Inn-world Combat: The Dread Reign

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Stifled by the gem-encrusted desert ennui of the reign of Ropent the Desecrator, the demilich Coc'zac the Conqueror made alliance with the ancient bone dragon Nazu the Voiceless. Once, they had been sought after by adventurers seeking riches and fame, but now even the adventurers had grown fat, rich, and bored. High in the mountain halls of Nazu's lair, the two plotted against the Imperial Mummy Lord Ropent who all but the most toadying of toadies had taken to calling the Decadent in this the three-hundredth year of his reign.

Under the banner of what would be called The Dread Reign (they were more ambitious than imaginative), Coc'zac and Nazu united the sentient she-golem Vokva the Unfailing and the giant twins Hotor and Hafur with promises to destroy her make and their uncle to give them kingdoms of their own. They rallied massive armies of undead -- nagas, flameskulls, wraith, wights, zombies, ghouls, skeletons of all shapes and sizes -- and waged bloodless war over Ropent's lands. Just when their victory seemed secure, the Dread Reign vanished from its world as though it had never been.

On August 25th, in the wee dark hours of the San Luis Obispo morning, the leaders of the Dread Reign and a small portion of their vast army will attack the Madonna Inn. And it will be up to you to defend your home!

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The encounter composition for parts 1 & 2 is purely suggestive. Feel free to adapt to suit you, using undead creatures CR 5 and below. The attack will proceed in three waves:

1. In the wee hours: 4 advance parties of 10 skeleton archers each will come at the main buildings of the Inn from all 4 sides. They will attempt to take up defensible positions where they can pick off people entering and exiting the buildings.

2. Ten-fifteen minutes later after the residents have been roused: a larger force composed of 5 Wights, 2 Ogre Zombies, 12 Skeletons, 12 Zombies, 2 Ghouls, 5 Wraith will attempt to herd residents into the parking lot areas between Buildings 1-3 and the main building where they can be encircled and fought more or less at leisure. At the same time, a spell-protected covert force consisting of one Bone Naga and 3 Flameskulls will sneak into the main building and try to take out what they perceive to be the command center; however their tactics may change depending on what players come up with to address their company.

3. Just when the tide seems to be turning in our favor: a Nazu, ridden by Coc'zac, will swoop in from overhead, Hafur and Hotor will take the stronger flank, and Vokva will attack the weaker one. All five of these enemies are powerful bosses. But most of our magic users and tabletop nerds will be able to tell you that Coc'zac is the one we can't afford to let 'live' to fight another day.

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Please assume the following:

1. There have been additional meetings for siege-style defense since the initial one last year. People who have attended them will have a general sense of both what they're capable of as fighters and where they're best positioned.

2. There is a battle map that you may have seen. What's on it and where your characters should be positioned is up to you. If you want them to be out of position, that's also fine.

3. There is nothing to mess up as long as you are fighting undead creatures that are definitely evil. We did this to make it easier for this first combat so there's not much need for worry about the ethics of killing these beings. However, if you would like to have a fight with someone and try to save the undead, go for it.

4. In other words, all but the five boss fights are completely up to you. The use of D&D monster stats is for convenience only. You're not required to use or calculate with them. You may if you like.

For each of the boss fights, I will provide a top-level comment below with details about the boss's fighting style and abilities (don't expect this today). Each of the bosses will accommodate up to 8 fighters. If you want to be in a boss fight, pick one of the bosses and put your character's name under their top level by the 22nd. After everyone has signed up, you'll discuss in groups how you want to tackle the boss and what the outcome will be. If there isn't a mod in your group and you need help with the monster, just let us know.

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Finally, and most importantly, this is supposed to be fun. Feel free to get hurt, temporarily destroy stuff, be heroes--play your dreams. If you have questions, concerns, suggestions, the mods are listening.

[ Meme ] August-September Test Drive Meme (TDM)

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It's that time again!

→ Comment with a new character you'd like to test out in the game's setting. (put character/canon in subject line pls!)
→ You don't have to be in the game to comment! HI NEW PEOPLE LET US ENABLE YOU.
→ Tag around with new and old characters.
→ App all those characters
→ ???
→ PROFIT!

Holds for current players are here. Current cast list is here. If you're a new player and you'd like to place a 2-week reserve, you can do so here.

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Here, have a few helpful scenarios for test-driving. Feel free to ignore them and make your own.

I.
Wherever you were, you aren't any longer. You took a turn, a step, blinked and you're somewhere else entirely. A long dusty road leads from nowhere to an oasis (or a nightmare, depending on your taste) of pink and bright light in the midst of the scrub desert and there's nothing and no one else in sight. If you linger long enough on the road, one of the Inn's residents will find you, but you feel noticeably drawn to come inside.

The pink and gold lobby looks like a bunny puked Easter everywhere, and the guy at the reservation desk looks a sort of silly putty shade of pinkish grey. He knows you by name and has a room reserved for you, but other than offering you fresh towels, that's all he has to say. Chances are, one of the residents will intercept you before you talk to Darryl the shade. They'll give you a guest basket with toiletries and chocolates and whatever else Caroline thinks a newcomer needs, and explain (nicely) that you're stuck here, but hey, it's not so bad. It's pretty safe, anyway. At least... so far.

II.
The red, gold and gaudy pink of the Copper Cafe overflows with residents. It's morning, the one and only time nearly everyone finds themselves in the same space for a short window before going about their day. The scent of fresh coffee laces the air, mingling with the buttery aroma of fresh baked pastry. The shade who serves as a cook, Kahni, awaits any orders that include chicken (chicken, not eggs), and Carlos has staffed one of the residents who can cook to make anything else you'd like. Kitty's pouring drinks -- no reason not to drink bloody maries or mimosas on your permanent holiday. Grab a spot at the counter or take a seat at an empty table, now that you're a resident too, there's no better way to start your day.

III. Network
[ooc: Our network is text-based and magic journal. No computers yet. You see this suspiciously well-painted image appear in your network-journal. Uh-oh. Someone taught Lillith to meme.]

New Player Reserves

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APPLICATIONS & RESERVES ARE OPEN


Current cast list is here. Holds for current players are here.
Application is here. Applications should be sent to our moderator email list strpg-mods@googlegroups.com.

Please note that all journals for this game must begin with "st_" but you may reserve with any journal you like.

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For new players, reserves are for two weeks. Please copy from the box below and paste into a comment. Change the name information only.

<b>Character Name</b>: "CHARNAME" <b>Canon Name</b>: "CANON" <b>Transfer/CRAU?</b>: "NAMEOFPREVGAME" <b>Player Name</b>: "YOURNAME"