Mouse
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Simon, Lord of Reserved Swedes and Lesser Top Hats
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Post by Mouse on Jan 20, 2011 18:02:34 GMT
Markus flinched, a brief moment of surprise as the Half-orc walked past him. His size was impressive but his insight even more so... he couldn't possible have...? No, it was more likely that he just lacked a sense of humour, or that he was so disciplined that he regarded Markus' little comment as a nuisance. Perhaps he should rather leave the knight alone if he could see through him that easily.
His eyes went over to the the steed the knight have left behind. An excellent specimen, physically perfect he thought, oh what he wouldn't give for a couple of hours with the necromantica. Who knows, the knight might even like what would happen to his mount. For now the book remained safe and he hoped for it to remain that way at least for a while.
He walked over to the child and sat down by him. -"I guess people underestimate you because of your age eh? Don't you worry about me though. Markus never lets age fool him. When I was on my travels I landed on this island once where even the children were over eight feet tall. You get a whole new perspective on children when some of them could rip a tree from the ground and swing it at you."
Markus chuckled. "I'll tell you the truth. I happen to be a bit talented in magic and I sense a lot of it from you. It must be hard knowing you are more powerful than anyone around you?" He waved at the only other remaining companion around. "Hey, Peytr isn't it? Come over here and sit down. Have I told you about this time when I encountered this dragon hoard? Now there's a story..."
The half-orc might have shown a remarkable sense of insight but Markus was patient. He had a way of wearing people down. After a while they started to like him, it was inevitable, like death.
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Dudeicuf
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Post by Dudeicuf on Jan 23, 2011 1:06:58 GMT
Kavor spent a while looking around for someone in charge. Anyone with any authority just glared at him, the people at the bottom, squires and servants didn't know or were to afraid to speak to him and all the soldiers inbetween were too busy or again, scared of him. Kavor was patient, but a long journey here, and Markus' comment had started to push him. After around 25 minutes he returned to the small group of adventurers.
Upon reaching him he heard Markus' last part of the story '... and if only I'd been more powerful, I'd be the richest man in the world!'. Kavor thought 'HA, a human saying something like that! HA' and as he passed, he uttered 'Modesty doesn't suit you' and chuckled slightly. He reached Syver and started to put his gauntlet back on. Kavor's patience had almost worn through, then he thought of back home
'No, I mustn't let these humans get to me, they aren't all like this. Lady Braye showed mercy on me as a baby, Lord Braye was full of chivalry and honour, and all the cooks and servants in the keep who I grew up with, they were KIND, LOVING, they treated me as one of them, they didn't show prejudice. I must give this lot another chance...' He stopped midway of putting his gaunlet on, removed it and turned.
He walked straight up to Markus and reached out his hand 'Sorry, it was a long journey, I seemed to have got off of Syver on the wrong foot. I am Sir Kavor of Braye, a Knight on a quest, a soldier heading into battle, a man of honour, ready to serve my leaders, protect the weak and fight ALL that is wrong.'
'Mercy' Kavor thought, 'Mercy is what I must show. If I am to fight alongside these people, I must be honourable. I must be righteous. I can't let my Orc brutality show and neither my human arrogance'. Syver walked up to behind Kavor, imposing over the already tall Half-Orc, seemingly glaring at Markus. Kavor may show mercy and, to a degree naivety, but Syver didn't. Syver had heeded Kavor's first words to him and planned on keeping a careful eye on Markus, even if Kavor remained blissfully unaware.
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Mouse
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Simon, Lord of Reserved Swedes and Lesser Top Hats
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Post by Mouse on Jan 23, 2011 5:07:16 GMT
((In interest of clearing up a misunderstanding I had with Tom. Nathan did not put words in my mouth. I told him what my character would be saying))
While rising from his sitting position he speaks: “Heh, yes, I tell tall tales. Call it “Storyteller’s freedom”. I help the listener visualize the situation and it creates excitement. I hope no one takes it literally. Storytelling is, after all, a minor vice.” He takes the half-orc’s hand.
“I would be an idiot to refuse your aid in combat or in questions of wisdom. You speak highly of honour and servitude and other things a simple man such as me can never fully grasp without the help of a superior one. When you rode into the camp I thought: Here comes a knight who has values such as chivalry and righteousness. Truly someone who can set an example to me! We have been grouped together for a task. I might not be a knight with a steed but you and I have to make the best of the situation. Sometimes you get apples” An apple appears in Markus’ left hand “And sometimes lemons” The apple disappears and is replaced by a lemon which also disappears after Markus closes his hand. ((For those who have spellcraft, this is a trick done with prestidigitation)) He then breaks the handshake.
“You have once again surprised me, first by being of orcish heritage and now by disproving all my prejudices against orcs! Most men are more brutish than you. But where are my manners? I have not properly introduced myself!” He takes a deep bow to the towering orc. “Markus Kurush, at your service: Traveller, storyteller and spell caster. I am more known as ‘Sebastian the Wanderer’ or ‘Sebastian the Seducer’ but both names carry much prejudice and are entirely incorrect so I dismissed them seeking a greater purpose in life. Maybe something you could help me with?”
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Post by holloway on Jan 23, 2011 6:05:19 GMT
*Note: We rolled for a giggle - Peytr rolled a natural 1 for sense motive, thus his understanding of Marcus is a little off the mark. Example: he's pretty sure he's a bard.
Peytr decided to stand and listen to what turned out to be a well told but highly pointless fake tale of fake courage and fake greed. It made for interesting background noise as he ate and daydreamed a little of the everyday thrill he had lived with until recently. Would he be satisfied with the unsubtleties of war? Certainly it lacked the urban subterfuge and dexterous finesse which he had become so fond of, and his skillset hardly matched the typical prerequisites for those mindless walking swords that constituted local soldiers.
The second half-orc jeer of the day whisked Peytr out of his own head and back with the misfits. Stimulus.
He turned his head and spied the organic battering ram moving for his steed. Pharasma pray he makes to leave our company? No, the obvious internal battle of conscience and morals left victory with misfortune this time. Ah Miss Fortune, you cold hearted bitch. Pharasma's sense of humour was crushed and smothered under waves of Peytr's own special brand of cynicism he reserved exclusively for situations such as this.
The man-ogre completed his circuit to and fro the horse with a handshake offered to and accepted by the bard-like man Peytr had learnt to be known as Marcus. The brown nosing this bard partook in could have been mistaken for courting, which Peytr decided to share with the group when Marcus left the prompt open for him.
"How about you be The Bride and the tall one can be The Groom?"
A pointless exercise but a warmth spread through Peytr and all was good.
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Dudeicuf
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Post by Dudeicuf on Jan 23, 2011 13:06:32 GMT
Kavor had given Markus a chance. He took it. As much as Kavor wanted to believe all that he had said, there was something in the back of his mind telling him to beware. But, he ignored it. Kavor put on a smile, as much of one as is possible when there are several inches of tusk sticking out of your mouth, as Markus said his spiel and introduced himself. Then he heard Peytr's comment.
'I must give him a chance, I'll dissmiss it as just an attepmt at humour' Kavor thought, and he turned to the thin, shady man. Something seemed different to him, he seemed to be hidden even while in the open, his scarf wraps high around his head like he was trying to hide his face. Why? Had he wronged somebody, was he scared of showing his face. What was there to hide? Again, Kavor held out his hand and said 'Another comedian! At least we won't get bored at camps!'
Kavor had noticed how Syver had moved right up to him, and couldn't place why, he seemed more interested in Markus... 'Hmmm, must have been the sight of an apple' Kavor thought, 'Well, at least he has one use!, maybe he'd make a good squire! HAHA' They boy in armour had still not said anything, he still just sat there, polishing his warhammer. Kavor still thought he was ridiculous.
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Post by holloway on Jan 24, 2011 6:57:22 GMT
"I didn't want to harm present company with my devastatingly stunning beauty just yet", Peytr said as he noticed Kavor's stare. The half-orc's palms were a little sweaty, probably from all that exercise strangling newborn children Peytr mused, but he took it anyway and shook firmly.
"And unfortunately my humour is probably a little too dry for most people's tastes - I've as much chance killing conversation as I do at fueling it". A lie, but perhaps divulging snippets of his fake personal traits could create an amiability between him and the group. A knife at his side was better than one in it, and people are not so quick to accuse liked comrades when a favoured family hierloom goes missing from their pack.
Peytr pondered that last thought, and how his nimble fingers had become more of a split-second blur recently than an actual movement - excluding his incarcerating mishap of course. A more insecure man would perhaps consider the weight of this issue - was a thief all he was and all he could be? Nay, Peytr need not philosophise such matter. A footpad or cutpurse he could be, and a good one at that, but he was as much as the job required him to be. An internal arrogance brewed exclusively through confidence and experience, and an earned one to boot.
Swallowing the last of his dried meat Peytr turned to the steed and sated an itch with a good scratch of his stubble.
"Nice ride. Unfortunate that it's fooled easy by fake lemons however. Might want to get that checked out". A stupid grin filled Peytr's face as he wondered to himself why he was trying so damn hard all of a sudden.
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Mouse
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Simon, Lord of Reserved Swedes and Lesser Top Hats
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Post by Mouse on Jan 24, 2011 7:07:13 GMT
Marcus watched the interaction between the two with great interest. The human had stumped him with his comment as he realized that he could be one of two things: In best case very useful or in worst case detrimental to his attempts at affecting the other members of their little group. It was never good to have someone point out the mistakes you might make in interacting with someone. Flattery usually make people overlook that but when the flattery is directed to someone else it is easier to be non-biased. He could however be useful as he would keep Marcus on his toes. The generals and captains in this camp had been easy game, making Marcus fall into a sense of false security about his conversational skills.
This man seemed however to have the conversational proficiency of a politician. Maybe, Marcus thought, almost challenging his own. The only way he could affect him would be through his own will, but perhaps his will was more along Marcus' track than the others were. His talking showed that he wasn't as naive as the orc at least. Thereby excluding that he had any high-flying values to live by and the way he was rubbing his wrists could suggest that he didn't pay much attention to the laws of the majority, something which Marcus was not entirely unsympathetic with.
Sure, he had shook the knight's hand in agreement, but he could be an opportunist just like Marcus himself. Enough hypothesising, if Peytr's comment had made any damage to his relation with Kavor he should focus on repairing it.
"Ah, the silent one speaks. Don't worry speechlessness is a common symptom from listening to my tales. Men harder to impress than you have fallen before my magic touch with a story. As for your insult I'd despite your crudeness rate it a three out of five. One point for comedic value, one point for proper environment (being a soldier's camp I imagine the crudeness is fitting) and one for simplicity and brevity."
As for Kavor he definitely had a role to fill. His unbiased friendliness would prove valuable to tie this little group of people together. Perhaps Marcus would even allow him a leader role. To a limited extent of course, and only because leadership would draw attention to him, instead of Marcus, who had a bag full of shady history he'd rather not reveal. Left now was the boy. Marcus could only hope to imagine what he could bring to the group. Addressing the orc he said:
"Your animal seems more than just a simple steed. You wouldn't care to share his name with us?"
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Post by holloway on Jan 25, 2011 3:06:44 GMT
Sorry to break the RP chain, but an issue has come up I have queries about.
Talking about poisons got me looking deeper into crafting them and either I'm calculating it wrong or it seems tremendously inefficient and time consuming.
Example: Craft alchemy = 3 ranks, 4 ability modifier, 3 class skill, 2 alchemy lab. Total = 12
To create a simple large scorpion venom poison it's (d20 +12)xCraft DC. The craft DC in this case being either the fort save or the DCs from the arms and equipment guide (which I realise is 3rd ed).
I roll 15 and get a 27 for my check, times 18 (fort save) and get 405. This is 1/5 of 2000 (large scorpion venom's worth in sp) and thus takes me FIVE FUCKING WEEKS to craft a single charge of venom.
I get it. It's early days yet right? Besides, taking master alchemist, skill focus and other traits/class variants helps buff alchemy and massively decrease the time it takes to craft something. However, saying I do take the feat and a few more ranks it doesn't really change that much. Mid-range poisons still take along-ass time to craft.
Example: 30 craft check x DC 20 = 600 for deathblade (1800g price) That's 3 weeks for 1d4 charges of poison, assuming I'm rolling 30 every time for the check.
I understand crafting takes time, and weapons/armour takes forever too, but the difference is they last. A poison charge is gone within a few days at the most, leaving me 2 weeks or more waiting for the next batch. It's the rules, I know, but this is important for my character and dictates whether I waste a fuckton of ranks, time and even feats.
My point is, is there any way to amend this? Like make a character able to create several types of poisons parallel to one another, using the alchemy lab to brew and filter one poison whilst another ferments or airs or whatever the fuck the process includes. After 2-3 weeks a large batch of varied potions is created and the character can begin to use these whilst he creates the next batch.
Either that or the crafting calculation is changed or something. I dunno. But fuck wasting all that stuff on alchemy if it's like this.
P.S forgive me if I have totally missed the mark and am retarded. It's late and, well, frankly, it's me we're talking about.
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Post by mafoon on Jan 25, 2011 13:24:04 GMT
yeh it will be slow at first and you will get alot higher skill for it which will help you do the special part. Under the craft skill look at special and it says you can add +10 to the craft dc in order to decrease craft time, you can stack it if you think you can pass the DC.
The point is in poison is that its a bonus on top of your class features so its something you won't have on a regular basis, its the big guns you bring out for that hard encounter where you need to tip the balance or bring them down quick.
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Post by holloway on Jan 25, 2011 16:08:14 GMT
I did miss the special DC thing which is cool, however it still doesn't justify (in my opinion) spending all those feats/skill points/traits/taking rogue poisoner variant to have it still end up taking 2 weeks and 600 gold to create a mid-range poison, even when rolling an easy 30+ on the checks.
I'm only bitching because I was looking forward to my character utilising this and it fits quite well, especially since I made him a weaker combatant in exchange for a more skillful 'disguises,stealth,suprise and a poisoned blade' approach. Guess I'll spend that new 3000g on a bitch-load of poison vials.
Additional: craft is kind of pointless for any campaign that elapses over a short amount of time isn't it. I mean, Fimbulvinter will maybe be 2 months tops.
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Post by mafoon on Jan 30, 2011 20:27:30 GMT
I've almost finished drawing the world map and i've seen ryans finished 'local' map. Perhaps because i've got the fimbilvinter campagin on my mind, we've made the planet cold compared to earth in that the tropic region is comparable to earths temperate and the ice caps are massive. We'll show you the local map before tommorows game if you want.
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Post by holloway on Feb 1, 2011 14:07:16 GMT
I use Toms account to post as mine has not been verified yet. //Joee Rasheeda entered the camp with the lioness Kara at her side. In her tribal tattoos, plains clothing and with skin that had been darkened and hair that had been bleached by the relentless sun of her homeland, she knew she made an odd sight to these people. The looks of curiosity and sometimes disdain she received did not bother her as much as it had the first weeks of her travel. She had been astonished to find that her tattoos stood out, not for what they said, but for simply existing. Likewise she had experienced varied welcomes among different groups of people, from the indifference of the inhabitants of major cities to the open scorn and hostility of the smaller villages and the curiosity of children. Only occasionally had she met an individual who knew of her people. She wondered how she would be welcomed by this group, or "discreet assembly" as the recruiter had told her. Ah, what did it matter? Fortune had spit upon her, forced her to join this little group, and so she would do. As the proverb went "The sting of Ambasha leaves may be bitter, but swallow them will he who wants to survive". Surveying the camp she detected an oddly assembled group of people. That must be her new companions. A tall man with skin of green hue, clad in metal armour shook the hand of a male of average height who was carrying a smug grin as they exchanged words. Following this exchange closely was another male, also this one of average height. He however seemed animated and jovial when he spoke, almost as if playing the jester. Ah, the alphas sniffing around each other, treading carefully, trying to determine the order of this new pack. Male will be males. A bit away from the group sat a young man, barely a man at all, polishing a weapon. He seemed to pay no attention to the others. A natural beta then? Or was he to young to be concerned with orders of the pack? As she came closer to the group two things hit her a once. The fine aura of magic that the boy and the jester exuded washed over her skin in a mix that made her unable to discern anything particular about either of them. As the three males turned their attention to the steed next to the largest of the males, so was her attention drawn there as well. There seemed to be something different about the pair. Something more. It reminded her of how Hadeel and 'Akif moved together. She had seen other magic users bonded to animals, but this tall green one? He gave no trace of magic talent at all. Or maybe he was so skilled he could veil it from her. Could he be bonded without magic? And why bond with prey? Oh, she thought as she stopped and ran Karas silky ears through her fingers, this would prove interesting.
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Post by mafoon on Feb 2, 2011 15:00:05 GMT
Thursday 3rd of Jan at 6:30ish we start.
How we'd like you to RP your alignment in our campaign (this is how we will be RPing NPCs etc). Lawful-Neutral-Chaos axis= A lawful person adheres to their own set code of conduct (which is often the same as or similar to the laws of the land but doesn't have to be) which dictates there's decisions and actions; they never bend the rules even in a life and death situation (your code of conduct may not put you in such a situation e.g. if you were evil). A chaotic person is only concerned with results and normally has no code of conduct and will disregard anyone else's laws or rules if they see fit. A neutral person lies in between in that they have a loose code of conduct, normally based on the law, that they are willing to bend if they can justify it. Real world example traffic lights- Its late at night and you come to a set of traffic lights on red but there's no one around; the lawful person will always wait for the lights to go green (assuming his code of conduct is the law). The neutral person will consider going and may do so if in a hurry or sees no point in waiting for the light. On the other hand the chaotic person has already gone through the moment he sees no one around. Good-Neutral-Evil axis= This alignment axis will be based on who and what you care about and are concerned for; evil people care only for themselves and maybe a select few friends and/or family, they will do pretty much any cruel act to others they are not concerned with if it fits there other axis of alignment. People of good alignment care about everyone or most people (there are exception e.g. zealots) and are often generous and self sacrificing but again within the confines of their other alignment axis. People of neutral alignment care about their family, friends and usually their local community (sometimes country too) being in general neither cruel or generous to those outside that circle.
Evils acts are those that cause harm or discomfort to others. Good acts are those that are generous or protecting of others.
If you can think of any situations that your character might become involved in and you don't know how you'd play that alignment i can clear it up for you.
This system is based on the Check For Traps: All About Alignment thread on The Escapist.
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Mouse
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Simon, Lord of Reserved Swedes and Lesser Top Hats
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Post by Mouse on Feb 4, 2011 2:22:41 GMT
Markus was reading the Necromantica that night, as every previous night before that. However, he felt distracted. He couldn't really concentrate on the page on Wight construction and control. He knew he wouldn't be able to use it, but the theory was nevertheless interesting. That didn't help him to focus though.
He sighed in resignation and closed the book. He looked over their temporary camp. The first thing he saw was his horse. He considered it his now. It would only be proper that he named it. People would suspect something was up if his steed did not have a name. He got up and walked over to it. Gah, he was bad at this. Shimas - he was now Shimas.
Finally they would be out of this field and he could once again use his powers freely. He couldn't wait to use the spell that he had previously deciphered from his book. It was funny that no one had asked him about it yet. After all e had been reading it four hours a day for almost a month now. "They must still think I am a wizard... Not surprising I suppose..."
He walked back to his place by the campfire. As he did so he gave an aknowledging nod to Kavor. "Sire...". He had proven useful as he had hoped, he was skilled in battle. Markus had been happy to see that the others were too busy in their small internal struggles to care about Markus' rather unusual interests so far. Hopefully he would be able to keep the mask on beter now that they could leave the field. He lay down. No reading tonight. He still couldn't focus.
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Post by mafoon on Feb 4, 2011 14:09:40 GMT
a brief summary of the story so far- The adventurers met Tamar the man with the plan and after being shown the map swiftly decided their route into enemy territory. They hastily left, only taking a few of the supplies on offer, on what would be a long uneventful trek through peaceful countryside where they got to know each. 2 weeks into their journey a bad storm drove the PCs into an abandoned ruin for shelter where they were set upon by a gargoyle which proved too tough for most of the party to hurt. After defeating the gargoyle they moved on when the storm passed and stopped into a village to resupply. Peacefully asleep at the inn they were rudely awoken by screaming and otherworldly noises. The majority of the party went to investigate while the rouge and the shaman plotted at the bar. Outside ghosts filled the air and where streaming from the barn across the way. On further investigation the sorcerer discovered them to be illusions and on pronouncing them as so, they disappeared with a chuckling from the back of the barn. The oracle spotted the invisible culprits trying to sneak past and blocked their exit alerting the others to their presence. The caviler blocked the invisible creatures other exit up the ladder by reducing it to splinters and they where then blasted by the sorcerer. The invisible creatures then appeared and shown to be a pair of leprechauns. After some cowering and begging for their life they promised never to torment this village again and were shown mercy and allowed to leave. Meanwhile the rouge crept into the monks room and proceeded to kill his pet monkey and run off with the body. After a heated exchange of words the rouge and the monk were eventually ejected from the inn. The next day the sorcerer convinced the town elder that he had exercised the 'ghosts' and was rewarded while the rest of the party sorted itself out in order to stay together and move on. With high tensions among some of the players and their first heroic deed under their belt as a group, they had finally reached the chosen border crossing after almost a month of travel through the sparse country side. After a long discussion about how they would sneak past the border patrols and watch towers they put their plan into action. They successfully ambushed a patrol with lightening speed and proceed to don their new patrol disguises. Dressed as guards with captured spies in tow, and the shaman lion following from afar, they proceeded to head into enemy territory where they were greeted by another patrol of two horsemen. They began heading toward a watch tower so that the disguised sorcerer could get some healing. The plan was going well until the caviler decided to struggle in an effort to seem more convincing and the binding ropes fell away. The rouge decided that this was the go ahead and put a horsemen out again with his poison. The PCs got the jump again on this patrol and proceeded to massacre the other horseman. Being in view of the watch tower they decided that stealth was now out the window and used the horses they had managed to take from the patrols to make a break for it. They rode until the horses could carry them no further and made camp, they noticed that when they had made a break for it they were spotted as a signal fire was lit at the watch tower.
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