The Carrion Crown (E7 goodness with House Rules frosting)

Game Master Helaman

Good job Simeon! I know I said I'd write one a couple weeks ago and forgot to follow through, but maybe I can actually get something done this weekend :\

Thanks guys, it was fun.

What do you think guys? I have the best diplomacy and perform (+7 on both), but I provide +4 on aid another.

First things first.

Thanks for your patience.

Play it as up as you will but it would be cooler if you all chose different things.

What do you think guys? I have the best diplomacy and perform (+7 on both), but I provide +4 on aid another.

work out the same between us either way, Lament- my 5 +4 or your 7 +2.

Darn, travel day , just about to go out the door when something interesting happens....DM PC me if necessary, just remember to be surly and superior :)

Darn, travel day , just about to go out the door when something interesting happens....DM PC me if necessary, just remember to be surly and superior :)

While being a Lecturer isn't normally something that one would expect to be of use in this situation, it is something of a performance art.

He gets up on the pagoda and starts pontificating on the history of common Ustalav festivals. You see, your so called 'Faire', is actually an outcropping of the old festival of mid harvest... . His delivery is as dry as his students normally expected.

Its not what you'd call the right audience but its a distraction.

Profession etc skills are fantastic

Well, he might be able to put to sleep the ones that aren't actually interested in learning a bit of history ;)

Hmm, Elidal doesn't really have any skills that are different from the two already used (Diplomacy & Perform) and she's not really the type to intimidate folks unless diplomacy fails. I'll think on either a creative use of a different skill or maybe a different direction taken with a skill already being attempted.

It's ok to double up some if your skil is being used in different ways. While Jaru as a fellow pharasismite may try a sermon and reassuring them on Fadda G, you could try a different tack.

Sense motive could be used to locate the most nervous, the most gossipy etc and stir them towards Jaru or Lament.

Been doing some reading on the changeling on d20pfsrd site and they are an exceptionally flavoursome choice. Esp. Impressed by the feat option Mother's Gift. Will re-think on trying one for myself.

Ok.

Some transparency here.

0 successes - s~$! be bad! I imagine you'll have to deal with brawls and low level rioting... With all the blame for it! A strong negative pall hangs over the event.
1 success - Faire proceeds but very shoddily. You'll get a lions share of the blame for the poor execution of the event. A negative pall hangs over the event.
2 successes - Faire proceeds but with lots of gossiping, critical comments and back biting... It's not all on you - you don't get the blame per se but you definitely don't get much in the way of credit either. Old fueds and arguments come out. A negative pall hangs over the event.
3 successes - The event rights itself with your assistance. You get some credit for your role as judges in getting the event back on track. There is gossiping on the days events but it's more harmless speculation than a result of superstitious fear.
4 successes - The Faire is a success. People praise you for your efforts. Events of the day around Father Grimburrow are touched on lightly in conversation but the villagers simply turn the conversation to happier topics.
5 successes - Best Faire in years! - and it's all due to you! Much admiration and praise. You gain some measure of acceptance from the villagers. The bad events of the day are seemingly forgotten... For tonight at any rate.

There is a mechanism called 'trust' for this module. It's not well written as is and I intend to have this and other events occur to help you out. I'm tracking this and it will influence how the town treats you.

Where are we with this? Do we aid each other's activities or is it time for you to roll? I am confused ;)

Not sure where to throw Simeons aid another or Baradlon's aid another. Any ideas?

I am assuming Jaru's skill check is a Diplomacy from all the comments earlier. Jaru's comments on the excellence of the food can go towards Elidal's check I think. I am pretty sure Lament was buffing Jaru's diplomacy.

I have the following

Jaru - Diplomacy +9 with aids / Aid - Elidal
Lament - Perform + 9 with aids / Aid Jaru
Baradlon - Perception (looking for trouble with a touch of bluff but I thought that was more flavour. I can see him focusing on 'trouble spots') + 6 / Aid - ?
Simeon - Profession: Lecturer + 5 / Aid?
Elidal - Bluff + 5 with aid & synergy / Aid Lament

Lament can attempt to aid Baradlon on perception? +6
Or Simeon with Perform Oratory? +7

Can I do both or just one?

Let me know and I'll throw a RP post up in a few hours.

Lament can attempt to aid Baradlon on perception? +6

Or Simeon with Perform Oratory? +7

Can I do both or just one?

Let me know and I'll throw a RP post up in a few hours.

I thought you were throwing your Aid to Jaru to take his +5 Diplo to +9?

Lament can attempt to aid Baradlon on perception? +6

Or Simeon with Perform Oratory? +7

Can I do both or just one?

Let me know and I'll throw a RP post up in a few hours.

I believe GM was looking for Simeon and Baradlon to aid someone. Sounds like everyone gets an aid attempt along with the check.

Oh ok. Just checking!

Now I want you to think of SOMETHING you can do to put the festival on track and the relevant skill to apply and more importantly apply some RP to that. If you give me something decent I'll apply a +2 Circumstance bonus. In addition to that? You can also Aid Another for ONE other character to give that person a +2 (+4 in Laments case). To do so? Post their action as a quote and add your own RP

That skill? It can be an intimidating encounter with the men to put the ox on to cool, it can be holding impromptu entertainment, it can be gentle persuasion and diplomatic efforts. The DC is 20 - which is STEEP for a E6 game but reflects the challenge of managing turning a mob back back into villagers. Be inventive.

Finally DON'T Make the Roll. I'll do that at the end.

I haven't applied any RP circumstance bonuses as yet to these...

I have the following

Jaru - Diplomacy +9 with aids / Aid - Elidal
Lament - Perform + 9 with aids / Aid Jaru
Baradlon - Perception (looking for trouble with a touch of bluff but I thought that was more flavour. I can see him focusing on 'trouble spots') + 6 / Aid - ?
Simeon - Profession: Lecturer + 5 / Aid?
Elidal - Bluff + 5 with aid & synergy / Aid Lament

Do I need to aid someone?

No - you don't have to.

For what it's worth, I basically wrote my post with Elidal's comments about the ox to be their own thing with her kind of dovetailing off of Jaru's words to calm people down. Her actual "aid another" check was going to Lament; Elidal doesn't actually have any musical instruments or anything but she can sing along and maybe do some good old-fashioned clapping and foot-stomping to try and get the crowd into it.

Seems like it actually works out fairly well:

One person to try and calm the crowd down through diplomatic words (Jaru)
Three people using various means of entertainment and distraction to direct the crowd's attention back to the celebrations (Lament, Simeon, Elidal)
One person scoping out the crowd and watching for signs of trouble (Nighteyes)

People can do their "aid another" if they haven't (and want to) and it sounds like GM Helaman is allowing for additional synergy depending on certain actions.

'Intimacy' and the RPG.

Its not uncommon at events like this in the 'old days' to find oneself a bit of rumpy pumpy - back in the day this and other similar events are the premier opportunities for farmers to all be in one place. It allows for 'social' opportunities not normally available. More than one couple will be hooking up tonight. In a pre-TV society there isn't a lot of night time entertainment and people need to make their own fun.

Taking the spotlight off the Faire, don't be afraid of pursuing romantic interests, even if its for the purposes of 'hit it and quit it'. I wont go into a lot of fine details and won't insist (or even suggest) that you do either. Some NPCs will be easy, some will need some woo-ing and some will be unassailable (though half of those may lead you on a merry dance first), but the chase can be fun if you are into that sort of thing.

I am about to wrap up 'The Dragons Demand' and had enormous fun playing an in the background campaign to get friendly with the local farm girls in between being an adventurer.

If its not something that interests you? That's cool too. Adventurers are a solitary lot who lead very very messed up lives.

I am about to wrap up 'The Dragons Demand' and had enormous fun playing an in the background campaign to get friendly with the local farm girls in between being an adventurer.

You should try Feast of Ravensmoor... ; )

Sorry. It has been a very busy 48+ hours.

No worries and the game slowing down isn't a bad thing

Will be in a world of crap for the next 24 hours. Posting will be sporadic

Ok... "Markers"

I'm going to give you Markers from time to time. This represents a ONE OFF circumstance bonus with a particular NPC or group. Its a bonus for RP or building relationships.

Cool

Letter is up on the Obsidian Portal site.

Your first marker is with the Sheriff and the council. Is this a game thing in the module? No. But I think its a nice thing to give you guys and is a non treasure reward.

'Intimacy' and the RPG.

Its not uncommon at events like this in the 'old days' to find oneself a bit of rumpy pumpy - back in the day this and other similar events are the premier opportunities for farmers to all be in one place. It allows for 'social' opportunities not normally available. More than one couple will be hooking up tonight. In a pre-TV society there isn't a lot of night time entertainment and people need to make their own fun.

Taking the spotlight off the Faire, don't be afraid of pursuing romantic interests, even if its for the purposes of 'hit it and quit it'. I wont go into a lot of fine details and won't insist (or even suggest) that you do either. Some NPCs will be easy, some will need some woo-ing and some will be unassailable (though half of those may lead you on a merry dance first), but the chase can be fun if you are into that sort of thing.

I am about to wrap up 'The Dragons Demand' and had enormous fun playing an in the background campaign to get friendly with the local farm girls in between being an adventurer.

If its not something that interests you? That's cool too. Adventurers are a solitary lot who lead very very messed up lives.

I'm always game for building friendships and other relationships with eligible NPCs - this format is excellent for that sort of RP interaction. In regards to intimacy and such, I generally prefer to be discreet with my own character interactions but I have no problem playing in groups with characters who try to hit anything that walks and/or set other characters up with NPCs or prostitutes; such characters have been the catalyst for many a memorable story within my RL gaming circle. The most famous is the tale of the cleric and his Mighty Holy Staff(TM) :P

And cool thing with the markers! :)

I'm in a Way of the Wicked group in real life. Last session we framed one of the Captains of a fort we're trying to compromise for sexual assault. It was the most evil thing we've done yet, but we did it in such a ridiculous way that we were all laughing until we cried. We all have hats of disguise, so we impersonated him and then one member of the party just walked into a bar as the captain and grabbed the bartender's (also a disguised member of the party) junk in full view of his off duty soldiers. The real captain was sleeping in his house.

Mwa..MWA..MWAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHahahaha. ;P

Hah

Just a reminder that the clues are being placed in one area in the Wiki on the Obsidian Portal site.

Items.

Hope the tension has just be ratcheted up a notch.

Well, Baradlon's abrasive behavior probably will help that along. :P

I Love Nighteyes RP - well done!

Yeah, it's fun playing an insane old guy with pointy ears and a hardon for killing evil dead things.

Oh... And on that happy note you'll notice the date/day change.

Anyone up for a journal entry?

Also happy Easter - my posting will be on and off for a day or two .

^My posting might be a bit erratic/sporadic for the next few days as well; birthday weekend/Easter, then work on Monday and Tuesday, blahblahblah.

Happy Easter all - let's agree to 'whatever you can post' until the US Tuesday. If you post great otherwise back to normal then.

Hoping that Ravengro and its people have come to 'life' in some way...

I am due to fly o/seas on short notice for a project - I will have delayed posting for the next 3 days. I hope this does not equal 'No posting' and will try to put something up.

As usual you guys are my priority game so post like I am avail and I'll do my best to keep it flowing.

no worries, thanks for the effort that you're putting into the NPCs.

If anyone cares to join me in the archives, I think that's ok. I'm not clear on whether you want us to roll or you're handling it, GM.

Roll away. Tell me the topic.

If its Whispering way? Its religion or history. If its Harrowstone its Local or History.

Throw in all the aid anothers you want. That will give me your base number - then depending on how much more you want to do you can spend additional time there improving your number.... at the cost of an aid another roll (for yourself) and 6-8 hours of time. Multiple people can do the same.

Rough two days. I'm caught up on reading. I will post later.

Hope nothing too bad mate.

Not bad. Just busy! Thanks!

Wow...that's depressing.

I know - I tweaked the stuff out of the module into its current form. It still covers the stuff from the module but adds a lot more 'Pathos' with the additional stuff and brings Lorrimor to life. There is a lot about Kendra I added - A father who is facing such risks, especially with the dread of foreknowledge, would think on his daughter and on past regrets.

Nice. Well done, Sir.

A LOT of information there. It'll take me a bit to review everything for a response... : )

Date update... and looking for another journal entry.