Congratulations! You have survived the first part of a D&D adventure, which is the creation of your character. Whether by kit or by wit, you have a role you get to play for the duration of the adventure, be that a week or a year. Who knows? Should you really like this character, we may see them much more often.
On to some basic information for those who aren't used to D&D, or D&D on message boards. Out of Character chat, otherwise known as OOC, is put in spoilers like this one so that it disturbs the story-like quality of the game less. Spoilers will be used by the DM, me in this case, to deliver to you information about playing the game, IC information that not all characters recieve, effects of skill checks, and other similar information. Be sure to read the OOC spoilers!
To use a spoiler yourself, type [*spoiler](Your text)[*/spoiler] without the astersisks (the *s). You can also type [*spoiler=Text] to give your spoiler a name, like this one.
On to the gameplay!
It is not a dark and stormy night. In fact, it's actually a bright and cheery day. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and four travelers have been invited by a local adventuring guild to learn the tricks of the trade. The first 'test' was endurance. They would have to make their way over a sea, through a forest, an then through a mountain pass to get to their destination. All of that was done and behind them. Their destination lay ahead.
Up to this point, none of them knew each other existed. They might have assumed that they would not be exploring alone, but they had not met. Only as they make their way into a quaint little town, their destination, will they meet.
The town is small. It barely has enough room to contain the general store, the blacksmith, and the pub, the three staples of community. The pub is their destination to meet some guide that will help them along the way.
What you have just read is referred to as an 'exposition', just a quick rundown of what's going on so far. Some DMs may give you a lot of information, as I just have, and some very little. You may already be on a quest at the start of the session, as you are now, or you may not get that information until later.
What happens next, for the time being, is up to you. You have time to interact with your fellow adventurers to learn their names, learn their trades, and then find out who you are supposed to meet. I'll intervene when enough time as passed or if one of you decides to advance the storyline, whichever comes first.
Do remember, dear player, that D&D is as much role playing as it is fighting. Don't try to skimp on the one to do the other or you'll be missing out on half the fun.
Aylea continued along the path through the forest, enjoying the smell of the air, the light on the trees. "I feel at home here," she sighed to herself, her radiant red locks billowing with the slightest gust, her long, dark green robes falling around her like a dress, her creamy hand on her walking staff, which doubled as her weapon. A satchel hung from her back, carrying her essentials. The trip had been decent, and she was enjoying the solitary walk.
Her face was fair, but no more fair than a typical elf, with pointed ears and thin brows, a chiseled, tender face, with a long neck and thinly features. She was rather tall for an elf at 5' 2". She had almost no fat on her bones. She dressed for comfort. Her familiar, Anslasax, a spotty toad, always rode around in her pack, in a jar of purified water.
Aylea walked ahead toward the small village, sighing softly at the sight of a place to rest her weary feet. A skip returned to her step as she approached the door, seeing the others approaching--she had not seen them before, so she arched a thin brow in curiosity.
I have a life. And it's very taxing. Sunday is my only day off.
Aylea moved to the town and saw the quaint tavern.. a place to rest her laurels. She sighed in relief and entered, keeping her staff close to her.. she wanted nothing more than a place to sit and perhaps some water to sip. She slipped into the room and quietly spoke up to the tender. "Water, please."
[spoiler=OOC]Grimus: Generally, you can't assume there's no one in the bar when you've just entered. You'd have to wait until I actually told you. As is, you don't even know what the pub looks like.
The inside of the pub was well kept, a far cry from the usual smoky tavern you'd find in each and every city in adventures like this. There was the standard group of people within the pub, the farmers and guards and other folks needing a stiff drink after a hard day's work. There were a few cloaked folks, but no one of any interest.
Lynn was given an ale without question.
Dexter's bellow was met with jeers from the surrounding drinkers and drunks. Apparently adventurers were not rare around here, and people made fun of them regularly. He was given his tankard of the same ale Lynn got.
Thorgar was met with a few looks as he looked around, the folks nearby checking him out. Then they shrugged and thought nothing more of him. His ale was no different from the other two.
Aylea, the last of the four, was stared at for a moment by the 'tender before she was given a glass of water.
Aylea nods to Thorgar and shrugs, trying to get as comfortable as possible. "That's fine to mine. I've been wanting to rest my legs after such a long journey. I feel out of place, yet strangely at home."
Aylea blinked when she saw the burly man confront another waiting with her. She watched them carefully, hoping things wouldn't turn out ill. She didn't want a brawl.
Usually, you would roll your own checks for just about everything, while I roll my own rolls secretly. In this case, since you forgot/didn't roll, I'll do so for you.
Lynn's Diplomacy Roll:
Dice Roller1 D20 rolled with a +3 modifier
6 + 3
Lynn fails in her attempt to be diplomatic, the increasingly angry crowd turning on her. The speaker for the group looks at them both as a bull looks at a matador, "No... I think it's time you leave."
Aylea sighs and steps forward to the defense of her fellow travelers. "You must excuse my company here. We are new here and things are done differently where we all come from. We don't want to cause trouble." She shoots a glare at Dexter, and whispers "If you want to die, that's fine, just don't drag anyone else into it."
(DC 15 chance for anyone to hear a whisper with a Listen check.)
Aylea sits back down and finishes the rest of her drink, asking for another water. She tries to keep her eyes peeled for anyone suspicious, and her ears keen.
Aylea didn't move, but she kept her eyes on the figure. Whether the figure knew she was watching or not, she didn't know, but she wasn't about to let her get away from her eyes. Everything else seemed to be uninvolving, but this person was moving right for the four of them.
Just so ya know, usually when you make a Spot check on an area, you can't do it over. But that's at the DM's discretion--the environment might have changed since you last looked. If you want to look around, to a Search check, but that requires an obvious look about.
It REALLY is up to the DM in almost any case of Spot checks; in this case, I'm gonna say yes, you can (though that's up to Nai now, isn't it?), but just for future reference.
Usually, you wouldn't be allowed a re-roll on this. You failed the spot-check to begin with, which means your skill wasn't up to spotting them. You can't really repeat the check, since it's not as if your skill, in-character wise, is going to go up in five seconds. However, I'll allow it this time.
Lynn notices the cloaked figure, and she also notices something Aylea didn't. Gleaming white armor underneath the cloak, barely noticeable if you aren't looking at the exact right time.
Remember, when rolling for something, label what the roll is for. Otherwise, I have to assume you were testing dice, or something. Considering the context of Tanthalas' post, he was rolling spot.
At around the same time Thorgar spoke, the cloaked figure was upon them.
Figure - "Oh yes? And the bar brawl would have been the fault of your partner, not mine."
The figure throws back its hood, and underneath is a female. The rest of the cloak is removed and she is revealed to be wearing plate mail armor, white with gold trimming. At her side is an impressive looking longsword, a shield on her back looking just as impressive.
"I saw exactly what happened. You were about to start a bar brawl with farmers that could easily remove your arm."
The woman rolls her eyes and removes her helmet, "You're here because you showed potential to be good adventurers. The adventuring guild always needs new recruits. So you're here to learn the trade."
On to some basic information for those who aren't used to D&D, or D&D on message boards. Out of Character chat, otherwise known as OOC, is put in spoilers like this one so that it disturbs the story-like quality of the game less. Spoilers will be used by the DM, me in this case, to deliver to you information about playing the game, IC information that not all characters recieve, effects of skill checks, and other similar information. Be sure to read the OOC spoilers!
To use a spoiler yourself, type [*spoiler](Your text)[*/spoiler] without the astersisks (the *s). You can also type [*spoiler=Text] to give your spoiler a name, like this one.
On to the gameplay!
It is not a dark and stormy night. In fact, it's actually a bright and cheery day. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and four travelers have been invited by a local adventuring guild to learn the tricks of the trade. The first 'test' was endurance. They would have to make their way over a sea, through a forest, an then through a mountain pass to get to their destination. All of that was done and behind them. Their destination lay ahead.
Up to this point, none of them knew each other existed. They might have assumed that they would not be exploring alone, but they had not met. Only as they make their way into a quaint little town, their destination, will they meet.
The town is small. It barely has enough room to contain the general store, the blacksmith, and the pub, the three staples of community. The pub is their destination to meet some guide that will help them along the way.
What happens next, for the time being, is up to you. You have time to interact with your fellow adventurers to learn their names, learn their trades, and then find out who you are supposed to meet. I'll intervene when enough time as passed or if one of you decides to advance the storyline, whichever comes first.
Do remember, dear player, that D&D is as much role playing as it is fighting. Don't try to skimp on the one to do the other or you'll be missing out on half the fun.
When you're ready, I'll return.
My helpdesk should you need me.
Her face was fair, but no more fair than a typical elf, with pointed ears and thin brows, a chiseled, tender face, with a long neck and thinly features. She was rather tall for an elf at 5' 2". She had almost no fat on her bones. She dressed for comfort. Her familiar, Anslasax, a spotty toad, always rode around in her pack, in a jar of purified water.
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
My helpdesk should you need me.
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
The inside of the pub was well kept, a far cry from the usual smoky tavern you'd find in each and every city in adventures like this. There was the standard group of people within the pub, the farmers and guards and other folks needing a stiff drink after a hard day's work. There were a few cloaked folks, but no one of any interest.
Lynn was given an ale without question.
Dexter's bellow was met with jeers from the surrounding drinkers and drunks. Apparently adventurers were not rare around here, and people made fun of them regularly. He was given his tankard of the same ale Lynn got.
Thorgar was met with a few looks as he looked around, the folks nearby checking him out. Then they shrugged and thought nothing more of him. His ale was no different from the other two.
Aylea, the last of the four, was stared at for a moment by the 'tender before she was given a glass of water.
It appeared their guide was not there yet.
My helpdesk should you need me.
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
My helpdesk should you need me.
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
My helpdesk should you need me.
Lynn's Diplomacy Roll:
Lynn fails in her attempt to be diplomatic, the increasingly angry crowd turning on her. The speaker for the group looks at them both as a bull looks at a matador, "No... I think it's time you leave."
My helpdesk should you need me.
(DC 15 chance for anyone to hear a whisper with a Listen check.)
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
A cloaked figure in the back moves towards the four.
My helpdesk should you need me.
Spot:
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
Both of the two heard lots about farms and surrounding animals, nothing else interesting.
My helpdesk should you need me.
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
Lynn notices the cloaked figure, and she also notices something Aylea didn't. Gleaming white armor underneath the cloak, barely noticeable if you aren't looking at the exact right time.
My helpdesk should you need me.
At around the same time Thorgar spoke, the cloaked figure was upon them.
Figure - "Oh yes? And the bar brawl would have been the fault of your partner, not mine."
My helpdesk should you need me.
"I saw exactly what happened. You were about to start a bar brawl with farmers that could easily remove your arm."
My helpdesk should you need me.
My helpdesk should you need me.
My helpdesk should you need me.
My helpdesk should you need me.