Comet had been spending more time traveling through the wilderness of late than he had residing in town or city. The first days he suffered from blisters for his boots fit none too well, but soon enough they dried up as he left his boots off by night, and was careful to keep his feet as clean as he could to avoid an infection. He'd seen a couple men that were amputees from gangrene in his time, and he didn't want to join their ranks. He knew one man had frostbite so bad that his one foot was froze solid; and the other man's story he didn't rightly know, but he heard it was very unpleasant, and he was better for not having to hear the tale.
Eventually he developed some calluses, and as the days passed his calf muscles grew to almost bulging from all the hiking he was doing. A horse, or even a mule would be nice, but it was all the better to see the countryside this way. It was good to walk on terra firma; he'd spent so many years aboard various schooners and tradesman that he walked with a perpetual tilt for weeks after he gave up the sea, always trying to compensate for a tilting deck when the ground under his feet was flat.
His purse was nearly empty when he happened to overhear rumor that a high-placed Duke needed an escort through the countryside. Here was opportunity knocking; he was walking all over tarnation anyways, so he might as well follow along as part of the entourage of a Duke and get paid for his travel. Of course a Duke might have a few enemies that needed fended off, but after the easy days of travel Comet had enjoyed over the last fortnight, a bit of a challenge might prove welcome. The meeting place was up the road in a town about a league distant, a tavern it was, so Comet ambled along, planning on camping out the night on the edge of town, and rising with the sun to try and sign on with this Duke's men-at-arms.
Hi there jeffgson. Do you think we should wait for other ppl to create their characters?
#Alex notices a magician-like man, although he seems stronger than the usual magicians. He approaches that man and introduces himself:
- Hello, my name is Alex. I was wondering if you would like to join me in the task of escourting the Duke. You seem to be looking for some job, and it would be much safer if we helped each other.#
- If no one else comes, I think we should start the adventure. What do you think?
edit: I can be the leader, I've already playied before and I have some experience. Not THAT much experience, but it's better than nothing
I'll be back later on at night
Edited: darkagent on 26th Dec, 2003 - 4:04pm
"You can call me Comet" says the enchanter. "Lesson number one; guard your true name carefully. There are many words of power, and a being's true name can be used to his benefit or detriment, as the magician desires. I'm only guessing that your true first name is 'Alex', because you seem like an honest, straightforward sort of chap. 'Alan' would be easy for you to answer to, easy for you to remember, and could be a useful subterfuge, some day, when you've made enough enemies."
"And as to protecting the Duke, I do plan on joining this undertaking. I tend to do a lot of traveling, so getting paid to follow after the ducal entourage and serve as a guard suits me well."
OOC: On the issue of more players, I'm hesitant to answer. I'd like to start, but two level 1 characters aren't very tough. If the GM compensates for the fact of group size, then starting wouldn't be a problem, although a lucky roll or two by the opposition could take us out quick by cutting our effective numbers from two to one. If the Duke has any Level 0 pikemen, swordsmen or archers, then it would be okay with me to start.
OOC: If you really want to lead, fine. You'll get whatever input from me that I feel is appropriate to the situation. I've been roleplaying avidly for fifteen years, and have played in almost every genre.
Oh, if you've been roleplaying for all that long then it will be better if you take the lead. Just check the rules and explanations in the important topics to see how to post in the Party Order, and you can also read some party orders from our last adventure.
I too think only 2 level 0 characters may not be enough, but the others haven't created their characters yet, and the game is supposed to start today. If we start they could join during the game, I did that in the last adventure, but it may not be possible in this one.
If we take too much time to decide what to do the game continues without our decisions, and it can be very dangerous.
Edited: darkagent on 26th Dec, 2003 - 10:26pm
OOC: I'll lead if you like. I tend to be cautious and defensive though. In real life I'm naturally paranoid, and it carries over into almost every character I play so much that when its available as a character flaw for extra points (HERO system and Gurps, for example), I always take it because that's how I'll act anyway. On rare occasions I'll try and act totally out of character, as a wild risk-taking daredevil with no concern for his own safety. It can be fun, even though the characters often meet with early fatalities. Sometimes being paranoid pays off, and on other occasions it wastes time. In all likelihood it probably balances out 50-50 overall. But in this case, if we have a small party. I will insist on traveling as quickly as we can manage without being too uncomfortable, since the chances of encounters will be reduced.
OOC: I think we should begin the adventure on Sunday, sometime in the afternoon (say 2 - 5 pm GMT). If we're lucky enough to get one more character, great. But I think that Sunday afternoon is a reasonable time to start, with or without new players. We have a chance of gaining somebody, maybe two, but its not waiting so long that the Duke's enemies have a good chance to establish plans, pay bandits, and establish traps and ambushes along the way. Random encounters will happen no matter when we begin, so that point is moot.
"I wonder when the Duke will arrive with his 'escort'? Most probably he'll send a herald to see who's answered his summons for badyguards before he actually makes an appearance. We'll receive instructions, and the herald will return to the Duke with a report on whoever collected here in response to his summons. That's what I would do anyway, if I were in his Lordship's position, which I'm not" says Comet acerbically.
You can start with the leading, we can change later in the game if it's needed.
It's easy to play, you'll see. All we have to do is to read the story carefully and post in the party order what we are going to do. It doesn't have to be very extensive, we just say what we are going to do (formation in battles, where we are going to, what each one is going to buy, etc.) and wait for the GM to post what happens.
As for when we should start, the game was supposed to start on december 26th (yesterday in my time), but I think we can wait for someone else to come. The time you stated sounds reasonable.
QUOTE |
As far as you know, those who apply should be of the fighting class, able to handle their weapon well and built like an ox. All applicants will have to meet at the local tavern for a meeting tomorrow morning at 6am where further instructions will be given including the wages for the task. |