Underdark Pirates

[Kelsfar]

Ok, this is posted to let you guys talk and discuss the ever evolving Underdark campaigns on the sea, feel free to discuss what you will on this topic.

[Kelsfar]

*A Dark mist (Drows natural darkness spell cast by many on the ship) approaches the shore, people stare in concern thinking a nasty storm is approaching as it gets closer a loud series of "Booms" can be heard coming from the direction of the dark approaching cloud, The shore seconds later is bombarded with explosions bursting in fireballs as mysterious whizzing noises are heard followed by engulfing inferno blasts, From the dark mist that is now upon the shore splashes can be heard and from out of the dark mist Drow, Duergar and Deep Gnomes silently charge slaying all that remains alive upon the shore* Arrrggghhhh the Underdark Pirates now plague the swordcoast!!!!!

[Sellular]

Smoke drifts up towards the night sky from the settlement of Beregost. The fires, now mostly contained, illuminated the town in a grim, crimson glory. Only a few buildings remain untouched by the fires or pillaging.

The attack had been swift and ruthless, the temple guards that attempted to repel the drow raiders lay dead or dying on the streets. Adventurers who happened upon the carnage and tried to help defend the town lay nearby, too wounded to rise to their feet and pursue the attackers. The surviving townsfolk rush to put out the fires and try to tend to the wounded.

Oddly the raiders did not take any captives or kill with reckless abandon, striking down only those who resisted and demanding gold and treasure before fleeing the town.

---

Yaaar. Great event Kelsfar. Things began to fall apart once we reached the town but it was still fun. I'm kind of confused what the rules are for dying in an event, are we 'dead', 'knocked out' or what?

I'm also a little wary of skill checks on this event, they're great when the characters are similar level, but when you have some pcs that are level 20 and some that are level 3-5 the lower level ones might as well not be there, there's no way they will be competing with people that roll +45 skill checks. One thing that I've seen work are 'narrative' bonuses, where you get additional bonuses to your skill roles if you can work into the emote a description of why your character would be good at this thing. It encourages more descriptive, detailed emotes rather than just looking at something and rolling dice. Then even a low level character who has an appropriate background or training would be able to contribute in a meaningful way. For instance my character comes from a nation where all the noble born are required to serve for a year on the pirate queen's ships, so she would therefor have some naval/ship experience. But there's no way to really represent that in the character creation or pure dice rolls, there is no Knowledge: Ship skill.

Maybe I'm just looking for some way to be more valuable to the group as a lower level character. When I'm ordered to stand somewhere and shut up, and I can't contribute much to combat as a wizard there is not much I can do besides make snarky comments.

[adzling]

Cel'lith paced the deck of the cursed vessel he and his band of lost souls had taken as their own, cursing softly to himself in Draconic. He found the language's invectives particularly subtle and suitable for his current state of mind. Those damned Ellistrean's had at last shown their colors during the raid on Berghast (or whatever the pathetic kivvil town was called). Cel'lith had seen the body of Grakzt lying out in the open where a kivvil had ended his existence while he had personally cut down the quarrelsome Quavolein himself as she attempted to flee.
Minus that deadwood his little band had returned to the ship mostly intact, the Duergar dragging the corpses of two that were quickly revived with the aid of some resurrection magic. The haul of plunder from the soft kivvil townsfolk had been quite worth the loss of the fodder and the silly dancing-bitch-fools.
Still, he was troubled.
They were still stuck on this enormous blasted lake with no direct course of action that could get them back into the welcome embrace of the Underdark. They would have to work on that next.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Good points Sellular and nice prose.
I tend to agree with you on giving bonuses for good emotes related to a skill check however you shouldnt feel useless. The vast majority of the time last night was RPing and yours was fine.
You are going to run into the issue of your toon being a half-drow and pure-bred illythiri considering you scum for the most part, it has nothing to do with your toons level however.
Look at Xavius, he is a low level but he did fine up in the crow's nest.
Over time you might build some respect for your toon through your RP and actions but at first most drow will react to the color of your skin unfortunately.

[Egg Shen]

Xavius looked around from his perch in the Crow's Nest. After fighting back the panic of being in such immense, open space, he found that he enjoyed the wind in his face and the sway of the boat. The view stretched out endlessly in all directions. It was unsettling and inspiring at the same time.

He knew nothing about sailing, so the nest was an easy job, and one he seemed well suited to. Scrambling up and down the ropes came easily to him, and his keen eyes were put to good use.

Looting helpless kivvil scum also came easily to him, but that was less surprising than his newfound interest in sailing.

----

Soooooo, we're trapped on the surface? Is that it? Shall I refrain from playing Xavius until such a time as this plot line is resolved?

[Kelsfar]

Not necessary, there is an open discussion with one of the crew members on this topic about chars, being stuck (meaning rp wise to the surface) till we draw a line, I would say go about your normal business. Less you guys really want to make this quite the event and have dedicated PC's that are UD/Pirates, I would be happy to commit to this on a weekly basis mayhaps twice a week depending on the dedication level, perhaps rounding up UD PC's that are IC on the ship as UD pirates and can only be played when the ship events go on? Then maybe you guys could develope a Ships name, a thought out crew with members all having jobs and duties to preform as well as having a Cove/hideout/base, rack up enough spoils and perhaps get that ticket back home, A pirate style Bregan D'earthe so to speak, what do you folks think? l

[Egg Shen]

I'll lay off Xavius for a bit. Be best if I could keep him on that storyline without muddying the waters by bringing him back to Sshamath.

And, just to make sure we're all on the same page, after Morcane ran her through, we left Quavae'olin for dead in Beregost, yes? And I'm assuming that final bit of roleplay when Graktz found his way back to the ship is to be disregarded, right? He never actually came back with us is what I'm assuming. He stayed behind while we made good our escape I'm thinking.

[Kelsfar]

Graktz is under confines of the Flaming fist now, pending on tonights event outcome.

[adzling]

I will be out of game for the next two weeks.

I would love to get a once a week group together to play the UD pirate thing with folks getting into their different roles onboard ship etc. It could offer a more coherent, party-centric RP where everyone gets to play their toons more in-depth and get to know each other over time.

I could see a thread where grazkt & or qua end up trying to prove their goodness by leading a band of adventurers on a journey to find the pirate ship and stop the raids.

I could also see a thread where the pirates shanghai some surfacers to make up for their lost crew-members. That could be fun if we got the right people (chaotic neutral or evil types).

The only problem with this is cel'lith will have to get back to Sshamath sooner rather than later as the intro of beta9 will bring the Charnag Maelthra which he has to get going as a guild.

Perhaps there is thread where the pirates eventually find an ancient portal that allows them to move back and forth between the UD and their pirate cove.

[Kelsfar]

Interesting point Adzling....the UD pirates will have to wait and see what next I have in store Feedback is still welcomed guys, keep the posts going

[Virem]

((link to Virem's Journal. first attempt to write some rp. I'll try to write some here as well ))

http://www.bgtscc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1259

[Sellular]

What happened with this? Are we still up for some arrrgh goodness Kelsfar?

[Kelsfar]

Of Coarse I am, but I'm trying to get a somewhat pirate guild going, players dedicated to there UD Race as pirates.

[Kelsfar]

OK, For the Drow pirates I need at most 14 players around the time frame of 6pm-12:00am est. and I will make postings on what nights we gather, for those that would like to be apart of the Drow pirate Campaign, All UD races and levels 3 and up are welcomed to join, once i get a list going then I will post a time for everyone to met (please try and attend) during this time everyone will either roll for positions or get there positions via knowledge, spec rolls, (like spot, wisdom, intellegence etc..) I will break it down so that all levels ranges stated above can play a part of making the sailing of the ship possible and each have there roles to play.
As well there will be a pirate cove/base of operations as well. There will be more to it then this to be added as the crew is set to moderate stone. lastly, those that join this somewhat guild till its fruitful days are no more can play there char normally when this event is not going on, all I ask is that when your UD char is not in this event to pretend it isn't happening till a roleplay plause comes into the event that you can state in Sshamath that your a "Drow Pirate". So sign up folks below and looking forward to moving this campaign further and having loads of fun so put on yer pirate hats you currs and get yer yellow bellies on deck!! ARRRGGGHHH!!!! There is pillaging to be had! (( Any questions and etc.. feel free to post as well))

[Sellular]

Vilrae Ysendre, half-drow pirate wizard signing up. She has prior boating experience, having served on one of her queen's ships for 2 years.