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Here we go, and welcome all!
A few additional notes:
The Barony:
The Barony of Redwyrm is located in the north of Taldor on the Tandak Plains where the Fog Peaks come closest to the Verduran Forest. Like most such holdings, the Barony is something of an island of civilisation within the untamed wilds – secure trade routes link the Empire together, but only on maps is it one contiguous whole: the reality is that between the various holdings of Taldor’s feudal Lords are tracts of wilderness where the chaos of the wild, of banditry, and of monstrous creatures rules more than the Crown Prince.
The northern most part of the Barony encompasses foothills of the great Fog Peaks mountains, whilst the south gradually leads into the depths of the fey-infested Verduran Forest. Most of the Barony proper is gently rolling grasslands dotted with small forests and woods, and is divided up into villages and market towns surrounded by farmland and ruled by Baron Otto’s vassals in the name of Redwyrm.
Chivalrous Combat:
In general chivalrous combat isn’t to the death, and striking an opponent who has yielded or who’s unconscious is considered a serve breach of honour (possibly even opening one up to a charge of murder or attempted murder).
There’s no rule demanding blunted weapons - although the tournament joust does specifically use blunted lances, chivalrous combats outside of such a setting more often use the real thing.
The use of all magic isn’t forbidden – the general principle is spells cast on an ally are fair, those cast on an opponent or the field of battle itself are foul (akin to firing crossbow bolts at your champion’s opponent during a joust). ‘Boost’ spells, particularly those of a divine nature, are commonplace (many knights are seen receiving various blessings before going into combat), although some of the ‘flashier’ spells (especially arcane spells) are seen as ‘cheating’, even if they fall within this general description – e.g. casting Invisibility on a combatant is seen as blatant cheating, whilst casting Enlarge Person is seen as a dishonourable way to win, but casting Shield is no problem at all. Wandering into the middle of a combat to cast spells on an ally is also right out, but if (for example) a knight fighting in the sword ring can get to his ‘corner’, then it’s okay for his companions to cast Cure spells on him. Magic effects such as Bardic Performance are usually considered fine, unless they specifically target a single individual opponent as an attack or something similar.
Dotting
Aydan checking in.
and this may sound dumb, but can someone explain dotting to me?
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Aydan checking in.
and this may sound dumb, but can someone explain dotting to me?
When you post in a thread with you default alias, a dot will appear in the thread list so that you can find the threads you have posted in easily.
As a side note, you only have to post as the default alias...if you delete the post or edit it to show a different alias later, the dot will still be there.
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Prof,
Please share your thoughts and/or nerf bat.
cool, thanks
dotting
Anyone want to figure out how our characters feel about each other, I mean it seems reasonable that we're all fairly well aquainted. I mean Clarius and Aydan are both woodsy types, so they'd have a familiarity, and Aydan grew up with Lady Rebecca and her brothers, so he'd know her attendants. So are we all friends, is their tension anywhere. To throw one question out there, Aydan is both common born and illegitimate, so how do the nobles in our group look on that? do they not care, pity him or see him as less?
just trying to get some discussion going.
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Brendnan is common born as well, although his parents were rather wealthy merchants. I made Brendan quite a bit older (but not middle aged) to represent the time spent in the preisthood, his tours of duty in the city guard, and time with the Baron's houshold. So he's probably known you all for several years now.
Well, both me and the Wit are the oldest from here [even older than Baron in that sense lol), but I will speak so far only to me, but this apply to both of us mostly : We should know all of you, since you joined to Baron Redwyrm household.
Hm... I don´t know how to describe Kerdin´s contacts with others, but since he is pushing over 60 (middle-age), he would know you all, since you were born and in your diapers to be said :P
Maybe something like uncle-model. Taking care time to time, keeping happy and good-mood. Now just watching over and giving advice time to time. As a jester and close-to-Baron, I would think he also keeping eye on most of the people and supporting them. Mostly the appearance and acting is just fooling around, since Baron should be only one aware, what is the true "personality" and the character behind the mask of halflign and gnome
Sir Jaymin is a bit of a dim-witted fellow who takes people as they come. His noble upbringing would cause him to look down on illegitimate commoners, but his training within the priesthood of Kurgess teaches him that a person's worth can be found in their deeds and abilities moreso than their blood (probably a reason why his worship isn't so common in Taldor).
Sir Jaymin's primary concerns are winning fair jousting tournaments, protecting the honour of himself, liege and ladies, and making calf-eyes at Lady Rebecca when he thinks nobody is watching. He's not really good at keeping secrets, though, so that last bit is probably pretty common knowledge.
In short, no bad feelings towards anybody in this group.
awesome! I wasn't looking for "who hates me" just trying to get an idea of possible history
Aydan's spent his whole life around the Baron's children and was best friends with Hanz, so if Kerdin was around for that then he would know Aydan.
In his early teens Aydan (and I would think Hanz) tended to get into a lot of trouble. sneaking out, being boys and chasing skirts, Maybe Brendan was one who caught them or knows Aydan from this behavior, or perhaps did and watched him grow up.
Aydan and Jaymin sound like they could be fierce rivals or close friends, (similar interests) and I'm sure that at some point in the past words would have been raised about Aydan's heritage (most likely under the influence of Ale) Furthermore, Aydan looks at Rebecca like a sister and would be pretty protective of her, and at the very least would give Jaymin a hard time now and then for his "calf-eyes"
Mhm, I can see it as a quite sad for Ayden, when he lost one of his good friends, so Kerdin kept his mood up (although illegitimate child) and try to make sure all the children are happy (to make it quite honestly and thinking storywise: Kerdin could maybe never accept Ayden as a Baron, so he would try to prevent this, if he ever set eye on it).
Serving 2 generation now, Zurladew being a 2nd jester is also okey for Kerdin (Thanks for the background, it gave me nice ideas Zulradew :) ), but he is quite unsure about his loyalty and keep eye on him, but since they both know the Baron, they have idea of each other abilities and their real purposes for Baron.
About Rebecca, I would say that Kerdin is really fond of and try to do her best to keep her safe and happy. Others he view as a family members too, but since serving for longtime the family, Redwyrm lineage has earned his earnest servitude and he is obeying orders only from Baron. Anything coming between this without any proper ways, will be met with cold steel (Jaymin, when you look with calf-eyes to Rebecca, someone else is watching you :P... well, not that way 'cough')
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Zurladew isn't really 'nice' to anyone - but that's all part of his job, and he's always working. The only person he considers safe from his tongue is the Baron and Rebecca, out of respect for their kindness over the years, and Kerdin, out of a certain professional respect. Anyone else he considers to be fair game for his tongue-lashings.
He is wary of Kerdin's constant loyal eyes watching him, but more out of a distrust of being watched than any true guilt - his loyalties lie with House Redwyrm, and he has no intention of betraying that right now.
Well, I guess we can work that out, but hm... but considering timeline actually, when could you have joined in? It is hard everywhere to get accepted immediately and especially with races, who have tendecy to life long lives :)
Reading your background just gave impression, but then Kerdin doesn´t really know it, which makes it natural: might take time from Kerdin to get used to someone else he could trust. After all, trying to find a way to tie everyone and Rennick idea was brilliant: what is the relationship between people
EDIT: Damn, just read my previous post in IC and realised that it might imply to Aedyn. Hm.. well, can´t edit, but that´s why we got OOC. Talking to the knight and his joust, but then can be interesting to see your reaction there
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Garrett seems to be the "new-commer" to the group, having only been in the service of the Baron for about a year.
In that time Garrett has been friendly enough, though you have noticed a definite arrogant streak in his personality.
Fiercely competitive,(though not likely as competitive as Jaymin, since he is a paladin of the god of competition) he likely spends time practicing and sparing with Jaymin (and the other knights for that matter.)
Aydan is likely a bit wary about Garrett given the way he has been known to look at the Lady Rebecca, but if confronted about it Garrett would say that while he is extremely interested, he would not act on those thoughts as Garrett has little to offer the Baron's daughter other than himself. Should those circumstances change....that might be another matter.
Brendan and Garrett share the same deity, so I imagine there have been a few conversations to that effect but little else.
Which brings me to the Jesters....as long as they are targeting others with their jokes and pranks, Garrett is fine. But as I stated before, Garrett is a bit arrogant, so he has reacted poorly to being the butt of a few of the jesters' pranks in the past.
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Which brings me to the Jesters....as long as they are targeting others with their jokes and pranks, Garrett is fine. But as I stated before, Garrett is a bit arrogant, so he has reacted poorly to being the butt of a few of the jesters' pranks in the past.
...Which would probably make him that much more tempting a target to Zurladew.
*edit* And Kerdin, we can assume that Zurladew is a newer addition than Kerdin - I'm ok with not being wholely trusted, he's not a super-trustworthy character.
Just a note Kerdin, you wouldn't know that Aydan is a possibility to be heir. He's never spoken about it with anyone whatsoever, and doesn't even know if Baron Redwyrm knows. For that matter he isn't sure its true.
Ah true, thanks for noting me!
I guess there might be some resemblance between you and Baron, but I that will come up later. (As a jester, you sure hear alot of rumors and speaking :P) Nevertheless, good to know so that it won't affect then.
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Great start all - in just one post each I'm already getting a feel for who these characters are, which is always a good sign! I'm loving the two jesters - I can picture them dressed the same, with Kerdin doing all the traditional jester foolery, and Zurladew contrasting with his own brand of cynical observation. :)
And Brendan... dicebotted on the first post! With that speech the Viscount could easily have focused on the early polite bit... but I think the dice dictated otherwise...
Although the challenge of a Passage of Arms is, strickly speaking, for knights, in the context of the game I'm thinking that Clarius and Aydan will be joining the two 'full' knights in battle, whilst the other characters hold supporting roles. Unless someone flies off the handle early, you can have some time to get boosted up with any helpful spells people may be packing - Lord Geoffrey's guys, as the 'defenders', are prepared to wait until you guys attack.
By the way, in case anyone missed the concept here, killing these guys is probably the worst outcome you could want (apart from, maybe, dying yourselves).
One word of advice - just remember all four of these guys are in full plate with heavy steel shields... so their AC will be at least as high as yours...
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Anyone want to figure out how our characters feel about each other, I mean it seems reasonable that we're all fairly well aquainted. I mean Clarius and Aydan are both woodsy types, so they'd have a familiarity, and Aydan grew up with Lady Rebecca and her brothers, so he'd know her attendants. So are we all friends, is their tension anywhere. To throw one question out there, Aydan is both common born and illegitimate, so how do the nobles in our group look on that? do they not care, pity him or see him as less?
just trying to get some discussion going.
I agree that Clarius would already have established a working relationship (and hopefully a friendship) with Aydan. Clarius is also mooning over Rebecca. Of course, he's also mooning over all of the ladies in waiting, any attractive servants, cute village girls... and even Lady Redwyrm. Luckily, he lacks the social skills to make anything happen beyond hopelessly blushing at her slightest attentions, so he's safe for now.
He's learned that he's an easy mark for the jesters and has stopped showing up unarmed for a war of wits.
Clarius follows Erastil because it's practical, but he reveres Desna and is open to talk about Kurgess and Abadar.
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Great start all - in just one post each I'm already getting a feel for who these characters are, which is always a good sign! I'm loving the two jesters - I can picture them dressed the same, with Kerdin doing all the traditional jester foolery, and Zurladew contrasting with his own brand of cynical observation. :)
** spoiler omitted **
One word of advice - just remember all four of these guys are in full plate with heavy steel shields... so their AC will be at least as high as yours...
I personally wouldn't go out hunting dressed in full plate, or even in a chain shirt, but are we assuming we did don our armour and bring lances, et al?
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I've assumed those who wish to be are armed and armoured, yes, because you're not so much out hunting as riding escort to Lady Rebecca who's out hunting - several guys in plate armour riding very large horses tends to do a good job of persuading people to keep their distance...
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** spoiler omitted **
I've assumed those who wish to be are armed and armoured, yes, because you're not so much out hunting as riding escort to Lady Rebecca who's out hunting - several guys in plate armour riding very large horses tends to do a good job of persuading people to keep their distance...
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Ayan Crow: a couple of points - now I've finally got round to checking, your skill totals seem a little weird, you may want to take another look at them (total = skill ranks + 3 for a Class skill + Ability Score modifier + other bonuses - penalties). Did you take a favoured class, and choose a bonus to go with it if it was Ranger? Also, I never specifically mentioned this, but if you've not got a horse of your own, it means you're riding one the the Baron's normal light riding horses borrowed from the stables (although the small dudes can borrow a pony to ride if they want), not a warhorse. That means you need an additional DC 20 Ride check each round, as a Move action, in order to get a Standard action - otherwise you spend the whole turn controlling your frightened mount (page 201 of the core book)!
Yeah, I didn't think about it, but for some reason the base bonus for all my dex skills is -1 even though the score's 14. Sorry, I've been trying Hero Lab and didn't think to check the math, I'll try and figure it out and get the numbers done asap.
I assumed I was borrowing a horse, didn't think to check what kind. Well then, this will get mighty embarassing for Aydan.
Is it an automatic forfeiture or bad form if Aydan dismounts on his own?
actually, this is probably one of those discretion is the better part of valor moments.
thanks Prof, new update is up and skills have been corrected.
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Ok - team meeting.
Quick summary for those who have been good about spoiler tags, Zurladew has been poking around with Detect Poison in Sir Guy's tent, and lo and behold, has found a suspicious little breadbox that's locked and smacking of poison. At this point, assuming that the poison is his and it's not someone poisoning him, I see two feasible options.
1.) Stride out, box in hand, declaring him a cad and a bounder and publicly shame him for his unchivalrous possession of illicit and dangerous materials.
or
2.) Leave a note declaring that he has been found out, and basically have Zurladew blackmail him into service - it could be useful to have a dude that is willing to poison under our collective thumbs.
I'm leaning a little more towards option 2, simply thinking of who Zurladew is - he's not above a little something-something getting slipped into a dangerous rival's drink, and I imagine that the threat of a reputation-slandering should be enough to keep a knight squarely in line.
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Ok - team meeting.
Quick summary for those who have been good about spoiler tags, Zurladew has been poking around with Detect Poison in Sir Guy's tent, and lo and behold, has found a suspicious little breadbox that's locked and smacking of poison. At this point, assuming that the poison is his and it's not someone poisoning him, I see two feasible options.
1.) Stride out, box in hand, declaring him a cad and a bounder and publicly shame him for his unchivalrous possession of illicit and dangerous materials.
or
2.) Leave a note declaring that he has been found out, and basically have Zurladew blackmail him into service - it could be useful to have a dude that is willing to poison under our collective thumbs.
I'm leaning a little more towards option 2, simply thinking of who Zurladew is - he's not above a little something-something getting slipped into a dangerous rival's drink, and I imagine that the threat of a reputation-slandering should be enough to keep a knight squarely in line.
Go with whatever you decide as we are not there nor do we have any way to communicate with you.
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Lady Rebecca just asked Clarius to make sure Lord Geoffrey and friends weren't trampled by the crowd or anything... she wasn't dismissing him from the adventure by sending him back to the castle with them!
I, the player, know that. I haven't made one successful die roll yet. Sir Clarius is just muddling along. He does know that he's not needed to herd a viscount and his retinue to the tourney grounds, but he is not above humourously misinterpreting instructions. I'm not planning to split the party. =)
Hey, don't blame Brendan.
Though the church is mercenary about healing magic, adventuring priests do not charge their companions for healing.
Sir Geoffrery and his retinue were definately not his "companions".
Priests are not permitted to give money to those in need, only lend it at a fair rate and document the transaction for the church's records.
So that kind of sums up his feelings on healing others not adventuring with him.
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I, the player, know that...
Cool - I'm aware that sometimes the things I write which I consider obvious are nothing of the kind to those not living inside my head! ;)
Hey, don't blame Brendan.
Perish the thought! On the other hand, based on the quotes you have there, Lord Geoffrey describing Brendan as a 'mercenary priest' is totally accurate. :)
Also keep in mind that the Viscount didn't ask for healing services - Lady Rebecca asked for them: trying to charge him for a services she ordered is hardly fitting for the priest of a deity who's portfolio includes 'law' as well as 'wealth' (not to mention 'nobility'). Besides, the guy's a guest of the Baron - and the Baron's no more going to charge him for the healing of his chaplain than he is for the feasts prepared by his cooks, or the entertainments performed by his jesters. Directly asking for payment from a peer of the realm is really impolite anyway - he has people to handle the money... talk to them. (But I get that Brendan was aiming for 'impolite' anyway).
It's also important to remember that Brendan is the Baron's chaplain, not just a wandering priest of Abadar - he's already gainfully employed, and shouldn't expect to be able to 'double dip' and charge for his healing and spellcasting on top of that. Like all feudal landowners, Baron Otto tithes about ten percent of the money his lands make to the church already - which is more than enough to pay for every spell Brendan is likely to ever cast in his entire career. For that matter, Viscount Geoffrey pays his tithes too... ;)
The social aspects of the setting are a little different than the usual freelance adventuring party who tend to do 'whatever in the nine hells they please' and just move on if things get hot. Viscount Geoffrey is a powerful and important man, and whilst (in true adventurer style) Brendan may not care if he pisses the guy off, Brendan is a member of Baron Otto's household, so Brendan insulting Geoffrey is tantamount to Otto insulting Geoffrey... which is how wars get started... (It'll take a little getting used to, I'm sure). :)
But yeah, I get that Brendan doesn't like the guy...
I wasn't trying to have Brendan 'double-dip', that was why I said to go the temple and donate whatever he felt appropriate, not to pay him directly. so that way it could have been done 'off camera' so to speak.
Brendan would never charge a member of the baron's household for his services and doesn't expect to be paid directly for services rendered to others.
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A little more information which you'll either find interesting or boring beyond belief, depending on if you're the type to bother reading this stuff in game books or not... ;)
The Barony of Redwyrm:
Government: A feudal hierarchy ruled by the current Baron Redwyrm, Otto, and his appointed vassal Lords- who also make up the Baron’s advisory council. The Barony is one of several such domains within the local Imperial Prefecture, although the Imperial Governor’s mandate grants him little power within each overlord’s domain, beyond the collection of royal taxes and the enforcement of the military service the Baron and his neighbour overlords owe the Crown Prince as part of their feudal service. In Baron Redwyrm’s case this amounts to supplying the service of three-hundred cavalry (Taldan Horse), or six-hundred infantry (Taldan Phalanx), or some combination of the two, for a period of two months each year (although, in practice, lesser numbers are often spread out across a longer period of time, especially if the Empire isn’t experiencing open warfare, when border patrols are more important than battlefield troops).
Terrain: An area of around 360 square miles, 120 square miles of which is ‘cultivated’. Mostly temperate grasslands dotted with woods and small forests, with the Fog Peaks mountain range to the north, and mighty Verduran Forest to the south. Grain farming is predominant, with sheep and goat farming to the north, and orchard (apples and pears) cultivation to the south. Pig farming is common throughout in wooded regions, and most farmers also grow supplemental vegetables and herbs, and raise chickens, ducks, and geese for eggs and meat. Wealthier farmers often own a milking cow and make cheese and butter. Fishing is an additional supplement near rivers and ponds, although Baron Redwyrm and his vassals hold exclusive rights to both hunting and fishing in certain Baronial woods and forests.
Capital: Baron Otto’s home fief shares the family name of Redwyrm in both the imposing Castle Redwyrm and the market town which has grown up around it. Both the geographic and political centre of the Barony, the immediate influence of Castle Redwyrm covers a little over forty square miles, about half of which is cultivated fields, orchards, and settlements, the rest consisting of woods, rivers, ponds, and the like. Roughly two-thousand out of the Barony’s twelve-thousand population call the Baron’s personal fief home.
Notable Settlements: Of the Baron’s twenty-six vassal Lords (and council members),three rule their appointed fiefs, the largest in the Barony, from mighty keeps, whilst the rest rule from fortified manors. The most formidable of these keeps, second only to Castle Redwyrm itself, is Frostward Keep in the far north of the Barony, charged with protecting the border from the incursions of the many dangerous creatures that dwell in the Fog Peaks. The Frostward fief boasts a population of around eighteen-hundred, including several dwarven mining concerns, although it is mostly made up of sheep and goat farms. The next two largest fiefs are Blackwood in the south (which guards against the strange fey beings of Verduran Forest and supplies much of the Barony’s timber), and Westmarch (which guards the Barony’s westernmost borders and is the area’s key portal for foreign trade), each having populations of around fourteen-hundred.
Languages: Common is the only tongue most of the population of the Barony speak, although Dwarven is often a second language for those who associate with the mining concerns in the north, and loan-words from Elven, Gnome, and even Sylvan have crept into the local dialects of the more southerly fiefs. Westmarch traders have been known to speak a dozen or more languages... at least well enough to seal a deal and make their coin.
Religions: As in the rest of the Empire, Abadar is the primary god worshipped, and his clerics and Imperial tax officials are often one and the same, although the priests of local temples are usually valued greatly for their (and their god’s) knowledge of civics, law, and bureaucracy, and their unyielding support of the communities they serve. Being a well-established Barony since the early days of the Empire, temples to Aroden are to be found, dotted about, some re-dedicated to Iomedae, others abandoned to the wilderness. Both Calistria and Cayden Cailean are popular deities, especially with the common folk, although they lack any more than shrines as far as ‘official’ worship goes. Shelyn is more popular with the upper classes, those who can afford to devote themselves to the chivalric ideals of beauty, art, and the games of courtly love, and shrines to the goddess can often be found in the private gardens of lordly manors and other such places. Worship of the dwarven gods prevails amongst the few dwarven communities in the north, and is respected but largely un-imitated by their human neighbours. To the south, the Green Faith of the druids enjoys great popularity, even amongst the upper classes, as those who live in proximity to Verduran forest know well the power and influence of nature and the wilds.
Imports: Dwarven ales, beers, and craftwork, skins and furs from the north; wine, olives, spices and silks from the south; horses.
Exports: Cider and perry; lumber and tar from Verduran forest; iron, tin, and silver from the Fog Peaks; sheep and wool.
Population: Roughly 12,000 (9,000 able-bodied adults, plus children and the elderly) – 5,000 odd serfs (tenant farmers ‘bound to the land’ – i.e. forbidden to move, marry, or quit their jobs without their overlord’s permission, they work three days out of five directly for their overlord, and supply a goodly portion of the food they produce to him as rent), 5,500 odd yeomen (freehold farmers, they pay rents to their overlord, and the men have a feudal obligation for two months of military service per year – as pike-men in a traditional Taldan-style phalanx, longbow-men or, if they can afford the mount and equipment, light cavalry), the remaining 1,500 odd being made up mostly of professionals (also including the clergy and the few scholars such as wizards) and master craftsmen (including armourers, alchemists, and the like), as well as men-at-arms (around 600 professional soldiers, including infantry, light cavalry, and squires; 100 of whom serve the baron’s household directly), knights (around 60 in total; 10 of whom serve the Baron’s household directly), and their families.
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Waiting for Drayen/Clarius before responding. I like bantering.
Ditto! It's been hectic here at work. Trying to get a post together now.
And ye gods, Prof, that's a hella world-building you got going on here.
Seriously! You wouldn't happen to be in the DFW area would you? I'd love to get in on a tabletop game of yours.
I agree, you certainly have put a lot of thought into this world, and it shows. Also, I have a sneaking suspicion that Prof is across the pond from us yanks, could be wrong though.