Now we can be an upscale manga!

Thanks. I wasn’t planning on looking monsters up. It just occurred to me that with the custom world that there may be lore we are supposed to know that is “basic” knowledge for everyone. There’s plenty to read on this site!

So...are all undead immune to cold in this setting or is this an indicator of something else/special. Would my character even know?  At this point it isn’t going to change my action, just want to know if there is a ton more reading I would be doing to be indoctrinated properly. 

Ok, now I can join in on the other conversations!  It's been a very, very long time since I played by post - almost as long ago as when I played 2nd Ed.  I had to go to my storage facility and get a few real books to finish rolling my character! 

I am kind of surprised that I haven't stumbled across this site before now.  It's just my kind of silliness - and there are nearly 4K people here!

I'm glad for the notes, I was starting to wonder if I should start posting direct history responses like Bromen Sal and Eol Fefalas.  I think I'll do that only when I think more clarity is needed (share your feedback!) - otherwise, I will focus on telling Midges point of view and actions instead of reposting the whole scene.

Somehow, when I first opened this forum I didn't notice that there were already pages of posts!  Catching up on them now and will address items as I come across them.

Midge is 3'3" tall.  He wears fur-trimmed robes that he uses magic on daily to clean, repair and even change the color of to suit his whims.  As far as the easily noticeable equipment he has a custom backpack with a built-in quiver that has numerous strips of leather at the rim. The ornately carved rods [3] in the quiver are all secured with at least one leather thong.  He has a dagger tucked in behind his back and walks with a 4' sling staff in hand.

Midge is fiercely proud of his magical ability and looks for opportunities to use his magic.  He doesn't have that conceited attitude you come across in other Circle mages.  In fact, he looks for ways to be of service and help.  He will often cast cantrips just to make life easier - and it won't take much to see him cast one to entertain children.

Midge will handle his "spell rods" daily quietly mumbling to himself, and will even occasionally add a small refinement to the carvings.  You will see that he has an interesting selection of knives, chisels and other custom bits of metal that he keeps in a leather case to do this carving with.  Somewhere in that tiny pack (or is it some magic ;-) ) he also has a small jar of beeswax that he will also rub into the rods to bring out the color and protect them from the elements.

Midge doesn't let anyone bully him, due to size or any other reason.  He will aggressively push back against any attempts of intimidation by anybody.  You will learn that this is part of why he is an adventurer - to prove that anybody can be more than what others tell them they are.

He's very friendly and generally trusting that things are as they appear to be.  He isn't nieve and knows something about nearly everything.  When asked he'll tell you that being raised in a tavern at the foot of bards is one way to hear a little about everything - and it doesn't hurt to read a few books now and then.  He doesn't like to talk about his family, though he will slip into telling tales about his village and the other people in it.

Midge doesn't appear to have any bias or bigotry typical for the halfling people and he doesn't react poorly when others push theirs at him - unless it starts to cross the line into intimidation, bullying or violence.  He also won't hesitate to add magic to his counter-intimidation.  But you will never see him using it as a strong-hand negotiation tactic with regulars who have not crossed one of his lines.  He is genuinely curious about nearly everything - and doesn't usually hold back his questions, even when that would be a better idea.  When in a town you may have to go through several shops to finally find him bugging some craftsman about their trade.

• I am fine being second to last in the marching order.


• In our travels, you will occasionally see Midge looking up at Ch'dau.  He doesn't say anything, he apparently needs visual reminders as part of his contemplation.  [I wonder what he would do if I do pull his tail?  Would he let me ride him into battle?  Would he make a good blanket at a cold campsite?  What did he do to clean himself before he started traveling with me? ...etc...]  Ch'dau apparently represents a number of pleasant mysteries that he would like to solve.

Current combat strategy since I just saw the supporting posts:  If the fast attacker can't be held back by our martial team Midge will add a Shark Bolt into that fray.  If it becomes crowd control then Midge will try Snilloc's Snowball Swarm as long as he can place it where there is minimal impact on refugees - even if it doesn't hurt them it may make terrain more interesting.  If a fire develops then he will consider using Fire Burst for crowd control too.  Otherwise, he will take targets of opportunity with his staff sling until it gets to one-on-one with him.  At that point, Midge will use his Gauntlet spell to make more of an impact on the enemy.

I do not know friend Atharis, [with a little laugh] but apparently our pet monster does!  He said, "No cold magic" and that's a little disturbing.  See if you can't use that little flame to make a larger one - I can use that later.  Best to prepare a defense now though.

[Quietly Chanting, and boldly thrusting his hand, palm forward, in the direction of the screams]  Between thee and me, a shield there be!  {Shield v3p808 - 1 mana}

[He then drops a few round river stones to the ground around him and grips his sling-staff in both hands - lacross style!.  Now ready to attack with it, or let go to cast his next spell as the situation develops]

Hopefully, they have gotten used to how weak these refugees are and our martial friends will be a big suprise.  It would be nice to reverse the initiative and get the drop on them!

[Hmmm...fleeing trouble that doesn’t rest and is more active at night sure sounds like the undead. Damn, I hope not.  Well this is part of being an adventurer - time to work the magic muscle and make a difference!]

Midge trots over to the front of the refugee party and loudly states:  I’m not a priest who can heal your ails, however even I know that morale is a critical factor. I can do nothing for the weather, but most men feel better if they are clean. Perhaps that will lighten your step enough that you can take time to tell us of the trouble behind you. 

[Midge then proceeds to touch each refugee and magically clean him of the filth of their journey.  If he sees shoes that need mending he will make an effort to do that too via a second cantrip - “stealing” threads from their socks or robe hems as necessary to aid the magical repair. ]

{Oops not fast enough!}

[Focused on listening for the stiffled buzzing of sleeping stirges that could be hiding in the trees.  Midge keeps shifting his gaze to each side of the trail, scanning where the mist is thick in the trees.  The party halts and he stumbles into the cat-man-monster who doesn't need a cloak to keep off the chill.]

Ooomph.  [Whispers] Sorry, what's going on?  There's too many legs in the way and I can't see.  [He then tries to move to the right side of the road, closer to the trees and mist so he can see around those in front.]

It's obvious from your 1st conversation with Midge that he is not suited to leadership.  He's too gruff, and seems to be carrying a chip on his shoulder about something.  You can see it from the constant challenge that is in his eyes and his bearing.

i have books - lots of books and played 2e for over a decade. I also have blank character sheets. I read through the noted articles and get him (Midge, Scourge of Stirges) rolled up and submitted for review. I’ll also PM you with additional contact info for follow up. 

So many books...The Encylopedia Magica may even get opened again!

Ok, I haven’t played 2e in years. I still have the books and can get this character made should the background story/Introduction be approved. 

Before you stands a halfling with a bottle of wine in his left hand. He’s quite odd, dressed in blue robes trimmed in red fox fur with a floppy hat that has a stirge feathers in it’s brim.  He has a bundle of carved rods in a large quiver - like they were javelins.  However it’s easy to see that they might be an assortment of staves when you consider his size. 

I hear your looking for a mage, perhaps even a combat wizard.  I’m looking for adventures who can help me gain greater power - the power to exterminate an entire species.  I’m not interested in pussy-footing around. If this is a hobby for you, I’m not your guy.  

I can see from your faces that you want to know more - I would too. Everybody always asks anyway, so it’s easier to just to tell you up front - I want the exterminate the stirge species - every last one of the bastards. Stirges are a bane on our existence and do not serve in an exclusive role in our world.  They are the reason my twin brother is dead, and there will be no mercy or pity for these blood-sucking humming birds. Yes, I’m obsessive and this will be a point of conflict if we find a nest that I can destroy and we bypass it without a reason along the lines of, “you’re going to get us all killed”. I’m in for the long fight, I’m not interested in a sacrificial gesture. 

So, that going to be a problem with ya’ll?  No?  Great, let’s talk some more and see if this will work out  

The rods?  Those are my spell staves.  I learned the trick from a lizardman shaman.  Books and paper don’t travel well, things always get wet.  Carve the runes and knowledge into a cypher on a staff, decorate it with other embellishments and now you have a sturdy traveling spell book that can weather a journey and is pleasing to the eye.  They can even fetch a nice price and provide a bit of coin in strange places as you journey.  Last, and not least, you can give somebody a good whack with ‘em too.

i travel pretty light; don’t take a lot of equipment with me - i’m also not particularly graceful or strong, so I will need some accommodation by the members for supplies.  If we’re working together my contribution will be my magic, education, skills and reason - not my muscles. You’ll get my best as I expect from everyone else, and I’ll pull my weight everywhere I can - and more if I can.  I won’t bullshit ya, if I can’t do something, I can’t do it - and if I can, I will.

That enough for a start?  What of the rest of ya?