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Post by Tyler on Apr 10, 2005 14:23:01 GMT -5
This is to make it so those of us that want to discuss things about the game outside of meeting time have a forum to do so and not force our words upon others. Aubree and Summer had both mentioned that their work emails had occasionally been hit by our nonworkrelated ramblings and I wanted to set this up to avoid that.
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Post by Tyler on Apr 10, 2005 14:23:35 GMT -5
Kauth:
"Now that we're at full strength, a raid on either of our two targets of opportunity, either the encampment or the pit, would be viable. Also, since we are direly lacking in applicable intelligence, we could either return to Araleet to see what has transpired there, or scout either of the two cities that we know have some northern presence.
Severin, where is the mayor and what are they doing with him?"
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Post by Tyler on Apr 10, 2005 17:22:40 GMT -5
I'm having trouble deciding on what spell to take at 4th level, here are the options:
Detect Thoughts
See Invisibility
Darkness
Flaming Sphere
Invisibility
Minor Image
Mirror Image
Blindness/Deafness
Darkvision
Knock
Levitate
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Post by Aubree on Apr 10, 2005 17:37:05 GMT -5
TEXTGood idea, to set up this message board. Here's what Machaynn wants to do:
Her temple was raided and her church family murdered. This strikes an all too familiar chord with her - one that doesn't sit well. For those of you who don't know her background, her mother and father were murdered before her eyes when she was a child by followers of Hextor. She was spared and raised by the murderers before escaping as a young girl. And because of that, she is one who will do whatever she can to end all oppression (which is what is being done to Descarna). She has had two families murdered in her short lifetime and will not back down or run away from those who are responsible. She has no desire to desert Descarna for a "safer" city. Descarna needs her - her temple and her followers need her there. If she leaves there will be no one to carry on the Light of Pelor. I think before we leave this city and try to save another one before the raid gets to it, we need to concentrate on trying to save the one that has given so much to us, and possibly stopping the raid here. This is her home and she does not want to abandon it. Anyone have any ideas on how to bring down House of Pravin?
And as far as the whereabouts of the mayor, Pravin is responsible (or so it seems by the piece of cloth with the Pravin broach found in Father Abraham's dead fingers). Based on that, my guess is that the mayor has been taken by them. Has anyone thought about, or have we discussed and I just don't remember, the possibility that the mayor is in cahoots with Pravin or Ninetails or Flameweavers? Forgive me if this has already been discussed or is so blatently obvious and I just don't see it. But there's something I don't trust about that man.
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Post by mike on Apr 10, 2005 19:20:12 GMT -5
Severin isn't paying attention to the discussion of plans, but he responds to Kauth's direct question about the whereabouts and status of the mayor. "Last time I saw the mayor, he was at House Pravin. Dey weren't doink nothink wid him dat I could see. I tink dey're waitink for him to sober up, maybe." Severin drifts back into his rueful reverie. He's been quiet since going to the temple with Machaynn and seems more than usually out of it.
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Post by Tyler on Apr 12, 2005 6:51:02 GMT -5
So, what say you?
Where do we go from here?
I believe our best bet is a raid on the encampment.
It's the one place we know where there's open conflict between House Pravin and Ninetails. Right now, as the guerilla force, chaos is our ally. The encampment is the point where the potential for chaos is highest.
Ideally there will be a force from each of the factions hoping for a fight. Conversely, if these forces are well maintained, and organized, then we have no hope but to pick off patrols. Of course, no offense Severin, but the chances that the northern groups have organized and well maintained military groups is slim. If we can take the encampment that will give us access to supplies and, more importantly, the tunnel network.
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Post by Mike on Apr 12, 2005 8:48:43 GMT -5
Severin takes no offense at Kauth's intimation that the Steltic Army might be in disarray. If anyone asks, he'll have no part of fighting at the encampment, but I sincerely doubt that comes as a surprise to anyone. He timidly asks "is anyone going back to Descarna? I'd like to find my friend, Cobe, and go far away from Ninetails."
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Post by Joshua on Apr 13, 2005 19:14:45 GMT -5
Checking out the encampment sounds like a good idea to me. Of course, I will most likely not be there Saturday, so I don't have to worry about the concequences. But really, we have gotten into a situation where we know who we are fighting, but no real idea on how to fight them. We need information. Has any considered capturing someone at the encampment and trying to find out what we can from them? If the captive doesn't know, he may know someone who does, his closest ranking officer. The officer would know more and know someone else who would know more, and ect.
Joshua
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Post by mike on Apr 17, 2005 10:17:09 GMT -5
The beginning and the end of sessions aren't always the best time to cover certain kinds of events. So I'll do this here. Ideally I would have given this speech last night, but when I came out of the bathroom, everyone was packing up. I like writing stuff like this some times anyway.
Severin wants to say something that's important to him to the others. During the last stages of the wagon ride to Brenin's fort, Severin stops the wagon and asks to talk with Kauth and Machaynn. He wants to be away from the wagon so no one who is about to be interrogated by Brenin hears. He doesn't say this out loud, but through vivid pantomime. He is happy to let Cobe guard the bound prisoners so Aunora and Wintershield can listen too. After moving out of earshot but where they can still easily see and reach the wagon, Severin looks at the ground a long time and certainly can't look anyone in the eyes and can't look in Machaynn's direction at all. Unable to conceal his thoughts, everyone knows basically what he has to say before he says it, no doubt. But he struggles on despite the sheer obviousness of his thoughts. He stares at his boots frowning and then drops softly to his knees: "I want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Yesterday, Meester Kauth, when you called me bad again. I was mad at you, but I asked you to kill me. My conscience was bad den but now it's worse dan ever. I am asking you to kill me again. I am bad. It isn't just like dat evil man said, but he is sayink da troot for him. He was dere but he not know what evil boss say me or how much I know or don know. He says you some lies but mostly da troot about me. Like I say you, I told dem where is Malchor. I told dem you left temple in wagon. Dat's important bad ting. He not mention sword at my throat and dat I answered questions not volunteered answers. He tries to make seem like I'm part of killing, like I know what dey do in temple. Dat's not troot. I don know what dey do in temple except find Malchor, but I know dey go dere. I don see dem take Malchor, but I know dat's why dey went. I know dey are evil evil men, but din know dey would kill Machaynn's friends. I woont never do dat and can't belief it when I see later wat dey do. I don tell you all 'cuz I am always escared of you, but I din say you lies. I make bad mischief dat day, like Meester Kauth say me I do. I am bad like Meester Kauth say me I am bad. I was sent by myself to see evil man, sell him his own goods. You know he know me, but you don warn me. I don blame nobody but me for what happens dere. I wanted money for girls. I was by myself and he put a sword in me. He say me, 'you work for me now, not Brenin.' I say heem, 'I will do my best.' Dat's always Dacian code for I do my best to do only what I absolutely hafe to. If Dacian mother say father, do chores and he say 'I do my best.' You can find heem talking talking wid friends and not doing chores except when she's watching. Den at supper, he will tell story 'bout hornets nest he disturbs and how hornets keep him from his chores or how neighbor needs him move big rock. Dey tried to move rock all day and tank goodness dey finally get it to quarry just before dinner 'cuz dat's big big chore. All us kids at supper table laugh behind small hands while he talks and cover our smiles because we know he spends day talking wid his friends and sometimes even mother smiles. Dat's Dacian man's way. He don hafe much say what happens at home but if he does his best, what can mother do sometimes 'cept laugh?" This story of Severin's boyhood provides a tiny glimpse of the masculine role models Severin grew up with in his homeland, shiftless storytellers charming their way through a matriarchal society without much shame for their indolence. His mood darkens quickly and the boyishness in his tone evaporates like water on a hot griddle as he recalls his original purpose. "You should kill me maybe for what I do dat day. I don know right or wrong when I'm scared of dying. What I do is worse dan when I stab your backs dem days maybe. But just like dem days, I don wan die. I'm like dat evil man you talk to. He betrays Ninetails secrets maybe. He's like me, but he say I betrayed Ninetails so he wants to hurt me. He don know I already say you I'm bad man. How for can I betray Ninetails when I never joined dem? All I did for dem was talk while sword was at my throat. Dey tink dats how you make a friend. I betrayed dem not because I am good person, but because I am Brenin's helper now wid dis ring. Whatever you decide do wid me, I can take it. I can take what's coming me. If you let me life again, I will try better and will try help you now always, but don ask me kill people like me, you know, just foot soldiers got no choices. I tink dere are too many killers in Descarna, one less Ninetails, no problem for me. I will help kill dem or die trying. Steltic Army, even Brenin man say dey are nowhere. I don got no orders from dem no how. I was only trying to help myself always before and get money for sleeping wid pretty girls, get back to army, get to tomorrow look how much mischief I make myself. While dis ring is on my finger, I am Brenin's man. If he say me kill you or set you up for ambush or where are you or help us kill people, I'll do my best, like Dacians say. If I hafe to, I will cut off my finger, but dat's easier to say dan do maybe. I like my fingers too much maybe just like I like my eyes too much dat day when Dacians were beat by Stelts. Please don let me know nothink dat will help him hurt you. I shouldn't hear no more of your plans while dis is on my finger. I don tink he ever takes it off, but I hafe always done right by heem, so maybe some day. Den I will run away far from here, no problem." Severin halts in his ambling monologue. He doesn't look up. He just stops talking and remains there on the ground. He has seemingly now confused himself by losing the thread of what he initially intended to say entirely. Then remembering the point he wanted to convey, he says again, "I'm sorry. You want me take off dis armor shirt so you can kill me now, Meester Kauth?" He loosens a few buckles and pulls the studded leather shirt he wears over his head revealing a filthy wool undershirt entirely too hot for the southern climate and too grubby for a youth with any sense, which might explain why it fits Severin perfectly.
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Post by Aubree on Apr 18, 2005 21:44:57 GMT -5
After listening to Severin's confession Machaynn is moved and very touched by Severin's actions and words, and drops to her knees before him. She cups his chin with her hand, positioning his face so that she can look into his eyes. "First of all, Severin, no one here is going to kill you. As I have told you before, you are safe when I am around. By Pelor's grace I won't let harm come to you if at all I can help it." She searches his face for any reaction. She knows it must be very difficult for him to be in this position, and how vulnerable he must feel at this point. "And I want you to stop being scared. At least of all by me. I hold no blame against you for what happened to my temple friends. You were being intimidated by people stronger than you and you did the only thing you could have to survive. I don't fault you for that. I know you wouldn't knowingly lie to me, either, so please don't beat yourself up for that. I want to help you be strong and be good and make good and right choices in life. But you're going to have to want that, too. I am your friend and I want you by my side."
Machaynn feels that poor Severin never had a strong positive figure to model his actions after and has been bullied his whole life by people stronger than he. She feels deeply for him and desperately wants to help him become the stong man she knows is in there somewhere. She continues to kneel on the ground before him, waiting for him to make his next move.
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Post by Tyler on Apr 19, 2005 6:59:09 GMT -5
Kauth:
"Careful, he bites."
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Post by mike on Apr 19, 2005 8:12:17 GMT -5
Severin is about to say "I'll do my best" but catches himself at "I'll do my... okay."
[Severin doesn't react to Kauth. He doesn't pick up too quickly. Mike, however, laughs like crazy at what Kauth said. Or in the parlance of the Young People: "LOL"]
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Post by Aubree on Apr 19, 2005 20:38:18 GMT -5
Machaynn:
*scowls at Kauth*
"A pox upon your head."
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Post by Tyler on Apr 19, 2005 20:58:28 GMT -5
"Elves don't get pox, we're immune...remember, healer?
I think Severin is coming around nicely. With his own people reducing all his vows and duties to the shape and form of that band. Now, with his every breath and action, he'll be working toward ridding himself of it. Now we just have to work the strings of destiny toward manifesting that option. Once he makes that choice, he'll be saved. Isn't that your desired outcome for him, his redemption?"
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Post by mike on Apr 19, 2005 23:13:01 GMT -5
Severin is roughly as confused as ever. Kauth's words are so far over his head that he doesn't change the vacant look on his face at all. He likes that Machaynn wants to protect him, he likes that a lot. One thing Kauth's words convince him is that once again the urban intellectual is going to spare his life. Where he comes from, he'd probably be dead twice by now. Maybe there's something to southern civilization after all.
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Post by mike on Apr 20, 2005 16:46:03 GMT -5
As he pulls his studded leather shirt back on, Severin, still taking a docile physical attitude and tone says, "you're nice not to kill me, maybe. You're da good people and I'm grateful to you. Does anybody know what we do when we go back to Brenin man? He say us bring him one person, we got tree and two gnolls. Maybe we need to follow orders just like he say us. You people got plan to get him take rings off? You got plan for to take advantage of what we learn from evil man what hate me, plan I can understand maybe with clear leader what says me what to do?"
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Post by Tyler on Apr 20, 2005 17:24:32 GMT -5
And now we come to the reason that I've started all this debate.
"I hold my action until Severin turns his back..."
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Post by mike on Apr 20, 2005 18:52:03 GMT -5
Struggling with his studded leather armor shirt, Severin turns his back to Kauth and says, "Meester Kauth, dere are fasteners back dere what I can't reach. You reach dem for me, maybe?"
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Post by Aubree on Apr 20, 2005 21:01:09 GMT -5
At this point Machaynn steps between Severin and Kauth and says, "I'll get those for you." And she starts to fasten Severin's shirt, putting HER back to Kauth.
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Post by mike on Apr 21, 2005 7:52:55 GMT -5
Severin, now dressed in his usual fashion once more, says: "Tanks, Machaynn. Don nobody got plans for to deal wid Brenin man and Ninetails? Dat's bad for us maybe."
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