I will add that I feel a bit like I don't have a path toward what to do. I've been going on adventures because they have been sorta put in front of us, but they don't feel like they've actually moved the rebellion forward - like Bazzle says, that all happened in the background without our help. Tasha as the "poisoned pen of Kintargo" was the one character really galvanizing people to rebellion, but obviously that's no longer possible.
Rexandi (and I through her) has been very concerned about getting a new HQ, but... no money! She is essentially wondering how we can do anything when we have no place to go and can't afford one, have no way to supply a resistance and no opportunities to develop a business because we can't afford to capitalize one in the first place. The AP as written deals with this by crossing the rebellion management with the standard adventuring tropes - you fight enemies and get loot, which you turn around and sink back into the rebellion. In character, Rexandi wanted to help the merfolk because she saw an oppressed people in need, like the people of Kintargo; out of character, I was also hoping that it would give us a chance to acquire some resources. (Since we haven't sorted out what we're doing with all of the stuff that we got from the aboleth, that's still up in the air; presumably we need to find a fence for some things so that we can finally have some liquidity.)
While taking and holding archer towers seems like a reasonable goal, I agree with Bazzle that as soon as we start doing this, the Powers that Be in the city will see this as an act of open warfare. We're taking military hardpoints - that is a clear indication that we plan to engage in fighting again them. The forces of the status quo can't let that go unchallenged. I would expect a rebellion to proceed, well, more like the situation in Seattle these days: A slowly-growing groundswell of public support that results in protests, grumbling, organization and collaboration between people in the msot oppressed parts of the city, to which Thrune responds with crackdowns by force. The balancing act that Thrune has to play is that too strong a crackdown will send the entire city over into open rebellion, if the average person decides that they are now in danger and have nothing to lose. Unlike Seattle, Kintargo is not part of a democracy, and brutal suppression of peasant uprisings was common in our own world's history. So I'd expect to see street-corner hecklers shouting to the crowd about how they need to rise up and do something, then running away from the dottari; "mysterious" fires being set at dottari and Hellknight places of boarding; soldiers marching into places suspected of holding "collaborators" and then everyone there being arrested and disappeared into dungeons; parts of the Nest becoming so dangerous that dottari and other forces of law (and evil) won't go in their unless they are in large groups; and of course individual stories of heroism and despair, like the dottari arresting a young woman for offering a rose to a Hellknight, charging her with sedition for "obviously being a follower of Midani," and then discovering to their dismay that her father is a fairly skillful wizard who takes to finding dottari at their favorite watering holes after hours and charming them, then passing along their information to various contacts who proceed to mug them or thwart prisoner transfers, equipment handoffs, and changes of guard (all in pursuit of finding out where his daughter has been taken and trying to get her out so that they can flee the city together).
Once you're on the hit list of the authorities the only way off is to flee the city or overthrow the government, so if Thrune already knows about us, we now have nothing to lose - they will arrest us if they spot us, maybe even just kill us in the streets (though Thrune may be hell contractually bound to follow the laws of the city - maybe).
Rexandi has just enough charisma to pull off a little rabble-rousing, perhaps, but no real social skills, and her escapes would rely on throwing darkness and altering her appearance so that she can run away (or, rather, she would alter self and then do some streetcorner heckling, then run off before the spell ends, so that it's harder for the authorities to know what she looks like). But she's scared. She's young and naive and used to being abused, and she's used to thinking of the church of Asmodeus as this monolithic, all-powerful, unassailable entity, so she's staying quiet, keeping her head down, and trying to work behind the scenes. That means, now that we're back in the city, she needs to find a way to start making connections and bringing people together for effective action.
Anyway, if I switch to a combatant, which I'm happy to do if we need one, I would probably play a somewhat more vigilant and charismatic character, who would take more of an active hand in moving things along.
As for recruits, sure, 1 or 2 is fine.
If I look around the Wasp nests and think about what I remember of our forces.
I could see our greatest achievement would the the furniture barricades from Les Miserables before we get destroyed.
Yeah, that seems about right, Bazzle.
We can't beat Thrune in a stand-up fight, so we have to use guerilla tactics.
Wow, everyone went quiet for the weekend!
busy as can be yesterday, today should be better. I'll try and work on our loot list sometime today.
Alright a few questions
I know we have someone who makes potions.
1- Would she be an alchemist?
2- Does she have a lab?
3- Does she mind sharing?
What options are available for HQ's?
More questions.
You commented that we were known.
That translated to me as wanted and actively searched for. Is the heat so bad that we would venture out at all?
I would suspect that visiting family would be a bad idea if so. Just trying to figure out our issues.
The known part is worrisome. I guess Becca has to move into HQ then. No more other home.
I desperately needed to take a break last night, and I'm only just now slowly coming back to D&D. I worked myself too hard writing, and my brain died.
To answer Bazzle's questions:
1. Yes she is. She's a chirugen (or however that's spelt), which allows her to share her extracts with anyone. Nisha was brought into the game back when our only healer was a bard with a wand of CLW, as a means of some extra healing.
2. A portable one, but yes, she does. She'd be overjoyed for some upgrades.
3. Go ask her :P (she's happy to share)
4. Sort of. I mentioned that the book assumes you're known. As in, Barzillai knows who you are, knows who the Silver Ravens are, and knows you're a part of them. This happens at the end of book 1. Most people are said to "have their ear to the ground" and just... know. I don't like that, and I've been running the game differently.
Barzillai does know about the old Silver Ravens from the civil war days. He also knows that there's a gang now called the Silver Ravens. The redactors in the Irorian base were wiped out, and his personal bodyguard Nox was killed. He's also managed to find a group of supporters who help fund these Silver Ravens. While it isn't enough to confirm, Barzillai is aware and concerned that there are underground movements plotting against him.
I'm thinking about ways to return some autonomy of the rebellion back to you. At the very least, more transparency. I'm not 100% sure how I'll go about it yet, but I want to make the commitment to you now.
I don't think there's any harm in returning the officer positions back to you. It would help funnel away our PCs->NPCs to simple supporters.
Perhaps to help streamline the voting process, I could have an NPC approach you with a small handful of suggestions.
Also, I think we should name this squad. You're kind of the shock troops, and eventually the proper representatives.
I don't have a firm hold on things (surprise surprise). I think it because I came late to the party, so I don't have the history in my head (and haven't been hunting down descriptions of people very often). It fits since Aster hasn't been in the rebellion long either. But that should change.
It would help me to have a link to a doc that a little blurb on the notable members and teams that the rebellion has. If you give me the names I can search for them and add them to your Quests and Tasks doc. Turn it into a Rebellion At A Glance doc. The HQ can go in there, the lovely wasp nest description you just did can go in there as well.
Hmmm.. . .
if Thrune knew of us. Then I can't imagine our old homes or family are safe.
What do we know about that? Do we know that they know?
More questions. To prep for possible responses for the question listed above.
Do we have a stash of Dottari, Hell Knight and other Thrune uniforms armor and gear? We have killed some. Have we saved any? Or has the overall resistance. If not we need to.
Thanks Aster. I'll try to get that up and running today.
I am not as worried about what mechanics we manage for the AP.
But I would want to feel either.
1-That we are the leaders and here are burning choices that we need to make for us and our followers.
or
2- We are heroes and assets to the rebellion and here is our next mission and why its vital.
The Beneficial Tasks list is a good start to this. Thank you.
Thrune doesn't know who you are specifically. He has no clue there's a Gnome called Bazzle Blast-Hazard helping the Silver Ravens. You can infer that he's aware of the new Silver Ravens, though he wouldn't know where you're located or what your plans are.
Brilliant question, Bazzle. No. No one has ever specified taking armour or other things from Thrune's allies. Actually, I'm still waiting for someone to even say that they try to hide the bodies. Though just take into consideration that Thrune's allies are usually human of Chelish descent. There are special cases, but just be aware of that.
I'm leaning towards #1, I think that's the best option.
LOL.
That doesn't sound wise on our part. Though the places we have engaged Knights of Dottari if I remember rightly were an abandoned location where hiding the bodies would have not hidden there was a big fight in a dangerous location.
Don’t remember actually fighting an ally of Thrune?
There were some in the wacky museum.
Technically those were redactors, which are employed by the church of Asmodeus. Still counts as an ally of Thrune, just not Dottari. Unless you're referring to Nox, who was Barzillai's personal bodyguard (a notion I find funny. Why would a lvl15 inquisitor need a lvl6 fighter as a bodyguard?)
Actually I remember wayyyy back the group secured a bunch of armbands from the CCG. Red armbands with the symbol of house Thrune. Joy
Most of that group was human, so it worked pretty well.
Yeah, like Bazzle, I kinda don't get why we aren't already dead if Thrune knows about us. Barzillai Thrune hears that there's some gnome named Bazzle Blast-Hazard who was involved in killing a Hellknight and is part of a revolutionary organization called Silver Ravens? Start sending out a couple of Asmodean clerics to cast locate creature every day until they get a hit. Send a hit squad to catch or kill him. Once you do, interrogate with charm person or speak with dead (depending on outcome) to find location of base and confederates. Then, send in army. Thrune controls the military, after all, and it's not like there's a posse comitatus act in Kintargo.
I can buy us getting away with fighting small groups of Thrune supporters/dottari in the city because it's a turbulent time and Kintargo isn't exactly a firm supporter of Cheliax, it's kinda like that one resister who would seduce Nazis, lure them out into the woods ostensibly for an amorous tryst and then kill them.
Anyway, we do need an HQ of our own, at the very least so we have a place to lie low where the agents of Thrune don't know our location right off the bat. Presumably do something like take the Lucky Bones and turn it into a legitimate or semi-legitimate front business, with secret exits so that we can come and go without using the front door. Heck, the cathouse that I mentioned might even work because while it's not legal, it's exactly the kind of business that could get raided, have a bunch of its crew arrested, then have them released after paying a bounty and just open right back up as a speakeasy that claims to have cleaned up and toed the line. Get around the locate person problem by having a deep basement that makes it easier to get out of range or into a position that's blocked from divination. Also repressive/fascist regimes often pass their own "morality" codes as laws, but make special exceptions for their own people, and they make a big noise about how they are the only moral ones while secretly engaging in the very activity that they deride (e.g. "family values" politicians with mistresses who get abortions). Thanks to that sort of structure, a cathouse is a perfect place to lure in dottari and operatives of Thrune, then learn their secrets or get blackmail on them.
During WW2, and in the aftermath before the civil and gay rights movements, gay people would routinely ally up with members of the underworld and crime syndicates, not because they wanted to be criminals but because they de facto were criminals according to the laws of the day and in order to survive they had to live outside the law. It was a matter of making the allies needed to survive. The Silver Ravens are also a de facto illegal organization, so we probably have to rub shoulders with some other people who are on the city's not-so-legal list. And those aren't necessarily bad people! A business that doesn't have a picture of the sovereign is technically illegal under Thrune's regulations. Someone being out after 6 PM is breaking the law because of Thrune's curfew.
I did like the nod to Larissa Longroads' coffee shop, as many modern and semi-modern revolutionary movements used coffee shops as meeting places and as idea-breeding grounds for the intellectuals who fed into those revolutions. Typically when you get a repressive regime, these areas get subjected to harassment and fines for a while and they just absorb the punishment and keep going as a community hub and organizing spot, up until the authorities decide that it's important enough that they have to shut it down completely, at which point you show up one day and discover it boarded up with a sign pasted on the front door saying "CLOSED PERMANENTLY BY ORDER OF XXX." Then the revolutionaries just move to another spot.
Anyway, for the team, I think the next steps for us are:
1. Recruit our new players to the team.
2. Figure out the distribution and sale of any leftover loot from our trek.
3. Decide on and fund a new base of operations for the Silver Ravens.
4. Start sending our operation teams to cause more shifting of allegiances among the populace. We want to get to the point where the average person on the street thinks about the dottari and the Thrune agents the same way that folks in New York think about the cops who showed up to roust a protest yesterday, but the protesters had already left, so the cops just started bludgeoning random pedestrians. We want the Redroof district to become so dangerous to Thrune supporters that they stop even trying to send in patrols there unless it's a massive military operation complete with summoned devils (in which case we either lie low and wait for it to pass, or confront it directly to show that they can be beaten), in the same way that there were certain neighborhoods in L.A. in the '90s to which police would not respond because they were afraid of being killed.
The merfolk side adventure with the aboleth was a great side adventure, it just has caused us to lose focus on the liberation of Kintargo as our primary goal - partly just a victim of the PbP format, because everything unfolds so slowly that it's easy for things to disappear into "Oh yeah we were doing that six months ago" instead of like a tabletop game where it was just last session. I think it's time to get back to liberating this city.
Yeah, like Bazzle, I kinda don't get why we aren't already dead if Thrune knows about us. Barzillai Thrune hears that there's some gnome named Bazzle Blast-Hazard who was involved in killing a Hellknight and is part of a revolutionary organization called Silver Ravens?
As I've said before, Thrune does not know any individual who is a silver raven. He does not know their names, faces, or anything.
As written, he does. I'm not doing that. I think it's dumb. At that point, locate creature and all that would be perfectly viable. Thank goodness I'm not doing that.
Everything else you said was totally on point. I just want to really hammer home that in this specific game that I am running, Barzillai Thrune has no idea who you are. He just knows that the Silver Ravens exist again, and they're probably rebels. That's it.
Ok, now we just need to keep it that way.
If we do run a front business, Rexandi can certainly help with confusing the issue, by pretending to be different people at various times via use of her alter self spell and some judicious Bluff checks!
Also, someone was running a campaign on Obsidian Portal to which they copied basically the big breakdown of Kintargo, in case people are having trouble visualizing the layout of neighborhoods or understanding the breakdown of the city's businesses and functions.
As written, Kintargo is a city with a heavy bureaucracy that strongly values doing your paperwork. It's in the throes of an economic doldrum; earning money is tough, even for professionals. The guards are neither particularly vigiliant nor particularly corrupt. The city is starved for culture, and entertainers and flashy folks will draw attention.
Based on this breakdown we should concentrate our forces in the Redroof and Jarvis End districts, and spread as community sentiment spreads with us.
Thrune doesn't know who you are specifically. He has no clue there's a Gnome called Bazzle Blast-Hazard helping the Silver Ravens. You can infer that he's aware of the new Silver Ravens, though he wouldn't know where you're located or what your plans are.
Well thankfully they don't know our identities just that there is an organization behind the unrest.
Well. Bazzle is going to set up a plan. For if things get hairy for family or allies.
1- We need armor, or uniforms of Thrune forces Dottari or Knights whatever. This might take time to gather but its on our list.
2- If we are afraid of one of our members being targeted or if we know we are found out. Have our own forces "arrest" us or our allies. Basically stage a brutal raid and make it look like we or our family or ally was taken by the authorities. When the real Dotrati or authorities show up they learn from neighbors that the target was already taken. . .
I'll take a look at that link, Rexandi.
I've updated the Quest link btw to reflect the information Bazzle got.
Of the tasks on our task list, I'd vote for rescue the Lictor and help the Rebellion's associates.
Ederion would vote to check out the the shrine of Saint Sanex that the Elves mentioned.
I didn't even think about the shrine because it wasn't on the task list.
Ederion brought up a good point in-play as well that I had missed: We are also saddled with being caregivers to disabled people, and we have nowhere to keep them. Someone has to look after them full-time, and we need to find a way to get enough money to support them.
If we have a bunch of funds after liquidating some of the finds from the aboleth adventure, we may be able to solve those problems by hiring caregiver(s), though it will be pricey to find someone who's willing to care for people who are visibly so badly disfigured by the aboleth.
If we can't find a caretaker, that's another reason for me to retire Rexandi and switch to another character, so that she can become the full-time nurse.
I am almost convinced you want to change characters Rexi. If you want to do it, now would be the time ;)
Ederion intends to tend to Areene anyway though.
Well, given my usual bad luck with dice rolls, I will feel useless no matter what I play. That can't be helped.
Until I know where we are vis-a-vis our gold piece situation, I can't make any effective plans about purchases for Rexandi, much less for taking care of anyone else. The long-term goal is to find a way to cure their condition, of course. The short-term goal is to find a way to get a place where they can safely stay and not worry about the problems of dealing with the outside world. That means someone has to be a full-time caretaker for them.
Characters are usually fungible to me. I will swap characters if there's a need by the party or to change tracks on the development of a story. Right now, we have what seems a monolithic set of tasks, and one of those very difficult tasks - full-time care for disabled people who've been mutated by aboleth experimentation - is something that could be solved by switching and turning Rexandi into a background character (unless the DM intends for this to be a challenge that we must solve in-play and rules that we can't do that, meaning that either we have to hire caretakers or someone has to stop adventuring and care for these people full-time while still taking a spot on the party roster).
Things we need to be identified
Bonded Ring, made out of cold iron, and has veins of silver flowing through it like tiny rivers. Engraved on the ring in gold are runes of a sophisticated Draconic, which translate roughly to "May kindness melt the hearts of tyrants"
Dagger with long, thin blade. Liquid always drips from the hilt
things we need appraised
A small pouch made of glittering material
Two signet rings of minor houses
A signet ring belonging to the Sarini house
A collection of old fashioned jewelry
And we need to know how much this is?
Two +1 Jellyfish Spears (3 charges, 4 charges) (Note: Complex usage. If you're interested in using one of these, ask me how it works. They're very powerful, but also have some fine print for balance)
Don't forget we have these
Old maps of Kintargo
Multiple ledgers that have not been perused
Ed, you took the Handy Specimen Bottle correct?
Need prices on
Oil of Masculinity (improves social skills around people who are attracted to men, increases the DC of certain Enchantment and Illusion spells by 1 against people who are attracted to men. Major ingredient for alchemically transforming permanently from a woman to a man.)
- Oil of Femininity (improves social skills around people who are attracted to women, increases the DC of certain Enchantment and Illusion spells by 1 against people who are attracted to women. Major ingredient for alchemically transforming permanently from a man to a woman.)
- Tumour-filled Bladder (nastier version of Pox Burster. It is called Skin Wastes [Afflictions, Diseases, Horrifying Diseases])
- 4 doses of Brain Mold Spores
- 10 nuggets of raw Cold Iron
- 3 nuggets of Magnesium (keep underwater, or out of air)
- 10 doses of Urea
Right now, without those things above, NOT including any magic items you are selling (Aster threw in the seafoam shawl already), and not including the draconic living skin.
We are at 45569.63
I've looked through the Kintargo at a glance. Everything there looks solid. I especially enjoy the take on the faith of Asmodeus. I like looking at the evil religions and trying to find ways people might worship them, not out of fear, but because of their beliefs.
Anyways, the only thing that caught my eye was the CCG. I consider them legal thugs. Not actually hired or directed by Thrune, just allowed to cause trouble. I consider them Chelish nationalists. They aren't well armed or well trained, but they're good at doing nasty things to unarmed people they hate.
-----------------------------------
Thank you, Aster. Here are some numbers for you.
- Bonded Ring. I believe Rexandi identified this previously. Sentient magic item, functions as a wizard's bonded object for any arcane spellcaster. As the wearer and the ring bond and trust each other, more abilities can be unlocked. Otherwise can be sold for 2,000gp.
Dagger of venom (+1 dagger, with a 1/day ability to cast poison DC14 as a free action upon a successful strike)
That bag of glittering material is a Bag of Holding type 1. Inside of it is 500gp worth of diamond dust.
- All signet rings are worth 25gp
- I don't remember the value of that old jewelry. We're going to go with 300gp
- The 3-charge jellyfish spear could be sold for 4,705gp, and the 4-charge for 5,505gp
- The rebellion is currently using the maps and ledgers to increase their bonuses for Loyalty (+1), Secrecy (+5), and Security (+1). I can look up what they're worth, but honestly I think you'd prefer the bonuses.
- The oils can be sold for 1,000gp each
- Tumour-filled bladder could be sold for 50gp
- Brain Mold Spores could be sold for 2.5gp each. They're an augment material for casting charm or compulsion spells.
- Raw cold iron can be sold for 0.5gp each. They're an augment material for casting abjuration spells or making dispel checks.
- Magnesium can be sold for 0.5gp each. They're an augment material for casting transmutation spells.
- Urea can be sold for 0.25gp each. They're an augment material for casting cold spells.
Thank you sir
Does Rexi want the ring?
failed on our pouch, so please one of you roll to id it. The dagger is a dagger of venom.
Currently at 64419.63
Updated the Tasks/Quests tab to include investigating the shrine of Saint Sanex and acquiring disguises of various factions.
Aster you can assume Rexandi or Ederion help you identify the bag
@Ederion, I have someone pming me with a good question. They're asking:
Hello,
I'm thinking of putting together a submission for your Hell's Rebels game. I looked through the requirements, and was wondering if I could ask what's keeping the characters from coming together and feeling like a team? I have only glanced at the gameplay thread, but I was wondering if you could provide some insight that might allow me to write up a character that can help unify everyone as needed.
Woohoo, everything identified! It is a bag of holding I, which I think we should keep. Who wants it on their person?
But we can sell the diamond dust.
64919.63 - final... unless someone wants something from the list.
My two cents... we don't have a leader. We all come from all over the place with different backgrounds and different priorities. We share the same end goal, free our city. Other than that we have very little in common.
I'm willing to try to work with the bonded arcane ring, but we might want to wait to see how recruitment goes - it might be more useful to someone else, like the ostensible bard or if we wind up with a magus. As a ley line guardian, I have lots of spell slots and the ability to cast an extra spell each day is less useful to me than it would be to someone who has a limited repertoire of arcane spells (like the aforementioned magus possibility).
As Aster noted, Rexandi has very little in common with anyone else in the group. I was going to try to forge a friendship with Tasha when we got back to the city... and she left.
I would be happy to carry it Bazzle is not strong and its handy with bombs and whatever.
Unless there is a better option.
I agree that Bazzle should have the bag of holding!
@Ederion, I have someone pming me with a good question. They're asking:
Hello,
I'm thinking of putting together a submission for your Hell's Rebels game. I looked through the requirements, and was wondering if I could ask what's keeping the characters from coming together and feeling like a team? I have only glanced at the gameplay thread, but I was wondering if you could provide some insight that might allow me to write up a character that can help unify everyone as needed.
Hmmm, the more I think about it, the more I am convinced the main issue here is (ironically) the fact we are actually not galvanized around a common goal. Like I said before, I do not get a sense we are rebels, and I do not think the group actually acts like freedom fighters/rebel rousers (a lot of individual reasons have already been pointed out for this in discussion I guess :D).
Rexandi pointed out we share the same 'end goal' but I think even that is... Meh. I don't get the sense any of the characters (myself included) actually feel that strongly toward the rebellion itself? Or maybe I am just not paying attention.
Ed, you took the Handy Specimen Bottle correct?
Yep ;)
I agree that Bazzle should have the bag of holding!
I also want to put Ederion forward for this role - not to tote my own horn, but I believe I have been the one paying more attention (and using) our loot over the course of the adventure? :D
Also Ederion tends to pick up and carry with him all possible odds and ends he can use/catalog as reagents.
No biggie though, I guess we will have some cash to grab an extra handy haversack anyway ;)
I would be happy for Ed to take it.
Thanks for the input everyone. I've responded to his message.
Ederion I'm aware of the issue of our need for a driving, unifying goal and a need to feel like rebels. Unfortunately, I need in-game time to accomplish this, by showing how egregious and cruel Thrune can be, and bringing forth a strong plot. No one here was actually part of the Aria Park slaughter, so I think we've really run out of steam, and need Thrune to do some more damage.
Just for clarity sake Fox, I was not criticizing you ;)
Thanks for clarifying, Ederion. I did feel a bit criticised, and felt some pressure as a result. I'm trying man.
I know you are, and that is why I wanted to make that clear.
I would hate for you to feel criticized.
The biggest drawback to PBP is the opportunity for follow up questions. This small bits of clarification and nuance that help people get their head around things don't get asked.
My comments here I hope read like Bazzle's player is asking for clarification and to understand.
I do a lot of multi-tasking and sometimes shifting between work tabs, and play tabs and mind racing in different directions I can get lost. My giant fear was that I missed some important info.