From: Velox Stylxston
To: Theodore Stylxston, Pearl Islands
Dear Father,
I again apologize for leaving you with out any word and I also apologize for not writing to you for so long. I just wanted to let you know that I am well and found a mercenary group in Ethengar. We decided on the name “The Holders” and I am with many friends. One is named Gustav Rorschach (I don't really know how to spell his last name) and he is from Thtyatis just like I am, then there is Simon de'gry who is a mage. Then there is this really cool bird named thesies who is an owl I believe that the techinacal term is a Hisian. These were the first in our marry party then after a week or two came along a man by the name of Iago Rodero who is always drunk, I asked him about his past one time and he said “I'm too drunk to remember”. Then two mages from Alphtia of all places joined our group, by the names of Myst and Blaze, they constantly bicker and can be rather annoying at certain points but they usually volunteer to pay for expenses. Well we started in Ethengar but I'm writing this letter in Glantri, well thats because I have a job here. That is all I really want to say about this subject, oh I bought five horses and named them all I could give you their names but I don't want to boar you with some thing like that. One more thing I had a job at an Ethengar fair and after certain events I found a man claiming to be my uncle by the name of Fredrick…... I forgot his last name, but is this man really my uncle? If so why did you not tell me? And is your brother or mom's brother. I believe he is my uncle because he really saved my butt on more than one occasion. Well the last thing I'm going to say is that I am doing well, I hope you are doing well too and sorry for leaving you like I did but I don't like the merchant life this life suits me better. Hope your doing well
Love, Velox Stylxston
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Gustav Rorschach Journal V
[It is time for more action written by Gustav. Velox wrote something too. Will post soon after this]
8 Kalmont [Kaldmont] - Bargha-Winter site of Camp 21 [also where the Golden Court of the Khan is located during winter] -We reached the Golden Court
Akmad Ibn Yassef-who we report to
Keshaks-Royal warriors of the Golden Khan
-Blizzard coming from the west-don't leave camp for a while
Rumor: "Shamans took over jobs of Druids"
Rumor: Norworld-colony Alfatia [Alphatia] likes-pirates taken an interest in it
-Rumor: Might be able to find magic items in the Ethengar hoard-full of reclaimed items from foreigners-otherwise had to find magic items
-Rumor: Castles at north end of Ethengar? Heldanic
-Rumor: Ambyrville Castle disappeared, then reappeared-still in New Averoigne
-Rumor: Pirates buired treasure in Ethengar coast? (to the east)
-Rumor: Ethengars still have internal problems-Keeping merc jobs in stock & keeping Ethengars from going on a war rampage
15 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Blizzard passed-Got a note to go see Akmad-today is the blessing of the Golden Khan's court-big festival events & contests
->Job offer: Find people who didn't make it to the festival
->Burdy dead bodies find identification, mark location, bring ID back to Akmad-travel west for a week, then come back (About 14 days, 400g each)
-Set off west-past frozen river-about 16 miles
-Simon had a dream-three were two of them-one apparently dead, one looking at a crystal in a room-one upside-down
Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Nothing happens, move west
Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Accidentally went east the whole day
16 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Heard rumbling-Yeti snake [wow....just wow...is that the best you can do to describe it?] -thing ate Blaze & his horse-Myst's horse died (Yeti Snake-White Fang)
17 Kalmont [Kaldmont...man, it gets annoying correcting your mistakes] -Had to stop & rest to take care of Myst & me- too cold to continue - Orcs came toward us-about 20 of them
-> Apparently want peace-asked for food-we gave them rations that were for Myst's horse-they give us 20 flaming arrows
18 Kalmont [Kaldmont] Rest (I'm still stuck) [he was sick]
19 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Traveled west - Found Ethengars w/ horses stuck in snow-one approached us-said they were here to help people-we offered to help out those stuck-whilewe helped, someone called out that raiders were coming-we stayed behind to gaurd against rear attacks
->Ethengars disappeared into shadows when defeated-one of them shifted into Frost & vanished in an explosion which set carts on fire
->Saved two of the carts; one took major damage
21 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Set back out east toward camp-got lost-eventually came to frozen river (SW/NE)
22 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Went south-found trail going SW/NE - went NE - trail became more of a road- asked directions & found Golden Court was to the NE
23 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Arrived back at Bargha-Made our way back to Akmad-Reported battle to Akmad & told him about odd opponents-He sat & thought for a while - believed then were spirits-beleived creature that approached Myst was the same- aske dus about where & when we encountered spirits
-> Concluded something was going on in southern Taijit land
-> Then he brought in a Shaman, who did a ritual, & he pointed to a spot on the map
-> Mission: Travel SW across road to outpost, then be guided NW to site-may have to visit spirit world-investigate rifts if there are any; report to Shamans & have them investigate if not-we are being sent Shaman-less to avoid causing activity-If we can find a way to close the rift (maybe from the inside)-we should do it
-Bought rations & 30 potions of healing at camp
-Rumor: Arguments among the Khans at the Great Horse Festival
Rumor; Glantri used to be uncivilized, the people settled, then fought, the settled, ect. - Glantri a fairly young nation
-Rumor: Dragon Chess tourney in spring in Glantri-prize 10,000 gp
-Vague rumor: Heldannic Freeholds have things like boats that can fly.
[Party will be waiting at Bargha until next year, which is only six days away. They will be leaving on the first of Nuwmont. This is being done in order to prevent situations from coming up from Simon not being able to cast spells on the Day of Dread. The Day of Dread, for those who don't know, is a day where magic cannot be used. Many magical items and such are rendered useless for the day. The character Simon would know more of it.]
8 Kalmont [Kaldmont] - Bargha-Winter site of Camp 21 [also where the Golden Court of the Khan is located during winter] -We reached the Golden Court
Akmad Ibn Yassef-who we report to
Keshaks-Royal warriors of the Golden Khan
-Blizzard coming from the west-don't leave camp for a while
Rumor: "Shamans took over jobs of Druids"
Rumor: Norworld-colony Alfatia [Alphatia] likes-pirates taken an interest in it
-Rumor: Might be able to find magic items in the Ethengar hoard-full of reclaimed items from foreigners-otherwise had to find magic items
-Rumor: Castles at north end of Ethengar? Heldanic
-Rumor: Ambyrville Castle disappeared, then reappeared-still in New Averoigne
-Rumor: Pirates buired treasure in Ethengar coast? (to the east)
-Rumor: Ethengars still have internal problems-Keeping merc jobs in stock & keeping Ethengars from going on a war rampage
15 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Blizzard passed-Got a note to go see Akmad-today is the blessing of the Golden Khan's court-big festival events & contests
->Job offer: Find people who didn't make it to the festival
->Burdy dead bodies find identification, mark location, bring ID back to Akmad-travel west for a week, then come back (About 14 days, 400g each)
-Set off west-past frozen river-about 16 miles
-Simon had a dream-three were two of them-one apparently dead, one looking at a crystal in a room-one upside-down
Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Nothing happens, move west
Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Accidentally went east the whole day
16 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Heard rumbling-Yeti snake [wow....just wow...is that the best you can do to describe it?] -thing ate Blaze & his horse-Myst's horse died (Yeti Snake-White Fang)
17 Kalmont [Kaldmont...man, it gets annoying correcting your mistakes] -Had to stop & rest to take care of Myst & me- too cold to continue - Orcs came toward us-about 20 of them
-> Apparently want peace-asked for food-we gave them rations that were for Myst's horse-they give us 20 flaming arrows
18 Kalmont [Kaldmont] Rest (I'm still stuck) [he was sick]
19 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Traveled west - Found Ethengars w/ horses stuck in snow-one approached us-said they were here to help people-we offered to help out those stuck-whilewe helped, someone called out that raiders were coming-we stayed behind to gaurd against rear attacks
->Ethengars disappeared into shadows when defeated-one of them shifted into Frost & vanished in an explosion which set carts on fire
->Saved two of the carts; one took major damage
21 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Set back out east toward camp-got lost-eventually came to frozen river (SW/NE)
22 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Went south-found trail going SW/NE - went NE - trail became more of a road- asked directions & found Golden Court was to the NE
23 Kalmont [Kaldmont] -Arrived back at Bargha-Made our way back to Akmad-Reported battle to Akmad & told him about odd opponents-He sat & thought for a while - believed then were spirits-beleived creature that approached Myst was the same- aske dus about where & when we encountered spirits
-> Concluded something was going on in southern Taijit land
-> Then he brought in a Shaman, who did a ritual, & he pointed to a spot on the map
-> Mission: Travel SW across road to outpost, then be guided NW to site-may have to visit spirit world-investigate rifts if there are any; report to Shamans & have them investigate if not-we are being sent Shaman-less to avoid causing activity-If we can find a way to close the rift (maybe from the inside)-we should do it
-Bought rations & 30 potions of healing at camp
-Rumor: Arguments among the Khans at the Great Horse Festival
Rumor; Glantri used to be uncivilized, the people settled, then fought, the settled, ect. - Glantri a fairly young nation
-Rumor: Dragon Chess tourney in spring in Glantri-prize 10,000 gp
-Vague rumor: Heldannic Freeholds have things like boats that can fly.
[Party will be waiting at Bargha until next year, which is only six days away. They will be leaving on the first of Nuwmont. This is being done in order to prevent situations from coming up from Simon not being able to cast spells on the Day of Dread. The Day of Dread, for those who don't know, is a day where magic cannot be used. Many magical items and such are rendered useless for the day. The character Simon would know more of it.]
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Thoughts on the Ninja Class
So, Velox wishes to be a Ninja when he grows up. We will see. But right now, here are some thoughts I had on what this class would detail. I am posting this so that it would be more offical. Right now, I am focusing more on the historical ninja, and not that magical anime crap that people think are ninjas. The historical ninja, just so you know, would lose to a historical pirate in a fight. However, a historical ninja is more useful than a historical pirate.
A ninja is basically a spy. The ninja would hire itself out for the jobs of espionage, sabotage, infiltration, countermeassures, and from time to time assassination. One major feature of the Ninja Class that I think I am going to set in stone is that the Ninja Class in not a combat class. It is a class that plays the roles of a spy, scout, ambusher, and someone who tries to mess up the enemy behind their lines. Two me, for game terms, this splits this class up into two major roles. Ninja Stealth and Ninja Infiltrator. Ninja Infiltrator is not a class for the Rake as the Infiltrator would be required to steal. The Ninja Infiltrator sneaks in, steals items that can help his party out or hurt the enemy, attempts to gain inside information, and works behind enemy lines to do as much damage to the enemy as possible before the party reaches them. The Ninja Stealth works on not being seen. They work behind enemy lines mostly to gain information and scout out the area ahead of them. They also seek to kill the right target to help their party out before combat begins. The Ninja Stealth and Infiltrator have very high sneaking skills. The major differences are that the Stealth is better at general sneaking around and sneak attacking while the Infiltrator is better at breaking into things and stealing things.
Though I don't know what it would take to be a Ninja Class, here are the 18 disciplines of ninjutsu (note that I don't use the Japanese names just to make things simple. Also, I modified them a little bit. I might use the normal if I feel like it)
1) Spiritual refinement
2) Unarmed combat
3) Sword Techniques
4) Staff Techniques
5) Spear Techniques
6) Dagger Techiniques
7) Throwing Weapons Techniques
8) Fire and Explosives
9) Disguise and Espionage Tactics
10) Stealth and Infiltration Tactics
11) Retreating and Escape Tactics
12) Horse Riding
13) Water Techniques
14) Botany
15) Meteorology
16) Geography
17) Sociology
18) Teamwork Techniques
Number one deals with basically understanding unity of all things. The Immortals and Mortals. Life and Death. Light and Dark. Ect. ect. ect.
The the next 6 (and sometimes seven as fire can be used in combat) is combat techniques. As ninja are expected to survive they need to be able to fend for themselves if need to be. This doesn't mean that they are fighters, just means that they are expected to be able to be skilled at so many different weapons that they can improvise as the situation calls for it.
The next set (9, 10, and 11 and sometimes 8) are the skills a ninja needs to do his job. To sneak in, get the hidden information, scout the enemy, and ect. They are also the skills a ninja needs in order to stay out of site. A ninja is to remain unseen and he would need this skills to survive. Note that this doesn't surmount to just a die roll. The player would be expected to think for himself on how to do this tasks. Fire is there because it is an excellent tool to use in espionage missions.
The next six (and sometimes seven) are all basic tools a ninja needs to survive on the land. A ninja would be expected to be on its own for long periods, and thus a ninja would be expected to be able to live without outside support for days at a time. A ninja needs to master this skills in order to survive the vast outdoor wilderness. Note that that 8 is also included in this set. Also note that, though not listed here, a ninja would be expected to be able to do some civilian job in order to survive. Jobs such as medicine man, farmer, trader, carpenter, ect.
The final one is Teamwork. From personal experience, stealth works best when you are being helped in some way with a friend(s). I know this from personal experience in the airsoft games I played. I hid best in those games when I had a friend causing a diversion or when I have a friend playing the part of me being an enemy in order to confuse the real enemy. If you want some quick examples of such teamwork, pay attention to how people help the main character out in Metal Gear Solid, Assassin's Creed, and Hitman.
These are just general ideas on how one would play a historical class of the ninja. If young Velox says that this is not for him, then I will put up some more ideas. Also, the rest of you guys need to be talking to me about what you want you want to be when you grow up.
A ninja is basically a spy. The ninja would hire itself out for the jobs of espionage, sabotage, infiltration, countermeassures, and from time to time assassination. One major feature of the Ninja Class that I think I am going to set in stone is that the Ninja Class in not a combat class. It is a class that plays the roles of a spy, scout, ambusher, and someone who tries to mess up the enemy behind their lines. Two me, for game terms, this splits this class up into two major roles. Ninja Stealth and Ninja Infiltrator. Ninja Infiltrator is not a class for the Rake as the Infiltrator would be required to steal. The Ninja Infiltrator sneaks in, steals items that can help his party out or hurt the enemy, attempts to gain inside information, and works behind enemy lines to do as much damage to the enemy as possible before the party reaches them. The Ninja Stealth works on not being seen. They work behind enemy lines mostly to gain information and scout out the area ahead of them. They also seek to kill the right target to help their party out before combat begins. The Ninja Stealth and Infiltrator have very high sneaking skills. The major differences are that the Stealth is better at general sneaking around and sneak attacking while the Infiltrator is better at breaking into things and stealing things.
Though I don't know what it would take to be a Ninja Class, here are the 18 disciplines of ninjutsu (note that I don't use the Japanese names just to make things simple. Also, I modified them a little bit. I might use the normal if I feel like it)
1) Spiritual refinement
2) Unarmed combat
3) Sword Techniques
4) Staff Techniques
5) Spear Techniques
6) Dagger Techiniques
7) Throwing Weapons Techniques
8) Fire and Explosives
9) Disguise and Espionage Tactics
10) Stealth and Infiltration Tactics
11) Retreating and Escape Tactics
12) Horse Riding
13) Water Techniques
14) Botany
15) Meteorology
16) Geography
17) Sociology
18) Teamwork Techniques
Number one deals with basically understanding unity of all things. The Immortals and Mortals. Life and Death. Light and Dark. Ect. ect. ect.
The the next 6 (and sometimes seven as fire can be used in combat) is combat techniques. As ninja are expected to survive they need to be able to fend for themselves if need to be. This doesn't mean that they are fighters, just means that they are expected to be able to be skilled at so many different weapons that they can improvise as the situation calls for it.
The next set (9, 10, and 11 and sometimes 8) are the skills a ninja needs to do his job. To sneak in, get the hidden information, scout the enemy, and ect. They are also the skills a ninja needs in order to stay out of site. A ninja is to remain unseen and he would need this skills to survive. Note that this doesn't surmount to just a die roll. The player would be expected to think for himself on how to do this tasks. Fire is there because it is an excellent tool to use in espionage missions.
The next six (and sometimes seven) are all basic tools a ninja needs to survive on the land. A ninja would be expected to be on its own for long periods, and thus a ninja would be expected to be able to live without outside support for days at a time. A ninja needs to master this skills in order to survive the vast outdoor wilderness. Note that that 8 is also included in this set. Also note that, though not listed here, a ninja would be expected to be able to do some civilian job in order to survive. Jobs such as medicine man, farmer, trader, carpenter, ect.
The final one is Teamwork. From personal experience, stealth works best when you are being helped in some way with a friend(s). I know this from personal experience in the airsoft games I played. I hid best in those games when I had a friend causing a diversion or when I have a friend playing the part of me being an enemy in order to confuse the real enemy. If you want some quick examples of such teamwork, pay attention to how people help the main character out in Metal Gear Solid, Assassin's Creed, and Hitman.
These are just general ideas on how one would play a historical class of the ninja. If young Velox says that this is not for him, then I will put up some more ideas. Also, the rest of you guys need to be talking to me about what you want you want to be when you grow up.
Gustav Rorschach Journal IV
[And now more from our favorite punching hero in Mystara. What does he have to say about his adventures today?]
-Approached by Ethnegar [Ethengar] woman in camp-gave us each 100 gp, said Glantrians would give us a mission & we were to act as double agents.
27 Sviftmont-Traveled via gondola through Glantri City
->very fancy-flying cows, explosions from people practicing magic, etc., water-streets (hence the gondola)
-Met Moisseur Degeyer-supects us of spying-offered us to be double agents & work against Ethnegars [Ethengars, I should start docking experience points every time Ethengar is misspelled]-says we have to pass test to be mercenaries [in Glantri, this is a regulation practice in Glantri to make sure the mercenaries hired have some brains]
[Air-thought, detective work]
-Our job is to find Boris Regal
-Boris Regal, spy for some country-maybe Thyatis-using him to feed false info to Thyatis, Boris someties gets intoxicated & wanders off
->Black hair, 5'5", 44 years old, full black beard & stache, green eyes, missing pinky on right hand, wears dragon ring on left hand (maybe belongs to Dragon Riders)
-> 1 gp per gondola ride-rode to supply shop "Over There," [no, really, thats the name] owned by Peter
-Bought mountain tent (75 gp) from shop (sleeps 4, works on mountains), and 1 week standard rations & 1 week [stops here for some reason, then goes on]
-Went to "Stable Next To Over There," [The names just keep on getting better, at least the players will remember these names with no problems] run by Paul, & bought 5 female draft horses & equipment for 400 gp, [Myst-Alexis] [Gustav still has George] [Simon-Maria] [Velox-Xanphia] [Iago-Helga] [Blaze-Blaze]
-Peter told us to go to Tooth [Two] Fairy Inn-gay bar-chair flies over us as we enter-wild place-barkeep offers to help us in the back
->we paid him 50 gp, he said something about party in Tevoni Massion last night (26 Sviftmont)
-We go there-see a drunk blond man passed out in front-see two eagle statues on gate looking to the east-knock on door & greeted by a servant
-Mansion has enchantments that kill those who try to steal things
->We found Boris dead in basement w/ no marks or runes [wounds]-Blaze carried him out & we went back to court [Wait, you just carry a dead body out away from a crime scene? You didn't even try to find the cause of death. What the bloody hell did he die of? Lose and learn, I guess]
-Test of Void-Must do an evil without breaking the law (getting close to dark)-passed by dragging body out
-Test of Water/Time-We must research something tommorrow-will receive letter in the morning-sleep at Dragon's Teeth Inn [sounds friendly enough...] 10 gp for 2 rooms
28 Sviftmont-We travel to library-Must study story & discuss changes in relationships between characters (Troilus & Criseyde) [The players decided not to do this one because they do like to read]
-Test of Earth-Play Go-We won
Test of Fire-Become members of the Church of Rad
Test Complete! (3/5 complete-Passed Void, Earth, & Fired-Failed Water, Wind)
8 Eirmont [All the testing lasted until 8 Eirmont. They will leave on the next day back towards the Ethengar Khanates. I am montaging there journey there so that they can get back into action]
[Something you guys should have learned in this session was that the DM doesn't always tell you exactly what you need to do. Also, the DM plans on plays screwing up. Trust me, I had a hunch that you were going to fail 2 out of those 5 tests. Again, I remind you that it would be a good idea if someone else were to write a thing or two so you can have multiple view points. Velox says that he wants to write letters to his father, and I will post them up here if he does.]
-Approached by Ethnegar [Ethengar] woman in camp-gave us each 100 gp, said Glantrians would give us a mission & we were to act as double agents.
27 Sviftmont-Traveled via gondola through Glantri City
->very fancy-flying cows, explosions from people practicing magic, etc., water-streets (hence the gondola)
-Met Moisseur Degeyer-supects us of spying-offered us to be double agents & work against Ethnegars [Ethengars, I should start docking experience points every time Ethengar is misspelled]-says we have to pass test to be mercenaries [in Glantri, this is a regulation practice in Glantri to make sure the mercenaries hired have some brains]
[Air-thought, detective work]
-Our job is to find Boris Regal
-Boris Regal, spy for some country-maybe Thyatis-using him to feed false info to Thyatis, Boris someties gets intoxicated & wanders off
->Black hair, 5'5", 44 years old, full black beard & stache, green eyes, missing pinky on right hand, wears dragon ring on left hand (maybe belongs to Dragon Riders)
-> 1 gp per gondola ride-rode to supply shop "Over There," [no, really, thats the name] owned by Peter
-Bought mountain tent (75 gp) from shop (sleeps 4, works on mountains), and 1 week standard rations & 1 week [stops here for some reason, then goes on]
-Went to "Stable Next To Over There," [The names just keep on getting better, at least the players will remember these names with no problems] run by Paul, & bought 5 female draft horses & equipment for 400 gp, [Myst-Alexis] [Gustav still has George] [Simon-Maria] [Velox-Xanphia] [Iago-Helga] [Blaze-Blaze]
-Peter told us to go to Tooth [Two] Fairy Inn-gay bar-chair flies over us as we enter-wild place-barkeep offers to help us in the back
->we paid him 50 gp, he said something about party in Tevoni Massion last night (26 Sviftmont)
-We go there-see a drunk blond man passed out in front-see two eagle statues on gate looking to the east-knock on door & greeted by a servant
-Mansion has enchantments that kill those who try to steal things
->We found Boris dead in basement w/ no marks or runes [wounds]-Blaze carried him out & we went back to court [Wait, you just carry a dead body out away from a crime scene? You didn't even try to find the cause of death. What the bloody hell did he die of? Lose and learn, I guess]
-Test of Void-Must do an evil without breaking the law (getting close to dark)-passed by dragging body out
-Test of Water/Time-We must research something tommorrow-will receive letter in the morning-sleep at Dragon's Teeth Inn [sounds friendly enough...] 10 gp for 2 rooms
28 Sviftmont-We travel to library-Must study story & discuss changes in relationships between characters (Troilus & Criseyde) [The players decided not to do this one because they do like to read]
-Test of Earth-Play Go-We won
Test of Fire-Become members of the Church of Rad
Test Complete! (3/5 complete-Passed Void, Earth, & Fired-Failed Water, Wind)
8 Eirmont [All the testing lasted until 8 Eirmont. They will leave on the next day back towards the Ethengar Khanates. I am montaging there journey there so that they can get back into action]
[Something you guys should have learned in this session was that the DM doesn't always tell you exactly what you need to do. Also, the DM plans on plays screwing up. Trust me, I had a hunch that you were going to fail 2 out of those 5 tests. Again, I remind you that it would be a good idea if someone else were to write a thing or two so you can have multiple view points. Velox says that he wants to write letters to his father, and I will post them up here if he does.]
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