Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
I honestly feel like this was more of a privilege for me. You're, without any doubt, an amazing DM, and I was seriously lucky to have you for my first serious foray into DW, and RPGs like this in general. I can't even be upset - this was amazing, and I'm just happy I got this chance. It led me to places I'm more than happy to be.
You're more than good enough. You can only have so much control over what goes on in your life, and if it means you won't be able to DM for us, that's fine by me. As long as you're ok, I will be too.
Hell, everyone's been amazing. Can't thank you all enough.
Good luck to you, Mooshy. Hopefully, we'll see you around sometime in future, whatever the circumstances are there.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Of all the things to happen. He really didn't need this. Unless this was someone important on the hit list (this might be Joanna, but whether she was worth it at this stage was debatable unless some obstructive talent of hers was revealed), eliminating them now may draw undue attention, due to the matter of hiding the body and the fact their absence may be noticed.
Given the height of the ceiling, he may be able to go unnoticed up there. It was better than being outside. Greas clambers one of the ropes, trying hastily to get above visual range.
DD STR:2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10
Just for later reference, if I was going to cannibalise the rope from here, maybe the chandeliers if there's anything usable, how many uses worth could I get from one or two of these things?
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Long term, being able to make my poisons airborne is going to pay out. I'll take it. Details, please.
"Tch. Had to have internal locks." This was going to be problematic. Getting up to the windows would be difficult in this weather. They'd have to damage the door to use it as well.
Greas steps back. This wouldn't be easy, but he would do it. He looks to his group. "Watch closely, you three. If any of you can't do it, then the rest of us will find a way to get you in." Greas grabs one of his throwing knives, and takes off toward the wall. Using speed and every nook and cranny he can find, he rushes up the wall to the window.
DD Dex:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 = 8
The good news was that he'd made it. But his efforts weakened the little pieces of the wall that had allowed him up, and combined with the torrential rain, the holds needed to do what he had just done were washed away. His backup was gone, stuck outside at the mercy of the weather conditions.
He had to get them in without help, then. Hopefully, nothing would happen to them.
He would gesture, but they wouldn't be able to see. Greas heads into the building, planning his path down to the door.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"That's a lot of runes. This must have taken a long time to set up..." Greas looks many of over. There had to be something he could use himself.
Trap Expert:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 How can I recreate this myself? Looking for unrecognised runes to commit to memory. Got to be something useful to me here, right?
...that was enough. No more time to waste here. Without a grappling hook, the door was the most practical way to get everyone in. Time to sort it out.
Tricks of the Trade:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5
It seemed they had special measures in place, though.
Infernal Zero here. Just thought I'd use this for the sake of demonstration.
Formatting instructions for your text can be found below the postbox in a spoiler. You should get used to them quickly enough. If you want to just put up a bio for your character, just follow the rules Lichkicker set out.
Lichkicker1 wrote:
So tell me, your name, race, a short bio if you feel like it, and as a RP prompt, tell me what your character was doing in Chromia on the day before the Catastrophe. Feel free to roleplay it out with each other as well.
You're free to concoct a race if you like. My Erze above got given the go-ahead, as long as they're oozy. Slime people are fun.
If you're actually going to put a full thing together like this, you want an alias, like what I have here. Just click on the portrait and you can look it over - people will format them in their own ways, naturally, but here's how I've been handling mine.
If you want to make an alias, you should go into the "My Account" section. Look below "Personal Settings" and "Messageboard Settings", and you'll find "Messageboard Aliases". Click "New Alias", and plug a name in, and confirm it, and you'll have a new alias. If you choose to go looking through the image bank after you've put your chosen name in, that'll also confirm the creation of it. You can't use the same name as another user or alias. Once you've posted with your alias, you can't delete it. Once you've made 10 posts with it, you can't rename it. You can always change the profile image though.
After that, just go to the profile tab on your alias and click the edit button, and you can start filling things in. I'd suggest linking to the alias in a post here if you make one - how to link is in the formatting help.
For general PbP guides, you can look at Doomed Hero's guide. Building on it is Painlord's guide. They both have Pathfinder in mind, but there's still useful info there.
If anyone else would like to chime in, then please do, but is all from me for now. If you have any questions Zoom, go ahead and ask.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"More layers of bait. How far did they go with this...? You three, scout the area. I need to make sure of something." Alright. This was a careful setup - the lights, the camera, the sounds from the shack. Time to pick this apart. Look. Don't touch. Stay silent. Pick every detail apart.
DR:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 Trap Expert:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 2 = 9 What here is not what it appears to be? Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"Hmm. Quite a clever security system. Subtle. But every system has its flaws." This thing altered its position to follow movement. Quite useful when tracking something. But that's easily abused.
Tricks of the Trade:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 = 10 DD Dex:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 2 = 10
With a few subtle motions, Greas alters the beetle's viewpoint so that it's still focused on an area of potential interest, but not where it needed to be to stop them advancing. He gestures to the rest of his group. "Alright. Time to jump. Move quickly, and ignore that shack. The key to halting the weather at that central tower, right at the top. Make sure you'll be out of the beetle's field of view, minimum."
One after another they jump out to HQ's roof, unseen by the insect's eyes, searching for their entry point.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
A flamethrower, in an APARTMENT? That's definitely a fire hazard.
They had to move fast, but they couldn't abandon caution. There was already one trap. There may be more. As they move through the room, headed for the balcony, Greas is on watch. The door is closed behind them, and they avoid touching anything. Before going onto the balcony, they look for anyone or anything there.
Trap Expert:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
I have a Tricks of the Trade roll right below my DD to unlock the door. I was under the impression the door would be locked, so I rolled ahead of time.
...was there a problem with that?
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
As people flood toward the door, the group makes some distance. They needed to talk, and it was only common sense for slaves to get out of the way. Greas is the first to break the silence. "They take us for servants, it seems. We ought to play along."
Ariza grumbles a bit. Her displeasure at the idea shows quite clearly. "I'd rather just kill the lot of them, but there's too many, huh? Alright, I'll take the lead here. Can you two help him act the part?"
Shrike and Pike nod together. "If he wants to act the slave," "then we'll be sure he doesn't make a mistake."
"Very well then." Greas looks between his partners briefly. "I'll be counting on you here.
DD CHA:2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8 Tools of the Trade:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 5) + 2 = 12
The group makes their way up. Greas is the one providing direction, but the ex-slaves are the ones the apartment's inhabitants see. A combination of keeping quiet, the other kobolds' careful adjustments ("Strain your movements more," "like you're tired, and sore."), Ariza's cultivated deflection, and feigning beaten in deference allow them to get up the building to the room with the balcony.
If we're playing the schadenfreude game, then try this.
Their act may have fooled everyone, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing. Along the way, they got pulled off regularly to do just about everything the people in the apartment didn't want to do themselves. It cost them time, energy, and Ariza's composure. The poor treatment was nothing new to her, but where before she had to bear it or else, she now had freedom, a modicum of dignity, and most importantly of all, a knife.
With the group working together, they managed to keep the noise down from when she finally snapped and attacked one of them, so their cover hadn't been blown yet, but there was now a noticeable amount of blood coming out from under a locked door on one of the prior floors. If the door were to be opened, a bit of looking would reveal a very dead halfling with a whole lot of knife wounds hidden away.
As they crack the lock on the room they want, there's a loud, shrill scream. Shrike and Pike look right at Ariza, and then each other. "Did she really have to kill him?" "Killing him, she had to do."
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"Tch. Appears we made the right decision. Our rain-maker is here. With luck, the rest will avoid the light. We need to get to the top of Headquarters more than first thought." As to getting in...hmm. This could be work. Greas directs the group toward the apartment door, using the baskets to hide as necessary. Along the way, the kobold grabs a piece of fruit, and scratches the heat rune into it.
Sneaking in via the food truck may well have worked, but it was liable to leave them in an inconvenient location. Plus, they'd still have food. Get rid of that food, and it's bound to distract them as hunger rises, and tension with it. Along their path, when the distraction is needed, Greas throws the runed fruit toward the food truck, remembering what happened when he and Hegh had first determined the activation words. Time this right, and even if the rain smothers it quickly, the sudden pyrotechnic display should be very distracting. With any luck, the fireball would ruin a large chunk of the food, too.
"Klaatu, Barata...Nikto."
It wasn't blasting powder, but with this much power in the rune, it didn't need to be. As the fruit goes off, the group slips into the apartment.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Greas doesn't turn to address either kobold. He's watching the guards. "I would have preferred to have taken the temple less obviously normally, but circumstances dictated otherwise. My companions had already made their presence known, and there would have been missed opportunities had it we waited."
When the quibbling starts anew, he gestures for quiet, and calls attention. "We try the balcony first. Any ground level entrance is likely more closely watched. The guards will be looking for us more closely than normal, both due to the alert we created and to find an excuse to get into the building. Ground level entryways get the most attention anyway, generally. The rain may cause an issue, but the attention of the guards will cause more. Unless you have further intel that would mitigate the issues at hand?"
Greas looks about. Either they needed a means to reach rooftops, or a way past to that apartment. From either they could reach the balcony, but it's a matter of achieving it...
The assassin's eyes survey the area, taking cover not from the weather but from prying eyes. Guard movements, watch zones, pathways...there was a way up, under their noses. They would find it.
DR:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 2 = 11 What here is useful or valuable to me?
What is about to happen?
What here is not what it appears to be?
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
On a hit, you do what you intended and you avoid the threat you rolled to deal with.
On a 7-9, things get worse - for you, the group, or the world - and it's on you to describe how. And you get XP from...basically, giving the GM that delicious feeling of schadenfreude.
Seems interesting to me. And it gives more precious opportunities to earn XP.
It's worth a try, at least for a while.
...also, on a side note, I forgot what day it was, and didn't expect an update today. This is normal for me.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"Hmm. Well then. Shrike. Pike. Let's see to it that you are properly equipped." A brief moment is taken to acquire more knives for them, if they don't have an effective weapon already. These kills needed to be clean. They couldn't waste time here.
Everyone armed, the four set out through the doors. The tunnels would be preferred normally, but there was no way of knowing the impact the rain would have had. Additionally, the light couldn't be seen underground. The rain would be a problem when getting about, but it would help hide them, given the amount coming down. It would do.
The group heads for Headquarters, and the strange light.
Untyped Travel DD:2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10
--------------
Along the way, Ariza starts to speak up a bit. "This damn rain...I'm soaked through! I want to pay a visit to whoever's doing this."
Behind her come two nearly indistinguishable voices. "That's part of what we came to do," "so you don't need to worry about that."
"Is it physically possible for you two to complete your own sentences? Am I going to be split off with Pike and only get the last half of a sentence?"
The pair look at each other briefly, and for a moment you could swear you see them smile in the rain. "What she means, do you not know?" "I do not know, what does she mean?" "Does she think this is an act?" "An act, she thinks this."
Ariza is about to reply, but Greas has had enough by this point. "You three! Knock it off. You'll draw attention. Keep moving, and lower your voices."
There are a few other such incidents, but nothing that would cause a problem.
When you introduce them like that, of course I'll make them speak like Zorn and Thorn, even if it's just to annoy someone else. Doesn't matter if you know who they are, or if this continues, this is just for my own amusement.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Still only taking the one tiefling that was pointed out earlier.
"It is too dangerous to stay in here any longer. This area is filling with water, and lightning is beginning to come down. We need to move. Now."
------
Greas treads through the water towards the tiefling meant to be his partner in this mission. She's currently in the kitchen, looking through the knives. She doesn't startle when he appears by her side, which is a good sign. She stops for a moment, and turns to look at him. "You here to tell me we're going out to fight? I think I got the message between the rain inside and the red guy."
"If that was it, I'd leave it to Thunk." Greas takes a look over the knives remaining in the kitchen, and picks one out. It's well balanced - it would be a pretty poor kitchen tool if it wasn't. "Here. That should suit our needs nicely." He holds out the knife to her.
She takes the knife, but she's giving him a deadpan look. "Our? You aren't going to give me that schpiel you gave to those three earlier, are you? Because I assure you, I don't need smooth-talking to want to help, thanks. Not sure why you picked them anyway, that lot got caught up in trying to pry open the wine cellar and forgot everything."
Greas sighs. "It appears almost everyone did. But that's not the matter at hand. What's your name?"
She quirks her brow. "Ariza. Why's it important?"
"Proper communication with your partner is essential when you're on a mission. We might have another stop on the way relating to the weather, but you and I are going to Headquarters to assassinate Hemmerschmidt."
Ariza blinks. And then grins. "Just Hemmerschmidt? Because I have a couple of names I'd like to add to the list."
Unless they're stopped, both of them start to make their way towards Headquarters. If the light Greas saw earlier seems to be coming from a separate location, then that's where they head first.
It's fine if it's just a couple of unimportant people that made things hard for her, but I assume Ariza would tell Greas if there was anyone else worth dealing with that she knew of, and fill him in on any useful information.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"We're about to head out with the recruits. Stay with Oadir, keep your group alive and spirits high, and thump anything that wants to thump you. Free any slaves, and get them to join our cause. We will make Estr ours."
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
...now I'm wondering if there are any particular naming conventions for tieflings. Is it important? Not really, but I'm going to be interacting with this one a fair bit. May as well ask now.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Didn't realise it was that much of an issue. I just thought it would be the natural thing to do in this instance.
I'll try not to do it so much if it really is that big of an issue, but you shouldn't feel obligated to get a post out right away. In your own time, Oadir. I wouldn't expect anything else.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"Just the one I requested will be enough, Retzack. The others don't show the same promise, and since I will be infiltrating Headquarters in order to do my work, it is better to keep numbers as low as possible. Taking on extra bodies without the correct set of talents will only hurt the chances of success."
"I doubt unity is a great issue anyway in this case. Just so long as they get fair and equal treatment, I suspect they should be fairly well adjusted to whoever they end up with."
"Oadir, do you have anything to say on the matter?"
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"Goblin, I should be able to request at least one recruit for myself. I believe one of those tieflings will be better suited with me...her, there." Greas points out a female tiefling, with a more slight build than the others. The same one that had caught his eye earlier when looking for stealthier individuals in the recruits. "From what Oadir said, they don't have the correct build for Thunk's brand of action, and they show promise in my field. As I understand it, they have at least some knowledge of Headquarters as well, which ought to be of at least some aid on arrival. Everything counts."
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Greas grins as Smoog enters. "Sees, I think you know what needs to happen here. If this doesn't serve as an example of what I meant earlier, I don't know what will. So, how do you wish to handle this?"I'm basically asking for a full recap on how we're doing this so I don't get confused.
-------
Greas rushes down from his perch, set on finding Smoog and Sees. "Something is being done outside. These clouds are forming across Estr, and the winds are driving them here. There's a flickering green light in the direction of Headquarters, and it's shooting into the sky at regular intervals. Something is happening in that direction, and it seems we need to act. Now."
"I'm leading the assassination team, and I'm taking one of the tiefling recruits with me, at least. Whatever the light is meant to do, my group will address it - it's on our way, if not at our destination. Smoog, I understand you're headed for the airships. How many more teams will we have, who will lead them, and how will the recruits be distributed?"
"While I remember." Greas retrieves the dagger Sees dropped earlier from his person and holds it out to her. It's been cleaned up, and is polished to a sheen. "I believe this is yours?"
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Greas smirks. "Hegh was a trial by fire. If I hadn't learned to do these things, then he would have had a much harder life. I'm sure you learned for yourself exactly why I say that." Aid Sees:2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 6) + 1 = 10 Your effect sheet is up to date, right? Because it said you had +2 when aided, and I want that healing.
When Retzack comes in, Greas gives him a curious look. "Sees was just presenting a plan in order to do that. I cannot say I have enough knowledge of their kind to say exactly what would be most effective, but I said my piece on what I was told of it. I'm sure she can fill you in on what she intended."
"I might have suggested employing you in this, but I assumed you would be busy. That said..." Greas turns his attention back to Sees. "Framing a struggle between you and Retzack might be a more suitable thing to do, if this plan of yours is to happen. We go along with Retzack's idea for now, and in time your plot can be fleshed out and suitable preparations for it made, should a final act be needed. It is more suited for a longer game, and a struggle between those seeking to govern is not uncommon. Smoog and I could play at taking sides in the conflict, though I would not suggest letting anyone else in on it at this moment. Does this sound appropriate to you two?"
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Greas seems frustrated. "Sees, as you've presented it to me, the plot isn't sufficiently developed. I have been given instructions, but not any idea of how this is actually supposed to progress, let alone work out the way you want it to. So, I'd appreciate knowing the script and the details. If I end up doing something that ruins this all due to lack of information, then this is pointless. Similarly, I need to know this has the foundations to work."
"May I add that I'm supposed to be leading a group to assassinate the leadership? Either someone else would have to lead them, or it just would not happen. This is not ideal either way. Smoog is going for an airship, and has powerful intellect that the Strix may respect. He's also more fallible in the way I suspect you'd need. I believe he's more well-suited to your act. If you're concerned with him acting as a 'Jealous Lover', then it's worth noting that I am not going to fare notably better there, and that there are much more appropriate roles to fill the same needs for the plan anyway."
While I remember, I could do with some healing too. I haven't got potions or anything. I rewrote this so many times. Let me know if I need to clarify anthing.
------------
As the thunderclouds form, Greas is on alert. This does not happen naturally. Magic is at play here. The black kobold hurries up the ramp Soup-Spoon created earlier to the window, and takes in the area inside and outside the temple. He has to find who's doing this. This is not liable to go well if left be.
DR:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 2 = 9 What here is not what it appears to be?
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Greas clamps his jaw during the process. This. Was. NOTHING. Be it past experience making the pain seem lesser, or just a force of will and outright refusal to show any sign this was more than he could cope with, or something else entirely, he makes it through the process without even the slightest cry of pain. The pain shows, as it would on near any, but it does not give a hint of overwhelming him.
As the pain fades, he waits until the process is finished, and carefully tests the reattached fingers. "Hmm. Not bad." He looks at the...quite visibly exhausted goblin, as he delivers his message. "...you had best know what you're doing, Retzack. If this goes awry, the blame will fall on you." He leaves the room, heading back to the kitchen.
He's greeted with Smoog's support of his plan, and nods. "I wouldn't have imagined anyone else would lead the assassination group. As for your partner choice...Oadir I can at least get to cooperate, but I don't see our new fanatical priest being suited to anything 'quiet' or 'clandestine'. I had intended to take one of the tieflings we recruited, actually. She shows promise." He points out the tiefling in question.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Greas is quite visibly debating stabbing Retzack again. It isn't hard to understand why. "Goblin, I'm just going to pretend you got confused because of the colour. Because otherwise, that would mean you were deriding the fingers that have let me do some very fine work."
"I will say right now, I do not see any dead trolls here, and I would not take from a living one. Even if there were, I would prefer not to have a finger from one, as at least on my body, they would be terribly unsuited. And as for human fingers, let alone a hand...the further I am from these things the better."
"Nothing happened to these fingers that did not happen to Oadir's eye. And I should imagine that they would be far less problematic to put in place than it, too. Unless you're telling me you can work within one's skull, but not reattach two stray digits?"
"I do not think there is anything out there that has a non-zero chance. So, goblin - either you tell me the problem, tell me the odds, and convince me I don't want the reattachment of these fingers that have served me very, very well-" Yipes. Surprisingly enough after it all, this is the sharpest edge he's ever heard in Greas's voice. "- or you quit the shenanigans and reattach my fingers."
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Greas glares. For all the salesman he is, Retzack isn't good enough to convince him by any means. "Retzack. If you would look at my other hand, you would notice it is holding my detached fingers. Fingers I would like put back. I do not know about you, but I would think a matching set of fingers would be more conducive to the things I need them for, no?"
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"Oadir, you take this lot. I don't have the way with words I'd need to quell them." He takes the apple from his knife and throws it back at the source. "Don't throw anything you can't hit with!" Volley:2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 6) + 2 = 12 Not rolling damage if I don't have to - doubt an half-eaten apple would be particularly harmful anyway. I just want to make a point by beaning them with the apple.
He sighs as it impacts on the kobold's head. That was going to hurt. They really ought to have known better. He looks back to Retzack. "If you want to know what I would do, I would opt to take out the leadership. Send out groups to stir up rebellions across Estr - it will drum up support, and form a distraction that will draw the attention of the townspeople and the militia. As their attention is drawn and their forces are devoted to quelling the rebellion, a small group infiltrates Headquarters, in order to eliminate the Master of this town and any that would be effective in their place. With the leadership gone, they will be far easier to overrun."
It's only now that he recalls his detached fingers. He'd been managing so well with them gone, and with the events of the day, they had slipped his mind. He looks over at Oadir, noting finally the return of his eye. He knew there was only one who would do that. Greas shows his hand to Retzack, and the fingers that should be on it. "Before anything else though, I would appreciate having my fingers put back. I presume Oadir was your handiwork, and given your work with flesh in general, I doubt this is an issue for you."
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"I'll leave you two to it." The hood's back up - you don't even know when it happened, but it is. In a flash, he's out of the door. If Thunk asks, the goblin is an ally - a strange one, but allied nontheless.
And an ally that I will need to put my fingers back on when I actually remember.
Greas shows up behind Oadir. He'll keep these lot in line if he must.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Watching and Listening:
Greas takes in what he has heard thus far. His eyes close, and the fidgeting halts. He appears far calmer and more tranquil than he had prior. Gorlaug knows why.
The goblin was...interesting. In his own peculiar way, he meant the best. The deliverance of absolution and the elaboration of his ideology displayed that. It explained much. As for whether his delivered absolution carried any weight, it made little difference to what he felt. The effort was begrudgingly appreciated, at least. It was interesting to note the goblin's desire for Sees' affections as well. Primarily what could cause such rapid attachment. The goblin was still to be watched...but perhaps not killed. Immediately. He could have much fun before that point anyway.
Oadir only confirmed everything thing he had thought of him. Paying attention to the tieflings below though, his desires made increasing sense, as well as some of his prior actions. Their peculiar treatment made it only increasingly ordinary that they would seek a place that welcomed them. He was still to be given a wide berth in matters that must remain secretive, though.
The real point of curiosity was Sees. She...had a point when it came to burdens. But now was not the time for it. Sure, he was around the people that would likely give him the least grief over things, but Oadir's tongue ruled anything out here. He was looking forward to a chance to speak freely and catch up with her, though. It would be pleasant to have a time where he could loose his own tongue. Providing, of course, no prying ears.
This stated lack of purpose and direction, however, was surely worth making record of. Similarly, the lack of self-worth. The self-hatred. This had to be amended. Post-haste. It was bad for her and all she led. There was no good reason not to amend the scenario. If he had to, he'd teach her to love herself, despite being poorly suited to that. And unlike the goblin, he would not be asking for her affections. This was worth doing in and of itself. He just hoped it didn't lead to anything unfortunate.
He may have to make use of that chance to catch up. Crumble her doubts and burdens, and rebuild their leader - from the ground up if necessary. Whatever must be done.
"Well. This has proved interesting." Greas's eyes open again. He isn't fidgeting as he had. "Do not worry, Sees. You are doing a fine job here. And you shall continue to." A breath. The lack of his hood has returned to his notice. "I think you shall be pleasantly surprised by what you are worth. Just look, and see."
The fidgeting is setting back in, now that he has spoken. "With questions asked and answered, is business here concluded? I believe we had matters to attend to."
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Retzack? There's a question list. You can't just ask whatever you like and have the move work for you. Anything off the list, and there's no guarantee of an answer, let alone a truthful one. You can check the move "Charming and Open" to see what they are.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Getting Under the Hood:
"I would not have expected to be present before either...and yet, here I am. We shall see what it brings." He only meant that he would not have expected the situation to arise like it had. Given the opportunity to speak the truth freely, he had taken it surprisingly easily, especially given Gorlaug's teachings. He wondered why...though perhaps a part of him already knew. He listens for the questions, and answers them in turn.
What do you most desire? "I might have been tempted to say to kill the Necromancer that defiled mine and others traps with the bodies of our kin, but you beat me to that it seems...I don't know whether to be pleased or disappointed. But right now, I just want to be absolved of the burdens placed upon me by the actions I undertook the day the adventurers came. They've weighed upon me long enough. I suspect they may do for a while longer."
What do you wish I would do?
This was an unexpected question. The following comments were at least familiar, but the fidgeting that had started when Greas had took down his hood gets slightly more intense. "If I had to ask anything...communicate. There is a certain amount a leader must keep veiled from their subjects, but the earlier incident only goes to show there is only so much you can bottle up within yourself before you cannot take it any longer, and not relaying important information can be potentially lethal in unexpected ways. So, I wish you would find one you can trust as a confidant to help reduce the burdens of what troubles you, and tell us anything that we really need to know. Not all secrets should be kept."
His word was true. And those words said more of the things that surround him than they may have normally. He knew what he was getting into, though. He continues to fidget for a moment, then it decreases slightly. A pair of questions find their way to his tongue. "...I find myself compelled to ask. How can I get you to confide the details of this 'betrayal' you spoke of earlier to me? Anyone else you would tell is your decision. And the other question...What do you wish I would do? Bearing in mind, of course, that I lack the type of desires toward anyone that you hinted toward a moment ago." A smirk flickers on his face at his words, but he soon returns to his fidgeting.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Greas remains silent for a moment, pondering. Motivations...hmm. I do not think I have anything to fear. If anything...I may learn something important. And not just of the others...I have to know if I can be trusted. If another knows what lies in my mind, then perhaps other things may be revealed to them when the time comes for it. I...I'm not running this time. I must have no fear.
"I think I shall join you. Not because I do not trust you or Oadir, or to expose you further...but because some things you must hear for yourself. Even if they may be my own words."
At the Ceremony:
Greas watches Sees prepare with interest. He is not one who with the same understanding as her, but offers to assist under her direction. These were her preparations, after all - only right she lead them. When the moment comes, he takes a cushion, at the halfway point on the circle between Sees and Retzack. He waits for Sees to finish her words.
He fidgets for a moment...and takes down his hood. Only for now. This was not a time to cloak himself as he had. "Light cannot be evaded forever. Enough time in the presence of each other will reveal things no matter how hard you struggle against it. If I am to reveal anything, then I would rather know what it is."
He remains for the questions. He seems uncomfortable with his hood down.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Retzack the Black wrote:
2.5) With that said, I've never understood Greas' hatred of Retzack. It seems like it just showed up one day, and is just because he's an outsider. Like a space marine's xenophobia? Sort of?
Right at the start, he didn't exactly have any grudges. You were just a kooky goblin. When Arman is raised, that's when things start to get messy. He still hasn't pulled himself together at all yet, and as such the sights of Moontower still effect him quite severely. Specifically, necromantic trap-disarming methods. A shambling corpse often works just as well as, if not better than a chicken on a 10ft pole, after all. Considering the type of corpses to hand and that he MADE several of those traps, you might be able to guess what his reaction was. That bit of backstory wasn't made with your character in mind, I just thought it would be interesting.
So yeah, you brought up some bad memories. The creation of your abomination and the fact your method of necromancy was just so wrong by comparison to what he knew just aggravated any ill-sentiment. You've effectively been associated with one of the adventuring party in his mind, and viewed using a perverted mockery of sacred arts. You didn't really deserve the reaction he's given you but...man, you met him at a bad time.
Everything just snowballed from when you raised Arman, really. He started afraid, and it developed. Past Trauma can be really inconvenient.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
~Two levels and a use of Alchemist later~
"Hmm? No, Retzack, I don't know why your puppets are sassing you. Why are you bothering me? If you've got nothing better to say, I have something to do. Talk to someone else."
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"What did you expect, this is an evil campaign" isn't really a reason in and of itself I think, but more a challenge of if one is needed here. Anything relating to morals and ethics are stripped away from basic assumptions in such campaigns, to be added back in as desired.
Remember that kid Hegh killed earlier? The basic block that says it's bad to kill the innocent isn't there as standard. It is not a matter factored into any considerations unless that is added in on an individual basis, like with Oadir. "Innocent" isn't on his radar. Similarly, the kid being "harmless" did not give him any reason to not kill him - just reduced the reason to do so, in that he wouldn't be eliminating a direct threat. And more, Hegh REALLY hated humans, and bringing the kid about was a liability as far as he was concerned. So, the kid died.
The only basic things that matter in a character's considerations in such campaigns are gain, loss, and personal inclination. Sparing those innocent or that are of no harm to you, as examples, are not a consideration unless other circumstances would make it desirable. The more selfish considerations are given far greater weight than typical.
So yeah, what I'm trying to say is "It's an evil campaign" is a way of asking if the justification is even needed, and if so, what for. It's not always so obvious in these games.
This definitely isn't as well articulated as I'd like but you should get the idea.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Regarding Sees, if there's anything I can see motivating her, it's trying to ensure her place in the group. Her self-worth really isn't so high, and she's been using whatever she has at her disposal to give herself a secure position within the group's going on. It's why she has a problem with Tallest-Silver - she sees her as a threat to her position, for if they have her, what good is she? She just doesn't feel like she belongs with the rest of us.
She also seems to be blaming herself for something, or perhaps several somethings, at least somewhat similarly to the way Greas has been feeling incredibly guilty for what he did at Moontower...I get the impression she feels just as, if not more responsible than he does for the death of Gorlaug and all of the kobolds of Moontower. Plus, several others too. I have no idea why, but that's what has been happening.
So...yeah. She feels responsible for the living and dying of everyone else, and is also concerned with trying to find - or make - a place for herself where she feels she doesn't have and doesn't deserve one. The main difference here is where once she was manipulating everyone else to scramble to the top, she's now trying to build bridges, and mend the ones she's been burning. I mean, she's still manipulative and all, but she's trying to use her talents to create something more stable, and less...destructive.
Or, I could have missed something completely. Point is, she's unstable for a few reasons, and not really happy with it, as far as I can tell.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
We aren't trying to antagonise you, or patronise you. And you really seem to be taking this personally, which is pretty terrible in any case. It's bothering me too.
The thing is, you seem to be pushing for more immediate gratification. Which isn't exactly a good idea normally, let alone in PbP. Things are being worked through, but you've just said that it feels like nobody's listening to what you're saying. Which isn't true! We're trying to work this through, but it's not an immediate thing. We're going through a process, and I feel like you're pushing for the result.
If I had to make any guess, it'd be that IC and OOC concerns are getting pretty muddled. You're taking comments on Thunk's behaviour as attacks on yourself, which really isn't the case. You and Thunk are not the same, even if you play Thunk. Similarly, the considerations made IC are based primarily on what happens IC. And IC, Thunk's been a bit antagonistic. It's not what you want, but it's what our characters have to react to.
You probably ought to take some time away from this though. You seem to be seriously getting stressed, and it'll mess with anyone's perceptions when that happens. There isn't any hostility or any such thing here. We've been trying to talk about things with you and give options. We've been trying to help. No less. You seem to be so anxious about the possibility of PvP that you aren't seeing things are being worked through...just at a slower pace than you perhaps might like.
Is this making sense? Is it coming across right? I hope it is. You're not the only one getting a bit upset right now at what's going on. Just...take time away if you need it. Because tensions are rising, and this is no good for anyone.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Look, if you leave, we may never have to opportunity to relocate and convert judo crab. I do not want that at all. Recent events aside, Thunk's far too much fun to have around to lose him.
You don't have to do an about-face in attitude. Once we have enough to assure us IC that Retzack isn't going to turn on us, that's enough to letter the matter drop for now...but Thunk doesn't have to be happy about it. Greas is going to be plotting anyway, "just in case". You can still try to work him over later too. As a "Fanatic of Tanard", I wouldn't expect any less. Something along the lines of "You not get thump now, but Red 'Nard be you God one day." Besides, any good preacher should be able to notice when the room is turning on them.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
"...are the same questions to be asked of all of us? And what are we to be asked?" There were a few things that he wasn't mentally prepared to reveal yet, and as much as he wanted to be there for this...he couldn't be there if it would force things from him that would harm him on the way out, let alone the trust of others. There were some secrets he could not share about the goblin, in case they would be spread and distorted. He trusted Oadir, at least. He had faith in Sees, too. So, he had at least two he had faith in, if he couldn't enter.
Male Kobold Thief | Lvl 4 | XP 4 | HP: 16/19 | Armour 1 | Damage 1d8 | STR 0 | DEX 2 | CON 1 | INT 1 | WIS 2 | CHA 0
Aren't WE the Big Baddies?
...well, maybe not by our perspective, but you get the idea.
PvP really can be a source of stress. I mean, it can also be fun as well, but that requires a lot of care and an accommodating system. As much as I love DW, it really doesn't like PvP. At least, not on a direct level. Making it work cleanly requires either a lot of subtleties, or DM fiat. At least AW had a flowchart.
Let's just get on with this. With our options laid out earlier, I've been DYING to take the tiefling I spotted earlier with me on an assassination mission while everyone else starts raising hell. Options 4 and 3, respectively. I've got a reconnaissance team awaiting their first job too.
