Admin, OOC, and Launch Discussion

Thorn's going to go ahead and stow 8 torches and 5 days of rations at Zaituc's long house, and take his payment up front in Old Royals. He'll take his backpack along filled with a bit more stuff than Kray's taking along (gotta have that bedroll), and if he has to drop it in a lake in order to live, so be it. He's also going to keep his chain shirt on. I'm hoping he can swim in that shit.

Fellas,

Please check out the new Sub Forum here that I want to start using to post scores, stats, modifiers, etc. that I may need to manage directly to push the game along for expediency or in the rare cases that more secrecy is warranted.

If possible, please post in there on each thread (Group Initiative, Passive Perception, Passive Investigation).

As mentioned there, this will be the chance to give me the best and most current information so that there will be no confusion about rolls that I am making on everyone's behalf if they must be made.

Thanks,
J

I was looking into swimming with armor. Couldn't find much about European armor, but Samurai apparently practiced quite a lot.

Swimming in traditional samurai armor

A full suit of late Samurai armor was about 50 pounds (combination of leather and steel). In the video, it doesn't look like that guy is wearing the full leg and arm armor, so bear that in mind.

This group of guys here tho, I'm absolutely positive they would swim as well as a rock.

Qiu is stripping down his chainmail, keeping just the bare minimum protection (chain shirt), his shield, javelins, and backpack with supplies for the trip. The rest of his equipment (mostly construction/labor related) he will keep at the long house.


Carried

Chain shirt - 20 Lbs (stripped down chainmail) (AC 13)
Large oval shield - 6 Lbs (+8 Lb carried) (+3 AC, -1 Atk, bonus 3/4 cover)
4 x Javelin - 2 x 4 = 8 Lbs (clipped to inside of shield)
2 x Handaxe - 2 x 2 = 4 Lbs (in belt)
Small bundle of Aljanian marking sticks
Ring from childhood sweetheart
Backpack - 5 Lb (+22 Lb carried)
bedroll - 7 Lb
5 x rations - 2 x 5 = 10 Lbs
waterskin - 5 Lb
5 gp



Stowed at Long House

Chain mail (except for chain shirt portion) (AC 16)
Net
Belt pouch
10 gp + Initial payment
Bundle of gear
10 x candles
2 x clothes, common
clothes, costume
disguise kit
mess kit
3 x oil (flask)
5 x rations
scroll case
5 x parchment sheets
soap
thieves' tools
tinderbox
5 x torch

bucket (equipment used for laboring work)
block and tackle
crowbar
hammer
50' hempen rope
10 x iron spikes
lamp
shovel

Musical instrument (stringed, similar to a lyre)

Ladder (10 foot)
Pole (10 foot)

As far as how we show up and whether or not we disguise ourselves as explorer/traders...

Based on the information below the linebreak that Zaituc gave us, I think it's pretty clear that Rutcrana and the Bat Hannocs might need help. It seems like what Rutcrana initially thought was a mutually beneficial relationship with the 'neighbors at Nahrooma' went to hell.

A month ago, Rutcrana asked Zaituc for help. I say we just show up as the men he asked to do the job. Give her the truth and say Zaituc paid well to send the best men he could, concerned for the well-being of his granddaughter. So, we're there to help and make sure she (the granddaughter) is safe. What we don't tell Rutcrana is that we're bringing his granddaughter home. Also, the granddaughter seems important to Rutcrana as well; based on what Rutcrana said about the girl growing in skill, I'm guessing Rutcrana means the girl is learning about magic.

I think if we go in this way, it gives us a more immediate chance to sit down with Rutcrana, learn what we can, and get to business. Also, we don't have to concern ourselves with pissing off the natives should they discover (or even doubt) that we are not pathfinders.

---

4th of Raskine (continued)
Zaituc gives the party the details on the contract to find his granddaughter part 2
First month of Spring

Region Map: The Borderlands of Eastern Jeres


During the winter, about a month ago, yet another messenger came. This time it was a young Bat Hannoc girl. One who was weak, malnourished, and suffering from exposure on the trip through the wilderness to deliver the message. Her message from Rutcrana detailed in next entry.

A warning of danger in Borgh Riac (Dannein for Borgh Swamp)

The young girl Bat Hannoc messenger, speaking for Rutcrana, said that "the neighbors at Nahrooma" had turned from ally to oppressor. Bat Hannoc was nearly ruined. She asked Zaituc to bring his crew to her aid. She cannot provide more information, for fear of retribution from the collaborators in her own clan. She said that his grand daughter was not escaping this danger either, that she too was being drawn into peril.

Zaituc, still relentlessly suspicious of Rutcrana, thinks the whole thing could be a trap, another lure. At the same time he is troubled by the message of increasing danger in the area. Zaituc sent Rori to explore for a while. The Vodruvan tracker found that the woods and marsh of Borgh Riac was exceptionally quiet and untraveled. He did not see any Bat Hannocs whatsoever, though he was far into their territory. That alone is reason for concern because the Bat Hannocs are avid scouts and hunters. Plus the decades long blood feud versus the Murrogh Clan has pretty much come to a halt because no Bat Hannoc skirmishers are traveling north and west to the edges of Murrogh territory as they did often in the past.

Talius' reduced load out



Medium Oval Shield +2 AC
Chain shirt
Hammer

Pack items

Backpack
Bedroll
5 days of rations
Waterskin.
50 feel of hempen rope strapped to the side
Healers Kit 10/10: Bandages, Salves and Splints
Oiled cloak (currently being worn.)
Herbalism Kit: Clippers, Mortar and Pestle, Vials

I am with Ez on this. I would add that we would interpret "growing in skill" to mean she was learning herbalism and other pratical skills that can seem "witchy"

We should also think of bringing a "care package" of various supplies to help them. Qiu would wager 25% of his initial payment and ask the others to do the same. This package should be some food, weapons, and tools for rebuilding.

Right. My interpretation above is for us as players. I think the natural assumption for most would be to assume what you're saying CB, that Rutcrana is teaching her skills that can seem witchy.

Food yes. Not weapons and tools. They're swamp people, so I'm pretty sure they can get weapons if needed, and I imagine their style of living is fairly low-tech and doesn't require a great deal of tools. Either way, bringing an arsenal for the Bats to tap into could be a bad idea. The worse off they are, the better, especially when we finally make that move to leave with the granddaughter. If the Bats are weak and without weapons, good.

The lighter we can travel the better. I could see bringing a sack of food, to help make friends with the natives when we show up, but not rolling in with a whole care package.

With all these stats being shared Ez, I'm curious about your character build. You have one level barb, I'm assuming for unarmored defence was there anything else you are making use of?

A big part of it was that the backstory element appealed to me; Kray picked up his hint of barbarian and appreciation for different cultures living with a tribe in the Mozamyah jungle for two years in the Gaerimundi Isles. That experience early in life is a big part of the reason he's going against the grain in House Mercon and politicking for the recruitment of 'savage' Danneins into the Mercon workforce.

Mechanically, the Unarmored Defense had a lot of appeal as I knew there would be occasions where stealth and/or not wearing heavy gear would be at a premium; ultimately I just didn't want Kray to need or be encumbered by too much gear.

Besides that, the other benefit for L1 barbarian is Rage.

At level 5 I'm going to go Fighter, for extra attack then level 6 im for sure going barb. It's a really strong 1 level dip and is attrative for the same reasons you've pointed out and flavour wise, fits well with Talius.

I want to ditch my armor too... my first roll was a botched stealth roll thanks to Armor.

Also, while raging I will have +8 damage and advantage on my shove with shield master, then hopefully two landed hits with extra attack. Can't wait to crack some skulls with that potent combo.

Guessing 18 STR, Dueling (Fighting Style) for Talius. Then Rage... nice combo, solid plan to be sure. Even though the class selection is limited, I find the potential hybrid classes offered by Fighter, Barbarian and Rogue to make for some really intriguing combinations. There's a lot of possibilities there, depending.

I've got a few variable paths planned for the future, but I think I want to feel it out rather than say 'this is what Kray will be,' although having a short term plan like yours is good sense (and a nasty combo at that... +8 damage... ouch). Will Kray pick up some Rogue, fill out Barbarian style, or go further along straight Fighter? Only time will tell.

Right. Forgot about that.

Nice story by the way, with the Alijanian background on the demons, sorcs, and vampires. I'm looking forward to exploring different lands in time. I feel like this setting has an immense amount of potential for exploration and discovery, and I definitely want to explore the different cultures and regions.

Particularly I'm interested in the following locales and cultures (listed loosely in order of interest; after making the list I realized that there is so damn much I want to see in the Dark Thrones world, and I really love the comparisons to modern cultures that give us awesome reference points to get a feel for the setting):


Arkkadi: from exotic southern land of Arkkad. Varied environments but mostly jungles and vast mountain ranges. Location of ancient but highly advanced and apparently widespread cultures now lost, with only the ruins of their imposing architecture remaining. Modeled loosely after the ancient lands of Nubia, Kush, and Central Africa.

Voldruvan: from exotic gateway land of Voldruv, on a trade route between the east and west. Sometimes called the Land of Secrets, parts of it is shrouded in the mystery held by its long-running noble lines. Modelled loosely after Romania.

Otessite: from reclusive and ancient land of Otessa in the east. Almost universally disliked, and often feared by outsiders. A place of snake worship and black magic thought forgotten by the outside world. Modeled loosely after ancient Egypt.

Seetan: from mysterious far eastern land of Nuuth Seeta, modeled loosely after India.

Kauvic: from the land of Kauv, located in the uppermost northeastern reaches. The people are rugged and tough but exceptionally reclusive, rarely traveling outward and seldom tolerating visitors from foreign lands. Modeled loosely after Russia.

Sarceran: from an exotic eastern land called Sarcera. These people engage with the Yuouric Markkelands, Kortella, and Pylos at junction ports at the end of long trade routes. Modeled loosely after Persia.

Hi everyone! Sorry for the extended absence. That was my first vacation in years! I'm back now, and looking forward to slowly getting caught up with all my games. Cheers!

Yo, Jabes! Welcome back.

I've got to stick to a rough day at work today, probably off of the boards until late today at least, maybe tomorrow morning. I'm game for trying to get on some this weekend - I will definitely get a write up out on a few more details from the conversation that Kray and Talius seem to be baiting out of the blind old-timer.

On the other stuff, I will let you guys lead the way. Post as much as you want. If there are a lot of comms, I'll try to keep the scene going. If not, we can cruise until Monday. We'll just keep a half-pace type stance (at maximum) to allow for an open weekend IRL and no one has a concern of being left behind on too much important game progress.

Catch up later,
J

Also, thanks for all of the outstanding work on the Player Character at-a-glance stat boards. That is a great reference for me and I really appreciate the idea and all the effort to update it. F'n A+ Players Club!!!