Spire's Shadow (OOC)

Duckluck,

Well I have hit a snag -whenever I copy and paste my background and then save the character profile, the whole thing erases itself. I have tried it three times -same thing happens each time.

Luckily, I had a saved copy that I could upload -so no data was lost. (that would have been tragic).

Nonetheless, I copy and pasted Linji's appearance on the Character Profile.

Its all saved and availible for your viewing of course.

But since I can't attach my background, I will just send it in a pm to you. Look it over, and let me know if that is ok, or if there is a better way.

There I just need to move skills around a bit and paste in the back story and a revamp(Kadre is now a 1/2 kyton making the story a wee different)
DK sorry I've been so slow posting things got crazy around here for awhile :oops:

Duckluck,

I don't think it is a formating problem -I've tried it a couple of different ways -I think it is an issue of space. As said before, I pasted the appearance, and pm'ed the history/background. If you want, I can email it to you as well. Let me know if you recieved it, and if such a solution is ok.

Perro,

Carceri sounds much better -especially with abandoning the Bladeling bloodline.

I also am very curious to were you found the Half-Kyton template -it sounds cool (and even cooler when matched with Incarnate, so I'm all the more curious).

That said, you are half-kyton, but what's the other half? (Human?)

I also like the Kyton-jailor, sadistic torturer of Carceri feel (as a good build, even if a bit of a loose canon as for a PC party).

I do have to inwardly chuckle as I consider how much our party has changed since the beginning -originally, nearly everyone was playing a highly Lawful class or race (Kadar the exception). And here I thought Linji would be the Chaotic Black Sheep of the Gang.

Interestingly, we now have 3 TN, 1 CN, 1 L(E), and 1 (C)E -which means the party is a Centrist Neutral, with slight evil moral leanings and slight chaotic leanings.

So much for being the good guys, huh? I do find it all so very interesting to see it unfold.

Although I am even more excited to see how this eclectic bunch gets along and influences each other as the campaign begins and preceeds.

EDIT:

Oh, I think I may have found the Half-Kyton which Perro is using -its on Planewalker as an article, and stranely is a race, not a template (assumed human or elven descent).

Here is the link:

/ps3e/entry.php?intEntryID=7798

Sounds good. I'm writing up backgrounds during my free time (see class), so I should be able to post that tomorrow - at least hopefully. Unfortunately, some situations at home mean that I may not be able to use the computer regularly past 3:00 PST - (but I can still keep this going).

In any case, don't be so quick to classify Baba as TN. Remember that the name and plane are placeholders right now - and even so, the Outlands represent a lot more than a single alignment [TN]. In the end, the outlands is a duality like most of the rest of the planes - it's about the freedom to make choices [Rilmani, looking at you] - and also about the tendency of the world to make those choices mean nothing [Rilmani, also looking at you].

That can be a lot alignments - anything from CG to LE.

Duckluck,

I am sorry if I offended you -such was not my intention -nor was I trying to give absolute labels -merely pointing out the dynamic demographic of our PCs, that's all.

And regardless of planar ascociation or alignment labels, all entities of sapience and sentience display some moral/immoral/ammoral and ethical qualities and the interplay of these qualities are one of the sources of conflict and development of PCs and D&D campaigns (as well as all literature and some would say psychology and religion as well).

I'm not trying to be arguementative -I realize that the Planes are more than just ethical and moral placeholders -and am not trying to reduce either the PCs or the campaign to 2 dimensional elements.
It seems my comment on once statistical facet might have been taken out of context.

Regardless, I am sorry to have caused waves.

Duckluck, did you check out the Half-Kyton on Planewalker? I know on the WotC website, they detailed how to make very good sensible conversions for specific Half-Fiends -it might be a better mechanical representation than the one on Planewalker -either way, its no big deal to me -just trying to be helpful.

I send the pm again in a few minutes -let me know if you recieve it or not.

OF,

As a little FYI, Baba is the shortened name for Grandmother (and sometimes just old woman) in Russian and other Slavic names. As someone who has lived in post-Soviet Union Ukraine and a speaker of these languages, I have to inwardly smile and reflect about a myriad number of little old ladies in shawls when I read your PCs name.

Baba is generally an endearing word, and not derogatory as its counterpart is at times in English.

Anyways, I'm not saying to not keep the name, but if you do, expect Linji to occassionally call you "Granny" -just another bizarre quirk of the Chaond.

EDIT: Duckluck, I just sent another pm with Linji's background -let me know if you get it.

Duckluck -thanks for being cool and good to know you got the pm.

Look at the third to last post and you'll see an address that takes you to the Half-Kyton on Planewalker (if you need I can also get you the WotC articles on converting half-fiends to specific anscestry).

My thoughts as well -so what's a Perro to do now?

Right,no 1/2 kyton for me then. I realized how poorly developed that kadre was and am going through some re-vamping of the concept. The class will stay but the race will change.DK are you against me using the 1/2 fiend on human, and just say I have a slight look about me hinting at a Kyton sire?

OF,

Good reference on Baba -spent a couple of hours enjoyabley reading -thanks. (The duality of the father/grandmother meanings is interesting nonetheless).

As said, I like the name -would the reference have anything to due with your PC's identity?

Duckluck,

According to WotC Web Enhancement regarding such, here is what the Half-Kyton template might look like:
(feel free to look it over -if you give it the thumbs up, and Perro likes it , great -if not, its no big deal to me).

And here is the link if you wish to further read up on it:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060630x&page=1

Size and Type: The creature's type changes to outsider. Do not recalculate Hit Dice, base attack bonus, or saves. Size is unchanged. Half-kytons are normally native outsiders.

Speed: A half-kyton gains a climb speed equal to half its base speed (or the normal speed of the base creature if it already possesses a climb speed, whichever is faster) but this movement only applies to climbing chains.

Armor Class: Natural armor improves by +2 (this stacks with any natural armor bonus the base creature has).

Special Attacks: A half-kyton retains all the special attacks of the base creature and gains the following special attack.

-- Smite Good (Su): Once per day the creature can make a normal melee attack to deal extra damage equal to its HD (maximum of +20) against a good foe.

Spell-Like Abilities: A half-kyton with an Intelligence or Wisdom score of 8 or higher has spell-like abilities depending on its Hit Dice, as indicated on the table below. The abilities are cumulative; a half-kyton with 4 HD can use darkness as well as desecrate. Unless otherwise noted, an ability is usable once per day. Caster level equals the creature's HD, and the save DC is Charisma-based.

HD Abilities
1-2 Doom 3/day
3-4 Cause Fear
5-6 Crushing Despair 3/day
7-8 Animate Objects 3/day (chains only)
9-10 Wall of Chains
11-12 Phantasmal Killer
13-14 Regenerate 3/day (self only), unhallow
15-16 Flensing
17-18 Summon monster IX (chain devils only)
19-20 Destruction

Special Qualities: A half-kyton has all the special qualities of the base creature, plus the following special qualities.
-Darkvision out to 60 feet.
-Immunity to Poison
-Resistance to cold 10.
-Damage Reduction: 5/silver (if HD 11 or less) or 10/silver (if HD 12 or more).
-A half-kyton's natural weapons, as well as any weapon it wields, are treated as evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
-Spell resistance equal to the creature's HD + 10 (maximum 35).

Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Dex +4, Con +4, Cha +2.

Skills: A half-kyton gains skill points as an outsider and has skill points equal to (8 + Int modifier) x (HD + 3). Do not include Hit Dice from class levels in this calculation -- the half-kyton gains outsider skill points only for its racial Hit Dice, and gains the normal amount of skill points for its class levels. Treat skills from the base creature's list as class skills, as well as Climb, Craft (blacksmithing), Escape Artist, Intimidate, Listen, Spot, and Use Rope. All other skills are treated as cross-class.

Challenge Rating: HD 4 or less, as base creature +1; HD 5 to 10, as base creature +2; HD 11 or more, as base creature +3.

Alignment: Always evil (any). *this one would be mitigated due to your house rule.

Level Adjustment: +4.

Yeah, I had similar thoughts on the CR/LA ratio, but such is the standard and rule for Half-Fiends (Half-Kyton not being any different).

Or you could say you were a full-blown Half-Kyton. What's a quarter among friends? Tiefling can represent a lot of things. Let's be frank. The Half-Fiend template, even as modified as it is, is simply horrible to represent a half-kyton (not to mention horribly weak.) That's not really due to Dialexis's modification, but simply due to an inherent weakness in the structure of the Template.

You've got 11 spell-like abilities, wheras the Kyton has the amazing total of 0. You get a Climb speed (which is rather a bum replacemement for wings anyways, IMHO) - which a Kyton doesn't have. [Yes, it can Climb Chains, but that's different]. You have DR/Silver, where it should really be Silver or Good ( like a Kyton). There's really no reason that a Half-Kyton should have stronger Fiendish traits than a Kyton does (and ones which it has really little to do with, to boot.)

If you're going to go for anything, just go for Tiefling. The Tiefling template is meant to convey generic Fiend heritage without getting into complicated abilities and adjustments that make things a headache for the player and DM.

Alternatively, you could consider burning a couple munch points for a limited version of the Dancing Chains ability - it's the Kyton's defining ability, after all, and it's incredibly awesome.

Wasn't there a Kyton monster class in the Planar Handbook? you could progress along that and be a risen/balanced full blooded Kyton or just one acting under orders.
Actually your risen/balanced status could explain why you need to re-gain some abilities over the next few levels.
The tiefling idea's probably better if you want to focus on your class rather than racial abilities though

Okay, no. In any case, character sheet finished and up today - (hopefully).

May I present:

Baba Smith’s Information, Traveler’s Services, Hot Sauce, Hotter Sauce [Caution – Contains Alchemist’s Fire], Tobacconist’s, Rock Identification, Candle making, Fine Alchemy, Mundane Alchemy, Low-Grade Alchemy, Fiery Alchemy, Alchemy which only combusts after a waiting period of 1-12 years, Alchemy which… Fire-Resistant Paper, Prime guides, Tradegate Maps, Portals’ Keys, Anti-Pasta, Fine Maztican Cuisine, Anti-Lunar Rub, Ysgardian Pheromones [for the discerning Bauriar], and Much, much more!

No Cordials, Mephits, or Steam Genasi

Fiends --- welcome.

Gith ask at the door

No Slave Raids, please!

If you plan to shoplift, please let us know.

Planars and Primes Welcome Alike, 10% Gnome Discount, 7.238% Dwarf Discount.

Holy Water and Magic Lamps no longer available, Elemental Water available upon request, no returns, refunds or guarantees. Onyx no longer available, NO WEAPONS OR ARMOR, leave spell components and pasta at the door.

No Shirt, No Shoes – No Problem.

No Copper, Steel, or Souls.

Will [strike] Change [/strike] Melt Electrum!

Looking for a rock of exactly 2.839 centimeters in diameter that weighs 2.914 kilograms. Will pay in Gold, Silver, or Hot Sauce.

Korchuk,

Well gald to hear we haven't lost you.

As for the bio -the first half was so good (IMO) that I'd hate to lose it. If you don't like it anymore, I can see you changing it -and that's fine by me. Of course, do waht you like and what the bib boss tells you, but my vote is finish it if possible (since you as a player will better understand who the PC is and know why he does the things he does, and thus better play him doing things).

Duckluck,

I'll second your proposal.

Is there a certain "deadline" or date when we will start then? I'm not trying to exclude Perro or anyone else, just fear the "moss" and all. If you don't want to set a "soft date" then I am cool with that too.

As for the name -Smith is too nuanced and anchored as a last name in RL -it becomes jarring at best, and trite at worst in fantasy genre -including D&D (as it not only breaks the fourth wall but is anachronistic due to the nigh-universal RL English connotative meaning).

Dialexis - Kadar'd be happy for Linji to crash occasionally and Wu is welcome so long as he's house-trained. My kip is nothing special, just the basics- bed, kitchen, toilet/one way portal to Ooze, etc. I'm renting it and don't spend much time there anyway since Kadar prefers to spend his waking hours exploring the city or training.

I get work the old-fashioned way- I keep my eyes peeled for wide eyed berks looking up at the other side of the ring who're about to stumble into a glowing puddle and approach them before anyone else does. (Kadar's also switched on enough to have figured out how to say "Guide" and "do you speak common?" in a few prime languages which helps endear him to customers (who don't know what the hell a tout is).

Kadar is a slightly uncomfortable with Linji linking the cadence with Teotl but doesn't voice this because changing the name of the same force doesn't seem that important him.

I'm happy to hear any details on what Linji does with himself while he's not working and how he gets customers but I'm guessing that he doesn't have too many regular habits.

Azriael,

So, what you are saying is that your kip needs decorations...

(and yes, Wu is has been trained by houses -no, wait, house-trained (by Zhao, not Linji -Linji is not sure is he is house-trained).

As for terminology, Linji is a bit of a free thinker -as such, he believes that words can often convery less meaning than the speaker intended, but sometimes, they can speak more meaning than the speaker knew.
(In his my mind, Cadence-Ollin is not a contradiction -or better said, he has no problem equally believing in two contradictory views).

Linji working? Kadar is funny (and his cloak is fuzzy!)

Linji has an atypical view on property right (Githzerai amongst themselves believe in communalism -all property is owned by all Githzerai of the populace, shared amongst each other -but do not hold such practices among non-zerai). Moreoever, Slaad philosophy on property -much less property rights is completely alien to common society.

That said -Linji doesn't really discriminate between "playing" and "working".

Because of his "lifestyle" he doesn't have a huge of need for income, and the little he does, comes through doing what he does (i.e. he might be talking to some Prime that just got a "tour" by Kadar and then winds up offering to tattoo the guy in the tavern -sometimes they pay him, especially if he finsihes it and doesn't get kicked out mid-tattoo from the tavern). People see his artwork (+9 not too shabby) and so along with his Indep buddies, pass along his "work" by word of mouth.

Besides that, he juggles for fun (and with his massive check +16 -he can pull off amazing stunts -like tumble while juggling his silver, cold iron and adamatine sling bullets around his iouns using a hand, foot, and his tongue). He calls it "Ulmalitzi" or Ball-Game (which he uses to describe everything from planar politics, to conversation, to war, and more) -and to him, Linji is both, playing, training, entertaining, and worshiping all at the same time.
Nonetheless, when he does so, people often think he is some street performer -and so occasionally, some will chuck some coins at him (which sometimes he will keep, and other times he will throw back to them "I thought you wanted to play catch!?")

One of his more recent activities is a "Chaosyer". Coming to a realization that if people who break the law need a lawyer to help them -then people who follow the law must need a chaosyer to help them too. So, everything from where to poop on the streets to whose doormats to swap, he goes about helping the law-abiding citizens of Sigil realize how to defend themself against the accusation of being guilty of following the law.

Some have accused Linji of being an Anarchist for this (Linji responds that he "was almost part of that, but was then eaten unalive, and then ate, and swam afterwards, and lost a couple parts along the way, though am now getting fatter!)

I have to say, Linji looks like a fun character. Also, he's Giant Frog like a Insane. The idea of a Chaosyer is just great.

There is more Baba intro coming - I'm just trying to make it interesting. In any case, the game can begin on my end - David [Duckluck] and I have worked out enough to create a real character that can go with the stats.

A couple important things ahead of time:
Baba doesn't live in Sigil - he lives in the back room of his shop - in Tradegate [Bytopia Gate Town]. He commutes to Sigil a couple times a week via portal, however, and he doesn't man the store most of the time.

As far as the Last Name goes, I specifically chose Smith because A: It has nothing to do with any of Baba's myriad professions - and B: It makes sense.

I will admit that Baba's name is a really horrible pun on multiple levels, however, and his shop is 100% Bad Joke. After all, the Pasta has to stay outside so there isn't a catastrophic reaction with the Anti-Pasta, and Dwarves don't have to pay California sales tax because they always pay in exact change (and Baba would really rather not deal with that).

He doesn't sell Onyx because of complaints about necromancers [look up the spell component for Animate Dead.] The hillarious part is that the 500 GP Onyx you'll need for higher-level undead is really the size of THEM.

Then, you've got his name is Bab (Bob) Smith - perhaps second only to John Smith for... (Wow, this is generic.) Secondly, if you take (Bob)a, and then de-nickname it, you end up with Roberta.

Smith isn't such a bad name, if you think about it. He comes from a family of Gnomes that at some point moved to the Elemental Plane of Fire, not a bad place to set up a smithy. It's quite possible that the original Gnome-Smith actually carried the name for a reason. Of course, Baba himself doesn't have it at this point.

Of course, a name like Bob Smith doesn't really fit well on a crotchety (fairly) young Gnome who makes up with his years and lack of facial hair with the glare of a thousand suns... or wishes he could. Unfortunately, his Charisma doesn't really let him live up to how intimidating he wishes he was.

_
Azariel:

Note that 'Common' is probably the Faerun/Oerth Prime language - Planar Trade is what you're thinking of, I believe. In any case, you can probably chant the cant better than I can, so it's a moot point.

_
Duckluck:
I never thought Sigil had plumbing. I always thought that was why the Hive was so bad - it's where the Ditch runs.

Hmmm, If you were really convincing you might be able to convince your companions to carry chains too - some awesome flanking abilities there. Chuck in a level or two of "master of the unseen hand" at some point and you could really have some fun!