You watch him for a moment and then zero in on his mind, connecting solidly. You have a very strong connection here, likely to last quite a long time.
He is under the impression that the castle is abandoned; he has no clue why. He figures someone left in a hurry, and that means they will have forgotten something--maybe the silver in the dining room, or the wine in the larder, or something in the treasure room or even jewelry in the bedrooms. He's thinking he has several quiet hours to search for it.
--M. J. Young
*smiles keeping the hold on him, waiting for him to get close before hopping down to confront him*
"Greetings, you are the second person or group to think this castle is abandoned. I am Jhiaxus, consider me Regent of this castle. The other men who thought as of you were given an offer. The were told that if they helped with the cleanup and fixing of the Castle, I would train them to be knights. Under that arrangement, they would have a warm place to sleep, fed three times a day, and generally be taken care of well. There is also the fact that they will probably be the best trained Knights this country has seen, but that's just a bonus. I have looked inside your mind, and I know you want the silver in the dining room, the wine in the larder, or something in the treasure room, or even the jewelry in the bedrooms. Unfortunately you did not have several quiet hours to search for it. I hope I have demonstrated that I speak the truth, and have the power to do as I offer. I extend the same offer to you."
Adam
I won't post the first word out of his mouth.
Nor the second.
Nor the third.
The fourth is "A" and the sixth is "wizard", but we'll omit the fifth as well.
There is also an odor that was not present a moment before, suggesting that your burglar may need to clean up a bit before he is presentable.
--M. J. Young
*grins*
"I'll take that response as a definite maybe, so let's get you cleaned up and put into a nice warm cell, and maybe a few days of three meals a day and a place to sleep, will give you a change of mind. I already have 4 other would be robbers, agreeing to be trained and fight, I think I will have a fifth in due time."
Adam
"Beggin' your lordship's pardon, an' all, you're quite within your rights to lock me in a cell, and put me in the stocks, too, I'd wager. But if you're thinkin' I'm of the stuff of which knights are made--well, you bein' a lord an' a wizard an' all on top o' that, I don't think I should say more'n that."
You point him to a bathing trough in the yard. Reluctantly, he begins removing his soiled clothing and washing both himself and them.
--M. J. Young
*smiles not watching as he bathes but it's a good time to talk to him*
"I don't care about your outlook now, what I care about is that you would want to be in a position to where you don't have to steal to make a living. If you were able to defend yourself and others, and learn trust and brotherhood. That's worth more than any noble blood could give. I am not looking for nobles, I am looking for the common man and woman who wants to be more than what he was born into. You are lucky, not just for the opportunity, but that the evil in the night didn't find you and snatch you up. There are evil, supernatural things in this wood, and they almost took down Camelot without some intervention. You almost became a snack for them, wandering around at night. I offer you the ability to empower yourself and be more than what you came here as."
*pauses*
"You can spend the time in a cell, or you can get a meal, a warm bed, and help the rest of us protect this country of yours. It's worth more than any measly coin or bauble to have that kind of ability, don't you think?"
Adam
"Well, guv'neh, it all sounds enticing, but I don't think you've got the right man. The only thing I was ever good at was burglin', and I'm pretty good at it--first time I've ever been caught, and shame on me for not thinkin' that someone else might be on watch from the battlements, and that without lights. No, you certainly caught me fair and square, but no one but a wizard would think to do as you've done--and how many wizards are there out there?
"Put me in your cell tonight, in the stocks t'morrow, and then send me on me way, if that's all the same t'you. I'm not strong enough for fightin' nor smart enough for lead'n', an' it would be a shame to give up the one thing I can do t'try t'become somethin' I'll never been good at."
--M. J. Young
*shrugs* "It's your choice, after you clean up you may leave. Do not mention this place to anyone under any circumstances, and don't let the vampires, ghouls or werewolves eat you."
*will make sure he goes and will go back to my position for Alert Rest*
Adam
"Wait--the what? Do what?"
--M. J. Young
*Smiles*
"Why do you think I am organizing people including people who aren't knightly material? There are things out there, do you see those recently dug graves *points to the area*. A week back 3 Vampires and 30 ghouls murdered, ate, and drank the people of this castle. I was part of the group who stopped them before they would have done the same to Camelot. You may not be a hand to hand fighter, but I bet you could strike from the shadows with knifes or a sword, break into locks, climb walls. If you combined combat skills with your current burglar skills, you would be a force to be reckoned with. I should know, I do it myself, as well as magic. I am Ashe Valerin of the Stonefist, and I would rather you not be killed and ripped to pieces. You are VERY lucky to be wandering at night and still be alive. If you believe nothing else I have said, believe that.
*I figure that's about as good of a pitch I can make, self interest is a good motivator.*
Adam
He laughs nervously. "Right. Vampires and ghouls. Do you really believe those things? I thought the church had proved they didn't exist."
--M. J. Young
*Looks at him serious*
"Believe, I've met dozens, killed dozens more, those were just ghouls. Vampires I've met 6 and killed 4. Werewolves don't bother me, since we kill the vampires and the ghouls. Yes I believe since I have killed them with my own eyes. The church is going to say what it needs to, to keep the people calm. Would you still be going to church and giving money if you were scared and barricaded in your home? I think not."
Adam
"Well, your grace," he swallows, "assumin' what you say is so, I guess it wouldn't hurt me none to sign up. After all, if you're right or wrong I'll prob'ly know soon enough, an' in the mean time I might pick up somethin' useful from the guy who caught me sneakin' into his castle.
"But if there really are all those things out there, maybe the lockup's the safest place."
--M. J. Young
*smiles*
"That is fine, as for the safest place, they battered down the doors, and killed everyone in here. No there is no safe place, but they can be killed, and I have killed them. With that said, that is why I keep watch where I do, I can see the comings and goings. If it makes you guys feel better, I can put my spear in front of the door to the inner keep. It is holy and protected against undead. In either case, I would be glad to have you aboard, and hopefully within a few months, you will think of yourself as a warrior who has the ability to sneak or break into things as needed. Let me show you to a bed, my wife and the helpers should be here soon, it has been a few days. Once they come, we can begin training. We are almost done with the odd jobs around, I think the animals are the last on my list to be repaired."
*I take him inside to where one of the rooms are and get him settled. I know these men aren't the best of men, but I think when push comes to shove, they will take to the training.*
Adam
If I understand correctly, you're putting the new guy in one of the "family/guest" rooms upstairs, not in the common room with the other men. Is that correct?
After that, the rest of the night passes uneventfully.
--M. J. Young
*Till they meet, get to know each other, then they will all be in the common area. Explaining to tired men tonight about an addition is more problems then it is worth. I will introduce all to each other, prepare breakfast and deal with the animals today. I figure my lovely wife will be here soon, and if all the chores are done, she will be a happy woman.*
Adam
You settle your thief in a private room and secure the door. Come morning you roust him along with the others--none of them have been morning people to this point, as they tend to work nights, although the first bunch are more opportunists than thieves.
You hear nothing from Geniece; it's the second day since you've asked her to bring staff.
--M. J. Young
Nudge?
((I will do the math here, I got here day one, contacted Geneice for help as soon as I saw the condition, buried dead bodies, night of day one 4 thieves, day 2, cut down tree, repaired main gate, sleep, day three raining, so had thieves and myself clean the core on inside, night of day three, another thief comes, Day 4 is this morning, so I'm going to say it's been 3 full days since asking, closer to 4 days. This place is 4 days south of Camelot))
*smiles and wakes everyone*
"Ok we had a new visitor last night, he will be joining our crew, he has some valuable skills in terms of stealth, climbing, and burgling. Let's all get acquainted, we are going to be spending a lot of time with each other. I'm going to make breakfast, after that we round up the animals and repair their pens."
*I try a mental telepathy to Geneice*
"Morning beloved, new recruits found me, and the castle is almost fixed, so when you arrive, it will be livable, and we can start training. I miss you."
*I will also goto the window to call Horace*
"Everyone this is Horace, he is my eyes and ears in the sky."
*will give him some extra jerky for being a good boy*
*After breakfast, will work on gathering the animals, and repairing the pens, we will have two of the 5 repairing initially, while three of us round up the animals. Once we have them in their pens, all of us will assist repairing. I did have all those extra branches from the tree, that ones shaped would be perfect fencing material.*
*At night everyone is in the common room, as there is built up trust, and they all know to keep their things safe from each other. Hopefully through time, that won't be necessary.*
Adam
Everything runs smoothly. The animals seem happy to have their pens restored, the men find the feed and get it all organized, and the first four are incorporating the new guy in their camaraderie, as well as getting more comfortable with you. Horus impresses them, and they don't ask what you mean when you say he's your eyes.
The one thing that does not work is you do not find Geneice out there--you cannot make contact with her mind.
--M. J. Young
Everything runs smoothly. The animals seem happy to have their pens restored, the men find the feed and get it all organized, and the first four are incorporating the new guy in their camaraderie, as well as getting more comfortable with you. Horus impresses them, and they don't ask what you mean when you say he's your eyes.
The one thing that does not work is you do not find Geneice out there--you cannot make contact with her mind.
--M. J. Young
*I call Horace to me during they day and I communicate to him to please go out and search for Geneice, I am worried for her, but I cannot leave these men unless I know she is unable to defend herself*
*I work with them all, at a crucial stage of bonding, we are almost done, and I need to start figuring out how to start their training.*
Adam
Horus says he will. He can sense two directions, one toward the rising sun and the other toward the cold wind.
With another day's work you should have everything orderly but for a few smashed doors inside the castle. Doors being rare and expensive, there weren't many to break, and not all of them were broken; but you probably won't have much need of them.
--M. J. Young
*I pet his head*
"I don't know which is which, but if they are separated, that is bad, but they are both still here. Pick one, fly back I will have food and water ready, and then the other. If one is Geneice and she is not responsive, come back right away and I will go out with the men."
*I will work on what I can, if it is just removing the doors, fine. We can make new ones when we have time. As long as the defenses and animals are taken care of, I'm pretty happy.*
Adam
Horus agrees, and flies away.
"You don't keep a hood and tassels on your hawk?" one of the men observes. "He must be well trained."
I wouldn't say you have to remove the doors--they've been splintered. You probably will want to remove the fragments, though.
By the end of the day you've got the castle habitable and the animals attended. It will require a few man-hours per day to make sure that all of the animals are properly tended, not including exercising the horses, but you've got six of you at present so you might be covered for that.
As you sit around the fire in the common room and the men finish eating and start wrapping themselves in blankets for the night, the one who seems to have been the leader of the original group says, "All right, boss--I mean, your lordship--what's next?"
--M. J. Young
*Grins*
"Horace is a trusted friend, much more than any normal hawk could be. He is my eyes and ears, and right now is on an important mission."
*Smiles*
"I am not either, but there are six of us, after we tend to the animals we start training, and teach you a hand to hand style, and some weapons. I am true to my word, the place is cleaned up, so time to live up to my end of the bargain."
*Will train the following:
2@2 Ku Fung B7@1 Fast Defensive Weapon-adverse Punch style -20 def sit-mod, -10 def damage mod, RF2, -10 att sit-mod (PENALTY), Body Part: Hand
3@10 Panoramic Awareness B7@2
3@9 Muscle Blocking B7@4
3@10 Solid Punch, B7@3 intensified damage: damaging, standard attack success required, -10 sit-mod.
3@10 Disarm weaponless B7@5
3@10 Great Jump B5@6
*Waiting for Horace as well*
Adam
O.K., we need to give your five men identities. Thus far all we know is that the fifth is a professional burglar and the other four are opportunistic ruffians, one of whom emerges as the leader. They're all going to be Welsh or Saxon, and my supply of Welsh names is pretty slim--I think Liam and Lewellyn are about the extent of it. (Of course, I'm not above that old Monty Python gag, where the random string of letters spins past the station sign window on the train, and when it stops the conductor attempts to pronounce whatever combination of letters appears; but it would be better to give them real names.)
Any suggestions?
I'm also assuming that you're teaching those skills one at a time over several weeks (the way you learned them originally, I expect). Do you intend to space the new skills by time, or by advancement in the skills already known? (E.g., you can make it one skill a week, or you can make it that whoever reaches 1@2 in any skill learns the next one on the list.)
--M. J. Young
Just got back from Ubercon, got to play a lot so that is always nice.
Let's see, I made the training program, each time they all reached 1@2, I taught them a new skill, that will be listed below. I named the five: Liam the leader, Duncan, Conner, Ian and Sean the Cat Burgler.
Horace came back, said he found Merlin, and is heading North, this was about 5 days, he was back and forth from the north in about 2, said he found Geneice, and she was locked in the basement of the Inn, said she was fine, needed to recover. I got the men ready to go, we traveled there, didn't get attacked in the night and I recovered Geneice and cured her Brain Burn with a 1@3 Cure Minor Mind and Brain Disorder P6@8. While here, got a not that good GE roll, got a Butler, a Husband and Wife farmer, and a Animal Caretaker that wanted to go. I left word with the Inn Keeper, to send anyone who wanted to either fight, run a farm, or be part of a castle staff to go two days south to the keep. I ended up buying a wagon, four draft horses, and filling it with supplies to bring back to the keep.
We got to nightfall on the road, found a cave to sleep in, and got a 27 GE roll ((this number will be a common GE roll for the rest of this post, with one more, and a 26)), so when the sun set and we were setting up in the cave, bats flew out, and a man came walking out as well. He smiled and said something smug, I warned him off, and he tried to attack Liam with inhuman speed. I stole initiative cocked my finger like a gun, and fired, and taught myself a 1@2 Disintegrate, and he was ashes on the ground. I scooped up the ashes into a bag, knowing they are a spell component. Seeing this man more with inhuman speed was enough to convince the five that there was something supernatural out here.
We got back, and Geneice and myself went out to the farms to clean out the bodies and bury them, but there weren't too many. The men helped unload the wagon, and got the horses to the animal pens. The animal caretaker was pleased, the pens were good for him to work, without having to do anything with them. We determined it was summer, and there were crops out there waiting to be harvested. We took the men and the farmer couple, and the four draft horses and took care of, harvested, and planted for the second planting. Later in the summer another 27 GE roll, so there was no rain, as soon as this started I made a 1@3 Create Rain M9@5 spell +38sm, and saved the crops and had plenty to fill the stores with, trade with people, sell, while giving the farmers their share. We got enough workers to staff 5 of the 11 farms, as well as Lou Ellen of Cartiff and Waylen.
Lou Ellen is a third son of a noble, and wanted to be trained while getting his own room and preferential treatment. I said if he could best be in a swordfight, he could have it. He drew his sword, and I said I was ready. He attacked me and I disarmed him weaponless, and before the sword hit the ground, I TKed it to my hand. I explained how we don't go by noble birth here for rank, but by skill. I got him on board with the program and started training.
I wanted to up my Body Bias out of game, but MJ said the skills I wanted I would have to figure out a way to accomplish that. After about a half hour around the table with Naruto fans, I decided to change my eyes to the Sharingan so I have access to the skills Kyler and I worked on in the other thread. MJ said it was a 1@2 Permanently Alter Shape Spell M15@6 with a +50 SM, since it only changes eyes I have on my person to the Sharingan. I put the skills on hold, since it was spring, and got a merchant in. I had a good GE roll, and that means I have a metal worker in the keep (not a weapon or armorsmith tho), and the merchant was a weapons and arms merchant. I bought all his inventory of fine weapons and armor (I suspect Spanish made, since I am close to a seaport), enough to equip the keep for a hundred men ((very good GE roll, 6 I believe)), and all the recruits have fine weapons and armor to wear. The rest put in the armory. I has also discussed with MJ to teach Snowbeard and Horace 5 or 6 skills including a style, that I would have to adapt to their situations.
I told the merchant, spending the night on the roads to make it to Camelot would not be prudent. He agreed to sail back to Londonium and spend his money there, and also telling merchants to come here, and I will buy what they have to sell to Camelot, so they will not have to make the journey. I contacted Merlin by Telepathy, told him my concern with merchants having to spend a night on the roads to Camelot, and he agreed inbetween teaching Arthur, to get a plan to put some type of man made outpost. He also agreed to talk to the Packmother, as a show of good faith and working together, to watch over men on that part of the road unseen, so that this alliance has a chance to work.
During this time, we got more farmers and staff coming in, all the farms are in operation in the spring, with the first couple taking charge, of who should be running, and who should be working on the farm. Things are going well. The summer GE roll was a 26, and 50 or so Bandits attacked the keep. I ordered the men to make a half circle around the door, while Geneice and I talked to the Bandits. I engaged them with talk, they wanted us to part with some of our money. I responded to that with offering him terms of surrender, saying he was outmatched. He laughed and said I thought I just gave terms to you. I asked him, which guy was the biggest, baddest, murdering rapist that they all inspired to be like. They all pointed to One-Eye. I cocked my finger at him disintegrating him at long range for a new use, and the men started to flee. I taught myself a 1@1 Illusionary Enemy M8@7, +20 SM, to show a hundred knights coming from the forrest behind them, they tried to escape by the right wall, more knights, and left wall, more knights to hem them in. I gave them terms to spare their lives to throw down their weapons, and dismount their horses. I gave the orders for my men to open the gates and tie the men to their horses and walk them in. The leader tried to make a break for it. I taught myself 1@2 Heavy TK P4@3 to lift him off the horse, so the horse escaped, he did not. I had the right amount of horses for the men, and led them inside to the dungeon.
I took the leader out, and after some back and forth about the deal to be trained for the common good, and for their own well being about supernatural creates about ((brought in my men to confirm I was not lying)), both the leader and myself convinced most of the men to follow his example and take the good offer. 10 out of the 45 men did not, and we gave them a horse, and a day's rations and sent them on their way, knowing they would spread word of this place, what it is about, which is a good thing. That is where we left off, with the next post, with additions, adjustments and training for the men.
Adam
Changes/Additions to my sheet:
Psi Bias: 15@2
Mag Bias: 15@6
1@4 Operate Kinetic Blaster T11@3
1@8 Train: Acrobatics P1@0
1@2 Heavy TK P4@3
1@3 Cure Minor Brain Disorders P6@8
1@2 Disintegrate P9@10
1@5 Religion: Norse
1@1 Illusionary Enemies, M8@7, +20 SM
1@3 Create Rain M9@5, 10 acres worth +38 SM
1@2 Permanently Alter Shape Spell M15@6 with a +50 SM
1@10 Fall Shock Absorption B4@6
1@8 Evasive Tumbling B4@8
1@9 Balance Beam Contact Stunts B6@2
1@9 Bars & Ropes Basic B6@2
1@8 Bars & Ropes Contact Stunts B6@3
1@9 Balance Beam Non-contact Stunts B6@4
1@10 Tightrope Walking B6@4
1@8 Bars Non-contact Stunts B6@5
1@9 Tightrope Contact Stunts B6@5
1@10 Balance Beam Speed B6@6
1@9 Rope & Trapeze Transfer B6@6
1@8 Tightrope Non-contact Stunts B6@7
1@9 Tightrope Speed B6@8
Geneice
Psi Bias: 11@3
Mag Bias: 12@8
1@8 Training: Marital Arts P1@0
1@8 Quickstand B4@4
2@1 Steal Initiative "Leaf on the Wind" B7@1
1@8 Quickdraw Katana B7@1
1@9 Quickdraw Knife B7@1
3@1 Ku Fung B7@1 Fast Defensive Weapon-adverse Punch style -20 def sit-mod, -10 def damage mod, RF2, -10 att sit-mod (PENALTY), Body Part: Hand
3@10 Nunchaku B7@1
1@9 Parrying Blade B7@5 advanced parrying uses one attack and one weapon for the full minute (that weapon may not be used for any other purpose in this minute if the roll is successful) to parry all martial attacks in that minute B7@5
1@10 Weapon Breaker, follows rules for disarming attacks B7@5
1@8 Immobilizer B7@5
2@5 Improvised Cloth Weapon B7@6
1@10 Control Resistance B7@9
Geniece and myself have been cross training with the seven months we have been back, if we are taking a break from magic while training the first generation of rangers, figure might as well shore up our weaknesses like I planned in why spy.
Ok here is the training order for everyone, then I will break it down: Ku Fung B7@1, Solid Punch B7@3, Alert Rest B10@2, Muscle Blocking B7@4, Missile Escape B7@4, Great Jump B5@6, Disarm Weaponless B7@5, Panoramic Awareness B7@2, Fighting Blind B7@2, Weapon Breaker B7@5, Fall Impact Absorption B4@6, Haste P4@1, Sword B7@1, Chow En Lai B7@1, Cat Burglar Package B0@6, Training: Martial Arts P1@0, Quickdraw Sword B7@1, Steal Initiative, B7@1.
Duncan
Str 1@6
Agl 1@7
Will 1@5
Bod Bias 10@2
2@4 Ku Fung B7@1, 2@5 Solid Punch B7@3, 2@2 Alert Rest B10@2, 2@2 Muscle Blocking B7@4, 2@2 Missile Escape B7@4, 2@1 Great Jump B5@6, 2@1 Disarm Weaponless B7@5, 1@10 Panoramic Awareness B7@2, 1@9 Fighting Blind B7@2, 1@8 Weapon Breaker B7@5, 1@7 Fall Impact Absorption B4@6, 1@6 Haste P4@1, 1@5 Sword B7@1, 1@6 Chow En Lai B7@1, 1@5 Cat Burglar Package B0@6, 1@3 Training: Martial Arts P1@0, 1@2 Quickdraw Sword B7@1, 1@2 Steal Initiative B7@1.
Conner
Str 1@6
Agl 1@5
Will 1@5
Bod Bias 10@2
2@4 Ku Fung B7@1, 2@4 Solid Punch B7@3, 2@2 Alert Rest B10@2, 2@2 Muscle Blocking B7@4, 2@2 Missile Escape B7@4, 1@10 Great Jump B5@6, 1@10 Disarm Weaponless B7@5, 1@9 Panoramic Awareness B7@2, 1@10 Fighting Blind B7@2, 1@9 Weapon Breaker B7@5, 1@7 Fall Impact Absorption B4@6, 1@6 Haste P4@1, 1@5 Sword B7@1, 1@4 Chow En Lai B7@1, 1@4 Cat Burglar Package B0@6, 1@4 Training: Martial Arts P1@0, 1@3 Quickdraw Sword B7@1, 1@1 Steal Initiative B7@1.
Liam (First four leader higher Int)
Str 1@6
Agl 1@5
Will 1@5
Bod Bias 10@2
2@3 Ku Fung B7@1, 2@5 Solid Punch B7@3, 2@2 Alert Rest B10@2, 2@1 Muscle Blocking B7@4, 2@2 Missile Escape B7@4, 1@10 Great Jump B5@6, 1@10 Disarm Weaponless B7@5, 1@10 Panoramic Awareness B7@2, 1@9 Fighting Blind B7@2, 1@7 Weapon Breaker B7@5, 1@6 Fall Impact Absorption B4@6, 1@6 Haste P4@1, 1@6 Sword B7@1, 1@5 Chow En Lai B7@1, 1@4 Cat Burglar Package B0@6, 1@5 Training: Martial Arts P1@0, 1@3 Quickdraw Sword B7@1, 1@1 Steal Initiative B7@1
Ian
Str 2@1
Agl 1@5
Will 1@5
Bod Bias 10@2
BRA: 2@1
2@5 Ku Fung B7@1, 2@4 Solid Punch B7@3, 2@2 Alert Rest B10@2, 2@1 Muscle Blocking B7@4, 1@10 Missile Escape B7@4, 1@10 Great Jump B5@6, 1@10 Disarm Weaponless B7@5, 2@1 Panoramic Awareness B7@2, 1@9 Fighting Blind B7@2, 1@8 Weapon Breaker B7@5, 1@6 Fall Impact Absorption B4@6, 1@6 Haste P4@1, 1@6 Sword B7@1, 1@5 Chow En Lai B7@1, 1@4 Cat Burglar Package B0@6, 1@3 Training: Martial Arts P1@0, 1@2 Quickdraw Sword B7@1, 1@2 Steal Initiative B7@1.
Sean (Burglar)
Str 1@7
Agl 1@9
Will 1@7
Bod Bias 10@2
2@3 Ku Fung B7@1, 2@3 Solid Punch B7@3, 2@2 Alert Rest B10@2, 2@3 Muscle Blocking B7@4, 1@10 Missile Escape B7@4, 1@10 Great Jump B5@6, 1@10 Disarm Weaponless B7@5, 1@9 Panoramic Awareness B7@2, 1@8 Fighting Blind B7@2, 1@9 Weapon Breaker B7@5, 1@7 Fall Impact Absorption B4@6, 1@6 Haste P4@1, 1@6 Sword B7@1, 1@5 Chow En Lai B7@1, 1@4 Cat Burglar Package B0@6, 1@3 Training: Martial Arts P1@0, 1@4 Quickdraw Sword B7@1, 1@3 Steal Initiative B7@1.
Llewelyn of Cartiff, Third Son of a Noble
Str 1@7
Agl 1@7
Will 1@9
Bod Bias 10@2
1@9 Ku Fung B7@1, 1@7 Solid Punch B7@3, 1@4 Alert Rest B10@2, 1@5 Muscle Blocking B7@4, 1@3 Missile Escape B7@4, 1@2 Great Jump B5@6, 1@2 Disarm Weaponless B7@5
Waylen
Str 1@6
Agl 1@5
Will 1@5
Bod Bias 10@2
1@8 Ku Fung B7@1, 1@6 Solid Punch B7@3, 1@4 Alert Rest B10@2, 1@4 Muscle Blocking B7@4, 1@4 Missile Escape B7@4, 1@2 Great Jump B5@6, 1@1 Disarm Weaponless B7@5
35 Bandits and 1 Bandit Leader, no stats, just got their service today.
Training For Horace:
Ku Fung Fast Defensive Weapon-adverse Claw style -20 def sit-mod, -10 def damage mod, RF2, -10 att sit-mod (PENALTY), Body Part: Claw
Solid Claw, same as solid punch but instead of a damaging fist attack, does a damaging claw attack -10 to hit
Wing Blocking, same as muscle blocking, but uses his light bones, and his flying to reduce impact of a blow
Missile Escape, same as normal
Panaramic Awareness, same as normal
Steal Initiative, same as normal
Fall Impact Absorption, same as normal
Alert Rest, same as normal
Training For Snowbeard:
Ku Fung Fast Defensive Weapon-adverse Claw style -20 def sit-mod, -10 def damage mod, RF2, -10 att sit-mod (PENALTY), Body Part: Claw
Solid Claw, same as solid punch but instead of a damaging fist attack, does a damaging claw attack -10 to hit
Muscle Blocking, same as normal
Missile Escape, same as normal
Panaramic Awareness, same as normal
Steal Initiative, same as normal
Fall Impact Absorption, same as normal
Alert Rest, same as normal
Adam
Note: the nobleman's name is "Llewellyn". Yeah, it's Welsh. I'm less concerned about the spelling of "Waylon", but that's how I'll be spelling it.
Good summary. I remembered a few details that were missing, but not which were important.
What next?
--M. J. Young
Well for the first 5 men, going to teach them Immobilizer B7@5, once they get to a 1@2 with Steal Initiative, the 2 newer men, will continue down the same training track I layed out for the first 5. The 35 Bandits and Leader will be taught the first in the list.
I am also considering getting everyone to work on attributes, Strength, Agility, Stamina, Intuition and Hand/Eye, I should have a lot of experience raising them for myself to know a good training program for them with tasks that need to be done around the castle.
I am overseeing Horace's and Snowbeard's training, as I find it amusing that the animals will fight better than most men on this world.
I will make sure my wife does get attention, and hoping we get more female servants to perhaps mingle with the men. Or just women in general, if they want to fight.
Adam
It is improbable that you would find women interested in becoming warriors of any sort. That is viewed as the barbarian way--something the ancient Picts did, which was perhaps forced on the Saxons and Celts in the defense of their own homes but not desired.
You'll have a bit more trouble with the question of female servants now that you have about fifty men (note: the leader is one of the thirty-five, if memory serves). The men will all be interested in the women, but the women will generally assume that if they marry one of the fighters they'll retire from the household staff (after all, men who study fighting skills are nobles, and that makes them Ladies). Further, you'll not have enough women on the household staff to go around, even if the men weren't likely to take interest in some of the women over others. Your farms aren't numerous enough to have extra women and you've got no village--and even if you did, it would more likely attract married couples than single women.
So you're developing something of a single women shortage.
--M. J. Young
bump
*Nods, well the women here will be told, that no one here is noble, so if you get involved with a man, you will still be expected to uphold your duties. Kyler does have a good idea on the other thread. Prostitutes have nothing to lose, and are obviously women who don't follow the traditional woman code anyway. Inbetween training sessions, I can send Horce to the major cities and put up a notice requesting women of the night, and have them meet in a port city so they can take a ship to the port city a day from here, without having to deal with walking the roads at night. That way when they come, they can either choose to be trained, or be part of the staff. Either is a better life than what they had. I expect that merchants are passing this way now, I can give them notes to have these women said, and have me pick them up and pay them for passage when at port.*
Adam
You might have to make a few trips to the harbor on this. After all, most captains won't carry passengers who are not pre-paid fares, unless they're slaves to be sold.
I expect that most prostitutes work out of brothels in this milieu anyway; that gives them something of a home and the mutual support of others in the trade. They would also be entertainers to some degree. The exception might be Gypsies, but they won't have crossed the Channel.
So it's an interesting concept, but not one that's likely to work simply by sending invitations.
--M. J. Young
Funny organized brothels are a middle ages at earliest or victorian invention, before that and even during, streetwalkers are a common scene, in any case the harbor town a day's journey is probably a good place to recruit women be they wenches, prostitutes, or just folks off a boat.
I will make arrangements for Geneice to train the seven, I will take the 35 newcomers, with the two wagons, the rest on horses and some coin. We need to buy more wagons, to work a trade route anyway, and I can personally see to the men getting something to stay for.
J
Hmmm--obviously not my field of expertise, but I am surprised. I guess you just expect professionals to have an office somewhere. Dice have now been rolled--you're right about streetwalkers, but you still have the transportation issues.
I'm afraid about half of your newcomers think that they would be sufficiently unwelcome in town that they might be made permanent guests, whether of the prisons or the catacombs. Their companions agree that it would be unlikely those with such feelings would be permitted to enter the city and leave unhindered. In fact, it might be one thing one or two of them sneaking in among some merchants, but the whole bunch arriving together is probably going to alert the city guard.
--M. J. Young
*Thinks on it*
"Well we need a talbard or something that identifies us as being together in an organization."
*Considers*
"We do have the wagons, those of you with a reputation here can stay with the wagons, we will make the purchases, the arrangements for the women, and more wagons, and then we'll bring the supplies out by wagon, transfer them, go back for the rest, and not have to risk those who would go into the city. If your sitting on a wagon, buying merchandise, no one is going to not want you here. You are being a good citizen. Agreed?"
Adam
"Aye, if we're wearing monks' robes with the hoods pulled over our head so no passing knight will see our faces," one of them says. "When I say we're wanted men, I mean that we've made enough enemies among the wealthy folk of Angland to get ourselves 'anged, if you catch my meaning."
The leader is not sure he wants to be that close to civilization.
"But you're the boss, and if you think we can do this, we'll make it work."
--M. J. Young
*Looks to them*
"There is no Knight or man of England that has dominion over a Lord. You have been tried, convicted, put in jail, and are now on a rehabilitation program. I will get the robes, but no one will be hanged. If the situation comes up, you will say you are the prisoners of The Stonefist Academy, and Ashe Valerin is your Master. All of that is technically true, and as long as you respond non-violently, I foresee no problem that I cannot rectify. Once coin is spent, you will find men will act toward you as you present yourselves. If you present yourselves as brigands, you will be treated as such. If you present yourselves as law abiding people enriching the local economy, they will treat you as such."
Adam