OOC Kingdom of Ashes IV - Who's yo' daddy?

[The_Universe]

we need to see if she would be willing to come back to life... with Xath at her side, she should be able to bring her back in mere seconds of death... or we need to find some way to magically super-boost her fort. saves to ensure she lives through the birthing process... or find a way to cure her before she has the children...

Gertie/Xath-- Bardic Knowledge to determine who would have such vast healing knowledge? If it could be found anywhere?

As far as I know, healing her paralysis magically is impossible so long as she is pregnant. If you can find a spell/item/series of spells that would work differently, I'll entertain the idea, but still may choose not to approve it (it's a lot more likely if it's in the core rules). This is a role playing challenge, not a combat to be won or lost.

Super boosting her fortitude saves may have a side effect of making things more dangerous, since they effect the children, as well. Added to that is the very real possibility that the girl child will have a magical mark, and she could absorb all of the magic, and potentially eye-blast her way out of mom if you're not careful. So, be cautious with the magic.

Besides, you don't want Archon to have mutant magic freakbabies, do you?

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

As far as I know, healing her paralysis magically is impossible so long as she is pregnant. If you can find a spell/item/series of spells that would work differently, I'll entertain the idea, but still may choose not to approve it (it's a lot more likely if it's in the core rules). This is a role playing challenge, not a combat to be won or lost.

This was more a question about *where* to find information about healing than if I spell actually exists. Looking for a place to research or a person to consult...

... I guess we could ask Big Blue... I bet his knowledge arcana is ridiculous.

 

[The_Universe]

This was more a question about *where* to find information about healing than if I spell actually exists. Looking for a place to research or a person to consult...

... I guess we could ask Big Blue... I bet his knowledge arcana is ridiculous.

As far as in-game locations, you could try the Caer Melyn library, again. Perhaps citadel refuge? There are also libraries in Caer Albion...

However, that being said, let it be known that it's probably a wild goose chase. No in-game library is going to turn something up that doesn't exist, as far as the Universe knows. Does that make sense? Research all you want, but until you the players show me something that might work, there won't be anything for your characters to find.

 

[Archon]

sinking in the mud

I appreciate your understanding of my situation. And in Archon's defense i offer that his shift toward the dark side can be credited to a couple events.
1. Our current alliance with the Bluestar. One of the darkest forces on Ares.
2. The appearance of a bigger badder Archon.
3. The loss of his homeland to the Bluestar's forces.
4. The possibility of losing his childern or his queen in a child birth that is his fault.
5. The fact that the queen's despondency is directly his fault.
6. The fact that all of the good things he thought he had in life are slowly being taken away(his home, his children.....Xath).
7. L'Aurel's death and failed true rebirth.
8.Arfin's death
9. And one last step away from the light was the black orc alliance that he was party to, and thus responsible for.

The appearance of his sister will do much to hold him from drifting too far but Archonus is not optimistic and he'll need a good victory or a lucky break if he is going to shrug off his growing weight of darkness.

 

[The_Universe]

"Election Scenarios"

Since I'm all in the mood for determining national leaders, today, I thought I would provide some background (for discussion's sake) on the varying scenarios for the Phoenix Kingdom:

1) Jaine dies, doesn't marry anybody, both children live.
There are two subpossibilities in this case that must be examined, as well.
a) she gins up a decree that legitimates her fatherless children or
b) both children are questionably legitimate, since their father is unknown (or at least unclaimed).

In 1a, the male child would be the next in line for the throne. Being a bit too young to effectively lead the rebellion, the throne would fall to either a regency council (probably made largely of the Circle), a specific regent (this could be a lot of people), or to the next best claimant to the throne. Since in this scenario the kid would technically be a bastard, his claim would be about as good as Archons. Since Archon is of ruling age already, the throne would more than likely fall to him. So, PROBABLY, 1A = Archon.

In 1b, the aforementioned regent or regency councils would be more likely, but you'd probably lose potential support from outsiders, since a decree of legitimacy without a father isn't going to fly terribly well with the rest of the nobles in the kingdom. You're in for a tougher fight for support, but Archon's son would still end up with the throne, since succession goes to male children first, and the daughter is likely to be marked. In both 1a and b, she'll probably have to be hidden to make the succession work. Thus, 1B = Archon Jr., but with a larger chance of broad defeat.

2) Jaine marries AA, dies, both kids live.
In this scenario, Jaine marrying AA would make him King, and her Queen. She'd probably be the ruler and he the consort until she died, but at that point, he'd become ruling King, and his children would remain rightful heirs. Upon AA's death, the son becomes king. 2 = Archon, pretty good all around, as long as Archon can act kingly. Support for the rebellion remains prety much as it is.
(as a secondary note, after Jaine died, Archon would be free to pursue other lovers/wives after a suitable period of mourning).

3) Jaine marries AB, dies, both kids live.
In this scenario, AB becomes king, just like AA would have. This would solidify an alliance with the Bluestar, which would certainly increase your chances of victory over Tain, although it could decrease support among the nobles. Once Jaine dies, AB is King. However, once he's dead, the throne goes to Jaine's children, son first. 3 = Archonus Bluestar, and then a normal succession.

4) Jaine marries AB, lives, both kids live.
In this scenario, the throne will pass from Jaine to her son, even though AB would be King. The alliance remains strong, but broad support from the nobility will probably never happen, at least for a human generation or two. Both kids will be kept, and will seem to be AB's, even if they are AA's. Presumably, they will be free of whatever oath binds AB. Nonetheless, any additional children born of the union would be bound, unless the Bluestar is gone. 4 = Jaine, then Archon Jr., but with a pall because of his assumed (if incorrect) parentage.

5) Jaine marries Joe Somebody, dies, both kids live
In this scenario, Jaine marries some guy, so that the kids have a presumptive father. The marked daughter has to be hidden in order to make the real parentage less obvious. Joe can't become king because he is not a noble, and thus will only be the Royal Consort. At this point, the solution is identical to 1, but there are at least a few more valid choices as to how it could be handled. In later generations, Jaine's line will probably lose the throne, since Joe Somebody won't have strengthened Jaine's descendents claim on the throne, and will (in fact) have lessened it. 5 = Archon or Regency, then Archon Jr.

6) Jaine marries AA, lives, both kids live
In this scenario, AA never becomes king. Jaine's throne passes to her son, both children can be raised together, just like with AB. The alliance with the Bluestar is not strengthened, but assuming that AA can be all kingly, the relationship with the nobility is better. Since Jaine lives, Archon would not be free to pursue other lovers/wives. 6 = Jaine, then Archon Jr.

There are more scenarios possible, but those seem to be the likely ones.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Then-- we need to know whether or not she would choose to come back if she dies during labor...

So-- the ladies of KoA have to have their little chat with Jaine. We can do that on the IC thread, email or over MSN...

Is there are time when you ladies can do that?

 

[The_Universe]

Sinking in the granite :/

I appreciate your understanding of my situation. And in Archon's defense i offer that his shift toward the dark side can be credited to a couple events.
1. Our current alliance with the Bluestar. One of the darkest forces on Aeres.

At current, you have no alliance with the Bluestar. Archonus Bluestar has been waiting for a chance to negotiate such a thing, but has not yet been granted audience in order to do so. All you did was trade swords, and agree to let him come here. So far, he hasn't been any harm, and has in fact acted to protect your interests on several occaisons. Furthermore, this runs precisely contrary to one of your oft-stated aims for the character. "I want the Bluestar to be redeemed," you say. And yet, when he offers to help you do something that is an absolute necessity for your success at NO COST to yourselves, you're angry about it? Was his redemption just not sacrificial enough, for you?

2. The appearance of a bigger badder Archon.

I don't think AB is any bigger, but he is certainly badder. Badder, not in the Michael Jackson sense, but in the "I'm willing to do the amoral thing" kind of way. Why, in the face of that, Archonus Arendorr would start to slip in the same direction is mindboggling, at least from a story perspective. "How can I distinguish myself from my dark doppelganger?" he must have asked himself. "I know! I'll become darker!"

3. The loss of his homeland to the Bluestar's forces.

Now that might be pretty depressing, I'll grant. But, according to AB, none of the Bluestar's undead forces have tread inside the city. So, it may have fallen, but the Bluestar's forces are showing remarkable restraint, thus far (as far as you know).

4. The possibility of losing his childern or his queen in a child birth that is his fault.

It's perfectly sensible for the character to be scared about that, but none of his actions seemed to be seeking a solution. They're just making the problem(s) worse. It's no less Jaine's fault than Archons. If they were still together, she wouldn't be any less paralyzed or any more pregnant. None of the current situation, except for Archon unwittingly antagonizing her, is really making it better OR worse.

5. The fact that the queen's despondency is directly his fault.

Part of it is your fault, sure. But you didn't paralyze her. If Archon really feels bad about it, what's he doing to make it better? This would make perfect sense if he was doing something to help, but his method of soothing this deep inner pain seems to be to walk in and stir his despondent queen to near apoplectic fury.

6. The fact that all of the good things he thought he had in life are slowly being taken away(his home, his children.....Xath).

How is Xath being taken away? Or his children? He's got to have a pretty good idea that they're going to live, at least. Even in the worst of the Queen's fury, she offered to let him be a father, even if not a husband to her. He wasn't losing his kids at any point in the equation, until he refused to listen and pushed too hard.

7. L'Aurel's death and failed true rebirth.

Now that's just silly. Are you really telling me that he's upset because she wasn't brought back to life in the right way!? That's absurd! She wasn't resurrected enough for you?

8.Arfin's death

No argument here. You get 10 free minutes of darkness.

9. And one last step away from the light was the black orc alliance that he was party to, and thus responsible for.

HOO BOY that worked out badly. Archon really is to blame for helping save the city, and inadvertantly reuniting Kaereth with his father. What. a. jerk. I don't even know why we keep him around. It's a good thing those black orcs aren't encamped around the walls waiting for orders, and are instead rampaging through the surrounding wildernes....oh wait! It's the opposite of that!

The appearance of his sister will do much to hold him from drifting too far but Archonus is not optimistic and he'll need a good victory or a lucky break if he is going to shrug off his growing weight of darkness.

You've had victory after victory, and even triumphing over death itself isn't enough for Archon. I'm not saying that everything is coming up roses, here, but Archon seems determined to interpret everything in as self-destructive a way as is possible. And, I'm saying, from the outside looking in, it doesn't make sense.

I like Archon. I think I like him better than you do, since none of the stuff I can think of to throw at him is even half as bad as the stuff he either 1) does to himself or 2) imagines is out there, arrayed against him, despite all evidence and experience to the contrary.

I think he's been and can be a great character. I think you - Mik - are a great roleplayer*. But this is getting ridiculous. None of these are unreasonable set backs, and none of them are greater than the challenges the other characters have had to surmount, some of whom have passed beyond the gates of death themselves, and still managed to emerge with a more realistic (and brighter) outlook than Archon's.

He has love, he has friends, and he is fighting for the right cause. What more can a hero ask for? I am honestly at a loss as to how I could provide MORE chances for redemption. I'm trying to help you dig your character out of the rut, man, but at some point you've got to help me. I've compromised a great deal, only to have you turn momentously good occaisons into SOMETHING ELSE for Archon to be sad about. What do I need to do? Lay it out! PLEEEEEEASE tell me.

Thanks for listening and reading.


*I also think the rest of you are great, but this relates to Archon/Mik, in particular.

 

[AIM-54]

Lots of good comments that I don't have time to answer right now. Do we want to flesh out "what you know" about Mercs on this thread, start another, or do it over e-mail?

Mik and JC - just let me know, and I will happily oblige. Preliminarily, I will say that JC is mostly right in his characterization of how mercenaries operate, but that Mik should still be able to get much (and perhaps all) of what he wants...if he plays his cards right.

Let me know where to detail this!

Wherever's best for you. I'll watch my email, this thread, any indications of a new thread. If other's don't want it to clutter up this thread, that's cool, too.

I'm incredibly unhelpful, I know.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

When it comes down to it-- our actions in game are what we make of them. So, if Archonus wants us to recognize the good stuff-- he has to play it up.

 

[The_Universe]

Wherever's best for you. I'll watch my email, this thread, any indications of a new thread. If other's don't want it to clutter up this thread, that's cool, too.

I'm incredibly unhelpful, I know.

Yeah, I noticed. Maybe if you and Mik are both coming over to watch election results, tonight, we can hammer it out, then?