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Post by xerxez on Feb 25, 2024 5:54:10 GMT -6
Balesh will wait until he thinks it is 5-10 feet away, then rush at it, slashing widely side-to-side with his sword INITIATIVE: BALESH (And party = 6, UNSEEN COMBATANT = 2)
Due to Invisibility, the foe is +2 to normal rolls to hit.
Balesh rolls a 16, with bonuses to hit he lands a powerful blow against the "ghost"- he rolls a 6 for damage, plus 4 for all adjustments and does 10 points of damage. A return blow misses him.Balesh springs into the room swinging his sword-- you all hear a muffled cry and blood becomes visible upon the floor. A blade sings towards the Nuroabite warrior but he feels the air and ducks as it wooshes over his head. An animalistic growl follows from the unseen foe....
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Post by xerxez on Feb 24, 2024 15:41:28 GMT -6
( sorry for the delay) I have read all of the posts and have caught up. for some reason this website did not alert me of the postings) Mohammad seeing what has transpired Mohammad says, " great goddess protect our group from this undead." Mohammad will try to turn undead if nothing happens then he will detect evil MOHAMMAD: The Priest is intrigued-- being attuned to the forces beyond, he can usually feel a subtle energy present, but here it feels "cold" in this regard.
Invoking the words and gestures of his Detect Evil spell, he is rewarded with revelation...a strong current of evil surrounds the men at the table.
At this moment Amiyala and Doshi joined the party. The Renyu begins sniffing with intensity--his head snaps upwards towards the timber beams set in the ceiling- his fur rises in hackles and he emits a low growl. "Da**;" says a voice from the cieling. "You would have a Renyu." (in Tsolyani tongue) You hear a thud as some unseen presence drops to the floor as a man landing upon two feet and hear the unmistakable rasp of steel as a sword is drawn from a scabbard. But who ever--whatever it is--is completely invisible to your eyes- you can hear it coming towards you from the left side of the table. What do you do?
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Post by xerxez on Feb 23, 2024 20:47:00 GMT -6
Apologies for the delay in a graphic. Here is the environment. The stair from above leads into the outer room where the party now stands at the open door way. The galley room is 25 x 25. The table is marked T on the graphic where the immobile sea raiders sit. The squares around the table are chairs. The round marks on the walls are portholes of covered glass. The circle with the x in it is the standing seaman and in the wall beyond the table is the door.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 21, 2024 23:49:32 GMT -6
Ker Tethwan draws his sword and moves in to strike.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 21, 2024 23:47:26 GMT -6
I think, when learning a new game, some advice from the DM to new players is not a bad idea at all. Plus, in a pbp game, there is not as much engagement, as you are devoting 5 minutes every few days, so half the time you can't remember what character you have, what you can do, and what is going on Thank you makofan. Is there anything in particular I an advise upon? Please let me know.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 19, 2024 21:52:41 GMT -6
OOC: maybe one of us should take Jeffrey's robe and take the child to his mother disguised as him while the rest of us follow behind just out of sight. "I am willing, though I believe she has already fed from this poor child." He looks at the son with horror and disgust yet with a measure of pity...
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Post by xerxez on Feb 19, 2024 7:43:43 GMT -6
A very talented artist and designer.
I recently acquired the Runequest supplement Griffon Mountain and reading it and seeing her artwork it led me to reflect on her.
To forge your own path is not for the weak or faint of heart.
To do it without becoming anti-social is also noteworthy.
With deep respect and sympathy I salute her.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 18, 2024 19:46:14 GMT -6
The man with his sword drawn — which was is he facing? Towards the doorway we stand at? Or towards the closed door opposite? Or ... somewhere else? Apologies for my silence! There are cats to blame.The man with his sword drawn faces away from your party, looking into the galley as if some invisible foe stood by the table. He looks frozen in a full battle rage. Now that you all see him, you surmise that the wretch upon the stair was perhaps fleeing from the scene below. Mohammad has a spell which may be of use here but I am hesitant to assume a PC action. I'm new to PbP ettiquette:)
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Post by xerxez on Feb 14, 2024 4:19:58 GMT -6
"That is, however, a grand amount of kaitars ..." [OOC: Does the passage continue past this open doorway?] Sorry, I'll try to get a sketch up later today. To be clearer, you have come to the bottom of the stair into a landing, looking into the galley from there past the still sea men you see another wall across the galley with a door set in it. KARUNAZ: "True is the saying the kurru'ku blames the trap, not itself...yet though Balesh and Tekar speak wisely, I would learn what happened here...and see if even greater treasure lies within this doomed ship. But we have a priest here...Mohammad...might the magic of your gods be of use here?"
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Post by xerxez on Feb 11, 2024 21:25:10 GMT -6
Mi'kimu quietly peers into the room. Looking in you see a dinner party... or what was one. There is a galley with a long table and chairs about it occupied by six sea men, armed with scabbard-ed swords and in various postures of attending a meal now gone. One leans upon the table here, another there, while one appears to be sitting in a pose of silent laughter. All have goblets raised in mid-air as if at a bout of drinking, eating and conversation. Their faces are jovial, though all look a rough and dangerous lot. But all sit as still as if they were stone statues as the cups, plates, and bowls of their feast slide back and forth upon the table, empty of food. To one side of the table is a man who appears to have just risen from a chair (a seventh figure), his sword drawn, his face contorted in surprise,as though he faced off an unseen foe. He, too, is frozen as if a statue. The room is strewn with odd items, including chests. A massive pile of Kaitars sits upon the table, clinking with the ship's movement...there are necklaces as well, rings, and jewels. Beyond the table on the far side of the galley is a door which, in your experiences, would lead to a private cabin. The sight is freakish and eerie, given the stillness and silence of the crew combined with their apparent postures of animated discourse. Lit lanterns illuminate this scene, swinging from hooks upon the walls. Unlike the man topside, none of these bear the punishment of the sea forces. You could almost expect them at any moment to burst into life, and they do, indeed, appear to be living in every respect except they make no sound and do not move even in breath.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 10, 2024 5:14:19 GMT -6
[OOC: Shadows? Do I understand this correctly, the party only see shadows, but no figures casting them? Do we actually see plates and glasses sliding back and forth, or just hear them?] To be clearer, from the bottom of the stair your vantage is such that you see a room beyond, where the lantern lights within it reveal, upon the one wall you can glimpse through the open door, the shadows of figures seated as a table. You only hear the table ware moving and being sea men are familiar with the sound of moving objects upon a craft. Your immediate sense is that you stand near a door to a dinner galley or captain's quarters, where it is common for the captain and his officers to eat.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 8, 2024 22:58:26 GMT -6
Ker Tethwan bows his head.
"Innocent child. You shall be avenged"
Turning towards Torlak who grapples the young man he says, "You had best tell your tale, man, and pray that we find you a victim of your evil mother and not her accomplice!"
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Post by xerxez on Feb 8, 2024 22:51:56 GMT -6
Descending the stair, Balesh and Tekar traverse a landing which switches the direction of the stair to end towards the forward of the hull.
Mi'kimu follows close behind, trailed by Karunaz, Amiyala, Doshi, and the Shen.
Coming to the floor of a lower deck, they behold an open door set in a wooden wall.
Beyond the door is the source of the light...and in the room beyond they can glimpse shadows of figures seated at a table-- in that room hang blazing lanterns.
They can be seen hanging on one wall through the door and the light from the area out of sight indicates there are also lanterns strung on the opposite wall, all lit.
From it comes the sound of creaking timbers of the hull and also plates and glasses sliding back and forth.
Upon initial inspection it appears to be some sort of galley.
The shadows of the figures do not move.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 7, 2024 22:50:48 GMT -6
"What do we do?" Mi'kimu looks to the others. "Throw it overboard? Take its head? Or perhaps we lasso it using some of the deck ropes, and drag it away from the doorway. "In any case, we need to go below if we indeed intend to understand what happened here. If we balk at that, I say we fire the vessel and leave. There is no sense in letting drift ashore." The Shen steps towards the doorway. "The Jungle Cat speaks truly." He urges Balesh to move and grasps the grotesque figure in his scaly arms and hauls him forth to the open deck. The limbs move only slightly as the great Demon Warrior pulls him out and throws him down. To the ghastly amazement of all of you, as the body lands it retains it's posture of flight, now absurdly upon its side, as if in rigor mortis. Bak-Suul roars, striking his sword upon the deck. "D**n every sorcerer in the world! Blades will put an end to spell slinging....if Bak'Suul should become a statue, he will have a wizard hanging from his steel to join him!"
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Post by xerxez on Feb 7, 2024 16:56:48 GMT -6
I let out a hiss and slowly peer through the door to see if I can see beyond the strange tableaux, further down into the hold. "I had thought this to be a Tsóggu. Such creatures are... unpleasant." "This, though... has the mark of enchantment. Ware touching that thing." Karunaz has already joined you all quickly at the sound of Tekar's warnings. "Yes," he says. "He has the semblance of a Drowned One. To meet the gaze of such a demon of the waters opens one to being paralyzed and devoured alive. This poor wretch has the look of a sea raider, but what enchantment holds him there I cannot guess...." Balesh is upon the step, directly before the eyeless man, and he and the Flame Warrior can both see down into the darkness, where there is a faint yellow luminescence as of the glow of torches or lanterns somewhere beyond the landing. The stair is wide enough to slip past the weird figure and go down behind him but likely not without brief contact.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 6, 2024 16:38:25 GMT -6
The party reacts as one, weapons ready and prepared for anything.
As your muscles and senses recoil in preparation for an imminent attack, seconds pass by and Balesh, and soon others, realize the man on the stair is not advancing.
He is standing as still as a statue, and the realization dawns upon all of you that he is indeed a man, and he appears as though he was in flight upon the stair, but was stayed by some invisible hand.
Growing horror grips all who witness the man as you realize he has been there for many days, at least, and that the tearing at his eyes and face appear to be from exposure to the sea spray and perhaps birds which have plucked out his eyes.
He appears decomposed only by the elements, and not by death.....
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Post by xerxez on Feb 4, 2024 21:03:57 GMT -6
Bálesh says "I suggest putting two people to crew each ballista in case those sales were torn by some sort of flying monster instead of wind. If someone can light a torch behind me, I will enter that door." He suits actions to words, drawing his axe and starting aft (or fore, not sure where the swinging door is) Sorry, the swinging door is not shown but its at the top of steps leading down into the lower decks. Also, though I drew the steps shown from above, there is actually a normal doorway and the steps are sheltered under the structure.Karunaz nods at the words of Balesh. Gas Belly takes the forward turret and and turns the crank to engage the heavy cross bow and loads a great bolt. The Livyani moves to man the aft weapon. "Have a care," he says. "Doshi is best to sound alarm if you find any crew below and we will be down in a flash." I assume a companion lights a couple of torches and hands one to Balesh.Coming to the door, Amiyala draws a long iron dagger from her belt and throws it into the deck, its hilt now holding the door open. As Balesh comes to the stair and thrusts his torch into the darkness, he is startled to see a man in ragged sea clothes (pirate like) on the stair, a long sword in his right hand, one foot poised upon the stair as though stealthily gaining the upper steps. To the horror of the Nuroabite, there are only empty shriveled black holes where the man's eyes should be, his skin is withered and sea blasted, and his mouth is open in a silent scream.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 4, 2024 5:35:23 GMT -6
There appear no signs of battle.
The wheel is not tied.
The two giant crossbow stations are of the sort which can pivot directionally.
The sails appear shredded by massive gale winds.
Mooring lines are piled in coils.
There is no sound but the creaking of the ship, swinging tackle and the incessantly rapping door on the top house.
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Post by xerxez on Feb 3, 2024 21:15:18 GMT -6
Hello and please excuse my tardiness in posting.The boarding party, as it comes to be, is quickly established to be the Nuroabites, Tekar, Karunaz the Livyani, Amiyala the Aridani her companion Doshi, Bak Suul the Shen and Gas Belly the Ahoggya, 13 in all. dtspurrier has not posted but I am assuming he would wish to go along...Two dinghy are prepared. As the light grows, you are all able to see the ship has been through a storm and survived it. It looks like a small attack frigate but the decks are eerily empty from your vantage point. The Captain of the N'yari stations crew members with bows and arrows and sends the H'laka scout to do flyover-- it returns to report the deck appears wholly abandoned, though only recently. With naught to do but make good on your pledges the party gets into the dinghy boats and are lowered into the sea. The Nuroabites and the Shen man oars--the sea is fairly calm but rolling and sprays its salty mist upon all of you, soaking you in your armor. As you close the gap the H'laka flies over and fastens a rope ladder upon the port side, dropping it down to the boats along with ropes to secure the vessels to it. Soon you all quietly gain the decks...the H'laka pulls a javelin from behind it's back but does not venture from the rail. The boat is perhaps 100' in length and some 35' wide-- there is a forecastle deck, as well as an aft deck built upon the structure which leads below-decks-- this structure is about 8' high, having stairs on either side which ascend to the aft deck. A steering wheel-well is mounted just behind the main mast, with a second mast behind it. There are two ballista turrets, one forward and one aft. The top house has a door which swings open and closed with the rolling of the ship....
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Post by xerxez on Jan 31, 2024 18:50:44 GMT -6
I have provided a map of your voyage thus far…The encounter with the Plumed Bird took place upon day five as the Nyari began its sea path along Tha’yuri Isle, keeping the shore close in sight since Msu’mtel Bay is not safe at all…along the swampy lands of the La’yoda lie not only the homelands of the wicked and mad race of the Swamp Frogs but fetid gardens wherein grow the strange purple flowers that are the Food of the Old Ones and those weird creatures sometimes mount voyages to harvest there. (Point A is where Tekar captured the bird.) On Day 10 is when you pass the famed Isle of Ganga…you can clearly see its shores. F’SAL: “And there it is…the Mother’s Lap where sat the ancient Priestkings. That is where true civilization began and spread to the mainland savages, brought by scroll and sword. But there too the priest Pavar first contacted the Gods of Stability…or rather, they contacted him, and delivered the Truth of the Gods, which all of the Temples now dispense to Te’kumel. But glory was devoured by destruction…for cast your eyes over the prow.” It is a clear enough day to allow all of you to see, deep below the waves, shadows of the ruins of H’la Ganga—you behold its peaks and spires, and soon, you even spot fingers of stone that rise from the water and discern that they are no natural rock formations but buildings of such construction and perhaps enchantment that they yet defy the ravages of time and sea change… You pass the night in the berthing spaces and some of you dream of ancient Priestkings and a glorious island kingdom. Dreams are scattered as a crewman comes down to awaken you all and bid you come to deck. As you stir from slumber and go top side, you find a thin blue light of beginning of dawn, almost still night, and find the captain and F’sal standing on the starboard side of the ship. You soon see what they are looking at…drifting upon calm waves is a black ship. In the pale gloom you can see its sails hang in tatters and no lanterns adorn its decks. (Point B on the Map)F’sal turns to you all. F’SAL: “A derelict, we think, swept in from the Deeps and fated to crash somewhere near Msumetl Bay or upon Ganga Isle. Our Captain is curious and considers assembling a boarding party….if anyone should volunteer.”
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Post by xerxez on Jan 28, 2024 20:28:01 GMT -6
I will update further tomorrow-- I have had an ordeal for a couple of days which today flipped like a coin leaving a happy ending to the matter but it wrung me out for a minute. Ive walked/biked 30 miles in two days and part of that was on a mountain road in early morning hours where mountain lions and bear are sometimes about. Pushing a bike uphill on a steep road in forest land at 3 AM and hearing something moving in the brush that stops when you stop and resumes when you resume is not a fun commute but my car is back after a tow and I don't have to do that now!
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Post by xerxez on Jan 28, 2024 20:20:47 GMT -6
Is it possible to retrieve 3 feathers without harming the creature? If so, I will indeed retrieve three, then as F'sal suggests. One, I will present to Amiyala as a token of respect and gratitude. I will take it below to the cage. Part of my day now will be to tend to its needs. I will see if F'sal has any books that might give me ideas on how to construct straps to keep it from flying, but allow it some movement so that it doesn't have to remain caged. I will also ensure that all see that it has my full attention, even going so far as to sleep near it, should any decide to try to relieve it of plumage! It can be done but not without distress to the bird, unless one is about to come out. I roll a d4 to see how many may be in such a state- and roll a 1, so one feather may be withdrawn without pain and distress to the Plumed Bird. You may take more but it will cause the bird pain and perhaps damage its skin. Believe it or not I found an online random color generator. dice.virtuworld.net/colors/The feather in question is black! But a lovely gleaming black, with many possible uses in an arrangement. Amiyala is honored by your gesture, and bows. "Thank you, Flame Warrior. As a child I had one of these birds in the clanhouse-- it sang and also spoke. It died of age, for it had been my father's bird. This feather shall remind of little Di'kiro." F'sal is unsure of any means of wing straps, but the Captain tells Tek that that cages are only temporary for these birds and after training they may be be permitted a perch instead. He arranges to have the cage set in your berthing space.
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Post by xerxez on Jan 27, 2024 21:03:22 GMT -6
P.S. Hunting expeditions for them are a noble past time and an art and science in and of itself.
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Post by xerxez on Jan 27, 2024 20:56:55 GMT -6
As the Nyari lists upon the waves, Mi'kimu, Balesh and Tek all seek to corral the beautiful but shaken Plumed Bird. It moves this way and that, fluttering about the deck pathetically but still with some elusiveness. Mi'kimu and Balesh both almost grasp it, footsteps stumping along the deck planks, but in the end Tek, the Flame Soldier, catches it by snatching up a net nearby and tossing it upon the frightened bird. The captain and F'sal were watching. CAPTAIN: "Well done. That one is a fine specimen. The unique feathers alone might fetch 800 Kaitar. It is said there is a color in its plumage for every temple. Subdued as it is, it might bring as much or more as a pet. I have a cage in the hold. Trainers of these birds may be found in most sizeable towns, though not without a fair amount of compensation. With patience, you could even win its loyalty without a trainer. But a trainer can teach it many tricks and useful tasks. " This is how the dice fell- if I were good at math a better formula might have been devised but as it was it came down to a d8 roll. 1-2, it would have been Balesh who caught the bird. 3-5, Mi'kimu, 6-8, Tek. I rolled a 7,so Tek captured the exquisite bird. What he does with it is at this point up to Chicagowiz. I didn't hear from dtspurrier so I did not dice for him but there are plenty of these birds on Tekumel if someone really wants one!
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Post by xerxez on Jan 27, 2024 19:41:22 GMT -6
There are such items about but it will still come to a contest of dexterity and the dice! The bird is somewhat tired from its journey and reluctant to fly away from the ship but is still lively enough to flutter about and make small flights upon the deck rather like a chicken If using such items will increase my odds, then I will do so! My rolls: 3d6 for a DEX of 86: 5,3,2 I originally rolled only a 2 as a matching number on my own 3d6 roll, I gave you one reroll of a die for the use of implements, and got a 5 so you are 2 up, matching Mi'kimu. I will dice for this contest among you, Balesh and Mi'kimu.
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Post by xerxez on Jan 22, 2024 21:34:27 GMT -6
The first four days are uneventful as you sail towards your mysterious destination. GM NOTE: PC's have a chance to catch the Plumed Bird! If you have a dexterity of 49 or lower, roll 1d6. If your DEX is 50 -75, roll 2 d6. If your DEX is 76 or higher, roll 3d6.
I will roll a matching d6 or number of d6 (depending on your count) and anyone who matches my rolls will be diced among to see who can catch the Kh'eschal.Balesh, Dex 97, rolls 5, 1, 6 Balesh also gets two matching numbers, 1 & 6, Will give the others a chance to roll.
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Post by xerxez on Jan 21, 2024 20:37:41 GMT -6
Mi'kímu has been studying the weird S'su blade and trying to square it with his fighting style. He has also found his spirit reinvigorated by the journey at sea, and begins to compose song-poems on the subject — but in Tsolyáni, the better to practice the language and explore its nuances. (Being illiterate, Mi'kímu composes these poems in his head, and sings them quietly to himself on night watch in order to remember them.) While composing a song about pelicans (he has one diving for the kill tattooed on his back — a story for another day) and admiring the dawn over the sea, he hears the strange chatter from the H'laka scout, and spots the Kh'eshcal bird. Mi'kímu lunges to capture the bird! [OOC: With DEX 96 I rolled 3d6 for ... 1, 5, 6.] Interested to read Mi'kimu's compositions, which seem to entertain Do'shi the ren'yu who sits at these times and quietly listened to the singing which his keen ears have overheard.
As for the dagger, Mi'kimu was impressed. It is a blade of iron, not hardened Chlen hide. It has a medium length handle comprised of nodules carved into bone and lacquered gray. While made for a three digit hand (there are grooves for these), the nodular design permits human usage quite easily. Upon examination, Mi'kimu discovered that at the base of the handle on it's back is a round shape about the size of a small grape which he discovers is a plug that with some prying can be dislodged, opening a small hole. Upon closer examination of the blade he also discovered that there is a small bored aperture about an inch up the wide base of the serrated dagger--he guessed it to be a dagger which can filled with poison, though thankfully, in his handling, it is empty of such contents at this time. Finally, upon the iron blade at it's base on one side is a weird, squiggly inscription, like some character from an alien script...
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Post by xerxez on Jan 21, 2024 20:09:59 GMT -6
I will be able to post tomorrow but after that will be on a three day radio silence due to a family trip. Just wanted to let everyone know!
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Post by xerxez on Jan 21, 2024 20:08:48 GMT -6
Tekar, in spite his usual reserved and quiet nature, has been near the bow of the ship, watching for the ruins with an eager eye. Perhaps he will catch a glimpse of a statue or temple raised in honor of HIS LORD. When the Kh'eshcal alights on the deck, rather than try to grasp at the creature, he looks about for a net or some sort of rope that could entangle its wings! (Depending on your ruling of such object being available xerxez, I will either toss the item, or barring that, I will aim for the wings to foul and grab at one. Let me know your ruling, please, and then I will roll my 3d6 (DEX of 86).) There are such items about but it will still come to a contest of dexterity and the dice! The bird is somewhat tired from its journey and reluctant to fly away from the ship but is still lively enough to flutter about and make small flights upon the deck rather like a chicken
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Post by xerxez on Jan 21, 2024 20:05:30 GMT -6
Mi'kímu has been studying the weird S'su blade and trying to square it with his fighting style. He has also found his spirit reinvigorated by the journey at sea, and begins to compose song-poems on the subject — but in Tsolyáni, the better to practice the language and explore its nuances. (Being illiterate, Mi'kímu composes these poems in his head, and sings them quietly to himself on night watch in order to remember them.) While composing a song about pelicans (he has one diving for the kill tattooed on his back — a story for another day) and admiring the dawn over the sea, he hears the strange chatter from the H'laka scout, and spots the Kh'eshcal bird. Mi'kímu lunges to capture the bird! [OOC: With DEX 96 I rolled 3d6 for ... 1, 5, 6.] Against this roll I rolled 3d6 and Mi'kimu got two matching die, a 5 and a 6! I will have to roll for the others and dice against any ties!
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