Artemis, the Outlaw's page

Everyone, the game has been really fun, and the characters are coming together very nicely. It has been a great experience for me.

But (of course there is a but) I have also found it too railroad-y for my personal taste, giving me that feeling things will happen in a certain way (or we will die), regardless of my/our actions.

My hat is off to DM Brainiac, I think he has done a great job as DM in keeping the pace, the action, the engagement, and a perfect rythm. I think the issue here for me may be the ‘episodic’ nature of DCC, whether on how we jump from one adventure to another, or how we jump from one scene to another within an adventure. I am just too old of a grognard, and always think there should be a sandbox part of some sort to every game :P

That being said, I think this is the right time for me to bow out and make room for others. Thank you for running the game Brainiac, and thank you to the great cast of players. Hope to see you around the boards!

”I can admit when I am wrong” - Artemis grunted at his companion - ”Your faith has served us well Clancy”

"Clancy, you are doing the same as Wanderful" - Artemis tried to keep up, swinging his sword at any demon who comes close.

Sword: 1d20 ⇒ 18
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Break it! :D

"Clancy, just break the freaking egg, and let them all be damned!" - Artemis roared, drawing sword and dagger and facing the approaching demons - "You cannot trust this Lexaliah, and you are taking too big a risk. Just break it!" - he snarled - "Better to destroy it, then deliver the thing into their hands"

”I don’t feel like staying here is a good idea Clancy” - Artemis looks at his inefficient dagger with some disgust, then places it back in its scabbard - ”It is like a thief robbing a house, and then sleeping inside” - he shrugs - ”And I think we seriously risk them sending more guardians after us. Surely by now word of our actions has transpired to others”

Artemis swirls around their opponents, and flanks the one hit by Zathra - "This never ends" - he snarled, thrusting with his dagger.

Dagger: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

I am assuming we are going with the OSR way, which usually means no backstabs during combat?

"I don't mind you carrying the egg" - Artemis shrugs at Clancy, while still curiously fiddling with the mighty object in his hands - "My only concern is this Lexaliah might not be who you think she is" - he added - "Which would mean we would be better off just returning the egg to their owners right here in this... Plane. The same argument about complacency can be proven right? We actually managed to steal the egg didn't we?"

Don't want to 'derail' us guys, but there is something 'off' about stealing an egg from the plane of Law, to return it to one of their agents in the plane of Chaos, to prove a point. Isn't the point already proven? :)

yeah! Roscoe is not as fast... but he won't let Artemis go down alone.

"I'm going to go with you. Make sure nothing else comes by to threaten you".

"Fair enough" - Artemis grunted.

"You can trust me" - Artemis winked at Roscoe, then went to retrieve the egg.

Ok, so.... Is it kosher to loot Mr Wanderful? He has some interesting items :P

Mirinde staggers weakly to her feet nodding slowly to Artemis, "I will be...OK. My Lady exacts a heavy toll for invoking her so I am loath to do so. I will recover in time." She turns to peer down the stairs at her fallen kinsman before turning to face Artemis, "Thank you for your concern. We should wait until Clancy finishes his penance here before leaving."

"I should maybe go down there and get that egg" - Artemis piped in after seeing to Mirinde - "Feels weird just leaving it lying on the floor like that"

Artemis will go and grab the egg, unless someone speaks against it.

"The fool" - Artemis peers down at the broken body of his elf companion.

Brainiac, how far is it to get down there?

Then he goes to Mirinde - "Are you... Ok?"

Got it!

Hahaha. Thank you Brainiac!

Artemis is definitely in a slump :D

My luck can never increase past 13, right?

"What the...? Where are you going?!" - Artemis chased the elf, and tried to trip him.

Trip?: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Fumble: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Holy sh... What is happening?

And ends up sprawling on the floor, like an idiot.

My rolls are just something... Unique :/

Artemis does not relent - "You lose" - he spat at his own mirror reflections, stabbing again.

Attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6
Damage if it hits: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Artemis whirled around the mirror image to flank the fake Artemis with Zathra, in a last, desperate attack.

Attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Yeah, nevermind me.

What about mirror Artemis? Still there, right?

This is proving to be a rough fight! Still time to turn it around though!

I have my doubts :P

"There is only one Artemis" - the man snarled, slicing across with his dagger.

Attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Sigh...

Hit with a cheap shot, Artemis stumbles around - "Figures" - he grumbled.

Not sure how blinded works - can I still target someone correctly, or am I wandering around harmlessly? If I can attack:

"Stay back! I will not go down that easy!" - the Outlaw tries to charge his mirror self.

Dagger: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

”Why would I need to bribe them?” - Artemis shrugs - ”Maybe just spill the beans”

"Why is that the only escape?" - Artemis scowls - "The Gods of Law I am betting are as strong, if not stronger than those of Chaos. So maybe they can get us out of this mess" - he added - "I wouldn't mind turning the table on those that forced us into this"

Artemis follows after the others - "Anyone gave any thought on us coming clean with whomever is in charge here, and flip the table on the Chaos Lords?" - he asked.

Enjoy!

No words are spoken this time, when we enter the room?

"Are we supposed to get that key?" - Artemis inquired - "Maybe one of us on the plate beneath it, and all others on the other plate?" - he added with a doubtful look at the lions.

Vying for maximum advantage, he waited until the last minute, to launch his treacherous attack.

Plan is to delay until the lions pass him by, and toward Mirinde/Hawk and Wanderful, then backstab one of them.

Good to know everything went well. Stay safe Brainiac!

"Something personal..?" - the thief seems truly puzzled - "What? My independence? My agency? I don't have any magical powers I can 'dispose of' - he growled, extending his wrists - "Heck! Will a pint of blood do?"

A point of Stamina? :/

"I don't get it - are we supposed to let ourselves be killed by that thing?" - Artemis boggles - "Is this some kind of parlor trick or something? Can't we just bribe it with gold?"

Just realized I never finished my equipment list :/
Otherwise Artemis would definitely have bought the usual six torches, and would now pass them along.

"Maybe we need to copy them?" - Artemis ponders for a second if that would be viable, then bows before Mirinde - "Milady, care to dance?" - he smiled playfully.

Artemis wades in to walk among the dancers, admiring their beauty up close.

How many dancers are there?

"Bottoms up!" - Artemis nods in agreement, and once they have settled on an order, he drinks up!

Order is usually red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, right? So Artemis goes first ;)

Artemis grabs the glass with red liquid - "I say we drink it in order" - he suggests.

“At the beginning of Time, the gods brought life to the world. Behold the last piece of divine matter from which the Eternals wrought their creation. Embrace your inner divine spark and walk in the footsteps of the gods, or await the end of their creation within these walls."

"It could all be about the creation of life, no?" - Artemis pondered for the first time - 'Embrace your inner divine spark, and walk in the footsteps of the gods' - kinda sounds like we should play God? So perhaps sculpt a life form from 'the last piece of divine matter from which the Eternals wrought their creation'? Maybe sculpt a baby? Or a man? Any living creature?" - he shrugs.

Artemis' eyes go wide at the massive strike landed by Zathra - "Very impressive" - he nodded in approval

Don't let Mr. Wanderful touch that clay!!

Artemis peers around the room in silence, and waits to see if Clancy takes the lead.

"All quiet" - he whispers to the others with a shrug.

Artemis does a turn around the room, listening at the doors.

Revisiting the chat about Languages :)

So Artemis has +1 Int, that means he knows Common, Thieve’s Cant, and another language right? Not sure which might make sense, according to his ‘upbringing’ - are there any regional or local languages, or perhaps a humanoid language he could have learned in his dealings with the underworld of crime?

EDIT: I just read this on Discord and think it is a next idea - ’…I do like how LotFP leaves the Languages kind of "Quantum" rather than requiring the Player to choose them up front. You keep your Bonus Language slots "free" and then choose to fill them as needed. So if you end up meeting Lizard Men, you can choose to speak that Language then and there, etc. Just a good way of insuring that it actually ends up being one that sees Play’

Is everyone of Lawful alignment able to speak/read Lawful?

Int: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Taurziel..." - Artemis stares dumbfounded at the massive Ox, as Mirinde casts her magics - "What if someone came here to ask your help against the forces of Chaos? Would you help?" - he found himself saying out loud.

”Bah, I guess they are all playing the same game” - Artemis snorted - ”Magog, the Beast appeared in my dreams” - he added, looking around for breakfast.

"We are who we are. Nothing more...nothing less Artemis. Do not allow your self to be changed by those without. Free will is is a part of both you and I, and every one here. Think on that." On those words she quietly retires to one of the vacant bedchambers for the evening.

Mirinde's words resonate with Artemis as he retires also to the privacy of one of the rooms, randomly chosen - "Always talking in riddles that one..." - he grumbled, before closing the door.

Apologies for the delay - busy work week. PM sent!

"As for your payment," Magog says, though no mouth is visible upon his body. "Firstly, we will consider ourselves owing you a small debt of gratitude. Should the time come that you require the assistance of the most powerful forces in the cosmos, we shall attend to that need and consider our debt repaid. Secondly, since the desires of mortals are little things to the minds of the Host, you shall each receive a small gesture of our thanks in the form of a stone that warps fortune in your favor, one of the few Chaos Stones remaining in the multiverse.”

"So I guess no gold" - Artemis grumbled again, while following after the others through the portal and into the mysterious inn-like area.

"I am having a feeling that we have been through this before" - he chuckle at his companions, again sitting down to eat and drink without hesitation - "Well, I'm not gonna pass on it, that's for sure"

Zathra leans forward and grins slyly. "Well. It is not so bad, being big and strong. I don't know if I would have wanted to go back to my old life as a beadle, anyway. I got a taste of glory and adventure, and I want more. So, bring on this Host of Chaos and Yokeless Egg, I say. Let us test our might against whatever lays before us. For Crom!" She slams her fists on the table for emphasis.

"Hear, hear" - Artemis poured some ale for himself and Zathra - "Dunno how you looked as a beadle, but I think you got a good deal" - he added, grabbing mugs and pouring ale for the others if they so wish.

"As Zathra has stated I also believe we have no choice here but to take on their quest, else we be one of the unfortunate souls trapped here for eternity." She offers.

"True that" - the man paused - "And you all know I am not given to much philosophical considerations, but... What if these guys are the real thing? Serving them makes us... What?"

"Yes" - Artemis nods in agreement with Mirinde - "Like for example, what is our payment?" - he pondered for a second - "And what is a clutch... Culus..?"

When she glances at Artemis drawing his blade she hisses, "Put away your blade you fool! We were invited here for a reason!" Composing herself here she turns to face the youthful giant (all the while trying to avoid staring at the fascinating Dzzhali).

"Still wanna stab that bastard kid..." - Artemis grumbled, but his voice tailed off, as if only now he realized their surroundings - "What the...?"

Noticing Mirinde's apparent fascination with her, Dzzhali speaks. Her voice echoes with the force of tectonic plates colliding, and a palpable aura of power and menace exudes from the titanic woman. "You have been summoned before the Court of Chaos, an honor given to few mortals. Circumstances in the multiverse require the participation of its lesser creatures and the Court has decided you will serve our aims to this end. You are charged with the recovery of a potent artifact of eld, known as the Yokeless Egg. Should you succeed in returning this object to the Court, know that your services will be well rewarded. The Host of Chaos offers a small boon in return and a token of our esteem suitable for small mortal hearts and minds. Do you accept this charge?"

"Ask for an advancement" - the thief whispered to Mirinde.