"Milani preserve us" Lina whispered under her breath at seeing the bodies displayed in such a gruesome manner. Her hands went to her face, covering her mouth as she took in the scene. "If I may sir, how long have they been up there, and why haven't they been taken down? Surely the Guard have more to worry about right now then cleaning up this mess? I mean no disrespect sir, but it's not like the Guard is very active in this neighborhood any other time. Surely sparing these citizens from the stench alone is worthy of disposing of the remains in a timely fashion?"
Pip should get a full share. I like for the people standing in front of me to be as equipped as possible. If they fall down too soon, then I have to run away and that is really inconsiderate.
The Hellknights may not be all evil, but that's like saying the police force isn't all evil. Honestly they don't even have to be evil to be colored the way they are. Their affiliations with devils, their fearsome looking armor, even their order names would give the average person some concern.
What they need is a publicity program designed to improve their image and reputation!
For Lina, it's much less about them being Evil than it is about them being Lawful, what with her being Chaotic and all. Lina's lived in the city long enough to see what a law-first approach does to the ordinary people.
I really don't have much to add, other than to say it takes a conscious effort to include each other as players. When you don't care about each other's ideas or suggestions, then it becomes difficult to force positive interaction. When you expect everyone else to follow your lead, listen to your orders, or just fall in line, it makes for a very lonely experience when they don't.
I've been where you are, and it's tough to keep putting forth effort when it's not reciprocated. Spending significant time to write quality posts and all you get in response is one-sentence responses, it's tough. Real life is absolutely a factor, and everyone is different with regard to style and expectations, but it's all part of the PbP with people you're not accustomed to.
I think the encounters you've narrated have been spectacular. Some of us have no significant ties to the people of the city, and certainly not to each other yet, but hopefully that will improve over time.
I'm fine with rail-roading or open world, but for open world to work well, everyone has to be working towards the same goal, or at least moving in the same direction, at least in my personal experience, and we are not, at least not yet.
Lina wandered along after the group, mostly stuck in her own head. Lamm was dead and gone, no longer a threat. So were his goons. That was good. But now what? She had lived most of her life being controlled by someone. Having her new found freedom was almost as suffocating as being a Lamb. She had no idea on what was next for her, so she was somewhat relieved to follow along after Audria. At least she has a goal.
I should seek out others. Find other kids, help them get off the streets somehow, but I can barely afford to feed myself. The temples might be able to help, but I doubt they have the resources to care for many, especially now with the city in chaos. Still, it would be better than them getting caught by the Hellknights. Those bastards are unforgiving."
Alright, I've made a decision about light blindness and penumbra.
To alleviate the bookkeeping without removing the penalty offset by the racial benefits, I've decided to house rule how light blindness works. My proposition is this:
Spirit of Pinvendor wrote:
Light blindness: When subjected to any effect, spell, supernatural ability, or spell-like ability which would require a save to prevent the dazzled or blinded condition, a creature with light blindness takes a -2 on the related save and that effect ignores spell resistance.
My reasoning is this: Everyone's eyes adjust to the current level of light. I figure we can assume individuals with extreme sensitivity are really only affected when the light conditions change so rapidly, their eyes don't have time to adjust. A change in lighting would affect anyone, of course, but be much worse for someone whose eyes were meant to see at certain depths of darkness and currently be "set" for such blackness.
Before this becomes law, does anyone have any opinions/questions on the wording? There may be some conflict I've not thought, and I'd appreciate feedback.
Naturally, this penalty can still be avoided by using penumbra, but it would be much less required as a constant cast required situation just to walk around in daylight or brightly lit temples, etc.
@Lina: If we move forward with this change, I would offer you the opportunity to forget and replace penumbra immediately, if you would prefer to have another cantrip at the moment.
I'm fine with the proposed changes. I'll stick with penumbra for now. If I need to change it later, I'll do through the even level spell exchanges that start at 4th level.
"Dire news" Lina replied, her eyes downcast towards the street. "If you've lost brothers in arms, I'm sorry. If I had any sway with the rebels, I would do whatever it took to stop all this madness. Some people will use any excuse to gain favor" she said with a slow shake of her head. "I fear this wick has been burning long before today."
Seeing the guards distracted by the armory that Shrike carried, she slipped a wand into her own sleeve. The dagger, hidden on the back of her waist and covered by her belt, she left in place. Her steady hands laid the quarterstaff and crossbow on the table before she quickly followed after the others.
The walk through the better part of the city was a stark reminder to Lina about the differences that money could afford. More guards, more patrols, and hardly any people about. Shut-ins by choice? Or force, I wonder?
Still, she saw no violence, no looting, no mobs looking to take advantage of the situation and she had to wonder. Are the poor really not worth protecting?
As the others entered the Eye of the Peacock, Lina remains outside with the guard. She leaned against the store, one foot on the ground and the other against the wall as she asked casually "how bad is it out there?"
Lina had been quiet once they had left the temple, and along their trek through the streets of Korvosa. And her eyes, they never stopped moving. The city, in disarray. Her home, for what it was, was burning. Between the Hellknights, the city guards, and the marines, she knew that the poor were in for a worse time than they had ever endured before, and all of it tugged at her soul. As the store front for Von Heller's House of Song and Love came into view, she blanched.
As they entered, she steeled herself against past memories. She had been here before. Only as an errand girl, and as a tiny waif of a girl before she had blossomed into womanhood. The man himself was unlikely to remember her. He had probably seen his fair share of those picking up and dropping off packages over the years, but her memories weren't of the man himself so much as the garments he offered. Lamm had had a particular fondness for covering in her pretty silks and other things, but he was gone now, dead by their actions. She swallowed hard, shoving those memories down deep and stepped through the door.
She froze for a moment. Much had changed in the store, but it still had the same feel she remembered. She pushed herself forward and forced out a smile. Slowly, she walked the displays and found it easier to smile with each step.
Mustering up more resolve than she thought she possessed, she finally approached the merchant himself. "Scarves. I'm looking for scarves. For dancing, something strong as well. Maybe something with a rose pattern?"
Lina looked at Abella. "Agreed. My eyes would prefer to still be sleeping. That reminds me." Lina took a moment to shade her eyes with a spell before looking to the others.
"I don't think so. Lamm was a cruel piece of filth, but he rarely got his hands dirty directly. It's possible" she said a shrug, "but I would think someone acquainted with him to be it. He's had plenty of muscle over the years, and I can't think of one of them that wasn't a vile, vicious thug."
I had a few things I wanted to purchase but I'm not sure how we're doing loot.
I'm looking to spend a few hundred gold, but it's not necessary by any means. Just seems like a potential time to do some shopping from a player's standpoint. It may not be the best time with the city in turmoil though, from the character's standpoint. Anyway, just throwing it out there.
The rain plinked against the stone street as Lina took shelter in the shadows of a covered doorway. The building was run down, broken windows, the door hanging loosely on one hinge, and holes in some of the walls that were still intact. Her hand squeezed the pouch repetitively, as if with a mind of its own.
She sighed. The rain wasn't likely to let up for while, she thought. No use in prolonging the inevitable. Still, rushing back wasn't the wisest course of action either, although it wasn't wisdom that guided her.
She tried to pull the hood farther over her head with her free hand, but it was like trying to tighten a belt already set in it's last hole. It just wasn't going to get any better. She set out into the rain with a single thought in her head, best not to keep the old man waiting. He was not known for his patience.
She navigated the city streets in the dark, sticking to the alleyways as much as possible. The gold she carried couldn't be traced back to it's owner, at least not by the watch, but the guards wouldn't care. They'd throw her into a cell regardless. One dressed as she was didn't carry that many coins.
It wasn't the watch she feared, but the old man. The delay would not sit well with him, and she would not be the one paying for her tardiness. She gritted her teeth as she remembered the last time she was forced to watch as his thugs had whipped the others in her stead. A lash for every minute she was late he had said, and she didn't doubt his word. He was vindictive if nothing else.
Before she realized it, she was standing underneath the overhang of a building, staring at the door she used every time. Her eyes drifted down to stare at the puddle at her feet, her vision drifting to another time, before she had met him, before he took her in. You knew what you were getting into but, but what choice did you have? Die poor and hungry in the dirt? At least she had a dry bed to sleep in. That's what she had kept telling herself.
She opened the door a crack, just enough to reach in and slip the wire of the hook before she pushed the door the rest of the way open and ducked inside. She heard the waling scream, slammed the door closed and darted for the main room. "I'm back" she called out as she entered the dank room.
"You're late" he said, "three minutes, to be precise. You know I get...bored, when kept waiting."
"I'm sorry, I had to avoid the watch." It wasn't a total lie.
"No excuses. You know the rules." He turned and looked at the burly man holding the belt. "Proceed."
Two more lashes and it was done. She handed the old man the pouch and rushed to the girl's side. She took her weight and started to help her to the cot when the old man held out his hand.
"You're payment, unless you don't want it" he said with a leer.
Lina tried her hardest to maintain a neutral expression, but a frown still found its way free as her eyes looked to what he was holding.
She adjusted the girl's weight to free her hand and moved to accept the small vial. She tucked it into her belt and carried the girl the rest of the way to her cot, laying her down on her stomach as gently as she could. After wiping her back with a wet rag, she finally took a seat on her own cot.
She didn't know how long she held the vial in hands, only that the night was getting later. Trying to hold the tears in, she popped the top off the vial and downed the contents before she laid down. Her eyes only stayed open for a few more minutes before she drifted off to sleep, the last image before she faded away of the burly man with his belt tossed casually over her shoulder and one hand holding up his pants as he smiled.
I spent a long time playing in person with books, so failing a Spellcraft or Appraise check often meant the DM having to reread back through books to find out where some item came from, and more often than not it turned out to be a +1 something. Things are a lot easier these days with searchable pdf's and PvP boards.
I'm fine with having to cast and do everything manually. It does add some creative opportunities into posts which I like. I also agree with the flow and momentum of the game being important. At lower level, these things are less of a problem, but at higher levels then can be cumbersome.
We can start on manual and always switch to automatic at a later time when everyone agrees that it's appropriate?
Lina leaned against the wall, her arms crossed before her as she listened to Zellara's telling, one eyebrow arching as the apparition spoke of plots and betrayal.
"Zellara, you were able to manifest and bring us together. Would you be able to help us locate the other children that were ensnared by Lamm?"
"I guess we could ask around as well, see if anyone has seen them or knows where they might hold up, but that probably means wading through the seedier side of the city. We should be prepared. I'm in."
The sinkhole was terrible. The simple thought of kids living in it was heartbreaking, but the worse truth was that is was probably better than what a lot of other kids had. Certainly better than living with Lamm and his goons. Knowing he couldn't trouble anyone any more was a small relief, but there were plenty others out there just like him. She glanced around at the others, making the kids ready to depart. With their help, she just might find the courage to do what needed to be done.
"You were very brave, but you need to be smart too. The smart move would be to stay off the streets for a while. Things are getting uglier than normal" Lina said, fishing two copper pieces out of her pouch and holding them out to the boy.
Focusing her attention on the imp closest to the screaming, Lina wove her hands in the practiced pattern, chanted the incantation, and unleashed a blast of force.
"I've had just about enough of you trying to tell me what to do. I'm sick of it, and I'm sick of you! Just...leave me alone." Lina turned and stalked off after Audria and Abella.
"Blasted sun" Lina muttered to herself. She reached into the pouch hanging from her belt, her fingers coming away covered in a bit of soot. Wiping it on her brow and speaking the arcane words, she felt the brightness from above lessen to a tolerable level before making her way over to her companions gathered around the wounded man.
Casting penumbra on herself.
"Can I help? I have a bit of a knack for these things."
As far as the chase, I would stick to the rules as much as possible, mainly to avoid perspective based arguments in the future. Also, there are usually tricks to get away or to stop someone from fleeing. Also, the withdraw action usually lets someone keep running, even if the pursuer has caught up to them.
Lina may have inflicted lethal damage, but she doesn't have a whole lot of nonlethal options available at first level. She also wasn't trying to kill anyone by doing lethal damage, just showing that she wasn't going to be intimidated and could hold her ground. There's also the reality of a city-wide rebellion and the inherit dangers with it.
I also don't believe Inspire Courage imparts the damage bonus to spells as the wording specifies weapon damage rolls.
She also has the penumbra cantrip to negate the blindness and dazzled penalties. I'll try to mention casting it, but it can get tiresome and bog things done a little by trying to remember to cast it every 10 minutes, and asking the GM if it's been 10 minutes to know if I need to recast it.
"You know, your friend has the right of it. I mean, taken down by a group of kids? You'll never hear the end of it." With a wave of her arms and a few arcane words, Lina hurled a glob of acid towards the apron-wearing woman.
Lina leaned hard against the wall, using her quarterstaff to help prop herself up as the night wore on. As much as she wanted to look imposing, she could only assume she looked like another of the downtrodden that walked the streets looking for aid. The truth was she wasn't far off. At least she could offer the priest her eyes as they stood guard, and her companions some much needed rest.
As the night wore on, she felt her eye lids getting heavy, but she refused to head inside. More than not wanting to leave the priest, she didn't want to sleep. She knew her dreams would be plagued by headless fortune tellers, starved children, and bloody floors.
The night passed mostly without incident, but every time a new mob showed up, she found herself grasping her quarterstaff tighter and trying to puff her self up a little more.
Once the sun had risen, she nodded to Brother Theolan and headed inside. She needed to wash up and find some food. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in all the destitute faces and the muted voices. Finally she locked in on Abella and approached her and the others. She stood silent, not able to find any words and simply forced herself to eat smell bites of the hard bread left out.
Lina was taken back by the sudden emergence of Zellara's ghost, and she slowly crept towards the door until it started speaking. She couldn't argue with the spirit, but it still didn't help her feel right about Lamm's death. Lina took small comfort knowing that the bastard couldn't hurt anyone else...although seeing Zellara's ghost, she couldn't help but wonder if Lamm was down for good.
"We should all go. It'll be safer to travel together, what with the city in an uproar" she said, standing near the door, listening to the shouts in the streets.
Lina had been walking, lost in her own head when she heard footsteps quickly approaching. She quickly wiped her face and turned, her hand slipping into a small pouch on her belt. Seeing Audria approaching, she withdrew her hand and her mouth opened, looking for the right words when Audria's flood of emotions halted her own.
With compassion she didn't know she had, Lina wrapped her arms around Audria and held her tight. "You are different Audria. We did what we had to do. Not because we wanted to take advantage of people, but to protect others from what we went through. We know Lamm was a monster, and he would have kept hurting others for his own benefit. I mean he was still using kids when we walked in there tonight."
"Audria, you are better than them. We, are better than them..." Lina paused as she heard shouting in the streets.
"The king is dead?"
"We have to get off the streets...and fast. Let's get to Zellara's. Maybe she can hide us. Whatever's happening, we don't want to get caught in the middle of it." Lina grabbed Audria's hand and turned to run.
"Lamm got off too easy. He should have been made to rot in a cell for the rest of his miserable life" she thought to herself.
"So are you" Lina said, staring at Shrike. "So are we all."
Lina turned to walk out of the room and paused. Looking back over her shoulder, she said aloud "someone should tell Zellara. Maybe she can find some peace now..."
Her head hung low and her shoulders drooped as she made her way back to the street, oblivious to her surroundings. Her feet shuffled along as she walked in a daze.
Lina started into the room but immediately froze at the doorway at hearing the old man's voice. She took a half step back, but suddenly her anger rose up and pushed her fear away. Her hands rose as she chanted the arcane words to unleash a blast of mystic force.
Lina's hands slammed over her mouth, but not before an exasperated "OH!" left her lips as Audria tumbled from the wooden walkway. Panic set in and her thoughts turned dark as shapes in the water began to coalesce. Thankfully, the young woman was pulled up to safety quickly, and Lina's shoulders slumped in relief.
They pressed on, slowly moving across the planks that made up the ramshackle bridge, swaying as it groaned in protest. As the others began to inspect the door, Lina escaped into her head, her memories rising up and casting shadows over her. This close, as they were closing in on Lamm, sent Lina into a dark place, where her fear began to tear away at her resolve. She held back, in silence, letting the other, bigger members of their gathering enter first.
Lina followed the others to the aging boat, carefully picking her steps across the planks of the boardwalk. Sweat beaded on her brow as the boardwalk creaked and swayed. Even with the uncertainty of the boardwalk supports, it still seemed more stable than the boat itself. She watched as the others boarded the dilapidated vessel, electing to remain outside at hearing spiders mentioned.
Lina finds a crate and hops up, sitting down as the others tend to the children. She watches through fog-covered eyes, her own memories fighting to surface, but she keeps a tight hold on them, forcing them back down. She pulls out the wand she had picked up off of Yargin and with a whispered incantation, begins to narrow her eyes and focus, letting her magic whisper it's contained knowledge to her.
She held the wand up, offering it Nicolai. "Acid splash. Yours if you want it."
Speaking of which you seem quiet keen on telling others how to run their characters and how the should move and act which makes it decidedly less fun for those of us who just want to play.
I could not agree with this more.
How about a lot less table talk and some more role playing.
