Butchern

Clara continued to serve soup to anyone who wanted it. She did not look at Gert or pay her any mind at all save to unceremoniously put another bowl of soup down in front of her when hers was nearing empty.

The most of the newcomers to the inn were happy to meet the travelers and hear their tale of the caravan and blizzard. Some were more wary of the strangers, but didn't make a show of it.

On 12/27/2023 at 12:48 PM, matt_s said:

Any news of the town or particular festivities you are looking forward to?

Several of the older men were happy to share their stories of past Pelor's Rest festivities over a pint, and then it fell to the caravaners to share their favorite traditions as well.

2 hours ago, Caystodd said:

@Butchern, can I roll lore to see if I know anything relevant or useful about dwarves, mines, or giants in the north.

Yes, but I may ask you to make it up. 😁

Speaking of me asking you to make stuff up . . .

On 12/27/2023 at 12:48 PM, matt_s said:

Any news of the town or particular festivities you are looking forward to?

We are here again. I'm going to make a short prompt in the IC thread. Everyone, please respond to it with your favorite Pelor's Rest activity, and we'll figure out what days these things are going to happen on in Redbark. I may ask our AI Overlord to pitch in a few as well.
 

We drove for 10 hours, 6 up to VA then 4 down to NC. I sat in the “way back” with the baby and wrote 3,600 words of mostly garbage. But words were written.

I started reading through one of the scenario books I got last night, and they look very well done. They would run very well as stand-alone horror scenarios without having to know any of the setting info. In fact, not knowing the lore might make the games even weirder.

"What's he doing?"

"He said he was trying to summon Tiphareth."

"God bless you." *hands tissue* "What's he trying to summon?"

I found two during my read that could be PGed enough to run here at Myth-Weavers. That may be my Fall/Winter game. We'll see.

8 hours ago, Vladim said:

Ironsworn: Reign

On the Weave, I'm contemplating a Changeling-esque game (played with Fate most likely) for Spring/Summer, but I'll likely go back to my supers game instead. No idea for Fall/Winter yet, but now that I know Ironsworn: Reign is a thing, it may be that. 😁

My real life group wants to play Kult: Divinity Lost, so I got a bunch of the PDFs for Christmas. The system looks familiar and fine, and the setting is gonzo, but in a cool way, I think.

I moved us along to after dinner. The inn will be busy and interesting for as long as y'all are interested in being in the common room. If you want to fast-forward until tomorrow morning, we can do that too.

As I said on the discord, no rush this week. We are traveling up to VA and then down to NC before returning to the swamp, so posting will be scarce (but not impossible) for me until Saturday. Post as you are able and enjoy the holidays!

On 12/23/2023 at 7:12 PM, matt_s said:

I can believe there's nothing there beyond what you say, although it would be interesting to take a look at what it is. Dwarven stonework is not something to miss even if gouged into the bones of the Earth for the purely commercial purpose of mining.

"If you want to brave the snow to make that trek, that's your business. It is easy enough to find if you can see your hand in front of your face. Can't say I recommend it though."

The Mayor and the caravaners made more small talk until Clara arrived at their table with wooden bowls and spoons. "Supper's almost ready," she said.

"That's my cue to go," the Mayor said. "I'll see you tomorrow, I'm sure."

Supper was served shortly. The soup was hot and savory and full of meat and potatoes and some sort of spicy green that the southerners didn't recognize, and there was as much of it as they could eat.

The inn mostly cleared out when the supper bell rang, and Tore used the few moments of peace to sit behind the bar and eat supper. The top of his head was still visible above the bar even as he sat on a low wooden crate. The caravaners watched him put away four bowls of soup almost as fast as Clara could bring them to him.

Within the hour, the inn door opened again, and in came a half-dozen or so men from the town. They were covered in snow and furs. The regulars, having had their suppers at home, were down to the Blizzard for drinks. By the time the sun—what little that could be seen of it through the clouds—was completely behind the trees, the inn was full again for the evening.

Not really, no.

You can hide a Page from non-site members and from people who are not members of your game, but you cannot hide a Page from players in your game. Also, the "private text" feature does not appear to work on Pages. You can add the tag and input the name and hidden content, but it is still visible on the Page by everyone.

Hoisting the girl over my shoulder and running behind the others.

"Run now. Examine later."

Olive slung her bow over one shoulder with the hand that wasn't dragging the girl behind her. Then, with surprising strength (and an audible groan), she hoisted the girl off the ground and over her other shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Olive, with the girl, began following along after the others as fast as she could toward freedom.

January 1 to February 2 is five working weeks. I'm going to write three short stories during that time. Each story will be at least 5,000 words. I already have the outlines, and the bulk of the raw material is written for two of them (see below), though it all has to be thoroughly rewritten. I don't care if they are good; I just want them done and this idea out of my head. 😁 I am posting this here and on the discord to put it out into the world, to increase the chances that I will follow though. I am not taking any side jobs in January so I can use my mornings (5-8am) to write. I have no immediate plans to do anything with the writings once they are done.

On 12/21/2023 at 5:42 PM, SirLoganofGilead said:

"Pleasure to meet you as well Mr. Mayor. My name is Aron. Do you always come in person to check on new visitors or only ones that show up in this weather?" He did his best to smile amiably as he said the line, hoping it would come off as mostly joking.

"It happens so infrequently," the Mayor said laughing, "I'd be derelict in my duty if I didn't! The caravans usually pass us by on their way to the river. We don't get many visitors."

"Aron here is thinking about moving to the north. He was asking about a place to live in Redbark," Tore said.

"Was he now?" The Mayor looked Aron up and down. "Fresh blood in the town would be excellent. Let this blizzard clear, and I'll show you a plot of land that could be yours for cheap."

Then the talk turned to Pelor's Rest.

"My favorite part of the holiday?" the Mayor said. "The food of course. My wife bought a jar of molasses from a trader in the spring. She's been saving it. She makes the best molasses sweets. The cookies are my favorite. Made with ginger. Just the best."

Then to dwarves.

"I was here when the last dwarven mining tribe left. It was more than ten years ago. I wasn't Mayor then. The dwarves always kept to themselves. They did business in town, of course. We are by far the nearest settlement to the mine. But they didn't socialize. They mined. They bought supplies from us when the trading post at the river wasn't populated. And they shipped out their oars on long, flat boats that sailed down from the far north to the Middle Kingdom. They used magic in those mines for their work. I know they did. I saw one of their chiefs at the river when I was a lad. He had a massive mining pick on his back that was made of black metal. It glowed in the dark and hummed, and when I got close to him, it whispered to me in a language I couldn't understand." The Mayor shivered to shake off the old memory. "Good folk though as far as I could tell. We never had trouble with them. The previous owner of the Blizzard probably knew the last chief best. He was the one who gave him that trophy." He pointed to the jackalope head. "There's nothing in the mine now except the remains of an old keep and an abandoned mine. I've seen both of them . . . from the road. Don't believe the rumors."

Then to jackalope trophy.

"I don't know where the dwarves got that thing or why they left it with old Rufus—he's the previous owner. I would say it is some sort of farce, but there is a dwarven word for dire rabbits . . . can't think of it as the moment though. I would hate to meet one in rut."

On 12/19/2023 at 5:55 PM, Blue Firebird said:

"Mae l'ovannen," Seresse says in turn, bowing as is the Elvish custom. "Well met." She feels awkward. Here is perhaps the most important figure in Redbark. Better perhaps to introduce herself, find some work, some way to alleviate the melancholy. First, drawn by curiosity, she picks up the trophy and gives it a closer look before hanging it back up on the wall. "The wind grows fierce but at least the fire is warm. You look like someone in need of a hot drink."

"Uh, yes. Well met," the mayor said. He clearly did not speak Elvish and felt a little at a disadvantage. "Good evening to you." He gave Seresse a double-take. He hadn't seen many elves before, but he was pretty sure they didn't normally look that pale. But he seemed to take it all in stride.

The trophy did not break when it hit the ground. The antlers remained intact. The whole thing felt cold to the touch, and it took some time before the cold faded from Seresse's fingers after she let go of it.

On 12/19/2023 at 9:56 PM, matt_s said:

Name's Celeg, I'm actually from the town just a bit further down the line. A bit of a homecoming for me, but the last measure of it is prevented by all this. But I must thank you in earnestness for the hospitality of the town. From the moment we met Reder, Henry, and Gilew, we've been given a warm welcome. Speaks well of them, of you, and the town. We were just sitting down to dinner cooked by Tore , Clara, and Gilly, and I'd be honored if you would join us.

"Good evening to you," he repeated in Celeg and Aron's direction as he began to peel off the snow-covered furs. The hat and coat came off to reveal a bald middle-aged man with red cheeks and bushy eyebrows. He was thin but not too thin and a little on the short side.

"Thank you, all, but I'm not here for dinner. If I came home without an appetite, my wife would clobber me. But I am here for you. I'm the Mayor of Redbark, Harald Fry. I heard that there were visitors in town, something about a caravan getting stuck, and I knew I had to see you for myself. To welcome you and all that." He bowed a little himself this time. "We don't get many visitors this time of year, though, to be fair, the snows started up about a month early this year. The road north and the east-west way are both clear of snow in Pelor's month. Usually. There are, uh, five of you then?" He was counting Celeg, Seresse, Darin and Linnell, and Aron.

"Stay for a drink, Harald," Tore interrupted.

"Just a quick one wouldn't hurt, I suppose," the Mayor said. He smiled and looked from Seresse to Celeg. "Shall we?" He gestured back to the bar. "What brings you to the north then?"
 

2 hours ago, Caystodd said:

"And you are a Tiefling, a demon spawn. I saw your spots." Gert swayed and closed her eyes. Then she jerked them open again and took a deep breath. "And I think that's really neat."

Clara lowered the pot slowly onto the counter. Her face had gone from surprise to fear at being called "demon spawn" to . . . something not unlike annoyance.

"You took the Snow Blindness, didn't you?" she sighed. "The drink is clouding your judgment, Miss. I don't have spots." She involuntarily reached up and adjusted her head scarf to make sure it was in place. "And I'm not a . . . what did you call me? A teef-ling? Whatever that is. You should go back to the bar. Patrons aren't allowed back here, and I have work to do."

@Caystodd, as requested, I moved you along a bit further.

Gert staggered through the door to the small kitchen that was just off the inn floor, opposite the main door. Clara was busy pouring water from a bucket into a large stew pot.

Clara was dressed like Gilly and the other northwomen in the inn—long woolen frock (green in Clara's case) over wool breeches (brown) and a linen blouse (white) and wool bodice (also brown). She had olive skin, raven hair, and delicate features with large brown eyes. Her hair was loosely wrapped in a scarlet scarf. Not a woman of the north in any way. She noticed Gert as she nearly fell through the door.

"Can I help you?" she said timidly, holding the pot aloft mid-pour.

Okay, based on the Discord discussion . . .

-Gert uses a Fate Point to edit the scene to create a distraction. Remove that from your sheet if you haven't already.

-Seresse uses a Fate Point but gets up-bid by the free invoke on the Gives the Town the Creeps Aspect and accepts a Succeed at a Cost. The Aspect is rewritten to be Gives Gilly the Creeps and there is no free invoke on it. Remove that from your sheet if you haven't already.

11 hours ago, Blue Firebird said:

"I...w-would you like something warm? To drink, I mean."

"No!" Gilly said hastily. Then, more calmly. "No, thank you. I'm not allowed to drink on the job." Then she hurried off to busy herself with work.
 

9 hours ago, Caystodd said:

She slid off the barstool, steadied herself, and then wobbled her way toward the kitchen after Clara.

Tore didn't hear much of what Gert said, but when she dismounted the bar stool to head for the kitchen, he was about to say something. But then . . .

BAM! THUD!

The front door flew open. Someone in the storm had tried to open the door, but the wind caught the door, wrenched it out of his hand, and slammed the door open so hard that the undead jakalope trophy that hung on the same wall fell from its hook and crashed to the ground. Every eye in the inn (except Gert's) turned to the cause of the ruckus.

"Mr. Mayor!" Tore shouted and rushed out from behind the bar to help the man wrestle the door shut against the wind.

"Hello!" the Mayor called out to the inn once the door was shut.

"Hello!" the inn patrons called back.

The Mayor was covered in snow and was wrapped head to toe in furs. Only his big nose stuck out prominently enough to see.

Day 1 - Suppertime Hi Jinks

Scene Aspects:
Scene Aspects can always be invoked with a Fate Point by anyone.

A Crowded Inn, A Vigilant Bartender

GM Fate Points:

On 12/14/2023 at 8:03 PM, matt_s said:

Who should I talk to to get a group of folks to check on the travelers who dug in with the wagons? Yeah, yeah, a bit of boring business, and it's the holidays and all, but it has to get worked out sometime.

"That's be the sheriff," Tore said. "But you won't get anyone to leave the valley until morning . . . if then. Too dangerous to brave the blizzard in the dark."

8 hours ago, SirLoganofGilead said:

"What are the mayor and the sheriff like? We saw the sheriff for a moment on the way in, but those two positions can make a town welcoming or not."

"Salt of the earth, those two," Tore said. "Good people. Mayor is a bit of a dandy, but people like him. Make no mistake, this town will take time to warm up to new folks. We don't get many of those, you understand. But they'll take you in here as on of them eventually. They took my little Clara in. She's from way down south, and they treat her like one of their own now."

6 hours ago, Blue Firebird said:

Someone must know where this creature comes from, who slew it, and whether there is more to that story.

Seresse cornered Gilly as she was bringing in more wood from outside. In the light and warmth of the inn, Gilly was a little less spooked by Seresse's presence than she was in the stable and was willing to talk. She talked fast.

Gilly told a similar story to Tore about the dire rabbit. In fact, everything she knew about the unusual trophy she had heard from Tore himself. She didn't think the thing was real and neither did most of the rest of Redbark. The townsfolk repeated all sorts of rumors about the old keep, of course. It had been abandoned for more than a decade now. Some said it was haunted. Some said goblins lived there. Some said it was haunted by goblin ghosts. And so on. The old keep was just on the east side of the river about five miles from town.

4 hours ago, matt_s said:

Tore, could you get me a mug of the local lager? Something to ease the soreness and stress of the road.

"Coming right up! And dinner will be served here shortly. Clara!" he bellowed. "Time to get supper ready!"

"Yessir!" a voice called from the floor above.

Most of mine have been discussed already: Aspects from Fate, clocks from PbtA, Gumshoe-style investigation, relationship maps and mechanical rewards for dramatic concessions from DramaSystem. I have added all of these to more traditionally constructed games (mostly Mutants and Masterminds and 5e).

I also like the escalation die from 13th Age. We use it in M&M and I will use it in any other combat heavy game I run.

The entire inn cheered when Gert went down. The shouted and toasted one another and then went back to whatever they were doing.

Even Tore raised a class to Gert's bravery in her drink choice. He looked alarmed when she fell and was relieved when Celeg caught her.

1 hour ago, matt_s said:

Is this the kind of drink that puts to sleep or whips you into a frenzy? What I mean to say is, what you think will happen now?

"Hard to say," Tore said. "The Snow Blindness hits everyone differently, but frenzy is more like as not. I guess we'll find out."

On 12/8/2023 at 12:19 PM, Blue Firebird said:

What kind of rabbit is that?

Seresse studied the strange trophy. Something about it was off. It felt cold to her, the longer she looked at it. The fur had been repaired in many places, not that unusual with taxidermy in the north, and the eyes were black glass. But why was it so cold? And then she realized . . . like recognized like. She could feel the connection, even after all that time had passed. The residue of necromantic energy was still on the trophy, clinging to it like a mist. This was not the mounted head of a beast that had been alive, was killed, and then was stuffed. This was the mounted head of a beast that was decapitated while it was un-alive but reanimated. Now only a trace of the black magic remained.

On 12/9/2023 at 12:05 PM, Caystodd said:

Gert downed the shot like a prow and slammed the empty glass onto the bar.

The entire common room of the inn cheered when Gert slammed her glass on the bar. Then the bar fell silent again as they watched, waiting to see what would happen next.

Tore was also watching, mouth open, when he was torn away from Gert with questions from Celeg.

On 12/9/2023 at 12:14 PM, matt_s said:

What drove them to abandon the keep and mine?

"The dwarves said the mine was spent," Tore said. "That was before my time, mind you. But I suspect it is true. No one from the town ever goes over there. The old timers say it is haunted, but they say everything is haunted."

On 12/9/2023 at 12:14 PM, matt_s said:

I am no trapper or hunter but one of those rabbits in the flesh would be a heck of a sight.

"Indeed," Tore said. "Not sure how well they'd fare in the south, but there'd be money in trying to get a breeding pair to the Middle Kingdom."

On 12/9/2023 at 12:14 PM, matt_s said:

And that giant, he's a nasty customer I take it?

"He was . . . back in my day. I don't rightly know how long giants live. Longer than men? Maybe? He'd be an old fella if he aged like we do. But like I said, he hasn't been back in decades, and I'm not sure I'd put much stock on tales of giant sightings; the people of Redbark are pretty squirrely. But I'll be he's still up there somewhere."

On 12/10/2023 at 1:59 PM, SirLoganofGilead said:

"If someone were interested what's this town like for a person looking to settle? Are any places available? I've been traveling north looking for the right place, any chance this one is open to new people?"

"I don't think we have any empty houses right now, not officially, but we do have the Temporary House on the south side of town. It is usually reserved for married couples . . . while their house is being built, but if you wanted to clear a little land and build a place, I'm sure the town would let you stay there. The Mayor would love another capable man such as yourself in town."

@Caystodd, you get a Fate Point in exchange for the Situation Aspects: Snow Blindness, with one free invoke for me. You can decide how you want to proceed from here until I compel. I suggest falling over. 😁

@Blue Firebird, roll Lore on the Jackalope skull vs. Fair difficulty (+2).

On 12/6/2023 at 5:47 PM, ABlotOfInk said:

Narrative games aren't always for new players! Sure you have a lot fewer numbers to keep track of, but roleplay in and of itself is a skill you have to build. There are a lot of people who flounder with what to do when given games that are too open, and struggle maintaining a character distinct from themselves. Narrative games ushine when players know how to balance pushing the envelope and pulling back for the sake of the collaborative storytelling. That's advanced stuff! Some people are better eased in with games that are crunchier and can sort of ease them in with more structure to start off with.

I don't think the problems described above are problems specific to "narrative games" (though, to be clear, neither Masks nor Fate are narrative or story games by about half the definitions out there), and I would argue that these problems are actually helped by "narrative games," not made worse by them. The conclusion here implies that a "narrative game" does not have as much structure as a "crunchier game," which is not only not true, it is typically exactly the opposite, especially when it comes to actual role-playing. Narrative/story games tend to forward the role-playing structure and prioritize it in play.

For me, RPG systems are like tools in the tool bag. I learn one and use it until it won't do what I want it to do, then I go get a new one. So, for me . . .

• When the point of the supers game is to explore the heroes' powers and what they can do with them in the world, I use Mutants and Masterminds 3e. I know the system, and it does what it does very well for us. I haven't ever tried to play this sort of game and found the system lacking in what I needed it to do.
   
• When the point of the supers game is focused on almost anything else, we use Fate Core. It is a sufficient tool for everything else we've needed it to do (unless, as I said above, the game is about answering questions like, "Exactly how much can I lift?"), and we know it very well.

I do love Masks and would second all the positive things everyone has said about it here, but playing teenagers is about the last thing I ever want to do. 😁