[PF-1e] Strange Aeons

[Ermine]

I'll probably say magical since I'll mostly be using kinetic blade/whip as emergency weapons. As a kineticist, I'll have good HP (for a d8 hit die, anyway, because high Con). Just won't have much in the way of armor.

On that topic: piecemeal armor allowed? (Not asking you to convert treasure armor to piecemeal, and knowing I won't have it until we get our gear back)

[Maya Conti]

Originally Posted by Ermine

I'll probably say magical since I'll mostly be using kinetic blade/whip as emergency weapons. As a kineticist, I'll have good HP (for a d8 hit die, anyway, because high Con). Just won't have much in the way of armor.

On that topic: piecemeal armor allowed? (Not asking you to convert treasure armor to piecemeal, and knowing I won't have it until we get our gear back)

*Looks into rules*

Well, that seems rather complicated. Probably not. Sorry about that.

[Ermine]

Nothing to be sorry about. ^~^ I'll just go with a haramaki, then.

[Admin Dirk]

Originally Posted by Maya Conti

What's her archetype?

Divine Herbalist, if allowed. If not, then plain oracle (dual cursed for more flavor and fun).

[Maya Conti]

Originally Posted by Admin Dirk

Divine Herbalist, if allowed. If not, then plain oracle (dual cursed for more flavor and fun).

Hmm... seems like the name Divine Herbalist is the copyright-free version of the archetype. I assume it's called Pei Zin Practitioner, at least in the official version. I have no problem with you taking this archetype, though you gotta use this name since we're using official Paizo materials.

[Ermine]

I have everything done, up to level 20 (except skills, which are just level 1). Might post my full notes (with spoilerbuttons for unnecessary stuff) soon, instead of waiting to see if I'm in the other game. Posting with the full notes so you can see how I plan to progress as the story unfolds.

[Maya Conti]

Originally Posted by Ermine

I have everything done, up to level 20 (except skills, which are just level 1). Might post my full notes (with spoilerbuttons for unnecessary stuff) soon, instead of waiting to see if I'm in the other game. Posting with the full notes so you can see how I plan to progress as the story unfolds.

Looking forward to see it.

[Ermine]

Character Application Name: Elizabeth Vulpesca Art by Shukun YangAppearance: As a fox, Elizabeth looks like...well, a typical red fox. Albeit a 31 year old red fox with human-looking eyes. The age is more apparent in human form, at least to humans. She has dark, wavy hair in human form, and animalistic brown eyes. She wears a cloak to cover most of her features, but her slight weight and short height are fairly obvious. Her clothing is otherwise simple. She is almost never in hybrid form, so as not to make people uncomfortable. She doesn't want to be seen as a lycanthrope, given their prevalence in the region. Personality: Reserved and suspicious of outsiders, like all Ustalavs, Elizabeth also has a prankster side of her. Not all harmless pranks, either. She will play tricks to lure in prey, such as faking an injury. But she also offers sanctuary to those she sees as friends, holding them as close as her mistress once held her. She will still act in an animalistic fashion, however, when stressed. Str 5, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 15 ASI: Dex at 4th, Con at 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th Race: Superior Shapeshifter alternate racial traitFoxfolk (Kitsune) Class: Favored Class Bonus: +1/6 Magical Tail 2-7, +1 skill point 1 and 8-20Kineticist Alignment: Neutral Deity: Brigh Trait: Twitchy (Campaign) (+2 Init, +1 Ref) Trait: Indomitable Faith (Faith) (+1 Will) Trait: Among Humans (Race, Kitsune) (+2 to pass as human, disguise is a class skill) Drawback: Tainted Spirit (After combat, DC10+(rounds acted) Fort save or be fatigued for 10 minutes per round acted)   Feat 1: Point-Blank Shot Feat 3: Precise Shot Feat 5: Magical Tail Feat 7: Magical Tail Feat 9: Magical Tail Feat 11: Weapon Focus (Kinetic Blast) Feat 13: Toughness Feat 15: Iron Will Feat 17: Swift Kitsune Shapechanger Feat 19: Great Fortitude   Utility 1: Basic Geokinesis Utility 2: Nine-Tailed Kineticist Utility 4: Magical Tail Utility 6: Magical Tail Bonus 7: Clockwork Heart Utility 8: Magical Tail Utility 10: Magical Tail Utility 12: Tremorsense Utility 14: Greater Tremorsense Utility 16: Expanded Defense Utility 18: Kinetic Healer Utility 20: Kinetic Revivification   Infusion 1: Kinetic Blade (form) Infusion 3: Extended Range (form) Infusion 5: Entangling Infusion (substance) Infusion 9: Kinetic Whip (form) Infusion 11: Blade Whirlwind (form) Infusion 13: Whip Hurricane (form) Infusion 17: Magnetic Infusion (substance) Infusion 19: Deadly Earth (form)   Initial Element: Earth (Earth Blast (physical)) Expanded Element 7: Earth (Metal Blast (physical)) Expanded Element 15: Water (Cold Blast (energy))   Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Stealth (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha) Skill Ranks: Diplomacy 1, Knowledge (nature) 1, Perception 1, Stealth 1, Survival 1 Background Skills: Handle Animal 1, Sleight of Hand 1 Languages: Common, Sylvan   52 gold, 4 silver Gear: Monk's Outfit (free, 2 lbs), Haramaki (hardened leather corset, 3g, +1 armor, 0ACP, no max dex, 0% spell failure, 1 lb), Backpack (2g, 2 lbs), Grooming Kit (1g, 2 lbs), Blanket (5s, 3 lbs), 10 Candles (1s, 0lbs), Flint and Steel (1g, 0 lbs) BACKSTORY From the city of Karcau in the Ustalavic county of Sinaria, Elizabeth was a familiar to a sorcerous witch with a transformation patron, and was later given two humanoid forms as a boon for her service to the witch and her patron. Prior to being her mistress' familiar, she had lived in the forest near Karcau, surviving just fine among the horrors, most of which were only a problem to humanoids. The two were inseperable, and she was treated as an equal, including when the spoils were split amongst the party of mercenaries. Or at least, for show it was; she simply gave her portion to everyone else. They were annoyed at first by this companionship, but grew to enjoy her company, as well. The fox-turned-human was granted her Ustalavic human form after the witch retired by the witch's patron, and stayed with her up to the moment of her death, including as a deathbed companion. She set out on her own after that, with what little the two still had saved up. Their former companions had all long since died, but her hometown still welcomed her as one of their own in all forms. She is still unaware of who or what her mistress' patron was, but they seemed benevolent, save for the stripping her of most of her power as part of the reward for service. Of course, that didn't mean they were. This is Ustalav, after all. But that didn't stop her from being converted to Brigh worship by the wizard of the group, a faith she has been fascinated by since she was first "adopted." She spent some time with a large group of foxes that roamed Karcau after her mistress' passing, and it was rumored that anyone who disrespected them went missing without a trace...a rumor she started to keep the foxes safe. They mostly stayed in her mistress' otherwise abandoned house for shelter.

(Image subject to change. There are a few other looks I'm still considering. Everything else is complete)

Edit: Finalized the pic, I think~

[smeowlin]

Originally Posted by Ermine

I have everything done, up to level 20 (except skills, which are just level 1). Might post my full notes (with spoilerbuttons for unnecessary stuff) soon, instead of waiting to see if I'm in the other game. Posting with the full notes so you can see how I plan to progress as the story unfolds.

I was inspired by your post and I edited in a breakdown of my character building and level planning, though only up to 11th.

[Admin Dirk]

Originally Posted by Maya Conti

Hmm... seems like the name Divine Herbalist is the copyright-free version of the archetype. I assume it's called Pei Zin Practitioner, at least in the official version. I have no problem with you taking this archetype, though you gotta use this name since we're using official Paizo materials.

I tend to use this site for Pathfinder, I find the layout better...
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/home

so yeah, that's why I used Divine Herbalist.

[Maya Conti]

Alright, got it. I'll update the table soon.

Edit: Any more people interested?

[LeoByron]

Throwing my hat in with a different creation

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Name: Raven Knight
Race: Human
Class: Holy Tactician Paladin
Alignment: Lawful-Good
Campaign Trait: Driven By Guilt
Role/Niche: Martial / Support

 

- In the darkest corner of the tavern you see a man so large that he seems to fill the very shadows that shroud him. He seems as tall sitting in his tiny chair as the tall men who walk past him in the light of the oil lamps. His face is hidden in the depths of his cowl but when you approach him, he stands reaching a height which must graze the eight foot mark, and slowly slides it back. His long black hair spills out and frames his massive shoulders and rests midway down his torso. Perhaps nearly as striking as his great height is the unhealthy pallor of his white skin, with his dark eyes seeming as black pits in his otherwise handsome face. A twisted ghastly scar crosses his neck just above his adam's apple stretching nearly from ear to ear. You hesitate at the sight of him, perhaps slightly fearful of this awesome giant. His head cocks slightly to the side and a sad smile spreads across his ruby lips and his face transforms. How could you have thought this gentle man so menacing? He takes your hand in his when you at last find the courage to close the distance and engulfs it in a firm but careful shake. From such proximity you realize this man is far younger than you first thought and could not have seen more than twenty winters. "Welcome," he says plainly, his voice a deep scratchy rasp, likely a consequence of that long-healed gash across his neck. "There is so much we need to speak about." His words carry so much warmth and so much need that you cannot help but feel safe in the presence of this man. You sit across from him, ready to hear his tale.

 

- In the beginning, Raven sits in silence allowing you to get your full measure of him. You sense that this man before you possesses a calmness not usual for one as immersed as he is in the rigors of youth. His eyes seem to look within as much as they gaze without. You get a sense that he has lost his way but that he is searching for a way out of his darkness. His intelligence is obvious in the way he was considerate of his effect on you and this somehow betrays a deep concern he has for the feelings of those around him. When at last he begins to speak you get a clearer picture of who this man is, but he seems guarded somehow, as if he is holding something back that seems to seep through despite his best efforts to contain it. His mannerisms, though carefully controlled, occasionally reveal some inner pain as he occasionally places his massive hand over his heart as though clutching at it. As his tale unfolds and he speaks to you in his throaty rasp, you realize that Raven is, at heart, a kind and gentle man who wants nothing more than to be liked and, perchance, be loved. This need has cost him nearly everything. It is what caused him to follow Balin into the deepest darkest evil the world has ever known. Or so it felt like to him when he became as immersed in it himself as was his life-long friend.

 

- Raven brought his large mug to his lips and drew a long swig of the thick frothy mead it contained. He lowered the receptacle slowly and stared straight into your eyes. "Why have I come here to Absalom, you ask? Why have I come out of the night and stepped into the light of this quaint little tavern to have this meeting with you?" His words send chills down your spine as he speaks them, as if they were caressing you with their sultry depths. "I will tell you why. I have a deep need to share my tale with you. I must warn you, however, that mine is not a story for the faint of heart. My tale, of course, begins, as it must, with the story of Balin Damaq." Raven pauses for a moment, perhaps at a small gasp which may or may not have made its way out from between your lips, allowing a slight crooked smile to stretch across his own. "I see you have heard the name," he rasps. "Of course you have. The Damaq name should be well known to any citizen of Absalom. It is the name of one of the Mighty Eight after all. Balin was second cousin to the Lady Thaendra, of the Katheer branch of the family. Balin and I grew up together, or perhaps more aptly, I grew up as his favourite plaything. I was born of the wealthy Knight merchant house and was sent to live as a ward of the Lady Damaq to serve as her son's companion and sparring partner." A playful smile spreads across his face revealing a perfect set of white teeth. "That would, of course, be the other Lady Damaq of Katheer, and not the famed Lady Damaq, wife of Scion Lord Kerkis, of Absalom." The smile fades from his lips as quickly as it had come and he resumes his more solemn mien. "Balin was a thunderous lad, full of life and verve and what he craved most in life was greatness, as well as the attention and accolades it could bring him. Though he was abusive of me at first and liked to work me extra hard on the practice floor, it was not long before he learned to respect my own prowess with the blade. As I began to grow into the beginnings of the great size I would eventually achieve, he fought extra hard to best me and keep astride of my potential. He respected that I would not let him win our battles and understood that in the end, he could not hope to match my strength or hardiness. Yet he remained the leader and never lost my respect or friendship. He was the crafty one. The one whose glib tongue could open any door or win any heart to his cause, including my own. This ease he had with people led to our mingling with the sons of other nobility and that is how we had the great pleasure of meeting His Excellence Sheik Khaïr bin Parumartish Viru. Or Khaïr as we came to call him. We became fast friends in those early days, engaging in all the carefree fun and frolic only sons of the wealthy can indulge, even at so young an age. We had many an adventure in the streets of Katheer, visiting the ports often and familiarizing ourselves with all its nooks and crannies. It was a grand time in our lives. All that changed, of course, when Lady Damaq of Katheer was murdered in her sleep and all her worldly possessions taken or destroyed, leaving Balin in the awkward care of his drunk of a father. Balin would have none of that. His father would never aspire to greatness and Balin would be great. He would have it no other way. So he ran away and besought me to come with him to Absalom. To find there the greatness that was ours for the taking. Ah, that Balin. Such a persuasive one. I followed him of course. Khaïr. however, could not be persuaded and so it is here that we lost contact with our good friend. "We stowed away on one of the great Or insert whatever technologically appropriate large ship be it galley or longship, etcCarracks that departed almost daily for the great port of Absalom. We arrived in short order and began our new lives together in the Golden City. Life in the great city, as you may know, is not as easy as most outsiders believe, so we did not have the grand beginning Balin had envisioned. In fact, it was not long before our living conditions degenerated to a state of squalor worse than that which Balin had left in Katheer. That is when Balin made first contact with the Black Phoenix." "The Black Phoenix were an order of semi-religious fanatics who took to organized crime to fund their nefarious existence. They made promises to their supplicants that great wealth would come to those whose dedication was unwavering and it was not long before Balin became obsessed with climbing their ranks. I was far less enthusiastic and tried to dissuade him from associating with what by all appearances could only be a cult of evil. Balin, however, would not be veered from his path and he was such a persuasive lad... I followed him as I always have and we climbed the ranks of the order. We had barely reached the tender age of 17 yet his brains and my brawn made for a formidable combination and it was merely a year later when the Grand Votary extended his invitation to us to ascend to the ranks of the exalted. We had no idea what we were in for." Raven pauses again, reaching for his mug and downs the entirety of its contents in one long swallow. His hand as he lowers his mug is still shaking slightly. He closes his eyes for a moment, composing himself. When he opens them again, he resumes his tale. "When the night of our ascension came, we were brought into a windowless carriage and taken to an unknown location for the ritual. We were told only that there would be a ritual, but nothing of its nature or its purpose. When at last the carriage came to a halt, the door was opened abruptly and black hoods were thrown over our heads and our hands bound in strong chains not even I could break. Though I lost physical contact from Balin, I could hear him near me as we were taken on foot some short distance from the carriage. Suddenly, I was shoved backwards and forced down onto my back. Strong hands, several sets of them, grabbed my arms and extended them outwards from myself. I did not resist for, even then, I had no inkling of what was about to happen to me. And then, they drove the first nail through my wrist." "I screamed, louder than I ever thought I could as the cold fire shot up my arm and exploded in my head. Who knew such agony could be possible? I felt them pulling at my other arm, but now, I fought them. Violently I thrashed, but there were simply too many of them and not nearly enough leverage for me to fend them off. I heard Balin's screams echoing my own and knew his was a similar fate. I pleaded with them, begged for them to stop. Until the second nail drove home into my other wrist and all I could do was scream. My legs came next, one foot above the other. When they rose me up, lifting the wooden structure I was nailed to, I knew that I was being crucified. For what? What had I done to warrant this? I would have wondered these things were I capable of anything other than screaming. I vaguely wondered about Balin, but was too lost in my own torment to spare much thought to anything else. I was panting excruciatingly as I struggled to hold my weight, alternating between pushing with my legs causing unbelievable agony in my feet, and pulling with my arms, causing a searing tearing sensations in my wrists. Eventually, what became worse even than this pain, was the suffocation. When you are crucified, it is not blood loss that kills you. Not even shock from the pain or the injurious nails themselves. It is the suffocating pressure of your own weight as you are pulled down in the crucifix position. Each breath becomes a labour until, eventually, each breath is agony. I soon became vaguely aware that strange archaic chanting had begun around the time that I was lifted up." "I was left to wallow in my anguish for hours. I thought time would never end. It was so tempting to stop the struggle and let myself suffocate. The mind, however, is a resilient thing. It does not want to abandon hope. It clings to any sliver which even vaguely resembles the possibility of salvation, and does not let go. Finally, I could take it no longer and just let myself slump. I began to gurgle the last of my breaths and my head filled with panic. But my legs refused to push any longer and my arms felt dead at my sides. But they would not let my suffering end, not yet. They threw ropes over my cross and tied my arms so that I would be lifted higher and my breaths could come a little easier. I began to weep. I begged for them to let me die. The only answer I received was the continuing chant, and Balin's own whimpering nearby. Finally, the time had come." "I would later learn that my torment lasted for twenty-four hours. It ended abruptly with them taking a sharp spear and slicing my throat open to let the last of my blood spill down onto my chest. My last gasp was really very weak and pathetic. At last, I was dead. Until I woke up." Raven went silent for a moment, fingering the ghastly scar at his neck. His other hand went to his heart again, clutching at his breast silently. "How could I have been dead, you ask? How can I be alive now if I was? I wasn't dead, you see. I was UNdead. The ritual I was forced to undergo is called "The Ritual of Crucimigration. It bound my living soul to my dying body and when at last it surrendered to death, my soul was not allowed to depart from it. I found soon after that Balin had suffered the same fate. The following days became a blur as we were taken to the Black Phoenix's sanctum to adjust to our new unlife. At least they left us together in our cell. Balin came to see our transformation as a gift." 'We will live forever!' he said. 'We will never suffer from the frailties of humanity ever again!' he cried in my weeping face." "I never accepted it. But, once again, I followed Balin. I vowed to find a way to achieve salvation for us both. I would do whatever I could to save our immortal souls. Eventually we were sent out into Cairnlands to infiltrate one of the haunted fortresses that litter the great plains. The Earthquake had opened a small window of opportunity and the Black Phoenix would capitalize on it. I will spare you the details of our adventure, and come straight to the apogée of my little tale." "We navigated the halls of the ancient relic with relative ease until we came to the top of the haunted steeple. We came to a room which obviously once served as a Chapel. Kneeling near the crumbling altar was the glowing figure of some armored warrior. The halo of golden light that surrounded him was blinding to our undead eyes. Eight of us had been sent to this abandoned place, and eight of us entered the chapel and circled the radiant Paladin. He stood slowly and faced us. He unsheathed his great blade and slowly turned as he faced each of us one-by-one. We attacked." "It did not go well for us. One-by-one our companions fell to the golden warrior's luminescent blade. I refused to fight. I saw this being for the force of good that he was and not once did I raise my own blade against him. All our allies succumbed to his skill until only Balin and I remained. Balin had no such reservations and continued to assault his foe with all the gusto he could muster. He was no match for him, of course. One, two, three devastating blows from the holy weapon had him down, severely injured. The golden warrior silently advanced, weapon raised for the killing blow." 'No!' I cried. I threw myself between them, dropping my own weapon to the floor as I ran to shield my friend from the killing blow that took me in his stead. I was nearly torn in half by the magnificent weapon. I felt the dark force that trapped my soul relinquish its hold and felt my consciousness waning. I looked my friend in the eyes as my vision faded and saw when the blade took off his head. I died a second time with tears flowing from my dry dead eyes." "I awoke. Again. This time, I was alive! I felt the breath enter my lungs and placed my hand to my chest and felt my heart beating for the first time in over three years. I began to weep, real tears this time, hot and wet against my face. Then I saw Balin's desiccated headless corpse." 'I am sorry about your friend,' a gentle voice spoke to me from behind. I turned and saw the glowing man who destroyed my friend. I did not experience rage. Only a deep sadness filled my heart and I clutched at it to feel it still beating in my chest. 'He was beyond redemption. You, however, are not. I could feel the goodness still flowing through your heart, so I spared you. I am giving you this second chance to make amends for the dark path you have embarked on. You are a good man, Raven. Go forth and do good deeds and live.' Raven at last locks his eyes to yours and for the first time, he seems to realize who you are. "Wait... You seem familiar... I know you from... before. Why are you looking at me like that? What are you going to do with that? Wait!" It is done. Raven is at your mercy now. It can begin...

GM Permissions I have a few things which require GM approval. The first is the inclusion of the concept of Necropolitan as something from Raven's past. He is not undead anymore, but he was in the past. This has no effect, mechanically, but will affect his personality and character. I also want Raven to be extremely tall. Do you take issue with me going beyond the limits of what is normally possible for humans? He will be around 7' tall (Still medium size, however). The idea for the character is that he used to be an Anti-Paladin and since his redemption he has been allowed to begin again as a Paladin at level 1. Again, no mechanical effect, but he will struggle with his internal morality but strive to uphold the principles which were once so important to him. This will make it seem like he not actually lawful good in his thoughts as I play him, but he will always strive to choose to ACT lawful-good, which fundamentally should be what matters. A man is what he chooses to be.

[LeoByron]

I am considering alternate Half-Orc racial traits and stumbled upon Inured: Half-orcs raised by orcs often become desensitized to the violence around them. Half-orcs with this trait gain a +4 bonus on Will saving throws to avoid sanity damage caused by encountering monsters, extreme violence, or death. This racial trait replaces orc ferocity.Inured

Will you be using Sanity rules for this game? You mentioned we are starting in an insane asylum and hint at great amounts of horror and gore so I thought I might ask. Maybe some of these Will saves will be sanity rolls?

[Maya Conti]

Originally Posted by LeoByron

I am considering alternate Half-Orc racial traits and stumbled upon Inured: Half-orcs raised by orcs often become desensitized to the violence around them. Half-orcs with this trait gain a +4 bonus on Will saving throws to avoid sanity damage caused by encountering monsters, extreme violence, or death. This racial trait replaces orc ferocity.Inured

Will you be using Sanity rules for this game? You mentioned we are starting in an insane asylum and hint at great amounts of horror and gore so I thought I might ask. Maybe some of these Will saves will be sanity rolls?

Well, I first thought to implement sanity rules just like in Call of Cthulhu games, but then that'd make the game hampered by additional mechanics. Also, I believe the adventure path itself has some kind of system or rules related to sanity and madness, so we will be using that.

And yes, anything that can help you succeed at will saves will help you greatly.

[LeoByron]

Sounds like Inured will be useless then. I think I'll go with Sacred Tattoo instead.

Thanks!