Homebrew tabletop game system thread the II

[White Haven]

"That is an extremely good question, and one that will require further research and consultation with my fellow Guildsman to truly answer. We are attempting to ascertain information that may pertain to events here, but that branch of magic is tragically imprecise and subjective. There is a core of truth to it, but it's surrounded by so much that is open to interpretation as to be quite literally worse than useless in the hands of the untrained. To be quite blunt, until we tease out its actual meaning, it could be warped and twisted to mean anything to anyone, and that does not serve the cause of truth. In this case, sir knight, secrecy prevents rash, half-baked judgments."

[Simon_Jester]

OOC:

Why do I not expect that to be reassuring?

Verone would seem to have been stricken by the curse of Babble...

IC:

Larric turns to someone standing nearby. Probably Dame Tamarin. Making no particular effort to conceal his voice, he waves a hand toward Sihulam, the mage Verone was talking to.

"The mage there is a seer, yes? From what I caught, I'm pretty sure they were talking... seeing-stuff. Nothing in particular to do with the murder at all, as far as I could tell."

He was kind of hoping that this information would not get out, but there's nothing for it as far as he can tell, it's impossible to keep it hidden without making Verone at the least look incredibly suspicious. He looks directly at Sihulam. "Sir mage, I heard... something about the Baron?"

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

'Yes, and one who usually declines praise for fear that it might unbalance his judgement, doesn't boast of his prowess- not massively powerful, you need ego for that, but much more than usually accurate. Even with the rambling- I know enough to know that's very much a hazard of the trade, and he's better than most.' Tamarin says. 'I caught parts of that, and I'm not at all certain why Verone wanted to keep it a secret- of course, he didn't know that.'

She says more loudly 'If I understand the order this happened in, Master Verone raised the ward before he knew what was about to be said, as a precaution; did you not? If you're invoking guild rights over this, well, that is your privilege.'

Sihulam starts to say 'But...'

Markus tries to shout a little less this time and doesn't entirely succeed. 'If you can play it by the rules, I can too- I will make a formal complaint to the master of the guild and expect an open hearing over your conduct.'

'Damn. Bureaucracy.' Andrea's comment. 'It would be simpler and less painful if we did fight over it.' fortunately, Markus isn't listening. Rumours and gossip, especially among those who heard bits of that, are flying. 'Would someone care to fill me- and everyone else who caught only the sound of the wind- in? Somewhere quieter, of course. I think it would be good to be away from people for a moment.'

'Include me in that. What I heard sounded very interesting. In fact, come with me.' Detrick says, and leads off- heading out of the castle.

[White Haven]

"With an event this political, I was not about to chance an unknown missive from my fellow guildsman being related and inflammatory."

At which point, Detrick takes matters out of Verone's juggling hands entirely, leaving the mage to nod politely at the assembled non-noble nobility and trail off after him.

Once Detrick, Verone, and whoever else Detrick doesn't glower at upon attempting to follow reach wherever they're going, Verone sets things out as simply as he can, "My colleague here is a seer, as has been mentioned. This is not an exact art, but the clearest parts of the matter consist of the fact that he sees Baron deVerett as being still alive. On the topic of the murder, well, all he could relate to me is that there was some sign that the family as a whole was in trouble, trying to get out of it -- more he couldn't tell, simply because trying to buck probability like that plays merry hell with clear sight. Back to the Baron, however, I'd rate that as a rather interesting development, if the Countess knows about it and considers him dead wood..."

[Simon_Jester]

Larric finishes that sentence. "Or if she doesn't, and hauls him back out of whatever he's in the middle of, just so there's someone sitting in the great hall instead of..." he waves a hand "This."

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

Detrick heads for one of the new- built houses, still being finished, hasn't had the wattle put on yet; the people working on the row, mostly men but some women, are actually busy with the frame and roof of the building two along- a nice combination of enough noise to make it difficult to eavesdrop and no-one actually able to sneak up without being noticed. A few people from the castle trail, at a distance.

'You couldn't keep that a secret- and as annoying as Markus can be, he had a point, justice not only has to be done, it has to be very visibly seen to be done.
I don't want to deal with this, it has to be someone else's part, the castle is not supposed to be a bloody jungle- none of you knew deVerett? Sir Alfred?
Only to see on important days- well, I saw the top job turn him from basically a sound knight, maybe a bit edgy and inclined to look to his own, into the worst kind of offspring of a spy and a spiv, gods help me I'm not sure it would be good to have him back. He might fit the category of deadwood at that.

Got to be better than this, though, at least less bad.

I'm going to deal with the outside problem- going to take the hunting packs down to the south-east, to Coroghan and points beyond, see if I can hold the border. It should be the Sherriff's job to see to the murder, to find and try whoever was responsible. He's not on top of things at the moment and probably needs all the help he can get.

That's a bog to get stuck in though, and somebody should try and find the Baron, find out what state he's in, bring him back. What do you think you'd be best at?'

[Panzersharkcat]

"I have never met the man. I would be amenable to fetching him, however."

(OOC: Because I am a crappy detective and I want to get out of town.)

[Simon_Jester]

OOC:

It would actually not be surprising if you'd met the man, the feudal aristocracy of the county isn't that large.

IC:

Larric thinks this over.

"Waaaait a beat. The baron went off after some great magic fortress, up in the mountains. The baron isn't dead, hasn't come back even though I'd think he'd want to, so he's probably still up in the mountains. Calvern went north, also up in the mountains, though at the pace she moves, for all I know she's on the dark side of a moon by now. And-" he misquotes- "She said... "Some of it hasn't come out to play again yet..."

He taps his jaw. "And-" remembering the druid but still keeping quiet about that dream- "hm."

[rolls dice]

Larric puts two, two, two, two, and two together, and gets somewhere in the vicinity of nine. "I think if we go north looking for Baron deVerett right now, we might just find Calvern laying siege to an ancient magical fortress. Or something, I don't know what. Probably a lot of somethings. On fire. Might be best to find something aside from that to do for a few days until it blows up and over."

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

Andrea was there for most of that and has most of the ame facts to go on; 'Before, Baron deVerett was missing. Now he's- what?'

Sihulam gives a more detailed explanation, that Dirt manages to hear all of this time.

'So- he was hidden, not definitely dead, just- hidden, and now he's not? Sounds like whatever he was in, he's out of now. His arse might be on fire and he may need help putting it out, but it sounds as if the worst may be over.'

[Kaelan]

Dirt is starting to wish he engaged the countess in combat, at least it would have been quick.

"Dirt happy to work where food and plants."

In the interim he will use his size and strength to help build the house they are talking beside.

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

Dirt actually has little to no idea how these 'house' things go together, does he? It's a bit like a big four sided rose trellis, that's the theory he's going on. Fifi tries to help, passing him bits and pieces. Her reach isn't great, but she's got a lot of biting and gripping power in that beak.
Amazingly, the next word said is not 'oops.' Actually goes quite well, which might cause him to miss- if nobody else does- Andrea trying to sort the situation out by making him an offer.

'Fine, I'll hire you on. Room, board and two copper pieces a day on the family estate, duties to include gardening, farming, and hitting things when we need them.'

'Two isn't much.' Detrick points out.

'I did say I'd feed him.'

'Ah.'

'Well?' (Bet you can guess what's coming next if Dirt says yes.)

[Kaelan]

Dirt considers responding in elvin, but decides that it would probably confuse the issue. Local human it is then.
“What about ‘dem”, indicating the rest of the party.

Also, before accepting Dirt is considering what the countess said. An offer of food is good, but then again Dirt can survive by eating the house he’s helping to build at the moment. Still, always worth finding out more details before committing to a course of action.

“How many day a week? What grow in garden?”

And then there’s the big one.
“Who you want hurt, Dirt not like hurting stranger if no reason. Can make problem for Dirt later. Countess also tell Dirt to grow humans. You have small humans for Dirt to grow?”

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

Three admin notes first-
I know I said I was going to have a go at SDNW5; hasn't changed- I still intend to do that as well as keeping this going, although to be honest I'm dreading it because I doubt if I have enough unallocated creativity juice- too many stories needing bits too- to make as much as I should of it. I'll give it a shot anyway, prologue bit half written, up soon.

Second- has anybody seen hide or hair of Agent Sorchus? Checking the profile, the last visited line was blank- what that's about I don't know. If it's a real life issue, good luck and get back in touch as soon as you can.

Third- the party's looking a little thin on the ground. Eliska not really done anything since before going off to meet the Countess, Rohal there but seldom active, Verone talking himself into trouble as often as not, Alfred not really into this politics thing, Larric run ragged trying to keep track of what's going on- and there are more people viewing the thread than players, if the count means anything. Anyone prepared to step up?

Right.
Andrea says to Dirt 'Depends on your religion, really- my father's head herbalist preferred to work through the holy days, felt they were unusually blessed and auspicious, and seemed to take the rest of the time off. Most people do it the other way round. Actually I'm not sure what religion Ogres have?'
[Think animistic- inherent spirits, geniuses locii, that sort of thing.]

On the bit about small humans, she blushes, glances at Alfred, and says 'No, not yet personally. It's basically a large fortified farm, there are about four dozen of us in the ambit all told, so about a quarter- you do realise you can't put people in plant pots, don't you?'


Apparently from nowhere, Tamarin asks Andrea 'Where were you about an hour after dawn this morning?'

Andrea's hand moves closer to her sword, but she says calmly enough 'Part of the crowd in the forecourt, crossing swords with the showgirl paladin.'

'Part of the crowd helping establish dame D'Avariel's alibi.' Tamarin says.

After a moment to let that sink in and be pondered, Andrea replies 'I know what you mean- she was exactly there and very busy, and enjoying herself a bit too much, but if I did not know absolutely where she was and what she was doing at the time, I'd suspect her too.'



[PS; Happy Birthday, White Haven.]

[Panzersharkcat]

(OOC: This is why I wanted to go find the Baron. He at least knows what to do about sieges, in-character.)

[Feralgnoll]

OOC: Im getting lost in the sauce. Similarly Rohal has not much to say during politics. He has never seen the inside of a center of political power before, and is just hanging out uncomfortably until useful.

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

You could perfectly well have said that in character- and is Alfred deliberately ignoring this bit?

On the bit about small humans, she blushes, glances at Alfred, and says 'No, not yet personally.

.

Alfred's a big lad, with a sound reputation, his family's got higher standing than Andrea's does, she knows several of them, it's obvious, isn't it?


Most people are lost and confused by the politics, and those who know most are the most confused. [Do you want anythign described in more detail?]
Rohal's vote is going to be 'away from here', then? Incidentally, what does he make of the paladin who the ladies are suspecting? There is definitely something odd about her, it's as if she smells differently from one angle than from another.

[Panzersharkcat]

(OOC: I failed a spot check.)

He chuckles a bit at Andrea's comment about growing people in pots.

[Feralgnoll]

Most people are lost and confused by the politics, and those who know most are the most confused. [Do you want anythign described in more detail?] A quick recap would do well.

Rohal's vote is going to be 'away from here', then? Incidentally, what does he make of the paladin who the ladies are suspecting? There is definitely something odd about her, it's as if she smells differently from one angle than from another.

Rohal sniffs the paladin. Trying to figure out if there is anything to substantiate the ladies's claims.

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

She's not physically there at the moment, otherwise neither of them would have said that; remember Detrick headed for somewhere where you could talk in private.

At some point recently, Rohal would have done that, and this is how it would have gone;

as he draws in her scent, she looks at him- and two very strange things happen; he can smell cut grass, fresh-sawn marble, hot iron, apples, all one after the other...and underneath it all the sharp tang of magic, and blood and sweat. She smiles at him, and for all the world it looks as if she has wolf fangs.

Now, it's exceptionally unlikely that she actually is a lycanthrope- the Krylanyan faith takes in a lot of odd types, but generally not that. If she isn't one, she could at least pose as one; and what else might she be able to fake?

[Simon_Jester]

NEITHER IC NOR OOC, BUT AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT GAME:

Three admin notes first-
I know I said I was going to have a go at SDNW5; hasn't changed- I still intend to do that as well as keeping this going, although to be honest I'm dreading it because I doubt if I have enough unallocated creativity juice- too many stories needing bits too- to make as much as I should of it. I'll give it a shot anyway, prologue bit half written, up soon.

[SDNW5 modhat on]

Don't worry about it too much- I mean, I'd very much like to have you in, but don't worry about it as a creative writing exercise. You can take or leave bits of it, walk away for a few weeks if need be without guilt, write relatively short posts that don't contain a lot of heart-and-soul creativity to stay in the game and interacting with neighbors. The pace is or can be naturally slower there than, say, here.

Also, anything really substantial that's done in there will be collaborative, which means you can outsource bits.

So even if you don't intend to play a top-level game there, we'll be better off for having you in, I think; after the next draft iteration of the map goes up, maybe you could take a minute to find a spot that you'd like? I suggest something on the periphery, it would fit both a new civilization and a player who may have some significant absences.

[SDNW5 modhat off]

---

OOC:

Second- has anybody seen hide or hair of Agent Sorchus? Checking the profile, the last visited line was blank- what that's about I don't know. If it's a real life issue, good luck and get back in touch as soon as you can.

I know nothing. If we don't hear from him soonish, I'm honestly not sure if it's a good idea to assume Eliska is along for the next adventure... [scratches head]

Third- the party's looking a little thin on the ground. Eliska not really done anything since before going off to meet the Countess, Rohal there but seldom active, Verone talking himself into trouble as often as not, Alfred not really into this politics thing, Larric run ragged trying to keep track of what's going on- and there are more people viewing the thread than players, if the count means anything. Anyone prepared to step up?

Recruitment would be good.



IC:

Apparently from nowhere, Tamarin asks Andrea 'Where were you about an hour after dawn this morning?'

Andrea's hand moves closer to her sword, but she says calmly enough 'Part of the crowd in the forecourt, crossing swords with the showgirl paladin.'

'Part of the crowd helping establish dame D'Avariel's alibi.' Tamarin says.

After a moment to let that sink in and be pondered, Andrea replies 'I know what you mean- she was exactly there and very busy, and enjoying herself a bit too much, but if I did not know absolutely where she was and what she was doing at the time, I'd suspect her too.'

Larric nods. "What about her fellows, the other- paladins? Priests?"

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

'Capable enough but not special.' Andrea says. 'She's not officially in charge, as far as I can tell, but I thought the one who actually is, Dermod or Damiano or something- see, what an impression he made- can't stop her going rogue.

They claim to be here to help, but as far as I can tell they got sucked into the whirlwind like the rest of us. If they're able to make sense of it- wait. They have been spending a lot of time talking to the bailiff, and the bailiff does not like the Owells one bit- he has to put into practise the daft ideas the treasurer comes up with.

I don't know exactly where they were, but if it's believable at all- that they'd take that kind of risk to their name and honour, that they'd want to be associated with anything like that, they'd so brand themselves...of course, they might not expect to be caught...but it might be very important to to know exactly where they all were this morning.

I'd been planning to come along with you, but I may need to look to this. I don't know,' she shakes her head, 'warrior woman, I should be on their side, but there's something- look,' to Tamarin, 'you've still got stars in your eyes, I don't, but even I believe there has to be a cause, it has to be for something, fighting isn't just an end in itself as they seem to think it is. I do envy them their powers, though.'

'One of which,' Tamarin points out, not taking offence- visibly- at that bit about her still being starry eyed, 'is a gift for military deception.'

[Simon_Jester]

Larric pauses a bit. "I think that's why every time I meet her I wind up arguing with her. I don't much like deceptions. Dame D'Averiel, she's very... she's very good at making sure everyone's watching her. I'd wager that if- if the Krylanyans were in on this at all, she was the distraction, the look-at-me while someone else got their hands filthy, and the one who could parade about after knowing no one could ever suspect her. The one who really did it- may be walking small for a while."

[Feralgnoll]

Now, it's exceptionally unlikely that she actually is a lycanthrope- the Krylanyan faith takes in a lot of odd types, but generally not that. If she isn't one, she could at least pose as one; and what else might she be able to fake?

Which could put her at suspect for the crime, or the criminal could be framing her.

[Eleventh Century Remnant]

'If it wasn't them, then it was either a collaborative effort by half the Guild, and I doubt that- or outside talent, an assassin, probably not human, and who knows the long eared ones well enough to get them to do that for them? Anyone? No...hold it a moment.' Andrea says. 'The only people who know how hard it really would have been to do it the way it was actually done are us. Anyone else would likely still think it a frenzy by night, and anybody could be to blame.

We can do this one of two ways; you can stay here and I can have guards posted, so we can see who tries to kill you to get you out of the way, or you can go far away from this, not die and perhaps make a long step towards a solution.'

[Simon_Jester]

Larric shrugs. "I'm for not dying. Over the hills and far away sounds just fine to me."

He figures, if they find a giant fiery siege thing going on up north they can always run away.