[[image:Main-banner.jpg|850px|center]]
__NOTOC__

[[File:play_now.png|850px|link=Play_Now|center]]

[[file:current_arc.png|center|link=Recent History]]

{{Clear}}

= Latest Events =

We are in the process of transitioning to [[Pathfinder 2e and AresMUSH Changeover|AresMUSH and Pathfinder 2e]]. Due to the aging nature of our database, we have locked character creation.

We are in the final stretch to the new iteration of our game! As a result, new character registration is completely closed for new players and existing players.

= Archived Updates =
[[:Category:Rumor_Archives]]

Category:Same As It Ever Was

2025-06-10T23:02:12Z

Riptide:

Akimitsu Sori (Part 2)

2025-06-06T02:09:49Z

Riptide: Created page with "<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;"> ==Log Info== *Title: Akimitsu Sori (Part 2) *Emitter/GM: Karasu *Characters: Carver, Corey, Karasu, Telamon *Place: Yurika, Xian</div> GAME: Telamon casts Veil. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28 GAME: Telamon casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 29 GAME: Telamon casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 29 GAME: Telamon casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 29 GAME: Telamon casts Mind Blank. Caster Lev..."

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">

==Log Info==

*Title: Akimitsu Sori (Part 2)

*Emitter/GM: Karasu

*Characters: [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]

*Place: Yurika, Xian</div>

GAME: Telamon casts Veil. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28
GAME: Telamon casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 29
GAME: Telamon casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 29
GAME: Telamon casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 29
GAME: Telamon casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 29
GAME: Telamon casts Overland Flight. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
GAME: Telamon casts Greater Teleport. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28

''Village of Yurika''

It's a small village where all the roof tiles are a rosy color and the people seem friendly. It hardly seems like the sort of place that is hiding a fiendish underground. Or like they are hiding assassins under their simple peasant clothing. No. It's a simple farming village with children running up and down the street and warm smiles from neighbor to neighbor. A small market with only one inn. All very... comfortingly simple.

Stepping through space and time, in an eyeblink crossing the many miles between Alexandros and Yurika. Telamon is a master of this, and the spell he winds around the hunters hides their countenances, making them a simple group of travelers, nothing more.

The sorcerer lets his eyes rove over the village as they stand on the outskirts, watching the people, examining the buildings. Looking for inconsistencies, subtle signs that not all is as it seems.

GAME: Telamon rolls detectBS: (1)+detectBS: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Telamon peers. where's my rollalias?
<OOC> Telamon says, "Weird."
<OOC> Telamon says, "Anyways, it'd be a 32."

Corey is taking full advantage of Telamon's veil spell, which is to say that he hopes to the gods and stars that nobody asks him his name or where he's from, because he is a terrible liar.

While Telamon is looking for inconsistencies, the silver-eyed paladin of Gilead is looking around warily, fingering the necklace of Gilead around his neck. He's subtly concentrating on the gift he has as a paladin to discern evil from the people around him, but he's trying to keep an eye out for the environs around him.

This is, after all, a long way from home.

GAME: Corey rolls Perception: (5)+22: 27

Step. Step. Miles.

Carver mastered the toll of her body's rejection from magical transport over time, coming to appreciate the expediency. Not the act itself though, and given a choice, will always take the saddle. Which has her looking longingly back. Without Deathless, she cannot help feeling more vulnerable than she'd care to admit.

Her eyes harden and focus ahead back on the sleepy village. She could not say that first impressions are damning. It is difficult to tell at first glance that something demonic seethes beneath the decorum of peaceful rural life, but she knows one thing for sure. If you dig a little? You will find the rot of their presence.

Karasu stays close to Core'thil, his eyes on the villagers with the same level of distrust in them that they offer to him. He says nothing however, not in greeting nor even in explanation to the group. Instead he takes the lead and starts to move the group of adventurers (and his husband) through the village. He glances at Telamon and the others as they make their way toward the center of the village. "Was there somewhere particular that you wanted to stop on the way?" His voice is low and careful.

Telamon stays with the group, his eyes darting about. "I don't like this," he mutters. "They -really- don't like strangers here, and that kickball game looks off for some reason." He sighs inwardly. Ten years ago he'd have been playing a game much like that. At Karasu's question, he smirks. "Not really. I don't think we should linger, especially as we have work to do. But... can you cover for me?" He's pretty sure magic will definitely be noticed.

Corey blinks and seems greatly alarmed by something he's gleaned. He comes close to the archmage and to their ranger-friend, as Karasu is close by him. "Be aware, this whole village is... tainted with evil. Even the children. One in three seem to be playing host to a fiend of some kind." Cor'ethil's whisper is exceedingly quiet. He then shudders. He can think of nothing worse than a child being possessed by a fiend.

When Telamon asks if there's a cover that can be managed, Corey thinks quickly. He's learned a song known among Karasu's people from Karasu's eccentric and excitable kitsune ancestor, Kiku-no-Musoku. Or, at the least... He claims it's a song known among them.

He looks at Karasu. "Want to sing Fry Chikki Chikki with me?" he asks. "As a cover for Telamon's spellcasting?"

It is difficult to hear Corey's damning words about the village. That even the children are no better. One can only hope it is because they, like the ranger and her companions, they are enchanted to appear different than they might seem. "Possession?" Carver asks, latching onto the last part with a shake of her head. She is not especially eye-catching but a lift of a brow comes at the suggested idea.

"I.. do not have a better suggestion." Which is a true statement even if Corey's idea is not perfect. He seems convinced in the magic of the song so who is she to doubt.

Karasu tries to think of a way to cover a mage casting a spell that won't be noticed and is coming up blank. When Corey suggests singing a song Karasu ducks into an alley instead and looks at his husband dryly. "Do not believe everything my grandfather says to you. No one sings that song but him. You have a few seconds Telamon before someone grows curious and looks down this alley. Make your spell a quick one."

GAME: Telamon casts True Seeing. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26

Telamon exhales, "Well, at least it wasn't that old dwarven song about digging a hole. That one gets stuck in my head all the time..." When they slip into the alley, Tel immediately casts his spell. "Irhandi igi-kar, namzu igi-bad." Tracing a circle round each eye, before blinking. "I won't be able to tell if they're possessed, but I -can- tell if they're in disguise -- or if the target's hidden under illusion as well."

"It does not get us closer to answers," Carver points out. "I suppose it confirms what Karasu said though. Iffin' the entire town is going to be against us, it's going to be difficult to get any answers because the minute we drop that name? I suspect some message gets sent back immediately." She shrugs, "I suppose we could try to tail any messanger, but fiends have their own magic... and true seein' seems to be amongst them, in the most powerful."

Karasu nods to Telamon in response. Knowing if Akimitsu Sori is hiding among his own is a useful bit of information. So is knowing with certainty that whoever they are speaking to is human or not. Though Corey will likely be a better judge of that with his ability to see the evil inside. Between the two they are well covered.

Karasu leads the group out of the alley through the other side and continues on his path forward. "So, was there somewhere specific you wanted to go?" If not, he has plans of his own. After all, he too is worried that they might come across a more powerful fiend who can see through Telamon's illusion. Best to stay off the street if they can. Or get off it as quickly as possible in other words.

Telamon follows the others, his expression sour. "A cheerful thought," he replies to Carver. "Hopefully we've not been marked already, or this is going to get noisy very fast." He considers Karasu's question. "... Sori would want a place he could hold court at. Give orders, receive reports, consider the situation. A place where no one who isn't 'read in' as my father puts it, would remark on visitors coming and going." Tel rubs his chin. "Could he be based out of the inn?"

Corey frowns at the notion that Kiku could have led him astray. "Fry Chikki Chikki is an ancient song," he protests weakly in a soft murmur. "But the Archmage has a good point. He has to be somewhere..."

And then he looks at Telamon. "Do you want to inquire? You're the best of all of us at talking like you belong somewhere. I think?"

"Certainly the smoothest talker." Carver admits. "Though the villagers are hardly what could be considered just normal folk." She looks around, scratching at the stark line of her reinforced bracer with a frown. "Would Sori take visitors in the past, Karasu? Did he treat with migrants or accept those who might travel from elsewhere to come into service? Or is all his influence... homegrown?"

One of Karasu's dark eyebrow lifts at Telamon. "Beneath the inn is one of the entry points of his stronghold yes." Karasu says, reminding everyone that he has been here before. "Or at least it was the last time I was here."

Still, they have no proof that Sori is there at this exact moment, so finding out somehow might be their best bet at locating the man at all. Thus Karasu doesn't argue that asking the locals might draw unwanted attention to them. If anyone can ask and not have attention raised in the asking... it is Telamon. He does answer Carver's question though. "He would accept visitors who were looking to have assassinations performed for them quite often. Visitors from many other lands and means. So long as they could pay."

Telamon squints, working the problem. "We definitely don't want someone who's ridden by a fiend. They'll probably see through us. We need someone who's 'read in', but not fiend-ridden, that I can work on." His lips quirk. "Lana taught me a couple tricks on that score. If we can find someone who's malleable enough..."

GAME: Corey rolls Perception: (2)+22: 24
GAME: Corey rolls Perception: (12)+22: 34

Corey's brows furrow together a little as he concentrates on his ability to discern evil from not-evil again. It's a little hard with how _much_ evil there is here, but he looks at a woman across the street from the inn, who is busied with selling some kind of preserves.

Unfortunately for everyone, one of Corey's little joys in life are jams, jellies, and preserves. So his eyes light up as he sees the woman's occupation, and he motions in her direction. "She's safe," he murmurs. "Come on!"

And then Corey glides over to the woman. "Sir! We will need preserves in our travels!" he says more conversationally to Telamon. "We need to restock."

"What does that even mean?" Carver grumbles when Corey says, 'She's Safe!'. Does not really grasp the whole Paladin thing. She falls into step, hardly acting as anything but what she is, a tagalong with a soft step. Thankfully, the veil softens her Dranish countenance.

Karasu can not discern those who bear a fiendish rider from those that do not, so he doesn't offer his insight to the matter, though he is the first to realize - by the light in his eyes - that Corey has identified a potential target. When he sees the woman is selling preserves he almost utters a sigh out loud. Corey is almost as bad about jelly and jams as his ancestor is about fried chicken. (If they don't leave with a new jar of preserves, Karasu will be intensely surprised.)

The woman for her part smiles kindly at the sight of potential customers as anyone might and spreads her hands out over her wares. "If you're looking for something sweet to last you over a long journey, look no further!"

Telamon's eyebrows rise up at Corey's choice of 'targets', but... he trusts the paladin to not lead them astray. He just hopes his silver tongue is up to the task. "Ni'essa light my way," he murmurs, as he follows in Corey's wake.

"A fine selection, ma'am," Telamon begins. "You've got quite the variety. Hmmm..." His eyes trace over the jars, before moving to the woman. "How well do they keep in cold weather?"

GAME: Carver rolls perception: (11)+21: 32

"Oh, we like sweets!" Corey says with a smile, but then he catches Karasu out of the corner of his eye. "Correction: _I_ like sweets!" Usually, when he says that, he's referring to himself and Wuya.

He comes up to the woman and begins to peruse her wares. There's so many unfamiliar looking fruits that he looks, well... like a child in a bakery filled with Pothy-shaped breads and sweets. Karasu's suspicion is correct. They're going home with at least one. "I would like one of everything... And in return, could you answer some questions for us?" he asks.

GAME: Corey rolls Diplomacy: (3)+22: 25

Carver's green eyes, expressive motes dance toward the inn. She is observant enough to observe when she is being observed. They sweep back across the impressive delicacies with slightly less enthuiasm than her compatriots. Still... some did look tasty, even if many of them were exotic. They were in a land she had never had the fortune to visit and now it was solely to pursue a fiendish legendary assassin.

"I..." She began to speak, but let it trailed off. Her Dranish tongue would stick out. Brutish and ill-fitting for the graceful form Telamon's veil cast upon her. She does lean over to speak with Karasu, "Watchers from the Inn."

Karasu eyes his husband with a mixture of embarrassment and fondness. He reins the other man in a little by placing a hand on his shoulder. "He really does like sweet things perhaps a little too much. Please forgive his enthusiasm." His eyes flicker over to Carver and he nods to show he heard her and shifts his weight.

The woman smiles wide at Corey, her eyes glittering with that sales-woman intuition that says here's someone she can sell to! "One of all the different kinds?" She smiles then. "How about this, I'll answer a single question per jar of preserves that you purchase. That way you aren't swindling information out of me." She laughs at this and then winks at Karasu. "I have twelve different flavors if you count the mixes!"

Recent Logs

2025-06-06T02:05:20Z

Riptide: /* June */

{{AboutLogs}}

'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''

==2025 Logs==
===January===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|January 1, 2025
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 4, 2025
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool
|-
|January 5, 2025
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]
|-
|January 6, 2025
|[[Working Hands]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 7, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 8, 2025
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 9, 2025
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]
|-
|
|[[Temple Festivities]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]
|-
|January 10, 2025
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 11, 2025
|[[Slapbet]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 12, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 13, 2025
|[[Graven Images]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]
|-
|January 14, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 15, 2025
|[[Tough Hands]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]
|-
|January 17, 2025
|[[The Power of Flour]]
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]
|-
|January 18, 2025
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[Back in Technicolor]]
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|January 19, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 20, 2025
|[[Meeting Eli]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Pothy Problems]]
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 21, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 23, 2025
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 26, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 27, 2025
|[[Golden Box]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 28, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 30, 2025
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|
|[[A Polite Request]]
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]
|-
|January 31, 2025
|[[Here But For You]]
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]
|}

===February===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|February 1, 2025
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|February 2, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 3, 2025
|[[The Quest of Eli]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|February 4, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|February 6, 2025
|[[A Handful of Dust]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|February 8, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|February 9, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 11, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|February 14, 2025
|[[Mages of Daeus]]
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|February 16, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 20, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]
|-
|February 21, 2025
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)
|-
|February 22, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]
|-
|February 23, 2025
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide
|-
|
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 24, 2025
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock
|-
|February 25, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

===March===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|March 2, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 3, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 4, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 7, 2025
|[[Crystal Tower]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 8, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 9, 2025
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]
|-
|
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 10, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 11, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 13, 2025
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]
|-
|March 15, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 16, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 18, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 19, 2025
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]
|-
|March 20, 2025
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 21, 2025
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 23, 2025
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 24, 2025
|[[Archmage Asking]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 25, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 29, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 30, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 31, 2025
|[[Red Matrimony]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|}

===April===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|April 1, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 3, 2025
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]
|-
|April 4, 2025
|[[The Golden Songbird]]
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|April 6, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|April 8, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 9, 2025
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]
|-
|April 11, 2025
|[[Four Floozies]]
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]
|-
|April 13, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|
|[[Nary for Nereid]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide
|-
|April 14, 2025
|[[Running Up That Hill]]
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide
|-
|
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|April 15, 2025
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]
|-
|
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]
|-
|April 19, 2025
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool
|-
|
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|April 20, 2025
|[[The Dukes Knight]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide
|-
|April 22, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 23, 2025
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]
|-
|April 27, 2025
|[[Faeology 101]]
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|April 29, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

===May===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|May 1, 2025
|[[Strawberries For All]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]]
|-
|May 2, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|May 4, 2025
|[[Cleiuin's Confession]]
|[[Thurid]], [[Riptide]]
|-
|May 6, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 26)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|May 9, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty Part 2]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|May 10, 2025
|[[Rainy days, hair loss and full bellies]]
|[[Murder]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 11, 2025
|[[Whispers of the Withering Wood]]
|[[Atzi]], [[Harshad]], [[Mist]], [[Tonameyo]]; GM: [[Dirk]]
|-
|May 12, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 17, 2025
|[[Something Fae-shy]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Myoides]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Riptide
|-
|May 18, 2025
|[[Fire of the Sun]]
|[[Thurid]], [[Bryn]], [[Skyler]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Irysha]], [[Khepri]], [[Haggerty]], [[Carver]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|May 19, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 22, 2025
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 1)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 23, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty (Part 3)]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]]; GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|
|[[Sisters Strange]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|May 25, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 10]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[The Work of Brewing and Crafting]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 19, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 27, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 27)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

[[Category:Logs]]

===June===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|June 01, 2025
|[[River Fishing]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|June 02, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 4)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|June 5, 2025
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|}

[[Category:Logs]]

Sisters Strange

2025-06-05T23:40:21Z

Riptide: Created page with "<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;"> ==Log Info== *Title: Sisters Strange *GM: Aftershock *Characters: Bryn, Carver, Corey, Dirk, Skyler *Place: Alexandria</div> Captain of the guard, Balderdan Viet stands before you looking more than a little irritable in his office. He's standing which is probably not a great sign, his hands on the chair behind his desk looking at you with a frown. "We've had a whole lot of folks going missing..."

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">

==Log Info==

*Title: Sisters Strange

*GM: Aftershock

*Characters: [[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Skyler]]

*Place: Alexandria</div>

Captain of the guard, Balderdan Viet stands before you looking more than a little irritable in his office. He's standing which is probably not a great sign, his hands on the chair behind his desk looking at you with a frown. "We've had a whole lot of folks going missing of late. Add to that the recent slew of unusual deaths and we are worried that there's a lot more dead than we know about and we can't figure out who or what is doing the disappearances ''or'' the murders. I'd like you to question the most recent victims family and see if you can't find something that my men have missed."

People vanishing is usually not a good thing, and Bryn has a bit of experience in suddenly not being somewhere anymore. It's worse with folks dying... though the oruch doesn't have much experience with that. She nods at the captain. "Sure, we can go talk to 'em. Prolly wantin their missin folks found sooner 'n not later."

"Unusual deaths, missing people..." Skyler Skywalker, (former) Pirate and (current) Gentleman Adventurer, is dressed in his usual patched up great coat and crow's hoard assortment of doodads and geegaws. But while he's usual irrepressibly cheerful, something about the guard's words has a certain tension in the lightly scruffed jaw, a detachment in pale grey-green eyes beyond the usual lack of focus and rational thoughts. And his voice is shark, "Has there been any talk from the Temple of Vardama about desecrated graves?" Bryn at least might remember why his voice is so hard:

Flashbacks of a plane of death, Skyler standing over the wreckage of a body lit by a sullen glow. Massive piles of bones. He takes a deep breath and shoves it all down down.

Cor'ethil frowns deeply as he listens to Captain Balderdan speak. The Warden of Gilead has his arms folded across his armored chest, his lips pressed together into a thin line as he looks thoughftul. "I think we can do that," he says. "Do you have any ideas as to where to begin questioning, Captain? I recall seeing something in the Tribune about a serial killer on the loose..."

He looks around at the room at his fellow adventurers. "Any of you have personal experience with the man? Herman Mudgett, I think? I can't rightly recall if it's one 't' or two 't's... Oh, no, what if there's two 'n's in Herman? There's not a lot of standardization in spelling when it comes to human names, I've noticed, but then again, we have that same problem in Sildanyari when people want to name their children something in Mynsandraal--"

Corey catches himself. "Sorry, tangent." He looks over at Skyler's hard voice and looks a little worried... but then he smiles brightly. "It'll be okay. I am here! And I'll make sure we get through this together."

Dirk stands with his thunderbelcher over his shoulder and gripping his belt with his free hand. His beard bristles around the pipe in his mouth, his shaggy white brows furrowed in a dour frown. "Aye, we can surely do some askin' about, I'll warrant. But I have tae ask... why isn't the Guard handlin' this? Folk in Alex aren't exactly keen on adventurers." He looks up at the captain, tipping back the brim of his tricorne. "So long as we're out an' about in the Heartlands, they're willin' tae put up with us. But havin' us janderin' about the city itself? Seems tae be askin' fer a whole mess o' trouble. An' if there -is- a killer on the loose, well... that sort o' trouble tends tae make noise. I expect they'll catch wind of us sniffin' 'round sooner'n later."

Carver is twitchy with suspicion. She joins with Balderdan's suspicions about more deaths to be reported. A bear feasts on sleek salmons until so full that sleep takes them, dozing by the riverbed. To something like Mudgett, the underbelly of Alexandria must seem like a feast. He came from a small village and now burrows deep in a major metropolitan area.

She is so lost in her thoughts that she doesn't chime in with any of them. Only the tension flicking around the green motes of her eyes give away the apprenhension. At Cor'ethil naming the monster in her thought she looks back up. "I do."

"I never trust anyone or anything that's named Herman." Skyler interjects, "Like... Herman? And you don't rename yourself? Who hurt you? ''Herman''."

Balderdan looks at Bryn. "The latest victim was killed. Seemingly in his sleep. An unusual death for a man in his late twenties." His blue eyes slide over to Skyler and he shakes his head. "No. Nothing from the temple of Vardama about graves being tampered with of late. Though none of the bodies that we've been able to locate have been able to tell us how they passed... Not even the ones that died in terrible, awful ways that we've been able to locate."

He takes Corey's question seriously and thinks about it a long moment. "There's something off about the ones that died in their sleep that I can't put my finger on. The more gruesome murders are obviously the result of a serial killer mentality. But I'd stake gold that these murders are all connected somehow. The disappearances too. I have a feeling about it and... They all started at the same time."

His eyes fall to Dirk. "Why you? My men aren't investigators. They can catch a drunk, or even an ordinary murderer if they're pointed in the right direction but this kind of thing? And I haven't the time to take care of it myself the way I'd like. My recent promotion is keeping me far busier than I'd like."

Bryn eyes Skyler sidelong before clapping him on the shoulder. "Eh, it'll be fine!" Then she's corrected by Balderdan. "Oh. Right. Guess they wantin ta know, either way, eh?" Then she swivels her eye to Corey and then to Carver. "Mud-wha? Were that the one't escaped? Even if not, stuffed inna dark hole's where whoever it is belongs. Not the good kind, neither."

Dirk wrinkles his nose, looking up at Skyler. "Aye, I agree wi' ye, laddie. If his parents named 'im -Herman-, nae wonder he's out slittin' up folk. Och, what a dreadful mess all 'round." He reaches up to take the pipe from his mouth, turning his attention back to the Captain. "Tell us what ye can 'bout the families ye want us tae talk to. We'll take 'er from there." He grumbles quietly into his beard. "If they're still in the city, I -should- be able tae track 'em. Won't be -easy-, but I'll make do."

GAME: Corey rolls Knowledge/Religion: (15)+19: 34
GAME: Skyler rolls knowledge/religion: (7)+1: 8

"I got some bad pipe weed from a gnome named Herman." Skyler says darkly, with a scowl, "I woke up naked covered in cheese sauce in Goblintown."

And no, he doesn't elaborate.

Instead, he shoots Bryn a quick, reassuring grin. And gives Corey one too, along with a reassuring wink before he turns to the captain. "Promotions are such a pain! Once this is over, why don't I show you a bathhouse I frequent after missions." He bats his lashes, "It can be very... relaxing... in the sauna.

"A good question, actually," Corey says in regards to Skyler's inquiry about Herman's name. "This is why I'm glad my mother named me twice. I would have probably picked a horrible name the second time around. Like... Claidius."

A beat, before Corey elaborates, "It literally means 'sword' in Sildanyari." Then he smiles more widely and says, "Congratulations on your promotion..."

Then Corey's brow darkens again as he scowls a little. "Wait a minute. So if the bodies don't know how they died... There's three explanations. One, they died in their sleep. Two, they were caught by surprise. Three... And I don't think anyone here is going to like three... they were murdered so horribly that they can't speak of it. Trauma lingers on spirits, you know."

He straightens up a little. "Which means we should be incredibly, incredibly respectful--"

Corey looks over at Skyler, blinking. "Wait. Cheese sauce? In Goblintown? I didn't know that the goblins had their own cheese varietal. Is it a recent development? I know that most peoples and cultures with access to some sort of dairy-producing non-sentient animal usually develop their own signature style of cheese, but--"

He stops. "We can discuss that later. Stars, I am spending too much time with my twin sister; she loves to go on about things." As though this is entirely her fault.

"Yes." Carver answers Bryn's question. "The same. Carries pacts with fiends. Was retrieved from the dungeon by some manner of magical assistance by four shapeshifters, charmed the guards an' ran off into the night." Tick-tick-tick, things she knows that may be of value. "Mudgett is... he seeks the thrill of a kill, not the act of overcoming difficult foes but the act of bloodspilling. The same way one might be proud of something they created, he takes pride in what he destroyed. You see him? Kill him."

"The most recent man who passed was Kenji Saiuchi. His wife and her sister are in their home in the market district. I've informed them to expect you. He was a transport from Xian, and only came here recently. Not much is known about him really beyond the fact that he was a hunter and sold pelts and meats to various venders in the district. His wife is a baker and he would trade to provide her with materials to run her small bakery."

Balderdan blinks at Skyler, then smiles a little. "I'd appreciate it, assuming I get a day off after this." He chuckles and gives Corey a little side-eye. "You sure like to talk... I mean..." Balderdan has the grace to look embarrassed. "I mean, please don't tell the families that. It might upset them."

Balderdan's eyes fall on Carver. "The official line is that we apprehend Herman alive, but if he attacks you... Kill him." Balderdan shakes his head. "The man is foul."

Carver's green eyes shift to the door. "Sure. Alive." Some lies are just obvious. This ranks up with, 'It ain't mine, officer!'.

"I'm not sure where the cheese sauce came from. I didn't eat it, because I'm ''violently'' lactose intolerant and there wasn't any signs of explosive diarrhea." Skyler says consideringly, scratching his jaw, "And to be fair, the goblins don't want much to do with me after I pissed off that one little blue gobber by jumping out of a cake during my Society debutante ball. I think it might have been a hit job." With cheese sauce.

But there's more important things, and he frowns at Carver. "I've encountered that type before. A Kyton Acolyte." He shrugs one shoulder, the tension entering his jawline again, "You don't negotiate with rabid dogs. You put them down, quickly." He rolls his shoulders, "Some filth you can't wash off with a sponge." He cuts his eyes to the captain, "Although I'm always happy to try." He smirks, and then adds, brightly, "So we'll tell the families they died quickly and painlessly. Might not even be a lie! Sudden trauma can kill you so quick your brain doesn't even register pain! There's a spot just here..." And he shifts his head to the side, and places a finger against a spot before poking it and making a noise as his tongue lolls out and his eyes roll up to the back of his head. He then beams. "Painless! Bloody as all get go, but painless."

Dirk bogglers a bit at Skyler. "You -too-?!" he gasps. "Och, I thought that was just -me-! Took me -days- tae get that nasty glop out o' me beard! An' I'd -just washed- it that verra morn! Why I--" He pauses, then snaps his mouth shut. He's oversharing. Instead, he looks over at Corey. "I'm nae sure I'd call it -cheese-," he grunts. "I think it's craft paste that they just slather on sammiches." He turns his attention back to Balderdan, giving his beard a tug as he nods his head. "Right. Alive. Unless he attacks." Pause. "Knowin' -our- luck, he will. Bad luck fer -that- dozy bastard."

GAME: Dirk rolls Knowledge/Local: (17)+3: 20

Corey looks a little bashful, scratching behind his low ponytail of raven-black hair. "I do talk a lot. My husband's quiet, so I end up filling the space he leaves open." But then he smiles and says, "I think it's one of the things he loves about me. I wish he were here; he might have some insight into Kenji."

He looks to the others, nodding. "I think we're ready to go talk to them," he says. "Just have to be kind and gentle. It goes a long way with most people, I've found." Then Corey smiles again, that same winning smile.

The tangents are a bit lively (if not entirely more important) than dead folks, which pulls her attention between Sky Guy and Dirk. "Ye need ta tell me where these revels are..." Maybe she isn't lactose intolerant?

Then she's reminded of the important stuff by Corey. A fresh nod. "Ye. Le's get goin 'n talkin."

"The trick is gun oil." Skyler tells Dirk, walking over and clapping his shoulder, "Oil breaks down oil, and the cheese sauce is oil based. Next time, I'll show you." He smirks, "I usually keep gun oil on me for reasons." And he winks at the captain, before nodding to Bryn, "Let's go!"

<hr>

It doesn't take long to follow Balderdan Viet's directions to the house of the late Kenji Saiuchi. The sister, Seia answers the door, a petite xian woman with dark rings under her eyes. She introduces herself and immediately returns to the side of her sister. "Airi. Airi... there are people here to see you."

She speaks to a woman who looks utterly identical to her in every way save that she looks perhaps a bit more worn out. The house smells heavenly despite the air of depression that lingers like smoke in the home. Airi looks up, her face stained with tears and she starts to stand up but only makes the motion unable to complete it before she dissolves into tears again and her sister puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Dirk's eyes get wide, then his expression turns to one of quiet sorrow. "Och... poor Kenji-san? Blessed Lady, who would want tae hurt -him-?" he asks mournfully. He shakes his head, stuffing his pipe into his hip satchel as he looks to the others. "I knew Kenji. He had his cart next tae mine in the market. Lovely man. Verra polite. An' his wife makes the -best- cinnamon buns ye ever tasted. I can take point on talkin' tae her." With a last nod to Captain Balderdan, he turns to trundle along with his comrades, headed for the Saiuchi household. He's holstered his thunderbelcher, and doffs his tricorne, tucking it under his arm as he waits for Airi to come to the door. He steps in, reaching out with a meaty paw to clasp her hand. "Airi-san, I'm so sorry fer yer loss," he says gently. He glances at his mates, then back to the grieving widow. "Lassie... ye remember me, don't ye? Dirk Stormgrip? I was sellin' leathers an' furs in the market. Ye gave me that delightful cinnamon bun."

Cor'ethil frowns gently as he enters the house. "I'd like to start by saying that I'm very sorry for your loss," he says, putting the remark about gun oil aside into his labyrinthine brain to remember later. Way later. "We're adventurers. I'm called Cor'ethil Cari'thana, but you can call me Corey for short. I'm a Warden of Gilead."

He sort of gestures to the pendant of Gilead that he wears around his neck. "I was hoping you'd be willing to answer some questions for us? If not, it's okay. I know this is a difficult time for you." He speaks to Airi with a voice that he normally uses for soothing injured dogs, cats, and horses when he heals the animals that get brought into the Temple of Gilead.

GAME: Skyler rolls perception: (15)+14: 29

Carver does not strike one as a comforting figure. Somewhere between the stormcloud warpainting and the bristling pair of quivers, she might be prone to being mistaken as a brute more than an empathatic creature; Dran blood still thunders in her veins. She does not dispute the matter. If one find their tongue does not twist and tie itself to knots at the sight of Airi's face, then they are more fitting for the job than she.

A tickle of suspicion. She moves quietly to a window and peers outside, biting into her bottom lip nervously.

GAME: Skyler rolls will: (7)+5: 12

Bryn steps inside after others, falling quiet after a polite "Hello, 'n sorry about what's goin on." Dirk seems to know them, Corey is a good talker, and ... she briefly eyes Carver peeking out the window. Not that Bryn can blame her, really. Her own mood on things is probably somewhere in the middle between condolence and suspicion. Call it condolencicion.

Skyler doesn't attempt to engage with the grieving family... For all his self-professed lack of intellect, he's got a certain wisdom to him, and an emotional intelligence that belies the lack of a light in the attic. So he leaves the women to the more soothing mix of Dirk and Corey. Instead, he discreetly moves towards the fireplace...

... until he suddenly stops in his tracks, his neck nearly snapping with how quickly he jerks his head from one side to the other, eyes bright. "Pardon me, but... is that honey and pistachio I smell?" He asks, despite himself, "I haven't had a good baklava since I came to Alexandria."

Airi looks up at Dirk's words and she manages the most watery of smiles. "I-I remember. Kenji talked abo-about you." This though makes her dissolve into even more tears. "Can I get you s-something?"

She almost seems hopeful, and when Skyler asks for baklava she looks at her sister who nods and heads into the kitchen. The other woman is only gone a little bit before she returns with a tray of the stuff and offers some to Skyler. "She's been cooking since he died. Can't seem to stop." Seia smiles sadly.

GAME: Skyler rolls sense motive: (15)+14: 29
GAME: Bryn rolls perform/sing: (14)+14: 28
GAME: Corey rolls Knowledge/Religion: (4)+19: 23

"My nanny growing up use to make it for me growing up." Skyler confesses to the woman with the tray, with a lopsided smile that isn't anything like his usual witless, terrifyingly thoughtless grin. He glances over the tray, adding quietly, "Every time I have this stuff, I remember her warm hugs when I'd scrape my knees climbing a tree." He pauses for a moment, and adds quietly, "Sometimes, we find the people we lost in the little things, and realize... we haven't really lost them at all." He dips his head.

And then glances at the others, "We want to help, and make sure what happened to your loved one doesn't happen to anyone else. Will you answer some questions for us? While we all eat your lovely baked goods?"

Dirk nods his head, offering Airi a warm smile. "Aye, that's right. He was a good man, Kenji was. An' we're here tae make sure that whoever took him from ye gets -exactly- what's comin' to 'im." He nods to Skyler (and leans over to snag a few pieces of baklava as well). "I know it's hard tae talk about. But the more we find out, the better chance we have of baggin' this sheep-shagger."

Corey looks contemplative for a moment as Seia goes to retrieve the goods, and it's only when the food is brought over to Skyler that he seems to focus on something. His brows furrow hard. His silver eyes glint a little.

He looks over at the group and subtly signs, "Don't eat the food. Something's not right here." <Handspeech>

"Yes, what Skyler said. We'd appreciate learning anything you have to offer about Kenji." Corey plasters on a smile again, but it's forced. He's not really an actor. Karasu is the liar of the pair.

GAME: Skyler rolls fort+4: (14)+5+4: 23
GAME: Dirk rolls fort+2: (12)+17+2: 31

Carver's brows pinch. She turns, green eyes tense, small motes of boundless energy. Like something beneath the sweet smell bothers her. Some detail off-putting, an expectation subverted. Corey's finger twitching means nothing to her. She does not share this language, but for all that, her hackles go up. She has no interest in the food. Instead, she twists back to face the room, scowling.

Her hand drops to a small vial on her belt, fingers tapping the cork. Thoughtfully.

Dirk had already popped a morsel of the baklava into his mouth, but he pauses in mid-chew as his eyes flick down to Corey's hands. His brows scrunch together like shaggy caterpillars getting ready to throw hands. Sloooowly, he looks back to Airi as he deliberately licks the sticky honey from his fingers, before he swallows. He drops the other morsels he'd snagged back onto the plate. "Airi-san. I need ye tae talk to us. -Honestly-," he says in a low, quiet tone. He does try his very best to not sound like a growling badger, but... well, he just doesn't take kindly to people with the bad sense to try and poison a dwarf. It shows a -regrettable- lack of foresight on their part.

The food smells awful tempting, and the offering is as much so, but Bryn's not so hungry at the moment; not that she blames anyone else who wants to nab some. She doesn't catch Corey's finger-waggling either, or at leats not its significance, but finally speaks up.

"So... was there anybody or anything weird around 'im or 'is place, before it happened?" They need info, so they need to ask stuff.

Seia smiles at Skyler. "I agree with you. Even if Airi can not answer your questions, I would be happy to help you. Perhaps what I know will suffice." She brings the tray around to everyone and smiles again when Dirk takes some. "Would anyone else like anything?" She stands over by her sister, the tray mostly empty.

Airi looks at Corey, drying her tears. "Please... I just want to... to do something. I feel useless."

At last there's a real question from Bryn that Airi answers. "Strange? Like what? I... I would have noticed something strange. Is strange waking up to find your husband dead next to you?" She falls back to tears.

Seia sighs and looks at Corey. "What information about Kenji would help you? He was a hunter. A simple job. He was not extraordinary in any way that we knew of."

GAME: Skyler rolls weapon0: (15)+16: 31

After a few bites, one of Skyler's eyelids begins to twitch. He glances from the baklava to Seia, and his lips thin. "Really?" He asks her, tone exasperated as he shakes his head, "Gods, I tell you a heartfelt story about my childhood?"

He cuts his eyes to Airi at her answer, then abruptly lunges forward with almost supernatural speed... To shove the remains of his pastry into Seia's mouth, "Fucking poison? ''Really''?" It's more exasperated than mad, and he says to the others, "Poison! What a fucking ''cliche''."

Airi jumps to her feet in surprise as her sister gags on the baclava and falls to the ground with her cheeks puffed out and full of poisoned sweets. "What did you do?!?" She yells, seeming totally surprised.

Seia meanwhile shifts and changes, becoming a strange mist-like substance that zips toward her sister and collapses around her. Covering her in a strange white cloud. "HELP!" She screams helplessly as the mist begins to dissipate and leaves only... someone standing there.

Dirk startles as Skyler does what Skyler do. "Och!" is about all he manages to get out before things start happening. As Seia vanishes into mist, he takes a step back, reaching a hand up over his shoulder to grip the stock of his thunderbelcher. But he stops. Goes stock-still. His face turns white as his beard, and he reaches up to rub furiously at his eyes. "S... Sarah...?" he whispers in a haunted tone. "But... this isnae right. You died a hundred years ago!" He snaps out of his shock with a furious snarl. He pulls his thunderbelcher and swings it over his shoulder, catching it mid-swing and racking the slide with a practiced CHK-CHAK as he brings it to his shoulder. "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? WHAT THE HELL IS GOIN' ON HERE?!" he thunders, quivering from head to toe with righteous dwarven rage.

"Poison?" Corey asks, very unhappy with the notion of it. Especially when one of the sisters collapses and turns into mist, and...

"Karasu?" Corey squeaks, looking uncertain. "No, you're all the way back at home." He looks at his allies. There's no point trying to be subtle about it now. "I detected evil off of both of them. Not enough to be fiends, but generally more evil than you'd find with normal people. Which means..."

He draws his rapier, similar to Dirk getting ready to discuss business with his thunderbelcher. "''Who'' are you two, and ''what'' are you?" Corey demands.

Bryn has seen Sky Guy do some unexpected things, so one would think she'd be less surprised. This is.. new, though, so she is completely caught off guard. "What in Kor's colossal-" She doesn't even get that out when there's mist melting and... "Ma's ma?!" She stares. "Ye can't be 'ere... 'n that sure's soot ain' yer cookin..."

Who... or what!... does Skyler see as he tucks backwards in a roll, heels clicking together as his shiny leather boots seems to shimmer with fiery energy? It's hard to tell, although there is a flash of pain, of yearning and regret on his face as the brainless swashbuckler tumbles backwards.

He surfaces a few paces back, pinning the two.. er.. single woman between himself and the paladin. "I think we found our murderer. You did mention dying in their sleep, and then that ''thing'' mentioned it too. Poisons can do that." He frowns, and adds, "You used too much rose water in the honey sauce, bitch! It's cloying."

Carver has her bow in hand quick as they blink.

Which is all the time it takes for the reveal of poison, of the drama of Seia fading away, and taking the mourning widow away with her. Or if they ever existed? Fiends. They warp the mind and bend expectations. Play off mortal sympathies and feed poisonous blooms, to rot from within. Her suspicion began with a house, a Xian house at that, bereft of flowers.

Now it lares bare in her sneering visage, gritting teeth, primal indignation, and righteous fury. A lace of confusion threads its way through.

The widow was gone but she observes someone familiar in her place. Her head tilts, first in surprise, then disbelief. A brief flittering pain like the taste of curdled milk.

"Ware your minds."

"Noa!" The vision of someone loved says, and a third woman enters the room, looking exactly the same as the first two. She comes from what is likely the kitchen and becomes mist immediately, flashing across the distance into the figure standing in the living room. Immediately the vision of that loved individual firms and smiles kindly at those in the room. "I love you... You do not want to hurt me."

The worst thing is that those words have power, and a part of you, really doesn't want to hurt this person who is so dear to you.

GAME: Skyler rolls will+4: (16)+5+4: 25
GAME: Bryn rolls will: (5)+10: 15
GAME: Carver rolls will: (17)+11: 28
GAME: Dirk rolls will+2+4: (16)+12+2+4: 34
GAME: Skyler spends TWO uses of CHARMED LIFE.
GAME: Corey casts Archon's Aura. Caster Level: 15 DC: 17
GAME: Corey rolls 1d20+15+4: (1)+15+4: 20 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Corey rolls 1d20+15+4: (7)+15+4: 26
GAME: Corey rolls 1d20+15: (3)+15: 18
GAME: Corey rolls 1d20+15: (9)+15: 24

Corey wheels to face the third woman who has entered the room, seemingly immune to the powerful words of the vision. He looks at the remaining woman in the room. "The evil has increased. It's on par with an outsider. Which means this evil must be banished!"

He intones a prayer, concentrating on it as best as he can considering one of the sisters is in his way. But something about the strain of praying so fervently causes the spell he wants to fizzle out before it can take hold.

GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+1: (16)+20+1: 37 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls critmonster+1: aliased to weapon1+4+1: (15)+20+4+1: 40 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+1: (4)+20+1: 25
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+1: (19)+20+1: 40 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls critmonster+1: aliased to weapon1+4+1: (20)+20+4+1: 45 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+1-5: (1)+20+1+-5: 17 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+1-5: (6)+20+1+-5: 22
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+damage1+18: aliased to 1d6+10+1d6+10+18: (2)+10+(3)+10+18: 43
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+damage1+18: aliased to 1d6+10+1d6+10+18: (6)+10+(5)+10+18: 49
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+8: aliased to 1d6+10+8: (6)+10+8: 24
GAME: Skyler spends ONE use of CHARMED LIFE.

Whatever it is he sees, Skyler reacts with both speed and precision as Corey begins his paean to the Hunter. He again clicks his heels, feeling a rush of sorcerous power well up from his boots and into his body suffusing him with energy.

Twice his blade slices with brutal, wicked precision, tracing the line of belly upward backhanded, before he flicks his wrist to slice across the creature's face. The follow up to that vicious combo isn't quite as deadly, or precise, but does trace a line across the thing's throat.

He stumbles back slightly, gritting his teeth. "If it bleeds, it can die."

GAME: Skyler rolls will+4+4+2: (16)+5+4+4+2: 31
GAME: Dirk rolls will+4+2: (12)+12+4+2: 30

Sarah turns to Dirk, and though Dirk knows it's not really the person that he remembers it... it looks like Sarah. It smells like Sarah. If he reached out and touched Sarah, he knows it would feel like her. In a perfect world he could live forever with Sarah again... at least until he died.

"Protect me." Sarah says. Pleading. Begging. He has to.

GAME: Carver rolls weapon18+7-6: (12)+23+7+-6: 36
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18+1: (16)+23+1: 40
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18+1: (11)+23+1: 35
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-4: (15)+23+-4: 34
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18-9: (1)+23+-9: 15 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Carver rolls 4d6+22+2d6+11+2d6+11+2d6+11: (9)+22+(4)+11+(8)+11+(7)+11: 83

Carver bounces on her toes, sparks touching, before sliding to her left. A crack of thunder, or a howling warcry. Both seem to come from the bow as its magic seals sworn vengeance against her foes; the first of the floozies. "That face is a poor shield, fiend! Today is ''your'' red harvest!" Her arrows gleam with holy magic even as they impact against unyielding demonic flesh.

Dirk's eyes get large and liquid. "Sarah... love... I -buried- ye," he whispers. He blinks furiously, big wet tears rolling down his rosy dwarven cheeks. His beard quivers. As he sees his friends attacking the apparition that is -clearly- his departed wife, he turns, swinging up his thunderbelcher. "BACK OFF!" he roars in a strangled tone. "That's -my wife-! I'll nae let ye harm her!" He swaps his bead from one party member to the next, shaking from head to toe. -Something- strange is going on here, but... all he knows is that he -must- protect Sarah.

GAME: Bryn spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
GAME: Bryn casts Good Hope. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16

Bryn knows that's not really her Ma's Ma. Well, Ok, she's mostly sure it can't be. But, still... she can't bring herself to pull out her big curve blade on her(?), much less swing it. "It ain't right!" she starts, growing in volume as she continues. "Ye gotta fight!" That's for her friends, not the almost-maybe-probably-not Ma's Ma(s?)

GAME: Corey casts Greater Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 15 DC: 18
GAME: Corey rolls 1d20+15+4: (7)+15+4: 26
GAME: Dirk rolls will+2+4: (4)+12+2+4: 22
GAME: Bryn rolls will+2+4: (11)+10+2+4: 27
GAME: Dirk rolls will+2+4+2: (4)+12+2+4+2: 24

Corey hears Dirk's distress, and worry and concern flashes across his face. The Warden is a person of care and compassion. He makes a decision not to go immediately for the obvious route of skewering the almost-assuredly-fiendish presence in front of him.

"O Gilead, I call on you to grant me the aid of your most celestial aid!" he says, rapier in hand. As he does, Corey is blessed with great wings, a powerful aura pouring from his form. <Celestial>

He looks to Skyler and smiles benevolently. "Go!" Corey urges. "I believe in you!"

GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2+1: (17)+20+2+1: 40 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls critmonster+2+1: aliased to weapon1+4+2+1: (9)+20+4+2+1: 36

For a brief moment, Skyler's lip lifts in a snarl as exactly what that creature did interrupts the flow of battle that he's lost himself in with the precise blows he's landed. "You... bitch!" He snarls, and with a quick flick of his blade and a precise step sideways his blade effortlessly catches the dwarf's gun and flicks it up and sideways to disarm him, adding, "If we get out of the other side intact, I promise you a night on the town to drink this away, friend." He tells the dwarf, even as he rolls his shoulders.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (20)+23: 43
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (18)+23: 41
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (15)+23: 38
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (14)+27: 41
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6+1+1d6+1+1d6+1: (5)+1+(1)+1+(5)+1: 14
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+7: (18)+20+7: 45 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls critmonster+7: aliased to weapon1+4+7: (16)+20+4+7: 47 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+7: (3)+20+7: 30
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+damage1+2+2+18: aliased to 1d6+10+1d6+10+2+2+18: (3)+10+(4)+10+2+2+18: 49
GAME: Skyler spends ONE point of PANACHE.
GAME: Corey casts Liberating Command. Caster Level: 15 DC: 15
GAME: Skyler rolls will+2: (11)+5+2: 18
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Skyler rolls escape artist+20+2+2: (10)+7+20+2+2: 41

The person that Skyler loves grabs him by the throat for an instant, pulling him in for a rough kiss that has his life flashing before his eyes, every instant that he's lived and then he slips free coughing and hacking.

GAME: Carver rolls weapon18+1: (16)+23+1: 40
GAME: Carver rolls weapon18+1: (19)+23+1: 43
GAME: Carver rolls 4d6+11+8d6+44: (13)+11+(23)+44: 91

As he sways back, blade slicing through the creature, Skyler bellows, "CONSENT!" His voice has a strangled sort of quiver in it, and he gags as he pushes his way free, his eyes confused and he sways in place, "Gods, I think I'm gunna be sick. I just kissed myself... as a kid."

Whut?

The arrow catches through the woman's eye, just as Skyler slips free of her grasp. The Oathbow's string sizzles with satisfaction. "Give warning, base creature. To your sisters and your masters; you are not well-met and will only be welcomed with steel and fire."

Carver moves to Skyler, taking his sleeve. "Take a seat, please." She will guide him to a chair to catch his breath.

The blow on him was enough to pierce his mithril shirt, leaving a new tear on his coat that'll have to be sewn up again, but fortunately, his elusive swamp witch oruch partner is a dab hand with a needle. Skyler, however, has a queer look in his eye, slightly shell-shocked as he coughs, sitting down as indicated by Carver. "G.. good job, Carver." He tells her dully, before shaking his head.

Fortunately, mind altering experiences only work if you have a working mind and Skyler has never had a buff brain. He closes his eyes, and when he reopens them, asks with worry, "Someone check on Dirk?"

Well, that escalated quickly. In several directions. There's grabbin. There's stabbin. Somewhere between Corey growing righteous wings and Ma Ma tusk-wrasslin Sky Guy, she is convinced it's not really Ma Ma. Then there's arrowination and disintegration and ...

"What in Kor's Adamantine Ass just happened?" She realizes there's no one to ask questions of anymore, neither. "So... time for ale? 'N maybe a hot bath?"

Dirk lets loose a bellow as his gun is kicked out of his grip. "GWAAGH!" He staggers back a couple steps, windmilling his arms. But dwarves are notoriously difficult to knock off their feet. Stomping down a foot, he firms up his stance, and balls up his fists as he rounds on Skyler. "You frippy, prancin', clean-shaven TWIT! I'LL HAVE YE!" he roars. He trundles forward, looking quite ready and willing to lay into the swashbuckler. But the death of the -whatever- the hell it was snaps him out of his haze. He freezes, fist cocked back and ready to swing, and he blinks owlishly. "Wuuh? Whuhappened...?" He looks around at the surroundings. Blink. Blink blink. "Oh, piss up my -arse-, did I get head-jiggered -again-?!"

When the fiendish presence disappears, Cor'ethil breathes a small sigh of relief, but he comes forward first to the swashbuckler. "Are you okay?" he asks gently. "I know from firsthand experience that it's not exactly pleasant to be kissed against your will."

He frowns deeply as he looks over at Dirk. "Don't blame yourself," he says. "That outsider--whatever manner of evil outsider it was--was powerful. I'm protected from some things by divine power, but if I wasn't, I'd have a very hard time with... That."

Then Cor'ethil murmurs a small prayer to Gilead as thanks for seeing them all through this. This is followed up with, "I'm happy to take everyone to the Temple first before we report back, or afterwards. I know that anything that compels the will is hard to deal with. Sometimes having a checkup with a cleric is a peace of mind that's hard to pass up..."

A beat, and then Cor'ethil adds, "Plus, the Temple of Gilead has dogs and cats you can pet."

Carver smiles at Dirk's enuciation, "Head to arse, all twisted about. 's not your fault. Fiends." What can you do? She agrees with Corey there. She seems... calmer. They did not get closer to Mudgett this day, but they removed one of his red hands out in the city. She will count her victories. "We shoul' look around and see what came of this poor family, and report it to the Watch. Anythin' that we don't want for her own notes anyway."

[[Category:Logs]]

Recent Logs

2025-06-05T23:38:36Z

Riptide: /* May */

{{AboutLogs}}

'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''

==2025 Logs==
===January===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|January 1, 2025
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 4, 2025
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool
|-
|January 5, 2025
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]
|-
|January 6, 2025
|[[Working Hands]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 7, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 8, 2025
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 9, 2025
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]
|-
|
|[[Temple Festivities]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]
|-
|January 10, 2025
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 11, 2025
|[[Slapbet]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 12, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 13, 2025
|[[Graven Images]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]
|-
|January 14, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 15, 2025
|[[Tough Hands]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]
|-
|January 17, 2025
|[[The Power of Flour]]
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]
|-
|January 18, 2025
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[Back in Technicolor]]
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|January 19, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 20, 2025
|[[Meeting Eli]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Pothy Problems]]
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 21, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 23, 2025
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 26, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 27, 2025
|[[Golden Box]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 28, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 30, 2025
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|
|[[A Polite Request]]
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]
|-
|January 31, 2025
|[[Here But For You]]
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]
|}

===February===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|February 1, 2025
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|February 2, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 3, 2025
|[[The Quest of Eli]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|February 4, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|February 6, 2025
|[[A Handful of Dust]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|February 8, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|February 9, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 11, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|February 14, 2025
|[[Mages of Daeus]]
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|February 16, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 20, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]
|-
|February 21, 2025
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)
|-
|February 22, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]
|-
|February 23, 2025
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide
|-
|
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 24, 2025
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock
|-
|February 25, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

===March===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|March 2, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 3, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 4, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 7, 2025
|[[Crystal Tower]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 8, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 9, 2025
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]
|-
|
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 10, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 11, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 13, 2025
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]
|-
|March 15, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 16, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 18, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 19, 2025
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]
|-
|March 20, 2025
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 21, 2025
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 23, 2025
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 24, 2025
|[[Archmage Asking]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 25, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 29, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 30, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 31, 2025
|[[Red Matrimony]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|}

===April===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|April 1, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 3, 2025
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]
|-
|April 4, 2025
|[[The Golden Songbird]]
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|April 6, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|April 8, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 9, 2025
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]
|-
|April 11, 2025
|[[Four Floozies]]
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]
|-
|April 13, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|
|[[Nary for Nereid]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide
|-
|April 14, 2025
|[[Running Up That Hill]]
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide
|-
|
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|April 15, 2025
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]
|-
|
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]
|-
|April 19, 2025
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool
|-
|
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|April 20, 2025
|[[The Dukes Knight]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide
|-
|April 22, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 23, 2025
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]
|-
|April 27, 2025
|[[Faeology 101]]
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|April 29, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

===May===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|May 1, 2025
|[[Strawberries For All]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]]
|-
|May 2, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|May 4, 2025
|[[Cleiuin's Confession]]
|[[Thurid]], [[Riptide]]
|-
|May 6, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 26)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|May 9, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty Part 2]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|May 10, 2025
|[[Rainy days, hair loss and full bellies]]
|[[Murder]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 11, 2025
|[[Whispers of the Withering Wood]]
|[[Atzi]], [[Harshad]], [[Mist]], [[Tonameyo]]; GM: [[Dirk]]
|-
|May 12, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 17, 2025
|[[Something Fae-shy]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Myoides]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Riptide
|-
|May 18, 2025
|[[Fire of the Sun]]
|[[Thurid]], [[Bryn]], [[Skyler]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Irysha]], [[Khepri]], [[Haggerty]], [[Carver]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|May 19, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 22, 2025
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 1)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 23, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty (Part 3)]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Crik]], [[Warrick]]; GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|
|[[Sisters Strange]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|May 25, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 10]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[The Work of Brewing and Crafting]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 19, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 27, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 27)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

[[Category:Logs]]

===June===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|June 01, 2025
|[[River Fishing]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|June 02, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 4)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|}

[[Category:Logs]]

Category:Same As It Ever Was

2025-05-27T23:59:15Z

Riptide:

Akimitsu Sori (Part 1)

2025-05-23T02:08:28Z

Riptide: Created page with "<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;"> ==Log Info== *Title: Akimitsu Sori (Part 1) *Emitter: Telamon *Characters: Carver, Corey, Karasu, Telamon *Place: Telamon and Ravenstongue's house, Alexandria</div> ''Lupecyll-Atlon home, morning'' The sun spills out over the city of Alexandria, with only a few wisps of clouds in the sky to adorn the brilliant blue. A well-maintained two story house sits in the University District, not too dissim..."

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">

==Log Info==

*Title: Akimitsu Sori (Part 1)

*Emitter: Telamon

*Characters: [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]

*Place: Telamon and Ravenstongue's house, Alexandria</div>

''Lupecyll-Atlon home, morning''

The sun spills out over the city of Alexandria, with only a few wisps of clouds in the sky to adorn the brilliant blue. A well-maintained two story house sits in the University District, not too dissimilar from houses kept by successful merchants or tenured professors.

But the runes carved into the windowsills and on the door-lintel tell the tale. This is a home of magic, the dwelling place of Telamon and Cor'lana Lupecyll-Atlon. Surely mighty magics must be worked here, right?

Well... not this morning. Standing out front, the Lord Archmage is filling the windowsill planters. Seeds placed into the rich earth, then carefully watered, as Telamon works with the quiet patience of one who's learned that nature works at her own pace and it's best to just step back and let it run. The half-elf is dressed in light clothes, a linen tunic over trousers, and he brushes off his hands with a satisfied expression.

Karasu lifts a hand in greeting to the mage at a fair distance, having learned that waving is the common parlance of greeting in this region some time ago. Telamon is observant and he has little doubt that the other man will see him coming. At his side as always is Cor'ethil, and Karasu is grateful to the mage for allowing the use of his house for this little gathering. Their own home is finally acceptable for visitors, but Karasu is not quite comfortable with allowing people that he may or may not know entering his sanctuary. Assuming anyone from the Adventurer's Guild takes up arms and shows an interest in aiding them against Sori.

Drawing closer to Telamon, Karasu offers the other man a nod in greeting as is polite in his homeland. "Greetings Archmage. I am grateful for you agreeing still to aid us in this endeavor. I have information that I am eager to share. May we enter your home?"

Cor'ethil likes mornings. It's the time of day where the birds start to sing again after the long night, which is the domain of many a cute woodland creature (Karasu has found Corey chattering to the owls, the raccoons, and the foxes off in the distance at night when they're home). But today's a different kind of morning.

He's armed and armored. Rapier on his belt, armor on his body, pendant of Gilead around his neck, Corey is a Warden of Gilead, through-and-through. He never really leaves the house without any of these things. Not even to attend to their hens or to coo at the dastardly little foxes who try to steal their eggs. When Karasu speaks, Corey nods. "We'd really appreciate it, Telamon." His cheeks pinken a little. Being on a first-name basis with an archmage is still an interesting thing.

Carver is the last to stride in, face painted fierce; a homage to Dran's dark clouds before the storms. She's almost always done up for war these days, so seeing all that bundles of fur and the bristly points of a pair of quiver is hardly a surprise. Seeing her here might be though. Perhaps she is the aide that answered the call to battle from the guild.

She nods in greeting, hooking thumbs to her belt.

Telamon turns to regard Corey, Karasu, and Carver with a calm, unsurprised expression. Maybe he knew. Or maybe he's just used to this sort of thing. In any case, he suddenly smiles, and nods. "Of course. Please, come inside... Lana's out with Pothy, so he'll not be pestering us for snacks, and the pixies are boy-watching at the Colosseum." He rolls his eyes. "Again."

He opens the door, and leads his guests inside... waiting for them to enter before shutting the door and setting the lock. Once that's done, he inquires, "Can I offer you anything before we get started? Aura sent some wonderful pastries the other day, and I've a jug of chilled tea ready to be drunk."

The dark-eyed xian man follows Telamon into his home and finds a corner to stand in that allows him a full view of the house and its exits (or rather as much of one as can be found). Karasu's eyes flicker to Cor'ethil for a moment at the offer of food and beverage but he shakes his head no. "I could not eat at a time like this. Though your generosity is noted as always Archmage."

He waits for everyone to come in, and make themselves comfortable.

"Mother raised me to never turn down a cup of tea," Cor'ethil says with a smile as he follows Karasu in. "I'll try some of that chilled tea." Although he looks at Karasu as though to communicate something about imbibing tea.

"I'm glad the pixies aren't here. Not that I don't trust them..." Cor'ethil begins, but then he blanches as he takes a seat by Karasu. "Well, okay, it's that I don't trust them. At least, most of them. Mother used to tell me that I shouldn't whisper anything to the wind, lest a pixie hear it and bring it back somewhere else. But she said I _could_ tell my troubles to the ravens, so..."

He scratches behind his neck. "Mixed bag of sayings."

Carver leans her bow, unstrung, against the wall and near the door. She keeps her knife. Her eyes can be seen darting about, dark little expressive motes of energy. So much more quiet without Pothy here, or the Pixies for that matter. She looks back to Corey as he shares an ancedote about growing up, brushing against the First World and its many strange occupants. "Very."

"I will pass on the tea as well. I am curious to hear more. The missive from the guild was not exactly ripe with much to gnaw at." She looks between Karasu and Cor'ethil now. "Other than this might be a personal dispute."

Telamon pours a couple of talltankards, and leaves the jug out along with another unused pair just in case. Passing one of the tankards to Corey, Tel nods. "Why don't you start us off, Karasu? If you have news, I'm interested."

The half-sil seats himself in one of the chairs, regarding the other heroes with a serene smile. His dark eyes glint with starlight, though, and it's clear he's curious -- and anticipating something interesting.

Karasu's eyes follow the tankard to Corey and he holds his hand out for the drink patiently. Clearly he intends to taste the brew. However while he waits for the cup to be passed over, Karasu answers Telamon's query and interest as well as Carver's statement. "One might call this a personal dispute. Sori has however killed hundreds and been responsible for the deaths of thousands more through the years. Not even mentioning the torture that constitutes his training methods."

Karasu's voice is flat and bland as he explains the situation. "Personal in that his main goal is to kill those who I have grown feelings for, and return me to his employ. Or kill me failing that. However he works with fiends and that is hardly a personal matter. Instead it strengthens his reach and makes him more formidable. It makes him a threat to all."

Karasu looks at Telamon. "Kiku has sent me word that he has managed to locate Sori's stronghold if not the man himself. He is certain that Sori is somewhere in Yurika, a land granted him by the lord of lands in Xian. This for all he has done in service to those in power." Karasu frowns lightly. "Kiku was further able to discern with certainty that there are several fiend-possessed assassins in residence of Yurika. It seems that he is training his disciples and then handing their bodies to fiends."

Corey makes sure Karasu tastes the cup. This is the arrangement it's been since forever for them--Karasu tastes the food and drink first, and Corey gets it after if Karasu deems it untainted. He nods soberly to Karasu's last remark. "It is... very disconcerting," he says, before looking over at Carver. "This man has tried to kill myself and Karasu in the past. My mother has killed him once before, prior to her ascension to her current title, but his fiendish connections seem to be very enmeshed and involved with keeping his power centered, resurrecting him at opportune times."

"The world is wide. Its's monsters endless as fish to sea." Carver mutters, as another is named. For someone to have been the hand to quell a hundred lives, or hundreds more, is a legacy. She keeps stumbling into abominations and while she will never be at peace with that. Finding meaning in one's labors is not something everyone gets to have.

"Fiends have a way of denying death." She acknowledges. "Binding pacts hold them to the world, or favors turned in. One can only reap what blood harvest. If the first death did not take. Kill again."

"I approve of this." Carver admits. "I kill monsters."

Telamon actually smiles. "Not so easy, Carver. Sori is very well connected. He's actually been resurrected before. Presumably because of how useful he is." He snorts. "Corey's mother killed him -- and it didn't stick. I have been contemplating alternate methods of... how shall we say, removing him from the board."

The sorcerer taps his fingertips together. "Letting his servants be possessed by fiends is an abomination as well, though not a surprising one I hate to say. They may even be willing -- or believe themselves to be. Karasu, does Kiku have any specifics beyond this land of Yurika?"

Karasu looks a touch uncomfortable here, and after a moment it is explained why. "No. Kiku had to look quite hard to locate the land in the first place, and dares not investigate too closely lest the fiends learn of his aid. However I have further information on Yurika."

He looks at Cor'ethil a moment before continuing. "When I was young, I was raised in the village of Yurika. I killed most of my own family whom lived there in the hopes that they would not corrupt and kill my brother's heart. I was unsuccessful, and it seems that Yurika remains intact."

Karasu sighs. "I am certain I can give us a map of Yurika and its underground environment. Furthermore if Sori is there, I am almost certain of where we can find him." Karasu's hand's become fists. "If we can but find a way to remove him from the board."

Cor'ethil frowns gently as he sips his tea. "Mother... is in possession of a weapon of truedeath, but I know that she would prefer not to loan it out unless greatly necessary." He looks between the group. "I know that she would likely give it to us, should we inform her what it is for, but that's almost why I would prefer not to ask. There are those within her Court who would strike against her the moment they learned it was no longer in her possession, seeing her as weak."

He looks at Telamon then. "What alternative means have you considered?" he asks gently. "I have to admit I'm curious."

Carver's eyes cut to Karasu when he mentions killing his own family, lips sealing to a tense line. What is expected might not be what comes out of our mouth. "I am sorry that it came to that. That never washes out."

Her dominant hand's fingers twitch anxiously. Telamon is given the floor readily.

Telamon's expression becomes grave. "While a sorcerer's spell repertoire is, by its nature, somewhat narrow in scope, that never stops a sorcerer from studying, and learning. And of course there are ways to sidestep those limitations." His eyes glitter like cold winter stars, steady in their course.

"I would use a spell of soul-trapping to ensnare Akimitsu Sori, body and soul, and confine him within a gemstone. And then... well, I would cross that bridge when I came to it. I am certain Her Majesty would be delighted at such a gift. Or I could entomb it within the depths of Leca'fi Amdamu, where he might never escape."

Karasu's eyes glitter with something cold as he bows his head to Carver. An understanding reached between them perhaps. Then Telamon explains his plan and Karasu looks at Cor'ethil. "If we delivered such an item to your mother, she would be most pleased, and she could use her weapon upon it to end Sori once and for all."

For the first time in a long time, something like hope sparks in Karasu's eyes and he bows his head to Telamon. "I am grateful again for your aid Telamon."

"As am I." Cor'ethil reaches over and gently touches Karasu's shoulder in a reassuring gesture, smiling tenderly at his husband. "It will be... a balm for the horrors that Karasu has had to endure, to see Sori dead at last. Even that feels like understating it." There are few words in any of the languages that Cor'ethil knows that can begin to describe the horrors of Karasu's life under Akimitsu Sori, or the horror of killing his family (who had so eagerly condemned Karasu to Sori's methods of teaching) in the hopes of saving his young brother.

That last thought makes Corey's silver eyes glitter a little, and he takes a sharp breath that he disguises a little with a sip of his chilled tea. "It's a sound plan. I'm sure she'd prefer the 'worm trick', but... Some people are too dangerous to even be polymorphed." The 'worm trick' has an unsettling ring to it.

Carver repeats, "Where he might never escape." Perhaps she has a growing resentment for imprisonment. It isn't her call. Nor is this 'Sori' something that death seems to be a solution for either. She crosses her arms as the others seem satisfied with this. So shall it be. "I suppose this plan requires us to get close."

Telamon snorts. "If I hand him over to the Unseelie Queen, he will not spend much time imprisoned. Although she might wish to make a spectacle of it -- she is as prone to showmanship as I am." He offers Corey a grin. "Father commented as much."

"I do not propose this line of attack lightly, but his propensity to cheat death..." He sighs. "Carver, you weren't there when I ... interrogated him after his last demise. It was... disturbing. He knew he was dead and -he didn't care-. Because he knew he wasn't going to be spending very long in the Halls." Telamon shivers, and takes a sip of his tea. "Gods. I mean, I've gone into battle, risked myself, but that kind of serenity... I won't deny it rattled me a touch."

"We are taught not to fear the afterlife. Living in shame is far worse." Karasu offers quietly. He accepts Corey's comforting touch, even going so far as to put his hand on top of Cor'ethil's hand. "Perhaps if Sori were to endure the life that he has given those under his command, but there is no means to do so. I must be satisfied with this, and I am. For all those he has harmed let there be an end to him."

Karasu bows his head to those present. "To that end, I am grateful to you all for helping me to give Telamon an opportunity to trap Sori. It will be no easy task, but it is what needs done."

"He should be ashamed." Corey's voice is flat and angry now as his silver eyes have fury in them. His touch on Karasu's shoulder is still gentle and will remain that way forever. But his words are not. "There is nothing honorable about the atrocities he has committed. There is nothing commendable about the bloodshed he has made, ordered, and enabled. There is nothing worthy of lauding. It is evil."

Corey looks at Telamon and Carver. "He is evil. And that's why we're stopping him. Together."

"No, I was not." Carver says. "I am not impressed that he was calm in the face of death, though. He did not master the fear of it. He shook hands with it."

She rubs at an old scar on her hand in thought, "I swear it. We will stop him. You will know peace."

"Sometimes peace is fleeting. But it's there, if you're willing to fight for it." Telamon's expression softens again. "Alright then. First order of business. We'll travel to Yurika. I think I want to pick up a couple things before we go, anyways."

"From there, we track Akimitsu Sori down. I doubt he'll be alone." Telamon looks at Karasu. "I don't suppose any of his proteges might be willing to turn their coat, if we rid them of their possessors? I know it's a long shot, but..." He sighs. "Once we have him... contained, we'll make a decision as to his fate."

Karasu shakes his head at Telamon's words. "It would be impossible to tell those that might be willing to take a chance at freedom from those who are willing in their possessions. It is best to assume that everyone in the village works for Sori. I will give you the exact location of Sori's hideout when we meet again, and you can take us there directly. Those who are most trustworthy will be closest to Sori, and so we can be most assured that they will work against us."

Karasu takes Cor'ethil's hand in his own and then closes the meeting with only a few more words. "When next we meet, we will be at war against Sori. Come prepared for fiend and for poisons. For those two things we will almost certainly face."

With that said, the meeting comes to an end, but it's only the beginning.

[[Category:Logs]]

Recent Logs

2025-05-23T02:07:05Z

Riptide: /* May */

{{AboutLogs}}

'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''

==2025 Logs==
===January===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|January 1, 2025
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 4, 2025
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool
|-
|January 5, 2025
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]
|-
|January 6, 2025
|[[Working Hands]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 7, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 8, 2025
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 9, 2025
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]
|-
|
|[[Temple Festivities]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]
|-
|January 10, 2025
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 11, 2025
|[[Slapbet]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 12, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 13, 2025
|[[Graven Images]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]
|-
|January 14, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 15, 2025
|[[Tough Hands]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]
|-
|January 17, 2025
|[[The Power of Flour]]
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]
|-
|January 18, 2025
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[Back in Technicolor]]
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|January 19, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 20, 2025
|[[Meeting Eli]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Pothy Problems]]
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 21, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 23, 2025
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 26, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 27, 2025
|[[Golden Box]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 28, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 30, 2025
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|
|[[A Polite Request]]
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]
|-
|January 31, 2025
|[[Here But For You]]
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]
|}

===February===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|February 1, 2025
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|February 2, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 3, 2025
|[[The Quest of Eli]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|February 4, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|February 6, 2025
|[[A Handful of Dust]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|February 8, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|February 9, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 11, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|February 14, 2025
|[[Mages of Daeus]]
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|February 16, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 20, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]
|-
|February 21, 2025
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)
|-
|February 22, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]
|-
|February 23, 2025
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide
|-
|
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 24, 2025
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock
|-
|February 25, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

===March===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|March 2, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 3, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 4, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 7, 2025
|[[Crystal Tower]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 8, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 9, 2025
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]
|-
|
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 10, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 11, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 13, 2025
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]
|-
|March 15, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 16, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 18, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 19, 2025
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]
|-
|March 20, 2025
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 21, 2025
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 23, 2025
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 24, 2025
|[[Archmage Asking]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 25, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 29, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 30, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 31, 2025
|[[Red Matrimony]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|}

===April===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|April 1, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 3, 2025
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]
|-
|April 4, 2025
|[[The Golden Songbird]]
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|April 6, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|April 8, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 9, 2025
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]
|-
|April 11, 2025
|[[Four Floozies]]
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]
|-
|April 13, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|
|[[Nary for Nereid]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide
|-
|April 14, 2025
|[[Running Up That Hill]]
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide
|-
|
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|April 15, 2025
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]
|-
|
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]
|-
|April 19, 2025
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool
|-
|
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|April 20, 2025
|[[The Dukes Knight]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide
|-
|April 22, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 23, 2025
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]
|-
|April 27, 2025
|[[Faeology 101]]
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|April 29, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

===May===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|May 1, 2025
|[[Strawberries For All]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]]
|-
|May 2, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|May 4, 2025
|[[Cleiuin's Confession]]
|[[Thurid]], [[Riptide]]
|-
|May 6, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 26)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|May 9, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty Part 2]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|May 10, 2025
|[[Rainy days, hair loss and full bellies]]
|[[Murder]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 11, 2025
|[[Whispers of the Withering Wood]]
|[[Atzi]], [[Harshad]], [[Mist]], [[Tonameyo]]; GM: [[Dirk]]
|-
|May 12, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 17, 2025
|[[Something Fae-shy]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Myoides]], [[Skyler]]; GM: Riptide
|-
|May 18, 2025
|[[Fire of the Sun]]
|[[Thurid]], [[Bryn]], [[Skyler]], [[Aelwyn]], [[Irysha]], [[Khepri]], [[Haggerty]], [[Carver]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|May 19, 2025
|[[Lament of Vilarus (Part 2)]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Magpie]], [[Murder]]; GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 22, 2025
|[[Akimitsu Sori (Part 1)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|}

[[Category:Logs]]

Magic Item Crafting

2025-05-22T00:49:50Z

Riptide: /* Step Five: Determine Crafting Time */

==Step One: Note the item's Caster Level==

'''Scrolls, potions, or wands:''' the crafter must meet the minimum CL to cast the spell stored in the scroll, potion, or wand. The crafter may craft any of these items at a higher caster level than the minimal, though this raises the cost of the item, as well as the crafting DC. The crafter may not lower the caster level beyond what is needed to cast the spell.

'''Arms or armor:''' the caster may enchant up to:
* a +1 "effect" on the arm or armor per three caster levels. Effects include special abilities such as ghost touch.
* a +1 "enhancement" on the arm or armor per three caster levels. An enhancement is a flat +1, +2, and so on.

This means a 9th level caster may craft up to a suit of +3 Moderate Fortification armor.

An arm or armor must possess at least a +1 enhancement before any additional "effects" are added.

When determining the CL of arms or armor, its CL is the highest of either:
* its Enhancement Bonus x 3
* its Effect Bonus x 3

For specific arms and armor, such as rhino hide, the CL is given in the description of the special effect.

'''Cloaks of resistance:''' the caster may only enchant up to +1 per three caster levels. So to make a cloak of resistance +3, the caster level must be 9.

'''Bracers of armor:''' See Arms or armor, above.

'''All other items:''' the CL is part of the difficulty of creating the item, explained below.

==Step Two: Determine Crafting Costs==
{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
| colspan="2" | Crafting Costs
{{T02}}
|Item
|Cost Formula
|-
|Scrolls
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 25 gp ÷ 2
|-
|Potions
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 50 gp ÷ 2
|-

|Wands
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 750 gp ÷ 2
|-
|Arms, Armor
|Crafting Cost = (New Market Value - Previous Market Value) ÷ 2
|-
|Upgradable Items*
|Crafting Cost = (New Market Value - Previous Market Value) ÷ 2
|-
|Other Items
|Crafting Cost = Market Value ÷ 2
|}

:<nowiki>*</nowiki> Upgradable Items refers to any magical item, no matter its type, that is generally upgradable. A cloak of resistance would fall into this category: It can be upgraded from a +2 to a +3, for example. When in doubt, check with staff.

{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
|colspan="2"|Can You Craft It?
{{T02}}
|Crafter's Level||Market Value
|-
|2-5||Up to 6k
|-
|6-10||Up to 22k
|-
|11+
|No limit set at this time
|}

To prevent "camp and craft," and to keep WBL within reason, crafters may make any item of up to the listed market value, presuming they have the feats, skills, and time required. If the only person available is outside these bounds, come talk with staff and we'll work with you.

==Step Three: Be sure you have the right feats and spells==
'''A caster may bypass:'''
* a spell requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5 per spell
* a class requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5
* an alignment requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5
* a level requirement on armor, weapons, cloaks of resistance, and similar tiered enhancements, for example, by raising the crafting DC by 5 for each category below (so +5 if they're 3 levels short, +10 if 6)
* Non MI-creation feats

...and so on.

'''A caster may not bypass:'''
* the crafting feat requirement of the item to be crafted
* the material cost
* the spell requirement for: potions, scrolls, staves, wands, or any other spell-trigger or spell-completion magic item

'''Common questions:'''
* Supernatural or spell-like abilities do not count as spells for the purposes of the ability to take a crafting feat, or for meeting CL prerequisites. However, they may be used to fulfill crafting requirements. For example, if a magic item's pre-reqs include the spell Darkness, a mul'niessa crafter would be able to fulfill this requirement, even if he or she had not learned the spell as a wizard.

* A crafter may use expendable items, such as a scroll, to meet an item's spell prerequisite. However, the character has to be able to activate the scroll somehow as part of the crafting process, for each day spent crafting. This may require (as in the case of a rogue) the crafter to succeed at a Use Magic Device check to activate the spell. If the caster fails to cast the spell from the scroll, he makes no progress on the item that day unless he has another source for that spell (such as another copy of the scroll).

* A crafter may receive aid from another PC who knows a spell required, and avoid the raise in DC (except in the case of potions, scrolls, wands, and spell-trigger or spell-completion items).

* Although an artificer isn't a "caster," he or she may use her artificer level as a caster level when working with magic item creation.

* A crafter may choose to "take 10" on the skill check required to craft a magic item.

==Step Four: Roll the appropriate skill versus the item's magical crafting DC==
'''Determine the check DC:''' the DC is 5 + CL of the item + 5 per pre-requisite that the crafter does not meet.

'''Roll the dice:'''
The character may elect to roll the dice, or to "take 10." For the check, the character may roll any one of the following:
* Spellcraft, OR
* Craft/x, where x is a category that applies to the item being produced. Weaponsmithing, for example, would work for a sword, but not armor. See [http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/magicItems/magicItemCreation.html for a more detailed list].

Failing the roll results in some consequences. From the PRD: Failing this check means that the item does not function and the materials and time are wasted. Failing this check by 5 or more results in a cursed item (see Cursed Items for more information).

==Step Five: Determine Crafting Time==
Due to Dramatic Time, characters have relative flexibility on how and when they can craft. It is assumed that crafting happens in the 'background' of a character's day-to-day, although it can absolutely be roleplayed out on-screen. Due to the MUSH environment's 1:1 time adherence with the real world, we’ve opted for the following guidelines on crafting time:

* Potions and scrolls created with Brew Potion and Scribe Scroll are finished as quickly as staffers have the bandwidth to process crafting jobs.
* Any magic item created with Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Rod, Craft Staff, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item, and Forge Ring take 4 real days from the time a crafting job is filed, although this can depend on staffing bandwidth.
* An RPP submission for a scene that has to do with a crafting process for a magic item created with Brew Potion, Scribe Scroll, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Rod, Craft Staff, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item, and Forge Ring will receive an extra RPP. For example, if Alice creates a Cloak of Resistance +2 for Bob, and they roleplay a scene talking about the crafting of the cloak, Alice and Bob will receive an additional RPP as a reward on their individual RPP submissions. '''In your RPP submission, mention the crafting process and what item it was for, in addition to the link to the log on the wiki.'''

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:Magic Items]]
[[Category:Pathfinder Help]]

Magic Item Crafting

2025-05-22T00:46:56Z

Riptide: /* Step Five: Determine Crafting Time */

==Step One: Note the item's Caster Level==

'''Scrolls, potions, or wands:''' the crafter must meet the minimum CL to cast the spell stored in the scroll, potion, or wand. The crafter may craft any of these items at a higher caster level than the minimal, though this raises the cost of the item, as well as the crafting DC. The crafter may not lower the caster level beyond what is needed to cast the spell.

'''Arms or armor:''' the caster may enchant up to:
* a +1 "effect" on the arm or armor per three caster levels. Effects include special abilities such as ghost touch.
* a +1 "enhancement" on the arm or armor per three caster levels. An enhancement is a flat +1, +2, and so on.

This means a 9th level caster may craft up to a suit of +3 Moderate Fortification armor.

An arm or armor must possess at least a +1 enhancement before any additional "effects" are added.

When determining the CL of arms or armor, its CL is the highest of either:
* its Enhancement Bonus x 3
* its Effect Bonus x 3

For specific arms and armor, such as rhino hide, the CL is given in the description of the special effect.

'''Cloaks of resistance:''' the caster may only enchant up to +1 per three caster levels. So to make a cloak of resistance +3, the caster level must be 9.

'''Bracers of armor:''' See Arms or armor, above.

'''All other items:''' the CL is part of the difficulty of creating the item, explained below.

==Step Two: Determine Crafting Costs==
{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
| colspan="2" | Crafting Costs
{{T02}}
|Item
|Cost Formula
|-
|Scrolls
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 25 gp ÷ 2
|-
|Potions
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 50 gp ÷ 2
|-

|Wands
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 750 gp ÷ 2
|-
|Arms, Armor
|Crafting Cost = (New Market Value - Previous Market Value) ÷ 2
|-
|Upgradable Items*
|Crafting Cost = (New Market Value - Previous Market Value) ÷ 2
|-
|Other Items
|Crafting Cost = Market Value ÷ 2
|}

:<nowiki>*</nowiki> Upgradable Items refers to any magical item, no matter its type, that is generally upgradable. A cloak of resistance would fall into this category: It can be upgraded from a +2 to a +3, for example. When in doubt, check with staff.

{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
|colspan="2"|Can You Craft It?
{{T02}}
|Crafter's Level||Market Value
|-
|2-5||Up to 6k
|-
|6-10||Up to 22k
|-
|11+
|No limit set at this time
|}

To prevent "camp and craft," and to keep WBL within reason, crafters may make any item of up to the listed market value, presuming they have the feats, skills, and time required. If the only person available is outside these bounds, come talk with staff and we'll work with you.

==Step Three: Be sure you have the right feats and spells==
'''A caster may bypass:'''
* a spell requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5 per spell
* a class requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5
* an alignment requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5
* a level requirement on armor, weapons, cloaks of resistance, and similar tiered enhancements, for example, by raising the crafting DC by 5 for each category below (so +5 if they're 3 levels short, +10 if 6)
* Non MI-creation feats

...and so on.

'''A caster may not bypass:'''
* the crafting feat requirement of the item to be crafted
* the material cost
* the spell requirement for: potions, scrolls, staves, wands, or any other spell-trigger or spell-completion magic item

'''Common questions:'''
* Supernatural or spell-like abilities do not count as spells for the purposes of the ability to take a crafting feat, or for meeting CL prerequisites. However, they may be used to fulfill crafting requirements. For example, if a magic item's pre-reqs include the spell Darkness, a mul'niessa crafter would be able to fulfill this requirement, even if he or she had not learned the spell as a wizard.

* A crafter may use expendable items, such as a scroll, to meet an item's spell prerequisite. However, the character has to be able to activate the scroll somehow as part of the crafting process, for each day spent crafting. This may require (as in the case of a rogue) the crafter to succeed at a Use Magic Device check to activate the spell. If the caster fails to cast the spell from the scroll, he makes no progress on the item that day unless he has another source for that spell (such as another copy of the scroll).

* A crafter may receive aid from another PC who knows a spell required, and avoid the raise in DC (except in the case of potions, scrolls, wands, and spell-trigger or spell-completion items).

* Although an artificer isn't a "caster," he or she may use her artificer level as a caster level when working with magic item creation.

* A crafter may choose to "take 10" on the skill check required to craft a magic item.

==Step Four: Roll the appropriate skill versus the item's magical crafting DC==
'''Determine the check DC:''' the DC is 5 + CL of the item + 5 per pre-requisite that the crafter does not meet.

'''Roll the dice:'''
The character may elect to roll the dice, or to "take 10." For the check, the character may roll any one of the following:
* Spellcraft, OR
* Craft/x, where x is a category that applies to the item being produced. Weaponsmithing, for example, would work for a sword, but not armor. See [http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/magicItems/magicItemCreation.html for a more detailed list].

Failing the roll results in some consequences. From the PRD: Failing this check means that the item does not function and the materials and time are wasted. Failing this check by 5 or more results in a cursed item (see Cursed Items for more information).

==Step Five: Determine Crafting Time==
Due to Dramatic Time, characters have relative flexibility on how and when they can craft. It is assumed that crafting happens in the 'background' of a character's day-to-day, although it can absolutely be roleplayed out on-screen. Due to the MUSH environment's 1:1 time adherence with the real world, we’ve opted for the following guidelines on crafting time:

* Potions and scrolls created with Brew Potion and Scribe Scroll are finished as quickly as staffers have the bandwidth to process crafting jobs.
* Any magic item created with Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Rod, Craft Staff, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item, and Forge Ring take 4 real days from the time a crafting job is filed, although this can depend on staffing bandwidth.
* An RPP submission for a scene that has to do with a crafting process for a magic item created with Brew Potion, Scribe Scroll, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Rod, Craft Staff, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item, and Forge Ring will receive an extra RPP for all participants. For example, if Alice creates a Cloak of Resistance +2 for Bob, and they roleplay a scene talking about the crafting of the cloak, Alice and Bob will receive an additional RPP as a reward on their individual RPP submissions. '''In your RPP submission, mention the crafting process and what item it was for, in addition to the link to the log on the wiki.'''

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:Magic Items]]
[[Category:Pathfinder Help]]

RPPs

2025-05-22T00:45:09Z

Riptide:

[[image:tavern.jpg|thumb|right]]
==What are RPPs?==
RPPs (Role Play Points and Perks) are a way of rewarding your efforts to tell your own story. They are:
* Gained from roleplaying with others, and spending time ongrid in any non-PrP or non-DM'd scene (those have their own rewards)
* Spendable on a variety of things which enhance your story
* Awarded per player; as you earn them, you may spend them any way you wish among your alts

==How do I Get Them?==
===Step One: Join Roleplay===
Get out on the grid! Only non-PrP and non-DM'd scenes count; these sorts of activities have their own rewards. Other methods are:
* Run a [[Meetups|Meetup]]
* Run a Non-combat [[Standard_PRPs|PRP]]
* Earn a [[Flaws|Flaw]] over time
* Submit an article to the Alexandria Tribune! Include the article text in your +req.
* Log a scene for a staffer!

...the easiest though, is just getting out there and RPing with others!

===Step Two: Send Staff a Note===
'''What Should I Know?'''
* Upload the scene's log to the wiki. (All scenes uploaded to the wiki must abide by the Game Rating.)
* Use +request/rpp to submit your RPP submission.
* Include a link to the scene's log in your RPP submission.
* Only scenes outside of Meetups/PRP or staffer events are eligible for RPP submissions.
* What are staff looking for in an RPP submission? We are looking for the following:
:: 1) There has to have been a scene, meaning a moment in time where something significant happened.
:: 2) You have to have participated in the scene, meaning your character must have been part of the significant thing happening.

In other words, scenes must contain an extended and earnest attempt to deepen a character's relationship with the world, other characters, and/or both to be considered valid for RPP awards. No awards will also be awarded for logs where the submitter is not making a genuine effort to engage with the rest of the scene--in other words, just posing in a corner while the rest of the scene happens around them. If this seems fairly open and relaxed, it's because it is. We just ask for people to make a genuine and lengthy effort for RPP; we do not want quick three-pose scenes for a tiny chit-chat.

'''Bonus:''' You can get 1 additional RPP on your RPP submission if the scene is about, or mentions, a crafting job. Just include the Crafting Bonus in the job submission. See [[Magic Item Crafting]] for details.

'''Examples'''

: ''Regular submission:''
: <code>+request/rpp A Capering Duck=Log: http://www.tenebraemush.net/This_is_My_Log_URL</code>

: ''Crafting bonus submission:''
: <code>+request/rpp Making Capes=Log: http://www.tenebraemush.net/This_is_My_Log_URL%r%rCrafting Bonus: Alice made a Cloak of Resistance +2 for Bob; the scene is about Alice making the cloak for Bob.</code>

===Step Three: Buy Things===
Select from several of the options listed later in this article.

==What Can I Buy?==
{{TypesOfRPPSpends}}

====Know What You Want?====
Know what you want? Send in a +request to the SPEND bucket, letting us know what you're purchasing. Make sure you've moved enough RPPs to the correct alt, first, though.

==The Big List==
{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
|RPP Spends
|Description
|Type
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Aspect Spends|Aspects]]'''
|Magic in your blood.
| [[image:rpp_limited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Flaws]]'''
|Even Superman had kryptonite.
|[[image:rpp_limited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Homelands Spends|Homelands]]'''
|Your ties to your homeland are stronger than most.
| [[image:rpp_limited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Prosthetics RPP Spend|Prosthetic Limbs]]'''
|From animated clay to iron to artifice, prosthetics replace a range of body parts.
|[[image:rpp_limited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Small Vehicle Spend|Small Vehicle]] (Retired)'''
|That beerwagon you'd always wanted. Hauled by griffons. No longer available to purchase.
|[[image:rpp_limited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Ancestral Weapon]]'''
|An intelligent weapon, tied to you.
|[[image:rpp_exclusive.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Blood Pact RPP Spend|Blood Pacts]]'''
|You read the contract, right?
|[[image:rpp_exclusive.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Influence Spends]]'''
|Becoming well-known and influential in your social spheres.
|[[image:rpp_exclusive.gif]] [[image:rpp_limited.gif]] [[image:rpp_unlimited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Organization Spends]]'''
|Exclusive benefits and exceptional training; become a mentor and be recognized among your peers.
|[[image:rpp_exclusive.gif]] [[image:rpp_limited.gif]] [[image:rpp_unlimited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Public Space Spends|Public Spaces]] (Retired)'''
|Build an ongrid shop, tea house, or other small construction that may be shared with everyone. No longer available to purchase.
|[[image:rpp_exclusive.gif]] [[image:rpp_limited.gif]] [[image:rpp_unlimited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Mythic Paths|Mythic Paths]]'''
|Become myth and legend and bolster your allies into song and folklore.
|[[image:rpp_limited.gif]]
|-
|style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''[[Character Spends]]'''
|Reroll hit dice and other miscellaneous goodies.
| [[image:rpp_unlimited.gif]]
|}

[[Category:Admin|RPPs]]
[[Category:RPPs|RPPs]]

Whispers of the Withering Wood

2025-05-12T23:58:57Z

Riptide: Created page with "<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;"> ==Log Info== *Title: Whispers of the Withering Wood *GM: Dirk *Characters: Atzi, Harshad, Mist, Tonameyo *Place: Village of Dunhallow, Alexandros</div> The village of Dunhallow is fairly small, so far as settlements in the greater Heartlands go. It's a hardscrabble community of farmers and foresters, eking out a living within the fringes of the forest, right on the edge of where the greater Eldwyn..."

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">

==Log Info==

*Title: Whispers of the Withering Wood

*GM: Dirk

*Characters: [[Atzi]], [[Harshad]], [[Mist]], [[Tonameyo]]

*Place: Village of Dunhallow, Alexandros</div>

The village of Dunhallow is fairly small, so far as settlements in the greater Heartlands go. It's a hardscrabble community of farmers and foresters, eking out a living within the fringes of the forest, right on the edge of where the greater Eldwyn begins to give way to the Felwood. However, a circle of druids has always been present to provide protection from the darkling wood's threats. And to be fair, Dunhallow is small enough to escape the notice of the worst of the Felwood's more dire inhabitants.

But all that has changed. A harried villager from Dunhallow had been sent to Alexandria, to petition the Adventurer's Guild for assistance. Within the last week, villagers have gone missing. A total of three souls are unaccounted for. More than that, there have been reports of strange voices whispering from the wood in the darkest part of the night. Others report strange lights glimmering in the depths, temping the good villagers into wandering deep into places where no good folk should wander.

Now, the group of you have arrived in Dunhallow, where the mayor, one Devin Aldrich, has invited you into his home. While his wife offers tea and refreshment, the mayor sits at his broad table with his expression haggard and his hands worn out from worried wringing.

"I just can't figure it," he says. "This ain't never happened in all my days, nor the mayor's before me. The Felwood's always left us alone afore now." His wife, a matronly woman introduced as Madeleine, plunks down a tray with an earthenware tea service and fresh oatcakes with apple jam. "Where's the druids? That's what ''I'd'' like to know!" she declares. "Near a week now it's been, and we've not heard a peep!" Mayor Aldrich takes up his mug of tea, clasping it between both hands. He regards the group of you with a desperate expression. "Please, good heroes... we're at our wits' end! We need you to go into the wood and find our people. And put a stop to this madness before it claims the rest of us!"

Once again, Harshad has gotten pulled out into the woods for a job. At this rate maybe he should start learning about the wilderness, considering he keeps having to come out of the city for the coin.

Still... coin is coin, whether it's made in alleys or forest paths. The half-orc is dressed in his usual nondescript garb, with the light mail shirt over his tunic for a change and a cloak wrapped around him. He's got a curved cold-iron dagger in one hand, inspecting the blade, before making it vanish back into a belt sheath. "Maybe it's the druids themselves," he offers. "Any odd offers made, any strange conversations?"

One black-scaled sith-makar with red painted lines on his face that make him look all the more fearsome stands in the house with a strange looking spear in one hand and an offensive-looking shield covered in spikes set next to his foot. He leans on his spear a bit, thinking and finally nodding. "Spirits coming and taking away the villagers is bad. That your druids are not helping says something too. They must be angry for some reason."

The sith, who introduced himself earlier as Atzi, has no trace of a draconic accent. No syllabant hiss to his words, though there is an accent, it simply isn't the usual sith one. In fact he sounds far more like he hails from one of the islands. "Them or the spirits that is. Or perhaps they went missing first." He nods once. "Either way it is best if we find out what angers them."

The egalrin warrior known as Mist stands behind the golden-scaled sith-makar. Seeming content to shrink into his cloak, Mist does not speak for a long moment, his head pivoting like he's hearing something from elsewhere (that doesn't appear to be evident to others). Until finally, he does, and it's a strange high pitch, softly spoken.

"Three lost. The Moon weeps." Those dark owl-like eyes of his blink, yet they do not open nor close at the exact same time, just slightly staggered in an unnerving way. "We can help and be of aid. It would put a peace to the weeping Moon."

Then Mist pauses again. "Have there been any quarrel with the nature-keepers?" He means the druids. "Your people, that is. The Moon has witnessed people coming to disagreement and then letting the wolves feast on an unlocked hatch of rabbits, leaving behind crimson in the moonlight."

The golden Sith has been entirely too positive for the whole trip to this small, backwater town. He happily points out bits of nature; colourful birds, the odd hare or two dashing into the deeper woods away from the cityfolk, this tree or that. Mostly to himself, but occasionally directed towards the Owlish Egalrin.

In the shiny spots along the way, few and far between in the misty journey, causes the Sith to shine and shimmer brightly, something that pleases him greatly.

Tonameyo listens to the Mayor and his wife, nodding sympathetically at their loss, as well, agreeing with what the others have said so far. "I will not posit any theoriess as to whom or what the creaturess are, those which ssteal away your townsfolk. However, it seemss as though the good workss done by the druidss have ceased. This is likely a coincidence. Shall we first inquire as to the druidss health and wellbeing before heading elsewhere?", the gold-scale Sith wonders of his travelling companions.

Mayor Aldrich stares into his mug of tea, as if all the answers to the ills that plague him and his village might be found in the beverage. "It's true what Maddie says," he says. "When Old Man Harker disappeared, the first thing we did was send someone to the druids' grove. Mama Gantry was always friendly with 'em--but she was the ''second'' one to vanish. And now, the Taylors' son has gone. Lured out into the night by those damned lights." He looks up and around at the gathering. "If you wanted to inquire about the druids, I'd look for them in their grove. It's a couple miles into the forest." He sets his mug aside and gets to his feet. He steps over to a desk overflowing with stacks of papers, books, bills, and other accouterments needed to run a village. He rummages around and brings out an old parchment map. He indicates on the map Dunhallow's position, and then the druid grove, maybe 30 to 45 minutes walk deeper in the wood.

To Harshad, he shakes his head. "I'm afraid I haven't heard anything myself. But folk who've seen the lights say that they... they ''call'' to 'em. Sayin' that they ought to join 'em, in the wood. Somethin' about... all their troubles fading to nothing." To Mist, he shakes his head again. "No, no quarrels, none that ''I'' know of. We've always been friendly with the druids. We take care not to over-harvest from the forest, and we offer 'em a fair share of our takings. In return, they keep the evil of the Felwood away from Dunhallow."

He looks to Atzi, spreading his hands wide. "I can't imagine what we might've done to offend the spirits of the wood. But if we ''have''... then please, I ask you, find out what we must do to atone." Lastly, he addresses Tonameyo. "Yes, please. Find out if this... whatever it is... has taken the druids. Without them, our village is defenseless!" He offers out the map for the group to take, if they wish it.

Harshad hmphs. People aren't near as complicated as weird forest creatures. Guess it'd be too much to ask for something relatively straightforward. He glances at the others, measuring them -- Mist gets a ''long'' look after his response, but Harshad doesn't say anything. Instead, he rubs a thumb along his tusk. "Guess the first step is to check out the grove, see if there's any clues there."

He tilts his head a bit. "Unless someone's got a better idea. I'm not good in the woods, so I'm kinda guessing here."

Atzi might have taken the map, but the truth is that he was half distracted from the mayor's words by blinking at the egalrin. Looking at the owl named Mist like Mist might have a second head or something. "Are you calling your-self the moon?" He inquires, sounding half-affronted. "Or are you referring to the actual moon?" Atzi snorts. "One shouldn't pretend to know what the Moon wants or thinks unless one is a shaman. Are you a shaman."

At this Atzi leans toward the egalrin hiding behind the golden sith and sniffs loudly. "You do not *smell* like a shaman." He lets out a humph and thumps his spear and tail at the same time.

Mist's dark eyes blink in that slightly unsynchronized manner again as he looks at Atzi. "Of course I am not the Moon," he says, followed by a little rasp that Tonameyo knows passes for laughter from him. "The Moon is beautiful. She is kind. She is loving. I hear her often." His words are very reverent. "I am none of these things, but I seek to learn from her all the same--and to fight for her."

His head cocks a little in that way that owl-heads do. "What does a shaman smell like, the Moon wonders? Incense? Fresh water? Burning wax and wick? I am also none of those, only feather dust and this morning's meal."

Mist then looks back at the Mayor and nods to Harshad's words. "Let us go into the grove," he says. "The Moon wishes to see it."

"One must tell his people to not listen to the lights. Stay away from the forest at night, remain in ones' homess.", the golden Sith intones, nodding to the mayor. "Some beingss mean harm without one having done anything to offend or injure them. That is often the way of evil and darknessss. We will do what we can to determine what has happened here, and determine what, if any, atonement needss be done."

His nictitating eyelids blink, followed by golden ones. Tone's glance goes to Atzi, his shoulders rolling in a shrug. "The softskinss cannot easily be sorted as our People can, kin, but Mist here may very well speak for the Moon. Who are we to say? I have seen... enough for me to believe that indeed, the Moon speakss to them. Much as the Sun Dragon, resplendent Platinum, speaks to me, the Moon speaks to Mist."

His sinuous golden tail curls and uncurls, thumping into the ground.

So it's decided, the party will head into the wood and seek out the druid grove. To see what can be seen, and hopefully get to the bottom of whatever eldritch strangeness plagues the villages of Dunhallow. It's a bright, sunshiny spring afternoon when the group sets out. The villagers pause in their daily routines as you pass through the town. Mothers gather children to their aprons, while the menfolk grip their tools and watch them pass by with tense apprehension. A couple make the sign against the evil eye, murmuring quiet prayers to Dana and Gilead to protect their homes.

At first, the travel is quite pleasant. The cart track that winds through the wood is open and broad. The sound of forest critters chattering at one another mingles with the melodic calls of birdsong in the treetops. But soon, things begin to take a turn for the darker. The sky overhead grows dark and gloomy, casting deepening shadows upon the path. The tree trunks become blackened and twisted, with stark branches clawing at the leaden skies. The trail underfoot becomes overgrown with thick weeds and brambles that catch at your feet--and where there's no weeds, the ground becomes muddy as it squelches and sucks noisily at your boots. The warm spring air soon turns chill, and the lush greenery becomes the dull tan and ochre of dead autumn.

GAME: Mist rolls Perception: (10)+12: 22
GAME: Harshad rolls perception: (4)+9: 13
GAME: Atzi rolls Perception: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Tonameyo rolls perception: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Mist rolls Will: (14)+3: 17
GAME: Tonameyo rolls will: (16)+8: 24

As Mist travels with the group, he catches the glimpse of something out of the corner of his dark eye. "Hold," he says softly. "There is something..."

Mist looks for a moment, and his body language looks a little subdued. "I had hoped it was the Moon," he says. "I did not see her. It was a light. I wanted to follow, but I realized it was not her."

He looks around at the others. "Did anyone else see it?"

Atzi doesn't reply to either Mist, nor to Tonameyo, offering them only a harsh glare that says that this conversation is far from over. Later, on the trail, Atzi still offers nothing in the way of conversation, growing more and more grumpy as the path becomes harder and harder to forge through. The sucking mud gets between his toes. The brambles catch upon his feet. There is no safe place to walk, and he grumbles to himself the entire time in draconic.

Oddly it's Mist that he glares at rather than the ground or the brambles with every mutter of draconic. As if he blames Mist for their growing misfortune. When a bramble wraps around his tail, he cuts it with his spear viciously and growls in irritation, thumping his tail and splattering himself and those near him with muck. "Ill fortune!" He grumps in tradespeak, shuddering and stomping forward. "One would hardly know that we have a druid's grove near here with all this decay of life!"

Mist speaks for them to hold and Atzi points his spear at the egalrin. "I am not listening to *you*. You who sees what is not there, and who speaks of things that you should not!" He keeps stomping forward along the path, ignoring Mist's warnings.

Harshad is ill at ease. More so as the terrain changes, because even he knows this doesn't look right. "What the f..." he mumbles, dragging a booted foot out of some mud. "Are you sure we're on the right track? This place looks like it's halfway to a swamp."

At Mist's comment, though, his head comes up. "I didn't, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there." He pulls a pair of matching sickles from sheaths at the small of his back. "Eyes up, let's stick together and..." And then Atzi starts to march ahead.

"Slow down, we don't want to wander into an ambush." He looks like he wants to add something, but then gestures to the others to pick up the pace and move as a group.

The mud? Not a worry for Tonameyo, who happily squelches along through it, heedless of how it may or may not feel between his toes. The brambles? They could hardly penetrate his scales or armor on a good day, and today is not that day. He happily chatters along as the group moves.

His cheery mood falters only momentarily when Atzi complains that Mist sees things that others cannot. "This one did not see what Mist saw, but this one /heard/ it. Just as the mayor said, they bid we join them in their rest. We should heed his warning." Tonemayo's cheerful nature returns then, as he takes up a defensive posture at Mist's side, his heavy shield protecting them both from the side. "You watch the to the left there, Mist, and this one shall watch to the right."

GAME: Atzi rolls Survival: (13)+2: 15

With Atzi tromping ahead of the rest of the party, he'll be the one who finds a spot of particularly stubborn brambles. They do indeed seem to reach out and curl around his ankles with a life and a will of their own. And their long thorns seem blood red in the deepening gloom. It'll take him a moment to rip himself free...

GAME: Atzi rolls Will: (13)+2: 15

Atzi manages to tear himself free of the brambles though they were particularly noisome, and he pokes his spear at one of the vines viciously as he works his way out only to fall to a stop and growl. "I have found the caretaker of these woods. The plants have taken them." He points with his spear at the body of an individual dressed in tattered robes. At least a week old. Atzi notices that the body is holding something to itself and braces himself to reach to the hands and see what it is by prying it forth. The corpse's face is frozen in an expression of horrified terror.

GAME: Harshad rolls knowledge/local: (7)+9: 16
GAME: Mist rolls Knowledge/Religion: (13)+5: 18
GAME: Atzi rolls Knowledge/Religon: (14)+Knowledge/Religon: 14
GAME: Atzi rolls Knowledge/Religion: (4)+2: 6
GAME: Tonameyo rolls knowledge/religion: (20)+5: 25

Harshad comes to a stop next to Atzi and the body, and hunkers down a bit. "So did the plants get them, or the lights?" He uses a sickle to cut away some of the vines, shaking his head. "Hell of a way to die though."

The half-orc looks up. "Hate to say this, but I don't think we're going to get any help from the druids. You'd have better luck knocking on oak trees and hoping for a response."

Mist blinks his dark eyes at the wheel that the body had been holding--before Atzi got tangled up in everything. "The Moon is unhappy," he says gently. "As am I. I agree with Harshad. The nature-keepers are no longer able to help us."

Something slightly resembling a sigh (it's a somewhat raspy noise) leave Mist, and he looks at Atzi. "Are you well? The brambles were vicious. I heard them speak angry words." Except Atzi, up-close-and-personal with them, heard nothing.

From the way the brambles have curled around the body's limbs and throat, it looks pretty clear that those bloody thorns are what ended the poor druidess' life. Indeed Harshad, a hell of a way to die.

The golden-scale Sith lets out a noisy breath from their nostrils as Atzi reveals the body. His features darken, hints of anger evident in his expression and posture. He slowly crouches down to look more closely at the fallen druid. "This is, judging from the accountrementss she bears, the high priestess of the grove. She has been dead, as my black-scale Kin says, for about a week. These bramblesss must have sucked the life from her."

Another whistle of breath, and he looks to Harshad. "Knocking on the oaks may actually be the answer we seek. This may be the activity of fae creaturess. Which, I do not know. There are ... taless in the Peoples' history that speak of such things. Sadly I am not a Speaker, merely a shaman."

At this point, the party is maybe 15 minutes away from the grove proper. Surely you can make it there in good time, assuming you don't run afoul of those wicked brambles or treacherous mud bogs...

Atzi hisses at Mist. "Now you hear the words of plants as well?" He snorts loudly and turns his back on Mist, looking at Harshad instead. "We should make our way to the grove and look for the lights that the villagers saw on the way. If one of us sees them, we should let the others know and follow them into the woods. They may lead us to the other people." With that he continues forward, tail thrashing unhappily.

GAME: Mist rolls Survival: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Atzi rolls Survival: (4)+2: 6
GAME: Harshad rolls survival: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Tonameyo rolls survival: (8)+5: 13

Onwards the party forges, deeper into the gloom. By now, it's getting dark enough that those relying on normal vision are having a hard time seeing well. Low-light vision and/or darkvision provides the usual benefit, however. Though you might wish you hadn't--there's nothing pleasant to look upon in this corner of the wood. Eventually, the track broadens out into a wide clearing in the wood. The trees ringing the clearing curve their branches towards the center, as though in supplication to some profane deity.

At the exact center stands the grove--a great oak tree that must have once been beautiful and majestic. But now, its bark is black, glistening with tacky red-brown slickness. Its branches are bare, rising high overhead to claw at the sky. At its base, a large stone menhir, carved with the whorling sigils sacred to the Green Word. An arcing stone ring encompases the menhir, with circular impressions at each of its four cardinals. Impressions just big enough to hold those sacred icons you found--although only one remains in place. The other three are empty.

It's then that danger rears its ugly head--or rather, its ugly thorns. As Atzi approaches, his foot sinks to the shin in icy, gloppy mire. Schlorp! What's worse, numerous brambles snake out with a malevolent hiss, whipping around his legs in a painful grasp. They tighten around his limbs and begin to draw him down!

As Atzi finds himself ensnared and the party looks to their defense, there's a low rumbling, and a creaking. Two smaller trees flanking the blasted oak twitch and shake. Their roots pull up from the muddy ground. The knots and boles on their trunks flow into sinister faces as they begin to advance on the party!

GAME: Atzi rolls Strength: (8)+3: 11
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d4: (2): 2

Atzi rips himself free of the brambles in a bloody mess of loose scales and lost blood. He roars in defiance, rushing forward in spite of the pain toward one of the trees and threatening it with his spear. He doubts that the tree cares much about his warpaint or the threatening tongue he protrudes to make his face a mask of rage, but he does it to please the spirits... and himself.

The other twisted tree begins lumbering towards the party, extending its branches in a mockery of claws and hands. "Rrrresssssst with usssssss..." it groans, like the creaking of timbers.

GAME: Harshad used a Tanglefoot Bag.
GAME: Harshad rolls ranged: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+9: (7)+9: 16

"Well, shit." That's what comes out of Harshad's mouth. Followed by, "Stick and move, friends, I don't think they're friendly!" Harshad runs through the mud, splashing it around as he pulls a bag from his belt. Seeing one of the trees approaching, he growls, "Oh shut up, and wait your turn, firewood!"

He hucks the bag right into the tree's 'face' and there's a loud POP as the bag bursts, thick goopy tar and resin spreading over the tree. It doesn't glue it in place due to the muck, but it slows it down. "That'll slow him down!"

GAME: Tonameyo rolls ranged: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Tonameyo rolls ranged: (17)+5: 22
GAME: Tonameyo rolls 1d6: (4): 4

Tonameyo glances to Mist as the burnt tree comes into view, "What says the Moon regarding this?" He makes the sign of Daeus. "May His light shine upon this place once more."

As the mobile trees begin to lumber towards the group, and the bloody brambles force Atzi to bloodily rip himself free, the gold-scale begins to rummage in one of his pouches. He lopes along behind Harshad, his feet finding secure purchase despite the mucky ground. Tone steps left to avoid the Oruch as his free hand makes a throwing motion.

No sooner than the tanglefoot bag begins doing the good work of sticking the tree to the ground, the vial of alchemist's fire shatters against its bark, igniting it on fire immediately.

"Did anyone bring any sausagess? We've got a nice bonfire going..."

GAME: Mist spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST.
GAME: Mist rolls weapon0: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Mist rolls weapon0: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Mist rolls weapon0: (6)+5: 11
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+5: (12)+5: 17
GAME: Mist rolls damage0: aliased to 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5

Mist's dark eyes blink in that slightly unsynchronized fashion at Tonameyo's question. "The Moon is weeping," he says unhappily. "The Moon is weeping, and I will take away her sorrow."

So then the egalrin enters the fray, going in after Atzi and deciding to take on the other of the two trees. "Moonlight, guide my hand," he murmurs, walking up to the tree. Dark eyes regard it for a moment before he lashes out with two open-palmed strikes, the first a heavy knock against the bark and then the second more of a gentle slap that doesn't seem to do anything.

"You do not have to make the Moon weep," he tells the tree. "Remember yourself and who you were. She will help you remember."

GAME: Dirk rolls 1d4: (3): 3
GAME: Atzi rolls Fortitude: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Atzi rolls Fortitude: (7)+7: 14

From above the crown of the twisted oak booms a voice, full of sound and fury. "INTERLOPERS! You shall not stop the Winter Unending! You shall not profane Our Lady Of The Black Solstice!" From the branches drifts a figure floating in the air. He may have once been handsome, but his features have become pinched and emaciated. The tatters of his robe flow around him like kelp in the sea--robes very like the ones you found on the high priestess. This, then, must be the druid circle's high priest. Or, at least, what remains of him. In one hand, he grasps another of the sacred seasonal icons. The other is clenched in a bloodied fist. His eyes sweep over the ground, wild and bloodshot. He rests his gaze upon Atzi, and he sweeps a hand up. "In Her Blessed Name, a pox upon thee!" he booms, swinging his hand out and crooking his fingers like talons. Atzi finds himself afflicted with a ''horrific'' rash as foul pustules spring up all over his scales. Gods, they ''itch''!

GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+6: (17)+6: 23
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d6: (1): 1

While Mist exchanges blows with the twisted tree, the wicked arboreal decides that it is not having ''any'' of it. With a rumbling groan, it swings a branch-like arm at the egalrin and thacks him with a glancing blow! KRAKK! "RRRRRESSSSST!" it moans.

GAME: Atzi rolls 1d20+7-2: (4)+7+-2: 9
GAME: Atzi rolls 1d20+7-2: (13)+7+-2: 18
GAME: Atzi rolls 1d10+3: (8)+3: 11

Atzi feels boils and pustules spreading over his scales, and he feels the intense urge to itch them and make them go away, and he roars again. "ILL FORTUNE!" And rushes the druid who caused the misfortune, bonking the druid over the head with his spear with a twirl of the weapon. "FALL YOU MISFORTUNE-SPIRIT!"

GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+6-2: (3)+6+-2: 7
GAME: Harshad rolls 2d4: (6): 6
GAME: Tonameyo rolls 1d6: (6): 6

The other dark tree, its limbs moving stiffly from the sticky resins encasing them, lurches towards Harshad. It swings a burning branch towards the half-oruch, but flails wildly and hits only the air. "RRESSSSSST!" it howls, even as the flames from Tonemayo's fire causes large chunks of its blood-sticky bark to crisp up and fall away as ash. It looks like it's taken some grievous damage!

GAME: Harshad rolls acrobatics: (17)+12: 29
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon12+2: (18)+9+2: 29
GAME: Harshad rolls damage12+3d6: aliased to 1d6+3+3d6: (3)+3+(12): 18

Harshad casually leans out of the way of the flailing limb. "I'll rest when I'm rich!" He turns the lean into a roll, spattering mud as he goes past the horrid tree and coming up with a glimmering sickle in his fist. "Now, why don't you just be a good boy..."

Whack. WHACK. CRUNCH.

The sickle splits the trunk, and it comes apart in a tumble of limbs at Harshad's feet. The half orc grins impudently. "...and just ''leaf''."

GAME: Tonameyo rolls weapon1+2: (10)+5+2: 17
GAME: Tonameyo rolls damage1: aliased to 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5

The gold-scale Sith guffaws at the demented Druid as he floats down from on high. "Brightest of Days, dark foe. We are here to light up your dreary life. This place needss a certain something something, and we shall deliver." Tona has his blade part way out of its sheath when Harshad simply takes it apart with his sickles. "Resssst?" The shimmering statue sniffs. "You first."

With a pat to Harshad's shoulder, he says, "Good work. You assist Atzi there, and I shall go to Mist'ss aid."

The Sith struts across the battlefield, humming to himself as if this were just another sunny day and he was taking a brisk walk in the park. Few times has he ever had to draw his blade in a park, but today is definitely turningt into one of those days.

"I am here, Mist!" His blade WHACKS at the side of the tree, shaving off chunks of bark and wood.

GAME: Mist rolls weapon0+2: (10)+5+2: 17
GAME: Mist rolls weapon0+2: (17)+5+2: 24
GAME: Mist rolls damage0: aliased to 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Mist rolls damage0: aliased to 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6

Mist's dark eyes blink again, cocking his head at the tree. "You do not remember. You refuse to remember. I will not rest. It is you who must--"

Then Tonameyo comes up from behind, glittering, and Mist can always trust the glitter of gold is him. So he doesn't talk anymore. He moves.

Thwack. THWACK. Two solid blows into the bark, Mist only barely wounded as of yet. "The Moon is weeping still. The leaves are restless. The wind is yearning. _You_ must rest."

GAME: Atzi rolls 1d20+7-2: (18)+7+-2: 23
GAME: Atzi rolls 1d10+3: (3)+3: 6
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11

The fallen druid screeches as his demented servitor is rendered into matchsticks. "O BLESSED PRINCESS OF WINTER, LADY LILLYNDRA, GRANT ME POWER!" he shrieks. He swoops down like a depraved bat at Atzi--which opens him up from a cunning spear strike from the black-scaled sith. His blood spatters the profaned ground, but he remains undeterred. He swings his free hand, fingers crooked into claws, but the strike misses Atzi. But he can surely ''feel'' the chilling cold as a wave of frosty air mists over his scales--that would have been a painful blow had it connected!

GAME: Dirk rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Dirk rolls 1d6: (4): 4

Meanwhile, the twisted tree is barely clinging together. Its branches are cracked and broken, and its trunk splintered in many places. With a mournful moan, it swings a branch at Mist, and manages to connect, giving the owlish egalrin's bell a good ringing! KRAKKKK! "SOOOO... TIRED..." it moans. Perhaps it might be that some part of it ''does'' remember what it once was, and grows weary of the thing it has become...

GAME: Atzi rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27
GAME: Atzi rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Atzi rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16
GAME: Atzi rolls 1d10+3+1d10+3: (5)+3+(8)+3: 19

Atzi does indeed feel the chill, and he rounds his weapon around in his hand twirling it like someone else might twirl a baton and at the apex of the twirl, the weapon comes down with a solid THWACK on the druid's head. The weapon bashes the druid mightily, and Atzi growls at the creature that the druid has become threateningly. "Your winter will not stop me! Your sickness will not stop me!" He itches his hindquarters with his free hand and growls. "YOU will not stop me!"

GAME: Harshad rolls weapon11-2: (20)+9+-2: 27 (THREAT)
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon11-2: (11)+9+-2: 18
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon12-2: (3)+9+-2: 10
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon12-2: (7)+9+-2: 14
GAME: Harshad rolls damage11+damage11: aliased to 1d6+3+1d6+3: (3)+3+(3)+3: 12

"Angry trees and crazy druids. This is our life, I guess." Harshad glides forward, splattered with mud as another sickle is drawn from his belt. "But since you won't take the obvious hint..." Abruptly the rogue moves and slams the sickle blade into the mad druid, dealing a grievous wound. So severe, in fact, that Harshad's follow-up strike actually hisses past as the druid writhes in pain. "Just die already, you lunatic!"

GAME: Tonameyo rolls weapon1: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Tonameyo rolls weapon1: (16)+5: 21
GAME: Tonameyo rolls damage1: aliased to 1d8+2: (5)+2: 7

"One has lost this fight, when both the SUN and the MOON are your opponent!" Tone raises up his sword, and brings it crashing down upon the animated tree. "Rest now, and go in peace. We shall tend to the wounds you have dealt nature here. Your influence here is lost!"

The golden, statuesque Sith turns, and eyes the Druid, pointing his sword at the man. "You are next!"

GAME: Mist rolls weapon0: (12)+5: 17
GAME: Mist rolls damage0: aliased to 1d6+3: (4)+3: 7

With the tree felled, Mist's dark eyes turn to the druid, looking at him for a long moment. A low rasp comes from him, a low noise of discomfort, before he speaks again. "Screaming. I hear screaming. The leaves, the wind, the trees, they are screaming. The Moon is weeping. She is begging me to make it stop."

Mist charges forward, and he lunges at the once-druid, talons raking across the face and ending it at last, letting the corpse fall. His eyes close.

"The screams fall away one by one. The Moon is weeping. But she thanks me for my work." Mist looks relieved.

GAME: Tonameyo rolls knowledge/religion: (10)+5: 15
GAME: Mist rolls Knowledge/Religion: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Harshad rolls knowledge/nature: (14)+3: 17
GAME: Atzi rolls Knowledge/Religion: (10)+2: 12

The druid staggers under the combined onslaught. As Atzi's spear cracks his brow, he tumbles to the side. Then, Harshad's sickle sends him wheeling around as a splash of blood wets the fouled earth. And then, at the last, as Mist charges with talons outstretched, his bloodied lips quiver. "Dark Lady... protect m--" But his plea is cut short as the egalrin's talons slash him across his face. His body tumbles to the ground and lays still. The sacred icon he held in his hand tumbles free, where it glistens in the gloom. The sign of Summer.

Mist looks down at the icon of summer in the druid's hand, and he leans down to take it. "The Moon says that if we restore the icons, the balance will return. The wood will be cleansed. The corruption will fall away."

He then holds out the icon of summer to Tonameyo, glittering like the sun. "Take it; it is better protected in your hands than mine."

Harshad stands there cautiously for a moment, sickles poised over the druid's body. Then when it's clear the man isn't getting up, he relaxes. "Alright, alright... hey, someone grab that." He points to the icon that fell out of the madman's hand.

With that, he sheathes his sickles, and begins searching the dead man unceremoniously. "Do we need to burn this guy, to make sure he doesn't get back up or something? Or do we drive a stake through his heart? I'm a little fuzzy on what the rules are for fucking maniacs like this."

Atzi rolls his eyes at Mist. "Of course that is what we need to do. We do not need you to tell us that! It is as obvious as the symbols on the icons!" He pulls the one that he has out of where he's been keeping it and stomps toward the tree to return it to where it belongs. "How stupid does that egalrin think we are?!?"

Tonameyo lets out a pleased snort. "Well done, we have bested the evil doerss, here." He glances about at others. "Is anyone bothered by their wounds? Thiss one can have you patched up in an instant, if needs be."

The golden Sith blinks slowly at being offered the icon, and he accepts it. "My thankss, Mist, and it seems greatly appropriate for this one to hold the Icon of Summer. Daeus would be pleased. We have Winter there, still in its proper place. We found Spring, and possess now Summer. We need only find Autumn, yes, to bring balance and peace here?"

An eyeridge rises at the ire displayed by Atzi. "Be at ease, Kin. The day is won, and you had a hand in our victory. Moon is simply helping usss tie up loose endsss. One does not need to work up a stroke."

As the party takes stock and goes about the business of replacing the blessed icons of the seasons, a soft mewling cry reaches their ears. There, in the roots of the oak, wrapped up like a mummy in those horrific brambles, is a youth of about fourteen or fifteen. With the passing of the dark druid, his icy grip is loosened upon the land, and the brambles have fallen away. The boy is terrified, but largely unharmed--though if the heroes had not arrived when they did, that would not be the case. Simply look to the stiffened corpses of Old Man Harker and Mama Gantry, both of them bound up into the oak's roots and drained of their life's blood. But finding the young Taylor boy is providential--for he clutches the icon of Autumn in his hands.

As the last of the icons is set in place, the stone wheel grinds to life. The sign of Spring rotates up to reassume its place at the apex of the arc. Almost immediately, the oppression and gloom begins to lift. The trees lose their aspects of menace. Golden sunlight begins to filter in through the canopy overhead. Given time, this part of the wood will heal, now that balance is restored. And yet... one mote of evil remains. A malevolent presence, within the hollow heart of the oak.

Out of the shadows she drifts, her features as beautiful as they are cold. Skin as white as fresh fallen snow, hair like silver fronds that move in an invisible wind, and eyes blacker than pitch. Finery of silver and blue gauze drifts around her, and she clicks the silver nails of too-long fingers together. "And ''so''," she croons in a voice like the breaking of your heart, "the heroes have arisen once more. Arisen to oppose ''me'' and my beloved Queen Mother." She sniffs derisively. "Lord, what ''fools'' these mortals be." She makes a dismissive wave. "Away, then, pests. Go back to your filthy dwellings. Go back to your meaningless lives. We ''shall'' meet again. None defy Lyllandra, Lady of the Bleak Solstice, Princess of Night and Winter, without price!"

With a shrill cackle, the creature's silvery hair whirls around her like a fan, and she vanishes in a flurry of snowflakes. The heroes have prevailed. And yet, at what dread price...?

== OOC ==

Map: https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=muvoinbcgdj

[[Category:Logs]]

Recent Logs

2025-05-12T23:57:49Z

Riptide: /* May */

{{AboutLogs}}

'''[[Archived_Logs|For 2024 and earlier, see the Archives]].'''

==2025 Logs==
===January===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|January 1, 2025
|[[The Spectacle of the Century]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Alec]], [[Bryn]], [[Mikilos]] [[Murder]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 4, 2025
|[[A Final Word on the Spires]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Rune]], [[Harkashan]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Eztli]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], GM: Whirlpool
|-
|January 5, 2025
|[[Hooves of Steel (Part 2)]]
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]], [[Reithak]], [[Jarik]]
|-
|January 6, 2025
|[[Working Hands]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 7, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 11)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 8, 2025
|[[Flight of Intrigue]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Palomas]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 9, 2025
|[[Scaling and Weeping]]
|[[Verna]], [[Aryia]]
|-
|
|[[Temple Festivities]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Irshya]], [[Jarik]], [[Menel]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Bryn]]
|-
|January 10, 2025
|[[Sins of the Past: A Confrontation]]
|[[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 11, 2025
|[[Slapbet]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Rocky]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 12, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors]]
|[[Dirk]], [[Crik]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], [[Ulthan]], [[Sjach]], with GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 13, 2025
|[[Graven Images]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Verna]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aftershock]]
|-
|January 14, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 12)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 15, 2025
|[[Tough Hands]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]]
|-
|January 17, 2025
|[[The Power of Flour]]
|[[Harshad]], [[Skyler]], [[Choler]], [[Munch]]
|-
|January 18, 2025
|[[Grim Deed (Part 1)]]
|[[Culix]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[Back in Technicolor]]
|[[Corey]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|January 19, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors 2]]
|[[Sjach]], [[Haggerty]], [[Crik]], [[Dirk]], [[Jarik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|
|[[Vacation and the Pen]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 20, 2025
|[[Meeting Eli]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Pothy Problems]]
|[[Murder]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 21, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 13)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 23, 2025
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 1]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|January 26, 2025
|[[Sewers and Saviors Part 3]]
|[[Sjach]], [[Dirk]], [[Bryn]], [[Jarik]], [[Crik]], GM: [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 27, 2025
|[[Golden Box]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Gr'lk'tosst]], [[Halia]], [[Jarik]], [[Skyler]]
|-
|January 28, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 14)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|January 30, 2025
|[[The Dream Quest of the Archmage Part 2]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Warrick]], [[Palomas]], [[Haggerty]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|
|[[A Polite Request]]
|[[Harkashan]], [[Rune]]
|-
|January 31, 2025
|[[Here But For You]]
|[[Halia]], [[Skyler]], [[Rocky]], [[Tonameyo]], [[Carver]]
|}

===February===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|February 1, 2025
|[[Grim Deeds 2]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|February 2, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale 1]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 3, 2025
|[[The Quest of Eli]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|February 4, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 15)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|February 6, 2025
|[[A Handful of Dust]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Simony]], GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|February 8, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 3]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|February 9, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 2]]
|[[Bryn]], [[Burai]], [[Crik]], [[Skyler]], [[Ulthan]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 11, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 16)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|February 14, 2025
|[[Mages of Daeus]]
|[[Telamon]], [[Skyler]], [[Eztli]], [[Carver]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|February 16, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 3]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 20, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded]]
|[[Dirk]], [[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Magpie]]
|-
|February 21, 2025
|[[Pursuit Through Dreams]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], NPC: Amenara Paki (played by Aftershock)
|-
|February 22, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 4]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Carver]], [[Jarik]], [[Reithak]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|
|[[A Gift Lost to the Shadows]]
|[[Kaj]], [[Murder]], [[Telamon]], [[Carver]]
|-
|February 23, 2025
|[[Conspiracy to Murder]]
|[[Auranar]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Riptide
|-
|
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 4]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|February 24, 2025
|[[Of Tests and Trials]]
|[[Carver]], [[Haggerty]], [[Khepri]], GM: Riptide & Aftershock
|-
|February 25, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 17)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

===March===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|March 2, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 5]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 3, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 4, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 18)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 7, 2025
|[[Crystal Tower]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 8, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 5]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 9, 2025
|[[Sins of the Past: Masquerade Mayhem]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Irshya]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]] DM: [[Jarik]] & [[Skyler]]
|-
|
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 2)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 10, 2025
|[[Moonstone Absconded (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Corey]], [[Dirk]], [[Magpie]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Cashew by Cashew]]
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 11, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 19)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 13, 2025
|[[Dance of the Watchlings]]
|[[Telamon]], [[Carver]], [[Skyler]], [[Simony]]
|-
|March 15, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 6]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 16, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 6]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 18, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 20)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 19, 2025
|[[The Sickle's Edge]]
|[[Choler]], [[Harshad]]
|-
|March 20, 2025
|[[Fluffy the Fey]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Bryn]], [[Gramarye]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]] GM: [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 21, 2025
|[[A Lost Fey Puppy]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|March 23, 2025
|[[Of Staves and Stones]]
|[[Simony]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|
|[[Crystal Tower (Part 3)]]
|[[Carver]], [[Magpie]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]], [[Verna]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 7]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 24, 2025
|[[Archmage Asking]]
|[[Carver]], [[Telamon]], [[Murder]], Riptide (as Faphinae), GM: Aftershock
|-
|March 25, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 21)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|March 29, 2025
|[[Grim Deed Part 7]]
|[[Carver]], [[Culix]], [[Reithak]], [[Skyler]], GM: Aelwyn
|-
|March 30, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 8]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|March 31, 2025
|[[Red Matrimony]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|}

===April===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|April 1, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 22)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 3, 2025
|[[Inspector Fritzgilbert and the Ploughing Goat]]
|[[Skyler]], [[Zigrun]]
|-
|April 4, 2025
|[[The Golden Songbird]]
|[[Ravenstongue]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]], GM: Aftershock
|-
|April 6, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 9]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Haggerty]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Burai]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|April 8, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 23)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 9, 2025
|[[With Vast Love (Part 1)]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]
|-
|April 11, 2025
|[[Four Floozies]]
|[[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Bryn]], [[Rocky]]
|-
|April 13, 2025
|[[Beyond the Pale Part 10]]
|[[Ulthan]], [[Skyler]], [[Crik]], [[Bryn]], GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|
|[[Nary for Nereid]]
|[[Aragos]], [[Carver]], [[Mikilos]], [[Skyler]], [[Telamon]] GM: Riptide
|-
|April 14, 2025
|[[Running Up That Hill]]
|[[Aragos]] GM: Riptide
|-
|
|[[Bring a Little Fae]]
|[[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]; GM: Aftershock
|-
|April 15, 2025
|[[A Grove Pit Stop]]
|[[Slixvah]] [[Atrid]]
|-
|
|[[Homegrown Confessional]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Carver]]
|-
|April 19, 2025
|[[Neva Gonna Give You Up]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Carver]], [[Eztli]] GM: Whirlpool
|-
|
|[[Grim Deed Part 8]]
|[[Culix]], [[Skyler]], [[Reithak]], [[Carver]], GM: [[Aelwyn]]
|-
|April 20, 2025
|[[The Dukes Knight]]
|[[Aelwyn]], [[Auranar]], [[Dirk]], [[Rhar]], [[Thurid]] GM: Riptide
|-
|April 22, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 24)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|April 23, 2025
|[[With Vast Love (Part 2)]]
|[[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]; GM: [[Carver]]
|-
|April 27, 2025
|[[Faeology 101]]
|[[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|April 29, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 25)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|}

===May===
{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|Date
|Log
|People
|-
|May 1, 2025
|[[Strawberries For All]]
|[[Corey]], [[Karasu]], [[Khepri]], [[Carver]], [[Simony]]
|-
|May 2, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Bryn]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|May 4, 2025
|[[Cleiuin's Confession]]
|[[Thurid]], [[Riptide]]
|-
|May 6, 2025
|[[Same as It Ever Was (Part 26)]]
|[[Aryia]], [[Harkashan]], [[Rune]], [[Simony]], [[Telamon]], [[Zeke]], GM: Riptide
|-
|May 9, 2025
|[[Bootleg Bounty Part 2]]
|[[Warrick]], [[Haggerty]], [[Aragos]], [[Crik]] GM: [[Thurid]]
|-
|May 10, 2025
|[[Rainy days, hair loss and full bellies]]
|[[Murder]], [[Telamon]]
|-
|May 11, 2025
|[[Whispers of the Withering Wood]]
|[[Atzi]], [[Harshad]], [[Mist]], [[Tonameyo]]; GM: [[Dirk]]
|-
|}

[[Category:Logs]]

Category:Same As It Ever Was

2025-05-06T23:24:11Z

Riptide:

Pathfinder 2e and AresMUSH Changeover

2025-05-04T23:28:40Z

Riptide:

We are currently in the process of rebuilding our game on the Pathfinder Second Edition tabletop roleplaying game and the AresMUSH code base. This page serves as an overview for the changeover and includes an FAQ.

== Overview ==

Tenebrae: Emblem of Ea is a game that has been running in some form since 2002, starting life first as an D&D 3e game before transitioning to 3.5e, and then finally Pathfinder 1e, with the theme receiving updates and rewrites with every edition update. However, running a game that is over two decades old almost continuously, and with as many changes as we've had, comes with challenges. A database that has been continuously edited and has seen multiple iterations of coders through the decades has a significant amount of technical debt, and that's precisely the issue that our game currently has.

In 2020, we experienced a massive server crash that took the game down for several days. Lolth, the server admin and host of the game at the time, worked tirelessly over that span of time and managed to resurrect the game. She discovered clear evidence of database corruption in the form of missing objects, disconnected rooms, and many other nasty things. Multiple codewizards and server admins have prodded the code and database and came to the same conclusion: the game is operating on limited time before database corruption fully claims the game. In the wake of this diagnosis, staff decided afterwards to begin the transition to a new and more modern codebase. AresMUSH was selected due to its modern functionality and accessibility, such as being able to play in a web portal.

With the decision made to begin work on a new iteration of the game on a new codebase, staff also were faced with a decision. Given that Pathfinder 1e is a notoriously complicated system and that we were having to build a game for a new codebase, staff decided to look at choosing a new edition/system. Fifth Edition was considered, but the restrictive SRD meant that staff would have to spend a considerable amount of time homebrewing elements of the game in addition to the other work involved in getting the game off the ground. Ultimately, staff chose Pathfinder Second Edition (PF2e) for an ideal combination of accessibility, open and interesting game design, relative ease of implementation into an MU* format, and legal concerns (which would become even more of an important focal point with the 2023 OGL controversy).

Finally, staff also decided to take the opportunity to revisit the theme. It was important for us to create a compelling world with a consistent tone and provide players with plenty of intrigue for running plots and weaving stories. While we have kept many details of the theme refresh under wraps, as the overarching plot of our current game will lead directly into the world that is created in the new game and player actions will shape that world, many aspects of the world have been revisited with an aim to make the world feel less like a comedic fantasy story and more like a truly compelling high fantasy world with more diversity and complexity than our current theme.

== TL;DR: ==

* AresMUSH codebase: a modern codebase that can run on modern hardware that will keep our game running for years to come.
* Pathfinder 2e: a TTRPG system that is accessible, well-balanced, and is developed by a company that has no history of sending legal action after fan-run projects like ours.
* Theme refresh: a comprehensive and compelling theme with a consistent mood and epic feeling.

== FAQ ==

'''Q: What will be available at the new game opening for character creation?'''<br>
A: We are using the '''Core Rulebook''' + the '''Advanced Player's Guide''' as a ''basis'' for character creation. Future release packages will see content from additional sources added later on down the road. Due to the nature of our game as an MU*, not all content released by Paizo can or will be added.

The following is the final list of options that are playable at open. Names listed in parentheses after an option are the in-world name for them. Our tengu are called egalrin, for example.

'''Playable classes''': [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=1 Alchemist], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=2 Barbarian], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=3 Bard], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=4 Champion], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=5 Cleric], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=6 Druid], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=7 Fighter], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=13 Investigator], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=8 Monk], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=14 Oracle], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=9 Ranger], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=10 Rogue], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=11 Sorcerer], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=16 Witch], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=12 Wizard]

'''Playable ancestries''': [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=6 Human], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=1 Dwarf] (Khazad), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=2 Elf] (Sildanyar), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=4 Goblin], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=3 Gnome], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=5 Halfling] (Bassin), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=13 Hobgoblin] (Arvek), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=15 Lizardfolk] (Makari), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=19 Orc] (Oruch), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=20 Ratfolk] (Kailli), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=21 Tengu] (Egalrin)

'''Playable heritages''': All CRB + APG heritages for each of the previously listed ancestries, which includes [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=7 Half-Elf] (Half-sil) and [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=8 Half-Orc] (Half-oruch) for the Human ancestry, plus the following Versatile Heritages: [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=24 Aasimar] (Aesei), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=22 Changeling], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=23 Dhampir] (Dar), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=25 Duskwalker] (Ashen One), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Ancestries.aspx?ID=26 Tiefling] (Nasei)

'''Playable backgrounds''': [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=1 Acolyte], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=2 Acrobat], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=3 Animal Whisperer], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=4 Artisan], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=5 Artist], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=165 Bandit], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=166 Barber], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=6 Barkeep], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=7 Barrister], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=183 Blessed], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=167 Bookkeeper], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=8 Bounty Hunter], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=9 Charlatan], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=168 Cook], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=169 Courier], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=10 Criminal], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=170 Cultist], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=184 Cursed], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=11 Detective], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=12 Emissary] (Society), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=13 Entertainer], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=14 Farmhand], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=186 Feybound], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=15 Field Medic], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=16 Fortune Teller], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=17 Gambler], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=18 Gladiator], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=19 Guard], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=187 Haunted], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=20 Herbalist], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=22 Hunter], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=171 Insurgent], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=23 Laborer], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=24 Martial Disciple], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=25 Merchant], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=26 Miner], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=27 Noble](*), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=28 Nomad], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=172 Outrider], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=173 Pilgrim], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=29 Prisoner], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=174 Refugee], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=188 Returned], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=175 Root Worker], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=30 Sailor], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=176 Scavenger], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=36 Scholar], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=32 Scout], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=177 Servant], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=178 Squire], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=33 Street Urchin], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=179 Tax Collector], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=180 Teacher], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=34 Tinker] (Engineer), [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=181 Ward], [https://2e.aonprd.com/Backgrounds.aspx?ID=35 Warrior]

(*) Characters with this background may be raised noble, but cannot be in line to inherit titles or property.

Additionally, we are allowing only the multiclass archetype dedications initially. Other archetypes will be added as the dust settles. Instead of the default ability boosts associated with ancestries, we are using the January 2023 errata that allows players to assign two free ability boosts.

'''Q: Are there any restrictions on character concepts/builds for the new game?'''<br>
A: Yes. To staunch tieflings with the Cursed background running around, at least for a while after the game’s opening, we are imposing a limit of '''1 Uncommon or 1 Rare trait per character'''. If that confuses you, don’t worry. In Pathfinder 2e, everything has traits associated with it, and there are Uncommon and Rare traits that indicate if something shouldn’t be readily available. They’re listed on the Archives of Nethys entries for any given class, ancestry, heritage, etc, after the header of the page.

We also disallow the following character concepts:
* Content that does not comply with game rating, including explicit descriptions.
* Underage characters. All PC’s must be of, and appear to be of, the accepted age of majority for their race.
* Evil alignments. This includes intelligent magical items.
* Characters that do not adhere to theme.
* Blatant rips from existing media (such as video games, TV shows, anime, etc.). It's fine to take inspiration from such, but copyright infringement is not okay.
* Characters that are intended solely as joke characters, to poke fun at another character, or to serve as satire on any RL topic. While we are not opposed to some silliness, humor should be thematically appropriate and not excessive.

Remember also that players are making characters that are expected to go on adventures. This means a certain amount of risk and a certain ability to do so. While we welcome ‘unconventional heroes’, a player character in the new game has signed up and agreed to go on adventures, full stop.

Finally, we will '''not''' be including the following options from the Core Rulebook and the Advanced Player's Guide:
* The '''Swashbuckler''' class. The Pathfinder 2e implementation of Swashbuckler is too dependent on GM interpretation, and with a game where anyone can be a GM, it's unfair to have a player character's ability to do things hampered because one GM makes a different call from another one.
* The '''Summoner''' class. Summoners are a strange case. The Eidolons, the primary feature of the class, can only be done one of two ways; either everything is custom, which case it's impossible to build code for them, or everyone picks from one of eight Eidolons. Either way you go, they're not nearly as satisfying as they would be to play at a traditional tabletop setting.
* The '''Superstitious Instinct''' Barbarian. In a game where your potential party composition could be anyone, this is simply a potential PRP/staff event killer.
* The '''Eldritch Trickster''' Rogue racket. This didn't get brought over to Pathfinder 2e Remaster, so we're omitting it from our game.
* The '''Shadow, Genie, Nymph, and Psychopomp''' Sorcerer bloodlines. These bloodlines haven't been reprinted for Pathfinder 2e Remaster, so we're omitting it from our game as well.

'''Q: I'm a veteran player. Can I bring a character of mine to the new game?'''<br>
A: Yes. However, all 'ported characters' or 'rebooted characters' will start at level 1 and be subject to the character creation rules like a brand new character will be.

'''Q: I’m a recent/new player to this game, or I’m looking at joining this game. Should I hold off on my current ideas and wait for you to launch your new game?'''<br>
A: That’s up to you! But we fully recommend new players to join up with us now. We are holding off on divulging a lot of information about the new theme because the actions that characters take in the overarching staff plotlines will result in impacts on the new theme. We are also refraining from publishing a ‘release date’ on the new game until we have the technology settled and everything is ready to go, so if you want to play now... Play now!

'''Q: I see you don’t have [X] listed in your list of allowed character creation features. Will you have it in the future?'''<br>
A: Maybe. Some things are likelier than others. Given that our game does not take place in the default setting of Pathfinder 2e, not all options that Paizo has published will ever be appropriate for our theme. We also have to deal with the fact that our game is a slightly different beast than the average tabletop RPG, so some things, like the Swashbuckler class (which depends heavily on GM fiat, which is impossible to get consistency on when you have many potential GMs at one time), are simply never going to be ported over.

Right now, because we are on borrowed time with our current game’s database, we have elected not to consider any additional errata or items for character creation. If we try to add everything that Paizo publishes as it’s announced and launched, then our game will never launch. Please have patience with us and do not request your favorite [X] to be added. Staff are only human and trying to do what we can in the limited hours of the day in trying to run both the current game and developing the new one.

'''Q: Do you have a release date for the new game?'''<br>
A: Short answer: no.

Long answer: no, because staff have given estimates in the past for the changeover, which resulted in players scrambling to finish their personal storylines. Because staff are human and are currently running a game in addition to building a new one, the process simply will take time, and therefore, we are not announcing a release date until the technology is in order and there is a game to play.

[[Category:Admin]]

Category:Same As It Ever Was

2025-04-29T23:49:37Z

Riptide:

Faeology 101

2025-04-27T22:25:05Z

Riptide: Created page with "<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;"> ==Log Info== *Title: Faeology 101 *Emitter: Telamon *Characters: Carver, Ravenstongue, Telamon *Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house</div> ''Lupecyll-Atlon home, midday'' The sun pours out across the city, the green of springtime appearing around it. Fluffy clouds against a brilliant blue sky; it's perfect weather for any number of things. The windows of a familiar two-story house are open to let..."

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">

==Log Info==

*Title: Faeology 101

*Emitter: Telamon

*Characters: [[Carver]], [[Ravenstongue]], [[Telamon]]

*Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house</div>

''Lupecyll-Atlon home, midday''

The sun pours out across the city, the green of springtime appearing around it. Fluffy clouds against a brilliant blue sky; it's perfect weather for any number of things.

The windows of a familiar two-story house are open to let in the fresh breezes and warm air, and in the kitchen Telamon is humming to himself as he stirs a thick soup on the stove. Chunks of chicken and fresh vegetables and herbs bob around in the broth, and the half-elf sniffs at it approvingly before sliding out a well-baked loaf of bread from the oven. Dressed in casual linens with a 'Kiss the Cook' apron on, his hair tied back neatly, Tel leans out of the kitchen. "A few more minutes. I think the soup can stand to simmer a little longer."

"A few more minutes?" That cherubic little voice belongs to Pothy, who is... 'supervising', for some definition of the word, in the kitchen. Yes. Supervising. He's on the kitchen counter, eyeing the soup longingly with those blue eyes of his. The white-feathered bird gives a few impatient and eager wing-flaps as he protests, "But it's already been an ''hour''. I'm starving. Wasting away."

"Oh, Pothy." Cor'lana is at the table in the living room, glaring at a half-written poem in her hand-bound journal (something she's taken to doing as of late; a sorceress needs hobbies, and she can't do the knitting, crocheting, and sewing that her Grandfather does). She sighs and abandons the effort, going into the kitchen. "I promise you won't waste away to feathers and bone."

"I'm a stiff breeze from floating away. I'll become expired, ceased to be. An ex-Pothy." Pothy groans as he's collected up in Lana's arms and held like a baby in a rather undignified position. "Must you?"

"If you're going to whine like a baby, you're going to be held like a baby." Lana smiles mischievously. "Tel, hand me the kitchen towel so I can swaddle him?"

"NooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOO," Pothy screams, wiggling a little in Lana's grasp, but... He's not exactly putting up that much of a fight for a bird who's screaming that much.

Carver clicks her tongue twice and Deathless stands to attention. She bats behind one of the ears playfully before looking back to the two-story house she visited before, flaring her nostril as the drifting aroma of baked bread and simmering soup. Ah, peaceful domestic life. Not her expertise. A deep breath and she steps away from her friend to call upon famous celebrity power couple.

Her knuckles rap against the front door, a hearty pop-pop, before looking down over herself to measure the attire. She's for the first time in a long time not dressed for war. Her long hair has been bound up and tucked into her liripipe of sky blue and the rest of her attire is of brighter colors, with long gray tunic and leggings. She kept her big, rugged boots though.

Her head snaps up at the tortured screaming, though, and the door slams open and she storms in with a long bared blade.

Much later perhaps she will admit that her sudden rush inside was ill-concieved if noble in intent.

Telamon just rolls his eyes at Pothy. "Pothy, you are a big salty ham. You had a nice bowl of fresh-grown blueberries this morning, do not even start with that garbage." He grabs the dishtowel and deftly tosses it to Lana.

At the knock, Tel says, "Can you get that?" turning to look at the front door as he leans out of the kitchen area. His starry eyes are amused. "I'm sure--" And then the door bangs open and the genial expression falls off with frightening speed. It's only a stroke of luck that he arrests his instant reaction to cast a spell, hands still up. "Carver! WHAT THE HELLS?"

Cor'lana's violet eyes are wide as dinner plates--same as Pothy's, who is now very still and ''not'' screaming in Lana's arms--as she has the towel in her hand, not yet in the motions to swaddle Pothy. "There's a reasonable explanation for this!" she says.

Pothy bird-blinks those blue eyes of his as he says, "Are you here to save me from starvation?"

That gets him a pair of fingers wrapped gently around his beak, which is Lana's usual nonverbal way of saying 'shush you'. Cor'lana sighs. "Sorry, Pothy's being a brat. You must have heard the screaming, huh? Everything's okay, I promise!"

Carver isn't the same girl that stumbled into Alexandria, in some ways she is far more impressive. In others? Still impulsive and reckless. She's baring a blade at the Power Couple of Alexandria, urged on by sleepless nights poking and prodding for hidden enemies; murderers, fey, black cats, oh my.

She licks dry lips as green eyes sweep across Ravenstongue, across to half-cradled little bundle of white-feathered trouble, then across to Telamon with hand raised. She very slowly, very obviously, lays the knife on the nearest flat surface. "Sorry, I... sorry."

"I heard him." She puts the clues together now. "I thought something might be happening inside."

There's a moment, a breathless one, where Telamon stares at Carver. Looking at her, and what's scary is not that he's angry, but the possibility that he sees more than just what might be initially apparent. The moment passes then, and Tel lowers his hand, taking a breath. "Fucking hell, Carver... I must've forgotten to throw the bolt when I came back from the market. I'll check it later and make sure there's no damage. Would you mind closing it?"

Tension drains away, as the sorcerer returns to that steaming pot, stirring it again. "You're just in time for lunch. There's your penance; you have to sit down and eat with us." His lips quirk up. "Don't worry, the only utensil you'll need is a spoon."

"Considering what ''has'' happened inside this house before, I don't blame you for making the call." Cor'lana smiles as she finally swaddles Pothy in the dish towel, and she walks over to put swaddled-Pothy in a chair like he's people. She then walks over to Telamon and gives him a comforting rub on the shoulder, followed by a kiss on the cheek (that she has to get on her tiptoes to give him). "Everything's okay," she murmurs softly.

Then she looks back at Carver with a smile. "And maybe a tolerance for Pothy," she adds onto Telamon's second remark. "That's not really utensil so much as it is an act of mental fortitude."

Pothy, swaddled up in cotton, murmurs, "Sorry for yelling," exactly in the way that one might expect a five-year-old boy to.

"I knew he talked, but... did not know the voice that came with the knowledge." Carver admits, turning to secure the door. Which surprisingly has a very large horse's head sticking through and looking about curiously. "Oi, what are you.. Tu-tu-tu," The ranger gives the command to back up and seems surprised when there is no initial response. Instead, the horse just stares at Raventongue and Pothy. "Oh come on, I've embarassed myself enough. Tu-tu-tu," The command comes with more emphasis and the horse head bows back out with a practiced retreat. Carver sighs as she closes the door and secures it. "Sorry, maybe he sensed there was trouble by what I did. I can eat, thank you... an iffin' you don't mind?"

She works anxious fingertips together. "I have some questions I'd like to ask."

"See, even the horse is curious about what's for lunch." Telamon can't hide a slight grin as Carver backs Deathless up onto the street. "Or maybe he wonders what it's like to deal with sorcerers."

"As annoyed as I might be, I can't fault you too much, Carver. There are never enough people willing to charge to the sound of trouble." Tel shrugs. "No blood, no foul." Smoothly, he begins ladling soup into four large bowls, setting each on a large wooden platter along with spoons. The bread is sliced and placed on another platter, along with honey and butter. Then both are carried to the dining room table, and set out. "Alright, lunch is on. Sit, sit, we'll get to your questions. You know I'm happy to help when someone needs it."

"Aww! Poor horse. I think we have a carrot or two hanging out in our pantry," Cor'lana remarks. "In case you want a treat to give to Deathless on your way out later." She takes a seat at the table, smiling at Telamon for the meal.

Pothy looks at Carver for a moment. "Yeah. I'm me. I talk like this freely in the house--or whenever Lana kisses me on my head." He looks oddly pleased with himself for this knowledge. "This is my true voice."

"Don't get it wrong, though, Pothy is very old. He was passed down from one of my mother's ancestors, at least a few centuries ago. Whoever gets Pothy gets their magic awakened." Cor'lana is smiling as she makes sure Pothy gets a bite of bread. "Now, what questions do you have? Like Tel said, we're always happy to help."

"She woul' appreciate it." Carver says, taking a seat awkwardly. "I try not to jus' leave her out but, well, I don't usually do house calls an' I'm wild enough of a disturbance, iffin' you can't tell." She studies Pothy as some of their story is ladled out along with the soup. "Quite the legacy. I, er, named Deathless like I did cause I'd like if she could live long like that after Lambchop. I'm pretty sure hundreds of years is not something either of us are likely to get though. Thanks, I'll try not to ruin your appetites. Some of yous," Glance to Telamon, "Are maybe a little more caught up than others but recently got more fey can shake a stick at. Two nereids, both from the Midnight Foam, with one jealous of the other's mortal lovers. Little petty players in the summer courts, I think, that also cared enough to try to keep the pair apart. Got a cat, unlike any I've seen, changin' hands between all of them."

"I got to admit. I'm a bit loss. Every time I think I got a lead, I get stuck with more whimsy. Got me thinkin'. My perspective? Wrong."

It's a simple meal, but hearty and the kind that warms the soul as well as the belly. Telamon takes a spoonful, nodding, before he turns his attention to Carver's words. His expression thoughtful.

"It won't be the first time, I'm afraid, and it won't be the last. The fey... like to play in the world. Sometimes it's fairly benign, other times... not so much." The sorcerer dips a bit of bread in his soup before chewing on it contemplatively. "And their schemes can get convoluted. Remember: when you have all the time in the world, you can plan out all sorts of things."

"So this is bound up in Lady Sura's woes. And the cat, of course. Can't forget the cat." He looks at Lana, making a face. "I almost think we need a chalkboard and diagrams."

Cor'lana looks contemplative. "Mmmm... You know, it could be a weird case where you're right and wrong at the same time." She finishes a bite of her own bread. "Like Telamon said, fae plans are convoluted, often in response to old grudges that may have happened many, many years ago. Sometimes those grudges are hardly remembered, save that they are grudges."

She thinks for a moment. "The Court of the Midnight Foam, as I recall, is aligned with the Unseelie. So they swear fealty to a new monarch. The Summer Court is the court ruled by the 'leader' of the Seelie, King Obyron. When you see Seelie and Unseelie at each other's throats, it's not uncommon. They're considered opposites, like summer and winter. When they're smaller players in the courts, though, they tend to be going after each other about their smaller squabbles and grudges..."

Pothy looks at Carver. "Maybe you could... talk to one of these nereids?" he suggests. "Not this Lady Sura, but the other one. I'm sure Cor'lana or Telamon can help get you an audience."

Carver tastes the soup with caution, blowing on the spoon to cool it. At Pothy's suggestion she nods. "Let no one say you have no wisdom. Though when last I saw 'Mori'? It was while aiding her capture of person and threatening her man but if I am wrong and these nobles are from the Unseelie, than that points even more to Sura. Who definitely has the greatest motive."

"But, there is a little more. It is a bit violent so if you want to uh...". She mimes covering her ears, no doubt meaning the little baby boy. Her spoon stirs thd soup. "There is the matter of the Puppy. We escorted one of the Lord Tamlins to the arcanist dungeon. The other? I shot and killed. In the Sweetlands. If they are of the Unseelie court than I fear caused more trouble for their new Queen."

Telamon shakes his head. "Don't be fooled. Pothy's seen and heard worse." He frowns, tapping his fingertips. "With the new Queen of the Unseelie, you'd think they'd be busy jockeying for position in her new court, not meddling in random love affairs with mortals."

His eyebrows shoot up at the news one of the 'Lords Tamlin' is now in the dungeon, and the other is dead. "Well. That may put an end to it. Or not. Though I doubt Alexandria will be able to keep a fey for too long. Easier just to kick them out." He takes another spoonful of soup. "Why'd they even come at the Pup's call? The whole point of discarding a tool is you don't go back to it. You don't answer their letters, or their callings. Stupid."

Pothy looks at Carver for a moment, before he says softly, "The previous Queen of the Unseelie tortured me. Telamon speaks true." Which are absolutely horrible words to come out of the raven's mouth in so young and innocent of a voice, but he pauses a moment to eat soup. "I think, Telamon, it's mortals that are precisely the problem. The new Queen was, until recently, a mortal woman."

Cor'lana blinks on that comment. "Meaning that anyone known to be dallying with anyone not fae might be scrutinized," she says. "Even more intently than before. Telamon's right, though. It's either ineptitude or some kind of power that Cerberus had over them without even knowing about it. Or they thought they could strongarm him into some new mission." She looks at Carver for a moment more thoughtfully. "The other 'Lord Tamlin' is in the dungeon... Have they not been willing to talk? I imagine not."

"Fey was not something I learned about in Dran. Other than how to kill them. It wasn't until I came to Yggsdrassil's teachers that I learned a little more. They taught me of the most recent cruel leadership, I am sorry you had to suffer that... an, yous got it, I think. Maybe they wished to finangle their own value from the Puppy's desperation. They certainly did not believe me when I, and others, warned them. They did not believe us worth anything more than scorn. Now I got one's hatred at least."

She shrugs. "An' no, uh, Lady Mage. She ain't spoke a word to us since. Not that I can blame her as she seemed quite upset at the death of her blue friend. Got her mask but not her tongue."

Carver stirs the soup again. She doesn't eat very much. As Aelwyn would say, being so uptight is bad for the stomach. "I thought about lettin' them slip free. Make sure they target me, an' not Cerberus. He's got his whole new life. If they direct it to me, the one who did the killin', seemed fair... an' makes for easier targets." To maybe kill others. Though this time. Maybe she'll use the dream-arrows rather than cold iron.

Telamon idly runs his hand through his hair. "Interesting. I wonder if we should meet with this Lord... Lady Tamlin." He rubs his chin. "If she's Unseelie, I suppose we could dump her back in the Unseelie Court with a request to not let her roam around unsupervised." His lips quirk at the sally. "If not, well... we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

He looks at Carver. "Sometimes it's hard for those who stand outside Ea -- fey, celestials, fiends, and whatever else -- to take mortals seriously. The ones that have more contact with mortals, ironically, -do- take us seriously. They know we can be dangerous." He shakes his head at Carver. "These two idiots set a desperate young man up to commit acts of brigandry and worse. Stop losing sleep over having to kill one. They started it."

Cor'lana nods soberly to Telamon's point regarding extraplanar entities taking mortals seriously. "There are fae who are prejudiced and believe mortals to be nothing more than toys and playthings," she says, reaching over to pet Pothy's feathers. He's very sweet when he's calm and quiet, as he actually nuzzles up against Cor'lana's fingers. "The previous Unseelie Queen was like that. And now she's dead--killed by a woman who was once mortal, who has taken her throne. I think the nobility of Quelynos are seeing a long-overdue reckoning, and it's scaring them ''badly''."

Then she smiles sympathetically at Carver. "I don't think anyone enjoys taking a life, beyond sadists--and Telamon and I have met our fair share of those. You have a good heart. The fact you cared about Cerberus that much is proof. You want him to have better... And he should. Everyone who is gentle at heart should."

Pothy finally pipes up, "You know, if 'Lady Tamlin' ''is'' Unseelie, I don't think her new Queen would like her very much for bullying Cerberus. I'm just saying."

Carver says, "He would have been dead without Deathless, so... its easier when she is around. He's a good boy, and deserves a chance for his life. Dumb though.". She takes a deep breath, "No, Pothy, I suspect that would be terrifying for her. I met her. She was... intense. So this Mori or the new Queen, either of which you can make introductions for? Any, uh, things I should avoid if I do talk to them?". Can you shake a fey's hand without suddenly being married to one?

Telamon furrows his brow. "I hate calling on her Majesty again, after getting her to take in Cerberus. I think the first step might be an interview with this 'Tamlin'. Before we make any plans to call on Lady Mori, or anyone else." He shows his teeth in a hard grin. "Although I'm tempted to bring Grandfather along. See how high-and-mighty this 'Tamlin' might be in front of the Feathered One."

"If you deal with fey, Carver, don't thank them, don't accept gifts right off, and listen carefully to their words. Introduce yourself as 'I am called' or 'Some know me as', because some of them like to steal names, and that's a whole bag of trouble you don't want to deal with."

"And no thanking them," Cor'lana adds as she finishes up a slice of her bread. She's enjoying her meal greatly. "Say 'I appreciate it' instead. Thanking the fae is more or less acknowledging an oath. It's complicated; it has to do with the laws of hospitality."

She looks at Telamon. "I'm not sure if bringing in Grandfather is wise. While he's not really an active member of the Court, he still played a role in the previous Unseelie Queen's death. She might well clam up around him..."

"Take me." Pothy looks at Carver. "I was known in the previous Queen's court as the Ever-child. So long as Lana kisses me on my head, I can speak with my true voice outside of the house for about half an hour before I need to be kissed again."

The ranger smiles, though it does not reach her eyes. "Be careful with their fruits and wine, lest you lose the taste for those that grow on normal vines. The druids taught me that one an' uh, my Mada, she taught me names got power. Why no one really knows mine. So that one at least will be easy. Though I guess I would be pissed iffin' they took it from me all the same." Carver admits. The stocked smile softens a little at Pothy. "Ever-Child, eh? I guess you'd prefer not to be called that though. Not a peaceful time in that long-life."

She gives up even her half-hearted attempts to satisfy a guest's courtesy of appreciating food with an apologetic look to the Archmage. "It is very good, but I guess jus' not much appetite right now. I, heh, appreciate it. Your wisdom even more so. Both of you."

"There is, uh, one more thing."

"The world is sometimes messy, confusing, and there's always tears. So it falls to us to try and set it right, when we can, as much as we can." Telamon's smile is gentle, and his starry eyes kind. "But never, ever be afraid to ask for help. You might think you're bothering, or perhaps feel a little humiliated, but I assure you it's much, much better than failure. Especially if you fear you might fail someone else."

He tilts his head, his eyes flicking to Lana curiously before back to Carver again. "One other thing, hm? Well, let's hear it. I admit I'm curious."

Pothy gives a little tail-wag that is fairly universal of a happy animal at Carver. "I'd like it most if you called me 'friend'," he says sweetly. "It's a better moniker than Ever-Child. Even if most people who have called me that have gone on to the Halls... it's got happy memories associated with it."

Well, Cor'lana finds herself stroking Pothy in a placating gesture, smiling fondly at the bird before she looks at Carver. "One more thing?" she asks in a dumb echo of Carver's remark.

"I can do that, friend." Carver says. "It woul' be my honor."

She avoids matching either of the Archmage's gaze, "Ah, well. After this is resolved. Iffin' you're okay with it... Pothy, he said, he said you let him share his voice with a kiss. Maybe when this is all over you could, uh..."

Awkward silence. VERY VERY VERY quiet question.

"Coul' you maybe kiss Deathless too?"

Cor'lana blinks, but then her expression blooms into a wide, wide grin. "Of course," she says. "I think everyone deserves to know what their best animal friend sounds like."

Pothy looks up at Cor'lana. "Cheater," he mumbles in an accusing tone.

"Cheater!?" Cor'lana eyes the raven with more than an ounce of (faux) ire. "You're such a strange little bird."

That prompts a little boyish laugh from Pothy, who flies away from the table before Cor'lana can catch him.

And so life goes on in the Lupecyll-Atlon home.

[[Category:Logs]]

Recent Logs

2025-04-27T22:23:49Z

Riptide: /* April */

With Vast Love (Part 2)

2025-04-24T19:28:08Z

Riptide: Created page with "<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;"> ==Log Info== *Title: With Vast Love (Part 1) *GM: Carver *Characters: Cuemoni, Harshad, Skyler *Place: The Vast</div> Skyler's countersong is more bold than skilled but surprises the 3-Mouthed aberrant enough that its compelling voice had falls quiet. Which leads to an intense stare off between the massed, huddling vast-wrought former caravanners and the adventurers, before either side explode into mo..."

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">

==Log Info==

*Title: With Vast Love (Part 1)

*GM: Carver

*Characters: [[Cuemoni]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]

*Place: The Vast</div>

Skyler's countersong is more bold than skilled but surprises the 3-Mouthed aberrant enough that its compelling voice had falls quiet. Which leads to an intense stare off between the massed, huddling vast-wrought former caravanners and the adventurers, before either side explode into motion. When things do? It is sudden. A breath is taken and then a great howl rises from the mass of bodies who flow forth, even as the low-hanging sun bathes the scorched earth of the campsite in the last rays of an evening's sun.

The scream breaks the very brief peace. From one of the wagons, a small figure peeks out, holding a bleached white sansin against his hideously mana-ravaged body and begins to play.

3-Mouth almost glides forward, their movement so unwordly graceful as to not leave footsteps behind. As it does so, twin sabers are drawn. Sharp and oily black with an unknown substance, already weaving in a hypnotic manner. It seems to be casting a spell that originates on itself, and darkness creeps around it, embraces it, and in the low-lights, it disappears even from one's dark vision.

GAME: Harshad rolls stealth: (3)+13: 16
GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)

Harshad suddenly moves, sprinting for the large fire. "Shitshitshit..." he mutters to himself, as he skids to a halt before kicking part of the fire -- throwing up a gout of smoke and cinders, hoping it'll give him some cover before he can move in on... well, where the three-mouthed thing ''was''. His knuckles whiten on the hafts of his sickles; this is way too much like why he left Myrddion!

GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2: (14)+16+2: 32
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+2+7: aliased to 1d6+8+2+7: (5)+8+2+7: 22
GAME: Skyler spends ONE use of CHARMED LIFE.
GAME: Skyler rolls fort+4: (16)+4+4: 24

Speaking of leaving Myrddion..

"This is what I get for leaving Myrddion." Skyler sighs, as the mass of tentacles and lucht siuil focuses on him. His eyes cut towards the wagon with the pitiful wreckage of a person in it, shakes his head, and charges forward. As he nears the creature, he tosses his sword into the air and catches it in an underhand flick even as he spins his whole body so that the blade snaps at a tentacle in a blow designed to severe a tentacle, "Not the children, you bastard!" He bellows.

Because sometimes, when he can't see the feet? Skyler gets a little confused by the difference between lucht siuil and children. Even when they swarm and bite and scrape at him. "Ow! Bad kids! No pudding for you! Respect your elders!"

GAME: Cuemoni casts Summon Nature's Ally III. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Harshad rolls perception: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Cuemoni rolls Perception: (2)+13: 15

The roiling darkness speeds past where Harshad crouches, a more intelligent foe than perhaps the dancing hoard, recognizing that the druid is left exposed. As they race past the fire, the bright light briefly exposes them before they disappear once more. As they close upon Cuemoni, both disappear.

Dancing blades in the dark and golden eyes that are suddenly blind.

"Aya!" Cuemoni cries out as things get hectic. Her golden eyes go over to Skyler, who is in the thick of it, and she decides to support the Warrior, whose skin she has blessed already with her magic. She reaches into a pouch on her bag, drawing out a tiny bead of tree resin, which she sets aflame.

:: "Huacax I call,
:: Huacax I coax,
:: Huacax I confine
:: Hueliti!"

The resin starts smoking in her hands, and it is clear she is trying to summon... something.

GAME: Harshad rolls 1d100: (83): 83
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon12+2: (5)+9+2: 16
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon12+2: (3)+9+2: 14

Then out of the smoke comes a half-orc. Perhaps the three-mouthed abomination isn't as smart as it thinks, because Harshad suddenly slinks in behind the thing. Without a word, his sickle lashes out, only to be caught at the last second by the monster's saber. Even in the darkness surrounding them, Harshad grins fiercely. "Keep trying, asshole. I'm not afraid of the dark -- I thrive in it."

GAME: Skyler rolls ranged+2: (19)+13+2: 34
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d6: (6): 6
GAME: Skyler spends ONE use of CHARMED LIFE.
GAME: Skyler rolls fortitude+4: (8)+4+4: 16

"Holy fuck!" Skyler squeaks as he's mauled by little people that may or may not be children or simply children sized. He jerks back, kicking one leg as he does so. "Dammit, these are designer boots!" One hand snatches at his coat, pulling a vial of something red and fiery looking that he tosses at the monstrosity, splashing it with liquid napalm.

He's not paying much attention to the rest of the battle. Sorry. Little people clawing at him, folks. "Gods, please tell me they aren't really children!"

They are not. Their little fingers might be the size of childrens, but every little scratch and bite and slams sends Skyler's skin tingling. The Vast is wrought with mana, and these lingering wounds continue to build up on Skyler, as one climbs on his shoulder and starts trying to rip out the hair in little fistfuls.

GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11
GAME: Cuemoni casts Heat Metal. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d20+6+4: (2)+6+4: 12
GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d20+6+4: (10)+6+4: 20
GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)

Cuemoni tries to step away from her assailant, but much like wisdom tries to chase those who have it, so does her enemy. She hisses in discontent, whipping around as her aurochs tries to gore the gibbering mass of flesh. "This one heats!" she says, working her magic.

The figure's armor warms. Not yet fiery-red to scald, but... Soon.

GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+9: (15)+9: 24
GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+5: (11)+5: 16
GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+5: (16)+5: 21
GAME: Carver rolls 1d8+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Carver rolls 1d8+4: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Cuemoni rolls Fortitude: (20)+8: 28 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)

3-Mouth's armor begins to glow, but other than a brief look down, it hardly seems alarmed. Just a few embers in its cloak...

The oily black blades find angles through the scales, and the seeping poison clings to the wound, lathering in a fever-filth that Cuemoni can feel boiling but also one not potent enough to find purchase in those veins.

GAME: Harshad rolls 1d100: (4): 4
GAME: Harshad rolls 1d100: (52): 52
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon13-2+2+2: (12)+9+-2+2+2: 23
GAME: Harshad rolls damage13-1: aliased to 1d6+3-1: (3)+3+-1: 5

Harshad wades back into the fray, pursuing the shadow-shrouded monster as it chases after Cuemoni. The darkness defeats his attempts to sink a blade into a vital spot, but the magically-sharpened edge still slices into the horror. "Cuemoni, we need some light here, I can't see well enough to hit him properly." He tosses a glance at Skyler. "You hanging in there, Skyler?"

GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2: (15)+16+2: 33 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2: (3)+16+2: 21
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2-5: (19)+16+2+-5: 32 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1+2-5: (6)+16+2+-5: 19
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+damage1+7+2: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+8+7+2: (5)+8+(1)+8+7+2: 31
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+14+2: aliased to 1d6+8+14+2: (2)+8+14+2: 26
GAME: Skyler rolls 1d6: (1): 1

"I.." Skyler does a sort of shrugging roll, dislodging the kid clawing at his hair, "...want..." He turns the shrugg into a roll that sends his blade slicing through flesh, "... A BATH!" He follows up with a downward punch of his sword, skewering a little person and tossing it away from him, wincing slightly as he rubs teeth marks, "Gods, getting hickies from kids feels just ''wrong''."

GAME: Skyler spends ONE use of CHARMED LIFE.
GAME: Skyler rolls fortitude+4+2: (10)+4+4+2: 20

Greenish blood runs free, mixing with more common red. It's slimy trail steams and it smells of ozone. And of... sulfur. Scars of old wounds, from wars long passed. The cohesion of the vast-wrought is quickly beginning to break as they stumble and trip over the bodies of their companions.

GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d20+6: (20)+6: 26
GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d20+7: (19)+7: 26
GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d8+9: (4)+9: 13
GAME: Cuemoni rolls weapon1: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d100: (18): 18

The auroch works in concert with Skyler's heavy blows, goring the collective mass with none of the (valid) complaint Skyler has to offer. Meanwhile, Cuemoni, seeing her armored three-mouthed assailant with Harshad behind him, elects for war. "This one will not so easily fall," she says, slashing out at the three-mouth--and missing, but her magic takes hold, scalding him just a little and making him more visible.

GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+9: (7)+9: 16
GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Skyler rolls perception: (18)+12: 30

3-Mouth's three mouth begin to open and scream off-key from each other. One masculine, one high, one garbling demonic filth. The blades continue their mesmerising dance, but as its own flesh begins to steam, it cannot seem to find purchase again against the druid. It gives a quick look behind them to Harshad, an then its gaze flicks past him, measuring potential escape.

The music stops.

GAME: Harshad rolls weapon12+2-2: (13)+9+2+-2: 22
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon13+2-2: (10)+9+2+-2: 19
GAME: Harshad rolls 1d100: (98): 98
GAME: Harshad rolls 1d100: (50): 50
GAME: Harshad rolls damage12: aliased to 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6
GAME: Harshad rolls damage13-1: aliased to 1d6+3-1: (5)+3+-1: 7

"Boy, you are ''really'' enjoying that bit of shadow around you, you little bastard." Harshad's sickles hack into the monstrosity, one, then the other, tearing into it. "Hold still, I'm gonna give you a Bludgun smile!" Harshad grins savagely as he keeps the freakish thing sandwiched between himself and Cuemoni.

GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1: (13)+16: 29
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1-5: (17)+16+-5: 28 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls weapon1-5: (20)+16+-5: 31 (THREAT)
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+14: aliased to 1d6+8+14: (4)+8+14: 26
GAME: Skyler rolls damage1+damage1+7: aliased to 1d6+8+1d6+8+7: (4)+8+(4)+8+7: 31

"Fuck!" Skyler squeaks as he feels the sorcerous song stutter and stop. He turns, "Hey, you guys! Stop playing around in that darkness! There's a throat slicer!" He yells, even as he turns back to his foe and with the sort of daring insanity that's his trademark he slices, he dices, and he julians the mass of tentacles and other nastiness, ending with his sword slicing a head off.

He turns to the others, "Don't worry! I'll ride the bull over and save you!" He says, turning to the celestial auroch with a decisive nod of his head...

Only to see it dead. "Dammit. It'll be a little bit longer."

GAME: Cuemoni rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9
GAME: Skyler rolls reflex+2: (11)+11+2: 24
GAME: Carver rolls 3d6: (7): 7

The Vast-Wrought's compelling magic is shared across them. As they are Skyler'd down in numbers, they lose cohesion and eventually control. The sound that roils out as their blood bursts is of a thousand year-past battle, the cries and clamor of a apocalyptic war who left time-rending scars across this land. Their blood stains terribly. Skyler will never get that out of the coat.

GAME: Cuemoni rolls 2d4: (7): 7
GAME: Cuemoni rolls weapon1: (2)+7: 9

The auroch fades away, and Cuemoni hisses. "This one gives gratitude for your presence," she says of the summoned bull. Then she looks back to the three-mouthed one, glowing a bit brighter thanks to her magic. "Come here and this one shall heal you, Warrior Skyler!" she calls, even as she cuts out with her scimitar at her enemy--and misses entirely.

GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+9: (6)+9: 15
GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10

3-Mouth falls silent, its eyes cutting to the wagons. All 3-Mouths smile in unison. Even as their blade fail to find blood. "She is beautiful." She is beautiful. She is beautiful. She is beautiful. She is beautiful. She is beautiful.

GAME: Harshad rolls weapon12: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Harshad rolls weapon13+2-2: (10)+9+2+-2: 19
GAME: Harshad rolls damage12+3d6+damage13-1+3d6: aliased to 1d6+3+3d6+1d6+3-1+3d6: (5)+3+(15)+(2)+3+-1+(13): 40

"Nobody cares!" Harshad snarls. He hooks one of his sickles into one of those gaping mouths, tearing, and then gets his other sickle in the corner of ''another'' mouth. His rangy muscles flex, and he ''pulls''... and the thing's horrid flesh rips apart, as Harshad's blades reduce it to a gory ruin...

GAME: Harshad rolls Reflex: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Cuemoni rolls Reflex: (5)+4: 9
GAME: Carver rolls 5d6+5: (16)+5: 21
GAME: Harshad rolls reflex: (9)+9: 18

Something about the words that 3-Mouths speak triggers something in the swashbuckler. At first, he looked horrified by the goo splattered on him ("... my coat!") but when the wreckage of gristle and flesh starts chanting 'she is beautiful', something snaps.

Skyler's lip lifts in a snarl, and his eyes go flat and hard. "This? This isn't beauty." He snarls as he storms over and without a moment's hesitation lifts one foot and stomps the creature hard on the face, "Beauty?! I'll ''show'' you beauty!" And there's another stomp. Followed by another, if no one stops him. "Is this beauty?!"

3-Mouth does not get to explain. Harshad rips him apart. The warping mana expands and toss his blackish blood abrupty everywhere alongside scarring arcane heat. It sizzles on everything it touches. Skyler's stomping foot smushes what remains to the smoldering earth.... and they all notice in unison they are not alone, as another halfling stares at them from around twenty-feet away. Her eyes are covered by long greasy black hair and her pale, pallid form is wrapped only in bloodied rags of a half torn pink cloak with little flower stichings.

She holds the strange bone skeleton samsin in one hand. The other holds a ghostly blade warped with mana-ichor.

GAME: Cuemoni casts Cure Moderate Wounds. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Cuemoni rolls 4d8+12: (20)+12: 32

Cuemoni draws closer to Skyler, a soft rumble in her chest--the kind that nesting mothers make for hatchlings to calm them. "Warrior," she says gently. "Hold a moment. Let this one heal you." Even if she cannot fully heal the harm that has caused him to react this way, she can at least mend the wounds he has received.

She draws forward, a prayer to the spirits given for healing the flesh, and when she touches Skyler's shoulder with a soft-handed set of claws and scales, the magic leaves her and flows into him, warmth stitching together wounds to make whole.

The shifting, pallid form of the halfling glides forward ten steps, bloodied dagger still in hand. The hair shifts and two angry red coals for eyes peer out from the greasy strands, considering them all with an expression that is impossible to read. All of them smelling of ancient war and fresh blood. Except Harshad.

Harshad takes a step forward, then pauses. "You!" he says roughly. He's untouched by the gore and the flame, and his sickles still drip with foul ichor from the monster he killed. "I saw you. You were the one that warned me about the music." He doesn't raise his blades, but he elbows Skyler to get the man's attention, keeping his eyes on the horrid specter. "What do you want?" he says bluntly.

GAME: Harshad rolls diplomacy: (20)+1: 21

"Ow!" Because for some reason Harshad got more of an reaction than the tentacle monster of children. Talk about bony elbows. The swashbuckler, dripping gore from his foot, turns to glare at Harshad with a hard coldness to his eyes that is beyond anything anyone has seen from him. It's almost deader than the creature that he head-stomped. His eyes turn towards the indicated direction, and he says flatly, "She murdered the performer that was assisting us."

His entire body trembles with the force of will exerted to bring himself back into the hear and now, and out of a world of pain and pleasure in equal parts that's tantalized his dreams... "Speak quickly, and speak clearly. We were sent by the sister of whatever flesh you're wearing." Because ''clearly'' that's not their target, right? At least, not upstairs.

GAME: Skyler rolls sense motive: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Cuemoni rolls Knowledge/Nature: (4)+11: 15

Cuemoni's golden eyes nictate as she observes the halfling in front of them. The eyes are the thing that is most troubling for her. No softskin should have eyes like such while they live, not unless they are touched by great and terrible magic, great and evil magic.

"Whatever it is--the thing that is holding the body--it is not an aberration, not of the fae. It may be undead." Then Cuemoni's turquoise tail almost rattles as she murmurs softly to her companions. "This one is nearly certain it is undead of some kind."

The burning coals for eyes shift between the voice, before the long dark hair veils them once more chin touches her throat.

Clang. Clang. The bleached skeleton samsin is tossed. Its strings break as it rolls to Harshad's feet, hissing in the vast-wrought puddling brackish blood. It disappears.

It reappears right in Harshad's face, floating eye to eye, its bloodied rags a mess and its body almost-see through.

It disappears before his reflex can kick in and cut her.

It reappears near the wagon, mid motion, almost crawl-scuttling on all fours but not leaving tracks. It disappears.

It does not reappear.

Harshad recoils as the samsin lands at his feet, and then he shouts out a particularly ferocious oruch curse as the creature appears in front of him. Before he can bring his blades to bear, though, it vanishes again. "What the shit..."

When it vanishes near the wagon, Harshad slowly lowers his sickles. He's not surprised to see they're trembling slightly. "Or just dead." He looks around, checking the others. "Let's check the wagons, and then get the hells out of here."

== OOC ==

Map: https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mf843mboh7a

[[Category:Logs]]

Recent Logs

2025-04-24T19:26:12Z

Riptide: /* April */

Category:Same As It Ever Was

2025-04-22T23:53:38Z

Riptide:

Ravenstongue

2025-04-15T21:10:32Z

Riptide:

<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #957d9b, transparent);">
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; padding-left: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;">Cor'lana "Ravenstongue" Lúpecyll-Atlon</p></div>

<div style="width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<p style="color: #957d9b; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Physical Description''</p>

{| width="300px" class="infobox" align="right" style="padding-left:20px; padding-bottom:5px;"
| colspan="3" | [[Image:Ravenstongue.jpg|300px|Cor'lana wearing an inherited dress from an ancestor. (Art commissioned from Evil Inspiration.)]]
|-
| class="left" | '''Race:'''
| [[Half-sil]]
|-
| class="left" | '''Homeland:'''
| [[Rune]]
|-
| class="left" | '''Age:'''
| 24 (b. Eatonis 18, 1003 in [[Llyranost]])
|-
| class="left" | '''Occupation:'''
| Adventurer, poet; occasionally actress and singer
|-
| class="left" | '''Class:'''
| Sorcerer (arcane-blooded) 20
|-
| class="left" | '''Faith:'''
| [[Ceinara]] (and a bit of [[Eluna]] too)
|-
|}

The young half-elf woman known as Cor'lana "Ravenstongue" Lúpecyll-Atlon stands at a somewhat average height for her ancestry, although her five feet combined with her slender and petite form might be considered diminutive by many others. Her somewhat short pointed ears and her black waves of hair (usually worn freely to her waist or tied up in a braid over one shoulder) are tell-tale signs that she is half-sil, as the hair color is rare in her sylvanori lineage. Her violet eyes peer at the world around her, sometimes behind sensible circular spectacles in a dark wood frame.

The nearly-constant presence on Cor'lana's shoulder, Apotheosis, or [[Pothy]] for short, is an unusual white raven. His light blue eyes are curious like his mistress's, but they usually fixate on food. By the miracle of being a familiar, Pothy never balloons above the average size for a raven despite his eating habits. If he's not gazing longingly at food, he's usually tugging at Cor'lana's hair for her attention.

'''Items of Note''':

''Engagement Ring'': Cor'lana wears a golden band with three stones--a small diamond flanked by two amethysts--on her left finger.

''Feather Mark'': Most recently, Cor'lana has acquired a slightly large mark (four inches tall from end to end) on her chest, right over her heart: a black feather that runs along where her sternum would be beneath the skin. Inside the feather mark painted in silver are a set of judgment scales, similar to the goddess Vardama's symbol. Jutting from the end of the mark are a set of knotwork-style lines, reminiscent of tree roots, that curl up around the sides of the feather mark. The symbol slightly shimmers if exposed to light regardless of day or night.

''Hand Mark'': As a result of her marriage to [[Telamon]], Cor'lana has a mark (two inches tall and wide) on the back of her hand: a wreath of feathers surrounding a starry sky, with three prominent stars in the middle.

<p style="color: #957d9b; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold; font-family: Constantia;">''Roleplay Hooks''</p>
* '''Keeper of Apotheosis:''' Cor'lana's white raven familiar, [[Pothy]], is a menace to all things culinary. He doesn't need to eat, but does anyway, and seems to react reverently when [[Navos]] is mentioned.
* '''Power Couple:''' Cor'lana's married to Telamon Lúpecyll-Atlon, and the two half-sil sorcerers are known to adventure together. When they're not out together on adventuring work, the couple are usually arm-in-arm somewhere in the city.
* '''Sorceress of Renown:''' Cor'lana is widely known as a sorceress of considerable note. Most people recognize Pothy before they recognize her, however. Her specialty is enchantment magic, which has led to a couple of unscrupulous rumors...
* '''Temptress of Alexandria:''' Such as her most famous moniker, 'the Temptress of Alexandria'. The Crimson Pen parodies of her abound with allegations of ensorcelling powerful men, even though she's 1) married, and 2) quite a few older adventurers can remember when she was a shy thing riddled with social anxiety.
* '''The Poet:''' Cor'lana performs her poetry often in the Theatre District. A couple of shows at the playhouses have commissioned lyrics for a song or two now.
* '''There's Something Fey-shy Here:''' Cor'lana and Telamon's home in the University District have a couple of garden pixies that maintain the garden. In fact, there may even be more than pixies afoot...
* '''Lady's (Former) Apprentice:''' Cor'lana was known to be the apprentice of [[Lady Sandiel]], the (in)famous sorcerer.</div>

<div style="width: 775px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 20px;">
{{Badge}}
{{Badge-Icon|Halfelf02_druid.jpg}}
{{Badge-Content}}
{{Badge-Title|Half-Sildanyari PC Badge}}
{{Badge-Entry|Heritage}}"I was born in Llyranost to a sylvanori father who did not want me and a human mother who loved me enough to die for me. I stand now because of them and without them."
{{Badge-Entry|Role}}"I'm a sorcerer and an adventurer. I make my own way the way I see fit."
{{Badge-Entry|Faith}}"Vaire gives me verse and hearth."
{{Badge-Entry|Homeland}}"Born in Llyanrost, raised in Rune, moved to Alexandros... Home is where I make it."

{{Badge-End}}

{{Badge}}
{{Badge-Icon|Aspect02.jpg}}
{{Badge-Content}}
{{Badge-Title|Aspect PC Badge}}
{{Badge-Entry|Aspect}}Fae-Touched Aspect
{{Badge-Entry|Tier}}T3 + Major Tattoo
{{Badge-Entry|Development}}The mark of a black feather with Vardama's scales of judgment in the interior adorns Ravenstongue's chest. It symbolizes her descent from her ancestor, the Feathered One.

{{Badge-End}}

{{Badge}}
{{Badge-Icon|Blood_pact.png}}
{{Badge-Content}}
{{Badge-Title|(RPP) Blood Pact PC Badge}}
{{Badge-Entry|Entity}}The Feathered One
{{Badge-Entry|The Contract}}T7
{{Badge-Entry|History}}The Feathered One is Cor'lana's fey ancestor. At Cor'lana's request, he has amplified the fey magic in her bloodline using strange and esoteric magic.
{{Badge-Entry|Other Landmarks}}The mark of the black feather has lines that descend down from the feather and partially frame around it, almost resembling tree roots in delicate knotwork.

{{Badge-End}}
</div>

<div style="position:relative; top:0px; height: 50px; width: 875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; background-image: linear-gradient(to left, #957d9b, transparent);">
<p style="color: black; font-size: 220%; text-align: right; padding-right: 20px; font-weight: light; font-family: Constantia;">''"I am the child of the Feathered One."''</p></div>


<div style="clear:both;"></div>


[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Half-Sil]]
[[Category:Navosian]]
[[Category:Player]]
[[Category:Runite]]
[[Category:Sorcerer]]

House Rules and Clarifications

2025-04-15T16:50:36Z

Riptide: /* Equipment */

This page is used to list some house rules and clarifications used on Tenebrae: the Emblem of Ea. While it is not our intent to document everything, we will attempt to document what may be particularly confusing that is relevant to the game and players' enjoyment.

[[image:Rulesnom.png|thumb|right]]As Tenebrae is not by nature a PvP game, a game oriented towards minmaxing or competition versus other players, nor a traditional tabletop game, some of our interpretations may appear somewhat different than what a traditional tabletop gamer might expect.

==RAW versus RAI==

We are a Rules as Intended (RAI) game, not a Rules as Written (RAW) game. However, the GM in your scene may rule closer to RAW. The GM's ruling is the final arbiter of the scene. See the Game Policies page regarding [[Game_Policies#House_Rules_and_Rules-Lawyering | House Rules and Rules-Lawyering]] for more information.

==Classes==

===Animal Companions and Familiars===

'''Q: Can animal companions and familiars use items? Can they talk?'''

'''A''': Some familiars are capable of speech.

Paizo published [http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5lc1y&source=search some clarifications] to Animal Companions that we use regarding intelligent animal companions.

However, animal companions or familiars can not '''activate''' magic items. An animal companion could ''benefit'' from an item with a continuous magical effect, such as an amulet of natural armor, if its master equipped the item for the animal companion. Animal companions may not use manufactured weapons.

'''Q: What magic item slots does my animal companion have?'''

'''A''': Animal companions typically have the following item slots: headband, cloak, feet, belt, and neck. They may also wear barding unless otherwise specified. Note that these are general rules--not all animal companions will have legs, for example, and so would not be able to wear feet slot items.

'''Q: What is the reach of my animal companion?'''

'''A''': Some animal companions' reach will change once they change in size. To determine if this occurs, use the Creature Size and Scale table on [http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/combat.html the Combat PRD page], then cross-reference it with the "normal" version of the creature from the [[World_Bestiary#Companions | World Bestiary's Companions section]]. If ''both'' sources suggest the creature would now possess reach, then it does.

===Archetypes===

Due to code, balance, and other issues involving headaches and the slow and painful death of our staff, archetypes are not in Tenebrae and will not be added to the game.

===Aura of Courage===

If you have an aura of courage, you're immune to fear. This includes intimidation effects. This was an update from 3.5 that just doesn't fit the thematics of certain classes.

===Bloodlines===

Sorcerer bloodlines are a "trace" of another race or being. A sorcerer with a fey bloodline doesn't become the fey creature type, for instance, any more than an infernal bloodline sorcerer becomes the devil creature type, or so on. There are reasons that Prestige Classes (PrCs) like the Dragon Disciple exist--they take characters above and beyond the limits of the sorcerer class.

The PRD gives us some examples of sorcerer bloodlines and how they manifest: "For example, a sorcerer might have a dragon as a distant relative or her grandfather might have signed a terrible contract with a devil."

This does not make the character any less special--it just means they're still human, dwarf, or whichever is appropriate. Something unusual happened to make them the way they are, and they exhibit traits beyond what's ordinary.

====Bloodline Stacking, Dragon Disciple, etc.====

For the purpose of mechanics, bloodrager bloodlines and sorcerer bloodlines are treated as different yet similar abilities. They do not stack. Bloodrager may be used as an entry into the Dragon Disciple prestige class. When a character advances in the Dragon Disciple PrC and when they select their spellcasting class for advancement, the code selects the spellcasting class's associated bloodline. For those entering the PrC without a bloodline, their bloodline will default to sorcerer.

===Creepy Hair (Prehensile Hair)===

Prehensile hair (assigned by the code as 'Creepy Hair' on character sheets) falls under the natural attack rules. If you use prehensile hair on its own, it is a primary natural attack. If you use prehensile hair with a manufactured weapon, it is a secondary natural attack. If you possess another natural weapon, then prehensile hair becomes secondary, because it falls into the "other" category of natural attack, as per the PRD.

A similar ruling applies to other natural attacks, such as the barbarian's bite attack rage power and more.

===Monks===

We use Paizo's [http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5le61?Monkeying-Around update to the monk] update to the Amulet of Mighty Fists. We had used the other updates, but those are incorporated into Unchained Monk. Unchained Monk is the default for Tenebrae.

===Rage===

'''Q: With the Unchained barbarian, how does rage work if used in another context? For example, a spell?'''

'''A''': If the ability reads 'rage as barbarian,' then use the new rules. Otherwise, these abilities work as outlined. In addition, [http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1gw#v5748eaic9t91 this FAQ applies].

===Smite===

When it comes to modifiers that affect damage rolls (such as the bonus on damage rolls from Point-Blank Shot, the inspire courage class ability, and the smite evil class ability), and special abilities that deal damage on a successful attack roll, apply them on hit point damage only. Apply modifiers only once per casting or use, rather than once per attack. For instance, if a spell or special ability launched a dozen different ranged attacks simultaneously, only one (of the user’s choice) receives bonus damage. This doesn't apply on area effects with the rare potential for extra attack rolls, like fireball. However, there is a category of abilities that deserves a special note: abilities like Arcane Strike that specifically enhance a character's weapon or weapons never apply to special abilities (with the exception of special abilities that specifically call out that Arcane Strike can be applied).

===Targeted Strike===

The [[Swashbuckler]]'s Targeted Strike ability has the following line added to it: In lieu of the other effects listed, targeted strike can also break a grapple by targeting the grappling limb.

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:Policies]]

==Equipment==

===Specific Items===

'''Dragonhide:''' Due to the more active role dragons play in the world as ambassadors, political rulers, and so forth, dragonhide has been replaced with [[Equipment|spirit-bond armor]], an armor crafted of elemental essence.

'''Elven Curveblade:''' The elven curveblade is not available in Tenebrae at this time.

'''Headbands of Intellect:''' Not a rule so much as a reminder!
* Your intellect skills should be noted in your headband items. If not, please contact staff ASAP so we can fix it. If you think or know you've made an error with this, we can fix that too once we've verified.
* When leveling, do NOT put your ranks in these skills. They will go up automagically with your HD.

'''Circlets of Persuasion:''' Circlets of Persuasion do not provide bonuses to concentration checks.

'''Bucklers:''' Archers, gunners, and crossbow users do not take the -1 attack penalty when carrying a buckler. However, they do not receive the buckler's AC bonus unless they are actively wielding the buckler. This makes the buckler useful if the wielder needs to rush through enemy lines, make a stand, go total defense, and more. Bucklers also apply to flat-footed AC.

'''Feychild Necklace:''' Feychild Necklaces do not provide bonuses to concentration checks.

'''Ghostvision Gloves:''' You can't deactivate ghostvision gloves until the timer runs out. The duration cannot be divided up.

'''Monkey Belt:''' The Monkey Belt (and similar items) cannot be used to make a make an off-hand attack in the same round that a character uses a two-handed weapon. Monkey belts do not count as a free hand for the purposes of reloading firearms.

'''Shields:''' To keep headaches down and allow us to list things more cleanly in +inv, crafters can enchant shield spikes as a weapon.

'''Oathbow:''' The Oathbow can be enchanted with an additional +3 enhancement value and +3 effect value. The Bane effect cannot be put on the Oathbow. This would make the maximum enchantment of the Oathbow effectively a +5 enhancement/+3 effect weapon.

'''Transformative:''' The following is our ruling on the Transformative property:

:A. The weapon property is command-word activated.
:B. A weapon with the Transformative property maintains its magical properties. The exceptions to this are:
::1. The new transformed form is unable to use an enchantment (for example, a transformed mace cannot be keen).
::2. The new transformed form is a double weapon, while the original form was a single weapon--in this case, only half the weapon can use an enchanted property such as Keen; though the unenchanted half would still be of masterwork quality.
:C. The transformed weapon maintains its material makeup when possible. If the new weapon form is not normally made from that material, it defaults to the material for the new form (for example, you can't transform a weapon into an adamantine staff).
:D. Treat the transformed weapon as an entirely different weapon that just happens to possess similar special materials and enchantments as your old one. For example, when transforming from a greatsword to a greataxe, use the damage dice, threat range, and multiplier of the greataxe. When moving from one form of polearm to another, you may lose Trip but gain Brace.

Restrictions on Transformed Weapons:
:A. The new transformed form must be an appropriately sized weapon for the wielder.
:B. The weapon must be of the same general type as the type it is transforming to: weapon category (1H, 2H, or light), ranged, reach, melee, and thrown. For example, a medium transformative longsword can take the shape of any other medium one-handed melee weapon, such as a scimitar, flail, or trident, but not a medium light or two-handed melee weapon (such as a medium short sword or a medium greatsword).

'''Wildshape, Wild Armor, etc:'''

'''Q: Wild armor and other transforming armor: When I use a wild armor and gain the armor's benefits, what restrictions, if any, apply to me? In general, when I transform with a polymorph effect and some of my gear melds into the form, what restrictions do I have for melding with large amounts of heavy gear? What about other types of transforming armor?'''

'''A''': If you were in medium or heavy load from encumbrance before transforming, you continue to take those penalties in your melded form. Otherwise, ignore the weight of melded items and calculate your encumbrance in your polymorphed form entirely based on non-melded items. When wearing melded armor and shields, if you gain no benefit from the melded armor, you still count as wearing an armor of that type, but you do not suffer its armor check penalty, movement speed reduction, or arcane spell failure chance. If you do gain any benefits (as with the wild property), then you do suffer the armor check penalty, movement speed reduction, and arcane spell failure chance. This also applies to all other situations where you or an armor transform: you always count as wearing an armor of that type, and if you gain any benefit at all from the armor (such as mistmail), you apply the armor check penalty, movement speed reduction, and arcane spell failure chance.

===Item Crafting===

====Magic Item Crafting====

Decreasing magic item crafting time is not supported by our magic item crafting rules. Tenebrae offers a continuous crafting environment, allowing you to craft as well as adventure, and allows PCs to craft most any magic item, so long as they meet the normal PF prerequisites.

However, if the characters involved in the magic item crafting request roleplay out a related scene ongrid, and submit a +request/rpp, then the crafting time can be reduced by 1 day if a comment is added to the +request/craft job.

Crafters may make any item of up to the below market value, presuming they have the feats, skills, and time required:

:T1: Up to 6k
:T2: Up to 22k
:T3-4: None set at this time.

If the only person available is outside these bounds, come talk with staff and we'll work with you.

====Mundane Item Crafting====

Tenebrae does not support mundane item crafting, though players are welcome to purchase mundane items and roleplay crafting them.

===Scrolls and Consumables===

All potions, scrolls, wands, and other consumables bought at market value from a +request/purch job are assumed to be made by clerics, druids, or wizards. The only exceptions are spells that are not on the cleric, druid, or wizard spell list. For example, a scroll of lesser restoration must be purchased as a 2nd-level scroll off the cleric spell list and may not be purchased as a 1st-level scroll off the paladin spell list. If a spell appears at different levels on two different lists, use the lower level spell for the scroll's cost. As an example, a player buys a scroll of ''poison'' as a 3rd-level druid spell instead of a 4th-level cleric spell.

On Tenebrae, there is no difference between an arcane and divine scroll or wand (it just has to be on the character class's spell list). Thus a bard and cleric may both use the same scroll of cure moderate wounds.

Scrolls that are scribed by a PC use that PC's class.

Finally, the following is changed from the PRD: "If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell's caster level" becomes, "If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her '''casting''' class level is at least equal to the spell's caster level."

===Magic Item Upgrades to and for Specific or Unique Magic Items===

Most specific and named magic items (such as a Robe of the Magi) may not be upgraded. That is, they are priced "as is." The exceptions to this rule are:

* Item stacking. Another item may be "stacked" onto another item with an additional fee that is equal to 50% of the lower item's cost. The items must be of the same magic item slot. For example, if you want to add a phylactery of positive channeling (11,000 gold) to your headband of alluring charisma +2 (4,000 gold), you'd pay the cost of the phylactery of positive channeling (11,000 gold), plus the stacking fee (4000 gold * .5 = 2000), for a total of 13,000 gold.
* Items that are meant to be upgraded. Weapons and armor have a specific means of upgrading: a +1 may be made into a +2 and so on.
* Items which already possess greater and lesser versions. These items may be specifically named, or list upgrade options in their text (such as Belt of Strength or Bracers of Archery Greater and Lesser). This would exclude items such as the Gorgon Belt, as it follows neither of these rules.

Specific magic items may not be made from different materials other than those listed.

Ordinary magic items may be upgraded to specific or unique magic items, so long as their current enchantments are part of the final named item. For example, a longsword with the Flaming property can be made into a Flame Tongue, but a longsword with the Flaming and Frost properties can't.

===Tomes and Manuals of Clear Thought, Influence, etc.===

Tomes and manuals that raise attributes cannot have their component cost (that is, the 25,000g component cost of the wish spell) reduced via RPPs. They can however, have the add-on cost reduced. For a +1 tome that is 27,500g, it is this 2,500g amount that may be reduced.

However, we do allow PCs to purchase these over time. There is still a max of +5 in Tome bonuses to any individual attribute. However, PCs can purchase a +1 tome that adds a bonus to Strength, and purchase another +1 tome of Strength later for a total of +2 Strength.

===Intelligent Items===

'''Q: What senses does an intelligent item possess?'''

'''A''': From the PRD we know that: "Every intelligent magic item begins with the ability to see and hear within 30 feet, as well as the ability to communicate emphatically with its owner." On Tenebrae, they may also speak. However, intelligent items lack limbs.

'''Q: What type of action is it for an item to activate its power? What actions can they take in a round?'''

'''A''': From the PRD, we know that: "all powers function at the direction of the item, although intelligent items generally follow the wishes of their owner. Activating a power or concentrating on an active one is a standard action the item takes." Aside from that, intelligent items are tied to your action economy to a degree, similar to a mount. Your item's actions are separate, but your item's actions are tied to yours by virtue of it essentially being helpless, since you control its location and movement. If you're waving the item around as part of a full attack, then the item has no choice but to be a part of that full attack action. If you stop and take a standard action, then the item may also take a standard action (such as using one of its SLAs).

'''Q: Can an intelligent item cast spells in combat? How does that work?'''

'''A''': On Tenebrae, we treat magic spells used by an intelligent item as spell-like abilities (SLAs). Intelligent items aren't full-fledged wizards or sorcerers; they have no spellcasting class. Intelligent items are more like a monster in a Bestiary with some unique talents. That said, see the previous question for answers about action economy. Intelligent items that use SLAs in combat do not provoke AoOs.

An intelligent item's senses are limited to 30', as per the PRD. This will affect its range, as effects generally require Line of Sight.

'''Q: What about spells with a range of touch or personal?'''

'''A''': What it comes down to is that the intelligent item is essentially helpless, movement-wise. A touch spell with an intelligent item functions like Domain Strike or similar feats. If you want to add weapon damage to the spell's effect, make a usual attack with the item against the enemy's appropriate AC (touch for ranged, AC for melee). If you don't want to include weapon damage, then you make a touch attack with the item. See the previous answer about intelligent item actions and spellcasting for intelligent item actions.

Personal range refers to the item itself.

===Handling Treasure===

'''Item Size:''' As a general rule, items in treasure are 'unsized' until they're claimed. This means if the DM rolls a +2 Studded Leather Armor, the lucht has the same chance as the half-oruch. The one exception to this rule are items thematically tied to the adventure, or similar affects.

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:Policies]]

==Feats==

===Chargen, Advancement, and Specific Feats===

You can take the Aspect of the Beast, Preferred Spell, and Favored Defense feats, but you must submit a +request/sheet about what selections you make with these feats for staff bookkeeping.

Due to code restrictions, players can't take Eldritch Claws and Rending Claws in advancement. Select a filler feat and submit a +request/sheet for staffers to replace them.

===Removed from Pathfinder===

The following feats are in the Pathfinder Core Rulebook but are not available on Tenebrae: Leadership and Improved Familiar.

===Improvised Weapon===

There are feats which are used for the purpose of using a polearm as a two-handed weapon or for the purpose of 'shortening' the weapon for use in attacking an adjacent square. Improvised weapons can't be used in this manner.

===Bodyguard===

You are required to be adjacent to your ally but not their attacker. For example, when an adjacent ally is attacked, you may use an attack of opportunity to attempt the aid another action to improve your ally's AC. You do not need to threaten the attacker to use this action; you need only be adjacent to the target and make a successful attack roll against AC 10. You may not use the aid another action to improve your ally's attack roll with this attack.

===Combat Patrol===

The feat requires you to give up your attacks now on the hope or expectation of getting them back as AoOs. These AoOs are at your highest attack bonus, so if you get more than one, you get to make each at your highest number, rather than using your normal iteratives.

===Elven Battle Training===

This feat applies to all elven sub-races' specific weapon familiarity entries. In the case of the wild elves, this feat applies to polearms and bows.

===Furious Focus===

This is not a house rule, more a clarification. Furious focus only works with the first Power Attack attack you make each round. This means it does not apply to a haste attack, the second cleave attack, and so forth.

===Shield Slam===

'''Q: Do the bonuses from Improved Bull Rush and Greater Bull Rush, as well as any other bonuses that would be applied to the maneuver (Dwarf racial: Relentless +2), get subsequently added to that attack roll total to compare to the target's CMD to see if the maneuver takes effect?'''

'''A''': This is allowable and part of the intended effect. Effects which normally would modify a bull rush (such as feats) apply to the roll substituted for the CMB bonus after the fact since it becomes a bull rush.

===Shield Prof===

'''Q: Does shield proficiency let you use a shield as a weapon?'''

'''A''': Yes.

==Magic==

===Breath of Life===

The use of this spell is expanded somewhat to make it friendlier to a MUSH environment. It's now open to other divine casters, though at a slightly reduced effect. See the Magic page for adjustments.

===Nobility Domain===

The Nobility domain uses the Martyr subdomain as a replacement for Leadership.

===Elemental Forms===

Elementals don't have hands, so it's impossible to wield a weapon or wear armor when transformed into one. Casting as an elemental may be done with Natural Spell, though.

===Summoning===

'''Q: Is there a limit to how many summons I can have?'''

'''A''': We've always had a soft rule on summons. That is, be mindful of other players, turn times, and the ability of everyone to share the spotlight. If you're cutting into others' fun, it is time to summon fewer creatures.

Summoning though, can extend turn times even then. It is also true that some folks prefer a harder rule rather than a soft one.

With that in mind, we'll be experimenting with one active summoning spell at a time, per individual caster. Casting a different summoning spell would require ending the previous one.

The intent of this is to streamline turns, and to make things go a little more smoothly for everyone.

'''Q: Can I add additional monsters to the monster summoning tables?'''

'''A''': We follow the guidance of Paizo's developers in this regard. From James Jacobs:

::Nope. No chance. We didn't have room, or the time to go through and pick out balanced additions to the spell, nor do we want to set up the expectation that something like that will be in every Bestiary, plus some other boring reasons.

::We really just don't want to bloat the summon monster tables with too many choices, honestly. It's already kinda hard to choose a monster; making there be TOO many choices spread across TOO many books just leads to option paralysis in game and that's not good.

::In the end, we decided that these spells more or less needed to be self-contained. That mean that they had lists that referenced the main Bestiary and didn't go beyond that. This is mostly a balance issue (too many monsters on the list allow for too much specialization per encounter), but also a game-play issue (too many monsters on the list causes option paralysis and makes the simple choice of choosing a summoned monster a tough one) and a public relations issue (we try not to build parts of the game to be too dependent on non-core products).

===Wish===

Wish cannot be used to raise attributes directly. Instead, see our section on magic item tomes and attributes.

===Learning New Spells===

To learn a new spell, a wizard, artificer, witch, or other prepared caster must first acquire the scroll. Wizards and artificers must then then [http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/magic.html#writing-a-new-spell-into-a-spellbook-69 pay scribing costs], while witches must make a caster check (see witch page).

PC casters may sell scrolls to one another at whatever price they wish.

==Races==

===War Golems and Rage===

War golems are not immune to the fatigue after rage. It's meant as a balancing feature after rage and rage powers.

===Races with Spell-Like Abilities===

If your race gives the option of "choose x number of 0-level spells" or something similar, please send in a +request to tell staff what you'd like. Unless you do this and it is noted on your +sheet, you are not considered to have these spells.

In addition, these SLAs do not qualify a PC for early entry into a PrC, a feat, or so on.

==Skills==

===Diplomatic Combat and Skills Combat===

Pathfinder doesn't provide rules for these, so we've [[Skill Combat|adapted their performance combat rules]].

===Social Skills and PCs===

Skills such as diplomacy, intimidate, and so on do not function between PCs. That is, PCs are heroes, and heroes follow different rules. On Tenebrae, we take this to mean that players may roll for fun within agreed-upon social situations, but as a rule of thumb, these skills apply to NPCs only.

When using these skills with NPCs, remember to use common sense. That is, using intimidate on someone will likely result in them calling the Watch.

===Craft and Profession===

Craft and Profession skills may be used as knowledge skills regarding applicable areas. For example, someone with Profession/Brewer might roll their skill to identify a number of different beers or wines, or to know the history of beer or wine within a specific area. Craft and Profession skills may also be earned via RPPs.

==Miscellaneous Houserules==

===Reroll Timing===

An event runner may, at their discretion, allow a player to reroll a roll after the result is known, even if the ability says otherwise. This allows event runners to rule immediately instead of waiting to declare a roll's outcome so that a player can announce that they would like to use their reroll ability. This applies to any item, ability, feat, or similar effect that allows a player to reroll a roll before they know the outcome of the roll, and this also applies to the Reroll RPP spend.

Event runners must have a consistent policy regarding rerolls and may deny rerolls per their policy, as long as they are consistent; i.e., denying all players in an event the ability to reroll after knowing the result. Any event runner that shows inconsistency resulting from bias in favor of, or against, specific players regarding the ability to reroll will be subject to staffer disciplinary action.

===Non-Animal Companion/Familiar Pets and Mounts===

Characters are welcome to have pets that they have picked up on their travels or in their backstories, but if they are not from a class feature, such as the ranger, druid, and cavalier's animal companion, the paladin's divine bond, and the wizard and witch's (or the arcane and serpentine sorcerer bloodlines) familiar, a pet cannot generally participate in combat in a meaningful way. (This is to cut down on staff bookkeeping.)

This also applies to mundane mounts, such as the warhorse that can be bought from the chargen vendors. A GM may ask for a Handle Animal check for handling a mundane mount in certain situations, but GMs may handwave the check, depending on the narrative circumstances. The cost of renting horses or similar travel accommodations may also be handwaved by a GM (as the cost can be assumed to be deducted from a character's "everyday funds"). See [[Equipment#Goods_and_Services|Goods and Services on the Equipment page]] for more information.

Given that pets and mundane mounts do not have stats, we do not permit buying equipment for them.

===Inherit Bonuses to Attributes===

Currently, we do not allow Wish to be used to raise ability scores. However, we do allow manuals to stack, up to the normal maximum of +5.

===Damage Dice Progression Due to Size===

We use the Paizo errata: [[Damage_Dice_Progression_Chart|Damage Dice Progression Chart]].

===Additional Combat Maneuvers===

The following Combat Maneuvers and relating feats are approved from the APG: Dirty Trick, Drag, and Reposition. Steal, however, is not.

===Burrowing===

'''Burrow:''' A creature with a burrow speed can tunnel through dirt, but not through rock unless the descriptive text says otherwise. Creatures cannot charge or run while burrowing. Most burrowing creatures do not leave behind tunnels other creatures can use (either because the material they tunnel through fills in behind them or because they do not actually dislocate any material when burrowing); see the individual creature descriptions for details.

===Missing Limbs===

We use 4 Wind Fantasy Games' rules for the loss of a limb or body part. See: '''[http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/other-rules/variant-rules-3rd-party/4-winds-fantasy-gaming/The-Loss-of-a-Body-Part The Loss of a Body Part]'''. These rules are included only to describe the mechanical effects of such a loss. We do allow prosthetics, which are an RPP [http://tenebraemush.net/index.php/Character_Spends Character Spend].

===Mounted Combat===

We use a selection of [[Dire Destiny - Mounted Combat|Dire Destiny's Mounted Combat Rules]] in place of those in the PRD. '''Not all of DD's rules are used; only those included on the wiki are currently used.''' These rules will be propagated to more areas of the site for easier reference (such as skills).

'''Q: If my mount has flyby attack, can the rider attack as well? Or, if the rider has ride-by attack, can the mount attack as well? Or, if mount has flyby and rider has ride-by attack, can they both attack together?'''

'''A''': So long as your mount possesses feats that allow him or her to attack during that time, then they can attack an opponent within their reach. For example, if you had Ride by and your mount had Spring By, you're both trained to make that sort of mid-attack. Likewise, the rider would need the capability to attack during a certain time.

===Touch Attacks and Weapon Finesse===

Weapon finesse may benefit melee touch attacks, which allows the attack roll to be based on Dexterity rather than Strength.

===Rend===

Based on clarification from Paizo's developers, rend is additional damage added to someone's attack for the purposes of overcoming DR. It's only added once, though!

===Stipends===

Stipends are a way for us to handle some forms of level-up. For example, a PC might spend 10 RPPs to level up to level 2. In a case like this, we award a stipend. Stipends appear as objects placed in a character's inventory. They specify a certain amount in gold pieces. The amount of gold depends on the character's level at the time that they receive the stipend.

A stipend is gold that the player may use to purchase items, spells, and so on by sending in a +request with what they'd like to buy.

<font color="red">'''Since stipends are given for the purpose of gaining a full level all at once, stipends may not be used with crafter, RPP, or other discounts.''' </font>

To use a stipend, use +request and let staff know what you'd like to buy. 85% of a stipend must be spent; the rest can be rolled over into gold for the character's inventory.

===The Alignment Button===

[[image:alignment.png|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME7Oyr-bsm8]]

===What Model do the Gods Use?===

This comes up from time to time, not often but often enough that it deserves mention and an easy-enough place to reference or post to. As they are today, the deities and faiths in Emblem of Ea more resemble various forms of historical and fantasy paganism than they do say, Roman Catholicism. If a particular faith does resemble RC or other forms of Christianity in any way, it's because of local cultural influences and is by no means the norm or the intent of the game. A close look at the temples in Alexandria show them to be more often 'pagan' in influence, in fact, than the classic marble temple structure with vaulted ceilings. Clerics possess titles unique to their faith instead of "Mother" or "Father."

This means that:

* Worship methods vary widely, based on culture, race, subcultures, etc.
* Different orders and suborders are possible and encouraged.
* A god's core is the same across Ea, though the details change. This is similar to how there's been a 'god of war' or a 'god of the hunt' in multiple cultures all over the world. The details and methods of worship change, but there's a common, central theme or concept. Ea's deities were given 'common' concepts at their center so that this could play out.
* Assumptions we make about real-world vows (poverty, celibacy, etc.) DO NOT apply unless it's local to that culture, suborder, etc. For example, a suborder of Veyshanti Korites could demand celibacy because they believe it makes their devotion to the arts of war more pure, based on some obscure teaching by an Ifrit-blooded general.
* The idea of 'one deity' is completely alien to Ea.
* Atheism is completely alien to Ea--the gods have visible, tangible effects in the world.
* Deities, as well as famous people and nobles, are fodder for colorful and even ribald stories of all kinds. This doesn't make deities any less respected; instead, these stories add color to the world and draw them in a relatable way to everyday life. For example, even Althea had problems with Gilead when the guy was in his Terrible Twos. However, when she made him apologize to his uncle Navos for 'the incident,' he probably undertook some Herculean task instead of being sent to his room. Because he's a god. And he's Epic.

Finally, while there are some universal values because Emblem of Ea, and DnD, are 'high fantasy' (slavery being evil, tropes such as pride causeth downfall are all pillars of Classic Fantasy) faiths and details will vary by culture, race, and so on.

All of this is just a lengthy way of saying that historical and fantasy paganism are a better model for Ea's gods--and don't hesitate to invent, create your own suborders, interpretations based on the theme around them.

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:Policies]]

Bring a Little Fae

2025-04-15T03:11:07Z

Riptide: Created page with "<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;"> ==Log Info== *Title: Bring a Little Fae *GM: Aftershock *Characters: Atrid, Carver, Gramarye, Khepri *Place: Alexandros</div> Cerberus is standing in the center of the stone circle that has a circle of bushes around its exterior. The double circle makes the circle doubly potent as a fairy circle, and as proof of that, there's a few bluebells growing wild in the middle of the circle. Though they're..."

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">

==Log Info==

*Title: Bring a Little Fae

*GM: Aftershock

*Characters: [[Atrid]], [[Carver]], [[Gramarye]], [[Khepri]]

*Place: Alexandros</div>

Cerberus is standing in the center of the stone circle that has a circle of bushes around its exterior. The double circle makes the circle doubly potent as a fairy circle, and as proof of that, there's a few bluebells growing wild in the middle of the circle. Though they're hard to see in the dark of the night-time which it is currently. Cerberus is trying not to squish the little blue flowers and failing by and large. He seems uncertain at the moment about this whole plan, so he looks out at the group gathered beyond the thinning of the veil which he hopes will enable him to call for the fae lords for whom he had done their bidding.

"Let me know when you are all ready for me to summon them." Cerberus shifts his feet nervously. "I don't know if you guys want to hide or something?"

"You realize they may not even ''be'' fey, right Khepri? I mean, it's a big world, and there's all sorts of people with a knack for disguise."

The gangly, long-limbed war golem known as Khepri is having a conversation with its sword. This is probably not even the weirdest thing people have seen today. "This is true, Kastuvas. Which is why we will be here. Regardless if they are fey, fiend, or practical joker, they will be called to account."

Khepri lifts the khopesh, studying it, before pausing a moment in its inspection. Then the golem nods slowly, before checking the straps on the shield it wears. "I will stand at the edge of the clearing. Should something untoward happen, run towards me."

Carver has a few things she preps. First, she gets permission from Cerberus to cast something on him. If given, she mutters something and holds an eggshell against his forehead for an uncomfortably long time, making it incredibly difficult to ascertain if she is JUST messing with their bait as some sort of cruel joke. Other then a faint breeze that seems to keep catching his hair? It's hard to say what she did.

She will then move to Atrid can offer him a token of protection, of nature's warding, and this time it does have a slightly more observable affect. His skin hardens, growing darker in coloration. Finally, admist the flowers, she ties together a loose lasso of vines and knots it tight.

The hooded ranger gives one last look over Cerberus and to the rest, before she seems to almost... disappear, getting low into the high grass.

GAME: Carver casts Life Bubble. Caster Level: 13 DC: 16
GAME: Carver casts Barkskin. Caster Level: 13 DC: 15
GAME: Carver casts Snare. Caster Level: 13 DC: 15

Gramarye, war golem wizard and fighter, partially responsible for Cerberus's capture, is standing very resolute. She has her chain shirt on over her arcane wizard robes, and her cold iron greatsword (which is probably a further reminder to Cerberus that Gramarye is very willing to hunt fae if necessary, even if Khepri did warn her beforehand ''not'' to hunt any fae today according to her anti-fae protocols) is strapped to her back.

The bronze-plated, almost mannequin-shaped war golem's obsidian eyes light up with a dancing light for every syllable that leaves her (as her lack of a moving faceplate means she has no other visible indication of speech). "Khepri." Her neutral feminine tone is in stark contrast to the voice coming from Khepri's blade. Then Gramarye's head pivots in the direction of Khepri.

"Your blade is talking. I have recorded this development to my memory. I would like to examine it later." Then she adds, "I understand your directive regarding the mission protocol. I will aid in defense as needed."

Atrid smiles toothily at Carver. "Thanks lass, that's much appreciated." He says as he goes about his own preparations making sure he's got everything and his armor is secured and the like, weapon and shield and the whole nine yards.

GAME: Carver rolls stealth+4: (3)+27+4: 34

Cerberus seems to wait a moment longer, but when no one else seems inclined to hide, he shrugs. "All right." He turns his attention to the center of the circle and says, "Lord Tamlin?"

He waits a moment longer and then flushes when no one instantly appears. "Sometimes they'd make me wait a while..."

Just as he says this however, two forms step out of thin air. Being fae it's not instantly clear if they're male or female, but it is clear that they are fae. Their finely featured bodies being tall and thin as well as their blue and red hair respectfully make this clear. Their eyes match their hair as well. Both are wearing full face masks.

"Why did you summon us Cerberus? You ''failed''. You don't deserve to come to the summer lands."

It seems that you've not been immediately noticed by the male-sounding blue-haired individual but the second elbows their companion and points toward the obvious standing people. "He brought ''friends''. What is this, your new crew Cerberus? We don't need you any more." This red-haired individual sounds vaguely feminine.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (4)+13: 17
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (13)+9: 22
GAME: Khepri rolls knowledge/nature: (6)+11: 17
GAME: Gramarye rolls Knowledge/Nature: (1)+18: 19 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Carver rolls Knowledge/Nature+4: (5)+16+4: 25
GAME: Atrid rolls Knowledge/nature: (18)+8: 26

The grasses shiver in the breeze, where Carver hides...

Twin green eyes narrow. She is a chalice full of violence, fit to be tipped over. The sliver of her patience the difference between war and peace, measured in her slow breath as she takes in the Lord Tamlins, and determines that to her? They are not familiar. Members of a distant fey court, daughter and son of sunkissed glades.

Fingers twitch, impatient. She wars with the decision. No, not yet. The quiver remains untouched.

Atrid shakes his head with a bit of a wicked grin the glint in his eyes showing he knows just what these beings are. "So we have lesser Fae Nobility here, are we supposed to be impressed or somethin'?" He asks with a chuckle. "Anyone else not that impressed by this or them? Or is it just me?" He sigh and glances to Cerberus before looking back to the Fae folks. "So I see this is to be a more...well less than polite conversation?"

"Your efforts were in vain. Lord Ahu has reconciled with his paramour. The only question is why it would concern you so." Khepri's voice is harsh, mechanical, ringing out from behind its plague-doctor mask. The yellow of its eyes shifts to green as it continues, "It is not unusual for fey to seek partners among the mortal lands. Why object -- unless one of you sought Lady Mori'amana for your own."

The golem pauses, and its hand comes to rest on the now-sheathed khopesh. "Wait. Something is here, that stinks of corruption and darkness..."

Gramarye is perfectly unmoved by the two fae individuals, conveniently blue and red color-coded. "Please be advised that we are here to support the individual Cerberus in any way that is required for the situation. While we have no intention of escalating this situation, there could be escalation should you provoke as much."

There's a blink in her eyes before she adds, "Please identify the source of the corruption and darkness that my cohort has detected." As though she can politely demand such.

"How are we supposed to know what your friend senses?" The woman says haughtily, looking at Cerberus. "These aren't cohorts, they're here to question us? US? You mortals are all idiots. I wouldn't answer to you if you were a king. Mortals have no power over us."

The man mutters something derogatory and the woman laughs in response. Then louder he says, "I think we'll be leaving. Not answering your questions. And not taking ''you'' to the summer lands."

He points to Cerberus who wilts backwards a bit looking uncertain and unhappy. "You... you have to answer them!"

"No, we don't." The woman says, waving her arms and another gate opens behind them. "We can leave."

"Care to find which is faster?" Carver says as she rises to her feet, hooded and warpainted. "Your feet or my arrows?"

GAME: Khepri casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16
GAME: Khepri rolls ranged: (10)+8: 18

"I have not dismissed you, children of the First World!" Khepri's voice has taken on an ominous tone. The golem's hand traces a pattern, and it speaks, "Harpist, I do not wish these interlopers to leave by swift paths!" A greenish ray shoots out, striking one of the fey and layering it with an emerald glow.

Then Khepri draws Kastuvas. "You are not masters of the circles of the world. Cerberus has answered for his crimes. Now you will answer as well."

GAME: Gramarye casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 7 DC: 20
GAME: Gramarye rolls ranged: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Gramarye rolls ranged: (3)+7: 10

Gramarye's eyes glow blue as she intones, "Initiating spellcasting module." Her ball-jointed fingers shoot up in a quick gesture as she intones, "Anchor."

But the magic that spins out from her hands and arcs at the blue-schemed fae does not hit, veering off to the side instead. Gramarye then intones, "Seeking permission to activate anti-fae protocols. Exception: Cerberus. Please authorize at your convenience, Khepri or Carver." Apparently, they are her trusted individuals on this mission.

The blue-haired fae man laughs at his friend's misfortune. "Look at you, so high and mighty and you got hit by one of their little spells!" He laughs again and passes through the gate to the other side where one can see a forest during sunset. "Goodbye!"

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16

The red-haired woman curses at her 'friend' and draws her sword, a curved blade. "Fine then. I'll just kill you!" She's talking to Cerberus if the light in her red eyes is any indication. She moves forward a step - only to become suddenly entangled within the confines of the snare that Carver set.

GAME: Khepri casts Flames of the Faithful. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15
<OOC> Khepri says, "Swift action to activate Judgements (protection, purity)."

Suddenly, Khepri moves. It's rather daunting to see the long-limbed golem explode into motion, metalshod feet hammering the turf. As the fey woman menaces Cerberus, the Executor invokes its goddess again. "Harpist, I ask for a token of your favor, to burn away the dark!"

Kastuvas sings out, "Oh, I ''love'' when he does this! It makes me look even better!"

And then a glowing glyph appears on the khopesh, and it bursts into flame as Khepri skids to a stop between Cerberus and his one-time patron. "Cease, and you will not be harmed," the golem intones.

<OOC> Gramarye says, "Swift: Arcane Armor Training. Standard: Cast Haste on everyone. Move: put herself right up to Red."
GAME: Gramarye casts Haste. Caster Level: 7 DC: 20

Gramarye's eyes glow red. "Initiating combat module. Anti-fae protocol still suspended. Override requested of Khepri and Carver. Objective: capture the enemy." Her voice has dropped an octave, adding to the eerie ambience of her glowing red eyes. "Initiating spellcasting."

A string of eldritch syllables leave her as her fingers weave another spell, quickening magic washing over her allies, and then Gramarye draws her greatsword as she moves forward to the captured fae. "Quickening magic deployed. Cease your resistance and you will be unharmed, fae."

GAME: Atrid rolls 3 + 1: (17)+3+1: 21
GAME: Atrid rolls weapon3 + 1: (3)+4+1: 8

GAME: Carver rolls weapon12-3+2: (2)+22+-3+2: 23
GAME: Carver rolls 1d8+6+1+1: (2)+6+1+1: 10

"Protect the Pup," Carver husks as she bites into something. Then she's gone in a flutter of her cloak, racing past the melee and actually through the portal. She is somewhat aware of these risks, but... she made a promise, and many of them recently? She's failed to uphold. There is no reason to believe that these Fae might not take revenge in the future.

She goes through the portal.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (8)+14: 22

With a flourish of his sword, the blue-haired fae tries to take the bow out of Carver's hands, but she's too nimble for the attack and she manages to keep her weapon out of reach. "Get out of my way ''mortal''."

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22

Red-haired fae woman gives another wiggle to try and free herself to no avail. "Attacking me while I'm trapped! You low mortals! Fight me fair!" She wiggles again, but there's no use in it, she's entirely entangled.

<OOC> Khepri says, "Swift action to activate bane (fey). Intimidate to get the woman to surrender."
GAME: Khepri rolls intimidate: (6)+14: 20
GAME: Khepri rolls intimidate: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (20)+9: 29

Khepri focuses his will on his blade. A second later, it shudders, and then flashes with a shimmering light. "You would do well to desist," the golem addresses the fey woman.

"That's right! And now I'm gonna beat seven kinds of hells out of you for being--"

Khepri resists the urge to facepalm. "Kastuvas..." it says with a weary voice. Seeing that Gram and Atrid are surrounding Red, Khepri turns and stalks towards the gate where Carver is wrestling with the other fey. "Carver, I am enroute now."

<OOC> Gramarye says, "Swift action: Arcane Strike. Full-action to make attacks with the nonlethal penalty of -4."
GAME: Gramarye rolls weapon7-4: (8)+11+-4: 15
GAME: Gramarye rolls weapon7-4-5: (10)+11+-4+-5: 12
GAME: Gramarye rolls weapon7-4: (15)+11+-4: 22
GAME: Gramarye rolls damage7+2: aliased to 2d6+6+2: (7)+6+2: 15

Gramarye's red eyes are burning. She's not been given orders to drop her anti-fae protocol, but she does have an objective still. "Objective: capture the enemy," she intones, and she raises her greatsword without hesitation.

"Do not resist. Please stop." Gramarye then swings the blade. It's clear she's holding back, and also that she's not used to holding back. Only one attack connects, and it bites into the red-colored fae, drawing a bit of blood, but it's a livable wound. "This will cease when you cease to resist."

GAME: Atrid rolls weapon3+1: (14)+4+1: 19
GAME: Atrid rolls weapon3+1: (13)+4+1: 18

GAME: Carver rolls weapon12-5+1+1: (18)+22+-5+1+1: 37
GAME: Carver rolls weapon12-5+1+1: (7)+22+-5+1+1: 26
GAME: Carver rolls weapon12-5+1+1: (16)+22+-5+1+1: 35
GAME: Carver rolls weapon12-5-10+1+1: (13)+22+-5+-10+1+1: 22
GAME: Carver rolls 2d8+4d6+12+2d8+2d6+12: (9)+(19)+12+(12)+(11)+12: 75

Carver should use less force, but some little kernel of her sprouted in a dark temple raises up like a howling wolf. One second, she's considering mercy and how to limit damage, and the next, her rapid pull and release is only cut short at the very end in shock... she stands above the arguably murdered noble with a blank expression.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Screams the red-haired woman. "YOU MURDERED HIM! You expect me to sit here and do nothing?!? How dare you! He was immortal! Your lives are pitiful and meaningless maylives!" Tears stream down her face over her mask and she sobs. "May Vardama curse you for the murderers you are!"

"Carver, I am here!" Khepri speaks as it steps through the portal -- just in time to see the ranger perforate the fey with a barrage of arrows. The Executor comes to a stop, and Kastuvas says in a pained tone, "Oh dear. That... might not have been the best outcome."

Khepri stares at the sword pointedly, before grabbing Carver with its free hand and hustling her back through the portal. "Stand down!" the golem actually shouts. "STAND DOWN! Gramarye, Atrid, lower your weapons!"

Gramarye looks at Khepri, and there's a moment where, in an eerie moment that is becoming all-too-common for Gramarye, it's not wholly clear that she ''is'' going to stop fighting.

"Exiting combat module," Gramarye intones in her normal register as the red disappears from her eyes, going back to the usual stark obsidian. She puts away her greatsword and then looks at the red-haired fae. "We will not be harming you."

After hitting only one attack and missing the next two, whiffing as though swinging at something launched at high velocity, he hears the stand down. "Now why in the hell should we stand down?" He calls back though he does indeed lower his Scimitar but not fully, and he certainly doesn't resheath it. "I mean they'd kill us if given the opportunity I'm sure, and as we know life and death are both needed for nature to be in balance." He says with a nod.

Carver steps through the portal, gently prying her hand free from Khepri. Light has come back to her eyes a little, hard and tight. She looks back through the portal and then back over to Red, as the Fey burns with understandable fury. What explanation does she give?

"No more spring." Oh, very helpful Huntress.

The woman doesn't stop trying to escape, calling you cowards and worse. Still, she can't escape Carver's snare, and she doesn't seem inclined to answer any questions from 'mortals'. Which leaves you with a belligerent, insulting, fae woman to deal with.

With a flick of its wrist, the flames on Khepri's khopesh go out, and the shimmer fades. At the fey woman's vituperation, though, the golem stalks over to where she is ensnared, and growls in a hard, metallic voice, "Silence."

Suddenly, the golem reaches up and yanks the mask off the fey woman. The plague-doctor mask Khepri wears is now uncomfortably close, as the Executor speaks. "Your stupid, petty machinations cost lives. Mortal lives. Who had their own hopes and dreams and now stand in the Halls. Just as your friend now stands."

The golem has clearly had ''enough''. "The children of Ea are not your toys. Perhaps now you will remember that." Khepri shoves its khopesh back into its sheath.

Gramarye's words are not as forceful as her fellow golem's counterparts. Her obsidian eyes remain blank for a moment until she speaks again. "Vardama is a fair judge," she says. "If we are murderers, then we will be found as such. If your friend was a murderer, then he will be found as such. For the moment, you will come back with us to give up information."

There's a thinking 'blink' in her eyes before she adds, "Whenever you are ready to give it." Her head then pivots back in the direction of Carver. "Carver. Khepri. Atrid. Let us leave this place."

Atrid sighs and resheathes his sword. "Fine." He says turning to the others to head out with them.

"Thank you for the assistance, Pup. Atrid." Carver says, still staring off. She pulls the hood down. "I am going to retrieve Deathless."

[[Category:Logs]]

Recent Logs

2025-04-15T00:02:32Z

Riptide: /* April */

Magic Item Crafting

2025-04-14T19:30:20Z

Riptide:

==Step One: Note the item's Caster Level==

'''Scrolls, potions, or wands:''' the crafter must meet the minimum CL to cast the spell stored in the scroll, potion, or wand. The crafter may craft any of these items at a higher caster level than the minimal, though this raises the cost of the item, as well as the crafting DC. The crafter may not lower the caster level beyond what is needed to cast the spell.

'''Arms or armor:''' the caster may enchant up to:
* a +1 "effect" on the arm or armor per three caster levels. Effects include special abilities such as ghost touch.
* a +1 "enhancement" on the arm or armor per three caster levels. An enhancement is a flat +1, +2, and so on.

This means a 9th level caster may craft up to a suit of +3 Moderate Fortification armor.

An arm or armor must possess at least a +1 enhancement before any additional "effects" are added.

When determining the CL of arms or armor, its CL is the highest of either:
* its Enhancement Bonus x 3
* its Effect Bonus x 3

For specific arms and armor, such as rhino hide, the CL is given in the description of the special effect.

'''Cloaks of resistance:''' the caster may only enchant up to +1 per three caster levels. So to make a cloak of resistance +3, the caster level must be 9.

'''Bracers of armor:''' See Arms or armor, above.

'''All other items:''' the CL is part of the difficulty of creating the item, explained below.

==Step Two: Determine Crafting Costs==
{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
| colspan="2" | Crafting Costs
{{T02}}
|Item
|Cost Formula
|-
|Scrolls
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 25 gp ÷ 2
|-
|Potions
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 50 gp ÷ 2
|-

|Wands
|Crafting Cost = spell level × caster level × 750 gp ÷ 2
|-
|Arms, Armor
|Crafting Cost = (New Market Value - Previous Market Value) ÷ 2
|-
|Upgradable Items*
|Crafting Cost = (New Market Value - Previous Market Value) ÷ 2
|-
|Other Items
|Crafting Cost = Market Value ÷ 2
|}

:<nowiki>*</nowiki> Upgradable Items refers to any magical item, no matter its type, that is generally upgradable. A cloak of resistance would fall into this category: It can be upgraded from a +2 to a +3, for example. When in doubt, check with staff.

{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
|colspan="2"|Can You Craft It?
{{T02}}
|Crafter's Level||Market Value
|-
|2-5||Up to 6k
|-
|6-10||Up to 22k
|-
|11+
|No limit set at this time
|}

To prevent "camp and craft," and to keep WBL within reason, crafters may make any item of up to the listed market value, presuming they have the feats, skills, and time required. If the only person available is outside these bounds, come talk with staff and we'll work with you.

==Step Three: Be sure you have the right feats and spells==
'''A caster may bypass:'''
* a spell requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5 per spell
* a class requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5
* an alignment requirement by raising the crafting DC by 5
* a level requirement on armor, weapons, cloaks of resistance, and similar tiered enhancements, for example, by raising the crafting DC by 5 for each category below (so +5 if they're 3 levels short, +10 if 6)
* Non MI-creation feats

...and so on.

'''A caster may not bypass:'''
* the crafting feat requirement of the item to be crafted
* the material cost
* the spell requirement for: potions, scrolls, staves, wands, or any other spell-trigger or spell-completion magic item

'''Common questions:'''
* Supernatural or spell-like abilities do not count as spells for the purposes of the ability to take a crafting feat, or for meeting CL prerequisites. However, they may be used to fulfill crafting requirements. For example, if a magic item's pre-reqs include the spell Darkness, a mul'niessa crafter would be able to fulfill this requirement, even if he or she had not learned the spell as a wizard.

* A crafter may use expendable items, such as a scroll, to meet an item's spell prerequisite. However, the character has to be able to activate the scroll somehow as part of the crafting process, for each day spent crafting. This may require (as in the case of a rogue) the crafter to succeed at a Use Magic Device check to activate the spell. If the caster fails to cast the spell from the scroll, he makes no progress on the item that day unless he has another source for that spell (such as another copy of the scroll).

* A crafter may receive aid from another PC who knows a spell required, and avoid the raise in DC (except in the case of potions, scrolls, wands, and spell-trigger or spell-completion items).

* Although an artificer isn't a "caster," he or she may use her artificer level as a caster level when working with magic item creation.

* A crafter may choose to "take 10" on the skill check required to craft a magic item.

==Step Four: Roll the appropriate skill versus the item's magical crafting DC==
'''Determine the check DC:''' the DC is 5 + CL of the item + 5 per pre-requisite that the crafter does not meet.

'''Roll the dice:'''
The character may elect to roll the dice, or to "take 10." For the check, the character may roll any one of the following:
* Spellcraft, OR
* Craft/x, where x is a category that applies to the item being produced. Weaponsmithing, for example, would work for a sword, but not armor. See [http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/magicItems/magicItemCreation.html for a more detailed list].

Failing the roll results in some consequences. From the PRD: Failing this check means that the item does not function and the materials and time are wasted. Failing this check by 5 or more results in a cursed item (see Cursed Items for more information).

==Step Five: Determine Crafting Time==
Due to Dramatic Time, characters have relative flexibility on how and when they can craft. It is assumed that crafting happens in the 'background' of a character's day-to-day, although it can absolutely be roleplayed out on-screen. Due to the MUSH environment's 1:1 time adherence with the real world, we’ve opted for the following guidelines on crafting time:

* Potions and scrolls created with Brew Potion and Scribe Scroll are finished as quickly as staffers have the bandwidth to process crafting jobs.
* Any magic item created with Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Rod, Craft Staff, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item, and Forge Ring take 4 real days from the time a crafting job is filed.
* A crafting process for a magic item that is not a potion or scroll may have its process reduced by 1 day if a scene is roleplayed on the grid about the crafting process (such as a player character approaching another player character about commissioning the item, or a crafter looking for supplies at the market or another venue for their project). The scene must be posted to the wiki and linked to in a comment on the crafting job.

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:Magic Items]]
[[Category:Pathfinder Help]]

Running Up That Hill

2025-04-14T19:06:54Z

Riptide:

The way of life for Gramarye, Aragos, and a certain fey gentleman who stays over for three or four nights of the week has solidified some. Gramarye is typically off working late into the evenings in her workshop and storefront, but considering Aragos is busy most days in the Temple of Vardama and Alud'rigan tends not to arrive until the afternoons or early evenings anyway, it all more or less works out, as Gramarye is usually coming home after Alud'rigan's made dinner for himself and Aragos. In fact, the war golem has taken to ensuring Aragos has some kind of food, usually procuring fresh produce for cooking and other materials, and keeping them in enchanted boxes: a cold one for food that could be kept fresh, and a frozen one for food that could be frozen for long lengths of time. (Gramarye had done research and came to the conclusion that cooked food, rather than conjured food, was psychologically better for the organic lifeform, and so she took the imperative to keep their pantry and cold boxes stocked.)

Alud'rigan is enjoying himself now as he works in the kitchen of the townhouse, which had once been workshop, storefront, and home all at once for Gramarye's First Father. It has since been converted back into housing, with the workshop moved into Gramarye's storefront in the Market District. Gramarye has remarked there is much more space for domestic activities and comfortable living, although Aragos had moved in after Gramarye finished moving her professional work into her new workshop and storefront. Indeed, Alud'rigan is merrily putting the finishing touches on some kind of pot roast, shredding apart a long-roasted cut of goat meat with his bare hands (washed, of course).

It pays, sometimes, to have talons.

:: "Go, go, go on, my love
:: Go on quietly and go with peace
:: Open Vardama's door and dwell with her
:: And may you rest with the Harpist's song." <Sildanyari>

He's singing, which is a certain sign of a good mood. Alud'rigan's rather fond of this tune; it's a Sildanyari song for the parting of their mortal love, but for Alud'rigan, a member of the fae, it means more than that.

Aragos enters the house, and he's glad that Alud'rigan is in the kitchen area because he stops for a moment to listen to the song that the other man is singing. Surprised without reason that Alud'rigan is here. Aragos considers taking off his armor and in the end he uses doing so as an excuse to listen to Alud'rigan singing for a little while longer. Then he pats down his hair and his pockets and nervously steps into the kitchen.

Rather than interrupt the singing, the end of the song, he leans against the wall leading into the kitchen watching Alud'rigan with an ache that's settled deep inside his chest. Oddly he can't help but remember Skyler's hand on his shoulder. Telling him that he deserves love. As if Skyler knows.

When the song is over, Aragos leans harder into the wall. "Hey." His voice is deeper than usual, speaking around the harsh pain in his throat. "What you singing that song for?"

Alud'rigan turns around, smiling brightly at Aragos. He's wearing an apron over his usual robes, his feather-cloak hanging on the coatrack over by the door (where it typically lives when he's visiting). "I just like singing it," he says. "It reminds me of my family. There's no finer joy in life than to sing while cooking. Hold on a moment, I need to clean off my hands."

With a murmured word and a bit of magic, his claws are clean again, and then--and only then--does Alud'rigan draw close to Aragos, holding out his arms for an embrace. "Hello, my love," he says. "What's got your voice torn up a bit? Bad day at the Temple?" Sometimes--far too often--children enter the Temple and they only leave as cremains, which Alud'rigan knows can tear up Aragos inside on bad days.

Aragos pushes himself off the wall and moves himself into Alud'rigan's arms. After all, this might be the last time so... He hugs Alud'rigan tightly. Holding him like he doesn't want to let go. Because he doesn't. He doesn't want to mess up the only good thing in his life, and he knows that opening his mouth might do just that.

Finally he pushes away. "Nah. I was on guard rotation today. Didn't even see anyone." Which really doesn't explain why his words come out croaked like he's on the verge of tears. He steps back a step, His eyes meeting Alud'rigan's. "I saw Skyler today. He ah... Mentioned that you liked his tits." Aragos frowns at the memory.

Alud'rigan hugs Aragos back, but he can tell it's a tense hug. Something more than what their embraces usually are, although Aragos does have a clingy side to him that other people never see. He frowns softly as Aragos pushes away and talks still with that wounded voice...

And then Aragos mentions Skyler and his bosom. Alud'rigan flushes in embarrassment. "Oh, my darling, no, it's not what you think--for fear of sounding like a man caught in bed with a paramour and his member in his hands. Skyler had appeared in feminine dress at my granddaughter's house while I happened to be over. Believe it or not, I've dressed in drag in the past--it's rather common among the fae, as we are long-lived and occasionally enjoy a spin on our usual appearances at some point--so I merely complimented him on the craft. It is difficult to create the illusion of a woman's bustline for many men."

He frowns deeply. "I was not flirting with him. At least, I did not intend to, but... mortals do tend to construe my words for flirting when I do not mean anything by it." He'd gathered a collective of adoring aged female admirers when he worked at a bookstore previously in Alexandria this way. "I'm sorry, Aragos. Truly."

"I was pissed." Aragos admits. "I seriously considered slugging Skyler in the face. Maybe busting your ass for good measure, but that's what Telamon said. That you were just complementing the... dressing up I guess." Aragos shuffles his shoulders a bit unhappily.

"Even knowing that I was still pissed. I don't like the idea of you flirting with someone. Or someone thinking you're flirting with them. So I took the long way home. Thinking about why it bothered me so much." Aragos glances down. "I think I figured it out though."

Here's where everything's going to go wrong. Aragos feels his face turn hot. His whole body tensing with preparation of pain. So he talks in a rush of words, not giving Alud'rigan a chance to say anything as he awkwardly gets on one knee. "I figured out that I... I really love you. And I know I'm just a human... that my life is like a blink for you and that I'm pretty much worthless. I drink more than I should. Probably gonna get eaten by some monster well before I turn fifty." He almost laughs there. Fifty. He'll be lucky to crack forty and here he is... What's he doing? He should push Alud'rigan away so as to save both their hearts. "So... marry me."

He shoves his fingers in his pocket and pulls out an adamantine ring. It's burnished dark and he just... holds it in his hand, not even offering it to Alud'rigan. "So people know you're mine."

Alud'rigan's violet eyes are wide in shock as he watches Aragos go down on one knee. He hasn't considered getting married again. But Aragos's earnestness is truth. He's terrible at lying. Alud'rigan has been able to tell in the past when the man has been fibbing to him about going out drinking, and even though Aragos has returned to it, it's not been anywhere to the degree it was before. "Aragos," Alud'rigan says softly, his heart in his eyes as he looks down at the ring in Aragos's hand.

By fae standards, the ring is laughable, but Alud'rigan has never loved by fae standards. His wife was mortal. His children were mortal. All of his grandchildren are mortal. There's a graveyard behind his garden where all of the people he's ever loved are buried, and that is why the Sildanyari song speaks to him so. It's his fervent wish: that all of them rest beyond Vardama's door and rest with her song.

"If only we could swap our places." He reaches for that ring with his claws, intending to take it into his grasp. "If only you could live years and years ahead, if only I could make some sort of deal with the gods--so that you could understand how I love you, that you would never be jealous again..."

His claws rest on the ring, but he doesn't pull them away. Not yet. "If I only could." Alud'rigan's voice is gentle, his grasp is gentle, his words are kind. "I'll marry you," he says. "You and me."

Aragos feels his eyes burning, but the expected pain doesn't come. Instead, amazingly... Alud'rigan says yes. That doesn't hurt him, and it does. It tears him apart in his heart to know he's going to die some day and hurt Alud'rigan. That there's nothing he can do about it but love Alud'rigan now.

"I wouldn't let Vardama take that deal." He says, because he loves Alud'rigan exactly as he is. He bends his head over Alud'rigan's claws and kisses them each softly. He doesn't let the other man take the ring, but rather reverently puts it on the correct finger himself. "Whatever road we take from here, we'll do it together. You and me."

The fae man's eyes are soft things as Aragos kisses his claws. Far too long, Alud'rigan has internalized the thought that his hands were monstrous things, to the point he has taken pains to hide them when out and about in mortal society, and to be exceedingly gently when he does touch his beloved grandchildren--to comfort them, to love them, to be the grandfather that they need. Aragos has rehabilitated his hands somewhat. Alud'rigan's still exceedingly gentle with them, but in their mutual pains, their mutual losses (both having lost spouses and children), Aragos has given love to even this part of them.

"There must be worlds other than this," he says softly, "where you and I have more time. And yet, I don't begrudge living here in this one... loving you here in this one. Taking that road together with you in this one."

Alud'rigan reaches down with his other arm and goes to pull Aragos into his embrace again, planting a kiss onto the other man's lips. Once he lets Aragos have breath again (for Alud'rigan doesn't particularly need it), Alud'rigan says, "How soon should we have the wedding? Who should officiate? Or am I asking too quickly?"

Pulled into a breathless kiss - which is loved and adored - Aragos can only laugh at the bevy of questions. With his arms wrapped around Alud'rigan he plants a second kiss on his lips. "No. Not too quickly." He loves Alud'rigan so much.

"Lets have dinner, and answer all your questions. I don't want your goat to get cold and left to waste. Besides, I'm hungry." It's true, his stomach is growling fiercely, and he releases Alud'rigan to help him set up dinner. But pulls the chair across from his closer instead so they can sit side-by-side as they discuss the details of their wedding.

Something that Aragos never thought he would ever consider again.

-End

[[Category:Logs]]

With Vast Love (Part 1)

2025-04-10T02:34:54Z

Riptide: Created page with "<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;"> ==Log Info== *Title: With Vast Love (Part 1) *GM: Carver *Characters: Cuemoni, Haggerty, Harshad, Skyler *Place: The Vast</div> We Roved Out In Search of Family Lost: Welcome to the Vast. In truth, only a peek of it. The Great Plains of Arcania, host to the last and some of the greatest battles of the Daemon Wars, where Skald became twisted and faded into legend. Those are long-ago 'halycon' days..."

<div style="padding:5px; background-color:#e7eaea;">

==Log Info==

*Title: With Vast Love (Part 1)

*GM: Carver

*Characters: [[Cuemoni]], [[Haggerty]], [[Harshad]], [[Skyler]]

*Place: The Vast</div>

We Roved Out In Search of Family Lost:

Welcome to the Vast. In truth, only a peek of it. The Great Plains of Arcania, host to the last and some of the greatest battles of the Daemon Wars, where Skald became twisted and faded into legend. Those are long-ago 'halycon' days, and now, it is home to a great host of thriving cultures despite its dangers. The adventurers follow in the wake of the Caravan Aguay, as the behest of a Joybringer, and in the days of tracking the caravan they are introduced to many sights.

In the distance, tearing down the remains of an ancient castle, a great giant with a stony demeanor works with tools so massive as to be fit to be called siege weapons. Another day, in passing, they hear the roar of the Centaur tribesman at hunt. They break bread with a small family of Lucht Siuli, who share with them food and drink and the safety of their camp for stories and games. These are hints of things of the Vast. It would require vastly more time to discuss what else they could find if they were not for a purpose. The first of their planned stops is a watering hole. By the third day march into the shifting lands of the Vast, signs of the Caravan's passing are noted. A few hour's later they cross a wagon, in fine condition except for a broken wheel. Strange to see something of sentimental and objective value to the adventurous small folk so readily tossed aside. Wasteful is the word that comes to mind.

The occasional marker gets stranger, the footsteps begin to show signs of irregularity. Of difficult to explain changes of gait.

As they march to toward the heartlands, they spot a clue. A tattered, blood-stained slip of a pink coat with red flower stitching, half-hidden beneath a rock. It is not the direction of the Five Shires, where the Caravan's second stop should have been. It's instead in the direction of a descending trail into a valley, with short trees blocking line of sight what lay beyond.

Harshad is not an outdoorsman. He's a city boy at heart. But he's got good instincts, and the abandoned wagon bothers him. With a pipe firmly clenched in his teeth, he stops to inspect the lost coat. Cautiously lifting the hem with the tip of a curved dagger of black iron, he glances at the others.

"Got a bad feeling about this one," Harshad says grimly. "That Joybringer may want to pray a little harder." He puffs out a stream of smoke, before straightening up again, the dagger vanishing back into a belt sheath.

"Well.." Skyler has throughout the days of travel been... well... *Skyler*. Playing games with the Lucht Siuli, throwing himself with the enthusiasm he does everything into the caravan they are travelling with even if he is quite a bit too big to fit in the wagon. To honor their hosts, he's taken to tying scarves on his sword hilt and buckler, making him quite the sight to behold.

And probably most infuriating? He looks as well groomed and clean as if he were attending a gala at the Society's manse. He squats down by the coat, squinting down at it, "That *does* look ominous. Her blood, you think? Or maybe she defended herself? I once saw a lucht siuli disembowel a pirate with one of their cute little knives."

Haggerty rides his sleek destrier Leif. He observes and uses his magnifying glass regularly. The wizard smiles when the coat piece is found. "We may be able to use this to track the rest of the coat once we narrowed down the area, unless there is too much interference. The nature of the blood I cannot discern. Does anyone have a symptom analysis set, please?" He smiles to the sith, the slicer dicing man with the greenish eyes, the half oruch.

GAME: Cuemoni rolls Heal: (16)+13: 29
GAME: Skyler rolls perception: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Harshad rolls perception: (7)+9: 16

Cuemoni, a turquoise-scaled sith-makar, is dressed for the Vast. She's donned protective leather armor and a cloak to protect from the elements. The druid has remained relatively quiet, except for the occasional prayer and offering given to the spirits of nature. She's made sure everyone gets food and water. No one will be left unattended for on her watch.

"Ay." Cuemoni's golden eyes nictate as she looks at the coat. "This one does not like the added color. More accurately, the nature of it." She then looks at Harshad and Skyler. "Before the walking, this one can give the both of you spells to strengthen the body, to protect you. But this one will do the healer's assessing."

Reverently, she dips her head and comes close to the jacket with her healer's kit, murmuring a prayer on the behalf of the jacket-wearer and to allow her access. She uses an instrument to help her examine the fibers without touching them with her bare claws. "The jacket is not cut," she says. "Perhaps beaten and stomped, dragged on the ground. The blood is on the fibers in the front, near the collar--streaked as though it was used to wipe the face..."

Her golden eyes nictate as she extracts a hair follicle. "Dark color," she says. "It matches the quarry we seek."

"Whatever hit her, did it from behind." Skyler adds, taking a few hopping steps backwards to squint down at the ground. "Can't tell if it was an ambush or chase though." He spreads his gloved hands helplessly, "Truth be told, tracking isn't my strong suit." He frowns, and glances down at the trees. "I mean, it's obvious that the next step is to investigate down that way. Hags, maybe a summoned dog we can send down there to draw attention and trigger any traps?" Beat. "Do your summons feel pain?"

Harshad scowls, rubbing his tusk. "Someone jumped her, then. Kicked the crap out of her." He reaches behind his back to a pair of handles in a sheath there, and pulls out a paired set of hand scythes. Hefting them in his grip, before nodding to Cuemoni.

"Might be a good idea, as we're probably walking into trouble. Hopefully we're not too late."

GAME: Skyler rolls knowledge/arcana: (12)+1: 13
GAME: Haggerty casts Summon Monster II. Caster Level: 6 DC: 18
GAME: Haggerty used a Rod of Lesser Extend.
GAME: Cuemoni casts Barkskin. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Cuemoni casts Barkskin. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d3: (3): 3

Haggerty takes the cue of tobacco consumption and hits up a dose of snus/snuff with a resounding snort. He coughs and sneezes when an extra dose of dust finds his inner cavities and the arcanist tastes grime at the back of his mouth. "Magnificent finds, good Unionist! Secure the hair, please. It may be useful in a magical trace, but I am not capable of this type of magical search myself. Besides, I can provide short term shelter to the vagrancies of this area for one person. I should be reasonably safe for the moment, because I wear a set of protectives, so please focus your curatives and bolstering energies on our martial group members, if you were to be so kind." The wizard, who also carries a tiny black doge in a shoulder pouch. He sighs and furrows his brows, "Yes, yes they do feel pain. They are my friends. I would prefer not to use them this way! I can call some other being, though, even if it would feel similar hurts." The Aesir hops off his horse, kneels and summons a small gaggle of felines from a strange place, because the rift opens to a celestial back alley of sorts, if such even exists! A few not that merry sounding sounding words in celestial after the mandatory Eldritch along with a bit of fancy stick waving over a ritual candle, and off they scoot. If not without a "Phhhht!" of presented tongues!

"Then this one will cast the spells of protection for our warriors," Cuemoni intones in response to Haggerty, approaching Skyler and Harshad both. She intones a few words, waves a hand, and then touches Skyler on the shoulder... followed by a touch on Harshad's shoulder.

The skin feels a little tighter somehow. Tougher.

"This one hopes it is of help," Cuemoni says, before her golden eyes turn onto the gaggle of cats. "Ay. Cats. Will they be wanting the fish-snacks?" Her own cat at home is fond of dried fish flakes that Cuemoni makes from fishing in the river near their house--once, of course, the rest of the fish is consumed by herself and Zeke.

"I mean, her sister *is* a cleric." Skyler points out to Harshad, frowning thoughtfully, "It's been a while since I brushed up on it, but when I was a kid my theology and arcana teacher claimed resurrection rites could be performed with just a few bits and bobs." He scratches the scar on his jaw consideringly, grey-green eyes thoughtful, "I dunno what the percentage of body needed is, though. Or if they have to be intact." He shakes his head, waving gloved hands to banish the thoughts. "Gah! Anyways."

He glances at Haggerty and shrugs one shoulder, "I mean, surely if they get kicked..." And he mimes kicking a cat, "They just kinda poof back into existence in their alley, right?" He coughs, and adds, "Not that I'm suggesting we kick your cats. But, like, they'd make good scouts and flankers, y'know?" He holds up one arm, and walks two fingers along his forearm before suddenly grabbing his arm, "Who wouldn't be surprised and caught off guard by celestial cats falling out of the tree onto their faces?"

He shudders as Cuemoni's sorceries flash over him, wincing slightly but patting the scaled hand in thanks even as he continues to ramble, "I got some fish jerky! I keep it for Jarik's owl, but she won't know if I share. Accidentally ate some, and it's pretty good. Salty."

GAME: Harshad rolls stealth: (19)+13: 32

As they descend down the trail, and past the shielding trees, they find the first of the ruined wagons. It, like the one they found the day before, has been abandoned but this one has been ravaged. Not scavenged. Ravaged and wrecked and ripped for parts and bits without rhyme or reason, some of the valuables left to rot amongst them trade goods that the Lucht no doubt meant for the Shire. The horses are nowhere in sight but all their noses are tickled with the smell of smoke and meat cooked so harsh as to be charcoal itself farther ahead. Looks as if this is as far as these brave Lucht Siuli got.

One of Haggerty's celestial cats happen to be perched on the driver seat of the lead caravanner wagon, grooming itself. The orange one in this case, almost the shade of the wizard's own hair.

The VOID cat though, is slightly more aware, posed and staring at something in the darkness beneath the tarp of the aforementioned vehicle. The Tuxedo instead returns to Haggerty's side to rub against his leg. Cats, even summoned ones, behave in their own strange ways.

Speaking of strange, they get their first view of activity. No attacks. The cats determined that first, but still bizarre. Small folk in their bright colors, stomp and dance and jerk about awkwardly in small groups. They pay the arriving adventurers no mind. They are lost in their simple merrymaking. Something bugs you. Something is absent but difficult to pinpoint exactly what.

GAME: Skyler rolls perception: (6)+12: 18
GAME: Harshad rolls perception: (17)+9: 26
GAME: Harshad rolls knowledge/local: (15)+9: 24
GAME: Haggerty rolls perception: (15)+7: 22
GAME: Haggerty rolls knowlegde/local: (13)+knowlegde/local: 13
GAME: Cuemoni rolls Perception: (2)+13: 15
GAME: Cuemoni rolls Knowledge/Local: (9)+3: 12

Haggerty shrugs to the kind druid, "They like fish, but also grasshoppers, beetles, tiny arachnids which are not too poisonous, mice and such. Rather like their Ean counterparts. I have to say I typically only call for canines." He cants the pointy hat to view Skyler, "That sounds likely, but it is sure to be some form of mighty ritual which also costs a pretty gold piece by which I mean a huge pile of dragon bedding." The freckly man gestures encouragingly to the others.

As the group descends down the trail, Harshad keeps to the shadows, slipping in and out of them like the cats as he follows, sickles in hand. When he catches sight of the dancing folk, though, he comes to a stop, and hisses at the others. "Hold it."

The rogue points with one sickle at the dancers. "I've seen lucht partying. This ain't it. There's no music. And they don't -look- right. That one in the blue -- do they have an extra arm or am I seeing things?" Harshad's brow furrows. "I hate the Vast."

Harshad may be moving shadow to shadow, but Skyler is making no attempt at stealthy movement. Decked out like some fetishized version of a pirate with rainbow silk scarves hanging from his sword and buckler, and so much magical geegaws he looks like he fell into a display case and said 'i'll take it!'... He's never going to be stealthy. "That is fucking *creepy*." He mutters in agreement to Harshad before squaring his shoulder and glancing at the wagon. "Think she's under that tarp? Hey, Haggy, can you get your cats to jerk the tarp off? It's too far for me to reach."

Haggerty briefly things with his darkly coated and eyed familiar. Both seem very worries which the cute-sized paws owner stresses with a low whine-snort. As if his large black eyes would not tell enough. Haggs inhales sharply and looks for signs of understanding in the others, "Did.." The robed man shuts up and nods to the half oruch sneak. He nods quietly and crouches, "You are correct. Feet are clubbed, too. This is horrible." A scratch to the side of his bent nose. "I can have them try, but those are smaller felines, not even snow leopards or thylacines." The spellsy guy focuses his thoughts and commands the kitties to claw and pull at the tarp.

GAME: Carver rolls 1d20-5: (6)+-5: 1

They all watch with baited breath as the VOID and the Orange cat receive their mental command, and then very carefully go to obey. They wiggle in prep, then leap gracefully up to the blocking tarp to pull it away. They dangle comically as the Lucht dance in quiet madness, before dropping to soft little paws.

The orange cat goes to sniff at a nearby rock. The black cat though has its hackles visibly rising.

Cat strength was not enough this day.

GAME: Harshad rolls stealth: (16)+13: 29

Harshad restrains a sudden sigh as Haggerty's cats attempt to tug the tarp down. He just shakes his head, and glances at the others. "Cover me. I'll take a look." And then the half-orc is slipping through the shadows again, using the trees for cover, avoiding sticks on the ground until he finds himself next to the little black cat.

"Alright," he muses almost silently to himself. "Let's see what's got you riled.." Carefully, he lifts the edge of the tarp, peering inside...

The others see Harshad appear, and rip back the tarp. The Dancers do not suddenly enrage at this. They hardly seem aware of the world outside their little 'joycircles' and if anything, perfectly horrifically blissful unaware. They just giggle and stomp and gurgle at a festival macabre.

The smell of the meat hits them and they realize what it is. It's their horses.

Cuemoni's nostrils flare at the smell. "Ay, the horsemeat," she whispers in complaint. Makari aren't so picky about the origin of their meat, but she is aware that, among many softskin cultures, horsemeat is not considered proper food. She readies herself for action, lifting a hand. "This one will prepare fire."

A beat. "Not for the meat." Cuemoni would rather not make anyone sick with the smell of cooking horse meat.

Haggerty grunts at the sacrilege. "This is an inversion of lucht culture. They rely on their ponies. This is an offense to the Lady of the Lance!" The redhead's features are a study in exasperation. He shakes his hat once more. "Only complete despair would cause a sane lucht to butcher their drafts."

Skyler, for his part, gags at the reveal, wrinkling his nose. "That's unsettling and disgusting and doesn't make this the least bit less creepy." The swashbuckler curls his lip, glancing over at the dancing little people. "What do you think would happen if we interrupted them? Isn't there some sort of spell that makes people dance against their will? Think Bryn or someone mentioned it once." He glances at the wizard of the group, "You sense anything weird?" He considers that, and then adds, "Besides the obvious, of course."

GAME: Haggerty casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 6 DC: 15

Harshad put one of his sickles away to lift up the tarp, but what he sees there causes him to recoil in shock. He doesn't fall down, but he does stumble back a pace, putting his arm across his nose and mouth, his eyes wide. He shudders, glancing around, but the dancers haven't even reacted.

After a moment, he shivers again, and moves back towards the others. When he gets there, his greenish skin has a pale cast to it, and his eyes are a little wild. "There's a Lucht in there... well, I think it is. They've got one of those funny lutes, whatcha call it, a shamisen, but... they're all messed up. They got sores and scales and shit growing out of 'em."

Harshad does not even sneak back, perhaps too rattled to remember. The dancers pay him no mind in their perturbed fumblings. One falls down, its weight too much for a weakened ankle and they watch as it is stomped and kicked about. Not maliciously, but just as a victim of its own weakness.

The crunch of bones and a soft whimper makes for terrible music.

GAME: Harshad rolls perception: (19)+9: 28
GAME: Cuemoni rolls Perception: (7)+13: 20
GAME: Skyler rolls perception: (11)+12: 23
GAME: Haggerty rolls perception+2: (15)+7+2: 24

Haggerty pointedly nods, "The Xian lute? That is of the person we are looking for!" Ahum. He quiets, breathes low, and observes with glowing blue eyes to search for active magical auras. "Yes, Sky, I am viewing." A few slow breaths later, "Transmutation also known as alteration or mutation magics. Not too strong. The dance is voluntary after a fashion. I would normally say the music makes them want to dance, but I do not see any mana tendrils, Eluna be blessed. Or.."

They all perk up at a noise behind them. Three voices. Just as Haggerty points out the lack of music. One voice, reedy and thin, another voice, deeper and commanding of presence. A third chilling in languages not of this world. When they turn to look behind them they see a figure standing with hands extended to the sky and singing.

Just one body. Three mouths. The reedy voice has a pattern. In Lucht. They repeat something over and over.

The commander's hum serves as the base. Between and around and amongst the high and low notes, dredge and sickness and madness.

The dancers slowly began to walk by, streaming in one and twos past the adventurers, shambling to the music.

"W-What? Did you see..." Harshad finds himself pointing at a spot that's... well, empty. The weird, three-voices-from-one-guy sets his teeth on edge, and the half-orc glares at the figure. "...nevermind. We need to shut that fucker up. Bet you a gold he's at the center of this."

He glances at the others. "We may not be able to save the others, but at least they won't be suffering any more."

"Okay, this is not just creepy, it's *fucking* creepy." Skyler declares to no one in particular, biting his lip as he considers the crew of dancing Luchts and the sound of the voice. He takes a deep breath, letting it out in a huff before he shakes his head, and asks, "You guys hear that singing? Maybe if we drown it out..."

And rather than waiting to see if someone can cast silence or the like, Skyler instead begins to bang his sword against his buckler as he screams out as he rushes towards the man Harshad indicated. He's... off key. And the lyrics are certainly *not* for polite company as he sings lustily. Bryn, wherever she is, would be proud though:

:: "I rise at six and then I feed the chicks,
:: And I’m feeling lonesome and blue,
:: And when I milk the cow it seems, somehow,
:: My thoughts keep straying to... You!"

GAME: Skyler rolls perform/sing: (16)+4: 20

"We must act quickly," Cuemoni whispers, an edge to her voice. "This one can shoot out a flame at the three-voiced one. But this one is..."

She'd been about to express her concern about shooting fire at the voice. Then Skyler is singing. Cuemoni's golden eyes nictate once.

And then she leans into it. "Go!" she whispers! "Go, go forth, Warrior Who Sings!" Song accompanying war is honorable.

Haggerty rummages in one of the pouches on his belt, pulls forth a roll of parchment and gets into range which is eight long steps. Next thing is to read the Eldritch and do the ridiculous motions with the free hand: toss little nothings and wave a tiny thing pinched between thumb and index finger.

GAME: Haggerty used a Scroll of Hideous Laughter.
GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19

The monstrous creature, whose headpiece conceals their eyes, but not the three singing mouth is explicitly hideous. The open wounds on their neck match and merge the timber of the compelling eldritch song together, three mouths and one body and who knows how many twisted souls. Haggerty draws from his scrolls and weaves cues of magic as the song tapers off, the Singer absolutely distracted by Skyler raising and matching in pitch. No matter how strange and bizarre there seems to be enough of a human soul there to be surprised and distracted.

The fanged mouth, the speaker of eldritch tongues begins to laugh as the magic takes hold and at first the woman's lips and the commanding male's hum matches. Then they fall flat. The stained, cracked lips twist in a hideous snarl as they fight off the enchantment.

The many many many dancers turn and stare down at the adventurers.

Welcome to the Vast.

[[Category:Logs]]

Recent Logs

2025-04-10T02:28:48Z

Riptide: /* April */

Recent Logs

2025-04-01T23:57:10Z

Riptide:

Character Spends

2025-03-27T01:02:55Z

Riptide:

{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|colspan="2" | About Character Spends
|-
| style="background:#ccc;" valign="top"|[[image:rpp_unlimited.gif]]
|Character spends relate to quirks, options, and roleplay advantages for your character.
|}

==Character Spends==
{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
|colspan="3"| [[image:rpp_unlimited.gif]] Character Spends
{{T02}}
|Reward
|Benefit
|Cost
|-
|valign="top"|'''Gain a Level'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;"|By spending RPPs, you may gain a level! You will also receive a stipend of gold associated with your level up. At least 85 percent of this stipend must be spent, and items must be purchased at market price. (See [[House_Rules_and_Clarifications#Stipends|Stipends on the House Rules page]] for more information.) '''You may purchase only one advancement per tier.'''
: Tier 1: 10 RPP to advance from level 2 to 3, 3 to 4, or 4 to 5.
: Tier 2: 20 RPP to advance from level 6 to 7, 7 to 8, 8 to 9, or 9 to 10.
: Tier 3: 20 RPP to advance from level 11 to 12, 12 to 13, 13 to 14, or 14 to 15.
: Tier 4: 30 RPP to advance from level 16 to 17, 17 to 18, or 18 to 19.

The Gain a Level spend stacks with the Run Your First PRP and Fill a Niche bonuses (see our [[Bonuses]] page for more information).

|Varies
|-
|valign="top"|'''Multiclass or PrC'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |This minor spend reflects some of the RP you've done towards your multiclass or PrC. This does not apply to multiclassing done during chargen. For coding purposes, be sure and let staff know 2 levels ahead of time about the intent to purchase a PrC. This is just so we can get our ducks in order.||3 RPP
|-
|valign="top"|'''Reroll Fate'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |Ask Navos to shift the sands of time in your favor, just a little. This allows an immediate reroll of any d20 that you had made. This must be done before the results are known. May be purchased during a scene.||3 RPP
|-
|valign="top"|'''Reroll a Hit Die'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |The luck of the dice is not always kind, especially with our current RNG (which tends to roll low). For the cost of 5 RPP, you can buy the maximum result on the die for one level to replace a roll that came out low or replace your choice of an average roll. When you submit the request, please note what level you’re replacing and what die size is associated with it. (+sheet/hp can show you what HP rolls and die size are associated with each level.)

For your reference, here are the classes listed by their hit die size:
:D6 classes: Arcane Trickster, Loremaster, Mystic Theurge, Sorcerer, Witch, Wizard
:D8 classes: Artificer, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Inquisitor, Pathfinder Chronicler, Rogue, Shadowdancer
:D10 classes: Arcane Archer, Bloodrager, Cavalier, Duelist, Eldritch Knight, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Swashbuckler
:D12 classes: Barbarian, Dragon Disciple, Indomitable, Skinwalker

|5 RPP
|-
|valign="top"| '''Skill Boon'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |Earn 1 skill point in a Craft, Performance, or Profession skill. This is earnable as many times as you like, of up to 3 skills per category. '''Note''': Bards cannot use the Skill Boon RPP spend to gain ranks in a Performance skill due to their Versatile Performance feature. ||3 RPP per rank
|-
|valign="top"|'''Special Materials Discount'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |Through roleplay, you've secured access to unique materials, enough for a single item (for ammunination, it is enough for 50 arrows, 10 bolts, etc. as normal). How you did so is part of your own story. Regardless, your efforts allow you to purchase these materials at 75% of the normal cost. The cost is as below:
:Market is 0-5000g: 3 RPP
:Market is 5001g+: 4 RPP

Note: The discount only applies to the cost of the materials themselves (not to enchantments or so on). This cannot be used to reduce the cost of spell components. It only applies to "special materials" as per the equipments page.

| See Text
|-
|valign="top"|'''Favorable Merchant'''
|style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |Through roleplay, you've found a favorable merchant. Perhaps it's a caravan making its way through, or a merchant needing a favor. Regardless, you're able to arrange a deal. With a little neighborly handshaking, and by spending some RPP, you may purchase a number of magic items at 65 percent market value. This does not include basic material costs; that is, you'll need to provide the item for them to enchant, or the component for the spell. Magic rods may be purchased at 75 percent. Stat-raising manuals and tomes cannot be discounted with this spend. These items appear at the time of purchase; there is no wait. The price is as follows, based on the total market value:
:Market is 0-10,000: 3 RPP
:Market is 10,001-35,000: 4 RPP
:Market is 35,001+: 5 RPP

|See Text

|-
|valign="top"|'''Battle Healing'''
|style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |By burning a number of RPPs, you may heal yourself as a standard action, once per scene. This is considered divine-based healing, a grant from your deity. More than 1 RPP may be burnt at once, according to the formula below. You must be conscious and otherwise capable of using supernatural abilities in order to employ this spend. You may use this ability on your companion or familiar separately, but not one granted through use of a spell. This is an experimental spend, so expect updates as we look for feedback.
:1 RPP: 25% of total hp
:3 RPP: 50% of total hp
|Varies (see text)

|-
|valign="top"|'''Intuitive Skills'''
|style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |By burning a number of RPPs, you may cause your character to become inspired, granting a +5 to any one skill check. The points must be spent before the check is made. This is an experimental spend, so expect updates as we look for feedback.
|2 RPP
|}

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:RPPs]]

Character Spends

2025-03-27T00:48:35Z

Riptide:

{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|colspan="2" | About Character Spends
|-
| style="background:#ccc;" valign="top"|[[image:rpp_unlimited.gif]]
|Character spends relate to quirks, options, and roleplay advantages for your character.
|}

==Character Spends==
{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
|colspan="3"| [[image:rpp_unlimited.gif]] Character Spends
{{T02}}
|Reward
|Benefit
|Cost
|-
|valign="top"|'''Gain a Level'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;"|By spending RPPs, you may gain a level! You will also receive a stipend of gold associated with your level up. At least 85 percent of this stipend must be spent, and items must be purchased at market price. (See [[House_Rules_and_Clarifications#Stipends|Stipends on the House Rules page]] for more information.) '''You may purchase only one advancement per tier.'''
: Tier 1: 10 RPP to advance from level 2 to 3, 2 to 4, or 4 to 5.
: Tier 2: 20 RPP to advance from level 6 to 7, 7 to 8, 8 to 9, or 9 to 10.
: Tier 3: 20 RPP to advance from level 11 to 12, 12 to 13, 13 to 14, or 14 to 15.
: Tier 4: 30 RPP to advance from level 16 to 17, 17 to 18, or 18 to 19.

The Gain a Level spend stacks with the Run Your First PRP and Fill a Niche bonuses (see our [[Bonuses]] page for more information).

|Varies
|-
|valign="top"|'''Multiclass or PrC'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |This minor spend reflects some of the RP you've done towards your multiclass or PrC. This does not apply to multiclassing done during chargen. For coding purposes, be sure and let staff know 2 levels ahead of time about the intent to purchase a PrC. This is just so we can get our ducks in order.||3 RPP
|-
|valign="top"|'''Reroll Fate'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |Ask Navos to shift the sands of time in your favor, just a little. This allows an immediate reroll of any d20 that you had made. This must be done before the results are known. May be purchased during a scene.||3 RPP
|-
|valign="top"|'''Reroll a Hit Die'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |The luck of the dice is not always kind, especially with our current RNG (which tends to roll low). For the cost of 5 RPP, you can buy the maximum result on the die for one level to replace a roll that came out low or replace your choice of an average roll. When you submit the request, please note what level you’re replacing and what die size is associated with it. (+sheet/hp can show you what HP rolls and die size are associated with each level.)

For your reference, here are the classes listed by their hit die size:
:D6 classes: Arcane Trickster, Loremaster, Mystic Theurge, Sorcerer, Witch, Wizard
:D8 classes: Artificer, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Inquisitor, Pathfinder Chronicler, Rogue, Shadowdancer
:D10 classes: Arcane Archer, Bloodrager, Cavalier, Duelist, Eldritch Knight, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Swashbuckler
:D12 classes: Barbarian, Dragon Disciple, Indomitable, Skinwalker

|5 RPP
|-
|valign="top"| '''Skill Boon'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |Earn 1 skill point in a Craft, Performance, or Profession skill. This is earnable as many times as you like, of up to 3 skills per category. '''Note''': Bards cannot use the Skill Boon RPP spend to gain ranks in a Performance skill due to their Versatile Performance feature. ||3 RPP per rank
|-
|valign="top"|'''Special Materials Discount'''||style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |Through roleplay, you've secured access to unique materials, enough for a single item (for ammunination, it is enough for 50 arrows, 10 bolts, etc. as normal). How you did so is part of your own story. Regardless, your efforts allow you to purchase these materials at 75% of the normal cost. The cost is as below:
:Market is 0-5000g: 3 RPP
:Market is 5001g+: 4 RPP

Note: The discount only applies to the cost of the materials themselves (not to enchantments or so on). This cannot be used to reduce the cost of spell components. It only applies to "special materials" as per the equipments page.

| See Text
|-
|valign="top"|'''Favorable Merchant'''
|style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |Through roleplay, you've found a favorable merchant. Perhaps it's a caravan making its way through, or a merchant needing a favor. Regardless, you're able to arrange a deal. With a little neighborly handshaking, and by spending some RPP, you may purchase a number of magic items at 65 percent market value. This does not include basic material costs; that is, you'll need to provide the item for them to enchant, or the component for the spell. Magic rods may be purchased at 75 percent. Stat-raising manuals and tomes cannot be discounted with this spend. These items appear at the time of purchase; there is no wait. The price is as follows, based on the total market value:
:Market is 0-10,000: 3 RPP
:Market is 10,001-35,000: 4 RPP
:Market is 35,001+: 5 RPP

|See Text

|-
|valign="top"|'''Battle Healing'''
|style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |By burning a number of RPPs, you may heal yourself as a standard action, once per scene. This is considered divine-based healing, a grant from your deity. More than 1 RPP may be burnt at once, according to the formula below. You must be conscious and otherwise capable of using supernatural abilities in order to employ this spend. You may use this ability on your companion or familiar separately, but not one granted through use of a spell. This is an experimental spend, so expect updates as we look for feedback.
:1 RPP: 25% of total hp
:3 RPP: 50% of total hp
|Varies (see text)

|-
|valign="top"|'''Intuitive Skills'''
|style="vertical-align:top; border-bottom:1px solid; border-color:#8dbdbd;" |By burning a number of RPPs, you may cause your character to become inspired, granting a +5 to any one skill check. The points must be spent before the check is made. This is an experimental spend, so expect updates as we look for feedback.
|2 RPP
|}

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:RPPs]]

House Rules and Clarifications

2025-03-27T00:33:21Z

Riptide: /* Classes */

This page is used to list some house rules and clarifications used on Tenebrae: the Emblem of Ea. While it is not our intent to document everything, we will attempt to document what may be particularly confusing that is relevant to the game and players' enjoyment.

[[image:Rulesnom.png|thumb|right]]As Tenebrae is not by nature a PvP game, a game oriented towards minmaxing or competition versus other players, nor a traditional tabletop game, some of our interpretations may appear somewhat different than what a traditional tabletop gamer might expect.

==RAW versus RAI==

We are a Rules as Intended (RAI) game, not a Rules as Written (RAW) game. However, the GM in your scene may rule closer to RAW. The GM's ruling is the final arbiter of the scene. See the Game Policies page regarding [[Game_Policies#House_Rules_and_Rules-Lawyering | House Rules and Rules-Lawyering]] for more information.

==Classes==

===Animal Companions and Familiars===

'''Q: Can animal companions and familiars use items? Can they talk?'''

'''A''': Some familiars are capable of speech.

Paizo published [http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5lc1y&source=search some clarifications] to Animal Companions that we use regarding intelligent animal companions.

However, animal companions or familiars can not '''activate''' magic items. An animal companion could ''benefit'' from an item with a continuous magical effect, such as an amulet of natural armor, if its master equipped the item for the animal companion. Animal companions may not use manufactured weapons.

'''Q: What magic item slots does my animal companion have?'''

'''A''': Animal companions typically have the following item slots: headband, cloak, feet, belt, and neck. They may also wear barding unless otherwise specified. Note that these are general rules--not all animal companions will have legs, for example, and so would not be able to wear feet slot items.

'''Q: What is the reach of my animal companion?'''

'''A''': Some animal companions' reach will change once they change in size. To determine if this occurs, use the Creature Size and Scale table on [http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/combat.html the Combat PRD page], then cross-reference it with the "normal" version of the creature from the [[World_Bestiary#Companions | World Bestiary's Companions section]]. If ''both'' sources suggest the creature would now possess reach, then it does.

===Archetypes===

Due to code, balance, and other issues involving headaches and the slow and painful death of our staff, archetypes are not in Tenebrae and will not be added to the game.

===Aura of Courage===

If you have an aura of courage, you're immune to fear. This includes intimidation effects. This was an update from 3.5 that just doesn't fit the thematics of certain classes.

===Bloodlines===

Sorcerer bloodlines are a "trace" of another race or being. A sorcerer with a fey bloodline doesn't become the fey creature type, for instance, any more than an infernal bloodline sorcerer becomes the devil creature type, or so on. There are reasons that Prestige Classes (PrCs) like the Dragon Disciple exist--they take characters above and beyond the limits of the sorcerer class.

The PRD gives us some examples of sorcerer bloodlines and how they manifest: "For example, a sorcerer might have a dragon as a distant relative or her grandfather might have signed a terrible contract with a devil."

This does not make the character any less special--it just means they're still human, dwarf, or whichever is appropriate. Something unusual happened to make them the way they are, and they exhibit traits beyond what's ordinary.

====Bloodline Stacking, Dragon Disciple, etc.====

For the purpose of mechanics, bloodrager bloodlines and sorcerer bloodlines are treated as different yet similar abilities. They do not stack. Bloodrager may be used as an entry into the Dragon Disciple prestige class. When a character advances in the Dragon Disciple PrC and when they select their spellcasting class for advancement, the code selects the spellcasting class's associated bloodline. For those entering the PrC without a bloodline, their bloodline will default to sorcerer.

===Creepy Hair (Prehensile Hair)===

Prehensile hair (assigned by the code as 'Creepy Hair' on character sheets) falls under the natural attack rules. If you use prehensile hair on its own, it is a primary natural attack. If you use prehensile hair with a manufactured weapon, it is a secondary natural attack. If you possess another natural weapon, then prehensile hair becomes secondary, because it falls into the "other" category of natural attack, as per the PRD.

A similar ruling applies to other natural attacks, such as the barbarian's bite attack rage power and more.

===Monks===

We use Paizo's [http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5le61?Monkeying-Around update to the monk] update to the Amulet of Mighty Fists. We had used the other updates, but those are incorporated into Unchained Monk. Unchained Monk is the default for Tenebrae.

===Rage===

'''Q: With the Unchained barbarian, how does rage work if used in another context? For example, a spell?'''

'''A''': If the ability reads 'rage as barbarian,' then use the new rules. Otherwise, these abilities work as outlined. In addition, [http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1gw#v5748eaic9t91 this FAQ applies].

===Smite===

When it comes to modifiers that affect damage rolls (such as the bonus on damage rolls from Point-Blank Shot, the inspire courage class ability, and the smite evil class ability), and special abilities that deal damage on a successful attack roll, apply them on hit point damage only. Apply modifiers only once per casting or use, rather than once per attack. For instance, if a spell or special ability launched a dozen different ranged attacks simultaneously, only one (of the user’s choice) receives bonus damage. This doesn't apply on area effects with the rare potential for extra attack rolls, like fireball. However, there is a category of abilities that deserves a special note: abilities like Arcane Strike that specifically enhance a character's weapon or weapons never apply to special abilities (with the exception of special abilities that specifically call out that Arcane Strike can be applied).

===Targeted Strike===

The [[Swashbuckler]]'s Targeted Strike ability has the following line added to it: In lieu of the other effects listed, targeted strike can also break a grapple by targeting the grappling limb.

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:Policies]]

==Equipment==

===Specific Items===

'''Dragonhide:''' Due to the more active role dragons play in the world as ambassadors, political rulers, and so forth, dragonhide has been replaced with [[Equipment|spirit-bond armor]], an armor crafted of elemental essence.

'''Elven Curveblade:''' The elven curveblade is not available in Tenebrae at this time.

'''Headbands of Intellect:''' Not a rule so much as a reminder!
* Your intellect skills should be noted in your headband items. If not, please contact staff ASAP so we can fix it. If you think or know you've made an error with this, we can fix that too once we've verified.
* When leveling, do NOT put your ranks in these skills. They will go up automagically with your HD.

'''Circlets of Persuasion:''' Circlets of Persuasion do not provide bonuses to concentration checks.

'''Bucklers:''' Archers, gunners, and crossbow users do not take the -1 attack penalty when carrying a buckler. However, they do not receive the buckler's AC bonus unless they are actively wielding the buckler. This makes the buckler useful if the wielder needs to rush through enemy lines, make a stand, go total defense, and more. Bucklers also apply to flat-footed AC.

'''Feychild Necklace:''' Feychild Necklaces do not provide bonuses to concentration checks.

'''Ghostvision Gloves:''' You can't deactivate ghostvision gloves until the timer runs out. The duration cannot be divided up.

'''Monkey Belt:''' The Monkey Belt (and similar items) cannot be used to make a make an off-hand attack in the same round that a character uses a two-handed weapon. Monkey belts do not count as a free hand for the purposes of reloading firearms.

'''Shields:''' To keep headaches down and allow us to list things more cleanly in +inv, crafters can enchant shield spikes as a weapon.

'''Transformative:''' The following is our ruling on the Transformative property:

:A. The weapon property is command-word activated.
:B. A weapon with the Transformative property maintains its magical properties. The exceptions to this are:
::1. The new transformed form is unable to use an enchantment (for example, a transformed mace cannot be keen).
::2. The new transformed form is a double weapon, while the original form was a single weapon--in this case, only half the weapon can use an enchanted property such as Keen; though the unenchanted half would still be of masterwork quality.
:C. The transformed weapon maintains its material makeup when possible. If the new weapon form is not normally made from that material, it defaults to the material for the new form (for example, you can't transform a weapon into an adamantine staff).
:D. Treat the transformed weapon as an entirely different weapon that just happens to possess similar special materials and enchantments as your old one. For example, when transforming from a greatsword to a greataxe, use the damage dice, threat range, and multiplier of the greataxe. When moving from one form of polearm to another, you may lose Trip but gain Brace.

Restrictions on Transformed Weapons:
:A. The new transformed form must be an appropriately sized weapon for the wielder.
:B. The weapon must be of the same general type as the type it is transforming to: weapon category (1H, 2H, or light), ranged, reach, melee, and thrown. For example, a medium transformative longsword can take the shape of any other medium one-handed melee weapon, such as a scimitar, flail, or trident, but not a medium light or two-handed melee weapon (such as a medium short sword or a medium greatsword).

'''Wildshape, Wild Armor, etc:'''

'''Q: Wild armor and other transforming armor: When I use a wild armor and gain the armor's benefits, what restrictions, if any, apply to me? In general, when I transform with a polymorph effect and some of my gear melds into the form, what restrictions do I have for melding with large amounts of heavy gear? What about other types of transforming armor?'''

'''A''': If you were in medium or heavy load from encumbrance before transforming, you continue to take those penalties in your melded form. Otherwise, ignore the weight of melded items and calculate your encumbrance in your polymorphed form entirely based on non-melded items. When wearing melded armor and shields, if you gain no benefit from the melded armor, you still count as wearing an armor of that type, but you do not suffer its armor check penalty, movement speed reduction, or arcane spell failure chance. If you do gain any benefits (as with the wild property), then you do suffer the armor check penalty, movement speed reduction, and arcane spell failure chance. This also applies to all other situations where you or an armor transform: you always count as wearing an armor of that type, and if you gain any benefit at all from the armor (such as mistmail), you apply the armor check penalty, movement speed reduction, and arcane spell failure chance.

===Item Crafting===

====Magic Item Crafting====

Decreasing magic item crafting time is not supported by our magic item crafting rules. Tenebrae offers a continuous crafting environment, allowing you to craft as well as adventure, and allows PCs to craft most any magic item, so long as they meet the normal PF prerequisites.

However, if the characters involved in the magic item crafting request roleplay out a related scene ongrid, and submit a +request/rpp, then the crafting time can be reduced by 1 day if a comment is added to the +request/craft job.

Crafters may make any item of up to the below market value, presuming they have the feats, skills, and time required:

:T1: Up to 6k
:T2: Up to 22k
:T3-4: None set at this time.

If the only person available is outside these bounds, come talk with staff and we'll work with you.

====Mundane Item Crafting====

Tenebrae does not support mundane item crafting, though players are welcome to purchase mundane items and roleplay crafting them.

===Scrolls and Consumables===

All potions, scrolls, wands, and other consumables bought at market value from a +request/purch job are assumed to be made by clerics, druids, or wizards. The only exceptions are spells that are not on the cleric, druid, or wizard spell list. For example, a scroll of lesser restoration must be purchased as a 2nd-level scroll off the cleric spell list and may not be purchased as a 1st-level scroll off the paladin spell list. If a spell appears at different levels on two different lists, use the lower level spell for the scroll's cost. As an example, a player buys a scroll of ''poison'' as a 3rd-level druid spell instead of a 4th-level cleric spell.

On Tenebrae, there is no difference between an arcane and divine scroll or wand (it just has to be on the character class's spell list). Thus a bard and cleric may both use the same scroll of cure moderate wounds.

Scrolls that are scribed by a PC use that PC's class.

Finally, the following is changed from the PRD: "If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell's caster level" becomes, "If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her '''casting''' class level is at least equal to the spell's caster level."

===Magic Item Upgrades to and for Specific or Unique Magic Items===

Most specific and named magic items (such as a Robe of the Magi) may not be upgraded. That is, they are priced "as is." The exceptions to this rule are:

* Item stacking. Another item may be "stacked" onto another item with an additional fee that is equal to 50% of the lower item's cost. The items must be of the same magic item slot. For example, if you want to add a phylactery of positive channeling (11,000 gold) to your headband of alluring charisma +2 (4,000 gold), you'd pay the cost of the phylactery of positive channeling (11,000 gold), plus the stacking fee (4000 gold * .5 = 2000), for a total of 13,000 gold.
* Items that are meant to be upgraded. Weapons and armor have a specific means of upgrading: a +1 may be made into a +2 and so on.
* Items which already possess greater and lesser versions. These items may be specifically named, or list upgrade options in their text (such as Belt of Strength or Bracers of Archery Greater and Lesser). This would exclude items such as the Gorgon Belt, as it follows neither of these rules.

Specific magic items may not be made from different materials other than those listed.

Ordinary magic items may be upgraded to specific or unique magic items, so long as their current enchantments are part of the final named item. For example, a longsword with the Flaming property can be made into a Flame Tongue, but a longsword with the Flaming and Frost properties can't.

===Tomes and Manuals of Clear Thought, Influence, etc.===

Tomes and manuals that raise attributes cannot have their component cost (that is, the 25,000g component cost of the wish spell) reduced via RPPs. They can however, have the add-on cost reduced. For a +1 tome that is 27,500g, it is this 2,500g amount that may be reduced.

However, we do allow PCs to purchase these over time. There is still a max of +5 in Tome bonuses to any individual attribute. However, PCs can purchase a +1 tome that adds a bonus to Strength, and purchase another +1 tome of Strength later for a total of +2 Strength.

===Intelligent Items===

'''Q: What senses does an intelligent item possess?'''

'''A''': From the PRD we know that: "Every intelligent magic item begins with the ability to see and hear within 30 feet, as well as the ability to communicate emphatically with its owner." On Tenebrae, they may also speak. However, intelligent items lack limbs.

'''Q: What type of action is it for an item to activate its power? What actions can they take in a round?'''

'''A''': From the PRD, we know that: "all powers function at the direction of the item, although intelligent items generally follow the wishes of their owner. Activating a power or concentrating on an active one is a standard action the item takes." Aside from that, intelligent items are tied to your action economy to a degree, similar to a mount. Your item's actions are separate, but your item's actions are tied to yours by virtue of it essentially being helpless, since you control its location and movement. If you're waving the item around as part of a full attack, then the item has no choice but to be a part of that full attack action. If you stop and take a standard action, then the item may also take a standard action (such as using one of its SLAs).

'''Q: Can an intelligent item cast spells in combat? How does that work?'''

'''A''': On Tenebrae, we treat magic spells used by an intelligent item as spell-like abilities (SLAs). Intelligent items aren't full-fledged wizards or sorcerers; they have no spellcasting class. Intelligent items are more like a monster in a Bestiary with some unique talents. That said, see the previous question for answers about action economy. Intelligent items that use SLAs in combat do not provoke AoOs.

An intelligent item's senses are limited to 30', as per the PRD. This will affect its range, as effects generally require Line of Sight.

'''Q: What about spells with a range of touch or personal?'''

'''A''': What it comes down to is that the intelligent item is essentially helpless, movement-wise. A touch spell with an intelligent item functions like Domain Strike or similar feats. If you want to add weapon damage to the spell's effect, make a usual attack with the item against the enemy's appropriate AC (touch for ranged, AC for melee). If you don't want to include weapon damage, then you make a touch attack with the item. See the previous answer about intelligent item actions and spellcasting for intelligent item actions.

Personal range refers to the item itself.

===Handling Treasure===

'''Item Size:''' As a general rule, items in treasure are 'unsized' until they're claimed. This means if the DM rolls a +2 Studded Leather Armor, the lucht has the same chance as the half-oruch. The one exception to this rule are items thematically tied to the adventure, or similar affects.

==Feats==

===Chargen, Advancement, and Specific Feats===

You can take the Aspect of the Beast, Preferred Spell, and Favored Defense feats, but you must submit a +request/sheet about what selections you make with these feats for staff bookkeeping.

Due to code restrictions, players can't take Eldritch Claws and Rending Claws in advancement. Select a filler feat and submit a +request/sheet for staffers to replace them.

===Removed from Pathfinder===

The following feats are in the Pathfinder Core Rulebook but are not available on Tenebrae: Leadership and Improved Familiar.

===Improvised Weapon===

There are feats which are used for the purpose of using a polearm as a two-handed weapon or for the purpose of 'shortening' the weapon for use in attacking an adjacent square. Improvised weapons can't be used in this manner.

===Bodyguard===

You are required to be adjacent to your ally but not their attacker. For example, when an adjacent ally is attacked, you may use an attack of opportunity to attempt the aid another action to improve your ally's AC. You do not need to threaten the attacker to use this action; you need only be adjacent to the target and make a successful attack roll against AC 10. You may not use the aid another action to improve your ally's attack roll with this attack.

===Combat Patrol===

The feat requires you to give up your attacks now on the hope or expectation of getting them back as AoOs. These AoOs are at your highest attack bonus, so if you get more than one, you get to make each at your highest number, rather than using your normal iteratives.

===Elven Battle Training===

This feat applies to all elven sub-races' specific weapon familiarity entries. In the case of the wild elves, this feat applies to polearms and bows.

===Furious Focus===

This is not a house rule, more a clarification. Furious focus only works with the first Power Attack attack you make each round. This means it does not apply to a haste attack, the second cleave attack, and so forth.

===Shield Slam===

'''Q: Do the bonuses from Improved Bull Rush and Greater Bull Rush, as well as any other bonuses that would be applied to the maneuver (Dwarf racial: Relentless +2), get subsequently added to that attack roll total to compare to the target's CMD to see if the maneuver takes effect?'''

'''A''': This is allowable and part of the intended effect. Effects which normally would modify a bull rush (such as feats) apply to the roll substituted for the CMB bonus after the fact since it becomes a bull rush.

===Shield Prof===

'''Q: Does shield proficiency let you use a shield as a weapon?'''

'''A''': Yes.

==Magic==

===Breath of Life===

The use of this spell is expanded somewhat to make it friendlier to a MUSH environment. It's now open to other divine casters, though at a slightly reduced effect. See the Magic page for adjustments.

===Nobility Domain===

The Nobility domain uses the Martyr subdomain as a replacement for Leadership.

===Elemental Forms===

Elementals don't have hands, so it's impossible to wield a weapon or wear armor when transformed into one. Casting as an elemental may be done with Natural Spell, though.

===Summoning===

'''Q: Is there a limit to how many summons I can have?'''

'''A''': We've always had a soft rule on summons. That is, be mindful of other players, turn times, and the ability of everyone to share the spotlight. If you're cutting into others' fun, it is time to summon fewer creatures.

Summoning though, can extend turn times even then. It is also true that some folks prefer a harder rule rather than a soft one.

With that in mind, we'll be experimenting with one active summoning spell at a time, per individual caster. Casting a different summoning spell would require ending the previous one.

The intent of this is to streamline turns, and to make things go a little more smoothly for everyone.

'''Q: Can I add additional monsters to the monster summoning tables?'''

'''A''': We follow the guidance of Paizo's developers in this regard. From James Jacobs:

::Nope. No chance. We didn't have room, or the time to go through and pick out balanced additions to the spell, nor do we want to set up the expectation that something like that will be in every Bestiary, plus some other boring reasons.

::We really just don't want to bloat the summon monster tables with too many choices, honestly. It's already kinda hard to choose a monster; making there be TOO many choices spread across TOO many books just leads to option paralysis in game and that's not good.

::In the end, we decided that these spells more or less needed to be self-contained. That mean that they had lists that referenced the main Bestiary and didn't go beyond that. This is mostly a balance issue (too many monsters on the list allow for too much specialization per encounter), but also a game-play issue (too many monsters on the list causes option paralysis and makes the simple choice of choosing a summoned monster a tough one) and a public relations issue (we try not to build parts of the game to be too dependent on non-core products).

===Wish===

Wish cannot be used to raise attributes directly. Instead, see our section on magic item tomes and attributes.

===Learning New Spells===

To learn a new spell, a wizard, artificer, witch, or other prepared caster must first acquire the scroll. Wizards and artificers must then then [http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/magic.html#writing-a-new-spell-into-a-spellbook-69 pay scribing costs], while witches must make a caster check (see witch page).

PC casters may sell scrolls to one another at whatever price they wish.

==Races==

===War Golems and Rage===

War golems are not immune to the fatigue after rage. It's meant as a balancing feature after rage and rage powers.

===Races with Spell-Like Abilities===

If your race gives the option of "choose x number of 0-level spells" or something similar, please send in a +request to tell staff what you'd like. Unless you do this and it is noted on your +sheet, you are not considered to have these spells.

In addition, these SLAs do not qualify a PC for early entry into a PrC, a feat, or so on.

==Skills==

===Diplomatic Combat and Skills Combat===

Pathfinder doesn't provide rules for these, so we've [[Skill Combat|adapted their performance combat rules]].

===Social Skills and PCs===

Skills such as diplomacy, intimidate, and so on do not function between PCs. That is, PCs are heroes, and heroes follow different rules. On Tenebrae, we take this to mean that players may roll for fun within agreed-upon social situations, but as a rule of thumb, these skills apply to NPCs only.

When using these skills with NPCs, remember to use common sense. That is, using intimidate on someone will likely result in them calling the Watch.

===Craft and Profession===

Craft and Profession skills may be used as knowledge skills regarding applicable areas. For example, someone with Profession/Brewer might roll their skill to identify a number of different beers or wines, or to know the history of beer or wine within a specific area. Craft and Profession skills may also be earned via RPPs.

==Miscellaneous Houserules==

===Reroll Timing===

An event runner may, at their discretion, allow a player to reroll a roll after the result is known, even if the ability says otherwise. This allows event runners to rule immediately instead of waiting to declare a roll's outcome so that a player can announce that they would like to use their reroll ability. This applies to any item, ability, feat, or similar effect that allows a player to reroll a roll before they know the outcome of the roll, and this also applies to the Reroll RPP spend.

Event runners must have a consistent policy regarding rerolls and may deny rerolls per their policy, as long as they are consistent; i.e., denying all players in an event the ability to reroll after knowing the result. Any event runner that shows inconsistency resulting from bias in favor of, or against, specific players regarding the ability to reroll will be subject to staffer disciplinary action.

===Non-Animal Companion/Familiar Pets and Mounts===

Characters are welcome to have pets that they have picked up on their travels or in their backstories, but if they are not from a class feature, such as the ranger, druid, and cavalier's animal companion, the paladin's divine bond, and the wizard and witch's (or the arcane and serpentine sorcerer bloodlines) familiar, a pet cannot generally participate in combat in a meaningful way. (This is to cut down on staff bookkeeping.)

This also applies to mundane mounts, such as the warhorse that can be bought from the chargen vendors. A GM may ask for a Handle Animal check for handling a mundane mount in certain situations, but GMs may handwave the check, depending on the narrative circumstances. The cost of renting horses or similar travel accommodations may also be handwaved by a GM (as the cost can be assumed to be deducted from a character's "everyday funds"). See [[Equipment#Goods_and_Services|Goods and Services on the Equipment page]] for more information.

Given that pets and mundane mounts do not have stats, we do not permit buying equipment for them.

===Inherit Bonuses to Attributes===

Currently, we do not allow Wish to be used to raise ability scores. However, we do allow manuals to stack, up to the normal maximum of +5.

===Damage Dice Progression Due to Size===

We use the Paizo errata: [[Damage_Dice_Progression_Chart|Damage Dice Progression Chart]].

===Additional Combat Maneuvers===

The following Combat Maneuvers and relating feats are approved from the APG: Dirty Trick, Drag, and Reposition. Steal, however, is not.

===Burrowing===

'''Burrow:''' A creature with a burrow speed can tunnel through dirt, but not through rock unless the descriptive text says otherwise. Creatures cannot charge or run while burrowing. Most burrowing creatures do not leave behind tunnels other creatures can use (either because the material they tunnel through fills in behind them or because they do not actually dislocate any material when burrowing); see the individual creature descriptions for details.

===Missing Limbs===

We use 4 Wind Fantasy Games' rules for the loss of a limb or body part. See: '''[http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/other-rules/variant-rules-3rd-party/4-winds-fantasy-gaming/The-Loss-of-a-Body-Part The Loss of a Body Part]'''. These rules are included only to describe the mechanical effects of such a loss. We do allow prosthetics, which are an RPP [http://tenebraemush.net/index.php/Character_Spends Character Spend].

===Mounted Combat===

We use a selection of [[Dire Destiny - Mounted Combat|Dire Destiny's Mounted Combat Rules]] in place of those in the PRD. '''Not all of DD's rules are used; only those included on the wiki are currently used.''' These rules will be propagated to more areas of the site for easier reference (such as skills).

'''Q: If my mount has flyby attack, can the rider attack as well? Or, if the rider has ride-by attack, can the mount attack as well? Or, if mount has flyby and rider has ride-by attack, can they both attack together?'''

'''A''': So long as your mount possesses feats that allow him or her to attack during that time, then they can attack an opponent within their reach. For example, if you had Ride by and your mount had Spring By, you're both trained to make that sort of mid-attack. Likewise, the rider would need the capability to attack during a certain time.

===Touch Attacks and Weapon Finesse===

Weapon finesse may benefit melee touch attacks, which allows the attack roll to be based on Dexterity rather than Strength.

===Rend===

Based on clarification from Paizo's developers, rend is additional damage added to someone's attack for the purposes of overcoming DR. It's only added once, though!

===Stipends===

Stipends are a way for us to handle some forms of level-up. For example, a PC might spend 10 RPPs to level up to level 2. In a case like this, we award a stipend. Stipends appear as objects placed in a character's inventory. They specify a certain amount in gold pieces. The amount of gold depends on the character's level at the time that they receive the stipend.

A stipend is gold that the player may use to purchase items, spells, and so on by sending in a +request with what they'd like to buy.

<font color="red">'''Since stipends are given for the purpose of gaining a full level all at once, stipends may not be used with crafter, RPP, or other discounts.''' </font>

To use a stipend, use +request and let staff know what you'd like to buy. 85% of a stipend must be spent; the rest can be rolled over into gold for the character's inventory.

===The Alignment Button===

[[image:alignment.png|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME7Oyr-bsm8]]

===What Model do the Gods Use?===

This comes up from time to time, not often but often enough that it deserves mention and an easy-enough place to reference or post to. As they are today, the deities and faiths in Emblem of Ea more resemble various forms of historical and fantasy paganism than they do say, Roman Catholicism. If a particular faith does resemble RC or other forms of Christianity in any way, it's because of local cultural influences and is by no means the norm or the intent of the game. A close look at the temples in Alexandria show them to be more often 'pagan' in influence, in fact, than the classic marble temple structure with vaulted ceilings. Clerics possess titles unique to their faith instead of "Mother" or "Father."

This means that:

* Worship methods vary widely, based on culture, race, subcultures, etc.
* Different orders and suborders are possible and encouraged.
* A god's core is the same across Ea, though the details change. This is similar to how there's been a 'god of war' or a 'god of the hunt' in multiple cultures all over the world. The details and methods of worship change, but there's a common, central theme or concept. Ea's deities were given 'common' concepts at their center so that this could play out.
* Assumptions we make about real-world vows (poverty, celibacy, etc.) DO NOT apply unless it's local to that culture, suborder, etc. For example, a suborder of Veyshanti Korites could demand celibacy because they believe it makes their devotion to the arts of war more pure, based on some obscure teaching by an Ifrit-blooded general.
* The idea of 'one deity' is completely alien to Ea.
* Atheism is completely alien to Ea--the gods have visible, tangible effects in the world.
* Deities, as well as famous people and nobles, are fodder for colorful and even ribald stories of all kinds. This doesn't make deities any less respected; instead, these stories add color to the world and draw them in a relatable way to everyday life. For example, even Althea had problems with Gilead when the guy was in his Terrible Twos. However, when she made him apologize to his uncle Navos for 'the incident,' he probably undertook some Herculean task instead of being sent to his room. Because he's a god. And he's Epic.

Finally, while there are some universal values because Emblem of Ea, and DnD, are 'high fantasy' (slavery being evil, tropes such as pride causeth downfall are all pillars of Classic Fantasy) faiths and details will vary by culture, race, and so on.

All of this is just a lengthy way of saying that historical and fantasy paganism are a better model for Ea's gods--and don't hesitate to invent, create your own suborders, interpretations based on the theme around them.

[[Category:Admin]]
[[Category:Policies]]

Swashbuckler

2025-03-27T00:30:49Z

Riptide: /* Deeds */

{{TableClass}}
| | [[image:Swashbuckler.png|200px]]
| valign="top" |{{TableMain}}
{{T02}}
|colspan="2" | The Swashbuckler
|-
| style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''Common Roles'''
| Adventurer, dashing bandit, bodyguard, champion, city guard, lord, mercenary, officer, soldier, sailor, pirate hero, musketeer
|-
| style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''Common Races'''
|[[Humans]] (especially the Myrrish, and those who hail from the Jade Islands), [[Llyranesi]], [[Half-elves]] (often Llyranesi-blooded), [[Gobbers]], [[Lucht Siuil]]
|-
| style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''Influencial Faiths'''
|[[Angoron]], [[Daeus]], [[Serriel]], [[Tarien]], [[Ceinara]]
|-
| style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''Common Organizations'''
| [[Organizations#BattleguardKor|Battleguard of Kor]], [[Organizations#OrderParamount|Order Paramount]], [[Liberators_of_the_Flame_of_Averium|Liberators]], [[Organizations#Chivalric_Orders|All Chivalric Orders]], [[Local_Organizations#Skyguild|Skyguild]], Temples of: [[Angoron]], [[Daeus]], [[Serriel]], [[Tarien]], [[Ceinara]]
|-
| style="background:#e7eaea;"| '''Some IC Hangouts'''
|''Alexandrian Grid:'' A06: The Soldier's Defense, A16: Castellum Alexandrae, A03: The Colosseum District, Any pub

''Main Grid:'' H07: Vadran Village
|-
| style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''Pathfinder Rules for'''
|
|-
| style="background:#e7eaea;"|'''Associated Characters'''
|[[:Category:Swashbuckler|Swashbucklers]]
|}

|}

==Swashbuckler==
'''Role:''' Combining fancy footwork with quick and precise lunges, swashbucklers dart in and out of battle, harassing and thwarting their opponents. These fast and agile opponents serve as heroes and protectors while waiting for the opportunity to show panache and score the killing blow on some lumbering hulk. Swashbucklers often face death with wry humor, mocking it with jabbing wit.

'''Alignment:''' Any.

'''Hit Die:''' d10

'''Class Skills:''' Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Athletics (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (nobility) (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex).

'''Skill Ranks per Level:''' 4 + Int modifier.

{{TableMain}}
{{T01}}
|colspan="6"|The Swashbuckler
{{T02}}
| Level||Base Attack Bonus||Fort Save||Ref Save||Will Save||Special
|-
| 1st || 1 || 0 || 2 || 0 || Deeds, panache, swashbuckler finesse
|-
| 2nd || 2 || 0 || 3 || 0 || Charmed life 3/day
|-
| 3rd || 3 || 1 || 3 || 1 || Deeds, nimble +1
|-
| 4th || 4 || 1 || 4 || 1 || Bonus feat
|-
| 5th || 5 || 1 || 4 || 1 || Swashbuckler weapon training +1
|-
| 6th || 6/1 || 2 || 5 || 2 || Charmed life 4/day
|-
| 7th || 7/2 || 2 || 5 || 2 || Deeds, nimble +2
|-
| 8th || 8/3 || 2 || 6 || 2 ||Bonus feat
|-
| 9th || 9/4 || 3 || 6 || 3 || Swashbuckler weapon training +2
|-
| 10th || 10/5 || 3 || 7 || 3 || Charmed life 5/day
|-
| 11th || 11/6/1 || 3 || 7 || 3 || Deeds, nimble +3
|-
| 12th || 12/7/2 || 4 || 8 || 4 || Bonus feat
|-
| 13th || 13/8/3 || 4 || 8 || 4 || Swashbuckler weapon training +3
|-
| 14th || 14/9/4 || 4 || 9 || 4 || Charmed life 6/day
|-
| 15th || 15/10/5 || 5 || 9 || 5 || Deeds, nimble +4
|-
| 16th || 16/11/6/1 || 5 || 10 || 5 || Bonus feat
|-
| 17th || 17/12/7/2 || 5 || 10 || 5 || Swashbuckler weapon training +4
|-
| 18th || 18/13/8/3 || 6 || 11 || 6 || Charmed life 7/day
|-
| 19th || 19/14/9/4 || 6 || 11 || 6 || Deeds, nimble +5
|-
| 20th || 20/15/10/5 || 6 || 12 || 6 || Bonus feat, swashbuckler weapon mastery
|}

===Class Features===
[[image:swashbuckler04.jpg|thumb|right]]
'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' Swashbucklers are proficient with simple and martial weapons, as well as light armor and bucklers.

'''Panache (Ex):''' More than just a lightly armored warrior, a swashbuckler is a daring combatant. She fights with panache: a fluctuating measure of a swashbuckler's ability to perform amazing actions in combat. At the start of each day, a swashbuckler gains a number of panache points equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1). Her panache goes up or down throughout the day, but usually cannot go higher than her Charisma modifier (minimum 1), though feats and magic items can affect this maximum. A swashbuckler spends panache to accomplish deeds (see below), and regains panache in the following ways.

:''Critical Hit with a Light or One-Handed Piercing Melee Weapon:'' Each time the swashbuckler confirms a critical hit with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon, she regains 1 panache point. Confirming a critical hit on a helpless or unaware creature or a creature that has fewer Hit Dice than half the swashbuckler's character level doesn't restore panache.

:''Killing Blow with a Light or One-Handed Piercing Melee Weapon:'' When the swashbuckler reduces a creature to 0 or fewer hit points with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon attack while in combat, she regains 1 panache point. Destroying an unattended object, reducing a helpless or unaware creature to 0 or fewer hit points, or reducing a creature that has fewer Hit Dice than half the swashbuckler's character level to 0 or fewer hit points doesn't restore any panache.

'''Deeds:''' Swashbucklers spend panache points to accomplish deeds. Most deeds grant the swashbuckler a momentary bonus or effect, but some provide longer-lasting effects. Some deeds remain in effect while the swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, but do not require expending panache to be maintained. A swashbuckler can only perform deeds of her level or lower. Unless otherwise noted, a deed can be performed multiple successive times, as long as the swashbuckler has or spends the required number of panache points to perform the deed.

'''Swashbuckler Finesse (Ex):''' At 1st level, a swashbuckler gains the benefits of the Weapon Finesse feat with light or one-handed piercing melee weapons, and she can use her Charisma score in place of Intelligence as a prerequisite for combat feats. This ability counts as having the Weapon Finesse feat for purposes of meeting feat prerequisites.

'''Charmed Life (Ex):''' At 2nd level, the swashbuckler gains a knack for getting out of trouble. Three times per day as an immediate action before attempting a saving throw, she can add her Charisma modifier to the result of the save. She must choose to do this before the roll is made. At 6th level and every 4 levels thereafter, the number of times she can do this per day increases by one (to a maximum of 7 times per day at 18th level).

'''Nimble (Ex):''' At 3rd level, a swashbuckler gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC while wearing light or no armor. Anything that causes the swashbuckler to lose her Dexterity bonus to AC also causes her to lose this dodge bonus. This bonus increases by 1 for every 4 levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of +5 at 19th level).

'''Bonus Feats:''' At 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter, a swashbuckler gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as combat feats. Swashbuckler levels are considered fighter levels for the purpose of meeting combat feat prerequisites.

In addition, upon reaching 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter, a swashbuckler can choose to learn a new bonus feat in place of a bonus feat she has already learned. In effect, the swashbuckler loses the bonus feat in exchange for the new one. The old feat cannot be one that was used as a prerequisite for another feat, prestige class, or other ability. A swashbuckler can only change one feat at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the feat at the time she gains a new bonus feat for the level.

'''Swashbuckler Weapon Training (Ex):''' At 5th level, a swashbuckler gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with one-handed or light piercing melee weapons. While wielding such a weapon, she gains the benefit of the Improved Critical feat. These attack and damage bonuses increase by 1 for every 4 levels beyond 5th level (to a maximum of +4 at 17th level).

'''Swashbuckler Weapon Mastery (Ex):''' At 20th level, when a swashbuckler threatens a critical hit with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon, that critical is automatically confirmed. Furthermore, the critical modifiers of such weapons increase by 1 (×2 becomes ×3, and so on).

====Deeds====
'''Derring-Do (Ex): '''At 1st level, a swashbuckler can spend 1 panache point when she makes an Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, Fly, Ride, or Swim check to roll 1d6 and add the result to the check. She can do this after she makes the check but before the result is revealed. If the result of the d6 roll is a natural 6, she rolls another 1d6 and adds it to the check. She can continue to do this as long as she rolls natural 6s, up to a number of times equal to her Dexterity modifier (minimum 1).

'''Dodging Panache (Ex):''' At 1st level, when an opponent attempts a melee attack against the swashbuckler, the swashbuckler can as an immediate action spend 1 panache point to move 5 feet; doing so grants the swashbuckler a dodge bonus to AC equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 0) against the triggering attack. This movement doesn't negate the attack, which is still resolved as if the swashbuckler had not moved from the original square. This movement is not a 5-foot step; it provokes attacks of opportunity from creatures other than the one who triggered this deed. The swashbuckler can only perform this deed while wearing light or no armor, and while carrying no heavier than a light load.

'''Opportune Parry and Riposte (Ex):''' At 1st level, when an opponent makes a melee attack against the swashbuckler, she can spend 1 panache point and expend a use of an attack of opportunity to attempt to parry that attack. The swashbuckler makes an attack roll as if she were making an attack of opportunity; for each size category the attacking creature is larger than the swashbuckler, the swashbuckler takes a –2 penalty on this roll. If her result is greater than the attacking creature's result, the creature's attack automatically misses. The swashbuckler must declare the use of this ability after the creature's attack is announced, but before its attack roll is made. Upon performing a successful parry and if she has at least 1 panache point, the swashbuckler can as an immediate action make an attack against the creature whose attack she parried, provided that creature is within her reach. This deed’s cost cannot be reduced by any ability or effect that reduces the number of panache points a deed costs.

{{DivContainer-Start|25|right}}
{{DivGray-Start}}
'''Precision damage:''' Some forms of attack (such as that dealt by a rogue's sneak attack or a swashbuckler's precise strike) use precision damage. Precision damage suggests that the attack's effectiveness comes from the character having found a weak point in their opponent's body. Precision damage applies to more creatures than it did in previous editions of the game. Precision damage is never multiplied on a critical hit.

'''[[Critical_Hits_and_Precision_Damage|How are different creatures affected?]]'''
{{DivEnd}}
{{DivEnd}}

'''Kip-Up (Ex):''' At 3rd level, while the swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, she can kip-up from prone as a move action without provoking an attack of opportunity. She can kip-up as a swift action instead by spending 1 panache point.

'''Menacing Swordplay (Ex):''' At 3rd level, while she has at least 1 panache point, when a swashbuckler hits an opponent with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon, she can choose to use Intimidate to demoralize that opponent as a swift action instead of a standard action.

'''Precise Strike (Ex):''' At 3rd level, while she has at least 1 panache point, a swashbuckler gains the ability to strike precisely with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon (though not natural weapon attacks), adding her swashbuckler level to the damage dealt. To use this deed, a swashbuckler cannot attack with a weapon in her other hand or use a shield other than a buckler. She can even use this ability with thrown light or one-handed piercing melee weapons, so long as the target is within 30 feet of her. Any creature that is immune to sneak attacks is immune to the additional damage granted by precise strike, and any item or ability that protects a creature from critical hits also protects a creature from the additional damage of a precise strike. This additional damage is precision damage, and isn't multiplied on a critical hit. As a swift action, a swashbuckler can spend 1 panache point to double her precise strike's damage bonus on the next attack. This benefit must be used before the end of her turn, or it is lost. This deed's cost cannot be reduced by any ability or effect that reduces the amount of panache points a deed costs (such as the Signature Deed feat).

'''Swashbuckler Initiative (Ex):''' At 3rd level, while the swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, she gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks. In addition, if she has the Quick Draw feat, her hands are free and unrestrained, and she has any single light or one-handed piercing melee weapon that isn't hidden, she can draw that weapon as part of the initiative check.

'''Swashbuckler's Grace (Ex):''' At 7th level, while the swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, she takes no penalty for moving at full speed when she uses Acrobatics to attempt to move through a threatened area or an enemy's space.

'''Superior Feint (Ex):''' At 7th level, a swashbuckler with at least 1 panache point can, as a standard action, purposefully miss a creature she could make a melee attack against with a wielded light or one-handed piercing weapon. When she does, the creature is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC until the start of the swashbuckler's next turn.

'''Targeted Strike (Ex):''' At 7th level, as a full-round action the swashbuckler can spend 1 panache point to make an attack with a single light or one-handed piercing melee weapon that cripples part of a foe's body. The swashbuckler chooses a part of the body to target. If the attack succeeds, in addition to the attack's normal damage, the target suffers one of the following effects based on the part of the body targeted. If a creature doesn't have one of the listed body locations, that body part cannot be targeted. Creatures that are immune to sneak attacks are also immune to targeted strikes. Items or abilities that protect a creature from critical hits also protect a creature from targeted strikes.
:''Arms:'' The target takes no damage from the attack, but it drops one carried item of the swashbuckler's choice, even if the item is wielded with two hands. Items held in a locked gauntlet cannot be chosen.
:''Head:'' The target is confused for 1 round. This is a mind-affecting effect.
:''Legs:'' The target is knocked prone. Creatures with four or more legs or that are immune to trip attacks are immune to this effect.
:''Torso or Wings:'' The target is staggered for 1 round.

''Tenebrae House Rule'': In lieu of the other effects listed, targeted strike can also break a grapple by targeting the grappling limb.

'''Bleeding Wound (Ex):''' At 11th level, when the swashbuckler hits a living creature with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon attack, as a free action she can spend 1 panache point to have that attack deal additional bleed damage. The amount of bleed damage dealt is equal to the swashbuckler's Dexterity modifier (minimum 1). Alternatively, the swashbuckler can spend 2 panache points to deal 1 point of Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution bleed damage instead (swashbuckler's choice). Creatures that are immune to sneak attacks are also immune to these types of bleed damage.

'''Evasive (Ex):''' At 11th level, while a swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, she gains the benefits of the evasion, uncanny dodge, and improved uncanny dodge rogue class features. She uses her swashbuckler level as her rogue level for improved uncanny dodge.

'''Subtle Blade (Ex):''' At 11th level, while a swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, she is immune to disarm, steal, and sunder combat maneuvers made against a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon she is wielding.

'''Dizzying Defense (Ex):''' At 15th level, while wielding a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon in one hand, the swashbuckler can spend 1 panache point to take the fighting defensively action as a swift action instead of a standard action. When fighting defensively in this manner, the dodge bonus to AC gained from that action increases to +4, and the penalty to attack rolls is reduced to –2.

'''Perfect Thrust (Ex):''' At 15th level, while the swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, she can as a full-round action make a perfect thrust, pooling all of her attack potential into a single melee attack made with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon. When she does, she makes the attack against the target's touch AC, and ignores all damage reduction.

'''Swashbuckler's Edge (Ex):''' At 15th level, while the swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, she can take 10 on any Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, Fly, Ride, or Swim check, even while distracted or in immediate danger. She can use this ability in conjunction with the derring-do deed.

'''Cheat Death (Ex):''' At 19th level, whenever the swashbuckler is reduced to 0 hit points or fewer, she can spend all of her remaining panache to instead be reduced to 1 hit point. She must have at least 1 panache point to spend. Effects that kill the swashbuckler outright without dealing hit point damage are not affected by this ability.

'''Deadly Stab (Ex):''' At 19th level, when the swashbuckler confirms a critical hit with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon, in addition to the normal damage, she can spend 1 panache point to inflict a deadly stab. The target must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw or die. The DC of this save is 10 + 1/2 the swashbuckler's level + the swashbuckler's Dexterity modifier. This is a death attack. Performing this deed does not grant the swashbuckler a panache point.

'''Stunning Stab (Ex):''' At 19th level, when a swashbuckler hits a creature with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon, she can spend 2 panache points to stun the creature for 1 round. The creature must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw (DC = 10 + 1/2 the swashbuckler's level + the swashbuckler's Dexterity modifier) or be stunned for 1 round. Creatures that are immune to critical hits are also immune to this effect.

[[Category:Admin|Swashbuckler]]
[[Category:Classes|Swashbuckler]]

==Extras==
=== Character Page Badge ===
{{BadgeSwashbuckler}}

[[Category:Admin|Swashbuckler]]
[[Category:Classes|Swashbuckler]]

Category:Same As It Ever Was

2025-03-25T14:31:14Z

Riptide: