So... still looking to get this back up and running, Game Masquerade? I'd have posted earlier, but I've only just noticed this thread.
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It's a shame, but I completely understand. As far as someone taking over, I think this might be pretty good opportunity to experiment with collaborative GMing... if each of us take responsibility for different groups of NPCs, or perhaps plotlines, then we could share the responsibility between us. Thoughts?
The gnome lets out a somewhat nervous cough at Lynnara's words. "I believe, princess Desha", he says, with a subtle stress on the name, "that we are each only entitled to claim a single item of our choice."
Bottle of Air: This item appears to be a normal glass bottle with a cork. When taken to any airless environment, it retains air within it at all times, continually renewing its contents. This means that a character can draw air out of the bottle to breathe. The bottle can even be shared by multiple characters who pass it around. Breathing out of the bottle is a standard action, but a character so doing can then act for as long as she can hold her breath.
Thanks Game Masquerade, I think I'll boost my wisdom and take the Bottle of Air from my wish list... given where we're likely headed next, I figure it'll come in very handy. Should it just be found in Emmentian's gear, or will it be introduced in character somehow? And since my submission isn't going to be revealed, I might email you tomorrow evening with a few ideas I had left out to avoid giving too much away to the others about any potential plot twists.
"Thank you," Emmentian says in response with a gracious nod of his head, whilst leaning down to retrieve Cirrus from the now bloodied water, "your own creatures are quite impressive also, perhaps you and I could do business in the future." "But now, it is indeed quite acceptable to make your payment in goods... after all, what good is money beyond the things it can buy for you?" The gnome takes a close look at the three items offered up, carefully uncorking the urine to smell the contents before nodding sagely, then handling the other two items with similar care. "The shell is of course a truly fascinating piece, but it could be done justice by a princess," he says, inclining his head towards Lynnara, "I will accept the Razortooth urine as my prize."
Sounds fun, good idea to keep us engaged with the setting while you're gone. Have a great honeymoon!
Cirrus twists around as he slips out of the eel's grasp, and lashes out again with his fangs.
Cirrus takes quick advantage of his reflexes to snap guardedly at the larger creature before it can prepare itself.
Emmentian crouches low to allow Cirrus to slither gracefully into the water, where the black-scaled serpent holds its position to assesses the eel which it faces.
The gnome looks between the eel and Cirrus for a few moments, then leans his head down to let out a quiet hiss to the snake, "What do you think, feel like taking this eel on?"
"Very well," the 'Saamish merchant' says, looking back up to the fish breeder, "mist marsh vipers aren't quite as comfortable in the water as eels, but I still think that he'll more than match up to your pet."
Emmentian narrows his eyes to regard the fish handler with an appraising look, "You got quite the eye yourself," he comments, "of course, I would need to see your eel before I agreed to risk this fine specimen, he's valuable breeding stock and it wouldn't do to risk him heedlessly."
"Perhaps this isn't my game, dear." Emmentian comments to Marilyn, "maybe I'll have a little more luck with those fighting fish, and some of those species look quite exotic..." Leading his 'wife' closer to the partitioned area of the pool, he peers into the depths to assess the fish within.
"Ah," The gnome lets out a contented sigh, "this is so much more relaxing than contract negotiations. Let's try this one more time..." Placing another bar in the same location as last, he watches contentedly.
"Well, in any case, it won't do to just mill about the entrance like this," Emmentian says with a glance about the room, "it might raise suspicion." "When you are ready to take a closer look at the pool, he comments to Lynnara, "come and find me, for now I think it would be best to get into character." With that, he holds out a hand to his 'wife', and heads towards one of the colourful games on display, "shall we my dear?" Reaching a table headed by a large spinning wheel, the gnome takes one of the gold bars from his case, and with a polite smile to the others at the table, places it on the area denoting the top third of the numbers on the wheel.
"Presumably, Captain Mirichek here would be quite able to use his rank to gain access to the security room, and given his orders for being here, it shouldn't raise too many eyebrows if he requests to be taken there." "The pool would likely be most easily explored by our lovely river princess, while having Talia get a closer look at the vault's security would probably be most useful." "As for the rest of us, it seems that it would be a matter of personal taste... though I would be able to employ magic to move freely about the pool for a little while."
"Yes, I think this could work," Emmentian says thoughtfully, forcing himself to stop fussing over the sleeves of his new robes, "Should I leave Cirrus here, or bring him along as an example of my wares?"
Emmentian looks a little uncomfortable as he dons the finery, and moves around awkwardly as if afraid to damage the expensive garment. When he looks between Talic and his dress, the gnome forces his face to remain blank with visible effort. "It's times like these that a beard comes in handy," he comments quietly, running his hand down his smooth facial hair.
With a quick shake of his head, Emmentian retracts the fangs protruding from his upper jaw, and leans down to place a soothing hand on the back of Cirrus' head. "They might not be found once they're tossed into the sea, but getting them there might draw a little more attention that we're after. The alley should do, with any luck nobody except for that fool of a boy will have noticed our involvement."
I'm in the UK, so GMT here. Oh, and just in case you're waiting for me to post in the IC thread Game Masquerade, I'm just waiting to find out the result of Talic and Deston's actions.
Emmentian hisses to Cirrus and the pair move forwards towards the oncoming guards, the snake staying close to the legs of the gnome, while Emmentian himself continues to let out the bestial sound as he moves. After a few steps, the shaman rears back his head and the hiss reaches a new pitch as a forked tongue emerges from his mouth and a pair of vicious looking fangs protrude outwards.
Emmentian pushes himself up from his seat slowly, and walks over to lean in to converse with the group. "Perhaps," he comments quietly, "but he might be willing to take us to his sister. I'm also curious as to who it is that wanted him to check up on us, and more importantly why... though it seems that such answers might be more forthcoming from his sister."
I'm still interested, Emmentian is just keeping quiet at the moment while those better suited to such things question our prisoner.
After helping to tie up the boy, Emmentian walks back to another chair in the corner of the room to watch the interrogation, resting a fot on his knee casually. "blond hair and dazzling blue eyes no doubt," he speaks to himself under his breath at Lynnara's question, "hardly the true mystery here.".
We might want to keep hold of the net anyway, it might be exotic, but the penalty is only -4 (-3 when you take the MW into consideration,) and it only requires a touch attack. I'm going to be away this weekend from tomorrow evening, so feel free to NPC me if necessary.
"We sould probably concentrate on getting Carmella out," Emmentian says to Talic archly, before adding in a quieter voice, "although... since we are likely to be earning their wrath anyway, it couldn't hurt to make the most of the situation." "Have you spent much time at the Calipsia?" he asks of Celeste, "anything you might remember would be better than going in blind."
Emmentian shifts uncomfortably as Celeste peers into the minds of his companions, becoming more tense as his own turn draws closer. He relaxes somewhat as she declares his trustworthiness, but his eyes linger on her face with a slight furrow of his brow as he considers how deeply she might have pried into his personal thoughts. "Orren mentioned the artificial reef below the Calipsia's vault," he comments once Garret has finished speaking, "and how it might be accessible from some underground watercourse. I suspect that any access to that would be through the cave network that I have heard rumours of stretching beneath the city, but finding it in that sprawl might be difficult." The gnome looks between the others in the room briefly, then adds "a drier option might be to enter the building through the front door... though from the class of guests that frequent the place, I take it that it isn't as simple as just walking in."
"I imagine they planned to sell him," Emmentian comments, "he would likely bring a fair price from those looking for an exotic pet. But it is good that he never needed to find out." "He is a rare specimen, in which part of Verdan did you find him?"
At the assault from the wounded thief, Emmentain ducks under the clumsy blow to slip around the side of the man while the serpent following beside him circles to his other side. With the coordination that only comes from many shared battles, the two lash out in unison.
Emmentian allows Cirrus to coil his way to the ground, and emits a low hissing sound while pointing a finger towards the inhuman men trying to steal Ornerokh.
The pair then rush forwards towards the fray, Emmentian ducking low with an unnatural ease, while the snake slithers rapidly alongside him.
I've just noticed I haven't given Cirrus and tricks yet. Is it okay to add the animal companion bonus trick now?
"Isn't that Ornerokh?" Emmentian asks of the elven cavalier, pointing to the commotion on the dock.
"Indeed," Emmentian nods to his fellow gnome, "though perhaps we can get a recommendation as to a good establishment from one of the Freemen tonight. Until then, if we do happen to become separated, their Hall tonight seems like a suitable place to reunite." "It occurs to me though," he adds, a moment later, "that we should try to keep our attendance there discreet. If we are not publicly associated with the Freemen then it may be possible for us to enter into the trust of the Penderghast family."
The gnome hums thoughtfully at Orren's reply, "What do you know of House Penderghast? I have heard that they vie for political control of northern Oceania, but beyond simple lust for power what are their motivations... do you know what thy intend to use that influence for?" Looking to Talic, Emmentian nods in agreement to Lynnara's statement, "I intend to find out about this priest of the pre-reclamation faith, and what he believed would prove to be mankind's salvation. The best place to start seems to be with Carmella, so you'll have my support in freeing her." He pauses to run a finger under the neck of the viper, who had raised his head in interest at the group, "Lynnara is right though, we shouldn't stir up the hornet's nest until we have seen the situation from all angles, what exactly do ORCA and house Penderghast have against her that they're so willing to incite the people's anger?"
Emmentian's eyes fix on the table at Lynnara's words, and he answers her with a shallow nod, "true, no matter what differences they may have, they are family... I am sure that Armand would do whatever it takes to see his daughter safe." When Orren speaks, the gnome lifts his gaze to listen intently to the story. "I would be quite interested to learn more of this Bastion Cane," he comments before frowning, "but this colossal construct that you faced troubles me, do you think that the sorcerers leading the thing worked for ORCA?"
Everything's great so far. The primer has really caught my imagination, and all the artwork you're providing is a great help with the visualization.
"If the rumours on board were true," the gnome begins with a speculative wave of his hand, "then Mister Rutledge could indeed be a useful source of reliable information regarding the Oceania Revenue and Commerce Association... though he may well temper his usefulness with his own motivations." "Not that this ORCA's reputation has garnered any love from me, but we probably shouldn't rush into any confrontation with them."
I've made a slight alteration tho my wishlist. Seeing that three of us put down an Orb of Storms, I've switched it out for a Ring of Freedom of Movement.
"Easy now," the gnome says, holding up his hands soothingly, "given the amount of attention you seem to have been paying to our conversation, I'm surprised that you didn't already hear his explanation of how this Carmella lass gave him the ring." "Now, why don't we all calm down and introduce ourselves?" he says, slowly rising from his seat to offer a handshake, "I'm Emmentian, new around here, as you noted."
Emmentian's back straightens as the scarred man draws the weapon, and the gnome's tongue flicks uneasily between his lips in an uncannily similar movement to that of the snake around his neck as he appraises the situation.
"Hmm," Emmentian muses as the ring is held out, "that symbol looks almost as if it could be representative of the unity of all four elements... I'm not sure if that has any bearing on any enchantment that it may hold though."
While Talic's attention is grasped by the potentially valuable ring, Emmentian leans in to scrutinize the bloody scrawls on the fabric. "Help Calipsia, find dad..." he recites, muttering his musings to himself, "or is it Help... Calipsia... Find Dad... So the Calipsia is where she is going to be held? And the V and circled F? Initials?" After a few moments, the gnome prods the fabric with a finger, indicating the sketch in the lower right corner, "Does anyone else think this looks like a ship? With a something highlighted beneath it?"
Emmentian makes use of his higher vantage, still up on the crane, to survey the street and try to assess the best route of escape for his friends on the ground.
Once confident of the best course for them to take, he focuses intensely for a moment as he calls upon some inner power to send forth the information to sound out beside Qarxan. Trusting in the wizard's ability to disseminate the message more effectively.
Emmentian frowns down at the spectacle, grasping tightly to the crane as he leans forwards. "The crowd looks like it could turn ugly at any moment," he whispers to his companion, unnecessarily quiet above the roar of the mass below.
Emmentian follows behind the halfling, sensing his eventual destination and similarly curious as to who, or indeed what, may be imprisoned within the cage. Upon reaching the crane, he lowers Cirrus to allow the snake to wrap around the structure, while he himself follows Talic's lead in looking for an effective route to a sufficient height to see over the teeming crowd.
"Yes, as much as the open sea air is pleasant, it will be nice to be back on dry land." Emmentian agrees, lowering the snake, Cirrus, to rest around his shoulders. Following the elf's gaze across to the cage, he arches an eyebrow in consideration, "whatever it is, I hope it doesn't object too strongly to its incarceration, it looks large enough to cause some trouble if angered." "Who are the men in black and white?" the gnome asks of the masked swordsman, nodding his head to indicate the group surrounding the cage.
I think Emmentian is ready.
I can email you a .txt template file that I use to write out the character sheet on the forum if you'd like.
Normanak is in a PbP I'm running; he doesn't get online as much at weekends as during the week so he might not post until tomorrow.
1: Either works for me, I have a slight preference for roleplaying our meeting, so long as we have a good reason provided for sticking together. Otherwise I'm fine with glossing over that bit. 2: I also prefer a good balance of the two, though I have found that PbPs tend to work better with a slant towards more RP over combat. 3: Right now, Emmentian isn't really thinking about the future, he just wants to get as far away from his past as possible. In the long term he might come back to his motivations of trying to discourage technological advancement, but it depends on how he develops through the campaign.
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