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My preference would be to start and have the Earl meet us when he gets back. I wish to discuss with the elf, the actual airspeed of a swallow and with the dwarf, the correct way of turning lead into gold. When the Earl returns, he can then explain what nobles find entertaining about strapping pieces of wood to his legs and falling off a mountain:).

And would that be an african or european swallow, my good man?
 
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@Don't panic this game will likely last for months -- people will be taking breaks due to IRL stuff. The game can just be paused until they get back, or if I was informed beforehand, I can keep prompts to that player to a minimum.

As for the dice, I will be taking care of all dice tosses.
 
I wish to discuss with the elf, the actual airspeed of a swallow and with the dwarf, the correct way of turning lead into gold.

*looks at golden boots*

I bet you'd like to discuss this! But seeing that you are no dwarf as I am, you lack the most basic understanding about this fairly easy process of turning lead into gold so any dicussion would be a waste of time.

What's wrong with you're smelly, worn out reminders of leather sandals anyway??


*picks up golden pipe again*
 
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@Scepticalscribe and what would be your name, family name, and child name?

Give me a little longer - decisions, decisions; since wizarding elves seem to live an awfully long time, we are careful about whom we allow to know our True Names.
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@Don't panic, since you said you'll take the residual, I'm giving you the Human Fighter role (the first Human in the PDF). Just give me your character's name and gender and you're all set.

@Scepticalscribe don't forget to give me your character's name and gender!

The game will begin soon with a BACKGROUND post, then we will begin our first scenario.

Will do, when I have finished mulling over naming possibilities; the inner and outer names we carry through life can have an extraordinary effect - for good or ill - on us all.
 
BACKGROUND

More than five hundred years ago, clans of dwarves and gnomes made an agreement known as the Phandelver's Pact, by which they would share a rich mine in a wondrous cavern known as Wave Echo Cave. In addition to its mineral wealth, the mine contained great magical power. Human spellcasters allied themselves with the dwarves and gnomes to channel and bind that energy into a great forge (called the Forge of Spells), where magic items could be crafted. Times were good, and the nearby human town of Phandalin (pronounced fan-duh-lin) prospered as well. But then disaster struck when orcs swept through the north and laid waste to all in their path.

A powerful force of orcs reinforced by evil mercenary wizards attacked Wave Echo Cave to seize its riches and magic treasures. Human wizards fought alongside their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the nesuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of Wave Echo Cave was lost.

For centuries, rumors of buried riches have attracted treasure seekers and opportunists to the area around Phandalin, but no one has ever succeeded in locating the lost mine. In recent years, people have resettled the area. Phandalin is now a rough-and-tumble frontier town. More important, the Rockseeker brothers - a trio of dwarves - have discovered the entrance to Wave Echo Cave, and they intend to reopen the mines. Unfortunately for the Rockseekers, they are not the only ones interested in Wave Echo Cave. A mysterious villain known as the Black Spider controls a network of bandit gangs and goblin tribes in the area, and his agents have followed the Rockseekers to their prize. Now the Black Spider wants the Wave Echo Cave for himself, and he is taking steps to make sure no one else knows where it is.​

Text from the Dungeons & Dragons: Lost Mines of Phandelver book, p. 3
 
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*looks at golden boots*

I bet you'd like to discuss this! But seeing that you are no dwarf as I am, you lack the most basic understanding about this fairly easy process of turning lead into gold so any dicussion would be a waste of time.

What's wrong with you're smelly, worn out reminders of leather sandals anyway??


*picks up golden pipe again*

dwarves!
always the ones with the exceedingly tall stories! i wonder why....
 
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dwarves!
always the ones with the exceedingly tall stories! i wonder why....

I can think of a short list of answers.

We need to be very nice to the dwarf seeing he's our only healer :).

Time to find a new avatar since I'm dead (curse you WWs :D).

Note: In google search, type d&d avatar and select images. There are some really nice ones if you are interested.
 
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PART 1: GOBLIN ARROWS

In the city of Neverwinter, a dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker asked you to bring a wagonload of provisions to the rough-and-tumble settlement of Phandalin, a couple of days' travel southeast of the city. Gundren was clearly excited and more than a little secretive about his reasons for the trip, saying only that he he and his brothers had found "something big" and that he'd pay you ten gold pieces each for escorting his supplies safely to Barthen's Provisions, a trading post in Phandalin. He then set out ahead of you on horse, along with a warrior escort named Sildar Hallwinter. claiming he needed to arrive early "to take care of business".

You've spent the last few days following the High Road south from Neverwinter, and you've just recently veered east along the Triboar Trail. You've encountered no trouble so far, but this territory can be dangerous. Bandits and outlaws have been known to lurk along the trail.​

Text from the Dungeons & Dragons: Lost Mines of Phandelver book, p. 6

The driver, a peasant Human by the name of Belaver Silverkin, grunted as he shifted the reins in his hands. The oxen pulled the wagon onwards along the trail, the trees lining the sides as if to say 'nothing lurks here. We swear.'

The journey has been a silent one. His companions -- escorts, really -- are of the silent sort. They just want to get this over with, get their gold pieces, and get on with their... well, whatever they're doing, he suspects. He has tried to strike up conversation a few times, without success. Maybe this time? he thinks to himself half-heartedly.

"Hey there," the driver calls out in the general direction of one of the human escorts. "How goes it?"

---

>>> @Don't panic, the driver is speaking in your direction. Make a post introducing yourself, what you're thinking -- why are you here? etc -- and how you respond to the driver.

>>> @twietee, @Scepticalscribe, @Plutonius, @ZebraTalent, @Moyank24 -- feel free to inject; you can write the same as above (introduce yourself, what you're thinking -- why you're here? etc -- and if you want to say anything at all in response to the driver's question, to each other, or whatnot.
 
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*combs extremely long beard with golden comb*

Ahem. Not only am I our only healer, I am your only chance to guide you through this long forgotten mine as well. Beats me why you giants want to explore these narrow and extremely low-ceilinged caves while also being technically blind underneath the earth but hey! that was the deal after all.
[doublepost=1455139277][/doublepost]Ah, Gundren. As cheap as I remember him from my time in Thorgau - ten gold pieces only, HA!? Well, but he always had an excellent instinct about treasures and precious artifacts, so let's see what he has to say and maybe I can put a little aside for 'ourselves'. That fellow over there is in desparate need for some new shoes. And I definitely will need some more tobacco from the post station soon enough...
 
Allow me to make myself known - just a little - to our group.

As you are all regrettably aware by now, my Grandsire, the venerable Galinndan Galanodel, Arch Alchemist, Master Mage, Senior Sage, and Presiding Wizard of the Guardians of Elven Wisdom, was originally supposed to accompany you on this quest. His knowledge is justly famed, his learning legendary, his experience and expertise in such things without equal, and his justly famous words of wisdom have been cited from one end of our world to another in scrolls, books, and parchment.

Alas, it was not to be.

My Grandsire has been laid low by a rare form of ill health, it has been termed a virulent virus, that afflicts those of high intellect - and, the unkind might unseemly suggest - those who hold high office and wield considerable power.

Be that as it may. The upshot of this sorry saga is that my Grandsire was taken grievously ill most unexpectedly shortly before he was due to set out to join our party of explorers. There are some who have intimated that the sudden and inexplicable onset of his illness may have been connected with this planned journey - in some strange, by, as yet unknown means, but this is something that I can in no way confirm. He is still, and silent, and staring, in a state of stasis, and unable to speak of his thoughts or offer his much needed counsel.

After some thought, and much discussion, some of the elders of our people gathered together and suggested that my services be offered to the expedition - or journey - in place of my unfortunately absent learned Grandsire.

I protested that I had not long since ceased to be an Acolyte, that I had only recently been advanced to the First Level of Wizardry, that my mastery of studies were not yet complete, and most of all that that my studies absorbed me, and that immersing myself in contemplation of matters of the mind were of far more pressing importance to the cultural integrity of our people than a…….wild adventure.

It was impressed on me that my Grandsire may have had his own reasons for having made himself available to this party, and that - given the positions he held, and holds, (in absentia) - in the upper ranks of our governing and academic and judicial bodies, that it would well serve our people, and, indeed, our family, were I to make myself available to this body of adventurers and explorers in his place. It was further impressed upon me that this is considered a matter of honour for our family and for our Elvish society. My studies could wait. My bloodlines are strong, and it is inconceivable that some of my Grandsire's strange but compelling abilities do not run in my - untested as yet - veins.

So, it only remains to introduce myself, albeit a little belatedly.

My name is Syllin Siannodel, and I am an Elf and a Wizard, though I have only recently discarded my robes as an Acolyte to don those of a Full Wizard, and been admitted to the First Level of Wizard Scholarship

As you can see, the name I carry is still that of a child, for in our world, one has to have well passed much more than a mere century of earth timed years - and sometimes, many more - before one can put aside the name of a child and claim that of an adult. My gender is female, though in our Elven world that, that, and much else, is viewed by some other races as something which is uncomfortably and unsettlingly fluid.
 
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>>> Thanks @Scepticalscribe, the party list is now complete! :) Do note that though the names are known to us IRL, the characters themselves do not necessarily know each others' names. It's completely up to you whether they do, or do not. (Just a FYI: the post @Scepticalscribe wrote was written as an inner dialogue, and I'll construe it as such. If you want to actually speak, you can explicitly say that you're saying whatever to whoever.)
 
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>>> There's only the PC escorts and the NPC driver.

Thank You.

@twietee , what diety are you a cleric of (Ravenvii can probably give you a list) ?

*******************

Belaver, You look very familiar. Were you also working down at the docks as a porter / drover ? I'm very familiar with the wagon and oxen so I can take over for you if you ever need a rest. This is my first time as an escort but I promise not to let you down. Between us, I was I was wondering if you might answer a question ? I can see why Gundren hired myself, the other human fighter, the dwarf, and the elf but, why did he see fit to hire two halflings ? I have nothing against them but they will probably be a liability if we get into a fight. They should stick to being merchants and shopkeepers out of harms way. I especially worry about the female halfling and what could happen to her. I will give my life to protect her honor but, I would rather not have to.
 
Off to bed now so don't wait for me..
And no idea Pluto! Reading that character sheet raises way more questions than it answers! Yikes.

And I may improvise a bit on that respectful and humble (and totally boring lawful neutral) character I chose! :eek: :D
 
Belaver notices the other human staring at him intently as if he is trying to transmit his thoughts. What's he trying to tell me? he looks around warily -- has the human noticed something in the woods? Or worse, is he trying to tell me of an imminent betrayal? Belaver shifted uncomfortably on his seat -- oh how he wished he has combat training. Belaver glances once again at the dwarf -- is he as crazy as he looks? Is he trying to send a message? To me or... or to a compatriot?

Belaver now wishes he hasn't said anything. A completely silent ride all the way into Phandalin now suits him just fine.

>>> @Plutonius like I said to @Scepticalscribe you need to explicitly say you're doing something -- like speaking -- else I'll construe it as inner dialogue :) An example would be 'I turn to the elf, "hey I like your shoes, can I try them on?" I say with an enthusiastic tone.'
 
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Speaking -> Elf, my name is Claus Fletcher and I am a fighter and future "hero of the people". I consider myself a philosopher and of high intellect so this plague of which you speak greatly worries me. I'm also wondering why you think we all don't know you are female. and is it a symptom of this plague ? I would offer to protect your honor but as a spell caster, you are the strongest here. Could you please keep your distance from everyone else until the dwarven cleric tells us that we are safe from your plague.
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And I may improvise a bit on that respectful and humble (and totally boring lawful neutral) character I chose! :eek: :D

Your character sheet shows you as neutral good.
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you need to explicitly say you're doing something -- like speaking -- else I'll construe it as inner dialogue :)

Please append speaking -> to the beginning of my post (i.e. direct the conversation to the driver).
 
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>>> @Plutonius I'll accept that for now :D

Finally, someone's speaking! Belaver shots a look at the human who was staring at him, though he is now looking at the female elf. Saying nothing, Belaver listens intently for the elf's response -- he'd be happy to be free of whatever plague that is, thank you very much!
 
I can see why Gundren hired myself, the other human fighter, the dwarf, and the elf but, why did he see fit to hire two halflings ?

Whispering to Claus Fletcher: "I was wondering that myself. They are so little. Do you think they get 10 coins of gold as well?? I think they should only be paid half the reward due to half their size!

I will ask my cousin Gundren about that as soon as we meet him. Maybe they're good cooks! There can never be enough good cooks in a party like this!"
 
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Whispering to Claus Fletcher: "I was wondering that myself. They are so little. Do you think they get 10 coins of gold as well?? I think they should only be paid half the reward due to half their size!

I will ask my cousin Gundren about that as soon as we meet him. Maybe they're good cooks! There can never be enough good cooks in a party like this!"

Whispering back to the dwarf: I don't know about being cooks but they certainly eat a lot for their size. Shall we ask the female halfling (@Moyank24) if she is trained in cooking and other domestic duties ?

By the way dwarf, what is your name ? I can see that you are a respected cleric of XXX and although we differ slightly on following rules, your goal like mine is to help people whenever we can. I'm somewhat surprised about your love of gold but it must just be a part of being a dwarf.
 
Observes quietly to Dwarf and to Master Fletcher> My Grandsire used to advise that we not disdain succour and support from whatever source it may hail; though the halflings may be of small stature, they may bring much else by way of skills, and lore, and experience, to our quest. Let us take help where we find it.

While I do not doubt the strength and skill of Master Fletcher's bravery or skill with arms nor the many and varied talents - especially those to do with the understanding of metalworking - of our esteemed Dwarf companion, I would willingly wager that the Halflings will also serve to bring skills or talents of worth to our party."
 
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