Family Ties

[Clarisse]

First of all let me say great read so far, but anyway I was wondering if you had room for one more? I figured she could have been sent by Morveya's relative to make sure everything goes according to his/her plan. Otherwise I can always whip up some reason for Clarisse to join in, if you guys would let her join that is.

Here is her Character sheet if your curious about her

[Morveya Aris]

Well, for my part, I think you'd be a good addition. Morveya and Kitan are both rather innocent types. Alex is harder edged, but in the manner of an honorable and steadfast warrior. Adding someone with a darker nature, I think, would have an appeal.

I like the character -- for amongst other reasons, so different from the rest, I think any interaction would be interesting.

Morveya's relative is in fact the sort who would contract "insurance." So that fits well from my perspective.

I think the biggest challenge is why the three would accept her company in the beginning. However, as I did say, I had in mind a possible encounter. If we are attacked by something/someone-- and Clarisse helps us defend, at risk to her own well being - I think that would gain her a measure of acceptance with the rest.

Who knows -- the "encounter" itself might even be something staged by the relative. For this purpose.

Our little group is a democracy (hopefully a working one ) so I need input from the other two at this stage.

EDIT: Oh, and btw, I love HCJr.

[Alexandros]

This all sounds good to me. I'll get our next chapter rolling here if you don't mind. If you'd like to confer about an encounter of some sort - that could be arranged. It seems the best way for Clarisse to fall in with us without question.

I don't know what you're thinking about, in terms of goons, but I have an idea or two that we might consider:

-A group of brigands working for an opposing NPC. Could be Morveya's family member or thugs employed by an NPC antagonist I'm working on for Alex. The latter seems unlikely though, as I imagine that this rival would work in a less blunt fashion.

-Vanyusha. We could well and truly work in an encounter with the big bad of the woods himself. We'd have to coordinate with both players in Chaos and Control.

-Monsters. Things with fangs and claws, you know the sort. Maybe when we show up at the campsite something is digging up Alex's dead man.

[Morveya Aris]

I did, today, send Vanyusha a message, just checking for interest/availability. He's my first choice -- just because I think it will be the most interesting and memorable encounter.

If not, I'm more inclined toward monster, then men. Unless you really do want to use the npc. Sound like not, though.

I had been thinking Morveya's relative is likely a (very secretive) magical practitioner. One, perhaps, capable of summoning something, or goading something our direction. Something expendable. Intended to perish. Or maybe even illusionary.

After all, they don't want her killed. It might be hard to tell a gang of humans, "Hey, go harass them, but make certain you lose, and get cut up by my spy!"

Maybe best of all: relative sends whatever our way. Vanyusha meets it first, and wastes it. Then we encounter him, and instead it's for real.

Clarrise could start out thinking he's part of the show. But quickly learn otherwise.

[Alexandros]

Maybe best of all: relative sends whatever our way. Vanyusha meets it first, and wastes it. Then we encounter him, and instead it's for real.

Clarrise could start out thinking he's part of the show. But quickly learn otherwise.

I like this.

[Clarisse]

It might be hard to tell a gang of humans, "Hey, go harass them, but make certain you lose, and get cut up by my spy!"

Well they don't have to know. Morveya's relative could of told some hired thugs " Hey go capture her and bring her back to me, Clarisse is in charge of the operation." but she really knows that its just a clever rouse to get Moreveya to trust her. Plus Clarisse wont have a problem getting rid of some disposable lackeys.

On the other hand, the Vanyusha idea sounds fun as well.

[Morveya Aris]

Well, this is true. Let's see if Frug is open, and precede from there.


If he is -- I think the real question then is how the encounter ends-?

Obviously, he out guns us in terms of power. We'd either need a very, very clever ruse -- or else he'd have to lose interest, for some reason. Or be pulled away by something he considers more important, or the like.

[Alexandros]

Losing interest is the most likely outcome. We do have a few magic-users and curious cases of parentage here. He might just decide, "this isn't likely to turn lethal for myself, but it's also not worth this trouble." Not because he's offensively powerful - but because he's very hard to hurt.

I don't know what Alexandros' potency might be against dark things other than vampires (something I will have to discuss with the bossman, I think). He may just be another sword arm in this scenario.

[Alexandros]

I forgot to say: the new thread is up, in the woods.

[Clarisse]

Was thinking about putting a quick intro post into the new thread, but before I do I take it we decided on a monster of sorts?

[Alexandros]

If you'd like to introduce yourself to the thread without declaring what that threat might be - monster or, well Vanyusha (other monster)... Feel free! We'll have to wait to see what Vanyusha says before we're absolutely certain.

[Kitan]

Erm, wow, I missed a conversation. ._.

First of all, correct me if I'm wrong but Vanyusha does not vastly outclass us- he is incapable of offense. Now, Syrathan is a different story, but even then it is a two on one fight, three on one counting Clarisse, and not counting the soul beasties summoned by Vanyusha (which Navarre (the player) has been quick to state are not very useful for combat)

And let's not forget Alex's little dark-hunter ability. That might worry Vanyusha a bit, causing a retreat of sorts. I raise concerns that his retreat would be somewhat awkward, because he can't move quickly at all.

Finally, let's not forget about Kitan. We don't need to fight if Kitan makes an illusion of... say... a rock over us, though I doubt the horses would remain quiet. He could also probably blind someone by creating an illusion around their head, further balancing any battle.

The one thing I don't understand is why Morveya's relative would hire Clarrise if she is trying to gain Morveya's trust for her schemes. I suppose she would need someone unscupulous if she intends to betray Morveya somehow, and it would justify why her relative felt it nessisary to stage a fight.

So in general, I hope Clarrise is okay with playing antagonisticly. I realize that's a part of your app, but I want to be sure you'll remember you are loyal to The Relative and her coin, not our little band. You might also have to wait a little bit, because we do need to ask what the letter is about. One last concern is this: why is she only showing up now? Some sort of delay? If The Relative wanted to escort her, you'd think she would have met up at a more sensible location than a random point the woods.

Otherwise, I'm fine her joining. It would be funny to watch Morveya and Alex try to steer Kitan away from trying to make friends with Clarrise. Either that, or he'll be more sensibly terrified of her, I haven't decided which yet.

Van and Syr, however, are gonna make things sticky with six people posting. It'd be hard to do an "action scene" of sorts with such a large gap between actions, and looking over their posts they seem to move at a much slower rate than our near-daily speed. No offense is intended to anyone, but two or three per month is a little on the slow side.

It is for the above reasons that I suggest that we simply proceed with the Calrrise's staged fight and save Van and Syr for another time. I will, however, accept any majority decisions which run counter to my own.

EDIT: In addition, I just noticed that Vanyusha recently announced his intent to steal away someone from Shim, which we just left. The people they murdered were probably from Marn, implying we are heading the dead opposite direction that they are. What motive could they have to revisit the crime scene on the way? It would be contrived to just bump into them anywhere else, unless Morveya used her powers to tell Alex the location, in which case it still doesn't make much sense because he'd be dragging Morveya and Kitan along a very dangerous path.

*Ahem* Yes, I'll be quiet now.

[Alexandros]

And let's not forget Alex's little dark-hunter ability. That might worry Vanyusha a bit, causing a retreat of sorts. I raise concerns that his retreat would be somewhat awkward, because he can't move quickly at all.

Absolutely, Alexandros' bloodline may specialize in fighting the blood-sucking sort of beasty, but I think his capabilities would extend to other similarly dark entities. Specifically not the "detecting presence" fashion though - that I think should be reserved for fangs alone.

[Clarisse]

The one thing I don't understand is why Morveya's relative would hire Clarrise if she is trying to gain Morveya's trust for her schemes. I suppose she would need someone unscupulous if she intends to betray Morveya somehow, and it would justify why her relative felt it nessisary to stage a fight.

From my perspective Clarisse would act as an insurance policy, making sure that Morveya got to Marn, and potentially anywhere else, relativity unscathed. Clarisse would essentially be the guy riding shotgun on a stage coach carrying valuables in the old west. Also when protecting said valuables why not higher someone who would make sure that they got to their intended destination no matter the cost, which Clarisse would do seeing as she will do just that providing you pay her. The stage fight would prove just that, seeing as the group wouldn't know it was staged.

So in general, I hope Clarrise is okay with playing antagonisticly. I realize that's a part of your app, but I want to be sure you'll remember you are loyal to The Relative and her coin, not our little band. You might also have to wait a little bit, because we do need to ask what the letter is about. One last concern is this: why is she only showing up now? Some sort of delay? If The Relative wanted to escort her, you'd think she would have met up at a more sensible location than a random point the woods.

Yes its OK i'm fine with playing antagonistically, she might grow fond of the group but they arn't paying her, and well to her at least money>friends. As for showing up late, The relatives insurance policy idea might have been late so she was just on her way towards Shim, hoping that Morveya hadn't already started out yet. Another idea is that she has been there the whole time just watching from the shadows as a sort of silent guardian.

Then again those are my thoughts on the matter.

[Kitan]

Alright. Clarrise, that was nice, but do you have a spell check system of some kind? You have multiple errors in spacing and confusing structure. Please correct these below:

- "Clarisse thought to herself,I better get paid extra"

- "The coin was good for the job at had was relatively good for the simple job she had acquired."

Next of all, she can't have been tailing them the whole day, that is a little silly. We were just talking in chat about how she only could have followed them because Kitan couldn't hear her in the rain, which just started. Dumb luck is not enough to counter the high alert guards either- not with a character without listed tracking or sneaking skills.

There is only one road between Marn and Shim. She could have found them simply by traveling down that road, if that is your concern.

Finally, I'm not entirely certain if you were roleplaying a bloated sense of self-importance, but I rather doubt she has any assassins after her in Marn. She just got here, removing the threat of locals, and no one who hires assassins is going to track down one merc an empire's width away, not without a grudge of such a scale it should be mentioned in the backstory. She has no reputation here.