seasong's Light Against The Dark II (May 13)

[incognito]

seasong's world 101's

Some stuff I'd like detail on:

1. Insights as to what's going on in the heavens
2. More on Giants (how strong are they?)
3. past history of Theralis - not ancient, maybe 200 years ago, to present.
4. Detail some known magic items, or legends of magic items.
5. Where are all the other ellini?
6 - oh yeah! There is never any 6

sorry for being in absentinia - there was a short recess for a rocky break up. Anyone want to date a heartboken, gym fanatic with zero free time, who's alos *gasp* - a 'gamer'
- Ha!

me neither

 

[seasong]

Hey incognito, sorry to hear about the breakup! You have my sympathies.

I'm leaving for home right now, but numbers 1-5 look like good post starters . And I was just bragging about you, too!

 

[incognito]

seasong: you should check out my pom-poms, they rock!

Looking forward to the 101s!

 

[seasong]

Re: seasong's world 101's

1. Insights as to what's going on in the heavens

I can't answer this one too thoroughly, so this will be somewhat short, and most of this stuff is years (in game time) from having an impact, but...

Obvious/Known Interests

Allas has taken an interest in our three young heroes (and possibly others?). They bear Her mark, and have recently begun to find themselves becoming more involved in events related to Her. They even wear Her cloaks, although the cloaks are ancient enough that the Order they once belonged to no longer even exists.

At the same time, Dianas is the patron goddess of Theralis. Goddess of grape and vine, She is involved in all affairs of the city... and Allas is allied with Her in this war against the orcs who would destroy the valley. Unless Dianas is hoping to shake things up.

Signs in the Heavens

Other than the above, there are signs that have been seen by priests and astronomers, but thus far only shared with the leaders of Theralis. Hethas' star in the south has burned brighter in recent years, and a falling star seen in its sphere of influence slightly more than twenty years ago has taken on special significance - some believe that Hethas has chosen a champion.

Some believe that all of the gods are choosing champions, and that Hethas was simply open about it.

Regardless, its obvious to anyone with eyes (and the accumulated astronomical knowledge of years) that there are some big events coming in the next decade, although what, exactly, is difficult to say.

 

[seasong]

Breaking Cat, Day 2

Before sailing into the sky, Greppa spoke with his grand-mentor, Inertas, the earthy generalist who'd taught Hurath, and she used one of her more powerful spells on Greppa and his illusionists. Stoneskin was similar to earth's skin, she'd said, but "more like a crust on the skin than a bone-deep toughness". However it worked, he marvelled at his apparent invulnerability and chalk-white skin before calling up a shield and flying into the sky, invisible and prepared.

Athan and Merideth, clustered among the Keraunesti, strained to see what was going on as the dawning sun rose into their eyes. During the moment of blindness, as Greppa floated serenely overhead, two giants burst from the trees, surrounded by orcs hauling boulder ammunition, and began flinging the smaller boulders into the sky.

Directly at invisible Greppa.

As the boulders ripped the air next to Greppa, his first instinct was to run. Instead, he made the fastest casting circle he'd ever made in his life, and called forth three tiny streaks of sunlight into the head of the giant that got closest, then followed that 'tracer' up with hundreds of fist-sized bolts of pure sunlight that swarmed into the monster.

His assisting illusionist's first instinct was to run, also... but she was a citizen of Theralis. And Theralese don't run when they are needed. She turned him invisible, and then they both ran, dropping back towards the earth as swiftly as they could.

They were almost to ground when several shaman-summoned flaying spirits and a pair of boulders found their way to Greppa, catching him mid-air.

 

[Talix]

D'OH! See invisibility at long range, and strategic targeting of the biggest threat - not good.

Love the conversion, though, and I'm glad it's more of a Sun Mage thing than a "surprise, you're a priest now!" thing.

"explained the Sun Stone in glowing terms" - heh. BTW, when Agina decided to not have Greppa using the stone, she was watching him - did he manage to use innuendo (untrained ) to convey the fact that he didn't think he should sit on the ground? Or did she just come to the same tactical conclusion?

Loved that she recruited the priestess, though. That was great.

 

[Delgar]

Hey Seasong,

I just wanted to say I'm interested in hearing the answers to Icognito's questions as well. Also I feel a little bit snubbed as one of your fanboys, since I was pretty much here since the begining as well, just because you didn't have to sle...err buy me off to win an Iron DM competition doesn't mean I'm nothing .

Here's a question for you, seeing that magic items are fairly rare in your world (or at least it seems that way to me). Have you thought about using a mundane way to enhance weapons. For example rather than a Longsword +2 being magical it would just have a non-magical enhancement bonus for +2 hit/+2 dam and be created by master smiths. Just a very well crafted sword, after that any additional magical properties (ie, flaming, shock, vorpal) would have to be magically imbued. Anyway just thought I'd through that one by you.

Anyway, just want you to let you know to keep the good work I'm still reading! Also, I enjoyed the PDF version of Part I, I liked that the vignette's were lodged within the text. I think that if you wanted to add any world building information to it, I think it would be best to put it in an appendix at the back. That way those that are interested in it can read at their leisure and those that aren't don't have the juicy story interrupted by game text. You may also, want to add the players stats in the appendix and describe the spells being used. Just my thoughts.

Anyway, thanks for helping me out in my gladiator thread. Things are finally starting to fall into place. Hopefully I'll actually start to game soon and get to write my own storyhour! Need to find some players first.

Nuff said

Delgar

P.S. Help a poor DM out with ideas! Gladiator Thread

 

[seasong]

Talix: System notes were answered in the rogue's gallery.

Love the conversion, though, and I'm glad it's more of a Sun Mage thing than a "surprise, you're a priest now!" thing.

Whoo... the player would've killed me . What happened, though, was this: The battle was planned out as the orcs doing some severe damage to the battle line and requiring a regrouping and highly targetted attack on the giants (to keep them hidden in the woods). Then Greppa, immersed in the Greek thematic, began to pray to Allas to help him turn the tide of battle back on the orcs. He was ready to promise whatever it took - he was really into the whole "citizens of Theralis" thing - and he asked me what he could sacrifice to get Allas to do what was needed.

So I described events on the fly, pretty much as I described it in the story hour, and then went back in and wrote the modifications to his character when I had some time to think about it. In game terms, this was a "special event", and one of the happy accidents that make roleplaying stories what they are.

 

[seasong]

Also I feel a little bit snubbed as one of your fanboys, since I was pretty much here since the begining as well, just because you didn't have to sle...err buy me off to win an Iron DM competition doesn't mean I'm nothing .

You're not nothing . What I was referring to was the almost daily posted requests for updates, questions, etc. If incognito were the only one, however, I probably wouldn't be updating so regularly .

Have you thought about using a mundane way to enhance weapons.

Sure . Masterwork, for one, and I also allow smiths to take Craft X feats, and explain it as "putting a bit of themselves" in the item. I haven't written this stuff up much, yet, because it's so far in the background, but I probably should - the PCs have enough money to start trying to buy some of that stuff.

However, I will point out that magic items aren't necessarily that rare. Theralis only has 600 years of history, and most magic items (and even the augmented smithing) are by commission only. With an urban population base of a few tens of thousands, and only six centuries, starting from a penniless slave race... well, it's amazing they've got as much as they do.

Elsewhere, magic items are more common.

Also, I enjoyed the PDF version of Part I, I liked that the vignette's were lodged within the text. I think that if you wanted to add any world building information to it, I think it would be best to put it in an appendix at the back. That way those that are interested in it can read at their leisure and those that aren't don't have the juicy story interrupted by game text.

Hm, good point. I need to get that done sometime soon, anyway, so thanks for reminding me!

Anyway, thanks for helping me out in my gladiator thread.

Shucks, I only added one tidbit .

 

[incognito]

Hello Delgar

Maybe your think your writing is good enough to win you an IronDM title? - I certainly would like you to get in on the next one.

If anything, I started each session with a slight bias agaist seasong, becasue I know when his writing is good, and when it sucks - and correct me if I'm wrong, I tell him in no uncertain terms.

if only there were some vixens to try and sway the judges opinion...(sigh)

Of course, seasong-san, your writing is wonderful in SH, even if you won't post all the dirty little campaign secrets I ask for...