A Gathering of...heroes?

[Germaine Lorn]

OCC///that should have been

[Imperious]

Nope, you missed nothing....gathering still scheduled for Monday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time....hope to see you there...sorry for any confusion.

[Serissa]

Posted underneath in a small, neat hand:
  I would like to come, too.  May I suggest that 2 or even 3 objectives be determined when the group meets, depending on group size.  Then the group can split for the evening into smaller interest groups for exploration and questing.  This would allow more conversation along the way (//and help the server).  Each meeting thereafter would see shifting groups' composition according to interest, objective difficulty, and the size of the gathered group.
  Another advantage to this splitting would be ability to stop and help the other group in case of need--unexpected difficulty, deaths, etc.
  Yours in Aeridin,
  Ayla, cleric and bard

[jjkolb]

*A man sitting with perfect posture turns his head at the commotion caused by the overturned table.  He notices the parchment tacked on the wall and after a few more swallows of ale walks across the inn to read it.  After pondering for a few moments, the man reaches in his vest pocket, pulls out a stick of charcoal, and writes the following:

“I, Klaugraquene Dragonbane, paladin and champion of Toran, will lend my sword to the group on its adventures.”

After returning the charcoal stick to its pocket, the drops to one knee in silent prayer for a few moments, drawing looks from some of the patrons of the inn.  Standing, the man returns to his table and orders another mug.  

[Xerina]

Is it just me or do the volumes of responces to this kind of say something?

I think this group of heroes is becoming an army of heroes quickly.

[Xerina]

If my post confused you about thursday, I had looked at Aug calander not July and never went back to edit my post. Sorry if I confused anyone. I was looking at my probable work schedule changes when I replied.

[MorphlingROR]

I think I may be interested in joining this group as well. I will try to make it to the meeting.

Millana Aravinnya

[Imperious]

///Thanks, Serrissa and Xerina, for your notes.  Yes, I wasn't sure what kind of reaction this post might get, but it seems like they're might be a few more than I expected, which is great. Given some ongoing threads right now about lag, party size, we may do well to end up splitting up into groups, but I'll guess we'll just have to see how it goes.

Come on, come all!

[Xerina]

Um ok so far this is a list of who has signed up
Ketzia
Bido
Remy
Balit
Necromedon
Seh'Spar
Jser
Daeron
Reyenoir
Ael
Calorfin
Victor
Mary Blood Axe
Garnet
Ayla
Klaugraquene
Millianna
for a total so far of *drum rool*
17 people if I didn't miss count. As a single group we will slow the server to a crawl with lag, if everyone shows up. I would sugest that at the meeting we split up, and form a couple adventuring companies. of say 6, 6, and 5. Hopefuly we can find some decent splits to create balanced groups.

One question I have is how long do people plan on keeping the semi stable group thing going. I ask manly because of the rules regulating guild could be applied if it is to become a long term consistent group. I think it would be great to see some adventure companies form with in the guild structure. The only guilds I know of are the crafting ones, but I could be wrong.  If I ever get the money I might try to start a adventure company it wold fit my bard perfect, quest for knowledge and lore with a semi stable core and use the event calander to do a monthy or bi weekly event to draw in extras to fill out the requirements. It could also be a great way to involve more people and meet new people. Also a good way to get your name out their. Oh ErN'aer from the order of the open book, I have heard of her and her group of adventures they recovered such and such from tomb abcde. ANy thought on this.  I will try to go thru the posts later and add in classes and last names for those that included them.

[SeaWraith]

*Alanna and her imaginary pixie friend Avan read through the notice. Avan squeaks in her ear, and Alanna sighs*

"I know it sounds fun, Avan, but I don't think we're strong enough to be of any use."

*Bakoobaboosa!*

"No, I don't think Olias or Meri are either, and I'm sure that these fine folks wouldn't want three inquisitive Hobbits slowing them down while we stop and gawk at everything."

*Beekookaboo bakooka!*

"Oh, alright... I'll affix our names as well, but don't get your hopes up!"

*Heeyabakooka!!*

*Alanna digs a quill and an inkpot from her packs, nearly spilling it on her newly found cotton. She signs three names to the list, stoppers her inkpot and heads to the barkeep, looking for a stout.*

(( OOC ))
Alanna Starthistle, Meri Starthistle, and Olias Sunhillow are interested in joining, but we are a tad below 5th level (all of us being 3rd level). No worries if the level is a problem - we can always RP with you when you get back from your adventures, and have something to look forward to when we are strong enough!

[Xerina]

Updated list.

Ketzia : Class unknown
Bido Ryskill: Class unknown
Remy Zephyr: Class Rogue/shadow dancer
Balit Glenhobber: Class Rogue
Necromedon Rensir: Class unknown
Seh'Spar: Class Bard/Sorc (historian/lore keeper)
Jser : Class Rogue
Daeron  Stormcloud: Class Mage
Reyenoir : Class unknown (rogue if I remember right but it has been awhile)
Ael  Rynthien: Class Monk
Calorfin Sianodel: Class Mage
Victor Firefall: Class unknown (I think fighter or monk)
Mary Blood Axe: Class Barbarian (if discreption is any help)
Garnet Stonesmythe: Class Monk
Ayla Bineau: Class Bard/Cleric
Klaugraquene : Class Paladin
Millianna  Aravinnya: Class unknown ( Fighter I think)
Alanna Starthistle: Class Sorc
Meri Starthistle: Class bard
Olias Sunhillow: Class Ranger

[SeaWraith]

((OOC))

Oops! Forgot to include our classes:

Alanna Starthistle - Sorceress (and Maker of Trouble)
Meri Starthistle - Bard
Olias Sunhillow - Ranger

[Victor]

I suggest we hold regular meetings to form small groups for the various tasks that participants want to accomplish.  We will work best in small groups.  One group could form and go mining while another banded together to destroy some threat.  In this manner, even less experienced adventures could also attend in order to meet and go train together.

Such gathering at the inn could become the perfect place to find heroes willing to aid in various quests and endeavors.

[teefal]

*teefal scribbles*

Zerpa and I may be able to attend, though later that evening we have other plans.

// Cage quest starts 3 and a half hours afterwards

[Xerina]

Well my suggestion would be this, but it is Imperious/Ketzia's post/event so it would be his ultimate decision. The small groups are going to be a must there are just too many for it not to be. With 20-22 characters signed up to attend 4 or 5 groups of 4-5 players in each would be ideal. So we should elect 4 to 5 leaders, every group needs a designated leader for the most efficiency anyway. Name them “officers” for lack of a better term if we truly want this to go long term. And at the meeting decide if we want to make it a permanent guild, if we do we could start setting aside money as a guild charter requires 75k if I remember right. Each group could donate say 10% of their profit to the establishing of the charter, the leaders would become the guilds officers once the charter was accepted. As a guild we could continue to grow and add more new people and keep the core concept of the guild to help others achieve the rank of hero in the war against blood.

Layo has a set policy on guilds, and one of them is that they cannot be exclusive meaning only grouping with each other’s. And I wouldn’t want to see that happen anyway. As I read it we could still do the normal group of a few times a month of our regular teams to promote the guild vision, as long as the vast majority of the time we were grouping with and helping others.  If we are going to do this long term I would kind of like to hear some DM input on this as it does touch on some established rules.

I think something like this would work out pretty well.
Group 1: Trail Blazers (primary focus exploring and searching out future objectives)
Group 2: Band of the Steel Rose (primary focus hunting or minor quests)
Group 3: Task Force (primary focus completing objectives found by Trail Blazers)
Group 4: Miners (groups to collect ore and or gems)
Group 5: Gathers (groups to collect non mined components i.e. cotton and wood)

A bit more detailed Group one would seek out new areas, and quests especially level quests i.e. the lizardmen chief’s head or the lich’s tomb. As well as new areas to mine, dungeons, and just generally good places to hunt. They would assist in planning the focus of the other groups in the coming weeks.

Group 2 would assist people with minor quests be it getting the wisp essence for Fort Llast or delivering the mail to Ralaria (sp??) When there are no quests pending they would either assist another group acting as guards or simply hunt to assist fill the coffers of the group. They could also hunt down special items for a known need to fill posted requests. I.E. some one needs a rare mushroom for alchemy but its hard to reach and as being rare only 1 or 2 will be collected, it would be easier for this group to obtain it and move on then for group 5 to dedicate much of their time to acquire 1 item for 1 person.

Group 3 would be the primary quest group, for harder more dedicated quests requiring a level or for a set goal, i.e. the Fort Llast oil can be challenging especially compared to say the wisp essence or crypt essence in Hlint, so it would fall to thins group.

Group 4 and 5 are pretty self-explanatory. If you don’t know what these two groups do just join them you will figure it out quick J

This would allow people to be in different groups all the time, as people’s objectives would change, I might mine gems one week and with a good supply of them next week join in on a quest I need. No quests go exploring or join a team short of people. Their would be no set group size as if we have a large number of people that need a set objective that is going to fall to the Task Force then that group will either be large of we may form two Task Forces.

I would like to see a team leader on each team, not that they would be locked to that team every week, though if they are dedicated to one goal like mining and want to mine every week so be it.  So have 5 normal leaders and 2 or 3 assistant leaders. Sometimes the leaders might have to sit out a preferred group spot to assist a group lacking a leader for the session, but if we all sacrifice and assist each other this could be something special.  We should also remember that the stated original purpose was to go slow and RP, I have no intention of supporting a power gaming group that joins just to level. We will need to regulate our selves and each other in this.

There are allot of options and a wealth of possibility, I would really like to see this be something special that others can look at and say, wow they really understand the principles of Layo. They role-play well, they involve others, and everyone around them has fun. Either way I think the last sentence is the most important of this whole long post. They role-play well, they involve others, and everyone around them has fun.

//P.S. you can post comments here but much of it should be role played at our first meeting.  I think I will have my lore keeper say something very much along these lines, but you can also consider this post as a IC note attached to the original. My bard rambles as a historian so she will repeat it incase anyone didn't see the note.

[Imperious]

Ketzia walks in to the Inn and stops abruptly, her eyes bulging at the number of signatures and notes that are posted under and around her original message.

"That...many?" she gulps. Her face quickly turns a new shade of red as she thinks of her horrible social awkwardness and having to deal with all of those people. "It's wonderful, but it's just....so...many. I have no idea what to do..."

///Thanks Xerina for all of your work on this. I think it's very important to have small group sizes, especially in light of recent posts about lags, most efficient number of people in a party, etc. You've done a heck of a lot of work already and have put up great ideas.

I'm not so sure about a guild for a couple of reasons, although I'd be interested in hearing others' opinions and have by no means ruled it out.

First, I think a guild leader requires at least a 12th level leader, and all members have to be at least sixth, according to what I read...I suppose we could in theory work towards that.

Second, I guess I wasn't really thinking of anything quite so formal, other than a chance to bring people of approiximately the same experience together at a common and regular time to do whatever they wanted to do. If that includes mining or whatever, so be it. A guild always seemed like it ought to have some sort of grand purpose to me, and I"m just not sure at this point that adventuring together rises to that level. Maybe it does...I"ll be the first to say I'm not very familiar with the role of guilds on Layo and whether what we possible have here fits with the vision of the world.  

I just pictured it as a place and time where people could come together, see who happened to be around, and go out.  Kinda of a security blanket...I'll always know I've got a few people I can go adventure with at this particular time...

Having said all that, my main purpose, getting people together, seems to have been accomplished, or at least hopefully will be soon, which is great. So whether we take the form of a guild or what is not quite so important to me at this point.

And I completely agree with your last sentence. Openness and RP has to be key.  And thanks very much for the list.  That will come in very handy, especially if we have to divide, which it looks like we might...but we'll see.

[Xerina]

//Yeah, It take 5 people and leader has to be 10 I think but it might be 12. Its just an idea, and mostly because if it turns into a long standing groupwe can work toward it if people want to, and since they have the guidelines in place were not skiring around it. I know several people have scraped the money together to form a guild and get a hall, and I don't want to devalue their hard work but skirting around it if we do eventualy become something like that.  ANd like I said I would eventualy like to start an adventureing company, I think it would be cool to do group/guild CDQ. Not have them limited to guild only because I don't want to exclude people but have something between a player ran event and a DM event. Allot of CDQ are solo or the person and a few friends and they are quests that people miss out on. WIth a limited number of quests and limited number of opertunities I think the CDQ could be put to better use this way.  It would still cost whoevers CDQ slot but I have a fe ideas for my bards CDQ and they are deffinatly not solo or me and a friend, unless maybe Blood befreinds me.  But again I'm just brain storming I'm not sure any of it is allowed.

[Filatus]

Heheh, you've opened a real Pandora's box here. (hmm, sounds like a good first quest)

[SquareKnot]

A travel-worn half-elf walks into the Wild Surge. Most of the regulars recognize him as one of their own and return to their drinking. He is looking forward to an evening of reading and light conversation with Ragrian, his fellow bard. As he sits down in his usual corner, he notices that the wall is covered with scraps of paper. At first he ignores it, then gives in to his greatest asset, his curiosity.

"Hey Ragrian, what tragedy has befallen the bulletin board?" he calmly asks.

She laughs, and curtly says "You can read, so read it yourself."

The weary bard rises, an amused look on his tanned face. "By Aragen," he says, after reading the last note. His grin has broken into a full smile. With all the late evenings he's spent in taverns and inns around Mistone, he's seen these sorts of gatherings a time or two. "Well, well. This will be great. Either great fun to watch a simple social gathering become a rag-tag army. Or something truly great. As he looks over those who have pledged to attend, a chill runs up his spine. "Ahh, there's the chill. The chill of the epic," he mutters. "Never fails, the chill. This will be the start of something song-worthy." He looks around the room, scrutinizing each patron. Spying no undead, he says under his breath, "No, it's really the chill." He pulls a small, leather-bound volume from his pack, and reads a half-filled page. Carefully, he takes his pen, expertly sharpens the nib with his skinning knife, and thoughtfully writes "It all began one evening at the Wild Surge Inn." He pauses, unsure of what to write next, but resolved to find out.

[Imperious]

To hopefully avoid lag with the potential number of people showing up, along with the inn's regular drunkards and customers, we'll be meeting in the basement of the Wild Surge Inn on Monday, 7:30 p.m. PDT.