Here is the discussion thread for our campaign. You can post questions, out of character comments, or whatever game related you do not wish directly coming out of your character in this thread.
Welcome to the campaign. Let's have fun and tell a story worthy of the ballads of olde.
Any questions thus far?
Is this the first night from Fusil? How many more nights to Hommlet?
Did the vision only identify the player characters to one another? Or were there other people seen, too?
Can we get a brief description of the player characters? I imagine we all learned who was what when we left Fusil. Maybe not names, but positions, right?
You experienced the dream on the night of the 19th/morning of the 20th. It is two days south, a day and a half west from your current location, so 3-4 days depending upon weather and safe passage. Nulb is a day and a half away, south and east, across the river in Taldan territory.
There were numerous faces in the dream vision. You recognized people from your own life, old mentors, beloved friends, people that were significant to you. Thinking on it, none of the people you "know" from the dream have passed on, all were living, as far as you are aware. As for the PCs, the dream allowed you to recognize their faces, but did not give you any knowledge of them. If you haven't spoken to the cook with the tail, then D'witt is likely just a face to you, but you remember that he is the cook with the tail and traveling with the caravan.
Also, I selected the positions available to the player characters, based upon their skills and preferences.
Sir Gareth is a partner in the caravan.
D'witt is a cook.
Angel is a healer.
Conner is a scout.
Xavorin is a driver, leading a few pack horses.
Shu is a guard, watching a few pack horses.
Angel's appearance can only be described as "Radiant", a picture perfect look at what a divine offspring should look like. She stands roughly 6' tall, muscular, but equally tone. Her red hair flows with almost it's own life, eyes green as emeralds and a gleaming smile as white as ivory.
I would imajine she took the banner of guard or healer..
For physical description I beleive everyone has something detailing such in their character profiles.
Angel - Tall, red haired, human female.
Conner - Average, dark haired, human male.
D'witt - Average, dark haired and skinned, tiefling male with a tail.
Sir Gareth - Very tall, dark haired, scarred human male.
Xavorin - Thin, dark haired, elven favoring half elf male.
Shu - Less than average, dark haired, almond skinned w/ golden skin tatooing tiefling male.
If this is inaccurate, please let me/us know. Thanks.
Sir Gareth d’Orionus is a big human knight towering 6 feet 4 inches wearing impressive full plate armor without decoration. He carries a greatsword, morningstar, and a heavy steel shield. While he has a commanding presence, a savage scar on the left side of his face makes him quite ugly. He shoulders a full backpack, composite shortbow, and two quivers. He rides a 19-hand high, chestnut warhorse that wears Taldan parade barding and full saddlebags.
As a partner of the caravan, he sleeps in a large, canvass tent by himself, like the merchant. During the process of making camp, you can see the tent has a cot, folding table and folding chair. He eats with the merchant. His warhorse is cared for by one of the drivers of horses who is very skilled handling animals and received a little extra from Sir Gareth.
Isn't there a samurai playing as well?
Yea he is MIA atm -_-
It's the weekend. I can post very much in the day unlike weekdays.
Sir Gareth is still concealing his spell-casting ability, so he's not casting Detect Poison with anyone around. Later it won't be an issue.
While he can't take 20 on an ability check, Detect Poison as a orison can be cast at will. There's nothing in the spell saying it can be repeated. That's why I suggested effectively taking 20, because Gareth can cast it until he succeeds.
DM, can you identify any individuals who were detected as good, evil, lawful, and chaotic? Gareth would have done that at the beginning when he was surveying the caravan. Remember non-divine aligned characters show as neutral at 5th level and below.
We need to decide whether to dispose of the bodies now or try to preserve them and get moving ASAP. If we can secure the bodies, then Gareth would prefer ASAP.
Have a great Saturday!
cheers
Shylocke and Staier detected as Lawful when you first scanned the group. You do't recall anyone else, aside from appropriate party members, giving readings that were noticeably strong.
Everyone, please let me know going forward when casting a spell so that I may adjust accordingly. If it is not mentioned, I will assume it was not cast.
Also let me know when making adjustments to character sheets, spells, equipment, etc, so that we all stay on the same page.
Thanks. I assume that Gareth didn't cast Keep Watch as I wrote per my exclamation.
cheers
Correct - now off to work til 1AM EST
Correct - now off to work til 1AM EST
Bleh!
Scratch last post I thought I had survival as a skill and I don't lol my mistake so act like it never happened :-)
After discussions with the player to have hosted Shu, he has had some personal issues arise that he chooses to bow out of the campaign, at least for a short time. I have allowed this. In his absence I have plans on adding a player from the original recruitment list to the group, at an appropriate time.
Off to work once more...
Waiting for input from Conner and D'witt for a short period before moving forward.
Let me know the speed the caravan intends to make, full, half, etc... if you wish to camp or push on, and if you intend on changing the lineup as currently showing on the Caravan roster.
See everyone after 1AM...
If the metagamer in you is fretting losing out on the XP from a Gobbo-battle, you could always leave the caravan moving onwards and ride back to assault the force behind you. A well planned strike may well deliver the day and a hard ride back to the caravan is doable, probably.
Maybe the caravan would be safe on the open road ahead, certainly one wagon has already made the run alone.
But then of course, as Conner can tell you, if you think a goblin dog smells bad, you haven't had a whiff of a wet goblin dog.
Of course, the tribe wasn't wiped out before, they will still be there later if you need to get some revenge justice on.
I leave it all up to you folks what you wish to do.
I'm of the school of RPGamers that rewards characters with XP for encounters avoided as well as defeated. Otherwise, players are motivated to not avoid combat.
Also, I stopped tracking XP years ago. The DM tells me when to level my character. I never enjoyed the accounting of XP, because it was a focus of the game instead of the story and role-playing.
cheers
As a gm i dont keep up with xp either.. I have set points in the storyline when my pcs get to level.. It does 2 things.. Allows me to do side quests without the worry of leveling off the main storyarch and 2 does away with the hassle of keeping up with every single point.. Always having to worry if you got everything writen down.. With that said im open to any method you chose..
I will wait for a few of the others to express their preferences before deciding. Myself, I tend to keep a loose track of XP, awarding story awards more than per hd slain points, to keep progression steady but more closely tied to story events.
In 1st edition I hated leveling up in the heart of the dungeon, knowing I'm next level with new abilities & hp waiting, and not being able to trek out, rest and study for a week, pay my dues, and level up. The game has changed.
What i do when my pcs level in dungeons is allow them to roll hps.. Add skills and gains any feats/class abilities they would have, as wel as any new spells.. I do not allow them to regain lost hps or spells/abilites already used for the day..
I remember those days, too. It was always an awkward moment to say 'that's enough adventuring. I feel like training now.' ;D
We will break the watch up into 4 shifts, three hours each, for the overnight period. This will give you the following groups, each needing a PC to lead them, possibly two if desired. I will need a Perception check from each group leader, which can be "aid another" by any PC also on duty that shift.
6-9PM
Schoner
Staier
9-12AM
Agnar
Gieysztor
Darby
12-3AM
Evaneligh
Lequiller
Garn
3-6AM
Mercken
Lonard
Angel and Sir Gareth can be on all watches with Keep Watch. He'll cast it on her after supper... alone... with a bluff check vs. no spellcraft...
Everyone else volunteer for the watch you want
D'wit will volunteer for 3-6am
He'll say he can go straight to working up breakfast that way.
Xavorin will do 12-3am
Sorry I didn't make it clear the lead PC of each shift needed to make a Perception check. I'll wave it in the sake of expediency.
Sorry I didn't make it clear the lead PC of each shift needed to make a Perception check. I'll wave it in the sake of expediency.
Sorry. I understood but was waiting for an opportunity to talk with Shylocke. We'll continue in PM. Is it worth d'Orionus making some Perception checks?
I made the checks for the group as there was no risk of real combat, only the shadow of something that passed overhead. The night was quiet otherwise.
It appeared last evening, that Delts' wagon took the old forest road that leads past the Chelaxian fort and on to Hommlet. Taking the safer, easier road you will not find any tracks of the wagon, or indeed any other vehicle on the way.
For Sir Gareth, as the only PC on watch that shift that has the skill, a Knowledge Arcana check please.
I pause at the crossing, in case anyone wanted to do anything else, as well as to confirm this was the way you wished to go, the main road, onwards to Hommlet.
This also gives everyone a chance to catch up and post in character, before we tackle the next leg, the stretch to Hommlet and entering the village proper.
Barring anything else, I will set that up by post this evening, and then will begin your arrival and exploration of Hommlet.
Cheers
So we're aware that delts wagon went towards the fort?
So we're aware that delts wagon went towards the fort?
The wagon turned off to the old forest trail, someone swept the tracks and killed Campion, then proceeded onwards, still on that trail.
Double checking the main road, there was no sign of Delts' wagon.
You have no idea if the wagon went to the fort, only that the road leads to two places, a track off to the ruined Chelaxian fort or straight on to the village of Hommlet.
It is a quicker road, usually, but with the weather, the roadway will likely become a soupy morass in spots, a potential danger to the damaged axles that for now, seem to be holding up well.
It is also roughly the direction the shadowy beast flew last evening, due west.
Any decision on Sir Gareth's Brooch of Cleanliness?
Take your time if it is a quick no, as opposed to a slower maybe.
cheers
PS I just want to describe that while it's raining, Sir Gareth doesn't seem to stay wet. Who needs an umbrella?
For now, I will allow it. It is more a story telling device. However, just to be clear, it does not alter anything, merely keeps it clean. No changing the color of clothing, re-styling of hair, etc, or any other function of Prestidigitation.
For now, I will allow it. It is more a story telling device. However, just to be clear, it does not alter anything, merely keeps it clean. No changing the color of clothing, re-styling of hair, etc, or any other function of Prestidigitation.
Thanks
The brooch creates a permanent Prestidigitation effect around the wearer with one specific function: to keep the hair, skin, and clothing clean and free of dirt, grime, and BO.
Did Sir Gareth take the larger single or did Xavorin? I know Gareth posted first, but did not indicate which he wanted.
Shylocke sleeps in his wagon, with a single guard posted in shifts to watch through the night.
When morning comes, it will be Wealday, 22 Desnus, 4713 AR.
I have updated the Campaign Page, with additional information on the NPCs of Hommlet.
Says i dont have permission to view the map.. I sent a request to you..
Sorry, when I updated my drives the link changed, Should work now.
Did Sir Gareth take the larger single or did Xavorin? I know Gareth posted first, but did not indicate which he wanted.
Gareth wanted the 1 gp room. Xavorin took the 3 gp room
We're all good.
cheers
If you wish to know more about any of the guests or townsfolk, you will need to meet them in discussion and make the appropriate checks. At this time, you can gather cursory information only.
If you wish to know more about any of the guests or townsfolk, you will need to meet them in discussion and make the appropriate checks. At this time, you can gather cursory information only.
Perfect. Cheers
Just some light bookkeeping before we continue the story.
BTW, North is the top of the map, I realize there's no key. The caravan's camped between the river and buildings 8 and 9. The Tower and Castle, 20 & 21 are more developed than the map. 20 is a self standing tower, 21 is a walled compound with amenities for the Andoran Watch.
Conner - You can make two Survival checks to review the tracks from last evening. The first by the southern side of the Inn, passing around back. The second on the far side of the bridge, along the riverbank at 30, moving eastwards.
D'witt - From what you have read of the cookbook, it is standard fare, with notations for adapting ingredients to fit local flora.
Shylocke plans on staying in Hommlet until Moonday, 27 Desnus. If d'Orionus wishes, Shylocke can make his deposit with House Vaylen, so the funds will be available in a few days after journey's end.
Conner was signed on as a guide to Almas, but is not under contract, pay as you go instead. After expenses, Conner is owed 7 gold to date.
Xavorin and D'witt were work for passage with the caravan, so they can end the arrangement at anytime.
Introducing Carlson Haddix, monk of Erastil and Zen Archer, replacement for Shu Asurenda, that is, if he beats the charge of murder in the first degree and avoids the axeman's fall.
Conner finds the tracks by the inn were made by a smaller human foot, that of a young man or adult woman. They come from behind the inn, stand watching the road, then proceed back around the inn and through the rear entrance used to exit to the privy.
The second set of tracks were made by a larger person, most likely male. They follow along the river to within sight of the mill, then turn to end at the water's edge.
Sorry, had a 11+ hour shift today, and get to repeat it tomorrow. >p
Working to catch up here.