[OOC] Dichotomy's Age of Worms: The Whispering Cairn

[Dichotomy]

So I was thinking that the mine office was more than a little ways away, am I wrong?

It was approximately 10 minutes for the party to walk from the office to the cairn. Even carrying Vixtrin, that wouldn't take too long. Also, since the walk was so short, it means it is still pretty darn early in the day (certainly before noon, probably quite a bit earlier). Which means it would be a really long time sitting in the den before Lartis would get his spells back.

I don't mean to suggest that the party MUST go back to the office, but it would likely make sense to do so (and would give opportunity to insert new characters ).

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I have no problem at all with a little metagaming and (even though my character is unconscious and doesn't get a say) going back to the mine office to pick up new players. It would be nice to get everyone involved in the game.

In-game, however, Vixtrin would be quite horrified if she woke up in the wolves' den. It's probably dirty in there. She'd hate that.

 

[Dichotomy]

We seem to be at a good place to take care of some business.

First, accounting matters. Thus far you have found:

In the abandoned mine office: a hooded lantern, 8 pints of oil, 5 tindertwigs, 2 flasks that appear to be alchemist's fire, and 50 foot long silk rope
The leftover shards of the broken "mirror." I don't know if you kept any of these for any purpose (they may or may not be worth anything ).
In the wolf den: indigo lantern, marble index finger, and elven crafted armband. I presume that the lantern and finger would both be left in the cairn.
In the sarcophagus chamber: the green lantern obviously has an everburning torch in it. I don't know whether you wanted to leave that there, or take it with you.​

I believe that is all the "loot" you've found. I am not overly concerned about whether all of this was taken or left where you found it (like the shards and the everburning torch). You can feel free to say that you did take it or would have done so.

I do not know who is carrying what at this point in time. Obviously, the party composition is changing some fairly soon. When they leave, Byron and Lartis are both going to let the party keep everything. So feel free to talk OOC about who will carry what. I think that of the things you found, only one tindertwig and one pint of oil have been used.

Second, this seems like a fine time to give out some XP. For your daring bravery, you each get 400 XP. (You guys faced TWO EL 3 encounters!) Do any of you original players have a thought about whether our new recruit should share in this? Given that it is not michael_noah's fault he wasn't in the game, and given the fairly tangible difference between being level 1 and level 2, I'm inclined to let him start at the same spot you are. However, if anyone is against it, we can certainly discuss it.

michael_noah, I'll be posting some rough info later tonight to get us to the point where you can be inserted in the group.

Is there anything else with which we ought to deal?

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Vixtrin, in-game, hadn't picked up anything from the discovered loot. After she reaches consciousness again, however, she will be more than willing to carry whatever items others aren't willing to carry. Her strength will allow her quite a bit more of encumbrance before things reach the heavily encumbered phase of movement.

Regarding XP, I prefer it if those new to the game do not share in the XP already awared. I'm not saying that to be an XP hog (I actually assume they'd also get the same 400 XP and that none of the rest of us would have our award docked); it simply seems more appropriate to me that players start earning XP once they start playing. 400 XP is easily recovered via future encounters and roleplaying merit. On that note, this is a DM decision, but as a player, I do not necessarily anticipate being awarded XP for encounters where my character was entirely absent. It's also okay by me to give one player more XP for a really great job and not award the same amount to others. I don't feel there is really that much difference between first and second level, but will certainly understand if others feel differently.

 

[michael_noah]

Awesome! I'll keep checking back here and in the game thread to see when I can jump in.

I, of course, would love the XP - but I'll be happy just getting to play if it's decided that starting from scratch is the better plan.

 

[TiCaudata]

I'm all for the party as it is now having extra XP over the new entrants, we did take down 2 EL3's and all. However if there is some plausible way that the new party members could have earned 400 on their own I'd be ok with that, but that is best decided between the DM and the new players.

I am OK with a non-commie distribution of XP based on a reward and detraction system, in my perfect world it would include interaction and be useable by Dichotomy to keep the conversation and general post count active. Unfortunately this may lead to an undesireable positive feedback loop where someone who isn't interacting well continues to not interact well out of sullenness.

Furthermore, if there is an encounter that is entirely missed by a player that player should not recieve XP. Otherwise I have a strong "live and learn" attitude towards XP where even if you are knocked out (or ressurected I suppose), you theorhetically would modify your behavior somewhat in the future. This can tie into the XP distribution by handing out a portion of XP for the player, and by not awarding a player the same amount of XP if they continually do the same thing leading to their demise they wouldn't have learned and would thus be penalized the amount of XP they gained when they died. There could of course be good RP reasons for the player to continue behaviors, but these should be made clear by the player ahead of time.

Overall this looks like alot of stuff for Dichotomy to keep track of, I'm all for a semi-arbitrary use of these ideas. If anyone else thinks the same way of course.

 

[Dichotomy]

[sblock=@ michael_noah]Since both Byron and Lartis are leaving the group, it seems that an easy way to introduce you would be for Nollan to have been connected to one of them. Given the situation, knowing Lartis would make things simple. Vixtrin is hurt, Lartis can decide to hunt you down. There are very few clerics in town, and he surely has no love for the particular followers of St. Cuthbert in this town. I presume that Nollan would feel likewise.

As an interesting twist, Nollan's background would make it quite possible for him to know Vixtrin on some level. Perhaps he knows of her, but she wouldn't necessarily know him. Take a look at her background and let me know if you have any ideas. It could make it really interesting for you to come in to save her. I'm seeing some strong possibilities here... What do you think?[/sblock]

[sblock=@ CanadienneBacon]I wanted to let you know that I absolutely LOVE how you've been bringing life to Vixtrin. Hopefully she'll be back in the action soon. Give yourself 100 bonus XP.[/sblock]

[sblock=@ TiCaudata]Thanks for helping move the game along and such. You are doing excellent work. Take 75 more XP.[/sblock]

[sblock=Amal Shukup]Keep up the good work! I am magically bestowing 75 more XP onto Sprout.[/sblock]

You all are great. I am fortunate that my first PbP game attracted such talented folks.

 

[TiCaudata]

Hey folks,

I'm outta town for work for the next couple days, I may or may not be able to find a decent internet connection so I might not be posting until Wednesday.

 

[michael_noah]

@Dichotomy
[sblock]
The timelines match up in such a way that Nollan would have been stationed at the keep during Vixtrins dismissal. So he would certainly know of her, possibly even have worked with her some. Her prankster antics would appeal to Nollan, and her imprisonment for a simple joke would not sit well with him at all.

Nollan's oppinion of Lartis would be based on simple acquaintance, which I'm sure they'd have based on your mention of the few clerics in town. From what I've seen in the game, they'd most likely not be fast friends or anything, but Nollan would respect him as a fellow "healer"/"helper" and would certainly come to his aid if asked.

A closer connection to Vixtrin and her mother could be gained by matching up the brothels. I believe that as the backstories read, Nollan frequented the Salute, whlie Vixtrin grew up at the Emporium.

In any case, both of your ideas match Nollan's history and personality perfectly.
[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

[sblock=@ michael_noah]I may have been over-enthusiastic in my last post. I think it would be best for any significant connection between Nollan and Vixtrin to be largely "one-way," such that while Nollan knows who she is and likely has some opinion of her, she probably doesn't really know him. I think this is best for two reasons: 1) it means CB doesn't need to change anything (including her own personal conception) about Vixtrin, and 2) it means that the pair will start on a clean slate, rather than having to pretend they already have a rapport of some type.

I think what you have is probably sufficient. Just enough that you know who she is, perhaps as much about her that most other garrison folk of the time would have known, and have some basic opinion about her.[/sblock]