Dungeon World - Strom's Six (Inactive)

Game Master Infernal Zero

This is a story, not about heroes and villains, but of the adventurers in the shadowy Lord Strom's employ. What's the job this time?


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Hey everyone, glad you chose to join me. It makes me happy.

Everyone go ahead and talk amongst yourselves, start suggesting bonds, maybe suggest a better name for the campaign, etc. We can start questions once we're all here.

Welcome to you all!


Female Human Artificer 1.5 | HP 8/17 | Damage 1d8 | Armor 1 | Charge 2

Howdy! Here's the description for Elena, and some initial bond stuff.

Description:
Elena is a short, slender woman with a nasty scar in place of her left eye. She has brunette hair that's spiky and a bit scorched. Strips of bandages are wound around her arms and legs, covering assorted burns and scrapes from her tinkering. She has a backpack full of tools, a strange metal glove on her right hand with switches on the back, a small pistol connected by a hose to a tank of green goo on her back, a belt with large metal disks affixed to it, and weird goggles with a couple knobs on them. Her clothes are reinforced with leather patches and waterproofed fabric.

Elena is fiendishly clever and smart, and very out going, but rather clumsy and less than grounded in common sense.

Bonds
• Gromroir is a typical grumpy dwarf. I will get him to praise one of my gizmos in a hyperbolic way.
• I think Gromroir should trust me to tinker with his Myrmidon suit.
• ???
• ???

I just realised I've been misspelling Grommy's name everywhere :|


Myth Mage lvl:1.08 ~ HP:11/19 ~ 1d4* | INT:+2-1 ~ CON:+1 ~ WIS:+1 ~ CHA:0 ~ DEX:0 ~ STR:-1

I see a lone wolf looking down on the lights of a farmhouse. The springling, Terestria rides under the Page of Lunes.

A mountain of ice submerged in water, we only see the smallest part of Tublat. He wanders under the Three of Eyes.

Over Fizzwiddle hangs the laughing man. What awaits a gnome on the night of such a potent portent?


Female Human Artificer 1.5 | HP 8/17 | Damage 1d8 | Armor 1 | Charge 2

New bond!
• The Herald is super creepy! I don't want to hear what they think is in store for me.


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HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

Ok time to think about bondage


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DM Loopy wrote:
Everyone go ahead and talk amongst yourselves, start suggesting bonds, maybe suggest a better name for the campaign, etc. We can start questions once we're all here.

Ahoy, Bikke suggests tha name, 'Misadventures o' Bikke & Crew 2: Pirate Boogaloo'. Tha order o' tha names be pendin': it can be 'Crew & Bikke' if ye'd want.

Bonds ahoy:

Arr, thar be a real pirate hidin' in Elena. Tha only thing missin' is tha eye-patch and tha Jolly Roger flowin' above 'er head. Bikke ought to watch and learn a trick or two from 'er, aye.

Tha dwarf in me wants ta share a drink wit' Gromroir and hear stories 'n' tales from tha mountains, arr.

Arr, it be customARRy to measure yer buccaneers' liver conditions. Gromroir, Bikke challenges ye to a drinking competition sooner 'an later. First one two sheets to tha wind loses, savvy?

Tha granny o' winter be a land lubber. Old salt, but a land lubber nonet'eless. Care be taken tha' she won't boss around Bikke just because o' 'er mileage.


HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

The Winter Herald does magic strangely. How cool! We should have tea and discuss magic some time!


Fizzwiddle Glockenfleffor XXII wrote:
Ok time to think about bondage

Ok, I know what you mean but...not the best idea to write it like that. Easy to take out of context.

The Winter Herald wrote:
A mountain of ice submerged in water, we only see the smallest part of Tublat. He wanders under the Three of Eyes.

Tublat's not in this game. At least, not for this job. It'll be a while before that sees light.

Bikke wrote:
Ahoy, Bikke suggests tha name, 'Misadventures o' Bikke & Crew 2: Pirate Boogaloo'. Tha order o' tha names be pendin': it can be 'Crew & Bikke' if ye'd want.

Nice suggestion. Can I have one I'd actually use?

I'm liking all the bonds here - they fit very well for the characters making them. I can only wonder how tricky it is to do your bonds in pirate speak, Bikke.

Once Grommy and Terestria are here, we can start with questions.

Gotta ask - do you want all the stuff from recruitment to be canon? I'm all for it if you are.


Male Dwarf Mechanic | Lvl 1 | XP: 0 | HP: 16/19 | Armor 2 | 1d8 | STR +0 | DEX +0 | CON +1 | INT +2 | WIS +1 | CHA -1

Hey all!

my bonds so far:

Elena is a creative mind, but the girl lacks focus. I will remedy that.

Bikke has lead an interesting life. My stories are better though.

???

???

and I support the recruitment thread being cannon


HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

I wonder if Elena would let me play with some of her toys.

The Winter Herald does magic differently from me. How cool! We should have tea and discuss magic sometime.

The way Bikke talks is incomprehensible to me. I will have to find a way to communicate with him

Grom bout me a yummy drink once. One I have never tasted before. I will have to find him something yummy that he has never tried before!


DM Loopy wrote:
Nice suggestion. Can I have one I'd actually use?

Hm, well, it's not like we actually know where exactly this campaign is going just yet. The purpose of the campaign name, I figure, is to reflect on its "thing". Why don't we use "Deranged Dungeon World" for now and choose the name later?

Quote:
I'm liking all the bonds here - they fit very well for the characters making them. I can only wonder how tricky it is to do your bonds in pirate speak, Bikke.

Comes with practice, I am now pretty much fluent in Piratese. The difficult (and fun!) part is to make it sound like something Bikke would say. There are different kinds of pirates in fiction, depending on setting, theme, and tone. Bikke is a specific kind of pirate, one with comedy and fantasy in mind, and prioritizing that is the tricky thing here.

Quote:
Gotta ask - do you want all the stuff from recruitment to be canon? I'm all for it if you are.

No strong feelings, though I would answer no. If the initial idea was that we are all hired (or blackmailed or whatever) into arriving in a certain location, why would we be exchanging introductions at a bar? Of course, if that isn't what we end up starting the campaign with, then it's no problem. Otherwise, breaks the immersion a little.


Hyper-Intelligent Gorilla Psion 1
The Winter Herald wrote:

I see a lone wolf looking down on the lights of a farmhouse. The springling, Terestria rides under the Page of Lunes.

A mountain of ice submerged in water, we only see the smallest part of Tublat. He wanders under the Three of Eyes.

Over Fizzwiddle hangs the laughing man. What awaits a gnome on the night of such a potent portent?

Tublat is on the other table now, got pushed in favor of not having two fighters or something like that. It was weird, but it was supposed to work out this way.


Male Dwarf Mechanic | Lvl 1 | XP: 0 | HP: 16/19 | Armor 2 | 1d8 | STR +0 | DEX +0 | CON +1 | INT +2 | WIS +1 | CHA -1
Bikke the Pirate wrote:
Quote:
Gotta ask - do you want all the stuff from recruitment to be canon? I'm all for it if you are.
No strong feelings, though I would answer no. If the initial idea was that we are all hired (or blackmailed or whatever) into arriving in a certain location, why would we be exchanging introductions at a bar? Of course, if that isn't what we end up starting the campaign with, then it's no problem. Otherwise, breaks the immersion a little.

I had figured the first part of the mission was meeting him to get our target, so we were all chatting at the bar we had been privately summoned to, and Lord Stormybritches makes a big "I expect you're wondering why I've brought you here" speech. is that accurate, Loops?


Oh damn, that'd be a great idea. Can we do that please?


Gromroir Embermayne wrote:
Bikke the Pirate wrote:
Quote:
Gotta ask - do you want all the stuff from recruitment to be canon? I'm all for it if you are.
No strong feelings, though I would answer no. If the initial idea was that we are all hired (or blackmailed or whatever) into arriving in a certain location, why would we be exchanging introductions at a bar? Of course, if that isn't what we end up starting the campaign with, then it's no problem. Otherwise, breaks the immersion a little.
I had figured the first part of the mission was meeting him to get our target, so we were all chatting at the bar we had been privately summoned to, and Lord Stormybritches makes a big "I expect you're wondering why I've brought you here" speech. is that accurate, Loops?

If this was to be canon, this is what I first think of:

None of you were contacted directly by your employer. Several middlemen were used to locate and convince you once you were picked - how many, and the inevitable additional measures taken were determined based on the individual being "hired". Each of you are directed from your current locale to a central location where you can be brought together and the proceedings monitored (the bar). Naturally, Strom owns the location - just not in their real name.

You come in as normal, and go about things. Once everyone is present, the staff deliver a letter containing a small, distinctive item alongside your drink - a signet ring, pendant, broach, emblem, clasp, etc - that mark you out to others in their employ. Something you could wear, but also easily hide. With it are instructions to put it on or otherwise display it, leave your seat, and seek out everyone else with a copy of it. Once you find the rest of your team, it is time to leave and do your job.

Overly elaborate? Maybe. But better to take excessive precaution than be revealed. A big "This is why you're here" speech to everyone would make for exquisite theatrics, but there are too many risks involved, in being traced and the spread of information. Had the Lord wanted everyone to know, he'd put it up on a job board.

---------------------------------------

While we're waiting for Terestria, I can think of a few questions that have more personal, minor, or less immediate impact.

Between decide between you:

  • What were you given to signify your employment? What makes it so distinctive?
  • What was the name of the bar? Is it of any particular renown?
  • Who runs the bar, and what do they do aside from bartending?
  • Which fake name did Strom use for the bar? What's the story attached to it?
If I think of anything else, I'll ask it later.

And now, for more personal questions:

  • How were you convinced to do Strom's dirty work? Were you bribed? Blackmailed? Deceived? Several of these factors? Different ones entirely?
  • How familiar are you with your employer? Have you done any work for them before?
  • Where were you when you were recruited, and who were you recruited by?
  • Is this the first time you've been hired to kill?


HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

I am happy to be outvoted on all of this

Between decide between you:
What were you given to signify your employment? What makes it so distinctive?

I think a signet ring is perfect. It is unique , which would, in theory allow us to send messages sealed specifically from us

What was the name of the bar? Is it of any particular renown?

Sandy Bottoms. A bar frequented by sailors, or pirates, usually no one sticks around more than a week, and plenty of folks come through not wanting questions asked

Who runs the bar, and what do they do aside from bartending?

Bikke's nephew.

Which fake name did Strom use for the bar? What's the story attached to it?

Nothing has come to me yet


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HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

Personal Questions:

How were you convinced to do Strom's dirty work?
Well, the greater good. It was not actually Fizzy that was directly contacted, rather it was his haven of gnomes. Gnomes after all live in havens, and often don't leave them, after all they are tons of fun. Sometimes jobs come to a haven and whomever seems the best fit for the task is assigned to it. To get a job approved one must go through an extensive interview process and convince a council of 3 to approve it. This job was approved 2-1. In this case the spokesman for Strom spoke at length about the evils of the target and the horrors they would commit

How familiar are you with your employer? Have you done any work for them before?
The counselor that refused was familiar with the messenger and that is why they did not approve. Fizzy knows nothing of them

Where were you when you were recruited, and who were you recruited by?

I was in the haven, actually in the library reading with a nice cup of black tea with milk and honey. Then Fizzy's grandfather Fizzwiddle Glockenfleffor the XX came and told him the job. As the dissenting member of the council that was his job.

Is this the first time you've been hired to kill?
YEP


Myth Mage lvl:1.08 ~ HP:11/19 ~ 1d4* | INT:+2-1 ~ CON:+1 ~ WIS:+1 ~ CHA:0 ~ DEX:0 ~ STR:-1

Oh dag, looked at the wrong list.

The ten of gears is in Elena's future. Plots within plots. I wonder who, if anyone, knows who set these devices in motion.

The Herald is quite surprised to have been invited to a party she was crashing. She needs to ensure the target's death because it marks the descent into Winter. It wouldn't be the first time someone saw her coming. The winter is harsh, but it it's predictable and conspicuous.

The arrival of her token is the first Nonna hears of her own personal recruitment. She's delighted Mr. Storm would acknowledge her in such an extravagant way.

She'd never wondered or cared who was interested in killing the target. The sight doesn't generally paint from a perspective of success.

She wouldn't know what to do if you paid her. Acknowledgement and attention will keep her from asking questions or putting in noses.

All that sound good?


I think I know what you're answering...? Let me see if I have this right.

Personal:
1: You were going to do the job anyway - you don't need convincing to do something you were already about to. The difference is formally being PART of the job.
2: Don't know them, and aren't really bothered about it. You're more interested in getting things done.
3:The bar. You'd already learned where everyone was meeting, through your means - but this was the first time you'd actually gotten official acknowledgement as part of the job. In quite a pleasing manner, too.
4:You kill people anyway. Winter's Herald and all that. Getting known as a hired killer would only get in your way anyway. Or known in general.

Please, make corrections as you see fit. I don't see any problems here.

Care to make any contributions to the group questions? Feel free to offer alternate suggestions to what Fizzy has said. If you want to stick with what's been offered so far, 4's lacking an answer, The Signet Ring doesn't have any distinctive features detailed, and we don't know what else Bikke's nephew does.


Human Druid 1 [Tell: Grey rabbit ears] [ HP 16/19 | XP 2/8 | AC 1 | DMG D6 | ] [ STR -1 | DEX +1 | CON +1 | INT 0 | WIS +2 | CHA +0 ]

Sorry for the delay. Crazy weekend!

Bonds:

  • Elena smells more like prey than a hunter.
  • The spirits spoke to me of a great danger that follows Fizzwiddle
  • I have showed Bikke a secret rite of the Land. (I'm guessing it was a hangover cure, or something to help with scurvy ;) )
  • The Winter Herald speaks of doom and prophecy, I will teach her the joy Spring
  • Gromroir relies too heavily on his machines, I will prove to him the strength of blood and bone.

    Questions:
    Love the idea of a signet ring, Fizz. Perhaps each contains a representation of the skill,personality, archetype, or 'codename' we represent? eg. Hammer, wrench, crow, flower etc. Terestria's would be a red thistle.

    I think Bikke's nephew would run a side business as some kind of magical wares dealer. Things that are of use to people with magic powered inventions, or people who channel that power themselves. Perhaps he's secretly a massive magic nerd, but he puts on the face of a gruff dwarf pirate whenever his Uncle Bikke is around?

    Perhaps Strom's fake name is the name of a tragic hero - someone beloved in stories, but who represents tragedy of some kind. I'd think a name like Midwinter, Caspia? Something suitably shakespearean.

    Personal Questions:
    How were you convinced to do Strom's dirty work?
    Terestria is fairly new to the city life and assumes the best of people, so she’d be fairly quick to believe a sob story from a mark on a different job. I think the story was planted on a job within a job. She bought it hook line and sinker. Deceitful? Yes, but for now her goals seem to align. Just wait until she finds out she’s being played though.

    How familiar are you with your employer? Have you done any work for them before?
    Terestria has heard whispers about Lord Strom but never worked for him. She is convinced that her skills and quick rise to fame have brought her in to the ‘inner circle’ of the underworld.

    Where were you when you were recruited, and who were you recruited by?
    Terestria was on another job, a personal mission to retrieve stolen artefacts of the Forest God. Once confronted, the shady antiques dealer gave up the goods and more – rumours of a hit going down against one of the most corrupt, sinister, and best of all richest individuals in the city. A massive score, combined with a moral excuse? Perfect. It didn’t occur to her that it might be too perfect.

    Is this the first time you've been hired to kill?
    Yes. But not the first time Terestria has killed. Life and death are the ways of nature.

    Campaign name: The Dungeon Job? Strom's Six? Dogs in the Night? Winter's Wrath?


  • Welcome, Terestria! Finally, I can stop the unnecessary panicking! Loving the answers.

    The signet ring answer, as much as I love it, raises two questions - if they're all unique, what ties them together? What makes them recognisable to others employed by Strom, let alone your teammates when you were meeting up? And what does everyone else's ring look like?

    Taking suggestions on the name and story of our tragic hero. Who wants to fill that in?

    Don't think I've forgotten you, Fizzy. I love the answers you've given - MORE PROXIES, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY THEM! - and I have more questions waiting.

    Alright, here we go, in order:

    Fizzy:
    • How are the councils formed - from a group of councillors, or from the haven's entire populace? How are people chosen as part of a council, or as a councillor?
    • You said Fizzy the XX was familiar with the messenger? Who was it, and how do they know them? Why would he dissent to taking their job?
    • Why were you selected as an assassin? You're such an innocent thing, surely someone else was capable of doing it just as well, if not better?
    • Did your Grandfather only deliver the job, or was there more? Warnings, trinkets...?
    Also, can you sort your load and the tags for your gear, please? Maybe put in the info for your spells? It makes my life easier. The Bag of Books should be 2 weight, not 1, by the way.

    The Herald:
    • What makes the target so significant? Why is their death so important to winter's advance?
    • How did you come to be Winter's Herald? Why is your role so important to you?
    • Just how do godlike beings end up walking the earth on a day-to-day basis anyway? Are you a full-on god, or just treated as one? How powerful were you, once upon a time?
    • Just how were you planning to handle things had you not been made part of the crew?
    In other matters, why does your load say 0/6? And can you fill me in on any meanings in your more cryptic bonds? As the resident seer, it has a bit of weight when you come out with such things, and I need to understand them.

    Terestria:
    • Corrupt, sinister, and rich? Sounds golden, alright. Was anyone mentioned in particular? If so, who were you told about, and was it the first time you've heard the name?
    • Who is the Forest God, and what are the artefacts you're hunting for? Why are you hunting for them?
    • What exactly were you told of this great danger following Fizzwiddle? Have you said anything about it?
    • You've made a lot of enemies. You'd likely have less if you'd been more careful. But who among them is actively hunting for you, and over what? What do they intend to do when they catch up?
    • You've got the Greenwohld AND your enemies chasing you. You've had to keep moving because of this, but how far ahead are you? What was your closest scrape?


    Male Dwarf Mechanic | Lvl 1 | XP: 0 | HP: 16/19 | Armor 2 | 1d8 | STR +0 | DEX +0 | CON +1 | INT +2 | WIS +1 | CHA -1

    I am willing to go along with whatever the group decides for the colab questions. I like the rings. maybe they are all silver (I imagine strom having silver and amethysts as a motif, not sure why), and as such recognizable in a dive bar.

    I was sent to this location because this man is an enemy of the dwarfish crown (o at least, thats the story I was given). Maybe Strom really is a friend to the dwarfish monarchy, or maybe he is an ecxcellent forger, and deceived my clan's matriarch.

    I don't know the contact, but I was assured he is reliable and trustworthy by my clan's matriarch (passing on the word of the king).

    Again, I was assigned the mission by the crown, or someone who can imitate their signature and seal.

    I worked as a cave ranger for over a century, but I have never worked as an assassin, I have only killed in battle before.


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    Female Human Artificer 1.5 | HP 8/17 | Damage 1d8 | Armor 1 | Charge 2

    • How were you convinced to do Strom's dirty work? Were you bribed Blackmailed? Deceived? Several of these factors? Different ones entirely?
    † Deceived mostly. Elena was just told someone was interested in her ethereal field glove, and that there was excellent pay in the making. Coin buys more parts and toys, so she signed up.

    • How familiar are you with your employer? Have you done any work for them before?
    † Who?

    • Where were you when you were recruited, and who were you recruited by?
    † Elena was testing the use of her ethereal field as a method of surviving extreme falls. Maybe phasing through the ground would help? It didn't. But she did fall on a sketchy looking dude who offered her a job.

    • Is this the first time you've been hired to kill?
    "We're doing what!? I mean, I've sprayed people with acid and set them on fire, but that was different. No one got hurt. I mean, I wasn't paid to hurt them, it was just a side effect."


    Human Druid 1 [Tell: Grey rabbit ears] [ HP 16/19 | XP 2/8 | AC 1 | DMG D6 | ] [ STR -1 | DEX +1 | CON +1 | INT 0 | WIS +2 | CHA +0 ]

    Terrestria's Questions:

    Corrupt, sinister, and rich? Sounds golden, alright. Was anyone mentioned in particular? If so, who were you told about, and was it the first time you've heard the name?

    'Grief' was the name given to Terestria. She's heard rumours that he's amassing weapons and magical artefacts for some nefarious purpose. Prices are going up, as his campaign for monopoly develops.

    The first time she heard the name when she freed a captive air elemental, enslaved to be used in a private 'event' held in Grief's benefit.

    Who is the Forest God, and what are the artefacts you're hunting for? Why are you hunting for them?

    The Forest God is known as precisely that. He is the guardian of nature's secrets. He brings change through the seasons. He shelters the deer in spring, and feeds it to the wolves in winter. In him is a balance of life and death.

    The artefacts are a collection of rune-carved stone orbs. Precious relics of the Greenwohld. Terestria hopes that by finding them, she'll appease the Greenwohld Order and help them understand how useful she can be outside of the forest.

    What exactly were you told of this great danger following Fizzwiddle? Have you said anything about it?
    The spirits warned Terestria that something is hunting Fizz. Perhaps it's just that his magic comes from a different place than Terestria's and the Winter Heralds... But the spirits have given their warning, and if continues his reckless gnomish use of magic, whatever is hunting him will find him.

    Terestria has tried to warn Fizz, but he just doesn't take a hint!

    You've made a lot of enemies. You'd likely have less if you'd been more careful. But who among them is actively hunting for you, and over what? What do they intend to do when they catch up?
    Terestria is featured on quite a few naughty lists, the most recent:

  • Dirk the Merc, for the bounty placed on her for the Stonefalls Job
  • 'Elusive Exotics Inc.', for freeing their captured Air Elemental
  • The Scrivener's Guild, for forgery and mishandling of documents
  • The Iron Library, for overdue books

    What will they do when they catch her? Well, hopefully nothing that a few I.O.Us and some smoothtalking won't fix.

    You've got the Greenwohld AND your enemies chasing you. You've had to keep moving because of this, but how far ahead are you? What was your closest scrape?
    She enlisted the help of the Greenwohld in freeing the Air Elemental, a task beyond her ken. She had promised to return with them and attend her druidly duties, only to give them the slip when the job was done. A pair of Elven twins... Nirn and Syla? She can't quite recall, their green leaf cloaks and brown tunics make them all look the same to Terestria.


  • Questions
    Signet ring sounds like a good idea.

    Personally, I would have wanted some distance between the starting scenario and all the pirate-y stuff. Then again, Sandy Bottoms as described by Fizz makes sense. A shady tavern for sailors sounds like something that Strom would use.

    I'd prefer it if the barkeep wasn't related to Bikke. If I were to make a counter-proposition, I'd say the bartender is the person who "employed" Bikke. Not a pirate, but an ex-sailor who now works for Strom and runs his tavern on the side. As his bartender persona he is quiet and gloomy (fits the scene better), but is much more talkative and sly when handling Strom's other commissions like contacting Bikke. His name is No-Tell Arthur, your secrets are safe with him.

    Caspia the Tiny, who vanquished giants 500 years ago?

    Personal questions
    How were you convinced to do Strom's dirty work? Were you bribed? Blackmailed? Deceived? Several of these factors? Different ones entirely?
    If it was for money, Bikke might have accepted the job and bailed out mid-way when things got too dangerous. However, he wasn't hired with just gold. Strom promised that, being a powerful person he is, in return for Bikke's participation he'd pull some string and make Bikke a proper pirate again. Maybe even with his own crew this time, if things went especially well. Sounds silly, but for Bikke it was an opportunity he couldn't pass.

    Who were you recruited by? How familiar are you with your employer? Have you done any work for them before?
    (Assuming No-Tell Arthur is the barkeep:) Bikke knows No-Tell Arthur but isn't fond of him: Arthur doesn't drink due to his job, and is overall a boring person in his bartender persona. Arthur has occasionally offered some small jobs for Bikke: advertising the pub, substitute for someone, kill such-and-such for being a threat to the business, etc. Maybe Strom had heard about Bikke by the time Bikke got this offer.

    Where were you when you were recruited?
    (Assuming No-Tell Arthur is the barkeep:) Bikke stayed in Sandy Bottoms until closing time. Arthur first ensured Bikke was in the condition to understand the situation, and then simply gave him the job.

    Is this the first time you've been hired to kill?
    One could argue that working as a pirate is "being hired to kill", so yes. Arthur knows Bikke is a good fighter, and has made him do some contract killing before. Just some nasty buccaneers, however.

    (By the way, I like Terestria's suggestion, "Strom's Six" for the campaign name.)


    HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

    Questions:

    How are the councils formed - from a group of councillors, or from the haven's entire populace? How are people chosen as part of a council, or as a councillor?
    The council is voted on every 10 years after a series of games. These game range from intellectual games, like word play to more traditional games like checkers or cards. The only thing that is not important in these games is physical prowess. Once the games are done there is a test for all who wish to be "run" for office, this consists of an oral test on the laws of the haven. Then everyone MUST vote for one person. The top three vote getters are the winners.

    You said Fizzy the XX was familiar with the messenger? Who was it, and how do they know them? Why would he dissent to taking their job?

    Fizzwiddle Glockenfleffor XX was, in his youth sent on many quests such as this one. During his years, towards the end of his adventuring days, before he joined the council the first time, he was sent on a job delivered by the same man. It ended in deceit and pain. Fizzy XX simply does not trust him when he said that it was all an accident, he thinks the man is nefarious

    Why were you selected as an assassin? You're such an innocent thing, surely someone else was capable of doing it just as well, if not better?

    The innocence of gnomes is the reason they are perfect assassins. No one sees them coming. Hell most people can't believe it is happening up until the moment they meet Death. It is no mystery that Gnomes are often magical, as the few fools that have attempted to raid a haven have learned, but still. Fizzy is innocent, but he understands his duty, and since in this case he is off to make the world a better place he is content to do so.

    Did your Grandfather only deliver the job, or was there more?

    He delivered the job, a warning to keep his eyes open and to trust his gut. Finally he gave Fizzy his current spell book he carries. The old one was filled with all of Fizzy's garbled spells from his youth. This one has an inscription in Gnomish on the front page. Nothing special just an old poem Fizzy XX used to tell Fizzy when he was a gnomelet.

    Also, can you sort your load and the tags for your gear, please? Maybe put in the info for your spells? It makes my life easier. The Bag of Books should be 2 weight, not 1, by the way. Fixed


    So, I'm currently imagining silver signet rings, each with a unique symbol for each of the party members that is circled by amethyst.

    I like the sound of Arthur - sounds like a contractor for Strom - but it's you guys' call whether it's them or Bikke's nephew.

    Almost, Fizzy. Load is +STR, not +Strength - it's not +8, it's -1. Thanks, though! That helps a lot!

    Alright, time to see about more questions.

    Gromroir:
    • What can you tell me of the crown and their rule? You seem to hold them in high regard, so I'd expect you to know something.
    • How closely tied are you to the crown? Do they hold you in high regard?
    • You've been in battle you say? What's the worst battle (or war) that you've had to be a part of, and what did it take from you?
    • That Myrmidon Armour is a worthy magnum opus. And unlike Elena's gadgets, it's reliable, and it has exposure. Have you ever been questioned about replicating or producing it en-mass? What was your response?

    Elena:
    • You've made a lot of gadgets over time. They tend to have a few "minor technical issues", but they're safe, really! But what's the one that you just can't get to work? The one incredibly promising gadget that you just cannot give up on? What would you need to get it running?
    • On another note, what's your biggest disaster as far as gadgets go? Would it even be WORTH trying that again, or was it just dumb and pointless to make in the first place?
    • What do you intend to do modify the Myrmidon Armour with the first chance you get? Just one mod wouldn't hurt, right?
    • What's your goal with these inventions? Marketing to the general public? Getting funded by a company or government body to create for them? Or just having a load of cool stuff all your own? Whatcha thinking?
    • How do you feel about being an assassin? Being paid to kill? Because you can't back out of the job now you've taken it.

    Bikke:
    • How did you end up exiting the pirate business? A retirement you regret, or was your exit more...forcible?
    • Why do you need to be a pirate so badly? What is it about that life that pulls you in with its siren song?
    • I could ask you about your kills, but that'd be boring in this case. What's the most oddball job Arthur's ever given you, and why on earth did you take it? Assume you're sober enough to understand just how strange it was.
    • Who did you REALLY manage to piss off in your pirate days, and how bad's the disembowelling going to be when you meet up again?
    • How's your tab looking right about now? You seem to spend a decent amount of your time in the Sandy Bottoms if you've being doing jobs for Arthur, and that leaves plenty of opportunity for drinking...what happened to people that didn't pay their tabs, exactly?
    • Where is the Sandy Bottoms located anyway? What does the town/city/etc deal in? What's one thing you like about the place, two things you really hate, and one thing you still don't understand to this day? How'd you end up there?


    HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

    oh, thats confusing! fixed


    Yeah, I know. Usually it's the HP that gets people, not the load!

    The three letter shorthand means the modifier. STR, CHA, etc. The full name is the score. Most things just us the modifier, but your full score will be used for certain things as well - the only example in the book I can find other than HP is subtracting your charisma score from certain costs if you negotiate a bit. The gold cost of a week's stay in a peasant inn is listed as 14-Charisma coins, which with your score a bit of work would mean you could get a free stay in such an inn by RAW.

    Generally speaking I wouldn't actually let you just do that all the time - there's going to be strings attached, or other costs to consider, or something, but it works so far as examples go.

    Yes, I know 14-15 is -1, but if you want them to pay YOU to stay, then you're going to need to make some business for them.


    Male Dwarf Mechanic | Lvl 1 | XP: 0 | HP: 16/19 | Armor 2 | 1d8 | STR +0 | DEX +0 | CON +1 | INT +2 | WIS +1 | CHA -1

    It seems we're spoilering out answers to our questions:
    Dwarfish monarchy works differently than human monarchy. Specifically, the kings and queens are elected by a council of the great clans (17 of them). they are the two dwarfs agreed to be the best suited to rule the dwafish people. Though it is currently the case that there is a king and queen, it is not a necessity, and there have been many times where there were tow kings, or two queens. The current rulers, King Nohkyr and queen Hanseli, have ruled through some tumultuous times, the collapse of Bhegeduhr, the war of the goblin king, and countless small disasters, and they have stood firm, and protected the dwarfs to the best of their ability.

    He has served under the queen in the goblin war (several ranks down), and acquitted himself well, despite the trials of the war, but he has only been in the presence of the monarchs once, I doubt they know him personally, but they may know him by reputation.

    Grommy served in the goblin war, a nasty war, mostly fought in the tunnels (small unit warfare, as opposed to grand battles). the worst point of it was one (night?) where his battle brother Beldryn (A newly promoted captain) and he were on a joint mission to retake a fortification from the goblins. we wound up pinned down by a pyromancer and archers. Beldryn sacrificed himself to take out the pyromancer. he died well, but I miss him nonetheless.

    Most dwarfs forge their own arms and armour, or else find mastery of their own fighting style. Artificing is an unusual specialty among dwarfs, and while its design and features are often lauded, few express interest in a suit, and none have expressed enough to actually request one. He would get very excited if someone did


    Aye, we be spoilerin' out tha questions:
    How did you end up exiting the pirate business? A retirement you regret, or was your exit more...forcible?

    The story goes that Bikke's former captain kicked him out because he "told too many tales". This isn't exactly the entire truth. Sure, the crew of Rose of Latrus (the name of the ship that used to employ Bikke) did think of Bikke as a loudmouth who never let truth get in the way of a good story, but the real reason Bikke was kicked out was more dramatic.

    One night, when the rest of the ship was passed out from celebrating a good haul, Bikke was woken up by a need for number two. While, hrm, while doing it, Bikke overheard his captain's voice from the other side of the ship wall. The captain was chanting something. Bikke found this odd, and chose to go check out what Cpt. Ohlmark was doing in the captain's quarters. Bikke took a peek through the keyhole, and saw Ohlmark doing some kind of magic ritual, which was strange because to Bikke's knowledge the Captain was a master cutlass-user, not a wizard or anything.

    The next day, Bikke as usual told tales, and blabbered about what he had seen during the night. The crew laughed at good ol' Bikke's tales, and Cpt. Ohlmark kept his fury to himself. The next week, Bikke was kicked out. "And you're never coming back, savvy?" said the Captain.

    Why do you need to be a pirate so badly? What is it about that life that pulls you in with its siren song?

    "Tha sea keeps callin' me ta sail it. Tha company of me fella crewsmens, tha chaos when we board anot'er ship, tha lousy taste o' grog - it really be tastin' best when drunk durin' a brawl aboard. Arr, Bikke cannae abandon tha' life."

    Bikke was born in the mountains, but ran away to the sea when we was young, drawn in by romantic pirate novels. He's been a pirate his whole adult life, and fits in the scene like... a fish in the sea. Or something.

    I could ask you about your kills, but that'd be boring in this case. What's the most oddball job Arthur's ever given you, and why on earth did you take it? Assume you're sober enough to understand just how strange it was.

    Once, Arthur approached Bikke on the street. Approached, as in, ran to him forcibly. Arthur was holding a parcel, about the size of a large book. "Hold on to this for me, okay? Meet me in town outskirts in four hours. Bye!" He shoved the parcel on Bikke's arms, and took off running.

    Not long after, a bunch of thugs - not pirates, just land lubber muscle-heads - came to Bikke. "There it is! Grab it!" one of them shouted, pointing at the parcel Bikke was holding. There were five or six of them, all holding a weapon of some kind. Well, Bikke had a job. A few moments later Bikke was the last one standing, holding his axe in one hand and the parcel in the other. Bikke left without asking questions, and met Arthur at the town skirts at the "agreed" time. Arthur thanked Bikke, and payed for the job.

    Who did you REALLY manage to piss off in your pirate days, and how bad's the disembowelling going to be when you meet up again?

    Bikke owns some money to a lot of people. 50 gold to Three-Ear Roberd, 15 gold to Roger the Jolly, and a handful to a handful others. And those debts are long due, which is why Bikke has more enemies than friends. But the one who's really pissed off at Bikke is the Beak.

    The Beak is a professional assassin. The name is an alias, of course, referring to his signature which is leaving a bird bodypart, usually a beak, at the scene of the kill. No one knows his real name. Or origin or even race, for that matter.

    The Beak was assigned to assassinate a pirate lieutenant. Said lieutenant challenged Bikke to an arm wrestle while the Beak was hiding in shadows. During the arm wrestle match, Bikke noticed his opponent was cheating. The only acceptable way to respond to a cheater was to kill them, and so he did. The Beak got paid for a successful job... but the Beak is a prideful assassin. If him and Bikke were ever to cross paths again, one of them might wound up dead. Poor Bikke.

    How's your tab looking right about now? You seem to spend a decent amount of your time in the Sandy Bottoms if you've being doing jobs for Arthur, and that leaves plenty of opportunity for drinking...what happened to people that didn't pay their tabs, exactly?

    Excluding the debts to other fellow pirates and sailors (which total to about 100 gold), Bikke is about even with Arthur. When we was still working under Rose of Latrus, Bikke was doing okay financially. The odd jobs at Arthur were either a way to earn a little extra for more rum, or to ease the pressure that came from his creditors asking Bikke to pay up.

    Every Sandy Bottoms regular worth their salt knows that if you can't pay your tab, you got to move out of town and go far away. Though the general public doesn't know the true owner of Sandy Bottoms, they do know that it's management can go lengths to get the money. If they knew about Strom, there would be no tabs for anyone. Bikke knows his stuff, and stays even with place.

    Where is the Sandy Bottoms located anyway? What does the town/city/etc deal in? What's one thing you like about the place, two things you really hate, and one thing you still don't understand to this day? How'd you end up there?

    Sandy Bottoms is in the central area. (The bar is supposed to be the starting point for the campaign, right? Do you have the name of the town/city/whatever figured out? Just because Bikke is a regular there doesn't mean the town needs to be a port town, so I'll give you more freedom to figure out the details of the town.) Funnily enough, it is located next to a nursery. How the two places worked that out is beyond everyone's comprehension.

    Sandy Bottoms is definitely not the only bar Bikke frequents, but he comes there to ask if Arthur had a job for him, or to enjoy the atmosphere which can be described as "dark but clear". All kinds of people (mostly shady) can be met there, which is not a bad thing in the sociable Bikke's eyes. Bikke doesn't like the barkeep's personality (which is different from Arthur's usual, sly self), or the "early" closing times at 1 AM. The bard sucks, too, and Arthur still hasn't fired that terrible minstrel.

    There is no grand story to how Bikke found the place. One evening, he was kicked out of his usual place, called Sunken Hound, for telling too many tales. Bitter Bikke figured the eve was still young, and entered the first bar he saw.

    (Darn, this ended up a lot longer than I would have wanted, even after I abridged it a little. That'll teach you to ask me six questions, especially when each can be answered with a short story.)


    Female Human Artificer 1.5 | HP 8/17 | Damage 1d8 | Armor 1 | Charge 2

    • You've made a lot of gadgets over time. They tend to have a few "minor technical issues", but they're safe, really! But what's the one that you just can't get to work? The one incredibly promising gadget that you just cannot give up on? What would you need to get it running?
    † The Time Lens! Pretty sure that looking a short time into the future is possible, but a super-pure, flawless, fresh-from-the-volcano piece of obsidian hasn't been easy to come by. Every attempt so far has destroyed the lens and had really bad side effects. Where do you think her left eye went?

    • On another note, what's your biggest disaster as far as gadgets go? Would it even be WORTH trying that again, or was it just dumb and pointless to make in the first place?
    † Other than the Lens, flying wasn't super successful. People just don't seem to have the same knack for it as birds. But it's always worth trying! Nothing is a bad idea!

    • What do you intend to do modify the Myrmidon Armour with the first chance you get? Just one mod wouldn't hurt, right?
    † Grappling hands! Detachable hands with rockets in 'em and retracting cables. Grab dudes from over there, and bring 'em back for squishing. You can also use 'em for locomotion, if you aren't into squishing or whatever.

    • What's your goal with these inventions? Marketing to the general public? Getting funded by a company or government body to create for them? Or just having a load of cool stuff all your own? Whatcha thinking?
    † Just toys. Everyone else is just too concerned with 'safety' and 'quality control'. Boring! Just make cool stuff and see what works! Or at least doesn't kill you.

    • How do you feel about being an assassin? Being paid to kill? Because you can't back out of the job now you've taken it.
    † Eh, Elena probably won't be the one to kill whoever. Grommy seems way more motivated to do it. Besides, it sounds like this dude pissed off enough people that someone would waste him eventually. Might as well get paid in the process.

    This is awesome. Gage was my favorite from Borderlands 2, and is obviously an inspiration. I will definitely be building a mecha-golem around level 6 or so.


    Niiiice, Elena. Now I have something to dangle in front of you occasionally!

    I don't mind big answers, Bikke. Whether I knew what I was asking or not, I got what I asked for.

    As for the bar...well, it only exists because Terestria started the scene in recruitment and you all decided to run with the scene being canon. After that, I started going nuts with the ideas about how it went down. Which sounds appropriate for the way my mind works, and will probably continue to work. In any case, while in backstory that's where it started, that wasn't what I was intending to start play with. I'll have to get to work on that.

    Back at the original setup, the idea was that you'd be starting right in the middle of the action - you're on site for your kill, but things were strange, and now you've got some horrible thing bearing down on you. This was what I was expecting to be asking questions about, not the bar. I intend to send out the last bout of questions soon, which will actually fill in the missing details and basically construct the scenario you're stuck in, but I'm waiting on Shvibzik's answers to the questions I gave her first. Just in case they affect the scenario.


    Female Human Artificer 1.5 | HP 8/17 | Damage 1d8 | Armor 1 | Charge 2

    Flashback it! We start on site, doing stuff, and if we want to reference the bar scene we can just toss some 'This isn't how I thought it would go', or 'Hey, remember when...?' bits in. I think the bar recruiting scene was cool, but as a recruiting and getting to know the characters thing. Let's just jump in to the action and see what happens.


    HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

    im with Elena on that actually.


    "Aye aye! Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen!"


    Myth Mage lvl:1.08 ~ HP:11/19 ~ 1d4* | INT:+2-1 ~ CON:+1 ~ WIS:+1 ~ CHA:0 ~ DEX:0 ~ STR:-1

    Sorry for the latency, family thing.

    What makes the target so significant? Why is their death so important to winter's advance?
    Whether Strom knows it or not, the target is on a mission of their own which would usually stave off the true Winter for another year. Taking them out prematurely opens up the world at large to greater powers, and terrible hardships. People take the Procession of Spring about as seriously as the Winter Herald.

    How did you come to be Winter's Herald? Why is your role so important to you?
    When Shvibzik was a little girl, in an age vastly different from this one, her family was murdered by rebels. The previous winter herald had been watching over her family. He was an elderly gentleman with a more clerical view of his role. When he and her family were executed, and the princess left to survive in the snow, taking on the role of Winter's Herald was her only chance to survive. There has been one Winter since, she is sure of it. It's responsible for the great variety of the races, and the resurgence of magic.

    Just how do godlike beings end up walking the earth on a day-to-day basis anyway? Are you a full-on god, or just treated as one? How powerful were you, once upon a time?
    When it comes to the pantheon of this world, there are two measures of a deity: following, and blood. There are deities with greater following, but no blood. They are the kind of God we're familiar with now that lives off of the belief and tribute of their followers. Some have plenty of blood, but no following. These are your greater races such as the djinn, who have racial magic. Then there are creatures like the Winter Herald with no following, and very little blood.

    There has been one great winter Shvibzik can remember, following an age of worldwide wars. That was a time of great hardship, and she ruled absolutely. She survived the eventual Renaissance by running away. Queens had a habit of getting beheaded in her time, and she knew better than to fight the coming Spring.

    Just how were you planning to handle things had you not been made part of the crew?
    Follow them... conspicuously. She got this far.

    More in a bit, gotta head in to work...


    Myth Mage lvl:1.08 ~ HP:11/19 ~ 1d4* | INT:+2-1 ~ CON:+1 ~ WIS:+1 ~ CHA:0 ~ DEX:0 ~ STR:-1

    The symbols I was using in bonds are just made up tarot-like symbols. Lunes are about the unkempt wilderness, eyes speak to a supernatural fate, gears are a civilized influence, and quills are a suit about personal agency and willpower.

    Explaining them somewhat limits how they will turn out to be true. I'd leave the less cryptic omens for when she starts casting lots.

    Tria's indicates she's on the outside looking in. The rest of the party (more or less) is firmly rooted in civilization. She has secrets that would further separate her from the others. She's set on overcoming that divide.

    Elena is at the center of something much bigger. Something so big it doesn't have a leader anymore. Conciously or not, she's seeking the center of the ever-turning wheel to find it's inventor, but she'll only find another spinning servant.

    Is Fizz the smiling man, or is the man smiling at him? Is it a warm smile, or a sinister one? All we know from context is that it's a major arcana.


    Myth Mage lvl:1.08 ~ HP:11/19 ~ 1d4* | INT:+2-1 ~ CON:+1 ~ WIS:+1 ~ CHA:0 ~ DEX:0 ~ STR:-1

    I think the "how were you planning to handle things had you not been made part of the crew?" question doesn't make much sense to the Herald. She was brought here by the sight, and it would give her more instruction if she needed it. She's pleasantly surprised at how she'll be involved, but she's not so surprised that she'll be involved. It was going to happen that way. If she had not been invited, she'd seek guidance, or fid some way to impose. I think, in character, she would say "There's no reason to dwell on what could have been. What has come to pass instead is what'll kill you."


    Thank you, Shvibzik. Hell, everyone. I've gotten some lovely answers from all of you. Now I just need to get my notes together properly...

    Anyway, more questions, which are going to be very useful once gameplay is open.

    Everyone: Before you got stuck in this mess, you spent a couple of days in an inn in the city where your target is supposed to be. You've had time to learn a bit about the place your target is located. So, between you, you've got a few questions. Only answer one question, and not one another's already answered. Feel free to take from what everyone else has said.

    • What's the overall tech level and aesthetic of the city? Is there top of the line magitech on display, or is a good old fashioned blacksmith more common? Smooth and sleek, or gritty and harsh?
    • What are the major trades of the big business here? Commerce, artifice and production, invention, security...?
    • What other kinds of business have sprung up here? The trade of the city is one thing, but the trades of its people are another.
    • Who are the three greatest influences on the city's affairs and identity? Who are the big public figures or companies that shape the city?
    • What's the criminal element like? Who rules the city's underground, and what businesses do they like to dabble in?
    • How complicated is getting about? Are the streets open and straightforward, or is there a labyrinthine structure of tight roads, alleyways, dead ends and sewer passages?
    Fizzwiddle: Everyone loves a gnome! There are so many potential friends here. But off all of them, there's one person you've really managed to get close to in your brief time here. Who are they, and how are they willing to help you out?
    The Herald: You knew this had to be done, long before any other. And so, your information on the target came before that of anyone else. Who is the target, and how does the world know them?
    Terestria:It's a lot easier to scope out an area when you can turn into a bird, even if the ears can mess with how aerodynamic you are. What kind of place has the target secreted themselves away in, and what preparations have you made to get everyone in there?
    Gromroir: You're a dwarf, and more importantly you were one of the Aegis of Nirnrum. Understanding and analysis of a structure's security and defenses comes naturally to you. What's the greatest problem the target's security poses, and the big opening in it just waiting to be exploited?
    Elena: This place is pretty idiot-proof, but that assumes an idiot - very little is Elena-proof. What here looks like it could be very fun if you just had a few moments with it?
    Bikke: You know fighting, very, very well. You're ready to brawl at the drop of a hat, by necessity. So when all the oddness started, you were the first to react to the big nasty coming for you. What on earth is coming for you right now? And what's it already broken on the way?

    Could I have asked better questions? Probably, but these are the ones I asked. If anyone has a similar, but better question they could answer, then I'd prefer you answer that instead.


    Myth Mage lvl:1.08 ~ HP:11/19 ~ 1d4* | INT:+2-1 ~ CON:+1 ~ WIS:+1 ~ CHA:0 ~ DEX:0 ~ STR:-1

    I'll answer my personal question first, then read trough other answers before I tackle a general question.

    Our target is the fifth of seven couriers in the procession of spring. He carries the Tongue-Stone key, made of a metal more durable than steel. There are two ancient temples that house immesurable wisdom and infinite power, respectively. It is said that if either temple is left untended for a generation, the Winter will return, and all life will suffer. Unfortunately, there is only one key to set back both clocks.

    The procession of Spring used to be a grandiose affair held every few years with celebrations and contests of strength in the tradition of the past age. Now, seven couriers transport the key from temple to temple, and only when necessary to keep the clocks from reaching zero.

    Their sect views themselves as the courage to temper power and wisdom. Their symbol is a tattoo of three triangles stacked on the back of their hand. Each of the couriers comes from an ancient and noble house. This one is the youngest, and likely one of the few true believers.

    To most, he's a spoiled child whose head is filled with myths and legends. He's already taken up a leg of the procession one of the other seven families mysteriously backed out of, so he's tired, vulnerable, and alone.

    Also, someone he trusts implicitly will kill him.


    HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

    gonna run out to dinner but ill answer the direct question first

    There is actually another gnome here! He goes by the name Abroshqualmie, he is actually a priest from one of the other nearby havens. A lovely chap, he and Fizzy have become the best of friends. Fizzy met him when he went to Abroshqualmie for some spiritual guidance after being a bit overwhelmed and entering the city for the first time and seeing technology on display. Gnomes after all eschew such things. Up until now they would meet every day for tea and a game or two. Sometimes Abrosh would heal minor injuries Fizzy got b playing with his magic, but mostly he offered wisdom, being an older gnome.

    How can he help? Well, as I may have mentioned, everyone loves a gnome, and Abrosh is actually well loved by the aristocracy of the city. He is not in the highest circles, but he is well loved in that first level below the highest. He would be happy to pull some strings for Fizzy if it was for the greater good. But Fizzy would never ask unless he HAD to. Of course Fizzy would do the same for Abrosh.

    side note. Gnomes from that other haven always have unique names. A strange practice that Fizzy never understood


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    Human Druid 1 [Tell: Grey rabbit ears] [ HP 16/19 | XP 2/8 | AC 1 | DMG D6 | ] [ STR -1 | DEX +1 | CON +1 | INT 0 | WIS +2 | CHA +0 ]
    The Winter Herald wrote:

    Our target is the fifth of seven couriers in the procession of spring. He carries the Tongue-Stone key, made of a metal more durable than steel. There are two ancient temples that house immesurable wisdom and infinite power, respectively. It is said that if either temple is left untended for a generation, the Winter will return, and all life will suffer. Unfortunately, there is only one key to set back both clocks.

    "Nonna, are you sure this courier is who we're after?"" Terestria says, not even pretending to drink her ale anymore. "I was told they'd be, dark, powerful, and ....well, rich!

    Terestria starts to suspect that she doesn't have the full picture of this job. But the silver signet ring adorning the Herald's hand means that there could be no mistake that they're on the same mission.

    "We couldn't be trying to stop him from completing the ritual could we? You and I both know what that would mean!"

    DM Loopy wrote:
    Terestria:It's a lot easier to scope out an area when you can turn into a bird, even if the ears can mess with how aerodynamic you are. What kind of place has the target secreted themselves away in, and what preparations have you made to get everyone in there?

    "Either way, I've scouted ahead." She says "And it's bad news."

    Unrolling a crude map of the city's districts, she draws attention not to the city, but to a region drawn separately. Not out of the city, but above it.

    "The Skyruin.” High above the city, suspended through some bizarre magic lies the ruin of the ancient Mage Quarter. Ripped from the earth, by either rampant magic or the Gods themselves. Held above as a warning to those who go too far in their explorations of the unknowable.

    “The Rookery. Eld Arlea. However you want to call it. Maybe he’s planning on holeing up there to prevent the ritual? How he got up there I’ve no clue in the slightest... As for how we will?” Terestria chuckles to herself “There’s an Air Elemental that owes me a favour.”


    HP 17/17 STR-1 DEX 0 CON+1 INT +2 WIS 0 CHA +1 Armor 3 XP 3

    What's the overall tech level and aesthetic of the city? Is there top of the line magitech on display, or is a good old fashioned blacksmith more common? Smooth and sleek, or gritty and harsh?
    What are the major trades of the big business here? Commerce, artifice and production, invention, security...?

    I think that there science has developed side by side with magic. Perhaps steam punk like. , but I don't see it being more advanced than that. Smooth and sleek. I think the city is a center for commerce-a trade hub, and the arts.

    What other kinds of business have sprung up here? The trade of the city is one thing, but the trades of its people are another.

    As mentioned the arts. Painting, drama, music, dance, crafts. All of it

    Who are the three greatest influences on the city's affairs and identity? Who are the big public figures or companies that shape the city?

    going to pick one of each

    The greatest influecen on the city is its reputation for being at the forefront of culture. This city sets the trends all about. IT is a blessing and a curse as folks look to the city all the time.

    Relonodoga Freidrichelle Finamin is the current chief mucketty muck. She is the known to be a hard, but fair woman. Well respected and slightly feared.

    What's the criminal element like? Who rules the city's underground, and what businesses do they like to dabble in?

    Black market items of all sorts. There is also a growing underground of some kind of narcotic.

    How complicated is getting about? Are the streets open and straightforward, or is there a labyrinthine structure of tight roads, alleyways, dead ends and sewer passages?

    This is an old city, it winds and curves. But it is beautiful. Those who grew up here know it easily, those who are new...well its tough.


    Human Druid 1 [Tell: Grey rabbit ears] [ HP 16/19 | XP 2/8 | AC 1 | DMG D6 | ] [ STR -1 | DEX +1 | CON +1 | INT 0 | WIS +2 | CHA +0 ]

    Fizz I think we are each meant to answer one of those Qs, not all of them?


    Yeaaah. I'd meant for this to be a group affair. It's a lovely picture you're painting here, but you answered more than you were intended to. It seems I wasn't unclear on that, from what Terestria's saying, so that's one less worry.

    Not saying all of this isn't true, but...I didn't want one person deciding it all on their own.

    Which question are you locking in your answer for? I'd presume it'd be the tech question, from your answer to the personal one, but it's for you to say.

    And seriously guys. What's the design on each of your rings? Terestria isn't the ONLY one without a unique design you know, even with the common elements. It's been introduced, so I'd like to know. Even if they aren't all unique, they'd still have some sort of design on them.


    Human Druid 1 [Tell: Grey rabbit ears] [ HP 16/19 | XP 2/8 | AC 1 | DMG D6 | ] [ STR -1 | DEX +1 | CON +1 | INT 0 | WIS +2 | CHA +0 ]

    I'll have a shot at this question then

    How complicated is getting about? Are the streets open and straightforward, or is there a labyrinthine structure of tight roads, alleyways, dead ends and sewer passages?

    In ancient times, the catastrophe that gave birth to the Skyruin left the city fragmented, with parts falling into deep crevasses of the earth.

    Since then, many bridges have been built backwards, forwards, and sideways to connect each portion of the city, like a civilised spider web above the depths below. Passage is easy enough, but if you're lucky, your friend might even know a secret walkway or passage so you won't have to pay the tolls!

    Because it is an ancient city, there are countless unexplored alcoves and alley ways that have not seen foot traffic in millenia; closed off through the repairs to the city, or for reasons forgotten.

    Below the new city lies the old. Half buried, blocked off, and hazardous. Only the most foolhardy adventurers dare to plumb these depths for riches. An old trade district, lost to time? A secret passage made from an ancient tubed mail system? A temple to some ancient martyr? A dried out sewer that has become a labyrinth? A secret wellspring grove with long-though-extinct flora and fauna? You name it. Countless lost secrets and treasures.... but you'd better bring a guide if you want to come back out.


    Male Dwarf Mechanic | Lvl 1 | XP: 0 | HP: 16/19 | Armor 2 | 1d8 | STR +0 | DEX +0 | CON +1 | INT +2 | WIS +1 | CHA -1

    Well, that's gonna be an issue Gromroir says, lowering the binoculars. The place has a dedicated security force. automata, or golems, I can't tell them apart at this distance

    Not particularly clever, but strong, and cohesive, and they don't drink, or sleep, or slack off. And because the iron bastards all look the same, I can't give us a good count of them

    But, good news, the southern watchtower is blocked from view of the main building, and from public view. if we go at night, I can walk up it, and lower a ladder to you guys. from there, we can get into the main courtyard, bypassing several defenses.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Wavy line of question separation~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    The Magistrate of this city is... an individual of questionable morals. as in, it is questionable if he has any. he is knownfor taking bribes, turning a blind eye fir his friends, and embezzling the tax funds. as such, the city is rife with criminals, and the guard is too underfunded to even handle to operations the magistrate does not protec.

    The guilds of Artifice, Magic, and Textiles, are all also very powerful in this city (Thanks to routine, generous bribes to the magistrate) and they are known for viscous reprisals against any freelancer operating in their city

    Then there is the church of Eternal Fire, who take a very hard stand against the corruption and immorality. every few years, an organization gets too open with it's immoral practices, and the church cleanses the organization, slaying the worst offenders, and taking the lesser offenders to "Show them the light", after locking them in hte dark and beating them senseless for a week.

    Did I go to "Dark Fantasy" There?


    Myth Mage lvl:1.08 ~ HP:11/19 ~ 1d4* | INT:+2-1 ~ CON:+1 ~ WIS:+1 ~ CHA:0 ~ DEX:0 ~ STR:-1
    Terestria Redfeather wrote:

    "Nonna, are you sure this courier is who we're after?"" Terestria says, not even pretending to drink her ale anymore. "I was told they'd be, dark, powerful, and ....well, rich!

    Terestria starts to suspect that she doesn't have the full picture of this job. But the silver signet ring adorning the Herald's hand means that there could be no mistake that they're on the same mission.

    "We couldn't be trying to stop him from completing the ritual could we? You and I both know what that would mean!"

    "Rich and powerful he is, child. They don't come much more rich or powerful than the Gates family. Their wealth is almost as old as I am." She chuckles, pulling her robes around her and adjusting her position in her seat. "I cannot speak to little Lincoln's... darkness, as you call it."

    The Herald listens patiently to Terestria's concerns as she continues to sip on her ale. The drink tastes awful, and it's watered down so much it leaves crystals of ice forming on the fine hairs of her upper lip, but it's nothing the gnarled crone isn't used to. "I must say, dearie, I wouldn't have taken you to be someone afraid of a little change in season. You'll suffer no diminishing of power, simply a change in nature. -but if you are so concerned with an old and tired ritual, you can take the tungsten key to the temple yourself. I'm sure it will be safer in your hands than in the hands of a spoiled child."


    Male Dwarf Mechanic | Lvl 1 | XP: 0 | HP: 16/19 | Armor 2 | 1d8 | STR +0 | DEX +0 | CON +1 | INT +2 | WIS +1 | CHA -1

    Jesus, Fizzy has a much nicer view of this city than I do. In my defense, I have been bingeing the Witcher novels, and so the darkness is kinda... baked in right now

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