Chapter 1 - New Horizons

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Mar 16, 2019 3:30 pm
OOC:

Kimberley - Sucess!
As Kimberley examines the cubby holes in the kitchen a bit closer, she notices that there are runes carved around all of the cubbyholes that stored food. Something happened in the inn some time ago that caused a portion of the rune carvings to get damaged. Only the cubbyholes with fully intact runes had unspoiled food inside.
The sun is beginning to set now, the sky has bloomed into a golden orange color. Within the inn, the unnamed goblin is sitting on the floor, handcuffed to a heavy table leg (courtesy of David) as it stares at Colin, David, and Eun. David and Eun are conversing in hushed tones in a corner away from the goblin, but Colin can hear that David is pushing for the goblin to be kicked out or killed whereas Eun is lamenting the goblin as a "poor misunderstood creature that should get a second chance."
OOC:

Night is coming and there is still the unresolved issue of the goblin captive. It's been helpful and forthcoming thus far. David is staunchly against keeping the goblin in sight while Eun is beginning to think of it like a poor creature that needs helping. What does your character wish to do?

For the more charismatic characters, this could be a chance to win over a potential ally. *cough cough first minion*

Also, do you wish to stay at the inn for the night (or longer) or try and venture out in one of the few directions?
Mar 16, 2019 3:41 pm
"I vote we keep him, though it might be difficult around this town. Besides, I am not going to just kill him."

Now that things have calmed down he will go through the pages he found in the back pack and also looks to the others.

"Does, anyone know, just exactly how we got here ?"
Mar 16, 2019 5:48 pm
Kimberly grabs the sausages but leaves the rest in the cubbies for now, figuring the bread and honey would travel better than the sausages. She intends to go back to the kitchen to take a closer look at the rune but wants to figure out the next steps with the group first.
OOC:
Im picturing like pre cooked and dried sausage links in a string. Let me know if I’m wrong.
She steps into the room and begins to break them apart and pass one out to everyone, including the goblin.
Mar 16, 2019 5:52 pm
"Thank you." Vincent says nodding to Kimberly.

Accepting the food he takes a bite tasting it in his mouth seeing if the taste is familiar at all.
Mar 16, 2019 6:36 pm
"So, what are you good at? What did you do before you were chosen to be a sacrifice?" Colin continues questioning of the goblin, "Maybe we will find some use for you... other than to become our dinner, that is." He then points back where David and Eun are standing, "You know, they are discussing if we should make you dead or not but I think you can be usefull"

Colin accepts the food and starts eating.
Mar 17, 2019 12:16 pm
Eun and David accept the food from Kimberly and start eating. The sausage is a bit dry but pretty good. It's most similar to an andouille sausage, but there seem to be some strange spices that you are unfamiliar with.

"Well, I was studying medicine in university. I would have been going for residency next year, but...," Eun says as she motions to everything, "I'm here now."

"I figure that I know medicine pretty well. I mean, I got good grades and everything. I was practicing to be a dermatologist though, so I only know the basics of surgery,"
she says shyly.


"I'm something you can call a businessman," says David. He pauses for a moment, as if wrestling with something internally, and then just shrugs and spits out, "Fine, I was an accountant. All I did was push papers. I guess you can say I'm good with numbers and bureaucracy?"

There's a pause in the conversation as people gaze at the goblin. Looking up from his sausage (which he's eating surprisingly daintily) and with an expression of pure pleasure, he realizes that people were waiting for him to speak. He slowly starts talking and then says, "I am [Digger] Level 3. I dig holes for shinies to catch travelers' attention. Then we ambush."

Based off of his explanation, one of his small group's very rudimentary way of ambushing travelers is to put something shiny in the middle of the road and hope they bend over to pick it up.

Outside, the sun has dipped below the horizon and the air is getting a bit cooler. Crickets and other insects begin to chirp as the fields seem to come to life with the sounds of soft clicks and sounds.
OOC:

We're nearing the end of the first day. A few things to finish up:
1. What are you going to do with the goblin? It sounds like most people want to try and take him under their wing. Any one of you can do a Diplomacy check to convince him (but type out what your character says). You get will get a bonus since you're feeding him instead of eating him, if you choose to go down that route.

2. Once your characters fall asleep, you can apply another 50 points to your characters (as specified during character creation). Anything and everything is available now, including magic!
Mar 17, 2019 12:32 pm
"I mostly drove for a living, I am not sure how well that will translate here. You all seem calm and cool about being here ? Is this not a big change for you ? Eun, it sounds like you will be amazingly useful and David I am sure a good education and head for numbers will serve you well anywhere."

He then turned to the goblin, "You dig for shinies, like mining ? Why don't you stick with us, better then with people who might just eat you."

"I am going to see if I can get that armor, and maybe we can make a pyre for the person who died upstairs. Do any of you have a lighter ?"
Mar 17, 2019 3:34 pm
"Ah, I see. I don't think he is a miner. He had a very important role in his tribe, he was setting up the stage for their ambush, which makes me wander why they sacrificed him. Perhaps some of them were jealous of him, maybe they didn't like him that much." Colin moves closer to the goblin, "Would you consider yourself worthy of a name? You were digging holes to ensure that your marks would lower their defences, you stepped inside to offer your surrender, and that's, by the way, takes guts, winning time for the rest of your former tribe to escape with their lives." Colin places his hand on the goblin's shoulder, "I think you are more than worthy to have a name, to stand out from other goblins." He then leans closer to the goblin, "I offer you a partnership, a new tribe, I will keep you fed and protect you from harm if you will help me... er... us, to learn more of this place and help me with other things."

"Sure, killer," Colin takes out his lighter from his jacket and hands it to Vincent.

Rolls

Diplomacy - (3d6)

(234) = 9

Mar 17, 2019 3:44 pm
There was a slight wince but Vincent took the lighter and a few moments later he was down with the body but it was wrapped in the blanket. He went outside to gather any fallen wood. He would make a pyre to place the body in and clear an area around it so it would not cause a fire outside the pyre.

If there was an outdoor oven or fire pit he would try and work with that to help.

*Ok with getting sleep and advancing, and he would return the lighter*
Mar 17, 2019 3:54 pm
Kimberley smiles to herself. Seeing what Colin is doing, she begins to make mental notes of each of the group members strengths, weaknesses but most importantly self-perception. Years of corporate manipulation and strategy lent to her ability to move through social situations, but the number one lesson those years had taught her were patience. Let the personalities play against each other, reveal their intentions, and strategically move when she needed to.



"I'm like David, most of my life has been spent in the structured world of business and finance. Survival and outdoorsy activities aren't exactly my strengths. I'm glad the likes of Vincent and Eun are here, it seems you at least have some natural or practical skills that have kept us alive so far. I shudder to think what they would have done if they had gotten through." she shudders visibly after pausing for a moment. Not truly being shaken but trying to cement herself into the background of the group for now.
OOC:
I'd like to make an acting role using social chameleon? I think that's how it works? Correct me if I'm wrong?

Rolls

Acting as if she is shaken - (3d6)

(536) = 14

Mar 18, 2019 7:30 am
The goblin seems stunned to receive the offer to join up with the group, but also seems wary, "This is not trap? If not... I try help you but I no worth of name..."

Hearing his approval, Eun's face is illuminated by a large smile while David scowls as he steps forward to unlock the goblin from the table, staring at it warily.

Once freed, the goblin rubs his wrist while looking around the inn. He then says, "This safe place for night. If door is closed, no monster on hills can get in. Goblins already run away, they no come back." He

Vincent steps past the group with a large bundle wrapped in a blanket, which he places begins to burn outside. As the inn is on top of a small hill, the firelight illuminates the area, but the flame does not produce much smoke.

Inside, Eun has made a small next for the goblin in the common room corner, complete with a stash of old ratty-looking blankets that she scrummaged out from somewhere. David disappears for a few minutes in the second story before coming down, arms full of dusty pillows and a few moth-eaten blankets. He plops them onto a table in a large cloud of dust.

"Best thing I could find. Not exactly clean, but we don't have much options right now, " he says with a sigh as he examines the sad pile on the table. "There's more than enough blankets and pillows for everyone else, but this was the best of the lot I found. I figure we should all sleep here in the same room. I've seen enough horror movies to know that splitting up is a bad idea."
OOC:

All of you get to roll perception as your character goes to bed!

Also, shoot me a message with what you are trying to shoot for with yoru 50 point level up. If you're doing magic, I can work with you to get something you like - GURPS magic can be a bit convoluted. Here's a quick run-down on how it works:

Magic is a little bit more complicated - it's gated through two "steps." At the core, spells operate off of your IQ stat.

STEP 1:
You need to have the Magery advantage. Each costs 15 points and gives you the ability to cast magic.

You can have the option to "limit" your magery in a way (like you have to sing in order to cast magic, can only cast Air magic, or have to cast magic through a weapon...). Depending on the limitation, each level of magery can become cheaper.

STEP 2:
You need to buy spells individually (like "purify air" or "icy missile"). They function like skills - so it's roll a 3d6 to see if you cast it successfully.

I don't want to just use GURPs spells since some of them are a bit limiting, so I can work with you to create some more flexible spell(s) that you start with. Depending on how you use them, they can shift and evolve.

Each additional level of magery makes it a bit easier to successfully cast spells. Each level of Magery increases the "skill level" of your magic spell by one, so 3 Magery levels means your spell success chance is IQ + Mage Level + Spell Modifier.

Spell modifier is a +/- adjustment on the "skill level" of your spell, dependant on how complicated it is.
Mar 18, 2019 1:57 pm
Rolling

Rolls

Perception - (3d6)

(511) = 7

Mar 18, 2019 2:06 pm
As the rest of the group gets ready to go, Kimberly goes back to the kitchen and studies the runic symbol on the cubicles. Looking for differences as to why the one's did work that sustained the food and what may be wrong with the ones that didn't.
OOC:
Are the carved in? Or are they written on? Scratched out? Or Smudged?



After that, when David brings out the blankets she nods her thanks and says "Who knows maybe we'll all wake up back in our lives?"

Rolls

Perception(i think) for the differences in Ruins - (3d6)

(146) = 11

Perception for before bed - (3d6)

(132) = 6

Mar 18, 2019 2:16 pm
(Kimberly did you succeed on that playing people roll ?)
Mar 18, 2019 2:29 pm
OOC:
I'm going to need Ikenage to weigh in, the acting trait goes in with my callous I think. And its a comparative roll to my understanding. Sorry I'm new to the system and this seems like an opportunity that we can learn the more complicated system pieces with Ikenage's help. Unless you have the working knowledge? I could forward the link to my character sheet if you want to take a look?
Mar 18, 2019 2:51 pm
(I am brand new to the system myself so willing to wait for her but for the sake of being a sucker ^_^ )

Vincent places a hand on Kimberly's shoulder, "Hey, were all ok now. At least were all working together, better then the UN." He smiled a bit to lighten the mood.

He perhaps held her green eyes longer then he had to, and was somewhat relieved when David showed up with the blankets.

"Oh hey, thank you David. Good thing this Inn was here."
Mar 18, 2019 3:34 pm
OOC:

Kimberly succeeds at both the playing people roll (by 2) and the roll to examine the cabinet carvings.

As for player vs. player rolls - I leave this up to you guys. The correct method is for both players to roll their respective skills (in this case, other PC's roll a detect lies or perception -6 skill - if you get more successes, then you see through Xaya's play.

However, I'm giving you guys some agency here. If you want Xaya to succeed without a roll, go for it! If you want to content, then you gotta roll. :)
As Xaya examines the ornate carvings on the cabinet, it's clear that they were carved deep into the wood. Whatever destroyed portions of the runes are clear - it looks like an edged weapon chopped deep into the wood, completely destroying the runes around it. As she gazes at the runes, her vision begins to swim and a bright light fills her vision for a moment. However, once her vision returns, nothing seems amiss. It felt just like having all the blood rushing to your head.

"Ha! Working better than the UN is a low bar, but at least we're beating that. I can cheers to that, " says David. He seems to be in a surprisingly good mood.
Mar 18, 2019 7:37 pm
"No, it is not a trap. It is a genuine offer. Still, I have to call you somehow. Should I call you 'goblin'? Or 'digger' you would prefer more? You know, so that you know when I am talking to you or I want something from you, specifically." Colin says to the goblin, "Maybe I should give you a name but not the one of worthines but a name for you to grow into, a name of aspiration. What do you like to do or what would you want to know how to do?"
"Thanks, Dave," he said to David when he brought the blankets, "You've been very helpful."
OOC:
Let's see how the contest works in action. If Colin succeeds, he will make a mental note that Kim is not who she whants us to believe.

Rolls

Detect Lies (against Kim's acting) - (3d6)

(545) = 14

Perception (before going to bed) - (3d6)

(425) = 11

Mar 19, 2019 8:14 am
OOC:

Colin rolls a tie against Kim! :O

In GURPS, ties go to the defender so this means that Colin catches on. It won't be an enormous "GOTCHA" hunch, but it's an inkling that something is off - just enough for Colin to get suspicious.

David and Eun both believe Kim's acting.
"Um. Me no know, you can call me Goblin? says the goblin uncertainly, poking his head up from the small nest of dusty pillows and blankets that Eun made for him. He seems uncomfortable with the idea of getting a name... but that could also be discomfort from Eun forcing him to pour water himself and vigorously scrub with a harsh soap that was found in the inn.
As night falls, both Eun and David have their pile of dusty blankets in the common area. David is snoring away peacefully while Eun's owl-like glasses are lit up by the illumination of a phone she holds in her hands. Outside, it seems to be quiet other than the gentle sounds of insects chirping.
OOC:

OOC - ya'll can give the goblin whatever name you want! He's reluctant to suggest a name for himself - names have to be given in goblin culture (usually due to some great feat that many goblins witness, for example).
Mar 19, 2019 3:08 pm
Kimberly lays her blanket down not directly next to but near Vincent, feeling him and his mace would offer the most protection if something went awry. She falls into a fitful sleep with the echoing of the blood rush from the runes in her head.
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