SunDuck

Lol!! I thought it was a typo at first but noticed it was used throughout the rest of the backstory xD Beautiful! So there is Earth but also multiple colonies in space that you can play around with. Right now I'm working on laundry, but I can come back later to share some colony resources with you. ^_^ And yes, the bonuses to Heavy Machinery would stack but it would have to be relevant. How are you using the Jack with the Watsumi? If you can explain it during the game, then I will allow it.

So the signature item can be used once per session to lower Stress Level by 1. Other than that, it's purely roleplay! Maybe she feels it in her pocket when she's frightened to remind herself what she has overcome?   EDIT: Sorry, meant to add this lol -- Yes, next step is giving her a backstory and choosing the equipment. If you want to swap around any of her skills or abilities you may - just don't change the actual numbers.

I absolutely agree with you and honestly I thought about removing the Drug Addict traits entirely before ever posting her. Her "Reckless" trait isn't hinged on that flaw either so it does feel imbalanced. All pilots have the "reckless" option available. Whichever you choose, I am removing the Drug Addict penalty regardless. 🙂 So no worries! Leah or Miller will be super fun.

If the original crew made it to the end without dying, I would be ecstatic. Honestly we'd all probably deserve a medal at that point, lol!

@Malkavian Grin   So, I spent the morning thinking about this and have decided to nix the drug addiction mechanic from Leah's character sheet. We can think of it as though she is in recovery - but if she starts using during the actual game then the drug addiction mechanic can added back in again (like it would if any of the characters started taking drugs with high addiction rates.)

@yxanthymir I adore what you have added to her background! I also like the name change from Kayla to Rayla. It suits her, tbh.   Tag me when you have chosen her starting equipment. All the item info should be in the CS I posted for her so you won't need to look anything up, but if you do have questions then please ask them. You can also swap any of the numbers around in her abilities and skills as long as you don't change any of the actual numbers.

Very fair and similar to my own thoughts when I first read her character in the campaign. I like your suggestion of getting that adrenaline high as an alternative to a substance. Especially since that's also reflective to real life.   So yes, I will say she can awkwardly balance the two. They are both severely problematic, but it doesn't put Leah in a bad situation right from the beginning. She must act recklessly once per shift OR take a drug. What exactly she does to get that adrenaline spike is up to you.

Very good question, @Malkavian Grin! I would honestly leave that up to personal preference per player. Unfortunately with this campaign specifically, it's not feasible to allow new characters into the game - but there will be numerous NPCs to choose from. If your character dies, you are more than welcome to play an NPC but that's not required. With the current premade characters, they haven't seen play so you can tweak them as you wish. NPCs will have seen play and developed a personality/reputation already within the story. Some people may not wish to take those reins, ya know? So truly that would be up to you and your comfort level. 🙂

Lol, yes! Everyone likely knows his name now. The mage did say it at one point but it's such an odd name that people may not have put two and two together. Haha! I'm sure during the travel, someone else asked for his name and he felt more comfortable sharing.

I appreciate the consideration! I plan on explaining everything that's required when the time comes (like rolls for example). I would rather everyone enjoy the story we craft than stress over mechanics.

So make Comtech 2 & Mobility 1? That sounds fine to me. Consider it allowed. 🙂

You may place it in that character's thread. Can't wait to see what you come up with for him!

Use this thread to ask any questions about character creation - premade or otherwise. I'll try to keep a list here so no one has to dig to find any answers. Q: I'm thinking about joining but I'm not familiar with the Alien franchise and/or the TTRPG. Can I still play? A: Absolutely! I will work hard to make everything as clear for you as possible in terms of dice rolls and mechanics during the actual game play. Just never be afraid to ask questions and let me know if anything confuses you.   Q: When claiming a premade character, do I post here or in that character's thread? A: Post in that character's thread.   Q: I know redistributing points in Abilities and Skills is prohibited with pre-made characters; however, may I swap around skill values? A: Yes, you can. Let's take John J. Wilson for example. As written he has the following skill scores - Comtech 1 | Mobility 2. If this doesn't fit with how you wish to play Wilson, you may swap those skills - Comtech 2 | Mobility 1. This does not redistribute points or grant Wilson additional skills.   Q: I don't like something on the premade character sheet. Can I change it? A: For most things, absolutely. Do you like the character of Vanessa but aren't comfortable playing a female character? No problem! Change the name to Vince and find a cool picture. If it's something mechanical like Leah's drug addiction, let's talk about it first. We can always work something out to make these premade characters your own.

JOHN J. WILSON, COMPANY AGENT Corporate Liaison on the USCSS Montero AGE: 43 PERSONALITY: Ambitious You've been embedded with the Montero crew for a good six months now, evaluating their performance to see if the ship and crew should be scrapped and fired, or promoted and given a new ship. You've actually come to like this motley assortment, but there is no room for advancement in this work. Now, a special order has come your way, and you finally see your chance to climb. You pull this off and you can parlay it into a fortune. ABILITIES:  STRENGTH 2 | AGILITY 4 | WITS 3 | EMPATHY 5 HEALTH:  2 SKILLS:  Ranged Combat 1 | Mobility 2 | Comtech 1 | Manipulation 3 | Observation 2 | Medical Aid 1 TALENT: Personal Safety The interests of the company always come first, no matter what. And you represent the company. That means your own safety is paramount - other crew members are expendable. If you are attacked or otherwise end up in fatal danger, and if another PC or friendly NPC is within the same zone, you can make a MANIPULATION roll (straight roll, not opposed, and does not count as an action.) If you succeed, you see the threat coming and find a clever way to make the other character suffer the attack or hazard instead of you. Using this talent increases your STRESS LEVEL by one. SIGNATURE ITEM: Access keycard GEAR: $600 Cash; Leather Briefcase   O R   Chrome Briefcase; Gold-Plated Pen   O R   Rolex Watch; Data Transmitter Card w/ Corporate Clearance"DTCs are small, clear, plastic data transmitter cards that plug into a variety of recording equipment, such as the built-in visual and audio recorders on a space suit helmet. They wirelessly transmit data to the terminal they are synced to. Information captured by the device can be analyzed by a MU/TH/UR or A.P.O.L.L.O. system or displayed on a HoloTab." - CRB   O R   M4A3 Service Pistol"This inexpensive 9mm pistol is the standard sidearm of the USC-MC. You should always have a backup for your backup, and this pistol might as well be it." - CRB Bonus: +2 to Ranged Combat Damage: 1 Range: Medium; Five (5) Doses Neversleep"Fast acting supplement that keeps you going well past your bedtime. Excessive use can cause stroke or heart attack. Each dose increases your STRESS LEVEL one step but removes the need for sleep for one (1) day. During that day, you cannot relieve stress." - CRB   O R   Five (5) Doses Naproleve"An injectable instant pain reliever for all strains, stresses, and irritations. Recommended for use during any self-inflicted cesarean performed to extract an unconventional fetus from your womb. Immediately reduces the patient's STRESS LEVEL to zero (0). Warning: an overdose of Naproleve can have an intoxicating effect. Each dose beyond the first in the same Shift gives -1 modification to all AGILITY-based skill rolls for the remainder of the shift." - CRB. BUDDY: ----- RIVAL: Miller

LYRON CHAM, ROUGHNECK Cargo Handler on the USCSS Montero AGE: 32 PERSONALITY: Loyal You grew up alone. Your parents sold power loaders on the frontier for a living and did not have much time for you. Hopping from colony to colony also meant you never were in any place long enough to make real friends. This crew is the closest thing to a family you've ever had - dysfunction and all. You would do anything to protect them, even put yourself at risk. ABILITIES:  STRENGTH 5 | AGILITY 3 | WITS 2 | EMPATHY 4 HEALTH:  5 SKILLS:  Heavy Machinery 3 | Stamina 2 | Comtech 1 | Close Combat 2 | Observation 1 | Survival 1 TALENT: True Grit Life on the Frontier is a constant struggle. Luckily, you have what it takes to overcome anything that comes your way. You can push any skill roll based on STRENGTH twice, not just once like other characters. Each push increases your STRESS LEVEL by one. SIGNATURE ITEM: Rosary GEAR: $500 Cash; Cutting Torch[Weapon Stats] "A utilitarian blowtorch used for both welding and cutting through metal. In a pinch, a cutting torch can be used as a weapon. In fact, the Rexim EVA pistol started life as a laser cutting torch. You want to stay alive? You need to improvise." - CRB Power Supply - 5 Damage - 3 Range - Engaged/Close Combat Armor Piercing [Tool Stats] When used as a tool, the cutting torch gives a +2 modification to Heavy Machinery in relevant situations. The cutting torch consumes a lot of electricity, and you need to make a Power Supply roll after every use." - CRB Power Supply - 5   O R   Watsumi DV-303 Bolt Gun[Weapon Stats] "The DV-303 is a construction tool that uses expanding bolts to make emergency hull repairs. The DV-303 can be turned into an improvised weapon - firing bolts like a single round shotgun - a trick first used by Frontier rebels in the early 2100s. This weapon must be reloaded after each shot." - CRB Damage - 3 Range - Short Armor Piercing Single Shot [Tool Stats] "When used as a tool, the bolt gun gives a +2 modification to Heavy Machinery in relevant situations." - CRB; Six (6) Doses Hydr8tion"An electrolyte solution that counteracts the dehydrating effects of hypersleep, Hydr8tion is one of the few pharmaceuticals of the space age with no side effects." - CRB   O R   Maintenance Jack"A common tool used to open unpowered airlocks and divert power to or from electrical junction boxes. Gives a +1 modification to Heavy Machinery in relevant situations." - CRB; Stash of Hard LiquorReduces Stress Level by 1. Reduces all WITS-based skills by 1 for each glass.   O R   IRC MK.50 Compression Suit"If you're going to get blown out into space, you want to be in a MK. 50." - CRB Armor Rating +2 Maximum Air Supply 5; Hi-Beam FlashlightRemoves the effects of darkness in a zone.   O R   Seegson C-Series Magnetic Tape Recorder"An 'old tech' portable audio record used to record or play music and audio logs. Popular models include the classic C-24 ka-boombox and the just released C-60 "spacewalk-man." Now when you go EVA, you can bring your country blues with you." - CRB MANIPULATION +1. BUDDY: Rye RIVAL: -----

KAYLA RYE, ROUGHNECK Technician on the USCSS Montero AGE: 23 PERSONALITY: Bitter Your job sucks. Practically everyone on this ship gets paid more than you for doing nothing. You want to do less work and get paid more for it. Your younger brother back on Earth is chronically ill, and your family keeps begging you to send more money to support them. If there's a way to increase your share on this run, you'll do it. Loyalty does pay the bills, so if you have to flip on someone to make more money, so be it. Desperate times call for desperate measures ABILITIES:  STRENGTH 4 | AGILITY 3 | WITS 4 | EMPATHY 3 HEALTH:  4 SKILLS:  Heavy Machinery 1 | Stamina 2 | Comtech 3 | Medical Aid 2 | Mobility 2 TALENT: The Long Haul You've seen it and done it all before. Nothing surprises you anymore. Once per game, you may ignore all 1s in a single roll. SIGNATURE ITEM: Worn photo of your brother GEAR: $500 Cash; Cutting Torch[Weapon Stats] "A utilitarian blowtorch used for both welding and cutting through metal. In a pinch, a cutting torch can be used as a weapon. In fact, the Rexim EVA pistol started life as a laser cutting torch. You want to stay alive? You need to improvise." - CRB Power Supply - 5 Damage - 3 Range - Engaged/Close Combat Armor Piercing [Tool Stats] When used as a tool, the cutting torch gives a +2 modification to Heavy Machinery in relevant situations. The cutting torch consumes a lot of electricity, and you need to make a Power Supply roll after every use." - CRB Power Supply - 5   O R   Watsumi DV-303 Bolt Gun[Weapon Stats] "The DV-303 is a construction tool that uses expanding bolts to make emergency hull repairs. The DV-303 can be turned into an improvised weapon - firing bolts like a single round shotgun - a trick first used by Frontier rebels in the early 2100s. This weapon must be reloaded after each shot." - CRB Damage - 3 Range - Short Armor Piercing Single Shot [Tool Stats] "When used as a tool, the bolt gun gives a +2 modification to Heavy Machinery in relevant situations." - CRB; Two (2) Doses Hydr8tion"An electrolyte solution that counteracts the dehydrating effects of hypersleep, Hydr8tion is one of the few pharmaceuticals of the space age with no side effects." - CRB   O R   Maintenance Jack"A common tool used to open unpowered airlocks and divert power to or from electrical junction boxes. Gives a +1 modification to Heavy Machinery in relevant situations." - CRB; Stash of Hard LiquorReduces Stress Level by 1. Reduces all WITS-based skills by 1 for each glass.   O R   IRC MK.50 Compression Suit"If you're going to get blown out into space, you want to be in a MK. 50." - CRB Armor Rating +2 Maximum Air Supply 5; Hi-Beam FlashlightRemoves the effects of darkness in a zone.   O R   Seegson C-Series Magnetic Tape Recorder"An 'old tech' portable audio record used to record or play music and audio logs. Popular models include the classic C-24 ka-boombox and the just released C-60 "spacewalk-man." Now when you go EVA, you can bring your country blues with you." - CRB MANIPULATION +1. BUDDY: Cham RIVAL: Miller

LEAH DAVIS, PILOT Pilot of the USCSS Montero AGE: 27 PERSONALITY: Adrenaline Junkie Safety limits? Those are lies. Any vehicle or piece of equipment can be pushed past the red line and still work fine. You do it as often as you can, just to keep from getting bored. Unfortunately, daily routines are never that exciting, and that's why you've developed a little stimulant problem. You'll do just about whatever it takes to keep yourself from crashing, even if it puts you in danger. Whether it's an adrenaline rush or substance abuse, all that matters to you is that you are flying high. ABILITIES:  STRENGTH 2 | AGILITY 5 | WITS 3 | EMPATHY 4 HEALTH:  2 SKILLS:  Heavy Machinery 1 | Ranged Combat 2 | Piloting 3 | Observation 2 | Mobility 2 TALENT: Reckless You live for the rush of adrenaline through your veins, pushing harder than others dare. You can push any skill roll based on AGILITY twice, not just once like other characters. Each push increases your STRESS LEVEL by one. SIGNATURE ITEM: Pill bottle, almost empty GEAR: $300 Cash; M4A3 Service Pistol"This inexpensive 9mm pistol is the standard sidearm of the USC-MC. You should always have a backup for your backup, and this pistol might as well be it." - CRB Bonus: +2 to Ranged Combat Damage: 1 Range: Medium   O R   PR-PUT Uplink Terminal"A military-grade armored and waterproof laptop, this portable terminal has a built-in joystick. With the right skills and access codes, you can use the PR-PUT to patch into a colony uplink tower and remote pilot an orbiting ship." - CRB Allows user to remote control spacecraft with COMTECH rolls.; Hand Radio   O R   Three (3) Signal Flares"A tubular-shaped emergency flare that can be used to mark an area or signal for distress." Burns intensely for 1 Turn and can be seen up to 5 kilometers away. Damage: 2 (If the burning end is touched.); Maintenance Jack"A common tool used to open unpowered airlocks and divert power to or from electrical junction boxes. Gives a +1 modification to Heavy Machinery in relevant situations." - CRB   O R   Seegson P-DAT"A personal data tablet, a P-DAT can be synced with Spectrograph Mapping Devices, PDTs, and helmet cams to coordinate a team on the go." - CRB; Seegson System Diagnostic Device"The SSDD is used to troubleshoot computer and mechanical systems aboard a space station or starship. A good engineer knows how to use one of these to hack doors and computer terminals - but you didn't reach that here." - CRB COMTECH +2 in relevant situations.   O R   IRC MK.50 Compression Suit"If you're going to get blown out into space, you want to be in a MK. 50." - CRB Armor Rating +2 Maximum Air Supply 5 BUDDY: Miller RIVAL: -----

VANESSA MILLER, OFFICER Captain of the USCSS Montero AGE: 46 PERSONALITY: Thrifty You're tired of being a corporate cog and want out. If you could finally get enough money to get your own ship, you could start controlling your own destiny on the Frontier. The company has offered you a lease-to-buy option on the Montero, but that doesn't make any sense unless you can afford to overhaul her for better cargo runs. Without an engine upgrade to allow her to tractor bigger loads, you are losing thousands of dollars every day. You need to find a way to make enough money to lease the Montero and upgrade her, or, better yet, go independent and replace her with a newer ship. ABILITIES:  STRENGTH 4 | AGILITY 3 | WITS 2 | EMPATHY 5 HEALTH:  4 SKILLS:  Ranged Combat 1 | Mobility 1 | Piloting 2 | Observation 2 | Medical Aid 1 | Command 3 TALENT: Pull Rank You can use your COMMAND skill to order other non-officer PCs and NPCs around, as long as they belong to the same organization as you. To for someone to follow your orders and perform a specific action, roll COMMAND against the target's MANIPULATION, if successful, the target must follow your order, even if it means harm or danger to themselves. Your STRESS LEVEL increases by one each time you do this. Note also that each roll only covers one specific action. You cannot stop actions triggered by Panic Rolls using this talent. SIGNATURE ITEM: Jacket patch with Weyland-Yutani logo GEAR: $300 Cash; Rexim RXF-M5 EVA Pistol   O R   M4A3 Service Pistol; Samani E-Series Watch   O R   Binoculars; M314 Motion Tracker   O R   IRC MK.50 Compression Suit; SEEGSON P-DAT   O R   IFF Transporter. BUDDY: Davis RIVAL: Wilson VANESSA MILLER, OFFICER Captain of the USCSS Montero AGE: 46 PERSONALITY: Thrifty You're tired of being a corporate cog and want out. If you could finally get enough money to get your own ship, you could start controlling your own destiny on the Frontier. The company has offered you a lease-to-buy option on the Montero, but that doesn't make any sense unless you can afford to overhaul her for better cargo runs. Without an engine upgrade to allow her to tractor bigger loads, you are losing thousands of dollars every day. You need to find a way to make enough money to lease the Montero and upgrade her, or, better yet, go independent and replace her with a newer ship. ABILITIES:  STRENGTH 4 | AGILITY 3 | WITS 2 | EMPATHY 5 HEALTH:  4 SKILLS:  Ranged Combat 1 | Mobility 1 | Piloting 2 | Observation 2 | Medical Aid 1 | Command 3 TALENT: Pull Rank You can use your COMMAND skill to order other non-officer PCs and NPCs around, as long as they belong to the same organization as you. To for someone to follow your orders and perform a specific action, roll COMMAND against the target's MANIPULATION, if successful, the target must follow your order, even if it means harm or danger to themselves. Your STRESS LEVEL increases by one each time you do this. Note also that each roll only covers one specific action. You cannot stop actions triggered by Panic Rolls using this talent. SIGNATURE ITEM: Jacket patch with Weyland-Yutani logo GEAR: $300 Cash; Rexim RXF-M5 EVA Pistol"A miniaturized and weaponized version of a Weyland-Yutani laser welder in use from the 2100s-2120s. This tool was originally improvised as a weapon by the J'Har rebels during the 2106 uprising on Torin Prime. Always one to find a profit in anything, Weyland-Yutani studied the modifications after the war and made them the standard self-defense armament on their commercial fleet." - CRB Bonus +1 Ranged Combat Damage - 1 Range - Medium Armor Piercing    O R   M4A3 Service Pistol"This inexpensive 9mm pistol is the standard sidearm of the USC-MC. You should always have a backup for your backup, and this pistol might as well be it." - CRB Bonus: +2 to Ranged Combat Damage: 1 Range: Medium; Samani E-Series Watch"A dual-faced precision wristwatch, each Samani E-series device is capable of telling the time and date for two synchronized colonial locations, allowing space travelers to keep track of time back home while they are in deep space. The latest addition, the E-550, includes oxygen and pressure sensors to warn its users of a hull breach." - CRB SURVIVAL +1 in relevant situations   O R   Binoculars+2 modification to OBSERVATION at LONG range or more when actively scouting. This bonus is not passive.; M314 Motion Tracker"A motion-scanning device, the M314 uses high-powered ultrasonic waves to detect movement within its sensor range (EXTREME range in open terrain, LONG range in close quarters.) Originally designed for rescue teams searching for civilians trapped in cave-ins and collapsed buildings, the tracker soon found use by the military fighting guerilla forces in extrasolar environments that made infrared impractical." - CRB Power Supply 5 (Must make a Power Supply roll after each use.)   O R   IRC MK.50 Compression Suit"If you're going to get blown out into space, you want to be in a MK. 50." - CRB Armor Rating +2 Maximum Air Supply 5; Seegson P-DAT"A personal data tablet, a P-DAT can be synced with Spectrograph Mapping Devices, PDTs, and helmet cams to coordinate a team on the go." - CRB   O R   IFF Transponder"A personal beacon that prevents automated sentry systems from accidentally blowing friendly targets to pieces. Usually surgically implanted before a campaign, the only flaws in the system are when their signal is disrupted and when an enemy gets their hands on a transciever for infiltration purposes. How is this accomplished if IFFs are surgically implanted? You'd be amazed what a good, sharp knife can do." - CRB Prevents Sentry Gun friendly fire. . BUDDY: Davis RIVAL: Wilson

FINAL MEAL? Oh boy, that is ominous... I'm ready!

Drench STR: 12 (+1) | DEX: 16 (+3) | CON: 16 (+3) | INT: 10 (+0) | WIS: 14 (+2) | CHA: 8 (-1) AC: 15 | HP: 29/29 | Initiative: +3  | Passive Perception: 12 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Insight: 16 Darkvision: 60' ft. | Relentless Endurance: 1/1   Dinner and a show. The Raven Lord and Lady of Autumn were engaged in a pissing contest - dueling with soft words and cutting glances. While it was difficult for him to catch the full meaning of their careful phrases, the subtle emotions exchanged seemed clear to him. Though the others addressed the Raven Lord as 'Lord Stuart', Drench felt no need to address him as such in his thoughts. The boy wanted reverence. His words flowed with an undercurrent of greed - speaking of land and wealth. He could have answered simply but chose not to. Drench did not doubt that the Raven Lord was exceptional in his own craft, whatever that may be, but he would not bow to flaunting familial achievements. If what the mage had said was true, there would be time for the Raven Lord to prove himself as an individual instead of only holding titles. The Lady of Autumn's words were more polite. They rang of humility, though Drench could not discern if they were genuine. Until proven otherwise, he would remain skeptical. His skepticism strengthened as she spoke of being her father's sole child and heir - venturing out on her own for freedom. She speaks of inheritance as though it is a curse. Why? Drench's bias amused him. Had he not just mentally scolded the Raven Lord for waving his own inheritance like a banner? Pondering this, he reached for his pipe, holding it out in front of him and grunting in the mage's general direction. With a small nod and maintained eye contact, Drench awaited his employer's permission to smoke.

Ugh, you guys are so good!   Thanks for your patience ❤️ I'm loving these characters so much. Drench even has little nicknames for everyone which I haven't put to post yet, lol. Poor boy is so bad at names.

Drench STR: 12 (+1) | DEX: 16 (+3) | CON: 16 (+3) | INT: 10 (+0) | WIS: 14 (+2) | CHA: 8 (-1) AC: 15 | HP: 29/29 | Initiative: +3  | Passive Perception: 12 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Insight: 16 Darkvision: 60' ft. | Relentless Endurance: 1/1   As Drench mustered the courage to touch the door, he felt his vision swim and his stomach churn. He squeezed his eyes tightly and felt the contents of the morning’s squirrel begin to lurch before settling. When the half-orc opened his eyes again, the visage before him had shifted. What had once been his mother’s home was now another - logged and decorated with flora.    Drench straightened as the creak of the front door announced the arrival of his future employer.  His blue eyes searched the mage - not immediately impressed by what he saw. Though tall, thin, and timeless there was nothing spectacular about him, only the expensive rags which hung from his person.   He's mocking us.   Drench’s darkened face set into a grimace as he followed the others into the home. Despite the furnishings, he did not allow the mage to leave his sight. Though chairs were set around a center table, a clear invitation to sit as the raven lord demonstrated, Drench remained standing. With arms folded across his chest, he leaned against a column nestled between the various bookshelves and began to listen.   The name Kruthian was as unfamiliar as this so-called artifact. Surely Drench would have heard the tale of something this powerful. Whispers of treasures often reached him but not this ‘Sinner’s Eye.’ Kruthian was alluding to it being a dangerous expedition which would pale in comparison to his ruse. As he began to wonder would they could be in for, Dalin spoke up - addressing the mage with less decorum than the others. The corner of his mouth betrayed a small uptick. Perhaps taking comfort in Dalin’s boldness, the woman with auburn hair began to speak.   Her polite words seemed to be chosen carefully but there was honesty in them. Trust was paramount and he held none. The longer Drench thought about it, the more their individual visions resembled a vague threat: spurn me and the world shall know your truths.    Drench found himself staring intently at the ground as his thoughts resurfaced to what the mage was saying. Was he implying that this ‘Sinner’s Eye’ could allow one to speak with the dead? It was true that he had often thought of speaking again with his father - to apologize for his foolish mistake - but what good could come from such a desire? The pain of being burned by curiosity settled deeply within his heart and Drench felt his teeth clench tightly around his tongue. Regret only intensified as the vision of his mother’s house was explained.    It was the passing of Jozelle that snapped Drench out of his regrets. Despite himself, he had missed a large portion of the conversation. As he accepted his fate, Drench straightened and slid his hands into his pockets. The mention of 3,000 gold pieces sealed his agreement almost immediately - despite any hesitations and questions he had.    Curse it all.   Drench slowly nodded as the mage addressed him - realizing now he had never provided his name. Declining the task would be foolish. Yes, he would be going after an artifact - but this was an amulet and not a box. They also knew what this amulet could do and the dangers that could lie within. This would not be the same.    The smell of roast and vegetables greeted his senses then. With the procurement of an assignment, Drench felt himself relax and drift behind the group to the dining table as their shadow. No one seemed to make note of him and that was fine. Friendship was something he no longer expected, but coworkers were invaluable assets. Together they would get through this - of course, he would have to take the time to remember their names. Without hesitation, Drench sat to enjoy the meal - his eyes studying each new companion’s face and mannerisms.

I'll have a post in later today

Okay, y'all win. Drench and I will stay on and observe the mayhem. He'll definitely be involved in it, too. 🙂

Are you certain? I don't want to slow down the game at all - this group is far too good to be held back.   If you all are truly okay with that, I would be more than happy to continue forward! It honestly means a lot that you guys would be willing to keep me (and Drench) on board.