Sigil inhabitant question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Sigil inhabitant question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Dec 10, 2003 21:58:12 Who are the Tanar'ri and the Baatezu who travel around together and protest against the Blood War? What's the dark on these two?
#2
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 10, 2003 23:07:22 They're from the Hellbound box set. There's an Osyluth named Antralius, and a Babua named Bb'bray. They both claim to be refugees from the Blood War, having seen its futility and sought to escape it and convince their bretheren to do the same.

Supposedly they met in Sigil, in the Hive, and actually spoke to each other before ripping the other to pieces and found they had much in common. IIRC, they've both saved the others life before, and in the process earned themselves a death sentance from their own race should they ever return home.

Most think its a complete fraud, and they're either serving some 3rd party master, or are working against each other in private. Heck, Sigil's got a 'friendly fiend' in A'kin, so why not the Ernie and Bert of the lower planes in these two berks as well? ;)
#3
zombiegleemax
Dec 10, 2003 23:19:32 But A'kin's not that 'friendly'. He wrote the Factol's Manifesto, he could be blamed for the current state of Sigil. But was there any more info on the other two?
#4
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 11, 2003 0:04:30 There wasn't a ton about them, I went back and looked it up. There's a nice picture of the two of them however.

It does say that both of them go around the Lower Ward trying to convince others of their opinions of the futility of the Blood War. It also mentioned that

The Osyluth speaks slowly, carefully and typically seems to have a keen sense for the feelings of others on most issues.

The Babua doesn't have any additional info concerning his mannerisms.

And who's to say that A'kin isn't friendly? Friendly is such a relative term. After all, his actions during Faction War, even if his publication of the Factols Manifesto perhaps led in part to the war, were in the best interests of Sigil. Or then again, maybe he just wanted to keep it safe till the 'loths could take over. Who knows, he's certainly not telling.

After all, compare him to Sigil's other resident Arcanaloth and tell me that by comparison he isn't nice. ;)
#5
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 4:32:36 Resident arcanoloth? What redident arcanoloth?

*pumps 12-gauge shotgun loaded with +1 rounds*
#6
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 12, 2003 4:47:52 *bemused look*

"Hon... mortal... you'll need better than that. A +1 isn't going to do so much as nick me. Now put that away before you hurt yourself. Or before someone else does."

*preen*

;)
#7
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 4:49:45 Meh. 2d8+1 damage is probably going to do something if I keep up the attack for long enough.
#8
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 12, 2003 4:50:53 *grins* 15/+3 at the minimum. At some point any target Arcanaloth is either going to roast you or just walk away. ;)
#9
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 4:58:45 Not in 3.5.

And if all else fails, there's always the 7.62mm minigun (mounted on a tripod) loaded with +1 7.62mm rounds. Attack vs AC 10, if it succeeds make a reflex save vs. DC 20. If you fail, you take 4d10+1 damage. if you pass, you've just managed to dodge 100 bullets.
#10
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 12, 2003 5:23:16 Okay then 15/good. Point still stands versus a +1 weapon ;)

(as if the 'loths didn't get underpowered to begin with, they got nerfed in 3.5 at the same time the other fiends got improved by and large)

And now its just getting silly
#11
caoslayer
Dec 12, 2003 5:45:07
Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn
But A'kin's not that 'friendly'. He wrote the Factol's Manifesto, he could be blamed for the current state of Sigil. But was there any more info on the other two?

being "chaotic" dont means evil.

A´kin just published a risky book and I doubt that he did it for fame or money.

PD:

Talk about rules anywhere else!!
#12
bob_the_efreet
Dec 12, 2003 6:54:26
Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder
(as if the 'loths didn't get underpowered to begin with, they got nerfed in 3.5 at the same time the other fiends got improved by and large)

I was pleased with the fiend boosts... but the weakened 'loths? What's wrong with them?
#13
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 12, 2003 11:01:45 Well since I don't use 3.5 (left it up to my players and they chose to stick with 3e for the duration of the current campaign) I'm going off my cursory glance at the conversion document.

I honestly don't recall much changing from 3e when most of them were underpowered compared to the other fiends. And frankly, the Ultraloth is a travesty. The Ultraloth actually loses one of its spell-like abilities in 3.5.
#14
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 11:17:27 *orders Colcook to "accidentally" drop a magical kevlar vest of protection against bullets in Shemeska's reach...It gives complete immunity to bullets shot from firearms*

Oh my, I wonder where that could've come from.
#15
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 11:23:21 So what's the dark on Shemeska? I know she doesn't like A'kin, but I never really heard much about her.
#16
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 12, 2003 11:42:52 The best info on her comes from 'Uncaged: Faces of Sigil' where she's got a number of pages devoted to her, and Tony DiTerlizzi's wonderful picture of her to accompany it.

She collects and sells darks, and even spreads false information with the knowledge that most of them time those lies will inevitably turn true in Sigil when someone makes it happen after hearing it.

Good question on her relationship with A'kin, or her past history before coming to Sigil. There's a rumor that she serves as the personal representative of Khin-Oin within Sigil, but there's no real evidence that she serves any authority higher than herself.

She's was, pre Faction War, one of the most powerful and influencial individuals in Sigil, and since the end of Faction War she's probably only increased in power.

(I have to leave, I'll write up more later if I can)
#17
sildatorak
Dec 12, 2003 12:00:46 Here's the real dark on Shemeska before she gets back and starts to fill your bone box with lies.

Imagine a hairy woman. Imagine an ugly dog. Cross the two and you've got Shemeska's physical appearance. Couple that with an ego that could fill the Gehennan void and a fashion sense that is more out of place than a Spinagon at an Ursinal picnic and you've got one of the Cage's most self-absorbed, arrogant, and most of all dangerous bloods.

She is probably about 15% as lethal as she would like to think, but that is still enough to get most berks scribed. Her network of spies and assassins is extensive, and if there is dirty business going on, she is always within 6 degrees of seperation.

Only the barmy, the addle-coved, and those with loads of zills and well-worded contingencies dare to taunt her. Guess which two I am :D
#18
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 13:04:27 The first two, obviously. Sodding bleakers.

Anyway, post-Faction War, once the dust settled, Shemeska was officially named "King of the Crosstrade." I think that gave her a seat on the Council, too. Beyond that, I'll leave it up to Shemeska herself to elaborate ;)
#19
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 12, 2003 14:09:32 Oh no. No seat on the council. Estevan got a seat, but he's nominally on the up and up. Underground power players, regardless of influence generally have a poor reception from people who have power the legal and honest way.

Of course The Marauder is, lets just say, none too pleased at this slight and trying to dig her claws into more than one council member to get herself a vote or two in the group even if she herself isn't sitting in on each meeting.

Influence and control by any means possible. There's two council members in particular that she's aiming for, and two guildmasters she's aiming for, or already has control over.

Of course Zadara the Titan, the fiend's main target of loathing, isn't sitting down doing nothing either. Add that to Estevan's place on the council, plus the Factions trying to wiggle back into influence, Jeremo the Natterer of the Ring Givers having himself a full fledged faction in Sigil and starting to expand his own influence, plus former Factol Rhys as council chairwoman and the game just got as complicated as the kreigstanz ever was. :D

Of course, this may change during editing. But not likely.
#20
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 14:14:00 Iiiiiiiiiiiiinteresting. So Rhys is back in Sigil, eh? I wonder if the Cadence directed her back to the city after the Faction War had calmed itself down. But, seeing as the Ciphers never really had a huge interest in Sigil's power structure, I wonder what made her agree to be council chairwoman.

I don't suppose there's another reason that the Lady hasn't mazed Rhys besides the fact that Rhys isn't the factol. I wonder if Rhys has, through the Cadence, some kind of understanding of how the Lady works...and knows how to keep the city running exactly how the Lady wants it.
#21
Shemeska_the_Marauder
Dec 12, 2003 14:20:12 Well, of all the factions, the Ciphers never took part in the Faction War. The only thing they did was show up when needed to calm things down and try to keep calm between the warring factions and to restore peace after that Tanar'ri / Baatezu spill over into Sigil during the tail end of the war.

In essence there was no need to punish the Faction. Thats one way to look at it. Of course technically they're no longer a faction in terms of heirarchy and official power in Sigil. But the group and the philosophy exist is much the same state.

Rhys has extended that Cipher tendency to extend their own personal harmony to those around them by her place on the Sigil Council. Plus people wanted her there based on her past record, and the mystique of being the sole surviving Factol from the Faction War. (We won't count the Bleaker's factol Lhar because he went insane and stepped down very shortly before the war. His replacement however got mazed with the rest of them. Conveniant, no?)

It's a juggling act to be sure. The intro fiction to the Ciphers up on Planewalker really illustrates this better than I can say here. The writer did a really terrific job.
#22
zombiegleemax
Dec 13, 2003 20:32:43 You can't hold Akin too responcable for the curren t state of sigil. He's not been flayed. Well ...that doesn't mean much other than he hasn't crossed the lady at least
Besides he has to be freindly he gives out mints.
#23
factol_rhys_dup
Dec 13, 2003 22:32:21 My pointed ears are burning... Well, actually, it has more to do with the Cadence. Funny, you'd expect me to have responded more promptly, considering. Think the Cadence tells me exactly how the Lady wants Sigil to be run? I've said it before, but I'll say it again. It's the opposite. The Cadence tells the Lady how it should be run. That's how she knows everything. You see, there's a little Cipher in all of us. With the possible exception of Jeremo. That man spends so much time thinking about how to expand his power, it's a wonder he can hear anything, least of all the Cadence. I'll say this much, though. People can find the Cadence in a lot of ways. Lhar found it through his slowly advancing madness. To each his own.

**And yet it all seemed so strange, and even those who stood right there weren't entirely sure if she had said anything at all.**

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Dec 10, 2003 21:58:12	Who are the Tanar'ri and the Baatezu who travel around together and protest against the Blood War? What's the dark on these two?
#2 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 10, 2003 23:07:22	They're from the Hellbound box set. There's an Osyluth named Antralius, and a Babua named Bb'bray. They both claim to be refugees from the Blood War, having seen its futility and sought to escape it and convince their bretheren to do the same. Supposedly they met in Sigil, in the Hive, and actually spoke to each other before ripping the other to pieces and found they had much in common. IIRC, they've both saved the others life before, and in the process earned themselves a death sentance from their own race should they ever return home. Most think its a complete fraud, and they're either serving some 3rd party master, or are working against each other in private. Heck, Sigil's got a 'friendly fiend' in A'kin, so why not the Ernie and Bert of the lower planes in these two berks as well? ;)
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 10, 2003 23:19:32	But A'kin's not that 'friendly'. He wrote the Factol's Manifesto, he could be blamed for the current state of Sigil. But was there any more info on the other two?
#4 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 11, 2003 0:04:30	There wasn't a ton about them, I went back and looked it up. There's a nice picture of the two of them however. It does say that both of them go around the Lower Ward trying to convince others of their opinions of the futility of the Blood War. It also mentioned that The Osyluth speaks slowly, carefully and typically seems to have a keen sense for the feelings of others on most issues. The Babua doesn't have any additional info concerning his mannerisms. And who's to say that A'kin isn't friendly? Friendly is such a relative term. After all, his actions during Faction War, even if his publication of the Factols Manifesto perhaps led in part to the war, were in the best interests of Sigil. Or then again, maybe he just wanted to keep it safe till the 'loths could take over. Who knows, he's certainly not telling. After all, compare him to Sigil's other resident Arcanaloth and tell me that by comparison he isn't nice. ;)
#5 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 4:32:36	Resident arcanoloth? What redident arcanoloth? pumps 12-gauge shotgun loaded with +1 rounds
#6 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 12, 2003 4:47:52	bemused look "Hon... mortal... you'll need better than that. A +1 isn't going to do so much as nick me. Now put that away before you hurt yourself. Or before someone else does." preen ;)
#7 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 4:49:45	Meh. 2d8+1 damage is probably going to do something if I keep up the attack for long enough.
#8 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 12, 2003 4:50:53	grins 15/+3 at the minimum. At some point any target Arcanaloth is either going to roast you or just walk away. ;)
#9 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 4:58:45	Not in 3.5. And if all else fails, there's always the 7.62mm minigun (mounted on a tripod) loaded with +1 7.62mm rounds. Attack vs AC 10, if it succeeds make a reflex save vs. DC 20. If you fail, you take 4d10+1 damage. if you pass, you've just managed to dodge 100 bullets.
#10 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 12, 2003 5:23:16	Okay then 15/good. Point still stands versus a +1 weapon ;) (as if the 'loths didn't get underpowered to begin with, they got nerfed in 3.5 at the same time the other fiends got improved by and large) And now its just getting silly
#11 caoslayer Dec 12, 2003 5:45:07	Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn But A'kin's not that 'friendly'. He wrote the Factol's Manifesto, he could be blamed for the current state of Sigil. But was there any more info on the other two? being "chaotic" dont means evil. A´kin just published a risky book and I doubt that he did it for fame or money. PD: Talk about rules anywhere else!!
#12 bob_the_efreet Dec 12, 2003 6:54:26	Originally posted by Shemeska the Marauder (as if the 'loths didn't get underpowered to begin with, they got nerfed in 3.5 at the same time the other fiends got improved by and large) I was pleased with the fiend boosts... but the weakened 'loths? What's wrong with them?
#13 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 12, 2003 11:01:45	Well since I don't use 3.5 (left it up to my players and they chose to stick with 3e for the duration of the current campaign) I'm going off my cursory glance at the conversion document. I honestly don't recall much changing from 3e when most of them were underpowered compared to the other fiends. And frankly, the Ultraloth is a travesty. The Ultraloth actually loses one of its spell-like abilities in 3.5.
#14 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 11:17:27	orders Colcook to "accidentally" drop a magical kevlar vest of protection against bullets* in Shemeska's reach...It gives complete immunity to bullets shot from firearms* Oh my, I wonder where that could've come from.
#15 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 11:23:21	So what's the dark on Shemeska? I know she doesn't like A'kin, but I never really heard much about her.
#16 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 12, 2003 11:42:52	The best info on her comes from 'Uncaged: Faces of Sigil' where she's got a number of pages devoted to her, and Tony DiTerlizzi's wonderful picture of her to accompany it. She collects and sells darks, and even spreads false information with the knowledge that most of them time those lies will inevitably turn true in Sigil when someone makes it happen after hearing it. Good question on her relationship with A'kin, or her past history before coming to Sigil. There's a rumor that she serves as the personal representative of Khin-Oin within Sigil, but there's no real evidence that she serves any authority higher than herself. She's was, pre Faction War, one of the most powerful and influencial individuals in Sigil, and since the end of Faction War she's probably only increased in power. (I have to leave, I'll write up more later if I can)
#17 sildatorak Dec 12, 2003 12:00:46	Here's the real dark on Shemeska before she gets back and starts to fill your bone box with lies. Imagine a hairy woman. Imagine an ugly dog. Cross the two and you've got Shemeska's physical appearance. Couple that with an ego that could fill the Gehennan void and a fashion sense that is more out of place than a Spinagon at an Ursinal picnic and you've got one of the Cage's most self-absorbed, arrogant, and most of all dangerous bloods. She is probably about 15% as lethal as she would like to think, but that is still enough to get most berks scribed. Her network of spies and assassins is extensive, and if there is dirty business going on, she is always within 6 degrees of seperation. Only the barmy, the addle-coved, and those with loads of zills and well-worded contingencies dare to taunt her. Guess which two I am :D
#18 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 13:04:27	The first two, obviously. Sodding bleakers. Anyway, post-Faction War, once the dust settled, Shemeska was officially named "King of the Crosstrade." I think that gave her a seat on the Council, too. Beyond that, I'll leave it up to Shemeska herself to elaborate ;)
#19 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 12, 2003 14:09:32	Oh no. No seat on the council. Estevan got a seat, but he's nominally on the up and up. Underground power players, regardless of influence generally have a poor reception from people who have power the legal and honest way. Of course The Marauder is, lets just say, none too pleased at this slight and trying to dig her claws into more than one council member to get herself a vote or two in the group even if she herself isn't sitting in on each meeting. Influence and control by any means possible. There's two council members in particular that she's aiming for, and two guildmasters she's aiming for, or already has control over. Of course Zadara the Titan, the fiend's main target of loathing, isn't sitting down doing nothing either. Add that to Estevan's place on the council, plus the Factions trying to wiggle back into influence, Jeremo the Natterer of the Ring Givers having himself a full fledged faction in Sigil and starting to expand his own influence, plus former Factol Rhys as council chairwoman and the game just got as complicated as the kreigstanz ever was. :D Of course, this may change during editing. But not likely.
#20 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 14:14:00	Iiiiiiiiiiiiinteresting. So Rhys is back in Sigil, eh? I wonder if the Cadence directed her back to the city after the Faction War had calmed itself down. But, seeing as the Ciphers never really had a huge interest in Sigil's power structure, I wonder what made her agree to be council chairwoman. I don't suppose there's another reason that the Lady hasn't mazed Rhys besides the fact that Rhys isn't the factol. I wonder if Rhys has, through the Cadence, some kind of understanding of how the Lady works...and knows how to keep the city running exactly how the Lady wants it.
#21 Shemeska_the_Marauder Dec 12, 2003 14:20:12	Well, of all the factions, the Ciphers never took part in the Faction War. The only thing they did was show up when needed to calm things down and try to keep calm between the warring factions and to restore peace after that Tanar'ri / Baatezu spill over into Sigil during the tail end of the war. In essence there was no need to punish the Faction. Thats one way to look at it. Of course technically they're no longer a faction in terms of heirarchy and official power in Sigil. But the group and the philosophy exist is much the same state. Rhys has extended that Cipher tendency to extend their own personal harmony to those around them by her place on the Sigil Council. Plus people wanted her there based on her past record, and the mystique of being the sole surviving Factol from the Faction War. (We won't count the Bleaker's factol Lhar because he went insane and stepped down very shortly before the war. His replacement however got mazed with the rest of them. Conveniant, no?) It's a juggling act to be sure. The intro fiction to the Ciphers up on Planewalker really illustrates this better than I can say here. The writer did a really terrific job.
#22 zombiegleemax Dec 13, 2003 20:32:43	You can't hold Akin too responcable for the curren t state of sigil. He's not been flayed. Well ...that doesn't mean much other than he hasn't crossed the lady at least Besides he has to be freindly he gives out mints.
#23 factol_rhys_dup Dec 13, 2003 22:32:21	My pointed ears are burning... Well, actually, it has more to do with the Cadence. Funny, you'd expect me to have responded more promptly, considering. Think the Cadence tells me exactly how the Lady wants Sigil to be run? I've said it before, but I'll say it again. It's the opposite. The Cadence tells the Lady how it should be run. That's how she knows everything. You see, there's a little Cipher in all of us. With the possible exception of Jeremo. That man spends so much time thinking about how to expand his power, it's a wonder he can hear anything, least of all the Cadence. I'll say this much, though. People can find the Cadence in a lot of ways. Lhar found it through his slowly advancing madness. To each his own. And yet it all seemed so strange, and even those who stood right there weren't entirely sure if she had said anything at all.