[PF-1e] Parabellum Games

[OneDarkness]

Originally Posted by AximusLokar

You people are making it so tempting to take the Crossroll Stats even though I know that dice hate me.

I hear ya the dice gods never seem to favor me, but who knows maybe with an appropriate sacrifice they might change their mind

[MundayKnight]

Well got my character Sheet done and added a medium and high challenge that are admittedly pretty silly.

[Eviltedzies]

Notice: Less than 24 hours left until the deadline! Remember, I do not require character sheets be completed. Only the fluff of your app and a monster encounter. Happy writing folks!

[arkerpay]

Completed.

Nimbus Anu Name: Nimbus Anu Race: Human Classes: Sorcerer (Air Elemental) Archetype(s): None Alignment: Neutral Primary Party Roles: Damage dealer Character Sheet: Home Kingdom: Soul Terra Campaign Trait: Pride of the Kingdom Region Trait: Born to Magic (Air Elemental) Physical Description:   Your attention is drawn to the young man’s beautiful face. His skin is pale and perfectly complected, with high cheekbones, full lips, eyes as blue as a cloudless sky. All this framed in close-cropped, almost white hair, that is allowed to extend freely above his forehead. Yet, something about his face seems uncanny. Alien. The features are symmetric, but seem slightly off. Unexpressive, as if carved of stone or wood not from this plane of existence. This spoils what would be physical perfection. The rest of his body is similarly well-constructed. Lithe, muscular, robust, Nimbus’s movements, when he makes them, are decisive. This body is garbed in a extraordinarily-tailored, light blue robe of the finest silk, embroidered in gold. Matching slippers cover his feet. Personality:   Nimbus is quiet and generally pleasant in routine social interactions. However, he has difficulty forming friendships, often missing social cues and having difficulty communicating on a personal level. A personal tick he has is rhythmically cascading his fingers against each other so that they make a staccato sound of friction, which is then followed by him compulsively cracking his knuckles. He does this every so often. Nimbus is closest to his older sister. While he primarily relates to others transactionally, and treats them as associates, Nimbus has no difficulty making his needs known. He can communicate clearly in this regard and relate complex thought to advance his interests or the needs of a group enterprise. When doing so, he is persuasive. Nimbus is obsessed with alchemy and spends his free time reading and memorizing alchemy texts. He will often bring up the subject of alchemy for no particular reason and if he is asked about alchemy he will talk about it at length. Background:   I added history to your world. I hope you approve. To fully appreciate Nimbus Anu one must go back over 1000 years. Certain clans from Jukai, worshipers of the Elder Gods, had advanced their use of magic through interaction with divine and elemental entities. During the Horizon War, these clans wielded powerful forces in many campaigns and battles. After the war had ended, there was a power struggle in Jukai. A federation of clans, on the losing political side, fled to Aphael. These clans from Jukai, including the Anu family, were instrumental in reestablishing the kingdom in Aphael. The nine Jukai clans, established their own aristocracy with their magical power. They did not integrate with the Aphael locals, instead maintaining their own customs and language, and worshiping the same ancient gods. They also preserved their bloodlines, only intermarrying between clans. They believed it to be a source of their frequent innate magical abilities. Plus there was a prophecy that they would one day return to Jukai and rule. Nimbus was born into the Anu clan, the third most powerful clan. While his father was an able administrator for agricultural land holdings, and his mother managed domestic affairs, his maternal grandmother, Claudia, was a powerful wizard and part of the clan’s leadership. Among Nimbus’s seven siblings, one brother had talent in military matters, one sister was attuned to musical magic, but the others were directed towards mundane yet important professions. Nimbus was quickly identified as having singular magical talent with an innate connection to the air elemental plane. However, he lacked the desire or aptitude to conduct business or administer wealth. As a ‘talent’, Nimbus was not considered for future leadership in the clan, but as a tool to advance the clan’s interests. As soon as he was mature enough, he accompanied more experienced clan members on missions. Initially, these missions were local such as apprehending or eliminating criminals and suppressing internal dissent. Gradually these missions became more advanced, such as interdicting smugglers and battling pirates. Then missions abroad to recover knowledge that predated the Horizon War, recovery of artifacts and relics lost or desired by the Anu clan, and investigating rumors and legends of the past. Nimbus’s skills grew in strength over the years until it was decided that he could act independently to advance the interests of the clan. RP Scenario:   The Anu castle was situated at the base of the mountain range on Aphael’s south east island, just at the point where the slope began to rise. It afforded a view of the plantations on the hillsides and plains below and the blue channel that separated it from the main island of the archipelago was just barely visible. Nimbus flew up the slope towards the castle. An innate ability. He without effort, converted his physical form so as to be less massive, and increased the density of the air behind. In doing so he was propelled uphill. The weather was cool that day and cooler as he ascended. He pulled his silk robe tight around this body. He had been summoned to one of the clan leadership counsel, the dowager Claudia. She was Nimbus’s maternal grandmother. He normally took direction from his uncle Marcus and he wondered yet again what this could be about. He swallowed compulsively, then grunted after each swallow. It was all he could do. Since he was holding his robe tight, he could not crack his knuckles, his normal source of comfort. Nimbus landed on his slipper-clad feet and began to stride towards the castle gate. He reminded himself not to fly, but walk, because flying was considered rude. Everyone said so. The guards opened the gate and admitted him without a word. Navigating to Claudia’s reception chamber, he felt the warmth on the soles of his feet. The hot air from firepits in the kitchens were vented through channels under the floors. This ancient architectural design from Jukai, rarely useful in Aphael, was welcome today. Nimbus stopped at the door of her chamber. As he raised his hand with intent to lightly tap, he heard a sharp-sounding command uttered in Old Bahk, "Enter!" Claudia sat on a pillow on the floor at a lowered area for dining. The narrow table might accommodate ten, but today only the dowager and a teapot were present. Claudia was a thin, rigid, crone, clothed in black silk. Her steel-colored hair held tight with black lacquered combs. She pushed a tea cup towards an unoccupied pillow and stated, "Please sit." Nimbus scanned the room momentarily before obeying. Magic globes produced light, illuminating a disorderly collection of furniture, books, scrolls, and odd paraphernalia. Claudia’s omnipresent raven, a stately ancient bird, perched on a wooden statue and motionlessly monitored events. Seated opposite Claudia, Nimbus said nothing and waited. She took a sip of tea, only then did he dare do so. "I have monitored your progress for the last ten years, Nimbus," Claudia said gently, "You have performed acceptably." After a pause, Nimbus recalled that he should say something, "Thank you, Nana." Claudia smiled wanly at Nimbus, "You are welcome. So yes. We think you are ready to serve the family without direct supervision." Another conversational pause. Faster this time, Nimbus said, "Thank you, Nana." Then he thought to add, "How can I serve?" Claudia smiled broadly, "You will be serving yourself. We want you to marry! Cassia Mu. She has come of age recently and you have met her at formal events and reportedly got along well with her." Nimbus looked back at his grandmother and blinked. In a moment he realized why he was confused. "She is of the Mu clan. Would they agree?" The old woman deliberately took a sip of her tea. Nimbus looked at his own cup. Porcelain. Blue dragon on one side, storm clouds on the other. He took a drink. "They are indisputably the strongest clan. Normally they would not," she said slowly. "When they marry out, their women go to lesser clans in exchange for concessions. Except when the groom is very prominent." Nimbus’s brow furrowed and he started to cascade his fingers against their neighbors making a rhythmic sound of friction. Then cracked a knuckle, then another and noticed that Claudia was glaring at him. He stopped. "But. I am not not prominent." Gritting her teeth, the old woman continued. "No, not yet. But you will be. After you win the Parabellum Festival." Nimbus stared at her and started cascading his fingers. "You have been to Baalreisan and speak the language well enough. We have an agent there who can connect you with a group to compete in the Lethal Squadron versus Monster battles. You win that you will have the renown." She smiled. "Once you are successful in the competition and marry Cassia...plus other initiatives in the works, the Anu clan can move into the number two position. Just think of it. The second most powerful in the islands." "I have arranged passage in three days which will give you ample time before the competition. All you need to do is compete, win, marry, and father children to join our clans," Claudia stated as if it were the most straightforward, easy and logical thing to do. "We are all counting on you." RP Post Nimbus looked down at the teacup and swirled the green liquid slowly. Focusing on the tea and holding the cup carefully prevented him from fidgeting with his fingers and annoying Claudia. Instead his eyes spontaneously started blinking at a fast rate. Nimbus tried to focus and process what his grandmother had told him. His life would change. Either death or marriage was in his future. His mind continued to spin, gears slipping. At last his quietly said, "Cassia Mu is acceptable. Beautiful and pleasant enough. A...political marriage should not interfere with my other activities." He sat the teacup down and thought longer about the risks. Before he knew it he was cracking his knuckles and then looked up at Claudia. "If I survive the competition, my powers will undoubtedly increase. You will doubly benefit. So, I want all of Cassia’s dowry. Land for my household and its construction will come from your estate." "Otherwise, I refuse the marriage." Monster Encounter:   Encounter Name: Iron Dragonflies Difficulty Rating: Medium (CR 10) Monsters: Four Giant Dragonflies (Advanced Template, Giant Template) Monster Strategy: The giant dragonflies will each enter the arena from a different compass direction. They will then descend and use their fly by attacks, after which ascending to be out of reach of grounded combatants. By diving and ascending, they will seek to avoid attacks of opportunity. They will never willingly end their turn within 40 feet of each other and thus avoid area spell attacks. Most significantly, the dragonflies will all target the same lightly armored (or unarmored) opponent. If that opponent falls, it will select the least armored opponent. Actions by the party to prevent this strategy will result in more random attack behavior. Monster Statblock: Modified from https://pathfinder.d20srd.org/bestia...agonfly,-giant with https://pathfinder.d20srd.org/bestia...vancement.html Changes are listed below: Giant Giant Advanced Dragonfly CR 6 Large vermin Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1 Defense AC 23, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+3 Dex, +10 natural) hp 73 (7d8+42) Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +5 Immune mind-affecting effects Offense Speed 20 ft., fly 80 ft. (perfect) Melee bite +13 (3d8+12 plus grab) Special Attack darting charge Statistics Str 27, Dex 17, Con 22, Int —, Wis 16, Cha 13 Base Atk +5; CMB +9 (+18 grappling, or +22 grappling on a charge); CMD 27 (35 vs. trip)

[Eviltedzies]

Less than 6 hours to go before the deadline. I see most folks who have expressed interest have finished up their apps. If your app is complete and I have not marked it as such please let me know.

[bcool999]

Finished with my App! Phew. Between the holiday and blowing a tire today I was running later than I would prefer, but the fluff and Monster Encounter are done!

Application Post

[LeoByron]

Time's up! Good luck everyone!

[Ermine]

We've got about 50 minutes left. It's only 11:09 central time.

[LeoByron]

Close enough, lol

[Ermine]

I just don't want any late applicants to be discouraged. I want more competition.

Edit: I'm apparently already getting into character.

[Eviltedzies]

Ding! Pencils down everyone. The deadline has arrived. I would like to thank everyone who has applied as you have made my job very difficult. I will begin reviewing each app and will announce my final picks by no later than Sunday December 1st.

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

[Ermine]

Good luck to everyone! I probably won't get picked, but everyone else has such good characters!

[OneDarkness]

yup and for the record mine was complete, sorry missed your question

[Eviltedzies]

A Final Thanks Before I announce my picks I want to say that I went over each and every app multiple times. I looked at the various characters and pondered how they would interact with each other as well as how they fit into the world. I also very much enjoyed going through the role play samples. Each and every one of you took the lore I gave you and wove bits and pieces of it into your characters (as well as creating your own) and for that I am grateful. I was heavily tempted to go for a five person team just to squeeze in one more amazing character but even then I was torn trying to select a fifth. If this had been a full fledged campaign I would have even been tempted to go for six people just so I could see more of your characters in action. In the end though I decided to stick to my four person limit in the hopes that it will keep the mechanics a bit more manageable and the delay between player turns and enemy turns somewhat lower. Thank you everyone for applying and if I end up running this again, which I hope to do if this first iteration of the game finishes successfully, you are all welcome to apply again with the same or different characters.

To that end the selected four players and their respective characters are........

The Competitors of the Parabellum Games Monster Hunter Competition! Arkerpay as the air blooded sorcerer Nimbus Anu! AximusLokar as the bloody armament wielding San-Gi Cova! LeoByron as the tormented conjurer Lucious Nox and his bound daughter Livia! Unforgiven as the unstable vampiric mistress of blades Alisha!

Will the Parabellum Games competitors please report to the game thread here to begin what could be the final preparations before the fight of your life!

[MundayKnight]

Congrats to our upcoming arena champions!