The Father of Waters

Game Master Fighting Chicken

The race challenge was fun and challenging BP, great work on it! I barely snatched that one away from muscles.

I didn't compete in the grand melee because Istiel was injured, and I'm glad I didn't. There will be plenty of fights in the future, but the race was much more exciting and varied.

Good stuff, folks.

I've got a dentist appt this afternoon and then I'm home, so I'll get us moving along then.

Heh - if your trips to the dentist are anything like mine, you'll be tripping the light fantastic for the rest of the day...

Nope, just a cleaning today. Posts incoming...

Sure glad I'm not the leader of Shadeholme right now. That guy is so screwed.

With Oios' permission I would like Imix to have passed on the information to the Castellan.

Sure glad I'm not the leader of Shadeholme right now. That guy is so screwed.

Ha!

"You are a cold one, Oios." Imix sounds approving "Very well, we will have the children relocated. Let us give them one more night in a warm bed before we chivvy them back in to harm's way though."

Why, I think despite Imix's tough exterior he's really quite a softy for the kids!

Oios will let the Castellan know that Imix has good reason to believe that some of the Shadows are compromised. Nothing more specific than that.

And Oios isn't cold. He is just more concerned with the Abbott's comfort!

The characters do need to have a strategy session though. The Excise is the most important thing and they haven't had a chance to coordinate. There's one more night of research that might help as well. Sounds good?

The characters do need to have a strategy session though. The Excise is the most important thing and they haven't had a chance to coordinate. There's one more night of research that might help as well. Sounds good?

Sounds good to me. Feel free to do it here or in gameplay.

Phew, busy weekend. Back in action.

Going to let the more vocal/learned of the group handle this unless we're stalling... Not really in character for Istiel to defend Shadeholme with words.

As for strategy, we tell our side. Hell we're mostly lawful here, we could even tell the entire truth- there is a calamity fast approaching that we think something is happening to undermine the defenses of the kingdom.

Of course, shouting all that wouldn't be a grand idea, so maybe get the king's attention first somehow...?

Definitely, let's coordinate.

Rigel can do the talking, but she's going to be seen as biased. Oios and - gods help us - Imix are going to need to provide evidence, as they should be seen as impartial.

Agree with Istiel: we're genuinely innocent and (hah!) have nothing to fear, apart from fear itself and the crocodiles.

EDIT: ok, I've set things in motion. Let's do this - the crocodiles are getting restless...

@Rigel: Just want to check your plan is to let Imix talk?

I don't see a way around it - as Suriname, he has special status and he speaks the truth as he sees it. He can corroborate what Oios says.

But speak second, please - let Oios go first.

In the planning session, Rigel would be very clear about what she wants him to say - and when she wants him to stop talking... Oios is right, this is not the time for improvising - we need to plan what you and he are going to say.

Can't post till tomorrow but the Shadeholme natives would know when the accused guards left Shadeholme and why, correct? Can that be recounted.

On phone so can't be precise but Oios would head back with his pass and try to dig up info on the accusing excise head. He wouldn't want to be fatigued though so just one check.

Kn nobility library of shadow hopefully aided : 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 22

library damage roll: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

EDIT: ok, I've set things in motion. Let's do this - the crocodiles are getting restless...

SNAPSNAPSNAP!

Can't post till tomorrow but the Shadeholme natives would know when the accused guards left Shadeholme and why, correct? Can that be recounted.

Glad Oios brought this up. You all know that a contingent of guards was sent close to Piney Bluff, to aid the people of Harper's Pond, who were raided by Mountain Men on Pharast 31.

@Oios, I'll get a post up today about what you find at the library...

Ahhh right. Completely forgot about looking to see if the Harper's Pond Excise was present.

The wiki now has a Libraries page.

You'll notice that I added two "libraries" in Shadeholme - the High Hall records room and the Excise Hall records, both of which can be treated as a library if you have access to them.

Ahhh right. Completely forgot about looking to see if the Harper's Pond Excise was present.

Harper's Pond does have an excise present. They would have spoken with the king before Piney Bluff. If you'd like to visit with them earlier in the day, go ahead and spoiler it.

I suppose everyone else has enough to do, Istiel can investigate even if it may not go well...

KK - Working on a post for Oios now, I'll get one up introducing Istiel to the HP folks as well.

Oios found nothing. Isitel has all the good information!

Oios found nothing. Isitel has all the good information!

Well you know that he was involved in a minor scandal that may or may not have been a simple error. With the ways the research rules are set up, you'll need more time to find out more (if there is anything else to find).

It's all good. I'm pretty sure Isitel will let everyone know all she found out anyway.

I'm thinking Oios goes next and points out for the Piney's Bluff charges that:

* Shadeholme has never had a history of such behaviour
* In fact Shadeholme sent their soldiers to the aid of a grateful Harper's Pond.
* A single shield is not conclusive evidence at the best of times
* This is not the best of times. In fact Shadeholme's excise was attacked itself by bandits forced to carry out the deed! In such chaotic times there are many reasons why a shield could have ended up in Piney's Bluff. Indeed it could have been planted there by crafty bandits seeking to confuse their trail.

Then to the question of Shadeholme tribute falling short.

* Reiterate that these are difficult times for all and that tales of woe are coming in from all over the Valley
* Say that he has seen with his own eyes barbarians more than a hundred strong camping in the valley and carrying out foul cannibalistic rites.
* Shadeholme's defenses, in part depleted by aiding their neighbours, has no hope of withstanding an assault by such a force and are preparing for a siege and even to flee if need be.

Ask Imix and the rest of the Shadeholme excise to back up his words.

Oios might snark that Dahnet has been known to be bad at counting bars in his last post. Maybe he has similar difficulty with counting furs?

Sounds like a plan, but what about the mercenary woman (name escapes me) who confessed to the raid and planting the shield? Are we leaving her out?

Oooff.. completely failed to connect the dots there. Yeah. I'll say that.

Edit: Looking back we hid the damn ghandasa close to Cornucopia. Can someone go and get it overnight while Oios does his research? Would be great to have physical evidence to wave around.

^ Arnik the Blade.

Oooff.. completely failed to connect the dots there. Yeah. I'll say that.

Edit: Looking back we hid the damn ghandasa close to Cornucopia. Can someone go and get it overnight while Oios does his research? Would be great to have physical evidence to wave around.

Done. Rigel has darkvision and stealth, so looking for it at night while not being spotted shouldn't be a problem.

^ No problem at all. Consider the ghandasa retrieved. Unless you want me to complicate things :)

Oios will let the Castellan know that Imix has good reason to believe that some of the Shadows are compromised. Nothing more specific than that.

I've held off posting a response to the Castellan. Might make more sense for Imix to post the information, as he has a way in. Oios might be able to get in, but why reveal.

I'm thinking something like

"While I cannot reveal more, I have a source within the Shadows that has uncovered evidence that even some of them are compromised."

Probably best not to ask Istiel any Geography questions after that roll.

I forgot to mention yesterday, but I just started my new job working in a government agriculture laboratory. I don't have a laptop or sever/internet clearance yet, but I'm pretty sure I can't access most outside websites on the job and we can't connect to the wireless from our phones/reception sucks. Will certainly effect my posting rate.

Nice! Congratulations, Galorit/Istiel! I'm glad you're getting to do that science-stuff that I totally wouldn't understand.

That sounds good to me Imix.

Oios/Imix - are you waiting on me for something? Just checking.

Plugging away at my writeup.

Thanks - I wasn't sure if you guys were posting or needing me to provide something first.

You're up Imix. Though I'm pretty sure the rest of the characters would have suggested that Imix keep it short :).

If Imix let Oios know that Imix has access to the Castellan and trusts him then Oios would ask for an audience along with Imix as well. There's still the matter of Wayrun to deal with.

"On our way to Cornucopia we discovered a camp of men recently murdered in their sleep. Murdered with this"

Hehe, this was perfect. I got a total flash of those lawyer shows where surprise evidence is produced by the skillful prosecutor or defender, and a uniform gasp goes up from the crowded spectator area.

Awesome.

Site been down for anyone else?
Imix does have a way to access the Castellan, but it is dangerous, one person only, and possibly observed. He's happy to take a letter or a dictated message. He's happy to try to arrange a separate audience.

If this can be considered resolved, I'll move on.

Imix was told to wait to give his evidence. In his mind that's because Suriname are the final word.

VERY nice work Oios. Like BP said, I got a very skilled trial lawyer vibe from it.

Site been down for anyone else?

Imix does have a way to access the Castellan, but it is dangerous, one person only, and possibly observed. He's happy to take a letter or a dictated message. He's happy to try to arrange a separate audience.

If this can be considered resolved, I'll move on.

Yep, there was maintenance earlier.

You can get a letter to the Castellan. He's always got a guard stationed at the front gate to Croc Mound with a smudge of dirt on his/her helmet. Consider it resolved.

Imix was told to wait to give his evidence. In his mind that's because Suriname are the final word.

Ha!

Sorry that took so long. It's up!

Sorry that took so long. It's up!

Sorry I'm pushy with you all. I am probably irrationally fearful of inactivity leading to the downfall of this game, as I've seen many games function just fine at lower frequency posting rates. Even so, it is a fear of mine, this being the first PBP game I've run.

Regarding the "trial" lots of good stuff, folks. It is nice to see all the progress you've made in figuring out the metaplot, and the sandbox is very close to open.

I'll work on a post today as I can steal time with the aim of getting it up tonight, with the king's response to all the evidence you've presented.

These arguments you've made is also a really handy way of summing up what is coming to you in the form of story awards for benchmarks met and surpassed.

Well done!

Alright, we're very close to the end of the prelude, but first there's some downtime. The way back from Cornucopia to Shadeholme will be uneventful, and without the heavy carts of the excise, can be accomplished in three full days of travel. Then you'll have seven days of downtime to spend as you like, retraining, learning new weapon proficiencies, earning downtime capital, or whatever else. We'll pick the game up again on Gozran 20.

You've also got a lot of XP coming to you:

Drazan's weaponsmith shop fight and the finding of an important book: 125

Clues in libraries and other investigations: 200

Wrangling monks for the defense of Shadeholme: 100

Wrangling Lady Bellet's guards: 200

Securing the testimony of Harper's Pond: 100

Securing the innocence decree from King for the raid on Piney Bluff: 400

Stopping/delaying an attack on Cornucopia*: 400

* Yep, your PCs will never know it, but you all did enough good work, alerting uncorrupted people, and generally shining light on the dark forces at work, that a planned attack on Cornucopia didn't happen. Of course, you've now put your PCs squarely in the focus of the Eye of Sauron, but that's a still a victory, right?

The total XP each of you have is now 2600. Welcome to second (third) level!

Please push! It needs to happen.
Sorry I got confused about Dannet. I had a headache, and a bit of trouble thinking, but didn't want to hold up the game.

Oooh... THIRD LEVEL!

Yep - third level, for all intents and purposes, except XP. So, you get a feat, etc.

I forget, how are we handling hp?

Otherwise:

Feats-

Deflect Arrows (lvl 2 monk bonus feat)

Dragon Style (lvl 3 feat)

Skills-

2 ranks acrobatics
1 rank perception
1 rank stealth

Having so few skill points is physically painful to me. It burnnnsss

Will have to think about what to do on downtime. Tempted to retrain Improved initiative into Blind-fight.... It would be thematically appropriate too, given Istiel's obsession with Fox Priest.

Hmm: @GMBP are you okay with using Spellcraft to train apprentices in Suriname Theurgy? I know Profession: Teacher would be useful, trying to work out how much it is required.

Ooh - Magic Talent, +1 BAB, +1 Will, +1 caster level, +(2+int) skills and +(d6+con) hp AND a feat. Noice.