Hyre doesn't respond to Barna's nudges though he's not oblivious to them either. It's more like he's... accepting her behaviour. He eats and listens to the others. "A tail, the ability to see in the night and elite status. Some people really are lucky. Although, unlike Kallista, she can't fly, as far as I understand? Maybe not as lucky. So how did you meet a noblewoman anyway? Did you get into the nest somehow?"
Lazlo sits back and enjoys the meal. He practices listening and doesn't do much talking himself. He looks at each of his friends in turn, appreciative of the miraculous circumstances of their survival. He notices Hana and Sir Geoffrey seeming to fall into a comfortable pattern of conversation with each other- and the years and day to day worries seem to shed a bit from both of them. "This is good for them both..." He thinks to himself.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Fleabag Fleabane-Tabaxi Ranger | Lenny Coggins- Halfling Barbarian | Sid Shatterbuckle- Dwarf Fighter/Rogue| Lazlo - Satyr Bard in Training
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Aelar closes the door quietly, locking it if he can it will lock quietly. Then he moves as quietly as he can, doing nothing to bring attention to himself, and then sits down and begins reading the book.
Leon sighs, seeing that his story has attracted some sudden attention from his friends. He says to Geoffrey, "Thank you Sir. You have given me much to think about."
For the rest of the meal, he eats in silence, listening to the others speak. He responds to any prodding with a smile and a nonchalant shrug.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral-Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries;Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
Geoffrey addresses Hyre's statement. "Or not so lucky... I can't imagine how hard it must be for her, she'd be an almost immediate outcast among her peers, someone they only allow because of obligation, constantly being plotted against, always having to sleep with one eye open because if she falters or makes a mistake, they'd descend on her like the ravenous vultures they are. Ever since the Nest put up their gates... well... if I were still a defender of Guiston, I don't know if I'd still spur my horse all that hard if they cried for help." he says bitterly. In his tipsy state, it takes Geoffrey a moment to put two and two together. "Oi now, I'm not going to let that slide. How do you know a noblewoman's name? Don't be coy now, boy." he waggles a finger at Leon. "Look at this one. Barely a few days gone by, already has a lady in waiting and training to take the oath. That's youth for you. You find something good in this wretched life... you hold on tight, tight as you can. We all at this table know... how fast it can be taken away." he says, looking down into his empty mug. He goes silent, the smile fading from his face. Hana clops over and puts her arms around him from behind. "You'll get your people back. I believe that. I've seen your type before, in the thick of battle, when everything seems lost, there are those who resign themselves, and those who keep fighting till the very last. They're the ones who make it, more often than not." Geoffrey says.
Aelar manages to expertly navigate back around the desk and sit down without anyone so much as looking up from their books. He's free to read, as manners dictate that it's highly impolite to look over someone's shoulder. In the time he has before the library is to close, he learns about the practice of magic on a practical level, how it's like bottling up one's effort and focus and releasing it all at once to manipulate the world and bending it to a spellcrafter's will. The city council has largely limited the practice of magic to artificing, the practice of imbuing objects with spells that can be controlled or shut down if needed. It's little wonder that the city council has tried to regulate the practice of magic to only groups they can control; magic can be learned, no matter the social status, even if the practitioner isn't talented, it's a power that the privileged fear; after all, if pushed far enough, there's no gate that can be built that will keep a magician driven to the breaking point from causing untold chaos. He learns too, though, that the kind of magic Aelar has opened to him doesn't involve study and discipline. All living beings can serve as a conduit for spells, and two may be interconnected by a union or contract. A powerful being may channel their influence through another, though the amounts are carefully measured; too much, and the body of the conduit may not survive the stress of the energies being forced through them, but the longer the bond, the more adept the conduit, the more power they can manage. As Aelar reads, he discovers that this power in particular is what the current council fears most. It's why the followers of Draco have been suppressed at every opportunity. If it became known that a bond could be made with an outside power, even the poorest wretch could win the pity of a powerful creature and become powerful enough to threaten the Nest's way of life. He discovers vague details of a ritual that needs to happen in order to make the contract hold, though the meat of it rests on the conduit's shoulders. They have to be prepared to give up a degree of their personal freedom to act on behalf of the one they form a bond with. It's why only compatible creatures are able to form such a bond; either a submissive conduit must freely surrender to a dominant master, or two of the same heart join for mutual benefit.
((Don't hold your secrets then. Also, I don't think Hyre should have martial success. He tried for simple and rolled a 6. It also looks like I'm behind on class points. So far the only calling Hyre seems headed to is a husband. Just out of curiosity, BaconExpert, do you know which class you want Kallista to take? Aside from my own character, she's the only one I don't know the goals of. Or at least don't think I know, anyway.))
Aelar reads the fascinating tome until the last possible moment but he does not push his luck and call attention to himself. He leaves with the first group, surreptitiously sliding his book next to one of the other student's stacks. He walks out in the group, avoiding eye contact, talking as little as possible, none at all if he can avoid it.
Raia, do you know anything about this ritual? While reading about it he had described it in detail to her.
After leaving Hawk's Nest, he heads straight for Gelnor and the dwarfs. Once there, he wastes no time, it already being late. He wants to get over to the Horseshoe as soon as he can. The only thing he does is look for a place to buy paper, ink and quill. He wants to right everything down as soon as he can. He also keeps an eye out for any weapon familiar to him from his dream-quest training. It would be good to have a weapon when he leaves the city.
Upon seeing Brother Gelnor, he bows in respect and he says, "Greetings, Brother. I hope you are well this day. Your advice to seek knowledge from the library was well made and I have learned much. I do not have much time as I must see my friends and make arrangements to leave the city for a brief journey. Raia needs my aid. I came to thank you for your advice and to ask if you have had time to come to a decision about the Serpent's Tongue. Please do not feel I am nagging you. I ask because I am curious and am taking advantage of the opportunity in seeing you."
ooc: Since Aelar spent so much time apart from the others, I figured I'd move things along a bit. I am more than happy to role-play the purchase of the writing supplies or the weapon or anything else you feel should be role-played.
((Good question! I was kind of just rolling with things as I saw them, but seems now that Kallista will be going ranger... maybe druid but most likely ranger. I love the class, even if others call it underpowered.))
Geoffrey's words resonated with Leon. He's known from painful past experience how quickly and easily things can go bad. Even though it's been good lately, how long could that last?
He responds, "I met her one night. The details are foggy, as I had been drinking. But when morning came, and I woke up in a unfamiliar bedroom..."
He trails off, looking at Geoffrey. The kindly old knight seemed harmless, but should he really be telling this story? Leon didn't want to cause any trouble for Ashwa, and he knew how dangerous of a position she was in.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral-Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries;Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
((I figured that's the case but still wanted to ask just to be sure. While I do think the class slightly underpowered, it's definitely got one of the best themes to it and Tasha's changes improved it a lot. It no longer has the problem of being situational, although when starting the way we do in this campaign even that doesn't matter as we can already expect (I think?) most of the environments we'll be in and we already know who are our enemies. Now just need to figure out which class I want Hyre to be, as well as start working for it.))
(( rangers are a LOT of fun to play. I have a tabaxi ranger and when I use feline agility he climbs everything- lol my DM had to get minis for trees bc he was forever climbing up them and picking people off with his longbow- don't even get me started with horde breaker. ))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Fleabag Fleabane-Tabaxi Ranger | Lenny Coggins- Halfling Barbarian | Sid Shatterbuckle- Dwarf Fighter/Rogue| Lazlo - Satyr Bard in Training
Kallista seems a little, overeager to hear more about Ashwa. It's pretty obvious after a bit that she hasn't met many tieflings other than herself. "I've met a couple before..." Kallista says when wings are mentioned. "They didn't have wings... I don't think they're very common among tieflings."
Lazlo looks over to Kallista during a lull in conversation "I've always wanted to ask... what's it like up there? In the sky? I mean to say- what’s it like to fly?"
Party progress fixed, I got confused because the text file I have for keeping track apparently got saved to 2 different locations and I used a faulty older reference.
And yeah, I'm in agreement Hyre, you've trained in several skills, but Hyre's having a bit of difficulty figuring out what he wants to do, but that's all right, you've still got a ways to go yet till the end of the prologue. Given his penchant for research and cooking, I almost see him as an artificer or other traditionally gnomish class. He seems to have more of an analytical mind, which could come in handy for what you may be facing in the future.
Also, just a quick reminder, the XP system this campaign uses a hybrid XP/milestone format. You get XP from story-driven encounters, not random violence))
Kallista thinks for a bit, "It... depends... on a lot of stuff. The weather, wind... stuff like that. But on a real nice day," she smiles, "it's amazing."
((Huh, never thought of Artificer. I was mostly trying to think whether I want a Wizard or a Rogue who'll take Arcane Trickster if and when we'll get to that point, or maybe the Magic Initiate feat for some magical abilities. The problem with both Wizard and Artificer is that neither of them requires good DEX. Not more than any other class anyway. Maybe there's a way to build them otherwise, like a weapon-focused wizard (other than bladesinging which really doesn't fit the character) but I didn't look too deep into that. In the end, 18 DEX should be a lot above average. Although it doesn't stand out that much in this group. In any case, I want to have something that makes use of it. Looking at it numerically, 18 should have a greater effect than 5, being much further away from the average of 10, or having a modifier of 4 instead of 3, whichever way you choose to look at it. I've barely given that any focus, however. I don't want to ignore it entirely. Things I need to think about, I guess...))
"So... why didn't you take the job Kina offered you with the Kites? If you do enjoy flying, that sounds like a perfect match." Hyre will wait for Kallista to answer and then ask Barna: "What about you? What would you do if you had wings?"
ooc: I think Rangers are a great class though I have heard some think they are under-powered. Imagine what a bow-wielding flying ranger could do, especially if you took feats that allowed additional attacks per round...or maybe learned how to use nets. Or maybe dual-classed, Ranger primary but also some sorcery with attack spells.
Hyre doesn't respond to Barna's nudges though he's not oblivious to them either. It's more like he's... accepting her behaviour. He eats and listens to the others. "A tail, the ability to see in the night and elite status. Some people really are lucky. Although, unlike Kallista, she can't fly, as far as I understand? Maybe not as lucky. So how did you meet a noblewoman anyway? Did you get into the nest somehow?"
Varielky
Lazlo sits back and enjoys the meal. He practices listening and doesn't do much talking himself. He looks at each of his friends in turn, appreciative of the miraculous circumstances of their survival. He notices Hana and Sir Geoffrey seeming to fall into a comfortable pattern of conversation with each other- and the years and day to day worries seem to shed a bit from both of them. "This is good for them both..." He thinks to himself.
Fleabag Fleabane -Tabaxi Ranger | Lenny Coggins- Halfling Barbarian | Sid Shatterbuckle- Dwarf Fighter/Rogue| Lazlo - Satyr Bard in Training
Aelar closes the door quietly, locking it if he can it will lock quietly. Then he moves as quietly as he can, doing nothing to bring attention to himself, and then sits down and begins reading the book.
Stealth: 9
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Leon sighs, seeing that his story has attracted some sudden attention from his friends. He says to Geoffrey, "Thank you Sir. You have given me much to think about."
For the rest of the meal, he eats in silence, listening to the others speak. He responds to any prodding with a smile and a nonchalant shrug.
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral- Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries; Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
Geoffrey addresses Hyre's statement.
"Or not so lucky... I can't imagine how hard it must be for her, she'd be an almost immediate outcast among her peers, someone they only allow because of obligation, constantly being plotted against, always having to sleep with one eye open because if she falters or makes a mistake, they'd descend on her like the ravenous vultures they are. Ever since the Nest put up their gates... well... if I were still a defender of Guiston, I don't know if I'd still spur my horse all that hard if they cried for help." he says bitterly.
In his tipsy state, it takes Geoffrey a moment to put two and two together.
"Oi now, I'm not going to let that slide. How do you know a noblewoman's name? Don't be coy now, boy." he waggles a finger at Leon.
"Look at this one. Barely a few days gone by, already has a lady in waiting and training to take the oath. That's youth for you. You find something good in this wretched life... you hold on tight, tight as you can. We all at this table know... how fast it can be taken away." he says, looking down into his empty mug. He goes silent, the smile fading from his face.
Hana clops over and puts her arms around him from behind.
"You'll get your people back. I believe that. I've seen your type before, in the thick of battle, when everything seems lost, there are those who resign themselves, and those who keep fighting till the very last. They're the ones who make it, more often than not." Geoffrey says.
Aelar manages to expertly navigate back around the desk and sit down without anyone so much as looking up from their books. He's free to read, as manners dictate that it's highly impolite to look over someone's shoulder.
In the time he has before the library is to close, he learns about the practice of magic on a practical level, how it's like bottling up one's effort and focus and releasing it all at once to manipulate the world and bending it to a spellcrafter's will. The city council has largely limited the practice of magic to artificing, the practice of imbuing objects with spells that can be controlled or shut down if needed. It's little wonder that the city council has tried to regulate the practice of magic to only groups they can control; magic can be learned, no matter the social status, even if the practitioner isn't talented, it's a power that the privileged fear; after all, if pushed far enough, there's no gate that can be built that will keep a magician driven to the breaking point from causing untold chaos.
He learns too, though, that the kind of magic Aelar has opened to him doesn't involve study and discipline. All living beings can serve as a conduit for spells, and two may be interconnected by a union or contract. A powerful being may channel their influence through another, though the amounts are carefully measured; too much, and the body of the conduit may not survive the stress of the energies being forced through them, but the longer the bond, the more adept the conduit, the more power they can manage.
As Aelar reads, he discovers that this power in particular is what the current council fears most. It's why the followers of Draco have been suppressed at every opportunity. If it became known that a bond could be made with an outside power, even the poorest wretch could win the pity of a powerful creature and become powerful enough to threaten the Nest's way of life.
He discovers vague details of a ritual that needs to happen in order to make the contract hold, though the meat of it rests on the conduit's shoulders. They have to be prepared to give up a degree of their personal freedom to act on behalf of the one they form a bond with. It's why only compatible creatures are able to form such a bond; either a submissive conduit must freely surrender to a dominant master, or two of the same heart join for mutual benefit.
((Also, time for a party progress report!))
Lazlo:1/3 stealth 1/3 CHA 1/3 STR 0/3 DEX (+1 overall) 1/3 perception 1/3 martial Proficency: Performance, survival
Aelar: Proficiency: Carving, stealth 1/3 INT bonus 1/3 STR 1/3 DEX 1/3 performance 1/3 CON 2/3 CHA 2/3 Persuasion 2/3 perception 1/3 investigation 1/3 athletics
Kallista: 1/3 STR 2/3 survival 1/3 CON 1/3 animal handling Proficency: Stealth
Leon: 1/3 stealth 2/3 survival 0/3 STR(+1) 1/3 CON 1/3 deception 1/3 smithing 1/3 performance 1/3 martial
Hyre: 2/3 survival 1/3 stealth 1/3 insight 1/3 INT 1/3 athletics 2/3 research 1/3 arcana 1/3 history 1/3 cooking proficiency: Investigation
party class progress recap:
Lazlo: 50/50 bard 5/50 rogue 15/50 fighter
Aelar: 5/50 monk (pfft) 40/50 sorcerer 50/50 warlock 25/50 rogue
Kallista: 35/50 ranger 5/50 rogue 10/50 druid 15/50 fighter
Leon: 50/50 fighter 15/50 paladin
Hyre: 20/50 rogue 10/50 ranger 5/50 monk 20/50 wizard 15/50 fighter
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
((Also, if you'll indulge me, I have an idea for how a 6th party member may be added, if you want to see the kind of introductory post they'd have.))
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
((Sure, what's the harm in seeing it!))
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
ooc: Sure...let's see it.
RE: Stats: I show 2 INT successes, not 1
RE: Skills: I show 1 Athletics, 2 Insight, 2 Perception
Aelar: Proficiency: Carving, stealth 1/3 INT bonus 1/3 STR 1/3 DEX 1/3 performance 1/3 CON 2/3 CHA 2/3 Persuasion 1/3 perception 1/3 investigation
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
((Don't hold your secrets then.
Also, I don't think Hyre should have martial success. He tried for simple and rolled a 6. It also looks like I'm behind on class points. So far the only calling Hyre seems headed to is a husband. Just out of curiosity, BaconExpert, do you know which class you want Kallista to take? Aside from my own character, she's the only one I don't know the goals of. Or at least don't think I know, anyway.))
Varielky
Aelar reads the fascinating tome until the last possible moment but he does not push his luck and call attention to himself. He leaves with the first group, surreptitiously sliding his book next to one of the other student's stacks. He walks out in the group, avoiding eye contact, talking as little as possible, none at all if he can avoid it.
Raia, do you know anything about this ritual? While reading about it he had described it in detail to her.
After leaving Hawk's Nest, he heads straight for Gelnor and the dwarfs. Once there, he wastes no time, it already being late. He wants to get over to the Horseshoe as soon as he can. The only thing he does is look for a place to buy paper, ink and quill. He wants to right everything down as soon as he can. He also keeps an eye out for any weapon familiar to him from his dream-quest training. It would be good to have a weapon when he leaves the city.
Upon seeing Brother Gelnor, he bows in respect and he says, "Greetings, Brother. I hope you are well this day. Your advice to seek knowledge from the library was well made and I have learned much. I do not have much time as I must see my friends and make arrangements to leave the city for a brief journey. Raia needs my aid. I came to thank you for your advice and to ask if you have had time to come to a decision about the Serpent's Tongue. Please do not feel I am nagging you. I ask because I am curious and am taking advantage of the opportunity in seeing you."
ooc: Since Aelar spent so much time apart from the others, I figured I'd move things along a bit. I am more than happy to role-play the purchase of the writing supplies or the weapon or anything else you feel should be role-played.
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
((Good question! I was kind of just rolling with things as I saw them, but seems now that Kallista will be going ranger... maybe druid but most likely ranger. I love the class, even if others call it underpowered.))
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
(Skills look good)
Geoffrey's words resonated with Leon. He's known from painful past experience how quickly and easily things can go bad. Even though it's been good lately, how long could that last?
He responds, "I met her one night. The details are foggy, as I had been drinking. But when morning came, and I woke up in a unfamiliar bedroom..."
He trails off, looking at Geoffrey. The kindly old knight seemed harmless, but should he really be telling this story? Leon didn't want to cause any trouble for Ashwa, and he knew how dangerous of a position she was in.
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral- Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries; Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
((I figured that's the case but still wanted to ask just to be sure. While I do think the class slightly underpowered, it's definitely got one of the best themes to it and Tasha's changes improved it a lot. It no longer has the problem of being situational, although when starting the way we do in this campaign even that doesn't matter as we can already expect (I think?) most of the environments we'll be in and we already know who are our enemies. Now just need to figure out which class I want Hyre to be, as well as start working for it.))
Varielky
(( rangers are a LOT of fun to play. I have a tabaxi ranger and when I use feline agility he climbs everything- lol my DM had to get minis for trees bc he was forever climbing up them and picking people off with his longbow- don't even get me started with horde breaker. ))
Fleabag Fleabane -Tabaxi Ranger | Lenny Coggins- Halfling Barbarian | Sid Shatterbuckle- Dwarf Fighter/Rogue| Lazlo - Satyr Bard in Training
Kallista seems a little, overeager to hear more about Ashwa. It's pretty obvious after a bit that she hasn't met many tieflings other than herself. "I've met a couple before..." Kallista says when wings are mentioned. "They didn't have wings... I don't think they're very common among tieflings."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Lazlo looks over to Kallista during a lull in conversation "I've always wanted to ask... what's it like up there? In the sky? I mean to say- what’s it like to fly?"
Fleabag Fleabane -Tabaxi Ranger | Lenny Coggins- Halfling Barbarian | Sid Shatterbuckle- Dwarf Fighter/Rogue| Lazlo - Satyr Bard in Training
((I got caught up in something, sorry
Party progress fixed, I got confused because the text file I have for keeping track apparently got saved to 2 different locations and I used a faulty older reference.
And yeah, I'm in agreement Hyre, you've trained in several skills, but Hyre's having a bit of difficulty figuring out what he wants to do, but that's all right, you've still got a ways to go yet till the end of the prologue. Given his penchant for research and cooking, I almost see him as an artificer or other traditionally gnomish class. He seems to have more of an analytical mind, which could come in handy for what you may be facing in the future.
Also, just a quick reminder, the XP system this campaign uses a hybrid XP/milestone format. You get XP from story-driven encounters, not random violence))
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
Kallista thinks for a bit, "It... depends... on a lot of stuff. The weather, wind... stuff like that. But on a real nice day," she smiles, "it's amazing."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
((Huh, never thought of Artificer. I was mostly trying to think whether I want a Wizard or a Rogue who'll take Arcane Trickster if and when we'll get to that point, or maybe the Magic Initiate feat for some magical abilities. The problem with both Wizard and Artificer is that neither of them requires good DEX. Not more than any other class anyway. Maybe there's a way to build them otherwise, like a weapon-focused wizard (other than bladesinging which really doesn't fit the character) but I didn't look too deep into that.
In the end, 18 DEX should be a lot above average. Although it doesn't stand out that much in this group. In any case, I want to have something that makes use of it. Looking at it numerically, 18 should have a greater effect than 5, being much further away from the average of 10, or having a modifier of 4 instead of 3, whichever way you choose to look at it. I've barely given that any focus, however. I don't want to ignore it entirely. Things I need to think about, I guess...))
"So... why didn't you take the job Kina offered you with the Kites? If you do enjoy flying, that sounds like a perfect match." Hyre will wait for Kallista to answer and then ask Barna: "What about you? What would you do if you had wings?"
Varielky
ooc: I think Rangers are a great class though I have heard some think they are under-powered. Imagine what a bow-wielding flying ranger could do, especially if you took feats that allowed additional attacks per round...or maybe learned how to use nets. Or maybe dual-classed, Ranger primary but also some sorcery with attack spells.
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric