TURTLEDOME!: Battle Bone (DM: KenHood, Judge: Lord S.)

[Lord Sessadore]

[sblock=OOC]Firstly, fireinthedust, sorry to hear about your burn! I know those can be nasty - is your hand going to be OK? And it's good to have you back.

Secondly, I just want to say that as long as everyone is cool with how things are going, then just keep going. I think everyone has done well staying true to their characters, PC and NPC alike. And while that can have consequences (as we're seeing), I think it's also a good thing to have. I also think that Ken is illustrating that the situation is fixable, with some work - your characters just have to keep in mind what it looks like they're doing, not just what they mean by what they're doing. (Speaking of which - why doesn't Emral go and switch to watersoul manifestation if he's concerned with burning the shop down? You can switch with a short rest, so it doesn't take too long. Just curious )

Also, I'll second what Ata said - there's no reason that all of you need to walk out on Marco with Hadarai, unless you feel particularly loyal to Hadarai that you'd rather go with him than patch things up. Since it's Ata's suggestion I'll go out on a limb and assume that he's OK with that, so I don't think the rest of you should feel obligated to follow Hadarai's example. If you want to stay and try to fix things, then stay and try to fix things.

Finally, and most of all, remember to have fun. 'Tis a game, enjoy it [/sblock]

 

[Reklaw]

[sblock=Ata]I'm picturing Hadarai like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino right now... Hadarai as an old man at least...[/sblock]

Drivan catches up to Hadarai before he can leave (OOC: correct me if I'm wrong on anything).

"Hadarai, wait a moment. I don't know if this hardened outlook on life is just a facade to protect yourself from feeling any more pain or if you feel as if everyone is going to betray you or what you're feeling..."

He pause, looking for a response in Hadarai's face before continuing. "But, I know that this group here is the closest things to friends you have at the moment. And whether you like to admit or not you need friends. Especially here.

Look we're going to support you... if you have to wait outside, then you have to wait outside. But one of us will bring you some food and share a moment with you, because you aren't alone here. None of us are going to betray you. We might just be a simple group of adventurers but we're loyal friends and companions."

Taking a breath, he continues. "I know this probably doesn't mean anything to you but we want you in there with us, Hadarai. I understand that you don't want to leave your weapons out of your reach... But you're safe here, you're among friends..."

 

[mohalloran]

[sblock=OOC]So, does this mean that Hadarai no longer wants to take part in this adventure? Do we need to go find another leader? Or is Hadarai sticking around for the fight, just not for the Marco part?[/sblock]

Vaunea nods in understanding. "Marco friend. Vaunea friend. Vaunea go watch store." And with a tight squeeze, Vaunea begins her slow trek down the stairs.

 

[fireinthedust]

[sblock=mohalloran]No, far from it. I believe I am correct when I say this, in that: Hadarai is a part of the party. Marco is an NPC whose job is to facilitate our needs in the adventure. The adventure itself is TURTLEDOME! and the fight there that we're getting ready for. In an important way, it doesn't matter what happens to Marco. In fact, for the purposes of dramatic tension, it would be better if everything we'd built up could fall apart: then we pull it together at the last minute fighting the Legion of Bone. That fight is the climax. In a way it's like the storm in "The Day after Tomorrow": it's coming, we can't escape it, and it's bigger than us.
However, the plot as I (Emral/Fireinthedust) understand it is NOT the building of the relationship with Marco. However, he is sort of the means to an end that we've got. Ditto the various sub-battles with the rats, with Eustice, and the skill challenges.
So: if Hadarai left and we stayed, as Kenhood said, we could keep our sponsor or not, regardless. If a demon (who heard of the lies Ken's other PC spread, and thinking that some competitor is taking all the good items) killed him, the story wouldn't be done.

Unless I'm wrong and Marco has some hidden significance (like the pregnant lady in the Ravenloft Module about Vecna), but I don't know if that's the case. ie: some plot twist up his voluminous sleeve.
This is purely my outsider (well, elemental ) opinion.

Ses: that is a very good question; I have to re-submit the changes to Emral that Ken worked in. The character sheet is in the list under Crowe (human druid) that I was fiddling with. I swapped out that feat I'll get it back in a bit, never fear; just give me a level or five.

[/sblock]

 

[weldon]

[sblock=traveling]Will post soon. Good to see the story moving.[/sblock]

 

[fireinthedust]

[sblock=suggestion]Could we find a spot to have the whole group sit down and discuss tactics? Either around the halflings' dinner table or at the Inn where Hadarai's going to stay? We've had a lot of DM-player interaction, and I know how much work that can be, but maybe a trip to the Inn would be good?[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

[sblock=I'm ahead of you...]That was the reason for the dinner at Marco's home, to discuss strategy and figure out what else y'all need.[/sblock]

[sblock=Marco]And fireinthedust is correct. Marco is not a necessary element (though it does appear that some of you have built an attachment to him ). The important part is the TURTLEDOME! fight.

This adventure started as negotiations-trash talk-Legion of Bone fight and nuthin' else, but the interaction with the party--particularly how you guys were trying to score goodies at the start--gave me the idea for the sponsor, which led to the Eustace and Origami Rat fight.[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

OOC: Waiting on resolution of exchange between Drivan and Hadarai.​

 

[weldon]

We might just be a simple group of adventurers but we're loyal friends and companions.[/COLOR]"

Wow. You really... you really feel that way?

Emotion washes across Finnian's face. He hesitates for a moment, and then wraps his arms around Drivan.

I haven't... well... it's nice is all.

He turns around and sees Vaunea near the stairs and runs over and grabs her as well, and then Emral, and Marco. He turns to give Hadarai a hug as well, but hesitates at something in the man's eyes. Finnian slaps a hand against the soldier's upper arm.

Well, it was nice, don't you think?

He turns to the new arrival and announces, "Hello. I'm Finnian. Nice to meet you? What was the name?"

[sblock=apology]I was the one that sent the PM to Ken. I've already apologized to Ken because I wasn't at all trying to say I wanted to quit. I wanted the scene to move forward out of this standoff between Marco and Hadarai and I didn't choose my words very well. Sounds a bit like Finnian, doesn't it? In any case, I wanted to apologize to everyone else for the distraction. I'm having a good time, and Ken's been amazingly creative and funny. I'm still finding my feet after having been away from RPG's for 20 years, but I promise to keep trying.[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

[sblock=Likewise...]I apologized to weldon for misinterpreting his private message.[/sblock]

The hairy, fat halfling with the "Philosopher Stoned" tunic and metal nose says, "Dude, did you see that chick with the cow head? And why is everyone standing in the hall. Did you, like, eat without me? Man, I've totally got a case of muncharinos. Are there any leftovers? Did you just ask me a question, 'cause I just, like, you know, totally forgot what you said? I'm Mikey, by the way. I make the ink, man. Don't I get a hug, too?"