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Topic: The Return of the Prodigal Son
Subject: A Spider in the Web
Two weeks ago
The whispers of what was going on in Thyatis had, of course, buzzed through the Underworld of late and, as such, most Guildmasters – even those outside of Thyatis City – had caught word of and expressed concern over the strange disappearances occurring in that place. How could they not? The beggars of Axetown were a vital thread in the intelligence and surveillance webs of any number of guilds, after all, and any undue plucking of that thread is sure to rouse the spider which tends it.
Funny that I should pick that analogy, Seramin, master of the Thieves’ Guild in Cragmoor, chuckled as he traced a slender finger over the map spread on the table before him, considering who it is that answers our call. His glittering eyes followed his finger as it drew a winding path between Cragmoor and Thyatis, then skipped from the larger map to a smaller, more crudely drawn chart that represented the latter’s Undercity. Had it not been for the faint flickering of a candle which held one corner of the larger map in place, Seramin might have believed himself to still be alone in the secret room beneath his tailor’s shop, and worse yet, had he not reached for his wine glass at the precise instant he had, he might have missed that all too brief dancing of the flame that surely belied his visitor’s presence.
The thought frightened and thrilled the Master Thief all at once. Ooooh, he thought as his fingers curled around the stem of the glass and lifted it from the table, this one is good, isn’t he? A faint smile played on his lips, making it somewhat more difficult for him to properly sample the wine as he indulged in one more glance at his maps. “Delighted you could make it,” he said after a moment, his gaze lifting to sweep the room and peer into the more shadowy recesses - for surely that’s where the man would be. He lifted the wine to his lips again as his eyes focused on a curiously dark shape in one, far corner of the place; “I didn’t hear the door.”
“I didn’t use the door,” a somewhat amused voice whispered from behind him.
Seramin’s suddenly tightened throat rebelled against his first attempt to swallow the wine… I was certain that he was… The guild master’s eyes widened a bit and his faint grin stretched into a tight grimace as he fought to keep from spitting the wine out in surprise …but he’s right behind me isn’t he? That same mix of fear and excitement rippled through him again before he could manage to swallow the wine. “Of course you didn’t,” he replied, molding the grimace back into a smile before turning to face the Shadowblade who had so deftly infiltrated his hidden offices, “Spider, isn’t it?”
“Spider will do,” the raven-haired half-elf who now stood within a blade’s reach of Seramin nodded, golden eyes regarding the guildmaster evenly from behind wisps of the shoulder length hair that had fallen across the angular but somehow fine-featured face.
The Shadowblade was clad from toe to throat in penumbral hues of black, gray, blue, and purple. Black, well worn boots, crafted from soft, supple leather encased his feet and lower legs (the slim daggers sheathed in them scarcely noticeable at a glance). The legs of his breeches - also a dusky shade of black and, apparently crafted from the same supple leather – disappeared into the top of those boots and were interrupted only once between knee and waist by the thigh straps of what most called a ‘housebreaker’s harness’ or a ‘burglar’s rig’…
Curiously enough, also referred to as a spider in the Thieves’ Cant, Seramin mused.
…Above this, the hems of two tunics were apparent – a black one, woven from fine silk it appeared, was worn close to the skin and the other, a sturdier garment the purple color of a days old bruise, was worn over this. Between them both, Seramin though he caught sight of a shirt of fine, elfin chain, but he couldn’t be sure… if it was the rare, lightweight mail, then surely this shirt was even rarer still for, from what he could see of it, each link was wrapped in thin strips of leather or silk or, perhaps, both. It might have been easier to tell had the straps of the burglar’s rig not kept the whole lot bound close and secure to Spider’s sleekly muscled frame.
Seramin nodded again, finished with his initial appraisal of the Shadowblade known, at least in his own circles, as Spider. “You’ve heard of the goings on in Thyatis, I assume,” the master thief asked, tearing his gaze from the half-elf and indulging in another sip of the wine before redirecting his attentions back to the map of Axetown
“I have,” Spider answered, his voice scarcely above the measure of a whisper, “and I’ve also heard that you have need of someone to look into those happenings on your behalf.” The half-elf moved to perch on the edge of Seramin’s table, then, his footsteps all but inaudible and the rustling of his clothing scarce more than the murmur of a breeze. “What has escaped me, though, Master Seramin, is why you might have sought me out for this job when you have two, highly capable Shadowblades already in the employ of your guild.”
Seramin chuckled and waved a hand as if to dismiss any suspicions that might linger in Spider’s mind; “Marcus and Bastian are, shall we say, preoccupied with other matters here in Cragmoor,” he said, “and, at present, I can ill-afford to send them traipsing off to Thyatis.”
“Ah yes,” Spider smirked, his golden eyes dancing over the maps, “your upstart former lieutenant and his merry band of cutpurses. Quite the rebellion, I’m sure.
And what of the Lord of Thyatis’ guild, then,” the Shadowblade queried, “The Dark Hand, I believe, he’s calling himself, these days. Does he not have agents who might undertake this mission?”
Seramin’s eyes slid suspiciously in Spider’s direction, then, and a sardonic smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “He does,” the Master Thief replied, sipping once more at his wine, “and he has, in fact, assured me that he’ll be setting one of his own out on this. You know, though, Spider, that there is truly very little trust between myself and The Dark Hand or between myself and Banshen or any other guild master you may care to name for that matter…”
“Right; the whole honor among thieves bit,” Spider interrupted; a knowing, yet, somewhat sarcastic grin playing on his own lips.
“Precisely,” Seramin said, “which is why, thanks to an agreement struck between myself and several others, it has been decided that you might be our best option in this case. Unlike most of your brethren, Spider, you enjoy a unique standing even amongst other Shadowblades and that, my dear boy, is largely because you refuse to align yourself completely with any of our Guild houses…”
“The guild in Cragmoor, the guild in Thyatis, wherever, you’re all the same,” Spider shrugged.
“…You’re a mercenary,” Seramin continued as if the Shadowblade hadn’t interrupted, “playing inside and outside the bounds of all of our organizations. Your independence, as it were, also would seem to preclude whatever…ah…bias might be shown by any of your brethren who might have a vested interest in one guild or another specifically. Such a quality… I suppose you’d call it a quality, anyway… is particularly desirable in situations such as this, Spider.
The goings on in Axetown, you see, do not affect only the Guild in Thyatis nor my Guild here in Cragmoor. No, no, no, it’s much more far-reaching than that, you see? Whatever it is that’s occurring there, will have effects on each and every guild wherever they may be found. With that in mind, why would I risk trusting the Dark Hand’s agents to return with information or results that wouldn’t be skewed to his designs…”
“…And why would he trust your agents not to do the same,” Spider interrupted again, finishing the guild master’s thought for him. “Yes, I see.”
Again, Seramin nodded; “I had been told that you would. And,” he added, emptying the last swallow of wine from his glass, “since you showed, I’m assuming that the bid we submitted was reasonable?”
“Reasonable?” Spider grinned, almost laughing, as he slid from the table and padded towards a patch of shadow just outside the glow of the tallows that burned on Seramin’s table; “Yes, I suppose reasonable would be the appropriate description. Should the job be worth more, however, I’ll be sure to let you know upon my return.”
“So, you’ll go then?”
“Why not,” the whispering voice replied from the darkness on the fringes of the room, “I’ve not seen Thyatis for quite some time; if nothing else, the change of scenery will be enjoyable…”
“Wonderful,” Seramin beamed, pouring himself another glassful as his eyes searched the shadows, “You’ll keep me apprised of your progress, I hope?”
“As I can,” came the hushed answer.
The candle flames danced, again, and Seramin knew (or, at least, hoped) that he was alone in his chambers, once more. “Gads,” he shuddered, pausing long enough to snort down half of the freshly poured vintage in a single gulp, “Spider, indeed. We may have to kill that one if he returns.”
“Best of luck with that,” Marcus said, extricating himself from the false panel nestled between the joists of the ceiling above and lowering himself to the floor next to the Guild Master, “Tristan’s not one that I’d cross on a job, though; before, during, or after.”
((OOC: Okay, there’s a start… Part 2 coming soon.))
Posted on 2008-04-25 at 17:43:15.
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Topic: Q&A: The Return Of The Prodigal Son
Subject: Finally
I've got a character that I think will work well. Already PMd to our dear DM and posting this bit here for everyone else's review. Still need to gear up, etc, but here's the "basics":
Tristan “Spider” Drôst
Player: Eöl Fëfalás
Race: Half-Elf
Height: 5’9” Weight: 160 lbs
Hair: Raven Black Eyes: Gold
Class: Shadowblade (Fighter/Thief Kit)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Level: 11
XP: 300,000
HP: 41
STATS
STR: 14 (Hit Prob: 0 Dmg Adj:0 Weight Allow: 55 Max Press: 170 Open Doors: 8 BB/LG: 7%)
DEX: 18 (Reaction Adj: +2 Missile Attack adj: +2 Def Adj: -4)
CON: 13 (HP adj: 0 System Shock: 85% Res Survival: 90% Poison Save: 0 Regeneration: nil)
INT: 11 (Languages: 2 Spell Level: 5 Learn Spell: 45% Max Spells: 7 illusion Imm: --)
WIS: 12 (Magical Def Adj: 0 Bonus Spells: - Spell Failure: 5% Spell Imm: - )
CHA: 13 (Max Henchmen: 5 Loyalty Base: 0 Reaction Adj: +1 (+2 from thieves, -2 from non thieves, and -4 from law enforcement who know his stats as a Shadowblade)
Saves
P/P/DM: 11 Petrification/Polymorph: 10 Rod, Staff, Wand: 10
Breath Wpn: 14 Spells/Magic: 11
Thief Skills
Climb Walls: 94 Find/Remove Traps: 68 Detect Noise: 67 Hide in Shadows: 93
Move Silently: 93 Open locks: 69 Pick Pockets: 18 Read Languages: 45
Weapon Proficiencies
- Short Sword (Specialized)
- Dagger
- Light Crossbow
Non-Weapon Proficiencies
- Information Gathering (bonus from kit)
- Intimidation (bonus from kit)
- Blind-fighting
- Disguise
- Tracking
Class/Race Features
- 30% resistance to sleep and all charm-related spells
- Infravision 60’
- Detect Secret Door, 10’ (1 on 1d6)
- Discover Secret Door (1-2 on 1d6)
- Discover Concealed Door (1-3 on 1d6)
- Bonus NWPs from Shadowblade Kit: Intimidation, Information Gathering
- +2 reaction bonus from all thieves who know Tristan’s status as a Shadowblade
- -2 reaction adjustment for all non thieves (-4 for law enforcement) who know Tristan’s status as a Shadowblade
- +2 bonus to Hiding, +1 bonus to Move Silently, -2 penalty to Pick Pockets
- At 10th level attract followers and use scrolls
- Thieves Cant
- Backstab
Kit Description
Description: The Shadowblade is considered an elite member of the thieving community. He is a dark and foreboding character combining the subtlety of a thief with the deadly skills of a warrior. Many thieves’ guilds will have one or two in their employ. Other shadowblades hire themselves out to the highest bidder. Whether it’s assassination, bounty hunting, enforcing, or just plain larceny, if there is a roguish job that requires some extra muscle, the shadowblade is the person to call. Shadowblades must have a Strength of 13 or greater, and a Dexterity of 12 or higher. As with all thieves, they may not be of Lawful Good alignment.
Role: As many half-elves find little acceptance with the mainstream society, they often feel more at home with thieves’ guilds (who pragmatically appreciate their multi-faceted talents). Shadowblades are well known and respected in the underworld for their fighting skills.
Weapon Proficiencies: A shadowblade may spend His weapon proficiencies any way He wishes. Normally, multi-classed fighters are not allowed to specialize in a weapon, but the shadowblade may do so in one weapon of their choice only.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Bonus: Information gathering, Intimidation. Recommended: Blind-fighting, Disguise, Jumping, Tumbling, Endurance, Trailing, Alertness.
Skill Progression: Shadowblades usually progress about equally in their thief skills. The exception is Pick Pockets, which they tend to find unimportant.
Equipment: No special equipment is preferred. Like all multi-classed thieves, shadowblades may not use any thief skills but Read Languages, Detect Noise, and Open Locks in armor heavier than leather.
Special Benefits: Shadowblades are well respected in the underworld and therefore receive a +2 to all reaction rolls from thieves who know of the character’s status. Shadowblades also gain a +2 to Hiding, and a +1 bonus to their Move Silently skills.
Special Hindrances: Regardless of actual alignment, shadowblades have a notorious reputation and therefore receive a –2 to reactions from non-thieves and –4 reaction from law enforcement officials if they know of the shadowblade status. Shadowblades also receive a –2 penalty to the Pick Pockets ability.
Wealth Options: 5d4 x 100 sp
EDIT: Removed Weapon Proficiency: Whip - forgot for a moment that specialization in the shortsword ate up an extra slot. 
Posted on 2008-04-24 at 16:57:04.
Edited on 2008-04-25 at 21:52:51 by Eol Fefalas
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Topic: Blatantly Obvious Lies
Subject: Well, I'm guessing it's...
For his uncanny ability to force any hockey game he's watching to go into overtime.
Why don't chickens have lips?
Posted on 2008-04-23 at 15:11:21.
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Topic: Star Trek: Operation:Persephone - Q&A
Subject: Almost there...
Cap'n Jack's post is nearly ready... weekend festivities slowed me down where writing was concerned and you all have given me plenty of stuff to work with. Hoping to have something in the next 24 hours. 
Posted on 2008-04-22 at 01:46:18.
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Topic: Rememberance for my Grandmother
Subject: All my best...
...to you and yours, Septimus.
My thoughts and prayers (such as they are) are with your family.
The Balance keep you, my friend.
Sincerely,
Eol
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 23:40:25.
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Topic: NEW
Subject: Yeah! What they said!
Welcome to our newest Innmate! Always nice to have new folks join us in our little pocket dimension of lunacy! 
If there's ever anything you need just ask... anybody... the folks around here are a little touched in the head overall but I defy you to find a nicer group anywhere on the net.
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 20:13:11.
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Topic: Smack in the head
Subject: LMAO
I stopped in here because of the thread title - who can resist a good smack in the head, right? I mean, that's the reason to watch NCIS, isn't it (Cote de Pablo notwithstanding)? - and got much more than I was expecting.
That's a hilarious 'how the cookie bounces' tale, Sharli and one, I'm sure that most everyone can relate to on some level - had a similar situation with the first pneumatic nailer I ever bought (loaded the thing up with nails and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't set a nail - turns out the thing specified 18 guage and I'd been trying to run 16s through it for the better part of a year  ).
Anyhoo... applauds for sharing and dry clothes and birthday wishes and jus' cuz we luvs yous guys!
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 20:02:20.
Edited on 2008-04-21 at 20:02:59 by Eol Fefalas
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Topic: Final Season of Battlestar
Subject: I think...
...that's exactly why I said it.
Haven't 'followed the show religiously,' as I mentioned, but, given the way the series has unfolded, Madame Prez is the obvious (not-so-obvious) choice, I think... My money (if I were a betting man) would be on Laura, for sure. Adama was another "might have run" but there's way toooo much in place for that to be the case. 
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 19:46:20.
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Topic: GASP! Is that Eol?
Subject: Oh yeah?!? Well...
...right back at ya! Ha!
Rassafrassit! Wrong karma link!!! 
Well... uhhh... yeah... take that good karma and smoke it, there, Satan! Ha!
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 18:50:09.
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Topic: GASP! Is that Eol?
Subject: Thanks Ryst...
...it's great to be back.
No worries, man. It's your life, slack all ya want.
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 18:15:37.
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Topic: Final Season of Battlestar
Subject: Ah BSG....*sigh*...
...another of the shows that I would have loved to follow from beginning to end but, with great thanks to the idiots who schedule timeslots and take ungodly breaks between seasons, also one of those that, after waiting for nearly 6 months for what turned out to be a lackluster 'resolution,' I couldn't bring myself to 'get back into'.
Too bad, too... it looks really good and Season 1 and the first part of Season 2 were a pretty decent. Maybe i'll pick it up on DVD at some point.
P.S. Spoiler Alert: Lyskhala is the 12th Cylon... she just happens to look like the President.
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 17:56:32.
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Topic: GASP! Is that Eol?
Subject: Birthday?
I guess I did have a birthday this weekend, didn't I? 
I'd kind of forgotten about it until my folks showed up with dinner Friday night - I had planned on working furiously on posts this weekend but got caught up in celebrating instead.
Thanks for the well wishes, all.
Posted on 2008-04-21 at 14:26:48.
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Topic: Star Trek: Cerberus Recruitment
Subject: Indeed...
...as I mentioned in the Q&A (I think...) you all have been amazing in my rather abrupt and unexpected absence. My apologies to all concerned, of course.
Anyhoo, we'll be moving ahead with this in the next few days, I promise. (That's the 'good news'). Unfortunately, I heard from Alacrity, today, that he'll not be able to join us in this one as Lt Tier (that's the 'bad news') and, as such, it does look like there's a Chief Engineer spot available on the Cerberus if anyone would care to take a stab.
In game at this moment, the engineering duties aboard the Steamrunner are being NPCd for the most part, and there's no problem continuing on with that, of course. If anyone is looking for a slot, though, there ya have it. We'll keep it open for a "fresh" character until Cerberus and Charon link up at DS9... at that point, we'll almost have to have a CEO aboard and so will 'lock it down' to a specific NPC, perhaps. (Should anyone come along wanting the role, later, though... our NPC could be geeked or somesuch... )
Blahblahblah... Chief Engineering Officer spot available. Nuff said.
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 22:55:38.
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Topic: Blatantly Obvious Lies
Subject: Reduce, re-use, recycle!
Because most folks only use one side of the toilet paper. If we just let them borrow it, we can get it bak later and use the side that's still good. Save a tree! Save a whale! Save the spotted owl (unless you like imitation crab meat).
I can't belive it's not butter! Why not?
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 20:13:06.
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Topic: Tom Cruise Joining 'Star Trek' cast?
Subject: Awwww, c'mon...
...give the guy a cameo as a torpedo or something!
"The Klingons are decloaking, Captain!"
"Fire phoTom torpedos! Full spread!"
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 20:01:14.
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Topic: Blatantly Obvious Lies
Subject: Because...
...if they flew before the rainbow it'd be really difficult to tell that they were actually blue.
Why does everything taste like chicken?
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 19:43:21.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: Hmmm... good point...
I'll give ya that one.
Sooooo, Val, ol' buddy, ol' pal... since you're not using that mana... *produces a tin cup from some ratty inner pocket of his cloak and holds it out*... care to make a donation?
Alms! Alms for the pooooor!
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 19:37:51.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: Oh suuuuure...
...it's easy to ration when you've got fighting skills to serve as backup (or is it the magic that backs up the fighting skills?).
I guess Jal could try to conserve a little... I have a feeling that running up and poking Mr Green-Arm with that tiny little dagger would be muuuuuuch safer than, say, lobbing a fireball at him from on high.
Friggin' Valentine and his hoidy-toidy self, anyway. Grrrr...
j/k of course... slow day at work (will miracles never cease) and I'm feeling scrappy.
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 18:48:29.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: LMAO @ Red Wiz
Is that an energy drink for mages or one of the symptoms of a kidney infection?
Guess it does sound better than Mana Dew, though.
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 18:04:29.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: Where's that freakin' bunny when ya really need him, anyway?
I'm pretty sure that Jal's running on empty or very close to it... He had something like 13 or 14 mana points left before we so much as got past the first little "Spooky naps out in combat" run-in with the greens and he's been slinging pretty willy-nilly since then...
If he survives the adventure, Jal may just squirrel himself away in a tower somewhere and try to come up with some kind of Red Bull like concoction for mana-mashers. If it works, the little bugger could make a mint.
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 16:57:05.
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Topic: Star Trek: Operation:Persephone - Q&A
Subject: Awww...
Poor Vaela... she's likely left permanent bum-prints in that chair and is just dying to fire up the warp drive, isn't she?
Woofing we be, it seems, if the trend continues.
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 15:23:48.
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Topic: Star Trek: Operation:Persephone - Q&A
Subject: Those were my thoughts, too...
...because, due to my disappearing act, I've sucked at this one, too.
I'll be pulling a post togehter, here, over the next day or so and, with luck, it's ending will get Cerberus out of spacedock and en route to DS9. If any of you need to 'tie up loose ends' feel free to do so - and, of course, there's always backposts.
If anyone has anything they need resolved before we get our crews on the move and don't have posts for - PM about or post here and we'll resolve it before we get too far gone.
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 15:08:38.
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Topic: Star Trek: Operation:Persephone - Q&A
Subject: Boldly going where we started to go in the first place.
Wow!
Did I say wow? I mean WOWWIE-WOW-WOW! You guys have been busy, haven't you? Great stuff, folks. I just now got caught up with everything that's been going on and am formualting Mac's next post even as I type this one out.
Brom, buddy! GREAT sideplots and such, my friend... This is definitely going to get interesting.
Glory! Welcome aboard, lass. Lovely writing! Give that Lyran hell!
Everyone else - I wouldn't have expected any less. You guys are dedicated friggin post-nuts, I tell ya!
Anyhoo... like I said... I'm grabbing posts and prepping for a major update VERY SOON. Expect a 'woof' moment (as in Cerberus was in spacedock and then, *woof* she's bound for DS9 and prepping for the first test of the cloak that our Rommies have so graciously (*Mac pukes*) installed. (Unless, of course, general consensus says let's continue from where we are... the RP is looking really good so, if no one's in a huge hurry to get into Dominion Space, I won't mind backing the woof moment off for a post or three... speak now or get beamed to backpost land... )
Thank, all, for keeping this going despite my absence. We'll be firing up the engines soon.
Posted on 2008-04-17 at 14:22:09.
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Topic: Q&A: The Return Of The Prodigal Son
Subject: Oops... nevermind...
Just realized that the alignment restriction leaves assassins out of the running. 
Since he party seems to have plenty of fighter types and I'm not a big fan of playing clerics or magic slingers of any sort I'm afraid I'm going to have to bow out before it really gets started. I've PMd Flirty and let her know.
Apologies all around... better before it starts than in the middle, I suppose. Best wishes and happy gaming, all.
Posted on 2008-04-16 at 01:24:29.
Edited on 2008-04-16 at 01:31:59 by Eol Fefalas
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Topic: Q&A: The Return Of The Prodigal Son
Subject: Character change
Okay, I give up. The monk character class in 2nd edition is just entirely too much of a pain in the hoopta-walla-choco-bing-bing to put together and, frankly, I'm not that into my "original concept" to try and put the guy together.
Having said that, I'll leave it up to our DM to decide... shall I just sit back and "lurk" or would you rather I put together another character of a different class? Having read the first few posts, I'm thinking that an assassin might make an interesting addition to this particular adventure.
Either way, let me know...
Posted on 2008-04-16 at 00:54:21.
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