World Building - First Steps and Factions

In last week’s world building article we touched on prep and research and it got a lot of response. Today we’re going to touch on the next step in the process. The problem is the next step in the process is subjective. It’s all about the idea that sparked in your mind to start your world building idea.

Some people mentioned they liked to start with a map of where they are creating. Whether you’re working on a full world, a country, a province or just a city as we are. Some people want to start with NPCs, some with the military and there are a hundred other places you can begin from. In this instance what catches my fancy is factions.

In my mind this city is still just barely moving out of chaos. The write up for Lung Bingci showed that his father was the first recognized Jueyin (roughly Duke) of the City of the Whispering Winds. With a newly recognized noble there are bound to be groups trying to gain his favor, depose of him, use his ascension for their own ends or control him like a puppet. If I can lay these things out in my head I think I can get a better idea of what the city will be like.

These factions are not fully formed with a list of members but they are ideas of what forces are moving around within the city itself. Once we have the factions laid out the discussion of who belongs in which faction becomes easier and opens the flood gates to actual NPCs. Again this is just my process and my starting point, you can start somewhere else and leave factions for later if you like.

The Royal Family

Since we’re basing this on the character write up I did it will just be the Jueyin (roughly Duke), his wife, three children and I will probably add a brother or two. I’m thinking one who backs his brother and one who secretly seeks his position. Family infighting is always a good plot hook.

The Royal Court

The duke and his brothers of course will be included. I’m thinking an emissary from Tengu to keep an eye on things. Probably a trade leader of some kind as well as the royal treasurer. I’m thinking the older brother controls the military but maybe a captain of the guard advises on internal issues. There could be more but this is just bare bones.

Thieves’ Guild

We won’t call them the thieves’ guild of course that’s boring. However, we’re talking about Ratfolk here and to not do a large organization of cutthroats and thugs would be a grave disservice. In this case though I don’t see them as being completely adversarial to the new nobility. Growth of the city means further opportunities to make money and I can see this guild aiding the local government on the sly.

Cult of a dark god

Again these are very vague ideas, but I really enjoy religion in polytheistic worlds. I’m thinking maybe a god of plague or pestilence. If we wanted to go really evil they could be worshipers of the Horsemen of Pestilence.

Plot to over throw the Duke

This faction was actually one of the first to pop into my head. Just a group that doesn’t want a royal line and seeks to remove the Jueyin and his heir. Secretly aided by one of the Jueyin’s brothers of course, because family squabbles are the bread and butter of political intrigue stories.

And that’s just what I have off the top of my head right now. But that leads me another minor topic, bouncing ideas off other people. One of the best ways to create is to talk things out with someone else. I have a few friends that I bounce ideas off of. I also post to facebook and reddit with the hope that I can get a dialogue going with more people. The more ideas you open yourself up to, the better your creation will be.

So those are the factions I’m going to flesh out soon. Do you think there are other factions that should exist within the City of Whispering Swords? Other major players within the political fabric of the city’s reality? Let us know what you’re thinking.

Character Seventeen: The Randomness

This week’s was picked on facebook and it’s another one that I’ve never tried before, a changeling. We did a write up on Alazhra (link to article) the goddess of the night hags and changelings are descendants of hags so maybe the person who chose the race is a mind reader.

Changeling

Age: 25
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 95 lbs.

Str 11
Dex 14
Con 10
Int 14
Wis 16
Cha 10

Homeland: Town or Village
Parents: Both of your parents are alive.
Siblings: You have 2 biological siblings.
- biological older brother
- biological younger sister

Circumstance of Birth: [Noble Birth] You were born to privilege among the nobility. Unless one of your parents is the regent, your family serves a higher-ranked noble but lesser nobles serve your family in turn.

Parent's Profession: [Duke] You are the child of a duke or duchess, the most powerful noble in the realm apart from the royal family. Your parents attend directly to the monarch and have the highest place at court. Your lands, titles, and estates are significant, and many lords and knights serve under your parents' command.

Major Childhood Event: [Fall of a Major Power] In your early years, an old power with far-reaching influence fell into decline. This could have been an empire, a major organization or gang, or a person such as a benevolent king or evil dictator. Your early memories were founded in a world where this great power affected your region for good or ill.

Influential Associate: [The Seer] You were close to a person who claimed to see the future—perhaps an oracle, seer, prophet, or merely some festival charlatan. Whether they're true or a trick, you've seen visions of distant places and of times that may come to pass. The seer's influence either made you into an optimist with a drive to change the future or a fatalist resigned to accept it.

Conflict: [Corrupted an Innocent] You counseled an otherwise innocent person who trusted you, toward adverse choices. CP: 6

Conflict Subject: Spellcaster.

Romantic Relationship(s): [One Significant Relationship] You had a true love once, but that time has passed.

Drawback: [Worldview] In your eyes, your moral philosophy—your alignment—is the only correct and true way of the world. Perhaps you gently pity, argue with, or brawl with those misguided souls who don’t see the world your way or by your light of reason.

Conflict Motivation: Religion.

And here are your rolls ladies and gentlemen. Who is your changeling?

Black Cats and Broomsticks

It’s Saturday and it's time to talk about a god. For those of you who haven’t been a part of my explorations into the religions of Golarion here’s how it works.

Imagine if you will you're making a character for a group. Your only instruction is that you must be a worshiper of a specific god. You do not need to be a divine casting class although you can be, but the groups purpose is going to be working toward the goals of this specific divine being. And I'd like not just a race class combo, but a little bit about why the character would choose to dedicate him or herself to this god. Feel free to make up secret or not so secret orders within the church. Or even sects outside of the church you think might be interesting. With only this one piece of information that must be true let your imagination go wild with the rest.

Today's god

Alazhra NE goddess of dreams, night hags and planar travel

Alazhra’s Pathfinder Wiki page 

Alazhra’s Archives of Nethys entry 

All across Golarion old wives tales speak of witches and their cat familiars. Usually described to the children these tales are meant to frighten as black as a starless night. And cats have always been attached to witches from this misty shores Brevory to the ancient ruins of Varisia, from frozen land of Irrisen to the island city of Absalom.

Four legged felines are not the only cats that have attached themselves to witches or the goddess of the night hag soul stealers. There is a sect among the feline catfolk that dedicate themselves to the witch goddess. Much as the night hags steal souls for their dark mistress, these black furred catfolk steal people’s dreams.

The dreamstealers are a very select group of female catfolk. They ally themselves with local night hags to further the will on Alazhra. When a catfolk kitten is born with pitch black fur, these dark sisters keep close watch to see if she will manifest the psychic abilities that all of the dreamstealers possess. If she does she is stolen away from her family and tortured for night after night with the most terrifying dreams. She is finally dedicated to Alazhra in a ritual that requires thirteen dreamstealers and one night hag.

The tales of black cats sucking out the souls of the sleeping, in all likelihood stem from the activities of the dreamstealers. And if you awake with the feeling of a completely unrestful, dreamless sleep, maybe one has visited you. For all people need their dreams, without them how can they seek to become bigger and better people? One can only imagine what these dark sister do with the stolen promises of a better day meant for others.

Who is your follower of Alazhra? Would you use the dreamstealers in your game?

Character Sixteen: Marluk Denbrauth

Life in a small town can be very daunting for anyone let alone the youngest child of a Merchant family. Brother already being groomed as the heir to the family business. Sister being shopped around the upper classes to marry more wealth into the family. Left to your own devices, the forgotten youngest child can lead to all the wrong things.

The Denbrauth trading company had a thriving business through the small towns and villages of Brevory. Marluk Denbrauth was never interested in any of this. He spent much of his childhood running around with some of the older boys who were constantly getting themselves in trouble. Many times Marluk would find himself sitting in the kitchen with his father scolding him after he and his best friend got caught stealing, or cheating people out of their money at games of “chance.”

Always feeling his Brother and Sister had everything to look forward to Marluk felt like an outcast in his own home. When he turned twelve and puberty set in this was even further exacerbated what his Jann blood emerged and his Suli heritage was revealed. His family was further horrified at the stigma this might bring to them and sought to keep their youngest child locked away at home.

While he was being hidden away his parents gave birth to a new youngest child. At first envious of the boy, his heart softened as the child grew and was the only member of the family not afraid of him. The two youngest of the Denbrauth clan had a strong friendship even with their many years apart. When the youngest of the clan caught the pox and died at age four Marluk was heartbroken.

His brother’s death infuriated Marluk who broke from the family. Leaving his life in exile to rejoin his childhood best friend on the streets. Having moved up from petty thief to a member of what passes for the biggest gang in a small town, the young Suli was quickly swept up in things that would sully is parent’s reputation. Not the brightest of the toughest of thugs Marluk was quick, of both fingers and wit, and transitioned nicely into a life of crime.

One fall when the nearby villages were bringing their harvests to the market square all this changed for the Suli thief. Travelling among the farmers, vintners and goat herds was a holy man, a paladin of old one eye, the god Erastil. The man looked the part of a woodsman selling his own furs at market but flashed a little too much coin for his own good. Marluk and his troupe made to relieve him of his riches one night. The fight was quick, none expected the resistance they got and Marluk lay unconscious as his fellows ran off.

When the Suli child awoke he was in a comfortable bed being tended to by the woodsman. He wasn’t restrained but he still didn’t run. The follower of Erastil had seen the pain in the young boy’s eyes even during the battle. The Paladin offered to take him away from the town and show him a better life. He wished to show him the bounties of the world through the one good eye of his god. With nowhere left to turn Marluk left that day with the Paladin.

Years later Marluk returned to his home, bow in hand, symbol of Erastil around his neck. He met with his father who hand since retired, leaving the business to his brother as expected. He sat at a table through the night and much of the day, the same table at which his father scolded him as a child. The teachings of the stag god put family first and on that day Marluk reconciled. He was now not just a paladin but he was once again a member of the Denbrauth clan.

Remember the first person to post a race (Core or featured), that will be the race I use for my next randomly rolled character.

World Building - Prep and Research

A friend of mine, a guy who plays in some of my games and runs the Rise of the Runelords game I'm in, has convinced me to talk a bit more about actual world building. The thing is it's a massive topic and just talking about it doesn't always help. So he's also talked me into doing a series of articles where I do some basic world building.

Now some of the old time GMs will already have world building down, but even the best GMs know that there's always more to learn. A lot of this will be good for first time GMs and people interested in expanding the worlds they're in. I'm also sure people will have a lot to add to the topic. But these will just be my views and my process, it may not work for everyone but it works for me.

So when I was an early GM I wanted to build my own worlds something fierce. I always had a million and one ideas and I wanted to shove them all into one place. A culture like this, a city like that, a monster race that had its own civilization. The thing is building a world from scratch is not that easy. So we're gonna focus this particular exercise on expanding an existing world, in this case Golarion, to fit our needs.

A lot of people dislike kitchen sink worlds, a game setting that has a little bit of everything so that you can mix your roman based civilization and an asian based civilization with slightly off technology levels. For a writer and a GM kitchen sink worlds can be a boon. It gives you the option to tell the story you want to tell and you can change stories and themes without having to change worlds.

The idea I'm going to run with is one that I started when I wrote my character background for Lung Bingci. On the continent of Tian Xia there is an area that is ruled by Tengu and in this area there is a city that is controlled by Ratfolk. Now eventually I'd like to flesh out the entire area of the Tengu lands, but to begin I'm going to just start with the Ratfolk city. One of the toughest things for a writer to do is focus on one thing when so much is going through their head. But aiming so big from the start is also one of the reasons a lot of writers fail.

So the first thing you need in prep is an idea. We've covered the idea, a Ratfolk city in the midst of a Tengu controlled area of Tian Xia. The next thing we need to do is research. Now whether you're building your own homebrew world or working with an existing one it is best to know what you're talking about. If your idea for a homebrew is a roman based civilization with a senate, then you'd better know how the roman senate worked.

I've already done a lot of the research for the character I wrote so I'm just going to post a few links. All of these are from the Pathfinder wiki which is invaluable when trying to find information that is spread out over a number of game books and possibly novels and web tales.

Ratfolk 

Here is where we learn about the Ratfolk invasion of Tian. That's right the Ratfolk swarmed up from the Darklands and claimed a dozen or so provinces before faltering and being driven back. Not what a lot of people think of when they think Ratfolk but it also tells us about a Ratfolk controlled city.

The page also mentions a city of Ratfolk called, the City of Whistling Swords. Now there is zero information on the city itself which is perfect for our use because we want to create something uniquely ours.

Kawnlai 

The Tengu nation on the western coast of Tian Xia. Again not a lot in there but good for our purposes. When we expand out from the City of Whispering Swords at some point it gives us a lot of freedom to run with. Although it does list a ruler

Lady Sutarai-Gongen 

A half celestial Tengu and cleric of Hei Feng. She’s spiritual leader to the people of Kwanlai so I would imagine Hei Feng would be important to the Ratfolk as well.

Chinese Noble titles 

Something I had to look up because the character I wrote was the son of a noble. You’re going to one some kind of immersion and being an Asian (mostly Chinese) analog it’s good to work with some things that will keep you in the world.

And there we go, we’ve prepped and researched. We took our idea and decided where to begin. We’ve researched the area we’re working with and the kind of people that we’ll be dealing with most. And we’ve looked at some possibilities for the future of our project. 

Next time picking a starting point and working our way out. 

Do you have any ideas for our Ratfolk city? Make sure to check out the character background and see what I’ve already decided is true.

Character Exploration Sixteen-The Randomness

This week we're going off the rails. Our friend Ian who posted his character last week wants me to do a Suli and so I'm going to do a Suli. 25pt buy and a difficult character to make. Not all that bright and not all that tough.

Suli

Str 15
Dex 18
Con 7
Int 9
Wis 14
Cha 14

Age: 19
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 150 lbs.

Homeland: Town or Village
Parents: Both of your parents are alive.
Siblings: You have 2 biological siblings.
- biological older brother
- biological older sister

Circumstance of Birth: [Middle-Class Birth] You were born to the middle class, which includes merchants, artisans, and tradespeople. You likely grew up in a good-sized settlement, and one of your parents is likely associated with a guild or other trade organization. As a free person, you don't experience the bondage of serfdom or peasantry, but you also lack the privilege of the nobility.
Parent's Profession: Merchants

Major Childhood Event: [Death in the Family] You were profoundly affected by the death of the relative closest to you—a parent, grandparent, favorite sibling, aunt, uncle, or cousin. This death affected you profoundly, and you've never been able to let go of it.

Influential Associate: [The Criminal] One of your associates committed crimes regularly. He regaled you with many stories of daring robberies and break-ins—and perhaps even murders. You learned most of what you know of the criminal element from him, and he trusted you as a friend.

Conflict: [Malign Associates] You allied with a destructive creature, organization, or individual. CP: 4
Conflict Subject: Adventurer. CP: 0
Conflict Motivation: Pressured or Manipulated. CP: 2

Romantic Relationship(s): [No Experience] You have never experienced any kind of romantic connection whatsoever.

Drawback: [Attachment (Person)] You are attached to a particular person—a friend, family member, or loved one—who means more than anything or anyone in the world. Your thoughts always return to this person.

It's a tough one but what would you do. How would you make this character?

It's a Mystery to Me

It’s Saturday and it's time to talk about a god. For those of you who haven’t been a part of my explorations into the religions of Golarion here’s how it works.

Imagine if you will you're making a character for a group. Your only instruction is that you must be a worshiper of a specific god. You do not need to be a divine casting class although you can be, but the groups purpose is going to be working toward the goals of this specific divine being. And I'd like not just a race class combo, but a little bit about why the character would choose to dedicate him or herself to this god. Feel free to make up secret or not so secret orders within the church. Or even sects outside of the church you think might be interesting. With only this one piece of information that must be true let your imagination go wild with the rest.

Today's god

Erecura LN goddess of Deduction, mind reading, subtlety

Erecura’s Pathfinder Wiki page 

Erecura’s Archives of Nethys Entry 

So it dawned on me the other day that most of the stuff I write is pretty serious. Even when I write about good guys there's all this prophesy and darkness. But pathfinder can be a fun game to play, if you allow the comedy in.

I took some time to ask around about Erecura on a few facebook pages and subreddits and someone made a comment and then I joked about it sounding like something from my childhood. It made me laugh and I said to myself that's what I'm gonna write about, something that amuses me.

So here goes the party of Erecura worshipers I came up with based on a passing phrase.

Afriedo, Paladin of Erecura

Born in Ustalav a land filled with darkness and mystery this noble knight has dedicated himself to shining light on the hidden things. Young, he still leads a group of three others who have dedicated themselves to the lady of deductions. Known for his shock of blonde hair and orange neck covering he has thwarted many a plot, especially those hatched by followers of Norborger who plague the lands of Ustalav.

Velamara, Empiricists Investigator

Exceedingly bright for a girl her age Velamara seeks out the truth in all things. She joined with the group during a mysterious plague in a small town in Ustalav. It turned out a local farmer was actually a follower of Urgathoa who was trying to slowly infect every person in the area. And he would have gotten away with it too.

Ephane, Oracle of Lore

Born into a minor noble family Ephane had her life laid out before her. Servants, balls and an arranged marriage all lay in her future, until the day the visions came. Visions that let her see more than she was supposed to. A cult of Norborger dead set on hiding an ancient artifact came calling to remove the seer, but she was rescued by a dashing paladin. Trying to keep one step ahead of Norborger's minions she joined with Afriedo and his friends on their mission of exposing the hidden things in the world.

Zashugio aka "Shug," Hunter

Zashugio is the childhood best friend of Afriedo although he took a slightly different path. Shug's dedication to Erecura is more dedication to his friend but he still espouses the mission of a light to all darkness. A bit nervous and sometimes outright cowardly he takes solace in the companionship of his canine friend. And with Afriedo the three have begun to figure out the intricate web of mystery that shroud the land of Ustalav.

I'm sure it's not hidden too hard. Can you figure what struck me for the idea of this group? And who would your worshiper of Erecura be? Let us know.

Character Fifteen: Americ Frisk

In the shadow plane Abasalom is one of the view cities to have a representation there that is inhabited and thriving. A lot of trade goes on between Abasalom and Shadow Abasalom and to the end many Fetchlings move from their home plane to the city of the Starstone. One such transplant is the shadowsilk weaver Uven Frisk.

Frisk came with his wife and in his time as a successful weaver in human city he has expanded is family. A boy and two girls at first graved the Frisk family. But it was the fourth child, born with a streak of silver hair, which really brought the Frisk’s family attention. The elder of the Kayal, what fetchlings call themselves, saw great promise in the silver haired boy child and took him from his family to learn at the elder’s feet.

Amric Frisk was different from even his earliest memory. The young boy would talk to things that weren’t there, claiming to speak for invisible people from the past of the fetchling people. Worst still he would correct the elders on matters of history and language because the “people” explained why they were wrong.

After years of frustration the fetchling elders sent Armric back to his family, and that’s when his education really began. When he returned home on his first day a gruff older fetchling, one of the few who Amric had ever seen grow a beard came calling. He sat with the boy and explained that his ‘people” weren’t just any “people” they were connections to all the lives Amric had lived before. He was the reincarnation of many great fetchling heroes and he too would become such.

The woodsman was a loner but Amric’s past selves long for his family. Part of being connect to all that it meant to being a fetchling in the past meant that Amric needed to stay connect to the people in the now. Amric eventually left the woodsman and lived with his family and his past selves in Abasalom. He even took a lover and lived the perfect life as a beacon to his people. A perfect life that could never last.

Remember the first person to post a race (Core or featured), that will be the race I use for my next randomly rolled character.

Your Character Is Not Your Class

I’m sure this topic has been broached a million times before (Check here for one of the best ones) but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be spoken about again. I’m sure you have yourself or have heard someone else introduce their character as Bob the fighter or John the barbarian. Or maybe a fellow player or even the GMs NPC asks “but aren’t you a rogue?” No, no I am not a rogue, I am so much more than that.

A class is just a set of abilities that separate different types of characters, but a class is not who you are. A rogue is not a rogue is not a rogue. Especially with the advent of archetypes in pathfinder characters of the same class can be vastly different. I’ve played a rogue who was an archaeologist, one who was a pit fighter and one who was a professional security tester.

When you look at your character the last thing you should think is I am Bob the fighter. No you are Hendrick the swordsmen, Ser Anthus knight of Andoran loyal servant of lord so and so. Even classes that seem like the name of the class does fit what your character is, don’t have to be. You don’t need just to be Kellen paladin of Abadar. You can be Kellen Knight of the order of the book, servitor of the maker of laws and protector of the civilized world. Kellen the Paladin is just not epic enough.

But how do you decide who and what your character is? That’s not such an easy thing to do. You have to look at your stats and skills but more than that you need to look at your goals and ambitions. Your fighter wants to be the greatest swordsman in the world, but why. Is he just Jun the swordsman, or is he Jun master of the flat blade, Jun the as yet undefeated Aldori sword, Jun, student of Master Kun the Whirlwind.

So next time you look at your character sheet, remind yourself you are much more than just a druid, or a monk, or a bard. What you are is totally up to you and not dictated by just your class. Look at your character now and tell us who he is and what he does without using the name of the class his abilities come from.

Character Exploration Fifteen: The Randomness

Male Fetchling

Age: 26
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 99 lbs.

Trying another new race I’ve never done before which means research, research, research. Exactly 20 point buy was convenient because that’s usually what I use.

Str 10
Dex 16
Con 13
Int 11
Wis 15
Cha 11

Homeland: City or Metropolis
Parents: Both of your parents are alive.
Siblings: You have 5 biological siblings.
- biological younger sister
- biological older sister
- biological older sister
- biological younger brother
- biological older brother

Circumstance of Birth: [Reincarnated] You have been reborn in many cycles, and may be reborn in many more until you accomplish the ultimate task for which you are destined.

Parent's Profession: Tradespeople

Major Childhood Event: [Mentorship/Patronage] A mentor or patron took an interest in your development and volunteered to train or sponsor you. This creature's motives might not be entirely clear, but without its influence you would not be who you are.

Influential Associate: [The Hunter] This person was a lone wolf who nonetheless cautiously allowed you to become a member of her solitary pack. She taught you how to thrive on your own in spite of the many perils and natural dangers of your native environment.

Conflict: [Told a Lie] You deliberately made someone believe something that was not true to further your own goals. CP: 1
Conflict Subject: Child or young person. CP: 1
Conflict Motivation: Jealousy. CP: 4

Romantic Relationship(s): [Current Lover] You are currently involved in a romantic relationship.

Drawback: [Family] Your family means everything to you, and there is nothing you wouldn’t do for them. Maybe your ties extend to your entire clan or bloodline, or perhaps there is one specific member of your family you hold closer than any other.

So here we are a quick, wise and durable fletching from a big city. Considered to be reincarnated. Influenced by a hunter. Given patronage. Big on family and in love.  What does this scream to you? Tell us what you would do with these stats and background? What kind of character would you make?

All Good Things Must Come to an End

It’s Saturday and it's time to talk about a god. For those of you who haven’t been a part of my explorations into the religions of Golarion here’s how it works.

Imagine if you will you're making a character for a group. Your only instruction is that you must be a worshiper of a specific god. You do not need to be a divine casting class although you can be, but the groups purpose is going to be working toward the goals of this specific divine being. And I'd like not just a race class combo, but a little bit about why the character would choose to dedicate him or herself to this god. Feel free to make up secret or not so secret orders within the church. Or even sects outside of the church you think might be interesting. With only this one piece of information that must be true let your imagination go wild with the rest.

Today's god

Groetus CN god of Empty Places, Oblivion and Ruins

Groetus’s Pathfinder Wiki page 

Groetus’s Archives of Nethys Entry 

Let me take a minute to tell you about our lord and savior Groetus. Not really he’s just waiting for you all to die. But seriously most Groetus worshipers are batshit crazy. There was an NPC Groetus worshiper in the web enhancement for the Shattered Star AP. My players loved him he was amazing in his lunacy.

So when most people think of Groetus they think of doom prophets. Shaggy haired men and women, dressed in rags, standing on the street corner with a bell and sandwich board yelling “The end is near.” And really that’s where I go to.

There are those who don’t see the end as a bad thing but try and get people to live their lives in such a way that it means something because the end is near. There are the complete lunatics who not only claim the ends is near but seek to hasten its coming so that Groetus can wipe the slate clean of this mortal filth. And there are those who just warn of the end. Without trying to bring it forth and not caring what you’ve done before it comes.

You can easily see the representations of the insane worshipers of the god of the end times. But what of those divine followers who fall in the one non-chaotic alignment of the god? What of the true neutral followers? What of the harbingers?

The story goes that the harbingers live in a monastery hidden away from the world. Some claim it’s tucked away in one of the mountainous regions of Ustalav. Some say it exists somewhere in the wastes of Numeria. Everyone agrees that if you find it something has gone very wrong with your life.

The harbingers are said to be Groetus’ chroniclers. He is not just the god of the end of days but the god of the end of all things. And the harbingers appear when something is to end. A kings reign, the end of an empire and even the death of a god. Some believe the answer to Aroden’s death lies with the harbingers.

The least crazy followers of Groetus are said to wear plain grey robes. Their faces never seen under the darkness of the cowl. Trying to see their face is like staring into oblivion itself. They carry a book that is chained to their arm. The book opens as whatever event they have been sent to witness happens and writing appears in the book as it transpires.

One story goes that during Starfall a harbinger came to witness the end of one of the many cities that fell that day. While watching, a boy actually saw the grey robed figure. The boy looked straight into the darkness of the robes and asked "But why? Why must all things end?"

The chronicler shifted and a disembodied voice came "Because if they don't what is to come next will never happen. Even when Groetus sweeps away the dust of this universe, another will take its place. All endings are also beginnings."

The boy was one of the few who survived that day and he vowed to never see his own end. He studied and became a powerful wizard, eventually garnering enough power to become a lich. The centuries passed and the Lich became a warlord leading his undead army when on the battlefield he saw a grey robed figure and he knew.

The grey robe lifted his head and the lich saw what the boy did not, a face and a smile. The voice came once more, “Everyone owes Groetus an ending.”

And that’s when he knew even in undeath he could not escape.

So who is your Groetus worshiper? Is he a crazed lunatic? A dark Chronicler? Or something else?

Character Fourteen: Eris Terrik, The Flame Tailed Fox

I decided to do something a little different here and wanted to see what I could make by stacking as many archetypes as I could. The base was fighter and I’m using the Eldritch Guardian archetype garnering her a familiar. Also the Mutagenic Mauler archetype gaining her the Mutagens. And finally the Martial Master archetype allowing her martial flexibility, the ability to acquire feats she needs a few times a day, like the brawler. The question now was how to write all these things in.

The orphanage in Abasalom was not such a bad place to grow up. Even if you were an unwanted child, the other kids never looked down on you. But fending for yourself on the streets of the city of the starstone was no easy task. Eris Terrik new that better than anyone, but she got by because she had family.

Eris never knew about her brothers and sisters growing up, she was a bastard child whose peasant mother fell for a dashing rake who promised her the world. When her mother died and she was sent to the orphanage she was dead set on finding her deadbeat father. But the only thing her search found were other children he left behind.

After leaving her mother pregnant he flitted through a few other women. A young noble woman bore him a son, but the bastard was also sent off to an orphanage. Eris’ father’s line must have many stories to tell as she came out with fire elemental blood running through her veins, and a set of twins also put up for adoption by their bigoted mother came out with a bit of elf blood in them.

Eris being the eldest and biggest of her siblings saw herself as their protector. When there was trouble the four would stick together and Eris always stood right out in front. Sometimes her fire nature would get the better of her but she always made sure never to let it affect her brothers and sister.

Even in Absalom there are those who seek to do harm to others. Gangs are a fact of life, especially in the dark corners. When one of the gangs decided that Eris brother who had a way with mechanical devices, needed to run with them, Eris was furious. In a fit of rage she attacked the headquarters of the gang, beating those still there to within an inch of their lives and burning the building to the ground.

When she as around 15 years old a woman came to the orphanage asking around about her. The mystery woman turned out to be her aunt on her mother’s side. As a member of the Pathfinder Society she had been travelling the world and only recently found that her sister had a child. A box of belongings her mother had stored in the old attic which included a letter had been found by recent tenants and shipped off to her aunt who came looking for her.

Eris new found relative spent many hours talking with her that first day. But as a Pathfinder she couldn’t stay, and Eris couldn’t leave her brothers and sister. Her aunt introduced her to the local Pathfinder lodge and promised any letters she wanted to send would find their way to her if brought there. Her aunt also gifted Eris with a pet, a small red fox that had become attached to her in her travels. She told her the fox always seemed special, destined even and maybe that destiny belonged with Eris.

With the fox her Aunt also brought her tales of other lands, in particular of the homeland from where her mother came. The far off land Tian Xia. One of the things that struck Eris were the tales of the Kitsune and the Daikitsu. When her aunt once again returned from her travels Eris began to take in all she could about the people she never knew. In the small community of Tian living in Absalom she found little temples and began the worship of Daikitsu, to whom she dedicated herself only slightly less then her dedication to her siblings.

Eris’ attachment to her family and her temple, her staunch defense of all those around her, brought her a further gift from Daikitsu. The fox given to her by her aunt became more than just a pet. It started with flashes of perception; seeing things she normally would have missed, reacting quicker than she ever had. And then she began to feel the fox, instinctively knowing where it was and how it was feeling. She had been blessed lady of foxes as a guardian.

In her years she had gone from bastard child set adrift after her mother’s death, to a big sister with a family and a fierce fighter against the gangs of Absalom. Now she had become a servitor of Daikatsu. A life of hardship faced with love and determination has seen Eris and her family through. And now all that lies ahead is their entire future.

Remember the first person to post a race (Core or featured), that will be the race I use for my next randomly rolled character.

Aerodus Cartalious - Rise of the Runelords

So I talk a lot about what you should do when making a character. Making sure it's something you like. Making sure you make it for the game you’re playing. Playing to themes when making a group. What I haven’t shown you is implantation. So today I’m going to post a character background for my current Rise of the Runelords character. Although the character is linked to some of the events in the books directly which events he’s linked to are not distinguishable from stuff I made up. So if you haven’t played the AP there shouldn’t really be any spoilers.

I first want to talk about how the character came up. The gamemaster wanted us all to be from Magnimar. And the premise, whether we were guilty or not, was that we were going to be tried for petty crimes and sentenced to travel to Sandpoint for some reason. Originally I wanted to play a half-orc pit fighter but I actually turned to the GM and said this party is actually missing something.

Now it wasn’t about missing a tank or a healer or what have you. Although we were pretty light on front line fighters being a Time Oracle, a Firebug Wizard and a Cartomancer Witch. Although my half-orc could dish out damage as a Rogue I felt what the party was missing was a moral compass. Every character was dark and flawed in there was no one to keep the group on track.

So along came the idea of a guardsman who would be sent down to Sandpoint with the “criminals.” We lost our front line fighter, if the half-orc could be called that and gained a trained investigator. And the truth is I liked the fit so much better.

To be fair I’d played the first book like five or six times. The groups falling apart each time for one reason or another. So I had a bit more knowledge when putting together my character. If you’ve GM’d or played books one or two, you’ll see how I made sure to give my character hooks that easily fit him into the story.

I wrote the background as an in character journal.

Entry One

This will be the first entry. My life has change in many ways today, and I believe my journey from here on out should be documented. If anyone should read this after my passing let it be known that this was the first day in the life of Detective Aerodus Cartalious.

Today bad news came on top of good. A messenger came from Sandpoint with ill tidings. It appears my twin sister Nualia has perished in a fire that consumed the church she was staying in. I’m saddened even though I barely knew her, she was still blood after all. I didn’t even know I had a sister or that I had been adopted until my parents had to explain why I was different from the other children. It turns out our parents had died quite suddenly of some sickness my sister and I didn’t catch. 

The family that took me in only had room for one child and a priest of Desna from the small town of Sandpoint took Nualia to stay with him in the church. I met her once after I found out, begged my parents to take me. She didn’t seem to handle being angel-blooded as well as I did, and knowing there was someone just like her didn’t seem to ease her mind. I know her adoptive father was a worshiper of the lady of fortunes, I hope Nualia fortune is to be more comfortable in the afterlife than she was here.

But there is little time to mourn, and no time to visit Sandpoint. I have been accepted into the ranks of the Magnimar city watch. I have skipped the academy process and will head straight into an apprenticeship with a senior detective. Taking a week off to travel even to a funeral would not look well upon me. I have even gotten a personal recommendation from Justice Ironbriar, who said I may be one of the finest deductive minds of my age. 

I don’t expect older detectives who had to go through the arduous process of the academy will take to kindly to my immediate acceptance to the guard, but with the obvious divine features bestowed upon my blood I am more than used to some small jealousy among peers.

I feel that this new beginning will bring many adventures across my path. With Sarenrea’s blessing I will be able to bring those to justice who will not change and offer rehabilitation to those who can. Too many cases go unsolved, especially in the poorer parts of Magnimar. I hope one day to be able to bring justice to my entire city.

Entry Two

One of the hardest aspects of this job is divorcing oneself from emotional investment, I don’t think that will ever happen for me. I grieve for every widow and feel sorry for all the souls forced into situations by their circumstances. There is enough true evil in this world without having to bring up every hungry belly that stole a loaf of bread. Detective Karick has been a great mentor. I don’t think his mind is as sharp as mine, but I think years of doing this have given him insight that I lack. Under his tutelage I hope to gain the experience necessary to have the same intuition as he does.

Our current case is nothing special, at least not to me, although some people would say it was because of the status of the victim. I’m pretty sure he was murdered by his own brother but Detective Karick has made it clear more evidence is needed before we can bring accusations against someone of his rank. I’m close, I know I am, and Karick does too. He hasn’t stopped backing my deductions but he has cautioned that I walk lightly. If this had happened in underbridge or the dockways we would have had this man in custody days ago. But there will always be politics no matter how much it turns my stomach.

I do not believe this suspect is redeemable, but I am just an investigator not a judge. If I want him held accountable and imprisoned for his crimes I had better do my job and do it well. All I need is that one missing piece, that logical leap that ties everything together. It will come, it has to, but one can’t force it, even if that is my impulse. Perhaps some tea will open up those pathways in the brain and allow me to figure this out. Or perhaps not.

Entry Three

All hands have been called and I am ashamed to say it's exciting. Although the knowledge is not public thus far, Magnimar appears to have a serial killer. Three deaths all in the same grisly manner and nary a clue to be found. I have yet to go to one of the crime scenes but Detective Karick says it won’t be long at this rate. Even students from the academy have been brought in to take witness statements so the detectives can focus on each scene thoroughly. There are whispers of a name but so far I have not heard what it is. Detective Karick says naming criminals gives them more power, they become a boogie man to the citizen, which spreads even more fear than the murders themselves. I think when you name something you give it substance and it’s easier to stop something with substance and not just the killer with no name. Detective Karick says I’m young still and I’ll learn. Maybe. Or maybe I’ll give the killer my own name.

Entry Four

Today Detective Karick and I went to our first murder scene. I’ve seen a number of dead bodies but this was quite gruesome. Sadly a name has begun to spread before I could get my first glimpse so I couldn’t choose one myself. They’re calling him the Skinsaw man and he’s got the city in a terrible fright. Each of the bodies were horribly mutilated, as I am told the others were as well. In the flesh there was carved a seven pointed star, again as all the other bodies also were.

Although each body so far has been investigated by a different detective, all of the information on the case has been made available to all active hands. From what I can tell none of the victims have had any connections to each other. Straddling all social strata, varying in race, ethnicity, gender, and generally having nothing in common. It is quite a vexing mystery that I wish to crack, although I’m not sure how at the moment.

Entry Five

Justice Ironbriar has assigned Detective Karick to be the lead on the ground of the Skinsaw Man case. All of our findings are to be brought directly to the Justice. But this means I have now been to all of the latest crime scenes. And something hasn’t been sitting right with me. It isn’t just that all of the victims are different it’s that all of the murders themselves are different. They each happened at different times of day. The wounds appear to come from different directions probably due to height of the attacker. Even the depth of the wounds appear to be different meaning the attacker used more or less strength each attack. This seems unlikely do to the intensity of each killing. The murderer who kills so passionately wouldn’t hold back on any blow let alone all of them. I mentioned it to Karick and he said I should keep it to myself for now, but I’m just not sure.

Entry Six

The victim today was a dwarf, the first non-human victim thus far. Also the first victim that wasn’t a local to Magnimar. According to some notes found on the body, the poor soul was visiting from Alkenstar. Although I’m not sure many needed the notes to tell them that was the case. Like many of the victims nothing was stolen and on his person was one of those bizarre firearm contraptions. 

The little bugger must not have put up much of a fight, or was caught by surprise. The pistol (I had to look that up in the archives) was still tucked into his belt. I saw a competitor use a firearm once in the Serpent’s Run, it must have been older as it was larger and far clunkier then the one the dwarf carried. If the victim had managed to draw his pistol and fire I’m sure we’d have a dead Skinsaw Man.

The pistol though fascinates me. I would love to get a closer look at it and figure out how it works. From what I remember some kind of powder goes in with a little metal ball and then you pull a little lever and it fires. I’m sure there is something written on the things somewhere, I’ll just have to find it. Brigh is respected among the wizards of the golemworks, perhaps their library has something, anything on these new devices.

Entry Seven

I decided to go over Karick’s head and brought my deduction to Justice Ironbriar personally. But the Justice dismissed my findings calling them “baseless conjecture.” I’ve suddenly gone from one of the finest minds to the boy who cried goblin. And worst of all I imagine he’ll tell Detective Karick I went to see him. I don’t wish to be taken off this case, but something isn’t sitting right with me and no one is listening. I’ll investigate on my own if I have too.

Speaking of investigating on my own it turns out the Golemworks library did have a few sources of information on firearms. Nothing even remotely exacting or precise but I’ve copied almost every piece of information I could find in the two hours they allotted me access to their tomes. It seems the powder is some kind of explosive that propels the metal ‘bullet’ at high rates of speed from the tubular chamber called a ‘muzzle.’ There isn’t very detailed information on the workings of the pistol itself, but I believe I can figure out the manufacture of both the gunpowder and the bullet given enough time.

Entry Eight

If Justice Ironbriar said anything, Detective Karick hasn’t mentioned. I am thankful for this turn of events, especially since it has given me a chance to collect more evidence. Very few pieces of evidence have been left behind by the killer, or now as I suspect killers. One of the early victims had a stray hair. It was overlooked by the detective who took in that scene because it was brown just like the victims, but the latest scene had a hair that was pure white. An odd coincidence considering my own hair color, but still further evidence that there may be more than one killer.

Entry Nine

Today has been confounding on many levels, I found another hair at the newest crime scene. This one red, while the victim was a blond. I’ve also begun to notice that the seven point stars, the signatures of the killer have been slightly different sizes and the angles of the points vary greatly. I brought this information to justice Ironbriar feeling it was much more than circumstantial, but again I was rebuffed. He sternly told me not to go around spreading rumors because it would "Inflame the fears and imaginations of the masses." He had me removed and told me not to bring any more of my ‘evidence’ directly to him again, but to work through proper channels and bring it to Detective Karick if I must.

My dismissal by the Justice was not the only thing that threw me for a loop today. I swear I saw Nualia at the crime scene. But when I rushed through the crowd to catch her she disappeared. So many questions swirling through my head. Is she really still alive? Was I imagining things? Is it just another Aasimar who looks a lot like her?  Why did she seem so interested in the body? There are no shortage of the angel-touched here in Magnimar but I was certain when my eyes fell upon her that it was HER. I felt it in my blood and bones, but the mind does play tricks and I am not one to rely completely on gut feelings. But again there is little time to investigate on my twins behalf.

Entry Ten

I submitted all my evidence to Detective Karick and he took it without saying a word. He sent me home for the rest of the day. There was so much swirling around in my mind, like a maelstrom of thoughts everyone conflicting. It was hard to sit just idly by but Karick suggested I needed rest. It wasn’t till midafternoon I got a message from the Arvensoar, I have been taken off the Skinsaw Man case and reassigned. I am to lead a band of Sarenrea knows who to the town of Sandpoint. And to what? Guard a shipment on one of the safest roads on Avistan. Demoted from Detective to common guard and to have to stay through the Swallowtail festival as extra eyes seems overkill to me.

Truth be told I was furious at first. I had to talk myself out of resigning half a dozen times. The last of which I was halfway to the Arvensoar before I managed to convince my emotions that this was poor decision. Sandpoint might be in the ass end of Varisia but it is where Nualia lived out her short life. Maybe seeing her in the crowd was a sign this is what I was meant to do. At the very least I can finally stand at her grave and tell her I miss her. I can ask around about any friends she had, maybe someone there can tell me more about the sister I never knew.

Still I am at a loss there is something more going on here and I am being sent away. If I didn’t know Justice Ironbriar for the good, although stern, man he is I would suspect something sinister. For now I will have to table the search for the killers, I am sure now more than ever there is more than one.

Entry Eleven

Time to meet the troops. I do not truly wish to leave Magnimar but if I must, I must. I did something today I never thought I would do, I stole. But in honesty after all my service to the city and the way in which my evidence has been dismissed, this once I will say I am owed. The pistol from the dwarf of Alkenstar seems to have made its way into my pack. The Avensoar is moving at a hectic pace right now, I imagine it will not go missing for some time, but I’m on the cusp of figuring out how they work and it will be much easier with an actual firearm to reason out the hows and whys.

Still I have no clue who I will be working with I’m told some of them may even be criminals. Sarenrea knows better than I what she’s doing but let us hope I can bring her light to whoever they are and show them a brighter path to walk on. Still I believe I’ll sleep with one eye open until I’ve got these rogues figured out.

Character Exploration Fourteen: The Randomness

Female Ifrit Human

Age: 20
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 110 lbs.

This week’s randomly rolled character is an Ifirit apparently a smart but not very wise, very strong Ifirit. The fire in her blood is very strong. She’s a 25 point buy so a bit on the epic side, but sometimes you get good rolls with your random generations.

Str 17
Dex 15
Con 13
Int 15
Wis 7
Cha 12

Homeland: City or Metropolis

Parents: Only your father is alive.

Siblings: You have 1 biological sibling and 2 half-siblings.

- biological younger brother
- younger Half-Elf brother
- younger Half-Elf sister

Circumstance of Birth: [Bastard Born] Your parents had a tryst that resulted in your birth out of wedlock. You know one of your parents, but the other remains unknown or a distant presence at best.

Parent's Profession: Serfs/Peasants

Major Childhood Event: [Magical Gift] When you were a child, you found, stole, or were given a magic item that gave you an extraordinary ability. You may have used this item for mischief, crime, or good. Since that time, magic items have always held a special fascination for you.

Influential Associate: [The Relative] There is a relative you were especially close to. To you, this person was the meaning of family. He helped shepherd you into adulthood, teaching you everything you know about the world. You are bound to this person or his memory, and you strive to keep a promise, vow, or oath that you made to him.

Conflict: [Destruction] You destroyed someone else’s property. CP: 6

Conflict Subject: Leader. CP: 0

Conflict Motivation: Family. CP: 3

Romantic Relationship(s): [Current Lover] You are currently involved in a romantic relationship.

Drawback: [Religion] Your beliefs are of paramount importance in your life, whether you belong to a temple, follow a cult, or practice a religious philosophy independently. When others question or attack the beliefs, principles, relics, or structures of your faith, you respond with fury.

So here you have her. What would you do with these rolls? Who is your Ifirit and why has she become what she’s become.

The background I wrote for this will be posted Friday at 8am. But what kind of character would you make based on these rolls? What class would you pick? Do you have a background in mind looking at these pieces of information? Share with us and let us see your creative juices flow.