Ken (GM): woop woop

hows mah mans

Fiss: Tired as balls, can only stay till 3:20-ish, but otherwise, keen!

Ken (GM): GASP

fiss? TIRED?!

PREPOSTEROUS

Fiss: Well, they have not yet released Jolt here in Canada, so I am still at the mercy of my stored bloodsacks of the lifeblood

Joush M.: You need some good old-fashioned amphetamines. Wake up with lots of energy

Ken (GM): METH

METH

METH

METH

Joush M.: If Dexedrine was good enough for your grandma and the armed forces it’s good enough for you

Ken (GM): WHERES THIS FANGLED KEV EH?

PROMISING TO APPEAR

also, caps lock is cruise control for cool

Fiss: IT’S TRUE

Ken (GM): Joush, any plans for gray then? Purchasing allies, contacts, beefing up memory?

and you fiss? Any heaps of points to spend?

Joush M.: Ah; Contact for Volk, upping Memory’s point total, maybe a few points for Heraldry, Sewing

Fiss: I think Syviis is good for now, saving up points for potentially an extra DX or IQ, but if she can throw an extra level in her Magical Talent that might come in handy. What’s the limit? She’s at 3 now.

Ken (GM): limit is 5, so youre good to go now if ya like fiss

@joush: drop me an updated sheet when you’ve decided? they all sound like solid choices

@PPA, does Suðri have a bunch of unspent points?

P.P. A.: 30 last I checked; I want to develop his 3D-printing skillz with some of those, but gradually as he has more practice

Ken (GM): cool, cool. I could certainly see some sort of modular ability where you can on-the-fly morph your armor into useful physical forms

[where the balls are doc and kev…?]

Joush M.: Gray’s armor could use some repairs. He should get Suðri to eat it and make a better one.

I wonder what the limit is on that; can he eat 100 pounds of iron wire?

Ken (GM): lol

“just one more handful man, please, I need a codpiece”

HORF-DORF NOISES

P.P. A.: messaged Doc

Ken (GM): woot, thanks

he HAS been tired, what with ALL SCHOOL, ALL THE TIME

HOKAY, so; bit of downtime, you guys have been in Oakway arranging for the march north, against the High Lord Jadeite

ahem

Ken (GM) Against the High Lord Jadeite

Ken (GM): so, itemized: -The dorfs armor is growing, covering their old suits entirely. They’re clad from the neck down in their living armor now

-Gray is organizing Rod’s entourage, while Rod himself gets the Militia in a marching order. The rabble will follow his orders, but they’re not nearly a professional force

-Syviis is making strides in spreading out her connections to the elves. The refugees in town see her as a bit of a savior, and their tales of the homeland are chaotic and terrifying. They are intensely grateful for the removal of the evil cultists



Syviis makes sure she has a fresh supply of arrows



Adolf S.: ayy, I’m back from the dead, only a liitttle late

Bomrek: The Elf lands are goin’ a bit crazy, you’re saying?

Gray makes sure they’ve got a proper banner to march under and the right colors.

Syviis: Any official words back from the Elf Lands or still only local Elfyness responding?

Ken (GM): The trickling in refugees give word that there is really no organized leaders back there [In the Anhaern] right now; with the high druid dead the whole place fragmented and went mad when the magic left.

The Mana has come back, but in the interim there were a large number of converts over to the darkness. Those fleeing into Grayhold were turned away by the dwarves from their lands.

P.P. A.: Good.

Ken (GM): In the truest sense, Syviis is seen as the current “most qualified” leadership there is

Syviis:



Joush M.: Your the elf queen now.

Ken (GM): more like “High priestess of the Righteous Storm” but yeah,

Syviis: Cool, well, at least she has a retirement plan now.

[assuming she lives mwahaha]

Bomrek: Her 401 carrots are looking good, really growin’ well

Doc: I have arrived

P.P. A.: Good

P.P. A. >turns off Etrian Odyssey IV



(To Gray): So, Volk has made contact. His “Wolf Brigade” got through the current crisis relatively unscathed. Holed up in Hoddleton, keeping security for the lords appointed there in the last Months. Cushy job, assuming you don’t run afoul of a wizard. But he’s not sure they can keep up their end of the bargain. Tensions are still very high and the people are working but scared.

(From Gray): Gray isn’t surprised to see the commander landed on his feet with the chaos in the world. He remembers Volk as always being sure of the worst in people and the world and rarely disappointed or surprised when things went wrong. He finds the meeting awkward, but tries to keep things to business and the future rather then the past. Gray needs someone trustworthy among the half-elves. So he needs a favor from Volk.

(To Gray): Anything for a friend…for a price





Ken (GM): So other than “Prepare to go North” anything else you guys wanted covered in your downtime?

Syviis: I will spend some time cultivating contacts in the elven communities and making sure that when this is all done I can start to wrangle some of the politics and stuff, but for now, the focus is clear. Arrows. Into badguys.

P.P. A.: How much downtime is it?

Ken (GM): so far, two nights and days

Bomrek: Assuming we’ve got a good chunk of downtime, Bomrek’ll go to spend his time in some taverns, think better of it, and find a nice quiet place to drink alcohol to see how hard that effects him considering his current situation.

(If Bomrek drinks all the components of an apple-tini, does he output an apple-tini?)

Syviis: Dwarf-Mixer!

Suðri will join him in the taverns sometimes, and experiment with metal to get a better grasp of his new abilities on the others. Also diligently collect the powder he’s shedding.



(To Bomrek): You discover you’re incredibly resistant to intoxication. +8 on rolls

Bomrek: time to up it to wood alcohol’.

Ken (GM): The taverns are a bit wary at first of armored-suit wearing dwarves, but soon your reputation precedes you and aside from the fame its business as usual





Doc: if there’s enough time Rod wants to learn how to guns

P.P. A.: Oh yeah, that’s long overdue isn’t it

Rod taking a crash course from the dwarves?

Doc: if there’s enough downtime, yeah

Suðri Skornbrekker will be happy to teach Roderick how to gunz



(From Gray): Gray nods somberly at that and gets down to finding out what the amber eyed merc wants for his help, the towering scorned nodding.

(To Gray): The usual; coin to do my work with, but also assurances that this upstart noble “Roderick of the Scorned” can be trusted

(From Gray): Finds the coin an easy enough request, but asking if Roderick can be trusted cuts to the heart of an issue for him and leaves him thinking quitely for several moments before at last he promises that yes, Roderick can be trusted.

(To Gray): “I can read you like an open book gray, why the hesitation”

(From Gray): “I hadn’t really considered that before. I had to think about what I know of him and what he’s done. He is a good man. I trust him, despite the fact that he is nobility”

(To Gray): “Ah well, they cant all be of a right mind. We’re reasonable, you and I. They were born into it. Cant be blamed if theyre all nuts”

(To Gray): But here’s the trouble; if you come North, are you going to face down Volk and his men? are you raising an army to conquer a land that just lost it’s King, and has a mad wizard on the throne?



Ken (GM): sorry, half whispermongering and half feeding my boy

but thats bomrek up to speed and gray half finished

Rod!, considering your background familiarity, and some dedicated training, i’d be fine with you putting up to 2 points right away into any guns you can be trained in



(From Gray): Gray bites back a response that might lead them down to old roads, old fights, before he instead takes a breath then smiles faintly. “He’s gotten enough dirt on his armor and blood on his hands to be forgiven for nobility. He’s worked hard for where he is.. Honestly, it’s a mess.” Gray prowls a moment. “We aren’t going for conquest. This is about stopping the pretender on the throne and securing the sword…The Gray Blade itself. If we end up meeting on the field of battle, you know I’ll have more respect and consideration for you and your men then the ones that hired you.”

Ken (GM): “True enough; I fathom your pay would come steadier too. If it comes to that, I’ll have faith you’ll have a plan of some kind. Or at least Rod might.”

ahem…whisper whisper



Doc: how about one into musket and one into cannons, in case he has to shoot either

Ken (GM): sounds reasonable

Doc: or are there any important skills besides the actual Guns skill?

i.e. to be able to reload for someone else or something

Ken (GM): well, youre covered with guns skill there.

Armory(guns) covers their in depth maintenance, and the design/engineering skill cover building them

Joush M.: Guns is used for reloading. Fast Draw (Ammo) for reloading fast. Armory (Small Arms) for treating any problems.

Ken (GM): gunmind

Doc: Alright, just making sure

Ken (GM) By the dawn of the third day back in Oakway, a kind of muted excitement sits on the town. The refugees have begun using magic to carve out a home for themselves in the land. Ulm and the tribesmen have been meeting with the Lords on an accord for their citizenry, under Lord Rod’s banner. The Militia is raised, outfit as best can be hoped, and a wagon train built by rover hands is ready. Rod’s banner hangs proudly from his carriage, a freshly painted and hewn Rover vehicle, like a mighty keg of royal demeanor on wheels. At your word, you can set North for the impostor King

Ken (GM): The militia is roughly a thousand men, clad in scavenged padded armor, armed with pikes, spears, bats and axes and whatever carving knives they have at hand. They are a motley assortment of half-goatmen, elves, rovers, men and tieflings.

Doc: >a thousand men

wew

Ken (GM): Your dwarven commander has them marching to drum, packed with tents, and as orderly as possible, considering the circumstances. Your musketmen and pikemen are the ‘elite guard’ making Rod’s personal entourage

Doc: Rod’s the only horseman, then?

>horse-men don’t count

Ken (GM): you lack any cavalry units! Research barding and stirrup for access to this resource!

Joush M. pulls on a new surcoat over his armor, a black raven on a blue field, a bit of fabric in Roderick’s color wrapped around his arm as the towering lupine Beastman comes to meet the others. “A lot done in a few days. I’m impressed.”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “If we could find… well, acquire more guns along the way, that would be good,” Suðri notes.

Ken (GM): [pity they blew up the powder-room in Timberkeep…]

Syviis adjusts her woad makeup to directly match the colours of Roderick’s banner – This isn’t camouflage, but war-paint, and she wears it proudly to defend the light and life of the realm.

Ken (GM): …just to be clear, verdant green?

Roderick gives an affirmative nod to Suðri. As if the absence of cavalry wasn’t bad enough, their pike-and-shot formation is distinctly lacking in shot.

Syviis: Neon puke-green? 😛

Ken (GM): we keep vaguely saying “rods colors” but what is that exactly

Syviis: The banner colors.

Doc: um

the colors of his armor would probably make the most sense

I dunno if he’d choose the colors himself either

Ken (GM): >sideways glance at royalty not being as ostentatious as possible

Syviis: makes sure party is colour-matched so we can be quick-selected on the map screen, RTS style

Joush M.: Roderick’s a noble right? I mean, like, a real one with a noble house and coat of arms?

Doc: Not anymore

Joush M.: Ah! Ha… well then, Roderick would get some input on his banner design

P.P. A.: He’d keep his Coat of Arms unless it’s revoked by royal decree or something, though

Doc: it was

P.P. A.: oh

I thought he was just impoverished but not downright un-nobled?

Doc: He never actually held any titles and his dad’s were revoked

Ken (GM): right, by the High Lord Jadeite

Joush M.: Roses keep coming up when he is drawn into Fae shit, and saved a friend of Gray’s. He would suggest a design based on that, if Roderick dosn’t want to claim his old banner

(To Doc): oooh the Fae would love a rose…

Syviis tries not to giggle as she braids flowers in her hair, then sharpens the tips of her +1 metal arrow-heads

Gray tucks a red rose into an arm band and nods a touch. The fashion is dramatic enough to make it easy to tell friend from foe, at least.

Doc: Is there a customary banner for bringing traitors to JUSTICE

Ken (GM): Hmm, thats the sword and scales, traditionally.

The dwarves use the JUSTICE HAMMER which is the one they swing around screaming JUSTICE as they kill lawbreakers

P.P. A.: A tool of the craft and a tool of the law

Ken (GM): Elves tend to brand people and then not invite them to parties anymore…Doc:



JUSTICE HAMMER

Ken (GM):





Bomrek looks at the assortment of ill-armed troops, and clearly ponders whatever battles are to come. “I’m not sure how effective these.. ‘troops’ will be.” he absent mindedly starts packing his pipe with tobacco, and turns to the others.

Suðri Skornbrekker: [in Dwarven] “[I am not all that optimistic either, but ideally we do not get in any large field battles. If we had more guns… Well, our goal is Jadeite; and if we take out shady Elven warlocks along we way, we might be able to swell our numbers still].”

Bomrek: [In Dwarven] “[Farmhands and cobblers aren’t warriors, especially outside of our homelands. What possible value can we expect from these.. ‘people’? I’m not sure that I’d trust them to hunt pheasant, let alone withstand the hardships of pitched battle].” Bomrek lights his pipe and puffs a few times, stoking the little flame. “[It’s just not strategically sound.]“

Roderick: [Quietly and also in Dwarven] “[Without guns or cavalry, there’s not much this force can expect to do besides draw the enemy out.They can stand in a line or press an attack, but a determined counterattack would likely break their ranks quite easily despite their numbers].”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “[Such a motley gang might not exactly be good appearances either, if we are to win the people in the capital over…]”

Bomrek: “[Surely the forces we are to face have even greater numbers than this. I don’t expect them to hold a line more than a minute.]” Bomrek puffs slowly on his pipe. “[We could use them as a distraction, maybe. Send a small force in appearing to sack part of the town, wait for them to decide to attack the smaller force, then send in the rest of the troops while we make our way into the stronghold from another angle, perhaps? Aye, a band of demons and distant enemies walking through the town killing the brave defenders won’t go over well.]”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “[Depending on how tumultuous the situation is in other towns along the way, we could fill a void and restore some law and order, weakening Jadeite’s support base.]”

Bomrek: “[Unless we can turn over a fighting force, I don’t know just how much that will help us.]” Bomrek says around his pipe stem.

Gray doesn’t speak Dwarven, working at the transportation.

Bomrek: (“There they go again, jawing away. They’re probably making fun of us right now, and we don’t even know it”)

Suðri Skornbrekker strokes his beard, looking worried. “[Maybe dig trenches and just create a lot of hurdles to slow any enemy down and allow a smaller force to sneak around them.]”

P.P. A.: ^in Dwarven still

Roderick: “[Provoking Jadeite into rash action is good on its own, but we need to be able to survive it.]“

Joush M.: Aren’t we taking some Syviis-worshiping geo-mancers with us? Seems like that goes a long way to equalizing things when Jadeite’s going to be rocking monsters and corrupted guardsmen

Bomrek: “What we need are firearms.” Bomrek says, scratching lightly at his neck through his beard, somewhat difficult to do around the armor. “Arm them with muskets and powder, train them on the road, and bait out the enemy into a field. That is.. unless their forces have firearms as well.” Bomrek sighs, and glances over at the troops again.

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Yea, firearms would do the job. Do we have any of these earth-shaper sorcerers with us? They could quickly make trenches, and then we just shoot the enemy from there. Or hide in a forest, yuck.”

Roderick: “Even as they are now, they could make an effective besieging force. After all, we essentially convinced them to lift a siege already.”

Syviis: “While we do not have a standing army, we have a people filled with hope and passion to dispose of a false king and reclaim their homes. We need not ask them to march to their deaths…only divide and stress Jadeite’s forces enough that we may slip through the cracks”

Bomrek: “Perhaps a little pre-battle whiskey would be in order, to shore up their spirits.” Bomrek says, laughing at the thought.

Syviis: “Please do not kill the army with Dwarven-strength liquor…” She smiles nervously

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Here’s a thought: we use their shamans’ crop-magic to grow and their manpower to process staggering quantities of alcohol, then distribute them among any Greyhold guards, wizards, and so on,” Suðri laughs.

Bomrek: “A great terror requires a great proof, ‘Elf.” Bomrek laughs through his pipe, ending with a pessimistic smile and a glance down toward the floor of the wagon.

Bomrek turns to Rod, thoughtful. “Say.. you’ve been there before, haven’t you? Where is the wealth horde located?”

Doc: (brb, if ken gets back ask him what we know about the enemy’s forces and whether Grayhold can be effectively cut off if we hold the one road leading into it)



Ken (GM): – the ‘geomancers’ are a small coven of elves, tieflings and humans. Together they can work earth like a bulldozer and heap mounds. You could take them with you, but they could also do well in alleviating the work in the new community

-Also, Grayhold is a large town surrounding the keep, which itself perches on the cliffs overlooking the waters up North.

Joush M.: Hard choice. I thought we might keep ’em with us to keep them safe, but either way works

Bomrek: >new community

Psssh, who cares about that shit-heap. We need to kill this guy, even if it means all beastmen in the world die.

especially if it means that, actually

P.P. A.: They make more sense to leave here, probably

Doc: idea: besiege Grayhold, set up a toll system where merchants are allowed to go in and out but are forced to surrender the majority of their goods before they go inside

Joush M.: Let’s get to Grayhold first

Doc: this keeps the besieging force well-supplied and as long as the quota is strict enough it bleeds the town faster. Since the few supplies that make it through would be extremely profitable and that money would be allowed to leave the city. The toll actually makes the trip more profitable for the merchants/smugglers who make the trip

Gray suggest they invite the small geomancer community to come with them, but accepts their choice either way. There’s work to be done.

Bomrek agrees with Gray, the downsides of taking them from the city are minimal to him.

Ken (GM): so thats two for, the rest of you?

rod, suthri, syviis?

Doc: rod wants to win so yeah

Syviis: Yeah, I’m cool with that. The big thing is she knows we can’t raise an army quickly… so any tactics that will stress the opposing army are a good idea.

Ken (GM): nice; an invitation to them is well received, and they see it as a righteous duty; the elves want to support their priestess, and the scorned see themselves as your divine agents

P.P. A.: Suðri is neutral on the matter; they might be of more use here, but having them around could be handy, and surviving and winning is a good thing

Ken (GM): hokay so you have:

-The militia

-The Geomancers

-the provision wagons

>Salle forth?

Syviis: Of course…and don’t call me Sally.

Gray walks beside the noble carriage, looking around the small army of theirs and feeling relatively confident for the moment.

Doc: Any ideas on where to get guns?

Bomrek: Well. Does Rod remember any major military depots between here and the stronghold?

Ken (GM): Academs Mine has a large powder mill

Bomrek: We could raid’m, gangster style’

P.P. A.: or just try to recruit them to our side

Bomrek: Maybe, but we’re not payin’ their bills after all.

Also, that’ll do for powder, what about the muskets themselves? I’m not against strapping powder kegs to beastmen and having them kamakazi the enemy… but it may be more efficient to have’m shoot’m instead

Gray: Sure, we could run ahead of the army once we get that far and offer them an exciting chance to help save the kingdom

Gray: Let Academs Mine do it’s part to help…

Doc: (“Hey there’s an army marching up this way, I’m sure you’d love to be on their good side”)

Joush M.: (“I’m a nice, reasonble beastman. You can deal with me.. or the Storm Priestess. She thinks she’s the god-empress of the elves. You really want to talk to her? Make sure you’ve got a lightning rod nearby if you do.”)

Ken (GM): Grimwyrd: Wiseguys

Syviis: [begins to learn how to glow her eyes like Raiden]

Ken (GM) the road is even and well travelled; the chaso of the South is mostly contained away from here, the farms picturesque if not ill-tended to. Long fields lay half-cut as the summer wanes.

Travel North is easy even for such an unwieldy group; the lack of rank and file seems to benefit your ragged army, as they meander up the highway in line. Your personal group walks at the head, the carriage adorned with fresh roses and the gavel of justice fluttering in the breeze.



Gray is glad to be moving, feeling the urgency of time passing and the evil mage in the north having time to consolidate power.



Ken (GM): As the sun sets on the first day, your group has reached Swineholt together with little mess; the wagons are still in one piece each, and the men haven’t killed each other. As the cool night air closes in and you think wistfully of a hot dinner of pig…then, there is a rumbling in the air.

A lone black cloud appears on the horizon, moving fast for you. It flies against the wind, a fat black thing, trailing like an inky smear on the evening sky

Roiling and fearsome it is!

Syviis looks to the rumbling, checking if it is but a spot of bad weather… or something that is silly, and wants to spoil the evening

(To Syviis): That is not a stormcloud, your elf-storm senses tell you

Syviis: “Seems like our march has not gone unnoticed.”

(To Syviis): Your magic vision shows it also to be alight like a fucking phosphorous flare with infernal power

Syviis: “A lot of power. Get everyone to cover in case it’s going to try and emulate the brighter parts of a storm.”

Gray collects his weapons and rises to his feet. “Steady and calm now!” He commands the army before he turns his attention to watch the blot of darkness come close.

Bomrek: What kind of population does this hamlet have? 50? 100?

Ken (GM): looks closer to 500ish; theres a few big buildings between the hovels and shacks

Doc: heh, “ham-let”

Ken (GM): sad horn noises

Ken (GM) Your men mingle about, tired from a days march, pointing and gawking…

Suðri Skornbrekker: “Have we not fought a cloud before a while ago? What was that again? I lost track of all the magic [Dwarven swear] we’ve run into.”

Syviis pulls out an arrow and lights the tip up

Syviis: crackle crackle

Dorf Captain: “Sir, orders?”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “What is a good formation in defense against magic stuff?” HE asks jokingly, though he is worried about the situation.

Roderick: “Get the townspeople to safety and put the troops in a loose formation”

Gray resist the urge to roar in response, trusting the others to handle this and not wanting to undercut anyone’s authority as the towering Beastman forms up with weapons ready. “Skirmish line!” He manages to clearly point and swing sword

Bomrek: Oh crap, how did we divvy up those new muskets?

Did Bomrek get his hands on one?

Dorf Captain: [dwarf lazer guns are stowed securely in the float-box between

Suðri and Bomrek]

Bomrek grabs one of the new muskets and runs his fingers over it gently, getting a feel for it in his grip. He looks up to the skies, anger and concern on his features.

Ken (GM) the Inky blotch of night streaks down to your group from the sky, a rolling thunder on it’s heels; The dwarf commander staggers out the muskets and pikes in a rough line, the militia forming up in a loose bunch behind you, the wagons staggering to a stop and men rushing to spread out, disperse their ranks as instructed

Syviis turns to the Dwarves he grabs one of the Dwarven ‘muskets’ and familiarizes himself with it one final time, before aiming at the sky as well.

Syviis: “Do we have any thin metal wire? A spool of it?”

Bomrek raises his eyebrow, and cocks his head toward Suðri

Suðri Skornbrekker hectically looks around if there’s some metal object they don’t really need.

P.P. A.: (Is there?)

Syviis: [honestly can’t remember, I think you dwarves were eating it earlier?]

Bomrek: “Now’s not the time for a steel harp, Elf”

Syviis: 😛

Bomrek: (Dwarven Spaghetti)

Ken (GM): [not unless someone has gizomo…]

Syviis: “Fine… we’ll set up a proper lighting rod later.” to the troops “FIND COVER! UNDER THE TREES OR NEAR THE BUILDINGS!”

P.P. A.: (no, I mean if there’s any useless metal objects around)

(like a spare blade or something, I can MAKE wire)

Gray stands by and makes an effort to look calm and confident. “You expect a storm?”

Joush M.: (useless metal? That’s a mean thing to say about Bomrek))

Ken (GM): hahahahah BURN

Ken (GM) the cloud streaks over Swineholt, rattling thatch roofs and clattering the bell in the town hall. It slams into the earth ahead of you on the road, cobbled bricks erupting from the road as the black soot explodes in all directions, scattered on the wind



P.P. A.: GM pls respond

Syviis watches, frowning

Ken (GM) the wind gusts a moment, the smoke clears, and standing in a small shallow crater is…. a scantily clad woman draped in gold and silver



P.P. A.: PLS RESPOND

Doc: is she hot

Bomrek: She’s probably an Elf, so no

Syviis: “With such unbashful clothing…you’d think she’d catch her death in this weather…”

Bomrek: “Aye, she will, Elf” Bomrek takes aim at her.

Ken (GM) She is beautiful, long raven hair, buxom, and barely wearing anything. What she IS wearing is exotic; layered scales of gold and silver, like coins chained together in a concubine’s skirt and top

She casually dusts some rock off her shoulder and cocks a hand on her hip



P.P. A.: Or was “Ken (GM): [not unless someone has gizomo…]” the answer to that question

Gray stares at the dramatic entrance, impressed despite himself by the entrance that leaves stone shattered and scattered from the road.

P.P. A.: test



The woman: “Hail Heroes of the South! The High Lord bids you welcome to his Kingdom!”



Bomrek: (A bucket lyin’ around, out in the open? In this economy? I doubt it)

Syviis: (It’s OK, the idea was only if lightning started fucking down on us)

(To P.P. A.): It was the answer; sorry, no grounding wire in the group ATM

P.P. A.: I didn’t ask if there was grounding wire :#

I asked if there were useless metal objects like spare blades (or a spade or whatever)

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): You meaning to slap some together for Syviis right away, eating something on hand?

(From P.P. A.): yeah

(To Suðri Skornbrekker): oh shit, okay, WELL that makes a bunch of sense, yeah.

I’m gonna say someone is missing their spare sword now, but youve got your 5 pounds of wire, definitely

Syviis: “Which High Lord is that?

The woman: “High lord jadeite, of course!” She says with an amused tone in her voice “The mighty master of magic see’s your entourage, and again, bids you welcome to his Kingdom. ” She bows a curtsy, with what little skirt she has

Syviis smiles politely



Suðri Skornbrekker , retroactively before the woman appeared, grabbed some spare weapon, ate it, and popped out a roll of metal wire.

Ken (GM) all true, for serious. GM approved

Suðri Skornbrekker handed it to Syviis: “Now we do.”

P.P. A.: well, back to the present

Syviis: yeah, but she’s not shooting lightning at us from the clouds…yet…so it’s OK 😛

Bomrek speaks quietly to Suðri , while keeping his eyes locked on the woman. “[“Careful friend, don’t strain yourself, that’s how you get hemorrhoids“]

Syviis: [lol]



Suðri Skornbrekker: “That armour of yours looks familiar,” Suðri calls over to the woman.: “You know anyone named— er, what was it… ‘Deloth Ainur’?”

Syviis: “Ahh, good, then he wishes to surrender to the Light? That would be best for everyone.”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “‘His’ kingdom? Pardon me, m’lady, I seem to have missed his coronation!” Suðri replies sarcastically, indignant by this claim to kingship—not that it came as much of a surprise.

Gray bows, the towering Beastman lowering his head a moment then rising. “You have us at a disadvantage. I don’t think we have been introduced.”



Fiss: [gotta run folks, Ken is assuming Elfcommand]

P.P. A.: See you \o

Bomrek: Uploading <ElfAI26.twigs>



The woman: “A pity you could not attend Master Suðri. Fine deep-shroom stew was served for the dwarves in attendance, and the spices were said to be seasoned perfectly. Perhaps next time”

“I am Madame Zur.” Another deep provocative curtsy from her “And I apologize, I do not know of a Deloth-Ainur, however, the High Lord wishes for Bomrek,

Suðri, Gray, Syviis and Lord Rod to each be graciously welcomed.”

“After all, if you are to agree to his proposition, you will become Lords Bomrek, Suðri, Gray, Rod and even Lady Syviis”



P.P. A.: I wonder if her scales also slide across the body magically, the descriptions sound familiar

Bomrek: “How much gold does your lord have at his disposal?” Bomrek yells across the expanse between them, over his musket.

Gray: “I come not to praise your Master, but to bury him. Thank you for such gracious welcome, however.”



Madame Zur: “Riches of the lands and skies, and even those of the Nether itself Master Bomrek. Riches beyond even your canny knowledge”

“You would be remiss to dismiss this offer hastily, o Gray. Please hear him out before being so brutal to him”

Bomrek is wondering how hard it’ll be to arrange transport of some of the gold horde to the mountainhomes once he is defeated.



Suðri Skornbrekker: “We did seek an audience with him to hear him explain himself.”

Gray: “Then let us hear what she has to say.” He looks around a moment, the massive Beastman gesturing to one of Swinholdt’s buildings. “A public house. We can speak there, if you would care to accompany us. I would not force a guest to stand in a field while we speak”



Madame Zur: “I must insist to be forthright and quick, your answer must come immediately: The High Lord wishes to extend to each of you a title, befit of your station as the masters of this world. You would sit at his side on the Council that now governs his land. You would rule here as High Lords, answer only to Jadeite himself, and be free to rule as you see fit. ” The woman steps forward slowly as she speaks, hips shaking back and forth to swing her coins to shine in the evening light, red as the sunset on Golden hue

“Would you? Join us and become sovereigns and mighty kings and a queen? Knights, Sorcerer-lords and Elven Archdruid”



Gray: “Such an offer would carry more weight if I trusted the ‘high lord’ to hold to any bargain or deal he made. I am afraid I will be forced to disappoint you, Madam Zur”

Suðri Skornbrekker: “You said we would be free to rule as we see fit—as it so happens, my idea of good governance does not involve pacts with The Darkness, or shady Elves, or sending thousands of your subjects to your doom. I am afraid these differences will be difficult to accommodate.”



frowns a bit, pouts really, her red lips ruby in the light, even from here “A pity to hear from you both. Lord Rod? would you take the banner, despite your fellows misgivings? Or you Master Bomrek? A mighty table you could set, with the finest spirits and coin in your mouth.” She runs a finger to her lips to punctuate



Adolf S.: Any Objections to Bomrek shooting her now?

I feel that’s what he’d be inclined to do

turns spent aiming + ACC, etc

Ken (GM): hey, you do you Bomrek

Joush M.: Gray’s spending a lot of effort on playing nice, and she hasn’t done anything to start a fight. Gray would be upset, but that’s often true when Bomrek is involved

Suðri Skornbrekker understands that as a signal, the ‘counter-offer’ being a bullet, and takes aim, but does not himself fire yet.



Roderick smiles and shakes his head at the fairy tale presented to them. “A valiant effort, but I’m afraid I won’t be defeated so easily. Perhaps you’d like to hear our counter-offer?”

Doc: if Bomrek shoots her now, Rod will be miffed but he will understand

Bomrek ‘s eyes go hard, and he fires at the woman, aiming for vitals.

Bomrek: (How long have I been aiming now? How many turns worth of dialogue?)

Ken (GM): Neat! Distance is -5, Acc is 6, so call it a net +3 all told for Bomrek with time spent

Bomrek: roger roger

Bomrek: rolling 3d6(2+5+1)= 8

Ken (GM): And a reminder; Spend a fatigue or a dust please

Bomrek: Versus my 21 factoring in the +3

One dust has been expended

Oh hey, this is a crit, isn’t it?

(It’s been way too long since I’ve had a chance to GURPS, feels good to be back at it.)

Suðri Skornbrekker fires the moment after his comrade does, expending some of the red dust he’s been collecting over the last two days.

Ken (GM) Ruby light flares from Bomrek’s gun, dwarfing the evening sun and the woman’s ruby lips; a hot wave washes away from Bomrek, steam rising from the ground, and a pure blast of fire tunnels through her guts in a neat circle. There is a sizzle and POP in the air as a tiny thunderclap follows the

BNEEEEEROOOM

of the beam



Ken (GM): [crits on a 6 or less only, but a hit nonetheless]

damage!

Bomrek: I thought it counts as a crit if my unmodified skill was 10 over the roll or more?

Joush M.: That’s for critical fuckups.

Bomrek: Ooh, does it not apply to positive crits? Shid

Ken (GM): yeah, as J says, rolling ten higher than your target is a critical fuckup

Bomrek: rolling 6d6(3+1+1+1+4+4)= 14 Burn

Ken (GM): dang, below average by far

Bomrek: Yup, all ‘dem 1’s

Still, I doubt she’ll be happy after her hair is either burned off,

Bomrek: or at least so frizzled by the heat that it looks like shit now.

Either way, I Win!



Ken (GM): Suðri ! roll your shot! Distance is -5

Suðri Skornbrekker: [7v18]

Bomrek: Out of Bomrek’s curiosity, does this gun kick harder, or less, than his double barrel musket?

Ken (GM): [kicks way less. Like a .22, and the kick comes a half second after the shot]

Bomrek: Must be one of ‘dem fancy german recoil mitigators in this thing, all pulleys and weights and wire

P.P. A.: [fug, did we just attack a messenger]

P.P. A.: [oh well, the messenger of an ursuper anyway]

Bomrek: She’s a very well-armed messenger.

Ken (GM) A second blast of light and heat follows the first, slamming into her beautiful chest



Suðri Skornbrekker: [21] Burn damage



Madame Zur stands, aghast, her innards melting out of her gut, showering the ground around her in a hot stream of riotous red. Her bones glitter exposed now, shining hotly in the air, steam coming off them in waves. She trembles, in pain and rage and SCREAMS in a furious voice “YOU DARE?!“

Bomrek: “Die in Dwarven Fire you Dark Harlot!”

The woman thrusts her hands to the earth and then lifts up in a dramatic gesture…and the earth BOILS around her.

Gray snarls in his own frustration as Bomrek fires. No flag of truce was flown but it’s still… aggravating. Moving back from the boiling ground.

Roderick flinches at the sound of the gunshots, irritated but not surprised.



Ken (GM): DUN DUN DUN

Ken (GM): UNTIL NEXT WEEK



Bomrek: (lets just say in Dwarven warfare, there’s a reason messengers are the most well-armored among the battlegroups)

Suðri Skornbrekker regrets shooting the messenger in hindsight, but it’s not like they aren’t already at war.

P.P. A.: \o/

Dwarven laser rifles are neat

Ken (GM): SUPER neat

Doc: yeah that was unexpected

Joush M.: Dwarven messengers are just 90 kilogram iron spheres shot from counterweight artillery with the message hastily half-written on it

P.P. A.: well, would be neater if this was an enemy that would die like you’d expect people to die

Ken (GM): hey well, Syviis did warn about a ton of magic juju

P.P. A.: rather than to not die after having her innards melted away

Doc: >people who don’t die when they’re killed

P.P. A.: but I’m sure we’ll get there next session!

Joush M.: Good game man, thanks.

Ken (GM): certainly

Bomrek: She’s basically a dark-magic zombie

Should’ve blown her head off, maybe

Ken (GM): more like



Doc: thanks for the game, eagerly awaiting the THRILLING CONCLUSION

Ken (GM): THRILLING

4 xp ya bums!

P.P. A.: Aye, thanks for the session



Ken (GM): PPA; you thinking gizmo-style skill with the armor? “Metal items only” ?

P.P. A.: Elaborate

Bomrek: Radical skeleton

Radileton

gizmo-style skill with the armor Hmm. Well, what is it now, exactly?

Ken (GM): you buy gizmo, or some kinds of Snatcher ability, limited to “stuff I could make with the metal extruding ability of this armor”

Bomrek: We can eat nails, and choose what comes out?

Ken (GM): yeah

P.P. A.: Hmm, that would make sense

Yeah, I’ll take that

Having some metal on hand could easily be handwaved, then he just quickly extrudes whatever is needed

Ken (GM): true

Doc: Suðri at the beginning of the game: stonemason

Ken (GM): Suðri at end of session : 3D printer on speedballs

Bomrek: Suthri’s going to invent reinforced concrete

Doc: Suðri now: bespoke steel-shitter

