Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;943923Considering that Tharks hide their eggs and abandon them for five years, yes.  Shen don't hide their eggs, they collect them and put them in the midst of their deepest enclaves and guard them fuss over them constantly.

This.

Quote from: AsenRG;943930I was thinking more about a certain scene where John Carter is found on top of the incubator of the Tharks, and a certain Thark attacks him, Glorious General;).

And that.

Quote from: chirine ba kal;943957You're welcome! It all sounds good; let me know what you're missing. I have lots of spares sitting on the shelves, and I'd like to reduce our paper holdings in favor of our digital ones.

Lord Chirine, that will be a pleasure!!!

H:0)

Well, the first thing first!  The group comes together!  Thankfully, they opted not to be off the boat so that skipped my fears with Bethorm not doing that well in Chargen...

What we have so far, all decided to be from the Scroll of Wisdom Clan.  


1: Sakbe Guard, BIG Aridani Woman.  Like, probably has some Nluss blood big.  Follows Ksarul for some reason.
2: Priest of Dlamelish - Gifted Sorceror.
3: Priest of Gruganu - Also Gifted Sorceror, forget if Ritual or not.
4: Military Ritual Priestess from the Legion of the Bringer of Spells - Ksarul.  Has the ear of one of the Majors' (A High Clan member at that) Batman.  Decent combatty sort.
5: A Bureaucrat slash Historian, fascinated with Engsvlanyani history.  Also, happens to have the ear of the GOVERNOR.  Trying to decide where they're gonna be, so that's gonna be important...  He also follows Ksarul.

There'll be at least one more player, he wants to be some form of Scholar/Priest sort as well.  "An Indiana Jones sort" was his commentary, so... whatever that means.  


So yeah, that'll be the crew that will soon be delving into Tekumel.  Things should  be interesting.   Now the prep work from me, and the questions for here.  My initial thoughts for the characters are them being from either the Meku or Mrelu areas.  Given the Governor is a contact of one PC, that's gonna be an important decision.  Anything you could tell me about those two in order to help make this decision?  Particularly their Governors!  But also fun opportunities with each city.  (also, any published info on them to refer me to is gladly sought out!  As usual)

And a more general call out to the thread, I'm totally game for trouble ideas to land these fine young Tsolyani into.

Quote from: Dulahan;944018And a more general call out to the thread, I'm totally game for trouble ideas to land these fine young Tsolyani into.

What have those Stability worshipers discovered with their digging around on their fief and how can it be used to further the Governor's career?
=

Quote from: Hrugga;944006Lord Chirine, that will be a pleasure!!!

H:0)

Either this, or I do a rummage sale in the back yard. What with the Missus getting the entire archive, including all the printed materials, scanned and onto disc, there's not a lot of reason why I need to keep multiple paper copies of everything. I have several 'working copies' of the archive, one at my desk and one in the game room, and the digital media take up a tiny fraction of the paper archive's occupancy.

Of course, the miniatures collection is what it is; luckily for me, I did plan for expansion space for this when I built the furniture for the game room over a decade ago. (As Gronan can tell you, I like to have back-up plans for my back-up plans.) All of the figures live in the game room, with the large/bulky/rarely used items in the game shed. Books that I think important to gaming live in the game room as well.

It turns out that the Resident Daughter does not need the little dorm room fridge that used to be in the game lounge, so my task for today is to get it back into the basement and running again. I'm also moving the two Sakbe road sets out into their new crates and homes, as well as moving the crate with Castle Tilketl to the same storage. So, busy day ahead!

Quote from: Dulahan;944018Well, the first thing first!  The group comes together!  Thankfully, they opted not to be off the boat so that skipped my fears with Bethorm not doing that well in Chargen...

What we have so far, all decided to be from the Scroll of Wisdom Clan.  


1: Sakbe Guard, BIG Aridani Woman.  Like, probably has some Nluss blood big.  Follows Ksarul for some reason.
2: Priest of Dlamelish - Gifted Sorceror.
3: Priest of Gruganu - Also Gifted Sorceror, forget if Ritual or not.
4: Military Ritual Priestess from the Legion of the Bringer of Spells - Ksarul.  Has the ear of one of the Majors' (A High Clan member at that) Batman.  Decent combatty sort.
5: A Bureaucrat slash Historian, fascinated with Engsvlanyani history.  Also, happens to have the ear of the GOVERNOR.  Trying to decide where they're gonna be, so that's gonna be important...  He also follows Ksarul.

There'll be at least one more player, he wants to be some form of Scholar/Priest sort as well.  "An Indiana Jones sort" was his commentary, so... whatever that means.  


So yeah, that'll be the crew that will soon be delving into Tekumel.  Things should  be interesting.   Now the prep work from me, and the questions for here.  My initial thoughts for the characters are them being from either the Meku or Mrelu areas.  Given the Governor is a contact of one PC, that's gonna be an important decision.  Anything you could tell me about those two in order to help make this decision?  Particularly their Governors!  But also fun opportunities with each city.  (also, any published info on them to refer me to is gladly sought out!  As usual)

And a more general call out to the thread, I'm totally game for trouble ideas to land these fine young Tsolyani into.

I like it. I'd suggest that your 'Indiana Jones' be a scholar-priest, probably of Ksarul, Hry'y, or their cohorts in keeping with the rest of the party.

I'd suggest Mrelu. The Disposer of Meku was a clan-cousin of mine, back in the early 2360s, and not any friend of the dark trinity. Mrelu is also more Ksarul country, with a lot of clans devoted to him. I can get you more information, too; it'll have to be later today or tomorrow, as I need time to dig it out.. (You can always call me on my cell phone; I've sent you the number via a private message.) There is not a lot of published material on either city, sorry to say, but I'll see what I can find for you.

Quote from: Greentongue;944060What have those Stability worshipers discovered with their digging around on their fief and how can it be used to further the Governor's career?
=

Yes, indeed; inquiring minds want to know...

Great suggestion!!!

Quote from: Dulahan;944018Well, the first thing first!  The group comes together!  Thankfully, they opted not to be off the boat so that skipped my fears with Bethorm not doing that well in Chargen...

What we have so far, all decided to be from the Scroll of Wisdom Clan.  


1: Sakbe Guard, BIG Aridani Woman.  Like, probably has some Nluss blood big.  Follows Ksarul for some reason.
2: Priest of Dlamelish - Gifted Sorceror.
3: Priest of Gruganu - Also Gifted Sorceror, forget if Ritual or not.
4: Military Ritual Priestess from the Legion of the Bringer of Spells - Ksarul.  Has the ear of one of the Majors' (A High Clan member at that) Batman.  Decent combatty sort.
5: A Bureaucrat slash Historian, fascinated with Engsvlanyani history.  Also, happens to have the ear of the GOVERNOR.  Trying to decide where they're gonna be, so that's gonna be important...  He also follows Ksarul.

There'll be at least one more player, he wants to be some form of Scholar/Priest sort as well.  "An Indiana Jones sort" was his commentary, so... whatever that means.  


So yeah, that'll be the crew that will soon be delving into Tekumel.  Things should  be interesting.   Now the prep work from me, and the questions for here.  My initial thoughts for the characters are them being from either the Meku or Mrelu areas.  Given the Governor is a contact of one PC, that's gonna be an important decision.  Anything you could tell me about those two in order to help make this decision?  Particularly their Governors!  But also fun opportunities with each city.  (also, any published info on them to refer me to is gladly sought out!  As usual)

And a more general call out to the thread, I'm totally game for trouble ideas to land these fine young Tsolyani into.

Well, you can always start them in the deep and give them a hint to one of the Keys;)!

Or, you know, start them off with some political intrigue.
Is any of them seen as "expendable"? Then he or she could be used to tarnish the reputation of their clan, temple, contacts or allies. Lure them to deal with the Forbidden stuff that leads to the "high ride". A "false flag" operation to lure someone to carry Zuur is always a favourite, especially if you then tip the autorities to capture him or her:p!
The guy that has ties to the Governor is a prime target for that, if their relation is known;).

Quote from: chirine ba kal;943958Yes...

See, Uncle, I see the Tharks' and the Shen's customs as different ways to be protective, not different amounts:).
The Shen protect their eggs, true. But this also means the enemy knows where to raid in order to steal or destroy them. Their enemies also don't have, say, flying ships with weird flame weapons...
The Tharks hide their eggs in the great wastes that they're masters of. It's a way that relies on their best attribute: knowing the Martian wastes. Oh, and their enemies do have such ships, so if they knew where they keep the eggs, they could attack them. Granted, they could repel them, but it's not guaranteed.
Both groups probably use their way of as a method of reinforcing the value of their tradition and sticking with the group: the Green ones by forsaking those that hatch too late or too early, the Shen by introducing them at birth to the innermost, best protected parts of their secret homes.

Well, enough waxing lyrical about the non-human races. But at least they're definitely not frigging Elves:D!

Quote from: AsenRG;944068Well, you can always start them in the deep and give them a hint to one of the Keys;)!

Or, you know, start them off with some political intrigue.
Is any of them seen as "expendable"? Then he or she could be used to tarnish the reputation of their clan, temple, contacts or allies. Lure them to deal with the Forbidden stuff that leads to the "high ride". A "false flag" operation to lure someone to carry Zuur is always a favourite, especially if you then tip the autorities to capture him or her:p!
The guy that has ties to the Governor is a prime target for that, if their relation is known;).


See, Uncle, I see the Tharks' and the Shen's customs as different ways to be protective, not different amounts:).
The Shen protect their eggs, true. But this also means the enemy knows where to raid in order to steal or destroy them. Their enemies also don't have, say, flying ships with weird flame weapons...
The Tharks hide their eggs in the great wastes that they're masters of. It's a way that relies on their best attribute: knowing the Martian wastes. Oh, and their enemies do have such ships, so if they knew where they keep the eggs, they could attack them. Granted, they could repel them, but it's not guaranteed.
Both groups probably use their way of as a method of reinforcing the value of their tradition and sticking with the group: the Green ones by forsaking those that hatch too late or too early, the Shen by introducing them at birth to the innermost, best protected parts of their secret homes.

Well, enough waxing lyrical about the non-human races. But at least they're definitely not frigging Elves:D!

Great suggestions, all of which follow the philosophy of "mayhem ensues".

Ah! Understood! I like it - makes sense to me!

Quote from: chirine ba kal;944081Great suggestions, all of which follow the philosophy of "mayhem ensues".

Of course, Uncle, it's the basic law of adventuring:)!

Quote from: AsenRG;944085Of course, Uncle, it's the basic law of adventuring:)!

Well, I think it should be; that's why we used to call them 'adventures', and the hobby 'adventure gaming'.

Like watching "John Carter"; lots of adventure to be had, and I could have done without the heaps of existential angst that seemed to have been added to make the film more 'relevant'. Sill had lots of fun, through!

Quote from: Baron;943884I've got a question for you, Chirine. I'm implementing some rules for my existing gaming group (teenagers) involving resource management. I'd been glossing over supplies and encumbrance up til now. So, I'm figuring the temperature in Jakalla is normally well over 90 degrees F, which is going to require someone engaged in strenuous adventuring to consume two gallons of water per day. (Maybe 1.25 gallons per day between 50-70 degrees, as in the sewers, tombs or Underworld.) And going with a one-gallon waterskin per player, in a world without mules, we're talking bearers with water kegs for extended forays. All this begs the question of where fresh water comes from. The waterways are awfully polluted, adventuring in the sewers precludes the possibility of fresh water being available, the dead don't need water in their tombs. But, where does the city populace get their water? Upstream? Wells dug in what I assume is soft, shifting ground (estuary) can't be very reliable sources of fresh water, can they? Also, those Underworld complexes that have all those living guards and living high priests, and the monsters wandering about, will need fresh water too. Just assume underground rivers and streams for that? Are there fountains, pools and wells scattered about for ease of access down there? Did any of this ever come up with the Professor? Thanks!

Some things are just too obvious, when they stare me in the face - I was typing away on my book when you're question came back into mind.

I should also have said that there's rainwater, as well; many buildings have gutters and cisterns for this. Which I should have remembered, as my own palace has them for the winter monsoon rains. You'd think I'd be able to remember my own plumbing - which Phil described, from his time in India - but I must be getting old. Or distracted. Or something.

This type of water catchment system is in use in the Caribbean and I well remember the concrete catchments on Bermuda as well as the whitewashed roofs which fed water to the cistern under the house. If you ran out of water you had to pay the government to ship you a tanker of water from those reservoirs under the concrete catchments.

Chirine,

An interesting question came up in my campaign the other day. I kind of know how I'm going to play it, but was curious if you had ever encountered something similar.
The main party, which has been involved in much "mayhem" over the last year, is finally in a position where they have been noticed by the right person/people. In the last game session they were able to "acquire" enough so that not only are they able to provide frequent and correct inducements, but their deeds have made them a good source of positive PR. They will be offered membership, into a low clan as they are "barbarians," next game session, but they will be out of the game for a few weeks and possibly up to 2 months as they train, study, and learn.
The group has agreed to start a second party as a sort of B Team to supplement the first group and provide ready character replacements should they be needed. The plan is that we will adventure with these new characters until the "old guys" finish their training, and go back to them  every so often.
One of the players wants to play a warrior who will be a clan enforcer, someone who discretely acts as the clan's muscle, internal and external, and does the dirty work. Breaking kneecaps was one of the examples he provided.
Have you ever encountered or heard of such an individual during your travels in Tsolyanu?

Shemek.