The Haunting at Helorus (Inactive)

Game Master goodwicki

Closed weird west horror campaign using an amalgam of various d20 systems.


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HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

Back in myself, Louie can help guard Miss Katherine or conduct interviews with friendlies while you all tackle the book work.

Given that there are specific references in the early KJB to the supernatural properties of fish guts, I'm considering if its worth doing some fishing, but second guessing myself as a d+d player and not so much a modern player. Thoughts?


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

I'm not sure what your wealth is but it's a town on a lake, I'm sure there are places that sell fish... Honestly, if you go down to the lake and find some fisherman you may be able to get the guts from their fish for free since they're probably not planning to use them?


Narrator / GM

@ Oculus: Stanislav will follow you as asked; please post up the interaction you would like to initiate.

@ Thom and James: I've got you pegged as working during the day translating the code.

@ Louie: I've got you pegged as asking Father Grimsby about basically everything. If your goal with the fishing is just to acquire fish guts that will be easily accomplished.

Will have gameplay updates for Thom/James and Louie by tomorrow night. Update for Oculus dependent on his next post.


HP:8/8 (16/16) / AC:15 / Touch: 15 / Flat:12 / Reputation: +1 / CMD: 13 / F:12* R:14* W:18* / INT:+3 / Perception: 8 / Sense Motive 8 Speed 30 / AP: 6 Active Effects--

@GM will post tonight after work.


Narrator / GM

Oculus & James/Thom gameplay updates complete. Apologies, but Louie update may have to wait until this Sunday; hopefully we can build up some momentum here again after that.


Sorry, my weekend was busy - I will update gameplay soon.


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

I was waiting to post until Oculus and Louie have joined James and I at the end of our 8 hours... Should I not do that?


Narrator / GM

Gameplay updates complete; sorry for the delay, I pretty much crashed after work yesterday evening.


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

Just to summarize and possibly delegate the current bookish pursuits:

1.The Revelation to Jacques de Molay- 12 days of decoding, and two people may translate at once as long as one of them is fluent in Latin.

2.On Verified Madness- English 1 day of reading by someone who knows about Behavorial Science, Earth & Life Science.

3.Purple Book- unlock/peruse by Thom this evening- how long for deep read?

4.Libri Fulgurales- Latin w/ French/English notes- how long for deep read?

5.Umbrarum Regni Novem Portis- Latin- how long for deep read?

Our assets:
Thom, James and Stanislav know Latin for Latin decoding 1, and reading 4 + 5.
Everyone knows English for English decoding 1, reading 2 and notes in 4.
James and Thom know Earth & Life Science for reading 2. (Does Stanislav?)
James knows Behavioral Science for reading 2. (Does Stanislav?)
Thom and Oculus can Disable Device for opening 3.
Thom and Louie know French for reading notes in 4.


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

Thus far nobody knows that Oculus can open locks (unless I missed something?)

I might have misunderstood but I think the point of having two people work on translating/decoding #1 was that they could get through 2 chapters per day? That means 'only' six days to finish.

Right now it probably makes the most sense for me to work on #4 since I'm the only one who knows all 3 languages (except Stan maybe?), and James seems a good choice for #2 since he can learn the most from it (but then we have to rely on Stan for #1)- but we should probably see what's inside the locked book before we plan too much. And, we need to decide if/when we're going up to the Catholicon (and if anyone won't be).


HP:8/8 (16/16) / AC:15 / Touch: 15 / Flat:12 / Reputation: +1 / CMD: 13 / F:12* R:14* W:18* / INT:+3 / Perception: 8 / Sense Motive 8 Speed 30 / AP: 6 Active Effects--

@ Thom
I would be happy to help you with the lock or unlock it myself. You do have a higher bonus +9, to my +8. I could always assist you to give you a bonus. He will make no secret that he can open locks, its part of his trade.


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

Agreed on the locks, just table-talk from my end, and I guess in character presumption of Oculus's "handiness" with his finding the chest's secret compartment.

As to decoding 1-The Revelation to Jacques de Molay,"Now that the code has been fully broken, anyone may translate the text, though it is time consuming. A single chapter may be decoded for every day of translation, and two people may translate at once as long as one of them is fluent in Latin."
Guessing someone needs the KJB to translate- we have one in English one in Latin, so our actual limitation is 1609 KJB's.

I'd put Doc James up for the task of reading 2-On Verified Madness as well, possibly before the trip to the madhouse ruins, but agree seeing what the 3-Purple Book has to offer, and then setting course from there.


Narrator / GM

It is 12 total days of effort to translate 'The Revelation to Jacques de Molay', so 2 people (1 reading English, 1 reading Latin) can do it in 6 days. Technically the person reading Latin has a slightly more difficult time of it, but I'm not nitpicky.


Narrator / GM

If nothing to the contrary springs up, I'll assume that Oculus assists Thom in picking the lock on the purple book and post up in gameplay sometime tonight.


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

you can handle the rolls however you want... I'm not sure what we've talked about 'off camera' but in game Oculus has never offered any explanation of what type of showman he is (or even that he definitely is a showman, iirc). Technically my bonus is higher but for me disable device is kind of an expression of a wider technical ability (working alongside my crafting and repair skills); so, if Oculus has or does mention that he's skilled at picking locks because of his escape artist routines Thom would gladly defer to him and his actual lockpicks and do the assisting. Truthfully, my tools should let me make the roll but dedicated lockpicks may very well grant a +2 (giving Oculus the higher roll).


Narrator / GM

Unless I see otherwise by tomorrow, I'll assume James accompanies Stanislav and helps convince her of it's utility.


Narrator / GM

Botted Dr. Wilk to resolve tonic issue. Please let me know what your plans are for the remaining few hours of the evening, if any; if you'd like to make plans as a group for the following day, feel free to do so in or out of character. Next gameplay post to move time along will be up Wednesday; I'll check in until then in case something needs moderating/answering or Stanislav has any comments on your plans.


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

Curious if Doc Pallaver's library includes any of these:
Joseph Hammer

(1806) Ancient Alphabets and Hieroglyphic Characters Explained; with an Account of the Egyptian Priests, their Classes, Initiation, and Sacrifices in the Arabic Language by Ahmad Bin Abubekr Bin Wahishih,

Jean-François Champollion

(1824) Précis du système hiéroglyphique des anciens Égyptiens.
(1828-1829) Lettres écrites d'Égypte et de Nubie.
(1836) Grammaire égyptienne.
(1841) Dictionnaire égyptien en écriture hiéroglyphique.

or even this from the Academy of Science of St. Louis from 1860
Scroll up for hieroglyphs down for academic discussion

If not looks like someone in St. Louis might be able to help translate.


HP:8/8 (16/16) / AC:15 / Touch: 15 / Flat:12 / Reputation: +1 / CMD: 13 / F:12* R:14* W:18* / INT:+3 / Perception: 8 / Sense Motive 8 Speed 30 / AP: 6 Active Effects--

Sorry I haven't posted lately been fighting the flu while working 10+ hour days. I will try and get something up today.


Narrator / GM

Would anyone else like to spend the rest of their evening sifting through the Pallaver stacks for books on Egypt?


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

I didn't really indicate in my post that I would actively look for books that might make translation possible, but I'll look.


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

If there's room for extra perception checks to search individually, I'm willing to take a gander too.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17


Narrator / GM

There's only the one book to find, and since Stan nailed the DC I just posted the results.


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

Got it, threw it here in case of just that. So that leaves us the unknowns of:

4.Libri Fulgurales- Latin w/ French/English notes- how long for deep read?

5.Umbrarum Regni Novem Portis- Latin- how long for deep read?

and the knowns of:
1.The Revelation to Jacques de Molay- 6 days for two folks to decode

2.On Verified Madness- Doc James to read for 1 day

Trip to the Catholicon- Should we wait till Doc James has read the book set down by the Doc's old man and his mad partner, since they ran the place? One of our posse should likely stay close to Miss Katherine, and the house, regrettably dividing our number.

Decoding 1: Any issue with Stanislav working the Latin? Thom made a comment earlier I don't want to ignore.


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

Well, that was ooc paranoia... In character Thom has every bit as much reason to trust Stan as the rest of you lot.

If we want to study #2 before our field trip, James could do that for a day or two; I'll go through #4 during that time. Louie could work with Stan on #1. And Oculus could maybe see about asking a few more questions in town?


Narrator / GM

A question has been raised regarding WilkBOT; basically, if a character is needed to move gameplay along and that player hasn't posted in 48 hours, they will botted by me to keep things moving. Rather than clutter the narrative thread with characters' dialogue, I will be posting under a BOT alias for that character.

If you know you won't be able to post for more than a day, please let me know here in discussion, and I'll steer the plot away from your character; 'X went to bed early to catch up on some much-needed rest, sleeping through the night's events' sort of thing.


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

So all of Miss Katherine' outbursts during her spells are anagrams of each other:

honor my fate
a hefty moron
fear thy moon

13 letters and spaces, same number of letters each time.

Strange that.


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

It's an anagram of the name of the mad doctor from the old Catholicon, Hoyt Foramen.

Stranger still.


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

Nicely done.


"Do Good" Doctor | HP 20/20 (40/40) | AC 12 (T 12 / FF 12) | CMD 10 | *F 14 / R 11 / *W 13 | Init +0 | Perception & Sense Motive +2 | Reputation +2 | Speed 30' | Action Points: 6 | Active Effects: none

Sorry! I have been lacking, i'm setting a reminder for myself every other day. You should see much more involvment in the coming days.


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

Another unfollowed lead, no in character knowledge of this, but a reminder from the early posts.

Oculus / In the Cellar:
To Oculus's discerning eye, however, the nails in the lid appear quite new considering the damp and the state of the pails. However, he lacks the necessary tools (and quite possibly strength) to pry open the lid, and resolves to come back and investigate when better prepared if the fancy strikes him.


Narrator / GM

Will have gameplay posts up by this evening.


Narrator / GM

Will advance past breakfast tomorrow night (Tuesday 10.11) if no-one declares any pre-breakfast actions they wish to take. I'm currently assuming the following post-breakfast scenarios:

Thom & Katherine will go on a morning constitutional.

James & Stanislav will discuss Katherine's condition and treatment.

Louie & Oculus are undeclared; guidance appreciated. They can join one of the other two groups, one may work on translating the first half of the day, or they may choose to do something else entirely.


HP:8/8 (16/16) / AC:15 / Touch: 15 / Flat:12 / Reputation: +1 / CMD: 13 / F:12* R:14* W:18* / INT:+3 / Perception: 8 / Sense Motive 8 Speed 30 / AP: 6 Active Effects--

Louie, you want to check the basement with me while everyone else is occupied?


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

As early as it is, I was hoping to get out for my morning constitutional without interfering with an 8 hour study day (which I plan/hope to put in once we finalize who's studying which books in which order).


HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

Yes Oculus, count Louie in for any help you need.

He might sit down to work on decoding afterwards if time permits, giving him time for his mind and pen to wander to Miss Katherine's outbursts and solving the anagram.


Narrator / GM

Times of Day

Functionally each day is split into six 4 hour shifts for the purpose of rest, study, etc. which I'm loosely grouping as morning, afternoon, and night. In my posts I'll be using the following indicators for what time of day it is.

Dawn: Start of the "morning" 8 hours
Morning: First 4 hours of morning.
Day: Second 4 hours of morning.
Afternoon: First 4 hours of the "afternoon" 8 hours.
Evening: Last 4 hours of "afternoon" shift.
Dusk: Start of the "night" 8 hours.
Night: First 4 hours of night.
Late Night: Second 4 hours of night.

Doing Stuff

Anything of any note you might want to do will take at least 4 hours: namely exploration and gather information checks. A task which takes 8 hours, such as the translations, has to be uninterrupted work; a character is assumed to eat, go to the bathroom, etc. during this time, but can't leave their effort to do something else "real quick". Outside of possibly a single Knowledge check to answer someone's question, the character can't actively pursue anything that requires them to make an unrelated check of any kind. A character could spend all 16 hours of the day on two consecutive 8 hour shifts of tasks to the exclusion of all else.

Characters also require 8 hours of rest to avoid penalties, which I assume is done at night; this rest time is not assumed to be 8 solid hours of sleep, and can include discussion between characters.


Narrator / GM
Thom Andrews wrote:
As early as it is, I was hoping to get out for my morning constitutional without interfering with an 8 hour study day (which I plan/hope to put in once we finalize who's studying which books in which order).

Thom's morning routine would be considered the first 4 hours of his day. Knowing that he goes out and about town in some fashion every morning is important, as this exposes him to the goings-ons of the town.


Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

Thank you for the clarification. Unless prevented from doing so by extenuating circumstances, I will indeed spend my "morning" everyday on my rituals (vigorous exercise, washing up, dressing, taking breakfast, a brisk walk about town, and a hearty bowel movement; always in that order). For the time being, I'll plan on "day" and "afternoon" being reserved for study, unless someone presents something more pressing.


Narrator / GM

Thom and Katherine / Morning “Constitutional”:

Helorus
Tuesday, April 6th 1875; Morning

Katherine joins Thom in the sitting room attired in her simple farm dress and partakes in his stretches and light calisthenics followed by a brisk walk after breakfast. As they make their way down the road away from town, Thom notices that a man seems to be following them some 200 yards behind – keeping pace despite their purposeful speed. Thom does not recognize him from this distance, but is also far from acquainted with the town’s residents.

James and Stanislav / Medical Discussion:

Pallaver House / Dining Room
Tuesday, April 6th 1875; Morning

After breakfast Stanislav is more than happy to discuss Katherine’s condition. The Russian posits some possible causes for her sudden and pronounced sleepwalking which seem a bit far-fetched and decidedly grim to James – a defect of character leading to dependence upon opiates, a derangement of the nerves, an infection of the brain – until settling upon the more likely cause of her recent emotional trauma due to her father’s death as his diagnosis. He suggests either a stronger sleeping aid or simply locking her in her room at night for her own safety.

Louie and Oculus / Cellar Investigation:

Pallaver House / Cellar
Tuesday, April 6th 1875; Morning

After breakfast Louie and Oculus grab a lantern and head to the cellar, which appears undisturbed since Oculus’s last visit. Together the pair attempt to open the newly-nailed crate, and after no small amount of time finally manage to pry the lid open. Inside the crate is seen to be overgrown with bluish-white mold and vivid orange mushrooms. After a moment a strange, heavy odor insinuates itself into their noses harkening to exotic spices of the Orient; Louie is not familiar with the mushroom, and despite it's smell knows that mushrooms are just as likely to be poisonous as they are to be edible.

The mushrooms resemble a smaller version of these, though are a much brighter orange.

Behind the Scenes:

Thom / Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
James / Know: Earth & Life Science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 vs DC 10
Louie / Break Open Crate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 vs DC 12
  • Louie / Take 20 = 21

  • Louie / Profession: Cook: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 vs DC 10


    Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

    umm... was that post supposed to be here, or was it supposed to be a gameplay post? it looks like a gameplay post...


    Narrator / GM

    Le sigh... totally a gameplay post. Re-posting in gameplay thread now.


    "Do Good" Doctor | HP 20/20 (40/40) | AC 12 (T 12 / FF 12) | CMD 10 | *F 14 / R 11 / *W 13 | Init +0 | Perception & Sense Motive +2 | Reputation +2 | Speed 30' | Action Points: 6 | Active Effects: none

    I would like to spend 8 hours today reading "on verified madness." With Katherines issues recently maybe he can find a similar example in the book to apply to the situation.


    Narrator / GM

    I currently have James reading On Verified Madness; anyone else care to elaborate on their reactions/intentions?


    Narrator / GM

    James, feel free to roleplay/chat with Stanislav if you like; I'm going to wait until the weekend for some feedback before advancing the gameplay timeframe.


    Human Field Technician Squad Leader (skills)

    Assuming Louie and Stan still intend to continue our research into the encoded text, I plan to devote the day and afternoon to a thorough reading of the Libri Fulgarelis.


    HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

    I would hazard a guess that one of you gents might have an easier time telling the story of the mushrooms Oculus and I unboxed in the cellar. It totally exposes us all to them if they are unwholesome, but that is how it goes.

    Could mushrooms in a box be creating spores/vapors that would cause deleterious effects? Say like sleepwalking.

    Once we've got those looked at and sealed up again, I'm up for doing some decoding, or spending the in game time necessary to decode the sleepwalking anagram. I'd give it at least 4 hours but defer to Narrator's guidance.


    HP 16/16 (32/32) | AC 18 / Touch 18 / Flat Footed 14 | CMD 16 | F* 12 R* 17(Ev) W* 12 | Initiative +4 | Perception +3 /Sense Motive +1 | Reputation +0 | Speed 30 | Action Points 6 | Active Effects: --

    Oh and another lead from the old posts that I had in the back of my mind in my paranoid ending to my Gameplay post.

    Oculus / Exploring the Barn:
    The storage room has a wall of shelving containing rows of organ-less jars filled with the preservative fluid, several of which appear to have been knocked off and broken on the ground. Given the strong chemical smell in the room, they were probably disturbed within the past two weeks at most. You find faint bootprints in the dirt floor near the broken jars; someone must have left them by treading through the puddle of preservative fluid from the broken jars. There is a side room containing a heavy wooden trapdoor which can be latched open to the wall, presumably leading to a cellar.


    Narrator / GM

    James, let me know if you'd like to investigate the fungal discovery in the cellar before beginning your reading; Oculus, let me know what you're doing.


    Narrator / GM

    Advanced gameplay to Evening; everyone has another 4 hours to take action before needing to begin their rest period.

    @ Louie, after a day spent playing with letters, numbers, and phrases, and James's inevitable before-bed mention of Dr. Foramen after his day spent reading, it seems reasonable to me that you might be struck to fool about with Katherine's sleep-talking and make your anagrammatic discoveries. If you wish you may spend the 4 hours doing this.

    Everyone else, anything you'd like to do with your 4 hours? The local tavern remains open until Night, and Father Grimsby and Constable Schultz are most likely available for discussion as public servants. At this point visiting anyone else would most likely be an imposition.

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