This cantina on Maridum is where everyone hangs out and swaps tall tales and spreads silly rumors. So, pull up a chair and sit a spell.

No shoot-outs allowed!
This message was last updated by the GM at 16:38, Sun 25 July 2021.

No shoot outs but nothing banning the use of lightsabres...

Are you going to poke those slackers in the GM thread then post this under the "Players Wanted" section?

I have someone who would likely be interested in playing. He's not as big a Star Wars geek as I am but he's my boyfriend so he'll take any chance for us to make with the gaming together.

Woot! Hello all, I will be playing the Twi'lek, Nara! I'm looking at being the fighter class for her, though I haven't decided on the second background yet. I love Star Wars and am excited to play in this game.

Welcomes all over you!

Hello! I will be looking more in to character stuff tomorrow.

Okay so I was looking at the Expanded Content Backgrounds and one jumped out at me. Courtier, it looks like an interesting background and I can make it work pretty good for Nara. So mister GM, could I use that background for Nara, please?

Sure.

Thank you, I really like this background it is giving me ideas for Nara's backstory.

Hi everyone! Meesa gonna be your Gungan engineer, though don't worry, I'm planning on being less annoying than some Gungans are known to be. Piknab has worked hard to shave off his gungan accent, as he realizes that it makes it harder for him to be taken seriously as a bounty hunter

Welcome!

I have decided to go Scout myself.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Fri 30 July 2021.

Welcome to the game Piknab. Interesting name, I like it. An Engineer, I'm curious to see the backstory of the Gungan Engineer.

In reply to Piknab Marsune (msg # 10):

DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!!!! **takes deep breaths**

Uh....wow. Hate Gungans much? Sheesh.

In reply to Vanrik Redsun (msg # 14):

Me? Not at all. Why do you ask?

In reply to Charnel (msg # 15):

Think more General Tarpals and less Jar Jar Binks

Hello, everyone!

Had to work out a few things so I knew what I was going to play.

So, I'm a Wookiee Scout Nomad.

Should be interesting to see how the two Scouts stack up to each other.

It's shaping up to be an interesting cast of characters. Can't wait to get started.

LOL! I was originally thinking Fighter, but we had one, so I figured I'd change and Scout seems useful. shrug.

Greetings fellow bounty hunters.

Ezusi here Chiss operative. Still got a bit to finish with the character but look forward to hunting with you.

My sheet should be almost set as well, except for tech powers and some equipment

So do we do flaws, traits etc. from both backgrounds or just one? And if just one which one?

You can do them from both Backgrounds if you want, or just choose one, or just mix and match.

I think Nara is ready to go except for her backstory. Anyone want to talk about such things? I mean I know we all know each other through the agency but do we want anything deeper than that?

I believe Ezusi is finished also. But like Nara I still need a backstory so if Nara's up for it maybe the two of them have something in common during their past.

Looking at the composition of the group and Charnel's background, there's no possible way she'd have a shared backstory with anyone.

Consider that a good thing...**ominous music plays**

I'm still working on my character but I have a lot of it done or in the works.

I'm down for shared backstory, though not sure if it will make sense for it.

You’ll probably all know that Piknab was exiled from his home, though he hasn’t said why. If anyone else has been to Naboo we could have met there I suppose

Ugh. do not like the variant encumberance rules being use.

Anyone that wants to have a shared backstory with Nara can IM me so we can work something out.

Hi all.  Anyone have the pilot skill?  I'll take if no one does.  Same with investigator.

Vrylin had been on the run -she's describing it as 'banished' from Cathar (which is near Darthomir), and she'd been banging around before being recruited into Blackstorm.  If anyone wants to link up about a mission gone really - really - well, on say, Botajef.  Something about a well-placed saboteur, or something?  I'm expert at interpersonal stuff and stealth.  You're a slicer or long-range expert or pilot or even a complementary personal/stealth person.

lmk.

I have piloting and investigation but it never hurts to double up

I have....both. But I have quite a few skills.

ok good.  I won't take those.  Any co-conspirators on background?

In reply to Vrylin Ti (msg # 34):

Piknab is proficient with stealth, piloting, technology, and security kits, and would probably want to commiserate with a fellow exile, so we could have teamed up in the past.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Mon 02 Aug 2021.

I've finished a share with Churm & Nara.  I'm sure there's another to link with.

In reply to Piknab, you could always have had an association with a Wookiee!

I haven't come up with a backstory yet, so anything is viable.

Just waiting for two players to give me some details on their character sheet before I move the game on.

In reply to Warrbow (msg # 37):

Wookie associates are always helpful, and I think the Far Traveler background gives me a language I haven't picked yet, so I could take Shrywook so I can understand you

What do we want to name our cadre?

Vanrik is a Mando who looks like Brad Pitt? Hellllooooo nurse! **brushes hair**

So did we end up with no Force users in the group? Not that I mind that, I just think it's a little curious for a Star Wars game.

In reply to Nara (msg # 42):

<------ Force user.

I actually very glad no force users.  & I think we should hold off on a name.

Edit: one is ok

NOT a Mando, lol!


Sorry. It's been a busy day and a half. I'll try to post in the game thread tonight. Sheet should be done except for one more thing I think.

In reply to Vanrik Redsun (msg # 45):

OK, not a Mando but still looks like Brad Pitt. **keeps brushing hair**

Yeah. I found the picture a while back and was like....I need to make a character based on that! =)

A picture of the ship that's available is in the Game Map. It's named the Ace of Space.

I don't have any data on this ship, not even a deck plan, so if anyone has either of those, please pass it on.

It's the same ship type as the Razor Crest:

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Razor_Crest

https://www.bing.com/images/se...;tsc=ImageBasicHover

https://www.bing.com/images/se...ist=0&ajaxserp=0

Were the links I posted of benefit to you, Oh Great and Wise GM?

Yes, they were great! Thanks.

I just wish the one had better resolution so I could read it. It's still blurry even when I enlarge it.

In reply to GM StarMaster (msg # 51):

Try downloading the image maybe? The resolution appears OK for me

Couldn't read the text on that image because the resolution wasn't high enough to let me enlarge it without the text all blurring

However, I did find another image that had higher resolution. Still need to tweak the deck plans.

Anyway, I'm still waiting on two players to fill out their character sheets, but I'll post sometime later today.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:21, Fri 13 Aug 2021.

I WANTED to post this but didn't, lol:

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, Charnel. I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other; I've seen a lot of strange stuff. But I've never seen anything to make me believe that there's one all-powerful Force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny."

Hehe. I was thinking the same thing.

I could have sworn I posted this some where, but can't find where.

There are deck plans up under Map 1. The quarters are double bunks when they need to be.

Force show off.

In reply to Vrylin Ti (msg # 57):

**makes all the kitty's fur fall out**

In reply to Charnel (msg # 58):

lolz

**crickets**

Is the game still going on? It’s gotten quiet in here. Some might say…too quiet.

If I were the GM, I’d be waiting for an action from someone, and if no one else, the pilot.

As it is, Vry is totally on board organizing people but we’re a ‘new’ team and I don’t usually try to take charge unless appointed, elected, or selected.

Vry made a suggestion as to what to do.  IRL, with no info, the thing to do is get info.  Distribution of assets has a high chance of getting in exchange for being slower to deploy.  No one has done more than say the aforementioned about that idea.

So, we’re stuck.

Charnel is a take charge type so I’ll post as soon as I can with plans to get us moving.

I’m def. not advocating for you to take charge.  I’m jus saying it would be good if we all picked either split up to many cities or concentrated on one or waited in orbit to see.

She’s kind of a take charge type naturally so her doing so would be very in character.

Not interested in having someone self-appoint themselves leader.

That could be a good RP opportunity. Tell Charnel to pound sand. I just want to see the game progress.

I’m not going to deliberately derail the game with a sidebar.  Let’s us active players make some IC statements about what to do & then basic majority rules.  Sound ok? Let’s get our game going & then we can rp. AFK next 60 mins.

Also seems like our pilot has dropped.

Do we, or does Vanrik, know where the Hidden City is?

Gungan snout over a bed of fresh vegetables is a delicacy on some worlds.

Sry team.  My mother passed Saturday & it's a little overwhelming here, even when there's nothing happening.  Im not sure why that is, but Ive never had my mother die, so it's kinda new.  At least ? She was elderly and had been fighting cancer for 4 years, so it wasn't a surprise.  But still.

I’m very sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself and your family; we’ll be here when you’re ready to come back.

In reply to Vrylin Ti (msg # 72):

Dang. I'm very sorry for your loss!

Im back from 10 days away.  Im not 100% adjusted because I spent all my time helping the rest of my family & none for me.  :(

But it was about my mom, not me, so ok.

Anyway- it looks like we're DOA.  Maybe Im wrong?

You need time for you to grieve as well. Take the time and we'll see how the game settles out in the next few days. The important thing is you.

In reply to Charnel (msg # 76):

I appreciate that.  Let's see if we can make a tight little group of us, and kill people get things done.

In reply to Vrylin Ti (msg # 77):

I like this plan. :)

I agree, time to make some money.



Hated to hear about your loss Vry.

Thank you.

& listen, we can totally have a great game with 3 active players.

We may have 5. Not sure what's up with Vanrik.

But we seem to have lost Nara and Piknab. Maybe they were expecting more battle.

Warbow!  You hadn't posted since the 28th.  I was counting you out, sorry.  So 4 PCs?  Unless you're counting another as the 5th?

Yeah, as the expression goes, some days are diamonds, some days are rust. And sometimes there's more of the latter than the former.

So, you, me, Charnel, Ezusi, and Vanrik.

I just sent Vanrik's player an rMail so hopefully he returns so we can have the band back together.

"Get away from me, kid. You bother me." Just kidding, lol

Sorry. Had a rl crisis come up.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Thu 16 Sept 2021.

I'm just burning time.  Be free to ping me or reign me in whenever.

So is it just me?  If it is, I suggest we fold peaceably.  I mean, my goal is a post of consequence ever 2-3 days.  One liners in the OCC don't count.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:02, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

I’m here. Work is killing me with added duties but I’m about to hand those off so I’ll have more time come tomorrow.

cool.  4 real players is a great number.  Maybe the inactives can be tasked with watching other cities or something where they're not gumming up the works?

Hopefully Warrbow and the GM both return.

I have a good feeling about the GM.  4 days not a crisis.  Warbow...Aug 26 was their last IC post.  That's a month ago.

I’m in another one of the GMs games. He’ll be back. I think I’ll make a blanket out of the Wookie and put it on my bunk. People who ghost games annoy me immensely.

Just had an odd week. Every time I sat down to post, something kept coming up. Mostly haven't been sleeping well and wind up mentally tired all day long. Plus have an assortment of cats and dogs in my lap, making it hard to use my laptop.

There may be delays in my posting, but I've been running games for 8 years and haven't abandoned any yet.

You're a better man than me then.

I'm still around. Wish I had StarMaster's excuse. I'm just lazy and procrastinate a lot.

FYI: It finally occurred to me just now how we can use the language groups.

Language Group 0 is 'DV-8 Tranlate'. Thus, if you wanted to indicate you are speaking another language than Galactic Basic but that everyone else can understand your through the translation droid, you post it this way:


"[ Language DV-8 Translate: Twi'leki: This is the message translated. ]"

but without the space before and after the bracket. It would then appear like this:

"Twi'leki: This is the message translated."


If you want to use language to pass info between players that only speak Twi'leki, you do it this way:

"[ Language Twi'leki: They can't understand us. ]"

Again without the spaces and it would show up this way.

"[Language unknown: Ticma trthiv encsanainthista n.]"

Only the two PCs that speak Twi'leki would be able to read it.

Anyway, it's an option. Ignore it if you want.

That's a good possibility.

My next 4 days are going to be chaotic; I'm going with my dad to clean out the house before it's sold.  I'm kinda a wreck over it, but with my mother's passing a month ago, he wants it done.  In a year's time, I could buy it, but instead, it's going to a stranger.  So while there might be time this weekend, I'm not sure about my level of depression.  If I slide, and you really want to move forward, be free to post for me.

Looks like I'm the heavy. Got it.
*Holds up all 4 arms for high fives*

You'll have to hold them a lot lower for me. Would you prefer to think of me as your backup or your competition?

Also... I'm sorry for your loss. I hope cleaning out the house might at least provide some closure.

Loss of anyone close is rough. Sorry you have to go through it!

Koss can lower one hand for height challenged folks and Koss is trying to get used to the idea that teams and groups are important. So competition might have been early in the relationship but with Koss wielding heavy melee weapons and wearing medium armor we all have our niche on the team I'm sure.

Yeah... Waale is basically the opposite of that-- naked and screaming, primitive spear and primitive bow, and next level he's going to lose the spear. Sounds like you're the cavalry and I'm the tunnel rat.

Ewok...AAAAARRRGGGGHHH!!!! **RAGE**





Welcome to the game. :D


Both of you. **gives Yi-Kossar a high 20**

hey you know them plasma crossbows wookiees got?

how come they never carve a tie fighter into the stock?

I feel like that's the set up for a joke. I'll go with ya...why not?

Wait... Is it because bow-ties are only for formal occasions?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Wed 06 Oct 2021.

OK, I laughed at that.

And I shut down the place with the bow-ties line... At least my character is charismatic.

Sorry, was laid up. Let me catch up on the IC thread.

Welcome to the new people.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:12, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

Do we have an armstech?

As in having the Armstech’s Implements proficiency? Vanrik does.

I ask because having someone who can teach the proficiency on the team is a big leap in learning the skills a character wants.

What tools and languages do characters want to learn? If the character wants to keep it a secret then fine or if characters wouldn't practice where others might have seen them...

Koss has proficiency with Demolitions and Armortech skill and the tools. Koss wants to learn Armstech, slightly ironic perhaps ;p

If people want the GM might allow us to have done work or training for others... Say up to the credit limits of our characters.

Making the cost for others' starting gear a little less might also be a thing, but I wanted to put that out there.

At a minimum we might be able to help with future projects for each other.

From the main book, Adventuring section

RESEARCHING
The time between adventures is a great chance to perform research, gaining insight into mysteries that have unfurled over the course of the campaign. Research can include poring over dusty tomes and ancient datacrons in a library or buying drinks for the locals to pry rumors and gossip from their lips.

When you begin your research, the GM determines whether the information is available, how many days of downtime it will take to find it, and whether there are any restrictions on your research (such as needing to seek out a specific individual, tome, or location). The GM might also require you to make one or more ability checks, such as an Intelligence (Investigation) check to find clues pointing toward the information you seek, or a Charisma (Persuasion) check to secure someone’s aid. Once those conditions are met, you learn the information if it is available.

For each day of research, you must spend 10 cr to cover your expenses. This cost is in addition to your normal lifestyle expenses (as discussed in chapter 5).

TRAINING
You can spend time between adventures learning a new language or training with a set of tools. Your GM might allow additional training options.

First, you must find an instructor willing to teach you. The GM determines how long it takes, and whether one or more ability checks are required.

The training lasts for 250 days and costs 10 cr per day. After you spend the requisite amount of time and money, you learn the new language or gain proficiency with the new tool

Sorry I just realized that makes me seem like a rules lawyer... In reality I just wanted to offer a section I found because I DON'T know the SW20 rules yet and others might not know either. So I am trying to include things that might help others learn rules too.

I also found that Armormech tools prof allows a character a DC15 roll to "sunder armor". Being an armor using character who can only get less than 15 on such a roll rarely (with guidance activated) thanks to expertise (anything 2-9 counts as 10) makes that rule kinda scary. I'm somewhat relieved to note that armorers are somewhat rare. I'm going to hope the GM lets me make an opposed roll to STOP people from sundering my armor since I am an Armormech and know what it looks like when people try that crap.

Was, you wanna make the post letting them know? Koss isn't bright, part of the reason he tries to force himself to connect more to the Light than it coming naturally.

Not sure what's going on-- I have chemo today, so I'm going to be in shambles today, but I'll reread the ongoing threads and try to figure out if I'm supposed to know more than I think I do.

Oh, damn... Alright... Yeah, we stumbled across info that can help narrow down the hunt for the Hidden City from a planet to 3 isolated locations (annotated in GM post).

We probably shouldn't talk about it in a dive but by now we should probably have a common comms channel and be able to get to the ship. Then again maybe we want some unfriendly competition from prying ears and thus someone to rough up...

So how long ago did the volcano erupt making that chasm canyon? I'm sure that this is information that other people on the team would look up at least once we let them know about the canyons that are potential for their mark.

One thing that I'm going to also need to remember is that my character has been a six-legged wolf most of his life(birth to 11) and I'm assuming they lose awareness of their time in chrysalis, then after a few weeks, adult humanoid. Not sure how much that should affect him, I think I've set him up to be sufficiently predatory so far. He's 16 but that's well adult for his species. At 20 he might be an elder in some tribes.

wut

They say we are a violent species the Codru-ji but my pit mastiff is just playful and rougher than most kids.

Codru cocoon from wyrwulf(6 legged wolves) youth into their 'adult form' in their early teens. It is a weird species. I'm working mine out.

I'm totally not understanding what you mean by any of that...not that I need to, ofc.

They're so cute as cubs!

Since the species is born as near wolves, I've been trying to imagine how 11 years of it would shape a person. I look to my own dog(a large fighting breed we rescued and snuggle) he likes to play rough in comparison to my kids. They think he is savage sometimes.

I have to use a lot of strength from time to time to ensure the dog is obedient. I don't have to beat him but scooping him up like a baby and walking around for a while let's him know that I am strong enough to protect him. That is going to be how Koss sees his 'pack'. The strong protect the others, if there is a question you fight for a bit to see who should protect who.

Piknar is a GMPC or a full NPC now? Or did you find a replacement?

In reply to Vrylin Ti (msg # 123):

I was wondering the same thing.

Is it weird then, that I didn't wonder? I'm happy to have posts made for folks.

On a note of character aptitudes again;
does someone have more than +2 from Cha, Prof with deception, intimidation, and persuasion or is the guy literally raised by wolves our best Face?

I'm assuming the Wookie is a better intimidator but I may be wrong.

I've got a solid +3 in Deception... for someone who can only speak through a translator droid. I'm going to pick up Intimidation eventually, and raise my Charisma eventually, but I'm more of a melee brute than a Force user.

Im still here

Oh, good! I was almost weeping for our mostly band of mercs.

Dont cry.  Im not certain about our future - this isle of misfit toys band - but Im a face pc.

What kind of ship do we have or is it two ships here now? What would it take to get one with say a vehicle bay that can double as a workshop?

The Game Map and Group 1 Map show the main ship.

Hadn't really determined if Koss and Waale came here in there own ship. I was leaning to not. Could have been dropped off here... maybe to be picked up later.

Koss and his medium armor, massive axe, and tool kit, probably take up nearly the same space as the Wookie when you get done counting square footage. Unless anyone objects, assume he's at least one of the first off to ensure a lack of unchecked immediate danger.

I don't imagine Waale can fly much of anything. But he doesn't take up a lot of space and he doesn't pack a lot of gear.

Waale probably has the Dex, Koss can power some bonus d4 each round. We got it in a pinch.

I'm on mandatory bed rest for a few days after a little wheelchair malfunction. It's hard for me to use this site on my phone & tablet, so I may be sparse.

Please feel free to autopilot as needed, and imagine I'm being joyfully creepy.

Greetings everyone! I’m new blood that was lucky enough to stumble into this game.

Hope to have a blast playing with you all!

You forge your own Beskar?

Of course I do. :)

Not everyone does. Had to ask. Respect. I make my own armor too but enough Beskar to make heavy armor is hard to come by.

Not to say I'm not on the lookout, but it is easier to run with more technological upgrades than rare metallurgical ones.

Danrik has the skills for weapons fabrication.

With his help I plan to be a mech pilot in a few levels time.

Make sure to give your mech a cool name, that you often have to inexplicably shout.

I may or may not have an obsession with G Gundam.

Greetings.

I don't speak Shyriiwook. Do you have a translator or something on you so I could catch that?

If I find enough Beskar can you make some armour for me?

Sure, Koss (Yi is a common clan name of his people) is always on the lookout for his Packmates. Which is other PCs until proven stupid.

In reply to Charnel (msg # 143):

Sure.

Are you Mando, Koss?

Thank you.

**looks at Alrinyon** Say...that's a mighty fine suit of armour you have on...mighty fine indeed.

"Get your tools ready, Koss. Beskar coming up."

Only my helm is Beskar at the moment, unfortunately. It's a biiiiiiiit to expensive to start the game with a whole suit.

It's a start. Mind if I take a look at that very nice helmet? This is the Way.

Sure. Al isn't a Child of the Watch.

Probably won't fit you unless you have head tentacles though...

Not a Mando. Doesn't mean I don't know how to work Beskar. Y'all may try to horde it but it still makes its way in the universe.

I got 4 arms, expertise in armortech and force powers that say doing things is even easier for me than other people with the same training. My master taught me to make armor and what I wear is little more than an exoskeleton with temporary plates on it... Like it is going to be so much more when I'm done.

In case it got lost in the mix:

I made a reply that should have allowed you to know more or less what he said... Koss can also be assumed to be a reasonable translator if asked.

While I could use the Language Groups, it wasn't likely that enough characters would know everyone's language, so it would be a pain to keep using them and having to translate. So, I said use a pseudo group.

In the Wookie's case, Nara knows Shyriiwook so just assume she translates as necessary. Plus there's DV-8, a translation droid that usually travels with the group for that very reason.

Okay, I'll keep that in mind moving forward.

Well, since nobody is posting, it would seem as if it's time to pull the plug on this game.

I need at least three people to post saying they are still interested in continuing or else I'll delete the game next Sunday.

I am interested and would hope the pace can pick up. I am happy to continue if it does.

Same here. Mostly I've been trying to keep pace with the others sporadic posting. Don't want to hog the game all to myself.

And that's my point, Charnal. Your last in-game post was back in December.

I'm not sure the game can survive one post every four months!

Anyway, is there something I can do to make the game more interesting? Does everybody want more gunfights? It's a bit too early in the game to think about taking out another Deathstar.

It is interesting and I am enjoying it. My lack of posting has nothing to do with the game. Life has been chaos and shite since January but things are looking up again which leaves me more time to commit. If people post then I shall come. I'm a posting monster, machine, fiend!

I am still interested but as you said there has not been much movement. I know my current load at work and at home will likely slow my posting rate down, so I will leave the decision to end the game or continue with you and any others.

I like the characters and plots! I'd like to see it continue!

May the 4th Be With You

Revenge of the Fifth!

Revenge of the 5th! (wee bit belated since it's the 6th but I was occupied).

**pokes the game** Come on, you lot!

Hah! We should be alright.

Ding! 400!

Thought this game had died, to be honest...

But I'm not about to let a teammate go down swinging from terrible rolls alone! I will roll my OWN terrible rolls to help!

Sorry for being so silent. But RL has kept me busy and afraid it will for awhile. So GM I'm going to ask to be removed from the game. No sense of me slowing everything down.

Even when players leave or get busy or otherwise occupied, I keep the characters around for a few weeks just in case things change again.

Knowing you won't be able to post for awhile, though, I'll just post for you as an NPC.

So apparently it was my turn to get Covid, although a weaker strain. Culminated Monday night when I fell getting out of bed because I got dizzy and my legs were so weak they couldn't support me. After friends helped me get into a chair, called an ambulance to take me to the hospital for evaluation and testing. Everything else was clear but the test came back positive for Covid. Put some fluids in me, gave me a few prescriptions for me cough, and sent me home.

According to the doctor, I have had it for a few days, so Monday was the worst of it. Getting better, but I still feel like crap and a bit unsteady on my feet.

At least this explains why I've been feeling so crappy for awhile now.

Probably should apologize for not posting an update here, but brain's been too tired to even think of doing that.

Getting better. Just slow.

No reason to apologize. Your health is far more important.

Yeah, as always, RL comes first.

Glad you're getting better! Also glad you're not leaving this game to rot, I'll be around.

Yea! Power's back as of Friday afternoon. Internet came back late Friday night. We thought it'd take long because we're at the tail end of a line and the telephone pole and transformer at the other end of the block were both lying on the ground because the pole had snapped in half!

Spent yesterday cleaning up, picking up the pieces, putting things back in place, and making sure nothing got burnt out. We'd unplugged the TVs and shut off the AC at the circuit box, so we seem to be okay.

Our two house cats keep wanting to go out on the back porch like they used to, but it's half gone, so that's not going to be an option for awhile.

Anyway, expect to get caught up on my games today.

Welcome back, Boss!

Hi, Im new. Any of you want a four arked monk on your team?

Is that a cousin?!

Yup. We even share a family name!

Oh I can see shenanigans in the future...

Yup, especially since Zollu uses Bella for most off planet interactions. I bet they are actually cousins. Hmmm

As a Monk Zollu had to train somewhere. Perhaps they trained together? Or maybe at the same place but seperately?

Kossar was originally found by Sith. It went well with the whole toxic alpha ideal that wolves arguably live by... The issues came about a year later when that sith was curb stomped by a light side user.

With his alpha gone, Kossar took up under this new master immediately but the new master would only have him as long as he could keep up. A few years further on Koss simply lost sight of the Light side user but has been trying to develop a more true alpha mentality as opposed to what he was born to.

He now tries to strengthen and embolden while nurturing others. He's changed a lot but perhaps ultimately not too much.  I have no problems with us having trained together for a time maybe you were able to keep up with the light user longer or perhaps we lost contact at the Sith stage. I'm open to whatever.

As I probably mentioned, ever since I caught COVID back in October, I've felt like crap even after it went away. Supposedly, the aftermath leaves you tired for months. So I don't have enough energy to post very often most days, and when I do, I'm barely managing to do chores and run errands.

Last two weeks, I've been having minor chest pains on my right side (I'm not an alien--I only have one heart and it's on the left). While I thought it was just a muscle strain from lifting something, my previous heart problem and age had the VA nurse advise me to go to the ER.

So Thursday afternoon, that's what I did! After two days of poking and prodding and inspecting and injecting, they finally determined that I had absolutely no heart concerns. They sent me home Saturday morning with a $600 prescription! At least the first month is free, but unless the VA covers it, I won't be taking that next month.

And the stupid part is that I felt worse when I got discharged than I did when I went in!

Outside of the hospital, though, someone suggested my tiredness/lack of energy may be due to an iron deficiency, which might also account for my lack of appetite.

And then there's the insomnia... haven't slept in six days.

Bought an iron supplement and some Melatonin yesterday, so we'll see if that helps.


So, is anyone else still here?

Alive and kicking despite life doing everything it can to stop that.

Yes

Yep!

Of course, I try to annoy as many people as possible at any given time. If I left I'd miss all you folks!

So here's what's been happening...

I've been 'ill' for about three months now, starting with getting COVID back in the beginning of October. Wasn't too bad and I got over it in a few days, but it left me with the typical aftermath symptom of being tired ALL THE TIME. I was slowly getting over it, and even had a few hours of energy every day.

I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for mid-October but then Hurricane Ian hit. The VA clinic took some damage and was closed for two weeks. I finally got the appointment rescheduled for Jan. 13.

December 1st, I had a minor chest pain on my right side. It felt like just a minor muscle strain but at my age and with my medical history, I felt it was prudent to check. Called the VA clinic to see about a walk-in visit the next day and the nurse I talked to went into panic mode with the 'chest pain' words, and told me to go to the ER. So, on Friday, December 2nd, that's what I did. More panic mode.

Spent 4 days being poked and prodded, inspected, detected, and injected and stuff, only to be told my heart was fine. More exactly, they couldn't find any cause for the chest pain... the obvious cause seemed to elude them.

Here's where it started going to hell. Getting out of the hospital, I had an extreme loss of appetite, shortness of breath, and NO ENERGY. Didn't have any of that when I went in!

Not only was I not hungry, but nothing tasted appealing any more. Could barely eat my favorite foods, and then only 2-3 bites. On top of that, I ran out of one of my diabetes medicines. Not eating and drinking much, I also wasn't taking my meds as regularly as I had been.

This went on for the next three weeks, so things probably grew gradually worse without me quite realizing it.

December 31st, I managed to pull a back muscle, and while the pain meds I took didn't do squat, I at least knew it'd go away in a few days. It did. And then I got hives!

Jan. 6 I went to the VA clinic to get bloodwork done for my doctor's appointment. No sooner did I get home than the doctor called to tell me my blood sugar level was 903! I needed to go to the ER pronto! That's where I've been for the past week. :-(

I still didn't feel all that bad (weak and no energy), but I definitely had some serious health issues. Turned out I had ketoacidosis and some kidney issues. After a few days treatment, the keto was gone, kidneys were all better, and my blood sugar was back to normal. Now I had to survive the 'recovery'. As long as I was stuck in that hospital bed, though, I knew I wasn't going to get better. So now I'm home.

Have a nurse helping me, and physical therapy should start tomorrow. And now I have to play tag with a doctor's appointment again...

Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all this is in case you, family or a friend should find yourself in a similar situation, you'll have a heads-up/warning about what's might be happening.


Now it's just recovery and rehab.

I think ketoacidosis was a surprisingly common aftermath of COVID-19... A LOT of people my parents associated with thought COVID-19 was another cold and just tested with soup but they live out in the mountains of NW USA and when they got 'over it' their friends when back to life for a few days and then dropped to 0.

I felt like they were succumbing to something like 3e D&D drowning rules. You can hold your breath, then as soon as you don't you lose half health the next round drop to -1 and are dying. A sharp rule that I took advantage of with every assassin in that edition.

Jesus Boss, sounds like you had one full experience with the medical system there.

I'm glad that you sound like you are doing better.

I am on the other end of recovery and rehab, in that I'm the one they dispatch to help people through this, so I'm sure your nurse will be very helpful.

Feel better Boss!

Still here. As it turns out, seven days in a hospital bed really did a number on me, no doubt helped along by my age. Still tired most of the time, energy/stamina comes and goes. There are times when I get out of the recliner and only manage to take three steps before I have to sit down again. Other times, I can get up and zip around the house with the walker with no problem. So it seems like it's going to take me twice as long to recover as I was hoping/expecting it to.

Hoping to get back to my games in another day or two.

Seriously, take your time. Real life always comes first, as I've said.

Chill out in the bacta tank, Luke.

It is crummy to not recover as fast as you would like. Hopefully will still be Swiffer and it might otherwise be. Take the time you need to get better cuz the last thing we need is one update and then you need to go down for the count.

More health issues. Been in hospital for past 11 days. Transitioning to rehab soon. Will update when I can.

Sending you best wishes for swift recovery! I'll be around, or at least have sent a message letting you know that I'll be away for a bit.

So while I was stuck in the hospital bed for two weeks, I wrote and rewrote this post in my head several times. Don't remember any of it now, so here's the newest version.

THE NEVER-ENDING STORY...

The Missing Chapter: when I was discharged from the hospital back in January, I was sent home with a Foley catheter, which was more of an annoyance and handicap for my home rehab at the time. Managed to get an appointment with the VA  urologist two weeks later. He thought I should never have been sent home with it, but it was time to get it removed. Took a week of scheduling shuffles but finally went home without it on the following Thursday.

That Friday night when getting ready for bed, I lost my balance while setting something on the floor and fell over on my back onto the concrete floor. My housemate helped me get up and everything seemed fine once I was back out in the recliner. Nope. Come Saturday, I was in excruciating pain across all the muscles in my chest and back. Doan's, Aleve, Tylenol didn't help at all. Monday added a heating pad... better. Wednesday, switched to BenGay... better, but still couldn't sleep, so Thursday went back to the VA for some stronger pain meds.

That doctor saw the previous records and thought I might be having a pulmonary embolism and immediately did an ambulance transfer to the ER. 6 hours later the ER doctor decided that wasn't the case and sent me home with vicadin. Didn't do anything but pharmacy was closed so had to wait till the next day to get more.

After that, everything was fine for a few hours. Mid-afternoon, I suddenly couldn't move my legs!

EMT/PD shortly had me back in the ER. MRI of head and neck revealed a tumor in my C2 vertebra. Had spinal surgery next morning! Being the weekend, it took 4 days to get the pathology back which identified it as prostate cancer. Caught it early and getting chemo, and now in rehab to walk again.

Other than that, I'm in great health (for my age)! Probably 4-6 weeks in rehab before I go home.

That's rough, glad you are feeling headed in the right direction though!

Glad they caught it early. Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery.

Given how many players haven't logged into the game these past few months I am a bit concerned - though I acknowledge life frequently happens without warnings.

I hope everyone else is okay too!

Jesus fucking tap-dancing Christ!

Sounds like a journey! I'm glad you caught it early, and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

*Space-hugs

Apologies for no update but really didn't think there was one.

Still paraplegic trying to recover mobility at a poor rehab facility with bad nursing and half-horrible food until...

Developed a sore on my butt from laying in bed 24/7 that didn't get treated properly and turned gangrene, so now I'm back in the hospital with surgery scheduled for Tuesday.

Recovery to go home was still about a month away. Don't yet know how this new problem will affect that.

Low energy levels at rehab have left me with a one-track mind--just have trouble shifting gears between game systems right now.

My OCD stubbornness is still keeping me from pulling the plug on my games. I really have fun running games and it really bums me out that I can't keep them going right now for all of you. For those of you who are still sticking around waiting for the game to restart, I sincerely apologize for the delay. For those of you who have moved on, no hard feelings here--I completely understand.

Anyway, Happy Easter to everyone!

Can't sleep, can't focus to post... turn. More of the same. Turn. Repeat.

STAGE MINUS ONE--SPINAL SURGERY: Hell, I don't even remember half of it. This would have been the spinal surgery to remove the tumor and put me on my back for two weeks. DONE. SUCCESS!

STAGE ZERO--REHAB ERROR: Weeks at rehab facility where inadequate and improper nursing care turned an ordinary bedsore into a far more serious gangrene wound... one that now needed surgery to fix. DONE? WAS THAT A SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

STAGE ONE--BACKSIDE SURGERY: Operation on my tailbone went off without a hitch apparently. Just left with a major wound on my tailbone. Couldn't/can't put pressure on the wound while it heals, thus laying on my side and having to get turned to the other side every two hours, necessitating having to learn to type on my laptop upside down and sideways with one finger. Remember, this is at the BETTER recovery/rehab facility rather than at home, so options are still limited. Did I mention the I-V dangling from my arm that also gets in the way? DONE. SUCCESS.

STAGE TWO--STAPLES/SUTURES REMOVAL: Staples and stitches still need to come out. Don't have a timeline for that yet but presumably soon.
___STAGE 2.1: First half of the staples were taken out Tuesday. On schedule, standard routine. DONE. SUCCESS.
___STAGE 2.2: Second half of staples were removed Friday. Again, right on schedule with no complications. DONE. SUCCESS.
___STAGE 2.3: Sutures are currently supposed to come out on Monday, though that probably depends on how the final healing has progressed, since not everyone will heal the same way. PENDING.

STAGE THREE--WOUND REHAB: sitting protocols start as soon as sutures come out (?). Start getting used to sitting up  again... in 15-minute intervals. No details yet on frequency or duration. Will kind of depend on how well I do, but further complicated by not  having any control of my leg muscles. Requires moving to a normal bed rather than this deluxe air bubbling mattress that's meant to stimulate skin/muscle do I don't get more bedsores.

STAGE FOUR--HOME REHAB: As soon as I can stand up on my own two legs, I should be able to go home for final rehab. Regain mobility. At this point, there's no telling how well the wound rehab and the paralysis rehab will work together. The therapist seemed to think they could make them work together in synergy, but I didn't get a whole lot of enthusiasm from him. I suppose it could be uncharted territory for him.


ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: I now qualify for Frequent Surgery Miles. I've had four surgeries so the fifth one is free! Oddly, I started with the Big One (double bypass heart surgery 15 years ago) and that went easier than these.

Still not sure if there's a light at  the end of the tunnel yet--if there is, hope it's the Battery Low indicator and not the Westbound #9 train!

Bedsores are 100% preventable. ><

I continue hoping for the best for you. Thank you for keeping us informed!

I hope all the therapy helps out. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be.

May the Force be with you, Boss!

Besides the difficulty in typing on the laptop with a touch-pad, it's the low energy levels that tend to be a small mountain for me to climb in order to post. And now the further behind I get, the larger that mountain keeps growing to pick up where I left off. Hopefully, it'll start to turn around this week.

Jesus...while they are at it, they should just turn you into the 6 million dollar man.

And I know how big that mountain can be.

Really hope everything turns around EVEN HARDER.

___STAGE 2.3: Sutures came out on Monday right on schedule, but the final healing is still in progress for several weeks/months. DONE. SUCCESS.

STAGE THREE--WOUND REHAB: sitting up for continued wound rehab protocols start as soon as sutures came out, about a week ago now. Start getting used to sitting up  again... in 15-minute intervals twice a day. Moved to a standard air mattress bed. Frequency and duration will kind of depend on how well I do, but further complicated by not having any control over my leg muscles and not enough feeling below the waist. Communication/responsibility issue has only produced one session--should have been six by now! PENDING???

___STAGE 3.5--RESUME PREVIOUS REHAB: In a week or two or three depending on how quickly I improve here, I get transferred to yet another Rehab facility for continued wound recovery... takes a long time... as well as mobility rehab.

___Stage 3.7--TRANSFER TO NEW REHAB: So the Wound Recovery has done well enough that I'm getting transferred to a different rehab facility for the Sitting/Mobility rehab. Don't know why there's a difference other than where I'm at is more medical than therapeutic so they need to make room for a new patient.

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL: Different tunnel, different light. I suppose it's a step in the right direction, but we'll have to see how it goes.

From another one of our GM's games I was in, written by someone who knew him IRL:

Fellow Human Beings ... Fellow Gamers ... Friends ...

It is with a saddened heart that I inform you all of the passing of Robert Rusk -- better known to many of us as StarMaster.

Rob passed in his sleep on Thursday morning, July 6, 2023, at approximately 10:30am.  He had been hospitalized since early in the year due to complications concerning Cancer & associated surgeries.  He was 73 years old.

Rob was a Comics Fan Boy & fiction writer wannabe his whole life and came to Roleplaying in the Early Days of 1978.  It was my distinct pleasure to have met him, and gamed with him, since that time.

After his Retirement, Rob committed himself to the community he found in RPol, participating in over 20+ games, here.  He was an especial "softie" for GM-adopting abandoned games and working to keep them running, for the enjoyment of the Players.

He will be missed.

Oh man. That makes me so sad.

Farewell, friend. And thank you.

Very sad. I never met him IRL but we'd been gaming together for a few years here. He will be much missed.