Zepher

Daniel Day-Lewis. I love him. Sadly, he's too thin to play Boomingham, but his voice isn't a bad one for the old fellow. I think he and Atramor have a long and exciting road ahead of them. And I have no plans to change Boomers, I'm just excited to see him getting away from me. I think the time to be his friend has ended. He's chosen his allies for the time being. You're either one, or you're not. I'm super excited! I was home for a short break this weekend, and building of the opening scene commenced!

I'm starting to fear that Boomingham may kill everyone. He was so merry for a while. I think being a hero is wearing on him. And I'm only half joking. Seriously, Boomingham is getting unintentionally nasty, and I also seriously can't figure out why. It scares me a little to have a character who I can talk that way about. I usually call BS when I hear about people who have "characters who write themselves" but Boomingham got to that point a while ago... and I love it.

Boomingham nods thankfully at Nyx. "Thanks, daughter. My apprentice can be a bit of a handful. Good thing I have such a powerful family to back me up." Boomingham rounds on Atramor. "Listen to me now, Rogue. I am your leader. Let me tell you a little story, from the Orcish Invasion. Perhaps it will teach you a lesson or two. I had a young man in my unit- bit younger than me at the time. I was round-about thirty, he was only twenty, twenty-two. We had made camp or the night and we spotted a fire over the hill. He took it into his head that we should go ambush the Orcs that were over there. I veto'd the idea. It was night. No honor in that fight. They weren't attacking us for the same reason." "He didn't listen, a shock I'm sure. Took ten, fifteen boys round his age and fell on the Orcs. They killed all of his allies, I assume, and then took him and tied him to a wood. Rotated him over their cooking fire. It was a fitting punishment, they claimed. He had ruined their dinner, so he became their dinner." "Next morning my boys and I marched on the Orcs. The young fellow's body was tied to their standard. It was seared, and chunks of flesh were gone. Flesh hung in chunks to the skull. One eye hung by a thread. I challenged the leader of the band to one-on-one combat for rights to the boy's body. He accepted. We sparred a short while. When it looked like I may have the upper hand, four other Orcs joined the fight. My men attempted to retaliate, but I kept them out of the fight. I won. The Orcs returned the boys body, we buried it, and a real skirmish was fought. We won that too, easy enough." Boomingham spits. "This is what you learn from that story, Atramor. You respect your commanders. They are in place for a reason. I knew best when I refused to attack that night, and it cost not only the foolish boy his life, but those who followed him. You also learn that I will protect those who I hold close. If my men had entered the fight against the Orc and his men, they could have been injured. It was my fight on my terms. They had no part in it. Lyssa here is my child. You treat her with utmost and total respect. She doesn't need my protection. I have no doubt that she could incinerate you if she chose. But she has my protection, and don't you forget it. The final thing you ought to learn is this. There are some wrongs that time fails to fix. Don't ever make one of those. I will not forget. And my wrath and my ways will not be forgotten." Boomingham addresses the entire party. "Does that put to rest the question of who will make decisions with in Strivvi? You are a band of Sellswords, and you take your orders exclusively from Blackhood the Immortal. Understood?"

Separate comment for a separate thought - Endgame, you are too kind as a QM in some regards. Negative effects should not be removable at any cost of ether. Remedies are in the game. Heroes should stock up on them. It is an underused item, and people should begin to invest in them. It is their fault if they do not have them, not your fault.

Already seeing some nice effects and abilities in 48. I may have to steal some for my future quests. Etzel, got to continue to compliment you for building the Paladin Order into such a complex order. It's interesting that it's the only advanced class with so much background. It gives those people so much to RP off of. Perhaps so day someone else will do some other sort of order investigation.

"Here you are, boy-o. Thought I offered it out before, but perhaps that's just my muddled old brain." Boomingham tosses Atramor the Monocle.

"I'd really like to track down these soldiers before they get further away from us. If they are in fact slaves, and get sold off, they'll be that much harder to find. However, seeing as you all seem anxious to see this archaeologist fellow, I say we head to his place. Thank you for the information, Dockmaster, and thank you less for the guards on our back and the extortion." Boomingham steps out of the Dockmaster's office and sets off towards the party's next location, looking around the city.

"We're simply getting directions there, should we need to pay a visit. Can't hurt. If you'd like to stop by the archeologist first, that would be alright by me." "Come now, Dockmaster, it can't be that difficult to point us the right way. You have your gold, let's hear it and we'll be on our merry way."

It got ramble-ish. Essentially, you are building a good character by showing how previous quests affect his actions in his current one. You are not slowing the quest down to do it either, but rather using your character choices to still move the quest forward. It's a compliment, promise. I just get to be a confusing writer if I'm also watching TV at the same time.

"You tell your guards to watch us all you like. They'll find nothing but honest men and women doing honest work." Boomingham tosses the Dockmaster 10 gold. "Give us directions to the Slaver Market, and we'll be out of your hair."

This is a fantastic way to tell your character story through plot points designed by quest. Look at Guts, finding himself in a mirror situation. Look how much we've learned about his character, all based off of what he's experienced in the past. He uses an item to help tie together themes and emotions. That's straight up good RPing and good writing, based off what the QMs have served him, and still moving the quest forward. Genius.

Boomingham grumbles. "What the hel have you been drinking boy, and why haven't you been sharing any of it?" Boomingham grabs Atramor by the back of the coat and yanks him backwards, tossing him over to Nyx. "Lyssa, dearest child of mine, look after him, would you? Don't be afraid to beat some sense into him. I know you love to swing those huge fists of your's." Boomingham next turns to the Dockmaster. "Look here, Dockmaster. We need simple information, so no tom-foolery. Have you seen, in any way, red and blue coated folks entering the city. May be that some harm befell them on their way over. Is there a way that some folks might have snuck them into the city? If so, where might they have done that. These folks owe me a hefty sum, and I intend to find them and make them pay me, or find them and find that they've already paid in another way. How do we track people in this city? Let's assume they were kidnapped and roughed up. Where would they have come in, and where would they go? And if someone is paying to keep you quiet, I can tell you that we won't play friendly with them."

Boomingham pushes Atramor forward "This is my apprentice. He is trying to learn how to talk to people politely, please be patient with him. He will ask you any questions necessary." Boomingham shoots Nyx a look of despair. Talking with Orcs is not his forte.

Hel with one L should have the same meaning as it does in the real world. Helvetia serves the same function as Hell, so I use that one when I need a curse usually.

The user must have a light weapon equipped for the item to work.

"Sounds fine to me Purple. We'll meet you here when the day is out. Best of luck." Boomingham turns next to Skrall. "I say we head off to the Dockmaster. If the guards are in some sort of danger and he may have information... well, it's always best to find missing persons sooner rather than later. I don't understand everyone's insistence on splitting up either. Do you know how real battles are fought? With thousands of men squaring off. There's a reason for that. Strength in numbers is a tried and true phrase. Nyx, Elpis, Trout, you three still with us? You're all oddly silent. Wouldn't hurt to hear how you feel about Strivvi. Perhaps your legs need stretching after that long boat ride. We're off to the Dockmaster's."

If only I could be in three places at once. Strivvi is already proving to be an interesting city that does not like Boomingham, and the House of Ennoc would NOT get along with him either. If it makes Cronk feel any better, I think Boomingham would have physically threatened Jorke by now. Add to that the basement of (finally) violent green-skins found under Eubric.... warms my heart to see so many wonderful quests.

OoC: Damn NPCs and their ability to see level . Boomingham scoffs at hearing that Atramor may be more talented than him, but his eyes flick to the Witch quickly with confusion before he continues his discussion with the man. "Well, he's unruly. Can't read, write, navigate a map, and while he may be able to hold his own with a dagger or flail, he's still helpless with a sword... and we are sell swords after all. Though nothing like that Heroica lot, calling themselves 'heroes'... elitists if you ask me. Glad to hear you think the other guy is more mature. Though sounds to me that the only folks really benefiting are the Conclave members. We've been hired to track down a group of fugitives, defectors from some soldier group in Charis or something. Wear blue and red. Have you seen them around by chance? Who could we go to to get information of that sort?"

CMP. I think Boomingham and Atramor should hang out more often.

The similarity is total chance.

Boomingham nods. "Makes sense to me. That's how politics end up working anyway, my friend. The person who does the most people the most good should and does win out. Makes sense to me. The numbers work out that way. Fear not. And young Ratabor is right, if you need any immediate help... well, we are a band of sell swords. Hunting down bandits is very much in line with our profession. Garlin is right, however, we do have a job here, so you'd need to make the detour worth our while. Speaking of which, I've got a question for you if you don't mind. Lyssa here got us a job hunting down some escaped slaves. Some sort of soldier transported from over on the Free Isles. Uland, I think it might have been? Or Moone? I don't recall. Is Moone even a free Isle? I'm terrible with geography, but mighty good with a sword. Anyway, haven't heard word of them, have you? You'd be doing us a favor if you had." Boomingham turns to the other man and waves him over. "And you, fellow, care to oblige my young apprentice Ratabor and tell him a bit of the history of Strivvi. He's a smart lad, he'll remember it. That's why I took him on as an apprentice, you know. It's strange, most people seem unaware that sell swording is a profession passed down through apprenticeship, but it's a fact. Ratabor here is still learning to use a blade, but after that, he may almost be ready to graduate, assuming I can teach him to read and write."

Well, Boomingham got it wrong. You can have your NPCs correct him. He's distracted and doesn't always pay attention anyway.

Oh, good, I'm not the only one who can't keep straight which brother is wearing which color, and which brother is the rightful ruler.

"Atramor will indeed hold the Keystone. Can't say I'm unhappy we didn't split our numbers, either." Boomingham approaches the the Anubian. As always, his diplomatic charm shines. "Hello there, chappo. How are you today? My name is Blackhood, Blackhood the Slayer, and this is my merry band. Lyssa, Ratabor, Elpis-" Boomingham finds himself unable to remember the codenames given to Skrall and Rufindel, but continues without missing a beat so as to not appear suspect, "-Garlin the Horrible, and Sir Trout. Perhaps you could tell us a little of your city. I see that the brother in red... Marcus, I believe, is no friend of your's. Why is that?"

I am again putting this out to all future (and my one current) QMs. If you would ever like to permanently maim Boomingham in some way (leg lost, hand lost, arm lost) I would truly not be opposed. It would have to be to a worthy adversary, and hopefully one that is in some way to foil of his character or a mirror to his backstory, but you do NOT have to check with me first... you can surprise me with it.