plot-locked

[curlytop]

George's set up tonight is much the same as it was for the first game. Large table, stack of character sheets, bagful of dice, pizza, Doritos, Mountain Dew, and Red Vines. He's brought beer again, just in case, and a huge bowl of popcorn.

At least this time he's relatively certain everyone showing up will know it's a game. Progress.



[ooc: Plot-locked to the 2nd group of D&D players. Will have separate threads in the comments.]

Comments

Re: Campaign

[dreamingofelectricsheep]

"Ember doesn't quite roll her eyes at Aldyr but that's only because she is scowling."

"To Sagh, Ember says, hooking a thumb at the newcomer, 'With me, but I'm more curious about this pious guy. He trouble other times? He live here?'"

Viv finds she is enjoying Ember's curtness.

Re: Campaign

[curlytop]

Everybody's talking to Sagh now, which is great for George. It was getting to be a lot to juggle.

"Aldrich doesn't notice anything more than the cause of death. Sagh gives the group a wry smile and says, 'I can answer two questions at once there. The dwarf you spoke with is Grimmund Daldrin. As I said, he's a good fellow, just a bit more pious than some round here, and he was well into his cups that night or he'd never have started a row. As for who's more pious? Hard to say. There's a lot of folks who go to chapel regular, but Father Daragor's always been more for community than religion, if you know the type.'"

George takes a quick drink before adding, "At this point, Oswald is starting to get restless, and he'll come over to where the group is gathered. 'I think we've wasted quite enough time here. The day is getting on, and we are no closer to Ser Thames' home.'"

Re: Campaign

[quick_clean_pure]

"I look morally affronted at Oswald, as a good and noble Lawful Good dwarf does sometimes," Graverobber deadpans. "And I thank Sagh for the information before I turn to my comrades and ask -- low enough that Oswald can't hear me, ideally -- 'Should we stay here or keep going? As much as Oswald is a giant walking stick up an ass, I wonder if we might learn more at Ser Thames' home if these are all truly connected'."

Re: Campaign

[arkadia]

"'I'm not sure Oswald is going to take no for an answer,' I remark," Eden says, folding his arms. "'And it sounds like they're all connected. Something started off killing animals, and then switched to killing people, starting with Ser Thames. If he was a civic-minded type, he might have been investigating the animal deaths beforehand.'"

Re: Campaign

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine glances over her notes, considering the choices before them.

"Aldeyr replies, quietly, to the group, 'Should we not at least see where the attack happened before we leave? Ser Thames is weeks-dead - he's not exactly going anywhere - and George Gilly died mere hours ago. The trail of blood leads behind the...'" Rae glances over her notes, "'...Graymoor Bend, and there may be some information to be gleaned from the scene of the crime.'"

Sunshine doesn't know if it's exactly in-character for the aloof sorcerer, but Neutral Good is still Good, dammit, so she has Aldeyr add, "'And something should be done for George Gilly, in the meantime. His body should not be left lying out in the open.'"

Re: Campaign

[dreamingofelectricsheep]

"Ember nods thoughtfully, considering both ideas. Then says, a low tone as well, "Perhaps we can do both if we split up? Those who remain with the body might be a distraction for Oswald while the others take a quick look."

"I am a skilled tracker and am used to reading how prey has been killed. Perhaps I could be of use in examining the scene of the crime?"

Re: Campaign

[curlytop]

George leans back slightly to let them work out how they want to proceed.

(And he's just going to refill on pizza while they're talking.)

Re: Campaign

[quick_clean_pure]

"Splitting up might not be a bad idea," Graverobber muses. "Maybe the folks with good investigation skills stay here to keep digging with George, while the rest check out the Ser Thames situation."

He checks over his character sheet and spell lists before adding, "My investigation abilities don't amount to much and my spells won't help track blood trails, so I don't mind going ahead with Oswald. Though, I do have Speak with Animals and a good Research background, so that may come in handy later, especially if we want to look into the animal killings."

Re: Campaign

[arkadia]

"I don't have much in the way of tracking skills either, so I can go along with Oswald and check out Ser Thames' home, too," Eden says. "And s'not like you won't know where to find us when you're done."

Re: Campaign

[sunbaked_baker]

"Though do we know the way to Ser Thames' place?" Rae asks, wry, as she checks her character sheet. "We're not from 'round here, as it were."

"I've got insight and perception bonuses, but not investigation... How does this sound: Ember and Aldeyr go take a quick look at the scene of the attack, to see if there's anything that might be found there. Riswynn and Aldrich distract or delay Oswald a bit, and maybe ask Sagh what is normally done for the dead around here, or if she or someone could arrange for the body to be taken care of before it is... buried? Cremated? Whatever the tradition here is." Rae isn't sure how these things work.

"Even a quick look at the freshest crime scene might give us clues about the recent deaths, but we probably shouldn't split up for long."

Re: Campaign

[dreamingofelectricsheep]

"That is a wise course of action," Viv states. "Are we agreed then?"

Re: Campaign

[curlytop]

[ooc: Going to assume everyone nods their assent and move forward. Let me know if your pup would dissent!]

"Great," George says, once everyone seems to be satisfied with the plan. "So...Ember and Aldeyr, I'll need an Investigation check." He thinks that's how you say it? "So, give us a roll and see what you get. And the rest of you...give it your best shot distracting Oswald and interviewing Sagh."

Re: Campaign

[quick_clean_pure]

"Ah, so I'm on distraction, then? Great," Graverobber says before glancing at his character sheet again. "Okay so my Intimidation modifier ain't bad, so here's what I do..."

He takes a deep breath, taking in a long inhale before barking: "YOU WILL LET US INVESTIGATE AS WE SEE FIT SO HELP YOU GOD."

And then he immediately grabs a die to roll an intimidation check. "...eight. Adding in three for my modifier, so...eleven."

Re: Campaign

[arkadia]

"Time for my bard skills to shine," Eden says, upon being told that he's on the distraction team.

He raises his hands, summoning his keyblade -- held like a guitar, with the handle where the headstock would be and the teeth of the ornate key where the fingerboard would be -- and strums. Despite there being no strings, it does actually make a noise like a guitar.

It's not necessarily good guitar music. Aldrich might be a bard, but Eden's not.

"Ohhhhh," he starts singing. "There ... once was a poor man named Gilly.
Whose demise was remarkably killy.
He was sliced in the snow,
And we don't even know,
Who even would want him dead, really."

He figures that's Performance, so he dismisses his keyblade (putting a merciful end to the music) and rolls the dice.

"I got a six," he says. "Minus two, so four."

Nobody ever said Aldrich was a good bard.

Re: Campaign

[sunbaked_baker]

"Sh-shiva wept," Sunshine manages to croak. Between Graverobber's shouted demand and Eden's frankly amazing performance, Sunshine is thoroughly caught in a fit of giggles. Her hand shakes with it as she rolls her die for Aldeyr's Investigation check.

"Um... heehee... I rolled a seventeen, and with... plus two for Investigation - ooh, nineteen."

Re: Campaign

[dreamingofelectricsheep]

Viv turns to stare at both performances and attempts a smile. This is not an aspect she encounters with online games and decides she should attempt to set up or join a face to face game like back home. Perhaps with her new super hero friends. It could be a good team bonding experience.

"That is amusing. Both of you are playing well and in character. Ember looks at the area with Aldeer's shoulder...I roll a 17 as well with a +1 modifier, making it an 18."

Re: Campaign

[curlytop]

George is beyond pleased with everything that is happening right now. He couldn't be happier. He's beaming at all of them like he's coaching a youth soccer team and they're winning their championship match.

"Well, okay, excellent...ehm...hang on." He does some flipping through pages, some note scribbling, and then....

"So, Oswald is not impressed with the attempt at intimidation, but he's certainly flustered, and he's mindful of Thialaqui's history as a bareknuckle boxer, so he backs down. Some. 'Fine. Ten minutes. But do not forget that you work for me and not the other way round. This is my investigation, and you are here to assist me, nothing more.' I...think you wounded his pride there, Thialaqui."

As for the impromptu performance. "There's a scattered...confused applause? When the song ends. Then Sagh comes over because...well...yes." He clears his throat. "'Oi! You may be here with the coroner on official business, but George here was a good friend to this village, and he doesn't deserve to be mocked in his death.'" Maybe Aldrich should have tried interpretive dance...

"Now you two," George says, turning to Viv and Sunshine, "are clever little buggers, aren't you? When you examine the trail closer, near the start of the bloody trail, you find a deep gouge, scored into the earth, as though someone had been digging for treasure with a mattock. On a hunch, you ask for a shovel, and start clearing snow away. A cold dread prickles up your back when you find another... and another... all in a trail toward the body. They're footsteps, you're sure of it, but so deep and far apart as to suggest whatever chased the poor blacksmith down was running at a speed you can only describe as inhuman."

Re: Campaign

[quick_clean_pure]

"I very, very quickly try to appease Sagh," Graverobber says, looking very pleased overall with the reaction to his impromptu shouting match. "So I try asking her 'What should we do for him? We'd hate to just leave him like this. Is there anything that we can do to take care of his body properly so that he's laid to rest?'. Because that seems like it'll keep the peace around here."

"Annnnd I don't know if that requires a Persuasion check, but if it does..." He rolls his dice. "Uh, eleven, plus three, so fourteen."

Re: Campaign

[arkadia]

Eden gives a confused headtilt at that, because this is somewhat the first time in his life that he's run up against the concept of 'don't mock the dead.' Either way, Thialaqui seems to be dealing with it, so he'll just help with that.

"I say 'You should direct any concerns to Oswald, as far as taking care of the body goes,'," he says. "'And since Oswald's here right now, there's no better time than the present.'"

Re: Campaign

[dreamingofelectricsheep]

“These marks are very interesting,” Viv, as herself, muses. “Ember studies them, attempting to compare them to her experience of forest animals and monsters. I roll a 12, so if that’s Nature, it would be 15. Insight would be 14 as would Perception. If it’s be investigation, that would mean 13.”

Viv looks up to stare at George waiting for clarification.

Re: Campaign

[sunbaked_baker]

"Something very fast and very large, to make gouges like that..." Rae murmurs. She glances at Viv, then nods.

"Yeah, is there anything else in particular we can tell about the marks? Would either of us have come across something similar beforein our travels?"

She rolls. "A ten would be... twelve for Nature, Insight, Investigation, and Perception across the board." Rae peers at her character sheet. "Huh."

Re: Campaign

[curlytop]

"Well, Sagh's still not well pleased with Aldrich," George says, "despite Thialaqui's intervention, and she snorts a little dismissively. 'We don't need a tax man coming in to take care of our dead. We'll see to George's body ourselves.' She says a quick prayer to Selune over his body, and then says. 'Someone ought to tell his daughter, though. If you're looking to make amends," here George looks over his DM shield at Eden pointedly, "you could bring her the news.' Oswald's staying out of this for now. He's unimpressed with all the shenanigans and vastly regretting hiring any of you sorry lot to help him in this investigation." George sniffs, snootily.

"Ember and Aldeyr, despite their truly impressive skills, cannot connect the tracks to anything they've seen before."

Re: Campaign

[quick_clean_pure]

"We would be most happy to tell his daughter and definitely not pester her for clues," Graverobber quickly deadpans. "What is her name and-slash-or location so that we would be able to do that thing that I just said we would do?"

Re: Campaign

[arkadia]

"What he said," Eden chirps, jabbing a finger at Graverobber. "'Sensitivity' is our middle name!"

Re: Campaign

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine is grinning at Graverobber and Eden, and finding it hard to stay in character. "Once Aldeyr is satisfied that... Once I'm satisfied that I can't determine anything more about the tracks and the scene of the attack, I return to the group."

She looks over her character sheet for a moment. "I would like to try and reassure Sagh that some of the investigators don't intend to... make light of death. She may be a useful ally and future source of information if we don't piss her off completely."

But how to do so in a rather pompous way, a la an aloof, self-important half-elf sorcerer? And there's the situation with Oswald... "Slightly loudly, mainly for Sagh's benefit but also where Oswald can hear, I seek to reassure Sagh that if at all possible, we will determine who or what is responsible for the deaths of George Gilly and Quentin Nary. That the loss of such upstanding folk of this community will not be overlooked and cast aside as unimportant due to them not being some noble, and that Gilly's daughter will be provided whatever closure and solace we can bring her. The neighborhood will be made safe for honest folk to live and thrive in."

"... If I have to roll for that - persuasion?" she grins, glancing up from her dice and her plus-five modifier. "Twenty-three?"