Associate #2 Hand Leader Reuben Rawl: a thick-set Stemian male of about thirty who works with the Seekers of the temple of Donai.

Another person Brand saw earlier today, but one who didn't see him. Rawl has a reputation as a brutal and nasty man who gets the job done, no matter what the cost. Brand's father uses Rawl as a paid informant in the temple hierarchy. What he was doing here earlier, Brand has no idea.

Rawl is a trained fighter and has killed in the line of his duty for the temple many times. Whether he has killed for Brand's father is unknown.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Wing & Prayer Candle Calling and Messenger service.

[[ A huh. Is phone tapping legal in Sorendon? ]]

[[There's nothing in the law books against it. But that's probably a case of the laws not being able to keep up with the developments of the technomancy.]]

[[More tomorrow. It's late and it's been a long day.]]

[[ Cool. It's an interesting tableau being painted! ]]

Associate #3 Fazal Ahmet: a thin wiry man of about fifty who is a master builder, despite the loss of his right arm.

Ahmet and his team were employed by the Brand family to make modifications and extensions to both their town residence and the main house on the family's estate. He lost his arm in a building accident while working on the estate and Brand's father has helped him keep his business afloat by funding him. He has also been called in at times to advise on matter concerning the infrastructure of the city, which he knows a lot about.

Fazal Ahmet is as tough as nails and has not refused to let his disability get in the way of his chosen profession. Brand saw Ahmet in his father's study earlier today.

[[Re perception vs locks; I think I'd go perception; I found where to make changes, and now done]]

 [[ Just checking: Brand saw these 3 (4 to be) in the same room? ]]

[[ Question about my pondering on the future....Brand pretty much always wanted to have caster abilities, hence his obsession. That said, the comment about familiar spirits, and summoning, made me thing you were referring to Warlock...so I looked up the class more carefully (I don't like them in DDO, they were built to make money for the game, not with any sense of balance in mind). Looking at the 5e version, they look pretty solid as an option for Brand:They allow armour; they have a lot of varied and fun stuff they can do, and they fit with the old view that he could not be a caster directly (though I will still look into Latent Sorceror option).

I was initially a little concerned by Warlocks (when mentioned by Willard Hellas)  because I assume that's what Thorien was, and he did not end well. But, 5e allows for non-evil pacts, which sound good to me (no pun intended).

One question however: DDO has INT or CHA as warlock stat, which  is what I expected, but that's not RAW 5e. I checked online and one thread said it was originally INT until people complained. Would you consider INT as an option under any circumstances?

This is obviously not an urgent matter; I expect Brand will take a while to get to level 4, which will probably be another Rogue level anyway. But I do like to plan...and probably need time to find a patron.

][

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Re perception vs locks; I think I'd go perception; I found where to make changes, and now done]]

[[Cool. Been out all day, so I'll try to catch up tonight, between doing other stuff.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 [[ Just checking: Brand saw these 3 (4 to be) in the same room? ]]

[[No. He saw Rawl in the house with some others he didn't recognise. Rawl was not in the study.]]

[[ Also added mirror to equipment list, in case not in Disguise kit ]]

[[Cool. Been out all day, so I'll try to catch up tonight, between doing other stuff.]]

[[ No problem. Looking forward to next info and conversation with the Old Man ]]

[[No. He saw Rawl in the house with some others he didn't recognise. Rawl was not in the study.]]

[[ Damn! He was I thinking that'd be an interesting meeting to attend. Beginning to ge the picture that the dinner threat is not physical. ]]

[[ Was Rawl dressed in Donnae regalia? Were any of his companions? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Question about my pondering on the future....Brand pretty much always wanted to have caster abilities, hence his obsession. That said, the comment about familiar spirits, and summoning, made me thing you were referring to Warlock...so I looked up the class more carefully (I don't like them in DDO, they were built to make money for the game, not with any sense of balance in mind). Looking at the 5e version, they look pretty solid as an option for Brand:They allow armour; they have a lot of varied and fun stuff they can do, and they fit with the old view that he could not be a caster directly (though I will still look into Latent Sorceror option).

I was initially a little concerned by Warlocks (when mentioned by Willard Hellas)  because I assume that's what Thorien was, and he did not end well. But, 5e allows for non-evil pacts, which sound good to me (no pun intended).

One question however: DDO has INT or CHA as warlock stat, which  is what I expected, but that's not RAW 5e. I checked online and one thread said it was originally INT until people complained. Would you consider INT as an option under any circumstances?

This is obviously not an urgent matter; I expect Brand will take a while to get to level 4, which will probably be another Rogue level anyway. But I do like to plan...and probably need time to find a patron.

][

[[I'm not against the idea of Brand becoming a warlock, but in my opinion, it breaks the spirit of the character class not to have Charisma as the stat for a warlock's spell-casting ability. So no, no Intelligence-based warlocks.

However, I would be happy to ignore the the multiclassing requirements in this case because becoming a warlock has a lot to do with the patron rather than simply the character's statistics. One of the disadvantages of being a warlock is that patrons can demand you to do things to progress their own agendas.

Note: There are ways in D&D Beyond to turn off multiclassing requirements, and so it is possible for the system to support Brand being a warlock even with a Charisma of 11.]]

[[ What about....and I know this may be a stretch...we swap Wis for Cha? Low CHA was the *original* reason he could not be a caster; but this is a different regime. The WIS was the basis for priest (again, diff regime)...having a patron is a bit like being a priest...

I'd be quite happy to lose some wis (I think I play an unwise person quite well), in return for the CHA. For ref: Cha is 11, Wis is now 14. I'd lose 2 perception, which would balance out with the 2 I gained from Expertese. Hopefully this would be that last such reaarangement...

Edit: INT is 16 and a much better swap, but I have always thought of Brand a reasonably bright, so don't want to lsoe that. Also, if latent sorcerer was to play out instead, I'd be sitting pretty comfortable...]]

 [[ Another check:

"One of the disadvantages of being a warlock is that patrons can demand you to do things to progress their own agendas"

The way I would interpret that is that if one has a non-evil patron, it's unlikely that one would be asked to commit mass-murder, or kill the king (unless the king was evil). Murdering Seeker Harlan (or his ilk) would probably be fine from my PoV, so long as I could ensure his spirit was uncontactable.

Part of the research would be to assess what level of negotiation the patron allows, and the consequences of failure...is that correct?

]]

[[Perhaps the strangest one of all.]]

Associate #4 A man Brand remembers from his days running with criminals in Constantine. Brand doesn't remember this man's name, but back in the day, the man was generally employed as a bodyguard.

 Brand saw this man earlier in the day in the company of a woman and a young girl just as they were being ushered into his father's office. The man didn't seem to recognise him, and Brand didn't recognise the woman or the girl.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ What about....and I know this may be a stretch...we swap Wis for Cha? Low CHA was the *original* reason he could not be a caster; but this is a different regime. The WIS was the basis for priest (again, diff regime)...having a patron is a bit like being a priest...

I'd be quite happy to lose some wis (I think I play an unwise person quite well), in return for the CHA. For ref: Cha is 11, Wis is now 14. I'd lose 2 perception, which would balance out with the 2 I gained from Expertese. Hopefully this would be that last such reaarangement...

Edit: INT is 16 and a much better swap, but I have always thought of Brand a reasonably bright, so don't want to lsoe that. Also, if latent sorcerer was to play out instead, I'd be sitting pretty comfortable...]]

 [[I'd be happy with you changing 2 points of Wisdom for 2 points of Charisma for the purposes of possibly multiclassing to Warlock in the future. However, please note that finding the means to do this would have to be done in play. There are several avenues already available in the campaign for doing this, but you can't just take a course on how to be a Warlock at the School of Occult Studies. In fact, the School teaches against the practice of learning magic through an otherworldly patron. Most of the School's alumni are plain innate sorcerers, innate sorcerers who then become wizards, innate sorcerers who then become bards, etc.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 [[ Another check:

"One of the disadvantages of being a warlock is that patrons can demand you to do things to progress their own agendas"

The way I would interpret that is that if one has a non-evil patron, it's unlikely that one would be asked to commit mass-murder, or kill the king (unless the king was evil). Murdering Seeker Harlan (or his ilk) would probably be fine from my PoV, so long as I could ensure his spirit was uncontactable.

Part of the research would be to assess what level of negotiation the patron allows, and the consequences of failure...is that correct?

]]

[[See my previous post about the opportunity to become a Warlock being have to be done in play and the School warning against taking on otherworldly patrons. Also, for your information, the idea of there being other worlds is not common knowledge in the campaign setting. Brand knows different for a variety of reasons, but the common belief is that the gods and other supernatural creatures are all of this world (i.e., Mithras and Aieda are literally in the sky.]] 

 [[I'd be happy with you changing 2 points of Wisdom for 2 points of Charisma for the purposes of possibly multiclassing to Warlock in the future.]]

Can we please go the whole hog, and just swap the two stats? It preserves the stats 'as rolled', which also appeals, and 14 is much nicer to start with than 13! I've already got a ton on odd stats for things I'd prefer not to be odd (Dex, most notably, but also Con)...I do promise this will be the last stat-swap! and I do take the risk that I never find a patron.

Another option I found interesting (back to using Int as the stat, which would be awesome!): potentially make the primary stat dependent on the patron. Some might like Int, Wis, or Cha (this was suggested as an approach in a couple of posts). I'm guessing the power comes from the patron, so the patrons preferences might influence the primary stat; you did allude to ignoring stat limits because of patron preferences.

However, please note that finding the means to do this would have to be done in play. There are several avenues already available in the campaign for doing this...

Absolutely.  I was hoping the bookshop (and its proprietor), possibly even combined with Nathaniel and Astral Traveling might get me started on the journey, but I see this as definitely an in-game thing, and, most likely, not until level 5...though if it happened before that I'd be tempted, but Rog3 is very appealing.

...but you can't just take a course on how to be a Warlock at the School of Occult Studies.

Is there a local name for those who derive their power from otherworldly patrons? I'm not fond of using class names in dialog. Thou Warlock has a nice-ish ring to it, but it's like wearing a pointy hat. Or is that a thing I need to navigate in-game?

In fact, the School teaches against the practice of learning magic through an otherworldly patron.

Good to know; does Brand know if it's tolerated, discouraged, or totally banned?

Most of the School's alumni are plain innate sorcerers, innate sorcerers who then become wizards, innate sorcerers who then become bards, etc.]]

Huh. Interesting. I had the impression, it was "wizards school" and tolerated weird people like Minton and Nathaniel. Makes much more sense to have the Scool actually match it's name. Not sure why I never worked this out. I always had the impression it was quite small.

Also, for your information, the idea of there being other worlds is not common knowledge in the campaign setting. Brand knows different for a varietyof reasons, but the common belief is that the gods and other supernatural creatures are all of this world (i.e., Mithras and Aieda are literally in the sky.

Interesting. This probably helps reinforce Brand's attitude to gods and discomfort with the authority claimed by religious leaders.

I presume people in the SoOS would understand this? They deal in other planes, summonings etc after all. Certainly Nathaniel, and I assume therefor his student and people who know him. Is that a reasonable assumption?

[[Minor question: If I take a Feat that gives Con+1, are HP recalculated (in Brands case, +3 because he's third level), or does the bonus only apply for subsequent levels?]]

[[Nother-nother question: In this world given the way magic items are constructed, would a Warlock be able to make items based on his spells and/or in collaboration with other casters? Or are they not relaly casters at all? Do they even use mana? This may affect my interest in the class to some extent; I'k like Brand to be able to recharge stuff, if possible.]]

 [[ Rules question, because this will come up if he ever gets in a fight....

Scenario: Brand has invisibility stone in left hand, hand in pocket, is invisible, and weapon in right hand.

1. Is it correct he can attack with one weapon with Advantage, but that he will appear as soon as he attacks, so opponent will NOT be at disadvantage when they can attack? Could he as part of this maneuver, break off, run away and hide behind something or take cover (assuming he makes rolls and there is cover etc)?

2. If he was using Greater Invis, then would the opponent would then be at disadvantage in their attack?

3. If he drops the stone (in his pocket), becoming visible as a result, draws a second dagger and attacks, are both, one or neither attack at advantage?

4. Can he use position to get advantage in one or both attacks if visible? eg. appear behind/beside an opponent and attack. The RAW only have optional flanking rules.

5. If I were fighting against Brand, would I be able to say "I do nothing and use my reaction to attack when he appears", thereby nullifying the benefits he may get from step 4?

6. If Brand is in combat and invisible, and someone walks past him looking for him, does he get an attack of opportunity, AS WELL AS a normal attack when his turn comes?

]]