I am setting this one as inactive gang.
See you on the other side.
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OSGMO: I just thought I would check in here quick in case I missed something. Are you still planning to move ahead with another game or having us join another group with the new OSE characters? That is correct - I hope it will happen soon-ish. Just need them to sort through their current... 'Predicament' They have a very slow posting speed, and that is something I hope will improve when you join :D This is the game, in case you want to take a peek. If you like what you see, you can also drop a line in Discussion.
My grandmother passed away. She was 96 years old, and had been hospitalized for some time, so it was not unexpected. Still hit the family pretty hard. It was a rough week, but I am back. And she is at peace now.
Hey everyone, I will need to be away for some time due to a family emergency.
I have learned the 'Known World', which later became known as Mystara, was already part of the Moldvay/Cook D&D BX version in 1981, with details about the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. And the World of Greyhawk was published around 1980, I think. So yeah, I get the feeling they ran a bit in parallel there. With Greyhawk being more 'used' for AD&D? Thanks for the info. Cleric Ralina is going to go with the church of Traladara with her focus being Petra. Solid!
Hmmm, lets see. First a bit of History about Karameikos (where we are adventuring at the moment):
In ancient times the land of Traldar was home to a heroic civilisation of barbarian-like people. About two thousand years ago, a massive army of beast-men attacked the Traldar people. The war raged for years and spawned countless legends (chief among them the stories of Halav, Petra, and Zirchev, the later patron Immortals of Traladara); but eventually, the gnolls were driven out, leaving the glory of the Traldar heroes in ruins. The people, now calling themselves the Traladarans, then founded a nation of loosely allied, small communities in the deep woods. About a century ago, the Thyatians, on one of their periodic conquest sweeps, moved an army into Traladara, conquering the coastal regions and some inland communities and declaring the nation to be a protectorate of the Empire. Some thirty years ago, a Thyatian Duke named Stefan Karameikos traded his vast family fortune and homeland, the prosperous Duchy of Machetos, to Emperor Thincol I for clear, autonomous title to what was considered the uncivilised lands of Traladara. He moved in with his own army and followers, taking over where Thyatian governors had ruled, and began an aggressive program of road building, citadel construction, and other fortification. The People There are several distinct cultures present in Karameikos. The Traladarans, a pale, dark-haired people, have lived here for thousands of years. Energetic, romantic, artistic and superstitious; they are descendants of the Traldar. The Traladarans are ruled by a conquering class of Thyatians brought here about thirty years ago by Duke Stefan Karameikos. There are also two elven clans here: the vigorous Callarii in the central parts and the Vyalia in the northern parts of the eastern forests. In the north is a community of dwarves and gnomes called Highforge. There are many frictions between the Thyatians and Traladarans, but increasingly they are coming to think of themselves as a single nation. Despite the exploitative nature of many Thyatian nobles, who see the Traladarans as a work resource to be used for maximum profit, Stefan has enforced many laws to ensure Traladaran equality. Government and Religion Karameikos is officially a Grand Duchy for political reasons, but is effectively a monarchy. Stefan Karameikos, the ruler, chose to be only (Grand) Duke as a political signal to other nations that his nation has retained its ties to the Thyatian Empire, and that to invade Karameikos would therefore be to invade Thyatis. The nation also has several semi-autonomous baronies. In the western part of Karameikos, on the Gulf of Halag facing the Five Shires, is one of several semi-autonomous baronies, the Black Eagle Barony. Duke Stefan’s black sheep cousin, Baron Ludwig von Hendriks, rules it. Von Hendriks’ minions have raided into Karameikos, Darokin, Ierendi, Minrothad and, especially, the Five Shires, wherever they could slaughter and rob for the greatest profit. Nominally protected by Duke Stefan’s inability to believe such horrid stories of one of his own relatives, Baron Ludwig acts with impunity in this part of the world. The patron Immortals of the Traladarans are Zirchev, Petra and Halav, the heroic leaders of the Traldar war against the “beast-men”. The so-called Church of Traladara worships them. Thyatians for the most follow the Church of Karameikos, founded by Thyatian priests about thirty years ago. -------------------- And this helps a bit in explaining why there are two main... Perspectives when discussing Karameikos Religion. The Church of Traladara:
The Church of Traladara is a Lawful religion whose beliefs are based on the Song of Halav, a legend in verse handed down for generations by those who observed the heroic deeds of the triad Halav–Petra–Zirchev during the Traladaran golden age. The church’s main objective is to return Traladara to this age via the worship of the three Immortals and the morals within the Song of Halav. It tries to grant security to its followers and combat the malignant forces that plot the fall of the Traladarans and their protectors. The malignant forces are especially associated with the Immortals that protect the humanoids that have threatened or invaded Traladara. The main two are Ranivorus (patron of the gnolls that caused the end of the golden age), and the Goat (Orcus) – a sinister being responsible for acts of brutality and violence and the protector of all the monsters that hide in the shadows (like undead and lycanthropes). Sects and nations that seek to weaken or destroy the Traladaran people and the faithful of Halav, Petra and Zirchev are treated with suspicion and hatred. According to Traladaran doctrine, these are the definitive beliefs that must be respected by the faithful to attain salvation and divine favor: 1. The events described in the Song of Halav are true. King Halav, Queen Petra and Zirchev are now Immortals who guide the righteous and punish evil within the Traladaran lands.
To sum up, the Church of Traladara’s philosophy is that the people should do no evil to others but live peacefully with their neighbors and the Immortals. If someone should transgress this, then the community must punish the guilty party in proportion to his sin. Therefore, the private relations between men and women or within the family are matters in which the Church does not get involved, unless the aforementioned sins occur. The role of a Traladaran cleric is to counsel the young based on their own experiences and the morals within the Song of Halav, to use their wisdom to resolve disputes and protect the faithful from the hidden dangers of demons or of their more direct servants. Traladaran clerics therefore advise the young, officiate marriages and funerals, give moral judgments, preach the Church’s philosophy of peace and harmony, and when needed fight to save endangered life and defeat evil. Petra is the Warden of Traladara, Patroness of Defenders, Patroness of Besieged Cities
Halav is the Patron of Warfare, Patron of Weaponsmiths, Patron of Traladara, Patron of Kendach, Protector of Milenia, Bane of the Humanoids.
Zirchev is the Protector of the Sylvan Races, Patron of Hunting
-------------------- The Church of Karameikos:
The Church of Karameikos is a Lawful religion founded by Oliver Jowett, a former member of the Church of Thyatis. Leaving Thyatis to follow Duke Stefan Karameikos III, Jowett and his followers decided to form a new church that combined the doctrine of the Church of Thyatis with the needs of the Karameikian people. In short, Jowett tried to unite the Thyatian immigrants and the Traladaran natives under one flag and one philosophy by creating a religion appropriate to the new nation (Karameikos, not Traladara or Thyatis) and give its followers a new cultural identity to its faithful: that of the modern Karameikian (a fusion of Thyatian and Traladaran). Therefore, the Church of Karameikos is similar to the Church of Thyatis, but with some distinguishing features. Patriarch Jowett, in an attempt to acquire followers from amongst the locals while retaining the support of the Thyatian immigrants, took some traditions from the Church of Thyatis and began to build on them until he had formed a new religion based on the philosophy of the “pure soul”. The religion is not directly connected to the Thyatian Empire (still seen as oppressors by many of the Traladarans) but typical of the newly formed Grand Duchy of Karameikos. This philosophy holds that no sin is too great that it cannot be forgiven with an act of sacrifice and penance (even if many converts misinterpret this and think they can do anything and be forgiven). The doctrines of the Church of Karameikos are as follows: 1. The acts of violence, murder, theft, adultery, lying, treason and cohabitation without being married in front of Immortals are all sins that stain the sinner’s soul.
The common believer fears his sins will divorce him from the church and his fellow worshippers. He fears that he will accumulate so many sins that he will be unable to be purified, and because of this, he always tries to confess his own sins to the clergy and respect the punishments and the acts of contrition that the sins earn. Therefore, the clerics have an enormous influence with the faithful, as they know all their sins and secrets. As a result, it can appear that some of the Church of Karameikos’s clergy demand large donations to purify the soul of wealthy or weaker people, or that they use the information revealed in the confessional either for their own advantage or to keep control of the country’s politics (which in effect happens regularly). The Church of Karameikos is a religion based upon a rigid philosophical and moral doctrine (the pure soul). The Church offers its followers a pantheon of Right as an example for proper veneration – Thyatian Immortals who perfectly embody the Church’s theological virtues. This is used by Jowett as a contrast to the triad of the Church of Traladara (Vanya as an alternative to Halav, Patura as an alternative to Petra and Ilsundal as an alternative to Zirchev) and to attract the support of Karameikos’ demihuman population (hence the introduction of Kagyar and Ilsundal as generic patrons of crafts and nature). In this sense, Asterius embodies the ideals of Tolerance and Peace that prosperity provides; Kagyar those of Honesty, Talent and Work; Ilsundal symbolizes Wisdom and Purity; Vanya embodies Courage and Defence of the Valorous and Patura embodies Maternity, Fertility and Charity. Tarastia is the Patroness of Justice and Revenge, Mistress of Truth and Order
Chardastes is the Patron of Medicine and Healing
Asterius is the Patron of Trade and Money, Patron of Communication, Protector of Merchants and Thieves
Vanya is the Patroness of War and Conquerors, Patroness of the Heldannic Knights, Patroness of the Kubitts
Kagyar, The Artisan is the Patron of Dwarves, Patron of Craftsmen, Protector of Miners
Patura is the Patroness of Women and Motherhood, Patroness of Hearth and Family
Ilsundal, The Wise is the Patron of Elves
Therefore, the church doesn’t worship one Immortal above the others, and doesn’t impose the worship of any on its followers, but asks them to follow the virtuous model of the Just. Additionally, The Church of Karameikos does not vehemently condemn the other faiths (in order to prevent civil war within Karameikos). It prefers to direct its worshippers’ hatred towards sin and demons – particularly against the Grim Reaper (Thanatos). He is the father of all those vices that constantly tempt a faithful’s soul and which it is vital to resist to avoid damnation and the losing of his soul. Currently about 25% of the Karameikian population follow the Church’s doctrine. The majority of these followers are Thyatians and nobles in positions of power – although a number of Traladarans have been converted over the last thirty years and have begun to spread the religion among their fellow compatriots. ORDER OF THE GRIFFON
To become a member of the Order of the Griffon an individual must meet the following requirements: 1. Have a good combat ability (be at least 5th level).
A member’s responsibilities are: 1. Donate 25% of his income to the Church of Karameikos as part of the Order of the Griffon.
A member of the Order has the following benefits: Asylum: The possibility to ask for asylum in any consecrated temple of the Church of Karameikos or building of the Order of the Griffon.
The Order of the Griffon’s members are called Knights of the Griffon and always bear a symbol that declares their membership (a white rampant griffon on a black field). This can be anything from a simple cloak pin, to an elaborate medallion, to a worn tabard or to a picture on a shield or on the armor. A member can resign at any time, or be banished if he does not honor his own responsibilities. -------------------- Sorry, it is a bit of an info/lore dump, but I still think it makes for an interesting read. I had a good time collating it :)
I was planning on dropping you in the other thread, and take it from there. If you both agree? The only thing I need as DM are consistent posters, and that you and Creeg (and OSW but he has abandoned us :P) are ;) But I am open, in case you have another suggestion.
Here he/she is! Name: ()
Strength: 13 +1
HP: 7
SPECIAL ABILITIES:
SPELLS PER DAY (BY LEVEL): 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 PREPARED SPELLS: EQUIPMENT:
ENCUMBRANCE:
I'll just roll accordingly to the class you want to play - so, up to you :) Going with a pregen because that is what everyone has done also. After this batch, any new characters coming in will be rolled up by the players.
It is a mixed bag - for now, we can assume the only ones not in are Draven (Magic-User) and Regnar (Dwarf). They do have a Thief (Kallum), but they can have two, that is not an issue.
Yep, they are currently on the 3rd edition - I grabbed it from DTRPG when it has a decent price, but haven't thoroughly perused it yet.
Hey Tareth, Cleric sounds good to me - I will roll you one up in a sec :) @John and Tareth: Feel free to take a look at the other game thread here if you want to take a peek at the group dynamic, and the story so far. Regarding OSE vs. AD&D, I agree. AD&D is a more 'Advanced' game - it offers more race and class options, has more tactical complexity, and in general is a more 'complete' game, when compared to BX or BECMI/RC. I totally intend to run it, as I think some of the most iconic adventures and campaigns were written for it, and I never played them. And there are a lot of people out there whose opinion I respect, who have pointed out a LOT of good things about AD&D to me. So definitely yeah, I will run it. But I am wanting to walk the path I did not walk all those years ago - and that is why I am currently running a BX/OSE and a Swords & Wizardry game (I actually think the second is the better intro of the two into AD&D, split race and class, based on OD&D, etc.). You can also join the S&W one if you prefer, but it is running in a different forum. On the one hand it is a bit of egotistical thing of mine because I didn't play most of them back in the day and want to go through them now as player (but DMs are VERY hard to find) or DM, and I am curious to experience the systems firsthand. And on the other because I want to run all those iconic modules without much/any conversion effort. I am not sure how far this will take us - it is perfectly possible we quickly arrive at the conclusion we want to change to AD&D/OSRIC, because BX/OSE/BECMI/RC is not enough for what we want. And if we do, we'll just make the jump. Just like we quickly did from Shadowdark (with some modicum of agreement from all) hahaha. Heck, we might even stay with AD&D less than we did with Shadowdark, and move right on to AD&D2e (or Hackmaster, or Hyperborea). Maybe we will eventually find a system we want to settle in for a long time, or we create an amalgam of systems, a Frankenstein that makes us happy. Or maybe not. But in the meantime, we are adventuring together ;)
That works! Here is your character ;) Name: Creeg?
Strength: 10
HP: 4
SPECIAL ABILITIES:
SPELLS PER DAY (BY LEVEL): 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 SPELLBOOK:
EQUIPMENT:
ENCUMBRANCE:
Will get back to you soon on how you can join - will also depend on whether Tareth will join us or not.
Haven't heard from Tareth in a while. Hope all is ok.
The group has a Magic-User and a Dwarf, but they have been absent for a while now.
Yessir ;)
Gotcha. Thank you for the honest input OSW!
Everyone suddenly went very quiet.
Another option could be of course, you can change characters (to BX/OSE), and be back at Frandor's Keep. And you don't merge with the other group. Probably need to recruit some more for this posse then. Yet one other option is that you stick to where you are, convert characters to BX/OSE, and take it from there. Further recruitment will also probably be required. Some suspension of disbelief is required of course, but it does not offend me. We are experimenting after all. If we go Classic OSE, Iragha would have to change into an ugly (orc) looking human cleric :D But I am also fine with that hahaha
Ok, lets keep it simple and objective, and focused on what I would like to do - since we are reshuffling stuff, and I have another group already playing BX/OSE, I think it would would make more sense merging both groups, than opening another recruitment. They definitely need new blood, but SOME of the players are consistent - if you join them, I think we can get a good thing going. They are currently a big group (7), but two of them will be soon removed because they have not posted for 2 months. From the five remaining, 2-3 are more consistent. A few notes: - I know some of you are not particularly crazy about Race as Class, but I would like you to indulge me on this one. I see a couple of advantages: 1. everything is in the OSE SRD - no need to invest any money, or any buy in, or anything at all; 2. The other players are only using Classic OSE (with Race as Class); 3. It is simple, and yet you can fluff your character in whatever way you like, which I am actually curious to see; 4. It keeps things 'under control' and matching the setting of the game (which also goes toward the 'classic' experience) DISCLAIMER: This would only be at a starting stage of the game - I do plan to implement separate Race and Class as we move along, but would not like to do it immediately. - For the other players, I rolled random pregens. They told me what they wanted to play from these options, and I rolled a character for them, complete with equipment, etc. I know some of you have expressed the will to roll up your own characters, and if that is the case, we would be using rolldicewithfriends.com (for character generation only - again you will be my guinea pigs on this) - I will generate a room there, you can just access (no need for login or anything), roll your 3d6 down the line, and take it from there. Otherwise I can roll a pregen for you. Let me know your thoughts, and if you are interested. On Advanced OSE, there are a lot of split opinions - the objective was to pull in options from AD&D (since in fact many people playing BX ended up using bits and pieces from AD&D anyway, plus BECMI, plus whatever), but fit them into the BX/OSE chassis. Some love it, because it 'simplified' some of the AD&D stuff. But others argue a lot was lost in translation, and oversimplified, removing some of the interesting parts of the AD&D Class to shoehorn it into a BX frame. On why I want to play D&D BX there would be a lot to say, but I will save it for another time. Nostalgia plays a part in it, but not only.
Thank you all for the input! As much as I like the PF1 ruleset, I am very much on the fence regarding DMing it here on the forums. I feel like over the years, a 'way of playing' has settled in, which does not really match my way of thinking/DMing. We can discuss this further if you are interested. So I end up spending half the time trying to deconstruct people's expectations of what a PF1 PbP is like here on the forums, and trying to get my own vision across. I find it usually leads to misunderstandings as people feel I am needlessly constraining them or just being an ass :D, misalignment, then frustration from both sides, and a poor game experience overall. Couple that with what I have experienced from my last... Four PbP games. I feel many people have a hard time accepting PF1e using Theatre of the Mind, so it makes it almost mandatory to use grid maps for combat, to avoid confusion, misunderstanding and again, frustration. That is just an added layer of work I do not have the energy for at the moment. What I have seen with 'older' systems is, even though there are definitely growing pains, and rulings are required, and of course the rulesets themselves have holes, people's mindset immediately changes - they know they are not playing PF1e, so all the expectations built over the years around how a game is played are kinda set to the side? Almost like a clean slate of sorts. This in my opinion, creates more willingness to accept new ways of playing the game, frees the brain, and stretches the imagination more than a Bloodrager1/Bard8/Occultist3/Unchained Barb5/ObscureClass3 could ever do. Not only that, but the very nature of the game changes, because the ruleset changes - also something we can discuss further if you want :) Sure, they may arrive at the conclusion they do not like it - that is fine. But they more easily give a chance to a 'grognard/old' system, than to a 'different way of playing Pathfinder', because they already have a preferred way of doing that. All the remaining points are flexible - if you keep your characters or play with others, if you use pregens or create them, etc. That is all good in my book. Regardless of whatever option we settle on, the world will be persistent, so if you play with other characters, this situation will continue developing in the background, and will follow along its own timeline ;) The idea here is to nail down what we want to do next as DM and Players, because I think we need more players, and I need to know what to pitch to them :P
I am actually curious about race as class, but I know most don’t really like it. OSE Advanced separates Race and Class. I have the books, so I could share the nuts and bolts if we decide to go that way ;)
That is perfectly understood Creeg. I would say probably all of us are in the same exact situation ;) I will bot Yriel for now, but I think it is time we got a few more. I am thinking two more players would be a good idea. And since getting some more 'new' players is on the table, perhaps we could move away from Shadowdark, and play something different? I would like to keep the same characters, the same adventure, the same setting, just change system. Perhaps to OSE/BX? Let me know your thoughts.
Fair enough. To the rest of the group - given the recent exchange and my strongly voiced opinions, let me know if you wish to continue.
Come on RH... The game has two ways. And yes, your question does make me feel like you are not interested nor proactive. It took me 30 seconds to find the info myself the first time around. If we were at the table, you would be taking notes. Since we are in PbP you don't need to take notes (even though I do many times, both as a DM and as a player), but then you should have the disposition to look for the info when you need it. I can do so, but I should not need to be providing recaps and catch-ups for stuff which happened less than two pages of Gameplay away. Wouldn't you agree? Up to you if you want to step away. But staying means being engaged. At least that is what I am trying to do.
Not sure if this question is for me? I know the answer, but I think proactive and interested players make for a more motivating game. Go read the Gameplay thread ;)
Aleena gratefully accepts the porridge from Ralina, offering a simple but warm, “Thank you, Ralina. It's just what I needed.” She takes a few bites, savoring the warmth despite the strong hint of cinnamon. At Creeg’s comment, her brow furrows slightly, and she glances at the wizard. “I appreciate the concern, but my actions are my own. I intend to see this through.” Her tone remains polite, but there’s a firmness behind her words. Turning to Yriel, she nods thoughtfully. “I overheard bits and pieces of their conversations while I was being held… There was talk of exploring the cave, though nothing clear enough to make sense of. Have you checked the leader's quarters? There might be something there that could explain their presence.” Finally, Aleena addresses Iragha with a steady gaze. “I intend to stay. It’s not in my nature to abandon a situation half-finished. If there’s more to uncover here, I will aid as best I can.” The faintest smile touches her lips, a subtle echo of the respect the half-orc had shown her earlier. “I trust we’ll both see this through - and are you not Karameikan as well?”
I am happy to read I am not the only one with that impression Ralina :) These kind of wishy washy tidbits in Shadowdark, like you called them, end up making me feel I am doing extra legwork just to make sure things 'fall into place'. Yeah sure, if we are doing 'beer and pretzels' for some good times around the table sure, but I really do value consistency, and rules which make sense across the board when you are engaging with a longer campaign type (or at least trying to :D). I sometimes feel more constrained at the end of the day by the absence of a good set of rules - of course you cannot predict everything, but a framework that simplifies things for DMs in a way he/she and players will understand and trust the consistency of it. That is why I like PF1e so much (the Core stuff) - it is consistent, very well written, and not going into the fact it might be 'too complex' or not, I have always felt it supports DMs a lot, until the splatbooks threw everything to hell that is. I think it was OSW who pointed it out once, and I am more and more inclined to agree with him - these OSR/NSR games which have been popping all around us, most of them are indeed a re-statement of older sets of rules (mostly D&D BX stuff), to which they added some sort of 'schtick' to call it innovation. And granted, the schtick sometimes is new, but the rest is many times lackluster. I think in most cases there is this attempt to 'strip things down' to make games more appealing and simple perhaps, but then the bits being ripped out sometimes just leave a patchwork which is neither here nor there. Usually this is something the designers will gloss over and say - 'Hey, just do a ruling in the moment, its fine' - it becomes almost a mantra. In fact I have been to the Shadowdark discord more than once, and whenever I have a rules question, I get very frequently hit with that 'do what you feel is right' reply. So much so, I have stopped going there for advice. That is why I find it important to not go overboard with the 'Rulings not Rules' from Matt Finch's Primer for Old School Gaming, and instead approaches like Prince of Nothing's make sense to me. All that being said, my purpose is clear: 1. I want to play BX/OSE because I want to run old D&D Basic adventures with the system they have been created for, or at least a retroclone thereof;
I am willing to accept the shortcomings for each of these systems, because I know for a fact they can all be used to play interesting games, and develop amazing stories and characters. I accept them, because I am curious about the system behind it - granted I will (and have) most certainly find out in some parts of these systems are just 'old' and 'outdated'. No worries, I can live with that, and I will just discard them in the next iteration. But I will also (and I have) discover some bits and pieces of pure gold among these - heck, just having recently gotten back as a player in a couple of games which use 'gold as XP' rules has shown me a completely different (and refreshing to me) way of playing. So small things can change the game dramatically. Which is good, because it means there is a lot to discover just by experimenting with all of this ;) And this right here is enough to keep me busy several lifetimes hahaha. Why do it like this? Well I don't have time to do conversions, and I want to experiment with all these systems - maybe I find the one that is a right fit, or maybe I will like them all. Why are we playing Shadowdark then you might ask? It was the only system I could convince OSW to play :D (Disclaimer: This post turned out much longer than I expected. So don't even get me started in settings, worlds and homebrews.)
The group goes through some of the crates in the small confine, retrieving some extra food and travel rations. Still quite a few are left unopened, perhaps they can be of use in the future. Aleena wakes up with the group, though she remains mostly in silence, and away from the corpses.
Good point Ralina. I actually thought there were no automatic successes in Disabling Traps, so that was my bad. So I stands corrected - let us say you took no damage since that one was on me, and the trap is disabled. We have agreed to go RAW on the first foray using the Shadowdark rules, so that's that, and we will continue as is :) ---------- But I will share my opinion on this mechanic at a first glance - I don't think automatically disabling traps based on what a character/player says makes much sense to me. In fact, I don't think providing a description on HOW you will disarm a trap is reasonable at all. I would rather for example, if you provide a description partially like you did, on how you plan to prevent the effects of the trap to hit you in the face (stuff like 'not standing in front of the chest when disarming the trap', or 'not standing over the pit while poking it with the 10' pole', etc), the DC could be say... Reduced one level: From Extreme, DC 18 > Hard, DC 15 > Normal, DC 12 > Easy, DC 9. And if you provide no description, then the DC remains as it is. This is actually the approach I used, because I did not find that info about disarming traps (another thing to blame on my vacation brain) :P After reading the rules (yes, this time I read them), I prefer 'my' approach for some reasons: 1. I don't think I like the Shadowdark quantification. It feels too vague:
2. Also I always like to come at whatever system from the perspective of someone who likes, for example, the idea of playing a Thief but has no understanding or will to understand how a trap works. Bottom line, everyone should be able to say 'I want to find traps' and/or 'I want to disarm the trap' without having to offer a description. On the other hand, if you want/like to go the 'extra mile', then you should have an added benefit (like a bonus, or a decreased DC, etc). ---------- Like I said, it is irrelevant for now. Just another tidbit pushing us away from Shadowdark and toward D&D BX/OSE or OSRIC/AD&D. MUAHAHAHAH! :P
Gotcha!
Ralina was careful, but not careful enough - her hand slipped while manipulating the wire, and the blade sprang up to jab at her!
Aleena seems more than a little disturbed at the piled up corpses - she carries out some short religious observation, and a few whispered prayers near the dead, then finds a place to sleep. The night passes on without incident, and in spite of the growing smell of death and oozing bodily fluids, the group wakes up refreshed the next day - in the dark of night during her watch, Iragha could swear she had heard some shuffling sounds coming from the east, and at a certain point she had the impression of eyes peering at her from the ceiling further ahead up the corridor, but they disappeared when she blinked a couple of times - just tired probably...
Actions?
Yep, my bad - misread the post, and thought it was part of the ongoing convo. Will move us along through the night's rest shortly.
With Yriel's help, Aleena is able to recover her gear.
Aleena nods to Yriel as he offers to escort her. “Thank you for the company, Yriel,” she says, her voice steady. “I’m looking for my armor—a chain mail—and my weapon, a mace. I also had a shield and a backpack with some of my gear. It should be somewhere among the bandits’ spoils.” As Iragha speaks, Aleena listens closely, a soft smile forming. “I understand your caution, Iragha. It is wise not to trust too quickly, especially in these dangerous times. I wouldn’t want to cause any discord in your compact.” She nods in respect. “But I give you my word, should the need arise, I’ll be there as a shieldmaiden at your side.” Meanwhile, as Ralina rummages through the bandits' cache, hoping to find some spices or dried fruits, she pauses. Her sharp eyes catch something out of place - a faint wire running along the edge of one of the crates, almost invisible in the dim light. With her trained instincts, she quickly realizes it's a trap. Carefully inspecting the crate, she notices a sharp spike rigged to jab anyone attempting to open it.
You should be able to scavenge through the crates. There is a lot of stuff there, so each hour of search turns up the equivalent to... 1d8 days of rations. Feel free to roll as needed.
Aleena will also volunteer to take a watch, if you are so inclined. Highlighting some details about resting. —- RESTING —-
Interruption. Each stressful interruption of rest (including combat) requires an affected character to make a DC 12 Constitution check. On a failure, the character consumes a ration but gains no benefit from resting. Success. A character who successfully rests regains all lost hit points and recovers any stat damage (all stat damage is temporary unless described otherwise).
DANGER LEVEL
CAMPFIRE
As you all begin to settle into the dimly lit cave, the faint glow of the brazier provides just enough warmth to ward off the chill that lingers in the underground space. The air is still, save for the distant sound of dripping water echoing from unseen fissures Aleena gratefully accepts the food and water from Ralina, her expression softening. She takes a small bite of the salted meat and sips the water slowly.
As she finishes eating, the woman looks around thoughtfully, her eyes lingering on the shipping marks Creeg had pointed out. “Kelvin…” she murmurs, her expression thoughtful. “It’s been a while since I’ve traveled there.” Her gaze then shifts to Iragha. After hearing the half-orc’s mention of Shune, Aleena’s brow furrows in contemplation. “Shune… That name is old, older than the teachings of the Church of Karameikos, if memory serves me right… I did not get your name, Miss…?”
As the woman rubs her wrists, Creeg notices her long, slender fingers. The hands, though graceful, bear signs of hard work - knotted and marked with the faint scars of old scuffs, cuts, and bruises. She listens attentively, and when Yriel mentions the name Brom, she shakes her head. “I don’t know anyone by that name,” she says, her expression thoughtful. “Have you captured him?” Her gaze then shifts to Iragha, who had requested healing. A look of regret crosses the woman’s face. “I’m afraid I’ve already called upon the last of my divine magic,” she says, clearly dismayed. “But if I can rest for a while, and am allowed to observe my prayers, I will gladly assist you with your wounds.” She hesitates for a moment, then adds with a short bow of her head, “My name is Aleena… And once again, I’m grateful for your help, but I admit I don’t fully know who you all are…” Meanwhile, Creeg moves to inspect the crates and barrels scattered throughout the cave. The containers look mundane at first glance, but upon closer inspection, he notices subtle markings etched into some of the crates. These are faint shipping marks, the kind often used by traders to track goods. Though worn and partially scrubbed off, Creeg discerns a few telltale signs pointing toward the town of Kelvin along the Highreach River.
As Yriel unties the last of the ropes, they fall to the ground, and the woman instinctively rubs her wrists, easing the tension in her shoulders. Though free, her eyes remain guarded, carefully assessing each of you. She listens intently as Yriel and Iragha speak, and at the mention of Alaric Wrenhold, a flicker of recognition crosses her face. "I see. Alaric and I have spoken about these caves," she begins, her voice steady but tinged with regret. "I told him of my plans to investigate the area, but he wanted me to wait until he could assemble a group for safety. I... I was impatient. I thought I could handle it on my own, but clearly, I underestimated the danger." - she shakes her head. Noticing Iragha's keen observation of her, she acknowledges the half-orc’s perceptions. "I am a cleric of the Church of Karameikos yes. As for why they took me... perhaps they saw me as a threat to whatever they were doing here. Or perhaps they had other plans. Either way, I am very grateful for your intervention." - you seem to spy the hint of a relieved smile. Her gaze then shifts to the many crates scattered around, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Whatever is going on here, it has to be more than simple banditry. Have you found anything that might shed light on what these creatures were up to?" As you all glance around the cave, you notice it is indeed filled with stacked crates and barrels, a makeshift storeroom of sorts. The air is heavy with the smell of damp wood and stale grain, mingling with the faint tang of ale and wine. Most of the containers are closed, but some, spilled open during the commotion of her attempted escape, reveal their contents - salted meat, grain, and cheap ale.
As Yriel removes the gag, the woman takes a deep breath, her eyes darting between each of you as she evaluates her situation. Her voice, though calm, carries an undercurrent of wariness. “Thank you,” she begins, then quickly follows with, “What’s your connection to Alaric? Do you work for him?” Iragha: As the captive woman speaks, your keen eyes notice a subtle glint of metal just visible beneath the collar of her robes. You catch a hint of what appears to be a pendant, slightly revealed as she shifts. With your knowledge of religious symbols, you quickly identify it as a holy symbol likely dedicated to the Church of Karameikos. The symbol is that of a silver sword, discreet but unmistakable.
The Church of Karameikos is a modern cult with roots in Thyatian theology and philosophy. It is the religion followed by the vast majority of Thyatian-blooded Karameikans, as well as by many Karameikans of mixed blood, and some Traladarans. It is mainly a Lawful religion, even though its pantheon includes Immortals of all alignments. It basically teaches that the fate of each soul in the afterlife is based on its balance of sins. The Church provides rituals through which worshippers may free their souls from sins. As such, the beliefs of the Church of Karameikos tend to take the form of very detailed precepts of life, with the associated penances for each violation. In this sense, the Church is much more dogmatic than its Thyatian ancestor -- which simply mediates between Immortals and mortals, generally letting every Immortals' priesthood set its own standard and preach its own doctrine, within a general framework. This policy was chosen by the founders to ensure a greater cohesion of the new Church, and avoid the periodic crises that affected the Church of Thyatis. The Church of Karameikos is also bent on proselytising. Missionary efforts have been mostly directed towards the Traladaran natives, though recently clerics are being sent to the Five Shires as well -- though, once more, with no success to report.
The woman initially tries to move away scuttling backwards, but then seems to calm down somewhat and remains motionless. All the while she keeps her eyes intently on Yriel.
As you step into the dimly lit chamber, the flickering light of your torch reveals a chaotic scene. Crates and barrels lie scattered across the floor, some overturned, their contents spilled in disarray. Amidst the debris, you hear again the faint, desperate sounds of someone struggling. Your eyes are drawn to a corner of the room where a young woman, bound and gagged, is frantically trying to free herself. Her blonde hair is matted with blood and tangled, and her robes are torn and stained. Bruises mar her fair skin, and her eyes, wide with fear, dart towards you as you enter. She freezes for a moment, hope and uncertainty mingling in her gaze. Then, with renewed determination, she resumes her efforts to escape, her movements causing more crates to topple over with a loud crash.
The rough corridor continues for about ten, twenty twisting feet, opening into another cave - scattered about the room are bedrolls and makeshift hammocks strung up between stalagmites. Personal belongings lie messily next to each sleeping area, a stark reminder of whatever lives these men led before they took up residence here. The air is thick with the smell of burnt meat and old sweat. In the center, there is an almost extinct fire pit, giving off an eerie light and almost no heat. There are two exits from the cave, one leading northeast and another southeast, where the sounds were coming from - they have completely stopped now.
Ok, it seems we have a split down the middle, regarding who might consider moving to another forum and who would not. @Ralina: Specifically regarding Mythweavers, I once long ago played in a couple of games there and they went smoothly after some initial adaptation. Recently, while I was digging around for alternatives to the Paizo forums, I went back, reactivated my account, and started mucking around. It does have some interesting features. However, shortly after, they had a security breach in their accounts database or some such. I left and never went back. What is your stance on Discord? @RH: That is another reason why I feel less and less connected to the Paizo forums. The move to PF2e seems to have signaled a change in the way people see the game. I have tried PF2e now several times, and it never resonated with me in the least. Will not rant on it, but it might signal it is time for me to find another place to get my PbP fix. That's when I started looking at other forums. Apart from a very small (and dwindling) amount of people around these boards, I am not really identifying with this Community anymore I think. Time to accept it, and start thinking about other options. Hence this conversation. Thank you all for voicing your opinion.
Yriel, Creeg and Ralina crowd by the eastern tunnel - the sounds stop momentarily, then start again. Seconds later you hear a loud clatter of something being pushed around and perhaps tumbling to the ground! Actions?
She drags herself upright letting slip only a minor grimace of pain. "I'll help you Creeg."
Grunting as he stands, Yriel helps drag the corpses to the eastern end of the chamber.
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