Chapter 3: Q&A / Discussion

[Jeff]

Note: just got an email from Jeremy: "I can't get online via my browser, only my e-mail is working for some reason. Earlier I noticed Kal was waiting on Goran. Can you just post that Goran will agree
with Kal's plan and lead Lever out of the city in your DM bit?"

So I'll post again soon.

[Joe]

Jeff, LOVE the gold in the treasure chest bit for new posts! Awesome stuff!!

[Darren]

Jeff, I know it's more than can probably be gone into on this board, but can you give us a little more background on the war? Who was fighting who? Was everyone against everyone else? I'm just trying to get more background for when Kal is talking to people about his time spent fighting. If he's talking to an Audarian, as a Kaarn who fought in the war, were they on opposite sides? Given that Deneith supplied mercernaries, I realize they were sort of on everyone's sides, but I'm wondering, I guess, if you can provide more insight into what the sides were.

[Jeff]

I'm pretty sure you've got a copy of the Eberron Campaign Setting....that'll answer most of your questions; you really ought to give it some referencing for stuff like this.

But here's the short answer:

Who was fighting who? Was everyone against everyone else?

It was a war of succession. The Kingdom of Galifar was ruled by the ir'Wynarn family, and each of the king's children were rulers in turn of the sub-nations of the kingdom: Aundair, Breland, Cyre, Karrnath, and Thrane.

Jarot, king of Galifar, dies, and the throne "should" have passed to his eldest child: Mishann, the ruler of Cyre. But her younger siblings didn't agree: Thalin (ruler of Thrane), Kaius I (ruler of Karrnath), and Wroann (ruler of Breland). Not only were they supposed to let her take the throne of Galifar, they were also supposed to give up the rulership of the Five Nations to her children. From the The Forge of War:

The war began with words in Thronehold. At their father’s state funeral at Thronehold, Wrogar and Mishann prepare a coronation for Mishann as Queen of Galifar. Thalin, Kaius, and Wroann reject her succession, refusing to attend the ceremony and summoning their personal guards to prevent the coronation. Wrogar of Aundair backs his sister's claim, and Wrogar and Mishann flee the Thronehold by boat. And so the Last War began as a family quarrel. It soon would engulf nations in fire and blood, and splinter the last hopes of empire.

So yes, it was every nation vs. every other nation, but alliances were formed constantly. In the beginning, Breland and Thrane together fought against Aundair and Cyre. And so on, with alliances forming and breaking for the rest of the war.

If he's talking to an Audarian, as a Kaarn who fought in the war, were they on opposite sides? Given that Deneith supplied mercernaries, I realize they were sort of on everyone's sides, but I'm wondering, I guess, if you can provide more insight into what the sides were.

House Deneith has always maintained neutrality. In fact, none of the dragonmarked houses were allowed to take sides in the war; their services were sold to all nations. Though of course individual members often had their favored nations, anyway.

Kal isn't really a Karrn. House Deneith's ancestors were born and lived in Karrnath but it's a culture unto itself. So Kal never fought in the war as a Karrn against other nations. House Deneith provided mercenaries and bodyguards to all sides.

But yes, there were certainly times when Aundair fought Karrnath.

I could go on. But I don't know you guys like reading big blocks of text.

[Darren]

Yeah, I could look in the book, but it's easier when you explain it.

Okay, so....when Kal was out on the Plains, whose side would he have been on at the time? Who was he fighting out there?

[Jeff]

I believe he would have been doing the administration stuff for the Blademarks*. They were likely being hired by Karrnath and Cyre. Lots of armies moving across the Talenta Plains, irritating the halfling tribes. (But halflings sometimes joined the mercenaries.)

* Not seeing personal combat himself. But life is violent out there, so sometimes battles would have come to him anyway.

[Darren]

I'll reply to you more privately. this goes into some of the backstory stuff we talked about.

[Darren]

Jeff, please tell me we are going to get XP for our brilliant and non-violent escape from the authorities in Windshire.... ;D

[Jeff]

Gee, now that you're asking for it...I don't wanna.

Anyway, if you get XP for it, it'll be part of the role-playing XP at the chapter's end. To some extent, the conflict was self-made. Sort of like investigating a hole in the ground, accidentally falling into it, then hoping to get XP for the climb out...

Just be patient.

[Joe]

I have to join in with Darren on this one. I mean, regardless of HOW we got into and out of the situation, the bottom line is we were in that situation and dealt with it.

Streko demands full compensation for being knocked unconscious by a windy fist dammit (and being carried around on people's shoulders and such....gods, how humiliating...he deserves psychological reparations as well while I'm at it!!!!!).

;D

[Jeff]

That's also like saying that if Grafth walks up and punches Kal, forcing Kal to defend himself by punching Grafth back...when Grafth finally knocks Kal out (which he would ), Grafth should expect some XP for it.

So by that argument the whole party could advance in level just by sparring with one another.

The role-playing handling of the Windshire predicament I will definitely consider when I hand out XP for the chapter. But not obstacles are created equal.

[Josh]

Jeff seems to be a rather benevolent DM... after all, he's put up with our paranoid role playing, our seeming need to have everything handed to us (he rolls for us, for crying out loud!!!), and has provided a good game that he obviously cares about thus far.

It seems to me that he'd definitely be willing to give us our due. I'll follow his game preferences without complaint.

[mike]

I'll follow his game preferences without complaint.

As will I.

[Joe]

...our seeming need to have everything handed to us (he rolls for us, for crying out loud!!!),

I'll have you know that I CAN'T roll my own stuff...the dice roller has not once worked for me and I have tried it from different computers and at different times. SO BLEH!!!

As to his benevolence....excuse me...Streko was was UNNECESSARILY PICKED ON and he didn't even get to purchase any food or wine for Olladra's sake!!

That ain't benevolent...that is MALEVOLANT! Bwah-hahahahaha!

You rock, Jeff!

[Jeff]

Don't you mean Malovolent?

[Joe]

*cough*

*blink*

Um. No.

[Jeff]

The subject of food and hunting has come up. Not something the PCs can ignore for long, trust me. Some of the PCs might have trail rations, but you might want to save those for a rainy day. Oh wait, it is a rainy day in Aundair.

Still....

Unless there's a notable encounter that your DM has deviously planned, hunting for food needn't be role-played through. Mechanically, it's just a matter of time (a few hours) and a Survival check for those involved. Grafth and Goran are certainly the best equipped to handle this.

How does it work?

I'm glad you asked. Essentially each hunter will make a Survival check. For every 2 points over 10 they get on their roll, they'll be able to find enough food to feed another person (for a full day). So if Grafth rolled a 15, he'd be able to feed himself and two others. There are a total of nine people (not counting the warforged, of course) on board the Thunderhead: Fherina, Goran, Grafth, Kal, Misha, Pel, Ralsor, Streko, Torhak.

Note to Jeremy: If not enough food is found, Goran can also use the Goodberry spell on the berries he purchased in Windshire and turn them into nourishing meal (say, 2 berries would feed 1 person for a day).

[Joe]

I really like your avatar. It is, indeed, quite helpful, thank you!!

As to the background...there was one a few days back that was kinda wild!! I prefer the normal everyday background though. Just my preference.

[Jeff]

As to the background...there was one a few days back that was kinda wild!!

What, you mean my April Fool's background? Huh. Didn't think anyone but Josh even noticed.

I hope to play around with my avatar even more. So it won't change just by which nation we're in, but where in that nation. I had a Windshire one for a while, and if you go into the Whisper Woods, then I'll make one specific to the Whisper Woods. And continue to designate night or day. Should be fun.

[Joe]

OF COURSE I noticed. That was ONE FREAKY CLOWN!!!!

[Josh]

I also like the info-avatar... quite nice.

[glow=red,2,300]Now with more echelon![/glow]

[Jeff]

Me:

Guys: feel free to give me a bit more description even in battle next time. If you're attacking somehow, how are you doing so...and what are you aiming for? If you roll well, well, you might hit just there. If not, no biggie. Don't rely on only me to provide description. If you really need incentive, I do take player contribution/creativity into account when XP is doled out at the end of each chapter.

Darren:

Jeff, I can't speak for everyone, but I think most of us are trying to give description...we're just not writers like you are.

I know. And I don't mean you've got to get all fancy with your prose and style. I just mean give everyone a better visual. So instead of saying:

Bob will attack the lizard man again with his spear.

Maybe just write:

Reeling from the lizard man's last blow, Bob returns with his sword, aiming to eviscerate its scaly hide. As he does, he shouts his anger, too angry for words.

Do you see what I mean? Now let's say on that attack you actually roll a critical hit. Well then that's my cue to know that the attempted evisceration might just happen. With no guidance from you, I just have to come up with all on my own. Then it feels like the battles are all me with only a bit of half-hearted participant. That's all I'm saying. I don't ask for much. But I do ask for some. You're here 'cause you want to be, right?

That said, some of you already are pretty good about this. And those who aren't are off and on again; everybody has a good post now and again.

[Jeff]

Darren:

Also, for what it's worth, I said several times that we should take the crossbows and whatnot to add to Ralsor's stores, so hopefully we can all agree that someone did that?

I'm really not a fan of assuming certain actions were taken just because one person proposed an idea—especially when it's later deemed convenient. The two heavy crossbows that Ralsor did possess in his storage chamber are still there, on the upper deck. They would take a few moments to retrieve, even if one were up there. Currently, almost everyone is in the hold (cargo deck) of the ship.

[Joe]

Hmmm....my issue at the moment is that Streko said not once, not twice, but THREE times that he was going to burn the bodies. Suddenly, he's in the hold with everyone else and the bodies aren't burned.

Once again, Streko has been completely ignored by taller people!!!!

[Jeff]

Josh wrote:

Also, has anyone else noticed the Manga Shakespeare Cliff Notes ad banners on these pages lately? Hilarious!

It's all the drama.

And Grafth's crazy Anime hair.

[mike]

Belarin gives an annoyed grunt ...

In Simpsons parlance, does that mean that Belarian just gave us his best "D'OH!!!"? ;D

[Ken]

Pretty much. What good is a creepy rhyme if the target can't appreciate it?

[Darren]

I have a question for you guys. Or maybe more of a request....

If you guys feel like I'm dominating the posting at any point, please tell me so. I'm not trying to impose my plans on anyone. I guess Kal's just sort of taken on a leadership role, or something, but if you at any point feel like *I* am saying too much or marginalizing anyone else's role in the group, please don't hesitate to say so. I promise to not be offended.

Well, maybe only a little.

[Joe]

I think Jeremy will put you in your place should he feel the characters are being marginalized. I don't think you are dominating the posts and Streko has gotten used to (and oddly comfortable with) Kalarian's land-crushing ego.

[Josh]

Yep, don't worry about it.