Homebrew tabletop game system thread the II

[Simon_Jester]

Larric fumbles a bit trying to think of a way to explain "guilt by association." Which he'd have a bit of trouble doing, even with someone whose Kuquanese was such that he knew the other fellow understood everything he said properly.

Then he shrugs. Maybe Dirt's right about some of that. "I sure hope it works. Do you want to leave now, or wait a while? If they come pouring down on us, two or three hours from now, middle of the night... not good. But I don't know, can we wait without them coming to us?"

He's very unhappy that there seems to be no right answer, or at least no right answer the other side is sane enough to accept...

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

'What would Aburon do?' Lisanna says quietly to herself. Then more loudly to the rest of you, 'There is no obvious way out of this without blood being spilt, so let's approach this from another angle. Start with what we want to happen and work backwards, see if there's a way to get there from here.

We want the elves to go away in peace. Dirt's plan's the best yet, and I'll go with you and cover you if it comes to that,' she adds to Dirt, 'but- what would make them go away without troubling us, for tonight at least- what do they care about more than us, more than one of their kin being dismembered and scrutinised? Is there something they're even less sane about?'



[On an administrative note, another query from someone wanting to join- fiji_fury. Planning to play an amnesiac. This could be quite entertaining...]

[Kaelan]

[On an administrative note, another query from someone wanting to join- fiji_fury. Planning to play an amnesiac. This could be quite entertaining...]

OOC - Just so long as it's not an elf. I can see an elf having a long lifespan in the party at the moment......

[Panzersharkcat]

(OOC: What kind of amnesia? Anterograde or retrograde? Anterograde will be rather interesting.)

[Simon_Jester]

IC:

Brainstorming!

Larric can do brainstorms. He scratches his chin again.

"What do they care about... um, food? Livestock? Zarthanis to take it all out on?"

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

Anterograde would be nigh on unplayable; the inability to form new memories above the subconscious level- above procedural memory- would be, well, the only way we could do it would be as gallows humour, very, very black comedy. And the possibilities are starting to form, now that I think of it that way.

If he can get up to speed- he might need some help with character generation.



'I like it.' Lisanna grins. 'If they think they're being trailed, being hunted by their enemies form the south, that would draw their atention- now, how do we fake it convincingly?'

[Simon_Jester]

"Do we know anyone who speaks Zarth? I don't."

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

'I do know about four words, all of them rude- and three of them do apply to elves. I'm not sure it would be believable, that could get monotonous- ah. There is something else that might set them off.' She looks at Dirt.

[Kaelan]

Dirt is starting to smell fish.....

[Simon_Jester]

"Does this have to do with the black elves?"

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

That was fun, even if I did nearly get set on fire- I was away in Wales over the weekend, doing the Amlwch festival, and there's a boat burning involved- we start at the top of the hill above the harbour, and slide down an about sixty degree grass slope to the boat, with flaming torches. In the dark. On wet grass with no good footholds. How nobody ended up crispy, I don't know. (There was, theoretically, a rope.)


Anyway, Lisanna says 'I'm not at all convinced it would be a sensible thing to do to make them madder, to be honest, but it could draw them off from us and get them into further trouble, and I can see how it might actually end with us running for our lives, but still in possession of them at least. It's either that or hope for a miracle, so-'


Oh, a slight footnote; svartalfven aren't usually literally black- that is a rare and portentous colour among them, a totally light- absorbent child usually being considered to be marked for special things. Dark shades of something else are more common, although there's only a loose genetic component- diet during childhood has a lot to do with the colour an adult svartalfven ends up, most commoners being shades of grey, running up the spectrum, dark blues are actually the next most common, and there are considerable internal superstitions and prejudices based on this. Try not to annoy the purple ones.

[Simon_Jester]

Larric glances at Dirt. "How could we use hints of svartalfery to get the mad elves running off in a crazy direction?"

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

'They're probably already keyed up as it is;' Lisanna suggests, in the absence of Dirt having much to say. (Seriously- is everything all right? I suspect Kaelan may have been olympicised, yoinked into the security maelstrom, if not directly to fill in for someone who has. Posting would still be good, when time is.)

'Words on the wind, scent, spoor- we could probably make it look like they're being stalked. They'd react to that- have to. Then I think the running away would have to occur- ah. Arrange it correctly and- this is dishonest I know- but we could concievably make it look as if their scouts were killed by the svartalfven; and that we are running away from the same dark elves. It has the advantage of being almost true, there is a frighteningly large community of them in the cavern.'

[Simon_Jester]

OOC:

Now I've got the image of Dirt Deadhead, Olympic security guard. Disqualified from competition on grounds of "you have GOT to be kidding me." No doubt he has but recently left the caverns of a major London financial firm, they being the best match for svartalfven I can think of on short notice...

IC:

"And the- svartalfven- have had bands out, even. Rohal told us of them falling on a party of regular elves... three nights back, now. Somewhere out this way." He waves vaguely, not sure exactly where that was; east, west, somewhere in the hills at any rate.

"Maybe Dirt can give us the words. They'll need to be... squinched up a bit if they're to sound right, though." Lisanna may have no idea what he's talking about, but this one he can actually explain.

[Kaelan]

OOC
1 - Dirt would just claim to be chinese.....
2 - Work has gone manic at the moment but should calm down in the next couple of days I hope.
3 - In interim here is a short post whilst I can find the time to cover Dirts actions. Sorry that I can't put it into full context speech (& for any spelling mistakes).

IC
The stalking ideas not going to work whilst one of them is still alive, and the burning medical corpse is slighlty out of svartalfven character. If an accident should befall our living friend here it would look better if we only let them find one corpse, with the impression that the other has been taken captive.

If we're going to play the running away part it would be best to come across as though the svartalfven thought we just wern't worth the effort to hunt down or that they were in a rush to get somewhere. So we best not look to 'shiny' when the elves approach.

Words wise Dirt can aways loosly translate some standard interrogation phrases, along with throwaway lines such as 'what do you want to do about the human over there looking at us - ignore them, we've more pressing matters to attend to' etc. Probably be more believable if one of the party comes up with a selection of phrases with Dirt, and Dirt just says them in svartalfven to the other party members. that way we'll have the more belivable human errors in speach when we try to relay the words back to the elves. They may be slighly suspicious if they get a word perfect rendering.

OOC - back to the grindstone...

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

'That fits.' Lisanna says quietly to herself. 'It's not wrong- he's a bandit, could be tried and executed, deserves nothing better, it's not murder of a helpless prisoner.' Sounds as if she's trying to convince herself. Legally, she's probably right.

'Actually- Dirt? That's not the plan, not quite. As far as there is one the plan is to get just close enough to them for their scouts to overhear, make svartalfven- like noises and leave suitable trails, enough to convince them that they're being stalked, and then we could sneak away- if we're very very lucky. I suspect we may have to run for it at that point. I don't intend to get close enough to them to talk, really, at all- I don't think it would be healthy.'

[Kaelan]

OOC
work has conspired to keep me internet access free until friday. Will post if I can find a hot-spot & time.

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

Whenever you can- what about everyone else, though?

Nobody got an opinion on this? Lisanna's acting in character- young but had to grow up very quickly, not entirely certain of her own competence yet- she's still not entirely sure how she got to where she is, and sometimes feels like she really is playing a part.

She would come up with a solution like this, but have any of the PC's got a better idea? Finding some of the Striking Phoenix and pointing them at the problem is good, but suffers from that practical problem- finding them. Any idea how?

For that matter, she got pointed at the problem herself, by deVerett- he's supposed to be the one in charge, isn't he?


Just to give you something else to think about- there's a dark shape moving in the woods just beyond the camp. Looks much too obvious to be elvish- unless it's a clever double bluff, which is perfectly possible.

Fiji_fury, that's your cue. Dale has come upon this village, seems very busy and full of people beyond it's size, and there are some very odd beings between him and it. Take it away.

[Fiji_Fury]

OOC: From the general description I'm assuming it's nearly nightfall and that I come upon the scene of Laric, Dirt, Lisanna and the tied up Elf. If I am substantially mistaken about these impressions, let me know and I'll modify further interactions accordingly.

IC:
The figure resolves itself into the shape of a worn looking man. His clothing is travel-dusted and a bland combination of greys and browns with no distinctive heraldry or signs of wealth. He is carrying a sheathed sword at his hip and something on his back, but at your range you can't yet clearly make out what. His face is unshaven and a hood is drawn up, currently shadowing his features.

"Greetings..." he begins somewhat wearily as he steps closer and gets a better look at the... odd scene in front of him. A sharp intake of breath can be heard as he catches sight of Dirt and the figure's hands move to the sword and a knife. "Bloody hells," curses the man, assuming a combatative posture, but not drawing either weapon.

"More elves?" querries the figure, concern tight in his voice. "They're everywhere out here. Why is that one tied up, and who are you... people?" The man glances with obvious concern at Dirt while saying this last part. He appears especially confused at the sight of bustling activity in the town, but no particular concern from any of the people there about the obvious presence of an Ogre.

[Simon_Jester]

OOC:

I did the honors last time; Alfred, I seem to recall you being here to help with the interrogation, would you like to try a round of introductions?

[Panzersharkcat]

A man a little over two-meters-tall steps up and responds. "I am Sir Alfred Norden of Lillehammer. This is [insert appropriate rank or title] Lisanna. This is my alchemist, Larric Smith, who I am very fortunate to have in my travels. Finally, this is Dirt Deadhead. Do not let his... simple appearance deceive you. Underneath is the sharp mind of my linguist. Oh, and I suppose I should mention that he's a gardener, too. Who are you? I assume you are friend or, at least, not foe."

[Fiji_Fury]

Still looking nervous about appearances, the man does at least uncoil himself and release his grip upon his weapons.

"Sir Alfred... my name is Dale. I am a traveller who finds himself in a poor situation; I fear that I am quite lost and my supplies are near exhausted. The landscape is practically lousy with Elves who have made my journey all the more difficult. My constant companions for the better part of the past week have been frustration, confusion and mounting hunger. Now I find an elven prisoner, a court wizard, a knight, an 'alchemist' and a... did you say 'gardener'!? Forgive me, but I'm beginning to wonder if I haven't gone wrong in the head."

Dale takes a smooth step closer, obviously sizing up the group. His face betrays a great deal of confusion, angst or both.

[Simon_Jester]

Larric smiles- if Dale is a keen judge of human nature there's a touch of manic there, but he really is trying to be reassuring.

"He does garden, I do alchemy. He bonks heads together too, only natural for a fellow his size, I guess. Me, I have a sideline in-" he glances at Lisanna- "wizardry as soon as I get it sorted out with the guild. And if you're looking for food, you've trouble. Baron deVerett and his knights are back up from underground. They're eating like men who spent last two months in a cave. But we may be able to shake loose something for you, neighbor. Why might you be journeying?"

Physical description:

Larric isn't this well dressed, his hair's a mess, and he's a good deal dirtier- aside from that, he looks about like this fellow, only a lot more stressed. Middling height, looks decently well fed, but without any great bulk or sleekness to him- not a physically powerful or particularly graceful man.

[Fiji_Fury]

At the mention of food, Dale nods tersely. His discomfort outwardly appears to be dissapating, particularly in the set of his shoulders and facial muscles. He seems oblivious to Laric's nearly 'manic' tone... or maybe resigned to it.

"A meal would go a long way. I would be in your debt Sir Alfred, for any such courtesy."

[Panzersharkcat]

"Very well. I'll see what I can scrounge up. I've seen what it is like for a man to go a long time without food." He turns to Dirt and says, "Dirt, would you kindly fetch some food for our guest here. I believe you'd be more persuasive in getting some from a group of starved men. While you're at it, bring Rohal here."

(OOC: I assume he's not there because it'd be kind of embarrassing to forget him while he's right there.)