Paradigm Concepts

[EricGorman]

Not sure if this post should go here or under the rules discussion but I have questions about how the Ghost Scales and their faith interacts with the world.

In the last campaign the inner working of their faith, even their existence, was shrouded in secrecy ... but now that they are out and about as mercenaries in a good chunk of the known world. It seems to imply that more about them are known and accepted. Its not clear to me how much.

1) It would seem to me that Herka is ah ... a little outside the norm for the Mother Church. <grins> But at the same time it says that Ghost Scales have no real enemies, so I assume the Inquisition isn't chasing them as crazed cultists either. Does the rest of the Temple of Sarish know about or acknowledge them in any way? What about Elandre and the Mother Church in general? I am assuming neither really knows much about the Ghost Scale's religious inclinations but I don't know.
3) Can a ghost scale PC access Paths like Sarishian Binder or Sorcerer Priest of Sarish or is that knowledge outside what training they can get from Herka?
4)More a comment, RAW seems to imply a Ghost Scale Sorcerer-Priest from Coryan could take the Inquisitor path. That seems wrong based on what I suspect based on 1.

Thanks for any clarifications.
_________________
~Eisener val'Holryn. Holy Champion of Nier and haunted veteran of the crusade
~Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn, gave his soul to help free King Noen from the LLT Banner

[PCIHenry]

Hello Eric,

[hustonj]

RAW: Rules as Written

Common to lots of internet forums that dissect the mechanics of a game or gaming system.

RAI: Rules as Intended is the partner term.
_________________
Valeriano Innocenzo Camillo de Larissa la Galletti
San Antonio, Tx-based Harvester
Jeff Huston
huston.harvester@cox.net

[EricGorman]

Yeah, Rules As Written.

Though your comments make pretty clear how the Ghost Scales integrate (or more specificlly don't) with the human religious insitutions of the world.

As a final question the Coils book on Ssethregore had flavor text describing the Black Talon ssethric Inquisitors looking into the Ghost Scales. Did that fizzle out? Or are there tensions between the Black talons and their "lost" cousins?
_________________
~Eisener val'Holryn. Holy Champion of Nier and haunted veteran of the crusade
~Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn, gave his soul to help free King Noen from the LLT Banner

[lbxzero]

I have a question on Ghost Scales myself in correspondence with some of the rules.

To me, I consider nationality as the nation, region, the character spent most of his life, the nation that has given the most influence upon the character. By the initial description of Ghost Scales being the result of ss'ressens hatched in the energy fields of Herka. Thought concludes that all Ghost Scales are hatched in the sewers of Old Coryan. Yet, Ghost Scales have available nationalities of Abessios, Milandir, and Almeric in addition to Coryan. This leaves me with two distinct possibilities.

1) While young, some Ghost Scales are sent out to other areas established by migrating Ghost Scales. If these are Ghost Scales that matured to adulthood first before moving, that would conflict with my understanding of nationality. In saying, what is the nationality of a human trader that spends most of the time doing business in Milandir but was born and raised to "adulthood" in Coryan? If the Ghost Scales were raised to adulthood before leaving to provide their "services" in other regions, wouldn't that still mean they are from Coryan with Coryan related training?

2) Ghost Scales have managed to establish colonies outside of Old Coryan. Although requiring the "heat" radiated by Herka, what prevents Herka or the priestesses to imbue some of the "heat" into other objects that are commonly sent to these other colonies? In result, the Ghost Scales have been working on other hatcheries with means to have the eggs hatch in the radiant energy of Herka despite being so far away.

[PCIHenry]

Hello Ibexzero,

The answer is a combination of the two.

For Ghost Scales to be born, they MUST be hatched in Old Coryan in the life giving radiance of Herka.

However, as reptilian, they mature quickly and are sent to different areas as needed. I wouldn't call these "colonies" per se, but they are enclaves where there is a number of Ghost Scales in residence. There, they are taught and acclimate to the culture they grow up in.

To be clear, the ONLY place where Ghost Scale eggs can hatch are in Old Coryan, because that's where Herka is. If Herka were moved, the hatchery would follow.

All attempts to hatch Ghost Scale eggs in other places or heat sources have ended with failure.

Best,
_________________
Henry Lopez
President
Paradigm Concepts, Inc.

[lbxzero]

Actually Henry, your answer is not a combination of the 2, just the first one. The second one involves replicating an exact equal source or extension of Herka, which is different than saying "other heat sources."

That also concludes my other thought that the Ghost Scales have a limited population, as saying the hatchery can only hold so many eggs at one time.

[Nierite]

It is impossible to 'duplicate' the Herka. It is a unique, conscious artefact of Sarishan Origin. As such, there are no equals and can never bet equals that we know of.
_________________
Cody Bergman

aka = Haakon Marcus val'Virdan, Priest of Nier (Divine 2.1)
aka = Dyabe val'Abebi, Templar of Althares (Divine 1.4)
aka = Jorma Ostoman, Battlemage of the Coryani Empire (Arcane 1.2)

[lbxzero]

Ever transported water by means of a sponge? To duplicate, that fails, as it took godly hands to craft Herka. It is like forging a perfect and natural diamond without the heat of the innermost magma chambers of a volcano. To capture and release elsewhere, it is not another source, just a storage medium or an aqueduct. Although, that fails too, unless Herka does not have a need for it.

More or less saying, my initial understanding let to that the Ghost Scales had a way to extend the range of Herka, not duplicate or find some other similar source. I do accept that the Ghost Scale priestesses have not succeeded.

[EricGorman]

Its clear that there are some "weirdness" factors involved in the Ghost Scales as mentioned here (and elsewhere).

In terms of mechanics nationality gives you many things - arms and armor proficiencies are a good starting point. The ghost Scale have a great deal of flexibility in choosing these options. But you are also right that the idea of nationality as a whole does not really seem to apply to Ghost Scale enclaves living in other parts of the world beyond the sewers of Old Coryan (really ... you'd think they'd upgrade their digs at some point). Culturally they've partially assimilated ... but I'd be shocked if they were fully accepted.

I don't think a "Milandesian" Ghost Scale is going to be invited into the Royal Marines any more than a "Coryani" ghost scale would be accepted as a legonaire (though technically as the rules currently stand neither choice woud be illegal since both backgrounds only have a nationality requirement).

The ghost scales fascinate me. I have too many characters already ... but I feel a pull to create a Ghost Scale PC.
_________________
~Eisener val'Holryn. Holy Champion of Nier and haunted veteran of the crusade
~Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn, gave his soul to help free King Noen from the LLT Banner

[lbxzero]

In expectation, I believe the Ghost Scales should have been excavating the sewers out, molding it into an underground city of their own. And then them thinking of moving to another location, Herka would have to request it, and the priestesses would not risk moving their only hatchery without having a guaranteed safe location.

But like I am thinking, the Ghost Scale have a population limitation based around how many eggs their only hatchery can hold, including architectural work to expand and improve the location.

I am expecting Ghost Scales to have decent share of knowledge, especially in architecture and underground projects, since their home is underground, and to expand requires delicate work in not collapsing their home and creating a major sinkhole for the residents above ground.

Thus there are some story ideas of Ghost Scales making agreements with Coryan or neighboring nations to have a designated home so their existence does not create a very serious problem in Old Coryan.