Demens Chosen [PL: Into the Abyss - CLOSED]

[Northwest Slobovia]

RAIDERS of the LOST BOOK

OPERATION: BIBLIOPHILE
LOCATION: Alexandria, Egypt, Dimension 257P
RotLB

Prim, Fvaar: y'all wrote excellent posts, detailed and in character. Keep it up.

So why the bad IC reactions? As we advance the story into the God War, we need to keep in mind what's going on around our characters, and adjust their actions to fit those situations. We're also going to spend increasing amounts of time on other worlds and in other dimensions, where what our characters see and do isn't what they're used to. We got a taste of that during Woolly Bowl, and I expect it'll become more frequent. Right now, we're in Alexandria, and we're under cover. We need to keep the Librarians unsuspecting of who we are.

Please remember what Cer has said about learning a little about the skills your characters have IC. It's important for making IC actions work out right. IC expertise works best when players know how to apply their characters' skills to IC situations.

The flip side of that is that we're not our characters. Sandy was cross with his companions. I am just the GM, describing what the NPCs do based on their personalities – yes, they have the personalities! – and what Baron P, Nick, and Sandy do. I usually RP in sandboxes, but have no fear: this sandbox isn't a level playing field, it's tilted towards the story working out.

[Tiltjuice]

Note to self. Klaus one-shot.

[Northwest Slobovia]

All: I'm going to be on vacation until Memorial Day. I probably won't be online at all, since I believe in the Old Way, that there's more to life than reading words and pictures from a tiny screen.

[Giovenith]

there's more to life than reading words and pictures from a tiny screen.

You lie!!!

[Northwest Slobovia]

there's more to life than reading words and pictures from a tiny screen.

You lie!!!

Technically, I'm writing this on a very large screen.

*sets off for the big room with the blue ceiling*

[Cerillium]

All: I'm going to be on vacation until Memorial Day. I probably won't be online at all, since I believe in the Old Way, that there's more to life than reading words and pictures from a tiny screen.

Ah crap, Memorial Day means a BBQ, and that means putting up with a solid week of pre-BBQ "CAN WE HAVE RIBS BECAUSE I LIKE RIBS AND YOU SHOULD MAKE RIBS AND IF YOU MAKE RIBS I'LL BE A VERY GOOD GIRL ALL WEEK AND NOT WHINE OVER SMALL THINGS!!!!" I really wish Swith would stop doing that.



I probably won't post tonight. It's my first week back at work and they stockpiled all the bullshit while I was gone. Put out fires all day. Just want to rest now, spend some time with my kid before she goes to bed.

[Monfrox]

All: I'm going to be on vacation until Memorial Day. I probably won't be online at all, since I believe in the Old Way, that there's more to life than reading words and pictures from a tiny screen.

Ah crap, Memorial Day means a BBQ, and that means putting up with a solid week of pre-BBQ "CAN WE HAVE RIBS BECAUSE I LIKE RIBS AND YOU SHOULD MAKE RIBS AND IF YOU MAKE RIBS I'LL BE A VERY GOOD GIRL ALL WEEK AND NOT WHINE OVER SMALL THINGS!!!!" I really wish Swith would stop doing that.



I probably won't post tonight. It's my first week back at work and they stockpiled all the bullshit while I was gone. Put out fires all day. Just want to rest now, spend some time with my kid before she goes to bed.

I know a place with great ribs up here. You can take her there and maybe it'll help.

[Cerillium]

Ah crap, Memorial Day means a BBQ, and that means putting up with a solid week of pre-BBQ "CAN WE HAVE RIBS BECAUSE I LIKE RIBS AND YOU SHOULD MAKE RIBS AND IF YOU MAKE RIBS I'LL BE A VERY GOOD GIRL ALL WEEK AND NOT WHINE OVER SMALL THINGS!!!!" I really wish Swith would stop doing that.



I probably won't post tonight. It's my first week back at work and they stockpiled all the bullshit while I was gone. Put out fires all day. Just want to rest now, spend some time with my kid before she goes to bed.

I know a place with great ribs up here. You can take her there and maybe it'll help.

You have never tasted my ribs. They are a symphony, according to Swith. I don't know why. They taste like meat to me.

Also, I'm still staring at a box and starting to get antsy. The fennec recuses herself from one more day due to the migraine, and I can cover a great many things while she's resting, but box-opening without her in attendance means certain-

You know what? Fuck it. I'm opening the box as soon as I'm done here.



OP REMINDER: People on missions need to be careful regarding what they disclose. It's supposed to be a covert operation. I bring this up because I have some concerns over Prim's post. Clark Ashton Smith's Hyperborea, and the events therein, probably don't exist in Sandy's universe. He's speaking of an unknown religion and an unknown pantheon, and doing so with fervor. There's nothing wrong with that except the librarians are probably using spells to detect truth. The truth: this religion and pantheon exist. The fact: it doesn't exist in Sandy's dimension. The conclusion: Primordial isn't from this dimension. Cover blown, especially if the librarians are consulting one of their gods (which are real beings that directly interact with people in this dimension). The Baron continues to dig a hole.

It's small things like this that put groups at risk. A general rule of thumb: when visiting other dimensions, it's best to remove all articles that will stick out in that dimension, as well as brush up on research regarding that dimension to make certain your own knowledge aligns with it. If in doubt, leave it out. Don't promote beliefs or religions.

What I strongly recommend is a redact before the scholars return and obliterate the Baron for his heresy. I would personally pass it off as, "Gottcha! I just wanted to see how far I could go before you realized I was spinning a yarn."

Please consider what the characters' mission is, and what they are doing in order to remain inconspicuous. Cats don't actively listen to lectures. Lovecraft's mythos would be viewed as heretical because it doesn't exist here. Figure out your cover stories and then stick to them while refraining from "giving anything away".

As it stands, I'll probably need to send in an Oracle to sterilize the situation before the Greek pantheon of Sandy's dimension cottons on. (This mess started as far back as the ship but there's no reason to go back that far.)

[Torrocca]

You have never tasted my ribs.

Whoa now, suggesting cannibalism isn't a very good thing, Cer.

[Tiltjuice]

*sprays a circle of Raid around Cer*

No ants allowed. >_>

[Chedastan]

Hmmm, I'm not sure if this was actually brought up in the IC for Last Chance months ago, but I'm almost certain that the group having members from another dimension has been mentioned and thrown around to Venla's fellow scientists and technicians. So depending on how that should go, that could lead to a hiccup or worse. I guess at the time me and the squirrel weren't thinking about that detail being mentioned.

[Monfrox]

You know what? Fuck it. I'm opening the box as soon as I'm done here.

"And he was never heard from again..."

[Giovenith]

You know what? Fuck it. I'm opening the box as soon as I'm done here.

"And he was never heard from again..."

*plays Taps*

[Primordial Luxa]

I know a place with great ribs up here. You can take her there and maybe it'll help.

You have never tasted my ribs. They are a symphony, according to Swith. I don't know why. They taste like meat to me.

Also, I'm still staring at a box and starting to get antsy. The fennec recuses herself from one more day due to the migraine, and I can cover a great many things while she's resting, but box-opening without her in attendance means certain-

You know what? Fuck it. I'm opening the box as soon as I'm done here.



OP REMINDER: People on missions need to be careful regarding what they disclose. It's supposed to be a covert operation. I bring this up because I have some concerns over Prim's post. Clark Ashton Smith's Hyperborea, and the events therein, probably don't exist in Sandy's universe. He's speaking of an unknown religion and an unknown pantheon, and doing so with fervor. There's nothing wrong with that except the librarians are probably using spells to detect truth. The truth: this religion and pantheon exist. The fact: it doesn't exist in Sandy's dimension. The conclusion: Primordial isn't from this dimension. Cover blown, especially if the librarians are consulting one of their gods (which are real beings that directly interact with people in this dimension). The Baron continues to dig a hole.

It's small things like this that put groups at risk. A general rule of thumb: when visiting other dimensions, it's best to remove all articles that will stick out in that dimension, as well as brush up on research regarding that dimension to make certain your own knowledge aligns with it. If in doubt, leave it out. Don't promote beliefs or religions.

What I strongly recommend is a redact before the scholars return and obliterate the Baron for his heresy. I would personally pass it off as, "Gottcha! I just wanted to see how far I could go before you realized I was spinning a yarn."

Please consider what the characters' mission is, and what they are doing in order to remain inconspicuous. Cats don't actively listen to lectures. Lovecraft's mythos would be viewed as heretical because it doesn't exist here. Figure out your cover stories and then stick to them while refraining from "giving anything away".

As it stands, I'll probably need to send in an Oracle to sterilize the situation before the Greek pantheon of Sandy's dimension cottons on. (This mess started as far back as the ship but there's no reason to go back that far.)

Terrible sorry about the mix up and mess up.
I've pulled out my last post and have contacted folks so we can make sure that things end up working out.
My sincerest apologies for this.

[Cerillium]

I survived the Opening of Box. Ahahahaha!

Hmmm, I'm not sure if this was actually brought up in the IC for Last Chance months ago, but I'm almost certain that the group having members from another dimension has been mentioned and thrown around to Venla's fellow scientists and technicians. So depending on how that should go, that could lead to a hiccup or worse. I guess at the time me and the squirrel weren't thinking about that detail being mentioned.

Last Chance left before things were really organized. Ditto for the Pony story. IIRC, Last Chance doesn't expose any pantheons, and takes place in a futuristic setting. It's easier to pass off "alien" concepts.

Ancient Earth locations are different. Sandy's world contains fantastical beasts and gods but the overall theme is established.

Using my character as an example:

Klaus: I'm part of Chaos. My pantheon-
Scholar: How can you be part of Chaos?
Klaus: That's what my pantheon is. You see, Chaos is-
Scholar: Who are your gods?
Klaus: Grandfather Nurgle, Khorne, Tz-
Scholar: Bullshit. Chaos is the first. From it all things come. Gaia, Tartarus, and Eros-
Klaus: Those are the gods of pantheon that your Chaos formed. You see, Chaos is your pantheon's Greater Being but my Chaos is a pantheon formed by a different Greater Being. It's-
Scholar: Kill this heretic.

It's also a form of canon preservation. Sandy's pantheon is in Sandy's dimension. His Eros may be completely different than the Eros found in Dimension C. This allows a degree of separation for players.

This is pretty much why I opted to stomp gods by limiting them to a dimension. There are no gods that span more than one dimension. Loki from Dimension A and Loki from Dimension B are not the same. This is why I elevated other gods to the status of Greater Beings. Chaos created the Greek pantheon in Dimension A, B, C etc. It's also why I don't allow players to run Greater Beings. I think I've done alright with keeping balance.

---

Another nightmare to deal with is variations in mythology, and the adaptations made from those. For example, do we follow Hesiod (Chaos was the first thing to exist) or Orpheus (Chaos is the son of Chronus and Ananke)? Does Tilt's Time and Fate become demoted now that Slo joined, or can we bend things so both fit? The answer is "Hesiod, and Yes, because I said so."

As OP- My job is to bring balance to the game, not to make players feel bad about their passions. I might allow a powerful pantheon but also formulate ways to keep that power in check.

Cthulhu mythos came into play during a time when PL was filled with omnipotent PC. Speaking from a genre point of view, hardly anything overcome Cthulhu - these are "incomprehensible, omnipotent dark gods who instill gibbering insanity in anyone in their presence; Sufficiently Advanced Aliens who have obliterated countless worlds since time immemorial; Cosmic Entities whose thoughts encompass the very fabric of the universe and infinities beyond, on which humanity is just a subatomic particle".

None of your characters would stand a chance.

Prim does a good job at paying homage to his favorite genre. Primordial's actions in the IC were absolutely in character, right down to his zeal. I would expect Prim to do justice to his characters in this manner. His deities are kept in check by stops that have been in place since the first thread.

Burbling horror is good for the group. I am going to ask that players consider the genre before incorporating it into a story. Would you bring Cthulhu along for a children's picnic? No. You would not. In fact, lay out your terms beforehand regarding any character if that character is capable of actions that might upset a story. Don't hem and haw. Give people the opportunity to explore whether or not a character will work in a player's story.

Player forethought is important as well. In order for the Luxans to be involved in stories, some sacrifices have to be made on Prim's part. This includes keeping them low-key in order to balance a story. In the case of missions, the Luxans, like other magical beings, will need to put great effort into concealing their power base.

The motive behind that behavior is simple: Shroud them in mystery and keep other characters in suspense, revealing nothing because, as Lovecraft himself states, "doubt and secrecy are the lure of lures". The time for revelations is a story unto itself. It shouldn't be done lightly during an adventure that doesn't focus on that horror. Such revelations will throw a story off track.

---

Prim, what I suggest is having the Baron focus on the task at hand: acquiring those scrolls. The scholars and librarians aren't worthy of a grand tale, or worthy of dark revelations. They'll all soon be dead once the building catches fire. Their agonized screams will surely delight whatever Eldritch things do exist in that dimension.

That doesn't mean cutting out dark references. These can be cleverly masked rather than overtly stated, and character thoughts shouldn't be read without good reason by other PC.

"You dare offer me tea to pacify me? I belong to a power so potent that you can not begin to imagine the horrors wrapping themselves around it. Foolish mortal!" said Bob.

"Oh, you made tea? Isn't that lovely?" Bob's face remained neutral as he accepted the cup. Such cheek. I should paint the walls with your intestines and summon my gods to extinguish your star.

Primordial is a diplomat. He can see that the people are ticked off. They're about to make a decision critical to the mission's success. The Baron made a faux pas. It happens. (1948: Warren Austin, a U.S. Ambassador to the UN, told the Arabs and Jews to resolve their disputes “like good Christians”. *facepalm*) Sandy suggested getting on Deisitheos' good side. The Baron can regroup his thoughts now. He allowed his passion to push sensibility out of the picture. He simply needs to fall back on diplomacy. Regardless of the approach, be true to your characters. Don't apologize for playing them in character. Simply adjust them so they remain in character yet don't sidetrack the main story too much.

When it comes down to it, using an Orb to summon an Oracle (Myra or Meps are closest) might smooth things over as well.

---

And finally -

I have no idea what's been discussed behind the scenes. I'm posting this here in an attempt to coax you all to use the OOC to discuss game matters. The OOC is for planning, for updating, for asking questions, and for sounding out ideas. It allows other people to chime in with suggestions or critique. It's also where a CoOP or I can weigh in regarding things that won't or will work in the overall setting.

If anyone has any questions or suggestions, post them!

[Chedastan]

We've been dragging a bit for starting Angels of Avalon in the IC, all for various different reasons of course. I should probably ask if anyone participating has anymore questions about it before we get around to starting, either pertaining to the story and gaming aspect, or to the setting?

[Saldinado]

I'll try to get a up a response to Henry's bullying corrective actions either today afternoon or tomorrow. Been having school come and kick my ass from here and back.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Since I'm using a connection so slow as to remind me of the good old days of 9600 baud modems, lemme comment without trying to gather up all the bits I'm replying to.

Cer, I've got backstops in place to prevent the Olympians from learning too much. Will explain when I'm back.

I take advantage of the contradictions between myths. Deinon just explained that the Librarians know of them. I embrace the distinction between what really happens in the divine realm and what worshippers think. People in the Belas' dimension are just as confused about the divine as we are. It's a consequence of having inactive gods.

Baron P is a fine character for Raiders, with a little care in play. The current scene got a bit out of hand, which is partly my fault. I'll discuss a fix with Prim.

[Cerillium]

@Slo. K


@Min. I posted for Swith. She's in no state to post today. Should be able to move us along now. TY for your patience, all.

[Cerillium]

Archive is mostly caught up. Still need apps (or links to updated apps) for:

Marcus (WIP)
AM
Sandy and Amanda Bela
Brit
Ocho Hobart Ono
Nila Trilb
Rmwtyliin Fvvarniimalasaakuuliia
Kwa'a Bhewehg
Sakarias
Oecammi Ret Ata-EE
Deuce
Wren Usseio
Volker
Primordial, Insidious, Aegis (Prim's working on them)
Colonel Fluffy
Nikolai-Pietr Firsov
Charumati
Cuisine and MB
Hunter Evans
Ogoti
Dora
Luce
Dia
Esma
Temir


If you take a look at the character list (first page), you'll see that I'm organizing it by apartment. The link takes you to the archive page. The spoilers will go away once we have everyone accounted for. I've also dropped players that no longer participate.

If your character is NOT listed above, please give me the link to their app. If your character is listed above and has a current app, please give that link here.

TY

[Northwest Slobovia]

New apps for the Belas coming, but probably not until after Raiders. They're both in draft. Amanda is nearly done, but needs a new goal to fit the God War.


@All, we were not eaten by bears at this time. Nor by steep, snow-covered trails, though the latter tried much harder than the former. How were y'all's tiny-screen-viewing day been?

[Chedastan]

-snip-

Just a small thing I noticed at the front page for Nivea, she's listed twice at being in both apartment 3G and 4J.

@Slo Good job not getting eaten! We're still doing fine here!

[Holy Lykos]

Location: Qo'noS J'tahl

He wrecked and MEVA rang nose with pushing the keeper to join Milan and with his partner.

The old man has bones ... I can remember the day when my parents narrowly appreciated the story of nose guards, intensely bright snoring, can bring old story. I am not different.

The fire burning in greedy eyes, he went to the city break and wrestled his arms favor. If you give a tired woman of goodness and a way to tell your thoughts to this area, you want to see this place, and fill the fighter on the street, drink the blood wine, you will be historias .- Walk, the desire before break? "

This is an impure motive for his part. What is the best way to acquire the dominant attitude of the brain to choose the sense of time and the wise?

M'rzu returned to the old Klingon and fell down. Also note that the benefits to young people, and the same talented strides are not expected of honey, Sitryg, or Ru'moS MEVA. This is pushed Hr'Zol shoulder and then assures that there is enough distance between him and the actual Klingon.

"I do not think there is such a background," Klingon humbly said - whispering the air to avoid a completely dedicated notice.

Her eyes jumped to the front of the package. Well, nobody seems to give them any account.

Negative odd soft to Sun M'rzu so far, he continued, foreign languages ​​apparently, "I spent most of my life in the brutal type of machine, a monastery." You and I are still the same as very young here here, you can not seriously, we are a trainee who receives the old crap hints and is embarrassing Castigarnos.Miremos did not give pleasure to them when doing, they were too much, as we did won enough to do what we wanted, "I am sorry, More than what is said to be stuck doing what to say. "

Smile twist Lips split. "There is a possibility that other craps, which is one of our characteristics, are more stupid."

I mangled Cer's last post through google translate a few times, In order: English, Spanish, Arabic, Fillipino, Hungarian, Japanese, back to English. This masterpiece is what came out of that.

I propose a new PL meme, Take someone's post, or part of their post, and mangle it as much as possible in google translate then challenge them to read it for a voice meme. I think it'd be pretty funny.

[The Starlight]

Sorry again for the absence, had a week-long event. Am free now, post is WIP.

[Tiltjuice]

Post coming tomorrow night, most likely. Drive and interview in between.