So anyone has advice? I am quite bad at keeping myself alive. If I order the fey to attack the vampire with me is it bound to? Though I suspect the vampire will probably put all his defence to block me

Hmmm presumably it is bound to. Not sure if you’ve got many other options…

Running away is an option, but would Lann think of that?
Lad needs some sunlight in.

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 453):

Thanks for bearing with me folks we'll see how things go this weekend.......though as my boss has a possible covid exposure and spent all of yesterday with me wearing his mask askew.........could be an interesting Xmas.

In reply to GM (msg # 454):

doh :/

Hey posts or no, Merry Christmas/Happy Holliday/Good Cheer to you all. Thanks for the adventures thus-far.

No worries dude, as patience is one of my few virtues IRL, and hopefully your boss hasn't given you the unwanted festive gift that keeps on giving so you can have a worry free holiday yourself.

Season's Greetings to you all, and have a safe and happy one! :)

Blessed holidays everyone! Stay safe and stay healthy, wealthy.

And the same to you, Lann.

Meanwhile, if I have read the IC thread correctly, then there's a set of doors to the south that most likely leads the passageway early on, whose door was hidden behind darkness?

There's also a big pool in the middle of the room the party are entering at the moment, full of murky seawater by the smell of it, which is a mystery to Caith, the smell of seawater this far inland and under a mountain into the bargain, though given the frozen lake it's possible it's meltwater?

The strange light is another mystery, if it's not some form of enchantment to Caith's eyes. Might be natural, like glowing fungus or insects, but an aquatic kind, or some kind of geological phenomena she is not familiar with.

In short, if it isn't magic, she still doesn't quite know what causes the mauve light.

Hey folks! Missing you all!

I was wondering if it was worth just all doing some kind of final post? I know you've all moved on to new adventures - but this was such a monumental, and significant story! (GM, wasn't it, like 14 years of your life?)

Could it be worth giving it a bit of a finish?

Or maybe it's just me? (I still have this favourited on my browser, and I will often check to see if anything's been posted!)

Hope you're all doing well!! <3

Seconded! It would be good to have a proper finish to bring the campaign to a close rather than let it drift away.

We were very close to doing that when we beat the big bad, so if we're not going to do the journey home let's give it a proper finale.

Er, I realise this makes more work for you, GM, but it would be nice to have a proper ending!

Apparently my email notifications still work as well. :)

If that's what the group wants, and the GM is OK with it, then consider that thirded (If that's a word?) by me.

Fourthed! I know I only joined very late in the day but it was a truly epic adventure and it would be wonderful to be wrapped up neatly.

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 463):

Roger that.

I'll have a go at it on Sunday. :)

Apparently that was a lie....I will attempt this weekend.

In reply to GM (msg # 465):

It's not technically a lie, just an adjustment of previously advised schedule.
Happy to hear you're still on deck.

If it's easier for you, GM, I'm sure we all wouldn't mind writing a paragraph or summary of our own characters? It's a big task trying to sum up an entire game!

No rush, or pressure, though. Just thought I'd offer it on everyone's behalf, if it made it any easier for you :)

That sounds like a good idea to me, and I wouldn't mind writing a short summing up for the character as a player, if that would help?

There might be a bit of intertwining between people's fates - particularly for Brannon, who is essentially a diplomat! So it might be worth discussing this!

Brannon's goal is to restore the fortunes of Clann Cernach - though with Colm gone, that rather depends on Caith's willingness to step in as the heir apparent!

Either way, he has made promises of support to various groups who owed fealty to the Cernachs, and will do his best to see that this is honoured through Prince Doron. This might well entail a squaring off with the Steward. Either way, Brannon will throw his lot in with the Prince (who is presumably King now that the old King is confirmed dead, though I can imagine the Steward putting together some machinations to stop this).

Best case scenario, Brannon becomes a diplomat serving King Doron and Clann Cernach.

Worst case scenario (other than Doron being overthrown by the Steward and Brannon executed or some such) he retreats to his career as a failed priest in the Temple of Flame, looking after the library.

Caith would be willing to serve as Cernach's leader if no other more worthy candidate can be found. She owes Colm that debt of loyalty in life and beyond the grave, and will not shrink from paying it.

Likewise, she would support Prince Doron's claim to the throne of Glissom over the steward's claim. Clan Cernach's reputation rests largely on his support in return, and the steward seems unlikely to be an ally.

If it comes to a war for the throne, then there are allies outside of Glissom that could tip the scales in Doron's favor on the battlefield, but Caith would rather settle it as bloodlessly as possible. Too many people of Glissom and other lands have already died to return the flame. That said, there are many ways to topple a would-be dictator, and not all of them involve an army.

If she has to run rather than fight to ensure the clan's and kingdom's survival, the forests of Glissom are a hiding place she knows well, as does Alphail.

If running is not an option, then she will do as much damage as she can to those who threaten the lives and land of Glissom before she is captured or slain.

Her best case scenario would be a lasting peace, a wise and just ruler and a land fit to raise the children of Clan Cernach in, with Alphail at her side and her comrades safe, well and generously rewarded for their aid.

Caith has many debts to pay, not all of them to mortal or earthly powers and the wisest of owls must have her mantlepiece ornament as she requested.

Are you sure that's what you want for the character?
A tidy ending and a life of duty if all goes well, or as an outlaw serving a king in exile while raising a child in the forest if the steward cannot be overthrown?
Are there any other choices here?

In reply to Aphail MacRoach (msg # 471):

What else can she do that lets her keep her assorted oaths to men, commoner and  kings and to the gods, and repay her debt to Colm?

I thought I'd figured out all the likely options already. Doron's a better man than his predecessor was, so there's hope of a better ruler for Glissom in backing his claim to the throne, especially with Leofwyn backing him up.

Clan Cernach needs a ruler that will lift the legal sanctions against the clan.

Clan Cernach also needs a leader, and Colm left pretty big boots to fill. Frankly, Caith's worried she's not up to the task, and that her being a sorceress will just make trouble for the clan in the future, but who else could she nominate for the position?

I’m sure Caith’s up to the task. She seems more wily than Colm was…

He was and she is, Osric.
But is that enough, given she's lost track of exactly how many men she's married to, according to rite? Her allying with outlanders and people of an entirely different faith makes for a complicated situation.

In reply to Osric Grim (msg # 473):

I'll take that as a compliment, given Colm was cunning enough to keep a fox on their toes, but it takes charm as well as wits.

And Alphail is technically correct, in that by rite, he and Caith were married to Deise back at the inn, but I don't know if that's an issue, given Deise is no longer named Deise, legally speaking.

I don't know if he could rightly be married to anyone under the the old rite if he has changed faith since then either.Caith has treated him as a brother since the marriage rite, not a husband.

As far as she's concerned, she likely owes Gatenades a favor, given those followers of his who have aided in bringing back the Hearthflame, and that would best be paid forward by not only rewarding those allies (Or their families where that is no longer possible.) but by keeping any future theological wars at bay by allowing at least one church to be built in Glissom.