Gold-plated

[Maeve]

I'm a little worried myself. My motivation has been killed, though not because of what we have so far. But it certainly isn't inspiring me to write. I guess the next thing we need is for Maeve to rest, otherwise she's just going to be grumpy. I am all for jumping ahead to what Benjamin suggested.

Perhaps we should lay some groundwork for how this will play out instead of just "seeing what will happen"?

[Anja]

well the idea so far has been to get Maeve, and Chezak by association, on a quest of some sort in exchange for a weapon. Sandwheel could perhaps accompany them so that I'm still writing with you guys, and Dianelopa as well? The nature of the quest is something that we should figure out hehe. Hmmmm... It could be to fetch a certain type of rock that only exists in certain caverns that are probably full of nasties. Perhaps the rock is needed in order to make what Maeve wants, and the surplus rock is Anja's payment? That would also explain Dianelopa coming along, Anja would want everybody to bring back as much as possible.

Another thought: Rather than have Sandwheel come along, I could NPC some kind of antagonistic force, so it's not all, you know. lame.

[Chezak D'Maroe]

That sounds about what I had thought we would be doing. Everything just slowed down over the holidays, and I don't think we've caught back up yet. (Miss Maeve is doing school stuff, or something, and I'm settling into a new job...)

However, I'm looking to try to post within 3-4 days of the poster who comes before me, whoever that may be, and I think we are waiting on Maeve (? I haven't checked, but I blame her anyways. )

Anyways, Chezak is going to be sticking with Maeve for a little while, if only to solve why he feels things he knows he shouldn't, and yet he's also feeling things that are natural... or something. I'm so confused. (So's Chez.)

Yeah, now I'm just babbling. So...

[Maeve]

I blame her anyways.

(T_T) Meanie.

But what I meant was that we need to lay out the sequence of events, not just the quest. The next thing they are doing is going to an inn or someplace to stay, and taking the time to rest, which we could skip but might make for interesting character interaction, and then when they are good to go, they find out from Benjamin what Anja wants them to do before they get their stuff. A hard-to-get ingredient that would be needed would be a good goal, since Maeve would agree to get it as long as it is useful for hers. Encountering bad guys along the way might make it more interesting, but it could be enough that the ingredient is in not only a hard-to-reach place, but a nest of said "nasty" creatures. I'm not sure if a rock in a cavern is a good idea because there aren't any caverns or even really any mountains anywhere nearby, and I don't want Maeve travelling so far (she probably wouldn't). Perhaps a plant in the forest?

So once that is all laid out, we can move along smoothly, instead of trying to feel out what other players want us to do next. Maeve is pretty headstrong and might run off and do something and mess the plot up unless I point her in the right direction

[Zou]

Well, Maeve will do what she will do, as will the others, I suppose. But I'm guessing she'll want to get her weapon, in the end. Here's an idea: How about we make the item a body part, one that would be hard to collect? Like a drow's head or something? (Not sure if we even have drows in Pal, but something like that anyway.)

[Zou]

*sorry, this is Anja. forgot I was logged in as Zou.*

[Dianelopa]

Finding a plant is reasonably uncontroversial. A drow's head means you probably have to kill someone, possibly causing more conflicts in the group. Of course you could make it even more difficult like having to find and take a body part from someone still alive in the thief band that sent the bandits out to the forest after Benjamin. But that could also make the plot fall apart. I'm not at all experienced with this sort of thing. It's Maeve and Chezak who are kind of getting tired of the story or? What would make it more interesting for you?

[Dianelopa]

well, if we did use the thief band idea, that might be why Dianelopa comes along, because it is suspected she knows someone from the thief band.

[Dianelopa]

we have a new character who would like to join us Yyan and if anyone is tired and wants a break, a pause, or an exit, he can come in and we can continue the story with some adjustments.

[Anja]

Well, the problem with having to harvest a body part from one of the thieves is this: What makes one of the thieves so much more special than any other human being? I think if we pick a weird, uncommon race or beast, and pick a body part, it will work much better. I don't see it being controversial for the group unless we pick a shifter or an elf or a dryad. ...or a badger

And I'm ok with more people, I dunno about the rest of us.

[Yyan]

Dianelopa and I were talking in chat yesterday when the idea came in to have Yyan join the plot. I'm new to the boards and have been looking for a way to get Yyan involved in Marn.

I just finished reading through the plot-threads up until this point, and must confess I'm not really sure where Yyan would fit into things. I'm more than willing to help if folk involved would like the company.

[Maeve]

I'm really not sure where he'd fit in. I don't know the nature of his employment, so I don't know if he'd have business with them. It could always be a casual meeting...or something...

As for the item, a body part is an even better idea. Perhaps one of the bandits is not human--something else. A shifter of some sort would be best, because that way he'd fit in without anyone knowing. Why? Because Maeve lives for fighting, sex, and treasure. There has to be some good fighting for her to be excited. (Or sex, but we're not running that kind of plot here ) So, a classic organ used for spells are hearts. How about the bandit's heart? That would involve Dia also, so it works out.

First, they must rest. Perhaps my next post could be them jumping ahead to the inn? Or wait, I'm too lazy to go look, but what did Ben offer them? His place? Either way.

[Maeve]

Oh, and also, I thought you guys should know. I've had a lot dumped on me (well, not dumped, but it feels like it right now) lately. I'm working on two websites, and perhaps a third in the near future... On top of school. My free time is used to relax, and if I'm stressed then I write terribly anyway. Just thought you should know. Especially if the new charrie joins in, I don't want to involve him in something slow.

[Dianelopa]

maeve could rest a couple rounds while everyone else does what they do and then maeve is rested and joins in again. maybe the couple rounds has to do with finding out what the group has to find (the body part) and how to do it and also getting xeis into the plot. That would get all the pieces in place and then maeve is back for the fighting...

[Qallasque]

well, Maeve really ought to be there for the meeting with Puck, I think. We can't just whiz past her getting all the necessary quest info. But we could skip her until we're done at the bootleg tavern/massage parlor. I'm sure there's nothing vital you'd miss.

*dammit, I'm really sock-puppeting you guys on this one. I'm in chat, so I'm not gonna switch, sorry*