I put on my robe and wizard hat [CLOSED]

[reapsthewind]

WHO: Chris Starsky, Bakura, Aragorn, Julien, Anthony, Robb Stark, and Davin (the Psionic); *E* AND SASAME. I've honestly lost track. You guys know who you are.
WHAT: I CAST MAGIC MISSILE AT THE DARKNESS
WHERE: Classroom at the University; Chris has taken it out for the weekend and will let any non-students into the building
WHEN: Saturday



[OOC: Again, don't worry about actually knowing the rules, most of this will be handwaved. If you REALLY wanna roll dice, let me know. For reference, Chris is running an AD&D retroclone as the rules, so no feats or skills exist (THIS AINT YO 3.5 SHIT KIDS), and wizards and clerics get ONE spell / day. KICK IT OLD SKOOL. Here's an example of those rules ==> http://goblinoidgames.com/labyrinthlord.html If you want something special not in that book, feel 100% free to ask

For the meet n greet thread don't worry too much about order. For the actual play thread, well, if people seem to be busy/taking a while I'm going to skip y'all's turns / assume your character is taking a while to arrive at the party, but for the most part let everybody but me tag once, then I get to tag in to say what the result of y'all's actions are. WOO.

TAG YOURSELVES PLEASE, I'M LAZY?]

Comments

Meet N' Greet

[reapsthewind]

Well, this was silly, but it was still a good way to chill out after a long week. Chris had brought all kinds of snack food -- chips, pretzels, trail mix, nuts, doughnuts, soda -- and set up the chairs, along with blank character sheets and extra dice. Now she just had to wait for these hooligans to show up.

[shiromadoushi]

It should be no surprise that Bakura is early to arrive. Nor should it be a surprise that he's all but bouncing up and down with excitement. Getting to play with an actual group~ Aaaa, so happy!

"I'm heeere!" he announced cheerfully.

[elfstoned]

"Thank god," Aaron laughed. "I don't have a clue how to do this."

To be perfectly honest, he was here for the people--a chance to have a social day off for the first time in...two years, wasn't it?

That didn't mean he didn't feel a little foolish, though. Because really, D&D?

[shiromadoushi]

"First time?" Bakura grinned, heading over to the snacks to pick himself out a doughnut.

[espigeonage]

A friend had drove Julien, and he disguised his trouble with moving faster than a normal walk by having his iPod play a song loud enough to be heard outside of his earbuds, moving his head to it as he came in.

He pulled out one of the earbuds, put one hand on his hip, and surveyed the classroom with a smile. "How nostalgic! Here I thought I was done with places like these."

[northless]

Robb waves, strolling in and picking up a snack. "Hey," he says, by way of greeting, before he bites into the doughnut.

[scramasax]

Anthony enters slightly woozy - he figures he's still as jarred as he is pale from what happened in the Dead District, between him, that other boy, and the thing; and if it wasn't only between them, he supposes he might find out while he's around the others.

Seeing the others already inside gives him a bit of steadiness, and he manages a smile as he looks them all over, first locking on Bakura, the most familiar face and his inviter, with a "Hello!", and then to the others. The party should be of a big enough size to be busy, occupying, and low-pressure - he wouldn't know. But hopefully at least one or two of the others aren't overly familiar with roleplaying, either. In any case, they were here to play a game - and he was in a position to acknowledge now that maybe that was a thing he could use.

[elfstoned]

"What gave it away?" said Aaron. "You'll have to teach me the rules from the ground up, I'm afraid. All I know is that a twenty-sided die is involved somehow."

He cleared his throat, looking at the people he didn't know. "Hello," he said. "I'm Aaron Strider, and probably too old for this."

[northless]

"Robb Smith." It comes out a bit muffled by the piece of doughnut still in his mouth, and he swallows before he continues. "And I'm new to this."

[shiromadoushi]

"Hey, Anthony," Bakura greeted. "And there's not too many calls for a d20 in this system, really. Depends on what class you roll, but it's a lot more d12s and d6s," he explained before taking a bite of his doughnut. "And don't worry about being new," he continued after swallowing. "I think most everybody who isn't me or Chris is!"

[espigeonage]

Julien has opted not to get too close to Mr. Strider, in case the older man is somehow perceptive enough to notice that he's only taking shallow to-the-chest breaths, or that he's a little more physically subdued than usual. Or, more likely, that his increased clinic attendance has dropped off in the past two or three days...

"I've played a few times, not lately though. Gamer friends. Anyway, I'm Julien!"

[scramasax]

"I'm Anthony Janvier." He turns his head back vaguely in the direction of his schoolmate. "Bakura - suggested that I should try. It's, er, good to meet more of us for real."

[reapsthewind]

Chris, meanwhile, is in the corner reading over the adventure module again and wondering what she's gotten herself into.

"Jesus, there's a lot of you. Also, what a fucking sausagefest..."

[elfstoned]

Aaron glanced at the door. "Well, if you'd prefer a smaller group..." He was probably the least sure about this whole thing, and if the rest wanted to stay...

[shiromadoushi]

"As if a D&D group could be anything else?" Bakura grinned. "And bigger is better! The more characters, the better chance we have to avoid a totally party wipe out, right?"

[espigeonage]

"Provided that our lovely dungeon master isn't the rocks fall everybody dies type." In other circumstances he might have gone over and tugged playfully at Mr. Strider's arm after seeing that glance... well, maybe not. He admired the guy, but they weren't really friends... anyway, he settled for laughing. "Stay! I want you here, sir."

[reapsthewind]

"Bwahahahahahaha," said Chris, doing her best evil laugh. "Anyway, Strider, you're staying."

[elfstoned]

He put his hands up, surrendering. "All right, all right!" He half-laughed, a little embarrassed and a lot touched that they actively wanted him to play along. "So what do we do first?"

[reapsthewind]

"Do you have a character yet?"

[elfstoned]

He shook his head--as if that weren't obvious--and looked to see if the others had prepared.

[northless]

He shrugs. "I'm as new to this as you are," he answers.

[scramasax]

In turn and on cue, with certain relief, Anthony gave on awkward lip-pursed smile - dropping his figurative pearls over Ms. Starsky's earlier comment, too. "I, er, got started, but I'm not sure how to know I'm finished."

[shiromadoushi]

"OK, newbies over here!" Bakura gestured, heading for the table where the dice and manual was. "Lemme see what you've gotten so far, everybody else who hasn't even started, grab a sheet!" he instructed cheerfully. "Or grab a red shirt~"

[espigeonage]

"Now you're just mixing references," Julien half-scolded. He wanted to come up with a reference of his own, but the moment passed. Oh well.

"I had a friend draw what my character looks like. You guys don't have to do that, I'm just showing off."

[elfstoned]

Aaron obligingly picked up a sheet of paper and a pencil. "I didn't have much time to look over the PDFs," he admitted. "But I took a look. What are all the character types good at?"

[reapsthewind]

"Well, fighters are good at fighting, basically just hitting stuff hard. They're also good at taking damage. Wizards are good at casting offensive spells, and spells that can control the battlefield; stuff that hits multiple enemies, confuses them, or puts them to sleep. They're kinda squishy though, they can't take too much damage. Clerics are best at healing and protecting the other party members. Thieves are good at stealing and sneaking; they're vital for detecting traps in a dungeon."

She paused, flipping a page. "Paladins are holy warriors, sort of between clerics and fighters; they're stodgy jerks who can smite evil. Rangers are wilderness wanderers connected deeply to nature, they're good with bows and tracking animals. Assassins are basically stabby dudes. Monks are good at unarmed combat."

THE GAME

[reapsthewind]

Chris took a deep breath, setting up the cardboard screen between her and the rest of the table, then opened the well-worn pink booklet, and began to read the text from it.

"The Realm of mankind is narrow and constricted. Always the forces of Chaos press upon its borders, seeking to enslave its populace, rape its riches, and steal its treasures. If it were not for a stout few, many in the Realm would indeed fall prey to the evil which surrounds them. Yet, there are always certain exceptional and brave members of humanity, as well as similar individuals among its allies - dwarves,
elves, half-orcs, gnomes, and halflings - who rise above the common level and join battle to stave off the darkness which would otherwise
overwhelm the land. Bold adventurers from the Realm set off for the Borderlands to seek their fortune. It is these adventurers who, provided they survive the challenge, carry the battle to the enemy. Such adventurers meet the forces of Chaos in a testing ground where only the fittest will return to relate the tale. Here, these individuals will become skilled in their profession, be it fighter or magic-user, cleric or thief. They will be tried in the fire of combat, those who return, hardened and more fit. True, some few who do survive
the process will turn from Law and good and serve the masters of Chaos, but most will remain faithful and ready to fight Chaos wherever it threatens the Realm.

You are indeed members of that exceptional class, adventurers who have journeyed to the KEEP ON THE BORDERLANDS in search of fame and fortune. Of course you are inexperienced, but you have your skills and a heart that cries out for adventure. You have it in you to become great, but
you must gain experience and knowledge and greater skill. There is much to learn, and you are willing and eager to be about it! Each of you has come with everything which could possibly be given you to help. Now you must fend for yourselves; your fate is in your hands, for better or worse.

Ahead, up the winding road, atop a sheer-wailed mount of stone, looms the great KEEP. Here, at one of civilization’s strongholds between good lands and bad, you will base yourselves and equip for forays against the wicked monsters who lurk in the wilds. Somewhere nearby, amidst the
dark forests and tangled fens, are the Caves of Chaos where fell creatures lie in wait. All this you know, but before you dare adventure into such regions you must become acquainted with the other members of your group, for each life will depend upon the ability of the others to cooperate against the common foe. Now, before you enter the grim
fortress, is the time for introductions and an exchange of information,
for fate seems to have decreed that you are to become an adventurous band who must pass through many harrowing experiences together on the path which leads towards greatness."

She took a deep breath. "I forgot how wordy this one is."

She went back to reading.

"You have traveled for many days, leaving the Realm and entering into the wilder area of the Borderlands. Farms and towns have become less frequent and travelers few. The road has climbed higher as you enter the forested and mountainous country.

You now move up a narrow, rocky track. A sheer wall of natural stone is on your left, the path falling away to a steep cliff on the right. There is a small widening ahead, where the main gate to the KEEP is. The blue-clad men-at-arms who guard the entrance shout at you to give your names and state your business. All along the wall you see curious
faces peering down at you - eager to welcome new champions of Law, but ready with crossbow and pole arm to give another sort of welcome to enemies."

"Alright!" she said, clapping her hands together (just in case someone had fallen asleep). "Your characters are at the gate of this Keep on the borderlands. Introduce yourselves! How did you guys meet each other? Why are you coming to this keep? For loot? For learning? Or 'cause you're just nice folks?"

[dorkytracksuit]

"Well it's not like we'd actually tell them we were here for loot even if we were." says Davin, adjusting his cowboy hat. Yes, he is wearing a cowboy hat. He also looks significantly less yellow than usual having been practicing his makeup skills.

"The names Davin." he says, introducing himself in what he feels is a suave manner. Yes, his character has the same name as he does, he just is not that creative. "A wizard, of course. It's knowledge I seek, if that's alright with the guards."

[shiromadoushi]

"Bakura! Cleric! I'm here to tend to those who have been affected by this horrible battle and to watch over those who would seek to write the wrongs that Chaos has unleashed, so that good can be restored in this world!"

There was no way to not sound over dramatic when giving a line like that, and Bakura didn't even try. Full drama, all the way!

[scramasax]

Anthony bites the back of his lip a split second and glances over the others. "I, the paladin Anthony -" He sighs disappointedly a bit inside there - but it was probably easier that they seemed to be using their own names for now, as he hadn't even picked one to write in on his character sheet yet. "...represent the protecting light of good! And I seek, too, to uh - repair the damage that the Chaos has done!"

[elfstoned]

"Beren, son of Barahir," said Aaron, leaning forward with his hands folded on the table. His face was half-shadowed, and his manner subdued but focused. Aaron had taken his names from that epic-in-verse that wouldn't leave his mind -- and was drawing heavily from it. "As a Ranger, I fight in the Wild, hunting and killing the monsters that lurk there." He glances from person to person, around the table. "The Chaos took much from me. I seek only to spend my remaining days avenging myself on it and its servants."

Even Aaron wasn't sure how seriously he was taking this.

"Think Batman."

[northless]

Robb pauses, then sighs.

"Robb, knight," he says. "I'm here because as a champion of light, it's my sworn duty to hold back the Chaos at all costs." He pauses, then adds, "Honestly, though, I'm just here because I have nothing else to do."

[espigeonage]

A wide, happy grin comes easily to Julien's face. "The Apostle of the Violet Rose." He brings out... oh, no, he had a friend draw something for his character sheet. The blue hair is longer, and... this may be a female character. The friend is better at armor than human details.

"Paladin! And a halfling, what of it? I've come to represent the Violet Rose, to whom I've given my name. As such if you're doing good I want to help - and I wouldn't mind seeing what's in there."

[reapsthewind]

"'What ho, travelers!' say the guards. They confer among themselves for a bit, but they seem to come to the conclusion that you guys seem like an okay bunch. They open the gates!"

You enter the main entry yard, and are greeted by a cranky asshole in plate armor who introduces himself as the corporal of the town watch. He eyes you all suspiciously except -- Julien, is your character actually a girl? Because if so, uh, he's gonna hit on you.

He's accompanied by a scribe who notes down your names. If you have horses, they're taken by some servant guys to be stabled.

You guys can ask the corporal some questions, or you can go left to explore the rest of the Keep. This is an outpost on the edges of civilization, so they're not wealthy, but there might be interesting stuff around. Also, you've heard some rumors about some caves to the northeast..."

"Oh shoot," she says, snapping her fingers. "I forgot to mention. Did any of you guys talk to any of the other travelers on the road? There were some merchant caravans going to and from the Keep; they might have had some rumors about the surrounding area."

Wait, crap, it's my go, innit?

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura covered a small laugh at the Batman comment, but keeps quiet, happily all but bouncing in his chair as the others spoke. He nodded intently at Chris's question. "I'd be a good idea to, right? To find out what they know. Who's got the highest charisma score, that'd be the best person to do the asking! And also, we should ask after the caves. Caves are always important!"