Chapter 11: Q&A / Discussions

[Brian]

In terms of current game play, I'm assuming that Kal et al and Belarin et al will meet up at the Inn, and I'm not sure if, Jeff, you want us to post that. The way I see it, Mike really has the only switch to throw here: put the blade of his greatsword through old moldy or ignore it and meet up with us.

Anyone else see it differently?

[Jeff]

That's about right, Brian. Unless someone intends to do something else, you'll all be convening back at the Cornerstone and you'll have a little while (as brief or as long as you need, out-of-game) to prepare for the gala.

I probably won't post again until Saturday. I'm racing to prep for a special Ravenloft one-off game Friday night for my usual Eberron group at the Brooklyn Strategist, in honor of Halloween. It's a heck of a lot of work, but I couldn't pass off the appropriate holiday tie-in.

Note the artist, Brian?

Ken, I'm loosely running "The Curse of Ashington Manner." Half the fun (and most of the hard work right now) is coming up with the pregenerated characters and their backgrounds. They're actually half the story. I've got a Mordentish aristocrat, an alienist from Lamordia who was also once a patient, an alchemist from Borca with a grudge against the Reniers, a caliban raised by a Halan witch, a Vistani mortu, a Falkovnian soldier deserter, and a half-elf swashbuckler with roots in Sithicus.

Should be interesting. My players know little about Ravenloft, and won't know the dark truths about their characters until after they've chosen which to play.

[Brian]

Ooh, a Talon Dunning drawing.

[Ken]

NICE. Jeff! I wanna play, too! Good luck!

[Mike]

Sounds like a lot of fun, Jeff. Enjoy!

[Brian]

Jeff:

So who's going and how are they preparing? What are you bringing and what are you leaving? Be specific.

I'm assuming all the PCs would go, though Mike has a decision to make regarding Lerhanna.

As for what to bring or leave behind, my guess is that a fight breaking out in the presence of the Coin Lords is very unlikely. Going in armed to the teeth could be a disadvantage: it may draw undo attention to ourselves and put to question our intentions by coming so armed. Condign plans to bring his sword and shield--and he may consider leaving both at the door if asked--but not his wand.

I see this encounter as more drama/diplomacy than battle: more Sherlock Holmes vs Moriarty in a public verbal duel than the Hulk vs Loki in a 'puny god' bashing.

That said, once we are the gala, I suggest we not go off individually for any reason. Outright battle in the ballroom may be off limits, but a stealthy assassination/abduction attempt away from the festivities could be possible.

Of course, there is the walk to and from the party. That time is ripe for battle. ;D

[Dave B.]

Except for a few items of new clothing, everything Shorak owns is currently being carried on his person. That being said, if he is continuing his role as guide/bodyguard at the gala, he will keep all his weapons where they are. With him.

It might be best to stow the mysterious puzzle box in Streko's magical sack for the time being.

[Joe]

Streko will happily hold onto everyone's shiny little toys. :-)

[Darren]

It's possible that Greigur will make us leave our weapons behind at the enclave, anyway, if we're not actually allowed to carry them in to the gala.

[Mike]

Oct 30, 2012 6:39:44 GMT -4 Brian said:

Jeff:

So who's going and how are they preparing? What are you bringing and what are you leaving? Be specific.

I'm assuming all the PCs would go, though Mike has a decision to make regarding Lerhanna.

Um ... I do?

Lerrhana's not my character. Whatever Jeff decides she does will pretty much determine Syrdan's (and my) actions.

I'm perfectly fine with Syrdan either attending or not attending the gala. I have no personal preference.

[Brian]

Sorry, Mike. What I meant was whether Syrdan would stay behind with Lerhanna if she were to decide to skip the party.

[Dave W.]

Syrdan has to stay with Lerrhana, imho. Adamant would feel better if more of us were gaurding her at night. But I don't think it can be arranged. we've set up these identities, I think we need to go with them.

[Mike]

Oct 31, 2012 13:47:17 GMT -4 Brian said:

Sorry, Mike. What I meant was whether Syrdan would stay behind with Lerhanna if she were to decide to skip the party.

No worries, Brian.

Nov 1, 2012 7:59:49 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Syrdan has to stay with Lerrhana, imho. Adamant would feel better if more of us were gaurding her at night. But I don't think it can be arranged. we've set up these identities, I think we need to go with them.

Yep. If Lerrhana doesn't go, Syrdan's staying with her. No way would he risk the possibility of Krez or his men going after her when she's alone, particularly when it's been established that Krez is aware of her presence in Stormreach. (Not to mention I'd rather not further delay going after the Eye of Azalar - as well as our other objectives - because we need to go rescue Lerrhana from Krez.)

If they don't go to the gala, Jeff, no need to give Syrdan something to do simply for the sake of doing something (and thereby splitting the party and adventuring time yet again). The gala's not exactly Syrdan's time for the spotlight anyway, I'm fine with him fading into the background for a bit for the sake of expediency. If anything, it reminds me of playing D&D in high school, where some players would have their characters go off to haggle at a magic shop ... that was usually the cue for my late friend Doug and I to go smoke cigarettes on the front stoop.

(But if there's something to do, I'm all for that as well.)

[Brian]

Jeff:

Also, bear in mind when you decide on gear that backpacks are definitely not going to be inconspicuous.

Good point. I tend to forget about the backpacks. Condign will only bring his sword and shield. That's all.

I vote for Lerhanna going with us. One, it keeps us all together. Two, Krez, I suspect, already doesn't like us. Taking her along probably won't markedly increase the danger we would be in.

[Mike]

Nov 1, 2012 11:27:34 GMT -4 Brian said:

Jeff:

Also, bear in mind when you decide on gear that backpacks are definitely not going to be inconspicuous.

I vote for Lerhanna going with us. One, it keeps us all together. Two, Krez, I suspect, already doesn't like us. Taking her along probably won't markedly increase the danger we would be in.

Totally agree.

Three, as Sem alluded to, if Krez does try something, he's apt to annoy the Coin Lords and most of Stormreach. I would think that would hinder his plans and help ours. (I think he's probably too smart for that, but still ...)

[Darren]

Yeah. The only downside would be Krez knowing we're there and blowing our ruse. But if he's there, our ruse is blown, anyway, regardless of whether Lehranna is there or not. I think it's better to keep everyone together.

[Ken]

Nov 1, 2012 14:40:27 GMT -4 Darren said:

Yeah. The only downside would be Krez knowing we're there and blowing our ruse. But if he's there, our ruse is blown, anyway, regardless of whether Lehranna is there or not.

Not necessarily. In the fight on the Patriot, and then later when he came aboard our ship, Krez certainly would have gotten good looks at Kal, Syrdan, Condign, and perhaps Adamant and Streko. Belarin and Shorak never came into direct contact with Krez. Belarin was busy getting to Lerrhana, while poor Dave B. endured an epic series of bad rolls in his ranged attacks against the other vampires.

Granted, Krez isn't a fool, but -- lacking knowledge of Belarin -- he may not conclude that Kal's interest in Nerrin's map is part of an elaborate disinformation campaign.

[Ken]

That's the "fey" map Belarin's bringing, right?

Correct, Jeff. So far he hasn't needed to display the other map.

[Dave B.]

Shorak is definitely leaving his pack, so if he can't carry it on his person, he doesn't take it.

[Mike]

Will have a post up later today - apologies for the delay. Been busy helping out one of my friends whose house got totalled by the storm.

[Jeff]

No worries, Mike. There's been no rush around here. Do what you've got to do.

[Mike]

Nov 20, 2012 12:00:03 GMT -4 Darren said:

KNext he stands beside Syrdan. "Syrdan here is quite handy with a blade. I have seen him level scores of undead with seemingly no effort. I owe my life to this elf.".

Did, um, Kal mean *cough* Mallan? *cough*

Up to you, Darren, but Syrdan and Lerrhana were trying to stay incognito ...

[Darren]

Totally my bad. I forgot Syrdan's cover story. I'll update my post.

[Dave W.]

I'm confused, are we intending on really going on an expedition with this Deneith guy? We're not really going to use the map we forged, right? I mean it doesn't go anywhere we want to go.

Wouldn't it be easier to explain to this guy that this is just a feint to distract people that neither he nor we want on the right scent? Aren't we going to have to do that sooner or later? 

Or are we going to actually sell him the map?

[Darren]

No, I don't think he's going on the expedition himself. What I'm hoping to do is get him to give us Deneith resources, instead of him asking us to join a Deneith expedition. But we've got to get his trust in order to do that and convince him that he needs us, and that we're not going to work with him unless we're in charge.

[Brian]

I'm loving this exchange between Kal and Greigur. Good work, both Darren and Jeff.

[Darren]

I have no idea what I'm doing. Jeff has me dancing like a madman over here.....

[Brian]

But that's the fun part: not knowing what you're doing, and hopefully coming out on top in the end.

[Darren]

Jeff, I'm sorry. I don't understand. Is Greigur asking Kal to explain to the valet who everyone is?

[Jeff]

Yes. He's essentially saying, "Let's see how you handle this."