My wife decided to take the tree down, I will catch up in the morning.
Hey all, I am going to take a break from the game until more real life time frees up. And when it does, I will come back as a new character. Details of both Willem's status and my new character are being worked out. I felt Willem was perfect for the Assault on the King/Coal Tongue Incident and Axis Island - Lighthouse. But since then, I felt Willem was/is out of place and it was hard for me to get into role playing. And of course, my real life changed taking more time away from trying to role play and figure him out in our current status. I think you guys are all awesome role players so this is not hopefully a good bye but instead a "timeout". This way, I will not interrupt the game more than I already have and we will have fun which this is why we play Pathfinder in the first place.
Hey Willem. I completely understand. I quit LOTRO and all console gaming cold turkey way-back-when. I pray that your situation improves this year.
I'm sorry to see you go but I totally understand: real life has to come first. I hope everything calms down for you soon. I'm glad you're coming back and I look forward to seeing your new character :)
Sorry to hear that and I hope all goes well for you. Hope to see you again in game in the near future!
Post coming today...this should be...uh...interesting!
@Songdragon - great job by Jesselle jumping in there!
@Cromlich - so this intimidation contest with Lorcan Kell is going to stick with Emerson. Play up the emotions of it how you think best, but Emerson is going to be scared $%^&less of Kell for a good while - think like Neegan and Rick on the "let me tell you how things are" first encounter in TWD. Kell may get his comeuppance by the constables one day, but it won't be today.
@All - Unless there's somewhere the group collectively wants to go for the night of 2 Summer, I'd like for each PC to do a narrative post scene on "off duty" and any NPC's you're meeting with that night after a long day of being a constable. For a couple of you I might interject in the scene and run NPC dialogue, but it doesn't have to be elaborate. We'll then pick up with 3 Summer at the R.H.C. Briefing Room.
I'll be updating the "Clues" link shortly here with things learned from the events of 2 Summer, so expect that soon and re-familiarize yourselves with the investigation clues!
EDIT: Clues for 2 Summer updated!
I'm fine with going back to the R.H.C. The only place Fethryth wants to go right now is to get a drink. I'll get her scene up tomorrow.
@Cromlich - so this intimidation contest with Lorcan Kell is going to stick with Emerson. Play up the emotions of it how you think best, but Emerson is going to be scared $%^&less of Kell for a good while - think like Neegan and Rick on the "let me tell you how things are" first encounter in TWD. Kell may get his comeuppance by the constables one day, but it won't be today.
Who's Neegan!?
Well it was worth a shot. Aim big fail big. Going to Bible study tonight but will work up a post soon.
So just to clarify, don't think you all have to make a big interim or wall o' text post -- just something that conveys your "life" outside of the R.H.C. and what it looks like to go home after a long day.
So working up the next morning briefing post (3 Summer @ nine-ish with Delft), but figured some of you might want to have fun with your overnight posts there...up to you though!
Don't forget the 'Summary of Clues' link with everything you've uncovered so far!
Been getting hammered. Apparently it is drunk driving season, so my crash squad is getting hit over and over with new cases. I'll get a post in tomorrow, I hope.
Well that's unfortunate in terms of the kind of work you have to be doing right now, but glad you're in the still in the mix here so-to-speak!
Heya Emerson, sent an IM to Cromlich regarding what happened to Muhnee.
Though I'd rather not split the group up into different scenes and events, perhaps after you all go to the Mayor's manor for permission on Cauldron Hill I can do some narration if there's a need to do a small split just to run minor research items down. I'm looking forward to see what you have gleaned so far w/ respect to how you want to handle the smuggler business by evening!
Just finished the first week of work at a new job (yay!), I'll be turning the scene to visiting Nettles Mayor MacBannin up at his manor soon!
Congrats! I hope it is better than the last in all respects.
DM Vord,
Considering some Diplomacy: Gathering Information possibles... I am wondering how you would see this working? Does Jesselle have to do a lot of the leg work, or can those she know help in those en devours.
I want to get the permission but I also want to work on finding out who and when, where this weapons deal is happening.
How long would it take to get the Mayor and back?
DM Vord,
Considering some Diplomacy: Gathering Information possibles... I am wondering how you would see this working? Does Jesselle have to do a lot of the leg work, or can those she know help in those en devours.
I want to get the permission but I also want to work on finding out who and when, where this weapons deal is happening.
How long would it take to get the Mayor and back?
Well I would say that using Diplomacy to Gather Information would take the standard 1d4 hours in an area (a district in this case) to try for a possible check, with the DC determined by what it is you're looking for. Obviously with the clock ticking this day, there may not be enough time to run more than a couple of these checks. I will allow the team to split up into pairs, strictly for the purposes of doing these kind of checks if that's what you all want to do - again though I would prefer that you all not split up too long...and of course you all don't have conveniences such as radios or phones to communicate with each other.
Alternatively, you can utilize your Prestige to get a couple of factions to do some leg work for you perhaps as well, which could help you out today. Your Risur Prestige faction of 2 allows you up to four officers (RHC, police, military) to provide back-up and/or investigate leads in a few hours (or immediately with a successful diplomacy check), or a single officer to do so immediately upon asking. Your Flint Prestige faction of 1 allows you a single Flint citizen (Docker, journalist, bureaucrat) to do a favor for you in a few hours (or immediately with a successful diplomacy check). You also have Unseen Court Prestige faction of 1 (due to how you all schooled Asrabey Varal) buuuutttt you may not want to call in that one in this case, as it's not particularly applicable and a fey "favor" must always be repaid.
Finally...and not to metagame too much...but you all did a fine job of ferreting out many clues on 1 Summer, so you may find you have some clues and leads to follow up on which are pertinent to your situation! Of course that's easier for me to say as DM, since I know the whole mystery, but rest assured this challenge of Kell is not coming at you with a stone cold zero to start from, if that helps.
EDIT: Oh, and meeting with the Mayor won't take that long, so you'll have pretty much from noon onwards to conduct your investigation down in the city.
I think we should use prestige to get someone chasing down leads on this weapons deal. I'm actually leaning towards using Flint prestige to get a docker looking into this, seeing as the weapons are supposed to go to the docker faction. It seems like they'd get farther than the police but that's just a guess.
My computer died today so I'm stuck posting off my phone. I'll be a bit spotty until I get it fixed
Ew! No fun at all! Power supply kind of thing or something with your hard drive and data?
I'm not sure yet. I think/hope it's a motherboard issue; I really don't want to lose anything from my hard drive. For now I've borrowed my dad's 10+ year old laptop so it's easier to write. Partying like it's 2005 lol
Sorry for being out of action the last few days. Dealing with being sick (its not keeping me from work, but it's enough to wear a person out by the end of the day. Not to mention it just won't go away!) On top of that I had Inventory yesterday. Not an excuse, I am just explaining. I will try to keep more on top of my posting.
Nah, you're good and I think you all are getting what you want out of your meeting with Mayor Macbannin.
That being said, we are rapidly moving into an area for the players where you all will need to give me the next "what are we doing for the rest of the day" actions. So I can wrap up your meeting whenever that seems to make sense, but other than putting you in the carriage you'll have to work out how you are working (or delegating) your leads to try and get at this weapons smuggling event for the night of 3 Summer.
EDIT: Admittedly, this would be easier for the players to do around the gaming table, but we don't have that option, so ya know...
So I'm thinking it might be a good idea to track down Deorn Feldman. This was the smuggler we heard about in the 'Thinking Man'. He works for a new outside crime syndicate. Pretty sure these are the people we're looking for.
Vord: Do we have enough Prestige to have the local police report on known locations for the syndicate and or where we could find Deorn Feldman?
Hi All - had work late last night, followed by more work today...yaaaay. I am planning on updating the post more significantly tonight. Again though, I need to know from you all on what you plan to be doing next.
So I'm thinking it might be a good idea to track down Deorn Feldman. This was the smuggler we heard about in the 'Thinking Man'. He works for a new outside crime syndicate. Pretty sure these are the people we're looking for.
Vord: Do we have enough Prestige to have the local police report on known locations for the syndicate and or where we could find Deorn Feldman?
Not sure the police (a.k.a. Risur Prestige) are going to know anything about this new syndicate, based on the sketchy reports that the R.H.C. even has. Now Flinters? Maybe so. Finding Deorn Feldman is possible with either or both factions.
For either or both Prestige factions you all decide to use, I'll need for you to "direct" the resource(s) each to a specific District you're trying to have covered. With a city this large and separate police forces commanded in each district, there's not a centralized way to gather information (I suppose you could say R.H.C. Flint Branch is the centralized resource heh). Similarly, using Flint Prestige translates to Dockers/Flinters/sailors/underground types that would know district neighborhoods, but not the entire city.
So I guess we could try to:
1) Use the Flinters to track down possible locations for the Syndicate meeting.
2) Use either the Dockers or the Police to find Deorn Feldman.
What does everyone think?
Bing sick is still kicking the crap out of me. It has been basically work and sleep. At least it seems I am over the hump. Coughing lots, headaches, but feeling better than I did the previous day. I will take what little wins I can.
I like Emmerson... but what do we do, more general gathering of information?
Is it possible to use spirits to gather information as well?
So just to break this down a bit easier, you can all:
1a) Go as a group to run down leads you may have (refer to RHC clues) OR
1b) Split up and do some Info Gathering in a district (takes x hours and a good roll might glean you something in that district)
AND
2) Use one or both Prestige factions for the day to assist in your efforts...which likely will not be as fruitful as if you did it directly, but hey it's extra people doing stuff you called in a favor (or favors) for.
Makes sense? Questions?
Ah, okay. This is kinda more difficult since we're all not sitting around the same table.
I say we split up and do some rolls. Maybe half or 2/3rds of us go to Pine Island to try to find the meet. And the rest look for Deorn?
What type of rolls would we do? Perceptions?
I'd say that Songdragon had the right idea - 'Information Gathering' aspect based off the Diplomacy skill as written.
How do we want to divide the groups? I'm not fantastic with diplomacy so I'll need to try and Aid Another.
So I'll get you back to Flint Branch, and then you can all sort out yourselves and call in Prestige favors (if desired) as needed. For any that haven't taken the time to read through the linked summary of clues, I'd strongly encourage you to do so!
Don't split the party!
Just so we're clear, if we "split up" to investigate, you were planing on narrating that based on rolls right Vord?
Hehe right! I mean I'm fine if you all are trying to do some basic (Diplomacy) Info Gathering in split pairs for the requisite 1d4 hours, as long as you all meet back up somewhere in the afternoon to pursue a serious lead (or leads) together.
Using the Prestige (pg. 17-18 ZPG) for Risur and/or Flint factions to do some extra work for you all just needs to be an out-of-game group agreement on what to have done, followed by an in-game flavor of constable or constables setting that in motion...plus any Diplomacy checks if needed depending on what is asked for, how quick they start it and how long they devote their time to it. It's in the Campaign Info Tab of course, but you all have Prestige Faction Ratings of 2 for Risur, 1 for Flint and 1 for Unseen Court.
(The cluuuuuuuuuuesssssss...look to the cluuuuuuessssss my friendsssssss...)
looking over the clues....We have
* "It seems to be a copy of a deed of ownership for a canal barge"
* Also in that pocket is a receipt for a purchase of a dozen items, their names abbreviated, with notes of “16 drams” or “48 drams” for each, valued at a total of “2.450 gp,” signed “D.W.” On the back of the receipt, scrawled in a different handwriting, it reads “Silvo, Deorn Feldman, family wharf.
* Griggs relates Deorn was working for a local Pine Island petty crime boss, but that after a serious conflict where several crime factions wiped each other out, a new outside crime syndicate has come into power, with Deorn Feldman working for this new group.
* Jered relates Nilasa was also working to bring in the "goods" to fight the "usurpers" if needed; she was to deliver these "goods" to a Cloudwood bandit leader named Renard Woodsman, though when and where was unspecified.
These seem to be connected together... a few are rather blatant in their obvious connection, now that I have reread them...
I would add these two as well; My guess is this is Deorn's boss.
* After success in a philosophical inquiry by "The Professors" to see how the constables would answer, Hennet relates that Nilasa asked him to help her write letters in Crisillyiri style to impress a man from that country.
* Hennet states the man is Monsigneur Morgan Cippiano; Nilasa was interested in acquiring something illegal or illicit from Morgan and his associates. It isn't known what it was, other than something important to Nilasa's cause.
So I think our first step is finding where this wharf is.
So for each of you heading out for Info Gathering (into pairs, teams, by yourself, etc.), I just need the following in Discussion Tab:
1) How are you heading out (carriage w/ driver, light carriage without driver, horse, walking, boat).
2) Who are you going with (by yourself, pairs, teams)
3) Where are you going (what district)
4) The specific who/what/where you are trying to obtain
Optional) IF utilizing Prestige faction for a purpose, detail that out so I can figure out the rating and call for any Diplomacy checks if needed.
That should be enough for me to get you going in-game.
Note that it takes roughly:
* 15 minutes by wheeled/horsed travel to get across a district (ex. RHC to the Royal Shipyard docks or Eastside)
* 30 minutes by wheeled/horsed travel to get from the heart of one district to an adjacent district (ex. 30 minutes to get from RHC to the heart of Bosum Strand or Stray River, 60 minutes from RHC to the heart of North Shore or Parity Lake)
* x2 to these times if you are walking on foot
* x2 to these times for traveling through/in The Nettles, Pine Island or The Cloudwood Districts
* 30 minutes by boat (remember you have the RHC Cutter Audacious reserved for you today) to get to docks in Pine Island or North Shore...or Bosum Strand (but it would be faster by land)
* 60 minutes by boat to get to The Ayres docks, or through the Stanfield Canal to Parity Lake docks
I think in the interests of time management we all take horse or carriage to get to our specific locations then spread out on foot once there.
----------------------------------------
The only other leads I see that could shed some light on the overall investigation, not pertaining to the Pine Island thread are:
1) Finding the canal barge owned by the Danorans
At Sechim’s Alkahest & Etchings Factory Discoveries
* He speculates that the Danorans owning deeds to lake barges is nothing unusual, as the barges are the primary means of transport of raw materials and finished goods from Parity Lake to harbor via the Stanfield Canal. Furthermore, Danorans own minor interests in a great number of Parity Lake factories.
2) Talking to Nilassa's associates that were with her when she was last arrested.
At Parity Lake Police Station Discoveries
* Nilasa Hume's arrest record is obtained, confirming her incidental arrest while two of her friends she was staying with were arrested for petty burglary charges.
* Both associates of Nilasa, Ford Sorghum and Travis Starter, were remanded to imprisonment at Goodson's Estuarial Reformatory.
So I'm note sure what happened but I wasn't getting any new post notifications for this campaign, apparently I missed quite a bit. Going to get caught up asap and hopefully contribute something soon, sorry for not noticing sooner.
Well I'm glad you're back! Main thing is I'm trying to get a sense of what the team wants to do in terms of pinpointing the upcoming smuggling event by nightfall, including possible short-term split-ups and possible use of the group's Prestige.
Sorry for my absence and lack of posting. I just haven't really been feeling the game lately and am drawing blanks as to what to post. Plus, I think that Gemma would be more and more withdrawn anyway since the days are counting down to her "trial". But on that note, I did look through all the clues and here's my vote.
I agree on taking a carriage most places in order to save time.
I'm not wild about splitting up but it would obviously cover more ground if we did.
I think it would be a good idea to talk to Ford Sorghum and Travis Starter.
There's also a possibility of talking to Lynn Kindleton if we want to possibly try and find the whereabouts of Doctor von Recklinghouse rather than try and go through Lorcan Kell.
So Gemma would be willing to go with someone to speak to Nilasa's associates or tag along where she's most needed.
So for those of you who know what they want to do and can give me the rundown in Discussion, post it here and I'll get you moving in a post...or you can post you doing that as well. Singles, pairs, etc.
(the downside of a "sandbox" non-linear investigation is that it's...well...sandboxy)
I'm alive. The Super Bowl tried its best to kill me. I'll try to get back in soon.
Well I'm glad you made it - by the optics I'd say Houston put on a great Super Bowl effort!