The Shattered City: OOC

[lostboy]

thought Id throw a diplomacy in anyway, can't hurt afterall....

[Nerit]

Oh well, mine was a useless roll, but she didn't say anything particularly rude.

Translation:

Give me your hand, you beautiful and tender form!
I am a friend, and come not to punish.
Be of good cheer! I am not fierce,
Softly shall you sleep in my arms!
--Original German by Matthias Claudius

[DocBeard]

That takes on a whole new meaning when you consider some of Thierri's probable temptations as a youth.

[Nerit]

Oh no, I think the meaning is quite inherent . Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh unless you mean something way dirtier.

[lostboy]

Isnt 16 enough for aid another though?

[Isabella]

Isnt 16 enough for aid another though?

It would be if she'd declared it as an Aid Another when rolling.

[NeoTiamat]

Since our artist is currently otherwise occupied, let me present to you, the latest of Isabella's portraits! I offer you, Mercator Melanchthon!

[Kaitou Kage]

Rex is a pharmacist. There is no reason he would be good at pickpocketing or Thievery.

[yalenusveler]

I won't be around this weekend, least till Sunday. We've got his name, Thanatos, now we just need the book. If Celeste could "lead" him onto dry land?

[The Whistler]

I'm really not sure how disingenuous I can make Celeste be, at the moment. I take it people foresee a problem with asking for the thing directly?

[Nerit]

No, we can ask for it directly. Trying to steal it or trick him is the fastest way to lose his trust.

I suggested Celeste could ask him directly because he's obviously more willing to listen to her.

Also, Agale . Somehow it seems like a bad idea to be condescending to Thanatos. Does Agale have a plan or something?

[DocBeard]

Got a 26 on a religion check. My primary worry is Thierri's 'dance' being some kind of 'join me in my kingdom of the damned!' thing, but any other relevant insights would be appreciated.

[NeoTiamat]

The details on that will be revealed shortly, just be patient.

[The Whistler]

Yeah, I made some extremely inconclusive Insight and Arcana checks before posting, but barring some concrete evidence to the contrary, I don't think there's many ways I can turn him down and remain true to the character. Basically (vainly) hoping the DMs don't shoot down a touching moment with irremediable personal catastrophe, here.

[NeoTiamat]

Skill Challenge Time! I am going to be running this similarly to a combat. In other words, everyone must post once-per-day, failure to post counts as a failure in the skill challenge unless you've previously discussed with me going on hiatus or some such.

Win Condition Once any given person accumulates enough successes (by being successful at checks himself, and/or by having other people grant him successes), that opens up an option for that person to try and get Thierri's Book. He must then succeed on a check to get the Book. Current options include a diplomatic victory (you persuade Thierri to give you the Book) or a physical one (you pickpocket the Book).

Lose Condition You cannot lose this Skill Challenge by accumulating failed checks, not directly, at least. Rather, each failed check rebounds with an immediate consequence upon the person who failed the check, but does not have a direct effect on the skill challenge at large. Instead, there are two ways of losing the whole skill challenge.

-Accumulate enough individual consequences that you can no longer continue in the challenge itself
-The dance finishes before you get the Book.

Roleplaying Simple checks, without accompanying fluff, are considered to suffer a -6 penalty to the roll. So post some fluff as well (3-4 sentences at least). Very good or very appropriate posts may be considered an automatic success by the DMs, regardless of dice. Less commonly but still possible, very bad or very inappropriate posts may be considered an automatic failure by the DMs, also regardless of dice.

To a lesser extent, posting appropriate song lyrics is usually good for a +4 circumstance bonus to your check. Using certain Powers is usually good for an automatic success, though check with the DMs first.

Skill Checks - You can make only one skill check per round.

• Acrobatics: You dance with the dead in their cemetery celebration. This is the lowest DC of all the checks by a good bit (DC 12), and is basically 'treading water'. Failure here means not so much that you provoke the wraiths as that you manage to slip and fall into one. In general, provided all you do is dance, the wraiths aren't hostile to you. Moreover, very good results here may move you closer to a diplomatic victory.
  
  Stealth: You slip unnoticed between the ranks of dancers, drawing ever closer to your goal Success here brings you closer to Thierri and closer to a physical victory.
  
  Bluff: You distract the dead with your showmanship, allowing others to make their way towards Thierri Success here allows one other person to get closer to Thierri, bringing them closer to a physical victory.
  
  Diplomacy: Your singing appeals to the dead, calming them and making them more amenable to your efforts. Success here allows one person, either yourself or someone else, to move towards a diplomatic victory.
  
  Religion OR Insight: You study the dead, or else call up old texts on the subject, getting a better idea of what they desire.: Success here allows you to grant yourself or one other person a +4 bonus to a single Acrobatics, Bluff, or Diplomacy check. Only one of these bonuses can apply to any given check.
  
  Endurance: You withstand the consequences of failure. If rolled on the next turn after suffering a consequence, it lets you negate the physical effects of said consequences on yourself.
  
  Heal: You help others withstand the consequences of failure: If rolled on the next turn after someone suffers a consequence, it lets you negate the physical effects of the consequences on either yourself or on someone else.

As always, you can use other skills if you come up with a good rationale for them and run it by a DM.

Successes Accumulated
Andre Theroux = 0 Successes
Lia Mournswaithe = 0 Successes
Tomas Eisenwald = 0 Successes
Kerrian Mauganson = 0 Successes – On Hiatus
Rex Alistair Prescott = 0 Successes
Mercator Melanchthon = 0 Successes
Mr. Agale = 0 Successes
Nicolas Etienne de Castaigne = 0 Successes
Celeste Viardot = 0 Successes
Sister Nerit Doherty = 0 Successes