Dialectic

[Leitz]

I'm good to keep going. My head wanders into the characters sometimes, and Bran is a good place to wander. He has goals, is a good guy, and I want to see things move forward.

On a different note, maybe next iteration require that PCs be connected at least one other PC? Bran and Marcus hit it off well, the others seemed less connected. Had things worked out differently, maybe that would have helped. All three of them seemed interesting concepts, and very playable.

[Leitz]

Sorry, my error. I thought she asked where we were heading. Edited the post.

[tibbius]

Sorry, my error. I thought she asked where we were heading. Edited the post.

Ah ggeeezz but now I would have to retcon her response ... and it's not like your character might not have made the same error. Could you revert the post?

[Leitz]

Sorry, my error. I thought she asked where we were heading. Edited the post.

Ah ggeeezz but now I would have to retcon her response ... and it's not like your character might not have made the same error. Could you revert the post?

Done.

[cybersavant]

At this point we split the party for at least overnight.

Andrew and Alexander continued with Dimitra east along the coastal plain, at the feet of the mountains, toward the village of Elaionas where Stelios was king. The sun moved up the sky as they walked, and it was late morning when they came to a rough-looking stone cottage where a spry old woman pulled weeds from a vegetable garden.

The gray haired woman greeted them warily. "Nice to see men without weapons," she quipped bitterly, gesturing up the steep slopes of the mountain to the south. Wild sheep and goats grazed up there, tinier the further upslope one looked.

t.b.c.

i was waiting for either the t.b.c. or for Alexander to post first

[tibbius]

i was waiting for either the t.b.c. or for Alexander to post first

sorry for my confusion ... I didn't consider that the t.b.c. might prompt a wait loop. Should have alerted you that I was ready to move on.

Leitz, MrStereo, let me try to get cybersavant and rossik up to the same day as you and then we can go ahead. I'll keep everything in the main thread, just pretend your characters aren't yet aware of what goes on.

[Mr Stereo1]

Sure I can hold, glad to see the misunderstanding cleared up.

EDIT: Could you clarify which of the posts with the old woman are meant for Bran and Marcus and which are for Andrew? I'm not sure if these were meant for me or not.

The old woman smiled, showing missing teeth. "My name is Chara," she said, "and I am glad to be called wise! I live at the edge of the kingdom Elaionas, which you can see ahead of you, down there." She pointed to a cluster of cottages and larger houses amid a spread of ruined buildings, just about a thousand yards further along the foot of the hills. People were moving about there. "Men of Aegium, you say? Our king Stelios has a dispute with your king, I know. Have you come to make apologies?"

"Bandits came here weeks ago. Lycanthropes. They came from the sunrise and went to the sunset, taking as they wished. We fought them and lost some of our younger men. They lost men too. They continued into Temeni and robbed there, too. Then when they went to Aegium, your king made them welcome. It is an offense against the friendship that our king had for yours."

[tibbius]

I added OOC at the top of the posts. The first is just for rossik and cybersavant. The second is for all four of you on different days - the old lady repeats herself ...

[Mr Stereo1]

Thanks. Could I get an IC opinion on the state of Xanthos' militia? I'm guessing it's pretty poor if they're just farmers with spears and the men are going hungry right now.

[tibbius]

Thanks. Could I get an IC opinion on the state of Xanthos' militia? I'm guessing it's pretty poor if they're just farmers with spears and the men are going hungry right now.

That's a good guess.

[Leitz]

Well, drat. I had *thought* I posted yesterday, but seem to have forgotten to hit the submit button. Reposted now. I'm adding stuff Marcus would know about Bran, since they are good friends.

As to judging the militia, unless everyone scampered away, a lot would be visible. Did the men move with confidence? Did they put energy into their weeding and mending? Bran and Marcus spent the day, they would likely have first hand knowledge of everyone.

[tibbius]

The folk in the fields of Temeni worked listlessly as if they were enervated by hunger or despair. They didn't talk much, though they expressed gratitude for your help. Overall they did not seem particularly capable of warfare or labor. They probably could do better with a solid meal.

[Leitz]

Coursera has an interesting course. Free, and might help those of us not well versed in such things.

[tibbius]

Thanks! It's good to have stuff to do during these times.

[Mr Stereo1]

Thanks, I've bookmarked that and will try to take a look. (And read through those sources in the 'about the world' thread. Keep neglecting to do that.)

Have we ever been to Rododafni, by the way? How strong does Marcus think they'd be if Xanthos, Stelios and Alec all allied against them and the Lyncanthropes?

[tibbius]

Thanks, I've bookmarked that and will try to take a look. (And read through those sources in the 'about the world' thread. Keep neglecting to do that.)

Have we ever been to Rododafni, by the way? How strong does Marcus think they'd be if Xanthos, Stelios and Alec all allied against them and the Lyncanthropes?

None of the characters have visited Rododafni. The stream between the two kingdoms is deep and fast flowing between the mountains and the sea, and there's no bridge. Now that Marcus thinks of it, how and where did the lycanthropes cross? They definitely left in that direction.

[Leitz]

On a totally different note, is it considered bad from to look for a spouse outside one's own village? Bran thinks in a broader mindset that just Aegium, but supports home over anywhere else.

What is the age of majority? We've established Bran is younger than Marcus, but I'm not sure how young. He's at the point of starting his own family, I think. Or pretty close to it.

[tibbius]

I don't have a real good feel for the age of majority - it varied a lot over history. In order to have his accomplishments as a mason and carpenter, even starting at the traditional age of 7, I'd think Bran would at least need to be in his late teens. Just about time to find a wife in many cultures.

[Leitz]

I don't have a real good feel for the age of majority - it varied a lot over history. In order to have his accomplishments as a mason and carpenter, even starting at the traditional age of 7, I'd think Bran would at least need to be in his late teens. Just about time to find a wife in many cultures.

Late teens sounds good, he's not just figuring out what girls are, and what to do with his life. That said, maybe add a year or two for his theology background. I see him as a little bit delayed in getting into the stream of life. He spent time introspecting, and wrestling with things. As he grew from being a man with a tool, into a carpenter, he also learned to deal with people and philosophy. He's certainly a lot wiser than I was at that age.

Just looked at his original character sheet, his family culture reaches adulthood at 12. He has 5 "skills", assuming one per year puts him at 17-ish. Pre age 12 was getting strong and serving as an apprentice. Learning the ropes, but not the skills. Maybe 18, for the extra wisdom.

It's spring, there was just a wedding, and challenge is afoot! Bran's thoughts are turning to a new phase in his life. A brand new year. Sosan, back at Aegium, is one option. She didn't run off with the lycanthropes, anyway.

[rossik]

Guys, due to coronavirus, I have little free time so I have to leave the game. Thanks for all the fun, and hope you all take care