Jaye's Carrion Crown (Inactive)

Game Master Jason Sonia

Sadly...Healing is not really within Madeline's purview. :(

To: All players, new and old.
From: the Offices of The Replacement GM.
Subject: Game Schedule.
Release Level: For Immediate Dispatch.

Let it be known that, in approximately 18.5 hours, The Replacement Game Master (commonly known as RGM) will be boarding Flight XXXX for America to surprise his father for, well, Father's Day (which, if you have forgotten, is a great time to buy RPGs, guns, and remote control flying devices for your male parental unit). As a result, RGM will be away from his computer, likely reading a book on his iPad, on the long trans-Atlantic flight. If the airplane had WiFi, he'd be running his PbP, checking his e-mail, and possibly playing Angry Birds on Facebook.

Sadly, it does not.

As a result of this lack of connectivity, his presence on the boards will be (hopefully) missed; you should not expect him to post while he's in transit.

Once Stateside, RGM will attempt, each morning while enjoying steaming hot, imported South American coffee, to update this PbP. He may, due to hangovers and family obligations, miss one or two days.

Be prepared.

That said, RGM will make every attempt to keep the momentum of the PbP intact. So, don't just wander off. Instead, try to keep the dialogue engaged and positive. Get into character, discuss your problems, and look for solutions to the current crisis.

Expect regular (sans hangover and family obligations) posts to return on or about the 25th of June.

Cheers,
The Offices of R & GM.

Have a wonderful trip! Enjoy your family time (and coffee).

TRhat reminds me the place down the street just got some single plantation shade grown colombian. Java time!

Have fun with the remote flying deices.

Java time!

Sumatran blend this morning followed by hazelnut blend after lunch here. Coffee-holic no doubt. ;-)

I generally go coffee in the AM and then tea throught the day. Midmorning dragonwell and then getting progressively darker as the day goes. Usually finish with pu-erh or lapsang before going to sleep. But I make exceptions when a new shipment reaches the coffee-house.

Sometimes I think that I am the only person in the world who finds spending $$$ on dirty water to be a waste of money. At $3 only per day not spent on coffee, you could get a new PF book every 10 days.

Sometimes I think that I am the only person in the world who finds spending $$$ on dirty water to be a waste of money. At $3 only per day not spent on coffee, you could get a new PF book every 10 days.

Granted. None the less I love the Java Jive

Sometimes I think that I am the only person in the world who finds spending $$$ on dirty water to be a waste of money. At $3 only per day not spent on coffee, you could get a new PF book every 10 days.

No worries - enjoy the extra cash! Since I am not much of a liquor drinker or smoker, I figure the vice of some cups of coffee works the balance out. ;-)

None the less I love the Java Jive

Ahh - the Inkspots great fun! Random factoid I learned from my aunt. The line:"A slice of onion and a raw one, draw one. Waiter, waiter, percolator," refers to an old hang-over cure. Half an onion and a raw egg dropped in a mug of black coffee was supposed to ease the headache and fill you up so you didn't feel the nausea. Not sure the cure isn't worse than the condition in that case. *Bleah*

Asking the question - should we assume that between Alexa's bashing; Madeline's Eagles; and my Channeling that the last zombie is dead? Move on with intros and getting Creel back on his feet, etc. etc.

Or just wait for RGM at this point?

Also - feeling kind of bad for poor Vaghn - he's on his own right now with naught but a shovel between him and some zombie snack time.

Ah...but to strangely want to run to Vaghn's deference would be a tad...odd.

Though some one suggesting a brisk walk to where ever Vaghn has toddled off to, so as to bring a timely warning would probably not go too far astray. :)

So...a quick "Hello, my name is not quite Innigo Montoya..." Type introduction etc. :D

Rule #1 in RPGs, never split the party.

Let's start intros, I am on my phone now, so cannot type much.

OK & OK. I'll see what I can add - apologies for the drama.

By all means, don't wait for me...

;)

Hope you had a safe trip, RGM.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. I will be out of the loop for about 12 hours - if my appointment goes as long as I think it will. If it doesn't great, but just in case we need to rush into more action.

Now that gang looks to be all back together, question time from the newbie concerning the state of affairs in the game. I apologize if I missed this in the game thread, and I'll admit I haven't read the whole OOC thread, but:

Heinrich - It looks like the player bowed out, but last I can tell he didn't join anyone in the investigation of Harrowstone. Has RGM made a call on him - dead or alive, or is he back at the mansion "chillin'" with Kendra?

Dortlin - OK, as far as I can tell he opened the gate at Harrowstone, and...nothing more. No goodbyes, etc. Or was he "eaten by a grue?" Or beetles for that matter?

Just wondering if they are now in NPC mode or part of the "recently" deceased. I know you have been jumping around a bit dealing with the "zombie outbreak", so perhaps this all to be determined.

Also, did I miss you guys curing him, or is Tharnak still basically tied up in the basement fighting Lycanthropy while looking for clues about a cure?

I apologize if I am drudging up old news. If the answers are TBD on all this, I'll just shut up and worry about zombie bashing for now. Thank you for your patience.

Dortlin and Heinrich vanished without a word. You can see why RGM is rather sensitive about player drop out. As far as their fate I think we just retconned them out of existance. They had little if any impact on the game, so i think this was the least distractive way to fade them out.

Yes friend Tharnik is still in the basement awaiting a cure.

We now return to the Adventures of Vaghn the Shoveler.

Thank you for the updates. I kind of suspected that was the case with both players, but wasn't sure if I missed something else story-wise.

Thanks for the clarifications. Back to the action then!

Ok i'm confused.

(sadly not an uncommon state)

I thought we were leveling with plot rather than tracking exp?

Ok i'm confused.

(sadly not an uncommon state)

I thought we were leveling with plot rather than tracking exp?

Agreed - although I have been keeping track of the exp as RGM lists them just incase.

I thought we were leveling with plot rather than tracking exp?

Agreed. RGM mentioned he was going to have to adjust my XP as well, otherwise I am rather behind.

Heck - I don't even know if we're using the slow-medium-fast level tracks.

Creel - we were. I wasn't thinking and posted that, probably knowing that Alexa and Valen needed to level. Hey Valen and Alexa - go ahead and level up to 2nd.

How do you do HP when we level? I have seen normal rolls (1d8), 1/2 + 1/2 roll(4+1d4), 1/2+1(5), and max (8).

I was using the Society model. Basically, 1/2 +1. You can roll if you like, however.

OK - I think I have everything updated.
I assumed 1/2 +1 on HP as well.

I will update spells on the next overnight "break" in game.

I think I am finished. Let me know if anyone sees anything that I missed.

I am returning to Kuwait today, so don't expect to see me online for 25-48 hours.

Have a safe journey, then.

Safe journey and pleasant times.

Thanks all. My trip took a little longer than I anticipated, but I'm back in the Middle East and ready to run you collectively into the ground with unrelenting zombie attacks....

...or something.

;)

Mmmm Zombie. Best served fresh with red wine.

Fresh zombie! Philistine. You serve zombies properly aged. Otherwise you miss all the depth of flavor that maximal parasitization brings.

Hahhaha...

Creel said philistine.

Phil I. Stine - Zombie Gourmand!

"I do not like the idea of a cage. Maybe I can master the wolf that rides me."

The first thing that popped into my head was:

Despite all my rage, I am still just a wolf in a cage! ;-)

*Laughs* Bravo and amusing indeed! (^_^)

For the record, I wasn't expecting things to go this way when we started breakfast. I hope how I am playing this doesn't bug anyone.

So, just to confirm the group stash. So far, I have read that there is the following gear - all from the undead kit in the graveyard.

4 Sunrods
12 Silver Tipped Arrows
5 Cure Light Wounds Potions
2 Scrolls of Hide from Undead
1 Scroll of Detect Undead
10 Arrows +1
5 Ghost Touch Arrows +1
Vials of Water bearing Sarenraes holy mark - which I am guessing is holy water, or else Sarenrae's clergy selling are Evian on the side.

2 Vials of a golden fluid - unknown so far
2 BLACK arrows - unknown so far
1 other scroll - unknown so far
a thin darkwood case decorated with an image of a scarab with a single eye glaring from its back.

*The last item I would like to look at it further. As far as I can tell, Vaghn did a perception check on the thing, but it looks like he never got an answer in thread.

*I could try doing the arcane check at some point to see if I have any more luck with the other items.

*Finally, I hope somebody takes up the bow soon. ;-)

Any other items I should be keeping a tally on? All equipment of this nature is currently in a spoiler listing called Group Items in Valen's profile page - in case anyone has questions. Is that OK or should I actually show the list in full?

Thanks for getting this together. Perhaps Vaghn can do some RETCON rolls to check the stuff.

As far as identifying goes, Spellcraft isn't my forte. And don't look at me for the bow, not really a druid weapon. I think that Vaghn and Creel have the proficiency, probably Madeline as well. Not sure who has the highest Dex, but we should get at least 1 bow before long.

Well...given the time I intend to go and see the local Black-Smith to see what facilities they have at weapon crafting and such. I already have plans for ranged combat, just not the time, nor the finances to implement them atm.

Also thank you Valen. *Bows*

No worries - I welcome any other knick-knacks we may have missed.

Yea - I didn't jump on the bow for this characer unfortunately; and Dex is not that great either.

My Spellcraft checks are decent, so if RGM wants another pair of eyes to give it a crack I can try that.

Changing the subject.
I am assuming that between Vaghn, Creel and Madeline, we've been given the run down on Harrowstone in-game. As far as I can tell from re-reading the thread, the characters have gleaned:

*Harrowstone burned down in a terrible fire that erupted during some kind of breakout. Only by the actions of the Warden Hawkren did they keep the prisoners from escaping. Is there anything else of significance?

*In addition to the general populace,there were (5) "big" prisoners in what would be the equivalent of a maximum security area. I think I saw that one of these guys was called the Splatter Man. Do we know the names of the other prisoners or anyone else of importance?

*The Whispering Way and Prof. Lorrimor looked to have both been at the prison. We don't know why either of them were there specifically, correct?

If RGM or anyone has anymore feedback on things we should know, please feel free to add to it. With high wisdom and decent intelligence, I am thinking Valen will start dwelling on all this for clues.

You are prety much spot on as far as I can see. I will reread the thread over the weekend and see if I can add anything.

Indeed, that seems about to cover everything. Some time back at the estate should allow the characters to chat and compare note etc. Of course, that's after the Mob is done with here and we use the day to try again at getting a glimpse at Harrowstone.

Much cheers to all. :)

I do believe there was also a potion of cure moderate wounds that Smith found in the Lorrimer's basement in the very beginning...

Oh and I think the symbol on the locked book was identified as belonging to some esoteric order I cannot recall the name of right now.

I do believe the names of at least some of the other big prisoners were found, just do not recall them; I really should start taking better notes so I do not have to go searching through the backlog for answers all the time...

We did find out the reason for the Way being at Harrowstone: the mystical runes they left indicated a ritual for binding Warden Hawkran's soul. What they wanted with it, dunno. I think the Professor's journal might have mentioned why he was there as well...

I like ellipses...

Hmmm . . . come to think of it . . . I really do not like . . . ellipses. (Although you are supposed to have a space in between each period, at least that is what I was told it school.)

As I have said, I want to avoid any input on what was learned. I read the thread, but since I have played a little farther in a prior failed campaign than where we are right now (although a ton has also happened in this game which never happened in my old game), I am sticking with minimal knowledge until I see things posted and feel that we have passed where I got to in the other campaign.

I also love ellipses...I think.

I hope I'm not trying being too meta with the knowledge. Having never played this particular module, but I am treating it like a puzzle right now. I tend to get detail-oriented (a nice way of putting it ;-)) to see if there's some clues we missed.

I am sure that some things will come to light when we delve into Harrowstone, so apologies if I am making everyone wrack their brains for stuff that's happened over the last two years.

Anyhow, carrying on...

All: As you have probably guessed, I've made significant changes (although not so many that this ceases to remain the same campaign) to the opening plot, twisting a few things to increase the creepy-factor. Additionally, this keeps the campaign fresh for those who many have played or read through it beforehand. So, some things will remain true to the book. Others, however (which Alexa has noted) will not.

My aim? To keep things refreshing, with as much depth as possible, without being overbearing or too trite. I want this to be a unique play experience that carries the feel evoked in the campaign setting; I'm aiming for part The X-Files and part Ravenloft.

As for formatting....

If people recall (I think Vaghn came in after this), I did ask players to type speaking text in bold, when I took over. That said, if people are more comfortable with another format, I'm fine with that... provided it is consistent and I can read it. Vaghn's format has been and I don't have any issues with it.

As for missed Perception checks...
I believe (I can look back, again, to verify) that all of the Perception checks that Vaghn, Creel, and Rendel did on the equipment (as well as castings of detect magic alongside Spellcraft checks) have been answered. I believe it was only the failed checks that I ignored. That said, if I did miss some in the meantime, you have my sincere apology. I'm normally pretty good when it comes to the minutiae, but even I lack the absolute perfection all GMs aspire to...

(Let us have our ode to the Imperfect Lord of the Gaming Table)

Of course, considering I've been running this campaign for as long as I have (it's been over a year, now, in real time), it is bound to happen!

Which, to ease any of Alexa's concerns, I intend to complete ...provided I can keep my players active and involved. I know all of us have busy lives. That said, I aim to spend at least 5-8 hours a week on this (even when I don't post over the weekends, which are very busy for me). That said, I will be at Gen Con this year, so there will be a week or so where you won't hear from me. Unless any of you are going to Gen Con, then you're welcome to meet up for a cold beverage!

(Wouldn't it be awesome if ALL of you were going to Gen Con and we finished the 1st book there, in person? Yes, wishful thinking, I know...)

Okay, that's enough of this. I'm rambling now. I'm going to answer your ICC thread stuff now...