The Devil's Gorge (and Beyond)!

Game Master Rynjin

*Cough* What are you going to do in the meantime?

Do you have a list of available mini-jobs?

I Could make some up. So far you don't have anyone to GIVE you a job though. You haven't been anywhere in the city but here.

Good time for ye old tradition of going to the tavern looking for quests I guess.

You have your choice of several. Near the smelters in the industrial district are a number of seedy dive bars, while the closer you get to the center of the city the higher the quality of drink, food, and entertainment rises.

The city's most famous bar is the Midnight Locomotive bar, while its most infamous (largely for being a place where bar fights are not only common, but encouraged) is the Randy Hog tavern.

Ugash go to the randy hog tavern.

The tavern is currently in between fights.

It is, surprisingly, a fairly clean place. There are about 5 occupants currently, plus the bartender. The furniture looks like it is DESIGNED to break apart easily, and then be easily reassembled.

There are a number of rules on the walls.

-No knives, blades, axes, or any other deadly implements.
-The fight's over when the barkeep says so.
-No fighting without paying for something.
-Anyone still conscious puts the chairs back together.
-Anyone who breaks these rules answers to Thog.

Ugash will wait, no point in starting a brawl if the tavern is mostly empty.

So, uh, what is going on in the world? what is the typical adventuring jobs on these latitudes?

You know, same ol'. Wiping out bandits and monsters, escorting merchant caravans, strange sounds coming from the sewers.

Yeah, it seems their vehicle will have plenty of uses. In the meantime,...I don't know, I want to move away from Jo's "let's go to the whores", so i guess Ugash wait for a brawl to start.

Ugash waits, and his patience is rewarded. Son enough (maybe a 15 minute wait), people trickle in and the bar fills up.

After about 20 people pile in (bringing the total to 25, plus Ugash), and everyone has ordered and finished a drink, the bartender picks up a padded stick and smacks a big gong. Immediately, all hell breaks loose. In a flash, some of the bar occupants lose shirts, while others gain chair or table legs (and in one notable instance, a whole half of a table, wielded like a greatsword). And the fight is on!

Not gonna bother with Initiative, just pick someone to smack!

Stance of aggression (-2 to AC). Ugash look for the biggest target and charge-pounce him him

Flying doble kick: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 181d3 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + (3) + 6 = 10
Flying doble kick: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 151d3 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + (3) + 6 = 12

When Dorla hears where Ugash wants to go, she rolls her eyes. Then she tries to convince some of her companions to go to the magic museum and then the tea shop with her instead. (If these are not options, let me know what's available instead. Dorla isn't being snooty about it, just a bit naive. She has a lot of head knowledge, but hasn't seen much of the darker side of the world, and doesn't want to beyond what she has to see to find out about magic. A bar fight on purpose is appalling to her.)

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. I was sick.

I should also say that as a player I have no problem with the bar fights and stuff, it just doesn't fit Dorla's personality. Trying not to be a pain about that, though.

There is no magic museum, per se, since those artifacts are both expensive and powerful. Too much so to display.

There is, however, a Museum of Ancient History, and some of the displays feature defunct magical artifacts or replicas of famous ones.

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Ugash lays two kicks upside the head of a burly man, who smiles and turns around, swinging a meaty fist at the half-orc!

Punch: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Of course he misses, smashing a different man in the back of teh head instead, who joins the fray, mistaking Ugash for his assaulter.

1d2 ⇒ 2

1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

This man has clearly had too much to drink, and swings a chair leg at Ugash...but also misses, bringing a third man into the fight.

You now have three targets in "your" fight.

I activate extended defense (bloody riposte) and continue attacking the resilient burly man

Disparity blow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 221d3 + 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + (2, 3, 5) + 6 = 17
Trip (if the first attack hit): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
itterative attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 161d3 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + (5) + 6 = 13

"Oof!" the man manages, and then it's lights out.

The two others double team you.

2d20 ⇒ (6, 10) = 16

And manage to accomplish nothing, yet again.

"Damn. This guy's good."

dude, I have to be struck in melee to use bloody riposte, boooo

jab: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 241d3 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + (1) + 6 = 9
uppercut: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 121d3 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + (4) + 6 = 11

Next time take your armor off before going in for a bar brawl!

Ugash nails the one behind him once, knocking him reeling...and out of the range of the second hit.

"Come on lads, we got a real scrapper over here!" one calls, and a few more converge on you.

5d20 ⇒ (5, 16, 3, 5, 12) = 41

And finally we get a hit! Two, in fact.

Damage 1: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Damage 2: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

SHRUG IT OFf: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 - ¬¬

I bet you can do better!

Blody riposte: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 321d3 + 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + (4, 1, 3) + 6 = 17
kick to the knee: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 201d3 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + (6) + 6 = 15
jab: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 241d3 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + (4) + 6 = 11

Thetsu yawns as he walks along with Dorla in the museum.

"Booooooring! Where's all the cool stuff?" Thetsu says half-jokingly.

"I once heard back in ancient times of magic swords made of fire itself. Now that is cool stuff."

An exhibit of particular interest to Dorla might be the display of an ancient staff, carved and shaped to look like a snake. The description says it probably comes from a lost city, found SOMEWHERE within the dark jungles to the east, though nobody knows for sure if it exists, or is even possible to find. All expeditions have ether been lost or returned empty handed.

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Ugash drops another bar patron, the poor bastard losing a few teeth in a spray of blood.

4d20 ⇒ (14, 10, 17, 1) = 42

Two more brawlers lay into Ugash with their bare knuckles.

2d8 + 16 ⇒ (4, 1) + 16 = 21

The fourth manages only to sock another fighter, bringing yet more into the fray.

Things start to get serious here

I change to primal warrior stance (AC 25 again)

HEadbutt: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 191d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Reverse punch: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 191d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

The confusion of the fight starts to get to Ugash as he completely fails to connect with his second blow, the first knocking the wind out of one of the men surrounding him.

5d20 ⇒ (15, 19, 8, 4, 1) = 47

2d8 + 16 ⇒ (7, 2) + 16 = 25

Ugash takes two more hits, though most of his opponents look to be flagging by now, their blows touching but doing no real harm to the massive half-orc.

How is 25 no real harm?

old one: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 231d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
and two: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 331d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

I mean the remaining three people who missed. They "hit" you but did no damage.

Ugash drops another one.

The four men fighting him rear back to hit once more...but suddenly back away. The crowd (what's left of it) parts as the man with the "Greatsword" steps in. He gives you a grin and the rest of the crowd gives the two of you a wide berth.

He takes a test swing at you.

Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

And finds that he is satisfied with your reflexes.

Using a weapon? what are you, a sissy?

power punch: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 181d6 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
power kick: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 121d6 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Donovan spends the day eating breakfest... Then brunch. Then "brinner".

Using a weapon? what are you, a sissy?

He grins at you as he catches both of your punches.

"You're just jealous you didn't think of it."

Swing: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24
Swing 2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

He swings the table again twice, but narrowly misses both times.

In game mechanic for tackling someone?

Depends on what you want to accomplish. Knock him to the ground? Trip. Shove him? Bull Rush. You can't like fully tackle someone without a special ability (the Barbarian's Raging Grappler that lets you trip and Grapple all at once).

So... What do we plan to do next? I feel like we are drifitng aimlessly.

Catch a hook, maybe?

Ugash has heard about a creature terrorizing the sewers, and a caravan that needs guarding through dangerous areas.

Dorla has heard about a lost city in the middle of a jungle.

Thetsu and Donovan have not gone anywhere on their own.

I REALLY don't want yet another "protect the caravan" mission. I had 2 or 3 of those in the past couple weeks... I'm game for anything else.

"So how about we find a cafe? I could go for some chai and food right about now." Thetsu suggests.

I would be interested either in the lost city or the sewers.

By the way, I've somehow in writing my backstory created a character who I would really like to see pay for his actions. I'm talking about Chirrup's old master, a Vanaran rogue who used Chirrup to find traps by walking through them, and then abandoned Chirrup when he was hurt by them. He also otherwise mistreated the poor little clockwork dragon.

In terms of our requests for potions, Dorla could use a few fly and cures, because that would free up slots for more unusual stuff. Anything for anyone else?

Can I safely assume that here in town I can purchase any alchemist formulae for my book that I want, if I have the money?

Tracking down the old Rogue is also a possibility I'd gladly roll with.

Any option is fine by me

Punch 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 231d3 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Punch 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 131d3 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Ugash nails the man once, and he seems to begin to flag.

He grunts with effort and puts his all into one last swing.

Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

...And fails. He visibly weakens.

HRRNNNGGGGHH

Punch 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 131d3 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Punch 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 181d3 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

With the second punch, Ugash knocks out table-man. Poor guy.

"Sure, Thetsu, that sounds good."

As Dorla and Thetsu eat, Dorla brings up something that's been worrying her. "Thetsu, I'm worried about Chirrup. As you probably know, he doesn't sleep, because he's clockwork. However, when I do any maintentance to him, he enters a sleeplike state and often dreams. Normally, he seems to enjoy this state. However, yesterday, he seemed to have a nightmare. He dreamed of his old master who mistreated him. I thought he was getting over his bad experiences when he started to befriend you, but he's still upset over his dream. That's why he didn't come with us today. I'm not sure what to do for him."

Ugash is happy for the fight and then spent the rest of the day gambling and playing whatever is there to play. He also look for the best and biggest cigars of the city.

Dorla, can you post some details about the guy? You don't have anything written about him at all.

Ugash can find several gambling halls to sate his needs. Cigars are a bit more difficult. The habit isn't particularly favored in the city (there's enough smog from the factories and bad air in the mine to make cigar smoke unpleasant to most residents), but Ugash is able to find one shop that caters to the extremely wealthy (who spend most of their time away from such areas of the city).

The cigars, however, are exorbitantly expensive at 100 gold each for the finest.

Dorla actually doesn't know much more about him than I wrote last Wednesday. Chirrup never even uses a name for his old master (or for Dorla for that matter), instead referring to him as HIM. He was a rogue when he abandoned Chirrup, and high enough level to be able to afford Chirrup. Whether he's taken more levels in rogue or in something else since then, I don't know. I've always seen him as more mean to Chirrup out of laziness than calculating mean, but he thought it was funny to see Chirrup suffer. How much more detail do you want?

"Hmm. Any leads? We could always try to track him down and deliver justice. Chirrup might remember something to help with that. If violence isnt the answer...maybe we could go somewhere Chirrup has wanted to go to? Make some good memories to bury the bad?"

That could be fun. We should make him a recurring villain or rival of some kind... So that the story arc becomes more than an early campaign quest. You know... like we have to foil him a few times before it scales into a final confrontation. It'd be more exciting, IMO. An enemy with such a personal conection to one of the heroes shouldn't be (permanently) defeated too early in the story. ;)

I think it'd make more sense for in-character motivation too. As a player, I'm in, but Donovan (and maybe Ugash) doesn't feel like he'd care too much. Since his old master sounds more petty and unlikable than actually evil, Chirrup would be better off getting over it and forgetting the man existed (in Donovan's opinion, of course. As a player I still say it's more fun tp track the guy and beat him up! XD).

Dorla actually doesn't know much more about him than I wrote last Wednesday. Chirrup never even uses a name for his old master (or for Dorla for that matter), instead referring to him as HIM. He was a rogue when he abandoned Chirrup, and high enough level to be able to afford Chirrup. Whether he's taken more levels in rogue or in something else since then, I don't know. I've always seen him as more mean to Chirrup out of laziness than calculating mean, but he thought it was funny to see Chirrup suffer. How much more detail do you want?

Hmmm...I have some ideas now. Since what this essentially tells me is "Have at it!". =)

So he's a sadist, someone who can do "Rogue-ish" things, and he's probably mid-high level. Feel free to add more detail if you prefer, or I can take it from here.

But the question is the same regardless: Where do you begin searching for him?

"You know, Dorla... They say the best revenge is having a good life. Maybe it'd be healthier for Chirrup to just forget the man..." Donovan speaks with a serene voice. "But if you really REALLY want to look for him, maybe some construct repair workshop might be a good idea. I doubt he decided to walk into traps himself just because Chirrup was gone. And broken constructs don't walk very well, if at all. A technology market might be a good place to find out more of his whereabouts too..." says Donovan, beforr he calmly adds... "Are you sure you really want to do this, though?"

Dorla sits down and gently asks Chirrup questions to see if she can get any leads. I don't want to just post a monologue of talking to myself, so how is this best managed?

Before talking to Chirrup, Dorla talks to Donovan. In general, I would agree with you, but I'm afraid that Chirrup's feelings are only getting worse. Chirrup is terrified that his old master is going to steal him back. And I think he probably could. I know a lot about how clockwork works, but Chirrup has a system of gears in addition to the usual ones that I don't understand. It only started moving recently. I'm afraid his old master is trying to call him back.

By the way, I just wanted to make sure that I had made it clear that Chirrup's old master is Vanaran.

I'm OK with a plot line of Chirrup almost getting stolen or something like that, but I don't want to actually lose him.

You can just post the "Cliff Notes" version of the information you think Chirrup would have (last known location, last job they pulled, that sort of thing. And I'd be willing to roll with a "pulling" in a certain location. Kind of like a real bird's navigation mechanism).