"Hmm. Again I apologize, Slithm -- my understanding of this Common Tongue is imperfect. I do not understand your answers to my questions, or perhaps you answer a question other than the one I meant to ask. And we have tried to answer your questions, but you seem unsatisfied as well. Let me try again.

"The orcs as a whole are great in numbers, but in the past have been divided into smaller groups. No one fights all the orcs at once, but divides them and fights them piece by piece. Now this Taur'egk, a powerful orc wizard, is gathering all the orcs together, and as you say, no one should face them directly.

"Our plan is this: to avoid all the orc army entirely, to find Taur'egk by stealth, and kill him while he is surprised and unguarded. We have heard that his stronghold lies to the northwest, further northwest than the dwarven mines where his army is. We hope to make our way to this fortress, staying far south of that army, and thus reach him without fighting large numbers of troops. I think such a plan is not so different from what you described -- we will hide, observe him without being seen, and then strike, no?

"This last battle, we only fought because we saw two people fleeing from the orcs, and we would not stand by and watch the orcs slaughter them. To be honest, considering the result of that battle, if we are faced with a similar situation in the future, we will probably leave the strangers to their fate, unless we can attack the orcs without being put in danger ourselves.

"We shall not rush into battle -- we will wait, and creep closer to our quarry, and only attack him when he is unaware. It is still a risky venture, but I think it is our best chance.

"Now, let me try to ask my question again. As you say, everyone's role is to ensure the goodwill and survival of the tribe. But each does this in their own way -- a hunter brings food for the tribe to eat, a warlord leads and directs troops in battle, I am sure someone's skill is to brew your excellent drink. Perhaps I should not ask what a wuwu does, but how does a wuwu, yourself in particular, contribute to the tribe, different from the others in the tribe?"
posted by Scholeologist at 3/06/2004 06:29:00 AM

Oh, and Linnam, you find yourself increasing tipsy (an unusual sension)
Sounds like he's not the only one.... :)
posted by Scholeologist at 3/05/2004 12:01:00 PM

"I beg your pardon, but I do not know this word, wuwu. Is this your occupation, your rank, your tribal role? What, may I ask, does a wuwu do?"
posted by Scholeologist at 3/05/2004 07:49:00 AM

Sorry I've been out of it for a while -- stupid work, getting in the way of more important things... :)

Okay, going back to...
A liquor goblin walks by with a tray full of bowls, and Slithm grabs 3. He offers both of you a bowl, and says: "To war and women!" He toasts you, taking a drink. When he's done, he kicks his head back, gyrates his pelvis, and lets out a howl.

I try to follow his lead, but I only sip the drink. If they toast like dwarves do (drinking it all down), I _don't_ drink it all down, and say, contritely: "Wise Slithm, I must apologize. I am still weak from the...my...that is, I am not fully recovered, and your drink is strong. I sincerely wish to show my appreciation for war, women, and your great generosity, but I sadly don't have the strength to keep up with you. Please don't take my weakness of body for ungratefulness of spirit."

I put my clothes on, when they come -- and I'll take up the conversation with Slithm this weekend, while Linnam "takes a breather."
posted by Scholeologist at 3/05/2004 06:05:00 AM

What thought bubble-- Dru has clearly said out loud exactly what she thinks!
posted by Jacob T. Levy at 3/02/2004 01:37:00 PM

[Barik's TB] Where are we? How long have I been dead? Where is Spade?

Lion Alonzo of Alphonse
and Crimson Peak, Poet,...

Where can I get some clothes? What's going on?

He honored you with word
He honored you with deed
Remember him, immortals!
Remember him, Moradin!

Who's this? Is he a shaman, a minstrel, a wanderer? He wants to know specifics. What has Linnam told them already?

Alonzo's life may not be written,
Not appear in any chronicle.
He deserves better than that,
He deserves your attention.

Why did Bishop take Alonzo's armor? Why does it fit him? Who's the Thundarkar? Is that what gnolls call themselves? I feel like...well, like death warmed over, which I suppose I am.

Armed with urgrosh in hand,
He faced the enemy, unafraid.
A fearsome sight, bespiked
Upon Emerelda...

"Um, I don't mean to interrupt, but I'd really like to see Spade. I wouldn't want him to think I'm still dead. Do you think he might be with the horses? Sometimes he hides in bags or packs."
posted by Scholeologist at 3/01/2004 05:49:00 PM

Also, "Do any of you know where Spade is? Did he come with you?"
posted by Scholeologist at 2/29/2004 03:56:00 PM

"Ah. I had no doubt, of course, that he would die honorably. But I mourn his passing nonetheless. You were good to bury his body -- it will return to the earth it came from, and will foster the livelihood of his kin. You are good comrades, to honor him with your poetry.

"This drink, here -- it is good, then? Does it taste better than blood? Because I would get this taste out of my mouth, and more important, I would toast Alonzo Quiebrapiedras, son of Alfonse, son of Damato."

Barik gets a bowl of the drink in the most unassuming way possible (that is, trying valiantly but possibly fruitlessly to avoid being noticed by any of the surrounding gnolls, and staying within arm's length of the group), and gets a bowl for anyone that doesn't have one, like Grell. Barik is still shocky, and between not being sure if this is real and not being sure he isn't going to be grabbed and eaten/sacrificed, this is probably a pretty comical moment.

Nonetheless, after that awkward ordeal, Barik raises the bowl and says, "To Alonzo Quiebrapiedras, son of Alfonse, son of Damato, mighty warrior of Crimson Peak, who fought bravely and fiercely, and sacrificed himself for his companions. To him, I owe this new life."

After which, "In fact, I owe my life to all of you, and to these gnolls too, it would seem. I don't want to be eat-- I mean, I don't want to cause offense to our, uh, hosts...what should we do now? If possible, I'd like some clothes, as you suggested, Drusilla, and I would like some time to...remember Alonzo, in the way of our people."

Barik goes along with whatever people recommend, although he tries to avoid eating anything he can't identify (would that count as a Survival check? :) ) and doesn't drink too much after that first bowl (which he drinks down during the toast.) He appears a little spaced out/preoccupied for the rest of the evening, and his conversation is uncharacteristically brief, although generally coherent -- or as coherent as one might expect under the circumstances.
posted by Scholeologist at 2/29/2004 03:28:00 PM

Since everyone else had the steam-room description, I guess I should point out that while Barik isn't as muscly as Alonzo (and not nearly as much as Grell, although Grell's obviously a lot bigger in general, so it's hard to compare relative "buffness"), he doesn't look half bad. He is surprisingly lacking in old scars, which are typically part of every adventurer's "look". He does, however, have several nasty-looking wounds from the recent battle. For a dwarf (not that you've seen any other dwarves in this little clothing, unless you've indulged in some dwarf fetish at your brothel visits), Barik looks a bit on the trim side -- not gaunt, but he doesn't have the round gut you expect on a dwarf.

Barik takes in what Drusilla's saying, tries to clear his head with a shake, and when the scene doesn't change says, "So, you're saying they're not going to eat us?"

And, after her response, "Wait -- Alonzo is dead? Did you bury him? How did he die? It is important -- I must know the details, and quickly."
posted by Scholeologist at 2/29/2004 06:34:00 AM

Well, Aaron's right that multiple conversations at the same time is confusing, how about Jacob and I roleplay the older conversation over at this blog here, and when it's done, we can post the whole thing over here in one block, so it doesn't intersperse with current actions and dialogue? Jacob, if you would be so good as to re-post your wayback machine post there, we can get that goin'.
posted by Scholeologist at 2/29/2004 06:21:00 AM