Welcome to the Straight Dope. I hope you enjoy the Board and the Game.
Thanks, Kurilla. 
“XP for no reason” - cheeky! 
Let’s hope Bergthor doesn’t notice he’s carrying a cursed hammer* of Monster Attraction… 
*What Exit?, you asked for DM witticisms. I’m afraid this is as ‘good’ as it gets. :smack:
Welcome to all players (and spectators too!) 
The Game thread is here .
I will start a new post there at the beginning of each game day, and reply to player posts as often as suitable.
I’ll answer longer questions here and also keep the ‘cast list’ up to date.
Current encountered / mentioned ‘cast list’ (in order of ‘appearance’)
Boadicea, Human Paladin (player character)
Hallsteinn Gnome Fighter/ Illusionist/Thief (player character)
Bergthor Human Fighter + Cleric (player character)
Gislsson Human Ranger / Magic User (player character)
Sir Guy Gisbourne Human Lord of the Manor, Oakham
Rangers + Druids (Human/Half-Elven) Patrol Rutland
Edith Weston Human High Priestess, Temple of Heimdall, Oakham
**Heimdall **God Good Guardian
Miscreant (Human?) Stocks, Oakham marketplace
Crumlin Human Acolyte, Temple of Heimdall
Thor God Good Warrior
Marian Human Senior Druid (Rutland)
Warrior Monks Human Dojo, Burley-on-the-Hill
Just an update – I believe Sarah has been in a work-related class all week and has therefore not been able to post.
Normally I’m the one with lousy timing…
Thanks for that. I don’t want to rush anybody, so am happy to wait.
Ok first thank god the week from hell is over. :mad:
Thank you all for being patient with me. I hope to be able to log in more frequently.
Graham,
Wanted to bring some things to your attention just in case.
First I’m gonna ask that you not kill my character. That would be great. 
Second, I’m a beginner and not very good with the role playing thing. My interaction will probley be short and to the point. You implied that that was acceptable. I hope so.
Also I’d like to point out that I’ve never played a game like this before so please be nice I’ve never had to just role play without worrying about the rolling. I hope it’s all I dream it it will be.
Posting in the game now. See you there
You’re worth waiting for!
N.B. I am chuffed with all the players.
I can’t promise not to kill anyone, but I will be fair.
Roleplaying can be as straightforward as you like. Your character is a tough Fighter, good Healer and valuable to the party. He doesn’t say much normally - his hammers do most of the talking.
You’ll find that the other characters come up with loads of ideas, so you will be very helpful if you say which one you like best.
This is only my second game as an Internet DM (though I think I’m jolly good! :D).
It’s all about having fun…
First time I have had to do this.
http://english2american.com/dictionary/c.html
N.B I am “generally happy [del]with life[/del]” with all the players. 
I never heard the word *chuffed *before and I could not get it from context. Doctor Who is going to have use that word more often. I count on the Doctor to learn English slang. I love the fact there is a english2american dictionary and it appears smaller than the Elvish to English dictionaries I use so often.
Do I have any reason to mistrust Sir Guy? I started to type a more elaborate reply and realized I was taking liberties from the prior game.
Funny you should mention this Jim as I noticed over in the ME thread you put the word “mom” into a character’s mouth. Not Middle-Earth English at all, old chap. 
Please feel completely free to use any information you got in a previous game as a rumour e.g. ‘Sir Guy was detected as evil’ (although a gnome was singing at the time :))
Prithee, Sire, art thou not aware that there shall be as much English slang and historical phrases as I can fit in here?!
Fealty, feudalism and firkins!
Fair point and I have also dropped a few OKs in and who know what other idioms that clearly had no place.
I just could not parse out what chuffed would mean. At least Firkins I know is similar to an American Pony Keg (at least for Beer and Ale)
For this adventure, I have scoured the countryside* seeking ancient English country expressions.
‘Red sky at night - shepherd’s delight. Red sky at morning - shepherd’s warning.’
‘Ne’er cast a clout ‘til May be out’. (I certainly won’t. 
)
‘Many a mickle makes a muckle.’ (Of course it does 
)
*actually I asked one old bloke in a local pub. But it’s a start…
I know the first, don’t know or understand the second and the third appears to be yibberish. (Like gibberish but worse)
‘never cast a clout…’ means ‘never discard your [warm winter] clothing…’.
‘until the month of May is ended’ or perhaps ‘until the hawthorn (known as the May Tree) is out [in bloom]’.
‘mickle’ and ‘muckle’ probably mean amounts of money in Scottish. (It’s not completely clear.)
So perhaps it means the same as ‘look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves’.
Wow I’m glad I speak English cause otherwise I wouldn’t know what the bloody hell you guys are saying. (insert sarcasium here) :dubious:
I think I will just ignore the last few posts cause y’all are too confusing for a Monday morning.
Don’t worry - those were the most archaic I could find!
I will only use words like ‘crumhorn’ (= an medieval musical instrument) for atmosphere.
Please be aware that this adventure is a mixture of Tolkien, roleplaying, English myth/legend, my local geographical area and even Pratchett (if I can work him in).
I’m not too bothered about anachronism - even Sherlock Holmes (well his techniques anyway) could make an appearance.
According to my drinking friend:
“Fine words butter no parsnips”
“Devil take the hindmost”
“It’s an ill-wind that blows nobody any good”
I think these mean, respectively:
- talking doesn’t do anything in practice
- last one to act will get into trouble
- even a disaster can benefit someone a little
Encountered / mentioned ‘cast list’ at present (in order of ‘appearance’ only)
Boadicea Human Paladin (player character)
Hallsteinn Gnome Fighter/ Illusionist/Thief (player character)
Bergthor Human Fighter + Cleric (player character)
Gislsson Human Ranger / Magic User (player character)
Sir Guy Gisbourne Human Lord of the Manor, Oakham
Rangers + Druids (Human / Half-Elf) Patrol Rutland
Edith Weston Human High Priestess, Temple of Heimdall, Oakham
Heimdall God Good Guardian
Miscreant (Human?) Stocks, Oakham Marketplace
Crumlin Human Acolyte, Temple of Heimdall
Thor God Good Warrior
Marian Human Senior Druid (Rutland)
Warrior Monks Human Dojo, Burley-on-the-Hill
Cuthbert ‘Curly’ Brown Human Mayoral candidate
Baron Thorgunby Wheldrake Human Nottingham, Patron of County Fayre
Much the Miller Human ex-Mayoral candidate
Lieutenant Grey Human Works for Sir Guy
Acolytes Human Work for Edith Weston
Troops Human Work for Sir Guy
Cast list at present (in ‘categories’); new characters / additions bolded
Boadicea Human Paladin (player character)
Hallsteinn Gnome Fighter/ Illusionist/Thief (player character)
Bergthor Human Fighter + Cleric (player character)
Gislsson Human Ranger / Magic User (player character)
Heimdall God Good Guardian
Thor God Good Warrior
Loki God Evil Trickster
Baron Thorgunby Wheldrake Human Nottingham, Patron of County Fayre
Sir Guy Gisbourne Human Lord of the Manor, Oakham
Edith Weston Human High Priestess, Temple of Heimdall, Oakham
Marian Human Senior Druid (Rutland)
Crumlin Human Acolyte, Temple of Heimdall
Cuthbert ‘Curly’ Brown Human Mayoral candidate
Much the Miller Human ex-Mayoral candidate
Lieutenant Grey Human Works for Sir Guy
Corporal White Human Works for Sir Guy
Bob Human Stocks, Oakham Marketplace
‘CMOT’ Dibbler Human Pasty seller (Oakham)
Hamfast Hobbit Tap boy (The Old Plough)
Barliman Butterbur Human Landlord, The Old Plough
Rangers + Druids (Human / Half-Elf) Patrol Rutland
Acolytes Human Work for Edith Weston
Troops Human Work for Sir Guy
Warrior Monks Human Dojo, Burley-on-the-Hill