Yes indeed. My last place I stayed at three years, and had several boxes I never really unpacked. Then again I didn't intend to stay there that long. This time around (in a place I can foresee staying for quite awhile, circumstances permitting) I'm giving myself one month to have everything unpacked, so I don't repeat that little failing.
And alrighty, we're back at it. Let's all cross our fingers that the forums behave so that we can get properly underway.
Hmm, we expect the Mantids to come from the west (or maybe southwest given where the hills are.) If we want to be able to act quickly in the case of an attack we probably shouldn't drift too far to the east. If we're asked to take part in the joint lookout work down the line we won't want to be too far from the lookout tower anyhow. What would people think of a camp north of the path heading to the northwest, just beyond the unmarked cluster of tents (so north of Urim's campsite, but with a couple of other tent clusters closer than ours would be)?
It's out in the open, so there wouldn't be any cover, but that would make it harder for people/Mantids to sneak up on us. It shouldn't be too remarkable to set up down the road past where the last camps are already established, so it shouldn't draw attention for now.
For the fuel, I'm thinking that we should probably buy sod by the week for right now. Dung reflects badly on us and wood regularly makes us seem like we've got money to throw around (and therefore we'd be good targets for theft.) We want to be part of the camp's economy and giving steady work to those around us. If we want to do that Drekisal should set up the details if we want him to be established as our quartermaster; it won't do for me to meddle and look like I'm trying to take away from his responsibilities.
@Surtur, when you get a chance to meet with Yidi I'd like to be there to sense motives and possibly detect thoughts on him just to be sure he's not been compromised as an agent of the dragon. He might also have better ideas for the campsite if you can meet with him before we'd need to set up.
@Camp location - Hmh. I'm not sure how I feel camping so close to the road. Might be annoying to tell curious people from those just passing trough.
Other then that it seems like a nice spot.
I'd like to float an alternative location right by the trio of trees near the middle of the map.
We would have our back guarded by the cliffs (and some rope or something makes it so it won't box us in) and we'll have the trees for privacy.
We can keep an easy eye on two out of the three entrances to the camp. Plus sneaking out of the camp should be easier if we need to do that.
@Sod - The middle road eh? Probably a good idea.
And going straight for the dung might lower our morale a bit :P
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I agree on the sod. Better to remain as anonymous as we can early on.
@Surtur, when you get a chance to meet with Yidi I'd like to be there to sense motives and possibly detect thoughts on him just to be sure he's not been compromised as an agent of the dragon. He might also have better ideas for the campsite if you can meet with him before we'd need to set up.
Ya'll getting too far ahead of me, here! Certainly, when we meet with Yidi (and I do intend this before nightfall), but first, the shopkeeper. He's important, and I need to see if he can be trusted. Theoretically impartial does not always mean in practice impartial.
I will admit, I waited to post until now (6 messages from when I last checked to now!), so I have to get back in the habit of checking three times a day, not two.
Given the temperament of the forums lately, I'll understand if we have a period of decreased posting. I feel like they're down almost every time I go to catch up.
@Surtur, I'm not trying to rush things, just letting you know that when the meeting happens I'd like to be there. Just like I'm not proposing that we do anything with Kulwa yet, but rather seeing if anyone has thoughts on what the divination might mean with the information we have. I'm going to be spitballing ideas for the future in this thread as opposed to the game thread where things are more immediate. For now getting what you can out of Obega is great and if I see a place to help I'll do so as I've made my way over there by now.
So that camp advice does sound like the spots that Jhaelwyn and I came up with which is nice; they're the ones that seem to make sense. It probably comes down to how much a presence we want to be from the start. The northern option is going to have less traffic from people going to and from mantid hunting and is more defensible. We'll probably get less attention there. The western option probably puts us more in the thick of things if there is a mantid attack and has us more prominent in the minds of anyone passing through.
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@Histrok: It's fine, man, absolutely keep spitballing ideas out there! Ideas mean more chances of being right, and I absolutely want everyone to share. I just also sometimes like solving one issue before I get to the next, so I don't confuse myself.
@everyone: It seems the consensus is to take the north road, or north-westerly. I do like pitching our tents close to the three trees, though I do worry about it being seen as closer to the center of town (on a purely east-west basis), than to the westerly side, where the fighting is. I want people to recognize us as a fighting force, not a political force, so to speak. And, remaining anonymous is not the best way to achieve our goals here. What does everyone think of the spot way up to the north and west, near those three tents, but maybe to the west near that set of three trees? I think that's my preferred spot, but I'll take group consensus here.
I could go with just south of the three trees west of the three tents. It's still by the road (which I think helps make our presence known which is desirable,) but it's further away from the potential conflict with the stronger bands. The only downside I see to that one compared to north of the northwest road, but closer to the rest of the camp is that if something happens with a Mantid attack that originates from the Southwest rather than just the west (so over the hills rather than along the road,) it will take us that much longer to get there and engage (probably an extra round or two to get to the action if that's where it comes from if the 50 feet across for the main square can be used to judge distances.) Given that we want to be the big damn heroes that charge in to save people if there's an attack that could make a difference.
The further spot on the other hand does have the plus of giving us at least some cover to work with if something comes up in our site. It's probably better defensively, and if there aren't attacks from the Mantids (sounds like there haven't been in a while,) it's maybe the wiser choice? I'd be fine with either. I'd be fine with the one to the north road as well if that's what others prefer. None of the options seem inherently bad to me.
OK, so now we find Yidi somewhere between casually and surreptitiously. I'll follow your lead Drekisal; it's not a big camp, but if we have any trouble finding him for whatever reason I can use Locate Object if there's something uncommon that we know he would likely have with him.
Do we want to contact Yidi without Surtur? I can see arguments either way.
For that matter did we see anywhere to get water?
Arranging for Yidi to bring water to the camp gives him a reason to stop by regularly. We know that Yidi does odd jobs around the Lodge, so it's not something that will draw attention. I don't imagine that we need to do anything in this trip other than set up that contact and get him to the camp for the first time. We might even be able to get Obega to recommend Yidi to us by asking about someone to help with water. That would make setting him up as our contact even easier, but that runs the risk of Obega recommending someone else who we should probably then work with to show we're respecting Obega's advice. We don't know how unique Yidi is in his role here at the Lodge as far as I know.
I imagine the river is the easiest source of fresh water in the area given how close it is, though it's possible there's a nearby well (or that we could dig one if we were wanting a more permanent source.)
If Surtur was thinking something else with the water comment I'll let him chime in, but that's what I got from it.
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Histrok pretty much got it. I like Obega, but we don't know Yidi's reputation, so he might not come recommended. But if we ask around for a water- carrier, than this gives Yidi, who we know has noticed us (or, well, Surtur knows), a chance to leap in and agree to help in a non- suspicious manner. And he now has a reason to be in our camp, which is good, but not something that we cannot just find someone else if Yidi proves unreliable or untrustworthy. Make sense?
Ah, see, this is why I ask, because Drekisal would definitely have caught on to that while I don't have a sneaky enough mind myself. XD
I feel your pain. It's getting to the point where I'm almost dreading looking at the site, just because I'm fully expecting to be disappointed :/
Love it when the roleplay skips along without any prodding from the GM! And thanks to the folks who are remembering to put GM-Needs-To-Notice stuff in OOC text at the bottom.
@GM: If you notice anything Gork says about Merry that is off, just give me a heads-up (might be Merry poking his mind, eager to make a point, or a PM to me whatever feels more appropriate to you). I am just blubbering stuff out as it comes to mind and make things up on the fly. ;-)
I'm going to let Drekisal take the lead for this next bit unless there's a reason he wouldn't want to. Histrok would point out the latrine diggers as a potential place to start if Drekisal doesn't notice them on his own (though I suspect he probably would.)
Gork: Roger that about Merry! Also, I saw your comment about DropBox vs Drive, I'll get a Drive set up soon.
Drekisal is looking for an excuse to find Yidi, so he's only going with the latrine diggers if it doesn't seem like that's an option.
Fair enough, though given that their location I'm guessing the latrine diggers are part of Buri's squad. I doubt that they'd want to do the water hauling for another group (though there's a risk that they might,) but the might be able to point us in the direction of someone who would (ideally Yidi.) They're a better source to ask as they don't have the same clout around camp that Obega does; not listening to them won't be seen as either unusual or a sign of disrespect to someone with power (which we certainly don't want to make.)
Finding Yidi directly would be great, but my hope is that they would point us in his direction if we can't.
Hmm, that's not the answer that we wanted (though it makes them the better group to have asked.) That both points us back to the other group and indicates that they are more likely to take us up on the offer to do the work than I had assumed.
At this point perhaps stroll north to the river, keeping an eye along the way? It'd be scouting the route there and we might think that those closer to the river would be better candidates anyhow.
@GM Mercy, would Histrok have any idea through reports and intelligence if there is any sort of unusual item that Yidi would be carrying most of the time? Something that would give a coded signal of allegiance to the Dragon, or an item that he is known to have adventured with and still keeps, or anything along those lines?
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Surtur had been told to watch for a halfling wearing a bright red scarf, which he probably shared with you guys as well (up to him).
But also, given that we dragged a little due to forum outages, I'm going to short-circuit the Yidi search and fast forward to the evening of your first day when he will come to visit you anyways. Apologies to those who were enjoying unfolding their own plans, but I don't want to let the pace drag too much so soon! The new post will be up later today.
That sounds just fine to me. Finding Yidi was probably going to be less interesting than other parts of the story (where everyone gets to be involved.)
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Hey guys,
I don't know how many of ya'll have been paying attention to Hurricane Florence coming up the east coast, but they're calling it a potential Category 4 hurricane, and I happen to live smack dab right where it's predicted landfall. I'm evacuating tomorrow, but long story short I don't know how well my posting rate is going to be from now until hopefully a day or two after it hits. I apologize sincerely for this delay; I will be checking it if I can, I just don't know how well the evac centers are for wifi! Anyways, I'll resume as soon as I can.
Artemis P
Ouch, I am so sorry to hear that Surtur. Don't worry about the delay, just stay safe and get your loved ones and shiny things to shelter! We'll try to continue on in a limited way based on your guidelines in the initial strategy session, but we'll leave things loose enough so that when you do get back you can arrange them to your liking.
Again, stay safe!
Oh no, stay safe!
@Surtur, no need to apologize for posting rates here on the forums at all. Stay safe IRL, and get back when you can. We'll keep you and yours in our thoughts!
Failed my Fort Save Vs some virus attack.
Expect wildly varying post rates (and qualities) for a week or so.
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You guys are being defeated by challenges I wasn't even behind!
@Weather - Ick that sucks. Best of luck!
@Virus - That sucks too! Once again; best of luck!
@Sneaky GM - Maybe that's just what you want us to think ... ? :P
Yuck! Get well soon Sir Gork!
Hmmmm... I'm debating on what a cunning kobold would do here...
Drekisal *is* actually interested in playing his part as quartermaster. He's detail-oriented enough to make a good one, and also values his creature comforts so he wants to do so. But of course, he also wants to use it as an excuse to get info--it gives him a reason to go several places and talk with people, and he'll be keeping an eye out for opportunity... but I feel like there should be something more to do here...
I've been thinking of making a ton of traps myself. Probably pitfalls and some snares. That could be an appropriate kobold-y thing to bond over? Might be frowned upon by our neighbors though ^^
Hmh. Would it be worth to look into who, if anyone, that is buying the mantids?
If someones buying the carcasses that might be an early source of income for us.
If no-one is doing that, then perhaps we could set up someone to do so by proxy. Would let us gain a bit more material for the antivenom?
Or maybe do some survey work and see if there's anything missing from the lives of the camp dwellers. Some unfulfilled need we could pounce at. If we are the ones that brought music or tea or whatever to the camp then that might afford us some extra goodwill.
We'll have to be careful not to step on too many toes though. And be discreet in our probing so that none steals our idea.
Drekisal is actually not that much into physical traps. Social ones or plans that could be considered traps, yes, but not actual mechanisms.
More information would be good, but I'm not sure Drekisal is the best gatherer of such. He does have pretty good diplomacy, but he's memorable (a winged, horned kobold) and of a race that people might associate with the Dragon too easily. GM, how much would we have to worry about that issue? How rare are kobolds outside of the Dragon's lands?
Glad to hear you're back and as well as can be expected! Get some rest and get to the game when you've got the time. It's a game and RL needs to be top priority.
Nice to hear that there's not too much damage : )
Great to hear, Surtur! But I need to announce that we won't be resuming until Monday, as I have been a bit sick and now need to scramble to cover all the stuff I missed/delayed due to that.
On Monday, we'll hit the ground running, forum stability and hurricane issues (hopefully) safely behind us!
Ouch. :( I hope things go better for you!
Rough stretch for the crew, but if we get up and running next week then hopefully we'll settle in for some fun! I like the start that we've got going and I think it's going to be fun to start hitting some action as well!
I hope everyone's feeling better and getting this settled!
Fort save passed, other matters (mostly) attended to, and rip-roaring and ready to get this party started! I'll have a post up within a few hours.
Huzzah!
That's nice to hear.
On spoilers!
Named spoilers won't work inside of another spoiler of the same sort. You'll need to alternate. Also, only two levels work. See examples bellow : )
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(spoiler=Example 1)Blerp. (spoiler)Derp(/spoiler)Merp(/spoiler)
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(spoiler=Example 2)Blerp. (spoiler=Example 2b)Derp(/spoiler)Merp(/spoiler)
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(spoiler)Blerp. (spoiler=Example 3)Derp(/spoiler)Merp(/spoiler)
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(spoiler=1)1(spoiler)2(spoiler=3)3(spoiler)4(spoiler=5)5(/spoiler)4(/spoile r)3(/spoiler)2(/spoiler)1(/spoiler)
Yeah, I'd forgotten that I was even in another spoiler at the time, thugh I hadn't known the trick about nesting non-named spoilers inside named ones. Very handy, thanks!
Gork: I do recall you asking to switch the info folder over to Google Drive, and I will get to it soon! Apologies for the delay.