Deadwatch Embers - OOC Thread

[Gralhruk]

Anyone want to voice an opinion on Lucien?

[Berova]

If I'm not too late, Knowledge (Baden's Bluff) to answer the Dorn's question please.

On the question on Lucien, I'll have to give Dun's view later tonight.

[Kelemyn]

My view on Lucien is that it makes sense to leave him at this point.

You all got together in order to try to help him face the Hound. You tracked him down, and you helped him; but in the process, you separated him further from his patient.

Well we've fixed that now. The dwarf has survived, and if he still needs to be looked after, we can do that ourselves. Lucien can continue to evade the Hound on his own.

So now what will we do?

First we can figure out what to do with the dwarf. Then we can help Roth look for his stolen wife. Or something like that.

[Berova]

Rather going into a long winded explanation...Dun's had his fill of the old coot, if he wants to strike out on his own, so be it, more power to him.

[Dirigible]

Kelemyn's reasoning seems sound to me.

[Black Plauge]

I think Heulwen is the only one actually raising objections to Lucien's leaving. She respects him for his willingness to help others, even those of a persecuted race like the dwarf. Being from a persecuted race herself, she knows that such willingness to help is not entirely common and needs to be nurtured where it's found. As such, she's not willing to force Lucien to leave, though if he insists on it she will let him.

As long as its the rest of you who are insisting that Lucien leave, Heulwen will defend his right to stay if he so desires. If he's the one who says that he wants to leave, then Heulwen will accept his decision.

[Gralhruk]

That's fine. I just wanted to make sure it was PCs that had the objetions and not the Players.

[Dirigible]

Well, as some of you know, I'm off on holiday tomorrow. Don't expect to see me around for three to four months. The game has been more than great so far. You're all wonderful roleplayers, adn I look forward to rejoining our exploits next year.

[Kelemyn]

Maybe by the time you get back we'll have moved on down the road some. :P

And wow! A three or four month long holiday? How do I get one of those?!

Have a good time, Dirigible. You will definitely be missed.

[Cadrius]

...is he gone yet?

Phew! I'm so glad I can finally speak freely about my undying hatred of Blimpie. Also, with the Hydrogen-Filled-One gone, I can finally break out the truly exciting plot twists and epic prose I've been holding back all along. Get ready for a ride folks, because the next three to four months is gonna be great! Three cheers for an absent Bag of Gas!

Hip hip!

[Berova]

Imagine that, 3-4 month holiday...just what does FFG pay...? HMMM...maybe time to reconsider mid-career change...

[Black Plauge]

Passing the buck. Where shall we go?

[Cadrius]

"Can't you see which road we ought to take?"

I think I just felt a literary nudge, didn't you, Gral?

If you folks need to debate the OOC bits of which direction to go in, feel free. I'm interested in getting a decision in the semi-near future so I can move us along.

[Kelemyn]

I believe you've accused me of literary nudgery on at least one other occasion, Cadrius! Am I really such a nudger?

We can debate this in OOC if y'all want to. But I don't know how to pick which cause seems the most worthy.

I thought maybe this was a good opportunity to bring Aleina's abilities out in the open a bit more though. It's a great thing to have a seer in the party. Especially if she occasionally sees things. ;)

(And lest anyone think I'm nudging Gralhruk here, I was under the impression that Aleina's auguries would come sort of as surprises from the DM. That might have been a nudge. :) )

[Dirigible]

Phew! I'm so glad I can finally speak freely about my undying hatred of Blimpie. Also, with the Hydrogen-Filled-One gone, I can finally break out the truly exciting plot twists and epic prose I've been holding back all along. Get ready for a ride folks, because the next three to four months is gonna be great! Three cheers for an absent Bag of Gas!

Hip hip!

Hooray!!! Wait, why are we cheering again?

[Gralhruk]

We were cheering because you interrupted your debauchery and found the time to post for Lyr. Oh wait, you didn't do that. Booo! Hissssss! A pin! A pin for Blimpie!

[Gralhruk]

I was under the impression that Aleina's auguries would come sort of as surprises from the DM.
Well, I basically told Cadrius that if he wants to usurp Aleina's auguries he was free to do so. So it's whichever of us gets to it first. Since she only has one per day, I've been holding off on using it until we hit something where it looked like an augury would really help us.

I have a feeling here that one way isn't necessarily better than the other. It's a simple matter of determining what adventure we want to tackle. Which puts the matter squarely between searching for Dun's father or Rhotha'ah's beloved.

Aleina thinks they should be the ones to decide who we leave hanging. Of course, if she used an augury and found out that, say, one of them was already dead . . .

Well, that would make things interesting.

At any rate, personally, I lean towards Baden's Bluff just because I think we have a better chance of at least finding out what happened to Rhotha'ah's people. Although that is really the more fruitless quest in that I think there is a good chance they are all dead. We have pretty much nothing to go on in the search for Dun's father except that he isn't in Baden's Bluff, but I think there is a higher percentage that he is still among the living.

So, Kahluah / Berova: thoughts?

[Kahluah]

It may be fruitless in that Rhotha'ah's people, including his wife, are all dead or sold off, his quest isn't finished - he still has vengeance to extract on those who took them. He's vowed to bring those who took them to justice, not stopping until it has been metted on them in an equal measure to what they did to his people.

[Gralhruk]

I can't say that is necessarily a quest that the rest of the group will be hot on following. But that is a matter for the IC, I suppose. At any rate, does that mean you'd rather pursue Rhotha'ah's quest before Dun's?

[Kahluah]

I'm fine with either, really :)

[Gralhruk]

Then I daresay you should post Rhothzilla's thoughts IC ;).

[Cadrius]

Gral has it. Given that it's a player ability he has the right to use it should he choose. However, if I feel there's something that might trigger a vision, I reserve the right to be an usurper.

Just a heads up for you folks, I'll be in VT until Friday. I hope those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving have a good one, and those that don't, well, have a good Thursday. With any luck I'll be able to move us along after I get back.

[Kelemyn]

So..... now what?

[Gralhruk]

Well, I don't know. I've said it IC through Aleina a few times and I've said it here in the OOC: I think the decision should be between Berova and Kahluah (or Dun and Rhotha'ah, if you prefer).

Are you two going to make that decision? If not, say so and we'll take it from there.

[Cadrius]

My DM-sense is tingling...no wait, that's just an unsightly rash.

Is a decision actually being reached?

[Kelemyn]

Well, Aashya has decided.....

[Gralhruk]

Well, someone had to do it :).

[Cadrius]

And it's a good thing we're leaving the decision making to an amensiac sarcosan.

[Berova]

Well, Aashya has decided.....

Well, yes... for Aashya perhaps...

For Dun it's not so easy.

I can see this dilemma being resolved several, well a couple of ways: 1) Cad pops dad up and we all head back to Badens Bluff (not bloody likely, I reckon), 2) Dun goes his separate way (maybe with Lyr in tow? :D ), 3) some other brilliant way I haven't thought of that I'm sure Cad's got up his sleeve. ;)

Not trying to be difficult, but I don't think it would be realistic for Dun to just 'drop the matter', though he would never insist Rhotha'ah drop his quest or break his vow for his sake.

[Gralhruk]

Well, that does pose a problem. Splitting up is a bad idea, so we'll need to figure something else out. For some reason, I don't think Cadrius is going to help us out here.

So, Dun is set on finding his father now. Kahluah, I know you said you don't care either way but what about Rhotha'ah - is he set on going to Baden's Bluff right now?

[Kelemyn]

Doesn't he pretty much have to be set on going? I mean, who sets out to rescue his wife and the other women of his tribe from a horrible fate at the hands of orcs, and then puts it off because something else comes up?

I think Berova is right. If Dun is absolutely dead-set on finding his father, then we either have to split up, or fate has to intervene by demonstrating that one or the other of the quests is no longer necessary.

[Berova]

Doesn't he pretty much have to be set on going? I mean, who sets out to rescue his wife and the other women of his tribe from a horrible fate at the hands of orcs, and then puts it off because something else comes up?

I think Berova is right. If Dun is absolutely dead-set on finding his father, then we either have to split up, or fate has to intervene by demonstrating that one or the other of the quests is no longer necessary.

Maybe it's just me, but I do not quite see Rhotha'ah's choice is necessarily that stark.

Having grown up in Baden's Bluff Dun knows the city and it's people quite well. As one would imagine, Dun also has many contacts there that would aid the search greatly. On the otherhand, Rhotha'ah (and the rest of the group) could quite possibly be lost in a city the size of Baden's Bluff, a city that presents a plethora of dangers as well.

Perhaps it comes down to how urgent is Rhotha'ah's quest and whether gaining Dun's aid and his knowledge of the city wwould offset setting out for Baden's Bluff immediately.

[Cadrius]

Allow me to step in and toss out a few words. Whether or not they'll be of any use is, of course, unknown.

1. Dun, while far more knowledgable than any other member of the party, is not exactly a local tour guide for Baden's Bluff. This isn't meant to diminish Berova's character; he certainly knows his way around, and can find a place or two to hide out if trouble comes sniffing. But many contacts? Only insofar as he knows a reasonable number of people there. I suppose a definition of contact would be appropriate. He has a fair number of acquaintances particularly in the area nearby his family's home and those near the warehouses his father used to frequent. At the very least he could point the group in a better direction when it comes to information gathering. That itself could save valuable time.

2. Splitting up is an option should you so choose. I won't guarantee anyone's survival, but I have little issue splitting the next chapter into two threads.

3. Knowledge. Right now, both are pretty blind with Rhotha'ah being only slightly less. The educated guess is that the wife was taken to Baden's Bluff and then likely on a ship elsewhere. Dun's father was last seen headed into the Westlands. At the moment, it looks like Rhotha'ah's quest is easier to start, but likely more dangerous. Dun's, on the other hand, doesn't pose any immediate threat, but will be difficult to begin. "Needle in a haystack" applies very well here.

4. Now to throw a wrench into what I've just said. There's no concrete evidence supporting either theory. Dura could've easily turned aside and traveled on the river, or gone westward into Erethor (reasons unknown). Conversely, if the raiders had no intention of selling Rhotha'ah's wife (whose name currently escapes me, sorry), she could very well be a battered corpse in some lonely stretch of bladegrass.

Now, as players there's a natural trust that the DM isn't dumping red herrings out left and right. I can't speak to the veracity of that in this particular case, but I can say that knowledge is the most important power in the current situation. Chances are you won't find it outside of Kingscross, so the question remains, where can you get it? The more populated an area, the better the chance that someone might know what you want. The river or Baden's Bluff are likely your two nearest options. Caderin or Erenhead are also two possibilities.

5. Which is more important? A missing father or a kidnapped wife? Hard to say.

Was any of this helpful? Nah, probably not, but I figured I'd toss out my viewpoint on your current predicament.

[Kelemyn]

I'm sorry, by the way, if I made it sound like Aashya had made a decision for the party. She made her decision, and doesn't expect anyone else to go along with it.

[Black Plauge]

Heulwen is staying out of this decision. She has sympathy with both causes, but neither is her cause.

If the rest of the group comes to some kind of consensus, she'll follow it. If the group splits, she'll go where she can provide the most help.

Given what she currently knows, she'd likely go with Dun in the case of a split because she won't be of much use in Baden's Bluff. She's not going into any human settlement anytime soon (including Baden's Bluff) as that would put her in the most danger of getting caught and being made a slave again (if she was lucky). Also, Rhotha'ah just seems more competant in the wild. No offese, but Dun is a city boy and is likely to end up dead on his own in the wild. Having lead the group cross country for the past two days, Heulwen feels at least some obligation to get people through it.

[Berova]

1. I didn't mean to imply Dun had the key to the city of Badens Bluff, afterall, we are talking about 1st level characters here. Nevertheless, for a 1st level character, Dun is from Badens Bluff (with the local knowledge to back it up) and he definitely shines best in the city environment given his skill set.

2. I do not think it is anyone's preference to split up, certainly not mine.

3. Definitely not helpful :tsk:

4. We can only work with what we've got, which is, granted not much, but it's what we've got.

5. To Dun and Rhotha'ah, both father and wife are just as important respectively, thus the horns of our dilemma.

Finally, thanks for yer viewpoint, Cad. It's always welcomed and much appreciated, if not always helpful. ;)

Blackie, no offense taken. Dun's forte is definitely not the wilderness, he'd be the first to admit to that. The bump on his head was more than proof of that, then there's the matter of his lack of provisions for a journey through the wilderness... good thing he got his fill back in town.

[Kahluah]

Kahluah, I know you said you don't care either way but what about Rhotha'ah - is he set on going to Baden's Bluff right now?
At the moment, Rhotha'ah is conflicted aswell due to his oaths made to both his people and to Dun and the others. He's promised to his people to find those who were taken and exact vengeance on those who did the taking, but he's also promised to help everyone in their respective quests (which includes Dun finding the whereabouts of his father).

In following through with one, he has to break with the other - not something he can do lightly or without pause to think of the consequences.

[Kahluah]

*continues thinking* Grrrr ... there has to be SOME way to combine the two quests.. we just have to figure out how...

[Dirigible]

I got it!

Dun's father is Rhoth's wife! The perfect soap opera twist for Days of our Shadow.

Like Deadwatch Embers through the hourglass of broken halfling skulls, these are the days of our shadow.

[Cadrius]

I thought you were in England...fraternizing with cabana boys.

[Cadrius]

Quietly the two figures wait for the humans to reach some sort of decision.

Okay, I think it's fair to say that there's been plenty of time to chew things over, sleep on them, mull on them, or whatever other phrase you prefer. The decision is clearly a hard one--and not unintentionally so--but a decision must be made. Split up, don't split up, follow one trail, follow the other, or damn them all and forge your own path. All I want is a clear choice. The others have abstained making a decision out of courtesy to those most directly affected. I suppose if I were in their shoes, I'd do the same thing. It puts the burden of a decision squarely on the shoulders of Berova and Kahluah. That said, I'm going to need a decision in a timely fashion, say the next couple days. If I don't have one by then, well, I'll be deciding where folks are going...and I don't think you really want that, do you?

[Black Plauge]

Either Kahluah or Berova need to concede, or state IC that they aren't willing to give up thier quest to help the other. Once that's done I think the rest of us can sort ourselves out.:)

Now make a decision already.

[Kahluah]

*nods* You're right, someone had to make a concession. The main thing with Rhotha'ah is he'd have had to find a way to try and act without breaking either of the oaths he's made and hopefully reconcile the two.

In my post, I've hopefully made the best decision possible for Rhoth to do so.

[Gralhruk]

Well done.

[Dirigible]

*looks at IC forum*

Oooh! Drama!

Nicely done, K to the A to the Hluah.

[Cadrius]

Your problems become mine, and mine become yours, and none, not even the Dark One will come between that.

Fate, consider yourself tempted.

[Cadrius]

"Now, lets go find your father." He turns his head to the rest of the assembled party. "If that's alright by the rest of you, that is."

Well? Is it? Or shall we have more rumination?

[Kahluah]

H.P. Rhothcraft...

Ahhhh, the sweet sounds of different names for my character. :D

[Kelemyn]

Well? Is it? Or shall we have more rumination?

It is. (all right with Aashya, that is.)

It's that time of year again. Almost all my computer time this weekend was spent getting my family's online wish lists up and sent out to the people clamoring for them. And the rest of my free time was spent shopping and decorating. I probably won't be able to post as frequently for a while.....

[Gralhruk]

Fine with me as well. I meant to post Aleina's response on Friday but it didn't happen. I've got a job interview in a few hours but I'll try to get a post out later today. If I don't feel free to assume she goes along with that decision.

[Cadrius]

Berova, check your box. I sent a PM last week and could use a reply. Yet it's not necessary for the immediate future. Everyone seems agreed on finding Dura Abben. Great. Now, where are you going first?

[Gralhruk]

The astute will notice I skipped over that little detail in my post.

[Black Plauge]

Well, Dun did say he had some information about where his father might have been headed....

[Gralhruk]

Unfortunately, that information is somewhat broad. As far as I can tell, Dun knows that Dura is not in Baden's Bluff, and that he might be headed South or East.

So, basically we have it narrowed down to half the world (less Baden's Bluff).

[Berova]

Cad, I sent you a couple of PM in reply.

On which way to go, yes, Dun mentioned south from Kingscross or perhaps east to the Eren, but that was based on what he knew and what Cad has provided (we sort of rushed out of Kingscross so he did not have much time to info gather).

[Black Plauge]

Care to state that IC now that a decision has been made.

And if you can, could you possibly be more specific.

[Berova]

That's the thing, Dun can't be any more specific, Cad only provided that tidbit from the mayor.

[Kelemyn]

Actually, south makes sense I think. Aashya left the gnomes at Swift Water, if I recall. She's been on the road a few days, maybe a week. I'd guess that the gnomes would be going back down river by now which, depending on where we actually are, would put them on the Eren more or less south of us.

Cadrius, do you agree that this is a reasonable assumption for Aashya to make?

[Black Plauge]

I'm not saying it doesn't make sense. Heulwen is just going on what she knows at the moment, which isn't much.

[Kelemyn]

Before I have Aashya say so, I want to make sure I know what I'm talking about! And since I am very unclear on where we are on the map, I figured I'd better run it by the DM.

[Cadrius]

I used to have a point of reference on the map for where Kingscross was. I as I recally it was right near one of the letters in Westland.

And where are the gnomes? If they went up to Eren they *might* be on there way back now. Certainly they travel faster than those on foot but they have a greater distance to travel, not to mention the day or two in port. If they went over to Baden's Bluff via the Pelluria, then they will not be on their way back yet.

[Kelemyn]

Right near one of the letters in Westland..... Well that narrows it down slightly. ;)

[Cadrius]

Heh, I know. When I get home I'll open up my book and see exactly where I pictured it.

[Gralhruk]

Okay, I'm not sure who knows about Aleina's visions. She mentioned it to Aashya, where I'm pretty sure that Rhotha'ah overheard her. I'm assuming most of the others either don't know or don't realize how strong they are.

[Kahluah]

Rhoth knew about it from overhearing Aashya and Aleina talking about it.

[Kelemyn]

Heh, I know. When I get home I'll open up my book and see exactly where I pictured it.

So.... where? :)

[Cadrius]

To clarify my bad location: Kingscross is actually located NE of Caderin. If you look at your handy Midnight map and look at the "Westlands," the village should be located at the "d" in "Westlands." This would place it approximately 500 miles from Baden's Bluff to the N-NW, 400 from Erenhead to the NE, 200 or so from Caderin to the SW and perhaps 150 from the river to the E and further to the Ardune to the S.

Found it buried in the Chapter 1 OOC thread. It holds fairly true. The distances are just me eyeballing the scale to where I pictured it. I'll have to wait until I get home after work to tweak it to closer to where I'd like it to be.

[Cadrius]

With the impending holidays, and I use the phrase much like I would "impending doom," I believe it's more than understandable that folks will be MIA. This is fine. All that I ask is I get a definitive plan for progression. Going south is one thing, skirting Kingscross and avoiding all settlements until you reach the Eren is another.

I'll provide a bit of an update with some leeway for folks who are around and want to speak with the NPCs or other PCs with freetime. We've been kinda slow as of late and I'd like to remedy that starting in the new year. Yes, it's one of my resolutions.

So, hook me up with your immediate plan of action and go gorge upon Christmas turkey and New Year champagne.

[Kahluah]

South is as good as any other direction we have at the moment, and Rhoth trusts Aleina in that they won't be going the wrong way. So south works for me :)

[Gralhruk]

We're such a decisive group.

On the one hand, Kingscross is possibly a valuable resource for us. Dun may well want to gather some information there. On the other hand, Kingscross could be dangerous.

[Kelemyn]

With Roth and Heulwen (and the dwarf) along, we should definitely avoid any settlements. I include Roth in there because he is so heavily armed.

If Dun wants to check out Kingscross again, one or two of us could go in with him while the others wait outside of town. Aashya wouldn't mind going in - she's really much better in town or city encounters than in the wilderness.

We can continue heading south in the same manner. Scouting ahead for towns and villages, sending a few people in to ask questions, then moving on.

[Cadrius]

There are always folks who are all too happy to sell out goody two-shoes in order to maintain their status as a breathing, semi-healthy human being. Kingscross is an exception, not the rule. They're less tainted than most other human settlements by virtue of their location, but in Midnight there's always more than one bad apple in a bunch. Often times they make up the majority. Yet they need not be evil in order to turn over "heroes." They simply need the desire to maintain their quiet little life.

Yes, you could get some more supplies, make a serious inquiry there, but you could also get sold out. Or has that already happened? Time's ticking. I wouldn't stay in that oasis for very long.

[Kelemyn]

So just travelling from town to town puts us at risk for being sold out - is that right? There must be some excuse for going into a town and buying supplies and talking to the locals a bit.

[Cadrius]

Not exactly. Looking suspicious and hanging around for too long will get you sold out sooner or later. Short of being in Erethor or the Kaladruns, you run the risk of someone betraying you. Part of the atmosphere is the distrust. You know the Shadow is against you. What you don't know is which of the villagers you just saved will turn you in anyway to avoid a reprisal for associating with those who defy the Shadow.

Simple commerce is fine, particularly if you look like the locals and don't do anything too strange. If you walked into, say, Caderin in small groups, unarmed, and without Cytaill--and likely Heulwen, unless she was disguised--then you'd have nothing to worry about. If you inquired about a merchant by the name of Dura Abben, you're still all good (most likely).

However if you inquired bluntly about a raider who wore a porcelain mask, and produced said mask, you will have a good number of common folk moving away from you. Some of them will eagerly mention the events to the next captain they meet in order to curry favor. Being seen with books, weapons, escaped slaves, wogren, or magic, is obviously a very bad thing.

So yes, barter and chat are more than fine. You just need to be mindful of how you engage in them and what is said.

[Kelemyn]

Well since we really haven't rescued any villagers from the shadow's minions yet, I think we'd be pretty safe doing as I suggested - if we're careful. We can try hard to look and act like all the other downtrodden folk.

So I think it's mainly up to Dun if he wants to hit all the towns and villages along the way, including Kingscross.

By the way, I applaud your New Year's resolution, Cad. :)

[Cadrius]

It all depends, actually. How much sway does the Hound have with the orcs? Was he bluffing when he claimed that if he were defied, Kingscross would be killed to a man? Were descriptions of some of the more notable personas (Aleina, Dun, Lyr, Feyd) given out? What of the little halfling that made quite a stir with her prescence? And what of the Mayor? Will Lusk want to see some of these people in his town again?

But those are merely possibilities. What is known is that two orcs escaped the wrath of Feyd and the dwarf. Do they have superiors and comrades nearby? Well, that's back to the whatifs.

I simply wanted to drop a gentle reminder as I know it's easy to forget things in a PbP. Kingscross is not guaranteed to be safe, particularly compared to another village where the party is unknown.

[Kelemyn]

The Hound - a villain of sorts. Threatened to kill every man, woman, and child in Kingscross if the Healer, Lucien, was not turned over to him. Met by Aleina, Heulwen, Rhotha'ah, Dun, Lyr, Aashya

Edrick - A Houndsman. Has a pock marked face. Met by Aleina, Heulwen, Rhotha'ah, Dun, Lyr, Aashya

Aashya didn't actually meet or even see Edrick or the Hound. It was all over (and the Hound had teleported away) by the time she and Heulwen made it to the place where the party caught up with the Healer and the Hound.

[Cadrius]

Hmm, I could've sworn...ah yes. Now I recall. You two stopped up on the hill to "take care" of the man whose chest cavity was turned inside out. Thanks for the correction.

[Berova]

Dun of course prefers to hit the towns to gather info on Dura, that's one of the few ways of determining if they're on the right trail or not...unless Aleina has a surer alternative. ;)

If only a few go into 'town' that's okay too.

[Black Plauge]

We can skirt towns and send a few in to find out information or get supplies, but Heulwen isn't likely to be going into any or appreciate it any time soon.

[Gralhruk]

I don't think it's wise for Aleina to waltz back into Kingscross either.

[Kelemyn]

How does Dun feel about returning to Kingscross specifically?

[Berova]

How does Dun feel about returning to Kingscross specifically?

For what purpose?

To get more information on his father? To find out what, if anything, happen to the town/townspeople?

While Dun can see a legitimate purpose in returning to Kingscross, it must be weighed against additional risk to the town as well as increased danger from orcs there.

I'm a bit 'turned around' as far as directions are concerned. If we are to head south, would we be heading back towards Kingscross and away from Baden's Bluff?

[Gralhruk]

would we be heading back towards Kingscross and away from Baden's Bluff?
That's my impression.

And I think the reason for returning to Kingscross is more to find out about Dura Abben than what happened to the townspeople, although I'm sure we'll be shocked and horrified to actually see what befell them.

[Cadrius]

You are currently northwest of Kingscross and are approximately five-ten miles away.

Baden's bluff is to the northeast (of both your location and Kingscross) and is several hundred miles away.

Going south will, obviously, put you on a path away from Baden's Bluff. If you go due south then you'll skirt the town, likely by going through the isolated patch of woods. Although if I were some orcs looking for no good heroes, I imagine the woods would be the first place I'd check...right after the tavern.

[Cadrius]

But if you're feeling like someone should check it out, I believe Lyr is sacrificial lamb-elect.

[Dirigible]

Curse my awayness!

Although I guess Lyr is the most harmless looking member of the group.

Whaddyou mean 'casting to type'?!!?

[Black Plauge]

He's only harmless looking if you believe scholars are harmless. Something that isn't the usual case in Midnight.

[Berova]

He's only harmless looking if you believe scholars are harmless. Something that isn't the usual case in Midnight.

Burn him! Burn him! Burn him! :dead:

Merry Christmas everyone!

[Black Plauge]

Roth detected something before Heulwen and Cytaill? Damn, this wilderness pair is getting lax.

[Kahluah]

Heh - the halfling lady aint the only one who can hear stuff ;)

[Cadrius]

I've only one phrase to answer the complaint: the lice never die.

[Cadrius]

Side note: Rhothgar Allen Poe will need to leave the copse of panock trees to actually see Kingscross.

[Black Plauge]

Kal - Its not just hearing that I'm concerned with. Both can also detect things by smell and Cytaill has Blindsense as well.

Of course, as Cadrius says, the dice never lie, er, the lice never die?

Anyway, Heulwen will be moving silently into the forest and hiding as she goes. In addition, she's actively looking for signs of whatever Rhoth detected.

[Kahluah]

Cad: He's not attempting to look at Kingscross - just in the direction of the sounds he heard, so that's ok :)

[Cadrius]

As the update should make clear, I did take into account the various talents each of the party members have. The sounds were far distant, much too far for blindsense to detect. Scent: if you'll recall when the party awoke, the wind was blowing west to east, and the fire has only just begun. From there it was just a matter of the lice never dying.

[Black Plauge]

I wasn't questioning you Cadrius, I was just lamenting the fact that a couple of characters practically built around detecting potential threats missed what others didn't.

Need more skill points...

[Cadrius]

No, I understand completely. I was really just trying to console you. I always hate it when the dice roll against something a character is supposed to be great at. "What? The half-blind goblin saw something before the elf? Damn it!"

More skill points will likely be coming at the end of this chapter, provided your survive.

[Gralhruk]

Need more skill points...
The story of my life.

[Cadrius]

Those who leave the oasis to look upon Kingscross will see basically what Heulwen does.

[Berova]

Dun

Dun follows the others silently, stealthily.

When caught up with the others, he stays a few steps back. Beholding the sight and sounds unfolding in the distance, Dun is horrified. He slowly shakes his head, not wanting to believe, and yet knowing... "No...." the Erenlander whispers to himself.

Dun nods when the halfling voice breaks distant screams.

[Kahluah]

Berova - you might want to be putting that into the IC thread, matey *grins*

[Berova]

Done.

Thanks mate! :∙

[Kahluah]

*grin* no problem :)

[Black Plauge]

So, we're underway again.

The kind of path Heulwen is looking for, in terms of terrain, is hard ground, rocks, with little vegitation. If we can't take the time to hide our trail at the very least we can put the DC to follow us as high as possible.

As for keeping out of sight of Kingscross, well that should be kind of obvious.

[Black Plauge]

Oh, and just to be clear, even though I said that Heulwen leads the way, she's going whether the others follow or not. Standing staring at a village being burned by orcs is not something that strikes her as a good idea.

[Cadrius]

Duly noted. Expect an update later today.

[Kelemyn]

Just out of curiosity, does anybody in the party recognize Feyd's words as being a particular language?

By the way, if no-one else has anything to say, Aashya will follow after Heulwen, assuming she still can and hasn't lost her already.

[Black Plauge]

Cytaill follows at her side, casting a wary eye toward the burning settlement while his companion searches for a hidden route. She doesn't find all that much. The Westlands is a place of rolling plains interrupted only occasionally by spots of trees and water where the Eren and its tributaries make their way. Kingscross has one small forest to the south. She could try and skirt it, keep the trees between her and the orcs. Of course if they were searching for someone, it would be the second place they'd check after the oasis. Yet she guesses there's enough time to get out of immediate danger.

With rolling plains, staying out of sight is a matter of keeping an ungulation in the ground between you and what you want to hide from. Stands of trees and what not are not required. Only on a completely flat plain would it be impossible to stay out of sight.

[Cadrius]

Yes, thank you. Given the geography I imagined that putting the most amount of cover between her and Kingscross would be the preferred method of travel. The post was about picking the route that maximizes her concealment from unfriendly eyes, it wasn't about her inability to utilize the various troughs on the plains. Your ranks in survival and knowledge: wilderness do count for something.

If this is an issue, and you would rather have Heulwen travel in a different direction, let me know.

[Black Plauge]

No, I just misunderstood your post. The wording made me think that Heulwen wasn't finding cover as she traveled. Thank you for clarifying.

[Kelemyn]

I was just reading back over some of the recent posts, and I couldn't help laughing because the dwarf is riding on the back of a mule... named Bombur!

Ha!

That just cracked me up.

[Gralhruk]

You can thank our illustrious DM for that - he's the one who suggested a name for Aleina's mule.

[Cadrius]

Yes, let's get the dwarf-riding-dwarf jokes out of the way now, shall we?

Berova, I sent you a PM last week. Did you get it? I don't think I got a reply.

[Kelemyn]

So when do you think we'll be ready to move on? Do you need anything more from us?

[Gralhruk]

Hey, I thought it was my turn to prod!

[Berova]

Cad, I didn't notice the PM until you pointed them out and will respond to them tonight. Things have been hectic at work and at home of late.

[Cadrius]

Not a problem. After I get some cold medicine into me I can likely move us along. The PMs are of a non-urgent nature.

Is there any plan beyond traveling with Heulwen and skirting the town as broadly as possible?

[Kelemyn]

Hey, I thought it was my turn to prod!

I gave you a chance. :) No doubt you were trying to find a way to do it as delicately as possible.

Either that or you couldn't find your cattle prod.

[Cadrius]

*shudders* I can still feel the brand he burned into my...nevermind.

Anything else before I start the update? Speak now or forever hold your dwarf.

[Cadrius]

Point of reference: you all have just reached the small woods sitting to the west of Kingscross.

You know, I really ought to draw a freaking map of this. Anyone have a recommendation for a mapping program or utility? Me going into MS Paint and drawing this freehand likely isn't the best idea.

[Gralhruk]

I'm not given to predicting the future, prefering to take things one day at a time.
Beautiful :).

[Kelemyn]

I've been thinking about doing an IC post. I've sat down and tried a couple of times. But, nothing is coming to me. Really, nothing much has happened recently for Aashya to react to. I hate to do an 'Aashya continues to plod along beside Bombur' post, or an 'Aashya ponders the direction her life is taking' post.

Anyway, just so you know not to wait on me......

[Cadrius]

Not a problem. I was hoping Berova might have something to say, but perhaps he's busy. Expect an update tomorrow evening.

[Berova]

Yes, sorry, busy, though I don't have much to add and am interested in moving along as well. Let's just get movin'. Besides those "ESP" posts drive me nuts!

[Cadrius]

Done. My apologies if any of my phrasing is sloppy. My brain is fried from sitting in front of a computer all day, but I did promise an update. I'll be sure to go in and clean it up a bit tomorrow but the meat of the post remains true. You've got a dwarf that's quickly becoming conscious. I'll give you folks a chance to post any actions you might want to take before he becomes fully awake.

Unless of course you club him back into unconsciousness.

[Black Plauge]

This should be fun. As I recall the dwarf doesn't speak Ernlander. Some translation difficulties are in the offing.

[Kelemyn]

A fair jawcracker, dwarf language is. :)

[Gralhruk]

Very good, master Samwise ;).

Zirak-zigil ai-mênu.

The mountain is upon us*?

*Zirak-zigil is the peak of the mountain Silvertine. The literal translation of ai-mênu is "are upon you" - Gimli's battle cry Khazad ai-mênu translates to "The dwarves are upon you".

For more on Tolkien's languages, be sure to visit Helg's Ardalambion (http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/).

[Cadrius]

Hmm, I'm not sure how I feel about the translation of NPC dialogue. Of course that is assuming the words I've used here possess the same meanings as Tolkien's dwarvish.

[Gralhruk]

That was an attempt at your earth humor.

Icky-Icky-Icky-Icky-Kapang-Zoop-Boing!

[Cadrius]

Good DMs lack a sense of humor...or compassion.

[Gralhruk]

Well, I can always go back to my tried and true routine.


wait for it . . .



It's no skin off my ass :evolved:.

[Dirigible]

Well, the person who drives the equimorphic critters in front of carts is called a muleskinner... so I guess that makes Aleina an ass-skinner?

[Cadrius]

Poor Bombur.

[Cadrius]

Berova, I sent you a PM.

[Black Plauge]

I don't know how long it'll take Aleina to change the bandages, but Heulwen should be able to cover about 60ft of the parties trail for every minute she estimates it'll take. Hopefully it'll be enough for whoever is tracking us to lose the trail and be forced to take an hour to refind it.

That should keep Heulwen busy for most (if not all) of our stop, so the rest of you can figure out how to communicate with the dwarf.

[Cadrius]

Another day, another twelve inches of snow. Expect an update later this evening.

[Black Plauge]

More snow. :)

Its the heavy stuff this time, making shoveling difficult. :(

Get to ski more. :)

I'd say two out of three ain't bad.

[Cadrius]

Hmm, after all that shoveling I'm beat...plus enough snow fell so that it doesn't even look like any shoveling took place. Looks like that update will be delayed until the morning.

[Cadrius]

So I'm a huge liar. Waking up to see that all of yesterday's shoveling (and thensome) was filled in by fresh snow had me out shoveling for another couple hours. No new storms for the weekend, so it looks like I'll have no excuses but to post.

[Kelemyn]

Don't tell me. It's snowing again this morning. :)

[Cadrius]

There will be an update this weekend, even if it's only to spite Kel. In the meanwhile, be grateful that I don't write like this (http://douglas.min.net/essay/).

[Kelemyn]

I have served my purpose here.

[Cadrius]

Oh! I posted! In your face!

[Cadrius]

So began the year-long posting of all dialogue in yellow so that the dwarf might understand.

And there was much rejoicing...until they grew weary of the color and ditched their stout companion in the nearest cave.

[Dirigible]

Hi guys, remember me?

Her Majesty's Goverment finally deciced to exile me from whence I came*. So I guess I'll be doing that whole 'in character posting' thing I hear so much about, once I've refreshed my memory as to recent events.

Good to be back.

* = The charges, which involved David Beckham, a tube of superglue, a rapid hedgehog and a Japanese tea urn, are, technically violations of National Security, so I can't go into them here.

[Kelemyn]

I guess I owe you my gratitude, Aleina, Dun, Rhotha'ah, Lyr, and Heulwen.

Stupid dwarf. He forgot Aashya! See if she unrolls any more clean bandages for him......

[Cadrius]

Heh, yes. Stupid dwarf...

And huzzah for Blimpie's inevitable deportation. I'm glad I can stop playing Lyr as an girly, craven scholar so you can take over the reigns and get back to playing him as a...girly, craven scholar.

[Gralhruk]

You mean Blimpie was gone? I thought the ooc had been less offensive lately but I chalked it up to New Year's resolutions.

[Cadrius]

Our days of offensive OOC comments are clearly coming to a middle.

[Gralhruk]

It's like our own little half-assed renaissance.

[Cadrius]

An assaissance, if you will.

[Gralhruk]

Or Renassance.

[Cadrius]

That's right. It's time for a new chapter. Enjoy. Any levelling questions/concerns/comments you can either put here or send in a PM to me.

All that I ask is rationalization if you want to pick up a new class or skill that you have no ranks in. The rest we can presume you've been working upon. Path abilities are inherent as well and don't require training. Chapter 4 will start in media res a few days from now.

[Cadrius]

If you could add a post to your characters in the Dramatic Personae forum that summarizes the changes (HP, where your skill ranks went, new class abilities, etc), it would help me keep things straight.

[Black Plauge]

New levels!!!!

[Dirigible]

Which sounds like a good point for me to start, you know, posting, and all that.

Or I could play more KOTOR 2.

Hmm. This requires thought.

[Cadrius]

Hey, Blimpie. Do you remember the Hindenburg? How well do you suppose Lyr will fare while you're off playing with your Wookie?

[Dirigible]

Remember it? Check the avatar, baby.

[Cadrius]

Chapter Four has begun. If there was anything specific you wanted to have done during the previous week, let me know and I'll make any required rolls.

[Berova]

The only thing I would have wanted done was... Dun would have spoken with the dwarf in dwarven as appropriate, nothing too serious or personal, but to get to know the dwarf better and the dwarf to know him a bit better. Dun's quite impressed with Soradur's prowess at killing orcs and is curious what he was doing in central Erenland.

[Kelemyn]

Quick question: Aashya is down some vitality points still - will she have regained any by now?

[Cadrius]

Yes, presume normal healing.

Dun, I'll send you a PM.

[Kelemyn]

I'm sorry, but what is normal healing?

[Cadrius]

1 vitality/level per day.

[Gralhruk]

So, class defense bonus:
Obviously, it adds to your base AC. Does it add to your flat footed or touch AC?

And while I'm at it:
Spells. It says that channelers learn two new spells per level. Can I just pick any two or do I need to learn them from somewhere?

[Cadrius]

What? Spells? Back in my day we used to get 1d4 HP, a skill rank and count ourselves lucky to have 'em. Damn whipper-snappers...

[Gralhruk]

You lucky bastard. We never even had hit points - we used to walk around dead all day.

[Cadrius]

And we had a THAC0 of 50!

[Cadrius]

1. Class bonus adds to touch and flatfooted AC. If adding it to flatfooted ac proves to be too much, then I can always alter it.

2. Channels get two free spells upon levelling (from the schools that they know). All others must be learned via the methods shown on pages 74 and 75.

[Dirigible]

And we had a THAC0 of 50!

THAC0? In my day, we had to compare our level and the enemy's AC on a matrix chart, and we liked it! That is, unless we were assassins, in which case we had a flat percentage chacne to kill anything.

[Cadrius]

I am in awe of your awfulness.

[Dirigible]

I am in terror of your terrificness.

[Gralhruk]

I'm astounded by your . . .

assiness?

[Cadrius]

Flattery will get you everywhere.

[Dirigible]

And it certainly flattens me.

[Kelemyn]

Well I see that it's no longer safe to go into the OOC....

Welcome back Blimpie.

[Cadrius]

Shh! Don't encourage him!

[Cadrius]

Out of curiosity: where are you folks planning on camping?

It's dusk now with overcast skies so there isn't much time to travel without striking up some torches (and hope it doesn't rain). The rolling plains flatened out as you drew closer to the Eren, so no real shallow valley camping spots (not without retreating a ways away from the river).

Right now you're probably about a mile from the nearest farm. Concealment where you currently are won't be easy.

There's also the forest on the far side, but it will take some time to get there as you'll likely want to skirt the village.

[Gralhruk]

I vote for the forest. Camping out in the open probably isn't a good idea.

[Berova]

The forest sounds good to me.

[Dirigible]

But... there might be elves.

Forest gets my vote.

[Cadrius]

Well, the three people who don't immediately have to deal with the forest have voted.
What about those that actually have to go there whilst the Erenlanders are pumping the locals for information?

Heh, pumping.

[Dirigible]

In return, how about the craven fools who are going to go off and hide behind the elven dollies/doillies tell us how we should pump the locals?

Personally, I prefer to give them a good hard pumping from behind.

[Kelemyn]

Aashya votes against the forest. She'd prefer to find a hidden place near the River. Unless Heulwen has a better suggestion.

[Cadrius]

Well, if I don't hear from the remaining party today (BP and Kahluah), I'll just have to assume that they're abstaining from voting and will move the game along tomorrow. I should have plenty of time; we're getting another foot of snow.

*waits for Kel to be shocked*

[Gralhruk]

we're getting another foot of snow
So are we :(.

[Black Plauge]

Garr!!!!!

Stupid subscription rules aren't working and I got too busy to remember to check manually. Time for some catch up reading.

[Kelemyn]

we're getting another foot of snow.

Somebody must have killed the groundhog that lives in your neck of the woods....

[Black Plauge]

Question, Cadrius, about leveling. Heulwen and Cytaill would have used this traveling opportunity to work out signals and a way to communicate, even when Heulwen is not using her speak with animals ability. Do you want me to specify exactly what was worked out, or can we leave that open ended?

Also, would these signals be "tricks"? Cytaill is an intelligent creature. Hell, he even understands at least one language (most likely halfling) according to the MM (p7, Abilities: Intelligence), so I don't know that Heulwen's interaction with him can be classified under the trick model for a normal animal companion, but if you want to handle it that way, I'll take that into account.

[Cadrius]

It's a tricky call. What I'm leaning toward though is making Cytaill a hybrid between an animal companion and an NPC cohort. Commands (tricks) require a Handle Animal check and a week to teach it each one.

However, given his increased intellect I'm inclined to expand the number of tricks he can learn, lower the DCs to learn them, and allow him to act on his own accord sometimes. This is obviously a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can save you from spending move equivalent actions telling him what to do, on the other, he does possess an intelligence (and thus free will) and may occasionally act against your wishes. The fact that he can understand Halfling is the rationalization for the easier time to train him, but I wouldn't use complex sentences or concepts.

[Black Plauge]

Actually, the animal companion Link ability means that ordering commanding an animal companion to perform a trick is a free action, not a move-action. It only becomes a move action when "pushing" the animal companion (i.e. trying to get it to do something against its nature which it has not been trained to do).

I agree, however, on your analysis of how to handle the fact that Cytaill is a more than a normal animal companion. I've been doing my best thus far to make the relation between Heulwen and Cytaill far more two way, more like two friends, rather than the typical one way, master/pet, relation that one normally associates with animal companions.

Still, I can see how having a set list of tricks would be useful. Extrapolating from the number of tricks a normal animal can have, Cytaill would be able to learn 21 tricks based on Int (plus bonus tricks for being an animal companion). Do you want to give him the ability to learn more tricks than this? How many of these tricks do you think they could have worked out (or at least worked on) in the course of the week?

As for lowering the DCs, I figure that at the very least, Cytaill should be allowed to make a DC 10 Int check to Aid Heulwen in the "training" (i.e. granting her a +2 bonus on the check). This doesn't lower the DC, but raises the check result (which hases the same net effect). Is this kind of thing you were talking about? Or were you thinking of something more drastic?

[Cadrius]

I worked on a post tonight, got it all finished, decided that I didn't like it, and that you folks deserve better. Expect a new and improved update tomorrow.

Just so I'm clear: I've got several people who want to stay in the woods, one who wants the river, one who rejects the river, and one who hasn't said a word? Provided a firm consenus isn't met overnight, I'm going to assume that you had this discussion in-character and settled the issue prior to Lyr, Dun, and Aleina going down into the village.

BP. That's about what I was looking for. Having Cytaill aid another on the check works out to be basically what I was aiming at. The standard is one trick per week. As with crafting you can try and hasten the process but it will make the DC higher. Send me a PM with what you wanted to work on and I'll get you the results.

[Cadrius]

Got a busy weekend coming up but I'm going to try and at least get a post out for the non-townies to play with.

[Dirigible]

Got a busy weekend coming up

Beer doesn't drink itself, you know.

Ohmigosh... but what if it did!?!

[Cadrius]

I'm fairly certain Armageddon would quickly ensue.

[Cadrius]

What the?! I've found myself with a wealth of free time this afternoon and look what I've gone and done. I've posted twice...in one day. Shocking!

[Cadrius]

I bet you damn whipper-snappers expect an update. Back in my day we had to wait for our DM to mail the update to us...from Siberia...one sentence at a time!

Look for forward momentum on the morrow.

[Cadrius]

And to head of the questions before they're even asked: Aleina, Dun, and Lyr did not hear the yell. The distance was too great and the noise of two rivers did a wonderful job of masking it.

[Black Plauge]

Perp was probably counting on that.

I'm willing to be, however, that he wasn't counting on several well armed individuals being in the vincinity.

So, shall we investigate?

[Dirigible]

I'm willing to be, however, that he wasn't counting on several well armed individuals being in the vincinity.

I was about to say 'you mean one well armed...' then I was about to say 'you mean two well armed...' but, yeah, there's three.

Gral, Ber, do you realise that we've left all the big guns outside the town and walked into a Shadow-den loaded for bear?

And we ain't even loaded for kitten.

[Berova]

What's all this talk of bears and kittens... :cat: and dang, I forgot to get a knife even! At least I was able to make use of the peasant's outfit before I die :dead:

Maybe the ruckus in the outskirts will get all the attention and all the real baddies will overlook us? :D

Whatcha planning to do Dir, break into the old man's shack while he's sleeping? If Cad does any better job describing that old man, Dun's gonna take his own shirt off his back and give it to him.

More seriously, we going to reconnoiter some more or head to the tavern?

[Gralhruk]

Aleina isn't really cut out for sneaking around. Or fighting, for that matter. And casting spells is probably a bad idea. So yeah, she isn't the best equipped should we get into any trouble.

But hey, Lyr has his sling! :)

At any rate, I don't think more recon is going to net us anything, except maybe to make us appear more suspiscious than we already will.

[Kelemyn]

How far away is the farmstead nearest the woods?

[Cadrius]

I'll need to check my notes but a rough estimate of a quarter mile wouldn't be too far off.

[Dirigible]

Whatcha planning to do Dir, break into the old man's shack while he's sleeping? If Cad does any better job describing that old man, Dun's gonna take his own shirt off his back and give it to him.

I know. *sniffles*

No, I've found what I was looking for. Let's go to the tavern.

[Gralhruk]

No, I've found what I was looking for.
A lonely old man to get cozy with?

[Cadrius]

Quick! Make him your familiar!

[Gralhruk]

I wonder what the ritual for that is. On second thought, I don't want to know.

[Dirigible]

First, peel your old man...

[Cadrius]

Dude! You forgot to pre-heat the oven! You don't want him raw, do you?

*leaves an opening a mile wide*

[Dirigible]

Cadrius badman.

[Cadrius]

You'll think I'm even worse after you get this (http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/37/) caught in your head.

[Dirigible]

I...just...I...it...just...I...you...just...it...

Where is the cow hiding right now?

[Black Plauge]

Does the big man with the axes want to weigh in in a more assertive manner than the two women? Or should the women take charge and move things forward with out him?

[Dirigible]

Or should the women take charge and move things forward with out him?

Dear Penthouse, I never thought I'd be writing a post like this...

[Gralhruk]

Please, please, please tell me the rest of that letter involves does not involve a lonely old man.

[Kahluah]

Does the big man with the axes want to weigh in in a more assertive manner than the two women? Or should the women take charge and move things forward with out him?

Sorry, I've been without a computer for half of the time the past couple of weeks, and when I have been with a computer, I've been smacked about with a serious case of writer's block.
Hopefully both of these problems should be fixed within the next week or so *crosses fingers*

[Black Plauge]

Well, Cadrius pushed as ahead a bit faster than intended (Heulwen would not have moved forward so brazenly as to be spotted like that for one), but things seem to have worked out anyway. Let's see what comes.

[Cadrius]

Most of the time I dont push far enough ahead. So it figures that the one time I do, someone isn't happy. If you'd rather I do a quick edit and leave Heulwen and Cytaill on the far side of the farmstead or back in the fields, let me know. We haven't fully entered the scene yet and there's just enough time for a little revisionist history.

[Black Plauge]

You don't have to leave them so far back, so much as have them skulking around in the shadows (hide & move silently).

[Berova]

Just wanted everyone to know, I'll be on vacation starting next Sunday (3/20-3/28).

Cad just put Dun on autopilot till I get back.

[Kahluah]

Hey Cad, as much as I love having to edit every single one of my posts to get rid of my sig file so it doesn't interrupt the game flow, would it be at all possible for you to turn off the sigs to the thread in the overall thread options?

[Kelemyn]

Does anybody else have the feeling that we've stumbled into .... the Twilight Zone?

:)

[Gralhruk]

It does feel that way.

And now I'm really worried that we blundered big time by sending a woman into town.

[Cadrius]

Do-Do do-do Do-Do do-do Do-Do do-do...

[Black Plauge]

Actually, its more like this: http://www.tower-of-terror.com/sounds/midi/The_Twilight_Zone_Theme.mid

[Kelemyn]

Berova's on vacation, isn't he? And all the rest of us have posted. So I guess we can expect an update soonish, um, right? :D

Sorry, but I'm eager to see what happens next!

[Gralhruk]

Something tells me he'll let us sweat it out for a while.

[Dirigible]

I dunno if you yanks will have seen it, but it seems more like Royston Vasey, from the League of Gentlemen.


We're not local, you see...

[Kelemyn]

Something tells me he'll let us sweat it out for a while.

No! Not Cadrius!

[Gralhruk]

My games may be slow, but you know what they say: "Shut up Gral"
Itches will be so happy to know someone is quoting him.

[Cadrius]

No! Not Cadrius!

I would never milk a situation for each and every drop of tension it can provide. Never. Nope. Never.

Therefore I predict my next IC post to go up in a week or so.

[Gralhruk]

I'll be spending the interim fleshing out my new character.

[Cadrius]

I'll be spending the interim fleshing out my new character.

Meanwhile, the townsfolk will be fle--nevermind.

[Gralhruk]

Hahaha.

The suspense may be killing me, but I've dispatched seven score ninja to do you in.

[Cadrius]

It turns out I'm a terrible liar. Call off the ninja.

[Gralhruk]

Sense motive on Dolorous Callum and the dude who asked Aleina the question.

[Cadrius]

Berova picked a poor time to go on vacation. Oh well. Who wants to sell Dun to the townsfolk? All in favor? Aye!

[Dirigible]

If selling babies for profit is wrong, then I don't want to be right.

[Black Plauge]

Aye!

What are we voting on again?

[Cadrius]

We're selling players to the villagers. I'm going to have to add another name to that list unless I see a post from a certain Sarcosan...who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent.

[Kelemyn]

I think I just made it in under the wire... Whew!

My kids are on Spring Break, and I've spent the first part of this week working my ass off so I can take the next two days off to hang out with them. Plus I think I might finally be coming down with one or more of the bugs that's been going around the office. Which is just about right - I'll end up spending my four-day weekend in bed. (Or more likely, dragging myself around the zoo and the museum and the miniature golf course, sicker than a dog!)

[Cadrius]

All will be forgiven if you go mini-golfing.

Our courses up here, despite the spring thaw, are still covered in snow and mud.

[Cadrius]

Don't everyone post at once now.

[Gralhruk]

"Two nasty looking switches over here, but I'm not going to be the first."

[itches]

Cad Edit: I shouldn't post here. I should be in the visitor's thread.

[Kelemyn]

I meant to ask this earlier - How far from the woods are we now?

[Cadrius]

There's a field where the few livestock are let out to graze that separates the house and the woods. It's too dark to tell now, but based on the previous cursory inspection, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume a quarter mile or less.