"Tarron is a Bladesinger, Kali.  His training specializes in the blending of sword play and magic.  I think it'll be interesting to see how well his style suits him when spells aren't called for. You can't 'pull' a Magic Missile in a sparring match."

Should have RA applied, no?

ooc: Where are we? Still at the inn or are we at the house that the dwarves have lent us? Personally, I think that it would be hilarious if we ended up fighting at the inn but mainly that's because of the possibility for chaos.

Here is my initiative roll regardless. 05:56, Today: Kali Xilrora rolled 10 using 1d10 ((10)).  ​


"Oh, I've heard of those. Now, I do have a question. Do you actually sing or is it a metaphor about how your blade seems to sing through the air? Or is your blade sentient and it sings in a literal sense."

OOC: you get to go first. We are in the house.

In 2E lower is better. Your six beats her 10. We’re also using Weapon Speed in this online game. Not my favorite at the table, but there’s no reason not to in PbP. Remember that your magic bonus on your sword reduces the weapon speed proportionately. So a +3 sword would reduce Weapon Speed by 3.

Tarron carefully blocks out the chatter from Kali as he steps up onto the balls of his feet. He almost pirouettes as the blade flashes quickly and deftly at the defenses of Kali. Two strikes darting in and out, with the air whistling along the grooves of the blue sword as he embellished the attacks with a flourish.

Initiative: 2
Weapon speed: 2
Total: 4
Modified THAC0: 7
Attack: Attack 1 hits AC 0 for 11 damage, Attack 2 hits AC-4 for 12 damage
Damage: 3+8 (2 Str, 3 Weapon enhancement, 1 bladesinger, 2 specialisation), 4+8
21:19, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 12 using 1d8+8.  Damage 2. – [roll=1630329597.74155.359800]
21:19, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 11 using 1d8+8.  Damage 1. – [roll=1630329592.2016.359800]
21:14, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 11 using 1d20.  Attack 2. – [roll=1630329256.62538.359800]
21:14, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 7 using 1d20.  Attack 1. – [roll=1630329247.39948.359800]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:49, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

Kitheras and Tarron sparred over Skype yesterday.  All the dice were rolled, but I'm just presenting a narrative version of it here.

Fresh from the battle with Kali, Tarron has a mask covering his face that hides his scars. The blade at his side has no visible damage, and glows with a cool blue-white colour. All around him feels like it could be the start of winter. "It will be interesting to cross blades with you. How well do you know the forms?" he asked, preparing for an assault.

"Yours? I don't.  The oaths and ideals that come with them were thought to be too restricting for the scion of the house."  He unsheathes his twin shortswords--excellent but simple in craftsmanship--and adopts a high guard stance without pretension. "Ready?"

"Ready." says Tarron, and he adopts a flexible guard stance of his own. As he prepares, he can see that Kitheras has speed on his side, the weapons in his hand seemingly as light as a feather. He knew then that he would be unable to defend all attacks, but he would give it his best shot.

Seemingly at the same time, both he and Kitheras struck. Tarron's blade striking as true as it ever would. Tarron had a clear advantage in strength and the power of his blade's enchantment.  Kitheras' swiftness and bladelore were simply unparalleled. Three short lunges each connected with the Bladesinger.  The Bladesinger responded--nearly simultaneously--with two strikes only one of which landed.  The strength of that one, however, was powerful.  Kitheras reeled and reset himself.  Tarron took stock of the damage he'd been dealt--the Ranger's strikes were lighter but more accurate and frequent.  This could go poorly quickly.

A second volley of lightning fast blows from Kitheras had Tarron hold up his sword to resign from the match.

"I thought about disarming you first. I should've done more than just think about it."

Kitheras nodded, and bowed in respect to his training partner.

"Things would likely have gone differently if we both used our spells, but there are many situations that negate the ability to draw on them.  Our blades must be the equal of our spells."

He sheathes his swords and hangs them back on the chair and stretches the sore serratus anterior muscle where Tarron's blow had landed.

"Do you shoot a bow?"

This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

Tarron shakes his head. "I do, but poorly. Though we haven't tested the limits of our abilities, there is more to me than meets the eye. You were quick, but I have a feeling that our strengths may be combined to be deadly on the battlefield. Equally matched in defense, but each with tricks under our sleeves. Quite honestly, if you were at my side throughout my former life, I doubt that many of my troubles would have even eventuated." replies Tarron.

He bows towards his sparring partner. "Perhaps another sparring session would be useful, to get the measure of each other."

"When you have time, of course."

In reply to Tarron Ianfiel (msg # 20):

((ooc: Oh goodie, I get to hit with the fun one.
Initiative: 10
Weapon speed: 5
Total: 15
Modified THAC0: 10
Attack: 19:22, Today: Kali Xilrora rolled 2 using 1d20 ((2)).
19:23, Today: Kali Xilrora rolled 12 using 1d20 ((12)).
Damage: 20:02, Today: Kali Xilrora rolled 7 using 1d8+1 ((6)).


Kali was definitely caught off guard thinking that more banter was going to be involved. The hits Tarron landed stung a bit but nothing that she hadn't experienced before. As she hit with her off-hand weapon, everyone heard a new and unknown voice mocking him.

"Ha! Away, you starvelling, you elf-skin, you dried neat’s-tongue, bull’s-pizzle, you stock-fish!”
This message was last edited by the player at 01:06, Thu 02 Sept 2021.

A 12 is ac-2 so a hit

10:15, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 3 using 1d10.  Initiative Round 2. – [roll=1630548903.7321.359800]

What's your AC by the way? Will make this a bit speedier knowing it. Mine is AC -1

((ooc: Kali's AC is currently 4. That may get adjusted; we're working out the last magical items and she may decide on something magical, but for now assume it's 4.))

GM, is there a wall in the cliffside next to where we are staying that is unclaimed?  It was asked.  If so (and by next to, I mean within 30m or so), then Krackor will get started with collecting wood for scaffolding and then shaping the stone entrance of what he is hoping will become the Temple to the Bronze Mask.

The Entrance will look like a large face with the entrance being where the mouth is and the eyes will be shaped so a small brazier or sconce can be used to hold a flame, giving the impression of the other title for Gorm, 'Old Fire Eyes'.

In reply to Tarron Ianfiel (msg # 25):

My AC is currently 4. I rolled a 5 for initiative.

18:21, Today: Kali Xilrora rolled 5 using 1d10 ((5)).

This message was last edited by the player at 23:22, Thu 02 Sept 2021.

Corym continues to decipher the scroll.

Interesting. "Intelligent armaments, invisible familiar, or just looney?" Kitheras inquired.

Downtime Activities

Corym, please make 3 Intelligence checks to determine how long it takes to decrypt the scroll. Other characters can assist in the effort to make it go faster by making 2 Intelligence checks. It's probably going to take several months.

Krackor, most of the walls of the ravine already have houses built into them like the picture at the top of the thread. There are a couple of places where the bare rock is showing. More importantly, you cannot start a temple without first getting the permission of the town. That needs to be role-played out. Feel free to start that however you wish.

What else do folks want to do during downtime?

06:56, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 23 using 3d20 with rolls of 4,13,6.  Intelligence .

06:57, Today: Kitheras Sunblade rolled 18 using 2d20 with rolls of 15,3.  Intelligence .

Tarron's blade twists and arcs, the blue-white steel causing no end of trouble for Kali. As it nicked her skin, Tarron felt renewed, his wounds closing up before her eyes. "Neat's have wonderful tongues. Even a dried one would be preferable to kiss than your salty flesh." retorts Tarron, choosing to resort to insults since Kali had brought them to bear upon him.


Initiative: 3
Weapon speed: 2
Total: 5, 7
Modified THAC0: 7
Attack: Attack 1 hits AC 2 for 10 damage, Attack 2 hits AC3 for 12 damage (11hp returned).
Damage: 2+8 (2 Str, 3 Weapon enhancement, 1 bladesinger, 2 specialisation), 4+8

22:17, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 12 using 1d8+8.  Damage 2. – [roll=1630851453.62317.359800]
22:17, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 10 using 1d8+8.  Damage 1. – [roll=1630851446.22449.359800]
10:15, Thu 02 Sept: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 4 using 1d20.  Attack 2. – [roll=1630548922.03995.359800]
10:15, Thu 02 Sept: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attack 1. – [roll=1630548914.8175.359800]

I have tried already by talking with the Forge Master but I've been blanked, so finding an unassuming bit and getting permission to build inwards shouldn't be an issue and then build the temple once inside the wall.

If you perceive that the Forgemaster is stonewalling you, maybe start doing some pastoral work at the existing shrine and start building a following. With enough community buy-in, the people might demand a temple.

Especially with a dying faith like Gorm’s those associate clerics that man your temple while you’re adventuring have to come from somewhere. Maybe begin by initiating them at the shrine. Set them on their path to acquire the necessary XP so that you have the requisite followers when you’re able to build your temple.

Corym

Outside of the daily stress of hiding and adventuring in the most dangerous city on the planet, you're able to better devote yourself to the decryption effort. Kitheras also has several useful insights, though you're occasionally stymied by the fact that scroll's encryption is based on a very different magical tradition than either of you use. But you make fairly consistent progress, and are pretty soon able to feel confident in estimating how long it will take before you're able to read the scroll.

((ooc: The scroll will take 2 months to decrypt.))

Group

I am going to try to get Glen's populace fully detailed (or at least mostly detailed) in the next day or two. So if there are people you want to meet, like town leaders or various craftsfolk, I should have names soonish.

Awesome.  Give me an idea about how many days per week I need to work on it to hit that timeline, and I'll give you what I'm doing on the 'off' days.

I think I definitely need to set up a weekly tea party with Neldor.