Hello and welcome!

If you will hold on for just a little while I will prepare much of what we need to get started.

In the meantime go ahead and get started rolling up your characters.

OK, I've started with dice rolls, but I'm fairly sleepy tonight, so more work will come tomorrow.

Should I warn you that I'm easily distracted by side quests?

Or that I'm like many a player that will adopt stray animals, ghosts, or other things you put in my path?

Perfect! We'll just see where the rabbits lead then.

Edit: Do you use the responsive site? If so, I won't worry about manipulating images as it handles that for me. If so I can put a little more work I to the images I put up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:47, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

Hi,

I guess I didn't realize there was an m.rpol.net site. I assume that's what you mean.

I didn't use it, but I can.

r.rpol.net is the current build in progress. You don't have to use it by any means, it's what I default to usually which may throw off some of my formatting when viewed from just the base site. Just let me know which one you're more comfortable with and I'll try and format with that in mind.

OK. My first character sheet and bio are posted. Let me know what you think. I know I do very plain character sheets; let me know if you want something more beautiful. Let me know if the background is at all interesting. I'd love input in a couple areas: what's in the book, and what's the question in the letter that I don't know the answer to. Of course, what's in the book may not be immediately evident.

When you say Absolutely to feats, I assume that means normal rules, so the only way to get one at first level is with a variant human. That's fine with me; that's how I built Rashka. My fighter will probalby use the variant human rules.

And r.rpol.net is fine with me.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:45, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

Hey this is your game as much as mine. If you want to have a feat at first level just say the word and we add it to the character creation thread as if it was always so :P

No need for beautiful character sheets when you write backstories like that. Loved it by the way. I will start looking into possibilities for the book and letter

OK, Sidri the sorceress is done.

I won't be doing any more characters tonight. I hope to finish another one tomorrow, but it looks like tomorrow is just a little crazy.

More to come.

As I write Sidri, I'm not sure that she's very nice, but I have no doubt she can get into trouble.

She certainly seems like she could get into trouble.

Did you decide if you would like just standard feat acquisition or to have everyone start with a feat as well? I leave the choice to you.

I'm going to be rolling up two characters a Cleric and a Rogue, unless you feel those niches are filled by your builds (I can adjust or even remove them if they seem unnecessary). My plan isn't to have them with you at all times but rather to be a resource you can bring along or use if you so choose.

As for where we begin we could start either with everyone already at the estate or we can run mini adventures for each that bring them there either individually or together as the case with Sidri and Rashka. Do you have a preference?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:13, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

And how do you feel about signature equipment? Items or things that increase in power as your characters do. It's being used quite effectively in another game I'm playing in and would like to possibly bring it into play here if you're up for it.

I'm absolutely up for signature equipment. I think it sounds like a neat idea.

I apologize for being quiet; I've been running a fever and have just been exhausted. I'm hoping to finish character creation in the morning, but for now I'm going to lie down again.

Hi,

Sorry; I was reading backward and didn't see this immediately.

Yes, a cleric and a rogue sound like a fine idea. A little bit of healing could go a long way.

I didn't add feats to Sidri and Rashka, but I definitely could. It might be fun.

Let's go ahead and do that for everyone. That would mean that my fighter, whom I know nothing about at the moment, would end up with two feats. I was toying with the idea of gladiator as a background for the fighter, but I don't know.

How about we do some mini adventures to bring everyone here. That will give me a little time to get everyone in my head so I know how to write them. Would that work?

I've been gaming for a long time and never used the safety techniques I see in newer RPGs, but I figure it's reasonable to ask: Are there things you don't want to write about, things that just annoy you, things we should avoid?

No worries. Take your time and recover. This game isn't going anywhere. I'm going to be out of town for a three day weekend and posting will be limited to my phone anyway. I'll add the feats to the character creation thread and make a signature equipment thread to detail how that is going to work.

I'll try and have those done in the next few hours or so.

I like the gladiator idea for your fighter but of course it is ultimately up to you. As for mini adventures leading to the Manor I'm thinking we do those as solos or pairs depending on how you want your characters to be involved with eachother.

Finally as to the things I generally avoid, those are all pretty much covered under RPOL's guidelines anyway. How about yourself? If you'd like I can escalate this game's status to Adult if it would be more in line with how you would like to play.

In general, following the RPOL guidelines is just fine with me. I might tend to use profanity for a character, but I don't find it necessary, and so I'm fine with things being PG or something like that. I don't have to overexplain the blood and gore or anything like that, and if we write any romance, I'm definitely fine with a fade to black. I'd be fine with more adult options in those categories, too; whatever we're both comfortable with seems fine to me. Maybe we leave things as they are and see how it goes, and escalate things if need be.

I love the idea of the signature items.

I'll have to ponder what they are and what powers they might have.

Definitely some work to do this weekend. I'm looking forward to it.

Between that and convincing a program I'm working on to do what I want instead of what I apparently told it, it will be a busy weekend.

Doing anything fun this weekend?

Sounds like a plan.

Nothing out of the ordinary planned. Just going to visit family. It's a large family splintered throughout a small town. Most of my weekend will probably be bouncing from house to house, playing games, watching movies and generally just catching up with everybody.

Sorry I didn't get anything done this weekend. I took an unexpected additional trip out to my father's new property in the mountains and just got to work getting that place ready. I'll get some work done tomorrow to get as going when you're ready.

I didn't get anything done this weekend, either. I've posted a character sheet for Jenil, our gladiator, but haven't written her bio yet. I'll finish out our bard soon.

I'd love to see some of your character design, but I'd really love to see a few examples of signature weapons so that I don't get too power hungry. LOL.

Power hungry is fine :P

I'm going to put a signature item together now for Ting-Ting as an example. His backstory is just now posted.

An unfinished version of the first signature item is up. Gotta pass out now. Let me know your thoughts and feelings on the matter. Anything you would tweak about this one anything you've got questions about for yours. Etc. I really gotta go now though as I'm just typing train of thought now moments before my eyes shut. Ttfn.

I like Ting-Tin'gs backstory. It made me smile. I think he'll get along with our bard fairly well.

And that signature item helps. It's enough to get me started, certainly.

I posted Jenil's backstory (of sorts, you'll see) just now. I think I'm going to go work on our bard. I'm a bit concerned about him. He keeps telling me he's had an ideal life, so I may have to run with that.

I think I want  Rashka's signature item to be a book of some kind. Alternatively, it may be her raven familiar (that's what she's going to use her Find Familiar for). Either could be fun. I love the idea of having a talking familiar that could perhaps cast a few spells of its own. We'll see.

I'm open to ideas for Sidri. I kind of what it to be something related to forgery, but I haven't figured it out yet.

For Jenil, I'm pretty certain it's a sword.

More to come.

Oh, if we want to start with Rashka and Sidri and start a thread where we begin their tale, I'm good with that. Or if you want to see all the characters finalized, I'm good with that, too.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

Jenil's backstory, I like it. Twist at the end there makes it even better. It will be quite fun to explore.

If you do want to go the route of a signature familiar in the form of a raven I might suggest looking into Raven Queen Warlock from UA for features that might inspire you or even just the warlock invocations around the pact of the chain. I usually take existing features and magic item capabilities and tweak them for the sake of ease myself but if you like coming up with your own then I'm all for it.

I'll think on something for Sidri as well.

As for starting a thread for the two of them I think that's an excellent idea. I'll try to have something to jumpstart this campaign tomorrow or Sunday by the latest.

Oh, that's a great idea about the Raven Queen. I will take a look. Like you, I think I'd like to use something else as guidance instead of inventing something whole cloth.

I'll keep an eye out for your post while I work on our bard. I thought I'd named him, but I don't think I like it, so I might have to find another name. None of the example tortle names really spoke to me. Ah, I figured it out. His Tortle name is Kinlek, but he always says, "Call me Kenny."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:56, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

My goal is to reply in the morning. I had a twelve hour day today and my brain is dead.

Hey, no worries. Long days take their toll.

Also I like Kenny's name/nickname I'll switch him over right now.

They do. I've also been feeling generally bleah, so I'm trying to sort that out. It might just be the Keto flu, since I'm eating low carb at the moment.

I've decided to start posting as Sidri and Rashka separately. I hope that's OK. It's probably what I should have done to start.

Yes, I ended up liking Kenny's name. I'm just trying to put something of a background together, and I'm not sure what I want. I had said he didn't have a dark past, but now I was tempted by the Haunted background, so who knows.

I have a complete bundle from D&D Beyond, which is why I just wander through all the material.

Post however is most convenient or comfortable for you. If it shifts back and forth from individual to group posts that's fine too.

I like to wander the whole of material as well I'm constantly refreshing through the stuff I have because it's just so much fun to discover and rediscover little things here and there that pop off a bit of inspiration.

Had a long night and will try to get my next IC post for you to respond too after I get off work but can't make any promises. Today and tomorrow may be just a bit slower than usual.

Also nice work there having Sidri casually drop his name to see his response ;)

Will post tomorrow. Thank you for your patience.

No worries. We have a big deployment today, so I expect chaos.

Hope you got some rest last night.

And yes, Sidri wanted to see what he would do. He's very nice. She's suspicious! LOL.

Nicely done!

Don't know if I will be able to post today. Will try but no guarantees.

No worries.

Post when you can.

I think tomorrow I will try and get up a running list of various places and organizations as you get to learn more about them.

For now the Argent Battaile is basically the Regal Vale's military/police force. It has a bunch of branches and regiments and Mac referring to the Silverlings is a regional term that is used by a lot of locals usually as a sort of commentary on how the army is more decorative presence in this area than actual force to be reckoned with. Up to you if you want Sidri or Rashka to have that knowledge IC. Also I'm just about asleep so if things seem off here or in them post I will fix in the morning.

Hi,

I'm just now catching up. We had a release today. I think things went smoothly, but I'm always afraid to say that and have them blow up on me.

Anyway, I think they might know about the term since Sidri is known for listening well, but there's a lot they don't know.

Off to read what else is here. Sleepy.

All good, may be slow per the usual for weekends. Perhaps consider your signature equipments or finishing up the bard if you have time.

I've got a lot of things to work on at home so probably won't be able to get back to the IC stuff just yet. Will have to do the setting stuff later too.

No worries. I have a mostly free day tomorrow so I was intending to finish the bard. He's mostly done, but I need to choose a background, and I'm still tempted by Haunted One. Not sure if I'll actually go in that direction.

I was considering archaeologist, but that has a language talent, and I really sent Rashka in that direction, so I'm not sure I want to duplicate.

I was considering some kind of Courier, but I don't think I saw a Courier background. I'm considering Spy, but he's fairly upbeat, and spy might be too sinister for him.

Yes, I know I'm being indecisive. I'm hoping inspiration will strike in the morning.

I've posted Kenny's character sheet. He still has gold to spend, but I think I'd like him to be the one with cash, so that's probably OK.

Sorry for the long delay; my computer crashed and was dead for quite some time.

No worries, I've been away and delayed myself. I have one more flight today and then I finally get to relax at the hotel for a few hours. In which time I should be able to get our first IC prologue continuing forward.

Love the character btw. He'll have much in common with Ting it looks like, both archaeologists perhaps they can compare notes at times.

I hope you can get some rest.

I like Kenny, too. I need to write out his story so I can get a better sense of him, but I think he's a genuinely nice guy.

Sorry, not trying to neglect you here. Lots of work this week. Was expecting a little more time off today but ended up having to help pick up someone else's slack.

This weekend I've got a nephew's birthday but if I can I'll get a post before days end tomorrow.

I hope all is well. It sounds like life is fairly hectic for you.

Hey my gosh sorry. Yes it is. Another busy week has kept me from even engaging with rpol just to stay sane and in the zone. However I'm back for a bit. I'll see what I can do today.

There's going to be another lapse this weekend as I've got a wedding to officiate but after that the next few weeks should be fairly normal. In fact I'm expecting normalcy up until Thanksgiving. Thanks for bearing with in the absence. Now I'll head over to that IC thread and cook something up. May just be short and sweet as I've got two more flights today.

Should I start getting some prologue for the other characters up and running as well? And do you want Jenil and Kenny in two separate starting points or already having known each other?

Hi There,

This weekend it was my turn to completely disappear. sorry about that. Things should be better now.

I think I'd like to keep Jenil and Kenny separate for a bit until I'm certain I've found my footing with them. Either that or they meet up somewhere in the thread. I don't think they start out knowing one another.

It is truly all good. I'll look at setting up a thread/threads for them next then.

All right, that sounds good. I'm still frustrated by Kenny's bio, which isn't cooperating, but I'm hoping it will be soon. Maybe we can do this in reverse order where I start writing for him and fill in the bio once I get a sense of him.

If you're up for two or three simultaneous threads, I'm OK with that.

Copy that, this week is going to continue to be a tough one but will get those started when I can. Will depend on if all the extra work the last few days actually leaves me with some more time off tomorrow and Friday or if there are more unexpected projects around the corner. I'm hoping the former.

Oh, I understand. I came back from vacation and work treated me badly, welcoming me back with Production problems.

Then my daughter went to the ER last night. She's fine and back at home but resting.

I'd like a quiet week.

I'm just going to be doing some catch up, don't feel like you have to jump in unless you'd like too if you still need that quiet week.

LOL. I didn't actualy intend for it to be a quiet week on the game. I was rather hoping we'd have no ER visits, no overtime, nothing unusual. It didn't work out that way. We had lots of Production problems last week and my sleep schedule was shot.

Now my hope is that you and I are both on normal schedules and we can write.

No worries, life happens. I'll work on something IC before nights end. It may just be short and sweet. Will see momentarily.

Ooooh, I like the setup for Jenil.

I was thinking she was going to run off and see what it was all about, but she loves to fight, so she argued against it.

LOL. That probably sounds strange.

Hi There,

It seems as though we've both gotten very busy. Perhaps it was a bad idea to try to start something like this as the holidays approached, I don't know.

For now, I think we should probably set this aside. Thanks for making the attempt. I really do appreciate it.

Sorry. Yes, I believe setting this aside for the time being would be best. Perhaps there will be a time when we can pick it back up in the future but I don't think I'm in a place to make any guarantees or to expect anything from you.

I hope you enjoy the holidays.

Hi, I know its been a very long time... I realized I never officially closed this game. Before I do so I just wanted to check in if there was anything you wanted to save here. I'm likely scrapping the whole thing along with all the games I've ever "run" despite all of them never really getting off the ground to technically be considered running.

I want to also apologize for just sort of vanishing for a while. I hope you've been having a better experience and actually getting to play in games that are worth your time and commitment.

Whether you pop in or not I'm going to leave this open for the next two weeks and then closing out and wiping everything.