Full Game: Land of the Seven Realms, Glossary and General Background

[perivas]

All player starts are up in the game thread, feel free to reply.

Perrivas, if you are still interested in playing, get your character sheet up, and I'll work you into the action.

Cheers,

Mor

Thanks for the patience. Here's Turik.

Turik bin Jazeem bin Salak Al-Khalifa: Human Bard 1/Fighter 3/Barbarian 1; CR 5; Medium Humanoid; HD 1d6+3d10+1d12+5; hp 36; Init +1; Spd 30'; AC 20 (touch 11, flat-footed 19); Atk +4 base, +7 melee (bastard sword, 1d10/19-20/x2), +5 ranged (shortbow, 1d6/20/x3); SQ: bardic knowledge, bardic music, rage 1/day, fast movement; AL NG; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +3; Str 16, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 12.

Skills: climb +4, decipher script +4, diplomacy +4, handle animal +4, knowledge (geography) +4, knowledge (history) +4, knowledge (religion) +2, listen +4, perform (flute, lute, mandolin, pipes, storytelling, zither) +6, ride +4

Feats: simple weapon proficiency (all), martial weapon proficiency (all), armor proficiency (light), armor proficiency (medium), armor proficiency (heavy), shield proficiency, exotic weapon proficiency (bastard sword), exotic weapon proficiency (whip), expertise, weapon focus (bastard sword), improved disarm, power attack

Languages: Common, Al’ Karan, and five others

Bard Spells (spells known: 0--4): 0--dancing lights, detect magic, light, mage hand

Possessions: bastard sword +1, breastplate +1, large darkwood shield +1, hat of disguise, lute of the troubadour (+10 perform check), courtier’s outfit, explorer’s outfit, trail rations, light horse with bit & bridle and riding saddle, bedroll, winter blanket, flint & steel, small steel mirror, sack, backpack, candle, papyrus, ink and pen, soap, whetstone, bottle of wine

Description: Turik is a small, wiry man with tight muscles and a well-groomed moustache. Though he speaks with animated fluidity, his dark complexion betrays his origins. His easy smile and bright teeth invokes one of two distinct reactions in most people—he is confidence man or extremely personable. On each of his arms are intricate light blue tattoos that peek out from beneath his sleeves. These tattoos matches surprisingly well the light blue of his eyes…a very rare feature among the men of Al’Kar.

Background: Turik was taught the Al’Karan songs of legend from an early age. The tales of the Reign of Darkness, Towers of Sorcery and their Sorceror Kings, Turik the First and the Tower of the Blade in the Mountain of the Moon are all too familiar to him. Therefore, though Turik himself possessed no great talent for swordsmanship, he was inspired, as many other young men in Al’Kara, to follow the path of Turik the First. So, at age 14, he departed from his home to follow this path.

He used his talents as a performer and a magic lute inherited from his uncle to win his passage throughout the land and the hearts of his teachers. It was his first teacher—an Al’Karan blademaster—that made the greatest impression upon Turik. He was taught two important lessons which would guide Turik’s actions for many years:

1. A good swordsman can use his opponent’s weaknesses against him, a great swordsman can use his opponent’s strengths against him, and masterful swordsman can use his opponent’s strengths.

2. Knowing the mind and heart of the enemy is the surest path to victory.

He joined north all the way to Nordheim to learn the ways of his enemies. There he learned the techniques of the berserkers and the battle fury that was their practice. Afterwards, he continued his travels to learn a myriad of techniques and fighting styles. Finally, when he felt that he had learned all that was needed to become a masterful swordsman did he return to Al’Kar. When he approached his old master once more, he was told that he was not yet ready for the way. But Turik has not given up on his search and continues to develop those first sword techniques learned from the Al’Karan blademaster. In the interim, his master has passed away and the one link to the blademaster techniques have been lost, Turik remains hopeful that he will be available to discover a course that will allow him to continue this aspect of his development.

His casual manner and gifts earned him curious friends in his past travels. For now, he is content to journey with his friends and to seek out those rumors regarding the Tower of the Blade in the Mountain of the Moon.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

Ok, I'm in a bit of a quandry here, we need to link up and start working together, but for obvious in-character reasons I don't think Smiles or Gwyn would reveal who they are or the nature of their mission.

I've been trying to think of a way to get into us into the larger group without compromising that. The only ideas I can come up with are 1) Either lying and saying I know Taelmaron and claiming we were sent as reinforcements, or 2) One of the group of five (or Taelmaron) makes a move to invite us along...

 

[LazarusLong42]

Two things:

(1) Thordain: Gwyn likely can't tell that Kintys is blonde. The cloak's hood covers almost her entire face. Gwyn can probably see little more than her eyes, nose, and mouth.

(2) Cordo: If I were you, I'd wait for Talemaron to latch onto you--or the other way 'round. Of course, it looks like he'll be showing up very shortly.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

Ok, I'll wait but interact in the meantime.

Smiles is quite paranoid right now, so it may be fair to call him "shifty-eyed" but before that image sets in everyone's minds I'll just mention that his CHA 14, Diplomacy 12, and Bluff 10 should not normally give a shifty eyed impression.

 

[Morwyld]

Smiles can likely be quite the chameleon, when he chooses to be.

Sooner or later, a matter will come up, so I'll cover it now.

I'll be handling all die rolls on this end. Die rolls that the players would normally make, and be aware of, I'll post in parentheses while describing action results.

 

[Thordain]

Does smiles speak dwarven? I didn't see his languages listed.

 

[Morwyld]

Manifestly so, since he just did. He has two extra languages, for his intelligence.

It would be good if folks would make a note of what languages they know, if they haven't already.

Cheers,

Mor

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

Yes, Elven and Dwarven are his two bonus languages. Didn't add before just as there is no place for languages in the standard stat block I copied and pasted. They are added in now.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

As far as the past/present/future tense issue goes IMHO playing an online game is different from writing a story.

I don't like past tense because it gives the feeling that an action is completed and there is no opportunity to interact or interfere. But if people feel we have to choose one (I don't necessarily) it seems present tense is most popular (having looked around at several games in progress). I would guess this is because present tense doesn't give such a sense of finality and closure to actions and most gaming around a table is done in present tense.

I also think it is quite normal to mix in future tense when you mean to indicate intent going forward, particuarly something the DM will have to adjudicate. Again, just like at the table, as if events are happening in real time.

I do think we should decide on if we are going to:
1) Assign people different text colors for speech
2) Make style rules for character thoughts, OOC text, player exposition, etc.

 

[Morwyld]

As far as the tense issue, I'll claim the Swiss defense on that. I find different tenses useful at different times.

I don't think we need to assign colors for anything. Just write posts in clear English, and it should work out alright.

That's my take on things, anyway.

As far as the ongoing action, I'll give a bit more time for interaction, before launching the next bit.