With a Single Step (Inactive)

Game Master Bill Dunn

As far as NPC relationships go, Zelruza would probably be at an “association” level with Koya and Shalelu. Probably Competition with Ameiko (suspicious of her relationship with Sandru). Friendship with Sandru.

I don’t envy you guys trying to choose between the three of us.

In those terms I guess Yui would have a rivalry with Sandru, because of her continues teasing of him which comes from her thinking he is a wierd older man trying to bed Ameiko. Friendship with Ameiko of course. Friendship with Shalelu because Yui believes in spirits everywhere. Like spirits of the tree, the grass animals etc. That links her nicely to the nature which is Shalelu's terrain. Koya, not sure yet, either lovingly addressing her as an friendly old lady, but that too could go into competition as that might offend Koya. Will have to see what her character is roleplayed like. The focus on NPC's will be mostly on Ameiko to know what she has been doing the last 5 years. Then it shifts towards the new npcs and other players as they are new to her. She wants to know why everyone will accompany Ameiko and if she can trust them.

Thinking of dropping a skillpoint in a knowledge (Piper has a lot covered) and putting one in perform for shadowpuppeting which is really fun if I can do more of it. For instance if one of the npc's tell a story Yui will try to act it out, but embellish or ridicule some things in the story, on purpose or by accident.

"He sure does look like a crook though, doesn't he? That face of his is so rough and often he looks like someone who is trying to hard to earn your trust." Rawnie says with a grin. "But at least this brother of mine is no crook, I cannot say as much for another older brother of mine."

"As utterly infuriating as Jubrayl is, try to have some sympathy, Rawnie. That wretched life would surely be ours too if it Mother Koya had not taken us in. He may think himself powerful and influential but I pity him instead. He is tied to his schemes, grasping at money, while I have the road and all of Varisia as my home. By that measure, I am the wealthier and happier man."

A fleeting look of jealousy crosses Koya's face as Sandru speaks those words. "Now that my responsibilities in Sandpoint are laid to rest and if Desna wills it, I too will have my chance to experience the road as you have, my son. And since you have never been to Brinewall either, that is one travel experience you will not have over me!" she finishes with a wicked grin.

Valia shakes his head and turns back to Alara.
"Oh they are indeed adroit at getting lost in the woods. These are not Shalelu's guards. They are the sheriff's, and they are afraid of their own shadows, apparently."

"I don't think they are as bad as that, Valia. Belor has been training his guards hard over the last years. He is even using some of his Shoanti methods on them to toughen them up. Even Magnimar has finally taken notice and is taking him seriously. He is one of the reasons I feel that I can leave Sandpoint, for a while, without worrying about it." she says.

Ameiko gets up from the table.
"Alright. Now that the stories are flying, it's time for me to set things right. Drinks are on the Dragon!" and she waves over the serving girl.

To Yui, she asks, "Do you really think the Soggy River Monster's a cat? I bet it's some kind of big frog - maybe a wizard's familiar gone feral and affected by weird enchantments."

She seems to deliberately avoid getting into a conversation about the fate of the youngest Vhiski family member.

At Sandru's words, Yui starts thinking aloud. "So a wealthy crook is unhappy but succesful, while a poor and badly skilled crook is happy, but thinks he is wealthier? Hmm wierd customs. Or perhaps you are the brother who was drooped on his head too often as a baby? It happened to a nephew of mine. He is very happy but dimwitted. My parents said ignorance is bliss... Are you ignorant Sandru hentai-san?" Yui asks Sandru inquisitively? She doesn't mean to insult but might infuriate a little.

Ameiko is feeding Yui's imagination and Yui's attention is caught immediately. She picks up her stencils and starts enthousiastically showing the wierd creations Ameiko and Yui come up with.
"It is called soggy so I expect wet fur... Maybe it an angry lost sheep whose wool got all soggy from running through the marsh pits." Yui comes up with several odd creatures and draws them on the wall in humorous ways.

Freshly arrived beer in her hand, Zelruza says, ”Cheers!” and sips it, smiling as the conversations continue. When the barmaid arrives from Ameiko’s summons, the half-orc orders one of the middle priced ales. One she’s had before and likes but only gets rarely. She doesn’t want to feel indebted to Ameiko for having a drink that she wouldn’t spend her own money on.

”Perhaps your nephew’s parents should have learned not to drop their child on his head,” she says to Yui, frowning at the woman. Was she trying to insult Sandru? Or was she flirting with him?

"As utterly infuriating as Jubrayl is, try to have some sympathy, Rawnie. That wretched life would surely be ours too if it Mother Koya had not taken us in. He may think himself powerful and influential but I pity him instead. He is tied to his schemes, grasping at money, while I have the road and all of Varisia as my home. By that measure, I am the wealthier and happier man."

"I'm sure that Jubrayl feels the same way about how we have grown up, preferring how his life turned out as opposed to where we ended up. I'm sure we're better off then he is, but I'm also certain he wouldn't change anything about himself if he could."

"Well, to be honest my dad always said his sister was the worst of the bunch. "She never should have married that no good for nothing Nurimi" he always said. I'm just glad I wasn't dropped on my head. Why, people would think all wierd things about me and I would have no idea why." She says to Zelruze, imitating her fathers low voice when she quotes him, pulling up her chest and waggling her head in a weird way.

"It must be hard being dumber then other people. Oh! Maybe that is why Sandru became a crook! My parents always say that criminals are just lazy and stupid people who can't get a proper job." Yui continues to Zelruza with compassion in her voice looking at Sandru with a sad face.

Yui get's a glass of wine from Ameiko. She has never drunk a lot of alcohol before though. Her parents think that is a big no-no because it obscures the mind.

Yui takes a big swirl of it and says.
"Ooh thank you Amie, this is some nice grapejuice! It even has some spices in it. And *coughs* something tickling my throat." And she continues to drink the stuff as if it is grapejuice.
"This is nice! Could I get some more?" She says as she smiles innocently at Ameiko.

I don’t envy you guys trying to choose between the three of us.

ouch

To Shalelu
Valia looks uncomfortable confronting his hero face to face. His head hangs a bit and he talks softly.
“That may be the case. With Belor they may be better than they were at the Swallowtail festival. But they proved last night that they cannot police beyond the town walls. Until they do so effectively, the goblins and other twig-snapping things like the Soggy pose a dear risk. Shalelu, you have seen what is out there. I know you have more experience than I do, but are you sure of your assessment?”
At the end he raises his head and makes eye contact, trying to read Shalelu’s eyes for a reaction.

"It must be hard being dumber then other people. Oh! Maybe that is why Sandru became a crook! My parents always say that criminals are just lazy and stupid people who can't get a proper job."

Later, to Yui

He opens up the conversation to the rest of the table, casting glances all around.
"Criminals are not about stupidity, are they Zelraza? Aren't the slavers of Chelliax a terrible kind of criminal? You see Yui, some can be very smart, can’t they? Don’t they have brains?"
His gaze lingers on Piper a little longer than the others.

"Would the difference be that they were not loved, as you or I, or the others? When they were children, did they suckle innocently as babes? Or were their mothers even there? They reached out in the world for what they could, but watch the criminal child grow and you will see three things.

• One: They see that their agreements are never kept in good faith.
  
• Two: They find only relationships mired in rivalry or conflict.
  
• Three: They fall outside the community and cannot find a safe place to belong.

As Yui is reverently drinking the wine, Piper looks to her and writes on his chalkboard: "It may be delicious. But be careful, Yui. It's a bit strong."

Piper tilts his head in confusion as Valia stares at him. At his question, Piper writes: "To keep people safe? And it's the right thing to do?"

”If we accept your three points about criminals,” Zelruza says to Valia. ”Perhaps the better question is ‘how do we fight criminals?’ because it seems as if you’re saying criminals become criminals because they’ve suffered injustice in their lives. Can we eliminate the root causes of crime in Sandpoint? I don’t know. What caused the Chopper? Was it just a horrible childhood...If some magic could transport me back into the past to save my mother, stop the Chopper from ever killing one person, or stop him from ever becoming the Chopper, I would take it.” Eyes watering, one hand reaches into her bag. Her shoulders relax slightly, and she releases a shuddering breath. ”Please someone else continue. Give me a moment.” She sniffs and blinks back tears.

Valia leans in, and puts a hand on Zelraza's shoulder if he can reach. "There, there Zelraza. Take all the time you need."

He shakes his head, remonstrating himself.
"It is not so much a matter of social injustice. They haven't developed empathy, you see. It takes a special kind of void of feeling to make a butcher, however."

He glances at Piper briefly, then turns his eyes to Sandru.
"Some rare flowers can be brought back to life after years of hardship."

He glances at Ameiko, and then to Koya.
"It just takes the right gardener, doesn't it?"

He sips from the mug.
"It's all a matter of psychogrammar, you know? Sometimes the criminals self-define in alignment with outsider groups. Then, they are defending their community support structures. It's all together in the works Gralana Tir'Tagar published in the Age of Aroden."

"If we can only mask the villains from the dark gods, then do you think we could reform them? Is it such a simple thing to hang a man instead?"

There has been some really good participation from everybody. Thanks for taking such a strong interest. I know it's hard to find a spot in the APs people are running because everybody wants to give them a try and there aren't enough GMs to go around.

I'd like to announce that each of the current players has submitted a ballot and we have a collectively made selection:

Rawnie, welcome to the game.

We'll spend a little time this weekend getting final paperwork squared away and really get a move-on on Monday.

Valia, Yui, and Zelruza, thanks for putting forth so much effort. And thanks to everyone else who submitted a character or showed interest. If internet attrition hits again (or the current PCs want to add a 6th member), we'll put out another call for adventurers.

While Yui empties out the last of her wine she replies to Valia "My parents did most of my schooling. They were very wise and smart parents, even for Wayang standards. That is why they did not like other races too much. They loved me very much and that is why they have raised me to protectively. But it is time I learn some things they cannot teach me." With that she hops up and goes to the bar to get a second glass of wine.

Returning with a full glass, she sips from the wine and follows the conversation. After Valia's second monologue she interjects "While I can agree on some points Valia. What about the evil races? The goblins, drow or even the outsiders like devils and demons. I think that like some of those inherently evil races having good characters, so too do the good natures races. There are bad apples in good bunches, which are beyond saving and good apples in bad bunches which are beyond spoiling so to say."

Ah I see you have picked. Good luck to the group and Rawnie. I had a lot of fun playing and developing Yui that I have something ready for the next AP recruitment thread that comes along. I just hope some more of those start and actually make it past the first book :(.

If the players are interested in having me as a 6th please pm me :).

Have fun and good luck to the players. It seems you have a great group and gm.

Peace, smell ya later.

Congratulations Rawnie. Thanks everyone for the consideration and opportunity. Good luck and happy gaming.