Well, that certainly took long enough on my end, but I hope that's the last batch of writers block I'll have for quite some time.
Can't quite say I expected that particular outcome of my search.
As for keeping the creative juices flowing, I think the longer posts help keep the creative juices flowing. With any luck, the ball will keep rolling.
Quick clarification- it's Sesser asking me if I want to clue his boss in on the details, right?
Correct. Basically, do you want the merchant (a man of unknown motives and methods) to be privy to your activities. The fact Sesser is asking should tell you something though.
Heads up- I'm basically just heading back to my room to get the necessary materials for the Deific obedience to Erastil. The +4 sacred bonus to survival might come in handy sooner rather than later, and besides he would have done it earlier had events not gotten in the way of things.
So, a while back you mentioned "Here and there green clumps of trees reveal water sources leading into other valleys.". Is there any such clump of trees pretty near the town?
*poke* Hello? Mowque?
*sighs*
Here I was waiting for you to post. Sorry! In the future, if I pause longer then two days or so, give me a bump.
I'd say they are close enough, yes. Little valleys dot the entire landscape, hiding a much more rugged terrain then at first seems likely.
So....we done here?
No. I'm still interested in this game (and its one of the best play by post experiences I've had), just that real life has been throwing me for some loops lately. Post is up- working on getting a more consistent schedule for myself.
Thank you for your continued patience, which I can only hope I'm deserving of. I'm looking forward to all the other things which we have in store.
Quick side question- roughly how far away from Wheldrake is my posse about right now? And furthermore, how large does the valley seem to be from my perspective?
Not very far, as the crow flies. A few miles maybe? It is pretty rough country.
The valley doesn't seem very large, narrow with steep sides. The path runs down to the base, and imagine just a few trees on either side until you reached the cliff walls. So a narrow strip of green.
Alright, post is up. Given the spell I'm using is kind of obscure, I'm more than happy to cooperate in working through any issues with using it.
In political news, I see the guy you worked for has scared off more potential competition.
*goes to check news*
Oh! That thing. Nah, that’s for a different election all together. The guy I worked for isn’t even running for re-election again until 2022.
Unless I’m completely missing something, which is always possible. I don’t think anyone’s campaigning for that race just yet.
I thought 'your guy' was the current governor of Texas? I saw someone (who many thought would run) backed out of challenging him.
Yeah, I worked for the governor, but the news was about someone backing out of running for the upcoming senate race against an incumbent senator.
In my defense, I live a long way from Texas.
No worries, it mostly slipped through my news radar entirely.
Given what you said about the time- would it be acceptable to have a slight retcon and have Connacht give Sesser 25 minutes? I was aiming for erring on the side of giving him a bit too much time, not too little.
I assumed so myself, yes. It isn't even a retcon, you made your intent clear in OOC. All is clear.
If something in here can see invisibility, you are already screwed.
Ha, I came close to joking about that in the post itself.
Also, I saw you started up another recruitment thread! Best of luck with it, I look forward to following the game that develops.
Thanks! If you know someone, send them that way.
Give me a bit with this post. I have the broad outlines in mind, but still thinking. You don't know it (yet), but I have a good deal of plot to unpack soon. More then meets the eye!
With the delays I've put you through I have no right to complain about how long it takes for you to make a post. I look forward to what terrible wonders are in store for Connacht!
I know at this point there's clearly something going on here beyond bandits (you've said so yourself), but I've got to say I'm wildly speculating as to what that is. Connacht's a bit less quick on the uptake, but is starting to have his own suspicions too.
Might sharing them? They might prove useful.
I don't think I've had the chance to make this clear just yet in character, but Conacht's (and my) basic hunch at this point is-
1. The bandits are working for some magic user (or users, plural?) or magical monster (again, maybe plural), for some purpose or another. Most likely the bandits are being coerced into doing this.
2. Said person/monster really does not want anyone to know about them or what they are up to (see the poor bandit I captured).
3. Said monster's / mage's aims probably have something to do with this valley or something that lies below it in the caverns. The dead bandit I brought back looked like he'd been digging for something, so maybe they're also trying to excavate something.
As a matter of fact- could I make a knowledge nature check to see if this amount of greenery and life in the valley is something that could happen naturally? I know detect magic isn't picking up anything, and while I have seen other living things in the desert, the amount of life you're describing (not to mention the humidity) seems somewhat excessive.
You are both close and pretty far off. Lucky for you, this small bit of the mystery can be probably be cleared up soon...
As for the nature, it seems fairly normal but the soil is unusually good and fruitful. The humidity is strange.
Edit: I hope you are enjoying the game.
Roughly how long has it been since I cast invisibility at this point? It only lasts for 5 minutes, after all, and as this is merely a scouting mission Connacht isn't looking to take any undue risks here.
And yes- I'm enjoying it immensely. Anything I can do as a player to make your life easier (beyond keeping the current posting rate)?
I'd say it is close to running out. You could probably hear another posts worth of conversation (and such talk would be profitable for you) but you do risk the spell ending mid talk (although you are still pretty hidden from prying eyes).
A good posting rate is actually the best since it keeps the plot fresh in my mind. A solo game can easily survive slow posting, but it makes it harder for me to remember things. Posting every day like this is much easier on my lackluster brain.
Opted to stay for a little bit longer. What could go wrong? so many things
You didn't even try to arrest them all single-handlely? Lame.
How is anything deadly exciting going to happen if you are so risk adverse!
Well, it’s more of a delayed gratification thing. Sure, we could have Connacht get in a fight now and attempt to go out in a blaze of glory. Or, you could have the satisfaction of having Connacht being killed by “bandit with Javalin #2” anticlimactically when he comes back with an army. Really, I’m doing you a favor here.
More of a general question, but I veer away from random encounters in these games for a few reasons, both practical and narrative. In a 'normal' gamer you'd probably have a run in with a wild animal or something here, but I'm going to (probably) pass on that, unless you do something dumb/unlucky.
Are you ok with that?
Yeah I’m totally fine with that. If there’s cases where it works especially well for the narrative that’s fine, but you don’t need to feel any obligation to make sure I fight 1d3 boars every day.
1d3 dire boars. You are level 5, after all.
Re what’s in the main thread:
Trip back in one post is absolutely fine. However, Connacht’s going to need to explain the situation to Sabinus (who’s the one who has the de facto authority to actually boss people around and raise the militia in the first place). Beyond that, there’s planning to consider- do we (and is Sabinus herself even coming?) do the raid right away, or at night when they might be more vulnerable (but potentially at the cost of reducing the effectiveness of our own troops as well)? More importantly, what gets done with any surviving bandits afterword?
Ideally, all these matters can be sorted out behind closed doors so Sabinus and Connacht can present a united front to everyone in town, neither undermining the authority of the other. A house divided won’t stand, hang together or hang separately, etc.
On top of all that, knowing just how many people I’ll have at my disposal / how they’re supplied would be good to know before moving right into the raid proper.
Yeah, after I posted that I realized we needed to RP at least that (and at least one other complication you haven't thought of yet,a nd one you don't know about).
I'll get it up tomorrow.
Side question that may or may not be important depending on what time the raid gets launched- will the moon be out tonight (in game), and if so, in what phase? Would Connacht need to roll something to know that? Mainly asking to know what the light conditions will be like.
Hmm, fair enough.
*rolls dice*
Phase: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 23%
I would assume a druid would know this automatically. Skies are clear.
All right?
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You mean you didn't already have the lunar calendar planned out before starting the campaign? I'm utterly scandalized by your negligence in this matter.
But really that's good to know, thanks.
Tolkien would have been ready!
Finally got caught up, you guys have been busy!
Don't listen to the GM complaining about not taking any risks, he's got enough to deal with considering there's a game with a fish lady that tends to rush into every situation sword and/or pen blazing.
Im away from home till tomorrow night- next post might not be up till Monday. Sorry bout that.
Fittingly, I too was away until today.
Two questions about the greater Imperial structure of Taldor that (probably) won't be immediately relavent but might be later.
1. Is there an overall structure of the Imperial Agents of Taldor? Is their a direct supervisor/ committee/ etc that I need to "report back at timely intervals on the state of affairs in the region", or am I sending reports directly to the Imperial court? If so, do I know anything about them?
2. I know that normally, by Taldan succession rules women cannot inherit noble titles. That said- can noble titles be inherited through women?
To explain- ignoring whatever potential archaic precedent Trenzi has stored away allowing women nobility and the de facto status of Lady Sabinus's control of the town- say that Theodora Sabinus's father was the old lord of Wheldrake and unquestionably legitimate. Assuming that Sabinus has no exiled male siblings or uncles running around somewhere, would the title "Lord of Wheldrake" legaly pass onto her son Alexius, passing over her entirely (again, de jure and not de facto). Or would the title just die with her and/or revert to the Crown of Taldor under normal circumstances?
Good questions!
1. Imperial agents are usually ad hoc representatives sent by the Crown and Court to investigate matters. Usually they are governed by some bureaucratic office or other. Such an office was not indicated in your note, unusually but not unheard of. Taldane government tends to be murky.
2. Depends how good your lawyer is. There are cases of both options in recent history but generally the stronger the Emperor, the more likely they are to seize such titles to be given to loyalists. Lady Sabinus's would be a tough one to win, but with the right bribes and person sent to court (and Court) might get it to stick. Until then, it would be able to be taken away by the Emperor without much trouble, since House Sabinus has no political allies (that you know of). And of course, that ignores some other aged house digging up an ancient claim to the House Sabinus.....
Fair enough?
1. Ah, okay. Thats... going to make sending those reports tricky. I'll have to figure out how to handle that somewhere down the answer.
2. That's a sufficiently Taldan answer to the issue. Well done. Nice to know about the options though.
That should be it, I'll pester you more later when I find other legal minutia I'm curious about.
My proclivity to rolling natural ones is something of a running joke in my IRL D&D group, especially in social situations. Its to the point where characters I have specifically to be party faces are regarded as mediocre due to my proclivity to roll badly.
I guess it's good to know that there is some consistency.