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Post by raikenclw on Aug 23, 2018 11:48:43 GMT -5
This is taking no longer than a typical confrontation scene in a T.V. show. I doubt that it's been more than a minute game-time since Karba's first words to the group. OOC: Time is relative, you are being too literal. To the halflings all the offended pride stuff just drags and drags on, they are bored. (The player is not bored, the player is fascinated, the characters are bored.) Don't over think it.
Oh and Hexenritter Verlag , I am going to try to jump on for a few minutes here and there, just to get us moving ASAP so I am not slowing this down. Once we get to the dungeon, I am assuming you will do what you are doing in the fight in the Traveller thread.Perhaps Ebon Hearted Soul could open a separate scene, in which the full group is approaching the dungeon? This current scene can continue until a (hopefully non-violent) resolution is attained between Sora and Karba. The two aforesaid disputants can haughtily ignore each other to the extent possible, thus reflecting this not-yet-achieved outcome. BTW, if we're all supposed to have four characters, perhaps Sora's two additional Order brothers (sisters?) can be awaiting the party at the dungeon? Ideally with an actual cleric from his companion clerical Order as one of the pair?
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Aug 23, 2018 11:58:43 GMT -5
Hunter: (almost places a hand on Sora's shoulder, but thinks better of it) "Come, friend. Is it not evident that the child knows naught of your station nor your religious nature? There is work to be done, and you can teach her the way of Mulvikk along th--"
"MulviGG, you big dummy" interrupts Axel with his usual bored whisper.
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Post by raikenclw on Aug 23, 2018 12:18:11 GMT -5
[i. e. - Karba has no clue that she offended the big demon-guy] . . . . . . . Typical PbP problem. Days have gone by, with past posts having been forgotten or misremembered. I will therefore attempt to repost the confrontation in it's essentials. At certain points in the below, I will use ALL CAPS so that Chet can be certain of understanding important points. I am NOT "shouting" in doing this, merely using the only manner of textual emphasis which his limited means of viewing these posts allows. Following this post, I will refrain from posting further until Chet has the time to reevaluate whether or not Karba is actually unaware of the offense given to Sora. Please note that some of the posts below will seem repetitive, since at one point our GM attempted to correct previous misconceptions caused by incomplete posting by himself and Chet through a GM complilation of relevant posts. Rather than go all the way back to the start of the scene, I will begin with the actual insult, to whit: "Mill-vhaug?" she mutters, mangling the names. Spits. Under her breath, she murmers "Priests." Handing his reins to Josiah, Sora swings down from his mount and assumes a relaxed swordsman's stance. He doesn't draw his sword but he does rest his palm on the pommel. Glancing down at the glob of spittle, Sora then allows his gaze to slowly track back up to the woman's face. In a soft and very calm voice, Sora asks, "Do you have some kind of problem with Mulvigg? Or with His servants?"[OOC: I am NOT attempting to get our characters into an in-game fight. But that spittle would DEFINITELY push a paladin's button! ] [OOC: One further point - Sora has voluntarily given up three (3) tactical advantages, in order to seem less threatening: 1) turning his reins over to his Order fellow implies that Sora intends to deal with this problem alone, 2) the fact that Sora has dismounted removes his trained warhorse from the equation and 3) Sora left his shield behind on his mount. In short, Sora is behaving about as mildly as he possibly can, while in the process of gently delivering a threat.] THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH THE GM ATTEMPTED HIS CORRECTION, TO WHIT: [Ref Voice: Okay I see that both Chet & I omitted info, I did so in hopes that Chet would fill the blank by building of my initial description. Now Ref needs to pull up his big boy pants & set things aright.]
Back up to the initial situation - The kneeling woman (Karba), is checking for clues when she hears movement from outdoors, she turns slightly to better see over her shoulder and sees a "man" upon a horse and a few other armored people, but hears a few others outside her line of site. She grips the handle of her hammer but does not move to attack. She instead simply speaks, "You're late.They needed you before. Now - just clean up. And maybe stop it from happening again." She places down part of the partial burned wooden doll she was studying with what looks to be the rest of the doll. Then Sora replies: Sora looks slightly repentant and spreading his hands replies, "Mulvigg sees all, but prefers His followers to use their own faculties in His service. And unfortunately, His followers are spread thin in this world. Would that I and Josiah had been in the Prince's party these two weeks gone, but such was not to be. We can only do that which we can. Should Luck shine upon us the now, we will bring the culprits to justice and deliver their heads to the victims next of kin."
Which prompts Karba to mutter: "Mill-vhaug?" she mutters, mangling the names. Spits. Under her breath, she murmers "Priests."
Sora then responds by: Handing his reins to Josiah, Sora swings down from his mount and assumes a relaxed swordsman's stance. He doesn't draw his sword but he does rest his palm on the pommel. Glancing down at the glob of spittle, Sora then allows his gaze to slowly track back up to the woman's face. In a soft and very calm voice, Sora asks, "Do you have some kind of problem with Mulvigg? Or with His servants?" [Ref Voice: I'll not presume to correct Darci's character's interpretation of sora's nor Torgork's calling Karba old, maybe he thinks she is from his position. If needed discuss Mighty Darci & raikenclw can discuss this in the OOC thread here and then modify their reactions to each others posts if they desire. We'll start over here so everything is clear from this point. Is everyone okay with this? Does the above clear up the confusion, raikenclw ? I want us all to have fun. Thank you for your questions for clarification & the advice you have given, as I am new to playing and reffing PbP I am not used to its peculiarities.] THE ABOVE WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THIS: [Sounds good to me. KARBA DOES GIVE OFFENSE FIRST and did mutter under her breath. Yep, she has an attitude but is surprised that the (Is this the big guy who looks like a horned beastman?) heard her murmuring.] Karba: "You heard th--?" (eyes narrow as she throws back her hood. She doesn't disguise her gender, but neither does she flaunt it - for instance, her red hair is closely and amateurly cropped.) "What kind of ears have you?" [Players will note she has deflected the subject. PCs may or may not.] SORA *DID* NOTE THE DEFLECTION. Sora replies (still mildly), "Nothing special. But I do pay attention to what others say, especially when first met. Are you saying now that I misheard? That you did not speak the name of my deity - however mangled it may have been - then spit upon it?"[OOC: Yes. It's fine to proceed onward from this point. If Mighty Darci's PCs choose to see Sora as a bully, that's something that we can build on later. And to answer Chet's OOC question, Sora is the beastman . . . . . . and he heard the initial muttered variant of "Mulvigg" clearly enough to understand it. However, Sora did *not* hear the later under-her-breath murmur of "Priest" clearly enough to make out the sense of it. It's that unclarity plus the timing of the spit - after the deity's name and before the unintelligible [curse?] word - that leads Sora to assume Karba deliberately spat upon then profaned his deity. Even if Sora wasn't a paladin made extra sensitive by his appearance/birthright, he would likely get perturbed in such an encounter. No true believer would like having the name of his deity treated in such a manner.] AGAIN ALL CAPS ARE USED FOR EMPHASIS: Snorting out a surprised and frustrated breath, Sora says in a flat tone, "Bullies rob and kill the weak the World over, child. Regrettably, this . . ."At this point, Sora gestures broadly at the surrounding devastation. " . . . is nothing special. As I said - *BEFORE YOUR CURSE* - I regret that I and mine were not here earlier. It is our calling to rid the world of such scum. Unfortunately, we must walk or ride, just like everyone else. And I am not a priest, to hide in a temple and pray. I am a paladin, a warrior of Mulvigg."Sora shifts his stance slightly, settling his booted feet more firmly, then adds (still in that flat, dangerous tone): "And you still haven't answered my question: do you deny the insult?"Ignoring the comments from those behind him, Sora continues to press the redhead: "I hear a lot of babble, but no admission of guilt or offer of an apology."[OOC: Presumably Karba wishes to join the party. Sora isn't going to go along with that until she admits her initial gafe and apologizes. In fact, Sora will try to administer a beating for impudence - using the flat of his sword on her rear end - if she continues to ignore this demand. "Try" of course being the operative word. ] I believe this is sufficient to show both that Sora was an insulted party and that Karba well knew this. The fact that she kept on (apparently) ignoring his various demands for an apology thereafter only made Sora (and his player!) more frustrated. Is it truly the case that - all this time - Karba had no clue about giving offense? Is she REALLY that dense?
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Aug 23, 2018 12:52:32 GMT -5
[Yes she is that dense. For instance, she didn't notice she spit. She distrusts priests, and know nothing of Mulvigg.]
Karba: "Very well, I am sorry for offending you, beastman priest. If you want to pick a fight instead of help, at least wait until I bury the baby. If it's offering money you want, I have but little money; perhaps when we meet again. Let the dead take care of the dead."
[Has anyone taken a good look at the remains of the doll? I hate to suggest a Perception skill roll, since we're in an 0DnD gameworld.]
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Post by raikenclw on Aug 24, 2018 0:20:17 GMT -5
As soon as Sora hears the word "sorry" (assuming this is *not* said in a sarcastic tone), he relaxes his tense stance and sheaths his drawn sword.
As the girl keeps on speaking, Sora looks around for a dead baby and then - seeing only a damaged doll - thinks:
INTERNAL THOUGHT: Okay. This one is really crazy. Gonna have to watch her more closely than usual.
Sora steps back and waves off this very strange woman, saying, "I do not accept offerings. I only give them. Do as you will, so long as you do not curse me or mine. Curses can hold power."
Taking his reins back from Josiah, Sora remounts, then looks around at his scattered, disunited "companions."
"Well, let's go see about making these villians a head or so shorter, shall we?"
With that, Sora walks his mount slowly toward the evident trail, with Josiah falling in beside him. As he moves (past?) the others, Sora secures his round shield to his left arm and draws his sword, resting the latter across his pommel.
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Aug 24, 2018 0:54:12 GMT -5
Hopefully this will mean things are resolved & we can move on. Let me know.
If so, you've taken your time and checked the village and decided to leave the ruins behind. As you head out the gate you see the road heads west bordered by a mix of hedgerows and low stonewalls. As you begin down the road you see a field on the northern side with much of it's stonewalls torn down and in a partially cleared field turned graveyard - there are numerous stone cairns built and spread throughout the cleared portion of the field. The cairns vary in size as there are two to three smaller cairns to every two larger ones and they are often grouped together.
In your investigations of the village you think that there should be four to six other cairns here but missing, as there are twenty small families who resided in the village. There are four of the bigger cairns separated with no smaller cairns near them but the evidence shows that there should be four to six older pre-marriage age children but no signs of them here. There are also two other adult cairns missing but it is not known if they are alive or not, or where they might be in either case.
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Post by raikenclw on Aug 26, 2018 15:19:48 GMT -5
Surveying the fresh cairns as the party follows the road, Sora comments in an aside to Josiah, "Looks like they took prisoners with them. Wives? Slaves? Sacrifices? Guess we'll know soon enough."
Josiah gives a noncommittal grunt in response.
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Aug 26, 2018 17:27:12 GMT -5
The road from Thand eventually joins the remnants of the Old North Road which is now little more than an overgrown cart track with ruts cutting through the vegetation. it meanders to the north past partially cleared fields and the occasional fortified steading lies off in the distance where a separate track breaks off the main one. Soon you hit the edge of the Raven Wood and track winds between wooded hillocks and stands of trees that lie between them. A few shallow creeks pass through the forest and hills the creeks are easily forded by horse and foot as the water rarely rises above the knee of a man. As you follow the track you hit a cleared area with a ruined steading just off the track. Near the road outside the walls is a collection of freshly dug graves with a short man in a cloak kneeling as in prayer. Outside the gates you notice dried blood where rain could not wash it away and what can only be sharpened stakes dyed a dark color lying near the gate and wall but that is all you can see from the track. ( mormonyoyoman can introduce the Short Man mentioned earlier in his first post.) Chet said this earlier in the thread:
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Aug 26, 2018 19:02:17 GMT -5
[more on Monday - everyone else gets a chance first]
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Post by Mighty Darci on Aug 27, 2018 0:22:37 GMT -5
The halflings are trailing along, Togork a bit grumpily. They see the little man and stop with the rest of the party, although they see no reason to stop, he does not look like a threat, just another victim burying his family.
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Post by raikenclw on Aug 28, 2018 17:40:47 GMT -5
Not coming under attack immediately, Sora sheathed his sword after several minutes. Then as tree cover moved back from the edge of the road, he loaded his crossbow and held it ready, propped on his hip pointing up. Seeing this, Josiah did likewise, with his heavier version of the weapon.
When the small man turned and started to reach within his sleeve (for a throwing dagger perhaps?), Sora and Josiah both began to point their crossbows in his direction. When the man stopped his motion, the paladin and fighter stopped theirs as well. But they remain a bit keyed up. Nothing like a spurt of adrenaline to cure boredom.
Neither Sora nor Josiah heard anything the man was saying . . .
[OOC . . . principally because there are no actual words noted in the repost - although I suspect that this is more an effect of this WACKY site than our GM's intention].
When it seems nobody else is inclined to break the silence, Sora says in a carefully neutral tone, "We are just passing through, on the trail of bandits from a couple of weeks past. It appears as if those villians may have hit here, after bypassing other nearby holdings."
[OOC: If this fellow just recently buried two-week-old corpses, this place should positively REEK.]
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Aug 28, 2018 19:50:13 GMT -5
[OOC . . . principally because there are no actual words noted in the repost - although I suspect that this is more an effect of this WACKY site than our GM's intention]. I just quoted what Chet posted before everyone else did, so he wouldn't have to repeat himself. There is no smell of rot near the graves, but there is slight rank smell coming from the direction of the steading. There is a fresh but very small grave and a spade stuck in the ground nearby.
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Post by raikenclw on Aug 28, 2018 19:58:57 GMT -5
Sora notes the very small fresh grave and *silently* ponders:
Did whoever buried the others miss a young victim? Perhaps a pet?
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Post by Mighty Darci on Sept 1, 2018 21:05:07 GMT -5
The halflings are waiting while this is going on and fidgeting. They are scanning the surrounding keeping an eye out and waiting for whatever happens.
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Sept 3, 2018 16:48:17 GMT -5
I hope that mormonyoyoman is okay and will rejoin us soon. Until we know when he can return or not, this game will be hiatus as I am worried about him and as things are hinged on his character's actions. That said I am willing to take over Chet's characters as npcs if he can't continue forward playing because of his health.
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Post by raikenclw on Sept 3, 2018 21:14:22 GMT -5
[OOC: Whatever you need to do is okay with me.]
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Sept 5, 2018 19:50:09 GMT -5
I hope that mormonyoyoman is okay and will rejoin us soon. Until we know when he can return or not, this game will be hiatus as I am worried about him and as things are hinged on his character's actions. That said I am willing to take over Chet's characters as npcs if he can't continue forward playing because of his health. {see my update post in "Adventures of the MormonYoYoMan."}
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Sept 5, 2018 21:41:55 GMT -5
I hope that mormonyoyoman is okay and will rejoin us soon. Until we know when he can return or not, this game will be hiatus as I am worried about him and as things are hinged on his character's actions. That said I am willing to take over Chet's characters as npcs if he can't continue forward playing because of his health. {see my update post in "Adventures of the MormonYoYoMan."} Saw it & understand, I sent you an overview of the current situation in a PM so you can build off that when you are able to post next here. Take care & can't wait to see what you post next Chet.
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Post by Mighty Darci on Sept 7, 2018 8:56:11 GMT -5
{see my update post in "Adventures of the MormonYoYoMan."} Saw it & understand, I sent you an overview of the current situation in a PM so you can build off that when you are able to post next here. Take care & can't wait to see what you post next Chet. Welcome back mormonyoyoman, get well, be well!
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Post by Mighty Darci on Sept 13, 2018 23:01:12 GMT -5
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Post by raikenclw on Sept 13, 2018 23:08:36 GMT -5
As Mighty Darci said, just checking in and hope mormonyoyoman is getting better.
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Sept 14, 2018 0:47:54 GMT -5
I just heard from Chet this morning, and he should be posting soon as he can now sit up but he is reacquainting himself with what has gone on and what he needs to do. So hopefully we can get back moving very soon. I was gone gaming with a friend & my brother (meh - I hate 5e)so just got back online.
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Sept 14, 2018 14:23:22 GMT -5
What looked to be a youngster steps out of the shadows and removes his hood. One can see his bright red beard (What IS it with these redheads I rolled up?) therefore he must be a dwarf, not a youngster. If his voice wasn't similar to Monk Mayfield's or Joe Pesci's, they wouldn't have been fooled by the audio weirdness. He smiles, looking a little sheepish.
"It is an honor to meet another of my order. And a relief!"
(Since this is Old School, I have only and shall only describe what other characters see or hear what my PCs do, see, or say. This is in NO WAY meant to upset other players. It is Old School, played as if it was really happening. We took to rolegaming right away, as Cherie and I were actors and improvisationists back when D&D was Blackmoor. Had we but known about rolegaming in 1970, we never would have gone to college!)
Karba looks from one to the other. "What was the name of that god again?" She doesn't seem to see a connection between the dwarf & what she thinks is a beastman.
Hunter is examining the ground. "Similar tracks. They came from that way, and went THAT way." (points)
Axel, as usual, seems kind of oblivious to everyone else, and is poking around the ruins.
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Sept 14, 2018 15:39:26 GMT -5
Axel notices the gory remains of what looks to be mutated canine skeleton that is causing the rotting smell in the ruins. What are the others doing Mighty Darci & raikenclw?
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Post by raikenclw on Sept 14, 2018 16:16:36 GMT -5
[OOC: Just to be clear - the dwarf is the guy who reached into his sleeve when we first rode up, correct? And he's wearing a tabbard that identifies him as a member of an Order of Mulvigg? And he was presumably wearing this tabbard when initially spotted?
Then I believe that we need to rewind the scene and I need to adjust my previous post, since Sora and Josiah would never had pointed their loaded crossbows at him in the first place!!!]
[OOC ADDENDUM: As to the posting strictly what characters "do, see or say" . . . I think this has great potential for confusion in a play-by-post environment. This is because other players are thereby being left to read between the lines of what is written and try to discern what the information actually means. Unlike in a novel - where the reader is only passively witnessing the developing plot - the other players are expected to actively engage with this character in *constructing* a plot. If a character sees something but only the bare fact of this perception is provided to the other players - with no in-character interpretation added in any way - those other players are left with nothing except sheer guess work upon which to base their own posts. We have already seen such a waste of time, in the long and rather pointless confrontation surrounding the insult.
On the other hand, posting the internal thoughts of a character - either as non-vocalized internal dialogue or feelings/perceptions - is (for me and I believe others as well) a way to convey to other PLAYERS perceptions made by the character which they might be pick up on in a face-to-face tabletop environment that can not be easily shown in other ways. Such information is intended to give other players some of the non-verbal clues upon which a large percentage of human communication is based. Players can choose to have their characters pick up on the subtle clues in various ways or they can decline to do so, at their option.]
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Post by raikenclw on Sept 14, 2018 16:17:48 GMT -5
[OOC: I am waiting to hear if and how I should rewrite my previous post, before proceeding onward. I am also fervently hoping that such rewrites do not become a regular thing.
Just to be clear about my above worry: mormonyoyoman seems to be posting based on his initial post from waaayyyyyyyy back, rather than what I posted on the immediately previous page. Specifically, his dwarf totally ignores how those loaded crossbows were briefly pointing at him and simply gives a relieved greeting, as if to friends. That doesn't seem very believable to me.]
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Post by raikenclw on Sept 14, 2018 16:37:07 GMT -5
[OCC (Yet Again): It strikes me that our GM's helpful partial posts may be tripping up mormomyoyoman. In other words, this is another example of "blanks" being left by the GM and missed by the player. Mormomyoyoman may be assuming that Mighty Darci and myself have been seeing everything he previously posted, when really we've only been seeing part of it.]
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Sept 14, 2018 20:20:05 GMT -5
[OOC: Just to be clear - the dwarf is the guy who reached into his sleeve when we first rode up, correct? And he's wearing a tabbard that identifies him as a member of an Order of Mulvigg? And he was presumably wearing this tabbard when initially spotted? [Ref Voice: his back was initially towards you & his cloak obscured the view the emblem on his tabbard which is likely also covered in dirt and gore so not readily apparent.]Then I believe that we need to rewind the scene and I need to adjust my previous post, since Sora and Josiah would never had pointed their loaded crossbows at him in the first place!!!] [OOC ADDENDUM: As to the posting strictly what characters "do, see or say" . . . I think this has great potential for confusion in a play-by-post environment. This is because other players are thereby being left to read between the lines of what is written and try to discern what the information actually means. Unlike in a novel - where the reader is only passively witnessing the developing plot - the other players are expected to actively engage with this character in *constructing* a plot. If a character sees something but only the bare fact of this perception is provided to the other players - with no in-character interpretation added in any way - those other players are left with nothing except sheer guess work upon which to base their own posts. We have already seen such a waste of time, in the long and rather pointless confrontation surrounding the insult. On the other hand, posting the internal thoughts of a character - either as non-vocalized internal dialogue or feelings/perceptions - is (for me and I believe others as well) a way to convey to other PLAYERS perceptions made by the character which they might be pick up on in a face-to-face tabletop environment that can not be easily shown in other ways. Such information is intended to give other players some of the non-verbal clues upon which a large percentage of human communication is based. Players can choose t o have their characters pick up on the subtle clues in various ways or they can decline to do so, at their option.]"A small man in weathered robes rises from kneeling in a plot of graves, of which two are pathetically small. He turns towards the newcomers and seems alarmed at the sight of the Not Humans. He reaches into a sleeve - but stops when his eyes spot the traveling priest (should've said Paladin). He seems to relax, but he remains silent. (Someone may have heard his words over the graves' site.) " Things could've been clearer. Here I clarified the some of the details working off Chet's post above:
"As you follow the track you hit a cleared area with a ruined steading just off the track. Near the road outside the walls is a collection of freshly dug graves with a short man in a cloak kneeling as in prayer. Outside the gates you notice dried blood where rain could not wash it away and what can only be sharpened stakes dyed a dark color lying near the gate and wall but that is all you can see from the track. (mormonyoyoman can introduce the Short Man mentioned earlier in his first post.) " Not knowing how Chet's character is dressed I could not include that in my own post. So in the future in order to lessen confusion try to be clear in your descriptions of what you are describing. This is my first PbP, so I am still learning the ins & outs of reffing them.
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Sept 15, 2018 23:57:39 GMT -5
Axel notices the gory remains of what looks to be mutated canine skeleton that is causing the rotting smell in the ruins. What are the others doing Mighty Darci & raikenclw? A thought balloon appears above Axel's head, with words inside it: "I wonder if mutant dog guts or bones would be useful components for something?"
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Post by raikenclw on Sept 16, 2018 2:57:45 GMT -5
Rubbing the smoke from his eyes, Sora stares at the muddy and threadbare tabbard of the Order of [Whomever It Is], then snorts a harsh laugh and shouts, "Brother, you almost got yourself decorated with some feathers, there! Have you been wrestling hogs in that tabbard or what?!"
Leaving his crossbow to dangle from the lanyard that attaches it to his saddlehorn, Sora drops his reins and dismounts. Striding up to the dwarf, Sora thrusts out his hand [for a handshake] as he asks, "What the blue blazes are you doing out in this godsforsaken stretch of nowhere on your own?"
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