Rolan's page

Oh, the Rise of the Kobold King PBP is already up and has presently a full complement. But thanks for showing your interest. I'll keep you guys in mind. :D

Heh - forgot to check the dates on the posts. No worries!

Guys...

Something I should have mentioned earlier, but didn't because I'm a putz, is that I'm currently traveling over the Chinese winter vacation. What this means is that I might be a little late on some posts for a few weeks. It shouldn't be a problem once I get the "travel" portion of the trip done, but I could have some complications. I planned on posting from Beijing yesterday, but the trains were all messed up because of New Year and I ended up standing for four hours on a train after not sleeping for 36 hours. Please have pity on me.

Stefan

Oh mate, that sounds grim. Sending pity vibes as I type. Hope you get settled in somewhere warm with food and stuff soon.

Will

Everyone is new to this (well, I don't know about Will) so we are still learning.

Stefan

Nope, I'm new. I'm involved in a play-by-wiki Ars Magica campaign, but that's very different and also pretty recent.

Will

Rolan

You hop the fence and make your way to the window trying to make use of the cover as well as possible. Arriving under the window you can hear a voice inside, but they are far from clear.

This is as close as I am going to get, so I make myself comfortable under the window. As comfortable as I can be, spying on the Lord of Kront while he's investigating a killing. Still, it's exciting! I realise that I'm now one of the few people in Kront who knows who was killed and where.

I try to calm down a little - right now I can barely hear over the pounding of my heart. Calm doesn't come easily. I just hope I hear enough to be of use.

What would you like "I do nothing" responses to be?

Should I post something like "no really, I just sit there and wait."?

Unclear on the protocol in these situations.

Thanks.

I'd suggest using the opportunity to flesh out Al-Godon's character. What is he thinking about as he waits? Remembering home? Remembering his training? Worrying about to say to Chinilvur? Praying? Dropping things in passing can work really well.

I know I'm never just waiting with nothing else going on... if Al-Godon is, then he's obviously a zen master... in which case he's probably meditating!

edit: typo

Rolan-

Moving onto the street you see that it is indeed clear although there are two houses that look onto the back of the lord's manor. The backside of the home has two windows and a door. Judging from the kitchen you just saw the door leads into the kitchen. After the door are two more windows, one first level and the other basement level, but peering in them might be a little risky given your location on the open street.

Sigh. Why isn't it ever as easy as it seems in my head? I walk past the back of the house, risking a quick look into the windows, but not lingering to inspect the view. Deciding that the gardens I saw earlier might be my last best hope, I head on round the corner.

I'm going to try hiding in the plants and flowers of the garden, close to the house. If I can get close enough to the house, then perhaps I will learn something. I can't bear to just give up.

I sneak slowly into the garden hoping my rumbling stomach doesn't give me away.
Move Silently +7, Hide +7.

Rolan-

The guards only take marginal notice of your presence as you pass. The right side of the house has two first floor windows and a chimney outing made of crude clay bricks. The first window has a piece of furniture pushed up against the window blocking all view of the room, but the second you can clearly see into. It is a kitchen with two cooks, one female and one male, scurrying around preparing supper. They take no notice of the window and you are not seen.

The back of the house opens up onto another street, but not as ofter used as the one you arrived on. From where you are there seems to be no one on the street at the moment.

Supper sounds good, but that's not what I'm here for. I doubt the cooks will be discussing murders, bounties, or rewards. I'll take the quiet street as a good opportunity to explore the back of the house.

Any more promising windows round here?

Rolan-

Arriving at the lord's manor you see the building is only one story, but judging by the ground based windows there is an extensive basement. The front of the house opens onto a large street giving little to no cover, but the right sides of the house are only ten feet from the nearest house.

The front door is flanked by two militia men who take turns spitting and talking. They seem only slightly interested in their duties as there is no one on the streets at the moment.

For a moment I imagine just walking up to the militia men, introducing myself, and offering to help. Then I imagine their derisive response. Still,even a scruffy vagabond like me might be able to help; even if the militia would never see it. I just need to find out what's going on first.

I stroll down the right hand side of the manor, looking as though I'm just heading home. As soon as I'm round the corner, out of the guards' eyeline, I start moving slowly and quietly. I tell myself I'm just looking for a window to listen at, but if I find one open then I'll give in to the temptation to have a little look inside.

If I'm spotted or challenged by anyone official, I bluff:
Sorry sir. I heard there were murderers on the loose and I felt sure that only Lord Chinilvur could protect us. Please, where can I go that is safe?

I believe so for the most part. However if you ride a horse (nonwarhorse) near a battle it may well run off with you. I would find this hilarious btw.

That would be funny. Just the sort of thing that might happen to Rolan too.

PS made my first post in the game thread :-)

Will

I left the farm about a month ago, in a whirl of enthusiasm that left very little room for planning or packing. The days since have been both better and harder than I imagined. My money is nearly all gone; I've slept in inns, flophouses, under carts and under trees. I've bought meals, sung for dinner, stolen wine and cheese, and begged for bread.

And now I've been thrown out of Kront's second worst tavern. The arrangement of an evening singing in return for thin stew and a place by the fire seems to be over; apparently the regulars don't like songs from Uthmere.

Ah well, life on the fabled streets of Kront. So this is what the locals consider a big town. Savages! Oh well, it's not Thesk, but this seems like a place where a man could make some silver. Maybe make himself a name too. Just please lets not get stuck here forever.

***

As you head off towards the market a large group of men pour out from the Lord's manor. You hear a gruff voice behind you bark out orders.

"Leon, Damvis head to the center of town and gather the people there as quickly as possible. You two head with me, we are heading up to the tower. The rest of you wait for the Lord and keep him safe."

The voice belongs to a large man with jet black hair, greased into place, and a set of severe eyes that look as if they have never smiled. His large frame is covered by a chain shirt and a longsword is attatched at each hip, although one looks as if it is in dire need of repair. He is well known in town as Xander Capstal, head of the local militia. He storms off towards the city gate with two strong backed young men following him. Two inept looking guards, apparently Leon and Damvis, run past you and start calling out to the surrounding people.

"Town Meeting in the center of town! Everyone to the market! The Lord Chinilvur requires everyone's presence!"

Well now, this sounds interesting. I drift along with the flow of people pressing into the marketplace. Prompted by the rumbling in my belly, I take advantage of the crowds to swipe a late breakfast from a distracted stallkeeper. I watch curiously as...

Lord Chinilvur makes his appearance. He climbs the podium, which is only about two feet tall and only sets his head a little over that of the crowd. The lord of Kront is smallish in stature, much skinnier than the average resident, and height, but dons clothes much akin to that of the residents. The podium is flanked by four town militia as he ascends the podium. The men scan the crowd with scrutiny as if looking for someone in particular. After taking the podium Lord Chinilvur spares no time addressing the crowd.

“Kront residents hear me! There are reports of an attack up at the tower and the militia is currently looking into these reports. For now I request everyone who lives here in Kront to return home and wait further instruction. For those of you from outside of the walls, I want you to stay here in the center of town and wait.”

The lord turns to descend but a man, obviously a fisher as he has a long string of silver fish strung over his shoulder, calls out to him.

”Eh! Those of us from outside the walls all have family waiting for us as ‘ome. We can’t we wastin’ the day here in Kront if we expect to get them fed.”

A few yells and a general grumble from the crowd backs the man’s words of displeasure. Lord Chinilvur slowly turns, looking at the man as if he was expecting complaints, and addresses him in the sternest of tones.

”The doors of the town are already being shut so you have no other recourse. We hope once we get an idea of the situation we can re-open the gates and let you return home. There is no negotiation in this.”

The lord quickly turns and descends before any more complaints can be raised and starts off towards his home accompanied by the four militiamen. Half the crowd starts to move out of the town center while the other have turns to their neighbors to start a mass complaint. The children who were on the cart run off down a street yelling about how they will find the murderer.

An attack! Must be serious if they're closing the town gates. I wonder... something serious might have a serious reward attached. How can I find out more? Ignoring the babbling brats, I move towards the Lord's manor. Perhaps I can find an open window, and get close enough to hear what's going on.

If I'm the knight in shining armor, does that make you the bad-boy that goes home with the girl?

We'll have to wait and see, girls being fickle and all. Maybe she prefers the hairy wolfskin-wearing sort?

Will Cooper wrote:

Mynis Morne wrote:

Will I would consider switching your int and your cha. With the extra skill points you get you can use them to be just as good at diplomacy/bluff etc and still have some left over. Also Your int based skills like Lock/disable/search will improve. You get the best of both worlds, just as charming/deceitful as before but now more cunning/quick witted as well.

Let me know what you think of the idea.

Its a good idea. Mechanics-wise it's all up-side

Remember your charisma may be less but that's not what matters. Especially if you put your extra points into Gather info/diplomacy/bluff etc.

That all makes sense, so I made the changes. Thanks for the suggestion.

Am I right that I can sort of stay on a horse without any ranks in Ride? Just need the skill for tricky stuff?

Will

I'll only aid another with the ladies if your intentions are honorable.

If I wanted to settle down just now, I'd have stayed on the farm. Anyway, you're the brave knight all the maiden's are swooning over!

Rolan wrote:

So, here's the first cut of Rolan Farmsmead. Let me know if you spot any obvious mistakes. I'll add detail to his background as I have time.

Will

Hi Will. Let me know if you would like any power gaming tips. I doubt you need them but I LOVE to offer.

Offer away! I may ignore most of it for the sake of character concept, but i'm always keen to hear ideas. Rolan may get more power-oriented as he grows up (and/or gets scared).

Also I noticed that you had 5 ranks in some skills. The max ranks for level 1 is 4.

Ah. That's what comes of not waiting for the PHB. I'll go and take some ranks in climb or something instead.

Thanks!

So, here's the first cut of Rolan Farmsmead. Let me know if you spot any obvious mistakes. I'll add detail to his background as I have time.

Will