Lightsword Saga

[Lylessa Uluki]

I just wanted to step in and make my own opinion on this clear:

I don't care.

Thanks, and I appreciate your openness to work around my characters. The reason this doesn't totally allay my concerns is that it's obviously not just random and you clearly have at least the most basic intention for it, or it wouldn't have been posted at all-- but more the fact that when you guys were planning this and I asked you to let me know about anything that concerned my characters, you told me so definitively that it didn't. You were really nice about it, but the vibe I got at the time was a very polite "butt out." Which I am totally fine with and I don't expect to be in on all your private planning stuff or involved in a plotline intended for the two of you. The problem isn't that, it's that I honestly need some guidance here about how to avoid stepping on your toes.

This plotline isn't intended to involve my characters (as you already told me straight up) and I have no desire to shoehorn them in where they aren't needed. I'm happy to keep them out of it-- I just need to find a way to work it so that can actually happen. But really, it's more Jules I need a suggestion from, because the main person who I'll need to plan around is Rosemary.

Thanks for your willingness to accommodate whatever I feel needs to be done, but at this point it would actually be more helpful to me if you guys could just express a preference for what works best for you.

The new guy, Ra'Nali, has expressed an interest in joining The Pest storyline. Apparently he was referred to me by Jen.

I think that at the time he expressed interest, he was deciding between making a criminal character and a Guard character. Given his final application went the Guard route, I think he's probably no longer interested in joining our plotline. He's actually expressed interest in Zou's plot.

Just in general, I have no problem with new people joining our plotline (aside from what I said before about the thread Casualties being a private moment, which stands,) assuming the details could be worked out and the character seemed to fit.

[Julen]

Heya Lyl! Thanks for your concern about messing up our plans. Unfortunately, as I feared might happen, this has been blown way out of proportion. I don't want to give you all the details, because sometimes suprises nice. But the new refugees only have one minor thing they need to do. And they need to do it before the Lightswords get back from Shim. That's all. They can do it after Rollick interrogates them. They can do it before. They can do it if he never sees them.

I think there has been some crossed wires in the communication about this. When I said that it "wouldn't affect your characters", I meant that it wouldn't have any significant emotional, physical, or plot impact on them. I didn't mean that they'd never have any interaction at all. I apologize if this has imposed on your characters in a way that you don't want it to.

Since you seem to have some fairly strong feelings about this, and since the situation is as flexible as it could possibly be, I suggest that you decide what you'd like to do. If you'd like to have an incident demonstrating how stubborn Rollick is being, you can have him try to interogate the new refugees when he gets back. On the other hand, if you'd rather not deal with it right away, they can arrive before he gets back. Or after he's already upstairs. Or after some time has passed, and he's less likely to be so suspicious.

If you want me to chose an option, I'll be happy to, but it will be somewhat arbitrary. I honestly think this matters more to you than it does to me.

[Sir Karsimir]

Quinn: I am ok with Ra'Nali getting involved in the Pest if you are. I have no ambitions here beyond keeping you entertained.

Actually, more on this subject. I am getting overstretched and am looking to back out of NPC threads. How would you feel about someone else taking over for me?

Lyl: From what I observe, what is confusing you about figuring out Jess's plans is assuming she has enough planned to figure out. I can confidently state that Jess is a very spontaneous writer - any plans will be fairly loose, so looking for clear answers set in stone will be counterproductive.

[Lylessa Uluki]

The reason my feelings about this are so strong is that ultimately, my characters are going to be the ones who have to take responsibility for what happens while the Lightswords are away in Shim. That doesn't mean nothing of importance can happen on their watch; obviously it already has. That doesn't mean they can't make errors in judgment; if they do, they do, and they'll deal with the consequences. What is does mean is that I'm going to be very, very concerned about keeping them in character, because I don't want them to have to take responsibility IC for something that they did for OOC reasons. They're going to be the ones held to account for what happens because they're the ones who have been left in charge-- and when they're held to that account, I want their decisions to be their own. That's why this is such a big issue to me.

That said...

If you'd like to have an incident demonstrating how stubborn Rollick is being, you can have him try to interogate the new refugees when he gets back.

I'm certainly open to going this route, but don't consider it necessary. I think that quality can be (or has been) demonstrated in other ways. If you guys feel that would carry any plot importance and should be included, I'm happy to write it. If not, I'm also fine with just not going there.

On the other hand, if you'd rather not deal with it right away, they can arrive before he gets back. Or after he's already upstairs. Or after some time has passed, and he's less likely to be so suspicious.

I was planning to bring Uluki and Rollick back fairly soon (in fact really soon,) though they won't interrupt Kaydee and Dash's scene until we reach a stopping point. However, I can hold off on that if it's more convenient. It just depends on the length of time they'd need to stay gone, as I do want to be able to use them soon and I don't want them to end up in the limbo of being stuck away from the compound and being unplayable.

Any of the timings you suggest would be fine. In some ways it seems like the easiest would be to have Uluki and Rollick already upstairs, so your scene can go however you want and then Uluki and Rollick can interact with the three refugees later if it's appropriate without slowing things down right now. But whether that would work sort of depends on Rosemary. If she just wants to make sure Uluki and Rollick are alright, it shouldn't be a problem. If she is actually intending to talk to them when they get back, we probably can't go with that timing because it would leave her unavailable. (I'm just assuming the scene is supposed to be between the refugees and Rosemary since she's the only major JulesCharacter who isn't otherwise occupied, but if that's incorrect, where she is or needs to be isn't an issue.) So I guess that would be my suggestion, pending whether that works for Rosemary. If it doesn't, we can go with another option.

[Jenica Sabiny]

You need to have your characters act exactly how they would realistically react.

Your insistence on a particular planned course of action is, as Rail said, not working. Because there is no plan. The plan is quite literally "talking with the people there, as refugees."

You are looking at a situation where refugees have approached a theoretically open refugee compound at an inopportune moment. Your characters may react however they would most realistically react. You need to make a decision, for yourself, as to what that would be. You do not need to clear it with me because this is a game and I am not demanding that you clear anything with me. You have been told several times that there is no plan and that you may or may not interact with the NPCs presented as per your own preference. Believe those words and act upon them.

The only reason your characters would need to not interact with my NPCs is if you, yourself, as the player, have no interest in doing so for your own plot-related or character-related reasons, in which case you may tell me how it would be handled off-screen to eliminate having to post interaction at all.

[Lylessa Uluki]

Thanks. Sorry for causing so much confusion.

I think what I'm going to do is just hold off on having Uluki and Rollick come back to the compound. My planning to do so at this point was pretty arbitrary and it's nothing that can't wait-- there are a couple of things they have to do before they can go see the kids, but it doesn't have to be right now, and was only going to be because I'd gotten it in my head to do so. I'll focus on writing Dash for the moment instead. We can see how it goes, and Uluki and Rollick will make their appearance when the timing seems appropriate.

I appreciate your input.

[Sir Karsimir]

Jules, are you still collecting combat info?

[Julen]

Jules, are you still collecting combat info?

Always! You have some new info to share?

[Lylessa Uluki]

I really wanted to get Uluki and Rollick back to the compound, so I posted doing so.

If Rosemary or the Grasshoppers wish to interact with them, go for it, they're available and I'm happy to. If it doesn't work for you or this is a bad time, you can just assume no one notices their arrival.

[Julen]

I think Kaydee has run out of things to say. So unless there's anything else you want to do, I suggest that we suspend the thread until Uluki and Rollick join it. Sound alright?

[Lylessa Uluki]

Yep, that's fine with me. Dash doesn't have anything else to say at this point, and isn't really in a state of mind for small talk.

At some point Dash will want to ask Kaydee about her love interest, but this isn't the time for that, I don't think. It's not that Dash isn't interested, she just won't be able to focus on anything like that given what's just happened.

I agree we can just hold off on those characters till Uluki and Rollick return.

[Lylessa Uluki]

With the post I just made, Uluki and Rollick have done what I needed them to in the scene. For your response posts, it doesn't matter to me whether you assume they're still there, or assume they've gone ahead and left. They're going to be leaving soon regardless, so whichever is more convenient or better suits how you want to respond is fine with me.

[Julen]

I really liked the Teachings of Angels sermon on courage. And not just because it makes reference to Julen.

[Sir Karsimir]

Thanks.

Next one is probably altruism.

PS: We may have some startled visitors while away. Courting the birdies indeed.

[Lylessa Uluki]

I've been enjoying the sermons too. They're quite well done, and give some additional insight into how Fred's mind works. Uluki and the family will no doubt find them very worthwhile.

I look forward to Altruism.