When you want to discuss In Game specific things with each other but not as posted "actions".

It appears there are two Alvars... Alvar the Tanner and Alvar of Ashwick? Confusing unless they're the same. ;-)

Yes, that is why he added a family name to his character.

This is likely the rest of you have seen Tobias actually use any magic, though it has been whispered in town that he has strange powers. Though the creation of light isn't particularly powerful, it would probably be surprising to actually see it happen, and it being an unnatural, burgundy color would be strange as well....

Dumoss knows about the tracks if he cares to share.

Anyone looking can determine that the animal's prints are larger than the child's.

While you are welcome to do what you want, I suggest discussing what you are going to do if you provoke a wild bear in it's den.

Hello guys..
Sorry .

Personal life came up.
I got a cold. So resting after work. Then this weekend when I felt better, I had to take one of my kids to the hospital as he dislocated his shoulder.

I am working on forming my update now.

It maybe tomorrow as I want to put together a good one.

I will attempt to be more on top of this.

OOC: As I assume all that has actually happen so far is a few people climbing down into the chamber and looking around, I would think the kids have just gotten back to the village.

Sorry I've been so busy, classes started again

Hey DM, could you give us a description once more of what we've seen so far all in one post? Perhaps I can create a simple map.

There is a hole in the ground that is where a section of a cavern has fallen in.
This hole is approximately 25 feet by 40 feet being wider than across.

The floor is about 15 feet below the lowest point of the mouth and slopes down another 10 or 11 feet in all directions.
The main chamber is oval shaped and has about 15 feet still under the remaining roof.
The main chamber extends in both directions narrowing to about 16 feet wide on both sides.

To the left, the cave forms a 'Y' with the left hand branch dead ending after about 30 feet as it narrows down to around 7 feet wide. The right hand branch of the cave funnels quickly down till the sides can be touched by extending both arms, starting about halfway down its length and then staying that width to the end.
At the end of this branch there is water pooled on the right half.

To the right, the cave extends past some small boulders about sixteen feet further. The low boulders block most of the left hand access.
A 7 foot wide opening continues off of the right side on into the darkness.

Ok, last chance to organize your response.

If nobody has any suggestions to each other, it will be the bear's turn to defend his home turf.

Game Map 0 has been updated with the cave map.
The people that went down into the cave are just below the rubble pile except for the people that specifically moved.
The blackened areas are not explored and the cave may extend beyond.
The darkened area are unlit but explored.

I think that if there was an identified "Leader/Caller" then things could move faster.
I could assume everyone was doing what the Leader/Caller needed and not have to wait for each person to give an update.

Individuals would still be able to do their own thing, when they wanted to do something different. It would just speed things up when everyone agreed with the Leader/Caller.

A little help here!

Tobias is a weakling, he will die if none of you martial types jump in to save the day...

I like the idea of a Caller, but I think what's needed first is an honest assessment of who's in the game and who's not. If this story/system isn't your cup of tea, don't feel bad about bowing out. If you do like things the way they are, then stay in and commit to at least a couple posts a week. If you can't post at least once a week, even to say "yeah, what the Caller said", then maybe this platform isn't for you. I'm just being honest, not trying to hurt feelings. The game's more fun when PCs are DOING things. I realize RL happens, I'm going through my own bad case of it right now as well. Let's try to help our GM out a little more than we have.

I see you guys are logging in, if you don't know what to do or need help, just ask! Talk it out OOC if need be until we get rolling and comfortable. Don't be shy, you're a hero after all!

Hey DM, are we in initiative order?

In reply to Tobias Draigh (msg # 16):

As it looks like combat is being engaged, I'd have to answer Yes.

I just didn't know if I could interject out of order. Anyway, if there's a way to keep the bear distracted or occupied, Tobias will attempt to go toward the sounds of the boy... slowly and carefully of course! ;-)

I posted I will stay with the bear.
While you two go look for the child to be faster.
This way Jeffrey can protect Tobias if something happens
while searching for the boy.

Also I think Tobias should be selected to be the leader of the group?

In reply to Dumoss Nindir (msg # 19):

Sounds good, I vote for Tobias as well.

I've been drowning in classwork, apologies, will try to post today

Alvar: "Aye, Jeffery, I'll help." Alvar helped lower Jeffery into the hole cautiously, making certain that he would be okay. He would stay with Jeffery in case he needed help.

Alvar: Alvar will grip his spear, hoping that he wouldn't have to use it against the bear.

Oracle: Above Jeffery and on the slope of the fallen cave roof stood Alvar with a spear gripped firmly in his hands.

Jeffery:"Alvar, quickly before the bear charges wrap the rope around a tree and throw both ends down. Dumoss keep focused on the bear and I will tie Leland to the rope."

Unless I'm confused, Alvar will need to climb back up the side of the cavern from the top of the fall-in pile, quickly (making a roll) or slowly (no roll), to do anything with a tree.

It was my understanding that he followed Jeffery down.
If this is not the case, please correct me.

In reply to Oracle (msg # 22):

sorry, my bad, you're right Alvar is not up top.

Alvar has responded privately about personal issues and an intent to update soon.

I am waiting a reasonable amount to time.

In reply to Oracle (msg # 24):

that post will be tomorrow, been lots of work

Everyone is back to the town gate, now what?

All/each that were involved in saving Leland get 80 experience points.

So kind of stuck what we should be doing now.
I know back to original quest with the tanner and deer.
Its mid afternoon. So while Tobias heads to the tavern to rest; Jeffrey can continue with Tobias to the tavern, and I can go find the hunter?


I still think that there is still some form of magic related the golden dear and the tanner. And that the deer and tanner are one in the same.

Let's continue looking, Tobias is out of spells, but still has a little left in the tank. Time to use his mind. Let's go hunt the Hunter...

The current time is around noon.
It was early morning when you discovered Alvar missing and decided to follow the deer tracks.
Rescuing Leland only took a little over an hour.
It just feels like it was longer because of the unusually slow post rate.

Sorry, afk until Friday ish... NPC me as needed.

So, currently the 'votes' are Tobias and Dumoss want to go after the hunter and Jeffery wants to go rest up till tomorrow morning.

Is this correct?

I feel like Alvar would be with Jeffery

14:32, Today: Oracle rolled 6 using 1d20 ((6)).

Alvar and Jeffery need to let me/everyone know what they are doing in town.

In reply to Oracle (msg # 35):

From all that had gone on and the time it took I thought it was much later than it actually is, therefore I was going back to the village for the night.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Heading to the hospital with my wife early tomorrow morning for the arrival of little d10! If I'm awol, carry on and NPC as needed.

In reply to Tobias Draigh (msg # 37):

Congrats!

I'm out of town from tomorrow until Monday, without internet or phone signal, move Alvar as needed.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I will respond to updates as they occur.

I realize that I'm out of spells for the day, but this was just too perfect. I actually have a cool spell that fits the story perfectly! It would be too much of a shame not to use it because of 'game balance' :-P

Tobias will probably pick up something detrimental for it, but we certainly can't beat the image of the young necromancer using his magic to animate his accidentally slain brother-in-law in order to smuggle it to his Tower... what could go wrong?

And this is why we play / run games.

Does Tobias have a back way into his tower or only from inside town?

That's a great question, one that I must be careful about answering due to trying not to get too meta...

The playbook says this: "Your own strange house on the outskirts of the village"

I sort of thought that being on the edge of the village would provide him some distance and privacy for the old, ruined tower he calls home. He utilizes his Wizard's Home ritual to make the Tower magically enhanced as to space and layout. So the combination of those two established elements would probably support Tobias having a 'back door' to privately access places Beyond the Wall somewhat conspicuously...

It had not been clearly located up till now and I wanted to be sure that once it was. it was where you had intended. Now it is written.

I assume there is a small gate, just big enough for a person to slip through in the wall, nearby. This gate will be locked at night.

Trials
There are three types of trials that occur in a court when there is a question of innocence.

The Trial by Battle: in which the accused challenged his accuser to single combat, and staked the question of his guilt or innocence on the result of the duel.

The Trial by Ordeal: in which the accused under went an ordeal (usually painful and/or dangerous) in the confidence that his guilt or innocence would be miraculously made known.
This trial was never forced upon an accused person, but was allowed to them as an appeal to their God(s).

The Trial by Compurgators: in which if the accused could bring twelve of his neighbors, who would make oath that they believed him innocent, he was held to be so.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:14, Sat 08 Feb 2020.

Constable
Oversees all military matters, including the mustering, equipping and training of the knights and soldiers,
and the maintenance and fortification of all castles and defenses.
A constable has the additional legal powers of arrest and control of the public given to him or her directly by a sworn oath and warrant.

Sheriff (reports to the Chancellor)
Manages a shire or county by assessing and collecting taxes and enforcing royal writs. Also
responsible for making sure the king's table is well stocked while the king was in his county.

Master of the Hunt (reports to the Seneschal)
Has the duty of organizing hunts for the household, including packs of hounds, hunt followers,
and so on, and preparing the quarry such as deer or wild boar, in all parts of the lord's domain.

Master Falconer (reports to the Seneschal)
Maintains the household mews, where falcons and hawks are trained, and ensures there are
sufficient game birds to be hunted wherever the lord or his family may choose to so divert
themselves.

Don't mean to borderline accuse Tobias of anything, just trying to react as Rolan would. Let me know if you think it's a bit much, I'm happy to scale it back. :)

No problem, it's perfect. I'll fill you in a little on backstory your character might know about Tobias and make an IC post tonight after work, ran out of time today.

@DM - Is everyone inside the tower at this point? Or at least Rolan, the Constable and Elton?

Watchman Potter is "standing guard" outside at the door.
The others can be assumed to be inside.

Roland's, "I don't know the fae to use arrows, they often have magics to utilize" is an interesting observation, as both Dumoss and Jeffery use bows.
The bows are smaller than human but still bows.
They do use magics without a doubt.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:43, Fri 21 Feb 2020.

Oof! Sorry about that! Fixed!

If there was something that Tobias was going to do, I can shift/alter my posts to after.

Giving Tobias a chance to wrestle life to the ground and have time for an update.

No worries! Take the time you need, Tobias! I'll be here!

Will try to post late tonight. Thanks for being patient. I'm slowly adjusting to my new schedule of insanity. The surge should tail off in a couple of weeks and I'll have a little more time.

Hey no worries, I’m taking a massive course load this semester so I understand. I had to step back from some games for a few days earlier.

I'm here when you are.

Hey guys, I should be back to a more consistent, though not speedy by any means, posting schedule. Hope the game hasn't slowed into oblivion yet. Hope you are all well in these crazy times.

I wouldn't call it "oblivion" ...

Been messing with "Rangers of Shadow Dark" and Tabletop Simulator while giving Rolan a chance to post an update.

Not familiar with either... I expect a full review.

"Rangers of Shadow Dark" is a skirmish level wargame where you have a Hero and up to 7 henchmen.
It is designed for solo to up to 4 players (total of 8 characters in a party).
It supports campaign play with character advancement.

Tabletop Simulator is an app on Steam that provides a virtual 3D table with full physics and you can do just about anything you could with a physical table plus more.
With it you can build the 3D terrain maps for playing games without the space and cost requirements.
Don't need 3D maps, just that you can.

I threw this together last night to see how hard it would be. It wasn't hard.
https://imgur.com/CQUC0Ay

Very cool! I've always wanted to play with something like that, but I just haven't found the time. How's the learning curve?

I fear my slowness last month may have driven Rolan away. Hopefully he'll be back, things are just getting interesting! ;-)

The learning curve is not bad. Not a rule dense game. Has a bit more randomness due to the dice rolls then I would prefer but, you have that anywhere single dice rolls are involved.
A few Actual Play videos and it is clear how to play.

As for Tabletop Simulator, building stuff in it has some tricks but just playing with already made things is easy. Amazing things can be done with it.

I was really hoping that TTS would allow for people to log into an already running table and make moves at their convenience.
It _could_ be done as long as the game host stays up.

The nature of this format is slowness. The challenge is to keep interest between interruptions.
Luckily, everything that has happen up to this point is recorded and rereading refreshes.

Looks like I ran Rolan off... sorry about that. I rMailed him.

Should we recruit more?

The recruit flag has been on since Rolan joined but people rarely want to start "in the middle" of a game.

I do thank you for sticking with it.

I've been having a lot of fun building settings / scenes in 3D with Tabletop Simulator.
Intend to use it for Rangers of Shadow Dark missions or some reskinning of it.

Gives me an outlet for creativity but doesn't have the back & forth of a live game.

Some examples of what can be done.
https://steamcommunity.com/sha...tails/?id=1831012197

https://steamcommunity.com/sha...tails/?id=2078696800

and the best I can do so far:
https://steamcommunity.com/sha...tails/?id=2097756214

Very cool, the last one doesn't seem to load for me. Check the link?

Maybe time for a bump in the Players Wanted thread?

Ah Ha!  Gotta make visibility Public before others can see it.
Oops...