As it sounds. The old one was getting a bit crowded. Chat away people!
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:09, Fri 01 June 2007.

I was asked in PM how I prefer to handle things like Perception Rolls, where the character might better not know the results of the dice, in scenes that I'm involved in.  I thought I should answer openly, so nobody else has to ask.

The custom set in this game seems to be, if your character is doing something actively, make your own roll.  Everyone is easily good enough at role-playing to handle even critical failures fairly, and to act on the information then given even as you may suspect it to be wrong.

I might make a Perception roll (for example) for someone who hasn't stated they're actively looking, if there's something I think they might see and need help deciding if I should point it out (or who I should point it out to.)  I think in PbP, the main concern is to keep things moving, and not let the game come to a stop waiting on the dice roller.

But even this will mostly only apply to very simple things.  I'm only a CO-GM.  I don't know what everybody has.  So if I've been given direction of a scene and fail to account for something like Trap Initiative, by all means, make your roll, and tell me!

 Bah, it's gone quiet... What's going on folks?

Shhh!  I'm hiding, waiting for the Horrors to show their true colors, then I can spring out of the shadows and attack them!  Who knows, I might even buy you guys some time to actually take the Horror down.... ;)

Seriously, I am waiting to move onto the next scene.

Myself as well. Waiting on the next scene. Talia can only get so paranoid...

Hah!

That's because she didn't spend three days trying to figure Liara out...

You don't know paranoid.

hehe...

Well, naturally... why in Barsaive would I waste my time trying to figure mysel... cell-mate Liara out? Yes, well, you see your paranoia was well founded... she was a dirty Theran through and through and that's how I met her in the prison... of the ... the Warden. Yes, the Warden... the horror controlled one... who is dead now... and thus... there is no evidence... *cough* Yes... *looks to see if Korentin has been listening, wondering if she could take the Swordmistress before she made any noise*

I'm ready to move on to the next scene as well--I was just conversing because no one else was posting anything.  Figured if Calypte and I were the only ones with too much free time on our hands, might as well use it for dialogue.  :-)

We're in the lead cart, so should get to Brightsprings first--though not long before Hrothgar's wagon.  I would go ahead and talk about entering the village and arranging accomodations/dinner, but I don't know if the GM has anything planned for our entry.

Anyway, I'll keep talking to Calypte until the GM puts us in Brightsprings.  If others want to post, you could always have another dialogue in Hrothgar's wagon.  Korentin said the word, "Motive," awhile back.  Maybe you can discuss what that's supposed to mean, and the context.  I tell you, Korentin--I've lived in Throal awhile, but I would never guess that "Motive" is Black-speech for "Rundir is suggesting we go to the Hollow Rose instead of the Blackened Oak because, if we say he sent us, he'll get paid a finder's fee or receive some other kind of kickbacks."

I'm so very glad it's Calypte in the seat with me, instead of Korentin.  :-D

 Full points to Nyloque for his reading of Black's obscure little pronouncement. Sadly, Black himself doesn't know diddly squat about the subtle way these things work, and is currently thinking 'what's in it for him' and wondering whether he can be trusted. ^_^

 Otherwise, barring some sort of stimuli, Black won't really do a whole hell of a lot unless something looks like it needs doing. I have been positively itching to respond however...

I apologize.  MS left this scene largely in my hands.  I wanted to let some time pass on the trip, to give people a chance to acquaint with Nyloque, but I didn't mean to let it drag for so long.  I've been blindsided by what I laughingly call "real life" this last week.

Hehe...should've known better than to give us a town with two possible places to stay.  Adventurers spend enough time arguing when there's only one way to go. grin

:-D  Yeah, really!  Two choices for inns, how can we possibly decide?  Ahhh, to heck with it, let's drive out and make camp on the road.

Actually, the ride-scene dialog was a good introduction to the group, and their dynamic.  I've read a tiny bit of the old posts, but that's all "meta-game" info I can't know in-character.  Calypte was helpful in giving Nyloque a good synopsis of each party-member, and I think it's a good starting point from which Nyloque can begin interacting with the group directly.

I like reading the "thoughts" from each character's perspective.  Talia and Korentin have seeming borderline-psychosis, which will be great to see play out.  Heh-heh...watch out for children...  ;-)

------
Sorry for posting again so quickly, but when I read Calypte's response, I had to jump back in.  Apparently I typed something unintelligible.  Didn't mean to imply that the choice of inn was decided.  Actually, from the description, Nyloque would choose the Blackened Oak--but he seriously does want to check both inns first, come back, and make an informed group-decision.

Maybe it's stupid and a waste of time.  But it's also another way to see how the group reacts to different situations.  Whether you realize it or not, just as Calypte tried to size-up Nyloque's abilities, he too is trying to size-up the group's qualifications.  Seeing how each of you dealt with a 3-way party split has been...enlightening.  :-)

Where are you getting this "borderline" idea from? grin


My only qualm about your counting is that I think, IC, we don't have any reason to count Nyloque as an `effective', from an adventuring standpoint.  He's Hrothgar's supply guy and wagon driver, but mostly somebody else we're expected to keep safe when there's trouble.  At least, if it's not too much trouble - I don't think he's actually part of our contract.  wink

But while he's said that he, on his own authority, plans to stay with the wagons too, I'm not sure we want to count him as a watcher, specifically.

 Damn' straight - I come by my mental problems honestly. ^_^

 And Nyloque has three qualifications for being a guard... As a dwarf, he has true nightvision - this is invaluable for night watches, irregardless of any other skills he may or may not have, since the basic duty of a guard as far as Korentin is concerned is to scream if and when something horrible happens to him. ^_^
 Additionally he's already more or less stated that he's going to be taking a watch, and you can just bet that somehow Korentin or Calypte are going to be 'on schedule' opposite him to size him up. I would add Baraak to that list, but since he also has nightvision, he'll probably be on a different watchlist.
 Thirdly and finally, he makes eight. Eight is easier to divide up by two than seven is, and it means we get one night in four of totally undisturbed sleep. ^_^

Yeah, Nyloque's just a hired hand, as far as anyone knows.  But if you read his description, you'll see he's armed and armored, stout, and strong.  Whether or not he's an Adept, at least he's equipped appropriately for being a guard.  Hrothgar...isn't.  So there's a pretty big difference in how these dwarves present themselves.

When Calypte thinks back about their conversation, she'll remember that when she asked about Nyloque's abilities, he responded by talking about the hired guards (i.e. your party).  He didn't ever say anything at all about his own skills, and she didn't press him for more information.

------
Please don't think I'm trying to be annoying or secretive.  If I were to join your party in-character, I would discuss my abilities freely, to enable us to work together.  However, in-character, Nyloque is just as paranoid about revealing everything about himself as your characters are.

Give him a little while.  You've been adventuring together for a long, long time (real-time anyway).  Nyloque will need to ease into the group slowly, I think, in order for it be a seamless integration.

That, or wait until something exciting happens.  If there's a battle, and Nyloque gets toasted, you'll know that he needed your protection.  :-P

Actually it's part of the fearless adventure's of Talia and Liara mistresses of... well, never mind that... Anywho, just to put it into perspective as I know there's a lot of past posts to read through, a very nice little boy who was fond of horses met a very gruesome Horror induced fate.

Talia's not afraid of any children! She's not afraid of anything! Um, er, except Korentin... and... shadows... and... apples... and... sometimes dashing strangers... and men... and um... what was that statement about psychosis again?

The strange thing was she began relatively sane... then she met other people and well... apparently that was bad... ;-)

 Awwwwh... scared of li'll ol' me?

 I'm so chuffed. ^_^

It...could happen. grin  Calypte doesn't normally think like that, but she's getting more reasons to give Nyloque more attention than that.  It's a sweet thought, anyway...


Not mine.  Calypte's pretty open.  In fact, all of my characters are as pure as the driven snow!

Um, OK, in a couple of cases, I may be referring to the snow that's been driven to the side of the highway, mixed with all kinds of oil, rubber, small rocks, possibly some roadkill...but, um, still basically snow.  "Driven on snow," maybe?  And in Nuala's case, we might not even be talking about snow in the sense of little pretty flakes of ice, but rather, some euphemistic `snow' that has itself been cut with things I'd rather not speculate on.

But not Calypte!  She really is pretty open.


Well, if you want something exciting, you can always try publically humiliating  a Swordmaster again...grin

(OOC, no offense taken, by the way.  I should probably clarify that now, before she actually draws her sword and shaves your beard off.  If it DOES come to that, I could recommend Male Warrior Portrait #194, on page 11, to switch to.  I'm sure no one would notice.  They'd just think you were Talia's little boy...)


No?  Has she met Sharae's? grin

Um... no... but, I will point out that Talia is no where near as old as Shay... and therefore not even thinking of children of her own. ;-)

Afraid? Nah... but, in all honesty... I believe Vragor would be smitten, but less an appendage or two... Also, she would definitely have to train under Korentin to learn how to do that impressive killing thing... um... not that she hasn't done that herself once or twice... but um... not to other adepts...

Hmm... I don't suppose anyone in this group knows how to do that hitting with the flat of the blade thing? No? I thought not... ;-)

Was that publically humiliating?  Or should I say publicly?  ;-)

But seriously, Calypte's great--Nyloque is pestering her a bit, but only because he finds it amusing that a Swordmaster, commonly known as master of wit and blade, seems oblivious to the finer points of extracting more information from others than one reveals.

That, and she really did seem out of her element when it came to assigning who-goes-here-who-goes-there-who-guards.

That, and she really did seem to misunderstand Nyloque's perfectly cogent orders...twice.

But yeah, other than that, Nyloque finds Calypte quite the darling.

------
OOC:  No worries.  If you shave my beard IC, Nyloque will be...unhappy.  But OOC, this stuff is fun.  I was seriously laughing when I read your post, and Talia's, and when writing mine!  That's the whole reason I love roleplaying--enjoyment!  If the worst happens, Nyloque bites it, I roll up a new character, and start all over--the fun doesn't stop with a minor thing like character death, you know?

Actually, I really like all of the characters in the group.  I wish Mirrel and Ronia would post more, because I haven't seen much of their personalities, but the rest are wonderful!  Well-developed personalities, expressed through genuinely good writing!  My compliments to all of you!

*stumbles in*
...Work...
...Will post in a few hours*falls asleep*

Looking at posted actions (ignoring suggestions, requests, and the like), I see Calypte, Mirrel, and, I believe, Korentin, all going to the Blackened Oak.

I see Nyloque and Hrothgar going to the Hollow Rose, and a definite statement from Grell that he intended to go with them.

I still have Baraak and Talia with the horses and wagons.  Ronia was asked to go with Hrothgar's group, so I will assume that for the moment, but she may certainly say otherwise.

If this sounds wrong to anyone, please post your preference, either here or in the main thread.

 Nah, I turned around and went back with the assumption that Calypte was asking me to swap with Baraak and wander off with Talia (Latia?) to guard the caravan in their absence.

 If I'm wrong, let me know and I'll edit appropriately.

Korentin is listening to Calypte?
...
And He and Talia are guarding the caravan?
...
You all do realize that anything that gets remotely close to it is like to meet a sudden, horrible, and grisly death... before we even assess what it was... right? :-P

 *Grins*

 Calypte understands people better than Korentin does... mostly. In this particular circumstance however, she's quite right - it's daylight and we don't need nightvision, so we might as well save those who have it for later.

 As for sudden death... You say that as though it's a bad thing... I mean if Korentin kills someone, he knows he did the right thing, so it's a self-correcting problem. ^_^

I know a certain blood elf Korentin would love... ;-)

 He's a sociopath, not a masochist... Though I suppose he does have leanings in that direction. ^_^

Shaylynne isn't a masochist... Insane perhaps... but not a masochist. ;-)
But she does have very specific targets of her sociopathic nature... I'm not sure Black does... :-)

 He really does, I assure you...

 *Sniff* He's so misunderstood. ^_^

Black has a bingo book? Ooooh! Talia has a new goal! Now let's see... who's in there... O.o

*blushes*Now I apologize for not replying before now...But my body isn't up to date with my new work..So when I get home I can utter a few mono-syllabic responses..THen collapse on bed...Sorry guys. I'll try to do better.

If anyone feels I've forgotten them..PM me.

Of course Black has specific targets for his sociopathy.  Therans.  And anybody who looks like a Theran.  Or might have had a Theran somewhere in their pre-Scourge ancestry.

Which does, admittedly, bring you back round to "everybody", but it's a deeper, more complicated "everybody". grin

MountainShadow: Um, nobody who's too tired to think in multiple syllables has any right describing themselves as monosyllabic. Hehe...

*Strokes Mountainshadow's lower claw reassuringly* Don't pay any attention to the tasty Swordmistress...

*pats Talia*Why thank you.
*glares at Calypte*You could leanr manners from this one Caly :P

Sorry about the slow posting once more, as if work wasn't taking too much energy I 've felt rather sick these past days.

Well, I could, but I'd need 200 more LPs for Versatility, and then another 100 for the manners...or just the 200 to start it as a Skill, but then it'll be weeks before I actually have them, and in the meantime you couldn't complain because it'd be you who was being stingy...

So, um, if you want to give me an extra 300 LPs, I promise I'll, um, at least do the 200 for Versatility.  That last 100 might actually end up in something else, you know, just to keep things exciting. Can't be too predictable!


I think I said something once about it never hurting to ask, and if I remember right, this idea met with a rather painful counter argument.  So I'm going to leave it at that...grin

*preens at the fact that she's not going to be the one eaten this time*
*goes off with 'Eidolon to find ketchup and a cool washcloth*

You know... I actually dreamed Korentin's post last night... er, but not this one... though it does oddly make me want to go play 'Kobalds Ate My Baby.' I think now we finally begin to realize where the sociopathism comes from. The only question remaining is... Mothers' side, or Fathers' side? ;-)

Well, you know, he IS a T'skrang.  They even have that cliche: "You can't make an omlette without eating a few babies!"

So maybe it's not as big a deal as he's making it out to be...hehe...

I have to disappear for about a week--sorry for the late notice.  I may be able to post, but no guarantees.  Depends on time and Internet availability.

Quick, Grell!  Strike now!  It's your best chance! grin

Woops! Sorry Mirrel! I forgot I had something to post back to in this game... *^-^*

*chuckles* No worries, work is keeping me busy.

I'll be out for about two days or so ya'll. Have fun for me... I leave Mirrel in charge of ... um... Korentin. ;-)

 Are you sure you want to do that..?

 I mean, what has Korentin ever done to you? ^_^

I'm back!  *whew*

Too late, Grell!

*tiptoes over to Korentin and pats his arm*
No worries, I will protect you and watch over you.

Hehe...you can just picture Korentin in the classic "hero" pose, with half a dozen beautiful, scantily clad women clinging to him...and an intensely annoyed look on his face because they're impeding his sword arm.

*exhales as Alachia takes her place*

Hum, see...I gather if Mirrel looked too much at Korentin he would stabbitystab her to death. >.<

 *Grins* Not quite Mirrel... not quite... but please do go on thinking that, it will hopefully keep our boy K from worrying too much for a while.

 Calytpe on the other hand is just being mean, if perhaps rightly so. ^_-

 And as for the protection of a GM... Now there's worrying... 'cause technically I'd be protected from the party if I was being chased up a tree by giant wolves... For example.

Giant wolves?
*looks at Mountainshadow*
I like the way this one thinks. Why just take something normal when I can play around with creation?

 Any large predatory animal seems much larger when it's several feet behind you and accelerating with purpose. ^_^

I would think a wolf the size of a draft horse would seem pretty big then Korentin me ol' chap.

 Sounds like I need to find me a big 'damn tree... either that or reach down its throat and try pulling things out as it chews on me. ^_^

Ah, don't worry..Mirrel will save you. And*thinks*Wouldn't that mean some of the Crystal Raider's famed honor to step in and give yourself into her service?*imagines Korenitn after Mirrel has styled him more fashionably*

*suddenly listens more intensly*
Huh? If Mirrel saves Korentin she owns him? O.O Her own little t'skrang to dress up?

I'm just an amateur, but I think Crystal Raider Honor allows for some distinction between "repaying life debt" and "frilly dress up dollie"...grin


Well, there was that oak tree in front of the other inn...I guess it'd been hit by lightning, but I still pictured it as pretty big.

But I like this plan better.  Maybe you can pull out a really big plasma gun, like in Men In Black...

*Returns with tail between legs*

"Tadaima."  I'm home.

Might be so...But*rewrites rules of honor*Being a GM is fun!



Well, there was that oak tree in front of the other inn...I guess it'd been hit by lightning, but I still pictured it as pretty big. </quote>
That works up until some garou from WoD makes a crossover and chases you down.


Yes, get the wolf to vomit on you before it eats you..:P

Not in this game..In Shadowrun however...

Welcome back Ronia.

 You're right Calypte, jumping down the things throat, blade flashing is far more Black... I only wish I thought I could get away with an 'allo beastie'first. ^_-

 And no dressing up... though with extensive RP and the right subquests, you may unlock additional outfits for Korentin, eventually even earning him as a playable character. ^_^

Hi, Ronia! waves

Um...just whose tail IS that, anyway?

Korentin: Hehehehe...that made me laugh more than anything I've read in a while...

*checks that her tail is still with her* Not mine, maybe Korentins though. Ronia might have done the...uhm...subquests. O.o

 "No, for that you have to Speak To The Mayor... but someone might want to take a look at Talia's horse though..." ^_^

*gasp* Bad! 'Eidolon, how many times must I tell you... Horse, Name-giver, horse, Name-giver...

Hmm... iirc, Nyloque's cart had one horse, and Talia has hers, but how many are drawing Hrothgar's cart? Just wondered since it will depend on how long Talia is away for and various other things possibly during the trip...

Ah, so far that I can see there's one horse per cart(brain is muddy atm..SO I could be wrong), I will edit the psot to make that clearer.

I pictured Hrothgar's cart drawn by a herd of beautiful fire-breathing pegasi, their wings flapping slowly as their feet hovered just an inch above the ground, each draped in gold, and harnessed with a fine silver filigree.

But that's probably just something about Hrothgar.  Maybe his one horse made a really good First Impression roll.

Maybe I'm running on two hours of sleep.  That's plausible, too.

(Get it?  "Filigree"?  Fillies?  It's a total horse joke.  _{I'm sure Talia saw it...grumble})

*raises eyebrow*
You scare me Calypte.
Okay..*scratches head*me thinks I might be too tired to focus on the game atm, as I get the impression I have confused the tavern's you were visiting. Will you go to the oak or to the Rose?
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:25, Tue 03 July 2007.

Well, naturally.  I'm a Swordsmistress Extraordinaire!

That's probably not how you meant, though.

No. It isn't.
Edited my latest post*blushes*Terribly sorry guys...

*pats Caly and MS* There there... the random fireworks will be over in a day or two... _{Talia got it... I'm positive... Me... ooooh nope, I got sleep last night ;-)}

Oh, hey, fireworks.  That's true.  Happy 29th of Veltom! grin

Sorry I couldn't post--I just got called out on a last-minute trip, and am packing even as I wait for this page to load.  Will return on Sunday the 15th.

She's not worried about the kids trying to pet you, silly.  Slavering, growling wolves with sandal lacing still hanging out of their teeth, just come across as so much cuddlier than Korentin...

Hehehehe...I'll post as soon as I can stop giggling.

That was good.

I will disappear for a few days after Friday the 27th.  Could be just one day.  Maximum...should be back no later than the 1st.  Moving.

That sounds fine to me-- it's a small bit to change. :-)

 Cool... then if you edit, then Nyloque can edit, and we can move on so that sometime soon, the others can RP with us as well. ^_^

Sure, I'll change my post.

EDIT:  And, it's changed.  :-)  Convenient when it's only one line of thought-dialogue, and part of one word.

------
Is everyone in the group waiting for us to finish, so we can RP together?  If so, it's silly for us to hold everyone up with a detailed description of "training".  I think we've made it fairly clear what we're doing, so I'm good with a fast forward to whatever point you all want.

Unless there's some reason for a long tavern scene, we could just fast forward to the next morning...though I understand, that's Mountainshadow's call.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Thu 26 July 2007.

Waiting on you then Mr. Black, as Talia's response will vary depending on how you edit. :-)

I don't think the others are waiting on us, but running parallel. If I 'm wrong could someone please let us know so we can either speed up or stay where we are? I expect there will be somethings Talia might want to do before morning, but that will depend on what others do, and I can easily take it PLs if necessary...

 And done... sorry about that folks. ^_^

Well, you know me - I'm good. grin  And, as always, Calypte has some things she wants to do, but, um, that doesn't mean it can't be handled in PM or skimmed over, if anybody's getting bored.

*tickles Korentin with her new whip* 'sokay ;-)

I updated my last post; forgot to include Talia in the private message.

Disappearing now (as said before), but hope to be back online soon.  Now's the time!  Strike true, armor-defeat me, and all your Horror Paranoia will be solved!

Or not.  :-)  Bye!

Just a heads up for the weekend. Mountainshadow is visiting family, and probably wont be able to post anything until sunday.

As for the speed things up a bit part. No need to rush. It has been a small pause for the GM and a chance for characters to interact without facing any Horror or whatnot.

And as always when Mountainshadow is away. If there are any questions just PM me and I will help as best as I can.

What!?  Visiting his family for a whole weekend!?



Er - rather, most of a whole weekend!?

Well.  Hmph.  That...that's just...inconsiderate, is what it is.  He should have poisoned his entire family years ago, to make sure he had time to devote to us.


In other news - someday, I will get a clear and rousing success with Taunt!  But not today.  At least this one has a shot at having maybe squeaked in with Average.  Maybe. sigh  Hehe...

(At at least I avoided insulting Korentin this time.  Definite step in the right direction.)

 If it's any consolation, you'd probably have managed to make him angry with the taunt...

 Although just how much consolation that would be is rather up for question. ^_^

Umm....Black?  Have you met you?


That's the easy part.  You could make Korentin angry with, "Hm, I really can't think of anything witty, but I'd sure like to insult you."

(Although, to Korentin's credit, it was another no'a'gral that I saw actually start a fight over, "Hi.  How are you?")

The question is, would her Talent Magic wriggle it into your psyche, undermining your self-control, clouding your vision, making your muscles tense in predictable ways, and just generally - um, giving you -2 Steps to your actions?  Which doesn't sound so dramatic all of the sudden, somehow...hehe...

 Almost certainly... he doesn't have the greatest social defence in the world, and none of those funky feats that boost it.

 Still, making him mad isn't the hard part, he *starts* mad and can only go down from there.

 I'd like to hear the story of that fight though... just for reference, you understand.

Ohhhh, was that Viv's fight with Zahi? Ugly that looked to be...

Mad?  We're all mad, here...oh, wait, you meant like, `angry'.  That's true, too.

It's short enough, I guess - from the Refuge From The Scourge ED game which is, alas, long dormant.  This was after we'd already had a little bit of a PvP scene. (The two `new' players had just saved the rest of our lives, so, naturally, we had to tie them up.  It made perfect sense at the time, and I still stand by the decision.)  Here, we were all being fed dinner, and it had been strongly suggested by the Kaer elders we might want to try getting along.





She didn't actually punch him until later on in the meal.  Her Issues were different from Korentin's, but I'd be hard pressed to say she was any saner...

I think she actually punched him for beating her when she was prone and unarmed in that whole hogtying fiasco :-)... but I could be mistaken. ;-)

Indeed, Viv never did quite fit in as seamlessly with her moot as I suspect Korentin did. Though, she did develop quite the Toughness from learning the hard way what was and wasn't appropriate to say to highland trolls. ;-)

Now that I've thought about it... it would have been fun playing through her trying to spring a jail break from the inside of Sky Point. :-D But I digress the thread...

Aye. You digress.

Tell me when you guys are ready to wake up and leave our pitoresque little hamlet.

Would I be allowed to stand guard over Hothgar?  If yes, then please jump a head, if no then I will have to knock some heads together ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Wed 01 Aug 2007.

 Calypte has been issued the watch rota for the coming week or two, so it's up to her to sum up I think - with Talia and Nyloque's permission I'll happily spin up the scene in the courtyard...

Spin away... ;-)

I don't see anyone stopping you Grell*smiles*

 Wow... the five thousandth post. Can we have legend points for that? ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 17:03, Sat 01 Sept 2007.

Don't be silly, Black - there's no reason 5000 should mean more than any other number.

Now...the 5009th post, that's important.  We should definitely be getting LPs for that one.  Hehe...

 Hmmm, I sense opportunism at work.

 But say, why's it gone all slow and quiet, anyhow? I want to see what happens next in Earthdawn : The Soap

 Will Ronia ever declare her feelings for Baraak?

 What *is* Nyloques hidden secret?

 When will Korentin and Calypte discover that they're really un-identical twins?

 ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 23:50, Thu 06 Sept 2007.

Well, opportunity only knocks once, so I say, drop 'im in an alley...

(Er, wait - wrong character.)


Born...about...six...hundred...years...apart.

No.  Nonono.  Just no.

I'm stuck in a barn!!!!! Which reminds me...

Blarg.  If you haven't heard, my computer has the black plauge.

Sorry for the absence, I've had kinda a bad week.  I'll try to get caught up this weekend.

Take the time you need Baraak. And hope you things will improve.

I must disappear for four days, and won't have Internet access for the duration.  I should be back on Sunday morning, Eastern USA Time...

Hmm. Late as always.
Take the time you need aswell Nyloque. This game will be here when you return.

 Awwwwwwh, isn't Mirrel just loverly? ^_^

Asch, and here I was aiming for a scary character. O.o

Hrrrm. I wonder what rl friends would say about this char. They are more used to my rugged butch characters, or more brainy ones.

 Well, if it's any consolation she scares Black - but then, he's a funny sort. ^_^

That she scares Black helps alot. :)

 Good to know that the poor fellow has some use. ^_^

Yes. As a sextoy. You just got promoted Black*grins*

Well, he seems to be good to stand behind when in battle also. So two good uses. *nods*

I'm not sure about that one.  I think I've seen a sword strapped to his tail from time to time.  I don't think I'd want to be behind him when he's mad.  Or to the sides.  Or necessarily above.  Maybe a good 20' clearance in all directions...

Might get away with being just 10' away straight down, provided it's through good, solid rock.

Wait...what...sextoy? I totally missed the GM post before. >.<

Hmm, as it looks Korentin would probably use those weapons on himself to get away from Mirrels planned talk.

 Hmmmm... I'm not entirely sure that counts as a promotion - I mean after all, we only had *one* resident psycho but there's already an officially recognised sex toy in the form of our favourite thief-adept. Heh, poor Baraak, romantic lead in our vaguely adventurous soap-opera.

 And sorry Calypte, but no, I don't have a tail-blade - though I do want one, because then I can use melee weapons instead of unarmed combat to swipe people with, which I've not been able to do so far (it's all a matter of economics - I just haven't had the money to buy more than the weapons I started with, let alone replace the kit I lost in the Mallowroast cock-up).

 As for Korentin and 'the talk' - ooooooh brother, I haven't even considered how that might go. All I can recommend is, find some way of getting him immobilised first. ^_^

Hmm, maybe if Mirrel got close enough with the wagon she could jump over to his back and clutch ahold. Not letting go until she has said everything and then some.
...but the scenario I see there is Korentins sixth sense warning him so he steps aside, making Mirrel crash into the ground.
*ponders* I wonder if she could make him trip if she just shouted "I want to have your egg", then, as he was down she could hurry over and assure him she didn't mean it and all she wanted from him was a talk about his history so she could write more accurately.

Heh heh... awwwww... such a cute couple!!! :-D

O.o  ...*doomsday voice* "Thus, the first Horror hatched"

 Trip, stagger or possibly black out... I'm sensing that subtle here, is not likely to be an option. ^_^

 You could always just wait until the team first walks into a fight - since Black didn't have the money to raise his circle when we hit town, he doesn't have durability, and is the one most likely to be on the ground at the end of it. ^_^

Which isn't to say that some people didn't spend several days hunting him down, climbing to the very tops of the highest Airship in the Docks, and battling their way through dozens of Cultists of Raggok^*, in trying to give him enough money for raising his Circle, buying a tail-blade, replacing his armor...but no, no, some people seem to think that just because they can take on a completely untouched Swordsmistress when they're starting out just one Strain away from unconsciousness, that they don't need these things...

grin

^{*- Um, OK, just one dozen Cultists of Raggok.  Well, one.  OK, OK, it was a bald man passing out tracts for Lochost.  And it wasn't so much a battle as it was a polite refusal.  Well, `refusal' might be a bit strong - he was very nice about it, and hard to just say no to, so Calypte might have ended up with one of his tracts in her back pocket.  After she spent an hour helping him gather a crowd.  The point is, it was an obstacle on her path to seeking Korentin Black.  An obstacle that she overcame!  In a manner of speaking.}

 Wellll, what can I say but that it was an honour thing, and you surely know that you just can't argue honour with trolls, right? ^_^

 Besides, don't pretend that you didn't enjoy being exposed to the extremely understated school of Bravado, as practiced by our friend and yours, (Captain) Korentin Black, Sky Raider in the service of Throal? (And now I go back to reading it, I'm left stunned at how breathtakingly cool it all was ^_^).
This message was last edited by the player at 16:15, Mon 15 Oct 2007.

 Oooooh, now that's just sneaky, particularly since Black has already worked out a watch schedule of sorts with Caltypte and more or less left her in charge of enforcing it.^_^

What Black doesn't know until the very end will surely not harm him. >_>

 *Facepalms* "Grell, Grell, Grell... If you wanted to pick a fight, couldn't you have just kicked him in the crotch instead? - Don't you know how rude it is to go around pointing out the major moral failings of your more sociopathic workmates?" ^_^

Yes, but just how sociopathic is Korentin?  Would Korentin actually kill a party member?  How scared should everyone be of Korentin? *looks thoughtful*

Grell is entirely willing to die to find out, because it will hopefully allows others the knowledge they would need to protect themselves and Grell is not particularly scared of dying or of Korentin (he is just another t'skrang with a sword); he is a Horror Stalker after all... now that Horror Construct, that is a different matter.....

Calypte's tested it out already - that's why she was only getting ready to adjudicate, and not intervene.  But that was before Grell was really with us...

Grell's willingness to stand and face Korentin is pretty impressive, though.  And corpses are great at staring contests.

 Very, yes if the circumstances were right, somewhat if they're not careful.

 But it would probably have been easier all around for you just to ask. ^_^

Ooooh...the prince on a white stallion scenarion. Altered a bit, but still good, still good. :)
Now, just to keep Mirrel from passing out so there wont be a very twisted and wrong prince kissing sleeping princess scenario. >.<

Ghoul breath... *shudder*

Hehe...well, it was Korentin's own choice to be the one to come to your rescue!  I think it's a promising sign.  Asking Calypte to stay behind has to mean it was very important to him that he be the one!

Ah, I was thinking about Talia. :) (Or does Korentin have one of those wooden sticks with a sock, filled with hay, and button eyes on it? In Mirrels world that could work.)

I'm trying to figure out if I should post something in the journal entries. But reading what has been posted already I get a bit scared. See, when good things are written it is scary to write something afterwards. >.<

*Makes Acting Roll*

Ah! Mirrel!!! My dearest darling Princess! Would you do me the grand honor of taking my hand for ever more and going with me to fight Omandras to a bloody, vicious, and painful death???

...

Er... you know, I think you could swap Talia and Korentin in and out of that however you wish... ;-) Maybe let Talia do the talking and Black do the... erm... gesturing... O.o

Oh, and you should definitely write an journal entry! Because I'd love to read something by Mirrel!!! :-)

 Actually the logic went that it would take at least two people to a side to protect the animals, and we need them to pull the wagons. That left Korentin and Grell on the ground to chase after Mirrel, who wasn't far off, and because nothing is stopping Talia when mounted on a half-tonne of warhorse, she can go where she likes to shore up anyone in trouble.

 Knight on a white charger syndrome isn't really Black - well, not until I get the Air Catching talent and can quite literally leap off Really High Things to catch people who have fallen. That will rock for 'The Lady Loves Milk Tray' style entrances and exits. ^_^

As I envision it - and I should probably double-check this a bit - but Korentin and Grell had been facing each other down in between the wagons.  Mirrel had just backed off a little from trying to intervene when this started.  So the ones who have Mirrel, at least, can't be too far from the wagons, having snatched her pretty much from our midst, right?  So, narrowing this down to what I see for Calypte - she's resisting the urge to jump right into their midst, where Mirrel is, because that could draw her away from the wagons and certainly take up all her attention.  But she can probably still pick one of them out as close enough and draw it off from the others, because, well, they just can't be that far away.

Next time I'm putting Ronia on watch, and then Baraak can watch her all he wants. grin

Oh, and yeah: Jour-nal! Jour-nal! Jour-nal!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Thu 18 Oct 2007.

I think that you meant Really High Things ^TM :-D Sounds like a Korentinism...

 It does sound better that way, doesn't it?

 Alright, Really High Places^(tm) it is then! ^_^

The wagon Mirrel was on passed Grell and Korentin. Then she crawled off it, uhm...fell, got up...shouted, and then Calypte told her not to get involved before she actually made her way over to the two. :)
Then I think she withdrew a bit so she was sorta close to the forestedge. After that, I asked the GM, one ghoul grabbed her and pulled into the forest to have his snack in peace >.<

*gets into character*

My sweet prince Talia! *swoons* ;)

Hmm, I will try to write, but Mirrels more personal journals...I dread the thought of making them.

Hrm... with the veil on, she looks at least a pretty as a male elf... ;-)

 I actually think we have a party consisting almost entirely of pretty people - even Korentin's got high charisma (which let's face it folks, has to be entirely due to his looks 'cause his personalty isn't winning anyone over ^_^ ). Makes for a nice change to the usual 'who needs Charisma, it's a sink stat' D&D mob. ^_^

I didn't know Korentin was pretty ;-) I thought he was merely deadly graceful...:-)

 High Dexterity, yes... well above average Charisma, also yes. Unexpected, but true. ^_^

Almost nonexistant Willpower?  Priceless. grin

Korentin's Charisma manifests in being inspiring, not charming.

 Heh, so far, I'm not sure he's managed to inspire anyone to do anything I'd necessarily encourage - maybe as time goes by and he gains a bit of a Legend things will improve, if he makes it that far. ^_^

Well, it's enough that Calypte picked him to maneuver into our first semblance of elected leadership...grin

More realistically, I suspect Korentin has the higher Charisma a lot for the Social Defense.  Without a lot of charisma-based Talents or Skills wrapped around it, it suggests a more internal one; reflecting his confidance and self-certainty, more than his outgoing charm and facility at cocktail parties.

 Hmmm, makes sense to me, not that his social defence is up to much either, Earthdawn being what it is - Ohhhh well, that's on the 'to do' list as and when someone gets around to asking him about his fighting style I guess. ^_^

But we see so little of his fighting style... Enemies just won't cooperate by living long enough to show it off in it's true splendor. :-D

Dashing male elf...hmm... >_> Should get to that journal. Gonna spend 3 and a half hours on a train today so maybe I can get some writing done then.

As for Korentins high cha, it is the tail. Definately the tail. ((according to Mirrel atleast)

See...now I don't know what to write. I shall just wait until I have slept, and all that bad humour has left me. >.<

 Write something about being rescued by a studly and mysterious dashing male T'skrang, then turn it into a song, and when we get out of this you can sing it to the amusement of others as Korentin completely fails to recognise himself in it? ^_^

Ooh...I want Korentin's dice...hehe...

I should write...oh...Talia! O.O

 They're being lovely to me, it's true... but come on Mirrel, you've no excuse now - the handsome sky-pirate is helping you to your feet! ^_^

Yes...now he is, but as soon as he doesn't have any monsters to chop down he will drop Mirrel as yesterdays trash. ;P (admit it, he just pulled her up because she was in the way down there*grin*)

 Well, that and there's some subliminal T'skranging going on in there... besides, she's a comrade, and Black never lets a comrade down. ^_^

Helping her up with his tail.

And we all know what THAT means, don't we? eyebrow waggle


Don't worry about that.  Korentin still has a whole week's worth of trash in his backpack.  Something about garbage disposal being a `wasteful luxury'.  I think he's planning to make stew out of it tonight, to make up for all the decadent gruel he's been eating.

Hmm, Mirrel will probably swoon over the tail contact fact later on, but right now she is, for once, actually focused. :)

Wait, tailcontact...what does it mean? *looks beggingly at Calypte*

 Hmmmm, haven't you read the T'skrang racebook Mirrel?

 It's got allll sorts of little hints and tips. ^_-

Do not tempt her Black..She'll read it and never stop nagging about how T'skrangs acts if she does.

Speaking of tips, um, if I remember right, actually, technically speaking...

I think if you pull on his tail, you're challenging him to a duel.

 Yup... well remembered that swordmistress, though 'to hand someone their tail' is the more formal version, hence that little confusion story about the T'skrang shedding the tip of his on a street. Mind you, it is sort of used for more than that... Ahem. ^_^

Ooooh. A flesy dildo.
So when a male t'skrang like a girl he gives her his tail and says "Here babe, use this tonight and think of me" ?

I think I read a little, but decided not to read too much as Mirrel wasn't raised amongst t'skrangs when it comes down to it.

 Peers at Mountainshadow

 "I think you just lost talking privileges." he observes, wryly.

That's the good thing about being a dragon chummer. I can say these things ;)

And Dragons have really big tails.


Calypte could probably tell you duelling customs in a dozen different languages...hehe..


Oh, and just to clarify, no, she hasn't - Calypte's still fighting the same ghoul she started fighting when she was making a point of staying near the wagon and keeping an eye on Hrothgar.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Fri 26 Oct 2007.

Owwie! Glad I bought Durability... ;-)

Not having Karma is a sad thing indeed...

*Tisk* All the boys flailing their tails about... just look at the influence you're all having on poor, innocent little Mirrel! :-P

Calypte--sorry, when I read about her maneuvering around a ghoul, and fighting it while keeping Hrothgar in sight, I was picturing you doing a sort of flashy "swordsmistress's dance" with the ghoul.  I pictured a lot more moving around, mobility being the stereotypical key to your fighting style.  So while I didn't think you'd gone 20 meters away from Hrothgar, I did think you were maneuvering somewhere between 5 and 10 meters away, moving as combat required rather than steadfastly acting as a "wall of death" between the ghoul(s) and Hrothgar/the wagons.

Yes, I know you had Hrothgar in sight, but I thought you said that because you were moving away from him, possibly even letting the ghoul come between the two of you (in order to face just one direction, yet be able to see both your opponent and Hrothgar).

If you're still beside Hrothgar, then you might want to tell him to get back in the wagon?

I'll change Nyloque's post a bit on his observation of Calytpe, but he'll do the same thing, moving in to "guard" Hrothgar.  If Calypte has to move into a more heated battle, at least Hrothgar won't be completely alone.  Though Nyloque is no substitute for a Swordsmistress in combat.  :-(

But but... >.< Mirrel is waving her tail around for Talia! ;P

Congratulations Talia. You have a Mirrel that wants to give you her tail.

*gets a giant mousetrap for the dragontail*

*looks at Mirrel, showing rows of sharp teeth*Unadvicable...Little one :P.

*just places the mousetrap on the ground, if someone should get stuck on it it wouldn't be her fault...she is just trying to protect everyone from the giant mouse Horrors*  >_>   <_<   *flee*

Ah, I wish to ask for your forgiveness for being a horrible GM and updating the game slowly. But as of late my real life has been quite...Bad. One of the reasons which is University studies that takes some time to get used to.
I hope you will bear with me, for I truly enjoy all of your characters and your posting.
/Mountainshadow.

 Damn, but I wish I had this kind of luck before... *kisses the dice-roller when no-one is looking* ^_^

OK, quick question - the Jehuthra thingie wasn't part of Korentin's plan, that I can recall...so I'm assuming the Tactics bonus is gone anyway?

 Hmmm, tactics is remarkably unhelpful on the matter. I made my roll against the Ghouls with the intention of you folks defending the animals more than the wagons (which are largely ghoul-proof), then this thing showed up.
 I guess it's either that the basic plan (defend the wagon in pairs) is good, that it needs to be modified (the old roll versus the spider), or completely remade (new roll, versus the spider).
 Mountainshadow?

No worries MS. I'm having a time not so unlike yours, I think. Take the time you need. I'll be here. :-)

OK, Mirrel, here you go.  The perfect title for Grell's portion of today's ballad:

    "Grappling with Ghouls".

Guaranteed blockbuster! grin

I so hope no one is waiting for Mirrel to actual write a ballad about this. O.o

*rolls around, snorting and chuckling*
Mmm. That would be an interesitng way for a group to die, neh little T'skrang?

Bah, that secret is for Mirrel, Arakan and the GM only. :P *watches the large dragon and hopes his tail comes close to the trap*

*sighs*late rpely, and for that I once more apologize.
And for not replying to Korentins quesiton about tactics, I apologize even more. No Korentin, your Tactics won't work agaisnt the Jehutra unless you roll agaisnt its Social Defense.

Hm...I hate to do this, but I want to check before I respond again.  We just had a post from Nyloque's player in another game, suggesting that he'll be, at best, highly preoccupied for several weeks, and might not be able to post very much.  And of course I see that he hasn't responded here yet...

MS very nicely shifted the scene to stand more between Calypte and Hrothgar than Nyloque, so I don't mind going ahead with it, but he's still pretty central to it; he might, for example, want to defend himself after Calypte explains her actions to Hrothgar, or take the opportunity to make her look even crazier, or somesuch.

So I wanted to offer to edit Calypte's last post and take that out.  I know most everybody has reacted to it, and I hate to jar continuity like that, but if his player is too busy for several weeks, it might be better not to have this confrontation right now...?

I uh...I did respond.  I backed away.  Hrothgar spoke.

I'm waiting to see what Calypte does next.  I think everyone is waiting to see what Calypte does next.

------

Yes, I'll be gone Friday-Sunday this week, and Wednesday-Sunday next week.

Oops...I missed that.  Sorry; thanks. grin  OK...it may take me a little bit to write up, but I'll have Calypte's response in later today!

 Excellent - so far Korentin's set to back you 'cause Nyloque's a shifty bugger, but he's just a tad distracted right now, and not feeling quite as homicidal as usual... You know how it is, he gets all kittenish after he's killed something.  ^_^

She's going to put a parsnip on his nose and claim he's a witch, isn't she?

Oooh, I hadn't thought of that.  Where's my parsnip?

Wait...Vergil was carrying the parasnip. sigh  I'll need a new plan.  Something that centers on an eggplant.  Hmm...

Grell wanders over and tugs playfully on Mountainshadow's tail "Tell me a story about the ghouls, papa Mountainshadow!  Were they big bad ghouls intent on world destruction for their Master Omandrus?!?" *bounces up and down* "Tell me, tell me!"

Ooooh! Bad imagery.... bad imagery... >.<

*pats Grell on the head*No nephew. These are jsut random encounters alá Final Fantasy.

Oh, and it is wise to utter the name of the terrifying Horror correctly, he might be hurt elsewise ;P

 Ooooh, does that mean that if we keep going we'll be attacked by a house that shoots rockets, and that no matter how powerful an explosion we cause in a fight it won't do any damage to the scenery?

 Or that every village we visit has more powerful weapons to buy and all currency values should have three zeroes added to the end of it? ^_^

And when we kill an opponent gold and items will fall out of its carcass?

*looks at the T'skrangs*Greedy lizards...Ah, you bring a tear of pride to my eyes.

No, it means there will be lots of bad voiceactors for you, and there will pop up a small green thing with a light and a dagger that'll hunt you.

On the bright side, your archenemy is reaaaaally sexy.

*cries* There is a God! Bishie men to the people!

Er, um... do I get to take over Throal as my own now? O.O

Queen Talia... Oooooh! I like! ^ ^

Yeah, but do you really want to be queen of a bunch of angry people?

Send us no Horrors from the Netherplanes, for we shall merely ignore them as we argue!

Maybe that's Throal's secret defense?  Like, the Elves did their thorn thing, and the Trolls did their combat thing...  When the Horrors breached Throal, the leaders ordered everyone to argue like five-year-olds and ignore the Horrors.  And...and it worked!  You see, when the arguments are caused not by Horrors, then they just get no satisfaction from it!

But regrettably, to this day, all in the Throal Empire continue to argue, for their own solution to the Scourge is also their undoing...

LOL! I love that... that's great. :-D Then, just as Throal was beginning to organize and form a strong front to stand against Thera, the arguing oddly began to cease causing those who held power behind the throne to hire a certain assassin to kill King Valurus and allow young Neden to take the throne... thereby causing a new beginning to the arguing such that Horrors shall never again take Throal! LOL! Now Thera... that's another story. Maybe Throal can steal Parlainth's Horrors and cram the Kingdom full of them so Thera won't want it. ;-)

I just wanted to apologize briefly for Calypte's slow response times of late...I'm having some technical difficulties at home, and some other details I've needed to work out before responding.  I know I'm holding things up, so...sorry everybody.

Feel free to challenge Calypte to duels over it. She won't mind. grin

 No worries, and thanks - I'm sure you'll say something thoughtless in time for a rematch one of these days, after Grell's decided whether to match steel with Korentin or say 'actually, I'm sorry about calling you a coward, I meant to say that you're a bloody psychotic with limited people skills' and calm him down. ^_^

Yep! All good Caly. :-)

Anyone guess at how long we'll be sitting as Grell burns bodies? Enough for a Recovery Test? ^_^'

 Nope, 'cause I mean to finish stitching you up shortly, and there's no getting out of it by clever Adept magic. ^_-

Given I've never actually had to burn bodies in real life, I don't have the faintest clue ;-)  Mountainshadow?

 On a bonfire?

 Hours to get them down to ash, but once the fire is up and running we can step back and RP other things I should imagine. ^_^

Geeze. Don't you people have internet? grin  The lowest temperature I'm finding that can effectively burn a body is 1400F.  Apparently the coolest part of a candle is 1466.33F - so a bigger fire is more a matter of coverage and efficiency (getting the heat to transfer into the body), than anything.  A bonfire should work fine.

On the other hand, even in a crematorium's furnace, which runs higher temperatures (I'm finding them listed at 1400-1800F), and concentrates the heat very nicely, it takes about two hours.  The Ghouls might be a little bit faster - it stands to reason that a body that's been "dead" would be drier and burn faster.  But the Jehuthra, as I understand it, isn't an undead type, and is a fairly large body.  So if we're really going to sit and watch them burn, we'll be here all day.  Starting up a bonfire and leaving it unattended seems pretty irresponsible, though.

Grell, are you sure Stalkers insist on burning the bodies every time?  Doesn't dismemberment-and-scattering work pretty well, too, at least for minor Constructs like these?  Otherwise, it seems like the big Horrors would have weeks to see them coming and move somewhere else, with all the time and big flashy fires they'd spend clearing out the outer ring...

*gets the marshmallows and the Omandras out and ready*

Oh, nooo!  It's Mallowroast all over again!  Maybe we can gather up the survivors and they can build a new city...um, town...well, hamlet.  Er...would you believe, waystation?

Mhm :P

Or you can apply marshmallows to yourself and allow for Omandras to have a fun time.

Um.

That seems a little...forward. grin  I generally don't let myself be roasted over an open fire until at least the third date.

Bah :P

ANd come on people, react to Talias's post if you so wish or start the barbercue.

And the reward thread has been updated. Your LP is in the bank.

Nyloque is holding his (re)action...to Talia's speech...until after a few others have posted.  :-)

And yes, I'm back from my trip.

 I don't believe it's been a full total year since our last legend points. ^_^

Hmm...You do deserve some more LP then wouldn't you agree Mr Black?

 No, just more adventures - you can hardly get LP's for not doing anything now, can you? ^_^

Bribes. *nods for herself*

You've been doing alot during the past year. GIven me headaches extraordinairé for example :P
*thinks*I'll think about that.

Yes little T'skrang. Bribes.

 But it's been strictly internal, RP-based stuff (and therefore great fun), not legend-worthy deeds. Short of declaring that in our next 'downtime' period we do some 'miscellaneously heroic deeds' there's not really a way to speed us along without rather badly subverting the Earthdawn system.

Well, Korentin hasn't killed anyone not worth killing yet... that's erm... heroic... ;-)

 Or at least restrained.

 Though on a side note, what the hell is Nyloque's charisma step? Dear lord, if I *did* trust him before, after that little speech of his I think I'd be talking about having him hung... ^_^

Unfortunately if we scatter the bodies about it is rather possible a Horrorflesh (from Second Edition Scourge Unending) would sprout from the pieces and parts, then we might have several villages bled dry and double the number of jauthera's and ghouls to deal with on our return trip... I would rather avoid that.  If you want we can pack the bodies up and burn them a little each night? ;) We do have two wagons; I'm sure if we throw the bodies in one of them then everyone will be willing to walk right quick afterwards! ;)

It'd be just like that old legend, "Johnny Horrorseed"....

About my "speech"...

Just a note in Nyloque's defense.  He was just accused of being a horror construct, or controlled by a horror.  Multiple times.  And called "it" (or rather, "that") several times as well.  And, at the next town, it will be decided whether he's to be kicked out of the expedition for his horrendous and vile acts (though Hrothgar might try to prevent the actual "kicking out" part).

Imagine if any of your characters was thus accused, and how they would react.

And the reasons?  Nyloque was accused for three reasons.  First, because he saw something no one else did.  Second, because he pointed it out without shouting.  And third, because he went to keep Hrothgar from charging into combat.  These are the three reasons that changed him from an irritant some people didn't like, to an active threat to be countered.

I think Nyloque is being remarkably restrained.  And I don't think his anger is unjustified.  To show even more restraint, Nyloque asked for a private discussion with his accusor, and was refused.  His only recourse was to speak in public.  He didn't ask to give a speech nor particularly want to give one.  Basically, he's been accused, insulted, and forced to confront the accusations in a public forum.

Is the tone of Nyloque's speech biting?  You bet.  Is he smiling?  Sure, it's habit.  Is he furious?  Most definitely.  Did he try everything to get a resolution without confrontation?  Well, not everything, but he did allow everyone else to intervene first, he allowed Hrothgar to intervene, he put aside his weapons, he waited for Korentin to react, and when all of this failed, he asked to speak one-on-one to resolve the accusations in privacy.  I think Nyloque fairly showed himself to be overwhelmingly restrained and diplomatic in his dealings with Calypte.

As for the accusation itself, I'm kind of wondering why no one has asked him to produce a work of artistic merit.

------
Nyloque's Charisma step was low enough that Calypte's Taunt result of 7 was a success.  So, yeah, it isn't especially high.

Oooh! So now I convinced Nyloque that he's in love with Calypte?!?!? Awesome! :-P Mirrel you shall be Throal's new Court Scribe and shall have all the tails you wish! ^ ^ Calypte, to you I give the best Tailor in Throal to prepare something fitting for Nyloque to wear to your wedding. Nyloque, to you I give this lovely Orichalcum helmet, that you might withstand the rigors of your love for Calypte...

But seriously, while Talia understands that Nyloque and Calypte are having issues, she's not completely sure what the big fuss is about all of a sudden– of course she wasn't actually there for part of that. She does realize that Nyloque has probably been cornered into not being able to do anything without scorn... at least from Calypte. Really, she just wants the two to kiss and make up so that they can go about getting to Landis. Unfortunately, that takes concessions from both sides... I thought Calypte retracted the Horror accusation... though I might be wrong. I'll have to re-read... I think it just comes off as Nyloque pushing the issue even after Talia asked everyone to let it go. Most dashingly I might add... ^ ^

 I think the main problem is that Nyloque is, possibly, the most untrustworthy character I've ever seen in any of my games, ever - and I've been playing here on RPol, generally ten to twenty games at once, for about three years now. ^_^

 It's not that he *does* anything in particular, but from almost the first moment we met him to the current scene, he's just screamed 'own agenda boy' in every word and deed - frankly, he could say 'good morning' and we'd be trying to work out what he was up to. Whether it's posting style or his lawyer-like manner of speech however, I couldn't say.

 Though I should clarify slightly, Korentin did react - he wandered over, made sure that Nyloque is aware that he, at least, trusts the swordmistress's judgement over that of the dwarf, and therefore his words and actions should be chosen accordingly (and therefore do not necessarily force any more of a confrontation than is needful), and went back to his own concerns, which is to say waiting to fight a duel with Grell. ^_^

@Korentin -- Sorry, yes, you did react.  What I meant was, your reaction didn't erase the accusation.  Nor did Hrothgar's reaction.  But...most untrustworthy character ever?!  You've got to be kidding!  I mean, yes, I concede that Nyloque may come off as untrustworthy at first (and "at first" is a long time in rpol terms)--but most untrustworthy ever?


@Talia -- Hahahahaha!  I'm *stunned*!  Speechless!  :-D  Definitely looking forward to writing a response in a day or two!

I think it might take more than an Average Success to convince somebody that they themselves are in love...grin


What?  Only the best Tailor in Throal? Excuse me, but where is my line of 10th Circle Troubadours with the trumpets?  Who's going to get the Elementalists gathered up to provide suitable fireworks on this kind of notice?  And what about my dress?  I don't think they normally make them in red and purple with small silver bells on the train and cut for fencing.

Honestly.  Hehe...fortunately, some of us need our Charismas, and aren't convinced of anything.  (Well, except your first speech.  I will confess, my Social Defense is not a 33.  Yet.)


I'm not finding that, actually.  I mean, Calypte's accusing Nyloque of many things, and I won't try to say she means it in a nice way, so I suppose we might as well put it on the list, but...I hadn't realized that one was in there.  Let alone multiple times.

Most untrustworthy character ever? I haven't had this problem in other games before, but ever? Are you sure that's not Korentin's paranoia talking? ;-)


I guess I just don't understand what Nyloque hopes to get from this? I don't see Calypte changing her tune until she has a reason to. Regardless of whether she retracts anything, the accusation will still sit in everyone's heads for a good long while... and bringing the topic up again will just elongate that time period.


Yes, if anyone hasn't guessed, Talia is actually more social than combat. ;-) I'm glad you liked that! :-D


Well... okay... but it might get Nyloque thinking... ;-)


Téch! Well then I guess I'll just have to lay claim to Thera too, then hmmmm? Geez, so demanding. Spoiled. Spoiled, I tell you! ;-) [Privte to Nyloque: PSSSST! See! She loves you too! Look how excited she is about the wedding already!!!]

 Nope, I kid you not... Ohhh, sure - there have been characters more likely to betray you, steal from you or shoot you in the back, but I kind of trusted them to do so, in their own time. Nyloque on the other hand comes across as an unbelievably shifty snake-oil salesman... I honestly can't explain it, but the character somehow manages to present himself in the most dreadful possible light almost every time.

 Which I have to admit, is hellishly clever manipulation, if that's what he's meant to be doing. ^_^

...bishie tailbearing...hmm... Yupp, that would make Mirrel sing I gather.
Woe the people that would have to listen.

 Just... just don't complete that little thought of yours in-game, out-loud Mirrel... 'kay? ^_^

What thought?

 The one about *why* there might be trouble if Nyloque is in love with Calypte... that thought... ^_^

Why not? It is an amusing thought.*grins*
*looks at Talia*You should take Troubadour lessons from Mirrel.

Aren't we a little bit young to be Multi-Disciplining? grin

Oh, darn! But then what am I supposed to do with the Illusio... er, I mean... Illustration skills I bought. *whistles* 0:-)

As I recall... in another game the PCs actually were jumped, hog tied, and held hostage by the other PCs. Nyloque is just being threatened with having to leave. ;-)

At least Nyloque isn't in love with Talia... now thems fighting words! ;-)

Why not Korentin? *innocent look*

And yes, troubadour lessons. Which would involve teachings while walking in the park, moonlight serenades...candlelit dinners. *nods*

I think Arakan should come back to take care of Mirrel. O.o

 Because if nothing else, you folks might be needing Korentin to be paying attention when the next fight brews up. ^_^

Aha! He would be looking at Calyptes tushie elsewise wouldn't he. *grin* I shall now go and plan.

That was always a problem with Vergil, too.  Why do you think Calypte wears her cloak all the time?


Especially this soon before the wedding!  He should've figured that out a long time ago!  The Iopos Boys' Choir is already coming down by Airship to sing the vows Calypte wrote for him - we can't just send them back.  They had to spend weeks memorizing that whole list...

{What?  Calypte's vows to him?!  Um, she'll be much too busy, you know, coordinating things and all, I'm afraid.  But, just to seal the Blood Oath, she'll vow not to kill him if he sticks to his side of things.  It's balanced.  Trust me. grin}

Is this a blood oath from a slightly different point of view? ;-)

Ah, yes the Walking, Serenading, and Dining... and then the... er, um... okay I'll not go there...

Yes, Arakan... we definitely need Arakan back... ;-)

Now you all see why Talia has stopped this silly bathing thing ans wears brooding black cloaks and head gear. No eminent tushie watching here... oh, no... and it gives so much more time for useful things like... well... guarding for example, without distraction. :-)

Arakan is busy doing heroic stuff.
Something which you should be busy imitating.

 Hey, we'll be back on the hero trail *just* as soon as the corpse-burning is done and Grell and I have a little chat - which will hopefully take a lot less time than the Nyloque/Calypte 'conversation' because Grell's sane and Korentin's not, whereas both Nyloque and Calypte are frankly, barking. ^_^

For some reason I get the feeling that the genetical memory of Korentin and Grell will inspire fanatics in a few thousand years to scream.
"Witches! Burn!"

Calypte is not barking mad!

I'm a cat person.

grin

 Oh?

 Wash in your own spit do you? ^_^


 (Bonus points for spotting the quote!)

I recognized it!  That was out of Glimmer Man, when Steven Seagall looked at Keenen Wayans and said... "Oh?"

(Just kidding.  I love Pratchett.  Though I admit I can't offhand remember which book that was out of.)

Genetic memory? Were assuming that these two will pass on genes?
...
...
...
"They're Horrors! Burn them! BURN THEM!!!"
Allow the Acting roll... carry the 20 for feeling...

Hello everyone!  I'll be joining the game just as soon as the GM tells me when, where, how and which way is North.

Welcome :)

Ah yes. I should probably introduce our new player.
She'll shoulder Sandra, our long-lost Warrior.

*waves*  And thank you, Mirrel

Yay!  I missed Sandra...grin

Well, I hope that I can fill her shoes successfully!

Try cotton balls.  Those should work pretty fast!

I generally just add socks.  Cotton balls you think, though?  Hmmm...  Or maybe toilet tissue?  I have heard great things about toilet tissue.

 Welcome on board Sandra!

 Don't mind the current bitching, we're just deciding how much of Korentin's crap the party will put up with. ^_^

*grins*  I can deal with just about anyting.  Well except to excessive dice rolls.  That really rather torks me right off!  Anyway, thank you!  I am looking forward to it!

No worries there.  I got a 17 on my Willpower roll to resist rolling the dice!  Whoo-hoo!

OOOhh!!  Can I borrow that?  *peers interestedly over Calypte's shoulder*

 That said, I would very much appreciate Calypte stepping in at some point to serve as Black's translator, before things degenerate. ^_^

* Phew *

I misremembered the name.

Thought I was going to have to try and kill our new PC as soon as she got here.

Not that that would be an unusual greeting around these parts....


Welcome new Sandra!

*chuckles*Now who on Earth could you mean Baraak? Liara or the thief from the very beginning? Who'd demand such a response from our noble thief.

I was thinking of Liara whose last act, before disappearing, was to trigger my gahad.

Ah. It is good I didn't convince the new player to shoulder Liara then*chuckles*

Pray tell also Baraakn which wagon are you on? The one with the monologue-giving T'Skrang or the other one?

Naturally I'm on the one with Hrothgar, given its other occupant.  I wouldn't really count on Baraak to notice a band of skorchers mounted on thundras heading our way....


Heh, I'd forgotten about Kakkiyouri, but all I'd have to do to vanquish her is buy her a drink.  Or give her a kiss if I were in a bad mood....

Too bad. Would have been funny to see our dear Troubadours reaciton when Baraak cleared his throat and said "I agree"

Thank the higher power that he was on the other wagon. >.<

Thank you!

Calypte could use a translator of her own...grin  (Honestly, I don't know why Horrors even bother with adventurers.  We kill each other quite nicely without any intervention on their part...)


Hehe...I can see we're going to have to buy Ronia some heavier clothes soon.  We count on Baraak to be paying attention, you know!

Um, I did want to double-check, about the wagons starting up - is that assuming that other conversations have been finished, the bodies are burned, and everybody's loaded up?  Or are the people in wagons taking off without us?

Because, really, I could see it going either way...hehe...

Nono, just Mirrel driving away alone with a wagon. (that sounds really reassuring doesn´t it?)

 Ohhh, I know that Calypte doesn't always get him, but she *does* seem to know where the buttons are that you shouldn't push when talking to a Sky Raider, and whilst Grell is cheerfully clog-dancing over the various 'so, just how far can we trust you?' topics it would be nice to have a nominally sane adventurer to whisper in his ear how best to wrap a Sky Raider around his finger. ^_^

As a side-note...Your troubadour is the one that makes sure your stories get told, IE she makes sure your LP reflects you status. Stopping said whimiscal troubadour from driving off is a good move*looks at Talia*Fetch.

She isn't going awayish as in sayonara. Just awayish as in: Can't hear the kids argue. :)

 I'd just like to say to Grell, thankyou very much for a kick-ass setup for me to deliver that last post into... I really did want to answer some of your points earlier, but I couldn't find a way to do it in less then six words until your latest update.

 And thankyou for your patience. ^_^

So, can someone tell me where the group is headed and give me an idea where I can rejoin the game when the time comes?

We are going to Landis! Or, er, um... last I heard we were going there... then again... I've never actually looked at the map... and er, that means only Nyloque and Hrothgar and... oh, and Grell and perhaps Korentin know where we are going... *glances worriedly at the two in a stare down* Um... before anyone dies... we are going to Landis, yes? O.O

And Baraak, because he booked the job, and Calypte, because she pays attention. grin  But Hrothgar's the only one who really needs to know where we're going.  Afterall - if anything happens to him, we don't have any reason to keep going there...hehe...but Landis is pretty far away.  I think we'll be passing through Kratas on the way - most anybody could wind up at Kratas.

Or, last we saw Sandra, she decided to travel north with some orks we'd met; if she split off from them within a day or two and headed back to Bartertown, she'd have gotten back there just about when we were leaving.  If she talked to some of the people she'd know we knew there (the innkeeper at the Melodious Hymn, or our other former partymembers Jyon and Rowan who are staying in Bartertown now), she could have found out which way we went and maybe decided to come along and see if she could join back up again.

And it's not like we're a hard group to catch up to.  You could probably show up now, if you want to take that route.

Well pps, settle the scores, Im moving you forward tomorrow. :) Unless you want more time that is.

 I don't think I *need* to play through patching up Talia, just so long as she knows that, barring a really good exuse, Black's not going to let it drop. ^_^

Yep, I'm good.

Well, short of force, I don't think Talia's about to let Korentin patch her up any further... however, if he'd like to delegate that task to say Calypte or Mirrel... that might be a different story... ;-) At least... assuming that the further tending is on something other than an appendage...
This message was last edited by the player at 05:36, Mon 10 Dec 2007.

 Heh, as long as they're qualified to treat her, he'd be good with that. Otherwise his position is that to actually treat Talia as though she had a gender would be tremendously embarassing for both of them. Trolls is prudish, y'see. ^_^

Mirrel made all of Narlindas wounds vanish so aye, she would be qualified.
Then again, Talia might be uncomfortable to undressing with Mirrel aswell. >.<
This message was last edited by the player at 16:19, Mon 10 Dec 2007.

Well, Calypte could embarrass your wounds with a dazzling display of wit!  "Ahai!  I see you!  You're barely three inches across!  I can't believe you've the nerve to call yourself a gash.  I've seen bigger scrapes on a Windling's knee!  Now stop hiding behind all that blood; come out and face me, you puny snippet!"


But, um, as to actually treating, well...what does Physician default to, anyway?  Surely it must default...hehe..."wild guesses" are a time-honored medical technique...

Hehe. I believe that Mirrel will do fine...
Thankfully, Talia doesn't have a tail. ;-)

*steals Korentins tail and puts it on Talia* Mirrels dreampartner finished.

That's not what those men in the tavern were saying...

LOL! Well Talia is an elf after all... if you squint just so... she could be pretty enough to be a male elf... ;-) Or then again... maybe it doesn't so much matter.
^ ^


Lies I tell you! Lies! Talia has perfectly good reasons for the long dark cloak. Yes, perfectly good reasons... like... um... helping Black pretend she's genderless... yeah. So, yeah. *cough* 0:-)

 *Peeeeeeers at Mirrel as she reaches for his tail* Hmm?

*pats Korentins tail*There there boy.
((And that is how dragons died out))

*waits until Korentin is busy with Mountainshadow until she jmps the tail and tries to find where it is attached so she can remove it*

 Just before indescribable carnage can happen, Korentin is jimped (which sounds far more painful than strictly necessary) and flailing develops as Mirrel, for reasons of her own, starts trying to get into his trousers.

 It's not a complete loss... she can still receive plastic surgery, move to Thera and take on a new name, right?

_{Psst! Mirrel!  Just wait until he sheds...}

innocent whistle

Sheds...?

*ponders and leaves Korentin to be his old dark and scary self for awhile longer*

So, as we get closer to time for Sandra to rejoin your group, perhaps you can tell me what her relationship is and was with each of you up to the time of her leaving?

And, thank you in advance, that will really help a lot

 Urg... I think Korentin and Sandra were in the training yard at the opening of the campaign, and they sort of got on, until she found out in the mountains that when someone tells Black 'you might as well kill me', he takes it literally. She kind of got icked out by that.

 Or am I misremembering things guys?]


 Oh, and Yup Mirrel, sheds. T'skrang tails are regenerative, growing a foot or so every couple of months, and the end is always falling off. So a popular punishment for a petty criminal is to cut the whole thing off (and they'll be marked for a year or so as it grows back).

Alternately, now that Korentin has cut off Mountainshadow's tail in that little scuffle earlier, maybe you could give Talia that.  I mean, what nobler "Welcome To The Species" gift can you give a new T'skrang, than a Dragon's Tail?

Sandra: Calypte remembers Sandra as being very solid; she was professional, dependable, and generally supportive.  Sandra probably remembers Calypte as being good for direction, but too undisciplined.  That point where Korentin killed a prisoner, though, I think pulled Sandra and Calypte together a bit more - Sandra was the most angry about that (I believe it was the IC reason why she left soon after), and Calypte gave him a pretty good chewing-out on the matter...

Since Sandra left right after the absolute debacle of Mallowroast - our first job - being demolished, I don't think there were any hard feelings about that anywhere...

Have you had enough of her background to give much thought as to why she'd come back?  Now that I think about it, she had pretty good reasons for leaving...hehe...

I don't recall any strong interactions between Baraak and Sandra (then again I forgot about his first love, Kakkiyouri, too....)  He did give her a booster potion from his own private stash once (after some prodding by Calypte) when she was badly wounded and didn't seem to care one way or another whether Korentin offed the prisoner as long as he didn't have to watch.

But how could you forget Kakkiyouri?  Baraak was so sweet to her...sitting next to her, pouring her drinks...between that and the way he started watching Liara almost right away, Calypte's still convinced he has a thing for elven women.

Which is, of course, why she's still quite oblivious to his and Ronia's snuggling.  Presumably they're just cold, or something. grin

And the way he so chivalrously went looking for Liara in the dark, especially after the way she used him.

Yep, Baraak's quite the gentleman....

Any idea how long the trip actually was?  I have a few things I would like to narrate over during the trip, but it will kinda depend on how many days we were all traveling together.

Also, does know where Haradis is on the map of Barsaive?  Are we actually in Landis, or is this more of a stop before getting on the Serpent River or something like that?

Eeep! I'm sooo keeping my cloak on... over... er... my new tail... O.o

Talia/Laita never actually had much interaction with Sandra at all... Now that I think on it... she might have left before I joined... Clean slate there :-)

Oh, and Grell never had any interaction with Sandra either, which isn't to say he wouldn't be facinated to study her Horror Mark... you see, he has this theory....

Now I seem to remember reading that Grell and Mirrel and two others were in a hole in a cemetery killing a spider horror when Sandra was still there...

Yep...that was where we found them.  Fortunately, we arrived just in the nick of time!  (Well...OK, just after the nick of time, but they survived...)

But I don't remember Grell and Sandra talking, particularly.  Talia, technically, joined the night before Sandra left, but Sandra was probably asleep through much of that, since it happened late at night.  She'd have seen Talia ride out to try to help Korentin fight the possessed townsfolk, I think, but that's about all...after that, we went back to Bartertown, and Sandra left with the three orks.

Thanks!  That helps.  Way too many posts for me to try to read them all.  Two more questions, what horror scar and why did Sandra leave with the orks?

The one Nyloque gave her and because she's an Ork Dork (once you go Ork, you never go back....)

The horror mark was only, that I know of, mentioned in her original bio lines:


I don't know about anybody else, but Calypte certainly didn't know about anything of the sort IC, and I don't know anything more than that OOC.

She didn't really say why she left, because, well, it had more to do with the player having to leave than anything else, I think.  It made sense, though; the job was a complete disaster, she was still mad about the Korentin Incident, and the orks seemed like nice people...just, in all, a good time to part ways.

Alright.  Thanks.  That helps.  The GM and I toyed with the idea that Sandra would have some sort of amnesia and not remember any of you but I think that I am going to try to just pick it up.  So if all of you will help me out if I screw anything up I would really appreciate it.  And I am not really sure about the whole rejoining thing.  Have to ask the GM about that one.

 I have been looking at old logs, and I just made a terrible discovery. Sandra... I don't know how to tell you this, but... you're blonde.

 No, I mean it - look at this from your first post.

 '"So, the dead guys were all 'rarrr', and we hit 'em with the oil and then it was all 'whoosh' and the smell was all 'eww'," she said, apparently being a creature that did not need to breath while talking.  "But Korbin said that only idiots would fight dead guys like that, but we said that we won so it's not like we didn't get the job done.  His face got all red and he made us polish weapons for a full week because we were all sassy."'



 Ahem... but in any case, Sandra and Korentin sparred shortly after Calyptes first appearance - he carried the match two strikes to one, but conceded the win to her since he failed to pull his blows and basically damn' near broke ribs (bloody exploding dice).
 And looking it over, he actually used sentences back then, sometimes. You folks have actually cut his word use about in half. ^_^

 She seemed to be a little less pissed with Black after Liara revealed herself as a Theran though - but never resumed her earlier 'friendliness' - I guess seeing someone execute a prisoner who said 'go ahead and kill me' is a shock to anyone's system. ^_^

Hehe...I remember that.  But her player did say they were still trying to find her `Voice'...aha, there it is:



_{(Hmph...not the only one who can go digging through old logs...hehe...)}

She settled out to be pretty practical, pretty early on.

*giggles* Yup.  I knew that.  It will be a real stretch for me.  roflmao

I actually did read that part.  Korentin was very gallant.  I don't know if I can pull off the sir headed blabbermouth part but It looks like fun to try!

Can't remember how much interactions there was between Sandra and Mirrel. O.o
I would guess very little...but then again, I am writing and guessing this after just getting up from bed so who knows. >.<

I'm going to guess that there wasn't much if she left right after you and Grell met up with them.

Given how little Talia and Sandra got to know one another, and how Talia's changed her appearance so much, it may be that Sandra doesn't even make the connection. Or, then again, someone could tell her just as easily if they were so inclined... like um, say Korentin.... :-D

Now is Talia the one that was all covered in thorns? Or did that player leave?

That was Narlinda, the blood elf Horror Stalker and I think she was an NPC. But yes, she's quite gone now.

Talia is the Cavalrywoman who showed up with Liara, our infamous farm girl Theran. :-) She stayed the night in the barn and chatted up the orks a bit, and helped fight the town Warden in the morning.

*sigh*  I know I will eventually get it but right now,  I have to admit that I am still a bit confused.  *laughs*  Oh well, if you are all willing to be patient with me it will come

No worries. We're a friendly sort... :-D And who's to say Sandra hasn't had some adventures of her own that have dulled her memory of us a bit? Okay, okay she'd definitely remember Calypte... or at least the purple hat with tassels... :-D