thatdarncat
Overlord of Chat
Exactly the thought process I went through when I was working on my setting. New calanders are cool and all, but they're also a real pain in the butt.Fajitas said:
Welcome to the Halmae (updated 2/27/07)
- Thread starter spyscribe
- Start date
blackshirt5
First Post
Until we get to the point where we have to stop and figure out where we are in the game year.Angcuru said:Working on new calendars and such is a pain, true. But what doesn't kill you just makes you stronger....unless it cripples you.
I'm only using the Exalted calendar for my game because it's preprovided and it's simple.
Seonaid
Explorer
I think it would be easy, if you printed up a calendar and had it clearly marked. But the act of doing that isn't exactly simple. I dunno, maybe someone like me would like doing that, but most people probably wouldn't. 
In novels, unless the calendar is intuitive or laid out in an appendix or such, it's easier (better) to use Julian notation. However, it still jars me, a little bit, out of the setting.
In novels, unless the calendar is intuitive or laid out in an appendix or such, it's easier (better) to use Julian notation. However, it still jars me, a little bit, out of the setting.
spyscribe
First Post
Part the Fortieth
In which: SpyScribe and Fajitas search for an elegant way around a whole lot of exposition.
Professor Alexandra steps forward, glances at the assemblage on the dais, and clears her throat. Although she is unaccustomed to speaking in such august company, she is determined not to let it show too much.
“Unfortunately, we know very little as fact about these four wizards. Most of what we’ve gathered is rumor and hearsay. We do not know their names, nor races, nor genders. We do not know precisely where they are, though we have rough ideas. One is to the southwest, out in the Wildlands beyond the unaligned city-states of Mynope and Noran. One we believe is somewhere in the Ketkath Mountains, east of the Halmae and deep in the lands of the Sovereignty of Kettenek. A third is thought to be north, somewhere in the deserts of the Empire of Ebis.”
Lira interrupts. “I didn’t think there were any arcane casters in Ebis.”
“Apparently, there is one. Assuming our information is reliable.”
“That’s three. What of the fourth?” Reyu asks.
Professor Alexandra looks slightly apologetic. “The fourth… we don’t really know. Our understanding is that the fourth one travels. They say his, or her, tower moves at whim, and no one knows where it will be found next.”
Thatch’s eyes goggle at the thought of a moving tower.
“And what, exactly, do you wish us to do?” Reyu asks.
“We’ll provide you with invitations to give each of the wizards, inviting them to come here and be evaluated for the job. We want you to find them, deliver the invitations, and report back to us.”
“Report… what, exactly?”
“We want you to observe these individuals. You are likely to be the only ones who are able to meet them when they are not attempting to impress us in an interview. You may be best equipped to judge if they are suited to the post, and your opinions will certainly be sought in our deliberations.”
Anvil nods. “If we find them wanting in our initial impression, should we decline to invite them?”
Professor Alexandra gets an almost panicked look on her face. “No, no, no,” she says, quickly. “Wanting or not, deliver these invitations. These are incredibly powerful people who are not to be trifled with. Frankly, we don’t even know how powerful they are. Whatever you do, don’t upset them, don’t antagonize them. Just deliver the messages. If you have personal feelings, report them to us when you get back. We’ll be the ones to tell them no when they arrive in the city. Let them be angry at us, not you.”
Dennis, meanwhile, has been shifting his weight back and forth, somewhat edgy. “Look,” he finally says, “I don’t mean to be rude about this, but… well… what’s in it for us? I hate to be blunt, but what do we get?”
Several members of the party cringe inwardly, but King Orin smiles. “Whatever you need,” he says. “Funds, equipment, transportation. Anything we can offer, though admittedly we may not be able to do much for you while you’re traveling. But you’ll be in the employ of the Temples and the City, for which you’ll be well paid. You will have our full support, both diplomatically and materially. And you will, of course, have the thanks of a grateful King.”
Thatch, Reyu, and Dennis look at each other. Finally, Reyu speaks. “I believe it will be… most instructive for me to participate,” she says.
That leaves only Thatch and Dennis. Dennis shrugs his shoulders at Thatch, who, after a moments thought, says “Ummm. Okay. Sure.”
“Yeah. Why not?” Dennis adds.
King Orin nods. “Very well. Then it is settled. Take what time you need to make your preparations. Professor Alexandra and your superiors in your Churches will be at your disposal. Should you need anything from me, you may contact my Chamberlain, Sir Collingswood. I wish you all the fortune that all the gods see fit to bestow upon you. Good luck. And thank you.”
With that, the King makes his exit, and the heads of the Churches follow him. The party bows as the dignitaries leave.
As soon as they are alone, Anvil immediately takes charge. “We have much work ahead of us. We should gather what we need quickly and efficiently, that we may begin our task at once. I suggest we all meet tonight at midnight, to pray that Kettenek will grant us speed and success upon our journey.”
“Oh yeah,” Dennis mutters to Thatch. “We’re in it now.”
*************
The next few days are a flurry of activity. Anvil gathers letters of introduction from nearly every notable in Dar Pykos: Tenacious, the heads of the Churches, and King Orrin himself. He has a special staff made, with a hollow end, and uses it to secretly store these letters.
Since the Ketkath Mountains are a frequent destination for Questors seeking challenges, Lira speaks to several members of her order who have been there, gathering as much information as she can. All describe a strange and rugged place, full of creatures seen nowhere else in the Halmae. But it is Rosemary who provides an important clue.
“I’ve never been there, but there’s supposed to be a place deep in the mountains, called the Kuio Valley. They say it’s like the calm in the center of a storm. If there is a wizard as powerful as you describe in the Ketkath, perhaps it is he who has tamed that valley.”
Meanwhile, Moira collects maps of the lands to the south and west, where the party plans to journey first. Sadly, beyond the non-aligned city states of Noran and Mynope, there are few maps to be had. When her chapter-mistress finds out where she is heading, she makes a request.
“Do you think you could detour by Dar Und? We have letters bound there, and it is not often we get people walking in that direction.”
Although Moira has no objections to making the journey herself, several other members of the party object to the unnecessary risk the side trip will present; Dar Und is a city-state without a proper government, completely overrun by crime, corruption, and “The Bosses.” Moira is forced to decline.
Professor Alexandra presents the party with a great many items. To begin with, she produces four scrolls, each sealed with the King’s signet and elaborately bound in his colors. “These are the invitations, one for each of the wizards.” Hue reaches for them, but Anvil is quicker.
“I shall take these,” he says, and no one seems inclined to argue.
Then Professor Alexandra opens a cabinet and produces an array of items. There are three glass globes, white, blue, and black. There is a small porcelain house and a small porcelain plate. There is also a wand, a headband, and a sack. “These are for you,” she says.
“What are they?” Lira asks
“Magic items, some of which I’ve crafted, some of which I’ve had the Temples prepare. They’re largely for emergency use, should you find yourself in need.”
The party cannot help but gape. None of them has ever possessed this many magic items before.
Professor Alexandra holds up each of the items in turn as she describes their function. “This wand was donated by the Givers of Life. It casts healing spells, and is fully charged.”
After some tactical discussion, the group gives the wand to Eva.
The Professor continues. “This headband will allow you limited contact with us here in Dar Pykos. Once per week, you can use it to send me a message to update me on your progress, and I’ll be able to respond. You will be limited to 25 words, however, so write your messages in advance.”
“Can it only be used to contact you? Or may messages be sent to others using this device?” Anvil asks.
“No. Should you need to, it can be used to contact anyone you know.”
Anvil takes the headband. Great, Lira thinks to Euro. Now we’ll only be able to send her 19 words, ‘cause every message will end with “May Kettenek’s Justice be upon you.”
Professor Alexandra continues. “This plate, also donated by the Givers, will provide you with a days’ worth of food and water. To activate it, read the words inscribed on the rim. Likewise, this house will provide 9 hours of shelter. The activation words are written on the bottom.”
“What of the globes?” Reyu asks.
“Ahhh,” Professor Alexandra replies. “These, I’m particularly proud of. When broken, these globes will activate the spell contained within. The black globe will protect you all from spells or creatures of an evil nature. The blue one will provide all eight of you with healing, if you are close enough when activated. And the white one…” She picks up the white globe and holds it out to the party. “I want all of you to touch this.”
They all comply, even Euro and the ferret come forward to poke the sphere with a nose or paw. Professor Alexandra mutters a few words over the globe, and there is a white flash of light. “It is now attuned to all of you. This is an emergency escape device. If you need a quick retreat, break this globe. It will teleport all of you here to me.”
“To this room?” Lira asks.
“To wherever I happen to be.”
“Neat!” Hue exclaims.
But Thatch suddenly goes pale. “What about Bob?” he asks. “Will it teleport him, too?”
“Bob?”
“My horse.”
Professor Alexandra blinks a few times. “Well, no. It’s not attuned to him.”
Thatch looks crestfallen. Dennis pats him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. We won’t use it if we don’t have to.”
“What about the sack?” Hue asks. “What does that do?”
“This?” Professor Alexandra asks, somewhat taken aback. “Oh, nothing. But it has 2000 gold in it. For discretionary use.”
************
At last, supplies have been gathered, the horses have been equipped and loaded, and the party, whose members have now swelled to eight, makes ready to depart.
Anvil gives an appraising glance to a large wooden box Thatch secures to one of the pack-ponies. “What is that?” he demands.
Thatch merely shrugs, but Reyu hears the question and comes over. “It’s a masterwork healer’s kit.”
Anvil raises an eyebrow. “What would you ever need that for?”
Reyu regards him soberly. “It is best to be prepared for all eventualities… Does not Kettenek’s Justice demand it?”
Anvil carefully searches her face for any hint of a smile. He finds none.
“So it does,” he eventually allows, and goes on his way.
**********
(Note: For those keeping track at home, Moira is carrying the ceramic plate and house, and Lira has the three “in case of emergency, break glass” balls. And indeed, a certain member of the party will have cause to be glad we decided to bring along a masterwork healer’s kit.)
In which: SpyScribe and Fajitas search for an elegant way around a whole lot of exposition.
Professor Alexandra steps forward, glances at the assemblage on the dais, and clears her throat. Although she is unaccustomed to speaking in such august company, she is determined not to let it show too much.
“Unfortunately, we know very little as fact about these four wizards. Most of what we’ve gathered is rumor and hearsay. We do not know their names, nor races, nor genders. We do not know precisely where they are, though we have rough ideas. One is to the southwest, out in the Wildlands beyond the unaligned city-states of Mynope and Noran. One we believe is somewhere in the Ketkath Mountains, east of the Halmae and deep in the lands of the Sovereignty of Kettenek. A third is thought to be north, somewhere in the deserts of the Empire of Ebis.”
Lira interrupts. “I didn’t think there were any arcane casters in Ebis.”
“Apparently, there is one. Assuming our information is reliable.”
“That’s three. What of the fourth?” Reyu asks.
Professor Alexandra looks slightly apologetic. “The fourth… we don’t really know. Our understanding is that the fourth one travels. They say his, or her, tower moves at whim, and no one knows where it will be found next.”
Thatch’s eyes goggle at the thought of a moving tower.
“And what, exactly, do you wish us to do?” Reyu asks.
“We’ll provide you with invitations to give each of the wizards, inviting them to come here and be evaluated for the job. We want you to find them, deliver the invitations, and report back to us.”
“Report… what, exactly?”
“We want you to observe these individuals. You are likely to be the only ones who are able to meet them when they are not attempting to impress us in an interview. You may be best equipped to judge if they are suited to the post, and your opinions will certainly be sought in our deliberations.”
Anvil nods. “If we find them wanting in our initial impression, should we decline to invite them?”
Professor Alexandra gets an almost panicked look on her face. “No, no, no,” she says, quickly. “Wanting or not, deliver these invitations. These are incredibly powerful people who are not to be trifled with. Frankly, we don’t even know how powerful they are. Whatever you do, don’t upset them, don’t antagonize them. Just deliver the messages. If you have personal feelings, report them to us when you get back. We’ll be the ones to tell them no when they arrive in the city. Let them be angry at us, not you.”
Dennis, meanwhile, has been shifting his weight back and forth, somewhat edgy. “Look,” he finally says, “I don’t mean to be rude about this, but… well… what’s in it for us? I hate to be blunt, but what do we get?”
Several members of the party cringe inwardly, but King Orin smiles. “Whatever you need,” he says. “Funds, equipment, transportation. Anything we can offer, though admittedly we may not be able to do much for you while you’re traveling. But you’ll be in the employ of the Temples and the City, for which you’ll be well paid. You will have our full support, both diplomatically and materially. And you will, of course, have the thanks of a grateful King.”
Thatch, Reyu, and Dennis look at each other. Finally, Reyu speaks. “I believe it will be… most instructive for me to participate,” she says.
That leaves only Thatch and Dennis. Dennis shrugs his shoulders at Thatch, who, after a moments thought, says “Ummm. Okay. Sure.”
“Yeah. Why not?” Dennis adds.
King Orin nods. “Very well. Then it is settled. Take what time you need to make your preparations. Professor Alexandra and your superiors in your Churches will be at your disposal. Should you need anything from me, you may contact my Chamberlain, Sir Collingswood. I wish you all the fortune that all the gods see fit to bestow upon you. Good luck. And thank you.”
With that, the King makes his exit, and the heads of the Churches follow him. The party bows as the dignitaries leave.
As soon as they are alone, Anvil immediately takes charge. “We have much work ahead of us. We should gather what we need quickly and efficiently, that we may begin our task at once. I suggest we all meet tonight at midnight, to pray that Kettenek will grant us speed and success upon our journey.”
“Oh yeah,” Dennis mutters to Thatch. “We’re in it now.”
*************
The next few days are a flurry of activity. Anvil gathers letters of introduction from nearly every notable in Dar Pykos: Tenacious, the heads of the Churches, and King Orrin himself. He has a special staff made, with a hollow end, and uses it to secretly store these letters.
Since the Ketkath Mountains are a frequent destination for Questors seeking challenges, Lira speaks to several members of her order who have been there, gathering as much information as she can. All describe a strange and rugged place, full of creatures seen nowhere else in the Halmae. But it is Rosemary who provides an important clue.
“I’ve never been there, but there’s supposed to be a place deep in the mountains, called the Kuio Valley. They say it’s like the calm in the center of a storm. If there is a wizard as powerful as you describe in the Ketkath, perhaps it is he who has tamed that valley.”
Meanwhile, Moira collects maps of the lands to the south and west, where the party plans to journey first. Sadly, beyond the non-aligned city states of Noran and Mynope, there are few maps to be had. When her chapter-mistress finds out where she is heading, she makes a request.
“Do you think you could detour by Dar Und? We have letters bound there, and it is not often we get people walking in that direction.”
Although Moira has no objections to making the journey herself, several other members of the party object to the unnecessary risk the side trip will present; Dar Und is a city-state without a proper government, completely overrun by crime, corruption, and “The Bosses.” Moira is forced to decline.
Professor Alexandra presents the party with a great many items. To begin with, she produces four scrolls, each sealed with the King’s signet and elaborately bound in his colors. “These are the invitations, one for each of the wizards.” Hue reaches for them, but Anvil is quicker.
“I shall take these,” he says, and no one seems inclined to argue.
Then Professor Alexandra opens a cabinet and produces an array of items. There are three glass globes, white, blue, and black. There is a small porcelain house and a small porcelain plate. There is also a wand, a headband, and a sack. “These are for you,” she says.
“What are they?” Lira asks
“Magic items, some of which I’ve crafted, some of which I’ve had the Temples prepare. They’re largely for emergency use, should you find yourself in need.”
The party cannot help but gape. None of them has ever possessed this many magic items before.
Professor Alexandra holds up each of the items in turn as she describes their function. “This wand was donated by the Givers of Life. It casts healing spells, and is fully charged.”
After some tactical discussion, the group gives the wand to Eva.
The Professor continues. “This headband will allow you limited contact with us here in Dar Pykos. Once per week, you can use it to send me a message to update me on your progress, and I’ll be able to respond. You will be limited to 25 words, however, so write your messages in advance.”
“Can it only be used to contact you? Or may messages be sent to others using this device?” Anvil asks.
“No. Should you need to, it can be used to contact anyone you know.”
Anvil takes the headband. Great, Lira thinks to Euro. Now we’ll only be able to send her 19 words, ‘cause every message will end with “May Kettenek’s Justice be upon you.”
Professor Alexandra continues. “This plate, also donated by the Givers, will provide you with a days’ worth of food and water. To activate it, read the words inscribed on the rim. Likewise, this house will provide 9 hours of shelter. The activation words are written on the bottom.”
“What of the globes?” Reyu asks.
“Ahhh,” Professor Alexandra replies. “These, I’m particularly proud of. When broken, these globes will activate the spell contained within. The black globe will protect you all from spells or creatures of an evil nature. The blue one will provide all eight of you with healing, if you are close enough when activated. And the white one…” She picks up the white globe and holds it out to the party. “I want all of you to touch this.”
They all comply, even Euro and the ferret come forward to poke the sphere with a nose or paw. Professor Alexandra mutters a few words over the globe, and there is a white flash of light. “It is now attuned to all of you. This is an emergency escape device. If you need a quick retreat, break this globe. It will teleport all of you here to me.”
“To this room?” Lira asks.
“To wherever I happen to be.”
“Neat!” Hue exclaims.
But Thatch suddenly goes pale. “What about Bob?” he asks. “Will it teleport him, too?”
“Bob?”
“My horse.”
Professor Alexandra blinks a few times. “Well, no. It’s not attuned to him.”
Thatch looks crestfallen. Dennis pats him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. We won’t use it if we don’t have to.”
“What about the sack?” Hue asks. “What does that do?”
“This?” Professor Alexandra asks, somewhat taken aback. “Oh, nothing. But it has 2000 gold in it. For discretionary use.”
************
At last, supplies have been gathered, the horses have been equipped and loaded, and the party, whose members have now swelled to eight, makes ready to depart.
Anvil gives an appraising glance to a large wooden box Thatch secures to one of the pack-ponies. “What is that?” he demands.
Thatch merely shrugs, but Reyu hears the question and comes over. “It’s a masterwork healer’s kit.”
Anvil raises an eyebrow. “What would you ever need that for?”
Reyu regards him soberly. “It is best to be prepared for all eventualities… Does not Kettenek’s Justice demand it?”
Anvil carefully searches her face for any hint of a smile. He finds none.
“So it does,” he eventually allows, and goes on his way.
**********
(Note: For those keeping track at home, Moira is carrying the ceramic plate and house, and Lira has the three “in case of emergency, break glass” balls. And indeed, a certain member of the party will have cause to be glad we decided to bring along a masterwork healer’s kit.)
thatdarncat
Overlord of Chat
So just how many fun and interesting encounters did they avoid here?spyscribe said:
(And how many of those encounters are going to come back to bite them?
)
Fajitas
Hold the Peppers
thatdarncat said:So just how many fun and interesting encounters did they avoid here?
(And how many of those encounters are going to come back to bite them?
I don't think it would have been a long sojourn in Dar Und. I figured it was the last time they'd be in the area for a while, and that perhaps, before they went out to explore the world at large, I could introduce them to one more city-state. Which is not to say that there won't be consequences for them not going, mind you. One never knows what kind of important things are being sent in the mail...
For the record, this game took place about a year and a half ago. The PCs are still on this mission. They have just met the penultimate archmage, and are about to head off to find the last one this weekend.
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