Welcome players: I'm going to kick off the adventure proper in 6 to 10 hours, but if it is an appropriate time where you are in the real world, feel free to do some pre-game RPing here.
I'll set the scenes for both groups shortly and I'll get you to wait until that to post here about anything that happens on Flora Isle in the tavern or on the beach. That said, if there are any pre-existing meetings or relationships that occurred prior to you getting to Palma Flora (the town), Flora Isle (the island) or even prior to you getting to the beach or tavern, organise them in the chat and you can post them here.
Wandering the beaches by town, Aliez sets up a blanket and small camp stool she carries with her. On the table she lays out her tarot deck and a small brazier where she lights a small fire. "Come one. Come all. Have your fortunes read. Peer into my flames and see what the future holds in store for you." She calls as she sits down behind the stool and waits for customers to arrive. Watching over the town closely she breathes in the fresh sea air. This is rather nice, I could get used to being out here for a while. She suddenly stiffens for a moment and under breath whispers, "It would be a lot nicer if the spirits would shut up."
Group 1 Scene: The Riptide Inn and Tavern is extremely busy this morning, with all of the outside tables and most of the inside tables full of boisterous patrons. Anyone with a passive perception of above 8 can tell that some of the patrons have been drinking since very early this morning and there is excitement in the air.
You have all heard of the annual shark hunting tournament and any notions that it was a quiet or insignificant event have quickly been put to rest. All locals who are not working in theRiptide Inn and Tavern are either getting ready to compete in the tournament or getting ready to watch it. There are also dozens of people from mainland Palma Flora and a number of tourists that have come for the event, though you can see that this is of great importance to the locals who grew up on the island or who live here now.
Anyone from a big city might not think this is a particularly big crowd, though those of you who have been here for more than a couple of days have seen a transformation from a sleepy island to the spectacle it is today.
[Anyone can roll a perception AND investigation check to figure out the number of people on the island if they want]
Group 1 Players: After your character sheets are done, go ahead and introduce your characters, but just keep it to what other people could observe about them for the moment.
There appears to be some betting on the tournament going on, both at the bar and by some shady looking characters who are making rounds in the tavern and to the outside seated areas. Let me know if any characters want to make any bets.
If your character interacts with any of the drunk patrons, let me know.
There are also wait staff coming around and offering "two for one Palma Floras" and calling out "celebrate the tournament like a local with a Palma Flora, you know you want to". These roaming wait staff do also bring other drinks. They have tighter clothing on than their counterparts behind the bar and are obviously flirting for sales and tips. The flirting stops as soon as they have a tip and they are obviously run off their feet, as they do not hold any conversation with a patron for more than the minimum time required. Any character with a charisma of less than 12 has a hard time not ordering a drink from the roaming wait staff when they ask, as the wait staff are quite persistent and are well practiced at convincing people to drink (unless the character does not usually drink alcohol or are asexual).
Anyone who has been staying at the Riptide Inn and Tavern for more than a week knows that they had a problem with giant rats in their basement, though a roaming party of adventurers already took care of that and moved on to greater things.
Sitting near the center of the bar, making friendly, polite conversation with some of the staff, and attending locals, Tharhun Yerlow was smiling as he sipped on some tropical nectar juice. His crimson red scales shone with a cleaned-up, sharp, look, that matched the rest of his lean features. He wore some leather armor, that complimented his scales, but to those with keener eyes, he seemed more at home talking to those around him, than he did in that armor. That said, the strangely wrapped up, cloaked weapon on his back, seemed awfully suspicious and mysterious to anyone who saw it, those with fiendish backgrounds would feel a sense of repulsion or even danger, from it if they came to close.
Perched to the side on the highest stool the bar has to offer as well as a couple of thick books, Beatrice absentmindedly swirls her third ale as she listens in on the conversations around her, chuckling occasionally at some of the funnier things she overhears. She's a small little thing, not even clearing four feet tall, with tanned skin, bright reddish-brown eyes, and a wide smile, her black and green hair pulled into two low braided buns on either side of her head.
However, despite her bright smile and small stature, the scars that litter her face and disrupt her eyebrows, the crusting of blood under her nails, and the large axe that she has strapped to her back indicate that she is more than she seems, as does the occasional glint of fury that comes into her eye, barely kept under control.
Group 2 Scene: A cool breeze drifts across Flora Isle, mingling the sweet scent of flowers with the salty tang of the Lucidian Ocean. A dozen nearly naked shark hunters preparing to compete in the annual tournament stand in the shallows on the south shore, armed with harpoons and their wits.
A large crowd has gathered close to the water, to the sides along the beach well-tanned locals play while waiting for the tournament to start, while sunburned visitors sit in wicker chairs and sip cold drinks. This peaceful little beach island is very crowded.
[As above, anyone can roll a perception AND investigation check to figure out the number of people on the island if they want]
A few militia stand at the ready keeping a look out, though unless you have been to a shark hunting tournament before, you do not know what they are looking out for.
Group 2 Players: After your character sheets are done, go ahead and introduce your characters, but just keep it to what other people could observe about them for the moment.
Please let me know where in the blue circle you are located (upper-left, dead centre, lower-middle etc.)
As well as the locals waiting for the tournament to start there are locals offering trinkets, offering Palma Flora cocktails in sealed up coconut shells (which are surprisingly icy) and offering to set up wicker chairs and makeshift beach umbrellas made from large leaves. The trinkets and wicker chairs seem to be targeted at the tourists, though the drinks and beach umbrellas are also being enjoyed by the locals. If your character is interested in any of those things, let me know.
If your character interacts with any of the militia, let me know. There are two located in the water to the east (between the shore and the right edge of the blue circle on the map), three at in the water just off the northern most tip of the island and three to the west in the water (between the shore and the left edge of the blue circle on the map)
Importantly, if anyone wants to find out about participating in the tournament, let me know quickly, as it looks like it will be starting soon.
A tall and rather skinny elf makes his way through the crowd to the shoreline, scanning the contestants. He has a mop of tangled dark blue hair, his skin is a light silvery blue with a pattern on green lines half an inch thick barely visible under the right light. He wears simple clothes under leather armor, carries a backpack, longbow and quiver of arrows, and a shortsword at his hip. One might also notice a piece of branching coral, roughly T shaped put through his belt. The elf looks like he's about to go hunting, but not for sharks.
His eyes rest on a young female contestant and he raises a hand, waiting to make eye contact. She smiles and waves back, he shouts "Good luck!" and slowly makes his way towards the east part of the beach.
Vincent arrived with Aliez but seems disinterested in the game she has set up. Instead, he watches the hunters, and militiamen, interested in seeing how it all works.
Vincent is a tall, and robust looking human. He has the lean look of a fighter, and a nearly militant appearance, with his chain shirt and the simple, ugly, effective war pick at his belt. He has rather anonymous features. A chin without prominence. Eyes of ordinary brown. Hair of medium brown and looks like he cuts it himself, although it’s not bad. He wears a heavy satchel at his hip from over his shoulder, and has a curious cameo necklace. His shield looks like it’s new, but that might be just because the old one broke, based on the wear the pick shows.
(Laire is on the most west side of the circle (left) past the militia but as far from the crowd as possible within the space)
Laire was standing at the edge of the beach, the cool water lapsing at her bare feet, fizzing and bubbling like brine. She smiles as the wind caresses her face, taken in the whole scenery, watching with an insatiable interest everything - the crowd, the hunters the golden beach and constantly moving waves. The girl looked like the very definition of "tourist" and not only because of the curiosity on her face. That elven girl was giving the new meaning to the expression "snow white" (for those who know what snow is): white hair, very pale, practically paper white skin and wide open sky blue eyes as the only bright spot - some could recognize pallid elf in her, not familiar with the race saw just a weird looking elf. Interestingly, sun did not bother her in any way, though heat forced to remove the armour and travelling boots (that could be seen in her backpack now), leaving only silk shirt and wool heavyweight pants.
There was something about her - a strange look, or the an obvious lack of wealth? - that kept tourist hunters away, but she did not mind, all her attention was concentrated on the show.
[If there is anything that people want their characters to do before the tournament starts, please post it in the next 8 or so hours. In relation to posting dialogue, I've found that if each player chooses a different text colour for what their character says, it helps to differentiate the characters. As DM, I'm going to put dialogue in bold instead.]
One of the Shark Hunters calls out to the crowd "last call for entrants to the tournament. It is high risk but high reward and we have a number of healers on the ready if things go wrong".
[You have all heard that it is not that uncommon for at least one person to die in the tournament (it happens every 2 to 5 years). If you join, you will only have a harpoon and no armour, so don't feel like your character should, just because I'm offering it.]
Oden approaches the two militia posted at the east of the beach, nods to one, clasps arms with the other, his kin, and says: "Ervalin! Good, you lost some weight. Quite a crowd we've got this year! I hope the hunters give us a good show. Speaking of which...", he turns a little to include the other militia, "... I've got a gold piece I'm willing to bet on Elanza. She's looking fired up! Want to wager?"He smirks and sends a gold piece spinning in the air, then catches it.
Jhenles takes your bet "You are on! I’ve seen Joao training recently and I think you’ve lost your coin already."
Ervalin is as serious as ever and doesn’t respond to your ribbing "Brother" [he nods] "Have you dropped by the inn to see Arvastan yet? He has some big news..." He looks back at the tavern and says "actually, maybe wait until after the tournament when the crowds die down, he looks run off his feet."
A young half elf approaches Aliez's table wide eyed and asks "Can you really tell fortunes? How much to tell mine?” and before you can answer either question she says "I want a full reading, whatever the cost". From the clothes and gems she wears, Aliez can tell she is good for the money.
Meanwhile, in the tavern a drunk patron colides with one of the wait staff sending drinks cascading over Tharhun and Beatrice. The patron apologises and helps the wait staff up, but as he goes to walk off, the proprietor yells from behind the bar "STOP, THIEF!" and speaking his employee yells "GRAB HIM ARVISTAN, HE'S TAKEN YOUR POUCH!"
If anyone sitting at the bar tries to do anything to help (or hinder), first write what you intend to do and then roll initiative.
"Arvastan, always a magnet for drama.", Oden says, shaking his head. "Is his amorous life about to take yet another turn?"
While talking to his brother, Oden crouches and washes his face with seawater and pours some in his hair, untangling it a bit. "I wish I had our mother's hair, like Arvastan. Maybe that's his secret."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tharhun, hearing the words thief, looks towards the man who knocked into the waitress, and quickly glances at her to make sure she's not hurt. Once he verifies that, he quickly runs after the man in question.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Maltake has been at the bar most of the day. He picked a spot where he can see all the patrons. Several empty glasses are in front of him. His eyes are bloodshot and his breath smells of alcohol and fruit. His movements show he is close to falling over but saves himself at the last minute. His black hair is messy and clothes are all crumpled. He could be considered handsome if he cleaned himself up. He looked as he wanted to look, a drunk human drowning his sorrows.
Maltake wonders if he should bet on the tournament but decides against it. He needs to earn money not gamble it away. He actually hasn’t drunk much and was actually alert to his surroundings. He was waiting to see who was drunk enough in order to join them in their drinking. If it would so happen that they misplace their purse, drunk people misplace things all the time. Life is not at all fair.
As he scans the bar once more he sees the commotion unfold and the suspect try to get away. Maltake sees an opportunity in this fracas and decides to see if he can profit from this. He staggers off his bar stool and moves to intercept the suspected thief.
Welcome players: I'm going to kick off the adventure proper in 6 to 10 hours, but if it is an appropriate time where you are in the real world, feel free to do some pre-game RPing here.
I'll set the scenes for both groups shortly and I'll get you to wait until that to post here about anything that happens on Flora Isle in the tavern or on the beach. That said, if there are any pre-existing meetings or relationships that occurred prior to you getting to Palma Flora (the town), Flora Isle (the island) or even prior to you getting to the beach or tavern, organise them in the chat and you can post them here.
Wandering the beaches by town, Aliez sets up a blanket and small camp stool she carries with her. On the table she lays out her tarot deck and a small brazier where she lights a small fire. "Come one. Come all. Have your fortunes read. Peer into my flames and see what the future holds in store for you." She calls as she sits down behind the stool and waits for customers to arrive. Watching over the town closely she breathes in the fresh sea air. This is rather nice, I could get used to being out here for a while. She suddenly stiffens for a moment and under breath whispers, "It would be a lot nicer if the spirits would shut up."
Group 1 Scene: The Riptide Inn and Tavern is extremely busy this morning, with all of the outside tables and most of the inside tables full of boisterous patrons. Anyone with a passive perception of above 8 can tell that some of the patrons have been drinking since very early this morning and there is excitement in the air.
You have all heard of the annual shark hunting tournament and any notions that it was a quiet or insignificant event have quickly been put to rest. All locals who are not working in the Riptide Inn and Tavern are either getting ready to compete in the tournament or getting ready to watch it. There are also dozens of people from mainland Palma Flora and a number of tourists that have come for the event, though you can see that this is of great importance to the locals who grew up on the island or who live here now.
Anyone from a big city might not think this is a particularly big crowd, though those of you who have been here for more than a couple of days have seen a transformation from a sleepy island to the spectacle it is today.
[Anyone can roll a perception AND investigation check to figure out the number of people on the island if they want]
Group 1 Players: After your character sheets are done, go ahead and introduce your characters, but just keep it to what other people could observe about them for the moment.
There appears to be some betting on the tournament going on, both at the bar and by some shady looking characters who are making rounds in the tavern and to the outside seated areas. Let me know if any characters want to make any bets.
If your character interacts with any of the drunk patrons, let me know.
There are also wait staff coming around and offering "two for one Palma Floras" and calling out "celebrate the tournament like a local with a Palma Flora, you know you want to". These roaming wait staff do also bring other drinks. They have tighter clothing on than their counterparts behind the bar and are obviously flirting for sales and tips. The flirting stops as soon as they have a tip and they are obviously run off their feet, as they do not hold any conversation with a patron for more than the minimum time required. Any character with a charisma of less than 12 has a hard time not ordering a drink from the roaming wait staff when they ask, as the wait staff are quite persistent and are well practiced at convincing people to drink (unless the character does not usually drink alcohol or are asexual).
Anyone who has been staying at the Riptide Inn and Tavern for more than a week knows that they had a problem with giant rats in their basement, though a roaming party of adventurers already took care of that and moved on to greater things.
Sitting near the center of the bar, making friendly, polite conversation with some of the staff, and attending locals, Tharhun Yerlow was smiling as he sipped on some tropical nectar juice. His crimson red scales shone with a cleaned-up, sharp, look, that matched the rest of his lean features. He wore some leather armor, that complimented his scales, but to those with keener eyes, he seemed more at home talking to those around him, than he did in that armor. That said, the strangely wrapped up, cloaked weapon on his back, seemed awfully suspicious and mysterious to anyone who saw it, those with fiendish backgrounds would feel a sense of repulsion or even danger, from it if they came to close.
Perched to the side on the highest stool the bar has to offer as well as a couple of thick books, Beatrice absentmindedly swirls her third ale as she listens in on the conversations around her, chuckling occasionally at some of the funnier things she overhears. She's a small little thing, not even clearing four feet tall, with tanned skin, bright reddish-brown eyes, and a wide smile, her black and green hair pulled into two low braided buns on either side of her head.
However, despite her bright smile and small stature, the scars that litter her face and disrupt her eyebrows, the crusting of blood under her nails, and the large axe that she has strapped to her back indicate that she is more than she seems, as does the occasional glint of fury that comes into her eye, barely kept under control.
Group 2 Scene: A cool breeze drifts across Flora Isle, mingling the sweet scent of flowers with the salty tang of the Lucidian Ocean. A dozen nearly naked shark hunters preparing to compete in the annual tournament stand in the shallows on the south shore, armed with harpoons and their wits.
A large crowd has gathered close to the water, to the sides along the beach well-tanned locals play while waiting for the tournament to start, while sunburned visitors sit in wicker chairs and sip cold drinks. This peaceful little beach island is very crowded.
[As above, anyone can roll a perception AND investigation check to figure out the number of people on the island if they want]
A few militia stand at the ready keeping a look out, though unless you have been to a shark hunting tournament before, you do not know what they are looking out for.
Group 2 Players: After your character sheets are done, go ahead and introduce your characters, but just keep it to what other people could observe about them for the moment.
Please let me know where in the blue circle you are located (upper-left, dead centre, lower-middle etc.)
As well as the locals waiting for the tournament to start there are locals offering trinkets, offering Palma Flora cocktails in sealed up coconut shells (which are surprisingly icy) and offering to set up wicker chairs and makeshift beach umbrellas made from large leaves. The trinkets and wicker chairs seem to be targeted at the tourists, though the drinks and beach umbrellas are also being enjoyed by the locals. If your character is interested in any of those things, let me know.
If your character interacts with any of the militia, let me know. There are two located in the water to the east (between the shore and the right edge of the blue circle on the map), three at in the water just off the northern most tip of the island and three to the west in the water (between the shore and the left edge of the blue circle on the map)
Importantly, if anyone wants to find out about participating in the tournament, let me know quickly, as it looks like it will be starting soon.
Oden
A tall and rather skinny elf makes his way through the crowd to the shoreline, scanning the contestants. He has a mop of tangled dark blue hair, his skin is a light silvery blue with a pattern on green lines half an inch thick barely visible under the right light. He wears simple clothes under leather armor, carries a backpack, longbow and quiver of arrows, and a shortsword at his hip. One might also notice a piece of branching coral, roughly T shaped put through his belt. The elf looks like he's about to go hunting, but not for sharks.
His eyes rest on a young female contestant and he raises a hand, waiting to make eye contact. She smiles and waves back, he shouts "Good luck!" and slowly makes his way towards the east part of the beach.
Vincent arrived with Aliez but seems disinterested in the game she has set up. Instead, he watches the hunters, and militiamen, interested in seeing how it all works.
Vincent is a tall, and robust looking human. He has the lean look of a fighter, and a nearly militant appearance, with his chain shirt and the simple, ugly, effective war pick at his belt. He has rather anonymous features. A chin without prominence. Eyes of ordinary brown. Hair of medium brown and looks like he cuts it himself, although it’s not bad. He wears a heavy satchel at his hip from over his shoulder, and has a curious cameo necklace. His shield looks like it’s new, but that might be just because the old one broke, based on the wear the pick shows.
Paladin - warforged - orange
(Laire is on the most west side of the circle (left) past the militia but as far from the crowd as possible within the space)
Laire was standing at the edge of the beach, the cool water lapsing at her bare feet, fizzing and bubbling like brine. She smiles as the wind caresses her face, taken in the whole scenery, watching with an insatiable interest everything - the crowd, the hunters the golden beach and constantly moving waves. The girl looked like the very definition of "tourist" and not only because of the curiosity on her face. That elven girl was giving the new meaning to the expression "snow white" (for those who know what snow is): white hair, very pale, practically paper white skin and wide open sky blue eyes as the only bright spot - some could recognize pallid elf in her, not familiar with the race saw just a weird looking elf. Interestingly, sun did not bother her in any way, though heat forced to remove the armour and travelling boots (that could be seen in her backpack now), leaving only silk shirt and wool heavyweight pants.
There was something about her - a strange look, or the an obvious lack of wealth? - that kept tourist hunters away, but she did not mind, all her attention was concentrated on the show.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
[If there is anything that people want their characters to do before the tournament starts, please post it in the next 8 or so hours. In relation to posting dialogue, I've found that if each player chooses a different text colour for what their character says, it helps to differentiate the characters. As DM, I'm going to put dialogue in bold instead.]
One of the Shark Hunters calls out to the crowd "last call for entrants to the tournament. It is high risk but high reward and we have a number of healers on the ready if things go wrong".
[You have all heard that it is not that uncommon for at least one person to die in the tournament (it happens every 2 to 5 years). If you join, you will only have a harpoon and no armour, so don't feel like your character should, just because I'm offering it.]
((Laire is a spectator here only - no betting, no hunting))
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Oden approaches the two militia posted at the east of the beach, nods to one, clasps arms with the other, his kin, and says: "Ervalin! Good, you lost some weight. Quite a crowd we've got this year! I hope the hunters give us a good show. Speaking of which...", he turns a little to include the other militia, "... I've got a gold piece I'm willing to bet on Elanza. She's looking fired up! Want to wager?" He smirks and sends a gold piece spinning in the air, then catches it.
Jhenles takes your bet "You are on! I’ve seen Joao training recently and I think you’ve lost your coin already."
Ervalin is as serious as ever and doesn’t respond to your ribbing "Brother" [he nods] "Have you dropped by the inn to see Arvastan yet? He has some big news..." He looks back at the tavern and says "actually, maybe wait until after the tournament when the crowds die down, he looks run off his feet."
A young half elf approaches Aliez's table wide eyed and asks "Can you really tell fortunes? How much to tell mine?” and before you can answer either question she says "I want a full reading, whatever the cost". From the clothes and gems she wears, Aliez can tell she is good for the money.
Meanwhile, in the tavern a drunk patron colides with one of the wait staff sending drinks cascading over Tharhun and Beatrice. The patron apologises and helps the wait staff up, but as he goes to walk off, the proprietor yells from behind the bar "STOP, THIEF!" and speaking his employee yells "GRAB HIM ARVISTAN, HE'S TAKEN YOUR POUCH!"
If anyone sitting at the bar tries to do anything to help (or hinder), first write what you intend to do and then roll initiative.
"Arvastan, always a magnet for drama.", Oden says, shaking his head. "Is his amorous life about to take yet another turn?"
While talking to his brother, Oden crouches and washes his face with seawater and pours some in his hair, untangling it a bit. "I wish I had our mother's hair, like Arvastan. Maybe that's his secret."
Tharhun, hearing the words thief, looks towards the man who knocked into the waitress, and quickly glances at her to make sure she's not hurt. Once he verifies that, he quickly runs after the man in question.
Init: 16
Maltake has been at the bar most of the day. He picked a spot where he can see all the patrons. Several empty glasses are in front of him. His eyes are bloodshot and his breath smells of alcohol and fruit. His movements show he is close to falling over but saves himself at the last minute. His black hair is messy and clothes are all crumpled. He could be considered handsome if he cleaned himself up. He looked as he wanted to look, a drunk human drowning his sorrows.
Maltake wonders if he should bet on the tournament but decides against it. He needs to earn money not gamble it away. He actually hasn’t drunk much and was actually alert to his surroundings. He was waiting to see who was drunk enough in order to join them in their drinking. If it would so happen that they misplace their purse, drunk people misplace things all the time. Life is not at all fair.
As he scans the bar once more he sees the commotion unfold and the suspect try to get away. Maltake sees an opportunity in this fracas and decides to see if he can profit from this. He staggers off his bar stool and moves to intercept the suspected thief.
Initiative 16