A Faerie Affair - OOC IV: Petal to the Metal

[Archmage1]

I find it amusing that today is, in fact, the day of reckoning for the hunt, and Violet hasn't actually realized that.

[Archmage1]

How has life been treating everyone? My life's been... interesting, of late.

[WindStruck]

I'm just plodding along at a relaxed pace, I guess...

[Majin]

Just been boring, I guess, days blurring together...

[Ninja_Prawn]

Gotta watch out for that relaxed pace... once you get into a groove it can be hard to pick it back up again. Well, I'll have and IC post up later tonight.

In other news, I've gotten comlpetely addicted to Valheim the last couple of weeks, so uh, sorry about that. Did get my first dose of Covid vaccine though, so feeling good about that.

[Archmage1]

I have heard Valheim is a pretty fun game. I've been avoiding it, because I'm playing through a bit of a backlog(My current game was released in 1999, so I've got a few years to go).

I'm glad to hear you've gotten your first dose of Covid. That's a good thing indeed!

[Ninja_Prawn]

To be fair, 1999 was a golden year for video games. Most of my favourites are from that one year: Pharaoh, SimCity 3000, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Baldur's Gate, Dungeon Keeper 2, Age of Empires 2... that was my whole entire childhood. I also think I got Pokemon Red in 1999, though it was released the year before. Actually thinking about it, it was probably a present for Christmas 1998.

[WindStruck]

So, I tried to draw Astra in a style similar to OOTS, but not quite as stick figurey. I noticed a couple things.

Astra is practically naked. Guess it's a good thing she got that ring of protection (?) but she honestly might give it to a teammate that needs it more.

The blue, orange, and yellow don't really look like a flame when combined in their layers. It's rather brownish-gold, but it still looks pretty nice, even though it's not as envisioned.

---

Um, anyway, yeah.. It's been like a month since the last posts. I think that's way too relaxed?? Hopefully we can ween ourselves back onto once a week at least, and maybe bump it up after that?

Maybe consider making replies for those who have posted quickly, even though another may be lagging behind? Oh, who am I kidding...

---

I don't think I was playing any of those games except the first two pokemon. And maybe older stuff on the N64. Gosh, it's so hard to remember what I was even doing.... yeah, there was a lot of homework too, and stupid sports things I actually didn't want to do.

Never heard of Valheim, but I feel quite busy right now and almost certainly shouldn't look at it.

[Majin]

Like the Astra pic!

I've been curious about Valheim, seems like fun. Some friends are interested too, but they're a bit wary because it's early access. Our co-op game's been Sea of Thieves, but I feel like we're all getting maybe a bit tired of it. Currently been playing Hades, it really is damn good!

Glad to hear about the vaccine!

[WindStruck]

Wow, did all three of us reply to the IC thread before 24 hours? That's quite a record for a while...

[Archmage1]

We did indeed manage it!

[Ninja_Prawn]

Wow, did all three of us reply to the IC thread before 24 hours? That's quite a record for a while...

Aww man, I should have checked in sooner. I was thinking like ah, I posted last week, I can give them another day for like... the entire last week. And then before I knew it, two weeks had passed. I'll post tonight and check back in on Friday.

Nice work on the avatar! Really rocking that 2020 'all of the hairdressers are closed because of Covid' look!

I've been curious about Valheim, seems like fun. Some friends are interested too, but they're a bit wary because it's early access.

As to this, I'd say some parts of the game are pretty janky, but to be honest that actually enhances the experience of playing it. It's a bit like Dwarf Fortress in that way: you can use your creativity to work around the bugs and limitations of the game, and succeeding at things feels more rewarding when you do it despite the game mechanics. The graphics are interesting too. The models and textures are extremely basic, like as if they were 25 years out of date, but the lighting and particle effects are amazing. In screenshots it looks a mess, but once you spend a few minutes in the game, it's clear that it was all intentional. The effect it creates is magical.

[WindStruck]

Nice work on the avatar! Really rocking that 2020 'all of the hairdressers are closed because of Covid' look!

Thanks! I do admit it looks kind of like dreads or something, though this is really only due to my limited ability to draw anything, let alone, accurately and pleasingly depict hair.

This avatar took me over 5 hours to make...

[Ninja_Prawn]

I'm just thinking here... does Violet know where Astra and Kor are? If not we might just have to handwave it that she happens to find them without too much trouble, becuase it's about time we got the party back in one place.

[Archmage1]

Violet does have an idea where they are, as it was cleverly discussed during Kor's kitchen escapades.

Of course, she might be wrong too, or go to the wrong portal, but...

[Archmage1]

I'm currently wondering if it is time to givee Cassie a chance to speak, or if Violet should continue being Violet.

She... isn't terribly invested in the parade thing, honestly. Some guy who she doesn't know asked for it without even explaining what it was, so he probably doesn't know either. Her loose "plan", honestly, was to talk a bunch of people into it at the final party?

[Archmage1]

On the other hand... does it make sense for me to create a different character that does participate in the hunt, while Violet does Violety things in the background? Otherwise, we're going to have a split party, probably for some time.

[Majin]

On the other hand... does it make sense for me to create a different character that does participate in the hunt, while Violet does Violety things in the background? Otherwise, we're going to have a split party, probably for some time.

Could maybe also use an NPC statblock, if it's a one time thing, up to Ninja of course

[Archmage1]

That would also be a great option, although the question would be how frequently this sort of thing will be.

[Archmage1]

Ninja_Prawn, are you all right?

[Ninja_Prawn]

Yeah, I'm alright, just been busy. Sorry about the delay.

If you want to create a different character to participate in the hunt, I will allow that, though it would be nice if Violet could be involved in some capacity too. A key part of the event is retelling the stories of it afterward, which might be something Violet could do. Also we're likely going to be splittnig the party anyway, since Astra and Kor are working with different groups of NPCs... though the Special Department faeries are free to go wherever, so they can stay close to Kor's group if they want.

I guess you could take control of an existing NPC, probably one of Astra's companions or Hans the ballistics expert, if any of them take your fancy. You'd still have to work out their stats, though.

The IC thread doesn't really look like it needs input from me, I assume we're waiting for Archmage to bring in a new character?

[Archmage1]

I'm glad to hear that you're doing well!

If we're all going to split up anyway, then the decision to not bring Violet shouldn't split the party more than it would have anyway, so there probably isn't a reason to make another character
She could be quite helpful on an expedition, or quite annoying. And her showing in the drow battle was mostly being useless.

As for IC, I was actually thinking that Cassie might have a response to the discussion?

[Archmage1]

And, what is Inspiration for but to be used when needed? (1d20+6)[11] Persuasion, the 2nd!

Edit: Well, at least inspiration gives advantage?

[Archmage1]

Does Violet recognize these spiders, having grown up from the dispersed spider swarm?

Edit: Also, what's Cassie doing?

[Ninja_Prawn]

Nah, these are different spiders.

And Cassie is hiding, she has nothing to offer in a fight.

[Archmage1]

That is good!
Downside: Violet also has very little to contribute here. Plant Growth is about it?

(1d20+4)[14] Initiative!

[WindStruck]

They're ten-foot-tall spiders?

Is that in faerie feet? lol

[Ninja_Prawn]

Ahaha, no, that's 12-inches-feet. There's a reason they're called 'giant' spiders!

I kind of figured that my prior narration hadn't really driven home the size disparity... but yes, these are spiders the size of horses, and the Special Department faeries look like insects flitting about them, stabbing away with their tiny weapons.

[Ninja_Prawn]

Con save: (1d20+1)[7]

[WindStruck]

Sorry to be retconning things.. did that one spider have the disadvantage on its attack?