Althea Tamochi d'Jorasco

After a long hiatus, we finally have some new content to show. Chapters 6 and 7 provide the beginning and middle sections of the story's first case: "The Permitted Turnabout". Edgeworth, Althea, and the rest of the group stumble onto the site of a murder while returning home from a concert. But what could have possibly motivated the Trust to not only permit such a thing to occur, but to allow the result to be witnessed?

The beginning of Chapter 6 contains a brief recap of events, so it can be a decent starting point for those who aren't interested in reading the previous arcs. Work on Chapter 8, in which the case will conclude, is still ongoing.

Also, readers of our sectioned versions will notice that there is a new, experimental format change in order to try to improve readability of the "script blocks" that make up most of the text. There should be a little bit more space separating different lines than the wrapping of individual lines. Those interested in further tweaking can adjust the margin-bottom property of div.sline in the CSS.

As always, all chapters of Turnabout Devotion can be found here: www.arinoru.net/turnabout_devotion/

It's been a long time coming, owing to the complexity of planning out the events being foreshadowed in this chapter. This chapter is another fairly long one, coming in third in word count, not that far behind chapter 2. It also ends on a cliffhanger, one that fans of Edgeworth's canon should find comes as little surprise. This chapter marks the close of the story's prologue; from here on out, we'll be seeing a bit more 'action', in a sense.

The newly published chapter can be found here. All chapters of the story can be found linked from here.

Althea runs into Edgeworth in a bad fanfic. For those unfamiliar, this meme is meant to parody bad writing styles common in many amateur fiction works on the Internet; while we're avoiding some of the more obvious and obnoxious style components, we're still trying to retell the story of Turnabout Devotion in a way that is abjectly wrong and terrible (and hopefully also funny).

When I came up with the various members of the research team, I went through a somewhat abridged character generation process not all that far from putting together a low-level PC. I wanted to make sure I had some ideas to draw on about who these people were and how their background and abilities related to each other. Some of these went in rather different directions of the others.

All of the research team members include the use of pteryx's variant/house-ruled version of the Generic Expert from SRD, where the modifications are intended to balance the class with non-generic PC classes. Variation from the class as written:
Higher progression rate applies only to Reflex and Will save bonuses. Lower progression rate applies to Fortitude save bonus.
All skills are class skills.
Skill Points: 8 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Class feature conversions are not allowed.
Class bonus feats must be skill-related.
All other details are as indicated in SRD.
Note also: There is a standing house rule for the campaigns in question that all classes get an additional 2 skill points per level. This is in addition to the skill points value listed above.

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"Certainly it has been difficult to live among a foreign people, where distrust is only rarely tempered by a grudging respect... yet being here grants a freedom inexpressibly valuable: When I first arrived, having fallen from the cart in which I'd managed at length to stow away, I awoke briefly in my injured state to see many harsh and fearful expressions; too weak to speak or move, all I could do was look around in the moments before my consciousness fled, knowing in my heart that my life had come to its end and I was about to die. This was not the first time I had believed my death to be imminent, but it would prove to be the last. I no longer have a home or a people. What I do have is a place where I can live and achieve goals in more safety than my life has ever before allowed me to know."

Tikra: Female Kobold Generic Expert 1
HP: 4 STR: 6 DEX: 10 CON: 10 INT: 16 WIS: 16 CHA: 14 BAB: +0
Saves: Fortitude +0 Reflex +2 Will +5
Languages spoken: Draconic, Goblin, Common, Gnomish
Research specialty: Arcane and natural sciences
Flaw: Vulnerable
Feats: Agile, Athletic, Run
Skills: Acrobatics +6, Bluff +4, Climb +4, Escape Artist +6, Stealth +8, Intimidate +6, Jump +2 [+4 when running], Knowledge (arcana +7, dungeoneering +4, local +5, nature +7), Perception +6, Profession (writing +5), Sense Motive +5, Spellcraft +7, Survival +7

Refugee from the Seawall Mountains bordering Darguun. Reticent about past experiences, though Althea may have discovered some things through visions. Attends the Library of Korranberg as a student/researcher. Socially isolated, but respected due to her academic aptitude and perseverance. Althea has been assigned as Tikra's roommate for the duration of her visit, as the two get along reasonably well. Tikra is also friends with Illyvalen; the two seem to have some history dating back all the way to Tikra's arrival in Korranberg.

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"Every new language I learn represents a new way of thinking and connecting with people. Even if I might not ever entirely understand someone, sharing their language is a first step in being able to reach an understanding, and helping them share mine does even more."

Illyvalen: Female Gnome Generic Expert 1
HP: 2 STR: 6 DEX: 8 CON: 6 INT: 18 WIS: 12 CHA: 14 BAB: +0
Saves: Fortitude -2 Reflex +1 Will +3
Languages spoken: Common, Gnomish, Elven, Halfling, Dwarven, Goblin, Draconic, Abyssal, Celestial, Infernal, Sylvan, Orcish, Giant, Undercommon, Old Common, English(currently learning)
Research specialties: Anthropology, Linguistics, Medicine
Flaws: Noncombatant, Frail
Feats: Language Focus (languages +1 per Linguistics rank), Master Linguist (languages +1 per level), Skill Focus (Heal), Multilingual (languages +3, +2 to Linguistics checks made to decipher script)
Skills: Linguistics +8 [+2 to decipher script], Diplomacy +6, Gather Information +6, Heal +8, Knowledge (arcana +5, arch&eng +7, geography +8, history +8, local +8, nature +7, nob&roy +7, religion +8, planes +5, psionics +5), Perception +5 [+2 vs. auditory], Perform (Sing +4), Profession (writing +5), Search +6

Frail young woman with a penchant for language and a sweet and sometimes naïve disposition. Attends the Library of Korranberg as a student/researcher. She has a wide range of academic interests, including medical research. Makes friends easily, but is sometimes seen as a bit weird for being on friendly terms with otherwise fairly reclusive sorts, particularly Tikra.

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"Whether one stands before a crowd of spectators, a group of small children, a classroom of students, a panel of judges, one's family, friends, a lover pursued or acquired, or even a simple magical artifact, one is always performing. The only question is whether one is aware of one's performance, and the quality thereof. Performance is not about deception. It is the measure of whether and how much you care about what you express and how you are perceived."

Nathaniel: Male Halfling Generic Expert 1/Bard 1
HP: 6 STR: 12 DEX: 14 CON: 10 INT: 12 WIS: 12 CHA: 16 BAB: +0
Saves: Fortitude +1 Reflex +7 Will +6
Spells: 0th level 2/day, 4 known (Detect Magic, Lullaby, Message, Read Magic)
Languages spoken: Common, Halfling, Gnomish, Elven, Giant
Research specialties: Magic and magic items, verifying authenticity of artifacts and documents
Feats: Relic Hunter, Skill Focus (Profession (writing))
Skills: Perform (oratory +6), Profession (writing +9), Acrobatics +3, Appraise +6 [+5 for Dhakaani/Xen'drik artifacts], Bluff +5, Concentration +1, Linguistics +6, Diplomacy +4, Gather Information +5, Knowledge (arcana +4, geography +2, history +6, local +2) [+5 for Dhakaani/Xen'drik artifacts], Sense Motive +3, Sleight of Hand +3, Spellcraft +5 [+2 to decipher spells on scrolls], Use Magic Device +8 [+2 involving scrolls], Disable Device +3, Use Rope +3, Forgery +4
Special: +5 to Bardic Knowledge for Dhakaani/Xen'drik artifacts. +2 to Bardic Knowledge (all).

A charismatic and bright individual with significant writing talent. Despite not being a Gnome, is well-integrated into Zil culture, having been adopted by a gnomish family after being orphaned during the war. Attends the Library of Korranberg as a student/researcher. Appears to be romantically interested in Althea, though she has largely ignored his advances. Interested in the performing arts.

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"I know this is something of an unusual project and that some of you may not be familiar with Korranberg or Zilargo generally, that this may be something of an unusual environment. Outside of meetings, I frankly don't care what you do or where or with whom you do it, as long as you're not causing trouble and the work's getting done. But I do expect you to be here every morning to discuss your progress and the project status, and if you can't be, you're to let me know."

Berdmol: Female Gnome Generic Expert 2
HP: 8 STR: 10 DEX: 12 CON: 14 INT: 14 WIS: 14 CHA: 13 BAB: +1
Saves: Fortitude +2 Reflex +4 Will +5
Languages spoken: Common, Gnomish, ???, ???
Research specialties: Anthropology, Crafts/Technology
Feats: Master of Knowledge, Negotiator, Persuasive
Skills: Appraise +5, Bluff +8, Concentration +7, Diplomacy +10, Gather Information +7, Intimidate +10, Knowledge (arch&eng +8, geography +8, history +6, local +8), Perception +7 [+2 vs. auditory], Profession (writing +5), Search +4 [+2 to find secret doors/hidden compartments], Sense Motive +9

Dedicated scholar, slightly abrasive, with a very sharp intellect. Speaks in a plain, matter-of-fact style but may still be prone to a bit of sesquipedalian loquaciousness when subjects of nuance come up. Supportive, but tends to become impatient with people's quirks when they get in the way of conversation or research goals. Research team lead. May be a Trust agent.

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"I dare say this is one of the more unusual teams I've been a part of. Thankfully, Berdmol keeps things in relative order. I had my doubts, particularly being teamed up with someone from Morgrave, and I'd never even contemplated the prospect of encountering a kobold scholar at a university. But this Tikra is remarkably intelligent and capable, and Althea would seem in no way representative of the typical researcher from that institution. Now if the other halfling would stop flirting with her, and the younger gnome would stop running her mouth about things that have nothing to do with our research, we could really start to get a lot done."

David: Male Human Generic Expert 1
HP: 8 STR: 8 DEX: 8 CON: 12 INT: 14 WIS: 10 CHA: 8 BAB: +0
Saves: Fortitude +1 Reflex +1 Will +4
Languages spoken: Common, Elven, Gnomish, Halfling
Research specialties: Political Science, Sociopolitical Anthropology, Religion, Excavation Planning
Feats: Iron Will, Master of Knowledge, Toughness
Skills: Bluff +1, Concentration +3, Linguistics +5, Diplomacy +2, Gather Information +3, Handle Animal +2, Intimidate +2, Knowledge (dungeoneering +7, geography +5, history +6, local +7, nobility&royalty +7, religion +7), Perception +4, Profession (writing +4), Ride +2

Visiting researcher from the University of Wynarn in Fairhaven, Aundair. Detail-oriented and less prone to generalism. Intelligent but not very savvy. Has a somewhat impersonal manner.

(Note: updated for new skills house rules, and for new HP formulas)

"Aureon's work was left half-done, and it's the harder half we're trying to do here.... What drives a rare few to the way of the paladin and lets them actually follow it? Why are certain rare spells selective? What secrets keep druidic magic relatively contained even when talented rangers can draw out some of the same answers? And what are the boundaries of 'faith'?"
    — Belgiwig Santor d'Sivis, Founder of the Korranberg Archive

During the Last War, while all eyes were on the front line, some scholars who preferred to stay out of the conflict used the distraction as an opportunity to begin trying to make as much scientific sense out of divine magic as arcane magic. Thus, to a lot of people, this controversial group claiming they could demystify miracles appeared to sprout up overnight...

The Archival Foundation is a society dedicated to studying divine magic as an academic discipline rather than a matter of religious faith. Its members seek to bring about a new magical renaissance in divine magic comparable to the development of the arcane sciences in Khorvaire. Through their collective research efforts, many of the underpinnings of divine magic are becoming clearer, and in the process many widespread religious beliefs are being challenged.

There's no particular alignment leaning among the Foundation members; it often just barely holds together through common cause. One is equally likely to encounter a follower of Aureon who sees this work as finishing what he started, a follower of the Blood of Vol who hopes to throw off the tyranny of gods once and for all, an Aereni elf who simply views this as a natural extension of what elves already suspected anyway, or perhaps a merely curious gnome.

The Archival Foundation often comes into confict with the more staunchly religious, especially the Church of the Silver Flame with its emphasis on the significance of miracles. The underground nature of the Archival Foundation during the Last War helped them to avoid both being drawn into the war and being devastated by some overzealous cleric or another before they were ready to stand up to such threats; however, given that their aims were ultimately of a public nature, they could not afford to remain obscure in the long term.

The Foundation's presence is mostly felt in urban areas; while they might make the Korranberg Chronicle every now and then, in more rural regions there may be many who haven't so much as heard of them, and fewer still who know what they are truly about.

As an element in campaigns, the Archival Foundation can be a source of heroes and villains alike, including those who may be both at the same time, as befits Eberron generally.

(Adapted from an RP exchange and an IRC conversation; The Archival Foundation represents pteryx's vision for how the Archivist class (source book: Heroes of Horror) would fit into the world of Eberron, though Foundation membership extends beyond those of said class.)