Bobcloclimar

I like your concept for The Old Ways, and think it would make for a good sandboxy setting that could still have an overarching plot. In addition to the humans vs elves dynamic, there could be internal politics on both sides to deal with:

• On the human side, using the Roman model, there's patricians vying for control over the colonies and the wealth generated from them (exports of some local resource? Gold?). Anti-imperialist sentiment could be another factor. Some colonists have started to affect elven customs and clothing, leading to conflict with traditionalists bent on fully imposing imperial culture on the new lands.
• On the elf side, there are the traditional tribal divisions and conflicts, and many of the tribes resent the human intrusion and the elders who negotiated a peace. Elf "collaborators" (or "civilized" by the humans' standards) are socially ill-regarded, yet a critical part of maintaining the peace.
• On the third side, there are individuals who would like nothing better than to see the war reignited and are actively collaborating with members of the other species to destabilize the peace (ref Star Trek VI) - say, an aspiring human general who wants to gain glory from the ensuing war, and some elf shamans willing to summon elder evil(s) to do the dirty work.

Frankie's eyes light up and he leans forward. "Ah, say no more. Let's see... if you need a crew to help ya find where it went, then talk to Zot, that lady with the butterfly tattoos over there, or Flo, the girl with the white shirt. If ya know where it is and need some muscle ta help ya liberate her, then Peppermint, that fella with the neck thicker than my arms over that way is yer man. An' once you get it back, yer prolly gonna need someone to clean it up again and get the IDs fixed, so... well, I'd start with Ed, that noisy bum over there with the pad. He's real good, an' from what I hear he just finished up a job, so he's gonna need some new income quick, the way he's been sucking it down tonight." Frankie points to different denizens of the dive as he rattles off their specialties, then stands upright and adds, "I could introduce ya to 'em, since some of 'em don't like strangers. For a proper donation to the cause, of course. 'Cept Ed, he'll take to anyone willing to pay fer his booze."

The rest of the team can see the bartender talking to Corvath, and pointing him towards Shadi. As if in response to being singled out, the mechanic stuffs the pad back into his jacket pocket, drains his glass and wobbily stands to his feet, clearly getting ready to leave.

<WIP pure warrior>

Frankie gives him a toothy grin. "Wouldn't be a good bartender if I didn't... excuse me a moment." He turns away briefly, shouting to the drunk, "I tol' you already, Ed, that's yer last one fer tonight! I don't think Orcas wants t'drag you back to yer apartment like last time."

Turning back to Corvath, he asks, "Who's in trouble this time, and what's it worth t'ya?"

I'm in favor of attempting to capture the wounded bandit, since we could use some additional intel.

After that debacle with his .22, Mickey will take the S&W Schofield .45 if nobody objects. How much ammo did we find?

Mickey picks up some rope from the encampment and the materials needed for a makeshift grapnel, then hurriedly mounts his horse while keeping his eye on the horizon as well. "Time t'git a move-on, ah I think."

"Couldn't say," Duncan replies. "Think he's a freelancer, like me, so it could be anyone in the area. The only way to find out is to ask him directly. Unless he's been blabbing it to everyone in the bar, which I don't think he's quite soused enough to have done yet."

After Wolf corrects herself, Duncan scratches his chin for a moment, then replies, "Yeah, I've heard of him. Edgar Shadi. Never met the guy, but the word is that he's good, just the right kind of guy you want to scrub something you "borrowed" from a corp. The main problem is that he can hold a secret about as well as he can hold his liquor, that is, not at all."

He turns to regard the bar again, then shakes his head and adds, "That him making a mess over there? Damn fool shouldn't be waving his pad around, there's probably all sorts of dirt on that device that could make a clever girl like you some scratch." He returns Wolf's wink and drains his glass, raising his finger for another.

13 hours ago, Nebula said:

Yah! Let's take a bath in the sea, and make a spectacular entrance on the beach almost drowned. :)

I have to imagine the dwarves are going to look roughly like this. 😛

Just making sure. I'll assume Wolf corrects him and add a subsequent response.

"I am, in fact, here in the City right now. On business, but I'm sure I can fit you into my schedule. " Clay responds to Logan. "Just let me know the time and place, and I'll be there. Oh yeah, and there's a new wings place I haven't seen before that I want to try out."

No sooner had Frankie put the lighter away when Corvath approached him. "What's your poison?" the barkeep asks in a friendly voice. A couple seats over, Corvath can see an excitedly gesticulating drunk reach into his jacket pocket to pull out a datapad and squint at it.

"Ari? I've known, uh, one or two, and if you want to talk about illusion of control..." Duncan blushes, "um, never mind. Any other details?"

8 hours ago, prophane said:

Link to the games I am running as well as other GURPS games at GenCon

GURPSing at GenCon

Running GURPS back to back with OSE? Brave man 😀

Mickey joins Malakai down in the camp and begins rooting through the remnants, also looking for survivors.

Orcas nods, "Most of 'em, yeah, but I keep my nose outta their business. Frankie the barkeep inside might know more."

Corvath knows his way around the back alleys of the city and all the best places for a mangy mutt to hide, and soon discovers a scruffy corgi sniffling inside a stack of pallets near the rear exitThe only other door besides the front entrance to the bar, which shrinks away from his approach. He skirts around the tower, studiously pretending not to notice it, then tosses a small chunk of concrete to distract the dog before slamming a nearby crate over it, effectively trapping it in place against a pallet.

A wide smile breaks across the bouncer's face as he sees Corvath dragging the whole ensemble back out of the alleyway, and he kneels down to rub the pup's fur. "Who's a good boy? Don't worry, I'm not gonna let that ol' glitbiter run you off." He offers a hand to Corvath and adds, "I owe you one. Name's Orcas."

I don't see a reason to engage with them at the moment, but Toktok should casually interpose himself between the wagons and the pair, but not take any overt hostile actions.

"What do ye think? Want me to go scout it?" Toktok asks the others.

I guess we should bring the weapons and armor with us so the bandits don't recover them. Any extra scratch from the sale thereof is completely coincidental 😁

Toktok concurs. "We were hired to get to Jaston, not hare off after bandits. Cut him loose without arms or armor, and let the gods sort it out."

Clay picks up on the second ring, just as Frankie lights up the paper-wrapped who-knows-what. "Logan! Wasn't expecting you to call this time of night. What trouble are you getting me into now?"

What rates should we be paying for higher-leveled retainers? The level 0/1 recommendation is 1 gp/day + half-share, but the OSE SRD just states that experienced retainers should be paid more.

WIP (incomplete sheet here)

On 5/7/2024 at 4:54 PM, Eric said:

The module does suggest that the party include at least one cleric and at least one magic-user/elf. So depending on whether Modric, Bobcloclimar, or Chardastes are interested in playing a cleric, I might nudge your lean 😀

I was planning on playing a dwarf, but I might hire on a cleric retainer as a emergency replacement backup 😁

Would the Drums of Panic be an acceptable magic item?

Mickey covers Malakai as he closes in on the burning camp.