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At the Adventurers' Table

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Do I need to make a roll for Luna to know some details about Drow Elves? Assuming that Drow are the same on your world as I learned from DnD.
 
Monster Lore would probably work. Just don't be like Bren and botch the thing. (> :P )
 
Well, you beat me to the post. No worries.


 
Just remember this: if you are ever cold, go sit in the corner. Its 90 degrees there. Get it? Its a math joke! Ha!
 
So are there spec ops in Sharseya? Some kind of elite units used to deal with sensitive tasks both during war and covertly? I don't expect hearing "Fire mission, danger close!" or "Bravo Six is oscar mike, out." of course, lol, but something parallel to what we have in the 21st century should exist I imagine.


Not that I'm an expert on the subject. I've never served in the military and I am not familiar with most things but I do know everything you could learn from war simulations ranging from those less serious to more serious games (I also bothered to research many things so I know where the games clash with reality). I bothered to memorize the NATO phonetic alphabet once, for no real reason. Sometimes when I drive around town I read license plates out loud to myself with it, pretending it means something :3. And of course I use military time format, but I think many people say it like that who have nothing to do with the military. Just easier and faster compared to quarters to this or half past that *howl*
 
Heya @killfire! Character development is one of the really fun things to do in a campaign. It's all about getting to know your character better. Allow me to use Brendoran as an example:


Many years ago, here in Florida, "Uncle Dave" Arneson was looking for players to playtest Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition (or 3.0). He had a draft in his hands and he wanted to see how the game felt from character creation on up to full adventuring. Kaerri and I were in on this and Kaerri created Bren. Her thoughts were something like, "A brand new D&D system, huh? Well, if I can't create something so simple as a human fighter, then this system is broke!"


She creates this new human fighter and the more we play, the more she adds to the guy. Breathing life into that piece of paper, you might say. I started seeing drawings of handsome brave-looking fellows until she had decided on I think two in particular (see Kaerri's character sheet for Bren for one). Then there came a middle and last name. Then, one day after we all felt that these characters were indeed worth keeping, we finally got serious!* Players wanted pasts for their characters. Backgrounds, family names, places of origins. In short, they wanted personae they could be proud of.


It turns out ol' Bren was Brendoran Killaneson Sarabina (the rest you can read in Chapter Six here during Bren's turn in the Roundabout). All that story and background came from Kaerri's head and was approved by me for use in Sharseya.


So, Killfire, this is your turn, if you like, to flesh out Bronze as a character if you so choose to. Be prepared to edit what you write! The end result will be something you can be proud to share with your fellow players here in Sharseya. You will know that character very well (and if you choose to share, your party will know too). This will also be something more to look back on as the years go by. =)


*This is a saying we've used to great humor and effect on our tabletop games. =)


P.S. On another topic, did Killfire want to be the one to make Mamapaw some armor or should Bria start up making some magical (non-armor) clothing? What would you like?


@Wolf Rawrrr Are there "special forces" in Sharseya? This is another good question you raised (the last involving Melshaef). =) The answer: Yes and no. Blanket disclaimer (or I have to bring this up even if it appears obvious): For the sake of clarity, there are no top military teams running around with the latest in magical gear and training Rainbow Six style. This the wrong game for that.


There are well-coordinated teams of adventurers and bad guys alike who often act like "Spec Ops" in some regards. That Drow Sign Language you see on Bren's character sheet? The Drow use that as a matter of course (silence and surprise are powerful allies in the Underdark). Remember this little bit from Gerran in Chapter Five?


Dannigan sez,

"Painless! Run The Elk Down!" His four cohorts nod and smile wickedly as they move into practiced positions around Powerpaw in an attempt to flank and Sneak Attack him.
Click to expand...
These are just elements that good teams use for teamwork. In Sharseya, there are plenty of bad teams out there. Most don't make it past 5th level or so and either retire or die. Your team is one of the few that has pulled past this particular marathon and is trying to head into the big leagues. As you might imagine, there are teams out there that have got you and every team you have ever met beat, hands down. Their teamwork is comprised of many a Roundabout-style gathering, born of first-hand experience, and years of it! These few teams are bad-to-the-bone because they have earned it.


To elaborate on that last sentence, I am not the kind of storyteller who just hands your characters lives full of victory after victory, heaping with adoring fans and thankful souls, Monty Hauling magic items and strongholds your way simply because you're playing the game. This is neither Mass Effect nor Lord of the Rings Online. One thing Real Life has taught me - the best rewards are rewards you've earned. That holds true for Sharseya too.


So the Wanderers want to be an elite team? You can earn it. Go for it! Serious Roundabouts (or their like) are a good way in, for a team that doesn't know each other gets its tail kicked (as, to be fair, the Wanderers nearly did a few times now - and that is not always a bad thing; No high-level team, PC or NPC, has a "flawless" record of battle or dungeon victories - they survived because they knew their limits; you can see the many adventuring teams that didn't - their gravestones are clearly marked in the Highwind graveyard).


So yeah. It is worth repeating - The best rewards are rewards you've earned. =)
 
Wow.


Well I think that for as long as there have been war and armies, there had to be small task forces aka special operations units that were better trained and more professional than your everyday soldier. Are you trying to say that there are, but you can't talk about them because, well, they wouldn't be doing a too good job if everyone knew about them? Or are you saying that there could be some if we become one? :D I was talking about government controlled factions, not adventuring parties which are more akin to mercenaries than military *woof*


But thanks for the pep talk :)
 
Oh, derp. =) Yes, there are such things and Wolf (at his level) would certainly know of one such force: The Highwind Rangers. Is it enough to know they exist for you or do you want in-character details that Leonard would know?
 
[QUOTE="Wolf Rawrrr]So are there spec ops in Sharseya? Some kind of elite units used to deal with sensitive tasks both during war and covertly?

[/QUOTE]Hehe, first thing I thought of when I saw this was, "Yeah, us!" Which, as Dann says, is kinda true. We were talking about it tonight and I mentioned the Gaelriders of Highwind as an example, but I think they're more an example of a specialized group, not the elite (para)military you're asking about, if you see what I mean. Some adventuring parties are kind of like mercenary special forces units, particularly since there are government-sponsored missions available to them from time to time, but of course they're still paid by the job like any merc, not on salary or retainer like a true government employee.
 
(^U^)


Well I don't think I require any particular insight. I was just going to have Wolf bring up how he came across a tactics manual once but I wasn't sure if such a thing would exist to be come across. Or simply knowing about a specific team by name that he'd feel inspired to look up to for our party *rawrrr*


But since we got Bren that's almost like having a spec ops guy with us, right? Sure his actual levels might be gone but the experience and knowledge is there. I think it's a good idea that he ended up being in charge. Wolf would want to ask him more about this but going into specifics on sign language and tactics doesn't seem appropriate in the Roundabout thing. I mean it is for tactics too, but this seems to be too specific and time consuming when we should be talking individual approaches, not something global. Aw, you know *woof*


@Captain Hesperus you wanna go next? Or should I?
 
I believe I read that Sherwood might be busy in Real Life toward the end of this month, and it did not appear that Luna had any other questions for Bren, so let us carry on with the Roundabout. Wolf, did you want to go next then?
 
Oops, missed some things in here so I edited Bren's post.
 
You know what, I will go next. I feel like a nice post is exactly what I need to do on this cold, lonely, rainy day (third in a row) *howl*


You know that feeling when you don't feel like doing anything so you launch one game after another, games that you've beaten before several times and you pretend it's to grab some achievement that you didn't get before but actually you're just looking for the easiest way out - to do something that requires as little mental input as possible, something that you can play on autopilot and not think too hard about it. Several hours later you find yourself staring back at the desktop icons like when you started off, only with the sudden realization how much darker it got outside, how much time you wasted, and you feel proportionately worse for each hour slain. Like some kind of sick, twisted loop it just repeats again. You waste time because you don't feel like investing it into something useful because that's hard, only to regret that decision and feel even less motivated so what can you do but do it all again? The only thing that changes is the background music you play from youtube videos in between levels.


Anyone else here know what I'm talking about? No... I hope not. That shit's for losers.


Damn.
 
I totally know what you mean. ( ;) ) Although I haven't beaten all that many, so for me it's games I keep meaning to beat and make some minor sort of progress in, on days like that, and get distracted by the dozens of alts I have (that's only a slight exaggeration, sadly), and end the day having made only a little progress, if any, in my initial goal.


I started today with some productivity though, so I feel justified in all the random gaming I'm doing. (^.^)
 
Yes, I have been busy. We've been spending more time taking care of my niece, getting both her and us ready for when we take full time custody of her, probably around the end of August/beginning of September when we move into our larger house. I will make a IC post for Luna having no more questions.
 
Wolf, do you remember last year when I started this whole Sharseya thing up? You may recall my prior position in my company led to many days of headaches, stress, and no posting at all. Sometimes, I would come home and my "free time" completely depended on how much "brain" I had left. So yeah. I can relate with your having days like that all too well.


I think of them a little differently though. A writer I once chatted with had advice for gamers. "Don't be so quick to reward yourself." Well, since I worked hard and gave my very best in Real Life, I felt I deserved whatever recreation or downtime I had coming.


Other days, when I wasn't working, I would have days where I would just pass the time for the sake of passing it. Guilt-free. What martial artist Stirling Silliphant would refer to as a "day to do nothing."


What I don't do though is waste my time. I do what I do on purpose and with great appreciation. If I even feel like I'm wasting my time, I change my activity to something that makes me feel like it's time well spent. Ever play a video game and you're at that point where you're just getting nowhere and worse, you're not having fun? You're starting to grumble, even complain? When that's me, either I've gotten tired or I'm terribly annoyed. If I don't change that path, then I feel I am wasting my time.


And to heck with that. I put the game down. I read a book that will teach me something. I work out. Listen to music. Whatever it is, I do what I really want to be doing (even napping).


There will come a day in the future where we will cease to be; I want to know that I have spent my time and appreciated this life well. This is part of my own path to Enlightenment. =)
 
I can't complain; I love my niece. Had a great day with her today. Hard to remember when my daughter was that small, since she is turning 17 tomorrow. Wow, how time flies.
 
Shop Talk concerning Wolf but meant for any of the Wanderers. =)


This Shop Talk Session provided to you by your storyteller-who-had-a-nap-earlier-and-is-now-up-so-he-may-as-well-type-up-something-fun-and-useful. =) =) =)


A few things I wanted to touch on concerning Wolf's fun part of the Roundabout:


1. Wolf sez, "I've been shooting from bows almost since I could hold one, so you can trust my aim even in the thickest melee; I won't hit a friend by mistake." This is a very fair statement. The only way I can think of Wolf nailing a friendly even in thick melee is to fumble (roll a 1 to hit, followed by another roll of 1-5 on a d20, then he has to roll ridiculously bad on the fumble table) for this to happen. So while it's possible, it is extremely unlikely (much to the woe of his foes). =)


2. "My skills in tracking and scouting should be on par." Wolf has 5 ranks in Survival, Perception, and Stealth, so this too is a fair statement. While there are a few Rangers out there who might have him beat slightly in skill (the max currently being 7 ranks), it's not very likely. Also, I bring up the Stealth skill in this statement because I take it into account when someone is rolling Perception to search for someone else using the Stealth skill; if your character is skilled in the latter, it can make a difference (who says playing "Hide and Go Seek" as a kid couldn't be useful later on in life? =) ).


3. "I can craft different kinds of traps." Given that Wolf has 3 ranks in Craft (Traps), whistling arrows, and that he is from Dalsus, I think it is fair to say that Wolf knows how to make tripwires attached to said arrows. Very useful when baddies are trying to sneak up on your party (or say, if you just want to know if you're being followed). If the tripwire is tripped, a one-shot bow-like device nearby fires a whistler into the air alerting anything with working ears that some dummy just set off said tripwire (works great in dungeons!). For Wolf to successfully craft a trap (including this one) would currently take a 14 or higher on Wolf's Craft check (and Leonard would know his chances, hence my providing them). Just an idea.


4. A note on Mielikki. Dalsus has a small shrine to the Forest Mother (a.k.a. The Forest Maiden). She is known as Ehlonna among the elves. Mielikki is a provider like no other and has long been worshipped from the Forest Eternal to the Frozen Reaches north of Highwind. She may be the most popular goddess on Sharseya. Praying to her in need occasionally provides any number of advantages (though the chances of receiving are small, she does what she can). Followers of the Forest Goddess have reported anything from summoned forest creatures appearing from nowhere to help the needy, to sudden rainfall to get predators or evil creatures off of the followers' trail, to receiving an abundance of food (some to throw to an oncoming beastie to assuage its hunger while also satisfying the followers' who then hopefully have the sense to eat and run!). An inventive goddess who truly cares, her near-death last year almost spelled doom for many common folk across Sharseya.


5. A note of Solonor Thelandira. While it is unusual for a human to pay homage to a non-human god, this storyteller is in no way against it (especially with archer Wolf being a forest-friend first and Ranger second. =) ). Wolf would know that the Elven God of Archery is very much worshipped by the Wood Elves of the nearby Forest Eternal and his archers have made shots that are nothing short of astounding. It is said that if this deity is worshipped wholeheartedly and his follower has dire need, he can pray to Solonor and there is a tiny chance that the god will provide a fabled Arrow of Slaying to his favored (this arrow is meant for one racial type of target only, say, a vampire, giant, or goblin - if it hits, the creature struck must make the appropriate saving throw or die on the spot).


6. Dalsus really is a small human village hardly anyone has heard of. If your character has frequented the Forest Eternal (located south of Summerset, and like Highwind, this region is also a two-week journey on horseback), you might have caught its name. The Forest Eternal, on the other hand, is known for being the home of many, many incredible and wonderful forest creatures (some of which cannot be found anywhere else on Sharseya). Giant owls, Great Elk, and Giant Badgers are among them. =)


7. "Ever since I was but a child and ran into a dire wolf in the wilds. Had I not possessed the ability to speak his tongue, I would surely not be standing here today." Dire Wolves (wargs) are especially evil in my game (as they are in Lord of the Rings). I cannot help but wonder what Wolf said to this thing to not get eaten, but it certainly must have been clever! =)


Also for Wolf to have been gone from Dalsus for 10 years really tells me that he may have done some traveling in that time?


Whatever the case, thanks for reading these little thoughts. =)
 
You're welcome! I was up and wanted to do something productive... =)
 
I am glad to hear my statements ring true and thank you for the trap idea. As for the dire wolf I had no idea that it equaled wargs in this game... I was thinking in a literal sense, a great wolf, like in the Game of Thrones world. But I suppose it could have only been more interesting your way. I would be hard pressed to come up with a verbal defense against a warg, but Wolf clearly succeeded! :D


And about traveling, yes I believe Wolf said in the first or second chapter that he traveled around quite a bit but only in the South, so around Dalsus in the start and then later the Forest Eternal - not sure if admittance is allowed but even if it were not he would have tried using his... beneficial circumstances to get him through. And then there's Summerset and most of other significant settlements in the area as well as just random forests and glades. He should actually have the South figured out pretty well which is why he said a few times by now how much he is looking forward to going North.


He is also much into storytelling and uses his Oratory skill for that purpose. I look forward to RPing that in that tavern in Highwind maybe :P
 
[QUOTE="Wolf Rawrrr]He is also much into storytelling and uses his Oratory skill for that purpose. I look forward to RPing that in that tavern in Highwind maybe :P

[/QUOTE]
I look forward to this too!
 
I look forward to that too - the Adventurer's Guild is definitely the place for adventurers to tell their tales! =)


 
In-character posts like the ones we're having in this chapter are one big reason I have long-awarded experience points for pure role-playing like this. Not only does it challenge the creativity in each player, it increases interaction between each player and the storyteller, too. A chapter like this really helps bring characters to life. Furthermore, fleshing out characters helps this storyteller create future adventures for us. =)


 
@Sherwood Hey, Bubba! Didn't Luna have some questions for the second half of Leonard Wolf's Roundabout?


@killfire How about Bronze? Do you want in on this or do you want Bronze to remain on the sidelines like most of the NPCs?


=)


 
Did anyone else have questions for Leonard Wolf?


 
@Captain Hesperus If Otiorin has no more questions, then it appears to be time for him to take on Bria's fighting stick and continue the Roundabout!


Also... (once again) I'm having an issue or two with alerts across RP Nation, so I'm sending out @ signs to players so no one misses anything.
 
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