Anything But Normal, Sailing the Endless Falls

[Kelleris]

Well, I guess we can tell who wants to be the dour loner of the group

Oh, it wasn't my intention. It's just that most people have posted initial reactions that Lupaz would find annoying at best, and several people don't strike him (or me, for that matter) as being very... adventurersome.

Add to that the water elemental crime lord-slaying adventure apparently absolutely could not be worked into my thing and Lupaz only has first impressions to work off of. He hasn't had long enough to really even become inclined to get to know anyone.

And it's not very helpful when I post a fatalistic, terribly intimidating loner who's looking to get in with a group out of loyalty to the crown and uncertainty about the future and two people immediately give me a cutesy nickname and two others see me as a good psychological counseling opportunity. You guys aren't giving me much opportunity to be anything but loner-y.

I was hoping for some mutual respect situations, or someone to have impassioned arguments regarding fate with, or someone who finds me creepy that I have a reason to try to get to know, or something. Even someone I could see as a proper superior or as a flat-out threat would be pretty cool. But I guess everyone decided to go another way with it, so I kinda played along.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Well, I guess we can tell who wants to be the dour loner of the group

Oh, it wasn't my intention...

it's not very helpful when I post a fatalistic, terribly intimidating loner

Either way--it's just good to know, which of course does lead to the fact that we are trying to work together on something that is IC simultaneous whereas OOC I posted in its entirity before you did. Since you've let me know now how Lupaz feels about that, I'm actually going to edit Nissa's reaction--she has +24 Diplomacy, so she doesn't go around annoying people

or someone to have impassioned arguments regarding fate with, or someone who finds me creepy that I have a reason to try to get to know

Well, I did say Nissa finds him creepy--she can probably be both of these.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Lupaz (take 2)--Lupaz has to be the most creepy and depressing blink dog Nissa has ever seen. However, he may also be the wisest and most well-traveled. Most Blink Dogs live a carefree life, much like the one Nissa once lived when she was younger, and she remembered playing with some of the cutest Blink Dog puppies who were incredibly adorable when she was little...Why was Lupaz depressing then? He kind of reminds her of herself under Ananke's grasp, exuberant innocence transformed to fatalism and acceptance. Nissa doesn't care one whit about the rumours of bad luck to all those who associate with him--she's vowed to cheer Lupaz up no matter what...but is she really doing it for him or out of some kind of selfish desire to help herself by proxy, a doubting voice whispers to her at night. Nonetheless, it is apparent to her that the way to cheer up Lupaz is not to just be nice to him, since this seems to only serve to annoy him. Instead, although Nissa remains friendly and kind, she tries to engage him in intellectual conversation about fate, inevitability, and how they can be overcome. She tries her best not to blow him out of the water if it comes to a debate while at the same time not patronising him. Of course, he still creeps her out, so she has to struggle not to let this show, as keeping him close for too long makes her feel like she needs to bathe in cool water.

 

[Kelleris]

Oh, it wasn't my intention...

it's not very helpful when I post a fatalistic, terribly intimidating loner

Yeah, I get that I was asking for it to some degree, thanks. But then nobody really respected that so I had to play it up more in my reactions trying to stay true to the character. What I would've liked is a little more help trying to strike an interesting balance between being a loner and being part of the party, instead of everyone piling on trying to de-lonerize me, contrary to my expressed RP intentions. I think I can handle not being the annoying loner-guy without everyone feeling the need to be all friendly when it strikes me as contrary to my intentions. Sure, one person is fine, maybe two or even three, but when basically everyone is trying to make nice with the Hound of Ill Omen it's kinda off-putting to me.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Yeah, I get that I was asking for it to some degree, thanks. But then nobody really respected that so I had to play it up more in my reactions trying to stay true to the character. What I would've liked is a little more help trying to strike an interesting balance between being a loner and being part of the party, instead of everyone piling on trying to de-lonerize me, contrary to my expressed RP intentions. I think I can handle not being the annoying loner-guy without everyone feeling the need to be all friendly when it strikes me as contrary to my intentions. Sure, one person is fine, maybe two or even three, but when basically everyone is trying to make nice with the Hound of Ill Omen it's kinda off-putting to me.

Yeah, no worries It's good to know that, and so I've edited Nissa's reactions above to include the things you wanted now that you told me

 

[Kelleris]

Lupaz (take 2)--Lupaz has to be the most creepy and depressing blink dog Nissa has ever seen. However, he may also be the wisest and most well-traveled. Most Blink Dogs live a carefree life, much like the one Nissa once lived when she was younger, and she remembered playing with some of the cutest Blink Dog puppies who were incredibly adorable when she was little...Why was Lupaz depressing then? He kind of reminds her of herself under Ananke's grasp, exuberant innocence transformed to fatalism and acceptance. Nissa doesn't care one whit about the rumours of bad luck to all those who associate with him--she's vowed to cheer Lupaz up no matter what...but is she really doing it for him or out of some kind of selfish desire to help herself by proxy, a doubting voice whispers to her at night. Nonetheless, it is apparent to her that the way to cheer up Lupaz is not to just be nice to him, since this seems to only serve to annoy him. Instead, although Nissa remains friendly and kind, she tries to engage him in intellectual conversation about fate, inevitability, and how they can be overcome. She tries her best not to blow him out of the water if it comes to a debate while at the same time not patronising him. Of course, he still creeps her out, so she has to struggle not to let this show, as keeping him close for too long makes her feel like she needs to bathe in cool water.

Thanks, but "blow me out of the water"? I don't see a huge number of ranks in Knowledge (religion) on your character sheet. I realize that your Int is 7 points over mine, but 14 is plenty enough to hold my own on a topic I'm just a titch obsessed with without you needing to hold yourself back. Besides, that'll play out as roleplaying, not as an opposed skill check, and I'm pretty sure you won't need to hold back in the game - I am a graduate student in philosophy here, y'know. I'm sure we can both hit the required level of seriousness here.

Ah well, can't argue with a +24 Diplomacy without being perverse, I guess. *sigh*

 

[Rystil Arden]

Oh, needless to say, let me know if you don't like the edits

 

[Kelleris]

Yeah, no worries It's good to know that, and so I've edited Nissa's reactions above to include the things you wanted now that you told me

I think I underestimated the (entirely understandable) knee-jerk reaction D&D players develop to that annoying guy who tries to be all cool and lonersome. In retrospect I should've made it clear that I'm aware of the problem and would like a little help making it thematic without having to really give it the hard sell.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Thanks, but "blow me out of the water"? I don't see a huge number of ranks in Knowledge (religion) on your character sheet. I realize that your Int is 7 points over mine, but 14 is plenty enough to hold my own on a topic I'm just a titch obsessed with without you needing to hold yourself back. Besides, that'll play out as roleplaying, not as an opposed skill check, and I'm pretty sure you won't need to hold back in the game - I am a graduate student in philosophy here, y'know. I'm sure we can both hit the required level of seriousness here.

Ah well, can't argue with a +24 Diplomacy without being perverse, I guess. *sigh*

I don't think religion is the only Knowledge skill that covers Philosophy. In fact, I would put it under Arcane at least as easily if it isn't religious philosophy. 7 Int is a big difference, though. It's the difference between average (Int 11) and genius (Int 18) or even between Lupaz's Int (14) and someone who is mildly retarded (7).

However, I do agree that I can't properly RP 21 Int, which is why I added the holding back thing to help a bit, and since you actually know a lot about philosophy, that actually makes it more of the reverse in real life--you'll be holding back to not make it look weird in the opposite direction where Lupaz leaves Nissa looking like a blithering idiot

 

[Kelleris]

Oh, needless to say, let me know if you don't like the edits

Looks much better, except that you imply that Nissa patronizes Lupaz about the predominating theme of his life and character. That makes both of us cranky, although Lupaz probably couldn't tell unless he gets paranoid and starts cursing you before our conversations.

Heh, that's not a bad idea. Surreptitiously whack party member with a -13 on Sense Motive and Bluff once or twice just to be sure they're being honest with you, like a superpowerful magical truth serum. Eh, that's probably too close to PvP to actually do, though it probably fits in with the character.