Hello everyone and welcome! Sorry if this is all off to a bit of a rough start, I’m still new to DMing on this site and am currently trying to figure out some of the technical side of things as we go.

Since we received a big influx of players today, I figure this thread will just be a nice spot to introduce yourselves, get to know everyone, and just generally get comfortable with the group who will be inhabiting Tideswallow for the foreseeable future!

Additionally, before I forget again, here’s a link to a DnDBeyond campaign page for Tideswallow. It’s incomplete atm, but I should have it fixed up by some point tomorrow. Feel free to use this and the character creator there if its any easier. https://ddb.ac/campaigns/join/1387177812673588
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:10, Fri 11 Sept 2020.

Yeah. There tends to be a high demand for D&D 5e games since they don't tend to come along except in bursts. The starting at 3rd probably helped too since I know a LOT of people tend to prefer that. Heck I might be remembering wrong but I think even Critical Role offscreens the first two levels.

That being said welcome all. I am still making my character. Pondering an Artificer or Bard, but if there's anything lacking in our supply of people I can fill in.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:13, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

Greetings everyone!  I'm looking forward to exploring the city with you.  I'll be portraying Leena, the owner of a small-but-growing brothel in the Entertainment district called The Golden Fleece.

Oh, and she might be able to get things for you too.  Nothing too exotic right now...her business is still in growth mode.  But things...

Bartimaeus Gianakos, lay brother of the Cult of Oghma, Lord of Knowledge: may his blessings be upon you.

Tideswallow is a cosmopolitan place and the roots of the city run deep; it's those roots that years of prayer and meditation has directed my mind towards and I've only just arrived in port. I'm not certain what I will find, or really even what I'm looking for, but the suspicions of a cosmic Truth planted during my novitiate took root and keep me up at night.

---

Mechanically I'm playing a Pact of the Tome Warlock who has prioritized Int-skills and ritual spells. As for combat, well... I suppose you can try to fight unspeakable cosmic horrors, but you'll only die tired.

Oh, competition. I was also going with brothel owner. Although, I may go a different route if there's already someone.

Yeah, I thought it was interesting both of you ended up going with brothel owner at almost the same moment earlier. If youd like, you could run partnered or competing establishments in the Entertainment District, or one of you could take the Entertainment District while the other takes The Roe. It’s a much rougher part of town, so it would really benefit from an owner who actually cares about their workers, rather than someone whose just using them as tools to make money.

The Roe could fit with my character, actually. She's a street urchin prostitute turned owner after getting rid of her cruel boss.

Let me think for a bit.

Hello!  I'm a newbie to town, just strolled in with my cousin, Zander.  We've been traveling about since leaving a merc company, hoping to find a nice place to perhaps settle down and find some gainful employment.  I'm rather used to the seedier parts of town from a bad childhood as an urchin filching scraps of food.

Hrrr. You better know who I am. I'm Vela. Best pair of knuckes in the Ash. Going to be champ of the festival too. So stay outta my way or lose some teeth, cutter.

So, going with celestial warlock in the Roe running a brothel and taking care of her people with compassion toward them and an iron fist for those who harm them.

Hi all, I will be playing an adventurer that has returned recently to make a way and  place for myself. looking to form my own organization or guild in time. Looking forward to playing with you all.

Ok, so I’m heading to work right now, so it’ll be a while before I can check in or respond to any of you. For the time being, all of the district threads that are open right now are fair game to post in. They essentially just encompass the streets and outdoor portions of whatever district they correspond with. Specific shops/businesses/buildings and the like will get their own threads as needed. I’ll try to check in during my break, but otherwise expect this to be the last you see of me for a good portion of tonight.

Hello, just came to town myself, with my cousin Zia. I am a fighter and mercenary who has come to town to maybe hold of on the mercenary work for awhile. If coin comes flashing his way he will most likely accept the job. Maybe he might get a job as protection for some of the local establishments, who knows. He is intrigued to see what the town has to offer.

Morning all, Malchanar Dal Othar at your service. Just a gentle-Elf about town, enjoying life and making new friends amongst the cities wealthy and powerful. I hope to visit some of you professionally during our time together.

Two brothels!?! What is a gentle-Elf supposed to do? I suppose it would to rude to judge one without first visiting the other...!

So this should be all of the players we’re going to have for the time being. Definitely more than I originally intended, but I think the way it’s turned out might actually be for the best ultimately. Having a good bunch of folks who are interested in running businesses instead of just running around everywhere looking for adventure definitely makes it a bit simpler.

That said, don’t feel completely tied down to your business either. You’re perfectly free to explore and mingle and such. Just keep in mind the importance of being present back where you’re needed now and then as well.

In reply to Malchanar (msg # 15):

There's a joke to be made about a town with multiple brothels and named Tideswallow, but I won't be making it.
This message was last updated by the player at 18:13, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

One brothel is high tide and the other is low tide huh. Roe of course is low tide as it is underground and all.

In reply to -Name Pending- (msg # 17):

:)

You appear to be a man of discerning taste. Discernment necessitates certain standards. Hope to see you soon, good sir.

ALright, sorry for delays, but I will be getting Redrick setup now. For who he is, he's a local scum-dog. That's what he likes people to believe. Anyone who's a real scum-dog can find the soft, noble center to his crusty exterior. But don't let that core fool you, Redrick is as cutthroat as they come. As cutthroat as only the fifth son of a minor lord could be. He doesn't announce his birth around nor does he deny it. It certainly wouldn't be common knowledge as he has been running as a scummer for a couple years.

As for Redrick profession... well, something keeps him in coin to stay well in his cups and frequent the brothels. Some whisper that he collects information. A few say he's the town's best cat-burglar. Most of them accuse Redrick right to his face. He laughs and shrugs and spends a few more coins. HE'd rather spend coin and make merry that bust heads.

In reply to Redrick (msg # 21):

It is my understanding that cat burglars may require places in which to fence their gains.  Just saying of course...by way of conversation.  No suggestions; no judgements...

I hope to see you soon at the Fleece, Master Redrick.

I'm thinking my background would involve some sort of protective affiliation with a working girl, maybe some girl who fell into the business after some element of my background happened and even if not directly to blame I'd sort of be a quiet guardian of that girl and probably do Merc work for her boss, usually not the bouncer kind unless he happens to be around.

Any thoughts on which brothel a battle artificing dragonborn doing Merc work would fit best with?
This message was last updated by the player at 18:13, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

Leena would welcome his presence at the Fleece, and his arrangement with his ‘ward’ would be his business. However, she doesn’t deal with pimps.

Well I wasn't talking about pimps. More like i knew her dad during a war or something and the dad died, years pass before I return home to the city and I find my war buddy's family fell on hard times without him and now the grown up daughter works in a brothel and I protect her out of a sense of guilt. She probably doesn't recognize me or even know she has a protector, just figuring I work for the owner because I do merc work for them from time to time.

Though the owner would probably deduce that I'm there to watch over someone specific protectively, even if they haven't figured out which one (possibly due to me also protecting the girl's friends in a few incidents).

So work is going to drag on a bit today, unfortunately (Weekends are always the worst for this sort of thing, time wise) but by later tonight I should have most of the specific location threads done. Anyone who owns a business will have a thread specific to their particular building set up in their name so they can edit it. As such, if you want to go ahead and start writing out a description of your place if you havent already, you can just copy/paste it in once the thread is up for it.

Similarly, the District Street threads for Housing District, Waterfront, and City Park should be up when I get home as well. Then it will just be a matter of making specific location threads for any sites that are going to get used a lot (shops, taverns, things like that as necessary). Thanks for sticking with it through this process. I know it’s coming together a little slow, but it should be all set up pretty soon. In the meantime, the District Street threads are entirely yours to mingle in and such. I won’t be able to provide much in the way of atmosphere and what’s happening around you in them until I’m home again, but just being in the streets should require TOO much of that just yet anyway.

Also, in case you haven’t seen it, there’s a city map available to everyone under the maps tab. Same one that was in the ad videos on the player recruitment thread, but this time not black & white and shaking around.

Hm. Now that I'm thinking about it do you think there's any money in renting magic items out?

I'm an Artificer so I have a few temporary magic items I can make. If there's going to be some downtime and the client only needs it for a limited time there could be a business there.

I dunno I would have no guarantee they wouldn't get me in trouble using it for really nefarious things.

I didn't even take magic items, just used it to add 2 level 1 and 1 level 2 spells to the big ol ritual book. Can't be a celestial warlock without augury. ;)

Buy rental could be a good gig. I mean, you'd have to be real specific about use and timeframe or risk getting arrested or, if in the Roe, something a bit worse.

... there were magic items for the taking?

Yes...2 common and one uncommon.

Part of character creation was you could pick 2 commons and an uncommon.

And as an Artificer I can make a limited array of temporary ones.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

Oh.

Huh.

I'll just...


   ... go ...


                    ... and look ...

        ... at ...

[*Running sounds*]

Yeah I am pondering the uncommon stat boosters that raise the stat to 19. The strength one would possibly make a class feature of my subclass irrelevant for a while, the intelligence one isn't going to be as useful to others after I out grow it with my base, while Con would make be tankier and have better breath weapon while not having to invest heavily into a somewhat mediocre stat.

Hmmm...

Whoops nevermind, the CON one is rare.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Sun 13 Sept 2020.

I could use a suggestion. A useful 1st level ritual. I currently have these rituals.

 Level 1 : Find Familiar, Comprehend languages, Unseen Servant, Purify food and drink

Familiars are useful, understanding language when you know you have a meeting where it's likely people will speak others is as well. 30 minutes of rituals for 3 hours of cleaning is a steal, and living in the Roe...well...who knows how the food is sometimes.

Do you have access to Identify?

Yes, Warlock with Tome and Book of Ancient Secrets so access to anything of a spell level she can cast. I'm just not sure Identify would really be so useful in her position. Although, someone could drop something worth checking into. It is known to happen while in the throes of passion.

Yes I imagine one could come across many "wondrous items" and "magical weapons" in the bedroom. You might even encounter a rod or two.

Sometimes three if you have the coin for it.

God, I finally got around to making my character description and kinda depressed myself.

Went with an alternate explanation for my int subtype of dragonborn by saying he's smarter from long experience in war and not as strong... also because of experiences in war.

In reply to Garm Linnorm (msg # 27):

Re getting in trouble, surely the renter is the one at risk. If you only gave them the item then they are responsible...

And if in doubt, DENY EVERYTHING!!!!

In reply to Malchanar Dal Othar (msg # 40):

Malchanar, you may want to move your posting to the newly created Golden Fleece thread.  There is some description of the interior there, including the Ladies, which you can riff off of in your posts.

I’m not sure how much of that our DM wants me adjudicating though.  It’s my character’s location, but I may not control all the scenarios or NPCs, if you know what I mean...

In reply to Leena (msg # 41):

It’s up to you and the other posters involved at that point. So long as everyone involved is comfortable with whatever is going on, you’re welcome to control the scenarios unfolding in your established threads. Just let me know if you need any sort of knowledge about the existing world in any way to add into it. Beyond that, go wild.

The brothel without a name has it's description up. Not fancy, but if you need an escape from the day in day out of the Roe it's worth saving up a few coin.

Quick show of hands before I forget, if you wanted your character to be directly involved with the Sunless Thieves Guild in some way, let me know in a private message. Just working out some privileges and consequences for later on for something.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:20, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

In reply to GM (msg # 44):

Additionally, for anyone who may have missed it and wants it, I have a campaign up on DnDBeyond if you’d prefer to make a character sheet on there rather than using the coded one present here.

https://ddb.ac/campaigns/join/1387177812673588

I'm just using Mythweavers. DnD Beyond requires unlocking content so I never use it and on-site sheets are kinda clunky so I prefer not using them unless my GM prefers them.

Putting the last touches on my character. My uncommon item was mariner's half-plate so I could have a swim speed (makes plenty of sense with my Marine background). Pondering whether my second active temp magic item (which would be his default options he just slaps on every day) should be an armor boost or the Cap of Water Breathing. I mean we are in a port city, and having a swim speed and the ability to breath underwater would be nice to have on when you don't know where the day may take you. But generally +1 AC would be somewhat more broad use. Then again, it only does anything when attacks would otherwise hit me so it is not as additionally useful as first glance would seem. Hmmm. Alternatively I could sacrifice my weapon enhancement for the water breathing instead... so one must weigh the value of durability with accuracy... but I can hand off my weapon to anyone that can use longswords so that has an extra use...

So far I'm a Battle Smith Artificer and tricked out for front-lining. Have a 19 AC without the above AC boost so pretty tanky, can use Int for weapons combat, so I'm basically a fighter with magical gadgets and a mech dog named Boopsie
This message was last edited by the player at 18:21, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

In reply to Garm Linnorm (msg # 46):

Sounds good. The point with DnDBeyond is that I have some of the content unlocked already, so it’s automatically shared with anyone in the campaign that’s utilizing it. It’s just the basics right now (Player’s Handbook, Xanathars, Wildemount) but it’s something to start with at least.

I would say, as far as the character goes, it is entirely up to you at this point. A lot of characters so far aren’t necessarily particularly tanky in any way shape or form, so it might be useful to have someone who can really block some damage and be front-and-center.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

To GM, DNDBeyond won't take the small tweaks you and I discussed for my character. I guess it perceives them as homebrew. But the character sheet you provided here is working fine for me, so hopefully that's all good.

To GM, also, could we get some info on what season it is and if we should just use a standard USish calendar for months, daylight, temperatures, etc?

To GM, what is the tech level here? I saw you referenced stores turning out lights. Are these torches, candles, oil lamps, gas lamps, gnomish electricity? Just wondering how the streets are lit and how much effort it is to make an area dark.

To Garm, if you are looking for general feedback from the peanut gallery, I'd say to go with the stuff that gives you more out of combat opportunities. I'm sure people think I'm something I'm not right now and as things play out it will become apparent that I am not optimized for anything, let alone combat. From what I've seen, I'm guessing this group will be as focused on RP as combat.

But it's always nice to have a tough friend...
This message was last edited by the player at 19:52, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

Yeah, I think I'll go with the default being the cap of water breathing. I may never need to breath underwater, but having the option at hand is generally more useful than +1 armor. If we head for some sort of non-water-logged dungeon or need to thump some heads and have time to wait I can just swap it over. 1 AC isn't a huge loss but me saying that is likely going to get me hit with a roll of 20 lol. Meanwhile, if for some reason we need to fight sea monsters suddenly, I can breathe underwater.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:00, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

I admire solid practicality!

And you can go lurk underwater at Thermal Remedies...

Now I'm picturing Garm at some sort of sci-fi horror exhibit, paid to float motionlessly in a big tube full of water like a science experiment and then jump scare people.

In reply to Garm Linnorm (msg # 49):

I will say, for what it’s worth, no one in the in-person version of the Tideswallow campaign I run has ever bothered exploring the harbor or anywhere else that requires water breathing.... it could be a very uniquely useful tool to have for exploration around here.

I don’t know how y’all are doing, but Vesryn and I just walked into a David Lynch movie.

Halp.

:-D

No guarantees on the sci-fi horror exhibit plan but Thermal Remedies does have more than enough water in its larger pools to put to use the lack of need to breath air.

"Honey? I think there's something in the water with us..." the girlfriend said nervously.

A shark fin comes out of the water but it's just Garm with a gag hat on.

I'm a little worried that having a talking robot dog named Boopsie that might do a lot of my character's talking at first might be a little tonally jarring given my character is basically a broken PTSD'd war veteran. But Boopsie is a relic from when he was a different man.

If it's also too wacky for the game let me know.

How do you have a robot dog if there's no electricity? Is it magically animated? Wouldn't that just be a dog shaped golem?

Just wrapping my head around it.

It's a thing from my subclass. It's basically a golem/humunculous not a literal robot in the circuit boards and servos sense.

OK, well since you asked...

Maybe if you don't play his voice as computerized it would have a better feel. A mute mage whose familiar does his talking wouldn't be out of genre. But overdoing the computeresque speech makes the dog seem very technological, not fantasy.

But that's just my spin. You don't have to follow that.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Well I kinda meant that as a gag that it wasn't working totally right until he bopped it, and it would then operate better from then, only occasionally needing a bop. Didn't communicate that very well I suppose. Should have put in it talking after that. I toned down the robotiness of the malfunction dialogue a tad to make it more mechanical and less computer.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:46, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Generally talking golems (or other kinds of constructs) are either an exact match in voice with whoever created them, or more of an echoing hollow sound of whatever material they are made from worked into words.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 63):

This isn’t specifically a golem. It’s a basically a Steel Defender from the artificer class. While I still agree that the voice would likely have a somewhat hollow reverberation to it, its up to the artificer themself how it sounds, looks, and generally acts.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:42, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Generally it won't talk with bad sentence structure. It was malfunctioning as a little bit of humor.

Here's this kinda cute, goofy aspect to a character that's really dark and damaged, a relic of when he was untouched by war. Maybe the friendship of the other players through adventures will draw the old Garm back and while still shook by his past he'll be more of that young Artificer that built a metal dog homunculus and named it Boopsie.

Or if tragedy strikes and Boopsie dies...
This message was last edited by the player at 05:38, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Just FYI...

If I can get over my technical incompetence I should be getting a floorplan and a little artwork of the Boiling Hag up soon. For the record, I don't "own" this spot like some of the other spots in town are owned by players. Just trying to help get things fleshed out a bit.

In the meantime, Shivom will be drinking a beer there and waiting on his contact to show up. Unless he gets bored and goes out trolling for muggers.

Going to be a bit before I can get around to responding to anyone today. Schedules got a bit screwed up at work and now I’m on until Midnight EST.

In reply to GM (msg # 67):

Ok, back and with a day off tomorrow... later today.... whatever. Either way, stuff can get done from here on out!

So if anyone has been waiting for something to happen in their personal stories, I’ll be getting on that promptly. I want the first week of this game to be dedicated to people settling into town, getting to know the parts they really want to explore, and just generally getting comfortable with the group we have here. Not everyone will be interacting 100% of the time, but I expect all of your paths will eventually cross in one way or another as we move forward. Also, starting on Monday, there are going to be some town-wide events that occur on what I’m going to try to make a weekly basis. These will have their own thread and be open for anyone to participate in. They basically just represent some big thing happening in the town itself and will be how some of the more far-reaching plot points come into play. This first one is going to be something simple: a Market Day where the town square is turned into a massive open market as traders from all across the region converge upon Tideswallow for the upcoming Harvest Festival.

Also, since the topic has come up a few times now, time is an aspect of this game that’s going to run a little... messy. Basically, since there’s no easy way to get everyone posting on a single schedule, time of day and day of the week and all is going to be very much relative. If one character, for instance, is resting and waking up the next day while another character somewhere else in a thread is currently in the middle of their first day in the city, I’m not going to suddenly tell them the day has changed or anything. Basically, the timeline we’re working with here is extremely fluid. Apart from specific major events occurring in the city, there are no real landmarks for how much time has passed specifically because it makes posting immensely difficult to keep on track of this many people. Each player is going to have their own perception of how time is passing and when their stories collide, we’ll basically just adjust to make the two timelines fit together as needed. Hopefully it won’t be too off-putting for anyone, but I completely understand if this is too much for you to deal with or pulls you out of the immersion. Unfortunately, that’s just the way it’s going to be for the foreseeable future.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:15, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

I'm actually good with handling the timeline that way. One of the things I'm starting to like about city adventures in PBP is that the more frequent posters can be more active without getting held up by the less frequent people. And the less frequent posters can have their character do "downtime" and accomplish research, or whatever. Meanwhile the people who like to roleplay out downtime can crank along.

It kind of makes sense to me too because there's no reason someone couldn't participate in a couple simultaneous threads. It's plausible they could spend an hour doing three different things in a day.

I am also fine with the timelines being fluid. Happens a lot in freeform games.

On a side note I will be watching the Thermal Remedies thread and if that old lady I talked to that was going to go over there never shows up I will worry.

I'm partially joking
This message was last edited by the player at 06:03, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

As a DM just in general, I can’t begin to describe how happy that thought process makes me.

You do have to love it when a plan comes together.  And someone notices.

I on the other hand tend to intentionally ignore IC threads my PC is not in so I don't accidentally blur the information I have OOC back into it.  Particularly in text games that can span a long enough period of time that I forget what source each piece of information has.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:11, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

Another game I am in has gotten mildly silly. It was always a tongue in cheek game. Heck the leonin paladin of a war God is constantly giving party members piggyback rides and serving as a quasi-mount.

But one of the party members just got abducted by a giant "dire pelican" the size of a dragon that people have referred to as "the direst pelican". It's apparently named "Saberfoot" and there's a really old dwarf NPC retired from the navy with a Moby Dick backstory with it.

This hobby is weird sometimes.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

I don't tend to mind a little bit of weird in the story, or amusing references from characters that take themselves seriously, but full on comedic stuff tends to get old quickly.

That's not mildly silly, that's aggressively annoying. Please don't import that here. Thanks.

That's not my style. Feel free to do whatever you want, but I'll be gone in a heartbeat if this campaign goes down the silly road.

I wasn't saying anything about bringing it in here. I was just chatting about something weird going on in my life because I thought someone might get a chuckle out of it.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

Roger that. Good to hear. Sometimes people post stuff like that because they are sounding out what the reaction would be if they did it. Sounds like that wasn't your intent.

To DM:

Across all the districts, how is news spread, jobs offered, etc.? Handbills passed out by kids on the street, town criers, notices posted on walls? Is there a town bulletin board? Is there a town newspaper?

If no newspaper, does the printing press exist or are flyers made by hand?

Is there a different tolerance for notices pasted on walls in the different districts, Roe vs. Office District?

Just wondering how things get promoted and how much it costs.

Thanks.

In reply to Shivom Grozvog (msg # 78):

Town criers for the most part. The Town Square has a number of job boards and bulletins posted here and there, and there is always news spread through rumors. Generally, asking about or tracking down a crier or board is the simplest manner to get some news.

The only real difference between the districts’ various postings typically has to do with where the job is to take place or where the news pertains to. Typically self-contained news for each district, or city-wide stuff in the Town Square.

In reply to Garm Linnorm (msg # 73):

Sounds pretty normal to me!

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 72):

Me too. Too much to read that isn’t relevant to me, and sometimes too much knowledge is a bad thing!

In reply to Malchanar Dal Othar (msg # 81):

Too much knowledge is... bad?

Priest of Oghma says:

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 82):

Which link did you use off Imgur for that? I'm trying to get it to work, but haven't gotten it right on here yet.

Is that image link, markdown link, direct link, what?

In reply to Shivom Grozvog (msg # 83):

RPoL seems to like the Direct Link. The above is the "small thumbnail" direct link, but I've successfully done the others as well.

You can grab it by clicking quote for that post.

In reply to Phryne (msg # 85):

Thank you so much!

There is a bit more complex use of picture posting code in the initial thread for Thermal Remedies, you can quote (then cancel after you take the text) it if you like.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 87):

I'll check that out, thanks.

Sorry if responses are coming a little slow today, folks. Work and family drama are taking their toll.

No problem. This campaign has been cranking pretty fast.

Better to be to slow than to fast and impossible to follow.

Sorry I've been slightly absent. Heh. Life.

Before I forget, anyone still unsure about how much gold you have to start with, for third level characters I usually set starting gold anywhere from 500-600gp. It’s totally up to you if you still have the full amount or if you spent some of it on the way to Tideswallow, but that’s about where everyone would be at by default; unless you took something in starting gear/backgrounds that gives you more on top of it.

Well, character creation never said anything about extra money that I rad, but I'd be happy to have it. hahaha

Does that increase in gold allotment include the ability to buy common magic items at their usual 50gp price?

 Hello,

 I am going to be joining the fun. Looking forward to rping with you all.

Ill be back in around midnight again to put up responses to everything. Work is going to be a little hectic this week so the posts may come a bit slow again.

Take your time, boss.  I think it's pretty extraordinary that you are keeping things rolling so well!

Also, a late welcome to the party, Tavard.  Have fun!

Sorry guys, just not getting the time for this game I had hoped for so I think it best I withdraw.

Good luck, I hope it all goes well!

Have some RL drama going on. Hope to be resolved and back shortly.

Like Malchanar, I too am going to have to bail on this game. Thanks for having me and good luck to everyone.

I'm definitely staying until the very end. This game is great!

Aye, it has grit, I'm liking it.

Bartimaeus:As a player I'm kind of suspicious of the "Priest of Oghma" with the bio saying Human warlock. :)

In reply to Yshtar (msg # 104):

Yes, well... the one is a job and the other is a source of UNLIMITED POWER metagaming concern.

But where I was going with that priests are those who adhere to precepts, spread the Word, and carry out duties as assigned by their deity/church hierarchy. No real reason why a barbarian can’t be a priest of Kord, eh? Besides, my Eldritch Blast cooldown timer is only visible on my HUD. ;-)

Priest is his profession, channeling fell powers of elder gods totally respectable eldritch power is his hobby.

In reply to Garm Linnorm (msg # 106):

This is correct.

:-D

Sincere apologies for my absence.  On Saturday, my father fell and broke his hip, requiring an emergency replacement.  The surgery went well, but there have been complications post-operatively.  I have been in and out of the hospital all week while things have been touch and go.

It appears that he is through the worst of it, and they will be releasing him to an inpatient rehab facility this evening.  I hope to return home by Sunday, and to be back in the swing of things early next week.  Until then, thanks in advance for your patience, and apologies for not letting everyone know sooner.  It has been a difficult several days.

I might have missed it but what part of the year is it now?

In reply to Leena (msg # 108):

Very sorry to hear that. Don’t worry about the game, real life matters always need to come first.



It’s right in the middle of Autumn at the moment. The Harvest Festival coming up is gong to mark the end of fall.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:03, Fri 09 Oct 2020.

I am back home and trying to get back into the swing of things.  Hopefully that includes getting back on a more normal posting schedule.  Trying to catch up right now.

For the record I've never actually written that I start going down but this has been an amazing scene (provided are able to get back from underground). :)

In reply to Yshtar (msg # 112):

Yeah, the DC 15 wisdom saves ended up making that part of the decision for you, unfortunately.... but you’re out of them now at least.

Happy to see the heritage of Will Saves being the worst to fail carry on.

Well... theoretically happy.

Hello, all,

I am the game's newest newbie, having just recently joined on the recommendation of another player.

I will be running a Half-Elf paladin, and look forward to gaming and writing with everyone. :)

Welcome!

Pay no attention to the occasional whispers that paladin souls are tastiest.

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 116):

Ah, so *that's* what the DM meant when he wrote in a PM ". . . a paladin will be a most welcome addition to the city . . . " :)

I posted Tegan's IC post in the wrong Town Square thread, I believe. Simply put, I overlooked the more generic Town Square thread, and posted in the Adventurers Guild thread.

I have re-posted in what I believe to be the general Town Square thread, and deleted my original post in the Adventurers Guild Town Square thread.

Sorry for the confusion!

In reply to Tegan (msg # 118):

Not a problem, either one’s fine really but I can fix that soon enough here.

I really appreciate that my quest submission of "cleaning the sewers of kobolds" made it into the official adventurer's guild list. :D

In reply to Yshtar (msg # 120):

It seemed pretty appropriate irate  for the setting and level everyone’s at lol

Hey everybody!

Hope the City is treating you all hospitably. Yshtar and I have got ourselves a bit of a mystery pickle, and are trying to make the nucleus of a party. Once we deal with this churl who attacked us for totally no reason whatsoever, we’re planning on heading to the Town Square, then to the Office district. If you think you might want to hook up, we’ll be headed thataway sometime in the next IRL week (we hope!).

Totally no reason? Obviously he is the minion of the BBEG and his name is um... Slinkies? Skinner?

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 122):

and

In reply to Yshtar (msg # 123):

That fellow whom you two have just met seems quite friendly -- I'm sure that it's all just a big misunderstanding, and soon the three of you will be having a jolly get-together. :)

Insofar as Town Square is concerned, that is where Tegan is, presently. If he's still around when you get there (bring your new friend!) he'll be happy to chat, and we can go from there.

Just between thee and me, though, I get the idea that this DM is not above resorting to devious strategms, so we'll have to see what develops between now and whenever you all arrive. )

In reply to Yshtar (msg # 123):

“Which BBEG?”

Lol.

Okaaaay -- I'm going to withdraw my earlier invitation for Bartimaeus and Yshtar to bring their new friend with them to the Town Square.

That guy sounds creepy! :)

Sorry for the delay - updated my actions for the round.

Yo. Yshtar just made a DM of the Rings reference.

I feel like Steve Rogers for getting it.

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 128):

Speaking of Steve Rogers...I was very hard pressed but resisted to say "I can do this all day."

Woot!! Four Force Attacks in a Round, all at +11 to Hit, +5 to Damage. This Verse is one tough hombre! :)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Fri 06 Nov 2020.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 130):

Always love throwing one level 20 NPC somewhere into any my campaigns just to see how players work around it... wasn’t expecting this group to get into a combat situation with him so early though lol

That math is actually extremely modest for a 20th level warlock, just be glad he isn't on the other team, or wearing more than his bathrobe.

By the way, for anyone meeting or having already met Lord van Ellsworth, while the voice I had been using for him in our home game version of Tideswallow can be heard in this little trailer thing, if anyone has played Hades I’m very much now imagining him with Dionysus’ voice and cadence... just in case you’re looking for a voice to put with the character at all.

https://youtu.be/qwTnYCAcmrc

Sorry guys, posts are going to slow a bit over the coming week. Got a whole load of new work that needs attention, family issues popping up, and just generally more stuff going on than i can handle at the moment. Updates will be coming, just slowly for a bit here.

In reply to GM (msg # 134):

Thanks for the heads-up. Hope that things settle down for you soon! :)

No worries, the games should be used to release stress, not add to it.

Perhaps a simple and outside the locked timeline adventures guild meeting hall might be a good place to let characters RP with little DM time devoted?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:31, Tue 10 Nov 2020.

I'll be waiting, this campaign is awesome.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 136):

Not a bad idea. Some strange anachronisms may occur, but overall I think that’s a solid way to go just have something that’s completely hands-off from my end so that you all can still get some interactions in when desired.

B. and Y., I will write a short-ish IC post for Tegan in response to the DM's most recent post, which will alter things a bit. :)

Hey fellow Tideswallowians!

I am thankful for you all, and this game. What a wonderful past few months these have been. Whatever is in store for the future: thank you, and Happy Turkey Day.

B

Wishing everyone well on this U. S. holiday (not sure if all on this board live in the U. S.). Be safe, and enjoy the time with loved ones!:)

Sad news -- our family cat, who came to us years ago as as a stray kitten, died unexpectedly today . . . we think as a result of an aneurysm or stroke.

I'm pretty down about it -- losing a family pet is always tough, and he had really bonded with me. So if I don't post for a few days, please just work around Tegan.

Thanks.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 142):

Nuts, man. I’m sorry.

DM,

Your "Ease of Ascension" magicks relating to ascending the staircase in the Archives (Msg. #61 of the "Office District" thread) seems like a small thing, but I find it to be an excellent example of the thought and creativity that you put into your writing, all of which go into making this game so immersive.

Thanks for all that you do!
This message was last edited by the player at 17:10, Sun 29 Nov 2020.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 144):

Agreed.

Also “library imps”. Very rich flavor.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 142):

Sorry to hear that Tegan.

And to echo the others - this campaign is awesome. Sorry that my character is not impressed. It is her fault!

Why do I feel like me touching those doors is going to result in some ED-209 situation? Lol.

And even if it’s not that... my spidey sense is prepping me to roll initiative.

I shall pause in my IC posting for Tegan, to allow Bartimaeus and Yshtar (IC) to react to this unexpected turn of events (although perhaps not completely unexpected -- it seems that Bartimaeus' Spidey-Sense was trying to warn him that something was amiss). :)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Wed 02 Dec 2020.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 148):

Sometimes wish I was wrong. Lol.

I am not used to starting games at 3rd level -- hence, I just now remembered that Tegan has Cure Wounds spells that he can cast! Duh!!

I am going to add a follow-up (IC) post to add to the Lay on Hand healing that he has already employed. :)
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:57, Thu 03 Dec 2020.

I am sorry but I can only post tomorrow.

Thanks for the heads-up. There are some game-savvy folks on this board. We'll work around it. :)

No worries! Thanks for the heads-up.

Well . . . that was not the result that I (nor Tegan, IC) expected, not at all. He is going to need to put a call in to Customer Service to find out why his magicks are not functioning as advertised! :)

Well with any luck that final post will clear that aspect up just a little... or make it a hundred times more convoluted. One or the other, I’m sure.

Edited the advantage roll to my post. Thanks Tegan :)

In reply to Yshtar (msg # 156):

More than enough, by the look of things. Strong way to come back into the scene.

Wow, that's quite a post, Bartimaeus. Well played, sir! :)

DM, I am going to be watching football for at least one more half, so if you are ready to post in the IC thread, no need to wait on Tegan.

Huh... alright then, B. Let’s see where this train of thought takes you. It’s a bold claim made in front of NPCs who may take some very immediate interest in your suspicions. And I’m super curious to see how it plays out, now.

Well I didn't say anything IC before the reliquary and look where that got us! :D


How's that medicine of yours taste, DM? Lol.

I was trying to write an INT-based character's moment of internal over-analysis using pretty thin evidence to take a few logical steps (leaps?) and give the other characters a surprising conclusion. Guess I did that. Ha. As for Persuasion/Deception, I think this is a conclusion B would believe, so Persuasion. (Not that it matters: both are +2. But I guess NPC's Insight roll would tell him whether or not B believed what he was saying.) But he wouldn't be trying to convince anyone of anything: he's just making a matter-of-fact statement.

But as to whether I "wish to commit it" shouldn't be a unilateral decision: Tegan and Yshtar, what do you think? But more(?) importantly, DM, this is your city: is this a road you want to go down, not having prepared it?

It’s my city, but this is all of your (your’s? Yours’?) game. There is a DEFINITE path and story hook here, as a part of the conclusion you came to may absolutely hold water. It’s a conclusion you came to before any of the other clues leading to it were presented, however, which is what threw me off originally. Basically, having said it out loud in front the presence of some of the NPCs around you guys currently, there’s going to be reactions to it amongst them.

Basically, I’m hesitant to say too much here. Whereas the encounter you were heading toward with Nethroth’zul was something you could easily walk away from at the last moment, the circumstances of this are a little different. That’s all. I hate railroading my players, but the current situation isn’t really the sort that can be just dropped, given the circumstances of where you all are and how you got there.

So I’d say just play it by ear and do what your characters would do. I’m really interested to see how this goes.

Just so long as we don’t divert directly to the Level 8 stuff. Lol.

In any case, post edited with a die roll.

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 162):

Yeah no nothing like that. The lich was more “If you want to avoid combat right now, turn back.” This is more along the lines of just “big story beats are about to go down WAY sooner or stemming form a different context than I expected.”

Either way, it’s a great bit of deducing that led to this moment. And as such, go ahead and roll with advantage for that. We’ll call it inspiration in this case.

With a decent persuasion roll, you’re essentially convincing enough in your conviction that some of the NPCs present now believe you know considerably more or have considerably more evidence than you really do. And they’re going to react accordingly...
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:53, Sun 06 Dec 2020.

B, not to take any mysticism away from your character or anything but I'd be really curious how you get advantage to your rolls so often - I would exploit use that mechanic as well at my home table. :)

I will get to work on an IC post for Tegan. It probably makes sense for him to respond to van Ellsworth first, since he was the one who delivered the book to Lady Shadeseworn.

In reply to Yshtar (msg # 164):


Quotation Completely Apropos Of Nothing.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 165):


I'm of a mind to suggest we all write out our answers independently of the others... I'm curious to find out more about Yshtar's third eye and who she's running from (to?). Not that this would make much sense narratively - we'd speak in turn, unless we went into a private cell... but then we'd never hear the others. I just think it would be fun to read what you all write.

Maybe we write the responses privately to DM, and he posts them all once he has them?

I can certainly send Tegan's response to the DM via a PM, although in terms of seeing everyone's IC reply, it seems to me that that could be accomplished by IC postings in the public thread. But, perhaps I am missing something. :) So I shall use a PM to post Tegan's IC response, and the DM can do with it as he will. :)

That seems an ideal way to handle it. Now that all three are in, the post is coming momentarily.

Awesome.

"The Turn" and "the River" swapped places, tho.

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 169):

Oh whoops, thought i hit post in the right order, but apparently not... one moment.

DM,

I think biology has thwarted you to an extent: I'm colorblind... I just realized you were using two different colors for the two different van E's. HA!

Would you mind terribly if you bolded one of them for speech? It's so much easier to see color differences when the letters are thicker. (That's why I bold all of my dialogue; for my own convenience.)

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 171):

Ha, oh that figures. Sure, give me just a moment here. That would completely change the context of some of those interactions just now lol

EDIT: Should be updated.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:22, Wed 09 Dec 2020.

Got it! Thank you... that's so much easier to read. :D

Who knew? All this time, I just thought that you were weird. :)

In reply to Tegan (msg # 174):

Usually not a problem... until DM decided to put two shades next to each other. Lol.

Will anyone else be joining me in Night City this evening, on the lookout for Johnny Silverhand? :)

In reply to Tegan (msg # 176):

I'm going to go ahead and reveal my ignorance of popular culture by responding... what?

It relates to new video game (Cyberpunk 2077) that is based on an old pen-and-paper RPG from back in the day (Cyberpunk 2020, IIRC), and was developed by the same folks who developed The Witcher video games. It has been in development for a long time, and is supposed to be quite a big deal for video-game enthusiasts. Time will tell. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Wed 09 Dec 2020.

Ah.

Well... enjoy? Lol.

I have decided to leave the game.
It has been awesome and I like playing with you guys but we are clearly not posting in the same timezone and often I feel like I'm lagging behind the group in terms of being able to react to stuff.
I suggested the GM to kill off my character as the assassin or something.

Sorry to hear it, Yshtar. But thanks for letting us know.

Best wishes for favorable winds and following seas, both here on RPoL and in RL.

Hello everyone! Mezzeline the half-drowned half-elf looking to lurk about Tideswallow for....reasons...

Reasons . . . I'll wager that we all have those -- some good, some mayhap not so good!

Welcome! I'm looking forward to gaming and writing with you. :)

In reply to Mezzaline Thessaly (msg # 182):

Welcome!

Tideswallow is a helluva place to explore. GLHF!

It sure as heck seems like it! I'm trying to get an idea of the place reading through threads and there's a lot going on - I'm not super certain where to (metaphorically) come in to the story just yet.

In reply to Mezzaline Thessaly (msg # 185):

Don't let all the threads intimidate you (it kinda did me, at the beginning), Most of them are in "Stand-by" mode at the moment, until a PC enters a particular thread (based upon one's location in town).

At the moment, there are really only two "active" threads -- "Entertainment District: Thermal Remedies" (Mystrala) and "Office District Site: The van Ellsworth Villa" (Bartimaeus and Tegan).

P.S. I don't believe that there is a "City Gate" thread, so I (as the most recently-arrived newbie) plopped Tegan down in the "Town Square" thread [figuring that he would eventually end up there, since he (IC) had no particular goal in mind)]. My initial IC post, however, (Msg. #35 of that thread) described him entering the city by way of one of the city gates.

In reply to Mezzaline Thessaly (msg # 185):

Don’t think about it too hard, just show up however you think your PC would arrive in the city. DM will let you sandbox. But that also means the momentum is more your responsibility than in many games; he’ll dangle opportunities in front of you, but it’ll be up to you to choose which ones to follow.

Don’t worry so much about finding the other PCs; keep pulling on whichever thread you find and we’ll meet in the tangle. ;-)

The city is in the middle of a festival, so 'entering' the city is largely meaningless.  When you want to enter the story (a story really) pick a place from the top 3 or 4 active threads and read the first post, those tend to include a 'walk up and see it' type description that might interest your character or not.

In reply to Mystrala (msg # 189):

Alternatively your character may have a specific starting point in the city depending on something in your backstory. As soon as your comfortable with that, feel free to move about the city as you see fit.

Greetings all,

Dax Moonblade, a humble elven fighter will be joining the festivities hopefully sooner than later.

I picked a couple of threads to read through and the library fireball was brilliant! Kudos to players and DM alike! I will want to pick up that story to read even if Dax does not interact with it.

My plan is to have a character built this weekend, and hopefully jump in by Monday or Tuesday - as I am just starting two glorious weeks off work!

What's up everyone. I'm going to be playing Soren a noble who has come to Tideswallow for....reasons. Still working on some of the backstory and a char pic.

Welcome to Dax and Soren!

I look forward to gaming and writing with both of you. :)

So uh what kinda weather are we looking at at this time? Mild, cold, hot?

Beginning the shift between autumn and winter. Cold nights, mild days. Lots of fog around the harbor and the lower areas of town. Pretty overcast most days, but the nights tend to clear up so the stars are visible.

Also work has set me back considerably today, but I will get around to posts once this is all cleared up. Sorry if it seems kind of dead for a bit here until the end of the day.

In reply to GM (msg # 195):

Sorry to hear about work, but thanks for the heads-up.

Is the color scheme messed up for anyone else mine is only displaying in white and green or black

In reply to Soren Wolfgard (msg # 197):

Looking like a Christmas theme they put on for a while there. Seems to be working as intended about 50% of the time so far...

In reply to GM (msg # 198):

I was havign troubel reading text because it all looked the same color now it's pretty good though

The powers-that-be here on RPoL like to change to funky color schemes for generally-recognized notable days. I would guess that the next time you will notice such a thing might be April Fools' Day (I can't recall whether they use a different color scheme for New Years Day or not).

PS. Nah, I'm wrong. St. Patrick's Day will get its own color scheme, and it will come along in March. Not sure about New Years Day, as I said.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Sun 27 Dec 2020.

Can I just hop in anywhere  I was thinking of starting at the harbor off a delivery ship.

In reply to Soren Wolfgard (msg # 201):

Yup, wherever you’re comfortable

The April Fool's color scheme can be headache inducing, it's that awful.

Hope everyone had a safe christmas!

DM: Is the -REDACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL- thread private to Tegan and Bat on purpose or by accident?
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:48, Tue 29 Dec 2020.

Yes, there’s one or two private threads out there that aren’t for everyone’s eyes just yet for one reason or another. That one happens to be one for just a few characters so far.

Sorry!

Tegan just noted that his appearance has been altered and was poiting to where I could look to see what the changes were.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:45, Tue 29 Dec 2020.

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 206):

Oh no, it’s not a problem. Just maintaining a little bit of the mystery is all.

As for Tegan’s appearance, yeah that’s a bit of a tough one as it’s going to need to be mentioned each time a new character encounters him in the current environment. Appearance is going back to normal the moment he leaves the party, but for now we’ll just say he’s dressed as a typical ship captain in a sailor’s long coat, fine dress wear beneath it, and a simple captain’s hat.

Good lord I think we made it!

Happy 2021 and may you all have a safe new year.

Thanks, and wishing you the same.

And good riddance to 2020!!

A happy new year to all!

2020 can burn in hell.

11:59 12/31/20

Happy New

12:00 13/1/20

... ?!?

No... no no no no

Happy New Year everyone. Regular posting will pick back up tomorrow. Stuff’s just been way too hectic this past week.

I think that Tegan will try to grab the young woman's arm and retrain her from running off until Bartimaeus can close the distance, and we can all find out what is going on here.

Will some sort of a die-roll be needed to accomplish this?

Thanks.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 213):

I think I'm right there, within 10-15' or so.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 213):

Straight dex if you’re doing it delicately, Athletics if you’re trying to really keep a grip on her and risk hurting her in doing so. These are nobles, so it depends on how rough you’re willing to get with them, given their standing in town and all.

DM,

Can Tegan (IC) call out to reveal what he has discovered (Msg. #74 of the "van Ellsworth Villa" thread), or are we in "combat mode", with everyone limited to actions during their turn during a round?

Thanks.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 216):

I’d say speech, so long as its brief, counts as a free action. Totally able to convey that to the people immediately around you.

In reply to GM (msg # 217):

Sounds good. I'll get to work on a short IC post.

I'm about to head to bed (it is quite late in my part of the world), but will post for Tegan tomorrow (actually, later today: 1/3/21).

DM, I'm thinking that if he tries to grasp the wrist or forearm of the woman's hand that holds the skewer, this will be an Athletics Check for him?

Thanks.

would it be better to reply to a char in a scene or just post in the scene? I looked through some random posts and it seemed both were a thing, does it matter though?

What is a an elf to do? :-)

Think about it and post in the morning!

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 221):

Eh, never hurts to give it a little extra thought! :)

I did my best to come up with an interesting choice!

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 223):

Time will tell! :)

Sorry about the slow replies this week, everyone. Grading’s being done this weekend, CSE meetings all week, and all sorts of other things going on in real life that are needing my attention. I should be more active as the week progresses but it’s going to be a little slow for a few more days, I think.

In reply to GM (msg # 225):

Thanks for the heads-up. We'll stay tuned! :)

Hi everyone!   :)
New player here. Looking forward to running into y'all in-game, getting to know ya, and having some great adventures together.   :)

Welcome!

Delighted to have you joining us. Looking forward to writing and gaming with you. :)

Welcome aboard Angel - from a fellow newb to the game.

What's up Angel. Welcome to the game.

More new people! hello and welcome!

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome.  :)
Looking forward to meeting up with your characters in game.

I don't want to speak for Soren but you can come and marvel at the half drowned half elf in the dockside tavern if you like.

I usually enjoy more people.....depending on situation or loot.

I somehow feel like I'm the jerk NPC in the game played by Dax and the illusioned half-elf as PCs. Lol.

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 236):

Methinks that the rules of the game-within-a-game have just changed considerably per the DM's latest post (Msg. #98 in the van Ellsworth Villa thread). :)

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 236):

Oh god no! It was me that took this whole thing sideways! Defeintely didn't mean for it to go down as it did, but momentum being what it is...still it was a good bit...fun to figure out what to do!

So, are goblins, as the guard so aptly put it vermin in Tideswallow? I am totally fine if that is the norm - or even if they are not, that elves are stereotypical in hating the goblinoid-type monsters.

But I recall that the city employs kobolds to maintain the sewers, and Mystrala offered a group of kobolds the merchant discount at Thermal Remedies.

I really don't want to upset the themes present in the world!

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 238):

I think this is one of those times everyone looks sideways simultaneously and says, “DM?”

Dunno about goblins. First time running into them. But then, Bartimaeus wouldn’t know if they’re common, rare, rehabilitated, or whatevs either. At least not in Tideswallow. He and I are taking cues from the guardsman. :-D

Dax is going to have tough time coming out of this not looking like a complete moron if goblins are the typical "kill-em-on-sight" variety.

But, that will make things interesting.

I just hope Bart and Tegan aren't pissed as players!

Well, to quote the guard ". . . this could prove entertaining." :)

Regardless of Tideswallow canon, I think that this particular Goblin has proven to be slippery and untrustworthy enough to merit detention and questioning (unless she has the medieval equivalent of a cyanide tablet under her tongue, ready to bite down upon).

And absolutely no worries OOC, Dax. I think that you have done a yeoman's job building a firewall between IC and OOC knowledge, and writing appropriately for Dax (IC).

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 238):

I’m trying to think of a good comparison here... While “wild” Kobolds are still considered monsters in this region, any groups of them that prove themselves useful to the town are welcomed with open arms. As such, there’s a thriving clan of them below the city, made up of multiple tribes that have all taken up residence here over the generations. Goblins have rarely, if ever, proven useful for anything. So there isn’t really precedent for them being present in high-society situations like this. You may run into them occassionally living down in the Roe, still fully a part of society, but shunned like most of the rest of the people living down there.

Kobolds are free to do as they please just like any other citizen. Goblins are just monsters who occasionally find a spot for themselves in the dregs of Tideswallow’s lower reaches.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:03, Tue 19 Jan 2021.

Dax Moonblade, loyal servant to Her Majesty, Ruler of all Elves and part-time goblin bodyguard!

In reply to GM (msg # 242):

Goblins are great for target practice and trying out new spells and potions....They make great bait for big angry monsters......

The way things are going, Dax will end up marrying the goblin in prison after Bart and Tegan take him down!

Lucky for you, B can perform the ceremony!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:18, Wed 20 Jan 2021.

Probably in multiple languages!

Tegan I would like you to be the maid of honour!

It would be worth it to see Dax married off to his lady-love. :)

I'm going to figure a way out of this mess I have created!

It just may take some time!

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 249):

If this is about you and the goblin being in the family way, well... my names Paul, and that’s between y’all.

:D

LOL! :-D

I'm expecting the guard to drop another glass ball that teleports the lot of us into the van Ellsworth dungeon.

Again, sorry about the delays on posts this week. We’re wrapping up report cards here and there’s no end to the number of calls, emails, and conferences going on surrounding them. Should be back to a more regular schedule in the coming days.

Would Dax have recognised that Bart was casting a spell when he cast Hex?

And the same if that is what he is doing with his current litany?

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 254):

I’ll say you can make a perception check for the hex, but other than that there’s no current spell casting you would notice.

Bad luck Angel! The dice roller gods have been in a foul mood lately.

In another game, we just started, my first 4 attack rolls in the game: 4, 2, 2, 1!!

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 256):

Yep, it's hit or miss. The die roller is a fickle mistress.  :)

RNGesus demands blood it seems, I haven't rolled high anywhere for a while :/

DM, would you clear up to whom the pronouns refer in the above? There are 3 PC’s and an NPC in the room and I’m unsure what’s being said to whom.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Thu 04 Feb 2021.

In reply to Bartimaeus (msg # 259):

Right sorry, that was meant to be Bartimaeus and the goblin, as you’ve both had run-ins with the Court of Eyes so far.

Maybe I am just missing something, but why is the goblin free to roam the city without blades being pulled? Is it just because of the group escorting her?

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 261):

The escort and the disguise which I completely forgot to write a line about. Ill update that today.

@Soren/GM - Since Mezzy is following Soren and we've left, do we just move to the waterfront or wherever we're moving to? I don't have anything to add to our current thread aside from 'Mezzy follows to*location*'

Sorry for not posting, stuck in TX without power. Will catch up once things are back to normal

Hope you get power back soon! Stay safe.

Stay warm, Aggie.

Or Longhorn, as the case may be. :)

But yes, I hope that you and yours are in a safe place.

Sorry for the delay, again a lot happening in the real world currently that’s keeping me from getting on. Should have updates coming throughout tomorrow for everyone.

In reply to GM (msg # 268):

If it's the storm, stay safe and warm!

In reply to Tegan (msg # 269):

Thankfully I’m in the Northeast, so just the little storms. But much appreciated.

The three of the folks at Lord van Ellsworth’s party have an update up now, btw. I’ll get to the rest in the morning.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:15, Fri 19 Feb 2021.

Glad to hear you're ok, DM, and welcome back.

Good to hear everyone is weathering the storms. (couldn't help it).

A lot of my RPOL games have been very quiet, because of the storms blowing through. Health and safety before D&D.

Bart: I thought Tegan, Bartimaeus and Shard-Tooth were planning on spending the night at the Manor - i.e. get a long rest - and pick up Dax in the morning.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:44, Fri 19 Feb 2021.

Booo!

Think we're through the worst of it and hope that everyone is safe and warm. Never want to go through that again.

I don't blame you! I think that I read that the Texas power grid is fully operational again, which is certainly good news.

In reply to Tegan (msg # 274):

It's still a bit flickery where I am, which could be grid problems or just a tree branch, but it's stable for the most part. If it hadn't been so dangerously cold it wouldn't have been too big a deal, but here we are.

I also saw that some Texans had really outrageous power bills in the wake of the big storm -- as in thousands of dollars. Don't know if that is true or not -- it sounds like it could be some of that infamous "fake news" that we hear about so often these days.

I don't think it's true, but we'll find out one way or another in the coming weeks.

@Soren I'm good to transition to the next area, which from the sounds of it is the Roe?

In reply to Mezzaline Thessaly (msg # 277):

the Roe or the Entertainment district. Like I said we can do a small time jump.
Talked to the dock master went traversing around the entertainment district talked to some locals, saw some shops, then ended up at the Roe to investigate the shady part of town.

In reply to Soren Wolfgard (msg # 278):

Sounds like a plan; can't wait to see what we see.

This works for me, as well. :)

"Roe information right here! Get it here, get it now, while it's still hot! 'Cause after it's not, you might get shot!

. . . and arrows hurt!"

Lol!

Ruh-roh. Let's hope that these slinky slinkers aren't too tough. Tegan (IC) did not benefit from a long rest, and is far from his best (having nearly gotten blown up yesterday, in-game time).

Will make the Initiative roll and post IC for Tegan later today, when I have sufficient keyboard time.

Bad time for a low initiative, Tegan!

Don't forget you have that cat to sacrifice to the slugs!

And, if Tegan was a different sort of character, Shard-Tooth. But a paladin . . . nah! :)

"I didn't have to be the fastest runner, just faster than the goblin..."
 - anonymous paladin survivor of the great Tideswallow slug invasion

In reply to Dax Moonblade (msg # 286):

Ha! Well, Shard-Tooth and Tegan could just ignore the "One Customer at a Time" sign and join Bartimaeus inside the fortune-teller's cottage. I doubt that opening doors ranks very high on the slugs' skill-set. :)

Eh, not very paladin-y, though.

It's absolutely paladiny if you hold the door open for the goblin, and politely say, "after you"!

Why do I think Bart has been polymorphed into that cat?

A check in post, have been violently ill (not covid related) and will be a bit slow catching up

Thank goodness not COVID. Get better Mezzaline!

In reply to Mezzaline Thessaly (msg # 289):

Sorry to hear that you aren't feeling well. Delighted that it is not COVID. Hope that you feel better soon!

Sorry for the anticlimactic pause on everything. Switching internet providers this week and its been a mess to actually try getting on for more than a few minutes at a time. Updates are on their way to everyone’s threads, but they’ll be a little slow here for a while.

In reply to GM (msg # 292):

Thanks for the heads-up. I hate it when my technology bites me in the ass instead of making things better for me.

Soon, though, soon -- hopefully! :)

In reply to GM (msg # 292):

Aye, thanks for the heads up. Best of luck in getting things straightened out soon.   :)

'Respiratory Infection' really is something more terrifying to hear from a doctor nowadays, I gotta say

Mostly better, thankyou for all the kind words and GM I hope your tech woes are an easy fix

In reply to Mezzaline Thessaly (msg # 295):

You all good Mezz?

In reply to Soren Wolfgard (msg # 296):

All good, still a little out of it. Don't have Covid, should have made sure to say that, just a lot of coughing and gross stuff.

Ok, I think everyone should be updated. Should be back on a much more regular schedule now.

Hey hey, welcome back!

How's everyone doing?

Baseball season started for Son #1 last week; I'm defending my dissertation (econ) next Monday; Son #3's potty training went very well; all 4 grandparents have gotten their vaccines.

Pretty good spring, all in all, gotta say.

Bart your life sounds very busy!!

I took 2 weeks at Spring Break because I had it booked off and work was too stressful not to take the break. Lots of puttering around the place, and movies and board games with my 15 yo daughter.

My dad (turned 90 last week got vaccinated) my wife and I just turned down Astra-Zeneca and should be in line for Pfizer or Moderna in the next 3 or 4 weeks. Canada has gone from having this thing under control to full-on dumpster fire over the last few weeks.

Lots of RPOL games - unfortunately Dax has been dormant hoprefully things will get back on track. I am having a great time playing riffing off the amazing posts by Bart and Tegan.

Stay safe everyone.

do did this die off?

It looks like it.

DM last posted in March, although he did log in in July.

I for one, am ready to jump right back in if he decides to come back to it.

same here. It was just starting up had few new people join in too

Also ready when DM is.

Bart was having a helluva time in the city.

Anyone still here?

In reply to Angel (msg # 307):

Wow. Didn’t expect to see this thread pop back up.

DMs been gone for more than a year, Angel.

I’m in another game that could use some new players.

link to another game

If interested, send the DM a message and tell him Ember sent you.

Thanks for the invite, Angel, but my plate is full right now.

But I will say, my heart skipped hoping that this game might start up again!!