Haven rushes to the first stall he can find and buys a fox mask for 2 gold pieces.
Arvidsjaur is quickly able to source a tent, where he quickly manages to swindle not only a wolf mask for himself, but one for every member of the party [should they choose to wear them or do their own thing; up to you guys.]
Due to packed crowds you are able to guide your way through the festival fairly easily. Braithe feels anxious, having spent so long with nothing more than a purple tarantula for company, so Scottie bundles him up like a child; this warrants a few bizarre looks, but everybody seems far more invested in the festival.
Scottie seeks out Aliira, Caitlin and Marius almost immediately. Aliira's back is turned, so it isn't until you gets up close that you all notice the giant scar running down the left side of her face. Her left eyes is now white, cloudy and scarred. Before anybody has a chance to ask, she fills them in on the latest development.
"You noticed the eye," she pointed to the inflamed scar running the length of her red face, "that drow was saying things about me, and Uncle Leucis realised it was me that absconded with the children. He took my eye and cast me from the citadel, but even with one eye, I could see he wanted to do so much more than that. Father just stood there, his head pointed at the floor. I see the drow that cause this commotion decided not to show up."
After Aliira is informed about Zenhymm's death, she lowers her head in silence. "I am so sorry for your loss."
"Why?" Braithe puffs his chest. "The spineless piece of shit didn't want to help these poor, defenceless children. He had no loyalty to the crown. Why should we care what he thinks."
"But surely he deserves the proper burial rites? You have a cleric with you, do you not? And two bards; surely they could compose something for him."
"No point wasting tears on spilt shit." Braithe mutters.
"Well," Aliira clears her throat, surprised at Braithe's callous display, "either way I have arranged for a galley ship to take us to the Isle of Ishbrae. I say us because... I am coming with you. There is nothing here for me anymore, and it is very likely that if I stay I will suffer the same fate as the drow."
Aliira reaches into her magical cloak and pulls out a series of items: "Anyway, I got you some items to assist you on our quest."
"To the druid: the natural born leader and future commander of armies, I bestow this gift to you." Aliira offers Scottie a Silver Horn of Valhalla.
"To the young cleric: a woman of many tricks, I offer this token of my gratitude." Aliira gives Isuzu a Deck of Illusions.
"To the noble bard: I bestow a chance for you to bring as much beautiful noise as you can into this dark world." Aliira offers Haven the Chime of Opening
"To the elusive young woman: You behave like a reclusive witch, and so I offer you this." Aliira hands Mara a Broom of Flyingwith a wicked smile.
"I'm afraid I didn't see you in the Sallow Sow. I am Aliira Malith. This gift was intended for the drow: the stoic, guarded creature full of secrets. Hopefully this will be his way of helping lift some secrets off his soul." Aliira passes Arvidsjaur a Wand of Secrets.
The citadel's clocktower rings across the city. Aliira shakes her head. "It appears it is that time already. The Antigone awaits us in Dock 4."
Seeing that the party is as disguised as possible and feeling the press of time Haven attempts to hurry the party to the docks. "We don't want to miss this opportunity to escape because we got caught up at a party do we?"
"The young man, uh, Haven," said Aliira, still wrapping her head around the names, "he is right. There won't be another galley ship leaving until tomorrow; and Uncle Leucis might have all of Midgard in lockdown by then. We must make the Antigone in time."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ugh didn't see your post before my last post] Thanking the scarred woman for her gift Haven ticks the chime into his pack and asks the group " shall we head for dock 4?" putting action too words he sets out for the waiting ship. On the way Haven plays a funeral dirge for the fallen drow. Performance d20+5 17
"Thanks for the kind words and the horn." Scottie will say slightly embarrassed and a little muffled by the silver mask that Arvidsjaur had him put on. "I assume the kids are safely in your cloak. If so let's make haste for the boat and leave this city of turmoil. Lead us to it kind Aliira. "
Mara straps the broom to her back and begins to head for the dock. She's confused as to why she's still with this group, but figures it's better to be with them than stuck in a tiefling-overrun city.
You all load into the galley ship just in time as it takes of for the Isle of Ishbrae. Your twenty or so crewmates tolerate you being there, but there are not happy about. They don't dream of voicing this opinion, not in earshot of the tiefling that came with you. You share the Captains Quarters with the entire party. Princess Caitlin and Prince Marius assume the tiefling names Lerissa and Mordai. Aliira says she is barren and adopted the children off the streets; but again, If any of the crew suspect anything, they are too frightened to speak up.
Braithe stands at the stern of the ship, watching his naked brother's corpse slowly shrink into the distance. He will never have to see the rotting corpse again. He closes his eyes and breathes a deep sigh. He stares in the direction of Midgard long after the city has disappeared beyond the horizon. Long after night has fallen, a smile flickers over Braithe's face.
[End of Session 0]
[Hey guys, we made it! So the Session 0 went quite a bit longer than I intended, but I was just enjoying it so much. This is the part where we discuss your thoughts on the game so far. If you didn't enjoy the game, now is the chance to express your desire to leave. It's also a chance to tell me what you liked/didn't like. Also, feel free to make suggestions to make the game before we start Session 1.]
[I am also enjoying myself and this story immensely. This is my first D&D game by PbP and I thought I would not enjoy it as much but, I was wrong. I'm all willing to continue on forward with Scottie. I do have some questions, concerns, and possible answers to them that I will discuss below.
Something I am concerned about however is combat. We really didn't have any in this Prologue but it is bound to happen and I have read PbP campaigns were it slow everything down because it takes a while for everyone to get the initiative in. However, I have seen it work well when the DM uses a group initiative rule. I've seen two variances of it but the way it generally goes down is the DM rolls initiative for both the party and the bad guys as a group and whichever of the two groups got the higher number goes first than the second group. The variance in it comes from the modifier added to the initiative roll. I've seen it where it is just whoever has the highest initiative modifier out of the group gets to add that number to the roll. Example) If the group had a fighter with a +1 to initiative and a rogue with a +3 then the +3 would be added to the roll. The second way is that they use the average, rounded down, of each individuals initiative modifier. Using the same fighter and rogue as above you would take the average (which is (1+3)/2 = 2) and use that modifier of +2 to the group's initiative. Regardless of the method used I think group initiative speeds up combat a little because, when the group acts as one, you do not have to wait for someone ahead of you in the initiative order to make their post before you can make yours. You can just make it when the group goes and it would all happen simultaneously once everyone's post has been made. While on the topic of combat I think that after each round a quick summary of what happened would help prevent confusion on where people are on the combat field and what has changed because of magic.
Something else I wonder about is are you going to use the Campaign Builder application here on D&D Beyond. As I understand it it is a place where the DM and players can put campaign/lore notes to easily be shared amongst the group, a place where the group/DM can see everyone's player sheet, and if you have the right subscription turn on content sharing. I want to know if you are going to use this at all mainly because I'm curious to see how it all works?
I want to end this long post by telling you Seifer006 that I have enjoyed this adventure so far, especially your NPC's and the plot of Tiefling take over. Just to keep up the good work. I appreciate you doing this and can't thank you enough for having me along. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.]
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Its my first pbp campaign and i feel it's gone well. My rp skills are a little less than the rest off the group but if its alright id like to continue.
I would like to see our actions impact the story more. For instance i feel a fight should have resulted after the "massive fail" retrieving the cloak.
But ors not something that will ruin my experience
I definitely enjoyed the story and am interested in continuing.
However, my biggest concern is my own rate of being able to play. I am definitely able to post at least once a day, but the amount that other players seem to be able to post is way beyond what I can do. So, I think, I'm going to leave this up to you, DM, if you would like Zora (Mara) to continue.
I agree with Oddlot that the parameters were a bit unclear. I stuck with PHB for creation of my character, because I didn't realize I could've created an Aasimar (which is what I was about to do and then reigned myself in). I also just presumed we were starting at level 1, which is just what I have experience in other campaigns I've played (whether online or in person).
Thanks so much for the feedback. It was great to hear from you guys and many of your concerns are already in the pipeline for Session 1. I'll start by apologising for my lack of information at the beginning of the game. It is my first time as DM (and I haven't played a huge amount due to lack of opportunity). If there is any time you question me skills as a GM, please feel free to bring it up.
The lack of battle and story options was the result of it being a Session 0, and it had to follow a certain path in order to get to the Isle of Ishbrae. Also, it lacked real battle because I didn't want to drag down a Session 0 with big wait times.
On the topic of battle, I had a couple of ideas I wanted to run by you. I was thinking we would do the group initiative mode, but there was another idea I'll put out there. What if we What if we regular initiative rolls, but instead had 'Battle Slots' where any hero can fill in (obviously, you would be limited to one slot per round so everyone gets a turn). It might help the game move faster. Just an idea.
In regards to the inappropriate material. If anybody feels the language is becoming too inappropriate for the forum, please feel free to say something and we can pull back.
Lastly, in regards to players ability to play more than once a day. I don't mind if you don't contribute to every event as long as you are happy with catching up with the reading and playing as though your player has been involved the entire time.
If there are any concerns that I have missed, please remind me and we can discuss them ahead of Session 1
Over the coming days, I will look into how to use the Campaign Manager as I think it would be very valuable to our game.
Not wanting to draw undo attention Haven slows from a run to a hurried walk. In an attempt to blend in here will try to buy a wolf mask off of someone
Persuasion d20+3 9
Haven rushes to the first stall he can find and buys a fox mask for 2 gold pieces.
Arvidsjaur is quickly able to source a tent, where he quickly manages to swindle not only a wolf mask for himself, but one for every member of the party [should they choose to wear them or do their own thing; up to you guys.]
[Of course you can keep the wolf masks.]
Due to packed crowds you are able to guide your way through the festival fairly easily. Braithe feels anxious, having spent so long with nothing more than a purple tarantula for company, so Scottie bundles him up like a child; this warrants a few bizarre looks, but everybody seems far more invested in the festival.
Scottie seeks out Aliira, Caitlin and Marius almost immediately. Aliira's back is turned, so it isn't until you gets up close that you all notice the giant scar running down the left side of her face. Her left eyes is now white, cloudy and scarred. Before anybody has a chance to ask, she fills them in on the latest development.
"You noticed the eye," she pointed to the inflamed scar running the length of her red face, "that drow was saying things about me, and Uncle Leucis realised it was me that absconded with the children. He took my eye and cast me from the citadel, but even with one eye, I could see he wanted to do so much more than that. Father just stood there, his head pointed at the floor. I see the drow that cause this commotion decided not to show up."
After Aliira is informed about Zenhymm's death, she lowers her head in silence. "I am so sorry for your loss."
"Why?" Braithe puffs his chest. "The spineless piece of shit didn't want to help these poor, defenceless children. He had no loyalty to the crown. Why should we care what he thinks."
"But surely he deserves the proper burial rites? You have a cleric with you, do you not? And two bards; surely they could compose something for him."
"No point wasting tears on spilt shit." Braithe mutters.
"Well," Aliira clears her throat, surprised at Braithe's callous display, "either way I have arranged for a galley ship to take us to the Isle of Ishbrae. I say us because... I am coming with you. There is nothing here for me anymore, and it is very likely that if I stay I will suffer the same fate as the drow."
Aliira reaches into her magical cloak and pulls out a series of items: "Anyway, I got you some items to assist you on our quest."
"To the druid: the natural born leader and future commander of armies, I bestow this gift to you." Aliira offers Scottie a Silver Horn of Valhalla.
"To the young cleric: a woman of many tricks, I offer this token of my gratitude." Aliira gives Isuzu a Deck of Illusions.
"To the noble bard: I bestow a chance for you to bring as much beautiful noise as you can into this dark world." Aliira offers Haven the Chime of Opening
"To the elusive young woman: You behave like a reclusive witch, and so I offer you this." Aliira hands Mara a Broom of Flying with a wicked smile.
"I'm afraid I didn't see you in the Sallow Sow. I am Aliira Malith. This gift was intended for the drow: the stoic, guarded creature full of secrets. Hopefully this will be his way of helping lift some secrets off his soul." Aliira passes Arvidsjaur a Wand of Secrets.
The citadel's clocktower rings across the city. Aliira shakes her head. "It appears it is that time already. The Antigone awaits us in Dock 4."
Seeing that the party is as disguised as possible and feeling the press of time Haven attempts to hurry the party to the docks. "We don't want to miss this opportunity to escape because we got caught up at a party do we?"
"The young man, uh, Haven," said Aliira, still wrapping her head around the names, "he is right. There won't be another galley ship leaving until tomorrow; and Uncle Leucis might have all of Midgard in lockdown by then. We must make the Antigone in time."
Ugh didn't see your post before my last post] Thanking the scarred woman for her gift Haven ticks the chime into his pack and asks the group " shall we head for dock 4?" putting action too words he sets out for the waiting ship. On the way Haven plays a funeral dirge for the fallen drow. Performance d20+5 17
"Thanks for the kind words and the horn." Scottie will say slightly embarrassed and a little muffled by the silver mask that Arvidsjaur had him put on. "I assume the kids are safely in your cloak. If so let's make haste for the boat and leave this city of turmoil. Lead us to it kind Aliira. "
Mara straps the broom to her back and begins to head for the dock. She's confused as to why she's still with this group, but figures it's better to be with them than stuck in a tiefling-overrun city.
|PbP: Divisions| Varis Xiloscient | Elf Cleric (3)
[100xp to all]
You all load into the galley ship just in time as it takes of for the Isle of Ishbrae. Your twenty or so crewmates tolerate you being there, but there are not happy about. They don't dream of voicing this opinion, not in earshot of the tiefling that came with you. You share the Captains Quarters with the entire party. Princess Caitlin and Prince Marius assume the tiefling names Lerissa and Mordai. Aliira says she is barren and adopted the children off the streets; but again, If any of the crew suspect anything, they are too frightened to speak up.
Braithe stands at the stern of the ship, watching his naked brother's corpse slowly shrink into the distance. He will never have to see the rotting corpse again. He closes his eyes and breathes a deep sigh. He stares in the direction of Midgard long after the city has disappeared beyond the horizon. Long after night has fallen, a smile flickers over Braithe's face.
[End of Session 0]
[Hey guys, we made it! So the Session 0 went quite a bit longer than I intended, but I was just enjoying it so much. This is the part where we discuss your thoughts on the game so far. If you didn't enjoy the game, now is the chance to express your desire to leave. It's also a chance to tell me what you liked/didn't like. Also, feel free to make suggestions to make the game before we start Session 1.]
[I am also enjoying myself and this story immensely. This is my first D&D game by PbP and I thought I would not enjoy it as much but, I was wrong. I'm all willing to continue on forward with Scottie. I do have some questions, concerns, and possible answers to them that I will discuss below.
Something I am concerned about however is combat. We really didn't have any in this Prologue but it is bound to happen and I have read PbP campaigns were it slow everything down because it takes a while for everyone to get the initiative in. However, I have seen it work well when the DM uses a group initiative rule. I've seen two variances of it but the way it generally goes down is the DM rolls initiative for both the party and the bad guys as a group and whichever of the two groups got the higher number goes first than the second group. The variance in it comes from the modifier added to the initiative roll. I've seen it where it is just whoever has the highest initiative modifier out of the group gets to add that number to the roll. Example) If the group had a fighter with a +1 to initiative and a rogue with a +3 then the +3 would be added to the roll. The second way is that they use the average, rounded down, of each individuals initiative modifier. Using the same fighter and rogue as above you would take the average (which is (1+3)/2 = 2) and use that modifier of +2 to the group's initiative. Regardless of the method used I think group initiative speeds up combat a little because, when the group acts as one, you do not have to wait for someone ahead of you in the initiative order to make their post before you can make yours. You can just make it when the group goes and it would all happen simultaneously once everyone's post has been made. While on the topic of combat I think that after each round a quick summary of what happened would help prevent confusion on where people are on the combat field and what has changed because of magic.
Something else I wonder about is are you going to use the Campaign Builder application here on D&D Beyond. As I understand it it is a place where the DM and players can put campaign/lore notes to easily be shared amongst the group, a place where the group/DM can see everyone's player sheet, and if you have the right subscription turn on content sharing. I want to know if you are going to use this at all mainly because I'm curious to see how it all works?
I want to end this long post by telling you Seifer006 that I have enjoyed this adventure so far, especially your NPC's and the plot of Tiefling take over. Just to keep up the good work. I appreciate you doing this and can't thank you enough for having me along. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.]
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Its my first pbp campaign and i feel it's gone well. My rp skills are a little less than the rest off the group but if its alright id like to continue.
I would like to see our actions impact the story more. For instance i feel a fight should have resulted after the "massive fail" retrieving the cloak.
But ors not something that will ruin my experience
I definitely enjoyed the story and am interested in continuing.
However, my biggest concern is my own rate of being able to play. I am definitely able to post at least once a day, but the amount that other players seem to be able to post is way beyond what I can do. So, I think, I'm going to leave this up to you, DM, if you would like Zora (Mara) to continue.
I agree with Oddlot that the parameters were a bit unclear. I stuck with PHB for creation of my character, because I didn't realize I could've created an Aasimar (which is what I was about to do and then reigned myself in). I also just presumed we were starting at level 1, which is just what I have experience in other campaigns I've played (whether online or in person).
|PbP: Divisions| Varis Xiloscient | Elf Cleric (3)
Hi guys,
Thanks so much for the feedback. It was great to hear from you guys and many of your concerns are already in the pipeline for Session 1. I'll start by apologising for my lack of information at the beginning of the game. It is my first time as DM (and I haven't played a huge amount due to lack of opportunity). If there is any time you question me skills as a GM, please feel free to bring it up.
The lack of battle and story options was the result of it being a Session 0, and it had to follow a certain path in order to get to the Isle of Ishbrae. Also, it lacked real battle because I didn't want to drag down a Session 0 with big wait times.
On the topic of battle, I had a couple of ideas I wanted to run by you. I was thinking we would do the group initiative mode, but there was another idea I'll put out there. What if we What if we regular initiative rolls, but instead had 'Battle Slots' where any hero can fill in (obviously, you would be limited to one slot per round so everyone gets a turn). It might help the game move faster. Just an idea.
In regards to the inappropriate material. If anybody feels the language is becoming too inappropriate for the forum, please feel free to say something and we can pull back.
Lastly, in regards to players ability to play more than once a day. I don't mind if you don't contribute to every event as long as you are happy with catching up with the reading and playing as though your player has been involved the entire time.
If there are any concerns that I have missed, please remind me and we can discuss them ahead of Session 1
Over the coming days, I will look into how to use the Campaign Manager as I think it would be very valuable to our game.
I'm so excited. Like I've said I'm really enjoying this story so far and I cannot wait to see where it leads to.