Absalom in Shadow (InnRoads) Chapter 1 - In my Time of Waking

Game Master Song of Chiroptera

I've been hearing there's issues with the refresh on the site. Either the rs feed isn't working or something about the ip isn't responding to particular browser calls. *shrugs* I've had to just breakdown and add a direct link on my phone's screen so it just reloads the page on each visit.

Edit: And the Bard cones back with a vengeance. Nice post sir!

Karl & Drogan,

Hopefully I didn't goof up on the timeline, but I thought after Drogan inspected the trinket that he tossed it back to Karl. Let's roll with that, ok?

I don't remember mentioning giving it back to anyone - but I'm flexible. The statement Drogan made to the man still remains the same either way.

Yeah, same here. I don't get online everyday at home and then when I peaked in today there were quite a number. Guess I should have looked more carefully. Sorry about that.

Hope we get moving again soon and that you all are making plans for a happy thanksgiving.

Nice post DM, really liked the captains piece.

thanks for the compliment. But now it looks like your boys in the cargo hold now have your hands full. Heh heh

Just arrived in reno.

Good scene

I was wondering what replacement character I should roll up...

Guess I may not have to, unless Onura just throws him overboard... :)

Great job you guys. But I'll need you guys report to the HR Department for some team building exercises.

Okay - so I have a personal policy about not reading dialogue/scenes that happen outside of Drogan's presence (it just makes it easier for me to play my dwarf buddy's ignorance when I, myself, am just as ignorant) - but dang if I'm not tempted to see what that last little Karl/Beckett bit was about!

Do it...do it...

Yeah Drogan, a PbP takes so long you have to read both story lines.

Hey guys, I know things have been Topsy turvey for a get of you lately, but I'm praying you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. You're a great bunch of guys and I'm having a ball running this game for you!

Happy and safe Thanksgiving all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a great holiday! Loving the game!

Nice post to Kraken Beckett. When I re-read your post Karl reacted to so strongly it didn't read as severe as it seemed the first time, but it still seemed a pretty bare threat. Out of game, what did he mean by nothing can save you or this ship? Did you mean your God would do something? Or Beckett himself? That has puzzled me a few days.

Thanks! Much appreciated.

I'm trying to draw out that Beckett is a consequentialist. He believes that the ends justify the means. This is interesting to me because (IMHO) most people in our culture are consequentialists. However I am not in real life. Or at least I try not to be.

So, in Beckett's mind, if that chest contained some evil that would be unleashed on our destination, it was his duty to stop it, by any means necessary... Including sinking the ship with all hands on board.

Add to that mindset some good 'ol messianic zeal about him being the 'appointed one' to be in that place at that time... And some fervor that Saerene will give him the power to do what 'must be done' (as Saerene must clearly be a consequentialist as well... Beckett trying to make his god in his own image - a whole different topic) and... Well, there ya go. :)

It is my hope for Beckett that part of his healing is to be cured of this mindset. That he will be forced to make a choice where the means are so odious that he cannot bring himself to do them, despite the ends. Or possibly that he does do it, but is then cast out by Saerene or the church. (DM: hint, hint :)).

Thanks for taking an interest! :)

I am consistently humbled by the depth of creativity in this group. Thanks so much for bringing the noise and the funk. Beckett after that outline you're due a "mike drop" and a proud stride from the stage.

I'm writing up a response to Beckett now along with those with Opillien. Plus I'll be moving us to the next day and arrival at Riddonport.

You guys are all providing this fertile play ground. Very happy to get a chance to play around in it!

Had a late night. Will get a post up for Mister Kraken tomorrow!

I was going to engage Phedron, but I don't know he is still here.

Great posting you guys.

Is it time for a role call? I'm seeing Beckett, Drogan and Karl posting with regularity. How are things with Lavios, Nosatrub and Phedron?

Go ahead and check in, gang. And don't be shy, if things aren't going well and this game is far from priroty, there's no harm in going on hiatus. I can have you of on assignment or something. I'm flexible and more than understanding of RL responsibilities.

I'm cooking up the arrival in Ridonport today and tomorrow. Tonight is a busy one since InnRoads Plays is finally recording their next session!

Jeff

I have to apologize again for my lack of invovlement.

The past couple of months have been extremely hard.

I have lurked and read everything that has gone on, I just don't have anything in me to give right now.

The story, as always, is fantastic and I can't wait to see what it has going forward. I still want to be an active part, I just beg your patience for a little while more yet while I try to get things here ironed out.

Hey brother, I don't know what it is you are going through, but I hope you will stick around even if it means you are lurking ;). Personally, I find these games to be therapeutic. Your contributions have been great. I like the way you play a paladin and the little insight stories are great too.

Please let us know if there is something that we can ask or hope for in our thoughts and prayers.

Amen to that. I definitely want this game to be a great escape for everyone. Go easy and know our prayers are with you. And by all means, lurk away. Although, having "lurk" apply to a paladin doesn't sound natural. How's about hover?

Please know my door's always open if you someone to connect with that goes for everyone in the group. PM me or email me for whatever.

Group Meeting!

I wanted to throw out a discussion for the gaming group regarding Combat and Posting Frequencies. Have a read below, I'm looking forward to your feedback.

A Note on Combat
With posting rates fluctuating I'm thinking a more streamlined process for combat is in order. Going forward, at the onset of combat, I'll roll collective initiatives. Taking the rolls I'll use the average of the rolls for the group vs the baddies' average, then launch each round.

Each round, I'll post up the actions, battle map and statuses. Then I'll give a day for responses, characters can post on a first come first serve basis so there's no confusion on who did what when, it'll be based on posting order. This means, read previous posts in a combat round carefully to know what to do next. The next day I'll bot whomever hasn't gone and then move on to the next round of combat.

For Example: Round 1 opens with the party facing giant spiders. I have rolled initiative and determined that the party has the jump, they go first. Drogan posts at 6am, Beckett posts at 7am where he reacts to Drogan and then acts, Karl posts at 730am and reacts/plays off the prior two, etc etc. The next morning I determine if anyone hasn't gone, bot those who didnt, post for the baddies, then turn to Round 2 and go to the pcs for their actions.

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A Note on Posting Frequency
I'm going to go out on out on a limb and say things are busy for folks all around. Between RL stresses and trials, posting up in a fantasy game isn't the top priority. These are the things out of our control.

Karl mentioned to me offline that there could be another contributor to campaign stagnation - GM frequency. I've been remiss in keeping up with at least a post a day to make sure you guys see something new each time you visit the site. A sure way to kill a game is if you as as player stop by and see nothing posted for 2 days straight. Then you start checking every other day, then once a week... Then not at all.

So here's what I'm proposing; I'll commit to posting once per week day, once per weekend, at the bare minimum. If I can't on a particular day, you can depend upon me to at least let you guys know in the Discussion Thread.

For you guys, I'd like to ask the following commitments:
➢ Stop by once per day to read post(s). This way, even if you can't post up, you're caught up
➢ That being said, even a small blurb from your character each day would be awesome! - Linkah frowns and goes back to playing poker with Kraken - A post like that, even if it's small, let's me and the party know you're engaged. It also keeps you engaged with your character for when you're in a spot to hammer out a novella.
➢ If you're going to be gone for a while, post up in the Discussion Thread to let us know. It gives us a chance to pray and a heads up that we can press forward.

This should keep things running smoothly and - in the case of combat - quickly. Please post responses to this and let me know if you guys are ok with it or have any suggestions. Let's keep the party going!

I am okay with the combat order thing, it is used in other games I'm in and it works. At lower level it's not a bad way to do things especially in encounters where the DM wants a quick cinematic flavor of combat and then wrapped up feel.

I am still all in for this game. We have such a great group of people and writers here. I am hoping Karls character is not wrecking anyone's fun. If he is please let me know. He is playing the part of an old grizzled Sgt. and he is concerned for the young men with him. He is also struggling to return to the light. There was going to be a transition, but without Phedron, Nosa and Beckett on more often I haven't really advanced those parts of the character.

I know life gets hectic, but even a little post helps move the story along. I hope all of you are well.

The combat system sounds great to me.

Posting frequency sounds very fair. I especially appreciate the encouragement to post something short.

Everyone's writing is so good, that I sometimes feel insecure about posting something short... Like, a short response disrespects the effort that went into the post I am responding to. Sadly that sometimes leads to not posting at all, if I don't have the time or energy to put into a longer post.

So... If it is just understood that short posts just mean that longer posts are coming later, that would help me out a ton. :)

Drogan is still one of my favorite characters I've ever written - so I'm in. I think the post order for combat is fine - seeing as I usually try to respond in light of what came beforehand.

@Beckett: Glad I brought it up. And don't disrespect the effort and skill you bring to the table! You're done a great job developing the character!

Beckett I love your character. Very interesting even small posts are great, otherwise things just kinda come to a slow stop.

I'm actively waiting to see if Beckett finally snaps and kills everyone in his path in a frothing holy rage ... if your character wasn't interesting - then I wouldn't care when he pontificates or screams at the unclean. ;)

Keep it up, no matter what the length.

You guys are all awesome!

Almost a year in, we're all of level two, and it's the best campaign ever! :)

Wow, it's almost been a year since we started putting this together. I hadn't even thought of that.

And, BTW, awesome post Beckett. A twist on the perceived charity...a deeper motive to remove an obstacle...yikes. You better hope Kraken gets accepted, heh heh.

Heh. There are so many ways it could blow up in his face... And it would serve him right...

Oh! It occurred to me that our new initiative system is very similar to FFG's system in their Star Wars RPGs (Edge of the Empire, etc).

In that system, the players each roll initiate, but they are all considered generic "PC slots." Any player can use any slot, even if he wasn't the one that rolled the result.

It works great there. Very streamlined, and it avoids the need to delay actions and all that sort of stuff.

Karl... ever the man of action!

Well, that makes it pretty easy for Beckett to decide what to do... :)

I'm still here and reading and getting soon ready to jump back in full force.

A small note on things here...

My wife and I were going through a lot lately. This is why I have not been present as I just couldn't wrap my brain around anything other than what I was going through.

But thankfully, God is working healing in our relationship and things are definitely on the mend!!!

God is good and I'm ever thankful for his presence in my life. I wouldn't have been able to get through the last couple of months without him.

So...

Hopefully Nosa will be back trying to help everyone and getting in over his head :)

So happy that things are getting better. Will continue to pray for you and your family.

I apologize. With a two week vacation looming, they've got a list a mile long at work. We are supposed to bring on some designers after the beginning of the year, which will at least get us back to normal staff... nevermind that we needed more before we lost the two.

I'll write myself in, trailing if it's plausible, Mr. GM, sir.

Sigh... Work...

We all just need to go pro with this RPG thing... That's all there is to it... ;->

@Nosa: Good to hear about the home front. Marriage isn't an easy endeavour. I'm 12 years in and still learning. God does have His plan, marriage being a large part of his image of our relationship with Him. We'll be praying for His continued guidance for you and your wife.

In the lighter topic, it'll be glad to have you back in the mix. Be sure to read thru my post from the weekend on posting and combat and let me know if it works or if you have suggestions on improving the experience.

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@Phedron: Ditto on the RL thing. I'm with Beckett, there's no other choice but to go pro with this gaming thing. But as for joining in, feel free to hop in with the main group or perhaps go with Captain Opillien as he reports the loss of his ship to the Taldan Imperials. Or if you want to explore the book or an thing else to continue developing your character, let me know.

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@Lavios: Oh Lavios, where are ya buddy? Same for you, wherever you want to post up, let me know and we'll get you in. I'm interested to see do you want to leverage from influence with the ship's crew, or go with the others to the Abadar church to deliver the crystal dagger et al with Karl and the boys?

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@All: Let me know if there's certain things for which you're seeking to enrich and develop your characters. As you survive this side quest in Ridonport (I'm optimistic), things will take a darker turn as you head towards Demgazi and the possible roots of this cult. Thin on where you want to steer you pcs, and let me know how I can help.

Alright - let's break this down:

To the guys who have gone quiet -
Real life always comes first. Yeah, we want you in and posting - but if it comes down to you in and screwing up your life/relationships or you out for a bit and taking care of business - go and be blessed, son. Toss us a line every now and then and we'll probably still be here and rolling when you get back unless Jeff kills us all.

In regards to what I want for Drogan in this game -
We're chasing down what I want for Drogan in this game. Drogan wants to be able to reclaim his honor. While there's no chance my boy will go back to his archivist life, He eventually wants to set foot within the walls of Highhelm again and shake off the "Line Breaker" moniker.

Bit of business for the in-game:
Apparently I was too far off to attack (before we had a map proper) - so we can just expect Drogan's continuing with the initial attack if you want. Otherwise I can roll it out again. Lord knows there was room for improvement with those dice before.

Re-roll it sir. I'm good with that. And excellent points all.

@Drogan - Actually keep the roll. If you're targeting the one Karl just hit, you get the charge + the flank so a +4 to your attack. That hits the hombre and finishes him.

Works for me.

But the next round awaits the thorough application of you ax.

Finals studying: done.

Now that I'm done, I'll get a post up ASAP.

Ackkk! 3s suck