You still around, Wes?
Search Posts
Olivia is deep into her tablet again as the others go about their turns, but when it's hers again she looks up. "Uh...I forgot about favored enemy bonus! Though that wouldn't help the last turn, of course. Let's see...that's plus two to attack and damage...and oh! I can do the knowledge check, I think?" ================ Erthriel looses another arrow downrange towards another of the human raiders, then looks for cover herself as she tries to recall what she knows of the nomads.
================ "Well, that was a lot better. Maybe these dice aren't weighted after all." Olivia flashes a grin.
Thanks. I've rolled 4 times so far: three d20s and a d8; results have been 12, 1, 1, 1. Hope that doesn't continue...
Oh wait, I forgot. Are they human (or are there humans in the group)? It doesn't matter this turn, but if so then favored enemy bonuses would apply. Feel free to have Grant point that out if it's the case. I don't play ranger much, if ever, in case it wasn't obvious.
Erthriel continues on around the right side of the ring of carts carefully until the nomads come into view. Seeing them in her way, she quickly nocks an arrow and shoots it off towards the intruders...but she misses horribly.
================= "Wow, that's three ones in a row." Olivia can't help but laugh at her horrible luck, covering her face in mock shame.
For simplicity, I'm just going to combine the actions.
I don't get to move in the surprise round if I'm not aware of the enemies, right? or does she know that they're on the other side of the carts, just doesn't currently have line of sight? Also, Initiative Owl is beautiful.
"Maybe Erthriel shouldn't have eaten all those mushrooms in the woods, the way she's seeing things", Olivia jokes. Then, as Grant advances the plot, she asks: "Nomads? I don't remember reading about those. Are they the barbarian tribe people?" ================ Erthriel has just settled in to watch the auction when a horrible ruckus breaks out - must be invaders again. Moving through the fleeing townsfolk towards her home, she also draws and strings her bow, ready to defend herself should the need arise.
Erthriel is disappointed by the disappearance of the fox, but she isn't surprised - the creatures are shy and slippery enough in the forest. She gives one last glance around for any sign of the animal, then heads back towards the merchant caravan.
Olivia looks inquisitively at Grant, wondering if following this hook is a good idea or not.
========== A fox? Erthriel is intrigued enough to lose focus on her delicious (and inexpensive) food. It didn't look hurt...perhaps it's lost and needs help. Quickly downing what's left of her meal, the elf heads off towards the alleyway, keeping her eyes alert (and partially on her coin purse, assuming it's still there).
Olivia has been mostly silent when Erthriel isn't involved, listening intently to the others going about their business. ============= Erthriel forks over the 5 silvers and gets her fried-bread-on-a-stick in return. As she moves away and takes a bite, lowering her life expectancy by a few years , she can't help but remark out loud: "Oh, this really is very good."
A bit of background first: I was an engineering major, computer science/game design to be specific. Still haven't found a job yet, since (among other factors) I'm really a pretty crap programmer, but that's neither here nor there. That background informs the way I perceive games - probably quite differently than you English majors. I'm much more into worldbuilding and collective stories than individual stories: history and geography and society and how that all fits together (real life or not) and how that can shape individuals as opposed to the other way around. I prefer strategy computer games to cRPGs. I read history and nonfiction voraciously, but shy away from fiction - real life, mine or others', is certainly the biggest influence on me. To apply all that to tabletop gaming: the part I most enjoy is creating compelling characters and backstories that fit the world. Unfortunately, sometimes I get selected for games and have to play the characters... :D (joking of course, it's nice to see a character actually interacting with the world sometimes too.) As far as my writing style specifically...I really have no idea. Best guess is that it's similar to how I'd speak if I could proofread everything before it came out of my mouth. *shrugs*
"Business has been good, hm? The fried bread, please. How much is it?" Erthriel gives the gnome a warm but amused grin.
Thorn looks interesting. Reminds me of Feronia, a very minor TN demigoddess from the Golarion pantheon. Fertility, wildfire, and sacred fires.
At Grant's description of the smell, Olivia starts chuckling, unable to hold in her amusement. Her reservations about the game have mostly faded away, and she seems to be enjoying herself.
=============== Erthriel isn't usually one for such unhealthy food, but today she's in a good enough mood to wait in the extremely long line. This "fried food on sticks" must be really good (and inexpensive) for there to be so many people here.
I'm fine with moving on, I guess.
As she leaves the old woman's stall, Erthriel suddenly notices her stomach starting to growl - she hasn't eaten all morning, being too focused on her work. Ordinarily she'd have some of her homemade elven bread, but the caravans often have more exotic options. As she looks around, she hears a woman shouting something about fried food on sticks; the elf heads out that way while still looking around for other things that she could buy.
By the way, I've decided that Naola Dragan would be the most obvious primary greencourtsdeity for Erthriel. Just a note.
Erthriel is surprised by the woman's sudden change, but smiles at the message she gives. "I'll make sure to come find you next time, then", she says, while checking to make sure her coin purse is still there...
Olivia gives a little shrug as Whitney asks about her plans, then chuckles a little as Grant introduces a new character that shares her name. So far this game is certainly surpassing her (admittedly low) expectations. ================ Erthriel can't hide the disappointment in her eyes as the woman names her price - twice as much as what she's got on hand. Putting on her best sorrowful smile, she says softly, "I'm afraid I don't make enough gold for these". She adds with a chuckle, "I'm sure that little boy that tried to pickpocket me would have been disappointed".
"Great! Then I'll do that." Seeing as she hasn't really even got playing one character quite down yet, she obviously has no idea how doing two at once would even work. ================ Erthriel smiles at the woman's comment, nodding along knowingly. Before she can take a taste, though, she's momentarily distracted by the crowd behind her, but as whatever's going on seems to move away, she returns her focus to the vials, studying them quickly.
By the way, don't feel the need to actually explain rules and such IC; just stating that you explain it to the newbie should be enough. If I have any actual rules questions, they'll be here.
Olivia takes a moment scrolling through her tablet, looking for something. "Oh, found it. Can I, uh...'take 10' on that perception check?"
pops her hip Maybe I've been following sports a bit too much recently...when I read this I assumed it meant that she dislocated her hip or something, and then I thought, "wait, that's not right, how would that happen..." :D Anyways, theater of the mind sounds good to me too. I just started GMing my first game on another forum and not having to deal with maps is amazing. Though the module I'm using goes into a trap-filled dungeon later, so unfortunately I'll have to make one then.
"Ah, thank you so much! I'll make sure to remember it next time, sorry about the interruption." As she speaks, bowing her head repeatedly in shame, she picks out a nice green set from Grant's box, nicely matching the forest green case of her tablet. ======== Erthriel smiles and laughs along at the old crone's "joke", but her wandering gaze does stop on the vials. In a similar jocular tone, she replies, pretending to be deep in thought: "Hmm...perhaps one of these could help with that? Or keep me alive until I can?" Dropping the awkward joke, she asks more directly (but still in a light manner): "So, what have you got here?"
Ten minutes in and Olivia is already feeling much more welcome than the previous group. However, seeing Grant making die rolls reminds her of something that had been nagging at her before she left. She starts digging in her bag, but grows frustrated as she can't seem to find what she's looking for. Turning back, she sheepishly says, "I...uh...I think I forgot my dice. Can I borrow a set, or share with someone? I'll remember mine next time, I swear." Anyways... ============
Erthriel has to smile at the little child who tries to pickpocket her but instead runs straight into her leg. Those clumsy little human children, always trying to cause trouble... She's sure he'll go crying to whatever authority figure he looks up to about the scary elf who shouldn't be here, but no matter, she's got other things to worry about. She continues on looking through the stalls, though nothing really catches her eye.
As Grant announces that he's starting, Olivia gives a nod, then listens intently as he lays out the scene. Once he's done, she hesitantly speaks up. ===========
=========== After an early morning spent foraging for medicinal herbs and berries on the edge of the Forest, Erthriel returns to a completely different atmosphere than the sleepy town she'd left. Dropping off her haul at the apothecary, with whom she exchanges a brief greeting, Erthriel steps out into the square and starts perusing the merchants' wares. She's not likely to actually buy anything - she's barely got enough money to eat in town, nowadays - but you never know what bargains you can find when the caravans roll in.
Cool stuff, thanks! I'll have to think about which one Erthriel would be most likely to follow...
Another out-of-curiosity question: are the individual members of the Green Court more slanted towards a separate aspect of the group as a whole, or are they all mostly the same (or somewhere in between)? And are they mostly worshipped individually, in small sub-groups, or as a whole?The former, their embodiment of various aspects of a cohesive whole, is correct. They tend to be worshiped as a group, but each of the faithful usually venerates one slightly above the others - whichever one they most identify with is suitably deserving of more respect, though they still honor the rest of the Court (even if it's only lip service). Thanks! Natural follow-up question would be: of the five you mentioned, which aspect(s) are they more associated with?
"Maybe I'll take one of your classes sometime", Olivia says with a small smile. Then, as the conversation turns a little more technical, she looks a little lost. She says hesitantly, "Rangers can heal, right? When they can use spells?" Shrugging, she adds, "Anyways, I think I'm ready to go."
Another out-of-curiosity question: are the individual members of the Green Court more slanted towards a separate aspect of the group as a whole, or are they all mostly the same (or somewhere in between)? And are they mostly worshipped individually, in small sub-groups, or as a whole?
Noticing Grant's laptop, Olivia digs in her bag and pulls out an old tablet as Whitney speaks. Still meekly, she responds: "I sure hope so. Thanks."
At Whitney's question, Olivia gets a little fire in her eye. "Well, half the guys were glued to their phones, and one spent the entire time arguing with the GM guy about rules, and then he just killed everyone off because he was mad, and then throughout the whole thing everyone kept trying to hit on me..." She trails off, shuddering, as she notices that she's getting a bit worked up. "Sorry", she adds meekly.
Olivia nods to Whitney as she opens the door and they head to the table. She's overwhelmed a bit by the older woman's...enthusiasm, but it doesn't show as she replies, "Yes, I'm playing the ranger. I'm Olivia, nice to meet you." At the table, once everyone's settled down, Olivia opts to go with a more...standard order for her introduction. "I'm Olivia. 'm a college junior here. This is only my second time playing. A friend of mine recommended me here...hopefully it'll go better than the first time. My character is Erthriel, an elven ranger. She's an archer and survivalist who hates the Regency." Her nervousness shows as her eyes dart around the room, never staying on one thing for long and barely meeting anyone's eyes.
After what seems like an eternity of a bus ride and walk, Olivia finally arrives at Grant's home. She checks her phone - she's not too late, thankfully, and there's nothing urgent that needs taking care of either - and then hesitates as she gets to the door. It's her last chance to back out and leave...but she's come this far already, and she can hear the others chatting away inside. Clutching her bag nervously, she knocks on the door.
Yay! I haven't put my statblock together yet, but I've got the basic mechanics built here. It's my grandma's 90th birthday on Monday (and my much-lower-count birthday on Wednesday) so we're a bit busy with preparations and celebrations and all that, but I should be able to find time to get this done by tomorrow, if not tonight. |