Ace Bronson

Please use this thread for in character interactions that are outside the main storyline. Don't worry too much about continuity. You can define when the conversation is taking place if it feels necessary, (i.e. during the ship travel to the island)

I am leaving for a week long camping/archery trip. I'll be back next Monday. Just wanted to let y'all know. I'm fine with being in the background if you want to do something fun with Coroebus, or you can post for me to keep things moving along. whatever you think best.

Zorus takes a moment to revel in the cheering crowd, standing on a pile of rubble. "Congratulations, Coroebus! Well struck!" He shouted to is companion. His arrogance could at times be insufferable but his competency and athleticism could hardly be questioned. OOC Zorus doesn't have strong feelings about the companions and will go with Coroebus' suggestion Quick Stats Parry: 6 Toughness: 10 (3) Favor: 3 Status: Normal Full Stats Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4, Spirit d4, Strength d10, Vigor d8 Skills: Academics d4, Athletics d8, Common Knowledge d4, Fighting d8, Intimidation d4, Language ( Koine) d8, Notice d4, Performance d4, Persuasion d4, Repair d4, Riding d4, Stealth d6, Survival d4 Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 10 (3) Hindrances: Overconfident, Stubborn, Vengeful (minor) (1 Edge, 1 Attribute) Edges: Legendary Hide (custom), Brawny (custom) Rock Slayer Weapons: Spiked Great Club, 6 javelins, wineskin, 5 days rations, sack Language: Koine (native, d8) Lydian (d?) Current Wealth: 44ah

It's an easy matter for Nixtli to conceal herself amongst the low hanging clouds and lingering mist. She disappears from sight almost immediately. In the time that she is gone, the conversation and speculation stir around the crew. Some time later Nixtli ghosts back down and settles on a barrel next to Grey Feather. She shakes the moisture off her smoky feathers with some visible disdain. Grey Feather and the owl commune for a time as the others wait...

The seas are mercifully kind over the next few days of travel. Thor's temper has subsided and the wounded ship is able to limp along safely. Dawn breaks and the sound of seagulls fills the air. Land is near at hand. As the morning mists begin to burn off tall and forbidding mountains appear on the far off horizon. There is a break in the mountains with a low lying area. The Captain points the gap out as the intended landing point on the Isle of Eldfjel. The two long ships draw closer, some men heaving at the oars while others bail water seeping in through the breached hull. A surprise awaits the expedition. There is activity on shore, a sprawl of tents, cook fires burning, a makeshift dock erected and a large long ship moored. The crew stops rowing as the expedition considered the scene before them. They had anticipated an empty or abandoned shore. Many years ago this was the location of the Ormrung colony founded by Asmundr, but that had long since been abandoned. Perhaps this is some activity of the lost Hrafning expedition but if so, why had they not at least sent word after all this time. Regardless, the captain asserts that they must make landfall and begin repairs if the Shield Maiden is to be salvaged. No other safe harbor is known along this island, perhaps one exists but to seek in under such conditions could well be folly.

Zorus rushes towards the fearsome monster of the sea, eager to give battle. As the storehouse just in front of him collapses he's faced with a dilemma. workers scream for help, trapped under the rubble. He couldn't just run past them and leave them to such a grisly fate. He turns aside and runs to the first man he sees and grasps the heavy beam that pins him to the ground. "Hold fast, man! I'll get you free." Zorus heaves and strains, corded muscles bulging, as he tries to lift the heavy beam. OOC Well, apparently I launch the beam into orbit. haha Quick Stats Parry: 6 Toughness: 10 (3) Favor: 3 Status: Normal Full Stats Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4, Spirit d4, Strength d10, Vigor d8 Skills: Academics d4, Athletics d8, Common Knowledge d4, Fighting d8, Intimidation d4, Language ( Koine) d8, Notice d4, Performance d4, Persuasion d4, Repair d4, Riding d4, Stealth d6, Survival d4 Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 10 (3) Hindrances: Overconfident, Stubborn, Vengeful (minor) (1 Edge, 1 Attribute) Edges: Legendary Hide (custom), Brawny (custom) Rock Slayer Weapons: Spiked Great Club, 6 javelins, wineskin, 5 days rations, sack Language: Koine (native, d8) Lydian (d?) Current Wealth: 44ah

Ok, I'm glad to hear ya'll are good. I just caught hint of grumblings that maybe I misinterpreted or over inflated. Since I wont be posting much the next few days this is a good opportunity for you all to play up the introduction of Grey Feather and play through the resolution of the encounter. As I said before, you can recruit enough crew to sparsely man both ships and therefore claim the pirate ship as a ship for the party if you so choose. I will tell you what there is for loot when I get a chance. I'm fine with any of you posting narratively about how all of that is resolved including describing reasonable actions of the captain and crew. Maybe hash out the details of what you'd like to do in discord and then when all are in agreement someone can post what happens. This can be a good opportunity to get so RP in between encounters. The Shield Maiden is damaged from the boarding and will require being docked to do some of the repairs. It can still get along ok right now but it needs to find friendly ground as soon as possible. So feel free to play out any of this scene up to the point of pressing on and attempting to reach the island. Hope that makes sense. I'll try to peek into discord at the very least today if y'all have questions about anything. Have fun!

I apologize if the way this played out wasn't fun for some of you. It wasn't my plan, I was rolling with a spontaneous suggestion that sounded dramatic and thematically appropriate. I don't consider Ranulf to be the leader of the party, nor does he, I'm sure. I agree that it's not fun to play in a game where there is one character being the regular center of attention, that is not my plan. It was Ranulf's idea, so I gave some in-game justification to make it make sense. I try to give various characters moments to shine and create some memories when it's appropriate, I hope I can do something equally cool for all of you in turn. Most encounters will be pure team effort. I also acknowledge the pacing of the decision making wasn't ideal. I'm still getting the hang of pacing PbP games. More than anything I fear games losing momentum and players ghosting the game. We've all seen it happen many times and it's been the fate of many of my attempts to GM here. So my knee-jerk reaction is to keep things fun, exciting and moving forward. I can imagine that some of you might have felt like all that happened as a blur while you were at work or asleep and that might have felt frustrating. I got excited about a fun and interesting end to an encounter that had essentially played itself out. Playing out a couple more turns of six ganging up on one and hacking him down seemed anticlimactic. So this seemed like a quick and fun way to add some drama to the end of the scene.

Higvarr and Ranulf weave back and forth seeking out vulnerabilities, but each time Ranulf gets the best of him and Higvarr is unable to find purchase with his blades. Higvarr commits slightly too much with his last slash, leaving him open for just a moment and Ranulf first feints to the left but then comes in from the right and plants his axe deep into Higvarr's chest. Blood wells up immediately and begins to flood the deck around them as Higvarr the Snake sinks to his knees, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Though many of the deeds of his life would be considered evil among men, the Valkyries are not concerned with such trivial distinctions for when Ragnarok comes the Aesir will need all brave and worthy men to take up arms and fight. In his final moments Higvarr's eyes cast skyward and catch a glint of light as he must be seeing the Valkyries descend to take him to the Halls of Valhalla. With that the fight is over. The remaining crew of Higvarr surrender to their fate. His core of hardened reavers all lie dead, those who remain are mostly simple sailors caught up in a life of piracy for this reason or that. They are more than willing to join the crew of the Shield Maiden. Between the two crews there are just enough to man both ships with reasonable efficiency but just barely. OOC

technically yes. For the sake of they game he's willing to support any reasonable choice y'all make and I'd rather one of you speak up and play it out so It's not just me sitting in the corner playing by myself.

popping on quick to let you know that I'll be pretty busy the next four days as I'm teaching a bow making class. I'll get on and post if I can but it might be slower than usual. I apologize for holding things up

Higvarr has been defeated in a duel by Ranulf. there is currently a discussion being had about whether to let Ranulf's final blow be the end of Higvarr the Snake or whether there is merit if reviving and sparing him in some fashion. Please feel free to weigh in on that both from a player perspective or your characters perspective. I'll roll with whatever y'all decide. The decisions about the strange stow-away, the pirate crew and the ship all still need to be considered as well, but Higvarr's fate should be decided first so I can make an appropriate in-game post to show his fate.

igvarr catches onto Ranulf's rhythm and and side steps his next attack, but just barely. Ranulf's axe blade makes a thin slit in his leather armor as it passes by. The dance of blades continue and Higvarr the snake strikes again. OOC

Higvarr grunts in surprise as his attack misses and he is hit in turn by Ranulf's axe. Blood seeps from the wound but he bears it stoically and attempts to return in kind. His stances shifts to a more defensive posture as he holds his twin axes out to guard with. OOC

Higvarr's eyes lift in surprise at the generous offer by Ranulf but he quickly agrees to the terms, "I accept your offer. Should I leave here with my ship and crew, victorious, I will vow to spare this ship any future attacks as long as I lead this crew. Now, let us begin..." With that he takes a combat stance and squares off with Ranulf ready for action. Higvarr darts forward like a striking serpent hoping to draw first blood. OOC