Search Posts
I've tried to run non-standard games before, and I found it incredibly difficult. I think you did a great job conveying the setting, and I had a lot of fun. Thanks for running! To the players - past and present - thank you as well. This group was consistently great to play with, and I enjoyed seeing the different ways people reacted to each other!
I guess my preference is to let Des and Lanatir try to talk their way out. Elsa and Zyrel (who both do pretty good with stealth) can hide out (possibly in the crypt) and rescue them if needed. If Des and Lanatir find out there is a way forward we can negotiate. I certainly hope you stick around, Lanatir!
Look, that's 2 votes for talking. Are we okay to just go with that? I'm not sure any of us have a clear opinion - I know I am very ambivalent, and I think Z is just in shock.
Can the homebodies see Des get pulled up through the crack in the door?
Zyrel does his best to press his strange cloak thing, made up in greens and greys, on Desdemona. He then stands behind the door, peering out past the crack, bow in hand.
Zyrel thinks for a moment. "Alright. I do think we should wait for dark though. I can lend you my gear, Desdemona, if you do not have some of your own." He pauses "I think it'll fit."
"Alright... if we are going to take the command tent on, then we will need a number of combatants. Ideally all of us. That means we would need to stealth everyone over. I sincerely doubt our ability to all head over unseen, let alone drag back a captive for interrogation. Frankly, I think we need more information. I mean - if the target walked past the door would anyone even recognise him?" "That said... if Elsa's invisibility extends to others, then I have a scroll of.. ah... 'Expeditious Retreat' I think it translates as. Anyone using the two should be able to get to the tent fairly quickly, take a look around, and report back. With only my stealth gear on, I guess I could do it in about..." he considers "6 seconds there. 6 seconds back. Maybe 30 seconds to look around... a minute?" "Alternatively, the tent is only about fifty feet away? that's hearing distance. If we can make a cut in the correct part of the tent we can probably just look inside from here. Given that costs us nothing, that is my preference. Elsa, Desdemona, do wither of you happen to have a quiet, discrete spell that can put a rip - or a hole - perhaps an inch across in the side of the tent?"
"Finally, if anyone happens to have disguise spells it may be possible to simply walk around the camp and collect gossip."
As a note Zyrel will happily spend the next month preparing to move, but I (the player) do not actually think that is a good idea! Also, while I think we all assume the Margrave is suss, it is possible this is just what he says. If someone wanted to lead a rebellion, magic would make it easy enough to pass as the 'true Heir'.
"Do you know this Badashba is the real one? The Margrave was convinced it was not. Further, I believe the bloodline continues through the current Margrave." The elf tilts his head "That said, I dislike even the risk of being used as an assassin, and I have seen enough politics to know that if we kill someone who claims to be Badashba that the Margrave may choose to prosecute us to tie up loose ends. On balance I believe we should look for a plan to disperse this group rather than kill. Capturing this Badashba candidate sounds optimal, but is likely to be quite difficult. I accept that if we attack these people who have been identified as enemy combatants by a duly recognised head of the local government there is a good chance some will die. I do not believe that this Badashba's life - real or fake - is more important that any other human. I believe that covers the ethical considerations" "In terms of tactics; we should not rush. We have time to do proper scouting and surveillance. Elsa is correct that our major asset is surprise, and that can be squandered in a second. I am concerned that a simple tripwire may foil invisibility, but I accept Elsa is best positioned to take that into account." "I should note I also possess - but have not prepared - a spell to aid in stealth. Mine lasts perhaps half an hour, but merely provides camouflage instead of true invisibility. Excellent if I am to slowly move to a hidden position, but not sufficient to allow me to walk past armed guards." "I believe we should ensure we are rested before we begin, and I would also recommend we set some simple traps in case we need to withdraw back to this point. I could prepare the spell and attempt to head out at night, climb something, and spend a day doing surveillance, then return tomorrow night. At that point Elsa may have the information she needs to know when best to enter the tent."
Zyrel nods, gestures to Lanatir in sign, then backs off.
sign language: "I sign" a gap "banana?"
Zyrel will also ascend.
"Indeed. I also support taking the goods, however given the attitudes of Lamashtu's cult it is likely they may have taken other precautions against theft beyond social pressure. We should go carefully, and check for traps, poisons, and curses as best we can." Zyrel looks thoughtful "Given the age, it is quite possible any precautions may have expired, of course."
Zyrel produces locksmith tools. "I trained as a locksmith for a few years. Unless someone else feels they have a better chance, I will look for traps, listen at the door, and then attempt to pick the lock."
Zyrel moves back to his pack, checking carefully that nothing has come loose or spilled.
All good, I've moved Zyrel into flank, assuming Des waited to take advantage of that.
Zyrel slides right as Lanatir slides left, standing on the stairs above Elsa. In the same motion he draws an arrow and lets fly.
Zyrel, still chagrined over his poor performance, takes the time to remove his coat and find a better point to shoot from.
I'm okay if people do not want to wait, by the way. Not sure we have any time pressure at the moment though? Beyond not wanting to spend the night here I guess.
"Hold - if we have some time I have my medical kit. We can save the potion until afterwards."
I kept hoping someone else would have a better idea, but we were stalled, so you were right to bot me GM Coyote.
Zyrel takes Desdemona's action as fait accompli.
To confirm: we should be able to enter by the cracks? Are they at ground level?
"Blocked. We should find another way in."
Thank you :)
"Ha!" Zyrel lets out a single cynical laugh and acknowledging nod at the end of Desdemona's explanation.
Oh, the Mark of Blood conversation was some time ago, and I did not work out who agreed to get marked on the trip.
Zyrel has been freeclimbing and Parkour, but if he thinks climbing is in the future he'll but the gear. He totally does have a golf bag of weapons though.
I had forgotten Lanatir was also an archer!
Zyrel looks at the sky for a moment, then back down "If we can make the first stop our hotel please? Then I will accompany you to also purchase some holy water, rations, and Mezcal. I already have a bedroll - in fact you're welcome to it, I've never had to use it. No blanket though - between my coat and Glaux I haven't needed one." He hesitates for a moment as if thinking, then sighs regretfully "We also have some platters of assorted pastries if you are hungry. I feel compelled to warn you that they are extremely sweet. They certainly aren't going to travel."
Zyrel pauses "Am I being snippy? My apologies if so."
"I Only have silver and cold iron arrows" Zyrel announces, starting to move "I accept Desdemona's suggestion, and she and Lanatir have the front. Elsa, Volreg, middle or rear?"
Oh, I had this because Lanatir went off to forge his own path do exciting adventures while Zyrel spent literally decades working as a guard.
Zyrel sighs at Lanatir's words. "So Lanatir's vote is the mysterious less travelled road with probable demons and or abominations rather than just climb a cliff? Why am I not surprised. Fine. It will be nice to have fight that is morally clear for once. Not sure how much call there will be for a sniper, so I suspect I will be in the front line?" "I do ask that we make sure everyone has some basic equipment for dealing with unnatural horrors though. Silver, Cold Iron, ideally some holy water."
For the record this is me trying to playing Zyrel's social issues, not intended to be unwelcoming or complaining!
Zyrel, who has been reasonably quiet, starts speaking. "Once we're out of the city we should spend some time practicing sneaking together, and work out some hand symbols." As if a dam has broken, he continues. "I'm not entirely comfortable with the mission. We have been asked to use subtlety if possible, and my impression was the Margrave has decided the man is a fake and does not want to hear evidence to the contrary."
"In terms of team capability, Lanatir is close-in melee. Elsa is our damage specialist - especially at short range. I'm a generalist and fill whatever gap we need, though my actual training is long range scout." he looks to Desdemona's side and quirks his head.
Finally he sighs and explains himself. "My apologies if I seem a little taciturn. Our employers have a high turnover of personnel in their teams. I'm used to spending twenty years at a stretch with the same people in a team. It's... disconcerting to see so many people come and go, for all that I can see that it is likely more efficient to match each person with a mission."
Zyrel draws himself up into an elegant bow and backs aways, careful to avoid turning his back on the monarch until he is at least twenty feet away. 'Not sure if that's still a custom - haven't seen others do it, but better safe than sorry.' Once way he waits for the others to regroup, and sighs "Our contact beckons. We should make haste."
I don't think I do at the moment, sorry.
Works for me. Zyrel's a bit of an all rounder, so I'm not sure he really fills any niche amazingly well - but makes a good gap filler.
Zyrel does his best to keep his doubts to himself. [i]'Human politics is shortsighted chaos, so there is no way to know if this is justified - and if we discover it is not that can be confronted then. The real question is how to stop this becoming a reason for us to be executed afterwards... Expressing doubts about the legitimacy of his rule is likely to be recieved poorly. Refusing the request now for anything but inability is likely to see the Margrave turn much less hospitable.'[/b] The quiet elf bows, "There are some logistical questions, Margrave. We will need to scout and determine a plan - speaking bluntly while a hundred human farmers with spears are easily within our capability, a hundred... high magi are not. While I am sure your scouts are professional, they are not infallible, and my time as a soldier taught me to never trust intelligence I myself did not gather." Zyrel inwardly congratulated himself on finding a term that covered 'elite Kyonin soldier' without being openly dismissive of mayfly capabilities.
Zyrel nods in agreement, but carefully keeps silent. The urge to commend the city's spell-workers is strong, but his experience with how particular humans could be about honest praise keeps his tongue still.
Do we need to keep what happened at the factory secret? We're okay to have been hired by 'the owners' to investigate, aren't we?
Zyrel also bows, though his is a century out of fashion "Zyrel. Border guard from Kyonin, on sabbatical as a caravan guard."
|
