GM Ariarh's The Dragon's Demand (Inactive)

Game Master Ariarh Kane

Sorry, Rhia. No worries, will give you a chance to catch up. And yay! It's started, finally. ;)

I know it seems we went very quick and fast off the start line today -- it generally happens when a game first begins and then the game falls into a more modest/manageable rhythm. I do not want anyone to feel overwhelmed at the posting rate today - I will try to do to my best to ensure the game moves at a pace that is practical and effective for all. The time zone difference between GM and players doesn't help but it is what it is and we will have to find ways passed it. The posts today were great, though! Thank you for joining me on this crazy ride. :)

Not at all~ <3 It's exciting! Got my post up. <3 Sorry it took so long!

As Connor pushes on he glances back to see that Felix has managed to keep up and he nods to himself.

Having reached a place roughly sixty feet from the tower he studies the terrain near the damaged tower...

Perception Check
1d20+6

Depending on what I see will effect my next action.

Connor, I have not forgotten about this. I'm just giving other people a chance to get on the board and post before I reply. I will not keep you waiting too long.

Ack, that might look a bit awkward because I didn't refresh before posting X_X

For those interested: Distance between Wizard's house, Hunclay Manor, and Baroness's Manor (roughly 560ft). She (her son and/or their people) would have most certainly felt the tremors and readily seen the plume of dust coming from the Witch Tower collapse. ;)

Look another partial map!

Cool, so I had this under OOC on the bottom of my recent post but it started getting longer so I just decided to put it in Discussion Thread.

GM: Connor’s not trying to be rude to the baroness, though he is suddenly acting rather quickly. The thing is, he/I suddenly got an idea when reexamining the map you put up and both me and Connor want to act on it fast because we’re both worried about the possibility of a fading “Scent” which could be used to track our target. Tracks might still be here by morning, but Connor’s worried more about the Scent fading, and as we have Felix (if he’s agreeable) than this could be a real opportunity. He’s afraid that the longer they wait, the more time could be wasted.

If the kobolds came from somewhere in the tower than we can find that opening in the morning. But if they made their way overland I’m thinking it may be from a rock quarry. I’m thinking now that maybe some townsfolk may have cut into a kobold cave or something and – possibly – the kobolds came overland on the first trail they found (based on the partial map it looks like the Quarry Road goes right by the tower). If my hunch is right and they were in a cave that some quarryman broke open then they may have come right here I’m thinking that maybe the kobolds came over the road, saw the tower first and decided to examine it and possibly caused some trouble.

It could also be that the kobolds came from underground in some secret tunnel that managed to stab up into the base of the tower and that’s what knocked the whole thing down (right now all I’m thinking of is Robert E. Howards “Worms of the Earth” – it deals with Romans, barbarians, dark gods, barrows, and an ancient, evil artifact called “the Black Stone” which I’ve referenced in some other games I’ve done – you can see more about the idea Here. Also, GM - sorry for the aside, but I’m been thinking about this story since the tower fell and wanted to share because I thought it was neat).

The thing is, if the kobolds came from overland then spending 20-30 more minutes to walk down the “Quarry Road” from the tower and make a search now (probably less time than that), while any scent is still lingering and while the moon is out – well, that’s less than a half hour and it won’t hurt to check. If I’m wrong, no harm done, but if we wait then tomorrow the scent may be gone.

I figure that the real mystery probably starts in the ruins of the tower, but Connor is thinking that we got a (possible) fresh set of tracks and (more importantly) the chance track by “Scent” (and Scent fades faster than tracks) so he wants to check that out as soon as possible.

Honestly this probably won’t matter much, but seeing the map with the words “Quarry Road” and rethinking about Kobolds I can’t help but wonder if my hunch is right. If it is, spending a little time “In-Game” to check out the hunch can’t hurt, but it might make a difference.

What does everyone think?

You guys have been doing a fantastic job with the social rp and alike! Keep up the great work. :)

Connor: The last part to Felix needs to be posted outside the spoiler.

Connor: The last part to Felix needs to be posted outside the spoiler.

Nah, it was all meant for you :)

However, as I was editing the post, I noticed that Felix made a post, so basically Connor's last sentence to you was distracted by what Connor saw Felix was doing.

So basically Connor was still talking to just you, but his gaze was distracted by what Felix was doing.

Roger

Roger

:D

Aaaaa, I've got to catch up on the 18 posts, lol. Will post when I'm at a computer. Sorry, was at a Magic tourney. C:

Quick aside - in reference to Connor's education in the dragon tongue, I will have a second story from his past in a day or so to explain those details.

Looking forward to what happens next!

Alrighty, I threw up a post to get me caught up. c: Sorry for the delay~

No worries, hiyami. You weren't holding up the game/social rp. :)

Once Felix and Connor have finalised their rp at the site (I'll give them an hour in real time - I think that should be enough time for them to wrap it up), I'll move right along to the inn and give people a chance to rp a little before retiring for the night. :)

Posted! Also, Riley's thoughts about Rhia made me giggle. :D My boyfriend asked me what was so funny and then it turned into full blown laughter. <3 Much appreciated :D

Posted! Also, Riley's thoughts about Rhia made me giggle. :D My boyfriend asked me what was so funny and then it turned into full blown laughter. <3 Much appreciated :D

;)

Riley may be a bit cynical.

It was funny all the same :3

It was funny. I chuckled, too, upon reading it. Nicely mused. ;)

Looking forward to the inn bits and all the whosits and whatsits galore. <3 We're gonna be on hold for the weekend, though, right? o: Or are we just gonna see what happens?

Looking forward to the inn bits and all the whosits and whatsits galore. <3 We're gonna be on hold for the weekend, though, right? o: Or are we just gonna see what happens?

Well, to be fair, it's not a weekend in EVERY dimension...

I will be posting stuff, though it might only be backstory stuff.

I guess that depends on everyone else :)

Hiyami, I do not expect posting to be done over the weekend, but it can prove tricky with the time zone differences because I'm already on my Saturday and when it's Sunday for you guys, I'll be on my Monday. ;) So, players are not required to post over the weekend ... but if some do, then no worries, I will attend to the posts when I am next able to.

Thanks, guys!

Fair enough c:
I'll take it as a post at will sort of thing, and my weekend gets busy, I won't feel toooo bad ^^

Sorry for the lack of posting. Been a bit crazy the last two days.

That was a lovely tune GM. I think I am going to listen to Lindsey Stirling as I go to bed in a few. I have never heard her before. She is amazing. Night all!

She is amazing - I have listened to a number of her pieces and continue to. Enjoy, Riley, and good night. :)

p.s. Check out Taylor Davis, if you haven't heard her before either.

Love Lindsey Stirling. Found her when I was researching some ideas on the chance that Anila may actually do a performance at some point ;)

Haven't heard of Taylor Davis but I'll have to check it out.

Great minds think alike. ;) Looking forward to a performance piece by Anila.

My apologies - busy work day. I'll post a response to Connor then I'll move the game forward to the morning. Riley and Rhia, I'm guessing that Felix laid out his plan before you both retired and while Connor was visiting Calladastina. You may reply to his plan for the next day if you care to. :)

btw Connor, I sent you a PM in Facebook regarding your most recent diplomacy roll.

Okay, I finally managed to post - again, my apologies, but it's been a full day for me.

I've set up the opening morning post, so please feel free to discuss your plans and then let me know what you want to do this day and when. I'm headed to bed - it's midnight here - and I will continue posting/responding in my morning. Enjoy your day! Night from this side of the pond. ;)

Remember, adventurers, Baroness Origena would like the tower collapse investigated and an initial report presented to her in person after sunset this day (the sun sets just after 8.00pm). ;) So, are you all planning on visiting the site of the tower ruins after breakfast? Will you start there or elsewhere?

Remember, adventurers, Baroness Origena would like the tower collapse investigated and an initial report presented to her in person after sunset this day. ;) So, are you all planning on visiting the site of the tower ruins after breakfast? Will you start there or elsewhere?

As for Connor, I guess I'm curious to hear from everyone else before he acts or shares his plans.

However, as the tracks were located on/near the tower it seems likely that search for the tracks while at the ruins of the tower would be the best place if we wish to accomplish our goal :)

The tower first thing after breakfast.

The tower first thing after breakfast.

Outstanding!

Because Connor (like Marty McFly and I guess most Hobbits) does his killing AFTER breakfast, too ;)

Riley "Lucky" Rylin'dar wrote:

The tower first thing after breakfast.

Outstanding!

Because Connor (like Marty McFly and I guess most Hobbits) does his killing AFTER breakfast, too ;)

Would that be before or after elevenses?

Would that be before or after elevenses?

So long as they don't interrupt my afternoon tea, I'll be just fine ;)

Quick Note on Connor: So Connor's kind of a "man of action" sort of guy (I'm using his eager enthusiasm to get things done to justify his "Barbarian Rage" in a guy who's supposed to generally be calm enough to be wise and thinks things through - in other words; his rage isn't him being angry as much as him being a - "FINISH HIM!" - kind of mentality).

Since I haven't gamed with everyone in this group before, I decided to do a quick little "behind the curtain" scene here to try to explain Connor's actions a bit.

Connor's eagerness to act is connected to his curiosity for the world as well as his general impulsive nature to get things done (which I hope justifies his "style" of "Barbarian Rage" a bit, too). I hoped that would shine through with some of his decisions since we started.

For example, he bathed in a cold river without asking for a bath, he rushed off to explore the fallen tower at a 40 Foot run speed rather than waiting for the team and he even spent the later hours last night risking possible fatigue to try to Gather Information, then woke up at 6:00 AM (though, to be fair, part of the reason he woke up at 6:00 AM is because I figure if you get used to waking up at a certain time, even when you're tired, you just wake up at that time normally; but when he woke up he figured he'd go downstairs and help out because he's tends to adhere to "Norse" values when it comes to the guest/host relationship). However, he did all of that because he's "Eager to Act".

But his reaction this morning is prompted by a little more than just an eagerness to act. In this case Connor also remembers that the Baroness wanted a report on what caused the tower to fall by nightfall this evening.

What he saw last night suggested that the baroness has no reliable men here as her Chief/Sheriff is on patrol. However, it occurs to him that the Baroness is so eager to get this case solved quickly that she offered to pay a group of strangers a collective sum of 2,500 GP for a day's work (Connor figures that's a pretty good wage, considering the size of the town).

Also, he's a little paranoid of possible threats to the town. By coincidence in my earlier backstory thing, I had wrote about Connor being a boy and seeing to the defense of a town with the possible threat of an attacking enemy (of course, there were other things he learned in that story, too) but to him, he's shocked that the women and children aren't armed, and that people don't seem to be interested in arming themselves (in his tribe women fought alongside men, and children learned how to fight for their tribe early, that's why he offered Talia and Delfi a weapon when the tower collapsed); so those possible threats are definitely on his mind.

This being the case, he's sincerely suspicious that there may be multiple kobolds in the area waiting to make their move and the town is doing very little to prepare itself from threats; so, as he's worried about the defense of the town he's currently staying in, he's eager to solve this case quickly simply because it's a survival thing (again; one kobold has wandered off, it could have gone to a house last night and slipped inside and slit some throats - unlikely, but he doesn't discount that possibility).

So now his natural inclination to move quickly when a job is before him is coupled with his concern if that they fail to do their duty the Baroness might decide to order her Sheriff to "Deal with us" when he returns for failing, coupled with the concern that there could be threats out there; all of it has encouraged him to want to act as soon as possible.

Conclusion: I'm guessing that Connor is probably over-reacting to what may end up happening and he may seem more eager than he ought to be, but it's not meant to cause any issues for the party, just some chances for fun RP because his personality is shining through a bit here. I hope that's okay and that any RP it causes is fun to deal with, but if it is causing any issues for anyone please send me a PM and I'll cut his enthusiasm down a bit.

Thanks for your patience, and FYI - I'm really enjoying this game and group so far! :)

Thanks for giving us a little more insight into Connor's personality and motivations/inner thinkings. :)

Just want to state that it is still early morning - If you finish with breakfast by 7.30am and the ladies bathe and dress (and not dry their hair by the fire - simply take the excess water out with linens), your party could leave the inn by 8.15am - 8.30am if people need to prep gear etc. You don't need to meet up with Baroness Origena until after 8pm tonight.

I can move your group via narrative to the tower ruins (and hand wave that all ablutions and preparations have been made). Is this acceptable to all? :)

Addendum: Clarification: The baroness offered 500gp in total to investigate the tower collapse - that means 100gp per person.

That sounds like a quick way to get to the action to me. c:

Also, 100gp per person is still a helluva lot more than we were probably offered for our work as caravan guards! XD

Also, 100gp per person is still a helluva lot more than we were probably offered for our work as caravan guards! XD

True!

GM: sounds good to me :)

Works for me GMA

Let's do this!

Let's do this!

Sounds good to me.

Crashing for the night. Night all.

Night, Riley. :)

Good work today, guys! We'll pick this up again tomorrow. Now back to my paying job. ;)

Good work today, guys! We'll pick this up again tomorrow. Now back to my paying job. ;)

No worries, GM - have a great night!

Meantime, I'm off to bed, too :)