Well then... let us begin this story.

I've reposted the teaser (with a few slight adjustments) onto the game thread. I put the game thread out under the 'Modern' section of the rules based RPG's. Couldn't figure out a better place to put it.

I'll open it up and you all can work up your first posts. I haven't had a chance to really take a good hard look at the char sheets you've all sent in, but a quick look at them it seems that everything is in order, I'll let people know if anything needs to be adjusted.

Thanks!

M.

Ranger Karn Tar, although no longer in his own eyes, started traveling with the group some way along the trail through the Divine Mountains but spend much of the time scouting ahead on horse back with his rifle out and loaded. He had said that he had grown up and lived in the area all his life and that he was either too cowardly or sensible to venture west alone although the more perceptive of the group would notice this is more an excuse hiding another reason and that he wasn't a stranger to this path. He said that he had been a ranger but had been discharged for, in his exact words, "Getting a bit drunk."

He seems an agreeable character, if a bit weary, or even paranoid but that's excusable with his previous occupation, he's average height with dark brown eyes and unkempt shortish brown hair. He's sort of handsome in a rugged way and quite charismatic but not overly attractive, he's in the habit of smoking after meals, one he has explained is due to a weakly allowance, and is a defensive fighter.

From what you've seen of him he prefers to stand to the back and to take careful shots with his Burnside carbine or to fan his revolver so that it dispatches servile at a time. If fights resort to melee then he draws a saber and takes a defencive stance till be can get a good hit with his revolver or the sword. One thing that can be said is that he is a superb shot with his carbine and very quick on the draw.

Most of his equipment is carried but the horse, you haven't yet learned it's name and you suspect that it doesn't have one. Beacuse of this when he's resting the horse or letting someone else ride it leaves him free and mobile so that he is ready to react quickly. He also seems to have some lose code of morals left over from his days as a ranger ...
[and got a bit 'nasty' with everyone when he couldn't find his cigarettes for two days on the trot before it was found they were at the bottom of the saddle bags. His clothing is, although once fine, now rough from days in the hot sun. He also practices with his carbine almost every day and as a result he is running out of bullets for it. Please note that both his revolver and carbine use bullets as we would recognize them, neither need powder to operate.] (I have only listed this as I have run out of time and intend to put it into proper paragraphs for ease of reading)

NOTE TO THE GM: Karn's Gun skill with rifles needs to be changed to carbines and I will send you a second more accurate description of his exploits in the divine mountains.

The beautiful enigma, Ielei Alma Nimueh, joined the group journeying through the mountains alone on horseback. Though quiet and reserved, she can often be seen having conversations with herself, every word in the lilting tongue of the elves. Occasionally while tending the campfire she would fall into song, mournful wordless songs in a haunting voice.

All too beautiful, even for an elf, she stood tall with exotic features gracefully carved of copper skin. Smooth skin and youthfulness belied the age apparent in her deep indigo eyes. Much of the world seemed foreign to her, and she often marveled at what was everyday to most. Although she never lied, the elf could twist words with the most seasoned manipulators and those often around her soon learned to pay careful attention to each word.


(Question, are the Gifted hidden in secrecy as in the modern world of witchcraft, or are they more known of in this world?)

Out East that would depend on what part of the world you come from. Magic is known in this world all throughout the land. How it is percieved will change from one culture to another. Some embrace it and weild it carelessly, others consider it a great thing to be mastered, and others are afraid of it, while others might actually deny its existance altogether (although neighboring cultures might not and their belief has to then be put down in some way).

How your characters culture viewed magic I am leaving up to you. Meithryander (the whole world, east and west) is large enough to hold anything you come up with. Cyco has already determined that Nuar comes from a hobbit village where magic is not accepted.

Out West... there is no concurrent culture, besides 'Survival of the Fittest'

However, from the stories that have made it back across the mountains you all are under the impression that magic is something that is seen regularly out there. Although the magic is bound to be on the darker side of the spectrum.

Hope that answers the question.

M.

Renee is an artisan, preferring to work with the written word such as in writing, calligraphy, and carving. She has even adapted art into her swordplay, and her rapier can cut just as well if not better than a knight's great sword. Perhaps it is bizarre in this age of guns, but to Renee, it's simply a matter of style, and she certainly considers it more of an art to wield a rapier with passion than simply put a bullet in your opponent.

Renee has black hair, worn in a long braid down her back, and kindly, sparkling green eyes. Although she is kind, she is reclusive, and keeps to herself, preferring not to get close to people. Occasionally, there are also mornings where she seems quite shaken. It's often attributed to nightmares, but if asked, she simply replies, "No, it wasn't a nightmare..."

She is seldom without her rapier, and is often, when there is free time, writing something. Poetry, short stories, prose, there are many things she writes, although she doesn't often share them.

On another note, she has a strange capacity for stealthiness, capable of keeping herself hidden, and often seems to have a sense for danger.

Answered everything completely. Just wanted to figure out a bit of Despair behavior strategy.

I posted up the dwarf's response to the room and the price to give everyone a little more to go on.

Cyco - I've noted the rest of your post and will get to his conversations at the bar once we get the price negotiated. Don't want to let too much out yet.

Loki - I'll send you a PM concerning what Karn might know about Cherish Valley sometime today.

M.

Humm maybe this be a good time to sort out what Nuar has in the way of valuables. Apart from the skins, and wooden stuff I can make I only wrote on my character sheet "Some coin or equivalent (not much)". Does this translate into gold nuggets or some such? Does Nuar have any sort of idea about the worth of gold here or back in the East that he can use as a price comparison ?

The Monetary System In Despair

There is no consistent monetary system.
Cherish Valley will be more like systems in the West in that gold and other shinys are valuable.
From what the Dwarf said the current exchange would be in a certain weight of gold, or water. Weight will probably come into play anywhere you go, as the worth of a certain coin only means something in the land it was forged in.
As for how much an ounce of gold is worth here (for this particular inn) it seems to be as much as a night in the inn. *grin*

I think you will find that bartering, and trading are all very acceptable means of payment anywhere in Despair.

As for comparison, again that is all hard to say as out East the value of things changes from one Kingdom to the next. However, just on the other side of the mountain (where Karn is from) four ounces of gold would likely get you a shabby room for a night, and little else (of course the quality of these rooms and the food she is offering has not been discussed).

Other than that I'm not going to give you much help on the issue, since it is highly unlikely any of you would have much more knowledge.

As for what form the wealth you carry on you, I leave that up to you.

Part of the fun of Despair is figuring out how things work

M.

I'm keeping this moving by going on with the bargaining, ladies feel free to jump into this whenever you would like.
Action will be upcoming soon I promise

M.

Post is up. This is looking great so far!

Kudos all around.

I've got my birthday dinner tonight, getting older by the minute , but I'll try to get some kind of response up tomorrow for you all!

M.

Happy Birthday to you then! Remember when getting older was a fantastic thing? When did we all start complaining about it? Ah youth...
Enjoy your birthday dinner

Thanks Nimu

And as promised to everyone there is a new post out there. Some more crumbs of information and what could be some trouble.

Oh and I was going to assume everyone came down for food after settleing in, but if you wish for your character to do something else please feel free to do so. I only officially put Nuar down there due to his intended actions from before the bartering started.

M.

Rer - Check your PM before posting to see what your MindTime effort reveals.

Everyone has posted I'll work up what happens next with our newcomers very soon! Good work everyone!

M.