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No worries Frogfoot! You have a good DMing style for PbP, offering all sorts of hooks for us to grab onto, and it was fun playing with all of you. And if you're looking into new systems, I'd like to plug Legend, which seems like a very cool system to me. It's available as a free download on their site.
Harshuk considers anyone that might have motivation or criminal history in the area when Arren voices his suspicion.
"I'll take the fore on this one, friend. " Harshuk's voice rings with authority as he calls out, then he starts following the tracks before they can be lost to fresh snow.
Harshuk crouches, eyes scanning the ground. He's been on missing persons searches before, but there's a much greater pressure on him than he feels when simply tracking game. The bard begins to relate a story to Arren (and any other skinwalkers that are nearby) about a silly huntsman who definitely wasn't Harshuk who spent the better part of a day tracking a clever deer. The deer had backtracked over the same river not once, not twice, but three times, evading the hunter each time. And by the time he finally caught sight of his quarry again, a chorus of nearby howls had alerted him that a wolf pack had followed the tracks he had left behind much more efficiently than he had the deer's. In the end, it was all he could do to flee from the pack. Though a story of failure, it offers some perspective on the shifting balance of prey and predator. Most importantly it puts Harshuk at ease as he tells it, releasing tension from his shoulders as he packs away his worries and falls into the task at hand.
Harshuk makes his way to where he initially found the tracks and moves a little towards the east to get away from all of the new tracks to try to pick up the old ones again. He'll inspire competence in himself to try to detect them.
Yup, that's the current version, which is better if you're maxed in the relevant subject though worse if you are not. Ye olde Bardic Knowledge.
Harshuk slaps his belly and laughs when Leoric asks to be kept informed.
Leoric and Arren would know that song is not among the bard's talents, but it hasn't stopped him from practicing when he knows he's got a captive audience. As the guards come in to put down the trolls, Harshuk acknowledges Mori's formal address:
While the Nightskulk interrogates the riekling, Harshuk steps next to Arren. "I noticed boot prints coming out of the burning house, heading east. It all comes down to who lived there...but few would go the opposite direction of the longhouse on this night." Harshuk half-whispers. "Perhaps we should organize a searching party before fresh snow falls."
Sorry guys, I'll get a post up tomorrow.
"As you say, Chief" Harshuk inclines his head to Temmeruk, and follows the group to ensure the trolls are safely locked up.
Was that line about how to pronounce "Saipres" in your profile from the start? I thought myself clever.
"I wouldn't bother keeping a count." Harshuk laughs, glad to see the guard get out safely. "Good work everyone." Harshuk isn't sure what to do with the trolls now that they've been captured, definitely not a scenario he expected. Free hugs or high fives though. Instead he checks for Colborn tracks around the house. The guards are in armor, so hopefully he won't mistake mailed prints for boots. He tries to tell by the stride if anyone ran out of the house, rather than calmly walked.
Great! Now that Mori has the rod, are we still in initiative?
Might the guard who got his foot stuck perhaps benefit from an Escape Artist check?
Usually with monks I use trip to accost with the AoO and then follow it up into a grapple.
I noticed that Moment of Greatness is only good for one roll, rather than one round as I initially thought. After this combat, could I switch it out for something else?
Harshuk was about to draw an arrow, but after the trolls simply bull through the other representatives he reconsiders. This is no simple hunt. Taking advantage of their momentum, he gestures with his free hand and creates a slick beneath the offenders.
Likewise impossible to lay down some Grease then. Poor guard.
Do we have line of effect/sight through the burning house?
Harshuk downs the swill in one long draught and slams it down. "He gets testy after losing." He apologizes on Arren's behalf as he rises from the table and moves to catch up with the representatives that went to investigate. At the scream, Harshuk comes to alertness and unslings his antler-bone shortbow, and follows the group at a brisk pace.
His lips draw back as he growls, preparing to draw on the monstrous arsonists.
"I am not too prideful to ask for help," he snarls, "if you would stand with us, then help us drag these thugs into the blaze they've set. Let them burn with it, dead or alive!" Standard Action: Inspire Courage (+1 Competence to Attack and Weapon Damage rolls. +1 Morale vs. Charm and Fear)
It's my birthday today, I'll try to catch up and post, but it might be tomorrow.
So there's little point in doing nonlethal, unless you're afraid of rolling a crit, right?
Hopefully I'm not confused, this is the game in which we're doing strain/injury, right? What does nonlethal do in that context?
Is Arren wearing his shield for the duel? And yeah, performance combat seems pretty cool. I wonder if I could win the crowd but not the fight.
Weird, nice to know about racials stacking.
Not only that, but you declare using the +4 before the attack roll. Edit: Note that both Bloodmarked perception bonuses are racial, so they wouldn't stack anyhow.
Excuse me while I mourn the death of Crane Wing and Crane Riposte.
Harshuk misses the scream among all the noise of the feast. He does notice Darath turn away from the conversation to focus on mixing another potion. Another potion? Harshuk's instincts warn him that he better eat faster, so he stops talking as well to get through both plates as quickly as he can.
"I'd be surprised if he did! That would be something to see indeed!" Harshuk licks his lips. That was one tasty turtle, he'd have to go back to the Scaleheart table for seconds. For now he digs into the rest of his meal, but then feels the batkin's judging eyes on him. Turning to face him, still wearing his grin, he begins philosophically: "I've always figured, if a man isn't happy when he eats, then there's precious little time when he is happy! I'm Harshuk, son of Verash."
"Oy Cypress, is that you? I thought I heard you and Arren crooning to each other earlier!" Harshuk is still in bear form, carrying two plates of food prepared in other tribe's styles. It's not often the chef's stray from standard Coldborn meals. He sits himself between Saipres and Darath. "But I jest! It's good to see you again. I just hope the lady doesn't challenge him to a joking contest!" Harshuk's clearly been enjoying the feast before he spotted Saipres, and now he twist-snaps open a turtle's shell to get at the sweet tough meat inside, sampling the Scaleheart cuisine.
Just take a dip in Bard! And I'm so tempted to have Harshuk fall as he backs off the stage without looking where he is going.
"I'll keep it short, my lord. It's about time to get started." The young coldborn flashes a grin to his Chief and claps him on the shoulder.
This is by far the biggest, most diverse audience I have ever had. In plain view as he approaches, Harshuk shifts into ursine form to curb the urge to clown around, though he cannot be entirely without levity. "Brothers and sisters!" He addresses the crowd loudly enough to be heard over the quiet chatter that remains after the heralds played their notes. "It is my honor to welcome you, our honored guests, to the Honored Quarry. Allow me to introduce your host, the most esteemed !" He bows and remains facing the audience as he retreats for the Chieftain's entrance.
I'll get something up tonight, as I'm heading out to work in about 10 minutes.
Harshuk groans and buries his face in the pillow. It's not often he has the comfort of a bed. "Mitchi, Mitchi, what are you doing? I might've been naked!" Harshuk scolds her teasingly, though she is one of his favorites. Maybe one in ten Coldborn has her enthusiasm. He rubs the sleep from his eyes and yawns loudly. "Besides, didn't I tell you to wake me sooner? Now get out so I can dress!" Well, they're here. Today we take our destiny back into our hands. He puts on his finest and goes to take his place, hoping there's going to be a late breakfast after the greeting ceremony. Or perhaps more likely, a lunch.
Just posting that I'm still alive.
I think it's the fact that the shifting bonus is included in their base stats, then explained later in the shifting ability that people get confused.
wait... Harshuk, were you saying that people thought the specific skinwalkers got the +2 Wis, -2 Cha, +2 whatever when shifted and the more specific modifiers? But we appear to have a consensus on the workings of the race.
So I want to confirm how Skinwalker ability score mods work, since I noticed in General Discussion that different people have different takes (which I think are wrong). A generic skinwalker has +2 Wis -2 Cha, and when they shift they get +2 to a physical stat of their choice. Without shifting, they have no physical stat bonus (some people think it doubles up when shifting). A specific skinwalker (say Coldborn) has no connection to those generic bonuses/penalties. He has +2 Con -2 Cha all the time, and when he shifts he gets +2 Wis. Like above, he does not double up on Wisdom when he shifts, since the +2 bonus is only active when shifted.
It's pride. What, are you scared?
Did I choose the only tribe whose leaders take hugs? Score.
It's like Facebook. I look forward to seeing how the party integrates. It will be...interesting.
"It is like an exchange of hostages, only in reverse. Instead of us capturing members of these adventuring parties, for example, we would send coldborn related to you, or those important to you, to live among men. And the leaders of men would do the same." Harshuk gesticulates as he speaks, and shows by switching the places of his hands. "A cultural exchange. These hostages are not ones captured in battle, but freely come, so they should not be treated as prisoners. They are guests that can be impressed, and adopted into our way of living, but should be watched still. A man can forget words that he has promised, but he cannot forget his loved ones who live comfortably within the enemy's grasp."
"Hmmmph." Harshuk shakes his head. "If you fight, you know I will fight beside you to my dying breath. But tell me, under what conditions does the war end?" He pauses, waiting for any of the present Coldborn to answer. "I have heard many stories, and some of the kingdoms of men. They are fond of sealing alliances by trading hostages, whom they call 'honored guests'. Perhaps there is still a solution, stronger than words but more generous than war. I leave it to your wisdom."
"Chief, Hauma! It's been too long!" Harshuk takes a large step forward going for a hug, but if rebuked he turns the motion into a sweeping bow. When the letter is held out, he strokes his thick bushy beard and takes a look at it. "So the humans keep expanding north, even as winter is coming? I can see how it's gotten serious enough for a moot." His voice softens, revealing concern. "Well don't worry, I'll be sure to-waitaminute. You want Arren to help spread the message? He hoards words like dragons hoard gold!" Harshuk sounds a little miffed, and places his hands akimbo, "You must think I'll try to turn this into a joke, like 'A scaleheart, a fanglord, a bloodmarked, a nightskulk, and two witchwolves walk into a moot'-wait a minute. I might be onto something." Harshuk shakes himself back to attention when Temmeruk asks for thoughts. Harshuk's beard expands, and hair grows to cover all of his skin while at the same time his nose elongates into a large snout. His shifting signifies that he is approaching a matter with gravitas. "A war would go poorly for all involved. Soon the snow will fall, and the clans know this land better than anyone else. We could shut down advance after advance, but what of the advance after that one? And the next? Humans are tenacious, and spilling their blood would only make them more determined. Their families would want nothing more than to see that the sacrifice wasn't for nothing. Would any of us be different?" With his shifted maw, Harshuk's voice loses its flowing quality. "They must see the clans as the rightful peoples of this land. Perhaps if we are fair and kind to them, they will see that we can all prosper in peace."
Great, that syncs up with what I had in mind.
The Coldborn do know that Arren wasn't originally a member of the tribe though, right? I'd expect the leaders of the tribe would know everyone's names. I imagine Harshuk as having delusions of "showing him the ropes" on all things Coldborn.
In contrast to Arren, Harshuk only shifts when the need arises. He's currently in his human form, which is only slightly less hairy than his bear one. Harshuk notices Dalton and Shiro approaching, and starts scarfing down everything that's left on his plate. "Are you going to finish that boar, Arren?" Without waiting for a reply, Harshuk brings Arren's plate to his mouth and tilts it, allowing the leftovers to tumble right in just as he gets a solid clap on his shoulder. "Hrk! He coughs and sputters, grabbing at his throat with one hand while reaching out towards another coldborn's tankard of ale with the other, who quickly proffers it to Harshuk. He swiftly gulps it down and wipes his mouth with his arm. "Saved m'life, brother. I'll never forget it." He profusely thanks the coldborn that aided him, then turns to Dalton when he clears his throat. "The chief? Right away!" Harshuk stands up quickly, and follows Arren to Temmeruk's door. "The ol' choke joke gag. Hilarious!" He whispers as they walk down the hall. "And didn't I tell you I had a sixth sense when it comes to being interrupted at a meal? It's acquired. You really should eat more, you never know how long you'll have to go without."
I could access link, but it wasn't posting my post of "Dot.". Apparently it was too short and I was confused by the other dots. Worked with something a little longer.
Dotting gameplay thread.
Still unable to dot gameplay. Is anyone else having the same problem? |
