
Verik of Abadar |

A follow-up on the crafted items to run down during the interim period:
Corwin - N/A (has Stag Lord's Amulet of Natural Armor +2)
Berrin - Amulet of Natural Armor +1 2000gp (MADE), Crown of Alluring Charisma +2 (MADE, eventually for Jemini)
Tandlara - Amulet of Natural Armor +1 2000gp
Taisper - Amulet of Natural Armor +1 2000gp or Cloak of Resistance +1 1000gp (Taisper's Choice)
Zander - Cloak of Resistance +1 1000gp
Verik - Cloak of Resistance +1 1000gp
Jemini - Crown of Alluring Charisma +2 4000gp (MADE, currently held by Berrin)
If there's any money left over, a Cloak of Resistance +1 can also be made.

Verik of Abadar |

Since Corwin's dropped out we need to re-think the distribution again, I'm loathe to award an NPC with a +2 magic item at this point.
That is a mighty fine amulet isn't it. Well do you want to sort out the loot that's out there? With the Greatsword taken it's the amulet, the leather armor and the composite longbow (built for 24 STR or something crazy like that I think). I'll just focus on the remainder of the stuff Verik needs to make for Tandlara/Taisper/Zander/Verik from the 12K allowance.

Berrin Myrdal |

Who's got the skills to bandy words with the bard? Berrin's got bluff but I'm afraid of him getting caught in a lie and with intimidate the crowd/recipient will turn hostile/unfriendly when Berrin's out of sight...
Anybody with ranks in diplomacy or any perform skills? (Where's Jemini when you need her dangit!)

Verik of Abadar |

Who's got the skills to bandy words with the bard? Berrin's got bluff but I'm afraid of him getting caught in a lie and with intimidate the crowd/recipient will turn hostile/unfriendly when Berrin's out of sight...
Anybody with ranks in diplomacy or any perform skills? (Where's Jemini when you need her dangit!)
Hmm well Verik has decent Diplomacy, but his Oratory is untrained, so just his straight Cha bonus plus a die roll. You think I can run Diplomacy on a crowd?
Hehe Berrin just Intimidate Grigori to take all his words back and tell him to scram (and take his lunch money too while you're at it) :)

Warden Zander Orlovsky |

It really dawned on me today how great it is that Jemini is playing strong off on her own. I haven't read her spoilers and I got into the rut of seeing posts from her as "no new posts". And as players have dropped off, I have been thinking, boy now there are so few of us, when for a moment there there we were so many.
And then it dawns on me that Jemini is still out there posting away. We are still a party of five (eventually).
This thinking sort of arose as I have been wrestling with Zander as to how big a role he wants, especially as such a reclusive figure. With players disappearing I felt pressure for him to step up more for the sake of making posts and keeping things moving. Luckily the welfare of kids making dumb choices is something he feels very strongly about. And I think organizing and caring for his Wardens is something he can really embrace, although he has been loathe to accept it.
With this little bit of growth I am at the point now that I don't feel like I am playing someone else's character as he has grown into something new under my watch.
...now if I only had Verik's adaptability...Vorduvai, you are doing a great job with such a bombastic figure.

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Yeah I like Zander's evolution on this one. Because Zander has historically been the dour reserved loner-type with secrets, having to reveal his character's opinions and emotions in such a tight economy of words has to be hard. Looks like the aspects around the Warden role will give him some more character hooks than he would have had in another role.
Thanks for the compliment Meowzebub. I have to say that you guys make posting look a lot easier than it is, so I'm still trying to strike a good posting content balance. Role-playing and writing from Verik's perspective isn't hard for me, but creating timely and relevant posts where I'm not assuming too much and leaving proper space for characters to interact is a lot harder than I thought! A lot of times I'll write something out and then look at it and realize it needs to be cut way back. It's probably also easier in PbP to have the proverbial campfire conversations, but looks like this group isn't going to have that opportunity for awhile yet.
Yeah it will be fun to interact with Jemini, and (hopefully) with Tandlara, even if the latter has to be a bit infrequent due to RL. Too bad about Dan having to shelve Corwin though.
Like Berrin, I've cheated and read 'Beyond the Veil' and think it's spectacular :)

DM Barcas |

Just a quick story that I felt like sharing, totally unrelated to anything at hand. It's got a few details regarding domestic violence, so I'm putting it in spoilers in case you don't want to read about bad people doing bad things. Plus, bad language.
I did my background check and due diligence, discovering his lengthy criminal history, which literally included robbing little old ladies of their purses amongst other felonies and misdemeanors, his gang membership, his drug dealing, and his prior history of family violence. There are people in this world who are truly Chaotic Evil, and this prick is one of them.
I filed a warrant this evening for his arrest on felony assault charges. (It is a third degree felony, which in Texas means that he now faces 2-10 years in prison.) I rounded up the original patrol officers and we went back to the motel, where we found the suspect and placed him under arrest. After getting him into custody, I stood outside the patrol car and whispered to myself, "Smite evil, you piece of s+."
Some days it is good to get the opportunity to be a real life paladin. Some days you get to put a truly evil person in jail for a long time where he can't put the helpless in danger anymore. Lawful Good is a good feeling when you get to put it into practice.

Jemini of Lebeda |

That is awful, and I very much hope the guy gets the maximum sentence possible for his crime.
Two things: now I'm wondering what a Chaotic Good person would do.
And, an interesting contrast here in South Africa: we do not have enough jails to cope with the arrests that are made - even with comparatively lack-luster policing going on. We are stuck in a position where some serious, violent criminals go to jail for a couple of weeks before they are released due to lack of space.

Taisper Stozs |

The only time I was ever around domestic violence was years ago when we lived above a couple in an abusive relationship, always m on f violence, threats, etc. Finally one night they had a huge knock-down drag-out fight, we called police, etc.
A couple days later I got served a summons to appear in some kind of Proceeding (I didn't go into court, we all just met in a DA's(?) office) involving the couple, me, and a couple of the officers. We had three witnesses in our apartment that night, which was right above theirs, and all three of us reported hearing/seeing the exact same things (obviously) go down. When I was at this pre-trial thing, or whatever it was, they asked me to corroborate and confirm (again) what I heard/saw. Among the things Mercy and I (and my drummer, who was with us that night) heard was the girl screaming "OH GOD PLEASE NO, DON'T HURT ME! DON'T DO THAT!" and similar awful s#~*. After I confirmed I heard that, the DA looked at the girl, who was sitting right next to me, and asked "Did you say that?" She replied without hesitation: "Oh no I would never say those things."
On the way out, I was talking to one of the cops who had separated them that night (I dunno what it's like in TX, but in WI, if there is a domestic violence call, it's a night in jail for the assailant, no questions asked) and asked why she'd lie like that. He said he saw it all the time. Said that very often people would rather deal with the abuse on their own than face the perceived "embarrassment" of a court case. They think they can "fix everything". Or they're just blind or deluded or whatever.
All I know is I was f+~!ing sick walking out of the county building that day. I was so disgusted. I don't know if I've ever hated being a human being as much as I did right then. :-/

DM Barcas |

While my son and wife are napping, let me come to apologize for how lax I've been getting. I stay up with Julian all night (as I am a night owl), but he seems to have picked that up from me as well. He fusses all night because he sleeps during the day, and will only rest when I hold him on my chest. I don't mind one bit and really enjoy it, but I can't post anything while that's happening.
Anyway, we are nearing the end of the Interregnum period. Any suggestions for the next title? I was thinking Kingmaker: Manifest Destiny, though that has less meaning to non-Americans and also might be better used for a later chapter.
Let's get moving on the next few months. Presumably you're just sticking out the winter with minimal additions. Any suggestions on buildings for when the spring starts?
1. Starting Treasury: 9 BP
2. Stability: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28 (Pass, +1 BP)
3. Consumption: -3 BP
4. Economy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29 (Pass, +5 BP)
You now have 12 BP.
5. Leadership: ---
6. Claim Hexes: ---
7. Buildings: ---
8. Hex Improvements: ---
9. Edicts: ---
10. Event: 1d100 ⇒ 49 (None)
1. Starting Treasury: 12 BP
2. Stability: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23 (Fail, Unrest +1)
3. Consumption: -3 BP
4. Economy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40 (Pass, +8 BP, +2 Critical)
You now have 16 BP. Your Unrest returns to 0.
5. Leadership: ---
6. Claim Hexes: ---
7. Buildings: ---
8. Hex Improvements: ---
9. Edicts: ---
10. Event: 1d100 ⇒ 63
--> 1d4 ⇒ 4
----> 1d12 ⇒ 12
------> Visiting Celebrity 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10 plus 1d6 ⇒ 3
Maegar Varn, ruler of the nearby sister frontier settlement of Varnhold, arrives in Sanctuary to sign a trade agreement brokered by Kesten Garess. There is a massive influx of goods and services as the two towns trade their built-up stocks. Varn, a larger-than-life personality with a booming laugh and penchant for challenging entire taverns to drinking contests, vows to return later in the year with his daughters and council members. He is beloved by nearly everyone in Sanctuary, regardless of their station, and makes great strides in promoting the bonds between the two settlements.
You guys got one of the best events! That is a huge influx of cash that should really help. Plus, you'll have already met Maegar Varn next time he pops up.
03/4708
1. Starting Treasury: 29 BP
2. Stability: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28 (Pass, +1 BP)
3. Consumption: -0 BP
4. Economy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33 (Pass, +6 BP)
You now have 36 BP.

Berrin Myrdal |

Seriously man, enjoy it.
-----
Lands; We need to be plowing ahead to claim Oleg's and build a town there as well as building the mine IMO.
As for Sanctuary; Can buildings use the same houses or do we need to build separate houses for each building? f.ex. we have two houses already and for a market we need three but the shop needs one. So would we need to build two more or just one?
Edit; It might be a good idea to save up for a cathedral, it halves the cost of many buildings that halve costs of others in turn...

Berrin Myrdal |

01/4709
6. Claim Hexes: E 12
7. Buildings: Tannery
8. Hex Improvements: Road E 12 (Can't remember what roads cost)
Leaving us 0-2 BP
02/4709
6. Claim Hexes: D 12
7. Buildings: ---
8. Hex Improvements: Road D 12
Leaving us 17-19 BP
02/4709
6. Claim Hexes: C 12
7. Buildings: Fletcher
8. Hex Improvements: Found City at C12 (Name it Crossroads) gaining usage of Oleg's Inn there.
Leaving us 15 BP - what it costs to claim hexes and build roads.

Berrin Myrdal |

Can we build in the city on the turn it was founded? If so I propose a market in Olegs and the fletcher in sanctuary.
The mine is still two squares away, it still would be one square away if we went the most direct route.
But correct me if I'm wrong; Looking at the Newhaven map through the link in your profile it looks like a border is already around Olegs. Did we claim that hex already? If we have, then claiming hexes E 12, D12 and D11 would be my chosen route.
Edit; We need 3 houses for a market, make that a house in Olegs.

DM Barcas |

That hex isn't claimed. It automatically creates a border when the city was created in the program. When you do claim Oleg's, Oleg's Trading Post is automatically incorporated as a free Shop, Stable, or Watchtower.
Houses are separate for each cities. You have to have 3 houses in Oleg's in order to support 1 market.
Since you have a Castle in Sanctuary, you may want to build a Noble Villa for 12 BP, which would bring Sanctuary's housing count up to 5 Houses and 2 Mansions, which would really open up some economic options for the city.

DM Barcas |

1. Starting Treasury: 36 BP
2. Stability: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32 (Pass, +1 BP)
3. Consumption: 0
4. Economy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (2) + 21 = 23 (Fail)
You now have 37 BP.
5. Leadership: ---
6. Claim Hexes: E12 (-1 BP)
7. Buildings: Sanctuary, Tannery (-10 BP)
8. Hex Improvements: Road E12 (-1 BP)
9. Edicts: ---
10. Event: 1d100 ⇒ 59 (None)
1. Starting Treasury: 25 BP
2. Stability: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24 (Fail, +1 Unrest)
3. Consumption: 0
4. Economy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29 (Pass, +5 BP)
You now have 30 BP. Your Unrest returns to 0.
5. Leadership: ---
6. Claim Hexes: D12 (-1 BP)
7. Buildings: ---
8. Hex Improvements: D12 Road (-1 BP)
9. Edicts: ---
10. Event: 1d100 ⇒ 81 (None)
And that gets us through Taxfest and the anniversary of Stagfall, which is a rather important time. Your consumption is going to be 1 after this, but you can jump onto Oleg's in the following month.