TheRPGSite

OK. Looks like we may have as many as 6 players for this test run, which should be fun! If you are one of the 6 people that have expressed an interest, this thread is where we hash things out. You'll have to bear with me to some degree on this, as the game is far from finished. However, the skeleton is there and that is what this game is for - bashing the skeleton to see if anything falls off!

Quote from: One Horse TownOK. Looks like we may have as many as 6 players for this test run, which should be fun! If you are one of the 6 people that have expressed an interest, this thread is where we hash things out. You'll have to bear with me to some degree on this, as the game is far from finished. However, the skeleton is there and that is what this game is for - bashing the skeleton to see if anything falls off!

Just a few things to get out of the way first.

SH uses a dice pool mechanic and i want you to roll your own dice! If you're at work, this will be a pain. Luckily, those nice SRD folks have a dice roller on their site (d20 dice bag which is on the links section). Here, you select the number of d6 you need to roll and it does it for you. Make a note of multiples. A double = 1 success, a triple = 2 successes and so on. If you roll a couple of doubles, then add the successes together. The same applies for any other combination of multiples: a double and a triple = 3 successes...etc, etc. I'm not bothered about verifying your results - we're all grown-ups! :D

The first thing that i want prospective players to do is decide whether you want the game to be a non-fantasy or a fantasy version. Simply tell me what you'd prefer and we'll go with the majority. Fantasy games involve supernatural critters and strange artefacts & architecture from an unknown source, whilst the non-fantasy does not.

One other thing. I don't think that you can send attachments via PM, which is a pain. I don't really want to splash everything on the forum, so to get this going, i'd prefer rules etc to be sent direct to the players. I have e-mails for everyone who has expressed an interest except Jim Skatch & Drew. If you still want in then PM me your mail address (unless someone knows how to send attachments via PM that is!).

Once we know what game we want to play, we can start talking about chargen and get some rules sent out.

Quote from: One Horse TownOK. Looks like we may have as many as 6 players for this test run, which should be fun! If you are one of the 6 people that have expressed an interest, this thread is where we hash things out. You'll have to bear with me to some degree on this, as the game is far from finished. However, the skeleton is there and that is what this game is for - bashing the skeleton to see if anything falls off!

I'm up for either, but I'd prefer non-fantasy.

-clash

Makes no never-mind to me.  I get my fantasy fix with my wif...uhhh...I mean...when I play D&D! :haw:



How do they differ?  Is it a fell kind of thing?  No magic or clerics? More gritty?

Quote from: James J SkachMakes no never-mind to me.  I get my fantasy fix with my wif...uhhh...I mean...when I play D&D! :haw:



How do they differ?  Is it a fell kind of thing?  No magic or clerics? More gritty?

Fantasy includes technological artefacts, magical special abilities and monsters, vermin, non-human races and suchlike. The non-fantasy does include vermin and a couple of non-human races, but no other typical fantasy trappings. Vermin and the non-human races are included in a non-fantasy simply because of the conditions of the castle and the effect this had on evolution etc.

I'd prefer fantasy but can go either way.
 
My impression though is that the fantasy version is still rather low magic compared to D&D.
 
And I typically have dice in my work bag so not a problem.

Quote from: NicephorusMy impression though is that the fantasy version is still rather low magic compared to D&D.
 

Yep, this is true. I suggest folk have a look at the SH FAQ, which will answer some questions (if you haven't already). I'm attaching it here in case you haven't had a look.

I'm a Uniter, not a Divider.  I'd like to start local and mundane -- as much for the sake of simplicity as anything else -- and then spiral outward into the more fantastic.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaI'm a Uniter, not a Divider.  I'd like to start local and mundane -- as much for the sake of simplicity as anything else -- and then spiral outward into the more fantastic.

!i!

Yep. It's going to be a local game for sure - like you say, start simple. Well, that's 3 mundane preferences (i'll have to change that term!) and 1 fantasy preference so far. Only Drew to post and Premier, if he gets the time this week. Even if they both go fantasy, it'll be deadlocked.

Shall we say non-fantasy and cut to the chase?

Quote from: One Horse TownShall we say non-fantasy and cut to the chase?

Sure.

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaI'm a Uniter, not a Divider.  I'd like to start local and mundane -- as much for the sake of simplicity as anything else -- and then spiral outward into the more fantastic.

!i!

Yeah, I like Ian's thinking - book it.

OK. We'll start off by each of you picking a feature that you like the look of, or if you're feeling brave, roll randomly. Bear in mind that each feature chosen by you will make up the local game area and will contain the game (at least to begin with). This means that there are readily available reasons why your PCs know each other. The reasons for this can be expanded upon once we've chosen features, decided on the culture & customs of the area and i've done some NPC and problem creation.

But first things first - pick a feature that you would like your PC to come from. Ignore any features with an (F) suffix as these are for fantasy games.

I know that everyone bar James and Drew have the SH document, but resist the temptation at this stage to do anything but pick a feature. If they want the feature chart then PM me. I'm going to have to do some Special Ability substitution at some stage as well. However, if those with the document want to discuss things, you can start creating the culture and customs of the area if you like. We'll leave the actual PC stuff for now though. That requires some stuff that i would prefer didn't have to be posted to the forum. So PM me those e-mail adresses! :)

Mail address sent.

Non-fantasy is fine by me, for what it's worth.

I'll only be able to post either early in the morning or during the evening, due to work commitments. If that's ok by you then I'm good to go!

Quote from: One Horse TownOK. We'll start off by each of you picking a feature that you like the look of...

I'm partial to the Tower Top Observatories.  If that seems a little too fantastic, then Brewers Factories has a distinct appeal.  I have a third choice, but I'll sit on that on for the time being.

!i!

Master Features List received. :)

I already have a rough character concept in mind. The Charlatans Market Stalls fits it quite nicely.

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaI'm partial to the Tower Top Observatories.  If that seems a little too fantastic, then Brewers Factories has a distinct appeal.  I have a third choice, but I'll sit on that on for the time being.

!i!

Yeah. Portents relies on visions (or in this case, the study of heavenly bodies) and Artefact Mastery presumes the existence of the architects and the fantasy tech they leave behind. If no-one else has a problem, we can work Portents into a non-fantasy setting (enough people run their lives by astrology now, perhaps it's a bit more effective in SH?). Artefact Mastery however, is only of use in a fantasy game. If you want to swap that one for another Special Ability, i have no problem with that. Other than that, Brewers factories is ok.

Quote from: One Horse TownArtefact Mastery however, is only of use in a fantasy game. If you want to swap that one for another Special Ability, i have no problem with that.

What I was rather hoping for was someone with a visual lay of the land from above, but nothing quite so precise as a member of the Cartographers Guild.  What I'm really looking for is someone who would reasonably have an awareness that you can see Point X from above or point to it on a map, but you seemingly can't get there via the actual building passages and such.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaWhat I was rather hoping for was someone with a visual lay of the land from above, but nothing quite so precise as a member of the Cartographers Guild.  What I'm really looking for is someone who would reasonably have an awareness that you can see Point X from above or point to it on a map, but you seemingly can't get there via the actual building passages and such.

!i!

How about substituting the Artefact Mastery special ability for Navigation 2 skill? We can then add 1 die to your Portents ability (making it 3 dice in total).

That sounds like a most suitable "mundane" alternative to me.

So, we have the Charlatans Market Stalls located in the vicinity of the Tower Top Observatories.  What else?

!i!

[FONT="]I rolled Arm-breaker Guild House.  I'm not sure that I want to be from the guild (I might opt for one of the previous two) but it would make a good nearby feature.  Depending on the relationship with the Charlatan's market, the guild could enforce that all sales are final or force sellers to give refunds.  The guild could also be a source of odd jobs, either working for them or helping someone being sought by them.  
[/FONT]

I rolled a 64 Trailblazers Advance Camps. For some reason, the term "advance camps" has me concerned...

I rolled whorehouses.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceI rolled whorehouses.

-clash

So did I, clash - but we're not reliving college days right now....






:rimshot:

Quote from: James J SkachSo did I, clash - but we're not reliving college days right now....






:rimshot:

College days? I was talking High School... :O

-clash

Charlatans Market Stalls
Arm-Breaker Guild House
Whorehouses
Trailblazers' Advance Camp
Tower Top Obsrevatories

Dan, may we have a description of who the Trailblazers are and the nature of their advance camp?

My impression, regardless of who they are, is that the charlatans, the whorehouses, and the arm-breakers have converged to take advantage of their encampment.  Or perhaps it's the other way around -- that the Trailblazers have arrived to take advantage of this den of iniquity.  Rising uncomfortably above it all, is their long-standing neighbor, the stodgy and serious-minded celestial philosphers of the observatory.  It's like when a strip club opens up the next block down from your residential neighborhood.

!i!

Ooh, nice spread of features. :D

Trailblazers are sent out into uninhabited or little known parts of the castle to make them safe for habitation. They are part warrior advance party, part diplomatic mission.

In the case of this area, it makes sense that the game area is slightly isolated or at the very edge of known areas (thus the advance camp), but has started to see more people coming in to populate it (and so isn't miles and miles from anywhere, but a bit of distance). The advance camp has become a bit more like a 'base camp', with the other features growing up around it and the tower-top observatory (which the trailblazers found here and decided to make use of). This makes for some tension between the tower and the 'riff-raff' below.

That's how i see it, but if you want to add anything to that or whatever, it's your game!

You can discuss how the features relate to each other and how they are physically connected if you wish. I'm attaching the Building Cultures & Communities section now, so that you can add that to the mix with some fledgling customs and the like. I would suggest that there is unlikely to be a government at this time if you go for the isolated option. If it's on the edge of a known area, then a government is more likely. Anyhow, how you connect all this up and use the cultures stuff is up to you!

Quote from: One Horse TownOoh, nice spread of features. :D

Trailblazers are sent out into uninhabited or little known parts of the castle to make them safe for habitation. They are part warrior advance party, part diplomatic mission.

In the case of this area, it makes sense that the game area is slightly isolated or at the very edge of known areas (thus the advance camp), but has started to see more people coming in to populate it (and so isn't miles and miles from anywhere, but a bit of distance). The advance camp has become a bit more like a 'base camp', with the other features growing up around it and the tower-top observatory (which the trailblazers found here and decided to make use of). This makes for some tension between the tower and the 'riff-raff' below.

That's how i see it, but if you want to add anything to that or whatever, it's your game!

You can discuss how the features relate to each other and how they are physically connected if you wish. I'm attaching the Building Cultures & Communities section now, so that you can add that to the mix with some fledgling customs and the like. I would suggest that there is unlikely to be a government at this time if you go for the isolated option. If it's on the edge of a known area, then a government is more likely. Anyhow, how you connect all this up and use the cultures stuff is up to you!

I like this! More of a frontier feel. That whorehouse is more Mrs. Cassidy's Home for Wayward Girls in Dodge City than a rackhouse of penny drabs in London. Makes sense it would be around the soldier's camp, too. A new boomtown would have armbreakers as well. It fits nicely!

-clash

Yeah, could be cool. Like one of Ian's special abilities, unfortunately, the special ability Kisses in the whorehouse entry is pretty fantasy based. However, i can do a little bit of tweaking to make it more influence based than 'magical' in utility. So leave that with me and i'll post the tweaked ability a bit later.

Once folk have decided on how things are laid out and the culture of the area, we can move on a bit. I'm about to create the NPCs and problems for the area which can be used to create your affiliations & rivalries (i'll post details on these a bit later).

So while i create the NPCs and problems, you guys can hash out the lay of the land and the culture of the area.

If you manage this before tomorrow, i'll post some info on the folks of the area. From the 28th, for a few days, i'll be offline. So lets see if we can get the game area fleshed out a bit before then. :)

For Drew's and Jim's benifit, i'm posting the feature entries for Charlatans Market Stalls and Trailblazers Advance Camps here. I haven't got as far as detailing the description or day in the life entries for most features yet. But they should give you an idea of what they are about. The rest of you have the whole document and so i won't post details of the other features here. :)

----------------------------------------------------------------

64Trailblazers Advance Camps

The crater was huge – it looked as though a giant had scooped a great handful of the earth and the buildings that had stood there and scattered it to the four winds. Rubble lay in a hundred yard circle around the wound. Of the people of Fallen Shakes, there was no sign. No one could have survived the cataclysm surely? Captain Farstrider ordered his troop into the breach and they scattered quickly about the crater, searching for any sign of the inhabitants.

A battered veteran finally approached Farstrider. "Nothing here sir. It's as if the place never existed."

The captain nodded morosely, "Well, at least we can tell the Baron that there's room for expansion here. Tell the men to pack up. We head back to base today."

Player Character Information
Stat Mods: Physique +1
Skills: Weapon (any one) 3, Stealth 2, Scavenger 2, Ingratiate 1, Pest Control 1
Special Abilities: Diplomatic 3
Status: 2

88Charletans Market Stalls

"Roll up, roll up! This miraculous lotion here is guaranteed to put lead in your pencil! You know what I'm talking about gentlemen. The ladies certainly do. Am I right?" A titter of nervous laughter emerged from the small crowd, swiftly stifled by angry muttering.

Dr. Carpetbagger stashed the offending bottle in one of his robes voluminous pockets. Another tack was needed.

"How about this little vermin catcher? Never need to be terrorised by a King Rat or Bloodworm ever again! Only 3 bits each. You want one miss? Sure, one of Dr. Carpetbagger's vermin catchers for the lady here!"

Player Character Information
Stat Mods: Reasoning +1, Bearing +1
Skills: Ingratiate 3, Stealth 3, Underworld 2, Haggle 2, Preach 1, Weapon (any one) 1
Special Abilities: Scams 3, Kingpin 2
Status: 1

Off the top of my head, here are a few ideas on relationships between features to see how others feel about them.
 
There is something or some things valuable in a nearby uninhabited area.  Maybe a meteor hit destroying an area and leaving valuable ore.  Or maybe a rich area had a fire.  Or maybe a rare plant has been found in the area.  Whatever, there's a new potential source of wealth plus stuff from former inhabitants that might be up for grabs (I get the idea that almost everywhere has former or present inhabitants).
 
The trailblazer guild has come in to try to go about making use of this new wealth and how to deal with issues such as terrain that is now uncrossable or unsafe, animals gone feral, and fraudulent claims of ownership.  The observatory has been put into use to figure out optimal paths and concentrations of wealth - how much info they have given to the trailblazers and how much they have kept to themselves is a matter of much speculation.
 
The charlatan market was set up to supply the new community with various sundries in this semi-frontier area.  On the side, they have been sneaking out and trying to find the stuff the trailblazers are looking for and are eitehr selling it or selling forgeries.  The trailblazers consider this an affront to their monopoly on their line of work and have called in the arms breakers to quarantine the new area and keep an eye on the charlatans.  But the trailblazers don't have any authority to make the charlatans leave and need them to bring in supplies.  
 
The whorehouse moved in to take advantage of people with new money who wind up doing lots of sitting and waiting.  They've become involved in the politics of the area, helping the charlatans to try ot find the wealth and playing the trailblazers and observers against each other to find out what each side knows and sell some of that info to the other side.
 
I'm just throwing stuff out.  Feel free to modify or reject any parts you don't like.

Good stuff Nicephorus! A couple of things to bear in mind. Anything that you come up with will also be subject to the GMs 'secret problem generation' which i have just done. No need to take any notice of that, but be aware that these probelms may alter or change the context of any conflicts you come up with. Appearances might be decieving and all that. Don't stop coming up with stuff, but the context may change a bit as you discover new problems during play.

Secondly, remember that you are going to be playing together, so don't go overboard too much on rivalry or double-dealing between your features or you'll have trust problems. :)

When i've got some NPCs to report on, i can post on them and the problems that your PCs know about. We can then start tying in the features, their problems, your PCs and your affiliations & rivalries.

I was thinking a working relationship with a bit of tension, not a cold war.  All the groups need each other but there's some concern over if new wealth is going to come in and who is going to get the lion's share and a general idea that none of the groups are working as hard as one's own group.

Quote from: NicephorusI was thinking a working relationship with a bit of tension, not a cold war.  All the groups need each other but there's some concern over if new wealth is going to come in and who is going to get the lion's share and a general idea that none of the groups are working as hard as one's own group.

Groovy! :D

Quote from: NicephorusThe trailblazer guild has come in to try to go about making use of this new wealth and how to deal with issues such as terrain that is now uncrossable or unsafe, animals gone feral, and fraudulent claims of ownership.  The observatory has been put into use to figure out optimal paths and concentrations of wealth - how much info they have given to the trailblazers and how much they have kept to themselves is a matter of much speculation.

Originally, I'd vacillated between the Tower Top Observatories and the Cartographer's Guild House, all with a particular idea in mind.  Years ago, a friend of mine who was traveling in Morocco was telling me about how, in the city of Fes, archaeologists were discovering small portions of the city that had been walled in over the centuries -- closing a window here, building a wall there, sealing off an unused door, etc.  Before long, a whole block might have been accidentally sealed off and forgotten as the residents just became accustomed to operating around it.  Without an accurate survey or map, or even just a bird's-eye view, no one could tell that anything was missing.

Now, the Cartographer's Guild seemed a little too adventurous at the time -- too likely to want to pick up and move on.  I'm re-thinking this now, but with little regret.  I like the notion of a celestial philosopher who should be looking to the skies, but has been pressed into service by the Trailblazers.  Maybe it's too soon for the Cartographer's Guild to set up shop here, but they're needed.  In the mean time, a lower functionary or two of the Celestial Philosophers (let's go ahead and formalise their organisation) have lowered their eyes from the skies and onto the Horizon instead.  In due course, certain logical anomalies have been identified -- portions of the castle that should be accessible from traveled paths, but aren't for some reason.

!i!

Quote from: Ian Absentiasmall portions of the city that had been walled in over the centuries -- closing a window here, building a wall there, sealing off an unused door, etc. Before long, a whole block might have been accidentally sealed off and forgotten as the residents just became accustomed to operating around it. Without an accurate survey or map, or even just a bird's-eye view, no one could tell that anything was missing.

I could totally see that when you have continents sized structures.  Plus, if there isn't population pressure locally, it might be easier to seal off problems than deal with them. Can't figure out what that smell is?  Simple, don't go in there any more.  Generations later, no one remembers (correctly) why no one goes down that hall.  
 
Ian also brings up another good point.  There might be minor tension within the tower.  Some might resent being pulled from their true higher calling and some might have grown to like looking at real things and having a measurable effect on their community.

Okey-dokey. I've created problems for the features and NPCs and Authority Figures for each feature. What remains is to tie them into the local area. Once you guys have hashed the area out (maybe naming organisations, features and local areas, customs, size of features etc), i'll post more about these personages and what you know of them.

Then, we can get to the nitty gritty of chargen, including stats, skills, affiliations & rivalries, status and goals & ambitions. All of these are tied into the local area, so once we've got that down pat, we can get those done.

For now though, just the names of the Authority Figures...

Charlatans Market Stalls - Master Deep-Pockets

Arm-breakers Guild House - Mr. Greengrass

Whorehouses - Madam Red-dress

Trailblazers Advance camp - Captain Farstrider

Tower-Top Observatories - Mr. Stargazer

One thing I'm thinking of is that the Whorehouse will need the services of the Arm-breakers Guild on a semi-regular basis. If a customer gets out of hand, or one of the "girls" gets mis-treated, they'd need to call on the arm-breakers fast. Perhaps there's even a rotating guild member on call in the house? Seems like a nice job if you can get it.

-clash

Excellent ideas so far.

Right now I'm seeing the Charlatan's Market Stalls as a parasitic subcommunity that has sprung up in the shadow of the Observatory, populated by purveyors of bogus good luck charms and prophecies of dubious provenance. In the wake of the recent impact disaster this parastitic rabble has nearly trebled in number, offering all the false hope and ephemeral promises their desperately shaken clientele can afford.

Unfortunately the proximity of these shysters to the Celestial Philosophers has endowed them with a faint veneer of respectability, and many is the "Astrologer Puissant" who will claim intellectual and spiritual lineage from the nearby August and Venerable Brotherhood of Astronomers and Bacheleors Physic. To the ruck and run of the population there is no tangible difference, save that the charlatan's are offering something in the here and now that will salve a person's worries in such uncertain times...

Good idea Clash. In practice, the job would mostly entail standing around and exchanging gossip so it would be a good spot for either a PC or NPC.

Quote from: flyingmiceOne thing I'm thinking of is that the Whorehouse will need the services of the Arm-breakers Guild on a semi-regular basis. If a customer gets out of hand, or one of the "girls" gets mis-treated, they'd need to call on the arm-breakers fast. Perhaps there's even a rotating guild member on call in the house? Seems like a nice job if you can get it.

-clash

With that in mind Clash, how about swapping out the Kisses special ability for the Protected ability? Nice and simple and would reflect what you are talking about here.

Quote from: NicephorusGood idea Clash. In practice, the job would mostly entail standing around and exchanging gossip so it would be a good spot for either a PC or NPC.

Right, Nicephorus! Most of the time he'd be just there, making his presence known, but when you need an Arm-breaker, you really need one fast. :D

-clash

Quote from: One Horse TownWith that in mind Clash, how about swapping out the Kisses special ability for the Protected ability? Nice and simple and would reflect what you are talking about here.

No problem.

-clash

Right, i'm offline for a few days now, so if you want to hone your game area ideas until then, we'll continue chargen when i get back! :)

Does anyone have any thoughts on physical layout?  What's the terrain/climate like?
 
Does anyone have a strong idea where their character is from?  I don't think we need to have one character from each area and I don't think we need to fill roles or niches to an extreme degree.

I'd like my character to hail from the Charlatan's Market Stalls. I chose the Feature as a suitable environment for the Faginesque con-man astrologer concept I had.

Incidentally, does anyone have any thoughts on the Stalls as I described them? I'm quite happy with the idea of my character being the sole individual whom inhabits his niche, but thought the idea of a rowdy "futures market" made for a interesting twist on the conventional set-up. Almost a physical representation of the many psychic hotlines that compete for gullible peoples money, but smellier and more profane.

Quote from: DrewIncidentally, does anyone have any thoughts on the Stalls as I described them?

I think it ties the stalls and tower together nicely.  If the observers are predominately academic in outlook, they may not be easy to approach for such services.

Quote from: NicephorusDoes anyone have any thoughts on physical layout?  What's the terrain/climate like?
 
Does anyone have a strong idea where their character is from?  I don't think we need to have one character from each area and I don't think we need to fill roles or niches to an extreme degree.

I didn't choose it - it was a dice roll - but I like being from the whorehouse.

As for climate, I was, for some reason, envisioning something mediterranean.

-clash

Quote from: NicephorusI think it ties the stalls and tower together nicely.  If the observers are predominately academic in outlook, they may not be easy to approach for such services.

Yeah, I like the idea of the Observers being the ones who actually know anything worth a damn, but are too aloof to ever share such knowledge with their social inferiors.

Of course the Charlatan's are only too happy to exploit the situation for all it's worth. A  well-placed stall in the shadows of an observatory is considered almost emblematic of it's holder's divinatory powers, meaning the competition for such spots is fierce and bloody. What makes things worse is that many of these propheteers actually believe their own mythology, lending the marketplace a dangerous and faintly deranged air.

Smiling benignly over this eel pit of cut-price dreams and broken faith is Mr. Deep Pockets, to whom even the most psychotic stall owner remembers to pay his monthly "tax" without fail.

I was definitely envisaging my character as a resident of the Tower Top Observatories, but not as an especially adjusted or integrated member (I'll probably take at least one point of Rivalry within the Observatory, and maybe one point of Affiliation with the Trailblazers).  He's found a calling in life that's at odds with his assigned role.

As for climate, I hadn't really given it consideration, but I like clash's suggestion of Mediterranean, though, strictly speaking, this would necessitate a significant body of water.  Dare we introduce water?  A nice, big sea to cause a fellow's eyes to squint in the mid-day sun might be lovely.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaI was definitely envisaging my character as a resident of the Tower Top Observatories, but not as an especially adjusted or integrated member (I'll probably take at least one point of Rivalry within the Observatory, and maybe one point of Affiliation with the Trailblazers).  He's found a calling in life that's at odds with his assigned role.

As for climate, I hadn't really given it consideration, but I like clash's suggestion of Mediterranean, though, strictly speaking, this would necessitate a significant body of water.  Dare we introduce water?  A nice, big sea to cause a fellow's eyes to squint in the mid-day sun might be lovely.

!i!

A sea stretching off into the distance, with tunnels stretching off under it, for who knows how many leagues...

I love it! Dan's already mentioned seas, so we know they are there... :D

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceI love it! Dan's already mentioned seas, so we know they are there... :D

Well, you know what seas mean, right?  Pirates Ships (roll #76)!  Sooner or later they'll have to show up.

As long as we're thinking Mediterranean, let's talk construction materials.  Blinding white limestone, almost chalk, might be the most easily quarried matieral, though quarrying deeper renders marble ranging from white to ghostly grey-blue.  Thick, chalky, grey-green mud from the shorelines lends itself to dense green ceramic tiles.  

Chalk, limestone, and marble all being readily eroded materials, the buildings all have a soft, almost organic outline to them from ages of weathering and neglect (though only from the outside, granted).  Woody scrub plants, many heavy with resinous bark and leaves, grow in the cracks in the masonry under the hot sun.

Many portions of the castle feature broad arches, collonades, roofed breezeways, and open courtyards to take advantage of the breezes coming in off the water.

Are we going with the notion of a meteor-fall?  Perhaps the meteor fell near the shoreline of the sea, whereupon the sea poured into the ragged outline of the crater.  Sturdier sections of the castle that weren't flattened by the impact remain in ruins hanging onto the edge of the sea, and broad galleries and corridors open jaggedly onto sun-baked ruins that eventually lead to the sea.

!i!

Quote from: flyingmiceA sea stretching off into the distance, with tunnels stretching off under it, for who knows how many leagues...

The only problem I have with that route is that it might make the tower observers less useful.  Ocean sure.  But underwater tunnels wouldn't be visible from the towers.

If you're happy with the area you've created, then we'll proceed when i'm back properly on Sunday. Giving the area a name would be cool too.

Ok, I'm back. Bit squeezed for time tonight, so i'll post some stuff tomorrow. I presume that you're happy with the area as created so far. I'll put some names to faces and the area in general unless you've got some ideas you want included. :)

Sounds good to me.

Oh, you're already starting? I thought it was still at least a week away...

Anyway, if there's still time to hop in, I can do it on Monday, most likely. Personally, I wouldn't mind a character who hails from rafters or rooftops, but I'm happy to go along with anything, really.

OK. I've used the random customs & communities tables and reveal the results below. The brief history of the area i extrapolated from these rolls and the info that you have posted in this thread. The problems mentioned below are not the problems created for individual features, they simply arose out of my interpretation of the area to add more flesh to the bones and more possibilty for mischief. Coming up with a few names for the main features would be cool. I'll be posting info about individual features next, along with any problems that you know of about them. If you want any specific stuff mentioned or added, just holler and i'll put it in. :)

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The Bay of Stars Area – Population approx. 800

Deity: Stonebreaker
Holidays: Mask
Government Type: Authoritarian
Mandates: Bounty (Red Ladies) 5 crowns per head
Customs: Footraces are popular entertainment & Each doorway has a bell attached
Unusual Laws: Burial of the dead forbidden. Must be cremated.

The Bay of Stars area perches on the shore of a tranquil bay and is only part of a larger area of the castle rules over with a firm grip by Baron Darkdirk. The walls of the castle descend to the tide line and although there are some small spaces that folk can squeeze between; access to the surf is almost impossible. The area gained its name from the impressive limestone tower that dominates the headland. The houses, features and colonnades that dominate the region are made from the limestone that forms the bedrock of the promontory upon which the area stands. This has led to some of the problems that plague the area. Some weeks ago, a huge chunk of rock hurtled from the sky, destroying the abodes closest to the sea and turning other buildings into rubble. Since then, a religious cult revering the mysterious deity known simply as Stonebreaker has arisen. These scared folk leave offerings to placate the God, as they saw the destruction as his work. Before the cataclysm, there were pleasant Cliffside tracks that weaved between the clustered buildings and these tracks hosted numerous foot races that attracted athletes from far and wide for the money that was awarded to the winners. Half the course is now in ruins and some of the more mercantile-minded folk of the Bay would love to see it re-opened and re-built; something that would require hard work and accurate engineering to achieve. But the asteroid not only destroyed buildings and the race course – it also uncovered gaping holes in the earth that lay beneath the rubble of the buildings; maws that gape invitingly to the curious. The Trailblazers moved their camp here to take advantage of these uncovered passages.

Due to the wreckage wrought by the asteroid, a new law is in force that forbids burial of the dead, in case their remains should shift and resurface due to further unexpected disasters. Breaking this law is punishable by a month of incarceration in the Baron's prison.

Another mandate that has recently come from the Baron's court has caused other ripples. A bandit group that has plagued another of the Barons lands has had a bounty put on their heads – 5 gold crowns per head. Called the Red Ladies, they are unusual in that the whole group were women. Who knows what they were rebelling against or where they are now?  

A quaint custom of the Bay of Stars is the hanging of bells above each doorway. People soon got fed up with them tinkling the whole time when the door was opened, so now they are simply nailed above the portal. The custom is said to date back to the time when the area was over-run with thieves and ne'er-do-wells, but has persisted and is seen as a lucky charm to ward off thieves.

Another local custom is the holiday of Mask. On the longest day of the year (accurately forecast by the Celestial Philosophers), the residents give each other handcrafted masks that depict jovial faces. A day long festival ensues, with much dancing and drinking. The part of the day that many dread, however, is the time of truth. On this day, each person wearing a mask is permitted to ask one question of whomever they choose – this question must be answered truthfully, thus 'unmasking' a secret. Many folk make arrangements to travel away from the area before the festival of Mask swings around...

Beside the homes of the residents, the arches, colonnades and walkways that criss-cross this crowded part of the Horizon, a number of important features have grown up here. Possibly the first (to take advantage of the high ground on the promontory) was the tower of the Celestial Philosophers, were serious men and women have gathered to search the heavens for portents and to study the night sky. A community soon grew around the tower, both to service it and to take advantage of the pleasant environment. A huge market has grown here, full of honest and dishonest traders (indeed, some of the market-stall holders would have you believe that they are Celestial Philosophers – something which many gullible folk are all too easily convinced of). Where large communities of men gather, invariable another service becomes available sooner or later – that of the oldest profession, and the Bay of Stars has a veritable warren of pleasure houses. Bring in someone to take advantage of both the markets' crime and the money-spinning opportunities that the whorehouses present and it's no surprise that organised crime moved in, in the shape of a large Guild House for the Arm-Breakers. The meteor strike has recently brought a new power player to the area though. On hearing the news of the catastrophe, the Baron has sent nearly all of his Trailblazers here to investigate and take charge of things.

All of these factors have brewed resentments, power struggles and opportunity in equal measure - A recently unearthed document is said to exist that, if true, could change everything. The area that fell into the sea was known as Fallen Shakes and this document is said to contain secrets about the area that lead to great riches.

Quote from: PremierOh, you're already starting? I thought it was still at least a week away...

Anyway, if there's still time to hop in, I can do it on Monday, most likely. Personally, I wouldn't mind a character who hails from rafters or rooftops, but I'm happy to go along with anything, really.

Hey mate. Post what you want to play and we'll see if we can fit it in, but see if it can follow the sort of theme that has already been rustled up.

Quote from: One Horse TownHey mate. Post what you want to play and we'll see if we can fit it in, but see if it can follow the sort of theme that has already been rustled up.

Riff-raff from the rafters and rooftops (say that five times fast) would make a convenient and intriguing segue between the camps below and the tower(s) above.  Premeir has my vote.

!i!

Right, i'm going to be posting more details about the individual features now, along with prominent NPCs and what you know of them. It'll take a while to get them all posted, but once they are, we can get to chargen proper! :)

Edit: I should note here that everything has been generated randomly, with me fitting the details to this particular area. If you have any comments or questions about anything i post here please ask away!

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The Cobbles - Charlatans Market Stalls

Size: Large (500 yards x 500 yards) Population – approx 250

There are several linked marketplaces in the Bay of Stars. Taken together, they represent a huge, sprawling labyrinth of shaded passages, small open courtyards, small shops and bazaars where colourful characters try to sell their wares – whatever they may be. In recent times, trying to gain entrance to the tower of the Celestial Philosophers has meant running the gauntlet of a crowd of noisy and determined market-sellers, some of whom even claim to know the secrets of the tower!

There isn't much that can't be found in this huge market and a fortnightly visit from a Merchant Caravan keeps stocks high. Many parts of the markets are thronging with shysters, beggars and con artists, whilst others seem to hold only bedraggled children.

Presiding over this disorganised rabble is Master Deep Pockets, a man of infinite charm when dealing with customers, but who has little patience for the sellers in the market if they come to him with hair-brained schemes or get caught doing something they shouldn't. He doesn't suffer fools gladly and those who test his patience might find that his deep pockets hold more than his hands. One such person who has felt his wrath is Mr. Fancypants, a man so filthily dirty that the moniker sort of stuck as a back-handed honorary. Fancypants makes his living by hawking looking glasses that he swears have been made by the Philosophers themselves (when Cog found out about this, he blew a gasket and confronted the unlucky vendor – see Tower-Top Observatories for details on Cog, the head engineer of the tower). Since then, Deep Pockets has on several occasions torn a strip off of Mr. Fancypants in public.

If Deep Pockets is impatient and Fancypants unhygienic, then it's fair to say that the purveyor of 'elixirs both strong and true' (known lovingly as Hollering Jack) has ideas above his station. Known throughout the market as a bootlick of the worst kind with delusions of grandeur, Jack is a common sight near the tower, shouting out his wears in the hope of a sale and he is not above name-dropping in the process.

The complete reverse of Jack is the dour little man who makes a living by selling faulty rattraps to unsuspecting passers-by. Scowl has the manners of the critters that his traps don't catch, but it is often observed that he may have hidden depths – in unguarded moments, he can be seen staring into the middle distance, deep in thought. About what, no one knows.

Of almost equal note is the 'silken garments' stall (dyed lined stretched to breaking point). Mistress Red-Bead, a booming redhead, who runs a brisk business, runs this colourful stall. Her voice caries even further than Hollering Jack's and although pleasant to converse with she has a rather untrustworthy reputation among the stallholders. After all, who knows what she does at that time of night when she's been spotted hurrying along the corridors of the castle?  

Last, but certainly not least, is Mother Twinkle. This rotund lady is the picture of good health, joviality and meticulous organisation. 'Twinkles' Pastries' is a popular destination for many locals (some of whom walk for hours to get a taste of her renowned sweets). Once they've had a taste, they are almost guaranteed to come back for more. Because of this popularity, Mother Twinkle is one of Master Deep Pockets favourites – something that is not lost on many other stallholders.

PC Information

Stat Mods: Reasoning +1, Bearing +1
Skills: Ingratiate 3, Stealth 3, Underworld 2, Haggle 2, Preach 1, Weapon (any one) 1
Special Abilities: Scams 3, Kingpin 2
Status: 1

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaRiff-raff from the rafters and rooftops (say that five times fast) would make a convenient and intriguing segue between the camps below and the tower(s) above.  Premeir has my vote.

!i!

Riff-raff indeed, my stalwart earthbound slogger friend! But I agree about the above-below divide. Anyway, the character I proposed to OneH. would be Scout Capitan Soarhigh, glider pilot.
So I'm thinking that maybe as the mysterious rock from the sky fell, it was observed by a relatively recent eyrie, and the good Capitan has been sent out to investigate, a mission he accepted with the cheerful optimism he's known and loved for. Some people might say that his dour fellows, intimidated by his aura of reckless swashbucklery, just wanted to get rid of him, but of course that would be stupid; everyone likes jolly courageous Capitan Soarhigh, none more so than the groundplodders whose dreary lives are brightened up by the perilous exploits the Capitan always manages to place himself and his companions in. He has found a place to stay at the tower of the Celestial Philosophers (or maybe he just took over a few smaller room in an abandoned wing of the tower), where he's spent the last few weeks trying to figure out just what exactly this "investigation" is supposed to entail.

Or, if want to have an actual whole Eyrie in the area, then maybe it could be located in the smaller, secondary towers surrounding that of the Philosophers, with the two groups engaged in a dispute over ownership rights - that might bring some more conflict of interests into the game. But all in all, I do feel that the glider folks - either a whole group or just a few individuals - would have migrated here only recently, intent on exploiting the meteor impact in whatever way they might. Or if you have other ideas, sound them off!

Oh, and a question to OneHorseTown: glider pilots are supposed to be humans, not, say, Rafters, right? My version of the doc file doesn't go into a description of the various PC "races".

Quote from: PremierOh, and a question to OneHorseTown: glider pilots are supposed to be humans, not, say, Rafters, right? My version of the doc file doesn't go into a description of the various PC "races".

Yep, human...or a big splat of red stuff on the floor. It depends really. :D

Sounds good so far. I would prefer a small eyrie, rather than a lone visitor. The smallest size of feature only has 10 residents anyhow, so it's nearly a lone job!

Arm-Breakers Guild House

Size: Normal (100 yards x 100 yards) Population – 100

A large two-story limestone building squats like an anxious toad over some of the more disreputable areas of the Skin-District. From the regimented interior of this building emerge the cronies of the criminal over mind of the Bay of Stars. A few smaller attached buildings that hold among other things a wrestling ring radiate from the Guild House of the Arm-Breakers. These hard men and women concern themselves mostly with protecting the ladies of the night and twisting arms for anyone else who has enough money to pay them. Small windows peer like beady eyes from the upper storey of the building, giving the Guild House a leering aspect. Luckily, most folks never look up that far. This building is one of the closest to an area of Fallen Shakes that was recently plunged into the sea by the meteor. In recent weeks, many of the thugs have been struck down by a mystery illness. Symptoms include a wracking cough, fever and small blisters on the hands and feet. Folk who have shown an interest in this outbreak have been told in no uncertain terms that it's of no concern and anyhow 'mind you own business'. Perhaps the nearby destruction has unearthed something rotten under the earth?

The man with his hands on the tiller of this Guild House is the redoubtable Mr. Greengrass – a softly spoken man of impeccable manners and stares that could freeze a block of ice. His calm manner sometimes erupts into seething anger – not of the bombastic kind, but of the kind that makes men think with parts of their bodies not designed for the task. He is known as a man not to cross and even the leaders of the market stalls and the whorehouses defer to him in many matters. This perhaps makes Greengrass the most powerful man in the area – until the Trailblazers appeared. This development has made Mr. Greengrass start thinking with things other than his mind. This is a development that may shake the area up in unexpected ways.

Greengrass's most trusted Arm-Breaker is Clamper; a man whose hands are so large that he can wrap each one around a man's head and still have room to hold a cheroot. This brute is not known for deep thinking, but is known to follow orders to the letter. He doesn't seem to revel in his work, yet has no regrets when he has to take action that would leave others sickened. Clamper is most often used as muscle when a loan from Greengrass hasn't been re-paid. Woe to anyone who gainsays him.

Considering his profession and the uses he puts his 'equipment' to, it might be surprising that Professor Tong (the Guild's chief interrogator) is a popular man in the Bay of Stars. He has a ready wit, enjoys performing magic tricks for crowds of howling children and helps those in need (if it doesn't interfere with his work). Strangely enough, his joviality does not extend to Mistress Red-Bead, whom him ignores icily.Tong is certainly an enigma, as he puts his tools to use in a heavily guarded room of the Guild in extracting information from folk who have crossed the Guild. Some feel that the humour is a front for a much more sinister plan peculating away in the Professor's mind, but he is normally so disarming, that few put much credence in this opinion.

Even among the ranks of a guild of thugs, there are those that get the jobs that no-one else wants. The guild has a crew of low-ranking members whose job it is to clean up the twisting maze of passages in the Skin district of effluent, drugged customers and vermin. It's good for the girls and therefore it's good for the Guild. The leader of this crew of men is called Slop. For a man who spends his days up to his elbows in shit, he has a mightily dismissive attitude to folk and waves people away as though they are of no import whatsoever. This has put him on many peoples bad sides and when he is seen coming, as often as not, the street magical empties. A whisper in the Guild recently was that Slop was seen speaking to a man wearing the Baron's purple. Although no one seems to know where the rumour originated, it first materialised on Mask day and so has gained some credence.

PC Information

Stat Mods: Physique +1, Bearing +1
Skills: Fists 3, Intimidate 3, Underworld 2, Clubs 2, Drinking 1, Stealth 1
Special Abilities: Arm Breaker Guildsman 3, Kingpin 2
Status: 1

Sweet, Dan! The arrangement betwen the Ladies and the Armbreakers looks tighter than I had anticipated, but it's all to the good. :D

-clash

The Skin District -Whorehouses

Size: Normal (100 yards x 100 yards) Population – 100

If the Cobbles can seem confusing, then the maze of badly lit alleyways, cramped and ivy overgrown colonnades and hidden alcoves in the Skin District would challenge even the smartest rat in a laboratory's cheese riddled maze. Often, the first you know of a hidden alcove of delight is when soft scarlet light splashes onto the passageway at your feet. Of course, if you in the Skin District in the first place, chances are you're not going to be that surprised at these sudden revelations. There are dozens of separate boutiques within this warren, each competing for the workingman's cash. Rivalries with competing businesses are commonplace, but the presence of the Arm-Breakers keeps things from breaking into open hostilities (and gives the thugs a chance to skim takings and point the finger elsewhere). These alleys are normally full of detritus, both human and vegetative – something that seems to have attracted hoards of a particularly hardy type of wall-crawling lizard that have long, long tails. A couple of would-be customers have stumbled into the cosy nest of their paramour with long wheals on their arms and faces – swearing that the beast that did it was bigger than they were! To a typical giggled reply of "Of course deary! And there were ten of them, weren't there?"

If anyone can be said to represent the interests of the district, it is Madam Red-Dress, who speaks up for the girls with Mr. Greengrass often (some gossips suggest that they are having an affair). No longer young, she runs her own shack in one of the cleaner areas of the district, but seems to have her eye on moving somewhere a bit more upmarket. This could cause problems. A notorious hoarder, Madam Red-Dress is covered in cheap jewellery, some of which mysteriously vanishes from a girl one night to appear around the Madam's neck the next day. What else she has stored away in the chambers that only she has the key to, is the subject of much conjecture in the district, and indeed beyond. Recently, there has been a concerted effort by an unknown party to drive a rift between Mr. Greengrass and the Madam and she has had to talk herself out of some tricky situations of late.

The Bower of Unearthly Delight is a gnarled apple tree that has somehow managed to survive within the shade of the castle. A ladder leads up to a crude tree house, where Peaches welcomes visitors. This dark beauty lounges on expensive furniture that looks out of place in such a rustic environment and warm rugs keep splinters from the feet. Peaches enjoys a brisk trade and has yet to encounter any trouble, which is a blessing as she lives here alone. This had led to the rumour that she must have a rich patron, both to keep her safe and in such relative luxury. Jealousy follows this lady around whenever she travels the district.

Big Bertha (named for her height, not her girth) is the proprietor of a bar that huddles under the eaves of one of the bigger businesses in the district. She pours cups of ale for passers-by for a reasonable price and has been known to entertain passers-by for a far less reasonable price. She is well spoken, never says a bad word about anyone and often gives a tot of rum to girls taking shelter under the eaves, free of charge. For this reason, there is often a small gaggle of the younger girls clustered around the bar, taking refuge for a short while from their labours. Many business operators distrust this growing influence Bertha has gained, even though she seems uninterested in exploiting it.

'Exotic Pavilions' is located in a surprisingly spacious building within the district. Here, Sister Fortune runs an establishment that appeals to those with more exotic tastes. Gossamer curtains separate each of the rooms and comfy cushions are scattered on the floor next to tables groaning with fruit. Scantily clad ladies scamper from room to room with pitchers of ruby-red wine for the customers – of whom, there are many. Sister Fortune is one of the only proprietors in the district who doesn't distrust Big Bertha, which earns her some cool looks from Madam Red-Dress when they meet. Sister Fortune does not tolerate beggars and more than one has been beaten heavily outside her establishment. One drunkard even had the gall to suggest that he has seen pouches of money pass between Fortune and Big Bertha.


PC Information

Stat Mods: Bearing +1
Skills: Ingratiate 3, Haggle 2, Gossip 2, Fists 1, Underworld 1, Stealth 1
Special Abilities: Kisses 3 (Swapped for Protected 3)
Status: 1

Trailblazers Advance Camp

Size: Large (500 yards x 500 yards) Population – 250

The recent arrival of the Trailblazers to the area has stirred things up a bit in the Bay of Stars, especially as they have the authority of the Baron to back them up (even if it is rarely used). Temporary encampments are scattered along the promontory, mainly consisting of robust 4 men tents and the odd pavilion. Some of the officers have moved into the shattered remnants of buildings damaged by the meteor strike. Conditions cannot be called welcoming here – just as well that these men are used to hard conditions. There have been murmurs of secret activity within the camp of late. There are a couple of ruined buildings that are cordoned off and always guarded and the sound of hammers and saws can be heard from them late into the night.

The bulk of their encampment is located by the edge of the cliffs however, and it is here that their leader Captain Farstrider can be found. A young man, by command standards, the Captain has been given an important job – to find out what happened here and to scout out the new tunnels unearthed by the meteor. It is something that he throws himself into wholeheartedly – some would say with too much enthusiasm. He seems to be involved in every little detail of the camp and holds his subordinates on a tight leash. He even seems to think that he should be involved in the running of other features on the Bay, which hasn't made him the most popular man in the world, especially not with Mr. Greengrass. Add to that his requisitioning of some of the Celestial Philosophers resources and manpower and you can sometimes feel the resentment in the air. If you get past this admittedly annoying habit though, he is down to earth and companionable, if a creature of habit. Every day at noon, he can be found buying his favourite pastries from Mother Twinkle's stall and it is here that many petitioners wait for him rather than brave the camp.

One of the captain's most trusted scouts is Mr. Cavernstroller, a man constantly covered in dust and mud. He is gone from the camp as often as he is present, on missions that few know about, and often returns with more gear than he left with. What he does with this stuff is anyone's guess, as he is rather uncharitably known as the stingiest man in the bay. If you're buying a drink, he'll appear at your shoulder, yet when it's his turn to buy he is no-where to be found.

Scout is in charge of the logistics of the camp, which can be confusing and hard work. He can normally be found within a nest of packing crates, sacks and pallets, examining goods or carrying out an inventory. If you want aid in organising a function, an expedition or even cataloguing your business files Scout is your man. He's popular for this reason, as he is happy to help as long as it doesn't interfere with his duties as quartermaster with the Trailblazers. However, his studiousness comes at a cost – he actually finds this stuff interesting and will bore you all day long with details given half a chance. He is known to cast calculating glances at Mr. Stargazer of the Celestial Philosophers at times – perhaps he's interested in some work within the tower.

One of the most renowned Trailblazers in the camp is Cullum the Brawn – a huge man with a huge appetite. If your food isn't nailed down, he'll eat it. He is known for his generosity. In fact it seems that wealth holds little of interest for him, he fritters away what he has on lost causes, charity and hair-brained schemes looking for backing. If he loses the money, he shrugs, gives a little laugh and looks for something to eat. A veteran of the Cerenesian campaign (something that the Trailblazers talk about often, to the bafflement of the locals. What was it?), Cullum is a fearsome warrior and can be seen practising on the cliffs at sunset with jealous greenhorns, eager for his knowledge.

Sergeant Yeller is the whiskered and bad-tempered leader of a small detachment of engineers and sappers attached to the Trailblazers. His temperament seems to have given him a perpetually florid face and it has become something of a game to some in the Bay to goad him until the veins start sticking out on his forehead. At evening time, he can invariably be found in his cups and will hold forth to any who will listen about how people with blonde hair aren't natural. He has an irrational hatred of blondes – even punishing men under his command for the colour of their hair. Some blame his parents, some the drink and others a curse. He is tolerated because he knows what he's doing.

The troop's mascot is the kit-boy, Grubber. This rapscallion of 15 summers scampers through the camp cleaning boots, tabards and tunics and polishing the brass medals of the commander. He always has a cheeky rejoinder for anyone who teases him and often starts cussing matches with the bored troops. What further endears him to the men, however, are the drawings he makes of their sweethearts. The young lad is a gifted and creative artist who in more affluent areas could probably make some sort of living out of it. Of late, his ready grin and cheeky manner have deserted him and many of the men wonder what is wrong. When the lad is seen now, he is constantly looking around and his eyes dart from side to side nervously.

Player Character Information
Stat Mods: Physique +1
Skills: Weapon (any one) 3, Stealth 2, Scavenger 2, Ingratiate 1, Pest Control 1
Special Abilities: Diplomatic 3
Status: 2

The Celestial Philosophers - Tower-Top Observatories  

Size: Normal (100 yards x 100 yards) Population – 100

The marble tower of the Celestial Philosophers rises for eight storeys above the morass of the castle below. It is easily the tallest structure in the Bay of Stars and can't be missed. Equally what can't be missed is the market that rings it, which is something to cause most of the contemplative men of the tower nightmares. Coming and going from the tower means running the gauntlet and so they stay put as much as they can. If anywhere in the area can be said to be the centre of the growing unease of the Bay of Stars, it is this tower. Close to the site of the cataclysm, facing pressure from the trailblazers for resources, being surrounded by charlatans marring their good reputation and finally, to add further insult to injury, the flat roof-tops of the tower have been 'borrowed' by a small group of nutters who think they can fly, have all affected the morale of the philosophers. The pressures on the organisation are beginning to tell and there are ruptures starting to form within the philosophers' ranks. Some want to help the trailblazers map and investigate the newly unearthed tunnels, some want to carry on regardless and yet others want to move away to somewhere a little bit quieter. As if that wasn't enough, since the meteor, parts of the tower have become no-go areas as bad air has leaked up from the limestone bedrock beneath the stronger marble. Those wishing to aid the trailblazers suspect that fractures in the earth have led to substances invading the tower and see this as a chance to halt the decline.

One of the philosophers who carries on regardless, is the leader of the order, Mr. Stargazer. This venerable and knowledgeable man has led the tower for decades and is unsurpassed in his weather predictions. His small chambers at the very top of the tower open out to a balcony where he spends his time watching the stars. However, this great man has started to lose his faculties. Since the meteor strike, he has been getting more and more vague and forgetful. When found wandering the lower reaches of the tower late at night, he has no idea what he is doing there or how he came to be there. He walks around with his shoes on the wrong feet, forgets to eat and can barely remember peoples names. Whether it was the stress of the meteor strike, old age or something else entirely that caused his rapid decline is debated secretly among the philosophers. If it weren't for the fact that his memory seems as sharp as ever when stargazing, then he would have been removed from office some time ago.

One of his oldest friends is saddened by his decline, but there is little that Dr. Eclipse can do about it. The good doctor has been the maker of the star-maps of the order for many years and grew up in the shadow of Mr. Stargazer. He was taken in by the old man as an apprentice and has served with honour for 20 years. However, ever since the old man's decline Eclipse has been short tempered and difficult to be around. When talk of the old man comes up, he storms off and slams doors. He won't hear of moving from the tower or of demoting Mr. Stargazer.

The sharpest eyes in the tower belong to Madam Far-Eyes, a lady who dresses exotically and looks terribly mysterious. She has been able to spot celestial objects that have been beyond the reach of all others and some of her portents based on these objects have been remarkably accurate. This has given her some esteem within the tower – which would be great if she didn't act as though it were her due, and that really she is the only one capable of such deeds. Her heritage is something of a mystery and rumours of outlandish equipment and idols in her rooms circulated by a nosy chambermaid have peaked many philosophers' interest.

The philosophers would have little success in their endeavours without the correct tools for the job. Cog is the man who designs, builds and repairs the looking glasses of the tower. He is as industrious as they come and takes great pride in his work – perhaps becoming too attached to his creations; he marks each glass with a unique code for identification. Cog seems to fund his own activities, as he never asks for resources from Mr. Stargazer, which has resulted in a small cadre of not so philosophically minded philosophers attaching themselves to the engineer in the hope of sharing some of his funds. Recently, a rivalry has started between Cog and Mr. Fancypants, the former seething mad that the market stallholder was passing off shoddy work as his.

Player Character Information
Stat Mods: +1 Reasoning
Skills: Spot 3, Lores (astronomy) 2, Research 1, Engineer 1, (Navigation 2 added)
Special Abilities: Portents 2 (upped to 3), Artefact Mastery 2 (dropped for Navigation 2 skill)
Status: 2

The Eyrie

Size: Tiny (20 feet by 20 feet) Population 10

A small group of eyrie residents have recently set up camp on the flat roof of the Celestial Philosophers' tower. Perhaps they thought that out of sight meant out of mind, but it wasn't long before they were discovered. Some sort of arrangement was made to allow them to stay, but tensions are very high – as they are in the area as a whole. The gliders came in on a swift southerly wind from the hillside villas located further up the coast to investigate the meteor strike that is the talk of the Baron's lands. They only occasionally take to the air as climbing up the tower after a dodgy flight is not for the faint-hearted. Disaster struck the group not long after their arrival. In the dead of night, when everyone was asleep, someone burnt one of the gliders.

Wingover – the groups leader has his suspicions as to the culprit, but as he is such a patient man, is not willing to point the finger unless he is 100% sure that he is right. The area is so small that no-one on the rooftop can miss the pigeons that fly in every other day bearing messages for Wingover, or him writing a reply and sending the bird back. Who knows what's in those messages?

The other member of this tiny group that stands out is Shrike. He is a young man with a sharp tongue and a sharper temper. He is not above using his fists to get his way in an argument. He's the black blot on the sun, the stone in the shoe and the fly in the ointment. No one knows why on earth he was chosen for this mission, but secretly, they all believe that Shrike was responsible for the destruction of the glider – probably in one of his more bombastic temper-tantrums. For his part, Shrike seems to sense that something is suspected of him and so has taken pains to curb his violent streak of late.

Player Character Information
Stat Mods: Manual Dexterity +1, Physique +1
Skills: Pilot (glider) 3, Climb 2, Scavenge 2, Haggle 1, Spot 1
Special Abilities: Cool 4
Status: 2


-----------------------------------------------------

Phew! OK. The local area is done and dusted. What i want everyone to do now is to tell me of anything that they want added or changed in the area and to choose a feature that you would like you character to come from. I presumed that you would use the features you originally rolled, but it's up to you.

Once we've done that, we'll get going on your characters.

Just a quick overview of the apparent relationships in the area. There are bound to be lots more that aren't know, will be generated during play etc.

Overview of apparent relationships

Open Rivalries – Master Deep Pockets and Mr. Fancypants
-   Mistress Red-Bead and Professor Tong
-   Mr. Fancypants and Cog
-   Mr. Greengrass and Captain Farstrider
Open Affiliations – Master Deep Pockets and Mother Twinkle
-   Mr. Greengrass and Clamper
-   Big Bertha and Sister Fortune
-   Dr. Eclipse and Mr. Stargazer
Secret Rivalries – Madam Red-Dress and ?   
Secret Affiliations – Peaches and ?

I've been a bit remiss in explanation here, i think. Once you have the feature you want to hail from, make a note of the Player Information at the bottom of the entry, adding the stat mods to your stats and noting down your skill ratings, special abilities and Status.

Starting Stats =

Manual Dexterity 3
Reasoning 3
Physique 3
Bearing 3
Pragmatism 3

I'm e-mailing all of you with the next stage in the process. This is choosing general skills, general abilities and generating your Affiliations & Rivalries (to aid you in this, i've attached the section on Status too). If you want any of this info secret from other players, simply PM or mail me with the info. Likewise if you have any questions you can ask away here or mail me or whatever. :)

Should we post our characters up on this thread, or just send them to you, Dan? Mistress Roundheels is done.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceShould we post our characters up on this thread, or just send them to you, Dan? Mistress Roundheels is done.

-clash

Eventually, we'll post them up here (bar anything you want to keep quiet). I was moving slowly so that the folks who haven't got the document or not an up to date one can be guided through the process and absorb the 14 pages i've just sent them!

We'll post them up, but for now mail it to me. I want a look! :D

Quote from: One Horse TownEventually, we'll post them up here (bar anything you want to keep quiet). I was moving slowly so that the folks who haven't got the document or not an up to date one can be guided through the process and absorb the 14 pages i've just sent them!

We'll post them up, but for now mail it to me. I want a look! :D

Emailed! :D

-clash

And here's Mistress Roundheels

Starting Character

Manual Dexterity 3
Reasoning 3
Physique 3
Bearing 3
Pragmatism 3

Environmental Mods

Stat Mods: Bearing +1
Skills: Ingratiate 3, Haggle 2, Gossip 2, Fists 1,
Underworld 1, Stealth 1
Special Abilities: Kisses 3 (Swapped for Protected 3)
Status: 1

Elected Skills

Prepare Food 1
Athletics 2

Elected Special Abilities

Cosmopolitan 2

Affiliations

Skin District - Whorehouses 1 (Free)
Cullum the Brawn 1

Rivalries

Sergeant Yeller 1

Goals

Setting up my own house of pleasure
Exposing Sergeant Yeller to public ridicule and
dismissal
Baking a perfect pie from the legendary creamberry.

--- Finished Character ----

Mistress Roundheels

Manual Dexterity 3
Reasoning 3
Physique 3
Bearing 4
Pragmatism 3

Skills: Ingratiate 3, Haggle 2, Gossip 2, Athletics 2,
Fists 1, Underworld 1, Stealth 1, Prepare Food 1

Special Abilities: Protected 3, Cosmopolitan 2

Open Affiliations: Skin District - Whorehouses 1,
Cullum the Brawn 1

Open Rivalries: Sergeant Yeller 1

Goals: Setting up my own house of pleasure; Exposing
Sergeant Yeller to public ridicule and dismissal;
Baking a perfect pie from the legendary creamberry.

-clash

Thanks for posting your character clash! Bar the health point profile (which we'll get to later) this is how your PCs should look folks! :) Any questions, fire away.

BTW, guys, I don't think you have to post your characters up for all to see, though I do think Dan needs to see them. I volunteered to do this to serve as an example. It would  be cool if you could post up their names and general information.

BTW, "creamberries" are an extraordinarily rare species of berry, considered to be one of the greatest gustatory delights in the world. Baking the pie is a tiny matter next to actually finding creamberries. :D

-clash

Miss Mooncalf
Miss Mooncalf is a bit of a rare sort among her lot, the Celestial Philosophers, being both young and female.  While, certainly, the lofty towers of the Celestial Philosophers attract their share of both youthful apprentices and the fairer sex, the fact remains that the confluence of the two have placed her in a noticeable minority.  Minority status aside, Miss Mooncalf is also a bit of an odd bird, a dark-haired, dark-eyed girl approaching her nineteenth summer, notably prone to a starry-eyed gaze and questionable grooming.  Pretty-ish, though not particularly so, rumor has it that she cleans up nicely, though evidence to this effect is both scant and anecdotal.  For the most part, Miss Mooncalf is content to clamber and gambol from tower to rooftops, all tousled hair, smudged face, and skinned knees.

Miss Mooncalf finds herself in an interesting, if difficult position of late.  On one hand, she is unusually adept at the ascertainment and interpretation of celestial portents, so much so that she has inadvertently gained the quiet enmity of Madam Far-Eyes, the woman who, by all counts, should be Miss Mooncalf's mentor, were it not for the latter's distractibility.  This same distractibility, in fact, leads to the other hand, Miss Mooncalf's unhealthy interest in affairs terrestrial – in particular, her enthusiasm for working with the Trailblazers, and perhaps more particularly, the young Captain Farstrider.  The young captain has put her sharp eyes, keen mind, and practical sensibilities to work for the good of the Tralblazers of late, which detracts significantly from her duties and devotions in the tower.  Miss Mooncalf has also cultivated earthbound relationships among the community that has grown up around the base of the tower, bartering and bargaining among the stalls for local oddities that turn up on occasion, and a somewhat naive friendship with the seemingly great-hearted Big Bertha.  She seems to admire the glamour of the ladies' trade, without quite grasping the full implication of their affairs.

Manual Dexterity 3
Reasoning 4
Physique 3
Bearing 3
Pragmatism 3

Status 2

Skills: Athletics 1, Engineer 1, Haggle 1, Lores (Astronomy) 2, Navigation 2, Research 1, Scavenge 1, Spot 3

Special Abilities: Local Knowledge 1, Organise 1, Portents 3

Open Affiliations: Celestial Philosophers – Tower Top Observatories 1, Captain Farstrider 1, Big Bertha 1

Open Rivalries: Madam Far-Eyes 1

-=-=-

I'm actually a little uncomfortable with the notion of Madam Far-Eyes as an open enemy, but I wanted to provide a counterpoint to her being pressed -- all too willingly -- into service by the Trailblazers.  Otherwise, I'm quite pelased with Miss Mooncalf.

!i!

Cool character concept, Ian! I like her little backstory! :D

-clash

How about you other guys? If you aren't posting the whole character, can you give us a glimpse of them, what our characters would know?

-clash

The process so far has shaken out a couple of poorly worded bits in chargen, so all is cool. I would really like to see what the others come up with! :)  As ever, any questions, fire away...also, if you loose the urge to participate, please let us know so we can continue (not saying you are, we're all busy people after all!).

I'll post up my draft for the character tonight when I get home.

Quote from: One Horse TownThe process so far has shaken out a couple of poorly worded bits in chargen, so all is cool. I would really like to see what the others come up with! :)  As ever, any questions, fire away...also, if you loose the urge to participate, please let us know so we can continue (not saying you are, we're all busy people after all!).

Sorry guys. Much as I'd love to stay involved I'm having bail out of my existing gaming commitments almost entirely. After several attempts at juggling my schedule I've come to the realisation that there's simply no longer any space for Stone Horizons.

I'll continue reading the threads with great interest. Have a great game! :)

No problem Drew! :)

Okay, here's my proposed character. Let me know if I did all the procedures right:

Scout Capitan Soarhigh (self-promoted)

A loud-mouthed and irresponsible but jolly and loyal glider pilot, Scout Capitan Soarhigh (title only used in the company of groundplodders) is a happy-go-lucky flier who's often more trouble than he's worth. Completely lost in the largely fictional dreams of his own glory and bravado, he exudes an aura of reckless posturing that annoyes the hell out of some but impresses others. With his eccentric leather cap, long striped scarf and mighty rust-coloured moustache, he certainly possesses an appearance that lends some credibility to his tales of daring exploits and exotic adventures.
Since arriving into the area with the rest of his group, he has taken a strong liking to Cullum the Brawn, whom he has found to be a kindred jolly soul and always a good person to bum some money off of. Being generally much closer to the ground than himself, Cullum also looks like a good person to ally with for an actual adventure: the acquisition of some ore from the meteor that fell. One of Soarhigh's great goals in life is to create a glider that can climb upwards without finding a hot air vent – and thus have a range only limited by the pilot's need to sleep, eat and drink – and, well, a rock that can fly in the sky – all right, fall in the sky – might just hold some clue on how to go about doing that.



Manual Dex   4
Reasoning   3
Physique   4
Bearing      3
Pragmatism   3

Skills: Pilot (glider) 3, Climb 2, Scavenge 2, Haggle 1, Spot 1, Athletics 2, Fists 1
Special Abilities: Cool 4, Endurance 2
Status: 2

Open Affiliations:

Eyrie – 1
Cullum the Brawn – 1

(and 1 secret rivalry)


Goals & Ambitions:

- Confirming or refuting the existence of the Braying Bat of Black Belfry, and taming one of its young if it exists.
- Creating or acquiring a glider that can ascend without hot air vents.
- Finding the long-lost Golden Banner of Talonbeak, a revered glider pilot hero.

Thanks to Clash for this idea.  

 Foxgrin
 
  Foxgrin is big guy with red hair and  beard.  He is slightly roundish but there is also evidence of muscle.  He naturally looks like a thug aside from his sly smile.  His red hair and constant grin are the source of his name.
 
  He came from elsewhere as a teenager.  His size enabled him to get a job helping Slop.  With luck and a charming smile, he was able to get transferred to bordello guard.  He does a lot of standing around looking big in the front rooms of whore houses.  He also sends messages for Mr. Greengrass and collects payments from madams.  He likes his work ok but is not enthused about crime or enforcing.  He started with Slop because he needed to eat.  He doesn't have much fondness or respect for Mr. Greengrass or Tongs but minds his manners for health reasons.  He is one of the few with respect for Slop as the guy actually does something.
 
  Foxgrin really likes his current position as it gives him a window to tidbits of the sort he likes to collect.  He listens more than he talks which makes many girls and clients open up to him – he's spent countless hours helping girls with their hair or nails and listening to their problems..  He is careful to notice who sees which girl and who secretly sneers behind another's back.  He knows things like which prostitute he escorted to the Observers tower one night.  He has noted which trailblazers have taken a special liking to their new location.  He loves secretly collecting knowledge but rarely spreads gossip himself.  He and Big Bertha occasionally compare notes in the wee hours.  He is cautiously ambitious, holding his cards until the right moment for a new position.  
 
  The trailblazers have presented Foxgrin with new ambitions.  He sees their work as daring and important instead of the leech lives of most of Star Bay.  Killing vermin in the alleys was an interesting challenge but, no matter how big a lizard you kill, no one cares.  He wants a chance to step it up a level.
 
  Starting Character
 
Armsbreaker Mods
Stat Mods: Physique +1, Bearing +1
Skills: Fists 3, Intimidate 3, Underworld 2, Clubs 2, Drinking 1, Stealth 1
 
Special Abilities: Arm Breaker Guildsman 3, Kingpin 2
Status: 1
   
  Elected Skills
Athletics 1
  Gossip 1
  Spot 1
 
Elected Special Abilities

Local Knowledge 2

Affiliations

Armsbreaker Guildhouse 1 (Free)
Big Bertha 1

Rivalries

Hollering Jack 1

Goals
  Join the Trailblazers and become in charge of one of its units
  Humiliate Hollering Jack for scamming him long ago
 
  Abilities
  Manual Dexterity 3
Reasoning 3
Physique 4
Bearing 4
Pragmatism 3
 
 
  Skills: Fists 3, Intimidate 3, Underworld 2, Clubs 2, Drinking 1, Stealth 1, Athletics 1, Gossip 1, Spot 1
   
  Special Abilities: Arm Breaker Guildsman 3, Kingpin 2, Local Knowledge 2
Status: 1

Since I've just given Mistress Rouondheels' stats, I should also give a small bio.

Mistress Roundheels is the daughter of a courtesan in the Baron's capital area. While pretty enough, she was no match for her mother, a celebrated beauty, who had magnificent lifestyle before being killed in a lover's quarrel. Because of this upbringing, she has an exaggerated idea of her own worth, and considers herself a cut above the normal prostitute. She has some disjoint bits of education and culture, and uses these plus her own charms to entice the higher class of client available in the area. Her current favorite customer is Culum the Brawn, whom she attempts to please to the best of her ability. Sergeant Yeller treated her vilely, the one time he used her services, and she detests the sight of him. She hopes one day to parlay her talents and proclivities into a magnificent house of pleasure of the kind seen only in the capital.

-clahs

Great stuff guys! Only one thing to comment on regards Premier's character (which is obviously something that isn't apparent in the rules, thanks for catching it guys!). Your allocated special ability points are to be spent on just 1 ability, giving you 2 dice in that ability and therefore a chance of gaining a success. :)

Just 1 thing on Nicephorus' character too. This is the rather subjective goals & ambitions. These are meant to be things that are hard to achieve, which i expect the first one will be, bar the fact that you can choose to change features after gaining a level and if you goal is tied to that, is would be possible to gain 2 levels at once! I think i had an example in the 'poor goals' section about joining or leading a feature. It might be worth thinking abut making it even more specific so that it isn't directly tied to joining a new feature. Same goes for the second one really. You can humiliate someone fairly easily. Try to be more specific and bear in mind that it should take some time and effort to achieve.

Do folks want me to mail you the skills, abilities and combat chapters or should we deal with it as and when it comes up? Up to you really. :)

I did the goals last in a hurry.  How about changing the 2nd one to humiliate Hollering Jack to the point that he leaves Star Bay?  
 
I recognized that joining would be too easy - he wants to be a sergeant or troop leader in the trailblazers, which should take either a long commitment or doing something really impressive.

Quote from: One Horse TownGreat stuff guys! Only one thing to comment on regards Premier's character (which is obviously something that isn't apparent in the rules, thanks for catching it guys!). Your allocated special ability points are to be spent on just 1 ability, giving you 2 dice in that ability and therefore a chance of gaining a success. :)

Just 1 thing on Nicephorus' character too. This is the rather subjective goals & ambitions. These are meant to be things that are hard to achieve, which i expect the first one will be, bar the fact that you can choose to change features after gaining a level and if you goal is tied to that, is would be possible to gain 2 levels at once! I think i had an example in the 'poor goals' section about joining or leading a feature. It might be worth thinking abut making it even more specific so that it isn't directly tied to joining a new feature. Same goes for the second one really. You can humiliate someone fairly easily. Try to be more specific and bear in mind that it should take some time and effort to achieve.

Do folks want me to mail you the skills, abilities and combat chapters or should we deal with it as and when it comes up? Up to you really. :)

I fell afoul of both of these points when I first made up Mistress Roundheels, guys! :D

-clash

Quote from: NicephorusI did the goals last in a hurry.  How about changing the 2nd one to humiliate Hollering Jack to the point that he leaves Star Bay?  
 
I recognized that joining would be too easy - he wants to be a sergeant or troop leader in the trailblazers, which should take either a long commitment or doing something really impressive.

Okay, nay problem.

Quote from: One Horse TownGreat stuff guys! Only one thing to comment on regards Premier's character (which is obviously something that isn't apparent in the rules, thanks for catching it guys!). Your allocated special ability points are to be spent on just 1 ability, giving you 2 dice in that ability and therefore a chance of gaining a success. :)

Fixed it. I was under the mistaken impression that the special ability dice would be added to some "parent" attribute, apparently not.

Quote from: PremierFixed it. I was under the mistaken impression that the special ability dice would be added to some "parent" attribute, apparently not.

Which, although I realise now that I had read otherwise, was an impression that I had during character creation as well.  Another reason for clarification.  :)

!i!

The allocated special ability section has been clarified so that it is obvious that you spend 2 points on 1 special ability.

The main thing left is to see how you know each other. I've been toying with the idea that a strong recommendation in the rules is that all the members of a PC group have an affiliation with each other, or simply something that ties them together in some way. Any ideas on that front? Once we get that sorted, i think we can start forging ahead with a game!

I can see two sources of connection.
 
Foxgrin and Mistress Roundheels would likely know each other.  Foxgrin and Mooncalf share an affiliation of Big Bertha.  I'm not sure how well Soarhigh fits into the skin district.
 
Though none of us are trailblazers, we all share an interest in them.  Mistress Roundheels and Soarhigh share an affiliation for Cullum the Brawn.
 
Maybe a group of trailblazers have started hanging out at Big Bertha's bar and we all met through there?

Quote from: NicephorusI can see two sources of connection.
 
Foxgrin and Mistress Roundheels would likely know each other.  Foxgrin and Mooncalf share an affiliation of Big Bertha.  I'm not sure how well Soarhigh fits into the skin district.

I would assume he'd visit with some regularity, so there's a chance for affiliations. He would also probably know Mooncalf, or at least have seen her before, during the territorial arguments.

Dan, et al.,

I apologize for running silent, running deep. I have been confused by some things as I don't have the rules, so I'm learning through inference and some of the bits I've received.

Then work hit hard - and right when the character stuff was sent and y'all were going at the interesting bits...

Now it looks like my time is freeing up again, and will likely remain so through the holidays and a bit beyond.

So if you'll still have me, Id love to participate.

If I get the gist from reading through the thread, I should have a character from the Trailblazers, sent to the Bay to investigate the meteor.

No problem James! Glad you're still onboard. If you have any questions, just PM me and i'll do my best to answer them.

Quote from: NicephorusI can see two sources of connection.
 
Foxgrin and Mistress Roundheels would likely know each other.  Foxgrin and Mooncalf share an affiliation of Big Bertha.  I'm not sure how well Soarhigh fits into the skin district.
 
Though none of us are trailblazers, we all share an interest in them.  Mistress Roundheels and Soarhigh share an affiliation for Cullum the Brawn.
 
Maybe a group of trailblazers have started hanging out at Big Bertha's bar and we all met through there?

All this makes eminent sense.

-clash

Quote from: NicephorusI'm not sure how well Soarhigh fits into the skin district.

As Premier pointed out already, though, his direct proximity to the tower gives him a potential connection to Miss Mooncalf, especially since they're both working in essentially the same capacity with the Trailblazers.

As to the notion of requiring that all starting characters share a single affiliation, I'm not sure that's a terrific idea.  It seems a little forced, and what would be more amusing is for all of the characters to have chain-linked affiliations.  Characters A and B are affiliated to X, while B and C are affiliated with Y, while C and D are affiliated with Z.  Meanwhile, X and Y are secretly in cahoots with one another, while X and Z are openly feuding.  It makes for a nice, bubbly mix.

!i!

We'll see if we can get going tomorrow. If needs be, Jim's character will have to join up later.

EDIT: Per OHT's instructions about special abilities...

Let me know if this is OK, or needs work!

Starting Stats
Manual Dexterity 3
Reasoning 3
Physique 3
Bearing 3
Pragmatism 3

Area-Specific Modifications
Stat Mods: Physique +1
Skills: Weapon (any one) 3, Stealth 2, Scavenger 2, Ingratiate 1, Pest Control 1
Special Abilities: Diplomatic 3
Status: 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Deepdelver

Stats
Manual Dexterity 3
Reasoning 3
Physique 4
Bearing 3
Pragmatism 3
Status: 2

Trailblazer Skills
Sword: 3
Stealth: 2
Scavenger: 2
Ingratiate: 1
Pest Control: 1

General Skills
Spot: 1
Atheltics: 1
Portage: 1

Trailblazer Special Abilities
Diplomatic: 3

General Special Abilities
Organize: 2

Affiliations
Trailblazers: 1 (Free)
Scout: 1

Rivalries
Sergeant Yeller: 1

Goals
Use his exemplary work on this mission to usurp Sergeant Yeller.

Mr. Deepdelver is part of the Engineer detachment headed by Sergeant Yeller. Being blonde, and a bit of a tea-toddler, Mr. Deepdelver is of the opinion that he could do a much better job of it than the Sergeant. Given that Mr. Deepdelver is much more organized and is not subject to bouts of drinking, he is convinced it would be for the best if, in the long-run, he were in charge.

As he is naturally a bit particular about organization, he has befriended Scout, the man in charge of logistics. As Scout is so important, Mr. Deepdelver hopes to use that connection to Captain Farstrider for his benefit.



How did I do?  What did I mess up?

Cool James! Just the one thing that nearly everyone did (the text is cleared up now). The 2 points for your chosen special ability must be spent on just 1 ability (as the dice mechanism runs on rolling multiples, this is so that you get the chance of suceeding!).

Nice. I'll post a beginning to an In Character thread tomorrow, unless anyone has anything else they want to add or questions to ask. To head one question off, to a large degree, skills will be a bit hand-wavy at this stage, but hopefully what they do should be apparent. I will post to this thread the write -ups for special abilities, so you know what they do. At this stage, i will also just grant you some equipment (equipment section is not done yet) and post that info here. Game on! :D

SO... It's Thursday the 20th... Are we set to go?

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceSO... It's Thursday the 20th... Are we set to go?

-clash

I'l get something up later tonight/tomorrow morning. Double shifts make Dan a dull boy. :(

Quote from: One Horse TownI'l get something up later tonight/tomorrow morning. Double shifts make Dan a dull boy. :(

Lots of coffee and old age make this flying rodent impatient. :D

-clash

Everyone bar James has the document, so i'll just post his abilities to this thread (i think all the other abilities are in the docs you other guys have).

Organise (Gen)

Features: Sculleries and a General Ability

Description: Whenever you have to make an extended test of any nature, you can add a number of dice to the attempt equal to the number of successes achieved in an Organise test. Your planning is second to none.

Other Effects
2 Successes: You add 1 die to a Portage test if you first succeed in an Organise test.

Skills

Roll a total number of d6 equal to your stat and the skill being attempted. Prepare Food is a skill under Pragmatism, so a Pragmatism score of 4 and Prepare Food score of 2 will mean that you roll 6d6 for the skill test. Successes are measured in how many multiples are rolled. A double is one success, whilst two doubles is two successes, three doubles is three successes, etc. However, a triple on its own is worth two successes, a quadruple is worth three successes and a quintuple four, sextuple five and septuplets six. The number of successes needed to achieve the desired affect whilst using a skill is discussed in the individual skill entries or is determined by the GM.

Normal tests

Any character in Stone Horizons can attempt any skill. If you do not have the relevant skill, then you roll a number of dice equal to your statistical rating in the parent stat for that skill. For skills that you do have, you add your skill rating to the parent stat and roll that number of dice.

Normal skill tests are those that take 1 round or less during a Scene to attempt.

Reflexive tests

Reflexive tests are actions that are carried out in response to an immediate danger or situation; they are instinctive. Only one Reflexive test may be attempted in each round of a Scene. Therefore, a character attempting a Reflexive test to use a special ability will not be able to reflexively dodge or parry an opponent in the same round. He must make the choice as to which action is of more importance to him. Reflexive tests can be attempted at any time during the round.

Free tests

Free tests are similar to Reflexive tests in that they can be attempted at any point during the round. Unlike Reflexive tests, however, any number of Free tests can be made during a round. Free tests are concerned with the character's stamina, strength of mind and general resilience. Saving throws or resistance tests, if you like.

Extended tests

Extended tests are those actions that do not fit into a combat round. These actions may take several minutes or several hours (even days) to complete. It is possible to make Free or Reflexive tests whilst in the midst of an Extended test, but the extended test must be aborted if the character is forced to make a Reflexive test during this time.


More to come...:)

YAY! It's NOT DEAD, Jim!

I was beginning to think you'd forgotten us and ran off after that seductive witch, Unnamed Game #2!

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceYAY! It's NOT DEAD, Jim!

I was beginning to think you'd forgotten us and ran off after that seductive witch, Unnamed Game #2!

-clash

Nah! No.2 only has 2 pages and SH has 150! I've been juggling more things than i care to mention for the last couple of weeks, but normal service is resuming...

Summary & Equipment

Overview of apparent relationships

Open Rivalries – Master Deep Pockets and Mr. Fancypants
-   Mistress Red-Bead and Professor Tong
-   Mr. Fancypants and Cog
-   Mr. Greengrass and Captain Farstrider
Open Affiliations – Master Deep Pockets and Mother Twinkle
-   Mr. Greengrass and Clamper
-   Big Bertha and Sister Fortune
-   Dr. Eclipse and Mr. Stargazer
Secret Rivalries – Madam Red-Dress and ?   
Secret Affiliations – Peaches and ?

Charlatans Market Stalls

Problem: Unknown
Equipment: Dagger (+1), Leather apron (2 AP), bottles of coloured water, 1 set of fancy clothing, 1 set of tattered clothing, 3 gilded lead coins, 5 silver bits

Arm-Breakers Guild House

Problem: Disease, known
Equipment: Club (+1), 10 silver bits, leather armour (3 AP), knuckle-dusters (+1), various promissory notes for the Skin District

The Skin District (whorehouses)

Problem: Vermin, known
Equipment: 3 sets of ragged clothing, 1 set of good clothing, perfume, make-up, sewing kit, mirror, sock packed with marbles (+1), 10 silver bits, various love letters from clients

Trailblazers Advance Camp

Problem: Unknown
Equipment: Stabbing sword (+2), chain hauberk (4 AP), 5 days preserved rations, trailblazer's tabard, 10 silver bits, 2 sets sturdy travelling clothes, codebook

Tower-Top Observatories

Problem: Bad air in parts of the tower, known
Equipment: 1 set of decent clothes, star charts, log of portents, pocket looking glass, 10 silver bits, calligraphy set

Eyries

Problem: Unsolved crime, burning of glider, known
Equipment: Glider, 1 set of travelling clothes, cloth cap to shade eyes, skinning knife (+1), 5 days preserved rations, tar and resin for glider repair, 5 silver bits

I'll leave it a bit for any questions you may have before we start (and also to make sure the delay hasn't chased you away!).

I'll get an IC post up tomorrow if no-one has any questions. Thanks and good luck! :)

Still here, waiting with excitement.

However, won't be able to post until tomorrow evening as I'll be out of house.

You know I'm here - and waiting - too, Dan!

-clash

I'm ready.

Dice rolls! A Free Spot check from everyone please. A number of d6 equal to your Reasoning + Spot skill, or just Reasoning if you don't have the skill. Note down multiples. Then report your successes/failure here!

Quote from: One Horse TownDice rolls! A Free Spot check from everyone please. A number of d6 equal to your Reasoning + Spot skill, or just Reasoning if you don't have the skill. Note down multiples. Then report your successes/failure here!

No dice here. I'll have to wait til I get home.

-clash

0 multiples.
 
Anyone without dice can find die rollers online. Here's one that shows the rolls, not just the total:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm)

2, 1, 4, 2

1 Multiple.

6, 4, 4
1 multiple

-clash

1, 3, 6, 6

One success.

(Mistress Roundheels opens her mouth to say something, but time stops for a while. A bird builds a nest in her mouth, lays eggs, and rears a family before they all fly off south for the winter.)

Quote from: flyingmice(Mistress Roundheels opens her mouth to say something, but time stops for a while. A bird builds a nest in her mouth, lays eggs, and rears a family before they all fly off south for the winter.)

Now, now. I've been seeing if Ian is going to turn up. Looks like no. Posting later this evening! :)

Quote from: One Horse TownNow, now. I've been seeing if Ian is going to turn up. Looks like no. Posting later this evening! :)

You should poke him via PM, then assume his character is on a massive drunk until he shows. :D

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceYou should poke him via PM, then assume his character is on a massive drunk until he shows. :D

-clash

Did at the start of the game, as i did with the rest of you. No reply. Well, onwards and upwards!

I'm sorry.  I thought I responded to your PM, but I must've been dreaming.  And I haven't been paying attention to this forum.  And I've been terribly busy with arguing futily with John Morrow.  And...and...

:(

I'll try to catch up with Miss Mooncalf in the next few hours. Carry on in the mean time if it looks like I'm going to be a drag.

!i!

Miss Mooncalf: Reasoning (4) + Spot (3) = 7

1,2,3,3,5,5,6 - Two doubles (3,3) (5,5)

!i!

I assume this post (http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=171804&postcount=17) was directed to Miss Mooncalf.  Dan, does she have any insight on the gases in the lower floors of the tower?

!i!