Orono the Black Widow's page

The rules aren't the same. For instance, spell casting is limited by your stats - which it was not in Basic D&D; you could play a magic-user with 9 intelligence and have the same casting abilities as someone with an 18 (remember, minimum intelligence to cast didn't show up until AD&D). And this character in particular suffers from MAD due to the need for Wisdom to cast, Dex for archery, Con for hit points, Cha to use an animal companion (to make Handle Animal checks), and at least a modicum of Str just because of encumbrance.

I'm running a Basic D&D game at the office and the dynamics are very different. One player rolled no stats above 12 and has a 5 Cha and 6 Int, and this has No Effect on her thief skills. The games have different expectations.

Mf. Just realized 15 point buy. Not sure I can make this character viable on that.

I was previously in a promised Keep game that folded because the DM stopped posting, playing this weirdo! A skilled archer and survivalist, and also super-creepy. Would be happy to rebuild her in a fashion that suits your needs.

Still here! *rubs Roscoe's head affectionately*

So GM_Ragged, it looks like you got some of your other games up again; any hope for us?

That sounds really rough. Here's hoping life looks up for you soon.

Well, the boards were dead, but I think they've been resuscitated.

Orono continues to rain arrows at the foes, picking the next closest target.

Longbow attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Auto-wiff!

Having switched back to her bow, right after the discussion about needing someone to handle the front line, Orono is very annoyed as she takes a shot at one of the kobold javelin-flingers.

Longbow attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Longbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Orono rolls her eyes with frustration and stows her shield and sword in preparation for pulling out her bow.

And that's all I can do in one round!

Orono shouts, "Get a little archery cover out here!" She steps close to Houk in case any of the kobolds leap down from the trees.

"Any idea what's in the tree? Might be useful if we find ourselves in a fight in this area with someone else who doesn't know about it," says Orono. "But I agree with Roscoe, we shouldn't linger here much more than that."

"What do you see?" Orono calls from behind.

Orono prepares sword and buckler and waits to see what Houk finds.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Back off!" says Orono with a hiss. "It's a killzone!"

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

"Come on," says Orono. "We don't know if it actually understood us or not. We have to follow it quickly or it will have an opportunity to obscure its tracks."

Orono holds her chin in her hand, then points to Henris. "I like the idea of trailing it," she says. "Less excited about it telling its friends and family about us, but at least knowing where it's located means we know where to go or avoid next."

Orono regards Houk oddly for a moment, then shrugs. "Very well, heads it is."

"We have no reason to trust it, so... flip a copper?"

Orono asks Henris, "What is it saying?"

"Mmm. I like opportunities."

"Do let him know that spider-food is still a possible fate for him," says Orono, stroking her spider pet creepily.

I will be camping and out of contact this weekend. Back Monday!

You can pet my spider! She's fuzzy! That will make you feel better! Everyone loves to pet cute animals!

"Yes... I guess we'll find out if they really do taste like chicken."

"The kobold should recover in a few hours, or perhaps overnight. He - or she or it - will be numb and clumsy for quite a while as the poison slowly works its way out of the body," says Orono.

"I wonder if any of these people were known to folks at the Keep? I mean, almost certainly they were, it's the only bastion of human civilization in the area, but were they local laborers, or more adventurers like ourselves who were less fortunate?"

Apparently the DM missed it, because like four posts above mine he said the kobold was still swinging from its tether.

Orono puts her spider back atop her pack, where it seems to make itself home among the small spiderweb sacks. She grunts slightly as she hefts the pack.

"What do you all want to do about this kobold?" she says. "Leave him or cut him down? I don't speak their language, so I don't really have an opinion."

"I'll carry them," Orono says with a roll of her eyes. "I'm immune to their venom anyway."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"Hard to say. I don't know if the spiders would leave the goblins alone long enough to construct a trap - there are practical considerations. But if they drove the spiders out for a while, maybe."

With the spider that she was facing exploded by Blaughter, Orono directs her pet to follow her and advances cautiously on the last visible enemy arachnid.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Ready action to swing if it gets in melee range.

Orono makes a hissing noise and points with her sword, directing her pet spider to attack one of the enemy ones as she closes on it with her blade as well.

Orono: Shortsword attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Miss chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 55
Orono: Shortsword damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Orono: Handle Animal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Spider pet: Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 8 (probably a miss)
Miss chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 68
Spider damage: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2

"Nope. Hungry." She raises her buckler and backsword.

"Bad spider!"

"Oh! Spiders!" says Orono.

She makes an odd chattering noise, almost like a cat that has something stuck in its throat and is coughing.

I'll attempt vermin empathy, though if they just attack right off the bat there may not be enough time.

Vermin Empathy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Orono removes her spider, makes an odd clicking sound while snapping her fingers twice (heel), and stalks quietly over in the direction that Minah is heading.

"Best to make sure we're not camping just down the road from an enemy," says Orono pragmatically. "Let's see what we can find." She stows her bow and draws her sword.

Orono shakes her head. "No. But probably not goblinoids, given how much they hate writing," she says.

"We do have owlbear, but if it's anything like bear it will be pretty gamey. I have some food supplies as well," says Orono.

Orono seems to materialize out from the shadows under the bridge, waves to Roscoe, and jogs back up to the group.

"Pickles," she says with a shrug. "They live around here. No tracks though."

"I'm not sure of the price on owlbear pelts right now. I feel a bit like it might be good for us to get one night out here, just to live out in the land a bit, get a feel for it."

Orono nods at Roscoe's touch and gestures in the direction that she plans to go, then heads closer to the waterline to see if there's anything of interest - like tracks - left in the mud by the side of the water. All the while she tries to keep an eye out for Roscoe in case he indicates that they should go in a different direction.

Orono rolls her eyes, crouches down, and sneaks along with Roscoe.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Orono shakes her head. "Maybe an offering? Or a lure?"

Orono nods without comment.

Orono the Black Widow wrote:

Roscoe pockets everything and tells us we only found a handful of copper? :D

Roscoe loves you too.

I think the best items out there we are going to find. There are a few in the keep for sale maybe but I have a feeling we won't get what we want when we want it.

Most groups I have played follow useful sharing items go to optimize a character's role in the party and to increase effectiveness. This works with a healthy dose remembering that someone already got this or that item so not going to get first pick. The non items and money get split even.

Slightly more business like is share buy back everything gets pooled together and everyone gets an equal share but any items they keep comes out of their share.

Naturally there will be some rp shenanigans but I don't think any of us plan on screwing the party.

Agreed 100%.

Also, as far as making gear, I'm a bowyer with masterwork tools, so if anyone needs arrows or bows, I can cover that.

...and poisons, but that's a secret. * stage wink *

Roscoe pockets everything and tells us we only found a handful of copper? :D

"Don't know, Roscoe. If you have expertise in how signs fall or get knocked over, maybe you could figure it out."

Orono shrugs noncommittally. "These old ruins are always the destination for treasure-hunters. Could be worth our time, if we can find it. But best to stay focused for now on getting to know our immediate surroundings."

"I can take care of tanning these if we can get them back to the Keep."

Profession (tanner): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Profession (tanner): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

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