DM Elanmorin's Hell' Rebels

Game Master Nathan Hartshorn

map or no map for this encounter?

nevermind, i found it.

Hello. I'll be away from the forums for the next couple weeks. Posting will be somewhere between spotty and nonexistent, so bot me as much as you want. I'll return on the 14th of June.

Sorry GM. Forgot to mention that I'm actually on vacation right now. The game was on hiatus when I informed all my other GMs >.>

Mmmh... do you wish me to handwave this for us to move on?

I was kinda hoping someone else would post first some reason. I can go continue if everyone wants to continue this.

I don't want to bot all of the party, so please post when you can.
This is lagging and I'm at fault for taking so long away from the game, but it's not like there was exactly a huge amount of posts anyway.

Maybe things aren't clear enough, but I believe you as a party are overthinking things. You are free to make your own decisions here and reap the fruits of your choices, good or bad as they might be, but I'm not going to put you in an impossible situation unless YOU put yourselves into it (translation:you do something utterly stupid) and this is NOT the case.

Be as it may, all this waiting isn't good for the game. Please let me know if there's something I can do to make things better but we need a faster pace of this dies down completely.

Thanks for everyone's patience. I'm back now, and am catching up with my games now. Expect a post either today or tomorrow, as time/energy allows.

I'm back, folks! Vacation was pretty great, and it's time for me to kick jetlag in the butt and start posting again. Bear with me!

Per'aps eet would be wise eef we all checked een, so zat zee GM knew 'oo was 'ere!

That would be appreciated

I'm still here.

Okay, after ten days, I think it's fair to say that Eallos, Veccio, and myself are still here. That means we may need to do some recruitment if we want to keep this running.

Or maybe it's just not going to happen?

Ok, we can try with recruitment, but we need to keep this up this time.

I had my faults but people suddenly stopped playing with no explanations and I find that pretty disconcerting.

Hopefully new players will help to invigorate the game.

Players dropping out without warning is, unfortunately, normal. My KM game had one disappear without a trace and another vanished for weeks only to explain why just as I was about to replace him. The key is that we have to be aggressive with recruiting new bodies to replace the lost people.

That being said, we have Veccio, Meliandri, and Eallos that are confirmed to be here. Let's see about getting a replacement arcane caster. We could probably go from there, unless we're set on the 5th.

So, when we reboot this, are you going to handwave this combat? We've kind of lost track, we're getting new players, and I think a handwave/reset to Laria's might be better for getting everyone on the same page.

I'd agree, since it doesn't really make sense to have them join mid-combat, and having them wait until we finish a fight(which takes awhile in pbp) is a bit awkward. I've also admittedly kinda forgotten what's happening to be honest haha

I will, it did not work as I expected. One thing though: I get the impression when things start to look bleak posts suddenly reduce.
As I said before there's no reason for this and from now on I expect the post flow to remain steady.

1st - It’s hard to insert homebrew inside an AP, so I give you props for trying. I know it’s tough because I’ve been running an excursion to Restov in my Kingmaker game, and it’s been difficult to pull off.

2nd - The reduction in posts happened well before combat broke out. Going back to March 30, I said I’d be gone on a hiatus over my Spring Break. The game stalled out sometime during my hiatus, then didn’t pick up afterwards due to aforementioned reasons. During that time we lost our sorcerer. It picked up again after you came back, then fell apart when Veccio and I went on hiatus, but not because of that. During that second gap, or slightly before it, we lost our hunter. This is just a part of PbP, and it's disappointing that we've lost so many people, but the right thing to do is dive right into recruitment.

3rd -If you want a commitment to a steady post flow, we need a commitment from you as well. I’m not talking about “a post a day.” That’s not always going to be realistic, and I know that more than anyone (see my current games’ paces, between vacations and job hunts). What I’m talking about is a commitment to get online if your life gets busy and let us know, before a month passes. I didn’t like messaging you like that, it felt like I was being rude, but I needed to know what the status of this game was. I PM’d you because I saw you were active on other aliases. It’d be better for everyone if you could let us know before it gets to that point.

4th - I’m not saying this because I want to get you down, and I apologize if my tone comes across as angry or spiteful. Far from it. I’m saying it because I liked this game up until the point where things fell apart, and I still have high hopes for it. We could all do better.

Meliandri Chastain-Aulamaxa, AKA GM Aest

1st - It’s hard to insert homebrew inside an AP, so I give you props for trying. I know it’s tough because I’ve been running an excursion to Restov in my Kingmaker game, and it’s been difficult to pull off.

2nd - The reduction in posts happened well before combat broke out. Going back to March 30, I said I’d be gone on a hiatus over my Spring Break. The game stalled out sometime during my hiatus, then didn’t pick up afterwards due to aforementioned reasons. During that time we lost our sorcerer. It picked up again after you came back, then fell apart when Veccio and I went on hiatus, but not because of that. During that second gap, or slightly before it, we lost our hunter. This is just a part of PbP, and it's disappointing that we've lost so many people, but the right thing to do is dive right into recruitment.

3rd -If you want a commitment to a steady post flow, we need a commitment from you as well. I’m not talking about “a post a day.” That’s not always going to be realistic, and I know that more than anyone (see my current games’ paces, between vacations and job hunts). What I’m talking about is a commitment to get online if your life gets busy and let us know, before a month passes. I didn’t like messaging you like that, it felt like I was being rude, but I needed to know what the status of this game was. I PM’d you because I saw you were active on other aliases. It’d be better for everyone if you could let us know before it gets to that point.

4th - I’m not saying this because I want to get you down, and I apologize if my tone comes across as angry or spiteful. Far from it. I’m saying it because I liked this game up until the point where things fell apart, and I still have high hopes for it. We could all do better.

Meliandri Chastain-Aulamaxa, AKA GM Aest

I've no problems with people speaking their mind so no problem about the tone.

Anyway I'm willing to keep this game going. I had a good time and I think you are all good players. Tomorrow 2 new people will join us and we'll move things along.

P.S.

Recently Dreaming Warforged (Abigail's player) asked me if he could get back on game. As this happened after I reopened recruitment and not wanting to disappoint anyone I'm inclined to deny his request but I'm willing to hear your point of view on this.

I'd be fine with letting DW reenter. He was solid until he decided to drop, and he let us know right away.

As I said up there, I'm not looking to blame, and I don't really care about slowdowns. I enjoy this game, so I'll post, but if I miss a day here and there, that's just how it goes. Now that I've got what seems to be a commitment to communicating when you'll be out for a while, I'm happy. That's all I wanted.

Looking forward to seeing who you pick for the new player/players!

Pretty much exactly what Mel said, I'm fine with DW playing or not as long as we have solid players.

Please welcome Lirotha Karsani and Rocco Hardweather, our new players.

I'll also PM DWF, 2 witches are better than one.

Hey there folks! Looking forward to joining in the adventure here. Thanks to the GM for the selection.

Welcome Rocco, thank you for joining.

Also a quick heads up: I sent a PM to DWF telling him he could come back but apparently he has "moved on" so we'll still be playing in 5 and not in 6.

Hey Rocco, welcome to the game!

Sorry for the late post. Long day!

It's great to be able to join! Thank you GM.

Welcome Lirotha.

You can now post in gameplay, basically consider yourselves to have been recruited by Laria (a friendly halfling baker) for joining the resurgent Silver Ravens of Kintargo, a secret society of freedom fighters dedicated to fighting against Thrune and his takeover of the city.

Quick Question...
2nd level Hit Points? Did you guys roll? Take average (1/2HD +1)etc?

Welcome to the new players! Let's get this rebellion underway =)

Quick Question...

2nd level Hit Points? Did you guys roll? Take average (1/2HD +1)etc?

Half HD+1, so for a witch it's +4

Holy cow those rebellion rules are fun! Really looking forward to playing with those particular toys. As for filling the vacant roles, Rocco and Kurglunn would easily fit into the Spymaster role, given their focus on stealth. We do really need a Recruiter though, so, Lirotha, if you'd prefer a role other than that one, I can definitely be our Recruiter.

The pre-existing party can probably also adjust, if needed.

NOTE: I realize I messed up and did not take the Profession (Harrower) skill. That's fixed now.

Role?

Well, Lirotha's Charisma is pretty average (She's rather crude and unsophisticated). However her Intelligence is good so Spymaster would probably be a better fit for her if she had to pick. Being able to set up almost anywhere public and make a few coppers inconspicuously, while observing things around her, is something she's good at.

EDIT: FInal question...I swear.
I noted on the loot sheet everyone got Silver Raven figurines of wondrous power. Did those go with the departing players, or are they for the actual Silver Ravens and now go to us new people? - Just Curious.

I can answer that: you and Rocco get one of those figurines each. Abigail and Izzy both gave them back when they left.

Ok, choose an action for the activity phase and decide who should roll for it then I'll roll for the event phase. In order to make this an easy and quick process please go in discussion and post your preferences (who rolls for the party, and what action to take and what rumor's lead to follow). Also if no one has anything against it Lirotha will become the new spymaster. I still need to know Rocco's role though Quoted material here....

This week's Rebellion Summary:

1. ACTION: Recruit Supporters? (Anybody Disagree?)
2. Who Rolls for the Action: I suggest one of the original group should do it for now, or let it be random who does it by GM pick.
3. Rumor to follow up: Again, I say we look at the Salt Works or for the Diva in order to boost our recruitment.
4. I believe Rocco said he would be the Recruiter, if I didn't want to be. Rocco? Is that still OK? Does anybody else want to change?

Speak up! If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything!

=)

Yeah I'm good with being our recruiter! And I think your ideas for this week's activities make sense.

I'd definitely say the salt work. I'm also the worst possible choice to roll for stuff cause i'm notoriously unlucky(although not sure if it's come up in this game yet), so yeah.

Salt works for me too.

Veccio and Mel's opinion then we can move on with the rolls. Btw: who's going to roll? Do you have someone in mind or do you want me to choose at random?

Works fine for me, yeah.

I think the salt mine's the way to go.

And I think you should choose randomly.

Everything looks good to me. I'd go for a random roll, d5, alphabetical order (1 = Eallos, 2 = Lirotha, etc).

Group Consensus!

This week's Rebellion Summary:

1. ACTION: Recruit Supporters
2. Who Rolls for the Action: RANDOM (GM Choice as to how.)
3. Rumor: Salt Works (Large Group of dissident Prisoners forced to live and work hard labor in a warehouse?)
4. Rocco is now the Recruiter
5. Lirotha is now the Spymaster

Did I miss anything?
=)

"Who will be our lucky (?) dice roller?"

1.Eallos
2.Lirotha
3.Meliandri
4.Rocco
5.Veccio

"The suspense is KILLING ME!"

The moment of truth!: 1d5 ⇒ 3

"AND THE WINNER IS.... MELIANDRIII!"

Prisoner Escape / Casing Summary (Salt Works)

So there is a main entrance, approximately 8 guards and their leader who is a mean looking dwarf.

They have hourly patrols of 2 that inspect the building and are sometimes lead by the Dwarf himself.

Some basic questions for the GM that might not need rolls to note:
1. How long does it take (just a general estimate) for the guards to circle the building?
2. Is the roof flat, or slanted? Solid or tiled? Are there any accessible roofs nearby to the Saltworks? Especially ones that look down onto it?
3. Any way to estimate the number of prisoners inside without going in?
4. Any other obvious entrances or exits into/out of the building (I am already assuming there are windows that are just too high up to matter)?
5. Do the Dwarf and the guards pretty much live in the Salt Works? Or do any go home at night? (Again, I'm assuming the sleep there really but wanted to be sure.)

Some other ideas to ponder:
1. Finding an ex-employee who could give us a description of the inside?
2. Find out where they get their food and use that to our advantage somehow?
3. The building is near the water, there could be old drainage pipes that we could infiltrate and/or then lead the prisoners out of. Probably need a expert on the drains (or a map), a big boat, and good swimming lessons for that however.

We are still waiting for some observations, so this is all preliminary still.

Anybody have anything else to throw in?

Sorry, GM. Been having some connectivity issues at home. Thought I'd have my post up before now. I'll try to do it after the con tonight.

In the meantime, Lirotha has some great questions there. Could we get answers to them?

Answers:

1. Lirotha and Eallos estimated between 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thoroughly they search the premises.

2.Sallix Salt Works is a squat, rectangular structure built around a low stone dome with 3 huge chimneys sprouting from it. The roof of the squat structure is flat, no tiles. The factory is built at a certain distance from all other edifices and from the city walls. Those are higher than Sallix Salt works by a wide margin BUT being so distant jumping from there would be a REAL acrobatic feat and realistically a deadly proposition.

3. Nope.

4. There are 2 entrances: the main gate and a smaller backdoor inside a small fenced courtyard. A third smaller structure on the other side of the courtyard is accessible only from there.

5. As far as you can determine they don't leave the place. This may change during the rest of the week but you aren't sure. Besides it's also possible other guards will simply relieve their fellows from duty once their shifts end.

Btw there's a map for this.

Edit: Btw characters with 1 rank in Linguistics and speaking Celestial, Elven, and Strix can volunteer to help Rexus decoding the documents you retrieved from Aerodus.

If there's a map, could we get a look at it with the interior blacked-out?