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Andrethegiant
2023-11-29, 03:17 AM
The Cast



Name: Lady Roanne Scales (born Fell)
Age: 42
Gender: Female

Virtue: Devoted
Vice: Cold

Abilities

Agility: 2
Animal Handling: 2
Athletics: 1
Awareness: 3 (Empathy 1B, Notice 1B)
Cunning: 2
Deception: 4 (Bluff 2B, Act 1B)
Endurance: 2
Fighting: 2
Healing: 2
Language: 3
Knowledge: 6 (Streetwise 2B)
Marksmanship: 2
Persuasion: 3 (Bargain 1B)
Status: 4 (Stewardship 1B, Breeding 1B)
Stealth: 5
Survival: 2
Thievery: 2
Warfare: 2
Will 2



Intrigue Defense: 10
Composure: 6
Combat Defense: 6
Health: 6

Benefits: Connections: The Stormlands, Wealthy

Drawbacks: Flaw: Frail

Personality: To most, Roanne comes off as a polite, soft-spoken and somewhat intelligent woman, a role she has cultivated for years. Beneath it, she can seem cold and controlling, even to those – like her children – she actually cares about, not to mention a certain arrogance born of a conviction that she knows more than most. Although not without principles and respect for traditions, Roanne is a pragmatist at heart and consider the goal more important than what path you need to take to reach it.

Appearance: Roanne Scales is a thin woman, with blonde hair increasingly streaked by grey reaching almost to her waist and usually braided. Her face is more striking than pretty with very noticeable cheekbones. She usually dresses in fine but rather humble clothing and when not expected to wear house colors, she prefers grey or brown.

History: As a girl, it was made clear to Roanne Fell that she was supposed to remain in the background, seen on occasion but rarely heard. Some of the other girls at the castle struggled against it, demanding to be noticed and respected the same way as the boys. It rarely worked out for them. So instead, Roanne made it into a weapon. Turning "sitting unnoticed in the background" into an art form and "just happening to be passing by" into a science, she quickly learned not only about the world around her but about the people and their secrets.

As she became older and bolder, she added new tricks to her repertoire, such as dressing up as a servant or a peasant and sneaking out of the castle. Before she was even old enough to marry, she was quite confident she knew more than most of her brother's advisors. But Roanne had also learned the bitter lesson that while knowledge may be power, it is not always enough. Knowing more than others meant little if they still would not listen to her and knowing someone's secrets meant little if they could silence you, whether by strength of arms or influence in the house.

Thus, Roanne could do little when her brother decided that she was to marry Lord Owen Scales. It wasn't the worst choice, she supposed. While Roanne found both his charisma and intelligence somewhat lacking, he was rarely cruel and mostly left her alone. This gave her time to resume her previous interests, learning not only about Castle Redford and its inhabitants but about the people in the lands surrounding it. And unlike the daughter of House Fell, the lady of House Scales could act upon her knowledge. A whisper into her husband's ear, a comment to a courtier or some gossip during a feast. Little by little, she gained if not power, than at least influence.

Then her husband died by Simon Toyne's hand and everything changed. Roanne did what she could to at least make the men around her think for a moment before acting, but their boiling blood could not be controlled and being stopped by House Wendwater and House Bywater just made it burn hotter. Though at least the shock gave her enough time to take control of the house, not to mention stopping her foolhardy son from risking his own life. In the months that followed, Roanne Scales learned – for better or for worse – the difference between subtly influencing and actually wielding power.

When the new regent arrived, she was at first relieved but as she resumed her former position – though now no longer even the lord's wife – Roanne started to feel the absence of power. She would give him a chance to rule, she decided, but if he failed – or worse, became a threat to her family – she would act.

Possessions:

Noble garb (three sets worth 400 silver stags each)
Peasant garb (male)
Peasant garb (female)
Scents
Lantern
Far-Eyes
Dagger
Ink
Sweetsleep (six pinches)
Palfrey
Tent, pavilion
Saddlebags


Money: 7 GD, 114 SS, 36 CP


Amyra is the aunt-in-law of the current Lord, married to his now dead uncle Darren who she had two children with, Valena Scales and Sylvenna Scales, with the oldest soon turning ten. They are the mirror opposites, the older is more reminiscent of Amyra, while the younger is a more docile and quiet. Darren, the bad apple, uncle to the Lord.
Darren was the very reverse of ambition. He is more than content hunting, fishing, eating and finding other joys and entertainment. Always blaming someone else for his shortcomings - like that of his brother breaking a few of his bones when they trained as kids, or that his favorite horse is always ill when it comes to mounting an actual warhorse. The drunker or miserable he got, the taller the stories were, and the more fantastic his recollecting about how he was in his youth - before all bad luck that befell him. He did participate in a melee just after he had married Amyra, but did not have the skill nor the appetite when someone actually fought back. His body recovered, but his pride did not, and it remained a sour subject to touch.

He was a quite mellow man, content in all things. If he can spend most of his nights out on the road (staying overnight at inns, naturally) hunting the lands, he was at his happiest. The more duties he is bestowed, the sourer he would become. He was appointed Castellian, but it was a role Amyra took over and then still holds. The height he would display his station was to impress inn-maids to warm his bed. Like his brother, he has probably sired a few bastards. Amyra did not mind, having lovers is a normal thing in Dorne, but she does mind the cultural difference that it's not alright for her to take lovers in return, in particular now that he's dead.

Her husband was killed along with the late Lord. As she has two children who bears the Scales name, she has been welcomed to stay. Exactly who can marry her away is a complicated matter, as a lot of different laws are involved. House Vaith would claim that right, and so would probably House Scales. Their marriage alliance technically holds still, even though it's on shaky grounds.

She has attracted a band of followers, formerly known as 'The Spear of Vaith' from her family name, but as she has been married and lived in the chilly north for over a decade now, members have aged, or held different positions in the house hold, or even moved over to other bands or served other lords. such is the nature a band held together by force of personality rather than vassal bond. What stands out about the band, at least outside of Dorne is that it has quite a number of women members.

Current members: Teya Sand, Helenys Sand, Rana Storm, Elen, Alren Storm, Dennas Flowers, Justan, Aran, Blane

Brief background:
Amyra was born into house Vaith. As a third child, she held little chance of inheritance, so her worth came in the form of an alliance. She was never a book-smart kid, in fact she could ride long before she could read. Where other learned poesy, she instead focused her attention to games, quickly mastering cyvasse. Allowed to indulge in her passions as most dornish noble children were as long as they kept the basics of what was expected of them, she took her understanding of cyvasse into more practical things, like leadership and logistics. It did not matter when you could see a game unfold before it was played if it could not be communicated. And in life, there was more than just bringing game pieces. Her talents for warfare did not go unnoticed, and she was through bargains her parents did sent to serve as Castellian for House Gargalen at a very young age. It was here, she started gaining enough fame to attract what would be Spear of the Waif. While she was expecting to wed some of the sons of the House Gargalen, something happened between Lady Vaith and Lord Gargalen. She was taken by surprise when she found out she was engaged to the north, outside of Dorne, and a few months later married into house Scales. But she did her duty without objections, giving up the life that could have been in Dorne where her talents would have been appreciated, and even allowed to flourish. She did not exactly like her husband, but at the very least he kept out of her way after that notorious tournament where he had thought to impress her. As her husband was shrinking away from his duties as Castellian, she picked it up and has since the performed them. The Spear followed her, even though it's members have shifted in the years since her moving to Dorne and is no longer even a majority of them are dornish.


There's no doubt that the blood of the Rhoyne flows thickly through Amyra's veins, and not only due to her olive skin and jet black hair, but also with the grace and confidence she carries herself. She prefers her dornish dresses, all in a cut to make them comfortable for riding and being maybe a tad to revealing.
https://i.postimg.cc/2yCxR4KF/amyra.jpg

Name: Amyra Vaith Heraldry: Three black leopards standing on a yellow pile on orange
Motto: "To destroy is to control."
Age: 29
Gender: Female

Abilities
Agility 3
Animal Handling 3
Athletics 2
Awareness 3
Cunning 3
Deception 2
Endurance 3
Fighting 3 - Spears 1B
Healing 2
Language 3 - Literacy 1B
Knowledge 2
Marksmanship 2
Persuasion 5 - Bargain 1B, Charm 1B
Status 3
Stealth 2
Survival 2
Thievery 1
Warfare 6 - Command 2B, Strategy 2B
Will 3

Intrigue Defense: 9, Composure: 9
Combat Defense: 10, Health: 9

Qualities:
Attractive, Blood of Rhoyne, Cadre (Spears of the Waif)
Flaw: Stealth, Honor-Bound, Cursed

Destiny: 3/3

Personalty: Amyra typically remains, as is expected of a woman, content to holding her own opinion. She is cold as the desert night, until she's not. She has the traditional dornish temper which flares up suddenly and departs equally sudden. She's proud and maintains what she considers honorable traditions, even though they are based in dornish traditions rather than the Westerosi. Amyra has a natural charisma and a voice that is used to giving orders.


- Evening (Courser), saddlebags
- Morning (Courser), saddlebags
- Nobles Garb (300 SS worth)
- Perfumes, jewelry, makeup (210 SS worth)
- Splint armor (not typically worn), 7 Armor Rating, -3 Armor Penalty, 3 Bulk
- Castle-forged Shortspear (not typically carried), 4 Damage Rating, Adaptable (Requirement: 1B)
- Castle-forged Shortspear (not typically carried), 4 Damage Rating, Adaptable (Requirement: 1B)
- Castle-forged Shield (not typically carried), 1 Damage Rating, Defensive +2
- Castle-forged Knife, 1 Damage Rating, Fast, Off-hand +1

Coins: 2 GS, 23 SS





Name: baryl mayfol
Age: 24 (adult)
Sex: Male

Goal: respect
Motivation: duty
Virtue: loyal
Vice: insecure

1/1 destiny points

0/210 Xp left 0/80 sxp

Endurance 5 (Resilience 1) [-70] {-10}
Fighting 4 (Spears 2 Shield 2) [-40] {20} {20}
Athletics 4 (Strength 1) [-40] {10}
Awareness 3 [-10]
Marksmanship 3 [-10]
Will 3 (courage 1) [-10] {-10}
Animal handling 3 (ride 1) [-10] {10}
Agility 3 [-10]
Healing 3 [-10]
Survival 2
Stealth 2
Thievery 2
Deception 2
Knowledge 2
Persuasion 2
Cunning 2
Language 2
Warfare 2

Benefits

Massive
You can wield Two-handed weapons in one hand, and you may ignore the Unwieldy quality of these weapons (if any).

Armor mastery
Armor you wear fits like a second skin. Increase your armor’s AR by +1, and reduce the Bulk (if any) by 1.

Improved armor mastery
When wearing any type of armor, increase its Armor Rating by 1. This benefit is cumulative with Armor Mastery..

Drawbacks

Marked (scar across face from famous battle)
Whenever you test Persuasion, you must re-roll any die result of an 6 and take the second roll.

Possessions and money

6 gold dragons = 1260 silver stags

180/1260 ss

Commen clothes, boots and a dagger (free for every character)

Splint has an AR of 7 and a penalty of -3. -1000 ss

Spear. -50 ss
Speciality: Spear
Training: -
Damage: Is equal to Athletics
Qualities: Fast and Two Handed

Shield. -30 ss
Speciality: Shield
Training: -
Damage: Is equal to Athletics minus 2
Qualities: Defensive+2

Backstory

Baryl was a mentally disabled but physically massive boy. By 10 years old he was the size of a man. When the lord of (player house) overheard rumors of a giant boy he asked to meet him. While he was disappointed in the boys mental deficiencies he was impressed by his immense strength. So he had the boy train to be a knight.

Many years later the boy became a fearsome warrior. His stature combined with his skill made him the perfect body guard of the lord.

He desires to bring respect to his lord for pulling him out of peasant life. He is loyal to a t even if he worries his mind will hold him back.



Lord Casyr Scales (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheets/?id=2857570)




Name: Amber Heartly.

Step 2: Character concept:

Avaricious daughter of a Landed Knight, Amber’s an exceptional Master of Horse aged seventeen, but her odd appetites include men’s clothing and contests. It causes acclaim, scorn, and intrigue.

Goal: Good. Motivation: Love. Virtue: Courageous. Vice: Avaricious.

Step 3: Abilities: 180 experience.

Animal Handling: 5 (70 exp), Master of Horse

Fighting: 4 (40 exp), Daughter of a Landed Knight

Persuasion: 3 (10 exp)
Awareness: 3 (10 exp)
Endurance: 3 (10 exp)
Cunning: 3 (10 exp)
Status: 3 (10 exp)
Will: 3 (10 exp)

Step 4: Specialities: 60 exp.

Ride (Animal): 3 – 30 exp.
Train (Animal): 1 – 10 exp.
Charm (Animal): 2 – 20 exp.

Step 5: Benefits

Attractive, Animal Cohort, Beastfriend.

Step 6: Drawback:

Disturbing Habit: Amber has a disturbing compulsion to wear men’s clothing, bat eyes at dresses, and compete in contests from the equestrian to the joust. Even if the jousts were as a mystery ‘knight’. So Houses might use her skill, but Westeros will never approve.

Backstory Events:

In a quick summary, Amber had a landed knight for a dad that was famous at jousting, and she was a common sight in horse riding contests when growing up. But he was maimed about three years ago, which stopped him from competing, and caused her mother’s debts to pile up. Both Amber and her younger brother had to help. Eventually, because they were simply more common, her parents accepted she would enter jousts alongside her little brother, but do so as a mystery knight. The winnings kept their family afloat, yet Amber was becoming increasingly unhappy. But placing incredibly well in a regional riding contest allowed her parents to leverage their political acumen and get her to freedom as a Master of Horse. She hasn’t explicitly competed since, but with the realm wide tournament upcoming, and the thought of finally making her own wealth, she started speaking to the people in charge of the House (Septon, Lady, Lord) to see what was acceptable...

You were in famous company.

Ser Idris the Iron Lance awed many crowds a decade back. He was the terror of regional jousts, and cunning enough to know what battles not to fight. But Amber mostly knew him for a loving father and a good man, forever amused by his presistent moniker, and keen to say he had broken more tourney lances in his life than most men had bread. A saying he needled. For the wide gap between what dreamy eyed fools said, and what schemers plotted, was as a hug to a blade in the spine.

So Landed knight or no, her comely yet humble mother happily agreed: Amber was never spoiled. As overjoyed as she was when she sat atop her very own adorable palfrey named Sarah, the smile faltered every night she shovelled manure out of the stables. However pleasing the applause of placing finely in local equestrian tournaments, drilling trials for hours caused stiffness and rashes, and winning drew jealous eyes from the very girls she wanted to befriend. Steel was even silently shoved into her hands outside the view of trusted company, for her parents had seen that knights are not always near when needed, though the weapons were always banned around polite company.

Throughout, Amber handled animals, for their horse herds were their lifeblood. Her mother liked to advise her to marry the man that loved animals, for how kindly he treated them secretly showed how he might children. It took some years to understand Amber’s growing consternation, before instead saying it was a skill that brought money and friendship. But more than once had the shadow of something large and predatory darkened the skies, and her father would quietly admit, and only after its passing, that money and friends were grand, but in Westeros, it was also necessary to know how to charm monsters. These were some of the lessons taught by the renown Iron Lance.

You accomplished a significant deed.

The trouble started in force around age fourteen. An accident saw her father maimed in what became his final regional joust. Ser Idris lost his shield arm, but helped discover and destroy a rat’s nest of conspirators in revenge. This did nothing to answer the snarling debts of his lady wife, however. Amber understood gloomily why she had never seen a single copper piece for any riding contests over the years, but refreshed by her newly anointed younger brother, they met their family’s financial challenges unflinchingly. While the duo were fierce and favoured in local tourneys, the jousts were mockingly more common than the riding competitions Amber knew.

It took two disappointing showings to put their House on the edge. Ser Idris and Lady Lauren agreed then that Amber could no longer act as mere support. Any trustworthy page could tend to her brother’s horses wonderfully. Their little House suddenly gained a mystery knight in the jousting scene – and however shaky his showings with a lance, his ass was all but married to the saddle. A year of jousting dashed by, and Amber was frustrated. Whatsoever she won, she only ever made unnamed debtors rich. Whichever girls she liked most fondly, she barely knew because they only competed in riding contests. Whomever she actually meet in her many jousts, she was tight lipped with, lest too much stigma splash unto her loved ones, but rumours swirled. The Seven had mercy.

A regional equestrian contest emerged, and literal years of hard competition and training culminated in Amber bathing in glory. What gold didn’t go to her family debt was shared out among the friends that protected her backstage. With the sudden acclaim and attention, her parents leveraged their political skill and arranged for her to become a Master of Horse, with House Scales quite interested in the potential for Amber to grow. Shocked as she was, it was revealed her brother had aired her grievances quietly, and her parents wanted it clear how much they cherished her.

Nearly two years passed, and Amber blissfully ignored the competitive scene, beyond occasionally supporting the noble sisters and knights of House Scales in their own ambitions. This, and the same friends that had helped protect her backstage. But with a realm wide competition looming, the allure of making her own money enticed her to speak directly with the Septon, Lady, and young Lord...

Family:

Ser Idris – a famous knight with land to his name. Wise, Scheming, Maimed.
Lady Lauren – a charming lady from an impoverished family. Humble, Cowardly, Debt.
Ser Alex – her brother, somehow anointed despite being younger by three years. Merciful, Wrathful, Furious.





Name: Tommen Storm
Adult Expert

Character concept:

Bastard half-brother of the previous lord, an intelligent and loyal house retainer kept from his full potential by the stigma of his birth.

Abilities:
Cunning 4 Decipher 1B, Memory 1B
Healing 3 Treat Ailment 1B, Treat Injury 1B
Knowledge 4 Education 2B
Language 3 Common Tongue
Language 2 Ancient Valyrian
Persuasion 3 Convince 1B
Status 2 Stewardship 1B
Will 3
All others 2

Benefits
Knowledge Focus (Heraldry), Knowledge Focus
(History and Legends), Knowledge Focus (Geography).

Drawback: Bastard Born

Forty years ago, the current Lord's grandfather returned from a lengthy military campaign with a baby boy. He introduced the baby as "Tommen Storm", and refused to give any more details. The Lord never actually said that Tommen was his bastard son, but everyone naturally concluded that from the way he raised the boy. The only complicating factor is that the military campaign was only seven months long. Tommen was treated as the Lord's son in every way except formal events and interactions with other Houses.
When the current Lord's father inherited the Lordship, he recognised Tommen's intelligence and loyalty by formally employing him as a house retainer and tutor to his son. Tommen was horrified at the murder of his Lord, and offended at the Dowager Lady being displaced as Regent. The young Lord's uncle may be a legitimate relative, but he hasn't lived in the Scales lands for decades, and even literally gave up his family name to become a Septon. Tommen is convinced he is much more qualified to supervise the young Lord's upbringing.




Name:Ethelstan Pyke[/B]

Age: 28
Role: Fighter

Abilities (210 XP)

Agility: 4
Animal Handling: 2
Athletics: 3
Awareness: 2
Cunning: 2
Deception: 2
Endurance: 4
Fighting: 5
Healing: 2
Language: 2
Knowledge: 2
Marksmanship: 2
Persuasion: 2
Status: 3
Stealth: 2
Survival: 2
Thievery: 2
Warfare: 4
Wil: 2

Specialisation (80 XP)

Dodge 2 (Agility)
Resilience 2 (Endurance)
Long Blades 3 (Fighting)
Strategy 1 (Warfare)

Qualities and Drawbacks

Benefit: Blood of Valyria, Weapon Mastery: Bastard Sword, Worldly
Drawback: Marked

Equipment

Bastard sword, boots, common clothes, courtier's garb, dagger, half-plate armor, shield large.

Total weight: 57 lbs
Currency: 520 Silver Stags

Intrigue

Defence: 7
Composure: 6

Combat

Combat: 13
Health: 12

Armor

Type: Half-Plate
Amor Rating: 9 (13 with Large Shield)
Penalty: -5

Appearence

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
Weight: 171 lbs (78 kg)
Skin: Pale
Hair: Long, white
Eyes: Violet
Build: Athletic
Distinguishing Features: A large scar running from below his left eye all the way down to his chin.

Background

Events: You fought or were involved in a battle.
Goals: Power
Motivation: Greed
Virtues: Just
Vices: Cruel

Backstory

Theron was not a very rich man but he was not poor either. He once upon a time was one of many similar to him iron born raiders he eventually settled after realizing that as long as the Targaryans rule they won’t be able to follow the old way. Thus Theron became a hired blade within the city of Bravoos, eventually becoming the captain of a merchant’s personal guard. His life was fairly peaceful, until a faithful day.

One cold night when a storm was raging above the city he heard a knock at his door. When he opened it he found a basket with a child within upon his doorstep. The child was a boy and the only thing other than the child and the linens it was wrapped in was a note in high valyrian. Not being able to read such a tongue Theron burned the note and named the child Ethelstan Pyke upon learning it was a boy.

The boy would turn out to be indeed of valyrian descent, for he had white hair and purple eyes which were a tell tale sign of his blood line. Not that Theron cared about that. Iron born are not known to be great parents but the now middle aged man’s drinking was obviously a problem. And whenever Theron would drink too much, he would get into a rage. Ever since the boy was 8 he would dread this rage, for when in it Theron would often beat him up.

This only lasted two years though, for the curse of alcohol is deadly. Theron died after in a drunken state fell off the stairs and broke his neck. This left the boy without a home. Ethelstan would do anything he could for a piece of food, coin or a bed. Which is why he would often end up in fights, for even a dirty loaf of bread which fell onto the ground was worth getting bruised over.

Eventually when he had turned 16 he decided to go in a similar career path as his father figure. Not because he was into that sort of thing but cause it paid well. You see due to the six years of poverty he got quite greedy, for every coin he could get and save was in his opinion a blessing. Thus he started working for a traveling merchant, who’s caravans traveled from Bravoos through Volantis to Ashai. And it was in that last place where he would eventually stop for longer.

One of the many red priests there had enemies and paid Ethelstan to guard him. The job was rather uninteresting until this priest decided to do something rather unusual among the people of Ashai… He wanted to explore what truly is within Stygai, a city supposedly so evil that even those who command Shadows dare not explore.

Ethelstan had to accompany the priest there, not quite sure how to get out of this job. Let’s just say that for the entire year he was there he experienced things which one does not simply speak of. He was left with some serious mental scarring from this experience and till this day he whispers of wraiths, strange worms and many other creatures straight from the nightmares of a mad maester.

When he was found in a rather bad state on the shores of the river Ash people thought he wouldn’t make it. Thankfully a medic managed to heal him back to a good state. After this he would once again work for some traveling merchants. A bad choice according to him. For during one caravan’s walk through the land they ended up in a fight with some Dothrakhi.

Not his first battle but it was by far and still is the worst one he was in. Many good men died, including the merchant, but Ethelstan survived by some strange miracle. A large warrior with a long braid would leave a scar upon his face, one which runs from right below his left eye to his chin – according to some this is the reason why people find him unpleasant as company.

After this fiasco he decided to find work in something with less traveling… And ended up as a guard in a prison in one of the many cities in the east of Essos. There he would show a quality of his which was always present, though never given much space to flourish. He took after his father figure, he was cruel. Very as a matter of fact. Not that he simply walk up to prisoners and torture them. Oh no, he believed simply that people should be punished more brutally for certain crimes.

Those who hurt women and children dreaded him, for he would make sure their stay was miserable. Though it will be better if one does not speak of the exact torture methods used by the young valyrian. Partly because of this, and partly because they couldn’t pay him enough, the prison fired him. Seeing potential for new employment he sailed to Westeros, were the last great house of Old Valyria ruled.
He did a few smaller jobs while there, especially in the Storm Lands. During one of his visits to a town he heard that the local maester was looking to hire a body guard for the young lord who’s father had recently passed. And so he was now working as the body guard of the 14 year old lord Scales.




The content: Westeros is a brutal place. These are brutal times. Violence and alcohol will be refrenced. Some graphic scenes will be "faded to black" but this will be the exception to the rule.
The pacing: Soft launch is friday. IC forum is opened, so feel free to interact with each other there. Once we start I encourage bidaily responses to keep the game flowing.
The form: Real life and your characters circumstance will sometimes leave you without too much to add, a short paragraph is fine. At times your character will be at the centre stage and dramatic writing will be encouraged.

The OOC thread is currently to tweak your characters backstories together. But anything goes here. Soon the IC thread will open. The IC thread will be solely for your character. Any discussions about mechanics should be taken here.

Defence = 42 Castle Redford - Castle - 40, Crypt 2 (0 Spare)
Influence = 24 (Max Lord Status 4) Heir - Sister (10), Sister (5), Sister (5), (4 Spare)
Lands = 13 Castle Redford: Plains (5) Grassland(1), River (3), (4 Spare)
Law = 27 (House Fortunes -2)
Population = 14 (House Fortunes +0)
Power = 32 Veteran Personal Guard (11), Veteran Cavalry (8), Veteran Archers (8), Trained Engineers (5) (0 Spare)
Wealth =32* Priest (free), Horse Husbandry – War Horse Herds (15), Master at Arms (10), Crypt (3), Scorpions (1) (House Fortunes +2) (3 spare)

Totals for House Fortunes
House Fortunes = +0
Influence Gains = +2
Influence Losses = -1
Wealth Gains = +1
Cavalry Cost Reduction = -2

Other Benefits
60% Cheaper Coursers
+1 on injury rolls for Units
One Free Equipment Upgrade on Each Unit

Key NPC Household Members
3 Sisters of Young Lord
Septon
Master at Arms

Ameraaaaaa
2023-11-29, 03:57 AM
I'm new to the game so a mock battle is fine.

Andrethegiant
2023-11-29, 04:19 AM
I'm new to the game so a mock battle is fine.

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?662410-The-Fight-For-The-Cub Well, you are likely very familiar with Ser Paxtan. If any PC wants to duel you they can notify us here, but until they show up Ser Paxtan is very eager to pit Ser Baryl against the unfortunate squire.

Leonard Van Rin
2023-11-29, 04:36 AM
So, I haven't done combat yet but it cannot be too hard. I have learned how to do combat in Dark Heresy 2e so it can't be too hard. Either way, can't wait to get this thing started.

Thus far I think that Ethelstan obviously knows maester Tommen haha Seeing as he is the one who likely hired him.

Andrethegiant
2023-11-29, 04:39 AM
So, I haven't done combat yet but it cannot be too hard. I have learned how to do combat in Dark Heresy 2e so it can't be too hard. Either way, can't wait to get this thing started.

Thus far I think that Ethelstan obviously knows maester Tommen haha Seeing as he is the one who likely hired him.

In that case i suggest you get a mock round with Beryl so you both get into the swing of things.

Wymmerdann
2023-11-29, 06:41 PM
Submitted for final player and GM approval. Ameraaaaaa and My rolls went to power, everyone else was stacked on wealth:

EDIT: Subject to decision from Joy and Bat regarding spending on an Artisan or Castle

Defence = 35 Castle Redford - Small Castle - 30, Crypt 2 (3 Spare)
Influence = 24 (Max Status 4) Heir - Sister (10), Sister (5), Sister (5), (4 Spare)
Lands = 13 Castle Redford: Plains (5) Grassland(1), River (3), (4 Spare)
Law = 27 (House Fortunes -2)
Population = 14 (House Fortunes +0)
Power = 32 Trained Personal Guard (9), Trained Cavalry (8), Veteran Archers (8), Trained Engineers (5) (2 Spare)
Wealth =34* Priest (free), Horse Husbandry (10), Master at Arms (10), Crypt (3), Scorpions (1) Artisan - Weaponsmith (10) (House Fortunes +3) (1 spare)

Totals for House Fortunes
House Fortunes = +1
Influence Gains = +2
Influence Losses = -1
Wealth Gains = +1

Other Benefits
60% Cheaper Coursers
+1 on injury rolls for Units
Free Equipment Upgrade on Units
Castle Forged Fighting Weapons for PC’s (+1 to hit) and Units (+1 Damage)

Key NPC Household Members
3 Sisters of Young Lord
Septon
Master at Arms
Master Weaponsmith

Leonard Van Rin
2023-11-30, 06:08 AM
Well our house looks better by the minute. Our young lord is gonna be very well protected haha Also, apologies for not posting much yesterday but admittedly I had a lot to do... Turns out the surgeons had a huge amount of accident victims so we had to clean and prep thrice our work load per person.

Leonard Van Rin
2023-11-30, 08:24 AM
Just wanted to ask... How are we handling dice? I only have used Discord for PBP and there we used bots for dice rolls. So how are we doing dice here to be precise?

Ameraaaaaa
2023-11-30, 08:27 AM
Just wanted to ask... How are we handling dice? I only have used Discord for PBP and there we used bots for dice rolls. So how are we doing dice here to be precise?

The site has a dice function.

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?360837-This-is-how-you-use-the-Dice-Roller

Check the link.

Leonard Van Rin
2023-11-30, 08:35 AM
The site has a dice function.

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?360837-This-is-how-you-use-the-Dice-Roller

Check the link.

Oh... Thanks a lot! Thought I would have to provide photos of physical dice or something like that lmao. Well hopefully am luckier with these than with Avrae haha.

Batcathat
2023-11-30, 08:49 AM
@Batcathat rolled 3, and you're kind of a king/queenmaker if we team up our rolls. If we both throw our rolls at wealth, we could have a boring Maester, because who doesn't love raven pellets everywhere? or maybe even go with the Artisan Smith because woooo yeah great! sharp bits of steel for everybody. Surely your sickly child could never trip and hurt himself with those. Or we could even lean into our villanous recent past a little and go for something more iffy (assassins, sabatuers) that might fit your schemers and Gareth's schemer approach more. All ok options.

(The quote is from the Recruitment thread, but I figured I might as well reply here if we're moving over)

Anyhow, I do like the idea of some scheming resources, but I still feel like my grasp on the rules is rather loose (it's getting better, but I'm focusing on the character creation stuff at the moment), so I'm happy to leave the decision to the more experienced players.

Speaking of character creation, I'm hoping I'll have time tonight and tomorrow to finish making Lady Scale, so I'll hopefully finish juuuuust before the deadline. :smalltongue:

Andrethegiant
2023-11-30, 11:59 AM
Speaking of character creation, I'm hoping I'll have time tonight and tomorrow to finish making Lady Scale, so I'll hopefully finish juuuuust before the deadline. :smalltongue:

Timelines are like Crannogmen: Easy to push:smalltongue:

Andrethegiant
2023-11-30, 12:03 PM
We have a new player. As you are all so diverse you will all still get your time in the limelight. She will introduce herself here.

I will probably be homebrewing the mechanics of the spear slightly before you get into any combat, because compared to other two-handed weapons it is severely underpowered without the spear fighter quality.

If anybody has any questions for the GM before we start now is the time.

Ameraaaaaa
2023-11-30, 12:15 PM
We have a new player. As you are all so diverse you will all still get your time in the limelight. She will introduce herself here.

I will probably be homebrewing the mechanics of the spear slightly before you get into any combat, because compared to other two-handed weapons it is severely underpowered without the spear fighter quality.

If anybody has any questions for the GM before we start now is the time.

Sure i have a few general questions and a few campaign specific questions.

1 just how useful are destiny points.

2 is the games combat defensively or offensively slanted.

3 what are the pros and cons of every role

4 what can each role do at their peak. At in what would a legend of that role be capable of 1 effecting the world 2 helping to group and 3 mechanically.

5 do we know what the celebration is about?

6 how do tournaments work. Is it multiple separate events like the Olympics or multiple combined events like a triathlon?

Andrethegiant
2023-11-30, 01:00 PM
Sure i have a few general questions and a few campaign specific questions.

1 just how useful are destiny points.

2 is the games combat defensively or offensively slanted.

3 what are the pros and cons of every role

4 what can each role do at their peak. At in what would a legend of that role be capable of 1 effecting the world 2 helping to group and 3 mechanically.

5 do we know what the celebration is about?

6 how do tournaments work. Is it multiple separate events like the Olympics or multiple combined events like a triathlon?

1 Very. Essentially they work one of two ways. Either you can use them temporarily to make someone like you, to ignore penalties for a roll or to change small parts of a scene giving you a chance to exploit it. This is the conservative way as you'll likely regain them in a session or two. Or you can burn them to gain large benefits. The hound surviving his deathscene? That was burning a destiny.

2 Back on the old forums that was forever a debate. If you hit hard enough they won't be able to hit you hard back. However if you lack defence then you can be killed before getting to strike. In general I believe attack to be slightly more potent.

3 I'ms sorry, I'm not sure I get the question? By roles do you mean archetypes? So for example you are a fighter, Tommen is a learned man and Amber is the master of horse? If so "roles" are just so you don't all do the same. For example if a brigand accosts your group then you will have the ability to repel that attack, while Tommen might not. On the other hand, if one of the brigands tell you three of a plot to murder Lord Casyr then Amber will be the one who is capable to ride like the wind and deliver a missive. And if a schemer is fabricating a false story on how you have been plotting against the throne then Tommen will be the one capable of defending you. Roles is what you can do in the world.

4 At their peak you as a fighter can be like the mountain, terrifying and inspire attrocities, or you can be like Ser Barristan Selmy, using your reknown as a fighter to influence crowns towards mercy.

5 Yes, partially. You know the celebration is for Lord Whents daughter. However you don't know how Lord Whent can afford this massive extravagance. It has recently been winter. Although Lord Whent is powerful with his own brother on the kings guard few people understand what he is to gain for such a large tournament.

6 It's like the olympics, only with people usually participating in several different sports. Many who participate arent even well trained to win, they just participate because it is expected of them/entertaining for them. The major "sports" is the melee, which is a team game where groups of knights try to best each other, the joust where two knights lance each other for three rounds, or until one of them fall or the hunt, where the noble group killing the most impressive beast will be the winner. In addition there are several events for the non-knights, like scholarly debates, masquerades or speeches showing gratitude to a cause.

Harmony
2023-11-30, 01:28 PM
Hello!

I will hopefully be playing Amyra Vaith, a dornishwoman married to one of the former Lord's brothers, or the current young Lord's uncles. She has a brilliant strategical mind, that so far has been quite wasted in the lands outside of Dorne. She has two children from her marriage, Valena Scales and Sylvenna Scales, with the oldest soon turning ten.
Her reputation has attracted a small band of horsemen, while they were once properly known as 'The Spears of Vaith', when they were mostly Dornish, they now carry the nickname 'Spears of the Waif'. The composition is quite unique north of Dorne as it features several dornish woman in their ranks.

Here is a rough draft for the character:

There's no doubt that the blood of the Rhoyne flows thickly through Amyra's veins, and not only due to her olive skin and jet black hair, but also with the grace and confidence she carries herself. She prefers her dornish dresses, all in a cut to make them comfortable for riding and being maybe a tad to revealing.
https://i.postimg.cc/2yCxR4KF/amyra.jpg

Name: Amyra Vaith Heraldry: Three black leopards standing on a yellow pile on orange
Motto: "To destroy is to control."
Age: 29
Gender: Female

Abilities
Agility 3
Animal Handling 3
Athletics 2
Awareness 3
Cunning 3 - Memory 1B
Deception 2
Endurance 3
Fighting 3
Healing 2
Language 3 - Literacy 1B
Knowledge 2
Marksmanship 2
Persuasion 5 - Bargain 1B, Charm 1B
Status 3
Stealth 2
Survival 2
Thievery 1
Warfare 6 - Command 2B, Strategy 2B
Will 3

Intrigue Defense: 9, Composure: 9
Combat Defense: 10, Health: 9

Qualities:
Attractive, Blood of Rhoyne, Cadre
Flaw: Stealth, Honor-Bound, Cursed

Destiny: 3/3

Personalty: Amyra typically remains, as is expected of a woman, content to holding her own opinion. She is cold as the desert night, until she's not. She has the traditional dornish temper which flares up suddenly and departs equally sudden. She's proud and maintains what she considers honorable traditions, even though they are based in dornish traditions rather than the Westerosi.


- Evening (Courser), saddlebags
- Morning (Courser), saddlebags
- Nobles Garb (300SS worth)
- Mail armor (not typically worn), 5 Armor Rating, -3 Armor Penalty, 2 Bulk
- Spear (not typically carried), 2 Damage Rating, Fast, Two-Handed
- Shield (not typically carried), 1 Damage Rating, Defensive +2
- Knife, 1 Damage Rating, Fast, Off-hand +1

Coins: 4 GS, 13 SS




Still need to see how much gold she has for the important things in life.

Please let me know if there's something more you need from me!

Leonard Van Rin
2023-11-30, 01:34 PM
Howdy! Welcome to our lovely group of people!

Batcathat
2023-11-30, 01:38 PM
Timelines are like Crannogmen: Easy to push:smalltongue:

Good to know, though hopefully I will at least have some sort of bare-bones character done some time tomorrow (though if the deadline would be extended over the weekend, I certainly wouldn't hate it).

Andrethegiant
2023-11-30, 02:41 PM
Good to know, though hopefully I will at least have some sort of bare-bones character done some time tomorrow (though if the deadline would be extended over the weekend, I certainly wouldn't hate it).

We will start playing friday, but any small tweaks the first week won't really be an issue.

Harmony
2023-11-30, 03:00 PM
Belongings: [roll0] 12 dragons

House modification: [roll1] (feel free to add this where ever it suits, but it would make most sense for Amyra's impact to add them to Power, I think.)

Andrethegiant
2023-11-30, 03:02 PM
Spot on ethelstan, if you catch your GM not spotting something about the mechanics please tell me!

JoyWonderLove
2023-11-30, 04:28 PM
Submitted for final player and GM approval. Ameraaaaaa and My rolls went to power, everyone else was stacked on wealth:

EDIT: Subject to decision from Joy and Bat regarding spending on an Artisan or Castle

Defence = 35 Castle Redford - Small Castle - 30, Crypt 2 (3 Spare)
Influence = 24 (Max Status 4) Heir - Sister (10), Sister (5), Sister (5), (4 Spare)
Lands = 13 Castle Redford: Plains (5) Grassland(1), River (3), (4 Spare)
Law = 27 (House Fortunes -2)
Population = 14 (House Fortunes +0)
Power = 32 Trained Personal Guard (9), Trained Cavalry (8), Veteran Archers (8), Trained Engineers (5) (2 Spare)
Wealth =34* Priest (free), Horse Husbandry (10), Master at Arms (10), Crypt (3), Scorpions (1) Artisan - Weaponsmith (10) (House Fortunes +3) (1 spare)

Totals for House Fortunes
House Fortunes = +1
Influence Gains = +2
Influence Losses = -1
Wealth Gains = +1

Other Benefits
60% Cheaper Coursers
+1 on injury rolls for Units
Free Equipment Upgrade on Units
Castle Forged Fighting Weapons for PC’s (+1 to hit) and Units (+1 Damage)

Key NPC Household Members
3 Sisters of Young Lord
Septon
Master at Arms
Master Weaponsmith


Anyhow, I do like the idea of some scheming resources, but I still feel like my grasp on the rules is rather loose (it's getting better, but I'm focusing on the character creation stuff at the moment), so I'm happy to leave the decision to the more experienced players.

Between the small castle only being able to fit three units, which leaves our cavalry in the cold, and the mini cadre Harmony now nicely brings, and with a castle upgrade taking forever (literally months or even years) in story if we ever get the resources for it anyway, I'll just say we pick up an Artisan later, and start with a real Castle right now. It benefits everyone by being roomy enough for us all to hide in at the same time if we need to, and the +8 Defence is nice. We're not Harrenhall levels of huge, and we're not just a keep with some towers. It's the Goldelocks of castle sizes: just right.


We have a new player. As you are all so diverse you will all still get your time in the limelight. She will introduce herself here.

If anybody has any questions for the GM before we start now is the time.

Harmony is a good call. Puts effort into writing better than I ever will and there's a lots of synergy with her ideas and others. Really fun. I have a few questions about my own idea, though.

4 and 5 are the most nitty gritty to do with rules, but 2 is also about character sheet stuff.

1) What book version are we using? The 'newest' (Game of Thrones?) version?

2) Can I drop Marksmanship to 1? It's the only fitting thing I can think of to lower atm. Most of Amber's life has had nothing to do with archery and everything to do with animals, nobles, and contests. And how many abilities are we allowed to lower, still only 1 max for balance/fun?

3) For her brother Ser Alex, I never even thought about who he once squired under. I just wanted a family around Amber to start, and a little brother seemed nice. Plus it made more sense she and her brother kept their family financially safe instead of just one of them. So, could you please pick the knight he once squired under instead? I don't know what's best for the story.

4) I really liked the new animal handling Benefits you showed me, so Ty! If I stick with Animal Cohort, am I allowed to have a Destrier to start? Animal cohorts are free, so I save a lot of gold that way, and supposed to be better in stats (Narrator makes them, I think?) than the 'normal' version of their animal (so it's a Super Destrier, not that anyone would know).

5) This isn't so much a question as I just wanted your blessing that a combo I found yesterday, if it's okay or nope.

Under Animal Handling, page 59 (Game of Thrones version) rule says "When mounted on a war trained steed, you may add your Animal Handling rank as bonus dice on your Fighting tests."

Not every jouster is going to have a war trained steed, but as the Master of Horse....even without an Animal Cohort, I would be able to have trained my own war steed by now. So I'd be really good at a joust on offense, and not just defense atm. Is this combo okay (war trained steed + high Animal Handling rule on page 59)? I just wanted to be explicit and ask rather than it seem like a weird thing I try out of nowhere. I read it yesterday accidently but it seems great.


Hello!

I will hopefully be playing Amyra Vaith, a dornishwoman married to one of the former Lord's brothers, or the current young Lord's uncles. She has a brilliant strategical mind, that so far has been quite wasted in the lands outside of Dorne. She has two children from her marriage, Valena Scales and Sylvenna Scales, with the oldest soon turning ten.
Her reputation has attracted a small band of horsemen, while they were once properly known as 'The Spears of Vaith', when they were mostly Dornish, they now carry the nickname 'Spears of the Waif'. The composition is quite unique north of Dorne as it features several dornish woman in their ranks.

Here is a rough draft for the character:

There's no doubt that the blood of the Rhoyne flows thickly through Amyra's veins, and not only due to her olive skin and jet black hair, but also with the grace and confidence she carries herself. She prefers her dornish dresses, all in a cut to make them comfortable for riding and being maybe a tad to revealing.
https://i.postimg.cc/2yCxR4KF/amyra.jpg



There's a lot of really good story synergy and fun here with everyone and you give a really crucial warfare boost we need.

Leonard Van Rin
2023-11-30, 04:35 PM
Spot on ethelstan, if you catch your GM not spotting something about the mechanics please tell me!

People say am a walking rule book haha

Andrethegiant
2023-11-30, 09:34 PM
Harmony is a good call. Puts effort into writing better than I ever will and there's a lots of synergy with her ideas and others. Really fun. I have a few questions about my own idea, though.

4 and 5 are the most nitty gritty to do with rules, but 2 is also about character sheet stuff.

1) What book version are we using? The 'newest' (Game of Thrones?) version?

2) Can I drop Marksmanship to 1? It's the only fitting thing I can think of to lower atm. Most of Amber's life has had nothing to do with archery and everything to do with animals, nobles, and contests. And how many abilities are we allowed to lower, still only 1 max for balance/fun?

3) For her brother Ser Alex, I never even thought about who he once squired under. I just wanted a family around Amber to start, and a little brother seemed nice. Plus it made more sense she and her brother kept their family financially safe instead of just one of them. So, could you please pick the knight he once squired under instead? I don't know what's best for the story.

4) I really liked the new animal handling Benefits you showed me, so Ty! If I stick with Animal Cohort, am I allowed to have a Destrier to start? Animal cohorts are free, so I save a lot of gold that way, and supposed to be better in stats (Narrator makes them, I think?) than the 'normal' version of their animal (so it's a Super Destrier, not that anyone would know).

5) This isn't so much a question as I just wanted your blessing that a combo I found yesterday, if it's okay or nope.

Under Animal Handling, page 59 (Game of Thrones version) rule says "When mounted on a war trained steed, you may add your Animal Handling rank as bonus dice on your Fighting tests."

Not every jouster is going to have a war trained steed, but as the Master of Horse....even without an Animal Cohort, I would be able to have trained my own war steed by now. So I'd be really good at a joust on offense, and not just defense atm. Is this combo okay (war trained steed + high Animal Handling rule on page 59)? I just wanted to be explicit and ask rather than it seem like a weird thing I try out of nowhere. I read it yesterday accidently but it seems great.



There's a lot of really good story synergy and fun here with everyone and you give a really crucial warfare boost we need.

Then we are extra lucky to have Harmony among us.

1) We are using the GOT version. I homebrew some minor issues on the fly (like how spear damage works) but for the most part vanilla.

2) max one, and you will be known for it just like how 6 or 7 brings fame 1 is a disability, so think about why your character wouldnt be able to use a bow.

3) Well, with your fathers fame your brother could find an influential lord nearby- or he could have traveled north to squire for a lord in Kings Landing. I'm wondering if he has been close to you these last few years.

4) Yes, if you buy the quality you start with the steed. The main benefit of an animal cohort is the +1D it adds. Your "superior destrier" will have the normal stats, but will be almost unnaturally smart for a horse.

5) Yes, thats in part why armour is so important for jousters. You will regularly roll 10+ dice, although many are bonus dice, and lances deal a lot of impact damage.

Andrethegiant
2023-11-30, 09:47 PM
Hello!

I will hopefully be playing Amyra Vaith, a dornishwoman married to one of the former Lord's brothers, or the current young Lord's uncles. She has a brilliant strategical mind, that so far has been quite wasted in the lands outside of Dorne. She has two children from her marriage, Valena Scales and Sylvenna Scales, with the oldest soon turning ten.
Her reputation has attracted a small band of horsemen, while they were once properly known as 'The Spears of Vaith', when they were mostly Dornish, they now carry the nickname 'Spears of the Waif'. The composition is quite unique north of Dorne as it features several dornish woman in their ranks.

Here is a rough draft for the character:

There's no doubt that the blood of the Rhoyne flows thickly through Amyra's veins, and not only due to her olive skin and jet black hair, but also with the grace and confidence she carries herself. She prefers her dornish dresses, all in a cut to make them comfortable for riding and being maybe a tad to revealing.
https://i.postimg.cc/2yCxR4KF/amyra.jpg

Name: Amyra Vaith Heraldry: Three black leopards standing on a yellow pile on orange
Motto: "To destroy is to control."
Age: 29
Gender: Female

Abilities
Agility 3
Animal Handling 3
Athletics 2
Awareness 3
Cunning 1 - Memory 1B
Deception 2
Endurance 3
Fighting 3
Healing 2
Language 3 - Literacy 1B
Knowledge 2
Marksmanship 2
Persuasion 5 - Bargain 1B, Charm 1B
Status 3
Stealth 2
Survival 2
Thievery 1
Warfare 6 - Command 2B, Strategy 2B
Will 3

Intrigue Defense: 9, Composure: 9
Combat Defense: 10, Health: 9

Qualities:
Attractive, Blood of Rhoyne, Cadre
Flaw: Stealth, Honor-Bound, Cursed

Destiny: 3/3

Personalty: Amyra typically remains, as is expected of a woman, content to holding her own opinion. She is cold as the desert night, until she's not. She has the traditional dornish temper which flares up suddenly and departs equally sudden. She's proud and maintains what she considers honorable traditions, even though they are based in dornish traditions rather than the Westerosi.


- Evening (Courser), saddlebags
- Morning (Courser), saddlebags
- Nobles Garb (300SS worth)
- Mail armor (not typically worn), 5 Armor Rating, -3 Armor Penalty, 2 Bulk
- Spear (not typically carried), 2 Damage Rating, Fast, Two-Handed
- Shield (not typically carried), 1 Damage Rating, Defensive +2
- Knife, 1 Damage Rating, Fast, Off-hand +1

Coins: 4 GS, 13 SS




Still need to see how much gold she has for the important things in life.

Please let me know if there's something more you need from me!

Exiting, the spears of the waif would certainly cause a stir if they succeeded in any martial competition. And with a martial mastermind behind them they just might.

Looking a bit more thouroughly at your character, I notice you have 1 in cunning, I assume thats a typo and meant to be 3 as you havent used the XP from having it and your intrigue defence is 9?
I have a hard cap on one stat with 1. Otherwise all looks good there.

The important thing would be to nail down which uncle. We have a PC uncle, but if so he needs to get a say in the matter.

Wymmerdann
2023-11-30, 09:56 PM
@Joywonderlove
Just as a reply on the "war trained mounts" thing - this is usually determined by the breed of horse. Page 133 identifies Coursers, Destriers, Rounseys and Sand Steeds as "war horses". In contrast, Garrons, Ponies, Mules, Stots, and Palfreys are "mounts for work and play". Usually any mount used in a tilt would be a war-trained mount, unless there were rare circumstances.

War Horses give the bonus dice to fighting, and also can be controlled with a lesser action during combat (or none, with animal cohort) Mounts for Work and Play do not give this bonus, and require a greater action to control in combat.

@Harmony
The current dynamic of the house would be wrinkled by another uncle on top of the bastard Tommen Storm and the unnamed Septon who is regent of the house - the obvious question becomes why didn't this other uncle become the new regent? We can still do this if you prefer, but can I suggest that you character's husband is a cousin of the previous lord, who either serves as the master at arms of the house, or was killed in the ambush that killed the previous lord? The more distant relation would explain why he is not the regent, and this would gel him in with the house build and house backstory.

Harmony
2023-12-01, 03:33 AM
Yes, the Cunning was a mistype, fixed it now!

As for connections to the house;

Those are some great suggestions @Wymmerdann. I will create some options and you can decide which fits you best.

1.
Darren, the bad apple, uncle to the Lord.
Darren is the very reverse of ambition. He is more than content hunting, fishing, eating and finding other joys and entertainment. Always blaming someone else for his shortcomings - like that of his brother breaking a few of his bones when they trained as kids, or that his favorite horse is always ill when it comes to mounting an actual warhorse. The drunker or miserable he gets, the taller the stories, and the more fantastic his recollecting about how he was in his youth - before all bad luck that befell him. He did participate in a melee just after he had married Amyra, but did not have the skill nor the appetite when someone actually fought back. His body recovered, but his pride did not, and it's a sour subject to touch.

He is a quite mellow man, content in all things. If he can spend most of his nights out on the road (staying overnight at inns, naturally) hunting the lands, he is at his happiest. The more duties he is bestowed, the sourer he gets. The height of his display of his station is to impress inn-maids to warm his bed. Like his brother, he has probably sired a few bastards. Amyra does not mind, having lovers is a normal thing in Dorne, but she does mind the cultural difference that it's not alright for her to take lovers in return.

As the uncle of the current Lord, Darren was expected to step up when his brother died, but he drowned his sorrow in drink - obviously no one was as emotionally hurt as him did, as he was, according to himself, so very close to his brother. With the lands falling into disrepair, another situation was clearly needed to fill the role of Regent, and no one really objected to that choice, as both liege and vassals were happy with not having Darren as the regent. This also leaves Amyra quite the free reign as her husband is mostly away, and ties her quite close to the Lord (being an aunt)

2.
Callith Scales, the master of arms, Cousin to the late Lord Scales

Callith is a great lieutenant. Knows his place, is not afraid to take initiative and has already reached the peak of his ambition. A man of order and precision. While he does not precisely like the fact that Amyra has an acute interest in some aspects of his job, and his misdirected challenge of letting her managing her own troop, creating what is now the Spear of the Waif. The two have a friendly rivalry that keeps the spark in their arranged marriage from dying. As time has passed, Callith has grown more accepting of Amyra's skill in Warfare, and has started to defer to her council. Callith's doubts have been stilled by that Amyra has no ambition to serve as master of arms, her own skill in battle is little more than what her mother taught her.

--

And then there's another interesting possibility like suggested about dying with the late Lord:
a.
Her husband was killed along with the late Lord. As she has two children who bears the Scales name, she has been welcomed to stay. Exactly who can marry her away is a complicated matter, as a lot of different laws are involved. House Vaith would claim that right, and so would probably House Scales. Their marriage alliance technically holds still, even though it's on shaky grounds.
If this is the case, I would much prefer if it was Darren that was her husband.

b.
Her husband still lives. Pick whichever suits the story better, I'm good with either! Darren is much closer to the family, which is a plus, but Callith is a more healthy relationship, which is also a plus.

--

Those were some good suggestions that made me rethink. Thank you! If you have any more input, I'm all ears.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-01, 03:35 AM
@everyone
Wow, happy we did the mock combat. I just saw that I made a mistake. Remember armour penalties reduces your combat defence. So If you have a Splint armour (-3 armour penalty), your combat defence is lowered by 3 when wearing it.

Ameraaaaaa
2023-12-01, 04:19 AM
@everyone
Wow, happy we did the mock combat. I just saw that I made a mistake. Remember armour penalties reduces your combat defence. So If you have a Splint armour (-3 armour penalty), your combat defence is lowered by 3 when wearing it.

Just making sure. You remembered my armor master qualities right.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-01, 04:30 AM
Just making sure. You remembered my armor master qualities right.

Yes Armour mastery and improved armour mastery both give you more armour- a splint would regularly be 7 armour, you have 9. In addition armour mastery lowers your bulk by 1, so you have a bulk of 2, meaning you'll move faster. But you still have an armour penalty of 3.

Ameraaaaaa
2023-12-01, 04:32 AM
Yes Armour mastery and improved armour mastery both give you more armour- a splint would regularly be 7 armour, you have 9. In addition armour mastery lowers your bulk by 1, so you have a bulk of 2, meaning you'll move faster. But you still have an armour penalty of 3.

Thanks for the clarification.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-01, 05:56 AM
Ok, so the fight took a bit longer than expected, but I hope everyone got the basics of combat. You can wrap it with you both having gotten a glancing blow in. Normal damage like that heals instantly.

@Leonard Looking at your derived stats you have added your shield bonus to your armour rating like in DnD, in this system Armour gives damage resistance, but shield only gets your defence up to 13. Sorry for cutting your clash short. I thought we'd get things rolling, hope you got a basic introduction. You and Ameraa will have more combat than you'd ever want before this is over.

Leonard Van Rin
2023-12-01, 05:58 AM
@everyone
Wow, happy we did the mock combat. I just saw that I made a mistake. Remember armour penalties reduces your combat defence. So If you have a Splint armour (-3 armour penalty), your combat defence is lowered by 3 when wearing it.




That's how I already calculated it. Though I might have made a mistake... Math ain't my strong side haha

Leonard Van Rin
2023-12-01, 06:00 AM
Ok, so the fight took a bit longer than expected, but I hope everyone got the basics of combat. You can wrap it with you both having gotten a glancing blow in. Normal damage like that heals instantly.

@Leonard Looking at your derived stats you have added your shield bonus to your armour rating like in DnD, in this system Armour gives damage resistance, but shield only gets your defence up to 13. Sorry for cutting your clash short. I thought we'd get things rolling, hope you got a basic introduction. You and Ameraa will have more combat than you'd ever want before this is over.

Wait... So I calculated the Combat Defense correctly after all haha Cause it is 13 lol And trust me... This is the second system with combat I like (the first being the combat in WFRP 4e).

Andrethegiant
2023-12-01, 06:30 AM
Wait... So I calculated the Combat Defense correctly after all haha Cause it is 13 lol And trust me... This is the second system with combat I like (the first being the combat in WFRP 4e).

Yes, it is very similar to wfrp in that first you take damage then reduce it. As your character sheet said "Amor Rating: 9 (13 with Large Shield)" I just wanted to make sure you hadnt misunderstood. Coming from DnD it can be hard to remember that your AC (combat defence in this system) goes down with armour instead of up.

Batcathat
2023-12-01, 07:08 AM
I got most of the mechanics done yesterday and should be able to finish tonight (it's currently 1 pm here). To limit overlap with Lady Vaith, I've decided to go with a sort of combination of my original two concepts and make a schemer who's more about sticking to the background, being mostly unseen and unheard but gathering information and manipulating people here and there. Feels like the best of both worlds, from my perspective. :smallsmile:

Batcathat
2023-12-01, 11:22 AM
I'm still working on her history and other fluff, but I might as well post the mechanics here so people can take a look if they're up for it. As previously noted, this is the first time I'm making a character in this system so I would be rather surprised if I didn't screw it up one way or the other. :smalltongue:

Also, does having an Endurance flaw mean I should calculate Health as if her Endurance was one point lower?


Name: Lady Roanne Scales (born Fell)
Age: 42
Gender: Female

Virtue: Devoted
Vice: Cold

Abilities

Agility: 2
Animal Handling: 2
Athletics: 1
Awareness: 3 (Empathy 1B, Notice 1B)
Cunning: 2
Deception: 4 (Bluff 2B, Act 1B)
Endurance: 2
Fighting: 2
Healing: 2
Language: 3
Knowledge: 6 (Streetwise 2B)
Marksmanship: 2
Persuasion: 3 (Bargain 1B)
Status: 4 (Stewardship 1B, Breeding 1B)
Stealth: 5
Survival: 2
Thievery: 2
Warfare: 2
Will 2



Intrigue Defense: 10
Composure: 6
Combat Defense: 6
Health: 6

Benefits: Connections: The Stormlands, Wealthy

Drawbacks: Flaw: Frail

Personality: To most, Roanne comes off as a polite, soft-spoken and somewhat intelligent woman, a role she has cultivated for years. Beneath it, she can seem cold and controlling, even to those – like her children – she actually cares about, not to mention a certain arrogance born of a conviction that she knows more than most. Although not without principles and respect for traditions, Roanne is a pragmatist at heart and consider the goal more important than what path you need to take to reach it.

Appearance: Roanne Scales is a thin woman, with blonde hair increasingly streaked by grey reaching almost to her waist and usually braided. Her face is more striking than pretty with very noticeable cheekbones. She usually dresses in fine but rather humble clothing and when not expected to wear house colors, she prefers grey or brown.

History: As a girl, it was made clear to Roanne Fell that she was supposed to remain in the background, seen on occasion but rarely heard. Some of the other girls at the castle struggled against it, demanding to be noticed and respected the same way as the boys. It rarely worked out for them. So instead, Roanne made it into a weapon. Turning "sitting unnoticed in the background" into an art form and "just happening to be passing by" into a science, she quickly learned not only about the world around her but about the people and their secrets.

As she became older and bolder, she added new tricks to her repertoire, such as dressing up as a servant or a peasant and sneaking out of the castle. Before she was even old enough to marry, she was quite confident she knew more than most of her brother's advisors. But Roanne had also learned the bitter lesson that while knowledge may be power, it is not always enough. Knowing more than others meant little if they still would not listen to her and knowing someone's secrets meant little if they could silence you, whether by strength of arms or influence in the house.

Thus, Roanne could do little when her brother decided that she was to marry Lord Owen Scales. It wasn't the worst choice, she supposed. While Roanne found both his charisma and intelligence somewhat lacking, he was rarely cruel and mostly left her alone. This gave her time to resume her previous interests, learning not only about Castle Redford and its inhabitants but about the people in the lands surrounding it. And unlike the daughter of House Fell, the lady of House Scales could act upon her knowledge. A whisper into her husband's ear, a comment to a courtier or some gossip during a feast. Little by little, she gained if not power, than at least influence.

Then her husband died by Simon Toyne's hand and everything changed. Roanne did what she could to at least make the men around her think for a moment before acting, but their boiling blood could not be controlled and being stopped by House Wendwater and House Bywater just made it burn hotter. Though at least the shock gave her enough time to take control of the house, not to mention stopping her foolhardy son from risking his own life. In the months that followed, Roanne Scales learned – for better or for worse – the difference between subtly influencing and actually wielding power.

When the new regent arrived, she was at first relieved but as she resumed her former position – though now no longer even the lord's wife – Roanne started to feel the absence of power. She would give him a chance to rule, she decided, but if he failed – or worse, became a threat to her family – she would act.

Possessions:

Noble garb (three sets worth 400 silver stags each)
Peasant garb (male)
Peasant garb (female)
Scents
Lantern
Far-Eyes
Dagger
Ink
Sweetsleep (six pinches)
Palfrey
Tent, pavilion
Saddlebags


Money: 6 GD, 114 SS, 36 CP


Roll for money: [roll0]

Andrethegiant
2023-12-01, 12:00 PM
I'm still working on her history and other fluff, but I might as well post the mechanics here so people can take a look if they're up for it. As previously noted, this is the first time I'm making a character in this system so I would be rather surprised if I didn't screw it up one way or the other. :smalltongue:

Also, does having an Endurance flaw mean I should calculate Health as if her Endurance was one point lower?


Name: Lady Roanne Scales (born Fell)
Age: 42
Gender: Female

Virtue: Devoted
Vice: Cold

Abilities

Agility: 2
Animal Handling: 2
Athletics: 1
Awareness: 3 (Empathy 1B, Notice 1B)
Cunning: 3
Deception: 4 (Bluff 2B, Act 1B)
Endurance: 2
Fighting: 1
Healing: 2
Language: 2
Knowledge: 6 (Streetwise 2B)
Marksmanship: 2
Persuasion: 3 (Bargain 1B)
Status: 5 (Stewardship 1B, Breeding 1B)
Stealth: 5
Survival: 2
Thievery: 3
Warfare: 2
Will 3



Intrigue Defense: 11
Composure: 9
Combat Defense: 6
Health: 3 or 6

Benefits: Connections: The Stormlands, Wealthy

Drawbacks: Flaw: Frail



Roll for money: [roll0]

You can max drop one stat to one sadly. Further your status can't be 5 as the house influence is only 24 (5 status would be a powerful large house). Your health stays at 6, it doesnt drop. Otherwise good work for a first time character.

Batcathat
2023-12-01, 12:28 PM
You can max drop one stat to one sadly. Further your status can't be 5 as the house influence is only 24 (5 status would be a powerful large house). Your health stays at 6, it doesnt drop. Otherwise good work for a first time character.

Alright, at least having one stat too low and one too high meant it almost evened out (I've increased Fighting to 2, lowered Status to 4 and Thievery to 2, does that fix everything?). Thanks for taking a look, I should have the fluff (or at least a usable, bare-bones version of it) finished later tonight.

EDIT: No, wait, I think I'm still 10 EXP short, aren't I? I'll fix that later.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-01, 01:10 PM
Alright, at least having one stat too low and one too high meant it almost evened out (I've increased Fighting to 2, lowered Status to 4 and Thievery to 2, does that fix everything?). Thanks for taking a look, I should have the fluff (or at least a usable, bare-bones version of it) finished later tonight.

EDIT: No, wait, I think I'm still 10 EXP short, aren't I? I'll fix that later.

Yeah, at 250, but otherwise your character looks good.

Batcathat
2023-12-01, 01:24 PM
Yeah, at 250, but otherwise your character looks good.

Alright, I lowered Cunning to 2, which should take care of it.

What should I do about my starting money now that my Status is lower? Reroll (which I wouldn't hate, obviously, considering my previous roll) or just subtract from my previous result?

Andrethegiant
2023-12-01, 02:33 PM
Alright, I lowered Cunning to 2, which should take care of it.

What should I do about my starting money now that my Status is lower? Reroll (which I wouldn't hate, obviously, considering my previous roll) or just subtract from my previous result?
Take a reroll.

Batcathat
2023-12-01, 03:57 PM
Added some history and personality. I might expand on it a little in the next few days, but it's enough to get started, at least.

Unless I'm mistaken, all that's missing is some equipment so I'll reroll and start shopping.

One question... maybe I'm blind or looking in the wrong place but I can't seem to find the cost of poison, does anyone know where to look?

Money, money: [roll0]

Wymmerdann
2023-12-01, 04:12 PM
@harmony

I love it. Let's go with Darren, dead in the ambush. This ties you in to any feud with House Wendwater, but also makes you close family, while also making the ties with Dorne meaningful, and a source of tension given Dorne's connection to the King.

We might still use Callith as the master at arms, just to fill out that role, but not married to Lady Vaith?




One question... maybe I'm blind or looking in the wrong place but I can't seem to find the cost of poison, does anyone know where to look?



Page 137. The high end ones are very pricey.

Also, the Lady looks great - a good fit for the relationship I with her son I had in mind. Watch out though - language 3 is required to read and write.

Harmony
2023-12-01, 04:31 PM
Alright, sounds like a good deal. Amyra is the aunt to the young Lord by marriage, and now a widow. She remains with House Scales to raise her daughters and to hold the alliance alive.
I'm fine with keeping (Ser?) Callith, just removing the parts about his marriage with Amyra.

Perhaps a suggestion that Amyra serves as a "temporary" Castellan, which sort of maintains her friendly rivalry relationship with Callith with the two having a bit overlap.

For the house:
She also brings in a Veteran Cavalry unit as her Cadre.

Also I rolled a 4 for the House. May I suggest investing those into Power and having 2 of those points go to upgrading the personal guards to veterans, and the other 2 to upgrading the Cadre Cavalry to Elite?

Batcathat
2023-12-01, 04:48 PM
Page 137. The high end ones are very pricey.

Also, the Lady looks great - a good fit for the relationship I with her son I had in mind. Watch out though - language 3 is required to read and write.

It seemed I was indeed a bit blind, thanks (I had also missed the part about reading and while she's more about learning from people than from books, I would like her to be able to read, so I sacrificed a bit of Will to raise Language).

Anyhow, I'm done shopping and hopefully I didn't screw the math up too bad (someone should really introduce decimal currencies to Westeros :smalltongue: ). So with a little over an hour remaining of Friday in my timezone, I did keep the deadline though I probably won't have time to actually post something until tomorrow.

JoyWonderLove
2023-12-02, 03:38 AM
For the house:
She also brings in a Veteran Cavalry unit as her Cadre.

Also I rolled a 4 for the House. May I suggest investing those into Power and having 2 of those points go to upgrading the personal guards to veterans, and the other 2 to upgrading the Cadre Cavalry to Elite?

Harmony, there might be a way for you to do exactly what you want (upgrade the personal guard to Veteran and the Cavalry to Elite), and give us a free upgrade to do it.

We already have two points spare in Power, even before you help us. If you instead choose to put your 4 points into Wealth, we'll have just enough there to upgrade the Horse Husbandry to include War Horse Herds (page 11 of Out of Strife, Prosperity ---- it costs 5 Wealth, but lowers the costs of our cavalry by 2 permanently). With the upgrade, our Power becomes high enough again to cover the exact improvements in training you're after as Castellan.

Sound fun?

Harmony
2023-12-02, 03:58 AM
Harmony, there might be a way for you to do exactly what you want (upgrade the personal guard to Veteran and the Cavalry to Elite), and give us a free upgrade to do it.

We already have two points spare in Power, even before you help us. If you instead choose to put your 4 points into Wealth, we'll have just enough there to upgrade the Horse Husbandry to include War Horse Herds (page 11 of Out of Strife, Prosperity ---- it costs 5 Wealth, but lowers the costs of our cavalry by 2 permanently). With the upgrade, our Power becomes high enough again to cover the exact improvements in training you're after as Castellan.

Sound fun?

Sure, go for it!
But I think it would make the Cadre upgrade "free"? It costs 0 as Veteran, and would cost 2 as Elite, but with -2 that still becomes 0?

Wymmerdann
2023-12-02, 04:27 AM
I was vaguely planning to hold onto wealth in case we wanted to field a few hundred green mercenaries on short notice, but I'm happy to use power to upgrade trained troops to veterans. However, taking elite units raises two issues.

1) Elite troops are the world's best - troops like the Unsullied, elite corps of the Golden Company, Brave Companions etc, Our House has not been involved in a wide scale conflict in some time (probably the War of the Ninepenny Kings over twenty years ago) and doesn't really have a reason to have troops that good. Even if they were involved in the siege of Duskendale, which is more recent. If we want to justify troops of that quality, we'd probably need to be running a mercenary army that we hire out to fight in essos.

2) Rules as written, a Cadre are not a house holding, they are a personal benefit, and cannot be improved with a house's power. It's also important to note that this is a group of ten doing the job of either twenty horsemen or one hundred infantry - by operating as a Veteran Unit, they are already nearly superhuman. As an elite unit, they'd be Kingsguard quality or higher.

So at the end of the day I'm happy to make any change to our roster that you guys support, we just need to work through the logical consequences of that choice. Once we've locked this in, I'll draw up a final draft for the House.

Harmony
2023-12-02, 04:38 AM
I was vaguely planning to hold onto wealth in case we wanted to field a few hundred green mercenaries on short notice, but I'm happy to use power to upgrade trained troops to veterans. However, taking elite units raises two issues.

1) Elite troops are the world's best - troops like the Unsullied, elite corps of the Golden Company, Brave Companions etc, Our House has not been involved in a wide scale conflict in some time (probably the War of the Ninepenny Kings over twenty years ago) and doesn't really have a reason to have troops that good. Even if they were involved in the siege of Duskendale, which is more recent. If we want to justify troops of that quality, we'd probably need to be running a mercenary army that we hire out to fight in essos.

2) Rules as written, a Cadre are not a house holding, they are a personal benefit, and cannot be improved with a house's power. It's also important to note that this is a group of ten doing the job of either twenty horsemen or one hundred infantry - by operating as a Veteran Unit, they are already nearly superhuman. As an elite unit, they'd be Kingsguard quality or higher.

So at the end of the day I'm happy to make any change to our roster that you guys support, we just need to work through the logical consequences of that choice. Once we've locked this in, I'll draw up a final draft for the House.

Yea, you're likely right on that front. Do as desired!

Andrethegiant
2023-12-02, 05:18 AM
It's also important to note that this is a group of ten doing the job of either twenty horsemen or one hundred infantry - by operating as a Veteran Unit, they are already nearly superhuman. As an elite unit, they'd be Kingsguard quality or higher.



Minor correction: the people in a Cadre has "veteran" status, so they will be excellent fighters. The way they are intended to work in large scale combat works is that they work as a subdivision for a unit. Look at the rules under "attack portions of a unit".

Wymmerdann
2023-12-02, 05:44 AM
Hopefully I haven't jumped the gun IC. I just want to reaffirm that Casyr is the ruling lord, but at 15 is a year short of his majority so doesn't actually have the legal authority to issue commands. He's trying to put on big boy clothes here and be in charge, but if your character has their own ideas, there won't be any repercussions for that.


Minor correction: the people in a Cadre has "veteran" status, so they will be excellent fighters. The way they are intended to work in large scale combat works is that they work as a subdivision for a unit. Look at the rules under "attack portions of a unit".

That makes sense. In the past I've seen the discussion of rallying and reorganising as a justification for it operating as a full unit on the battlefield, but then you get the "ten men are the same as a hundred". I'm very happy to go with your ruling. I also don't want to make presumptions about how you feel about elite units in the game, so if you feel they are common and its not a big deal for our house to have them, please correct me.

Harmony
2023-12-02, 05:53 AM
Minor correction: the people in a Cadre has "veteran" status, so they will be excellent fighters. The way they are intended to work in large scale combat works is that they work as a subdivision for a unit. Look at the rules under "attack portions of a unit".

Aha, I got the impression that it added a full unit from the text. The attack portions of a unit seems to add a lot of complexity (and makes no difference if the unit is already veteran for instance), and if so it might be better to just pick another quality instead.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-02, 05:56 AM
Hopefully I haven't jumped the gun IC. I just want to reaffirm that Casyr is the ruling lord, but at 15 is a year short of his majority so doesn't actually have the legal authority to issue commands. He's trying to put on big boy clothes here and be in charge, but if your character has their own ideas, there won't be any repercussions for that.

Yes, what the chain of command is here will be a fun theme to explore. Captain certainly wont take charge.


That makes sense. In the past I've seen the discussion of rallying and reorganising as a justification for it operating as a full unit on the battlefield, but then you get the "ten men are the same as a hundred". I'm very happy to go with your ruling. I also don't want to make presumptions about how you feel about elite units in the game, so if you feel they are common and its not a big deal for our house to have them, please correct me.

The advantage of a Cadre is of course loyalty and independence. The cadre is with you here, your men are not.

It would be possible for you to have elite soldiers, but it would make you remarked upon in the region. Given how you have one of the brightest military minds in your rank she could have feasibly trained a hundred men to hold a high standard. The difference between your elites and the unsullied for example would be numbers. It would be a "big deal", but not impossible.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-02, 06:02 AM
Aha, I got the impression that it added a full unit from the text. The attack portions of a unit seems to add a lot of complexity (and makes no difference if the unit is already veteran for instance), and if so it might be better to just pick another quality instead.

Yes, feel free to change it if it wasnt what you were after.

Harmony
2023-12-02, 06:24 AM
I’m just a bit uncertain about what scale they are at. They are not “cohorts” and they do not seem to be enough (about 20) to from a cavalry unit, which was what I was under the impression that it did as it referenced the House creation chapter, but attempts to use them in warfare would require a very slow special rule, so I’m mostly trying to understand how they would be used. Any clarification would be very helpful!

Andrethegiant
2023-12-02, 08:39 AM
I’m just a bit uncertain about what scale they are at. They are not “cohorts” and they do not seem to be enough (about 20) to from a cavalry unit, which was what I was under the impression that it did as it referenced the House creation chapter, but attempts to use them in warfare would require a very slow special rule, so I’m mostly trying to understand how they would be used. Any clarification would be very helpful!

They are essentially a 10th of a unit in scale. In warfare they'd be useful in supporting other units. In mechanical terms their disruption would deal 1 damage if they succeed in their shock attacks.

However a lot of their use is usually out of combat. You are less likely to get cheated at dice with 10 grizzled veterans surrounding the potential perpetrator. If you need to secure the perimeter of your camp and you give them awareness they will be far more effective than the average sentinel. These kind of tasks is why people usually get the quality.

Harmony
2023-12-02, 09:04 AM
They are essentially a 10th of a unit in scale. In warfare they'd be useful in supporting other units. In mechanical terms their disruption would deal 1 damage if they succeed in their shock attacks.

However a lot of their use is usually out of combat. You are less likely to get cheated at dice with 10 grizzled veterans surrounding the potential perpetrator. If you need to secure the perimeter of your camp and you give them awareness they will be far more effective than the average sentinel. These kind of tasks is why people usually get the quality.

Ah, so there's two of them as they are cavalry (as a cavalry unit is 20)? I think that purpose might better served by a Cohort in that case.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-02, 09:21 AM
Ah, so there's two of them as they are cavalry (as a cavalry unit is 20)? I think that purpose might better served by a Cohort in that case.

I see the problem. No, you get 10 of them, otherwise they wouldnt be very useful outside of war. But we will consider them to be a 10th of a unit for the sake of war, so that the benefit isnt just another unit.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-02, 10:02 AM
So, it looks like Casyr naturally takes command in the tumultuous situation. As nobody said anything to the contrary I assume you follow his plan, however there is always room for individual action.

Casyr, you may coordinate. This is a hectic situation, so it is considered "combat" (DC 12) if you want to guide one of your companions. You may also try to assist them all in their different tasks, then it is a DC 18.

Gareth you wanted to roll knowledge, do so in general rolls like that can just be rolled, and if there is nothing to be aware of then I will tell you. The difficulty is only 6, but additional degrees of success will allow you to recognize more important details.

Lady Heartly, you can roll a difficulty 15 animal handling, as the horses get whipped into frenzy at the sudden chaos.

Master Pyke you can roll a difficulty 12 warfare as you need to command the right people belowdeck without using the necessary crew for navigation.

Ser Beryl you may roll a persuasion test against difficulty 12 to get attention from neaby ships. However your impressive size gains you +2 Dice as people naturally listen to the giant.

Ameraaaaaa
2023-12-02, 10:04 AM
Here we agogo baby.

[roll0]

Gareth3
2023-12-02, 08:47 PM
Thanks, I misunderstood the rules. I'll roll in the IC thread.

Wymmerdann
2023-12-03, 06:13 AM
Alright, so I Think I still know where people’s rolls went, and I’m pretty confident the numbers add up. This last edit is in line with suggestions made by @Joywonderlove and @harmony. Please let me know if you spot any errors, but I think this can otherwise be added to the Original Post for this thread @Andrethegiant

Harmony, Gareth, Leonard – 4, 1, 5 Goes to wealth
Ameraa and Wymmerdan – 1 and 2 goes to power
Joywonderlove, Batcathat 4, 3 goes to defense


Defence = 42 Castle Redford - Castle - 40, Crypt 2 (0 Spare)
Influence = 24 (Max Lord Status 4) Heir - Sister (10), Sister (5), Sister (5), (4 Spare)
Lands = 13 Castle Redford: Plains (5) Grassland(1), River (3), (4 Spare)
Law = 27 (House Fortunes -2)
Population = 14 (House Fortunes +0)
Power = 32 Veteran Personal Guard (11), Veteran Cavalry (8), Veteran Archers (8), Trained Engineers (5) (0 Spare)
Wealth =32* Priest (free), Horse Husbandry – War Horse Herds (15), Master at Arms (10), Crypt (3), Scorpions (1) (House Fortunes +2) (3 spare)

Totals for House Fortunes
House Fortunes = +0
Influence Gains = +2
Influence Losses = -1
Wealth Gains = +1
Cavalry Cost Reduction = -2

Other Benefits
60% Cheaper Coursers
+1 on injury rolls for Units
One Free Equipment Upgrade on Each Unit

Key NPC Household Members
3 Sisters of Young Lord
Septon
Master at Arms

Harmony
2023-12-03, 06:25 AM
Looks good to me!

Andrethegiant
2023-12-03, 07:01 AM
Updated.
And this is the official backstory for the house?


Castle Redford sits on the Eastern Bank of the Wendwater, fifteen miles south of Wendwater Bridge. And is well known for the great tree that dominates its courtyard, and for its role in fortifying a secondary crossing over the river that also serves as a fortified stone dam. This dam allows for water to be held and redistributed to a second minor river, the Wendwyne, which irrigates the nearby farms of House Errol to the east. Like the more famous Castle, Riverrun, this dam also allows for a moat to be flooded in times of war, surrounding the castle on all sides and creating an island accessible only by a narrow causeway that sits atop the dam.


The Castle was held for a thousand years by the Lords of House Redoak, loyal vassals of House Durrandon and then Baratheon. In 180 AC the bastard of King Aegon IV, Ser Hyle Waters married the Lady Barba Redford, becoming its Lord Protector, having a daughter Saera. Ser Hyle was legitimised on the death of his father, enjoying fifteen years of peace and prosperity.

In the years that followed, the tyrannous Hand of the King, Bloodraven began to suspect that his half Brother Ser Hyle was sympathetic to the treacheries of the Blackfyre conspiracy and tasked a loyal knight of House Targaryen to investigate the matter. Ser Edric Scales spent two years in the region, following rumours, but was able to find no proof, though he did fall deeply in love with Saera Redoak, a maid of six and ten. Alas, Lady Barba would not entertain the suit of a mere sworn sword of the king for the hand of the heiress of an ancient house.

At the outset of the first Blackfyre rebellion in 196, Ser Edric accosted Ser Hyle upon the road with a retinue of hired swords, and arrested the man for treason, with scant evidence. He soon set about interrogating dozens of the retainers of Castle Redford and several, under torture, admitted to passing messages between Ser Hyle and Lords Bracken and Peake – known traitors, though little other evidence was discovered. Ser Edric went to fight bravely in the Battle of the Redgrass fields, and was personally responsible for the arrest of Lord Bracken when he returned from Essos. For his service to the crown, Ser Edric was granted the hand of Lady Saera, and the Hand declared that their children would bear the father’s name, establishing House Scales of Castle Redford. Ser Hyle was summarily executed.

Many local knights and lesser lords thought Lord Edric’s rise presumptuous, and civil unrest followed, but Lord Edric put down such matters cruelly – often impaling or immolating lowborn perpetrators after summarily convicting them of treason and supporting House Blackfyre. The Hand supported such action, and Ser Edric became known as the Bloodscales – a Blackguard in service to the crown. After his death, grisly discoveries were made, showing that Ser Edric’s persecutions were even more widespread than publicly known, against harmless smallfolk as well as traitors, but these were hushed up by his heirs.


The previous Lord, Owen Scales, married the sister of Lord Fell, a good match, but was recently killed by Ser Simon Toyne, of the Kingswood Brotherhood in 279 AC. House Scales sent fifty knights and men at arms to hunt down the brigand, but House Wendwater and House Bywater refused them entry to the Crownlands and Kingswood, earning the ire of all within Castle Redford. Lady Scales immediately assumed the regency of her son, who is too young to rule, but this was overruled six months ago by the crown, and the boys' uncle, a Septon of great learning and reputation, made the journey from Starry Sept in Oldtown to assume the regency for the next year, until the boy comes of age.

If you have any updates to your character nudge me. I'll wait a bit for you to decide Harmony before I add your character.

Harmony
2023-12-03, 08:54 AM
I think this is the final sheet, even though the background text might need some adjustment.

Amyra is the aunt-in-law of the current Lord, married to his now dead uncle Darren who she had two children with, Valena Scales and Sylvenna Scales, with the oldest soon turning ten. They are the mirror opposites, the older is more reminiscent of Amyra, while the younger is a more docile and quiet. Darren, the bad apple, uncle to the Lord.
Darren was the very reverse of ambition. He is more than content hunting, fishing, eating and finding other joys and entertainment. Always blaming someone else for his shortcomings - like that of his brother breaking a few of his bones when they trained as kids, or that his favorite horse is always ill when it comes to mounting an actual warhorse. The drunker or miserable he got, the taller the stories were, and the more fantastic his recollecting about how he was in his youth - before all bad luck that befell him. He did participate in a melee just after he had married Amyra, but did not have the skill nor the appetite when someone actually fought back. His body recovered, but his pride did not, and it remained a sour subject to touch.

He was a quite mellow man, content in all things. If he can spend most of his nights out on the road (staying overnight at inns, naturally) hunting the lands, he was at his happiest. The more duties he is bestowed, the sourer he would become. He was appointed Castellian, but it was a role Amyra took over and then still holds. The height he would display his station was to impress inn-maids to warm his bed. Like his brother, he has probably sired a few bastards. Amyra did not mind, having lovers is a normal thing in Dorne, but she does mind the cultural difference that it's not alright for her to take lovers in return, in particular now that he's dead.

Her husband was killed along with the late Lord. As she has two children who bears the Scales name, she has been welcomed to stay. Exactly who can marry her away is a complicated matter, as a lot of different laws are involved. House Vaith would claim that right, and so would probably House Scales. Their marriage alliance technically holds still, even though it's on shaky grounds.

She has attracted a band of followers, formerly known as 'The Spear of Vaith' from her family name, but as she has been married and lived in the chilly north for over a decade now, members have aged, or held different positions in the house hold, or even moved over to other bands or served other lords. such is the nature a band held together by force of personality rather than vassal bond. What stands out about the band, at least outside of Dorne is that it has quite a number of women members.

Current members: Teya Sand, Helenys Sand, Rana Storm, Elen, Alren Storm, Dennas Flowers, Justan, Aran, Blane

Brief background:
Amyra was born into house Vaith. As a third child, she held little chance of inheritance, so her worth came in the form of an alliance. She was never a book-smart kid, in fact she could ride long before she could read. Where other learned poesy, she instead focused her attention to games, quickly mastering cyvasse. Allowed to indulge in her passions as most dornish noble children were as long as they kept the basics of what was expected of them, she took her understanding of cyvasse into more practical things, like leadership and logistics. It did not matter when you could see a game unfold before it was played if it could not be communicated. And in life, there was more than just bringing game pieces. Her talents for warfare did not go unnoticed, and she was through bargains her parents did sent to serve as Castellian for House Gargalen at a very young age. It was here, she started gaining enough fame to attract what would be Spear of the Waif. While she was expecting to wed some of the sons of the House Gargalen, something happened between Lady Vaith and Lord Gargalen. She was taken by surprise when she found out she was engaged to the north, outside of Dorne, and a few months later married into house Scales. But she did her duty without objections, giving up the life that could have been in Dorne where her talents would have been appreciated, and even allowed to flourish. She did not exactly like her husband, but at the very least he kept out of her way after that notorious tournament where he had thought to impress her. As her husband was shrinking away from his duties as Castellian, she picked it up and has since the performed them. The Spear followed her, even though it's members have shifted in the years since her moving to Dorne and is no longer even a majority of them are dornish.


There's no doubt that the blood of the Rhoyne flows thickly through Amyra's veins, and not only due to her olive skin and jet black hair, but also with the grace and confidence she carries herself. She prefers her dornish dresses, all in a cut to make them comfortable for riding and being maybe a tad to revealing.
https://i.postimg.cc/2yCxR4KF/amyra.jpg

Name: Amyra Vaith Heraldry: Three black leopards standing on a yellow pile on orange
Motto: "To destroy is to control."
Age: 29
Gender: Female

Abilities
Agility 3
Animal Handling 3
Athletics 2
Awareness 3
Cunning 3
Deception 2
Endurance 3
Fighting 3 - Spears 1B
Healing 2
Language 3 - Literacy 1B
Knowledge 2
Marksmanship 2
Persuasion 5 - Bargain 1B, Charm 1B
Status 3
Stealth 2
Survival 2
Thievery 1
Warfare 6 - Command 2B, Strategy 2B
Will 3

Intrigue Defense: 9, Composure: 9
Combat Defense: 10, Health: 9

Qualities:
Attractive, Blood of Rhoyne, Cadre (Spears of the Waif)
Flaw: Stealth, Honor-Bound, Cursed

Destiny: 3/3

Personalty: Amyra typically remains, as is expected of a woman, content to holding her own opinion. She is cold as the desert night, until she's not. She has the traditional dornish temper which flares up suddenly and departs equally sudden. She's proud and maintains what she considers honorable traditions, even though they are based in dornish traditions rather than the Westerosi. Amyra has a natural charisma and a voice that is used to giving orders.


- Evening (Courser), saddlebags
- Morning (Courser), saddlebags
- Nobles Garb (300 SS worth)
- Perfumes, jewelry, makeup (210 SS worth)
- Splint armor (not typically worn), 7 Armor Rating, -3 Armor Penalty, 3 Bulk
- Castle-forged Shortspear (not typically carried), 4 Damage Rating, Adaptable (Requirement: 1B)
- Castle-forged Shortspear (not typically carried), 4 Damage Rating, Adaptable (Requirement: 1B)
- Castle-forged Shield (not typically carried), 1 Damage Rating, Defensive +2
- Castle-forged Knife, 1 Damage Rating, Fast, Off-hand +1

Coins: 2 GS, 23 SS

Wymmerdann
2023-12-04, 04:56 AM
Well I flubbed my coordinate by one. It looks like everyone else's rolls are goin well though, so hopefully it won't matter.

@Andrethegiant

Yes, happy to lock in that backstory, but I think Gareth and I discussed that we might simplify the naming conventions and just make the previous family House Redford of Castle Redford, rather than House Redoak of Castle Redford.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-04, 01:02 PM
Yes, happy to lock in that backstory, but I think Gareth and I discussed that we might simplify the naming conventions and just make the previous family House Redford of Castle Redford, rather than House Redoak of Castle Redford.

No worries, I'll hold off on changes

To move things along I'll update the story. Giving Lady Amyra and Lady Heartly an opportunity to come in and save the day.

Harmony
2023-12-04, 04:21 PM
Will do a first roll, adding 1D for the assistance. If Lady Heartly adds more, feel free to roll those and we’ll sort out which dice stay and go

Warfare (assuming command so 2B) 9d6

Harmony
2023-12-04, 04:23 PM
Once more, with the right text!

[roll0] 31 so far.

Wymmerdann
2023-12-05, 12:34 AM
Just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. We can choose to approach either Selmy or Celtigar by pulling alongside/using a smaller vessel, or just by using the flags?

Andrethegiant
2023-12-05, 12:59 AM
Just trying to get a better understanding of the situation. We can choose to approach either Selmy or Celtigar by pulling alongside/using a smaller vessel, or just by using the flags?

They are both within "movement range" of the ship, so you can talk/shout with them.

Batcathat
2023-12-05, 05:54 AM
Maybe I missed it, but do we have words and/or a coat of arms for our house?

Wymmerdann
2023-12-05, 07:18 AM
We do not!

For the sigil, it probably goes back to House Redford, so anything involving a river, red oak tree, castle, bridge/dam would be a good fit. Perhaps when Lord Scales first took over he might have made a change, perhaps making the leaves glitter like dragon scales, or blood.

But I really want to open this up to everyone else - what words do we want House Scales to be driven by, and what banner do they fight beneath?

Edit: @ameraaaaaa one of my highlights so far has been your knight madly waving these flags around and just absolutely knocking that job out of the park. Great work.

Batcathat
2023-12-05, 07:31 AM
We do not!

For the sigil, it probably goes back to House Redford, so anything involving a river, red oak tree, castle, bridge/dam would be a good fit. Perhaps when Lord Scales first took over he might have made a change, perhaps making the leaves glitter like dragon scales, or blood.

But I really want to open this up to everyone else - what words do we want House Scales to be driven by, and what banner do they fight beneath?

Oh, is it "Scales" as in what a dragon has? I assumed it was the kind you use for weighing stuff and figured one of those one a shield might look pretty good. Though I suppose inheriting one could make sense. In any case, when we've decided on something I'd be interested in trying to illustrate it as I usually take any excuse to play around in Photoshop. :smalltongue:

As for words, I thought something about "balancing the scales" or similar might be nice, but that is again dependent on what sort of scales we're named for.

Wymmerdann
2023-12-05, 02:33 PM
It could be either! In fact, the scales of justice fits our backstory fairly well.

@gareth3 I hope you don’t mind that I’ve had Casyr push Tommen for more- if you wanted to more actively conceal Tommen’s feelings I could redo the post, or if you wanted to make it a deception/awareness test we could roll?

Batcathat
2023-12-05, 03:11 PM
Poor Casyr, not even proper lord yet and already has advisors pulling him in different directions. And that's just among his closest relatives. :smalltongue:

Gareth3
2023-12-05, 08:31 PM
No, it's fine. I didn't use any game mechanics to conceal his real feelings, so it's fine that Casyr detected them. I'll post IC soon.

Ameraaaaaa
2023-12-06, 07:48 AM
Interesting predicament we are in. Btw not sure what the gm thinks but isn't influencing other players with social rolls generally taboo?

Wymmerdann
2023-12-06, 08:07 AM
Interesting predicament we are in. Btw not sure what the gm thinks but isn't influencing other players with social rolls generally taboo?

We probably want to discuss the etiquette around it. I've seen games where it's integral and positive, and games where it's banned.

I think it's great when it's more about "this is how convincingly I make my point so you can roleplay appropriately in response" and less about "this is so you have to do what I say".

Ameraaaaaa
2023-12-06, 08:26 AM
We probably want to discuss the etiquette around it. I've seen games where it's integral and positive, and games where it's banned.

I think it's great when it's more about "this is how convincingly I make my point so you can roleplay appropriately in response" and less about "this is so you have to do what I say".

That example makes sense to me. Personally I'd also see what the gm thinks of it.

Leonard Van Rin
2023-12-06, 06:17 PM
I am fine with social rolls, I for one allow them in my games.

Gareth3
2023-12-06, 09:57 PM
Sorry if that was inappropriate. There will probably be other situations where my character needs to convince another PC of something, but I can just roleplay it without the mechanics if people prefer that.

EDIT: I've made a family tree of House Scales at www.familyecho.com. Log in using the username casyrscales and the password casyrscales to see it. It's consistent with everyone's backstory, and I've named people using names from House Baratheon history. Let me know if there are any errors or if you would like any changes.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-07, 12:25 AM
The intrigue is there to add a layer to the game, not as a limiting factor. Rolling a persuasion roll is a good way to show how persuasive your character is (together with the roleplay), but the player decide if their PC gets influenced. We won't do intrigues between players.

So feel free to try to talk to each other, and if you want to roll persuasion, but it is in no way binding the other PC. The player decides what would be in character for their PC without any OOC influence.

As an example: I was curious about shaving my head after watching Jason Bourne and fightclub in my teens, my friends and I convinced each other to do it. Now as an adult with a job that wouldn't happen, even if the best salesman ever made that pitch.

Gareth3
2023-12-07, 12:34 AM
Fair enough.

Batcathat
2023-12-07, 03:27 PM
Would it be possible to roll something to try and figure out the best way to suck up to Lord Crabby Celtigar and if so, what? Both Knowledge and Status seems possible but neither seems perfect.

Leonard Van Rin
2023-12-07, 04:30 PM
Would it be possible to roll something to try and figure out the best way to suck up to Lord Crabby Celtigar and if so, what? Both Knowledge and Status seems possible but neither seems perfect.

Status seems quite fitting imo

Wymmerdann
2023-12-07, 04:35 PM
Would it be possible to roll something to try and figure out the best way to suck up to Lord Crabby Celtigar and if so, what? Both Knowledge and Status seems possible but neither seems perfect.

I think your assist to Tommen helped us find out that self interest and survival was probably his strongest motivator - which Casyr doesn't yet know.

Edit: I can do a reply to Tommen, but I also think we could just move forward now that we've picked Lord Ardrian.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-08, 05:52 AM
Would it be possible to roll something to try and figure out the best way to suck up to Lord Crabby Celtigar and if so, what? Both Knowledge and Status seems possible but neither seems perfect.

That was your assist to Gareth- Gareth on his own knew of the heraldry, but you knew how to approach each of them to get them to listen to you.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-08, 05:53 AM
I think your assist to Tommen helped us find out that self interest and survival was probably his strongest motivator - which Casyr doesn't yet know.



Yes, I see now I was unclear on that point.

Wymmerdann
2023-12-10, 04:42 AM
I feel like the main IC thread is working well, but I'm also a frenetic tinkerer, theorycrafter, and side-scener. Would anyone be interest in connecting further through Discord?

Leonard Van Rin
2023-12-10, 05:11 AM
I feel like the main IC thread is working well, but I'm also a frenetic tinkerer, theorycrafter, and side-scener. Would anyone be interest in connecting further through Discord?

Would love to! Ya folks can send me friend requests on there, the tag is leonard_van_rin

Batcathat
2023-12-10, 06:05 AM
Yeah, I'd be up for a Discord channel.

Ameraaaaaa
2023-12-10, 09:19 AM
I'm up for a discord.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-10, 11:44 AM
Discord will be great to keep things flowing better. I have no clue how to set it up though, anybody young and tech savvy here?

Batcathat
2023-12-10, 12:22 PM
Discord will be great to keep things flowing better. I have no clue how to set it up though, anybody young and tech savvy here?

While both my youth and tech savvy is questionable, I do know how to create a Discord server so I went ahead and did so. Here's the invite (https://discord.gg/ppvWsNmMk8).

Wymmerdann
2023-12-10, 07:40 PM
While both my youth and tech savvy is questionable, I do know how to create a Discord server so I went ahead and did so. Here's the invite (https://discord.gg/ppvWsNmMk8).

Alright, looks like we have everyone but @Andrethegiant and @Joywonderlove, which is a great start!

Edit: Adding my roll for empathy on Ardrian here, because it broke in the IC: 6d6

Edit Edit: I think I've broken the roller trying to put the keep function in my rolls.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-12, 12:43 PM
Alright, looks like we have everyone but @Andrethegiant and @Joywonderlove, which is a great start!

Edit: Adding my roll for empathy on Ardrian here, because it broke in the IC: [roll0]

Edit Edit: I think I've broken the roller trying to put the keep function in my rolls.

Ok, great 27 is a very good roll. I couldnt see the roll in your post before.

Wymmerdann
2023-12-17, 02:52 AM
It wasn’t showing up for me either, I think because I was using to use a drop/keep function. If that ever comes up, I’m happy to do a reroll.

This was a roll 6 keep 5, so the lowest roll won’t count.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-19, 03:28 PM
It wasn’t showing up for me either, I think because I was using to use a drop/keep function. If that ever comes up, I’m happy to do a reroll.

This was a roll 6 keep 5, so the lowest roll won’t count.

It's fine, sorry for the long wait, just finished my last paper for university.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-19, 03:37 PM
So to get it moving Harmony will need to aid the captain. The captain might controll the ship but a warfare (any speciality can be appropriate) will be needed to save as many ships as possible. The DC is 27, but thanks to the party members the roll is with a +4D.

Harmony
2023-12-19, 05:46 PM
I did the original roll a while back with 1D assistance.

(9d6)[4][2][4][6][3][6][4][4][2](35)

Adding 3D [roll0] =
Total is 38 (as there were 2B)

Andrethegiant
2023-12-20, 03:39 AM
I did the original roll a while back with 1D assistance.

(9d6)[4][2][4][6][3][6][4][4][2](35)

Adding 3D [roll0] =
Total is 38 (as there were 2B)

4 DOS, you make it in a heroic fashion. This will be remarked upon later on!
Harmony I will let you narrate your actions before you proceed.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-21, 07:30 AM
I will let a round of backslapping and celebrations happen between PC's happen today before I move to the next scene tomorrow.

Ameraaaaaa
2023-12-22, 11:34 AM
I don't have a status it seems. Gm error i guess since he is the one who remade my sheet (which i appreciate btw)

Either way I'm gonna go carousing and find a pub to drink (in game) post in a bit.

Andrethegiant
2023-12-22, 02:18 PM
I don't have a status it seems. Gm error i guess since he is the one who remade my sheet (which i appreciate btw)

Either way I'm gonna go carousing and find a pub to drink (in game) post in a bit.

Stats start at 2. So you have a status of 2. I will collect a few more players to see where people go then I'll group the revelers together!

Harmony
2023-12-25, 11:40 AM
Awareness [roll0]

Gareth3
2024-01-24, 04:09 PM
I'm going to assume Tommen reaches Casyr after the woman leaves, and write his part of the conversation, if that's OK.

Gareth3
2024-02-12, 08:27 PM
I'm withdrawing from this game.