Welcome, everyone, to Flight of the Red Raven! Over the next day or so, we'll have everyone introduce themselves, finalize any PC and NPC connections anyone wants to draw, and do final checks of character sheets before getting the first gameplay post up late tomorrow night. Thanks for joining in, and let's make this a great game!
Also, everyone go ahead and post in the Gameplay thread, then delete the post. That way you'll get the campaign in your My Campaigns tab, but we don't have six posts of "Dot" to start the campaign.
Dotting! Thanks for the invite, Rennai, a pleasure being in another of your games :)
Dot. Thanks for choosing Siuloir, DM! I'm excited to flesh out the MacBruthe family's story a bit more. I'm also excited to play with the rest of you fine folks. Let's have some fun!
Hello everyone, and thanks to GM Rennai for the pick! I'm excited to explore Galt, especially with such an interesting cast. All the games I've played here on the boards have had parties composed entirely of humans, for some reason. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it's cool to have some more variety for a change.
Hmm... As far as PC connections go, I don't think any of the other characters would be personally acquainted with Renato, unless Siúlóir is interested building something around our shared noble backgrounds. Someone might have come across some of his writing, though. Any fans of Galtan romantic literature, or maybe political essays? :P
Thanks for picking me, GM Rennai! Hopefully, I won't disappoint.
Hello everyone, your characters all look very interesting to work with. I hope we'll all have a great time in this campaign.
I'll introduce myself very quickly. IRL, I'm a married, 20-something IT professional working in finance. I've been playing computer RPGs for over a decade, starting with Neverwinter Nights and Morrowind. I became interested in pen & paper RPGs around 2010, but I never played in a F2F group for various reasons. However, I've taken part in several D&D 3.5 campaigns on a French forum board similar to here some years ago.
When it comes to PC/NPC connections, I do not think that Torg would know any of the other PCs.
On the other hand, he should know Ilda Seppatar if she was already the high priestess of the Stone Shrine 32 years ago, when he left the city. I've left a loose thread in my background concerning Torg's mother, Ildra. She could either be alive and living in town, alive but elsewhere or dead...
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@Renato Rowena's father is a professor of revolutionary writings who moonlights as a masked vigilante himself (think a personality somewhere between Batman and socialist comics Green Arrow, he's another PC of mine), so she may have had some of your writings force-fed to her. You might even have met her father, as he travels a lot as an academic speaker as a front!
She's using her mother's maiden name atm, so you might not recognize her name at first.
@Rowena: Ooh, interesting. Renato might very well have visited some of his lectures, especially if he's been to the capital. Does he have a name, and does he write himself?
Renato is pretty new to the political writing scene, being quite young himself. He's only been on the map for five or so years, though he has had some limited success already (befitting a fourth level character). Assuming Rowena's father shares her alignment, he probably would not have had a very high opinion of Renato's writings. At least of his political views, if not the prose. :P
@Renato Nice! I don't think Siuloir would have read much of your material, though I would imagine his father has. His father might also know of your family and their situation, especially since it is similar to what we have experienced. The closer connection would be through your political essays though. He would read anything he could get his hands on that might speak of a return of the Galtan nobility. He might have even picked up some of your less plainly political material and would really appreciate the political undertones. Siuloir would have heard about some of this over meals with his family, but isn't much of a reader himself.
Heya, folks! Good to be here; Rennai's a great GM.
*fistbumps Rowena as the only other peep I've previously played with, I think*
I'm Dien, and I am a PFS and PBP junkie. >__> Rennai, of Marja and Ilja, which is younger, so that Pick could be a distant uncle/cousin, etc? Alternately, Torg, if we want dwarf-familial-ties, I'm down for that, though probably fairly distant relations! (Oh, even if they're not related, they could well have met at Highhelm-- I didn't nail down for sure where Pick was from originally, but it could easily be Highhelm. Pick spent a few years there after returning from his exile, and then leaving again for Azurestone-- I think that would line up with the time Torg is at Highhelm.)
@Pick: Torg has lived in Highhelm for the past 32 years. If Pick frequently went to the temple of Torag to worship, it is entirely possible that they met.
Otherwise, they could be remotely related. Torg has relatives spread out around Galt, Highhelm and the surroundings regions.
@Pick I think Siuloir would really like Pick. He would find his curiosity really refreshing and would like sitting down with Pick to talk about his travels in the wild. Siuloir isn't in Azurestone too often, but he would probably seek out the few people in town that he actually likes when he comes to sell his game.
@Renato Nice! I don't think Siuloir would have read much of your material, though I would imagine his father has. His father might also know of your family and their situation, especially since it is similar to what we have experienced. The closer connection would be through your political essays though. He would read anything he could get his hands on that might speak of a return of the Galtan nobility. He might have even picked up some of your less plainly political material and would really appreciate the political undertones. Siuloir would have heard about some of this over meals with his family, but isn't much of a reader himself.
Renato is firmly on board with the Revolution. He just has some... weird views on the matter. Of course, his pessimism might be construed as opposition to the Revolutionary Council, though that is not his intention. Maybe the two knew each other as children instead? They are roughly of an age. Assuming their families were acquainted before Renato's parents were killed, they might have played together during family visits and such. Nowadays, he is living under an assumed identity, and not many people know he ever existed. Siúlóir recognising him from before might be an interesting dynamic...
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@Rowena: Ooh, interesting. Renato might very well have visited some of his lectures, especially if he's been to the capital. Does he have a name, and does he write himself?
Renato is pretty new to the political writing scene, being quite young himself. He's only been on the map for five or so years, though he has had some limited success already (befitting a fourth level character). Assuming Rowena's father shares her alignment, he probably would not have had a very high opinion of Renato's writings. At least of his political views, if not the prose. :P
He does write himself and he has definitely been to the capital several times, all under his real name, Ferdinand Gauss. He does indeed have the same alignment as his daughter (he worships Milani himself).
Okay. That's a cool name! Very... writer-y. I'm sure we can riff off this quite nicely. :)
@Pick: Torg has lived in Highhelm for the past 32 years. If Pick frequently went to the temple of Torag to worship, it is entirely possible that they met.
Otherwise, they could be remotely related. Torg has relatives spread out around Galt, Highhelm and the surroundings regions.
*nod nod* Yeah, timeline wise it would work out. Pick came back to Highhelm after exile, probably spent a dozen years here (overlapping with Torg's time), and then wandered back out into the world again. While he's not a super-devout dwarf, he still worships Torag and the rest of the dwarven pantheon. I imagine they didn't have too many direct interactions, but probably know each other if only by reputation-- Pick was an odd fit for dwarven culture, and I'm sure he heard about this sincere and driven young dwarf from the outside as well.
@Pick I think Siuloir would really like Pick. He would find his curiosity really refreshing and would like sitting down with Pick to talk about his travels in the wild. Siuloir isn't in Azurestone too often, but he would probably seek out the few people in town that he actually likes when he comes to sell his game.
Totally down for it! Pick could write down the record of his explorations, and have sold him alchemist's fires, etc, etc. That goes for any other Azurestone residents-- Pick likes to play the role of old sage-and-supplier to the young adventurers.
Unrelated: I left some gold unspent, and I know Rowena did as well, under the notion we might want to buy a group wand of CLW If anybody else has some spare gold to contribute to that cause, once we're actually united in-game and at a reasonable point to purchase such a thing, lemme know.
I'm up for helping. I still have like 100 gold. :)
I have around 180 gp myself.
@Pick - Both are roughly the same age; Ilda Seppatar is 90 and Marja Stonehands is 89. Cousins seems a quite likely connection, or perhaps a sister-in-law (wife of a since-deceased brother)? Or a not-deceased brother - I'm good with adding another NPC in town. :) Depending on your age, uncle is totally possible as well (they're still in the rough equivalent of a human's late 20s, not old in the slightest by dwarf standards).
@Everyone - There... is a wand of cure light wounds for sale in town, and you will have a chance to buy it after joining up as a presumed adventuring party and before setting off. I'll let you guys hash out the particulars of getting it, but it will be available.
And I'm loving what I'm seeing so far in terms of making connections! Lots of lovely material for me to shamelessly steal incorporate to create a richer game world. ;) If there's any questions you have for me, make sure to ask away - I want to make sure you guys have what you need to feel connected to Azurestone.
Donnen is a guide from the lodge, and knows (maybe just an acquaintance) the owner. I don't know this adventure, but maybe he can be hired by someone?
@Renato: Did Renato publish any essay about racial relations and/or equality? If so, Torg would have read it ; he tries to keep his knowledge current on topics that affect how dwarves are treated. (Depending on the content of that essay, he'd either want to burry his war axe in your skull or have a positive impression of you. ^^)
@Pick: That's good.
@GM Rennai: Regarding Torg's relationship with NPCs in Azurestone, just so we're on the same page.
- He knows Ilda Seppatar, although she might have only been a regular priestess at the time.
- Do you have any preference concerning Torg's mother? They haven't seen each other in 32 years and he hasn't heard much from her. For all he knows, she could be dead or have left the town. If you want to use her as a plot device somehow, that's cool.
Then I shall go with Stonehands out of a vague preference for liking the surname better. ;) Pykromer Stonehands, at your service, gentles.
Sweet re: the wand of CLW. :3 Just frees up some precious slots to do more interesting things with, once we reach that point.
Pick is around 125-ish (basically, on the middle-aged border, since I wasn't sure if you felt like doing age categories and stats, Rennai-- the age effects would mostly benefit Pick as an Int-based class, but I wanted my characterization of him as an old fart to stand whether or not I got a mechanical benefit from it). He is not actually ELDERLY-- in human terms he's like 40-ish-- but he plays up the Wise Dwarf Elder thing to the hilt. (It is possible he dyes his beard and hair >___>)
/blather
So yes, he can be Marja's uncle, or second cousin or the like. Connections thus far:
1) Information source and interested chronicler for Siúlóir, also possibly selling him handy goodies when he comes to town, and in turn buying curiosities and alchemical reagents from him (SIDEQUEST FOR TEN SPOTTED MUSHROOMS-- YOU LOOK LIKE A STRAPPING ADVENTURER!);
2) Might have met Torg at Highhelm a time or two; knows him by reputation and vice-versa
@Pick Haha, perfect!
@Renato The childhood playmates idea sounds good. I still like the idea of Siulor's father reading your material, though. Maybe he just reads it to keep abreast of the current politics?
@Donnen Siulor might also enjoy your company as a fellow traveller in the wilderness. They might exchange stories about who has seen the largest dire boar or something.
@Rowena Huan isn't intelligent like Stella, but I could see some fun interactions going on there. Maybe Huan could be the Ody to Stella's Garfield?
@Torg Unfortunately, I don't think Siulor would have any way of knowing you personally, though maybe he knows your relatives from previous visits to Azurestone. He speaks Dwarven, which could be explained by occasional visits to the shrine to sell game to its attendants or something to that effect.
@DM I noticed that I haven't been added to the Characters or Players tabs. I assumed it was because the special characters were causing some issues, so I went ahead and removed them and changed the spelling of the character's first name to help out. Hope that does the trick!
@All I've also got a little over 200 gp to contribute towards the purchase of that wand of CLW when we get to that point. Glad to contribute!
@Siulor: Indeed, I do not think they would know each other. Torg left Azurestone before Siulor was born, I suspect, and anyhow before he was old enough for them to remember each other. Torg's mother is a very ordinary lady, but assuming she's still alive she could have met Siulor at the Shrine before. (Torg wouldn't know about it, though, since he hasn't spoken to her in 32 years.)
I think you have to post at least once in the gameplay thread to be in the Players Tab. Hence Rennai's advice to post once and delete the message.
Got it. Thanks for the tip. Looks like it's good now. Also, the background stuff makes sense. Suppose we'll have to meet the old fashioned way. So who wants to start the bar fight? ;)
@Torg - Ilda would have definitely been a lower-ranking priestess during Torg's youth, but she was around, so you two definitely could have known each other. As for Mum, air of mystery works for me if it works for you. Do you intend to do/have you done much asking around about her?
@Pick - I was actually curious if you were angling at age adjustments when I read the description. :) If you'd like to take age penalties, go for it; if you'd already tanked physical stats to the ground before penalties I'd be a little more leery, but you aren't going for ruthless min-maxing, so the bonuses and penalties are fine. There's enough of a drawback that the bonuses aren't over-powerful.
@Siulor - Whatareyoutalkingaboutthere'sneverdrunkenbrawlstokickoffadventures. ;)
@GM Rennai: When I post in a couple of hours, I'll start with Torg entering Azurestone. So he won't have had the opportunity to ask around yet.
Sounds like a plan, man.
If there's any questions you have for me, make sure to ask away - I want to make sure you guys have what you need to feel connected to Azurestone.
If at all appropriate, I imagine Renato would have spent a few weeks in Azurestone already, arriving well before the start of the Festival. You know, to get a feel for the daily life of the people before the big happening. Probably enough for him to be recognised on the streets as 'that writer from the capital,' as it's quite hard to stay inconspicuous with an effective Charisma score of 20. He'd likely have room in the Lattice Inn, from which he makes treks through the town and its immediate surroundings, searching for inspiration. And possibly entertains fans of his writings, should there be any in town.
Is that okay?
@Renato: Did Renato publish any essay about racial relations and/or equality? If so, Torg would have read it ; he tries to keep his knowledge current on topics that affect how dwarves are treated. (Depending on the content of that essay, he'd either want to burry his war axe in your skull or have a positive impression of you. ^^)
Renato is absolutely for racial equality, though that is not his main focus. As in all things, his views on the matter are rather pessimistic. One field in which he is very active is ensuring the freedom of the press, and making sure that both his and other writers' texts are widely available for all readers. He personally translates all of his work into all the major non-human languages (including Dwarven) to make sure that they can be read by everyone in their native tongue, and encourages other authors to do the same. He often makes a loss doing this, as there is not always enough interest to make up for all the expenses. Some might think that's admirable.
His most recent essay was on the subject of preserving Azurestone from the horrors of the Revolution, seeing it as something of a time capsule. That includes the dwarves and their practises involving the eponymous monolith. Renato and Torg might find some common ground there.
@Renato The childhood playmates idea sounds good. I still like the idea of Siulor's father reading your material, though. Maybe he just reads it to keep abreast of the current politics?
That's absolutely fine. Their reunion is far more interesting if Siulor has some context for Renato's new identity.
If there's any questions you have for me, make sure to ask away - I want to make sure you guys have what you need to feel connected to Azurestone.If at all appropriate, I imagine Renato would have spent a few weeks in Azurestone already, arriving well before the start of the Festival. You know, to get a feel for the daily life of the people before the big happening. Probably enough for him to be recognised on the streets as 'that writer from the capital,' as it's quite hard to stay inconspicuous with an effective Charisma score of 20. He'd likely have room in the Lattice Inn, from which he makes treks through the town and its immediate surroundings, searching for inspiration. And possibly entertains fans of his writings, should there be any in town.
Is that okay?
Works for me. I'm pretty well all right with you guys doing whatever you like to get yourselves here.
@Pick - I was actually curious if you were angling at age adjustments when I read the description. :) If you'd like to take age penalties, go for it; if you'd already tanked physical stats to the ground before penalties I'd be a little more leery, but you aren't going for ruthless min-maxing, so the bonuses and penalties are fine. There's enough of a drawback that the bonuses aren't over-powerful.
Honestly with the way I wound up doing his stats, there'd be no benefit to it, haha, so I'll probably just leave him as he stands.
I'll get a post going tonight!
Oh boy, this gameplay post is sort of taking on a life of its own. :) It will be up by the end of the morning, though - I swear it!
I'll wait until we get an establishing post.
Day job reference chart -
DC5: 1 gp
DC10: 5 gp
DC15: 10 gp
DC20: 20 gp
DC25: 50 gp
DC30: 75 gp
DC35: 100 gp
DC40: 150 gp
Sorry, folks - I'd meant to leave the next post off to give everyone a chance to get initial posts in, work got unexpectedly crazy, and next thing I know it's time for bed. :) I'll move on tonight - in the meantime, feel free to argue debate (or whatever else you like). :)
Hey, I could go on forever. This is a great way to get into character. :)
Hey, I could go on forever. This is a great way to get into character. :)
Torg couldn't take part in the debate for RP reasons, but I'm almost relieved. I couldn't have kept up with the quality of the writing.
It's really enjoyable to read, though. :)
Donnen, you still among us? Haven't heard from you yet except the initial dotting in.
Or, you know, Rowena's cuter and it sways the male vote. And maybe the kitty cat swings things in her favor, too. ;)
Ahh - technical difficulties yesterday, people over my shoulder all day today. But I swear I'll be moving things along when I get home. Sorry! :)
And of course, the moment I swear to move along when I get home, I get unexpectedly kept quite late at work. :) We move along tonight, come hell or high water - I promise, this is not ordinarily my M.O.
No problem! Thanks for keeping us up to date on the situation. Always good to know the GM hasn't dropped off the face of the earth. : )
Hey guys! I apologize. I have been working like crazy. Every time I have, I try to come here and catch up - differently than my other pbps, though, this one has always several walls of text and it's fairly hard to keep up or to build a proper post when things are moving so fast! I'm hoping to catch some breath soon - maybe an hour or two - to try to catch up and build the post the pbp deserves. Again, i apologize, but you guys are wayyyy too verborraghic and it's tough to keep up :) I am absurdly lost! The post I started writing is now thrown away.
@Donnen: Hey, no pressure. I'm sure post length will go down once we get on to the story, and have something to focus on. At least I can promise that I'm not this verbose most of the time, personally. :)
Same here. Intro posts gave some opportunity for blathering on but I'm usually much less long-winded.
@Donnen - No worries, mate; as I'm currently two days slow moving us along, clearly I sympathize. :)
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I am a giant ham by nature. English major (creative writing emphasis), darlings! ;)
This is also helping me really get into character, not to mention discover some new things about her. Like she's apparently a bit of a troll hehe :)
My OOC Evil Plan has succeeded, which means that she will now be gathering the party! That includes Donnen, if he's okay with that :)