Thus clears his throat before speaking:Uhm...Thusk is not so wise. He knows not so well plants and animals and difficult knowledge and stuff. But, Thusk strong, can jump a lot lot far, and also good to scare people! ...and he makes an angry face to make his point, bursting in laughter immediately thereafter.
He then proceeds to vigorously shake Valahad's and River's hands. And Pender's too.
Come join us in the Shifting Seas and Transitive Isles of Living 4th Edition, amazing adventures and great fun guaranteed!
Then to play community 4e in Eberron join us in LEB too! Give life to your characters and contribute to the living settings!
Please excuse my poor English. It is not my first language.
Lanharath smirks at the jovial half-orc as he makes his "scary face". "So I can see. Well, welcome to the team Thusk. Hopefully we will not have much use for your superior strength except maybe to carry out the injured."
Lanharath nods to his fellow Kalashtar and translates the thoughts that have been given to him.
"Our companion Valahad has taken an oath of silence upon himself and he is loath to break it. As such, he will communicate through us. He has explained to us that he is skilled in interpreting the body language, thoughts and feelings of others. He says that his dedication to the Light of Il-Yannah guides his holy blade and that this dedication will keep foes aware of his presence. Thank you Valahad."
Pok nods, silently acknowledging the skill. Someone who could always track his movement, and someone who could always track his thought... It seemed time to begin honing his skills in earnest again, and the training these two could provide would be invaluable. Just attempting to hide from Lanharath, or guard thought or emotion from Valahad, could improve him.
Thusk was going to be an excellent companion, so long as he could attempt silence on occasions of import. His scary face, was truly scary to Pok, but he attempted to save face from his earlier fright at the Drow, and stood his ground.
My turn? Esoteric Arcane, and Religious knowledge, Slowing or stopping pursuers, robbing enemies of their sanity, and focus. General things all Wartime couriers should know.
OOC
seriously? really? A radar, and a lie detector? HA HA HA HA HAHA HHAHAHAHAHA
Speaking quickly in the minds of each of his new companions, the kalashtar says, "Are we ready?"
Then only speaking to Lanharath, "I can handle short thoughts like that, but longer ones I'll ask for your assistance." Clasping his hands behind his back, the paladin steps to the side of the door. "Let's keep an eye on the gnome too. I am not sure I entirely trust him yet."
Lanharath stands in the middle of his companions, concentrating hard at picking up their stray thoughts and asking appropriate questions to make those thoughts flit through their minds.
"We have no problem with reiterating your thoughts Valahad. We respect your commitment to keep your vow and we will do our best to assist you with it."
Lanharath turns and takes a few steps back so that he can address all of the group at once.
"Now that I have had a few moments to 'hear' your thoughts I have been able to determine where our strengths and weaknesses are going to be in this group:
Without a doubt, Pok here is our keeper of arcane knowlege. If we need to know anything about a magical creature, we need to speak with him. Our senses, enhanced as they are with our Mark of Detection, allow us to sense magical auras; the only thing magical in nature that we would be able to do better than our small wizard here.
River. Thusk. Both of you have a very athletic build and will do well if we have any physical impediments. The two of you bring more brawn to the group than the rest of us combined.
After sifting through Valahad's mind, we have been able to ascertain that he is, indeed, a master of social detection. In fact, most of us in this group are talented in this area, though we are not as skilled as Valahad. I feel sorry for any who attempt a lie near this group.
Both Valahand and River have an abundance of knowlege in the field of healing. They will have no troubles keeping us alive in practically any situation we encounter.
Pok, once again, is our master of knowledge. As ironic and somewhat funny as it is, our wizard knows more about religious symbols and texts than even those of us who practice what we preach.
Lastly, Pok and ourselves have skill in keeping quiet, though I will admit that his skills far exceed my own.
We are a well rounded group, though we do, still, have our weaknesses. None of us seem to have any knowledge of underground areas and we will not have any information on what kinds of hazards we are likely to face in those situations. We will do our best to keep us safe in these situations. We also do not have any information on what to expect in the wilderness so we will have to be on our guard. Hopefully these few weaknesses will not impede our mission.
Thank you for listening to what I have to say, it could be very important to remember who can do what given that we do not know exactly what we are walking into."
With that, Lanharath nods to each of his team-mates and walks out of the Tower's Shard, heading down to the ship.
A little crunch to match the fluff
I have taken the liberty of compiling a list of who was trained in what skill and what their bonuses were. Sometimes it nice to know who can do what and this can serve as a good reference for our group. I have given special recognition to those who have the highest bonus for a specific skill if it is 10 or higher. These will be colored green.
Acrobatics: Lanharath +9
Arcana: Pok +14
Athletics: River +5, Thusk +13 Bluff: ------ (none of us are good at lying or feinting) Diplomacy: River +9, Valahad +13 Dungeoneering: ---- (none of us have knowledge of underground areas or hazards) Endurance: River +5, Thusk +10 Heal: Valahad +11, River +13 History: ---- (none of us have knowledge of the distant past) Insight: Pok +7, Lanharath +9, River +11!!, Valahad +15 Intimidate: Thusk +11 Nature ---- (none of us have knowledge of the wilderness) Perception Lanharath +19 Religion: Valahad +6, Lanharath +7, River +8, Pok +12 (LOL!!) Stealth: Lanharath +9, Pok +16 Streetwise: ---- (none of us are "in the loop" of city matters)
Thievery: ---- (all of us are honorable, non-thieving scoundrels =P )
We have a really diverse group with PLENTY of high skill rolls in varying areas. We should do well in both combat situations and social situations (at least for the most part). We're certainly not getting lied to, all of use (except for Thusk) are trained in Insight.
As the group continues its discussions, Lady Pender smiles and says "Excellent, well it seems that I've got a capable group here and will leave you to any final plans you must make. Remember, be at the docks tomorrow morning at first light, Captain Dumain shall take you out aboard The Horrible Fall. Yes I agree his sense of humour is rather off, but he's a capable seaman and the route is an easy one. Good Luck" as she shakes your hands and departs the room.
OOC
I'll post an update tomorrow for the sea voyage provided nobody has any reason to delay
Pok suddenly remembered his training on dealing with Kalashtar, he'd been lax. He began concentrating on trivial objects, the paper and pencil, retrieved once more for Lanharath's assessment. Paying more attention to his outer surroundings than his inner landscape. These were no normal Kalashtar either, his active mind would have to guard thoughts, they had probably already snatched information from casual observation.
And Lanharath had been trying, Pok hadn't even noticed.
Raising the hood up over his head, and hiding his face again, Pok counted backwards by seven. Scribbling notes quickly and maintaining the serial sevens. He'd review the notes later, when stray thoughts wouldn't be examined.
Suddenly the contract got very interesting... Each member of the group seemed a significant... STOP, *how am I going* Pok catches the mental slip, and begins counting back by nine's this time.
100, 91, 82, 73, 64, 55, 46, 35...
*This is a most glorious training excursion, and my superiors are going to hear about each member of this group for one reason or another... *
Pok continues his exercise's, repetitive math, object focus, word problems. Keeping his thoughts careful, and constructed. Although, the exhilaration of a good challenge was not to be contained... and Pok smiled.
I'll place the House Sivis mark on the contract when you've drawn it up, I'll also wave the transaction fee. So only the component cost need be covered by you. The witness, Roswyn can be shown the contract at your leisure, she is in the common room.
Pok then exited after replacing the chair to it's proper place.
Lanharath smiles when he encounters the mental block in the form of repetitive subtraction. Curious, he tilts his head slightly to the left and concentrates on the gnome, sending a mental inquiry.
"We're sorry Pok! We don't mean to invade and would never purposefully penetrate the barriers your mind without your permission! We were only sifting through the stray thoughts that have little meaning to most of us so that we could get to know you a little better! (in an almost whisper sound) We usually only use that form of our training to detect when people (used loosely) are close by (as stray thoughts mean something with a mind is near). Please accept our most humble apology if we have offended you!"
Pok actively forms thoughts to impress for the Kalashtar, *I'm not offended, I'm delighted. Nothing personal about the block, House Sivis policy, we are aware Kalashtar are not being impolite when sifting. That is why it is our duty to filter our own thoughts, just as we would not say something without filtering it first.* The same emotional warmth is still present in Pok's mind.
*In fact, during our travels, I'd like to practice at guarding particular thoughts from you, as you actively try to get that thought. We will be playing games constantly, I'll hide, you seek, I'll hide thoughts, you seek. It will be better training that I've been provided in the past...* a stray thought, something about Roswyn, and best schools...
Valahad
The initial shock of realizing he'd been lax in his training has melted off Pok, and he is genuinely warm toward Lanharath. He doesn't seem offended or upset by the faux-intrusion.
You do get the sense that friendship is not all he is excited about when it comes to Lanharath and yourself.
Anyone with basic knowledge of House Sivis
House Sivis does have a policy of censoring it's own words, and thoughts. In order to remain neutral in political matters.
(government secrets can't come bubbling to the top for just anyone to skim off...)
Lanharath's usual smirk transforms into a very rare grin that has an almost feral yet joyous feeling to it.
Pok
Ah-ha-ha! A challenge it is then! This is going to be FUN! We haven't played hide-n-seek in a good long while. This will be good for the both of us. Who knows perhaps we will both become so good at what we do, that only the two of us could challenge the other! You'll practically be invisible, even without your illusions, and perhaps we will even have the skill to see those who ARE invisible (magic or not)! Ah but you also intend for this to be a mental challenge too, do you? We accept! Honing our telepathic abilities could be good if it meant we could pry information from our foes minds before we fight them. We always did hate losing out on information simply because our blade slipped a little too deep into it's victim... hah!
Lanharath also feels the stare of Valahad and mentally communicates with him.
Valahad
Do not judge Pok too harshly as of yet. We believe he acts only in ways that ensure his neutrality to any and all things. He does not wish to choose sides on any front. We think this is both a defense mechanism and a way to remain out of the politics of the world. House Sivis is well known for being this way. We, however, are not nearly as skilled in determining attitude and body language as you are. Do you sense deception? Is there due cause to worry about the small wizard? Do you think he will betray us? We have not been able to sense anything like this, but would appreciate it if you were to inform us if you sense such a thing.
Each of the diverse group prepares in whatever manner they see fit and retreat for their evening rest. The morning comes quickly and the first rays of sunshine see you meeting at the docks at the appointed time. Sea birds circle lazily overhead, looking for an easy meal, or hoping one careless seaman drops a crate of fish. Various goblinoids, humans and half-orcs are milling about loading or unloading ships, jostling for position in the busy docks, or keeping a predatory eye for the unwary. Seeing a fully armed and capable looking group of adventurer's these ne'er do wells give you a wide berth, especially with the presence of the kalashters.
It will be quite difficult to find anything specific in this circus of activity that is being undertaken.
OOC
Skill Challenge: Finding The Horrible Fall and Captain Dumain
Welcome to the first skill challenge. Time to test out those new characters and try some of those skills you've picked. There are some obvious skills, and some not so obvious ones, but as long as you come up with some cool/interesting/plausible way to correlate the skill I'll consider it. Good Luck!
Lanharath leads the band of adventurers through the docks, keeping a sharp eye out for anything that would distinguish The Horrible Fall from the rest of the ships in this area. Lanharath shouts out to all of the miscreants, asking rather loudly as to where The Horrible Fall was located, and even though he received no responses from the busy crew members, he knew it would spark a memory and something would flash through their minds. As quickly as he could he swept the area telepathically, attempting to sift through all of the random images and surface thoughts that these beings were emanating, to try to find the correct image and then match it to something that can be physically seen, smelled, or heard, even if it's just a particular path to guide them in the right direction.
"I suggest we go talk to the harbormaster, he should probably know more about the ships in the port than anyone else... I just hope he will have a little bit of time for us." suggests River. He walks up to the office and tries to get attention of him or one of his employees and asks if they have any information about The Horrible Fall.
OOC
As the authority of the port, I suppose the office is easy to find. So, asking the harbormaster or his staff would probably a Diplomacy check rather than a Streetwise check.
Pok, finished picking the simple lock, and dropped to the floor on the otherside of his second story window. Confident he hadn't been seen, unless Lanharath had followed him, but from frequent doubling back, the wizardly gnome had an idea that wasn't the case.
Pulling out and reviewing his notes for the first time, he made special note of Thusk, from his history lessons, a certain barbarous lady killer had fathered just such a creation. If this was that legendary philanderer's offspring...
But more over, the Kalashtar! For once, he had made a social interaction, and it was with Lanharath! The most adept telepath Pok had personally met, and he had met Kalashtar before. Even been trained with one.
Springing from that, the interaction with Valahad, purportedly a masterful empath. Those skills had yet to be flexed, in Pok's eyes.
Pok put on some string and woodwind music, sat down for fifteen minutes on his harp, and then filed his notes in the fireplace, under B, for burnt. Before freshening up, and bedding down.
A cloaked figure, head low, really low, only two feet off the ground low, hunched behind a chimney. Then two steps, a hop off a side wall, and dropping into an alley, Pok braced himself against a wall.
Hopping through the side window, he chatted matter-of-factly to the House Sivis Courier Station rep. Notaries Guild, Active Attendee, Pok d'Sivis undertaking information gathering mission for Sacred Flame, Lady Pender. Traveling outside of assigned area, for an as of yet undetermined period. Lady Roswyn d'Sivis last known whereabouts Towers Shard. Waiting a few moments for the scribbling to finish, Pok then started his second message. Tasker's Dream, research division, Found interesting subject, will gather further intelligence, awaiting your contact. Pok d'Sivis, last known whereabouts The Horrible Fall, Captain Dumain.
His messages sent, Pok creeped out a second story window, and made his way by rooftop to the docks, where he waited for the group. Watching the comings and goings, listening to people chat. Hiding... When he spotted Lanharath, he began the meditation he had been working on. Attempting to make his mind a blank space, so that his thoughts would not alert the Kalashtar to his presence.
Smiling as he notices his small friend joining the group, Lanharath sends a mental greeting to Pok.
Mental Greeting to Pok
Good Morning Pok. A little drowsy are we? We think even a few of our more perceptive friends may have spotted you this time. We hope you had an enjoyable evening. Are you ready for our trip?
OOC
Ouch... you rolled a 3, bummer. Isn't that awesome that you can roll a 3 and get a result of 20!?. There are a few of us that would need to roll over a 10 to get a 20 on a stealth check. Now, I'm not sure if it was my Passive perception that would have come into play to see you (29) or if it was the active Perception check I made as part of my turn (which with all of my feats and bonuses would end up being a total of 43 [wow... yeah, that's right... awesooooome! That beats the HARD DC for lvl 30 by 10!!!]), but I definitely spotted ya. You're gonna have a haaaaaard time hiding from Lan =P lol
Valahad wakes early, praying to the morning light. With Lanharath's help, the kalashtar straps on his plate armor. Some days he hated wearing it. The weather of Sharn was warm and wet. The heavy armor and it's padding absorbed both the sun's rays and the rain. How he missed his home in Adar, the cool mountain winds and the fresh air were preferred to this hot, humid city.
Being on the docks, the smell of salt water reminded him of home. When he thought of home, he thought of his mission. Always alert. He couldn't see the gnome, but he knew he was there. Larharath's expression gave it away.
Pulling a silver piece form his pocket, he approached a beggar, somebody that wasn't in a hurry with anything. Holding out the silver piece, the paladin speaks in the man's mind, calmly not to startle him. "Where might I find the The Horrible Fall or Captain Dumain."
Oooh! Oooooh!!
Thusk is staring at retty much everything as he walks together with the rest of the party (except the gnome, he must be late). After a few minutes of childish amazement, Thusk decides that it's time to help his new-made friends find the ship.
So, Thusk starts waving his hands high in the middle of a crowd, asking, as loud as he can: Where to the Horrible Fall?? Where to the Horrible Fall???
Come join us in the Shifting Seas and Transitive Isles of Living 4th Edition, amazing adventures and great fun guaranteed!
Then to play community 4e in Eberron join us in LEB too! Give life to your characters and contribute to the living settings!
Please excuse my poor English. It is not my first language.
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