astronavigatrix

yeah i'm gonna start just opening up the games and double-checking threads myself just in case something in the coding's wonky regardless of settings. also re: the recruiting, maybe we can see if any of the other apps are still interested? we had a decent number of magic types show interest iirc?

Setare Orfini Charlatan Drow Rogue AC: 14 (Leather) | HP: 9/9 | Speed: 30 ft. Senses: passive Perception 12, Insight 12, Investigation 10 Str:Save: -1 Athletics: -1 9 (-1) | Dex:Initiative: +3 Save: +5 Acrobatics: +5 Slight-of-Hand: +5 Stealth: +5 17 (+3) | Con:Save: +1 13 (+1) | Int:Save: +1 Arcana: +1 History: +1 Investigation: +1 Nature: +1 Religion: +1 12 (+1) | Wis:Save: +1 Animal Handling: +1 Insight: +1 Medicine: +1 Perception: +3 Survival: +1 13 (+1) | Cha:Save: +1 Deception: +3 Intimidation: +1 Performance: +1 Persuasion: +3 12 (+1) Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Celestial “My words,” Set says. | ‘My thoughts,’ Set thinks. | My actions . . . Well, this is certainly bloody bleak. Set keeps quiet and to himself mostly, especially once he notes the general air of disquiet in the place. Something about the town is bothering him, but he can't quite place his finger on what it is. When Falken notes that the place is in notably worse condition than it's meant to be, he finally figures it out. It feels like a trap. He can't just outright say as much though, and so settles for slinking around the edges of buildings, keeping eyes on the rest and making sure nothing sneaks up on them from places they aren't watching. Easier said than done in such an empty, desolate place, but he does his best. OOC OOC Movement: — Action: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: — Stealth

Ouránia 'Rani' Airgetlám High Elf Noble Fey Wanderer Ranger AC: 16 (scale mail) | HP: 18/18 | Speed: 30 ft. Senses: passive Perception 14, Insight 12, Investigation 10 Str:Save: +2 Athletics: +0 Carrying Capacity: 240 lb. 10 (+0) | Dex:Initiative: +3 Save: +5 Acrobatics: +3 Slight-of-Hand: +3 Stealth: +5 16 (+3) | Con:Save: +1 13 (+1) | Int:Save: +0 Arcana: +0 History: +2 Investigation: +0 Nature: +2 Religion: +0 11 (+0) | Wis:Save: +2 Animal Handling: +4 Insight: +2 Medicine: +2 Perception: +4 Survival: +2 15 (+2) | Cha:Save: +1 Deception: +1 Intimidation: +1 Performance: +1 Persuasion: +3 13 (+1) Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, Infernal and Drow “My words,” Rani says. | ‘My thoughts,’ Rani thinks. | My actions . . . AMBERLYN "Does it?" Rani is terribly familiar with gossips- noble households are full of them. She isn't, however, really all that shy, and so hums in consideration before speaking. "Well, I don't know if you saw the night everyone was at the tavern, but there was a lovely man there," she begins, sighing theatrically. "He was going to take me to some fancy kitchen to bake, among other things." She lays that out delicately, if only because she does want to maintain some semblance of discretion. "Unfortunately, I came back for my things and got caught up in all the to-do with the fight, and then our little hunt for Floon..." And she hasn't seen him since. "Which is why I think a massage sounds like a wonderful idea, actually. I don't think I've had one in an age. We should make sure the place we find is reputable. I don't want anyone's hands where they oughtn't be." As for the rest... Rani levels Amberlyn with a careful look, curious now herself. "Oh? Is there an... engagement you're looking to make or break?" PEN Having never really had a 'childhood dream' of her own- not really- Rani can't quite put together the sense of loss Pen must feel over it. Of course, she gets that it was important to him, but... Maybe it's just because she's figuring out that plans don't always go the way you want them, no matter how hard you try. Before she can voice the fact that she's probably not the person to be comforting about the situation, however, he catches her off guard with a question. "Why...? To be honest, I'm not really sure myself. But... the way I look at things is that- if I weren't supposed to be here, I would have ended up someplace else, I suppose? There were choices I made, and chances I took that ended up with me saving a nobleman in the sewer and ending up here. And in the end, since it was my choices that got me here, I figure I should take responsibility." Her lips twist in an attempt at humor, and she tilts her head. "Besides, who else would keep Badmaw from sinking his teeth into some of the ingrates that come calling?" SCARECROWS With Amberlyn and Maw taking care of the sackcloth scarecrow, and Pen keeping the other pinned, the pumpkin-headed one is the one that remains. However, in her haste to reorient her aiming, she overcorrects, and the arrow sails past the side of the scarecrow's head. Cursing softly under her breath, she reaches for another arrow, and readies to fire again. OOC OOC Movement: — Action: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: — Attack Scarecrow 2 Damage SC2

...ok so real talk I had not seen any of the replies to the main post. Not even on my notifs. This is the only one i've gotten an update ping about. posted my reply anyway but whatever happens, happens, and it was a pleasure.

Posts are all finished up now, sorry for the delay!

oof sorry for not finishing my post up yet- brain is stalled on combat but i'll try and finish up today!

I had considered having Set multiclass into a stars druid for a little bit more HP/utility, and while it's not as big as something like sorcerer or wizard, I feel it could be at least a little useful but that won't be for... several levels so in the interim we are a little lacking.

I don't mind if the posting rate picks up, but it does feel like a lot of folks just kind of died off suddenly. Granted I have my spans of being slower than average, but I'm still very much interested.

Ouránia 'Rani' Airgetlám High Elf Noble Fey Wanderer Ranger AC: 16 (scale mail) | HP: 18/18 | Speed: 30 ft. Senses: passive Perception 14, Insight 12, Investigation 10 Str:Save: +2 Athletics: +0 Carrying Capacity: 240 lb. 10 (+0) | Dex:Initiative: +3 Save: +5 Acrobatics: +3 Slight-of-Hand: +3 Stealth: +5 16 (+3) | Con:Save: +1 13 (+1) | Int:Save: +0 Arcana: +0 History: +2 Investigation: +0 Nature: +2 Religion: +0 11 (+0) | Wis:Save: +2 Animal Handling: +4 Insight: +2 Medicine: +2 Perception: +4 Survival: +2 15 (+2) | Cha:Save: +1 Deception: +1 Intimidation: +1 Performance: +1 Persuasion: +3 13 (+1) Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, Infernal and Drow “My words,” Rani says. | ‘My thoughts,’ Rani thinks. | My actions . . . AMBERLYN Rani accepts the hug with a laugh, patting the other woman on the shoulder. "Right then, if that's settled, let's head out, hmm? We can talk about colors you'd prefer on the way. I will advise, of course, to consider the type of fabric as well, and the likelihood of the weather we'll be facing in coming days. Considering the seasons won't be changing any time soon, it might be best to leave the consideration of more or less insulation against cold for another time. We'll definitely need to make sure we get something that won't get too waterlogged though. Given our recent adventures, something easy to clean would be good too." Of course, these are all things she's only learned since leaving home, and are considerations she hadn't thought of herself, but had to have impressed upon her by others. Still, she's also happy to be able to help someone else, especially given that Amberlyn hadn't really had to consider proper armor before coming to the city. "Shall we eat while we're out too? I've been wanting to try some of the restaurants nearby and..." Her tone turns a bit contrite, "well, I was hoping I'd run into someone to make good on a prior arrangement, but..." She trails off, leading the way out of the manor with a little laugh at herself over it. What a silly thing to be embarrassed about. PEN It takes Rani a bit of time to figure out what she wants to say and how she wants to say it as they spar. Granted, she's prone to blurting things out more often than not, because too much considering makes her feel like one of her parents. It feels a bit deceitful, now and then, to have to think so hard about what she wants to say. But in the interests of not saying something unwieldy or causing dissent among their number, she figures she should be a little less thoughtless in her efforts. "I'm not entirely sure," she begins, "what's happened before you came here. I do recall you bawling your sorrows to Amberlyn at the tavern before, but I was admittedly... preoccupied at the time, and didn't really catch most of it." Not that she could have otherwise, her hearing was good, but not good enough to compete with that much ambient noise, especially with the conversations that had been happening around her. "But you shouldn't let whatever misfortune that was color your efforts for the rest of your days." It's obvious how hard he's trying of course, and it's not as though the others don't appreciate the effort either. Of all of them, he, Maw and Amberlyn are the best at physical endeavors, and while Rani has her own athleticism, none of it is the sort that's useful with dragging around furniture or rebuilding facilities. "Whatever you planned to do before didn't work out, and that's fine, isn't it? All things considered, you could have done worse than to have ended up with a manor and a tavern out of the deal, even if it is shared with the rest of us." Her makeshift weapon snaps as she blocks a strike, but Rani simply adjusts her hold on the separate halves and repositions. "Stop thinking so hard about proving you can do more. Isn't doing what you can enough?" RURIK "What a pity he doesn't have exclusive say as to what I do then, isn't it?" Rani's smile is pleasant, but a bit too full of teeth. If there's one thing she truly loathes, it's someone else trying to make decisions on her behalf. "I'll see about clearing out what's unsalvageable and perhaps trying to find replacements. Who knows, if we build up a decent enough collection, we may be able to charge a lending fee if there's anything worthwhile." After all, in a manor like this, there had to be something worth advertising to more magically-inclined types. Or at the very least, enthusiasts of history and knowledge as a whole. Her expression sours slightly at the mention of the creatures from the sewer, and she places a hand on her hip, the other coming to her chin in thought. "Well... it's nothing entirely concrete, you see. I've only ever heard of them before. The ambulatory brain is called an Intellect Devourer, and they usually work at the behest of those tentacled creatures- Mindflayers, they're called. As their names suggest, their tactics generally involve disrupting the mental faculties of their targets. I've never experienced it, but I've heard it can be quite harrowing. And very dangerous. We should... probably consider looking into them more, just in case." BADMAW "Feels a bit unethical, don't you think?" Of course, maybe that's just Rani's own sense of right and wrong- she knows full well that 'business' can entail a lot of unscrupulous things if one wants success. Even so... "There's got to be a way to get their fingers out of our metaphorical pies. Especially since they weren't keen on caring about the place until they suddenly had someone to take money from for just being here." And really, that's what rankles her the most, if she's honest. If it really was about the 'upkeep' of the place, then why had it been allowed to fall into such disrepair for so long? It bears looking into in her opinion, if nothing else. After all, they need to make money properly, don't they? Being forced to hand over so much of what they might make just to keep the ball rolling feels like a scam. One she's certain she's seen enough of her parents' business acumen to deal with. Reaching out for the bowl, Rani stirs her spoon into it thoughtfully, tapping her nails against her utensils. "As for that unpleasant man, it might be too obvious if we break in and steal all his things. I'd say the better idea is to have him followed and see what other 'unpleasantness' he gets up to. If he really wants to try and threaten us, then it's only fair that we take steps to ensure our own safety, don't you think?" Pausing to take a large spoonful of the jambalaya, Rani brightens, her eyes glimmering. "Oh, this is fantastic. The spices aren't like anything I've tried before, and I've tried a fair few. What's in this, 'Maw?" THE ENCLAVE Rani takes her talk with Lady Phaulkon quite seriously, deciding that even if she doesn't stay in Waterdeep, the decentralized nature of the organization suits her needs quite well. And upon hearing the goals of the enclave, she feels as though it's a wise opportunity to bring up her group's recent encounter. Rani clutches the charm she's been given, and clears her throat. "I'll ask my companions about taking on that scarecrow as soon as we're able, madame. However, I feel it's in the interests of the Enclave to know that I've recently run across the presence of both an intellect devourer and a mindflayer in the sewers of the city. While I'm not certain of the extent of their presence, or just how much they've done in recent times... it's better to say something than allow Waterdeep to be caught unawares of a possible incursion, yes?" Work Scarecrows Rani, despite herself, finds herself fascinated by the expanse of open land they're meant to be looking for the scarecrows in. It's a wonder they haven't been spotted more easily so far, but she supposes if it were so simple, people wouldn't be having such a difficult time. Still, by the time they eventually catch wind of the things-or rather, they catch wind of the group- she's not nearly so enamored by the mostly featureless landscape of farmland. While Pen's attack might not do as much harm as he'd hoped, it still provides a good enough distraction for Rani's arrow to strike the Scarecrow and hard. "Pen!" She calls, making a motion with her next arrow as she grabs it. "Stab, don't cut!" Dirty Work The work for the Lord's Alliance, on the other hand, doesn't fill Rani with anything but a sense of distaste. While she finds herself with new respect for the people who do the work day in and day out, she's beginning to worry that continuing this work will leave her clothing smelling foul simply by proximity. And that's not even getting started on her hair. She's grateful that it's at the very least uneventful... until it suddenly isn't, and she thinks she should learn not to jinx things, even inadvertently. When the carrion crawler heads for Badmaw, the thought 'oh no' crosses her mind immediately and- as if on cue- the thing digs into the lizardfolk and seems to paralyze him. When she pulls out her bow to shoot, however, the creature's writhing body makes it go wide, nearly hitting Badmaw instead. Knocking Heads Rani watches the rest of the group with some degree of interest as they take to 'handling' the situation in their own ways. Amberlyn's disapproval in particular gives her a bit of a chuckle, though she winces as Pen's glaive goes a bit awry. That said, she doesn't think she can particularly add much to the situation, and so settles for pulling one of her curved shortswords out of its sheath, idly curving it around her wrist and forearm before taking careful hold of it and... using it to pick under her nails, glaring at the wood debris stuck beneath them furiously. The combined effect makes her look somewhat murderous, which she doesn't at all notice as she continues trying to pry a would-be splinter from beneath her nail. OOC OOC Movement: — Action: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: — Attack Scarecrow 1 Damage SC1 Mark Bonus Attack Carrion Crawler Damage CC Mark Bonus Intimidating Thugs

Rani will immediately bring the scarecrow to the others for investigation once I finish up her next post (fiddlesticks is that you-) and then we can figure out who would be the most useful for rolls in other situations/missions and try and coordinate with that? Or however people wanna do the simultaneous mission shenanigans.

Setare Orfini Charlatan Drow Rogue AC: 14 (Leather) | HP: 9/9 | Speed: 30 ft. Senses: passive Perception 12, Insight 12, Investigation 10 Str:Save: -1 Athletics: -1 9 (-1) | Dex:Initiative: +3 Save: +5 Acrobatics: +5 Slight-of-Hand: +5 Stealth: +5 17 (+3) | Con:Save: +1 13 (+1) | Int:Save: +1 Arcana: +1 History: +1 Investigation: +1 Nature: +1 Religion: +1 12 (+1) | Wis:Save: +1 Animal Handling: +1 Insight: +1 Medicine: +1 Perception: +3 Survival: +1 13 (+1) | Cha:Save: +1 Deception: +3 Intimidation: +1 Performance: +1 Persuasion: +3 12 (+1) Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Celestial “My words,” Set says. | ‘My thoughts,’ Set thinks. | My actions . . . Hearing the way the supposed 'soldiers' speak turns Set's stomach. He's well aware that the abuse of power is hardly limited to Drow, but to this extent and in such flagrantly vile ways... were he a more righteous man, he might consider slitting the throats of those particular men in the night, had he the opportunity. And strange as it feels to agree with a religious type, he can't help but nod his agreement at Karlov's assessment, lip curling in disgust. "Least I won't be hesitating if we end up having to fight any of them. Considering the way they talk, their behavior's probably the standard." He follows back toward the road, slowly, carefully, mindful not to make any noise that might be loud enough to be heard by the riders. "I know we weren't planning on running into them, but maybe actively avoiding them and anywhere they might be would be the smart thing to do." OOC OOC Movement: — Action: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: —

Setare Orfini Charlatan Drow Rogue AC: 14 (Leather) | HP: 9/9 | Speed: 30 ft. Senses: passive Perception 12, Insight 12, Investigation 10 Str:Save: -1 Athletics: -1 9 (-1) | Dex:Initiative: +3 Save: +5 Acrobatics: +5 Slight-of-Hand: +5 Stealth: +5 17 (+3) | Con:Save: +1 13 (+1) | Int:Save: +1 Arcana: +1 History: +1 Investigation: +1 Nature: +1 Religion: +1 12 (+1) | Wis:Save: +1 Animal Handling: +1 Insight: +1 Medicine: +1 Perception: +3 Survival: +1 13 (+1) | Cha:Save: +1 Deception: +3 Intimidation: +1 Performance: +1 Persuasion: +3 12 (+1) Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Celestial “My words,” Set says. | ‘My thoughts,’ Set thinks. | My actions . . . When negotiations finish, Set offers the retreating Visani a cordial smile. Internally, however, he's making note (which he will later make physically) of all the little tidbits revealed by them and his companions over the last brief while. While he has to sort the detritus from the important bits in the process, knowledge is a valuable thing- especially when it comes to people's motivations. His own, he likes to think, are relatively simple. So simple in fact, that when Falken reveals the 'punishment' for crimes- including refusal to be conscripted- he has to force the blood not to drain from his already pale face. "Yes, well, as much as I'm sure the Talons have only the best of people's interests at heart..." He doesn't, and the frank acidity in his voice says as much. "I won't be attempting to test that theory either." Following suit with the others, he ducks into the woods, hoping none of the soldiers have the ability to see through the trees better from their higher vantage point on horseback. OOC OOC Movement: — Action: — Bonus Action: — Reaction: — Stealth Stealth(advantage)

yep! meant to do it yesterday but cooking kind of took up my afternoon-

Personal Notes- (Set, as a matter of course, likes to be able to keep track of things that are important- or things he can use in his favor in the future. While his notes are probably less concisely organized, he's trying to make sure he doesn't bother with anything superfluous.) Falkovnia Factions Creatures Places The Party Falken Karlov Lady Gray Rhortigern

Tried to put down something for everyone in Rani's post, as well as leave some openings in case people prefer to come up with something else! (I am deeply excited for the Rani & Amberlyn fashion montage.)