[Bob's web TB] Is Linnam's post starting "OOS: The crossbow's magic?" blinking for everybody, or is it just me? Please make it stop.

[Bob's TB] Oh, sure, follow my lead _now_. Just out of curiosity, what made you drink half the mug, if you're trying to be friendly? At that point, why take (sorry about this) half measures? Is this a character thing? OOC, is Linnam anxious about getting drunk or something? Why?

[Bob's characterization TB] If Barik really wanted to help bail Linnam out, he might make another toast, or even explain how it worked, to get Linnam up to speed. But (a) he doesn't really care if Linnam's on the hook, and (b) dwarves don't usually spend all dinner making incessant toasts and chugging. That's what going to the Tap after dinner is for. :)

[Barik's TB] Thank Moradin and Kinvol's good sense that this scene played out here and not before the Council.

Meanwhile, steadily working through the tasty pig, Barik tries to drag the conversation back to the issues of equipping and preparing for the trip: "In order to decide what equipment we should seek, we should jointly consider our needs and current assets. Though we have had our differences, I think we have been so far quite productive in distributing goods to those who could most effectively use them, rather than each clinging to his or her own.

"So what do we need, and, though I've no wish to pry, what do we have? Grell has everything he needs to complete his quest, if we can get to that desecrated temple. The road ahead took Agar and his group ten days, but they were not on horseback. If the trail is suitable, we should be able to make it to this valley faster than they. But nevertheless, we will be traveling for some time, making camp each night. Does each of us have what they will need for a journey of a week or more? For myself, I have Lightfoot, bedroll, and provisions, and need naught else. What of each of you? Bishop?"
posted by Scholeologist at 1/31/2004 09:38:00 PM

Mmm...pig and mushrooms...it's been a long friggin' time since Barik's had a decent meal...

Linnam/Jacob:I don't own any sacks-- do the rest of you?
I've got saddlebags, but no sacks. How much do saddlebags carry, by the way? My PH doesn't say.

In the causing of avalanches to block roads, are there useful things that dwarves know to use? Sledge hammers, for instance? Miner's picks? Crowbars?
"Sledges are mostly for breaking things, not really moving things. I suppose one could break supporting boulders, but it doesn't seem like a safe idea. As for the others, I already have them, of course. As well as a few other bits and pieces that could be helpful for such purposes."

Will we have any capacity to send avian messages? If so, do we need things like pens and blank paper, or does Dru have 'em?
Um, yes to the first question. "Like my fellow Stone Brothers, I can convince the animals to bear my messages."

Are you sure of the provenance of this note and map? It could not have been forged?
"I judge this to be Agar's hand, and I have known it for as long as he could write. I do not believe a forgery would fool me. In fact, I think it is impossible for someone to compel him, by any means, to send a message in this way, and an enemy is not likely to be able to send a bird as if it were from Agar. Of course, Agar would kill himself before being captured and forced to send false information."

I honor his memory.
"You have no memory of him as yet. Anyhow, I think you are presuming the worst. Agar indicates he is too injured to continue forward, and too injured to go home, but that does not mean he is doomed. He may well be hunkered down in a cave or wood, on the edge of life and death, and if he has food or can get it, he could survive indefinitely. Unless and until I bear his body home, I will not give up hope that my brother is alive."

This is not a subject of conversation to continue -- it is clear that Barik's reply is emotional, and he's not going to change his mind.

Alonzo/Gonzo:Alonzo has amazing strength.
Excellent. I am amazed at how I apparently spent my starting budget on an array of very heavy dungeon dressing that has served no meaningful purpose -- and still won't unless Linnam's rockslide scheme becomes reality. If we lose the horses, I'll give you the "tool kit" with the pick and the crowbar and the ten-foot pole and the spade and...
posted by Scholeologist at 1/30/2004 08:58:00 PM

Linnam: "Barik, perhaps your knowledge of the mountains can judge. I cannot tell from this map-- is the journey we will be making suitable for horseback, or not? Some mountain paths are inaccessible to horses, and sometimes one goes slower with mounts than without if one has to lead them instead of riding them. What say you?"
"Agar was looking for an unknown passage to Taur'egk for troops to follow and catch him by surprise. A narrow mountain pass wouldn't do any good for that. Agar would stay on a path that horses could travel, unless he thought he could clear a way later.

"From the map, the path looks to be one we can ride horses on. There's no guarantee, of course, but there's no reason to suppose otherwise."
posted by Scholeologist at 1/30/2004 07:56:00 AM

Does Darkstar already have barding? I would have thought he could use it. (Barik's not likely to go sharging in on Lightfoot anytime soon; the "ride up; dismount; fight" scheme is okay with him.) I rather think the most likely people to ride into combat are Grell, Bishop, and Alonzo, in that order.

So, with gems in hand, you finish up with some miscellaneous shopping and then wait for Bishop to return to the smith's shop.
Going back in time to this point, we should probably figure out what our "miscellaneous shopping" was, before we try to gather further supplies from the Stone Brothers. I don't know of any specific needs other than selling the rope.

I've known Kendrick since we were both in swaddling clothes, and I think I may be able to twist some aid out of him yet.
"Grell, are there sacramental items you will need for this re-consecrating ceremony?"

Old Ironsides has a half-quiver of magic arrows that I've had my eye on, though, and those at least I can procure on your behalf.
"Kinvol, while procuring those magic arrows, perhaps we can get those silver-tips Old Ironsides has also? They're fine arrows, and in the children's stories at least, silver sometimes affects hellspawn more than steel. Bishop is a deadeye with that longbow, and if we can enhance its damage, we should."

posted by Scholeologist at 1/30/2004 07:37:00 AM

"We shall get to that desecrated place, Grell Shimmerin, and open the way to make it holy ground again."

...and of the prophetic words spoken by the High Priest of Pelor.
"If it is not too private, what were these prophetic words? I recall S- someone asking about a valley of shadow, and Agar's message seems to point to that very thing, but I didn't hear anything else about this prophecy. I have been in consultation here with the High Priest Kendrick, and received a prophecy as well. I suspect your prophecy has more direct hints of the future, although mine confirms a number of suspicions.

"Through the High Priest, the Voice of Moradin spoke, and said:
`The darkness of the six-armed Scourge of Battle decends across the land,
Mustering the forces of He-Who-Never-Sleeps to serve the Herald’s Hand.
To stay the course and serve my cause, you must raise your axe against the flail,
And aid the Servant of the Sun, or both quests will surely fail!'

"From this, I conclude that Taur'egk is indeed tied up with Hextor's cult -- He-Who-Never-Sleeps is ol' One-Eye, of course. And further, it confirms that my destiny is tied up in this desperate mission, though it hurts my heart to leave the defense of my home to others.

"We all have our reasons for pursuing this path -- from the the closest ties of blood and honor, to the fragile tendrils of friendship newly born. Let us gird ourselves with care, and equip us with those tools most effective and appropriate."

Going back in time to the post-gemcutter, Barik's happy to try to help Linnam sell the hemp rope, but he's not hopeful that it'll sell. Dwarves use silk rope for any mine-work, and Argunn Lode makes its own silk, as the mulberry grove at the far end of town indicates. (Silkworms only eat mulberry leaves.) The only use for hemp rope will be small jobs on the farms, lashing timbers for merchant tents or other simple above-ground tasks.

Linnam's TB: Glad I didn't give up the potion of invisibility to undead.
Barik saw the note when he was talking to Kinvol, and he would've strongly discouraged selling that, if it came to it. Since you didn't seem likely to offer it up, Barik didn't say anything, not wanting to spoil the surprise at dinner.


posted by Scholeologist at 1/29/2004 10:52:00 AM

Hm. Mr. DM, are we in 3.5 where 1 PP=20GP,
That must be in version 3.51 or something, because my PH v3.5 says coins are all metric: 10 cp=1sp, 10sp=1gp, 10gp=1pp.
posted by Scholeologist at 1/29/2004 03:22:00 AM

"Ironsides my friend, as you can see, these fellows are a couple of bowmen, and they're keen on those arrows. We're not balking at the price like Kinvol, exactly, but we've got to go talk to our colleagues about something this steep -- that fancy longsword about tapped us out of the coin in our pockets, but we've got some considerable valuables in their keeping. There'll be coin of course, but you wouldn't be averse to a diamond as part of the deal, would you?"
posted by Scholeologist at 1/28/2004 03:25:00 PM

"Magic arrows have served me well, and may serve a bowman such as yourself better. May I take a look at those baubles?" I pull out my magnifying glass and take a look at the diamonds, if I may. That is, if we have them -- maybe they're with Drusilla? I've got a racial bonus and a bonus with the glass, which almost offsets the Kwiker Penalty. "How much for 'em, do you reckon?"
posted by Scholeologist at 1/28/2004 12:34:00 PM

That sounds like a good trade to me, but then, he's basically offering more stuff for Barik, and it's not my money. :)

I'll wait for votes from the other two present, which Barik elicits in the following way:

"Well, fellows, that's Ironsides's offer,..." Barik says slowly, with a smile on his face, taking in his two companions. If he doesn't see some sort of headshake or disapproving look (more than Linnam's usual doubtfulness), he continues "...and I think you couldn't ask for better. Good weaponsmith, we accept this trade, and I hope it serves both parties well. I appreciate your generosity to me, and with luck and Moradin's Grace, your faith in us will be well served."

If Bishop or Linnam indicate they want to counteroffer, I'll finish the sentence differently -- "...but perhaps I've overlooked something. Is there some wrinkle you'd like to consider, [insert negative voter's name here]?"

Incidentally, something occurred to me about when Jacob wrote
...do I read things right that, for his donation, he got prophecy and spiritual guidance instead of potions or other goodies? The basically-nonreligious Linnam would have a snarky TB about that, if he knew-- but he doesn't...
True. But Linnam dreams of nasty torture episodes. Barik worries he's not doing the right thing, and gets an answer. Sneer all you like, Linnam; religion (at least religion D&D style) has its advantages. :)

posted by Scholeologist at 1/28/2004 08:52:00 AM

So, as far as I can tell, the objects of interest are the sword, the barding(s), 300 short arrows or so (15 quivers), and (from a far-off cry of Drusilla, which Barik doesn't hear) some of the crossbow bolts. Barik himself is interested in the arrows (although see the note below) and also a replacement for one of his throwing axes (unless he was able to recover the one that nailed the Black Hand.) I assume there are throwing axes to be had.

"Ironsides, you know I am no wheeler-dealer. I'm sure we can offer a trade you will be more than happy with. I know arms are precious at this time, so we will offer you arms to replace the ones we take in trade. We offer 3 suits of studded leather, 3 fine steel shields, 3 longswords, 3 longbows -- and fine ones too, would you care for a demonstration? [By Bishop -- which I think could sell a longbow to a pixie]. We have a riding saddle [my old one] and one for more difficult riding in war, and a crossbow, little the worse for wear, with 12 quivers of bolts -- 120 bolts in all. And a delicate piece of machinery -- this hand crossbow, which I know some of your more subtle customers will covet.

"That, good weaponsmith, is an outfit suitable for a squad all on its own. But I know that won't satisfy you -- you've got an eye for these things, and I know you like that longsword you've got there. So we'll put in 350 gold in addition. All this, for the two sets of barding, the sword, some arrows -- oh, let's say 15 quivers, and a couple of throwing axes. What think you?"
posted by Scholeologist at 1/28/2004 05:57:00 AM

Jacob's TB: It's tricky to talk around the concept of 'opportunity cost' without using the phrase.
OPPORTUNITY COST: The true cost of something is what you give up to get it....

From economist.com. That seems like an easy-to-grasp phrase Linnam might use.

It seems as if some...invisible hand were changing the market for the healing salve in real-time. Odd, that.

Can we please get back to racism against orcs and other more palatable subjects? :)
posted by Scholeologist at 1/28/2004 03:41:00 AM

Well, since it's my fault for being so slow figuring encumbrance stuff, I'm perfectly willing to say I'm carrying half that many bolts. Although we have had horses to carry it the whole way.

In general, asking the question "how you'd carry that much stuff" leads to impossible bookkeeping and madness, in my experience. :)
posted by Scholeologist at 1/28/2004 03:32:00 AM

Having finally done appropriate accounting for encumbrance, and making sure I didn't break any encumbrance limits along the way (which required a little retconning, but surely no one cared whether I had a crowbar with me or not this whole time), I find that (A) I would have gone to Medium weight as soon as I picked up the crossbow and bolts, although that wouldn't have made any difference (since I didn't do anything that needed an armor check.) So, dumping enough bolts to stay on a Medium load when I picked up the copper, I still have the insane amount of 550 crossbow bolts to go with the crossbow (weighing a total of 55 lbs.). Barik's happy to try to throw in the crossbow and bolts in trade for more arrows, or lowering the price for the sword Bishop wants.

There is something of a volume discount here -- the merchant offered a package deal to start with -- and I think I can save a bit of Bishop's money with my crossbow bolts. I'll come up with a suitable counteroffer to the merchant early tomorrow morning.
posted by Scholeologist at 1/27/2004 07:43:00 PM

I think that in the last inventory description, Jacob assigned 1 of the shortbow quivers to me, and the other to Linnam. It still isn't very many arrows, though.
posted by Scholeologist at 1/27/2004 06:57:00 AM

More later, and Barik's willing to negotiate for people if they want him to, but regarding Jacob's list of swag, I claim one of the military saddles. Since I'm pretty sure Linnam did too, that leaves one for sale.
posted by Scholeologist at 1/27/2004 03:27:00 AM

Here's my understanding of potion distribution:
2 CLW and one Giant's Height -- Grell
Pelor's Holy Oil (2 applications) -- Dru or me
Hero's Draught, Cricket Leap -- Linnam
Levitation -- Dru or Linnam
One each CLW, CMW, CSW -- Alonzo

Here's some names of the varieties available at the Inn:
Hobgoblin Ale

Ruby Red
Long Beard Stout (this is the "dark & creamy" one Dru gets)
Sharp Urgrosh
Snarly Gnarly Bitter
Mine Lager
and, as a special import from Greennest,
Hossletiff's Halfling Full-Bore Cider

As foreshadowing, the Tap doesn't have the cider or the Urgrosh, but it does have a seasonal brew. Uh, what season is it right now? Anyway, it's the most appropriate of:
Winterbeard Bock
Spring Bloom Lambic
Summer's Tart Berry Weiss
Autumn Gold
In addition, the Tap has the finest brew around, its masterwork beer --
Diamond Dust Lager.

Barik is happy to go shopping, and is remarkably unpressured since he has no money to spend. If it comes up, he points out that, like Linnam, he could use some more shortbow arrows. Also, Barik points out what I did about the diamonds -- namely, we're in a "wholesale" market of gem merchants, so it'll be hard to sell the diamonds for what they're worth. If we don't need them, we might want to keep them for later -- they transport well.

As a game point, if the prices are higher because of the wartime economy, wouldn't selling back weapons and armor be worth more too? The DM said something that sounded like this when he listed prices, but it wasn't clear to me if the iron in the orc axes made them more valuable or less. (The only thing I'd be selling is the crossbow, and if we don't replace it with arrows, I might need it instead. I'll dive in later and figure out actually how many bolts I have for the freakin' thing, assuming I was good about my weight restrictions all along the way). Oh, and incidentally, Linnam, that hand crossbow you've got might have some poison on it or the darts for it -- that's what Barrs used it for.

And, as another little addendum to the tracking discussion earlier -- "I also must confess, Linnam, that I've got a bit of a secret advantage in tracking...namely Spade here. He is a fine tracker in his own right, and can track by scent when neither of us can find traces. Between the two of us, there's not much that we can't follow."
posted by Scholeologist at 1/26/2004 01:05:00 PM

Linnam:I had hoped to go to the armorer with Barik, but I haven't been in the same place as him to ask him.

What's the time frame? It was late afternoon when we talked with Kinvol, and then there were stable trips and healing massages and baths. How much time before dinner?

After my Temple visit and bath, I get dressed (like I said) and go hunt up the crowd (to keep them out of trouble, if nothing else.) If there's time before dinner, I'll happily help with trading and purchasing and whatnot. (And if Dru's happy where she is, I'll recommend the Mine Lager -- it's quite refreshing at this time of the year.) If there's _still_ time before dinner, I'll take them on a walking tour of Argunn Lode, pointing out items of interest and historical anecdotes. (If there's time for this, I'll actually write this out.) When I would expect Kinvol to be ready to receive us, I'll herd the gang back to the Hall.

Linnam:"I... apologize for having spoken falsely to you, even for a moment. Please write it off as no more than an entrenched habit."

Wow again. There's hope for this team after all. Well, if Drusilla can keep up her admirable restraint. Anyhow, here's the reply:
"Your honesty honors me. I have to admit, I asked that expecting an evasive answer, and so end the conversation, temporary allies but by no means friends. But your willingness to rise above your natural tendencies inspires me to rise above my dour mood."

"Firstly, although I can tell you how to do it, tracking is an art of practice; me telling you will not make you able. As I said, first there is the boring learning of which tracks are dog, and which wolf, and which mountain lion, and the walking, trotting, and running paces of each. But this is only the barest beginning. In the field, of course, no animal trots along in a straight line. They are sniffing branches, or marking territory, or tracking themselves, or some other animal thing. So, you find a trace, a print, and you have to guess what the animal was doing, and so where the next print should be.

"The tired description is that you "think like the animal", but that's not quite true. You let a thousand possibilities flicker your mind, of what the animal might be doing, might be thinking, and these guide you to find another trace, another clue, and these new clues reduce the possibilities, the pictures in your mind, so that the job becomes easier, and by the time you've followed the creature to its lair or wherever, you know what the animal was doing, what it was thinking, often better than the animal itself.

"Of course, I speak of animals, but tracking people is just the same, and if anything, easier -- their motives are easy to understand, they don't forget what they're doing every few minutes, and they're less stealthy by nature. Animals move with the assumption that some other animal is going to try to follow them sooner or later. People just move to get on to wherever they're going.

"But describing the philosophy, like I said, doesn't really convey much. It's like any other craft -- it takes practice, and a bit of natural talent. I know how to make a chased silver pitcher, but I couldn't do it, at least not make one anyone would buy."

If later on, Linnam asks about fighting orcs, I'll give a spiel about that. (I'd understand if he'd figure asking Barik about his abilities might bring on more probing from the curious dwarf.)

Linnam:...do I read things right that, for his donation, he got prophecy and spiritual guidance instead of potions or other goodies? The basically-nonreligious Linnam would have a snarky TB about that, if he knew-- but he doesn't...

Which is why Barik didn't share his crisis of faith with Linnam. :) Barik also got healed up to full.
posted by Scholeologist at 1/26/2004 05:12:00 AM

Wow. That's some _fast_ turnaround, Scott. Props to the DM! (And by turnaround, I mean the time it took to create this nice Temple piece after I sent my email, not the now-fixed transposition of Kendrick's dialogue.)

After considering this fascinating turn of events, and taking heart from them, I change into something nice (well, nicer than the ol' chainmail, anyway) and head to dinner.
posted by Scholeologist at 1/25/2004 07:41:00 PM

>to head off the inevitable snarky comments from Bob, Scott, or Aaron at the pass
Aaron, I now have new respect for Drusilla's current restraint. :)

Gamewise, I would point out that I think we have more torches and another healing potion than was most recently posted.
On Jan. 16, 12:51pm, Jacob posted:
>10 flasks of oil and 5 torches-- let's say 2 & 1 each to the 5 PCs.
and later,
>1 CLW (doesn't come close to replacing the used-up wand!)

But on Jan. 13, 2:35pm, the tally was:
>From Kray: Potion of Hero's Draught. (mine.) And: "200 feet of good rope, a grappling hook, 10 flasks of oil, 10 torches, and a 5 gallon keg filled with water.
and
>From Kevlor: 2 potions CLW, 2 potions CMW. (All in Grell's possession.)

Not having burned anything that I know of in the intervening time, I imagine we've still got all 10 torches as community property, plus whatever else people may have personally. And we did burn healing potions in the intervening time: 3 doses of Pelor's Holy Oil (on me 2x and Dru 1x), and the 2 potions of Cure Moderate Wounds (Alonzo and Linnam's horse.) That leaves us _both_ the potions of Cure Light Wounds. Also, I note that the rope was apparently distributed (in the Jan. 16 post) as 100' each to Barik and Linnam. Linnam's cutting of the rope into two small ropes is noted by Barik with a climber's disgust. (Okay, I don't really know -- Scott, would you have "a climber's disgust" at this? Barik doesn't approve, anyway.)

You know what? Everyone's getting along way too well, especially after that whole naked Drusilla scene was apparently resolved without bloodshed. So, I'm going to go back and fill in a response to Jacob's character bits...(Jan. 21, 1:29am) In summary, Linnam asked Bishop about Far Shot, and Barik about tracking and fighting orcs, not at the same time.

"Oh, a lot of following tracks is just background knowledge -- learning what paw is what, how far apart paces usually are, that sort of thing. That's the start of it -- there's more to it, which I can tell you if you really want to know. But I don't want to bore you -- and first I've got a question for you. How do you climb like that? I've climbed more than a little, and you go up a wall like a spider. How do you do that?"
posted by Scholeologist at 1/25/2004 06:21:00 PM