[Hourglass of Zihaja D&D 4e] Heroes on a Sea of Swords OOC - Page 6

Shadow_Elf · 03-07-2011, 09:57 PM

Killing Hasarash (I am going to never spell that name the same way twice, I think

) and The Salamander would not win the war, but its the goal the sultan's advisors have decided is the most tactically optimal for the Midnight Mirage to perform. There are bigger, badder dudes than them (like the two highest priests of Martuakh, plus some other baddies you guys might encounter later). So while it would help to go after them, it wouldn't "win the war before it even starts"

.

A'den · 03-08-2011, 05:10 AM

I'd say go for the Snake and Vikings first, chip away at the big bad's support pool of vassals so theres less chance of those guys sneaking up out rudders as enemy reinforcements. Plus those guys are probably raiding already and giving information back to the Shean who are still at their home port, we should deprive the enemy of the ability to scout and test our defenses.

Their built like a pyramid, you have to chip away at the power base to make the hierarchy more unstable.

A'den · 03-08-2011, 05:30 AM

How teshiq's drawing skills are.
Insight Check for any flaws with his plan. (1d20+19)[38]
DEX: (1d20)[5]

Some one get the crayons out.

Grey_Wolf_c · 03-08-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A'den

I'd say go for the Snake and Vikings first, chip away at the big bad's support pool of vassals so theres less chance of those guys sneaking up out rudders as enemy reinforcements. Plus those guys are probably raiding already and giving information back to the Shean who are still at their home port, we should deprive the enemy of the ability to scout and test our defenses.

Their built like a pyramid, you have to chip away at the power base to make the hierarchy more unstable.

You are assuming that the pirates are working with the invaders. Everything we've heard so far says the opposite: that the pirates are using the invasion's weakening of pirate hunters strength as an opportunity to enrich themselves more easily. Not saying that there isn't a connection (although I personally doubt it), just that we don't know of it.

Grey Wolf

ninja_penguin · 03-08-2011, 05:37 PM

I'm up for Rahman trying to help with that ritual as well, if there's any time at night.

Otherwise, I think I'd be inclined to take out the side pirates first. No real preference as to which one first.

Belthasar · 03-08-2011, 05:40 PM

Me too, side pirates first (preferently the snake man first).

Scylfing · 03-08-2011, 06:07 PM

Sure, I'll vote for that too.

Reverent-One · 03-08-2011, 11:10 PM

I too am alright with hitting up a side quest before running down the big bad guys.

A'den · 03-09-2011, 04:32 AM

Alliance or not it would be good to clear the battlefield of interlopers and wild cards like that, they could tip the balance at a critical moment.

Shadow_Elf · 03-09-2011, 08:24 PM

Its settled then. Let the hunt for Vertasi the Snake begin! I will narrate the trip fully, and you guys can feel free to interject your own actions during the trip whenever. I have to do a calculus project for tomorrow, but once that is done, I will be sure to write up my narration. Sorry for the delays, things should pick up the pace soon.

Shadow_Elf · 03-10-2011, 11:37 PM

IC post made, I tried to push things along as well as I could manage. Be careful, though - I will tell you now that not all is as it seems...

Additionally, as I said in my IC post, feel free to add some flavour to my timeskip by describing some of what your characters do in the five days the crew is at sea!

ninja_penguin · 03-12-2011, 01:20 PM

OOC-wise, most of the ruins that we're looking for are on the eastern coast, and that's pretty much on the far end of the continent from where we are, right?

Shadow_Elf · 03-12-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninja_penguin

OOC-wise, most of the ruins that we're looking for are on the eastern coast, and that's pretty much on the far end of the continent from where we are, right?

Most? Yes. All? No.

. And yes, Hakhpur would have been in a number of Admajai ruins on his long trek.

Also yes, those rituals provide some great options for you guys to make use of. Water Walk is certainly not your only option.

A'den · 03-12-2011, 02:50 PM

I'll toss my vote in for Water Gift, didn't know about that one.

Grey_Wolf_c · 03-12-2011, 03:06 PM

Shadow Elf,

How do the hunters get paid? Amirah would know this already, having been in the crew for some time. Do we get first pick of the spoils? A salary? Combination of both (e.g. a month with no fighting gives us a flat amount)?

I ask this because I was going to have Amirah suggest that maybe the captain should shoulder some of the burden of casting the ritual. But that makes the most sense if we are salaried. Otherwise, so long as we do get to loot the target first, we also should pay for the rituals in full.

Also, I should point out that the cost of the rituals, when divided by 6 party members, inevitably tends to be periodical (e.g. 33.333...). In practical terms, some will have to pay 1 gp more than others, hopefully that is not a problem (and I'll rotate who gets the burden of the extra gp in some manner).

Grey Wolf

Shadow_Elf · 03-12-2011, 03:09 PM

You guys get first pick of loot, and a share of takings and of contracts. Its not quite a salary, since it is completely dependent on what you guys do in a given time period, but whenever you stop in port, after crew-wide expenses like the pantry, al-Farid will divide the plunder. You get to take the loot on-the-spot though, because some of it might come in handy before you next make port.

EDIT: For simplicity's sake, I'll make the division of gold coincide with your level-ups, if that's alright. Also, speaking of loot, if you guys want to shoot me treasure requests, I can tailor the stuff you find to "useful" end of the spectrum.

Scylfing · 03-12-2011, 05:35 PM

Water Gift does look like the one to go with for this situation, so I'll vote for that.

Quote:

Also, speaking of loot, if you guys want to shoot me treasure requests, I can tailor the stuff you find to "useful" end of the spectrum.

A longsword that can do Psychic damage would be nice.

Shadow_Elf · 03-13-2011, 07:19 PM

Whatever you guys want to do, do it quickly. I want things to get in motion again.

Belthasar · 03-13-2011, 07:35 PM

Yep, Water Gift looks good.

Grey_Wolf_c · 03-13-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belthasar

Yep, Water Gift looks good.

Ok, NOW we have plurality. Good, that's a load off my mind. I'm thinking, however, we can make the rule that anyone not answering a general decision question (like what ritual(s) to cast) in an appropriate amount of time (a day sounds about right) can be assumed, going forward, to be indifferent.

Grey Wolf

Shadow_Elf · 03-13-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grey_Wolf_c

Ok, NOW we have plurality. Good, that's a load off my mind. I'm thinking, however, we can make the rule that anyone not answering a general decision question (like what ritual(s) to cast) in an appropriate amount of time (a day sounds about right) can be assumed, going forward, to be indifferent.

Grey Wolf

That is fair. New Rule! If you don't respond to an important decision point within 24 hours of its posting, you're assumed to be indifferent. This includes which ritual to cast. If its really important, like which quest to prioritize, I'll wait 48 hours.

ninja_penguin · 03-13-2011, 07:51 PM

That's probably fair.

As a heads up, Rahman is probably going to be very indifferent most Fridays.

edit:

On a tactics end of things, do people have suggestions? We're not really able to fly (yet, I think?). Circle the boat once, or something? do we have a spyglass? Or a boat that we can send out closer?

Belthasar · 03-13-2011, 08:28 PM

*Facepalm*

I knew I forgot about something! I should've tried buying a spyglass back in the city, hahaha! But it's too late, oh well.

Circling the boat, or, attack from under.

Scylfing · 03-13-2011, 08:59 PM

Maybe the captain has one on hand?

Hmm, would it be crazy to send one or two out in a rowboat to attract attention, while the rest of us use Water Gift to approach unseen from underwater?

Belthasar · 03-13-2011, 09:01 PM

Hakhpur has plenty ranged attacks, but they have 10 squares of range. If this is enough, I think he could stay behind supporting with someone else.

If not, then he has a lot of Diplomacy bonuses, so he could distract them with someone else... Hmmm...

Grey_Wolf_c · 03-13-2011, 09:04 PM

I favour the direct approach. Swim under the boat, climb the other side while they are distracted by the Midnight Mirage. If they are pirates, it should be rather obvious once we climb up, and at that point, we get to work.

Grey Wolf

Belthasar · 03-13-2011, 09:06 PM

How much of us the ritual could affect to?

Scylfing · 03-13-2011, 09:07 PM

Yeah that's true, our ship should be more than enough to attract attention away from what we're doing until we've boarded.

Grey_Wolf_c · 03-14-2011, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belthasar

How much of us the ritual could affect to?

I don't quite understand the question. If you mean how many can be affected, the answer is up to 8 people (caster must be included).

GW

ninja_penguin · 03-14-2011, 09:31 AM

So I guess the general plan is we all dive overboard, and then head over to the possible-trap ship?

How long for us to swim back when the pirates come blitzing out toward the midnight mirage when we're on board?