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Game Discussion.

Posted by AenarionFor group 0
Aenarion
GM, 12 posts
Tue 16 Jun 2020
at 12:22
  • msg #1

Game Discussion

Please introduce yourself and the character you are going to play briefly. Other than that, feel free to chat about whatever else you want in here.
Zhira
Human Fighter, 1 post
Age 28
Lawful Neutral
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 11:50
  • msg #2

Game Discussion


Hi all!

Introducing myself, I'll be playing Zhira, who is a traveling fighter from a wealthy merchant background who saw her parents killed by "bandits" when they attacked the caravan she was traveling with, and decided to become a mercenary caravan guard in a mix of searching revenge and ensuring such criminals and their ilk didn't bring similar suffering to others.

The fact that she found out she gets a thrill out of battle is just a bonus.

Zhira is a character that I conceived as very focused on traditional values of Qadiran/Keleshite culture and with a bit of nationalist tendencies that can be somewhat off-putting, but she's also quite friendly when approached on her own terms, as she learned how to form rough friendship in the army, which she served for a bit.

As the GM encouraged us to consider the possibilities of our characters having met in the past, I specifically gave Zhira a backstory where she has spent the last few years of her life traveling the whole of Qadira alongside whichever caravan she'd signed up at the time, so if any of you is interested in having crafted a connection with her during her journeys, just say so and I'll happily try to work with you on it.

Looking forward to playing with you all! ^_^
Qvan Ibn Hamid
Human Wizard, 1 post
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 15:48
  • msg #3

Game Discussion

Hi All!

 I'm Edmond, based in London, and I'm starting to feel like I'm shifting into an "old-school" gamer. I've been on rpol some 15 years now, we may well have met on an other campaign.

 I'll be playing Qvan Ibn Hamid, a retired magician who is definitely too old for this, but wants to feel the thrill of adventuring once more. But mostly some of his apprentices fell prey to the Feast of Dust and he won't stand for that.

 Common background is a great idea, Qvan runs an academy for your wizard so you may have met him in this capacity while travelling around the Meraz Desert. If your character is a bit older, you may have encountered him some 40 years ago at the pinnacle of his career as an adventuring transmuter.
Vahid al-Mavari
Human, 1 post
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 16:28
  • msg #4

Game Discussion

Hello everyone, I'll be playing Vahid al-Mavari. I was briefly torn between playing the Warpriest or a paladin, but seeing the lack of divine casters, I think Warpriest might be the way to go. After all, we may be playing a high level game, but experience dictates that somebody is going to need a Raise Dead.

Vahid is a Warpriest of Sarenrae, and has been one ever since his obligatory military service ended with the attack of a rather large Gnoll pack raiding the town of Qadlas Mavari. He nearly died that day but the priests of the Dawnflower saved him, so he decided to take up the mantle to do the same.

Vahid is, personality wise, more of a  "enjoy in moderation" type mixed with "everybody gets a second chance, nobody gets a third". I've been reading everything I can about Qadiran culture to ensure I can play him appropriately, so I may make some final tweaks and updates to this before the commencement of play.

As Zhira said, I wrote Vahid as having mostly traveled the length of Qadira for the last ten years, so anybody interested in having met him in that time, I would be more than happy with working something out with you.

Since we were asked in the character creation to pick a color, I'd like to take this moment to call dibs onred. Any objections?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:31, Mon 22 June 2020.
Qvan Ibn Hamid
Human Wizard, 2 posts
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 16:46
  • msg #5

Game Discussion

 I don't like when people speak red, always makes them sound angry. Nah go ahead.
 I call Blue, unless that's reserved.

 The party is heavily human. Was no one interested in playing an other race?
 GM if you don't mind, I might look into switching to have a bit more diversity.
 (I know you're not keen on extravagant races though, I would stick to the basics)
Zhira al-Darea
Human Fighter, 2 posts
Age 28
Lawful Neutral
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 17:03
  • msg #6

Game Discussion


Oh, right! I'd forgotten about the color choice; if nobody wants it, I'll take Seagreen, which is my general favorite whenever I have to pick one.

Zhira is also a follower of Sarenrae, and generally she's very much a traditionalist; ethnically, she is Althameri, which is the primary population group in the empire, meaning the general Kelish attitude of "we're just better" is very strong in her, but also that she's very devout, since the religion in Qadira is so important. Hopefully we'll mesh well!

She also had a longer military service than most, starting earlier and finishing late; she did it in Omash, in case anybody could find that useful for backstory coordination.

Qvan, I'm not surprised that we're predominantly human, since the GM's request was for traditional races. Plus it sort of makes sense fluff-wise, since in Qadira it's extremely rare for any race other than Humans and Elves to get citizenship, which I expect would make mixed adventuring groups rarer... although on the other hand, that would make for an interesting roleplay challenge for sure. :)
Rictor Wyrmbane
Human Ranger, 1 post
Last Prince of Alkir
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 18:24
  • msg #7

Game Discussion

Hey all! Rictor is an Aragorn wannabe, lost prince of a fallen country and all that, who has made his way back to Qadria after his defeat of the black dragon Esaolathus. Level 17 is getting up into "you are already kickass, world hopping adventurers" territory so his backstory is dramaaaaatic.

He was the Swordprince of Alkir, a mountainous country sandwiched between Taldor and Galt, so he's about one country away from Qadria demographically. I'm seeing a lot of Ibn's and Als in the cast list so it will be cool to add in an outsider perspective on Qadrian culture as well.

Esaolathus, uncommonly cunning and wily for a black dragon, infiltrated and began to co-opt the court of Alkir when Rictor was a boy. Rictor began to suspect something sinister beneath the dragon's human guise but before he could act Esaolathus had Rictor exiled. He began a wandering journey seeking the means to break the black dragon's hold on his homeland and free his family from the beast's clutches.

This is mostly the nebulous 'wandering around doing adventury stuff to get up to level 17' portion of his backstory, and when he would have likely encountered everyone else's characters. He certainly would have sought the expertise of the world famous Qvan Ibn Hamid for a way to pierce his nemesis' magical disguise, or sought wisdom in meditation with Vahid al-Mavari to steel himself for the battle ahead. Perhaps Zhira al-Darea remembers a taciturn ranger from far to the north, traveling with her caravan and seeking a mystical oasis with the power to bless his arrows with the strength to penetrate dragon hide.

He climbed to the top of Mhar Massif in search of star iron to forge a blade capable of slaying Esaolathus. He sought and reassembled the seven shattered fragments of the Mirror of Xin to give him some clue to his enemy's weakness. He forged alliances with knights and priests and seekers on their own journeys. And at last, when his skill and power and the tools in his arsenal were sufficient to the task, he returned to his homeland.

But his return was not triumphant. The seven spires of Alkir were crumbled and fallen. Only the tallest, now the Black Tower of Esaolathus, remained. The people were gone, enslaved or sold or driven off by disease and hunger and Esaolathus' troops of madmen and zealots. Of the royal family only the princess, Rictor's sister, remained--trapped at the top of the tower, thrall to the black dragon. He climbed that lofty spire, fought through Esaolathus' traps and nightmare denizens, and in a mighty battle smote his enemy to ruin at the peak. But the dragon reached out with its dying breath to curse his vanquisher one last time. The tower crumbled, and while Rictor miraculously survived the fall his beloved sister was crushed under the rubble.

Now, prince only of a land of dust and ashes, he turns his journey to the warm lands of the south.

Dramaaaaaatic.

I figure his closest tie to the group and the current adventure is probably Vahid. He remembers his teachings and, lost and grief stricken, is seeking his council once again. He's traveling to Qadria for a little grief counselling when whatever is the inciting incident of the module crops up and he steps up to his ally's aid.

Mechanically he's a stealthy scout/ranger type. His favored enemy is obviously Dragon, so hopefully there's one or two of those somewhere in the module, but luckily his bow works on things that aren't dragons too. A bit. Utility wise his biggest bring-to-the-table is Survival. With +52 when tracking he's getting up into "+20 DC to do something impossible, like swimming up a waterfall or bargaining with a deity" territory, so if one of our objectives is anything like "find a dude" we should be covered. Otherwise you can mentally slot him into the "Big dumb melee guy" pigeonhole.

Color wise I like green for rangers, but that may be a little close to seagreen. Eh, brown is sort of earthey too. I'll reserve that one.
Aenarion
GM, 16 posts
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 18:31
  • msg #8

Re: Game Discussion

Qvan Ibn Hamid:
The party is heavily human. Was no one interested in playing an other race?
GM if you don't mind, I might look into switching to have a bit more diversity.
(I know you're not keen on extravagant races though, I would stick to the basics)


Sure thing, you guys are free to change things around still.
Mirabella Highhill
Hafling Investigator, 1 post
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 18:51
  • msg #9

Re: Game Discussion

Hello all, I'll be playing Mirabella Highhill. A former Chelaxian slave, Mirabella was rescued by The Bellflower Network and has spent much of her life traveling Golarion thwarting the diabolic schemes of Chelaxian slavers. Lately, she has been more of an administrator but has heard of some unsettling rumors that Qadira might be funneling haflings into Chelaxian hands. Thus she finds herself traveling to the desert kingdom to see what truth lies in these rumors.

Mechanically, she is a skill monkey extraordinary and a utility/healing spellcaster (Questioner Archetype/replaces alchemy w/Bard spell casting). I'm open to a shared backstory if anyone is interested and I choose PURPLE as my color...:-)
Aryk
Human Psi Warrior, 1 post
Age 27
NG Psionic Warrior
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 20:15
  • msg #10

Re: Game Discussion

Greetings all.

I am playing Aryk, a psionic warrior/War Mind of the Conclave of the Eye.  Think of him sort of like a Jedi knight, with less arrogance and not fully beholden to a lawful path.

In game sense, MC was raised from an early age by the Conclave, to be a warrior of mind, will and body.  Upon completion of his training, he was sent out into the world basically as a knight-errant, to protect the weak, become stronger, gather knowledge, and find forgotten relics.

Since then, he has been operating more-or-less independently for a decade (since age 17), in periodic contact with his masters and occasionally doing their bidding as needed, but mostly finding his own way.  He has worked with the military before, although he is not technically a member of any army, and may very well have done some anti-slavery work.


In combat he is an excellent swordsman, but is equally capable with a bow, hammer, spear or other weapon.  He prefers sword & shield for combat, striving for balance in his style, and is equally adept at sneaking when need be.

I would prefer Dark Green, if it's not too similar to other greens...
Zhira al-Darea
Human Fighter, 3 posts
Age 28
Lawful Neutral
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 20:25
  • msg #11

Re: Game Discussion


Ok, that's a bunch of impressive backstories: a dragonslayer, a secret agent and a jedy are some very interesting concepts! I'm very curious to see how those play in game.

Also, we seem to have a ton of frontliners, isn't it? I hope we won't step on each other's toes too much - I'm primarily a melee focused skirmisher, as it seemed to fit best with the kind of battle maniacs that Zhira is designed to be. I'm very curious to see how we'll interact with each other in combat!

And as for out of combat... I'm curious to see how this'll work out; it seems like there's several foreigners in the team, and a few less-than-lawful types. That might create some IC attrition, but hopefully that'll be fun as well. :)
Aryk
Human Psi Warrior, 2 posts
Age 27
NG Psionic Warrior
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 20:33
  • msg #12

Re: Game Discussion

In reply to Zhira al-Darea (msg # 11):

Yes & no, as to fighting style.

He can do frontline, but the character build can do a decent job of sneaking (and has a feat that gives him a weaker version of sneak-attack), ranged support or skirmisher.  he is basically a utilitarian fighter who can self-buff & heal himself a bit.
Zhira al-Darea
Human Fighter, 4 posts
Age 28
Lawful Neutral
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 20:42
  • msg #13

Re: Game Discussion


I see. At least this make me happier that I ended up dropping my initial idea of going switch-hitter, since it seems like you two have that side of things handled. :)
Vahid al-Mavari
Human, 2 posts
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 21:06
  • msg #14

Re: Game Discussion

Well, I see everyone has been very busy while I was gone, I love it. We do seem relatively melee heavy, with myself, Zhira, Rictor, and Aryk. I think it'll be fine, at least with four of us it means everyone gets a flanking buddy.

I do like the tie in with Rictor, having met him a few years ago and tried to help him find peace. I imagine Vahid would have tried to help Rictor understand that revenge wouldn't make him happy, and promised to be waiting when he realized it was true.

I imagine Vahid might briefly have met Zhira or Aryk during his travels and offered to help them. Perhaps he helped Aryk flush out a ring of slavers and cutthroats out in the desert, or come across a caravan Zhira was guarding and offered healing to the people in it.
Aryk
Human Psi Warrior, 3 posts
Age 27
NG Psionic Warrior
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 21:29
  • msg #15

Re: Game Discussion

I can do ranged work.  My ranged BAB is actually higher than my melee (DEX keeps his AC up), but most of his powers are better served with melee.

As for tie-ins...

He would've certainly offered a sword to Rictor rather than attempt to turn him from vengeance.  Righteous retribution is a worthy path.

He most certainly could've worked, at some point, with Vahid, especially if he's every hunter undead.

With Zhira, he could've tagged along with her while she was in the military.  he is not technically part of any army, but has a certain obligation to aid those working to for a good cause.

For Mirabella, he could've worked with her on anti-slaving operations, or maybe have even been involved at some level with her liberation?  Although that may be a bit too much?

For Qvan, while I am not an arcane-user, I may, perhaps, have asked the sage about advice, sought his council on quests, or perhaps asked for access to his library (I assume a teaching wizard has a glorious library) in search of some long forgotten relic or artifact.

What do people think?
Rictor Wyrmbane
Human Ranger, 2 posts
Last Prince of Alkir
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 21:52
  • msg #16

Re: Game Discussion

That's a cool dynamic too. Rictor has Shoulder Devil Aryk telling him that righteous revenge is a wellspring of determination and power to funnel toward his goal, while Shoulder Angel Vahid is telling him that losing himself in revenge won't bring him peace.
Mirabella Highhill
Hafling Investigator, 2 posts
Chaotic Good
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 22:38
  • msg #17

Re: Game Discussion

I'm glad we have the option of taking the 25 point buy...:-(
Qvan Ibn Hamid
Human Wizard, 3 posts
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 22:47
  • msg #18

Re: Game Discussion

If Rictor is an Aragorn, Qvan will be his Gandalf. He could also be described as a Dumbledore type. Well into his seventies from what you can see on his face, but with a surprisingly youthful eye and still agile legs.

In fact 10/15 years ago when most others were starting their adventuring life, he was already the same as he is now, he has just been stagnating for a good quarter of a century or more.

He is devoted to passing on knowledge to the next generation. Unless some of you actually use arcane magic, it’s unlikely you would have been his apprentice early on, but you could well have made an appearance at the Academy as guest teachers of some sort.

I like the idea that Rictor came to seek knowledge about dragons. Indeed it will be one of his area of expertise.

In terms of combat, his specialty is shapeshifting, so he can fill in whatever gap we have in any situation. Ranged, tank, skirmish, aerial support, ... we’ll see what the situation calls for. If no obvious gap needs to be filled, he will fall back on the staples: buffing and battlefield control. Maybe a few blasts here and there if someone sticks their neck out.

Qvan is getting into this because some of his students fell to the curse, maybe we can have a combined intro story with some other characters.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Mon 22 June 2020.
Aryk
Human Psi Warrior, 4 posts
Age 27
NG Psionic Warrior
Mon 22 Jun 2020
at 23:03
  • msg #19

Re: Game Discussion

In reply to Rictor Wyrmbane (msg # 16):

Less a devil & more like ‘hey, this dude/dragon is evil, someone should stab him in the face before he does more evil stuff’.

Also, Qvan, I assume that with enough delving, you have had tomes that could reveal potential locations for lost knowledge or artifacts for someone to pursue?
Vahid al-Mavari
Human, 3 posts
Tue 23 Jun 2020
at 03:54
  • msg #20

Re: Game Discussion

In reply to Rictor Wyrmbane (msg # 16):

Essentially yes, but to clarify, Vahid wouldn't have said "Don't kill the dragon", he would have said something along the lines of "Kill the dragon because it's the right thing, not because you want revenge". Fine difference, but an important distinction.
Aenarion
GM, 17 posts
Tue 23 Jun 2020
at 07:36
  • msg #21

Re: Game Discussion

Zhira al-Darea:
Also, we seem to have a ton of frontliners, isn't it? I hope we won't step on each other's toes too much - I'm primarily a melee focused skirmisher, as it seemed to fit best with the kind of battle maniacs that Zhira is designed to be. I'm very curious to see how we'll interact with each other in combat!

I will attempt my best to give you all enough enemies to play around with to keep everyone busy, without interfering with each other too much! :D

Mirabella Highhill:
I'm glad we have the option of taking the 25 point buy...:-(

Glad to hear you find the option helpful, the dice roller can be a cruel mistress indeed.
Mirabella Highhill
Hafling Investigator, 3 posts
Chaotic Good
Tue 23 Jun 2020
at 12:24
  • msg #22

Re: Game Discussion

In reply to Aryk (msg # 15):

The Bellflower Network is always looking for help...:-). As for helping my liberation that would not only be contrary to my background, but you would have still been a child when it happened...:-p

Mirabella is an adequate melee fighter, a decent healer/utility spellcaster, and quite the little skill monkey. She would make an excellent face if needed and can stealth with the best of them.
Qvan Ibn Hamid
Human Wizard, 4 posts
Tue 23 Jun 2020
at 13:02
  • msg #23

Re: Game Discussion

 How old is Mirabella? She and Qvan may have been acquainted some 40+ years ago.
 Good to know there is a face, as Qvan is quite the old grumpy gruff type.
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