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11:51, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

OOC 1.

Posted by The TinkererFor group 0
The Tinkerer
GM, 18 posts
Tue 11 Apr 2023
at 16:06
  • msg #44

OOC 1

OK I'm still ironing out details with some of you but we've got six great character concepts nailed down and I am excited to get them out into the world! Now it's time to think about how to get you all to the same place at the same time.

Three of you work for Baz Cinderhorn, so that's an easy connection. Can we start a conversation about how the three of you are connected there? Here's a little more background on Cinderhorn's guild, The Spark:

quote:
Gangs have always run the Lower Slopes, often with the tacit approval of the Constabulary. They knew the neighborhoods better, they kept order with rougher tactics than the constables could use openly, and of course they paid off the constables. But this was all an open secret on the Lower Slopes, so the people there always viewed these gangs with fear and resentment.

The Spark - so named by Baz after he took over, a reference to a spark of hope - treated people with dignity. They made deals where possible, before breaking legs. This won them the support of regular folk on the Lower Slopes and has paid for itself many times over in the form of information, opportunities, alibis, and turned heads.

Now Baz has pivoted to taking The Spark "straight", acquiring some factories of his own. He still relies on the many rogues and ruffians in the crew for spying, stealing, intimidation, and corporate espionage when needed, but within the organization there are some ruffled feathers and some concerns about what role these ruffians will ultimately have in a more "honest" operation.

I'm thinking the three of you will be assigned to take advantage of a strike at one of JP Cognelius's factories to steal something from inside, if that works for you? You wouldn't need to have a longstanding relationship with one another - that part's up to you - but you'd know each from around the guild and maybe even have done jobs together before.

As for the rest of you, we've got Procz the robodog-riding kobold constable, Frack the bumbling goblin paladin, and Kreo the sex worker turned union organizer. It's not essential but you're invited to brainstorm possible connections to one another, to Baz's crew, or the scene I described. The strike could be an easy in for Kreo, trying to make a connection with another union. Ideas for the rest of you? Maybe you know one of the workers at the factory?
Kreo
player, 8 posts
Tue 11 Apr 2023
at 16:47
  • msg #45

OOC 1

Oh yeah if there's a strike Kreo's there. Seems Kreo and Verity are known to each other if that's still on the table
Procz
player, 6 posts
HP: 11/11
AC: 11 | 14 (Mage Armor)
Tue 11 Apr 2023
at 20:01
  • msg #46

OOC 1

My first notion is that Procz comes across suspicious activity at the factory (or receives a tip), and comes to the location to investigate. While The Spark might seek to go legit, corporate espionage and theft is still technically illegal and Procz is not the type to take a bribe and look the other way. He would seek both to prevent the burglary and arrest the perps.

This might seem to put him at odds with the main group initially. Nevertheless, as things unfold, his allegiances could shift, depending on what they find and what happens. I don't want to speculate in the coming adventure, but there might be situations where Procz might have to ignore minor infractions in search of bigger fish (choosing the lesser evil). He could come in debt to certain characters (or be in one already), if someone has done something for him; saved his life even.

An entirely different proposition is that Procz is working undercover, but that is a little silly on account of his poor health and obvious physical appearance. Of course, he could be there for other reasons. Maybe he has been set up or is investigating a lead to something else in the same facility?
Kreo
player, 9 posts
Tue 11 Apr 2023
at 20:26
  • msg #47

OOC 1

If the labourers at old JP's factories are kobolds, being undercover might not be so strange. Or you might be posing as a member of an allied union or association that employs kobolds which focuses on their skills (tannery, waste disposal and laundresses all make use of alchemical agents and wouldn't require overt physical strength over say willingness to do the job and work long hours)
Veracity
player, 4 posts
Wed 12 Apr 2023
at 02:54
  • msg #48

OOC 1

Heya all, I finally found my character art :D  The knives aren't so much Veracity's thing, but the style and attitude are perfect!

I like a worker's strike for a kickoff scenario.  Vera is a fast-talker mistress of disguise who runs cons and thievery, but in a Robin Hood-esque way of focusing the criminal efforts on rich and powerful scumbags :P  She's 18 now and was a ward of the Sparks gang since she was young, so she'd surely know anybody who has been in the gang for very long.  She's super social and always up to something, so she could really know any of y'all.  Always open to solidify some character connections.  I think we could be friends/acquaintances already, Kreo, as I think Vera will run in worker's rights activism circles and would fit right in at any of his 'red light' locales.

I'd be interested to define what the strike is about and what the Sparks gang's objective is, so we can figure out how we approach it.  It would be nice if the heist could be morally justifiable, just so we can find common ground with Constable Procz :)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:01, Wed 12 Apr 2023.
Baern Snagglehorn
player, 8 posts
Wed 12 Apr 2023
at 15:42
  • msg #49

OOC 1

I was hoping to get to this today but my motherboard is fried, rather unexpectedly. I have a service call scheduled for tomorrow to replace it. Hope to be back in business by tomorrow evening.
Kreo
player, 10 posts
Wed 12 Apr 2023
at 16:25
  • msg #50

OOC 1

Sorry to hear about that Baern! Good luck with a speedy solution I hope

Vera, I like the way you think, though I'll say that anyone who wants a connection with Kreo doesn't need to know him from his former/part time job, as he's going more and more into organizing as time goes on (and due to a downturn in business from an injury) so just in general having met at wine sinks and cafes and eating halls can work too
Baern Snagglehorn
player, 9 posts
Thu 13 Apr 2023
at 14:12
  • msg #51

OOC 1

The part is on backorder. I'm at least a week without a computer now. I'm currently at the office, but my access to DNDbeyond is restricted so I can't look at Baern's character sheet. Time permitting though I'll try to get some brainstorming thoughts up for shared background. I need to catch up on work first though.
The Tinkerer
GM, 21 posts
Sun 16 Apr 2023
at 11:26
  • msg #52

OOC 1

I added a few more entries to the History thread based on world-building that arose from PM conversations. Full credit to Frack (formerly Fergus) for the write-up of The Shield. I've still got things outstanding with a few of you but since we won't be starting with everyone in the same place anyway, I may get a thread or two started for those who are ready soon. My inclination is to make these public even though everyone's characters wouldn't actually have access to this information, just to help get everyone more engaged in the world and story and characters. Of course you can always put things in Private text if needed, but hopefully you won't be keeping too many secrets from one another, and I don't plan to have you in separate threads for long. How do y'all feel about this?
Kreo
player, 11 posts
Sun 16 Apr 2023
at 15:01
  • msg #53

OOC 1

I support that idea, sounds good to me
Procz
player, 7 posts
HP: 11/11
AC: 11 | 14 (Mage Armor)
Sun 16 Apr 2023
at 20:20
  • msg #54

OOC 1

I second that.
Veracity
player, 5 posts
Sun 16 Apr 2023
at 20:37
  • msg #55

OOC 1

Sounds like a plan!  I like to see what else is going on even if my character isn't there :)  Other groups might see places and NPCs and such that our characters would be familiar with though, so it gives us all more context for our own RP.

Perhaps I should have asked this earlier, but should we be doing a text sheet on RPOL?  I have Vera mostly done on Beyond and wouldn't mind just using that, but could do a text sheet if needed.  I don't have access to mine.  Even if I use Beyond I'd probably stick a link in there and maybe use it for backstory notes :P
The Tinkerer
GM, 22 posts
Sun 16 Apr 2023
at 23:39
  • msg #56

OOC 1

Veracity:
Sounds like a plan!  I like to see what else is going on even if my character isn't there :)  Other groups might see places and NPCs and such that our characters would be familiar with though, so it gives us all more context for our own RP.

Perhaps I should have asked this earlier, but should we be doing a text sheet on RPOL?  I have Vera mostly done on Beyond and wouldn't mind just using that, but could do a text sheet if needed.  I don't have access to mine.  Even if I use Beyond I'd probably stick a link in there and maybe use it for backstory notes :P


No one has access to sheets yet, thanks for the reminder! But Dnd Beyond is fine, just drop a link in the character sheet section here so I can find it easily.

Edit: These should be good to go now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:41, Sun 16 Apr 2023.
Kreo
player, 12 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 12:56
  • msg #57

OOC 1

I'm still lacking a sheet. Just been using the scratchpad for now but just thought I'd mention
Sikuaq (formerly)
player, 2 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 14:18
  • msg #58

Re: OOC 1

I have the same issue as Kreo...
The Tinkerer
GM, 23 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 14:42
  • msg #59

Re: OOC 1

Ok, *now* should be good to go
Baern Snagglehorn
player, 10 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 14:57
  • msg #60

Re: OOC 1

Still waiting on my computer to be repaired. I have a tentative appointment today - I'm working off a loaner at the moment.

Did the Cinderhorn crew make any progress? I think the other two were Kreo and Veracity, is that correct?
The Tinkerer
GM, 24 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 15:24
  • msg #61

OOC 1

Baern Snagglehorn:
Did the Cinderhorn crew make any progress? I think the other two were Kreo and Veracity, is that correct?


No, actually. I think Kreo is going to have some familiarity with Vera at least but he is not part of the Cinderhorn crew. The third member is Sikuaq's character, who is name TBD as far as I know.
Baern Snagglehorn
player, 11 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 18:45
  • msg #62

OOC 1

Sikuaq do you need some time still, or should we break off into a PM with Vera to hash things over?
Sikuaq (formerly)
player, 3 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 18:46
  • msg #63

OOC 1

I think I'm ready!
The Tinkerer
GM, 25 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2023
at 21:36
  • msg #64

OOC 1

Baern Snagglehorn:
Sikuaq do you need some time still, or should we break off into a PM with Vera to hash things over?


Are you up for just talking it out in OOC? I realize it may include some information not everyone is privy to, but it may also provide some opportunities for others glom on to something.
Frack
player, 9 posts
Goblin Paladin 7
AC: 18 HP: 28/28?
Tue 18 Apr 2023
at 06:35
  • msg #65

OOC 1

Still here and still finalizing things, but 90% ready to go. For the sake of starting, I'm trying to think of how a paladin goblin who is dirt poor might know any of the rest of you. Procz, as a lawman (lawkobold?), Frack would hold you in high esteem due to your commitment to law and order.
Procz
player, 8 posts
HP: 11/11
AC: 11 | 14 (Mage Armor)
Tue 18 Apr 2023
at 07:19
  • msg #66

OOC 1

Maybe we could say that Frack and Procz have met? Some fairly minor incident with a couple of drunkard troublemakers might have been too much for the kobold to handle on his own, and Frack stepped up to help? Procz and Frack could have bonded somewhat over this.

My character is good to go.
The Tinkerer
GM, 27 posts
Tue 18 Apr 2023
at 12:22
  • msg #67

OOC 1

Procz:
Maybe we could say that Frack and Procz have met? Some fairly minor incident with a couple of drunkard troublemakers might have been too much for the kobold to handle on his own, and Frack stepped up to help? Procz and Frack could have bonded somewhat over this.


Oooh, this would be handy, actually. Procz, I'm thinking that while you may also have had brushes with one or more members of Baz's crew, your proximate cause for being at the factory is actually that a person you're interested in is a worker here. So when you heard there was trouble at the factory, you came in an unofficial capacity, which is why you would have brought Frack for back-up rather than another constable. Does that work for you guys?
The Tinkerer
GM, 28 posts
Tue 18 Apr 2023
at 12:32
  • msg #68

OOC 1

First IC post is up! Hopefully we can link up Frack and Procz and then I'll get up posts for them and for Baz's crew shortly.
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