Man, the common unpleasantries of life really push things back, don't they?
Anyway, I'll get that recruitment put up in a bit here.
As for the main party:
Owl wishes to stay Owl.
Laetitia wishes to stay Laetitia.
I think having a cleric or some frontline healer would push things in the right direction. Would you prefer if I got one new person or two?
EDIT: Also, should we wait for recruitment (max a few days) before moving on? Might influence your choices. Or if you don't want to wait, we can move on now and add the new folks in later.
I think I'd rather wait for the recruitment, that way we can get the new people involved as soon as possible. I'd also go ahead and shoot for two people.
Okay, recruitment posted.
Not to toot my own horn, but I think the early days when DM'd you all as separate characters and wove you together into one party was one of the better displays of my DMing skill.
Wish I could pull that out all the time.
*glee* Once you start to settle on sheets, I'll make my comments on the interested parties. There's already one person there that I can vouch for.
Oh it was masterfully done, and is one of the better beginnings to a campaign that I have seen. I tried to do something similar, but it didn't turn out as well.
A stray thought hit me... When might Kari "level up" in her NPC class? Will she ever?
I'd rather finish this scene before introducing someone else. I think it would be harder to justifiably and realistically add some knew people right in the middle of this one. Also, not a great showing so far. I don't know about you guys but I hate seeing multiple stats below 10. It just screams min-maxing to me even if it is justified in the backstory or not helpful to the build.
For comments on specific entries, please message me privately as this discussion thread is public.
For Kari leveling...would her leveling at your pace seem to powerful? I'm never used followers before so I'm unsure. If too strong, leveling at half pace should be okay I believe.
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Also, I'm ending the recruitment in two days. A couple of you already messaged your thoughts, but please look over everyone entries and PM me any additional information you think should be considered. I have my own process, but I appreciate and value your input.
I'll take a look and send you a PM with my thoughts. Won't happen tonight, though.
For Kari leveling...would her leveling at your pace seem to powerful? I'm never used followers before so I'm unsure. If too strong, leveling at half pace should be okay I believe.
I'll look it up. If followers come in at two lower than the PC, then Kali would be a hireling, since there's been no feat applied to her that would give her PC levels...
You could rule it (when you feel appropriate) that she start gaining a higher wage, which would indicate her increasing skill. At present, she'll be gaining more ranks in heal, but if Lía ever takes Leadership, I wonder what class she'd pick up.
Those vials seem important. Did I succeed in Identifying them? I can identify poisons with poison lore too.
Thank you for the invite! Looking forward to joining this group.
Hi. Excited to join the game. Thanks for having me. :)
I'll read through to catch up on the story, but does anyone want to give us the "Executive Overview?" :)
Welcome new folks, here's a short overview of "The story so far..."
Introduction
Our heroes found each other through various misunderstandings, and with the help of a powerful wizarding patron, they were sent out on a quest to return a child to his mother. The mission successful, they seem to have stumbled onto some evil at work.
Murderer's Mark
The Umbra Carnival has visited the small village town of Ilsuran, and the town is in an uproar when a murder has been discovered. With the main culprit seemingly the Sphinx that travels with the carnival, our heroes have been hired to find the true culprits while clearing the carnival's name.
Skulks have been found to be hired by the real masterminds, a second murder has been discovered, further eliciting the town's emotions. Our heroes are now visiting the local church to see what more they can find.
Yes! Welcome! I hope that you'll enjoy the game and have fun. Don't mind Laetitia, she doesn't bite.
Much.
:P
In all seriousness, I'm pretty sure we're all excited to have you join in.
DM: Awesome, thanks. :) Also Follow-up question: do you have a specific plan to introduce us into the story, or do you want us to find an in-story way to introduce ourselves? ... or, do you want us to do it, but you determine the timing, or some other hybrid (and of course totally better) choice I haven't thought of?
Kalisuel: Thanks. :) Looking forward to it.
I can weave you in pretty quickly if the current party doesn't mind. I don't want to wait till they're done with the module as that might take a while, but after they're done with this "scene" I feel confident in introducing you to the group.
Perfect. :) Thanks.
Median's questions mirrored my own, so that's settled.
Thanks for the welcome, Kalisuel. Excited to soothe/exacerbate the party dynamic.
*happy dance* Welcome to the game, you two!
Thanks, happy to be here! Looks like you guys are pretty far along in this module.
Thanks Me'mori. :)
Hah! Exacerbate the party dynamic. I think I have that pretty well covered, but you're welcome to pitch in if you like.
Welcome to the party, you two! Looking forward to having you off the sidelines and into the game proper soon. =)
All of the Exacerbate.
But yeah, welcome to the fun house.
Thanks... I think. I'm only about halfway through the story, but it's feeling less and less "welcoming" and more and more like I've been tricked into volunteering as tribute. ... Is it supposed to feel that way? ;)
I find it more interesting and realistic when the team doesn't immediately come together after the first encounter. Need a few more bonding encounters before anything like camaraderie starts to develop. Especially with the personalities we have on display.
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...Especially with the personalities we have on display.
Just remember, you can't strangle Tish, that would mean that she won the exchange of insults.
All caught up with the story. You guys are hilarious. :)
Thank you. :)
Though I don't know if Kali is hilarious persay. I didn't intend for her to comic relief at any rate.
Oh, definitely. Her character is very serious. She is a little bit funny in just how deep her lack of confidence goes. Her real problem is the way that she thinks about herself, but she *thinks* that the problem is external, with the way that others treat her, and no matter how much reassurance she gets, she goes back to thinking she is worthless, because she has to start believing in herself, and in her obvious strength and ability and inherent worth, not depending on the approval of others.
... Not funny in a mocking sense, of course, just in a how-true-to-life sense, because we are all blind to our own problems. I was more saying you guys were hilarious as an overall group with how you interact... often not even liking each other as characters, getting in jabs and trying to deal with your own past issues, but despite it all, still working together to solve things. It's entertaining reading. Glad to have the chance to become part of the story. :)
I got ya. I hope that Default gets you guys involved in the fun soon. :)
Question: Why are you guys planning on storming the skulk's lair when the two rogue skulks moved in with some humans somewhere? Maybe for background info about where they went?
That was my exact question. Especially given our lack of "front line", Lía will be inquiring about that at breakfast.
Did somebody say Front Line?
Well, as I understand it:
- We know the location of the Skulk lair.
- We do not know the location of where the two skulks with the humans are.
- We also don't have a clue where the humans might be hiding.
- We are on a timer. Basically, we've got tomorrow to figure this out or we fail pretty miserably.
Simply put. It's the one lead we have that could get us results. If we had the time, I'd say we try and follow up on the Shiver angle, but I don't think Default ever told Owl what he knew about the production of it. Out of character, I know what it requires, but I can't act on that knowledge because Kali's expertise and background wouldn't include that kind of knowledge.
On the front line issue, Kali actually is a fighter. She got hammered because the two fights she was in were ones she wasn't trying to kill anyone and there wasn't a way for her to heal up from the first fight before falling victim to a trap and then getting shanked while at 2 hp and by something rolling sneak attack. I had her branch out into Oracle because otherwise there's no way we'd live through this.
Admittedly, she's not the tankiest, or the hardest hitting, but she'll be good enough to stand up in front and hammer away at foes.
Huh.. I got so used to the characters, I didn't stop to consider that Kali was actually a martial type. Lia can at least defend herself, but that's a tall order for what they've encountered so far.
Well, as I understand it:
- We know the location of the Skulk lair.
- We do not know the location of where the two skulks with the humans are.
- We also don't have a clue where the humans might be hiding.
- We are on a timer. Basically, we've got tomorrow to figure this out or we fail pretty miserably.Simply put. It's the one lead we have that could get us results. If we had the time, I'd say we try and follow up on the Shiver angle, but I don't think Default ever told Owl what he knew about the production of it. Out of character, I know what it requires, but I can't act on that knowledge because Kali's expertise and background wouldn't include that kind of knowledge.
Pretty much all of that. I think I put too much emphasis on the shiver. The DM has said the town was small, implying the drug probably isn't that problematic here. It feels like we're being steered away from it. Likely the drug was brought in for the purpose it was used for, a bargaining chip for services rendered.
At the time it also seemed like the next step in the module was to visit the skulk's lair or whatever. Usually certain scenes lead you in the direction you are supposed to go. If you don't, things get fuzzy or get worse. And they seem to be getting worse. Or maybe the module is just supposed to move fast.
That's my take.
If the skulks you already met didn't know anything, it seems unlikely (to me) that the other ones at the lair will either.
The shiver was a bargaining chip, sure, but you know that whoever is controlling the skulks has access to it in order to control them. Probably not many dealers in a small town like this.
You're right though that there aren't a lot of leads, and you're the underworld expert. If you couldn't gather any information about that already, maybe it is a dead end. ... What about the things that were stolen from the vault (can't remember what they were)... were there any clues there? I know it went to the skulk incident right after that, so wasn't sure if you asked around about them.
They may not be any dealers. And I think the skulks might know where the other two went or at least what the humans looked like. The skulks used to live there so that means someone went to them and someone might have seen the humans. That's a better lead then trying to gather information, with diplomacy, on shiver and should take about the same amount of time. There didn't seem to be a connection with the stolen items but they also only finished half the job since the guards and wife came back early. And the hit on the temple suggests this is just for money.
At least that is where I am headed. I am open to suggestions that people wouldn't normally be able to voice through their characters. I believe in staying in character as much as possible.
What were the specific items that were missing from the inventory of the vault?
... and yeah, didn't mean to pull you out of character. Just trying to get up to speed with where we are now.
What were the specific items that were missing from the inventory of the vault?
... and yeah, didn't mean to pull you out of character. Just trying to get up to speed with where we are now.
No I mean I agree with Kali about not being able to voice how shiver is made because its meta knowledge. If others need to I or possibly Tish could help.
So, off to the Skulk Lair, leaving the carriage here? That seemed like the intent, but looks like the DM is waiting for confirmation...that has my vote, anyway, if the Shiver angle is dried up or seems like a red herring.
Christ guys, Sunday is supposed to be a lazy do. 19 posts is a lot to wake up too.
I know, right? Let a girl have her tea first before you make her play catch-up. But on a serious note, I'm glad you newcomers are enjoying your characters and fitting in well with our humble little group. ;)
Time for Tish to wake up and ruin everybody's morning!
If Tish were ever civil with anyone un-ironically, I think everyone would be suspicious of her.
Yup.
On another note, Kali's starting to let the walls come down. Fair warning, she loves puns, alliteration, and other forms of wordplay.
:)
Moved into a new apartment, the internet down. Hopefully up tomorrow.
Hopefully. :)
I think we've got things covered even if it's not, though. ;)
I realize I rolled the wrong HD for Lía when we reached level 2.