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Post by ffilz on Jul 11, 2017 13:24:41 GMT -5
I know character creation isn't quite finished, we'll let mao catch up when he finishes... You all have known each other for some time (I'll let you all decide). You have long been talking about leaving your dull lives here in the village of Oswin and seeking fame and fortune. Recently Kaira has come upon an ancient scroll that gives directions on how to enter the ancient ruins under a nearby hill. There is an overgrown plaza carved out of the hillside. An ancient door leads into the darkness. The scroll mentions that to open the door, the entrants must sacrifice a living creature weighing at least two stone (28 lbs). The door will then open for a period of 2 hours. It doesn't mention if the door can be opened from the inside. The door may only be opened this way once per day. |
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Post by sixdemonbag on Jul 11, 2017 17:08:35 GMT -5
I invite all party members to the village tavern for dinner and to discuss this scroll's instructions. We set aside a large table for all of us to sit around. Over candlelight, we begin to discuss Kaira's parchment.
I say to all, "If we decide to investigate these hillside ruins, I don't like the idea of sacrificing an innocent for these profitable purposes. It reeks of evil, by Anhur! I say we investigate this hill at dawn. And we bring some rocks and such in an attempt to fool this questionable entrance!" I then glance at the roasted mutton and smoked-cheese on the table.
"However, if this ploy does not work, we may ask the innkeep if they are in need of any game for their patrons. We may hunt such game to use as sacrifice and then deliver it to the Inn or Tavern for proper consumption. We may even be paid for our services!! Huzzah! If there are any other ideas as to how to acquire this dire sacrifice, I'm all ears.
If hunting proves, fruitless, we may offer to buy some livestock from a local rancher, and offer double the payment upon return if we cannot afford it. What say we?"
I look around at the faces outlining the dim table.
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Post by Mighty Darci on Jul 11, 2017 18:53:54 GMT -5
Adara says, "While some gods do ask for sacrifices, so do demons. Kaira, young cousin, does that scroll indicate who you are sacrificing too or is that all left vague? Koss has concerns that echo mine, it is very important to know who you are sacrificing too, it may not be evil, but then again it is more likely that it is. I think we need to go to the site and look it over good and see what we find out. What more can you tell us of what the scroll says? I see that it is an unfamiliar script."
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Post by xizallian on Jul 11, 2017 19:15:05 GMT -5
"Cautious older and distant cousin," says Kaira, "Loosen up, this is going to be fun, you are worrying about nothing. I'll tell you everything you need to know. I have been working on this scroll for a while. (BTW the scroll is not spread out for all to see or hear about.) Let's eat and talk of other things, then go somewhere later and discuss this in more detail. The walls here do have ears sometimes." 
ffilz , please PM me with the details of what I know about the scroll and what it says. Not just in regard to the sacrifice, but other things as well.
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Post by sixdemonbag on Jul 11, 2017 19:30:20 GMT -5
NOTE: I updated my earlier post to reflect the situation.
I whisper to Kaira and to the others so that only those at the table may hear, "Let's go to the location of your choosing to plan further. Name the time and place and I shall meet you there."
Unnaturally to all but myself, I lean forward to whisper these words. My head is cocked and my eyes dart to and fro in search of wall-like ears. Awaiting an answer, I lean back in my chair, it shifts, and makes a loud, scraping sound across the sticky wooden floor.
Koss is anything but subtle and, red-faced, realizes then that Kaira's suggestion is perhaps a wise one indeed...
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Post by magremore on Jul 12, 2017 6:16:50 GMT -5
I’m happy to join in discussing later, making more careful preparations, but for my two coppers...
We go to the hillside, where goats tend to range, and we take one with rope. We lead it to the entrance and make a right sacrifice—mark it, behead it, and burn its body—then leave the head outside the entrance as a holy blessing for our expedition.
*Xeric’s no man of the cloth, so he knows not the proper markings, but he has seen how the priests of his religion mark the skull of an animal—ibex, lamb, rooster—before making a sacrifice to Anubis or Osiris. He also has no way of knowing if this truly addresses the concerns about demon sacrifice, but it‘s his belief.
☥
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Post by sixdemonbag on Jul 12, 2017 17:59:24 GMT -5
My eyes go wide at Xeric's ritual knowledge. For my own comfort, I look over to Adara to gauge her reaction. Hopefully, her little cousin can shed some light on this fel deed necessary to gain entrance to the secret hillside door.
I grip my purple amethyst tighter, wondering about the horrors that await in the depths of these ruins...
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Post by Mighty Darci on Jul 12, 2017 21:04:05 GMT -5
I’m happy to join in discussing later, making more careful preparations, but for my two coppers...
We go to the hillside, where goats tend to range, and we take one with rope. We lead it to the entrance and make a right sacrifice—mark it, behead it, and burn its body—then leave the head outside the entrance as a holy blessing for our expedition.
* Xeric’s no man of the cloth, so he knows not the proper markings, but he has seen how the priests of his religion mark the skull of an animal—ibex, lamb, rooster—before making a sacrifice to Anubis or Osiris. He also has no way of knowing if this truly addresses the concerns about demon sacrifice, but it‘s his belief. ☥
"Kaira, it is very important to know what we are proposing to sacrifice to, do you have this information?" |
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Post by Mighty Darci on Jul 12, 2017 21:05:34 GMT -5
My eyes go wide at Xeric's ritual knowledge. For my own comfort, I look over to Adara to gauge her reaction. Hopefully, her little cousin can shed some light on this fel deed necessary to gain entrance to the secret hillside door. I grip my purple amethyst tighter, wondering about the horrors that await in the depths of these ruins... |
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Post by xizallian on Jul 12, 2017 21:54:02 GMT -5
Kaira, sounding very confident says, "Thoth will guide me in all that I need to do, just as he always has, there is nothing to worry about, I will take care of it, you only need to stand back and watch. I will even make sure that all of you are warded inside a ring of salt."
Makes a note to self that Xeric worships the gods of the slippery slope, that could prove useful and good to know.
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Post by sixdemonbag on Jul 12, 2017 22:59:23 GMT -5
"I shall defer to my fellow loremasters in these matters." I say attempting to mask my rising apprehension.
Koss is hopeful that Kaira can open the door in a more scrupulous manner. Using Xeric's ritual might be a valid last resort, if Kaira fails.
I walk over to the barkeep and ask her if I may advertise for a job. I mention that I will post on the wall outside the tavern and the inn. I tell her that if anyone if interested in seeking fortune, we will begin an expedition at dawn's first light at a nearby hillside. Not for the weak or weary. Bring arms. They are eligible for a share of treasure, only. Meet here at sunrise outside the tavern if they want to join. No coin upfront. Koss walks back over to the table, bumping a barstool along the way.
"We will likely need more steel as we descend. I have inquired for help from the locals. If none show, it will be just us. I say we investigate the hill at dawn. I will stop here on the way to see if there are any takers. Then we can attempt to open the secret door. I will bring a boy along in the event a sacrifice is necessary so he may return to town with it. I want to minimize any evil deeds we perform to gain entry. The boy can hopefully put the sacrifice to good use if need be.
Meet at dawn?"
I nervously tap my foot.
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Post by magremore on Jul 13, 2017 4:46:09 GMT -5
“Or we could meet there at midnight...”
Xeric chuckles. “Dawn sounds good.”
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Post by xizallian on Jul 14, 2017 22:01:45 GMT -5
"Dawn - first light - I will meet you all there. Would someone catch a goat and have it available for me?"
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Post by sixdemonbag on Jul 14, 2017 22:46:09 GMT -5
"Dawn - first light - I will meet you all there. Would someone catch a goat and have it available for me?" |
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Post by magremore on Jul 15, 2017 5:14:15 GMT -5
“Sure. Will someone else accompany? Two should help the plan a bit, especially with getting this done by nightfall.” (If mao is still offline, maybe we could use John, our other fighting man, for this?) Xeric will head for the nearby hillside. If there are wild grains, he’ll collect a handful of stalks. Assuming there are goats there (Xeric hopes his thoughts on that were correct!), he will set down by a rill or waterhole and use the grain (or fruit from his own fresh rations if he has to) to help lure a goat. Will then slip a rope onto the animal and lead him away, using the wild grain as encouragement. (Well, that’s the plan anyway!)
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Post by Mighty Darci on Jul 16, 2017 21:21:02 GMT -5
Adara goes to prepare for the morrow.
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Post by xizallian on Jul 16, 2017 21:24:12 GMT -5
Kaira gives Koss a few coin to help him with enticing a few suckers to go with us. Then goes to prepare herself for the adventure, hopefully Koss can get a couple of men who aren't timid.
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Post by ffilz on Jul 17, 2017 23:23:26 GMT -5
How much coin do you want to spend on recruiting? Are you hoping just to recruit men at arms, or henchmen?
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Post by xizallian on Jul 18, 2017 0:13:55 GMT -5
How much coin do you want to spend on recruiting? Are you hoping just to recruit men at arms, or henchmen? |
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Post by Mighty Darci on Jul 18, 2017 0:15:41 GMT -5
How much coin do you want to spend on recruiting? Are you hoping just to recruit men at arms, or henchmen? |
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Post by sixdemonbag on Jul 18, 2017 0:43:00 GMT -5
I don't know what Koss has in mind, but I am thinking men at arms, but if we want to try for henchmen then Adara, needs to do the talking. I was going to start by giving them 40 GP so that the offer could start low and have room to negotiate. If two men at arms that should be enough up front. If henchman then offering a half share two I would think
As Koss says this he thinks to himself that he would prefer Anhur bless them with a legion of retainers, but knows that he has not yet earned that privilege. He must test himself soon.He knows his time has finally come to prove his faith. A slight tremble infiltrates his lip. He looks down. His purple amethyst feels heavier than it ever has... |
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Post by ffilz on Jul 20, 2017 8:40:58 GMT -5
So how do you want to spend your coin to attract men at arms or henchmen? Are you posting notices or talking to people in taverns?
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Post by Mighty Darci on Jul 20, 2017 14:53:40 GMT -5
So how do you want to spend your coin to attract men at arms or henchmen? Are you posting notices or talking to people in taverns? |
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Post by ffilz on Jul 24, 2017 14:52:12 GMT -5
Any more response on recruiting? I think I'm still not clear, but in general,
Offering 40 gp per for two hireling men at arms.
Hoping to encourage a henchman or two with 1/2 share of treasure.
Correct me if I'm wrong and I'll drum up the NPC interest...
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Post by sixdemonbag on Jul 24, 2017 16:25:28 GMT -5
Any more response on recruiting? I think I'm still not clear, but in general, Offering 40 gp per for two hireling men at arms. Hoping to encourage a henchman or two with 1/2 share of treasure. Correct me if I'm wrong and I'll drum up the NPC interest... That sounds right. Offering an equal share of treasure seems reasonable to me. I don't have 40 GP to offer, but it sounds like Kaira does. I'll let her respond in the positive, though. |
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Post by Mighty Darci on Jul 24, 2017 17:41:51 GMT -5
Any more response on recruiting? I think I'm still not clear, but in general, Offering 40 gp per for two hireling men at arms. Hoping to encourage a henchman or two with 1/2 share of treasure. Correct me if I'm wrong and I'll drum up the NPC interest... That sounds right. Offering an equal share of treasure seems reasonable to me. I don't have 40 GP to offer, but it sounds like Kaira does. I'll let her respond in the positive, though. How did we get from 1/2 shares to full shares? |
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Post by ffilz on Jul 24, 2017 17:59:28 GMT -5
That sounds right. Offering an equal share of treasure seems reasonable to me. I don't have 40 GP to offer, but it sounds like Kaira does. I'll let her respond in the positive, though. How did we get from 1/2 shares to full shares? BTW, another way to do henchmen shares is what I was doing in Makofan's game over on odd74 (I'm not sure how the other players were doing it). Each PC got an equal share, then I took my share and gave 10% of it to each of 3 Henchmen, sometimes upping their share to "game" the experience system (which is totally ok with me, even among the players, if someone could be bumped a level by giving them an extra share of gold, go for it). This way gives each player a "fair" share of the treasure even if one player wants to have henchmen and another doesn't. NPCs that can level up, but aren't henchmen, are often offered a 1/2 share (that's what is being done in my odd74 game). Men at arms are typically just given a fixed pay, perhaps with bonus for combat or big treasure (and of course their loyalty may be appropriate. Frank |
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Post by Mighty Darci on Jul 24, 2017 18:13:38 GMT -5
How did we get from 1/2 shares to full shares? BTW, another way to do henchmen shares is what I was doing in Makofan's game over on odd74 (I'm not sure how the other players were doing it). Each PC got an equal share, then I took my share and gave 10% of it to each of 3 Henchmen, sometimes upping their share to "game" the experience system (which is totally ok with me, even among the players, if someone could be bumped a level by giving them an extra share of gold, go for it). This way gives each player a "fair" share of the treasure even if one player wants to have henchmen and another doesn't. NPCs that can level up, but aren't henchmen, are often offered a 1/2 share (that's what is being done in my odd74 game). Men at arms are typically just given a fixed pay, perhaps with bonus for combat or big treasure (and of course their loyalty may be appropriate. Frank That sounds good to Frank. Practical yet flexible. |
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Post by xizallian on Jul 24, 2017 18:25:44 GMT -5
So how do you want to spend your coin to attract men at arms or henchmen? Are you posting notices or talking to people in taverns? BTW, another way to do henchmen shares is what I was doing in Makofan's game over on odd74 (I'm not sure how the other players were doing it). Each PC got an equal share, then I took my share and gave 10% of it to each of 3 Henchmen, sometimes upping their share to "game" the experience system (which is totally ok with me, even among the players, if someone could be bumped a level by giving them an extra share of gold, go for it). This way gives each player a "fair" share of the treasure even if one player wants to have henchmen and another doesn't. NPCs that can level up, but aren't henchmen, are often offered a 1/2 share (that's what is being done in my odd74 game). Men at arms are typically just given a fixed pay, perhaps with bonus for combat or big treasure (and of course their loyalty may be appropriate. Frank That sounds good to Frank. Practical yet flexible. |
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Post by ffilz on Jul 24, 2017 18:40:46 GMT -5
20 gp a week each will get you 4 men at arms willing to go into a dungeon. They are armed with chain, sword, shield.
Adara is able to attract a henchman (Str 6, Int 9, Wis 10, Con 8, Dex 11, Cha 13, who is also a Cleric of Ukko with Leather armor, helmet, shield, mace).
Koss attracts a henchman (Str 12, Int 12, Wis 13, Con 9, Dex 3, Cha 9, who is also a Cleric of Anhur with Leather, helmet, shield, mace).
Kaira doesn't know anyone other than her companions.
Anyone else want to seek henchmen?
Go ahead and name your henchmen (and pick gender). Alignment is the same as yours. You may also purchase additional equipment for them.
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