[RPG] Sword and Sorcery Play-by-Post

Graveblossom Grotto
5: Scenario 10-31-15 End of First Chronicle

4: Scenario 10-23-15 Dragons: Dimensional Travel, Anatomy, and the Dragons so Far

3: Scenario 10-16-15 Mages: Executing Magic by School

2: Scenario 10-9-15 Action: Game Pace

1: Scenario 10-4-15

Epitaph for Cecette
[spoiler]No Stone Unturned
[spoiler]5: Scenario 10-2-15

4: Scenario 9-24-15

3: Scenario 9-20-15

2: Scenario 9-11-15

1: Scenario 9-4-15[/spoiler]

Viridian Stones of Audamar
[spoiler]7: Scenario 8-31-15 IMPORTANT: Locked Characters and Retroactive Continuity Dimension: Rules of 3

6: Scenario 8-28-15 General: Multi-Boxing

5: Scenario 8-22-15

4: Scenario 8-20-15 General: Leaving and Rejoining the Game

3: Scenario 8-17-15

2: Scenario 8-9-15

1: Scenario 8-1-15[/spoiler]

Ogre Cardinality
[spoiler]8: Scenario 7-24-15

7: Scenario 7-20-15

6: Scenario 7-18-15

5: Scenario 7-12-15

4: Scenario 7-5-15

3: Scenario 6-28-15

2: Scenario 6-19-15

1: Scenario 6-9-15[/spoiler]

First Snow
[spoiler]8: Scenario 5-30-15 GameMaster Change: Tamamo's in Charge

7: Scenario 5-25-15 GameMaster Change: Self-Nominations

6: Scenario 5-16-15 GameMaster Change: Flash RPG Format

5: Scenario 5-8-15

4: Scenario 4-25-15

3: Scenario 4-18-15 Combat: ReACTion

2: Scenario 4-12-15

1: Scenario 4-4-15[/spoiler][/spoiler]

A Night with Telivar
[spoiler]Here be Monsters
[spoiler]10: Scenario 3-29-15

9: Scenario 3-20-15

8: Scenario 3-13-15

7: Scenario 3-7-15

6: Scenario 2-27-15

5: Scenario 2-20-15

4: Scenario 2-13-15

3: Scenario 2-7-15

2: Scenario 2-2-15 General: Act Medias Res, General: Action Tennis

1: Scenario 1-30-15[/spoiler]

Sailing the Sea of Gold
[spoiler]7: Scenario 1-27-15

6: Scenario 1-23-15

5: Scenario 1-20-15

4: Scenario 1-16-15

3: Scenario 1-13-15

2: Scenario 1-10-15

1: Scenario 1-6-15[/spoiler]

House of Telivar
[spoiler]10: Scenario 1-2-15

9: Scenario 12-26-14

8: Scenario 12-23-14

7: Scenario 12-19-14

6: Scenario 12-16-14 Dragons: Dragon Corruption, Humanoids: Dominant Physical Characteristics

5: Scenario 12-12-14

4: Scenario 12-9-14

3: Scenario 12-5-14

2: Scenario 12-2-14

1: Scenario 11-30-14[/spoiler]

The Mansion Grounds
[spoiler]8: Scenario 11-29-14

7: Scenario 11-25-14

6: Scenario 11-21-14

5: Scenario 11-18-14

4: Scenario 11-14-14

3: Scenario 11-11-14

2: Scenario 11-7-14 General: Grouped Scenario

1: Scenario 11-4-14[/spoiler]

The Filthy Rabbit Tavern
[spoiler]7: Scenario 10-31-14

6: Scenario 10-28-14

5: Scenario 10-24-14 Combat: Defense

4: Scenario 10-21-14 Combat: Offense, General: Free and Locked Characters

3: Scenario 10-17-14 Mages: Thirteen Schools of Magic, Mages: Tapping Arcane Power, General: In-Character actions

2: Scenario 10-14-14

1: Scenario 10-10-14[/spoiler][/spoiler]

Before I start, I have a question or 2.

1- Can we have/control more than 1 character?
2- Are the only limits the ones you set and that of our imagination?
3- ???
4- Profit!

1.) You may only have one character; that's for my sanity more than yours. Perhaps down the line I'll consider lifting that restriction, but for now one character per player.
2.) Yes, the only limits are your imagination and the little nudges I provide now and then.
3.) The color twelve.
4.) Yes!

My character is Sancireph, a NG half-elven fighter. I will grab my pack and other belongings from the table, walk to the bar, and attempt to engage the bartender in conversation by asking about the beverage he is preparing.

Well, it's Friday (several weeks later) and we finally have a player!

For people jumping in after this point, just do your best to insert yourself into the situation. In the tavern this should be relatively easy, but if you need help let me know.

[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph, you collect your belongs so that they will not be snatched by the debaucherous patrons when left unattended and you approach the bar. The tender is STARTLED by this; with the servers taking orders he doesn't usually interact with the tavern's patrons. You ask him about the BEVERAGE and he explains that it's a medicinal brew he prepares for himself each night. When you inquire further, he elaborates that quite a few adventurers visit the tavern and a great deal of them are in possession of various DANGEROUS MAGICAL TALENT. He prepares this concoction with a SPECIAL INGREDIENT he purchases from the MAN WHO LIVES ON THE HILL outside town so that he can protect himself from their various sorcerous inclinations. He offers to SELL YOU ONE if you're interested, but warns that it will also PREVENT YOU FROM USING MAGIC, if you're one of those wizard types.
Considering you're a swords and axes sort of guy, will you take him up on the offer?

"I might be interested, but what is the cost? And I would know more about this 'man on the hill' you speak of. Who is he?"

I'm gonna throw in my hat (after some much though on what sorta character to play as)

Name: Mangetsu Zataka
Class: Paladin
Weapon: Great Sword
Armor: Heavy Plate Armor
Misc Gear: Milani's Pendant (given to him by his wife; offers protection from water/ice based attacks, weapons and spells. Can also only be manipulated by the original owner)
Magic: Healing and Buff spells (Holy Type) with a few attack spells (again, Holy Type)
Appearance: http://authornumber2.deviantart.com/art/Mangetsu-Zataka-Battle-Stance-322771085

I'll await confirmation before posting further. Otherwise, I'm sitting near the end of the bar listening in on any information of a certain person's whereabouts. Though the conversation the bartender is having has some interest on the man on the hill as well as anyone with dangerous magical talent.

I should include some further info on Sancireph.
Class: Fighter
Race Half-elven aasimar.
Alignment: Neutral Good
Weapons: Katana (main hand) and wakizashi (secondary hand)
Armor: Elven chain
Hair: White Blonde'
Eyes: Gold (due to assimar heritage)

[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph, the bartender explains that he might be able to dilute his own dose to spare enough of the ingredient for you, or possibly go a day without, but it's going to cost around 50 gold (That price is OUTRAGEOUS). Then, he smiles and looks at the guy with the piles of loot at the center of the tavern.
"Tell you what, I'll put it on HIS tab. He's buying rounds anyway."
He prepares a mix of the brew and places it in front of you. It's bubbling and it smells rather bitter.
You ask again about the MAN ON THE HILL, but the bartender does not reply. It seems he does not wish to discuss the matter further.
Do you take the drink?

[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka, you've been following rumors of this particular individual for days with nothing giving way to a solid lead, and you're exhausted. You decide to just sit back and try to enjoy the ambiance of this filthy place before you continue your journey in the morning. Still, as you were eavesdropping on the guy talking with the BARTENDER, you grow curious about this MAN ON THE HILL. It's not really related to your current search, but since you're pulling weeds anyway you figure you might as well ask around. You could speak with the BARTENDER directly, talk to the PATRONS and find out if the guy's a local figurehead, or speak with the SERVERS making their way around the establishment. What do you do?

I will take a small sip of the drink to see how it tastes. In the meantime, I take a look around the tavern to see if there is anyone or anything odd or of interest.

With my personal search at a dead end for the time being, I decide to ask the patrons and servers alike about the man on the hill that I've begun to hear about.

(This looks like fun, I think I'll join in.)

Malichor enters the tavern. I am dressed in a long black cloak with the hood pulled up, a pale face and black hair just visible underneath. My ultimate goal is the search for greater magic power, but I most likely entered the tavern 'cause I like bunnies. Noticing the crowd gathered in the middle of the room, I take a seat away from the commotion and try to grab the attention of a server to order.

Sancireph notices Malichor, but watches him only out of the corner of his eye, ostensibly watching the man with the piles of gold in the center of the room.

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Setting Elaboration

Mages: The 13 Schools of Magic
Psionic
Darkspace
Hedge
Prayer
Scry
Dance
Phantom
Gourmet
Paper
Math
Toon
Lycaon
and Dragon

Most wizards specialize in one form of magic and dabble in a few other schools. There is also great debate about whether Dragon magic is actually a unique mysticism or just regular magic contaminated by "dragon radiation".
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Rule Clarifications

Mages: Tapping Arcane Power
If your character has wizardly abilities, try to describe them in thorough detail the first few times you utilize them. I will use these details to determine where the character's talents fall in the thirteen schools of magic, which I can then use to add structure to your powers later in the game. Remember, you are free to do whatever you please in this game; I will work out which school fits best. In other words, cast spells to determine your school, don't make assumptions about a school to cast spells.

General: In-Character Actions
When acting for your character, try to post in the first person. When asking questions about the game, try to separate the questions from your character actions with paragraph breaks or, more preferably, by putting the questions in parentheses at the top or bottom of your post.
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[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph, you sip the avocado beverage and note that it is rather like DRINKING FIRE. You find it difficult to imagine how that bartender manages to down these things every night. The drink is tremendously bitter, almost to the point of making you gag, but it leaves a lingering minty aftertaste thata is rather pleasant. You also feel it numbing your inhibitions... the SECRET INGREDIENT must be concentrating the alcohol in the beverage... either that or he threw in various liquors to try and conceal the taste. Maybe the herb is so bitter it can't be taken raw?
You notice a dark-clothed WIZARD enter the tavern, take a corner, and flag down a server. But it is an adventurer's tavern, so this isn't particularly suspicious. There's also a heavily armored... SOLDIER? making the rounds and asking patrons about the MAN ON THE HILL. But the one that's got your attention is the patron with the PILES OF GOLD at the center of the bar. Where did he find all of that money?

[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka, you gather a lot of CONTRADICTORY information about the MAN ON THE HILL. Some of the patrons, mostly travelers, know very little about the hill lord. Some of the adventurers have heard rumors about an eccentric and powerful magician in this region, and jumped to the conclusion that the lord on the hill was he. As for the townsfolk, their stories too are divided. Several claimed that the mansion belongs to their MAYOR, while others have no memory of the building being there at all. In fact, when they went to the tavern windows to look they were startled to see it. Something sinister is at work here.
The only patron you didn't discuss the matter with was the MAN WITH THE GOLD at the center of the bar, as his gregarious generosity is making him difficult to approach.

[MENTION=38796]Xyvol[/MENTION]
Malichor, you are finding it difficult to get the attention of the SERVERS, mainly because most of them are scrambling to take the orders of the patrons swarming the CENTER TABLE. You finally manage to flag someone down, but instead of taking your order the server hands you a tall, FIZZING BEVERAGE and a platter of CHICKEN WINGS. Do you correct the mistake?
You are also rather frustrated by the poor service in this place, so you decide to draw some RUNES on your table with your index finger. What do you write? Is it gibberish? Are the runes infused with magic?
The place is crawling with adventurers, almost to the point of being a CLICHE. Of note, there's a WARRIOR in chainmail nursing a BIZARRE DRINK at the bar, and a heavily armored SOLDIER questioning the patrons of the bar (though he hasn't gotten around to you yet). What do you do?

I leave the drink, as it is too bitter to finish, and, taking my pack, make my way towards the man with the piles of gold. ((Can you give me a more accurate description of him, like race, age, clothing, demeanor, things of that nature?))

Amending my character, he uses Prayer(since its the closest to Holy magic I guess)

With the locals and patrons providing few details and even more questions, I decide to make my way to the man with the gold and inquire if he knows anything of the man on the hill as politely as possible, wishing to avoid any unnecessary conflict if I can help it.

mrz84 wrote:Amending my character, he uses Prayer(since its the closest to Holy magic I guess)

Don't be quick to jump to conclusions about how magic works. Like I said, define your power first and then I will define where that power comes from.

I was intentionally vague about how each school of magic works for this very reason.

I'll use Healing magic as an example, explaining methods of healing for some of the schools that take to it more readily.

Prayer Magic is the magic of firm conviction. Believing in something bestows power upon it. In a sense, prayer magic allows the wizard to make assumptions about the world and force them to be true. For healing, a prayer magician believes that the power within can be transferred to the suffering individual, placing hands and speaking phrases that invoke the belief and cause it to become real.

Math Magic is the magic of probability manipulation. Any event may be purged from the record, forcing reality to jump to the next-most-likely event. For an injury, the math magician eradicates the event of the severe wound, shifting it to be just a scratch or--in cases of extreme mystical power--making it no injury at all.

Hedge Magic is the magic of plants. A hedge wizard might grow healing herbs, mash them into a paste, and apply it to a wound. Alternatively, the hedge wizard might grow a fungus that is specifically designed to fill in the gaping wounds of the injured person.

Gourmand Magic is the magic of cuisine. A gourmage can heal injury by infusing a meal with energy and feeding it to the afflicted, triggering a regenerative effect in the body.

That's not to say that the other schools cannot cast healing magic; it is quite the contrary. Think of schools as flavors applied to an effect; the effect is unchanged but the flavor changes the narrative impact of the effect.

So you can stick to prayer magic if you like, but don't feel constrained by it. Your character has healing magic. Perhaps the healing is a combination of all of these things; an amalgam of various powers. Perhaps the source of such power will change over time. Try to let my setting information inspire you, rather than constrict you.

The closest thing I can use as a comparison to describe the abilities would be to compare them to a D&D Paladin since my character is a Paladin and uses holy/light magic. I assumed the closest thing to it would be Prayer, so if I was wrong, I apologize. The magic he know is pretty limited to 1-2 healing spells and a few defensive buffs (increasing defense, magic resistance, and attack power for a limited time for example) while his other abilities would be strictly sword techniques for offensive attacks (they are mostly neutral in element, though some could have elemental properties. ie: a fiery sword slash vs a plant type monster) I don't have them all worked out yet as I didn't expect to have to use them yet, so again, I apologize. I'll go over what I have in mind for him when I get home from work tonight and post anything I need to, or we can even go over it via pm before I post anything here.

No need to apologize. This setting's power sources are not as rigid as those used within the D&D collections, so I just wanted to emphasize that you need not fret how you use magic.
From what you describe... yeah, your paladin's primary source of power would likely be Prayer magic. Laying on hands with conviction on an injured victim and healing wounds is an infusion of prayer energy. Likewise, a chant that improves the performance of others would be infusing conviction into them, thereby improving them with your own belief. Again, that would be Prayer magic.
Also, don't worry about having your character completely defined. You are free to add things as you go, including the discovery of new powers. Since there hasn't been any peril yet (and I haven't defined what exactly combat entails), don't worry about these things until they arise, okay?

I don't mind discussing in the thread, since others might have similar questions. Since I'm linking to scenario updates in the second post, it shouldn't hurt the flow of the game.

Thank you for the clarification. I'm just the type who likes to plan his characters' abilities out ahead of time as much as possible within their background (Mangetsu for instance is the father of a character from the Bar-Buddies webcomic I used to post here years ago). Anyway, I'm done character ranting now and ready to get back to the game. :kitty:

My Sancireph character outside of this thread has a sort of "sixth sense" due to his aasimar heritage. It gives him the heightened ability to detect traps, secret doors, and can often tell if a person is lying, but not always. Will you allow that here?

TheDarkOne wrote:My Sancireph character outside of this thread has a sort of "sixth sense" due to his aasimar heritage. It gives him the heightened ability to detect traps, secret doors, and can often tell if a person is lying, but not always. Will you allow that here?

Yep, sounds like he's subconsciously channeling Scry magic. Perhaps it is a talent he shares with his people, or perhaps it is a personal benefit that will grow with time. We'll have to wait and see.

(Yeah, this is great stuff! Keep it coming)

I sniff the fizzy drink to try to determine what it is before I attempt to drink it. The runes I draw are simply a short, colorful review of my experience with the wait staff, though in a language/script only know to other magic users. I will watch the center table to see what is going on over there.

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Rule Clarifications

Combat: Offense
If you choose to engage in combat, know that the effectiveness of your performance is directly proportional to the creativity of your action. Simply attacking an enemy will get you very little. Use the scenery, use your special techniques, describe the way you attack, and take advantage of the scenery. Remember--if a detail has not been declared, then it is fair game. For instance, I never stated whether or not there is a moosehead on the wall of this tavern. If you wish to take down a moosehead and then slam it over an opponent's head, rendering him blind while he stumbles around looking ridiculous, go for it!

Also, in combat certain opponents will be locked while others will be free. Just like with conversations, you are free to describe how your attack has impact on a free opponent, but not on a locked opponent. For the purposes of this first brawl, every brawler is free and thus fair game.

General: Free and Locked Characters
Just a reminder, when you encounter a character that you as a player are not allowed to control, I will inform you at the end of the post that the character is LOCKED. If I do NOT tell you a character is locked, you may have them say and do whatever you please in the course of anteing your actions.

Once I've told you a character is locked, that character remains locked until I inform you otherwise. If you attempt to control a locked character, I will inform you in the next post that the character is locked and I will respond as if you did not control the character.

Characters that belong to other players are always locked.

Every patron in the bar, including the MAN WITH THE GOLD and the BARTENDER, is a free character. The MAN ON THE HILL is a locked character, however, meaning that when you have a free character talk about him, you will need to use phrases like "He tells you about the MAN ON THE HILL" so that I can fill in the specifics in the next scenario post.

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[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph, the man is a human, likely in his thirties, dressed in attire that is inappropriate for the wealth he is flaunting. Clearly it was a recent acquisition, and from your gut you feel that he made this fortune through LESS THAN LEGAL avenues, and he seems quite pleased with himself for having done so. You push your way through the crowd to confront him, but he seems distracted by the scores of people trying to garner favor with him in exchange for a piece of the prize. You ponder about how you will manage to GET HIS ATTENTION, but as you plan the heavily armored SOLDIER you were watching earlier walks up, takes out his giant sword, and knocks the piles of gold to the floor. The other patrons scramble to claim these scattered coins; what do you do?

[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka, you try to catch the attention of the MAN WITH THE GOLD as politely as possible, but he is absolutely distracted by the scores of patrons trying to get a piece of his prize. Frustrated, you take out your greatsword and use it to knock a massive portion of the PILE OF COINS onto the floor. They scatter, clanging bit by bit like hailstones as they strike the hard ground. For a moment there is silence, and then the crowd breaks into a roar as they scramble to gather the scattered wealth. The man with the gold gives you a sour look, but you do not allow him to speak.
You demand to know what he knows about the man on the hill. He seems flustered by the question.
"Ho... how do you know about that?"
He is scrambling now, scrapping what's left of the gold into his satchel. What do you do?

[MENTION=38796]Xyvol[/MENTION]
Malichor, you sniff the drink and find it smells quite sweet. Taking a sip, you notice that the beverage is carbonated. You've heard of this... certain establishments have started serving this SODA stuff to their younger patrons--sugar water with artificially infused bubbles--though you wonder why a tavern would bother serving such things as they are non-alcoholic.
Looking past the bad review you inscribed onto the table, you watch as a heavily armored SOLDIER takes out his weapon and knocks the piles of gold to the floor. The chaos that follows is almost inviting; patrons crawling on the floor and clawing at each other trying to snatch a handful of toppled wealth. You can tell they are just seconds away from grabbing weapons and launching fireballs at each other. It's been a while since you had a GOOD BRAWL... what do you do?

I grab the arm of the man with the gold and pull him firmly away from the table and out of the reach of the soldier's greatsword. He reaches for his satchel and the remainder of his gold but I tell him to leave it or he'll be crushed by the chaotic mob. I take him towards the door and push him out ahead of me, then follow to get away from the chaos. Once we are outside, I glance over my shoulder to see if anyone has followed. The man looks at the door as if he wants to go back in but as I am between him and the door, he instead calls me an obscene name and storms away. ((Can it be taken as read that I have my pack with me from now on unless circumstances prevent it?))

I try to regain my composure from my outburst, not having been so frustrated like that in years. With diplomatics failed and a mob of people between the man and myself, I sheath my weapon and try to go out the closest window to pursue the man. I look around my surroundings once outside in an attempt to locate and pursue the man for whatever knowledge he can provide, even if I must bribe him to do so with what little coin I possess. For the time being, I'll avoid trying to anger the elf and explain my reasons if possible.

Regarding the soda, I just think "Meh... bunnies." I will prepare a spell to fling chicken wings like projectiles at any looter/brawler that gets too close for comfort. The soldier and the man with the gold are my main focus now, and I am interested in finding out what is going on between them. Should they be split up, I'll follow the soldier to ask what prompted the outburst.

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Rule Clarifications

Combat: Defense
While engaging in combat, you will inevitably be subjected to hazardous situations, such as the very deadly prospect of being thrown through a window. You will ALWAYS have time to react, however. When the narrative indicates you are in peril, the means through which you describe the mitigation of that peril will help you reduce the injury you suffer.
For instance, if the MAN WITH GOLD had been a player character, he might have shielded his body with his arms to restrict the injury to his limbs, or he might have thrown his weapon at the window while he was airborn to break the glass before he arrived, effectively nullifying the injury.
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[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Sancireph, you yank the MAN WITH GOLD away from the SOLDIER and toss him out the window. Odd... you meant to calmly walk him out of the door, but instead you flung him through the window. Your PULSE RATE is accelerating and something feels... wrong. You hurry out of the tavern after the man, finding him on the ground dusting the shards of glass from his clothes. A few particularly large shards are lodged in his body; he begins to shout PANICKED OBSCENITIES as he tries to crawl away. The soldier that threatened him emerges from the tavern.
You felt yourself CALM as soon as you departed the tavern, and you sense that this soldier too was being pushed to aggression by some unseen force. Still, he did attack the man. A MAGE joins you outside the tavern and looks down upon the injured man. What do you do?

[MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]
Zataka, you feel a THROBBING RAGE building in your head. Your arms are shaking and you find it PHYSICALLY DIFFICULT to sheathe your weapon. Still, you grit your teeth and put the sword away, following the MAN WITH GOLD out of the tavern. As soon as you pass through the threshold of the window you feel the anger depart you. What manner of SORCERY is this? The man is on the ground, suffering from lacerations and embedded shards of glass as he writhes on the ground. The HALF-ELF threw him through a window, after all. He is standing beside the man, collecting himself. Additionally, a MAGE approaches from behind you. What do you do?

[MENTION=38796]Xyvol[/MENTION]
Malichor, you push the soda away, as it wasn't the flavor you were seeking. Strangely, you find yourself with a flavor for BLOODLUST... some intense force is driving you to violence. Closing your eyes, you focus your mystical senses and detect a pattern of PSIONIC MAGIC radiating off the piles of gold that are scattered along the floor; it would seem there was an embedded spell of RAGE that was set to trigger a riot as soon as the pile of gold was disturbed by aggression. There is also a secondary effect on the coins themselves... a PHANTOM SPELL summoning spirits of greed and anger in the vicinity of the gold. The two together tell you a great deal; clearly the gold was booby-trapped by someone--possibly even the man at the center table. You decide to follow the SOLDIER outside, where you find the MAN WHO FORMERLY HAD GOLD seriously injured on the ground. He seems to have been maimed when that HALF-ELF standing next to him threw him out of the window. What do you do?.

I kneel beside the injured man. Being assimar (let me know if you need more info on what that is), I have the ability to heal minor injuries, similar to the Lay On Hands ability of a paladin, but unlike a paladin, I can never use it more than once per day, even if I go up in level. I try to pull some of the larger shards of glass from his body, checking for any serious injuries while I do so. Once most of the glass shards are removed, I use the healing ability to close as many of the wounds as possible. Afterwards, I look up at the solider and mage that have emerged from the tavern, and get to my feet as I size up the situation.