Depending on the intervening time, I may arrive in time to CHARISMA our way into some intel. If not, I do hope I find a profitable street corner for my bagpipe antics.
Just FYI. This is the first Rogue I've played that hasn't tried to skulk, loiter, shadow or stalk. Shades of Rogues past have me twitching for the warehouse spies. Ya killing me Chainmail. And then Brask is about as stealthy as a belled cat with glitterdust.
No no no no. No! Brask can stealth with the best of them. It's when he's trying to bluff that things fall apart.
Yeah his hefty +11 is a hell of a disappearing act.
Imagine if I took Stealthy :D
Durnak's son only gets involved on his death. Durnak is a plenty active NPC by himself if left alone.
I was going to have Kib turn all of Hon's gear pink and frilly, but he doesn't have that spell. Does Gallak?
Also, In case anyone wants to know how Brask deals with thieves running a protection racket, look in the game thread. >:D
Hell yes, it can make anything taste like anything.
Kib doesn't have presdigitation as a spell because, as a gnome, he can cast it once a day for free. So, what shade of pink exactly were you looking for?
The kind you'd find on a little girl's dress. >:D
Heh heh perfect.
Just let kib know whatever u had in mind, I promise you he's game.
And Chainmail, Magnum's comment about the lukewarm water made me Lol (and brought back lots of memories of great party pranks we played way back in the day)
Probably won't be for a little while. looks like we'll have to be in top form until we get this trip over with.
No worries, it will be worth the wait
Brasks words echoes my thoughts every April 15!
So, well despite the fact that Kib is in full agreement with Brask and his actions, the fact remains that the human loving Hon is likely completely right (just don't ever let Kib, or Hon, know that I said that)
Cuz, without being able to trade at all, we're likely pooched. Unless we can find. Another city not too distant to trade with.
OR, perhaps we can leave town, and then put our human to good use and sneak back in and do some trading for us
OR, maybe we can somehow lead the giants to Garrison and get them to trash the town and pick up the pieces after?
Just spit-balling here.
Damn humans. Still, ya gotta give Chris at least a couple points. Dwarven Diplomats=Oxymoron. That's a good one.
Oh and PS, are ya gonna have tin man keep rolling Ref saves for the remaining minutes of the grease spell?
Dwarven Diplomats = alliteration, not oxymoron ;)
Will Khazad be able to speak again before Chris is gone? He has nothing against 20% tax if it's really a tax which is written down in laws and goes to the benefit of the community; otherwise he stands by his opinions of the Society as damn swindlers and cheaters and is happy he doesn't have to do business with them.
Perhaps not every human approves of this Society. We could try to find some kind of a resistance group. I wonder if when the Dark Owl was the Grandmaster, they had the same customs? Are they even aware the Dark Owl was a dwarf?
Damn dwarven diplomacy doesn't do.
Think count of monte cristo. This is a big organization; not everyone knows everyone, there are records, and ledgers, and peons. They have rules, and customs, and protocol. Easy to anticipate, easy to sabotage. The elves signed a treaty. We need a copy of, or look at, that treaty, to determine what's fair and what humans are willing to offer.
There's a 20% "tax". We need to know what this money is spent on. Does it make one man rich? Provide the city guard with training?
Again, we need to prove the worth of Dwarves. We could do this in several ways. A) prove we were provoked, even if we need to fabricate that evidence. B) show dwarven strength of arms or trade. He just refused trade with every dwarf, everywhere. No ore. No iron. No gold.
Erg, I think I may have royally screwed myself both character and party wise.
I'm trying to play a hot-headed character that has more than a few buttons. I can do hot-headed, but I feel like I may have overdone it with Brask. This is the first time since the first fight we've bee up against humans that were not on the aboveboard. the way I pictured him is a sour cuss with a deep loathing for humans. I think he may have been too accepting of Magnum in the beginning, or it could be he respects anyone who has the cajones to stand up to a dwarven king. Magnum has proven himself, and the human who led the first attack proved himself to be capable of redemption, enough so that Brask is willing to share a drink and travel with him.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm having problems finding a balance and I certainly understand if Chainmail winds up killing Brask for the recent stupidity. Even if he lives, I don't know if I can pull it off, he's a character too at odds with my natural personality. I tend to be pretty easy-going and I don't get mad too often, although I am very emotional. Because of this I'm beginning to find myself in a dilemma.
I don't think I can properly play Brask's personality, and to be honest, I'm not sure I want to play him anymore. At the same time I don't want to stop playing this campaign. It's fun and I enjoy the RP that happens. We've already lost most of the original crew, and I think Brask and Khazad are the only two left.
On the other hand. The way I have been playing Brask is probably screwing the party over, and that doesn't make it as fun for those involved. I can understand that some, or maybe even all, of you may want me to just go. I'd probably feel the same way in your shoes. I was just trying to RP a character and I botched up something everyone was look forward to. And this is the reason I didn't want to be leader. I knew I'd screw up royally somewhere along the line.
Sorry about the stream of consciousness post. I guess the two main things I'm asking are A) do all of you mind still playing with me, and B) is it okay if I roll up a new character for this game?
I can only speak for myself here Brask, but I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with you or Brask or the way you've been playing him. In fact, i quite like it. Perhaps the 'ornery dwarf' is a stereotype, but it works for me. And, historically in this world, the dwarves have plenty of good reason to severely dislike, and be completely untrusting of, humans. And remember as well, for long lived dwarves, the human betrayal was not that long ago.
So, honestly, considering all the factors, and considering Brask is a self professed hothead with a Chr of 6, I feel you've been playing perfectly mate, and besides what's the fun of playing a dwarf anyway if your mouth is not getting you into trouble once in a while that your fists have to get you out of? ; )
Do as you like bro, but very much hope that Brask stays the true blooded cantankerous dwarf that he is and continues leading our gang in his own unique style for a long long time to come.
I am fine with the you staying on and continuing the campaign. As far as a new character that is up to Chainmail. My personal thoughts are if your not having fun then it is time for a change. ARe you thinking of making a character that fits the leadership role better like a paladin or do you want to step away from the leadership altogether? Sorry if Kragg was too much of a 'just follow his leader' type.
I myself am having a slight crossroads with Kragg. I am trying to figure out how to be the only dwarf over 100, follow darven ways, and not ye the young punks (Hon) get out of control. On the other hand, my age has allowed me some experience and Kragg can see that to further the dwarves, we need those like Hon to cement ties with the human settlements.
It will be interesting to see what happens if Chainmail does allow Braskt o get killed. Would that allow for a better diplomatic person to come in and reverse the ban against the dwarves? SOrt of 'our leader instigated this, so we followed not understanding what was going on, even if we reacted harshly becuase our leader was attacked by a giant iron monstrosity. Now that we do know what Brask was doing, we disapprove of his actions. Sorry let negotiations start anew.' Again this is where Hon would try to make peace.
Hmmm...if Brask needs to be executed like Durnok was, does that mean that the axe would have 2 personalities? That would be an interesting axe. It would have a debate all by itself while Khazad tries to bash human heads. We could still have 'Brask' interject from the axe.
After this idea I vote yes for the removal of Brask just to see that happen. ;P
I have absoloutly nothing whatsoever against ReckNBall, who I think plays Hon brilliantly. But Kib would NEVER follow that little human loving, waste of a good dwarf-skin Hon anywhere as leader. The fact that Kib is not a dwarf and wants nothing more than to be one while Hon is a dwarf but (very convincingly at least Seems like he) dosn't want to be one ranks Hon somewhere between Goblin piss and Giant ball sweat on Kib's list of wretched things.
I have enjoyed Brask immensely too, from the opening shots after he discovered the initial human ambush in the snow till now, when his head is so hard, Magnum can't even knock him down with two hits after he is weakened by a golem.
Let me know if you want to play another character or have Khazad take over as leader. Khazad is definitely is next in line (and one of the smartest in the group). We can definitely play the stress of leadership eventually got to Brask angle.
Previous dwarf groups have done will with little or no diplomacy. There are always ways out.
Exactly. So no worries Brask, we're all good. And it's more Fun this way to boot!
Sweet, because that's pretty much what happened with Brask's player. :P
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This human loving elf pansy of a dwarf does not have a problem with Brask. He is learning leadership skills of what NOT to do. He figures he can't do worse and, once again, Brask proves him right. But he is still the King's Rep and Hon will adhere to the chain o'command. Well publicly anyway... ;-) I actually enjoy the palm slap to the forehead moments no matter where it leads. It is not whether we will or not but having fun. For the record I had a doozy of retributive pranks awaiting in the wings. If Brask departs they will all fall onto Kragg and Kib. They need company in their misery...
Nar was sent by Angradd to aid Brask for a reason, so he has no problem with him. What really set him off was being called a force of chaos by the humans (or at least called that by inclusion).
Also we have a couple non dwarves to do some dealings. Also, I think we could probably come to an understanding with them and repair the relationship with them. Maybe a task or deed to regain purchasing status and maybe tax exclusion.
Not switching sides at all just to let you know. Kragg just thinks Brask is outclassed and doesn't want him killed for no reason. Cool down now and strike later when they are not expecting it. Get what we can from them and use to our advantage. They have the upper hand. Like Nar said, we have others that can do our work for us. Well Kib maybe out of commission since he is going after Magnum.
Difference between 60 years of age and 120 years of age. Trying to make that work at least.
Wow. So much happened overnight.
Brask - Khazad is perfectly happy with your leadership, although challenging what is probably a 16th level wizard with 22 Int on a duel... suicidal would be an understatement. I feel that Khazad is not very well-suited to be a leader - first of all, IC he's the youngest and the least diplomatic (or the ugliest) in the group, and second, OOC my timezone is different from most of the group, and post count is lower too.
But was the fuss really over 10gp? I was under impression that 20% tax will be imposed on all our transactions, which would make about 10.000 gp lost if not more.
I fully expected us to be somewhat drunk on the recent successes and get ourselves into trouble as a result. It seems to fit well into the narrative. Now the question is - can we find a way to make amends and restore the human\dwarf relationships without losing our honor. "Steal their best stuff" doesn't seem such a good plan in Khazad's book. Perhaps we can try to prove the dwarven usefulness through some quest, with the only reward being the lifting of the ban. Retrieve some treasure and hand it over to them - that would be a painful atonement for the greedy dwarves :)
The whole point of Stealing Their Best Stuff is, like most good master crimminal efforts, no one knows we did it ; )
And while I see how doing some sort of quest for them could help make the peace, I can tell you right now that Kib at least would still feel that such an action would amount to kissing butt trying to make up and say sorry to the humans for some slight or wrongdoing which we didn't do. He feels Brask had the right of it when he said that if they had approached us in the open and explained a legitimate tax that would have been one thing, but to come slinking around at night and demand extortion money is a whole other thing.
And remember also that Magnum's father's opinion about 'the rust that holds it all together' is just that, an opinion. I'm sure there must be many others and groups that oppose the syndicate, and if this is the way they operate, they should go down. Kib feels sure that the great Dark Owl would never be part of an extortion/protection racket. I say they've been co-opted and corrupted since his time.
The Society is somewhat similar to the organized crime syndicates. Taxes and systemic extortion are very lawful activities -- that is why Magnum never quite fit in.
Cool. Well, Brask is out of the picture for the time being. He'll probably wake pissed as ever, and maybe more than a bit crazy.
Things we probably want:
Wands of: Scorching ray/ magic Missile, cure light, spectral hand.
Scrolls of: summon Monster II, Prot. from Evil, Shield, Comprehend Languages, True Strike, Feather Fall, Protection From Arrows (DR10/magic vs ranged), Resist Energy, Invisibility, Mirror Image, Cat's Grace, Rope Trick, Lessor Restoration, Longtrider, Web, Enlarge Person, Scorching Ray, Fog Cloud, glitterdust
Potions of: See Invisibility, bulls strength, resist energy, etc.
I'll be using my starting gold for some things, of course, but I'd be much obliged if someone could grab me a suit of A) mithral chain or even B) adamantine shirt, depending on our finances.
Adamantine shirt=5100
Mithral Chain=4150
Edit to clarify: The raw materials for such a suit of armor, so 1/3 this price.
Well, we hadn't done the trade in character yet, so I took it. That and it was the only armor Brask had. However he isn't wearing it now.
Gear list updated with starting equipment on alias page.
Magic items are crafted to imbue the properties in the object as a whole. Any tampering with the integrity of the object ruin the enchantment. +2 Greataxe can be sold here for 8000gp +.
Ach, but it's ancestral. Mah fathahs 'onor tis folded inta tha steel of 'is axe.
I think with all the taxes we need our Quartermaster's help again to compile all the trading rules in one place. I have something like this:
Back at dwarf hold we could buy up to +2 weapons and armor from normal materials for 100%, and sell everything for 50%, rare materials 100%.
From the dwarven merchant here we can buy up to +2 weapons and armor from normal materials for 120%, adamantine/mithral for 250%, and sell back at 55%. (rare materials 110%).
From white wizard we can buy everything for 150% and sell back at 55%.
Did I miss something?
I will put the exchange rates in the campaign tab.
And what exactly are the qualities of the Volcanic Glass? As in, what magic resistance does it provide? Also, can weapons be out of volcanic glass? If so, what properties do they have then?
To All: Also, is anyone at all interested in anything made from the volcanic glass before Kib sells it?
And hey! Another great Quest possibility Kib just heard of! And incidentally, perhaps a great way to get some power over the syndicate. If we can manage to take over the Dark Dwarven hold, that could be a huge power base for us. We could even do something like, 'we will trade to any individual city that agrees with our terms (whether the Syndicate likes it or not) and not trade with those cities who stick to Syndicate demands. Perhaps helping to weaken their chokehold on human society.
We could suggest it to Rock and perhaps lead an army of Dwarven warriors there?
So plans can include: south to the Superstitious Mountains, northwest to the land of the ice ships, west directly into giant lands, check out the mercenary jobs in town, do the 'big heist' in town, and north back to the northern reaches to firm up diplomacy with the closest dwarven neighbor that has refused to be in the human alliance (out of a healthy respect for current events with the dwarves on the rise).
Just to let you know, that those that just joined, I will try and divvy up the loot next time to get you up to par with the rest. That being said, we do have some gp in the group stash that we can spend. Some ideas were thrown out already but glad to hear more. Still thinking wand of cure mod at 6750 after inflation.
Also, I am going to have to refigure the group stash value as we can't afford Big Mug's mithral fullplate at 2.5x the actual value. It will just have to be a +2 full plate. Will fix the amounts tomorrow.
Here's how I am looking at our next adventure options:
S: allow adamantine items and have an in with the society for trade
NW: mobility
W: confront enemy before they grow more powerful?
Town: gain cash
Heist: never trade here again for a 1 time gain (not right now)
N: gain allies and a foothold further in land
Kragg is leaning more towards N or NW; your thoughts.