Mm. That didn't really give me an automatic ah-ha, interesting though it seems.

One thing I'm considering is how oddly casual Istvan seems about his priesthood. He doesn't have to report to anyone, he doesn't have to attend services, he doesn't have to do elaborate rituals, he doesn't have to tell fortunes... because Noric is the god of freedom, Istvan doesn't exactly have to do anything he doesn't feel like doing. And yet... his prayers get answered, usually. It's weird.

(How's that?)

In reply to Istvan Vanoson (msg # 42):

I like that actually, it might seem like Singha wouldn't have as much formality without actual gods to worship, but I've been toying with the idea that his people actually have pretty specific rituals around a lot of things--which would naturally extra-include honouring and calling your ancestors. Plus, I bet every other priest or holy person Singha's come across has all those trappings in spades, so yeah, the seemingly casual relationship would be odd to him (I can just imagine some exchange like "but you show your 'god' no respect!" "respect isn't the trappings, Singha, it's the feeling, in the heart" "but how are they to know that if you don't follow the proper forms!?" "sigh").

I dig this... sounds like, between "weird" and "amusing," Sin-Singha is indeed leaning toward finding Istvan "weird."

The world's happiest kuo-toa approves!

https://i.redd.it/n6lhnupe5un11.png
This message was last updated by the player at 17:27, Wed 03 Apr 2019.

Well with Jon and Otto gone, I have a couple bonds that are free-floating. I might as well flip those over to Lazarus and Auberyn. Is it cool if I re-write some of them? They don't necessarily make sense as direct transfers--I might have shuffled them a bit differently from the get-go with this line up.

For Lazarus, I was thinking something like "Lazarus gets gawked at nearly as much as I do." Ya know, having bizarre transmogrified arms and all.

For Auberyn, something like "I'll teach Auberyn how to enjoy real civilization." Which he may not, but he probably thinks that part of the reason Auberyn doesn't like cities is because cities around here suck so bad. "If you saw a real civilized city you'd like it!" kind of thing. It could end up resolving by Auberyn appreciating some civilization but also by Singha realizing that maybe he's just wrong about that. It looks like Auberyn hasn't logged into the game for a bit though--you still with us?

That works for me as long as our GM is okay with it.

I'm okay with you making the changes, but Auberyn's been quiet for some time.  I'd better check in and make sure we haven't lost her as well...

Hi there! I've created Lissa asa generally reluctant, but in the end willing, heroic type. She's been raised in a family of knights, who all go on some great quest as a traditional rite of passage. The idea being that you return with both glory and honor to the family name, as well as some gold and experience to set you up for success in life.

Lissa, on the other hand, doesn't necessarily want to do that? She's willing, and she'll do it because it's tradition...but her end goal, and what she'd honestly rather be doing right now, is setting up a Tavern/Inn. She's always wanted to be a business owner, not some noble knight who follows a king. Hearing stories of travelers, telling her own, and having a stable place to call her own without relying on being a vassal of some kind.

As for bonds, it looks like I have the following options for a Fighter's bonds:

____________ owes me their life, whether they admit it or not.

I have sworn to protect ______.

I worry about the ability of ________ to survive in the dungeon.

_____ is soft, but I will make them hard like me.


I don't feel like numbers 2 or 4 really fit my character, since she's looking to become a business owner rather than a lifelong adventurer. But 1 sounds like something she may have absolutely done, being raised as a knight, and 3 is definitely something she would worry about. She doesn't want to lose anyone.

Alternatively, number 2 could work incredibly well if the person she's sworn to protect is her actual quest, and the rest of the adventure is secondary to that.

Welcome, Lissa!

If you are sworn to protect Lazarus, he probably half-heartedly tried to sneak away from you. Which could explain why you are just showing up now after tracking him down again. He probably wouldn't have anything against Lissa, but doesn't feel like he needs a "babysitter" either.

If that doesn't interest you though, that is perfectly fine too.

Hah, that's definitely interesting. And I feel like I'd love the dynamic of "grumble grumble, don't need a big clanky fighter to protect me," versus "grumble, grumble, squishy wizard doesn't understand how fragile he is."

Besides, "protect the wizard" is definitely the kind of thing her family would look on as a worthy quest. "If you can keep someone as danger prone as a wizard alive, you'll surely have proven your skill!"

Unless someone else thinks they have a better idea, I would like doing that, Lazarus.
Lissa voice: I'm gonna call you Laz.

Sounds good! Laz if fine.

I figure Lissa knows Lazarus doesn't really feel like he needs her protection. And likewise, Lazarus probably knows she doesn't exactly want to be there herself. So they can kind of bond over their mutual reluctance over the whole situation. Maybe they have actually become friends, but aren't quite ready to admit it out loud.

Oh, and Lazarus is the nephew of a duchess's cousin, so maybe that is part of why he has been assigned an untested bodyguard.

Ooh, yeah, that's perfect! Just noble enough to get a bodyguard, but not noble enough to have gotten an especially competent(or at least experienced) one. Do we think Lissa would know about the job? Or would he have done this without her knowledge after his latest escape? She probably wouldn't have objected, but Lazarus doesn't necessarily know that.

I was thinking Lazarus was expecting to sneak away for the new job, but then Lissa finds him right as they are about to leave town. Then Lazarus will sigh and concede to the fact that his "grand" escape failed. He will only be mildly disappointed though.

I should probably get in on this, too, shouldn't I?  I've kind of deliberately kept Thistle's background open to develop, but I was broadly thinking of the classic infant-lost-in-the-forest-raised-by-wolves sort of scenario.  I mean.. maybe not wolves specifically.  But also maybe wolves.

But of course she's had a chance to mingle with people since then.  The Druid's bonds offer:

 __________ smells more like prey than hunter
 The spirits spoke to me of great danger that follows __________.
 I have showed _________ a secret rite of the Land.
 ________ has tasted my blood and I theirs. We are bound by it.


...I think she and Lissa should definitely be connected, since we're arriving at the same time.  Maybe she showed her a secret rite that helped her track down Lazarus?  Or... ooh, maybe Lissa came across Thistle in an animal form on her way here, and we fought (Lissa thinking she was just hunting); Thistle ran away before losing her shape, but blood had been exchanged, and since then she's felt the pull of it?  Lissa may or may not feel it, too, but probably wouldn't know why if she does.  And Thistle wouldn't hold a grudge; hunting is part of nature, and the fact that they ended up connected like that she would take as a sign.  Especially when following her lead her to the person the spirits have been whispering about...

Which I was thinking, maybe she would recognize Istvan as?  Not, you know, that thing the spirits whisper about, the one that makes them giggle - don't worry, your secret is safe with me.  But the shadow that lies across your path.  Those whispers.

And I was definitely looking at Lucius for smelling more like prey than hunter - he might have training, but his pampered inexperience is almost palpable. grin

Which leaves Lazarus, who I could certainly see having made some kind of trade for a secret rite of the land, possibly well back in our past.  Unless we're expecting any more new characters, in which case I should probably leave that open for them?

I didn't quite mean to have anything in mind for all of them like that, but when I started writing some of that really clicked for me... if those ideas work for everyone connected to them, of course!

Not expecting any other new players at the moment, though we could conceivably fit one more if anyone knows someone who's interested.

Welcome, Thistle!

I do like the bond where Thistle showed Lazarus a secret rite of the land. Maybe it is related to how Lazarus got one of his magically altered arms. Perhaps Thistle showed him a rite of the land and then Lazarus, in his hubris, thought he knew how to improve upon the rite and tried to utilize it in a Ritual. But the ritual was botched and Lazarus ended up with a crystalline arm covered in polyps.

I really like the idea that I accidentally tried to hunt you...and I could tie into that with "Thistle owes me her life, whether she admits it or not." Perhaps while you were wounded, a larger, hungrier woodlands beast showed up, and I slew it? And that's how we went from "I hunted you because I was hungry" to "sharing bear shank over an open fire?"

Welcome new players. A much needed reinforcement to our dwindling numbers.

As I was looking at my bond and removing those with absent players, it ocurred to me I never made one with Lazarus... fortunately I have the perfect one.

Lazarus' misguided behavior endangers their very soul!

As for the others, I have three to chose from:

____ has stood by me in battle and can be trusted completely.

I respect the beliefs of ___ but hope they will someday see the true way.

____ is a brave soul, I have much to learn from them.

@Thistle, I have to agree he is currently more prey than hunter...
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Mon 03 June 2019.

Oh, that fits nicely!  Even the, "...admits it or not" part, because Lissa knows she saved the halfling from a bear, and Thistle knows she wouldn't have needed saving if she hadn't been wounded by Lissa in the first place.

Lucius - I do see Thistle as pretty... pagan, I guess?  Very natural magic, not much use for the restrictions of either arcane or religious powers.  So depending on Lucius's perspective, I could see either of the last two fitting there.

Lucius, if you would like a bond, either the first or last sound very Lissa? I could definitely see her fighting alongside you as part of her training, probably in a mercenary force of some kind? And feeling like Lissa is braver could definitely open up some interactions when he realizes how much she just wants to go home and open a tavern.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:01, Tue 04 June 2019.

That works for me, Lucius. Trying to evade a free bodyguard probably counts as "Lazarus's misguided behavior endangers their very soul" all on its own.

Since it looks like some of my old bonds no longer work, let me know if any work for you guys. I will switch them if our GM says it is alright.

___ will play an important role in the events to come. I have foreseen it!

___ is woefully misinformed about the world; I will teach them all that I can.

I'm definitely fine with switching bonds around to account for people leaving the game.

I think that just endangers your body.  As long as you're not evading your soulguard, I think you'll be OK.

And either of those bonds seem potentially workable between Lazarus and Thistle.  (Though I kind of like the idea that Laz wants to teach Lissa "all he can" about how the world really works.)

That works for me. I will add Thistle in for the second one.

For "___ will play an important role in the events to come. I have foreseen it!" I think it actually would work well for Lucius. He is the one who managed to find out the info they needed for their current quest, so it makes sense that Lazarus could foresee that same skill/connection playing an important role in the future. I will add you in there, if you don't object.

That is all my wizard bonds. GM, would it be alright if I add a fourth one with Lissa too? Maybe something like, "Lissa's skills and friendship are appreciated, but her babysitting is not. I need to figure out how to keep the former and get rid of the latter."

Yeah, that fits well.

Btw, you all are welcome to resume posting in the IC thread any time.  If you want more time to explore relationships first that's fine, if you don't that's also fine.

Alright, finishing up the bonds then:

I respect the beliefs of Thistle but hope they will someday see the true way.

Lissa is a brave soul, I have much to learn from them.