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00:00 - 22:0022:00 - 00:00

12:24 AM
this is just making me anxious that the rest actually works lol
 
 
17 hours later…
5:25 PM
see you in three and a half hours?
 
i will eagerly watch the Adventures of Kith and João while munching metaphorical popcorn
 
 
2 hours later…
6:59 PM
Oooooooh!!!!
 
will you munch popcorn with me?
 
@Mithical <thumb-up/>
 
7:42 PM
@bobble Oh, totally
 
8:02 PM
\o/
 
\o/
the 'borg has landed
I repeat, the 'borg has landed
 
The 'borg is crashing, the 'borg is going to crash!
 
fire the emergency thrusters!
 
feeds the 'borg sugar
 
DEPLOY EMERGENCY 'BORG BRAKES
 
8:04 PM
bobblies, bring out the bean bag!
 
floompf
 
Are you there, 'borg? Do you copy? I repeat, do you copy?
static sounds
 
'Borg is here, repeat, 'borg has landed safely on the beanbag
 
good good
why are we so weird
2
 
it's a d&d chatroom, any hope of not being weird went out the window before a single word was said
2
 
8:08 PM
I've also just returned from a great deal of Socializing, so my brain is operating at 10% power at the moment
 
have you tried plugging it in
 
my schoolday finished early because there was only one presenter, so yay!
have you tried turning it off and turning it back on
 
My brain didn't come with a USB port, unfortunately
there was also this weird manufacturing defect where it got plonked into the wrong body
 
the correct body has shape-shifting powers, if I remember correctly
 
well, of course
my true form is a Ditto
did you ever suspect otherwise
 
8:11 PM
how about a Metamorphmagus?
 
ooh, that too
 
(yes I had to Google that to check the spelling)
 
or an Animorph
 
gosh Animorphs, that takes me back :o
 
I love the Animorphs
 
8:12 PM
nostalgia :D
 
I've actually never read the series in order
 
I used to go down to the library to check books out when they became available (yes kids, I'm that old!)
 
Picked up... #39? Then just read any one I could get my hands on, regardless of position in the series
@Dmihawk this is also how I read mine
there was a summer camp where I was supposed to be making pottery
however the building had a little library with a few bookshelves
 
We were just DMing last night about how much we miss going to libraries as a kid :P
 
i may have snuck into the library when i was supposed to be making pottery
they had a bunch of Animorphs that i hadn't managed to track down before, in my defense
 
8:14 PM
@bobble I totally would have snuck in with you
 
in The Reading Room, 10 hours ago, by Mithical
Funny story: I was sitting in the back of library reading The Scarecrow of Oz around... eight? years ago, when suddenly the lights clicked off. I jumped up and yelled "Hey!" instinctively, which turned out to be a good thing: they were closing and locking up the library and didn't realize anyone was still there. Good thing I yelled, or I would've been locked in there overnight...
 
the library room had two doors, but only one door was obvious
 
we could've read together in silence, then after a few hours, looked up each other and said "good chat" and silently left
 
@Mithical relatable :p
 
sometimes i would sneak around the back way and take a book to read
I could read all the Animorphs - found a site with pirated versions of the whole series a while back - but it felt wrong. So my in-order re-read is on pause until I can look for books in a library as is right and proper.
 
8:18 PM
The correct, proper, and established method of book-reading is by wandering bookshelves for two hours until you realize you were supposed to be doing something else an hour ago
 
you're missing an Oxford comma D:
 
plot twist: i left it out on purpose
 
D: D: D:
 
okayyy
 
okay good we can be friends
 
8:19 PM
would you have spurned me forever if i hadn't edited it?
 
not forever
5 minutes, tops
you're too nice
 
aw :P
 
are we waiting for msh210, your brain, or your work?
 
Waiting for msh, I'm ready to go.
 
I'll drop a ping then. @msh210, this show will hit the road once you arrive.
My dad put his fantasy books on a shelf that was just a little too high for Short Kiddy Bobble, which of course made me figure out a way to reorganize everything around there so I could fit a stool and grab them. Then I read some just to be rebellious. I think I may have fallen for a trick at some point there.
 
8:25 PM
If I was a parent, hiding my fantasy and science fiction books just out of reach of my kids to tempt them to try and read them when i'm not looking is exactly the kind of thing i would do :p
 
My mom tricked us into watching Supergirl at one point by downloading only it to her computer during a long trip.
 
"Oh drat, looks like somebody moved my Lord of the Rings books! Whatever shall I do???"
 
On an earlier trip, my dad brought The Martian and said it was just for him, then left it lying around while he was out.
 
I love that movie, saw it in theaters with my dad and we were elbowing each other whispering NASA trivia the whole time
 
<3 The Martian
 
8:28 PM
The book is just as hilarious
 
especially the soundtrack
 
My mom LOVED the ABBA and disco music :P
 
THE BOOK IS BETTER THAN THE MOVIE
The book's jacket is also falling apart...
 
The movie is amazing, though
When they got to the part about how the ship was going to turn back around for him, my dad elbowed me in the ribs whispering "Mick they're gonna do a gravity slingshot like in Star Trek" and sure enough he was right
 
I've established a house rule that the soundtrack must be played whenever we play Terraforming Mars
 
8:31 PM
So you're a nerd D:
how surprising
 
The part with Pathfinder i totally called in the theaters too, they were wondering why Mark was heading out there seemingly in the middle of nowhere and I leaned over to my dad whispering "HE'S GONNA FIND PATHFINDER" and my dad whispered "OH YEAH"
 
you big on space exploration @Sciborg?
 
perhaps you should check out
 
We're big on space movies in my house, yeah :p
 
highest-voted question:
193
Q: Can I borrow a lunar rover?

James JenkinsAccording to Wikipedia there are 3 LRVs sitting on the moon, in very well defined locations. Would China, or whomever gets to the moon with a person next, be able to get in and drive around in an LRV left by the US?        The U.S. Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle from Apollo 15 on the moon in 1971....

 
8:34 PM
"Can I borrow a lunar rover" oh my god
 
of the first page of top-voted questions, my favorite title
139
Q: Nudism in space: Why wear clothes anyway?

PhilippCurrently, doing laundry in microgravity is an unsolved engineering problem. The result is that clean clothes on the International Space Station have become a consumable resource. Clean clothes get launched to the space station regularly. When they are too dirty to wear, they just get stuffed int...

 
Honestly, valid question
 
some people ask funny questions
 
This is the kind of quality content I come to this site for
 
I disagree with this answer. I recently read a legal analysis on this subject. Given the phrasing of the question, it sounds like the OP does not plan to ask for express permission to take control of the rover. By one treaty, space is not under any country's control, and by another treaty when outside of a country's country, you are under maritime law. That would make the OP a pirate. A SPACE PIRATE. — Aron Jan 28 '16 at 6:49
relevant comment from the first question
 
8:39 PM
Beautiful
 
it may be referencing a certain book
 
I also love the part in the book where he invents his own unit, "pirate-ninjas"
 
"ummm... I'm terrible at this.... I can call it anything..."
 
The book had so many gems
"He's out there alone... I wonder what he's thinking about right now..."
"Man, I miss football"
 
No, it was the Aquaman thing
 
8:42 PM
Oh, right, my bad :P
 
"Why can Aquaman control dolphins? They're mammals! Makes no sense"
in The Sphinx's Lair, Sep 3 '20 at 1:39, by bobble
Oh, another favorite: "Duct tape is a god and should be worshipped"
 
There's also a part where he's describing all kinds of technical stuff and then stops himself mid-sentence to be like "god i hate this disco music"
 
I also love how on several re-reads I've stopped and gone "huh, I actually understand the science behind that, I learned it in school"
There's an offhand remark about titration, which didn't make much sense the first time around, and then I did titrations and now it's very funny
stuff like that
 
It's a wonderfully researched book
 
It's the only book Mythcreants has a positive writing-critique of
book/short story
> So far I’ve written six critiques of best selling books that I think are bad. Needless to say, I am not easily impressed. Then my commenters had the gall to ask for something positive. What do you think I am, a magical praise-emitting unicorn? Well, it took some doing, but I have found an opening worthy of flattery. Let’s dig into the first chapter of The Martian by Andy Weir. FYI, there’s lot’s of swearing, in case that matters to you.
 
8:49 PM
"a magical praise-emitting unicorn" is such a wonderful turn of phrase
 
They have some funny stuff
There's also a (very long) article where she compares Twilight to Fifty Shades of Grey and concludes that while neither is great, one is definitely terrible
> Which book will win? The answer will shock you not surprise you in the least.
ah, that one's by Chris, so "she"
 
I've read some of the articles you linked to in the Grove/Lair, it's a great site
 
they have a Game Master Tips tag :D If you want to read that
 
ooh :D
 
Some days they have completely random articles like this one on running an election in an RPG
That's niche-in-niche
 
8:57 PM
> Do your PCs want a little more responsibility in their lives? Do they crave the mantle of leadership but aren’t blessed with the correct bloodline to inherit a kingdom? Then an election may be just what you’re looking for!
 
@bobble Thanks, but I don't see a ping until I'm on SE anyway. :-)
 
well, you're here now!
 
(Still catching up here on back-read. I'm up to the message that my previous message is a reply to.)
 
What is going on here :P
 
so your friends are nerds
and... that's the summary
 
9:00 PM
o/
hi y'all
 
o/
 
popcorn/
 
How has your day been? :D
 
My day's been fine, thank you. How are you, @Sciborg?
 
9:01 PM
I'm doing great.
@PrinceNorthLæraðr what does this mean? :p
 
I'm excited to see the absolute chaos
But I need to go home in 15 minutes
 
It'll totally be fine, nothing will happen at all, absolutely nothing
 
I believe we left our heroes following Mr. Redburn to Seacrest.
 
Yup, Mith are you here?
 
9:04 PM
o/
 
Just popped a pill some popcorn! Ready to watch :D
 
Excellent. We left off as you were following Matlock to the town of Seacrest. It's still about mid-morning, and the road is very peaceful; Matlock has his hands in his pockets and is whistling merrily as he limps along.
 
Aww I'm still at school
I would be gone for about 15 ish minutes. Oh well
I can look at my phone :P
 
The town is coming into view, with smoke coming from chimneys; you can see a small bay with blue water sparkling.
It's definitely a coastal region.
"Almost there," Matlock says, brightly. "You folks getting hungry or anything?"
 
"I could definitely go for a snack."
Tackling bandits is a great way to build up an appetite.
 
9:08 PM
João remains silent, spacing out as he walks.
 
(mid-morning = our fight hasn't happened yet?)
 
"There's a great inn and fish grill down there, the Swordfish. If you folks want to head there first, I'm happy to buy you some lunch." He pauses. "Unless, er, you're vegetarian?"
 
Uh, yeah, I don't eat meat. Sorry about that.
 
"Of course, my mistake - there's a great vegetarian grill, we can go there instead."
 
Sounds like a plan. *glances over at João* Johnny? You alive there?
 
9:10 PM
. . . sorry?
 
Matlock is offering to take us to lunch at this veggie grill place. You interested?
Because if not, I'll eat your lunch.
 
Oh, thank you, sir.
That'd be wonderful.
 
"Sounds perfect, I've got a hankering for a veggie skewer and an ale." He stuffs his hands back in his pockets. "So, I've got your names, I think. Still don't know much about you though. What's something I should know?"
 
*raises eyebrow* should know? That's an odd phrasing. Really, you shouldn't know anything about me at all, pretty much; what you're probably trying to say is that you'd like to know more about us.
 
"Well, yes. I'd like to get to know you." He shrugs. "Forgive me, I'm a soldier. Grammar isn't my strong suit."
 
9:15 PM
*scratches elbow scar* I don't much like to talk about my past, personally. Was there something in particular you'd like to know?
 
Well, I'm a novice bard. I've no particular destination at the moment. Nice to have bumped into you.
 
"Just curious where you folks are from, that kind of thing. You don't have to tell me a thing if you don't want to. I'm not much for talking about myself, either."
 
[note: I'm basing the frequency of scratching scars on how often I actually scratch the scars I have there IRL. Tends to be when I'm under pressure they get itchier.]
 
Oh, I'm from [help, DM, I need a placename. Also, because of "Echoes of Victory", I need to know how far it is].
 
pulls up random town name generator Zarakib?
 
9:18 PM
That sounds terrible.
 
Wyrmwood?
 
"I'm from Cincinnati."
[ :-D ]
 
"Cincinnati?" He frowns. "Never heard of that place. Odd name."
The town gates come into view, with guards; they nod and step aside when they see Matlock with you, obviously recognizing him as a local.
 
I'm from a town named B'toch HaYa'ar. I don't suppose you've heard of it either.
 
"Certainly not, is that... Abyssal tongue?" He pauses, clearly racking his brains. "I haven't heard that language in a while."
 
9:22 PM
(he has brains? D:)
 
As he talks he leads you through town towards a small restaurant with a sign saying The Mermaid Grill.
 
@Sciborg No. It's Halfling.
(it means "in the forest" in Hebrew :P)
 
the more you know :p
 
You sure this place is vegetarian? Sounds like they grill mermaids.
 
[dammit. he stole my line.]
 
9:24 PM
"Yes, it's vegan, don't worry. They serve food for the merfolk here, hence the vegetables and the name."
 
(does Kith not like line-stealing?)
 
Can I roll for, um, what's it called -- perception? investigation? understanding what's around me generally.
 
was about to suggest the same
 
Sure, you can do anything here. Perception works.
 
That's a d20+perception, right?
 
9:25 PM
Yup
 
7+4=11
 
You can also do Insight checks to read people, etc. at any time.
 
13+3=16 Perception
 
This town seems very small and pleasant, and you notice it has a great deal of merfolk, tritons and other aquatic residents along with the usual humans, halflings and humanoids. The restaurant you're entering is equally small and has a pleasant smell of cooked seaweed. You don't notice anything very unusual, alarming or out of place in the area.
 
How are the aquatic residents getting around?
 
9:28 PM
Tritons can walk about, and the merfolk are swimming in the bay nearby and in small Venice-like channels all around.
 
cool
 
Matlock plops down at a nearby booth and gestures. "Have a seat. I'll admit I have an ulterior motive for asking all these questions. I actually want to discuss a matter of some importance."
 
*walks over to the booth but remains standing* Oh? Sounds interesting.
 
sits
 
Would this matter of importance be at all related to the bandit attacking you earlier, by any chance?
 
9:31 PM
"Could be. But I think that was just a happy accident." He sits back in his chair. "See, I've actually been looking for a couple of adventurers, and I happened to run into you kind folks. Maybe you can help me out with something."
 
raises his eyebrows I wouldn't call myself an adventurer. Just a wanderer.
 
*rolls eyes* With that spell earlier? Just a wanderer? Who are you kidding?
 
Well, someone needed help! I don't try to find trouble....
 
Suuuuure.
 
"We can discuss business later, of course. Right now I'm famished." Matlock gestures for the waiter, who moves to your table. "What do you folks want to eat and drink? I'm buying."
 
9:35 PM
rolling Insight on the waiter
...is the roller on the side biased towards high rolls or something?
17+3=20
 
The waiter comes over, and you see she is a tiefling in her mid-twenties. She looks pretty bored as she waits for your order. You don't get any weird vibes - just seems like a regular service worker.
 
[goes to look up tiefling]
"Thanks. If you know what's good, feel free to choose for me."
 
I'd like to try a seaweed casserole, thanks. Some sweet tea to drink, if you have any?
Oh, and Matburn, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to just step outside for a minute.
 
The waiter nods politely and scribbles this down, then looks at Matlock. He says, "Two Kelpie Rolls with white rice on the side, for me and my bardic friend. And a glass of Greenman's for me." The waiter heads off.
Matlock nods at you. "Of course, get some fresh air. Sea breeze is lovely."
 
I walk out of the restaurant, and look around for a local resident.
 
9:40 PM
sits silently at table
 
[Do I need to roll anything?]
 
There are a few people passing by, probably on their way to work. You notice a fisherman sitting alone on the docks with his pole, waiting for a catch.
 
"What is it you wanted help with?"
 
I walk over to the fisherman. "Excuse me."
 
The fisherman glances up. "Yeah?"
 
9:42 PM
(mith is going to ask about a bear, huh?)
 
"Have you by any chance heard of a man named Matlock Redburn? Can you tell me anything about him?"
@PrinceNorthLæraðr not yet >.<
 
The fisherman frowns as he looks back out at his line. "Yeah. Showed up in town a couple weeks ago. Seems pretty nice, rented a cottage on Redfish Road."
 
"Oh, so he's not from around here originally? Do you know where he's from?"
and I'm rolling Insight again
 
"Nope. He doesn't talk about it."
 
10+3=13
 
9:44 PM
@msh210 . . .
 
You feel he's being honest with you.
(we'll jump back to you in a bit msh, sorry :p)
 
Well, I don't want Kith to come back before we've had a chance to say anything. :-)
 
"Alright, thank you. Good luck with your fishing. Oh, and you haven't seen any bears around by any chance, have you?"
 
The fisherman rips off his human mask and is a bear.
 
The guy stares at you nervously. "No. Have you?"
 
9:45 PM
"Oh, no. Not around here. Just... heard some rumors. Don't worry about it. Thanks anyway!"
*walks away quickly*
 
Meanwhile...
Matlock leans forward. "This is a bit of an awkward question," he says, "but I get a trustworthy sense from you two, however odd you may be. Tell me, have you seen a halfling with red hair around these parts?"
"Female, about this tall?" He holds a hand up to demonstrate.
 
[DM, you said the town has lots of halflings. Is red hair rare for them?]
 
[Red hair is very rare, yeah. You haven't seen any around here.]
 
"I don't think so, no."
 
"I'm looking for her. She stole something that I need to get back." He steeples his fingers together. "That's why I could use some help."
 
9:49 PM
"Appealing to my help-a-theft-victim-regain-his-stuff side, eh?" with a smile
 
"Well, you have proven yourself skillful in that department." He grins.
"But the thing she stole isn't from me, to ease your concerns."
 
insight 2+4=6
 
You can't get a read on this at all.
 
yeah figured :-/
"Oh?"
 
He winces. "It's a.... bit of a long story, but she stole something that belongs to someone... dangerous. And that dangerous person believes I'm responsible, so I am in a great deal of danger."
 
9:52 PM
"So you want me, us, to help you get something to someone dangerous? I don't usually like helping dangerous people. And I especially don't usually like getting involved in disputes involving dangerous people. I'd rather stay out, I think, sorry."
 
(where's Kith?)
 
(totally not stalking a seagull)
 
(Kith is talking to an angler.)
(or walking to or from)
 
"That's all right. I understand." He sits back, a bit disheartened. "I suppose I shouldn't have approached you this way. My fault. I'll still buy you kind folks lunch, for humoring an old man."
 
"You can of course try Kithri. Maybe she'll be more... adventurous than I."
 
9:56 PM
[I totally want to waltz in holding a seagull right after that statement]
 
[you may do so :p]
 
roll for animal handling
 
(pfftthaha)
 
no wait that's for domesticated animals
 
*walks in, seagull on fist* Hey Burn, Johnny, what'd I miss?
*totally by accident releases the seagull inside the restaurant*
[sorry I'm in a Chaotic mood right now]
 
9:58 PM
"Nothing, really, Three. Just chatting."
 
The seagull squawks and flaps around in total panic. Chaos ensues as two waiters run around trying to catch it before it poops on any of the food.
 
"Oops." *innocent smile*
 
"Your companion just turned me down, it seems. Fully understandable." Matlock stares at the seagull chaos in amazement. "Why on earth would you do that? The poor creature is terrified."
 
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