Hi. Opening up the discussion thread. Please feel free to post here if you have been selected for this game.
I'll post up background material over the next few days, and check the character sheets over the weekend with a view to kicking off the campaign next week.
I suggest using the intervening time to figure out how you fit into the opening, either as a caravan guard or as a passenger. If you can quickly state which - Avogadro for example was a passenger - then I will write up the others to provide further hooks. I note we have two half-orcs as well, who might have been associating at the tavern when Silas arrived and asked for help.
Thanks for the submissions and really looking forward to getting this kicked off!
Dotting! I put Roet originally as a guard on his story, but I'm up for whatever changes the GM needs in order to better accommodate the party.
Hi all. Looking forward to this one.
Avogadro is definitely a traveller. I can see him and little Pip having an interesting relationship but we'll see.
A
Hi Folks
I'm stoked to get into the game with Den. And its great to be playing an adventure I know nothing about for a change.
Den is a druid heading to Belhaim and then further on as part of his apprenticeship. He isn't the guard type but his thylacine cat serves that purpose while the druid is happy enough to take a watch for some sensible conversation.
Introductions are my favored way of getting to know new gamers, because these pbp's take time and the table chat is important to keep us going strong in my opinion.
I'm a 49 year old gamer of many years, recently separated from my wife and we have two great kids, a nine year old boy and a five year old girl.
Currently I am living in the UK in Cornwall, tending to post at various times of the day and week, but less so at the weekend.
As far as DnD goes I'm a purist, I've played a bit of all the editions of our game, written a few bits for Raging Swan, worked for TSR in my spare time and been involved in the UK Convention scene for several years during 2nd and 3rd edition and the Living Campaign era.
If pushed, my favourite settings are Ravenloft and Al-Qadim.
Cheers
FW
Nice thought Den.
I'm 28 from Sussex. Long time reader of RPGs but only really found a group to play with a couple of years ago. Between working full time, an open university degree and two little ones (2 and 6) time is tight! So I don't play as much as I would like to in real life. I've only recently started PbP but so far (and from following some existing threads) I really like to opotunity it allows for character building, interaction and role playing, the aspects of this hobby I enjoy the most. I'm at work early and can/will be able to post at all sorts of odd times. Look forward to playing with you all. M
Hey! Good call on introductions :)
I'm 27 from New Jersey, but currently in Texas. I keep strange hours and post at random times between work and sleep and writing and general procrastination of responsibility. PbPs are a favorite of mine because I think they really let you get into your character in a way that playing live just doesn't (unless you want to hog the spotlight entirely!).
I've been playing tabletop RPGs for maybe 5 or 6 solid years now, and have written a few things for Wayfinder and various Pathfinder 3pps and even have started trying to do some 5e things! I'm also a wannabe novelist, so I love RPGs as that awesome intersection of storytelling and interactivity.
As for Pip, I figure he's probably along for the ride as a caravan guard... though he's really more moral support than any true guard.
So thus far is it just Avogadro and Den that were on the caravan into town? and the rest were hired up as guards as we arrived?
A
With Draken, the thylacine padding along near the front, but not too close - don't want to scare the other animals.
I just spent far too long sat at my desk, reading about thylacines so thanks for that... needless to say, I am now a firm fan of Draken.
A
"Wreeeooow!"
Hi, Corsario here, the alias for Arnon Marquez is ready.
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Hey there everyone. Sorry for the late introduction. I am 32, and live in southern Indiana, USA, but I will always call San Antonio Texas home. (..saw another Texan up there.. just wanted to commiserate there for a second!) I am currently in an accelerated RN program, so about every 10-12 weeks or so, I will all but disappear from the boards while taking care of my end of quarter testing and such. Speaking of which, I will be getting Garekk updated and reset back to lvl 1 this coming week, since this week was it for this quarter.
My posting is sporadic because of school, but generally once or twice a day through the week. I am most proliferative on the weekends, as I spend most of my working hours on or near a computer.
I have been playing RPG's since early middle school, when my uncle decided to try and teach my brother and I AD&D as a way to keep us out of trouble. Went for many years unable to find a group, and then a coworker turned me towards Paizo about 2 years ago, and this is the next best thing! Still miss a good table group, I just don't have time for it right now.
Background on Garekk: He was just recently released from a year and half long homebrew that petered out.
His story is that in his home tribe, they send out one youth every generation to explore the world and report back to the tribe. His mission is to learn what the world is like, learn for himself what should/should not be and what good and evil is, so that when he returns, he will be accepted not only as a man, but he will have earned a seat on the tribal Council.. maybe even make Chieftain someday!
Garekk's features closely resemble a human, but his size tends to give away his heritage. His is smart.. and likes to learn and interact, but his primal rages also enable him to be a fearsome foe on the battlefield.
Garekk can end up on the caravan one of two ways... I will leave this up to the GM to decide after looking everyone over. 1) Garekk hired on as a temporary guard, working his way through the country, but not sure exactly where he will end up, so unwilling to sign a long term contract. He takes his duty seriously, though, and is a strong asset in protecting the caravan and all of the grunt work this entails. Slowly, he begins to forge a bond with some of the other guards and passengers.. eventually, this may develop into friendship.
2) Garekk signed on to the caravan as a traveler, trading some guard work and watches for the safety of numbers. He spends his days with his eyes on the horizon, wondering where his travels will take him, and his evenings by the campfire listening with rapt attention to the stories told by more experienced adventurers.
Hi all, in terms of introductions, I'm based near London but do a lot of travel for work. I'm writing this while Uber'ing home from Heathrow, just got back from a week in Amsterdam and Helsinki. I'm generally online much of the time but can disappear for the odd evening due to flights, and sometimes I need a different computer from the one with which I travel (a Chromebook) to get certain stuff working (mainly if I need HeroLab but the odd image processing for maps).
Anyway home shortly and will start posting more stuff this evening I hope.
OK, my suggestion is this:
- Avogadro is a traveller alongside the NPCs below
- The other characters were acquired in the tavern as guards - they'll be a fairly motley crew as far as Silas is concerned but they're the best he can do
- Roet and Garrek know each other, at least to a limited extent
Other travellers in the caravan:
* Teryn Gardfoot - (halfling M) whiskey merchant, representative of the Faldamont stills, returning to Faldamont for additional samples, and to see his family
* Esmerelda - (human F) Varisian, escaping the temple of Calistria in Cassomir
* Viviana Komenos - (human F) the wife of an officer of a Taldoran lancer regiment, on her way to see her husband in Faldamont
* Alexis Dukas-Kort - (human M) administrator from the first merchant bank of Cassomir, carrying vital papers to the bank’s branch in Faldamont
* Lensing Gray - (human F) Andoran archer, Silas' deputy, in charge of the passenger wagon
I'll write a backgrounder tomorrow that gets us as far as Belhaim. These NPCs are not in the published scenario but provide some colour/hooks so that we're not starting with a complete blank slate.
Hoping to start the Gameplay on Monday.
I imagine Avogadro has been entertaining the NPC's on the journey, but they are getting a little tired of his tricks by now. Avogadro, being the consummate performer, can tell this and is looking for a fresh audience...
A
Den can keep a close eye on guard but would prefer to stay on board a wagon or cart rather than walk. His cat and him will take watches of course.
As for mixing with the other NPC travellers;
*Den would like to know something of Faldamont so he will chat to Teryn about that.
*Not bothered with a Varisian if she is a gypsy-type Varisian.
*Now Viviana sounds a much better proposition, more Den' class of person and he will naturally gravitate towards her - purely platonic though.
*Administrator as in boring bureaucrat? No thanks.
*Den is happy enough to follow Lensing's orders, after all Silas and her are in charge.
Cheers
P.S. Den practises tricks with his animal companion every evening as part of communing with nature and keeping his cat manageable.
Pipernortin much prefers to ride than walk. Short legs and all that.
He's probably among the group that hasn't yet grown tired of Avogadro's tricks, mostly because he loves illusions both real and unreal. Pip's probably taken to playing music while Avogadro performs each night, grinning like a goof.
Pip's also probably starting a decent friendship with Draken and Den. Though he's more of a dog person, he's got a way with animals that's borderline druidic in form, so the two(three?) would have plenty to talk about in that respect.
For the NPCs...
*Who doesn't like whiskey? Sounds like the right person to befriend!
*Varisians also like to travel a lot and also have cool stories!
*Hmm, sounds dull.
*Sounds duller!
*Andorens are fun people, and Pip's met more than a few in his early travels.
Now I'm confused... Are you two on with the caravan into Belhaim or in the tavern as Silas rock in?
A
Now I'm confused... Are you two on with the caravan into Belhaim or in the tavern as Silas rock in?
Per the campaign info, the caravan is bringing passengers and goods from Cassomir, on the Taldan west coast, along the river with the eventual destination of Faldamont.
It stops in East Linsea, about a quarter of the way along the route, and its guards abscond. The new guards are recruited from a nearby tavern. Belhaim is a stop about halfway along its intended route.
Anyone who is a passenger got on at Cassomir. Anyone who is a guard got on at East Linsea. The module will start when the caravan reaches Belhaim.
I see, my bad, I thought the tavern was at Belhaim. I'll slink off and learn to read now...
A
Teryn Gardfoot is the kind of people Arnon likes!
I've written a further backgrounder for the Campaign Info. I can change it if anyone objects to the characterisations. I'll work through the character sheets tomorrow.
I've been through 3 of the character sheets and will continue with the others tomorrow (I think Garrek's isn't complete yet so may just be the two).
Two more done (and mostly sorting out any issues); waiting on Garrek, but should be able to at least kick off the campaign proper tomorrow.
A little more detail on what Avogadro's been up to on the trip so far (now that I get whats going on...)
As has been said, Avogadro has been trying to entertain the group, but he knows its getting old. The new guards were a bit of fresh blood for a while and there remains a few who seem to appreciate him, but on the whole the opinion of the masses is starting to turn. Avogadro has seen this all before but it still gets him down. He is after all nothing more than an entertainer.
There are those in the group who interest Avogadro more than others though.
Initially drawn to Esmerelda, as he has traveled with Varisians before, but having spend a couple of hours trying to coax a smile from her he's now given up.
He seems to act noble and gracious in front of Komenos and Dukas-Kort, lots of low bows etc, but more often comes across a mocking clown, no-one is quite sure if this is intentional.
Draken he finds fascinating, asking Den lots of questions about his "dog-cat-rabbit", but rarely listening to the answers.
Pip he is very unsure of, not only is he very small, but he also seems to be a rival when it comes to making people smile. Though Avogadro is still getting used to his new found talents, he feels a lot of competition with the gnome. He is not entirely sure that Pip didn't somehow have something to do with the sudden appearance of that flipping rabbit last year. "That would be just like him!"
Den accepts the attention from Avogadro and explains that Draken is a "marsupial" but doesn't bristle at the description of dog or cat or even rabbit.
He will mention openly that he is travelling to an apprenticeship or sabbatical in Faldamont with a known follower of their god, Erastil to learn how to make a "true longbow". But is in no great hurry and seems to enjoy the changing countryside as the caravan wends its way to Belhaim.
I'm a little lost on what was decided - and I guess the "on" posts here aren't helping me much! I apologize.
First gameplay post is up!
We are fired!!!!
Per Arnon's post, I set up gameplay yesterday and we're underway. I'll continue to sort out the remaining character sheet issues in parallel (should be done today, I'm off travelling again tomorrow).
I'll wait for everyone to make at least a first post in gameplay before moving the story on. In general (I'll post some general policy stuff later in the campaign info section) I'll wait for 3 posts up before moving, unless it's obvious that fewer are required.
Yeah - RL is proving a little difficult at the moment. I wont bore you with the details but my posting would not normally be so lax, especially at the start of an adventure.
Just waiting on first post in gameplay and then we'll move on.
Done. I almost finished it 2 hours ago then my wife rang for a chat.
Cheers
Just a note, I'm enjoying the back and forth here, but a couple of points:
- a bunch of this module is going to involve getting on the good side of the various citizens and interests in Belhaim. Adopting a bull in a china-shop approach may make this more difficult in the medium term.
- when you post an action, you should probably check or wait before assuming that action is possible, if it's dependent on the environment or the reactions of NPCs.
Taldor is pretty (the way I play it) hidebound and classbound, so overtly turning up, spreading chaos and assuming everyone will like it is, well, a brave approach.
Guys - I think I need to get roll20 set up, at least so you have a map to reference; I'll try to do that now (just got home from a trip to Holland and Germany). I basically need to make you a map. I'll post the roll20 link and then over the course of this week will make tokens for you so we can also manage combat positioning on there. But for now I think you need a map.
I don't think you'll need to spend a lot of time in it, I just use it for mapping, and occasionally for figuring out who is standing where. Die rolls etc would still be within the forum.
I have to say I like them very much.
OK - roll20 link is here
I have not yet added player counters. One square = 5 sq ft.
You can see the first, two winged basement room and the start of the complex south of the south door; I'll reveal more as we explore.
I was already in for a different game. Your map looks good GM.
... I just have one request.. can you add the link to the header so that we can find it easily in the future?
Done.
Also, could you please identify yourselves in the Roll20 chat, I can then work out how to allocate ownership of the tokens when I get them up and running (hopefully tonight).
"peep-hole at eye level"
... tall jerks ;.;
In other news, roll20 is set to go on this end.
Counters now uploaded, 3 of you have identified yourselves and I have allocated control of the counters accordingly. Had to increase the map size to make it work so you may have to reset your zoom on the map to make sense.
Cheers.
Hey guys, I can't update Roll20 from my phone; I'll do it tomorrow on the first chance. Sorry for the delay!