence-based skill checks, Wisdom based skill checks, and concentration checks. You gain a +4 competence bonus on saving throws made against mind affecting effects. At 5th level, you're immune to charm effects. At 10th level, you're immune to compul-sion effects. At 15th level, you're immune to all mind-affecting effects. Pg. 57 of Valley of the Brain Collectors of the Iron Gods AP.

  Hmmm, seems a bit more powerful than the bonus provided by other oracle curses, and mind affecting is particularly relevant for Ravenloft, but it’s not terribly OP, so it should work.

Daaaaang -- that is a really good catch.  I'm actually impressed that you combed over the character sheet like that, GM.

I will amend my sheet to reflect that change, and I've also added background skills.

You give me far too much credit, I missed Blinkin’s character not qualifying for Improvisation. Any idea for a background story?

Melisandre Whitethorn

  I can’t find the tattoo you mention on her sheet. The runeward tattoo is similar, but it gives +1 insight bonus to saves, not resistance and its only against spells from 1 school magic, the wearer also gets the ability to use detect magic, but again only that one school. Is it just a refluffed cloak of resistance? That works, as long as the cost has been doubled for making it slotless.

  Is Sun Elf fluff? I can’t find a Pathfinder race, or are you using the 3.5 Sunelf stats?

  Any idea for a background story?

It's a Tiefling Alternate Racial Trait:
Entirely different than the Pass For Human feat.

  Well that’s totally not needlessly confusing Paizo.

Oh, and since it's worth asking, one of the other maneuvers I was going to take allows me to strike at a possessing fiend or spirit without harming the person it's possessing. Is an ability like that going to utterly derail anything in the upcoming module, and thus I should swap it out?

  Not that I can see. If I’ve missed one encounter where it will be super useful, then it will be a nice surprise for both of us.

I notice we have a lack of actual arcane casters (1 level of bard doesn't count!) so, I can put up a "plan B" character - a Witch, pr maybe a psychic or occultist (Occult classes + Ravenloft = mi gusta) since, eh, we kinda need it, and I'll be first to admit that Keely's a bit light-hearted for the scenario   :D

  She should be fine. No reason Barovia can’t support a light hearted character. It gives me something to break…


  …apart, to see how it works. Wait, that didn’t improve things did it?

[Blinkin]

Oops, damn typo's. I'll fix the potions and make the change to the equipment the morning.

[TheGlyphstone]

I imagine the feat/trait thing is because Tieflings have a number of other alt-racial traits that make them explicitly inhuman-looking...hooves, prehensile tails, claws and fangs, etc. Pass For Human the racial trait forbids taking those, and it might have been more elegant to just make the alt-trait than graft in a whole paragraph on additional restrictions for the Feat when specifically applied to a Tiefling.

Plus, it means I don't waste a feat slot, which is nice.

[Ixy]

  Looks good. Pathfinder unchained can be mixed with Pathfinder normal (chained?) right? 

  Does Combat Trick allow you to bypass the preqs for the bonus feat? You don’t have +5 BAB for Defensive Weapon Training (you also need to choose which weapon group this applies to).

My understanding is that it can... description of the class variant, according to the SRD: "The revised rogue gains enhancements to its combat abilities and solidifies its role as the master of skills."  Hopefully that's not unbalancing... it's supposed to just open up options.

And you're right about Combat Trick... plus the character lacks the intelligence score requirement.  ooops... I apparently just effed that up... thanks for the catch.  I will swap that out with something less wrong.

I also wanted to be sure that the race features were ok with you.  I went with those in the SRD to replace the defense, the spell-like ability, and the skill focuses, but I think if anything it's a little toned-down (I hope).

Thanks again for your time on this

[LisztesFerenc]

I imagine the feat/trait thing is because Tieflings have a number of other alt-racial traits that make them explicitly inhuman-looking...hooves, prehensile tails, claws and fangs, etc. Pass For Human the racial trait forbids taking those, and it might have been more elegant to just make the alt-trait than graft in a whole paragraph on additional restrictions for the Feat when specifically applied to a Tiefling.

Plus, it means I don't waste a feat slot, which is nice.

  I have no problem with the Trait, I just wished they had given it a different name so that googling it didn't give me the Half race only feat. Incidentally, what type of tiefling are you? Regular, or one of the alternate heritages?

My understanding is that it can... description of the class variant, according to the SRD: "The revised rogue gains enhancements to its combat abilities and solidifies its role as the master of skills."  Hopefully that's not unbalancing... it's supposed to just open up options.

  I checked properly: whilst it is a straight upgrade mechanically, they only made an unchained barbarian, monk, rogue, and summoner, so clearly they were intended to be used with chained classes (unless unchained parties can only be composed of those 4 classes).

I also wanted to be sure that the race features were ok with you.  I went with those in the SRD to replace the defense, the spell-like ability, and the skill focuses, but I think if anything it's a little toned-down (I hope).

  I'm fine with swapping sorcery for a tail and the +1 Nat AC in return for a less varied energy resistance, but how are you doing the rest? Doesn't it take a feat to get an alternate heritage? Commune in particular seems a little too good, since its a 2nd level spell for a 5th, even if it is a little more situational.

[TheGlyphstone]

Regular. Taking a variant heritage would have definitely cost me a feat, and I don't really have any to spare.

As for unchained stuff, you can use it alongside regular stuff, as long as it's not identical - you can't, for instance, multiclass Barbarian/Unchained Barbarian, any more than you can multiclass Rogue/Ninja. It's one or the other for any single character.

[PhantomPistoleer]

You give me far too much credit, I missed Blinkin’s character not qualifying for Improvisation. Any idea for a background story?

Yes.  I have a very broad backstory for Hector, but I would require some GM guidance to peg it down.  It's not particularly brilliant at any rate.  Hector is a simple person often placed in complicated situations, and it's been tough for him to deal with the ramifications of his decisions in those situations.  For example, given the limited amount of spells he's able to cast, there were oftentimes instances where he had to choose who got to live and who got to die because he only had one spell left.

He carries a lot on his shoulders, and he can't really travel any stretch of road without meeting people who he's known or has heard about.  "That's Timmy.  His father was Timothy the Herald, who died in my tent because I had spent the very last ounce of my energy stabilizing a man named Bradley.  I chose Bradley over Timothy because Bradley had three sons.  Timothy only had one."

Hector is haunted by his choices -- but he's also haunted by his work.  Not only did he get to choose who lived and who died, but Hector was expected to restore soldiers to health so that they could re-enter the battlefield.  Some begged him not to heal them.  Many of his patients did not survive the war.

So -- I sort of need the framework for a great war that occurred recently. 

[Pockets]

Also, the Unchained Monk is incompatible with the normal Archetypes.

[Pockets]

Regular. Taking a variant heritage would have definitely cost me a feat, and I don't really have any to spare.

Taking a variant heritage doesn't cost a feat.

Copied from Blood of Fiends pg. 18

Regardless of where their fiendish blood comes from, most tieflings exhibit similar traits and abilities. The unpredictable manner in which fiendish essence combines with a mortal soul often makes it nearly impossible for the average person to tell a tiefling’s heritage simply by looking. A few tieflings, however, retain more overt ties to the particular type of fiend that first corrupted their bloodlines. A player may choose one of the following 10 heritages for her tiefling character in place of the traditional tiefling racial features. Each heritage presents new ability modifiers, spell-like abilities, and skill modifiers, as well as a pair of custom traits. Each entry also discusses the most common (though by no means ubiquitous) personality traits, physical features, and places of origin of tieflings belonging to that particular heritage.

Ergo, the only thing you'd change would be what is specifically listed under the given heritage.

[TheGlyphstone]

Taking a variant heritage doesn't cost a feat.

Copied from Blood of Fiends pg. 18

Regardless of where their fiendish blood comes from, most tieflings exhibit similar traits and abilities. The unpredictable manner in which fiendish essence combines with a mortal soul often makes it nearly impossible for the average person to tell a tiefling’s heritage simply by looking. A few tieflings, however, retain more overt ties to the particular type of fiend that first corrupted their bloodlines. A player may choose one of the following 10 heritages for her tiefling character in place of the traditional tiefling racial features. Each heritage presents new ability modifiers, spell-like abilities, and skill modifiers, as well as a pair of custom traits. Each entry also discusses the most common (though by no means ubiquitous) personality traits, physical features, and places of origin of tieflings belonging to that particular heritage.

Ergo, the only thing you'd change would be what is specifically listed under the given heritage.

Then what the hell is the Fiendish Heritage feat for?

[Chulanowa]

  She should be fine. No reason Barovia can’t support a light hearted character. It gives me something to break…


  …apart, to see how it works. Wait, that didn’t improve things did it?

Yeah. You saw how that worked out for Firelord Ozai, right?  ;D

Still I think i'm gonna poke the witch idea and see what I come up with.

[Chulanowa]

Then what the hell is the Fiendish Heritage feat for?

Mostly it's there to get ignored by DM's who note that aasimar, skinwalkers, dhampir, and geniekin don't have to jump through that hoop like Tieflings do.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Then what the hell is the Fiendish Heritage feat for?

Considering Aasimars get similar alternatives without a feat spend, I think it's GM call to decide does he allow alternatives for tieflings without or with a feat. Some tiefling alternative special abilities (instead spell-alike) are very potent.

[Muse]

  I'm not sure, but I tink Fiendish Heratige is kind of out of date.   I thought it was from a thid party tiefling suplmenet, but it looks like I was wrong about that. 

  I can’t find the tattoo you mention on her sheet. The runeward tattoo is similar, but it gives +1 insight bonus to saves, not resistance and its only against spells from 1 school magic, the wearer also gets the ability to use detect magic, but again only that one school. Is it just a refluffed cloak of resistance? That works, as long as the cost has been doubled for making it slotless.

  Is Sun Elf fluff? I can’t find a Pathfinder race, or are you using the 3.5 Sunelf stats?

  Any idea for a background story?

Tatoos:  There are very few pre-existing tatoos.  I just used standard magic item creation rules and the rules for the Scribe Tatoo feat to make those tatoos.  +1 resitence bonus costs 1,000 gold.  Level one spell at first level with 1 day duration is also 1,000. 

  Sun elf is strictly fluff. 

  House Whitethorn were the ruling line of a failing elven comunity north of the Moonsea.  50 years ago, a band of Kiransulee worshiping drow--ousted from their home in the Underdark by worshipers of Lloth--raised an army of vampires, revenants, and other undead--along with some goblin minions--and assailed her homeland.  Every elf who didn't flee was slain, and the vampire spawn were put into stasus for future use. 

   A Whitethorn house retainer--a moon elf named Shara Thistledown-- escaped with young Melisandre.  The two settled in Raven's Bluff, where Shara took work as a trancandental alchemist's maid.  The pay included housing and an aprenticeship ofr Melisandre. 

  Over the next fourty years, Melisandre studdied trancandental alchemy and physical combat in preperation for leading a strike force to retake her homeland.  She focused on creating alchemical weapons for use against the undead.  A year and a half ago, she lead a force of elves and mercinaries--armed with Alchemical Flare Bolts, Undead Bane ARrows, and holy water to retake her home.  A few precision strikes goaded the drow to sacrafice the remainder of thier slave force to awaken the vampire spawn.  When the Vampire Spawn struck, Melisandre's force was ready with vials of Sun Flash.  Before the spawn could be routed, though, several priestess of Kiransulee sang a faith-specific spell refrered to as Threnody.  The elves and their alies were confroted by new waves of the undead wearing the faces of thier slain loved ones.  The elven force broke in horror and Melisandre could do nothing to rally them.   In her despair, the mists of Raveloft rose and stole her away. 

[Zaer Darkwail]

I wonder is my char okay now, crunch and fluff wise that is. I sort created a 'viking elves' in setting as part of my char background/origins. Not sure do they fit GM image though.

[Blinkin]

Lydia is finished. A couple of last minute changes, but nothing significant. Dropped a couple of items to get another, things like that.

[Pockets]

Then what the hell is the Fiendish Heritage feat for?

That feat is from the 2009 printing of Bastards of Erebus, it's not required as of the 2013 printing of Blood of Fiends.

[Ixy]

  I'm fine with swapping sorcery for a tail and the +1 Nat AC in return for a less varied energy resistance, but how are you doing the rest? Doesn't it take a feat to get an alternate heritage? Commune in particular seems a little too good, since its a 2nd level spell for a 5th, even if it is a little more situational.

Ability changes- Ugh.  Yeah, missed that. I can move that back.  The rest of it- I went with the table "Variant Abilities and Physical Features" I think. 

I thought Commune would be a better choice for the story as a vehicle to deliver DM instructions.  What if we changed it from a spell-like ability to a class feature, rather than the spell as written? Rather than just "poof, tell me the answer," the PC has to enact a ritual and meditation, risking harm to seek an infernal or diabolical being's advice without actually knowing who she will reach?  Also, we could leave it ambiguous as to whether the infernal or abyssal creature she reaches-- possibly an ancestor, possibly not-- will answer truthfully? It could be a vision, a trip, or even a semi-physical confrontation, requiring her to communicate back and forth with it, possibly trying to earn its approval. This opens up nasty possibilities, like "go sacrifice me that farmer's favorite goat before I tell you," or "You are not worthy, prepare to be flogged," or naughtier, elliquiy-tinged things that would sure be swell with me.

I can switch back any features you'd require, if you decide to go with this character... just let me know what you'd want to nix.  I appreciate the consideration either way.

[Muse]

  I think Melisandre is actualy ready now.  :)

[LisztesFerenc]

Tatoos:  There are very few pre-existing tatoos.  I just used standard magic item creation rules and the rules for the Scribe Tatoo feat to make those tatoos.  +1 resitence bonus costs 1,000 gold.  Level one spell at first level with 1 day duration is also 1,000.

From the item creation guide - "An item that does not take up one of the spaces on a body costs double." so it would cost 2,000gp.

House Whitethorn were the ruling line of a failing elven comunity north of the Moonsea.  50 years ago, a band of Kiransulee worshiping drow--ousted from their home in the Underdark by worshipers of Lloth--raised an army of vampires, revenants, and other undead--along with some goblin minions--and assailed her homeland.  Every elf who didn't flee was slain, and the vampire spawn were put into stasus for future use. 

   A Whitethorn house retainer--a moon elf named Shara Thistledown-- escaped with young Melisandre.  The two settled in Raven's Bluff, where Shara took work as a trancandental alchemist's maid.  The pay included housing and an aprenticeship ofr Melisandre. 

  Over the next fourty years, Melisandre studdied trancandental alchemy and physical combat in preperation for leading a strike force to retake her homeland.  She focused on creating alchemical weapons for use against the undead.  A year and a half ago, she lead a force of elves and mercinaries--armed with Alchemical Flare Bolts, Undead Bane ARrows, and holy water to retake her home.  A few precision strikes goaded the drow to sacrafice the remainder of thier slave force to awaken the vampire spawn.  When the Vampire Spawn struck, Melisandre's force was ready with vials of Sun Flash.  Before the spawn could be routed, though, several priestess of Kiransulee sang a faith-specific spell refrered to as Threnody.  The elves and their alies were confroted by new waves of the undead wearing the faces of thier slain loved ones.  The elven force broke in horror and Melisandre could do nothing to rally them.   In her despair, the mists of Raveloft rose and stole her away.

  Looks good, but this isn't the demiplane of Ravenloft, its in the material plane and is simply a realm with some funky localized magic geography.

So -- I sort of need the framework for a great war that occurred recently.

  The Riptide War – A period of coastal battles against a pirate fleet united by a charismatic aquatic elf called Dimma. The war lasted for two years and under his leadership pirate forces were capable of occupying coastal settlements for upwards of 6 months in one case. The war ended with Dimma’s death at the naval Battle of Ulllum’s Reef.

  War for the Silver Crown (Now sometimes called War of the Strix Tail) - The War to determine the succession of the Tavok Crown, eventually won by the armies Princess Elivira of House Machura, colloquially known as the Strix Tail House.

  The Canigmact Campaign – The slow, systematic, and brutal advance of a Canigmactii general into the lowlands of the Kingdom of Inixej. The war took 18 month, but had been decided in the first three, the defenders were outplayed tactically in every engagement. To this day, Canigmact controls 80% of the lowlands, and this campaign is cited as the reason to fear their military might.

  Or you can make up one of your own. Since this game takes place in Barovia, the outside world doesn’t matter yet, and I’m happy to have players design snippets of it via backstory.

I wonder is my char okay now, crunch and fluff wise that is. I sort created a 'viking elves' in setting as part of my char background/origins. Not sure do they fit GM image though.

  As above, I’m more than happy to have players design aspects of the world via their backstory.

Ability changes- Ugh.  Yeah, missed that. I can move that back.  The rest of it- I went with the table "Variant Abilities and Physical Features" I think. 

I thought Commune would be a better choice for the story as a vehicle to deliver DM instructions.  What if we changed it from a spell-like ability to a class feature, rather than the spell as written? Rather than just "poof, tell me the answer," the PC has to enact a ritual and meditation, risking harm to seek an infernal or diabolical being's advice without actually knowing who she will reach?  Also, we could leave it ambiguous as to whether the infernal or abyssal creature she reaches-- possibly an ancestor, possibly not-- will answer truthfully? It could be a vision, a trip, or even a semi-physical confrontation, requiring her to communicate back and forth with it, possibly trying to earn its approval. This opens up nasty possibilities, like "go sacrifice me that farmer's favorite goat before I tell you," or "You are not worthy, prepare to be flogged," or naughtier, elliquiy-tinged things that would sure be swell with me.

I can switch back any features you'd require, if you decide to go with this character... just let me know what you'd want to nix.  I appreciate the consideration either way.

  That does sound good, so let’s make the following changes:
Prehensile tail and Scaled Skin remain unchanged
You need to find a new feat instead Defensive Combat Training, which could be Fiendish Heritage, then rather than rolling on the table you simply swap Darkness for Contact Outer Planes with the above limitations (but CoP allows one word questions, not just yes/no ones, to make up for the unreliability). I like the ideas you have for the how divination works.


  Regarding the new rules for tiefling’s, I never saw the point. The tiefling was a complete race without it, and unlike the dhampir and skinwalker, it has more than enough alternate racial traits to keep it versatile (11 vs. the dhampires 5 and the skinwalkers 1). Even requiring a feat, the option to take it is still an advantage, and as for aasimars, I’d rather they had to take a feat to change their heritages too, instead of giving a huge dose of versatility to a race that doesn’t need it.

[Muse]

Okay, this not being ravenloft throws me for a loop, but it should be something i can roll with. 

Is this world multi-pantheistic?  If the faerunian pantheon can exist here, I simply tweak things so that geography isn't mentioned and that I flee with my men when the priestesses of Kiransulee break my army. 

*  *  *

This is the Inscribe Magic Tattoo feat: 

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/item-creation-feats/inscribe-magical-tattoo-item-creation

Magic tattoos are not sloteless.  However they do double the number of magic item slots on your body.  If that's too powerful and you don't want it in your campaign, I completely understand and will adjust so that my tattoos are a slotless wondrous item. 

[LisztesFerenc]

Okay, this not being ravenloft throws me for a loop, but it should be something i can roll with. 

Is this world multi-pantheistic?  If the faerunian pantheon can exist here, I simply tweak things so that geography isn't mentioned and that I flee with my men when the priestesses of Kiransulee break my army.

  As I said, Barovia is only what really matters for the game, so players are free to invent snippets of the setting through their backstory. It won't be set in Faerun, but there's no reason some dieties of that world wouldn't have found their way to the surrounding lands. The setting will certainly be multi-pantheistic though, I can say that much.

This is the Inscribe Magic Tattoo feat: 

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/item-creation-feats/inscribe-magical-tattoo-item-creation

Magic tattoos are not sloteless.

  From the feat - "Magical tattoos are treated as slotless magical items for pricing purposes."

[Muse]

I see!  I apologise for missing that.  :)  That makes it a lot more ballanced now.  I'll adjust. 

[Muse]

okay, fixed.  :)  Dropped the Endure Elements tatoo to cover the Tatoo of Resistence +1.  :)

[Ixy]

  That does sound good, so let’s make the following changes:
Prehensile tail and Scaled Skin remain unchanged
You need to find a new feat instead Defensive Combat Training, which could be Fiendish Heritage, then rather than rolling on the table you simply swap Darkness for Contact Outer Planes with the above limitations (but CoP allows one word questions, not just yes/no ones, to make up for the unreliability). I like the ideas you have for the how divination works.


  Regarding the new rules for tiefling’s, I never saw the point. The tiefling was a complete race without it, and unlike the dhampir and skinwalker, it has more than enough alternate racial traits to keep it versatile (11 vs. the dhampires 5 and the skinwalkers 1). Even requiring a feat, the option to take it is still an advantage, and as for aasimars, I’d rather they had to take a feat to change their heritages too, instead of giving a huge dose of versatility to a race that doesn’t need it.

Alright-- I've changed DCT to Fiendish Heritage, and changed Commune for Contact Outer Planes.  Hope that it works out, and I look forward to how this game pans out

[LisztesFerenc]

  Okay, after much, painful deliberation, I think I have the party:

Pockets with Kiera Felldrake
Ixy with Stela Raynov
Blinkin with Lydia Lovelady
TheGlyphstone with Ebron Stavros
Chulanowa with Keely Truffwhizzit
Muse with Melisandre Whitethorn

  OOC thread: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=243294.0

  To those who did not make it:
PhantomPistoleer with Hector – Hector was a solid character with the tragic backstory, but the character ended being similar to Pocket’s Paladin and I wanted to see how a variant multiclass character performed, and there wasn’t really enough room for both characters.

Veinexes with Greeck – I did like the goblin who had embraced a humanoid faith and life style, but ultimately Greek was rather similar Keely, in the whole “small ranged character” department, so I had to choose one, and I wanted to see what the kineticist played. Unfortunately I did not have enough room to add both of you for the blossoming gnome/goblin romance.

Zaer Darkwail with Iorthir Icesong the Half-Born – The Viking elves were a good invention, and there was potential with the finding Janessa plot hook, but with Iorthir there would have been 3 melee characters in the party, and so I went with the other two, since they both had more relevant abilities for the setting.

   Even so, it was difficult making those cuts. If spaces open up, do you want to be notified?

[PhantomPistoleer]

Yes, please let me know if a position opens up!  =D

[Zaer Darkwail]

Ok, sad I did not make the cut but inform me if one melee chars drop out and position opens :)

[LisztesFerenc]

  So far progress has been a little slow, the party is in the process of dealing with a zombie/undead blight in the town of Barovia. Looking for a couple of new characters to replace those that had to leave. Still level 6, see OP for character creation guidelines. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me or post them in this thread.

[Revelation]

Is there anything the group might need character wise?

[Dilaculo]

Or, alternatively, who is left and what roles and classes are they using?

[Muse]

*waves*  My character is an alchemist. 

[TheGlyphstone]

Playing a Warder (ToB tank class with some limited in-combat healing).

[Revelation]

Playing a Warder (ToB tank class with some limited in-combat healing).

That's from the dreamscarred press path of war, right?

Ooooh, being able to play something from that makes this oh so tempting.

[Sinestra]

Did someone say- RAVENLOFT?!

And now I need to do some poking. Is this first come first serve, applicant screening etc?

[Blinkin]

Playing a Swashbuckler/bard here.

[LisztesFerenc]

Did someone say- RAVENLOFT?!

  Well, Expedition to Castle Ravenloft. This doesn't take place on the demiplane of Ravenloft, but rather takes the most iconic realm from there and puts it in a more traditional fantasy setting.

And now I need to do some poking. Is this first come first serve, applicant screening etc?

  If more people apply than I have room for the game, it wouldn't be first come first serve, I would look over which ones complement the party mechanically, would fit in with the others personality wise and which ones I find the most interesting.

That's from the dreamscarred press path of war, right?

Ooooh, being able to play something from that makes this oh so tempting.

  Yes, Path of War has been okay-ed and I will consider other 3rd party/homebrew on request.

[Sinestra]

Okay so you have

A tank
A alchemist
A Jack Sparrow (ish)

Do you want a healer?
Maybe a combat rogue?
Gunslinger?
Melee off tank?
Arcane explosions?

[Zaer Darkwail]

Do you want a healer?
Maybe a combat rogue?
Gunslinger?
Melee off tank?
Arcane explosions?

Same questions from my part and also voice interest. I could cover melee off tank with my earlier 'elf viking' concept, but I am also interested make a arcane caster who makes things go boom in battlefield (probably a tiefling sorcerer/wizard or a warlock).

[Muse]

  Some divine power, especialy with healing, would be pretty awesome in my book.  Currently we're reliant on my brewing potiosn to mend our wounds. 

[Zaer Darkwail]

Hmmm, Sinestra, how sounds we work our chars together? They could know each other already or even be related (twins, brother and sister etc). You get pick do you want go more divine/healing type char or other char (arcane boom power maybe).

[Blinkin]

It's more a Jaclyn Sparrow than a Jack.. and I'm actually closer to the original 3 Musketeers than Sparrow.

The original party was a group of adventurers who had worked together off and on in the past and knew each other, so something that links new characters to the party would be nice. Maybe a sort of, "Wow, what are you doing here? Whatcha been up to?" maybe?

[Fey]

I'd like to submit a support cleric of Shelyn, if you allow the Golarion deities (I don't think I'm up to making my own). If you have a pantheon in mind you'd rather I use, I'd be happy to choose from that, too. :)

[Revelation]

I'm looking at making a melee war lord for now, up close and personal in a fight. Backup option includes a ranged stalker.

[LisztesFerenc]

The original party was a group of adventurers who had worked together off and on in the past and knew each other, so something that links new characters to the party would be nice. Maybe a sort of, "Wow, what are you doing here? Whatcha been up to?" maybe?

    This could work. I think it’s more important the new players know each other, and where then also invited via a letter similar to the one your group received. For familiarity they obviously won’t be as well known to you as you are to each other, but you could have definitely met before in as city or on a mission.

Do you want a healer?
Maybe a combat rogue?
Gunslinger?
Melee off tank?
Arcane explosions?

  I have no real preference, all of those are good. Feel free to co-ordinate your choice with the players and other applicants.

I'd like to submit a support cleric of Shelyn, if you allow the Golarion deities (I don't think I'm up to making my own). If you have a pantheon in mind you'd rather I use, I'd be happy to choose from that, too. :)

  Yes we are using Golarion deities for the most part, so a cleric of Shelyn works well.

I'm looking at making a melee war lord for now, up close and personal in a fight. Backup option includes a ranged stalker.

  Both of those should work. One thing to bear in mind when making a war lord, a lot of your enemies will be undead, and as such immune to mind affecting abilities (but not sneak attack and crits, since this is Pathfinder).

[Revelation]

Most of what I wanna do as a warlord is just hit things really hard. Most things aren't immune to a ton of damage at least  ;D

Though I am still undecided between the two. the thought of making a holy archer is also quite fun. I'll work on a sheet tonight.

[TheGlyphstone]

I certainly wouldn't mind a melee buddy - it's a lot easier for me to protect people when they're close to me.

[Blinkin]

As always, although no one seems to take me up on it, I'm happy to work out previous associations and interesting elements to make the game more in depth and fun. For general reference, I'll put her bio in a spoiler incase someone wants to see it.

Lydia Lovelady

Name: Lydia Lovelady
Age: 26
Sex: Female
Race: Half-Elf
Class: Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade)/Bard (Archeologist)
Level: 5/1

Physical Description:

Lydia is a striking woman with deep, fiery red hair  that falls in waves to just below her shoulders around an oval face dominated by bright, intelligent emerald green eyes and full, kissable lips. Straight, red eyebrows and a narrow, slightly upturned nose in a lightly tanned complexion complete the visage of a truly attractive young woman.

A long, slender neck, feminine shoulders and perky, well formed breasts flow into a taunt waistline before flaring out again into well rounded hips and a lovely, tight rear. Lean, long legs and rounded arms completes the image. Most often dressed in a loose tunic that’s tucked into well fitted trousers that hugs her hips, a well worn pair of turned down boots with a sash about her waist, the rapier at her right side seems almost like an afterthought… but clearly has been well used. When she strikes that defiant pose, hip cocked to one side and arms crossed under her breasts… only a smile that lights up a room gives away the flirt that resides inside.

Personality:

Lydia is a complicated and sometimes conflicted woman. In her heart, she’s a fiercely loyal and passionate woman. On the other side, she ranges from an almost girlish quality in humor and flirting to a no-non-sense, sometimes ruthless fighter. When you’re a friend, you’re a friend for life… When you’re an enemy… well, enjoy what time you may have left.

When Lydia loves, she loves with everything; but has been taught to take life as it comes and live it with equal passion. Prone to occasional bad puns, off color jokes and snippy remarks at the most inopportune moments gives her a charm that’s all her own. She would rather talk her way out of trouble than fight it when possible, but is more than willing to use force when necessary.

Background:

What Lydia will admit about her past is little and vague, making it plain that she has something to hide. What exactly that may be could be just about anything. But, below is what might be generally known about her by anyone who might have reason to know her.

Born the youngest and only daughter of 3, Lydia’s parents were prosperous merchants with strong ties to the sea. Even at a young age, the admitted apple of her father’s eye had a will that should of gotten her punished far more than she was. Spoiled, yes, but not a brat, she often had her way when she really wanted it… and she quickly decided that she wanted the water; the one thing that was denied her when her oldest brother died at sea when she was only 7 years old.

A native of a port city, Lydia is quite familiar with shipyards and docks due to her family’s business interest and she has often snuck out to explore these locations on her own little adventures with her remaining brother. While the death of their older brother was a difficult blow for them to overcome, they found solace with each other and the relationship became quite strong between brother and sister.

At around the time of her 10th birthday, Lydia was betrothed to a boy 3 years older than she in what should have proven to be a benefitual marriage for both families. Lydia, of course, threw all of her not inconsiderable will into resisting the entire idea and actively worked to break the engagement. Even though she wouldn’t have to deal with the engagement for several years yet, she had other plans in mind... including avenging the death of her brother.

When Lydia turned 15, she met a young officer who worked on one of the family ships. Lydia was immediately smitten by the handsome rogue and a scandal was born. When her parents denied her to see her love interest again, naturally, she ran off and got married! That solved 3 problems rather neatly, she thought, and she couldn’t be happier! True, she was a bit young to marry, but the breaking of the betrothal contract, the ability to spend all of the time that she desired with her new husband and refusing her parent’s decrees all had their place in her bold decision. On the other side of the scale, the young officer was fired and her inheritance (minus the already established dowry) was cut off. But, the not inconsiderable dowry provided them with a small, but sturdy ship and a small residence in a reasonable part of the city. The romance continued for nearly 3 years as her husband plied the waters between the ports of the Inner Sea and they started to build a reputation as reliable cargo haulers. Lydia spent her time at sea, and to pass the hours, began to learn the art of sword-play from her heart’s-love and as a result, became a reasonably talented fencer in her own right.

It came as both a surprise, and not unexpectedly, just after Lydia turned 16, that she was with child… After all, all of those lonely nights on board a ship led to a lot of love-making. It was agreed, reluctantly, that Lydia would remain at home during her pregnancy and the first couple of years of the baby’s growth, and then the family would reunite on a new ship being planned for the following year. Ironically, Lydia lost both her husband and baby on the same day a few months later. Her husband, Captain Lovelady, died at the hands of pirate’s intent on taking his cargo… the baby to simple accident. Lydia was never quite the same after that.

With little left to her, as soon as Lydia was recovered, she took up her husband’s sword, which had been recovered, and set out to sink the pirate ship via any means necessary… by the time that she was 18, she had achieved her goal, but had nothing left to keep her going on an emotional level; the vengeance had burned her out emotionally.

For a short while, she worked as a barmaid in a dock-side tavern and over the next few months, rebuilt herself and began to enjoy life again… but she still had an itch to see the world and a determination to do so. It was during this time that she fell into a relationship with an old rogue who showed her some of the tricks of his own trade in exchange for her companionship. While not the man she had once loved, she morned the day that he was hanged for robbing a merchant family involved in shipping.

It was only a short time later that she fell into a group of adventurers with a decidedly leaning toward the dangerous and exciting… she was once again finding her joy for life.

[Fey]

So here's my character. It's my first time ever playing a cleric, so I'm excited! For domains, I choose Good and Luck. I plan to buff with spells and domain powers, heal with Channel Energy, and help mop up with melee. I should be able to do a little damage with the Glaive and I have a wand of cure light wounds for topping up health if necessary.


Yvaine
[Character sheet]

Background

Yvaine was dubbed the 'miracle child' when she was found alive three days after a devastating fire that destroyed dozens of homes and ended her family's lives. Believing that such a child must have been spared by for some great purpose, the priests that found her brought her back to the city's temple of Shelyn and in this way. Although she was schooled in music and dance as a devoted follower of the Eternal Rose, her true calling lay in the restoration of life and love, and she became a capable healer who saved the lives of many. Not content with ministering to the population of her home, Yvaine has set out on a journey across the world to heal the scars of war, restore beauty that's been defiled, and rekindle faith in love!

Description

Yvaine is a young woman of twenty-one with a light brown mane of waist-length straight hair and doe-like, lavender eyes. Her body is that of a nubile young woman barely out of her youth, with elegantly sculpted shoulders, luscious breasts that would fill a grown man's palm each, generously flared hips, a perfectly flat stomach and soft, flawless pale skin. She wears scanty, alluring clothing that highlights her beauty. Yvaine wears bikini cut white panties and thigh-high stockings decorated with intricate floral patterns that evoke the rose, symbol of love. A gossamer cape of white fabric is fastened from her waist and flares dramatically behind her. Fastened to her right forearm is a gold-plated buckler in the design of intertwined rose petals and vines. Her only other protection is an armored brassiere of white trimmed with elaborate gold floral patterns that bares her cleavage, showing her trust in faith over steel for protection.

Yvaine is typically pleasant, soft-spoken and demure. She is a beauty by conventional standards, but also studious and thoughtful, and notorious among friends for strolling right into danger as she's absorbed in one thought or another. Her mild-mannered temperament hides a deep wellspring of resolve and courage in defense of the innocent, and behind her innocent demeanor is an insightful mind watchful for evil that comes cloaked in alluring beauty.

Rolls for HP

Here are my rolls for HP:

At 2016-06-15 17:56:56, Ysariel (uid: 22828) rolls: 1d8m3 Result: 6
At 2016-06-15 17:56:51, Ysariel (uid: 22828) rolls: 1d8m3 Result: 11
At 2016-06-15 17:56:47, Ysariel (uid: 22828) rolls: 1d8m3 Result: 4 X
At 2016-06-15 17:56:41, Ysariel (uid: 22828) rolls: 1d8m3 Result: 10
At 2016-06-15 17:56:31, Ysariel (uid: 22828) rolls: 1d8m3 Result: 4 X

I believe the 3rd and 5th results are 1's on the d8, so I'll reroll those:
At 2016-06-15 17:59:57, Ysariel (uid: 22828) rolls: 1d8m3 Result: 7
At 2016-06-15 17:59:01, Ysariel (uid: 22828) rolls: 1d8m3 Result: 11

[Zaer Darkwail]

Yvaine looks great :). Once I get reply from Sinestra (co-working to make our chars related or such or not) I start work with my concept.

[Blinkin]

If only you were the GM Ziare. ;)

[Fey]

Thank you. :-) I will wait to see what Zaer and Sinestra submit first, then we can think about how we got to know each other and the other group.

I made some changes to my character. 1) I deleted the second half of her background, giving her a simpler and more straightforward motivation to go adventuring. I think my original background was rather out of character, didn't really work well and I want someone who left for a life of adventure of her own volition, not someone who was forced to go. 2) She's older now (21), which gives her a few years of adventuring to have met the others before. And 3) I also got rid of her introversion. Basically I want to play someone who's studious and demure, but not a pensive, mopey shut-in -- that's just not fun. Yvaine should be friendly and open, full of life and love and joy, all the better for when horrible things happen to her.

Mechanically, I ditched my buckler because someone (thanks, you know who you are) noted to me that I wouldn't get much use out of it most of the time since I'd need a hand free to cast somatic spells, use wands and scrolls, and fight. I swapped it for a Handy Haversack. I also dropped my wand of cure light wounds since we have Melisandra's potions and my Heal skill if any topping up is needed. Instead I got more scrolls and 2 healer's kits. Lastly, I am sure I am going to regret this but I swapped Combat Casting for Power Attack. I am thinking with a reach weapon I may not need Combat Casting and a high damage AoO on my glaive may help whittle down enemies as they close in.

[LisztesFerenc]

  Shouldn’t your CMD be 16, and your attack with your magical glaive +7?

  You also haven’t spent enough gold I think. You should have 16k worth of stuff, yet I only count 15k worth, and the pricing of weapons and armour is wrong. You have to pay for the masterwork coast of the item, adding 300gp to the cost of the glaive and 150gp to the armour, but enchanting armour only adds 1,000gp to the price, not 2,000 like it is for a weapon, so have an extra 550gp.

  Finally,

Mechanically, I ditched my buckler because someone (thanks, you know who you are) noted to me that I wouldn't get much use out of it most of the time since I'd need a hand free to cast somatic spells, use wands and scrolls, and fight. I swapped it for a Handy Haversack.

  I don't think this is accurate, as bucklers strap onto your arm, you don't hold them like a shield, hence why you can wield two weapons and use a buckler. So you would have a free hand to cast spells and use magical items. You'd lose the buckler's AC bonus for the round whenever you attacked with your glaive, but you would be able to use your buckler hand to cast spells.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Indeed, buckler does not hinder spellcasting and loose shield bonus from buckler only if you attack with your glaive. Also you can carry wands/cast spells with buckler hand.

[Revelation]

I've decided on warlord for now, and am proceeding with that character in between making a few other posts to RP's i'm in. But man, 15 point buy is really tricky for making a decent martial.. At least casters just need to worry about their casting stat.

[LisztesFerenc]

  Yeah, point buy 15 certainly favours the pure spell caster who thinks melee is a sweetened alcoholic drink from the Galdrearian Coasts. Yet so far no one has opted for that. The party has been rather arcane light, and the ones that do only dabble, thus still needing other stats. Maybe Zaer's caster will be different.

[Blinkin]

As long as he doesn't start summoning demons on a permanent basis.

[Zaer Darkwail]

As long as he doesn't start summoning demons on a permanent basis.

I doubt I can do that in 6th level :P. Also lesson learned that party may have moral issues in having permament bound succubi in the party. Besides instead summoner I would go for more blaster approach anyways.

[Revelation]

Michael
Character sheet

Background

Michael was born to followers of Iomedae, and was born into strife as a result. Surprisingly, the followers of Iomedae lived a more troubled life in these lands, fouler things slowly seeping in, champions fewer and fewer amongst the ranks of those who could deal with them. Something about Michael drove him forward, onward to face these threats as he grew older. Sadly – while he lacked the devout zeal a paladin or tireless faith of clergy or the rare inqusitors, his sword arm was strong, and his dedication regardless of true spiritual faith still drove him onward on the path of the blade. There was no knight to teach him, no order of paladins to train him in matters but he did find luck when his family mended the wounds of a swordsman, saving him from being crippled at best – dead at worst. What he lacked in coin he made up for in acumen and perception, noticing their strong son and the way he fumbled with a blade. Offering to train him a useful profession in the path of the blade, the older mentor took a liking to the strong and dedicated Michael, offering him a chance to be a warrior in full, teaching him finer points of sword play alongside marked, aggressive and vicious strikes.  The warrior even left a few spare gifts – a blade for him to well, burnished and worn armor, the proper beginnings of a warrior.

Michael has worked as a freelance mercenary since, and has kept hold of his faith to the goddess since. He is no paladin – not in the way others could be, but his faith and steel as as strong as any other, and he is not going to back down from a fight should the innocent be in danger.

Description

Michael is a handsome enough man. His dark hair kept short, framing a well sculpted face with stunning green eyes, and a stubble covered jawline that’s refined. Broad shoulders and an overall warriors physique show that he is no slouch when it comes to taking care of himself, and when without armor and clothing, one can see small scars and wounds from past battles as marks of honor and experience for a proper fighter. Michael prefers armor in the form of a breastplate and protective gauntlets, nothing that majorly limits mobility whilst offering good protection. As a favored choice fo weapon he favors a greatsword, wielding it with practiced ease. Confident in nature, he is not one to seem shy or meek, though one might say that he appears a little too trusting or naïve at times, not expecting the worst from the dregs of humanity or the enemies of good.

Friendly and loyal, honest and forthright, he has a small pendant with Iomedae’s symbol on his neck, crafted from silver.  With a soft and friendly voice, one could almost think he’s not a true warrior... Until that voice beckons out a challenge and a battlecry, his stride across the battlefield practiced and maintained. Surprisingly, he has a lovely singing voice.

Rolls for HP

At 2016-06-16 15:24:53, Changingsaint (uid: 9269) rolls: 1d10a2 Result: 6
At 2016-06-16 15:25:20, Changingsaint (uid: 9269) rolls: 1d10a2 Result: 6
At 2016-06-16 15:25:37, Changingsaint (uid: 9269) rolls: 1d10a2 Result: 7
At 2016-06-16 15:25:52, Changingsaint (uid: 9269) rolls: 1d10a2 Result: 7
At 2016-06-16 15:26:09, Changingsaint (uid: 9269) rolls: 1d10a2 Result: 8

Sheet's not 100% done yet,  I have 185gish to spend on supplies, but 99%  of it is done. Meet Michael, a frontline warrior who favors teamwork and damage, and seeks to provide utility by helping out his frontline allies. Sadly lacking the defense and HP of the warden (... Or our panty and bra clad cleric *sob*) he tries to make up for it by packing a hell of a punch on the charge, or just in general. Swinging for 4d6+modifiers on a damage swing will certainly bring things to kneel, and his phalanx fighting teamwork feat can give his allies a small buff against the forces of evil. I'd love to work out an established history between him and anyone else in the group or looking to join!

[Blinkin]

Would be happy to work out some background with Michael, drop me a PM and we'll see what happens.

[LisztesFerenc]

  Looks good, but you seem to have too few skill points. You have the base 4/level from the warlord class, but being human should give you an extra 6, unless I missed something. FC bonus was used to boost hit points right? Also why is your +2 breastplate listed as being 4,500gp? Base price of 200go + 150gp for masterwork + 4000 for the enchantments, so you should have an extra 150gp. How are you getting a +2 misc bonus to acrobatics, diplomacy and survival skills? Is that an alternate racial trait you swapped skilled for?

[Revelation]

Whoops, I thought masterwork armor was 300GP on top of the base price, so I just put 200g+300g for the price of masterwork breastplate. Being human, I should have 4 base skill points plus one more from human for a total of 5, I used the favored class bonus for extra HP. Am I missing extra skill points from something? As to my knowledge my background skills weren't eating into non background skills. The +2 to the various skills is from Discipline Expertise feat giving me +2 to those feats since war lord can gain maneuvers from disciplines associated with those feats.

[LisztesFerenc]

  Ah yes, I missed the 6 ranks you had in perception. That works out. As for feats, just so I understand right:

Power Attack (1st level)
Victorious Recovery (human bonus)
Improved Initiative  (1st level class bonus feat)
Furious Focus (3rd level feat)
Phalanx Fighter (3rd level class bonus feat))
Discipline Expertise (5th level)
Lunge (6th level class bonus feat)
 

[Revelation]

Yeah! And ah, yeah, my skills are in order then! I was double checking myself to make sure.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Hmmm, not sure when Sinestra will be online next or have time to talk backgrounds of our chars....so I go and build the frame very least and initial ideas for background (plus I am shamelesly eager to get started :P).

Baltharius (Balt) Cinderwrath (WIP)
Charsheet

Background

Baltharius Cinderwrath (or simply Balt for friends) parents were pair of potent wizards and he hails from a lineage of wizards and sorcerers. His both parents were human but it was not that big surprise their firstborn was born as tiefling (either relate to distant ancestry to devil pact making ancestors or to the fact the child was conceived while in abyss while they stayed in a interplanar hostel at one layer). As usual with powerful magi they have powerful and scary enemies, so one day soon after his mother had given birth a powerful enemy attacked his parents and his other family members (he has two elder siblings, told by friend of family), as safety measure they teleported child to friend of theirs. To await until threat passes, however since 24 years there has been no sign nor word from his family.

The family friend, a elderly elf mage who ran a magic academy raised Balt under his care as foster parent who taught into ways of magic and wizardry, early on Balt showing natural talent for it and for especially 'explosive and flashy' kind of magic. So thus picking evocation just because Balt loves nothing more than big enormous booming bang or shizzle and flash of electricity or immense blast of cold which flash freezes everything! In short he enjoyed creating a creative destruction with magic (a subtle influence from his fiendish blood no doubt). In short he is fan of explosions, both magical and mundane kind and see results of them.

However despite his foster parent figure was friend to his parents, he had some reservations for Balt's nature and thus they never grew close nor he much showing parental love. He did educate him freely until he was old enough to become student at his magic academy where he send him in. He faced first time then open hostility, scrutinity and insults just based on his appearance than him being who he was. It was painful and lonely time in academy where he got little to no friends, but he learned valuable lesson; that people scrutinize him just because how he looked. Was the sort valuable lesson what his foster parent intended to show him.

Because of this he became much focused on studies and reading, also even if he liked explosions he had lots of imagination as well, so he became author early age of fourteen and published under artist name a book called Adventures of clever mage. In short the novels presented his ideal self who was a human in middle ages, insightful, clever and he solved crimes and riddles and odd puzzles just using his perception and mind alone than just cheat with divine magic (as most cases foes were well prepared against anything magical than pure wit). The books came succesful in great deal and so he earned income which improved his lot in magic academy to have money to copy many spells from the library (it was not free because academy taught students be resourceful and independant and not offer everything in golden spoon fed for them). Also get some luxury comforts and such.

However once he grew up, he decided go and locate his family. Only memento in form of a ring which he has formed arcane bond towards to. As he left from safety of academy, it was first time he saw in his foster father figure any sign of emotion as he said his farewells and wished him for good luck and gifted him with a splendid deep scarlet robes which help acquire whatever components or foci for his spells as graduation gift! He accepted the gift and after told he is welcome return to academy anytime and wish hear about any discoveries about his family Balt then headed into world, explore, live in it and try to solve his real life mystery; who or what attacked his parents and where his parents and family are now since twenty four years ago and why they haven't contacted him?

Description

Baltharius Cinderwrath looks like a creature from hell, and they would be technically correct as he is tiefling after all. He wears deep crimson colored robes and he has glowing fiery eyes and red fine scaled skin and has claws, hoofed feet, a prehensible tail and pair of dark red horns in his head. So for reasons he has learned use illusion magic to glamer his appearance most of time in civilized setting. He stands almost six feet tall and he is quite light, slim and thin in build.

HP Rolls

At 2016-06-16 17:46:34, Cinderwrath (uid: 14) rolls: 1d6 Result: 5
At 2016-06-16 17:46:26, Cinderwrath (uid: 14) rolls: 1d6 Result: 3
At 2016-06-16 17:46:12, Cinderwrath (uid: 14) rolls: 1d6 Result: 5
At 2016-06-16 17:46:02, Cinderwrath (uid: 14) rolls: 1d6 Result: 4
At 2016-06-16 17:45:42, Cinderwrath (uid: 14) rolls: 1d6 Result: 6

[Fey]

  Shouldn’t your CMD be 16, and your attack with your magical glaive +7?

  You also haven’t spent enough gold I think. You should have 16k worth of stuff, yet I only count 15k worth, and the pricing of weapons and armour is wrong. You have to pay for the masterwork coast of the item, adding 300gp to the cost of the glaive and 150gp to the armour, but enchanting armour only adds 1,000gp to the price, not 2,000 like it is for a weapon, so have an extra 550gp.

  Finally,

  I don't think this is accurate, as bucklers strap onto your arm, you don't hold them like a shield, hence why you can wield two weapons and use a buckler. So you would have a free hand to cast spells and use magical items. You'd lose the buckler's AC bonus for the round whenever you attacked with your glaive, but you would be able to use your buckler hand to cast spells.

Indeed, buckler does not hinder spellcasting and loose shield bonus from buckler only if you attack with your glaive. Also you can carry wands/cast spells with buckler hand.

Thanks for the corrections! It's actually my first time dealing with magical gear so I didn't know that Masterwork and +1 are paid for separately. I'll make the corrections when I get home. :-)

I didn't know that buckles worked that way! I was told that casting somatic spells, using wands, etc. with the buckler hand causes you to lose its AC bonus. But if Lisztes is ruling that I can use wand/scroll/spell/channel without losing the buckler' bonus to AC then I will go back and add a non magical buckler. ;D

[Muse]

Huzzah for bucklers. :) 

I love your image Ysariel.  I advise you to keep the wand.  They're far more cost effective than potions.  I'll keep making them though.  :)

[LisztesFerenc]

Thanks for the corrections! It's actually my first time dealing with magical gear so I didn't know that Masterwork and +1 are paid for separately. I'll make the corrections when I get home. :-)

I didn't know that buckles worked that way! I was told that casting somatic spells, using wands, etc. with the buckler hand causes you to lose its AC bonus. But if Lisztes is ruling that I can use wand/scroll/spell/channel without losing the buckler' bonus to AC then I will go back and add a non magical buckler. ;D

  I can see why someone would rule that way, but the rules only specify attacking as a condition for losing the AC bonus from the buckler. Intentional or not the hand movements required for spell casting or using a wand are more subtle than attacking, and that's the interpretation I'll stick with.

  Baltharius looks good. You mention "use illusion magic to glamer his appearance most of time in civilized setting" is that a reference to the disguise other spell he knows, or does he have another ability I missed? Also your 5th level feet isn't noted, but since you have 4 traits I assume its additional traits?

  Finding Your Kin seems a little too good for a trait, its basically improved toughness and a slightly less versatile fast learner combined, as long as you don't multiclass or take a PrC. Now neither of those feats are amazing, but the combined benefit for a single trait seems a bit much, as the noted drawbacks aren't that severe, especially not for a wizard. The other traits seem fine.

[Zaer Darkwail]

My feats are; Additional Traits (1st), Improved Initiative (3th), Spell Focus [Evocation] (5th). They are listed in Feats&Special Abilities section. True that my drawback is nothing amazing (as it's attachment to same item which for he has arcane bond; a ring). The Finding Your Kin campaign trait is very strong (but not OP) choice but truth told none other campaign traits looked anything amazing either (for a wizard). As wizard I benefit only from extra skill points or extra HP (and extra HP is suggested taken always as with favored class bonus unless favored class bonus is something amazing). But I am willing to remove that trait away (it just introduces bit math work to remove extra HP and SP away), just would need find a good trait then (perhaps take adopted trait and then go for any racial traits as none tiefling ones were good).

Anyways use glamer disguise himself is indeed the disguise other spell what he knows and I intent add lots spells to my spellbook (as I can once per day spontaneously cast any of my spells from spellbook with sacrificing a spell slot thanks arcane bond).

[LisztesFerenc]

My feats are; Additional Traits (1st), Improved Initiative (3th), Spell Focus [Evocation] (5th).

  Okay I see. And you took Creative Destruction instead of a bonus feat for your wizard level 5?

But I am willing to remove that trait away (it just introduces bit math work to remove extra HP and SP away), just would need find a good trait then (perhaps take adopted trait and then go for any racial traits as none tiefling ones were good).

  Yeah, I think the trait is too powerful to allow. Its not game breaking or anything obviously, but does render a fair few other traits utterly lackluster by comparison. Adoptive trait sounds like it would fit with Balt being raised by family friends at the academy.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Yeah, I took arcane discovery instead a bonus feat at 5th level. I felt it fit for my char concept being lover of 'explosions' to get temporal HP which comes from just sheer excitement he gets blasting things up (he is CN but good intending but he does have some fiendish traits like love destruction/big boom effects). Anycase ok, I go see what adopted racial trait my char gets.

[Sinestra]

Didn't keep tabs here, what with rebuilding my PC and all but if you don't want to wait Zael, we can do solo. I'll have some time later tonight :)

[Zaer Darkwail]

Didn't keep tabs here, what with rebuilding my PC and all but if you don't want to wait Zael, we can do solo. I'll have some time later tonight :)

Well, I am still willing to work backgrounds/chars together with you :). I can finish number parts of my wizard (and if we decide go with different sort setup I can quickly work different class/race if needed).

[Fey]

Baltharius (Balt) Cinderwrath (WIP)

I like him! Yvaine would approve of going on a quest to find the long-lost family you never knew. That you can feel that kind of love for your kin despite having spent so much of your life away from them is noble. I think if the illusion ever comes off, she would be shocked at first but respect him as someone who rose above his fiendish ancestry (or at least hasn't sank to the depths of it).

ChangingSaint suggested to me that Michael be Yvaine's bodyguard and I thought that was great. Maybe Sinestra's character, Michael and Yvaine (or whichever of the 4 are chosen) went on an adventure to try track down a reported sighting of his family? That would've given them some time together as a group.

Huzzah for bucklers. :) 

I love your image Ysariel.  I advise you to keep the wand.  They're far more cost effective than potions.  I'll keep making them though.  :)

I know, right? The moment I saw it, I just knew I had to make a character based off it. I will buy back the wand then (although I do heal 2x your level in HP if I spend an hour to treat your wounds. Also, channel energy 6x a day! ;D).

  I can see why someone would rule that way, but the rules only specify attacking as a condition for losing the AC bonus from the buckler. Intentional or not the hand movements required for spell casting or using a wand are more subtle than attacking, and that's the interpretation I'll stick with.

OK! I bought a nonmagical Buckler and fixed the errors you mentioned. The sheet should be correct now. I also went ahead and spent my remaining money: Cure Light Wounds wand, a 50gp focus for Shield Other, and a spare spell component pouch.

GM, I would like to make a request. There is a drawback called Family Ties where if a family member makes a request of me and I don't fulfill it, I get -2 on all Wis and Cha-based ability & skill checks until I succeed or pass a DC 20 Will save. Can I take as a 2nd drawback a custom drawback called Soft-Hearted that works exactly like the above, except replacing 'family members' with 'innocent person who seems genuinely in need of help'.

Other good-aligned characters may feel a duty to help those in need, but they suffer no penalty for failing or refusing (e.g. if a greater threat must be dealt with).

I am thinking of buying the Greater Purpose trait (+1 save vs Death effects and +1 to stabilize when dying) in return.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Nice you like my char concept Ysariel :). Albeit my char is CN he is good intending (albeit can be at times unreliable or unpredictable), he has some subtle fiendish influences in behavior (well, at least blame fiends for having desire blow stuff up or have rather vivid carnal thoughts regarding scanthily clad priestess) but besides that he is struggling against his fiendish blood (meaning not touch serious dark magic or use magic for evil purposes and thus reason why he has necromancy and enchantments as opposed schools those spells lead to one way or other darker or more manipulative paths).

Anyways my sheet is mostly done now (numbers wise) and background is mostly complete (can write and add more to it). With Sinestra however final details are decided (if she goes for sibling approach then need determine how my char is related to hers and if not sibling then where he met her and did she know him at magic academy if she goes for caster also or go more for gish build or even magus etc). So lots things to background (or some changes to char) can happen once I get to talk Sinestra about it :)

[Blinkin]

Under Pathfinder rules, only 1 drawback may be taken by a character. Beyond that, it's GM's call.

Zaire, have you considered the ramifications of when someone in the party discovers that you're hiding something as significant as your racial heritage? I get the reasoning, but serious and unforgivable rifts have occurred for a lot less and there may be the concern of something blowing up in your character's face that has nothing to do with an explosion. I know your playing style and thought that I might offer a hint of concern in that.

[LisztesFerenc]

GM, I would like to make a request. There is a drawback called Family Ties where if a family member makes a request of me and I don't fulfill it, I get -2 on all Wis and Cha-based ability & skill checks until I succeed or pass a DC 20 Will save. Can I take as a 2nd drawback a custom drawback called Soft-Hearted that works exactly like the above, except replacing 'family members' with 'innocent person who seems genuinely in need of help'.

Other good-aligned characters may feel a duty to help those in need, but they suffer no penalty for failing or refusing (e.g. if a greater threat must be dealt with).

I am thinking of buying the Greater Purpose trait (+1 save vs Death effects and +1 to stabilize when dying) in return.

  Sure, that seems like it should work as a drawback. There aren't too many people in the setting, since its a rural community surrounded by rugged wilderness, but most of the ones you do meet will be fairly helpless.

[Zaer Darkwail]

I think hiding one's racial heritage is not that big deal (myself anyways unless there is serious racism in the group towards tieflings peculiar). The reasons why he is hiding his race is rather obvious; he got horns, crimson skin, a tail and pair of hooved feet. A anybody regular militia, guards, farmers or merchants would run screaming away from him (unless they have met and dealt with tieflings before). Or worst case chase him out of town with pitch forks and torches.

He got power blow up entire village militia but that's not something my char desires to do. So reason for his deception even amongst his 'friends' is understandable as he keeps his guard up always as he grew up in magic academy where he got no friends, no allies and nobody caring about him just because how he looked than what he was. Such experience had it's mark in that he desires not anyway expose his true nature to anyone, especially to those he counts as friends or allies as he fears once mask falls off they all abandon him or worst case seek kill him.

I myself find lots RP potential on this side/aspect on him. Only what I think I should perhaps get disguise self or get hat of disguise (or even wand) to able regular basis cast or renew the disguise (I got 60 mins duration which can be extended to 120 minutes and it takes one spell slot).

[LisztesFerenc]

I myself find lots RP potential on this side/aspect on him. Only what I think I should perhaps get disguise self or get hat of disguise (or even wand) to able regular basis cast or renew the disguise (I got 60 mins duration which can be extended to 120 minutes and it takes one spell slot).

  How are you extending it? Do you have the extend spell?

  Even then if you can, you get 3 hours from your 2nd level spell slots and 4 hours from your 3rd level spell slots. That's a total of 7 hours, not enough to keep it hidden from the party.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Extend via metamagic rod (minor). Now that I made quick check I noticed there is Cloak of Human Guise, it mentions half-elves and half-orcs (or any human x race half-breeds), but can it be reasonable customization that my char has cloak which simply alters his fiendish traits not appear at all and he just looks a human (as human self if he had born human in first place).

[LisztesFerenc]

  I'd allow that, but with the tweak that there would be one subtle feature that reveals your nature (eyes flashing yellow, bounding pulse even when resting, a birthmark which seems to move slightly, tongue momentarily becoming forked). DC 20 wisdom check to catch when casually observing, DC 10 when looking closely.

[Blinkin]

I think that my concern is an IC reaction to a friend hiding something like this just because you're suppose to be friends and seen the worst that can be thrown at you and you don't trust them enough to tell them that you're a tefling.

As far as townspeople picking up pitchforks and torches... how many people in the universe of D&D and Pathfinder play Teflings and Asimers? They're apparently not much more rare than half-orcs and half-elves.

I didn't say not to do it, if you're hell bent on it, I was offering a differing point of view in regards to those around the character for extended periods of time who might, perhaps feel some betrayal when someone who they thought that they knew and trusted popped up with that little surprise. Trust is hard to get again if you blow it like that.

Then again, you're assuming that teflings (and Asimers) are rare enough that everyone picks up pitchforks and torches on sight. From my experience, both in pathfinder and D&D worlds, they're so common that you can find one on every street corner of every hamlet on the planet.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Not hellbent on the tiefling race (all depends on after all discussion with Sinestra). I do understand concern for feel of betrayal when a 'friend' comes out closet (either intentionally or unintentionally) like that. But overall I could categorize his behavior more as Internalized Categorism, in short he has accepted that people dislike tieflings. Some even outright hate them. But he is not happy being in given category. What is easiest way out? Just change what he looks (as he lacks faith in making friends just having normal appearance because all attempts were crushed several times in academy and he became loner bookworm in academy).

In the movies the trope of a some secret from a friend comes out which shocks the friend group and then group needs deal with it. It can have happy, unhappy, changes or shockingly group accepts still Balt even if he is tiefling (as they knew who he is despite his born appearance). A shock and sense of betrayal is expected but I can think most would be happy with that everyone learns accept Balt and then Balt no longer has reason to hide/disguise around friends (just disguise around town to just avoid trouble or group labelled suspicious just sake of company they keep).

[Blinkin]

I get the reasoning, but in the set-up, everyone already knows each other and are, to some extent, friends and know each other to some extent, so if he accepts that they are friends, why hide it from them?

Anyway, I've expressed my concern and I'll let it drop.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Reason why he hides his race from friends is because he fears loosing the very first friends he ever got just because he looks. It's like someone fears telling he is gay sexual to his friends because he fears if his sexual orientation is known, he looses all his friends. Ofc this case is more extreme as he hides his actual race.

[Zaer Darkwail]

  I'd allow that, but with the tweak that there would be one subtle feature that reveals your nature (eyes flashing yellow, bounding pulse even when resting, a birthmark which seems to move slightly, tongue momentarily becoming forked). DC 20 wisdom check to catch when casually observing, DC 10 when looking closely.

I am fine with that restriction, that there are brief moments of 'flashes' which only very wise can detect.

[Revelation]

My sheet has been updated with Miscellany gear and should be considered finished for now, I hope. Zaer's character looks good, though I admit seeing CN always fills me with a tad bit of wariness - bad experience. I do trust Zaer to not be a backstabber though! That'd be my only concern, CN as chaotic randumb or chaotic evil without being evil, and I don't get that vibe so far.

Him hiding what he is makes for some good roleplay! Michael himself isn't exactly full of surprises, but I tend to enjoy playing straightforward characters, so having someone with a twist would be fun.

[Zaer Darkwail]

CN is for more that he is morally grey and bit selfish but not backstabber (and has moments of kindness also but their random and unpredictable). He loves explosions and he feels zero guilt in blasting and cooking monstrous humanoids or other fools who come to try kill him :P. But even as blaster he does not blast his friends (intent is that he somepoint gets selective metamagic feat so he can count out allies from his fireball blast so they can experience glory of fireball up close without burned by it).

He is sort inspired by Megumin from KonoSuba anime (I warmly recommend watch the series :P).

[LisztesFerenc]

  I think for Barovia there would be a lot of superstition regarding tieflings, since its an isolated, close knit community. Outside, in the rest of the land tieflings are much more tolerated, still slightly distrusted, but they can safely walk down the streets, which may not be true here.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Yeah, even if tieflings are tolerated he just got lots of bad stuff occuring to him in academy just cause of his appearance. So he just does disguise thing just avoid trouble/problems. Not sure did you detect it LisztesFerenc, but I had taken two ravenloft languages as my language picks (either one any use? Other was descriped to be similar to latin and other sounded barovian/german language).

[LisztesFerenc]

  The module makes no such mention of those languages I don't think, this isn't the demiplane Ravenloft, its just the name of the castle. And besides, why would your character have learnt them?

[Zaer Darkwail]

I just thought besides racial and planar languages he could know some odd variants of common (ancient common or whatever is ancient version of common) and then some exotic kingdom based language. But I can swap them, just ran out good ideas :P. Before earlier they were gnome and halfling but was not sure was they any use.

[Blinkin]

CN=nucking futs with a dose of psychotic on the side.

I know Ziare's play style and he seems to delight a little in causing some chaos within parties. ;) As for backstabbing... no, I've never seen him backstab a fellow PC, but I've seen him nearly kill one.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Nearly kill one? What and when? I am sure my mage char which caused ruckus (IC and OOC) with succubi is from years ago but I do not remember killing anyone. Anycase only psychotic stuff with this char is love for explosions/blow stuff up and his condittioned fear of exposing his true race to anyone for fear of rejection/abandoned by his friends.

[Blinkin]

Note that I said nearly killed.

It was a drow game, your character decided to run up and throw my character across a room and into a wall. Technically, the damage exceeded his HP enough that if it had been lethal, he would of been killed... he was left with about 10 HP in the end as it was, he only had about 25 HP to begin with.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Huh? What char I was playing at the time and what was IC motivation of my char grab and throw your char across room onto wall? I honestly do not remember :P.

[Blinkin]

I don't remember names and I withdrew from the game a few weeks later. You were playing a teacher at one of the drow schools and I was playing a new student. A question was asked, towhich my character answered correctly (connon and historically, at least) and yours for reasons I never understood, decided to make an example of him by running some 60', grabbing my character and throwing him across the room, causing somewhere in the area of 40 points of non-leathal damage. I never understood how a double move and an attack could take place as a surprise attack, but...

[Zaer Darkwail]

Aha, it was probably the game where I was running things on melee magether as co-GM style somepoint (while my own char was female studying at academy). Anyways the 60'ft movement and throwing you were part of setting sun style martial maneuver which allows throw you (and not sure now was it because maneuver could be used as part of charge action or mentor had 60'ft movement speed or he was able to take two move actions and single standard action somehow). Anyways the reason for throw was not because your being wrong; your answer was both correct and wrong. Correct in facts but wrong with attitude. The teacher (which is canon one from Drizzt books) taught history but not because of facts or educate warriors about history; he used history lessons as means to brainwash drow youths to hate surface dwellers above all else and other 'good' mental traits for drow warrior in personality wise. As sort psychological condittioning. I do not remember full details but it was something in IC attitude or manner how your char answer was given which provoked teacher to throw you (he did use in books physical discipline on students which either answered wrong or answered 'wrong manner').

So intent was not anyway personal but more as part of the characther which I tried portray and about what he was truly doing in the melee-magether history classes which are nothing less than spoonfed propaganda.

[Blinkin]

I never implied that it wasn't IC, lol I didn't take it personally and still don't. It's all good.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Glad to hear :). I may had needed use a another method how to get teacher 'physically discipline' your char instead going to whacky tome of battle maneuvers approach. Anyways going bed now, tomorrow live Warhammer Fantasy RPG session so not around tomorrow as we going run around +11 hour session (and it starts with our dwarf slayer bound and tortured by witch hunter and in line waits a bard who is bad in lying or speaking truth, a heavily mutated human witch who has so far disguised with metal plates/mask like Dr Doom and a psychotic wood elf for thirst of killing and murder, in a village where witch hunter has declared everyone being under suspicion of witchcraft).

[Sinestra]

Well, I am still willing to work backgrounds/chars together with you :). I can finish number parts of my wizard (and if we decide go with different sort setup I can quickly work different class/race if needed).

Well, I guess we should probably chat a bit about that then. Send me a PM with some chat-client details and I'll poke you about more in depth stuff.

That being said, wow you guys post a ton here. I can only check here a few times a day, yikes. I might be out of my league for posting speed.

[LisztesFerenc]

  Don't worry Sinestra, I'm sure the actual game will progress at a such a rate, if nothing else I wouldn't be able to keep up with that.

  Okay, so for the 3 characters we have so far:

  Baltharius has a pretty solid motivation, he wants to find his family, and no doubt like all wizards he wants to gain more arcane knowledge, spells or otherwise. Any further motivation/specific goals?

  Yvaine doesn't have any concrete goals, but seems to have pledged her life firmly to helping the weak and innocent, to the point of incorporating it into her character’s mechanics that she had to. Anything specific beyond that, or does she just go looking for people to help, evil to stand against?

  Michael seems to have the least motivation. He obviously has good intentions wanting to help people as a hero does, and wants to learn how to better use a blade presumable, but not quite to the extent of Tvaine and he lacks the finding lost family Bal has. Not that this is a problem at all, a wish to do good will see you through this story fine motivation-wise, I’m just wondering if he has any specific goals?

  Plus, some of you may also know Lydia too.

[Revelation]

Generally I sort of prefer working on bigger motivations once actually in the game, as I find that fits a tad more organically. However, I am more than happy to put him back to the drawing board so to speak and work out a more in depth motivation for him.

[Fey]

Yvaine's goals are driven by her slightly different take on Shelyn's faith. Most clerics of Shelyn strive to create and glorify beauty through art, music, and performance. Yvaine tries to restore beauty that has already been lost. The wartorn country whose borders overflow with refugees, the cynical and jaded mercenary who no longer believes in true love, a lost book that tells the last stand of a great hero.

She is drawn to try and repair homes and hearts, restore things of ancient wonder, and help give people a second chance that they might flourish. For this reason she explores dark dungeons and fights back the forces of corruption that have overtaken civilization. On a less martial side she also tries to redeem the lost or help people overcome past hurts so that they can live to their full potential again. I know Lydia felt empty for a while after succeeding in her revenge. What would be really cool (if Blinkin's agreeable) is if Yvaine met her sometime during this period and stayed for a while, trying to help her see new purpose in life, whether she was ultimately successful or not.

Things like helping the weak and innocent are extensions of this, although of course as good-aligned softie she feels a duty to help anyway.

It's possible that Yvaine  was saved for this particular purpose. Perhaps the reason fate watches strongly over her because she's destined to join in some great effort to restore... well, something. Yvaine doesn't know what that is yet, but she may be guided towards it if it exists.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Besides searching for his family and increasing his own arcane power (and perhaps develop custom 'Explosion' spell which will become his immortal trademark for arcane lore), I think besides those pursuits he just enjoys blowing stuff up and thus seeks to get into conflicts where violence is used as solution (like warfare, mercenary work to protect village from monsters etc). Any goals which he have are mostly selfish in nature and can be at times random. He could had gone to Barovia because he heard a rumor they have best boar steak in entire world (and he is coming check it out :P).

[LisztesFerenc]

Yvaine's goals are driven by her slightly different take on Shelyn's faith. Most clerics of Shelyn strive to create and glorify beauty through art, music, and performance. Yvaine tries to restore beauty that has already been lost. The wartorn country whose borders overflow with refugees, the cynical and jaded mercenary who no longer believes in true love, a lost book that tells the last stand of a great hero.

She is drawn to try and repair homes and hearts, restore things of ancient wonder, and help give people a second chance that they might flourish. For this reason she explores dark dungeons and fights back the forces of corruption that have overtaken civilization. On a less martial side she also tries to redeem the lost or help people overcome past hurts so that they can live to their full potential again. I know Lydia felt empty for a while after succeeding in her revenge. What would be really cool (if Blinkin's agreeable) is if Yvaine met her sometime during this period and stayed for a while, trying to help her see new purpose in life, whether she was ultimately successful or not.

Things like helping the weak and innocent are extensions of this, although of course as good-aligned softie she feels a duty to help anyway.

It's possible that Yvaine  was saved for this particular purpose. Perhaps the reason fate watches strongly over her because she's destined to join in some great effort to restore... well, something. Yvaine doesn't know what that is yet, but she may be guided towards it if it exists.

  Okay, that does work nicely, I like that interpretation of the Shelyn faith. That's good.

Generally I sort of prefer working on bigger motivations once actually in the game, as I find that fits a tad more organically. However, I am more than happy to put him back to the drawing board so to speak and work out a more in depth motivation for him.

  No, that should work fine, plenty of work for a hero in Barovia.

  By the way, this is the letter that will draw you into the game:

*************************************************************

Hail to thee of might and valour my (insert character names),

  I, a lowly servant of the township of Barovia, send honour to thee. We plead for thy so desperately needed assistance within our community.

  The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been afflicted by an evil so deadly that even the good people of our town cannot protect her. She languishes from her wound and I would have her saved from this menace. But I fear the only cure lies within the dreaded walls of the castle, were none may enter without risking their lives.

  There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had to thee and they fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea.

  Come quickly, for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be thine!

                              Kolyan Indirovich
                              Burgomaster of Barovia

*************************************************************

[Blinkin]

Lydia is amenable to an early meeting during her low-point, that might of helped her realize the renewed zest for life that she currently enjoys, so it fits nicely into her history. I would prefer that it not be a one-time, if protracted association; perhaps a deeper friendship that renews on a somewhat regular basis?

I owe Michael's player a PM; I haven't forgotten, Life has just been a little hectic and suddenly my own game has taken on a life of it's own.

And, I know that I owe the game an initiative check too. lol

As for the chaotic bomber.... I really have no idea how they might of met or developed an association in the past; There's not a lot of common ground there as far as I've seen.

[LisztesFerenc]

As for the chaotic bomber.... I really have no idea how they might of met or developed an association in the past; There's not a lot of common ground there as far as I've seen.

  Well, Lydia doesn't need to know everyone in the new group, Bal could be a new edition to the group, tagging along by chance. Or maybe they met before but didn't exchange much words because they were so different.

[Blinkin]

but... but... but.. Lydia knows everyone! She's Will Rogers on speed, lol

[Sinestra]

Alright, will hammer out a gunslinger concept tonight and get something up. Taking dad out for brunch in the morning. Lol

[Fey]

Lydia is amenable to an early meeting during her low-point, that might of helped her realize the renewed zest for life that she currently enjoys, so it fits nicely into her history. I would prefer that it not be a one-time, if protracted association; perhaps a deeper friendship that renews on a somewhat regular basis?

That sounds fantastic!

Let me imagine how it happened. She walks into a tavern in a port one day. In the dingy smog from pipes and the fireplace, among the rakes and cutpurses, what catches her attention is the barmaid with eyes that are sad, so sad. Something in those eyes holds her gaze, makes her wonder what could make them so empty of passion and life and joy, a question that distracts her just long enough to walk right into a tavern wench and the dozen tankards of ale she balances on both arms.

She comes back the next day, and the next, finding excuses to talk. And at first she just listens, saying very little. When she does speak it is mostly to ask questions. Lydia, she eventually learns the young woman's name is.

Perhaps she gets asked questions in return. Who are you? I'm a friend of the best goddess ever, she cheekily says. Why do you ask so many questions? I want to know more about you, she innocently says. Why are you such a busybody? Because you look so sad, she blurts out.

She does not ask what happened. Lydia will tell her in good time, if she earns the right to know.

What she does do is try to help the young woman out of her shell. She tells her about the few adventures she's had and the things she's seen, shares the epic poems and songs she heard during her days at the temple. She tries to drag her along to watch the performance of a troupe passing through town on its way across the sea, to go exploring the port city and its many districts. She does so not out of any great wisdom or life experience, for she is too young to have much of either, just a simple faith that there can be joy again after loss, and wildflowers will bloom after the fire, and embracing life does not dishonor the dead.

There's the time when both of them were cornered in an alley by half a dozen thugs looking for easy prey, and staggered out bloodied but alive, fighting back-to-back. There's the time they spent an afternoon exploring the old merchant's quarter and its warren of tiny shops filled with curious wonders from all over the world. She argued heatedly with Lydia over her new boyfriend, and was there to mourn him with her when he was hanged.

Days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months. And finally there comes a day when she stands at the pier with Lydia, going off on an adventure together. There are no words for how happy she is. It is not the happiness of a job well done, because Lydia did all the the really hard work. It is just the simple joy of seeing a friend you care for living, truly alive, passion and fire in her eyes.

They would part ways from time to time, as the winds of fortune carried them this way and that, but they were always reunited in the end. And when that happened, once again, in the dingy smog from pipes and the fireplace, among the rakes and cutpurses, they would sit together at a table in the amber lantern light. Tell me all about your adventures, she would say with excitement glittering in her eyes, and she would listen, long into the night.

OK, so I got carried away there. Maybe none of that happened. But it's fun to think about how it might have played out. I see Yvaine looking up to the new Lydia in a big sisterly kind of way, since Lydia's the older, wiser, badass one.

  By the way, this is the letter that will draw you into the game:

Sounds great! That should get Yvaine to come running.

[Blinkin]

The story works for me! Carried away or not, it makes for a fun, engaging history and I love that kinda dynamic.

[LisztesFerenc]

  Okay, I think we have the 3 players for this game. I'm been away in a hotel these past few days, I get back today, so I'll see about sorting out the details then.

  Also nice backstory scene Ysariel, it will be good if you know Lydia quite well.

[Fey]

Thanks, both of you! ;D And have a safe trip home LisztesFerenc. I went and spent a little more of my coin and bought a scroll of Comprehend Language. I promise that's the last change.

I'm so excited I can't wait to get started!

[Arklytte]

So, out of curiosity, is this game still recruiting?  I'm slowly coming to love Pathfinder and I think wandering around Ravenloft sounds quite fun.

Before I go into too much detail about any ideas I might have, I'll wait to find out about the recruiting status.  :-)