D&D 5E [OOC] Uller's Out of the Abyss

[SunGold]

Honestly, I don't see anyone in this party as being its leader. Why should any of us follow any of the others?

Surana is a barbarian. The only people she views as capable of leading her are members of her tribe who outrank her. Why should she follow a paladin of a god she doesn't care for, or a prince of a land she's never been to?

Likewise, why would Ezraen or Erevan follow some wild girl, given to fits of rage that overpower any sense she might have?

IMO, we're a leaderless alliance of convenience. At each fork in the road where we have to make a decision, each of us pipes up with whatever makes sense given our experience/personality/worldview, and then we do whatever makes the most sense to everyone, basically voting. (Or at least that's how it's happened so far.) What do we need a leader for?

 

[DMAesh]

I don't buy it. I think that in all the time that we have been travelling together, Ezraen has begun to trust in the fundamental good within others in the group, especially Surana and Erevan. Whether they feel anything, is up to you guys.

As to your comment about why would she care about Ezraen's god? I have often had discussions about that. Honestly, it is up to the players, but when this god is constantly healing you on a friend's behalf, wouldn't you at least respect the god, or at very least your friend? I know that Surana has been raised in a society that venerates strength, but they respect the gods, don't they?

I don't know. I am not saying we need a leader. But that does not mean that I do not mean for Ezraen to learn leadership skills and become a leader, if not the party leader. You know what I mean?

Anyway, it's just thoughts. As our party travels on through the Underdark, I expect Ezraen to get more connected to the other PCs. I always prefer parties that develop real relationships rather than just adventure together out of convenience.

 

[SunGold]

Well, I didn't say that she doesn't like or respect Ez (or his god). She does, on both counts. But neither of those things would be enough for her to defer to someone else. If you didn't mean "party leader" then I misunderstood.

As far as spiritual stuff: of course she's thankful for the healing, to both Ez and Lathander. She's just not about to sign up to serve the order, you know? Like, it's the spirit of the bear that makes Surana strong enough to be useful to you guys in combat, but she doesn't expect anyone else to start carrying a bear totem around either.

And hey, most D&D friendships start out as alliances of convenience. I think it's obvious at this point that Surana has grown to care about everyone in this group (and indeed psychologically replaced her tribe with them). She didn't just run toward a demon prince for convenience's sake.

 

[DMAesh]

Sorry, I misinterpreted the comment, Why should she follow a paladin of a god she doesn't care for...

I did mean more of Ezraen as A leader rather than party leader.

 

[JustinCase]

Arcana: [roll0]

Although I can imagine that Arcana roll won't matter much anymore.

Initiative: [roll1]

Erevan is not a leader. He could be, ability-wise, but he's too immature and inexperienced. Well, it does seem he starts acting like a leader more often (so far with little or disastrous results, like attempting to let a priest renounce his god). But there is no true party leader, except that we three are leading the others. But hey, we don't need no leaders! We're perfectly capable of screwing things up ourselves...

 

[Uller]

Yeah, the Arcana check doesn't matter much any more. But you know enough that Derendil appeared to be under a magical compulsion and sometimes such compulsions can be broken with a good smack (in this case I let him make a new madness check).

 

[DMAesh]

https://youtu.be/Sq-uMIZGETs?t=1m24s

 

[SunGold]

I feel dumb as hell for not realizing that "Leemoogoogoon" was gonna be Demogorgon.

 

[DMAesh]

^_^ I knew because I have the book, but yeah, it's one of those things that sneaks up on you! I haven't opened it since we started (except for looking at the conceptual art in the back, I love that stuff!)

 

[Uller]

I feel dumb as hell for not realizing that "Leemoogoogoon" was gonna be Demogorgon.

Well. I guess it does rhyme with baboon...so it should have been obvious, right?

There really isn't any foreshadowing other than the cover and me telling Ezraen over and over that something really awful was about to happen.