Congrats to all of you. Now, because of some issues IRL, I'm not going to be posting as much as normal for a bit. I had planned on kicking this off this weekend, but I think I'll wait until Monday to give things on my end some time to settle and give all of you a chance to work out how well you know each other.
That said, I hope all of you will find the wait worth it.
Yay! Thanks for the pick!
hello all let me get you some stew and a drink..
Hurray! I'm sure we'll be pleased, DMS.
I can't imagine Shelby knowing anybody very well, but if anybody has ideas, I'm game.
Glad to be here as well. We should probably do as he says and determine how we know each other. I'll read all of your entries by tomorrow and make some suggestions then.
*watches everyone nervously from a corner*
Glad to be here, folks. Looking forward to this, especially since I just left another game. Hopefully this will be a good, positive experience.
what game did you just leave?
PM sent, Lou. It's not something that should be discussed publicly.
At first glance, it looks like most residents of Sandpoint would at least be aware of Lou & Liera, due to their employment.
Jin already has ties to Lou built into her backstory.
Shelby likely knows Liera due to ties with Koya. Probably knows Archibald, as well, but his backstory doesn't include anything with Koya at the moment.
Can't imagine anything tying her to Datura, at this time.
Or Tshilaba, either.
I'll think on it.
I'd imagine that anybody that frequents the Rusty Dragon knows who Jin is. She's constantly hanging about.
DM-Salsa, thank you for the pick, and I hope all goes well for you.
Sadly, Datura is pretty much an anti-social outsider in all this. Not really the overall intent, but that's how he starts.
He tries to stay as close as he can to Shalelu (a friend of his from childhood), for anyone that has her as their trait connection.
Also, his plant companion Awdrithicus is a little different, and she may have once even attempted to eat a Halfling or two (in case there are any in the party that almost looked too close at her colorful and sweet smelling petals).
He still will not likely be all that friendly or social just yet, but he will have met you before.
Thanks for accepting me! Now, to read back stories. I'll probably know Datura and his friend as I worship Shalelu almost as hard as I worship exploration and adventure (to her great annoyance, probably)
I'm thinking that Tshilaba will be a patron of the bar. Making a few silver here and there through fortunes will buy him enough swill to try to forget about his former girl problems. Of course, there are pretty girls at the bar too, so that's nice.
Even though Tshilaba was rescued by Shalelu, he doesn't harbor any romantic attachment. He's still mourning Aishe, his "lost" love. He's not into rebound stuff, but I'm sure he'll get interested in someone at some point early in the game.
He'll know Lou and Liera and Jin from the bar, and probably Dat and Archie from Shalelu whenever she's in town and/or the bar as well. I view Tshilaba as a bit pushy, so he'll probably try to at least be on friendly terms with everyone. He'll make Liera uncomfortable with the attention and friendliness with which he'll show her. If he spots Lou's sketchbook he'll want to show him all the harrow cards he makes. He'll want to talk with Archibald about pretty much anything and will listen to all of his solved cases with astonishment. He would have bugged Datura to get Awdrithicus' fortune told, stating that he could tell by the striation of the petals that the plant was burdened with glorious purpose.
Shelby he may not know, although if he's seen her in town, he may have tried to solicit a card reading of her from time to time. He comes across as a complete fool most of the time so I'm sure that her serious nature would cause her to think of the fortune teller as a waste of time. Since she's such a stick in the mud, he might view it as his own personal mission to get her to enjoy life more especially since he's wanting to do that too and make a new start of things.
He'll get along with Jin real well since he's used to rogues and knaves, since he is a knave himself. We could work out a time when he came to her rescue, but got himself into just as much trouble as she was in before Ameiko and Shalelu came and rescued them both. It's quite likely he'll make bad choices along the way as well. We'll see what happens there.
In any case, I'm looking forward to playing with you all. Perhaps we could start a Tavern thread or something while we wait for DM Salsa to get ready to start. It would help us get into character and have a little fun as we go. Whaddya say?
Tshilaba - Shelby has likely been going to the Rusty Dragon, being pressed by Koya to 'lighten up and enjoy life a little more'. Plenty of opportunity for her to run into everybody, including a young man with the 'gift of precognition'. Unless in a particularly foul mood, she likely would be polite enough to assent to a reading, assuming Tshilaba doesn't insist on anything more than a copper or two. She likely would NOT feign any interest whatsoever in the reading.
Jin - Both of us are originally from Korvosa, and with Jin being so outgoing and friendly, they could certainly have a friendship in place, or at least be acquaintances.
Lou - Depending on how private the differences between Noro and Lou are, Shelby would have at least respect for Lou for trying to impose some control on his more wild sister.
Liera - After further reading, it would appear we spent the second half of our childhood together with Koya. Any ideas for our sisterly relationship?
Archibald - I can imagine Shelby not knowing Archibald very well, and if he should start prattling on to her or asking excessive questions her patience wearing thin rather quickly.
Datura - With Shelby not being very social, as far as making friends goes, there would rarely be contact between the two, since Datura is anti-social, as well. A plant companion is rare enough that she has heard of him, at least, I am sure.
As far as the Tavern idea, I'm game.
Jin - Archibald is a patron of the Dragon and has met Jin and her other Tien friends Ameiko and Lou. He has lapsed into more than one treatise on some obscure topic with her and adores her fascination with the world as it mirrors his own. However, she has probably learned not.to.get him started on Shalelu. One he starts talking about her he usually ends up standing on the nearest high thing and singing songs of her praise. Literally.
Lou - Archibald probably has a professional association with Lou as a cook and not much more. Archibald would engage him in conversation, of course, but they probably have too little in common to have spent hours shooting the wind.
Shelby - Indeed, Shelby and Archibald are about as opposite as two people can get. He would think her rude, uninteresting, and all together wound far too tightly.
Tshilaba- Archibald would have gladly paid for a fortune or three and would have gladly engaged in a conversation on the intricacies of Harrow - craft. They probably have a casual, friendly acquaintence.
Liera- Archibald may not have met you yet with your tendency to avoid contact with people.
Datura - You probably know, and disapprove of, Archibald. He worships Shalelu and that probably throws up red flags for you. For his part, he thinks your plant friend is fascinating in spite of that little incident where he got too close once, and always steers conversations with you around to her. It's not that you're uninteresting, it's that she's SHALELU.
I am still here just in case... I have been working on sketches for Lou's sketch book to include the current party.
well at least those that Lou probably knows or finds interesting.
@ Selbarina: there is not too much private between Lou and Noro. but there is a lot of history there that most can find out by asking around. Lou and Noro have been known to fight (sibling rivalry and teasing. but never serious.)
@ jin: looks like you found a sketch already: can I use that picture for Lou's sketchbook? I think at the start Jin and Lou are pretty close friends.
@ Liera: I just remembered we were together before in a very short lived jade regent game I may have a sketch from that game still saved.
@ Tshilaba: need more info in your profile to get a half way decent sketch.
Of course, Lou. :)
I'll have more detailed thoughts on the group later tonight. I'm at a beer festival all day.
Jin
You do realize that given what you posted and where you are at, it will not be possible
Sadly, Datura will probably start with very little connection beyond knowing who they are for anyone who has a strong connection to the Rusty Dragon. He only frequents the place when Shalelu is around.
I see his strongest connection with Archibald, as the pestering him for information about Shalelu would bother him. Not for the frequency, as much as it just reminds how little he really knows his childhood friend, which just deepens his own lack of confidence in expressing himself.
He would be somewhat curious as to what Tshilaba intends with telling Awd's fortune, as she is really Awd the 7th, and a mindless plant. That's not to say he doesn't care for her deeply, just that he understands plants have fickle lives that can be damaged just by the change of seasons.
Liera, I could see Datura befriending... your familiar if it is visible enough for him to notice. He would become a quick friend to the animal, especially considering how intelligent it is.
I am still here just in case... I have been working on sketches for Lou's sketch book to include the current party.
well at least those that Lou probably knows or finds interesting.
@ Selbarina: there is not too much private between Lou and Noro. but there is a lot of history there that most can find out by asking around. Lou and Noro have been known to fight (sibling rivalry and teasing. but never serious.)
@ jin: looks like you found a sketch already: can I use that picture for Lou's sketchbook? I think at the start Jin and Lou are pretty close friends.
@ Liera: I just remembered we were together before in a very short lived jade regent game I may have a sketch from that game still saved.
@ Tshilaba: need more info in your profile to get a half way decent sketch.
I eagerly look forward to view your concept of Shelby. :)
So far I've added Liera and Tshilaba into my background. Please look it over and let me know if you'd like me to tweak/change anything.
Added some more pics to Lou's sketchbook.. the link is in the profile
Well done on the portrait, 'ol chap! Captured my essence, you did!
Jin - since you're always hanging about the Rusty Dragon, it's entirely possible you'd know Liera. She tries to avoid people, taking up tasks that don't require here to make much contact, but depending on how much she knows of you, she could have an odd fascination with you. After all, ninja are at home in the shadows, and since Liera has the shadow patron, there could be an odd sense of kinship - something she doesn't have a lot of.
Lou - how could you forget me?! :P Since we both work at the Dragon, we'd obviously know each other. What are your thoughts on the 'hell-spawn'?
Shelby - you've worked in a good tie there. I can see Liera still being uncomfortable around Shelby - after all, the Inheritor isn't always kind, and Shelby's tendencies toward law over good don't exactly gel well with her fiendish heritage. It's entirely likely she's been trying to be a good 'sister', but Shelby's faith makes her uncomfortable. How does Shelby feel about her choice of patron, and her comfort in the shadows and dark places of the world? How does that conflict with Shelby's own faith in Iomedae's light?
Tshilaba - I can definitely see your attempts at being on good terms making Liera uncomfortable. She doesn't trust people easily, and she isn't used to people being terribly nice - often not seeing it if they are, because she's still coping with her abandonment. Tshilaba being so blatant about it might cause her some conflict - is he genuine, or does he have an agenda? Though, deep down, it is kind of nice to have someone trying to be so friendly... Would he have told her fortune at any point? And would she let him? :p
Archibald - as Liera has no real ties with Shalelu, it's likely Archibald has no interest in her ;-) Though if he's visible in his storytelling and enthusiasm, it's possible Liera has watched from a distance, interested in how someone ca have so much zest and passion for something - it's an unfamiliar feeling to her.
Datura - Liera's familiar, the rabbit Speckle, tends to be visible (less so when she's working). When she's out and about, the rabbit goes with her. Would your companion ever have tried to eat mine?
I've tried to answer questions, and ask some of my own. Hope I didn't miss anyone!
I imagine Shelby would take to the role of older sister dutifully if not eagerly, making it a point to stamp out the 'darkness' in Liera, and Koya frequently having to tell Shelby to 'back off'. Shelby would have trouble reconciling the relatively gentle spirit of Liera to the teachings at the Cathedral about the lower planes, and their relationship would be awkward. I can see it vacillating between kindness and coldness, depending on Shelby's mood that day.
Alrighty, got at least a little blurb about everyone, now. Please let me know if you disapprove, think something should be different, want to tweak, etc.
Shelby, I'd imagine Tshilaba would not tell a fortune for less than a silver. How would he eat? He'd berate her with some cliche like "you get what you pay for", especially after she tried to short him. It's a fun antagonism they got going, I look forward to seeing it in play.
Liera, Tshilaba is a bit slippery in his personality. He deals with vague language so much in his job that it's hard to get a feel for him. I'm looking forward to how all that plays out.
@Lou - I love the sketches, please tell me a Datura and Awd is on the way? If you need a description of Awd (more a general idea per se) let me know. Also, the image you have there labeled Noro is very different from the idea I had of the Noro that sailed with Durvin the Sea-singer. Are they very different characters, the S&S vs the RotRL Noro's?
@Liera - OMG, I didn't even think of that. Yes! Awd would have most definitely tried to eat Speckle. Luckily, she follows commands, so having told her 'Down', she wouldn't try again. I don't know if you saw my RP sample, but Awd is all carnivore, at least initially trying to eat anything her size or smaller that's made of meat. Whereas Datura is strictly vegetarian.
In case it's not obvious, I like to have minimal pre-game connections to the other characters. The intro/getting to know the others is some of my favorite RP. It plays so well with the growing in power and learning how each other operates style of eventually becoming a fast knit team.
It's one thing I hate about starting at high level, as an already formed group. You tend to have all these abilities that are so unfamiliar (because you just got them all at once), and may mesh well with the styles of the other characters, except they just got all theirs too. There's just something to be said for that growing and learning together style of teamwork.
If it's the blue drawing of her in a kimono, that'd be the one I did when I managed to wrangle Noro into a Kimono.
And by "wrangle" he totally doesn't mean blackmail. :)
So Lou was right. When I got home, the only thing I wanted was sleep. Coherent thoughts were difficult to gather.
Let's see... a lot has already been written and I like most of the ideas. I'll try and gather them as they relate to Jin.
Lou - I already have some backstory here. Jin is close with Ameiko, Lou, and Noro, as she gravitated towards people that look like her and share a culture. Jin treats Lou like the older brother she never had and will needle him to no end over Ameiko.
Shelby - Jin and Selbarina are close, their shared experiences growing up in Korvosa having brought them together. They both share a belief in justice, although Shelby's motives tend to be more practical and less... childish.
Datura - Although Jin has never met Datura, she has seen the elf from a distance, accompanying Shalelu. She doesn't know many elves, and their culture fascinates her. If she got an opportunity, she would likely drive the tattooed elf crazy with her questions.
Archie - Jin knows the halfling merchant from his time spent at the Rusty Dragon. Their fascination with other cultures is an easy road to friendship and Jin loves to talk with him about his experiences. Archie does tend to drone though, so she's careful to avoid that.
Tshilaba - Jin's heard of Varisian fortune teller, but she hasn't met him yet.
Liera - Sounds good to me, but Jin isn't a ninja. Yet. :)
If it's the blue drawing of her in a kimono, that'd be the one I did when I managed to wrangle Noro into a Kimono.
Ah, that was fun.
Jin - ah, sorry. My bad. Still, there'll be an opportunity there once that happens.
Datura - that could be a fun introduction. Early game, Datura comes across a frantic tiefling trying to pull a rabbit out of his companion's jaws. :p
Looks like we'll have some good opportunities for conflict here... Muahahahahaha.
To be clear.. I am pretty much good with whatever. I definately like the idea with Jin. when Noro can't badger him, Jin will fill in the gaps. *sigh*
Also as things progress I believe Salsa and I worked this out (mostly) but Lou may end up multi into Samurai later as the story develops as he discovers more of his ancestory.
And, it begins. I'm sure nothing too bad will happen to Sandpoint before noon. >:D
Sorry Shelby if it seems like I'm picking on you. All of the good characters are going to have a turn with others on the neutral fence. You just happened to be first. :D
You're not bothering me at all. I was more worried about being an attention-hog than being picked on.
Oh don't worry. The others will get their turn soon enough.
Ah, f~+@.
Ah, f!!&.
I never said by Iomedaeans. :D
(As a matter of fact, these two would likely drive Shelby and Lou up the wall. >:D )
No, yours will be far worse: locked up with Archibald for hours on end when he's in one of his Curious Moods. :P
Liera, I'm not sure if your rabbit is visible, but Awd has scent, so she smells it and is ready to eat. ;)
Cue frantic spellcaster trying to save her familiar.
So, I read the spoilers for Shelby (I know, naughty me >.>) and...
Salsa. That NPC. Quinta Alazario.
Is she who I think she is? Because there's something mighty familiar about that name... ;-)
Maaaaaayyyyyyyyybe.
>_>
<_<
;D
I'm sorry for the dearth of posts this week. Got slammed at work and then hung out with a friend until 11:30 last night. I'll try to have something up in all my games tonight.
Maaaaaayyyyyyyyybe.
>_>
<_<
;D
*excited hand jitters*
I'm here, weekends are busy for me. I'll be able to post a little later.
I have a feeling you're enjoying this as much as I am, Oterisk, but if I'm going a little over the top in the b@$!~ department just let me know and I will tone it down some.
Yeah, I'm good with it. As long as it sticks with words and not with actions. We're both good characters and I feel like if it came down to a life or death situation they'd have each other's backs. He grew up in a clan where there was a whole heap of teasing, so it doesn't bother him. That's the kind of vibe I'm getting here.
Besides this is still the beginning of the quest, they've barely begun to get to know each other. Of course I've seen a fair bit of anime and the Tsundere is a well known trope there. Who knows what will develop over time?
Of course, no violence. I'm LN (with good tendencies, for those who go that far back), but I'm still not gonna start swinging my sword at just anyone who irritates me. :D
Just making sure, is all. Having a good time at the expense of another's enjoyment is pretty sorry (player-wise, especially). Glad to hear!
I go a ways back, but not as much as some. I've only been playing since '97 (with a 6 year hiatus in the middle there). This actually reminds me of a character I played once in Advanced D&D. He was a half elf mage/thief trying to disguise himself as a human cleric. He'd flip a coin for every decision.