OOC - Krauss' Age of Worms Adventure Path [Full]

[Thanee]

Thank you!


Some comments that come to mind...

As for the gold, I would have figured the same starting gold as for the main class we plan to take up, which in my case is Warmage and has no values given either, tho, they could be figured out of the starting package... I'd just have said "as bard", because it's the most similar (spellcaster with light armor use mainly), which incidentally gives an average of 100 gp, so that seems right on in my case.

I suppose, Alexi could have stolen some kind of bauble (a jewel or gem) from a potential customer on its way to Tidwoad's, which will take up a good portion of her worth in equipment, and which she has hidden from almost anyone ('cept good friends), so it does not get taken away.

I havn't yet chosen a weapon for Alexi to have trained in (she has one martial weapon proficiency from her class), but I thought a bow of sorts (probably short bow) would make sense for her (to explain the Point Blank Shot feat ), so she obviously would have been to Venelle's every now and then to check out the weapons there and maybe even learn a bit about their use.

Her Holy Symbol, she will probably have fetched from a traveling priest of Fharlanghn, after which she started to pray to the god of roads (first to apologize for stealing from one of his followers , but later, when she was sure he wasn't angry with her anymore, she started to ask for guidance).

Last but not least, while she probably doesn't have a real job, she could help out in some sort of gambling den (skills are not quite finished, maybe I will be picking up some ranks in Profession (gambling) so that would make sense then) to earn some coins, but not the classy Lazare's, where she doesn't fit in well enough.

So, we need to know the following...

1. Where and when did one of the PCs overhear the Free City adventurers bragging of their intentions to loot a cairn and thus gain inspiration to do the same? (The obvious answer is the Feral Dog, but it's not the only possibility). This PC is the instigator of the party's formation.

This sounds quite fitting to Alexi, especially since it will grant an opportunity to get out and travel (not overly far, but it's a start ), which is right now her greatest desire.

3. How do the remaining four PCs get brought on board? It's not necessary that everyone know everyone else from the start, but the instigator and Cairn-finder should know one or two others, who can then bring one or two others on board, etc. This could be in the interest of safety in numbers, the desire for a specific skillset (clerical, trapfinding...), or someone could even be an annoying tagalong.

When the first characters were written up here, I figured, that Alexi might be in good standing with a more martial character (i.e. Voadam's giant comes to mind), because she probably could have needed a protector once or twice in the past. Unlike many others, she didn't tease him as she doesn't have any prejudices towards his size. Likewise, she could have helped him in a situation, where brawns weren't so helpful.

4. What are the specific motivations for each character that would cause him/her to undertake this potentially dangerous quest? The easy answer is to find some cash and get the heck out of town, but anything more unique or compelling for your individual PC would be a plus.

To boldy go where noone has gone before!

The idea seems to Alexi like a blessing sent from Fharlanghn himself, the promise of travel and adventure, and getting the heck out of Diamond Lake... her prayers have been heard and now the time has come to take action!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Krauss von Espy]

We've got some good ideas so far, exactly along the lines of what I was hoping for! Please keep 'em coming!

 

[Voadam]

I'm happy to have Gregor and Alexi be friends. Once that relationship was established Gregor would be willing to instantly jump in to help his friend if she ever needed him.

The dancing giant place sounds like somewhere Gregor would have liked with its clientelle and attitude, until he found out the story of the imbecilic spinning giantess. Then he would have no interest in going there and rumors might have even arose that he was her son and similarly an imbecile, a taunt that he would not respond well to.

Btw, I like the red death reference, I used that plague from the Fate of Istus module in an old greyhawk campaign.

 

[Voadam]

I have a couple ideas on how to take Gregor.

1 straight man with a giant curse, a neutral figure who eventually takes up fighter. Keeps the concept as an everyday guy with a brutish curse. Rlies heavily on his strength and bashing things.

2 giant eventually going to monk as the martial class. Size large works well with monk abilities (damage increases, grappling, combat reflexes, and tripping all synergize well). I could either describe all the monk abilities as mostly a brawler path or have him formally take to a full monk flavored path. by the rules he would have to be lawful then.

3 book of exalted deeds vow of poverty combined with monk after giant. The curse thing got me thinking that the hexblade's curse could also include destitution which drove his father to his life at Diamond Lake. Would require approval of exalted stuff from BoED, I'd want to know how you would run exalted requirements (If you are cool with me being just a good guy hero from a hard scrabble background then cool, if super paladin code like restrictions then not something I'd be interested in). Would require Gregor to be Lawful Good and have the soul of a hero.

Feat progression question.

If exalted deeds is out and I go the giant monk route, if I started with improved unarmed strike at 1st and improved grapple at 3rd, and then took monk afterwards where I get these as bonus feats would they be wasted or would you grant me new feat choices. Taking these sort of sets up the character to the path of monk and would be appropriate but I would not take them if they are going to be just wasted feat slots when I get them as bonus feats at 4th level.

Similar question, do you use the common house rule changing dodge to be a flat +1 dodge bonus for ease of game play? It eliminates declaring who I assign that bonus to each combat and tracking slightly different ACs when multiple opponents attack.

In any case, 100 gp or zero with just a set of miner's clothes would both be fine for Gregor to start out with, although zero sounds more likely from the story background. If zero I see him then picking up a great club and being ready to join the exploration when asked by Alexi.

 

[Mista Collins]

Now that the starting gold information is taking care of, I will be updating his equipment. Owen's collection of stuff could have easily come from the "Nails Economy". For those who don't know what the "Nails Economy" is, it means that whatever isn't nailed down is mine and anything that can be pried loose is not nailed down. Some of his stuff could even be stuff he has made himself (as he is very resourceful and has the Jack of All Trades feat, letting him use the Craft Skills untrained). You said that all WotC published products are fair game. Does that mean I can use the d20 Modern Weapons Locker book? Actually a lot of my equipment will be coming from the Arms and Equipment Guide as they have some nice stuff for roguish type characters.

Owen would probably know Alexi to some extent as they have very similar backgrounds (no one to turn to type backgrounds) and very similar lifestyles at the moment (take what is needed to survive....plus a little extra). Maybe they have watched each others back on more than one occasion (like stole some food for each other type stuff).

Owen, being the prankster he is, could have fallen on Gregor's bad side but in turn made it up to him (because the last thing Owen wanted was this mammoth of a man to crush his skull ). He could have made it up by causing some public embarrassment to those who tease him or pick on him. Actually, come to think of it, it is more likely Owen knows Gegor through connection with Alexi.

Owen could have possibly used Azten's healing services on more than one occasion. Maybe Azten saw the 16-year-old boy beaten by the thugs that he stole the daggers from and decided to help heal him. Raging Epistaxis, what do you think about this?

So it is quite possible that Alexi could have heard about the looting of the Cairn and confronted Owen about her wonderful idea. And then Owen would have informed her of what he knew about the Whispering Cairn and the abandoned overseer's office. But since Owen is frightened about the cairn and worried of getting hurt, he tries to employee the services of Azten, who is a great man for helping him out. If anyone deserves some of the wealth from this cairn in order to help get out of Diamond Lake (or to help the citizens), it is Azten for his gracious and sterling personal worth and character.

...just some ideas thrown out on the table.

 

[Raging Epistaxis]

Heh. I was thinking the same sorts of things this morning while I was working.

holy symbol = small rock hammer that I use artistically as well as clerically

The most likely way I would know other PCs if they have ever worked in the mines (especially for Ragnolin) and/or needed healing. I've only recently acquired clerical healing powers, but my skill in nonmagical healing is probably better than most in this environment.

As a dwarf, I'd probably not be too friendly to Gregor initially, but if he has a good heart then I would warm up some (unfriendly -> indifferent-> ?)

I would certainly have helped and healed a young lad who I found being beaten up by a couple of toughs, but more likely if I hadn't seen him steal from them first...

As for why would I be willing to help explore a (hopefully) unplundered tomb, I am looking for a good place to set up a shrine to Moradin, and besides, there might be dwarven artifacts.

Will edit this later and add a lot - gotta go now

R E

 

[silentspace]

Woot!

Just some random thoughts we might use...

Alexi (Thanee) and Owen (Mista Collins) both survive on the streets, by their wits. Surely they know each other, and perhaps be good friends or even partners.
Kenneth O'Drinnan (jeremy_dnd) I assume works as a performer in the taverns.
Majakilar (silentspace) and Gregor (Voadam) work in the mines and are friends, perhaps even best friends, in the same work team.
Whurzak Azten (Raging Epistaxis) is a healer for the mines, and is surely well-known and respected by the miners, including Majakilar and Gregor.

Like Thanee said, it makes sense for Alexi to befriend Voadam for some backup muscle, that friendship could bring in Owen and Majakilar together as well.

It makes sense for Kenneth to know about the trio of adventurers, and about both Cairns (though others could also know about them, of course). As a performer in a small town, we all must know Kenneth, he's probably the most knowledgeable and well-connected. While the roguish types know the streets, and the miners know the mines, Kenneth probably knows a little about every aspect of the town, even performing in the more expensive establishments, and is in a position to hear lots of rumors and gossip. From a meta-game point of view, it could be Kenneth who 'selects' the party in the same way that Krauss von Espy did.

Or instead of the 'selection' process, they could all simply be friends, that gather together in the evenings after Kenneth's performances.

 

[silentspace]

We have quite a few high-Charisma types too... Kenneth, Owen, Alexi, and Majakilar. We're gonna be the 'in' crowd for sure

 

[Raging Epistaxis]

I think the bard is in arguably the best position to know most of us individually. So if Kenneth is to be the common thread amongst all our characters, then we need to come up with some way to have met him in the past, or now for the first time.

• As a healer, Azten has a good reason to be passingly familiar with those who work in the Emporium, Midnight Salute, and Lazare's house, if not actually a customer himself.
• He would probably stop by the Captain's Blade from time to time to purvey the wares, and everyone goes the the General Store sooner or later...
• Tilwoad's shop would be of interest - window shopping mostly, though.
• Unless the Hungry Gar has something approximating dwarven ethinic foods, I doubt he'd go there often.
• Historically, he's more likely to be on good terms with the Cuthbertites than the Heironeans, but with the ascendance of Jierian Wierus he'd be making the trek to the Garrison if he had need for consultation with other (good) religious folk.
•The Feral Dog might be a place to toss down an ale with mining buddies, but when the dogs are brought out to fight he'd find an excuse to be elsewhere.
• The Spinning Giant would probably be more to his taste - and poking fun at a fictional giant with other dwarves is a guaranteed good time, right? Given the prominence of the stage and entertainment at the Spinning Giant, I'd say that's where Kenneth would have met Azten.

So, Azten knows:
Kenneth as a performer
Owen as a kid seen around town and helped a few times
Alexi ? introduced through Owen ?
Gregor -? introduced through Alexi, Majakilar ?
Majakilar - healed? drinking aquaintance? friend of Gregor?

Any other thoughts?

4. What are the specific motivations for each character that would cause him/her to undertake this potentially dangerous quest?

Azten, more than most (I suspect) would be willing to undertake a mission simply for the good of DLake. 'Settling' the town down a bit would only serve to help the dwarves business interests, and diminishing the influence of the auto-flagellating whack-jobs should help decrease skepticism about other religions.

5. The initial meeting of the group will take place in an abandoned mine overseer's office about an hour outside of town.

If Kenneth or Owen approach him about exploring a relatively unspoiled cairn, Azten's curiosity would be piqued enough to go.

We have quite a few high-Charisma types too... Kenneth, Owen, Alexi, and Majakilar. We're gonna be the 'in' crowd for sure

Oh! Oooh! Oooooh! Can I have the coveted position of 'annoying tagalong' to the 'In Crowd'?!!?!

BTW, I'm creating an alt for this PbP campaign - Azten. Soon as I get the custom avatar satisfactory I'll start posting here under that ID.

 

[Krauss von Espy]

I have a couple ideas on how to take Gregor.

1 straight man with a giant curse, a neutral figure who eventually takes up fighter. Keeps the concept as an everyday guy with a brutish curse. Rlies heavily on his strength and bashing things.

2 giant eventually going to monk as the martial class. Size large works well with monk abilities (damage increases, grappling, combat reflexes, and tripping all synergize well). I could either describe all the monk abilities as mostly a brawler path or have him formally take to a full monk flavored path. by the rules he would have to be lawful then.

3 book of exalted deeds vow of poverty combined with monk after giant. The curse thing got me thinking that the hexblade's curse could also include destitution which drove his father to his life at Diamond Lake. Would require approval of exalted stuff from BoED, I'd want to know how you would run exalted requirements (If you are cool with me being just a good guy hero from a hard scrabble background then cool, if super paladin code like restrictions then not something I'd be interested in). Would require Gregor to be Lawful Good and have the soul of a hero.

I don't have a problem with using the Book of Exalted Deeds, and I'm not ultra restrictive about how you'd need to role-play Gregor to gain the mentioned feats. So, this should be a good option for you.

Feat progression question.

If exalted deeds is out and I go the giant monk route, if I started with improved unarmed strike at 1st and improved grapple at 3rd, and then took monk afterwards where I get these as bonus feats would they be wasted or would you grant me new feat choices. Taking these sort of sets up the character to the path of monk and would be appropriate but I would not take them if they are going to be just wasted feat slots when I get them as bonus feats at 4th level.

I'm afraid the feats in question would be wasted, sadly, if you had already chosen them previously.

Similar question, do you use the common house rule changing dodge to be a flat +1 dodge bonus for ease of game play? It eliminates declaring who I assign that bonus to each combat and tracking slightly different ACs when multiple opponents attack.

Yes, it gets too cumbersome to have to declare Dodge bonuses. I will likely do the same if you face enemies with the Dodge feat.

In any case, 100 gp or zero with just a set of miner's clothes would both be fine for Gregor to start out with, although zero sounds more likely from the story background. If zero I see him then picking up a great club and being ready to join the exploration when asked by Alexi.

Vow of Poverty then?