In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 925):

Is anyone interested in doing an Interlude? Just taking a little time to think about it? That's fine, the Judge can certainly wait, but doesn't want to wait for no reason, so please post a note here to indicate your level of interest for an Interlude to start Ch26.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 926):

This week is pretty crazy for me (good time for a gap!). I'm planning on doing something but I probably won't get to it until this weekend sometime.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 927):

Thanks for the note. That's fine, I meant it when I said waiting is fine. Just want to know where people stand. Looking forward to Earnest's narrative.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 926):

I'm kind of in the same boat as Earnest. It'll probably be a day or two before I get around to posting an Interlude story for Jake.

Looks like you meant an hour or two, pard. Nicely done. Add the Benny to Jake’s reset total.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 930):

Well, you know how it goes. Once a story or post gets to rattlin' around in my noggin, it don't take o'er-long for it to get writ. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:55, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 931):


Yep Tommy will also participate and post an interlude sometime this weekend

All good. It's definitely a relevant Interlude for the professor, and NP with brevity. Add a Benny to the professor's reset total.

Another interesting Interlude from Tommy. Clever way to connect the current problem with his hearing to an incident in the past. Add a Benny to the Irishman's reset total.

Giving Tracy a little more time before moving on.

Yeah, that's good. I enjoyed the way you sort of “backed into it,” revealing it was a memory of a younger Tracy in the middle. Add a Benny to Tracy's reset total.

The Judge will post something in Ch 26, about beginning a search of the cavern, within 24 hours. In the interim, feel free to post dialogue or narrative as the men conclude their rest on the butte and resume their adventuring with the few hours left before they would return to base camp.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 935):

Did you want us to go ahead and do an advance of our characters as well?

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 936):

Yes, the Judge said to take your Advance in msg #924 in this OOC. However, a clarification is warranted.

The only reason you might need to wait is if you want to take something unusual and different from the character's historical development. The Judge and player should discuss first.

For example, bumping existing skills needs no discussion. Bumping an Attribute needs no discussion (assuming once per Rank is observed). Taking a type of Edge the character has taken before or taking an edge related to an existing Edge or skill needs no discussion (e.g., taking a Combat Edge is natural because all four pards have been in combat recently; taking Improved Dodge or Improved Level Headed, taking an Edge with Shooting or Fighting as requirement, etc.).

Taking a new skill might or might not need discussion. As long as there's internal logic, no discussion needed -- e.g., a character wants to take a skill that another player already has, and which that character used while in the caverns. Otherwise, consult the Judge.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 937):

Jake has gotten things started. Waiting for others to verify they have taken an Advance and to post narrative, Support rolls, and Survival roll.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 938):

RL getting busy so I will probably not make a decision on an Advance until the weekend. Benny count has been reset.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:48, Fri 04 Mar 2022.

In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 939):

That's fine. You don't need to rush the Advance. I just wanted to make sure everyone had acknowledged it, so they could take it before making other rolls if desired.

Re: Jake's Smarts roll in Ch26 msg #20 ...

The Judge has specified the Smarts-related skills suitable for Support rolls in the searches. Therefore, the Judge can't let Jake get away with an unmodified Smarts roll as a result of the limitation on using Notice more than two-out-of-three attempts (Notice IS a Smarts skill, after all).

However, Jake's good roll was on the Wild Die. The Judge is inclined to say "the Wild Die has spoken," but has given Jake a choice, in PM, for what his roll actually represents. Once Jake makes his choice, the Judge will post accordingly in Ch26.

In the meantime, either Tommy or Earnest should go ahead and make Support rolls for search #3, if they desire. Part of the reason the Judge is posting this OOC comment is to reiterate the notes in Ch26 msg #6 and #19 about the specific skills appropriate for Support of Tracy's Survival roll -- and limitation of using any skill more than two-out-of-three attempts.

I believe that Jake would be in favor of returning to the base camp at this point. Although Tracy would have gotten the worst of it in terms of digging about in the muck, I think that the Texican would be ready to leave the Roe-dent Cave.

I'm fine with fading to black and returning to camp, unless the Judge or another of the pards is in favor of more IC posting.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 942):

Thanks for weighing in Jake. A fade would be fine by the Judge. Others can offer their thoughts here or IC in Ch26

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 943):

Tommy is also in favor of a return to camp/fade out at this point

In reply to Thomas Pearce (msg # 944):

The Judge implied that we could manage a 4th search, but I'm okay with forgoing that for now (it's not like these piles are going anywhere!) and fading to the camp.

WRT the coins: Does there appear to be words included in the design? In any language? You said the design was familiar... could it have anything to do with the confederacy?

...let me know if I should roll anything for this info.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 945):

No need for further rolls. You made a roll with a raise and the Judge gave Earnest what could be learned by it. Another roll doesn't change anything if it's essentially for the same purpose.

That said, take the Judge's words at full face value.
And yet, all he can determine from inspecting these silver coins is what they are not.

That noted, your comment about "familiar" is fair and understandable. Perhaps, that wasn't the best word choice. To clarify, the words "somewhat familiar" are intended to convey the meaning "frequently seen or experienced" in the following fashion: The stamp on these coins has all the qualities the professor would expect of coins minted for human trade, which are usually characterized by a symbol of state, an iconic image, a figurehead of state, etc. There's no doubt as to their purpose -- they are coins designed for commerce and whoever minted them followed the longstanding custom of some kind of stamp. However, regarding the provenance, in this case, Earnest cannot identify the stamp. It falls into the category of "I can tell you what it's not" followed by a long list of currencies the astute professor can recall from his book learning and first-hand experience.

Think about this when you would ask any question, such as "is it Confederacy?" Is a confederate coin something Ringgenberg would be able to identify? Yes. So it can't be that, because Earnest can determine "what it is not." Words? No, in this case it just appears to be an image. However, if there were words, the professor could tell you the languages they are not. Even "not" some languages he can't speak/read but might be able to recognize enough symbols to hazard a guess.

Re: a 4th attempt, the Judge meant to convey that you could choose to make another search, knowing it might affect your ability to get back to base camp before dark. Instead of a fade, for example, the Judge might rule that you need to make some rolls to accelerate your traveling pace after that 4th attempt, such as Athletics (climbing) or Survival (navigation), or what-have-you, instead of simply assuming you can make it back safely without any die rolls if proper time is allotted.

The Judge is pausing a little longer for Tracy's input, but it appears a consensus on fade to camp is building. Since the professors seems a little bit "on the fence" -- at least until the clarifications above -- my preference is to hear everyone's input and reach full consensus.

EDIT: added missing words in aqua
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:58, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 946):

Tracy would want to keep searching, but he would go along with his pards' desire to head back to camp.

I am fine with a fade up as well.

Okay, the Judge will post a fade up post sometime today.

Judge, can you refresh my (OOC) memory (or refer me to the pertinent message) as to what was agreed upon with Red Shirt?

Thanks!
This message was last edited by the player at 17:48, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 949):

Reference msg #319 in Ch25, in which the Judge wrote:

"The Paiute stayed with the horses in the Echo Canyon valley, with an understanding that the others would return in no more than three days time. Iffin' they failed to show up, Red Shirt promised to travel to the bandit's hideout to learn what could be learned. The explorers said they would leave a note if they knew in advance that their return was delayed. And if the guide didn't find a note, he would know they were in danger. Still, he wouldn't commit to actually entering the caves. He promised nothing on that account."

That was two mornings ago.
The men left the morning of #319. They arrived at the hideout, set up base campe, and spent the rest of the day searching.
The second day was the day we just completed in Ch26 #32.
The third day is now beginning in Ch26 #32.

And this is why I'm asking for the players' perspective. If you count starting the morning, it has been two full days. If you stayed another full day and night, it will have been 3 full days (tomorrow morning, relatively).

So the Judge is reminding the players of all this and asking how you perceive the count of 3 days. Do you feel the need to return before nightfall tonight (on the third day?), or return the following morning (72 hours = 3 days)?