Sins of Our Fathers - 2/10 - Final Update

[Celtavian]

re

Destan,

Nice addition to the story

How goes the supplement writing? You getting close to done? I'm hoping you start that other campaign again when you are done. Or maybe need a player to test run an adventure for your campaign setting. Either way, good to see you active on the boards.

Hope you had a great holiday.

 

[WizarDru]

Destan,
another wonderful update. It's a tough call, but I think Baden may be my favorite character. Shame if he dies, but if he does die, they'll remember who he was, that's for sure. I suspect the two young dwarves at his side aren't long for this world, either way.

You know what I liked? I liked that half-elf ranger. An excellent character, fleshed out wonderfully with so few words and so little dialogue, and yet he felt very distinctive. The whole campfire scene was just wildly wonderful stuff. This part of the exchange, for example:

“No.” Baden shook his head. “My friends bid you find me, and find me you did. And I thank you for bringing me word of their good health. Truly, I do.”

Wilan was not one to argue another man’s motives. “Where do you go?”

“No where.” Baden brushed snow from his thighs, leaned forward, and grabbed his whetstone. “I am where I need to be.”

In one paragraph we learn more about Wilan and Baden than a descriptive text might reveal. Deftly handled and enjoyable throughout. It just seems...well, right. Mind you, the impending battle for Vath and Amelyssan was wonderful, too. Once again, a great reading of how a simple game mechanic, spell preparation this time, can be renedered interesting and flavorful.

Incidentally, I'm not a PA native by birth, unlike my wife. I was born in upstate NY, and began sliding southwards every since, through NJ, Philly and then down to DE, then bounced back into southeast PA (the resulting insinuation about my opinions of the nation's first state being left as an exercise for the reader). My wife's family, however, comes from coal country, which is why she's curious what part of PA you hail from, Destan.

 

[Destan]

Hopefully Baden has some small hobbit-like people with him to distract the cave troll while the truly dangerous people hit it again and again and again. We all know cave trolls will completely ignore the dangerous ones and focus on the small hobbit-like person cowering in a corner doing nothing threatening.

Well, I have mentioned that Tamil and Bardo, the two dwarves with Baden, are quite young. So I suppose they could be considered 'hobbit-like'. What do they say in creative writing classes? There can be no more original stories. Or something like that. I've stolen copious amounts of inspiration and themes and - yes, cave trolls - from other authors. I'm sure there'll be more examples in the future.

Leel - I'd bet the $2.32 I have left after the holiday season that you'll enjoy Martin's books; glad to hear you're picking them up.

Since Destan let on that a death is imminent, who do we think it is going to be?...Will it be one of the above or one of those that have momentarily faded into the background...John or Raylin?

Let's not forget Kellus. If he bites it without serving atonement, his faithless spirit will be doomed to wander Ostia Prim until it sinks beneath the waves. Then, as a DM, I could have him pop back in as miserable Jacob Marley ghost from time to time, lamenting the errors of his ways. Whee!

Vath must survive.

Must he? Muwahahhaa!

It's inspired me to [pimp] pen stories here of some of my campaigns, [/pimp] and to really get into that part of the community. I don't know if that means anything to you - it's supposed to be a compliment.

It means more than you know. I've found what folks like PC, OO, Sep, Sag, Zad, et al. have known for quite some time - writing story hours is a whole other, new aspect of "fun" that can be derived from gaming.

How goes the supplement writing? You getting close to done? I'm hoping you start that other campaign again when you are done. Or maybe need a player to test run an adventure for your campaign setting.

The supplement is churning along. But, alas, I'm no where near being done. I'm finding that my chicken scratches and on-the-margins notes don't easily translate into prose suitable for public consumption. Regarding test runs - I imagine I would like some help in that area, but it won't be for a while yet; adventures are the last thing I'm gonna tackle.

My wife's family, however, comes from coal country, which is why she's curious what part of PA you hail from, Destan.

I'm from central PA - a town called Lock Haven. All of my extended family are from the Pittsburgh area, and still live there. So I blame them for the fact that I love the Pirates (one of the worst teams in baseball), the Penguins (at the bottom of the NHL), and the Steelers (sitting at home after going 6-10). At least I have Pitt hoops to cheer.

Hasta!

D

 

[WizarDru]

I'm from central PA - a town called Lock Haven. All of my extended family are from the Pittsburgh area, and still live there. So I blame them for the fact that I love the Pirates (one of the worst teams in baseball), the Penguins (at the bottom of the NHL), and the Steelers (sitting at home after going 6-10). At least I have Pitt hoops to cheer.

Ah ha! So you're from around north of State College way. My wife's uncle lives in Danville. And most of her family are from further east, around Ashland/Frackville way, if you know where those are. (checks map...Cripes, you're almost in Potter county...isn't that the county where they have more deer than people?).


As for your teams....You poor, poor man. Well...it could be worse. You could be rooting for, I dunno, Seattle, maybe. You can always root for Penn State.

 

[robberbaron]

It would be hugely unfair to kill Vath - he must suffer and the most suffering would come from seeing his friends torn apart and having to live with the memory.

 

[Lela]

Robberbaron is right. Irony would really add to Vath.

Of course, D&D doesn't always bend to the best methods of storytelling. Interestingly enough, this usually makes it better. How ironic.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Great update, Destan. Just one minor criticism. This passage is confusing:

Baden looked away from the meager flames. “Ah! Look who returns!”

Katon walked toward the light, his cloak draped with snow, face etched with surprise. He stopped at the edge of the firelight and studied Wilan. “Master Whitefletch? But…how did you get here?”

“I was gonna ask you the same thing,” Baden grumbled, a gimlet eye fastened on Katon. “Were you not on watch?”

Wilan appeared embarrassed. He stood. “Come, please. Share our fire. There is danger below, but none close. We are safe here, at least for a while.”

Why is Wilan inviting Katon to share the fire? Didn't Katon and the two younger dwarves make the fire? Even if they didn't, isn't is inappropriate for Wilan, who is a guest there, to be inviting Katon to share the fire? Actually why would anyone need to invite Katon to share the fire? It's his fire as much as anyone's!

 

[WizarDru]

Great update, Destan. Just one minor criticism. This passage is confusing:
Why is Wilan inviting Katon to share the fire? Didn't Katon and the two younger dwarves make the fire? Even if they didn't, isn't is inappropriate for Wilan, who is a guest there, to be inviting Katon to share the fire? Actually why would anyone need to invite Katon to share the fire? It's his fire as much as anyone's!

Presumably the fire was made when Baden and the other two dwarves walked up the hill to the cave they'd been staying in, while Katon stayed the watch. Wilan sneaked past him, and found Baden and the boys. While Katon made the campsite, technically he didn't make this particular fire, I'm assuming.

Either way, I don't think it really matters much, as I think Wilan is just inviting Katon to enjoy the fire they're already enjoying, not that he's granting permission for Katon to share the fire at a campsite that Katon helped make.

Besides which, Wilan is a half-elf...that makes him half-presumptious.

 

[Destan]

What Dru said.

It is confusing, though, and it's a perfect example of something that made sense when I wrote it (to me), but now appears...well, confusing.

The bottom line is that Baden and his buddies walked back to the campsite the three younger dwarves had been using. They didn't light a fire, for fear of nearby enemies. Katon marched off to stand watch.

Wilan shows up, the group lights the fire, and settles into discussion.

Katon then returns and is surprised to find Wilan sitting with his comrades. Baden pointedly lets Katon know he "blew it" while standing watch, since he should have heralded Wilan's arrival.

Wilan, being the polite guy he is, felt embarassed - not for himself, but for Katon. The half-elf realizes that he's good enough to remain unseen, and his unannounced arrival is more a result of his own woodland skill than Katon's lack of vigiliance.

Clear as mud?

D

 

[The Forsaken One]

Soak Soak, yeh =]