Hi folks!

This is the OOC thread for the new group. I'd like each of you to post here with a quick indication of what your character is like and what they do - you don't have to give away too much information, but enought to get an idea of how you'd work together would be nice.

Any requests for starting country and aims would be great, otherwise I'll choose :P

I'd like at least a couple of you to be acquainted IC when we start as it saves on introductions and helps me find a good starting point.

Don't worry if you haven't quite finished your sheet - I'm sure by now you each know well enough the basics of your characters.

Jos is a livestock rustler and petty thief.  He's from northwest Ddaran, the son of poor ranchers.

He'd be fine in any country.  Having a reward on your head in some of the helps you learn to appreciate the others.  But something more wild or frontier-sy.  He'd stand out like sore thumb in a cultured city.

Ah good, this will help. I am still sorting my character out, so doing this with other players around is great.

Here is the initial idea for Harry, and it hasn't changed much. Looks like he has mutual interests with Jos.

Harry the Bastard. A rogue* and a scoundrel, Harry makes a fair living performing small services for men of breeding, services with which they would not wish to be associated. Among his peers, Harry professes to be the bastard son of a nobleman, but the nobleman's identity changes every month. Harry's grudge against men with airs and graces appears real enough, but he is sufficiently dissolute that it seems the best that fate has to offer him is a dagger in his back and a slow death in an alley. To hear him talk, though, you would think he will become the Duke's right hand man before his hair turns grey.

* small r

Very interesting, we seem to have a common theme!
Sikhandyn used to be a petty thief before being adopted and trained by an old mage (after trying to steal his belongings).

I'd still prefer if we could try our luck in a richer country, at least in the mid-term; that's where the pay will be highest.

Appearance: Sikhandyn is a slim young man of average height with brown hair, green eyes, and boyish good looks. His eyes are sometimes lost or haunted, sometimes sparkling with interest and full of life. In spite of a certain uneasiness which seems to indicate that he is not used to being part of a group, he clearly enjoys company, and his listening skills are truly remarkable, as suggested by the unique smile of delight on his face when engaged in a conversation and the passion in his eyes when he gazes at his interlocutors.

Diarmuid is a fairly non-descript freeman of medium build and slightly above average height. With his unruly coal black hair, dark brown eyes and tanned skin he has the look of a farmhand, something he takes pains to counteract with grooming so as not to put off women. His father, as head of the family, is considered the equal of a Knight's squire. Diarmuid is some way below that.

Nobles looking at him tend to say things like 'from good tough peasant stock'.

When angry his dark eyebrows and glare can be mildly intimidating, but he is as quick to laughter as anger. As a freeman, above the peasants but below the nobility, he is very aware of station. He shows deference to the nobility and expects deference from those of a lower social class.

His horse 'Tuatha' is about the only thing that sets him apart from the hoi polloi.

Otherwise Diarmuid appears to be a cavalry mercenaryman, the sort that seem to multiply like flies on a bloody battlefield whenever times are rough.

Looks like most of you will get along nicely ;) Making money is always a good bonding point.

A point about rich countries - there may be more wealth knocking around, but things cost more...after all, 'rich' is a relative term ;)

One of the reasons I left Blighty.

Join the club. I'm in Japan, which non Blighty country would you be in?

I'd leave, but I like the land too much. The people I can live without for the most part :P

Scuse the off topic, but even with this apparant global recession there's no shortage of flash cars here - quite seriously more than 1 in 10 of the cars I see on the roads are BMWs, Mercs or Audis.

Supposedly we have a high GDP and wealth per capita, but the standard of living seems better in many european countries, simply because prices are more sane. Housing is the worst thing - I don't think I'll ever be able to afford to buy a house without compromising my quality of life, and the earnings of myself and my fiancée are not much less than average.

*sigh*

I'm in Brazil. I left in October 2006. Did you know São Paulo is the largest Japanese city outside Japan? (If you get my drift.)



That's the nail on the head right there. I had a decent job (senior lecturer), if stressful. My wife was doing a postdoc so was bringing money in. We tried to buy a house (Oxford) and couldn't. As she is Brazilian and I speak Portuguese, we came here and both ended up with lectureships.

Once my brother complained that his flat wasn't increasing in value quite fast enough. I felt like throttling him :)

p.s. As for ever moving back to London, that was right out of the equation. It always made me sad to think I had been priced out of my home town.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:39, Fri 29 May 2009.

Look at all these ex-pats!

What is it that you lecture in? London prices are silly - but that's ok by me, I can't stand the place ;)

My fiancée wants us to move to New Zealand - I don't think I could leave my friends though, and just as importantly, the history. No castles and old manors to tour in the New World!

It was biology. Now it is entomology. I work on pathogens of insects, the eological side of things. I like disease!

Apparently, cost of living in NZ means you can get on with life. But yes, no sense of history, these colonials!

Yeah, my wife is a semi diplomat (IGO officer). I show my ID to Jap police they do the whole procul harem bit, turn a whiter shade of pale and become extremely polite even by Nipponese standards.

As for myself, nothing much, when I landed here in the land of eternal politicking I started my own teaching business. Exxon is my main client, which is kind of ironic in that along with Monsanto, Exxon is a company I'd like to see become the next Enron.

I consider myself an environmentalist and green entrepreneur but all that's just getting off the ground now and I've been here two whole years. I'm hoping to commute between South Korea (my wife's nation) and Australia. When her posting is finished here I'll go back to my 15 hours a week,5 months vacation Uni job in Seoul.

And here I am living a mundane life in Nottingham...!

Was just reading about Japanese ettiquette - nice and complex, it seems.

My brother lived in Nottingham for a long while. His last house there was 5 minutes walk from a big park west of the city centre, with some kind of mansion on a hill with a cave under it. Before that he was living out by the big Raleigh factory. Some of my roleplaying friends from way back still live in that area, though I'm a Scot from Glasgow originally.

That'd be the poor excuse for a castle we have - he probably lived in or near the Park (which is an area rather than a park).

That big raleigh factory as been gone for years, the site is now a campus of the university.

Ah a Scot - my fiancée's family has Scottish roots. I have ambitions to live on Skye or in the highlands. Not likely for many years though!

Lots of emigre Scots in England. English women are so much nicer than Scot's girls, or maybe Scots girls were just allergic to me.

You know it's funny almost every colonial I know claims to have Scot's roots. I get the feeling they think they'll inherit a castle or something from a long lost relative. Or better still, a still as in distillery. ;)

This is a first for me.  A game with me and a bunch of Brits, even if most are expats.  I'm American, and still there.

I haved visited though, and loved it.

Glad to hear you liked it!

Shall we return to topic a little?

Sikhandyn is 100% ready. Where's everyone else at?

Any thoughts on who might know each other before beginning and what country you'd like to start in? At least one of you is from Ddaran, but that doesn't mean you have to start there.

If you want you can post your level also, but that can be kept secret if you wish.

He's right. Actually if you force me to wait a little longer, I'll probably reach 105 or even 110% without breaking a sweat...

Need some motivation? Okay... My president is not inviting your Queen to an important event this year.

Got it? Motivated now? Good. Show some pride.

Well my dad's from Paisley. Nothing romantic about that. Means my ancestors stole sheep from the English. The other half of my ancestors lived as far away from Scotland as is possible, while remaining in England and not living in Devon or Cornwall. Speaking of Nottingham and the Southwest, to our Yank, how do you like the accents in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves?

   ~o0o~

Back on topic...I was opting for thrid level because, well, it's more than 1 or 2. It's bigger. If I were going for another character class, I might be keener on reducing that. That said, I can drop it if it fits better, no problem.

I worked some stuff out like feats and so on, but the heavily detailed character sheet put me off. I might just start a sheet from scratch and put the important stuff in.

How do I do the starting money? Forgive my ignorance, but I can't find it on the SRD.

It's not in the SRD. Don't have my books at the minute, it's probably something like 4d4 x 10

What is your preference for starting country? Would you guys be okay with Tern or Keel?

I have no preference for starting country. Diarmuid is from Ithreca though, so he's a long way from home. He's also not really a part of any political feuds or rivalries.

With our shared interest in breaking the law, I think Tern would work great.  We'd never have that far to run if we ever needed to get out of Dodge.  Just get outside the city and hanf out in the wilderness while the trouble we've stirred up quiets down.  Ah, the joys of decentralized government.

That sounds good too. Out of Dodge.. ;)

Sorry, I just realized that 'Get out of Dodge' is probably a saying unique to America.  It's from the Old West, when Dodge City, Kansas, was important.  Whenever someone was visting there, and got in some kind of trouble with the law, they would be forced to flee the city, or be brought to justice.  And justice was mostly hanging.  And so a little piece of Americana was born.

Oh, it's well known in the UK. Most Americanisms are well known in Blighty. We get a lot of your television, for better or worse. Survivor (worse), Firefly (best)

Not to mention The Wire (sublime).

Oh, I was so hoping a group would choose Tern. That's two votes in favour and one neutral vote, if I've counted correctly.

Well I shall vote for Tern too. Should decide things.

Now, what I really like is this..."City-states rules by fiercely inter-competetive local rulers."

Sounds like we might have a patron?

It could be a bit like Kurosawa's Yojimbo, which became a fistful of dollars (I think it's that one in the series).

A fistful of dollars? Fantastic film. If you manage to pull something like that off, I'd be impressed!

Assuming that Diarmuid moved from neutral to pro, I think that makes it unanimous for Tern.

I'm up for Tern. :)

Hurray! Tern it is then I guess. We're ready to roll.

What is my character doing with this group? Simple. They are his childhood friends, and he was involved in petty mischiefs with them. He always kept contact with them, even after Simon rescued him.

After the loss of Simon, returning to his group of friends seemed the natural thing to do!

So, I'll get you sorted out tonight or tomorrow.

One or two of you are definately not local - Diarmuid for example. Sikhandyn most definately is.

Next question - what sort of group are you?

Are you in the employ of the militia of one of the city-states?
Are you members of a mercenary guild?
Are you a fledgling merc guild in your own right?
Are you directly employed by a local person of note?

Or something else entirely...?

I'd say Diarmuid just recruited us... He would know.

Jos, Harry and Sikhandyn have known each other for a long time. I think it would be interesting to have Diarmuid represent our employer, and have some info advantage in terms of where our mission is going. It would be a plausible way to start and bring everyone on board.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:43, Mon 01 June 2009.

Diarmuid is young (hint), strong and fast. However he's not particularly charismatic.

It's a rock, paper, scissors kind of thing, probably connected with something criminal, or at least mildly illegal.

Well right now the only people who have posted are Sikandyn, Harry the Bastard (no cast details), Jos Wollis and Diarmuid. Is it just the four of us or are there more?

Harry the Bastard has hinted at doing services for nobles. I'm thinking this involved someone mildly important from Diarmuid's neck of the woods coming to this neck of the woods. It would probably involve a bit of detective work, mostly on the hush, hush and the QT. Would require some knowledge of the underworld and whose who in the local nobility. Sounds like a repo job to me, since it requires muscle, stealth and a working knowledge of all kinds of shady.

Just the four of you.

I think Harry would be a better 'in' as he's already a fixer of sorts.

Diarmuid is giving me ideas on how to hook him in ;)

As an aside I don't subscribe to the belief D&D seems to hold that leaders have to be charismatic. It's generally true that good leaders should be charismatic, but all sorts of circumstances can lead to someone being put in charge...

I don't think there should be a 'rigid' approach to leadership. Every character brings something to the table, and a unique way to approach things. But we could have someone responsible for helping the DM keep the game going, and tell him when we are ready to proceed.

As much as Sikhandyn likes Harry, he would be extremely reluctant to accept a mission involving an assassination, for example. Harry would have known that and both would have avoided discussing the topic when they would meet for a drink.

Some kind of connection with a merchant from his lands would be good to have. Merchants were often rather like ambassadors in the old times. With news and such passing through the warehouses. Does this land have a port? I dunno, I always think of ports, with night fog as being the kind of place this group would hang out.

Diarmuid would then be the agent for his family's and other family's horses in this city. That wouldn't be enough to maintain a warehouse or a ship or anything, but I imagine someone would have to sign off on a delivery and drive the horses across the city states to their future owner. I imagine Diarmuid and the rustler Jos would be a good fit. While Harry the bastard would know the customers. Don't know enough about the other guy to say how he would fit in.

Diarmuid could be the Squire from another country. Harry would be his arranger. with Silkandyn acting as his guide and instructor. Jos would be the local lad who helps with the horses. It would all be just roles though. I imagine horses would come in once a year, leaving the rest of the time for other things. However a hard ride to deliver a trained horse through criminal infested countryside, getting past crooked border guards and the like without paying too many bribes would a good start.

Anyway, that's my suggestion. Diarmuid's been here a while and it would be easier if he knew about everyone.

Agreed - I was speaking in the general sense. Here the intention would be only to have a 'nominal' leader. Games quickly go south if someone tries to be a dictator, though it's also true that one character usually emerges as the decision maker, taking everyone's views into account. Worth noting is that you're all young or fairly young characters, and amongst a group of friends or acquiantances it's very unusual to have a real leader.



That works for me, but on the other hand I keep a close eye on the game ;)

I've been discussing Diarmuid's suggestions with him and think it would work out quite well. He'd be able to offer a basic wage for the herding tasks (which would take place offscreen occasionally unless there was an important one which would make for a good adventure), but all of you would bring your own talents and leads to the group.

Precisely - which in turn leads me to suspect quality. :D

Quick question - is the party therefore:
1 fighter
2 thieves
1 wizard?

Is this correct?

Very interesting setup if it is. Gotta love those groups without a cleric - things immediately become more realistic!

Suspicion is well and good - I have to prove the quality! But then again, one of the reasons I like to have an OOC thread is so the players can offer feedback where needed.

Close, but no cigar. It's:
2 warrior-types
1 rogue
1 wizard

Only one group here has a cleric. I haven't settled on improved healing rules yet but I intend for the Healing skill to atually be useful. There's a difficult balance between fun and common sense to be struck with healing - fortunately it's easier to have and handle downtime in a PbP game.

(I'm a fan of downtime - firstly I think most folk should have something resembling a day job, and secondly I'm also of the opinion that if you reach higher than level 12 or so then you should be getting on a bit in years! That's not a strict rule though by any means.)

No cleric is great.

Is it okay if I put some skill points in heal to take this into account?

Just as long as you're taking them out of something else ;)

Herbalism is also available - is less healing oriented but does allow for brewing of simple non-magical potions that have a basic in-game effect.

I think the direction this is going is grand. I prefer we do jobs for a nobleman or for a guild. The sort of thing which needs to be one step away from the respectable figure.

It then makes a lot of sense if one of us is the go-between.

BTW, starting money...I meant starting money if I stay level 3. Happy to have level 1 money, though; that'd actually fit the character better.

Starting gold is level 1 rolled regardless of what level you start at.

I'm fine with the plan!
(Why do I get the feeling that we're headed for trouble?)

Just so you know: I'm trying to become someone respectable, like a powerful wizard with, you know - his own estate, the right girl, a few books, etc.

--> Try not to ruin my future with your petty schemes, Harry! I know them all too well.  :D

In that case...

17:27, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 8 using 4d4. Starting money.

Harry needs work!

Sik, you wouldn't happen to play in the RoA, would you?  Because your bio lines say that you do.

And Jos also has dreams of going legit.  But it won't happen for some time.

RoA? What is it?

It's one of the DnD mega-campaigns on RPoL.  They run 6 or 7 boards, each with 5 or more groups active.  I just made the comment because your bio line info is SOP for them.  They standardize lots of things to make it easier on their dozens of DMs.  I was pretty active with them a while back, but then the game I was in went belly up and I couldn't join any of the other ones I wanted to, so I ditched out of it then.

I'm playing in Guild of the Bronze Hand, and the DM there had his players implement this. I believe it's quite good actually, especially for the DM.

You guys interested in applying the best practice for our group?

Apart from that, I think we're ready to roll - as soon as Harry finds his next scheme to get us all to rot in jail opportunity for profitable business. ;)

I have Harry nearly ready, so would be more than happy to get rolling and fill things in as the opportunity arises.

Jos is ready to go.  Should we just start in on the first job, or should we RP out Harry getting our gang group together?

I nearly joined that game!

I'm not interested in enforcing the stats-in-the-bio thing. It's fairly neat, but I prefer to keep stats out of the RP as much as possible. That's not a ban though - your bio is your own choice :)

I'd prefer to get going and have you know each other already. You can work out any creases etc and your relationships as we go or in this thread. Will see if I can get the first adventure out tomorrow or (slim chance as it's late) tonight.

Ok folks, here's your first lot of info. I've wound up quite busy at the moment so you may have to be patient while I get things written up. We should be able to get going without too much info though - the key things are your relationships with each other, and plot hooks. You lot can sort out most of the first; I'll get the second to you before too long.

---

You'll be starting in the city state of Guril-Forsihe, which is where Diarmuid has his clients and where those of you who are from the area live. It's the only major port in Tern and thus the most rich of the city-states. Neighbours are Guril-Thursuum and Seldennal to the north-west and The Yrimba to the south-west.

The Yrimba is a small but rich mountain-state and is Forsihe's main rival. The Yrimba makes good use of mountain beasts for labour and, when needed, warfare.

Guril-Forsihe itself is a city on two levels. The upper level, atop a fairly low cliff, is home to the ecclesiastical, merchant, arcane, and noble districts, as well as some middle and lower class housing. The lower level is the trading and manufacturing sector, and also has lower class housing. Built into the cliff under the upper level is a network of man-made caves, largely used as warehouses.

The Rethayn family currently holds power. Turil Rethayn is the patriarch. His brother Meril is a powerful noble in his own right, and a trained mage. Turil's neice Illiamia owns many taverns and businesses throughout the city. Rival families to the Rethayns are the Breganzas and the Kussemrob.

---

So that's your very basic info on the place. Questions welcomed and encouraged ;)

Guril-Forsihe faces a fair bit of political pressure from Kar to keep the coast of Tern clear of pirates and worse. It's also the main point of contact for Kar since it's easier to travel and trade via ship than brave the wildernesses overland. Kar also frowns upon the relatively free nature of mages throughout Tern, so there's a little tension there.

Let me see if I can sum up the status of the characters:

Diarmuid - on station here in Guril-Forsihe as contact and merchant for his family, who ship their horses over here, usually once per year. For RP interest I'd like to say he's only been here six months, during which time he's struck up a friendship with...
Harry - A local 'fixer' who knows his way around the underworld - not that there's much of a seperation between under- and over-worlds here in Tern! Harry in particular has built up a rep for dealing fairly and reliably with nobles and other 'respectable' folk. He's good at being the man-in-the-middle.
Jos - childhood friend of Harry's who, rather than heading down Harry's semi-legit route, took to common banditry. Having seen his friend's successes though he's now seriously considering a change of pace, though he's unlikely to go straight any time soon.
Sikhandyn - another friend of Harry's and Jos's, he's arguably the most law-abiding of the bunch. His past, though, is chequered and he certainly has an affinity with these slightly rough men. He's invaluable to the group as the only one with any knowledge of mysticism - a talent of quite some worth in almost any circle, in fact.

Does that sound about right?

Correct! Ready to roll. ;)

I like it.  Whenever you're ready Mr DM.

Thumbs up from me..

That's excellent!

Agreement all round, great.

Will attempt to get initial leads and rumours to each of you today.

General rumours you may have heard around town. The truth of these claims is very much open to debate!

---

An Ithrecan businessman has plans to build a new-fangled concept in the city - a bath-house.

A sea-monster has been plaguing shipping a few days north of the port.

The heads of the Shippers Guild and the Smith's Guild are lovers.

Illiamia has been spiking the ale in her taverns as part of an experiment by a local mage.

A group of brigands in the countryside are growing ever stronger and have come closer than ever to town. [Private to Jos Whollis: You know this one's true - you used to run with them. They've been expanding though and you no longer know most of them.]

At night a vagabond is roaming the streets, taking a lock of hair from some women, but stealing no money.

The Kussemrob family are planning to sell up their assets and defect to The Yrimba.

Meril Rethayn has been pissing his savings up the wall.

A new baby girl has been born to the Breganzas, the first of their third generation - but she's deformed.

Interested in the following leads:

A group of brigands in the countryside are growing ever stronger and have come closer than ever to town.

At night a vagabond is roaming the streets, taking a lock of hair from some women, but stealing no money.

Meril Rethayn has been pissing his savings up the wall.

And I've now supplied Harry (as your contact/face) with some more concrete leads.

Edit: Forgot to ask -
Any ideas/preferences for starting place in character? I'd like you to discuss the leads and potential jobs IC as it's a nice opener. All of the other groups have started in or soon entered a tavern - this makes sense to me as it's where one goes to hold informal meetings! I'm aware some find it a bit cliché though, so am open to other ideas.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:51, Wed 03 June 2009.

Tavern is quite fine, or I could have invited my friends over to Simon's empty house (now Sikhandyn's).

I'd quite like the idea of a tavern where the proprietor is a friend and most of the regulars are too. I recall in Henry IV Harry the Prince and Falstaff and the others always hang out at the same inn (the name of which I don't presently recall). I think it would be a nice touch.

Mind you an inn is nothing but a big house, with a few rooms and a stables.

It's true!

Neither do I, but I like the idea. Curious, as I cited Henry IV pt. 1 when I chose the name Harry.

So, you can all call my character Hal if you wish :)

Or Hotspur.

BTW, we are going to have to find a way to store information...
This message was last edited by the player at 11:21, Thu 04 June 2009.

A way to store information? What is your meaning, sir?

Ok - general support for the inn idea.

Therefore, you'll be starting off in Tom's Tubs, a flophouse in the lower city that all of you bar Sikhandyn call home at the moment. Tom is a young man a little older than you lot. He inherited his father's house, and seeing as he always had friends staying over anyway and he was the last of his family, he turned it into a flophouse - a sort of low-class inn. Harry and Jos have known Tom for many years and so you only pay 5sp each per week to stay there. Food and drink is not included, though Tom will usually supply you with ale of an evening.

There's no stable, so anyone with a horse has that stabled near one of the gates. If anyone objects and wants to stay somewhere nicer, that's fine, just let me know.

The flophouse has a lounge (literally just a few chairs and tables in a small room), a cellar, and 10 small rooms. There's no bar or kitchen, but Tom does keep some large barrels of ale in the lounge, making it feel even more cramped. When he hasn't been drinking he guards the ale jealously, but once he gets going he's generous enough with it.

IC thread to follow.
IC thread up now. Yes, the gents in the corner are you lot. Sikhandyn - you can arrive whenever you like.

A quick warning - I don't make things easy for you! Some situations you get yourself into may very well be beyond you, so use your heads...and you'll go far!
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:15, Thu 04 June 2009.

I mean rumours and descriptions etc. As is, I will have to copy things and paste them into the scratchpad, I guess.

Alternatively, there is a separate thread for info on our home town :)

Hmm...I'm not overly keen on starting another thread as I'm on two pages of them already! You should be ok with the scratchpad - that's what it's there for - or perhaps you could keep info in this thread or in a PM between all four of you.

I can appreciate that. I'll try and keep tabs in the scratchpad then.

"Methinks"!!!

Bonus xp for using any of the following...

"Zounds!"

"Anon anon Sir!"

"He hath eaten me out of house and home"

"The world's mine oyster"

BTW, is there a convention on speech here, like colours and other rsi-inducers?

That'd be nice if I used XP ;) You can have pretend XP though :P

Yes, it's mentioned in the posting guidelines thread I believe - I prefer you to pick a speech colour and stick to it, but it's not compulsory (some people dislike it or maybe have wrists from hell already...)

Next question - tense?

If I could give you bonus XP right now, I would - you're the first person to actually ask about tense, congrats!

Long answer: I don't mind as long as you're consistent individually.

Short answer: I prefer past tense.

Well, I'm more than happy to collect pretend xp. I can multiclass into a wizard later and start writing pretend scrolls and making pretend potions.

I prefer present. But I will make the effort.

I won't be offended if you don't :)

Sikhandyn definitely deserves some pretend bonus XP for that comment.

--> "Hey, it's pretty clean business!" ?   ;-)

I really wish there were some ephemeral reward I could pass on for the excellent RP so far in this thread!

Special bonus for making me practically cheer when one of you played up the fact that one doesn't keep one's bow strung all the time.

That would be Jos. This group is quite impressive, I must say.

Harry's pic cracks me up, and really influenced the way I plan to role-play our camaraderie...
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Fri 05 June 2009.

He really does look the part.

:) to the above. A lot of it is due to the excellent set-up by Mr. DM. Believable setting, believable links between characters etc.*

I think I'm going to need some more details on the Lady since we seem to have plumped for that option.

Unless you want me to make half of it up :)


* Can I have some more pretend xp for sucking up, please?

Ooh praise! I'm dishing out this pseudo-xp willy-nilly here ;)

You've not dealt with the lady before. Roll me knowledge(local) to see if you know anything more about her. You don't know any more about the job - it's common practice to only be given details once you accept, to cut down on double-crossing. Might be different if you build up a rep with a client or two of course...

I shouldn't really say this, but if you mentioned the name to the others they might know some more...

19:35, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 23 using 1d20+9. Local Knowledge.

Look at that skill rating! Bet the others are jealous!

If I mentioned her name? Sounds like it'll be more fun if I withold that information. We could have all sorts of farcical mishaps...

In that case, private line...

[Private to Harry the Bastard: Erina and her father Heiroth are the only two remaining members of the Chersoot family. Erina is now in her 40s and never married. Both have a reputation for being eccentric, but Heiroth in particular is supposed to be a bit loopy. He lives alone in a small fortified house a couple of days travel away. It strikes you that Erina may want to hire you perhaps because no-one else will work for her, or because you're cheap. The family estate is fairly respectable but run-down and poor.]

/slides down the side of the giant pile of fake XP given out already

Ah, we're gonna get into some trouble....  And it's gonna be awesome!

Careful of the pretend dragon sat on top.

Okay, let's say that Harry doesn't make a habit of talking business in front of Tom...especially when he is in his cups.

You alright, group 6? You started at great speed and have now slowed down!

I've been busy at work which didn't help at all. But I posted yesterday :)

Tell me about it, it's gone that way for me too!

I'm not hassling you - I'm happy to go at whatever pace is convenient - just checking everything is ok :)

Occasional prodding is part and parcel. Without it, things can slip.

I'll be out of town and afk from basically now until Sunday night (Monday morning for some of you).  My sister is getting married on Saturday, and I need to go be a groomsman.

Mechanics/game play question:

Urban Tracking allows use of Gather Information to "track down the location of missing persons or wanted individuals within communities."

Harry has +9 Gather Information when we include synergy with local knowledge.

There are different ways to do this: I say Harry goes out and 'gathers information' in abstract terms / we play it out.

In a sense, I favour the first as we cut to the chase. But I am not the only person here :)

So, how do we do this?

Diarmuid is happy either way. He'll be the guy around the corner in any case, a sword in his cloak and ready for anything. Even sleuths need back up.

Urban tracking is a bit like an extended test - you make several rolls over a certain period of time, and you need a certain number of successes.

I like to favour RP over rolls, so I'll never just let you roll without some decent IC posting. However, that doesn't mean you have to act out every single conversation.

So to answer your question: a little from column A, a little from column B. My intention is that you roll once for each new area or lead you look into.

If you post IC describing Harry asking around in a general sense, I will then introduce any significant conversations that need to take place. However, gather info really is a general thing so we'll tend to keep it abstract.

Or to put it another way, just post what you're doing and I'll take care of the details ;)

Let me just get this straight before we move on: Diarmuid and Harry are going to talk to Erina, Sikhandyn and Jos are going to hit the taverns to dig up what they can about the family?

Bearing in mind the evening is drawing on a bit (though the taverns will certainly be open many hours yet), if that's correct I'll split you up. I prefer to run things in separate threads when the group divides - makes it easier to keep things clear.

If I don't hear any objections or corrections by tonight (GMT+1) I'll sort it out.

Nope..:)

Silkandyn and Jos are going to ask around. Diarmuid will be waiting outside around the corner in case any noble lackeys decide they don't like what Silkandyn and Jos are asking about. Should Silkandyn and Jos they will step outside the Diarmuid will charge down the alley on horse back and dispatch any who wish to do harm to his friends. Inns in this city are dangerous places, especially when commoners are asking questions about the business of nobles so Diarmuid is not going anywhere near Erina until Silk and Jos are finished in the inns.

Harry can do what he wants.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:11, Mon 15 June 2009.

Gotcha. I wasn't far off then, but seems I was going by the original plan!

Okay. I confess I didn't understand the ambush idea, but I'm still game for whatever it was :)

Harry can talk to the lady and negotiate fees etcetera but will also do some nosing around - no point wasting time not investigating.

I'm back.  And it looks like Diarmuid gets to try his ambush out.  Maybe.  Ok.

It's a precaution, but if someone else is out there looking for this guy, or wanting to throw people off the track if they have him then we might find out what's going on, and maybe get some loot into the bargain.

Your idea is to let the rest of us nose about while Diarmuid hangs back and watches from sufficiently far off that he has a different perspective? If so, I like it.

That's precisely what I'm suggesting. Ambushing ambushers, taking prisoners, getting more info.

In that case I really really like it...

Fine with me! Let's finalize IC.

Alrighty, I'll let you lot sort out who is going where IC. Those of you asking around please give me...let's say 3 gather information rolls. Post the results here please, either in a PL to me or in public.

17:17, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 28 using 1d20+9. Gather info.
17:17, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 24 using 1d20+9. Gather info.
17:16, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 22 using 1d20+9. Gather info.

...makes up for losing the cricket.

You know, I've hardly seen anybody in this game get a low roll...

*Disappears round the back with a spanner*

It'll happen, don't worry.

I had one low one...

Jos Whollis rolled 6 using 1d20+1.
Jos Whollis rolled 21 using 1d20+1.
Jos Whollis rolled 12 using 1d20+1. gather info.

Good effort - that´ll keep the DM happy

Ah me tinkerin' was successful! Jos was the unwitting victim... ;)

Just to make sure there're no crossed wires:

I'm waiting for you motley bunch to finalise things IC before I start revealing info. You don't really need me to move you on to some taverns even, you can just declare that - but I will do so if you prefer.

Are you guys waiting for something or just busy?

I'm busy but I think my last post covers it? Off we go?

I had assumed we were ready to roll, let me read again.

Whew, finger-fatigue!

That's all the info you've got so far. It's probably only an hour or so off midnight now.

Excellent! Thanks for that.

Great stuff!

That mugging - that's exactly how it goes!

What is it you do for a living exactly? ;-)

Any chance of harry arriving just in the nick of time?

I do live in Nottingham... ;) Though of course muggers don't generally run the risk of approaching a man who just might know how to use the sword he's carrying...

No comment on Harry's arrival, though I had a feeling you might ask :P We'll have to see what happens.

They apparently didn't know they were approaching a man with a sword in his cloak holding onto a warhorse. It's a bit like trying to steal a car from someone then finding out he's driving a James Bond death machine. On the other hand standing order from now on. Back to the wall when in fog.

Indeed! You don't mess about though do you? Sword out and attack!

Roll attack and damage please.

You other 3, guess what? Listen checks :P

Crikey!

I think it might be best if Harry isn't there. It could be interpreted as an unprovoked attack and bloody murther.

10:13, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 14 using 1d20. Listen.

Heh, murther.

Wish granted, you don't hear anything at this point!

It may be late tonight or possibly even tomorrow before I update IC, I've got band practice later.

Speaking of bloody murther, I read the Biography of London a while back - one of the best books ever and I only read half of it.

You have young members of Guilds wandering about town like absolute hooligan layabouts and cracking people's heads open with clubs, leaving them theere to bleed into the gutter, and no-one does anything about it.

Hurray...

Sikhandyn rolled 5 using 1d20. Listen.

Biography of London? Interesting idea... Rest assured there are people in Guril to do something about it ;)

Uh-uh, looks like Jos might be your only hope Diarmuid...!

Jos Whollis rolled 24 using 1d20+6. listen to save diarmuid.

Save, er, check, er whatever successful?

Uh? Diarmuid was attacking the guy behind him, Tuatha was blocking and attacking the guys to the front so I'm a little confused.

Argh - I could claim that the guy slipped around Tuatha, which would be the typical GM thing to do. But in truth, I didnt read your first post properly, sorry. That's what I get for posting late at night...

Nice save though, the fog turned you around, yes!

*Muttering to self about going to bed at a sensible hour*

No problem, you could always say that the other guy Tuatha was trying to keep off her master slipped around the horse to get at Diarmuid. I'm happy to run with what happened. :)

I trust you mean because of the roll? Because I did want to have Harry there.

Yep - not gonna tell you what the DC is but you were close. Roll again now - if you fail this one then we'll just say that shortly afterwards you leave the pub anyway after finishing your drink.

Also: wow, don't mess with Diarmiud and Tuatha!

Absolutely.

Rolled a 7, so oblivious.

Heehee!

I'll describe you emerging from the pub in my next IC post then.

I just got lucky with the rolls. If my warhorse hadn't been with me I'd have been dead.

Strictly speaking you possibly should've been anyway - we didn't roll for initiative :P

Ah...;)

Jos and Diarmuid, you're at your own devices for now!

I'm going to assume that you all agreed on a couple of meeting points before splitting up, just in case this sort of thing happened. None of them would be Sik's house, naturally.

I think the agreement was to meet back up at Tom's Tubs later on.

Yup!

Sound.

I'll tell you of the 'loot' OOC - coins to the value of 12GP, and the daggers seem plain and well worn. Unsurprisingly there are no documents!

I'm waiting to see what Harry and Sikhandyn do before we move on ;)

Head back to the meeting spot. Except that is right beside the fight(?) so tarry a little.

Been a busy week...

Okay - we're both out and on our way to Tom's.

's gone quiet again.

*prods the group*

Hell, the problem is investigative set-ups in PbP's/PbEM's. I get stumped all the time as to how to proceed.

Um....do we know someone who can patch him up?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:58, Tue 30 June 2009.

I know the feeling, I get like that as a player!

At this juncture you've a lot of options though :P

Yes - a local wise-woman (of whom there are plenty) would sort him out for a few silver, and no questions asked. It's not a major wound at all anyway, he'll feel a lot better by morning as long as the wound gets bandaged/seen to.

Incidentally if you get too stuck, intelligence tests are an option. Kind of like a free hint...or red herring...

Ok. for the timebeing, a wise woman and then the market/fair in the morning, if it operates and others agree.

No market as such - but you could head down to the seafront, or one of the squares, where numerous stalls can be found. Trade is busy along the seafront as well, naturally.

We won't play out the wise woman encounter IC, so if everyone's in agreement we'll just advance to tomorrow.

Fine by me.

Yeah - by 'market', I meant the place where our man likes to go.

Ah the fair - that took place a couple of days ago. It's a yearly local celebration. The draw for your 'target' was probably the exotic goods that get sold.

Aha. In that case, we can try and find out who was at the fair, what they sold to to him and what that means....

Will move on shortly, I was hoping Sikhandyn would reply by now but he must be busy, and the show must go on!

Say, that sounds like a solid lead!

More seriously, any other questions you want covering while you're down here at the seafront?

I can't think of anything, so no from me.

I'd like to know whether anyone else has been asking after the missing man.

Ok, so if we want to find out who the local lads were...would that be doable with a bit of urban tracking?

I can't tell you whether it's doable ;) But that'd be a great use for the skill, sure.

On a side note: get posting you 'orrible lot :P

I like this gather information skill. I roll high when I use it :)

I confess I am unsure what the last post means :)

You mean you'd like me to explain a little differently, or you aren't sure what it means in relation to your mission?

Sorry have been a bit busy, things are back to normal now. Will start posting like there is no tomorrow... tomorrow! (?)

It happens to all of us!

Diarmuid - the fair was a few days ago :P

It's more of a mechanical thing...It seems I made no advance. That is, I suggested members of the local gangs involved in 'protection' of the merchants. I sent in a good urban tracking roll. You said the options are the watch or bodyguards but it is tricky to talk to them, so I am unsure if the urban 'tracking' of the local lads got me anywhere. It seems I can approach one of two groups but I don't really understand why it is difficult to talk to them or how to proceed. I would imagine both sets of people spend a lot of time standing around so it would be easy to chat, no?

That is pretty much my confusion.

I see now.

I interpreted your post as meaning you were asking around the stallholders some more, specifically asking them if there were any partiular local hard-cases who might've paid more attention to the details Harry's after.

The last paragraph is a little vague, I agree - the merchant/noble guards are hard to approach because they're usually with their employers, who wouldn't look kindly on paying their guards to stand around chatting to strangers. The watch are quite simply fairly few in number, and there's two problems there: firstly, asking the watch about two shady characters might need to be done carefully, and secondly, you'd need to find some members of the watch who were actually there at the time you're asking about.

Mechanically, a couple of things:
Urban Tracking is what I'd refer to in other systems as an extended test - you're making several rolls over a period of time. I think you're in agreement there. The progress is that you now know of two particular groups to further your enquiries with. I think I'll amend my post so that you've got a bit more to go on though - specific watchmen and guards.

Also remember that it's a fixed DC, and degrees of success don't come into it. It was a very good result, but it just amounts to a pass, unlike, for example, if you'd rolled Perform.

I appear to be missing posts then from the IC thread. It appeared to me, and still does, that we were still at the fair. Additionally, if you want to attract the attemtion of bodyguards, or the nobles with them (who usually enjoy a good martial display) then it seemed logical that they'd come and look at another fighter. The entire thread seemed to have stalled so I took it upon myself to add something to it. If it doesn't work as stated I'll go and delete it.

I'm not sure where the idea that the fair was still progressing has come from - it's always been referred to in the past tense in the IC thread, and I (attempted!) to clear up the confusion in message #158 in this thread. You're all down at the stalls along the seafront - just a normal day :)



Absolutely, it's a great idea - should help Harry out. All that needs changing is that word 'fair', to reflect that you're actually just down in a commercial area. I don't generally edit player posts without permission which is why I pointed the mistake out rather than just fixing it :)

Harry - given you more to go on. I'm not going into great detail since this is one step on the tracking procedure.

Also folks, if you're not happy with doing investigative stuff, or you'd like a little less focus on it, you merely have to let me know and I'll speed this bit up. It's your game as much as mine ;)

Grand - very helpful thanks.

Got the extended aspect...more chances to cock up ;-)

I'm usually fine wih investigative stuff but it does often mean the DM has to prod :)

Investigative stuff is great!

Diarmuid would be happier fighting stuff, but he's a stickler for finding out who his enemies are. Nothing beats a good ambush, if you're the ones doing the ambushing.

Just thought I'd best post this official-like...

I will be away from the 17th of July to the 1st of August.

I missed Diarmuid's Sunday post in the confusion of spending Sunday night and Monday sick - bah!

From memory, the 'tower' is Heiroth's very own tower. I went back through posts etc and couldn't find this - have I got the wrong end of the stick?

's the trouble with illness!

Not sure I understand your question. The tower/keep was found by Heiroth fairly recently, and from the sounds of it he appropriated it as his own - but you've heard nothing concrete regarding ownership.

I was reading Diarmuid's latest post, smiling and thinking 'this guy's a little creepy', and then there it is, right in the post! Not a good idea to get on his bad side, methinks.

Not sure if my change of location IC is okay - tell me if you want me to edit it.

Idea is to find out if Tymin is around/in town or not. If he is, pretend to try to fix a meeting but actually get the hell out of there. If he isn't, try to find out how long he is away for and where he is. - roll 1

All the while, pretend to be a pretty pathetic individual in need of work, 'Someone said Tymin might have some work for me' - roll 2

1: 08:44, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 18 using 1d20+9. Gather Info.
2: 08:44, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Bluff.

Heh !

That's fine - it's actually heplful for me if you move on when you know where you're going next!

Gah! I am terrible at fast-talking and the like! I do not know what Harry should do next.

And worse...I am away tomorrow, so it might all just hang there waiting for Harry to respond! Gah!

Yep, as I said, looking forward to seeing how Harry brings the subject around...

Worse than that, I'm away the day after! Looks like we'll have to hit the pause button for one week.

The rest of you are free to continue discussing OOC, naturally, or you could move yourselves IC to a pub for a while.

You must be an honest man in RL Harry ;)

I'm back; Harry isn't.

Everyone else still here?

Of course.  Sometimes, a good hiatus is all you need to get back on top of things.

Diarmuid is still here. Quietly watching.

Oh Sikhandyn, where are you? :P

Jos - where are you whilst Harry is talking and Diarmuid is lurking? If you wish to do something else that is fine, I have no issue with split parties.

You're competely right about hiatus(es?). I learnt that at a young age when I spent weeks trying to get past a certain level on a computer game, took a good break of a month or so out of frustration, then nailed it within my first few tries when I went back to it!

I'll be roaming the nearby streets, eyes peeled for any groups moving toward where Harry is at.

I believe Harry is back, so we should be able to get movin' soon.

*Hoping we don't have to replace Sikhandyn as I rather like him*

I am indeed back in this game too!

I had worked out what Harry was going to say before I left - let's see if I said it. If not I'll have to try and remember it.



There was a PCR (i.e. molecular biology) lab manual with all sorts of tips. The favourite tip was, "When things really aren't working, take a week in Hawaii."

That looks like a bare-faced lie to me...or to put it another way, please roll a bluff check :P

Well, not quite. I learned from reading the Stainless Steel rat as a kid that the best lie was one which was as close as possible to the truth.

11:55, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 22 using 1d20+7. Bluff.

:)

I believe that's what we call a tactical withdrawal...

All back together again (heavens know where Sikhandyn is).

Diarmuid scares me sometimes, and I'm the DM!

Also: Dargon, heh.

Gah! Scooped! Giving Diarmuid a wink and carrying on as bait was my plan...  :(

Still...good to see we are on the same wavelength :)

Yep, I got the idea Diarmuid, just hadn't the chance to post until now :)

Hmm, no-one followed...

I've left it open as to whether you meet Harry outside the inn or inside, that's up to you. If you do go in it's a pretty nice inn, since we're in an area that has several noble and merchant houses - middle class around here.

I assume the usual time and place is Tom's Tubs around nightfall...mind you, I also assume Diarmuid knows this and is as close as he gets to making a joke!

About Sikhandyn - there's a character with the same name and dsecription in a different game, who also hasn't posted for about the same length of time. This leads me to believe Sikhandyn is away or having connection troubles or some such, so I'll be waiting a bit longer before seeking a replacement.

Diarmuid and Jos (mostly Jos) - please describe to me what you're doing to appear inconspicuous (if anything!).

Diarmuid is chewing on some bread and the like even while walking his horse, since riding it is far more intimidating. He appears to be a messenger on his way somewhere or coming back, not too unlikely in the noble district. He's looking around like he's not entirely sure of where he is in an attempt to reduce the intimidation value even more. He keeps Jos in sight as far as he's able to do, the idea being that there is never any direct line of sight between the quarry and Diarmuid.

I think our plan is screwed. Diarmuid is going to be pretty obvious following Joss if Joss is ahead of the man he's tailing.

Oh hello who are you and what are you doing here? asked Tymin
Oh my name is Diarmuid and I'm following that man up ahead who is meant to be following behind you so I can hang back unseen since I have no skill whatsoever in sneaking. As plans go it's a complete washout so I guess I'll have to kill you now.

Jos is behind Tymin - when he said walk faster than the guard he meant relative to their two speeds so that he catches up a bit.

Don't worry, you don't need to murder anyone just yet.

As promised, a recap!

Client: Lady Erina Chersoot. Ugly spinster noblewoman with a lazy eye. Known for having a strong will.

Pay: 300 gold worth of coins and gems.

Job: Find and return Erina's father Heiroth, whether or not he wants to come along.

What you know about Heiroth:
Mage, and powerful enough not to have to worry about bandits.
Though reclusive, always appears at the Mizzen Fair each year - except this year. Fair took place a few days ago.
Found an old keep a couple of days travel from Guril-Forsihe, and had been spending a lot of time there.

Other things you know:
Two men were asking around the marketplace about Heiroth, a couple of weeks ago.
One was Tymin, employed by House Ermineshield.
T'other was Mateus, working for House Ab'Shal.
Neither was in livery while doing the asking.
The two houses are not known to work together.

---

That ok? Let me know if I've missed anything. If it's all good, we'll turn this into the Quest Tracker(TM).

And a hint of sorts for Harry:

In character knowledge - the map-seller is being offish probably because you look like a servant or commoner, which means you can only be buying for your master. Except you don't seem to know what said master wants.

OOC: For research like this (good idea, seeing if you can find anything out about the tower, or whether Heiroth came around to do same) you're better off making a general post describing going into several places and chatting up the owners. In fact, this'd be a perfect use of your Urban Tracking skill - since that's what you're doing!

And for everyone:

Remember that finding Heiroth is the key - whys and wherefores aren't important unless you want them to be (eg., for later use...blackmail for example!).

Think about things like - where does Heiroth usually live/go? Has he any friends or enemies?

Splitting headache, but let's say the IC post is a final effort at Bluffing the guy into saying something useful, then a more general urban tracking roll.

11:03, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 21 using 1d20+7. Bluff.
11:03, Today: Harry the Bastard rolled 26 using 1d20+9. Urban tracking.

You're updated!

So, happy with the above as the beginnings of the quest tracker?

It's fab!

*prods the team*

I know I've been quiet, but I have updated you know :P

That's right! You did!

I think it is time to head for the tower, unless the others come up with anything.

Well, I already said that IC...

And can Diarmuid hear you from where you are?

No he can't.

But the DM can, so he knows what I'm about :)

Ho hum.

I think we just head out of town, to get things moving again.

Apologies folks. Explanation coming up in the main OOC thread.

There we go. Just a bit of flavour text getting you out towards the tower. Let me know which way you want to go - it's not a thrilling choice and I bet I know which road you'll take, but it's a choice you must make nontheless!

Jos doesn't seem to be around - all in favour of replacing Sik and Jos? A couple of active new players could help keep things going with inter-party RP while you wait for old slow-coach me ;)

Sounds like a plan.

How many are they?

Eight!

And it is just the two of us?

Four - I'm assuming Sikhandyn and Jos are still with you as NPCs.

Oh well in that case...

I'm up for NPC replacement. I wasn't really that convinced with the character class make up of the original party in any case.

I rather liked the original lineup, but it wasn't a traditional D&D party!

Will get around to recruiting. If either of you knows anyone that might be interested, feel free to recommend.

Of course, you're out in the wilderness...but I should be able to contrive something.

I've put the call out for new players. Harry is still around I believe, just busy (it happens!).

We have a mage - Roiland Bent!

Now to find a way to not-so-subtly introduce him in the middle of nowhere...

Have him be with the people we are talking to. He could know one of us. He hadn't spoken until now because he was just catching up with his mates.

Ironically, he won't fit in with the folks you're talking to!

I've an idea - will move you on shortly, but may use this as a place to introduce another character once found.

Yep, we do indeed have another character - Sanhael, a rogueish fellow. He should fit in nicely ;)

I think I'll look for one more person, just in case real-life completely overwhelms Harry.

We actually have two further folks joining the group - both are being prepared.

The more the merrier, as long as I stay the smart, good looking one ;P

Trust me, with this bunch of misfits you will be ;)

My apologies for the further delay. Work has become a little, half-forgotten corner of Hell, with the company now crafting employee policies that are patently in violation of state and federal law, and I've been working through some personal shakeups. I'm still very much looking forward to the game; I had promised a completed Sanhael several days ago, but as of yet I still have skills and equipment to work out. With any luck, this time, I *will* be ready to roll by this evening.

A lot of workplaces seem to be going that way - though I'm only speaking about England!

We'll get there, no hurry :)

America's national unemployment rate is now in excess of 10%; it's somewhere around 10.2%. This means that out of every 10 Americans you talk to, one won't have a job; also, another one will have a bum leg. Our politicians used to laugh about socialist countries having a two-digit unemployment rate; they're astoundingly silent on the subject now.

Hi folks.

Hi there. I've been thinking about all this and I've more or less decided I need to give up on most of my activity on rpol - just keep on in one game. I'm still not 100% sure of this, but it seems to be the best thing to do, to avoid it impacting on my work and to allow me to do some stuff I've been planning for a while too. I'm really sorry about this. I've run games myself so I feel really bad about it, perhaps more than I should even.

So, I guess I'm going to retire Harry. :(

Thanks for indulging me up to now.

Sam.

I had a feeling this would happen :(

I'll miss ye, Harry, but don't feel bad - life before RPOL! If you find yourself with more free time etc., you're welcome back at any point, and I'll see you in the other game we're both in.

You others - this leaves only Diarmuid, Sanhael, and possibly Roiland left (Roiland's gone until I PM him to let him know things are on, which is fair enough).

This group seems a little cursed, so I'm inclined to work some magic and move you all over to Ddaran near the other groups.

However, if Diarmuid is still here, we can continue immediately (well, in the next few days) with this group.

Sound off please!

I'd be happy to move Diarmuid over to another group. Don't know where this other place is though.