Dice TRIBUNAL - OOC

[Grey]

Those two castes are roughly equal, and given Earth handles both civic planning and policing, being in touch with Rain's community care and medical services makes sense.

 

[Equusheart]

We're allowed to make little changes to our characters?

 

[Grey]

Yep, and you can always run them by me if you're not sure. Dov may also be joining us after making some adjustments to Chaundra.

Once everyone seems prepared I'll start the main thread.

 

[dae mec]

Sounds cool. I'm gonna run with how Meti is right now, so I think I'm set.

 

[Dov]

She more or less already matches the character in my head. Just a minor adjustment to personality wherein she is aware of the necessity for compassion, patience, and catering to others, but in her mind it is a strain to maintain these qualities. It'll be a quiet, ongoing struggle not to be unkind. She's Chaundra, so she'll succeed, and the mask will certainly help. It's hard to balance being both an efficient and a kind leader. Patience can sometimes feel inefficient.

Question: Will we have a set tense and POV for everybody?

 

[Grey]

I would appreciate if everyone kept to third-person, character focused in contrast to all the third-person ominscient I'll be doing, but I am open to discussion on this point.

As a rule, you control your character and nothing else, but I approve of clever liberties with aesthetic and fleshing out the world. Likewise, unless I expressly call for a roll, you can safely assume your character can succeed in any task for which they would logically be competent. You can also feel free to PM for information your character might glean, because I enjoy forcing you share exposition with each other through a characters interpretation of the 'facts' I present.

 

[Grey]

No rush or pressure, but thread's up.

TRIBUNAL

ACT ONE - All Songs Ended Six days ago, someone murdered one of The Beloved. A priest of Death, not merely murdered, but her spirit denied to her Goddess. And yet the killer evades all the powers of the city. One day ago, a murdered Priest of Whale was found near her home at the edge of the...

www.rpnation.com

Feel free to ask any, and I mean any, questions before posting or arrange prior connections with each other in more detail if you like.

Random Word Ceda can talk to cats, so you potentially have your first witness. Thought you might appreciate knowing.
Whether any cat will actually deign to be helpful is another matter.

 

[Random Word]

So I see this:

Powers
You may create and command monstrous servitors or feline minions, and muddle the senses of others to make your more appealing or frightening. In the dark, you can transform into a nightmarish beast of great speed and strength.

Are her powers broadly interpreted as anything under these themes, or are they detailed anywhere? I've read the mechanics chapter, but I haven't read the magic chapter.

 

[Random Word]

Oh, yes, and another crucial question: What pleases my goddess? If I care little for my duty I'd best know what I'm really motivated by here.

 

[dae mec]

I think I have the gist of the current situation down: the Council basically made a task force (Tribunal) of us five to find out the killer. And right after we convened, there was another murder.

So, some questions: what's Meti's job? Chaundra notes that she's wasted at her current post, but what is it? I'm assuming it's a guard-type thing. The wardens are like regular guards, right? Not Khuvara? Does the Jade Cicada only have one priest, or is the god angry about the murder (and is thus silent)? Or is the *god hurt by the murder?

 

[Grey]

So I see this:

Powers
You may create and command monstrous servitors or feline minions, and muddle the senses of others to make your more appealing or frightening. In the dark, you can transform into a nightmarish beast of great speed and strength.

Are her powers broadly interpreted as anything under these themes, or are they detailed anywhere? I've read the mechanics chapter, but I haven't read the magic chapter.

Powers are broadly interpeted under those themes. The magic chapter doesn't cover magic the way priests do it.
For ease of reference:
Cosmetic effects which might have situational mechanical impacts cost 1 Gossamer per.
Anything that might provide a difficulty modifier costs 1 Gossamer per mod, positive or negative.
Anything that might give a bonus die, or remove a die, is 2 Gossamer per die.
Creating a minion is 1:1 Gossamer to Condition, with more Condition meaning a bigger, more concrete entity.
Potential Damage is always 2 Gossamer per point.

Gossamer is always committed - it's rarely spent, so any effect persists until you reclaim the Gossamer. If you want to spend Gossamer, it has double the effect per point but you can't get it back until your goddess decides to top you up.

In-character, Gossamer isn't named or numerically tracked; you'd think of your reserves as the intensity of your god's power working through you at any time.

Oh, yes, and another crucial question: What pleases my goddess? If I care little for my duty I'd best know what I'm really motivated by here.

She is pleased by pleasure (yours or what you give to others), beauty but especially sensual beauty, learning and keeping secrets, stealing secrets without being caught, being nice to cats, and treating monsters according to their place in her design.

I think I have the gist of the current situation down: the Council basically made a task force (Tribunal) of us five to find out the killer. And right after we convened, there was another murder.

So, some questions: what's Meti's job? Chaundra notes that she's wasted at her current post, but what is it? I'm assuming it's a guard-type thing. The wardens are like regular guards, right? Not Khuvara? Does the Jade Cicada only have one priest, or is the god angry about the murder (and is thus silent)? Or is the guard hurt by the murder?

You are correct. So far the priests of Fate cannot find the killer, neither can the Night priests, nor the wardens and guardians. So the Tribunal was formed, and before you could properly start work, another murder.

Meti is basically a combination of guard-captain, civic planner, and detective. The wardens are basically police, and report to Meti or other Peerless Guardians. They are not Khuvara.
Jade Cicada has about a dozen small temples in the city, and each one has at least one priest. He is probably angry, or saddened, and so the usual swarm of cicadas that live in the temple have fled.

Fun historical fact - Tribunals used to only consist of Fate, Death, and Night priests, hence the name. A couple of decades of political and theological conflict later and the Tribunal is now misnamed but no one is inclined to change that.

 

[dae mec]

Awesome, thank you. I'm really excited to play her character: it's going to be fun writing the down to earth (heh) priest who has to deal with solving murders and working out logistics during her usual job responsabilities. Especially in contrast to the priests who deal with more esoteric concerns.

I'm also down for working out character dynamics/history with anyone. Based on the CS, Random Word , it seems like there's a decent chance that Meti has a crush on Ceda—or is at least pretty attracted to her, if you don't want them to have prior acquaintance. I'm down for working any kind of dynamic, though

 

[Grey]

Ghosts_and_stars Are you still with us and taking on the role of Death priest?

 

[Grey]

Trying to word this question right so not to sound off. What is the main skin type of the people of Lama? So far all the characters are described as dark skinned. I'm trying to find an image for my character and trying to keep it as close to the story as possible.

Black or brown skin, in a variety of shades. A fair question since I didn't make it explicit anywhere.

 

[Equusheart]

Black or brown skin, in a variety of shades. A fair question since I didn't make it explicit anywhere.

Alright. Sorry I deleted the question, I just felt a little awkward with asking that. But it helps me figure out what she looks like

 

[dae mec]

Speaking of appearance, I'm probably gonna end up doodling Meti. (I'm not the best artist, but I like to draw characters, and I find that it helps me flesh them out.) Any particular clothing details I should keep in mind?

 

[Grey]

Speaking of appearance, I'm probably gonna end up doodling Meti. (I'm not the best artist, but I like to draw characters, and I find that it helps me flesh them out.) Any particular clothing details I should keep in mind?

Oh fuck I have something for this just a second.
While I search my notes, I can say she mostly dresses practically in case she needs to fight. The climate is pretty hot and there's no nudity taboo. Most clothing is linen.

 

[Grey]

Black is associated with life and vitality - the fertile, life-giving dark soil.
White is associated with death - white-bleached bone. sterile and lifeless.
Yellow and gold are associated with the motherly role of Earth as she embraces the sun at dusk.
Red is associated with healing and drinking.
Dark purple is associated with revelry and Night.
Sky blue and grey are associated with Rain, the sea, and good fortune.
Matte green and jade trinkets are considered good luck, but the patterning is important - if anyone but a Spinner wears green that resembles scales, it's viewed as a reference to the Scaled Masters.

Also, for fun, someone asked me about birthday parties in the city once.

There are community birthday parties in Radiant Pearl - each month has a feast day for each Caste, and that's when birthdays are celebrated regardless of your actual day of birth, just according to month. Big affairs with lots of food and dancing. There's always a Master of Ceremonies from the Night Temple and a Herald of Joy from Rain's Temple present. If it's your birth month, you are absolved of any responsibilities for the day, get gifts from family, and your neighbours will pray for blessings for you from local shrines.
You are expected to spend at least an hour in one of the High Temples giving thanks for the good things in your life, which is awesome unless you're going to become a Priest of Fate - the other temples tend to be more exuberant, while a visit to the Scaled Wheel is meant to be a solemn, contemplative thing.
In your teens you can expect a lot of recreational drugs at Night's Temple.

 

[dae mec]

Oooh, those are great. Is there any uniform for the wardens or the priest caste?

(Also, I feel like the parties would be loads of fun.)

You are expected to spend at least an hour in one of the High Temples giving thanks for the good things in your life, which is awesome unless you're going to become a Priest of Fate

So, is the preisthood strictly down matrilineal lines, or could someone experience a "calling" and join?

 

[Grey]

Oooh, those are great. Is there any uniform for the wardens or the priest caste?

(Also, I feel like the parties would be loads of fun.)



So, is the preisthood strictly down matrilineal lines, or could someone experience a "calling" and join?

Wardens wear yellow linen tunics with some leather reinforcement, and carry wooden shields carved with symbols of the Earth Mother, and of course their clubs. Closest thing to a uniform they have, although there's a ceremonial version that's more ornate. Priests are generally allowed to wear whatever they want, especially Earth Priests since their stone skin is the mark of their status

I should probably note that it's illegal to carry a weapon in the city unless you're a warden, soldier, or priest.

Matrilineal is most common, but anyone from the appropriate caste may be called. The temple of Fate sometimes chooses children from any caste, declaring that the goddess has foreseen their importance to her.

 

[Grey]

I increasingly wish you lovely people had seen my vampire-worshiping warrior priests game set on the other side of the continent when I pitched that.
Maybe when we finish the extended Tribunal - Inquisition - Conquest trilogy.

 

[Equusheart]

Are the Priests allowed to have pets or certain Spirits that assist them? Are there any animals that associate with certain caste over others?

 

[Grey]

Are the Priests allowed to have pets or certain Spirits that assist them? Are there any animals that associate with certain caste over others?

That's permitted.
Soil Caste tend be associated with gnus, a kind of rugged antelope.
Sea Caste tend to be associated with tuna - not terribly useful, but there you are.
Wind Caste tend be associated with kites.
Coral Caste, perhaps unsurpisingly, are associated with cats.
The temple of Fate is associated with snakes.

An assistant minor spirit of Rain or Healing would not be out of place in Prim's entourage.

Also, as Tribunal, I should mention you have access to some extraordinary civic powers which you must use responsibly.
Chaundra can requisition any money or property she sees fit, and even has the authority to declare someone Outcaste.
Meti can command any Wardens to follow her, and even lock down an entire district or conduct mass arrests.
Prim can quarantine an entire district.
Pearl can request an elite six-person squad of Wind Caste Executioners.
Ceda can have someone disappeared, detained indefinitely, and even murdered if she sees fit.

 

[Random Word]

dae mec there's a lot of unrequited lust going around. Meti thinks Ceda is hot, but Ceda thinks Meti is cold and boring (sets up a 'change my mind' sign). Ceda thinks Prim is kinda hot because she likes her sense of humour (also probably those hips), and Prim thinks Ceda is immature. No dreaded love triangle, though. The high priesthoods don't seem large enough for any of us to have not met at some function or another at some point.

 

[dae mec]

Sea Caste tend to be associated with tuna - not terribly useful, but there you are.

Consider, though... the priest slapping someone with a tuna. That'd be a devastating attack.

In seriousness, is it likely that the priests have one or two minor spirits to help them out? I was thinking that a truth spirit would be pretty useful for a detective/public servant.

(Also, Grey, that vampire warrior-priests idea sounds like loads of fun.)

Random Word Also, that's extra entertaining because Meti and Prim are pretty good friends, so Ceda's clearly gunning for the hot one and Prim probably knows this. And yeah, I agree that it seems likely for all of them to have run into each other before. (Side note: Meti's clearly the noir detective to Ceda's femme fatale. )