The "Foreigner" [Archive] - Wizards Community

The "Foreigner" [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-11-06, 05:13 PM So I've finally managed to find my way into a party, after a full year knowing the rules without a playing opportunity. That's a lot of time to learn rules, not so much to become good at role-playing.

I'm playing a kalashtar soulknife by the name of Qui'elle Kesseri. He's essentially a special agent in training, sent out of Sarlona to be safer from the Quori until he is strong enough. He's also a little paranoid and a conspiracy theorist. I'm basically looking for tips at role playing, especially specific to this character.

Here's what I have:
- when it's my turn for watch, I set up a series of traps and defenses. If I didn't have first watch and find it's not already done, I'll tsk a little and get to work. Reflected by my caltrops and rope.
- When dealing with kobolds, such as the friendly NPC, show an avid interest in learning the arts of trap-making
- keep a journal of events, encoded and hidden.
- be wary of people: distrusting, but not always so. My sense motive is pretty low, so let's say I'm liking to be suspicious when the person is in fact completely trustworthy.
- allude to strange things, since I'm from another continent. Example, I might make some statement about a gray glutton, and then explain that in Sarlona parents scold children with threats of the gray glutton, not the boogeyman. By the way, I'm really looking for a saying I could use. Something like, "What, think the gray glutton's on the hunt?" when someone seems scared/cautious and I don't see reason for concern. A saying equivalent to, "There's no boogeyman here."

Any help is much appreciated. Especially since the rest of the party is even less experienced than me (even the rules are new). I basically need to teach them to role play. Thank you.

Omni
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-14-06, 01:36 PM :plotting: :pile: :hides: :headexplo :monk: :incog: :bump: Mission Bumpossible! Please tell me this little performance will bring some responses. It worked for the person I learned it from. Forgot who.
Syltorian
12-14-06, 02:28 PM First of all, have you read the Kalashtar chapter from Races of Eberron? There is a lot of interesting roleplaying advice in there.

A kalashtar is otherworldly, not simply from a different continent. He has flashes of memories from different lives, and in particular of his Quori spirit. That means that he remembers events on Dal Quor, the realm of dreams. Such things might not make any sense at all, to anyone but to him. He has little control over such memories, however.

The setting up traps and defenses while on watch is a good idea. Perhaps go so far as to be obsessive-compulsive about it; go through certain rituals, whether or not they work. Meditation, steeling your mind for the next assault of the Dreaming Dark. Get your companions to do the same; if the Dark is out to get you, they are as likely to attack your friends through their dreams and thoughts as they are to come marching physically into your camp.

Given that the major element of Adar's defenses seems to be to hide, apply that to your party. Weave layers of deception, insist on hiding rather than finding a comfortable place. Defenses and traps are all fine, but it is best if the enemy doesn't find you in the first place. Don't appear to be a kalashtar, lay false trails (change the inn at the last minute, for example, or book one room in one, and sleep in a different one; at the very least, try and get a different chamber every day).

I wouldn't keep a journal, even if it is encoded/hidden. Anything hidden can be discovered. Any code can be broken. Anything written can be found and used against you by your enemies. Such information is not safe. As a kalashtar, you got a good and well-trained mind. Take a rank or two in Autohypnosis, and store everything in your head. Don't trust anything physical, such as a journal.

If you are distrusting, bear in mind that you cannot necessarily trust your party members. They could be traitors. They could be impersonated from one day to the next, or mindseeded, or blackmailed, or charmed. If anyone acts suspiciously, immediately have your doubts. But be careful: it doesn't make for a good athmosphere in your playing group if you refuse to work with the rest of them, or distrust them all the time, so don't overdo this.

Depending on how paranoid you are: do not eat or drink anything you have not prepared yourself, or seen prepared. Don't even go near alcohol, as it will muddle your senses. Try not to appear to be suspecting anyone would poison you, though (it's not exactly polite to do so openly), and use cunning and guile to find your way around it while staying polite.

Lastly, one comment about the background: It seems strange he was send out of Sarlona to protect him. The monasteries of Adar are about the most secure place in the world. They lie behind a powerful, psionic shroud; they are heavily guarded, and the Dreaming Dark has no idea where they are exactly. If you have access to it, read about the monastery detailed in the Explorer's Guide. Unless, of course, his mission into Khorvaire is part of his training as a shadow-watcher: Khorvaire is safer than sending him straight into Riedra.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-14-06, 03:19 PM Thanks for the advice. And yes, Qui'elle is training as a shadow-watcher. That is why I want tips on playing him as a "foreigner." He grew up in Sarlona, which is quite different from where he is. I could really use little phrases that make him sound like he is from another continent.

Good thought on the autohypnosis vs journal. And I already have ranks in autohypnosis! It even gives me an opportunity to (maybe) pull a stunt I had thought up earlier: sneak into wizard's room, memorize spell book using autohypnosis, burn book. Return to camp, teach our mage a bunch of new spells. Though that is a little risky for Qui'elle's style. As a bonus, autohypnosis also can help me ignore poison or stabilize.

So ranks in disguise is also a good idea. My clothes likely have all sorts of hidden compartments. I may even be a little superstitious, doing weird things in the morning saying it brings luck for a day.

And for reference, I have read the kalashtar section.
Otogi
12-17-06, 08:37 AM You should make him Cold as Ice :D
Kitaki
12-17-06, 01:00 PM To reflect his paranoia, be as excessive as possible with traps, put up as many as humanly (Kalashtarly?) possible. Muttering about random possible threats while doing so also helps. So if a simple rope trap between 2 trees would do, put in a rope trap, poison arrows and a falling log.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-17-06, 03:53 PM I've also thought up some other things he does:

1) Before entering his nightly meditation/slumber, he draws a circle in oil and covers it in sand. He then lights the oil on fire, creating a circle of glass in which he sleeps. He argues that this is a psychic trap - it will warn him if the Quori are probing the area. Or trying to possess someone. OOC, I don't expect it to work. But Qui'elle Kessari is convinced it will.

2) I routinely prepare special "vitamins" containing garlic, wolfsbane, silver, and a myriad of other things. I insist that it raises my resistance to just about everything. Again, no actual benefit. And when I'm nervous, I pop an extra one of these pills.

3) Perhaps I'll take drow sign language as a bonus language and IC ask the rest of the party to do the same. This way there's a silent means of communication.

4) My clothes have hidden pockets and pockets on the inside. Important stuff is kept in here, and I regularly change which is which. Of course, not everything important is in a pocket.
Syltorian
12-18-06, 10:54 AM 1) Before entering his nightly meditation/slumber, he draws a circle in oil and covers it in sand. He then lights the oil on fire, creating a circle of glass in which he sleeps. He argues that this is a psychic trap - it will warn him if the Quori are probing the area. Or trying to possess someone. OOC, I don't expect it to work. But Qui'elle Kessari is convinced it will.

He doesn't try to do that indoors, does he? :D Good idea for a nightly ritual, though.

Some other ideas:

The old stuffing cushions under your bed-cover trick to make the enemy believe that's where he is sleeping (then sleep under the bed yourself). I believe there was a dragon magazine some time ago which actually gave rules for this, using a disguise check.

Guard against people who do not directly attack you, but seek to obtain information from you. In your room, use a single hair, wet it, and glue it over the cupboard door, the windows, the outside of the door, that way you'll know if someone opened it (and in the case of the door, that they might possibly still be in there).

Work out codes with your party, changing every day. While the Quori usually possess, dominate or mindseed people, they might also send impersonators, changelings and so forth. If your friend suddenly fails to remember the correct reply to your innoccuous statement, you know he's not who he pretend to be.

Watch some James Bond movies. Maybe you can convert some ideas there. Some gadgets (hidden weapons) and routines (going through your room for traps and bugs) to imitate; exotic villanous attempts on the heroes' life to obsess about and explain why you are taking certain out-of-the-way precautions. The idea with the hair over a door is taken from a 007 movie, for example.

3) Perhaps I'll take drow sign language as a bonus language and IC ask the rest of the party to do the same. This way there's a silent means of communication.

Always a good choice. Doesn't have to be a "drow" language, of course. Heroes of Battle also has a battle-sign language, although it says that it is rather restricted in what it can confer (no arguing philosophy, for instance); but it's a great means for sneaks and people who feel someone else is listening.

On this note, remember your mindlink. It doesn't last very long, but it's a good means of silent communication. Check out the Atavist prestige class; it helps Soulknife progression, and increases your mindlink (and you might get some observation bonuses, too).
Kitaki
12-18-06, 01:21 PM A great trap for when ur camping is to string a black rope all around the camp at around ankle level, try to trip anyone sneaking in.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-21-06, 09:19 AM Thanks for all the tips so far. This works very well. And I figured James Bond would be a good place to start looking. I just don't want to "be" Bond. Paranoid should take care of it. Thanks again.
Need_A_Life
12-22-06, 12:06 PM You know better than anyone just how devious the Quori can be.

Questioning a friend regularly about various subjects and remembering the answers can help you ascertain whether an ally is simply acting odd or has been replaced with an agent of the Dreaming Dark.

Mind-links may be able to be tapped by psionic creatures with the skill of the Quori, using them for transfering vital information is risky, though marginally better than saying it aloud.

People who offer you help without getting something obvious out of the bargain are immediate suspects. Read "Dreaming Dark Trilogy" by Keith Baker and pay careful attention to Lakashtai (a kalashtar), she won't really have an influence on the story until the second book but she's deceptively clever when viewed in hindsight.

If you discover an agent of the Dreaming Dark, consider whether you'll try to kill his vessel, and thereby exposing yourself or if you'd rather make it an enemy of its former masters.
If you chose the first, make sure to have the Psibane enhancement on your Soulblade.
If you chose the second, in the Expanded Psionics Handbook there's an item you'll enjoy; Pearl, Mindseed. You'll create an Empty Vessel Soulknife with your hatred against the Quori.

Viva la Revolution!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-11-06, 05:13 PM	So I've finally managed to find my way into a party, after a full year knowing the rules without a playing opportunity. That's a lot of time to learn rules, not so much to become good at role-playing. I'm playing a kalashtar soulknife by the name of Qui'elle Kesseri. He's essentially a special agent in training, sent out of Sarlona to be safer from the Quori until he is strong enough. He's also a little paranoid and a conspiracy theorist. I'm basically looking for tips at role playing, especially specific to this character. Here's what I have: - when it's my turn for watch, I set up a series of traps and defenses. If I didn't have first watch and find it's not already done, I'll tsk a little and get to work. Reflected by my caltrops and rope. - When dealing with kobolds, such as the friendly NPC, show an avid interest in learning the arts of trap-making - keep a journal of events, encoded and hidden. - be wary of people: distrusting, but not always so. My sense motive is pretty low, so let's say I'm liking to be suspicious when the person is in fact completely trustworthy. - allude to strange things, since I'm from another continent. Example, I might make some statement about a gray glutton, and then explain that in Sarlona parents scold children with threats of the gray glutton, not the boogeyman. By the way, I'm really looking for a saying I could use. Something like, "What, think the gray glutton's on the hunt?" when someone seems scared/cautious and I don't see reason for concern. A saying equivalent to, "There's no boogeyman here." Any help is much appreciated. Especially since the rest of the party is even less experienced than me (even the rules are new). I basically need to teach them to role play. Thank you. Omni
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-14-06, 01:36 PM	:plotting: :pile: :hides: :headexplo :monk: :incog: :bump: Mission Bumpossible! Please tell me this little performance will bring some responses. It worked for the person I learned it from. Forgot who.
Syltorian 12-14-06, 02:28 PM	First of all, have you read the Kalashtar chapter from Races of Eberron? There is a lot of interesting roleplaying advice in there. A kalashtar is otherworldly, not simply from a different continent. He has flashes of memories from different lives, and in particular of his Quori spirit. That means that he remembers events on Dal Quor, the realm of dreams. Such things might not make any sense at all, to anyone but to him. He has little control over such memories, however. The setting up traps and defenses while on watch is a good idea. Perhaps go so far as to be obsessive-compulsive about it; go through certain rituals, whether or not they work. Meditation, steeling your mind for the next assault of the Dreaming Dark. Get your companions to do the same; if the Dark is out to get you, they are as likely to attack your friends through their dreams and thoughts as they are to come marching physically into your camp. Given that the major element of Adar's defenses seems to be to hide, apply that to your party. Weave layers of deception, insist on hiding rather than finding a comfortable place. Defenses and traps are all fine, but it is best if the enemy doesn't find you in the first place. Don't appear to be a kalashtar, lay false trails (change the inn at the last minute, for example, or book one room in one, and sleep in a different one; at the very least, try and get a different chamber every day). I wouldn't keep a journal, even if it is encoded/hidden. Anything hidden can be discovered. Any code can be broken. Anything written can be found and used against you by your enemies. Such information is not safe. As a kalashtar, you got a good and well-trained mind. Take a rank or two in Autohypnosis, and store everything in your head. Don't trust anything physical, such as a journal. If you are distrusting, bear in mind that you cannot necessarily trust your party members. They could be traitors. They could be impersonated from one day to the next, or mindseeded, or blackmailed, or charmed. If anyone acts suspiciously, immediately have your doubts. But be careful: it doesn't make for a good athmosphere in your playing group if you refuse to work with the rest of them, or distrust them all the time, so don't overdo this. Depending on how paranoid you are: do not eat or drink anything you have not prepared yourself, or seen prepared. Don't even go near alcohol, as it will muddle your senses. Try not to appear to be suspecting anyone would poison you, though (it's not exactly polite to do so openly), and use cunning and guile to find your way around it while staying polite. Lastly, one comment about the background: It seems strange he was send out of Sarlona to protect him. The monasteries of Adar are about the most secure place in the world. They lie behind a powerful, psionic shroud; they are heavily guarded, and the Dreaming Dark has no idea where they are exactly. If you have access to it, read about the monastery detailed in the Explorer's Guide. Unless, of course, his mission into Khorvaire is part of his training as a shadow-watcher: Khorvaire is safer than sending him straight into Riedra.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-14-06, 03:19 PM	Thanks for the advice. And yes, Qui'elle is training as a shadow-watcher. That is why I want tips on playing him as a "foreigner." He grew up in Sarlona, which is quite different from where he is. I could really use little phrases that make him sound like he is from another continent. Good thought on the autohypnosis vs journal. And I already have ranks in autohypnosis! It even gives me an opportunity to (maybe) pull a stunt I had thought up earlier: sneak into wizard's room, memorize spell book using autohypnosis, burn book. Return to camp, teach our mage a bunch of new spells. Though that is a little risky for Qui'elle's style. As a bonus, autohypnosis also can help me ignore poison or stabilize. So ranks in disguise is also a good idea. My clothes likely have all sorts of hidden compartments. I may even be a little superstitious, doing weird things in the morning saying it brings luck for a day. And for reference, I have read the kalashtar section.
Otogi 12-17-06, 08:37 AM	You should make him Cold as Ice :D
Kitaki 12-17-06, 01:00 PM	To reflect his paranoia, be as excessive as possible with traps, put up as many as humanly (Kalashtarly?) possible. Muttering about random possible threats while doing so also helps. So if a simple rope trap between 2 trees would do, put in a rope trap, poison arrows and a falling log.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-17-06, 03:53 PM	I've also thought up some other things he does: 1) Before entering his nightly meditation/slumber, he draws a circle in oil and covers it in sand. He then lights the oil on fire, creating a circle of glass in which he sleeps. He argues that this is a psychic trap - it will warn him if the Quori are probing the area. Or trying to possess someone. OOC, I don't expect it to work. But Qui'elle Kessari is convinced it will. 2) I routinely prepare special "vitamins" containing garlic, wolfsbane, silver, and a myriad of other things. I insist that it raises my resistance to just about everything. Again, no actual benefit. And when I'm nervous, I pop an extra one of these pills. 3) Perhaps I'll take drow sign language as a bonus language and IC ask the rest of the party to do the same. This way there's a silent means of communication. 4) My clothes have hidden pockets and pockets on the inside. Important stuff is kept in here, and I regularly change which is which. Of course, not everything important is in a pocket.
Syltorian 12-18-06, 10:54 AM	1) Before entering his nightly meditation/slumber, he draws a circle in oil and covers it in sand. He then lights the oil on fire, creating a circle of glass in which he sleeps. He argues that this is a psychic trap - it will warn him if the Quori are probing the area. Or trying to possess someone. OOC, I don't expect it to work. But Qui'elle Kessari is convinced it will. He doesn't try to do that indoors, does he? :D Good idea for a nightly ritual, though. Some other ideas: The old stuffing cushions under your bed-cover trick to make the enemy believe that's where he is sleeping (then sleep under the bed yourself). I believe there was a dragon magazine some time ago which actually gave rules for this, using a disguise check. Guard against people who do not directly attack you, but seek to obtain information from you. In your room, use a single hair, wet it, and glue it over the cupboard door, the windows, the outside of the door, that way you'll know if someone opened it (and in the case of the door, that they might possibly still be in there). Work out codes with your party, changing every day. While the Quori usually possess, dominate or mindseed people, they might also send impersonators, changelings and so forth. If your friend suddenly fails to remember the correct reply to your innoccuous statement, you know he's not who he pretend to be. Watch some James Bond movies. Maybe you can convert some ideas there. Some gadgets (hidden weapons) and routines (going through your room for traps and bugs) to imitate; exotic villanous attempts on the heroes' life to obsess about and explain why you are taking certain out-of-the-way precautions. The idea with the hair over a door is taken from a 007 movie, for example. 3) Perhaps I'll take drow sign language as a bonus language and IC ask the rest of the party to do the same. This way there's a silent means of communication. Always a good choice. Doesn't have to be a "drow" language, of course. Heroes of Battle also has a battle-sign language, although it says that it is rather restricted in what it can confer (no arguing philosophy, for instance); but it's a great means for sneaks and people who feel someone else is listening. On this note, remember your mindlink. It doesn't last very long, but it's a good means of silent communication. Check out the Atavist prestige class; it helps Soulknife progression, and increases your mindlink (and you might get some observation bonuses, too).
Kitaki 12-18-06, 01:21 PM	A great trap for when ur camping is to string a black rope all around the camp at around ankle level, try to trip anyone sneaking in.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-21-06, 09:19 AM	Thanks for all the tips so far. This works very well. And I figured James Bond would be a good place to start looking. I just don't want to "be" Bond. Paranoid should take care of it. Thanks again.
Need_A_Life 12-22-06, 12:06 PM	You know better than anyone just how devious the Quori can be. Questioning a friend regularly about various subjects and remembering the answers can help you ascertain whether an ally is simply acting odd or has been replaced with an agent of the Dreaming Dark. Mind-links may be able to be tapped by psionic creatures with the skill of the Quori, using them for transfering vital information is risky, though marginally better than saying it aloud. People who offer you help without getting something obvious out of the bargain are immediate suspects. Read "Dreaming Dark Trilogy" by Keith Baker and pay careful attention to Lakashtai (a kalashtar), she won't really have an influence on the story until the second book but she's deceptively clever when viewed in hindsight. If you discover an agent of the Dreaming Dark, consider whether you'll try to kill his vessel, and thereby exposing yourself or if you'd rather make it an enemy of its former masters. If you chose the first, make sure to have the Psibane enhancement on your Soulblade. If you chose the second, in the Expanded Psionics Handbook there's an item you'll enjoy; Pearl, Mindseed. You'll create an Empty Vessel Soulknife with your hatred against the Quori. Viva la Revolution!