Seems the holiday is hitting us full force. Just a reminder it's generally good form to let the group know if you're going to be incommunicado for a few days.
Search Posts
Round 3
Meerko starts at the blast of lightning but his surprise quickly turns to excitement, "Good sister! A drake's heart lies within us all!"
Round 2 Recovering his balance, Meerko dodges between the pair of attacking rats , skewering one as it scrambles to follow him .
I would be highly in favor of this. Was about to suggest something similar anyway. Sometimes life happens and that's fine but the biggest threat to most pbp's is loss of momentum and stagnation. It's paramount to keep things moving forward or interest can start to wane all to easy. Might also help to get an idea of everyone's posting availability? My life is fairly flexible so I check in 2-3 times each day at least during the week and 1/day at least on weekends. Seems to slow down for everyone else Sat/Sun as well. Is there anyone for whom 1/day is likely to prove difficult? Not wanting to criticize, it's just helpful to know what we can reasonably expect from everyone.
On the topic of initiative, are we expected to post our actions in order? I've found the best way to handle initiative in pbp is to have order it by blocks rather than individual init. Each group simply acts on a first come first serve basis. For instance, in our current fight, it would simply be rats first, then the party in any order since we're all together. If instead, the rats had ended up after Sassarra and myself, it would go the two of us in whatever order we post, then the rats then the remaining party. In fact you can streamline things further when the enemy is all in the same group. After the first round where Sassarra and I act first, you then simply have the entire party act after the rats, including the two of us. It's just a suggestion but I've found it incredibly useful in keeping pbp combat moving forward at a steady pace.
Round 1 Meerko chuckles as the rats lunge out of the shadows, "These spooked Jack? Find biter's twice as big in any dragonkin warren." As the two rats approach him, Meerko lunges with his knife, but his foot catches on a discarded rope hidden beneath the shallow water and fouls his attack.
Peering into the flask, a small draconian smile creeps across his snout, "Poison, oily, many-legged worm I think. Thickens the blood, slows it's victim. Do you want Sassarra? If not Meerko will hang on to it. Can come in handy." ---------------------------- In the morning Meerko squints against the sun's glare, Too bloody bright by half...least the tall ones will be happy. Downing another mouthful of his own murky concoction, Meerko pauses to allow it to fully take effect before casually scaling the main mast to the crowsnest and tying himself off.
Hearing the call, Meerko scrambles out of the nest and slides down a rope to join the others. He scowls at Mr.Plugg as he explains the situation, Sending one rat to kill another is all this one sees..., but nods all the same, "Aye." Leaving Plugg behind, Meerko moves to the front of the group as they head towards the bilge, drawing the dagger from his belt as they walk. Before entering, he reaches into his belt and offers the flask of poison to Mopsank, "Here. You seem the type. One prick and they'll be stumbling. Might do to save for Scourge though."
Once inside, Meerko peers into the gloom of the gloom, searching for whatever might have spooked Jack.
Meerko takes the flask eagerly, "What's this? Ah, very good bringing this to Meerko. Just lying about? Probably just watery rum but lets see...", he holds it in front of a nearby lamp to get the best look at it's contents.
Meerko shrugs in a slightly sheepish manor at Krine, "Okay, fire bad example. But Meerko can make much more. Just remember that if you need, yes?"
Meerko puts one clawed finger to his lips as Syrrex talks, "Quieter. You right, dragon blood deserves better. But greatest wyrms have greater patience. Too early. This "Captain" press gangs too many. Surrounds himself with hostility but Meerko sees too many side with him still. These are pirates, bared steel and sorcery make them nervous. Did us no favors the other morning. Need time to make it right."
Hanging from the rope, Meerko shrugs at Slippery, "Them, not Meerko. Blame them though? Half-orc against most dragonkin hardly fair to start." At bloody hour he watches Scourge work over Syrrex with a growing hatred. Once it's over he joins Quinn at the unconscious kobold's side, impressed with her obvious talents, "Good. In your debt again it seems. That Scourge enjoys it too much. Never good..."
Once the sun goes down, Meerko decides he's proven himself enough to test the waters with some of the more established crew. Waiting for one of her regular trips to the armory, Meerko meets Riaris Krine at the door, "Must be one sharp shot to make gunner on ship like this. Use many explosives? Meerko makes the best. Can whip some good ones up if you have supplies. Alchemist's fire, much better than black powder."
No worries. Sometimes life happens. Hope the troubles are behind you for the time being.
Are you having some problems Hokina? Been quiet around here for a while now...
Squinting in the morning sun, Meerko peers up at the topmast rigging far above. Slipping a hand into the small pouch now buckled to his waist, he produces a small vial filled with a muddy brown mixture and quickly downs it. As he does so, Meerko's hands and feet visibly change, stretching oddly to become wider and seemingly stronger. Grinning, he punches Mopshank lightly on the arm as the other kobold contemplates his own climb, "Drakes favor your climb.", with that the former chief jumps up to grab a low hanging rope and confidently climbs and swings his way up to the top rigging.
Taking a break, Meerko hooks his legs in the rigging and attempts to strike up a conversation with his fellow rigger Slippery Sly Lonegan as she works not too far away, "All way up here, almost forget about the ship below and who runs it, yes? No whips or threats, just sun and salt wind out here. Only thing better if we spy a nice fat merchant ship."
I imagine that's up to Hokina? It'd be easy enough to PM one of the other submissions from our recruitment. That said, we still have a party of 5 so it wouldn't be hard to carry on as we are. Depends if you want to stick with the large pary size Hokina? Or feel we would really benefit from a full arcane caster?
Sorry to hear that Sezzlik. We'll miss you but real life has to come first. Good luck in future :)
Meerko merely shakes his head after Turlach, "Suit yourself." Later on he grins darkly at Cog, slapping him on a blue scammed shoulder, "Might get the chance sooner than you think. Meerko knows, on a boat like this, captain's protection only extends so far... "
Meerko marks the attention of the kobold taskmaster. He hisses after the others as they head off to their various jobs, "Be wary of red Scourge, I think he sent the others..."
Meerko puffs up his chest as the four pirates flee, snarling after Fipps, "Better not! Next time we're not be so friendly!" He looks to the others, "You've all a few surprises in you. Done the drakes proud! Remember, we are dragonkin, don't let scum push you around." ------------------------
Like any former pirate, Meerko is more than familiar with rope work, finishing his assigned tasks with enough time to chat up his fellow kobold rigger Turlach, "Where they grab you from? Pig teeth and the others give you any trouble yet? Scared 'em good this morning. They do mess with you, let Meerko know. Bloody pirates, us dragonkin need to stick together."
In the evening, he chats with Cog, "Fellow water drake I see. Be nice out on the water if it wasn't for "Captain" and his cronies. Been here long? Trouble with the other crew?"
Meerko bares a mouthful of sharp teeth at the attackers, hissing, "Meerko doesn't think so. You are the one who needs a lesson about messing with dragonkin, pig teeth!" Lunging forward, Meerko drives a small yet surprisingly powerful fist into the half-orc's stomach.
Meerko nods, "Good, very good. Many thanks.", once out of sight, he tucks one of the daggers into his boot while the other goes at his belt. Satisfied Meerko rushes back up to the deck, his excursion having taken longer than he'd planned. Putting his back into it, he has just enough time to finish the work assigned before his shift ends but it leaves his tail dragging by the end. As the sun sets, Meerko watches the keelhauling with a sour look, Bad way to go. But the drakes will see it never happens to Meerko. Weary to his bones, Meerko shuffles to his bunk early that night to recuperate.
Meerko snatches the bag quickly, rooting through the various vials until he spots a small wrapped package at the bottom, My scales! Of course, ancestors would never abandon me like that!, Looking much relieved, the large kobold quickly attaches the bag to his belt. Finished, he turns back to Quinn, "Very good! Meerko owes you.", he grins slyly, tapping the pouch, "There's a dragon in this bag. "Captain" should be ware he does not wake it."
Looking to gather a few more supplies, Meerko slips below deck several hours into his shift, a few snippets of overheard conversation his guide to the quartermaster's location. Hunching as best he can and playing up the broken common of most kobolds, he approaches the man, "Quartermaster, yes? They got me running foremast lines but no give me anything to cut frayed ones! Need dagger yes? No want a whipping!"
Meerko quickly tucks the book under his armor, Even easier than I though!, he clasps the odd scaled one on the shoulder with a sly smile, "Drakes bless you. Meerko best friend you could want! ...I had a bag too, makes small "clinks" when you touch it?"
Meerko grins, rolling his broad, blue scaled shoulders, "Meerko's always useful, even if they don't see it. Just need to get my toys back..."
Meerko nods, "Cutter? Good. Looks like the little one down there will be competition, no?" He hauls himself the last few feet into the too large crow's nest beside Mopsank. Peering over the edge, he watches the captain with a sneer, "Pirate life is good but always the same, no respect for dragonkin. This one has enough of us we might just learn him better..."
Meerko hangs from the rim of the crowsnest, looking down with mild concern as Syrrex tends to the broken form of Sarag. A reptilian smirk spreads across his face at his appointment, he looks up at Mopsank in the crow's nest, "Could be worse, eh? Sitting up here a little closer to the drakes. You've been on the seas before. Pirate or victim, er...sailor?"
I think you're the best we could hope for given our situation :P Meerko has CLW once he gets his equipment back but at least for now it only works on himself. So far things are going about as well as I'd figured they would...kobolds man...kobolds.
All really good stuff. I'm excited to see how how our stealthiness plays out. Meerko is a buffer to be sure but runs primarily on 10min/level effects so it shouldn't really slow him down.
Meerko sneers at the captain's speech, This one's worse than the damned Waveripper... At Mr.Plugg's challenge, he curses his lack of supplies, If I had my toys this'd be nothing., he looks around at the competition, Still, not much to worry about here. Rubbing his claws together, Meerko cracks his neck before taking to the rigging hot on Mopsank's heels.
Unfortunately without the alchemical assistance he's become increasingly more dependent on, Meerko proves less agile than he's used to. While able to avoid a fall, he is unable to outpace at least one of his fellow captives.
I'm sure that decision is going to be influenced heavily by roleplay in the coming weeks but thanks for the nomination! Thanks to some excellent stat rolls, Meerko even has decent charisma despite being an alchemist. Not certain if you've noticed Mopshank but we've actually started in the gameplay thread already. I think you'll be the last one to check in.
While the only dragon themed racial trait I took was Wyrmcrowned, Meerko is going to have many of the same traits in a few levels. Wings, breath weapon, claws, nasty bite, you name it. Should be a fun time!
Meerko's broad shoulders fall at bearded ones reply, Bloody pirates..., Meerko simply nods slowly and heads towards one of the "escorts".
Meerko clutches his head with both clawed hands as consciousness returns to him. Blearily he takes in his companions, kobolds the lot of them, not good. He licks his scaled lips, poison for sure, that's worse. As the bearded kobold descends the stairs, Meerko's dread solidifies, They've found me! Crawling to his knees, he begins to plead with his captor in draconic, "You can't send me back! No no no, I won't go. Not back to the Reedborn and their stinking warren. You'll send a corpse before I kneel before that toad again! Not Meer...", it's at this point Meerko begins to actually listen to the kobold's words, Yardarm, deck? A ship? The former chieftain looks harder at the kobold's fake beard and the men behind him, looking much like those Meerko used to sail with, Pirates. Thank the drakes!, a grin spreads across Meerko's face and he draws himself up to his considerable, for a kobold, height, his tone decidedly upbeat, "You're a lucky egg my friend. Nabbed yourselves a proper sailor, not some dock rat. Sailed on Waveripper, Meerko's crew not flotsam like most."
I also forgot about stealth synergy! That's my vote, no question.
While I'm totally fine if you want to switch to bard, Hokina permitting, but Meerko will love you for the rage. I'm going primarily strength, with my mutagen Meerko hits 21 Str on his own!
Congrats guys! For 1st level, I think Lookout might be our best bet. Would make us especially dangerous in an ambush. Very Piraty!
Thank you for the selection Hokina! Congratulations to everyone else selected! Best of luck to the rest of you, great submissions the lot of 'em!
I certainly hope so. Good luck everyone!
Just noticed Gnarlpin and I share a portrait. His alias was just posted as a link so I didn't notice the overlap. Should we both be selected, I will of course swap mine out. You laid claim to it first Cuan.
Meerko Riverwyrm checking in! Life's had him down for years but he's ready for bigger and better things...like being press-ganged if I understand correctly :P He should be all but finished at this point. Might pick up a couple more pieces of equipment but otherwise he's good to go! |