[pnpgm] Game Update #112 - File #873 - Party arrives in Crossroads
Scott Adams
longshotgm at netzero.com
Tue Aug 24 08:50:44 CEST 2010
HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex
-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma
??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma
W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma
W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
--.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe
R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma
Do.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma
R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe
...Thomas.Magann.........Whitney...........Scholar.Normal/Human..Ma
R1 John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma
R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe
R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma
Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar,
Cover Story Info: [HD- House member, F-Foreigner, N-native non house]
Arawn aka Arawn as Teacher to daughter [F]
Ben'dar aka Bu Da as Horse expert [F]
Caladan aka Ca Lu as Guard/Archer [N]
Chion aka Capt. Chu Mai as Sailor Trustee [HD]
Farseeker aka Fu Sa as Guard [F]
Fremea aka Lin Mong as Noble child [HD] [Disguised]
Kell aka Swan as Trader [F]
Kiet aka Kiet Sunan as Zhou's servant [F]
Raban aka Toban Nu as Entertainer/Guard [F]
Strie'bog aka Sun Zhu as Entertainer [N]
Unali aka Tun Au as Zhou's wife [HD]
Whitney aka Whitney as Herbalist/Tailor [F]
Will aka Sun Tzu as hunt master [F]
Z'leyra aka Kakita Junami as Healer [F]
Zhou aka Zhou Wa as Baron Noble [HD]
Game Web Site - http://www.furvert.net/longshotgm/pbem/index.htm
Public posts/actions to pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list)
Private emails (not public actions) to longshotgm at netzero.com
Game Update #112 in sequence (file #873)
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Admin Notes: None.
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[Recap]
From Raban: [Re: Actions]
<EEEK major spell mutations, but costs lots too ;) <I have had
a few players hit El20 areas, very very rare. Easier for some
innates especially if Fanatical.
<But it is easier to do with playing at a table meeting many
days a week for years and powerful items to boost stats, and
much easier if they were fortunate enough to get a supernatural
key ability. <A quick skim of old characters on file shows many
have managed El10+ in learned spells, more have gotten there in
innates. <Sadly I only have maybe a hundred characters on file,
many times that on paper but they are slower to look through
<PnP is hard on characters, many deaths. Worst was one of the
new abysmal charts killing most the group, but they decided it
was fair.
<Beware abysmals that detonate magical items nearby, some groups
carry way too many!!!
<Fortunately the players decided it was their own stupidity,
they had also voted to use the new charts. New characters were
made, stories adjusted, and plot continued.
<I am actually playing a descendant of one of the dead characters
from that in another game, conceived after the death actually,
but that is another story ;)
<I have used a few rules requiring extra Mana for effects, I
never tried one using experience or expertise pools. Definitely
a unique approach.
<Pretty sure I have had starting characters with innates >10
before, but they tend to be of limited usefulness due to high Enl
costs and slow recovery
<LOL I did not remember the bag at all other than in a vague
way. Apparently I need to keep things in mind better, maybe I
should write a journal? Some other games I play have stories
hundreds of pages long. Looks like the last PnP game I ran in
2006 has a player journal 380 pages long. I may have to continue
that again someday, we just got sidetracked into other games. My
active DnD game is 395 pages currently and is at about 1 year of
play, likely it will finish up soon and we will start another one
with a different ruleset. Sometimes multiple players write their
own versions as seen by their characters, it can be quite
hilarious to compare them.
<Raban would need me to write up much more backstory, not sure I
am up to a novella right now though.
<New Actions?
<I do not know the status of Raban's arrow supplies. He has
been working on making new ones but may have limited materials
to do so. Since his arrows are larger he cannot just buy them.
But he could purchase materials needed to make more such as arrow
heads, feathers and possibly usable wood for shafts? If needed
such could also be listed for others to purchase for him. Other
possibilities in supplies are whatever needed for clothing repairs
if such has not already been done. Even then more materials would
be useful to get for later. Likely there are many things needed,
more food etc.
Raban is embarrassed by his forgetting the bag. His Bardic
memory training should have prevented such a failure but so much
has been happening. So many things he would prefer to do but risks
the mission. His soul is nagging at him, reminding him of his
duties somewhat neglected. But how could he arrange a performance
that would not also draw too much attention, no, such would not
be in character for his role. This role limits itself mostly to
Drums, Dancing well would be beyond belief. That leaves little
other than crude displays of strength or physique and even that
is best done in a public bath or perhaps at a well. If timed
properly, removal of my shirt and dumping a bucket of water over
myself to cool off would work. If they used a common well to wash
clothing, that could serve quite well indeed...
Raban smiles to himself having worked out a means to get himself
back into his Goddess's graces. Perhaps this next town will have
what he needs.
<I wonder how many have figured out what his duties include? LOL
<Sorry, I cannot figure out much to say on the current story, so
I left a lot open
GM: Ack. Groups? Heck certain individuals carry too many
magic items and depend on them too much. Unique but
an approach that has worked well and fair for most
folks that use it. We've tweaked it over 2 decades.
What you do is up to you. Journal or not. But I would
say take notes can simply jot one line down "bag might
be important!" and only be a page or two for a year's
worth of adventure. I did mention it actually 3 times
in various updates. Clues abound more than just the bag. :)
You have 27 arrows right now. But can buy materials and
supplies. I can always send sheets upon request. But
otherwise I'll send them out anyways before arrival in
Pamau or leaving Pamau. No worry on what to say. I
rather have a post with one word than nothing.
From Kiet: [Re: Actions]
My biggest issue is that it's less costly to improve higher BMC
spells to high levels than it is lower BMC spells.
for instance, to get a BMC1 spell to EL15 requires over 1425
successful casts. A BMC20 spell only requires 135. The higher
the BMC, the lower the number of successful casts.
It costs almost 10,000 mana to get to EL10 with a BMC1, but only
1900 mana to get EL10 with a BMC20 spell!!! something is
seriously wrong....BACKWARDS...with that.
That's the problem with letting me have access to spreadsheets.
I think that the tweaks should be stuff like "don't need hands
to cast that spell" or "don't need verbalized words"...essentially
once you get proficient with a spell, it simply becomes easier to
cast...
Think of the gods...think of them as VERY high MEL and EL...but
they still need to cast spells like a mortal? They simply will
effects into being. High level wizards should become more like
that...kind of like merging your learned spell casting with an
innate ability. my 3-cents
GM: Ack. The discussion of BMC and costs is beyond the scope
of this game. But I'm happy to take it to the main pnp
mailing list. It needs topics and posts. So move it
there and I'll reply further. :) Would not bog things
down here as well. Those tweaks you mention can be done
and have been done. I'd have to check the characters
that did it but was moderate expensive but not too high.
As to gods and wanting to be them. Avatars do need
missions in the middle world. :)
From Raban: [Re: Actions]
Math errors!
if need 1425 casts of BMC1 then only need to cast at El0 thus
1425 mana But 135 BMC20 is only 2700 at El0...still an oops So
the BMC1 is about twice as easy when looking at mana costs
Yup it has always been far easier to get high BMC spells to
practice up when you look at number of castings
BUT high BMC spells can be harder to get, note the starting
spell limits for example
They are also slow to learn
And could take days to recover from single casts where low BMC
can be cast multiple times
So the real comparison is the Mana costs, the life blood of the
mages This is where fast mana recover is the true power level
and why any natural mage is nasty!
GM: Ack.
From Kiet: [Re: Actions]
My numbers assume casting at max EL. Lower EL 'should' mean
less expertise gained...but that's jus' lil ol' me.
----------
Damn...this weather is brutal. It's been so hot that wearing
armor is simply out of the question. On the plus side, it does
keep the riff-raff off the roads. They're smarter than we are,
I guess.
Speaking of smarter than we are, that pretty much includes the
whole rest of this world, the Upper World, and the Lower. Didn't
the High Elder warn us MOST stringently about our use of magic?
Yet these people seem to cavalierly ignore the advice of someone
SO experienced and powerful. I do not understand. And then this
latest stunt of giving the captive Law Wizard a knife...what if
these guards had a magic detector going? I'm pretty sure the act
of appearing the knife on the person of the mage would be
detectable. Sigh. At least they didn't rescue him. That hasn't
always worked out so well. And the fact that he's a Law
orientation seems to make these people think he's a 'good guy',
but they have obviously never before been under the oppressive
hand of some of those Law cultures. Rules and regulations and
requirements, but no real justice. Ptah!
At least I am now monetarily rich...at least relative to what I
was back home. I just hope I am alive to see my rewards.
Eventually I must continue my quest for more of these Natural
Magics. And a serch for Smarag. At least one bright side to
being with this group is that it has forced me to improve my
skills. Few would care to stand up to my Smokeless Flame spell
at this level. Still, the others have shown me that there are
creative ways many other spells can be used. I am only planning
to use mine in emergencies only, or in situations, like after the
fight at the fairgrounds, where my little bits of magic are
hardly noticeable with all the mana being cast about.
PS...Smarag is a rough form of emerald....Smaragd is german for
emerald.
GM: Ack. It has been brutal by the numbers. So is reality.
We hit a record here in Jax 47+ days over 90 degrees
in a row and still going. Again as to the talk about
casting ELs and expertise I'd love to have more talk
on this in the main pnp list. But here we'd get all
bogged down. Yep. Trust me the alert Katai are always
looking for mistakes. Folks thing that casting mana
shields will help to prevent detection but in fact that
IS a spell. Its magical energy. It can be detected
so its a bit awkward. But I do what they want even if
they ignore the wise sage. :) The charts and numbers
may tilt in disfavor. Never know when it will be pinpointed
and the party will be found out if then.
From Arawn: [Re: Actions]
[Scott, are there two pills- white ones and orange ones- or
just one type of pill- mix of orange/white together-?]
Upon seeing the orange and white pills Arawn looks up to Raban-
"Nothing else in there? The Shaper didn't have anything else...
GM: Ack. I'll cover the pill thing below. Sorry for confusion.
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[New Stuff]
[Julis 29th, 1634TH]
[Location: Middle Katai Plains, Shantou Province]
[ Around 60 odd miles south of Shantou city]
[Time: 12:49pm]
Arawn glances over to Will and sees his reaction to the use of
the spell. Will isn't sure for his vantage point what went down
but its clear from Arawn and Farseeker's faces that something
happened.
As the patrol moves down the road, Arawn saunters down to Will
and sees if there is desire to trail the patrol. Arawn is
aware that the majority of people in the party do not wish
to help out. After conferring for a few minutes Will and
arawn decide trailing the patrol could be risky and delay things.
Farseeker has already mounted up on his horse and looks down
south on the highway seemingly ignoring the patrol. He seems
content on his plan to allow the wizard to self-escape.
Arawn feels that life is too critical to give up but it is
clear that the party wishes to move on. Caladan later points
out that isn't that the party doesn't want to help but they
need to pick their priorities. The wizard seems healthy and
strong and likely could escape on his own with the help of
a simple knife.
Frustrated Arawn mounts up and waits for the party to move
on down the road. He glances back to the patrol and wonders
if he'll ever meet the man again.
***********
[Time: 10:24pm]
After Arawn comes back to his own reality after meditating
and praying he gets the vision of the bag. As he rushes to
the night camp he wonders about the wizard. Surely by now
he has escaped or he is dead from the attempt or the guards
found the knife. Either way he'll be dead or alive by now
and likely no worse off than if the party had helped or not.
Arawn glances at the pills. He pours the pills out into
his gloved hand to get a better view at them. There are 11
small pills. Each pill is no wider than a fingernail and
isn't bigger than a small pebble. Each pill is a mix of
orange and white. Most are about 60% orange and 40% white
but in no pattern. They seem to be naturally colored that
way as if a egg takes on odd colors.
bringing up one pill to the campfire he eyes it but it
is solid and can't be seen through like some thin shells
like some bird eggs. he sniffs the pill and it seems a tad
bit like sulfur but that also can be misleading as some
materials in the wild smell that way but aren't made up
of sulfur. Arawn glances to Raban holding the empty bag.
"Nothing else in there? The Shaper didn't have anything else
on her by chance?," he asked the bardic giant.
Raban shakes his head as he recalls the search. Aside from
the strange clothing, the nearby dead snake headdress and the
leather like belt there was nothing else on her. It is possible
the other things she has was in their base camp. In this case
that could've been the Flyer, a house or somewhere else nearby.
The party may never know which. Arawn looks to those around
the campfire who are still awake.
Arawn adds, "Pills... would have worked on Rua. I wonder if it's
a universal tool. So, do we just risk these on the baroness, with
her permission of course, or does anyone have any ideas on how we
can determine how to properly use these pills to remove her
growths?"
Caladan looks to the tent where the baroness sleeps. While
the last few days has been little change for her she has
improved a bit. The healers actually wonder if they hadn't
done some daily work on her if the coral would do more damage
and ruin her further. The healers seem to be preventing further
damage but can't cure past damage yet.
Caladan stands and dusts himself off. "If Rua was right
then the implant in his brain could be controlled. He
implied a simple pill could do it. A simple swallow
thing without other rituals. But we could be wrong. The
problem is if you ask her then she may actually consider
this some form of magic. Would you endanger her belief by
asking her? If she said yes she could see herself as tainted
and would leave to a downfall. If she says no and you
she knows you have the pills then she might now consider
us heretics. A no win situation I see. At that point we
couldn't simply let her free until the mission was over. So
I think we should just risk it without her knowing. If
it works then she is cured. If it fails then we have little
to lose."
From his seated position from around the campfire, Zhou
looks up and nods. "I agree. We need to get rid of her
by the time we get to Pamau. I would prefer we do that
at Crossroads. We need to concentrate on the mission fully
by the final leg of our trip. If we can't cure her by then
we may not be able to."
Arawn reloads the pills onto the bag. he wonders how
many will work. He wonders if the sonics will need to be
done at the same time? It is late tonight but maybe
the first experiment can be done soon.
***********
[Augado 2nd, 1634TH]
[Location: Middle Katai Plains]
[ Near Crossroads town]
Camp is broken one last time and the party moves on.
The skies are overcast today a possible bad omen for
travel and any future fun. But the temperatures actually
cool down today. The highs only get to the mid 80s and
so armor can be worn with some ease today.
[Time: 8:45am]
An hour or so later the party runs into a rain storm. It
last for about 20 minutes and drenches the party but is
a nice change from the stifling heat.
[Time: 2:40pm]
Nearing the town the party encounters a group of 8 merchants
in a large caravan. They offer the party supplies and offer
their deals. The party gives brief looks and do their
courtesy shopping. But overall the party knows that
the town will have cheaper stuff and much more supply. the
encounter ends with the caravan moving on down the road.
[Time: 3:07pm]
The party moves toward the Crossroads town which seems more
like a city than a village. Unali was right it seems to be
overstuffed with people more than it can handle. The city
looks to be moderate sized several miles wide. In the far
distance the highway appears to move traffic east and south.
Heading from the west highway the party nears the gate.
Unalike Shantou and Katai this city has no walls for
defense. The other cities have had to fought for centuries
various wars but this city seems to have seen little of that
warfare or they just don't care to be walled in. Approaching
the west gateway there is a logjam of wagons, horses, caravans,
personal carts and those on foot waiting to be passed through.
There are maybe half a dozen guards at the gateway for a
crowd of half a hundred or so. The guards do not seem to be
doing detailed searches or surveys. They simply seem to be
talking to the people and a brief visual scan is only done.
This allows the crowd to move in and out quickly. If this
village is a major trade center like Unali talks about it
would be bad to delay that trade. Delays in trade means
less profit for the city and less profit means less guards
and jobs. This is actually a good thing for the party to
be allowed entrance.
Zhou had considered staying along the city margins but
after looking at the area he decides a park area inside the
city might be better. The margins look a tad wild and
dangerous with semi obvious criminal elements.
Kell first scans the walls and guards. Arawn on his horse
also does is own scan. But there seems to be no magical
aura other than the normal background noise of regular
people and things.
Nearing the entrance three guards approach the wagon.
Ignoring the guards one taps on the door. "Who is master
here?"
Before the guard gets a good look inside Zhou exits the
wagon and shuts the door. he looks around. "We are here
already? A quick trip. Lad can you tell me a good tavern
in this quaint town? Can you get your friends to help
with the bags?"
The guard shifts on his feet and clearly refrains from a
growl. "I am not...I mean you can find a good tavern inside
in the east district. My men will need to stay here and
tend to our business. Surely your...people..." He waves
a hand at Raban and the others. "Can deal with your bags.
What is your business here if I may ask?"
"Business. Some fun. We are on a tour of the Empire
and wish to seek deals in various projects." Zhou speaks
to the guard deadpan.
"What type of business?" The guard inquires.
"Land, entertainment operations and maybe some mining."
the guard nods. "We do little mining here but there might
be some vendors in town. You should visit the north district
market for good land merchants." He glances at the party
and then speaks softly. "The locals are keen on strangers
but they must remain at their station."
Zhou nods understanding but doesn't reply. He knows that
means out of sight and out of mind much less dealing with
the locals. Barbarians and foreigners deter business and
that is less profits and less profits mean less brothels.
"You may move on. Good day and good business." The
guard waves the wagon through and then the trio walk to
the next wagon which appears to be a farmer's wagon full
of some fruit.
Happy with the lack of search and questions the party
moves through the gateway.
The town that has no name but is nicknamed Crossroads
is not like Shantou. Shantou is mostly ancient buildings
and few new construction areas. But this city is a even mix
of ancient centuries old places next to modern shiny
new places. Unlike Shantou which is about 90% native
Katai population here there are strangers and foreigners.
Though as the guard implied they are less active and seem
to be less vocal about being around.
As the wagon moves through the streets the buildings seen
are mostly 1 story but there are some 2-3 story structures.
Soon a area in the east district seem to be a camp area and
park. There are half a dozen other wagons here with people
in various duties around them. The party finds a spot and
sets up camp. Being inside the city border is good for some
reasons like safety but also allows protection from the
obvious criminal elements outside the city border.
"This will have to do." Zhou comments. "It is a bit
quiet here and will allow us to spend the night at least.
We'll move on to Pamau in the morning."
The party sets up a quick camp and dismounts.
Zhou turns to Ben'dar. "Ben'dar and Caladan should head
to the next block up. I saw a blacksmith and stable. Let's
try to hire a stable boy or two. Get some food, water and
grooming for the horses since they deserve it."
"Fremea, Z'leyra and Whitney can stay here with Raban to be
the guard."
"Myself, Unali, Farseeker as guard, Arawn and Will will
head to a good tavern. We'll see if we can learn some
details and rumors on things going on here. We also likely
need to be seen at least once in a tavern acting like a
party here for fun and business."
Zhou finally adds, "Kell, Kiet, Strie'bog and Chion will
go the marketplace and get us our supplies. I believe we
have the orders from Fremea, Raban and others. Chion will
act as your patrol in case merchants have a issue since he
is a native."
"Assuming there is a change someone wishes to make?" He
asks the party for changes in his plan.
Actions? Comments?
Next Update...Friday...
GM: After a quick relay ICQ session via Alex to John/Will it
was decided not to rescue the captive. Based on emails
from Arawn if no rescue opinion from Will then he'll also
stay with the group. So we moved on. I wasn't saying
not to do it or do it just that we need to get the plan
formed and that takes time. We couldn't have moved on
to this point if we delayed by going after the captive
so this is in interest of helping the party. Due to
a emergency house situation Sunday night I didn't get
much work on the update. As well as an hour or two less
sleep than I normally do so am tired tonight so didn't
get the update fully fleshed out that I wanted in my
head. So I stopped it here for now. Next update I'll
do any city encounters and juicy stuff. This means I
will work on it likely Wednesday night. There isn't much
to do here in the city at this point but if you have
actions let me know. I know some posted previous supply
requests and those will be done.
GM: The baroness if with or without the party will not matter
for the update. So let me know what night 30th, 1st likely
you wish to do anything with the pills and those vague
plans of music and such. Outline your plans and possible
spells or skills (playing music). I'll do them and see
what happens.
GM: Groups -
Ben'dar/Caladan - Horse maintenance
Fremea, Raban, Whitney, Z'leyra - Wagon
Farseeker, Unali, Zhou, Arawn, Will - Tavern
Kell, Kiet, Strie'bog, Chion - Market
GM: Mana stats below will not be updated until I know what
is done on the baroness situation.
GM: IBT notes [12 days]
Player Notes
Ben'dar 12 Days Plains survival
Caladan 5 days Sign language, 7 days Stealth
Chion * No IBT actions submitted
Farseeker 12 days Katai language
Kell Unarmed Combat finish, Marital Arts learn
Kiet 12 days Teamster skill
Raban 12 days horsemanship & Fletcher arrows both
Strie'bog 6 Days hand-to-hand, 6 days Bowyer
Unali 12 days Two-weapon fighting
Whitney * No IBT actions submitted
Will 12 Days First Aid learning
Z'leyra 6 days Tailor skill, Teach first aid
Fremea 12 days Herbalist and private skill
Arawn * No IBT actions submitted
Deadline: September 1st ***
GM: Current day - Julis 29th Stats - Event: Patrol scene
Player Health Energy Mana Notes
Caladan 100% 100% 100% ----
Strie'bog 100% 100% 100% Minor wound left
Z'leyra 100% 100% 100% ----
Chion 100% 100% 100% ----
Raban 100% 100% 100% ----
Whitney 100% 100% 100% ----
Ben'dar 100% 100% -- ----
Farseeker 100% 100% -- ----
Unali 100% 100% -- ----
Kiet 100% 100% 92% Still mana to recover
Kell 100% 100% 97% Energy level didn't recover
Fremea 100% 100% 62% ----
Will 100% 100% 57% Need to recover energy
Arawn 100% 90% 90%
Health - % of Max (if 100 hpv, at 50 hits would be 50%)
Energy - % of Max (if 100 enl, at 50 enl would be 50%)
Mana - % of Max (based on daily energy level casting limit)
GM: Reminder of trip time
Julis 30 - All day - 30 miles travel to Crossroads
Julis 31 - All day - 30 miles travel to Crossroads
Augado 1 - All day - 30 miles travel to Crossroads
Augado 2 - 7am-3pm - 20 miles Arrive at Crossroads
Augado 2 - Day/Night - Likely stay in town overnight
Augado 3 - All day - 20 miles Travel to Pamau
Augado 4 - All day - 20 miles Travel to Pamau
Augado 5 - 7am-3pm - 20 miles Arrive at Pamau
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