Backstory - Shivak

Like most aliens in the Sith Empire, Shivak was enslaved at a young age by a local Governor name Moff Henix.  Moff Henix observed that Shivak had a certain way of controlling his staff.  A visiting Sith Lord recognized Shivak's talents and he was immediately sent to Korriban for training in the ways of the Sith.  The Sith are a very racist bunch and all but humans and Pure Blooded Sith are looked down upon as lesser beings.  Training for aliens on Korriban is generally a death sentence.

Korriban is the ancient homeworld of the Sith race and current training grounds for young acolytes.






Shivak is among a group of 5 other initiates.  The rest are all human or Sith.  Overseer Harken is charged with their training.  He is clearly biased against Shivak and often refers to him "slave".  Harken explains to the group that only 1 of them will survive.  A Sith Lord or a Darth will chose the survivor to become their apprentice.  



in general, how does Shivak treat Harken?

With full deference... "I can only hope that I will rise above my low birth to wield such power."  Shivak is well aware that he is seen as an inferior.  He uses this to his advantage... no one would normally be worried about or even pay attention to such a being.  Arrogance... my favorite weakness.

The term "boot-licking lackey" also comes to mind. lol..

whit10 wrote:With full deference... "I can only hope that I will rise above my low birth to wield such power."  Shivak is well aware that he is seen as an inferior.  He uses this to his advantage... no one would normally be worried about or even pay attention to such a being.  Arrogance... my favorite weakness.

The term "boot-licking lackey" also comes to mind. lol..

Great response!  Harken ignores Shivak.  The bully didn't get the rise he was hoping for.... this time.

Overseer Harken sends the 6 acolytes out on their first of their many Trials.  



Harken:  "We have placed 5 Sith holocrons deep in the tomb of Darth Spinedral.  You must return with 1 or more of the holocrons or you will be executed.  A death in the tombs would be more pleasant than the fate which awaits your failure."

The 6 acolytes eye each other warily, assessing their own chances and weighing probability.  The other 5 are all human.  4 of them are larger physical types (probably bound to be Sith Warriors from their builds).  The 4 brutes decide to work together to collect all 5 holocrons.  They won't let Shivak or the other smaller human travel into the tombs with them.

How does Shivak want to approach this trial.   (assume you are 1st level, with just a vibro-sword, robes and rations)

Perfect! Might Shivak have had time to get an inkling of what is in the tombs? Or, rather, any brainwaves about what might attract whatever it is that roams the tombs?

Basically, Shivak will follow behind the brutes, wait for them to fight, do something to set them off against each other (or just wait for them to be distracted) and he'll steal the holocrons.

If anything were to try and attack him, he'd just run... right towards the brutes.

whit10 wrote:Perfect!  Might Shivak have had time to get an inkling of what is in the tombs?  Or, rather, any brainwaves about what might attract whatever it is that roams the tombs?

Klorr Slugs - mindless, predatory bugs.  All the acolytes talk about them with fear.  They are about 3-4m long when fully grown!

The other runt human seems content to go sneaking by himself.

whit10 wrote:
Basically, Shivak will follow behind the brutes, wait for them to fight, do something to set them off against each other (or just wait for them to be distracted) and he'll steal the holocrons.

If anything were to try and attack him, he'd just run... right towards the brutes.  

sounds like.....

Stealth check to follow

hold on then... with some background on them. Do they seem "attracted" to anything? A smell, a type of food, a sound?

Here's the Stealth check though it case my second set of questions don't really matter:

Roll(1d20)+3:
15,+3
Total:18

whit10 wrote:hold on then... with some background on them.  Do they seem "attracted" to anything?  A smell, a type of food, a sound?

Sure! sorry to jump ahead, my bad

per PF:

Gather Information

Using the Diplomacy skill to gather information normally requires 1d4 hours to search for rumors and informants.

Standard Check: Once per day, you may spend 1d4 hours speaking with locals and attempt one check, as described in the Diplomacy skill.

Does Shivak want to give the others a 1d4 hour head start to try and learn more about the Klorr Slugs?

Gimme a minute to figure his course of action. I'm weighing options... causing a cave collapse when they start to come out could be just as useful...


Screw it. We'll give them (rolls dice) a one hour head start and then go.
Roll(1d4)+0:
1,+0
Total:1

Diplomacy check:

Roll(1d20)+7:
16,+7
Total:23

did I do all of that right?

whit10 wrote:Gimme a minute to figure his course of action.  I'm weighing options... causing a cave collapse when they start to come out could be just as useful...
Screw it.  We'll give them (rolls dice) a one hour head start and then go.  
Roll(1d4)+0:
1,+0
Total:1

Diplomacy check:  

Roll(1d20)+7:
16,+7
Total:23

did I do all of that right?

Yup!

whit10 wrote:hold on then... with some background on them.  Do they seem "attracted" to anything?  A smell, a type of food, a sound?

Shivak spends some time talking to other acolytes in the training hall cantina.  It seems that sending 6 out to recover 5 holocrons is a common "first test" to weed out the weak.  Harken and the Sith Lords are rumored to place wagers on these early rounds, for their own amusement.

The acolytes report that the Klorr slugs are definitely attracted to invaders into their hive.  They are not sure what exactly they are attracted to, but most would guess it is some or all of the following:  movement, heat, smell.  

A scrawny Cathar acolyte, another alien, stops Shivak just as he is leaving the acolyte cantina.  



He bows his head, "A moment, if you will.  I have been (he inhales deeply though his wide nose)...... observing you. You are different..... cold blooded, yes?"  

Shivak has already spent his 1 hour.  Do you want to spend more time to hear this alien out?

I can't spend too much more time... "yes, I am. What can you tell me friend?" (using his best, schmoozing, attitude)

He purrs, "Friend?  No.... not yet.....  but at least you are not my enemy here; we are in different training groups.  I have already survived this trial and I have learned something of the Klorr Slugs.  But what can you offer in return, hmmm?"

I can offer much... I'm sure that one of those other trainees has something you might want? Or has done something to annoy you? Perhaps someone else?

"Hmmm.... only Harken annoys me, but I forgive him.  He is just a tool to make us stronger.  I have the Force, what material things could I want.  But we are both outsiders here, yes?"  He seems to consider his options for a moment.  "We Cathar have a saying....  I scratch your back today, so you must watch my back tomorrow.  A favor for a favor.  Understand, yes?"

"Understood. I have done many favors in my time"

"Hmmm.... yes, good.  I suspected the Klorr slugs used pheromones, much like insects do.  I covered myself in Klorr slime after my initial kills in the tomb.  It was cold, like the Klorr.  It worked.... but only for a while.  I believe my body heat eventually warmed up the slime.  I was able to move slowly through the tomb by killing 1, camouflaging myself in its slime and advancing.  There are many tunnels, most are dead ends.  But you are cold blooded.....  I think you could make a persistent disguise, yes?"

The Cathar looks about casually, like a cat that has become disinterested in its toy.  "And remember, you only need the holocron.  It matters not if you found it in the tunnels or took from another acolyte."

"thank you sir... call on me for your favor in the future."

Shivak will set out for the tunnels, he will also bring a considerable number of rags with

whit10 wrote:"thank you sir... call on me for your favor in the future."

Shivak will set out for the tunnels, he will also bring a considerable number of rags with

Korriban is a hot and dry planet, though more rocky than sandy

Shivak arrives at Darth Spindral's tomb.



Survival\Tracking or Perception check pls

uh... Perception I guess (damned weak 1st level skills, lol)

Roll(1d20)+2:
17,+2
Total:19

Shivak can see a group of tracks moving into the tomb together and a different, single set of tracks moving in along the side. Shivak can't tell much about tracks otherwise. The air rising out of the old tomb is hot and stale.

follow the tracks I guess

unless I hear otherwise, I will assume Shivak is just strolling along.....

Shivak descends into the ancient Sith tomb. It is thousands of years old, but clearly ransacked ages ago. It appears to have been infested with Klorr slugs for quite some time, perhaps intentionally as a tool for the trials. About 50 feet down and into the tomb, the light from outside begins to fade. About another 20 ft past that point, Shivak sees a mess of bug parts and goo on the wide stone stairs.

Shivak enjoys the benefits of Darkvision. Just another reason his reptilian lineage is superior to the primates. The entry staircase is 20m wide, with many alcoves and deteriorated statutes - natural hiding places for the Klorr.

Ahead, Shivak can see a landing.

He doesn't have much in the way of stealth but it's probably time to use it. Trying to be stealth, the rags he is carrying will be used to soak up as much of the beast goo as possible.

Stealth check:

Wait a sec... he has Enhance ability at this level: do that first to boost Dex and then the Stealth check.

Roll(1d20)+5:
14,+5
Total:19

For Enhance Ability: I think that's a +2 overall? (I don't have the books here)

Stealth Check:

Roll(1d20)+4:
18,+4
Total:22

it would be +2 to Dex, so a +1 to the skill check

-3 HP, which at 1st level is quite a chunk

only lasts 1 minute

stealth check will stand, just decide if you use EA or not, as it relates to the +1 on Stealth

forgot about the HP cost, scrub the Enhance Ability.

Just take one off of hte Stealth check then

Shivak covers himself in goo and creeps down to the landing. There are passages off to either side and a short hallway that appears to open into a larger room.

There are more bug guts at the base of the landing.

just keep looking for the others

whit10 wrote:just keep looking for the others

ok

**Sorry that I started to run this like a normal story, my bad.  I don't want to go into this level of detail and it doesn't make much sense, since we know there is really no danger to Shivak in his own backstory.**

Shivak is slinking around the tombs and hears the group on their way out.  Shivak assumes that they have found at least 4 holocrons, since they are leaving as a group.  

**thinking in broader terms....  not 1 roll, 1 moment at a time**

What does Shivak want to do?

** keep looking for another holocron on his own?  ambush 4 fighters?  use some kind of diplomacy?  something else?  **

yeah, I agree... too minute here.

My basic plan was to have Shivak uses his "silver tongue" to get them to fight among themselves or, if that failed, lead a bunch of the monsters to them in hopes that they do the work for him and then just pick up the pieces afterwords.

Not sure if that's even feasible but that was my idea for this. It's how he would deal with things later on, no need for violence on his part most of the time. But as we've discussed, he doesn't have those abilities quite yet

whit10 wrote:yeah, I agree... too minute here.

My basic plan was to have Shivak uses his "silver tongue" to get them to fight among themselves or, if that failed, lead a bunch of the monsters to them in hopes that they do the work for him and then just pick up the pieces afterwords.

Not sure if that's even feasible but that was my idea for this.  It's how he would deal with things later on, no need for violence on his part most of the time.  But as we've discussed, he doesn't have those abilities quite yet

I like the idea of getting them to fight among themselves, but I think it would be very hard to pull it off in game terms.  Remember, there are 4 of them, all in training as Sith.  You can only use Affect Mind on 1 of them (who doesn't realize he is affected) but the other 3 are sure to recognize what you are doing and beat you to a pulp with their vibro swords.  

Besides, Affect Mind cannot make a suggestion that threatens the target's life - per the rules.  

I think trying to use Diplomacy or Bluff might lead to similar results.

I think luring them into a bunch of Klorr slugs or pulling Klorr slugs to them would be feasible.  


Shivak sets up an ambush by luring a pack of hungry Klorr slugs right into the group.  The 4 Sith acolytes prove themselves worthy of the challenge.  Shivak watches from the shadows as they hack, slash, and use lightning to fight off the giant bugs.  



Unfortunately, 1 of the acolytes goes down in the fight and the noise attracts more Klorr slugs.  The surviving 3 run out of the tombs leaving "dead Ed" behind.  The Klorr chase their prey.

Shivak recovers "dead Ed's" holocron from his corpse.

any other actions before returning to Overseer Harken?

unless there is something else of interest in these tombs, I guess he's done. Unless there is a way to use Diplomacy or Bluff... not sure how that would work.

although, if there were a way to "divide and conquer" by talking one of them into attacking the others: "prove your self the best of them! You know you're the best" type of thing he'd try that.

Other than those two ideas, no, I guess he's done. He got one holocron

whit10 wrote:unless there is something else of interest in these tombs, I guess he's done.  Unless there is a way to use Diplomacy or Bluff... not sure how that would work.  

although, if there were a way to "divide and conquer" by talking one of them into attacking the others: "prove your self the best of them!  You know you're the best"  type of thing he'd try that.

Other than those two ideas, no, I guess he's done.  He got one holocron

That sounds like "threatening the target's life" to me - so it won't work with Affect Mind.  

Besides, I still think the other 3 would recognize you "waving your hands around like a Jedi" and just kill you outright.  Affect Mind isn't some secret ability, all Jedi\Sith know about it and what it does.

Shivak (to 1 of them):  "Bob, prove your self the best of them!  You know you're the best"

Bob:  I am the best - fight me!  (even if it worked, which it wouldn't b\c of the threat to his life)

other 3:  Bob, he used a mind trick on you.  we don't want to fight you.  you are the best, you are right.

other 3 - kill Shivak with their swords while Bob watches content that he is the best

I didn't mean with Affect Mind (though that's a pretty silly rule IMO, but oh well). He actually wouldn't have it at 1st level anyway.

I meant more along the lines of the Bluff or Diplomacy method... "those guys say you're the weakest Bob... we can change that" type of thing. No mind stuff involved.

But again, unless there's a good reason to drag this out, we can just wrap it up (this part anyway). Your call

whit10 wrote:I didn't mean with Affect Mind (though that's a pretty silly rule IMO, but oh well).  He actually wouldn't have it at 1st level anyway.

I meant more along the lines of the Bluff or Diplomacy method... "those guys say you're the weakest Bob... we can change that" type of thing.  No mind stuff involved.

But again, unless there's a good reason to drag this out, we can just wrap it up (this part anyway).  Your call

We can wrap it up, I was just taking an opportunity to talk about it, since it will likely come up again in the future (another good use of backstory time, lol)

I don't think Bluff would apply

I could see Diplomacy, but it would probably need a couple of conditions to be met in order to actually be successful - talk to the target alone, so the others can't interrupt or counter your diplomacy and taking a long time using multiple attempts.

You are talking about moving his Attitude from Hostile to Friendly, which is 4 full steps and that requires at a minimum 2 very good rolls, or 4 successful rolls, or more if you fail 1 or more times. The target DC starts at 25 + his Cha mod (though it gets easier with each step) and then another hard DC check (once he is helpful) to get him to do something dangerous\punishable.

So yes, it is possible, but it is more like a long, slow corruption of a person, not a 1 time chat to convince him to risk his life by attacking his friends.

Shivak returns to the training Temple on Korriban, holocron in hand!







Overseer Harken has the other 4 acolytes already assembled in his office.




"Ah, the slave, always the last to arrive.  You must have scavenged your holocron from.... what's his name.... doesn't matter since he is dead.  I guess you survive another day."

Harken waves his hand dismissively, "Continue your training and come back later your next challenge."

Anything Shivak would want to do during downtime on Korriban in general?

Oh certainly, Shivak will always take the time to research his "allies"... so much the better to hamstring them later.

Harken is going to end up on the wrong side of my light saber some day... (slave? I'll show you a slave, you over-developed ape)

whit10 wrote:Oh certainly, Shivak will always take the time to research his "allies"... so much the better to hamstring them later.

Shivak uses his new-found camouflage from the Klorr slugs to investigate other Sith Tombs in the Valley of Dark Lords on Korriban.  

Shivak found a LORE ITEM!  

https://lodgestgaming.forumotion.com/t265-lore-and-history-discovered#14439

Shivak uncovered an ancient Sith Holocron about Tulak Hord.

Overseer Harken sends Shivak on his second trial.  The other acolytes are not present and have presumably been sent on other, solo trials.

"Slave, go visit Inquistor Zinn.  He has a prisoner that he wants you to interrogate.  Use any means necessary.  If you fail, you will end up on Zinn's rack.  Goodbye, I doubt I will see your wretched alien face again."

"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to torture I go..."

Shivak can hear the sounds of electricity and screaming as he approaches the interrogation room.  Upon entering he sees 2 racks:  1 has a smoking husk and the other a scared young acolyte.  

Inquisitor Zinn welcomes Shivak, "Greetings acolyte!  I am eager to watch you work."



Zinn gestures to the acolyte on the rack




"This acolyte witnessed a murder here in the training temple, but so far has been reluctant to tell me about it.  So few Sith have the right mentality for work in the Inquisition."


assume you have access to all your skills, even if they are rank 1

I have a long response to this. It might have to wait for later today

Swamped again at work... as usual. I'm thinking of joining the Foreign Legion... oh wait, I'm old and dislike the French. lol...

your comment about "you have all of your skill, even if they are only at 1 rank".... does that include Force Skills?

whit10 wrote:your comment about "you have all of your skill, even if they are only at 1 rank".... does that include Force Skills?

Yes - my intention is that you have full access to your character, just at a lower power level. That's why I initially told people to just roll their current (10th lvl) values and I would adjust the DC #s. The way you have been doing it is fine too.


So Shivak can use Affect Mind, Force Lightning, Force Strike, etc....

who was murdered?

whit10 wrote:who was murdered?

Shivak knows only what he has been told... perhaps he should ask the acolyte

Using all of his tricks, coercive language and what not... "you should really tell me what you know... the pain will only be worse if you resist"

Affect Mind probably wouldn't work but we'll try that first and then simple Diplomacy?

Reverse that... Diplo. first and then Affect Mind

Diplo.:

Roll(1d20)+7:
14,+7
Total:21

whit10 wrote:Using all of his tricks, coercive language and what not... "you should really tell me what you know... the pain will only be worse if you resist"

Affect Mind probably wouldn't work but we'll try that first and then simple Diplomacy?

Reverse that... Diplo. first and then Affect Mind

Diplo.:

Roll(1d20)+7:
14,+7
Total:21

Ok, again, let's speed up the scenes, no real rolls necessary unless I call for them or you think they are needed proactively.

Check out Bronson's thread with Bos Lobo - he has figured out the pace very well. Post how your character would handle the whole scene. I can always go back and change the results or edit if something works out differently.

I see that Shivak wants to use Diplomacy and Affect Mind. Is that only his opening tactic? Would he switch to Force Lightning torture? Would he only use Diplo\Affect Mind?

He'd start off trying to 'talk it out of him'. Then go to Affect Mind. He doesn't have the force attack stuff. Not his forte

whit10 wrote:He'd start off trying to 'talk it out of him'.  Then go to Affect Mind.  He doesn't have the force attack stuff.  Not his forte

that's all I needed to know

Shivak talks to the frightened acolyte.  He is hesitant to talk and knows that if does, he will be killed and if he doesn't he will be tortured.  It takes Shivak some convincing and subtle suggestions to win his trust.  The acolyte saw a newly anointed apprentice, who just passed his trials, by the name of Faun kill 2 other apprentices - a young couple.  



Faun was taken as an apprentice by a powerful Sith called Darth Tenebrous, the master of Shadows.

Shivak sees Inquistor Zinn shudder at the name.  The acolyte begs Shivak to help him get off Korriban.  Shivak knows that he will likely be killed by Faun otherwise.



Inquistor Zinn comments, "You have a most unusual style, acolyte.  I am impressed, though I wish I hadn't heard that name.  I know a Darth that owes me a favor.  I could convince him to take this acolyte as his apprentice.  What do you think we should do with him?"

"hmm, this information about Darth Tenebrous seems to make him think he's a dead man. Who is this Darth he speaks of?"