7/3/16

Endrite (GM): How much was the adventure worth, 7 XP?

Boy R. (GM): 8

Endrite (GM): AIght.

I'm naming the Parma Magica tract.

Boy R. (GM): thank you

Ildebrando: Rolling Aging.

rolling 1d10! + 4 + 2

(

10

+

7

)

+4+2

=

23

Crisis!

Are we also putting Decrepitude on the Abilities as Arts scale?

Well anyway.

rolling 1d10 + 4 + 2

(

10

)

+4+2

=

16

Ildebrando: Serious Illness!

Boy R. (GM): yes, I believe so

Decrepitude: characters become frail at 10 decrepitude and die shortly after reaching 12.

RIP Ildebrando

Ildebrando: Alright.

rolling 1d10

(

2

)

=

2

Dead.

Boy R. (GM): woah

how old was he

Endrite (GM): 42

Boy R. (GM): and don't you benefit from medicine in a crisis?

Endrite (GM): You can.

Boy R. (GM): Lavinia would certainly attend him if he got sick

Endrite (GM): I have no idea how it works for fake made up magical theories.

Boy R. (GM): ?

Endrite (GM): It just requires CrCo 25 in the book.

Boy R. (GM): oh you can resolve it with a ritual sure

but doesn't the roll to survive crisis benefit from a physician's medicine.

Endrite (GM): Yes.

Boy R. (GM): ah yes I see it now

just the man we need

what's lavinia's medicine? i'm sure she automatically passes on int+med 10+

johns (GM):

rolling 1d10!+15+2

(

9

)

+15+2

=

26

Endrite (GM): Huzzah.

johns (GM): An Int + Medicine roll of 6+

allows the character to add the attendant’s

Medicine score to the roll to survive the crisis.

Endrite (GM): Illdebrando makes it!

johns (GM): so add 15

Boy R. (GM): shit I guess the crisis table needs to be redone

I didn't expect this to come up for a year or so

Endrite (GM): Owned.

johns (GM): crisis table is fine imo

do you mean the ease factor for surviving them?

Endrite (GM): What's the loyalty bump for saving a grog?

Boy R. (GM): no the results table

johns (GM): oh yeah now I see

Endrite (GM): Hmm.

johns (GM): +15 to loyalty

if i read this right

Endrite (GM): Where are you seeing that?

johns (GM): Direct acts of altruism towards covenfolk

increase their devotion. These need

to be performed personally by the magi

— ordering a companion to heal a grog

will not help! However, personally assisting

with the healing of a wound causes a

johns (GM): Loyalty Point gain equal to the equivalent

penalty if the magus had inflicted the

wound in the first place.

and the wound penalty for causing a death is -15

Endrite (GM): Hmm.

Alright.

So that's +15 to his Loyalty Trait, right?

johns (GM): total loyalty (still using ability scale) is now +2

nah the bonuses work like XP for an ability

Boy R. (GM): mmm I don't know if the difficulty for stamina rolls required by illness should be altered

they may or may not be improved by medicine. it would make things more lethal for anyone without a doctor

johns (GM): what happened to the Ship Captain gent

agent

someone deleted him?

nevermind i was getting that weird roll20 glitch

Endrite: How do you make these item cards?

I need to make one for Proclus' Numerology Book.

Boy R. (GM): johns did them all

cunningly preempting my scheme to make all weapons basically the same

Endrite: I see.

Boy R. (GM): you have GM privs now so you should be able to add a card to the loot deck

and there are surely a bunch of make your own magic card apps out there

Endrite: I just want to make sure we have a coherent style guide.

cthinker (GM): cumthinkers magus here

Endrite: What up?

Boy R. (GM):

rolling d10!+2

(

9

)

+2

=

11

fuck aging

Endrite: Wow how old is your man?

Boy R. (GM): all of 35

Endrite: Wow should have made a Longevity Ritual.

Boy R. (GM): alas, he can only make shirts and scarves and things

Endrite: Also this is as good a time as any to mention that we should drain the poisonous swamp outside Rome.

johns (GM): if claudius couldn't do it, how can we

Endrite: That lead weight that destroys water.

Boy R. (GM): boundary spell to purify water

Endrite: A Rego Terram ritual that turns it into a giant lake.

cthinker (GM): cast the inaq spell that lets you talk to a body of water and politely ask it to leave

burn a couple pawns of faerie vis while you do it. foolproof

johns: wondrous items!! hell yeah

Boy R. (GM): my changes to the rules about how often you can use magic items are kicking my ass

because effect frequency is a much bigger component of the crafting difficulty for wondrous items than it is in the hermetic lab

johns: hoist by your own petard

Boy R.: as will you be, with your charm of flying somewhere and waiting for the sun to set to get down again

johns (GM): i love loot

Boy R.: ok pop quiz: if you had to choose between altering all the weapon cards so they did an extra +5 damage, or going back to passive soak vs weapons and rolled soak vs spells, which would you choose?

johns (GM): the latter

Boy R.: very good

johns (GM): how's this for ferris' scarf http://g02.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB179PLIXXXXXcdXXXXq6xXFXXXf/Black-Red-Orange-women-scarf-Spider-Web-designer-ladies-scarves-2015-xale-Rayon-bufanda-mujer-fashion.jpg

Endrite: Alright where's Pringy?

Boy R. (GM): classy

he's been known to get held up

johns (GM): busy with his trot council meetings

Endrite: Well he is in Sweden so I'm sure mugging is a common occurrence.

johns (GM): hail darvin

Darvin (GM): Greetings

Boy R. (GM): howdy

Endrite: What's up?

Boy R. (GM): oh btw I gave everyone GM privileges in accordance with the Troupe Style ethos, so don't forget to relog as player when prinny appears and puts on the GM hat

Endrite: The Storyguide still isn't here!!!!

cthinker (GM): how do i do that

Boy R. (GM): in the settings tab, at the bottom

Endrite: Go to the gear page and scroll to the bottom.

cthinker (GM): oh, there it is

Endrite: Click the button that says "Rejoin as Player."

cthinker: cthinker's magus here.

Endrite: What's the plan B if Prinny doesn't show up?

johns (GM): take a nap

Endrite: Hmm.

cthinker: i like it

(From Boy R. (GM)): ok so currently the Rally roll is Stam 6+, which I'm not entirely happy with. In the original SW rules it uses "Spirit" but Ars doesn't have a Willpower type stat. How about if it was just 6+ on a simple die, but if you're fighting as part of a trained group then you can add the leader's Pre?

Darvin (GM): Nap sounds pretty nice actually

(To Boy R.): Sure

(To Boy R.): I like that, gives trained groups a purpose without making it complicated

(From Boy R. (GM)): as another wrinkle, maybe it's 4+ for trained fighters, 7+ for people without Martial abilities

Endrite: I'm still extremely triggered that the well is in the wrong plac.

e

I'm just gonna fix it.

Boy R. (GM): worrying about the architecture is your job

Endrite (GM): Argh it's grouped.

johns (GM): mwahahaha

Boy R. (GM): if it bothers you that the building plans aren't physically possible, maybe you're not cut out for the mage life

Endrite: Alright, that's better.

I'm mad now.

What's with the Heavy Arbalest card?

It looks like it's linked to all of Lavinia's wards for some reason.

Argh.

johns (GM): Let's murder Prinny

Endrite: Way ahead of you.

Boy R. (GM): tbh this delay suits me, I have a couple of kilos of onions that need slicing

Endrite: I have nothing that I need to do because I properly budget my time.

johns (GM): lol

Endrite: Well, what kind of adventure are you looking forward to Cthinker?

I think this is a good time to talk about the kinds of things we want to see from the campaign going forward.

Since most of us are here and WE HAVE ALL THIS FREE TIME.

johns (GM): he's playing crypt of the necrodancer atm

Endrite: Fuck.

johns (GM): at some point lavinia needs to dig up augustan texts if she's ever going to improve her abilities/arts

so thats my story

Endrite: Italy is probably the best place to do that.

Boy R. (GM): I have 0 objectives for Lodewig, which bothers me a little, but I prefer playing Giacopo anyway

Darvin: Ferris wants to basically wants a spider army and a torture chamber for getting information out of people.

Endrite: I don't want Proclus to totally take over the SaGa because everyone else just wants to hang out reading books.

johns (GM): i had an idea for adapting one of the premade atlas stories to fit giacopo

Endrite: The one about holding the whole world on your back is best suited to Heroic Companions, IMO.

Boy R.: heh

I think I have a game I could run on short notice if we're stuck

Endrite: I'd like to try my hand at GMing here but I honestly have no idea what kind of standard is appropriate.

Boy R.: it's pretty lax hereabouts

johns (GM): you certainly can't do worse than today's GM

Endrite: I mean I love to kill player characters more than anything else in the world.

Almost.

Boy R.: actually that's what we need more of in ars

Darvin: Player death is the best

Endrite: I love to Game with Honor the ost.

Boy R.: I always choke when it comes time to deliver the deathblow

to think I could have slaughtered johns AND prinny's mages on their first adventure, and they both went on to becomes powerhouses

johns (GM): hehe

Endrite: The last thing I GMed was Warhammer 40k: Only War and I was very unhappy with the mere 9 PC deaths I scored in the year we played.

Darvin: In the one game I DM they are all carebears and would be very upset if they permanently died. So when I kill them I just give them penalties to come back to life.

johns (GM): in last campaign if a character died their ghost/corpse was enslaved for eternity by the resident necromancer

Boy R.: they were mostly ok with it, probably

Darvin: That sounds pretty great

Endrite: Oh yeah, one of the things I want to do is find out what Venator's deal is.

Boy R.: hmm

johns (GM): i have that on my list of stories to drag out over the next several years

Endrite: Nice.

johns (GM): i have a real list of potential stories to cover every year between here and the black death

i didn't prep anything for today though because prinny said he would :/

Boy R.: ok I'm torrenting an adventure compilation I had on my old laptop

who's up for a game where you spend the whole session on the inn screen?

johns (GM): Me.

Endrite: Aight.

johns (GM): can we get a new song in the BGM at some point though

Endrite: Heh heh, this is what happens when you make me a GM.

I set EVERYTHING to repeat.

Everyone is cool that I swapped my Major Hermetic Flaw, right?

Boy R. (GM): I am

what even was your necessary condition anyway

anyway sorry this is taking a little longer than I'd hoped

so, this is a story that happens on the way to a place

Endrite: I had to make a little triangle with my hands.

Boy R. (GM): Let's say, in this the summer of 1319, the covenant has gotten wind of a potentially useful contact - a bookseller in Milan with many esoteric suppliers and few qualms about who he does business with

johns (GM): Ok

Proclus of Rome: I was thinking we should head to that magic bird nest and confront the guy who is stealing our vis.

johns (GM): "in this the summer of 1319, the covenant has gotten wind of a potentially useful contact - a bookseller in Milan with many esoteric suppliers and few qualms about who he does business with"

Proclus of Rome: Good one punchy.

Boy R. (GM): he does insist on meeting clients in person though, just to be sure you're not the sort of people to accuse a man of witch craft

Proclus of Rome: We've all been there.

Boy R. (GM): ah shit this is going to need me to convert a bunch of pseudo german names to bad Italian on the fly

Proclus of Rome: Are Ferris and Aristocritus here?

Boy R. (GM): and there's nothing harder than inventing italian names

Darvin: Yep

Proclus of Rome: Mario.

Boy R. (GM): Anyway. This is a substantial journey. You'll need to put together an Expedition.

and probably get a ship somewhere

Lavinia of Jerbiton: just put an I or an O at the end of the name

Boy R. (GM): what's the port west of Rome again?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Ostia

Boy R. (GM): cheers

Proclus of Rome: It should be in the archives.

Can you have more than one archive folder?

You should be able to, in my opinion.

Boy R. (GM): so it is

Ferris of Trianoma: What are they all looking at?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i will join the expedition

the wizards in the corner

Boy R. (GM): Very good. Who else is coming?

(this will feature a lot of mundane interaction)

Ferris of Trianoma: Uh, I think I'm going to run out my Folk Witch finally

Boy R. (GM): Well, I guess Proclus, Ferris, Aristocritus

Proclus of Rome: I either don't know or don't care about the Gift Social Interaction Penalty.

Boy R. (GM): Ah ok, he's Gentle Gifted right?

Potom Flos: Yepo

Boy R. (GM): where do you get these names?

Proclus of Rome: It's Slof Motop backwards.

Couldn't be simpler.

Potom Flos: Tweaking english to latin translations

Boy R. (GM): Anyway, Potom has quietly become a valued member of the covenant. It's so refreshing to find a hedge wizard that knows his place, volunteers Lodewig

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Please welcome our newest companion, Blomby Plape

Potom Flos: Potom~Poison/Love, Flos~Flower

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I know where Lodewig's place is. It's the circus.

Boy R. (GM): Alright, so, a learned man, but not one that aspires to be called magus

because of his gentle gift it's easy to forget he's a magician anyway

Potom Flos: I don't do anything magical outside of my witch kitchen.

cthinker: im here

scrolling through the backlog

Boy R. (GM): It's been a long day's travel and the sun is just beginning to go down as you reach Ostia. Fortunately all the arrangements for your passage have been made, so you only need to retire to the inn for a night. Although it's been so many years since any of you came this way, the jaunty painted sign with three blue feathers is visible from anywhere along the waterfront.

Proclus of Rome: You know it's a good place because we almost got thrown out last time.

Boy R. (GM): It appears to be unusually busy this evening. An ornate litter is resting outside, and lackeys, some of them in livery, are busying themselves with trunks and chests as a bevy of men-at-arms look on

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Do they have a coat of arms?

Proclus of Rome: Well, that's interesting.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Hell I'll just ask a lackey, "Whose litter is this?"

Boy R. (GM): sorry I was trying to look up plausible titles but I'll just wing it

Proclus of Rome: I'll correct you if it's wrong or I get bored.

Boy R. (GM): "This? Contessa Maria di Sapienza. Anyone who's anyone would recognise that"

Proclus of Rome: Does Area Lore: Rome apply here?

Boy R. (GM): there is a coat of arms it's uh... a tall ship, argent, on a field, gules

it does not!

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

cthinker: as a sapiophile,

Boy R. (GM): if you have organization lore italian nobility, feel free to roll

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

rolling 1d10+0

(

5

)

+0

=

5

Boy R. (GM): you don't know the family

Lavinia of Jerbiton: hey endrite remember when you asked if there were universities in rome and I said no

im wrong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapienza_University_of_Rome

(1303 ad)

Boy R. (GM): wow

that's exactly what I wasn't going for

Proclus of Rome: You fucker!

Boy R. (GM): Anyway, strange as it may seem, this is the only inn in town

Proclus of Rome: I guess all the other ones are full.

Potom Flos: Maybe they don't get many tourists

Proclus of Rome: So wait the University of Rome doesn't contain all 4 schools?

Boy R. (GM): well, inns are still a fairly new concept, especially as places a noble would be caught dead

Proclus of Rome: It's the port for Rome.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: To the lackey I said, "The Contessa, of course. What brings her to Ostia?"

Boy R. (GM): "You haven't heard? It's the scandal of the season! She's been challenged to a duel!"

the lackey is clearly delighted to have someone who hasn't heard the gossip

Lavinia of Jerbiton: endrite at the moment I assume it's purely ecclesiastical and wouldn't teach anything but theology

Proclus of Rome: Wow!

Yeah makes sense.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "A woman challenged to a duel? That sounds bizarre.."

Potom Flos: "And unsafe!"

Proclus of Rome: "A woman challenged to a duel, that's a new one but also I need to remember that it's possible."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I hope you're not getting any strange ideas, Proclus."

Boy R. (GM): "I know, isn't it delicious. Of course it's the lady di T--- who challenged her, because she blames my lady for her brother's death"

"of course they're using champions. It's a game really, my lady's spent all year finding the strongest brute of a mercenary she could"

Proclus of Rome: What is this, a 19th century gossip column?

Boy R. (GM): potentially!

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "As she should if her honor is on the line."

Potom Flos: "Are duels typical between their families?"

Boy R. (GM): "and of course their families won;t countenance anything of this nature, which is why they're taking ship for parts remote"

actually perhaps duelling is entirely acceptable in Rome

but probably not for women

Proclus of Rome: Probably.

Probably.

Boy R. (GM): "Oh there's been bad blood there for years. It's only after all their menfolk killed each other that they have to resort to gimmicks like this"

"Anyway, that's basically the story. Oh, but keep in mind it's a secret, right?"

"Her ladyship was hoping to travel incognito"

Proclus of Rome: "I'm very good at keeping secrets, you don't have to worry."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Is Lady di T--- also going to be passing through here, then?"

Proclus of Rome: Tybaldi maybe.

Potom Flos: (We are here to visit a merchant, right?)

Boy R. (GM): "Oh no. I certainly hope not!"

Proclus of Rome: We're heading to Milan.

Boy R. (GM): this is an incident on a journey you're making to visit a merchant

anyway, you can still try to get a room

Proclus of Rome: And luckily the Goat That Has a Crummy Tummy isn't here so we can take a ship.

"Who did the Contessa pick to be her champion?"

Boy R. (GM): "Some brute named Bruno. He's inside. You won't miss him."

Proclus of Rome: Brutno.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I head inside

Aristocritus of Trianoma: et tu, bruno

Boy R. (GM): very good

you don't miss him

Potom Flos: Does he look brutish?

Boy R. (GM): A large, possibly giant-blooded man with a lot of missing teeth is seated at a table, arm-wrestling one of the men-at-arms presumably for the coins that are on the table between them

A crowd of patrons and loitering servants surround them, shouting encouragement

The innkeeper is visible as well among the crowd. He's arguing with an officious looking old gent who might be a chamberlain or valet or something

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Well, this is the perfect time to try to get a room.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i listen in

Boy R. (GM): They're having a protracted argument about the price of everything, replete with forceful gestures. The old guy is keen that the Countess' entourage be crammed into as few rooms as possible, and that they not be charged per head

The innkeeper seizes on Lavinia approaching as a chance to extricate himself

"Yes madam, how can I help you?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I need rooms for myself and my companions. What is available?"

Boy R. (GM): "How many in your party?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: did we bring any grogs

Boy R. (GM): now's the time to decide!

how self sufficient are you?

Proclus of Rome: What grogs do we even have?

Ildebrando can't travel this season.

Boy R. (GM): the official count is Some

Potom Flos: I assume we still have those mercs we went spider hunting with

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I'll hire a mercenary for the season

Boy R. (GM): That's a bold assumption

you have them if you want to hire them again, sure

Proclus of Rome: There's the Turb Captain, Giacopo, the Steward, the Baker, and the Chamberlain (who I've never heard of).

Boy R. (GM): we spent some time hiring him

Aristocritus of Trianoma: was the chamberlain the guy whose wife was ruining his business

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Yeah

Boy R. (GM): there are a couple of nameless grogs who keep the place running, doing the laundry and such

I'm mainly interested in whether you see yourselves as the class of people who travel with servants

Aristocritus of Trianoma: and then we did something horrible to the wife, i think

Proclus of Rome: Actually there's a box that we put clothes in and they come out clean.

Boy R. (GM): And somebody has to do that

Aristocritus of Trianoma: well we don't actually do that ourselves. the servants put the clothes in the box

Proclus of Rome: I wasn't aware we even had servants.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I'd take a servant for a long trip yeah

Proclus of Rome: So that means I didn't bring one.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i cant be expected to carry my own bags

Boy R. (GM): Very good. If she needs a name feel free to give her one

So let's say, 6?

Aristocritus of Trianoma: i suppose aristocritus is haughty enough to have a servant

Potom Flos: Grog servant 6 carries the bags inside

Boy R. (GM): "I can accomodate you, but it's one room for the lot. Money down now, if you please, and leave whenever you please"

"yes, you gentlemen there. Chamber for three isn't it?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Sofia the Servant and Marco the Mercenary

Boy R. (GM): This to a party of three silent cloaked figures who entered behind you

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

How much does the room cost?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I size them up. how do their cloaks compare to ours

Boy R. (GM): They're not as impressive. They're plain and black and look cut from the one cloth.

Proclus of Rome: Wow.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: Probably nothing to worry about.

Boy R. (GM): These travellers secure one of the last rooms, order a meal, and go sit quietly at a table by themselves. The innkeeper entirely approves such undemanding clientele

Meanwhile a potboy shows you to your room

as you're leaving another roar goes up from the arm-wrestlers. The Countess' champion has won again

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Boy R. (GM): At which point a liveried servant tries to lead him away, but he's having none of it

Anyway, your accomodations are sufficient. It's kind of cramped, and they have to fetch more bedding

It's about 9 in the evening, whatever that is in ecclesiastical offices

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Nones

Boy R. (GM): really? I thought that was noon

Lavinia of Jerbiton: n/m

Boy R. (GM): well anyway, the common room is filling up with regular revellers and card sharps as well as extra guests

how do you plan to pass your evening?

Proclus of Rome: There's a list of offices in the Church book.

Hmm.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: monks retire at 6:30pm compline

Proclus of Rome: I plan to do what I usually do and spend hours talking about geometry to anyone who is listening.

Potom Flos: I plan on asking around the tavern if people are traveling and why. Just trying to learn more about the people in the only inn in the city.

Boy R. (GM): very good

Potom Flos: Nothing specific, just seeing if anything interesting comes up.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: ill tag along potom flos

Boy R. (GM): Proclus finds himself talking to a trio of priests, who attracted his attention when they got in an argument with the landlord about being allowed to keep the body they're escorting for burial in their room. The coffin needs to be prayed over all evening, apparently

Aristocritus of Trianoma: aristocritus is keeping an ear out for stories of sea monsters and lost ships

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Have they tried putting it in a perfectly cubic room?

Boy R. (GM): the one you corner assures you they would, if such were available

Proclus of Rome: Oh well then, have I got a deal for them!

What's the Aura here?

Boy R. (GM): Lavinia and Potom make the acquaintance of - you think they're newlyweds but they're a little evasive - anyway a man and a woman travelling together. They've just come from Napoli to see the city

it's Infernal 1

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

That's -1 to the Casting Total, right?

Boy R. (GM): yep

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Rome is fine but pales in comparison to the glory of Naples, in my humble opinion."

Boy R. (GM): "o... oh, you know Naples? What a wonderful coincidence"

Proclus of Rome: I'll ask them which room they're staying in.

"I'm an architect, I can make sure that your room is appropriate for prayer."

Boy R. (GM): the priest "ah.. I'm afraid our vigil cannot be interrupted, sir. Thank you so much for your concern"

Proclus of Rome: Oh well.

Boy R. (GM): Aristocritus finds a one-eyed ruffian is always at his elbow, trying to entice him into a game of dice

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i gush about naples for as long as they're willing to hear me

Proclus of Rome: You should play.

Potom Flos: I take down notes as Lavinia is talking

Boy R. (GM): roll folk ken + perception

Lavinia of Jerbiton: me?

rolling 1d10!+6+2

(

5

)

+6+2

=

13

Boy R. (GM): they agree unreservedly, then make some excuse to head for their room

Lavinia of Jerbiton: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAEE4AC439AB0E751

Boy R. (GM): oh thank god

anyway you get the impression these people have never actually been to Naples

Proclus of Rome: Freaky.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Curiouser and curiouser"

Boy R. (GM): the plot thickens, probably, in time

Aristocritus of Trianoma: aristocritus agrees to play a game after only a small amount of pestering

Boy R. (GM): oh ok

do you have carouse at all?

Aristocritus of Trianoma: i do not.

Boy R. (GM): roll per+carouse, even if it's 0 in fact

Proclus of Rome: I think we should just make that an Etiquette.

Before anyone foolishly takes it.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: lemme look up my perception

(To Boy R.): he's got Luck virtue if that helps

Boy R. (GM): oh if you have luck that's worth +3 as well

there's only one etiquette

I think it's ok to have different abilities to cover different social strata

(From Potom Flos): Whispering only because there are many conversations going on. If that couple was lying about their travels, they must be trying to hide their true heritage. Do we know where the Countessa's rival family comes from?

Proclus of Rome: But there isn't.

There's Etiquette and Carouse.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: ok. i found it

Boy R. (GM): right. and they apply in quite distinct circumstances

Aristocritus of Trianoma:

rolling 1d10!+1+3

(

6

)

+1+3

=

10

Boy R. (GM): good shit

rolling d10!+12

(

3

)

+12

=

15

It seems the dice go against you

you lose 15 shillings. do you care to wager further?

perhaps that's a lot to bet actually. well whatever.

anyway this is a game of pure chance, which usually you do quite well at, so feel free to get suspicious

Lavinia of Jerbiton: WWKD (what would Kaiji do)

Aristocritus of Trianoma: well, you know

Proclus of Rome: You should always be suspicious of one armed men who pester you to play dice and then win.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: might have to lose a few pounds before i get suspicious.

rolling 1d10!+4

(

2

)

+4

=

6

fuck!

Boy R. (GM): In the meantime a woman travelling alone, dressed in man's clothing and wearing a sword, has discovered that all the rooms are taken but settled in the common room regardless, attracting curious glances.

Proclus of Rome: What a weirdo.

Is Lucatiel doing anything?

Boy R. (GM): After a couple of rounds the Contessa's chamberlain appears on the stairs and orders all her servants upstairs, which clears the place out considerably

In the general confusion Lavinia and Potom notice the young man from before, who had come down to buy a bottle of wine, engaged in a heated argument with one of those same servants

But anyway, they break up, ordered upstairs with the rest

Potom Flos: Try to shuffle closer to listen into the argument

Boy R. (GM): hmm

dex+stealth I think, if you're trying to be unobtrusive

Potom Flos:

rolling 1d10! + 0 + 0

(

4

)

+0+0

=

4

Proclus of Rome: Nice.

Boy R. (GM): Lucatiel, for the record, has taken a seat in the shadows facing the door and seems to be watching everyone who passes by closely

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

What about those three guys in the cloaks?

Boy R. (GM): Flos catches these words from the young man ( who gave his name as Signore Albano) "for god's sake keep your voice down. Any fool could hear us. Enough. I'll seek you out later."

Proclus of Rome: Can you use Ceremonial Casting with Formulaic effects?

Potom Flos: I'll ask the servant, "Is that man giving you trouble? Want me to grab the inn keeper?"

Boy R. (GM): Yes, but only because you have Mercurian Magic

which has been modified for exactly that advantage

"Eh? Oh no, no. We know each other from way back, that's all"

Proclus of Rome: Heh.

Ok sorry for the interruption.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: this feels like the setup for Murder on the Orient Express

Aristocritus of Trianoma: aristocritus is growing despondent as his losses accumulate

Boy R. (GM): You really can't catch a break! Your luck used to be so good. Is this down to the mystic resonances of living in a crypt? Have you offend a local spirit? It's unaccountable.

oh and the three guys in cloaks are drinking quietly by themselves

A couple of minutes later, the Countess' champion Bruno appears again, sneaking downstairs with exaggerated caution

he orders more wine and tries to interest any of the remaining drinkers in an arm-wrestle

Most people have seen him win too much to take him up on this

But failing any of the noodle-armed magi taking him on, eventually the mysterious woman rises to the challenge, and loses, but gives him a surprisingly good run for his moneyu

Proclus of Rome: Well, I was checking my strength.

It's +0.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I golf clap

Proclus of Rome: I bet I could try it.

Boy R. (GM): you could

Proclus of Rome: Let's do it Bruno.

Boy R. (GM): do you wish to?

Proclus of Rome: Yes.

Boy R. (GM): alright, how much do you want to wager?

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Well, how about 5 shillings?

Boy R. (GM): "A confident man! Alright, put it there Aristotle or whatever your name was"

ok, so you have strength 0

he has strength 5. he wins

Proclus of Rome: "I warn you, I'm much stronger than most of my fellows."

Ha ha ha.

Well, fair enough.

Boy R. (GM): running this scenario in the past I've let people roll, but it led to some weird results

Aristocritus of Trianoma: "Come have a look at these dice if you're done over there, Proclus."

Potom Flos: Fair enough

Boy R. (GM): like when nihnoz's ex-housewife character overthrew the champion wrestler

Proclus of Rome: Heh.

"Oh, why?"

Boy R. (GM): Bruno is proving good for business, so the innkeeper gives his table a free round for the house

* on the house

pick a number, proclus, and anyone who was watching the match

that is, if you want a free drink

between 1 and 10

Proclus of Rome: Oh.

Hmm.

Lavinia of Jerbiton:

rolling 1d10

(

4

)

=

4

Potom Flos:

rolling 1d10

(

7

)

=

7

Aristocritus of Trianoma: you can tell if something is imperfect, right

Proclus of Rome: Well that's obvious, 2

"Yes."

No.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: I think these dice are loaded.

Boy R. (GM):

rolling d10

(

8

)

=

8

Proclus of Rome: "Did you ask your companion if they're loaded?"

Boy R. (GM): It's pretty cheap wine, but it's free!

Lavinia of Jerbiton: hooray

Boy R. (GM): After taking a hearty swig, another gambling enthusiast at your table droops his head and slides out of his chair asleep

Bruno laughs heartily at his expense. Some people just can't hold their liquor.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: Better to have you inspect them before I start making accusations.

Boy R. (GM): are you having this discussion in front of your opponent?

Aristocritus of Trianoma: yes, but in hushed latin

Proclus of Rome: I'm not much of a whisperer, but I love Latin.

Boy R. (GM): "Well, good game friend. Time I was taking my leave"

"The wife will be wondering where I've got to, ho ho"

This leaves Lavinia to observe one of those priests who were escorting the coffin has come downstairs again. He discusses something quietly with the landlord, and money changes hands. But then that's how people usually deal with tradesmen.

Aristocritus of Trianoma curses the man in Greek as he departs.

Boy R. (GM): Shortly after the countess' chamberlain comes down again and perfunctorily orders Bruno to his bed

Proclus of Rome: "Well, I hope you learned an important lesson about gambling."

Boy R. (GM): The quiet men in cloaks also seem to think it's time to retire

Aristocritus of Trianoma: "Yes, thank you, Aesop of Rome."

Boy R. (GM): It lacks perhaps an hour of midnight at this point, but your boat doesn't leave too early

Proclus of Rome: "You could always make dice that always win."

Well, if it's that late we should probably go to bed.

Potom Flos: "I believe that would be cheating"

Proclus of Rome: "Oh?"

"Well then, I don't recommend it."

Boy R. (GM): that would in fact be cheating, good catch

Potom Flos: So, should we retire for the night?

Proclus of Rome: I do.

Boy R. (GM): Proclus and Potom retire to the room

Potom Flos: (pats self on the back self-righteously)

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i retire

Aristocritus of Trianoma: does parma last until midnight or sunset

Boy R. (GM): sunset

the sun has set. you can all refresh whatever effects you think are necessary in private

Proclus of Rome: Since we aren't idiots I assume that we refreshed it as soon as the sun went down.

Boy R. (GM): returning to your room, you're surprised to find someone lying in bed ahead of you

it's one of those guys that got a room just after you! the ones with nondescript cloaks

Proclus of Rome: "Excuse me, this is our room."

Boy R. (GM): Sofia the lady's maid approaches to shake him awake, but discovers him stiff and unresponsive. And no wonder! Rolling the body over reveals his eyes are starting from their sockets, his tongue lolling from his mouth, and an ugly purple bruise blooming on his neck

also, he seems to be dead

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Good lord"

Proclus of Rome: I'm no doctor but I think that being dead is fatal.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Let's fetch the innkeeper."

Proclus of Rome: "Good idea."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Sofia stay and watch the dead body."

Boy R. (GM): "ah... of course"

Proclus of Rome: Said in the Dark Souls voice.

Boy R. (GM): you run into that aristocratic young gent on the stairs again, Signor Albano

Recognising Potom from earlier, he says "sir, a moment, could you help me out?"

Potom Flos: "Of course, glad to be of service!"

Boy R. (GM): "I'm looking for one of the countess's servants, a fellow named Emilio. Could you tell him Albano wants to see him? He knows where my room is. Thanks"

he slips you a 2-shilling bit

Proclus of Rome: Wow!

Boy R. (GM): I guess actually he doesn't call you sir

Potom Flos: I'll pocket the change and just keep an ear out for the name Emilio but make zero effort to look.

Boy R. (GM): that's fair

Potom Flos: Also, does his shillings count as an AC?

Boy R. (GM): for a short time

you can find the innkeeper without any fuss, a few people are still up and drinking

Potom Flos: brb, need to go curse someone with infertility.

Boy R. (GM): "Yes? Can I help you... people"

Proclus of Rome: "Someone has put a corpse in our room."

Boy R. (GM): his expression sours on taking in Proclus

"you'd best be joking"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Do we look amused?"

Proclus of Rome: "That would be in very bad taste, since a man has just died."

Boy R. (GM): "Alright! Alright, just keep your voices down. I'll be happy to come and see what the problem is"

Proclus of Rome: AFK a sec.

Boy R. (GM): He comes with you. It's definitely a corpse

the armed lady at this moment leaves the inn, to check on her horse, she says

"anyway," says the innkeeper upstairs, mopping his brow

"is this fellow... known to you?"

"Have you told his companions?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I don't know his companions. Who are they?"

Boy R. (GM): "Oh, they have the room two down. I'm buggered if I know them from Adam. Excuse my language, doctor."

"Alright well, accidents happen. Travelling is a risky business. If I have your word on it you don't know anything about this, I'll take this poor sod somewhere cold while we work out what to do, and I'll inform what I have to assume are his next of kin"

"no need to make a fuss, eh?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I'll need to inspect the body before you hide it away somewhere."

Boy R. (GM): "eh? Why?"

"You're not into that, are you?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I haven't a clue what you're implying."

Boy R. (GM): "well what do you want to go inspecting a corpse for? you get diseases that way"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I'm a doctor, don't presume to lecture me about health.

I need to know how he died."

Potom Flos: "How else do you learn about preventing death than inspecting the dead?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "If you like, I can simply report to the magistrate you're trafficking in diseased corpses and have this whole building sealed up and condemned."

Boy R. (GM): "I don't know if it's proper. I mean, begging your pardon, but with this fellow found in your room it's a bit odd that you want to use him for whatever it is you're doing"

"But hey now there's no need to talk about trafficking. Nothing was ever trafficked here."

"Look we'll put him in the cellar, and you can have a look. But have some respect, alright?"

"And I'll talk to his friends"

Proclus of Rome: Ok I'm back.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Very well"

Boy R. (GM): The innkeeper is as good as his word. You only need the most perfunctory glance to see that this guy's been garroted

do you want to do a full forensic examination?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Sure

Boy R. (GM): the rest of you are staying in the room?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I never pass up a chance to poke at dead bodies

Proclus of Rome: No.

There's a corpse in there.

Boy R. (GM): the corpse is removed, by inn staff

Potom Flos: "I'll watch the body poking."

Proclus of Rome: Still, someone died in there.

Boy R. (GM): fair enough. the servants feel the same way

Proclus of Rome: As a murderer who lives in a crypt this shouldn't bother me, but it does.

Potom Flos: people die everywhere, eventually

Boy R. (GM): apart from the neck wounds and being dead this guy seems to be in pretty good health

he has a slightly odd tattoo on the inside of his wrist though

anyone got any good lores?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I got a bit of OoH, +4

Potom Flos: Folk Witch, Rome, and Church

Aristocritus of Trianoma: greece lore here.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: & augustan ofc

Potom Flos: cross out Church, whoops, only 1 rank

Boy R. (GM): interesting

it's an odd little squiggle of a sigil. none of you have the slightest idea what it means

Proclus of Rome: I have Area Lore: Rome (Supernatural).

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I take a lock of hair as an AC just in case

Anything interesting in the guy's clothes

Boy R. (GM): he carries a knife and some spare change, like any urban male

oh he wears a little bracelet you recognise as a ligature

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Boy R. (GM): which, you all know, uses philosophical methods to boost one's fortune or innate ability for a particular undertaking

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "A scholar or natural philosopher no doubt"

Proclus of Rome: "What was he trying to do when he was killed?"

"That's the real question we need to answer."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I'm a doctor not a necromancer, Proclus"

Boy R. (GM): as you're pondering this someone starts raising a ruckus

Proclus of Rome: So wait this guy doesn't have any other distinguishing physical characteristics?

Boy R. (GM): a great hammering and kicking comes at the door of the inn, which has been barred for the night

"Frangipane! I know you're in there! Open the damn door!"

Proclus of Rome: Oh shit.

Boy R. (GM): it is the voice of a young man, angry and probably drunk

Proclus of Rome: I don't need Area Lore: Rome to know who the Frangipanes are.

Frangipanis?

Whatever.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: we got a merc bodygaurd right?

Boy R. (GM): sure

Lavinia of Jerbiton: then let's let the guy in

Boy R. (GM): he's right here by your side

Proclus of Rome: I'll open the door.

"Hello, I'm Proclus of Rome. Who are you looking for?"

Boy R. (GM): the innkeeper was wondering whether he dared keep him out, but defers to you people who are keeping remarkably calm

Proclus of Rome: Well, I'm phlegmatic.

Boy R. (GM): "Are you the owner?"

It's the same young man, who you see now carries a bullwhip and walks with an escort of armed men

Lavinia of Jerbiton: which young man was this

Boy R. (GM): The one whose voice you heard just now sorry

you've never seen him before

"Look, I'm looking for Giacomo Frangipane. Can you take me to him?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: The cast of characters keeps growing

Proclus of Rome: "No, he is." I point to the innkeeper.

Boy R. (GM): "Good. Bring him down here"

the innkeeper insists there is nobody by that name staying here

Potom Flos: "It seems your man isn't here."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "What does Giacomo look like?"

Boy R. (GM): "Don't piss about man, his horse is in your stables. I'd know that beast anywhere. Giacomo Frangipane is here with my woman and I'll burn this house down if that's what it takes to get him out here"

"Pale, weedy, wears too much velvet. Talks to everyone like their a servant. You'd know him"

This guy is also pretty ostentatiously dressed, for what it's worth

Proclus of Rome: "Well, I suppose you could just ask everyone here if they've seen him. We were just about to try and find out who killed the man in our room ourselves and that should be much more difficult."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: have I seen any pale weedy people here tonight

like perhaps the fake neopolitans?

Potom Flos: "Ah, I think I did see him. He asked me to look for  name I've forgetten, sorry ."

Proclus of Rome: I assume that means that you character has also forgotten.

Boy R. (GM): "Good. Take me to him."

Proclus of Rome: Since you did mention that you didn't care about his request.

Potom Flos: "He asked me to look for a friend of his, but I've forgotten his name."

Boy R. (GM): "I don't care. Where is he?"

you did get an impression of where the young couple are staying

Potom Flos: "He was walking downstairs when I saw him last. Your guess is as good as mine."

cthinker: brb

Boy R. (GM): the new guy swears, and goes upstairs with his thugs to start kicking in doors

Proclus of Rome: This might make it more difficult to conduct our investigation.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "No need for that, I can point out the right direction"

"Just stop kicking doors"

Boy R. (GM): The inn is already roused, leading to general screams and outraged remonstrations

Proclus of Rome: Well, there has been a murder.

Boy R. (GM): if you show him in the right direction, then he finds the guy who is indeed frangipane, and makes a point of horsewhipping him in the inn's common room

Proclus of Rome: So it's just as well.

Boy R. (GM): sure but nobody knows about that

Proclus of Rome: Oh well then, I'll tell them.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i ask the innkeeper why he doesn't keep bouncers around for this sort of thing

Proclus of Rome: "Did anyone here murder the man we found in our room?"

Boy R. (GM): he's not used to entertaining quality

roll presence+leadership proclus

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 1 + 0 -5

(

8

)

+1+0-5

=

4

Boy R. (GM): your question is lost in the general hubbub

Proclus of Rome: Oh wait +3.

For the cloak.

Boy R. (GM): meanwhile Frangipane and the other guy, who you gather is one of the Savelli, are finally separated by the men at arms of the Contessa di Sapienza

Contessa: her voice cuts through the uproar, instinctively quieting most of her servants and a lot of the general rabble.

"Desist! This is no time for this foolishness. There has been a murder"

Boy R. (GM): to underscore her point, Bruno the burly champion comes downstairs at that moment, carrying in his arms the lifeless body of the countess' grey-haired chamberlain

Potom Flos: "Oh, another murder."

Boy R. (GM): "Master of the house, you will account for this! How is my loyal servant murdered in his bed?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: was the chamberlain the one who asked Flos to find another guy?

Potom Flos: The chamberlain was talking with this guy.

Boy R. (GM): Afraid not. Let's recap.

Proclus of Rome: Are the men with black cloaks here?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i have been taking notes

Potom Flos: This guy = Frang

Boy R. (GM): They are not

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I forgot to record that exchange though

Boy R. (GM): lol thank you

Proclus of Rome: Hmm interesting.

Boy R. (GM): the guy who sent flos on an errand was frangipane, who was being whipped until a moment ago

the guy who was not neapolitan

the two surviving men with black cloaks aren't visible in the general assembly

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Boy R. (GM): nor are the priests, or the swordswoman

Proclus of Rome: Well, I'll ask the Innkeeper which room they were staying in.

Boy R. (GM): sure. he said it was two doors down from you

it came up when that guy was murdered

Proclus of Rome: Ah.

Well, I'll go and tell them that their companion is dead, then.

Boy R. (GM): going back upstairs will mean asking the countess to get out of the way

Potom Flos: "I saw this one (pointing at Frang) conversing with your chambermaid last evening. Sounded almost like conspiring."

Proclus of Rome: Ok, I'll do so.

"Excuse me madam, I have to inform some men that their companion is dead."

Boy R. (GM): do you mean chamberlain, or chambermaid?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Contessa, pardon me. You are certain the man is dead? What has killed him?"

Boy R. (GM): (he was actually conversing with the servant he asked you to send to his room)

Prinny D. (GM): hello, I slept too long while taking a nap

Boy R. (GM): it's too late, everyone's stuck in a murder mystery now

Potom Flos: (I am too confused at this point and have a heat stroke)

Boy R. (GM): ok

a few things happen. Bruno lays the old guy out on a table and everyone can see the stab wound in his belly

The countess asks proclus what he's talking about, but I assume you give her a full and honest acccounting of what you've witnessed. She has no difficulty processing a second murder, it's the level of service she's come to expect from this establishment

Proclus of Rome: It's a real dump.

Boy R. (GM): you're welcome to proceed to the apartment of the Cloaked Men, but it seems to have been vacated

Lavinia of Jerbiton: here are my notes prinny http://imgur.com/SrJloQP

Potom Flos: I can understand why nobility keeps out of inns.

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Anything in the room?

Boy R. (GM): Nothing at all. The beds don't look slept in

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

How did they leave?

Boy R. (GM): the window is barred from this side, as are most on this floor

shit should there be glass windows?

Proclus of Rome: Yes.

You can see them in the back of the inn.

Boy R. (GM): I'm trying to edit this from a much more modern setting, but it's probably a lost cause

ok. this is a classy establishment. glass windows it is

Proclus of Rome: Well, it WAS.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: glass windows are fine as long as they're colored glass

I ask the Innkeeper if he knew anything about the cloaked men

cthinker: cthinker's magus here

Boy R. (GM): ok. Every other door on this floor is open, except that of the priests who said they mustn't be disturbed. The chamberlain's private room has been broken open, beacause it was clearly barred form the inside

The innkeeper shrugs. Their money was good.

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Did they pay with Roman coins?

Boy R. (GM): greetings cthinker's magus. Weren't you here already?

Proclus of Rome: Well, I'll knock on the priest's door.

Boy R. (GM): hmm. coins from different cities should be interchangeable?

Proclus of Rome: Maybe?

Boy R. (GM): lets assume they all use the same weights

Lavinia of Jerbiton: moneychanging is typically the business of innkeepers

Boy R. (GM): well you get lots of foreign money in a port. The innkeep remembered they payed with bolognese coin. Which fits, they seemed like poor scholars.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Intredasting

Boy R. (GM): In light of the murder, young Savelli thinks better of mutilating Frangipane further

Proclus of Rome: Do the priest's answer the knock at the door?

Boy R. (GM): he does however, attempt to leave with the young woman

oh sorry

They don't respond initially, and then call for silence. Their meditations cannot be disturbed!

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Well I'll tell them about the murder and then leave.

Boy R. (GM): there's a pause

"may god have mercy on his soul"

Proclus of Rome: "Should I bring the body here so you can pray for him?"

Aristocritus of Trianoma: too bad we left the guy who can see through walls at home

Boy R. (GM): his voice sound a little strained. "alas, brother, it is our solemn duty to keep vigil over this one poor soul who has been entrusted to our care"

I guess he would call you his son, actually

any of you can see through walls, it's an easy spell

well, it's level 5

and proclus and lavinia can't spont normally of course

Proclus of Rome: It'd take me a while.

Maybe you should do it Aristocritus.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: oh, what's the spell

Potom Flos: Prying Eyes I think

yea

InIm

Proclus of Rome: Private Eyes by Hall and Oates.

Boy R. (GM): brb

Proclus of Rome: Don't forget you get -1 from being in an Infernal Aura.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: i actually probably can't spont that

Proclus of Rome: Why not?

Aristocritus of Trianoma: deficient imaginem

Boy R. (GM): that's rough

Proclus of Rome: If I do it it'll take a while.

Boy R. (GM): still, don't let it stop you thinking of ways to shortcircuit frustrating mysteries with magic

Proclus of Rome: What is it, 2 minutes per level?

Boy R. (GM): well, it'll take exactly a minute

Aristocritus of Trianoma: well. i could blow up the wall

Boy R. (GM): because as a mercurian, you take 1 minute per magnitude for rituals and ceremonies

Aristocritus of Trianoma: that would probably be bad though

Proclus of Rome: Oh I know what you could do, you could try Muto Terram and make a small part of the wall clear.

Then peep in on them.

Boy R. (GM): intriguing

Aristocritus of Trianoma: nice

Potom Flos: That's pretty cool

Boy R. (GM): johns used to have a spell that made a one-way window, I forget what he used

Lavinia of Jerbiton: 1 sec

Prinny D. (GM): sounds like imaginem

Lavinia of Jerbiton: L10 mute

WINDOW OF SINGULAR DIRECTION

R: Touch, D: Ring, T: Ind, Level 10

This spell, created by the Architects of Tremere,

makes a circle of wall transparent, from one side only.

Boy R. (GM): yeah

Proclus of Rome: There you go.

Boy R. (GM): a perdo imag would do it as well.

I feel like that ought to require part target, but w/e

Proclus of Rome: Crystals are in the Terram family, right?

Boy R. (GM): yep

Potom Flos: yeah

Boy R. (GM): as are all solid objects, for certain purposes

Proclus of Rome: Bonisangus' theory is really fucked up in that regard.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: all right, i'll try a muto terram spont and see how strong an effect i can get out of that

Proclus of Rome: Window of Singular Direction seems like the perfect thing to copy here.

Boy R. (GM): you can't go wrong

Aristocritus of Trianoma:

rolling 1d10!+16+1-1

(

5

)

+16+1-1

=

21

Lavinia of Jerbiton: you should try casting ceremonially for added bonus

well that works too

Proclus of Rome: That makes it take more time.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: we're in a hurry here, i guess

Boy R. (GM): not really

Aristocritus of Trianoma: so, 10

Proclus of Rome: In fact, longer than if I did it.

Boy R. (GM): though it would take aristocritus half an hour to ceremonially cast this spell

but 6 seconds is fine

Aristocritus of Trianoma: imagine how embarrassing it would be if proclus took 60 seconds to cast this spell and the priests walked out into the hallway to see what all the mumbling was about

Boy R. (GM): the wall turns transparent. though you have to scratch a circle on it, you vandal

also take a short-term fatigue level

Aristocritus of Trianoma: nice

Boy R. (GM): ok, on the other side of hte wall you see 2 priests sitting on a third, who seems to have something jammed in his mouth

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

That's weird.

Boy R. (GM): a fourth paces back and forth anxiously

Proclus of Rome: Wait a fourth?

(To Boy R.): you said this was adapted from a modern story, does that mean it is strange people would leave the tavern and hit the roads in the dark of night?

Proclus of Rome: The game is afoot!

I invented that saying.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: Hello in there!

(From Boy R. (GM)): the originally setting is: fantasy HRE, roughly 16th century, a coaching inn in the middle of nowhere

Proclus of Rome: You keep watching and I'll get our companions.

Boy R. (GM): ok. you can get your companions, unless they have something else they're doing

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I point out it would be hard for the cloaked men to get far in the middle of the night if they really escaped this place

apropos of nothing

Proclus of Rome: Well, I assume you can find these guys wherever they run.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I inform the Contessa about this

since I assume her servants are better equipped to track down people

Proclus of Rome: About what?

Oh that.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: that the cloaked men disappeared

Proclus of Rome: Not the strange thing the priests are doing.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: yes I leave that matter to you

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

Boy R. (GM): she agrees, with some hesitation, and delegates a couple of men at arms to scour the town

Proclus of Rome: What about you Potom?

Boy R. (GM): speaking of, roll per+awareness potom

Proclus of Rome: Can't you do a divination and find them, Lavinia?

Boy R. (GM):

(To GM) rolling d10!+10

(

3

)

+10

=

13

Potom Flos:

rolling 1d10! + 1 + 0

(

10

+

4

)

+1+0

=

15

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i'd need an arcane connection

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: dust for fingerprints. obviously

Proclus of Rome: Well, we have their companion's corpse.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Can I trade roman coins for their bolognese coins and use those as AC?

Proclus of Rome: And the cloaks are all cut from the same cloth.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: weren't they drinking?

their mugs might work

Boy R. (GM): the common room clears out after the brawl has been settled. I guess nobody tries to stop Savelli leaving with the woman he came for

Proclus of Rome: Well, I mean it seems like SOMEONE should, but I'm busy.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: She deserves whatever happens for denigrating the proud Neapolitan people

Boy R. (GM): Potom Flos notices that he's lost his belt knife in the general confusion. What a nuisance

and yes the innkeeper is fine with trading coins

Potom Flos: Humpfh

Villains, all of them.

Boy R. (GM): should coins be an AC? for now let's say yes, but the connection is probably too transient for general purposes

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Alright I'll retire to my room and attempt a divination, it'll take 36 minutes

and spend a conf

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Ok.

Lavinia of Jerbiton:

rolling 1d10!+10+2-1+5

(

1

)

+10+2-1+5

=

17

Boy R. (GM): very good

Lavinia of Jerbiton: and I fail

Boy R. (GM): what are the rest of you doing about the priests?

and, how long does this wall stay transparent? because a lot of people will walk by here

Potom Flos: I feel like we should probably chat with the priests.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: well

if it's the spell that was pasted in here then it's ring duration

Lavinia of Jerbiton:

(To GM) rolling 2d10 botch on divination

(

5

+

4

)

=

9

Boy R. (GM): you cast it, so it's that spell if you say it is!

Proclus of Rome: I agree.

Boy R. (GM): at ring duration you can scratch it out at any moment

handy

Proclus of Rome: We should definitely just walk in on them and ask what they're doing.

Boy R. (GM): they have something against the door, roll str+athletics to force it

Prinny D. (GM): you should murder some churchmen

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

OR!

Aristocritus of Trianoma: we could just destroy the door

still probably a bad idea though

Proclus of Rome: Oh no, that would be wrong.

Potom Flos: We could knock? Where are they going to go?

Boy R. (GM): now you're thinking with vis

they tell you to go away if you knock

they've been quite clear

Aristocritus of Trianoma: could you describe the scene inside again

Proclus of Rome: I'm thinking Perdo Herbam to make the door insubstantial.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: oh it's still in the backlog

Boy R. (GM): ok

everyone clear?

making a door insubstantial is much more complex than just destroying it

Proclus of Rome: Yes, but more considerate.

How much more difficult is it?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: try Rego'ing your foot through the door

Potom Flos: Could anyone just scare them out?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: or just slip em a piece of paper that says "open up or I tell everyone about the 4th person in there"

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Potom Flos: ^

Proclus of Rome: Now THAT's a good idea.

I'll do that.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: or just shout through the door asking them about it

Proclus of Rome: That would be much less discrete.

Boy R. (GM): good call

Aristocritus of Trianoma: magus here.

Boy R. (GM): I can't find the spell I'm looking for so I'm glad we don't need it

Proclus of Rome: I make sure to sign it with my name.

Boy R. (GM): alright, from your vantage point you see the priests fetch the note, read it, have an argument they try to pass off as prayer and chanting, then manhandle the guy they're restraining back into his coffin

Proclus of Rome: Classic priest argument style.

Are you sure these guys aren't Jews?

Boy R. (GM): one of them answers the door with a bland smile

"My friend, I'm sure there has been some misunderstanding"

Proclus of Rome: "Why would you need to keep a living person in a coffin?"

"Are you Jewish?"

Boy R. (GM): "Nothing of the sort, my child. Speaking... speaking purely in hypothetical terms, which I'm sure as a philosopher you understand, a living person might wish to travel in a coffin if they were afraid of being alive.

whoops

* of being discovered alive

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Proclus of Rome: "Ah, well, I can certainly understand the fear of life."

Potom Flos: "Good point."

Proclus of Rome: Whoops

Potom Flos: (I will have to leave in a few minutes by the way, apologies)

Boy R. (GM): "This is just idle speculation of course, to satisfy what is no doubt mere intellectual curiosity on your part"

Proclus of Rome: "Is that why he's been restrained?"

Boy R. (GM): "But how..."

Proclus of Rome: "I'm a philosopher."

Aristocritus are you here?

Aristocritus of Trianoma: Hello.

Boy R. (GM): "Look, if I tell you, will you go away and not make trouble? There is really nothing here to worry about"

Aristocritus of Trianoma: It's true, he is a philosopher.

Potom Flos: "If there is nothing to worry about, we will be fine of course."

Proclus of Rome: "Probably."

Boy R. (GM): "I am relieved. Consider this then. For a living man to travel as a corpse would require him to affect the nature of a corpse for a very long time. This is possible, with certain philosophical preparations.

Proclus of Rome: "Fascinating."

Boy R. (GM): "Sometimes however they are not as efficacious as one might expect, and this can be very disorienting. It can be distressing to see someone in such a state, which is why they should be restrained if at all possible. They would have little consciousness of their surroundings or dangers they might be in"

Proclus of Rome: "Ah, of course!"

"That's very interesting. Have you ever met Venator ex Miscellenae?"

Boy R. (GM): "I don't know who you're talking about"

Proclus of Rome: "I know that he has done a few experiments along these lines."

"I can't say I'm too surprised, he isn't very sociable."

Boy R. (GM): "Oh? That is a shame. Perhaps I'll look for his writings"

Proclus of Rome: "You wouldn't happen to know anything about the murders that happened tonight, would you?"

Boy R. (GM): "I could heartily wish they hadn't happened. All we desire is a night of peaceful contemplation"

Proclus of Rome: "Can I ask your companion in the coffin if he knows anything?"

Boy R. (GM): "one sees very little, from within a coffin"

Potom Flos: "At the very least to confirm your experiment."

Boy R. (GM): Well if you're not going to leave him with any choice

you all file inside>?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: sure

Aristocritus of Trianoma: it's time to get murdered

Boy R. (GM): the priests are happy to unwrap their charge, who seems unharmed, if delirious and half-conscious

Proclus of Rome: "Hello, I'm Proclus of Rome, pleased to meet you."

Boy R. (GM): he looks about frantically and mutters something incoherent

Proclus of Rome: "Excuse me, I didn't catch that."

Boy R. (GM): he's entirely incapable of carrying on a conversation, and the priests seem alarmed that at any moment he'll make a noise that'll bring the inn down on them

but wait that's a great setup

Proclus of Rome: But wait, there's more (problems)!

Boy R. (GM): as you're gathered around the non-corpse, a voice from behind says "no, but I'm going to"

It's the woman with the sword! And she's drawn it

Proclus of Rome: Tikes!

Lavinia of Jerbiton: oh my

Proclus of Rome: I mean Yikes!

Aristocritus of Trianoma: i knew it was the woman with the sword!

Proclus of Rome: I mean ""Yikes!""

Boy R. (GM): "Excuse me magi, but I've been charged with delivering this one alive to Vervain ex Tremere"

"I trust you have no interest in him? He's hardly a magical power"

Potom Flos: (Is this the woman talking?)

Boy R. (GM): it is

Proclus of Rome: Do I know who that is?

Boy R. (GM): roll order of hermes lore!

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

Lavinia of Jerbiton:

rolling 1d10+4

(

3

)

+4

=

7

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10 + 0

(

9

)

+0

=

9

Aristocritus of Trianoma:

rolling 1d10+2

(

9

)

+2

=

11

Proclus of Rome: Wait is that +int?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: It's better to be lucky than good

Boy R. (GM): sure, but if you have no ranks don't roll

Proclus of Rome: Oh ok.

Potom Flos:

rolling 1d10 + 0

(

4

)

+0

=

4

Aristocritus of Trianoma: oh, +3 int

Boy R. (GM): is that a trained roll from aristocritus?

ok cool

yeah you're pretty sure Vervain is the name of some bigwig in Transylvania

Potom Flos: Sorry, didn't see the don't roll message

Proclus of Rome: That's quite a ways from here.

"He seems to be involved with these men of the cloth."

Speaking of, what kind of sword does she have?

Boy R. (GM): "These aren't men of the cloth any more than that's a corpse"

It's an arming sword. It's a little lighter than most

Proclus of Rome: "Oh? Well, I wish they'd told me."

Boy R. (GM): looks quite well made

Proclus of Rome: "Who are you gentlemen?"

Boy R. (GM): "Look, this fellow's on the run from the justice of the Order and dozens more besides. But he has just enough favours to call in to get someone to go through this whole charade to smuggle him out of the city"

the first priest sighs heavily

"I guess there's no use trying to conceal it...

"We're the Chandlers' Guild"

"don't ask me why the Masters thought this guy was worth going to all this trouble. I'm not paid to ask questions"

Proclus of Rome: "What does smuggling a man in a coffin have to do with candles?"

Prinny D. (GM): could we BE any more suspicious?

Proclus of Rome: Heh.

Boy R. (GM): "Well we've got good contacts with the carpenters and joiners through the funerary angle, you know. Easy to collaborate on this sort of project"

roll Rome Lore, Proclus

Proclus of Rome: Supernatural or not?

Boy R. (GM): not

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

rolling 1d10 + 2 + 7

(

2

)

+2+7

=

11

I'll conf this.

Darvin: (Sorry, I have to head out. Thanks for the session :D)

Proclus of Rome: Bye.

Boy R. (GM): lol no worries, we're running late

Proclus of Rome: Glad to have you here.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: cheers!

Boy R. (GM): you don;t know anything about chandlers but it's not that far-fetched. organized crime and organized trades often go hand in hand.

Proclus of Rome: Sounds fine to me.

Hmm.

Well it seems like the cat is out of the bag.

Boy R. (GM): "So," says the adventurer lady, "There's no problem with me taking this one then?"

"I appreciate that they've gone to the trouble of sedating him"

Proclus of Rome: "Not if they don't object."

Boy R. (GM): Well, she has a weapon and they don't so they seem happy to give it up as a lost cause

Proclus of Rome: "On the other hand, I wish that we had been informed of this issue."

Boy R. (GM): "Hmm? Why's that magus?" said while hogtying man for transport

Proclus of Rome: "It is a serious breach of courtesy to not tell the Covenant of Rome about this."

"After all, we would have been more than happy to help."

Boy R. (GM): "I'll let the boss now"

* know

"Word to the wizard though, if you want to be taken seriously you migth start scrubbing your scrying windows instead of leaving them where any passer-by can notice"

Proclus of Rome: "We can take charge of this man. Your master can collect him if he wishes."

Boy R. (GM): "Ehhhhh?"

"That's not my mission at all"

"Listen, what grounds have you got for custody here? If you're the covenant of Rome this isn't even your turf"

Proclus of Rome: "Well, after all, you could be anyone. If you had thought to contact us through the proper channels, then I'm sure the Covenant of Rome might have been more than happy to let you carry out your mission. But as it stands, this man and yourself could be anyone."

Lavinia of Jerbiton:

(To GM) rolling 1d10!+2+5 int + code of hermes

(

5

)

+2+5

=

12

Proclus of Rome: "I believe that Ostia is a part of the Roman Hinterlands and would therefore fall under our jurisdiction."

(From Boy R. (GM)): you can't really think of any applicable rulings. Any magus can deliver arbitrary justice to this guy, because he's outside the code. Violence against the woman, if she's acting on a magus' orders, would be a crime in most jurisdictions

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I whisper something to Proclus

Boy R. (GM): she looks completely nonplussed

"Hinterlands? Are you lords of the land now?"

(To Proclus of Rome): If he's truly a marched fugitive any magus could deliver arbitrary justice, and if this woman is acting on a magus' orders, violence against her would be a crime

Proclus of Rome: It's important to mention that I know almost nothing at all about the Order of Hermes or the Code of Hermes beyond the Oath.

Boy R. (GM): "I apologise that I didn't have time to make a formal introduction, I've been riding hard for days"

Proclus of Rome: I thought you were doing a divination, Lavinia.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: it didnt' pan out

Proclus of Rome: Alright then.

Boy R. (GM): at this point I'm not certain how much time has passed

Proclus of Rome: I'll take your advice under advisement.

Feel free to interject.

Boy R. (GM): "Look, let this one go, and I'll let put in a word to my boss about how helpful you were. She's a quaesitor, and has a lot of friends in this tribunal"

Aristocritus of Trianoma: "No reason to make any new enemies here, Proclus."

Proclus of Rome: Well, I'm no fan of the cops.

On the other hand, I feel like we need to stand strong here or the other Covenants in the Tribunal will just walk all over us.

They didn't even tell us about a fugitive, after all.

I assume Lucatiel doesn't mind us conferring.

Boy R. (GM): no, she's used to this sort of thing

Proclus of Rome: I can imagine.

Well, what do you my sodales think?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "You should turn him over."

Proclus of Rome: "Oh, do you know anything about the two murders that occurred at this inn tonight?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "If she is telling the truth we gain nothing interfering with a wizard's march. If she is lying, we still gain nothing by helping these men."

Boy R. (GM): "No, except that they've been bothering me"

Proclus of Rome: "Oh, why?"

Oh of course, I just figured out the perfect person to ask about the murder.

The room.

Boy R. (GM): "You don't just get this many unrelated murders, smugglings and elopements in one place at the same time!"

"of course I bet it was those quiet fuckers that did it, they were definitely up to something"

insert period swears as appropriate

Proclus of Rome: Anyway, I guess we can allow this to go.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: god's wounds

Proclus of Rome: However, I don't want to cause any trouble with the Chandler's Guild.

Boy R. (GM): that;/s a good one

Proclus of Rome: Where were they supposed to deliver the body?

I mean the man.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: "The chandler's guild is beneath us."

Boy R. (GM): "We see the captain of the Blue Bird out of Ravenna takes charge of it in the morning, and our part is done"

Proclus of Rome: "Hmm."

"We could help you intercede at that point, madam."

Boy R. (GM): "But hey, we didn't see any of you people, how about that? We got beat by some thugs, and we didn't catch any names"

Proclus of Rome: "Oh no, I'd hate for you to have to lie."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "These men are well accustomed to lying."

Boy R. (GM): "it's a living"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Leave them to what they do best, Proclus."

Proclus of Rome: "Well, I'm not happy about it, but it seems like the floor has turned against me. Ha ha ha."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Chandlers. Some suspicious men in cloaks were here earlier and seem to have fled. It would be easy enough to blame them for your troubles."

"And if anyone raises a fuss and asks about, they will hear about what has happened and presume your story true."

Boy R. (GM): "Oh those guys! Well there you go, problem solved. Shifty looking bastards those were"

"ah right, all the dying"

Proclus of Rome: "Well, it has been a strange night."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I suppose we should investigate the murder now that this issue seems solved

Boy R. (GM): All's well that ends well, I say.

great, the woman who might as well be called lucatiel rides off with her prey

If yo uwant to investigate further you can

Proclus of Rome: So would talking to the room be Intellego Herbam or Terram?

Or... BOTH!?

Boy R. (GM): I think Terram

Lavinia of Jerbiton: who had a chance to steal potom's knife

Aristocritus of Trianoma: would it be an herbam requisite

Boy R. (GM): the building is primarily stone and plaster

the room was crowded, so it could have been almost anybody

Aristocritus of Trianoma: or is dead wood just terram

Proclus of Rome: You could ask his belt.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: the frangipani guy specificially stopped him earlier

Boy R. (GM): dead wood is herbam, but I don't think the requisite is necessary

Lavinia of Jerbiton: what the hell, i'll try divining the knife's location

Boy R. (GM): frangipani is laid up having his wounds salved

go for it

Lavinia of Jerbiton:

rolling 1d10!+10+2-1

(

7

)

+10+2-1

=

18

conf

"Learn one visible property of a stone, earth, or metal object (a property that someone with appropriate skills could determine just by looking)"

Boy R. (GM): does that work?

Aristocritus of Trianoma: if the blame falls on the guys with the gift then we probably can't stay at the only inn in town. way more important than whoever that was

Boy R. (GM): Hmm. Is a location a visible property of an object?

Proclus of Rome: So that'd be Stone Tell of the Mind that Sits?

I'd say so.

Wait maybe not.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I argue that it is a valid property

Proclus of Rome: Since you can't say where something is just by looking at it.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: as Locate a Plant and Locate a Person are the same ease factor

Proclus of Rome: You also need to be able to see it's surroundings.

Boy R. (GM): ok good enough

It's not far away, in fact it's in the hands of someone in a room across the way

Lavinia of Jerbiton: this takes another half hour and i'm at -1 from fatigue now

Boy R. (GM): One occupied by the countess' retinue

Proclus of Rome: Dun dun dun!

Lavinia of Jerbiton: is it the chamberlain's room?

Boy R. (GM): no, he had a private room and it is now empty

Lavinia of Jerbiton: neat

should we inform the Contessa then

Boy R. (GM): It's about half 12

if you want to do something, do it now

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Boy R. (GM): or you can let it go

I'd just as soon wrap things up

Proclus of Rome: I'd need to roll a 15 if I wanted to talk to stone.

Boy R. (GM): seems like a stretch

Proclus of Rome: I could ask the table.

Boy R. (GM): sure

Aristocritus of Trianoma: i have pretty good intellego and terram

Proclus of Rome: Nah that'd be just as tough for me.

Well, almost.

Boy R. (GM): so are you going to confront the thief or wake the contessa up to tell her she has a thief in her household or just let it go?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: tell the contessa

we don't want to be the target of suspicion ourselves

Proclus of Rome: We should tell her while Aristocritus interrogates the furniture.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: what did you even want to learn from the walls

Contessa: "What the devil is it? Is someone else dead?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "That armed lady who just left-- before she did, she told us that she saw a member of your retinue lifting a knife from our comrade Potom Flos."

"A trifling matter normally but given tonight's events.."

Proclus of Rome: Well, I wanted to know who murdered the man in black and left him in our room.

Contessa: she looks at you somewhat suspiciously

"alright, alright."

Aristocritus of Trianoma: what kind of level are we lookin at here

Contessa: let's resolve this spell first

Proclus of Rome: It's level 25 to talk to an alive plant.

Probably similar to talk to furniture.

Contessa: call it 30 probably

Proclus of Rome: Maybe.

That'll take a LONG time though.

Contessa: most of the examples are to talk to natural phenomena

Proclus of Rome: 450 minutes.

Contessa: I think it';s out of your reach tbh

Aristocritus of Trianoma: yeah i can reach 25 easily but probably not twice that

Proclus of Rome: It'll only take me 30 minutes but my InTe is only 12.

+8, but still.

Contessa: spells 30+ are not usually practical to spont

Proclus of Rome: It is what it is.

Contessa: Alright, the lady grouchily goes around all the rooms her retinue are occupying

Aristocritus of Trianoma: too bad it wouldn't be period-accurate for someone to have a glass of water on a nightstand

Contessa: "has anyone seen a weapon that was stolen, to put this woman's mind at ease, god knows why I'm humouring her etc etc

Aristocritus of Trianoma: i can definitely talk to glasses of water.

Contessa: finally: "you see, nothing to worry abou-

the light streaming from the hallway falls across Bruno's bed, where he lies with his throat cut and Potom Flos' bloodied dagger left across him

Proclus of Rome: This has been quite the night.

Contessa: See now ordinarily this is where your troubles would just be starting

But I was sort of hoping to let that slide since Darvin took off

let's gloss over the ending

Proclus of Rome: lol

Aristocritus of Trianoma: love to gloss

Boy R. (GM): "That was quite the night" you comment as your boat pulls away from the dock

Proclus of Rome: And on his body, YOUR DAGGER! Yadda yadda yadda it's all fine.

Boy R. (GM): It's just as well the murderer's plot was too brazenly amateurish

Still those mind games you pulled to force a confession, knowing that one of the contessa's staff was the culprit, was quite a coup

Aristocritus of Trianoma: "unfortunately, the real killer escaped while proclus was lecturing the red herring"

Boy R. (GM): of course it only worked because they were in awe of your magical powers

Proclus of Rome: I don't think I can go to Milan at this point.

Boy R. (GM): Well, there's that, but it's nice that you were able to prove he was the real killer

Proclus of Rome: I need to yell at Venator about other Magi just walking all over us.

I'm usually pretty even keeled but I'm really upset about this!

Boy R. (GM): well, what do you want him to do?

You could always remain in Ostia to hunt down the satanic cult that murdered the contessa's chamberlain

Proclus of Rome: Sounds like an open plot hook.

Boy R. (GM): but a cursory investigation reveals the victim had the same weird tattoo, so do you really want to interfere with weird cults killing their own?

Proclus of Rome: Yes.

There shouldn't be any weird cult that we don't know about.

Boy R. (GM): A fair point

Aristocritus of Trianoma: imagine all the infernal vis they presumably have

Boy R. (GM): For surviving A Rough Night at the Three Feathers, without a witch hunt being called on you, take 7xp

sorry I don't have a better way to wrap things up

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Hoorah

do you want to just continue it next session?

Proclus of Rome: Actually you mean there are now a lot of interesting plot threads left hanging!

Boy R. (GM): Well we could but then we'd be off the rails

alright it's worth a shot

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Rails are meant to be destroyed

Proclus of Rome: I mean there's a lot of stuff going on!

Lavinia of Jerbiton: The Milanese can wait

Boy R. (GM): I have to say this scenario runs a little smoother when the PCs are a wandering group of hardened killers, and the kind of people that a random person would hire to commit murder

Proclus of Rome: Heh.

Owned Atlas.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: What game is it adapted from?

Proclus of Rome: Shrug this off!

Boy R. (GM): Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st editon

Proclus of Rome: Oh.

I assume it ends with the inn burning down.

Boy R. (GM): it usually ends with the strongest looking PC being pressed into serving as the Gravin's replacement champion

because she has a trial by combat to fight, which I'm fairly sure didn't usually happen in the real world

Proclus of Rome: I mean Trial By Combat is a real thing but the Church in particular hates it.

I know this from Pendragon.

Boy R. (GM): I have no idea whether it's appropriate to this place and time and didn't want to waste time on it

would be good to know for the future though

Endrite: It is.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: seems like it's more of a german thing

Endrite: Italian families are likely to settle things with a duel of some kind.

Aristocritus of Trianoma: germanic

Endrite: Since I mean what king is going to stop them?

Aristocritus of Trianoma: i guess italians loved to kill each other too though yeah

Boy R. (GM): god bless em

Endrite: Anyway we can talk about it more in the thread.

Boy R. (GM): I'm very excited to build on the many criminal enterprises of the chandlers' guild

Endrite: Yeah it looks cool.

Boy R. (GM): alright anyway, goodnigth

Endrite: See ya.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: goodnight!

Aristocritus of Trianoma: gg

cthinker (GM): cthinkers magus here

johns: here is a concept art of a boat

Darvin: Greetings

Joshua S. (GM): hail

johns: salvate omnes

Boy R. (GM): welcome!

Prinny D.: hail

Endrite (GM): I apologize for my tardiness.

Boy R. (GM): worry not

alright so let's see

I couldn't make a satisfying scenario out of the loose ends from the last game, so let's skip ahead a little to your return journey from milan

we have a couple more players now though so I'm wondering how best to incorporate everyone

so originally Lavinia, Proclus, Potom and Aristocritus were off to meet with a merchant who reputedly deals in hermetic texts.

Bonfilia of Verditius: They probably told me about it, and I LOVE hermetic texts.

Just can't get enough of them.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: i, too, love hermetic texts

Boy R. (GM): it turns out he'd got a haul of them off some adventurers that looted a ruined covenant. I'll put a price list up at the end of the game so you can haggle over the options.

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

johns: all the texts are Hermetic?

Boy R. (GM): they're all subjects of interest to magi

Lavinia of Jerbiton: well OK

Boy R. (GM): anyway, it turned out you missed your original ship what with one thing and another, giving aleseta and bonfilia time to catch up and insist they be part of any purchasing decisions

Aleseta of Bonisagus: mm

Boy R. (GM): the party is now in Genoa, seeking return passage to Rome. This could be a hassle for so many Gifted travellers, but Venator tipped you off that one Captain Folpert of La Mano Bianca often has dealings with the Order of Hermes, and gladly takes passengers.

Bonfilia of Verditius: "I hate shipfaring..."

Proclus of Rome: We should get a boat of our own.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Neptune's wrath is mighty."

Boy R. (GM): can you afford one?

Bonfilia of Verditius: I have Motion Sickness, and take double fatigue loss when journeying not by foot.

Boy R. (GM): good times

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "At least Hera hasn't called a storm down upon us."

Aleseta of Bonisagus nods.

Potom Flos: You would have a hard time walking back

(From Boy R. (GM)): apropos of nothing, did you have a spreadsheet with the pc's major virtues/flaws like second sight and such

(From Boy R. (GM)): I remember you did one for the last game

Proclus of Rome: I'd like to see her try.

(To Boy R.): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nAVc3mB47UD-e1eTrvYqju8jrvIhm9F-Fs_z5PpmE9I/edit#gid=0

Bonfilia of Verditius: "We should procure some travel provisions." I point at the nearest tavern.

Boy R. (GM): sorry for the delay, I was checking something

Proclus of Rome: As long as there aren't multiple murderers staying there.

Bonfilia of Verditius: There are about to be, once we enter.

Boy R. (GM): you can certainly procure provisions. the cost of passage usually includes feeding you but it will be water and ship's biscuits

Bonfilia of Verditius: Let's buy a barrel of ale.

Proclus of Rome: Any un-cursed bread is a welcome change.

Bonfilia of Verditius: Life at Mont-Mercure is a hoot, you never know if the bread you're eating is just tasty or tasty while also being cursed.

Boy R. (GM): that's easily done. The covenant's finances are set back a shilling or something

* Vardian's Tomb

Bonfilia of Verditius: woops

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "A diet too heavy in stale bread leads to an inbalance in choler. Best to stock up."

Boy R. (GM): The bread at mont-mercure was always tasty, and always evil

Proclus of Rome: Have the borders changed in the last 4 years?

Boy R. (GM): It's possible

Alright, who does your negotiating in these circumstances?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Anyone here got bargain?

Bonfilia of Verditius: I have Bargain 2

Lavinia of Jerbiton: same

Proclus of Rome: Sounds like it's up to you.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: ill go so they aren't off put by the stench of evil

Boy R. (GM): very good

Aleseta of Bonisagus: No bargain, sorry.

Boy R. (GM): you secure your beer without incident, and also find Captain Folpert waiting on the pier, identifying him by the painted sign he stands beside with his ship's insignia

Proclus of Rome: You know, sometimes I get the feeling that you don't want any church attention less because of the problems caused by a Dominion Aura and more because of your love of sin and evil.

Boy R. (GM): he's scanning the crowd impatiently

Bonfilia of Verditius: Why not both?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: sin is the nature of man

i hail the captain

Aleseta of Bonisagus: afk for a bit

Lavinia of Jerbiton: and tell him I represent a crew of "scholars" (finger quotes)

Proclus of Rome: So true.

I am actually a philosopher.

Potom Flos: Plural scholars

Captain Folpert: "Ah, you're handling some magi are you? That shouldn't be a problem. How many in your party?"

"Lots of room, but we have some important passengers on this trip, so mind they don't cause any trouble"

Bonfilia of Verditius: tell them we brought ale

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Myself, 4 'scholars', a few servants and retainers."

Proclus of Rome: Important passengers, eh?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Our provisions, including ale, and delicate cargo."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: Urg. Somethings come up, fellow. I gotta go. I'm sorry.

Captain Folpert: "Say no more. My hands will see them stowed, and Norbert here will see you to your berths"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: :(

Captain Folpert: RIP

Aleseta of Bonisagus: ffff

god dammit.

Proclus of Rome: See ya.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: hopefully next week.

Captain Folpert: it's cool, see you around

As it happens, Aleseta was never here

the rest of you get ferried across to the ship by a couple of surly crewmen

"Oh, and if you need money or vis changed on the trip, come to me"

"we cast off at noon"

Proclus of Rome: Do they use different money in Genoa?

Captain Folpert: he goes back to looking alert and anxious

I think so

Boy R. (GM): well it might be interchangeable

Bonfilia of Verditius: I start drinking.

Proclus of Rome: If something has a Structure target, does it work on boats?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Who are the important passengers?"

Boy R. (GM): Bonfilia immediately makes an enemy of the crew by requesting her barrel be unstowed from the hold

Potom Flos: I would assume boats count as a structure

Boy R. (GM): and yes boats can be a structure. I'd have to check size guidelines to see if standard spells work

this is a smallish cog, I think like 20 yards long

roll comm+charm Lavinia

Bonfilia of Verditius: These foolish sailors should have known better than to stow my barrel.

Lavinia of Jerbiton:

rolling 1d10!+2+2

(

3

)

+2+2

=

7

Boy R. (GM): the captain pulls at his beard

Proclus of Rome: Wait, does this mean that The Perfected Structure works on boats and restores them to Perfect condition?

Captain Folpert: "I'm not sure if I should say. Well, you'll have plenty of chances to get acquainted on the voyage"

Boy R. (GM): I'm going to say yes, that probably won't break the game

does it include a herbam requisit?

Proclus of Rome: Yeah.

Boy R. (GM): then you're grand

Proclus of Rome: Awesome.

I just need to invent it.

Boy R. (GM): You're given comparatively cushy berths, which is to say open spaces on the deck to lay a blanket on, in the shelter of the fo'c'sle

Proclus of Rome: Comfy.

Boy R. (GM): An inquisitive looking fellow in fine dress, accompanied by a very large and dour bodyguard, looks at your party with interest

Piccardo: "Where are you bound, might I ask?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Rome. Why?"

Piccardo shrugs

Piccardo: "Making conversation, I suppose. Myself and Bue here are keeping on to Sardinia"

Bonfilia of Verditius: "Care for a mug?" I say, and pour a mug of fresh ale.

Piccardo: apart from these two, and the four crew coming and going, the only other passengers in evidence are a couple of lady troubadours tuning their instruments in the prow

"gladly, mistress. This trip is already better catered than any I'm accustomed to make"

Bonfilia of Verditius: I ask the troubadours to play us a merry song.

Proclus of Rome: Musicians hate playing outdoors.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i attempt small talk about how nice sardinia is this time of year

Proclus of Rome: Is it?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: hell if I know

Piccardo: they're the serious kind of troubadour, so the older one looks down primly at your wanton drunkenness, but they oblige

Proclus of Rome: Then you shouldn't lie.

Potom Flos: Locals usually like their own weather

Proclus of Rome: What's the aura here?

Piccardo: hell they were about to practise anyway. they start up a rousing rendition of In Taberna, arranged for recorder and psaltery

Bonfilia of Verditius: bout to get infernal in here

Lavinia of Jerbiton: goliard jams

Bonfilia of Verditius: I kiss my fingers neapolitanishly.

Proclus of Rome: Actually, recording the different types of auras at sea sounds like a worthy project.

Piccardo: Piccardo agrees that Sardinia is indeed delightful at this time of year. For instance, it's extremely hot

Boy R. (GM): as you're making small talk, the Important Passenger arrives

initially it takes the form of an armed man ordering about a bevy of liveried servants self-importantly

the well-heeled patriarch waits on the dock chatting with the captain as all his gear gets stowed.

Arsizio: "Pardon sirs, ladies" says this guy swaggering over to the group around the barrel

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

How much gear does he have?

Arsizio: "you'll all need to move your effects. These places were engaged for my lord, to afford him such shelter as befits his years and station"

Bonfilia of Verditius: "Oh? Your lord is welcome to join the revel!"

Arsizio: It's quite a lot. Actually what's mainly startling is the number of clerks and valets he's travelling with

Proclus of Rome: "That is his right."

Hmm.

Bonfilia of Verditius: "Bring the lord forth, so we may greet this new guest."

Arsizio: "I'll mention it to him. Nonetheless, the revel must be displaced"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Are you the captain of this vessel?"

Bonfilia of Verditius: ill spont a creo mentem spell, just need to check it

Arsizio: sure

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "If you aren't then it's not your place to be ordering us around."

Potom Flos: "Surely there is enough room for all of us."

Arsizio: "Apologies, my lady. I'll have the captain see to the necessary arrangements"

oh there's plenty of room in the ship

the argument is about who has to sleep on the open deck

Proclus of Rome: I think we should probably defer to an aged and wealthy lord.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i disagree

Potom Flos: I don't mind sleeping on the open deck personally

Lavinia of Jerbiton: that's the feudalism talking proclus. dont let them brainwash you

Bonfilia of Verditius: ok ill spont a level 15 spell to create a thought or emotion into his head. This thought is that we don't need to move at all.

base 4, +1 Eye, +2 Sun

Arsizio: cool

it's divine 1 right here

Bonfilia of Verditius: wait why make it sun

Proclus of Rome: I don't feel like that's an emotion.

Arsizio: it's a thought though

Bonfilia of Verditius: level 10 spell instead

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Alright.

Bonfilia of Verditius: dominion is -2 or -5?

Arsizio: -3

Bonfilia of Verditius:

rolling d10!+9+4+3-3

(

3

)

+9+4+3-3

=

16

I'll use a conf

or wait is conf +4 or +3

Arsizio: it's +5, for now

Bonfilia of Verditius: then I'll conf

21/2=10.5

Arsizio: he blinks a couple of times

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm being so rude. I'm sure he'll be well contented with any of these berths"

he goes away, with an apologetic bow

Bonfilia of Verditius: I cackle aloud with gusto.

"Life is wonderful!"

Potom Flos: "What a strange turn of events, glad he changed his mind."

Arsizio: When the servants have everything arranged to Arsizio;s satisfaction, he signals his boss who finally embarks with the captain

and at last, you get under weigh, the sailors plying their arcane craft with ropes and sheets in such a fashion that the ship starts moving

Bonfilia of Verditius: I continue drinking and reveling.

Arsizio: now, if everyone's relogged as player, I'd like to direct your attention to the folder in your journal that contains all your travelling companions

Boy R. (GM): This scenario is a fair bit like the last one, but I'm trying to arrange things so that it runs smoother

Lavinia of Jerbiton: is the savelli guy a legit blue blood nobleman or just an upjumped merchant

Guglielmo Savelli soundly berates his incompetent lackeys

Boy R. (GM): do you have any etiquette?

Proclus of Rome: Is there a difference?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: yes actually

i'm very polite

Boy R. (GM): very good

Bonfilia of Verditius: I'll discuss business practices with Piccardo.

(To Boy R.): etiquette +8

Boy R. (GM): well, on inquiring you discover that he's apparently a merchant banker

but if that's the case he's really putting on airs by travelling with this many attendants

Lavinia of Jerbiton: phew. we don't owe this guy a single shred of respect

Boy R. (GM): he doesn't appear to have any real cargo

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Well, then what's with all the clerks?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lets ambush one of them when they're alone and pepper them with prying questions

Arsizio joins the revel, lured by apparently free booze

Arsizio: "Signor Savelli is a learned man. Has a lot of books, you know. Got to have clerks"

Bonfilia of Verditius: All it costs is your immortal soul.

Proclus of Rome: "That's quite the coincidence. I am also a learned man."

"I'm thinking about writing a treatise on optics."

Piccardo: Piccardo, meanwhile, is more than willing to discuss business practices

what kind of trader are you presenting yourself as?

Bonfilia of Verditius: Baker, obv. I handle the purchase of all manners of ingredients.

Proclus of Rome: Ask him if he knows Benedetti.

Arsizio: "My employer is more interested in theology, but I'm sure he'd appreciate a philosopher's insights"

Arsizio sounds supremely uninterested himself

Potom Flos: "If he is interested in Magic Theory I would be more than glad to have a few conversations."

Piccardo: "Oh? You don't encounter many bakers on the tyrrhenian circuit"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "A theologist merchant.. I wager he buys a lot of indulgences."

Proclus of Rome: "There is nothing more important than the study of worship."

Bonfilia of Verditius: "I deal in very precious breads."

Proclus of Rome: "I'm an architect."

Hmm, I have it as Craft: Architecture, but it should probably be Profession: Architect.

Piccardo: "I deal in rare commodities as well. My employer is one of europe's finest goldsmiths. You wouldn't believe the marvels he makes

Lavinia of Jerbiton: architecture sorta works as both a craft and an art

Piccardo: "It's a handy living, since it's as much as he can do to make one or two sales a year"

Potom Flos: brb

Piccardo: It probably would be profession because it doesn't really call for manual dexterity, but it hardly matters

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "He must have princes and Emperors as customers to work at such a rate."

Piccardo: "Haha! The odd queen, certainly"

he stops himself, as if he's said too much

anyway, he's much more interested in discussing all the intricacies of the graint trade with Bonfilia, who may make a per+folk ken roll

Proclus of Rome: Odd queen eh?

Bonfilia of Verditius: "Oh? I see. Your employer wouldn't go by this insignia would he?" I flash the Verditius Sign of Quality.

Proclus of Rome: http://www.wisclandscaping.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/bbb_logo.png

Piccardo: "Ah! All is clear. You're magi.

Bonfilia of Verditius: I tap my nose neapolitanishly.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Piccardo: "Indeed, my master is Rycas of Verdi"

Proclus of Rome: I was wondering why he was so friendly.

Piccardo: "I should have guessed sooner of course - such beauty as you possess is clearly not the work of nature alone"

"Aha, excuse me! It seems I have drunk too mcuh"

Proclus of Rome: "I believe her husband says the same thing all the time."

Piccardo: "I would kill the man who speaks of his wife so!"

Bonfilia of Verditius: I smirk goatishly.

Piccardo: It's apparent to everyone present that this guy is a little unstable

Lavinia of Jerbiton: wow bonfilia would too. you guys have so much in common

Piccardo: does anyone possess second sight, incidentally?

Proclus of Rome: "Such is the torment of drink."

I have two eyes, if that counts.

Piccardo: It doesn't, but that's useful information

I'd also like to do a quick survey to establish if anyone has Venus' curse or blessing?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: not I

Bonfilia of Verditius: none present I think

I'll seduce Piccardo by getting him drunk, and turn him into my secret agent.

(To Boy R.): did you get the link to the gm ref sheet I sent you?

Proclus of Rome: You're married!

This is shocking.

Sorry, I had to get up for a second.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: This is the foundation of like 50% of medieval literature

Bonfilia of Verditius: A venditore spy is very useful for a Verditius.

I can't pass up such a good agent.

Piccardo: sorry my desktop froze up just there

which is a little alarming, this is meant to be the good one

but ok cool

first up, roll stamina

Bonfilia of Verditius:

rolling d10!+3

(

6

)

+3

=

9

Piccardo: you barely manage to control your motion sickness!

Bonfilia of Verditius: phew

Piccardo: at least enough to smile winsomely

Bonfilia of Verditius: That could have been very embarrassing.

Piccardo: fortunately this guy is entirely besotted on a very short acquaintance, so you don't need to do much seducing

Proclus of Rome: Wait is there a penalty to that for all the drinking she's been doing?

Piccardo: well, no, but I also don't know what hte regular difficulty is

ok the standard roll is "sailing on a ship makes you violently ill"

so in fact you become violently ill

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Piccardo: Piccardo bravely holds your hair for an hour

Proclus of Rome: Sexily violently ill.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "She'll be already, emesis is good for the humors"

Piccardo: until the sun goes down, when he becomes unaccountably embarrassed and awkwardly apologises for his improper behaviour

Lavinia of Jerbiton: *alright

Bonfilia of Verditius: damn

Curse this feeble body!

Piccardo: then switches his berth with his travelling companion, to put more space between you

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Don't take it personally Bonfilia, it's just the offputting stink of the Gift all over you."

Proclus of Rome: "You should leave the travel to your healthier friends next time.

"

Bonfilia of Verditius: I respond by vomiting some more.

Boy R. (GM): The trobairitz, who have been playing for the whole party all this time, have given over on in taberna and at some the younger one decided to lead with some affecting songs of love

the entire ship is impressed, especially a blotchy middle aged sailor who is eventually cuffed around the head for failing to pull his weight

and so things proceed

I may have missed something, was anybody trying to interrogate one of the other characters?

Proclus of Rome: Does the aura stay at Dominion 1?

As we travel.

Boy R. (GM): no, it's constantly shifting

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Boy R. (GM): I'll tell you at any given moment if oyu want to cast a spell

well the open sea is often slightly magic

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

I also get a little disoriented whenever we enter a Faerie aura.

Boy R. (GM): this happens once or twice, and eventually you need to lie down

Lavinia of Jerbiton: the wizards go on an adventure but they all get tummy ache

Proclus of Rome: Technically I get a stamina roll but that's a bit of a pain.

In any case, I think making some sea charts would be a good use of an apprentice's time.

Boy R. (GM): alright, the passengers turn in for the night, the troubadours somewhat richer, until only piccardo and folpert are left awake playing dice by the light of the ship's one lantern

anyone who wishes can get in on the game, or we can move on

Proclus of Rome: No thanks.

Bonfilia of Verditius: I would love to delight in sinful gambling, but I am seasick.

And so go get some rest.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i am nocturnal so I stay up and watch

and then sleep in tomorrow

Boy R. (GM): very good

they seem to playing for pawns of vis, which have all been impressed into tokens for trade

Proclus of Rome: Interesting stuff.

Boy R. (GM): but it's of little consequence

morning dawns listlessly, with most of the souls on board hung over

Lavinia sleeps in, which is an impressive feat on a working vessel. In mid-morning her maid Sofia comes running to Proclus and Potom, the only members of the party who are alert at this time

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

Boy R. (GM): "Sirs, can you help me? There's something odd about that fellow, and I don't like the way he just stares at my lady"

She indicates the knight Arsizio, who is leaning with his back to the rail and staring fixedly at where Lavinia is lying asleep. At intervals he can be heard to sigh"

Proclus of Rome: "Certainly, defending the sacrament of marriage is the duty of all Christians."

Boy R. (GM): "Pardon?"

I think you may be confusing Lavinia and Bonfilia

Proclus of Rome: I think I did.

Boy R. (GM): although it's possible Arsizio is married

Proclus of Rome: Well never mind then!

I read it as Bonfilia for some reason.

Boy R. (GM): Well, that would be more consistent!

"Anyway, there's something about him that frightens me. Can't you get him to stop?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: wow. see if I help you when a knight ogles your unconscious body, proclus

Potom Flos: back, sorry

Proclus of Rome: "Certainly."

I'll march over to Arsizio and ask him to stop looking at Lavinia while she is asleep.

Boy R. (GM): He flushes deeply

Arsizio: "I don't like your tone, my man. Don't talk to me like I'm some gawping churl or I'll give you a lesson in manners, philosopher or no!"

Proclus of Rome: "All that I ask is that you wait until she is awake before pressing your affections."

Arsizio: roll comm+ charm or bargain, at your pleasure

Proclus of Rome: Hmmmmm.

Ok.

rolling 1d10 +4 +1 -5

(

2

)

+4+1-5

=

2

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Arsizio: "Do I seem to you to be pressing my affections, sir? Am I doing anything but sitting here in the most innocent fashion imaginable? By God, a man's eyes may alight where they please and it is nothing but natural that...

"No, but look you, I know what this is about. You wish the lady was your own, but she doesn't want a cold-blooded fish like you!"

"be off, and bother me no more or I'll throw you in the sea"

Potom Flos: "A fish would do quite well in the sea."

Arsizio: he just gets redder in the face at this observation

Proclus of Rome: "I confess that I have little interest in Lavinia, she has some inappropriate ideas about the writings of Virgil that she is unwilling to change."

Arsizio: "Ah, so she likes poetry... you idiot philosopher, you have done me a service greater than you know!

"no, wait, I'm sorry for my words

"Look, there are days' travel ahead of us yet, what purpose is there in fighting? Why don't we sit, and you can tell me all you know of verse that ladies love?"

he's making a bit of a commotion so anyone who wants to wake up or but in is welcome to

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i look up

Proclus of Rome: "Certainly, I am familiar with many classical forms of poetry."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Who's making such a ruckus this early in the day"

Arsizio: "Which ones get the best results?"

"My lady! Have we disturbed your rest? Say the word and I'll cast this oaf overboard. Or if I'm the unhappy wretch who has offended you, then if you will it I will drown myself"

Proclus of Rome: Hmm, I should roll Artes Liberales for this.

rolling 1d10 + 2 + 8

(

6

)

+2+8

=

16

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Wha? .. No, just shut up and stop yelling."

Lavinia of Jerbiton yawns

Potom Flos: He doesn't mess around

straight to self-drowning

Guglielmo Savelli: "Indeed. Arsizio, stop being a nuisance"

"Go and sit aft or something."

Proclus of Rome: "But, it is quite important to ensure that you use the correct poetical form for the subject, or you risk offending God."

Arsizio nods, enraptured

Proclus of Rome: Wow, this is the first time anyone has ever enjoyed one of my lectures.

Boy R. (GM): Proclus of course finds the question quite meaningless, but he is capable of recalling all the major forms. Really you can only lay them all out for him to judge their merits on his own

Proclus of Rome: I continue on in this manner until someone stops me.

Boy R. (GM): this proves an effective distraction, at least for a while

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i look around to see if anyone is still vomiting

Boy R. (GM): Bonfilia is, intermittently

a couple of Savelli's entourage, but most of the other people here are hardened travellers

Proclus of Rome: We need some way to knock her out when we need to travel.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: like mr. t on an airplane

Boy R. (GM): sleep spells are pretty easy

in fact we had to nerf their use as weapons

Potom Flos: The journey is a few days isn't it. At that point I think it's considered a short coma.

Proclus of Rome: I know.

I know both of those things!

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I listen to Proclus' lecture, hoping to find something to dispute

Boy R. (GM): nobody has anything to do, so you gather something of an audience

Potom Flos: I'll just take down some notes of Proclus' lecture.

Boy R. (GM): Savelli in particular seems delighted to have some erudite conversation

Guglielmo Savelli:

rolling d10!+9 artes liberales

(

7

)

+9

=

16

Proclus of Rome: Nice Artes Liberales score.

Guglielmo Savelli: "well, I agree on all the  major  points, but I feel you neglect the elegiac mode somewhat..."

Boy R. (GM): "But you know, I always felt the Greeks were the masters of romantic verse"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "The greatest poets have the touch of the divine in them, and no amount of scholarly nitpicking can reproduce that."

Boy R. (GM): you become aware that he's standing very close

Proclus of Rome: "My colleague, Lavinia, is something of an expert on that subject."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Arsizio: "That's true. That is so true. I was just about to say that"

Proclus of Rome: I've definitely forgotten why I started this conversation in the first place in all the excitement.

So I don't do anything about it.

Arsizio: Alright

Guglielmi proceeds throughout the day to try to seduce Proclus with coded language and gentle, comradely touches, but doesn't seem willing to make an open move in this environment

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Well, that's strange.

Is he actually a woman?

Arsizio: Arsizio proceeds to harass Lavinia until the captain orders him somewhere else

Boy R. (GM): He has all the appearances of a man

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Proclus if you are as devout as you like to pretend to be then you should be murdering this sodomite right now

Proclus of Rome: I doubt I'd notice an attempted seduction at this point.

Especially from such an unlikely source.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: If I find a chance I try to confer with the hermetic colleagues privately

(& potom(

Boy R. (GM): You can manage that, certainly

Potom is practically a wizard

Potom Flos: Not a hermatic, but yeah, sort of

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "As a Jerbiton, I am well versed in the intricacies of the mundanes. So it's pretty clear to me that they are acting very strange on this boat."

Proclus of Rome: "Now that you mention it, I have never seen anyone so interested in one of my lectures before."

"I just put that down to the sea air somehow acting on the body in such a way as to promote a desire for education."

"Of course, you are the expert in practical matters of the body."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "That merchant fellow seems to be friendly towards you in a non-Platonic way."

"Or, well, maybe exactly in the way Plato would be."

"If you catch my drift."

Proclus of Rome: I'm shocked!

"He isn't even Greek!"

What's the aura right now?

Anything unusual there?

Boy R. (GM): faerie 2, let's say

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

That's pretty high for the ocean.

Potom Flos: Fearie mermaids

Boy R. (GM): you're in sight of some islands, they look romantically rugged

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

rolling 1d10 + 2

(

1

)

+2

=

3

Boy R. (GM): also a pod of dolphins and a hippocampus gambol in the ship's wake

Proclus of Rome: Ok I beat the aura level, so I'm not disoriented.

Boy R. (GM): phew

that's pretty lenient

Lavinia of Jerbiton: do you have to roll botch die

Proclus of Rome: Well here's what it says: You are especially susceptible to the fay

and their magic. Whenever you enter a faerie

area, you must make a Stamina roll equal to or

greater than its aura rating to avoid becoming

disoriented. In addition, your Magic Resistance

score, including Parma Magica, against faerie

Proclus of Rome: magic is halved. If someone else uses their

Parma Magica to protect you, their resistance is

not affected and you benefit normally.

Boy R. (GM): a simple roll seems fine

I must remember that bit about halved resistance though

Proclus of Rome: Unless Aura ratings are different than aura levels.

Yeah it's a big deal!

Boy R. (GM): you've determined people are acting strange, do you want to do something or just ride it out?

Proclus of Rome: I think we should do something.

Bonfilia of Verditius: Love Ship

Proclus of Rome: It might be something to do with those troubadors.

Potom Flos: Have they been playing in regular intervals?

Boy R. (GM): they were playing most of last night but they're quiet now

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

We could also investigate the cargo.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I'll talk to the troubadors straight up and ask them if they notice anything strange going on

Boy R. (GM): Come to think of it, Potom did feel the young one had a particularly affecting voice

she's also very pretty, so you don't think there's any supernatural influence in whatever you might feel about her though

Proclus of Rome: Well, naturally.

That's how pretty women work.

Potom Flos: Damn magically pretty women

Proclus of Rome: Uh, they're CLEARLY just regularly pretty womn.

Potom Flos: I'll go with Lavinia to question the troubadors

Carelia: "The men in these parts seem very forward. But then, we are in Italy. As I tell my young companion, one must always be on one's guard"

Elena: "she does like to say that"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "It's pretty bold of two young pretty ladies to travel unescorted on the high seas as you are..."

Bonfilia of Verditius: I stumble over smelling of puke. "Men... Pfeh!"

Elena: as a handy reference, the conventional attractiveness of each of your fellow travellers is in inverse proportion to how realistically their token is drawn

Proclus of Rome: So would that make Bue the most attractive man on the ship?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: majin bue

Carelia: "It's not without its risks, but really as long as one keeps respectable company it's not too hard a lifestyle

Elena: "People are always glad to see a troubadour"

Proclus of Rome: I feel like that isn't entirely true, but I can't prove it.

Carelia: "And it's a recognized position for a woman. Far better than being a nun or a whore, at that"

Potom Flos: What's wrong with being a nun?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I could never speak ill of a nun like that"

Potom Flos: (I meant to say my thing in quotes)

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Well put, Potos"

"Potom"

Proclus of Rome: "Marriage to God isn't for everyone."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Excuse me."

Bonfilia of Verditius: "The life of a nun must be such a bore."

Carelia: "I'm sorry, that was crude of me. I was once encouraged in that direction myself, without having any particular vocation for it. I have nothing but respect for any woman who feels truly called to serve God"

They both sound foreign, but Carelia speaks fluent Italian. Elena seems less adept, but follows along

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Potom Flos: "Where are you two from?"

Carelia: "Toulouse, signore. We find there is a great audience for the  lais  of our country in these parts"

Boy R. (GM): (GM note: this may not be true, or may have been true a century ago)

Proclus of Rome: How could it not be true?

It may well be that they are trying to promote unpopular or archaic music.

That's the life of a musician for you.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: retrowave

Boy R. (GM): just as long as you know the full context

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I ask them politely to keep an eye out for anything strange they see and let me know about it

Boy R. (GM): They say sure, I guess, of course.

They haven't seen anything weird, except the horse with the fish tail

Bonfilia of Verditius: I ask to take a gander at the younger one's instrument.

Proclus of Rome: If it isn't the troubadours then it might be Piccardo's party.

Or maybe Savelli's.

Boy R. (GM): she lets you examine it, but begs that you be careful

Lavinia of Jerbiton: maybe the best bet is to wait and just see who does not seem affected

Boy R. (GM): it looks like this http://unicornstrings.com/images/diamond.gif

Bonfilia of Verditius: rolling MT to see if its enchanted or something

rolling d10!+12+3

(

9

)

+12+3

=

24

Boy R. (GM): your grasp of magic theory tells you that without second sight or magic sensitivity, you need to cast intellego vim spells

Proclus of Rome: Good grasp.

Bonfilia of Verditius: unfortunate

my InVi is 2

Proclus of Rome: Mine is 9.

Then you add up all the bonuses and I'm at 16.

Potom Flos: I have second sight, sorry for the delay

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i can divine certain levels of magic

Boy R. (GM): that can probably tell you something

Proclus of Rome: Oh well then.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: let's hear what potom sees first

Potom Flos: should I just roll 1d10 + second sight rank?

Boy R. (GM): +perception

Potom Flos:

rolling 1d10! + 5 + 1

(

10

+

2

)

+5+1

=

18

Boy R. (GM): ok, second sight will let you see the true appearances of things, which can include revealing things that are normally invisible. many enchantments will escape it

the psaltery looks completely normal

however, stand by while I look up some other stuff

Proclus of Rome: Second Sight can have significant buffering issues.

Boy R. (GM): alright, is anyone else investigating?

Proclus of Rome: Anyway the fact that the head of the Savelli Family is a sodomite is going to make things tough.

Investigating what?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: faire aura adds +1 to magic effects?

Boy R. (GM): yes

Proclus of Rome: The psaltery?

Boy R. (GM): sure, but anything else as well if oyu like

Potom Flos: Well uh... those are... strange people

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Sortes Ease Factor 20: detect magic of 30th level or higher

Boy R. (GM): actually proclus you can roll area lore (rome) for being familiar with the savelli

Lavinia of Jerbiton:

rolling 1d10!+10+2+1

(

1

)

+10+2+1

=

14

Boy R. (GM): oof

rolling 3d10

(

4

+

8

+

8

)

=

20

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "If Virgil had nothing to say about this then we can

Potom Flos: I have some roman lore as well

Lavinia of Jerbiton: obviously deduce it's not important."

Boy R. (GM): sure, go for it

Potom Flos:

rolling 1d10! + 7 + 3

(

8

)

+7+3

=

18

Boy R. (GM): this guy isn't the head of the Savelli family, you're pretty sure

Proclus of Rome: That's a pretty good Area Lore.

Oh.

Is he related or what?

Boy R. (GM): he's nobody you've heard of. you can ask him if you like

Potom Flos: Do I recognize his name?

ok

Boy R. (GM): actually he share s a name with the head of hte family, but you think you'd recognise that guy and his servants wear different livery

Proclus of Rome: That's bizarre.

Well anyway, what did you see Potom?

Potom Flos: There is something very strange about Piccardo's bodygaurd. He wears archaic armor and his head is a ball of light with many eyes. Nothing about the instruments of interest were revealed by my sight.

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Well, that's strange.

We should as Piccardo about that.

Potom Flos: I say out loud, trying to only speak to Proclus but not paying to much attention.

Proclus of Rome: I mean "ask".

Bonfilia of Verditius: "A ball of light with many eyes!?" I jump into the now-empty ale barrel to hide.

Proclus of Rome: Classic goat who walks on two legs.

Anyway, I'll confront Piccardo about this strange discovery.

Boy R. (GM): Piccardo is relaxing on the deck below you, just chilling with his companion

Proclus of Rome: "Did you know your companion's head is actually a ball of light with many eyes?"

Piccardo: "I don't think that's exactly right"

Potom Flos: I like the subtly.

"Does it speak?"

Piccardo: "Well, you're a philosopher though, so I don't expect it'll alarm you. You've seen past his disguise, have you?"

Potom Flos: (twisting my head curiously, examining the man)

Bue: "I speak"

Proclus of Rome: "No, my friend, Potom Flos, did."

Potom Flos: "Hello!"

Bue nods

Bue: "You have good eyes"

Potom Flos: "So, what are you? Besides fascinating."

Piccardo: "This fella has fifty of them. So I'm told, I never counted. We thought it wise to apply a little a charm of concealment until we get to Verdi"

Bue: "I am Argosus, a scion of Argos Panoptes, who sired me on a wood nymph"

"A thousand years and more I served in the sylvan court. Now I am contracted to a magician. It matters not, I will keep watch wherever I go."

Potom Flos: "Is this your magician?" pointing at Piccardo

Piccardo: "No, no. I'm venditor to one of the greater Verditius. Argosus here is payment for the last deal I struck for him"

Bonfilia of Verditius: I emerge from the ale barrel. "A faerie? Oh, that's fine."

Proclus of Rome: "That's a pretty good deal."

Piccardo: "Well, it's only seven years service. We're hoping to renegotiate then"

Proclus of Rome: "Do you know anything about the strange events on this ship?"

Argosus: "What do you mean by strange?"

Proclus of Rome: "Well, apparently a man tried to seduce me."

Argosus nods

Argosus: "This is normal. You are the playthings of Cupid. I observed this, but mortals are rarely endangered by such dalliances so I saw no reason to mention it"

Proclus of Rome: "Cupid?"

Metal Gear?

Argosus nods

Bonfilia of Verditius: "If not for this frail mortal shell I could have turned this to my advantage..."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Love potions are cheap, Bonfilia."

"Is this Cupid around here somewhere? Can we make him knock it off?"

Potom Flos: The beer appears to be love poisoned

Argosus: "Certainly. He followed us from the court of the sylvan gods and made one of the sailors fall for a woman in the crowd and miss his ship, so that he could take on his appearance. See, he's over there"

Proclus of Rome: That makes sense, since Bonfilia drank most of it and I believe her to be immune to all forms of love.

Argosus points lazily in the direction of a middle aged sot who goes by the name Emont

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lets crack him open and eat his vis

Bonfilia of Verditius: "I hunger for the savory taste of fae vis."

Proclus of Rome: We should just ask him to stop.

Then kill him if he doesn't to get his vis.

Bonfilia of Verditius: "Come, friends, let us consume this bothersome beast!"

Potom Flos: Skipping and cheering, we devour a man while alive and screaming

Boy R. (GM): well alright

how do you propose to do this?

Proclus of Rome: We DEFINITELY shouldn't allow Cupid into Rome.

Boy R. (GM): he hasn't taken any particular notice of you, as far as you can see

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I ask Bue what sort of story Cupid wants here

I have 0 faerie lore so idk how much I should know about the machinations of the fae

Proclus of Rome: What?

Argosus: "I am not certain what you mean, but he is god of Love. Those who are pierced by his arrows are consumed by passion"

Bonfilia of Verditius: "Come now, this faerie cannot be so powerful. I'm certain we can take him on."

Proclus of Rome: "There is only one true God."

Argosus: with 0 faerie lore you know that fairies are a class of spirits that love to involve themselves in human affairs and encompass most traditional pagan gods.

Proclus of Rome: "These pagan affectations are offensive."

Potom Flos: So, what are we planning on doing?

Boy R. (GM): It's totally possible you could destroy him. You get the right to strike first here

Potom Flos: Specifically

Boy R. (GM): so I'm going to make some tea

Proclus of Rome: Well, there are two issues here:

Boy R. (GM): does anyone have greater than 0 faerie lore btw?

Proclus of Rome: 1) Cupid looks like an ordinary sailor, so we would appear to be common murderers to everyone on board except for Argosus and Piccardo.

2) Cupid may well be stronger than all of us put together.

We should perform an inventory of our combat options.

Potom Flos: 3) What

Proclus of Rome: I have the Crystal Dart and that's it.

Potom Flos: 3) What's the worse cupid could do if we leave him alive?

Proclus of Rome: He's headed to Rome with us.

I don't want such a chaotic element introduced to Rome.

If we can stop him now we'll certainly save ourselves a lot of trouble in the future.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I don't mind

faeries are everywhere

you can't kill all of them who dare to enter a giant city

Proclus of Rome: This is a good start.

Hopefully further research will allow me to kill all fairies in Rome.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I'm fine just telling him we're onto his game and we'll let him have his fun as long as he leaves us out of it

Proclus of Rome: Or at least eject them.

Potom Flos: seems like the less murderous approach

Proclus of Rome: Rome doesn't need a fake god.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I helpfully remind Proclus that molestation of the fae is against the code of hermes

Bonfilia of Verditius: This is international waters.

No gods, no masters.

Proclus of Rome: Is killing a fairy really molesting it?

Boy R. (GM): anyone got code of hermes?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: yeah

+5

Boy R. (GM): well, lavinia seems to know what she's talking about

in any case, your stowaway is sitting there peacefully pretending to work. is anyone approaching/attacking him?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I walk up and introduce myself

Sailor: "How now, miss?"

Bonfilia of Verditius: I am tempted to strike, but the lack of dirt has foiled me yet again.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I am fine. We've all been enjoying this little game you are playing but prefer to watch from a distance than to be be part of it."

Proclus of Rome: You should carry a bag of dirt around.

Sailor: a sly grin spreads over his face

"the game? Fair maid, the game is not begun. Though shot is loosed, the war is far from won"

Proclus of Rome: Poor form.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "What would make the war won?"

Sailor: "lay not your arms aside - not longing look, that tender sigh. Cupid calls it triumph when the wedding bells are rung"

oh I'm sorry, I meant nor, not that

Proclus of Rome: Oh, good thing we're on a ship then.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Then why play this game on a ship? There are no priests around to wed anyone."

Bonfilia of Verditius: "Sorry, I'm already married."

Proclus of Rome: Ship captains can marry people, I believe.

Sailor: "You err - yon lecher hides a bishop's ring"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Which one?"

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Sailor: "but for all that the pledgéd word will take/ the place of priest or church or all"

Proclus of Rome: My guess would be Arsizio.

Bonfilia of Verditius: "Lavinia you should marry that clerk so we can get this over with already."

"I am already married, so clearly I can't be the one."

Sailor: "for there the story ends - my part is played"

Proclus of Rome: "Did you get a real marriage or did you just kidnap him?"

Potom Flos: ( I looked it up and marriage at sea has a winding history that isn't clear cut)

Bonfilia of Verditius: "My marriage was arranged by my Verditius master, all very formal."

Proclus of Rome: "Oh well, that's alright then.

"

Sailor: Cupid is definitely not concerned with the letter of mortal or divine law

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "I think Proclus is the most eligible bachelor here, honestly."

"He'd make a good match for either of the Troubadours."

Sailor: and as to your question, he indicates "Savelli" as the disguised bishop

Proclus of Rome: "Are you saying you want to marry me?"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "No. Don't be full of yourself."

Proclus of Rome: "It was just a suggestion."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "What happens if some irate wizard decides to kick the bishop overboard and you have no one left to finish your game, Cupid?"

Sailor: "as I have said, the lovers' pledge proclaimed/ unto the world, will answer all my needs"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: who here can spont a Cr Im effect

Proclus of Rome: I have 0 Imaginem, unfortunately.

Potom Flos: I wipe of a mean potion, but no spells

whip up a *

Proclus of Rome: Do you have any love potions?

I suppose that wouldn't be too useful in this situation.

Potom Flos: No, all of my potions are for healing or infertility I'm afriad

Sailor: Cupid can handle himself pretty well without love potions

Bonfilia of Verditius: "I'd help, but with my sickness and my husband... sorry. Someone else is going to have to bite the arrow today."

Sailor: well he's not great at getting people to build their lusts into meaningful relationships, but for making people want you you couldn't ask for better

Proclus of Rome: Well, we could always murder him.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: idk

Potom Flos: He does probably have vis instead of him... so....

has*. I'm the worst at my only language.

I'm going to stop trying, now that I noticed 2 more spelling mistakes

Sailor: lol I wouldn't worry dude

Potom Flos: Well, if no one wants to get married, it's murder time I think. Although I won't be any help.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: bonfilia should get married

and then we can annul the marriage when we get to port

on grounds of bigamy

Boy R. (GM): Optionally you could help the npcs get married

Proclus of Rome: N... PC?

Boy R. (GM): now you've seen what he's up to you, you're not ideal targets in cupid's mind

Proclus of Rome: Is that like a character class or something?

Boy R. (GM): sure

it's just above grog

Lavinia of Jerbiton: how many eligible pairs are there here. i assume the bishop is not going to gay marry proclus

Proclus of Rome: On the one hand, I'm sure Bonfilia would love the opportunity to sin some more, but on the other hand we shouldn't encourage bigamy.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: if bigamy worked for the kings of Israel, who are you to judge

Boy R. (GM): both the troubadours, the knight and the venditore are prime targets. hooking up a nameless sailor with a nameless female servant would be a bonus.

Proclus of Rome: Well, we could ask the Venditore if he wants to marry anyone.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lets marry my female servant to the venditore and make her a spy in the Verdi organization

Proclus of Rome: The issue is that he probably won't want to marry anyone under the influence of Cupid.

Boy R. (GM): yeah he knows what's going on now

Lavinia of Jerbiton: alright

proclus should chat up the knight to determine what it'll take to make him want to marry someone

and i the same to the troubawitzes

Proclus of Rome: Well, he wants to marry you, as I recall.

Boy R. (GM): at least for today, the knight is in love with lavinia

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I ask Cupid to shoot him again

Potom Flos: Knight + Troubadour sounds like a perfect match

Proclus of Rome: You know, the Longevity ritual DOES make you infertile, so if you want kids this is the time.

Potom Flos: if we can make it happen

Lavinia of Jerbiton: maybe I should pull a Carloman and marry/kill to inherit stuff

Proclus of Rome: Well, he IS a knight.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: now that the GM himself made the opportunity he is hoist by his own petard this time.

Proclus of Rome: I mean, he could die at any time.

Cupid: I regret nothing except committing to delivering exposition in iambic pentameter

Bonfilia of Verditius: It would be very easy to kill a knight.

Cupid: "...and leave my work undone? So it must be./ Shall I then loose the dart to turn his eye from thee?"

Proclus of Rome: I think you should go for it Lavinia.

Potom Flos: beautiful

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I respect you sticking with the gimmick now that you've started with it

wouldn't I have to leave rome and go to this chump's fief. sounds like a losing proposition

Bonfilia of Verditius: You could set up a portal.

Boy R. (GM): this guy is acting as a bishop's flunky so odds are good he doesn't have his own lands

Proclus of Rome: If he's with the Saveilli family then his londes are probably near Rome.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: He's landless? Pass.

Proclus of Rome: Should he have any londes at all, of course.

Of course, as a knight he is capable of accumulating them.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "make it so, cupid. shoot his gaze at yonder troubadors."

Boy R. (GM): well I like this idea so I'm prepared to roll with it

he probably has a comfortable living somewhere

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Hm

Boy R. (GM): the real difficulty may be his involvement with the sodomitic bishop

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Seems like I'm shouldering a burden here. What do I get out of my fellow wizards for this

Boy R. (GM): "involvement" in the sense that it might keep him in your lives, that is

Proclus of Rome: Well, you would gain the responsibility for managing his londes.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I don't want mundane responsibility.

well I sorta do, but not some to a schlub house knight.

Proclus of Rome: House K*ht

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I mean this cuts into study/spellcrafting time.

Boy R. (GM): well you could easily find out more about his situation

he's more than willing to talk to you

Proclus of Rome: I mean "House K*ht"

Wow you can't type multiple "*"s.

Boy R. (GM): any mundane lavinia marries probably will expect her to spend time bearing children, but you can easily prevent that if it's incovenient

Lavinia of Jerbiton: What am I getting from the other wizards in exchange for sacrificing my precious lab time here

Boy R. (GM): I do still regret murdering the house of Grerr because I felt it should be hard to play the dynastic game

Lavinia of Jerbiton: If the answer is "nothing" then I insist the Proclus/troubadour matchup is a much better one

Proclus of Rome: Well, neither of them seemed that interested in me, but I am pretty charming.

Bonfilia of Verditius: You get to marry a noble knight!

Lodewig of Tytalus: But consider: what is a hedge wizard making in her lab that's so precious?

Bonfilia of Verditius: And before you get your longevity ritual.

Once you get the ritual you won't have any children.

Potom Flos: Old Potom doesn't care about being married off, but I don't think they would be getting a fair deal

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I'm going to make a silver gladiator statue that kills werewolves

Boy R. (GM): That could be useful

Proclus of Rome: That's a great idea.

Werewolves are terrible and should all be destroyed.

Boy R. (GM): then we can tell people this is the only place there are certain to be no werewolves

Cupid could certainly make a troubadour fall in love with Proclus for a day. He then only seems like a good enough catch for her not to break off the engagement

* only needs to seem

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Has she SEEN his cloak?

Boy R. (GM): Which isn't too hard. Even if he can be bore he seems like a decent man, and wealthy by the standards of a travelling entertainer

Proclus of Rome: Presumably I haven't tried to tell her about composition yet.

Boy R. (GM): The elder, Carelia, is definitely into dry discussions of musical theory. As a downside she's been opposed to marriage all her life

Proclus of Rome: Anyway if Lavinia is too scared of boys I'm willing to get married.

Boy R. (GM): Elena is prettier but less likely to tolerate being lectured, and demands an affectionate partner

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Moe and Tsundere, respectively

Proclus of Rome: Are either of them interested in me?

Boy R. (GM): only with Cupid's assistance

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Boy R. (GM): or you know, you could attempt to seduce them normally

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Boy R. (GM): right now they've hardly noticed you

Proclus of Rome: Sure I'll try.

Boy R. (GM): alright. keep in mind the Gift imposes -5 on all your rolls here

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

Boy R. (GM): I wonder if there is a seduction minigame

Proclus of Rome: Maybe.

I couldn't find any childbirth rules though, so who knows?

Boy R. (GM): they're in lords of men

Lavinia of Jerbiton: This is the sort of scenario Nihnoz would have loved to run

Proclus of Rome: He is my eternal enemy.

Boy R. (GM): it's a good fallback

though next time i run i promise more peril

Proclus of Rome: Getting molested by an elderly priest or married to some loser knight is pretty perilous.

Boy R. (GM): well, it's one of the clock here so lets decide on a resolution

Lavinia of Jerbiton: how many days are left in the voyage?

Boy R. (GM): two

Lavinia of Jerbiton: We could just

wait it out

Boy R. (GM): you can just choose to ignore it

Lavinia of Jerbiton: unless Cupid is going to grant us a boon for helping him win his 'game'

or Proclus really wants to get married

Boy R. (GM): you don't have any obligation to assist cupid

though if you ignore it I'm going to roll with endrite's suggestion and leave him to cause havoc in the city

Bonfilia of Verditius: Oh no.

Anything but.

Boy R. (GM): what's more, by telling him that you're onto him he doesn't find you amusing or satisfying prey any more, so you can sit back and be entertained by the mundane's antics

so I guess 6 experience and that's it for that year! sorry if it's anticlimactic

Proclus of Rome: I can't BELIEVE Lords of Men has a Romance section and then no rules for Fine Amor.

Anyway, I'll try and seduce Carelia.

Boy R. (GM): oh ok

did you find rules that pertain to it?

Proclus of Rome: Sorry I was looking up rules.

Nope!

Potom Flos: Thanks for the session Reported.

Boy R. (GM): well, try to make a good impression! your choice of roll

Potom Flos: Reporter*

Boy R. (GM): thanks for playing! sorry I didn't work you into more romances

Proclus of Rome: Ok hmm.

Boy R. (GM): though from some perspectives, that might be a blessing

Proclus of Rome: I'll try Charm.

rolling 1d10 + 4 + 1 -5

(

9

)

+4+1-5

=

9

Boy R. (GM): that should go with presence

Proclus of Rome: Yeah I have +1 presence.

Boy R. (GM): are you including +3 for the excellence of your cloak?

Proclus of Rome: No.

Oh that's ALL good impressions.

Boy R. (GM): Ok, that puts you over the the level 10 threshold, so you don't cause automatic revulsion

she's not particularly interested in you though

Proclus of Rome: I thought it was just related to appearing to be an authority.

Boy R. (GM): really I shouldn't be the one to adjudicate

excellent and superior items improve all the purposes they're put to

someone else can rule on the primary functions of a cloak

but for now it applies here

Carelia: "Oh, it's the philosopher. How do you do, sir?"

you've got three days to make this woman yours. what's your angle?

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: obtuse

Proclus of Rome: I think I'll talk about the relationship of music to mathematics.

And, further, how mathematics is indisputably of divine origin, meaning that love songs are a true gift of the Lord.

Carelia: is this really what women find interesting? who can say

this reminds me a lot of novels about earnest young men trying to chat up ladies by recommending they read gibbon, so i think it should have a chance of working

Proclus of Rome: Ha ha ha.

Carelia: roll comm+artes, I think

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

rolling 1d10 + 8 + 1

(

9

)

+8+1

=

18

Carelia: the gift penalty does apply here, so with a result of 13, she humours you for a while but shortly loses interest

Proclus of Rome: Wait if the Gift Penalty applies do I also get the cloak bonus?

Carelia: nay, the cloak helps with first impressions but the gift penalises all social interactions

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

Well, I tried.

Wait!

I can conf that.

Carelia: you certainly can

ok, she thinks you're odd but finds you a diverting conversationalist

so you've two options here - are you going to push it and make a proposal before the ship docks, which will get Cupid out of the way for good

or do you just want to fascinate her enough that she wants to stick around Rome and see more of you?

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Hmm.

It's times like this I wish that Ars Magica had a real personality trait system.

Carelia: rolling your own traits is a good way to decide what you should do

Proclus of Rome: None of them really apply here.

Carelia: well, I'm kind of glad Ars doesn't demand you rate every character's personality on 13 axes

Proclus of Rome: :csgogun:

Hmm, I'll try Driven here, I guess.

Carelia: this isn't really what you're driven to do though

Proclus of Rome: Since I am opposed to Fairy power.

Carelia: oh ok

Proclus of Rome: Ha!

Ok.

Carelia: I guess

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10 + 3

(

3

)

+3

=

6

I have no idea what that number represents.

Carelia: I think proposing to a girl on such a short acquaintance is something few people would do, so ease factor 9

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

So I'll just try to get her to hang out with me in Rome, in that case.

Carelia: alright, it's time for the what a shame we must part speech

I guess just presence and charm 15+

you can use comm if you prefer

Proclus of Rome: What?

Oh right.

rolling 1d10 + 4 + 1 -5

(

3

)

+4+1-5

=

3

Carelia: unless you can think of something more appropriate

lol rip

you can't double conf out of that

Proclus of Rome: Nope.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: horns.aiff

Carelia: well, sorry

the odds were always against you

Proclus of Rome: It happens.

Carelia: "I have enjoyed our conversations, master Proclus. God go with you"

Proclus of Rome: I guess if everyone fell in love all the time then we wouldn't be able to murder Cupid and harvest his vis, because he wouldn't exist.

Boy R. (GM): well people do fall in love all the time, but you're an unlovable wizard and she's a fiercely independent woman

alright, cupid tips his hat at you and clicks his heels and then walks ashore quite normally, with the other sailors behind him shouting to give a hand unloading, but he's lost in the crowd before anyone can even say "don't you even want to get paid?"

For this, the game where nothing matters and the ease factors are made up, take 6 exp

I'll write up the fruits of the trip in the book

Proclus of Rome: Separate from the 7 XP we got from not solving the murder?

Boy R. (GM): sure, if you want to take two seasons

this was a bit of spring and summer

and I guess Proclus can have a conf for wearing his heart on his sleeve

alright, gg all

Proclus of Rome: Alright.

Good game.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Whee!