Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

This from January 24, 2024 (it's been months for us, but a short time for Anoras, Cassandra, and Thad):

(Anoras speaking to Thad and Cassandra):

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Its fine by me. Anoras has IQ 16, she has time to think, and input by other players is appropriate.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Hey folks, I won't be posting (or will be slow posting) for about a week due to other obligations. Thank you for your patience!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I'll admit the last post I'm really struggling to make it through and reply

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Understood. I know I'm being long-winded. I'm putting a possibly excessive amount of things together to help move things up. Hopefully that way Thad can get back in active play.

Basically, it comes down to:

*Anoras tells Cassandra what happened with the Venasir, and about Anoras' planned fake escape.

*Anoras is using what she knows of Cassandra to encourage her to walk to Holidor castle while carrying the warning sign.

If there's anything you want me to explain, let me know!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Yes Cassandra is cool with that

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

All right! I look forward to seeing what Cassandra says and does in Warriors of Haunden (IC)!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

That part is what I'm struggling with

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I admit I crammed a whole lot, quite possibly too much, into one post.

If it works better for you, I'd be fine if you split things up.

Like perhaps Anoras says 1), then Cassandra responds. Or if it works better for you, Anoras says 1) and 2), then Cassandra responds. Etc.

Whatever works best for you!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Its been pointed out to me that due to the 20 HP breakpoint, Cassandra's healed amounts were supposed to be twice what I said.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Excellent about Cassandra getting more healing!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Rainy Day, Do you have any thoughts about building a new character at this point. Maybe a Venasir warrior who happens to be able to speak a little Haunden?

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

If both the GM and RainyDayNinja want Thad to continue to be active in the game, there may be a possible solution. I'll PM ericthered.

EDIT: Sent ericthered an email.

EDIT: Ends up my proposed solution won't work. So as Nirvana, Dennis Lloyd, and Saturday Night Live's Emily Litella might say, "nevermind."

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Still waiting for even an indecisive answer.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

No more. Sadly. If Rainy Day wants to come back, he remains welcome

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Poor Thad RIP

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

From the post made today in Warriors of Hauden (IC):

I realize Anoras isn't there, but I'm confused here. And apparently I was confused before I even designed Anoras.

It's been over a year and a half since the below, the Warriors of Haunden introduction, was posted here on 10-18-2022. And I admit my brain may have been making assumptions. But I'm not understanding how this fits:

I was thinking this was all in the past. Depending upon the admittedly real-life source, people in an iron age community who were in battle two generations ago would likely be dead by now. We don't know for certain, but in real life I've seen the estimated lifespan range at about 20 - 35 years. And presumably warriors in battle would have been "adults" by the standards of that time, i.e., have both learned and have developed muscles for battle. That could be about age 13 or older depending upon the culture.

And presumably the leaders would be significantly older. For example, by the Bible, both Jesus of Nazareth and John the Baptist started their ministries/leadership positions at about age 30 during the mid Iron Age. There's some belief that was because one wasn't considered to be old enough to be such a leader until age 30.

I admit my mind was putting those Biblical, historical, ages to Haunden which is of course a fantasy world. So in my mind, the Venasir leaders who attacked Holidor two generations ago were dead. But after seeing the post above about the sorceror ShadowMask, I realized I might have missed a reference that ShadowMask was still alive.

So I just did a search for ShadowMask in both the Warriors of Haunden and the Warriors of Haunden (IC) thread. I thought maybe I had missed it, or forgotten it after about a year and a half. But I didn't find a single mention of ShadowMask until today.

Had I understood that ShadowMask, "the monster who killed half your tribe," was still alive and living in Holidor, I very likely would have had Anoras do something very different. And even designed the character differently.

My thinking since before the adventure even started was that the Venasir-Haunden battle was in the dead past. That's why I gave Anoras the Quirk "Longs for the Old Days (pre-Venasir attack)." Had I known that the sorceror who killed half our tribe was still alive, I never would have given Anoras that Quirk. Based on ShadowMask still being alive, that Quirk would effectively mean Anoras wanted the attack to happen all over again. Which is not what I intended.

So at this point, I'm not sure how to play Anoras.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

"Two generations Ago" to me means that the children of that time are now grandparents of children that age. So the event is in living memory, but just barely. At least, that's the intent. Which means that Shadowmask is NOT the scorceror who drove the tribe off the land. That's my bad. He IS the local scorceror and you (the entire tribe but especially someone with hiden lore (magic)) are acutely aware of who he is, and thus his capabilities. The name is new, admittedly, but I've had his capabilities in my notes from day one.

So Shadowmask is not the monster who drove you out, he's the monster who keeps you out. My Bad.

Does that make more sense? I made a timing error.

As a note on the average age of Low TL people, an average age of 30 for death doesn't mean that everyone over 30 starts dropping like flies, it indicates a fairly constant mortality through every state of a 70-year lifespan. If you look at family trees in history, you'll see both terrible mortality among the young and plenty of people who live to be old and grey.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Understood. I admit that's what I had in mind before my mind started feeling confused. So my calling it the "dead past" was a goof on my part.

Thanks for that! That solves my conundrum.

Understood.

Although in Anoras' case she has Code of Honor (Professional) as a healer, and has Longs for the Old Days (pre-Venasir attack), and is Broad-Minded. So she doesn't think of patients, or people in general, as "monsters." Monsters are what her friend and patient Thad was turned into because Anoras failed to save his life. That's why Anoras lost it and started yelling. (And I know I wasn't required to make a roll to avoid her doing that. But to me, it felt right for the character.)

Agreed.

Thanks again for your explanations!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Heads up: I will be slow or absent next week, as well as at the end of the week after that.



Then posting will pick up again

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I hope things go well for you, and thanks for the heads up.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I will be slow or absent in posting until next Wednesday (that is, the 24th). This should be the last slow spot until late fall. See you then, and have fun!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Thanks for letting us know. I hope things go well for you!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

The thread is still here.

Magic is NPC only, and it's actually magic as advantages.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I see this thread now, but earlier I didn't. Maybe it's my settings or something. Maybe it's not showing threads that haven't been updated recently. I've had settings on things change before, perhaps because of compatibility issues with different changing programs. Or perhaps because I accidentally clicked on something.

Understood on the magic. I think I remember something about the NPC only thing, which is why I planned to look through this thread. But then I couldn't find it. But now I can. So thanks!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

No, Thad is the only giant skeleton. "Giant Skeleton refers to Thad".... and now I see what you mean. I forgot to take thad out of the battle line. These Skeletons CAN be in two places at once, or at least parts of them, but all of thad's bones should be back by fireball. I've fixed it.



for the others:
I've had a quantum skeleton come into existence during the charge. He's popped out again. That leaves us at 6.
Then two skeletons (one is Thad) are too injured to participate in the charge. So that leaves four skeletons, none of which are thad or injured, charging


Hopefully that clears things up. Sorry.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Sort of... I can say with confidence without that sign the Sorcerers would be happily on their way with a bunch of prisoners. Now they're in a fight.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Excellent! Thanks for letting me know.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Correct, Anoras has leather armor on

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Thanks for letting me know!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

This isn't "official" yet. I'm posting this here so I don't forget the idea. (I'm currently dealing with some "not thinking as well as usual" issues.)

When the rebel Venasir turn to look to see who's running behind them, Anoras may yell this: "Which one of you killed the sorcerer Stripes?" while holding up Stripes's mask.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Remember, Anoras is closest to the Holidor, not the Sorcerers.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Oh. I must have missed that part. I thought I was behind the rebels. Thanks for telling me!

My post from September 25:

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

From September 26...



At any rate, she is now in shouting distance: does she have anything to shout?

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I believe I understand now what was intended.

At the time, my thought was Anoras with her Hidden Lore (Sorcery) would know Sorcerers could see things others might miss. After all, at least one had used a bird to see what was going on, including watching Anoras. (And I think I heard other Sorcerers used birds/animals to see as well.) And I thought that it would be hard for Holidor's troops to see her because she was far away, was running through trees, and was behind the rebel Venasir troops. Those would make it hard for Holidor's troops to see Anoras.

And by "behind it," as she planned to join the rebel Venasir, I thought she was behind the battleline. That is, the rebel Venasir battleline.

Honestly, I likely would have done something different had I understood where Anoras was in relationship to the battle. Anoras might have approached from the side, not from behind. Both sides might have seen and recognized her. And both sides might have thought of her as their ally.

If you want to keep that Anoras went behind the Holidor troops, I'm going to have to rethink this.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Direction of approach does not indicate allied status, do keep that in mind.

If she was approaching from the side she would have arrived later, I think.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I actually do understand that. Why I was thinking both sides would see her as an ally was because:

1) Holidor knew someone called Healer Anoras was coming--and Cassandra would recognize her

2) The Venasir rebels would recognize her as someone who healed their wounded

I can certainly see that could be possible, depending upon everyone's relative positions. It's just that, in a battle situation, Anoras would want to avoid sneaking up behind the people she would be fighting with. She wanted to distract the enemy.

It's the GM's decision of course. But my first choice would be Anoras would come from the side, meaning she would get there a bit later.

Others would be coming from the side and moving to come behind the Venasir rebels, or

Coming from behind the people of Holidor.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Its your choice. You may approach from the side with an additional 40 yards of distance.

I will remind you of what happened last time you decided to take the long way around a fight, and point out this slows down your participation by another 8 seconds. But make your choice.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Well, 8 seconds in a "let's meet in person or online and play for three hours" could mean waiting for a few minutes. Here in Play By Post, that could mean waiting a couple weeks.

Would it be possible for the Haunden to have a whistle/some other sound they use to greet each other, especially one that wouldn't seem significant to others? As Cassandra and Anoras are both Haunden warriors, maybe Anoras could do something like that. After all, Holidor is already expecting Anoras (and Thad) to show up.

That way Anoras could arrive quickly from behind Cassandra and the Holidor warrors and still not distract them. IF possible, that's what Anoras will do.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

You have tactics, she has soldier... so yes, you can have a Haunden Whistle to indicate alligence subtly.


So your action for this turn is just to make that signal and move forward?

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Thanks! Yeah, Anoras can do that.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I think you overstate. 8 rounds with 20+ combatants takes a while even in a real-time environment like that. Though having most of them be GM helps a lot.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Sorry if I didn't make my meaning clear in "could mean waiting for a few minutes." I meant it's possible for 8 seconds game time to take a few minutes real time. It can depend on the events, how many PCs/NPCs are involved, what's happening, how rolls are made, etc.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Hmmmm, I'm torn, could start chasing Fireballs and friends, or let them escape and help mop up skeletons

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Up to you, of course. I posted to see how close the other Haunden are. Personally, I think if us Haunden take down all three rebel sorcerers? Things for Haunden can get much, much better.

Anoras took down Stripes. Cassandra took down Wings. Together....

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I hope this map helps.



But the short answer is that they are running generally away.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Appreciate the map. But yeah, knowing what Cassandra's doing, Anoras will stick with Cassandra.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Thanks. To clarify. Anoras is not doing this because I think it's the "smart thing" to do. (Frankly, I have my doubts.) It's because of:

Stubbornness: ("I said we need to kill the evil rebel sorcerers so let's kill them all!")
Broad-Minded: ("Those Venasir, including Busan, could be good people who are just deceived--by evil sorcerers!")
Imaginative: ("Imagine what it would be like if the evil sorcerers were dead!")
Likes Investigating Nature and Mysteries: ("Greatest mystery is the sorcerers' magic which seems to violate the laws of nature!")
Longs for the Old Days (pre-Venasir attack): ("We kill the sorcerers to stop their attacks, then Haunden and Holidor can live in peace like in the old days!")

Not looking forward to those rolls. But hey, it was our decision, and we'll hopefully live with it. (And hope Anoras and Cassandra don't die with it....)

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Oh, from a "Haunden" point of view its the thing to do. No way those Venasir are going to the right thing with the sorcerers, and its not really important to you if any specific ones live or die, even if you have a small amount of sentimentality about it.

As for if fireballs can kill you or not... that's going to be an interesting question. Even if he does, I think you can rest knowing you saved your people and drove off their enemies.

But what kind of ending we get does interest me: do you die? does fireball escape? do you live and get thanked by Holidor?


EDIT: Also, I'd love to get to turn 60.... I don't know if that will happen though.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

It's wondering how an adventure's going to end that's a big part of the fun!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Looks like it may be going down in a blaze of glory, or at least a blaze

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Shadowmask is the sorcerer over Holidor. (Just putting that here so I don't forget the name of the sorcerer - sorceror .)

(Reminder Gerrund will likely recognize maskless Fireball--remember to ask in regard to burial).

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

And we're to the last stage: consequences and negotiations with the Holidor.

Its been almost 12 months since we started, and this game has not gone the way anybody expected...

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Maybe we didn't expect it, but Bribeam did!

"Bribeam is one of the deities in Haunden mythology. Bribeam has been recognized as a god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases, the Sun and light, poetry, and more."

(OK, so maybe I ripped that off from Wikipedia's article on Apollo.)

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

"Thad in a Sack" sounds like the name of a song!

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Busan was captured by the Holidor allies, not the Haunden.

There are three groups of prisoners:


1) the prisoners escorted by Gurrund and Anoras to the battle site. These are very clearly belonging to the Haunden, if they want them. I thought Anoras wanted to turn them over to the Holidor though. This group was captured in the wake of Stripe's death.
2) The archers that were captured by Anoras after Cassandra and Her beat fireballs
3) The warriors who stopped fighting after wings was killed. Cassandra and Anoras then ran off, and those warriors, who include Busan,where captured by the Holidor.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Thanks for the info. I changed my post to fit this.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Here's the Thad, Thad song:

Thad in a sack
Thad in a sack
Thad in a sack from a fatal whack
Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh

--Inspired by Kalzazz's post and sung to the tune of the Ramones' "Beat on the Brat"

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I at this point am not sure will be anything left for Cassandra to do this adventure and it may be all Anoras ftom here out

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

The adventure is very close to done. I think at this point its the fate of the prisoners and then we roll the epilogue.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I thought of that too, and don't want to leave Cassandra out. So I'm bypassing the long-term ideas I had earlier to move to something quick. (And Cassandra now has something to do!)

Understood. I'll move Anoras' Code of Honor/Stubbornness to getting all the Haunden and our prisoners out of here! (While leaving ShadowMask and others to wonder....)

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I honestly knew nothing about this until a few minutes ago (saw it in my news feed). Bird flu infecting humans is not just something Anoras made up. It's real.

"At least 18 people were infected, six of whom died."

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/b...explained.html

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

That's Bird Flu, not bird pox.



The flu is a crazy complex of viruses that have a bunch of different animal and human reservoirs, and it jumps between species regularly. Dangerous variants cross between species every few years, and it often makes the news. Its actually one of the reasons Covid had that weird limbo stage in 2019, because we'd had a few decades where every few years a new Bird Flu or Swine Flu or SARS (which is not a flu) would make the news, and then people would mostly ignore it.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) has been particularly active for a few years now, devastating chicken-houses and causing egg shortages (and accompanying price increases). Its quite economically destructive, even without crossing to humans.

Cross-species infections are an interesting area of study though. It happens, and a lot of our new diseases come from that.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

I do see your point. Bird flu and bird pox are clinically diagnosed as different things in our TL8/TL9 world.

But as you might recall, you approved my making up the word "birdpaux" as a name for a disease in the Warriors of Haunden TL2 world. I thought the timing as Anoras just brought it up again was an interesting coincidence.

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Things having to do with Warriors of Haunden are referenced in my comment here:

https://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=201310

Re: Warriors of Haunden
 

Breaking News! Just saw this headline:

"Holidor to begin bulk milk testing to find birdpaux amid dairy herd outbreaks".

OK, so maybe I changed a word or two.