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Evan moves 30 feet southeast and then south again towards the rest of the party. Once he's within range of Schmitty and Niko, he stands up straight and brings his hands to his sides -- including the one with the loaded pistol. He tips his hat back ever so slightly and begins to recite a soliloquy that sounds like it comes from a play or book of some sort, his accent going away entirely, as he speaks in a confident tone: "Tired, we are:
Evan takes a double move 60 feet north.
Yup.
Evan gets up and dusts himself off. He sheathes his short sword as he moves 30 feet diagonally to the northwest (4 squares), reloading his pistol at the same time. He is looking to put as much distance between the Wagon of Assured Death and himself as possible, and hopefully regroup with the party.
My newness to play-by-posts is starting to make itself known. A great deal of my planned actions got undone by the fact that I am now prone in the wagon, and still haven't used my move action (because I can't anymore). Could I have used my move action to get up before the gnoll dropped into the wagon, since my turn preceded his? Since I didn't suggest this as a 'back-up' plan to use my move action, not having forseen the AoO trip by the hyena, am I just SOL? I'm not sure how these sort of situations are supposed to be generally handled. If your turn & stated goals are interrupted or nor longer viable, do you get to post new options? Or is that it for you?
If it doesn't prompt an attack of opportunity due to the gnoll being so far away from his perch on the roof, Evan will use his move action to get off the now-stopped wagon so that he doesn't have to go toe-to-toe with the bad guy. Ranged fighting is where it's at.
Assuming Evan is still safely out of range of the hyena in the wagon, he will shoot at it, trying to kill it before focusing on the new threat. His short sword is still in his right hand. Spending 1 grit point; 1 remaining.
Am I the only person who read that last GM post as saying that "the British gnoll" jumped onto the wagon? ;) Damn agile Brits.
Evan yells, "Priggle! We have to turn around! We're leaving too many people behind n' we need their help! Got more company back here n' can't shoot twice with one bullet!"
Acrobatics attempt: Before firing, Evan considers trying to somersault backwards to avoid the hyena, but just as he's preparing to do so, the wagon jostles especially hard, and he barely keeps his footing. "Tarnation," he mutters angrily to himself as he stumbles backwards less than gracefully while drawing his shortsword, knowing that the hyena will likely try and take a crack at him, but he can't leave it alive in the wagon to harass Priggle. "I'm gettin' rusty." Once he's further away, he fires at the hyena, hitting it.
"On it, Mr. Priggle." Evan wastes no time; he takes a quick 5-foot step back from the hyena before lifting his battered heirloom pistol and firing at it, aiming squarely for the spot between its eyes.
Attack roll vs. hyena's touch AC
If the hyena's dead, Evan reloads his gun and prepares to find his next target. If it's not dead, he draws his newly acquired longsword so that he now threatens the space around him, as his remaining move action.
Evan casts abundant ammunition upon his pouch of paper cartridges, and then loads a cartridge effortlessly into his gun, almost as an afterthought, while peering out the back of the wagon at the creature attacking Karg.
"Yup, that's a gnoll all right ..." Evan ponders any possible abilities or weaknesses the gnolls may have that he could share with the party.
Since Evan has no idea where the gnolls are, or how close they are to attacking, but seeing Karg already begin to cast, he's going to cast abundant ammunition on his bag of cartridges. Evan will then be on the lookout for the gnolls, needing to lay eyes on them in order to identify them.
Moneta receives a response that is begun with a small chuckle. "Well, sure I can. What kinda Alkenstaran would I be if I couldn't do that? I'll be ready."
Evan has no idea what it is, so he graciously takes it and eats it. He has no commentary except to say, "Thanks, Priggle."
Evan gets out his bedroll and lays it down on the ground not too nearby the fire, then takes off his duster and lays it over him like a blanket. He pushes his stetson down over his head and clasps his hands together on his chest underneath his coat. Pretty soon, anyone awake hears the deep breathing of someone who is asleep.
"Not a bad idea, Moneta," Evan admits, "but in the interest of full disclosure, you might want to share your name with the others, as you haven't done so, Niko." Evan tips his hat. "I'm gonna leave you two to the watch. Still got plenty of work to do for my ammunition." He slowly sidles to his right, leaving Niko facing Moneta directly, before turning around and heading back to his crafting site.
"Nothing's outside the realm of the possible out here," Evan responds sagely. When Niko asks if Moneta's transformation hurts, he says nothing, but gives Niko a raised eyebrow in response, as if to suggest that it is likely quite as painful as it looks.
"Kinda makes sense, I suppose. I don't figger Gorum would find much use in giving you a pet or a horse." He looks Moneta up and down, more with as if academically filing information away than ogling her or viewing her as some sort of strange specimen. He has his theories about what is going on, but he doesn't say anything more than that. Turning to Niko, he says, "I don't do anything like that. Tho I can hum a nice little ditty, works even out here in the Wastes."
Evan seems to have just finished working on a couple of doses of black powder when Moneta begins to exhibit her unusual change. He dusts himself off before walking over towards Niko and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Hang on a moment, I think this'll be fine... I think." He's trying to sound sure, but in reality Evan's racking his brain for something, his memory trying to get him to recollect a fact before he finally does -- the strange unreadable rune on Chavi's head. He looks at Niko and says, "The Wastes can change a person, though, she's right. Not necessarily physically. There's a reason why everyone in Alkenstar stays within the cities."
"I need to start working on some ammo, but I'll be up during first watch in case anything happens. The night's never bothered me any, either."
Evan looks at Karg, mouth almost agape. "I didn't know you ever spoke so much all at once."
Evan nods. "I agree. Don't see any benefit to stopping the wagon, or to talking to them, for that matter, at least right now." He's still waiting for Priggle to weigh in.
"Pretty good material yer working with there, Priggle," Evan says with a nod and a grin. "Reminds me of the kinda stuff you hear from the entertainment at any good, hometown tavern." Evan confirms Moneta's statement: "I saw the wagons, too. It'd be nice to know if they're intending to do anything to us or just simple travelers. Mayhaps we'll figure that out soon. Might be a good idea to make sure they don't catch up to us too much." He turns to Priggle. "How do you wanna handle this?"
Schmitty rides up on Chavi. The two look quite comfortable and look at the wagon full of compatriats. Their neck movements mirror each other. "Hi!" schmitty says enthusiastically. "Hey, Marcus," Evan says pleasantly as he looks up from his munitions work to smile and nod at Schmitty. "Hello, Chavi." He returns his attention to carefully measuring out small bits of gunpowder and fitting them along with bullets into paper casings, before carefully sealing the alchemical cartridges with a solvent of some kind, all from his gunsmithing kit. He has obviously done this before, and seems ready to spend the day working on the task at hand.
OOC note: Can we be careful about deciding what happens to other players? I'm fine with the GM telling me that I'm spilling powder that I need to make my cartridges -- though of course I would have expected to have been told this before -- but I'd prefer other players didn't tell me anything my character was doing, or wasn't doing. That's why there's just the one GM. Thanks.
"I'm all right in the wagon fer now," Evan says as he steps onto the wagon himself. "Got some stuff to do." Once the wagon begins to get underway, Evan will pull his gunsmithing kit out and beginning putting in his one day of work in order to create himself 22 more paper cartridges.
"I have no interest in ever owning slaves, Priggle. What time are we getting underway tomorrow?" Stepping outside, Evan adjusts his cowboy hat, making sure it's on just so, then tips it and his head towards Karg and Schmitty then heads out towards the shops. After receiving the answer from Priggle, he takes his leave, spending 88 gp on supplies to make another twenty-two paper cartridges, Evan spends 10 gp on a sharp-looking short sword and sheath, adding it to his small weapon collection, and adds the remaining 2 gold to his very small reserve. The next morning, he'll arrive thirty minutes before the time Priggle gives.
"I don't have any animals or familiars, it's just me, Mr. Priggle."
As Evan steps out of Dachs' office, he'll immediately begin to set out acquiring more ammunition in Quantium in the form of some more black powder and bullets.
"I expect there may be good from listening to one another on different topics," Evan says to Karg in a polite tone, "if we're gonna work together and venture out into the Mana Wastes as a group. We're likely all good at something the others aren't. Trick is to figure out what everyone else's strengths are, and learn from them." Evan stands up and switches the grasp he has on his hat, freeing up his left hand to extend to Karg. "That reminds me -- name's Evan Markhale. Good to meet ya."
Evan gives him an unhappy look. "I'm afraid not, friend. Magic, no matter where it comes from, just tends ta get ... all mucked up there. At least, some of the time. There's a chance nothing may happen at all." He sighs. "The problem is, there's no way to guarantee what will happen if your magic goes haywire in the Mana Wastes. It can be dangerous, even deadly. We'd be a lot better off buying enough water to sustain us before we go in." He turns to Dachs and says, "I notice we're not being paid as bodyguards for your man, so I assume if he gets into trouble, he knows how to take care of himself, by himself?"
Evan takes a bag of coin as well, and shrugs. "I should be able to craft a few new bullets while I'm in the wagon." He turns to look at Karg. "If yer hopin' to rely on magic to create water, that may be no go. Ya said you weren't familiar with the Mana Wastes. I assume that means ya don't know what the possible effects of magic cast in it are."
Knowledge: Arcana/Local check (same modifier):
Pacific.
Also trying to be helpful, Evan says, "Beggin' your pardon, but if we're unable to keep your man alive, you might need to give us a map so's we can find the stuff you want and bring it back your way. Otherwise, once he's gone, this here's a lost cause and you're out 500 gold, Mr. Dachs." He offers a polite smile. He looks at the others in the room. "I know a fair bit about the Wastes myself -- and some of the creatures living there."
Diplomacy Check:
"I sure could use some more ammunition if I'mma head out on a job like that, Mr. Dachs." Evan draws back his duster and indicates his holstered pistol. "These work just fine in the Mana Wastes, magic or no magic. But I can only stop as many Mana Wastes creatures as I have bullets for. Think you can see fit to include a few cartridges beyond the standard pay?"
Evan puts his hat on his lap and stops fussing with it. "He brings up a good point," Evan says as he indicates the halfling. "If any of these folk need to rely primarily on magic to finish whatever this job is, they're gonna be at a real disadvantage." He pauses, realizing the woman's interruption has prevented some useful information from coming out. "Just what is the job?"
Evan takes a seat near the desk. "Yessir. I've spent some time in Alkenstar City. The Mana Wastes can be a dangerous place, 'specially if you're planning to use magic," he says matter-of-factly, giving Schmitty a look. Evan begins to rotate the brim of his hat in his hands. Hadn't planned to get anywhere near Alkenstar. Hope this job doesn't require too much time in the city.
Email sent.
Evan takes his hat off as soon as the short, well-dressed man enters, and keeps it in his hands as he follows Schmitty and Chavi into the rear room. "Pardon me, but are you Mr. Dachs?" Evan pulls out his letter, still folded up, and indicates it. "I appreciated your invitation." He offers his best smile.
Evan: Under Senses, your Perception should be +1, not +5. Please add "Knowledge (other) +4," to the skill listing.Done. I've gone through & haven't found any other errors. Hopefully you don't either :P <sigh> No, that's an error on my part. Did that wrong for my other character too -- bought the container and not the powder. New item list (will immediately update my profile):
Evan thinks for a moment after tucking the letter into the interior pocket of his gray vest. "Well, gee. That's a friendly invitation. Don't have any better offers, presently." Evan adjusts his hat and heads out towards the Golden Badger. He was fairly certain he'd run across it before during his trips around Quantium, heading there immediately, but keeping in mind who he might ask should he be wrong. As he walks through town, Evan keeps his focus sharp on all passing strangers, adopting an air of being a simple traveler rapt with surprise at the wonders of Quantium, but he's really making sure no one's following him or paying too close attention to him.
Evan: Under Senses, your Perception should be +1, not +5. Please add "Knowledge (other) +4," to the skill listing. Done. I've gone through & haven't found any other errors. Hopefully you don't either :P
I'm here. Ported over all the personality info from the recruitment thread to my profile.
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