I'm back home, thanks for being patient with my intermittent internet.
Hmmm...questions. Dounia wants to know why she got lumped in with Zahra who was clearly picked on person. If Zahra was chosen, why was she dumped with a common thief? Seems risky.
She wants to know how to rescue Cyra.
Was the attack in the alley before the opera a random encounter or were we targeted?
I think my other questions were covered by the others.
[dice=will save]1d20+1
Thank you - I've PM'd you the result.
Roll-the-Bones
Bones - 4-6" rods made from the leg bones of wolf or fox. The epicondyles are removed and the sides are slightly squared off. On two sides there is a single dot. On the other two sides there are two dots. (a few tribes make five or six sided bones and one side of one bone has a scull and cross on it for an automatic lose the round).
Rolling - different rules for different tribes. Sometimes three bones each are rolled and sometimes as many as six. The dots are added up and the winner has the highest result. Games are usually best out of five.
The game is usually taboo as it is too like the divination practices of the clan wise women. Rather like playing poker with tarot cards - I got a straight flush and three people died ;)
Yeah, and movies with teens playing with ouija boards always end well, right? ;^)
I would like to add, you've all been really great players and I feel very spoiled being able to tell this story with you.
I kept meaning to say that I'm really enjoying the world that you've created. I'm continuously amazed that players and GMs of your guys' caliber play with me. I've really grown as a player over the years and I have a feeling that it's in part that I'm always trying to up my game to keep up with you guys :)
Yeah, and movies with teens playing with ouija boards always end well, right? ;^)
HA! It's a whole game campaign idea right there!
I've really grown as a player over the years and I have a feeling that it's in part that I'm always trying to up my game to keep up with you guys :)
I can't speak to your growth but I like your writing and love how wide eyed you've played Zahra. I think she has a great arc ahead of her.
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For Zahra:
Signa and the dragon Silimiel are not the same. Signa is a religious figure, came into being at the end of the first age, and is many times more powerful. Silimiel is a Great Wyrm, who would have been born in the third age, and has been alive for nearly 3,000yrs.
The five ages of the universe:
1st age - Creation when the universe was born and Ezeru was slain
2nd age - Rebellion when the servants of Ahmar tried to claim the heavens
3rd age - Ancient Aerde - the elves discover mankind and they work together to create wonders(the time of the Valitudh)
4th age - The Akha's Rule- Men learn of Ahmar and begin the practice of Akha (Pharos), building a great slave state. Men and Elves break with each other.
5th age - The Modern Era - the rule of the Akha is broken and mankind spreads across Aerde building cities and exploring.
For Zahra:
Signa and the dragon Silimiel are not the same. Signa is a religious figure, came into being at the end of the first age, and is many times more powerful. Silimiel is a Great Wyrm, who would have been born in the third age, and has been alive for nearly 3,000yrs.The five ages of the universe:
1st age - Creation when the universe was born and Ezeru was slain
2nd age - Rebellion when the servants of Ahmar tried to claim the heavens
3rd age - Ancient Aerde - the elves discover mankind and they work together to create wonders(the time of the Valitudh)
4th age - The Akha's Rule- Men learn of Ahmar and begin the practice of Akha (Pharos), building a great slave state. Men and Elves break with each other.
5th age - The Modern Era - the rule of the Akha is broken and mankind spreads across Aerde building cities and exploring.
Thanks for that! The world is so rich and I'm still learning. And I think its safe to say that Zahra flunked history in school...
I kept meaning to say that I'm really enjoying the world that you've created. I'm continuously amazed that players and GMs of your guys' caliber play with me. I've really grown as a player over the years and I have a feeling that it's in part that I'm always trying to up my game to keep up with you guys :)
Very much agree that it's great to play in such a good company. And this home-built world certainly trumps others I have had a pleasure of trying out so far! I may not say it often, since we Finns are generally programmed to be suspicious of too copious outpourings of praise. So let's go with this.
Bloody well done.
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Thank you!
Sorry, for the limited choice play/linear narrative - though you have all managed to alter the direction of events. Things will open up into more of a sandbox now, I hope. Zahra's character and this place demanded some plot holes be filled.
Next ... where to go? Will you watch the rest of the opera? Beat a hasty retreat to Haseena's? Go three days south on the demands of Kamzar'gibil? Hide in the city and hope he doesn't come looking? Leave the city and make a run for it? (note* alHufra and perhaps Cyra are one day south) Will you try to visit Samreen as you leave?
Zahra - you've been outed. Many of the wizard/sorcerer societies know you exist, and the others will know within the week. This makes things more complicated but less dangerous. Haseena will advise you that there will be no street grabbings, mostly because no group will try anything while the others are watching. Some societies may come courting you to join them but with you comes some closer attention from 'The Servants' so they may not want to take on the complication. You can get away with using magic in the streetsas long as you don't 'show-off'. Also, you know that your bloodline is draconic from a silver dragon. Will you continue with Haseena as a teacher? Will you join a society?
When you leave Box 305 one of the guards will give you a note - hmmm, written earlier in the evening??? Did Kamzar know he was going to make a bargain? He was certainly surprised about Zahra's bloodline.
Instructions:
- leave right away (by tomorrow evening at the latest)
- head three days south along the coast
- look for an island pinnacle that looks like a giant's face
- go to the cliff face along the shore that the giant is looking at to find a cave entrance
- deep in the cave you will find the home of an old man
- the old man is holding a package, take it from him
- return the package to Kamzar's servant in the apothecary district, Alshafaq (address and code phrase enclosed)
Is that all the information we have. My attention was drawn to the "take the package from the old man" part. Is it implied that the man is holding onto the package to give it to whoever is coming to ask for it, of should we take it from him by force?
After reading a few articles like:
https://www.wired.com/.../dandd-must-grapple-with-the.../
I'm thinking of reworking the races in my world. I have made many of the races very a-typical with opportunities for exceptionalism. I love Tolkien and his orcs were very much my orcs. I see it in all of the races though and have worked to make them all more open to possibilities.
I want to tinker with what D&D has been doing:
Race determines physical stats and whether or not someone has darkvision, etc.
I'm considering getting rid of Int, Wis, and Cha bonuses and penalties - or creating some options for mods open to everyone.
Ethnicity with determine learning opportunities, racial hatreds, weapon familiarities, etc.
Then, I might add something like a background that may inform things like Traits.
This won't be for these characters and this game but for future games.
Is that all the information we have. My attention was drawn to the "take the package from the old man" part. Is it implied that the man is holding onto the package to give it to whoever is coming to ask for it, of should we take it from him by force?
I was wondering that too - if it's something Kamzar wants, does that mean the man who has it is also bad, or good and protecting it. I guess we'll find out :)
Corey, your stat changes sound really interesting!
It is all of the information you have - spoiler* - I promise I am not making you fight some innocent old man for his life savings. It is meant to create suspence not be a moral trap.
I'm considering getting rid of Int, Wis, and Cha bonuses and penalties - or creating some options for mods open to everyone.
This might be where things get too complicated, unless you meant to take away the effect of said bonuses only in certain situations - if you start mucking with core game mechanics like the existence of the stats, you end up making a whole new game, not only a new setting. Don't say that's bad, but if you start down that road when will you stop?
Anyway, as for race customization and stuff, I'm all into it. For variety's sake, you should give Warhammer 40k Orcs a look - they have a wild backstory ;^)
This might be where things get too complicated, unless you meant to take away the effect of said bonuses only in certain situations - if you start mucking with core game mechanics like the existence of the stats, you end up making a whole new game, not only a new setting. Don't say that's bad, but if you start down that road when will you stop?
Anyway, as for race customization and stuff, I'm all into it. For variety's sake, you should give Warhammer 40k Orcs a look - they have a wild backstory ;^)
Yes, it is a long road - they have a mechanic for customizing races but what a slog it will be, and I'm not convinced that it's doable.
As for 40K - yes, I'll take a look. A player in another game wanted to a playable orc and was very much drawn to the animated film. The playable orc in the rules is pretty boring.
Cairee - I assume Cairee casts 'Touch of Truthtelling'. Please describe the casting making sure you employ all of the components. We can place your casting just before Haseena's response to Zahra. Haseena doesn't resist and forgoes the will saving throw.
I just learned you can't roll the dice in a PM.
Lovely map!
Do we know roughly where Cyra's prison site is?
Dounia - alHufra (aka The Pit) is marked on the map. It is three days by horse or camel and just over four days on foot due south of Zhayalahmar.
The map is now in the header.
Plenty of waterskins, though, since the climate is hot and there wasn’t any oases or rivers along the way, in case something happens to Cairee.
Don't give the GM ideas!!! :) :)
Don't give the GM ideas!!! :) :)
What, and forsake the reward for handing a GM the keys to a good TPK opportunity? Never!
If Zahra takes the group to the bazaar where other vendors know her, will they get any discounts on gear?
If Zahra takes the group to the bazaar where other vendors know her, will they get any discounts on gear?
You’ll have to bargain
What's first, Samreen's or the market?
Who has been money keeper?
Things you want:
Provisions:
9-12 days rations (free but every day weighs 1lb)
Waterskin (free but each weighs 1lb - Cairee can bring water down from the sky)
Tents:
-small 1person (10gp, 20lbs)
-medium 2person (15gp, 30lbs)
-large 4person (30gp, 40lbs)
Tarps:
-large sealed tarp (15sp, 5lbs)
-camouflage tarp for four (4gp, 4lbs)
-breathable cotton (8gp, 2lbs) *available in the Grand Bazar only*
Animals: (You can rent if you lay down a deposit for the animal's full value. If you don't have the deposit then you have to hire a handler @6sp/day + food. Otherwise you must purchase outright.)
Camel (150gp - 2gp/day)
Traveling horse (30gp - 3sp/day)
Donkey (8gp - rent 8cp/day)
*special animals are available in the Grand bazar at substantial markups*
Equipment:
Sacks (1sp)
Shovel (2gp, 8lbs)
Folding shovel (10gp, 12lbs)
50' Hemp Rope (1gp, 10lbs)
50 silk rope (10gp, 5lbs)
Pick what you want and let me know if you'd like to barter or pay asking price.
Another question…does Zahra get to keep the magic bag or does Haseena ask for it back? That would solve our food/water weight issue
She can't be bothered to get up to see us off, there's no way she's able to ask for that bag back.
That bag is yours forever. Just don't put anything sharp in it and, whatever you do, don't put another bag of holding in it or vice versa.
Skimmed the game and here is everything that you've collected so far:
warm cloak
healer’s kit (8 uses) - Cairee
waxed-paper bundle with paste soaked bandages (magical) - Cairee
Copper Torc (magical) - three words: the name Ludter, the tribal name Varyag, and a runic protection ward
long reed blowpipe / 10 darts / vial for anointing darts (magical)
thieves tools
thieve's tools
a punching dagger with red stained blade -Tymythy
a sling with 10 bullets
a slip of paper (directions to the Asmar house from the grand bazar)
small scimitar (stats as shortsword) with a red stained blade
shortbow with 12 arrows
a spell component pouch
a thurible - a small censure one burns herbs on for inhaling - a drug delivery device - value 50gp
platinum monocle 12gp 5sp (Dounia)
Minor Pouch of Holding
Coins:
pp -
gp 67
sp 54
cp 9 (Dounia)
Please tell me what you are carrying. If no one claims an item I will delete it from the list.
Zahra will keep the minor pouch of holding. She can’t use, or isn’t interested in, the other items.
We should probably get the magical items identified
Did we ID what the magical torc does? If Tymythy doesn't want it, Dounia will take it, but he should have first dibs. Dounia will take the 12 arrows, and Cairee should have the thurible, sounds like it could be a medical thing as well. We can sell the rest, or use it to barter.
I vote we buy a donkey. Dounia would love it, and endless conversations between it and Cairee!
Shall we split the money, or keep it in party treasure?
At some point, Dounia is absolutely going to pretend to be an amputee by putting the bag of holding over her arm up to the shoulder. Or a leg. Would her leg fit in it? She's skinny.
Tymythy would like the torc, for the purpose of eventually returning it to its previous owner's family (besides, it's a touch of home in a fawaway land), but he wouldn't mind Dounia holding onto it (or even keepingit), as long as she doesn't sell it at some later date. He would not want it to fall on the hands of someone who sees it just as another pretty trinket.
Tymythy will take the short sword and the arrows (bow he has already).
Seconded the vote for a single pack animal (like donkey), if we can afford it.
Ah, I had a note of "Small vial with white thick frothy liquid and the stopper had a pin-prick in its' centre." which I'm assuming is the vial for anointing darts.
I think Cairee already laid claim to the Healers Kit and Bandages. Corey, would the thurible be something she could use?
Shall we split the money, or keep it in party treasure?
Cairee is happy to have it as party treasure - is someone our party treasurer?
Happy to get a donkey but Cairee will be chatting with it first to make sure it wants to travel with them and will insist on purchasing lots of its favourite food.
Corey, I think Cairee got all of her stuff back from the kidnappers? If so, then Tymythy, Cairee has 50 feet of rope.
OK, so:
warm cloak - sold for 5sp
healer’s kit (8 uses) - Cairee
waxed-paper bundle with paste soaked bandages (magical double healing rate for one day) - Cairee
Copper Torc (magical) - three words: the name Ludter, the tribal name Varyag, and a runic protection ward +1 survival to avoid hazards as described in the skill - Tymythy
long reed blowpipe / 10 darts / vial for anointing darts (magical)
thieve's tools - sold for 15gp
thieve's tools - sold for 15gp
a punching dagger with red stained blade -Tymythy
a sling with 10 bullets - bullets sold for 5cp
a slip of paper (directions to the Asmar house from the grand bazar)
small scimitar (stats as shortsword) with a red stained blade
shortbow with 12 arrows - arrows split between Dounia and Tymythy & bow sold for 15gp
a spell component pouch sold for 25sp
a thurible - a small censure one burns herbs on for inhaling - a drug delivery device - You can use it if you find incense, have herbs made for it, or wanna get into doing drugs - value 50gp
platinum monocle 12gp 5sp (Dounia)
Minor Pouch of Holding (Zahra)
Coins (new total with sold stuff):
pp -
gp 112
sp 84
cp 14 (9cp pickpocketed by Dounia)
Yes Dounia, your leg would fit in the bag of holding. If you don't do this at some point I will be very disappointed.
Yes Cairee, you got all of your stuff back except for anything that had no street value - i.e. quarterstaff
I say we sell the thurible - doesn't really seem like Cairee's thing.
Also, let's pop in on Zhara's new friend before we leave :)
BAsic costs for a Donkey:
Donkey (8gp - rent 8cp/day)
Bit and Bridle (2gp)
Pack Saddle (5gp, 15lbs)
Food (5cp/day - I'm not going to weigh out the food which would normally be 10lbs/day - this feels like a game killer)
Donkeys can carry 100lbs for light load/200lbs for moderate/300lbs for heavy. Moderate or heavy loads will have it moving at your foot speed or 30.
I will take you to the lesser bazar first.
You will get 25gp for the Thurible
I was gonna post about the agora but then I got drunk ... sorry. Tomorrow morning?
I'm glad someone is having fun :)
Zahra is in favour of a donkey. I think we have enough party money to buy one. It may be less complicated than renting one. And as someone who has ridden a donkey, we can also take turns if we want a break from walking - provided we don't overload it with gear.
Zahra will want to stop by Samreen's as we leave the city and I'm glad Cairee is in favour of that too.
I'm good with keeping our money as party money - at least until we have enough to start buying things separately. I vote for Cairee or Tymythy being the holders of the coin.
I vote for Cairee or Tymythy being the holders of the coin.
I vote for Cairee or Tymythy being the holders of the coin.
Damn straight! But I'd like to point out that I didn't include Zahra in that either.
Cairee caRes not for money, best give it to Tymythy. In other words, NOT IT!
Yeah, give it to Tymythy - he knows well the value of coin so he'll be giving ye all only a minimum allowance. Need to save it for when we really need it, right?
Sorry everyone, a little writer's block and not enough time to sit down and get through it. Gonna try tomorrow morning.
Don't try to force it, some days the juices just ain't flowing.
I know I had written in my bkgd that Zahra tried to hide her abilities from her father...does he know now? Or is he still in the dark about her doing magic?
You are certain that he knows something is going on between you and your mother. It is very much in his face but he is being willfully ignorant o it. So far there is a blindspot for him where as long as it comes from your mother he won't question it too far.