"Test of Strength?" Leconair coughed as he utters it. "This is a festival. Come, let's go to the Drinking Contest!"
My friends, the event I've been waiting for is set to begin! I am off to area 3 for the drinking contest! You are more than welcome to join me, if you feel up to it.
Johan heads over to area 3, keeping his eye out for the young lady he spied earlier (or any young lady, for that matter).
"I will join you indeed! It's time for the real festivities!" Leconair joins Johan, silently reminding himself that two will be quite sufficient...or perhaps eight or nine, since the glasses are likely to be small.
"I will join you indeed! It's time for the real festivities!" Leconair joins Johan, silently reminding himself that two will be quite sufficient...or perhaps eight or nine, since the glasses are likely to be small.
Leconair and Johan eagerly make their way to the drinking contest, which, unsurprisingly, is being held in one of the refeshments tents. Once they arrive, they are each given a clay mug for their drinks and directed to a long banquetting table which has been set up.
Johan spies Petus amongst the other contestants, and when he goes to wish him well he sees the big man has obviously been, 'putting some practice in', as his eyes are already somewhat unfocussed, and he takes a moment to get his bearings when Johan speaks to him. Once he realises who the speaker is, a nasty sneer spreads across his face, and waving a finger in Johan's direction, he slurs 'ha, we'll see whose the best now, eh?'.
Leconair and Johan are seated, and once the other contestants have taken their places, a couple of gnomes begin to make their way round with large flagons of ale, which they top up everyone's mugs with. The judge shouts 'round 1, begin!', and with shouts of 'cheers!' and clinking of mugs between neighbours, the drinking starts.
Having already sampled some of the tasty brew, it seems a shame to guzzle it so quickly, but as the majority of the contestants do just that, then turn their mugs upside down on the table and raise their other hand to indicate they are finished, Leconair and Johan follow suit.
After a brief pause, the judge's voice sounds again. 'To ensure no-one's health is placed in unnecessary peril during the contest, we will periodically check to see that everyone is fit to continue. Please be upstanding, make one circuit of the table, then return to your place'. With that, people clamber from the bench seats and begin to make their way round the table. Everyone makes it safely, although there is more than one contestant who weaves a little in the process, including Petus.
Mugs are refilled, and the second round takes place. Again, everyone drinks, but this time there are a couple of 'casualties' who stumble a little too much when walking round the table, and are eliminated.
Onto Round 3.
Aelden's task in the Test of Strength appears fairly straight forward. In the arena in front of him is another feat of gnomish engineering - this one has a large circular metal base from which extends a vertical arm hinged like an elbow. At the end of this arm is a large round ball of metal - obviously a significant weight. Around the circumference of the outside of the metal base are a number of metal platforms at differing heights.
The rules are simple: contestants must lift the weight from its resting place, then move round the contraption in a clockwise direction, lifting the weight onto each platform in turn as they go. Winner is whoever makes the most successful lifts, and in the event of more than one contestant completing all lifts (there are 8 platforms in all) then fastest time will win.
Needless to say, this is another event where the number of local entrants is small; in fact, only 1 gnome joins Aelden, a handful of humans - mostly burly farmers - and a gnoll at this contest.
First up is one of the farmers. He strips off his shirt in the summer sunshine, revealing a powerful frame running a little to fat. He moves over to the device. Aelden notices that the round weight itself appears to be quite smooth and lacking in handholds, which proves to be the man's downfall. His hands move over it for several seconds searching for purchase, but eventually he gives a grunt of frustration, and, wrapping his arms round the ball like one might lift a barrel, he heaves. And heaves. Stepping away, he scratches his head for a moment and returns for a second try. Equally fruitless. With a shrug he collects his shirt and walks off.
Several others fare no better, then the 5th contestant is the gnoll. This is probably the biggest of the bunch of them, a fearsome sight in full armour and swinging a greataxe no doubt, but even shorn of its weapons of war, still an impressive specimen. It steps up to the weight, wraps it massive arms round it and heaves, and for the first time the weight moves upwards. Powerful legs begin to shuffle round, and it drops the weight on the first platform - about waist height. Pausing for breath, it heaves again, and struggles round to the next platform, which is a little lower. With a considerable effort it puts the weight in place and begins to suck in air.
The third platform is slightly higher, requiring more upper body strength to press the weight into place. The gnoll, now obviously fatigued, struggles round til it is in line with the platform, but below it. Some of the crowd's eyes widen as, with a titanic effort, the gnoll begins to snarl and, somehow, it fits the weight home. With hands on knees, it shakes its head, and signals to the judge that it will go no further. It draws a round of applause as its fellow helps it from the ring.
One contestant withdraws having seen this, leaving only 1 more farmer, the gnome, and Aelden. The farmer says to him 'friend, if you can match that beast you'll be the toast of the festival!'.
Aelden steps up to the device.
Aelden steps up to the ball, taking time to look it over. He attempts to plan his route from platform to platform, hoping to reduce fatigue by reducing the time he has to carry the ball.
He steps up and attempts his lift.
Obviously not getting the right purchase, he warps his arms around the ball and tries again.
Aelden steps up to the ball, taking time to look it over. He attempts to plan his route from platform to platform, hoping to reduce fatigue by reducing the time he has to carry the ball.
He steps up and attempts his lift.
1d20+4
Obviously not getting the right purchase, he warps his arms around the ball and tries again.
1d20+4
With a tremendous heave, Aelden lifts the weight from its starting point.
"Ah, that hits the spot! Another!"
Aelden steps up to the ball, taking time to look it over. He attempts to plan his route from platform to platform, hoping to reduce fatigue by reducing the time he has to carry the ball.
He steps up and attempts his lift.
1d20+4
Obviously not getting the right purchase, he warps his arms around the ball and tries again.
1d20+4
With a tremendous heave, Aelden lifts the weight from its starting point.
Bottoms up! Petus, you're looking a little peaked...
FORT Save:
Both Johan and Leconair are getting that pleasantly numb feeling at the end of the nose that comes with the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Just as they are about to get up for another circuit of the table, two gnomes make their way round the table handing out small trinkets to the drinkers. They look like simple child's toys of interlocking wooden squares, arranged in such a way as to allow them to be moved around - in the correct alignment they form some sort of image.
'At this stage' shouts the announcer 'tests of mental as well as physical wellbeing are required. Please complete the puzzles you have been given to progress to the next round'
Ah, puzzles. Just the thing to keep one occupied between drinks, eh Petus?
INT Check:
Leconair attempts the puzzle, but fails to pick up the piece as he slumps off the chair and onto the floor. You vaguely hear him mumble, "'nother roun' pweash..."
Ah thats too bad, I was enjoying the games. FYI, I read the description several times, 'cause I suspected that there was soemthing there. I just couldn't lift it out. (Pun intended)
Thanks for letting me in.
And, for the record, I wasn't apathetic in my post, I was just waiting to see the results of my poor roll before moving on...And, or course, baiting Petus again...; )
Well I did ask for a Disable Device check for anyone who had it - and that was specifically for you as you were the only PC to have that skill - but you just gave me the INT check... No matter.
Thanks again folks, and sorry for the abrupt finish. Don't know where my enthusiasm has gone, but I've dropped out of most of the games I was playing as well for now.
As it was my first time GMing too, then please feel free to give me any feedback on what you felt you enjoyed, what was wrong, what you would have liked to see etc. If I run something else I'll give you all first refusal and try to take any comments on board.
Sure! This was a very nice a relaxing campaign, free flowing almost like a lazy river. I think that was both its strength and its downfall. I really enjoyed it as a way to get comfortable with the role-playing and the roll-playing of PBP, as well as some of the mechanics of Pathfinder. Unfortunately, I think that also made it easy to seem to lack enthusiasm, even when it may not be the case.
I think you did great as a DM. I loved the opening sequences in the first town. The false lead, the misunderstanding, the changing of the mood of the town. That was amazing!
I also enjoyed our little mini-combat with the runaway lizards. That was very cute. Non-threatening yet intense.
The carnival games were ok, but the rules were hard to follow at times. We probably could've just waved our hands at it with a few rolls and role-played it out for a few days and moved on. Or, may be have less events, but with all of us were involved, like in the one throwing contest. That was a nice alternative to typical DnD combat that everyone could do something with.
As you can see above, I really thought the campaign was fun while it lasted. It may have just been too much lazy river, in need of a bit of white water to get our adrenalin pumping.
By the way, I don't want to mislead you. I don't canoe or raft, despite the analogy. In fact, what I do in water can barely be called swimming. But, it seems like the right analogy, so i went with it.
The carnival games were ok, but the rules were hard to follow at times. We probably could've just waved our hands at it with a few rolls and role-played it out for a few days and moved on. Or, may be have less events, but with all of us were involved, like in the one throwing contest. That was a nice alternative to typical DnD combat that everyone could do something with.
Yeah, that was a real object lesson in what works in a real life game often doesn't translate to pbp. When I did that section in a face to face game of course (as with everything) it went much more quickly, so we were through it in an evening. Maybe I got the descriptions across better then too as in this version there were more bits that when I read it back, even I realised it was rather unclear. Good call on less games I think; should have thought more about the ones that were a bit too complex for pbp - and made sure I had a better idea of the rules in my head. My bad on that, screwed up and really lost the momentum at that point.
Otherwise, thanks for the positive feedback. I'm pleased I managed something right!