Myth: A New Age CYOA

[Anabanana]

We probably can't afford an overly long trip with two bickering men on the team, but Thais should suffice to keep them calm if we go for one of the shorter options. BCA for me.

 

[Fangshi]

Ok, got it.

Current Tally:

1.
a) 1 vote
b) 8 vote
c) 5 votes

2.
a) 2 vote
b) 4 vote
c) 8 votes

3.
a) 14 votes
b)
c)

 

[Absinthe]

BCA for me too.

We have illusionist circle mages to cover stealth, we're low on manpower so we should at least pack good supplies, and we'll want to haul loot out of the place, so the more we can carry, the better. Thais can manage diplomacy so I'm not too worried about 3A unless we pick 1C, because those dudes are going to butt heads if they can't get to business.

 

[Jester]

BBA
Good point.

 

[Grimgravy]

CCA
1B sounds good, but not if we're taking a horse cart. It doesn't sound isolated enough for the horse and cart to go unnoticed thus providing a beacon pointing toward our less than legal enterprise. That is unless our circle mage can hide them for the duration. Swap me to BCA if he can.

 

[Fangshi]

That is unless our circle mage can hide them for the duration. Swap me to BCA if he can.

Well it is a bit of a gamble, Miosguinn is fairly confident that he can hide the horse and wagon provided he is allowed to fully concentrate on doing so. If his concentration is interrupted the illusions will fail. Derryth wants to try and sneak the party into one of the entrances without fighting a whole lot (at least without fighting Imperials since that would be treason) but the party is prepared to meet aggression with aggression.

So it really comes down to if you want to take the risk. I will put you down for CCA just let me know if you want to flop to B or not.

 

[Nevill]

Ok new update, ran a bit long, some info on magic, and I get as close to biowarean writing as I am comfortable with...

See, Fangshi knows that the real reason we went with Thaïs was because we all want to see the hot lesbian romance unfold.

BBA.

A rather short and safe trip that does not impact our mobility much. We do not want the horse and the wagon with us, too much trouble to keep them safe/hidden if need arises. We only have a team of 7, we don't have much in the way of the supplies in the first place.

I can only see one use for a wagon. How much loot are we expecting to carry out of the ruins?

 

[Grimgravy]

I'll stay with C. I'm sure we can come up with some way to otherwise engage the two antagonists.

 

[Nevill]

I think we are being greedy here with the horse. An extra liability to depend on is not that good.

Our supplies consist mostly of food, fuel and tents. All of the tools we bought we either carry with us (magical supplies, scrolls and herbs) or equipped on us (the whip and the leather suit). This seems to be the case for everyone. If the duration of the trip is standart, then the hand cart should suffice.

 

[Gondolin]

1B
2C
3A

 

[Fangshi]

On sex in Myth and this CYOA:

See, Fangshi knows that the real reason we went with Thaïs was because we all want to see the hot lesbian romance unfold.

What can I say, gotta know your audience.

If you lot keep visiting her at night like this I will do away with this charade and rename the CYOA Myth: Lesbian Witches. Upside is that my player base will probably triple...


If you want to know my stance on the whole sex thing in RPGs/CYOAs so you know what to expect, it is along the following lines:

Now this is probably a result of my own moderate tendencies but I don't much care who Codex chases after; men, women, dwarves, (if male courtesan had won then at least some of your former clients would have been men for example) it does not matter one bit to me, do whatever you guys want really.

Now this is a bit of speculation on Derryth's part but she thinks that Thaïs did what she did because after saving her, promising her wealth and power and teaching her some magic she does have a bit of a crush on Derryth. Of course it is also possible that she is trying to win her over and then betray her but Derryth thinks that Thaïs is being honest.

Just let me know and Derryth will try to let her down easy (or crush her, your call) if you are not interested. Honestly things are not going to get much more "mature" than in that update, if you get a sex scene it will either be played for laughs, or cut in such a way so that I do not have to write porn (and as a result I may retain that last fig leaf of dignity).

As for sex/gender roles in the setting, it has not been much of an issue in the world of Myth in the past. Magic changes everything and the inclusion of non-human races increases tolerance for difference amongst humanity quite a bit, just like there is no real racism (there was no reason for it to develop in our sense, there is definite racism in the sense that the Light and Dark races will often kill one another on sight "just to be sure") now it may actually become a social issue over time since 1/2-2/3 of the population of the empire was killed and Alric has been looking at ways to increase families and help trigger a population explosion. This may help to bring such issues to the forefront in unpleasant ways but it will have a lot to do with which policies are implemented and how Alric tries to go about any "social engineering" he may try.

Oh now here is a question for the codex, you are not taking seven separate tents so who do you want to bunk with?


On risk and Reward (or to wagon or not to wagon):

From Derryth's point of view the horse and cart are a potential liability and a potential asset. There is no denying that the wagon would help, could put wounded in it, it has room for your packs so you can go unencumbered, it is big enough to take cover behind, it would substantially increase the loot you can haul, and so on. However it also has drawbacks, you have to protect it and the horse, you have to feed the horse, you will not be able to take it (or the hand cart) down many of the smaller passages and so on. So it is a classic case of risk vs reward.

 

[Smashing Axe]

AAA

There's a lot of risk in regards to the patrols, but it's a swift entry. Plus, with no cart we can go through narrow tunnels and crevices as we will. Loot what we can carry, really powerful magic/books will probably be easy enough for us to manage.

As for having a paramour, none is preferable. Unless it's lulzy.

 

[Gondolin]

What can I say, gotta know your audience.

If you lot keep visiting her at night like this I will do away with this charade and rename the CYOA Myth: Lesbian Witches. Upside is that my player base will probably triple...

If your system encourages degenerate gameplay, the degenerates come to play. It's simple, really.

 

[Fangshi]

If your system encourages degenerate gameplay, the degenerates come to play. It's simple, really.

Well I always figured some day I would be roped into running FATAL and Codex would be the most fitting place for it... I did say I would regret this...

 

[Anabanana]

Oooh, room assignments! Fun! How many tents do we have, Fangshi?

 

[Fangshi]

Oooh, room assignments! Fun! How many tents do we have, Fangshi?

Well the Children brought their own, blue-grey tent, so they are staying in that one. Mage secrets, that sort of thing, so that is them taken cart of. (May even be worth trying to sneak into the tent if they are not around).

Tyrvard and Gareth really did not prepare at all (as you guessed in the update), though it would be more accurate to say that Gareth is always generally prepared, he has a packroll, while Tyrvard just does not really care, Serpent does not have the money for a tent, Thaïs had her's destroyed.

You have your's from the camp (two person tent) and you picked up a spare (two person tent) on the off chance that someone did not have one. You did not predict that none of them would bring one so now things are a bit crowded. If you put Tyrvard in a tent he takes up the whole thing so he offered to just sleep on the ground, says tents are for "city folk" anyway. Serpent told him he would change his tune when a cave spider lays eggs in his mouth. They really don't like eachother at the moment.

 

[Nevill]

Put Derryth, Thaïs and Miosguinn in one tent. Mages should stick together.
Serpent and Tyrvard in the other, and add an apprentice to the bunch. The pair needs time to talk their issues over. The presence of a 16 year old girl should ease the tension.
Alternatively, pair the apprentice with Gareth. Or with the horse, see if I care.

I should have chosen a career of a quartermaster.

If you lot keep visiting her at night like this I will do away with this charade and rename the CYOA Myth: Lesbian Witches. Upside is that my player base will probably triple...

Nah, an unresolved sexual tension is the ultimate tease that glues people to the screens. Would Ean be half the hero he was without the promise of MHD sex just around the corner? Where would Legend be if not for the discussions of which waifu to go after? Ok, ok, shutting up! Don't hurt me!

Edit: just two tents? What a pity. That severely limits the ability to screw things up.

I really can't see us bunking with anyone but Thaïs. Ladies in one tent, men in the other.
Oh, 'The Lesbian Witches' it is, then!

 

[JagreenLern]

1c
2c
3a

 

[Fangshi]

Edit: just two tents? What a pity. That severely limits the ability to screw things up.

Well the Children will try to keep to themselves, this is a business contract to them and they will fulfill it to the best of their ability but they don't see any of you as "friends"...

Tyrvard really is huge, like 6'10'' or so and a couple hundred pounds of muscle so yeah he takes up a lot of room.

That leaves you with not a whole lot of different combinations really, I guess if you take the cart or the wagon someone could sleep in that as well.

Also remember that this is hostile territory, you are likely to sleep in shifts or get your throats slit by creatures in the dark, a couple people should be on watch at all times.

If you want I can make that level of micromanagement available, if you want to pick who stands guard and when I will work it into an update once you get there.

Nah, an unresolved sexual tension is the ultimate tease that glues people to the screens

Ah, but I am just a CYOA novice, hell even writing all of the dialogue feels odd to me which is why I tend to narrate a lot. I shall go back right away and reread the works of the masters to better my skills.

 

[Nevill]

If you want I can make that level of micromanagement available, if you want to pick who stands guard and when I will work it into an update once you get there.

Not sure this is CYOA material. In PnP it made sense, but CYOA choices are usually bigger than that, else we will drown in details while being prompted for a choice every 5 steps. Let's just assume that Derryth is not a novice in these things.

Unless the choices have drastically different consequences.

 

[Fangshi]

Not sure this is CYOA material. In PnP it made sense, but CYOA choices are usually bigger than that, else we will drown in details while being prompted for a choice every 5 steps. Let's just assume that Derryth is not a novice in these things.

Unless the choices have drastically different consequences.

Yeah for the most part I am going to have her rely on her own knowledge (this is not her first dive after all) and on Gareth a fair bit. They will not make mistakes on purpose or anything and your group can actually handle a lot really (provided you don't stir up a nest of 40 Myrkridia or anything)...

Thaïs has gotten a lot of screen time (not complaining though as she is fun to write for, the way she manipulates people and all) since she is charismatic and smart and useful in a city but Gareth is the military man and you will see him become a little more forceful when you get into hostile territory.

He fought through the war after all, pretty much everything that could be down there he has fought before and killed so he will be a lot of help. Also Tyrvard really seems to respect him so there is that as well.

 

[Zero Credibility]

BBA

A middle ground as far as distance goes, and if there has to be a fight already, I'd rather we didn't fight the soldiers. Sure, C is safer, but that's also two extra weeks where things could go horribly wrong. Taking the hand-cart will allow us to carry more than enough supplies, we don't have that large of a party. A horse might also be a huge problem to deal with underground. And we should try to take everyone with us, our party is small enough as it is.

 

[Nevill]

(provided you don't stir up a nest of 40 Myrkridia or anything)...

Actually, I wonder... if Muirthemne was razed during the first war, why would there be Myrkridia down there in the ruins? They weren't around until The Summoner freed them from their imprisonment in the Tain, were they?

Though some of them may have been left from Soulblighter's attempt to overrun Muirthemne for the second time, I guess.

 

[Fangshi]

Ah, they are like rats, with the Summoner and Soulblighter both dead packs scattered to every uninhabited corner of the world. It would take an effort on par with Connacht's purge of them to gather them all up again. Also some of them may just be ghosts left over from an earlier age similar to those fought in some of the catacomb levels... actually forget the Myrkridia, you better hope I don't throw ten ghost dwarves at you....

All it would take is a single volley.

 

[Storyfag]

1c
2c
3a