Sally forth!

This morning on the train, I completely convinced myself the woman standing next to me was reading a book by one of my favourite authors, based on a moment's glance at the back cover. I mentally worked through the possibility of removing my earphones and striking up a conversation about how great that particular novel was, and had she read this, or this, or this...when I realised she was actually reading something diametrically opposed to what I thought it was.

Public transport makes work for idle hands.

In other news, dragonborn paladin Atavius Heartpunch made his second volley at heroism under the auspices of Field Commander Foggo last night. He's settled into his new adventuring party well, I think, especially with the addition of boon companion Rob pulling the puppet-strings of a dwarven battle cleric named Ardus, who has a fierce hatred for wererats (for various familial insults and scatalogical reasons).

Atavius is a proud proselytiser of Erathis, goddess of civilisation. He's more than happy to breathe sheets of lightning at evildoers, intimidate them into submission, then lecture them on the benefits of law-and-order while an acrobatic halfling surfs a pig around them.

Classic religious technique. Carrot, stick, inexplicable happenings. CONVERT!

I should also mention his other newfound buddies: a dwarven ranger, halfling acrobat and air genasi swordmage. They're good people, both in Eberron and on Earth.

Last night Atavius lost some of his trademark dignity, trying to climb down a rope ladder in full plate armour. He wasn't too badly wounded by the fall, but realised his goddess had forsaken him for failing to honour an oath.

Last week, he'd vowed to behead a prisoner if he sold the party out...but when the sudden and inevitable betrayal happened (suddenly and inevitably), Atavius was talked into administering the lesser punishment of a snotrag-gagging, things started going wrong.

I've never rolled more 1s and 2s in my life. Don't tell me that polyhedral dice don't play a narrative role. Atavius made his penance, begged Erathis for mercy, and proceeded to execute a variety of lycanthropic bastards.

Three cheers for civilisation!