No freakin' way, Rodalas! Me, too! What part of town? I'm in the SE heights.
I think you are the first other person from 'Burque I have met on these boards.
Ah, okay. I'm farther east, near Central and Eubank. Small world! :)
Avendryl are you a moon elf or a sun elf?
I suppose in Forgotten Realms terms he'd be a Sun Elf.
I still miss the Greyhawk grey elves and the tallfellow halfkings.
Agreed. In Greyhawk, Avendryl would certainly be a Grey Elf.
Those are my favorite elves in Greyhawk but I do love me the Dragonlance elves as well.
@Rodalas. Is it just me or is your name changing with the seasonal changes too? I’ve been calling your character RodAlas the whole time. Just want to make sure I havnt been fuxing it up for the entirely of this campaign.
it is Rodalas, I think my fingers were typing too fast when I created the sheet on D and D Beyond. I was reading more about the eladrin today, and some will change their names depending on the season they take on.
I also like how their eyes glow with the magic of the Feywild.
DM. the next time he goes to the Feywild can he do something fun with Erevan Ilesere?
Hey Greycastle, I have a question. Is the biome for the Ten Towns area taiga or tundra?
The reason I'm asking is that I was doing some research for a little sketch I want to do with Mell that requires some tree bark. The tundra biome appears above the arctic circle and has no trees, just lichens, moss, and some hardy bushes whose roots don't need to penetrate the permafrost layer. The taiga biome appears just below the arctic circle and does have trees, although they have to be pretty hardy ones and are primarily coniferous. Lonelywood, where Mell lived prior to going adventuring, is the northernmost of the Ten Towns, and its namesake forest is nearby, which suggests that the biome is taiga, not tundra.
Obviously, we can either handwave trees not growing on tundra and say the trees of Lonelywood do due to magic or some other special thing about their nature, or else just say the Ten Towns area is taiga and there are trees scattered about, with Lonelywood having the only true forest. I'd like to ask you for a call.
The Icewind Dale is described as tundra (possibly... no, probably by non-ecologists), but it does have patches of trees near Lonelywood, Good Mead, and near the mountains to the south.
Actually, since there are a lot of trees on the map near the pass to the south, maybe warmer air also follows that gap in the mountains? I don't know if it's described anywhere, but it's also possible that Maer Dualdon and the Redwaters are a bit warmer, which keeps the soil nearby from permafrost.
(Like, the trees in Lonelywood are used to make cabins and boats -- that means they are pretty big, even by taiga standards!)
Have we met any of the main characters from The Drizzt books?
I think Aeshuura mentioned that those events happened 100 years ago. I mean, not that that matters much to elves and dwarves, but do any of those characters still live in the Dale? I haven't read those books in about 30 years (except for the Crystal Shard, which I reread last year) :)
Lonelywood won't work at all, as Mell has no desire to return there unless absolutely necessary. (The memories are too painful, and she never really liked a good number of the denizens of Lonelywood anyway, although she did like the forest.) The trees near Good Mead would work in a pinch, but would not be my first choice. That southern area would work great, but I'm struggling to figure out if we'd head that way on our way to Sunblight.
I can't find a map that says where in the Spine of the World Sunblight is, and I can't find a map of Kuldahar Pass, either. It seems to run between Kuldahar and Easthaven, and Easthaven's location suggests a much different route than that southern one with the trees. I'll try to figure out if that southern route is the same as the caravan road, which I saw on some of the maps.
Thanks for the info, though, Baldrick!
I think Aeshuura mentioned that those events happened 100 years ago. I mean, not that that matters much to elves and dwarves, but do any of those characters still live in the Dale? I haven't read those books in about 30 years (except for the Crystal Shard, which I reread last year) :)
I am not sure, when they reset timelines for 4r and then did all of the shenanigans with those characters dying and coming back to life, I kinda stopped reading.
Lonelywood won't work at all, as Mell has no desire to return there unless absolutely necessary. (The memories are too painful, and she never really liked a good number of the denizens of Lonelywood anyway, although she did like the forest.) The trees near Good Mead would work in a pinch, but would not be my first choice. That southern area would work great, but I'm struggling to figure out if we'd head that way on our way to Sunblight.
I can't find a map that says where in the Spine of the World Sunblight is, and I can't find a map of Kuldahar Pass, either. It seems to run between Kuldahar and Easthaven, and Easthaven's location suggests a much different route than that southern one with the trees. I'll try to figure out if that southern route is the same as the caravan road, which I saw on some of the maps.
Thanks for the info, though, Baldrick!
Ah yes -- you won't find Sunblight on a map because it's hidden from players, normally. Baldrick has a map that we secured from some duergar, though, and he can tell you that it's due south, and then a bit west, of Easthaven. The others were down near there recently (except they went off to the east and Sunblight is to the west) -- if we follow a similar route, we will pass a small copse of trees along the way.
Not sure about Kuldahar Pass though (maybe it's deeper in the Spine?) -- why are you looking for it?
It is unlikely that we will meet anyone from the Drizzt books, despite them all being reincarnated. They have since set up roots South of the Spine of the World, especially since Bruenor has taken up as the King of Gauntlgrym since the rebirth.
Not sure about Kuldahar Pass though (maybe it's deeper in the Spine?) -- why are you looking for it?
Mainly because it's the only other route I'm aware of in the Spine of the World and I was trying to figure out if it was the same as the Ten Trail/caravan road. It's not - it's definitely a different road.
The small copse of trees you mentioned would be perfect for what I have in mind.
Mell, may I ask if Mellaina is from one of the Reghed tribes?
@Turq She's not Reghedian, she's a Ten-Town native, born in Targos, and lived for a while in Lonelywood. Why?
It sounded like there might've been some Reghed connection. If there was, she may have recognized something about Turq...
His bald hwad... :)
I dont think he has changed seasons for a while.
Uugh, we just lost power again!
It is back on, for now.
Hey Greycastle, I have a question. Is the biome for the Ten Towns area taiga or tundra?
The reason I'm asking is that I was doing some research for a little sketch I want to do with Mell that requires some tree bark. The tundra biome appears above the arctic circle and has no trees, just lichens, moss, and some hardy bushes whose roots don't need to penetrate the permafrost layer. The taiga biome appears just below the arctic circle and does have trees, although they have to be pretty hardy ones and are primarily coniferous. Lonelywood, where Mell lived prior to going adventuring, is the northernmost of the Ten Towns, and its namesake forest is nearby, which suggests that the biome is taiga, not tundra.
Obviously, we can either handwave trees not growing on tundra and say the trees of Lonelywood do due to magic or some other special thing about their nature, or else just say the Ten Towns area is taiga and there are trees scattered about, with Lonelywood having the only true forest. I'd like to ask you for a call.
There are actual small forests of pines here in Icewind Dale so you should not have any problem finding the bark you need.
The Drizzt characters came back to life?! Yeesh, the last book I read was Drizzt on his own with new companions. Glad that was the last one I read then.
gonna give the rest of the day for additional roleplay. Tomorrows post will get the adventure rolling.
Also, @Mell, you mentioned in a PM to me that you were interested in an Rime of the Frost Maiden run. Not sure if you knew this or not but for the most part, you're now in the middle of one. Grats! lol. We started this as adventure league, running through a seasonal adventure from the Rime of the Frost Maiden season and we've been running through a mix of Module content and additional games added into the fun from there. It's worked out pretty well, and we've rotated Gm's a couple of times to keep it fresh and take some pressure off of each other in the process.
Ooh, yay!!!! I'm happy about that! <does happy dance> I noticed we have the constant darkness going, but wasn't sure how much we'd intersect with the actual RotFM module.
Now I'm stoked because the RotFM module goes to level 9, which means Mell can pick up the Elemental Adept (Fire) feat at level 8. Woot!
I love that you guys are sharing the DMing load, too. That's a smart way to do things.
I tend to have read only the Drizzt books that deal with the drow and Menzoberranzan. I read one of two of his books that came out about 4 years ago but I don't remember getting through the 2nd one of that trilogy.
I have a couple of questions:
1. For every level, Mell has a few spells that show as always prepared on her character sheet. It looks like they don't count against her allowed number of prepared spells. In terms of casting the always prepared spells, is that also true? That is, if she has 3 spell slots for level level 2 spells, and Flaming Sphere and Scorching Ray are her always prepared ones for that level, she can cast up to 5 level 2 spells per long rest, just two have to Flaming Sphere and Scorching Ray? Or is that once she casts any three of those spells, she's done for the day with level 2 spells and has to wait for a long rest?
Pathfinder works a little bit differently, and I'm trying to sort out the difference(s).
2. Cold Weather Gear, Snowshoes, and Crampons. I tend to think that as a Ten Towns local, Mell would already own at least some of this gear, but I'm happy to do whatever's needed to be legal. Maybe her old stuff wore out and she needs to replace it or something. Unfortunately, I used the 10 gold she got from her background to buy a dagger and leatherworker's tools, and she doesn't have enough left to buy more than EITHER snowshoes OR crampons. I also don't own the RotFM module, so those options don't appear for me on DnDBeyond as something I can add to her inventory. How would you suggest I handle this? I suppose I can buy the module if I have to, but it doesn't solve the problem of her not having any gold.
EDIT: I think I'll put back the dagger and leatherworkers' tools and just get the Cold Weather Gear. That seems like a much more needful item to me.
Someone so happy wpuld NEVER terrorize a plant man.
How usedul and accessible are boots and cloaks of elvenkind?
I have a couple of questions:
1. For every level, Mell has a few spells that show as always prepared on her character sheet. It looks like they don't count against her allowed number of prepared spells. In terms of casting the always prepared spells, is that also true? That is, if she has 3 spell slots for level level 2 spells, and Flaming Sphere and Scorching Ray are her always prepared ones for that level, she can cast up to 5 level 2 spells per long rest, just two have to Flaming Sphere and Scorching Ray? Or is that once she casts any three of those spells, she's done for the day with level 2 spells and has to wait for a long rest?
2. Cold Weather Gear, Snowshoes, and Crampons. I tend to think that as a Ten Towns local, Mell would already own at least some of this gear.
1. Afraid not on the spell slots. It just expands your spell list. You are still limited to how many spells you can cast based on spell slots. There are some abilities that will allow this though, but they will be stipulated as so in the ability rules.
2. Feel free to already have those items. Gideon is honestly the only one here who probably would need to pick them up at the general store.
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How usedul and accessible are boots and cloaks of elvenkind?
They are very useful for stealthy individuals. Unfortunately they are not readily available.
*Edit* As I thought on this more, Avendryl may be Rodalas’s only shot at aquiring any of the “elven” items that you’ve inquired about through crafting. So the Eladrin may want to rethink his current approach toward his new companion.
Add Avendryl to gathering cold weather/trudging through the snow crew.
Alright, I've added the cold weather gear to both of Mell's character sheets.
I think you are the first other person from 'Burque I have met on these boards.
By the way, Rodalas, same here. I never meet people from here on game forums who like pbp RPGs.
The gaming stores here are so ckiqey
He was not trying to be rude but more flirty, lol.
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The Drizzt characters came back to life?! Yeesh, the last book I read was Drizzt on his own with new companions. Glad that was the last one I read then.
When 5e came out, they released a bunch of Sundering novels. R.A. Salvatore released the Companions where the premise was that all of the Companions are passed on, intercepted on their way to the afterlife by Cattie-Brie and offered a chance to be reincarnated because Drizzt will need them and Meilikki wanted to gift her champion with his friends.
The Drizzt characters came back to life?! Yeesh, the last book I read was Drizzt on his own with new companions. Glad that was the last one I read then.When 5e came out, they released a bunch of Sundering novels. R.A. Salvatore released the Companions where the premise was that all of the Companions are passed on, intercepted on their way to the afterlife by Cattie-Brie and offered a chance to be reincarnated because Drizzt will need them and Meilikki wanted to gift her champion with his friends.
I’m a fan of the original books plus quite a few of the ones that followed but I believe they have jumped the shark and it seems pretty contrived lol.
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Eye Roll at the Sundering
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He was not trying to be rude but more flirty, lol.
Oh, it definitely came across that way, but where Mell is right now in dealing with her husband's and son's deaths, romance and flirtations simply are not anywhere on her radar. (I found this really cool custom background called Bereaved that I chose for her.) Anyone who comes on to her, regardless of who they are and regardless of how much she might like them, will be asked nicely to cease and desist. If they refuse, well, I figure having 6-7 male companions (as well as being a blasty fire druid in her own right) ought to pretty much work in her favor, lol. As long as you can respect that as a player, I'll have no concerns playing with you.
I've got a whole mindset and philosophy about what Mell believes about death as a druid, given that she's spent her entire life in a place that sees a good amount of it due the harsh climate and even more with the onset of the Everlasting Rime (ie constant darkness), as it becomes even more difficult to survive. As the adventure proceeds, I'll be looking for opportunities to RP some of that.
In fact, the whole little fluff RP scene I want to do with the trees and tree bark that I was mentioning yesterday is part of her philosophy.
@Greycastle:
I wanted to ask - do we have lines and veils in this game?
(If you are unfamiliar with the terms - I find that some DMs know but others don't - you can find a discussion about them here.)
Thanks for bringing this up, Mellaina -- I was recently reminded of lines and veils, but I don't think that we've ever discussed them here.
A friend who sometimes DMs me irl (and with whom I'm about to start a PF2 PbP game) makes this statement at the beginning of a campaign:
"I use Lines and Veils for content moderation. Lines are subject matter which does not appear in any way in the game story. Veils are subject matter which exists, but is alluded to rather than explicitly described. My line is sexual assault, and my veils are sexual content or particularly intense torture. You can apply an ❌ to any post to request I delete it. We can determine a different direction for the story to take."
I sometimes ask that anything involving needles also be veiled, but that's a pretty rare occurrence in fantasy games.
Learning a bunch of new things today (mostly at work, but hey here, too). Of course I understand the concept but didn't know it had titling, cool. Do games now normally set that rule from the outset?
I'm fairly open to most in-game content, and don't really have much in terms of lines, as long as it's not used purely for shock value and makes sense with where the story is going, I don't anticipate any of that in this game as we are supposed to be the heroes, right? I suspect that lack of lines has something to do with playing a lot of White Wolf's World of Darkness games in the past.
That being said, I do have a number of things that I prefer be veiled, or put in cinematic terms, fade to black without explicit explanation or detail and that would include the usual suspects, sexual content, torture scenes, etc.