Family Ties

[Morveya Aris]

Er, folks...if anyone is waiting on me to unleash the thug attack...let me know. AFAIK, Alex & Kitan will still both post before my next.

No rush. I'm just getting back into the swing of things, after all the X-mas and New Years hoopla.

[Kitan]

I've been waiting for Alex to post, though I've considered asking to post now considering Alex is probably still busy with the holidays and Morveya just directly asked Kitan to do something. Plus, Kitan will hear them coming. These guys are basically walking right up to us, so even with the rain his ears should perk up first.

If that would be more convenient for everybody, speak up. Especially Alex, seeing as he's the one who would be switching places in the order with me or getting skipped, depending on what we eventually decide on here.

[Clarisse]

I would say yes to keep things flowing, or I could edit my post to leave it less open if that would make things easier.

[Morveya Aris]

In another game Alex and I are in, he just posted yesterday. First I believe since the holidays. And it was a lavish and long one. I'm willing to guess he lacked time to get over here, as well.

Having worked with him close to a year & a half now, I believe I can say with some confidence, he won't have a problem if you post, Kitan. As long as we're not by-passing him in a rude way, or cutting his character out. Which we absolutely won't.

I think you're reasoning is apt, too. Kitan does have the ears, and Alex is likely some distracted by pain.

[Alexandros]

I absolutely didn't mind Kitan. I'm just sorry you had to wait - the holidays had me in their grasp, as you'd guessed. Went back up North for a few weeks, then came back home to start work again. There just wasn't enough of me to go around.

I'm back now though! Ready to get into the swing of things again.

And welcome to 2013 everyone! Hope your holidays were jolly.

[Kitan]

Welcome back Alex! A most well-written return, if I do say so myself.

Okay, back to buisness. For the upcoming fight scene, Let's try and make sure we don't paint outselves as superhuman badasses. They might be thugs, and probably chosen for their sub par performance, but they still have to be reasonably competent with a blade. Our characters are going to get stabbed, punched, and hilt-bashed and we're not going to effortlessly slaughter them all without taking a few hits in turn.

...well, more of our characters are going to get stabbed. Preexisiting stabs don't count to the quota, Alex. :-P

I'm assuming there will be about four thugs? With Alex down, I can't see Lurus and Clarrise killing many more. Also keep in mind that Clarrise needs to kill them before they can scream something like "YOU TRAITOR!" at her. The relative wasn't expecting any guards, but she also wasn't expecting this much chaos for the bandits to take advantage of, so I think four is a reasonable number.

...I hope I'm not being to overbearing about my pet peeve that thugs are too often just thugs (and ones who can't even fight well!) and nothing more. These people have lived lives too, after all. They aren't mindless zombie mooks. If I am, then just ignore everything I've said here.

Kitan could use his illusions to help, but I doubt he has it in him to intentionally hurt a sentient non-monster yet, and he's never seen human violence before now. He'll probably spend the battle panicing, so don't expect backup there. Still, might be fun to have him panic a little more instinctively/violently and get "lucky..." We'll see if it flows in well.

Finally, I could use some clarification. Have the thugs been told to do nothing more than hassle and goad Morveya, have they been told to kidnap or rob her; basically, what do they think they are here to do?

[Morveya Aris]

Hassle and goad, ultimately abduct.

Revealing Clarrise as a traitor is a really good point. Wasn't thinking of that at all. It might have been better to have them fully unaware of her. But, too late for that now.

I suppose one option would be to have her take them down assassin style, without much revealing herself.

In particular ( and I told Clarisse about this in PM, but not you two) there is one hanging back -- to go after Morveya at an opportune moment. Clarisse has been instructed to watch for this in particular -- as this is her chance to really win some favor with my character, by stopping that.

I would say not more than four is fine -- though, not sure if that should count the one waiting in ambush, or no-?

No worries on recognizing our limitations. Morveya's limited capability as a fighter is noted in her bio. Of course, they've been instructed not to actually hurt her, beyond ruffing her up some. Though her horse was the only who did not bolt when Kitan went ape -- I am tempted to say this will be too much for poor Alstris, and send her running. Along with, significantly -- Morveya's quarter staff -- which is currently strapped to Alstris.

While Morveya has had a little guidance in how to use a knife --- her stronger limitations with that weapon are also noted in her bio. Which means she'll be little help during the fight. Neither application of her magic will be relevant at all, here.

[Kitan]

See, this is kind of my point. We've already accidentaly assumed two very strange things about the thugs just because it's how they are always portrayed in fiction- first that they would not scream "traitor," and second that the last guy is completely idiotic. Had he any self preservation instinct whatsoever, he would start running the instant all three of his allies are dead.

Mindless, incompetent killbots.

Right, I'll stop ranting now.

Realisticly, Clarrise will need to kill that hidden one first. If Lurus arrives at an oppritune moment and Clarrise maintains a good element of surprise, this will go well enough that Clarrise can stay unrevealed.

EDIT: Ooooooh, I just had an idea. What if we let the last/hidden one run? A little subtlety which went wrong with the relative's plan? I doubt he'd show up again, but if we need him to... Well, he'd be another option on the table. We just have to catch a glimpse of him while he's running and Lurus has to miss the shot, if he takes it at all.

[Clarisse]

See, this is kind of my point. We've already accidentaly assumed two very strange things about the thugs just because it's how they are always portrayed in fiction- first that they would not scream "traitor," and second that the last guy is completely idiotic. Had he any self preservation instinct whatsoever, he would start running the instant all three of his allies are dead.

Not necessarily, The kidnaper thug could use the distraction of combat to attempt to grab Morveya and make a break for it, there are currently some unused horses that he could attempt to use to bolt. Also I don't see why the exposing Clarisse would be an ultimately bad thing for her, she was planning on having all of the thugs disposed of someway or another.

One scenario I can see is that the main group of thugs approach distracting the group from the other thug sneaking up to grab Morveya. A fight would break out/already have been started so Alex would most likely try to defend Morveya and Kitan even though hes pretty beat up. Seizing the moment of opportunity the Hidden Thug could make a break for it to try and grab Morveya, leaving the rest of the goons to deal with the wounded guard and the shifter boy (which for them would most likely be viewed as an easy task).

After grabbing Morveya and making a break for it the formerly hidden thug could be in turn ambushed by Clarisse, which would cause the whole traitor thing to happen causing some drawing her into combat with the rest of the thugs.

During any of this Lurus could make an opportunistic appearance to help swing the tide of battle.

Granted I took some liberties with this idea, so if I overstepped any boundaries or what not feel free to inform me. Also if asked after the battle what the whole traitor thing was about, she could just make up some story explaining why, she is a bit of a lair after all, as well as a sailor so shes told tall tails before.

[Morveya Aris]

Had he any self preservation instinct whatsoever, he would start running the instant all three of his allies are dead.


Well, that part was your interpretation -- I said he was supposed to wait, not wait until everyone else was dead. That would be dumb.

My thinking was waiting until the other three had engaged, and then going for Morveya. Along the lines of what Clarisse is talking about. While the group's focus is on those they already see, and the last guy yet has reason to think victory is probable.

I didn't originally expect Clarisse to be leading them, but rather that they knew nothing of her at all. However, I never communicated that to her, (amongst other things) and so she went with what I'm sure seemed likely from her stance.

I think we're better to steer clear of her being called 'traitor' --raises just too many questions and valid suspicions. I would prefer that, say, she bushwacks one from stealth -- maybe with a hurled dagger, and then slays the concealed before he has time to speak. Or maybe just utters "YOU!" or the like. Which would be far easier to explain away. Facing imminent and surprising death, the thug's very first impulse may not be to scream "TRAITOR!" And, after, he gets no further opportunity.

I think the other viable option is to retcon this, and just say that Clarisse was watching, but that they know nothing of her at all.

[Clarisse]

So in order to make things simpler I edited my post making the thugs their own entity, Clarisse is now just watching them and then will attack them after they attack the group. So no more yelling traitor fiasco, also they kept the same plan now just minus one cannibalistic mercenary.

[Morveya Aris]

Thank you Clarisse! I think that will be simplest, and make most sense.

Originally one reason I wanted to use a creature -- specifically a quasi-real, conjured sort of entity -- is because of the degree of control the summoner might have had. It would have made a set up easier, in terms of the relative (or more likely a contracted mage) being able to direct the show. At least somewhat. Compared to our freewilled (and not entirely brain-dead ) thugs.

I apologize for not communicating better through all of this. This is neither like writing fiction solo, nor a GM led adventure. I'll be sure to bear that more in mind as we go forth.

And -- wow -- we blab a lot! Our OOC thread is now over 100 posts! I like to think it's productive and creative blabbing. Perhaps not always productive, but creative at least.

[Kitan]

Indeed. Most handy, that edit.

No need to apologize, Morveya! There is an odd bundle of difficulties writing like this. I'm new to roleplaying by post at all, so it's not like the rest of us have a much better handle on the situation. If anything, I should be the one apologizing for making this whole fight scene needlessly complicated. Still, for a runaway train we're moving along rather smoothly.

I like to think our constant chatter is the reason this is working out so well. Keeps everyone on the same page and helps us write like the others expect.
Speaking of which, if we've started Clarrise in the post cycle it's her turn now. Would you like to start posting in the current order or should I be posting right now?

[Clarisse]

I Would say go ahead and post Kitan, Clarisse can't really do anything until the fight breaks out.

On the other hand I could take over for the thugs, but in all honesty I believe that could get a bit more complicated seeing as how everyone will interact with them leading to somewhat of a posting fiasco.

[Kitan]

You got it! One post done and ready. Alex, you're up on the opening move of the conflict.

In case anyone is wondering, the bandit was chuckling nervously because like Lurus, he sees the ears and thinks "oh crap magic."

I hope it was okay that they didn't just charge in and start swinging, as might have been more practical of them. I tried to establish the main bandit as someone who had a tiny little smattering of honor left in him and probably was not a cannibal. Figure that might help out Alex later, since it means he's still got an investigation.