Continuing, and hopefully introducing new characters.
And on the wrong damn post number
1713 replies and 79 files omitted.
>>1785881st item, the dice roll was a spot check to notice Posey hiding the sword, clearly a success. Brie can be said to have observed her hiding the sword (which wouldnt fit into saddlebags, it would jut out awkwardly no matter what like trying to fit a baseball bat in a small duffel. Idgaf about any whispering, or I'd have rolled a listen check).
>>1785852 he does this to somepony every game, good luck getting him to stop, we're at 6 years and counting
>>178616>Posey is opposite directionAwfully convenient
Brie registers as neutral evil, and seems quite unabashed, almost expectant that you would see through any attempt to try to hide who he is. In fact, his demeanor while your scanning him seems almost placating.
>>178637Amber sits up in bed, drenched in sweat and trembling. That dream was nothing short of horrible, and she tries to get that music out of her head. She feels if she has a fever, as if that is the only thing that could explain such visceral terror and that unpleasant warmth.
Those ponies had actual names, and faces, and voices, and they seemed as real as herself. She struggled to remember the name of the singular city she heard, but she wasn't sure if it was real or a figment of her imagination. Wherever it was, it was in the distant north, though she never heard of ponies living that far north. Don't penguins and polar bears live up there? No matter, it would be best for her to forget. And yet, the mere possibility of that dream being real in some distant place sets her heart to aching for those poor ponies.
She shakily climbs out of bed, as if she was learning to walk again, and immediately prays for Luna to come back so all ponies would be guarded from such nasty dreams. She washes up, puts on a dress and a few choice belongings, and sets out to go to work. She is surprised to find 100 bits in her possession, being so used to being penniless at this point. It was an advance payment after all, so she'll have to make it last extra long until next payday. If there is time, she'll stop by a cheap diner before going to High Sewn's clothing shop–the exact name escapes her.
>>178580Allow me to clarify. Posts that are in quotations are speech, in character. If theres no quotations, it probably means it is not in character.
Typically, OOC posts are more direct and conceptual, whether questions or comments.
RP posts tend to be anything from story-form dialogue where:
"He said," she said, doing a thing before continuing "With more."
When one feels comfortable, they are encouraged to write short paragraphs (and more) describing things their character is doing in detail; it is an opportunity to add color and flavor to the scene/story, making increasingly memorable/gratifying experiences for everyone. It doesn't always go this way by necessity/efficiency, but it has it's time and place.
Alternately one can be succinct and brief with their descriptions, play how you're comfortable.
Alot of the time things that players want their character to do will require skill checks, and it isn't required that the player know in advance which skill check to make, though many players do more or less. Several players may seem to be needlessly spamming skill checks - including times where they claim boredom - but there is function in doing so even if it seems disruptive. I for example have made random skill checks without saying what it was for, and will DM the GM about what that roll meant for my character. Moreover, any time ANY character (PC or NPC) makes a bluff, sleight of hand, or any sort of attempt to conceal, any other observing player can make a spot check to notice.
Assuming that spot check succeeds - as it did - I could have rolled a sense motive check, but that wasn't what my character would do, he would simply observe and take notice of everything.
It can be alot to take in, but aside from how characters present themselves, as players we all want everyone to have a good time, including the GM who is expending extraordinary levels of autism and effort to make this happen consistently/regularly. More experienced players can offer suggestions and answer some questions in thread if advice/information is needed, but it always comes down to GM's decision/discretion even in the face of canon rules.
And let's also remember we're autistic retards ourselves - who don't always get along - and try to cut each other a little slack for the benefit of the GM and the other players. This is what is known as the RP Gamer's Contract, and while it can get overlooked, it is essential to having the best time possible.
Also, we shit/funpost in this bitch, though it pays to be mindfull and not driven to excess
Being a GM is all things:
Laborious, time/resource consumptive, often (though not entirely) thankless, but on a more experiential level it involves lulls and extremes of frustration, aggravation, irritation, personal demand, and in some cases (for a dozen reasons), heart-break.
Being a GM often means doing things to characters/players you wish you did not have to do, who you have grown to know and love as disting universes of their own actively participating in yours.
Also, a correction: GM will likely roll in person or elsewhere, so as to avoid my knowing whether the captain is being honest or not, as even if he succeeds on his spot check, only a follow up sense motive would give a better idea why anything might have been observed.
Its a little complicated, but you grt the hang of it through repetition
>>178638>>178642>>178641>>178643>>178644>>178647I really think all of these ooc posts would be better served in a separate thread.
It hasn't been a substantial issue before because the party wasn't together and thus had no need to communicate ooc.
But now it has become an issue.
>>178649During active gaming including most/all players I tend to agree, once the mission gets going there will be a greater need to not disrupt gameplay and activity, but thats also why it seems positive to outline these things before we start, to potentially avoid having to do so as we go.
Moreover, it's fair to say that ooc is unwarranted when [i]anyone]/i] is playing, and it wasn't my intention to suggest otherwise. There is a case to be made that ooc could occurr during lulls and periods of inactivity, and I would appreciate a clarification as to what GM/everyone prefers, though this will be my last such post unless specifically warranted.
Brie continues: "The only disqualifier I'm aware of with using a boat token - at least exclusively - is that such things tend to be rather identifyingly distinct and easy to target by a suitably competent Unicorn spell-caster. Our priimary mission being rescue, it would put us in quite the predicament if halfway through our escape the ship was dispelled and we found ourselves suddenly struggling against a current, potentially with guns drawn on our position. I maintain the use of a Bird token rather than or alongside a boat token - assuming either/both are available - so that at the very least we can extract all personnel, absolving us of the liability of baby-sitting - no offense Captain - until we can ourselves extract.
Yes, I realize I mixed up the 3.5e bird token with the 5e bird token, and if pressed in convo I can make a 4th wall break comedy bit about it
>>178652I forgot about the bird feather token. It's probably a safer bet than the divine scroll of animal messenger, if only because it's still usable if Kira is killed.
The combined cost of the swan boat and the bird tokens is 750 gp: the cost of a single lvl 1 wand. If we take it out of the reward, we can split the cost evenly. Let's do that.
Gosh, I love feather tokens.
>>178622Rosey Ring approaches Shoal Waters and proposes her intent to buy the items mentioned above, to improve the chance of success for the mission. She requests to take the money for the items out of the reward for the quest. To ensure that she doesn't just run off with the money, she offers to leave him her special vampire-slaying sword (which, for the record, is worth more than a grand house), as collateral.
"I believe that these items would strongly improve our chance of success, and more importantly our chance of returning home alive. If we find we don't need them, we may simply return them."
>>178655>if only because it's still usable if Kira is killedconcerned snej noisesPerhaps it might also be worthwhile explaining to Kira why it would be useful to have one of her spells be Animal Messenger.
>>178657Did Kira prepare her spells yet? Or did she leave her slots open to prepare now?
>>178658She has yet to prepare them, as she didn't know what spells would be needed
and I forgot until recently that Ragners do indeed have magic. She already has a couple ideas in her mind for what spells to use, and having input from another creature may prove useful.
>>178655Bluff
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]Brie's head inclines slightly to the right.
>>178659Okay, then take 10 minutes to prepare them now. How many Slots do you have?
I request Lay Of The Land and Animal Messenger.
>>1786613. Also I don't think Lay of the Land is an actual spell, or if it is I can't find it anywhere.
"But," he holds up his right forehoof, peering at what one assumes to be a nonexistent watch, "My associate approaches. Post haste!" [R]Brie says, again slipping out of the room, again trying to 'accidentally' startle Miss Skies.
[1d20+12 = (1+12) = 13]
This is the number that would need to be beaten on with listen check, if "on the clock"
>>178664Alright, I can see why you recommended these two spells together. Lay of the Land would give Kira all of the knowledge of the island's geography she could need in order to make Animal Messenger work to its fullest. Of course I'm still a bit confused as to why Animal Messenger is the requested spell, unless the idea is that Kira can be sent ahead as a scout to find the opposing Stalliongrader patrol and can send a field mouse or something similar back to the party with their location, heading, strength, and equipment written down on a small piece of paper. There are also other options for spells to be considered that could be useful to the party in a combat scenario, such as Summon Nature's Ally or Entangle.
It should also be stated that while she does have 3 slots, only 2 will be available because one of the three
will be taken up by Endure Elements. Kira may be warm blooded unlike regular snakes, but she is still entirely unused to freezing temperatures and she has no warm weather clothing like a nice comfy sock or what have you.
>>178668>why Animal Messenger is the requested spellBecause then we could use a seagull to call for help in case our radio fails.
It's just a suggestion though.
Lay Of The Land is just nice to have in general.
>EntangleAlways great battlefield control.
>Summon Nature's AllyI have summoning spells. You don't need to prepare any.
Speaking of animal allies, where is your animal companion? Did you trade it for an ACF?
>Endure ElementsFine selection, but you already have Endurance as a bonus feat, don't you? I think you'll pass most saves vs cold.
>>178669Hmm, an interesting use for the spell, though I'm not sure Kira can find a morsel easily enough that a seagull would like to eat.
>summoning spellsIt's true that Posey has summoning spells, but something tells me her summoning giant demonic amoebas that have a chance of turning against the party may cause characters to get weirded out, unlike if Kira summoned a wolf or something similar.
>animal companionIt didn't seem like an appropriate feature for a lamia to have an animal companion, so I asked the GM if I could have an extra point to spend on Kira's abilities instead.
>EnduranceYeah, it's one of the first class features Rangers get, but as I understand it she would still be exceptionally cold and miserable. Passing the saves would basically just her avoiding freezing to death. Something tells me the lamia would prefer to not have to deal with the cold at all if it can be helped, she's not like Silver who's half snowpony or Posey who's undead.
Also, since we're still waiting on the GM pone to return...once Kira is set down again by Free Rover, she slithers up to the chain-adorned mare.
Kira: "So...how do you train to resist landmines? Is it like that saying where 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger'? Did you find a field of landmines and stepped on them one by one to build up your immunity to them? Did you ever get exploded, like
bwoosh?" The lamia spreads her legs out to enhance the impact of her mouth-made sound effect. "Not like being regular blown up, like actually exploded, with body parts flying here, there, and everywhere. If you got exploded, how did you manage to get put back together? Is it possible to use unicorn magic to put someone back together after they've exploded?"
>>178621>>178623>>178655>>178657You know this is a setting with two way radios, right? And that people have been trying to find mundane ways to communicate in wars for centuries. Like messenger pigeons. Just placing little notes on the legs of mundane pigeons and having them fly. Or using colored smoke from grenades. Or flag signals. Or flare guns. Or having Kira's deer slave serve as a runner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygA8AZXR7IA&pp=ygUUcGlnZW9uIGJhdHRsZWZpZWxkIDE%3DNo? You don't want any mundane solutions? Alright
>>178671You said we only get one tho, (which doesnt make sense, 2 radios are needed to be functional)
(I may be retarded and missing something)
>>178670>so I asked the GM if I could have an extra point to spend on Kira's abilities instead.I would have picked the Spirit Companion ACF, but you do you.
>summoning giant demonic amoebas that have a chance of turning against the party may cause characters to get weirded outPosies's Puppies are not demonic. They are just congealed blobs of metaphysical hunger and insanity.
I can also summon skeletons and zombies. That might have similar effect though.
We have a pretty big party. Idk if we'll need summons for anything other than to trigger traps.
>"So...how do you train to resist landmines? Is it like that saying where 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger'?"In a way... I learned to reinforce my body with magic.
>"Not like being regular blown up, like actually exploded, with body parts flying here, there, and everywhere. If you got exploded, how did you manage to get put back together? Is it possible to use unicorn magic to put someone back together after they've exploded?""... Um... No?" (Lie)
[1d20+14 = (19+14) = 33]Rosey Ring is acutely begining to regret bragging about her supernatural durability.
>>178671Maybe we're overthinking this.
Posey doesn't know how to handle a pigeon. Her Unnatural Aura makes birds freak out near her.
I think Kira might be able to handle it though. Rangers are good at that kind of stuff.
>flare gunsI mentioned this last week. I thought we were already doing that.
>>178674Presumably, Shoal Waters has the other.
>>178676>Spirit Companion ACFExplain pls
Kira has no real reason to think Rosey is lying, and as such the lie goes uncontested. She looks at her with an intense curiosity evidenced by her big lamia eyes. Her tongue flicks out of her mouth, causing her to scrunch at another taste in the air she's apparently picking up.
"No as in you've never been exploded or no as in unicorn magic can't put someone back together after they've exploded? Also, how have you reinforced your body with magic? Is it like the thing you did with the cutie mark you gave me? I don't see any markings on you, but I guess you're wearing all of that chain armor. And how do you ignore caltrop wounds? Those have to
hurt stepping on them with your hooves! It makes me glad for my snake tail, it's pretty sturdy when it comes to sharp pokey things on the ground and I can always just zig zag around stuff. Well, normally I could, I'm not sure how easily I can with this big ol' goal inside me."
>>178678>ExplainI fucked up. It was actually called spiritual guide:
https://srd.dndtools.org/srd/classes/baseCore/ranger.html#spiritual-guideOne of the several ACFs rangers can trade their companion for.
It's not much for combat, but great utility. Commune With Nature 1/day is nice at lvl 5.
The only reason I don't take it on my Ranger builds is because I prefer Mystic Ranger, which doesn't get an animal companion and delays most features, but has much faster spell progression.
Combat-wise, Solitary Hunting is great (adds FA bonus to attack rolls), but I find it boring.
Utility Wise, Urban Companion, which gives a familiar instead of an Animal Companion, is great for skilled classes Rangers who are most likely to use their companions as scouts anyway. It's actually stronger than most familiars because it has higher HP.
An ability score boost is nice too though.
>how have you reinforced your body with magic?"It's complicated unicorn stuff. I could explain it, but you wouldn't understand."
Rosey Ring is evasive, she's already said too much.
Also the GM threatened to nerf me earlier, so I'm going to stop flexing. >>178678Oh yeah.
Gloomy was left at Silver's house. You said there were other foals there. What are they like?
Gloomy, unless approached, would keep to himself. He's rather shy. He's also rather... Creepy. He busies himself drawing weird symbols with the crayon in his mouth.
>>178684Hmm, interdasting.
Kira's ears fold down, and she pouts. "Oh. Okay..." She sounds a bit sad and/or disappointed. Perhaps Posey could make it up to her (and move the conversation away from herself) by asking about her, her tribe, or lamias as a whole, since Posey seemed to show an interest in the knowledge that there's an entire tribe of lamias like her.
If Silver is asked about the other foals at his house, he would respond thusly:
Silver: "There are two, both orphaned. I am caring for them now, sort of like foster parent, and I would like to adopt them if state would allow it. Unfortunately state for some reason has little faith in single fathers' ability to raise foals. Anyways, those foals have...well, I will not get into it now, but they have been through lot. More than any foal should have gone through. White Orchid is bit older. He has expressed interest in camping, boating, and he seems to love being outdoors. Usually if I can not find him in house, he is outside looking out across water. Mint Marine is younger by couple of years. He likes reading, and shows much interest in marine biology. Devil whales are one of his favorite sea creatures, and he also gets along famously with Mala. Just this morning I saw Mint and Mala sharing same bed. I can tell you both like candy very much, and they are definitely looking for chance to live normal lives as part of family."
>>178686Free Rover crouches, looking at Kira
"It's okay. You can come back to me."
He extends a leg and beckons her over
>>178686>Perhaps Posey could make it up to her (and move the conversation away from herself) by asking about her, her tribe, or lamias as a whole"So... You are a type of naga, am I correct?"
>>178686>If Silver is asked about the other foals at his houseRosey Ring doesn't care, but I was asking ooc because I thought I might want to RP Gloomy for a bit
>>178688>>178687Kira beckons Free Rover to come over to her instead. If he does, Kira gets back on him, draped across his shoulders as she was, and continues conversing with Rosey.
Kira: "Well, I've heard my deer friend Neela call me a 'nagini', while sounds a lot like 'naga'. Maybe it's her people's name for us? She's one of those Hindi deer that live in the mountains to the north of my tribe. I forget what her specific group of deer is called, though. I'm going to say yes, but we usually just call ourselves lamias. Maybe one of the other types of lamias call themselves nagas, though."
>>178689Ahhhhhhh. This would be a good question to ask GM pone then, as he would know far more in depth about the two colts.
>>178690He does not come to her
But as she is talking to Posey
yoink[1d20+4 = (18+4) = 22] >>178691Hey! That's my potential bone naga! You can't just drag her away.
Counter yoink. Tug of war.
[1d20+7 = (15+7) = 22] >tie
The noodle is stretched.
>>178693>>178692Free Rover scrunches, and places the lamia back over his shoulders. Posey presumably gets the tail as there is quite a lot of lamia
>>178691>>178693>>178694Kira: "eep!"
The noodle is indeed stretched, with one pony taking her tail, the other taking her pony half. Perhaps the noodle's friend seeking has gone too far...
>>178695>>178694>>178690Despite being yoinked from both sides, Kira is still available for Posey to continue talking about the different types of lamias with if Posey still wished.
>>178696Mr. Zeeb simply shakes his head at the antics going on around the noodle, wondering who got this crazy group together.