OOC: Is Midian assuming he is invited to this “all Seekers” meeting as a Seeker acolyte?

[OOC: As an apprentice, Midian would normally attend such meetings. If something came up that wasn't suitable for the ears of an apprentice, they would be asked to leave the room for that part of the meeting.]

“Fortunate timing, I will head there now,” Midian says. He will put off his search for the Arionite as it appears this Seeker emergency meeting is taking place now. 

Midian walks into the Temple and heads for the section set aside for the Seekers.

Unfortunately, it looks like the guard's message got to him too late as it would seem the meeting is already breaking up as Midian arrives at the common room.

Seekers and their apprentices—all with serious looks on their faces—are in the process of leaving the room. Basilly, Seeker Lomani's apprentice, catches him by the elbow and whispers, "You were missed. You'd better go see Seeker Venn immediately. He asked after you by name."

"Basilly, with me," comes the call from Seeker Lomani as she continues to stride off down the corridor. 

"Exciting times, eh?" says Basilly, before hurrying off after his master.

Midian gives Basilly a polite nod, and heads in to look for Venn.  

Midian enters the Seeker's common room to find it empty except for Seeker Venn and Brother Jax who are in conversation.

Venn notices Midian and breaks off the conversation with Jax to say, "Voda. Nice of you to join us finally. If you've been out and about in the city, I take it you've heard the news about the king's decree?"

"Indeed I have, and it seems the city is already reacting predictably," Midian says.  "I was away from the temple on business in the city."  He leaves the business unnamed, and gives Venn a knowing look.  "What did I miss in this meeting?"  

"The pagans have to the end of the tenday to either renounce their pagan religions or leave the city," says Seeker Venn, getting to the point. "However, we suspect the most devout of them will just go further underground than they already are."

Brother Jax nods sagely as Brother Venn continues.

"Which means, we have to keep an eye on what they do between now and when we can legally act against them. The other Seekers and their apprentices all have their own usual suspects to keep an eye on, but I have a special person of interest for you to investigate. Someone who might have connections with the people who murdered your master."

At this point, Brother Jax hands Voda a piece of paper with a name and address written on it in his own meticulous hand: Willard Helas, The Compleat Sage Bookshop, Scholar's Ward.

"He's a Sorian who was expelled from the School of Occult Studies for studies unbecoming those of a student. He is a suspected Arion worshipper and unlikely to quit the city come the next ten day. However, we have no evidence against them... Which is where you come in. I want you to find evidence so we can shut him down come next Moonday."

Midian examines the document, nodding. “I’ll look into this man and gather what evidence I can. Some of these heretics are brazen and expose themselves, I’ve found. I expect an established business owner will be more cautious, however. I’ll see what I can find on the man. I’m also pursuing a few other leads. Whether this man is directly connected to Harlan’s murder or not, it seems he likely represents another threat to our city. Is there anything else you would have of me before I depart to continue the investigation?”

"This man is obviously a magus,' says Venn. "Possibly of unknown ability, if he is a follower of Arion. I would therefore be very careful in your investigation of him... By the way, how are your own studies going?"

[OOC: The above question is sort of a lead-in to possible future character development. If you are interested in taking Midian down a caster route, which is definitely in keeping with his role as a Seeker of Donai, I would be happy to change his Innate Sorcerer feat to something like Magic Initiate (Wizard). This would allow him to keep his 'See the Arcane' cantrip while adding another cantrip and a 1st level spell that he could use once a day. It is up to you as to whether he multiclasses or stay with the Rogue class, but it would be a good way of staying in keeping with the Seeker modus operandi and also gradually giving him access to arcane spells. Think about it and let me know.]

OOC: I haven’t done a one on one game in years. It’s an entirely different thing from a party based game with specialization and trying to compliment one another’s skill sets. With a single player, it seems a skill focus might lead to more rewarding play, as opposed to a combat focus. 

This is a link to a mock up of a level 20 skills oriented build just to show a bit of what I’m talking about - the idea of sacrificing combat efficacy for a complete and well rounded skill mastery via multiclassing, obtaining multiple Expertise abilities and the rogue level 11 ability for all trained skill checks to be treated as rolling 10 or more, while having every skill trained.

Midians final version would of course not be a half elf and it would be different by virtue of not having a warlock level and using the Skilled Feat instead. This is just an idea of what such a concept build might look like in the end. Ignore magic items, etc. 

https://ddb.ac/characters/28097358/IFtnRU

“Fine, brother Venn, but I will have to give more thought to my own skills some other time. For now my personal ambitions must be set aside for the mission,” Midian says, somewhat ironic considering his earlier conversation with Venn entirely about his ambitions. “I will look into this occultist, as well as other leads that could shed light on Harlan’s death.”

Quote from Izraal1 >>

OOC: I haven’t done a one on one game in years. It’s an entirely different thing from a party based game with specialization and trying to compliment one another’s skill sets. With a single player, it seems a skill focus might lead to more rewarding play, as opposed to a combat focus. 

This is a link to a mock up of a level 20 skills oriented build just to show a bit of what I’m talking about - the idea of sacrificing combat efficacy for a complete and well rounded skill mastery via multiclassing, obtaining multiple Expertise abilities and the rogue level 11 ability for all trained skill checks to be treated as rolling 10 or more, while having every skill trained.

Midians final version would of course not be a half elf and it would be different by virtue of not having a warlock level and using the Skilled Feat instead. This is just an idea of what such a concept build might look like in the end. Ignore magic items, etc. 

https://ddb.ac/characters/28097358/IFtnRU

[OOC:

Interesting build. Bard is certainly a requirement to properly represent a character who has had a lot of experience and I've done a few of these things myself (i.e., developing a character through to 20th level) but mainly for the creation of characters who have lived a longer than normal human lifespan; Jack of All Trades goes some way to representing all those years of experience, but maybe one day I will try to develop a similar D&D Beyond feat so that the multiclassing isn't necessary.

With regard to my original question, Midian's Mage Slayer feat was your choice as part of your character's creation, and I am happy with that. I added the custom Innate Sorcery feat to the character to justify his position as an apprentice Seeker; they are basically a militant order of church magicians and some magic ability (Currently the See the Arcane cantrip for Midian) is considered essential for membership.

For the sake of the campaign (and the setting), I am happy to be fluid with regard to the nature of this extra feat and my idea of swapping it to Magic Initiate would allow us to develop Midian's character during the course of play between levels. Giving him this feat now would allow us to represent his mandatory Seeker studies in the Arcane as they try to improve his skills as an innate sorcerer, the reason he was chosen to join the order, without restricting how you want to progress the character.

So as to not break the storyline as written so far, my suggestion for the cantrips and spells for this feat would be Magic Initiate (Wizard or Sorcerer) : See the Arcane (which he already has), a utility cantrip (e.g., Mending, Prestidigitation) and the 1st level Detect Magic spell usable once per day (which he could still be in the process of learning at this moment). If/when you decide to multiclass to either of these character classes, then these chosen spells would simply become part of the character's initial spell selection. With regard to which choice of Initiate, the only difference between the two is that I would allow the Magic Initiate(Wizard) the ability to cast their single first level spell as a ritual, if it had the ritual tag as Detect Magic does. However, there are first level Sorcerer spells that you might want that Wizards don't get access to.

Thoughts?

]

"Your zeal is commendable," says Venn before adding, "But do not overstep your ability, or our mandate. We need evidence of this man's guilt before we can act, and I would also rather not have to consign your body to the flames as we did your master."

[Evidence gained through magic is admissible in this world. The homebrew version of the Identify spell (in the homebrew category on the World Anvil site) can provide verifiable proof of 'ownership' of items by people. So, something like a pagan religious symbol worn for a long time by a particular individual, can be specifically associated with that person and is evidence commonly used by the Seekers when bringing villains to the secular authorities for punishment.]

Seeker Venn then turns away to Brother Jax to apparently continue the discussion Midian's arrival interrupted.

"It is the archmagus that I am mostly concerned about. The dawnmaster thinks he has won the king over, but I'm not so sure."

The two then walk away, having apparently forgotten about Midian.

Midian takes his time as if saying a momentary prayer to Donai in order to linger and eavesdrop for a moment, then excuses himself, returns to his room to change to less conspicuous clothing, and then he will head out to The Compleat Sage Bookshop, conveniently in Scholar's Ward where he had been intending to ask around about Moonson.  

[Any thoughts on my previous post about the Magic Initiate feat?

Also, make a Perception check for eavesdropping.]

Quote from phillberrie >>

[Any thoughts on my previous post about the Magic Initiate feat?

Also, make a Perception check for eavesdropping.]

 Perception check 15

OOC: I will create a mock up of the new stats that would suit a new “skills oriented” build, designed to meet Multiclass requirements. To fit the setting and keep the concept he would remain first level rogue with the goal being at least 11 rogue levels, and the only other “dips” being 3 Bard levels (Lore) and 1 Cleric level (Knowledge). This build would involve a different array of starting skills as well.

I am fine with keeping the current build for the remainder of the story or doing the switch sooner. I will create it and forward a copy shortly. 

[OOC: I'd be interested in seeing the development path you mention but I would prefer doing the development while in play rather than restarting. Also, I would not be against the idea of changing Midian's Innate Sorcery feat to Magic Initiate (Bard) at this point, the See the Arcane cantrip is available to all Arcane casters.]

Midian thinks he hears the word 'rash' as Seeker Venn and Brother Jax walk away, but he does not hear the context and cannot decide who might have said it.

The Seeker's quarters of the Temple have a room called the 'Wardrobe' where there is lots of clothing and other props set aside for those Seekers who need to take on different disguises.

[OOC: If Midian wishes to use this to take on the look of a specific type of person, or even a specific individual, he can make a Deception check with Advantage for establishing the disguise. However, the visible equipment he is carrying will also affect how well the disguise works (e.g., Disguising yourself as a common workman while carrying an obvious weapon like a crossbow would draw more attention that a normal workman should.)]

OOC: I will play Midian in his current form and then propose the respec at level 2 when he would be Rogue 1/Cleric 1, whenever level 2 would be reached. 

OOC: Still a work in progress, but as a human rather than a Half Elf he can still achieve a skill mastery build with a combination of rogue, bard, knowledge cleric and warlock, as follows:  https://ddb.ac/characters/28837634/3EAP94

That is the mock up of the 'end goal,' at present it would just be a level 1 rogue of course.