Page 1311 - Kirin’s Empire, Part 3

Author: SanneNC

Guest Author’s Note: “Man, my players love using archetypes.

Some of you may have noticed that this campaign uses Pathfinder and not any of the D&D editions. I know it doesn’t always have the best reputation, but it’s the system I’m most familiar with, and I didn’t know how to translate any of my players’ weird character creation choices to other systems. I think it’s just more fun to keep it like this.

Also, yes, one of my players did convince me to let him play a synthesist summoner, using the reasoning stated above. I regretted that pretty early on and I’ve been trying to readjust the difficulty rating for my encounters ever since. Oddly enough, he’s still not the most broken character in the party.”

Twilight: ANYWAYS, the Emperor clears his throat and addresses you.
Emperor: I take it that you are adventurers here to answer my summons for aid.
Emperor: Care to enlighten me as to exactly who you are?
AJ: That’s our cue for introductions, so I’ll go first – my character’s called Porter, because I’m literally a porter for hire. I’m actually a half-elf, but since I’m a synthesist summoner–
RD: Hang on, a synthesist summoner?! Isn’t that archetype officially banned because it’s so broken???
Twilight: Yes, but I agreed to let her play one because she promised to put all her points into skills instead of combat.
AJ: Yup, so I’m using my eidolon’s strength to be a porter instead, because there’s plenty of rich folk who need their stuff hauled around.
Rarity: Which brings us to me, Porter’s current employer.
Rarity: My character’s name is Reyssa. I am a nagaji and a monk, specifically a monk of the Scaled Fist.
Spike: The Scaled Fist? Isn’t that the monk archetype that uses charisma instead of wisdom?
Rarity: Exactly.
AJ: I mean, c’mon, how else did you expect her to play a monk?
RD: My turn! My character’s an awesome half-orc Armored Battlemage named Boris!
Fluttershy: Boris…?
PP: I like it!
RD: And check this out, I tricked out my armor with some cool spells and feats so that it doesn’t impede my movement at all! I can even swim in it!
Spike: I’m sure that will come in very handy in this mostly land-locked empire…
RD: Pah, you’re just jealous.
PP: Oooh, me next! My name’s Roan, and I’m a dwarven cavalier who traded in my mount for the power of FRIENDSHIP!
Rarity: Exactly how does that work, mechanically speaking?
Twilight: The Inspiring Commander archetype. She can grant her allies bonuses and teamwork feats in battle.
PP: I’m also a member of the order of the cockatrice!
Spike: The one about being self-serving? How does that work with the power of friendship?
Twilight: At this point I’ve just learned not to ask.
Fluttershy: Well, I guess I’ll go next…
Fluttershy: My character’s name is Iris. She’s and oracle and also a half-faerie dragon, and she likes seeing new things and giving people fruit.
Spike: I didn’t realize half-faerie dragons were a playable race.
RD: Neither were little ponies.
Spike: Point taken.
PP: Oooh, can I have some fruit?
Fluttershy: Sure, I’ll roll on my fruit table for you…
Spike: And I guess that brings us to me.
Spike: My character’s name is Ibrahim, and he’s loosely based on Ibn Battuta: basically, he’s a traveling scholar looking to bring stories back to his homeland.
Rarity: A historical PC for a historical campaign. I like it!
AJ: I just hope you and Twilight weren’t conspiring together when you came up with that.
Spike: All I did was lend her my notes about the Kirin. I have no idea where she’s taking the rest of this campaign, or what the emperor’s quest is.