[D4, EE, Simon's House] Nightstorm Session 0 (Open)

[Simon Lizotte]

"Here's a thought, you all can say no if you're not interested or make changes... How about we go on an adventure as a mighty Paladin," Simon gestures to Richard, "on a quest to... recover a holy relic for the Church of Jergal. Accompanied by his good friend, a Cleric and Scribe of Jergal," Simon shifts his attention to Mariana, "who was studying the relic before it was stolen. And they've been joined by a recent convert, a Bard?" He looks questioningly at Jono, "or maybe someone every thinks is a bard, who has been researching to write an epic tale."

Simon motions for them to follow him into the dining room where the table is set. There is a large pad of draft paper, the type used in presentations, laid out on the table and various pieces of plastic and cardboard terrain on the sideline. He empties out a velvet pouch at the head of the table and dice pour out. He starts sorting through them to create two complete sets for Mariana and Richard.

[Jonothan Wiles]

"Sure." he agreed and reached into his backpack again. "This just came out and I've barely had a chance to look at it yet. But, the Blade looks cool."

He pulled out the Complete Bard's Handbook.

[Amaterasu]

"Sounds interesting... I guess I am game." Richard replied. He seemed to perk up a bit. "Um... should we come up with a name... I mean for my character? "

[Simon Lizotte]

"Yeah, you'll definitely need a name. And remember, you'll be a paladin, so add a Sir in front of it." Simon tosses three six sided dice in front of Mariana and another set in front of Richard, "Roll those six times and let me know the totals each time..." He tosses another die to each, "Actually, roll four and drop the lowest. That helps beef up the numbers a little. These will represent your abilities, how strong, dexterous, healthy, smart, wise, or charming you are."

Simon takes out a black and white composition notebook, flips to a new page, and starts jotting down some notes.

[Jonothan Wiles]

Jono takes out his own notebook and dice. He begins rolling, but helps the others as needed.

[Mariana Spade]

Mariana looked at the dice with confusion. "So... we roll these...and add them up?" She was clearly new to the game. She tossed them to see what she got... 4, 3, 2, 4. "That would be an 11 right?"

[Simon Lizotte]

"Exactly. Actually, I think that's where some of the ""devil worshiping"" rumors comes from. The best ability score you can roll is an eighteen from six six six." He says the inauspicious numbers in a slow, sinister voice. "Maybe if we rolled dee sevens the game would be considered holy." He jots down an 11 in his notebook under Mariana.

"So, do that five more times. These ability scores give you a bonus or a negative when you try to do something related to that ability. So if you're trying to lift something heavy and your Strength is high, you get a bonus to your attempt, or if you're trying to fight off a poison or disease and your Constitution is low, you get a negative... Also, have you thought of a name for your Cleric Mariana?"

[Amaterasu]

"Ummm Simon... I got a roll of 4... the dice don't like me..." The boy sighed. "Should I reroll that?" He wrote the number down and a name. 'Aramis Loneheart' Paladin of Jergal. He started to draw his concept art.

[Mariana Spade]

"People are silly...giving random numbers to worshipers of the devil.. My mom cares about the religion but then she does the Dias de los Muertos altars and offerings. Knowing that the tradition goes back to the Mayan gods." Mariana shrugged and rolled some more dice... 5, 3, 2 4. "A 12.... let's hope for that 18."

[Simon Lizotte]

Addressing Richard, "Let's see what other scores you roll first. Sometimes a low ability score can be just as much fun as a high one. It's more than just the mechanics of how well or how poorly your character can do something. You can use your ability scores to shape how your character is going to act or react in a situation. Flaws can help give you some depth and give you direction. A flaw doesn't have to be an anchor to pull you down, it can be a commonality to share with a new acquaintance, a goal of improvement to strive for, or just a funny quirk to learn to play off."

He turns to Mariana, "I've heard a little about the Day of the Dead. I didn't realize it went back to the Mayans. Might be something to read up on, could even be good source material for an adventure." He turns his composition book back a few pages and jots down some more notes.

[Jonothan Wiles]

"Low ability scores can be kind of fun an other abilities can make up for it." Jono said. "It all depends on how you want to play it."

He was jotting down his own rolls.

12, 17, 8, 10, 14, 11

He also jotted down: Half-Elf Bard.

Looking back to Richard, he explained. "For a paladin, you'll need at least, Strength 12, Constitution 9, Wisdom 13 and Charisma 17. Charisma an Strength are your main ones. If you don't roll high enough, then we'll try again."

He wrote down more notes.

Str 10
Dex 12
Con 11
Int 14
Wis 8
Cha 17

[Mariana Spade]

Mariana looked at Simon. "Well, it is based on the guidance of the spirits to the Mayan underworld... It could be a good quest if someone dies or a celebration in a village where if not offered properly a ghosts might haunt the town. Good for a spooky night." For some odd reason Mariana gave a mischievous smile.

She continued her rolls, 15, 14, 10, 16. She move to Jono. "I got these... Should I put the 16 in wisdom and the 15 in charisma o in intelligence?"

[Jonothan Wiles]

"Well, wisdom is your primary stat, as a cleric." he said. "Beyond that, it depends on what you want to be like. Strength will help you hit and hurt things in melee, and will determine what you can lift and carry. Dex will help you avoid being hit and help you hit things from a distance. Constitution will make you healthier, able to take more damage and able to better resist poisons and such. Intelligence is honestly most useful to wizards, but it can give you an extra language. Your Wisdom score will help you resist magic and give you some bonus spells and experience. Charisma can help you interact with other people, but it's usefulness depends mostly on your class."

"We'e you going to play a human, or did you want to try a different race?"

[Amaterasu]

Richard's day was filled with bad luck. His rolls were bellow average on all numbers. 4, 7, 8, 7, 6, 3. "Maybe I should use the point buy system... These numbers don't look good."

[Jonothan Wiles]

"It's up to Simon, whether you can use a different system." Jono shrugged. "The only one that will guarantee scores higher than what you have, would be the one that starts each ability at 8. You roll seven dice and can add each die to a ability stat of your choice, as long as the final total does not exceed 18."

[Simon Lizotte]

"I'm fine with that method if you want to roll again that way... Paladin does have some high start requirements. Meaning you need certain ability scores to play the class. We could also bump you up to those, Strength 12, Constitution 9, Wisdom 13, and Charisma 17; then let you pick from the 8 and 7 you rolled for Dexterity and Intelligence.

This adventure could be something of a redemption or validation arc for your Paladin, barely meeting the requirements to join the ranks of the paladins he's admired. Now he is on this quest to recover a cherished relic and show his worth."

[Amaterasu]

Richard smiled. "That sounds good. It does give some flavor to the character not being very smart or having good dex. Low dex means I might need a full plate... and still be under the norm. Living on pure divine intervention." He laughed.

[Mariana Spade]

"Well, wisdom is your primary stat, as a cleric." he said. "Beyond that, it depends on what you want to be like. Strength will help you hit and hurt things in melee, and will determine what you can lift and carry. Dex will help you avoid being hit and help you hit things from a distance. Constitution will make you healthier, able to take more damage and able to better resist poisons and such. Intelligence is honestly most useful to wizards, but it can give you an extra language. Your Wisdom score will help you resist magic and give you some bonus spells and experience. Charisma can help you interact with other people, but it's usefulness depends mostly on your class."

"We'e you going to play a human, or did you want to try a different race?"

"I thought playing a dwarf would be an interesting choice... a Dwarven cleric of death. As many dwarves die in the caves while mining for resources."

[Jonothan Wiles]

"That would increase your Con by one and lower your Charisma by one. It would also cap your Cleric levels at 10, but you can also take levels of Fighter. Your Speed will be 6. Your size will depend on your height. Infravision up to 60 feet. And, there are a few other abilities you'll get." he explained.