Erias unbuckles his scabbard and hands it over without comment. Unless asked, he will keep his shield. He nods to Doryn, measuring his words for deception.
It certainly wasn't the first time in his young life that Achile had been sized up by a possible opponent. He held his ground as the Orc's eyes traveled over his form and kept himself ready for anything should the monster attack. When the confrontation did not come to blows he found himself slightly disappointed at the outcome but with the rest of the group seeming to go along with the plan laid out for them he had to agree and go along, it would make little sense to start a fight with everyone else disarmed.
Achile knew that his prowess in combat did not come from the weapon he wielded but from the faith in his heart that Lord Nui used to guide his hand. That being said his god had felt the need lately to not have his blows land with any significant strike when it came to using the sword so while he hated to part ways with a weapon that indeed had a part of his blood, sweat and tears he thought maybe this could be a message from his Patron about the path he would take in the future.
"Ya ever wish ta find out den' be sure ta come fin' me." he said in a quiet tone to the Orc. He held his gaze a moment longer before reaching up and removing the fullblade from its sheath with a spin before turning it over and laying the blade down with a heavy thump atop the rest of the weapons his allies had already put there.
"Dat blade be sacred ta dose' fa' more noble den' either ya 'ver seen. Keep yur han's from it and der will be no quarrel 'ere." The firecrafter waited patiently to see what the next move would be.
Scarblade Bastard Sword 1d20+18 vs AC. 1d10+8 Damage Hungry Spear Greatspear+3 1d20+19 vs AC. 1d10+9 +2d8 to damage in Bersker Fury.
Ranged Basic Attack: Hungry Spear Greatspear+3 1d20+19 vs AC Damage: 1d10+9
Jarring Smash: MBA + target grants CA until end of my next turn.
Run Down: MBA + target is slowed until end of my next turn.
Defender Aura: Aura 1. Enemery takes -2 to attacks rolls that do not include me or ally with this aura active. Marked enemies not subject
Vengeful Guardian: OA. Enemy subject of defender aura either **** or makes attack that targets an ally without targeting me or ally with active defender aura. MBA+2d8 extra damage.
Badge of The Berserker- The movement of charge attacks does not provoke OA
[] Stone Panoply [X] Savage Cut Used [] Brutal Slam [] Second Wind [X] Nomad's Rush Used [] Earthforger's Passage [X] Furious Assault Used [] A Thousand Ways to Die [] Curtain of Steel [] Hungry Spear Encounter Power
Encounter: Roots of Stone [] Rough Strike [] Mountain Hammer [] Form of Winter’s Herald attack [] Goring Charge[x] Mark of Thunder [] Elven Battle Hide Armor [] Boots of Free Movement []
Daily: Form of Winter’s Herald [] Boiling Cloud: [x] Boiling Cloud Attack: [] Endure Pain [] Treacherous Ice []
* Thievery - The guards don't notice a thing as you shift your sling and pellets out of sight. They are perhaps too distracted by accepting weapons from Tsubasa and Erias to notice your subtle relocation. By the time the sling is secured, the guards are just turning to you, obviously unaware what has happened.
* Insight - Although the men before you do not seem to be the friendliest bunch, there is nothing in their body language or tone that suggests they mean you ill. Although the orc clearly doesn't seem keen on parading you four through the house - especially not Achile, you sense - you don't get any vibes that these men are going to stab you in the back.
The orc doesn't respond to Achile's whispered challenge with words of his own - only a furious glare that seems something akin to what a dragon could produce. Achile feels no fear, though, as he hands over his weapon. A shake of the head from Doryn gives Erias the go-ahead to hang on to his shield, and with that, you are ushered into the house before you.
As you enter, you immediately notice that the inside seems to be in the midst of a renovation. The wall to your left seem to be partially knocked down, as if the owner intends on removing it so as to expand the room. A few open jars lie scattered here and there; peering into them reveals a number of different shades of blue paint. A tarp has even been thrown across the floor, but so far it barely has any splotches on it. Doryn doesn't say a word as he leads you past the main hall and into what appears to be the larder, which, you notice, is well-stocked and could feed a large family for quite some time. Doryn pulls open a side-door and takes you down a narrow flight of stairs that have seen better days.
At the bottom, you find yourselves in a cellar with wine-racks lining the walls like bookshelves do in a library. The owner of the house clearly has an appreciation for his wine, for as you gaze at the different bottles, you suspect that this collection rivals, if not surpasses, what Summerbreeze has on hand. Doryn motions for you to follow him to the center of the cellar, which you notice has been cleared. A few nice-looking pelts serve as rugs, and suspended in mid-air is a glass orb, which gives off a pale blue light that illuminates the entire cellar. Seated in a rather cozy-looking chair is a plump man, wrinkled like a prune but possessed of a great girth. His skin has a slight reddish tinge to it, but he seems perfectly human to the rest of you.
Doryn doesn't even hail the man, but instead glides over to his side and whispers into his ear. A look of surprise and consternation crosses the man's face, but he shuts the book he was reading and turns to the rest of you. You guess that for one so old and heavy, it would be a challenge to rise from the chair unassisted, so the man remains seated, looking at you through bushy eyebrows that seem comical in light of his baldness.
"I am Ronso Lockbreaker, as you must have guessed by now. I don't know your names, and I'm not sure I want to just yet. Doryn says you mentioned the Six, and something about a... bargain of sorts? Let me be frank here and now - if you expect to see coin from me, you can boil your heads. If you seek employment or any information I might have picked up from my men, then perhaps we can strike a deal. So, why exactly do I find you here, interrupting my reading hour and looking like the weight of the world is nestled on your shoulders?"
"I don't like X, they should remove it." "I like X, they should keep it." "They should replace X with Y." "Anybody that likes X is dumb. Y is better." "Why don't they include both X and Y." "Yeah, everybody can be happy then!" "But I don't like X, they should remove it." "X really needs to be replaced with Y." "But they can include both X and Y." "But I don't like X, they need to remove it." "Remove X, I don't like it."
Until you've had an in-law tell you your choice of game was stupid, and just Warcraft on paper, and dumbed down for dumber players who can't handle a real RPG, you haven't lived.
Lady and gentlemen.... I present to you the Edition War without Contrition, the War of the Web, the Mighty Match-up!
We're using standard edition war rules. No posts of substance. Do not read the other person's posts with comprehension. Make frequent comparison to video games, MMOs, and CCGs. Use the words "fallacy" and "straw man", incorrectly and often. Passive aggressiveness gets you extra points and asking misleading and inflammatory questions is mandatory. If you're getting tired, just declare victory and leave the thread. Wait for the buzzer... and....
One, two, three, four, I declare Edition War Five, six, seven eight, I use the web to
D&D should not return to the days of blindfolding the DM and players. No tips on encounter power? No mention of expected party roles? No true meaning of level due to different level charts or tiered classes? Please, let's not sacrifice clear, helpful rules guidelines in favour of catering to the delicate sensibilities of the few who have problems with the ascetics of anything other than what they are familiar with.
Just a quick note on the MMORPG as an insult comparison...
MMORPGs, raking in money by the dumptruck full. Many options, tons of fans across many audiences, massive resources allocated to development.
TTRPGs, dying product. Squeaking out an existence that relys on low cost. Fans fit primarily into a few small demographics. R&D budgets small, often rushed to market and patched after deployment.
You're not really making much of an argument when you compare something to a MMORPG and assume people think that means bad. Lets face it, they make the money, have the audience and the budget. We here on this board are fans of TTRPGs but lets not try to pretend none of us play MMORPGs.
Something like Tactical Shift is more magical than martial healing.
Telling someone to move over a few feet is magical now? :|
I weep for this generation.
Given the laziness and morbid obsesity amongst D&Ders, being able to convince someone to get on their feet, do some heavy exercise, and use their words to make them be healthier must seem magical.
As the mismatched group was guided down to the celler Rolen made a concious effort to walk normally while the damn pellets rubbed his ankles and telling himself to Buy a fricken dagger next time I think of pulling something like this.
As the group was led down Rolen stayed in the back to check for any possible exits but felt slightly closterphobic as they were led into the cellar, praying that nothing bad would come of this. Thanks Sarah, your paranoia just ended up rubbing off on me.
When they made it to the bottom Rolen stayed in the back of the group to listen as the overfed crime lord introduced himself.Lockbreaker huh? Interesting surname. A family tradition of thievery perhaps?Rolen relaxed somewhat, feeling that this should go along smoothly, but kept silent to observe the shadows and the guards, letting the more silvered tounged of the group handle the diplomacy.
Note: I am probably going to have Rolen keep a constant watch throughout the coversation so would you like to have me keep on rerolling perception or just keep the same number throughout?
But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. W.B. Yeats
"I am.." Erias stops himself - how different this world is from the formality of the Order. "We have no need of your coin, so I trust we can keep our heads cool." The tiefling makes eye contact with Tsubasa, hoping he will use his subtle influence again. "You have been direct, so shall I be. We have been investigating the hangings in Fishport. The Vigilant Clergy have gone too far and we would put an end to their self-serving spyhunt. Our questions have led us to you. What can you tell us about the elder, Maxton, and the truth behind the murders?" He knows that this Ronso will expect quid pro quo, but will let his friends offer enticements as they see fit. Erias would rather see this criminal locked in irons than rewarded, but the bigger picture must take precedence.
Bharhas, Level 3 Human, Warlord | Sorcerer Human Power Selection Option: Bonus At-Will power Languages: Common, Elven Theme: Gladiator
CURRENT STATUS: Phase of the Sun: *At the start of your turn, each enemy adjacent to you takes fire and radiant damage equal to your Strength modifier. *You also gain resist 5 cold.
VITALS AC: 18 Fort: 18 Ref: 15 Will: 17 HP: 40/40
Surges: 6/6 Surge Value: 10
Initiative: +1 Speed: 6
CURRENT ABILITY SCORES STR 18, CON 10, DEX 11, INT 10, WIS 8, CHA 17
* Perception - There are a few exits scattered around the cellar - plain wooden doors, all of which appear to be accessible from your position. They hang open, revealing staircases leading upwards (or in one case, downwards). You are not sure what lies beyond those doors, but given their arrangement, you can tell they are ways out of here. As for the cellar itself, it looks like something that a man of some means might have beneath his home. The collection of wine is impressive, even if several of the labels are written in foreign languages you've never before encountered. The glowing orb reveals that there no weapons on hand, nor any spot from which someone could observe you without being observed.
* Diplomacy - Ronso squints up at you, a smile spreading across his face. The smile is perfectly cheery, which might be surprising, given the typical nature of the common thief lord. Sure enough, though, Ronso listens to your words with full attention, not a flicker of judgment passing through his eyes while you speak.
Ronso wets his mouth, eyes traveling to the side and staring into the distance. For a moment, you wonder if perhaps the man is senile, older in mind than his body suggests. His gaze snaps back to you, though, like a magpie spying something shiny. He shifts in his seat, scrunching his face as if mentally considering how much he should reveal.
"Yes, Maxton. Unpleasant sort, that one. Never had a smile for any man, even before his wife took her own life. I didn't think that stone could grow any colder, but surely, he did. And yet, in my younger years, I called him my friend. Funny how life breaks people and pushes them apart, but there you go. Maxton is a popular man amongst the more hard-lined members of Ohuron's faith - unfortunately for those of us who don't share his hard-as-steel views, Maxton isn't the type to value differing opinions. He's more the type to hold a man over a flame until he cries for Ohuron's salvation or becomes charred.
According to my sources - and don't think for a second you'll learn their names, sweet as you are - Maxton has begun making plays to further his voice in Ohuron's church. There are only four - er, well, three, I suppose - elders who truly hold the reins - everyone else in that cathedral is either an underling who hopes to secure a comfortable niche for himself, or an underling who has deluded himself into thinking politics don't rule the whole place. Maxton has recently managed to surpass Stocob Mayweather and Granis Maron, who have grown so old that they are content to read books, slurp soup, and sleep away half the day, despite the considerable number of folks who answer to them. The fourth, Asmari the Penitent, has fallen into a deep sleep and refuses to wake; some believe he is cursed, others think it was a bizarre poison slipped into his wine, but whatever the cause, he breathes and often snores, but he does not wake, nor has he wasted away despite the poor amount of water and broth that can be forced down his throat.
Maxton is ascendant, and he thinks it is his god-given duty to weed out troublemakers. That means Fishport is under the headsman's gaze.Now here's what you really want to know - according to my friends, there is no evidence stored in the so-called "Chamber of Trials", where the Church compiles duplicate records of court cases, arrests, and executions. In other words, Maxton has been exercising his authority to remove blemishes from society based on..."
At this, Ronso throws his hands up and crosses his eyes, a smile both bitter and humorous tugging at the corner of his mouth. The man doesn't like what he says, but he believes his sources have told him the truth and nothing but the truth.
"There is one rumor that was unconfirmed. Supposedly, what is listed as the Chamber of Trials, in actuality, serves as the personal chambers of a woman. No one to whom I have spoken knows the woman's name, nor what she looks like. Wears a hood, apparently, but her figure belongs to a woman. This woman apparently spends most of her day by Maxton's side, whispering into his ear. Few people in the entire city know this, because few bother. The only reason I know...
Ronso picks up a handkerchief and spends the next minute coughing into it, shaking his head irritably.
"The only reason I know is because I like to keep tabs on my old friends..."
"I don't like X, they should remove it." "I like X, they should keep it." "They should replace X with Y." "Anybody that likes X is dumb. Y is better." "Why don't they include both X and Y." "Yeah, everybody can be happy then!" "But I don't like X, they should remove it." "X really needs to be replaced with Y." "But they can include both X and Y." "But I don't like X, they need to remove it." "Remove X, I don't like it."
Until you've had an in-law tell you your choice of game was stupid, and just Warcraft on paper, and dumbed down for dumber players who can't handle a real RPG, you haven't lived.
Lady and gentlemen.... I present to you the Edition War without Contrition, the War of the Web, the Mighty Match-up!
We're using standard edition war rules. No posts of substance. Do not read the other person's posts with comprehension. Make frequent comparison to video games, MMOs, and CCGs. Use the words "fallacy" and "straw man", incorrectly and often. Passive aggressiveness gets you extra points and asking misleading and inflammatory questions is mandatory. If you're getting tired, just declare victory and leave the thread. Wait for the buzzer... and....
One, two, three, four, I declare Edition War Five, six, seven eight, I use the web to
D&D should not return to the days of blindfolding the DM and players. No tips on encounter power? No mention of expected party roles? No true meaning of level due to different level charts or tiered classes? Please, let's not sacrifice clear, helpful rules guidelines in favour of catering to the delicate sensibilities of the few who have problems with the ascetics of anything other than what they are familiar with.
Just a quick note on the MMORPG as an insult comparison...
MMORPGs, raking in money by the dumptruck full. Many options, tons of fans across many audiences, massive resources allocated to development.
TTRPGs, dying product. Squeaking out an existence that relys on low cost. Fans fit primarily into a few small demographics. R&D budgets small, often rushed to market and patched after deployment.
You're not really making much of an argument when you compare something to a MMORPG and assume people think that means bad. Lets face it, they make the money, have the audience and the budget. We here on this board are fans of TTRPGs but lets not try to pretend none of us play MMORPGs.
Something like Tactical Shift is more magical than martial healing.
Telling someone to move over a few feet is magical now? :|
I weep for this generation.
Given the laziness and morbid obsesity amongst D&Ders, being able to convince someone to get on their feet, do some heavy exercise, and use their words to make them be healthier must seem magical.
Tsubasa listens as the corpulent man tells them of his one time friend and the innerworkings of the Vigilant.
But, when the man is almost finished and breaks into he extended coughing fit, Tsubasa is concerned. He politely waits until Ronso is finished, then speaks up.
"Sir, I do not wish to be forward but you do not seem well. I may be of assistance if I could simply listen to your lungs?"
Play by Post Haven Stop by, join us, and sign up for some games while you are there Real Adventures Come join in and have some adventures, real ones!
Want even more Play-By-Post games? Head over to www.Nerdbound.com to check some more out. People there are playing lots of systems, not just D&D
Bharhas, Level 3 Human, Warlord | Sorcerer Human Power Selection Option: Bonus At-Will power Languages: Common, Elven Theme: Gladiator
CURRENT STATUS: Phase of the Sun: *At the start of your turn, each enemy adjacent to you takes fire and radiant damage equal to your Strength modifier. *You also gain resist 5 cold.
VITALS AC: 18 Fort: 18 Ref: 15 Will: 17 HP: 40/40
Surges: 6/6 Surge Value: 10
Initiative: +1 Speed: 6
CURRENT ABILITY SCORES STR 18, CON 10, DEX 11, INT 10, WIS 8, CHA 17
Achile hated the enviorment he found himself in. On Firecrafter Island the buildings tended to consist of a structure with a roof and perhaps only one or two solid walls. His people did not believe one should close themselves away from the world and in a sense of combat it was always a good idea to see your surroundings in case someone or something attempted to sneak out of the forests. In this building with four walls he felt cut off and slightly claustraphobic. The half-elf ground his teeth together and he could feel the flames of his people stir beneath his skin. If he was not careful the flams would begin to dance across his skin and betray his nature more then his appearence and speech already. Not having a voice for such conversations and feeling little trust for the man before him Achile instead focused on the man himself, hoping for some sign from his god to show whether or not the man spoke true.
Scarblade Bastard Sword 1d20+18 vs AC. 1d10+8 Damage Hungry Spear Greatspear+3 1d20+19 vs AC. 1d10+9 +2d8 to damage in Bersker Fury.
Ranged Basic Attack: Hungry Spear Greatspear+3 1d20+19 vs AC Damage: 1d10+9
Jarring Smash: MBA + target grants CA until end of my next turn.
Run Down: MBA + target is slowed until end of my next turn.
Defender Aura: Aura 1. Enemery takes -2 to attacks rolls that do not include me or ally with this aura active. Marked enemies not subject
Vengeful Guardian: OA. Enemy subject of defender aura either **** or makes attack that targets an ally without targeting me or ally with active defender aura. MBA+2d8 extra damage.
Badge of The Berserker- The movement of charge attacks does not provoke OA
[] Stone Panoply [X] Savage Cut Used [] Brutal Slam [] Second Wind [X] Nomad's Rush Used [] Earthforger's Passage [X] Furious Assault Used [] A Thousand Ways to Die [] Curtain of Steel [] Hungry Spear Encounter Power
Encounter: Roots of Stone [] Rough Strike [] Mountain Hammer [] Form of Winter’s Herald attack [] Goring Charge[x] Mark of Thunder [] Elven Battle Hide Armor [] Boots of Free Movement []
Daily: Form of Winter’s Herald [] Boiling Cloud: [x] Boiling Cloud Attack: [] Endure Pain [] Treacherous Ice []
Rolen took note of Asarmi's ill fortune, finding it just as interesting as his host did. Staying silent Rolen mentally went through the vast list of herbs and weeds that he know might have caused it just encase it was a poison, as well as considering what else it could be.
But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. W.B. Yeats
