[PF-1e] Goldmyr's Rise of the Runelords

[PaleShadow]

 

Name: Shalara Kali, Lady of the Violet Thorn
Race: Elf
Class/Archtype: Hunter (Courtly Hunter)
Gender: Female
Alignment: Neutral

Appearance: Shalara is just over 6 feet tall, with fiery red hair and luminous green eyes. Her time spent out in the open plains of Varisia has tanned her skin more than most elves, and her interest in Varisian culture has lead her to pierce her long pointy ears in several places. Her wardrobe is often functional but still stylish enough to not be mistaken for a commoner while on the road. While in more civilized locales she prefers elegant gowns.

Personality: Shalara is learning to love the adventuring lifestyle, but it isn’t easy. Having grown accustomed to deriding those Forlorn elves who left Kyonin to travel with the more short-lived peoples of Golarion, she’s had to reconsider some of her previous preconceptions while on the road herself. Normally quite prim and proper with high regard for social etiquette and little patience for the problems of common folk, Shalara can come off arrogant and aloof. However, she’s recently realized that out away from the elven court, she needs the help of these ‘common folk’ and has begun to see the issues that plague them more up close, somewhat softening her cool demeanor.

Background: Shalara was born as nobility in the elven court of Kyonin, belonging to the House of the Violet Thorn. While her House often advocated to the queen that elves should remain close to nature, and encouraged all elves to learn the ways of the natural world. However Shalara often shirked her studies in tracking, identifying properties of plants, and befriending the creatures of the forest in order to spend more time gossiping with the other ladies of the court and obsessing over the latest trends and fashions.

Then, tragedy struck. Her father, Volodar Kali, the Lord of Violet Thorns, died unexpectedly and many suspected foul play. After his passing, Shalara battled with remorse and guilt for not spending more time with her father, and spent a lot of time alone with the baby Roc her father had rescued and hatched from an egg. She named the baby bird Volodar, or ‘Vol’ for short, after her father.

Concern for her family grew when one of her aunts, who had taken over leadership of the House of Violet Thorns, also died unexpectedly. Member after member of her house died under increasingly mysterious circumstances until the Queen met with the remaining members in secret, ordering them to abandon the capital and head into the world, hoping that they would be able to return once the mysterious cause of these deaths was solved.

Short term goal: Stay out of sight of whatever assassins plagued her family in Kyonin.
Long term goal: Train Vol to become a successful adult roc, and learn the ways of nature to honor her father.
https://www.rpgcrossing.com/profiler/view.php?id=92202

[mightymconeshot]

Originally Posted by jr1v3

I mean I was reading the soulbond feature but it seems as Souldbound summoner I only get the drawback of the course and no the benefits and instead I got the ability to use magic, right?

No. You substitute your summoner level for oracle level.

So if you took clouded vision, you get darksight but are blind after 30 ft. When you take your fifth level of summoner, it becomes 60 ft. and so on.

In exchange you have a modified version of Life Link, lose Gate and Summon Monster spell like abilities, and have a stronger eidolon. If the curse gives you spells as a part of it, you can cast them assuming you are an appropriate level to do so.

[Goldmyr]

I'll allow the unchained summoner. I think it's a bit more new-player friendly than the basic summoner. Soulbound archetype looks fine too. The Pactbound Curse does give you benefits for the curse, but the benefits are gained as you level up, not at level one. Some curses give extra known spells as benefits, and the ability is just clarifying that you do need to be able to cast the spells at their spell level. Which means you may not be able to cast a spell at the level you learn it. Look at the oracle class for the full rules for curses. The pactbound curse is just a reskin of the oracle curse. It's worth noting that the Oracle gets spell going up to level 9 while the Summoner only gets spell going up to level 6 which is why the spells known can get wonky.

That's definitely an interesting way to make maps.

Norse-Doyle Costello-Human Paladin of Milani
Triedtherest-"Honest" Hasim-Katapeshi Human Cleric of Abadar
Mightymconeshot-Izmer Fenro-Half Elf Brown Fur Transmuter Arcanist
Ermine-Utana Vorin-Alkenstarian Human Draconic Urban Bloodrager
Cappucina-Jedda-Half Orc Barbarian
OneDarkness-Tilden Tops-Gnomish Tiefling Trap Breaker Alchemist
Clawsome-Azrael Brimfire-Tiefling Witch
PaleShadow-Shalara Kali-Elf Courtly Hunter

[cappucina]

I'm afraid I don't understand the Undecided class category for me. Why is it not Barbarian? I'm going super simple barbarian build with weapon focus and the falchion for the crit range.

Also, I linked my sheet and if you could take a look and see if it looks done properly, I would appreciate.

I guess I am thinking these thoughts: I don't have to decide on an Archetype nor a rage power until level 2. I was honestly going to wait and see if there was a rogue in the mix of characters (and of course if my own character is in the mix) and then try to find something better than Trap Sense in an Archetype if we do. If not, maybe that's a role for Jedda - hey, she can find traps! - and I would even keep Trap Sense. I was thinking Elemental Kin or maybe Invulnerable Rager + the increased damage reduction rage powers and just hyperfocus on damage reduction (again keeping it simple because the combat is going to be the steep learning curve). I was also thinking about Superstitious because we are playing until level 7 and Jedda could be a good back mage killer with her movement speed and even better init. Please advise about undecided. In a way, yes, I am very undecided about Archetype!

[Goldmyr]

I fixed your entry Jedda. I thought you had a post that had your class up in the air, but when I reread it, I realized that it doesn't say what I thought it did. Sorry about that.

Some archetypes do affect the barbarian at first level with alternate weapon or armor proficiencies, but if it seems like something is going to conflict, we can work it out when it becomes an issue.

[cappucina]

Ok perfect. Thanks. What's funny is that made me think harder and decide on the Archetype. Jedda will be on the path to becoming an Invulnerable Rager. I think it's simple and it works. DR/- can help in a lot of situations. It is reliable. A lot of the other combinations of stuff were fun to consider.

Edited: does the DR/- from improved damage reduction rage power stack with the archetype? I am researching and I see yes and no answers.

[Goldmyr]

I think it should.

[writelite]

A few general notes about Varisia and Sandpoint

These might not interest you much, if you have read the Guide and decided on what is sufficient information for your character (like for background and what they know of the world).

 

Varied enough and with loosely related populations, Varisia seems designed to accommodate a lot of character types - a slight connection to its people being sufficient to explain one's presence in the land.

Humans predominate, and to belong to them confers enough traits for a character theme. Of the other common races, the Halflings and Half-Orcs are remarkable for their social ill-placement - material for motivation. The rest are less specific to this setting, with enough traits for character flavor - and plenty of room to improvise. Of the classes, Barbarians, Fighters, Druids, and Rangers are perhaps more significant socially, while other 'paths' might shine in isolated contexts.

Varisia appears to be mostly cut off from the rest of Golarion by its aggressive, invading neighbors: the Linorm Kings to the NW, the orcs of Belkzen's Hold to the NE, and the Chelaxians to the SE. The seas to the SW may not be so open either, with pirates around. It looks like foreign travelers would have a hard time reaching this land - Quite an adventure by itself, that.

Large scale invasions of the neighbors may be the only major threat to the land. Additionally, giants and dragons that supposedly live in remote places could wreak as much havoc - should they break loose. At medium threat level we have the ambitions of states and tribes - like those of the Chelish descendants in the south, the pirates of Riddleport, or some of the Shoanti. And then we have threats to just small communities and trade routes - from bandits and wild beasts, mainly. Also small scale are the internal affairs of the cities - little worlds of their own marked by fights for power. It may be possible for a young character having a sheltered past to be less involved with these matters, but adventurers would probably get to face them eventually.

Sandpoint is surprisingly peaceful, having Magnimar nearby and being exposed to sea incursions from Riddleport. The setup seems to be that of a trade town - with the main buildings raised around a harbor, and manors of the wealthy farther off into a rural countryside. Apparently they deal in lumber, glass-work, and perhaps farm goods - but with whom they trade, and how could that take place safely and allow a few to amass riches are mysteries. Its short history, and the fact that - locally - a charming mayor and one tough sheriff are enough to keep things in check, might suggest a recent colony (or outpost) of Magnimar - protected from a distance... The simple folk of Sandpoint, though, could say the Divine ensures the town's "normality".

Player characters present in Sandpoint prior to the upcoming festival would most likely not be there because of it.

[cappucina]

Writelite, which map section is Sandpoint on your block map? I figured Varsian gulf but the gulf shows up in over a lot of coordinates.

Nevermind I found it on the additional page you put up. Would it makes sense for my character to be from Red Mountains or is that impossible for someone to just travel down to Sandpoint from there?

[writelite]

@cappu: Sorry for replying late. Not impossible, I think. Hard at times, during her journey, yes - and more interesting, potentially, because of that. Jenna's background already referred to a series of steps marked by her effort to avoid certain people and generally pass less noticed. The Guide mentions the Shoanti's hate for Half-Orcs, and they are said to inhabit the Velashu Uplands; the Curchain Hills too, if she takes that route. Other locations given attention in the Guide are the Mierani Forest - but she probably wouldn't go that far west, and Riddleport - which is a den of pirates; so she could hardly have reached Sandpoint aboard one of their ships. You mentioned walking from town to town. Perhaps that would match the route: Riddleport, Roderic's Cove, Ravenmoor, Wolf's Ear, Galduria, Sandpoint. The presence of Half-Orcs in Riddleport in mentioned, and Roderic's Cove is near enough to expect similar conditions there. But I can't guess how welcome her sight would be in the other towns. So perhaps she would also have to live off the land during some parts of the journey. And traveling alone could place many dangers of wilderness in her path. Besides that, passage through farmland - as might exist around towns like Sandpoint - could also face some local opposition. I wonder if a (wandering) clan of Varisians could accept her as a temporary companion...

P.S. Newbies to PF-1e (like me): I found this nice guide to character creation.

[Ermine]

I added like...half a sentence to the very end of my application, saying how she got to Varisia.

[writelite]

@Ermine: Just read her bio for the first time. Inexperience and undiscovered potential match youth well, I think, and allow you to keep character options open. This approach can be difficult to handle, but your writing style makes the mysterious seem natural, easier to accept. Weaving her connection with Varisia into the mystery* surrounding Sandpoint's situation in the land fits the rest like a glove! (* A mystery at least to my mind. Haven't read beyond the advert text and the Guide.)

(Currently digging deep into Investigators.)

[Goldmyr]

Cappucina-It's definitely possible that Jedda traveled down the coastal areas on foot from the Red Mountains. In fact, such a trip could be made in a few of weeks with good conditions. I would guess two months at most. If the game lasts long enough, I do have a way to tie in the dwarven criminals she used to work for.

Ermine-I liked the idea behind your backstory. And it's very possible that you've acquired some contacts or enemies in the Sczarni. The Sczarni are a loose collection of gangs and criminals among the gypsy-like Varisian humans. If accepted, it could be fun to work in some extra elements on that topic.

[Clawsome]

I didn't know the map of realm so used the written one to find land close buy The forest for Azrael's original location and how he got to town.

[writelite]

@Claw: It's interesting that Nybor, south-west of Azrael's home forest, happens to be very race-tolerant. I can see him passing through the town - perhaps for a route across the plains, towards the western sea. There is also the option of taking a boat from Wartle, perhaps by hiring a "swamper" from that place. That route leads all the way to Magnimar; but he could get off somewhere along the river. The newer bits of info I got from the pathfinderwiki site. While there, I also peeked at Magnimar. Apparently they have a healthy influence around the neighboring area (including Sandpoint). So Azrael, I think, might only have encountered some wild beasts and bandits - for dangers. But, of course, there is room for bigger events :)