Lair of the Petty Tyrant

Introduction:

For almost 200 years, the surrounding countryside has been held in the grip of a line of Petty Tyrants. Using arcane powers and a seemingly endless supply of brigands, thugs, and even orcs (or worse) that seem compelled to do their bidding, the family of Tyrants (calling themselves the Archibalds, though locals have other names for them) exact tribute in the form of crops, coin, and even people from time to time. Although a few stalwart citizens, and even wandering heroes, have tried to end the rule of the Tyrants, none have succeeded. Some even turn to serve the Tyrants.

The current Tyrant is the 10th of the line, Flandrin Archibald, and his "Queen" Mary Archibald. They are rarely seen by any who return to report it. Instead, their proxies dispense the justice and exact the tribute from the scattered villages of the region. The Red Lord, armored and mysterious, and the Black Collector, wrapped in robes of darkest night, are the field commanders who guide the human and not-so-human minions of the Tyrants. Myth says that these two have been by the side of the Tyrants since the very first one, Oswald Archibald, almost two centuries ago.  

Recently, the raids by the Tyrant's forces have grown scarce. Rumors have begun to spread that maybe the 10th Tyrant has met a hopefully horrid fate. No bands of brigands or orc raiders have issued forth from his redoubt in the hills north of the town of Darlington in more than 6 months. The locals are looking for a brave group of adventurers who would venture north and see if their tormentors have gone for good - or are merely gathering strength for some more sinister purpose.

You are those brave adventurers.

D&D 3.0 Rules
1st level
1 roll on magic items table to be conducted by the DM once characters are complete.

This is where we deal with any and all out of character issues. I will start with a couple of options;

Rolls - three choices;

a) you roll here and post in front of all
b) you roll and tell me via PM and I post the results in a narrative way
c) I roll and post in a narrative way.

Experience;

a) Earn it per encounter (the traditional D&D way)
b) Earn it per "goal" (i.e. I give XP based on an arbitrary and unknown DM fiat)

Vote now.

(Jeopardy music)

I vote (c), then (a).

I vote (a), then abstain.

(a) and (a).

For experience, I vote (a) and for rolling, I am not sure how to do option (a) here.  Just need an explanation.  Thanks

For marching order, I will take front rank with the fighter assuming that is where he will be.  Either way front rank is fine.

Well, I  mis-spoke a bit, not sure you can roll HERE, but you would post your roll number on the thread.

Alvin will keep to the middle of the ground. Rear if that's not possible.

Quote from: Venosha;232354For marching order, I will take front rank with the fighter assuming that is where he will be.  Either way front rank is fine.

I think that's a pretty logical assumption: Cærnas is an impetuous youth with solid riding skills, and he'll probably end up out front simply by dint of impatience.

Given that his contemplations often overide his perception skills, Tench rides at the back of the party.

Does anyone else see anything, or should we wait for DeadUematsu/Alvin?

I'd like to make a Spot check, but have neither dice nor die roller. Could someone help a brother out? I Spot, somewhat pathetically, at +0.

Quote from: Engine;233085I'd like to make a Spot check, but have neither dice nor die roller. Could someone help a brother out? I Spot, somewhat pathetically, at +0.

13 rolled.

I had chosen alvie to notice it simply because he was the only one with a Spot skill; however, you can follow his gaze and notice it as well, Engine.

Did I reacted to quickly? If so, sorry about that.  I would like to roll for Knowledge(nature) and listen.  If it applies?  I assumed that I could look since Alvin made the announcement.  

It has been quite a while since I have played by post, so you might have to pull me aside once or twice to bring me back a bit.