As should be immediately obvious please put all out of character discussions, questions, complaints, etc in this thread.

Well, well, well...looks like I am the first to grace these pages:)

Welcome aboard to you! Hopefully more will be coming soon. I hope to be able to do justice to the setting. One thing I will be asking people is if they want to do a short introductory solo thread. It is certainly not necessary but could be a smooth tie-in for some.

Considering my sheet is now finished and posted with your fixes...Burikan is ready to go be it solo or waiting for the group.

I'm here, too.

Need to get a character portrait picked out though.

Welcome Sathras! It looks like our characters will share the brunt of battle eh?

In reply to Burikan (msg #6):

Nothing like some tanks to pick up aggro eh? ROFL.....mandatory obnoxious WoW reference!

I am pretty happy you have allowed Burikan to alter his gear somewhat. Picking up some southern style armor makes sense...the leather cowl was just a bit too S&M for my personal tastes:)

In reply to Burikan (msg #8):

It's all good, I try to be flexible and I have no problem with slight adjustments that don't break the game. Oh and I agree, a S&M Harakin would definitely rate high on the creepy meter.

Good day to all, happy to join the group.

Our first caster to appear, yay! Welcome welcome to all so far. Things are starting to fill out nicely. Four characters up and ready, two more impending, and one more the person is still thinking. That even leaves that possible eighth slot to fill although seven would be perfectly fine as well...

Hello everyone!  Murron reporting for duty, which is probably some menial task, but that is his lot in life, no? :D

Look forward to exploring the Talislantan milieu with you! :)

Welcome to the crew, hopefully it will be a fine adventure.

Hullo ladies and gents.

I'm working on my (admittedly small) Contact list. Right now, I've got a Za rival, but I'm not sure whom to make for a friendly contact. Anyone got any contacts that would be in the Wilderlands between Hadj and Dracarta that they wouldn't mind sharing?

Sorry not a contact to spare:) All of Burikan's contacts are back in Harak.

In reply to Burikan (msg #15):

That's no good! Surely a fine, strapping lad like yourself has made an impression on someone in these here parts.

;)

Though I have a contact spare I don't have anyone in the area at precent.

Any ideas for an individual who might have occasion to encourage/sponsor/attend gladiatorial combat events?

Or help a down-on-his-luck Sauran with a very tiny talent in crude metalwork?

Hello, Kafa will be your friendly neighborhood trapmage.

I'm the parties bastion of magical knowledge and ability.

The spells are still being worked on.. but we'll get there eventually.

Continued welcomes to all the new players, getting ever closer. To those who are already onboard, I am putting it to each if you want a brief(ish) solo thread to get to Dracarta or to just have already arrived there. Either is fine with me. If people are doing a solo thread I may as well do it while people are still finalizing in the game.

Sure, a brief solo introduction would be cool. :)

In reply to Murron (msg #22):

That picture of yours...

One happy looking Marukan!  I wonder what's wrong with him... *wink*

Another question; Do those who want a brief solo thread wish it to be public or private?

If private I will do it via PM instead of blocking off another Group letter/number. Otherwise if some want it private and others public I can certainly do both.

I'm cool with a Public thread for my solo. :)

A public solo is fine for me.

Too, once the solos are over, you can always close and move them to the same group.

Or not. Whatever works best for folks.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Tue 09 Nov 2010.

Once I get a chance to take a good look at the map to figure out the path of each character I will be able to get those threads going.

I'm happy to do a short solo if right for the story and have it open for others to read.  That sort of thing helps you get a handle on the character your playing.

In reply to Califax (msg #28):

Well there is no "right" or "wrong" for the story regarding doing a solo thread or not. More personal preference, but yes it does give you a chance to flex your roleplaying muscle to get into character beforehand.

Hmmm, looks like I used the wrong word/phrase and things may have gotten confused.  Perhaps 'aproprate for the story' would have been a better phrase. *Smiles.*

I'm all for public threads and a solo story to kick things off. I think it's a nice way to get some feel for the character too.

Well then, if everyone who is interested in doing a solo thread can PM me with where they will be heading to Dracarta from I will be able to put something together for each. There are even a couple characters I could see if not starting together then meeting partway to Dracarta by virtue of background, travel, and/or career...

Howdy all!  Your friendly neighborhood Aamanian reporting for duty!

....and then there were eight. We are now officially player loaded, 8 people on board and in various stages of finishing up their characters. I started one solo thread, will be working on more tonite when I get home and have my map in front of me. The timeline initially for each solo thread will be somewhat hand-wavish to get everyone to Dracarta at the same time. Again, if people who want a solo thread can PM me where they would be starting from that would help me (thank you to Sathras, Califax, Murron, and Burikan for messaging me).

Based upon the info I am getting I can see getting a number of characters together meeting in Akmir. Califax and Dii Ahnah could potentially meet as he passes through Danuvia to Akmir, and they could potentially run into Kafa da Nir as he heads to Akmir from Kasmir. From there they could run into Sathras and Murron. Aaban, Shadow Seeking the Light, and Burikan would be a little trickier to tie together, Burikan the most since he is coming from the east whereas the other 2 are heading more southeast. If it is acceptable I will work the solo threads for the 5 listed to unite in the locations listed then arrive in Akmir, so the threads will change/unite as that happens. I can see a way to tie Aaban with Shadow Seeking the Light also. Burikan, you are odd Harakin out....lol. I'll make it work!

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #35):

I'm in. Should have a fully fleshed-out Danuvian by tonight.

Cool by me. :)

Threads are appearing for each person, I have tried to give each an easily distinguished title. Again to remind people the timeline is going to be handwaved so I hope people are OK with that. Getting 8 people together from all over is a trick of timing...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #38):

Good use of "anathema". You get kudos and points.

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #39):

LOL....thank you thank you *bows*...

That being said everyone's threads are all up, be patient but my intention is to tie 8 into 1 as swiftly as I can. Before you know it the adventure will commence...

I think very soon I will have everyone except Burikan tied together (not literally....lol) on the Desert's Breeze. At that point I will open up a thread for that. Another possibility is to open that thread while finishing the solo threads. I am just looking forward to not having to post to 8 threads each time....lol :-) Once both windships reach Dracarta (at the same time, imagine that!) then I will open a thread for that and close other threads so long as people are done with them.......it is entirely possible that by the end of this week we will start the game proper, so people should make sure they have purchased whatever gear they can and that grimoires are up and ready to go. If anyone has any questions or is having any problems finishing up please feel free to message me.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:47, Sun 14 Nov 2010.

I must say I am enjoying watching people falling into character and appreciate the effort everyone is putting in. :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #42):

"Greetings to you, pay no mind to Dii, she is somewhat preoccupied tonite. What brings you to our city and what can I DO for you?" You notice she puts some extra emphasis on the word "do" and that she looks you up and down with a secret smile before it fades back to a polite and pleasant smile."

Yup. For Mature audiences only. The only diapers here are adult diapers, to be sure.

:-P  Mature audiences doesn't always mean nudity and sex, graphic violence counts too.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #44):

Just sayin'. This party's pickin' up!

OK I just opened up a new thread for the trip from Akmir to Dracarta. This is for everyone but Burikan to meet, introduce themselves, and become familiar. I will still be finishing up some threads (including yours, Burikan, I will keep you active so that you don't have to sit and wait) for those who have not yet reached Akmir (Aaban, Kafa da Nir, Califax, and Dii Ahna) to get them there. So some folks only need to follow one thread now, others two.

At last... Aaban and Sathras meet!

And thus we recreate the cover of the original 1st edition red book Talislanta book.
http://www.peedeepages.com/tal...slantan_handbook.jpg


Well... not quite. We're not battling atop the Wall of Champions and Sathras isn't wearing some fancy plate armor.

But still! Aamanian and Sauran. Together!

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #47):

We are the world! We are the children!

So, this morning in the car as we're running around, getting breakfast and the like, my husband is behaving quite silly.  Singing, laughing, and being in generally (very) high spirits.  I however am testing my self control and holding my face as relaxed and neutral as I can.
He looked at me after I made a comment on his silly nature and said "Awww, why aren't you laughing?"
"I'm trying to get into character for my Ariane," I reply calmly.
He looks at me quite seriously, and without missing a beat he replies "You've got the colors backwards."


Ahhh, I just love my husband. <3


EDIT:
I should point out that I have dark hair and pretty fair skin, so.. indeed, I do have the colors backwards... And after that comment, I did start laughing.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:12, Fri 19 Nov 2010.

That looks like scale armor on both of them.  Not to mention, Aaban doesn't own a flaming broadsword either.

On a tangent, I was always under the impression that the Aamanians tend to lose the wall of Champions battle.  I imagine they always tend to pick an Aamanian to fight, out of pride for Orthodoxy and their state, while the Zandir comb the entire continent for the best fighters.

In reply to Aaban (msg #50):

We can work on getting you a flaming broadsword. And on getting Sathras some big honking scale armor.

I tend to have the Championship go back and forth depending on what the circumstances are in the current game I'm running, but honestly I don't think it's been a relevant issue (in my games) in a very very long time.

Wheeeee! Our first "combat" is beginning! Burikan and T'Vala sparring match on board the Sirocco...

The GM gets his 1st taste of running combat... :-)

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #51):

I'd have to learn to use it first!  I was a bit surprised when filling out my character that the Warrior Priest archetype doesn't have one of those "weapon (choice)" skills.

The championship never really comes into play in my games, just kind of idly pondering.  It's generally just background.

http://home.intranet.org/~airyn/b5/audio/burden.wav

"Yes, yes. Sathras used to being beast of burden to other people's needs. Very sad life. Probably have very sad death, but at least there is symmetry."

Something I wanted to ask folks about as it is likely to come up. In the interest of continuity if there is a thread ongoing with some dialogue or action that is flowing and someone is absent or just quiet are people OK with me posting for them as best as I can within what I have learned of their character? I ask because I don't want a group of people waiting to move forward on one or two people and I do acknowledge that stuff comes up. This is one of the reasons I am glad for the solo and combination threads as I am getting a handle on how each character acts.

Sounds good to me. :)

I am usually pretty good about keeping up but I have days where the computer is just not on the map, feel free to use Burikan whenever you need to.

In reply to Burikan (msg #57):

Same here. If I don't post in a timely manner, feel free.

I'm okay with it, depending on what we think of as timely.

Pacing in pbp games is always tricky.  But yeah, if I couldn't post for a week for some reason, I'd rather you made your best guess and posted for me than let the game get held up.

Happy Turkey Day for the Americans among us! :D

Back at you, and to the rest of you as well.

It isn't a happy one for the turkeys! *smile*

But I hope all who celebrate T-Day are having a good one...

Everyone is officially posting now on Desert's Breeze, happiness is! Those still in solo/combo threads can still finish them off but I will be getting the windship underway to Dracarta soon.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #63):

Woot! Can't wait!


And posting for me when I'm not around is cool too.

I'm fine with fill in posts as well if needed

I again wanted to say I am really enjoying watching everyone's character getting fleshed out. I really appreciate the effort everyone is putting into their character's personality. Now that everyone but Burikan is gathered we are not far from getting the campaign proper started, Dracarta is just around the corner. Thank you all for making my 1st experience GMing in quite some time enjoyable and I hope to return the favor to you all. :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #66):

Agreed, indeed. We got a pretty good thing goin' here.

People have probably noticed I have had a light hand in the main thread. It is not for lack of interest, I just want to give people free reign to get to know each other. I don't want to break up the rping just so I can see myself type.

That being said, it wouldn't take much at all to move the game to the next stage, Dracarta with the explanation of what is going on and the uniting of all the players. There are still a few folks who need to finish up their grimoires and possibly finish equipping themselves. I don't want to move things TOO quickly for people or make anyone feel pressured. I also know around the holidays posting tends to slow down and I am perfectly fine with waiting until after Xmas to move the game to the next stage, allowing people to keep rping in the active threads. Sooooo....on that thought:

Do people want to just focus on the meet & greet and character building for now and get the main game started after the holidays or do people want me to get the main game started, allowing people to keep with the other threads as well?

I'm ready to move the game forward, but I am certainly happy to continue here if that's the consensus. :)

Again both would be good.  But the holiday thing may loom a bit.  I would be fine spending some time RPing the journey and the interactions on the ship.  But on the other hand I'm keen to find out what lays before us.

Sathras thi...*ahem*

I think that we can likely go ahead and move things along. I'm not sure of the travel time from Akmir to Dracarta, and if you've got anything planned for on the way, but maybe there's something we can do as filler on the way?

I am all for moving along...Burikan is getting lonely:)

Maybe have those with spell-slots still open save the open slots for any spells they find on the way?
Similarly, those not equipped could go shopping in Dracarta? or some such?

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #73):

Shopping in Dracarta is easy enough, they have a huge selection of items from trade with various nations. As far as the spells I would prefer if possible for them to be complete, one doesn't need slots open to add new spells. :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #74):

I'm good with warping to Dracarta.

OK I am closing Burikan's thread, the other thread will remain open for now for continued character interaction. Everyone should also be looking at the new thread in Dracarta for new posting. I understand that with the holidays and some personal struggles things have been and probably will remain pretty slow for probably until after the holidays so I don't want anyone to feel pressured to post. For sake of all of this I will probably wait until after Christmas to really get things going, that way people can focus on family and friends then get back fully into the game after that. I want to wish everyone a happy holiday, for whichever one people celebrate.

Oh yes, in addition to the 1xp for the approximate amount of time for everyone to get the Dracarta (towards training of a skill), everyone can take an additional 3xp as a roleplaying reward for getting into character and interacting with each other as well as other people. (Aaban and Kafa da Nir, I need to know what you will be applying the 1xp per week training towards)
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:06, Sun 12 Dec 2010.

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas or whichever holiday each person follows! I will get back to moving the game along at the beginning of next week. Health and happiness to everyone!

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #77):

Indeed (again). Have a happy Yule, y'all.

Happy Holidays all! :D

To all I wish the best of the season.

Welcome back everyone hope the holidays treated you well.

Happy Holidays!

and also, letting you all know that today is a SPECIAL DAY!!

it's SATHRAS' BIRTHDAY!

Shh!  Don't tell Sathras it's his birthday!  It will be a surprise!

*laugh*
Awesome.

My apologies for the slowness on posting, I will be getting something up today or tomorrow. I did just want to find out what people are doing before I move on. From what I have read Shadow, Burikan, Sathras, Murran, and Aaban are settling into their rooms to eat/sleep/whatever. Since I have not seen anything I am assuming Kafa is doing the same. Dii and Califax are going to pop out into the city after refreshing themselves. Do I have things correct?

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #85):

sure thing, boss!

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #86):

Aye, Cap'n.

Sounds about right

Sounds good to me!

Sure, that works.  My character might wander around some, but she'd also be happy to wash up and rest.

Sounds correct to me as well.

Hmmmm, will need to learn a ward vs pick pockets

Woot! We've crossed over 500!

Things seem to be going well

Just waiting for Califax and Di Ahnah to post their actions then I will tie them all together. Trying it out how writermonk does it, we'll see how it goes. Writermonk maybe you have suggestions for me on how you do it?

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #95):

For combat, I generally give 24 hours and then go with what the character was last up to and narrate NPC actions.
Or split us off into two separate threads.
Or uhm get the others involved somehow.

But combat rounds always run at a max of about 24 hours (or until the majority of the PCs have posted if you've got a lot of them).

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #96):

LOL.....no no I meant do you have the players state their actions and roll as needed then you combine the results with the actions of the NPCs or monsters?

This is going to be pretty quick I think, I just wanted to spice things up a touch. :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #97):

I have players state actions. Some of them like to roll, others rather that I do it so that they can focus on character stuff.
Then I do all of the NPC rolls/actions in one big post along with what the PC actions have accomplished.

I believe Dii like myself is waiting to see what whether the guy is going to run or stay and try and fight or give in.

In reply to Califax (msg #99):

Dii used her tactics skill, determined he is planning to fight, and attacked. Once I have your action (or if you decide to wait) I will post what happened.

I have a bow pointed at him and ready to react to what he does after I threatened to shoot him if he doesn't surrender.  If he goes for me I shoot him, if he tries to run, I shoot him.

Holy crap, Califax. That Rajani poison is murder. Get behind Dii Ahnah and do some healing. Stagger back to the inn! Call for help!

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #102):

Fortunately poison is only good for 1 strike, but as this is effectively the 2nd round and people are calling for the watch you all may hear something at the inn which isn't too far away. :-)

Would we be able to see something from our windows, hopefully?  :)

In reply to Murron (msg #104):

Dii just made a trio of nice rolls, depending on the rolls for the assassin this could all be over. :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #105):

Indeed she did. Rather proud of her, for the moment.

...And my comp is moving along better now. Hope it keeps up. Sorry to everybody for lagging at integral moments.

Ouchie, I really hurt after that one.  And given what he is doing running for cover and leaving Dii would just be a death sentance.

In reply to Califax (msg #107):

I have to say this: Dii Ahnah + good tactics roll vs. opponent of equivalent or lower stature can rock some serious combat results.

I will have this round's results posted this evening so we can move things along.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:48, Thu 20 Jan 2011.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #108):

I have no problem going on record for saying that Tactics is one of the most valuable skills to the warrior class characters, when it succeeds.

Very true, I agree totally with that, and everyone can benefit from someone with it too.

Damn! Two lousy rolls for the assassin when it counted! I really wanted that spell to go off, not that it would have killed Dii or anything but the effect would have been nasty! Ah well, another time. Well played Dii and Califax (2 good rolls for you too, unfortunately with a STR of -1 your kick did not get through his armor)!

I am thinking as much fun as it would be to RP the attempt to sell the not so great map we should do some dice rolling for it and get things moving so the others don't feel left out. :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #111):

Sounds gutten. I didn't roll Brawling because it sounds like there's no resistance from said assassin. Does Dii have anything skillwise that can help Califax either heal or keep from more poison damage? Er, Survival? Might have to pick up a box of band-aids for the road after this. What kind of rolls do we need to make for gibberish map selling?

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #112):

Don't worry, it seems for the most part poisons in Talislanta are one shot of damage and done (at least the ones for weapons). No you didn't have to roll brawling because he is incapacitated (writermonk, I read that to mean he can't do anything that requires serious effort or concentration, yes?) so he is incapable of doing much. To see if you can sell the map I would say Califax can roll vs. Deception at a -5 to his roll (so he would be d20+1) as most people who are buying maps have some idea what they are looking for.

Oh, and for everyone else I apologize for the delays. Gonna get things rolling again, I promise. :-)
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:42, Fri 21 Jan 2011.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #113):

Sweet! "Ya hear that Cal? When your feeling better, you get to do all the work."

J/K

*Chuckles.* Yep, well was intending to use a little magic to back things up, like up my CHA and mkae it harder for people to see through my misdirections.

Ah the Rajan......how a humanoid race can be filled with so much vileness is an interesting philosophical question. Still, they make a great almost universal enemy...

Yep.  If this keeps happening Califax might start getting vindictive.

I understand that people came into this game with the realization that there may be graphic violence and suchlike but I just want to make sure I didn't offend anyone particularly by that last scene. The killing of a child can be particularly upsetting, even in a rpg. So I hope that I didn't push anyone's buttons. I know it isn't particularly useful to close the barn door after the horses have run out...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #118):

It's ok with me. This Tal game is supposed to have a bit of a horror feel to it in any case, yes?

You were no where near as graphic as you could have been, and I apologize for the strange post in the middle there, it didn't update that something had been posted and the last thing I had seen was Califax telling me he'd let me take care of him.

Not a problem at all. As a father of way too many children to keep track of, there are days when all I do is roleplay, killing children...I keed, I keed! But seriously, it was part of the story, nothing too much.

In reply to Burikan (msg #121):

At the time of reading the "progenicidal" post, I was watching Drag me to Hell where within the first 2 minutes of the movie a child is dragged to Hell. I'm ok w/ graphic violence of any nature, and a fan of the creative. Besides, you'd be hard pressed to fathom much more brutal than what we see on say... FOX News.

"Sorry you had to take the brunt of the attack Cal. It seems the Rajan REALLY want my extremely valuable maps!"

It's ok, it'll just teach me to wear my armoured underwear and better wards. :)

In reply to Califax (msg #123):

... And then the person Dii was constraining exploded...

Yes.... nto that is not the sort of thing you see every day

...and Shadow takes post 600! I was putting off because I didn't want to be the one to grab 600. I can't complain, 600 posts in just about 3 months. So far so good!

My apologies to everyone, I should be updating either tonite or tomorrow...

Sorry, I did think that it was still the night of the attack.  I didn't realize it was the next yet.

In reply to Murron (msg #128):

No no, you all arrived in the AM, the fight happened probably late AM or very early afternoon. Everyone is scheduled to meet with the king the same evening.

Updates either tonite or tomorrow...unless there are any objections I am planning on fast forwarding 6 hours to when the group is brought to see the king. Dii Ahnah and Califax we can do the map selling via PM, I will backtrack and use whatever rolls were done for that...

Sounds good to me.

In reply to Califax (msg #131):

Wanna just tell us what to roll since we're time elapsing? I plan on giving Cal 20% at least, of the take. Dependent on variables.

Fast-forwarding sounds cool with me. :)

Hey, if people could do my a favor and put a line in your character profile (biography pt 1 or pt 2) that shows your maximum hit points so I don't have to go digging every time I deal damage in a post. Thanks much...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #134):

Done! Even put the PR from his thick hide in there too.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #135):

Ahhhh.....a good idea. People should also throw in a line with the PR of any armor they are wearing. (Sathras I edited yours to take into account the studded leather he wears, PR 3 instead of PR 1)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:14, Sun 13 Feb 2011.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #136):

Doh! Thanks for that. I actually forgot about it.

Done... I have no armor or anything like that so just my HP is there.

All done here too

In reply to Califax (msg #139):

Dunzorz.

Done here also.

Also, btw, was going to post back to Califax in his conversation with Aaban, but wasn't able to post the past couple days, and putting it in now would seem to big a leap in the time line.

In reply to Aaban (msg #141):

You can still do it if you like, just note that it is a back post. It won't kill anything to do that. Alternatively you 2 can finish your discussion via PM (and can include me if you want). I don't want you to feel like you have to pass on something that would be important in character.

I'm happy to carry on the conversation in PM, it would be a little easier to keep track of in that case.

Ok, wait... I'm confused...

Is T'Vala the King?  That's what the post where we're introduced to the King makes it sound like.

Maybe I'm just reading it wrong.

In reply to Shadow Seeking the Light (msg #144):

A'Semna is the king. I had T'Vala introduce himself and his request to the king then made another post under A'Semna acknowledging the group and T'Vala.

Maybe I need to read it when I'm not exhausted from taking care of a sick baby.

Updates tonite, since 5 of 8 have replied "Yea" to having T'Vala along I will go with a majority vote and move to the meat of the matter. My apologies for the delays...

So I have 6 votes accepting the king's reward offer, still waiting on Kafa and Dii Ahnah. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow I will move forward. Also we have a person who sent me a RTJ who is running one of the other Talislanta games on rpol. I kinda wanted to go with 8 but I suppose one more won't make that much difference (especially after I dumped an NPC on board through my own plot twist....it really wasn't deliberate, it just seemed to fit). I feel bad I have only been posting once a week, I am going to try and get my ass in gear and move it along a bit more...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #148):

Crap! Sorry, I was still running off that "When do we leave?" post. My detail has slipped a bit but I'm trying to get back to the core of what makes Dii Dii my darling...

As for the RTJ, ADD HIM! If you haven't noticed he's got a knack with eloquence and detail himself. He was excited when I told him that one of his players was running a game. I tried to get him in back when we were just gettin' started, but at the time he wasn't sure how involved with RPOL he was going to be. I'm glad he both decided to run his current campaign and RTJed for this one. My vote is that you'd be blessed to have him play in your game. Just sayin'...

Heya folks

As you all know, we've got loot coming to us! And we haven't even been blown up yee....er. Well, ok, most of us haven't been blown up yet!


Quoth the king.

So...

• Number one, any spoils you find on any of the dead and among the ruins of Anasa are yours.
• Number two, each member of your group will be paid the value of 1500 gold lumens in Dracartan pyramids; 500 now and 1000 more upon successful return.
• Number three, each member of the group will be given a healing elixir, poison antidote, and a moisture-tight flask containing powdered water that when reconstituted is equivalent to 4 gallons of pure water.
• Number four, the last but not the least, each member of the group will be able to work with our thaumaturgists to either have one of their possessions transformed or to craft a singularly unique item of use.

#1. Not Bad. We might not find anything. We have yet to find anything. So, let's skip over this one.
#2. Woot! 500 lumens! First off, Sathras has got about all he 'needs' right now. So, does our Kasmiran want to play 'moneylender' and draw up some contracts, find us a bank, and put in whatever we don't spend somewhere safe here in Carantheum? I mean, I don't really see a need for us to be carrying around that much coin in the desert.
#3. Woot! Loot! Question, do we need to reconstitue the powdered water with... water? Just scoop a handful into our parched mouths? Can we get some instruction from our friendly Dracartan NPC?
#4. OK, here's where things get really really interesting. Should we work together to cover a variety of bases here?
I'll confess I'm not entirely sure of the extent of what we can and cannot ask for. Given that Sathras is somewhat resistant to fire and doesn't do well in cold, I'm guessing that he's going to have one of his red-iron items mingled or coated in elemental fire essence.

Someone might want something that carries fresh water (more water can't hurt) or wind (either to use as cover ala sand storm, defense to hide us, or offense to direct against foes).

Ideas? Thoughts?

Well Califax already has a very  very fine magic coat.... so I was thinking maybe something done with his fine hat.....


On a more serious note, I don't see why we shouldn't talk things over and come up with some co-ordinated gear to help us all through this.  However my own thoughts on this are rather shaky... in fact I have no idea what I really want or what would be helpful

To reconstitute the powdered water you measure an amount into a container of the right size to hold the full amount of water, then add one drop of any type of liquid. Figure that one quarter of the powder creates 1 gallon of water so make sure you have a container big enough to hold it.

As far as the thaumaturgic item creation/enhancement it is important to remember that thaumaturgy is not the same as magic. It can alter the states of matter, turn one thing into another (such as red sand and black iron becoming red iron), and things of that nature. The enhancement/creation will also take some time so that was actually intended to happen AFTER everything is done, that way you also have lots of time to figure out what each of you want. I should have added the "after your group returns from Anasa" but for some reason I thought that was implied. My bad if it wasn't and I am not unwilling to be flexible around this particular thing.

Just an example of what thaumaturgy can do; you could take fire and transform it into a solid form (such as a blade). As long as it has oxygen it would strike as a solid but also add fire damage. (Sathras correct me if I am off base about what thaumaturgy is capable of, they never really give any parameters but hint at things...)

Probably the easiest stuff to get immediately thaumatugical wise would be the stuff they use in their arrow and ballista heads - elemental fire, water, and air. I think elemental earth as a poison is covered somewhere to.


I would imagine that they could make stuff lighter or heavier - maybe not quite adamant level, but definately make a sword or shield or set of armor lighter - mixing it with solidified air and/or partially solid water at the joints.

You could likely make a case for increasing the DR or PR of any equipment by adding in elemental fire/water/wind/earth by a point or two. The big thing to remember, however, is that elementally amplified stuff created with Thaumaturgy does NOT count against the 7 magical item limit as they're intended to be natural items, just... better. More pure.



Imagine a cloak made of threads of solidified wind woven and mingeled with silk from the east. Really supple and soft. Gossamer light, and perhaps when you pull the hood up it provides a bonus to breathing clear air in the case of sand/dust storms. It wouldn't protect you underwater or with a lack of air, but tiny threads of air might waft off it occasionally.

A thick ruby-like stone made of elemental fire and rock. No need for flint and tinder! Cold at night? Stick in your bed roll or hold it gently in your hands. Blow on it to make it burn brighter/hotter for a moment just like a starting flame.

And so on and so forth.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #153):

...and Sathras takes the 700th post! Yay!

Yeah I do recall that thaumaturgic items don't count against the 7 item limit. There definitely is a lot that can be done altering, melding, and transforming the properties of things....should be interesting to see what comes out of that.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #154):

Dammit! My Mirin K'Leiahl would love this, as she's wandering the continent looking for a way to "air condition" her armor...

So, "not quite as hard as adamant", you say...

Well... that's the way I'd run it as a GM. I'm not the GM for this game.

Still, armor infused with elemental earth would be fairly sturdy. Since adamant is essentially diamond + (demonic) soul + metal, you'd have to figure that (purified elemental) earth + metal would be close. The Dracartans, living in a desert, however, tend to go for lighter metal (red sand + black iron) since it's what they've got.

In my head at least. Or course, I'm usually out of my head, so...

My Mirin in the other game has a ring that protects against heat and keeps him cool, it's been very handy

Mir! <3<3<3

Yeah, there are a *lot* of interpretations of Tal, what with it being a big place, and really, not a lot of local writeups.  Over the years, it's clear people even have different views on basics like how many people live in various places.  Like the population of the Quan/Kang empire.  10,000?  100,000? a million, ten million, or a hundred?

Anyway, I digress.  Every GM handles Tal differently, so you should feel free to let your imagination lead you, I'd say.  When I play in someone's Tal game, I try not to bring too many of my own assumptions in.

For instance, I just discovered Sathras and I handle red iron differently!  In my games, the red sand of Carantheum is red because it contains red iron ore, a different metal from black iron (in my Tal...).  It sounds like you use the red sand as a component mixed with black iron.  It's interesting, because that creates entirely different world dynamics -- the difference between Dracartans needing a source of black iron, or not.  Neither right or wrong, but different.

In reply to Aaban (msg #159):

D'oh! I never even really thought about transforming the red iron from the red sand only. That's the tricky thing about Thaumaturgy, it is probably the least fleshed out of all forms of "magic". Technically it could be absolutely vicious in battle but for 2 things (at least). One is the inherent hazards of combat mixed with the manipulation of quintessence by the fragile caduceus. Two the self-imposed prohibitions on how to use Thaumaturgy by the Dracartans through Jamba.

Yeah, I keep the mineral production moving across Tal. Lots of merchants moving stuff from place to place.

Red iron solely from the flakes of red iron in the Red Desert is cool and makes sense, but it then seems to be an ever diminishing supply. So, I just have them smelting it to add to black iron. Blue iron being somewhat similar, but rarer as it comes only from shrike feathers (or from some little old place called Deadwood).

Just different ways of doing things.  IMT (In My Tal... :)), Archaens in general, and especially in the new age, are actually pretty primitive in their metallurgy skills, and alloying is largely just not done.  Red Iron and Black Iron (and Blue Iron, for that matter) I've been treating as mainly different metals.

I don't actually follow all the canon information on metals, either, I must confess.  SMS has confirmed that the Saurans of the Volcanic Hills only produce "low grade" red iron metal and implements forged from their red iron, but I have them producing red iron with its full potential.  Mostly, to be honest, for ease of bookkeeping.  But it's also interesting to me, because it opens up more possibility for trade with the Saurans.  Because IMT, if you want red iron, there's really two places to get it -- the Red Desert and the Volcanic Hills, which means dealing either with the Dracartans or the Saurans.  This is one of the reasons the Kang continually war with the Saurans (besides both sides are always just up for a fight just for its own sake!).

In reply to Aaban (msg #162):

Yeah, I always kind of went with Sauran red iron's low quality as being a higher quantity of black iron and less advanced metallurgical (or in this case lack of Thaumaturgical) skills.

We should be having a new player joining us very soon (he is just finishing up), I am just thinking up how to have him join the group. I have a few ideas (at least one somewhat outrageous one) but for now everyone can extend a warm Talislanta welcome to Novoptolomeo (I must admit that name is a PITA to type over and over...lol...you may end up being Novo a lot of the time)!

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #164):

Or "Nova"! Have him enter the game wandering in the desert on a donkey (or equivalent) passed out drunk, riding backward in the saddle...
This message was last edited by the player at 07:09, Thu 10 Mar 2011.

Welcome Nova!

Indeed! A very warm welcome to Novoptolomeo!  Can't wait to see you.

Yes...Novo is just fine!

I know it's a bitch to write. I have a hard time myself. Hence...CTRL+C and CTRL+V. =-)

Just finishing up some spells too (always the damnable part of playing magicians...).

Thanks everyone!

There you all go, Novo has been added into the game, thread, and location! *evil grin*

I think the outrageous idea was the right one to use for introducing Novo to the adventure, much better than the old chestnut of meeting your new companion at the local tavern, blah blah blah.....lol

Agreed!

I like it!

Question to the group: Since Kafa da Nir's player has apparently left rpol.net for personal reasons do you want me to run his character as a NPC with the group or just fade him to the background leaving him behind?

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #173):

Doesn't matter to me. At the moment, there's not a big deal of attachment to the little Kasmiran on Sathras's part.

Either way, whatever works best with you.

Clearly, I don't have a stake in this argument, though I am sad to see a player leave. The player had a character in my earlier Tal game.

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #176):

I'd actually like having the character around still.

Welcome Novo!

As far as Kafa goes, whatever you choose is fine by me.  Aaban had the longest association with him, but we never even finished the thread we were in together.  I got the impression the player was time limited.

Me personally, when I GM I generally try to write the character out of the story, because playing someone else's character to me is like finishing the story they started, or completing their painting.  Maybe I'm strange that way, but to each their own!  :)

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #177):

I just thought of door #3 instead of him being run by me actively or fading into the background. Some willing vict....errr person taking on the multiple personality of playing 2 disparate characters. So there is option number 3, and so people know he does have healing magic (bet he'd be a bit mercenary with it....lol)...

Er...I think in my most recent post I communicated orally in a written language. GM's ruling on the nature of Archaen, I guess. I just read the description of Archaen. The opening words, "The written language employed by...."

Also...just wanted to let everyone know two things:

1) Thank you for graciously accepting me into the game!

and

2) My posting rate during the week can be very high. However, when I'm not at work, I'm almost never on a computer. So weekends are kind of a dead zone for me. But I WILL post often during the week, guaranteed.

Thanks again!

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #180):

Oops.....yes I see it is a written language only. In another person's game Archaen is spoken as well. Let's split it down the middle; Archaen can be spoken but it really is only useful for discussing magical theory, spellcasting, and things of that nature. So you can't really use it for "social" conversation among anyone other than mages.

If you want you can retcon your post into High Talislan instead.

FWIW, I use Archaen as a kind of Talislantan 'Latin'.  It was spoken once, but presently only used by scholars/magicians.  In the modern day, plenty of people know Latin, but it's really just not spoken.  I wouldn't say Archaen was out of place in a brief greeting from one scholar to another.

But then, I let characters speak Archaen in my games.  Heck, I have an entire race that has it as their primary language!  But then, lots of other GMs do, too!

Since Kafa is no longer with us, what if we use him as a contact in Carantheum? Or whatever forward base the Dracartans have set up for watching the Ruins of Anasa?


Like, he could stay at whatever settlement. He watches over our bank of loot (I mean, he'll be sitting on a few thousand Dracartan pyramids). If folks want more time to think about the thaumaturgic item we're getting, then it could be in the process of being crafted and delivered to Kafa for us to pick up between reconnaissance and early skirmishes. If we need something identified, we drop it off with him and pick it up later. Etc etc.

The problem, of course, would be communication. I half-imagine that there will be scenes where we're cut off from rescue or retreat by the horrible undead.



Just an idea this a.m.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #184):

Having Kafa as a more administrative NPC sounds fine. He's basically part accountant anyway, right?

That's exactly how I viewed it also. Having taking Latin, I know the greetings and ordinary speech are there. Or else the Vatican would have very little in the way of small talk in the real world!

In reality--or in the opinion of my mildly-linguistically-educated reality--a written language would never develop organically like oral languages. Based on that Archaean would have to have been a created written language, designed specifically for communicating magical concepts, like a much-more intricate form of Morse code.

But I will acquiesce to my GM's wishes... =-)

Well, like I said we can split it down the middle. It is used as a verbal language but generally only between scholars and magicians to discuss magic theory. There is some ability to use it colloquially, but the majority of it isn't useful to your average person.

That's cool. Whatever works.

I saw green skin and forgot myself. Don't ALL Cymrilians know Archaean? What kind of world is this...

Of course I knw Archaen..... but I'm not about to speak it in polite company

Self-righteous bastard!







=-)

Yeah... You'd almost think he was a Cymi..ril...uhhh, nevermind. I'll head back to the dining table.

Yep, and I have the pointeee ears to prove it

So you each have 10 XP on your character sheets, please inform me of any expenditures you plan on making prior to heading out. I would like anyone who is interested in raising anything to do so now, not in the middle of this next part. *smile*

Not that it ultimately matters but I find it ironic that the one caster who has Attack mode spells is the one you would think would be least likely to (even though there is very good reason for the person having it)... :-)

Just happened to be scanning over Midnight Realms.....based on what is written there (as I believe it is considered canon), Archaen is a written AND spoken language (the Tarterans use it extensively). Therefore it is useable as both albeit a bit stilted and stuffy, even moreso than High Talislan. It still doesn't tend to be used much conversationally overall, but it can be.

Just putting a bug in everyone's ear about XP use, please make sure you make any expenditures ASAP and let me know what they are. Novo and Dii already did some XP spending but I have not heard back from anyone else....I know people are going to want to do some increasing of skill(s). :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #196):

I think that Sathras is going to sit on his for now. Or rather, he's pooling it so that he can get Guard once he's trained up in it a bit.

Hehe...you said you're sitting on them... ;-)

Think I migth work a bit on my magics... but still thinking.

In reply to Califax (msg #199):

Out Of Curiosity, did one of our party members write Midnight Realms? Good book either way.

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #200):

I did some minor work on Midnight Realms. Very very very very very very minor. So minor as to be miniscule.
To be specific, I came up with the name for the Sepharans. I also did some work on the Princedoms (some of which was cut due to space, some of which was already going to be there, some smaller bits which were used). I can show you an early work up on some stuff that got cut given time to search it out again.
And I helped do a playtest with the original draft. Shadow-seeking-the-light was in my playtest group.
The book is very very good, but I can't take credit for any of the good bits. :D

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #201):

Still, you helped develop and shape one of my all time favorite RPGs. I would've never guessed back when I was introduced to it in '91-ish that I'd be talking with the writers and the creator of it. I can't communicate how happy I am at the resurgence of the popularity of this game. And since Novo introduced me to RPOL, my life has been more complete. Thanks gang.

I did write The Northern Reaches. And, if you're following along on Talislanta.com, I did some of the other Lost Books as well.

We're slowly slowly getting all of those into a nice pdf format, I promise.


Incidently, if anyone needs copies of The Northern Reaches, The Midnight Realms, The (revised) Chronicles of Talislanta, or Weight of Water (a dual-statted adventure), let me know in a rMail and I'll arrange something.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #203):

The one I'm really waiting for is the little novelette. The name escapes me. "Tales"?

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #204):

The little book of short stories? It is a good one. I'm certain that it's been out of print for years and years, but it might be possible to find a copy via a used or second hand book store.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #205):

I've been looking. What kills me is that I had it. Let a friend borrow it and they moved. They probly didn't even read it...

Please? Tell us you want LOTS of books.  I want the pallet of gaming books GONE from my shed!  *laughing*

I was thinking that before the party leaves Dracarta they could each speak with a thaumaturge about what item they would wish to have. The thaumaturges can begin working on the items while you all travel and possibly could find some way to get them to you once they are done. I am sure people have a lot of ideas about what they would like. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves here or to PM me if you have any questions. :-)

Hmmm, given Califax's sea faring background maybe a vest that keeps the wearer afloat would be most useful.

In reply to Califax (msg #209):

What "essences" do we have to choose from?

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #210):

The opportunities are pretty wide open. You have of course the 4 primary elements; earth, air, fire, and water. Combination states are also useable; ice, electricity, steam, etc. Weapons can be lightened, have their edges enhanced (increase to DR, some armor piercing), be combined with elements and elemental states. Really if people have an idea they can run it by me, I am willing to entertain various concepts within reason (ie. no uber-items, you are all basically low-level characters).

I'm a bit torn. Likely I'll go with something to enhance Sathras's studded leather armor to give him a PR boost. He's already got a fair bit of damage he can dish out due to his STR, so while a scalding hot war axe or a heavy metal sauran war-whip would be nice they already do scads of damage. Even without his armor, Sathras's scaly hide gives him PR 1 and heat doesn't bother him as much.

So uh... his land dragon hide and red iron riveted studded leather is likely what he's going to offer up to have "altered." Maybe combined with earth to make it sturdier? He can do without it for a bit (that natural scaly hide) and extra PR won't hurt later on.
Of course, in character, Sathras would have no idea how any of this works. The idea of hammering some fire into a weapon would likely intrigue him, but unless he could watch how it was done (unlikely) to figure how to repeat it(even more unlikely), he'd just shrug and assume that it was some secret of smart folk.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #212):

That is certainly an acceptable enhancement, you'd be able to get an extra 2 PR from that (giving the armor a total of PR 5) in addition to the lighter weight.

In reply to Califax (msg #209):

How about a set of red iron spangalor imbued with elemental air so it floats on water?

That sounds a good idea.

This whole business confuses and intrigues me. And it's probably because I'm jumping in late in the game.

What's going on with the Whos-its and the Whatchama-Essences now?

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #216):

Part of the reward for helping Dracarta is a thaumaturgically-enhanced item that the players would work out with me. That is why all these discussions have been going on back and forth. So it is something for Novo to think about as well. I have decided that the items can be worked on while the group is on its way to investigate Anasa and maybe the items can be gotten to the group down the line.

Aaban really doesn't know what he'd like for an item.  Underneath it all, he's a pretty simple guy.  A mace that spurts flames when it's swung or something would be cool, but I don't think that's what he'd go for.  I'd still need to think on it.

Novo needs a lightning charged staff or wand. Doesn't shoot lightning, but it carries a bit of a charge to it. Maybe it could ignite paper/cloth/wood it was touched to. And it hums faintly with electricity.

Aaban should have uhm... maybe they could take the illuminating properites of fire and mingle those into a shield. Slap a simple cloth covering over it so that when it's pulled back to reveal the Eye of Aa, the eye actually glows with the light of a torch or even a bonfire?

Awesome!!

What should I get then? Huh?

I would have thought that maybe Novo could use some grounded underwear so when he gets hit by lightening it doesn't hurt him.  After all if your going to be standing on a hill waving a large bronze rod in the air during a storm it's going to be an occupational hazard

In reply to Califax (msg #221):

Eventually lightning is going to be moot for him anyhow. As an air elementalist once one Mode reaches +10 he becomes immune to ordinary lightning. :-)

Ooohh... coool.... well crackly but... yes...

That's been the thorn in my side in thinking up spells and magic items. My Order advantage is quite tasty...but it will render certain things irrelevant once I attain it.

The lightning thing. Resistant to non-magical winds. Etc.

I'm gonna riff on that a little bit.

How about this?

Two red iron caps, one on either end of the staff I already own. Charged with elemental lightning. With the following effects:

-Lantern-like capability (think Gandalf's staff in the movies.)

-Electromagnetism (possibly of "rare earth" strength if the thaumaturges are particularly nice today...)

-Taser capability (if the thaumaturges are particularly...)

-Or maybe just a little extra oopmh in the DR area =-) (that sounds a little more erotic than I intended...)

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #225):

Sounds interesting but would require some alterations:

1) Because it isn't magic you couldn't shut off the light (think St. Elmo's Fire).
2) Electromagnetism really happens when a current runs through a mass of metal, not just being emitted from one part.
3) Could be used as a quick touch attack for stun type damage, would firm up rules.
4) Easily adds a couple points of DR, with the benefit of not being blocked by metal armor.

It certainly could be used as a spark to ignite a fire or cloth, etc...

I have no problem with those amendments. I wasn't suggesting that the lightning emitted from the caps be magnetic, but rather that the caps themselves would be rendered magnetic, as the recipients of the electrical influence.

And I have no problem with it not being able to be shut off. Are you kidding?! To be able to watch lightning ALL THE TIME, on a micro level! Plus the whooshing sound it makes...and the light trails it leaves when I spin it through the air!

I'm gonna be whirling that thing around ALL THE TIME. Can I change my weekly training to Baton Twirling?

Book Eight of the Lost Books of Talislanta - The Volcanic Hills - is complete. Should be up on Tal.com sometime soon (maybe a week or so?). There's an entire chapter on the Saurans. Woot!


Tidbits from the Lost Book:
Obsidian weapons! Obsidian daggers and spears used by the Saurans.

Also, this was a bit pertinent to our game:

This message was last edited by the player at 22:09, Fri 25 Mar 2011.

Yeah, I saw that one, no argument that it's always been in there.

My problem with this has been it makes 'real' red iron a product of Carantheum only, a thaumaturgic product.  So if you aren't a nation of thaumaturges, red iron ore has no real value.

That's why I deviate from the canon IMT.  It's just me!

What I am going to do is handwave that each person spoke to a thaumaturge to discuss the enhanced item they desire so they can be worked on while the party is off on the mission. Each of you can discuss what you are interested in with me, either here or in PM, whichever you prefer.

I like Sathras' idea for Aaban, my only thought is that Aaban might be reluctant to use 'infidel' magic/skills to mock up the power of Aa.  I'm thinking he might go for something less flashy.

In reply to Aaban (msg #231):

Whatever the item is you could always have it consecrated at a temple of Aa. Another possibility is a mace whose head is solidified fire in the shape of the Eye of Aa.....just a thought thrown out there.

I think for Sathras in addition to strengthening and lightening his armor it can have some enhancement to keep it warm (halving his penalty for sluggishness in cold)...just something that came to me in response to your post...

Either way is fine.

Just so long as you don't write yourself out of being able to use his cold-sluggishness against him later on. ;)

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #234):

LOL.....that's why I was only looking to halve the penalty.....it isn't like his armor encases every bit of him. :-p

Aaban would check on that with the local temple to Aa, in Dracarta, how they felt about consecrating a thaumaturgic item.  He meant to go by there anyway, I just didn't get around to posting that I wanted to do that...

In reply to Aaban (msg #236):

Can we have the item in question imbued with more than 1 essence?

To a point....you couldn't have two different essences on one blade/mace head/etc. A tarak could be imbued with 2 different elements because it has two blades and you have to choose which to strike with (and take a -5 penalty if you want to use both). However it could be possible to have an essence that affects damage/PR and another that alters something else (weight, opacity, etc..)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #238):

Interesting... Might have to further my ponderings...

Dig the April Fool's Post, Dii!

It took me a few sentences in before I realized something was horribly, horribly wrong...

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #240):

Thanks. You are so far the only comment. Did I upset anyone? Didn't mean to.

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #241):

LOL....no, not at all. I didn't know I needed to comment. *smile*

No offense at all...I thought it was funny:)

Land Kra burrowing near the surface in the desert = mini Shai-Hulud! *grin*

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #244):

Burikan and I can take it! We'll pummel it while the rest of you feather it with arrows or blast it with spells.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #245):

LOL....it is hard to blast it with spells and feather it with arrows when it is still underground... :-p

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #246):

Give me two rounds to stomp about and thrash my tail. It'll come up quick enough.

Hmmmm, I think it migth be time to walk without rhythm.

Aaban is Aamanian, likely there are few with less rhythm...

So I have to relate a fun experience I had last night. I played my first chat/Skype based rpg on OpenRPG (Conan set to Barbarians of Lemuria). It was a lot of fun and a great middle ground between PbP and tabletop. We were all able to chit-chat over Skype as well as play the game via text and map on OpenRPG. I know the logistics would be tough to work out schedule-wise but I thought about how cool it would be to play a game of Talislanta with all over you over OpenRPG with Skype. If it could be done it would be a lot of fun not to mention a way to socialize while gaming. Just wanted to relay that thought, now back to your regularly scheduled game already in progress....

That could be pretty cool.  I do think schedules are a definite challenge, especially as the number of people involved rises.

I did once have what I thought was the perfect idea for a game where not all the players could play every session.  One day perhaps I'll even get to use it!

In reply to Aaban (msg #251):

I gots no webcamage...

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #252):

We didn't use webcams, just a mic for voice chat. I think a webcam would be distracting anyhow. :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #253):

I DO have a Brittany Spears style headphone/mic. Keep me in the loop on this possibility.

IRL chatting. Scary.

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #254):

The toughest part is coordinating schedules, especially the more players that are interested...myself I am generally free later in the evening since I am usually up until 1am anyhow (Eastern Time), Saturday and Sunday potentially during the day. Just so's that peeps are aware of my availability in general...lol

I'm over in the UK so that would pile on a whole load more problems in the schedualing

In reply to Califax (msg #256):

Goodness! I'm Pacific. It's possible. Especially on a Weekend.

Sathras and I could do it with enough warning and the ability to tell the kiddies to "hush" and "quit fighting" and the knowledge that you'll have some very interested little girls wanting to know what's going on.

Personally, I have zero interest in this, primarily because of the logistical nightmare it would be to get everyone on the same schedule. But don't let me be the fly in the ointment that screws this all up for everybody. I just don't want to do it, myself.

The scheduling is the real bitch. I've got a full-time job (where I RPOL most of the time), a full-time band, a full-time son who's currently in the throes of a very busy baseball season, and a full-time wife who's thankfully nearing the end of a very hectic chemotherapy schedule.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Wed 06 Apr 2011.

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #259):

I didn't figure everyone would be interested/available. I brought it up more because it is a neat idea and could be fun, but if it never happens I certainly won't end up deeply depressed. And yes, scheduling is indeed a real bitch. That being said, what kind of band are you in?

Well...now that you asked...=-)

Check us out here (but only if you risk knowing who I am in real life!) ----> http://www.VultureKing.com.

We've been compared a lot to Type O Negative, but we're not nearly that "gothic". We've also gotten weird comparisons to Godsmack and Tool in the local press. Those, I don't understand. Our debut EP is about to come out, so don't take the demo recordings on our site as gospel. The rough recordings we've gotten back from the studio are excellent so far!

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #261):

Mourning Star was always compared to Godsmack too. I hated that.

Could be because of the vocalist. Musically, we were nothing like it. Or rather, for the short time I was in that band with you, I got no Godsmack vibes.

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #263):

Agreed, indeed.

Woot! 1000 posts!

Damn it! You snuck in!

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #266):

Actually, Dii got post 1000. I just noticed and came in to cheer about it.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #267):

Once again I would like to thank everyone for their excellent role-playing and participation in my game. I also want to thank everyone for being patient with me those times when it is a few days between my posts. You all help to stimulate my imagination and give me ideas of things to throw at you to keep you entertained (one way or another...lol). Here's to another 1000 posts (at least!)!!

Damn straight. Great game, Bringer!

I'd raise my wine to you if I had...oh wait...I forgot, I'm in California. That stuff flows like water around here. Which is good, because our water is terrible...

Man, I spend the day off rpol, and you guys hit 1000!

Well I do look forwards to the next 1000, so far it's been good fun.

Just waiting to make sure everyone has posted whatever they want before I advance the thread....

Also, who all is going where? Remember, it is about a 1/4 mile to the oasis off the road. It seems we have a little dissension about how to proceed. Don't forget also that obtaining a full or critical success on a spell roll does not accrue spell penalty and when you are not in combat you can take your time to cast a spell. For those who wish to do so that it...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #273):

Sathras is waiting on the road with the mounts. He's a close-up fighter and slow to boot.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #273):

Yes, that's along the line of what I was thinking.  I was going to have Aaban take a long, slow look, but apparently others would rather risk life and limb than hear him start with the praising Aa again!  :-)

If it's clear, I'll follow and approach, for now however Dii is doing her thing.

In reply to Shadow Seeking the Light (msg #276):

Well crap! Is that in the book that spell penalty is not accrued on success/critical success? Is there also no penalty if a caster takes their time? The whole purpose of Dii moving ahead is because I thought you accrued spell penalty throughout the day, no matter what. If that's not true, Dii is going to be less of a stalwart martyr to be.

I was pretty sure that the oasis was fairly far off. Keep in mind that running a quarter mile still takes time, and folks can still cast whatever they want in that time. Just sayin'.

My apologies if it seems like I made a decision for the whole group. I'm really just playing a character that feels she has alot to prove, being in the shadow of her more capable kin.

Ah, I didn't realize that it was so far away.  Murron will dismount and follow Dii about 50-feet behind her with his bow ready and an arrow notched.  He's trailing behind her enough to be out of her way and close enough to aid her with missile fire in case the proverbial you know hits the fan. :D

Normally you only don't accrue spell penalty on a critical success. For a more heroic game now you only accrue on less than a full success (same as in writermonk's game). Also if you cast from your book/scroll/whatever you don't accrue spell penalty and get a +5 bonus to the spell roll, but it takes 1 minute per spell level to cast.

That's why Novo took his book out, prepared to read. But then I read the part about "1 minute per spell level" and thought now would not be the right time to quote Meteorological scripture for ten minutes.

The "taking your time" bonus is quite valuable though. On a side note, because of that, each morning Novo does his "weather forecasting" spell, he'll be reading from his spell book. I should've thought of that the first time I cast it.

Yeah, Shadow has a spell that she can see a 3 mile radius, and another where she can detect anything unnatural in 1/4th a mile.

Hence her offering to check.  It just means that we'd park out while she meditated for a little while.

In reply to Shadow Seeking the Light (msg #281):

Good to know. That's a much better/safer option. I'm stuck with my move for now, but henceforth your spell(s) would be a better way to go if there's no penalty incurred.

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #282):

You aren't "stuck" with your move as it does take a little time to go a 1/4 mile unless you are running, even then it takes 15 seconds at 60mph...so you can retcon it and not head that way if you want, it is no big deal.

Shadow, I believe the one that detects unnatural things only has a 60 foot range, going by what you wrote in your grimoire...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #283):

Hmmm... Could that be a hint? A word of caution, perhaps? It's hard to read your face from here. I'm gonna continue the forward momentum. I'd like to see how good of a small recon team Dii and Murron can be. That too, may be useful in the future.

You're probably right, I've been reading so many numbers and that was going off of memory from looking the day before.

In reply to Shadow Seeking the Light (msg #285):

*keeps a poker face on*

Regardless of whether that was a hint or word of caution I would like to know where people are and who is doing what, that way I know where everyone is...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #286):

Dii, on point and moving forward with bow drawn at half speed for possible defense, if necessary. I am more than willing to let others have point in the future, BTW. Not tryin' to hog ALL the glory, just 87% or so. J/K.

I'll keep the rear guard, staff at the ready, mumbling to myself (going over my incantations)...

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #288):

Uh... "Rear guard"? "Staff at the ready"? You do it OOC also, apparently.

Guess sort of at the middle of the group watching over Dii as she moves to scout ahead and then Murron as he keeps a closer in guard.

I oft straddle the divide between Benny Hill and Oscar Wilde.

Wait...I think that came out wrong...

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #291):

OK so in the interest of moving things along I am going to summarize my understanding of where people are at. I don't think I got info from everyone however. Dii and Murron are heading towards the oasis. Novo is planning on being halfway between them and the road? Sathras is staying on the road with the mounts. Shadow is staying at the road? Aaban said he is readying his crossbow, does that mean he is following at ranged distance (a 1/4 mile crossbow shot would be impressive to say the least). I don't believe I have heard anything from Burikan. Califax is also staying between the road and Dii/Murron? I have to post an action for T'Vala, basically his plan is going with Dii and Murron to investigate however...

I was hanging back at the mounts, as I thought the plan was we were going to let one (or a few) swift, quiet scouts go in, that could retreat quickly if need be.  If the whole lot of us just go in, we aren't really 'scouting' are we?  :)

In reply to Aaban (msg #293):

No that's fine, I don't want to be telling anyone where they are. I just want to know where people are in case something does happen.

Sorry. I misunderstood. I thought everyone was going to the Oasis. I'm not going with them unless we're all going. I'm hanging back until I get the "All Clear".

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #295):

Yes. Wait back here with the big lizard guy. He clearly knows what's what.

Big Lizard Guy...you remind me of eating deep-fried frog legs when I was a kid. *stares at your meaty flanks* They were quite...delicious...

You'd best be smiling when you look at me like that!

At this point no one has seen anything other than them moving back towards the party. Details are hazy because of sand and heat shimmer. At their current distance if they don't move a person with SPD +0 would take 12 rounds to get to them (1200 feet). If they move their full move and the rest of the group moves their full move it would be about 6 rounds before the 2 groups met. Therefore if people want to start moving in that direction that is fine but no one is really 100% sure what is going on....unless someone casts something that allows them to see that far more clearly. *nudge nudge*

What would the SPD of the mounts be over sand?  And thus how long would it take them to get there?

In reply to Califax (msg #300):

Aht-ra have a base speed of +8, so faster than most of us on foot, I'm guessing. WAY faster than Sathras's Spd of -2

You guys are riding batra, the 2-hump versions with the SPD of +7, that way even Sathras can ride (they can carry 800 lbs.). Otherwise it would take you all much longer to get to your destination. That being said with the SPD +7 it would take 7 rounds if the other group isn't moving and 4 rounds if both sides were.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #302):

I kinda hope we end up fighting. Just sayin'...

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #303):

....careful what you hope for. Just respondin'... ;-)

Sorry for the oblique ribbing Califax... while in posts it's pretty easy to miss what one person is doing, the image of Califax missing Aaban standing dazzling white in the sun struck me funny!

Wow.....that was quite a crappy set of rolls from your friendly neighborhood GM....lol.

Hehehe... I just noticed that I wrote...'TODAY IS MY LUCKING DAY!' LOL! :D

It should have read like this... 'TODAY IS MY LUCKY DAY!'

In reply to Murron (msg #307):

Lucking is sooooo much better.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #308):

Well then, good lucking to us all!

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #308):

Yeah, it kind of fits with being flustered and taken by surprise!

In reply to Murron (msg #310):

Damn.....you are serious lucking. The dance goes on still.

OK, Sathras reminded me of something I had zoned out on when I made this encounter: demons are immune to damage from normal weapons aside from silver or adamant. So Dii's swordstrike did nothing (which I will describe in thread) as did T'Vala's hurlant bolt. Murron had purchased an adamant shortsword before leaving Dracarta. I will allow people to use the 500gl they received to purchase a weapon of silver or adamant (depending on what they can afford), saying that they had done so before leaving.....teaches me not to read the whole section on demons...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #312):

Bah! Sathras need no silver! Sathras strong! Sathras brave! Sathras bold!



Plus, Sathras no know any better! ;) And this way, he'll only think Murron is more of an awesome warrior when he gets there and can't do squat to the demons while Murron tears them apart. :D

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #313):

How many rounds away is the "cavalry"? I'm not clear on who is riding to our aid.

Lookin' good, Murron. You are currently the Tank. That outta impress ol' "Big Red" headin' this way...

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #315):

Sathras is quite a distance away since he's on foot. The group that are still mounted will easily and quickly pass him by to get to you lot - assuming we can find you.

As I read it, the sand demons used their illusion powers to hide you from us and us from you.

Shadow can see you, but she's using magic. She could probably direct us to you (and I imagine that's what she's doing as she rides in with the rest of them), but ol' Sathras isn't the fastest durge in the herd.

I have a few spells to attack, but the problem becomes that Demons don't have life-force and don't age.

I think the trio's luck may have shifted to the worse....

Shadow, your attack spells still affect the demons because they are magical in nature, as would your reversed healing spells. They still have "life energy" of a sort.

It is determined once the second group gets close enough that the blocking is not an illusion but a defensive wall 40 feet across.

(Also, I have been assuming Sathras has been riding his batra this whole journey so far. If he hasn't been the amount of time it will take to get to Anasa will essentially triple; his SPD of -2 vs. the batra SPD of +7 <80 feet per round vs. 240 feet per round>)

The purchasing of silver items (or better) would not have been far-fetched as there is lore out there that states some undead can only be injured by magic or silver. Just so people can keep things in perspective.

Well between sleeping, work, a supprise birthday party from my work team and sleeping again I seemed to have been left rather behind.  Given that information about undead, something I guess Califax might well have known, he would have purchased a significant brace of silver tipped bolts.  And a query, does a weapon under the effect of a spell count as being magical?

In reply to Califax (msg #320):

Each clip of silver-tipped tribow bolts (3 bolts per clip) would cost 2 gl, 5 sp. As to your other question, a weapon enchanted to increase its damage rating is considered magical.

Demons are no joke!  Murron's Lucking holds! :D

In reply to Murron (msg #322):

Fortunately you got the weak one (STR -3)....just waiting on Shadow and Novo's actions (be it spell or moving around the barrier) then I will post the round 4 actions.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #323):

Dii Ahnah and T'Vala, new line of huggable, bite-able, Teddybears for Demons...

Okay... I'm going to do some backwards in time shopping as well, if that's okay.  I've always tended towards that the archetypes are outfitted with the equipment that it makes sense for your character to have, so I don't do much shopping for better stuff.

I'm with Califax, left way behind here... 18 hour day with work yesterday, not much sleep last night, and little league opening day staring at 7:30 this morning on a cold, cloudy, windy day.  Fun, but exhausting!

In reply to Aaban (msg #325):

Dii would like to "time-travel purchase" a Silver (1) and Bronze (1) Long Sword if it complies with her Bastard Sword skill. I came up with 78 GL total. Sound right? How much would a "doubled side-scabbard" for both be?

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #326):

She would wield longswords at a -2 (so +4 instead of +6), bastard swords are weighted differently than longswords because they can be used one or two handed. You are actually better to hit with your adamant daggers (+7 skill).

Oops....I missed your private telling me Novo's action, I did a different spell but I think the results speak for themselves...I tried to have him speak like Novo's player does as well....apologies.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:43, Sat 16 Apr 2011.

I do appreciate people putting up with my fumblings and bumblings as a novice Talislanta GM. I am working to get smoother with the rules while still providing some quality entertainment and things for all characters to do. I don't think I could have asked for a better bunch of players. Thank you thank you. :-)

You're not really fumbling... and as far as that goes, most Tal players I've encountered are a pretty decent lot.  The Tal mailing list (which used be a lot more active in years past) was a very genteel, flame free lot!

In reply to Aaban (msg #329):

Oh I dunno.....I think totally spacing that demons are immune to non-magical weapons other than silver or adamant is a pretty sizeable fumble....lol. Fortunately I could legitimately retcon better weapon purchases due to the fund advances and the undead people will be facing. But I love the fact that overall it is a pretty straightforward mechanic for the game and such a rich setting...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #330):

That's not as big a fumble as you might think... demons sometimes get oddly inconsistent treatment across the breadth of Tal material.  I do seem to recall, I think in more than one place, of creatures feeding on demons.  Not easy to do, since once you kill a demon, it disappears leaving nothing but a little elemental essence and a heartstone!

In reply to Aaban (msg #331):

Yup. And some things that were demons in earlier editions later became not-demons, but natural creatures that travelers just thought were demons because of their appearance/attitude.

It's all good.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #332):

Yup, like the wind demon/depredator.  Funny thing is, after the change, there are still a lot of references to wind demons, but no write up of what an actual wind demon.

But yeah, it's all good.  :)

In reply to Aaban (msg #333):

As long as everyone is having fun.....then it is all good. :-)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #334):

S'all good, indeed. Tal is a beast to run if you don't have everything memorized. I ran it once as Tabletop and haven't since. Considering running a campaign on here eventually. But that's a bit far off for now. One thing I love is how every game I've played is in a different place on the continent. One was even in about 4 or 5 different places! (*wink* Novo)

On to the bidness portion: Dii will back-purchase another Silver Dagger (Already had one) and 2 Bronze Daggers. I got a grand total of 32 GL on that one. Ring me up, please. And thanks for giving me your 2 cents on weapon choice. Somehow it didn't occur to me to get daggers, which I'm already fairly proficient with.

I have had no luck with that damn unknown demon....I gave it a lower AL because I thought that Murron's combat abilities were a bit lower. With the -2 for the shield it has been beyond difficult to do anything.....

Thats a good thing, other wise we might have arrived to a group of three desicated corpses.

In reply to Califax (msg #337):

I do want to ask one thing if it is possible. I provide the AL's or difficulty level for player's rolls at the start of combat then ongoing in the combat posts. If people could subtract the appropriate number from their rolls that would make it easier for me to quick glance and know if something is a success or critical success (or a failure vs. a mishap).

Also, it is an important distinction: to roll to escape vs. a grapple the target gets to roll the best of STRx2, Brawling-3, or Martial Arts-3...not those 2 skills at base level.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:55, Sun 17 Apr 2011.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #338):

OK, just so we're on the same page: I'm going to subtract -5 from my rolls to account for the demon's AL and Murron's shield. :)

In reply to Murron (msg #339):

When you attack just subtract 7 from your roll after your modifiers, same thing when you roll a shield parry (+10-7= +3). Add in the -5 multiple action penalty as needed.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #340):

Since we're clarifying, what's the difference between active and passive parrying?

Passive defense: no roll, enemy takes a penalty to his attack equal to your weapon or shield skill

Active parry: enemy rolls to hit as above, you roll parry roll with weapon or shield using the enemy's weapon skill as a penalty. If you succeed the attacker can only hit on a critical (or not at all if you critically succeed). However if you do an active parry either your weapon attack or your parry takes a -5 multiple action penalty depending on which you do 1st.

...I am pretty sure that is how it works, someone correct me if I have it wrong.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:00, Mon 18 Apr 2011.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #342):

Passive = penalty to hit
Active = rolling for successful defense.

Got it.

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #343):

Just remember that the enemy's attack skill is applied as a penalty to your parry roll...

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #340):

OK, cool, you're going to do it on your end with its attack rolls. :)

In reply to Murron (msg #345):

Of course, that is why its attack rolls on you most of the time have been so lousy...with your shield you are +10 vs. his +7.

Just waiting for Califax and Novo to post (Sathras won't be in melee range until next round) then I will summarize round 5. Novo has his plasma stream spell cast at level 4 so he has 8 streams up.

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #347):

Rar! Sathras would dig in his claws to get the batra to go faster, but I'd likely rip its sides open. Don't want that to happen.

Oh sorry.... I though Califax was still riding towards the sand wall with 2 rounds to go before I could engage, would have posted earlier if I'd know I was being waited on.