Play@YSDC

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2015 8:35 am**

For all things OOC: Rolls, rules, and discussion on the story.

Please chip in if you have ideas for what might happen to, challenge, or spice up, your PC!

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2015 10:17 am**

Munshi Singh (perusing Burton's latest offering).

Punjabi 75%, English 40%, Ride 30%, Tulwar (curved sabre) 75%, Rifle 40%, Track 40%, Listen 40%, Animal Handling 40%

Munshi is a big, strong fellow: HP 16.

Captain Richard Burton

French 30%, Punjabi 30%, Arabic 30%, Ride 40%, Pistol 50%, Knife 50%, Spot Hidden 50%, Anthropology 50%, Library Use 35%

HP 12

"I can pick up languages quickly, very quickly," he drawls, confident without a trace of arrogance. "Give me a week with an intelligent native, and I'll have a smattering of the mumbo jumbo."

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2015 12:33 pm**

Baxter Thomas Alexander.
Fancies himself as a bit of an author, but if he had any talent it’s long been drowned in gin. Went to Africa many years ago as a clerk in a trading company. Soon found that he liked Africa, but wasn’t keen on working. However he quickly found that he had a way with the natives, they tended to trust him even as he was robbing them blind.
He tended to move around the various African countries, usually out of necessity. Eventually he had wound up in Belgian Congo, working for the Belgian authorities in the trade department. This suited him well as the Belgian officials tended to look the other way over his shady dealings. It was not until there was some dispute over the disappearance of an expensive diamond, which had been earmarked by one of the high up officials, that he felt it would be wise to leave. Now he is back in London, ostensibly working on a book, but better described as working his way through the city’s gin supplies.
During his African years he picked up a smattering of various local tribal dialects, which when added to his command of Swahili, Arabic, French and Dutch and his knowledge of the continents interior tends to make his over fondness of the bottle and somewhat rough social niceties a little more acceptable.
He has contacts in various places in Africa, most of them as disreputable as himself. He has heard of Burton of course considering him, as many do, as little more than a pornographer plundering the various cultures of the world for erotic tit-bits to shock and delight much of society. In this he has no problem of course being only too happy to help plunder cultures also.

(Will flesh out the characteristics soon)

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2015 2:33 pm**

Cool.

Once you are ready, I guess post your characters in the PC thread. There seems to be a usual format here? What's the position of the board?

Crunch wise - Choose your own attributes (keep it sensible and interesting etc etc). Occupation and General Interest Skills as usual although I go by the principle of play what you want to play so feel free to make some custom occupations.

NPC wise we have Singh. I am going to suggest two other NPCs to flesh out the expedition to six:

Doctor Henry Wessex, a Welsh Doctor familiar with African Tropical Diseases and a side interest in botany. He is a heavy gambler with lots of debts who charges a lot of money, and (although kind hearted) is always desperate for more. Doctor Wessex is known to be very good at his job, despite his anxiety.

Kristina Von Kluge. A young German woman of adventurous spirit and devout religious belief. Ms Meadows has helped fund the expedition and is a personal friend of Sir Winston - Smythe. She is a "tom boy" in an age that does not tolerate such. She hopes to spread the word of the Lord, and that the poor Souls of Africa need saving. Whilst most consider her luggage and ill fortune on the expedition, she is known for her rugged endurance and rude health.

Comments welcome. As I have said, the NPCs are not there as main characters, but too fill out a few skill gaps and to help generate some conflict for the group.

If anybody has any ideas about the relationships between the six expedition members (to generate conflict and story) please sing out.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2015 10:02 pm**

ps: Baxter. I had a picture of him acting as the expeditions Photographer, and specialising in topless tribeswomen - for purely scientific purposes of course! (Would this work with the Captain and others and mean their is an issue around Victorian Morality?)

Posted: **Sun Jun 21, 2015 1:56 pm**

I forgot to mention: Normal EDU x 20 Occupation skills and INT x 10 Skills.

Does that add up for Burton and Singh? (And with regards SIngh do you want to flesh out his attributes?)

Posted: **Sun Jun 21, 2015 3:38 pm**

Supercape wrote:ps: Baxter. I had a picture of him acting as the expeditions Photographer, and specialising in topless tribeswomen - for purely scientific purposes of course! (Would this work with the Captain and others and mean their is an issue around Victorian Morality?)

Oh I'm sure that Baxter has worked with a camera at some stage in his colourful past, and that taking risque photographs of native beauties would be most acceptable.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2015 9:41 am**

Supercape wrote:I forgot to mention: Normal EDU x 20 Occupation skills and INT x 10 Skills.

Does that add up for Burton and Singh? (And with regards SIngh do you want to flesh out his attributes?)

No idea for Burton! I'll do some maths. Singh--not really.

But I can do, show me what you've got for Kristina and the Doctor.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2015 11:53 am**

Cool. Doctor wessex up. Kind if need a doctor. Kristina still debatable.

I'll flesh out Singh based on your notes.

One point is that the expedition will need at least one chap with a spiffy navigation skill!

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2015 1:03 pm**

The Doctor "sweats when anxious"--oh dear, his laundry will suffer in Africa!

I've changed Burton's Swim skill to Navigation.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2015 5:42 pm**

Well I hope the nature of turning from spiffy keen Englishmen into bedraggled, dirty, insane explorers can be part of the narrative!

I have decided to keep it to Singh, Wessex and the PCs. The focus should be on PCs after all. If anyone wants an NPC added, we can go with one more.

I have fleshed out Singh, I hope this is ok for you.

Im good with Burton as your PC, although I would suggest that the Disgiuse skill might be largely irrelevant here - not completely so, but the practicalities of disguise in a jungle with few tools of the trade might come up. You may wish to look at getting Swimming back (or whatever takes your fancy for a heroic explorer such as Jump, Animal Handling, Track, or Natural History).

Only other suggestion is I would give him a "nice" Fighting Knife like the classic Bowie Knife? (as he has skills in Knives and it is cool...)

Just waiting for Carstairs and Burton in PC thread and then we can kick off!

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2015 8:37 pm**

Kristina may have been fun to have along . . . but it's your shout of course.

Singh is just right; I like the poetry--nice touch.

I'll go with your suggestions re. Burton. With Disguise I thought he could pass as a native; but he's a white man, doh!

I'm sure Mr. Handy and Priest will post their characters soon.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2015 9:07 pm**

Cool. Look forward to it!

Re: Burton. Technically I make it (give or take the 1% skills) you have another 35% to spend (if you are feeling really technical 39%). No need to spend it of course. If you are inclined to do so, please feel free (I would guess, if not boosting the current skills like Navigate, perhaps: Jump, Animal Handling, Track, or maybe even a little bit of Art [Painting] Skills?)

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2015 5:21 am**

I'm sorry, I haven't had much time or much sleep lately. I won't be able to create my character tonight or tomorrow night, but I'll get it done as soon as I can.

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2015 9:49 am**

Painting skill would be appropriate for Burton, but Jump skill could be cool in conjunction with Climb--swinging on vines à la Tarzan! no? I know, I'll scrap Library Use, and have 35% in both Painting and Jump.

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:47 pm**

MrHandy> No worries, best contemplated with a rested head, I think!

Tabs>Burton looking cool. I make him still having another 5% skills to spend but no need to!

Priest>Hope you are still in on this!

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:59 pm**

Baxter is posted. I hope he's right?

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2015 1:37 pm**

He is cool! Love him.

A few thoughts / observations:

1. His attributes are a little low, which is no problem at all. I would wonder whether he deserves slightly higher CON (as a drifter), INT (As an cunning survivor), or APP (as a talker), but its your call of course. I kind of like him being a bit down trodden!

2. Skills wise I come up as 30% overspent, easily remedied by a point or two extra EDU or INT. In terms of skills I would have wondered if he has a few points in Fast talk or Bargain seeing he is a bit of a con-artist, but again, your shout.

3. Occupation seems to best fit something like "Photographer" or "Drifter" but this is purely descriptive.

4. In Background you have him able to speak Arabic and Dutch. I guess add those skills in or amend?

5. Personal Effects, I would guess "Camera" and "Collection of grainy photographs depicting tribeswomen in traditional undress for purposes purely of scientific and historical nature" or something like that might fit?

Love the headbut skill - perfect!

PS: I should add I am not totally concerned about EDU and INT and skill levels; first principle is play what you want for me!

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:23 pm**

I'll add 5% to Jump.

Priest, I like the description of Baxter "You might like him, but . . ."

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2015 4:53 pm**

Tabs wrote:I'll add 5% to Jump.

Priest, I like the description of Baxter "You might like him, but . . ."

Why thank you my good sir

Supercape:
Whoops my bad math I guess. I forgot to add 2 points to INT for my age, that will give me an extra 40 skill point. 30 I will put to make the overspend right and the other 10% I will add to Fast Talk. I will also add the camera, a tripod, and a small collection of artistic photographs to my personal effects. Hopefully film will be supplied by our employer

Posted: **Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:13 am**

Aging increases your EDU, not your INT. We don't get smarter as we get older, we just know more stuff.

Posted: **Wed Jun 24, 2015 7:14 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:Aging increases your EDU, not your INT. We don't get smarter as we get older, we just know more stuff.

Double whoops!!! Thanks Mr H I'll sort it

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2015 12:21 pm**

Ok we look good to start! 3 PCs, 2 NPCs.

I shall set this off!

A couple of notes:

My personal preference is for all OOC discussion to happen here, so that the IC threads look like a novel. No need to do that, but it helps me feel like a novelist

I'm setting up an extra thread for documents, books, etc. Feel free to add to this if you want to use those journals and sketchbooks, posting exerts from your diary or so on. Obviously becoming more deranged as times go on. I'm going to keep various letters and documents with a spoiler effect, as not everybody can read them.

Please also make any suggestions about direction of the thread, and things you would like to happen, I will do my best!

Onward!

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2015 12:56 pm**

To set off, a dinner. Bring your best bow tie and sweat in the heat.

I am going to suggest that at present, Mr Singh, Captain Burton, Mr Castairs, and Dr Wessex are the core of the expedition. Mr Sidhom is their contact in Cairo.

Mr Sidhom is going to recommend Baxter as an addition; whilst he is a gin swilling rapscallion, Baxter also has a reputation of getting things done and knowing Africa extremely well. In fact, Mr Sidhom has invited Baxter to the meal (at his expense), and given him an ill fitting dinner Jacket and Tie.

Let the introductions commence. Any suggestions, let me know. Aside from getting to know everyone, the conversation may turn towards practicalities of the mission, and the rumours alluded to in Sir Winston Smythes letter to Captain Burton. Please feel free to have narrative licence for the thread as you wish.

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:03 pm**

Yeah, I'll do it--post ooc stuff here, ic stuff over there. I like to pretend I'm a novelist, too!

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2015 5:21 am**

What I do in my games is use the Spoiler-Button tag for all OOC stuff in the IC thread. It conceals the OOC information, but it's right there if you want to see it.

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2015 8:32 am**

Got you

I have no objection to doing that. My personal preference in PbM games is to keep everything that is not directly IC in OOC (portraits, spoilers, etc). Simply because I like the IC thread to look as much like an uninterrupted, uncluttered narrative as possible. My inclination is that doing this makes it easier to read for everyone (including people not in the thread); and for me it has the subtle effect of making it feel more like a story game.

That said, my overarching principle that overrides that is just do it. i.e. whatever you fancy!

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2015 9:05 am**

"Take a look at the missive, and tell me what you all think."

It is in the Letters, Books, Notes etc. topic under a Spoiler button.

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2015 9:07 am**

Sorry for the slight railroading / scene hurrinying here! All the logistics are however now sorted.

For reference the basic plan for expedition is to sail down the Nile (hire a boat and captain of your choice) and then trek the rest. At point of leaving the Nile and going on foot, you will have to start rationing your equipment and provisions (although I hope we wont get too technical with that).

For now, as Captain Burton has shared Winston Smythes letter, do feel free to look at it in the appropriate thread.

Posted: **Sat Jun 27, 2015 3:51 am**

I do understand and appreciate wanting to keep the non-story parts out of the story, but I do like to keep the portraits. It lets everyone know which character is speaking/acting.

Posted: **Sat Jun 27, 2015 4:37 am**

The Sidhom Fragments book is also up in the "Books, Letters, Etc" thread. Feel free to check it out; if you want to play with the mystery, check out the spoiler section with an Arabic Language Roll!

The book is short so can be skimmed very quickly (this evening). It can be fully read in a week (rather short from a rules perspective, but plot...)

Of course Sidhom is at your service, so he can pretty easily arrange access to the Cairo museum and Library (as he is one of the curators), or even a trip to (and into) the Pyramids and Sphinx.

Posted: **Sat Jun 27, 2015 9:09 am**

Arabic roll for Burton (30%) [dice]0[/dice]

Supercape, you asked for comments: I find that there is too much info. too soon, it's hard to digest it all, question and talk about. What does everyone think?

Posted: **Sat Jun 27, 2015 12:51 pm**

Tabs wrote:

Supercape, you asked for comments: I find that there is too much info. too soon, it's hard to digest it all, question and talk about. What does everyone think?

An entirely reasonable comment. Hopefully that is an product of the initial bit of scene setting, which has also meant a bit of railroading. I hope that it will resolve to a more even pace imminently - but do keep me updated on that.

And on that note, I am taking the foot of the accelerator! Sidhom has dropped just about all he can drop in terms of exposition. The scene is now up to you. Please let me know when you would like a scene cut. In principle the expedition won't set off for a week or two, but you are of course free to scene cut directly to that; or to anything else you would like to do. For now, still in the evening meal, to digest / question / talk!

(I'm still finding my feet here, so all feedback and comments taken on board!)

Posted: **Sun Jun 28, 2015 1:39 am**

I didn't find that there was too much information, but I felt things moved too quickly. I hardly had a chance to post the last couple of days because I was working, and my only chance to get online and post was briefly at night. Now I'm off from work for the next week, so I should have more time for the next few days. However, I probably won't be able to post at all after I leave for my convention on July 1.

Posted: **Sun Jun 28, 2015 6:26 am**

No problem; I think the game will largely or completely be 9 hiatus whilst you are at convention.

Apologies for the rush; I suspect it is as above, my urge to rid myself of necessary exposition at the beginning. It's done now

please continue redirecting me.

Posted: **Sun Jun 28, 2015 6:30 am**

And on that note folks, let me know if you would like a scene cut - it seems either to the Pyramids or the Museum of Cairo but if you would like anywhere else that's also fine.

As Sidhom is rather (and unusually) fearful of the Pyramids, you might need a persuade roll to bring him along - but he will certainly arrange for you to go, perhaps with guide into the interior.

For now Ill keep camera on the hotel

Posted: **Sun Jun 28, 2015 10:36 am**

Yes, I think Mr. Handy's comment is right, but I also accept Supercape's point about scene-setting.

Posted: **Sun Jun 28, 2015 3:20 pm**

Looks like this scene is drawing to a close, with a visit to the Museum of Cairo next? Ill wait for MrHandy to comment then scene cut there?

Posted: **Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:47 pm**

Ready for scene cut?

Posted: **Mon Jun 29, 2015 12:23 am**

Yes, I'm ready.

Posted: **Mon Jun 29, 2015 1:06 am**

Duly cut!

The library is yours to peruse. Any specific questions will need a library use roll, although Mr Sidhom's invaluable aide and knowledge of the museum would give you a +20% chance on any such roll.

You may find some lesser occult or even mythos books, I would imagine, if you were so inclined and the thread turns that way - let me know your thoughts etc. the book Pert Em Hru is almost certainly there but written in Egyptian Heiroglyphics. Any suggestions welcome.

Whilst not necessary, you may also consider Archeology rolls to determine the various values (and no doubt the odd fake) of the exhibits.

History or Occult rolls might also of course come into play later on, as might Arabic Language (most of the books are either English or Arabic, although there are a smattering of French books, and even other languages).

Sidhom can wave the rules to allow photographs to be taken of the exhibits if you so wish - and you manage a persuade roll!

Feel free to narrate the library as you wish, and add in whatever book or museum piece you think is reasonable.

Posted: **Mon Jun 29, 2015 11:49 am**

Spot Hidden maybe?--to see some exhibit out of the ordinary. Here's my roll anyhow (50%) [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Mon Jun 29, 2015 4:37 pm**

Alas, nothing out of the ordinary in that sense! (although a secret tunnel might be a great idea!)

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2015 10:34 am**

Castairs has persuaded Sidhom to allow photography in the musuem - which can also apply to Baxter.

(Successful Persuade roll from Castairs)

Feel to take some snaps. I may call for photography rolls later to see if the fine detail of more crumbly things has been captured!

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2015 12:23 pm**

Burton reading Pert Em Hru in both Arabic (30%) [dice]0[/dice] and French (30%) [dice]1[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2015 12:55 pm**

Pert Em Hru may take a few days to read, although the expedition wont set off for a week or two. Reading it gives +3 Occult. It does contain some spells from "dynastic Egypt"; unlikely to be pertinent to the game but if you have a good idea such as "Wax/Wane the Nile", "Preserve Mummy" or "Eternal Rest for the Departed" please let me know!

As Ms Handy is about to go away for a few days I suggest largely or totally pausing thread until his glorious return.

In the mean time, the library feels more like a resource than an adventure; that said I am open to ideas. If you are looking for a specific question then a library roll might be in order. If you wish to study the ghastly statues, then an archeology roll might be in order too.

You may wish to spend your week pre-departing studying something here (like the aforemention Pert Em Hru) or doing something else funky in Egypt (like persuading Sidhom to take you into a great pyramid).

One specific question might be researching the question of the Toad-King, a very old and obscure cult of deep Africa.

Successful Library Use Roll, with +20% bonus for Sidhoms aide and particularly familiarity, gets you:

Spoiler:

Alternatively, a successful Occult roll will get you much of the same information, perhaps in lesser detail.

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2015 6:10 pm**

I will post some rolls tomorrow, but it occurred to me that, while Mr. Handy is away, Burton could Persuade Sidhom to show him inside a pyramid?

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:28 pm**

Sure: Sidhom can pretty much arrange to have whoever wants to go (I suggest all three, but happy if you want to split up for the few weeks before expedition start). To have him enter the pyramids with you does require a persuade roll.

PS: Anyboy (particularly Castairs) want to narrate some spooky or unnerving passage they read please go ahead! It need not be true but I may roll with it!

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2015 2:38 pm**

I'll backtrack on my previous comment about an excursion into a pyramid because Mr. Handy is not around, and I thought he might catch it and reply before he went.

. . . a preposterously long penis, turning it this way and that . . .

Remove the "carving" bit and the above appears, well, rude!

Burton will spend the week reading Pert Em Hru-- only 3% Occult? that's stingy.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2015 3:22 pm**

I would guess at this juncture stop until Mr Handy comes back, but I am torn; Baxter and Burton going into the Pyramids would be a neat thing for a few days until Mr Handy gets back.

Whilst I would love to do that, on balance I think it is best to wait for MrHandy / Castairs. We would have no idea how long the Pyramid excursions would take, and I am not sure we have wrapped the library to everyones satisfaction. That said, if you guys (Priest and Tabs) feel like you would like to press on over the next few days (with a Pyramid trip), I'm find do go with that concensus!

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2015 5:46 pm**

I am more than happy to wait for Mr H's return before proceeding any further. Which is why Baxter is now proposing a brief interlude in a coffee shop while Carstairs continues to study the books.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2015 6:51 pm**

A fine idea. Thick middle eastern coffee and no sleep for a few days!

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2015 10:54 pm**

So hopefully Mr Handy will be back today (hope you had a good time

)

At this point I am going to suggest a scene cut; either to the Pyramids and venturing inside (their may be mummies...)

or to the Nile itself, and a bit of procuring boat and captain for the journey.

or a more brutal (but perhaps attractive) cut several weeks, assuming the Nile cruise has been done and you now are striking out on foot.

Any other suggestions welcome of course, and feel free to post wrapping up the library. However I think it would be a good idea to garner a consensus about scene cut. I think the feeling was a visit to the Pyramids would be on the cards once Mr Handy gets back, but let me know if and when!

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2015 5:52 am**

I would like to visit the Pyramids before we leave.

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2015 7:48 am**

Me too.

Persuade Sidhom to guide Burton into a pyramid (50%) [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2015 10:24 am**

ok no word from Priest I can see, but I will go for a cut to the Pyramids.

Duly noted that Burton makes his persuade roll very ably!

For the Pyramids I am going to presume you are bringing along some suitable lantern or the like. I don't know enough history to say what type! If you want to bring a revolver, please do!

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2015 11:47 am**

Burton won't take a revolver, but will always be carrying his Bowie Knife.

A bullseye lantern:

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2015 12:22 pm**

Perfect lantern. Thanks!

Posted: **Wed Jul 08, 2015 12:48 pm**

So a cut to the interior of the pyramids, hope thats ok. If you do wish to inspect stuff in the chambers, feel free to make History, Archeology, Occult, or Spot Hidden rolls (depending on the nature of the action). If you are taking photographs, this is technically difficult in the light, so I will be calling for photography skill rolls too!

Posted: **Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:36 am**

A wise avoidance of opening a form of gate!

To more conventional but still spooky and historical matters, you may make Listen rolls to catch what Sidhom said, and an Arabic roll to understand it. Unless you were distracted by stroking your well oiled beard and drinking from your hip flask, of course!

Also, Sidhom has deduced (he is here for Egyptian translation!) that the builders of the great pyramid put some kind of ward in the chamber, hidden away; reference to a dust or powder. If you wish to search the chamber, its time for spot hidden rolls!

Posted: **Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:40 am**

I'm a pedant about Ancient Egypt: inside the Great Pyramid is nothing, no hieroglyphs or statues.

Queen's Chamber

Spot Hidden 50% [dice]0[/dice]
Listen 25% [dice]1[/dice]
Arabic 30% [dice]2[/dice]

@Supercape, would Anthropology be of any use?

Anthropology 50% [dice]3[/dice]

Posted: **Fri Jul 10, 2015 12:19 pm**

Oops sorry for dramatic licence. I hope you can roll with it!

Burton can fire some secret drawer or panel or the like, narrate as befits. Should you open it, a small amount if silvery dust therein which gives a queen but harmless feeling. Of course you may wish for the opening to give you a cough or sneeze and a bit to go up your nose. Harmless but you may wish to play up your hay fever or anxiety.

As I understand anthropology it's a bit more 'alive' than that, understanding active systems.

An archeology roll or occult roll can identify the powder as something toxic to otherworldly elements such as ghosts. A traditional ward; you might come to that conclusion by identifying the odd statue or engraving it is contained within
Narrative licence is yours!

Posted: **Sun Jul 12, 2015 2:40 pm**

Pausing for a moment;

Cairo is coming to a close, I think - ready for the next chapters (the trip down the Nile, the trip through the Jungle, and then the main event!).

Can I have your guidance about anything else your characters would like to do at this juncture? The only obvious thing I can think of is hiring a boat, but honestly I think that is sufficiently mundane to happen off camera?

After we have wrapped it up current events, we can jump forward several weeks. In the interim you can choose what your character does in Cairo before setting off, and indeed when travelling south down the Nile. You may wish to study occult books, be taught a language, or gamble and drink your advance cash away in the more sordid areas of the city.

There is still time for a few more posts IC, but my inclination is its time to move on to the trek? (no objections if you guys want to linger).

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:39 am**

I'd like to learn more of the Bantu language before we leave. If there's time, I'd also like to study the Sidhom fragments and the Arabic version of Pert Am Hru.

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:07 am**

Burton intends to return to the Queen's Chamber and speak the Ritual. He is leery of telling Baxter or Carstairs, feeling that they are too timid! If Mr. Handy or Priest do wish to come along, say so, and Burton will confess.

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:33 pm**

I do not think Baxter will return to the pyramid. However if Burton wishes too, Baxter will find plenty to occupy himself in the fleshpots of Cairo. I'm sure he can find trouble, it is his speciality.

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 7:10 pm**

Ok putting this together, I hope, will be interesting!

Broadly speaking:

Castairs will be studying books (Occult, Cthullu Mythos, Losing Sanity, Maybe gaining Spells). Perhaps making an English copy of the Sidhom Fragments with Mr Sidhoms Help?

Whilst; Baxter is busying himself in the flea markets, gambling halls, and opium dens on Cairo? Perhaps with the Doctor, who likes cards.

Whilst; Burton and Singh sneak back to the Pyramids, to recite the chant?

If that is Ok with everyone, I shall proceed accordingly and ask for the following rolls (please post here).

Castairs:

INT x 3% roll for a crash course in Bantu (+1d5% skill, like a half skill check)
INT x3% to learn the spell "Dust of Sulemain" from a combination of Sidhom (who knows the spell) and the Sidhom fragments (if you wish).
1D4 Sanity Loss and Cthullu Mythos +2 from reading and translating the Sidhom Fragments with Mr Sidhom (gaining an English copy too)
Arabic Roll to successfully read and understand Pert Em Hru (and gain +3 Occult)

Baxter:

APP x5% roll to gain a female companion of your choosing (who if you wish can aide you and even come with you, or give you information, your call)
Luck roll to stay out of trouble (unless you deliberately want to fail) with thugs and jealous husbands.
Bargain roll to find some interesting and potentially useful artefact in the Markets abd Black Markets of Cairo (such as sample of the toad-poison-hallucinogen).
Fast Talk roll to get some interesting rumours / intervention (again of your choosing) whilst carousing with the various scum of Cairo.
Plus if you have any other thoughts, sing out.

Burton:

Persuade roll to get Sidhom to accompany you back to the Pyramids, or to lend him the Sidhom Fragments for an evening.
INT x3% or Arabic Roll to pronounce the chant correctly (whatever highest)
And we take it from there (no doubt sanity loss, knowledge increase will result...) Burton will probably have some extra time during the prepations and after his foolhardy chant, but need to see what happens.

PS: If Castairs and / or Baxter wishes, you guys might spot Burton and Singh sneaking out. Either this raises suspicions, or you could follow them...

PS: The powder that Burton found is indeed the Dust of Sulemain, 3 doses worth, but somewhat old and reduced in potency (1D10 rather than 1D20 damage to other-planar beings). If Castairs learns the spell, he can recognise this powder, otherwise it will need an Occult roll to recognise.

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:12 pm**

Burton to convince Sidhom: Persuade 50% [dice]0[/dice]

Poo! Oh, I hate dice.

Arabic or INT x3 [dice]1[/dice]

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:34 pm**

Ok so Burton thinks he has memorised the chant properly, but there are one or two errors crept in. That said, for the purposes of story, the chant will still do its thing, its just that there may be side effects from mispronouncing the chant.

For Burton's expedition would you like it done on a separate thread or part of Chapter 1?

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:35 pm**

PS I forgot to mention - once Castairs develops his photographs, he finds the cracks he spotted in the Queens chamber are oddly blurred and fuzzy, despite the photograph otherwise being perfectly taken!

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 4:44 am**

Percy is probably too preoccupied with his nose in books to notice Burton leaving.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:33 am**

I must have watched Evil Dead II 30 times back in my teenage years.

The game: I think Burton should have his own thread. We'd be done in a few days? and Mr. Handy and Priest can post in the main thread as well--I'll remain quiet in case Burton is--er--delayed, permanently.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:53 am**

So done

Might be worth noting what Burton and Singh are taking (other than Burtons memorised chant). Also, Priest may want to comment if Baxter had followed / noticed them, or if he is simply getting drunk and visiting houses of ill repute etc etc...

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:03 am**

It is possible, actually quite likely, that Baxter will notice the pair creeping away from the hotel and having his curiosity piqued will follow them to see what they are up to. However he will not follow them into the pyramid as there is nothing in there to raise his interest. So once he relises their destination he will continue to a little cafe in a seedier part of Cairo and proceed to do what Baxter does best - drink and chase the ladies.

App x5 = 40 http://orokos.com/roll/308549: 1d100 13
Bargain Bargain roll 05%: 1d100 15
Fast Talk Fast Talk 15%: 1d100 31
Luck Roll Luck Roll 45%: 1d100 52

Failed everything except appearance. So finding female company was no problem but it seems she came with trouble attached, and no doubt while trying to dodge that trouble Baxter had little time for anything else.
I leave it to you to detail just what that trouble was and the outcome.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:04 am**

For his excursion Burton will take his pistol, Bowie Knife, chalk, compass and the silvery dust of course; Singh his tulwar and Kirpan; and both a lantern and water flask.

I like the moon phases BTW. Can the site show the 1880s?

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:09 am**

Yes, any time from 1CE onwards, I think! I'm not normally that pedantic, but why not!

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:23 am**

Feel free to make up some arabic chant of your liking. Float in a Cthullu reference (which you don't understand) if it takes your fancy!

Technically this is a spell, so it will take 3 magic points from you. However, I doubt this will be particularly pertinent, as you have no other spells to cast!

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 12:49 pm**

Burton and Singh lose 1/1D6 Sanity from the awful trip through the gate. Burton also takes 1 Damage from a hideous cold and lack of oxygen, as if he had been momentarily cast through the coldness of outer space (or something else ghastly). Thats for mispronouncing!

in the chamber itself, Burton can make a history roll to realise that the engraved tablets are so precisely carved - that ancient Egyptian tools could not have (or at least would be extremely unlikely to) create such work. Even by modern standards, the detail is outstanding.

I suppose you could try a 1% Language (Egyptian Heiroglyphics) roll to read the works!

Singh Fails his Sanity Roll and loses 2 Sanity. Sheet updated accordingly.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:44 pm**

Sanity loss [dice]0[/dice]

History 20% [dice]1[/dice]

Hieroglyphics 1% [dice]2[/dice]

I forget the rules, does Burton go temporarily insane?

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:54 pm**

It's 10 or 20% I think and Burton lost 5 from 75--where's a calculator--that's less than 10%.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:00 pm**

Sorry, by 1/1D6 Sanity Loss I meant make a sanity roll as per rules; if you roll SAN or less, you lose 1 point (you are tough), if you fail, you lose 1D6 points.

I think that's how it works anyway?

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:17 pm**

No, it's me, I don't have a clue about the rules.

Sanity 75% [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:19 pm**

Well dont look at me, I only have what you might call a "functional" knowledge of the rules. Still, rules are a tool not a chain!

Just 1 Sanity and 1 HP loss then!

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 7:47 pm**

Could we have a dodge roll from Burton please!

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:39 pm**

Dodge 26% [ Kotep? ] [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 5:20 am**

Are the rest of us allowed to read Burton's thread?

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:29 am**

Sure. I mean, technically you aren't there, but on the other hand, FUN.

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 12:01 pm**

Could you give me a POW vs 18 roll? I think Burton has a POW of 12 so it's a 20% chance of resisting

[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 2:57 pm**

Koteps spirit is in you!

The horrible experience of both seeing a mummy move and having Kotep in your head is 1D3/1D10 Sanity loss. Kotep also has read your mind.

Singh, seeing the mummy grab you is 1/1D6 Sanity: 1d100=87 for SAN roll and 1d6=5. His INTx5 Roll is 1d100=11 made, meaning Singh goes temporarily insane. I will say he is experiencing temporary hallucinations / phobia mix - he is seeing cracks and protruding undead limbs everywhere, and jumping around to avoid them.

His grip on you is STR 15 if you wish to break it.

On the flip side, you may wish to converse with Kotep or ask his boon or knowledge, imparted psychically, Of course he is a mad sorcerer and your Sanity may suffer.

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 3:17 pm**

Grabbed by Kotep: Sanity 74% [dice]0[/dice]

Loss [dice]1[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 6:35 pm**

Ok, so mind blasting danger for Burton!

First off, he will lose a 1D10 Sanity from Koteps "wisdom", quite possibly driving him insane.

He can also learn a number of Koteps spells, INT x5% chance to learn one, INT x4% to learn two, x3% to learn three, x2% to learn four, x1% to learn five. Make one roll and compare with the INT as above:

Spells [In order]:

Parting Sands, Voice of Ra, Bring Haboob, Chant of Thoth, Find Gate, Dust of Sulemain.

(Choose which ones you want to learn).

You also gain +2 Cthullu Mythos from the experience.

There may be other effects too...

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 7:14 pm**

Sanity loss from Kotep's "wisdom" [dice]0[/dice]

Learn spells [dice]1[/dice]

INT 14 =4 Spells: Parting Sands, Voice of Ra, Bring Haboob, Chant of Thoth, Find Gate.

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 7:57 pm**

Cool, excellent results. Which 4 Spells do you fancy?

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2015 11:40 pm**

Ditch the Parting Sands Spell.

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:46 am**

Cool I will update your character sheet accordingly!

EDIT: Updated.

Also: The Stones of Kotep are now available in the "Letters etc" section of the forum. Obviously reading them is somewhat difficult unless you have Egyptian Heiroglyphics Skill.

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:24 am**

Ok so I think that sort of wraps CHapter 1

Any final thoughts on stuff you would like to do sing out. If Burton and/or Singh wish to tell Baxton/Carstairs of Kotep, then we could play that out.

BAsically during the next few weeks Castairs is improving himself and digging around in books, Burton and Singh are recovering from SAN sapping horror, and Baxter is enjoying himself.

On the final note I hope priest can guide me as to what Baxter is doing (I suggested some rolls as above).

Once that is done and dusted, we can proceed to CHapter 2 (and skill improvement rolls?)

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:02 pm**

Sounds good to me. Thanks Mr. Handy and Priest for waiting for me. Unless questioned Burton will keep his escapade to himself for the time being.

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:24 pm**

OOC: App x5 = 40 http://orokos.com/roll/308549: 1d100 13
Bargain Bargain roll 05%: 1d100 15
Fast Talk Fast Talk 15%: 1d100 31
Luck Roll Luck Roll 45%: 1d100 52

Baxters evening, despite a promising start, swiftly became game of dodge the husband. By the time he returns to the hotel he has little to show other than a few odd bruises, a sore head, and a small pice of paper with the name 'Amelia' and an address in the European district.

What happened to Burton and his man after he had observed them heading for the pyramid is of little interest, as is whether he is in his room or not.

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:51 am**

You're welcome, Tabs. I've been very busy lately anyway.

I'm ready to proceed.

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2015 6:52 pm**

Cool, thanks all for playing and for allowing Burtons mad excursion.

Ill just wait for Priest to confirm ready to move to CH2, then I will set it up and we can roll for improvement.

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2015 8:43 pm**

I wonder if Amelia likes beards or prefers big moustaches?

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2015 9:12 pm**

On that note if you want to have Emellia stowaway down the Nile with a mad infatuation with her gallant explorer (or some such jape), do let me know, Priest!

Posted: **Sat Jul 18, 2015 10:22 am**

She may choose to follow Baxter, although he will soon tire of her company, unless of course she should prove useful to the expedition.

And my dear Tabs, a beard is a true measure of a man's virility, while a moustache provides nothing more than a hint of possibilities

Posted: **Sat Jul 18, 2015 10:37 pm**

And so Chapter 2 is up.

There are a few new characters, feel free to narrate, use, or discard as it suits you all - and perhaps comment if you have made friends or enemies of any of them on the way down to Central Africa. Have you shared stories? intoxication? "exotic" photograph collections? or even engaged in some possibly drunken pugilism?

Priest; I'll follow your cue on however you want to flesh out your love interest (is she married? divorced? on the run? a crook?) and if you want her tagging along cooking for the expedition.

Broadly speaking we can have a little narration and chat, then we will arrive at Camp Verne (the next day) and explore that oppurtunity a bit, then we dig into the trek proper.

We have one more chapter which is basically very deep Africa and the cult of the Toad King.

As far as Skill Checks go (used skill and learned something), I make it the following:

Burton: French, Persuade, Arabic
Carstairs: Persuade, Library Use, Spot Hidden, Photography, Listen
Baxter: None!

but he probably had most fun!

Also, Mr Handy I dont know if you added the +Bantu skill from practice (+1%), and the SAN loss and +Cthullu from your new English copy of the Sidhom fragments (which may be worth putting down in Carstairs inventory?)

Baxter is a little short changed in development, although I would like to suggest that all of his Carousing and Drinking in Cairo might help improve his Arabic and Bantu skills. It might also be appropriate to pick up a few % in Pilot boat given your months down the Nile and possible friendship with a Captain who might teach you? (what are your thoughts, Priest?)

Finally if you have any thoughts on things you would like me to do, or do better, for your PC, please speak out. I can't promise I can deliver, but I can promise I will listen!

On a final note I have obviously taken some liberties with the Nile, Camp Verde, and Africa and so forth, I hope you can ride with this. There is a limit to how much research I can drag myself through (i.e. I go no further than Wikipedia).

Thanks for your involvement so far.

Posted: **Sun Jul 19, 2015 4:17 am**

I had already updated my character sheet with my Sanity loss and my Cthulhu Mythos and Other Language: Bantu skill increases, but I hadn't added the book to my inventory. I've done so now.

Skill increase rolls:
Persuade(55) does not increase
Library Use(40) increases by 1 to 41
Spot Hidden(55) does not increase
Photography(60): increases by 2 to 62
Listen(55): increases by 2 to 57

You're welcome, and I'm enjoying the game! Thanks for running it!

Posted: **Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:05 am**

Burton's Skill increases?

French 30%[dice]0[/dice]
Arabic 30% [dice]1[/dice]
Persuade 50% [dice]2[/dice]
Spot Hidden 50% (finding Dust of Suleiman) [dice]3[/dice]
Listen 25% (Sidhom's mutter) [dice]4[/dice]
French [dice]5[/dice]
Arabic [dice]6[/dice]
Listen [dice]7[/dice]

Character sheet amended.

@Supercape, (1) I couldn't find it, but Burton received an Occult increase for reading the French edition of Pert Em Hru, agree? and what is it? ; (2) does Munshi increase his sabre Skill for chopping off Kotep's arm? ; (3) when do you sleep?

. . . Jules Verne? He's my favourite author!"

@Mr. Handy, true of yourself as well? I'm gonna download some of Verne's books on to my Kindle.

Posted: **Sun Jul 19, 2015 12:45 pm**

Tabs wrote: @Supercape, (1) I couldn't find it, but Burton received an Occult increase for reading the French edition of Pert Em Hru, agree? and what is it? ;

Its +3 to Occult, feel free to edit this in. From the 6th Ed: "Egyptian hieroglyphic version in some two hundred chapters; the “Scroll of Ani” contains most chapters; French and English translations have been published. Concerns the beatification of the dead, who were imagined as reciting the chapters in order and thereby gaining privileges for their new lives after death. These instructions and magical procedures protect the dead against dangers they face in reaching the other world. Many spells to preserve the mummy against mold, assist in shape-shifting, and assist the dead to become as gods themselves."

By "spells" we can assume time consuming and strenuous rituals and chants that have no effect!

Tabs wrote: (2) does Munshi increase his sabre Skill for chopping off Kotep's arm? ;

I debated this but thought he was in a mad frenzy at the time, and won't learn anything - he also didn't make a skill roll as it was like chopping a static log of wood. Finally, I am mindful of keeping camera on PC rather than NPC!

Tabs wrote: (3) when do you sleep?

Well I suffer from occassional bouts of insomnia so I sometimes have an hour awake in the middle of the night! Not that I don't sleep well normally. I would rival HP himself in the depth and vividness of my dreaming!

And yes, I thought everyone might like the Verne reference (a possible inspiration to Lovecraft himself if you view HPL as a sci-fi author?)

Posted: **Sun Jul 19, 2015 12:47 pm**

Also, could I have a Bantu skill roll to see if Burton manages to strike up a conversation with Scar?

Posted: **Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:59 pm**

Occult added to Burton's Skills. Bantu % ?--but I was only thinking of the basics, such as: water, bread, don't shoot!

Dreams . . . I had an interesting one last night: Bonnie, y'know Bonnie and Clyde, was run over by a 1930s sports car, with the rotating tire pulverising her face, and then as a coup de grâce she got squished by a steam roller. Not at all Mythos-like I know, tell us one of your's?

Posted: **Sun Jul 19, 2015 8:14 pm**

They are interesting only to me (often work related). As for Bantu, you can certainly do the basics with Scar, the Bantu roll is to see if you can win him over with your eloquence!

you can however throw me a psychology roll;

Spoiler:

Posted: **Mon Jul 20, 2015 12:20 am**

I like Jules Verne and have read some of his stuff, but I'm not as big a fan as Percy. My favorite author is Terry Pratchett.

Posted: **Mon Jul 20, 2015 8:58 am**

@Mr. Handy, you must have been hard hit when Terry Pratchett died recently. I tried a Discworld novel, years ago, but found it wasn't "my cup of tea."

Bantu [dice]0[/dice]
Psychology [dice]1[/dice]

Posted: **Mon Jul 20, 2015 7:50 pm**

So about to arrive at Camp Verde, let me know if you want to do anything prior to arrival; ill post the arrival imminently.

Posted: **Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:48 am**

Tabs wrote:@Mr. Handy, you must have been hard hit when Terry Pratchett died recently. I tried a Discworld novel, years ago, but found it wasn't "my cup of tea."

Yes, I was sad when he died, and I'm far from the only one. There are still several books of his I haven't read yet, so I'm looking forward to them when I have time to read them.

Posted: **Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:02 pm**

Does Baxter know anything useful about this part of Africa?

Know Roll 50%: 1d100 54 perhaps not.

Posted: **Wed Jul 22, 2015 12:00 am**

Well I think Baxter generally knows Africa pretty well; scratch the EDU roll, its part of his background.

If you wish, Baxter can know some of the people in Camp Verde (he has met them before). He has certainly heard of Camp Verde. Its a sickly place, run down, right at the fringes of civilisation. It has twice been attacked by tribes from the South, although it also does a healthy trade with them (Skins and Ivory bought for European trinkets and, rumour has it, guns...)

Ill cut to Camp Verde.

Posted: **Wed Jul 22, 2015 5:29 pm**

For those of us who are uneducated monolinguistic peasants (i.e. me) please put in English translations if speaking da lingo!

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:46 am**

@Supercape, these Spells: Voice of Ra, Bring Haboob, Chant of Thoth, Find Gate, does Burton know/guess what they can do? and how easy is it to cast 'em?

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:36 pm**

Tabs wrote:@Supercape, these Spells: Voice of Ra, Bring Haboob, Chant of Thoth, Find Gate, does Burton know/guess what they can do? and how easy is it to cast 'em?

I think Burton knows broadly what they do; but probably in an imprecise way. As you say, he can make a good guess what they do.

Its easy enough to cast them, although of course SANity loss for doing so. I would take the broad view that CoC magic is ritualistic type; dark, dangerous and involving various chants and activities of your choosing (using 6th Ed as the broad parameters of what happens), and an opportunity for fun roleplaying. I would broadly say that the spells are fairly conspicious, i.e. it would be difficult or impossible to do secretively. Of course, most people would view your spell casting with scepticism at best (unless in the know).

(Contrasting this to what I view is the awfully unmagical and tedious "Superpower" type magic of Dungeons and Dragons which does a magnificent job of sucking all the horrible and wonderful essence out of magic)

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:40 pm**

As I don't want to get into the nitty gritty of money. If someone wants to buy some guns off Camp Verne to trade with the Crocodile People (a marvellous idea by the way...from a narrative perspective!)...

On the principle that your funds are good but not infinite, and guns are limited. I will say that Lt Franc will rip you off. However, whoever is doing the deal can make a bargain roll. Success means you procure a goodly number of better quality rifles with your funds, Failure means you procure a lesser number of lesser quality rifles with your funds. The former means you can will get a better response from the Crocodile people (i.e. they are automatically well disposed to you).

Whoever wants to do the nitty gritty bargaining, make the Roll. I would suggest Baxter, with his wheeling and dealing through Africa and experience, would get a +10% situational bonus on this as its sidling into his street.

Posted: **Sat Jul 25, 2015 6:52 pm**

As well as the bargaining for regular guns above; it does strike me that whilst selling a Gatling Gun to a tribe is clearly outrageous. It is a very fine brand of outrageous. If you do feel like going wild and stealing Camp Verne's Gatling Gun, then we can do so!

Ill wait on replies as to further action. If someone wants to ply Scar for information or so forth, which is a fine idea, let me know!

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:02 pm**

I will try him with a smattering of Nilo-Sharan and see if there is any response 21%
Nilo-Saharan language: 21%: 1d100 36 Whoops!

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:28 pm**

Well you get some basics from Scar, as Baxter is such a rogue! but not the esoterics.

Anyone can make an Anthropology roll:

Spoiler:

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:34 pm**

Anthropology 50% [dice]0[/dice]

BTW going to the beach for the day tomorrow.

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:36 pm**

Enjoy the sunshine. Some of us have to work! Boo! Hiss!

Posted: **Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:56 pm**

Great stuff folks.

So, it looks like it is shaping up into a Gun Running Expedition to the Crocodile People and take it from there?

If so I would probably need a bargain roll to see the quality of guns you get for your money (if somebody wants to make that roll?)

You may also wish to consider the expedition at this point:

People who want to come (for love, money, or madness)

The PCs
Doctor Wessex
Mr Singh the Manservant
? Sven the Preacher + ? Britt his daughter (Probably only so far as the Crocodile People)
? The Lovestruck Amilia

People who may come if persuaded to? (either by skill or argument)

Scar the cabin boy (would need a reason, maybe revenge?)
Lt Franc (to supervise the trade), or possibly one of his deputies.
Chuckles the Chimpanzee (if you feed him, or get him drunk).

People who are very unlikely to come, but am open to suggestion

Captain/Herr Otto (will be looking after the ship and trading with Camp Verne until you come back...err...if you come back)

Open to suggestion of course but just giving a broad summary of where we stand. Of course we can stay at Camp Verne as long as you like!

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:35 am**

Baxter should probably make that roll, as he gets the +10 bonus.

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:15 am**

Persuade 50% Scar, Lt. Franc and Chuckles [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:32 am**

Looks like Tabs (Burton) has made the check. Why the chimp?

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:38 am**

The chimp is entirely up to you guys! THere is no reason to take him along, other than to loose sanity when you see its mangled corpse!

If Baxter wants to get him drunk or Burton wants some comedy relief, the rapscallioin will come.

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:24 am**

I wonder, and this is a long shot, if Chuckles is a familiar or product of a spell gone wrong or simply good in a fight?

@Priest, yours was the Bargain roll.

@Everyone, I've forgotten myself why we're going to see the Toad People--will re-read the intro.

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:31 am**

Extract from Winston-Smythe's letter to Burton:

But I fear a pattern is emergent. Not enough for the pale comfort of certainty, but rather the kind of gnawing concern that preys on a man, twists his thoughts and plagues his sleep. Alas, I wish I had never read the unwholesome pages of the Necronomicon; I will not speak of the words, for wide and deep are its horrors, and I urge you never to succumb to the urge to peruse its text as I did. But of this I will say, the tales I hear from deepest Africa resound with the words of the mad Arab.

Enough. I will not plague your mind further. But I would ask this of you; that these rumours be determined, the foundation and truth examined. I pray that I am but a mad old man whose wit is decaying, and though that would be a most disagreeable affair, it would still be preferable to the alternative. If such unnameable horror is truly alive, and not merely fancy of imagination, then it should not be disturbed – for it has slept in the deepest recesses of Africa, and should not be awoken!

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:56 am**

Tabs wrote:@Priest, yours was the Bargain roll.

Sadly my Bargain is only basic 05% so even with the +10 (whereever that comes from) it's only going to be 15%, so your roll is always going to beat mine. My thing is Fast Talk but at only 15% I don't think that will help.
Thanks for the refresher as to why we are here. I'd forgotten as well, probably too much gin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P21PY2x ... RhUzkvcHo9

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:46 pm**

Thanks for posting that Tabs; although I would add that this is a request made of you. Your motivations for doing this may be otherwise, or even conflicted (money, glory, fame, personal collection of photographs of "Savage" women, etc etc!)

Is Burton going to try a bargain roll, or did I miss one being made?

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:03 pm**

I succeeded at Persuade . . . here's a Bargain roll anyway [dice]0[/dice] successful or not we'll send an invoice to Winston-Smythe.

That vid. features Baxter!

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:13 pm**

My bad! I read Persuade as Bargain. Blame the gin!!

Here is my Bargain roll;
Bargain roll 05+10% (15%): 1d100 55 nope, as I said.

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2015 5:00 pm**

Baxter manages to procure some poor quality rifles. He gains +10% to his drink gin skill.

Posted: **Fri Jul 31, 2015 4:14 am**

I failed my Bargain roll too. No surprise.

Posted: **Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:16 am**

So I think we are approaching a scene cut of a few weeks and many miles into the Jungle? Thoughts?

I make the expidition:

PC'S
Singh
Dr Wessex
Scar
? French second on command plus a couple of soldiers?
? Emilia

Anyone else? (In reference to Burton 's insanity about Chuckles being a totem monkey god)

What do people think of Sven and Britt joining for religious angles?

Priest: I think Emilia would be interesting to join as I see her as a fiery independent woman. If you want her along perhaps flesh her out as an NPC?

Posted: **Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:45 pm**

Sven and Britt could add to the party, what? I don't know yet, maybe a damsel in distress. And definitely the monkey god. Also Amelia/Emelia, I think Baxter was considering a trade--white slavery?

Posted: **Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:03 am**

Sven and Britt can use the religious angle to help convince the Crocodile people to aid us, though they probably won't be on board for starting a war between them and the Toad people. And Amelia can cook, which is always good.

Posted: **Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:31 am**

Baxter is already losing interest in Emillia, However if she wishes to come along it's her choice. If you wish to make her into an NPC that's fine by me.

Posted: **Sat Aug 01, 2015 11:03 pm**

Its a tough call on Emelia; I think it would be good to bring her along but keep her in the background unless story flows that way.

In any case, I think it is now time for a scene cut a few weeks of trekking through Jungle and the encounter with the Crocodile People / Lake Victoria.

I make the expedition:

PCs
Singh (Burly Manservant)
Wessex (Nervous Doctor)
Sergeant LeForge (Second in command at Camp Verne) plus private Paris (there to represent Camp Verne and carry bullets)
Emeila (the cook and frustrated lover)
Svenn and Britt (the Preacher and his daughter, there to convert the Crocodile People)
Scar (Traumatised Bad Person Orphan)

If you are all ready for a Scene cut, please let me know. In which case, as Burton is leaving the expedition, Ill have a navigate roll from him. A failure in this will mean the trip takes longer.

[On that note I am going to just designate Supplies as a 0-5 scale. 0 = Starving, 1 = minimal rations, 2 = half rations, 3-5 adequately equipped]

The trip will mean -1 rations, or -2 if Burton leads you around and about.

NB: I am going to presume the standard rifles for the expedition (and those you sell) is a .22 Bolt Action Rifle [1d6+2 Damage, 1 Attacks/Round, 6 Ammo, Malfunctio 99] (Mainly because I find 1/2 Attacks/Rnd a drag]. If anyone wants to carry something else, thats fine (either with the expedition or bought from the Camp Verne), either handguns or rifles, or shotguns. Then add this to your character sheet.

Posted: **Sun Aug 02, 2015 2:17 am**

I'm ready for the scene cut.

Posted: **Sun Aug 02, 2015 9:52 am**

I'm ready too.

Navigation 50% [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Sun Aug 02, 2015 10:05 am**

Ready as well.

Posted: **Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:50 pm**

How long will it take to reach the Crocodile People? and what is the country like, jungle, forest?

Posted: **Sun Aug 02, 2015 7:32 pm**

At this stage, the Jungle is dense.

How long? Not long....

YOu are in Croc Jungle now, I will throw an encounter imminently.

Posted: **Sun Aug 02, 2015 11:59 pm**

On reflection, lets go and push the boat out; can I have spot hidden rolls from y'all?

Posted: **Mon Aug 03, 2015 12:05 am**

Failed.

Posted: **Mon Aug 03, 2015 8:55 am**

Burton Spot Hidden 50% on route to Crocodile People's village [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:49 am**

Spot Hidden - 55%: 1d100 24

Spotted it.

Posted: **Mon Aug 03, 2015 10:15 pm**

Ze stuff will happen!

Baxter spots some Croc people hiding in the undergrowth. He has a split second to react...

If he is going to fire a weapon, can you make a DEXx5% roll to do so in time. Other actions such as shouting or diving for cover can be done without this roll. I am presuming he is carrying a standard .30-06 Rifle.

[Incidentally, if any PCs are carrying firearms other than this Rifle (or indeed any other weapons) please note so on your character sheets. I don't want to get too bogged down with inventories, but at this stage you are in the Jungle.

Spoiler:

PS: This will not necessarily turn into a full blown fight. Rather it is an aggressive, fitful first contact. Physical danger intermingled with diplomacy. Lets see how it plays out!

Posted: **Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:11 pm**

Ok So Baxter doing the diplomacy thing.

I think I will make a Bantu Language Roll to represent if he gets the words out fast enough and coherent enough under stress. Hope its ok to make that roll for you to speed things along;

1d100=9 an excellent success (do we still use 1/5 and 1/20 successes?) in any case, Spear goings boing.

Baxter can check his Bantu skill for that.

Posted: **Thu Aug 06, 2015 7:45 pm**

So I think a cut to the Croc People village / settlement?

If so, it may be worthwhile whoever is doing the bartering, throw a barter roll!

Posted: **Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:23 am**

Yes, I'm good for a cut there. None of us have any points in Bargain, but Baxter should probably also get the +10 bonus in this situation.

Posted: **Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:29 am**

Okay.

Posted: **Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:05 am**

Confused

There is no Barter Skill, so what should I use instead? Also where the heck did the +10 come from?

Posted: **Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:30 am**

I guess Supercape meant Bargain, and the 10%, I don't remember! But I'd like to think that a bad roll equals an unwelcome reception rather than 99 is the same as Baxter spitting upon the chief's wife.

Posted: **Fri Aug 07, 2015 11:19 am**

I'll roll it if everyone likes, but with a Bargain of 05% the +10 will only give me 15% and with the way my dice keep rolling, it's more likely Baxter will be spitting after all. If not spitting it will probably be something as equally insulting

I'll apeal to Supercape maybe one of the NPCs has a decent bargaining skill.

Posted: **Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:08 pm**

Well I think everyones stuck at 5%.

Ill take a liberty and make a roll for the group; 1d100=61

So you dont get a "good deal", although the Croc people are still grateful.

Ill cut to the Croc people tribe (I think you are all good for that?)

Posted: **Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:23 pm**

Incidentally, you can make the following rolls if you wish:

Medicine

Spoiler:

Anthropology

Spoiler:

For info 1d100=22 Wessex makes the medicine roll, but is electing to stay silent in the group whilst observed.

Posted: **Sat Aug 08, 2015 8:30 am**

Burton with the Crocodile People, Medicine 5% [dice]0[/dice] Anthropology 50% [dice]1[/dice]

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:15 pm**

Quick apology for being so slack last few days (and posisbly the next few). Alongside my birthday party, I have picked up some nasty flu type virus that has sucked the energy out of me!

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:29 pm**

You may (predictably) roll for Nilo-Saharan to understand the Toad's gibberish!

Also you may make a Medicine Roll

Spoiler:

Posted: **Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:44 pm**

Any rolls I make for these skills have a fraction of a percentage chance, so I shan't bother.

Oh, and get well soon.

Posted: **Wed Aug 12, 2015 7:08 am**

I always roll, even with just a 01% chance. I might just make the roll, which would earn me a skill increase check that would almost certainly succeed. I've made a 01% roll before.

I did both rolls last night, but they both failed and the site went down before I could post.

I hope you get better soon too.

Posted: **Wed Aug 12, 2015 5:57 pm**

You're an optimist, Mr. Handy; odds of 100 to 1 are too great for me.

Posted: **Fri Aug 14, 2015 9:22 pm**

Right I am very sorry for being so slack on this. The flu wiped me out.

Not totally well yet, but well enough to post!

Posted: **Tue Aug 18, 2015 7:19 pm**

Ok good fun!

So, to try and distil out from the conversation and move things along; are you going on a croc run?

Broadly speaking, The Croc people stick to there own. If you ain't hunt a croc, you ain't worth spit. No respect.

Of course, if you want to risk that respect or not is another matter!

Posted: **Thu Aug 20, 2015 8:57 pm**

Scene cut to the hunt by the river then?

All three PCs, plus Singh, plus Emelia who is bold as you like.

The Witchdoctor, Riverturn, will be in observation (in a high tree).

All ok to go ahead?

Posted: **Thu Aug 20, 2015 9:23 pm**

Yes, we are for sure.

Posted: **Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:24 am**

Yes, I'm ready to proceed.

Posted: **Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:57 am**

Ready when you are

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:59 am**

And so the hunt begins!

YOu may want to discuss how you do this between IC and both OOC threads. I leave it to you!

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2015 12:34 am**

So it looks like firing from the trees! A fine plan.

Could I have tree-climbing skills from you all....no, not really!

However, could I have spot hidden, and, for prosperity, hide rolls from you all (presuming you are trying at least some form of cover and stillness). Anything else you want to do, please elucidate IC or here.

Posted: **Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:55 pm**

Rolls for Singh: 1d100=92, 1d100=10

Rolls for Emelia: 1d100=15, 1d100=42

Rolls for Tabs/Burton as he is being slow...1d100=91, 1d100=4! (Sorry if that was impertinent Tabs...)

So to sum up, Burton sees the Croc First.

Only Emelia is hidden.

If you made your spot hidden rolls (I think all three of you did...) you can mark that for improvement in the upcoming Chapter 3.

As for Crocodile...conveniently a Nile Croc is in 6th Ed!:)

Stats etc

Spoiler:

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 3:54 am**

I believe Bite attacks do not use the damage bonus, so it should just be 1d10 (which is plenty powerful on its own).

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:41 am**

Odd: I read directly from 6th Ed is Bite 50%, damaged 1D10+db

?

If you are all firing, could I have shootin' rolls at this juncture? As you sort of have the drop on the beast, Ill wave the DEX rolls at this point; investigators shoot first.

I seem to remember some rules about large SIZ giving a bonus "to hit" but I can't seem to find them...

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 11:53 am**

Rolls for Tabs/Burton as he is being slow...1d100=91, 1d100=4! (Sorry if that was impertinent Tabs...)

S'okay. I lost the plot somewhere.

I was waiting on Singh's Track roll, though I should have rolled for him; and Burton and Baxter were checking their guns, rather than climbing trees. But saying that, I'm happy to be up a tree and out of reach.

Burton shooting at croc. Pistol 50% [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:14 pm**

Baxter shooting at croc: Handgun 30%: 1d100 8 Got the blighter
Handgun Damage 1d10: Handgun Damage 1d10: 1d10 8

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 4:52 am**

You're right, it does. Most creatures with Bite attacks don't get the damage bonus, but I guess crocs are different.

You get a +5 bonus to hit for every full 10 points of SIZ above 30. This doesn't apply in this case.

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:31 am**

Ok Emelia will take a crack at it with her rifle: 1d100=79 And misses.

Singh is a swordsman not a shooter!

The crocodile moves to the base of the trees. You can all shoot at it again at point blank range (x2 To hit if I remember correctly). Then the biting and snapping will commence....

Croc is currently at 22/19 Hit Points. First blood to Baxter!

Expedition is up!

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 12:40 pm**

Burton Pistol 50% [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 12:54 pm**

I believe at point blank thats a hit?

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:06 pm**

Good! [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:07 pm**

Baxter shooting
Handgun 30% x2 = 60%: 1d100 19 another hit
Damage: Handgun Damage 1d10: 1d10 7

Posted: **Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:22 pm**

Baxter does another 2 HP damage

For some reason didn't get Burtons damage roll...?

Castairs does anothe 3 HP damage

That puts it at 22/13 HP.

Emelia Fires her gun 1d100=70 and even at point blank, misses.

Tabs, could you repost the damage (I trust you, don't need to post link...!)

Posted: **Thu Aug 27, 2015 11:26 pm**

I rolled 5.

Posted: **Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:33 am**

Did we do that much damage? I thought we only did a total of 8, which would put it at 14, unless we did an extra point of damage somewhere. Baxter did 3 with his first shot and 2 with his second, and I did 3 damage with my shot.

Posted: **Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:55 am**

Thanks for the Heads up MrHandy! I wouldn't trust my brain at the moment, having a brutal time at work before my leave next week (not going anywhere) and my brain-fuel is on empty.

Lets see:

First Volley: Baxter did 8-5 = 3 damage

Croc reaches trees

Point Blank Volley: Baxter did 7-5 = 2 damage, Castairs did 8-5 = 3 damage

Total Damage = 8

Croc at 22/14 HP

Sorry for the mixup!

Posted: **Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:02 am**

Ok, so Croc is going to Thrash around, shaking trees and whatnot.

To stay on the trees you may:

Roll DEXx4% by being agile and lucky.

or

Hold on for your life with both arms (which will mean dropping whatever weapon you are carrying), which means you gain both a DEXx4% and a STRx4% chance of keeping on the tree.

If you fall, make a luck roll or take 1D3 Damage from the fall (bouncing of branches etc). If you roll 96-00 on your luck roll, you land on the crocodile (damage plus danger!)

Rolls for:

Emelia (ST 9, DEX 10) will try to be brave and ferocious and keep her gun. 1d100=79 she falls.
Her POW is 13, and her luck roll is 1d100=33 so she takes no damage.

Singh (STR 16, DEX 9) clings on for his life, dropping his sword. His rolls to stay on are: 1d100=29, 1d100=40 and he easily makes it.

Posted: **Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:27 pm**

Burton, DEX x4 =52% [dice]0[/dice]

And he fires again [dice]1[/dice]

85 was a hit, so damage [dice]2[/dice]

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:07 am**

With my pitiful DEX, I'd need to drop the rifle so I can try for the STR roll too. But first I have a question. How is the crocodile able to shake all of the trees at the same time? Shouldn't it only be able to attack one tree per round?

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:15 am**

Baxter firing, again at point blank:
Handgun 30% x2 = 60%: 1d100 9 Another hit.
Handgun Damage 1d10: 1d10 8
3 shots fired.

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 4:10 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:With my pitiful DEX, I'd need to drop the rifle so I can try for the STR roll too. But first I have a question. How is the crocodile able to shake all of the trees at the same time? Shouldn't it only be able to attack one tree per round?

I am afraid I have got no good answer for that, at least from a simulationist point of view. I could blubber about size, tree density, toppling dominoes, but the truth is, it is born from narrative logic. A crocodile thrashes around in a jungle, trees bump into each other, pulpy danger.

If it feels unpalatable, ignore it and narrate what feels right for you. I have no attachment to getting things "objectively" "right"

, which I know is a rather fast and loose way of being a keeper / roleplayer.

Ill pause for a moment, let you post and I'll happily roll with whatever you feel is best!

PS: I apologise if this segment is dipping a bit too far into "pulp action"; I confess it was partly for my own benefit so I get a bit of a handle on combat ruiles. I hope its an entertaining interlude despite that!

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:29 pm**

Mr. Handy has a point, but as you pointed out the trees could crash against each other. Burton did manage to hang on though, so I'm happy.

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 2:19 am**

Baxter's Handgun roll is an impale, so he does an additional 1d10 damage from that bullet. If he rolls a 10, that will finish off the croc all by itself! Even if it's lower, it will still weaken it further.

Everyone else has already made their rolls, so I'll roll as well.

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 11:31 am**

"Hold on Percy, brave Burton is going to poke the creature with his knife"

If the crocodile is still alive Burton will try it. What do I roll against? And what of Singh with his sabre?

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 2:45 pm**

Additional roll for the impale:
extra Impale d10: 1d10 1 What a piss poor roll!
I'm afraid it looks like Burton will jolly well have to leap on the thing

Play@YSDC

OOC Discussion

OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion

Re: OOC Discussion