Dudeicuf
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HE-BRO!
Posts: 185
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Post by Dudeicuf on Sept 10, 2011 21:47:43 GMT
Underhive This is a game for 2 or 3 players. I hope there will be lots of role play opportunities and will also involve Role play posts on the UWE RP Soc online boards in-between games. That's not to say there won't be combat, there will be plenty of combat, but there will usually be role play paths too. To fit the story I have set out various guidelines and restrictions on what can be played but its still pretty open. Anything on www.d20pfsrd.com/ can be used and I will probably be open to 3.5 material too provided it fits (excluding base classes). My plan is for it to be fairly sandbox but with a core story (similar to elder scrolls, fallout etc.) If you're interested please post here and feel free to ask any questions especially if you don't understand anything below. There needs to be at least one Upperhaven citizen and one Underhiver for the game to run, so please say what you'd prefer to play. I hope to start this as soon as possible. When the players have been decided, please post a back story up on here before we start play. I will use that to also judge your characters Fame/Infamy. Lastly, if we have to do any rolling during Forum RP, tell me your modifier and I'll use this site to roll for you. That about raps it up for now. If any of you have any more questions about anything, just ask and I'll answer the best I can. Upperhaven Large, grimy city, ruled by an absolute monarchy. Strong military presence. No entry or exit unless govt. sanctioned eg. trade license, military personnel, member of govt. Royal family is highly reclusive, and when seen, is often covered up. many myths and legends and rumors about royals. Magic is all but illegal and most forms of combat training are highly legislated. The govt tries to control magic very tightly (not always successfully) only allowing those who pay sufficiently to learn, and even then, many schools of magic are banned: Necromancy, Conjuration, Enchantment, Evocation, and Illusion. Only truly experienced (and rich) Wizards and Magi are permitted to use these, and even then, only on rare occasions. Those proficient in Divine magic are often locked away in case it manifests uncontrollably. Bards are only allowed to practice magic freely provided they pay heavy taxes and are subject to strict rules and Sorcerers are outlawed all together. Most of the immediate area surrounding Upperhaven is farm land with little hamlets and villages dotted about. Often several of these may get their money together and buy a trade license and send one person into town to trade. Beyond the farm land there are mountains, wastelands and forests but the whole area is ruled by the same Government, it is just more relaxed the further out you get. Races: Elf 1/2 Gnomes 3/4 Half Elf 1/2/3 Halfling 2/3/4 Human 1/2/3/4 Aasimar 1 Tengu 3 Dwarf 3/4 Oread 3
Classes: Barbarian 3/4 Bard 1/2/3/4 Cleric 1/2/4 Druid 2/3/4 Fighter 1/2/3/4 Monk 2/3 Ranger 2/3/4 Rogue 3 Wizard 1 Magus 1 Oracle 1/2
Backgrounds: Bonus: 1 Aristocrat +1 Knowledge Nobility(+class skill) and Upper Diplomacy + 200gp 2 Middle Class +1 Craft or Profession or Perform and Appraise (one is class skill) +75gp 3 Working Class +1 Bluff and Sense Motive 4 Farmer/ Trader +1 Survival and Knowledge Geography(+class skill)
Underhive Even larger than Upperhaven, Underhive is almost lawless, with parts being led by gangs of thugs. Towards the upper reaches and into the sewers of Upperhaven are the only Underhivers to go into the city above, the beggars, anyone else would be killed on sight by the town guard. The lower, the worse off the people, below the beggars are the commoners and further down in the depths of the earth are the Deep Livers, often even looked down upon by Underhivers, they are often fairly primitive. Further out away from the city boundaries above, 'topsoilers' grow things in the soil above, onions, carrots, potatoes etc. Stories/prophecies about a gypsy king or queen who will one day unite Underhive and rise up against Upperhaven and bring equality to both. Most citizens of Upperhaven have no knowledge of Underhive, and those who do know it is illegal to speak about it. Eventually many miles out of the city borders, Underhivers can emerge to the surface with relative safety although it is still illegal to be many of the races found below the surface. Races: Gnome 1/2/3 Dwarf 1/2/3/4 Half Orc 2/3/5 Human 1/2/3/4 Drow -SR 3/4 Duergar 5 Fetchling 2/3 Goblin 2/3/5 Hobgoblin 3/5 Kobold 2/3/5 Orc 5 Oread 1/2/3 Svirfneblin -SR 3/5
Classes: Barbarian 3/5 Bard 1/2/3/4/5 Druid 2/4/5 Fighter 1/2/3/4/5 Ranger 1/2/3/5 Rogue 1/3/4 Sorcerer 3/4/5 Oracle 3/4/5 Witch 4/5
Backgrounds: Bonus: 1 Beggar +1 Bluff and Sleight of hand (both class skills) 2 Topsoiler +1 Knowledge Geography and Escape Artist (one is class skill) + 75gp 3 Commoner +1 Appraise and Survival + 50gp 4 Under Noble +1 Under Diplomacy and Knowledge History (class skill) + 150gp 5 Deep Liver +1 Knowledge Dungeoneering(class skill) and Intimidate + vision increase 30ft Languages: Common swapped for Undercommon + normalRules:- Fame/infamy: Each player will have a fame/infamy score that depends on how certain NPCs react to them. Each player will start off with a Fame/infamy equal to their CHA modifier, after that I will allocate points dependent on back story and events within the game. Only I will know the players Fame/infamy and it will be different depending on whether the player is in Upperhaven or Underhive.
- Vitality point/ Wound Point system.
Vitality points are recovered at 3 times your level per nights rest. Vitality = rolled health + con bonus etc. Wound points are recovered at 1 per two hours rest. Wound points = Con score. Upon reaching wound points, -2 on all physical stats. Halfway through wound points, -4 physical stats, -2 mental stats (Negatives to Con do not modify remaining points though)
- 25 point buy, starting level one. Full money for class. 2 traits.
- If you want to have a background not associated with the class, you only get one part of the bonus eg. monk aristocrat would only get +1 knowledge nobility(+class skill), +1 to upper diplomacy or +200gp.
- Races can only pick backgrounds associated with them.
Story:All Upperhaven players and all Beggar players find themselves in the main square of Upperhaven, there to watch a public spectacle, an extremely high profile hanging. If a Topsoiler, Commoner, Under Noble or Deep Liver, just going about you're normal day's activities Moving around in the UnderhiveBecause the Underhive is a large series of Caves, Caverns, Tunnels, Sewers and cracks deep in the planets crust, it isn't always easy getting around. When I give you the name of a town or place in the Underhive, it will usually be a collection of small caves or dug out tunnels, maybe a large cavern or two, where the residents call themselves a town. In terms of moving between towns, this can be done in two ways. - You can get from any one town to any other town directly by going just through tunnels and caves. This is alot faster than the indirect option however alot more dangerous. You may come across hazards such as cave ins, bandits, vermin and other creatures, or something else all together.
- The other option for getting around is to go from one town, to the nearest in the direction you want and so on. This way you travel through many less tunnels and spend more time in inhabited areas. This takes longer than the direct route however you are more likely to find places to stay at night, and less likely to encounter dangerous animals. Gang members may not take kindly though and there are obviously many other things that can happen while passing through towns.
Moving around in UpperhavenNow, this is much more simple than the Underhive. Once the map is up, you'll see various areas of the city, there is an entertainment district, a industry district, there are ports, market squares, slums and areas of extreme wealth, there is the military and govt quarter and the castle. You just say where you want to go, easy. Apart from the normal hazards of travelling through a city (especially when a race not allowed there...) Moving around outside UpperhavenProvided you can get out of Upperhaven or if you come above ground outside the city limits, there is a large area surrounding the city. This is mainly full of agricultural land, but there is some highlands and forest area too, as well as the long coastline. Much like in the Underhive, tell me whether you want to go directly across land, or stick to roads and pass through towns. The further away from the city you get, the less enforcement there is. Finding out where to goNow, this is fairly obvious, a Knowledge Local or Gather Information check will let you know what you want to find. Want to know where the best place to get smashed off Dwarven Ale in the Underhive is, its probably better to ask some Dwarves down there than a govt official in Upperhaven, the same goes for finding magical equipment, people to train you further when you level up etc. Most of the time, you'll find what you need, as this is a very diverse world with almost anything you want, however, usually for a price... Taking missions/questsYou will be able to take more than one mission or quest on at a time, and choose what order to do them in, etc. Some of them you'll have to complete before a certain number of days/weeks. If you want a to spend one week buying items and training or something, let me know and, provided you aren't in the middle of a dungeon or something, in between games you'll have 1 week in game downtime (unless you ask for more or something interrupts it) so we can forum RP anything you want to do during that time. Fame/InfamyAlthough I will have a numerical value for your fame, I won't be telling you it. You may be able to get hints by asking people in game, or by how people react to you though. Your fame/infamy rating will vary depending on if you are above or below the surface, and who you are talking to. If you are a Noble, talking to another noble or middle class person, you are like to be known, however farmers probably won't have heard about you for example. You can always try the 'Don't you know who I am?' but that will draw attention. Infamy isn't a negative of fame, its more just about how people perceive you and you're actions. Someone with 15 fame because they rescued the king from the castle as it burnt may have 15 infamy as far as an enemy to the king is concerned. You're just as well known, just one is looked at positively, the other negatively. Levelling UpWhen you earn enough xp to level up, you can role play finding someone to train you or help you advance to gain extra bonuses. These will depend on how the RPing goes but will not be game braking. They may be a bonus to a skill, or an extra spell or more attack bonus, maybe something else all together, whatever fits. Sometimes this will cost money or time, both of which can be Roleplayed out. If you don't do any extra training, you will still get everything you would normally get for levelling up. When you get enough xp, it will take one in game week for the changes to take effect. You can either spend this in game week doing missions and quests and earning more xp (maybe enough to level up again in which case you'll have to add another week onto the current one etc) or you can go and find someone to train you. You can do this during the session or during the downtime between sessions (which will be no longer than one in game week) If you want to do the training but its in the middle of a session, I'm more than happy to role play it out on the forums afterwards and we can continue to do the normal game with you levelled up(minus extra bonuses)
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Post by Deth Monkee on Sept 11, 2011 6:59:14 GMT
Sounds fascinating. What does the SR mean next to some classes, like drow, mean?
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Post by Deth Monkee on Sept 11, 2011 10:16:31 GMT
I would like to play, and I would like to play a Drow Bard Under Noble please.
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Mouse
Frequent Member
Simon, Lord of Reserved Swedes and Lesser Top Hats
Posts: 154
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Post by Mouse on Sept 11, 2011 13:34:13 GMT
The Square was packed to the brim with people this day. They were scurrying around, going about their business waiting for the main event. Among the others stood a young man who seemingly did not notice the people around him. He held an odd blade in his hand; it was much like a glaive but lacked the long handle while still being too heavy to wield with one hand. His gaze was first focused at the centre of the square but he turned towards the government buildings and the blade gleamed in the sun. If you looked closely you could see engravings along the blunt side of the weapon. “Nos officio obstringi esse libero de malorum ab magia”. In modern day words it meant “We are duty bound to be free from the evils of magic”. The motto of the noble family Anckarstrom. The youngster was looking in another direction to see if he could spot his father somewhere.
Only days ago had his father handed him their ancestral weapon which had been used in generations of Anckarstroms to hunt down and kill those who used magic without permission from the government. Now it was Jacob’s turn to do his duty to the family. He was born the eldest son and he had an even greater weight on his shoulders than most other Anckarstroms because of his unusual features. His golden eyes and pure white hair had made it clear to them that Jacob was partly of celestial heritage. His birth was seen as a forbearing of great times for the family. Failing to spot his father Jacob let his sight fall on some of the people in the crowd. His comrades were there, but cleverly disguised as civilians so that they could spot any suspicious activity. Nothing could go wrong today. The capture of Narestiel was his father’s greatest triumph and today the drow would be punished for his treacherous, murderous and occult ways.
Their family’s motto may be clear to him now but when he was just a child and first put to training with the Spellscourge he had not clearly understood it so his trainers had amended it for him. They told him that he had to kill evil immediately and it was the creed he still lived by today and the reason he swung his Short Glaive without hesitation.
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Post by Deth Monkee on Sept 11, 2011 13:40:58 GMT
Changed my mind, can I be a Witch instead of a bard?
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Post by Deth Monkee on Sept 12, 2011 11:40:18 GMT
Malag woke up with a brutal hangover, remembering something his father had said last tuesday. "Malagaufein, if I hear that you have disgraced the Teken'ar family again by deflowering another eligible noblewoman, outside of wedlock, I am going to have you lashed down the streets." Malag didn't know why this sprang to mind, until he rolled over in the bed, and saw Janthyra Ironhouse sleeping on the other side. This was not going to go down well at all, Malag's father hated dwarves. Very carefully, Malag slipped out of the bed, and into his clothes, careful to avoid the pocket where Vier'ra lived. He opened the latch on the window, and tumbled out of the building and into the street. It was early morning, so the streets were mostly empty. There was one human who was yelling some crap about a gypsy king, which reminded Malag of something important that was happening today. One of his distant cousins was going to hang up in the Upperhaven. Malag had never met this cousin, but by all accounts he also one of these gypsy king lunatics. Probably got caught for practicing magic, as the cousin was a witch like Malag. However, that wasn't the most pressing thing on Malag's mind. After his liaison with the Ironhouse girl, Malag needed to avoid his father and brothers for a while. Probably a long while.
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Post by Deth Monkee on Sept 13, 2011 16:00:51 GMT
When we gain enough experience to level up, do we level up automatically or will I have to find somebody to train me in the abilities I would normally gain levelling up?
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Post by Deth Monkee on Sept 13, 2011 16:27:30 GMT
Also, when do we start?
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Post by Deth Monkee on Sept 13, 2011 16:46:43 GMT
I'm free any time next week apart from thursday and friday.
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Dudeicuf
Frequent Member
HE-BRO!
Posts: 185
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Post by Dudeicuf on Sept 14, 2011 21:50:54 GMT
I've put all the information in one post now, and rewritten the stuff about levelling up to hopefully be clearer.
The characters as they stand:
Simon/Mouse: Aasimar Noble Fighter, Jacob Anckarstrom
Owen/Deth Monkee: Drow Under Noble Witch, Malagaufein Teken'ar
Neil/Aturin: Unkown...
I'll post the start as soon as Neil's backstory is up.
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aturin
Frequent Member
"There is no shame in falling, There is only shame if you refuse to rise once again."
Posts: 180
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Post by aturin on Sept 16, 2011 7:28:37 GMT
So so sorry this is late guys.
You there young squire, you look like you appreciate a good story, go on a few coppers in my hand and i shall tell you my short yet amusing tale.
Where i am from is a long way away from here in a place far different, the sun shines brighter the air has a salty tang and men are free to do what they want. For some this means the simple life of traveling from one place to another picking up what they can and what people are generous enough to hand over when met upon the sea.
Sometimes though those people have to be reminded of the sailor fraternity a little more forcefully than others, no matter how politely you ask. It was during one of these meetings that I lost my hearing and my old life.
Some men fear the din of battle above all else, i would fight a thousand men, climb the highest mountain, brave the fiercest sea dragon just to hear anything again, but it is not to be. What use is a man on ship always a few seconds behind everyone else at the best of times. never able to hear an order shouted out or even to dance along to a jig.
And so that portion of my life was over, I left the ship and the next port and was smuggled into a new city where i stumbled from one place to another begging for what i could, acquiring what i couldn't. But this is no life, no life i wanted to live anyway I who had fought every fight, stared down every challenge and danced to the sweetest music should not live like this, and so i decided i shouldn't.
So i found myself following my morbid thoughts to a grave yard, where i stood staring at an open grave bottle in one hand, scimitar in the other, wondering should i just end it all. Well someone decided to make that decision for me, or at least tried to. A thin weedy pale man stood in horror as i danced around the horrific reanimated man he sent after me, i danced around his clumsy movements, laughed with joy as i felt more alive than i had done in years, swaying as if back with the maidens in free port.
Finally the deed was done, both the abomination and the man that sent him were dispatched. Suddenly i was overcome with the most curious feeling and decided that although the man was evil beyond despair what choice had the zombie played in this, and so in order to thank him for saving my life i filled in the grave in front of me, with his body not mine.
The earth was moved, the bones interned when the strangest thing happened but anyway that is a story for another time and a few more coppers ay, well thank you kindly for the coin. Ye know who is to hang today? I haven't the foggiest but would bet balls to a brass monkey something big. Got a contact on the up and up. Well more on the down low, very low.
Ancestors bless your bones, and you ever need anything done, you coma back here, ain't to proud to do no work me and what i don't hear i cant tell.
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Dudeicuf
Frequent Member
HE-BRO!
Posts: 185
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Post by Dudeicuf on Sept 16, 2011 8:09:55 GMT
The Crowd was growing impatient. It had been too long, the hanging was due to start. The main square was now full of people, more than there ever was at public hangings. For a week now criers had been wandering the city announcing 'This week, come witness a true enemy of the state, a vile Witch, Hang for his crimes'. There were even rumours the King may turn up. All of a sudden the crowd started to go quite, it happened almost in a wave from the front as a small thin man walked up onto the Hangman's stage. He was dressed smartly and followed by 3 Very large men. One was hooded, the other two were astride another man in rags with a bag over his head.
As the bigger men positioned the prisoner in the noose, the thinner man, now it was obvious he was a Half-Elf, started to speak 'We are all here to witness the execution of one, Narestiel Kuma'ra. He has been found guilty of several terrible crimes: Attempted Treason; Conspiracy to overthrow the government; Harbouring outlaws, illegal imigrants and criminals; Murder; Arsony; The Illegal practice of Magic and many more less serious crimes. Despite our attempts to find a legal loophole, he is allowed some final words.'
The noosed man was unmasked. He was dark skinned, had long, messy, black hair and many bruises. He was clearly a Drow. He started out into the crowed for a few seconds. Something fluttered in his face that made him recoil a bit. He looked out into the crowd again and started to speak.
He spoke in a language barely anyone understood, and those who did wouldn't dare reveal they knew it. He scanned the crowd looking for suitable people. There they were. Sigfried had told him who. He stared at them both as he spoke. His plan was coming together. The man with white hair and the already cursed. One had to learn of the other side of life, the other had to embrace it.
**(In Undercommon)** 'You young ones, you people of different worlds, one a wanderer, traveling far around the world, the other, with your roots as solid as a rock. I apologise but I must turn you upside down, I must CURSE you, send you down to the other place. I Curse you to find the Gypsy King, I curse you Help him. I Curse you to bring him back up here. I CURSE you to reveal the true nature of the 'so called king'. I CURSE YOU'
And the trap door opened. For those particularly vigilant, it almost seemed like he said something else as he dropped, his last breath of air, and he slumped, lifeless.
Jacob Anckarstrom
The crowd cheered around Jacob. And slowly started to disperse after the Drow's body was removed.
Hegag
The crowd dispersed and no one seemed interested in hearing stories. As the square emptied, the guards started to look at Hegag in the same way as a guard would look at a Drow. With intent to arrest. Suddenly though, a bat started to flutter around Hegag's face, seemingly as if it knew it were being annoying.
Malagaufein Teken'ar
As Malagaufein turned the corner by the Ironhouse home, he saw Schnar, the Teken'ar's Kobold Squire. He stood there grinning, showing his tiny teeth. 'Ah, Sir, I found you, it took me a while and I had to ask alot of questions. If its not too presumptuous of me, I assume you had a good night?' The grin on the Kobold's face turned to a smug one. He prided himself on being able to find out where people were. 'Your father has a message, about some slaves... He wants you to return home, and don't worry Sir, I won't tell him where you were.'
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Mouse
Frequent Member
Simon, Lord of Reserved Swedes and Lesser Top Hats
Posts: 154
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Post by Mouse on Sept 16, 2011 12:34:30 GMT
The hanging had gone well. Despite some... complications. The only thing worrying Jacob had been the last words spoken by the Drow before he dropped. Although he didn't understand, and Narestiel would know he would not understand his language it had felt for a moment as if he had spoken to him. Indeed for a while he was certain they made eye contact. He was puzzled for a moment but he waved it off after a while. The criminal must have, of course, recognized him for his father. They weren't too much alike but carrying the same weapon the witch must have thought they were the same person for a moment. The nagging feeling lingered on however, as he turned around. His father didn't speak undercommon either... But the slightly eerie feeling after hearing the last words of a dying elf did not compare to the revolting feeling of having to report back to his repulsive cousin, Jude, at spellscourge HQ. He decided to return to HQ at a slower pace than normal.
*EDIT* Somehow confused Jude and Jacob with their fathers.
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Dudeicuf
Frequent Member
HE-BRO!
Posts: 185
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Post by Dudeicuf on Sept 18, 2011 16:03:27 GMT
After a week in Floorrot, your characters all go up to level two and receive a few bonuses.
Jacob Anckarstrom
Jacob spends the week trying to train Hegag to be a better fighter and also trying to impose his authority and training on a few of the Rotters around the town. It was a slow start due to the language barrier but after a week of constantly trying to learn the language, Jacob manages to get the general idea of it. His training with the Rotters goes well and they start to respect him a bit and accept his training. At one point, before you have fully grasped the language a guard runs up to you with a rather ugly girl beside him, they seem to be very happy to see you and every day run up. As your grasp of the language improves, you realise that they think you want to get married to this girl. His training with Hegag goes exceptionally well, and they both start to learn each others fighting techniques. **You gain +1 Diplomacy, Undercommon as a bonus language and you gain the half of this feat relating to +4 bonus when flanking instead of +2. Further training will grant you the full feat.**
Hegag
Hegag spends the week training with Jacob and getting to know the town of Floorrot. As the week goes on, Hegag gets to know the Innkeepers, shop owners, some of the locals and even some of the Rotters very well. At the end of the week, while chatting to a few Rotters in the Tavern, Hegag gets told that they've arranged for him to meet with 'Big G' as he has a request... **You gain +1 Diplomacy, +1 Knowledge Local and you gain the half of this feat relating to +4 bonus when flanking instead of +2. Further training will grant you the full feat.**
Malagaufein Teken'ar
Malag spends the week drunk. Drunk and looking for women and black market goods. At the end of his intoxicated week, despite feeling worse off than he normally would, he feels tougher! His liver seems to have toughened up a bit... He also gets lucky, gaining access to the black marketeers in the town. There aren't many of them as it is only a small town but they get to know he is of a wealthy background and agree to meet with him and supply him... To a level. They want to arrange a meeting (2 days after the start of the next session) to talk about him possibly becoming a new occasional supplier of goods... **You gain +1 Diplomacy, +1 Fortitude and you gain the half of this feat. This feat works by giving you access to a certain amount of black market goods at your request. Currently the limit if 50gp worth of goods. When you reach a town, you can spend a small amount of time looking for black market goods and you'll be able to buy anything up to 50gp worth. This will increase by level as well as by training**
The group spend a successful week training and getting to know Floorrot and spend very little money on upkeep (apart from Malag on alcohol). The week costs 5sp each and 2.5gp for Malag. At the end of the week, there are just 11 days left until Dorol said he would send bounty hunters after the group.
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Post by Deth Monkee on Sept 19, 2011 18:44:36 GMT
Things Malag Has Done- Had a meeting with the black market traders in Floorrot.
- Had a meeting with Big G. Can gain Rotters loyalty by setting the Toes of Undertoe against another gang he can't quite remember the name of.
- Travelled to Undertoe.
- Got laid.
- Commissioned a new suit and top hat.
- Had a meeting with the black market traders in Undertoe. Set up meeting with the Toes. Bought a trained Stirge. Named it after last night's conquest.
- Picked up new suit and top hat. Bought a matching cane. The handle was in the shape of a scorpion.
- Had a meeting with the Toes. Found out that they were planning to betray the other gang anyway, but in a way that wouldn't implicate them. Also found out they were being blackmailed by former member, who was threatening to tell the other gang.
Things Malag Plans To Do- Meet with the other gang. Tell them that the Toes are going to betray them.
- Get laid.
I will post a write up of what has happened so far sometime tomorrow. The lists will be changed as the game goes on.
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